⚠️ U.S.-IRAN TALKS REMAIN UNCERTAIN AS STRAIT PRESSURE, LEBANON CLASHES, AND DIPLOMATIC MOVES INTENSIFY ACROSS THE REGION
♟️ U.S. MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY: CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper has arrived in Tel Aviv for talks with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, according to Israeli Channel 15.
U.S. officials told AP that a new round of negotiations with Iran may take place Thursday in Geneva or Islamabad. Reuters separately reported that U.S. and Iranian teams are expected to return to Islamabad later this week for peace talks.
An Iranian diplomatic source told IRNA: "No official decision has been made yet to hold a new round of negotiations between Iran and the US".
🔸 PRESSURE OVER THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ: Saudi Arabia is urging the U.S. to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and return to negotiations, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Riyadh fears the move could prompt Iran to retaliate by encouraging the Houthis to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Reuters reports that a Chinese-owned oil tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz despite the U.S. blockade.
🗣️ CHINA AND RUSSIA RESPONSES: China’s Foreign Ministry stated: "Reports that China is supplying Iran with weapons are pure fabrication and lies".
Russia sent a stern message to Israel regarding strikes near the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southwestern Iran, warning that Russian personnel working at the facility could be put at risk, according to Israeli Channel 12.
🏷️ IRAN WAR COSTS AND ITALY’S MOVE: Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said Iran’s initial estimate of war losses is around $270 billion. She added that the figure is not final.
Italy has suspended its military defense agreement with Israel.
🚑 IDF CASUALTIES IN SOUTHERN LEBANON: Ten IDF soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade were wounded in a close-quarters clash with Hezbollah gunmen in Bint Jbeil overnight.
Three soldiers were severely injured, one was moderately injured, and six were lightly wounded.
The soldiers were evacuated to a hospital for treatment, and their families have been notified.
🔸 ISRAEL-LEBANON TALKS INITIATIVE: “Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host on Tuesday a meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington, D.C., to launch direct negotiations between the countries,” per Axios.
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