The port handles approximately 90% of Iran’s imports. The explosion was heard as far as 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) away, and the force of the blast shattered windows in buildings within a radius of several kilometers. As of now, the cause of the explosion remains unknown.
The agenda is expected to include the continuation of Israeli-Turkish negotiations on Syria, mediated by Azerbaijan, discussions on Azerbaijan potentially joining the Abraham Accords, and further deepening of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas launched a scathing attack on the terrorist organization during a rare public condemnation at a central Fatah Council conference in Ramallah.
The trip follows "technical talks" held in Baku between Israeli and Turkish delegations. Bilateral cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan is expected to be a key focus of the discussions.
An international official commented on the upcoming "technical discussions" between Washington and Tehran, stating that the United States will reject Iran's proposal for Russian and Chinese oversight. The US is expected to demand the removal of advanced centrifuges, used for rapid enrichment, from Iranian territory.
The official stressed that despite the political difficulty that such a deal would create, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not hesitate to act, even with President Donald Trump in the White House.
A non-governmental Israeli source spoke with a senior American official who said: “Israel need not be concerned about the progress in talks with Iran.” According to the official, once the Americans present their full list of demands, the negotiations are expected to collapse.
A Yemeni economic analyst estimated that Thursday night’s attack on the Ras Issa fuel port caused roughly $700 million in damage to the Houthis.
From Iran’s perspective, the talks appear to be a resounding success. The Americans, at least at this stage, have dropped several of their key preconditions discussed prior to negotiations
The Omani Foreign Ministry confirmed that another round of the US-Iran nuclear talks will be held in the coming days in Muscat, Oman’s capital. The ministry reports significant progress following discussions in Rome. However, gaps remain over centrifuges and uranium enrichment.
