An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States meets its conditions.
"It is up to the U.S. side to stop and make amends for its illegal and destructive actions," Esmail Baghaei said on Monday, referencing the American blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran's demands include the lifting of the blockade, compensation for months of war damage, removal of economic sanctions, and the release of Iran’s frozen assets. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles about one-fifth of global traded oil supplies, has become a persistent consequence of the conflict. This deadlock keeps energy prices a significant issue in U.S. politics leading up to the November midterm elections.
Iran is conducting separate discussions with Oman regarding transit through the strait, potentially including a temporary shipping corridor. However, Iran has specified that any actual reopening depends on negotiations with the United States.
Israel Declares Taybeh Military Zone
Israel's military announced Monday that it designated a Christian-majority town in the occupied West Bank as a closed military zone to prevent entry by Israeli settlers and other non-residents.
This new measure aims to restrict Israelis from entering Taybeh, which is bordered by settlements to its east and west and has faced incidents of arson, vandalism, and encroachment on private and village property by settlers. The order does not apply to Palestinian residents or journalists; the army stated they would be permitted entry unless soldiers determined their presence posed a threat. Troops are tasked with detaining suspects and dispersing gatherings to maintain peace.
This designation follows months where the army and police have struggled to maintain order in the territory, where the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry reported that at least 87 Palestinians were killed by Israeli settlers or soldiers in 2026. Portions of Taybeh fall within "Area B," where Israel retains security control, yet residents have voiced concerns over slow responses from army and police to attacks by extremist settlers.
Houthi Attack Claims Toll in Red Sea Town
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked a government-controlled port town in the Red Sea on Sunday, resulting in seven deaths and 30 injuries. Yemen's Defense Ministry, operating under its internationally recognized government, reported that four military personnel and three civilians were killed.
The assault on Mokha is part of a significant wave of Houthi strikes against Yemeni military positions and areas held by the Saudi-backed government since a truce began in 2022. This occurs as concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have renewed focus on the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at its southern end, with some shipping diverting to that route due to the restricted status of Hormuz traffic.
Beekeepers Attempt Gaza Honey Production Restart
More than two years of war in Gaza devastated much of the territory and damaged economic sectors, but beekeepers are beginning efforts to rebuild their businesses.
Prior to the Israel-Hamas war, this sector was situated on agricultural land near the strip's perimeter, which remains under Israeli military control today. However, beekeepers have returned to areas near the Yellow Line dividing the territory and found sufficient hives to resume honey production. Producers in Gaza City and parts of Jabalia near the line are now managing hives to generate income for themselves and their families.
Despite these efforts, they report that Israel's blockade restricts the entry of many items into the strip, including those necessary for beekeeping.
Ibrahim al-Dabbeh, head of the Cooperative Association of Beekeepers, stated, "The bee sector is an important sector for sustainability, ecological balance and farming."