US Iran war highlights: Trump's ‘ticking clock' warning to Tehran, says ‘must’ for it to stop funding Hezbollah

US President Donald Trump has said that the US Navy has total control over the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know! The infighting is between the “Hardliners,” who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the “Moderates,” who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY! We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is “Sealed up Tight,” until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Donald Trump has said that he has ordered the US Navy to shoot any boat laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine “sweepers” are clearing the Strait right now. I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Disarming Hezbollah after three decades of institutional neglect of the Lebanese armed forces will not happen overnight, independent Lebanese MP Najat Aoun Saliba has warned.

She added that the government was taking the right steps.

“It is going to be very difficult to say overnight that the Lebanese armed forces are now at the forefront, when they do not have enough resources or manpower after 30 years of a militia being strengthened above them,” she told Al Jazeera.

Greece’s foreign minister, George Gerapetritis, told reporters on Thursday the Epaminondas was now anchored with no Iranians on board after members of the Guards obstructed its exit from the strait on Wednesday and boarded the vessel.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “10 Indian ships have exited the Strait of Hormuz safely in the last few weeks, while 14 Indian ships are still in the Persian Gulf.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "As far as West Asia is concerned, our policy regarding the ongoing situation is very clear, we have always stood in favour of peace. Any step that is being taken, or will be taken, towards peace initiatives has our support. We have consistently maintained that any issue, conflict, or difference should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. This remains our position, and this is India's stance at present."

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The two ships that were fired upon are foreign-owned. There are some Indian nationals on board these ships, and they are safe. As far as Indian ships in the Persian Gulf are concerned, we remain in close contact with Iranian authorities to ensure their safe passage out of the region and back to India."

The Israeli army said it killed a Hezbollah fighter on Wednesday, who it claimed was operating at a “launch site” in southern Lebanon.

It also said, in an incident on Thursday, that Hezbollah had “launched an antitank missile” towards Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon.

The suggestion that Iran should be replaced by Italy at this year's World Cup drew a mix of embarrassment and apathy from Azzurri fans on Thursday, with Italian media reminding readers that the idea has a very familiar feel.

Donald Trump's US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the Financial Times that he made the suggestion to the US president and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

"I'm an Italian native, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion," said Zampolli, an Italian-American who is Trump's envoy for "Global Partnership" but has no official connection with the World Cup or Italian football.

The plan seems to be an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president's attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.

Italy's main sports news websites have given the story only a passing reference.

Sports Minister Andrea Abodi told the Italian news agency La Press: "Firstly it is not possible, secondly it is not appropriate ... You qualify on the pitch."

Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti went futher, saying the idea was "shameful".

Leading Italian coach Gianni De Biasi told Reuters it was an unlikely proposal with any theoretical Iranian absence logically filled by the team behind them in their qualification group.

"Furthermore, I believe Italy doesn't need Trump's support on an issue like this. I think we can manage on our own," he said.

Football's world governing body, FIFA, responded by pointing to Infantino's previous comments on Iran's participation.

"The Iranian team is coming, for sure," he told last week's CNBC Invest in America Forum: "Iran has to come if they are to represent their people. They really want to play, and they should play. Sport should be outside politics."

Senior Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah has said that direct negotiations with Israel will be a “major mistake”, deepening internal divisions, and reiterating the group’s conditional commitment to the ceasefire.

“We want to continue the ceasefire if Israel fully abides by it,” MP Hassan Fadlallah said, according to Reuters news agency.

The Israeli army has issued more threats for southern Lebanon, with its spokesperson saying the army “continues to maintain its positions in southern Lebanon”.

In a map posted on X, the spokesperson threatened residents “to refrain from moving south of the designated villages and their surrounding areas”.

“Furthermore, approaching the Litani River area, Wadi al-Salhani, and al-Saluqi is prohibited,” he added.

Qatar Airways has announced it will resume daily flights from Doha to Dubai and Sharjah starting April 23, followed by daily service to Damascus on May 1, restoring connections to key Middle Eastern destinations.

International Energy Agency Executive Director, Fatih Birol, has said that the world is facing the biggest threat to energy security in history.

“We will see downward pressure on demand as a result of rising prices, and in some cases as a result of some measures that governments are taking or will take” to address the energy crisis, he told the Reuters news agency.

Regarding the impact of the Iran war on the energy crisis, Birol said: “We have lost so far 13 million barrels of oil per day”.

US Iran LIVE updates: The US military says it has intercepted two Iranian oil supertankers that were trying to avoid the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. The ships are now anchored at an Iranian port after being stopped earlier this week.

US Central Command said the action is part of efforts to restrict Iranian oil shipping. Another tanker is also reportedly under US Navy escort in the Indian Ocean after attempting to bypass the blockade.

Iran has reportedly attacked and diverted some ships passing through the area, warning commercial vessels. (Bloomberg

US Iran LIVE updates: Over 50 Indian string theorists are standing in solidarity with academics in Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported. String theory is a highly advanced area of physics.

In a statement, they said universities and schools in these countries have been damaged in the US and Israel's recent wars. They listed among others the Shajareh Tayyebeh (The Good Tree) school in Iran's Minab, which was bombed by targeted US-Israeli strikes. Around 170 school children were killed.

The US and Israel have killed civilians, led to displacement, and destruction of educational institutions, including in Gaza, the statement read.

Noted physicists Ashoke Sen and Spenta Wadia were among the signatories.

US Iran LIVE updates: Iran is charging ships money to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and has received its first earnings from those charges, AFP reported.

The strait is a key sea route for oil and gas shipments.

US Iran LIVE updates: Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday met US ambassador Natalie Baker to discuss the votalite situation and efforts to hold a second round of Iran-US peace talks in Islamabad.

The Interior ministry said on X that Naqvi praised Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire with Iran. He also said Pakistan expects “positive progress from Iran’s side” and added that PM Shehbaz Sharif and field marshal Asim Munir are working to support efforts to resolve the issue, Al Jazeera reported.

US Iran LIVE updates: India has agreed to buy urea at much higher prices as tensions in the Gulf disrupts supply and pushes global rates up.

Indian Potash Ltd will import 1.5 million tons at $935 per ton ( ₹78,000 approx) for the west coast and 1 million tons at $959 per ton ( ₹80,000 approx) for the east coast, Bloomberg reported. This is nearly 90% higher than earlier deals, when prices were around $490 per ton.

The purchase comes ahead of the monsoon sowing season for crops like rice and corn. India has also asked suppliers to avoid the Strait of Hormuz due to war risks, with shipments expected from countries including Russia, Indonesia and Algeria.

US Iran LIVE updates: India on Thursday said there is no proposal under consideration to increase petrol, diesel prices, dismissing reports claiming the same.

“There are some news reports suggesting a price hike of petrol and diesel. It is hereby clarified that there is no such proposal under consideration by the Government,” said Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in a post on X.

“Such news items are designed to create fear and panic amongst the citizens and are mischievous and misleading,” it said.

“In fact, India is the only country where petrol and diesel prices haven’t increased in the last 4 years. Govt of India and Oil PSUs have taken relentless steps in order to insulate the Indian citizens from steep increases in international prices,” it added.

US Iran LIVE updates: Israel's defence ministry has placed orders worth about $200 million for advanced airborne munitions from Elbit Systems, the company said.

Elbit said its systems support Israeli air force “air superiority” and added it is “proud of our longstanding partnership with the Israeli ministry of defence.”

The defence ministry said the deal is aimed at strengthening “independence in armaments” and preparing for “immediate combat scenarios” and an “intense security decade,” according to Haaretz.

Defence minister Israel Katz said the order is part of efforts to “continue to strengthen the independence of Israel’s munitions supply.”

The deal comes as calls grow for an international arms embargo on Israel over the war on Gaza. At least 72,652 people have been killed and 172,320 injured since October 7, 2023, the Gaza Health Ministry says.

US Iran LIVE updates: Nestle said the war on Iran has not affected its global business much so far. The Swiss company has kept its full-year growth forecast unchanged at 3-4%, Reuters reported.

The company said higher fuel and freight costs are increasing expenses, but more people eating at home is helping sales.

CEO Philipp Navratil said consumers are travelling less and buying more packaged food. Nestle reported better-than-expected first-quarter sales, led by coffee and pet food.

US Iran LIVE updates: Oil rose for a fourth straight day after peace talks between the US and Iran failed to progress.

Brent crude traded near $103 a barrel, after jumping almost 13% in the last three sessions. (Bloomberg)

US Iran LIVE updates: Israel and Lebanon are to hold talks in Washington, DC, as Lebanon seeks a one-month extension of the current ceasefire, according to AFP. The current 10-day peace agreement, already violated by Israel, is set to expire soon.

The discussions come amid reports that Hezbollah may be open to indirect US-mediated talks. A Hezbollah official told AFP the group could consider this as part of negotiations.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said Israel has no “serious disagreements with Lebanon” and called Hezbollah the main obstacle to peace.

Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon. At least five civilians, including journalist Amal Khalil, were killed in Israeli strikes.

Lebanese authorities say at least 2,454 people have been killed since March. (AFP)

US Iran LIVE updates: The White House, under Trump, is reportedly preparing a “naughty and nice” list of NATO countries based on their support for the US during the war on Iran.

The plan, discussed ahead of NATO chief Mark Rutte’s visit to Washington, could affect future defence cooperation, troop deployments and security ties.

US Iran LIVE updates: Iran executed Sultan-Ali Shirzadi-Fakhr, accusing him of belonging to a banned opposition group and collaborating with Israeli intelligence.

"Sultan-Ali Shirzadi-Fakhr was hanged early this morning for membership in the terrorist group" of the People's Mujahedin Organisation (MEK) and "collaboration with the Israeli regime's spy service," the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported.

He was also convicted of “waging war against God,” according to the judiciary.

Fakhr admitted to participating in “terrorist operations against Iran,” Mizan added. (AFP)