
Iran's former economy minister calls for Iranian control over Strait of Hormuz
It was not immediately clear whether Khandouzi was echoing the establishment's decision or sharing his personal opinion.
'This policy is decisive if implemented on time. Any delay in carrying it out means prolonging war inside the country,' Khandouzi posted on X on Tuesday.
Iran's Oil Ministry and Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Hamas confirms it responded to latest Gaza truce proposal
Hamas confirmed on Thursday that it has responded to an Israeli proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, after more than two weeks of indirect talks in Qatar failed to yield a breakthrough. 'Hamas has just submitted its response and that of the Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators,' the Palestinian group said in a statement on Telegram. The response included proposed amendments to clauses on the entry of aid, maps of areas from which the Israeli army should withdraw, and guarantees on securing a permanent end to the war, according to a Palestinian source familiar with the ongoing talks in Doha. Negotiators from both sides have been holding indirect talks in Doha with mediators in an attempt to reach a truce deal that would include the release of Israeli hostages. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. But the talks have dragged on for more than two weeks without a breakthrough, with each side blaming the other for refusing to budge on key demands. For Israel, dismantling Hamas's military and governing capabilities is non-negotiable, while Hamas continues to demand firm guarantees on a lasting truce, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the free flow of aid into Gaza. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer on Wednesday accused Hamas of obstructing talks. 'Israel has agreed to the Qatari proposal and the updated (US special envoy Steve) Witkoff proposal, it is Hamas that is refusing,' Mencer told reporters, adding that Israel's negotiating team was still in Doha and talks were ongoing. The United States said Witkoff will head to Europe this week for talks on a possible ceasefire and an aid corridor. More than 100 aid organizations warned on Wednesday that 'mass starvation' was spreading in Gaza.

Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Amnesty accuses Iran of firing cluster munitions at Israel
Amnesty International said on Thursday that Iran fired widely banned cluster munitions at Israel during a war between the two countries in June, in attacks that endangered civilians. 'Last month, the Iranian forces fired ballistic missiles whose warheads contained submunitions into populated residential areas of Israel,' the human rights group said, citing new research. The organization said it analyzed photos and videos showing cluster munitions that, according to media reports, struck inside the Gush Dan metropolitan area around Tel Aviv on June 19. In addition, the southern city of Beersheba on June 20 and Rishon LeZion, south of Tel Aviv, on June 22 were also 'struck with ordnance that left multiple impact craters consistent with the submunitions seen in Gush Dan,' Amnesty said. 'By using such weapons in or near populated residential areas, Iranian forces endangered civilian lives,' said Erika Guevara Rosas, senior director at Amnesty International. 'Iranian forces' deliberate use of such inherently indiscriminate weapons is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.' Cluster munitions explode in mid-air and scatter bomblets. Some fail to detonate on impact and can cause casualties over time, particularly among children. Neither Iran nor Israel is among the more than 100 countries that are party to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the use, transfer, production, and storage of cluster bombs. Amnesty said international law 'prohibits the use of inherently indiscriminate weapons, and launching indiscriminate attacks that kill or injure civilians constitutes a war crime.' Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war sparked by an Israeli bombing campaign on June 13. Israel said the strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon — an ambition Tehran has consistently denied.


Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Hamas confirms it responded to latest Gaza truce proposal
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Hamas confirmed on Thursday that it has responded to an Israeli proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, after more than two weeks of indirect talks in Qatar have failed to yield a truce. 'Hamas has just submitted its response and that of the Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators,' the Palestinian militant group said in a statement on Telegram. The response included proposed amendments to clauses on the entry of aid, maps of areas from which the Israeli army should withdraw, and guarantees on securing a permanent end to the war, according to a Palestinian source familiar with ongoing talks in Doha. Negotiators from both sides have been holding indirect talks in Doha with mediators in an attempt to reach an agreement on a truce deal that would see the release of Israeli hostages. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. But the talks have dragged on for more than two weeks without a breakthrough, with each side blaming the other for refusing to budge on their key demands. For Israel, dismantling Hamas's military and governing capabilities is non-negotiable, while Hamas demands firm guarantees on a lasting truce, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and the free flow of aid into Gaza. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer on Wednesday accused Hamas of obstructing talks. 'Israel has agreed to the Qatari proposal and the updated (US special envoy Steve) Witkoff proposal, it is Hamas that is refusing,' Mencer told reporters, adding that Israel's negotiating team was still in Doha and talks were ongoing. The United States said Witkoff will head to Europe this week for talks on a possible ceasefire and an aid corridor. More than 100 aid organizations warned on Wednesday that 'mass starvation' was spreading in Gaza.