Iran War Day 72: Tehran Yet to Reply to US Proposal, Israel Strikes Lebanon

Israeli warplanes targeted more than a dozen towns in southern Lebanon, even as a ceasefire between Iran and the United States appeared to hold, despite naval skirmishes near the Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, Israel killed at least 24 people in a series of attacks, despite a ceasefire that has been in effect since last month.

Meanwhile, Washington is awaiting Tehran's response to its latest proposal to end the war waged by the US and Israel against Iran, now in its 72nd day as of Sunday.

In Iran

Iranian state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened on Saturday to target US assets in the Middle East and 'enemy vessels' if Iranian oil tankers are attacked. The Football Federation of Iran announced that the national men's team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer, but demanded that host nations the US, Mexico, and Canada accept its conditions. An Iranian military spokesman warned that any country enforcing US sanctions on Tehran will 'certainly encounter difficulties when passing through the Strait of Hormuz.'

War Diplomacy

Pakistan's Army Chief of Staff, General Asim Munir, stated that Islamabad will continue its mediation efforts between the US and Iran. The US State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Saturday to discuss the importance of 'security across the Middle East.' Iran has not yet responded to the US proposal to end the war, although President Donald Trump said on Friday he expected to receive a reply by that evening. LCI (France) correspondent Margot Haddad reported that Trump said he still hopes to learn Iran's answer 'very soon.' Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed Moscow's readiness to oversee the transfer and storage of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile.

In the Gulf

UAE Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressed full solidarity with Bahrain. Bahrain said on Saturday it arrested 41 individuals linked to an IRGC-affiliated group, accusing them of communicating with the force and collecting money 'sent to Iran' to support 'terrorist activities.'

In Israel

Israel's Foreign Ministry said two activists kidnapped from the Global Sumud Flotilla heading to Gaza were deported on Sunday. The Israeli military reported intercepting a 'suspicious aerial target' in an area where forces were operating in southern Lebanon. Dozens of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and military operations in southern Lebanon.

In Lebanon

Hezbollah announced that its fighters struck an Israeli D9 bulldozer in the Khallat Raj area of the southern Lebanese town of Deir Siryan on Sunday. The Israeli military said it attacked more than 40 Hezbollah infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon over the weekend. EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib called for increased humanitarian access to southern Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah continue to clash despite the ceasefire: 'Humanitarian aid is ready, but too often it cannot reach those who need it most.'

Strait of Hormuz

A bulk carrier reported being struck by an unidentified flying object while sailing 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha, Qatar, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. A Qatari LNG tanker transited the strait en route to Pakistan and was in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday, marking the first voyage of a Qatari LNG vessel since the US and Israel launched the war on February 28. The UK announced it will dispatch a frigate to the Middle East ahead of an international mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, led by Britain and France, separate from the US war deployment. US Central Command said on Saturday it had 'disabled' four vessels and prevented 58 commercial ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports since April 13.