War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

An Israeli drone has attacked a house in the Haddatha area in the Bint Jbeil district of the Nabatieh governorate of southern Lebanon, according to the National News Agency (NNA).

It added that another drone dropped a stun grenade on the eastern side of the town of Bereshit in the Bint Jbeil district.

According to Oman’s Foreign Ministry, Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi told France’s Monte Carlo Doualiya radio that “responsibility for ensuring the strait and internationally recognised shipping lanes are free of any mine-related hazards primarily rests with Iran” as per the US-Iran MoU, Al Jazeera reports.

He also affirmed Oman’s openness to contributing to regional and international efforts whenever requested.

Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar has urged Israel to respect agreements made between the US and Iran, according to the Slovak news agency TASR, Al Jazeera reports.

Blanar, speaking alongside Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares during a news conference in Bratislava, stressed the need for diplomatic solutions to conflicts in the Middle East, including the Gaza Strip and tensions involving Iran.

“We don’t want Lebanon to be another part of Gaza, and therefore, it is necessary for Israel to also abide by the agreements that were concluded between the United States of America and Iran,” Blanar said.

Iran’s foreign minister has discussed the memorandum of understanding and its implementation during a phone call with his French counterpart, according to Iranian state media.

Abbas Araghchi and Jean-Noel Barrot “reviewed and exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments” regarding the US-Iran MoU, with “the aim of ending the war imposed by” the US and Israel against Iran, according to the IRIB broadcaster.

The report comes after Iran’s deputy foreign minister criticised comments by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said Paris was working with Oman on demining the Strait of Hormuz.

A statement issued by the German foreign ministry has dubbed the agreement between the US and Iran to halt attacks against each other and continue negotiations “an important step”.

“It creates an opportunity for diplomacy in what remains a highly fragile situation,” the statement issued after a meeting between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

It added that the priority now was to reach a “sustainable solution” that ensured safe and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz and addressed Iran’s nuclear programme, “which must never again pose a threat”.

Two members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were killed and two others wounded in a shooting in the western province of Kermanshah, state media reported, according to Reuters.

The attackers opened fire outside the Guards members’ home and authorities were investigating to identify those responsible, state media reported.

Oman’s foreign minister says Muscat “does not support imposing transit fees” on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz while also appearing open to charges for “maritime, environmental and navigational services,” Al Jazeera reports.

Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi made the statement during an interview with French radio station Monte Carlo Doualiya, according to highlights posted by his office.

Albusaidi said charges for services “can be discussed voluntarily with the beneficiary countries and companies”. He also explained that “some services may include enhancing navigational safety, protecting waters from pollution, and increasing preparedness to deal with accidents or emergencies”.

Sri Lanka has cut fuel prices by up to six per cent, the first such move since the Middle East war triggered a surge in energy prices in the import-dependent nation, AFP reports.

The state-run Petroleum Corporation said it will lower diesel by 25 rupees a litre to 382 rupees ($1.15), while petrol was lowered by 20 rupees to 414 rupees.

The cuts follow a sharp fall in international energy prices after the United States and Iran agreed to hold talks to bring an end to their conflict.

Sri Lanka had raised petrol and diesel prices by almost 50pc after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28.

MarineTraffic, a global provide of ship tracking, says vessel movements in the Strait of Hormuz continued over the weekend despite security concerns, including attacks on two ships on Friday and Saturday, Al Jazeera reports.

It said 108 verified transits were recorded over three days.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that its citizens can travel to Lebanon again, ending a two-month ban imposed due to security concerns triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, Al Jazeera reports.

Emiratis travelling to Lebanon must register with the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs before departure, it said.

The UAE had banned its citizens from travelling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq on April 30 and called on all nationals in those countries to immediately leave and return home.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung says all but two South Korean ships in the Strait of Hormuz have now exited the waterway, Al Jazeera reports.

A total of 26 South Korean-linked vessels were stranded in the strait when Iran closed the strategic waterway on February 28, the day the US-Israeli war began.

US President Donald Trump said gasoline retailers must get prices down immediately and warned that there will be “big problems” ahead if they did not do so, Reuters reports.

“Gasoline Retailers must get their Prices down, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“There will be no gauging, which is totally illegal. If Retailers don’t do this, big problems lie ahead! Start targeting around the $2.50 a Gallon number,” he wrote.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has said negotiations with the United States on a final deal, including on Iran’s nuclear programme, have not begun, Al Jazeera reports.

“We have not yet entered the negotiation phase for a final agreement,” he said in comments carried by the IRIB broadcaster.

Oil prices dropped, with investors eyeing the outcome of potential US-Iran talks in Doha amid weekend missile fire from both sides that tested an interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war, Reuters reports.

Brent August crude futures were down 1.03 per cent, or 75 cents, at $72.40 a barrel. The more actively traded September contract was down 0.54pc, or 40 cents, at $73.51 a barrel.

US West Texas Intermediate fell 0.66pc, or 47 cents, to $70.32 a barrel.

“Investors are pricing in hopes of a positive outcome from the Doha talks, even though real normalisation of flows through the Strait of Hormuz is not yet visible,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

“The market is cautiously hopeful but still hedging its bets until we see more tangible signs of de-escalation,” Waterer added.

US President Donald Trump has told reporters in the Oval Office that the US-Iran meeting in Qatar this week will be “perhaps important, perhaps not”, Reuters reports.

At least 400,000 displaced Lebanese have returned home, with the total still in shelters dropping from 37,000 to 13,000, Al Jazeera reports citing Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs.

Hanine El Sayyed says the government is working on a “comprehensive reconstruction plan” but has not offered additional details.

Iranian and Omani experts will start talks on redefining transit paths through the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi tells state TV, adding Iran will try to obstruct vessels outside of defined paths, Reuters reports.

Iran says a delegation of experts will travel to Doha this week for discussions on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States earlier this month, AFP reports.

“An expert delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran will travel to Doha later this week” to discuss the implementation of clauses of the memorandum, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei says.

“We have not yet entered the stage of negotiating a final agreement,” he adds, noting that “over the coming days, we will not have any negotiation meetings with the US side at any level”.

As part of Pakistan’s efforts to help broker an end to the war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay official visits to Iran and Turkiye from July 3 to 6, sources in the PM Office tell Dawn.

Sources say that during his visit, the prime minister will meet the leadership of both Iran and Turkiye and call on Tehran and Washington to exercise restraint, particularly following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of the peace process.

Read more here.

The United Arab Emirates will allow its nationals to travel to Lebanon starting today, Reuters reports citing the state news agency WAM.

UAE citizens planning to visit Lebanon must register through an official service, an emergency and support platform by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before their departure, the agency adds.

On April 30, UAE banned its citizens from travelling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, and urged Emiratis in those countries to leave immediately and return home, citing regional developments.

Oil prices have gained more than 1 per cent after attacks by the US and Iran underscore the fragility of their interim peace deal, Reuters reports.

As of 1735 GMT, Brent crude futures were up $1.18, or 1.64pc, at $73.17 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.69, or 2.44pc, to $70.92.