Hopes rose that the Iran war could begin winding down as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that his government was holding productive talks with Tehran, but fighting showed no signs of slowing and Iran denied there were talks.
Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, saying the U.S. will hold off striking Iranian power plants for five more days to allow U.S. envoys to hold talks with a “respected” Iranian leader.
Iranian officials said that the American leader had backed down “following Iran’s firm warning.”
Relief ripped through financial markets Monday as oil prices eased following severe losses prior to Trump’s announcement. Markets have experienced vicious swings up and down since the war began because of uncertainty about how long it may last.
The death toll has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, more than 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 U.S. military members, as well as a number of civilians on land and sea in the Gulf region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.
Here is the latest:
Egypt minister and US envoy discuss potential Iran negotiations
Egypt Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed “potential negotiations” between the U.S. and Iran in a phone call Monday with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, the Egyptian foreign ministry said Tuesday.
The ministry said the call came during concerted efforts to revive the “diplomatic path .. as the sole way to avert a comprehensive chaos in the region.”
Abdelatty also spoke with the foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France and Cyprus, the ministry said.
Central Tel Aviv hit by missile strike
After a recent warning about an incoming Iranian missile barrage, an explosion could be heard and smoke could be seen in central Tel Aviv.
Israel’s military said search and rescue forces were headed for several sites where impacts had been reported.
Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service posted images to X of a damaged site in central Israel where rescue workers thronged around cars that had been charred to ashes.
Israel’s police said Tel Aviv officers were headed to multiple sites where impacts were reported.
Yoel Moshe of Magen David Adom rescue service said four people had been lightly wounded but did not require treatment, adding that teams were searching for more injured.
Iran foreign minister holds talks
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi since Monday has been discussing the conflict with some of his counterparts.
Araghchi is speaking with officials from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey and Turkmenistan, his office confirmed.
South Korea to increase nuclear and coal power generation
South Korea says it will expand operations at nuclear and coal-fired power plants to reduce natural gas consumption.
Kim Sungwhan, the climate and energy minister, said Tuesday that 15 of the country’s 26 nuclear reactors are currently in operation and five of 11 reactors now undergoing maintenance will likely be back online by May.
Kim said officials also will temporarily ease emissions-related restrictions on coal-fired plants to allow them to increase output on clear days.
He said officials are considering extending the life of three coal plants that had been scheduled for decommissioning this year.
Iran must ‘think wisely’ over Trump’s comments about talks
A member of Iran’s Parliament has warned that his nation must “think wisely” about U.S. President Donald Trump saying talks were ongoing between Tehran and Washington.
The semiofficial Fars news agency quoted Esmail Kowsari, a member of Parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, as making the comment.
“Trump, Netanyahu and the like are inherently liars and their nature is to create division,” he said. “We must think wisely. Their nature is to sow discord so that they can make people distrust officials and believe that such actions have taken place, whereas no such action has occurred.”
Israel issues sixth missile warning Tuesday
Israel issued another missile warning to the public for Iranian fire, the sixth warning since midnight on Tuesday.
Israeli strikes near Beirut kill 2, hit targets in southern Lebanon
An Israeli strike early Tuesday on a residential apartment in Bchamoun, around 10 kilometers (6 miles) southeast of Beirut, killed at least two people, according to an initial toll from the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The strike wounded five others, the ministry added.
The strike came without warning and hit an area outside Beirut’s southern suburbs, where the Israeli military had previously issued evacuation notices.
Footage circulating online showed at least one apartment in a building engulfed in flames.
Also early Tuesday, Israeli strikes hit several areas in southern Lebanon, including a gas station belonging to the Amana company in Rashidieh, near the port city of Tyre, sending a large plume of fire into the air.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Israel has repeatedly struck Amana fuel stations since the conflict with Hezbollah reignited on March 2, accusing them of being part of the group’s “economic infrastructure” that can support its military activities.
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