Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
War in the Middle East: latest developments
Paris, France, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2026
The latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Iran weighs US response to plan -


Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Sunday the United States faced a choice between an "impossible" military operation or a deal with Tehran, after President Donald Trump disparaged Iran's latest peace proposal.

Iran's foreign ministry said Tehran had submitted a 14-point plan "focused on ending the war" and that Washington had already responded to it in a message to Pakistani mediators, which Iran was reviewing.


- Germany's Merz not 'giving up' working with US -


German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Sunday he would not give up on working with Trump, despite a spat between the leaders over the Iran war and Trump's announcement that the number of US troops stationed in the European country would be cut by "a lot further than 5,000."

"I am not giving up on working on the transatlantic relationship," Merz told public broadcaster ARD. "Nor am I giving up on working with Donald Trump."


- US says blockade 'suffocating' Iran -


Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the US was "suffocating" Iran's leadership through an "economic blockade" launched alongside Washington's military offensive known as Operation Epic Fury.

"This began with the order last March from President Trump on max pressure, and three weeks ago the president gave the order to Treasury myself to begin Economic Fury," Bessent told Fox News.


- Germany demands Hormuz reopening -


German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Sunday that he demanded Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and give up its nuclear weapons programme, in a telephone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

"I emphasised that Germany supports a negotiated solution," Wadephul posted on X about the call. "As a close US ally, we share the same goal: Iran must completely and verifiably renounce nuclear weapons and immediately open the Strait of Hormuz, as also demanded by" US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.


- Israel's Lebanon warning -


Israel's military issued new evacuation warnings in southern Lebanon for villages beyond the area it occupies, despite a truce with Lebanon intended to halt fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The warning covers more than 10 villages and towns, including several in the district of Nabatieh, which lies north of the Litani River.

Sunday strikes by Israel on southern Lebanon killed at least one person and wounded four rescuers on Sunday, the Lebanese health ministry said.


- Hezbollah can 'thwart' Lebanon-Israel talks -


A Hezbollah lawmaker said Sunday that the group would be able to "thwart" the objectives of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

Speaking at an event to honour killed Hezbollah fighters, Hassan Fadlallah said "these negotiations with all their results do not concern us, and we will not implement them".

Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2, when it fired rockets at Israel in support of its backer Iran.


- Trump casts doubt -


Trump said he would review a new Iranian peace deal but cast doubt over its prospects, as Iranian media reported Tehran had submitted a 14-point proposal to mediator Pakistan.

"I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can't imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years," Trump said late Saturday on his Truth Social platform.

Iran's Tasnim and Fars news agencies said Iran had submitted a 14-point proposal. It reportedly includes ending the conflict on all fronts and enacting a new framework for the Strait of Hormuz.

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