The United States and Iran took a historic step towards ending more than three decades of estrangement when President Barack Obama and Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani spoke by phone and agreed to work on resolving global suspicions that Tehran is trying to build a nuclear weapon.

Iran said today it would welcome talks with its long-time enemy the United States provided they were "based on mutual respect".

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader in southern Lebanon died today from wounds from a car bombing that also killed his brother, security officials said.