US-Iran war highlights: Iran warns Gulf nations against helping US military after UAE halts trade with Tehran

US-Iran war LIVE: A Canadian government official condemned what he called Israel’s “unlawful invasion” of Lebanon, saying Beirut should govern its own space and have sovereignty over its lands.

Randeep Sarai, Canada’s secretary of state for international development, visited Lebanon to announce new humanitarian aid to the crisis-hit country, where the U.N. says some 360,000 people remain displaced as a result of the latest conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

“We have been working actively, I think, through diplomatic channels to do whatever possible to stop that and to allow Lebanese communities that are from those areas to be able to move back," Sarai said in an interview with The Associated Press late Tuesday.

via AP

US-Iran war LIVE: Three China-linked supertankers have U-turned in the Strait of Hormuz as risks to shipping remain elevated, with prospects for a normalization of traffic dimming after President Donald Trump took a hard line on Iran.

The Sea V, laden with Iraqi crude, was heading toward Hormuz from the Persian Gulf on Tuesday when it turned around, and is now idling near the entrance to the strait, ship-tracking data and fixtures show. In the opposite direction, the Hestia transited into the gulf along the Omani coast early Wednesday before changing direction and sailing out, while the Iraq-bound Erecter has also U-turned. It’s unclear why the vessels suddenly changed course.

The very large crude carriers are flagged to Hong Kong and were broadcasting that they had Chinese crew on board. On Tuesday, a fuel tanker called Amara linked to the United Arab Emirates made several U-turns in the strait and remains in the waterway near Iran as of Wednesday.

Visible traffic through the narrow waterway has slowed to a trickle as the threat of attacks from Iran remains high. On Tuesday, the UK Navy reported a vessel had been struck by an unknown projectile as it was exiting the gulf along the Omani coast, adding to a string of recent attacks on ships.

The risks to shipping are set to continue after Trump insisted that there were no ongoing talks with Tehran, leaving the simmering conflict in the Middle East in limbo. Iran’s lead negotiator with the US also said Hormuz won’t reopen until Washington agrees to a list of measures, including lifting its naval blockade, removing oil sanctions and ending military operations.

Despite the threats, ships still appear to be transiting Hormuz in both directions. The Sweden Prosperity, a Liberia-flagged VLCC, has crossed into the gulf with its transponders off, re-emerging early Wednesday and signaling that it’s headed to the Dubai anchorage.

via Bloomberg

US-Iran war LIVE: The United Arab Emirates' decision to suspend all financial and economic transactions with Iran until further notice, citing a military escalation by Tehran with a missile threat, has refocused the spotlight on fraught ties between the major Gulf Arab oil producer and Iran.

The UAE, a close U.S. ally and regional power, was the Gulf state most heavily hit by Tehran during the early stages of the Middle East war. However, the last reported attack on UAE soil was the May 4 strike on Fujairah port, a key oil export hub.

The move by the UAE to sever commercial ties came after its defence ministry said that it had detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran, an incident that marked the first time in months that residents received telephone alerts warning of possible threats.

In a statement, the ministry said the missiles targeted "maritime traffic" based on its assessments. Both missiles fell into the sea, it said.

The UAE also sent a phone alert on Tuesday to residents stating that the situation was safe and people should resume normal activities after the earlier warning.

Iran's foreign ministry rejected the statement by the UAE that its missiles targeted maritime traffic, describing it as "baseless."

via Reuters

US-Iran war LIVE: NATO is prepared to address any threat and will always do what is necessary to defend all allies, a NATO official said on Wednesday in response to questions about a report in the Financial Times that Iran has allegedly weighed attacking U.S. military targets in Europe should Donald Trump escalate the war.

"As demonstrated earlier this year when NATO air defences successfully intercepted ballistic missiles heading to Turkiye from Iran on four separate occasions, our deterrence and defence posture is strong and effective," the official said.

via Reuters

US-Iran war LIVE: U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. has no talks planned with Iran but insisted the Strait of Hormuz remains “open and operating,” despite limited traffic and a reported strike on a ship exiting the waterway.

Earlier this week, Trump also threatened to bomb Oman as the country sought a deal with Iran to manage shipping traffic through the strait, two regional officials said Tuesday, a day after Trump reportedly leveled the threat if Oman "gets in the way.” Iran says the waterway will not be reopened until the U.S. meets its conditions.

As talks between Iran and Oman continue, a projectile hit a ship in the strait and Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed they fired drones at an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia.

via AP

US-Iran war LIVE: Iran's armed forces warned Gulf countries against assisting the US military on Wednesday, hours after the United Arab Emirates announced it was severing economic ties with Tehran following new attacks on shipping.

The Gulf is dotted with US military installations, including in the UAE, which said on Tuesday that Iran had fired two ballistic missiles at vessels off its coast.

Despite a recent lull in hostilities between the United States and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz -- which Tehran has blockaded and through which vessels departing most UAE ports must pass -- remains a flashpoint, and attacks on commercial ships have continued.

A framework US-Iran deal aimed at reopening the vital trade corridor collapsed, and although both sides recently said messages were being exchanged, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday insisted talks were off, taunting Iran with a social media post depicting the strait as a "NEW U.S. Territory".

Iranian armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi warned on Wednesday "that any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor US military amounts to participation in the US military operation", according to the Mehr news agency.

via AFP

US-Iran war LIVE: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) remained on high alert on Wednesday after a missile threat triggered emergency alerts across the country, followed by an accusation from Abu Dhabi that Iran had launched two ballistic missiles towards the UAE.

The UAE Ministry of Defence subsequently said its air defence systems had detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the country.

According to the ministry, one missile fell outside the UAE's territorial waters while the second fell within them. A later assessment said the missiles appeared to have been targeting maritime traffic. Both missiles fell into the sea, the ministry said.

The ministry said UAE forces remained on high alert and were prepared to deal with any threat to the country's security and sovereignty.

The incident was the first such attack reported by the UAE since May, when Iran carried out strikes on targets in the country.

However, Iran denied UAE's allegations of carrying out a missile attack. Click here to read full report.

US-Iran war LIVE: The United Arab Emirates has announced a halt to all economic ties with Tehran after accusing Iran of launching ballistic missiles towards its territory, adding to tensions in the region.

The UAE, which has long been one of Iran's key trading partners, said it would suspend trade and financial dealings with Tehran until further notice. The decision came in response to what it called “escalations that undermine regional and international peace and security,” according to a UAE statement.

A missile warning was issued in Dubai on Tuesday evening, with residents told to take shelter.

The defence ministry later said two projectiles aimed at maritime traffic fell into the sea, while only one entered UAE waters.

Iran denied carrying out the attack, which would mark the first strike on UAE territory since May.

US-Iran war LIVE: South Korean foreign minister Cho Hyun said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump's decision to scale back joint military drills may be partly intended to push Seoul into backing Washington's efforts in the Iran war.

He said other unresolved matters, including investment, may also be linked to the move.

"I think President Trump's message includes pressure over several pending issues concerning the South Korean government, as well as a message to North Korea and an intention by the United States to break a stalemate in the Iran war," Cho said.

US-Iran war LIVE: Iran's armed forces on Wednesday warned Gulf countries against providing support to the US military, saying such assistance would amount to taking part in American military operations.

"We wish to warn that any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor US military amounts to participation in the US military operation," armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi said, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.

"It seems unlikely that such a large number of military aircraft, particularly refuelling aircraft could be present at regional bases without knowledge of host countries," said Abdollahi.

"The countries bordering the Persian Gulf, which have issued various statements saying they would not allow the United States to use their territory against Iran, should know that we are fully aware of the situation."

US-Iran war LIVE: Iran's armed forces on Wednesday warned Gulf countries against providing assistance to the US military, saying any such support would amount to taking part in American military operations.

"We wish to warn that any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor US military amounts to participation in the US military operation," armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi said, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.

US-Iran war LIVE: As the US-Iran conflict drags on, the Pentagon is assessing its military presence in West Asia as part of efforts to reduce its footprint in the region, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing eight officials familiar with the matter.

The report said the assessment is not yet a formal review. It will also consider whether US military bases damaged in strikes should be rebuilt.

According to the report, the damage to the facilities has given the Pentagon a rare opportunity to rethink its military presence in the region. The department of war has already indicated that it may not restore the bases to their pre-conflict condition.

US-Iran war LIVE: Egypt's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that the agreement between Iran and Oman could help Washington and Tehran "return to negotiations" and work towards a "comprehensive and permanent deal that addresses all concerns and enhances regional security and stability."

The ministry issued the statement following a meeting between Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty and Omani foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi. However, it made no mention of Trump's latest threat against Oman.

The 60-day negotiating period between the US and Iran ended this week, with no clear indication that the war is close to ending.

US-Iran war LIVE: Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected early on Wednesday a statement by the UAE that said Iran was behind missiles launched against the Gulf country a day earlier.

He said in a statement the UAE's "accusations" were "baseless."