Israel strikes south Lebanon beyond designated 'security zone'

04/05/2026 - 02:06 This liveblog is now closed. 03/05/2026 - 07:02 Trump says he 'can't imagine' Iran's latest peace plan is acceptable US President Donald Trump said Saturday he would soon review the latest peace proposal from Iran, but cast doubt on its prospects. "I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can't imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years," he said in a post on his Truth Social platform. 03/05/2026 - 22:48 Trump says US holding 'very positive discussions' with Iran US President Donald Trump said that US officials were holding "very positive discussions" with Iran over potential steps toward ending the war that has upended the Middle East. "I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. Iran's foreign ministry earlier said that Tehran had submitted a 14-point plan "focused on ending the war" and that Washington had responded to it in a message to Pakistani mediators. 03/05/2026 - 22:42 Trump says US to help 'free up' ships in Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning The United States will escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz from Monday, US President Donald Trump said, claiming that "countries from all over the world" had requested it. "For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. "This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time." 03/05/2026 - 20:23 Germany's Merz says not 'giving up on working with Donald Trump' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would not give up on working with US President Donald Trump, despite a spat between the leaders over the war in Iran. "I am not giving up on working on the transatlantic relationship. Nor am I giving up on working with Donald Trump," Merz told public broadcaster ARD in an interview set to air tonight. 03/05/2026 - 19:49 US Kashkari says Iran war limits Fed's ability to provide rate guidance Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari said that ​the longer the Iran war goes on, the greater the risks of higher inflation and economic damage, all of which limit how much guidance the central bank should provide on rate policy right now. In an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation" television program, Kashkari said he was "very focused" on the Iran war and its impact on inflation and economic demand amid the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for 20 percent ​of global oil and gas ‌supplies. 03/05/2026 - 19:05 Germany's Merz stress importance of US for NATO, downplays tensions with Trump German Chancellor ​Friedrich Merz said the ​United States is central to the NATO alliance despite differences ​in ‌opinion and ⁠downplayed tensions with President Donald Trump, ‌after Washington announced a ⁠troop drawdown in Germany. "I remain convinced that the ​Americans are the ‌most important partner for us in the North Atlantic ‌Alliance," Merz told public broadcaster ARD ​in an interview to be televised. Asked whether ​US plans to ​reduce its troop ​presence in Germany had anything to ​do with a spat between the two leaders over Trump's strategy in Iran, ⁠Merz said, "There is no connection." 03/05/2026 - 08:43 Trump says he 'can't imagine' Iran's latest peace plan is acceptable Israel strikes southern Lebanon, kills one and wounds rescuers Spain demands release of Spanish-Palestinian activist held by Israel Bulk carrier reports being attacked by multiple small craft off Iran, UKMTO says Iran weighs US response to peace plan after warning against military action 03/05/2026 - 19:04 Iran weighs US response to peace plan after warning against military action Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the United States faced a choice between an "impossible" military operation or a deal with Tehran, after President Donald Trump disparaged Iran's latest peace proposal. Negotiations between the two countries have been deadlocked since a ceasefire came into effect on April 8, with only one round of direct peace talks held so far. Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran had submitted a 14-point plan "focused on ending the war" and that Washington had already responded to it in a message to Pakistani mediators. "We are reviewing this and will take whatever response is necessary regarding it," spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state television. 03/05/2026 - 18:10 US 'suffocating' Iran with blockade, says Treasury chief Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the United States was "suffocating" Iran's leadership through an "economic blockade" launched alongside the US military offensive. "This began with the order last March from President Trump on max pressure, and three weeks ago the President gave the order to Treasury myself to begin Economic Fury," Bessent said in a Fox News interview, referring to his department's initiative to supplement the Pentagon's "Operation Epic Fury." "We are suffocating the regime, and they are not able to pay their soldiers. This is a real economic blockade, and it is in all parts of government – all hands on deck," he told the "Sunday Morning Futures" program. 03/05/2026 - 17:48 Italian media reports US top diplomat Rubio to meet Pope Leo US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Rome this week for a visit reportedly aimed at easing strained relations with the Italian government and the Holy See. Both Giorgia Meloni and Pope Leo XIV have faced criticism from US President Donald Trump, who has publicly attacked the pontiff’s anti-war remarks. FRANCE 24's Seema Gupta has the latest from Rome. 03/05/2026 - 17:37 Southern Lebanon: Israeli strikes kill one, wounds rescuers Israel has carried out fresh air strikes in southern Lebanon. Officials there said at least one person was killed and four others were wounded. The strikes came after the Israel Defense Forces issued new evacuation warnings for residents in more than ten villages and towns, including the city of Nabatieh. Residents were ordered to leave their homes and move at least 1,000 metres away to open areas. The hostilities are continuing despite a ceasefire signed last month between Israel and Lebanon, which was intended to halt the fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah. FRANCE 24's international affairs editor Shirli Sitbon shares more. 03/05/2026 - 17:26 Nobel laureate Mohammadi remains in critical condition in Iran, foundation says Jailed Nobel Peace ⁠Prize laureate Narges ​Mohammadi was in critical condition in a cardiac care unit ​in northwestern Iran, two days after she was brought to hospital from prison, a foundation run by her ​family said. She ⁠was transferred from prison to hospital in the northwestern city of Zanjan on Friday following a "catastrophic deterioration" of ​her health, which the foundation said included two ‌episodes of complete loss of consciousness and a severe cardiac crisis. Mohammadi, who is in her 50s, won the Nobel Peace ‌Prize while in prison for a campaign to advance women's rights and abolish ​the death penalty in Iran. She suffered a suspected heart attack in late March, her family said. 03/05/2026 - 17:11 Macron says spoke with Iraq’s new PM France's President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Iraq’s new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, whose role will be “crucial for Iraq’s future, in a particularly challenging regional context,” he announced in a post on X. “A stable, sovereign Iraq that is fully in control of its own destiny is essential for the security of both the Middle East and Europe,” said Macron, who also mentioned the attack that killed a French soldier on March 12 in Iraq. 03/05/2026 - 16:58 Bulk carrier reports being attacked by multiple small craft off Iran, UKMTO says ⁠A ⁠bulk ​carrier ​reported being attacked by multiple small ​craft ‌while ⁠transiting ‌north about 11 ⁠nautical miles west of ​Iran's Sirik, the ‌United Kingdom Maritime ​Trade Operations agency said, adding that ​all ​crew ​were safe and ​no environmental impact was reported. 03/05/2026 - 16:30 US Treasury's Bessent says that oil prices will come down after Iran war US ⁠Treasury ​Secretary Scott ​Bessent said that energy ​prices, ‌which ⁠are ‌currently surging amid the US-Israel ⁠war with Iran, should ​decline ‌later this year. “Oil prices on ‌the other ​side of this conflict are going ​to be much ​lower,” ​Bessent said on ​Fox Business Network’s "Sunday Morning Futures" program. 03/05/2026 - 16:15 Kuwait says oil production expected to reach 2.628 million bpd in June ⁠Kuwait's ⁠oil production ​is expected to reach ​2.628 million barrels per day in June, ​the ‌state news agency ⁠quoted the country's oil ‌minister as saying. 03/05/2026 - 15:35 German FM, in call with Iranian counterpart, demands Hormuz reopening German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he demanded that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and give up its nuclear weapons programme in a telephone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. "I emphasised that Germany supports a negotiated solution," Wadephul said in a post on X about the call. "As a close US ally, we share the same goal: Iran must completely and verifiably renounce nuclear weapons and immediately open the Strait of Hormuz, as also demanded by" US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 03/05/2026 - 15:01 Trump says not likely to accept Iranian proposal US President Donald Trump said he was going to review a new Iranian peace proposal but said he doubted it would be acceptable, saying that Tehran had "not yet paid a big enough price". Trump’s comments came after Iran's Tasnim and Fars news agencies said Tehran had submitted a 14-point proposal to mediator Pakistan. FRANCE 24's Reza Sayah reports from Tehran. 03/05/2026 - 14:37 Rubio to meet with Pope Leo Thursday, source says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to Italy this ​week to meet with Pope Leo, a Vatican source said, as President Donald Trump's attacks against the Catholic pontiff have drawn criticism across the political spectrum. The meeting, the first known in-person encounter between ​Leo and a ‌US cabinet official in nearly a year, is expected to take place ⁠on Thursday, said a senior source familiar with the pope's plans, who asked not to be named as they were not authorised to speak ‌on the matter. The pope, who has taken on a forceful new speaking style, emerged ⁠in recent weeks as an outspoken critic of the US-Israeli led war with Iran. Yesterday's key developments: Iran is ready for either further peace talks or war, the country's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, adding that "the ball is in the United States’ court". Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon killed at least seven people and wounded several others despite the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah . NATO is working ​with the United States to ​ understand the details of the US decision for a planned drawdown of some 5,000 US ​troops ‌from Germany , the military alliance's spokesperson said. (FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)