US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

Following a flurry of lucrative bets on a US-Iran ceasefire, US lawmakers are pushing for a probe into the prediction market platform Polymarket. According to the Associated Press, a surge of at least 50 new accounts placed bets on the ceasefire mere hours and minutes before former President Trump’s announcement on Tuesday, yielding hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits. In response, Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres has written to the country’s derivatives regulator, questioning the statistical likelihood of a winning bet being placed just 12 minutes prior to the presidential announcement, and seeking clarification on whether insider knowledge may have been involved.

In a move prompted by a recent drone strike targeting a major US diplomatic compound in Baghdad, the US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has requested an urgent meeting with the Iraqi ambassador, according to a statement released by the State Department. The attack occurred in close proximity to the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center and the Baghdad International Airport, where multiple drone assaults were carried out by an Iraqi group, as initially reported by the US embassy in Baghdad.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, has issued a pressing appeal to Israel to rescind an evacuation order that jeopardizes the operations of two critical hospitals in Beirut’s Jnah district.
According to a recent post on X, the directive poses a significant threat to the Rafik Hariri University Hospital and Al Zahraa Hospital, which collectively provide care to approximately 450 patients, including 40 in critical condition, with no viable alternatives for transfer.
Both hospitals are functioning at maximum capacity, with medical staff treating patients injured in the recent airstrikes on Wednesday. Furthermore, the area is home to over 5,000 displaced individuals sheltered in temporary accommodations.
In a statement, Tedros emphasized the need for Israel to reconsider the order and guarantee the safety of healthcare facilities, medical personnel, patients, and civilians.

Anita Anand, Canada’s Foreign Minister, has expressed her disapproval of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and retaliatory attacks by Hezbollah against Israel. In a statement posted on X, Anand emphasized that the safeguarding of civilians is an absolute imperative under international law. She urged Israel to uphold Lebanon’s sovereignty and requested that Hezbollah relinquish its arms immediately. Anand also reaffirmed Canada’s backing for the Lebanese government’s endeavors to reassert its authority and govern the country effectively.

According to Kristalina Georgieva, IMF Managing Director, in a recent conversation with the AFP, two countries have submitted applications for emergency funding due to the severe economic repercussions stemming from the ongoing conflict.
Georgieva revealed that the IMF has assessed “two applications for emergency financing,” but declined to specify the nations involved.
Typically, the IMF extends fiscal support to countries facing debt struggles, but its assistance often comes with stringent conditions, which have been subject to criticism.

Al Jazeera has been informed by the UNDP’s regional director that the Arab economies have collectively experienced a 7 percent decline, with the Gulf region bearing the brunt of the impact, as a result of the ongoing war.

Iranian state media outlet IRNA has confirmed the passing of Kamal Kharrazi, a prominent figure on Iran’s Council on Foreign Relations, who had been hospitalized following a US-Israeli air raid during the conflict. The incident, which occurred last week, left Kharrazi with severe injuries, and his wife tragically lost her life in the apparent targeted attack.

A significant financial injection of 5 billion euros ($5.9 billion) is being provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to mitigate the economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East, which was sparked by the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. This substantial funding will be directed towards countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied West Bank, and Gaza, as well as neighboring economies like Egypt, Turkiye, Armenia, and Azerbaijan that have been adversely affected by the conflict.

The EBRD has pointed out that the conflict’s economic and social repercussions are already being felt across many of its member economies, manifesting as disrupted trade routes, energy and commodity price shocks, decreased investor confidence, and broader costs to the population. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the situation, the bank has decided to adopt a demand-driven approach in allocating its conflict response investment.

In addition to its efforts to address the conflict’s impact, the EBRD has also approved a project aimed at supporting Lebanon’s retail sector. Furthermore, the bank is working to ensure continued access to employment opportunities, financial services, and essential services for affected populations.

President Trump has declared that oil production will rapidly escalate, whether or not Iran plays a role in the process. He also reiterated his stance that Iran will never acquire a nuclear arsenal, crediting himself for this outcome.

A scathing rebuke from Donald Trump has targeted a quartet of high-profile commentators who have publicly questioned his stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
In a provocative social media statement, Trump lambasted Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, charging that they secretly desire Iran to possess a nuclear arsenal.
This outburst occurred amidst escalating controversy over the US government’s stance on Iran, with Trump’s MAGA movement at the center of the maelstrom.