SOURCE: Aljazzera
President Trump again vows to retrieve Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, however, an Iranian official tells Al Jazeera that Tehran will “downblend” the nuclear material itself.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry says Tehran is still reviewing Washington’s latest response to a proposed ceasefire framework after several rounds of message exchanges mediated by Pakistan.
China, Russia may be in talks to secure Iran’s enriched uranium
Iran’s highly enriched uranium “is the key to everything” when it comes to making a peace deal with the United States, says Joey Hood, a former acting director of Iranian affairs at the US State Department.
The 441kg of Iranian uranium is enriched to 60 percent, “which has no real civilian use – it can only be for military applications”.
“So at the end of the day even Russia and China would agree it needs to be removed and rendered safe,” he told Al Jazeera.
Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin may have talked about securing and storing Iran’s uranium during their talks this week, said Hood.
“It is possible there were some quiet discussions in Beijing about this very issue, perhaps they’ve been talking with the Iranians. We may see that.”
US on abuse of flotilla activists: Detainees ‘must be treated humanely’
The US State Department has issued a vague statement on the abuse of Gaza flotilla activists by Israeli forces, stopping short of explicitly condemning the mistreatment of the abductees.
“All detainees must be treated humanely and consistent with international law,” a State Department official told Al Jazeera.
The official also reiterated US opposition to the fleet of civilian vessels trying to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, baselessly linking them to Hamas. “The United States condemns the Global Sumud Flotilla,” said the official, underscoring that Washington has imposed sanctions on flotilla organisers.
Palestinian rights advocates have rejected the US sanctions, describing the move as an effort to silence Israel’s critics.
“The context is rejected. The facts are absolutely wrong, and all in all, it is just another attempt by the Trump administration and the US as a whole to break Palestinian solidarity efforts,” Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian American activist involved in the flotilla, told Al Jazeera earlier this week.
“And it won’t work. It won’t work.”
Hezbollah continues drone attacks on Israeli forces in south Lebanon
The Lebanese-armed group says it launched multiple drone attacks on Israeli military positions in southern Lebanon this evening.
Hezbollah said its fighters targeted Israeli soldiers and vehicles near the port area of Naqoura, as well as in Tayr Harfa and Dibil, using attack drones.
It did not say if casualties were inflicted.
Trump, Rubio claim US pressure put Iran in ‘weaker’ negotiating position
Both President Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio have signalled their belief that Iran is in a much weaker negotiating position, and this is because of US military strikes and the counter‑blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Trump administration has been applying pressure for weeks, and the assessment in Washington is that Iran is now incentivised to seek some form of diplomatic agreement to avoid further conflict.
The secretary of state has said he believes this is a moment of “opportunity” and, as a result, both men are pushing Iran to accept tighter concessions on its nuclear programme.
Israel strikes area near an orphanage in southern Lebanon
Israeli artillery is attacking the Lebanese town of Shawkin in the vicinity of an orphanage, the National News Agency reports.
No casualties have immediately been reported. Since 2 March, more than 200 children have reportedly been killed and more than 800 wounded in Israeli strikes, according to UNICEF.
New US sanctions a warning to Lebanese ‘aiding’ Hezbollah
The US Treasury Department has announced new sanctions targeting nine individuals accused of aiding Hezbollah and undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty.
They include figures linked to the Amal movement, and a member of Lebanon’s Armed Forces.
The measures are intended as a warning to Lebanese political, business and security elites, said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.
“Fundamentally, what this is saying is that if you’re in politics, business, or the security services – and you have been aiding Hezbollah and undermining the sovereignty of the Lebanese government – think twice, there will be real consequences,” Pigott told Al Jazeera.
He framed the move as part of US support for Beirut’s authority and ongoing diplomatic efforts with Israel.
“We’re focused on creating the good space … for those good faith conversations between the government of Israel and the government … of Lebanon,” he added, accusing Hezbollah of trying to “derail those conversations”.
US sanctions 9 Hezbollah-linked people in Lebanon with Israel talks ongoing
The US Treasury Department has announced sanctions on nine people from Lebanon “for obstructing the peace process in Lebanon and impeding the disarmament of Hezbollah”.
“Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and must be fully disarmed,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent in a statement.
“Treasury will continue to take action against officials who have infiltrated the Lebanese government and are enabling Hezbollah to wage its senseless campaign of violence against the Lebanese people and obstruct lasting peace.”
The statement added the Lebanese group relies on a network of political representatives, including members of parliament, to advance the group’s interests and defy the government’s “legitimate calls for Hezbollah to disarm and respect the sovereignty of the state”.
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Dutch PM calls Israel’s siege of Gaza ‘inhumane’
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten says he met representatives of aid groups outlawed by Israel.
The meeting included Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Save the Children, Amnesty International and the Dutch human rights organisation PAX.
Jetten said the situation in occupied Gaza and the West Bank “remains inhumane”.
“Despite agreements on a ceasefire [in Gaza], attacks continue while humanitarian aid still struggles to reach those who need it most,” he added.
“We are increasing pressure on the Netanyahu government, working on measures against products from illegal settlements, and pushing for additional sanctions against violent settlers, as well as Hamas,” Jetten said.
“Any step towards annexation is unacceptable to us,” the Dutch prime minister added.
US war in Middle East forces France to roll out $820m fuel aid package
The war on Iran is forcing European governments to step in, with France announcing new support measures to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs.
Budget Minister David Amiel said Paris will introduce targeted aid worth 710 million euros ($822m) to help households and businesses cope with price increases driven by the conflict.
The latest package will push France’s total spending on fuel support to nearly 1.2 billion euros ($1.39bn) as the economic fallout from the war continues to spread.
