TEHRAN -- Iran will not enter negotiations with the United States until Washington backs down from its positions, semi-official Fars news agency reported Saturday, rejecting earlier media reports that Iran had sought such negotiations.
Citing a source close to the Iranian negotiating team, Fars said the start of negotiations would depend on U.S. implementation of the recently signed peace memorandum of understanding (MoU), including ending the war and securing an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, as well as resolving issues related to maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, among other issues. (Iran-US-Conflict)
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GAZA -- Health officials in Gaza warned Saturday of a severe health crisis in the enclave, with critical shortages of medicines, equipment and ambulance services threatening hundreds of thousands of patients.
Mohammed Abu Afash, director of the Medical Relief Organization in Gaza, said the health system has not received promised medical convoys since the ceasefire, leaving a critical shortage of medicines and equipment, with medical testing supplies deficit exceeding 87 percent. (Gaza-Health System-Crisis)
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ADEN -- Yemen's internationally recognized government and the Houthi group have reaffirmed their commitment to a UN-brokered prisoner release agreement, the UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said on Saturday, following the collapse of a planned exchange.
In a statement on social media platform X, the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen said that Grundberg had received "renewed assurances" from both sides over the past 48 hours to implement the May agreement to release more than 1,600 conflict-related detainees. (Yemen-Houthis-Prisoner Swap)
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MUSCAT -- Oman and Iran have agreed to continue technical and political talks on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Oman News Agency reported Saturday.
The two sides held talks in Muscat on ensuring the safety and freedom of navigation through the strait in light of recent developments, the report said. (Oman-Iran-Talks) ■
