Iran-US tensions highlights: Trump says another ‘armada’ floating towards Tehran

Donald Trump has said the US will rescind its support to Iraq if it re-elects Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister. Maliki is viewed as too close to Iran, and experts say the US fears his return would expand Iranian influence in Iraq.

Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran's currency Rial hit a record low of 1,500,000 rials to one US dollar on Tuesday, as per a Reuters report which cited Iranian currency tracking websites.

The historic drop came weeks after protests sparked by the Rial's dwindling value rocked the country.

The currency lost about 5% of its value over the course of this month, according to data from the currency tracking website Bonbast.com.

Iran's newly appointed Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said on Tuesday that “the foreign exchange market is following its natural course.”

Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iran on Tuesday warned of "destructive consequences" if the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is listed as a terrorist organisation by the EU, news agency AFP reported citing state media.

The warning came after Italian foreign minister and Rome's top diplomat Antonio Tajani urged Brussels to go ahead with the decision of designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

Tajani on Monday said that he would propose the idea "in coordination with other partners" at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels later this week.

Iran-US tensions LIVE: The United States on Tuesday said that it would carry out a major multi-day Air Force exercise in the Middle East as Washington and Tehran engage in a prolonged face-off for nearly a month now.

The exercise will demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower across the Middle East, news agency AFP reported citing an official statement from the US Air Force component of Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the region.

The United States did not furnish an exact date or location for the exercise.

The announcement came a day after the US military said the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group stationed in the Middle East waters, close to the Islamic Republic.

Iran-US tensions LIVE: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday vowed that the country would strike back if Iran launches an attack, warning that the Islamic Republic would face ‘a level of force it had never encountered’.

“If Iran makes the grave mistake of attacking Israel, we will respond with a force that Iran has never seen,” news agency AFP quoted Netanyahu as saying at a televised press conference.

Iran-US tensions LIVE: Saudi Arabian foreign ministry said that crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has promised Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that Riyadh would not allow its airspace or its territory to be used for any military actions against Iran.

The statement came after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a warning to neighbouring countries that they would be considered hostile if their soil, sky, or waters are used against Iran.

“Neighbouring countries are our friends, but if their soil, sky, or waters are used against Iran, they will be considered hostile,” news agency AP reported quoting political deputy of the IRGC naval forces Mohammad Akbarzadeh.

Iran-US tensions LIVE: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday warned that US threats to the Islamic Republic would only lead to instability after an US aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln stationed in the Middle Eastern waters, close to Iran.

In a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pezeshkian hit out at US threats of military intervention, and said that they were “aimed at disrupting the security of the region and will achieve nothing other than instability”.

The White House did not rule out a possibility of attacks against Tehran after it launched a deadly crackdown on protesters.

(with AP inputs)

Iran-US tensions LIVE: President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Iraq saying that United States would no longer support the country if its former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, returns to power.

In his Truth Social post, Trump claimed that Iraq descended into poverty and ‘total chaos’ that last time Maliki was in power. “Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq and, if we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom,” he wrote.

He made this threat days after the dominant political bloc - Coordination Framework, a collection of Shiite parties, announced that it was backing the nomination of al-Maliki, who the White House views as too close to Iran.

Iran-US tensions LIVE: United States Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday backed President Donald Trump's threat to the Islamic Republic regarding a floating armada.

“Mr. President… I hope so. As long as it’s a good deal,” Graham wrote on X as he urged Trump to stand by the protesters in Iran.

“They can be our friends. The ayatollah will never be our friend,” Graham further wrote warning that Tehran and Washington can never be friends.

Amid growing tensions, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that another American "armada" is floating towards Iran, urging Tehran to make a deal with Washington.

"There is another beautiful armada floating beautifully towards Iran right now. I hope they make a deal," Trump said.