HEADLINES IN BRIEF
• Mediators move closer to extending the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. READ MORE BELOW

• British PM Keir Starmer says he won't buckle to pressure from Trump to join the Iran war. READ MORE BELOW

• Lebanon lodges complaint with the UN over Israeli attacks that killed more than 300. READ MORE BELOW

• Trump says oil prices will drop 'very big' after he ends the Iran war.

• Israel's military says that it had struck more than 200 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

• A prominent Hezbollah legislator calls for a referendum to determine the future of Hezbollah's arsenal.

• China says it welcomes further potential Iran-US talks.

IN DETAIL

Mediators move closer to extending US-Iran ceasefire

Mediators moved closer on Wednesday to extending the ceasefire between the United States and Iran and restarting negotiations to salvage the fragile truce before it expires next week.

The US blockade on Iranian ports and renewed Iranian threats have imperiled the week-old agreement, but regional officials said they were making progress, telling The Associated Press that the United States and Iran had an "in principle agreement" to extend it to allow for more diplomacy.

Negotiations are ongoing to find a compromise on three main sticking points that derailed direct talks last weekend — Iran's nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Iran is open to discussing the type and level of its uranium enrichment, but his country "based on its needs, must be able to continue enrichment," Iran's state-media reported.

A senior US official said the United States has not formally agreed to extend the ceasefire and that "engagement" with Iran continues.

It comes as the commander of Iran's joint military command warned that Iran would completely block exports and imports across the Persian Gulf region, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea if the US military does not lift its blockade on Iranian ports.

"Iran will act with strength to defend its national sovereignty and its interests," Ali Abdollahi said.

US Central Command said on Tuesday that no ships made it past the blockade in the first 24 hours, while six merchant vessels complied with direction from US forces to turn around and reenter Iranian waters.

The blockade is intended to pressure Iran, which has exported millions of barrels of oil, mostly to Asia, since the war began on February 28.

China refutes reports of sending weapons to Iran

China's Foreign Ministry spokespersons have repeatedly denied in recent days that the country is providing any form of military support to Iran.

On Tuesday Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun was asked about Trump's earlier comments that if China was found to be supplying weapons to Iran, the US would impose an additional 50 percent tariff on China.

Guo replied: "China always acts prudently and responsibly on the export of military products, and exercises strict control in accordance with China’s laws and regulations on export control and due international obligations. Relevant media reports are purely fabricated. If the U.S. goes ahead with the tariff hikes on China on the basis of these accusations, China will respond with countermeasures."

It comes as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told CGTN on Wednesday that the United States was not respecting any humanitarian framework in the conflict. 

"They call us terrorists, but they are the real terrorists. They slaughter anyone, anywhere, whenever they want, and then they speak about human rights. Shame on them", Pezeshkian said.

The Iranian President also expressed his appreciation of China and its efforts in mediating the conflict and said China was standing up against oppression.

British PM won't buckle to pressure from Trump to join Iran war

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would not alter his stance to stay out of the war in Iran after US President Donald Trump threatened to tear up a trade deal with the UK.

Trump told Sky News on Tuesday night that the UK had not been there when the US needed their help.

He said the so-called special relationship between the allies had been better.

"It's been better, but it's sad," Trump said. "And we gave them a good trade deal. Better than I had to. Which can always be changed."

Starmer said a lot of pressure had been put on him to change course, including Trump's latest remarks.

"I'm not going to change my mind," the UK Prime Minister said. "I'm not going to yield. It is not in our national interest to join this war, and we will not do so."

Lebanon lodges complaint with UN over Israeli attacks

Lebanon's Foreign Ministry has filed an official complaint with the UN Security Council over Israel's intense barrage on the country last week that it says killed over 300 people and wounded 1,150 others.

In less than 10 minutes last Wednesday, Israel struck 100 targets across Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon without warning during rush hour, marking one of the deadliest single bombing campaigns in the country's history.

The ministry said in its letter on Wednesday that the majority of casualties were unarmed civilians.

Israel says it targeted Hezbollah militants and infrastructure, but has offered few details on what was hit.

The foreign ministry also condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanese medical facilities as violations of international law.

It said Israel has launched 17 attacks on hospitals and 101 attacks on emergency response teams in its latest war against Hezbollah.