Two regional diplomats familiar with the ongoing talks said that Pakistan was continuing its efforts to broker a compromise.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire in the Middle East war was on "life support" Monday after rejecting Iran's latest counteroffer, which it said had included demands for the release of frozen assets and the end of a U.S. blockade.

The president's angry reaction to Iran's position -- itself a response to a U.S. proposal -- sent oil prices soaring and dashed hopes that a deal could be quickly negotiated to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.

Tens of millions of people could face hunger and starvation if fertilisers are not soon allowed through the Strait of Hormuz, the head of a U.Nm task force aimed at averting a looming humanitarian crisis told AFP on Monday.

Iran said Monday it had demanded the release of its frozen assets and the end of a U.S. blockade of its ports, after President Donald Trump angrily rejected Tehran's terms for starting negotiations to halt the Middle East war.

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was due to expire on Monday with both sides accusing each other of breaching the 72-hour arrangement, as American and European officials considered how they might steer the warring countries into further talks.

Ukrainian authorities said Monday that Russian drones, bombs and artillery shelling struck civilian areas of the northeastern Kharkiv and southern Kherson regions, killing at least two people and wounding seven others.

A French woman and two Americans tested positive or showed symptoms of hantavirus Monday as nations around the world scrambled to repatriate passengers from a cruise ship hit by an outbreak and quarantine or isolate them.

Passengers from the ship began flying home aboard military and government planes Sunday after the vessel anchored in the Canary Islands. Personnel in full-body protective gear and breathing masks had escorted the travelers from ship to shore in Tenerife in an effort that was continuing Monday.

China said Monday it was ready to work with the United States in the pursuit of "more stability" globally, ahead of this week's meeting between leaders Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.

"Top-level diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-U.S. relations," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he has rejected Iran's response to a U.S. proposal for ending the Iran war, deeming it "totally unacceptable."

"I have just read the response from Iran's so-called 'Representatives.' I don't like it -- TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, without describing elements of Tehran's response.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Iran of "playing games" and laughing at America for decades, but said it soon would be made to stop -- without commenting directly on reports of Tehran's response to Washington's latest peace proposal.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards threatened Saturday to target U.S. sites in the Middle East if its tankers come under fire, Iranian media reported, as Washington was left waiting for Tehran's response to its latest negotiating position.