The United Arab Emirates has agreed to release up to $20 billion to Iran on the condition that Tehran stops its attacks, according to a Reuters report citing four sources. The payments follow a series of Iranian strikes on the UAE in response to joint U.S.-Israeli assaults. Two regional sources said the UAE initially agreed to release $10 billion, with more than $3 billion already transferred.

Two additional sources familiar with the matter said the total amount could reach $20 billion, contingent on Iran ceasing further attacks. It remains unclear whether the funds are from the UAE’s own reserves or Iranian assets previously frozen in Emirati banks. A UAE official stated that the country is working to reduce tensions and restore calm.

Sources indicated that the arrangement allows both the United States and Iran to avoid crossing their respective “red lines,” while giving Iran grounds to claim compensation and Washington the ability to deny direct payment. The deal also includes provisions for renewed intelligence sharing and economic cooperation between Iran and the UAE.

The United States and Iran have reached agreement on a final draft of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East war, according to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan has played a key mediating role in the process. The announcement came after three days of intense fighting among Iran, the United States, and Israel earlier in the week. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that both sides are working toward signing a preliminary agreement to end hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon.

The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, disrupting oil and gas supplies from the Persian Gulf. A fragile truce has been in place since April 7. Under the emerging deal, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen for energy shipments, and sanctions on Iran would be gradually lifted. A 60‑day period following the signing will finalize nuclear program conditions and technical details related to enriched uranium removal.

Regional officials said the agreement could be signed within days, pending approval from Washington and Tehran. Israel has stated it is not a party to the deal and will not withdraw its forces from Lebanon or other occupied areas.

The European Union has begun implementing its new European Migration and Asylum Pact from last Friday, introducing uniform rules for all 27 member states to manage irregular migration and asylum seekers. The European Commission urged countries to update laws, train officials, and strengthen border infrastructure, though it acknowledged that none are fully prepared. Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner called the pact a milestone, marking the start of a new phase in EU migration policy.

Under the new system, all foreign nationals entering the EU will undergo screening of up to seven days at the border. Applications from those deemed security threats or from countries listed as safe will be processed within three months, and rejected applicants will have only one chance to appeal. The pact also aims to expedite deportations, with rejected asylum seekers to be returned to countries considered safe, such as Syria and Bangladesh. Member states are also working on establishing return hubs in third countries.

Human rights groups have voiced concern that the new rules could undermine asylum rights and increase hardship for vulnerable people seeking protection in Europe.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has directed the Metropolitan Police to investigate a controversial housing fair promoting properties from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The event, titled 'The Great Israeli Real Estate Event,' is scheduled to take place in London on Sunday, though its exact location remains undisclosed. Khan confirmed the investigation order while responding to a question from Green Party leader Zack Polanski in the London Assembly, emphasizing that such settlements are illegal under international law and linked to the displacement of Palestinians.

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, the European Legal Support Centre, and the Public Interest Law Centre have jointly requested police intervention to halt the fair, citing possible violations under the Serious Crime Prevention Order. The UK Foreign Office reiterated that Israeli settlements breach international law and warned citizens against economic activities in those areas. Amnesty International also urged the government to act swiftly to stop the event.

Media reports identified several sponsors tied to settlement construction, while organizers denied wrongdoing, claiming all properties promoted are within Israel’s recognized borders.

US President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended a planned high-risk ground operation by American forces to seize highly enriched uranium stored in underground tunnels in Iran. The decision followed an emergency briefing at the US Central Command headquarters in Florida, where senior military officials outlined the mission’s objectives and potential consequences. According to CNN, Trump withheld final approval after being informed of the risks involved.

Sources cited in the report said intelligence assessments warned that such an operation could trigger severe Iranian retaliation, prolong conflict, and destabilize the global economy. Trump also expressed concern over possible heavy US casualties. The report emerged as Washington and Tehran continued negotiations over a potential nuclear agreement and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

A senior US official said the proposed deal would require Iran to destroy enriched uranium, halt its nuclear program, and reopen the strait. However, Iranian state media countered that Tehran would not relinquish control of the waterway and demanded the release of $24 billion in frozen assets before any agreement.

Iran and the United States are close to finalizing a peace agreement aimed at ending their recent conflict. According to the report, the draft memorandum of understanding is in its final stage and could be signed in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the document could still be amended but emphasized that Iran has emerged stronger from the confrontation. He also declared Iran victorious in the war during a state television broadcast.

Sources involved in the negotiations said the draft calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting U.S. blockades on Iranian ports. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, stated that President Donald Trump’s main objectives are being achieved through the deal. The agreement follows renewed hostilities after an April 8 ceasefire, with Trump recently threatening but then halting further attacks, citing ongoing talks.

Both U.S. and Iranian officials confirmed that the memorandum could be signed this weekend, potentially initiating a 60-day truce period for further negotiations toward a final peace accord.

A potential agreement between Iran and the United States could be reached on Sunday in Geneva, Switzerland, according to a report by Israel’s Haaretz citing an Iranian source. The proposed deal reportedly includes provisions for a ceasefire across all fronts, including Lebanon. The source told Reuters that the draft agreement also proposes lifting sanctions on Iranian oil exports and releasing several billion dollars’ worth of Iranian assets frozen abroad.

A senior leader of Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah stated that Iran would not agree to any deal that excludes a resolution to the situation in Lebanon and the ongoing conflict there. Iran has long maintained that halting Israeli attacks in Lebanon is a key condition for any broader understanding with Washington.

If finalized, the agreement could mark a significant step toward easing regional tensions, though details of implementation and official confirmation from either side remain unclear.

China’s Ministry of State Security has accused foreign intelligence agencies of deploying ‘spy turtles’ and ‘spy fish’ in its territorial waters to collect sensitive maritime data. In a statement published on WeChat on Friday, the ministry claimed that these marine animals were equipped with sensors capable of transmitting information such as water temperature, salinity, and ocean currents to foreign satellites. The ministry described the activity as part of an ‘invisible secret war’ at sea but did not specify which countries or organizations were involved or where the animals were found.

The statement also said that Chinese authorities had detected floating buoys and wave-powered ‘wave gliders’ allegedly installed by a foreign marine research institution. These devices were reportedly fitted with weather and acoustic sensors that could monitor the acoustic signatures of Chinese submarines and transmit military-use environmental data abroad. China has long accused foreign powers of espionage and surveillance in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, areas known for ongoing strategic tensions.

According to Chinese media, fishermen who discover or recover suspicious surveillance devices in national waters can receive rewards ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that the country’s armed forces are fully prepared to deliver an immediate, decisive, and painful response to any threat, aggression, or miscalculation by its enemies. In a statement, the IRGC said that those enemies have imposed a war aimed at weakening Iran’s defensive capabilities, breaking national morale, undermining the political system, and dividing the country.

The statement accused the United States-Israel alliance of attempting to obstruct Iran’s dignity, independence, and progress through coordinated military, intelligence, media, economic, and psychological warfare. However, it asserted that these strategies ultimately failed. Drawing lessons from the imposed war, the IRGC claimed that Iran is now stronger, better prepared, and equipped with greater resistance capabilities than before.

The IRGC emphasized that the Islamic Republic remains fully aware of its adversaries’ movements and stands ready to respond firmly and immediately to any threat or act of aggression.

Hours before announcing the cancellation of a planned attack on Iran, President Donald Trump stated that U.S. forces would soon seize Kharg Island. The island, located 55 kilometers northwest of Bushehr port and 15 nautical miles from Iran’s mainland, handles about 90 percent of the country’s crude oil exports and is under strict military control.

Kharg Island, only eight kilometers long and four to five kilometers wide, benefits from deep surrounding waters that allow large supertankers to anchor safely. It serves as a key terminal for crude oil shipments, particularly to Asian markets such as China. The island’s facilities reportedly have a loading capacity of around seven million barrels per day, though Iran’s current exports hover near 1.6 million barrels daily.

Analysts fear that any U.S. attack on Kharg could sharply escalate tensions, prompting Iranian retaliation against Gulf infrastructure and driving global oil prices higher. The ongoing Iran conflict is already viewed as a threat to the world economy.

The United States is planning to significantly reduce the number of aircraft and naval assets allocated to NATO operations in Europe, according to a report by The New York Times citing two senior European officials. The decision was communicated to allies earlier this month through a written document and is described as part of a broader shift in Washington’s security policy toward Europe.

According to the report, the U.S. intends to cut the number of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets assigned to NATO from about 150 to 100, reduce maritime patrol aircraft from 26 to 15, and withdraw eight aerial refueling planes currently allocated for European missions. The changes will also include the redistribution of one aircraft carrier, one missile-carrying submarine, several warships, and strategic bombers.

Officials cited in the report warned that these adjustments could weaken the alliance’s long-range strike and aerial surveillance capabilities. The report was sourced from Middle East Eye.

Egypt has called on the United States and Iran to take advantage of all available opportunities to reach a peace agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. The appeal was made through a statement issued by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also commended U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel a planned military strike against Iran.

The ministry expressed hope that this moment could be used to create a favorable environment for resolving outstanding issues and opening a new chapter of regional stability. It emphasized Egypt’s commitment to continue its tireless and sincere efforts to reduce tensions through coordination and cooperation with regional and international partners.

According to the statement, Egypt remains focused on promoting dialogue and stability in the region, viewing the current situation as a critical opportunity to prevent further escalation and foster long-term peace.

Israel is setting up a permanent military base in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, according to a report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz. This will be the first such installation in an area that has been under full civilian and security control of the Palestinian Authority since the 1993 Oslo Accords.

The report states that the Israeli army says the new base aims to create conditions for safely evacuating residents from homes in the Jenin refugee camp. The base will be built near the camp, where repeated Israeli operations since early 2025 have displaced thousands of residents and caused extensive infrastructure damage.

According to the report, the base may also be used to support Israeli military operations and protect nearby Israeli settlements.

Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom have jointly launched a four million dollar peace fund to support the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Each country will contribute 1.34 million dollars to the fund, which was announced on Thursday. According to the UK Foreign Ministry, the initiative will focus on new and existing grassroots projects, particularly those involving youth groups, civil society organizations, and women.

The move comes as the three countries, along with France, New Zealand, and Norway, have imposed coordinated sanctions against networks financing and executing violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Western nations have taken this step in response to record levels of illegal settlement expansion and increasing violence against Palestinians in the region.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that peace, justice, and security in the Middle East depend on a two-state solution, noting that their countries have recognized both Israel and Palestine as states.

Iran has announced plans to file legal action against the United States in both domestic and international courts, accusing Washington of destroying two potable water reservoirs in southern Hormozgan province. The attack, carried out early Wednesday, reportedly damaged the water infrastructure in Sirik, cutting off supply to more than 20,000 residents across Kuhestak city and ten villages in Bemani district, where temperatures exceed 45 degrees Celsius.

Abdolhamid Hamzehpour, managing director of Hormozgan Water and Wastewater Company, said the destruction of the reservoirs has created a major crisis for the region’s water network, as local groundwater reserves are insufficient to meet immediate needs. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the alleged U.S. strike, calling it an assault on vital civilian infrastructure and a sign of desperation rather than strength.

Hormozgan’s chief judicial official, Mojtaba Kahramani, stated that legal proceedings will be pursued under both national and international jurisdictions, citing the 1977 Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits attacks on objects essential for civilian survival, including water facilities.