Washington: US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on Monday, cautioning that Iran's critical energy infrastructure, including electric generating plants and oil wells, could face destruction if ongoing negotiations fail to yield results soon. The president's comments underscore escalating tensions amid protracted discussions aimed at ending joint US-Israeli strikes.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump conveyed via his social media platform, Truth Social, that while negotiations with a "new and more reasonable" Iranian regime were progressing, the possibility of reaching a deal remained uncertain. He emphasized the necessity of reopening the Hormuz Strait for business, threatening to obliterate key Iranian energy sites if the talks do not quickly bear fruit. Tehran, meanwhile, stated that direct negotiations with the US have not occurred, with recent communications limited to intermediary-facilitated exchanges.
In southern Lebanon, two United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers lost their lives, and two others sustained injuries, one critically, following an explosion targeting their vehicle. UNIFIL confirmed the incident occurred near Bani Hayyan in the Marjeyoun district. An investigation into the explosion, described as being of "unknown origin," is underway. This tragic event follows another deadly attack on UN peacekeepers in the region within a span of 24 hours.
The Israeli Knesset passed a controversial new law on Monday, which mandates the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners. The legislation was approved with 62 votes in favor, 48 against, and one abstention. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported the bill, which has faced condemnation from Palestine, labeling it a "war crime" and expressing grave concern over the implications for Palestinian prisoners.
In other developments, explosions were reported in Tehran and other Iranian cities amid ongoing US-Israeli military operations. The Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that any resolution to the conflict must ensure the security and interests of the Iranian people. As international tensions persist, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the US is nearing its objectives in Iran, with a resolution anticipated within weeks.