Iran sends reply to U.S. peace plan as tensions persist in Strait of Hormuz
Iran said on Sunday (10 May) that it had sent its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at launching peace talks to end the war, as signs of tentative ...
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged the world on Sunday to step in and help halt the ongoing war between Israel and Lebanon, warning that diplomacy is the only way to end the conflict and ease civilian suffering.
Speaking during an Easter address in Bkirki, Aoun said Lebanon is in “continuous contact with various countries” in an effort to reduce the human cost of the war.
“We call on friendly countries to intervene to stop this madness practiced by Israel,” he added.
The president revealed that Lebanon has put forward an initiative beginning with a ceasefire, intended to pave the way for negotiations, but said there has been no response so far.
Aoun condemned Israel’s attacks on civilians and stressed that neither the Lebanese government nor its people desire a resumption of hostilities. He said the country is focused on three priorities: maintaining domestic peace, supporting displaced people within Lebanon, and strengthening diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“Israel is trying to turn Lebanon into a second Gaza Strip, and my duty is to prevent this from happening,” he said.
The president also stressed that negotiation should not be seen as surrender and that diplomacy is not a concession. “Wars eventually end through dialogue,” he said.
Aoun warned that civil peace in Lebanon remains a “red line”, adding that security forces and the army are ready to confront any attempts to stir internal unrest.
He praised residents who have opened their homes to displaced families and thanked international partners and aid organisations for their support.
The Ministry of Public Health reported that since 2 March, 1,461 people have been killed and 4,430 wounded, while more than 1.2 million have been displaced as fighting escalates.
The violence flared on 2 March, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel for the first time since a ceasefire began on 27 November 2024, prompting intensified Israeli air strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon.
British paratroopers and military medics have been deployed to Tristan da Cunha after a suspected hantavirus case was confirmed, as first evacuation flights carrying passengers from the stricken MV Hondius cruise ship left Tenerife for Madrid and Paris.
Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Indonesian rescue teams have located two Singaporeans who went missing after Mount Dukono erupted on Friday (8 May) on the island of Halmahera, though authorities say it remains unclear whether they are alive.
The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) on Friday (8 May), following an order from President Donald Trump. U.S. officials described as a push for “unprecedented transparency”.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Baku State University (BSU) and the international television channel AnewZ, marking a new stage of cooperation in journalism education and media development.
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through mediator Pakistan, according to IRNA. Qatar’s al-Thani also warned Iran against using the Strait of Hormuz as “a pressure tool”.
Efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war appeared to stall as the two sides exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. A reported CIA assessment suggested Tehran could withstand a U.S. naval blockade for months despite mounting sanctions and renewed Gulf attacks.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides signalled they did not want escalation. The clashes come as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to a proposed deal to end the war while leaving key disputes, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain far from a genuine ceasefire, as military posturing, sanctions and uncertainty over diplomacy continue to fuel fears of a broader regional confrontation.
Iran confirmed on Friday its Armed Forces responded to, what Tehran is calling, the U.S. Navy’s violation of the ceasefire. It said Iranian ships and civilian areas were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment