Context: Lebanese and Israeli envoys met Tuesday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mediating. The talks are technically significant but complicated—Lebanon wants an immediate ceasefire and implementation of UN Resolution 1701, while Israel is pursuing what Lebanon’s former Foreign Minister describes as “full political peace and normalisation” of ties. Israel’s ambassador to the US claims Lebanon wants to be “liberated” from Hezbollah, though this represents Israel’s characterization of the talks. Meanwhile, Israel continued bombing Beirut even as the talks were happening.

Context: The first round of US-Iran negotiations broke down over the weekend without a deal. Since then, Iran’s foreign ministry says they’ve exchanged “several messages” with the US through Pakistan as mediator. A Pakistani delegation is expected in Tehran. Trump called the war “very close to over” but also just imposed a naval blockade on Iran, sending mixed signals.

Context: Iran says US and Israeli attacks destroyed critical infrastructure during the 47-day conflict. They’re also pushing for the release of about $100 billion in frozen assets held in countries like South Korea, Iraq, and Oman—money that’s been locked up under sanctions for years.

Context: Mahdieh Esfandiari returned to Iran about a week after Iran released two French citizens who’d been held on espionage charges. The timing makes it clear this was a coordinated exchange.

Sources: Al Jazeera

Context: The blockade went into effect Monday after last weekend’s talks collapsed. The US is also stopping any vessel in international waters that’s paid Iran tolls for using the strait. This is a major escalation—about 20% of the world’s oil passes through there. Iran’s military warned the blockade is illegal, but so far no one’s tried to break through.

Context: With Iranian oil cut off and the strait closed, Norway became a more important supplier. Their revenues hit multi-year highs. Oil prices eased Wednesday on hopes for renewed talks, which helped stock markets rally.

Context: Italy had a 20-year defense agreement with Israel covering military equipment and tech research. Meloni pulled the plug on renewing it Tuesday. Trump then ripped into her in an Italian newspaper interview, saying “I thought she had courage, but I was wrong” because she wouldn’t back the Iran war and defended Pope Leo XIV. It sparked a rare moment of unity across Italian political parties rallying behind Meloni.

Context: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov traveled to Beijing to meet with top Chinese leadership. The readout emphasized the close ties between Moscow and Beijing, with the Iran conflict apparently on the agenda.

Sources: Al Jazeera

Context: Gaza’s civil defense says four people including a child died when Israel hit a police vehicle in Gaza City, with six more killed in separate strikes. There’s been a ceasefire since October 10, but attacks continue regularly on both sides.

Sources: France24

Context: One civilian was killed by a drone just 24 hours before the ceasefire—Kurdish authorities blamed Iran. Around 700 drone and missile attacks targeted US positions and certain Kurdish interests during the conflict. Residents are furious they’re caught in a war between the US and Iran when “we weren’t at war with anyone.”

Sources: France24