US-Israel-Iran War Live News Updates: US Eyes Freezing Iran's Funds; US, Iran Reportedly Mull Ceasefire Extension

The US military said it carried out a strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific that killed three people. US Southern Command claimed the vessel was run by unnamed "designated terrorist organisations." It said no US forces were harmed and described those killed as "male narco-terrorists," but gave no further details.

The United States ruled out granting any further exemption from sanctions for the purchase of Russian or Iranian oil. US Treasury Scott Bessent made the announcement at a press conference at the White House. "We will not be renewing the general license on Russian oil, and we will not be renewing the general license on Iranian oil. That was oil that was on the water prior to March 11, so all that has been used," Bessent told reporters in Washington.

With no alternative route out of the Gulf, vessels appear more willing to take risks than in past crises, including off Venezuela or in the Red Sea, where they could reroute.

“There's a kind of pent-up pressure, especially among ships stuck inside the Gulf,” Tallis said, adding that it is pushing owners and captains toward decisions they might otherwise avoid. “We're seeing a higher tolerance for risk than in other scenarios.”

That pressure is compounded by murky visibility at sea. Not all “shadow vessels” broadcast their positions or destinations, and while large oil tankers are relatively easy to track, smaller ships carrying other cargo are harder to identify, creating openings some may try to exploit, he said.

The first Israel-Lebanon meeting in decades is key to moving Israel and Lebanon "towards breaking the recurrent rounds of violence that have caused considerable suffering for too long," UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq. "Maintaining dialogue will be essential in resolving outstanding issues and achieving progress towards stability," he said, adding that the UN is ready to support these efforts.

Despite the talks, Haq said the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon known as UNIFIL continues to report ongoing hostilities in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, with projectiles fired toward Israel and its forces in the south, and Israeli forces continuing airstrikes, armored vehicle movements and other activities.

Across southern and eastern Lebanon, dozens of locations are being hit daily by Israeli strikes, he said. At leader 35 villages in the south were reportedly struck Tuesday causing extensive damage to residential areas.

As a result of the ongoing hostilities, Haq said more than 1.2 million Lebanese people have now been displaced.
 

The US is imposing sanctions targeting an Iranian oil smuggling network tied to the deceased senior Iranian security official Ali Shamkhani. Sanctions include dozens of individuals and companies accused of transporting and selling Iranian and Russian oil through front companies, many of which are in the UAE.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement, that banks “should be on notice that Treasury will leverage all tools and authorities, including secondary sanctions, against those that continue to support Tehran's terrorist activities.”
 

The commander of Iran's joint military command on Wednesday threatened to halt trade in the Gulf region if the US does not lift its blockade on Iranian ports. No vessels have made it past US naval forces during the first 48 hours of the blockade, according to the US Central Command. 

The Republican-led Senate rejected the latest Democratic attempt to halt President Donald Trump's war in Iran, turning aside a resolution that would require the US to withdraw forces from the conflict until Congress authorises further action. The 47-52 vote was the fourth time this year that the Senate has voted to cede its war powers to the president in a conflict that Democrats say is illegal and unjustified.

Republicans say they will keep faith in Trump's wartime leadership, for now, citing Iran's nuclear capabilities and the high stakes of withdrawal. But GOP lawmakers are also anxious for the conflict to end — and they may not defer to the executive branch indefinitely.

Some Republicans have already made clear that they are eyeing future votes that could become an important test for the president if the war drags on.

The US and Iran may extend their ceasefire, set to expire Tuesday, by two more weeks to continue peace talks, Bloomberg reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. Mediators are trying to set up technical discussions on sticking points like reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. If those talks progress, senior officials from both countries could meet for another round of negotiations, the report said.

Pakistan's Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir reached Tehran on Wednesday for talks with the Iranian leadership as part of his country's efforts to resolve the conflict between the US and Iran. Munir is part of a delegation that includes Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the military, said in a statement.

"Field Marshal Asim Munir... and Mr Mohsin Naqvi, Interior Minister, along with the delegation, arrive at Tehran as part of the ongoing mediation efforts,” it said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi welcomed the delegation members upon their arrival in Tehran, according to the Iranian media.