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1. Chandler Smith, 208 (1).

2. Kaden Honeycutt, 207 (0).

3. Corey Heim, 204 (2).

4. Layne Riggs, 204 (1).

5. Christian Eckes, 191 (0).

6. Giovanni Ruggiero, 187 (0).

7. Ty Majeski, 182 (0).

8. Ben Rhodes, 181 (0).

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1. Tyler Reddick, 5.

2. Ryan Blaney, 1.

2. Chase Elliott, 1.

2. Ty Gibbs, 1.

2. Denny Hamlin, 1.

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1. Justin Allgaier, 3.

2. Sheldon Creed, 1.

2. Taylor Gray, 1.

2. Austin Hill, 1.

2. Kyle Larson, 1.

2. William Sawalich, 1.

2. Shane Van Gisbergen, 1.

2. Connor Zilisch, 1.

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But it is the European Union’s policy toward Israel 鈥� and how to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as security deteriorates in the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as in Lebanon 鈥� that is dividing EU members, stymieing strong action, and frustrating many in the 27-nation bloc.

Israel disagreement hobbles EU action

The EU鈥檚 foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said there was no clear political agreement in Luxembourg to ramp up pressure on Israel.

鈥淲e didn鈥檛 see that today, but these discussions will continue,鈥� she said.

One of the loudest voices within the EU blocking sharper pressure on Israel is shortly leaving office 鈥� Hungary鈥檚 routinely obstructed EU action on issues ranging from support for Ukraine in its war against Russia鈥檚 invasion to sanctions on Israelis accused of violent extremism.

Kallas said that Orb谩n鈥檚 defeat by pro-European opposition leader P茅ter Magyar in Hungary鈥檚 recent election could accelerate action.

鈥淎 lot of issues … have been blocked鈥� by Hungary, she said. 鈥淲e are reopening the discussions and hope that we get a positive result.鈥�

The EU has an , that regulates trade and cooperation with Israel. Spain, Slovenia and Ireland have proposed completely suspending it, a move that doesn’t have the required unanimous support among EU nations.

However, a partial suspension targeting just the trade aspects could have enough political support, said Spanish Foreign Minister Jos茅 Albares.

鈥淭he European Union has to say today very clearly to Israel that a change is needed,鈥� he said.

The EU has found in its military campaign in Gaza.

鈥淭he attacks on the values that underpin that agreement are now too serious to ignore,鈥� said Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, adding that Belgium would support at least a partial suspension of the deal.

Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Israel’s recent adoption of the death penalty for some Palestinians, and ongoing fighting in Lebanon should push EU nations to ramp up pressure on Israel.

鈥淲e need to act. We need to make sure that our fundamental values are protected,鈥� McEntee said.

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said France and Sweden have brought forward a plan to curtail trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Amnesty International condemned EU’s lack of action to pressure Israel over its actions. Erika Guevara-Rosas, a director for the human rights organization, said 鈥渆ach delay only further entrenches impunity and paves the way for further grave human rights violations鈥� by Israel.

EU diplomats call for extending ceasefires in Lebanon and Iran

Lebanon鈥檚 Prime Minister Nawaf Salam spoke at the meeting in Luxembourg about the fragile ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, difficulties in disarming the Hezbollah militant group, and the need for EU assistance for the war-torn nation.

鈥淟ebanon today needs its European partners more than ever,鈥� Salam posted on X on Tuesday.

While now mainly headquartered in Brussels, EU institutions are also spread out in northern Europe like the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany and the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Lawmakers, diplomats and officials regularly move between the cities for meetings.

The Luxembourg meeting comes a day after 60 nations sent representatives to with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa and Bulgarian diplomat Nikolay Mladenov, who heads the Board of Peace set up by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The EU diplomats gathered in Luxembourg called for diplomacy on Iran as a ceasefire struck between Tehran and Washington that began April 8 was to expire Wednesday.

Kallas, the foreign policy chief, warned that if the fighting resumes, “it will come at a very large cost for all.鈥�

She also announced that EU foreign ministers agreed Tuesday on new sanctions on Iranian officials responsible for obstructing freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf.

鈥淔reedom of navigation is non-negotiable. Daily U-turns where the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed, are reckless. Transit through the strait must remain free of charge,鈥� Kallas said.

She did not elaborate on the sanctions or name the targeted officials.

Germany鈥檚 foreign minister called on Iran to send negotiators to Islamabad to meet with U.S. negotiators.

鈥淚ran should now take this outstretched hand in the interest of its own people,鈥� Johann Wadephul said.

The war in Iran has throttled global oil and gas markets and rattled the EU as a major importer of energy.

Also Tuesday, EU transportation ministers discussed in a video conference how to protect consumers at home and at the pump after the head of the International Energy Agency warned that Europe has 鈥� 鈥� supply left of jet fuel.

Since the latest war in the Middle East started, fighting has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran and in Lebanon. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

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McNeil reported from Brussels.

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As part of President Donald Trump鈥檚 in the 2027 budget, the Pentagon wants to triple spending on drones and related technology to more than $74 billion and invest over $30 billion into more critical munitions, including missile interceptors, whose stockpiles have become .

Military officials said the spending blueprint was developed before the conflict in the Middle East. They also did not discuss how much they will request in , which would be on top of what the White House is seeking to .

鈥淭he overlap, you鈥檒l see, is the request for munitions, which is something we always need,” Jules Hurst III, acting undersecretary of defense and the Pentagon’s comptroller, told reporters at a briefing. “We always need to increase our magazine depth. But outside of that, there aren鈥檛 any operational costs in here from Iran.鈥�

Heavy investment in drone warfare

The missile interceptors whose numbers are under the most strain are the Patriot and the air defense systems. The THAAD system is designed for defeating medium-range ballistic missiles, while the Patriot system is for taking down short-range ballistic missiles and crewed aircraft. However, they both also were used to shoot down cheap Iranian drones.

The $30 billion budget item also would aim to purchase long-range Precision Strike Missiles and Mid-Range Capability missile systems used by the U.S. Army.

The budget proposal would allocate nearly $54 billion for military drones and related technology, as well as $21 billion for weapons systems designed to take down enemy drones.

Drones and other unmanned vehicles have emerged as a key weapon in the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and top Pentagon officials say the U.S. must significantly increase its funding of both drones and counter-drone systems.

鈥淒rone warfare is rapidly reshaping the modern battlefield,鈥� Hurst said. 鈥淭his budget is the largest investment in drone warfare and counter drone technology in U.S. history.鈥�

As part of the 2027 budget, the Pentagon also intends to grow the military by 44,500 troops, or more than 2%, spend more than $2 billion on operations on the U.S.-Mexico border and make the largest shipbuilding request since 1962.

Dramatic increase in the Navy’s Tomahawk missiles

While officials said the budget was developed before operations began in Iran, it featured major jumps in many of the missiles that have been used in the conflict. One of the most dramatic increases was in the choice for the Navy to increase of its purchase of the Tomahawk cruise missile from 55 missiles last year to 785 in this year鈥檚 budget.

The long-range cruise missile was heavily used in Iran and led to concerns from experts that the military was using it much faster than it could replenish its stocks.

Vice Adm. Ben Reynolds, the Navy鈥檚 budget boss, wouldn鈥檛 say if he expected all 785 Tomahawk missiles to be delivered within the year. He acknowledged that weapons production capacity 鈥渋s absolutely the challenge鈥� and, in the case of the Tomahawk, he said the Navy expects Raytheon 鈥� the company that makes it 鈥� 鈥渢o invest very heavily now to be able to ramp up production.鈥�

The services also are addressing the difficulty in producing the advanced munitions favored by the military by slowly shifting toward more basic weapons.

Major Gen. Frank Verdugo, the Air Force鈥檚 budget chief, said the Air Force wants to invest $600 million to develop 鈥渁ffordable鈥� munitions as part of an effort to move away from 鈥渟mall numbers of exquisite weapons toward a future where we can overwhelm an adversary with sheer volume.鈥�

Trump-endorsed battleship is missing

The Navy said it would be buying 18 more warships using more than $65 billion 鈥� a 46% increase from the previous year.

However, the Trump-endorsed battleship that was announced to great fanfare last year is not in this year鈥檚 budget, according to the briefing. Instead, the Navy is planning to pay for the first battleship in next year鈥檚 budget.

The military’s spending proposal also lacked money for repairing U.S. bases in the Middle East, which Hurst said would be part of a future request.

鈥淧art of it is we would assess what our posture should be in the Middle East,鈥� Hurst told reporters. 鈥淲e have to make sure we understand what we want to construct in the future. We might change how we build bases in the Middle East based on this conflict.鈥�

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Two Mexican investigators also were killed in the crash, which Mexican authorities said occurred while the officials were returning from an operation to destroy drug labs of criminal groups.

The CIA’s involvement was confirmed Tuesday by a U.S. official and two people with knowledge of the crash who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters. The identity of the two Americans as CIA officers was earlier reported by The Washington Post.

Confirmation of the CIA鈥檚 involvement comes after days of contradictions from Mexican and U.S. authorities about the role U.S. officials played in an operation to bust a narco-laboratory in northern Chihuahua.

The lack of clarity by authorities reignited a debate over the extent of U.S. involvement in Mexican security operations at a moment when Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has come under extreme pressure by President Donald Trump’s administration to crack down on cartels.

The U.S. Embassy has declined to identify who the U.S. officials were or which entity of the U.S. government they worked for but said the officials were 鈥渟upporting Chihuahua state authorities鈥� efforts to combat cartel operations.鈥�

On Tuesday, it did not comment on reports that the officials were with the CIA. The CIA also declined to comment about the identities of the Americans killed in the crash.

Local Mexican officials originally claimed that they were working together with U.S. officials, then later walked those comments back.

Sheinbaum said she knew nothing of a joint operation between Chihuahua鈥檚 government and the U.S., despite reports that the Mexican army was also involved in the raid on the lab.

On Tuesday, the president maintained in her morning press briefing that she didn鈥檛 know if the officials were part of the CIA, but she admitted that state officials and the U.S. 鈥渨ere working together.鈥�

It鈥檚 a sensitive issue for the Mexican leader as she with the Trump administration, working to maintain a strong relationship to offset threats of U.S. intervention on cartels and tariffs while also underscoring Mexico鈥檚 sovereignty.

The CIA has recently expanded its collaboration with Mexican authorities, part of the Trump administration鈥檚 effort to stop the flow of illicit drugs. Last year, Sheinbaum said that U.S. drone surveillance flights over her country were being .

___

Janetsky reported from Mexico City. AP writer Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

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“Those (conversations) have been positive and productive. In order to be successful on and off the field, you have to make good decisions. That includes me. That starts with me,鈥� Vrabel said, making an unscheduled statement from the podium at the team’s facility on the second day of its offseason workout program.

The photos were of Vrabel and Russini at a Sedona resort and were taken before the annual NFL meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post, which earlier this month.

A Patriots spokesman said there are no plans for other team officials to address the issue further.

The NFL, meanwhile, said last weekend that it . NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that the league is not looking into the matter.

Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released written statements to the Post after the publication of the story downplaying what the photos depict. But Russini less than a week later, after the Post’s report prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet.

Vrabel said he addressed players about the matter on Monday after they arrived for the start of the voluntary workout program. Two Patriots players were scheduled to be made available to reporters on Tuesday, but Vrabel said he wanted to speak before they did. He also said he didn’t want the interest in the Post photos to take attention away from the , which begins Thursday.

Vrabel said any conversations he’s had with team officials would stay private.

鈥淲e never want our actions to negatively affect the team. We never want to be the cause of a distraction,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are comments and questions that I鈥檝e answered with the team and will keep those private to ourselves.”

Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she held various roles, including 鈥淪portsCenter鈥� anchor, NFL analyst and insider. She hosted a podcast for The Athletic and made appearances on their video platform.

Until his appearance Tuesday, Vrabel hadn’t spoken in a news conference setting with reporters since the owners’ meetings.

Last year, before his first season as Patriots coach, he addressed reporters as part of the lead-up to the NFL draft. He , with only Patriots vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf speaking at that news conference on April 13.

鈥淰ery involved. Business as usual,鈥� Wolf said when asked how much Vrabel had been involved with the team鈥檚 draft process. 鈥淚鈥檇 say he鈥檚 been in there with us this round probably a little more than he was in there last year. … He鈥檚 been in there. He鈥檚 been contributing. He鈥檚 watched a ton of the players.鈥�

Vrabel, 50, won three Super Bowls as a player with New England. He is preparing for his second season as coach of the Patriots. He led the team to a 14-3 finish last season, which ended with a Super Bowl loss to Seattle.

Vrabel said his focus going forward is football.

鈥淚 care deeply about this football team and excited to coach them. I also know that I鈥檓 going to attack each day with humility and focus,鈥� he said. “What I can promise you is that my family, this organization, the team, the staff, coaches and our fans, most importantly, will get the best version of me going forward. That鈥檚 what I know and I鈥檓 excited to do that.鈥�

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AP NFL:

Source

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Jack Link鈥檚 500

Site: Talladega, Alabama.

Track: Talladega Superspeedway.

Race distance: 188 laps, 500.08 miles.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, 10:30 a.m.; Sunday, race, 3 p.m. (FOX).

Last year: Austin Cindric outdueled Ryan Preece at the finish line to claim the win in a race that saw five lead changes in the final six laps.

Last race: Pole-sitter Tyler Reddick earned his fifth series victory after a late pass on Kyle Larson in overtime, becoming the fourth driver to win five of the season鈥檚 first nine races.

Next race: May 3, Fort Worth, Texas.

Online:

NASCAR O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SERIES

Ag-Pro 300

Site: Talladega, Alabama.

Track: Talladega Superspeedway.

Race distance: 113 laps, 300.58 miles.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, race, 4 p.m. (CW).

Last year: Austin Hill won his 13th career series race in a three-wide photo finish that ended under caution after a vicious crash from Connor Zilisch.

Last race: Taylor Gray fended off a late push from Sheldon Creed to secure the second series win of his career in a chaotic race at Kansas Speedway.

Next race: May 2, Fort Worth, Texas.

Online:

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

Last race: Christopher Bell earned his eighth career victory, and first since 2017, while fending off a late charge from Chandler Smith at Bristol.

Next race: May 1, Fort Worth, Texas.

Online:

FORMULA 1

Last race: Capitalizing on a free pit stop under a safety car, Kimi Antonelli became the first teenager to win back-to-back races, beating Oscar Piastri by 13.7 seconds.

Next race: May 3, Miami.

Online:

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Last race: Pole-sitter Alex Palou led 79 of 90 laps en route to his second win of the season, finishing more than 13 seconds ahead of second-place for his 21st career victory.

Next race: May 9, Indianapolis.

Online:

NHRA DRAG RACING

NHRA 4-Wide Nationals

Site: Concord, North Carolina.

Track: zMax Dragway.

Race distance: 1/4 mile.

Schedule: Friday, qualifying, 5 p.m., qualifying, 7:45 p.m.; Saturday, qualifying, 12:30 p.m., qualifying, 3 p.m.; Sunday, race, noon (FS1).

Next race: May 3, Adel, Georgia.

Online:

WORLD OF OUTLAWS

ALABAMA GANG 100

WORLD OF OUTLAWS PREMIER CHEVY DEALERS CLASH

ALABAMA GANG 100

WORLD OF OUTLAWS PREMIER CHEVY DEALERS CLASH

WORLD OF OUTLAWS INDEPENDENCE LATE MODEL SHOWDOWN

Next race: April 30 – May 5.

Online:

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AP auto racing:

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President Lai Ching-te was set to visit , Taiwan鈥檚 sole remaining diplomatic ally in Africa, from April 22-26.

But flight permits were canceled in island nations along the route, Secretary-General to the president, Pan Meng-an, told journalists in Taipei.

鈥淭he cancellation of flight permits by , Mauritius and Madagascar without prior warning was actually due to strong pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion,鈥� Pan said.

China鈥檚 alleged pressure 鈥渃onstitutes blatant interference in the internal affairs of other countries, disrupts the regional status quo and hurts the feelings of the Taiwanese people,鈥� he added.

China鈥檚 Foreign Ministry, the Mauritius government, the Seychelles government and the office of the Madagascar president did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Eswatini’s government said in a statement that it regretted that Lai wasn’t able to visit but it 鈥渄oes not change the status of our longstanding bilateral relations.鈥�

China as its breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary, and prohibits countries it has diplomatic relations with from maintaining formal ties with Taipei.

Over the past few years, Beijing has intensified a campaign of , often while financing infrastructure and other projects in the less-developed countries.

Taipei now has diplomatic ties with only 12 countries, almost all smaller nations in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Most recently, the Pacific Island nation of Nauru from Taiwan to China in January 2024, following similar moves by in 2023 and in 2021.

The last visit by a Taiwanese president to Eswatini was in 2023, when former President Tsai Ing-wen visited the southern African country of 1.2 million people and met with King Mswati III.

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Mistreanu reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Nokukhanya Musi in Manzini, Eswatini, and Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, contributed to this report.

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Repairs to the Druzhba pipeline became a contentious issue, delaying approval of a major 90 billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan intended to support Ukraine鈥檚 military and economic needs over the next two years. Zelenskyy said repairing the pipeline was linked to freeing the funds which had been blocked by Hungary and Slovakia.

鈥淯kraine has completed repair work on the section of the Druzhba oil pipeline that was damaged by a Russian strike. The pipeline can resume operation,鈥� Zelenskyy said in a post on X. 鈥淎lthough no one can currently guarantee that Russia will not repeat attacks on the pipeline infrastructure, our specialists have ensured the basic conditions for restoring the operation of the pipeline system and equipment.鈥�

鈥淲e connect this with the unblocking of the European support package for Ukraine, which had already been approved by the European Council,鈥� he added.

Russian and Slovakia have been halted for two months after what Ukrainian officials say were that damaged the pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory, and that continuous strikes risk the lives of technicians trying to repair it.

Before being Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n had threatened to cut gas supplies to Ukraine. Both Hungary and Slovakia accused Kyiv of deliberately obstructing Russian deliveries.

Zelenskyy said earlier this month he is reluctant to allow Russian oil to continue transiting through his country.

Source

The Carolina Panthers announced Tuesday they鈥檝e agreed to terms on a contract with Grier, their third-round draft pick (100th overall) in 2019.

Grier gives the Panthers added depth at the position behind starter Bryce Young. He is expected to compete for the No. 2 spot with Kenny Pickett, who was signed earlier this offseason as a replacement for Andy Dalton.

Grier, who grew up and played high school football in the Charlotte area, started two games as a rookie for the Panthers but never panned out. He threw four interceptions with no touchdown passes. He was sacked six times and Carolina lost both games.

Grier also spent 2020 with the Panthers, but has bounced around the league in the four years since, serving mostly as a backup to Dak Prescott in Dallas. However, Grier has not thrown a pass or played in a game in the league since 2019.

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AP NFL:

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The relegation-threatened Premier League club said the 25-year-old Englishman 鈥渋s expected to return to full training during the preseason.鈥�

Hudson-Odoi, who has scored six goals in total this season, was injured in Forest’s against Porto last Thursday.

Forest is five points clear of the relegation zone with five games left in the Premier League season. The team faces Aston Villa in the Europa League semifinals.

Hudson-Odoi said on social media that his surgery was successful and that he will 鈥渂e back stronger and better than before.鈥�

The former Chelsea player has made three appearances for England. He’s also been a target of Ghana, which has reportedly tried to persuade him to switch allegiance.

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AP soccer:

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U.S. Vice President JD Vance, expected to lead U.S. negotiators if talks continue in Pakistan, remained in Washington on Tuesday, a White House official said. And Pakistan, which has been urging both sides to return to Islamabad, said it was still awaiting confirmation on whether Iran would participate.

Earlier in the day, two regional officials said Washington and Tehran had signaled they would hold a second round of talks, with Vance leading the U.S. team and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf as its top negotiator. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

But Pakistan鈥檚 information minister, Attaullah Tarar, said later Tuesday on X that Iran had not formally confirmed its participation. The ceasefire was set to expire Wednesday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iran鈥檚 state TV there has been 鈥渘o final decision鈥� on whether to attend because of 鈥渦nacceptable actions” by the U.S., apparently referencing its recent blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance had policy meetings scheduled at the White House on Wednesday morning, said a White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The vice president鈥檚 office and the White House did not immediately respond to messages asking whether Vance still intends to travel to Pakistan.

Trump says he doesn’t favor extending ceasefire

Both sides remain dug in rhetorically. U.S. President that 鈥渓ots of bombs鈥� will 鈥渟tart going off鈥� if there鈥檚 no agreement before the ceasefire deadline, and Iran鈥檚 chief negotiator said that Tehran has 鈥渘ew cards on the battlefield鈥� that haven’t yet been revealed.

The ceasefire, which began April 8, could be extended if talks resume, though Trump said in an interview Tuesday with CNBC: 鈥淲ell, I don’t want to do that.鈥�

“We don鈥檛 have that much time,鈥� Trump said, adding that Iran 鈥渉ad a choice鈥� and 鈥渢hey have to negotiate.鈥�

White House officials have said that Vance would lead the American delegation, but Iran hasn’t said who it might send. Iranian state television on Tuesday broadcast a message saying that 鈥渘o delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad 鈥� so far.鈥�

US says its forces board sanctioned oil tanker

On Tuesday, the U.S. said its forces boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil in Asia. The Pentagon said in a social media post that U.S. forces boarded the M/T Tifani 鈥渨ithout incident.鈥�

The U.S. military did not say where the vessel had been boarded, though ship-tracking data showed the Tifani in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia on Tuesday. The Pentagon statement added that 鈥渋nternational waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels.鈥�

The U.S. military on Sunday seized an , the first interception under a . Iran鈥檚 joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a violation of the ceasefire.

Strait of Hormuz control key to negotiations

The U.S. imposed the blockade to pressure Tehran into ending its stranglehold on the , a key shipping lane through which 20% of the world鈥檚 natural gas and crude oil transits in peacetime.

Iran鈥檚 grip on the strait has sent oil prices soaring. , the international standard, was trading at close to $95 per barrel on Tuesday, up more than 30% from Feb. 28, the day that Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran to start the war.

Before the war began, the Strait of Hormuz had been fully open to international shipping. Trump has demanded that vessels again be allowed to transit unimpeded.

European Union transportation ministers were meeting Tuesday in Brussels to discuss how to protect consumers after the head of the International Energy Agency warned that Europe has 鈥� 鈥� of remaining.

Over the weekend, Iran said that it had received new proposals from Washington, but also suggested that a wide gap remains between the sides. Issues that derailed the last round of negotiations included , its regional proxies and the strait.

Qalibaf on Tuesday accused the United States of wanting Iran to surrender.

鈥淲e do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats,鈥� he wrote in an X post.

Pakistan hopeful talks will proceed

Pakistani officials have expressed confidence that Iran will also send a delegation to resume talks that mark the highest-level negotiations between the U.S. and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The first round April 11 and 12 ended without an agreement.

Pakistan said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Tuesday with the acting U.S. ambassador in Islamabad to urge a ceasefire extension. Dar also met with the ambassador from China, a key trading partner with Iran.

Security has been tightened across Pakistan鈥檚 capital, where authorities have deployed thousands of personnel and increased patrols along routes leading to the airport.

Israel jails soldiers for defacing Jesus statue in Lebanon

Israel鈥檚 military said Tuesday it has sentenced two soldiers to 30 days in jail and removed them from combat duty for smashing a statue of Jesus Christ in Lebanon. Images of an Israeli soldier with a sledgehammer smashing the statue’s head emerged over the weekend, bringing widespread condemnation.

Israel said one of the soldiers being punished hammered the statue to the ground. The other filmed the destruction. The Israeli military said it replaced the statue.

Meanwhile, historic diplomatic talks between were set to resume on Thursday in Washington, an Israeli, a Lebanese and a U.S. official said. All three spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the behind-the-scenes negotiations.

The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors met last week for the first direct diplomatic talks in decades. Israel says the talks are aimed at disarming Hezbollah and reaching a peace agreement with Lebanon.

A began on Friday in Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed broke out two days after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran to start the war. Fighting in Lebanon has .

Since the war started, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran, according to authorities. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Bynum reported from Savannah Georgia. Associated Press journalists Michelle Price, Aamer Madhani and Darlene Superville in Washington; Samy Magdy in Cairo; David Rising and Huizhong Wu in Bangkok; Sam McNeil in Brussels; Julia Frankel in New York; Bill Barrow in Atlanta and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, contributed to this story.

Source

Iran is still deciding whether to join the negotiations, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said, and will only take part if Tehran believe the discussions would yield results. And U.S. Vice President remained in Washington in the early afternoon despite being expected to lead U.S. negotiators in Pakistan.

Iran鈥檚 chief negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, wrote in a post on X early Tuesday that 鈥淲e do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats,鈥� and the Islamic Republic has been preparing 鈥渢o reveal new cards on the battlefield.鈥�

Since the war started, fighting has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran and in Lebanon. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.

Here is the latest:

6 Iranian women and 2 teenagers, mostly detained during January protests, are on Trump鈥檚 appeal for release

Bita Hemmati was sentenced to death in Tehran after taking part in the protests, according to the Washington-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran.

Mahboubeh Shabani was arrested in the city of Mashhad during the protests. She鈥檚 charged with 鈥渆nmity of God,鈥� which carries the death sentence, according to human rights monitor Hengaw.

Diana Taher Abadi and Ghazal Ghalandari are both 16, and were arrested separately in Karaj, west of Tehran, and Yasuj in southwestern Iran during the protests, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

Venus Hossein Nejad, from the Bahai faith, was arrested in January from her workplace in southeast Iran. She was forced to confess on state TV and was accused with others of organizing protests and being members of a 鈥渟atanic network and under the influence of Israel,鈥� the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights said.

Golnar Naraqi, a 37-year-old emergency physician, was arrested in Tehran during the protests, according to a state-affiliated newspaper.

Two women were identified by Iranian social media as Ensieh Nejati and Panah Movahhedi Salamat. There was no immediate confirmed reports about their whereabouts.

Despite a ceasefire, the Israeli military says Hezbollah launched rockets at troops in Lebanon

The army said the rockets were fired at Israeli soldiers positioned in southern Lebanon and that it responded by striking the launcher.

This appears to be the first time Hezbollah fired on Israeli troops since a ceasefire took effect Friday, although the Iran-backed group said it detonated explosives Sunday targeting an Israeli convoy inside Lebanon.

鈥淭he launches constitute a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement,鈥� the army said.

Israel has left thousands of troops inside Lebanon during the 10-day truce.

The army says it also intercepted a drone launched from Lebanon before it crossed into Israeli territory.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

Trump calls on Iran to release 8 women ahead of potential truce talks

The president reposted a photo of six women and two teen girls on social media Tuesday morning that a conservative activist noted are facing prosecution by the Iranian government.

鈥淚 am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm!鈥� Trump posted. 鈥淲ould be a great start to our negotiations!!!鈥�

Five of those in the photo flagged by Trump were arrested during widespread anti-government protests earlier this year, according to human rights groups.

One of the women, from Iran鈥檚 minority Bahai faith, is accused of being part of a network described as 鈥渟atanic and under the influence of Israel.鈥�

Iranian media sites identified two others in Trump鈥檚 posting but did not offer details on why they were detained.

Iran鈥檚 Foreign Ministry spokesman says his government has not yet decided whether to join ceasefire negotiations

Esmail Baghaei told state TV late Tuesday that Iran was upset about what he called mixed messages from the Americans.

鈥淚t is not out of indecisiveness, it is because we are facing contradictory messages and behaviors, and unacceptable actions from the American counterpart,鈥� he said.

US military seeks to boost spending on drones, air defenses and fighter jets

As part of Trump鈥檚 push to to $1.5 trillion in the 2027 budget, the Pentagon wants to triple spending on drones and related technology to more than $74 billion and invest over $30 billion into more critical munitions.

That includes missile interceptors, whose stockpiles have become critically low during the Iran war.

Military officials said the spending blueprint was developed ahead of the conflict in the Middle East. They also did not discuss how much they will request in .

Drones and other unmanned vehicles have emerged as a key weapon in the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and top Pentagon officials say the U.S. must significantly increase its funding of both drones and counter-drone systems.

Israel鈥檚 military says it has replaced a crucifix in southern Lebanon after a soldier smashed it down

The Israeli military posted a photo on social media of the replacement crucifix, which appeared smaller but more ornate than the original statue that a soldier was photographed destroying in southern Lebanon. Israel says two soldiers involved in the episode will be held for a month in military detention.

Tuesday鈥檚 post on X said troops worked with the community in the Lebanese village of Debel to coordinate the replacement, which includes a metallic-sheened Jesus figure and four paintings of saints, one on each arm of the cross.

Christians are estimated to make up around a third of Lebanon鈥檚 population of roughly 5.5 million people. were displaced from their homes in the country鈥檚 south during the war.

EU diplomats agree to new sanctions targeted Iranians obstructing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

鈥淭oday we also reach the political agreement to widen our sanctions regime, to also target those responsible for breaches to freedom of navigation,鈥� said the 27-nation European Union鈥檚 foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas after the Tuesday gathering in Luxembourg.

鈥淔reedom of navigation is non-negotiable. Daily U-turns where the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed, are reckless. Transit through the strait must remain free of charge,鈥� she said, referring to on the Strait of Hormuz.

Kallas said the EU鈥檚 maritime security mission would be 鈥渢he quickest way鈥� to ensure safe transit in the Persian Gulf after peace is settled.

Vance is still in Washington

The vice president was participating in policy meetings at the White House on Tuesday morning, according to a White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The vice president鈥檚 office and the White House on Tuesday did not respond to messages inquiring about whether he still intends to travel to Pakistan for talks with Iran.

Iran-allied Yemeni rebels warn against escalation in the region

Even if the U.S.-Iran ceasefire holds and the current war ends, the leader of Yemen鈥檚 Houthi rebel group said 鈥渢here is no doubt that further rounds of fighting are coming, as it is merely a truce within a continuous conflict with the enemy.鈥�

In a televised speech Tuesday, Abdul Malik al-Houthi warned that escalation in the region is 鈥減ossibly high鈥� as the 鈥渇ragile鈥� ceasefire is nearing an end.

A Houthi missile attack on Israel last month raised concern that Iran鈥檚 ally in Yemen may again try to block Red Sea shipping routes, as it did during the war in Gaza.

Gulf shipping crews are stranded amid maritime attacks, UN agency warns

At least 10 seafarers have been killed and several more severely injured in a series of attacks on commercial vessels around the Persian Gulf since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, according to the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency responsible for regulating global shipping.

IMO spokesperson Natasha Brown said the agency has confirmed 25 attacks on commercial shipping since Feb. 28. Hundreds of ships have been since.

鈥淎round 20,000 civilian seafarers remain aboard vessels in the Persian Gulf, facing dwindling supplies, fatigue and severe psychological stress,鈥� Brown added.

Following an extraordinary council session in March, the IMO said it is working with 鈥渞elevant states on the development of a safe passage framework鈥� to evacuate stranded crews, while coordinating access to supplies.

Pentagon wants to spend billions for more crucial missile interceptors

U.S. military officials said Tuesday that the Pentagon鈥檚 budget calls for spending more than $30 billion to buy more critical munitions, including missile interceptors, whose stockpiles have become critically low during the Iran war.

The supplies under the most strain are the Patriot air defense systems and the interceptors. The THAAD system is designed for defeating medium-range ballistic missiles, while the Patriot system is for taking down short-range ballistic missiles and crewed aircraft.

The $30 billion budget item will also purchase long-range Precision Strike Missiles and Mid-Range Capability missile systems that are used by the U.S. Army.

A new budget request from the Pentagon would triple spending on drone technology

The $1.5 trillion budget proposal detailed Tuesday by defense officials would allocate nearly $54 billion for military drones and related technology, as well as $21 billion for weapons systems designed to take down enemy drones.

Drones and other unmanned vehicles have emerged as a key weapon in wars in Ukraine and Iran, and top Pentagon officials say the U.S. must significantly increase its funding of both drones and counter-drone systems.

鈥淒rone warfare is rapidly reshaping the modern battlefield,鈥� Jules Hurst III, the acting undersecretary of defense, comptroller, told reporters during a budget briefing at the Pentagon.

鈥淭his budget is the largest investment in drone warfare and counter-drone technology in U.S. history.鈥�

Israel disciplines 2 soldiers for destruction of Jesus statue

One of the soldiers photographed the other using what appears to be a sledgehammer to hack down the crucifix during military operations in the Lebanese village. The two will be held in military detention for 30 days.

鈥淭he soldiers鈥� conduct completely deviated from IDF orders and values,鈥� said a military statement, using the acronym for the Israeli military.

The disciplinary measures come after the photo of the incident attracted worldwide attention and condemnations from Christian religious leaders. Israel鈥檚 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar have also denounced the incident.

The military said that six other soldiers who stood by without intervening would be summoned for conversations with higher-ups and that military protocol for dealing with religious buildings and artifacts were re-emphasized to troops in the area.

Pakistan calls for Iran ceasefire extension in meeting with US diplomat

Pakistan鈥檚 Foreign Minister met U.S. Charg茅 d鈥橝ffaires Natalie Baker on Tuesday, urging that Washington and Iran extend the ceasefire and pursue diplomacy, the Foreign Ministry said.

In a statement, it said Ishaq Dar 鈥渦nderscored Pakistan鈥檚 consistent emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable means to address challenges and achieve lasting regional peace and stability.鈥�

Baker, in response, conveyed Washington鈥檚 appreciation for Pakistan鈥檚 constructive role in supporting regional peace and facilitating dialogue, the statement said.

More on the UAE as US weighs offering it a currency swap

The United Arab Emirates, an autocratically ruled federation of seven sheikdoms on the Arabian Peninsula that鈥檚 home to Dubai, became wealthy from its oil deposits. It pegs its currency, the dirham, to the U.S. dollar.

While it has been able to send some of its oil out via a pipeline to the Gulf of Oman, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has squeezed the country鈥檚 oil exports.

The UAE has an estimated $2.5 trillion in savings and sovereign wealth funds, but may be seeking the swap to 鈥渂olster investor confidence in the UAE鈥檚 financial position if the war were to drag on,鈥� said Jason Tuvey, an analyst at Capital Economics.

Trump says administration is weighing currency swap for UAE

Trump confirmed in his CNBC interview that he鈥檚 considering a request from the United Arab Emirates Central bank for a currency swap to help secure dollar liquidity for the oil-rich economy that鈥檚 been rattled by the Iran conflict.

The president expressed surprise that the nation needs assistance, but made clear he was open to the prospect of making the move to help meet his ally鈥檚 concerns.

鈥淚 mean I鈥檓 surprised because they are really rich,鈥� Trump said. He added, 鈥淵ou know, they鈥檙e very good for this country. So, yeah, if I could help them, I would.鈥�

Trump says he doesn鈥檛 want to extend Iran ceasefire if talks with US progress

Trump was responding to a question during a live telephone interview Tuesday on CNBC, a business news network.

Asked if he would continue the ceasefire if there鈥檚 progress in the next round of Iran talks, Trump said, 鈥淲ell, I don鈥檛 want to do that. We don鈥檛 have that much time.鈥� He said Iran 鈥渉ad a choice鈥� and 鈥渢hey have to negotiate.鈥�

But it remained unclear when the ceasefire actually expires. Tuesday night was the deadline when the pause was announced two weeks ago, but Trump told Bloomberg News the ceasefire will expire Wednesday night.

Trump says he鈥檚 ready to resume Iran bombardment if talks don鈥檛 go well

In an appearance on CNBC鈥檚 鈥淪quawk Box,鈥� Trump was asked directly if he鈥檇 resume strikes if there isn鈥檛 progress in the coming talks in Islamabad.

鈥淲ell, I expect to be bombing because I think that鈥檚 a better attitude to go in with,鈥� Trump said. 鈥淏ut, you know, we鈥檙e ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go.鈥�

Pakistan says it tests locally made anti-ship cruise missile

The navy says it successfully conducted a live firing of the Taimoor air-launched missile.

The announcement comes amid the Pakistani navy鈥檚 ongoing efforts to escort merchant vessels transiting key routes including the Strait of Hormuz.

US forces board oil tanker sanctioned for smuggling Iranian oil

The Pentagon on social media says U.S. forces 鈥渃onducted a right-of-visit maritime interdiction鈥� and boarded the M/T Tifani 鈥渨ithout incident.鈥� Ship-tracking data showed the Tifani in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

The announcement described the boarding as happening overnight. It added that 鈥渋nternational waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels.鈥�

Regional officials say US and Iran arriving Wednesday for Round Two

Neither the U.S. nor Iran have publicly confirmed the timing of talks. Iranian state television has denied any official is already in Pakistan鈥檚 capital.

Pakistan-led mediators received confirmation that the top negotiators, Vance and Qalibaf, will arrive in Islamabad early Wednesday, the officials told The Associated Press. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

A two-week ceasefire is due to expire.

鈥� Munir Ahmed and Samy Magdy

Germany calls on Iran to head to Pakistan for talks

Germany鈥檚 top diplomat has called on Iran to come to Islamabad for negotiations with the U.S.

鈥淲e are now urgently calling on Iran to come to Islamabad and engage in constructive negotiations with the United States,鈥� Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Tuesday on the sidelines of the European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg.

Wadephul pointed out that Vance is ready to travel to Pakistan and that 鈥淚ran should now take this outstretched hand in the interest of its own people.鈥�

He also called on the American side to continue to keep its openness to negotiate with Iran.

鈥淚 believe there is still a window of opportunity to end this war through negotiations,鈥� Wadephul said.

The German foreign minister also called on Iran 鈥渢o immediately restore free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.鈥�

鈥楳ost severe energy crisis in a generation,鈥� UN chief says

The conflict in the Middle East has triggered 鈥渢he most severe energy crisis in a generation,鈥� U.N. Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres said on Tuesday, speaking remotely from New York to a climate conference in Berlin.

The current crisis, he said, makes it clear that 鈥渇ossil fuels are not just wrecking our planet, they are holding economies hostage.鈥�

Guterres said that the energy crisis should be solved without exacerbating the climate crisis and that can be done by investing in homegrown renewables, developing the infrastructure to support them and providing financing for less developed economies to transition away from fossil fuels.

A warning on climate change and fuel price chaos

The Iran war has locked the world in much higher fossil fuel costs for months and likely years to come, U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell said on Tuesday in Berlin.

鈥淔ossil fuel driven stagflation is now stalking economies, driving up prices, driving down growth, pushing budgets deeper into the quagmire of debt and stripping away governments鈥� policy options and autonomy,鈥� he said.

He referred to climate change and fuel price chaos as 鈥渢win reapers鈥� and said that climate cooperation and faster investments in clean energy were needed to overcome this challenge.

15 bridges hit in Lebanon since war started

Lebanon鈥檚 public works and transport minister says 15 bridges have been damaged or destroyed during the latest war.

Fayez Rasamny told the local LBC TV channel on Tuesday that the government still doesn’t have a final estimate for the damage caused by the almost seven-week Israel-Hezbollah war.

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war was halted by a 10-day ceasefire that went into effect last week.

Rasamny said that he believes that the losses could be worth between $7 billion and $8 billion. He said that the government was waiting until there is a permanent ceasefire before reaching out to donors.

Israeli strikes kill 5 in Gaza

Israeli strikes killed at least five people in the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, hospital authorities said.

Four suspected militants were killed when a drone strike hit a security point overnight in the southern city of Khan Younis, the Nasser hospital said.

Another man was wounded in the strike, it said.

Israel鈥檚 military didn鈥檛 immediately respond to a request for comment.

The militant-manned point was around 4 kilometers (2陆 miles) west of the so-called Yellow Line, separating the Israeli-controlled areas from the rest of Gaza, according to relatives of those killed.

In the northern town of Beit Lahiya, a 30-year-old woman was killed when the Israeli navy opened fire toward tents sheltering displaced people early Tuesday, the Shifa hospital said.

The Israeli military said that it wasn鈥檛 aware of attacks in Beit Lahiya.

The deaths were the latest among Palestinians in Gaza since a fragile October ceasefire deal took hold to halt a more than two-year war between Israel and Hamas.

No delegation from Iran in Islamabad, state TV says

Iranian state television on Tuesday issued an on-screen alert saying that 鈥渘o delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad … so far鈥� as speculation about possible talks with the United States grows.

The on-screen alert likely reflects the internal debate ongoing within Iran鈥檚 theocracy as it weighs how to respond to the U.S. Navy鈥檚 seizure of an Iranian container ship over the weekend.

Iranian state television long has been controlled by hard-liners within Iran鈥檚 theocracy.

So far, no official has acknowledged that a delegation will be heading to Islamabad, where officials have been on standby for days now for the possible talks.

Vance is expected to lead an American team to the talks.

Iran has offered no word on who could lead its delegation.

Last time, Qalibaf led the Iranian side.

China says war is at 鈥榗ritical stage of transition鈥�

China says that it hopes all parties can maintain the momentum for peace talks, as the two-week ceasefire in the Iran war is set to expire Wednesday.

鈥淭he current situation is at a critical stage of transition between war and peace. At such a moment, it is all the more necessary for all parties to show the utmost sincerity, remain committed to a political solution, maintain the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiations,鈥� Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

While it鈥檚 not directly involved in ongoing mediation efforts, diplomats have said that China had pressed for Iran to attend the first round of negotiations.

Pakistan says China supports efforts to facilitate talks

China has expressed support for Pakistan鈥檚 efforts to facilitate engagement between the United States and Iran for peace and stability in the region and beyond, Pakistan鈥檚 Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry said Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong conveyed the message during a meeting with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, where both sides discussed the latest regional developments.

Dar reaffirmed the 鈥渁ll-weather鈥� Pakistan-China strategic cooperative partnership, underscoring strong bilateral ties and the importance of continued high-level exchanges, the statement said.

Thousands of security personnel deploy in Islamabad

Security has been tightened across Pakistan鈥檚 capital, where authorities have deployed thousands of personnel and increased patrols along routes leading to the airport, as U.S. and Iranian delegations are expected to arrive this week for the second round of talks, witnesses and officials said Tuesday.

Security arrangements appear stricter than those put in place during the first round of talks held in the capital on April 11 and 12, following diplomatic efforts by Pakistan and regional countries, including China, to ease tensions in the region.

Pakistan hasn’t announced final dates for the talks, however.

Analysts say the scale of the security measures suggests the possibility of high-level participation if negotiations make progress.

鈥淭he arrangements this time are markedly different from those during the first round,鈥� said Syed Mohammad Ali, an Islamabad-based security analyst.

鈥淧akistan appears to be preparing for the possibility of visits by top U.S. and Iranian leaders if the talks advance to a stage where an agreement could be signed,鈥� he told The Associated Press.

EU ministers meet on energy and jet fuel concerns

Transportation ministers from across the 27-nation European Union are meeting in Brussels Tuesday to discuss spiking energy prices because of the war in Iran, and how to protect consumers at home and at the pump after the head of the International Energy Agency warned that Europe has jet fuel supplies remaining.

鈥淭his evolving geopolitical crisis in the Middle East has highlighted that Europe may have a short-term issue in supply of fuel,鈥� said Cyprus Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades, who is chairing the virtual meeting.

He said that there is currently no crisis, but that the bloc must prepare for the possibility of shortages.

鈥淚f this ever happens, it will affect connectivity, it will affect every citizen in the union,鈥� Vafeades said.

鈥淲e need to be ready to avoid queues at the gas stations if this ever happens.鈥�

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