US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Bahrain for a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where he is expected to reassure regional allies that Washington will protect their security and economic interests as it seeks a peace deal with Iran.

Meanwhile, differences remain over the future of Iran’s nuclear program. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its inspectors will return to Iran’s nuclear sites, but Tehran insists inspections will resume only once a final agreement with the United States has been reached.

Tensions continue in Lebanon despite ongoing diplomacy and a ceasefire. Two people were killed in an Israeli strike on the southern city of Nabatieh, while Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon even if the US calls for a withdrawal.

Source: www.aljazeera.com