The US has rescued one of two crew members who were aboard a US fighter jet that was shot down over Iran, officials have said.
A search-and-rescue operation was launched to locate two crew members after the F-15 fighter jet was downed. Officials say the pilot ejected before the aircraft went down, but the condition of both individuals remain unknown.
Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation, the White House said.
The blow for the US came as Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel and the US are “continuing to crush the terrorist regime in Iran” in a meeting in Tel Aviv.
He said: "Together with our American friends, we are continuing to crush the terrorist regime in Iran. We are eliminating commanders, and bombing bridges and infrastructure."
Trump took to posting online about the Strait of Hormuz on Truth Social on Friday, which is crucial to global oil and gas shipping, but has been locked in a chokehold by Iran since the US-Israeli attacks earlier began.
"With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL,& MAKE A FORTUNE," the US president said in a post on Truth Social today.
Trump celebrates as major bridge in Iran cut in half by strike: ‘Make a deal before it’s too late’
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth removes top uniformed officer from Army as US wages war in Iran
Camera awkwardly knocked live on air while Yvette Cooper delivers Iran speech
Trump delivers jaw-dropping and slurred Iran address that offers no end in sight to unpopular war
Key Points
- Donald Trump has been briefed as US fighter jet shot down over Iran
- One crew member from the downed fighter jet has been rescued
- Netanyahu says US and Israel are 'continuing to crush the terrorist regime in Iran'
- Trump: US can take Strait of Hormuz with more time
- Iran allows French ship to pass through Strait of Hormuz
Starmer’s cost of living tsar calls for fuel duty to be extended in light of Iran war
18:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSir Keir Starmer's cost-of-living champion has urged the government to consider "extending" or "enlarging" the 5p fuel duty cut as the Middle East crisis deepens.
Oil prices, which have a significant effect on the cost of fuel, have soared in response to Iran’s stranglehold on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up pump prices and piling pressure on the government to abandon a planned increase in fuel duty due in September.
Iceland boss Richard Walker, joined mounting calls for ministers to abandon the fuel duty hike.
Starmer’s cost of living tsar calls for fuel duty to be extended in light of Iran war
US-Iran talks stall as Tehran tells mediators America's demands are unreasonable - report
18:25 , Harriette BoucherIran has told mediators that the US’s demands are unreasonable and it is not willing to meet American officials in Islamabad in the coming days.
Pakistan is leading efforts with the help of regional countries to reach a ceasefire between the US and Iran.
The mediators told the Wall Street Journal that Turkey and Egypt were still pushing to find a way forward and are considering new venues for the talks, including Doha, or Istanbul.
Starmer condemns 'reckless' Iranian attack on Kuwait oil refinery
18:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSir Keir Starmer has condemned a "reckless" Iranian attack on an oil refinery in Kuwait and confirmed the deployment of Britain's rapid sentry air defence system to the Gulf country.
In a call with Kuwait's crown prince, the Prime Minister also discussed co-ordinated efforts to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz oil and gas shipping lane blockaded by Iran in retaliation for the US-Israeli campaign against it.
Tehran fired drones and missiles at targets across the Middle East overnight and on Friday, setting a refinery on fire and damaging a desalination plant in Kuwait.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran's bridges and electric power plants, saying the US military "hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran."
His comments came after a deadly US air strike on a major suspension bridge near Tehran, which the UN's humanitarian relief chief Tom Fletcher said constituted a breach of international law.
Israel postpones strikes on Iran amid search for F-15 fighter jet pilot - report
18:00 , Harriette BoucherIsrael has postponed planned strikes on Iran as the US continues its search for the pilot from the downed F-15 fighter jet.
An Israeli official told CNN the attacks were being delayed so as not to interfere with the search and rescue efforts.
US citizens urged to leave Lebanon after fears Iran could target universities
17:54 , Harriette BoucherThe US embassy in Beirut has urged citizens to leave Lebanon, saying that Iran and its aligned armed groups “may intend to target universities in Lebanon”.
In a security alert, the embassy told Americans to depart Lebanon “while commercial flight options remain available”.
One crew member rescued after US F-15 shot down over Iran while search continues for other pilot
17:32 , Harriette BoucherWhy is the Strait of Hormuz so important? How the US-Iran war created a global oil and gas crisis
17:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe world is facing a major fuel crisis as Iran continues to retain a firm grip over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route through which one fifth of the world’s oil and gas moves.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important? How US-Iran war created global fuel crisis
Iranian parliamentary speakers mocks search for F-15 fighter jet crew member
17:28 , Harriette BoucherIran’s parliament speaker has mocked the downing of a F-15 fighter jet.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on social media: “After defeating Iran 37 times in a row, this brilliant no-strategy war they started has now been downgraded from ‘regime change’ to ‘Hey! Can anyone find our pilots? Please?’
“Wow. What incredible progress. Absolute geniuses,” he added.
One crew member from the downed fighter jet has been rescued
17:11 , Rebecca WhittakerOne crew member from the downed F-15 fighter jet has been rescued, CBS News reported.
The crew member was rescued by US forces, according to two officials.
A search-and-rescue operation was launched to locate two crew members after the F-15 fighter jet was downed.
Officials say the pilot ejected before the aircraft went down, but the condition and whereabouts of both individuals remain unknown US officials raced to recover the crew before Iranian forces can reach them.
Leading Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh detained in Tehran
17:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainLeading Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was detained by Iranian intelligence agents at her house in Tehran overnight, her daughter said Thursday.
Prize-winning Nasrin Sotoudeh, 64, is renowned for defending activists, opposition politicians and women prosecuted for removing their headscarves. She has been imprisoned multiple times and is currently out on bail for health reasons.
Her husband, Reza Khandan, also a well-known activist, is currently imprisoned in Tehran's infamous Evin prison.
Read more here:
Leading Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh detained in Tehran
US fighter jet shot down over Iran as locals hunt for pilots who ejected, officials say
16:40 , Rebecca WhittakerA U.S. fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, according to U.S. and Israeli officials as well as Iranian state-affiliated media, escalating already heightened tensions in the region.
A search-and-rescue operation is underway to locate two crew members. Officials say the pilot of the F-15E Strike Eagle ejected before the aircraft went down, but the condition and whereabouts of both individuals remain unknown. U.S officials are racing to recover the crew before Iranian forces can reach them.
US fighter jet shot down over Iran as locals hunt for pilots, officials say
Donald Trump has been briefed as US fighter jet shot down over Iran
16:35 , Rebecca WhittakerThe White House said President Donald Trump has been briefed after a US fighter jet went down over Iran.
A search and rescue mission is currently underway to locate two crew members.
Officials say the pilot of the F-15E Strike Eagle ejected before the aircraft went down, but the condition and whereabouts of both individuals remain unknown. US officials are racing to recover the crew before Iranian forces can reach them.
UN chief tells Trump ‘war is not a game show’ after US bombs civilian targets in Iran
16:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainDonald Trump has been accused of treating the Iran conflict as a “game show” by a United Nations humanitarian chief after the US hit civilian targets in the country and threatened to “bomb Iran back to the Stone Ages”.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s under secretary general for humanitarian affairs, has accused the US president of war crimes by bombing bridges and threatening further attacks on Iran’s infrastructure, and deplored the “reckless” nature of the conflict and its effect on ordinary people in Iran.
“War is not a game show; peace-making is not a real estate deal; the world is not a casino”, said Mr Fletcher, who worked for three former British prime ministers: Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
Millie Cooke our political correspondent reports:
UN chief tells Trump ‘war is not a game show’ after US bombs civilian targets
Trump delivers jaw-dropping and slurred Iran address that offers no end in sight to unpopular war
16:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA weary President Donald Trump slurred his way through a disjointed national TV address Wednesday night in which he repeated the same justifications for his war with Iran that he’s been posting on social media throughout the month-long conflict.
The primetime speech, which pre-empted scheduled television programming on all broadcast networks at the request of the White House, had been billed as a major address in which Trump would finally lay out the justifications for the military action he started against Iran.
Trump was expected to finally provide details on how and when the conflict would end to an American populace that has grown tired of it.
Andrew Feinberg reports:
Trump slurs his way through jaw-dropping Iran war address with no clear end in sight
Netanyahu says US and Israel are 'continuing to crush the terrorist regime in Iran'
15:50 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBenjamin Netanyahu said Israel and the US are “continuing to crush the terrorist regime in Iran” in a meeting in Tel Aviv.
He said: "Together with our American friends, we are continuing to crush the terrorist regime in Iran. We are eliminating commanders, and bombing bridges and infrastructure."
Italy's Meloni flies to Gulf region in energy security push
15:26 , Maryam Zakir-HussainItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni flew to Saudi Arabia on Friday for a previously unannounced trip that will also include meetings in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, government sources said.
The sources said the visit would reaffirm Italy's support for the three nations in the face of Iranian attacks on their territories, and was also aimed at bolstering Italy's national energy security through closer engagement with Gulf producers.
It is the first trip to the region by a leader from the European Union since the conflict was launched by the United States and Israel at the end of February.
US Army chief of staff fired by Hegseth, sources say
14:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUS Army Chief of Staff Randy George was fired on Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, three US defense officials told Reuters, a major staffing change that comes as the US military fights a major war in the Middle East.
Even as Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has moved quickly to reshape the department, firing the head of a military branch during wartime is extremely rare.
The Pentagon confirmed that George, who had more than a year left in his term, "will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately."
Two of the officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Hegseth has also fired General David Hodne, who leads the Army's Transformation and Training Command, and Major General William Green, head of the Army's Chaplain Corps.
George's removal adds to recent upheaval at all levels of leadership at the Pentagon, including the firing last year of the previous chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, as well as the chief of naval operations and Air Force vice chief of staff.
The department did not give a reason for George's departure, which comes as the US military builds up its forces in the Middle East while carrying out operations against Iran.
French ship passes Strait of Hormuz in sign Iran may not view France as hostile nation
14:22 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA container ship owned by French shipping group CMA CGM has successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting Iran may not view France as a hostile nation.
The Malta-flagged Kribi, owned by CMA CGM, crossed the Strait on 2 April, according to MarineTraffic data, marking the first French-owned vessel to pass through the channel since US-Israeli attacks targeting Iran began in late February.
The Strait, a critical maritime choke point, previously handled about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before recent conflicts effectively closed it.
French ship passes Strait of Hormuz in sign Iran may not view France as hostile
Trump: US can take Strait of Hormuz with more time
13:47 , Maryam Zakir-HussainDonald Trump on Friday said the US can open the Strait of Hormuz with a little more time.
"With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL,& MAKE A FORTUNE," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
The waterway is vital to global oil and gas shipping, and it was effectively closed by Iran in the wake of the US-Israeli attacks earlier on 28 February, with only Iranian ships and a few other vessels permitted to pass through, leaking to oil prices soaring.
In the last few days, the US president has suggested that countries that need the oil shipped through the waterway take military action themselves to ensure it is open, naming the United Kingdom specifically.
But he also said yesterday that the US will only consider a ceasefire with Iran "when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear".
Today, both a French and a Japanese tanker have been able to pass through, although that is a tiny fraction of the usual traffic.
Watch: Trump celebrates destruction of major bridge in Iran
13:15 , Rebecca WhittakerHuman remains found on Thai-flagged cargo ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz
13:00 , Rebecca WhittakerHuman remains were found aboard a Thai-flagged cargo vessel that was attacked last month in the Strait of Hormuz, the vessel’s owner and Thailand officials said.
The authorities were unable to immediately confirm the identities of the dead.
Thailand’s foreign ministry said search teams located the remains on the Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree during a second boarding operation conducted under difficult conditions, including severe fire damage and flooding in the engine room, reported The Nation.
Human remains found on Thai-flagged cargo ship attacked in Strait of Hormuz
Starmer has condemned the 'reckless' Iranian attack on oil refinery
12:45 , Rebecca WhittakerSir Keir Starmer has condemned the “reckless” Iranian attack that set an oil refinery ablaze in Kuwait, in a call with the country’s crown prince.
A Downing Street readout of the Friday conversation said: “The Prime Minister spoke to his highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah this morning.
“The Prime Minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery.
“He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf.
“They discussed the deployment of the UK’s rapid sentry air defence system to Kuwait, which will protect Kuwaiti and British personnel and interests in the region, while avoiding escalation into wider conflict.
“Regarding ongoing disruption to global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Prime Minister and crown prince welcomed the meeting convened by the Foreign Secretary yesterday on a viable plan to reopen the Strait.
“They agreed to continue to work together on this and stay in close contact over the coming weeks.”
Editorial: Losing a catastrophic war is no way for America to celebrate its 250th birthday
12:35 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTo avert global recession, US allies are being forced to humiliate themselves and clean up after Donald Trump in the Middle East. Never has an American president wreaked such havoc on erstwhile friends.
Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, aptly characterised the situation in the Persian Gulf in her opening remarks to the virtual international summit on restoring access to the Strait of Hormuz: “We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage.”
That is exactly what has happened – and she is also right to tell her counterparts in more than 40 nations that the decision was “reckless”.
However, Ms Cooper was also diplomatic, not to say supremely restrained, when she said that until only a matter of weeks ago, international shipping was moving freely through the now-famous Strait that links the Gulf to the Indian Ocean and beyond. It was only a war of choice launched by America and Israel that has led to the crisis in the first place.
Read more here:
Losing a catastrophic war is no way for America to celebrate its 250th birthday
Former CIA director calls Iran campaign 'a war of choice'
12:15 , Maryam Zakir-HussainFormer CIA Director Bill Burns has described the U.S.-Israeli war launched against Iran as "a war of choice" that may have only further empowered the most hard-line elements within its theocracy.
Burns, a former State Department diplomat, made the observation in a podcast by Foreign Affairs magazine.
"This is a regime that is inept at many things like managing its economy, but it is designed to preserve itself and designed to repress its own people and designed to withstand even the decapitation of its senior leadership," said Burns, who secretly negotiated with the Iranians ahead of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers during the Obama administration.
Burns also disagreed with U.S. President Donald Trump's assessment that there had been a "regime change" in the airstrike campaign killing top leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"In some ways, it's certainly a much weaker regime, but it's also one that's even nastier and more radical and, you know, less open," he said.
He added that Iran's theocracy thought "victory is survival."
"I've believed for a long time that this is a regime that's on a kind of one-way street to its eventual collapse, but I worry that, you know, in this war, what we've done rather than accelerate that moment of collapse is slow it down a little bit," Burns said.
-French-owned CMA CGM container ship passes Strait of Hormuz, data shows
11:55 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA container ship belonging to French shipping group CMA CGM has crossed through the Strait of Hormuz, MarineTraffic vessel tracking data shows, in a sign that Iran may not consider France a hostile nation.
The Malta-flagged Kribi, owned by CMA CGM, crossed the Strait on April 2 and is the first French-owned vessel to make it through the channel since U.S.-Israeli attacks began in Iran at the end of February.
Until the war led to the effective closure of the Strait, it was the route for about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
It was not immediately clear how the vessel, which the data shows is sailing south along the coast of Oman, secured safe passage. However, LSEG shipping data showed the vessel on Thursday changed its destination to "Owner France", signalling to Iranian authorities the nationality of its owner, before crossing the Strait's Iran's territorial waters.
The ship had originally been bound for Pointe-Noire in the Republic of the Congo.
CMA CGM did not immediately respond to a request for comment. France's foreign ministry declined to comment.
Starmer condemns 'reckless overnight drone attack' on Kuwaiti oil refinery
11:38 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Sir Keir Starmer condemned a "reckless overnight drone attack" on a Kuwaiti oil refinery on a call with the Crown Prince of Kuwait on Friday morning.
In a readout after the call, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister spoke to His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah this morning.“
The prime minister began by condemning the reckless overnight drone attack on a Kuwaiti oil refinery.
He reiterated that the UK stands with Kuwait and all our allies in the Gulf.
"They discussed the deployment of the UK’s Rapid Sentry air defence system to Kuwait, which will protect Kuwaiti and British personnel and interests in the region, while avoiding escalation into wider conflict."
The spokesperson added: “Regarding ongoing disruption to global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the prime minister and Crown Prince welcomed the meeting convened by the foreign secretary yesterday on a viable plan to reopen the Strait.
“They agreed to continue to work together on this and stay in close contact over the coming weeks.”
Iran claims to shoot down US fighter jet
11:10 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIran has said a second US F-35 fighter jet has been shot down over Iran, with the state news agency saying it’s unlikely the pilot survived, Reuters has reported.
This is not the first time Iran has claimed to hit a US fighter jet, but so far, only one jet has been forced to make an emergency landing.
Last month, the US military said in a statement that a US F-35 aircraft conducted an emergency landing after flying a combat mission over Iran.
Putin spending much time on the escalating Middle East crisis, Kremlin says
11:05 , Maryam Zakir-HussainRussian President Vladimir Putin is spending much time on the escalating Middle East crisis, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
Nearly five weeks after it began with joint U.S.-Israeli air strikes, the war in Iran continues to destabilise the region and unsettle financial markets, piling pressure on President Donald Trump to bring the conflict to a swift end.
'There needs to be accountability for attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon'
10:50 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIreland's foreign affairs minister has said there needs to be accountability for attacks on UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon.
Helen McEntee was speaking after it emerged here planned trip to the Middle East country had been cancelled due to concerns from Irish peacekeepers in the region.
"The trip was to coincide with my visit to Kyiv, to Ukraine, this week," she told RTE radio show Today With David McCullagh.
"But a decision was taken, and this was on the advice of the Defence Forces themselves, that it wasn't the appropriate time or the right time to do it, and I'm completely guided by them."
Ms McEntee said she intended to make a trip to Lebanon to visit Irish troops in order "to recognise the work that they do".
"Over the last number of years and decades they have done a fantastic job, in particular in supporting the Lebanese people," she said.
"What's heartbreaking, I think for all of us, is that in a very short space of time, decades of their work has been set back, essentially.
"We are seeing so much of the progress that has been made, years taken off it."
She said there was fire "from all sides", meaning from both Israel and militant group Hezbollah, and said she had told her EU counterparts that it was "not enough to condemn people firing directly at Unifil peacekeepers" and that "there has to be accountability".
UN chief tells Trump ‘war is not a game show’ after US bombs civilian targets in Iran
10:39 , Maryam Zakir-HussainDonald Trump has been accused of treating the Iran conflict as a “game show” by a United Nations humanitarian chief after the US hit civilian targets in the country and threatened to “bomb Iran back to the Stone Ages”.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s under secretary general for humanitarian affairs has accused the US president of war crimes by bombing bridges and threatening further attacks on Iran’s infrastructure, and deplored the “reckless" nature of the conflict and its effect on ordinary people in Iran.
"War is not a game show; peace making is not a real estate deal; the world is not a casino”, said Mr Fletcher, who worked for three former British prime ministers: Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.
Our political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
UN chief tells Trump ‘war is not a game show’ after US bombs civilian targets
Trump celebrates as major bridge in Iran cut in half by strike: ‘Make a deal before it’s too late’
10:23 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Trump celebrates as major bridge in Iran cut in half by strike
Inside Javad Zarif's peace proposal
09:58 , Maryam Zakir-HussainFormer Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, who helped reach the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, made a peace proposal in Foreign Affairs magazine in a piece published Friday.
While Mr Zarif has no official position now in Iran's theocracy, he helped get reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian elected.
He also would not have been able to publish such a piece without at least running the positions past senior members of the country's theocracy.
While insisting Iran "is clearly winning" the war, he wrote that Tehran "should offer to place limits on its nuclear program and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to all sanctions — a deal Washington wouldn't take before but might accept now."
It remains unclear how Donald Trump would respond to such a pitch, particularly as Mr Zarif referred to Trump's close friend Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner as "completely illiterate on both geopolitics and nuclear technicalities."
Iran's ex-foreign minister shares peace plan for Iran on social media
09:27 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIran’s former foreign minister Javad Zarif has shared his peace plan in a post on X, as he called for Iran to call victory and end the war.
He wrote: “As an Iranian, outraged by Donald Trump’s reckless aggression & crude insults, yet proud of our armed forces & resilient people, I am torn about publishing this peace-plan in Foreign Affairs. Yet I’m convinced that war must end on terms consistent with Iran’s national interests.”
As an Iranian, outraged by Donald Trump’s reckless aggression & crude insults, yet proud of our armed forces & resilient people, I am torn about publishing this peace-plan in Foreign Affairs. Yet I'm convinced that war must end on terms consistent with Iran’s national interests.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) April 3, 2026
Trump vows to hit more Iranian infrastructure as nations seek to open Hormuz
09:15 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPresident Donald Trump said the US "hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran", reiterating vows to increase the ferocity of attacks on its infrastructure, as dozens of countries sought ways to restart vital energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Nearly five weeks after it started with a joint US-Israeli aerial assault, the war in Iran continues to spread chaos across the region and roil financial markets, raising the pressure on Trump to find a quick resolution to the conflict.
Trump has stepped up his rhetoric in recent days as negotiations conducted via intermediaries with new leaders in Iran show limited signs of progress and pessimism at home about the war grows.
The US military "hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran. Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants," Trump wrote on social media late on Thursday, adding that Iran's leadership "knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!"
He earlier posted video of the US bombing a newly constructed bridge between Tehran and nearby Karaj.
The B1 bridge was scheduled to open to traffic this year.
According to Iran's state media, eight people were killed and 95 others were wounded in the U.S. attack.
"Striking civilian structures, including unfinished bridges, will not compel Iranians to surrender," Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a statement.
French and South Korean leaders say they'll work together on the Strait of Hormuz
08:38 , Maryam Zakir-HussainFrench President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed Friday to work together to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease global economic uncertainties caused by the war in the Middle East.
Their summit in Seoul came as U.S. President Donald Trump slammed allies for not supporting the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. Macron was making his first visit to South Korea since taking office in 2017 as part of an Asian tour that already has taken him to Japan.
Macron told Lee at the start of the meeting that the two countries can play a role in helping to stabilize the situation in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz, according to South Korean media.
French and South Korean leaders say they'll work together on the Strait of Hormuz
Kuwait oil refinery hit by drone attack
08:17 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIranian drones have struck Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery Friday, sparking fires at the facility.
The state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp. issued a statement on the attack, the third so far since the war began, and said firefighters were working to control the blazes. There were no injuries reported, the company said.
Former Iran top diplomat suggests terms to end war
08:05 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran’s former top diplomat offered terms to see a ceasefire in the war with the US and Israel.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, who helped reach the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, made the proposal in Foreign Affairs magazine in a piece published today.
While Zarif has no official position now in Iran’s theocracy, he helped get reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian elected.
He also would not have been able to publish such a piece without at least running the positions past senior members of the country’s theocracy.
While insisting Iran “is clearly winning” the war, Zarif wrote that Tehran “should offer to place limits on its nuclear program and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to all sanctions — a deal Washington wouldn’t take before but might accept now.”
It remains unclear how US president Donald Trump would respond to such a pitch, particularly as Zarif referred to Trump’s close friend Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner as “completely illiterate on both geopolitics and nuclear technicalities".
UAE responding to missile and drone attacks
07:58 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe defence ministry of the United Arab Emirates said it is battling a wave of new missile and drone attacks from Iran.
China Eastern Airlines to raise domestic fuel charges
07:49 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarChina Eastern Airlines said this morning it will raise fuel surcharges for domestic flights from 5 April, adding to a list of Chinese airlines hiking fuel fees as the Iran war drags on.
The carrier will increase fuel surcharges for flights of 800km and below to 60 yuan ($8.72) and 120 yuan for those over 800 km, it said on its website.
Australia urges weekend motorists to refuel in cities
07:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAustralian energy minister Chris Bowen today urged motorists getting away for a long weekend during the Easter holiday to fill up in cities because most of the nation’s fuel shortages are in rural areas.
Among 2,400 gas stations in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, 182 had run out of diesel by Friday.
In Australia’s second-most populous state, Victoria, 76 gas stations were out of diesel. In the remaining states ranked by the most populous first, Queensland had 75 stations without diesel, Western Australia had 37, South Australia had 28 and in Tasmania there were seven.
“For those Australians planning a road trip this weekend, given our shortages are predominantly in rural and regional Australia, it makes sense to fill up in the city to help the country if you can,” Bowen said in Sydney.
The government, which blamed regional shortages on panic buying and distribution problems, is concentrating on delivering fuel to farmers for planting crops.
Oil prices surge to $111 a barrel
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices continued to surge on worries of a prolonged Iran war but the Asian markets that were open today rose moderately in cautious trading, while others were closed for the Good Friday holidays.
Benchmark US crude rose 11.4 per cent to $111.54 a barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, jumped 7.8 per cent to $109.03 per barrel.
Leading Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh detained
06:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarLeading Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was detained by Iranian intelligence agents at her house in Tehran overnight, her daughter said Thursday.
Prize-winning Nasrin Sotoudeh, 64, is renowned for defending activists, opposition politicians and women prosecuted for removing their headscarves. She has been imprisoned multiple times and is currently out on bail for health reasons.
Her husband, Reza Khandan, also a well-known activist, is currently imprisoned in Tehran's infamous Evin prison.
More here.
Leading Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh detained in Tehran
Trump mocks 'weak' Starmer as UK leads push to reopen strait
06:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDonald Trump has mocked Sir Keir Starmer as weak and had a fresh dig at the UK's navy as Britain led diplomatic efforts to try and reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, closed by the Iran war.
The US president impersonated the prime minister as he recounted Sir Keir saying he had to ask his team about sending "two old broken-down aircraft carriers" to the Middle East.
Trump said Britain "should be our best" ally, but had not been in his latest sideswipe over the UK's refusal to be drawn into the conflict with Tehran.
Earlier this week, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth rounded on Britain for failing to send warships to the region, saying "last time I checked there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well".
Their disparaging remarks come as the King, who is head of the armed forces, is due to travel to Washington later this month for a state visit to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Susie Wiles says Trump's aides are giving him ‘rose-colored view’ of Iran war
06:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarWhite House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has expressed concerns that aides are giving President Donald Trump “a rose-colored view” of the Iran war and its domestic impacts, according to a new report.
It’s been more than a month since the U.S. and Israel started launching strikes against Iran. Gas prices have soared in the U.S. to more than $4 a gallon on average, 13 American service members have died and more than 300 troops have been injured.
During his national address Wednesday night, Trump touted his perceived wins in a war he claims started because Iran was an imminent threat to Americans.
More here.
Fire at Kuwait's Mina al-Ahmadi refinery
06:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarKuwait Petroleum Corporation said its Mina al-Ahmadi refinery was hit by drones early on Friday, setting off fires at operating units, according to the state news agency, but no injuries were reported.
Kuwait reported that its air defences were working to intercept missiles and drones twice this morning.
Iran says it downed F-35 jet
06:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran says a US F-35 fighter jet has been shot down over central Iran, according to state media.
It reported that the pilot was unlikely to survive.
Pakistan hikes diesel and petrol prices
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPakistan has raised diesel and petrol prices for the second time in under a month, as global oil costs climb amid the Middle East conflict.
The price of diesel has been raised by 54.9 per cent to 520.35 Pakistani rupees ($1.88) per litre, while petrol prices have gone up by 42.7 per cent to 458.40 Pakistani rupees ($1.65)per litre. The revised rates will take effect from Friday.
UN Security Council to vote tomorrow on Strait of Hormuz proposal
05:54 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe UN Security Council is set to vote on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports.
Two diplomats said the meeting of the Council’s 15 members and the vote were set for Saturday morning.
Diplomats said Bahrain, the current chair of the Security Council, finalized a draft resolution seen by Reuters that would authorize “all defensive means necessary” to protect commercial shipping.
JP Morgan warns oil could top $150 if disruptions persist
05:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices could spike to $120-$130 per barrel in the near term, with a risk of surging above $150 if supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain disrupted into mid-May, JP Morgan said.
JP Morgan's base-case assumption is that the disruption to the strait will ultimately be resolved through negotiations following a period of supply strain and inventory drawdowns.
Under this scenario, oil prices are expected to remain elevated above $100 a barrel through the second quarter. Prices are then forecast to retrace in the second half of 2026, driven by a partial reopening of the strait and some normalization of oil inventories, the note added.
JP Morgan warned that the size and duration of any price spike would be key in determining the severity of the broader macroeconomic shock, raising the risk of deppressed demand and a potential recession if high prices persist
Bangladesh cuts office hours to tackle energy crisis
05:01 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBangladesh is curtailing office hours and enforcing early closure of malls and shops beginning Friday to handle its energy crisis related to the war.
The country’s cabinet ordered 30 per cent spending cuts for fuel and power at government offices, suspended some staff training and stopped purchases of new vehicles, ships and aircraft. Decorative lighting will not be allowed for celebrations.
Bangladesh, a nation of 175 million people, is seeking alternative fuel sources and $2.5bn in external financing for imports, which account for 95 per cent of its fuel.
US military shares photos of USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier
04:50 , Rachel DobkinUS Central Command has shared photos of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier used in its military campaign against Iran.
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) continues to conduct flight operations, both day and night. pic.twitter.com/5GfTA3VurY
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 3, 2026
People walk across Tabiat Bridge as Iranians celebrate Sizdah Bedar
04:42 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
US strikes on an Iranian bridge kill 8
04:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAt least eight people were killed and about 95 people were injured in US strikes on an Iranian bridge, according to state media reports.
The strike hit people who had gathered under the bridge and along the riverbank to celebrate "Nature Day," Iran's state media said, citing authorities in Alborz province.
Donald Trump referenced the strike on the B1 bridge, which he called Iran's biggest, in a social media post saying "much more to follow".Iranian officials condemned the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The bridge was still under construction.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the attack wouldn’t force Tehran to surrender. “It only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray,” he said.
"Every bridge and building will be built back stronger. What will never recover: damage to America’s standing."
Largest US aircraft carrier leaves Croatia
04:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe largest American aircraft carrier in service sailed out of Split and "remains poised for full mission tasking in support of national objectives in any area of operation," the Navy's 6th Fleet announced.
It was unclear where it was going. It went to Croatia after a stop in Souda Bay, Greece, for repairs after a fire in its laundry room. It underwent further repairs in Croatia and saw its sailors take liberty while at port.
The Ford left Norfolk, Virginia, on 24 June last year, making its deployment one of the longest in Navy history.
If it heads to the Middle East, it would have to pass through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Yemen's Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have entered the war and begun firing on Israel, meaning the Ford could face fire from them.
The USS Abraham Lincoln remains in the Arabian Sea. The US military's Central Command said Friday that it "continues to conduct flight operations, both day and night.
"The USS George H W Bush aircraft carrier departed Norfolk on Wednesday to head to the Mideast.
Trump threatens to bomb bridges and power plants in Iran
04:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIn a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump wrote: "Our Military, the greatest and most powerful (by far!) anywhere in the World, hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran.
"Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants! New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!"
Iranian Red Crescent says more than 2,000 people in Iran killed in war
04:00 , Rachel DobkinThe Iranian Red Crescent said Tuesday that more than 2,000 people in Iran have been killed in the ongoing war.
“In less than a month, more than 2,000 people have been killed, including women and children, and at least 21,000 injured”, the humanitarian group wrote in a news release. “Many families have been forced to flee their homes, with an estimated 3 per cent of Iran’s population of around 92 million now internally displaced”.
Iran says its drafting proposal to 'monitor' Strait of Hormuz with Oman: report
03:30 , Rachel DobkinIranian diplomat Kazem Gharibabadi has said the country is drafting a proposal to “monitor' the Strait of Hormuz with Oman, the Associated Press reported, citing Iranian state media.
The proposal is “intended to facilitate and ensure safe passage and provide better services to ships passing through this route”, Gharibabadi said.
Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the world’s oil, amid the growing conflict in the region.
“Naturally, when we face an act of aggression, navigation encounters serious problems, and this is the result of the aggressive act”, the diplomat said. “We are currently at war and cannot expect pre-war rules to govern wartime conditions”.
In pictures: People gather in Tehran during 'Nature Day' as the Iran war drags on
03:00 , Rachel DobkinPeople gathered in Tehran Tuesday during “Nature Day” as the Iran war dragged on.
Iran still has about half of its missile launchers, despite Trump claiming its military capabilities have been 'dramatically curtailed': report
02:30 , Rachel DobkinIran still reportedly has about half of its missile launchers, despite US President Donald Trump claiming its military capabilities have been “dramatically curtailed”.
About half of Iran’s missile launchers are still intact, three sources familiar with recent US intelligence assessments told CNN.
It’s unclear how many of these launchers are currently accessible to Iran.
Iran also still has thousands of drones, according to two of the sources.
The new reporting comes after Trump claimed in an address to his nation that Iran’s “ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed”.
US military denies Iran's claim that an 'enemy' fighter jet was downed over Strait of Hormuz
02:00 , Rachel DobkinThe US military has denied Iran's claim that an “enemy” fighter jet was downed over the Strait of Hormuz.
“All U.S. fighter aircraft are accounted for. Iran's IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times,” US Central Command wrote on social media.
🚫 CLAIM: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it downed an "enemy" fighter jet over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 2, 2026
✅ FACT: All U.S. fighter aircraft are accounted for. Iran's IRGC has made the same false claim at least half a dozen times. pic.twitter.com/bN7HJdLxEr
Most people think Iran war will take months to end, according to Polymarket
01:30 , Rachel DobkinA majority of people on Polymarket, which describes itself as the world’s largest prediction market, bet that the Iran war will take months to end.
When asked when a ceasefire between the US and Iran will happen, 57 percent say June 30 and 71 percent say December 31.
CENTCOM shows off military aircraft in 'Operation Epic Fury'
01:00 , Rachel DobkinUS Central Command has shown off the aircraft used in its military campaign against Iran, which it has dubbed “Operation Epic Fury”.
U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-46 Pegasus aircraft extend the reach of fighter jets and bombers by refueling them mid-flight during Operation Epic Fury. pic.twitter.com/hsWHWb5OuW
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 2, 2026
UN Security Council proposal would allow countries to defend ships in Strait of Hormuz: report
Friday 3 April 2026 00:30 , Rachel DobkinA UN Security Council proposal from Bahrain would allow countries to defend ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil waterway that Iran has effectively closed amid the growing conflict in the Middle East, according to a new report.
The draft resolution authorizes member states to use defensive measures to secure the passage of ships through the strait, CNN, which obtained a copy of the proposal, reported.
The Security Council is expected to vote on the resolution Friday, a Gulf official told CNN.
Iranian bridge attack kills 8, injures 95: report
Friday 3 April 2026 00:00 , Rachel DobkinStrikes on what US President Donald Trump called Iran’s biggest bridge have killed 8 people and injured 95 more, the Associated Press reported, citing Iranian state media.
The AP said the bridge was still under construction.
Trump wrote in all caps on Truth Social, “It is time for Iran to make a deal before it is too late, and there is nothing left of what still could become a great country!”
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said on X attacks on civilian infrastructure “will not compel Iranians to surrender”.
Trump branded a 'loser' in Iranian AI propaganda rap music video
Thursday 2 April 2026 23:25 , Harriette BoucherReport: 'Strait of Hormuz will be closed to US and Israel long-term', Iran says
Thursday 2 April 2026 23:04 , Harriette BoucherIran’s armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi has said the Strait of Hormuz will be closed “long term” to the US and Israel, Iranian media has reported.
Donald Trump said earlier today that the US would not be importing any oil through the Strait in the future.
“The United States imports almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait and won't be taking any in the future, we don't need it. We haven't needed it and we don't need it.
“The countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz strait must take care of that passage.
“They must cherish it. They must grab it and cherish it, they can do it easily. We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on.”
'Hollywood delusions have misled the US with their paltry 250-year history'
Thursday 2 April 2026 22:46 , Harriette BoucherHollywood delusions have misled US officials into believing they can threaten Iran with their “paltry 250-year history,” the aerospace force commander for the Revolutionary Guards said.
Seyed Majid Mousavi said: “It is you who are taking your soldiers to their graves, not Iran, whom you seek to drag back to the Stone Age.
“Hollywood delusions have so poisoned your minds that, with your paltry 250-year history, you threaten a civilisation over 6,000 years old.”
It comes in response to earlier comments Donald Trump, in which he said US forces will keep hitting Iran “extremely hard over the next two or three weeks” and bring the country “back to the Stone Ages”.
Also responding to the comments, Iran's mission to the United Nations said on X that Trump's comment “reflects ignorance, not strength”.
“Iran’s civilisation spans more than 7,000 years, whereas the U.S. is scarcely 250 years old. Civilisations are defined by their history, culture, resilience, and scientific contributions.
“The world remains indebted to the civilisation and knowledge that Iranian scholars have bestowed upon humanity for millennia. Such a civilisation cannot be destroyed by bombing.”
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth reportedly removes top uniformed officer from Army as US wages war in Iran
Thursday 2 April 2026 22:28 , Harriette BoucherThe Independent’s US reporter Josh Marcus reports:
The Army’s top general will be retiring immediately, according to the Defense Department, amid the ongoing war with Iran.
The Pentagon announced Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George’s departure on X.
“The Department of War is grateful for General George’s decades of service to our nation,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote. “We wish him well in his retirement.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly demanded George’s resignation.
The apparent ouster comes as the U.S. continues to battle Iran.
Pete Hegseth reportedly removes top Army general as US wages war in Iran
Hegseth asks US army chief of staff to step down - report
Thursday 2 April 2026 22:10 , Harriette BoucherPete Hegseth has asked Army Chief of Staff Gen Randy George to step down, sources familiar with the situation have said.
One of the sources told CBS that the defence secretary wanted someone in the role who will implement Donald Trump and Hegseth's vision for the army.
A senior defence department official told the broadcaster: “We are grateful for his service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army.”
Mr George was nominated to the position by Joe Biden, and confirmed by the senate in 2023. He was expected to stay in the role until 2027.
What in God’s name is Pete Hegseth doing in Iran? Religious framing of war is ‘unlike anything we’ve seen,’ experts say
Thursday 2 April 2026 22:00 , Harriette Boucher‘He's making it clear that this is Jesus versus Muhammad,’ the founder of a religious freedom advocacy group tells Brendan Rascius, while a former US ambassador calls Hegseth’s war religiosity ‘performance art’
Strikes on civilian infrastructure 'will not compel Iranians to surrender'
Thursday 2 April 2026 21:40 , Harriette BoucherIran’s foreign minister has warned Donald Trump that attacking civilian infrastructures “will not compel Iranians to surrender”.
His comments come after the US partially destructed Iran’s biggest bridge and said there would be “much more to follow”.
In a post on social media, Abbas Araghchi said: “It only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray. Every bridge and building will be built back stronger. What will never recover: damage to America's standing.”
Responding to Trump’s promises to “bring Iran back to the Stone Ages”, Araghchi said: “There's one striking difference between the present and the Stone Age: there was no oil or gas being pumped in the Middle East back then.
“Are POTUS and Americans who put him in office sure that they want to turn back the clock?”
Editorial: Losing a catastrophic war is no way for America to celebrate its 250th birthday
Thursday 2 April 2026 21:20 , Harriette BoucherLosing a catastrophic war is no way for America to celebrate its 250th birthday
Trump celebrates as major bridge in Iran cut in half by strike: ‘Make a deal before it’s too late’
Thursday 2 April 2026 21:00 , Harriette BoucherThe Independent’s Holly Patrick reports:
Donald Trump has celebrated the partial destruction of a major bridge in Iran, vowing there would be "much more to follow" as he posted a video of the strike.
Footage showed the moment the B1 bridge in Karaj, west of Tehran, was cut in half by the strike on Thursday (2 April).
"The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow! IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY!" the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Trump promises to 'bring Iran back to Stone Ages'
Thursday 2 April 2026 20:45 , Harriette BoucherBadenoch tells Trump 'if you break it, you own it'
Thursday 2 April 2026 20:25 , Harriette BoucherKemi Badenoch has told the US ‘if you break it, you own it’ over the Iran War.
The Tory leader warned Donald Trump to not walk away from the Middle East war, saying he should not be “abandoning a mess that he’s made”.
Speaking to broadcasters on Thursday, she said: “The special relationship is between the UK and the US, not between Donald Trump and (Prime Minister) Keir Starmer or whoever happens to be holding those offices.
She said the US is "a close military ally - they help a lot on British security.
“But if I was speaking to him, I’d be saying, ‘if you break it, you own it’. That’s what Colin Powell, a former secretary of state in the US, had said. ‘If you break it, you own it’.
“He started this war. We said that if he needed support against Iran … use our air bases. That’s one of the things that Britain has done.
“What we want to see is our Government showing that it is thinking ahead, it is prepared.
“The best thing it can do right now for our insecurity is increasing supply by drilling our own oil and gas in the North Sea.”
UN peacekeeping base in Lebanon hit by rocket
Thursday 2 April 2026 19:50 , Harriette BoucherA rocket hit a UN peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon on Thursday afternoon, Italy’s defence ministry has said.
No injuries have been reported in the attack, whose origin is still being investigated.
EU must scale up its Aspides naval mission to protect key maritime routes, says Kallas
Thursday 2 April 2026 19:21 , Harriette BoucherThe European Union (EU) must scale up its Aspides naval mission as part of broader moves to protect key maritime routes from disruption caused by the US-Israeli led war with Iran, said the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Thursday.
Kallas made the comments on X, after she had taken part in a call with more than 40 countries, organised by British foreign minister Yvette Cooper, to discuss joint action to re-open the Strait of Hormuz.
"Thank you @YvetteCooperMP for convening a call of over 40 countries on the Strait of Hormuz. This waterway is a global public good. Iran cannot be allowed to charge countries a bounty to let ships pass. International law doesn't recognise pay-to-pass schemes," wrote Kallas on X.
"Today, we looked at diplomatic, economic, and security measures to restore safe passage, alongside working with the shipping industry. The EU's Aspides naval mission has already assisted 1,700 ships in the Red Sea and must be scaled up. We cannot afford to lose another critical trade route," she added.
Kremlin aide Ushakov says Strait of Hormuz is open for Russia - report
Thursday 2 April 2026 18:48 , Harriette BoucherKremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz was open for Russia.
"It is open for us," said Ushakov, speaking on Russian state TV channel Vesti, Interfax news agency reported.
The US-Israeli war against Iran has all but halted shipments of about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas through the strait, causing oil supply disruption and soaring prices.
At the end of March, the Russian foreign ministry stated that it opposed Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but added that the situation must be viewed "in the context of the broader global situation."
UK and allies discuss 'sanctions to bear down on Iran'
Thursday 2 April 2026 18:31 , Harriette BoucherThe UK and its allies have discussed “sanctions to bear down on Iran” as she accuses the country of “trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz”.
In a meeting chaired by Yvette Cooper with more than 40 countries, she said nations had looked at ways they could ramp up diplomatic pressure on Iran and work together with the International Maritime Organisation to secure the release of thousands of ships and sailors trapped in the Strait and get shipping moving again.
The foreign secretary said: “This meeting showed clearly the determination of the international community to secure freedom of navigation and re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz is a direct threat to global prosperity.
“Iran is trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. They must not prevail. To that effect, partners today called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait and respect for the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and the law of the sea. We discussed a number of areas of possible collective, coordinated, action.
“We agreed to take forward further discussions among experts and officials in participating countries to secure freedom of navigation. It is imperative that international law is respected and that Iran fully re-opens the Strait of Hormuz.”
Trump tells Iran to make a deal before 'there is nothing left'
Thursday 2 April 2026 17:55 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has threatened Iran to “make a deal before it is too late”, as he boasts of an attack on civilian infrastructure.
In a post on Truth Social, he said: “The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow!
“IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Starmer and Trump's 'bust-up' is different to previous US-UK rows, former ambassador says
Thursday 2 April 2026 17:35 , Harriette BoucherThe “bust-up” between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump is different to past disputes between British and American leaders, a former ambassador to the US has said.
Lord Darroch said the US president’s rhetoric towards Starmer was “pretty wounding”.
He told Sky News: “What’s different, I think, is first of all, the president keeps banging on about how disappointed he is with Starmer.
“He seems to say something new every two or three days and the tone of it is pretty wounding.
“Second, the difference between Trump and some of his predecessors, with whom British prime ministers have clashed, is you can't imagine Clinton or Reagan imposing tariffs or taking other action like that, whereas I'm afraid you can imagine that with Trump.”
“It’s not good but the government has to basically ignore the noise and carry on.”
Trump has repeatedly hit out at Starmer over what he says is a lack of support from the UK in the Iran war.
Moment Macron hits out at Trump: 'Perhaps we should not speak every day'
Thursday 2 April 2026 17:24 , Harriette BoucherCooper refuses to say if US is still an ally as she vows to do everything possible to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Thursday 2 April 2026 17:07 , Harriette BoucherThe Independent’s Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:
Yvette Cooper dodged questions on whether the US was still an ally as she said the UK and other nations would use "every possible” diplomatic, economic and co-ordinated measure to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
The foreign secretary comments came after she chaired international talks on tackling "reckless" Iranian attacks on the vital oil shipping lane, where 2,000 ships remain trapped.
But she evaded a question on whether or not Washington was still an ally, a day after Rachel Reeves expressed her anger at Donald Trump over the Iran war, saying only: "We want to see the conflict resolved, concluded, as rapidly as possible, because, frankly, that's what's best for the cost of living here in the UK."
Tehran has blocked the channel in retaliation for the month-long US-Israeli campaign against it, causing global oil prices to soar.
In the face of US President Donald Trump's repeated criticism of allies over their refusal to take part in his offensive against Iran, Ms Cooper said that "our job is to take decisions in the UK national interest".
Cooper refuses to say if US is still an ally after talks to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Trump's threat to leave Nato is Putin's 'dream plan'
Thursday 2 April 2026 16:53 , Harriette BoucherThe threat of Nato’s break-up alongside the energy crisis is Europe “looks like Putin’s dream plan”, the Polish prime minister has stated.
Donald Tusk, who was previously president of the European Council, wrote on social media: “The threat of NATO’s break-up, easing sanctions on Russia, a massive energy crisis in Europe, halting aid for Ukraine and blocking the loan for Kyiv by Orbán - it all looks like Putin’s dream plan.”
It comes after Donald Trump said he was seriously considering withdrawing the US from Nato.
The US president has continued to criticise the alliance for its lack of involvement in the Middle East.
He told Politico on Friday he “couldn’t care less” about Nato, saying: “They were they weren't there. I have no frustration. I couldn't care less.
“I didn't need them ... But if I ever did need them, they wouldn't be there. And we had a lot of money every year in NATO, so I learned a lot. So did the country, so did the United States, and NATO is -- NATO is a paper tiger.”
What in god’s name is Pete Hegseth doing in Iran? Religious framing is ‘completely, totally unprecedented,’ experts say
Thursday 2 April 2026 16:50 , Maira ButtFor Pete Hegseth, the Iran war is not only a conflict between states, but a cosmic showdown between good and evil, where bullets are instruments of divine will, and fallen foes are condemned to eternal hellfire.
The defense secretary, an Evangelical Christian, has explicitly framed the Middle East war through the lens of his faith, weaving scripture into his remarks, praying for “overwhelming violence” against his enemies and insisting that God stands with the U.S. against Iran, a Muslim-majority nation of some 90 million people.
Rhetoric of this intensity and frequency — from an official of Hegseth’s stature — has scant precedent in modern American history, according to former officials, scholars and military advocates who spoke with The Independent.
Brendan Rascius reports:
'They gotta get guts and go in' Trump tells Politico about Nato
Thursday 2 April 2026 16:27 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has revealed why he did not address Nato in his speech last night.
“Well, I did indirectly. I talked about the people that use the – it wasn’t a Nato speech, it was a Middle East speech, but I did indirectly,” he told Politico in a phone call on Wednesday. “I talked about the Strait, they weren't there….”
He added” “They gotta get guts and go in. Just send your ships up there and enjoy it.”
