US President Donald Trump said “I don't want to rush myself,” adding that Iran's leadership is in “turmoil.” In an Oval Office exchange with reporters, he also pushed back on questions that the conflict is exceeding the four-to-six week timeline he and aides previously set for the war.
Trump has ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” Iranian small boats choking the Strait of Hormuz. Later he said Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks after talks at the White House. The meeting on Thursday was the second high-level negotiation between the two countries since last week.
The standoff between the US and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world's traded oil passes in peacetime, with no end in sight.
Here are the latest on US-Israel-Iran war
Iran War Live Updates: Mojtaba Khamenei Suffers Burns
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, suffered serious injuries in the Feb. 28 strikes that killed his father and may need plastic surgery as part of his recovery, according to a report by The New York Times.
Iran War Live Updates: Italy Dismisses Replacing Iran At World Cup
Italian sports officials say four-time champion Italy is not interested in replacing Iran at the upcoming World Cup following a suggestion to that effect by a Trump administration official. Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup, and the team is preparing to play in the US despite the war in the Middle East. FIFA has insisted its group stage games near Los Angeles and in Seattle will go ahead as planned in June.
Iran War Live Updates: Injured Mojtaba Khamenei Sends 'Unity' Message To US
Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has suffered severe facial disfigurement, has sent a message of Iran's unity to the United States amid ongoing conflict. The message comes amid Trump and his aides claiming disagreements among Iranian leaders.
Iran War Live Updates: Khamenei May Need Plastic Surgery, Say Report
According to a report in The New York Times, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, despite being described as "gravely wounded", remains mentally sharp and actively involved in affairs of state. The report said one of his legs has undergone three surgeries and he will require a prosthetic. His arm has also been operated on and is slowly regaining function. Severe burns to his face and lips have reportedly made it difficult for him to speak, and officials cited by the newspaper said he may require plastic surgery.
Iran War Live Updates: Iranian Officials Refute Trump's Claims Of Leadership Rift
“In Iran there are no hardliners' or moderates'. We are all Iranians and revolutionaries,” Iran's president, and Iran's parliament speaker wrote in an almost identical statement on their social media.
A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry called the U.S. president's claim that there was a leadership rift in Iran “a form of deflection,” with other Iranian officials also claiming on social media that the country was united.
Hours earlier, Trump said that Iran is going through a hard time “figuring out who their leader is! They just don't know!“
(Source: AP)
Iran War Live Updates: US Envoy Compares Hezbollah To Kid Throwing Rocks
“The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel are neighbors and they want to get along,” said Mike Huckabee, the U.S. envoy to Israel, who was on hand for the White House talks.
“They can get along,” he said. “But it's like neighbors who have a rough little kid living in the neighborhood who keeps throwing rocks at everybody's window. And if the kid will quit throwing rocks, the neighbors can get along and start actually working together.”
(Source: AP)
Iran War Live Updates: Trump Says Must' For Iran To End Funding For Hezbollah
US President Donald Trump reiterated that the US continues to demand that Iran stop it's backing of proxy groups in the Mideast, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, as part of any deal between Washington and Tehran to end the U.S. war on Iran.
“Yeah, they'll have to cut that,” Trump said to a reporter's question about aiding the militant group. “That's a must.”
Iran War Live Updates: Lebanese And Israeli Ambassadors Thank Trump
Speaking alongside US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter said Israel and Lebanon “have never been next to each other more than today.” Leiter thanked Trump and Vice President JD Vance for a day he said was decades in the making.
“We are going to keep going, working for peace. Let's hope we will get it as soon as possible,” he said.
Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad thanked Trump for presiding over “this historic moment.” She added: “I think with your help, with your support, we can make Lebanon great again.”
Iran War Live Updates: Trump Says Israel And Lebanon Agree To Extend Ceasefire
US President Donald Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks after talks at the White House. Trump says the meeting between Israel's and Lebanon's ambassadors to the United States went “very well.” The meeting was the second high-level negotiation between the two countries since last week.
Iran War Live Updates: Air Defenses In Action Over Tehran
Iran's capital saw air defense systems in action as explosions were heard in the western part of the city. State media said the move was against “hostile targets, “ without any elaboration.
Witnesses said air defense systems were also heard southwest of the city.
Iran War Live Updates: Trump Says No Rush, Iran Leadership In Turmoil
“I don't want to rush myself,” said US President Donald Trump, who added that Iran's leadership is in “turmoil.”
Trump in an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office also pushed back against questions that the conflict is exceeding the four-to-six week timeline that he and aides previously set for the war. Trump also said he's not considering using a nuclear weapon against Iran.