US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, expressed hope for progress towards ending the war with Iran, turning to Pakistani mediators to help boost efforts to reach an agreement.
The day before, President Donald Trump had warned that the negotiations, which have been ongoing for weeks with ups and downs, are "right on the edge" between reaching a settlement or resuming attacks.
European NATO members will try to gauge Rubio on Friday about the troop reductions announced by Washington, as a further step to appease Trump's anger before his July summit.
Emirati officials estimate "50-50" chances of a US-Iran agreement on the Strait of Hormuz
An official from the United Arab Emirates estimated on Friday "50-50" chances that the United States and Iran will reach an agreement to unlock the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials "have missed many opportunities in recent years due to a tendency to overestimate their cards," added the senior advisor to Emirati President Anwar Gargash, during his participation in the Globsec security conference in Prague. "I hope they do not do it again this time."
Albares invites allies to match Spain's commitment to NATO
Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, reaffirmed on Friday at the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting that Spain fulfills its commitments to the Alliance and invited other allies to have "the same commitment to Atlantic security" as his country.
"I wish all NATO allies had the same commitment to Atlantic security as Spain," Albares stated to the media upon his arrival at the meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the transatlantic organization, held in the Swedish city of Helsingborg (southwest).
The minister detailed that Spain maintains 2,000 soldiers deployed on the eastern flank, ensures "the security of the Baltic skies" in Slovakia and Romania, participates in missions in the Mediterranean, currently leads the NATO mission in Iraq - currently redeployed in Naples - and maintains a Patriot missile defense system in Turkey.
Four paramedics die in an Israeli attack on an ambulance center in Lebanon.
At least four paramedics died and several others were injured in an Israeli attack on an ambulance center belonging to the Islamic Health Authority in the town of Hanawiya, in southern Lebanon, as reported by an official source on Friday. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, to which the Emergency Operations Center belongs, promised "not to allow such crimes to go unpunished."
Rubio will reaffirm U.S. support for NATO.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will reaffirm U.S. support for NATO, as stated by Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on Friday. Valtonen mentioned, "The United States is not withdrawing from NATO. On the contrary, today we will hear Secretary Rubio committing the United States to NATO."
Rutte encourages Europe to join the "next phase" of the U.S. operation in Iran.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised the logistical support that numerous European countries have provided to the United States during its conflict with Iran, while encouraging greater allied involvement in the "next phase" of the U.S. operation in the region.
Sweden applauds the deployment of U.S. soldiers to Poland to reinforce the eastern flank.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard applauded the U.S. decision to deploy 5,000 soldiers in Poland, considering it will help strengthen NATO's eastern flank.
Israel kills two men in southern Lebanon after detecting "suspicious movements."
The Israeli Army reported the death of two allegedly armed men making "suspicious movements" hundreds of meters from the border with Israel in southern Lebanon, despite the ceasefire agreed in mid-April.
Iran took advantage of the ceasefire to rapidly rebuild its military resources.
Iran has used the ceasefire with the United States to resume part of its drone production, indicating a rapid reconstruction of certain military capabilities degraded by U.S. and Israeli attacks.
U.S. justifies suspending arms sales to Taiwan due to the need for ammunition in Iran.
The Acting U.S. Navy Secretary, Hung Cao, stated that Washington paused a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan to ensure ammunition supply in the military campaign against Iran.
U.S. relies on Pakistan's mediation to end the war with Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope for progress towards ending the war with Iran, relying on Pakistani mediators to help advance efforts to reach an agreement.
NATO allies will approach Rubio following U.S. anger over its response to Iran. European NATO members will try to gauge U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's stance on troop reductions announced by Washington, aiming to appease President Donald Trump's anger before the July summit.