HEADLINES IN BRIEF

• Iran says it is near finalizing a deal with Oman over a plan for Strait of Hormuz shipping. READ MORE BELOW

• Two Iranian drones target the Iraqi Kurdistan PM's office. READ MORE BELOW

• Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir advocates killing '30 to 40' people in Gaza nightly while speaking to ex-hostage. READ MORE BELOW

• US negotiator Jared Kushner is meeting with Netanyahu as he seeks approval of the Gaza road map. READ MORE BELOW

• Iran says two French embassy employees involved in a diplomatic dispute last month would not be allowed to return to Iran.

• Iran blames the US presence for Gulf waters pollution after several oil spills in the region.

IN DETAIL

Iran says it is near finalizing deal with Oman over plan for Strait of Hormuz shipping

Iran said on Monday it has reached an agreement with Oman over a plan for ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, which runs between the two countries, and the sides are now working to finalize details for a joint statement.

Iranian Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters in Tehran that "an understanding has been reached regarding the map of the transit route".

He did not elaborate, but details that have previously emerged suggest the deal would reopen the strait with ships entering through a route close to Iran and exiting through a route close to Oman.

Ships would transit without paying fees or tolls during the interim period.

The US has sought an acceptable deal on opening the strait before ending its blockade of Iranian ports and it was not clear whether this would meet Washington’s expectations.

Baghaei conceded the talks with Oman have gone slowly, "but we had planned, and still plan, to finalize the understanding in the form of a package: the map plus a joint statement".

His comments came as a 60-day deadline for finding an agreement to end the war expired, with no signs of a deal between the US and Iran.

Iranian drones attack Iraqi Kurdistan PM's office

Two Iranian drones targeted the Iraqi Kurdistan prime minister's office and the home of the autonomous region's intelligence chief overnight, authorities said on Monday.

"Following an investigation by the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Unit, my personal office and the home of the head of the Security and Intelligence Agency were targeted by Iranian drone attacks earlier today," Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said.

"This is a dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the security and stability of the Kurdistan region."

The regional Counter-Terrorism Directorate said there were no casualties in the attack.

"Two Hadid-110 type explosive-laden drones were launched from across the Iranian border toward the private office of the Kurdistan region prime minister and the residence of the Parastin Agency director," it said. 

Since the start of the Middle East war, the Kurdistan region, which hosts US troops and foreign oil firms as well as rebels exiled from Iran, has been targeted with more than 1,000 attacks by Tehran and pro-Iran armed groups inside Iraq.

Drones have repeatedly been intercepted over Kurdistan's capital Erbil, while others have struck the rebels and US interests.

Tehran accuses the exiled Kurdish opposition groups of serving Western and Israeli interests, and continued to launch strikes against them even during a regional ceasefire announced in April, which eventually broke down.

Israel's Ben-Gvir advocates killing '30 to 40' people in Gaza nightly while speaking to ex-hostage

An extremist Israeli lawmaker in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition publicly advocated for killing "30 to 40" people in Gaza each night in comments that surfaced on Sunday and were quickly shared by Palestinian media.

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir made the statement while speaking to a former Gaza-held hostage, Rom Braslavski, on Braslavski's podcast. The two were discussing Israel's recovery from the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, when Ben-Gvir criticized Israel's recent drawdown of strikes in Gaza.

"It’s no secret, I disagree with the prime minister," he said. "I think targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night. Not just those who pose an immediate threat - there are people there who are not worthy of life. They shouldn't live. They’re not even people."

In the past, similar statements by Ben-Gvir and other Israeli officials were widely condemned.

Kushner meeting with Netanyahu as he seeks approval of Gaza road map

Middle East negotiator Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, was holding meetings with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the day after he had talks with Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt on disarmament.

The meetings with Netanyahu come after the Israeli leader rejected a 15-point, US-backed road map to move the truce deal forward in Gaza.

Hamas says it has agreed to the road map, which includes disarmament, and the group is urging mediators and the US-created Board of Peace to "compel" Israel to sign on as well.

But Israel, which under the road map must withdraw from Gaza, says Hamas must fully disarm before any Israeli withdrawal will occur.

Israeli troops occupy about 60% of the strip and Netanyahu has previously threatened to advance further.

Israel's rejection of Trump's plan for Gaza was condemned by five Arab countries together with Türkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia on Sunday.

In a joint statement, the countries including Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and UAE, said the rejection threatened Trump's intensified efforts to end the war in Gaza.