Morning update

Good morning Middle East Eye readers,

Here are the latest developments: 

• The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said that they are continuing to exchange message with the US, but accused Washington of undermining diplomacy efforts. Esmaeil Baqaei told Austria’s ORF television the US destroyed and violated conditions that are vital for negotiations.

• US President Donald Trump on Sunday shared a series of AI-generated images on his social media platform Truth Social, depicting the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker and a strike on Iran's Kharg oil export terminal.

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian commercial vessel "cannot go unanswered". He said on X that this was "a blatant UN Charter violation done at Israel's behest to drag Europe into its war".

• Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview with Al Jazeera that a successful security deal with Israel could pave the way for comprehensive peace without compromising Syria’s right to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. 

• Israel's security cabinet has approved allowing a proposed international force for Gaza to enter parts of the enclave that are not under Israeli occupation, according to an Israeli official. The proposed International Security Force is part of the US-backed plan for Gaza proposed in October.

• Israeli settlers established three new outposts on Palestinian-owned land in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, the Wafa news agency reported. Dozens of settlers erected in Tel al-Asur, between the towns of al-Mughayyir and Deir Jarir, east of Ramallah.