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US Iran war highlights: Trump's ‘ticking clock' warning to Tehran, says ‘must’ for it to stop funding Hezbollah
US Iran war highlights: The war began with US and Israel bombing Iran in February and killing their Supreme leader and other top officials. Tehran has since retaliated, striking US bases on the Gulf. A ceasefire announced in April by Trump, with mediation by Pakistan, has failed to revive talks.
- 6:50 AM IST, Apr 24Live blog closed
- 6:45 AM IST, Apr 24‘We have complete control’: Trump on blockade against Iran
- 6:28 AM IST, Apr 24US says it does not object to Iran playing in World Cup but won't allow people with ties to IRGC
- 3:33 AM IST, Apr 23Trump says Israel, Lebanon victimised by same terrorist organization.
- 3:28 AM IST, Apr 23Trump says it’s a ‘must’ for Iran to end funding for Hezbollah
- 3:12 AM IST, Apr 23Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended for three weeks
- 2:41 AM IST, Apr 23Gold falls amid Hormuz deadlock
- 2:03 AM IST, Apr 23Trump rules out using nuclear weapon against Iran
- 12:49 AM IST, Apr 23Third aircraft carrier arrives in the Middle East
- 12:40 AM IST, Apr 23Italy dismisses replacing Iran at the World Cup
- 12:36 AM IST, Apr 23Air defense activity over Tehran amid shaky ceasefire
- 12:21 AM IST, Apr 23Clashes disrupt Israeli Supreme Court hearing
- 11:46 PM IST, Apr 23Trump to meet Israel, Lebanon officials at White House talks
- 11:16 PM IST, Apr 23New report sheds light on Mojtaba Khamenei's health
- 10:41 PM IST, Apr 23Israeli military says it killed two people in southern Lebanon
- 10:31 PM IST, Apr 23Lebanon foreign minister says ‘there is no shame’ in negotiating with Israel
- 10:02 PM IST, Apr 233 killed in Israeli strike on South Lebanon
- 9:39 PM IST, Apr 23Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei 'gravely wounded' but ‘mentally sharp’, report says
- 9:18 PM IST, Apr 23Israel charges two air force soldiers with spying for Iran
- 9:08 PM IST, Apr 23India issues fresh advisory for citizens regarding Iran
- 8:28 PM IST, Apr 23France's Macron proposes conference to support Lebanon’s army, rebuilding the south
- 8:13 PM IST, Apr 23American Airlines lowers earnings goal as fuel bill surges
- 7:43 PM IST, Apr 23Hezbollah claims two attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon
- 7:28 PM IST, Apr 23Iranian judiciary head praises Tehran's ‘show of strength’
- 6:53 PM IST, Apr 23Trump says US has ‘total control’ over the Strait of Hormuz
- 6:24 PM IST, Apr 23Trump says the US navy clearing the Strait of Hormuz
- 6:09 PM IST, Apr 23Disarming Hezbollah cannot happen overnight, Lebanese MP says
- 5:35 PM IST, Apr 23Greece provides update on ship seized by Iran
- 5:01 PM IST, Apr 23MEA provides update on Indian ships in Strait of Hormuz
- 4:59 PM IST, Apr 23India reiterates stance on West Asia conflict
- 4:57 PM IST, Apr 23Indian nationals on board ships fird at by Iran safe, MEA says
- 4:54 PM IST, Apr 23Israeli army claims to have killed Hezbollah fighter in southern Lebanon
- 4:35 PM IST, Apr 23Italy underwhelmed by Trump envoy's suggestion they should replace Iran at World Cup
- 4:05 PM IST, Apr 23Hezbollah lawmaker says direct talks with Israel will be a ‘major mistake’
- 3:30 PM IST, Apr 23Israeli army issues more threats for southern Lebanon residents
- 3:12 PM IST, Apr 23Qatar Airways to resume daily UAE, Syria flights from April 23
- 3:04 PM IST, Apr 23IEA chief says world faces biggest energy security threat in history
- 2:53 PM IST, Apr 23US says it detained two Iranian oil tankers amid Hormuz standoff
- 2:19 PM IST, Apr 2350+ Indian physicists back academics in Iran, Palestine, Lebanon
- 2:06 PM IST, Apr 23Iran gets first toll payment from ships passing through Strait of Hormuz
- 1:32 PM IST, Apr 23Pakistan discusses round 2 of Iran peace talks with US
- 1:24 PM IST, Apr 23India to buy fertiliser at 90% price hike
- 12:52 PM IST, Apr 23India dismisses reports suggesting petrol, diesel price hike as fake
- 12:35 PM IST, Apr 23Israel orders $200m worth of bombs: Report
- 12:19 PM IST, Apr 23Nestle says coffee, pet food sales rising amid war
- 12:12 PM IST, Apr 23Oil prices jump 13% in US as peace talks stall
- 12:04 PM IST, Apr 23Israel, Lebanon to hold talks on extending 10-day ceasefire
- 12:00 PM IST, Apr 23Trump's ‘naughty and nice’ list over war support
- 11:25 AM IST, Apr 23Iran hangs man for allegedly ‘spying’ for Israel
- 10:53 AM IST, Apr 23Trump says Iran spared women from death penalty
- 10:42 AM IST, Apr 23Israel bombs Lebanon amid ceasefire, kills journalist Amal Khalil
- 10:12 AM IST, Apr 23Gold prices fall in the US amid war
- 10:00 AM IST, Apr 23Strait of Hormuz shut until US lifts blockade: Iran
- 9:50 AM IST, Apr 2310+ million Iranian oil barrels leave Gulf after US blockade: Energy monitor
- 9:46 AM IST, Apr 23Turkey's Erdogan says war on Iran could weaken Europe
- 9:30 AM IST, Apr 23On camera, Iran captures ships in Hormuz
- 9:18 AM IST, Apr 23Iran blames US-Israeli ‘aggression’ for Gulf instability
- 8:47 AM IST, Apr 23US envoy floats replacing Iran with Italy at 2026 World Cup: Report
- 8:43 AM IST, Apr 23US needs 6 months to clear mines in Hormuz: Report
- 8:24 AM IST, Apr 23War on Iran boosts India's cotton yarn exports
- 8:01 AM IST, Apr 23US turns back 31 ships in Hormuz; Iran calls it ‘act of war’
- 7:28 AM IST, Apr 23John Phelan quits as US Navy secretary
- 7:26 AM IST, Apr 23Markets jittery, oil stays above $100
US Iran war highlights: US President Donald Trump has ruled out using nuclear weapons in the war against Iran. "Why would I use a nuclear weapon? We've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked whether he would use such a weapon....Read More
"No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody," he added.
Asked how long he was willing to wait for a long-term peace deal with Iran, Trump said, "Don't rush me."
He said Iran might have loaded up their weaponry "a little bit" during the two-week ceasefire, but added that the U.S. military could knock that out in about one day.
"Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone ...maybe they loaded up a little bit during the two-week hiatus, but we'll knock that out about one day, if they did," Trump added.
"I want to make the best deal. I could make a deal right now ... but I don't want to do that. I want to have it everlasting," Trump said.
Amid a shaky Iran-US ceasefire, Trump has said that the United States is under no pressure to end the war with Iran, but "the clock is ticking" for Tehran, as disruption from the conflict batters the world economy.
"I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn't -- The clock is ticking!" Trump said on social media, adding that Iran's military was destroyed and "their leaders are no longer with us, the Blockade is airtight and strong and, from there, it only gets worse."
He also said a deal with Iran will only be made when it is "appropriate and good" for the US.
The aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush has now arrived in US Central Command, making the ship the third aircraft carrier to be present in the Middle East during a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war.
Trump to meet Israel, Lebanon officials during White House talks
Trump is likely to meet the Israeli and Lebanese representatives at the second round of talks which is going to be held at the White House, an anonymous US official was quoted as saying by the AFP.
"The ambassador-level talks between Israel and Lebanon will now take place at the White House," the official said on customary condition of anonymity. "President Trump will greet both representatives upon their arrival."
Talks between the United States and Iran are in a continued stalemate. Despite an active ceasefire, diplomatic progress has remained deadlocked which has, in turn, impacted global energy markets and international mediation efforts. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has blamed US and Israeli “aggression” for instability in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
On Thursday, John Phelan stepped down as US Navy secretary with immediate effect, the Pentagon confirmed. He was reportedly ousted for clashing with senior officials about the war on Iran. Hung Cao will serve as acting Navy secretary.
Strait of Hormuz tensions
The primary point of friction is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. The US maintains a naval blockade in the area; Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the blockade remains in place.
Brent crude prices jumped almost 13% on Thursday due to the supply risk, Bloomberg reported.
US-Iran truce
US President Donald Trump has said the truce will continue indefinitely as Washington awaits a new proposal from Tehran. US vice president JD Vance also cancelled a planned visit to Pakistan, which has been mediating between the two sides.
In Washington, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump has not set a deadline for the ceasefire extension. She added that the president alone will decide when the truce ends.
What Iran said
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran wants “dialogue and agreement” but argued that “breach of commitments, blockade and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiations.”
Senior Iranian officials say peace talks have stalled because of the US naval blockade on their ports. At the same time, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed it captured two foreign ships in the Strait of Hormuz and shot at a third for breaking maritime rules.
Pakistan discusses peace talks with US
Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday met US ambassador Natalie Baker to discuss the regional situation and efforts to hold a second round of Iran-US talks in Islamabad, Al Jazeera reported.
