Mena Today

President Donald Trump on Sunday rejected Iran's response to a U.S. proposal for peace talks to end the war, as two ships were allowed to pass through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Saturday to discuss security threats and defence cooperation in the Middle East, the State Department announced.

The United Arab Emirates' air defences dealt with two drones coming from Iran on Sunday, the Defence Ministry said, the latest in renewed attacks on the oil-rich Gulf country.

Iran has sent its response to a U.S. proposal to begin peace talks to end the war, the IRNA news agency reported on Sunday, as two carriers were allowed to pass through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to fight on and said his government was a "10-year project" despite calls to quit after his party's drubbing in local elections earlier this week.

The head of Iran's armed forces unified command met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and received from him "new guiding measures to pursue military operations and firmly confront adversaries", the semi-official Fars news reported on Sunday.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa carried out a partial cabinet reshuffle on Saturday, replacing several ministers and senior officials, including his own brother, according to the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

France and Algeria have taken a significant step toward normalising their bruised relationship, as French Armed Forces Minister Alice Rufo met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Saturday and agreed a roadmap to "intensify" bilateral cooperation, particularly in security and defence.

A bulk carrier reported being struck by an unknown projectile while sailing 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha, Qatar, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said on Sunday.

Qatari LNG tanker Al Kharaitiyat was sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after departing Qatar's Ras Laffan en route to Port Qasim in Pakistan, according to LSEG shipping data.

Iran's football federation announced Saturday that the national team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July, but attached a list of 10 conditions that host nations must meet before Tehran will commit fully.

Two activists arrested last month when Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza-bound flotilla they were travelling on are expected to be deported in the coming days after being released from security detention on Saturday, their lawyers said.