Israeli PM Discusses in Cyprus the Dispute over Aphrodite Gas Field

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the accompanying delegation (AFP)
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the accompanying delegation (AFP)
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Israeli PM Discusses in Cyprus the Dispute over Aphrodite Gas Field

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the accompanying delegation (AFP)
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the accompanying delegation (AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived on Sunday, accompanied by his wife Sarah, on a two-day visit to Cyprus to discuss the disputes over the ownership of parts of the Aphrodite gas field in the Cypriot economic waters.

Israel and Cyprus have yet to reach an agreement on the distribution of profits of the gas field since its discovery 13 years ago.

Cypriot officials expressed their dissatisfaction for failing to reach an agreement with Israel, which signed an understanding agreement with Lebanon, Tel Aviv's enemy. Israel also intends to sign a deal with Türkiye.

Cypriot officials said in a news program on the official Hebrew radio, Kan, that Israel signed an agreement with Lebanon but not with them.
The summit will also address the possibility of building a gas pipeline between Israel and Türkiye.

The former Israeli governments, headed by Naftali Bennett and then headed by Yair Lapid, conveyed a message stating that Greece and Cyprus do not support the idea.

According to the Walla website, Netanyahu aims to confirm to the Cypriot side that the alliance with Cyprus will remain strong no matter the developments in Israel's relations with Türkiye.

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Greek President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during his visit.

The trip was initially planned for the end of July but was postponed due to Netanyahu's health issues and his heart pacemaker implantation.

Notably, it is Netanyahu's first trip abroad in five months, as he feared facing the protest movement against his plan to overturn Supreme Court rulings.

The protest movement received Netanyahu in Cyprus with several protests organized by Israelis residing in Cypriot cities. They are preparing to demonstrate in front of the hotel where Netanyahu intends to stay, "City of Dreams," a Chinese casino hotel recently opened in Limassol. All the meetings will be held in Nicosia.

Protesters have hung banners across the area, featuring messages such as: "Netanyahu- even in little Cyprus, you won't find rest!", "The accused is coming to Cyprus, and we'll ensure he won't have peace," and other banners.

They protested near the meetings and gatherings to disturb him and ensure he heard their voice directly.

Before leaving Tel Aviv, Netanyahu announced at Ben Gurion Airport that he would soon announce the date of his upcoming meeting with US President Joe Biden.

The meeting is expected to occur in New York, where he will participate in the United Nations General Assembly discussions and deliver a speech on September 21. But Netanyahu prefers the meeting at the White House, even if he is delayed in Washington.



Iran’s President Says Tehran Open to Dialogue with US, Accuses Israel of Assassination Attempt

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a meeting in Ilam, Iran, June 12, 2025. Iran's Presidential website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuter
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a meeting in Ilam, Iran, June 12, 2025. Iran's Presidential website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuter
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Iran’s President Says Tehran Open to Dialogue with US, Accuses Israel of Assassination Attempt

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a meeting in Ilam, Iran, June 12, 2025. Iran's Presidential website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuter
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a meeting in Ilam, Iran, June 12, 2025. Iran's Presidential website/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via Reuter

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he believes Iran can resolve its differences with the United States through dialogue, but trust would be an issue after US and Israeli attacks on his country, according to an interview released on Monday.

"I am of the belief that we could very much easily resolve our differences and conflicts with the United States through dialogue and talks," Pezeshkian told conservative US podcaster Tucker Carlson in an interview conducted on Saturday.

The Iranian leader urged US President Donald Trump not to be drawn into war with Iran by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting Washington on Monday for talks at the White House.

"The United States' president, Mr. Trump, he is capable enough to guide the region towards the peace and a brighter future and put Israel in its place. Or get into a pit, an endless pit, or a swamp," Pezeshkian said. "So it is up to the United States president to choose which path."

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said she was not sure if Trump had seen the Iranian president's comments, but agreed he was the right man to move the region towards peace.

Pezeshkian blamed Israel, Iran's arch-enemy, for the collapse of talks that were in place when Israel began its strikes on Iran on June 13, starting a 12-day air war with Israel in which top Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists were killed.

"How are we going to trust the United States again?" Pezeshkian said. "How can we know for sure that in the middle of the talks the Israeli regime will not be given the permission again to attack us?"

Pezeshkian also said that Israel tried to assassinate him.

"They did try, yes," he said. "They acted accordingly, but they failed."

Israel did not immediately respond to the allegation. A senior Israeli military official said last month that Israel killed more than 30 senior security officials and 11 senior nuclear scientists in its attack on to Iran's nuclear sites.

Trump said he expected to discuss Iran and its nuclear ambitions with Netanyahu, praising the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as a tremendous success. On Friday, he told reporters that he believed Tehran's nuclear program had been set back permanently, although Iran could restart efforts elsewhere.

Iran has always denied seeking a nuclear weapon.