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Normale Ansicht

Middle East crisis live: US launches new wave of strikes; UAE says two tankers in strait of Hormuz hit by Iranian missiles

US military says latest strikes will ‘continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping’ in strait of Hormuz

Bahrain’s military has accused Iran of targeting civilians with its latest attacks on the country, after Tehran said it had struck US military facilities and infrastructure there earlier.

“Iran continues its systematic hostile approach through its heinous attacks with missiles and drones that target civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” the general command of Bahrain’s military said, adding that air defences “intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian aerial attacks” this morning.

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© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Middle East crisis live: JD Vance claims nuclear inspectors will return to Iran as part of deal; Israel says its forces will remain in Lebanon ‘buffer zone’

Benjamin Netanyahu rules out Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon despite initial US-Iran deal expected to be signed on Friday

The agreement between the United ⁠States and Iran should allow for the “immediate reopening” ⁠of the ⁠Strait ​of Hormuz, EU Commission President Ursula von ⁠der Leyen said on Monday.

“The priority now is ⁠its swift and full implementation ​by all parties,” ‌von der ‌Leyen said about the ‌announced deal.

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© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Middle East crisis live: Trump says strait of Hormuz to open ‘as soon as’ US and Iran sign deal as Iran says no final decision made

US president claims signing will probably happen in Europe at the weekend; Iranian foreign ministry says it will not compromise on ‘red lines’ in negotiations

Three Indian seafarers were killed in a US attack on an oil tanker earlier this week, India’s shipping minister, ‌Sarbananda Sonowal, said.

“It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello. Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified,” he wrote in a post on X.

The Middle East is being pulled deeper into crisis & the consequences reach far beyond the region.”

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© Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

© Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

© Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

  • ✇The Guardian
  • Middle East crisis live: Israel says it has struck targets in central and western Iran
    IDF says it struck military targets in fresh attacks launched after Donald Trump called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging him not to strike backFull report: Iran launches missiles at IsraelDonald Trump also aggressively pushed back against claims that he broke a key campaign promise to keep the US out of new foreign conflicts.“Well, well, first of all, I didn’t guarantee no war,” Trump said during the Meet the Press interview. “Why would I have built the strongest military in the
     

Middle East crisis live: Israel says it has struck targets in central and western Iran

IDF says it struck military targets in fresh attacks launched after Donald Trump called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging him not to strike back

Donald Trump also aggressively pushed back against claims that he broke a key campaign promise to keep the US out of new foreign conflicts.

“Well, well, first of all, I didn’t guarantee no war,” Trump said during the Meet the Press interview. “Why would I have built the strongest military in the world?”

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© Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters

© Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters

© Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters

Middle East crisis live: Lebanon’s US embassy says Hezbollah has agreed to ‘reciprocal’ ceasefire with Israel under US proposal

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has meanwhile threatened to strike Beirut and says IDF will continue operations in southern Lebanon

The exchange of strikes between the US and Iran reflects the fragility of the current ceasefire, which has seen repeated violations even as American and Iranian officials try to negotiate a deal to extend it.

Iran has maintained its chokehold on the strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy supplies as a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded once passed through the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The US continues to enforce its own blockade on the strait, as it pressures Tehran to reach an agreement.

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© Photograph: Kawnat Haju/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Kawnat Haju/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Kawnat Haju/AFP/Getty Images

Middle East crisis live: Trump rejects Iran’s response to US peace deal; UN urges ‘genuine ceasefire’ as Israel intensifies Lebanon strikes

US president said Iran’s response to the US peace proposal was ‘stupid’ and that the ceasefire is ‘unbelievable weak’

Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, will visit Qatar later today for talks on the war, its impact on the region and efforts to ensure navigational safety in the strait of Hormuz is resumed, a Turkish diplomatic source told the Reuters news agency.

Turkey, which neighbours Iran, has been in close contact with the US, Iran and mediator Pakistan since the start of the conflict. It condemnded the US and Israel for launching the war, widely seen to have been done illegally, but also criticised Iran’s counter strikes on Gulf states.

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© Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

© Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

© Photograph: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

  • ✇The Guardian
  • Middle East crisis live: Iranian and US forces exchange strikes as tensions rise in strait of Hormuz
    Iran accuses US of targeting two ships in the strait and attacking civilian areas; US Central Command says it responded to ‘unprovoked Iranian attacks’ in straitThe European Union is set to tell airlines the impact from the Iran war on tourism is not yet severe enough to justify emergency measures for the sector, draft EU guidelines seen by Reuters showed.“The current situation does not point to the need for dedicated measures for the tourism sector, unlike during the COVID-19 crisis,” said the
     

Middle East crisis live: Iranian and US forces exchange strikes as tensions rise in strait of Hormuz

Iran accuses US of targeting two ships in the strait and attacking civilian areas; US Central Command says it responded to ‘unprovoked Iranian attacks’ in strait

The European Union is set to tell airlines the impact from the Iran war on tourism is not yet severe enough to justify emergency measures for the sector, draft EU guidelines seen by Reuters showed.

“The current situation does not point to the need for dedicated measures for the tourism sector, unlike during the COVID-19 crisis,” said the draft EU guidelines, which the European Commission is due to publish on Friday.

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© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Middle East crisis live: Iran’s top negotiator says US aims to force Tehran’s ‘surrender’; Israel strikes Beirut for first time since ceasefire began

Statement comes after Trump’s threats to escalate bombing if Iran doesn’t agree deal and IRGC suggestions the strait of Hormuz could reopen

The UK work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, has warned that job losses “could happen” in Britain due to the economic impacts of the Iran war.

He said the UK economy was “going in the right direction” at the start of the year and unemployment figures for February showed a decline. He added that interest rates were expected to come down and the markets were pricing in cuts during the course of the year.

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© Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

© Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

© Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

  • ✇The Guardian
  • Donald Trump tells 60 Minutes in wake of White House press dinner shooting: ‘we live in a crazy world’ – live
    President says he ‘wasn’t worried’ about injuries during the commotion: ‘I understand life. We live in a crazy world’Suspected gunman at White House press dinner namedDonald Trump took to Trump Social on Sunday to repeat his statement from the night before in which he said the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner was why a White House ballroom was necessary.“What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different re
     

Donald Trump tells 60 Minutes in wake of White House press dinner shooting: ‘we live in a crazy world’ – live

President says he ‘wasn’t worried’ about injuries during the commotion: ‘I understand life. We live in a crazy world’

Donald Trump took to Trump Social on Sunday to repeat his statement from the night before in which he said the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner was why a White House ballroom was necessary.

“What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement and, for different reasons, every President for the last 150 years, have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,” Trump wrote.

It does appear the suspect was targeting members of the administration … We don’t have specifics yet about particular members of the administration, except that we do understand that that was his goal and his target.

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© Photograph: Yuri Gripas/EPA

© Photograph: Yuri Gripas/EPA

© Photograph: Yuri Gripas/EPA

  • ✇The Guardian
  • Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by three weeks – Middle East crisis live
    US president says meeting between Israel’s and Lebanon’s ambassadors to the United States went ‘very well’The Pentagon abruptly announced that the secretary of the US navy, John Phelan, would be leaving his job yesterday. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the navy’s top civilian official, who had addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the navy’s annual conference in Washington just a day before the announcement.People familiar with the dynamics at the
     

Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by three weeks – Middle East crisis live

US president says meeting between Israel’s and Lebanon’s ambassadors to the United States went ‘very well’

The Pentagon abruptly announced that the secretary of the US navy, John Phelan, would be leaving his job yesterday. No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the navy’s top civilian official, who had addressed a large crowd of sailors and industry professionals at the navy’s annual conference in Washington just a day before the announcement.

People familiar with the dynamics at the Pentagon told the Guardian Phelan was fired. Phelan had an increasingly rocky relationship with the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, and other senior staff.

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© Photograph: Scott Peterson/Getty Images

© Photograph: Scott Peterson/Getty Images

© Photograph: Scott Peterson/Getty Images

Middle East crisis live: UN chief calls for Israel-Lebanon ceasefire to be ‘fully’ respected as it comes into effect

António Guterres welcomes truce and says through spokesperson he hopes halt in fighting will ‘pave the way for negotiations’

Iran has stopped all petrochemical exports to prioritise domestic supply and prevent shortages of raw materials, Reuters reported.

The state-owned National Petrochemical Company ordered firms to suspend exports until further notice.

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© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

  • ✇The Guardian
  • Pakistan announces free public transport after fuel price hike – as it happened
    This blog is closed – our live coverage continues in a new blog hereAuthorities in Abu Dhabi have reported two incidents of debris falling from intercepted aerial threats in the UAE capital, with one sparking a fire at a gas facility,The official Abu Dhabi Media Office said authorities responded to an incident of falling debris at the Habshan gas facilities. “Operations have been suspended while authorities respond to a fire,” it said in a post on X, adding that no injuries were reported. Contin
     

Pakistan announces free public transport after fuel price hike – as it happened

This blog is closed – our live coverage continues in a new blog here

Authorities in Abu Dhabi have reported two incidents of debris falling from intercepted aerial threats in the UAE capital, with one sparking a fire at a gas facility,

The official Abu Dhabi Media Office said authorities responded to an incident of falling debris at the Habshan gas facilities. “Operations have been suspended while authorities respond to a fire,” it said in a post on X, adding that no injuries were reported.

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© Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

© Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

© Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

  • ✇The Guardian
  • Oil set for record monthly gain – as it happened
    This blog is closed – our live coverage continues on a new blog here Donald Trump is weighing a military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds (454kg) of uranium from Iran, the Wall Street Journal is reporting, citing unnamed US officials.The mission would likely put American forces inside the country for days or longer, the report says.But the president remains generally open to the idea, according to the officials, because it could help accomplish his central goal of preventing Iran from ev
     

Oil set for record monthly gain – as it happened

This blog is closed – our live coverage continues on a new blog here

Donald Trump is weighing a military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds (454kg) of uranium from Iran, the Wall Street Journal is reporting, citing unnamed US officials.

The mission would likely put American forces inside the country for days or longer, the report says.

But the president remains generally open to the idea, according to the officials, because it could help accomplish his central goal of preventing Iran from ever making a nuclear weapon.

The combined effect of both waterways being shut to commercial traffic from countries that neither the Iranians nor Houthis favour would be devastating.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s remark that “the policy of a state lies in its geography” has never seemed more apt.

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© Photograph: Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images

  • ✇The Guardian
  • Middle East crisis live: Trump says he wants to ‘take the oil’ in Iran and could seize Kharg Island ‘easily’
    US president tells Financial Times his ‘preference would be to take the oil’ but that ‘some stupid people back in the US say: why are you doing that?’Full report: Iran accuses US of plotting ground assault while publicly seeking talksAnalysis: what the Houthis’ entry into the Iran war means for the conflict and the wider regionIran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has condemned Israel’s killing of three journalists in Lebanon on Saturday.On his Telegram, Araghchi said the killings amounted to
     

Middle East crisis live: Trump says he wants to ‘take the oil’ in Iran and could seize Kharg Island ‘easily’

US president tells Financial Times his ‘preference would be to take the oil’ but that ‘some stupid people back in the US say: why are you doing that?’

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has condemned Israel’s killing of three journalists in Lebanon on Saturday.

On his Telegram, Araghchi said the killings amounted to “targeted assassination” and “flagrant violation of international law”. He said they were a way of silencing “the voices of those who tell the truth”.

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© Photograph: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

© Photograph: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

© Photograph: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Middle East crisis live: Iran says no plan to negotiate with US; Israel says it is expanding ‘buffer zone’ in Lebanon

Iranian foreign minister claims Tehran has not been in talks to end war – “and we do not plan on any negotiations”; Israeli PM’s comments prompt fears of protracted occupation

Iranian nationals with valid Australian tourist visas will be blocked from entering the country for six months, Australia’s home affairs minister said, citing concern some may decide to stay longer than they’re allowed.

Tony Burke said the direction was necessary as there was a risk Iranians on tourist visas visiting Australia may be unable or unlikely to leave when their visa expires.
The order only applies to people with a valid tourist visa outside of the country.
The government said “sympathetic consideration” would be given to citizens with Iranian parents.

The government said it would closely monitor global developments and adjust settings as required.

If you’re just joining us, here’s a quick recap of the day:

An Iranian military spokesperson mocked US attempts at a ceasefire deal, insisting Americans were only negotiating with themselves. Lt Col Ebrahim Zolfaghari’s statement came after the Trump administration reportedly sent a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran through Pakistan.

Even as Donald Trump claimed productive negotiations to end the war were ongoing with Tehran, Iran’s relentless bombardment of the Gulf states showed no sign of relenting. Kuwait and Bahrain were both hit with damaging strikes on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, as the patience of the Gulf states after rebuffing constant attacks for almost a month began to wear thin.

The World Trade Organisation warned disruptions to international fertiliser supplies caused by the closing of the strait of Hormuz will cause food scarcity and high prices. A third of the world’s fertilisers normally transit the strait.

Oil prices fell nearly 6% and Asian shares gained, after reports Donald Trump had sent a peace plan to Iran fuelled optimism in the market. A barrel of Brent crude was down 5.92% at $98.30, while benchmark US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, was down 5.01% at $87.72.

Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed nine people, state media reported. Citing the health ministry, Lebanon’s official National News Agency said strikes had killed people across towns and a Palestinian refugee camp.

News that Trump had approved the deployment of more than 1,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East further undermined the US president’s repeated claims of successful peace talks. Iran has previously threatened to mine the gulf surrounding the island if the US appeared to be landing troops.

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© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

  • ✇The Guardian
  • US warns Americans worldwide to show ‘increased caution’ – as it happened
    This blog is closed. Follow our new liveblog hereIran vows to destroy Middle East water and energy facilities if US attacks power plantsSeveral blasts could be heard from Jerusalem on Sunday, AFP journalists said, after the Israeli military warned of incoming missile fire from Iran towards central Israel.Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency medical service said there were no immediate reports of casualties. Continue reading...
     

US warns Americans worldwide to show ‘increased caution’ – as it happened

This blog is closed. Follow our new liveblog here

Several blasts could be heard from Jerusalem on Sunday, AFP journalists said, after the Israeli military warned of incoming missile fire from Iran towards central Israel.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency medical service said there were no immediate reports of casualties.

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© Photograph: Reuters

© Photograph: Reuters

© Photograph: Reuters

Middle East crisis live: US eases sanctions on Iranian oil as Trump claims he is mulling ‘winding down’ war; Israel hits Tehran again

Move to allow shipments already at sea comes amid a supply crisis and after US president says he does not ‘want to do a ceasefire’; IDF says it is attacking regime targets in Iran’s capital after strikes on Beirut

Kuwait’s state oil firm KPC said its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was hit by multiple drone attacks early on Friday, causing a fire in some units, with no initial casualties reported, the state news agency said.

Firefighters responded immediately, with several units shut down as a precaution to ensure workers’ safety.

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© Photograph: Reuters

© Photograph: Reuters

© Photograph: Reuters

  • ✇The Guardian
  • Cathay Pacific suspends flights to and from Dubai until end of April – as it happened
    This liveblog is closed – follow our new liveblog here.Iran is still exporting millions of barrels of oil, with about 90 ships, including oil tankers, having crossed the strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the war with Iran, according to maritime and trade data platforms reports.This is despite Iran saying it had closed the vital waterway to vessels from the US and its allies. Continue reading...
     

Cathay Pacific suspends flights to and from Dubai until end of April – as it happened

This liveblog is closed – follow our new liveblog here.

Iran is still exporting millions of barrels of oil, with about 90 ships, including oil tankers, having crossed the strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the war with Iran, according to maritime and trade data platforms reports.

This is despite Iran saying it had closed the vital waterway to vessels from the US and its allies.

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© Photograph: Ibrahim Amro/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ibrahim Amro/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ibrahim Amro/AFP/Getty Images

Middle East crisis live: Israel says it has launched ‘extensive strikes’ on Iran as Trump says US ‘not ready’ to make a deal to end war

Trump says Nato faces ‘very bad’ future if US allies don’t help open strait of Hormuz; airport flights suspended after ‘drone incident’ causes fire in area

Iraq’s football team will travel to Mexico for a 2026 World Cup playoff match despite calls for it to be postponed due to the Middle East war, the country’s football association has announced.

“The national team will depart at the end of the week to Mexico via a private plane,” said Iraq football association president Adnan Dirjal in a statement, adding they had contacted Fifa to help facilitate the trip during the conflict in the region that has hampered flights.

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© Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

© Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

© Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

Middle East crisis live: Iraqi tankers hit as Iran targets oil supplies; US orders petroleum reserve release in bid to calm markets

Iraq officials say at least one person was killed in the attack on the tankers; US to release 172m barrels of oil from strategic reserve

Over in Senate question time, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has confirmed embassies in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv and the consulate in Dubai all physically closed in the last week.

Wong said the government’s number one priority is to “keep Australians safe at home and abroad”.

She continued:

“The dangerous and destabilising attacks by Iran put civilian lives at risk, including Australian lives.”

More than 3,200 Australians over 23 commercial flights have returned to Australia since the US and Israel attacked Iran, setting off a regional conflict and grounding thousands of international flights.

Wong criticised Nationals senators for “winding up people and stoking fear” to panic buy fuel.

The senator said:

“Petrol companies are telling us that fuel stock continues to arrive as expected and on time but there has been a large change in the pattern of demand and that is having an effect on the supply, particularly in regional communities. We have seen jerry cans coming off the shelves at Bunnings and lines at the pump.”

One of the two members of the Iranian women’s football teams provided with a humanitarian visa to stay in Australia has changed her mind and contacted the Iranian embassy, according to the country’s home affairs minister.

In Australia, people are able to change their mind, people are able to travel. So, we respect the context in which she has made that decision.

Unfortunately, in making that decision, she had been advised by her teammates and coach to contact the Iranian embassy and get collected … As a result of that, it meant that the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was.

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© Photograph: ROYAL THAI NAVY/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: ROYAL THAI NAVY/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: ROYAL THAI NAVY/AFP/Getty Images

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