US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

The Omani Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the social media platform X, expressing its approval of the declared ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and extending gratitude to Pakistan and all other parties involved in urging an end to the conflict. The ministry emphasized the need for heightened diplomatic efforts to address the underlying causes of the crisis and establish a lasting, conflict-free environment in the region.

A somber procession unfolded across Iran as thousands of youth and their families came together to observe the 40th day since a devastating airstrike on a school in Minab claimed the lives of over 160 individuals, mostly innocent children. The Minab school, situated in the country’s southwestern region near the Gulf, was targeted in the initial hours of February 28, the commencement of a US-Israeli military operation against Iran. As the mourners gathered, a pivotal announcement was made by US President Donald Trump, offering a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, just hours prior to the vigil. In the nation’s capital, Tehran, a local resident expressed disdain for Trump’s warnings against Iran, remarking that his words often exceed his capacity to deliver.

Foreign Ministry officials in Indonesia have expressed their approval of the recent US-Iran ceasefire, with spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang urging all parties involved to uphold the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and diplomatic relations. Meanwhile, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara described the two-week ceasefire as a promising development, with Tokyo holding out for a definitive agreement.

Israeli authorities have consistently maintained that the conflicts in Lebanon and Iran are distinct and separate. They suggest that once the Iran conflict subsides, they will be able to redirect their focus towards the Lebanese front. However, many in Lebanon remain skeptical about Israel’s true intentions. As of this morning, Hezbollah has yet to issue a statement regarding the ceasefire agreement. Furthermore, Iran’s stance on the matter also requires clarification, as they have repeatedly emphasized the need for a comprehensive regional peace deal. In the past, Iran has explicitly linked the cessation of hostilities to an end to attacks on Lebanon, as part of their response to the Trump peace plan. The question now is whether the Lebanon front, specifically the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, will be addressed during the proposed two-week ceasefire negotiations. This is a complex issue, given the intricate dynamics at play. By joining the conflict, Hezbollah inadvertently allowed Iran to expand the war and divert Israel’s attention, thereby creating multiple fronts. Hezbollah’s strategic calculation is that by aligning itself with Iran, it can leverage more influence in potential negotiations. The party has also been vocal in criticizing the Lebanese government for failing to secure a satisfactory ceasefire deal with Israel.

According to Ross Harrison, a seasoned expert at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC, the recent two-week truce between the US and Iran has introduced a critical juncture in the conflict, offering potential avenues for de-escalation. Harrison notes that the situation was perilously close to a tipping point just hours prior, with the US poised to take drastic action and Iran standing firm in its stance.

Harrison highlights the US’s ability to rapidly escalate tensions, significantly increasing the stakes and threatening military action against Iran. Conversely, Iran still retains the capacity to expand the conflict’s scope, potentially drawing in the Gulf Arab states and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Bahrain’s civil defence personnel have successfully brought under control a blaze that erupted in the wake of what the Interior Ministry terms an “unprovoked Iranian incursion.”

No casualties were reported, according to the ministry, which characterised the fire as impacting a specific infrastructure site, without elaborating further.

US President Donald Trump declared the recently brokered two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran a resounding success for the United States in a recent conversation with the AFP news agency. “This is a total and complete victory, without a doubt,” Trump stated unequivocally in a concise phone interview, shortly after unveiling the deal. Trump further emphasized that the ceasefire agreement would effectively safeguard Iran’s uranium reserves, and expressed gratitude to China for facilitating negotiations between the US and Iran.

Iranian authorities are interpreting the two-week ceasefire agreement with the US as a resounding triumph for the nation, following their repeated assurances to the populace that the conflict would be resolved on Iranian terms.
With the Americans now accepting 10 key demands as a foundation for negotiations, and US President Donald Trump acknowledging that most contentious issues have been resolved, Iranian leaders are claiming that their country has secured its objectives through this war.
In public addresses, they are extolling the virtues of the Iranian armed forces’ unwavering resolve, the nation’s unshakeable unity in the face of adversity, and the people’s unrelenting perseverance in the face of this significant conflict.
Contrary to expectations, the initial US and Israeli strategy of targeting senior Iranian leaders on the first day failed to topple the ruling system.
Instead, the preceding weeks of fighting have demonstrated Iran’s capacity to wage this war and defend its territory until the very end.

A scathing critique of Donald Trump’s Middle East policy has come from an unexpected source: a former top aide to Barack Obama. Ben Rhodes, who served as Obama’s deputy national security adviser and speechwriter, has taken aim at Trump’s decision to launch a military operation in Iran, calling it a “catastrophic situation” that has left the US in a precarious position, even in the most favorable of outcomes.

Rhodes, who has been vocal about his disapproval of Trump’s actions, described the decision to go to war with Iran as a “profoundly shameful episode in American history” that will have far-reaching consequences. He believes that Trump’s policy has not only damaged the US’s reputation on the global stage but has also “obliterated” its standing. Furthermore, Rhodes predicts that the repercussions of Trump’s decisions will continue to unfold, with more global economic fallout on the horizon. Notably, he also suggests that Trump’s actions have inadvertently strengthened and enriched Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Iranian-American congresswoman Yassamin Ansari expressed a fleeting sense of relief following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in hostilities against Iran. However, she emphasized that her concerns about Donald Trump’s fitness for office remain unchanged. According to Ansari, the pause in attacks brings temporary respite to approximately 90 million Iranians who endured a harrowing 24 hours of uncertainty, fearing the devastating consequences of a potential nuclear catastrophe that would disproportionately affect innocent civilians. Ansari stressed that Trump’s recent statements, including a threat of genocide and war crimes against Iranians, only reinforce her conviction that he is mentally unstable and unfit to hold public office. This stance aligns with the growing number of Democratic lawmakers who have called for the invocation of the 25th amendment to the US Constitution, citing concerns about Trump’s ability to fulfill the duties of the presidency.