BBC News, the Guardian, Times, Independent, Financial Times and Reuters report that a Turkish diplomat has been shot dead in Irbil, capital of Iraq’s Kurdish autonomous region. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the “heinous attack” on Turkey’s deputy consul in the city. No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack, with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party denying any role. “We have no knowledge about an incident of shooting and killing of Turkish consulate officials in Irbil”, a spokesman for the group’s military wing has stated.

The Financial Times reports that Russia has signalled its willingness to join the EU payments channel designed to circumvent US sanctions against Iran, but has called on Brussels to expand the new mechanism to cover oil exports. Moscow’s involvement in Instex would mark a significant step in attempts by the EU and Russia to rescue the JCPOA. The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that “Russia is interested in close co-ordination with the European Union on Instex […] The full potential of Instex will only be able to be deployed if it will be open to the participation of countries which are not members of the European Union”.

Reuters reports that the US has confirmed that it was removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet programme. The first parts of the S-400 air defence system were flown to the Murted military air base northwest of Ankara on Friday. “The US and other F-35 partners are aligned in this decision to suspend Turkey from the programme and initiate the process to formally remove Turkey from the programme,” Ellen Lord, the undersecretary of defence for acquisition and sustainment said. Reuters reports that three US officials and a defence source have claimed that the Trump administration’s inability to persuade Turkey not to purchase the S-400 air defence system is attributable to Erdogan’s wariness of his own air force, which played a major role in the botched 2016 coup.

The Times reports that US President Trump has appointed anti-war Senator Rand Paul as emissary to Iran in a blow to hawks including National Security Advisor John Bolton, who want to keep “maximum pressure” on Tehran. Trump accepted the proposal from Paul over a game of golf at the weekend. Paul’s mission would appear to be another attempt to rekindle dialogue and a slap down for Bolton.

The Guardian reports that Gibraltar’s chief minister, Fabian Picardo, has flown to London to hold talks with Prime Minister Theresa May about the release of an Iranian-owned tanker seized by the Royal Marines. The detention of Grace 1 has turned into a focal point of severe friction between Tehran and London as Iran threatens to take further steps away from the JCPOA. The UK has been under pressure from some European and Gulf allies to release the ship.

Reuters reports that the US House of Representatives backed three resolutions on Wednesday to block the sale of precision-guided munitions (PGMs) to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, though President Donald Trump has promised to use his presidential veto. The three resolutions would block the sale of Raytheon Co precision-guided munitions and related equipment to the two countries. The House’s Democratic leaders opted to take up those three before the others because the PGMs could be delivered quickly. Some lawmakers also suspect that the PGMs have been used against civilians in Yemen’s civil war.

Reuters reports that Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that US travel restrictions on Iranian diplomats and their families living in New York are “basically inhuman.” The diplomats are subject to the same rules imposed by the US on Zarif. They may only travel between the UN, the Iranian UN mission, the Iranian UN ambassador’s residence and John F. Kennedy airport.

BBC News reports that twelve Israeli nationals have been arrested in Ayia Napa in Cyprus over an alleged rape of a British woman. Cypriot police confirmed that 12 arrests were made and that the suspects would appear in court in Paralimni on Thursday. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed that 12 Israeli citizens were arrested and their families notified.

Reuters reports that the increased use of drones by Iran and its allies for surveillance and attacks across the Middle East is ‘raising alarms in Washington’. The US believes that Iran-linked militia in Iraq have recently increased their surveillance of US troops and bases in the country by using commercially available drones. The disclosure comes amid heightened tensions with Iran and underscores the ways in which Tehran and its proxies are increasingly relying on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Yemen, Syria, the Strait of Hormuz and Iraq.

In the Times, Hannah Lucinda Smith and Burhan Yuksekkas examine how Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against the West, demonstrating Russia’s ability to penetrate traditional western sphere of influence: ‘using a downed fighter jet and a tomato boycott, Russia has skilfully drawn Turkey into its fold’.

Israel Hayom has interviewed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to mark his personal achievement this weekend when he becomes Israel’s longest-serving prime minister. “We’ve turned Israel into a rising global power,” said Netanyahu two months before the September elections. “We’ve shown that we’re capable of leveraging the fundamental traits of this people into exceptional strengths. We’ve proven that Israel can be turned from a small country that is situated in the corner of the Middle East into a major power in the world. Once upon a time they also said that all of the problems of the Middle East were the product of the Palestinian problem. Today there isn’t anyone who will seriously argue that. Even our sworn enemies are ashamed to say that because the fight here is between medievalism and modernism, between the tyranny of radical Islam and the forces of freedom. This is the simplest fight. To stand up to Islamic fundamentalism, which wants to first seize control of the Middle East and then of the entire world,” the Prime Minister added. On Iran Netanyahu said: “I won’t mourn if the regime is toppled, but change might also come from within the regime.” Speaking about the September election he said: “The choice in the upcoming elections is going to be about who will be the next prime minister. Me, with my capabilities, or Benny Gantz, who is inexperienced. In order to be the leader of the State of Israel today you need to be able to play on the global playing field. If he’s incapable of operating in the United States with the various forces, and with other players in the world — Israel won’t continue to advance down its current path.”

Haaretz reports that Democratic US Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are planning a visit to Israel and the West Bank in the coming weeks, but Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will have to decide whether they will be allowed into the country because of their public support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. Omar has said that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories will be the focal point of the trip: “Everything that I hear points to both sides feeling like there is still an occupation.” Israeli law allows authorities to deny entry to individuals who support boycotting the country. However, the Foreign Ministry has the power to recommend to the Strategic Affairs Ministry and the Interior Ministry to issue waivers for political or diplomatic figures, if it deems denying them entry would harm Israel’s foreign relations

Yediot Ahronot reports on Ehud Barak’s official launch of his election campaign.  The paper writes that: “Originally, Barak had intended to launch the campaign with the title “what are these elections about? About Israel on the day after Netanyahu.” But in light of recent developments, he was forced to change the theme and to respond to being linked to Epstein. “I’m a feminist,” he said. “The actions that have been ascribed to [Jeffrey] Epstein are shocking and I never had any part in them. I’ve instructed to remove Epstein from all of my business dealings. I thought that that was a one-time misstep by Epstein. But the moment it was repeated, I announced that I was severing all ties with him.” Barak fiercely attacked the Prime Minister’s son, Yair Netanyahu. “The fact that under Netanyahu, an inciter and whoremonger like his son is given public defence, is permitted to live the life of a parasite and is given GSS bodyguards is disgraceful.” About Benjamin Netanyahu’s close association with Natan Eshel, he said: “The fact that under Netanyahu a sex offender who was barred from ever serving in a public position continues to be the person closest to him and the person who forms his governments is disgraceful.” Yair Netanyahu did not wait long to respond and posted on Twitter: “The fact that Barak brings GSS bodyguards with him, paid for by the public, to Epstein’s island of pedophiles in the Caribbean even though it has been 20 years since he served, for only one year, as most failed prime minister in the State of Israel’s history is disgraceful! Barak, shame on you! You silly old, whisky-drunk and most likely demented man.” The paper also notes that Barak’s lawyer demanded yesterday that the Daily Mail immediately remove its article reporting Barak’s links to Epstein and demanding damages and court costs. But as of last night it had still not been removed. A statement issued by the Israel Democratic Party yesterday read: “Barak rejects with disgust the loathsome insinuations in the article. The information in the report and the insinuations that were made are baseless. They are utter lies, aside from the fact that Barak admits that it is very cold in New York in January. The Daily Mail has several times in the past published mendacious articles of this kind, both about Barak and about other people. Other reporters, who wrote about the same subjects, never found any evidence for these lies.”

Israel Hayom reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday called on France and all countries in Europe to designate Hezbollah a terrorist organisation. Netanyahu made the comments while addressing French lawmakers during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem. “I think it’s very important that France and the rest of Europe do exactly what Argentina did recently and that it, too, declare Hezbollah as a terrorist group.” The Argentine government last week decided to officially designate Hezbollah a terrorist organisation.  The designation will be enacted on Friday and will coincide with a visit to Argentina by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to commemorate the AMIA Jewish community centre bombing, which took place on 18 July 1994.