Iran war continues: Live updates
Israeli military says Iran has launched its first missile barrage of the day — 7:17 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Very early on Thursday, Israel’s military said Iran had launched missiles at the country, the first time of the day.
Sirens sounded the alert in Tel Aviv, central Israel and parts of the occupied West Bank.
Some Israeli families celebrate first Passover gathering in shelters as Iran sends missile barrage — 5:52 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Iran launched approximately 10 missiles, one right after the other, targeting central Israel in the early evening of Wednesday, Israel’s military said. The siren alerts in rapid succession sent millions of residents into shelters about an hour before sundown — when Jews were getting ready to celebrate the first night of Passover, one of the holiest times of the year.
The holiday, commemorating the ancient Israelites’ Exodus from slavery in Egypt, is celebrated around family dinner tables and at communal banquets. In Ramat Gan, just outside Tel Aviv, some families set up long, festive tables for the traditional Seder meal in an underground shelter, next to sleeping tents.
In letter to Americans, Iran’s president asks if the war is in their interest — 3:55 p.m.
By the Associated Press
“Exactly which of the American people’s interests are truly being served by this war? Was there any objective threat from Iran to justify such behavior?” President Masoud Pezeshkian said in the letter that he posted in English on his X account on Wednesday.
He said that, in its modern history, Iran never chose aggression “despite possessing military superiority over many of its neighbors.”
Further, the Iranian president signaled that the U.S. has entered the war as a proxy for Israel, and insisted that what Iran continues to do in its attacks against neighboring countries is a “measured response grounded in legitimate self-defense”.
“Is ‘America First’ truly among the priorities of the U.S government today?” he asked.
Hegseth expected before Congress later this month — 3:51 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is tentatively set to testify April 29 before the House Armed Services Committee, where he’ll likely face lawmakers’ questions for the first time since the Iran war began, according to a congressional staffer with knowledge of the matter.
The meeting will serve as the annual Pentagon budget hearing and will include Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the staffer, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to confirm the hearing.
Hegseth and Caine are expected to get questions about the war’s objectives, costs and casualties.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of humanitarian aid trapped in Strait of Hormuz chokehold, global aid agency head warns — 3:40 p.m.
By the Associated Press
President of the International Rescue Committee David Miliband made these remarks during an online briefing with journalists after visiting Syria and war-torn Lebanon.
Over $100,000 worth of IRC humanitarian aid for lifesaving initiatives is trapped in its hub in Dubai.
Iran has been cementing its chokehold the Strait of Hormuz in the ongoing war with the United States and Israel, the world’s most important artery for oil shipments.
“Thirty percent of the world’s fertilizer goes through there,” said Miliband, fearing a food security crisis in many vulnerable countries where the organization works. “We are advocating that all the goods in that hub be given safe passage immediately.”
Traffic through the strait has fallen by 90% since the start of the Iran war, sending global oil prices skyrocketing and inflicting alarming shortages on the Asian nations that get their oil from Persian Gulf countries via the strait.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres set up an initiative to allow humanitarian assistance to move through the strait in a bid to prevent a global food crisis.
Trump will update the nation on progress in Iran, reiterating his timeline for a conclusion — 3:29 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The president’s prime-time address will offer an update on US progress toward achieving his goals in Iran, according to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly ahead of the address.
The official said those goals are to destroy Iran’s missile production, destroy its Navy, ensure its proxies can no longer destabilize the region, and guarantee Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump is also expected to reiterate his estimated timeline of concluding operations within two to three weeks.
Iran’s President says confrontation and engagement between Iran and the US are accessible — 3:20 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian in a message to American people said both confrontation and engagement between Iran and the US are accessible, adding that Iran will endure any aggression by the US.
“Today, the world stands at crossroads. Continuing along the path of confrontation is more costly and futile than ever before. The choice between confrontation and engagement is both real and consequential; its outcome will shape the future for generations to come, “ said Pezeshkian. “Throughout its millennia of proud history, Iran has outlasted many aggressors. All that remains of them are tarnished names in history, while Iran endures — resilient, dignified, and proud.”
Pezeshkina did not mention a cease-fire offer last week by President Trump, though he accused Israel of dragging the US into a war against Iran.
“Is it not also the case that America has entered this aggression as a proxy for Israel, influenced and manipulated by that regime?” asked Pezeshkian.
War-torn Lebanon is facing ‘fastest growing displacement crisis in the world,’ says international aid organization president — 3:17 p.m.
By the Associated Press
David Miliband, President of the International Rescue Committee made these remarks during an online briefing with journalists after visiting Lebanon and Syria.
More than one million Lebanese were displaced during the past month in the latest conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. Israel has issued evacuation orders for large swaths of southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs. Only a small portion of them are staying in government-run public schools turned-shelters, while others stay with family or even in tents on the streets.
“There is nothing like driving in front of the Lebanon yacht club and in front of it are Lebanese in tents who are displaced,” said Miliband, who decried the tiny country’s situation as a “silent emergency that is getting very little attention.”
China says it will work with Pakistan to end hostilities in the Middle East — 3:00 p.m.
By the Associated Press
China on Wednesday said it would stay in “close communication with Pakistan and relevant parties” on the Iran war and “play a constructive role in promoting the end of hostilities.”
It comes a day after China’s foreign minister met Pakistan’s top diplomat in Beijing and said China supported efforts to deescalate tensions.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar that it would not be an easy task and that China would be “willing to work with Pakistan” to end the “flames of war” as soon as possible and open the “window to peace talks.”
Wang said Pakistan’s efforts were in the interest of all sides, including averting spillover effects, preventing further casualties, stabilizing international energy security and protecting supply chains.
Following their meeting Tuesday, the two governments put forward a five-point proposal, including ceasing hostilities, starting peace talks, protecting civilian targets and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
NATO gets bipartisan support ahead of Trump speech — 2:51 p.m.
By the Associated Press
NATO is getting defended on a bipartisan basis by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., ahead of Trump’s address to the nation on Wednesday night.
Trump is expected to criticize NATO members for not joining the U.S. in its war with Iran.
McConnell and Coons said in a joint statement that “NATO is the most successful military alliance in history” and stressed how its members “fought and died,” along with U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Americans are safer when NATO is strong and united,” the statement said. “The Senate will continue to support the alliance for the peace and protection it provides America, Europe, and the World.”
The National Defense Authorization Act in 2023 has provision that requires a two-thirds approval from the Senate in order to leave NATO or a separate measure by Congress, limiting the president’s ability to do so unilaterally.
Bahrain says protecting maritime security is critical as Iran blocks Strait of Hormuz — 2:46 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Bahrain’s U.N. Ambassador Jamal Alrowaiei accused Iran of “economic terrorism” and violating international law. And he urged adoption of a U.N. resolution that would authorize countries “to use all necessary means” to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
He expressed hope at a U.N. news conference that the Security Council will adopt the resolution “as soon as possible,” and as early as Thursday. But Russia, China and France objected to the latest draft, and negotiations were continuing.
Alrowaiei, the Arab representative on the council and its president for April, said Gulf countries had tried “to build bridges of peace with Iran,” and the attacks they were subjected to immediately after the Israeli-US airstrikes on Feb. 28 were “shocking and premeditated.”
He said Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, has been targeted by 186 missiles and 419 drones and has suffered damage to desalination plants, hotels, the airport and other civilian infrastructure.
Strikes in Tehran send plumes of smoke into the sky — 1:46 p.m.
By the Associated Press
AP footage in the Iranian capital of Tehran showed large plumes of smoke billowing over the city on Wednesday afternoon following US- Israeli strikes, as the war in the Middle East completes its first month and strikes on Iran continue unabated.
Also Wednesday, the Israeli military said that it had completed a wave of strikes against “dozens of military infrastructure sites of the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran.”
Trump says he doesn’t care about Iran’s enriched uranium — 1:24 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The president has said one of his primary goals of the war was to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and he told Reuters on Wednesday that has been achieved, though it isn’t clear how.
Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium that could potentially be used to build nuclear weapons is believed to be buried under the rubble of a mountain facility that was hit during strikes last June — and that hasn’t changed since the war with Iran began this year. Trump has said the US would move to take the uranium if it reaches a deal with Iran.
But he said Wednesday that the uranium is “so far underground, I don’t care about that.”
“We’ll always be watching it by satellite,” he said.
Trump also said Iran is now “incapable” of developing a nuclear weapon.
By the Associated Press
Vice President JD Vance has been speaking to intermediaries about Iran as recently as Tuesday and delivered a message that Trump is impatient and that there will be growing pressure on Iranian infrastructure if they don’t make a deal, according to a person familiar with the talks who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Trump directed Vance to communicate privately that he is open to a ceasefire as long as certain demands are met.
Trump says US could leave Iran soon but might ‘come back to do spot hits’ — 1:10 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The president told Reuters in a telephone interview ahead of his televised address Wednesday night that the U.S. would be finishing its war in Iran soon, but he wouldn’t give a timeline.
“I can’t tell you exactly … we’re going to be out pretty quickly,” he said. But once the US leaves, he said “We’ll come back to do spot hits” on targets, as needed.
Saudi Arabia rerouted about 1 million barrels a day away from the Strait of Hormuz in March — 1:03 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Almost 4 million barrels of crude oil a day transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in March, up from about 3 million barrels the prior month and the highest level since October 2023, maritime data firm Kpler said Wednesday.
The increase came as Saudi Arabia sent crude through a pipeline across its country to the Red Sea port of Yanbu after the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Aramco operates the East-West pipeline from the Aqaiq oil processing center near the Persian Gulf to Yanbu. It has enabled the Saudis to maintain some exports blocked by the Hormuz closure, but it lacks the capacity to fully compensate.
Before the war, Yanbu shipped 750,000 to 850,000 barrels a day. Of the crude passing through Bab el-Mandeb in March, 1.75 million barrels a day were loaded there, the data showed.
Most of the remainder transiting the strait in March was Russian oil bound for Asia, Kpler said.
Somalia and Tanzania announce fuel price hikes amid global supply disruptions — 12:52 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Somalia’s government on Wednesday said it has limited control over fuel pricing, as imports are handled by private companies in a largely liberalized market.
Dahir Shire Mohamed, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, said prices have surged due to “external shocks,” linking the increase to “regional tensions affecting global supply routes.”
The price per liter has increased from $0.70 to $1.75, marking a 150 percent increase.
Tanzania’s Energy Ministry on Wednesday announced a 33 percent increase in fuel prices, attributing it to the conflict in Iran, saying it had affected supply and shipping. The ministry urged Tanzanians to use the available fuel “carefully and efficiently.”
By the Associated Press
American officials have given mediators “clear assurances” that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf won’t be targeted amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to stop the Iran war, according to two regional officials and one person briefed on the matter.
The person briefed said that Pakistan asked Washington to intervene to get Israel to remove the two officials from its hit list.
Israel’s prime minister’s office and the military didn’t respond to request for comment.
The assurances were also given at the request of other regional mediators to facilitate communications with Iran and push for indirect talks, said one of the officials, who is involved in the mediation efforts. All three spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss sensitive diplomatic conversations.
A Gulf diplomat, briefed on the matter, said the US assurances were “crucial” to ensure neither the foreign minister or the speaker or their teams won’t be assassinated. Reuters was the first to report that the two Iranian leaders were removed from a supposed hit list.
Trump, Finnish president talk about NATO, Iran — 12:14 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The two leaders spoke via phone in a “constructive” conversation, said Alexander Stubb, the Finnish leader.
“We exchanged thoughts on NATO, Ukraine, and Iran,” Stubb wrote in an X post. “It’s good to seek solutions to problems together.”
The call comes as the US president is increasingly venting about allies and what he says is their unwillingness to get involved in the war in Iran, particularly in securing the Strait of Hormuz, prompting him to again talk about the U.S. leaving NATO.
Israeli military denies targeting Syrian state television crew — 12:02 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Syrian state television said Wednesday that its crew reporting in the Quneitra Province in southern Syria was targeted by the Israeli military, a claim the military later denied.
A video aired by the station showed a journalist in a press vest falling to the floor following what the person filming said was “a second shelling.”
The Israeli military said the “journalists approached the scene only after the fire had been carried out and were not the target of the activity.” It wasn’t immediately clear what the military was targeting.
Bahrain circulates a new UN proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz without enforcement language — 11:58 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A revised draft of Bahrain’s proposal — obtained by The Associated Press — to protect commercial shipping in and around the critical waterway has removed explicit authorization for UN-backed military action while retaining language associated with it. A vote on the new draft is expected Thursday, according to a UN diplomat who wasn’t authorized to comment about plans not yet made public and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The original text had been placed under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, which allows the council to authorize actions ranging from sanctions to the use of force. But it faced opposition from Iran’s allies on the Security Council, China and Russia, which are both veto-wielding members. The US and the Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, had been lobbying on behalf of the proposal.
The diplomat said the watered-down language will still be a hard swallow for China and Russia but it’s expected to get the necessary votes to pass the 15-member council.
Trans-Atlantic rift widens as Trump lashes out at NATO allies over Mideast war — 11:40 a.m.
By the Associated Press
President Trump says he’s strongly considering pulling the United States out of NATO, ratcheting up his criticism of European allies and exposing a wider rift in the trans-Atlantic alliance — this time over the Iran war.
While Trump’s talk of a possible NATO pullout dates back years, the comments to The Telegraph newspaper in the UK, published Wednesday, were among the clearest and most disparaging yet — suggesting the fracture has deepened perhaps to a point of no return.
Asked whether he would reconsider US membership in the alliance after the conflict in the Middle East ends, Trump replied: “Oh yes, I would say (it’s) beyond reconsideration.”
NATO didn’t provide immediate comment when contacted by The Associated Press.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government was “fully committed to NATO” and called it “the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen.”
Many European leaders have felt political pressure over the war, which faces opposition in their countries and has sent petroleum prices soaring as Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz.
French President Emmanuel Macron calls for a ceasefire in the Mideast during a visit to Japan — 11:39 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Macron, who held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, said Wednesday they both believe in international law, the international order and the democratic values, adding: “This is why … we both advocate for a return to peace, a ceasefire, calm, and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Takaichi said the two leaders agreed on the importance of quickly de-escalating the conflict and to secure the safety of the vital waterway and the stable supply of goods.
“With the international environment increasingly severe, I believe it is especially meaningful for the Japanese and French leaders to deepen our friendship and cooperation,” Takaichi said at a joint news conference at the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo.
The leaders said they also agreed to deepen their cooperation in defense, rare earths development, nuclear energy, space and other areas.
Mother of kidnapped journalist says she feels ‘terrible’ and ‘scared’ for her daughter — 11:15 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Shelly Kittleson’s mother, 72-year-old Barb Kittleson, said she last exchanged emails with her daughter Monday. Shelly Kittleson sent photos of herself from Iraq, her mother said.
Barb Kittleson said she heard about the kidnapping from a news report Tuesday and was visited by the FBI at her home in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, on Tuesday night.
When asked how she felt about the kidnapping she said, “Terrible. Scared. I’ll pray for her.”
She said her hope is for her daughter “not to be hurt and be OK.”
Shelly Kittleson left her home in Wisconsin in 1995, when she was 19 years old, and first headed to Italy where she went to school and worked as a nanny, her mother said. She spent about 10 years in Italy before eventually settling in Iraq, Barb Kittleson said.
Barb Kittleson said she had not seen her daughter in person since 2002 but they exchange emails a couple of times a week, including on Monday when her daughter sent her a couple of pictures.
Securing Iran’s enriched uranium by force would be risky and complex, experts say — 10:46 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Should the US decide to send in military forces to secure Iran’s uranium stockpile, it would be a complex, risky and lengthy operation, fraught with radiation and chemical dangers, according to experts and former government officials.
President Trump has offered shifting reasons for the war in Iran but has consistently said a primary objective is ensuring the country will “never have a nuclear weapon.” Less clear is how far he’s willing to go to seize Iran’s nuclear material.
Given the risks of inserting as many as 1,000 specially trained forces into a war zone to remove the stockpile, another option would be a negotiated settlement with Iran that would allow the material to be surrendered and secured without using force.
Iran has 972 pounds (440.9 kilograms) of uranium that’s enriched up to 60 percent purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 percent, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog agency.
Multiple rounds of sirens within minutes heard across Israel — 10:41 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Sirens sounded across central Israel in multiple rounds within minutes Wednesday afternoon. Associated Press reporters heard loud booms in Tel Aviv as the windows of buildings shook from the reverberations.
Iran responds to Trump’s claim that Iran’s president wants a cease-fire — 10:33 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, called Trump’s claim “false and baseless,” according to a report on Iranian state television.
Also, Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard separately issued a statement saying the Strait of Hormuz “is firmly and decisively under the control” of its forces.
“This strait will not be opened to the enemies of this nation through the ridiculous spectacle by the president of the United States,” it added.
Stocks rally worldwide as oil prices ease on hopes for a possible end to the Iran war — 10:23 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Stocks are climbing worldwide, and oil prices are easing Wednesday as hopes build that the war with Iran could end soon. Some of the moves are tentative, though, after financial markets have already seen similar bouts of optimism get quickly undercut several times.
The S&P 500 rose 0.6 percent and added to its leap from the day before, which was its best since last spring. That followed even bigger gains for stock markets across Europe and Asia, including an 8.4 percent surge in South Korea, which were catching up to Wall Street’s rally from Tuesday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 292 points, or 0.6 percent, as of 10 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1 percent higher.
Oil prices also fell back toward $100 per barrel after President Trump said shortly before Wall Street began trading that Iran “has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!”
IOM estimates around 180,000 families displaced in Iran since war began — 9:09 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Around 180,000 Iranian families have been displaced due to the ongoing war, but it’s hard to determine an exact figure because Iran doesn’t have a displacement tracking level as found in other countries, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Amy Pope, IOM’s director general, told The Associated Press the agency expects that figure to increase as more civilian infrastructure gets caught in the crossfire.
Pope also warned about the impact on migrants working in Iran who might not be guaranteed the same safety that an Iranian family is seeking.
“This is the kind of hidden consequence of a conflict like this. There are people … who are not necessarily accounted for and … won’t have the support they need,” she said.
Pakistan receives oil shipments after Iran permits more ships via Strait of Hormuz — 8:41 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A Pakistani vessel carrying oil arrived at the southern port city of Karachi after transiting the Strait of Hormuz, while a second vessel reached the port via a different route, a Karachi Port Trust spokesperson said Wednesday.
Spokesperson Shariq Farooqi said more Pakistani-flagged ships are expected this month to deliver much-needed oil from Gulf countries.
The development comes days after Pakistan’s foreign minister said Iran had agreed to allow 20 additional Pakistani-flagged ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the move as a “constructive gesture” aimed at easing regional tensions.
Pakistan is also seeking to help end the conflict between the United States and Iran by encouraging both sides to return to negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for global oil shipments.
Iran holds a funeral for a Revolutionary Guard rear admiral — 8:14 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Iran’s capital, Tehran, held a funeral Wednesday for an Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander killed in an Israeli airstrike last week.
State television showed live footage of mourners waving Iranian flags at a funeral for Rear. Adm. Alireza Tangsiri, the head of Revolutionary Guard’s navy. An Israeli airstrike killed Tangsiri last week, with Tehran only acknowledging his death Monday.
Another funeral had been held Tuesday in Bandar Abbas, a key port city on the Strait of Hormuz.
US and Iraqi officials say kidnapped journalist had been warned of threats — 8:10 a.m.
By the Associated Press
An American journalist who was kidnapped in Baghdad had tried to cross from Syria into Iraq three weeks earlier and was initially turned back, an Iraqi official said Wednesday.
US and Iraqi officials said Shelly Renee Kittleson had also been warned of threats against her in the days before her abduction. A freelance journalist who has worked for years in Iraq and Syria, Kittleson was kidnapped from a street in the Iraqi capital Tuesday and remains missing.
Hussein Alawi, an adviser to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said Kittleson had sought to enter via the al-Qaim crossing from Syria on March 9 but was turned back because she did not have a press work permit and because security concerns due to “the escalation of the war and aerial projectiles over Iraqi airspace as a result of the war on Iran.”
She later entered the country after obtaining a single-entry visa to Iraq valid for 60 days issued to allow foreign citizens stranded in neighboring countries to “transit through Iraq to reach their home countries via available transport routes,” he said.
Kittleson entered Baghdad a few days before she was kidnapped and was staying in a hotel in the capital, he said.
Red Crescent volunteer killed in airstrike in Iran — 7:48 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A volunteer with the Iranian Red Crescent was killed by an airstrike Tuesday in the country’s northwest, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Alireza Sohbatlou was providing services at a clinic in Zanjan province when an airstrike hit the nearby religious site Azam Hussainiya of Zanjan, the humanitarian network said Wednesday.
He was the third Red Crescent volunteer killed in Iran since the start of the war, the IFRC said.
Iran’s supreme leader vows to support anti-Israeli forces — 7:29 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Iran’s supreme leader vowed Wednesday his nation will continue to support anti-Israeli forces in the Mideast.
The message from Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, like others since he was named Iran’s new supreme leader, came in a statement read on air by a state television anchor.
“I firmly declare that the consistent policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in continuing the path of the late Imam and martyred leader, is based on continuing to support the resistance against the Zionist-American enemy,” Khamenei said in the comments from a letter to the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Khamenei has not been seen since the war began Feb. 28. U.S. and Israeli officials believe he was wounded and remains in hiding.
Indian citizen wounded in UAE drone attack — 6:36 a.m.
By the Associated Press
An Indian citizen was wounded during a drone attack Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates, according to the official WAM news agency in Umm Al Quwain, one of the UAE’ seven emirates.
Shrapnel fell near an industrial area of Umm Al Thoub while air defense systems were intercepting a drone, the agency reported.
Russian Embassy in Iran condemns airstrike damaging cathedral in Tehran — 6:29 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Russian Embassy in Iran on Wednesday condemned an airstrike on the compound of the former US Embassy there as it damaged a nearby cathedral.
The embassy said the blast broke doors and windows at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, just across from the compound.
An adjacent Russian nursing home sustained damage, including a collapsed roof, it added.
“We strongly condemn the ongoing US and Israeli aggression against Iran, which is increasingly affecting civilian infrastructure and religious and cultural heritage,” the embassy said.
South Korea implements limited car policy for public employees — 5:46 a.m.
By the Associated Press
South Korea will require public employees to alternate car use every other day starting next week.
The measure comes as officials raised the alert level over crude oil supplies, citing concerns about a prolonged crisis in the Middle East.
The climate ministry said Wednesday the government will implement an odd-even driving scheme, based on license plate numbers, for public employees using fossil-fuel vehicles starting April 8.
The government already had required public employees to keep their cars off the road at least one weekday starting March 25 to reduce energy consumption during the war.
Electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, as well as those used by people with disabilities and pregnant women, will be exempt from the restrictions.
Starmer says UK committed to NATO after Trump criticism — 5:41 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Asked about President Trump’s comment to the Daily Telegraph newspaper that he is considering pulling out of NATO, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain is fully committed to NATO.
Starmer called it “the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen.”
Starmer told reporters that “whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I am going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions I make.”
UK to host Strait of Hormuz summit — 5:27 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the UK will host an international diplomatic conference this week on ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Starmer says 35 countries have signed a statement committing to work together on restoring maritime security to the key oil transport route.
He said Wednesday that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will lead a conference on the issue, and military planners are also working on plans for security once the Iran war ends.
Starmer said “a united front of military strength and diplomatic activity” is needed to restore stability.
Drone attack hits northern Iraq fuel warehouse — 5:22 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Multiple drones attacked a northern Iraq fuel warehouse linked to British oil and natural gas giant BP, a firm operating the facility said.
No casualties were reported.
The attack on the motor oil warehouse occurred in Irbil, the capital city of Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region, the Sardar Group, a major automotive group in Iraq, said in a statement. It said the facility is owned by Castrol, a subsidiary of BP.
The statement said the first drone hit the facility at 7:20 a.m., before it was attacked again with two more drones while firefighters were combating the fire.
The attack started a massive fire that sent a column of black smoke into the air, social media footage shows.
Lebanese military says it has withdrawn from border towns — 4:31 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Lebanese military said its forces have largely withdrawn from some border towns as Israeli troops continue to push a ground invasion into the country.
The Lebanese military said in a statement that troops had to reposition to prevent being dispersed and cut off from support lines.
The military has gradually withdrawn from a handful of border towns. Remaining residents in the Christian-majority communities Rmeich and Ain Ebel have appealed to the Lebanese military and leadership to stay.
The military said it would maintain soldiers in those towns.
Israel has declared southern Lebanon up until the Litani River will be a “security-zone” in its ongoing war with the militant group Hezbollah and residents will not be able to return until further notice.
Over 1 million people in Lebanon have been displaced over the past month.
Airstrike hits compound of former US Embassy in Iran — 3:35 a.m.
By the Associated Press
An airstrike in Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Wednesday morning appears to have struck inside of the former US Embassy compound there.
The embassy has been controlled by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard since the 1979 hostage crisis.
Its all-volunteer Basij force operates the compound, running an anti-American museum inside the embassy and having different operations on its grounds in newer buildings.
Witnesses saw blown-out windows surrounding the massive compound on Tehran’s Taleghani Street. However, there was no missile strike visible around the compound, with witnesses saying they believe the strike happened inside the compound.
The 444-day hostage crisis saw American diplomats held until President Ronald Reagan took office from President Jimmy Carter in 1981.
Iranian foreign minister signals willingness to keep fighting — 3:57 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled Tehran’s willingness to keep fighting no matter what Trump may threaten.
Trump’s April 6 deadline for the Strait of Hormuz to open still stands, otherwise he threatened to hit power plants.
“You cannot speak to the people of Iran in the language of threats and deadlines,” Araghchi said.
Asked if the United States would launch a ground war in Iran, Araghchi dismissed the idea.
“I do not think they would dare to do such a thing,” he said. “Very heavy casualties would await them.”
Oil falls below $100 per barrel — 3:38 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Oil fell below $100 per barrel and Asian shares jumped Wednesday over renewed optimism about a de-escalation of the Iran war.
Brent crude, the international standard, was down 4.7 percent to $99.05 per barrel.
Benchmark US crude dropped 4 percent to $97.33 a barrel.
South Korea’s Kospi recovered its losses from earlier this week, surging 8.4 percent to 5,478.70, while Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rose 5.2 percent to 53,739.68.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 2.3 percent to 25,346.42, while the Shanghai Composite index was trading 1.5 percent higher at 3,948.55.
Qatar says oil tanker hit by Iranian cruise missile — 3:25 a.m.
By the Associated Press
An oil tanker contracted by Qatar was struck by an Iranian cruise missile on Wednesday while two others were intercepted, authorities said.
The missile slammed into the tanker off Qatar’s coast that was contracted by state-owned QatarEnergy. The ministry said the tanker’s 21-member crew was evacuated, and no casualties were reported.
In a statement, the Defense Ministry said two other missiles were intercepted.
QatarEnergy said there was no environmental impact from the tanker attack.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said earlier that a projectile slammed into the side of the ship.
Houthis claim firring missile barrage at southern Israel — 2:52 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen said Wednesday they fired a barrage of ballistic missiles toward Israel.
Air raid sirens went off in southern Israel in the early morning, from Beersheba to the Mediterranean coast following the launch. There were no immediate reports of impacts.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, said in a prerecorded statement that they fired at “sensitive targets” in southern Israel.The attack is the third since the Houthis joined the war on Friday when they fired their first missile towards Israel since the U.S. and Israel launched massive airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
Their entry has raised concerns that they could resume attacks on vessels in the Red Sea further disrupting the global shipping industry and sending oil prices much higher.
Drone attack kills Bangladeshi national in UAE — 2:33 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A drone attack has killed a citizen of Bangladesh in Fujairah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, authorities said.
He was killed Wednesday when Emirati air defense systems intercepted a drone, and shrapnel landed in a farm, the Fujairah media office said.
The fatality has brought the death toll in the UAE to nine civilians and two soldiers. A Moroccan contractor with the UAE army was also killed in Bahrain.
Earlier Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed two Iranian drones.
Israel warns of third Iranian missile attack in an hour — 2:15 a.m.
By the Associated Press
For the third time in an hour Israel warned of incoming missiles from Iran.
2 children among at least 3 people injured in missile attack on Israel — 2:02 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Emergency personnel said an 11-year-old girl was severely wounded in central Israel in the latest missile attack from Iran.
Two people suffered moderate injuries, including a 13-year-old boy and a 36-year-old woman, while 11 others were lightly wounded, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue services.
Iran’s foreign minister acknowledges receiving messages from US envoy — 12:32 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Iran’s foreign minister has acknowledged receiving direct messages from US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.
The comments by Abbas Araghchi came in an interview with pan-Arab broadcaster Al Jazeera aired late Tuesday. He insisted that the messages didn’t constitute negotiations.
President Trump has repeatedly described Iran and America has having talks over the war, while Pakistan has been a key intermediary along with Egypt and Turkey during the conflict.
“I receive messages from Witkoff directly, as before, and this does not mean that we are in negotiations,” he said.
He added: “We do not have any faith that negotiations with the US will yield any results. The trust level is at zero.”
Asked about a possible ground offensive by the US, Araghchi said “we are waiting for them.”
“We know very well how to defend ourselves,” Araghchi reportedly told the Qatar-based broadcaster. “In a ground war, we can do it even better. We are completely ready to confront any sort of ground attack. We hope they do not make such a mistake.”
At least 5 killed by Israeli strike in Beirut neighborhood — 12:25 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said in a preliminary count early Wednesday 21 people were also wounded in the strike in Jnah.
The strike came without warning, and Israel did not declare the target. When it does, it often says it is targeting operatives from the Hezbollah militant group.
Emergency workers rushed to the scene to search for victims.
Israel warns of incoming Yemeni missile attack — 12:13 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Israel’s military warned the public Wednesday that a missile was incoming from Yemen, yet another attack from the country’s Houthi rebels who have just entered the war on Iran’s side.
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