The expected truce in the Middle East between Iran and the United States hangs by a thread amid Israel's new offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah militia. The ayatollahs consider extending the truce to Lebanon as essential for maintaining the agreement, something that the Israelis do not contemplate.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned early this morning that military forces will remain deployed around Iran until the agreement is fully complied with and threatened with a "bigger and stronger" offensive in case of non-compliance, while ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and that Tehran will not develop nuclear weapons.
On the other hand, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (CGRI) shared a map on Thursday with alternative routes for transit in the Strait of Hormuz. Due to the war and "the presence of various types of anti-ship mines" in the area, the Tasnim agency, linked to the elite body of the Iranian armed forces, indicated that ships transiting the strait "must coordinate with the CGRI and, until further notice, use alternative routes for transit" through this strategic passage.
Gasoline maintains its downward trend this week
The price of gasoline has continued its downward trend this week that began after the tax cut approved by the Government on March 20, although diesel has increased by 2% compared to seven days ago, according to Europa Press.
Specifically, the average price per liter of diesel has stood at 1.813 euros this week, compared to the 1.777 euros it had dropped to during Easter, according to data from the European Union Petroleum Bulletin consulted by Europa Press.
Regarding the average price per liter of gasoline, it has continued the declines that began last week, following the tax cuts applied by the Government, and has decreased by 0.25%, to 1.553 euros.
UAE says it has not detected aerial threats from Iran on the second day of the truce
The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stated on Thursday that it has not detected aerial threats launched from Iran so far today, on the second day of the agreed ceasefire between Washington and Tehran to end the conflict that began at the end of February, reported Efe.
"The Ministry of Defense confirms that the UAE airspace has been free of aerial threats in the last hours," the department said in a statement, adding that the Emirati defenses "did not detect ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, or drones launched from Iran."
Following the announcement of the two-week ceasefire yesterday, Iran continued to launch missiles and drones against several countries in the Persian Gulf in response to US and Israeli bombings on its territory.
Iran rules out restricting its uranium enrichment program
The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran ruled out on Thursday restricting the uranium enrichment program, one of the main demands of the United States and Israel, as reported by Afp.
"The claims and demands of our enemies, who seek to restrict Iran's enrichment program, are nothing more than wishes that will be buried," declared Mohamad Eslami in an interview with the Isna agency.
Iran raises the death toll to over 3,000 in the war with the United States and Israel
The head of the Iranian Forensic Medicine Organization, Abas Masjedi Arani, raised on Thursday the death toll to over 3,000 in the attacks by the United States and Israel since February 28, reported Efe.
"We have lost more than 3,000 people in enemy attacks across the country," Masjedi told the Mizan agency.
UAE calls for the "unconditional" opening of Hormuz and says there are 230 tankers waiting
The Minister of Industry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Sultan al Jaber, called on Thursday for the "unconditional" opening of the Strait of Hormuz and estimated that there are 230 oil-loaded ships ready to sail, reported Efe.
"The strait must be open, fully, unconditionally, and without restrictions. Global energy security and economic stability depend on it. The militarization of this vital maritime route, in any form, is unacceptable," said Al Jaber in a post on his LinkedIn account.
The Emirati emphasized that Hormuz "is not open" and that "access is restricted, conditioned, and controlled," while denouncing that Iran has stated that "passage is subject to permits, conditions, and political pressure."
Kallas warns that Israel's attacks on Lebanon jeopardize the ceasefire
The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, warned Israel on Thursday that its "disproportionate" attacks on Lebanon put at risk the ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran, and called for the truce to be extended to Lebanon.
Kallas added that Israeli attacks on Lebanon last night "caused hundreds of deaths (...) making it difficult to argue that such disproportionate actions can be considered legitimate defense."
Red Cross delivers humanitarian aid to Iran through Turkey thanks to the ceasefire
A shipment of 200 kits of medical supplies to treat trauma has managed to reach Iran by land from Turkey, one of the first humanitarian aid shipments since the start of the war on February 28 and made possible by the ceasefire, reported the Red Cross, according to Efe.
The shipment was coordinated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) along with the Turkish Red Crescent, the first of these organizations said in a statement.
First phone contact between ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia since the start of the war
The Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Faisal bin Farhan, spoke by phone on Thursday with his Iranian counterpart, Abas Araqchi, in the first official contact between the two countries since the start of the war in the Middle East.
France says a toll in the Strait of Hormuz would violate freedom of navigation
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, stated on Thursday that imposing a toll in the strategic Strait of Hormuz would violate freedom of navigation and, therefore, would be "illegal," reported Efe.
Israel calls the reopening of the Spanish embassy in Iran an "eternal disgrace"
The Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, described the reopening of the Spanish embassy in Tehran as an "eternal disgrace," announced by his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares, on Thursday, as reported by Efe.
World Vision warns of a "catastrophic" escalation of the conflict in Lebanon
The organization World Vision expressed deep concern on Thursday about the "catastrophic" escalation of the conflict in Lebanon, a term also used by local authorities and emergency services, as since the start of the escalation on March 2, more than 1,500 people have died, including at least 130 children, and more than 4,600 are injured, reported Servimedia.