US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Speaking at the UN Security Council prior to a vote on a resolution concerning the Strait of Hormuz, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif Bin Rashid Al Zayani emphasized the gravity of recent events impacting the vital Gulf waterway, through which a significant proportion of global oil and gas supplies are transported.

The Gulf Cooperation Council member states, Al Zayani noted, are the primary suppliers of the world’s energy resources, making the security of the Strait of Hormuz an international issue that requires collective responsibility.

In a clear and resolute statement, Al Zayani asserted that Iran has no authority to restrict navigation through the Strait of Hormuz or deny the world access to essential energy resources that are crucial for human survival.

In a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed solidarity with Riyadh following a surprise attack on Jubail’s industrial complex. The prime minister condemned the assault on the petrochemical facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia, which occurred just hours after an Israeli operation targeted Iran’s largest petrochemical plant in Asaluyeh, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to its alliance with Saudi Arabia, with the two nations standing united in the face of the crisis. During the conversation, MBS acknowledged Islamabad’s efforts to mitigate the deteriorating regional security situation. The mutual defence agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year underscores the strength of their partnership.

In a statement, Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence spokesperson Saud Abdulaziz al-Otaibi confirmed the country had successfully countered 17 drone attacks within the past 24 hours. According to al-Otaibi, these aerial incursions did not cause any damage or harm to people.

Donald Jensen, a seasoned US diplomat, has expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions with Iran, citing the unprecedented ferocity of President Trump’s recent threats. According to Jensen, the situation has reached a critical point, with the potential for a devastating attack on Iran’s critical infrastructure, particularly its power grid, now more imminent than ever.

As the majority of US citizens remain opposed to the war, Jensen posits that the driving force behind Trump’s aggressive stance lies within his own psyche, fueled by the pressure to meet the lofty objectives he set for the conflict, including dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme. “Will he be able to achieve this?” Jensen queries, “It’s far from certain, despite the undeniable capabilities of the United States to cripple Iran’s power grid.”

In Jensen’s assessment, the unfolding crisis serves as a stark reminder of the limitations of American power in the region, a reality that must be taken into account in the face of escalating tensions.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized to the press that any parties participating in the US-Israel conflict with Iran must adhere to international norms, specifically refraining from attacks on non-combatants and civilian facilities.

A dramatic display of patriotism unfolded on the Pol Sefid, or White Bridge, in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, as numerous individuals brandished Iranian flags in a defiant gesture.
According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the impromptu rally took place at the city’s iconic Pol Sefid Bridge.
As previously reported, US President Trump has issued a series of ominous warnings, vowing to dismantle all of Iran’s bridges and power plants within a short timeframe unless Tehran complies with his demands to fully restore access to the Strait of Hormuz.

From the United Nations headquarters in New York, correspondent Gabriel Elizondo of Al Jazeera reports that a UN Security Council resolution, which has undergone six revisions over the past fortnight, is now poised for a vote in the immediate future.
According to Elizondo, Russia, China, and France had expressed reservations about certain aspects of the resolution and had warned of a potential veto if their concerns were not addressed.
In a bid to secure a consensus, the draft resolution has been significantly reworked to make it more palatable to Council members, Elizondo noted on social media platform X, highlighting key changes to the resolution.

Martin Griffiths, the UN’s former humanitarian chief, believes that a ‘ticking clock’ scenario between the US and Iran will only exacerbate tensions, rather than facilitate a resolution to the conflict. Speaking to Al Jazeera from Geneva, Griffiths emphasized that a ‘cliff-edge’ situation is counterproductive to finding common ground.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, the release of two French nationals who had been imprisoned on espionage charges in Iran was facilitated by a reciprocal agreement. Under this arrangement, France had previously released an Iranian national and withdrawn a complaint lodged against Iran at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

According to Netanyahu, the Israeli government’s primary goal is to dismantle the Iranian regime, bringing its entire system crashing down, even if it leads to catastrophic consequences in the country. However, the fate of Iran itself is of secondary concern to Netanyahu, who has made his re-election bid contingent on the success of this endeavor. He has labeled it Israel’s most critical conflict, and his own success is tied to the notion of a complete and unqualified triumph. In his eyes, anything less would be a failure, with no room for compromise or partial victories. This stance is being taken despite the growing unrest within Israel, with strategists close to Netanyahu discussing the potential use of extreme measures, drawing parallels with the devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Prime Minister and his Defence Minister have also been vocal about their intention to deliver a crushing blow to Iran, targeting its critical infrastructure and maintaining a hit list of key targets, pending a green light from the US President. Overnight reports suggest Netanyahu has been advising Trump against accepting any compromise deal with Iran, arguing that it would be a mistake to settle for anything less than a complete surrender from the Iranian government.