Paris (France) (AFP) - Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:

- Gulf involvement -

Gulf countries said that they wanted to be involved in any talks between the United States and Iran.

“We emphasize the necessity of involving the GCC countries in any talks or agreements to resolve this crisis, in a way that contributes to strengthening their security and stability,” Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem AlBudaiwi said in a televised speech, adding that Iran had been asking vessels to pay sums of money to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

- ‘Nothing from NATO’ -

“NATO nations have done absolutely nothing to help with the lunatic nation, now militarily decimated, of Iran,” US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

“The USA needs nothing from NATO”.

- ‘Get serious soon’ -

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran “better get serious soon” in US talks to end the Middle East war.

- ‘Indirect talks’ -

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that indirect negotiations were being held to end the war in Iran.

“In reality, US-Iran indirect talks are taking place through messages being relayed by Pakistan,” he wrote on X.

“In this context, the United States has shared 15 points, being deliberated upon by Iran. Brotherly countries of Turkiye and Egypt, among others, are also extending their support to this initiative.”

- ‘De-escalate’ -

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand told AFP in an interview that she had spoken to all countries impacted in the region and all G7 members “to ensure that we are all collectively advocating for de-escalation and for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and for a path forwards for the Iranian people that preserves their lives.”

- Guards’ commander killed -

Defence Minister Israel Katz said that an Israeli airstrike had killed Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ navy, along with other senior navy officers.

There was no comment from the Guards.

- Drone ‘lies’ -

The Kremlin denied a report that it was close to completing a shipment of drones to Iran.

“There are so many lies being spread by the media… Do not pay attention to them,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

- ‘Wartime’ budget -

South Korea’s government said it aims to roll out a $17-billion “wartime” supplementary budget and expand fuel tax cuts to counter rising energy prices, in the latest example of how the war has affected countries across the globe.

- Israeli soldier killed -

The Israeli military said that a soldier was killed in fighting against Iran-backed Hezbollah in south Lebanon.

- Deadly debris in Abu Dhabi -

Two people were killed and three were wounded by falling debris after air defences intercepted a ballistic missile on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, the government media office said.

- Wounded in Israel -

Missile attacks from Iran left six people lightly injured in Israel, medics said.

- New Iran strikes -

Israel’s military said its forces had carried out a wave of strikes across Iran, including in the central city of Isfahan.

- War goals -

Pakistan’s defence minister, whose government has offered to host talks between Iranian and American envoys to stop the war, appeared to take a jab at the US operation that has led to the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

“The goal of the war seems to have shifted to opening the Strait of Hormuz, which was open before the war,” Khawaja Asif posted on X, alongside hand-clapping emojis.

- Oil edges up -

Oil prices jumped and equities fell Thursday as investors tracked developments in the Middle East.

With investors holding on to hope that a deal can be struck, oil prices have stabilised this week, with Brent just above $100 and WTI around $90.

Stocks in Wall Street and Europe rose but Asian markets struggled after a two-day rally.

- ‘Glimmer of hope’ -

China’s top diplomat has said that a “glimmer of hope” has emerged due to moves to stop the war.

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi urged dialogue in separate calls with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts, suggesting that both Tehran and Washington had shown signals they were willing to return to the negotiating table.

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