Video: Armed security forces deployed on streets of Arak

The head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency David Barnea said operations in Iran would continue until the country’s leadership is replaced.

Speaking at a Holocaust remembrance ceremony, Barnea said the agency had operated “in the heart of Tehran” during the recent US-Israeli campaign.

“We brought precise intelligence to the Air Force, and we hit missiles that threatened Israel,” he said.

“But our mission has yet to be completed,” he added, saying operations were planned to continue after the strikes.

Barnea said Mossad’s role would end “only when this radical regime is replaced,” adding that Israel would not stand by in the face of what he described as an existential threat.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron said he had urged the United States and Iran to resume talks and avoid further escalation following discussions with both sides.

Macron said he spoke with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump on Monday.

“I urged the resumption of the negotiations suspended in Islamabad, the clearing up of misunderstandings, and the avoidance of any further escalation,” he said in a post on X.

He said it was essential that a ceasefire be respected by all parties and that it include Lebanon.

Macron also called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened unconditionally and without restrictions as soon as possible.

“Under these conditions, negotiations should be able to resume quickly, with the support of the key parties concerned,” he said.

He added that France and Britain would host a conference in Paris on Friday bringing together countries willing to contribute to a defensive multilateral mission to restore freedom of navigation in the strait when security conditions allow.

Diplomatic talks led by France and United Kingdom this week will focus on sanctions, maritime security and the release of seafarers as part of discussions on a possible multinational mission, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The meetings in Paris are set to be structured around several working groups covering economic, security and industry coordination issues, the source said.

Senior diplomats are holding discussions ahead of a meeting to be co-chaired by British and French leaders on Friday, with a focus on ensuring freedom of navigation and stability in the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks will also examine potential economic measures against Iran if the waterway remains closed, the source said.

Other areas under discussion include efforts to secure the release of seafarers and vessels stranded in the region, as well as cooperation with shipping and energy companies to support a safe return to maritime transit when conditions allow.

European Council President Antonio Costa said on Tuesday that the European Union and the United Arab Emirates could work more closely to help bring stability back to the region.

Costa made the comment on X after meeting UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. He also thanked the Emirati leadership for ensuring the safety of around 200,000 EU citizens living in the country.

“We discussed how the EU and the UAE can cooperate more closely to bring stability back to the region and protect our shared interests,” Costa said.

He added that the EU remained committed to restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and supporting diplomatic efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East.

Costa’s comments came during a two-day tour of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where he said he would promote deeper cooperation and a negotiated path toward regional stability.

After he arrived in Abu Dhabi, Costa wrote on X that the EU stands “in full solidarity in the face of Iran’s indiscriminate, unjustifiable, and unlawful attacks.”

“We are a reliable partner for the Gulf countries and are ready to contribute. By working together, we can support a comprehensive strategy for lasting peace in the Middle East through negotiation and diplomacy.” he wrote.

Iran has estimated damage from US and Israeli attacks at about $270 billion so far, the government spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Fatemeh Mohajerani told Russia’s RIA Novosti that war reparations were one of the issues being pursued by Iran’s negotiating team and had also been raised in talks in Islamabad.

She added that the figure included both direct and indirect losses.