What you need to know
Thank you for joining our continuing live coverage of the war in the Middle East.
Here’s a recap of the latest developments:
- The Pentagon released video of US forces boarding the Guinea-flagged oil tanker Majestic X, which was seized in the Indian Ocean “transporting oil from Iran”.
- US President Donald Trump said he had ordered the navy to “shoot and kill” any minelaying boats in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming the waterway would stay “sealed up tight” until Iran made a deal. It appears the ceasefire continues indefinitely.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed comments by Trump about infighting, and confusion over their leader who has not been seen since his appointment, stating Iran “will make the aggressor regret”.
- Representatives from Israel and Lebanon will hold talks at the White House today amid a 10-day ceasefire due to expire on Sunday.
‘Staggering’ war costs for the US nearing $1.4 billion a day: Report
White House officials have refused to estimate the cost of the Iran war to the US so far, but two independent groups say the expense is staggering: between $US28 billion and $US35 billion, or just under $US1.4 billion a day, The New York Times reports.
In the first two days of the conflict alone, the military used $US5.6 billion of munitions, defence officials said.
Restoring the country’s global stockpile to its previous size and military strength will be extremely challenging.
“At current production rates, reconstituting what we have expended could take years,” Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the armed services committee, said this week.
Democrats demand protections for Iranians in US
A group of Democrats has called on the Trump administration to provide immediate protection for Iranians in the US who cannot safely return home amid the war.
Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari and Senators Edward J. Markey, Cory A. Booker, Christopher A. Coons, Alex Padilla and Jacky Rosen signed a letter addressed to key Trump administration officials demanding responses on the administration’s plans for Iranian students and workers at risk of persecution if sent back to Iran.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s brutal crackdown on nationwide protests earlier this year deepened the country’s already-dire human rights crisis, while the recent US military attack has intensified the security situation,” the letter says.
“The administration must not forcibly return Iranian families in the United States to Iran … and should therefore pause deportation flights and designate Iranians for temporary protection.”
The letter also reiterated previous accusations from members of Congress that Trump had launched the United States’ first attacks on Iran illegally, without constitutionally required congressional authorisation.
Italians dismiss suggestion their team should replace Iran at World Cup
We reported yesterday that one of Trump’s envoys suggested Italy should replace Iran at the FIFA World Cup, an idea that has embarrassed many Azzurri fans in Italy.
Paolo Zampolli, an Italian-American who is an envoy for global relations, told the Financial Times that he made the suggestion to Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Italy’s main sports news websites gave the story only a passing reference, but politicians and officials were quick to reject the idea.
“First of all, I don’t think it’s possible,” Italian Olympic Committee President Luciano Buonfiglio said. “Second, I’d feel offended. In order to go to the World Cup, you have to earn it”.
World facing ‘biggest energy security threat in history’: IEA chief
The International Energy Agency chief, Fatih Birol, has told CNBC overnight that the ongoing Iran war is “the biggest energy security threat in history”.
Previously, he warned the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would lead to “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced”.
“As of today, we’ve lost 13 million barrels per day of oil … and there are major disruptions in vital commodities,” he said in the CNBC interview.
The IEA attempted to offset the impacts of the Iran closure of the strait – now subject to a blockade by the US – by releasing 400 million barrels of oil from emergency stockpiles in March.
But it has warned an extended closure could lead to adverse, long-term effects such as slowing global economic growth, fuelling higher inflation, energy rationing and jet fuel shortages.
UN probes Israel’s targeting of journalists
At least 259 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli strikes since 2023, including 210 Palestinian journalists in Gaza and 14 journalists in Lebanon, according to the UN.
At least 64 of these appear to have been directly targeted, it said earlier this month.
Since the beginning of the US-Israel war with Iran in February, nine journalists have been killed in Lebanon.
The latest, Amal Khalil, was killed in a double-tap Israeli strike earlier this week. Her death reignited accusations against Israel that it deliberately targets journalists. Israel vehemently denies these accusations.
Iran’s exiled former crown prince splashed with red liquid in Berlin
Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled former crown prince, was splashed with a red liquid during a visit to Berlin.
Videos on social media showed the son of Iran’s last shah leaving a press briefing when an unidentified man approaches him from behind, throwing what appears to be tomato sauce and splattering his coat and neck.
Security personnel immediately restrained the man and escorted Pahlavi, who lives in the US, to a waiting vehicle. Across the street, a group of people were chanting and waving Iranian and German flags.
Pahlavi is a divisive figure. While he’s tried to position himself as someone who could helm a transitional government in Iran after the war with the US and Israel, that effort has gained little traction. During his visit to Berlin, he wasn’t invited to meet any government figures.
Bloomberg
Israel appoints special envoy to the Christian world after statue scandal
Israel has appointed a special envoy to the Christian world after two Israeli soldiers were punished for destroying a statue of Jesus in Lebanon.
One of the soldiers photographed the other using what appeared to be a sledgehammer to hack down the crucifix during military operations in the Lebanese village. The two will be held in military detention for 30 days.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said George Deek, who recently served as ambassador to Azerbaijan and was the first Christian ambassador in Israel’s history, was a member of the Arab Christian community.
“I am confident that George, a respected and experienced diplomat, will greatly contribute to the friendship and strengthening of the ties between the State of Israel and the Christian world,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said.
with AP
Trump: Israel and Lebanon agree to three-week ceasefire extension
In breaking news, Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend the ceasefire by three weeks after a meeting of the countries’ envoys and top US officials.
In a post on Truth Social just minutes ago, Trump confirmed the extension.
“The President of the United States, DONALD J. TRUMP, Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, met today with High Ranking Representatives of Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office. The Meeting went very well! The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” he said.
“The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS. I look forward in the near future to hosting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun. It was a Great Honor to be a participant at this very Historic Meeting!”
AP
Trump wants ceasefire to be ‘everlasting’
During the White House press conference earlier this morning, Trump said he wanted the ceasefire with Iran to be “everlasting”.
Asked why the military operation had dragged on for longer than the four-to-six week timeline Trump projected at the start of the war, Trump said: “I want to make the best deal.”
“I want to have an everlasting … I want to have it where they never get, they never have a chance to get [nuclear].
“I thought it would take four to six weeks, and I was right because at the end of six weeks, at the end of four weeks, their military was decimated,” Trump told reporters.
Representatives from Israel and Lebanon are holding talks at the White House today – their 10-day ceasefire is due to expire on Sunday.
Community gripped by grief after killing of Lebanese journalist
Hundreds of mourners gathered in Beirut to honour the life of Amal Khalil, the Lebanese journalist killed by an Israeli strike on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old, who had worked for the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, was buried last night after a funeral procession through the streets of Beirut.
Photos capturing the memorial show hundreds of people surrounding her coffin, many carrying posters showing her face.
Yesterday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the killing of Khalil a war crime, and renewed accusations that Israel is deliberately targeting journalists reporting on the war. Israel has repeatedly rejected these accusations.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
