U.S. Ups Maximum Pressure Vs Iran; Progress In Gaza Talks; Putin Thanks Hamas

1) Some progress has reportedly been made in ongoing Egyptian-mediated negotiations for a hostage release deal between Israel and the internationally designated terror organization, Hamas. 2) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for talks on Tehran’s nuclear program and regional developments. 3) The United States ratchets-up pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran – sanctioning a Chinese Company that breached the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure campaign.