00:00Iran says it will not engage in direct talks while the U.S. and Israel continue to escalate
00:06attacks. Tehran adds that it has also finalized demands amid proposals to end the war, but will
00:12only reveal them when appropriate. Earlier, Iran confirmed it has received Pakistan's proposal to
00:18end hostilities and was reviewing it. The peace plan reportedly involves a two-tier approach with
00:24an immediate ceasefire, followed by a comprehensive agreement. The country previously rejected
00:30reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a temporary ceasefire. A senior official had said
00:35Tehran will not accept being pressured to accept deadlines or ultimatums. The response comes after
00:42U.S. President Donald Trump set a Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the strait or face raids on its
00:49power plants and bridges. Iran warned of a devastating retaliation if the U.S. and Israel
00:55were to target civilian infrastructure. Fresh aerial strikes were also reported across the region on
01:01Monday, with latest U.S.-Israeli attacks killing at least 34 people across Iran.
01:12The head of Iran's intelligence organization, the IRGC, Majid Khademi, has been killed. Local media
01:19reports he died in strikes carried out by Israel and the U.S. earlier today. No further details have been
01:26provided.
01:29Khademi had replaced Mohammad Kazemi, who was also killed in an Israeli attack in June 2025.
01:35This is during a 12-day war between Tehran and Tel Aviv. He previously accused U.S. President
01:42Donald Trump of fueling a staged murder strategy in February, claiming it was aimed at increasing
01:47casualties to justify foreign military intervention. Khademi also alleged that foreign intelligence
01:54services, including Israel, were involved in unrest across Iran. At least 7,000 people were reportedly
02:01killed during a crackdown in January.
02:07We'll head for a quick break. Stay tuned for more.
02:58for more information about the next episode.
03:03Welcome back. The UAE says any settlement to the U.S.-Iran war must guarantee safe access
03:10through the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomatic advisor to the UAE, President Anwar Gargash,
03:15says the strait cannot be held hostage, warning against a ceasefire that leaves the root of
03:21causes of instability unresolved. He added that any deal that fails to
03:28address Iran's nuclear program and missile capabilities could lead to a more dangerous
03:32and volatile region. The UAE has been pushing to reopen the strait and is the only Gulf
03:39state so far to signal its willingness to join a multinational force to secure the waterway.
03:45It is also backing Bahrain's call at the United Nations Security Council to allow member states
03:50to use all defensive means necessary to ensure safe passage. But the vote has been postponed
03:56with the resolution facing opposition from China and Russia, which warn it could escalate
04:02the conflict and are instead calling for a ceasefire and political dialogue.
04:09Meanwhile, Iran warns that repeated U.S. missteps could lead to the closure of another vital
04:14maritime route, the Bab al-Mandeb. Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior member of Iran's Expediency
04:21Discernment Council, says Tehran views the Bab al-Mandeb as strategically important,
04:26similar to the strait of Hormuz.
04:30He added that the U.S. has not learned from its mistake of underestimating Iran.
04:35The Bab al-Mandeb is a narrow maritime choke point between Yemen and the Horn of Africa.
04:40It serves as the southern gateway to the Suez Canal and plays a crucial role in connecting trade routes
04:46between Asia and Europe. During normal conditions, around 10 to 12 percent of global maritime trade
04:54passes through the strategic and heavily trafficked corridor. Following the partial closure of the
05:00Strait of Hormuz, countries including Saudi Arabia redirected oil exports through the east-west
05:05pipeline to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. However, shipments bound for Asian markets must still pass
05:12through Bab al-Mandeb, making it the kingdom's last major export route. Analysts from firms such
05:18as JPMorgan and Reistat Energy warned that any simultaneous closure of both choke points
05:24would further severely disrupt global energy supplies.
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