Iran holds military drill
Iran is holding a military drill in the north of the country, reports Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency.
The drill is due to take place on Tuesday evening from 7:30-8:30pm local time (16:00-17:00 GMT) in Iran’s Gilan province on the Caspian Sea. It was designed to boost the defensive readiness of the army’s naval forces, Mehr cited a local official as saying.
It is Iran’s second reported military drill in three days.
This comes at a time when Iran is expected to retaliate against Israel for its assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month.
Biden expects Iran to hold off on attack if ceasefire agreed
Asked by reporters if he expects Iran to hold off on carrying out a retaliatory strike against Israel if a Gaza ceasefire deal is achieved, US President Joe Biden responded by saying “That’s my expectation.”
The US, Egypt and Qatar are convening a summit aimed at finalising a ceasefire deal and the release of captives on Thursday.
Israel is sending a delegation, but Prime Minister Netanyahu is criticised even inside Israel for presenting demands aimed at thwarting a deal. Hamas has said both sides have already agreed to a deal and mediators need to present ways to implement it.
US says working to have Hamas represented at ceasefire talks
The US State Department says partners in Qatar have assured Washington they will work to have Hamas represented at Gaza ceasefire talks this week, adding that the US fully expects talks to move forward.
Hamas is demanding a workable plan to implement the proposal presented by President Biden in May rather than more talks.
