Macron and Mitsotakis to visit Cyprus
A meeting will take place on Monday in Nicosia as European leaders French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis travel to Cyprus for talks with President Nikos Christodoulides.
The brief visit comes as the war in the Middle East enters its tenth day, prompting heightened diplomatic coordination and preventive security measures across the region.
According to officials, the Cyprus leaders meeting will focus on developments in the region and the enhanced cooperation between the three countries.
Regional coordination and increased security measures
During the meeting, the leaders are expected to discuss the high level of coordination between Cyprus, Greece, and France, particularly regarding precautionary measures implemented in response to regional instability.
Italy has also joined the coordination efforts, with the arrival of a naval frigate contributing to broader preventive security arrangements supporting the Republic of Cyprus.
Authorities say the discussions will address the evolving security environment and the role of European partners in maintaining stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Iran appoints new supreme leader
In a separate development, Iran’s Assembly of Experts has selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the successor to his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new supreme leader.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s next leader would not remain in power for long without his approval, adding to the escalating rhetoric surrounding the conflict.
Oil prices surge as Strait of Hormuz disrupted
Global oil markets reacted sharply to the ongoing war. Prices surged amid concerns over supply disruptions following the effective halt of transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
West Texas Intermediate crude rose by more than 30 percent, while Brent crude jumped 27 percent, with both benchmarks exceeding 116 dollars per barrel.
The surge reflects growing market fears that prolonged fighting in the Middle East could severely impact global energy supplies.
Escalation on multiple fronts
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said early Monday it was carrying out new strikes targeting infrastructure belonging to what it described as the “Iranian terror regime” in central Iran. The strikes were the first since the announcement of Iran’s new supreme leader.
Hezbollah also reported clashes with Israeli special forces that were allegedly transported by helicopters into eastern Lebanon after crossing from Syria.
The group said it detected around 15 Israeli helicopters entering the area and that its fighters had engaged the forces involved. According to Hezbollah, the clashes were ongoing.
At the same time, Iran’s armed forces launched their first missile barrage against Israel since Mojtaba Khamenei assumed leadership.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that the missiles were fired “in response to the third leader of the Islamic Republic,” sharing an image of a missile bearing a message pledging loyalty to the new leader.
Also read: Trump: Iran’s next leader will not last long without my approval
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