Paris (France) (AFP) – Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:
– **Drones ‘from Iraq’**
The United Arab Emirates said drones that targeted its nuclear plant last week came from Iraq — from where Iranian-backed groups have launched several attacks since the Middle East war began. “As part of the ongoing investigation into the blatant attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on May 17, 2026, technical tracking and monitoring confirmed that the three drones…all originated from Iraqi territory,” the Emirati defence ministry said.
– **Fertiliser aid**
Brussels will provide “exceptional support” to farmers affected by soaring fertiliser costs caused by the Iran war, the European Union’s agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen told the European Parliament. He said the EU would seek to boost an agriculture crisis reserve fund by “a substantial amount”.
– **Iran threatens ‘new fronts’**
Iran’s army warned it would “open new fronts” against the United States if it resumes attacks, after US President Donald Trump said he had held off launching a new offensive in hopes of striking a deal. “If the enemy is foolish enough to fall into the Zionist trap again and launches new aggression against our beloved Iran, we will open new fronts against it, with new equipment and new methods,” said army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.
– **G7 vows cooperation**
G7 finance ministers vowed multilateral cooperation to address challenges to economic stability due to the war, after talks in Paris which underscored tensions between the US and its allies. “We have had frank, sometimes difficult, direct discussions to find long-term and short-term solutions to major global economic challenges in order to guarantee economic stability,” said French Finance Minister Roland Lescure.
– **Oil prices over $100**
Oil prices eased Tuesday but remained above $100 a barrel while stocks wavered as investors tracked a potential deal between the US and Iran to end the war that has sent energy prices soaring.
– **Iran exchange reopens**
Iran reopened its stock exchange after 80 days, the longest shutdown in its history, caused by the war, the economic daily Donya-e-Eqtesad reported.
– **Iranians hold mass weddings**
Iranian authorities held mass public weddings for couples who signed up to a state-sponsored scheme declaring their readiness to sacrifice their lives in the war. The ceremonies involved hundreds of couples in several major squares in the capital, according to reports in Iranian media.
– **Qatar negotiation call**
Qatar said US-Iran negotiations require more time to reach a deal. “We are supportive of the diplomatic effort by Pakistan that has shown seriousness in bringing parties together and finding a solution, and we do believe it needs more time,” Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said at a press conference.
– **Trump upbeat on talks**
Trump on Monday touted a “very positive development” in talks with Iran, which convinced him to postpone a planned military attack on the Islamic republic. Trump said allies in the Middle East told him “they are getting very close to making a deal” that would leave Iran without nuclear weapons. “It’s a very positive development, but we’ll see whether or not it amounts to anything,” Trump said during a White House event.
– **US extends sanctions waiver**
The US Treasury secretary said Washington was extending by 30 days its sanctions waiver for Russian oil cargoes already at sea, as global energy prices continue to surge due to the Iran war. The latest “temporary 30-day general license” will “provide the most vulnerable nations with the ability to temporarily access Russian oil currently stranded at sea,” Scott Bessent said in a social media post.
© 2024 AFP
