Middle East Crisis Peace Talks

Trump Gathers Cabinet – Expected to Talk About Iran Deal

The US president will gather his cabinet at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, likely to give an update on the peace talks with Iran, reports Sky News.

Over the weekend, Trump stated that negotiations were underway on the final details of a peace deal. Iran said at the time that the parties had agreed on a “framework”.

At the same time, Iran’s intelligence ministry said on Wednesday that Israel and the US’s goal remains to overthrow the religious regime and divide the country, reports AFP. The ministry says it has information that shows that the US and Israeli sides intend to try to increase economic pressure on the country.

Information: Hormuz traffic to be restored within a month according to draft agreement

Iranian media have published details of what is said to be a draft of a “memorandum of understanding” between the US and Iran, Sky News reports.

According to the draft, US forces will withdraw from Iran’s vicinity and the blockade of the country’s ports will be lifted. In return, Iran will ensure that international traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is restored within a month.

According to the draft, traffic through the strait will be administered by Iran and Oman.

If a final agreement is reached within 60 days, the agreement will be approved in the form of a binding resolution in the UN Security Council, according to the information.

Middle East Crisis Iran war
Analysis: White House is chasing an acceptable end to the Iran war

Americans are tired of the Iran war. But they do not have much faith that Donald Trump has a good way out of it, writes CNN’s Aaron Blake in an analysis.

Blake identifies two mistakes that the president seems to have made from the start: he entered the war without a credible exit plan – and without having public opinion on his side.

Now the White House seems to be chasing an acceptable conclusion rather than a clear victory, writes Blake.

Despite claims of progress in the negotiations, several issues still appear to be unresolved, the AP news agency notes in an analytical text. A key question is whether Iran will agree to give up its highly enriched uranium and promise not to produce any more.

Reaching an answer to that question will take time, predicts Amber Phillips in the Washington Post.

When asked what Iran will get in return, Phillips' conclusion is: "Probably money."

Middle East Crisis Gaza war
Hamas military leader reportedly killed in Israeli attack

Hamas military leader Mohammed Odeh has been killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza, Israel reports according to AFP. The attack reportedly took place on Tuesday, less than two weeks after his predecessor Ezzedine al-Haddad was killed in a similar attack.

According to Hamas sources, Odeh was killed along with his wife and sons in Gaza City. This afternoon, Hamas confirmed that Odeh had been killed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed after the attack that Odeh was one of the architects behind the October 7 terrorist attacks.