This is a view from the scene showing destruction to buildings following two consecutive retaliatory strikes by Iran targeting Israel’s southern region, including the area of the Dimona Nuclear Power Plant, in Israel.

• Iran is expected to respond to a US peace proposal aimed at ending the Middle East war, with a counteroffer likely to be delivered via Pakistan.
• The proposal reportedly includes demands on Iran’s nuclear programme, missile development and control of the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran views as heavily favouring the United States and Israel.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks could begin at any moment, while warning that Iran would be significantly weakened within weeks regardless of diplomatic progress.

Iran’s response to a US peace proposal aimed ‌at ending the war in ⁠the Middle East is expected on Friday, according ⁠to a source briefed on the matter.

US President Donald Trump and top White House officials have been told via interlocutors to expect ‌Iran’s counter-proposal then, the source said.

The war, which began when the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, has ‌spread across the Middle East. Iran had been reviewing a 15-point proposal, sent via Pakistan, that included demands ranging from dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme to curbing its missile development and ‌effectively handing over ⁠control of the Strait of Hormuz, according to sources and reports.

Iran has expressed willingness to talk about certain things in an exchange of messages, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters after a G7 meeting in France on Friday.

“We’re waiting for further clarification about who it is that we would be talking to, ⁠what we would be talking about, and when will we be talking,” Rubio said. “It could happen in any moment. It could happen today. Could happen ⁠tomorrow.”

An Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday that senior officials had reviewed the proposal and felt it served only US and Israeli interests. But ⁠the official said diplomacy had not ended.

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CBS News first ‌reported that the ‌Iranian response was expected by Friday.

Rubio also said he expected Washington’s war objectives in Iran to be completed in the next two weeks, regardless of whether the United States sends ground troops.

“When we are done with them here in the next couple of weeks, they will be weaker than they’ve been in recent history.”

The US top diplomat told reporters he had made progress with allies in opposing Iranian threats to start “tolling” vessels that pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

“Not only is this illegal, it’s unacceptable, it’s dangerous to the world, and it’s important that the world have a plan to confront it,” Rubio said.

Additional reporting by AFP