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US Iran war highlights: Trump says Iran ‘dying to make a deal'; Air defence sounds heard in parts of Tehran
US Iran war highlights: An April ceasefire between the US and Iran hangs by a thread. While Trump claims negotiations have come a long way, his recent social media warnings for Iran contradict this. Pakistan prepares to receive a revised peace proposal from Tehran this Friday.
- 7:50 AM IST, May 1All updates to this live blog have ended.
- 5:51 AM IST, May 1Trump says only "couple of other people" know real status of Iran talks
- 5:01 AM IST, Apr 30Trump mulls US troop cuts in Italy, Spain
- 4:26 AM IST, Apr 30Iran’s supreme leader vows to protect nuclear and missile capabilities
- 3:24 AM IST, Apr 30Iran threatens painful response if US renews attacks
- 2:30 AM IST, Apr 30US urges meeting between Lebanese president, Israeli PM
- 2:02 AM IST, Apr 30Iran's air defences engaging drones over parts of Tehran, Tasnim reports
- 1:41 AM IST, Apr 30UAE bans citizens from travel to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, urges those there to leave
- 1:21 AM IST, Apr 30Trump says Iran ‘dying to make a deal’
- 1:17 AM IST, Apr 30Trump says he is OK with Iran playing in FIFA World Cup
- 12:55 AM IST, Apr 30Trump says gas prices will drop as soon as Iran war is over
- 12:39 AM IST, Apr 30Iran's supreme leader defies US blockade as oil prices soar
- 11:35 PM IST, Apr 30FIFA chief Infantino confirms Iran playing at World Cup in US
- 10:45 PM IST, Apr 30Lebanon rift disrupts Saudi push for unified stance on Israel talks
- 10:22 PM IST, Apr 30Oil prices ease after hitting four-year high as US-Iran war fuels volatility
- 10:02 PM IST, Apr 30Trump faces Friday deadline on Iran war as conflict stalls in standoff
- 8:51 PM IST, Apr 30Israel defence minister says country could ‘act again’ against Iran
- 8:20 PM IST, Apr 30Five killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon
- 7:16 PM IST, Apr 30Trump slams German chancellor over Iran, says he should ‘spend less time interfering’
- 6:51 PM IST, Apr 30Hezbollah deploys fibre-optic drones to evade detection
- 6:32 PM IST, Apr 30Iran to leverage control of Strait of Hormuz for regional gains, reduce US presence, says parliamentary speaker
- 5:53 PM IST, Apr 30Israel intercepts Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters near Greece, organisers call it ‘escalation’
- 5:46 PM IST, Apr 30Iran internet blackout exposes rift between military, civilian leadership amid US war
- 5:25 PM IST, Apr 30Iran warns of ‘long and painful strikes’ even if US attack is limited, says IRGC commander Mousavi
- 4:58 PM IST, Apr 30Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 9, including two children
- 4:11 PM IST, Apr 30Mojtaba Khamenei says the new management of the Strait of Hormuz ‘will bring calm' and ‘economic benefits’ to Gulf nations
- 4:08 PM IST, Apr 30Iran's supreme leader says the Gulf will have a 'bright future' without presence of US
- 3:55 PM IST, Apr 30Israeli military warns residents of eight Lebanese towns to leave homes ahead of strikes
- 3:46 PM IST, Apr 30Iran state media says Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei message to be released for Gulf Day
- 3:17 PM IST, Apr 30Iran can access uranium stockpile at US-bombed sites ‘if there’s a wish’, says nuclear watchdog
- 2:38 PM IST, Apr 30Iran can absorb US pressure for 2-3 months more: Expert
- 2:33 PM IST, Apr 30Israel claims to have killed 5 Hezbollah members
- 2:03 PM IST, Apr 30US naval blockade on Hormuz ‘doomed to fail’: Iran President
- 1:43 PM IST, Apr 30‘Aparthied without borders’: UN expert slams Israel’s actions for Gaza
- 1:34 PM IST, Apr 30Iran football delegation to miss FIFA meeting in Canada
- 1:31 PM IST, Apr 30Amazon AWS in Bahrain damaged due to war
- 1:28 PM IST, Apr 30US' demand of zero uranium enrichment makes talks pointless: Iranian lawmaker
- 12:57 PM IST, Apr 30Israel, US responsible for Hormuz ‘insecurity’: Iran President
- 12:49 PM IST, Apr 30Israel hits Lebanon in fresh airstrikes
- 12:48 PM IST, Apr 30US carrier set to leave Gulf base as talks stall
- 12:43 PM IST, Apr 30France seeks extension of fuel price cap amid high costs
- 12:18 PM IST, Apr 30Iran warns retaliation if US blockade continues
- 12:01 PM IST, Apr 30US awaits new Iran plan: What's in store
- 11:47 AM IST, Apr 30Gaza flotilla accuses Israel of leaving activists stranded at sea
- 11:38 AM IST, Apr 30France economy slows due to war impact
- 11:36 AM IST, Apr 30Iran celebrates National Persian Gulf Day amid tensions
- 11:20 AM IST, Apr 30What is 'Operation Economic Fury'?
- 11:16 AM IST, Apr 30Israel blows up water station, resort in Lebanon
- 11:14 AM IST, Apr 30Trump to be briefed on new military options involving Iran
- 10:54 AM IST, Apr 30Iran's Ghalibaf calls US policy advice ‘junk’
- 10:50 AM IST, Apr 30US says they seized $500M Iranian crypto assets
- 10:23 AM IST, Apr 30War drives oil above $126 a barrel
- 9:48 AM IST, Apr 30Oil surges to four-year high. A barrel now costs $123
- 9:42 AM IST, Apr 30Lebanon asks Israel to respect ceasefire before direct talks
- 9:17 AM IST, Apr 30Trump plans long blockade to pressure Iran
- 9:11 AM IST, Apr 30US may reduce troops in Germany over war support: Trump
- 9:08 AM IST, Apr 30US redirects 42nd vessel amid Hormuz blockade
- 8:35 AM IST, Apr 30Canada's ‘unacceptable’ treatment towards Iran officials ahead of FIFA meet
- 8:12 AM IST, Apr 30Oil reaches $119 as Hormuz disruption tightens supply
- 8:09 AM IST, Apr 30Trump rejects Iran’s Hormuz offer, keeps blockade in place
- 8:08 AM IST, Apr 30US seeks legal control of Iran-linked oil tankers seized in Hormuz
- 7:44 AM IST, Apr 30Israel seizes Gaza-bound aid ship
US Iran war highlights: Air defences were heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran on Thursday night but the cause was unknown, Iranian media reported. Donald Trump on Thursday said that “despite a military operation”, he would not call it a war. “Iran is dying to make a deal.. Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, and every ounce of any form of equipment practically is gone,” Trump said....Read More
Israeli defense minister Israel Katz says while Israel supports the US diplomatic efforts with Iran, it may “soon be required to act again” to remove the “existential threats” posed by the Islamic Republic, according to the Times of Israel.
“Iran has suffered extremely severe blows over the past year, blows that have set it back years in all areas,” says Katz during a ceremony promoting the next Israeli Air Force chief, Omer Tischler, to the rank of major general.
Mojtaba Khamenei on US-Israel-Iran war
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that the country will safeguard its “nuclear and missile capabilities” as a core national asset, signalling a hardening stance as US President Donald Trump pushes for a broader agreement to stabilise the fragile three-week ceasefire.
Khamenei emphasised Iran’s strategic priorities in a written statement broadcast on state television.
He said the only place Americans belonged in the Persian Gulf is "at the bottom of its waters" and declared that a “new chapter” was unfolding in the region’s history.
Iranian President's remarks on naval blockade
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that any attempt to impose a naval blockade on Iran or restrict its ports is “doomed to failure.” This came amid reports that the United States is preparing an extended pressure campaign under President Donald Trump.
Pezeshkian said such measures violate international law and threaten regional stability, as per Iranian media.
“Any attempt to impose a naval blockade and restrictions is contrary to international law and against the interests of the nations of the region and global peace and stability, and is doomed to failure,” Pezeshkian said.
He made the remarks on National Persian Gulf Day, calling the Strait of Hormuz a symbol of Iran’s resistance.
Trump earlier said Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports has been successful and asked Tehran to “just give up” amid tensions over sanctions and energy markets.
Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the US pressure campaign as ineffective, calling it “junk advice.” Iranian military officials said their restraint so far is “intended to give diplomacy a chance.”
$25 billion war bill so far
The price tag for the US war on Iran has officially landed on Capitol Hill. The war, now in its third month, has already cost the US $25 billion in munitions. The Donald Trump administration is now seeking an an extra $1.5 trillion for its defence budget to keep hostilities moving.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, at his first appearance before Congress since the February 28 US-Israeli strikes, said internal dissent was a major obstacle in the war on Iran. Lawmakers critical of the administration's actions are the “biggest adversary,” he said.
The stalled peace talks between US and Iran
Peace talks between the US and Iran have moved from Pakistan to the telephone. While US President Trump claims negotiations have "come a long way," his recent social media warnings for Iran to "get smart" seemingly do not suggest the same. Pakistan prepares to receive a revised Iranian peace proposal this Friday.
Trump-Putin call
US President Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone for about 90 minutes on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed the Ukraine and Iran wars and possible ceasefire options, Reuters reported. After the call, Trump said Putin offered to help deal with Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles.
"I said I'd much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine," Trump reportedly told Putin. "I said, before you help me, I want to end your war," said Trump.
Strait of Hormuz tensions
The US continues a blockade of Iranian ports in and around the Strait of Hormuz, while preparing to extend it for the foreseeable future. Iran has responded with warnings of “swift action” if US forces move closer. The waterway, critical for global oil supply, remains closed as both sides harden positions.
The regional reality of the war on Iran is growing increasingly grim. From a still-under-investigation US Tomahawk strike that killed 170 people at an Iranian girls' school to the loss of contact with aid boats in international waters, the human cost is mounting. Over 3,500 people, including women and at least 244 children, have died in strikes, as per US-based rights group HRANA.
Israeli attacks on Lebanon
Israel has also continued its bombardment of Lebanon despite a US-brokered ceasefire. Israel says it has no plans to take territory in Lebanon, even as it continues bombing the south. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said the presence of Israeli forces is only for security, not expansion.
US Iran news LIVE: Ghalibaf calls US policy advice ‘junk’
US Iran news LIVE: Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has criticised US policy circles. Ghalibaf linked it to Bessent's energy markets and sanctions-related approaches.
“3 days in, no well exploded. We could extend to 30 and livestream the well here. That was the kind of junk advice the US admin gets from people like Bessent who also push the blockade theory and cranked oil up to $120+. Next stop:140. The issue isn't the theory, it's the mindset,” Ghalibaf wrote on X.
US Iran news LIVE: US says they seized $500M Iranian crypto assets
US Iran news LIVE: The US says it has seized nearly $500 million worth of Iranian cryptocurrency assets as part of its “Operation Economic Fury,” which it claims has pushed Iran’s government into crisis. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US has also frozen bank accounts globally and is intensifying pressure on countries and companies dealing with Iran, including warnings of secondary sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil.
“We were able to grab about 350 million crypto assets, and then on top of another 100 that we had recently gotten, so we’re almost at half a billion there, and we are freezing bank accounts everywhere,” Bessent told Fox News.
He said Trump had ordered the economic pressure campaign in March of last year and told him to “up the pressure again” about three weeks ago.
He added that the campaign, along with a naval blockade on Iranian ports, is aimed at inflicting long-term damage on Iran’s economy. (Fox Business news)
US Iran news LIVE: War drives oil above $126 a barrel
US Iran news LIVE: Oil prices surged past $12 per barrel amid uncertainty over the war and stalled negotiations on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. This is the highest in four years. (Bloomberg)
US Iran news LIVE: Oil surges to $123 a barrel amid Hormuz tensions
US Iran news LIVE: Global financial markets came under pressure on Thursday as oil prices surged to nearly $123 per barrel, Bloomberg reported.
Brent crude climbed as much as 4.3% to $123.11 a barrel, its longest winning streak in nearly four years. This was fuelled by concerns over supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and reports that progress towards easing the blockade on Iranian ports has stalled.
US Iran news LIVE: Lebanon asks Israel to respect ceasefire before direct talks
US Iran news LIVE: Lebanon President Joseph Aoun has asked Israel to fully honour the ceasefire before any direct talks. Latest Israeli strikes have killed over 20 people.
Israel's latest military onslaught on Lebanon has continued since March despite an April 17 truce. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir warned of further strikes north of the Litani River. (AFP)
US Iran news LIVE: Trump plans long blockade to pressure Iran
US Iran news LIVE: Donald Trump has asked officials to prepare for a long-term blockade of Iran’s ports to force Tehran to curb its nuclear programme.
Trump believes Iran is not negotiating in good faith and wants it to halt uranium enrichment for 20 years under strict limits, as per AFP. A White House official said the blockade could continue for several months more.
US Iran news LIVE: US may reduce troops in Germany over war support, says Trump
US Iran news LIVE: Washington may reduce its troop presence in Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz declined to back the US war against Iran, Donald Trump has said. Around 35,000 to 50,000 US troops are currently stationed there.
Merz had earlier said Iran was “humiliating” the US in negotiations, further escalating tensions. (AFP)
US Iran news LIVE: US redirects 42nd vessel amid Hormuz blockade
US Iran news LIVE: United States Central Command said it has redirected a 42nd commercial vessel attempting to breach the blockade on Iran.
The command added that 41 tankers carrying about 69 million barrels of oil remain unable to sell their cargo, estimating the value at over $6 billion.
US Iran news LIVE: Canada's ‘unacceptable’ treatment towards Iran officials ahead of FIFA meet
US Iran news LIVE: An Iranian football delegation, including federation chief Mehdi Taj, turned back from Toronto airport despite having valid visas and will miss a key FIFA Congress in Vancouver ahead of the World Cup. Iranian officials said they faced “unacceptable” treatment by Canadian immigration authorities, Reuters reported.
Canada defended its stance, saying individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which it has designated a terrorist organisation, are not admissible, though Taj had reportedly been granted special entry permission.
US Iran news LIVE: Oil reaches $119 as Hormuz disruption tightens supply
US Iran news LIVE: Oil prices are rising as the war on Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz largely shut, cutting global supply. Brent climbed above $118 a barrel on Wednesday while US crude crossed $109.
Trump has said the blockade on Iran will continue until a nuclear deal is reached, while Tehran said it will not back down. The prolonged standoff has sharply reduced oil shipments through the key route, pushing prices higher.
US Iran news LIVE: Trump rejects Iran’s Hormuz offer, keeps blockade in place
US Iran news LIVE: Donald Trump has refused to lift the naval blockade on Iran, saying it will remain until Tehran agrees to a deal addressing its nuclear programme. He also rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if nuclear talks were delayed.
US Iran news LIVE: US seeks legal control of Iran-linked oil tankers seized in Hormuz
US Iran news LIVE: The United States is moving to take legal control of two oil tankers linked to Iran that were seized during naval operations enforcing its blockade. The vessels were boarded near Sri Lanka and continue to move through the Indian Ocean, though their final fate remains unclear.
According to a senior official, the US department of justice has started forfeiture proceedings, though details remain unclear, including whether the oil on board will also be seized or what will happen to the vessels. Officials have not disclosed the tankers’ current location, citing operational security. (Bloomberg)
US Iran news LIVE: Israel seizes Gaza-bound aid ship
US Iran news LIVE: Israel has blocked a humanitarian flotilla heading to Gaza and stopped vessels in international waters. The ships were carrying food, medicine, diapers, and other necessities for civilians in Gaza who have been under continuous Israeli bombardment since 2023.
The aid convoy, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, was reportedly surrounded by Israeli naval forces, with some boats boarded and communications disrupted, according to organisers. (CNN)
