Pakistan announces US-Iran talks 'in coming days'

Gulf countries issued another condemnation of Iran for its strikes across the region, demanding that "Iran immediately and without condition cease any aggression or threat against neighboring states, including the use of proxies," in a joint statement Wednesday.

The signatories -- Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan -- also warned that they maintain their right to self defense.

The states "also condemn the acts and activities that undermine the security and stability of regional states, planned by sleeper cells loyal to Iran and related terrorist organizations affiliated with Hezbollah," the countries wrote in the statement.

At least 1,094 people were killed and 3,119 others were injured in Lebanon as Israeli strikes resume, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

Iran has intelligence that its enemies, with help from a regional country, are planning to occupy an Iranian island, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, said in a post on X.

Ghalibaf warned the unspecified regional country that if this happens, "all the vital infrastructure of that regional country will, without restriction, become the target of relentless attacks.”

Egypt is ready to host any meetings related to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, as long as it serves de-escalation, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Wednesday.

“The Egyptian leadership is working to bridge gaps, and we hope negotiations will lead to de-escalation,” Abdelatty said at a press conference.

Abdelatty added that Egypt supports President Donald Trump’s initiative to negotiate with Iran and is coordinating with several countries -- including Turkey, Pakistan, China, the European Union and Gulf states -- to ease tensions.

Following reports that Iran rejected Trump's 15-point plan to end the war, Abdelatty maintained that Egypt would continue efforts to bring the viewpoints of the warring parties closer, emphasizing that "military solutions are not the answer."

He said Cairo is in direct contact with both Washington and Tehran to open channels for negotiations to end the war. He also stressed that the security of Gulf countries is “an integral part of Arab and Egyptian national security.”