Iran rejects Trump ultimatum, derides ‘arrogant rhetoric,’ war rages on
A deadline loomed on Tuesday for Iran to accept a deal or face what US President Donald Trump said would be the “complete demolition” of the country’s critical civilian infrastructure.
The Iranian army reacted defiantly, saying Trump’s “arrogant rhetoric and baseless threats” would not hinder operations against US and Israeli forces.
Five weeks into the US-Israeli war on Iran, the US leader has demanded that Tehran reopen the Strait of Hormuz oil conduit to international shipping by midnight GMT on Tuesday or face a newly devastating round of bombing.
“We have a plan…where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again,” Trump said, brushing aside accusations that such a move would be a war crime.
“I mean complete demolition by 12 o’clock, and it’ll happen over a period of four hours — if we wanted to,” Trump said at a press conference during which he also recounted the rescue of the two crew members of a US F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iran last week.
Both Trump and Iran said, meanwhile, that a proposal touted by international mediators for a 45-day ceasefire is not yet ready.
Trump had said earlier that the plan, which the US media said is being mediated by Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey, was a “significant proposal,” but he later went on to say it was not good enough.
Iranian state media quoted officials as saying that Tehran too “has rejected a ceasefire and insists on the need for a definitive end to the conflict.”
The Iranian army’s Khatam Al-Anbiya central command, responding to Trump’s threats, called him “delusional” and said “crushing operations of the warriors of Islam against the American and Zionist enemies” would continue.
Iranian Red Crescent launches rescue efforts after fresh strike in Tehran
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has said that its aid workers are carrying out a “relief and rescue” mission in the Iranian capital after another US-Israeli air strike.
Seven missiles destroyed over Saudi Eastern Region, damage under review
Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it intercepted and destroyed seven ballistic missiles launched towards its Eastern Region, with debris falling near energy facilities, according to the defence ministry.
The ministry said work was underway to assess any damage, but did not specify who launched the missiles.
Saudi Arabia has come under attack by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, most of which were intercepted, authorities say.
Tehran has launched strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab states that host US military installations.
Canada’s Anita Anand welcomes progress in ceasefire talks in call with Ishaq Dar
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has said Canada supports ongoing ceasefire efforts in the Middle East following a call with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar.
In a statement she released on social media, Anand said: “Canada values its relationship with Pakistan, and we agreed to remain in close contact on shared priorities including economic cooperation and people-to-people ties.”
She described the discussion as “productive”, noting that Dar had highlighted progress in negotiations aimed at de-escalating the conflict. She said Canada welcomed these efforts and stressed the importance of continued dialogue.
The Canadian minister also emphasised the need to protect civilian life and critical infrastructure amid the ongoing hostilities. She thanked Pakistan for its role in advancing diplomatic discussions at what she described as a critical time.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of bilateral ties, agreeing to remain in close contact on shared priorities, including economic cooperation and people-to-people links.
China vetoes UN use-of-force plan as Council meets today on Hormuz
The UN Security Council is expected to vote today (on Tuesday) on a resolution to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Still, in a significantly watered-down form, after veto-wielding China opposed authorising the use of force, diplomats said.
Oil prices have surged since the US and Israel struck Iran at the end of February, unleashing a conflict that has run for more than five weeks and seen Tehran largely close the Strait, a vital energy artery.
Efforts by Bahrain, the current chair of the 15-member Council, to secure a resolution have involved multiple drafts seeking to overcome opposition from China, Russia and others. The latest iteration, seen by Reuters, drops any explicit authorisation of the use of force.
Instead, the text “strongly encourages States interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts, defensive in nature, commensurate to the circumstances, to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the Strait of Hormuz.”
It says such contributions could include “the escort of merchant and commercial vessels,” and the text also endorses efforts “to deter attempts to close, obstruct or otherwise interfere with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran reports four officers martyred in Isfahan operation against US aircraft
Iran’s military says four of its officers were martyred in central Isfahan province yesterday while responding to US aircraft incursions, according to Al Jazeera.
In a statement reported by Fars news agency, the army said the officers were involved in “direct combat with enemy fighter jets, helicopters, armed drones and support aircraft” in the Mahyar area of Isfahan before they were struck.
EU urges Iran to halt attacks, restore Hormuz navigation
European Council President António Costa has called for a diplomatic solution to the Middle East conflict, saying only negotiations can address its root causes after weeks of fighting.
“After five weeks of war in the Middle East, it is clear that only a diplomatic solution will settle its root causes,” he said.
He warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, are “illegal and unacceptable,” adding that escalation would only worsen the situation.
Pakistan, Canada emphasise diplomacy to ease Middle East tensions
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called for restraint in the Middle East during a phone conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, the Foreign Office said.
“They exchanged views on evolving regional developments and emphasised the urgent need for de-escalation,” the FO has said on X. “DPM/FM underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to promote peace and stability in the region.”
The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral ties and agreed to stay in close contact.
IMF chief says Mideast conflict will lead to slower growth, higher inflation
The war in the Middle East will lead to higher inflation and slower global growth, the head of the International Monetary Fund told Reuters on Monday, ahead of a fresh forecast for the world economy planned by the global lender for next week.
Barring the war, the IMF had expected a small upgrade in its projection for global growth of 3.3% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027.
“Had we not had this war we would have seen a small upgrade of our growth projections. Instead, all roads now lead to higher prices and slower growth,” said Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF.
Even a rapid end to hostilities and a fairly rapid recovery would result in a “relatively small” downward revision of the growth forecast and an upward revision of its inflation forecast, she said. If the war was protracted, the effect on inflation and growth would be greater, she said.
Georgieva said the IMF had received requests for financing assistance from some countries, but did not name them. She said the IMF could augment some existing lending programs to meet countries’ needs.
Qatar’s PM denounces targeting of civilian infrastructure in call with Iranian FM
Qatar’s prime minister on Monday said he rejected attacks on civilian infrastructure during a call with Iran’s foreign minister, as Tehran presses its campaign against Gulf states and Israel said it struck Iran’s largest petrochemical complex.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani “emphasised that targeting civilian infrastructure… is a rejected and condemned behaviour by any party under any circumstances”, Qatar’s foreign ministry said in a readout of a call with Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi.
The Qatari prime minister also criticised Iran’s “reckless disregard for the region’s security” through its attacks on its neighbours and urged a “comprehensive and permanent diplomatic solution” to end the war.
Trump calls out Nato, allies for not helping with Iran war
US President Donald Trump on Monday criticised Nato, Australia, Japan and South Korea for not helping the US with its war with Iran.
He made his remarks during a White House press conference.
White House says Trump hasn’t signed off on ceasefire deal with Iran
The White House on Monday confirmed there was a deal under consideration for a 45-day ceasefire with Iran, but that President Donald Trump had “not signed off” on the proposal and is continuing the war.
US media have reported that a proposal by mediators for a 45-day ceasefire in the Middle East war has been received by Washington.
“This is one of many ideas, and POTUS (Trump) has not signed off on it. Operation Epic Fury continues,” a White House official told AFP, adding that the president will speak more on the conflict at a press conference scheduled for 1:00 pm (local time).
US-Israel strikes hit another petrochemical plant in Iran’s Shiraz: officials
Strikes hit a petrochemical complex near the Iranian city of Shiraz on Monday, local authorities said, shortly after an attack on another facility further south.
“Following the attack on the petrochemical complex in Marvdasht… the fire has been contained,” authorities said in a statement carried by the Fars news agency, which reported “minor damage”.
Iranian FM discusses Mideast situation in call with Turkish counterpart
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi discussed the Iran conflict and other developments in a call on Monday, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.
Oil prices slip back as some ships pass Hormuz gauntlet
Oil prices edged down on Monday amid subdued Easter holiday trading as investors took some encouragement from news of some oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
“There is definitely some sort of volumes being shipped through the strait — by far not at all normalising the commercial ship traffic — but it’s definitely a step in the right direction,” SEB analyst Ole R Hvalbye told AFP.
Around 10:50 (local time), a barrel of the main Brent benchmark was off 0.8% at $108.20. US equivalent West Texas Intermediate was down 1.4% at 110.01.
IRGC targets US, Israel-linked vessels: state media
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards targeted the US amphibious assault ship LHA-7, pushing it to retreat into the southern Indian Ocean, Iranian state media reported on Monday.
The Guards also targeted a container ship which they said belonged to Israel with the identifier “SDN7”, without disclosing its location.
Greece will offer aid to shield industries from rising energy prices: energy minister
Greece will offer annual aid worth 100 million euros ($115 million) in the next five years to help industries and smaller businesses with rising energy costs, Greek energy minister Stavros Papastavrou said on Monday.
IAEA says strikes near Iran nuclear power plant ‘must stop’
The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog on Monday warned attacks near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant “pose a very real danger to nuclear safety and must stop”.
Strikes near the operating plant “could cause a severe radiological accident with harmful consequences for people and the environment in Iran and beyond,” said Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on X.
He added that one recent strike hit just 75 metres (246 feet) from the plant´s perimeter.
Bodies of all 4 missing people recovered from Iran strike site, say Israel rescuers
Israeli rescue services said that the bodies of all four missing people had been recovered from the rubble of a residential building in the northern city of Haifa after it was struck by an Iranian missile the previous day.
“In summary, all four missing persons have been located… All were found without signs of life, and MDA paramedics declared them deceased,” Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom, said in a statement.
Iran has formulated its response to ceasefire proposals: foreign ministry spox
Iran has formulated its positions and demands in response to recent ceasefire proposals conveyed via intermediaries, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that negotiations were “incompatible with ultimatums and threats to commit war crimes.”
Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had a set of requirements based on its national interests that had already been conveyed via intermediary channels, adding that earlier US demands such as the 15-point plan were rejected for being “excessive.”
“Iran does not hesitate to clearly express what it considers its legitimate demands and doing so should not be interpreted as a sign of compromise, but rather as a reflection of its confidence in defending its positions,” Baghaei said in a press conference.
“We have formulated our own responses” and will announce details in due time, he added in response to an Iranian journalist’s question regarding ongoing efforts to bring about a ceasefire between Iran and the US.
Pakistan declines confirming proposed framework to end Iran-US war
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi has declined to confirm or deny reports suggesting that Islamabad proposed a framework to end the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.
“There have been multiple reports regarding a 45-day ceasefire proposal or a 15-point plan,” Andrabi told Al Jazeera.
He added, “We do not comment on individual, specific reports. Our position is that the peace process is ongoing.”
Tehran rejects deadlines as it reviews Pakistan plan
Iran says it is reviewing Pakistan’s proposal but will not accept deadlines or pressure as part of any decision on the conflict, according to a senior Iranian official speaking to Reuters.
The official said Tehran had received Pakistan’s proposal and was examining it, but made clear that Iran would not be rushed into a response.
According to the same official, Tehran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for what it described as a “temporary ceasefire”.
The official also said Iran believes the United States is not prepared for a permanent ceasefire, signalling continued mistrust over any short-term arrangement.
Iranian strike on Haifa building kill two: Israeli media
Israeli rescuers recovered two bodies from the rubble of a residential building in Haifa after it was hit by an Iranian missile on Sunday, Israeli media reported.
IRGC vows Strait of Hormuz will not return to normal for US, Israel
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has said the Strait of Hormuz will not return to normal for the US and Israel.
“The Strait of Hormuz will never return to its former state, especially for the US and Israel,” the IRGC said in a social media post.
It added that it was in the final stages of preparations for what Iranian officials have described as a “new order” in the Gulf.
The statement came days after a parliamentary committee approved draft legislation to impose transit fees on ships using the key waterway.
According to Iranian media, the proposal includes fees to be paid in Iran’s currency, a ban on US and Israeli vessels, and restrictions on countries enforcing unilateral sanctions on Iran.
The plan also covers Iran’s sovereignty over the strait, the role of its armed forces, maritime security, environmental concerns and legal cooperation with Oman.
Iran’s foreign ministry says any strike on its infrastructure will be met in kind
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei responded to US President Donald Trump’s latest threats, saying, “Our armed forces have made it clear that in case Iran’s infrastructure is attacked, we would react in kind.”
He added, “Our armed forces would target any similar infrastructure that is owned or in any way or manner related to the United States or contributes to their act of aggression against Iran.”
Tehran issues stark warning over civilian attacks, threatens broader response
Iran’s central military command warned on Monday of “much more devastating” retaliation if its adversaries hit civilian targets.
“If attacks on civilian targets are repeated, the next stages of our offensive and retaliatory operations will be much more devastating and widespread,” a spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement posted by state broadcaster IRIB on Telegram.
The warning came after US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure, demanding Tehran bow to his demands for a deal to reopen the Gulf to shipping.
Axios reports US, Iran and mediators aiming for 45-day ceasefire
The US, Iran and a group of regional mediators are discussing the terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, Axios reported on Sunday, citing four US, Israeli and regional sources with knowledge of the talks.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report. The White House and the US State Department did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The mediators are discussing the terms of a two-phased deal, the report said, adding that the first phase would be a potential 45-day ceasefire during which a permanent end to the war would be negotiated.
Global oil climbs on tensions, Trump gives Iran Tuesday ultimatum
Crude oil prices opened higher on Monday, with US benchmark West Texas Intermediate up 1.86% to $113.62 a barrel, as the war in the Middle East continues to squeeze global energy supplies.
North Sea Brent crude was also higher at the week’s market opening, climbing 1.16% to $110.30 a barrel.
President Donald Trump has set a Tuesday deadline for Iran to end the war and reopen shipping in the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway, threatening in an expletive-laden social media post Sunday to strike the country’s power plants and bridges if it did not comply.
Missile from Iran hits northern Israel, dozens feared trapped
Eleven Israelis were injured, and four others went missing after an Iranian missile struck a building in Haifa, northern Israel, Anadolu Agency reported on Tuesday, citing the national emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA).
MDA said one of the injured was in critical condition after the missile hit a five-story building. Four others were treated for shock, the organisation added.
The daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that four people remained unaccounted for following the strike.
Channel 12 said the building was directly hit by a missile warhead weighing 450 kilograms, leaving some residents still missing.
Trump seems to push Iran deal deadline to Tuesday night in Truth Social message
US President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to extend by 24 hours his deadline for Iran to make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating infrastructure attacks.
“Tuesday, 8:00pm Eastern Time!” he said on his Truth Social platform.
The new deadline, 0000 GMT Wednesday, would mean another day for Tehran to attempt to placate the mercurial US leader or risk him following through on a threat to destroy the country’s power plants and bridges.
Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, a vital route for the world’s oil and gas, since the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign on February 28.
Trump, who has held no public events since an address to the nation on Wednesday, seemed to confirm the new timing in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
Iran claims multiple US jets downed, alleges self-strike by US forces
Iran has claimed that its air defence forces shot down multiple US military aircraft after they entered its airspace, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
The report said the incident forced US forces to target their own stranded units in an effort to conceal the situation.
The claims come amid heightened tensions and ongoing military operations in the region. However, there has been no independent confirmation of the account, and US officials have not publicly responded to the specific allegations.
Eight Israelis held after assault on Palestinian village
Israeli police said eight suspects were arrested on Sunday after an overnight attack by Israeli civilians on a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank.
“Last night, forces… were called to the village of Qusra in Samaria following a report of an assault and arson of property by Israeli civilians,” a police statement said, using a Biblical term for the northern West Bank.
“During searches, eight suspects were arrested by the forces on suspicion of being in a closed military zone and of involvement in the incident, and were taken in for questioning.”
The suspects were aged between 18 and 48, and during their searches the police also found an M-16 assault rifle issued by the army.
The Palestinian official news agency WAFA, citing local sources, reported that the assault had been carried out by Israeli settlers.
WAFA said they had operated “under the protection of Israeli forces” and “set fire to two poultry farming structures”.
At least 20 French boats depart Marseille to join Gaza aid flotilla
Some 20 French boats set sail from Marseille on Saturday to join up with an international flotilla making a renewed effort to break an Israeli blockade and deliver aid to Gaza, AFP reporters saw.
“Gaza, Marseille is with you” shouted around a thousand people who had come to the docks to support the initiative.
The ships, mostly sailboats, set off to a round of applause and songs shortly after 5:00pm (1500 GMT) to join the “Global Sumud Flotilla”, named after a Gazan fisherman.
The international flotilla of some 100 boats, mostly setting sail from Barcelona on April 12, will head towards Gaza around April 20, according to the organisers. A week-long stopover is planned in southern Italy for “non-violence training.”
UAE denounces attack on Damascus embassy during pro-Palestinian protest
The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned an attack on its embassy in Damascus, after protesters gathered outside the mission in Syria’s capital and attempted to storm the premises.
According to statements from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demonstrators engaged in rioting and vandalism, targeting both the embassy building and the residence of the head of mission. The ministry described the acts as “unacceptable” and reiterated its rejection of attacks on diplomatic missions and national symbols.
Witness accounts and videos circulating online showed protesters carrying Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against Israel. Some demonstrators were seen climbing the embassy building and attempting to raise a Palestinian flag on the premises, while security personnel reportedly avoided direct confrontation.
Pakistan joins eight-nation rebuke of Israel death penalty law
Pakistan and seven other Muslim-majority countries on Thursday strongly condemned Israel’s move to pass a law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in the occupied West Bank and applied de facto against Palestinians.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said the legislation amounted to a dangerous escalation and warned of the “urgent need to refrain from measures” that risk further inflaming tensions on the ground.
UN terms Israel’s death penalty law ‘discriminatory’ and ‘act of terrorism’
The United Nations rights chief slammed Tuesday the Israeli parliament’s approval of a “deeply discriminatory” new death penalty bill, warning that applying it on occupied Palestinian territory “would constitute a war crime”.
The new law, which would make the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank found guilty of intentionally carrying out deadly attacks deemed “acts of terrorism” by an Israeli military court, “is patently inconsistent with Israel’s international law obligations”, Volker Turk said in a statement.
“Its application to residents of the occupied Palestinian territory would constitute a war crime,” he said.
Six killed in Israeli strikes on two Gaza police checkpoints
Two Israeli air strikes on two checkpoints of the Hamas-led police force killed at least six Palestinians, including a child, local health officials said, in the latest round of violence despite a US-brokered ceasefire that is now more than five months old.
Medics said Israeli planes attacked two police checkpoints in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, killing three policemen and three civilians, including a girl, and wounding four others.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the recent strikes. The military has killed over 680 Palestinians in Gaza since a ceasefire with Hamas came into effect in November, local health officials say.
More than 72,000 have been killed since the war started in October 2023. Israel is now also waging a war, alongside the US, against Iran, and is carrying out a new campaign against Hezbollah in which Israeli forces have invaded southern Lebanon.
Germany backs off from supporting Israel in genocide case at ICJ
Germany has withdrawn its support for Israel in the genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
A deputy spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry said that Germany will not intervene in the case. South Africa had filed a case against Israel at The Hague over alleged genocide during the Gaza conflict.
No deal, no retreat: Iran answers US pressure with strikes and defiance
Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and Kuwait early Sunday, a day after President Donald Trump said the country had 48 hours to cut a deal or face “all Hell”.
However, in a counter-statement, Iran warned the US and Israel that the “entire region will become a hell for you” if attacks escalated, according to Iranian media reports.
Kuwait and Israel said their air defences were responding to the latest attacks from Iran, part of the war that erupted more than a month ago with US-Israeli strikes that triggered retaliation by Tehran.
The war has spread conflict throughout the Middle East and convulsed the global economy. Iran’s forces maintain a tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane and strike economic targets in Gulf neighbours they see as linked to the US-Israeli war effort.
The economic strikes are also going the other way. An Israeli or US strike on a petrochemical hub in the southwest of Iran killed five people Saturday, according to the deputy governor of Khuzestan province.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump wrote Saturday on Truth Social, referring to an ultimatum issued on March 26.
“Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them.”
Iran’s central military command rejected the ultimatum, with General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi saying Trump’s threat was a “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action”. Echoing Trump’s language, he warned that “the gates of hell will open for you”.
Thousands pour into Baghdad streets to condemn US actions
Tens of thousands of supporters of Iraqi leader Moqtada Sadr rallied in Baghdad and across the country on Saturday, condemning Israel and the United States and demanding an end to the war.
The massive crowds came as the Middle East war was due to enter its sixth week after strikes launched by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28.
Iraq has been unwillingly drawn into the conflict, with strikes targeting US interests on its soil as well as attacks against pro-Iran groups in the country.
Israeli army plans to strike near Syria-Lebanon border crossing
The Israeli military said on Saturday it would strike an area near the main crossing between Syria and Lebanon, urging residents to evacuate immediately as it continued its attacks across Lebanon.
Israel has carried out strikes across Lebanon and launched a ground invasion in the south since March 2, when Hezbollah entered the war in the Middle East on the side of its backer Iran.
“Due to Hezbollah’s use of the Masnaa Crossing for military purposes and smuggling of combat equipment, the (Israeli army) intends to carry out strikes on the crossing in the near future,” said the military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Avichay Adraee, urging people to leave the area.
A Lebanese security source at the Masnaa border crossing told AFP they were “currently evacuating the crossing following the Israeli threat”.
Soleimani’s daughters deny US claim that niece, grand-niece were arrested
Iranian media on Saturday quoted two daughters of slain former Iranian covert operations chief Qassem Soleimani denying that two Iranian women arrested in the United States were their relatives.
Earlier, the US State Department had announced that a niece and a grand-niece of Soleimani had been arrested and stripped of their US residency. The statement identified the niece as Hamideh Soleimani Afshar. Her daughter was not named.
But, according to the Iranian news agency Fars, Soleimani’s daughter Zeinab said: “The US State Department’s claim is a lie: the people arrested in the United States have no connection to the family.”
Iranian state TV cited another daughter, Narjes, a member of Tehran’s Islamic City Council, as saying: “To this day, no member of the family nor any relative of Martyr Soleimani has resided in the United States.”
Israel eyes Iran energy targets as Trump issues fresh warning
Israel is weighing strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure and is awaiting a go-ahead from Washington, Reuters reported on Saturday, citing a senior Israeli defence official.
The official said any operation could be launched within days.
The remarks followed a renewed warning from President Donald Trump, who said Iran had 48 hours to reach an agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz or face “Hell.”
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” he said, adding: “Glory be to GOD!”
‘Region will turn into hell’: Iran warns US, Israel against escalation
Iran’s military has warned the United States and Israel of sweeping retaliation if the conflict escalates further.
A spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said any expansion of hostilities would trigger a wider regional response. “Do not forget that if aggression expands, the entire region will turn into a hell for you,” the spokesperson said.
He added, “The illusion of defeating the Islamic Republic of Iran has turned into a swamp in which you will sink.”
The warning comes after President Donald Trump renewed pressure on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying it would face “hell” if it fails to do so by Monday.
Araghchi flags radiological threat in letter to UN after fresh attack
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned of the risk of a radiological release following a fourth attack near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, according to a letter sent to the United Nations.
In the letter, Araghchi raised concerns over the potential consequences of continued strikes in the area, stressing that any damage to nuclear facilities could have serious environmental and human impacts.
He urged the international community to take note of the situation and called for steps to prevent further escalation around sensitive nuclear sites.
Dar, Araghchi hold phone call as Pakistan urges de-escalation
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over the phone on the evolving regional situation.
During the call, both sides exchanged views on ongoing developments. Dar reiterated Pakistan’s support for efforts aimed at de-escalation and stressed the need to resolve issues through dialogue and diplomacy.
The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact as the situation continues to unfold.
Iraq-Iran border crossing at Shalamcheh reopened after brief closure
Passenger movement returned to normal at the Shalamcheh border crossing between Iraq and Iran after it was closed following air strikes on the Iranian side that killed an Iraqi citizen, security sources and state news agency said on Saturday.
The crossing serves as one of the main routes for imports to Iraq of vegetables and other food supplies from Iran, traders and border officials say. Any prolonged disruption can quickly affect supplies to local markets.
The sources said at least five Iraqis were seriously wounded in the strikes, which hit a passenger reception area on the Iranian side.
A few hours after the strikes near Shalamcheh, Iraqi border authorities also briefly halted movement at the Safwan crossing with Kuwait after reporting explosions on the Kuwaiti side, Iraqi security and border officials said.
Hundreds of Israelis rally in Tel Aviv against war with Iran
Carrying anti-war banners and chanting slogans against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hundreds of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest the war with Iran.
Demonstrators gathered in a central square, holding signs that read: “Don’t bomb – talk! End the endless war!” despite restrictions on mass gatherings imposed during the conflict with Iran.
“Police are trying to silence our voice,” Alon-Lee Green, the co-director of Israeli-Palestinian grassroots group Standing Together, told AFP.
“We are here to demand an end to the war in Iran, the war in Lebanon, and the war in Gaza which is still going on, as well as an end to the pogroms in the West Bank.
“In Israel, there’s always a war. So, if we’re not allowed to demonstrate, we will never be allowed to speak,” he added.
Protesters also voiced scepticism about the government’s justification for the war with Iran.
Far greater damage than reported in last month’s US Embassy strike: WSJ
An Iranian drone strike on the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia last month caused far greater damage than initially reported, current and former officials told The Wall Street Journal, highlighting Tehran’s ability to hit US assets in the kingdom.
The March 3 attack saw a drone slip past air defences around Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter and crash into the embassy compound. About a minute later, a second drone followed through the same breach and exploded, officials said.
Early statements from Saudi authorities suggested limited damage. However, US officials now say several floors were badly hit, with parts of the building left “unrecoverable.”
China opposes force clause as UN prepares Hormuz shipping vote next week
The US Security Council is now expected to vote next week on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats said on Friday, but veto-wielding China has made clear its opposition to authorising any use of force.
A meeting of the Council’s 15 members was initially set for Friday, then rescheduled for Saturday. Several diplomats said it had now been postponed until next week, with no new date yet announced.
Bahrain’s UN mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reason for the delay. The resolution has faced resistance from China, Russia and others and has been toned down from its original form.
Tehran says it targeted Mossad HQ in Tel Aviv with ‘precision strike’
Iranian forces say they carried out a “precision strike” targeting the headquarters of Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, in Tel Aviv, according to Tasnim News Agency.
The claim was made by Iranian military sources, who described the operation as a targeted and carefully executed attack on a key intelligence site.
However, there has been no independent confirmation of the strike or the extent of any damage.
Iran says US fighter jet downed by ‘new advanced defence system’
The US jet lost over Iranian territory exposes what Tehran calls the “false claims” by President Donald Trump that Washington had eliminated Iran’s air defence capabilities, according to Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al Anbiya central headquarters.
In a televised statement, Zolfaghari said the aircraft was shot down using Iran’s “new advanced defence system,” adding that “an advanced hostile fighter jet was also targeted south of Qeshm Island, crashing into the waters between Qeshm and Hengam Islands.”
Search-and-rescue operations continue for missing American airmen in Iran
Iranian and American forces were racing each other early Saturday to recover the crew of the first US fighter jet to go down inside Iran since the start of the war.
Tehran said it had shot down the F-15 warplane, while US media reported American special forces had rescued one of two crew members.
Iran’s military also said it downed a US A-10 ground attack aircraft in the Gulf, with US media saying the pilot was rescued.
The war erupted more than a month ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran that martyred Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliation that spread the conflict throughout the Middle East, convulsing the global economy and impacting millions of people worldwide.
Iran offers reward for downed US pilot; Trump refuses to comment on response
President Donald Trump refused to reveal how he might respond if Iranian forces reach the downed American pilot, in a brief phone interview with The Independent on Friday. The pilot is the first US aviator to be shot down behind enemy lines since an A-10 ejection over Iraq in April 2003.
When asked what he would do if the pilot were captured or harmed, Trump said, “Well, I can’t comment on it because — we hope that’s not going to happen,” before ending the call.
His comments came as US and Israeli search-and-rescue teams combed the area for the airman, hours after he was forced to eject from his F-15 fighter over Iranian territory.
Following the incident, Iranian state TV urged residents to report any “enemy pilot” to authorities, offering a reward. The governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province said anyone who apprehends or kills the pilot would be “specially commended.”
FO stresses accuracy, rejects unfounded reports on regional conflict
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has slammed recent media reports linking the country to the ongoing regional conflict, calling them “fabrications” and a “misrepresentation” of official briefings.
“We categorically reject these false insinuations attributed to purported official sources as baseless and a figment of imagination,” FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said in a statement shared on X.
He added that any attribution to official sources in this regard was incorrect.
Downing of US aircraft won’t affect talks with Iran, Trump tells NBC
US President Donald Trump said the reported downing of a US jet would not affect ongoing negotiations with Iran, NBC News reported.
In a brief phone interview, Trump declined to discuss details of search-and-rescue operations following the incident but expressed frustration over media coverage of what he described as a sensitive situation.
Asked whether the developments would impact talks with Tehran, he said: “No, not at all. No, it’s war. We’re in war, Garrett.”
Tehran rejects US proposal of 48-hour ceasefire: state media
An unnamed source told Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency on Friday that Tehran had rejected a US proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire.
The source said the proposal was made on Wednesday through another country, which was not named.
There was no immediate comment or confirmation from the US.
US-Iran ceasefire efforts reach dead end: report
Iran has officially told mediators that it is not willing to meet US officials in Islamabad in the coming days and that the US demands are unacceptable, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The current round of efforts by regional countries led by Pakistan to reach a ceasefire between the US and Iran has reached a dead end.
Easter celebrations in Dubai called off over Mideast tension
All masses in Dubai have been cancelled because of the Middle East war, two Catholic churches in the United Arab Emirates posted on their websites on Friday, just ahead of Easter.
Following government directives, “all Masses at our Church are cancelled until further notice,” St Francis of Assisi Church at Jebel Ali in Dubai posted.
Putin, Erdogan hold call on Middle East situation
Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a phone call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the Kremlin said on Friday.
Putin and Erdogan discussed the situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin added.
148 injured in Israel in last 24 hours
At least 148 persons sustained injuries in Israel during the past 24 hours, Al Jazeera reported, citing the Israeli health ministry.
According to the ministry, 6,594 people have been hospitalised since late February in the Iranian strikes.Red Crescent reports drone strike on warehouse in southern Iran
A drone strike struck a Red Crescent relief warehouse in Iran’s Bushehr province early Friday, Fars news agency reported, citing the organisation.
The attack occurred around 5am in the Choghadak area, damaging two relief containers, two buses, and several emergency vehicles, as reported by Fars news agency.
No casualties have been reported.
Italy’s Meloni visits Gulf for energy security talks
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni flew to Saudi Arabia on Friday for a previously unannounced trip that will also include meetings in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, government sources said.
The sources said the visit would reaffirm Italy’s support for the three nations in the face of Iranian attacks on their territories, and was also aimed at bolstering Italy’s national energy security through closer engagement with Gulf producers.
It is the first trip to the region by a leader from the European Union since the conflict was launched by the United States and Israel at the end of February.
US fighter jet shot down over Iran, search underway for crew: US official
A United States fighter jet was shot down over Iran, with a search operation underway to locate the crew, a US official told Reuters.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not offer further details. The Pentagon and US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Search underway for pilot of downed US fighter jet: Iranian media
Iran’s Fars news agency on Friday said the army had launched a search for the pilot of a US fighter jet hit by an air defence system.
Contacted by AFP, the US Central Command (Centcom), responsible for military operations in the Middle East, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“Military forces have launched a search operation to find the American fighter pilot who was hit earlier today,” Fars said.
Trump’s budget proposes 10% cut in discretionary spending, increased defence spending
US President Donald Trump on Friday requested a 10% cut in non-defence, discretionary spending for the 2027 fiscal year, and an increase to defense spending by $500 billion, according to a White House budget document.
The president’s proposed budget changes need to be approved by the US Congress, which requires bipartisan support, and the spending requests are often treated by lawmakers as suggestions.
“Savings are achieved by reducing or eliminating woke, weaponised, and wasteful programmes, and by returning state and local responsibilities to their respective governments,” the White House said in a budget fact sheet.
Trump says US can easily open Hormuz ‘with little a more time’
President Donald Trump on Friday said the US can open the Strait of Hormuz with a little more time.
“With a little more time, we can easily open the Hormuz Strait, take the oil and make a fortune,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Falling debris from drone injures 12 in Abu Dhabi: media office
Media office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that at least 12 people sustained injuries after drone debris fell from interception.
UK to deploy Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait
Britain will deploy its Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait to help protect British and Kuwaiti interests in the Gulf, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said on Friday, after an overnight Iranian drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil facility.
Starmer discussed the deployment in a call with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Friday morning, a Downing Street spokesperson said.
“The Prime Minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery,” the spokesperson said. “He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf.”
Middle East war pushes world food prices higher in March
World food prices climbed in March, due largely to higher energy costs linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation said on Friday.
The FAO Food Price Index, which measures changes in a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4% from its revised February level.
“Price rises since the conflict began have been modest, driven mainly by higher oil prices and cushioned by ample global cereal supplies,” FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero said in a statement.
But if the conflict lasts over 40 days and input costs remain high, farmers may reduce inputs, plant less, or switch crops, leading to lower future yields and affecting food supply and prices for the rest of this year and next, he said.
Over 20 medical sites targeted in Iran since March 1: WHO
The WHO chief has warned of escalating attacks on Iran’s health system, verifying that 20 healthcare facilities hit since March 1, Al Jazeera reported.
At least nine people have been killed, including a member of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said strikes have damaged key sites, including the century-old Pasteur Institute in Tehran, leaving it unable to continue providing services.
psychiatric hospital and a facility producing medicines for cancer and multiple sclerosis were also affected.
Former FM Zarif calls on Iran to declare victory
Former Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif has urged Tehran to declare victory and strike a deal to end the war with the United States and Israel, Al Jazeera reported.
In an article published in the US-based Foreign Affairs, Zarif said Iran should seek an agreement that would both end the current conflict and help prevent another.
The former diplomat, who led Iran’s negotiations with the United States and other powers over its nuclear programme for several years, outlined what he described as a blueprint for ending the war on terms favourable to Tehran.
Among the proposals, Zarif said Iran should offer limits on its nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for an end to all sanctions.
He also said Tehran should be prepared to accept a mutual non-aggression pact with Washington, under which both sides would pledge not to attack each other in future.
Zarif further suggested economic engagement with the United States, saying such an arrangement could benefit both the Iranian and American people.
Trump threatens to strike Iran’s bridges and electric power plants
US President Donald Trump warned on Thursday about striking and destroying bridges and electric power plants in Iran in his latest threat to hit the country’s infrastructure.
The US military “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants,” Trump wrote on social media.
His post said that Iran’s leadership “knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!”
Israel says air defences responding to latest missile launches from Iran
The Israeli military has said that more missiles have been launched from Iran towards Israel’s territory, Al Jazeera reported, citing a statement.
In a statement, the military said air defence systems are operating to intercept the attack.
Over 600 schools and education centres hit in Iran
More than 600 schools and education centres have been hit by the US-Israeli attacks since February 28, Al Jazeera reported, citing statement of Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
IRGC says Tel Aviv and Eilat military sites hit in latest strikes
The IRGC is claiming it has “destroyed” Israeli forces and military industrial companies with fresh strikes on bases Tel Aviv and Eilat, Al Jazeera reported, citing a statement.
US Army chief of staff asked to resign immediately
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has asked General Randy George to step down as chief of staff of the US Army, an official said Thursday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed a report from US broadcaster CBS that said George had been asked to take immediate retirement.
The reason for the request was not immediately known, but CBS quoted a source as saying Hegseth wanted someone who would implement his and Trump’s vision for the Army.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell later posted a statement on X that said George “will be retiring from his position… effective immediately,” without specifying a reason.
WHO warns conflict in Iran is jeopardising health services and staff safety
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a series of attacks on health facilities in Tehran amid the escalating Middle East conflict, according to the world health body’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The Pasteur Institute, a century-old medical research centre, has suffered significant damage and can no longer provide health services, he said, adding that two of its departments had been collaborating with WHO.
The Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital and the Tofigh Daru pharmaceutical facility, which produces medicines for cancer and multiple sclerosis, were also struck on 29 and 31 March respectively. No casualties have been reported from these incidents.
Since 1 March, WHO has verified more than 20 attacks on health care in Iran, resulting in at least nine deaths, including an infectious diseases health worker and a member of the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Attacks have also occurred outside Tehran, including an explosion near Imam Ali Hospital in Andimeshk, Khuzestan province, which forced its evacuation.
The WHO chief emphasised the toll on health workers, patients, and civilians, stating: “Peace is the best medicine.”
Zelenskyy says Ukraine can assist in ensuring freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz
President Zelenskyy has offered to provide Ukraine’s expertise in dealing with freedom of navigation in the Black Sea to countries considering how to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
Zelenskyy said Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had taken part in a virtual meeting devoted to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, attended by about 40 countries.
“Ukraine has relevant expertise concerning sea waterways, concerning the defence and reopening of maritime traffic,” he said.
“If [our] partners are ready to act, we will consider how we can strengthen them, how we can apply our expertise, knowledge and technological potential.”
Zelenskyy offered no further details.
US denies Iranian claim of shooting down warplane near Strait of Hormuz
The US military’s Central Command has rejected a claim by Iran’s IRGC that it had downed an “enemy” fighter jet over the country’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
“All US fighter aircraft are accounted for. Iran’s IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times,” it said in a statement.
Iraqi militia claims attack on fuel storage at Victoria Base in Baghdad
Saraya Awliya al-Dam, an Iraqi armed group, claimed a strike on fuel tanks at Victoria Base in the Baghdad International Airport complex, Al Jazeera reported, citing a statement.
In a statement released on Telegram, the group claimed it had targeted “vital energy sources” at Victoria base today. The group specified that the strike hit fuel tanks used to power the facility’s generators.
Citing security sources, the AFP news agency reported earlier that a drone attack targeted the US diplomatic and logistics centre within the airport complex.
Russia calls for Middle East calm, warns US and Israel against escalation
Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN, has called for an end to violence in the Middle East and called on the US and Israel to “stop playing with fire”.
“The unprecedented escalation of violence in the Middle East is unfortunately affecting countries friendly to the Russian Federation,” he said at a UN Security Council meeting, Al Jazeera reported, citing Iranian state media.
“It is clear that the current situation is a direct result of an unjustified act of aggression by the United States and Israel against the sovereign territory of Iran.”
Death toll rises to 8 in B1 bridge attack near Tehran; 95 injured
The death toll from a “brutal American-Zionist attack” in Alborz province has risen to eight, with at least 95 wounded, Al Jazeera reported, citing a report from Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency.
The deputy for Security Affairs in the Alborz province confirms that the strike earlier today targeted the B1 bridge in Karaj, a major infrastructure project that was nearing completion.
Officials report that the casualties include residents of Bilghan village, commuters, and families who had gathered in the vicinity to observe Nature Day.
President Pezeshkian urges global health bodies to act over strikes on hospitals
Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned US-Israeli attacks on medical facilities, calling on international organisations and health professionals to respond.
In a social media statement, he questioned what message was being sent by strikes on “hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and the Pasteur Institute”, describing them as a “crime against humanity”.
Referring to his background as a physician, Pezeshkian urged global bodies including the World Health Organisation, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders to take a clear stance.
He also called on medical professionals worldwide to speak out against attacks on healthcare infrastructure, which are protected under international humanitarian law.
FM Araghchi says strikes on Iran’s civilian sites show ‘moral collapse’ of enemy
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has said that attacks on civilian infrastructure will not force the country to yield, as tensions continue to escalate in the region.
In a social media statement, Araghchi criticised strikes targeting what he described as “civilian structures”, including unfinished bridges, arguing such actions reflected “defeat and moral collapse” rather than military strength.
He said the attacks would fail to weaken Iran’s resolve, insisting that damaged infrastructure would be rebuilt “stronger” than before. However, he warned that the long-term consequence would be reputational, claiming the strikes would inflict lasting harm on the United States’ global standing.
IRGC says ‘enemy fighter jet’ downed over Gulf near Qeshm
Iran’s IRGC claims that its air defences successfully targeted an “enemy fighter jet in the south of Qeshm Island”, Al Jazeera reported, citing the state media.
The statement did not specify which country the jet belonged to.
After being hit, the fighter jet crashed into the Gulf between Hengam Island and Qeshm Island, it added.
Pakistan, Turkiye agree to stay in close contact on regional developments
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Türkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday to discuss regional developments and bilateral cooperation.
During the call, Fidan acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy, particularly in addressing evolving challenges in the region following US-Israeli war on Iran started on February 28.
He also appreciated Islamabad’s efforts to encourage peaceful engagement among regional stakeholders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The two leaders discussed the Pakistan-China “Five-Point Initiative”, highlighting its significance in fostering peace, stability, and cooperation across the Gulf and the wider Middle East.
France says G7, Arab states to discuss Hormuz amid rising tensions
The Group of Seven countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries will hold a meeting next week to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, France’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said at a news conference on Thursday.
France currently holds the rotating presidency of the G7.
Iran army chief orders commanders to prepare for any attack: state media
Iran’s operational headquarters must monitor “enemy movements with utmost pessimism and accuracy” and be ready to counter any method of attack, the country’s army commander-in-chief Amir Hatami was quoted as saying by state media on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump has said the Iran conflict is “nearing completion” and could end within weeks, but a parallel buildup of additional US troops in the Gulf has raised concerns that preparations may be underway for potential ground operations.
“No enemy troops should survive if adversaries attempt a ground operation,” state media quoted Hatami as saying.
State media shared a soundless footage showing Hatami in a room with three other army commanders and on a video call with about a dozen others. Reuters could not immediately verify when the footage was taken.
Putin, Saudi prince seek more efforts to end Mideast war
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called for intensifying political and diplomatic efforts to end the Middle East war during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“Both sides emphasised the need for a rapid cessation of hostilities and the intensification of political and diplomatic efforts to achieve a long-term settlement of the conflict,” the Kremlin said in a read-out of the call.
The call comes after Ukraine signed an air defence deal with Saudi Arabia as the Gulf nation grapples with Iranian drone attacks.
France says G7, Arab states to discuss Hormuz amid rising tensions
The Group of Seven countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries will hold a meeting next week to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, France’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said at a news conference on Thursday.
France currently holds the rotating presidency of the G7.
Oil prices extend climb after Trump’s Iran speech
Oil prices extended gains on Thursday in the wake of US President Donald Trump threatening further heavy strikes on Iran, dampening hopes of de-escalation.
The main US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, jumped 10.3% to $110.47 per barrel.
International benchmark Brent North Sea crude rose 8.2% to $109.40 per barrel.
Germany, China agree on need to reopen Strait of Hormuz: Berlin
Germany and China both want to restore the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and agree that individual states must not control sea lanes or levy tolls for passage, the foreign ministry in Berlin said on Thursday.
Iran not looking to restart uranium enrichment, says envoy
Iran is not looking to enrich uranium to the levels needed to build an atomic bomb, Tehran’s envoy to the United Nations’ atomic agency told AFP on Thursday.
Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said that US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic’s Bushehr nuclear power plant constitute a “war crime” under international law.
But Najafi argued that the justification, which alleged that Tehran was looking to enrich uranium to the purity needed to build an atomic weapon, was a “lie”.
In an interview with AFP, Najafi denied that Tehran had “restarted enrichment” of radioactive uranium following the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities in June 2025.
“We didn’t start the claim that Iran would like to restart the enrichment, we didn’t restart enrichment, and it was a lie, a very big lie, like the other lies,” the Iranian envoy said in an interview with AFP.
The diplomat also insisted that targeting Tehran’s nuclear energy infrastructure would break international law, warning that a radioactive leak would contaminate the water supply and force civilians to evacuate.
“Any attack on the nuclear power plant in Bushehr would be in clear violation of international law, international humanitarian law,” Najafi said.
“Even during the war, it is prohibited to attack the facilities for use of the civilians, and such an attack would be a very big crime, a crime against humanity, a war crime.”
Attack on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant would be a war crime, says envoy
A US or Israeli strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant would constitute a “war crime” under international law, Tehran’s envoy to the United Nations´ atomic agency told AFP on Thursday.
Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Agency, also denied that Tehran had “restarted enrichment” of radioactive uranium following the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities in June 2025.
Century-old Tehran health institute targeted, says Iran
A century-old medical research centre in Tehran has been attacked and severely damaged, Al Jazeera reported, citing Iran’s Health Ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour.
Kermanpour said the strike targeted the Pasteur Institute of Iran, a medical research centre founded in 1920.
In a post on X, he described the attack on the Tehran facility as a “direct assault on international health security” and called the institute a “century-old pillar of global health”.
Iranian steel factory reconstruction to take up to an year: company official
Iran’s Khuzestan Steel Company will need between six months and a year to restore operations after its facilities were damaged in a strike last week, a deputy director said, according to a report published on Thursday by a judiciary-linked news outlet.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had reported that the Khuzestan steel production factory, which uses sealed cobalt-60 and caesium-137 radioactive sources for gauging, was hit in the strikes last week.
“All modules and steel-making furnaces of this industrial complex have been damaged,” Deputy Director of Operations Mehran Pakbin said, adding that reconstruction efforts would rely on domestic capabilities.
33,000 Tehran homes hit in US-Israeli attacks: official
US-Israeli strikes have so far impacted around 33,000 homes in Tehran, Al Jazeera reported, citing the Tehran mayor’s office.
Abdolmohar Mohammadkhani, spokesperson for the Tehran mayor’s office, said the damage varies from minor issues — such as broken glass, doors, and windows — to cases requiring major reconstruction or full renovation.
He noted that 1,869 families are facing housing challenges, with approximately 1,245 already relocated to 23 residential complexes.
Mohammadkhani added that repair work has started on more than 4,000 housing units, either directly undertaken or financially supported by municipal authorities.
Iran says it will not accept ‘vicious cycle’ of war and talks
Iran will not tolerate a “vicious cycle” of war, negotiations and ceasefire, Al Jazeera reported, citing the country’s foreign ministry spokesman, after US President Donald Trump warned Tehran to agree to a deal within two to three weeks or face strikes on all of its power plants.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the ongoing conflict was “catastrophic not only for Iran, but for the entire region and beyond”.
“We will not tolerate this vicious cycle of war, negotiations, ceasefire, and then repeating the same pattern,” he said.
Baghaei said Iran would continue to fight back for as long as US-Israeli strikes continued, while reaffirming that Tehran did not regard its Gulf neighbours as enemies.
“We have repeatedly said that we are determined to continue our good-neighbourly relations with all of them. The problem is that the United States and Israel are exploiting their territories to carry out their military aggression against Iran,” he said.
Calling it an unjust war imposed on the Iranian people, Baghaei said Iran had no choice but to respond forcefully.
“This is an unjust war that has been imposed on the Iranian people. We have no choice but to fight back strongly,” he added.
China calls on all sides in Iran war to cease military operations
China urges all parties in the Iran war to cease military operations, and refrain from creating a more serious impact on the world economy and energy security, Mao Ning, spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry, told reporters on Thursday when asked to comment on US President Donald Trump’s speech on Iran.
DPM Dar, Egypt’s FM discuss regional tensions in Middle East
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held discussions with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty on the evolving situation in the Middle East as part of a broader diplomatic outreach to ease regional tensions.
The Egyptian foreign minister also spoke with his counterparts of Turkiye, Qatar, and Bahrain on April 1 to coordinate efforts aimed at reducing escalation.
Iran rejects US ceasefire talks as ‘maximalist and irrational’
Iran said Thursday that Washington’s demands were “maximalist and irrational” and denied negotiations were taking place on a ceasefire to stop the war in the Middle East, according to Iranian media.
“Messages have been received through intermediaries, including Pakistan, but there is no direct negotiation with the US,” said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by the ISNA news agency.
He accused Washington of making “maximalist and irrational” demands, and said in comments carried on state television that Iran was ready for any attack, including an invasion by ground forces.
US citizens are ‘concerned’ about petrol prices: Trump
US president has acknowledged the economic pain that many in the US are feeling at the petrol pump with gas prices increasing by more than 25 percent than before the war started.
Trump suggested that the price hike is only temporary.
“Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home,” he said.
“This short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers in neighbouring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict. This is yet more proof that Iran can never be trusted with nuclear weapons.”
Trump shifts responsibility, tells nations to ‘just take’ Hormuz Strait
Although the US started the war unilaterally, US President Trump has put the burden on other countries to reclaim the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran.
“Build up some delayed courage,” he said in a message to countries that import Gulf oil.
“[They] should have done it before, should have done it with us, as we asked. Go to the strait and just take it, protect it.”
Trum says Iran operation near finish, US will wrap up ‘very fast’
US President Donald Trump told the nation that Washington is “very close” to achieving its objectives in the Iran campaign.
“We are going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast,” Trump said in a prime-time address, signalling a rapid conclusion to US military operations.
He added that the core strategic objectives are “nearing completion,” suggesting the conflict could wind down soon, even as details on troop movements and timelines remain unclear.
Trump’s remarks come amid continued tension in the Gulf, with Iran denying any negotiations with Washington and maintaining its military posture.
Dubai airlines issue guidance as UAE denies Iranian travel restrictions
The United Arab Emirates’ foreign ministry said on Wednesday that claims regarding the residency status of Iranians in the Gulf country were “inaccurate,” affirming that the UAE embraces the Iranian community as an integral part of its diverse social fabric.
US-Israeli attack injures top Iranian foreign policy adviser, kills spouse
A senior Iranian foreign policy figure has been seriously injured in a US‑Israeli strike on his Tehran residence, Arab media reported.
Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and a former foreign minister, suffered severe wounds in the attack and was rushed to the hospital. His wife was reportedly killed.
Kharrazi has long served as a key adviser to the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and has retained his position under the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who opted to keep his father’s officials in place.
Trump slams ‘paper tiger’ Nato, says US doesn’t need ‘bad allies’ in Iran war
US President Donald Trump criticised some members of Nato, calling them “bad allies” and saying, “We don’t need them.”
He added, “We had some asks, and you know we spent trillions of dollars on Nato, and when we need them, which we never do, we never needed them here either. To be honest, I was really asking because I wanted to see what they’d do.
“The last thing I needed was Nato stepping in our way, because they’re a paper tiger,” Trump said, referring to the US campaign in Iran.
Iranian president says his country holds no hostility towards ordinary Americans
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a letter addressed to the American people that his country harboured no enmity towards ordinary Americans, Press TV reported on Wednesday.
He said in his letter that portraying Iran as a threat was “neither consistent with historical reality nor with present-day observable facts.”
Pezeshkian said that attacking Iran’s vital infrastructure targets the Iranian people, warning that such actions carried consequences that extend far beyond Iran’s borders.