US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is currently en route to Doha, CNN reported citing two US officials.

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier Monday that the US would meet with Iran in Doha on Tuesday.

A senior US official, meanwhile, told CNN over the weekend that technical talks regarding the memorandum of understanding were “on track” as planned despite a recent exchange of fire.

Iran, however, said Monday that no negotiation meetings are scheduled with the US at any level in the coming days, as Tehran remains focused on implementing the memorandum of understanding rather than moving to final agreement talks.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Tehran will uphold its commitments under the memorandum of understanding only if the United States does the same, stressing that Tehran’s approach is rational but its defense will be resolute when required.

“Understanding is a two-way matter. If the American side adheres to the memorandum of understanding, we too will fulfil our commitments,” Pezeshkian wrote on X. 

He added, “Our approach in the face of unreasonable bluster and baseless threats is reliance on rationality and human dignity in decision-making, and decisive and bold defense when it comes to action.”

U.S. President Donald Trump earlier announced that U.S.-Iran talks were expected to take place in Doha on June 30. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that Tehran does not plan to hold any contacts with the U.S. side in Qatar in the coming days. Nevertheless, reports have emerged that the U.S. president’s special envoy has already traveled to Doha.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials, visited the security zone in southern Lebanon, RIA Novosti reported.

The prime minister and the defence minister received a detailed briefing on the situation in the area from the commander of the army’s Northern Corps and brigade commanders deployed on the ground. Speaking with military personnel, Netanyahu stressed the importance of maintaining the security zone and continuing the destruction of Hezbollah’s infrastructure.

He also instructed the troops to respond immediately to any threat to their security. “As long as Hezbollah is present here and poses a threat to us, we will remain. Our instruction to the troops is simple: if you see a threat, act,” Netanyahu said.

The UK Ministry of Defence has announced that £5 billion will be allocated under its Defence Investment Plan to expand the use of drones and autonomous systems by the armed forces, the BBC reported.

“Overall, defence spending will increase by £15 billion, reaching £80 billion a year by 2029,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. More than £63 billion of that funding will be allocated to strengthening the UK’s nuclear deterrent, including financing submarines, developing a new nuclear warhead and purchasing 12 F-35A fighter jets. 

The investment plan had originally been due for publication last autumn, but its release was postponed several times.

The Republic of Cyprus, ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy have signed a declaration on the commercial viability of the Glaucus and Pegasus natural gas fields, as well as a separate document on continuing their cooperation, Euronews reported.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides described the signing of the documents as an event of major strategic importance. Cyprus Energy Minister Michalis Damianos, for his part, said the move further strengthens the country’s position in the regional energy sector and gives new momentum to the Eastern Mediterranean’s growing role as an emerging energy hub.

Earlier, Christodoulides received a delegation from ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy at the Presidential Palace.

Welcoming the delegation, the president said: “The fact that ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy are operating in our exclusive economic zone is an extremely significant development. I would like to publicly commend your work, your professionalism and your leadership in the energy sector. We are very pleased and excited to cooperate with you.”

 ExxonMobil Vice President John Ardill said the company has come a long way since 2017, stressing that positive results should never be taken for granted from the outset.

“In this case, two gas fields have been discovered, which is excellent news for Cyprus,” he said, adding that the next challenge is to develop them and noting that the project has been highly successful for all parties involved.

“The final investment decision is expected in 2029, following the completion of studies and preparatory work. Market launch and production are scheduled for 2033,” Ardill said.

Lithuania’s Seimas (parliament) has approved the appointment of Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius as prime minister.

According to the TASS news agency, his nomination was backed by 80 lawmakers during a plenary session, while two voted against and 28 abstained.

On June 25, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda nominated the Social Democratic leader for the post of prime minister. The 42-year-old politician previously served as mayor of Jonava.

Within the next 15 days, the newly appointed prime minister is expected to present the composition of his cabinet and the government’s programme to parliament.

The previous cabinet, led by Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, resigned on June 23 following changes within the governing coalition. The coalition was reshaped after the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party decided earlier this month to end its cooperation with the Dawn of Nemunas party, accusing it of pursuing populist policies. The Democrats for Lithuania party became the coalition’s new partner. As part of the changes, it was decided to “restart the government.”

Keiko Fujimori leads the final count in Peru’s presidential runoff after the country’s ONPE electoral authority finished tallying 100% of the vote on Monday after weeks of ‌reviewing contested ballots, Reuters reported.

The final tally shows the conservative Fujimori with a lead of 50.135%, or 9,223,396 votes, to leftist Roberto Sanchez’s 49.865%, or 9,173,755 votes.

Fujimori welcomed the conclusion of the drawn-out vote count, and in a post on social media said she would “await the national electoral jury’s announcement with great humility, prudence, and responsibility.”

“We are getting closer and ⁠closer to embarking on a path of order and hope for all Peruvians,” Fujimori said on X.

Fujimori, the daughter of late former President Alberto Fujimori who served a 16-year prison sentence for human rights abuses, had already achieved an unbeatable lead in the race last week after authorities spent weeks reviewing contested ballots from the June 7 runoff.

Sanchez’s rhetoric disputing the results has also grown, with the leftist senator saying he will not recognize a Fujimori government and making accusations, without providing evidence, of electoral fraud in favor of Fujimori.

Several individuals have been arrested in an ongoing criminal investigation into alleged vote buying involving the Strong Armenia party, investigators announced on Tuesday.

According to the Anti-Corruption Committee, several individuals distributed bribes to a number of voters in Arbat, Masis Municipality, Ararat Province, in exchange for voting for Strong Armenia in the June 7 elections and recruiting additional supporters. They also allegedly bribed the voters to attend a rally outside the home of Strong Armenia party leader Samvel Karapetyan, the law enforcement agency said.

The Anti-Corruption Committee did not disclose how many suspects had been taken into custody.

Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan and British Ambassador to Armenia Alexandra Cole held a meeting to discuss closer cooperation in various areas such as sustainable city solutions and infrastructure.  

According to the embassy readout, they discussed opportunities for closer cooperation between Yerevan and the UK, including urban development, infrastructure, architecture, design and green, sustainable city solutions.

“The UK has long-standing experience in city development, quality infrastructure, urban design, and improving public spaces. Ambassador Cole and Mayor Avinyan discussed how the UK’s expertise could support current and future projects in Yerevan,” the embassy said.

The conversation also touched on economic cooperation and opportunities to support Yerevan’s modernisation while preserving the city’s unique character and historic environment.

“The UK looks forward to continuing work with Yerevan Municipality on urban development, the exchange of expertise, and practical cooperation,” the embassy said.

City Hall said in its readout that Mayor Avinyan presented the city’s key urban development initiatives and major investment-oriented construction projects, highlighting that Yerevan is open to innovative ideas, advanced technologies, and sustainable investment.

Ambassador Cole said she would support efforts to promote Yerevan’s investment opportunities and encourage British investors to explore the city’s potential.

“Yerevan is an attractive and promising market for deepening bilateral economic cooperation,” the ambassador said, according to the City Hall readout.

The sides also underscored the importance of exchanging expertise in infrastructure development, urban planning, public space improvement, and digital transformation.