US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

The European Union has made it clear that the Strait of Hormuz must be kept open to unrestricted navigation, with no provision for payment or tolls, following Iran’s suggestion that it could impose a fee for ships passing through the strategically crucial Gulf waterway.
According to European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni, international law dictates that freedom of navigation should be absolute, with no requirement for payment or tolls whatsoever.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to taking decisive action against Hezbollah, following a series of intense airstrikes that left a trail of destruction in Lebanon.
Netanyahu emphasized his resolve in a recent post on his X account, stating that Israel will relentlessly pursue Hezbollah with unwavering force, precision, and determination.
He underscored the gravity of his message, warning that any individual or group that poses a threat to Israeli civilians will be held accountable, and Hezbollah will be targeted “wherever necessary” until the region’s northern residents can live without fear of violence.

In a warning posted on his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump stated that US military presence in and around Iran will persist until a genuine agreement is secured and fully upheld. He cautioned that if this is not achieved, the consequences will be severe, with the potential for escalated conflict. Amin Saikal, a renowned expert on Middle Eastern affairs and author of Iran Rising, expressed skepticism about Trump’s ultimatum, suggesting that the Iranian side will not be swayed by such rhetoric. Saikal, a professor emeritus at the Australian National University, noted that both parties are still in the early stages of the ceasefire and are engaging in a game of posturing, with neither side willing to back down.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials have disseminated a navigational chart highlighting alternative shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz to prevent vessels from encountering naval mines, as per reports from local news sources.
A designated ‘high-risk zone’ is marked on the chart below, prompting the IRGC Navy to stress the importance of prior coordination with them to ensure safe passage.
Ships that previously navigated near Oman, situated in the southern section of the Strait, are now being directed to take a more northerly course, which brings them closer to the Iranian coastline.

A Reuters report reveals that Russia’s primary oil revenue is poised to more than double in April, thanks to the oil and gas crisis sparked by the US and Israeli assault on Iran. This crisis, triggered by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, has driven Brent futures to exceed $100 per barrel.

In a strongly worded statement, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has demanded that Iran unilaterally open the Strait of Hormuz, free from any conditionalities or restrictions.
Sultan Al Jaber, head of the state-owned entity, emphasized that Iran’s insistence on requiring permission for passage through the Strait is tantamount to coercion, rather than upholding the principle of freedom of navigation.
The Strait of Hormuz, he pointed out, is a naturally occurring waterway that falls under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees the right of transit, not a privilege to be granted or withheld at the discretion of any state.
Al Jaber stressed that the Strait must remain open, unrestricted and unconditional, as the global economy and energy security depend on it. He warned that any attempts to weaponize this critical waterway would be unacceptable.

The European Aviation Safety Agency has issued a revised warning to airlines, advising them to exercise caution when navigating Middle Eastern and Gulf airspace until April 24. The agency’s advisory comes as a result of ongoing conflict in the region, which has led to significant disruptions in air travel, including a sharp increase in jet fuel costs and a substantial number of flight cancellations in the Gulf area.

Abbas Masjedi Arani, the director of Iran’s Forensic Authority, disclosed that the US-Israeli military strikes during the conflict resulted in over 3,000 fatalities within Iran.

In a recent interview with Mizan Online, a prominent Iranian news outlet, Masjedi Arani stated that approximately 40% of the deceased could not be immediately identified. He further noted that forensic specialists, in collaboration with the judiciary, are persistently working to analyze and verify the identities of those who lost their lives.

A massive gathering took place in Tehran, commemorating the 40-day milestone since the alleged assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Meanwhile, demonstrators voiced skepticism regarding the recently negotiated two-week truce with the United States.

Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have escalated as the Lebanese militant group continues to defy Israeli aggression. Hezbollah’s stance is that Israel frequently targets civilians when its military objectives are unattainable, a claim that is rooted in the current conflict’s dynamics. The group’s primary objective is to thwart Israel’s efforts to disarm it, but its prospects have been severely hampered by the lack of a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s reliance on Iran to broker a ceasefire in the region has proven to be a double-edged sword. Iran had explicitly stated that extending the ceasefire to Lebanon was a key component of its deal, but Israel and the US have both rejected this proposal. As a result, Hezbollah has been left with little choice but to maintain its rocket attacks across the border and engage in a desperate bid to slow Israel’s ground invasion in the south.

Despite Iranian officials’ assertions to the contrary, the group’s hopes of leveraging Iran’s influence to silence the Israeli front have yet to materialize. Israel’s control of the skies and its capacity to inflict significant damage have created an unbearable burden on the Lebanese population and government, further exacerbating the crisis.