The situation in the Middle East remains tense and unstable. Reports of talks between Iran and the US in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad reflect only attempts to establish a dialogue; contacts are sporadic and have not yet yielded results. At the same time, Israel, despite the declared ceasefire, continues to strike Lebanon, and this indicates a de facto violation of the ceasefire. In general, the region remains in a state of prolonged escalation, and the risks of further escalation remain.

Armenian News-NEWS.am presents below a brief overview of the main developments that took place in the Middle East on Monday night.

US President Donald Trump will not accept Iran's latest proposal, which calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but leaves the issue of Iran’s nuclear program for further negotiations, The New York Times reported, citing several sources.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the nuclear issue and Iran's desire to expand its influence in the Middle East are Washington's main concerns.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran condemns the US for legalizing piracy after the seizure of the Iranian oil tankers Majestic X and Tiffany in the Indian Ocean.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that foreign entities providing services to Iranian airlines could be subject to US sanctions.