The Times says an unnamed Israeli official has criticised European policy on Iran, saying that European leaders have decided that conflict, rather than a nuclear Iran must be avoided at any cost. Such an attitude, says the official, merely lays the foundation for the Middle East to become a “nuclear tinderbox.”

The Independent, Independent i and online edition of the Guardian all report that Iran has agreed to the request of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to take seven practical preliminary measures to assuage some concerns over its nuclear development. These include an explanation over the development of detonators which can be used for atomic weapons. However, the measures do not include any further information on development at the Parchin facility outside Tehran, where it is believed suspicious explosive tests have been carried out.

The Financial Times says Iranian officials are concerned that the United States’ warnings last week over foreign trade delegations visiting Iran. They are concerned that these warnings have left international investors confused over whether Iranian business contacts can be developed, especially in areas such as the petrochemical industry.

The online editions of the Guardian, Telegraph and Financial Times all report that United Nations aid vehicles came under fire yesterday in the besieged Syrian city of Homs, attempting to deliver relief to the city’s residents. Permission to deliver aid had been agreed by the Assad regime and opposition representatives during talks two weeks ago. Despite the incident, Syrian government officials are scheduled to meet again with opposition representatives in Geneva today, in an attempt to make further diplomatic progress.

The online editions of the Guardian, Financial Times and Times say that veteran secularist politician, Hamdeen Sabbahi, has become the first official presidential candidate in Egypt. He polled third in the 2011 presidential election but supported the military overthrow of Mohammed Morsi a year later. De facto military ruler, General al-Sisi is expected to announce his candidacy soon.

In the Israeli media, the main story is the resignation yesterday of commander of the Israel Police Lahav 443 Unit, Cmdr. Menashe Arbib. Allegations have suggested that Arbib received bribes from the associates of the prominent and well-connected Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, in a scandal which has been reported heavily over the past several weeks. Israel Hayom, Maariv and Haaretz all report that Rabbi Pinto is likely to stand trial following Arbib’s resignation. Meanwhile, Israel Radio news says that Arbib has demanded that the Attorney General summon him to hear his version of events.

In Yediot Ahronot, the top headline is a strike which is taking place at the two Hadassah Hospitals in Jerusalem, where staff are being threatened by wage cuts and slashes in benefits due to financial difficulties at Hadassah. Hospital staff are working on a reduced weekend schedule to protest the measures.

Yediot Ahronot also says that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet President Obama at the White House next month; Netanyahu is likely to focus on Iran’s nuclear development and Obama keen to discuss progress in peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. Maariv reports that Netanyahu convened a meeting yesterday to discuss combating attempts to boycott Israel, but excluded both Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni who have expressed concerns over the dangers of boycotts.

Israel Hayom prominently reports that the special Knesset committee dealing with proposed legislation to widen the military draft, especially among the ultra-Orthodox community will today begin to vote on aspects of the draft bill.