U.S. and Iran Hold Talks on Interim Deal as Clashes Occur

" The post came after renewed clashes near the Strait of Hormuz and reports of missile activity over Kuwait. Trump said ongoing public speculation about the pace or direction of negotiations was making his job more difficult. He added that the sides are discussing an extension of the current ceasefire by roughly two months, with Iran reopening the strait and the U.S. lifting a blockade of Iranian ports.

" Iran's Parliament Speaker stated that Israel's actions in Lebanon and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports amount to noncompliance with the ceasefire.

The U.S. military conducted strikes on Iranian radar and command-and-control sites over the weekend, describing them as a measured response to Iranian actions including the shootdown of a drone. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by targeting an air base, according to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.

Kuwait reported Monday morning that its air defenses intercepted three ballistic missiles aimed at the Ali Al-Salem airbase. A person familiar with the incident said the missiles were intercepted but did not identify the source.

Iranian state television reported Saturday that a draft agreement would give Iran authority over vessel transit in the Strait of Hormuz and provide access to $12 billion in frozen funds within 60 days. The report described the document as unofficial and not finalized.

Oil prices rose Monday, with Brent crude climbing 3.4 percent to $94.17 a barrel after falling more than 11 percent the previous week. Traders cited optimism that a deal could be reached and that full-scale war would be avoided. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance a new ceasefire initiative in Lebanon.

The proposal calls for Hezbollah to halt attacks on Israel and for Israel to refrain from further escalation in Beirut.