More than 60 countries have jointly condemned recent Israeli attacks on United Nations peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon. The coordinated statement, initiated by Indonesia, described the assaults as unacceptable and called for immediate measures to ensure the safety of peacekeeping personnel. The joint declaration followed a series of incidents that left peacekeepers from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nepal, and Poland injured.

The coalition of nations also expressed deep concern over Lebanon’s worsening humanitarian situation, citing widespread civilian casualties, infrastructure destruction, and the displacement of over one million people. The United Nations reported that preliminary findings indicated one peacekeeper was killed by Israeli tank fire on March 29, while two others died the following day from an explosive device that the UN assessed was likely planted by Hezbollah.

The statement urged all parties involved to respect international law and take immediate steps to protect UN personnel operating in the conflict zone.

Iran and the United States agreed to a temporary ceasefire late Tuesday, 39 days after their conflict began, with Pakistan mediating the deal. A key goal was reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but Iran has kept it closed after Israel, backed by the U.S., continued attacks in Lebanon. Tehran has instead released an alternative shipping route to avoid mines and requires vessels to coordinate with its navy. Iranian officials insist the strait’s reopening depends on U.S. restraint and regional stability.

Disagreement persists over whether Lebanon is covered by the ceasefire. Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least 303 people and injured over 1,165, prompting condemnation from Lebanese and Iranian leaders. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that continued Israeli attacks would render talks meaningless, while Hezbollah retaliated with rocket fire into northern Israel. U.S. and Iranian delegations are set to meet in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss the truce.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard imposed a one-dollar-per-barrel toll on oil shipments through Hormuz, payable in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan, during the ceasefire period. The situation remains tense as both sides prepare for further negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said it would be “dumb” for the United States to let Israel jeopardize the regional ceasefire by continuing its attacks on Lebanon, which have killed hundreds since the truce began. Araghchi linked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions to his upcoming corruption trial, suggesting the Israeli leader has personal motives for prolonging the conflict. He warned that if Washington allows Netanyahu to “kill diplomacy,” it would harm the US economy, adding that Tehran is prepared for such an outcome.

The dispute over whether Lebanon is covered by the ceasefire has become a major threat to the truce’s survival. Iranian officials and media have hinted at possible military responses or even blocking the Strait of Hormuz if the ceasefire is not enforced in Lebanon. Meanwhile, US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have urged restraint, and former President Donald Trump said he told Israel to scale back operations.

Despite these calls, Israeli strikes have intensified, killing more than 300 people in Lebanon, including rescuers in Borj Qalaouiye, and prompting displacement orders in Beirut’s Jnah area.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that his government is ready to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon, following Israeli airstrikes that killed more than 300 people across Lebanon a day earlier. Netanyahu said the talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the two countries. The announcement came amid escalating violence that has endangered a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he was pursuing a diplomatic track viewed positively by international actors, while Lebanon’s cabinet ordered security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut to state institutions. Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad rejected direct talks with Israel, insisting that a ceasefire and Israeli troop withdrawal must precede any negotiations. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported at least 303 deaths and over 1,000 injuries from Israeli strikes, prompting a national day of mourning.

The ongoing conflict, which began on March 2, has displaced more than 1.2 million people, according to the United Nations. Iran has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, while the US maintains Lebanon is not covered by the truce. Delegations from the US and Iran are expected to meet in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss ending the war.

Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, declared a “final victory” in the war with Israel and the United States, as a fragile ceasefire faces renewed strain from Israeli attacks on Lebanon. In a televised statement marking 40 days since the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli strike, Khamenei said Iran had “astonished the world” during the conflict. He emphasized that Tehran was not seeking war but defending its legitimate rights, vowing to punish those responsible for attacks on Iran and to seek compensation for damages and casualties.

The statement came a day after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire mediated by Pakistan, aimed at opening negotiations following weeks of hostilities that disrupted Gulf shipping and nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz. Under the deal, Iran allowed shipping to resume through the strait, reportedly with plans to impose tolls to fund reconstruction.

However, Israeli air strikes in Lebanon that killed more than 300 people have cast doubt on the truce, as the parties dispute whether Lebanon was included in the agreement. Delegations from Iran and the US are expected to meet in Pakistan on Saturday for talks on ending the war.

Saudi Arabia has suspended operations at several energy facilities following recent attacks that targeted oil, gas, and electricity sites in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Yanbu Industrial City, according to the Saudi Press Agency citing the Ministry of Energy. The attacks resulted in the death of one Saudi industrial security worker and injuries to seven others. The disruption has reduced the kingdom’s oil production capacity by about 600,000 barrels per day.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that the attacks were part of a series of drone and missile strikes launched by Iran against Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. These assaults have occurred in response to the US and Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28. The Ministry of Energy warned that continued attacks could further reduce supply, slow recovery, and heighten volatility in global oil markets.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday amid uncertainty over a fragile Iran-US ceasefire and the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had blocked during the conflict. The truce remains uncertain due to ongoing hostilities involving Israel, Lebanon, and Iran.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group (WBG), and World Food Programme (WFP) issued a joint statement warning that the ongoing war in the Middle East poses a serious threat to global energy markets, food security, and economic growth. The statement, released on Wednesday, said the conflict has already caused one of the largest energy disruptions in modern history, driving up prices of oil, gas, and fertilizer, and disrupting transport systems. These effects are expected to worsen food insecurity and raise prices worldwide.

The organizations cautioned that the heaviest burden will fall on low-income, import-dependent countries with limited fiscal capacity to respond. Rising energy and food prices could further strain economies already struggling with debt, reducing governments’ ability to protect vulnerable households. The IMF, WBG, and WFP said they are closely monitoring the situation and will coordinate all available tools to support affected countries and communities.

The conflict escalated after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran. A two-week ceasefire agreement reached last Tuesday has brought some relief globally.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev described the Strait of Hormuz as Iran’s strategic “nuclear weapon,” according to Anadolu. In a statement on social media platform X on Wednesday, he said that while it remains unclear how the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran will be implemented, Iran holds a powerful strategic element—the Strait of Hormuz—with immense potential.

Analysts clarified that Medvedev’s remark was metaphorical, not a reference to an actual nuclear weapon. The phrase highlights Iran’s geopolitical leverage and the strait’s critical role in global energy supply. The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil transit routes, has long been a focal point of Middle Eastern tensions.

The comment came as US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, noting that Tehran had presented a ten-point proposal for negotiations. The United States had been pressing Iran to reopen the strait following heightened tensions and reciprocal attacks involving Iran, the US, and Israel.

Israel reopened the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem to Palestinian worshippers after a 40-day closure. Verified footage from Al Jazeera showed thousands of Palestinians entering the mosque gates early Thursday, with around three thousand attending the dawn prayer. The reopening followed a period of restrictions imposed after the outbreak of war between Iran and the US-Israel alliance on February 28, which had limited or halted access to holy sites for Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem confirmed that all mosque gates were reopened for worshippers from dawn. The Jordan-linked religious authority responsible for managing the site did not provide further details. Earlier footage showed volunteers cleaning and preparing the prayer areas to welcome worshippers.

Israeli authorities announced the reopening of both Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Wednesday evening, citing updated guidance from the Israeli Home Front Command. Hundreds of police and border guards were deployed across Jerusalem’s Old City to ensure visitor safety.

A report from Middle East Eye, cited by Amar Desh, details how Pakistan’s nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan secretly assisted Iran’s nuclear ambitions through an international proliferation network. Khan, known as the father of Pakistan’s atomic program, allegedly provided Iran, Libya, and North Korea with nuclear technology and centrifuge designs. His actions, conducted under the watch of Israeli intelligence, were intended to challenge Western dominance and empower Muslim nations with nuclear capability.

The report traces the origins of Pakistan’s nuclear program to the 1970s under Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who viewed nuclear weapons as essential for national survival after India’s 1974 test. Despite U.S. sanctions and Israeli opposition, Pakistan developed its own bomb by 1998. Khan’s network later supplied Iran with thousands of used centrifuges and key components between 1986 and 2001, while Iranian scientists trained in Pakistan.

The network was exposed in 2003 when Libya disclosed its dealings with Khan to Western intelligence. Khan confessed in 2004 to aiding Iran, Libya, and North Korea, claiming he acted alone. His actions reshaped nuclear politics in the Muslim world and left Pakistan as the only Muslim-majority nuclear power.

Russia has strongly condemned Israel’s recent attacks in Lebanon, warning that such actions could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran. The statement was issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on April 9, 2026, expressing deep concern over the escalation.

According to the ministry’s statement, the strikes push Lebanon toward a humanitarian disaster and worsen the country’s already fragile social and economic conditions. The condemnation highlights Moscow’s position against military actions that could destabilize the region further.

The warning also reflects Russia’s concern that renewed violence could derail delicate negotiations between Washington and Tehran, which are aimed at easing regional tensions.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has informed officials from several member countries that U.S. President Donald Trump wants visible and specific commitments from the alliance within the next few days to help secure the Hormuz Strait. Two European diplomats told Reuters on Thursday that Rutte met Trump in Washington on Wednesday as tensions within NATO grew over the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

One of the diplomats said that Washington’s frustration and dissatisfaction are understood in Europe, but the United States did not consult its allies either before or after the war began. Trump wrote on Truth Social that none of the allies, including Americans, seemed particularly disappointed, adding that NATO understands nothing unless pressure is applied.

The report comes as regional tensions remain high, with Iran’s deputy foreign minister describing the coming hours as extremely critical and Iranian officials accusing Israel of violating a ceasefire agreement.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Lebanon was a key component of the two-week ceasefire agreement reached between Iran and the United States. He made the remarks in response to Israel’s destructive attacks in Lebanon, warning that any violation of the ceasefire would bring severe consequences.

In a post on social media platform X, Ghalibaf emphasized that Lebanon and the entire 'Resistance Axis' are inseparable parts of the ceasefire. He further cautioned that any breach of the agreement would be met with a strong response and come at a high cost.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera, underscores Iran’s position linking the stability of Lebanon to the broader ceasefire framework with the United States.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday described Israel’s recent attacks in Lebanon as a clear violation of the preliminary ceasefire agreement. In a post on social media platform X, he said Iran would never abandon its Lebanese brothers and sisters, calling the Israeli actions a sign of deceit and a dangerous indication of non-compliance with potential agreements.

Pezeshkian warned that continued Israeli operations would render ongoing discussions meaningless, emphasizing that Iran’s hand remains on the trigger. His remarks followed Israeli strikes carried out on Wednesday and Thursday in Lebanon, which he said undermined the fragile ceasefire framework.

The statement reflects Iran’s firm stance on supporting Lebanon and signals heightened regional tension following the alleged breach of the ceasefire agreement.

Pakistani officials have released a preliminary list of participants for a potential peace dialogue between the United States and Iran, aimed at easing ongoing tensions between the two nations. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Islamabad on Saturday, though details and the final list of attendees are still being finalized.

According to the initial outline, Pakistan may be represented by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and National Security Adviser and ISI Chief Asim Malik. The possible US delegation could include Vice President J.D. Vance, White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, former presidential adviser Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper. Iran’s potential representatives are Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that if successful, the meeting could play a significant role in reducing US-Iran tensions, though the final framework of the talks remains uncertain.