LIVE | Trump says Middle East ceasefire is in critical state after rejecting Iran's plan

Donald Trump said Monday that the ceasefire in the Middle East is in critical condition, after dismissing Iran's counterproposal to end the war that included an end to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and the release of its frozen assets.

The growing tension raises fears of a return to hostilities in the Gulf, dilutes expectations of a quick deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to trade and has again put upward pressure on oil prices.

Lebanese leaders urged the U.S. ambassador in Beirut to pressure Israel to halt its airstrikes against the country despite a truce in the war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met separately with Ambassador Michel Issa in preparation for a third direct meeting between Lebanese and Israeli representatives to be held in Washington on Thursday and Friday.

Tens of millions of people could face hunger and starvation if fertilizers are not soon allowed through the Strait of Hormuz, the head of a U.N. task force aimed at averting a looming humanitarian crisis told AFP on Monday.

"We have a few weeks ahead of us to prevent what will likely be a massive humanitarian crisis," Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the U.N. Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and leader of the task force, told AFP in an interview.

"We may witness a crisis that will force 45 million more people into hunger and starvation."

Iranian authorities announced Monday the seizure of six properties allegedly linked to former national soccer team captain Ali Karimi, who has backed anti-government protests in January.

Karimi, a former Bayern Munich player, has backed these protests on social media and has also expressed support for the monarchy toppled by the Islamic revolution.

The Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency described Karimi as "one of the traitors to the homeland who has been widely active in supporting the enemy in recent years." Among the assets seized from the former captain, who lives in exile, he cites two business premises and four residences.

Oil prices rose sharply again after Donald Trump rejected the latest Iranian proposal and crossed threats of further attacks.

The barrel of Brent consolidated above the $100 barrier, reaching $103.8 at the start of the European trading day, while WTI hovered around that line after rising to $97.8.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai, said Monday that his country has called for "an end to the war in the region," the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade and the "release of assets belonging to the Iranian people."

In addition, the document warned that Tehran will not accept conditions that imply surrender and stressed that it will respond "strongly and decisively" to any new U.S. attack against Iranian vessels or interests in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview aired Sunday that he would only need two weeks to attack "every single remaining target" in Iran, adding that the Islamic republic is already defeated "militarily."

In statements to independent journalist Sharyl Attkisson, taped last week, the president again called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as a "paper tiger" and accused Washington's allies of failing to assist him in the campaign against Tehran: "They weren't there to help."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview that Iran's enriched uranium must be "removed" before the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic republic can be called over.

"It's not over, because there is still nuclear material, enriched uranium, that has to be removed from Iran," he said.

Iran announced it had executed a man suspected of spying for the Israeli and U.S. secret services, the latest in a series of executions since the start of the war unleashed by Israel and the United States.

Erfan Shakourzadeh "was hanged for collaborating with the U.S. intelligence services and the Mossad," wrote Mizan, the judiciary's press.

An Israeli soldier was killed Sunday near the border with Lebanon, where fighting continues with the pro-Iranian terrorist group Hezbollah despite a ceasefire, the Israeli military announced Monday.

NCO Alexander Glovanyov, 47, "fell in combat," it specified.

France and the United Kingdom announced that their defense ministers will co-chair a meeting on Tuesday with their counterparts from some 40 countries willing to contribute to a mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran reacted by warning that there will be a "decisive and immediate response" from its military in case of deployment in the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump will press his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Iran when he visits Beijing, a senior U.S. official said.