Iran US war news highlights: Israel continues to strike Lebanon; Hezbollah rejects direct talks

Iran US war news LIVE: The European Union on Thursday called on Israel to halt its strikes on Lebanon which it said were endangering the US-Iran ceasefire.

"Israeli actions are putting the US-Iran ceasefire under severe strain. The Iran truce should extend to Lebanon," the European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said.

Iran US war news LIVE: More than 3,000 people were reportedly killed throughout Iran during the war that began on February 28, Iran's forensic chief told state media on Thursday, adding that 40% of the dead needed forensic work to be identified and returned to families.

Iran US war news LIVE: Israli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said that Israel will continue striking Hezbollah ‘wherever necessary.’

In a post on X, he wrote, “Our message is clear: Whoever acts against Israeli civilians—will be struck. We will continue to strike Hezbollah wherever required, until we restore full security to the residents of the north.”

Iran US war news LIVE: Iran’s atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami said the country’s uranium enrichment programme will not be curtailed, asserting that external pressure will not succeed in limiting it.

He said “the enemy won’t succeed in restricting Iran’s enrichment programme,” according to a report by the Iranian Students’ News Agency.

Iran US war news LIVE: More on US-Iran ceasefire:

1. Israel says it killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, nephew of Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, in a Beirut strike

2. Donald Trump warns US will resume “shooting” if Iran deal is not honoured

3. JD Vance says Israel may limit Lebanon strikes during talks

4. Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel, citing truce violation

5. Israel’s deadliest Lebanon strikes kill 250+ as fighting resumes

6. Ceasefire under strain; Iran warns of response, shuts Hormuz

7. Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel ready to return to war

8. Iran defends nuclear programme despite 60% enrichment

9. US pushes uranium removal plan; no Tehran confirmation

10. JD Vance to lead US talks with Iran in Islamabad

Iran US war news LIVE: UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will seek to ensure that Lebanon is included in the US-Iran ceasefire deal, signaling international concern that continued fighting on Israel’s northern frontier could unravel the truce.

Cooper plans to use a speech on Thursday evening in the City of London to highlight British concern about fighting in the region. Iranian officials said the ceasefire had been violated after Israel launched its largest assault of the current conflict on its northern neighbor.

“There is considerable work to do, and we support the negotiations,” Cooper will tell a banquet hosted by Lady Mayor Susan Langley. “They must make progress. There must be no return to conflict. Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire. There must be no further threat from Iran to its neighbors. And crucially, the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened.” (Bloomberg)

Iran US war news LIVE: The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran held their first phone call since the start of the war, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said, AFP reported.

Iran US war news LIVE: Israel said on Thursday it had killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, the nephew and personal secretary of Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, in an overnight strike on Beirut.

The Israeli military said Harshi worked closely with Qassem and was involved in managing his office.

Iran US war news LIVE: Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Spain will reopen its embassy in Iran, which had been closed in March due to the war, following the truce between the US, Israel and Iran.

He said he has instructed the Spanish ambassador in Tehran to return, resume duties and reopen the embassy, adding that Spain aims to contribute to peace efforts through its presence in Iran’s capital.

Iran US war news LIVE: China’s foreign ministry said it hopes relevant parties will seize the opportunity for peace in the Iran conflict and work quickly to bring the region back to stability.

The remarks come as Beijing continues to call for dialogue and de-escalation to end hostilities.

Iran US war news LIVE: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the ceasefire between Iran and the United States must also extend to Lebanon, warning that ongoing military actions risk undermining the truce.

He condemned what he described as “massive” Israeli strikes carried out a day earlier and said he expects Iran to make a series of concessions as part of upcoming peace talks set to begin in Pakistan.

Iran US war news LIVE: UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the United States’ use of “civilisation” rhetoric in its messaging on Iran is “completely wrong,” pushing back against inflammatory language amid heightened tensions.

Iran US war news LIVE: Shares of First Abu Dhabi Bank declined 2% in early trading, according to LSEG data.

Iran US war news LIVE: More Israeli raids in south Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera.

Iran US war news LIVE: An Iranian delegation is set to arrive in Pakistan late Thursday ahead of talks with the US, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, said.

“Despite skepticism of Iranian public opinion due to repeated ceasefire violations by Israeli regime to sabotage the diplomatic initiative, invited by Hon. PM Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian delegation arrives tonight in Islamabad for serious talks based on 10 points proposed by Iran,” he wrote in a post on X.

Iran US war news LIVE: Two fully loaded Chinese oil tankers are stationed just outside the Strait of Hormuz, positioning themselves to potentially become the first vessels to exit the Persian Gulf under the day-old US-Iran ceasefire, even as uncertainty lingers over the safety of the crucial shipping route.

The Cospearl Lake, linked to China’s state-owned Cosco Shipping, and He Rong Hai, owned by a smaller firm, were seen moving east at near top speeds early Thursday before abruptly slowing to a near standstill, according to ship-tracking data.

(Bloomberg)

Iran US war news LIVE: Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan said an Iranian delegation will arrive in Islamabad on Thursday night for “serious talks” based on a 10-point proposal put forward by Tehran, as negotiations with the United States move forward, Reuters reported.

Iran US war news LIVE: Global stocks declined while oil prices rose as optimism over the US-Iran ceasefire faded, after Tehran said multiple terms of the agreement had been breached, underscoring continued uncertainty in markets.

MSCI’s Asia Pacific equity index fell 0.9% after Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said three clauses of the ceasefire proposal had been violated so far. The gauge saw two stocks fall for every one that advanced.

Stock futures for Wall Street and European benchmarks slipped 0.2%, signaling that a four-day rally in global equities may be coming to an end.

Iran US war news LIVE: The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Food Programme have warned that the Middle East war has triggered one of the largest disruptions to global energy markets in modern history and will drive up food prices worldwide.

In a joint statement issued after a meeting on Wednesday, the heads of the three organisations said the economic fallout would disproportionately impact the world’s most vulnerable populations.

"The Middle East war is upending lives and livelihoods in the region and beyond. It has already triggered one of the largest disruptions to global energy markets in modern history.

"Sharp increases in oil, gas, and fertiliser prices, together with transport bottlenecks, will inevitably lead to rising food prices and food insecurity," the statement said.

(PTI)

Iran US war news LIVE: "It was agreed, a long time ago, and despite all of the fake rhetoric to the contrary - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE," US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social.

Iran US war news LIVE: The United States on Thursday signalled that its ships, aircraft, and military personnel will remain positioned in and around Iran until a “real agreement” is fully implemented and respected. " If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the “Shootin’ Starts,” bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before. It was agreed, a long time ago, and despite all of the fake rhetoric to the contrary - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE. In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest. AMERICA IS BACK," the statement read.

Iran US war news LIVE: Oil prices rose on Thursday as doubts over a fragile two-week Middle East ceasefire raised concerns that energy flows through the crucial Strait of Hormuz will remain restricted.

Brent crude futures were up $1.96, or 2.07%, at $96.71 a barrel at 0325 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $2.60, or 2.75%, to $97.01 a barrel.

Both benchmark prices fell below $100 per barrel in the previous trading session, with WTI recording its biggest decline since April 2020, on initial expectations for the ceasefire to result in a reopening of the strait.

However, analysts said market participants are hesitant to fully unwind pricing for geopolitical risk, and there is no clarity on what negotiations between the U.S. and Iran would mean for oil flows.

"The chances of a meaningful reopening (of the Strait of Hormuz) any time soon look dim," said Vandana Hari, founder of oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights, predicting continued volatility in oil prices. (Reuters)

Iran US war news LIVE: Authorities in Islamabad have declared a two-day local holiday starting Thursday, just ahead of scheduled talks between the United States and Iran in the Pakistani capital, AFP reported.

The notification, issued late Wednesday by the district administration, did not specify a reason. However, such measures are often taken for security arrangements during high-level diplomatic engagements.

Pakistan is gearing up to host crucial negotiations involving US and Iranian officials over the ongoing Middle East conflict. The White House has confirmed that Vice President JD Vance will lead the American delegation for the talks set to take place over the weekend.

Iran US war news LIVE: Gold prices held steady on Thursday as investors remained cautious over the direction of US-Iran ceasefire talks and awaited a key US inflation report for clues on interest rates, Reuters reported.

Spot gold was little changed at $4,713.79 per ounce as of 0311 GMT, while US gold futures for June delivery slipped 0.8% to $4,736.50.

Iran US war news LIVE: Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that Israel has proposed limiting its strikes in Lebanon for the duration of the ongoing US-Iran negotiations, according to an Axios report.