US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Amid escalating hostilities, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to initiate direct talks with Lebanon at the earliest opportunity, as Lebanon observes a day of mourning following a devastating Israeli assault that claimed hundreds of lives and left over 1,000 people injured in a single day. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the strikes on Lebanon, asserting that they contravened the US-Iran ceasefire and posed a significant threat to ongoing negotiations. Pezeshkian reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to Lebanon, vowing not to abandon its ally. In a separate development, US President Donald Trump reiterated that American forces will maintain a presence in the region until a comprehensive agreement is fully implemented, warning of potential further conflict if the terms are not upheld.

A leading analyst at the Doha Institute for Graduate studies, Mohamad Elmasry, has highlighted the Trump administration’s faltering position in the Iran conflict, underscoring the regime’s resilience and strategic advantages.

Elmasry pointed out that despite a six-week period of intense bombardment, the US failed to achieve its objectives, leaving the Iranian regime and its proxy network intact. Furthermore, Iran retained its arsenal of missiles and drones, with approximately half of its launchers poised to engage in combat for several more months if necessary.

A significant turning point in the conflict, Elmasry noted, was Iran’s acquisition of control over the Strait of Hormuz. This development has had far-reaching consequences for the Trump administration, resulting in a catastrophic situation that has been deemed a political and economic disaster.

While acknowledging that Iran holds some leverage in upcoming negotiations with the US, Elmasry expressed skepticism about the likelihood of Iran securing all 10 of its demands. However, he suggested that four of these points, which are primarily economic in nature, may be more feasible for the US to accept.

As of tomorrow, all bank branches across Iran will be back to normal operations, according to a statement from the Bank Coordination Council, as confirmed by the IRNA news agency.

A lethal Israeli air raid on the Hanawya town in southern Lebanon resulted in one fatality and left another person wounded, according to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA). The NNA further disclosed that Israeli forces conducted a demolition campaign targeting residential areas in Aita al-Shaab, while simultaneously unleashing artillery fire on three locations within the Tyre district.

The fragile truce between Iran and the United States has yet to yield a clear indication of when oil and gas prices will recede to pre-conflict levels.
Market observers are left wondering how long it will take for prices to stabilize and revert to their pre-war state.
According to Rockford Weitz, a maritime studies expert at The Fletcher School at Tufts University in the US, any claims of knowing the exact timeline for price normalization are unfounded.
“We’re still in the midst of a complex situation,” Weitz noted, “and it’s premature to speculate on a return to normalcy.”
The current crisis has brought about the most significant disruption to global oil markets in history, Weitz emphasized.

A contentious social media post by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, which purportedly branded Israel a “curse for humanity”, has seemingly been taken down.
The removal of the post coincided with a stern reaction from Israel, with the office of the Israeli prime minister condemning Asif’s statement as “unacceptable”.
The Israeli premier’s office, in a social media post of its own, expressed dismay at the Pakistani minister’s remark, labelling it “inexcusable” given Pakistan’s self-proclaimed role as a mediator for peace.
Asif’s original post on the X platform reportedly accused Israel of perpetrating atrocities against innocent civilians across the Middle East, citing specific examples in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon.

Recent polls published in Israeli media outlets have shed light on the precarious situation facing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The surveys indicate that nearly six in ten Israelis harbor reservations about the current ceasefire and the gains Israel has achieved in its conflict with Iran.
Conversely, a substantial majority of 79 percent remains resolute in their support for continued military action against Hezbollah and the dismantling of its Lebanese operations.
As Netanyahu navigates this complex landscape, he is also facing mounting pressure from the international community, particularly from the United States.
In the past 24 hours, additional voices from Germany, Canada, and other global stakeholders have been added to the chorus, urging Netanyahu to uphold the ceasefire.
This development is poised to further complicate Netanyahu’s electoral prospects, given the looming elections and the apparent disconnect between his stance and the preferences of the Israeli electorate.

Iran’s planned talks with the US in Pakistan have been put on hold, according to Abas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Iran-based Center for Middle East Strategic Studies. The Iranian delegation has not departed from Tehran due to ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Aslani disclosed to Al Jazeera.

“The Iranian team’s departure from Tehran has been delayed, as the Iranian side is adamant that negotiations in Islamabad cannot proceed while Israeli attacks on Lebanon persist,” Aslani stated.

The escalation of Israeli aggression in Lebanon has created an air of uncertainty surrounding the talks, Aslani noted. Furthermore, shifts in the US position on the 10-point plan have contributed to a growing trust deficit between the two nations.

Iran’s historical distrust of the US has been reignited by recent political developments, Aslani explained. This has led to concerns that the US may not honor its commitments, echoing a long-standing fear in Tehran.

The Iranian public may also be increasingly skeptical of the talks, Aslani suggested, citing the country’s recent experiences of being targeted by the US during negotiations. This could lead to pressure on the Iranian delegation to reassess their engagement with the US.

According to a statement from Lebanon’s National News Agency, Israeli warplanes have launched a military operation against the town of al-Majadel, situated in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon.

Tensions are running high in Islamabad as the city gears up to host a high-stakes diplomatic meeting between the US and Iran, scheduled for Saturday, following a six-week conflict that has claimed thousands of lives across the Middle East.
A major thoroughfare leading to the secure Red Zone, home to key government buildings, has been sealed off, with a visible military presence throughout the city.
Roads in the area are peppered with checkpoints, and with a public holiday declared for the day, traffic is unusually light.
The Serena Hotel, a prominent landmark in the Red Zone and adjacent to the Foreign Ministry headquarters, has been taken over by security personnel, with guests asked to vacate the premises.
According to a now-deleted post on X by Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, the Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, is now expected to arrive later today, having initially planned to arrive on Thursday night.
The US delegation, headed by Vice President JD Vance, is also due to arrive in Islamabad later this evening, accompanied by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who previously spearheaded negotiations with Iran before the conflict erupted.