Real-time coverage of developments across the Middle East
The US Navy is escorting dozens of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz each night, carrying millions of barrels of oil, senior US officials said on Friday.
Israel launched airstrikes, drone attacks, and artillery shelling on several towns and villages in southern Lebanon, violating the April ceasefire.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says understanding has been reached on the majority of issues in talks with the US, adding that final reviews are underway.
An Israeli technology company has been accused of targeting Scottish First Minister John Swinney.
Israeli authorities denied entry to French journalist Alice Frosard at Ben Gurion Airport and sent her back to Paris, citing her positions and statements regarding what she described as the Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi called her a Hamas supporter for urging that the events of October 7 be viewed in a broader context.
Shipowners are watching warily for a peace deal between the US and Iran and what it would mean for the Strait of Hormuz.
An informed source close to the Iranian negotiating team has strongly rejected recent claims by US President Donald Trump and certain foreign media outlets that a final agreement is ready to be signed in the Swiss city of Geneva on Sunday.
A White House official says Iran's supreme leader is "comfortable" with the status of U.S.-Iran negotiations over a memorandum of understanding. Tehran has not commented.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran has transparently communicated its positions and is in the stage of finalizing a draft Memorandum of Understanding domestically, with a meeting currently taking place among relevant institutions. He added that the claim Iran is close to an understanding is not new and that contradictory statements from the other side are the main challenge.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, says relevant institutions are meeting as they are in the final stages of summarizing the text of the understanding between the US and Iran.
Rainbow flags, colorful floats and Bad Bunny on loudspeakers brought a festive mood to Tel Aviv for this year's Pride march, the first in full form since before the October 7, 2023 attack and the war in Gaza.
Iran says understandings reached with US on most issues under discussion, talks have entered final stage of internal reviews and consultations.
Hamas has condemned Israel's expansion of the 'yellow line' in Gaza, saying the move was meant to 'blow up the negotiation track' and undermine the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson says understandings have been reached on a large part of issues in talks and that they are in the final stage of internal conclusions.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson: Understandings reached on large part of issues in talks and we are in final stage of internal conclusions - IRNA
In an interview with Al Mayadeen, MP Hassan Ezzeddine of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc in the Lebanese Parliament said that direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanese authorities do not concern the Lebanese Resistance, and that any outcomes are not worth the ink they are written with. He added that the Resistance could reach understandings with Lebanese authorities if they retract this mistake of direct negotiations with the Israeli enemy.
Hezbollah is confident that any agreement between the United States and Iran will include Lebanon, a politician said.
Iran's decision-making bodies are meeting about the memorandum, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson tells state TV.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson tells state TV that they cannot confirm any of the details of a memorandum published in media.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson: We cannot confirm any of the details of the memorandum published in the media.
The United Nations has warned that attacks by Israeli settlers and forces in the occupied West Bank are occurring at the highest rate on record, averaging around six incidents per day. OCHA records that more than 1,000 settler attacks caused casualties or property damage this year, affecting over 230 communities. The report adds that more than 2,200 Palestinians have been displaced due to settler violence and movement restrictions, alongside further displacement linked to home demolitions.
A senior administration official says Iran's Supreme Leader is reportedly comfortable with the current state of negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson says Iran's decision-making bodies are meeting about the memorandum, according to State TV.
An Iran-linked hacker group called Handala claimed to have breached FBI drones and threatened to target the 2026 World Cup, monitoring group SITE said Friday.
A US official states that Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz has diminished.
A U.S. official says Iranians have expressed willingness to agree on language in nuclear negotiations.
Iran deal reopens Strait of Hormuz - official
New images of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya have sparked renewed outrage over his detention. He appeared in a Jerusalem court on Wednesday via video call.
Four Palestinians were injured in Israeli settler attacks on the village of Deir Abu Mishal in the occupied West Bank.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that it had killed three militant commanders in the Gaza Strip in precise strikes carried out a day earlier. The IDF identified them as Qasslam Hassan Saleh and Sami Jamil Abu Dalal, platoon commanders in Islamic Jihad, and Ubay Mamoun Saleh Farwana, a deputy company commander of Hamas. The military said the three were involved in planning imminent attacks against Israeli troops and posed an immediate threat. In a separate statement, the IDF said it