President Donald Trump says he is holding off on a military strike on Iran planned for Tuesday because “serious negotiations” are underway to end the war. He made the announcement in a social media post on Monday after threatening that the clock was ticking for Iran to strike a deal or fighting would renew after a fragile ceasefire. Later Monday, Trump told reporters that America’s allies in the Gulf asked him to put off the attack for two to three days because they feel they are close to a deal with Iran.

The death toll in the latest fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has surpassed 3,000. The health ministry reported this on Monday despite a fragile ceasefire. Fighting began on March 2 when Hezbollah fired at Israel after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. Israel has since invaded southern Lebanon and bombarded Beirut, targeting Hezbollah’s rearming efforts. More than a million people have been displaced in Lebanon. Groundbreaking talks between Israel and Lebanon, facilitated by the U.S., produced a ceasefire starting April 17. Hezbollah is not part of the talks, and tensions remain high.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on a two-day trip to Beijing next week, the Kremlin says. The announcement comes less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump finished his own state visit to China, where he also met Xi to discuss trade and the U.S. and Israel’s war in Iran. Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Meanwhile, Ukraine on Saturday repatriated the bodies of fallen soldiers following an earlier exchange with Moscow involving prisoners of war.

U.S. President Donald Trump departed Beijing following a final day meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The leaders say they made progress in stabilizing U.S.-China relations, but deep differences remain after two days of meetings and meals. On Friday they walked the grounds of Zhongnanhai and had a working tea and lunch. During meetings and events Thursday the two discussed divisive issues such as the Iran war, trade, technology and Taiwan. China has shown little public interest in getting more involved in solving the war in Iran. Xi also suggested differences over Taiwan could put his country and the U.S. on the path toward conflict. Threats of each side imposing steep tariffs also still loom.

Cuban and U.S. officials say that CIA Director John Ratcliffe has met with Cuban officials including Raul Castro’s grandson during a high-level visit to the island. Ratcliffe met with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and the head of Cuban intelligence services, and discussed intelligence cooperation, economic stability and security issues. A CIA official confirmed the meetings to the AP. Ratcliffe was there “to personally deliver President Donald Trump’s message that the United States is prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes."

Authorities say a massive Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine has demolished an apartment block in Kyiv, killing nine and wounding dozens. It was a third straight day that Moscow has unleashed such a large-scale barrage. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched over 1,560 drones at Ukraine since Wednesday. The bombardment has affected multiple cities and strained Ukraine’s air defenses. Damage to energy infrastructure has left many without power. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha calls for international pressure on Moscow and noted the attack came as U.S. President Donald Trump met in Beijing with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Sybiha said the two leaders had sufficient leverage to compel Russia to stop the war.