Paris (France) (AFP) – The latest developments in the Middle East war:
**- Talks possible**
A second round of US-Iran talks could take place within the next three days, the New York Post reported Wednesday, citing unnamed Pakistani sources and President Donald Trump. “It’s possible!” Trump reportedly told the Post by text message, when asked about sources in Pakistan — which mediated the first round of talks — saying that a second round was “expected in Islamabad within the next 36 to 72 hours.” Trump on Tuesday extended a two-week truce in the war just as it was about to expire. A digital news outlet in Pakistan, News Post, reported the three-day time frame for more talks without a source or further details.
**- Lebanon war toll, damage**
Israeli strikes killed three people in Lebanon despite an ongoing 10-day ceasefire, Lebanese state media said, adding that Beirut would request an extension of the truce during upcoming talks with Israel in Washington. More than 2,400 people have been killed, and more than a million displaced in the country since Iran-backed Hezbollah drew the nation into the war on March 2. Israeli attacks on Lebanon have damaged or destroyed more than 62,000 housing units in the country, a government estimate said.
**- Iran hanging**
Iran hanged a man convicted of links to Israel’s Mossad spy agency, the judiciary said. Two NGOs based outside the country said he worked for the Iranian atomic energy organisation.
**- Iran Guards say two ships seized**
Iranian forces targeted three container ships, seizing two and firing on a third, global security monitors and the country’s Revolutionary Guards said. Tehran has said vessels must seek permission to leave or enter the Gulf through the strait, a route that in peacetime accounts for a fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports along with other vital commodities.
**- $500-mn cash shipment to Iraq blocked**
The United States blocked a plane carrying nearly $500 million in banknotes from delivering the cash to Iraq, US media reported, piling pressure on Baghdad to fight Iran-backed militant groups. The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington had suspended cash shipments to Iraq and frozen funding for security programs following attacks on US interests in the country by groups showing solidarity with Iran.
**- Oil prices fall**
Oil prices edged higher Wednesday while Europe’s main stock markets eased on uncertainty surrounding the prospect of resumed Mideast peace talks following an extension to the US-Iran ceasefire. Brent North Sea was again closing on $100 a barrel while the main US contract, West Texas Intermediate, traded back above $90. Both main oil contracts had risen around three percent Tuesday.
**- Iran cargo ship targeted**
A cargo ship leaving Iran was fired upon and stopped in the water, a British maritime agency reported, as the United States continued its blockade of Iranian ports. “A master of an outbound cargo ship reports having been fired upon and is now stopped in the water. Crew are safe and accounted for. There is no reported damage to the vessel,” the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said.
© 2024 AFP
