Strikes from all sides continued across the Middle East on Tuesday as confusion swirled over an end to the three-week war , following an announcement by US President Donald Trump on Monday that attacks on Iranian power plants would be halted for the next five days.
Iran has dismissed this as "fake news", saying that Trump was seeking to "manipulate the financial and stock markets" with his claims following fears that a US assault on Tehran's energy infrastructure could plunge the global economy into despair and uncertainty.
Iranian media said that despite Trump's so-called step-back from attacking power infrastructure, US and Israeli strikes targeted two gas facilities and a pipeline in the country on Tuesday .
The Fars news agency said the gas administration building and the gas pressure regulation station in Isfahan , central Iran, were "partially damaged".
In the country’s southwest, the outlet reported that a US-Israeli projectile hit the gas pipeline of the Khorramshahr power plant, without specifying the extent of the damage.
Iranian media reported that at least six people were killed in Shahid Mofatteh, in the East Azerbaijan province, after a US-Israeli strike hit a residential area.
On Monday, Trump said that a "top" Iranian official was involved in "good and productive" conversations about a "complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East", announcing that attacks on Iranian power infrastructure would be paused for at least five days. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf , the powerful parliamentary speaker who was reportedly involved in such talks, said in a statement on X: "No negotiations were held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets to escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped."
On Tuesday, three senior Israeli officials quoted by Reuters said that Trump is "determined" to reach a deal with Iran, adding that it was "unlikely" for Tehran to agree to any US demands or negotiations. In a similar statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had spoken with Trump and that the US president "believed the countries' military gains in Iran could be converted into a negotiated agreement that protected Israel's interests".
"President Trump believes there is a chance to leverage the tremendous achievements of the (Israeli military) and the US military in order to realise the war's objectives in an agreement -- an agreement that will safeguard our vital interests," Netanyahu said in a video statement. Araghchi talks with FMs In light of recent developments in the region, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a series of phone calls with several counterparts across the region and beyond on Monday and Tuesday.
In a call with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, the two sides addressed developments related to the Strait of Hormuz and agreed to continue consultations and coordination between their countries.
Araghchi also discussed the developments of the war in the region with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelaty. The Iranian FM presented the Islamic Republic's "latest views" on the war, while Abdelaty reviewed "the latest consultations his country has held with regional and international parties with the aim of reducing tensions in the region", according to Bloomberg .
The FM also held calls with his Azerbaijani and Turkmen counterparts on the impact of US-Israeli strikes on security in the Caspian Sea.
In a conversation with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Araghchi stressed Tehran’s "determination to continue defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity". Moscow also reiterated Russia's condemnation of the American and Israeli attacks. Iranian attacks on Gulf persist As it has done over the past three weeks, Iran continued to strike infrastructure across the Gulf Arab countries on Tuesday, with Kuwait hit by a partial power outage after its energy infrastructure was struck.
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted at least 35 drone attacks in its Eastern Region on Tuesday, while in Bahrain , a fire broke out at an energy facility following an attack, which was successfully extinguished by the country's civil defence.
Manama blamed the attack on "criminal Iranian aggression".
Bahrain on Monday put forward a draft UN Security Council resolution that would authorise countries to use "all necessary means" - diplomatic language for force - to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, according to a text seen by Reuters .
Diplomats said the draft text was backed by other Gulf Arab states and the US, although they noted that it was unlikely to pass through the council, where Russia and China hold veto power.
The Strait of Hormuz crisis has had a significant impact on global oil and gas shipments, which in turn has driven up the price of these commodities.
Iran is determined to keep the Strait closed amid the ongoing conflict, giving it serious leverage over the US and Gulf states in future negotiations.
Sirens sounded across the Gulf states from dawn on Tuesday. Tel Aviv struck Iran also launched a retaliatory missile attack against Israel, causing damage and injuries in Tel Aviv .
Images shared by news agencies showed rubble-covered streets and damage done to the city’s commercial hub with at least six people reportedly injured.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian media announced a fresh salvo of missiles was headed towards Israel.
At least 1,500 people have been killed in Iran since 28 February, when the US and Israel launched joint strikes on the country, in which they assassinated a number of top officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei .
The war has also spilt over to other countries in the region, chiefly Lebanon, where 1,039 have been killed.
Casualties have also been reported in Iraq, Israel, and several GCC countries.