Ceasefire under strain as U.S.-Iran strikes continue and Doha denies peace bribe

U.S. forces carry out self-defense strikes in southern Iran as negotiations for a ceasefire mediated by Qatar continue, with Iran calling the attacks a grave violation and warning of retaliation; Qatar denies reports it offered Iran billions to seal a peace deal. Iran’s internet access is gradually returning after a long blackout, while regional tensions and anti-U.S./anti-Israel rhetoric persist and oil-market implications around the Strait of Hormuz loom.