Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building adjacent to the highway that leads to Beirut’s international airport on March 31, 2026.
US Iran war LIVE updates: Israeli defense minister Israel Katz says while Israel supports the US diplomatic efforts with Iran, it may “soon be required to act again” to remove the “existential threats” posed by the Islamic Republic, according to the Times of Israel. “Iran has suffered extremely severe blows over the past year, blows that have set it back years in all areas,” says Katz during a ceremony promoting the next Israeli Air Force chief, Omer Tischler, to the rank of major general.
Mojtaba Khamenei on US-Israel-Iran war
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that the country will safeguard its “nuclear and missile capabilities” as a core national asset, signalling a hardening stance as US President Donald Trump pushes for a broader agreement to stabilise the fragile three-week ceasefire.
Khamenei emphasised Iran’s strategic priorities in a written statement broadcast on state television.
He said the only place Americans belonged in the Persian Gulf is “at the bottom of its waters” and declared that a “new chapter” was unfolding in the region’s history.
Iranian President’s remarks on naval blockade
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that any attempt to impose a naval blockade on Iran or restrict its ports is “doomed to failure.” This came amid reports that the United States is preparing an extended pressure campaign under President Donald Trump.
Pezeshkian said such measures violate international law and threaten regional stability, as per Iranian media.
“Any attempt to impose a naval blockade and restrictions is contrary to international law and against the interests of the nations of the region and global peace and stability, and is doomed to failure,” Pezeshkian said.
He made the remarks on National Persian Gulf Day, calling the Strait of Hormuz a symbol of Iran’s resistance.
Trump earlier said Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports has been successful and asked Tehran to “just give up” amid tensions over sanctions and energy markets.
Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the US pressure campaign as ineffective, calling it “junk advice.” Iranian military officials said their restraint so far is “intended to give diplomacy a chance.”
$25 billion war bill so far
The price tag for the US war on Iran has officially landed on Capitol Hill. The war, now in its third month, has already cost the US $25 billion in munitions. The Donald Trump administration is now seeking an an extra $1.5 trillion for its defence budget to keep hostilities moving.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, at his first appearance before Congress since the February 28 US-Israeli strikes, said internal dissent was a major obstacle in the war on Iran. Lawmakers critical of the administration’s actions are the “biggest adversary,” he said.
The stalled peace talks between US and Iran
Peace talks between the US and Iran have moved from Pakistan to the telephone. While US President Trump claims negotiations have “come a long way,” his recent social media warnings for Iran to “get smart” seemingly do not suggest the same. Pakistan prepares to receive a revised Iranian peace proposal this Friday.
Trump-Putin call
US President Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone for about 90 minutes on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed the Ukraine and Iran wars and possible ceasefire options, Reuters reported. After the call, Trump said Putin offered to help deal with Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles.
“I said I’d much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine,” Trump reportedly told Putin. “I said, before you help me, I want to end your war,” said Trump.
Strait of Hormuz tensions
The US continues a blockade of Iranian ports in and around the Strait of Hormuz, while preparing to extend it for the foreseeable future. Iran has responded with warnings of “swift action” if US forces move closer. The waterway, critical for global oil supply, remains closed as both sides harden positions.
The regional reality of the war on Iran is growing increasingly grim. From a still-under-investigation US Tomahawk strike that killed 170 people at an Iranian girls’ school to the loss of contact with aid boats in international waters, the human cost is mounting. Over 3,500 people, including women and at least 244 children, have died in strikes, as per US-based rights group HRANA.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon
Israel has also continued its bombardment of Lebanon despite a US-brokered ceasefire. Israel says it has no plans to take territory in Lebanon, even as it continues bombing the south. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said the presence of Israeli forces is only for security, not expansion.
…Read More
Mojtaba Khamenei on US-Israel-Iran war
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that the country will safeguard its “nuclear and missile capabilities” as a core national asset, signalling a hardening stance as US President Donald Trump pushes for a broader agreement to stabilise the fragile three-week ceasefire.
Khamenei emphasised Iran’s strategic priorities in a written statement broadcast on state television.
He said the only place Americans belonged in the Persian Gulf is “at the bottom of its waters” and declared that a “new chapter” was unfolding in the region’s history.
Iranian President’s remarks on naval blockade
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that any attempt to impose a naval blockade on Iran or restrict its ports is “doomed to failure.” This came amid reports that the United States is preparing an extended pressure campaign under President Donald Trump.
Pezeshkian said such measures violate international law and threaten regional stability, as per Iranian media.
“Any attempt to impose a naval blockade and restrictions is contrary to international law and against the interests of the nations of the region and global peace and stability, and is doomed to failure,” Pezeshkian said.
He made the remarks on National Persian Gulf Day, calling the Strait of Hormuz a symbol of Iran’s resistance.
Trump earlier said Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports has been successful and asked Tehran to “just give up” amid tensions over sanctions and energy markets.
Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the US pressure campaign as ineffective, calling it “junk advice.” Iranian military officials said their restraint so far is “intended to give diplomacy a chance.”
$25 billion war bill so far
The price tag for the US war on Iran has officially landed on Capitol Hill. The war, now in its third month, has already cost the US $25 billion in munitions. The Donald Trump administration is now seeking an an extra $1.5 trillion for its defence budget to keep hostilities moving.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, at his first appearance before Congress since the February 28 US-Israeli strikes, said internal dissent was a major obstacle in the war on Iran. Lawmakers critical of the administration’s actions are the “biggest adversary,” he said.
The stalled peace talks between US and Iran
Peace talks between the US and Iran have moved from Pakistan to the telephone. While US President Trump claims negotiations have “come a long way,” his recent social media warnings for Iran to “get smart” seemingly do not suggest the same. Pakistan prepares to receive a revised Iranian peace proposal this Friday.
Trump-Putin call
US President Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone for about 90 minutes on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed the Ukraine and Iran wars and possible ceasefire options, Reuters reported. After the call, Trump said Putin offered to help deal with Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles.
“I said I’d much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine,” Trump reportedly told Putin. “I said, before you help me, I want to end your war,” said Trump.
Strait of Hormuz tensions
The US continues a blockade of Iranian ports in and around the Strait of Hormuz, while preparing to extend it for the foreseeable future. Iran has responded with warnings of “swift action” if US forces move closer. The waterway, critical for global oil supply, remains closed as both sides harden positions.
The regional reality of the war on Iran is growing increasingly grim. From a still-under-investigation US Tomahawk strike that killed 170 people at an Iranian girls’ school to the loss of contact with aid boats in international waters, the human cost is mounting. Over 3,500 people, including women and at least 244 children, have died in strikes, as per US-based rights group HRANA.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon
Israel has also continued its bombardment of Lebanon despite a US-brokered ceasefire. Israel says it has no plans to take territory in Lebanon, even as it continues bombing the south. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said the presence of Israeli forces is only for security, not expansion.
Follow all the updates here:
May 01, 2026 1:21:36 AM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Trump says Iran ‘dying to make a deal’
US Iran news LIVE: US President Donald Trump said that despite recent military action against Iran, he would not describe the situation as a war, claiming that Tehran is now “dying to make a deal.”
He asserted that Iran’s naval and air capabilities have been effectively dismantled and that a significant portion of its drone manufacturing infrastructure has been destroyed. Trump also claimed that the US had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capacity, adding that the country did not succeed in developing a nuclear bomb.
May 01, 2026 1:17:43 AM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Trump says he is OK with Iran playing in FIFA World Cup
US Iran news LIVE: US President Donald Trump on Thursday told reporters that “I’m OK” with Iran playing in the FIFA soccer World Cup, which will be held in North America in June and July.
The comments come after FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday said Iran would be present at the tournament and play in the United States.
“If Gianni said it, I’m OK,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “You know what? Let them play.”
May 01, 2026 12:55:30 AM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Trump says gas prices will drop as soon as Iran war is over
US Iran news LIVE: President Donald Trump on Thursday told reporters that gas prices would “drop like a rock” as soon as the Iran war ended.
Global oil prices earlier hit a four-year high of more than $126 a barrel over concerns that the conflict could lead to a prolonged crisis.
May 01, 2026 12:39:50 AM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Iran’s supreme leader defies US blockade as oil prices soar
US Iran news LIVE: Iran’s supreme leader declared Thursday that the United States had suffered a shameful defeat, defiantly rejecting a warning from President Donald Trump that an economically punishing US naval blockade could be enforced for months to come.
Oil prices hit a four-year high, then fell back slightly, before Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written message read out on state television declaring that Iran was now in the driver’s seat in the crisis.
Apr 30, 2026 11:35:43 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: FIFA chief Infantino confirms Iran playing at World Cup in US
US Iran news LIVE: FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play at this year’s World Cup on Thursday as he addressed the global football governing body’s Congress in Vancouver.
“Let me start by the outset, confirming straightaway that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said as he opened his address to delegates. “And of course, Iran will play the United States of America.”
Apr 30, 2026 10:45:53 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Lebanon rift disrupts Saudi push for unified stance on Israel talks
US Iran news LIVE: A deepening rift among Lebanon’s top officials is complicating Saudi Arabia’s efforts to help the country present a unified position in historic negotiations with Israel, Lebanese sources and foreign officials said on Thursday.
Apr 30, 2026 10:22:02 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Oil prices ease after hitting four-year high as US-Iran war fuels volatility
US Iran news LIVE: Global oil prices pulled back on Thursday after surging past $126 a barrel earlier in the day, a four-year high, as concerns over the US-Iran war and potential prolonged supply disruptions weighed on markets and the global growth outlook.
Oil markets have remained highly volatile since the Middle East conflict began in late February.
Benchmark Brent crude briefly touched $126.41 a barrel – its highest level since March 9, 2022 – before reversing course. By 12:29 p.m. ET (1629 GMT), prices had fallen $3.96, or 3.36%, to $114.07. The June contract, which expires Thursday, saw sharper movement, while the more actively traded July contract slipped 46 cents, or 0.42%, to $109.98.
Apr 30, 2026 10:02:12 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Trump faces Friday deadline on Iran war as conflict stalls in standoff
US Iran news LIVE: US President Donald Trump faces a Friday deadline to either end the war with Iran or make a case to Congress for extending it, but the moment is unlikely to shift the trajectory of a conflict that has settled into a standoff over key shipping routes.
Apr 30, 2026 8:51:36 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Israel defence minister says country could ‘act again’ against Iran
US Iran news LIVE: Israeli defense minister Israel Katz says while Israel supports the US diplomatic efforts with Iran, it may “soon be required to act again” to remove the “existential threats” posed by the Islamic Republic, according to the Times of Israel.
“Iran has suffered extremely severe blows over the past year, blows that have set it back years in all areas,” says Katz during a ceremony promoting the next Israeli Air Force chief, Omer Tischler, to the rank of major general.
“US President Trump, in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is leading the effort to complete the campaign’s objectives in a way that ensures Iran will not return to being a threat to the existence of Israel, to the United States, and to the free world for generations to come,” he says.
Apr 30, 2026 8:20:37 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Five killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon
US Iran news LIVE: At least five more people have been killed in fresh Israeli air attacks in southern Lebanon, adding to a rising death toll despite a declared ceasefire, Al Jazeera reported.
According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, an Israeli strike on a home in the town of Jebchit killed four members of a single family, including a child.
In a separate attack, another home in the town of Toul was hit, leaving one person dead and two others injured.
Apr 30, 2026 7:22:42 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: What has happened so far?
US Iran news LIVE: 1. Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran will protect its “nuclear and missile capabilities” as a national asset amid pressure from Donald Trump. He said Americans belong in the Persian Gulf “at the bottom of its waters,” calling it a “new chapter” for the region.
3. President Masoud Pezeshkian said any US naval blockade is “doomed to failure” and violates international law. He called the Strait of Hormuz a symbol of resistance.
4. Trump said the blockade of Iranian ports is working and urged Tehran to “just give up.”
5. Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called US pressure “junk advice”; Iranian military said restraint is to allow diplomacy.
6. The US has spent $25 billion on the war and is seeking $1.5 trillion more for defence.
7. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said internal dissent is the “biggest adversary.”
8. US-Iran talks continue via phone; Pakistan is set to receive a revised proposal.
9. Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin, who offered help on Iran’s uranium stockpiles. The US maintains a blockade near Hormuz; Iran has warned of “swift action.”
Apr 30, 2026 7:16:16 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Trump slams German chancellor over Iran, says he should ‘spend less time interfering’
US Iran news LIVE: Trump slams German chancellor over Iran, says he should ‘spend less time interfering’.
Apr 30, 2026 6:51:40 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Hezbollah deploys fibre-optic drones to evade detection
US Iran news LIVE: Hezbollah has introduced a new class of weapon in its ongoing confrontation with Israel, deploying small fibre-optic–guided drones designed to bypass electronic detection systems.
The drones, controlled through ultra-thin fibre-optic cables roughly the width of dental floss, are difficult to track and intercept. The technology has been widely used in the Russia–Ukraine War, where such systems have proven effective against electronic warfare measures.
In northern Israel on Thursday, drone strikes injured at least a dozen Israeli soldiers, with two reported to be in serious condition. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept multiple incoming drones during the attack.
Apr 30, 2026 6:32:21 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Iran to leverage control of Strait of Hormuz for regional gains, reduce US presence, says parliamentary speaker
US Iran news LIVE: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran will use its control over the Strait of Hormuz to benefit itself and neighbouring countries, while moving towards a future without US presence and interference.
He said that by exercising authority over the key shipping route, Iran aims to unlock economic and strategic advantages for the region, positioning the move as part of a broader shift in regional dynamics.
Apr 30, 2026 5:53:00 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Israel intercepts Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters near Greece, organisers call it ‘escalation’
US Iran news LIVE: Israel has intercepted aid ships bound for Gaza Strip in international waters near Greece, flotilla organisers said on Thursday, describing the move as an “escalation of Israel’s impunity”.
The vessels were part of a second Global Sumud flotilla aimed at breaking Israel’s blockade by delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The ships had departed from Barcelona on April 12.
According to organisers, the vessels were seized late on Wednesday in international waters off the Peloponnese peninsula, hundreds of miles away from Gaza.
Apr 30, 2026 5:46:38 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Iran internet blackout exposes rift between military, civilian leadership amid US war
US Iran news LIVE: ran’s record internet blackout is emerging as a key fault line between the country’s powerful security apparatus and its civilian government, highlighting how the war with the United States has expanded military control over daily life, Bloomberg reported.
Top government officials have grown increasingly vocal in opposing the shutdown, imposed two months ago by authorities led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, even as they maintain a united front against Washington during the ongoing ceasefire.
Apr 30, 2026 5:25:56 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Iran warns of ‘long and painful strikes’ even if US attack is limited, says IRGC commander Mousavi
US Iran news LIVE: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards aerospace force commander Mousavi says Iran will respond with ‘long and painful strikes’ even if US attack is limited, SNN reported.
Apr 30, 2026 4:58:18 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 9, including two children
US Iran news LIVE: “Israeli enemy strikes on south Lebanon led, in an initial toll, to nine martyrs, among them two children and five women, and 23 wounded, among them eight children and seven women,” Lebanon’s health ministry said Thursday.
Apr 30, 2026 4:11:48 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Mojtaba Khamenei says the new management of the Strait of Hormuz ‘will bring calm’ and ‘economic benefits’ to Gulf nations
US Iran news LIVE: Iran’s supreme leader says the new management of the Strait of Hormuz ‘will bring calm and progress’ as well as ‘economic benefits’ to all Gulf nations.
Apr 30, 2026 4:08:22 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Iran’s supreme leader says the Gulf will have a ‘bright future’ without presence of US
US Iran news LIVE: Iran’s supreme leader says the Gulf will have a ‘bright future’ without presence of US, State TV reported, according to Reuters.
Apr 30, 2026 3:55:36 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Israeli military warns residents of eight Lebanese towns to leave homes ahead of strikes
US Iran news LIVE: The Israeli military warned residents of eight Lebanese towns outside of the “buffer zone” to leave their homes immediately on Thursday ahead of strikes.
The “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon was occupied by Israeli troops before a ceasefire earlier this month, which has failed to fully halt hostilities.
Apr 30, 2026 3:46:05 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Iran state media says Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei message to be released for Gulf Day
US Iran news LIVE: Iranian state media says a message from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei will be released shortly to mark National Persian Gulf Day, which commemorates Iran’s historical ties to the Gulf.
Apr 30, 2026 3:17:26 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Iran can access uranium stockpile at US-bombed sites ‘if there’s a wish’, says nuclear watchdog
US Iran news LIVE: Iran could access its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium if it chooses to retrieve material believed to be buried at sites bombed by the United States, according to the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.
“It is accessible if there’s a wish to go there,” Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday in an interview with Bloomberg TV.
IAEA inspectors have not visited the sites where the material is located for 10 months. Grossi said satellite imagery indicates that most of the material remains buried at the location where it was last observed, near the Iranian city of Isfahan.
Apr 30, 2026 2:38:25 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Iran can absorb US pressure for 2-3 months more, says expert
US Iran news LIVE: Iran could withstand the ongoing US pressure campaign for “at least two or three months, if not longer”, a media studies professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies has said.
Mohamad Elmasry said Trump’s expectation that sanctions and blockades would quickly force Iran to concede is based on a “misreading” of Tehran’s strategy.
Elmasry argued that Iran believes it can sustain the economic pressure through alternative trade routes and workarounds, citing reports of multiple vessels allegedly bypassing US restrictions.
He added that Washington’s assumption that Iran is heading towards an immediate oil storage crisis is “exaggerated”, and warned that a prolonged standoff could have wider economic consequences.
He also said Iran views the war as an existential issue and is willing to absorb economic losses rather than accept terms that could threaten the survival of its political system.
Apr 30, 2026 2:33:29 PM IST
US Iran news LIVE: Israel claims to have killed 5 Hezbollah members
US Iran news LIVE: The Israeli military has said its forces killed five Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon.
The claim comes after two Israeli strikes on Majdal Zoun that reportedly killed at least five people, including three rescue workers and a Lebanese soldier.
Continued ceasefire violations by Israel since mid-April have killed over 2,500 people and injured more than 7,800 in Lebanon, as per the health ministry. (Al Jazeera)