War breaking news. Iran, Rubio: 'Possible deal today, otherwise we'll solve it another way'

"Iran harbours no optimism towards the United States and the exchange of messages through the Pakistani intermediary continues in a climate of constant distrust towards the US government". This was stated by a well-informed source quoted by the Iranian news agency Tasnim, which is linked to the Pasdaran. Tasnim points out that 'no final agreement has been reached at the moment and challenges remain over certain clauses'.

The US believes that Iran has accepted the main points of the agreement in principle, but the back-and-forth over the wording of the text continues and it may be a few more days before the memorandum of understanding is finalised. This was reported by a senior US official quoted by CNN. CBS also reports similar information: citing a senior Trump administration official, it reports that the Iranians have agreed in principle to an agreement, which would include the disposal of highly enriched uranium. The US source quoted by CNN attributes the timing to what it calls the slow pace of the process needed to get Iran's approval on the wording of the agreement, saying that the time needed will depend on how quickly Tehran responds to certain US requests for changes to the wording. The official said the US is still finalising the wording on "a couple of points".

- Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi had a telephone conversation with Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. During the phone call, as Muscat explained in a note, the parties discussed the outlook on the regional situation and its developments and expressed their support for the efforts to resume maritime navigation and end the state of congestion and tension in the region. The conversation also addressed cooperation and partnership relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the European Union.

Iranian Supreme Guide Mojtaba Khamenei is in an undisclosed location and is being contacted via a network of couriers. This was reported by Cbs News citing well-informed American officials. According to the sources, few Iranians know Khamenei's whereabouts, which explains the long delays in Iranian responses to US proposals for an agreement to end the war.

The US and Iran have reportedly reached an 'agreement in principle' that could end the war in the Middle East, but final approval by the leaders of both sides could take days. This is what the US media, including the New York Times, CBS, and CNN, reiterate. The newspapers quote "a senior US official", anonymous, as saying that the Iranians have agreed in principle to a deal that would include the disposal of highly enriched uranium, the official said, and there is a broad commitment to the principles. How Tehran will do this is, however, still subject to negotiation, the US official said. In any case, the sources confirmed, the US and Iran are working to reach a final agreement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Israel will "always" have the right to defend itself, regardless of any agreement between Washington and Tehran, echoing statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. "Israel always has the right to defend itself. Every country in the world has this right. So if Hezbollah prepares to launch missiles or launches missiles at them, Israel has the right to react," Rubio told reporters from New Delhi, where he is visiting.

The Iranian news agency Tasnim reports that local authorities executed Abbas Akbari, an armed leader convicted of participating in an alleged coup in January.

According to reports also by Al Jazeera, Akbari was executed by hanging following a ruling by the country's Supreme Court. He had been convicted of 'moharebeh' (enmity against God), damaging public property and firing a gun at security forces in Nain, Isfahan province, during widespread riots in January.

Iran and the United States may reach an agreement ''as early as today''. This was announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio from New Delhi after the announcement scheduled for yesterday fell through. ''We have what I think is a pretty solid agreement on the table,'' an agreement that ''relates to the ability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz,'' but also ''enter into negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue.'' ''They thought they had good news last night, it may be that it will come today, but I wouldn't go overboard,'' he added. But if the agreement is not there, ''we will resolve the issue in another way'', Rubio said. The US will give diplomacy every chance to succeed before exploring 'alternatives', Rubio explained to reporters in New Delhi.