US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

The World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, has underscored the gravity of military strikes near Iran’s Bushehr power plant, echoing concerns raised by Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Volker Turk, the UN’s top human rights official, has denounced the disturbing escalation of inflammatory language and threats in the Middle East conflict over the past fortnight, which have been directed by all parties involved, including ominous warnings to wipe out entire communities and destroy civilian infrastructure.

“It’s utterly revolting,” Turk stated, emphasizing that pursuing such threats would constitute the gravest international offenses. He urged an immediate halt to the dissemination of “an atmosphere of dread and terror among non-combatants”.

Turk underscored that, under international law, deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure constitutes a war crime. He stressed that those responsible for such international crimes must be brought to justice by a competent court.

A leading analyst, Sultan Barakat, a professor of public policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, suggests that a severe escalation can still be averted, provided Iran takes a crucial step: allowing the Strait of Hormuz to remain open by midnight GMT.
Barakat notes that Iran has made some tentative moves towards achieving this goal, including engaging in discussions with Oman and developing a protocol. Moreover, their stance has shifted from demanding reparations to imposing a service fee for ships to pass through the strait.
If Iran were to invite the UN to verify their actions, it would significantly limit President Trump’s room for maneuver, according to Barakat.
In this hypothetical scenario, the Iranians would argue that the strait is now open, rendering Trump’s actions unjustified, Barakat explained.

In a bid to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to bear fruit, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made a heartfelt plea to President Trump to postpone the deadline for a potential Iran deal by two weeks. Sharif also requested that Iran temporarily open the strategic Strait of Hormuz during this period as a gesture of goodwill. The Prime Minister expressed optimism about the prospects of a peaceful resolution to the Middle East conflict, citing the steady progress of diplomatic efforts. He emphasized that allowing these efforts to run their course could lead to significant breakthroughs in the near future.

A heightened security warning has been disseminated by officials in Qatar, signaling a significant increase in the perceived risk of potential dangers.

According to an Iranian military insider speaking to the Tasnim news agency, which is linked to the IRGC, Iran has a contingency plan in place to counter any potential aggression from the US, specifically targeting President Trump’s verbal threats against the country. The insider emphasized that if Trump’s threats are carried out, Iran will not hold back in exacting a heavy price from the US and its allies.

Authorities in Bahrain have activated the country’s alarm system, prompting an alert from the Interior Ministry. The ministry has advised the public to remain composed and seek refuge in the nearest secure location, according to a statement posted on the platform X.

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani has cautioned that Gulf nations under siege from Iranian attacks cannot indefinitely sustain their self-restraint.
“The Gulf states have demonstrated remarkable restraint and tolerance in the face of persistent Iranian provocation, but this measured approach cannot be expected to endure indefinitely,” the foreign minister noted.
“The rights of our nations under international law cannot be compromised by inaction, nor can we avoid accountability by choosing to ignore the situation,” he stated.
Iran has vowed to retaliate against Gulf infrastructure if the US follows through on its threat to launch a comprehensive military strike against Iranian targets tonight.

Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s leader, has expressed deep concern over Donald Trump’s inflammatory statements targeting Iran as the deadline for the Strait of Hormuz draws near.
In a scathing rebuke, Callamard highlighted the US president’s reckless disregard for human life, citing his ominous warnings of a “whole civilization” being destroyed. This, she argued, showcases an appalling level of cruelty and a blatant disregard for the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.
Callamard pointed out that Trump’s threat of total annihilation and irreparable devastation poses a grave threat to the lives of over 90 million people, flagrantly violating the core tenets of international law. Furthermore, she warned that his statements may even constitute a threat to commit genocide, as defined by the UN’s Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The Amnesty chief called upon the international community to take immediate action to prevent a looming disaster and unequivocally affirm that inciting, ordering or perpetrating war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide will be met with individual accountability under international law.

The UAE Defence Ministry confirmed that its air defences are currently engaged in a dynamic response to incoming missile and drone attacks.
The ministry attributed the audible sounds reported across the country to the ongoing operations of its air defences intercepting and neutralising the threats.