German foreign ministry says Gaza plan could lead towards disarmament of Hamas
The German government regards U.S. President Donald Trump's latest Gaza plan as an opportunity to make progress towards the disarmament of Hamas, a German foreign ministry spokesperson said.
Asked in a regular news conference about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of the plan, the spokesperson also said some disagreement was to be expected.
"With such a complex undertaking, it was perfectly clear there would be many, many unanswered questions," he said.
Iranians 'professional chess players', says ministry in response to Trump analogy
Tehran said Iranians had shown "they are professional chess players" in response to remarks by US President Donald Trump comparing his dealings with Iran to the board game.
Trump on Sunday signalled he was prepared to let economic pressure mount against Iran, apparently backing away from more military strikes after Tehran issued a list of demands for opening the Strait of Hormuz.
"Lights out or lights on, Iranians showed they are professional chess players," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a weekly press conference.
Trump had earlier been quoted by news outlet Axios as saying he was "low-keying it" with Iran.
"We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money," he said.
"It will work out. It always works out. It's like a chess game," Trump added.
Netanyahu eyes election base as friction with Trump grows over Gaza deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected a US-led Gaza plan endorsed by Hamas, putting distance between himself and President Donald Trump as he tries to shore up his base ahead of close elections.
“Netanyahu is willing to break ties with Trump over the 15-point Gaza peace deal to gain support from the far-right members of his coalition,” FRANCE 24 international affairs editor Philip Turle says.
Iran says no reason to fear Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi security pact
Iran sees no reason to be concerned that a new security pact between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia is directed against Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.
Baghaei said the pact showed a shift in regional countries' approach to security, with greater reliance on their own capabilities rather than outside powers.
"Any plan that is based on the geopolitical and historical realities of the region, is comprehensive and inclusive, and correctly identifies the enemy and the threat, has a chance of helping to strengthen security and prevent instability and abuses by the Zionist enemy and its allies," he added, referring to Israel.
Iran says Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey deal shows 'change in perception' towards US
Iran says Saudi-Pakistan-Turkey deal shows 'change in perception' towards US
Iran's foreign ministry said Monday that a defence pact signed last week between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan was "a sign of a change in the perception" of countries in the region towards the United States.
"The countries of the region have realised that security is not a commodity that can be bought from false brokers," said ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei at a weekly press conference, referring to the United States, an ally of the three signatories to the pact.
Oil prices climb
Oil prices rose after Israel rejected a deal announced by US President Donald Trump for Gaza. Details emerged on the potential deal between Iran and Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran suggested that vessels linked to “hostile countries” would be barred.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels struck a government-held port on the country’s Red Sea coast, deepening fears over threats to strategic shipping routes and a potential return to civil war.
Brent crude, the international standard, gained 0.6% to $84.04 per barrel. US benchmark crude advanced 0.5% to $78.58 per barrel.
Tehran issues new list of demands for US to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s national security chief on Sunday outlined a list of demands for the US to meet before Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
They include lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, compensation for war damages and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
- Yemen's Houthis resume attacks on Mocha port, killing seven and wounding 30
Yemen's Houthis resume attacks on Mocha port, killing seven and wounding 30
The Yemeni military said seven people including military personnel and civilians were killed and 30 others wounded in a Houthi attack on the Red Sea port city of Mocha, civilian infrastructure and armed forces.
"Four members of the armed forces and three civilians have been killed, and 30 others injured," the Yemeni military said in a statement early on Monday.
Air defences intercepted and shot down 11 Houthi drones that participated in the attack, the military said.
Footage shown by Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV showed the launch of several ballistic missiles and drones, which Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a post on Telegram targeted Saudi troop concentrations and weapons depots.
The Yemeni military said the Houthi attacks had also targeted residential neighbourhoods in Mocha.
Iran ties Hormuz reopening to US concessions on several demands
Iran said it was nearing a final pact with Oman defining new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz but repeated that the US must meet other conditions, including compensation and an end to sanctions and military threats, before the strategic waterway is reopened.
A US official told Reuters on Friday that Iran and Oman were close to a deal that could pave the way for restoring safe passage through the strait, a major conduit for oil and gas shipping before Iran blocked Hormuz in response to US and Israeli attacks on Tehran that began in late February.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday an agreement with Oman on the strait was in its "final stages" but reiterated comments made on Saturday that Tehran would not reopen the channel unless the US met certain demands made by Tehran.
Araqchi said reopening the strait would depend in part on the US paying compensation for damage it caused in widespread attacks on Iran.
Welcome to the FRANCE 24 liveblog covering events in the Middle East. You can catch up on yesterday's developments here.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
