Symbolic imageHegseth visits Israel as Washington weighs Iran strikes and Hormuz attacks go on
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced trip to Israel, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. Netanyahu says he discussed toppling Iran's regime with Trump.
The New York Times, citing two people with knowledge of the trip, reported that Hegseth travelled to Israel while diplomacy to end the war has stalled. Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he discussed "completing the elimination of the Iranian regime" with Trump on Sunday. Sources told the Jerusalem Post the administration came "very close" to approving a strike on at least one recent occasion. Trump has said the US will not bomb Iran before the 3 November midterms, but Iranian officials told Reuters they expect attacks to resume.
Attacks on shipping
Bloomberg reports that Iran struck more ship engine rooms. The Hindu reports that the Revolutionary Guards say their mines halted two tankers. Both reports are known only from headlines.
Pakistan mediates
Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir met President Pezeshkian in Tehran on Tuesday. Security council secretary Mohsen Rezaei told Munir that enriched nuclear material stays in Iran and that Tehran will not negotiate until its conditions are met, Tasnim reported.
Lavrov in Tehran
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who arrived on Monday, called Iran's cause "just" and said Russia will honor its economic agreements. Russian specialists are gradually returning to the Bushehr nuclear plant.