US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

A massive protest in support of Palestine Action is anticipated to unfold in central London later today, with thousands of people expected to converge on the city. Organized by the advocacy group, the demonstration will involve a 60-minute silent sit-in in Trafalgar Square, commencing at 1pm local time (12:00 GMT), during which participants will hold banners bearing the message, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

The protest is a direct response to the UK authorities’ decision to ban Palestine Action, a move that has been met with resistance from the group Defend Our Juries. The London Metropolitan Police had initially paused making arrests in February, following a UK High Court ruling that deemed the ban unlawful. However, the police have since announced their intention to resume arrests, pending the outcome of an appeal against the court’s decision, which is expected to take several months.

According to the Press Association, over 3,000 individuals have been arrested to date for allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action, following the group’s designation as a “terrorist” organization last year.

A dire situation is unfolding in Lebanon, where an alarming number of displaced individuals are being forced to cram into severely overcrowded shelters. The UN Refugee Agency has reported that nearly half of the country’s public schools have been converted into makeshift reception centers, highlighting the desperate need for additional accommodation.

According to UNHCR data, a staggering 1.2 million people have been compelled to abandon their homes in Lebanon due to the ongoing Israeli attacks. Of these, approximately 140,000 individuals are currently taking refuge in 680 shelters, leaving the available capacity woefully inadequate.

In addition to those displaced within Lebanon, around 250,000 people have crossed into Syria, including Syrians who fled to Lebanon during the Syrian conflict, as well as approximately 39,000 Lebanese nationals who have sought asylum in Syria, as per UNHCR statistics.

The Israeli military has issued forced displacement orders for southern Lebanon, extending as far as the Zahrani River, roughly 40km north of the Israel-Lebanon border, as well as significant areas of the capital city, Beirut.

As Pakistani leaders describe the upcoming talks in Islamabad as a make-or-break moment, ordinary Iranians are characterized by a profound lack of faith in the US, according to Dr. Zohreh Kharazmi, associate professor at the University of Tehran’s Faculty of World Studies. Dr. Kharazmi expressed this sentiment to Al Jazeera, stating that Iranians are not buoyed by optimism due to the absence of trust in the US and its allies.

She highlighted a pattern in which previous negotiations with the US were exploited as a smokescreen for aggressive actions, pointing to the Trump administration’s contradictory stance on Iran’s 10-point proposal. Dr. Kharazmi noted that Iranians believe they possess a strategic advantage, citing Trump’s domestic and international desperation.

Regarding a potential Lebanon ceasefire as a precondition for talks, Dr. Kharazmi emphasized the US’s pivotal role in exerting pressure on Israel. She warned that Israel tends to undermine any opportunity for a ceasefire in the region.

Dr. Kharazmi also discussed Iran’s economic demands, including sanctions relief, the unfreezing of assets, reparations, and tolls on the Strait of Hormuz. She described these demands as logical and sophisticated, arguing that regaining control over the strait would unlock significant revenue and reconnect Iran to the global economy after years of economic isolation imposed by the US. Dr. Kharazmi further suggested that tolls in Hormuz would grant the Global South a more substantial share in the global economy.

As the clock ticks down on escalating tensions, Barbara Leaf, a seasoned expert in US Near East Affairs, has cautioned that the US faces a daunting challenge in persuading Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. According to Leaf, Iran’s leadership has grown increasingly assertive and self-assured in the face of ongoing conflict with the US. The Strait’s closure has become a potent deterrent for the US, with Leaf describing it as a “defining pain point” that could have far-reaching economic repercussions at home. “The stakes are high,” Leaf warned, “and the outcome will be a clear pass or fail test for the US.”

A recent dispatch from Iran’s Tasnim news agency reveals that a substantial contingent of 71 individuals has been dispatched to Islamabad, comprising key negotiators, expert consultants, media personnel, and diplomatic and security personnel. At the helm of the negotiating team is Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Ghalibaf, as previously reported. Tasnim sources indicate that the delegation also includes other high-ranking negotiators.

According to Douglas Silliman, a seasoned diplomat who previously served as US ambassador to Kuwait and Iraq, President Trump’s primary objective in the Iran negotiations will be to swiftly bring an end to the conflict and alleviate economic strain.

Silliman posits that Trump will be eager to identify a tangible achievement that can be declared a success within a relatively short timeframe. This could potentially involve the removal of highly enriched uranium, a halt to Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities, or the resumption of oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Silliman notes that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has been a significant strategic triumph for Iran, posing a substantial threat to the global economy. He anticipates that the US will be required to make concessions in order to persuade Iran to reopen the Strait, although the extent of these concessions will largely depend on the terms Iran is willing to accept in the negotiations.

According to NetBlocks, the monitoring group tracking internet restrictions, Iran’s government has now enforced a nationwide internet blockade for over 1,000 hours, marking a record-breaking instance of its kind globally.

The Lebanese government had previously indicated its willingness to engage in direct negotiations with Israel, a stance it took over a month ago.
Israel, however, was not receptive to the idea at that time.
A recent phone conversation between the Lebanese ambassador to the US and the Israeli ambassador to the US, which took place at approximately 9pm Beirut time (17:00 GMT), has sparked confusion.
Following the call, the Lebanese president’s office announced that the two diplomats had agreed to discuss a potential ceasefire and in-person negotiations scheduled for Tuesday in the US.
However, a statement from the Israeli ambassador soon after cast doubt on the agreement, claiming that a ceasefire with Hezbollah was not on the table due to the militant group being the primary obstacle to peace.
This discrepancy highlights the challenges in reaching a consensus, particularly given that the Lebanese government is not a party to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
A statement attributed to Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s secretary-general, was broadcast on al-Manar TV, in which he vowed that the group would continue to fight, even if it meant sacrificing everything.
In a further escalation, Hezbollah announced the launch of more than 50 operations targeting Israeli troops, who remain engaged in a widening ground invasion in Lebanon.

A high-profile addition to the US negotiating team has been made, with Vice President JD Vance joining the delegation in Islamabad. The team, which includes familiar faces such as Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper, has been bolstered by Vance’s appointment. Notably, Vance was hastily brought back from Hungary, where he had been stationed, to take on the role of chief negotiator. This development is significant, given that Iran had reportedly expressed a preference for Vance over other negotiators. The move is seen as a strategic gesture by the Trump administration, potentially easing the US into the negotiations with Iran. However, the White House has denied any involvement of domestic politics in the president’s decision to enter these talks. Nevertheless, the timing of Vance’s appointment raises questions about the administration’s motivations, particularly in light of the upcoming midterm elections and the president’s economic concerns. With economic headwinds and a potentially challenging midterm election on the horizon, President Trump may be seeking an off-ramp, and Vance’s appointment could be seen as a calculated move to ensure the talks’ success.

Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter has clarified that while Israel has agreed to participate in Lebanon-focused talks in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, a ceasefire discussion with Hezbollah is categorically off the table.

According to a statement released by Leiter, Israel has consented to initiate formal peace negotiations with Lebanon on Tuesday, following a high-level meeting in Washington between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the U.S. and the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, facilitated by the U.S. State Department.

However, Leiter emphasized that Israel has steadfastly refused to engage in ceasefire negotiations with the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which continues to launch attacks on Israel and remains the primary obstacle to achieving lasting peace between the two nations.

As previously reported, Israeli military operations in Lebanon resulted in the deaths of at least 357 people on Wednesday, with Lebanon’s Health Ministry stating that a substantial number of remains from the single day of attacks remain unidentified.