Middle East

Hezbollah Needs to Cease Attacks First: US Official

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the ongoing diplomatic negotiations, a senior US official told AFP.

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Iran Says Does Not Trust US as Trump Toughens Terms

Iran's chief negotiator warned the US was not to be trusted, saying Tehran would not agree to any deal with Washington unless it fully secured Iranian rights.

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Israel PM Says Capturing Beaufort ‘Dramatic Shift’ in Lebanon Offensive

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to push deeper into Lebanon after his military took over the medieval castle of Beaufort on Sunday.

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US Says Capable of Resuming War With Iran as Deal Remains Elusive

The US warned it was "more than capable" of resuming its war with Iran after President Donald Trump said any peace deal must adhere to his red lines, including Tehran never being able to develop nuclear weapons.

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Iran State TV Says Draft Deal With US Includes Releasing $12B in Assets

Iranian state media reported that a proposed memorandum of understanding with the US included an agreement to release $12 billion in frozen assets.

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Turkey Warns Against ‘Uncontrolled Escalation’ After Drone Strike on Ship

Turkey on Friday warned against "uncontrolled escalation" in the Black Sea region after a drone attack on Thursday night hit a Turkish cargo ship.

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Trump Insists on Red Lines as Iran Deal Remains Elusive

US President Donald Trump will only make a peace deal with Iran if it meets all of his conditions, a White House official told AFP on Friday, as questions swirled about the state of negotiations to end the war.

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Royal Navy Ship Delivers Cargo for Strait of Hormuz Mine-Clearance Ops

A Royal Navy mine-hunting support vessel has delivered specialized cargo to a UK warship deploying to the Middle East ahead of potential mine-clearance operations.

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US-Iran Truce Deal Awaits Trump as Strikes Test Ceasefire

US and Iranian negotiators edged toward a deal to extend their fragile ceasefire for 60 days, but the potential breakthrough was still hanging on President Donald Trump's approval, US sources told AFP.

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Hezbollah Drone Barrage Pressures Israeli Military Defenses

Over 15 explosive unmanned aerial systems launched by Iran-backed Islamist group Hezbollah detonated in Israel on Tuesday, with several striking inside military areas, amid mounting concerns over the increasing use of drones in cross-border attacks.

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