U.S. strikes Iranian sites after tanker attack; Hormuz tensions escalate

Italy ready to back Israel-Lebanon deal, says Tajani Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday that Rome stands ready to provide diplomatic backing for the newly signed Israel-Lebanon agreement, adding that Italy could contribute troops to a future international mission following the expiration of the UN peacekeeping forces mandate in southern Lebanon.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Iran, Egypt ministers discuss US diplomatic track Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty discussed ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Tehran and Washington and regional security developments during a Friday phone call, as Cairo stressed the importance of continuing talks with seriousness to reach a final agreement.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Araghchi: Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control for 30 days Irans foreign minister has urged all parties not to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz.

aljazeera · 5 days ago

🟠 UPDATEUS bombs Irans Sirik and Qeshm; Trump threatens military escalationSen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) characterized the ongoing U.S. strikes on Iran as a mop-up operation, stating that the major war is over.📰 #USA #Military #Geopolitics #GeoWire

mastodon bot · 5 days ago

UAE pledges support to Lebanon after Israel framework deal Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed a US-brokered framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv during a phone call on Saturday, with Abu Dhabi pledging comprehensive assistance to help Lebanon overcome its current challenges.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Israel vows extended stay in Lebanon until Hezbollah disarmed Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli army is preparing for an "extended stay" in southern Lebanon and will not withdraw from a contested buffer zone before Hezbollah is disarmed across all of Lebanon, one day after Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a US-sponsored framework agreement.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Trump pledges backing for Lebanons sovereignty, armed forces US President Donald Trump pledged support for Lebanons sovereignty, economy and armed forces during a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun late Saturday, vowing to help implement a newly signed framework agreement with Israel and restore stability in the country.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

US strikes Iran targets after tanker drone attack: CENTCOM The US militarys Central Command confirmed on Saturday that American forces carried out fresh strikes against Iranian military infrastructure, including surveillance and air defense sites, following an early-morning drone attack on a commercial oil tanker near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Netanyahu: Israel keeps Lebanon posts despite withdrawal deal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that troops will begin withdrawing from two pilot areas in southern Lebanon while maintaining their presence in the strategic Shqif region, claiming the US and Beirut agreed to a continued Israeli military presence in a security zone.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Ben-Gvir calls Lebanon deal grave mistake, demands Cabinet vote Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Saturday slammed the framework agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon as a "grave mistake," demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bring the US-mediated accord before the security cabinet for a formal vote despite the deals provisions for gradual withdrawal.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Irans Revolutionary Guard strikes US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain Irans Revolutionary Guard said early Sunday that missile and drone strikes targeted eight US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain, declaring that any future attacks by the "enemy" would draw a "crushing response" amid warnings that navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz hang in the balance.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Iranian foreign minister arrives in Baghdad for Khamenei funeral Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he will arrange funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at Iraqi holy shrines and discuss bilateral ties, arriving in Baghdad on Sunday amid ongoing tensions following a recent framework deal with Washington.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Pakistan, Bahrain ministers discuss Mideast tensions after Iran strikes The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Bahrain on Sunday discussed the escalating Middle East crisis following Iranian missile and drone attacks on US positions in the Gulf, with the Bahraini envoy praising Islamabads constructive role in securing the recently signed framework deal between Washington and Tehran.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

USA und Iran: Trump, schlag nach bei Clausewitz Die Kämpfe zwischen Iran und den USA sind wieder aufgeflammt. Das wird so weitergehen, bis Bedingungen eintreten, wie sie ein Klassiker der Kriegstheorie formuliert hat.

faz · 5 days ago

Iran Asserts Sole Control of Hormuz, Warns Challenges Will Bring More Violence The comments by Irans foreign minister followed several days of back and forth fighting with the U.S.

wsj · 5 days ago

Nahost: USA-Iran-Konflikt flammt trotz Abkommen wieder auf Die Hoffnung auf Entspannung zwischen den USA und Iran währt kurz: Nach neuen Angriffen herrscht wieder Sorge vor einer neuen Zuspitzung des Konflikts. Auch im Libanon bleibt die Lage angespannt.

handelsblatt · 5 days ago

⚡ NEWSIsrael strikes Lebanon, testing days-old peace dealIsraeli forces continue striking southern Lebanon despite a recent peace agreement, with Hezbollah condemning the deal as a surrender. The ongoing military actions highlight the fragility of the ceasefire and rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.📰 #Military #Diplomacy #Geopolitics #GeoWire

mastodon bot · 5 days ago

Trump slams Iran drone strikes as foolish ceasefire breach US President Donald Trump on Friday accused Iran of committing a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire agreement by launching drone attacks against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming American forces intercepted three projectiles but one struck a cargo ship.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Hezbollah chief rejects Lebanon-Israel deal as null and void Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Saturday rejected the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel under US sponsorship, calling the deal "null and void" and demanding instead that Israel withdraw from Lebanese territory in accordance with the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding.

yenisafak · 5 days ago

Behind the scenes: How shared fear of Iran led to an Israel-Lebanon deal This story is based on conversations with six U.S., Israeli and Lebanese sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations.Four days of nonstop negotiations in Washington this week between the Israeli and Lebanese governments were propelled by one clear shared interest: weakening the influence of Hezbollah and Iran in Lebanon, according to U.S., Israeli and Lebanese officials.Why it matters: The framework brokered by the Trump administration is the most significant political agreement between Israel and Lebanon in four decades — but all parties involved know the vision of peace it lays out may never materialize.Mixed with the skepticism is deep concern that the deal could lead to a violent response from Hezbollah that could throw the country back into civil war. The agreement also seems to contradict some of the understandings reached between the U.S. and Iran in Switzerland, and could thus complicate that fragile truce.The backdrop: Iran managed to wrap the situation in Lebanon into its negotiations with the U.S. in recent weeks.That resulted in a memorandum of understanding that calls on the parties to observe a ceasefire in Lebanon and ensure the countrys territorial integrity — which is actively undermined by Israels ongoing occupation of southern Lebanon.During talks in Switzerland last Sunday, the U.S. and Iran agreed to create a new "deconfliction cell," together with Lebanon and the Pakistani and Qatari mediators, to ensure the ceasefire in Lebanon holds.That shocked both Israeli and Lebanese officials, who saw it as bolstering Hezbollah and legitimizing Irans influence in the country. The news also came as Israeli and Lebanese diplomats were preparing for a crucial round of negotiations in Washington.Behind the scenes: When they met at the State Department on Tuesday, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter opened the first session with a strongly worded speech calling the new U.S.-Iranian understandings on Lebanon "a train wreck."Leiter asked the U.S. mediators whether the U.S. was actually still interested in weakening Irans influence in Lebanon, as the Israel-Lebanon talks had been aiming to do.Lebanons representatives followed up with their own demands for clarification. "The Lebanese were on their heels," a source with direct knowledge said. While the U.S. mediators stressed the goal was to get an Israeli-Lebanese agreement with no outside interference, the first day of the talks was "pretty ugly," a U.S. official conceded.The parties dug in on their positions, particularly on security issues, and it felt to some participants as though the negotiations were actually moving backward.Zoom in: The talks took place on two tracks: a security track between military officers, and a political track between diplomats. Senior Pentagon and State Department officials mediated. The parties worked on three documents: a framework agreement, a security annex, and an agreement on an initial Israeli withdrawal from two "pilot zones," to be replaced by the Lebanese army.On Wednesday, the negotiations picked up steam. U.S. officials began to think an agreement could be signed the next day.But on Thursday, the tables turned again. As the day passed, the parties hardened their positions, and the U.S. couldnt bridge the gaps on all three documents to create a single package. The main dispute was over the terms and locations of the Israeli withdrawals.On Thursday evening, both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun hit the brakes. Negotiators on both sides asked for more time to consult with their capitals, and the U.S. mediators agreed to extend the talks by a day.The intrigue: Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed back in Washington on Thursday night after a trip to the Persian Gulf.Rubio had been speaking by phone with both Netanyahu and Aoun since Tuesday, holding around eight calls in total with the two leaders. Vice President Vance also spoke to each leader at least once.Rubio emphasized to Netanyahu and Aoun that it was important to President Trump for a deal to be wrapped up by the end of the week.The high-level attention from Washington "made it clear to both sides that there was a clear sense of urgency here," a source with knowledge said.Inside the room: On Friday morning, Rubio joined the talks to try to close the final gaps. Also involved in the final push were U.S. chief negotiator Dan Holler, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, CENTCOM Marines commander Lt. Gen. Joseph Clearfield, and Pentagon officials Daniel Zimmerman and Michael Dimino.The U.S. asked Israel for two changes to the text in order to secure the deal, including an Israeli withdrawal from a village in southern Lebanon currently under Israeli occupation and a clear statement that this would mark the beginning of a broader process of redeployment out of Lebanon.Leiter pressed Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials to agree in a call that became heated when Netanyahu resisted the changes. Two sources said Leiter raised his voice as he made the case that the deal was an important achievement and Israel needed to sign.A source close to Leiter said he raised his voice because of the noise on the phone line. Leiter himself told Axios that calls to consult with officials back home are "customary" during negotiations and differences of opinion are "natural.""During one of the update calls, a professional, substantive, and at times sharp discussion took place, during which a range of views was heard regarding the best way to maximize the achievements of the negotiations while fully safeguarding Israels vital interests," he said.Between the lines: "There wasnt a lot of trust between Israel and Lebanon, but eventually both parties understood they needed to get a deal in order to keep control of the process and not allow Iran in," a source with direct knowledge said. The other side: The agreement immediately increased internal tensions in Lebanon. Hezbollah tried to organize demonstrations in Beirut against the deal on Friday, but only managed to mobilize several hundred people who were quickly dispersed.On Saturday, Lebanese security forces took down dozens of posters placed by Hezbollah on the main road to Beiruts international airport, thanking Irans supreme leader for the ceasefire.In their place, the Lebanese government hung its own posters with the slogan, "Lebanon first" — some of which were burned by Hezbollah supporters on Saturday night.What theyre saying: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem declared the agreement with Israel "null and void" and called it "a humiliation, disgrace, and a surrender of sovereignty."He stressed Hezbollah will continue its "resistance" to the Israeli occupation.Whats next: Later on Saturday, Trump spoke with Aoun and congratulated him on the deal.Trump said the U.S. would provide everything necessary to implement the agreement and to support Lebanons sovereignty and the extension of the Lebanese states authority over the entire Lebanese territory, Aouns office said.At the end of the call, Trump told Aoun he looked forward to meeting him soon at the White House. The visit is expected in mid-July.

axios · 5 days ago

The US-Iran MoU: A mirage of an agreement Both Washington and Tehran know that current deal will not lead to lasting peace. It is merely a strategic pause

aljazeera · 5 days ago

IRGC doubles down as Iran-US MoU jeopardised by Hormuz strikes Markets in Iran react poorly after two nights of military confrontations over transit through the critical strait.

aljazeera · 5 days ago

Attacker sinkar Trumps plan: Inga samtal hålls USA har anfallit Iran från luften igen. Samtidigt har Iran riktat attacker mot länder runt Persiska viken. Vapenvilan länderna emellan har visat sig skör – men uppgörelsen gäller fortfarande, enligt Mellanösternexperten Alexander Atarodi.

svenska dagbladet · 5 days ago

Waffenstillstand mit dem Iran auf der Kippe: „US-Militärbasen werden die Hölle erleben [premium] Neue gegenseitige Angriffe trotz des Waffenstillstands bedrohen die Verhandlungen zwischen den USA und dem Iran. Das Regime in Teheran pokert hoch: Es will den USA und arabischen Staaten in Hormuz-Straße seinen Willen aufzwingen.

die presse · 5 days ago

🇮🇷 🇺🇸 Irans top diplomat has warned that any attempt by shipping to bypass its preferred route through the Strait of Hormuz would "increase tensions" in the Middle East, as US and Iranian forces again traded attacks across the vital seaway. ➡️ u.afp.com/SKoa

bluesky_AFP English · 5 days ago

U.S.-Iran ceasefire could go up in flames This is more fire than cease: Over the past few days, tension between the U.S. and Iran has been escalating with another exchange of strikes on Saturday. President Trump threatened on Truth Social to resume the war and "complete the job."Why it matters: The U.S. and Iran are bombing each other again, putting the tenuous ceasefire in doubt again.Between the lines: One reason for the renewed fighting seems to be different interpretations of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war that was signed 10 days ago — especially when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz.With the situation escalating by the day, it isnt clear if the next round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iranian technical teams planned for Tuesday in Switzerland will actually take place.Catch up quick: As part of the MOU, Iran committed to make its best efforts to allow safe passage of commercial vessels through the strait. In return, the U.S. lifted its blockade on Iranian ports.During negotiations in Switzerland last week, the U.S. delegation — headed by Vice President Vance — agreed with Iran to establish a "hotline" between the U.S. military and the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), Irans military command, to coordinate traffic in the strait.As of Saturday, the "hotline" still wasnt operational. The situation has been escalating as Iran started claiming, again, that ships need to coordinate passage.On Saturday evening, the U.S. military struck Iranian targets in retaliation for an attack Saturday morning on a commercial tanker.It was the second wave of U.S. strikes in Iran in 24 hours.The latest: Iran responded with drone and missile attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, according to the IRGC.Iranian state media quoted the IRGC as threatening more forceful attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, raising the prospect of the peace process coming to a halt.Earlier Saturday, the IRGC launched an attack drone at the Panama-flagged M/T Kiku tanker, which was passing through the strait with more than 2 million barrels of crude oil, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said.The incident happened several hours after the U.S. struck Iranian targets, in retaliation for another attack on a commercial ship on Thursday. In addition to the tanker strike, Iran retaliated by attacking targets in Bahrain early Saturday.CENTCOM said in a statement that U.S. aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities and minelaying capabilities.What theyre saying: Trump, in a Truth Social post Saturday evening, confirmed the strikes and threatened more."There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started," he wrote. "If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!"Go deeper: Trumps messy path to peace.

axios · 5 days ago

Iran-US war live: Trump warns Iran will ​no longer exist as Tehran issues Strait of Hormuz threat Iran strikes US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation against US attack on Sirik

independent · 5 days ago

What is Article 5 of Iran-US MoU, and why is it blamed for Hormuz strikes? Iran and the US trade attacks over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which has emerged as a major sticking point.

aljazeera · 5 days ago

„Dann wird der Iran nicht mehr existieren: Trump droht nach wechselseitigen Angriffen US-Präsident Donald Trump nennt als Grund für die Angriffe die Verletzung des Waffenstillstandsabkommens - und droht: „Es könnte der Punkt kommen, an dem wir nicht mehr vernünftig sein können.

die presse · 5 days ago

Iranian lawmaker warns US strikes during talks bring retreat and regret The head of Irans parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said Saturday that US strikes on Iranian targets during ongoing negotiations expose Washingtons blatant disregard for diplomatic principles and ceasefire understandings, warning that such aggression would ultimately bring only "retreat and regret" for American forces.

yenisafak · 5 days ago