Dubai | Hopes rose that the Iran war could begin winding down as US President Donald Trump claimed that his government was holding productive talks with Tehran, but fighting showed no signs of slowing and Iran denied there were talks.
Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, saying the US will hold off striking Iranian power plants for five more days to allow US envoys to hold talks with a "respected" Iranian leader.
Iranian officials said that the American leader had backed down "following Iran's firm warning".
Relief ripped through financial markets Monday as oil prices eased following severe losses prior to Trump's announcement. Markets have experienced vicious swings up and down since the war began because of uncertainty about how long it may last.
The death toll has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, more than 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 US military members, as well as a number of civilians on land and sea in the Gulf region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.
Here is the latest:
Iran foreign minister holds talks
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi since Monday has been talking with his counterparts in Azerbaijan, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey and Turkmenistan, his office confirmed.
South Korea to increase nuclear and coal power generation South Korea says it will expand operations at nuclear and coal-fired power plants to reduce natural gas consumption.
Kim Sungwhan, the climate and energy minister, said Tuesday that 15 of the country's 26 nuclear reactors are currently in operation and five of 11 reactors now undergoing maintenance will likely be back online by May.
Kim said officials also will temporarily ease emissions-related restrictions on coal-fired plants to allow them to increase output on clear days.
He said officials are considering extending the life of three coal plants that had been scheduled for decommissioning this year.
Iran must think wisely' over Trump's comments about talks A member of Iran's Parliament has warned that his nation must "think wisely" about US President Donald Trump saying talks were ongoing between Tehran and Washington.
The semiofficial Fars news agency quoted Esmail Kowsari, a member of Parliament's national security and foreign policy committee, as making the comment.
"Trump, Netanyahu and the like are inherently liars and their nature is to create division," he said. "We must think wisely. Their nature is to sow discord so that they can make people distrust officials and believe that such actions have taken place, whereas no such action has occurred."
Israel issues sixth missile warning Tuesday Israel issued another missile warning to the public for Iranian fire, the sixth warning since midnight on Tuesday.
Israeli strikes near Beirut kill 2, hit targets in southern Lebanon An Israeli strike early Tuesday on a residential apartment in Bchamoun, around 10 kilometres southeast of Beirut, killed at least two people, according to an initial toll from the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The strike wounded five others, the ministry added.
The strike came without warning and hit an area outside Beirut's southern suburbs, where the Israeli military had previously issued evacuation notices.
Footage circulating online showed at least one apartment in a building engulfed in flames.
Also early Tuesday, Israeli strikes hit several areas in southern Lebanon, including a gas station belonging to the Amana company in Rashidieh, near the port city of Tyre, sending a large plume of fire into the air.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Israel has repeatedly struck Amana fuel stations since the conflict with Hezbollah reignited on March 2, accusing them of being part of the group's "economic infrastructure" that can support its military activities.
