Turkey's foreign minister raised concerns on Monday about Iran and the U.S. proposing in their talks new regulations for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and he said there are many difficulties around the idea of an international force overseeing the reopening of the waterway.
Minister Hakan Fidan – who is in close touch with the United States, Iran and mediator Pakistan – said on state-owned Anadolu Agency that Hormuz should be opened through diplomacy, after weekend Iran-U.S. talks failed to reach a deal to end the war.
Israeli opposition member Benny Gantz said that he intends to form a "Zionist and broad unity government" that would include wide segments of Israeli society, and did not rule out joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in such a coalition.
In an interview with Israel Army Radio, Gantz said he hopes Netanyahu will be replaced, but added that he would accept the outcome of the vote if Netanyahu is reelected.
Gantz said such a government should bring together "large parts of society," without elaborating on which parties he would seek to include.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a press conference last week.Credit: Frank Augstein/ REUTERS
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a press conference last week.Credit: Frank Augstein/ REUTERS
Keir Starmer said that the United Kingdom would not be "dragged into war" and would not support any blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the need to keep the key maritime passage open.
"Whatever the pressure, we are not getting dragged into war," Starmer said, adding that Britain does not back any move to obstruct shipping through the strategic waterway. He also said London rejects support for any blockage of the strait.
Starmer stressed that maintaining open access to the Strait of Hormuz is "vital," underscoring its importance for global energy supplies and international trade.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that, whatever the pressure, the United Kingdom would not be dragged into the Iran war and would not support a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Starmer said it was vital to get the Strait reopened.
"It is, in my view, vital that we get the Strait open and fully open, and that's where we've put all of our efforts in the last few and we'll continue to do so," Starmer said, stressing that "that's the way we get energy prices down as quickly as possible".
He blamed Iran for traffic across the Gulf being disrupted.
IDF forces in Lebanon, last month.Credit: IDF Spokesperson's UnitIDF forces in Lebanon, last month.Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
The Israeli military said it has encircled the town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, alleging that forces killed over 100 Hezbollah militants during the offensive as well as destroying infrastructure.
Soldiers fired tear gas at students who were on their way to school in Masafer Yatta in the West Bank, according to reports in Palestinian media.
Footage from the scene shows soldiers near the children as smoke rises around them.
According to the reports, settlers blocked the path of students traveling to school and placed obstacles on the road to prevent their access to educational institutions.
إصابات في صفوف طلبة المدارس وأهاليهم بالاختناق بقنابل الغاز التي أطلقها جيش الاحتلال بعد محاولتهم للوصول إلى مدرستهم التي أغلق طريقها مليشيات المستوطنين في خربة أم الخير بمسافر يطا.
Israel's Health Ministry said on Monday that 104 people wounded during the war with Iran remain hospitalized across the country, offering a snapshot of the ongoing toll on the healthcare system.
According to the ministry, a total of 7,693 injured individuals were evacuated to hospitals over the course of the conflict. The ministry did not provide details on the condition of those still hospitalized or the breakdown of injuries, but said hospitals continue to provide care as part of the broader emergency response to the war.
An Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson said on Monday that U.S. restrictions on vessels in international waters are illegal and "amount to piracy," and vowed that Tehran would decisively implement a "permanent mechanism" to control the Strait of Hormuz following recent U.S. threats to blockade the waterway.
The statement, issued by Iran's unified military command, did not provide details on how the mechanism would operate but suggested a long-term effort to assert authority over the strategic chokepoint, signaling an escalation in tensions with Washington.
He added that Gulf ports must be accessible to all or none, warning that no port in the Gulf or the Gulf of Oman would remain secure if Iranian ports were endangered.
"I don't care if they come back or not," U.S. President Donald Trump said when asked how long it might be before Iranian officials returned to the negotiating table amid a fragile cease-fire.
"If they don't come back, I'm fine," he told reporters outside Washington after flying back from Florida.
Trump said that during weekend negotiations led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Iran said they were pushing for a nuclear weapon. "They still want it, and they made that clear the other night. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon," he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday Australia had not received any request from the United States to help with its planned blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
"They have done that in a unilateral way, and we haven't been asked to participate. We've received no requests that we haven't agreed to," Albanese told Channel Nine.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday the U.S. Navy would start blockading the Strait of Hormuz from Monday, raising the stakes after marathon talks with Iran failed to reach a deal to end the war.