Middle East Today | The National

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain this week to discuss Washington's initial agreement with Iran and other regional issues, the State Department announced. Why it matters: All three countries Mr Rubio is visiting were repeatedly struck by Iranian drones and missiles during the Iran war. While Gulf states support diplomacy and welcome an end to the fighting, they are also seeking assurances that any final agreement addresses the broader security concerns exposed by the conflict. Officials in the region fear that excessive concessions could embolden Tehran.
US Vice President JD Vance said talks on Iran's nuclear programme are expected to start this week as he reported "good progress" made in an opening round of negotiations in Switzerland for a durable peace. He also said Tehran agreed to admit nuclear monitors into the country, but Iran denied making any new commitments. "The US Vice President's claim about the return of the [International Atomic Energy] Agency's inspectors to Iran is false," a source close to Iran's negotiating team told Fars news agency. Follow live updates here.
US President Donald Trump said that Iran would have to agree to extensive inspections of its weapons programmes as part of a negotiated framework agreement aimed at ending their months-long war. He did not provide further details on what inspection regime would be put in place or whether it would extend beyond Iran’s nuclear programme.
Oman and Iran affirmed their commitment to safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and other international waterways, the sultanate said, after hosting Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf for talks. Mr Ghalibaf met Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi in Muscat alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz started to pick up on Monday, Reuters reported, with the foreign minister of Oman affirming his country's commitment to international law and toll-free safe passage during negotiations with Iran over administering the vital waterway. The increase in shipping activity came as Iran and the US agreed to set up a hotline for the strait to "prevent and resolve any misunderstandings" involving vessels transiting the chokepoint, according to Mr Ghalibaf.
The US is set to mediate another round of talks beginning today aimed at ending the deadly fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Washington has also established a "deconfliction" mechanism involving Iran, as repeated ceasefire violations have threatened to derail negotiations with Tehran. However, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has rejected any suggestion that a foreign country should negotiate on Lebanon’s behalf, in reference to Iran.

At least ⁠13 ⁠people were ⁠killed and 66 were ⁠injured after an ⁠explosion ‌at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas processing site of Ras Laffan on ‌Sunday, ⁠Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad Al Kaabi ‌said.
The Arab League appointed veteran Egyptian diplomat Nabil Fahmy as its new secretary general during a meeting of foreign ministers in Amman, succeeding Ahmed Aboul Gheit after two consecutive terms at the helm of the regional body. Mr Fahmy's five-year term is due to begin at the start of July.
Arab foreign ministers, meeting in Amman for the 165th regular session of the Arab League Council, stressed the importance of de-escalation and creating conditions for a comprehensive agreement between Iran and the US that would bolster regional security and stability.
Egypt's military said it was engaged in a large-scale operation in the south of the country to tackle gangs involved in drugs and arms trafficking, as well as illegal gold prospecting.

The US issued a ⁠general licence for Iran that authorises the production, delivery ⁠and sale of crude oil ⁠as well as petrochemical and petroleum products of Iranian origin until August 21.
Damascus said that Israel remains the main obstacle to stability in Syria despite what it described as "appreciated" US mediation efforts.
Ambitious technology goals and the push for rapid digitisation in the Middle East could increase the impact of cyber attacks, a new survey indicates.

Jordan are out of the 2026 World Cup after a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Algeria means they have no chance of advancing from Group J.
France's attacking power was on full display on Monday night, as Kylian Mbappe scored twice to secure a 3-0 win against Iraq, who also lost talisman striker Aymen Hussein to injury.
Tens of thousands of Egyptians gathered in the fan zone in the New Capital at 4am on Monday and countless more later stormed the streets of Cairo to celebrate Egypt’s first-ever World Cup victory. For more World Cup coverage, click here.