US airline stocks rise as oil retreats to pre-Iran war levels
US airline stocks rose 3 percent to 7 percent after crude prices fell to their lowest since before the Iran war, raising hopes that pressure on carriers' earnings could ease, though the benefits are unlikely to passed on to passengers immediately.
Rubio says US won't do anything that would undermine Gulf security
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will not do anything that would undermine the security of US allies in the Gulf region when it comes to dealings with Iran.
Israel PM Netanyahu completes testimony in corruption trials
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has concluded his testimony in his graft trials, a justice ministry spokeswoman told AFP, as he grapples with a US-Iran deal widely interpreted as detrimental to the country's interests.
Netanyahu has testified in 98 hearings since December 2024, many of them shortened or delayed upon the request of his lawyer Amit Hadad due to his security meetings, government duties or health issues.
Netanyahu is facing charges in two cases in which he allegedly negotiated favourable media coverage from Israeli news outlets, and a third involving accusations that he accepted more than $260,000 in luxury gifts from billionaires in exchange for political favours.
Israeli forces kill man in West Bank raid, Palestinian health ministry says
Israeli forces killed a Palestinian man during a house raid in a town in the northern occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry, a paramedic and a local resident said.
The health ministry said that the Palestinian body in charge of coordinating with Israeli authorities had notified it of the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Zayed, who was "shot dead by the occupation (Israeli) forces in Yamun".
UN maritime head tells AFP will take 'few weeks' to evacuate all Gulf sailors
The evacuation of more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the Gulf owing to the US-Iran war will take "a few weeks", the head of the International Maritime Organization told AFP.
"It will take us a few weeks before we can actually complete the evacuation" of about 600 ships stuck since the start of the conflict, IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez said in an interview.
Israeli defence minister says 'no US demand' to withdraw from Lebanon
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the United States has not demanded that Israel withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, a condition reportedly set by Tehran in ceasefire negotiations.
"We have announced that in any case we are not withdrawing and, as of this moment – and this is a diplomatic achievement – there is no American demand for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon," Katz said in an interview at a convention of local leaders in Tel Aviv.
When asked if the army would adhere to such a US request if it arrived, Katz said he told US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump that "we are there to protect the residents of the north".
Italy slams NATO chief's comments on Iran war flights
Italy criticised comments by NATO chief Mark Rutte on the politically sensitive issue of US forces using bases in Italy during the Iran war.
Responding to President Donald Trump's criticism of NATO allies for not supporting the US, Rutte told Fox News that Europe was in fact a "platform of power projection for the United States".
"Five hundred US planes took off from US bases in Italy to support (Operation) Epic Fury. So this is massive," Rutte told the network ahead of an expected meeting with Trump.
Italy's defence ministry in a statement said Rutte's words gave "a completely misleading message by confusing the type of flights that were authorised".
US Embassy in Kuwait resumes operations after Iranian attacks
The US Embassy in Kuwait has resumed operations that were suspended following attacks in March by Iran, a State Department spokesperson said.
The embassy will immediately resume emergency services for American citizens while other services will be phased in, the spokesperson said.
The State Department shut down embassy operations in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in March after Iranian drones fired at the missions following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Lebanon says Israeli strike on vehicle in south kills two
An Israeli strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon killed two people, Lebanese state media reported, a day after Israeli gunfire killed two people which militant group Hezbollah called a "violation" of a truce between the two sides.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said that "two people were killed" when an Israeli drone targeted their vehicle near the town of Kfar Rumman.
The Israeli military had said earlier that it targeted "two armed Hezbollah terrorists in the area of Ali al-Taher Ridge" near the city of Nabatieh "who posed a threat", vowing that it will "continue to operate to remove immediate threats".
Does Senate rebuke show Trump's grip on GOP is slipping?
The US Senate backed legislation on Tuesday directing President Donald Trump to halt US military action against Iran, the latest rebuke of the Republican president from an increasingly restive Congress.
While likely to remain largely symbolic, the vote was a setback for Trump, who until recently had enjoyed near-unanimous support from Republican members of Congress.
- Oman announces temporary maritime corridor through Strait of Hormuz
- Rubio kicks off Middle East trip as allies seek answers on Iran
- UN nuclear agency boss signals that inspectors will visit Iran's nuclear sites
- Iran says deal to end Mideast war 'declaration of US defeat'
- Mediator Pakistan says US-Iran technical talks to resume next week
- No withdrawal from southern Lebanon, even if the US demands it, says Israel’s defence minister
UN maritime body to begin evacuating sailors as Hormuz toll dispute continues
An evacuation plan to enable hundreds of ships with some 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf to sail through the Strait of Hormuz is underway after Iran and the US reached a ceasefire deal, the United Nations' shipping agency said on Tuesday.
Rubio kicks off Gulf 'charm offensive' amid allies' fears over US-Iran deal
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged he faces a delicate mission this week pitching Washington's Iran peace deal to Gulf Arab leaders who fear excessive concessions will strengthen Tehran and reshape the region's security balance and oil flows.
FRANCE 24's Rochelle Ferguson-Bouyahi takes a closer look at what she says is likely to be a "charm offensive" from the US's top diplomat.
Brent crude under $75 for first time since start of war
The price of Brent North Sea crude, the international benchmark, extended losses to trade under $75 a barrel for the first time since the start of the Middle East war.
Brent slid 3.1 percent to $74.73, extending its fall since the United States and Iran last week struck a deal to end the conflict that began on February 28.
Iran-Gulf reconciliation talks expected in Saudi Arabia
Talks on reconciliation between Gulf countries and Iran are expected to take place in Saudi Arabia, a diplomat with knowledge of the arrangements told AFP.
A summit aimed at mending ties between Gulf nations, Iran and possibly other regional neighbours in the aftermath of the Middle East war was expected in Riyadh, the diplomat said, without specifying a date.
The meetings would be independent of ongoing talks between the United States and Iran, the diplomat added.
Rubio discusses Iran deal with UAE president
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the memorandum of understanding with Iran, safe transit through Strait of Hormuz and the importance of peace in the region in a meeting with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the State Department said.
Bessent insists US will manage Iran's funds, use for food, medicines
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed President Donald Trump and insisted that a large percentage of Iran's unfrozen assets would be used to buy US foods and medicine even as Iran says it would determine its spending.
Bessent, in an interview on CNBC, added that the US Department of Treasury would have an operation in Doha to oversee the funds.
Israeli army says struck Hezbollah operatives in south Lebanon
Israel's military said it had conducted an airstrike targeting two Hezbollah operatives in south Lebanon who it said posed a threat to troops deployed in the area, despite a truce in the war with the Iran-backed militants.
"The IDF struck two armed Hezbollah terrorists in the area of Ali al-Taher Ridge who posed a threat," the military said. "The IDF will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to harm Israeli civilians or IDF soldiers, and will continue to operate to remove immediate threats."
Qatar PM in Oman to prepare for Hormuz talks between Gulf and Iran
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has visited Muscat for talks with Oman on initiating negotiations involving Iran, Iraq and Gulf Arab states on the Strait of Hormuz, a diplomat briefed on the talks told Reuters.
The discussions are separate from US-Iran peace talks and de-mining arrangements. Gulf states are expected to push for no transit fees, while Iran could propose environmental, navigation and security fees, the diplomat said.
Trump says assured by Iran no tolls to be charged at Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said he has been assured by Iran that no fees will be collected from ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as negotiations continue to secure a lasting end to the war in the Middle East.
"Iran has informed the US that ... there are 'NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS, & NO OTHER CHARGES OF ANY KIND BEING SOUGHT OR RECEIVED BY IRAN ON SHIPS TRAVELING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ'," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, without specifying whether those assurances would remain in place after the 60-day negotiating period.
Tehran has repeatedly said it plans to charge what it calls maritime service fees for crossing the strait, as opposed to tolls, a plan fiercely opposed by the United States.
Iran and Oman said Tuesday they will study the costs to be charged for services provided in administering the Strait of Hormuz, insisting they held sovereignty over the waterway.
Yesterday's key developments:
• Iran and Oman said they would examine charges for what they called maritime service fees in the Strait of Hormuz through a joint working group.
• Hezbollah leader Naim Gassem insisted upon a complete, scheduled withdrawal of Israel’s troops from southern Lebanon after authorities earlier said Israeli fire had killed two people there despite a ceasefire.
• Iran said there are no visits scheduled for inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to see nuclear sites earlier bombed by the United States.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)
