Potential diplomatic progress between Iran and the international community over Tehran’s nuclear programme continues to attract media coverage. The Telegraph covers comments made by US Secretary of State John Kerry who said that it would be “diplomatic malpractice” to rebuff Iranian President Rouhani’s overtures, but he directly reassured Israel that no decisions would be taken over Iran based on trust alone. The Guardian says that any deal with Iran will be reliant on a determined US Congress, deeply suspicious of Iran, agreeing to ease sanctions. Meanwhile, the Independent and Independent i both report on the recent killing of Iran’s cyber warfare head, including a quote by Israel’s Science Minister and former Shin Bet chief Yaakov Peri who said that Israel was “not necessarily” involved in his death.

The Times says that Hezbollah has withdrawn a significant number of troops fighting alongside President Assad’s forces in Syria, but has denied that it did so following political pressure within Lebanon or beyond. The Guardian online reports that military deadlock continues in Syria’s civil war but says that Assad has gained the political upper hand, following the West’s apparent pull back from military action. Also in the Guardian, Julian Borger says that international chemical weapons experts have already begun securing chemical weapons sites in Syria and are cooperating with Syrian government officials. The Financial Times online reports that Islamist opposition groups in northern Syria have appealed to al-Qaeda affiliated factions to pull back from confrontation with other rebel groups.

The Financial Times online includes an article covering continued small-scale protests by Egyptian students across various university campuses, demonstrating against the ouster of Mohammed Morsi from power.

Meanwhile, the Independent covers the rejection by Israel’s Supreme Court of a petition by three citizens to define their nationality as Israeli rather than Jewish, ruling that it was not a matter for the court to decide. The petition is viewed largely as an attempt to further separate religion and state and to alter Israel’s identity as a Jewish state.

In the Israeli media, there is a continued emphasis on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s media interviews in the United States, which continued yesterday to cast doubt on the sincerity of Iranian overtures to the West regarding its nuclear programme. Sof Hashavua focuses on Netanyahu’s comment that Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei is a “cult leader.” Meanwhile, the headline in Maariv proclaims Netanyahu as the “prophet of wrath.” Israel Hayom publishes a poll this morning indicating Israeli public attitudes towards the latest diplomatic developments regarding Iran. It showed that eighty four per cent do not believe that Iran intends on halting its nuclear programme and that sixty five per cent support Netanyahu’s pledge earlier this week that Israel will stand alone if necessary to stop Iran’s nuclear armament. However, Haaretz says that US President Obama opposes any further sanctions on Iran.

Yediot Ahronot prominently features an opinion piece by former Mossad chief Ehraim Halevy, who says that Israel should not hand China a contract to build a major new railway to the southern port city of Eilat. The project he says would give China diplomatic and economic leverage which would be frowned upon by the United States.

Meanwhile, Israel Radio news says that Israel will launch a bid to be elected to the United Nations’ Security Council to serve from 2019-20. However, the report specifies that diplomats believe Israel stands little chance of securing the requisite support.