Tanker hit by unknown projectiles off UAE’s Fujairah, UKMTO says
A tanker has reported being hit by unknown projectiles while transiting about 78 nautical miles north of the city of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Monday.
Oil slips after Trump says US will help free ships stranded in Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices eased on Monday after US President Donald Trump said the United States would begin an effort to free up ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, however the lack of a US-Iran peace deal kept prices supported above $100.
Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell 64 cents, or 0.59%, to $107.53 a barrel by 2308 GMT after settling down $2.23 on Friday.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate CLc1 was at $101.10 a barrel, down 84 cents, or 0.82%, following a $3.13 loss on Friday.
“For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social site on Sunday.
Catholic convent damaged in Lebanon
A Catholic charity condemned what it called the “deliberate act of destruction against a place of worship” after a convent was damaged by Israeli forces in Lebanon.
The Israeli military confirmed a “religious building” was damaged by troops operating in the village of Yaroun and “houses located in a religious compound” were “damaged” during an operation to “destroy terrorist infrastructure”.
French Catholic charity L’Oeuvre d’Orient said troops “destroyed” a convent belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters, a Greek-Catholic religious order the charity is affiliated with.
Hezbollah can ‘thwart’ Lebanon-Israel talks
A Hezbollah lawmaker said Sunday that the group would be able to “thwart” the objectives of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.
Speaking at an event to honour killed Hezbollah fighters, Hassan Fadlallah said “these negotiations with all their results do not concern us, and we will not implement them”.
Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2, when it fired rockets at Israel in support of its backer Iran.
Israel’s Lebanon warning
Israel’s military issued new evacuation warnings in southern Lebanon for villages beyond the area it occupies, despite a truce with Lebanon intended to halt fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The warning covers more than 10 villages and towns, including several in the district of Nabatieh, which lies north of the Litani River.
Sunday strikes by Israel on southern Lebanon killed at least one person and wounded four rescuers on Sunday, the Lebanese health ministry said.
US says blockade ‘suffocating’ Iran
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the US was “suffocating” Iran’s leadership through an “economic blockade” launched alongside Washington’s military offensive known as Operation Epic Fury.
“This began with the order last March from President Trump on max pressure, and three weeks ago the president gave the order to Treasury myself to begin Economic Fury,” Bessent told Fox News.
Germany’s Merz not ‘giving up’ working with US
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Sunday he would not give up on working with Trump, despite a spat between the leaders over the Iran war and Trump’s announcement that the number of US troops stationed in the European country would be cut by “a lot further than 5,000.”
“I am not giving up on working on the transatlantic relationship,” Merz told public broadcaster ARD. “Nor am I giving up on working with Donald Trump.”
Iran weighs US response to plan
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Sunday the United States faced a choice between an “impossible” military operation or a deal with Tehran, after President Donald Trump disparaged Iran’s latest peace proposal.
Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran had submitted a 14-point plan “focused on ending the war” and that Washington had already responded to it in a message to Pakistani mediators, which Iran was reviewing.
Trump says US and Iran in ‘positive’ talks, unveils plan to escort Hormuz ships
President Donald Trump said Sunday the United States was conducting “very positive discussions” with Iran, as he outlined a plan for US forces to escort ships through the blocked Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday.
He said the new maritime operation, which he dubbed “Project Freedom,” was a “humanitarian” gesture for crews aboard the many ships swept up in the blockade and which may be running low on food and other crucial supplies.
“We will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait. In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation,” Trump said in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform.
Welcome to the FRANCE 24 liveblog covering events in the Middle East.