Russian President Vladimir Putin said that continued Ukrainian attacks have caused some fuel shortages in Russia, though he described the situation as not yet serious. In an interview released by the Kremlin on Sunday, Putin explained that after four years of war, Ukrainian strikes have affected Russia’s energy infrastructure.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces have regularly targeted Ukrainian cities, civilians, and energy facilities. In response, Ukraine has launched counterattacks on oil refineries and other military sites inside Russia. Putin stated that Russia’s main task now is to strengthen its air defense systems, particularly to secure energy supplies to Crimea.

Authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea declared a state of emergency on Friday due to fuel shortages and power outages, blaming Ukrainian attacks on logistics chains and oil installations. Putin also expressed hope that once the Middle East situation stabilizes, a U.S. delegation might visit Moscow to discuss ending the war.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, met with Oman’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz Al-Hinai in Muscat to discuss the management of the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting focused on cooperation within the framework of Article 5 of the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ and the sovereign rights of coastal states.

According to Gharibabadi’s post on social media platform X, the discussions addressed the removal of technical and military obstacles and the deactivation of mines within 30 days, as outlined in the memorandum. The memorandum also calls for Iran to engage with other Persian Gulf coastal states, in coordination with Oman, to determine future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks are intended to align with applicable international law and respect the sovereign rights of the coastal states bordering the strategic waterway.

China has added 20 Japanese companies to its export control blacklist, aiming to halt the export of dual-use goods that can serve both military and civilian purposes. The announcement came from China’s Ministry of Commerce on Monday, according to AFP. Among the listed entities is Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies.

In its statement, the ministry said the decision was made to protect national security and interests, prevent weapons proliferation, and fulfill international obligations. China believes these Japanese firms have contributed to strengthening Japan’s military capabilities, prompting their inclusion on the list.

The move underscores China’s growing emphasis on export controls related to defense-linked technologies and reflects ongoing sensitivities in regional security and trade relations between China and Japan.

Four days after a pair of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, a father and his teenage son were rescued alive from the rubble near Caracas. The rescue took place in the town of Carabaleda, about 40 kilometers north of the capital, where French and U.S. rescue teams located the survivors on Sunday. The twin quakes, which hit the previous week, have left more than 1,450 people dead.

Interim leader Delcy Rodríguez praised the rescuers for continuing their efforts to find survivors, emphasizing that the mission would not be halted as long as there was hope. The discovery of the father and son has brought a rare moment of relief amid the country’s ongoing crisis.

Despite the successful rescue, thousands of people remain missing, and the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster and its broader economic challenges.

Thousands of Malawian nationals are leaving South Africa following a surge in xenophobic violence targeting foreign workers. Many, including 27-year-old Janet Kapito, have returned home empty-handed after losing their belongings and livelihoods. The Malawian government has arranged buses to repatriate citizens before the June 30 deadline, while well-wishers have raised funds to support those stranded. According to local media, 6,936 Malawians have already returned, and authorities estimate around 10,000 remain at risk in South Africa.

Malawi’s Department of Disaster Management Affairs has activated a comprehensive response plan to ensure safe and dignified returns. South African authorities reported that 15,162 Malawians have been processed for deportation or repatriation. Many returnees said they had taken high-interest loans to migrate and are now struggling to repay them after losing jobs and property during the unrest. Some described hiding in open fields as violence escalated.

Community sources told Al Jazeera that xenophobic attacks often intensify around election periods. With unemployment high in Malawi, returnees face social stigma and economic hardship, and officials expect thousands more to arrive in the coming weeks.

Iran’s senior adviser to the Supreme Leader, Ali Akbar Velayati, has issued a strong warning to Bahrain, saying Tehran will launch harsher attacks if provoked. He urged Bahrain’s people to recognize their limits and avoid forcing Iran into taking severe action.

According to the report, Iran carried out strikes on a US naval base in Bahrain on Friday and Saturday in retaliation for American attacks. Tehran claimed that the United States used Bahraini military bases to launch assaults on Iran. Bahrain, however, denied the allegation and condemned the Iranian strikes, calling them a violation of its sovereignty.

The exchange of accusations has heightened tensions between Tehran and Manama, with both sides asserting conflicting narratives about the recent military actions.

Israel’s military announced it destroyed a 200-meter-long tunnel used by Hezbollah in the southern Lebanese town of Maydal Zoun. The operation, confirmed Sunday in a joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, was reportedly coordinated with the United States beforehand. The tunnel allegedly contained hundreds of weapons and rocket launchers. Hours earlier, Israeli forces said they had struck Hezbollah fighters and a rocket launcher in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon.

The strike came two days after Lebanon and Israel agreed to a U.S.-mediated security arrangement aimed at easing border tensions. The deal includes deploying Lebanese troops and a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of southern Lebanon, while allowing Israel to maintain a presence in an expanded security zone. Hezbollah condemned the Israeli attacks as a clear violation of the ceasefire, asserting its right to defend Lebanon and its people.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the new security agreement, calling it a surrender to Israel and vowing to continue armed resistance. The conflict, running parallel to the Iran war, has displaced over one million Lebanese citizens, according to the report.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar have reportedly purchased advanced military equipment from Israel, including air defense systems and computerized battle helmets for F-15 fighter jets, according to Israeli media outlet Haaretz. The report states that Qatar’s royal fleet includes three aircraft equipped with Elbit Systems’ C-MUSIC air defense system, installed between 2020 and 2022 during maintenance in Basel, Switzerland. The system uses radar and laser technology to detect and neutralize incoming shoulder-fired missiles.

Haaretz further reported that when Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Tehran, his aircraft was equipped with the Israeli-made C-MUSIC system. The report also cited U.S. defense documents showing that Israeli companies won subcontracts worth $150–250 million to supply advanced components for Qatar’s F-15QA Ababil jets, including 160 JHMCS helmets and night-vision goggles. Similarly, Saudi Arabia received 462 JHMCS helmets and matching night-vision goggles as part of its F-15SA deal.

Neither Saudi Arabia nor Qatar maintains formal diplomatic or defense relations with Israel, though reports before October 2023 suggested Riyadh was considering normalization.

The United States and Iran have agreed to stop attacks and resume discussions on the Hormuz Strait, according to a Reuters report citing a U.S. official. The two countries plan to meet in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday to address the ongoing dispute over the strategic waterway. The agreement follows several days of retaliatory strikes and raises hopes for maintaining an interim peace deal.

The U.S. official said that technical discussions on all aspects of a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 will continue. Both sides will observe a ceasefire, allowing ships to move freely through the strait. The memorandum includes 14 points aimed at reopening the waterway for navigation. Media outlet Axios reported that technical-level talks will proceed while both sides refrain from further attacks.

The report also noted that early Sunday, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Shortly before that, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s existence could be at risk if it violated the ceasefire agreement.

Rescue workers in Venezuela are continuing efforts to find survivors following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country last Wednesday, leaving nearly 1,500 people dead. The coastal state of La Guaira, located about 40 kilometers north of Caracas, suffered the most severe damage, with hundreds of buildings reduced to rubble. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced a presidential commission to oversee rescue and recovery operations, confirming that schools will remain closed for another week and that 75 percent of electricity in La Guaira has been restored.

According to National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, 3,150 people have been injured, 12,721 displaced, and 774 buildings collapsed. More than 2,600 foreign rescuers have joined local teams, though many volunteers have complained about limited equipment and restricted access. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that the quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, could ultimately claim over 10,000 lives, potentially making them among Latin America’s deadliest in a century.

Foreign rescue teams from the United States, Colombia, and Mexico have saved several children from the debris, while aftershocks continue to hamper operations and heighten fear among residents.

Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah has accused Israeli forces of violating a ceasefire agreement and declared its right to defend the country. The group stated that Israeli military aircraft carried out multiple attacks across southern Lebanon on Sunday, targeting residential buildings in Nabatieh and nearby Mayfadoun, as well as open areas in Faroun and the town of Bint Jbeil. Drone strikes and explosions were also reported in the Taybeh and Hadatha areas.

In a statement, Hezbollah said it was closely monitoring what it described as repeated breaches of the ceasefire and reaffirmed its right to protect Lebanon and its people. The group’s claims come amid ongoing tensions despite a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran that was intended to end hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon.

According to the report, Israel has continued intense and sustained attacks in Lebanon since early March, raising concerns about renewed escalation in the region.

Pakistan’s security forces carried out ground and air operations along the Afghan border, killing 29 people, officials confirmed. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the strikes targeted militant hideouts in response to a series of armed attacks across Pakistan. He stated that precision strikes destroyed targets in Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces of eastern Afghanistan. Afghan authorities have not yet issued any response.

The operation followed an assault on the paramilitary Rangers’ regional headquarters in Karachi, which left three soldiers dead. The Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar claimed responsibility for that attack. Authorities said the latest cross-border strikes targeted Pakistani Taliban bases and safe havens. Although the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban are separate groups, they maintain close ties.

The renewed offensive has heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, coming less than three weeks after earlier air raids in Afghanistan. Despite international mediation efforts, including a China-led meeting in April, ceasefire talks have failed. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban government of sheltering militants behind attacks in Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies.

A senior U.S. official has confirmed that the United States and Iran have agreed to stop attacks against each other, according to a report by Axios. The report states that representatives from both countries are scheduled to meet next Tuesday in Doha, the capital of Qatar, to resolve disputes over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a key route for Middle Eastern oil transport.

Another U.S. official told Al Arabiya that technical-level discussions between the two nations are proceeding as planned and have not been canceled, with meetings expected to take place within the next few days. However, Mehdi Fazayeli, a member of the office responsible for preservation and publication of the works of Iran’s Supreme Leader, said on state television that Iran did not participate in the scheduled technical talks on Sunday due to recent attacks and the United States’ failure to meet conditions outlined in a memorandum of understanding.

Fazayeli explained that one of the conditions was ensuring Iran’s access to its blocked funds, and without such access, the condition could not be considered fulfilled.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for destroying eight United States military installations located in Kuwait and Bahrain. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, the attacks were carried out using ballistic missiles and drones. The IRGC stated that the strikes were launched in retaliation for recent US attacks on Iranian facilities in Sirik and Qeshm.

The report also noted that Iran did not participate in a scheduled technical meeting with the United States on Sunday. Iranian officials cited recent US attacks and Washington’s alleged failure to fulfill commitments under a memorandum of understanding as reasons for Tehran’s withdrawal from the talks. Mehdi Fazayeli, a member of the office responsible for preserving and publishing the works of Iran’s Supreme Leader, confirmed this position in remarks to state television.

The developments mark a further escalation in tensions between Tehran and Washington, with both sides trading accusations and military actions in the region.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation on Sunday to discuss a range of regional and international issues. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the discussion focused on the latest developments surrounding the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran, as well as ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure security and stability in the Middle East.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and agreed on supporting diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing regional tensions. The conversation also covered bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France and other matters of mutual interest related to regional and international affairs.

The call reflects continuing high-level engagement between Riyadh and Paris on Middle Eastern security and diplomatic coordination, particularly in light of evolving US-Iran relations.