Iran war: 'Slight progress' in peace talks, Rubio says

Key Points:

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported "slight progress" in negotiations to end the Iran war, with ongoing talks involving mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, though Iran cautioned that deep disagreements remain.
• Ten people, including paramedics and a child, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah sites, drawing condemnation from Lebanon's Health Ministry and highlighting ongoing violence affecting healthcare workers.
• Four European countries—Germany, Britain, Italy, and France—called on Israel to halt West Bank settlement expansion and address settler violence, emphasizing the illegality of settlements under international law and supporting a two-state solution.
• Iranian authorities reported 35 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours under coordination with the Revolutionary Guard, while US Secretary of State Rubio warned of the need for a "Plan B" if Iran refuses to reopen the strait freely.
• The US temporarily paused arms sales to Taiwan to conserve munitions for potential military operations related to the Iran conflict, though Taiwan has not received official notice of changes to proposed arms packages.