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Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, May 23

Xinhua
| May 24, 2026
2026-05-24

TEHRAN -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said here Saturday that his country seeks to safeguard national interests and remains highly cautious in negotiations with the United States.

During a meeting with visiting Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir, Pezeshkian cited Washington's repeated breach of commitments, attacks on Iran amid talks, and targeted killings of its officials as the basis for widespread public mistrust, according to a presidency statement. (Iran-US-Talks)

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TEHRAN -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Saturday Iran and the United States are working to finalize a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on ending the war.

"At this stage, our focus is on ending the imposed war," Baghaei told state-run IRIB news agency, following a visit to Tehran on Friday by a Pakistani delegation that included Army Chief Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. (Iran-US-MoU)

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TEHRAN -- The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday that 25 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz within the past 24 hours in coordination with its forces.

In a statement published on the IRGC's official news outlet Sepah News, the Navy said the vessels, including oil tankers as well as commercial and container ships, crossed the strait while their security was being ensured by the IRGC's naval forces and after obtaining permission. (Iran-Hormuz Strait-Vessel)

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BEIRUT -- Israeli airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon killed at least 11 people and wounded several others overnight into Saturday, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

The Lebanese army said in a statement posted on X that one soldier sustained moderate injuries after an Israeli strike hit an army barracks in Nabatieh, in southern Lebanon. (Lebanon-Israel-Attacks) Enditem

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