Paris (France) (AFP) – The latest developments in the Middle East war:
– **Stocks soar as oil plummets**
Oil and gas prices plunged, global stock markets soared and the dollar retreated Wednesday after the United States and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire that could lead to the Strait of Hormuz reopening. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.9 percent. The most widely traded oil contracts fell some 15 percent to around $95 a barrel.
– **Iran demands Lebanon truce**
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said a halt to Israeli attacks in Lebanon was one of the key conditions of the Islamic Republic’s 10-point plan for securing an end to the Middle East war, state media reported Wednesday. His remarks came after Israel launched its largest wave of strikes against its neighbour — including in densely packed central Beirut — since fighting resumed against Lebanon’s Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The Lebanese Health Ministry said 182 people were killed and nearly 900 wounded on Wednesday, with the toll likely to rise.
– **Vance to lead US delegation to Islamabad**
US Vice President JD Vance will lead talks with Iran beginning Saturday in Islamabad, and will be joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, the White House said. Speaking to reporters in Hungary, Vance urged Iran not to let the truce fall apart over Lebanon, insisting that a halt to Israel’s fighting there had never been a part of the agreement reached the night before.
– **UN outrage over Lebanon killings**
The UN rights chief and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) voiced outrage over Israel’s attacks on Lebanon. “The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said. “Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief.” The ICRC said it was “outraged by the devastating death and destruction.”
– **Israel ready to ‘return to battle’**
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel remained prepared to confront Iran if necessary, despite the US-Iran truce. “Let me be clear: We still have objectives to complete, and we will achieve them — either through agreement or through renewed fighting,” Netanyahu said in a televised statement.
– **Iran speaker claims ceasefire violations**
Iran’s parliament speaker, expected to lead talks with the United States in Islamabad, said a ceasefire and negotiations were “unreasonable” because of violations of Tehran’s 10-point truce plan. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a statement posted on X that these included continued attacks in Lebanon, a drone entering Iranian airspace and a denial of the country’s right to enrichment.
– **US says closing Hormuz ‘unacceptable’**
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained extremely limited on Wednesday despite the fragile ceasefire announced between the United States and Iran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters any closure “is completely unacceptable,” and that the strait must be opened “immediately, quickly and safely.”
– **Iran published ceasefire plan not agreed by US**
A US official said Wednesday that a 10-point ceasefire plan published by Iran is not the same set of conditions that were agreed to by the White House for pausing the war. “The document being reported by media outlets is not the working framework,” the senior official said on condition of anonymity.
– **Iran fires on Gulf**
The United Arab Emirates said 17 Iranian missiles and 35 drones had targeted its territory despite the announced two-week ceasefire. Kuwait also reported at least 28 Iranian drones had damaged power and desalination plants as well as oil facilities, hours after the truce came into effect. Iranian media said the attacks on Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates followed airstrikes against oil facilities on its Lavan island on Wednesday morning.
© 2024 AFP
