The proposed Strait of Hormuz agreement and renewed violence in southern Lebanon come as diplomatic efforts continue following months of conflict involving Iran, Israel and their regional allies. The strategic waterway remains one of the world’s most important energy transit routes, while negotiations over the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire continue amid persistent security challenges.

Iran Signals Progress on Strait of Hormuz Agreement

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran and Oman are in the “final stage” of drafting an agreement concerning the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway separating the two countries.

Baghaei said a joint statement would be issued “if certain parties do not obstruct this process,” in an apparent reference to the United States.

According to The Associated Press, any agreement is expected to depend on the United States lifting its blockade on Iranian ports.

Before the conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, the Strait of Hormuz carried roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil and natural gas, making it one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.

Attention remained focused on Washington for any official response or further developments regarding the negotiations.

Israeli Soldiers Killed as Lebanon Ceasefire Comes Under Pressure

Israel’s military said Thursday that two soldiers were killed and four others were seriously wounded in an explosion in southern Lebanon.

The deaths are the first Israeli military fatalities reported since the June ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The Israeli military said it carried out strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday after accusing Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire. It also issued an evacuation warning for residents of another village, marking the first such warning in several weeks.

The escalation coincided with talks in Rome, where Lebanese and Israeli negotiators met to discuss implementation of the June ceasefire agreement. Under the arrangement, Israeli forces are expected to withdraw from areas they occupy in southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament.

Sudan’s Ancient Meroe Pyramids Face Growing Threats

In Sudan, officials and archaeologists warned that the country’s ongoing conflict is placing increasing pressure on the ancient Meroe pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its distinctive angular architecture.

Preservation work has largely halted as Sudan’s civil war, which began in April 2023, continues to affect archaeological sites, museums and other cultural landmarks across the country. UNESCO warned in April that Sudan’s cultural heritage faces mounting risks from the conflict.

Located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Khartoum, the Meroe archaeological complex contains more than 200 pyramids built between approximately 800 B.C. and 350 A.D. as royal tombs of the Kingdom of Kush.

Archaeologist Mahmoud Suleiman warned that portions of the site could collapse as the conflict continues alongside environmental pressures, including encroaching desert sands, that threaten the ancient structures.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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