Iran war day 81: Trump delays attack; Tehran says won't surrender'

"United States President Donald Trump said he postponed a planned attack on Iran after requests from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, adding that serious negotiations are now taking place behind the scenes. The comments suggest renewed diplomatic efforts are under way amid weeks of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran."

"Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended Tehran's participation in talks while rejecting suggestions that the country was backing down under pressure. Dialogue does not mean surrender, he said, adding that Iran had entered negotiations with dignity, authority, and the preservation of the nation's rights."

"Meanwhile, there is no letup in Israeli attacks on Lebanon as the death toll crossed 3,000, with at least seven people reported killed on Monday, according to local reports, despite a US-brokered extension of the ceasefire. Here is what we know: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its forces struck groups linked to the US and Israel in the western province of Kurdistan, near the border with Iraq."

"The IRGC said fibre-optic cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz could be brought under a system of permits as Tehran tightens control over the waterway. Following the imposition of control over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, citing its absolute sovereignty over the bed and subsoil of its territorial sea could declare that all fibre-optic cables passing through the waterway are subject to permits, the IRGC said in a social media post."

Donald Trump said he postponed a planned attack on Iran after requests from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. He said serious negotiations are now occurring behind the scenes as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate. Masoud Pezeshkian defended Iran’s participation in talks and rejected claims that Iran is backing down, saying dialogue does not mean surrender and that negotiations preserve national rights. Israeli attacks on Lebanon continued despite a US-brokered ceasefire extension, with the death toll crossing 3,000. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck groups linked to the US and Israel near the Iraq border in Kurdistan and claimed they were attempting to smuggle American weapons into Iran. The IRGC also said Iran could require permits for fibre-optic cables through the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran tightens control over the waterway.

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