European countries \u2018legitimate targets\u2019 if they join US and Israel, says Iran\u2019s deputy FM<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s deputy foreign minister earlier warned European nations that they will become legitimate targets if they become involved in the US and Israel\u2019s war on Tehran.<\/p>\n
If any country \u201cjoins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran<\/a>, they will be also legitimate targets for Iran\u2019s retaliation,\u201d Majid Takht-Ravanchi told France 24.<\/p>\n He said Iranian officials had been \u201cnegotiating in good faith\u201d with the US before Washington decided to attack with Israel on Saturday.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe do not trust the Americans. Not only did they betray us, but they betrayed diplomacy.<\/p>\n He described Tehran\u2019s latest moves as defensive, saying that \u201cthis war was imposed on us\u201d by the US and Israel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n The day so far<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n Macron condemns Israeli strike on UN site in southern Lebanon<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n European countries \u2018legitimate targets\u2019 if they join US and Israel, says Iran\u2019s deputy FM<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Putin spoke with Iranian president and ‘agreed to continue contacts’, says Kremlin<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Iran’s UN envoy says 1,332 Iranian civilians killed in war, and accuses US and Israel of war crimes<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n Trump says US defence manufacturers agree to ‘quadruple production’ of weapons<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n Iran military says strait of Hormuz remains open, but any US or Israeli ship will be targeted<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n Qatar says it has intercepted nine Iranian drones<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Iran campaign may take four to six weeks, says White House<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Macron expresses \u2018full solidarity\u2019 with Iraqi PM<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Russia providing Iran intelligence to target US forces – reports<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n UN chief warns conflict ‘could spiral beyond anyone’s control’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n Today so far<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n US Central Command: Iran targeted civilian neighbourhoods in Bahrain<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 7h ago<\/p>\n Iraqi prime minister discusses ‘unified positions’ with president of Kurdistan region<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n UN: Forced displacement in Lebanon could be violating international law<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n Trump: US is moving ‘thousands’ of people out of Middle East countries<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n US investigators believe strike on Iranian girls\u2019 school probably carried out by US forces<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n Lebanon health officials say 217 killed in Israeli attacks<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n US-Israeli strikes against Iran ‘extraordinary mistake’, says Spanish PM<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n Explosions near Erbil airport in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq- report<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s deputy prime minister suggests that the UK could take part in strikes<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s president says \u2018some countries\u2019 have begun mediation efforts to end war<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n Trump: No deal with Iran except ‘unconditional surrender’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n Video: IDF footage claims to show air strikes on Khamenei\u2019s underground bunker<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 11h ago<\/p>\n Lebanon drawn into war ‘it did not seek or choose’, says PM<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 11h ago<\/p>\n Summary of developments so far<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n Video: Pastors pray for Trump and US success in Iran war<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n Mediation talks should be aimed at US and Israel, says Iranian president<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n IDF claims 50 jets bombed Khamenei’s underground bunker ‘still being used by Iranian officials’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 13h ago<\/p>\n ‘Plenty of oil’ in markets despite Middle East turmoil, says IEA chief<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 13h ago<\/p>\n Israel official says bombing campaign in Iran going ‘much better than expected’ – report<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 13h ago<\/p>\n ‘We were humiliated’: Israel’s attacks on Beirut cause mass displacement crisis<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 14h ago<\/p>\n Azerbaijan withdraws diplomats from Iran<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 14h ago<\/p>\n US probe of Iran school strike must ‘happen very quickly’, says UN rights chief<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 14h ago<\/p>\n Sri Lankan president calls for peace as Iranian sailors seek refuge on island<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 16h ago<\/p>\n Four people in UK arrested on suspicion of spying on Jewish community for Iran<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 16h ago<\/p>\n Majority of Spaniards against US-Israeli attacks on Iran – poll<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 16h ago<\/p>\n Israel announces new phase in Iran conflict as US warns strikes will ‘surge dramatically’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 17h ago<\/p>\n Summary<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 17h ago<\/p>\n Sri Lanka takes control of an Iranian vessel off its coast after US sunk an Iranian warship<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 17h ago<\/p>\n Iranian leadership council meets ahead of selecting new supreme leader, state media says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 17h ago<\/p>\n Israel carried out 26 airstrikes on Beirut, IDF says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 18h ago<\/p>\n Philippines mulls shorter weeks, less air-con as fuel costs bite<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 19h ago<\/p>\n Two Japanaese nationals detained in Iran, Japan calls for release<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 19h ago<\/p>\n Evacuated British nationals return to UK, as crisis continues to disrupt flights<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 20h ago<\/p>\n Trump responds to Iranian claims that ground invasion would be ‘big disaster’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 21h ago<\/p>\n Gulf states intercept missiles amid reports of regional discontent<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 21h ago<\/p>\n Explosions in Tehran, as Israel launches more strikes<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 21h ago<\/p>\n Hezbollah warns Israeli residents to evacuate near border<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 22h ago<\/p>\n Ukraine to help US and allies counter Iranian drones<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 22h ago<\/p>\n Opening summary<\/p>\n <\/a>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n After reports that Russia was sharing intelligence with Iran<\/a> about US targets in the region, defense secretary Pete Hegseth said the US is \u201ctracking everything\u201d and factoring it into battle plans.<\/p>\n \u201cThe American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of who\u2019s talking to who,\u201d Hegseth said in an interview with CBS\u2019 \u201c60 Minutes\u201d. \u201cAnd anything that shouldn\u2019t be happening, whether it\u2019s in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly.\u201d<\/p>\n Similar to earlier remarks from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Hegseth also downplayed the possibility that Russia\u2019s help to Iran could be putting Americans in harm\u2019s way.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re putting the other guys in danger, and that\u2019s our job. So we\u2019re not concerned about that,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the only ones that need to be worried right now are Iranians that think they\u2019re gonna live.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry, accused the United States and Israel<\/a> of carrying out an \u201cunprovoked act of aggression\u201d against Iran.<\/p>\n In a post<\/a> directed at United Nations secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, Baghaei said: \u201cLet\u2019s call a spade a spade. This is not \u2018the fighting\u2019; this is an \u2018unprovoked act of aggression\u2019 launched by two nuclear armed regimes against Iran.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are concerned about \u2018grave risk to the global economy\u2019; what about the innocent civilians, including 175 little angels slaughtered in the City of Minab, and many more killed and maimed across Iran<\/a> during the past 7 days of American\/Israeli criminal acts?!,\u201d Baghaei added.<\/p>\n He\u2019s responding to a post made by Guterres earlier on Friday that expresses concern over civilians and the global economy, and calls for diplomatic negotiations to take place.<\/p>\n \u201cThe stakes could not be higher,\u201d Guterres said in a post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Israeli military said it has begun a \u201cbroad-scale\u201d wave of strikes in Tehran, per the AP.<\/p>\n The report came minutes after the Israeli military said it was working to intercept missiles launched from Iran<\/a> toward Israel early on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The day so far<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s deputy foreign minister warned European nations that they will become legitimate targets if they become involved in the US and Israel\u2019s war on Tehran. If any country \u201cjoins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran<\/a>, they will be also legitimate targets for Iran\u2019s retaliation,\u201d Majid Takht-Ravanchi told France 24. He said Iranian officials had been \u201cnegotiating in good faith\u201d with the US before Washington decided to attack with Israel on Saturday. \u201cWe do not trust the Americans. Not only did they betray us, but they betrayed diplomacy.\u201d<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s UN ambassador said that at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have been killed so far in the US-Israeli war on Tehran, with thousands more injured, and accused the US and Israel of war crimes. Amir Saeid Iravani told reporters at the UN\u2019s headquarters in New York that the US and Israel \u201chave demonstrated that they recognise no red line in committing their crimes\u201d. He accused the two countries of \u201cindiscriminate\u201d attacks that were \u201cdeliberately\u201d targeting \u201cdensely populated\u201d civilian areas and infrastructure, including schools<\/a>, medical<\/a>, recreational and sports<\/a> facilities. \u201cThese acts constitute clear war crimes and crimes against humanity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the US military campaign against Iran may take as long as four to six weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, adding that the US is \u201cwell on its way\u201d toward controlling Iranian airspace. It comes as Trump met with leading US weapons manufacturers at the White House and said they had agreed to \u201cquadruple Production of \u2018Exquisite Class\u2019 Weaponry\u201d.<\/p>\n Leavitt added that the US would consider Iran in a state of \u201cunconditional surrender\u201d once Donald Trump determines the country no longer \u201cposes a threat\u201d to the United States. Trump said on Friday that only Tehran\u2019s \u201cunconditional surrender\u201d<\/a> will bring an end to the joint US-Israeli offensive launched seven days ago.<\/p>\n The Russian and Iranian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian, held a phone call<\/a> today in which they agreed to continue contacts, the Kremlin said. It comes amid reports<\/a> that Moscow has been providing Tehran with the locations of US military assets, including warships and aircraft, in the region. The White House earlier declined to confirm those reports.<\/p>\n The UN secretary-general called on nations to \u201cstop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations\u201d, warning that the situation \u201ccould spiral beyond anyone\u2019s control\u201d. \u201cThe stakes could not be higher,\u201d Ant\u00f3nio Guterres wrote in a post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Iranian military told Iranian state tv that Tehran does not plan to close the strait of Hormuz, but will target any ship belonging to Israel or the United States. It comes as the US-Israeli war on Iran has driven the oil price past $90 a barrel to its highest weekly gains since the Covid-19 pandemic six years ago, threatening a fresh rise in global inflation.<\/p>\n French president Macron condemned an Israeli strike that directly hit a United Nations site in Lebanon earlier today, critically injuring two Ghanaian soldiers<\/a> serving with the UN\u2019s peacekeeping mission there.<\/p>\n Qatar\u2019s defence ministry said that the country\u2019s air defence systems were \u201csubjected to waves of attacks\u201d from Iranian drones on Friday, starting at dawn and continuing until evening. It said that of the 10 drones that were launched towards Qatar, nine were intercepted while the tenth hit an uninhabited area, causing no injuries.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.37 EST<\/p>\n Macron condemns Israeli strike on UN site in southern Lebanon<\/p>\n French president Emmanuel Macron has held phone conversations with Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa and Lebanese president Joseph Aoun, amid growing fears that the US-Israeli war on Iran is fast expanding to other parts of the Middle East.<\/p>\n In a post on X, Macron said:<\/p>\n double quotation markFrance is working with its partners to prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and Lebanon must be respected, as must the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every country in the region. The ongoing acts of destabilization must leave no room for terrorism. France will ensure that this is the case.<\/p>\n Macron also condemned an Israeli strike that directly hit a United Nations site in Lebanon earlier today, critically injuring two Ghanaian soldiers<\/a> serving with the UN\u2019s peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n double quotation markAs the United Nations force in Lebanon plays a fundamental role in achieving stability in southern Lebanon, I strongly condemn the unacceptable attack today that targeted members of its unit. France will remain committed there.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>European countries \u2018legitimate targets\u2019 if they join US and Israel, says Iran\u2019s deputy FM<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s deputy foreign minister earlier warned European nations that they will become legitimate targets if they become involved in the US and Israel\u2019s war on Tehran.<\/p>\n If any country \u201cjoins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran<\/a>, they will be also legitimate targets for Iran\u2019s retaliation,\u201d Majid Takht-Ravanchi told France 24.<\/p>\n He said Iranian officials had been \u201cnegotiating in good faith\u201d with the US before Washington decided to attack with Israel on Saturday.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe do not trust the Americans. Not only did they betray us, but they betrayed diplomacy.<\/p>\n He described Tehran\u2019s latest moves as defensive, saying that \u201cthis war was imposed on us\u201d by the US and Israel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Putin spoke with Iranian president and ‘agreed to continue contacts’, says Kremlin<\/p>\n We now have more on that phone call between Iran\u2019s president Masoud Pezeshkian and Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n The Russian president expressed his condolences for the deaths of Iran\u2019s supreme leader, other government officials and civilians around the country, the Kremlin said, according to Russian state news agency TASS.<\/p>\n Putin also reiterated Russia\u2019s stance that the hostilities must end immediately, and that a diplomatic resolution must be found.<\/p>\n Pezeshkian, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for Russia\u2019s support, and provided a detailed report of Iran\u2019s developments.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was agreed that contacts with the Iranian side will continue via various channels,\u201d the Kremlin said.<\/p>\n Vladimir Putin in a meeting at the Kremlin on Friday. Photograph: Gavriil Grigorov\/AP<\/p>\n It comes amid reports that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence to target US forces in the region (see my earlier post<\/a>).<\/p>\n My colleague Shrai Popat reported earlier<\/a> that, asked whether Russia\u2019s involvement in the Iran conflict affects US efforts to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the White House still believes peace is \u201can achievable objective,\u201d but declined to confirm whether Moscow has supplied information to Tehran.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.53 EST<\/p>\n Iravani also said that Donald Trump\u2019s statements about choosing Iran\u2019s next leader violates the principle of non-interference.<\/p>\n \u201cIran is a sovereign and independent state,\u201d he said. \u201cIt does not accept, and will never allow, a foreign power to interfere [in its affairs].\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Iran’s UN envoy says 1,332 Iranian civilians killed in war, and accuses US and Israel of war crimes<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani has said that at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have lost their lives so far in the US-Israeli war on Iran, with thousands more injured.<\/p>\n He told the reporters at the UN\u2019s headquarters in New York that the US and Israel \u201chave demonstrated that they recognise no red line in committing their crimes\u201d.<\/p>\n He accused the two countries of \u201cindiscriminate\u201d attacks that were \u201cdeliberately\u201d targeting \u201cdensely populated\u201d civilian areas and infrastructure, including schools<\/a>, medical<\/a>, recreational and sports<\/a> facilities.<\/p>\n double quotation markThese acts constitute clear war crimes and crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n Concluding his remarks, he warned the UN Security Council to \u201cact now, without delay\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markFailure to act will have catastrophic consequences. Today, it is Iran. Tomorrow it could be any [UN] member state.<\/p>\n You can watch the clip here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.57 EST<\/p>\n Trump says US defence manufacturers agree to ‘quadruple production’ of weapons<\/p>\n Donald Trump, who met with leading US weapons manufacturers earlier today, has said the defence companies have agreed to \u201cquadruple Production of \u2018Exquisite Class\u2019 Weaponry\u201d.<\/p>\n The US president wrote<\/a> on his Truth Social platform:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe have a virtually unlimited supply of Medium and Upper Medium Grade Munitions, which we are using, as an example, in Iran, and recently used in Venezuela. Regardless, however, we have also increased Orders at these levels.<\/p>\n The companies in attendance for the White House meeting included the CEOs of \u201cBAE Systems, Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, L3Harris Missile Solutions, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon\u201d, Trump said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Iran military says strait of Hormuz remains open, but any US or Israeli ship will be targeted<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the Iranian military has told Iranian state tv that Iran does not plan to close the strait of Hormuz, but will target any ship belonging to Israel or the United States.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe will not prevent any ship wishing to cross the strait of Hormuz, but the responsibility for its security lies with the ship itself.<\/p>\n We will target any ship belonging to the Zionist entity [Israel] and America if it attempts to cross the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n Tankers off the coast of Fujairah, UAE, on Tuesday amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Photograph: Amr Alfiky\/Reuters<\/p>\n Traffic has drastically dried up in the strait, effectively closing one of the world\u2019s most vital shipping routes, since the US-Israeli war on Iran<\/a> began. Amid the ongoing threat of attack, tankers remain stuck on either side of the key waterway, which runs between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and through which a fifth of the world\u2019s oil and a significant amount of natural gas typically passes.<\/p>\n According to an analysis by the New York Times, five tankers have been struck since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran began on Saturday. The resulting drastic reduction in traffic through the strait has cut the supply of energy products and driven oil prices past $90 a barrel \u2013 its biggest weekly gain since the Covid pandemic.<\/p>\n We have a story on that here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.05 EST<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s president Masoud Pezeshkian has spoken on the phone with Russian president Vladimir Putin in the past hour, Iran\u2019s government news service IRNA reports.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll bring you more detail on that as I get it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.50 EST<\/p>\n Qatar says it has intercepted nine Iranian drones<\/p>\n Qatar\u2019s defence ministry has said that the country\u2019s air defence systems were \u201csubjected to waves of attacks\u201d from Iranian drones on Friday, starting at dawn and continuing until evening.<\/p>\n In a statement on social media, it said that of the 10 drones that were launched towards Qatar, nine were intercepted while the tenth hit an uninhabited area, causing no injuries.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Iran has not closed the Strait of Hormuz but ships linked to Israel<\/a> or the US cannot pass, a military spokesman told Iranian state TV.<\/p>\n After war broke out last Saturday, Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guards said it would \u201cset ablaze\u201d any western tanker attempting to transit the strait, a body of water through which about a fifth of the world\u2019s oil and liquefied natural gas passes on tankers.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A drone has targeted Erbil Arjaan by Rotana hotel in Iraq\u2019s Kurdistan region on Friday, security sources told Reuters.<\/p>\n The U.S. embassy in Baghdad has said earlier that Iran-aligned militia groups may seek to target hotels frequented by foreigners in Iraq\u2019s Kurdistan region.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A huge American bomber capable of carrying 24 cruise missiles has landed in the UK after the US defence secretary warned of a \u201csurge\u201d in strikes on Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 146ft B-1 Lancer has a wingspan of 137ft, weighs 86 tonnes and is the fastest bomber in the US Air Force, according to Boeing, hitting speeds of more than 900mph.<\/p>\n Piloted by a crew of four, \u201cthe Bone\u201d \u2013 as the aircraft is nicknamed \u2013 has advanced radar and GPS systems to help hit targets, and electronic jammers, radar warnings and a decoy system to protect it from enemies.<\/p>\n The B\u20111, which has been used in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq, can carry up to 34 tonnes of weapons and equipment.<\/p>\n A bomber was pictured arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday after Keir Starmer granted the US permission to strike defensively against Iran\u2019s missile facilities from British bases.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has intensified direct engagement with Iran<\/a> to help contain the conflict in the Middle East, Bloomberg News reported, citing several European officials.<\/p>\n Saudi officials in recent days have used their diplomatic backchannel to Iran with increased urgency to ease tensions and keep the conflict from worsening, the report said.<\/p>\n