U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that lasting peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved as long as Iran-backed groups continue missile and drone attacks from Iraq. He also rejected any attempt to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an international waterway under global law, as he began a Gulf tour including Kuwait and Bahrain.
Iran says it has arrested more than 3,000 people on allegations of collaborating with Israel, with authorities claiming hundreds were involved in operational or media-related activities. The judiciary said charges have been filed against more than 1,000 suspects as a broader crackdown continues under the country's tightened espionage laws.
Russia said it intercepted nearly 60 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow early Monday, temporarily disrupting operations at several major airports. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said Russian drone strikes killed at least five people, including three members of the same family in the Sumy region, as cross-border drone attacks continued to intensify.
The first round of US-Iran technical talks in Switzerland concluded with Pakistan and Qatar announcing that the parties had agreed on a 60-day roadmap toward a final agreement. A High-Level Committee and a Lebanon Deconfliction Cell were established, while technical negotiations will continue throughout the week. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks as a major breakthrough, citing progress on sanctions relief, oil exports, and regional de-escalation.
US President Donald Trump warned Iran that it could face another military strike if it fails to rein in its allied armed groups in Lebanon. The warning came as US-Iran negotiations began in Switzerland, with regional tensions remaining high following recent Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon and Iran's announcement regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, citing alleged US violations of a ceasefire agreement. However, US officials, including Vice President JD Vance and CENTCOM, denied any disruption, stating that the waterway remains open and commercial shipping continues normally.
At least five people were killed and 12 injured in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Saturday, including four members of the same family, according to local health authorities. One airstrike hit a residential building in Gaza City’s al-Sabra neighborhood, killing four members of the al-Safadi family, while a separate drone strike north of the city killed another person. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incidents.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly set up new covert cells in Iraq aimed at targeting Gulf countries hosting US military bases, according to Reuters citing Iraqi security and militia sources. The cells are said to operate independently from traditional Iran-backed networks and report directly to the IRGC. They allegedly carried out several drone attacks from southern Iraq between April and May, targeting areas in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, though the
The Afghan Taliban have claimed that they carried out airstrikes on alleged ISIS-linked targets inside Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, a claim that Pakistan has strongly rejected as false. The exchange comes amid rising tensions between the two countries following recent cross-border attacks and retaliatory strikes.
