War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Just one in four Americans believes US President Donald Trump’s war with Iran was worth its costs and a majority worry that a truce with Tehran is unlikely to last, a Reuters/Ipsos poll finds.

The five-day poll, which closed on Monday, also showed the war weighing heavily on Trump’s popularity, with his approval rating dropping to 34 per cent, a return to the lowest level of the Republican’s second term that was last touched in an April survey.

Only 23pc of Americans including just half of Republicans think the US is now in a stronger position with Iran compared with its position before the war, the poll found. Some 35pc of respondents think it is in a weaker position. The rest said they were not sure or that the US position was about the same as before.

US President Donald Trump says that Iran is wrong about there not being any plans for International Atomic Energy Agency officials to inspect damaged nuclear sites in the country, adding that UN nuclear watchdog inspectors will be on the ground in Iran at the “appropriate time”, Reuters reports.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem says ⁠that Israeli forces will not ⁠stay in Lebanon, adding that the Lebanese group will respond ‌to any violation of the shaky ceasefire, Al Jazeera reports.

His statements come as Israeli officials ⁠say ⁠troops are free to act without restriction ⁠to eliminate threats ⁠in Lebanon, despite ⁠an agreed ceasefire that took effect ‌on Friday.

“I believe that the tremendous potential of the two countries, besides the political will of the leaders and the support of the countries in the region … can elevate relations between Iran and Pakistan to a level that is befitting the two countries’ position in the Islamic world, and can produce a successful model of cooperation in solidarity and brotherhood,” Iran’s President Pezeshkian has said addressing a press conference.

He stated that Pakistan and Iran shared a resolve to enhance relations especially in the areas of economy and trade, noting that the ministers of both countries had tried to remove any existing technical hurdles and operationalise decisions made within the frameworks of the memoranda of understanding and agreements made during their trip last year.

“They have had very good and constructive discussions and they have achieved very good results,” he said.

Iranian President Pezeshkian says that he has had “constructive” meetings and discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir, regarding the latest regional developments as well as bilateral relations.

“The discussions and the agreements between the two countries show that they are adamant to use the positive existing atmosphere to usher in a new era, open a new chapter in the bilateral relations between the two countries, and draw new horizons and new opportunities of cooperation based on shared interests,” he said.

He expressed the belief that peace, stability, sustainable security, development and the welfare of nations in West Asia could only be ensured through “straightforward and honest discussions, intra-regional cooperation, and interactions and cooperation based on mutual respect for the countries in the region”.

“Based on this fact, we stretch out hands of friendship to establish a common understanding and build a new security structure … for the countries in the region,” he added.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has praised Pakistan’s “responsible and visionary” role in supporting the US-Iran negotiations and in strengthening regional stability, terming it a “manifestation of a brotherly and futuristic attitude” towards the developments in the region during a critical historical juncture.

Addressing the joint press conference alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he said, “The relations between Islamabad and Tehran have always been consolidated on the basis of mutual respect, goodwill and historical trust.”

The recent developments had once again showcased this consolidation, he added.

Addressing a joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that he will be undertaking a visit to Tehran next week to pay his respects to the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, as well as to reaffirm Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran.

The premier also expressed Pakistan’s “heartfelt condolences” over the loss of lives in Iran, including that of the late Ayatollah Khamenei, whom he called “a great visionary leader” respected by the whole Muslim world.

“The people of Pakistan share the grief of our Iranian brothers and sisters and stand in complete solidarity with the people of Iran,” PM Shehbaz said. “Your happiness is our happiness; your sorrow is our sorrow.”

He thanked the Iranian president for visiting Pakistan and for the “warmth and sincerity that he and his delegation have brought with them”.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has echoed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stressing that Tehran’s ballistic missile programme has never been part of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

“I would like to confirm one fact: our missile programme was not included in the MoU, as you said, and it shall not be included in the MoU,” Pezeshkian says at a joint press conference with the premier.

“I would like to say that if it was not for Iran’s missile capabilities, our country would have been plundered, destroyed and ploughed by the US regime and the Zionist regime (Israel), like what Israelis did in Gaza.”

Pezeshkian emphasises that Tehran will “never compromise on our missile programme and capabilities and this shall never be part of any agreement between Iran and any other party”.

The fifth round of US-brokered ceasefire talks regarding Lebanon is a “train wreck”, Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter has been quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

“This is the fifth round of talks, and I must say — we are in a train wreck,” he says in a statement.

“I fear that the concept of ‘deconfliction’ is misplaced. The only issue is Hezbollah. Hezbollah must be defeated and removed from the equation. Instead, there is a danger that Hezbollah has received a boost. It certainly feels stronger and bolder,” he adds.

Leiter goes on to say that dismantling Hezbollah must remain the basis for any ceasefire talks and questioned whether funds that might now be available to Iran will be used to support Hezbollah.

The Strait of Hormuz must be opened for safe and free passage, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells reporters after landing in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That’s existing international law.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says he and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have held “very productive discussions in a very cordial atmosphere”.

“It was like a family reunion, and brothers were talking to each other with the fullest clarity and total commitment that we will do everything to strengthen our brotherly relations like never before,” he remarks during a joint press conference.

He notes that Islamabad and Tehran have “consistently stood by one another in difficult times, and recent events have once again demonstrated beyond any ray of doubt the enduring strength of this brotherhood, this friendship and this partnership”.

Negotiating and maintaining a ceasefire in Lebanon will be kept separate from any deal with Iran, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells reporters after arriving in Abu Dhabi.

“That process is separate. It’s separate because Lebanon is a sovereign country. It has a government, and when it comes to Lebanon and what’s happening inside of Lebanon, we’re going to negotiate and deal directly with the Lebanese government”, he explains.

“There’s an Iranian issue with regard to Lebanon, and that is their support and sponsorship of Hezbollah. And so that factor will be discussed as part of our conversations with the Iranians,” he adds.

“But as far as the future of Lebanon, the future of Lebanon belongs to the Lebanese people through their sovereign, elected government. And that’s who we’re going to be working with.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran will not be able to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz as part of any final agreement with the US, saying that such an arrangement would be contrary to international law, Reuters reports.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem has demanded a full, scheduled withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon to make way for a Lebanese army deployment in the south following the US-Iran deal to end the Middle East war, AFP reports.

“We now have a ceasefire. The withdrawal must take place according to a timetable. Israel has no choice but to fully withdraw from all Lebanese territory, without retaining an inch,” Qassem says in a televised address.

“Israel withdraws and the Lebanese army deploys exclusively south of the Litani River.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says today is a “historic moment between Pakistan and Iran”, addressing a joint press briefing with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The premier has begun his speech by reciting an Iranian couplet on the themes of friendship during difficult times.

Recalling the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed last week between the United States and Iran, the premier says it is “a matter of great happiness that this war has come to an end, which could have engulfed the entire region and beyond”.

The prime minister has hailed the “sagacious” leadership of Pezeshkian and his colleagues, and highlighted Pakistan’s role as an “honest and sincere mediator” in the US-Iran peace process.

Referring to the US-Iran technical talks held in Switzerland, he said, “My dear brother, we pray to Allah Almighty that God-willing, this arrangement will usher in a new era of peace, stability and prosperity for this entire region.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assured Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Pakistan will carry on its role as mediator “until we have everlasting peace in place, on terms and conditions which are dictated by dignity and honour”.

The remarks have been made at a delegation-level meeting.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has landed in Abu Dhabi, the first stop on a tour of the Gulf states hit by Iran’s retaliatory strikes, an AFP journalist reports.

Rubio is to meet Emirati leaders on Wednesday, before heading to Kuwait, followed by Bahrain for a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as he seeks to reassure American allies after the signing of an initial US-Iran deal last week.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended gratitude to senior Pakistani officials, as well as friendly nations, for their support during the US-Iran peace process.

Addressing a delegation-level meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the premier has thanked Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, who “toiled and worked untiringly through the nights, through those dark days with one mission: come what may, we will do everything humanly possible to stop this war, which can burn vast swathes of land and devastate everything.”

Recalling the first session of the technical discussions at Burgenstock, the premier appreciates the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his team, as well as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, for “his fine shuttle diplomacy”.

“In that, brother Abbas Araghchi has played a pivotal role,” he adds, acknowledging the “support” that Pakistan has received from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt.

Addressing delegation-level talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made it clear that Tehran’s ballistic missiles are not a part of the recerntly signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

“This MoU does not mention ballistic missiles. It was never on the table, it was never on the agenda, and the Iranian side never even wanted to discuss it. This is not an impression, but a fact of [the] matter,” he emphasises.

The premier adds that this must not be misconstrued because of “spoilers all over the world” looking to sabotage the agreement.

“They don’t want the Iranian nation to come out of the ashes of war and touch the zenith of glory,” PM Shehbaz adds.

“So I want to make it abundantly clear that, of course, there cannot be double standards; that some countries can have ballistic missiles and Iran shouldn’t have [them]. You cannot digest this kind of duplicity.”

PM Shehbaz reiterates that the MoU he signed as a mediator, “does not mention ballistic missiles at all, so there should be no confusion about it.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has affirmed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that the two countries are “brothers” and that Tehran will always have support from Islamabad.

Addressing delegation-level talks, the premier has offered his deepest condolences “on the killings of innocent Iranian brothers and sisters, children, which run into thousands of people”.

“Yet, under your sagacious and very calm, visionary leadership, today, thanks to God, we are sitting here to peep into a very bright future, and I am very grateful to you and the Iranian leadership for having abiding trust in Pakistan’s ability to mediate with honesty and sincerity,” he adds.

“I want to assure you that as brothers, we will never let you down,” PM Shehbaz affirms. “As they say, true brotherhood doesn’t have any questions to answer. And here we are.”

Iran’s state-owned banking technology provider says that cyberattacks have disrupted card-based banking services at Bank Melli, Bank Saderat and Bank Tejarat, Reuters reports.

This has prompted a temporary suspension of all card-related operations at the three banks to prevent further unauthorised access, the Informatics Services Corporation tells state TV, with cybersecurity teams working to restore normal operations.

The company’s public relations head said ATM services, point-of-sale terminals and mobile applications linked to card systems were all affected.

Iranian state media cites the central bank as saying that the latest problems should be resolved by Wednesday morning and all services would then return to normal.

The head of the United Nations’ International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has announced that the body will begin implementing its evacuation plan to move thousands of seafarers out of the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the IMO says, “We will begin the implementation of the evacuation plan for over 11,000 seafarers still stranded in the region. This large-scale operation will be carried out in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal States in the region, the United States and the maritime industry.”

US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have reaffirmed Washington’s support for Lebanese sovereignty, according to a statement from the Lebanese Presidency.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received a phone call from Vance and Rubio, during which they discussed the latest developments related to the situation in Lebanon and the aftermath of US-Iran talks in Switzerland.

“Vance and Rubio, reaffirmed the United States’ support for the positions of the President of the Republic and the Lebanese government in their orientations toward extending the authority of the legitimate state and strengthening its national sovereignty over all its territories through its army and security forces alone, and enabling it to fulfil its commitments in this regard,” the statement reads.

It adds that Vance and Rubio emphasised the United States’ follow-up on the implementation of what was agreed upon in Switzerland, including the formation of a cell comprising the US, Lebanon and Iran to consolidate the ceasefire in Lebanon and monitor its implementation.

“They noted that studies are currently underway regarding the arrangements related to the cell’s operations and the manner of its formation,” the statement adds.