- 'Enemies preparing to occupy' Iran island -

Iran's powerful parliament speaker warned of the possible invasion of an Iranian island with the support of an unnamed regional country.

"Based on some intelligence reports, Iran's enemies are preparing to occupy one of the Iranian islands with support from one of the regional states," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote in an X post written in both Persian and Arabic.

- Gulf demands Iraq halt pro-Iran group attacks -

Several Gulf countries, as well as Jordan, demanded in a joint statement that Iraq act immediately to stop attacks from its territory by armed pro-Iran groups.

The statement was signed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.

- US rejects Iran talks rejection -

The United States and Iran are still engaged in peace talks, the White House said, despite Iranian state media saying Tehran had rejected Washington's plan to end the war.

"Talks continue. They are productive," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said when asked about the Iranian report, adding that there were "elements of truth" to media reports on the details of a 15-point US plan setting out demands on Tehran.

- Trump threatens 'hell' if no deal -

US President Donald Trump is ready to "unleash hell" on Iran if Tehran does not accept a deal to end the war in the Middle East, the White House warned.

"President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again," Leavitt told a briefing.

- Israel expanding Lebanon 'buffer zone' -

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country's forces were expanding a "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon as the military pressed ahead with its campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Netanyahu said in a video statement that the zone had so far prevented any infiltration towards the northern border, and is being expanded "to push the threat from anti-tank missiles further away and to establish a broader buffer zone".

- Oil prices slip on reports of US plan -

Oil prices tumbled and stock markets rallied on reports of a US plan to end the war with Iran -- which promptly rejected Washington's overtures, according to state media.

After nearly four weeks of conflict, investors jumped on signs that hostilities could be winding down, with the safe-haven dollar losing support.

However, analysts pointed out that the arrival of more US troops in the Middle East and fresh missile strikes between Iran and Israel suggested chances of escalation remained.

- Hormuz 'toll booth' legally risky -

Maritime trackers reported that a handful of vessels are still crossing daily through the Strait of Hormuz, which is guarded by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) -- most of them leaving the Gulf.

Leading shipping journal Lloyd's List reported that the handful of vessels still crossing daily through the strait were taking a new Iranian-approved route, dubbed the "Tehran Toll Booth".

At least one vetted vessel paid $2 million to use the corridor around Larak Island just off Iran's coast, it reported.

- Hezbollah: Talks are 'surrender' -

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said negotiating with Israel while under fire would amount to "surrender" for Lebanon, and urged the government to reverse its ban on the party's military activities.

"When negotiations with the Israeli enemy are proposed under fire, this is an imposition of surrender," Qassem said, rejecting the Lebanese president's initiative to start direct negotiations "with an enemy that occupies our land and carries out daily attacks".

- Tehran rejects US peace plan -

Iranian state television, citing an unidentified senior official, reported that Iran had rejected a peace plan proposed by the United States to end the Middle East war.

Earlier, two senior officials in Islamabad confirmed to AFP that the 15-point plan to stop the fighting, which has spread across the Gulf and Middle East, had been "conveyed to Iran via Pakistan".

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