Middle East Crisis

Strait of Hormuz
Iran: Agreed with Oman – if “some” stay out

Iran and Oman have agreed on a new route through the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said according to AFP.

The countries are now finalizing the details of an agreement.

According to the ministry, a joint statement from both countries is expected if “some third parties” refrain from interfering.

The countries are to agree on an approved route for commercial ships. However, the agreement does not in itself mean that the strait is safe, Iran emphasizes. 

Iran War
Iran: “Very difficult” to talk to the supreme leader

It is “very difficult” to interact with Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the country’s president Masoud Pezeshkian told state television according to Reuters.

Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since he replaced his father Ali Khamenei as Iran's supreme leader.

In April, sources told the news agency that Khamenei had been seriously injured in the US-Israeli attack that killed his father. The attack reportedly disfigured his face and caused damage to both of his legs. However, Iran has maintained that he is involved in the government of Iran. 

Gaza war
Army chief: Israel will continue operations against Gaza

Israel will continue to "act proactively" in Gaza, the country's army chief Eyal Zamir said according to AFP.

The statement comes after a week of reports that a new agreement between Israel and Hamas is expected. US President Donald Trump was the first to say that the parties had agreed that Hamas should disarm.

Hamas confirmed that the group had agreed to disarm after the Israeli military agreed to leave Gaza. Israel later stated that the military would not withdraw until Hamas had completely disarmed.

Israel has carried out several attacks on Gaza this week.

Israel-Hezbollah
Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon: “Response to ceasefire violations”

The Israeli army IDF has launched attacks in southern Lebanon, the IDF says on X. According to the post, the shelling is a response to “flagrant ceasefire violations” by Hezbollah.

Shortly before the attacks, the IDF ordered the evacuation of the village of Mansouri on the coast of southern Lebanon, according to AFP. The evacuation order is the first in several weeks, according to L’Orient Today.

The Israeli military controls almost 600 square kilometers of land in southern Lebanon, according to a review in the Israeli Haaretz.

Peace talks between the two countries have been underway in Rome since yesterday and are described as “positive” by the Lebanese Naharnet.