Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte defended US military strikes on Iran as 'absolutely necessary' following Tehran's alleged attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes targeted over 80 Iranian sites in retaliation.
Iran has rejected participation in a second round of peace talks with the United States, blaming Washington for excessive demands, shifting positions, and an ongoing naval blockade. Iran's official news agency IRNA stated there are 'no plans' for further negotiations, calling the atmosphere around talks 'not positive' with no prospect of fruitful negotiations. The diplomatic breakdown follows a naval confrontation where a US warship intercepted and damaged an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel, which Iran condemned as 'armed piracy'. Oil prices rose amid fears of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor.
