Tehran-Washington: Europe and the Arabs

What is happening in the Middle East is a testament to one of the paradoxes of war, as bombings and missile and drone attacks continue while negotiations to end the conflict persist.

On the 26th day of the war between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, Israel's Channel 12 reported that air defense systems intercepted missiles launched from Iran, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced the execution of the 80th wave of Operation "True Promise 4."

This comes at a time when US President Donald Trump spoke of what he described as "very promising opportunities" to reach an agreement with Iran, asserting that Tehran appears "more serious this time." In contrast, Iran acknowledged exchanging messages with Washington through both Egypt and Turkey, according to a report by the Brussels-based European news network Euronews. The report added that CNN, citing sources, stated that Tehran informed Washington of its unwillingness to resume negotiations with US envoys Steve Wittkopf and Jared Kushner, preferring direct talks with the US Vice President. J.D. Vance.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday rejected the latest Democratic-led effort to limit President Donald Trump's war powers with Iran.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah announced it had carried out drone and missile attacks targeting Israeli troop concentrations in border towns and positions, coinciding with intensive Israeli military operations in Beirut's southern suburbs and airstrikes on cities and towns in southern Lebanon.

This comes as the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman told India Today, adding, "We have had a disastrous experience with American diplomacy and we do not trust it. We were attacked twice in just nine months while we were in the midst of negotiations."

For its part, Yediot Ahronot reported that Hezbollah had launched approximately 30 rockets toward northern Israel since dawn, and that a number of them had been intercepted.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, reported that Iran is demanding the closure of American bases in the Gulf and compensation for attacks on its territory.

According to the newspaper, Iran is also demanding guarantees that war will not be renewed against it and that Israeli strikes on Hezbollah will cease.

Yediot Ahronot quoted Israeli officials as saying that the war with Hezbollah is not linked to the Iranian front, noting that the Americans understand this separation between the two tracks.

The officials added that they are preparing for the war in Lebanon to continue even if an agreement is reached with Iran. The American website Axios, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that Iranian officials have told countries attempting to mediate peace talks with the United States that they have been deceived. Twice by President Donald Trump, and they "don't want to be fooled again."

The source told the American website that Iranian officials informed mediators—Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey—that the American military movements and Trump's decision to send significant military reinforcements increased their suspicions that the offer to hold peace talks was nothing but a trick.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were subjected to missile and drone attacks early Wednesday morning, while Bahrain announced it had activated its air raid sirens amid ongoing attacks from Iran.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced in successive statements the interception and destruction of 31 drones in the Eastern Province and a ballistic missile targeting the Eastern Province from dawn until 4:35 AM GMT on Wednesday.

In Kuwait, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced that drones targeted a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, causing a fire at the site.

It added that, according to initial reports, the damage was only material and there were no casualties, as reported by the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

The agency also quoted the National Guard as saying that it had managed to "shoot down a drone and five unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the areas under its responsibility for securing them."

At the time Later, the Kuwaiti Army General Staff announced that it had intercepted a missile and hostile drones.

It clarified that any explosions heard were the result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks.

From Bahrain, the Ministry of Interior announced the sounding of sirens, urging citizens to remain calm and seek shelter in the nearest safe location.