Key events

1h ago Israel military orders evacuation from 29 villages in southern Lebanon
1h ago Qatari envoys traveled to Tehran aiming to complete accord ending conflict with US, according to source and Iranian outlets
1h ago Trump states Iran deal signing set for today though Tehran raises questions on timing

An Indian citizen passed away due to health issues while aboard the ship MT Celestial at Duqm Port in Oman, according to the Indian embassy in Muscat late on Saturday.

"Steps are underway to return the remains to India promptly," the embassy noted in a social media statement.

India maintains over 300,000 seafarers on worldwide fleets per official figures. More than 18,000 Indian crew members work in the Middle East, a shipping ministry official noted last week.

The incident follows the deaths of three Indian seafarers in a US attack on a tanker near Oman days earlier, which drew public and opposition criticism.

Israel military directs evacuation from 29 southern Lebanon villages

The IDF instructed residents in 29 southern Lebanon communities to depart ahead of planned strikes, AFP reports.

The alerts precede intended operations even as a ceasefire seeks to stop fighting with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Colonel Avichay Adraee, the military Arabic spokesman, released two warnings in succession, first covering 13 villages then 16 additional ones north of the Zahrani river.

Earlier, Israeli forces reported two drones believed launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon hit northern Israel on Sunday without causing harm.

"Two suspicious aerial targets impacted Israeli territory near the border with Lebanon. No injuries occurred," the military stated.

Following the incidents, two far-right Israeli ministers urged strikes on southern Beirut suburbs, a Hezbollah area known as Dahiyeh.

Qatari team reaches Tehran to wrap up US war-ending deal, source and Iranian media report

Qatari representatives arrived in Tehran on Sunday morning to help finalize an accord halting the US-Iran conflict, a knowledgeable source told Reuters.

US and Pakistan officials predicted a Sunday signing of a framework deal to conclude the over three-month war, but Tehran expressed uncertainty on timing while hardline demonstrators in Iran opposed the move.

Iran ISNA agency noted an adviser to Qatar foreign minister traveled to the Islamic republic, and Tasnim agency added the visit aimed to review latest diplomatic steps.

Donald Trump indicates a peace accord with Iran is due for signing today, which would open the Strait of Hormuz. The US president added that without an agreement the US holds "the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!"

In a Truth Social message, Trump said Iran "no longer seeks a Nuclear Weapon, and will not obtain one via purchase, development or other means".

Recent days featured the heaviest Iran-US clashes since the April ceasefire. Trump has asserted roughly 40 times that a deal neared completion before shifting to new attack threats.

US and Iran officials seek to present any accord as success. Abbas Araghchi, Iranian foreign minister, stated on state television Friday that the draft showed his nation emerged stronger.

"Iran prevails in the war with the US," he told viewers.

Trump claims Iran deal signing today while Tehran doubts timing

Welcome to ongoing Guardian coverage of the Middle East crisis.

US-Iran peace efforts continue as Donald Trump said on Saturday the US will sign a fresh accord with Iran today, asserting it would block Tehran from gaining nuclear arms and reopen the Strait of Hormuz for global traffic.

In a Saturday Truth Social post Trump stated: "The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL. Our relationship with Iran is a much different and better one than previous Administrations have had ... Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly. If it does not, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!"

In other main developments:

Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday Islamabad readies an electronic signing within 24 hours followed by technical talks next week. "We are closer to a peace deal than ever before," Sharif posted on social media.
Yet Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei urged caution. "We will have to wait and see about the exact date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding, although it will not be tomorrow," Baghaei said. "The possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out."
Pro-government night rallies persist across Iran, now exceeding 100 nights, with some opposing a US accord. A Mashhad resident told Reuters some chanted: "Death to the compromiser," apparently targeting foreign minister Abbas Araqchi.
Meanwhile, Trump spoke about Iran conflict resolution efforts with British prime minister Keir Starmer, Downing Street said on Saturday.