Iran stated it is in the final drafting stages of an agreement concerning the Strait of Hormuz waterway with Oman.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, announced on Wednesday that the agreement with Oman, located on the other side of the strait, is in the "final stage" of drafting. He indicated a joint statement would be issued "if certain parties do not obstruct this process," reportedly referencing the U.S. The deal is anticipated to depend on the U.S. lifting its blockade on Iranian ports.
The strait is vital for global energy and shipping. Prior to the conflict, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas passed through the waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. On Thursday, attention was focused on potential developments from the U.S.
Israeli Soldiers Killed in Southern Lebanon as Rome Talks Continue
The Israeli military reported that two Israeli soldiers were killed and four others were seriously wounded following an explosion in southern Lebanon on Thursday. These fatalities mark Israel's first since a fragile truce began in June between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.
In response to what the Israeli army described as a violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, strikes were launched in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. The army also issued a warning for residents of another village to evacuate—the first such alert from Israel in Lebanon in several weeks.
This escalation occurred while Lebanese and Israeli negotiators convened in Rome to discuss implementing the June agreement. This deal mandates the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas in southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament.
UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sudan Faces Threat from Conflict and Sand
The ongoing conflict in Sudan is endangering the ancient Meroe pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its distinctive angular architecture, as preservation work has ceased entirely.
Sudan’s deadly conflict, which started in April 2023, has resulted in damage to numerous historical sites and museums across the country. UNESCO had previously warned in April about the increasing threat facing cultural and historical locations.
Meroe, situated roughly 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of the capital Khartoum, contains over 200 pyramids constructed between 800 B.C. and 350 A.D. to serve as royal tombs for the Kingdom of Kush. Archaeologist Mahmoud Suleiman cautioned that collapses at the site are a possibility.