Trump considering ‘winding down’ Iran war and leaving other countries to ‘police’ strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n
Donald Trump has said the US is \u201cgetting very close to meeting our objectives\u201d and is considering \u201cwinding down\u201d its war on Iran .<\/p>\n
He repeated his claim that the US doesn\u2019t use the strait of Hormuz, and so other nations who do will have to \u201cguard and police\u201d it. This is after US-Israeli attacks on Iran prompted Tehran to target vessels in one the world\u2019s most vital shipping lanes.<\/p>\n
The US will help \u201cif asked\u201d but that \u201cshouldn\u2019t be necessary\u201d, he said in a post on Truth Social, saying it would be \u201can easy Military Operation\u201d for those countries.<\/p>\n
double quotation markWe are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran.<\/p>\n
The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it \u2014 The United States does not! If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn\u2019t be necessary once Iran\u2019s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.52 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 12m ago<\/p>\n Israel attacking Hezbollah targets in Beirut, says military<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 22m ago<\/p>\n One killed and two wounded in Israeli strike on south Lebanon house \u2013 state media<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n US lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n More countries sign joint statement on strait of Hormuz by European nations and other<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n Israeli military issues new ‘evacuation order’ for Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n Trump considering ‘winding down’ Iran war and leaving other countries to ‘police’ strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 4h ago<\/p>\n The day so far<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Trump says UK should have ‘acted a lot faster’ over military base use<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n ‘I don’t want to do a ceasefire’, Trump says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Trump says ‘it would be nice’ if China and Japan would help secure strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Trump says US ‘roaming free’ in Iran and says ‘I think so’ when asked if Israel would end war when US does<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Iranian foreign minister says UK prime minister’s base decision ‘putting British lives in danger’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n US government is ‘detached from reality’, says Iranian foreign minister<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Fuel rations and cash handouts: Iran war energy shock hits Asia \u2013 podcast<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n Pro-war Israeli and US figures created an ‘echo chamber’ around Trump, ‘isolating’ him and pushing for war, says Kent<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n Donald Trump says ‘we want to talk to Iran but we have nobody to talk to’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 7h ago<\/p>\n UK agrees to allow US to use British bases for strikes on Iranian sites targeting strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n The day so far<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n Iran’s Khamenei says enemy ‘defeated’ in written Nowruz message<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n Poland evacuates troops from Iraq amid ‘worsening security situation’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n Spain to propose temporary rent price freezes due to war in Iran, Spanish PM says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n US to deploy of thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, officials tell Reuters<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 11h ago<\/p>\n Loud blasts reportedly heard in Jerusalem after Iran missile warning<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 11h ago<\/p>\n Trump calls Nato members ‘cowards’ for not helping secure the strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 13h ago<\/p>\n Summary of the day so far…<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 14h ago<\/p>\n What are the risks to the US if it tries to occupy or widen its attacks on Kharg Island?<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 15h ago<\/p>\n Trump considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island – report<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 15h ago<\/p>\n Iran tells UK that providing military bases for the US is considered ‘participation in aggression’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 16h ago<\/p>\n Both sides in US-Israeli war on Iran may have committed war crimes, UN chief suggests<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 16h ago<\/p>\n IRGC spokesperson killed in US-Israeli airstrikes, Iranian media reports<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 18h ago<\/p>\n Interim summary<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 18h ago<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard says Tehran still building missiles<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 20h ago<\/p>\n Kuwait\u2019s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery hit by multiple drone attacks<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 21h ago<\/p>\n Israel pounds Tehran with airstrikes on Friday<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 22h ago<\/p>\n Israel launches fresh wave of strikes on Tehran<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 22h ago<\/p>\n UAE, Kuwait authorities say responding to missile attacks<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 23h ago<\/p>\n Welcome summary<\/p>\n <\/a>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Israel attacking Hezbollah targets in Beirut, says military<\/p>\n The Israeli military says it is now attacking Hezbollah targets in Beirut.<\/p>\n It made the announcement in a short post<\/a> on social media, after warning residents in the Lebanese capital\u2019s southern suburbs hours earlier to evacuate immediately.<\/p>\n In that warning, the Israeli military\u2019s Arabic-language spokesperson listed seven neighbourhoods in the southern area, which is a stronghold of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.<\/p>\n Avichay Adraee said in the post<\/a>:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe Defense Army continues its operations and strikes against military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah in various parts of the suburbs with increasing force.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.53 EDT<\/p>\n One killed and two wounded in Israeli strike on south Lebanon house \u2013 state media<\/p>\n Lebanese state media is saying the death of one person and the wounding of two others came after an Israeli airstrike hit a house in a southern town early on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cIsraeli fighter jets launched a heavy strike at dawn on a house in the town of Ghandouriyeh … resulting in one martyr and two wounded people who were pulled from under the rubble,\u201d said Lebanon\u2019s official National News Agency, cited by Agence France-Presse.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.46 EDT<\/p>\n Israeli strikes have killed one person and wounded two in south Lebanon, state media is being quoted as saying.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll have more on this soon.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Saudi Arabia has intercepted and destroyed 10 drones in its eastern region, the defence ministry is saying on social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n The ministry said a while earlier<\/a> that it had intercepted six drones in the east.<\/p>\n In the previous couple of hours the United Arab Emirates\u2019 defence ministry said<\/a> it was responding to missile and drone attacks from Iran.<\/p>\n Kuwait\u2019s army also said<\/a> it was also \u201cconfronting hostile missile and drone attacks\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea<\/p>\n The US treasury has authorised the purchase of some Iranian oil that is already at sea, exempting buyers from its own sanctions.<\/p>\n The sanctions licence<\/a> permits the purchase of oil from Iran if it was loaded on to a vessel by 12.01am ET (5.01am GMT) on Friday. The exemption runs until 19 April.<\/p>\n The licence aims to stem the surge in oil prices caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran.<\/p>\n The move had been telegraphed earlier this week by US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, who told Fox Business Network\u2019s Mornings With Maria: \u201cIn the coming days, we may un-sanction the Iranian oil that\u2019s on the water. It\u2019s about 140m barrels.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s about 10 days to two weeks of supply that the Iranians had been pushing out that would have all gone to China,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n double quotation markIn essence, we will be using the Iranian barrels against the Iranians to keep the price down for the next 10 to 14 days as we continue this campaign.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.06 EDT<\/p>\n United Airlines chief executive, Scott Kirby, has said the airline will cancel about 5% of this year\u2019s planned flights in the short term, as the escalating war in the Middle East causes jet fuel prices to soar.<\/p>\n \u201cIf prices stayed at this level, it would mean an extra $11bn in annual expense just for jet fuel,\u201d Kirby said in a message to employees, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n The airline\u2019s current plan is to restore its full flight schedule this fall, Kirby added.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.46 EDT<\/p>\n Missiles have been launched from Iran towards Israel, the IDF has said in the past few minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cDefensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,\u201d it said in a statement on Telegram.<\/p>\n It urged residents to follow instructions issued by Israel\u2019s Home Front Command, which \u201chas sent a precautionary directive directly to mobile phones in the relevant area\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.28 EDT<\/p>\n More countries sign joint statement on strait of Hormuz by European nations and other<\/p>\n Several more countries on Friday joined leading European nations, Japan and Canada in signing a joint statement saying they were ready to join appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait of Hormuz and would take steps to stabilise energy markets (though they do not specify what this means in practice).<\/p>\n This is the full text of the statement from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Denmark, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Romania, Bahrain and Lithuania:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.<\/p>\n We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict. We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817. The effects of Iran\u2019s actions will be felt by people in all parts of the world, especially the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n Consistent with UNSC Resolution 2817, we emphasise that such interference with international shipping and the disruption of global energy supply chains constitute a threat to international peace and security.<\/p>\n In this regard, we call for an immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations.<\/p>\n We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.<\/p>\n We welcome the International Energy Agency decision to authorise a coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves.<\/p>\n We will take other steps to stabilise energy markets, including working with certain producing nations to increase output.<\/p>\n We will also work to provide support for the most affected nations, including through the United Nations and the IFIs (International Financial Institutions). We call on all states to respect international law and uphold the fundamental principles of international prosperity and security.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Moments ago Saudi Arabia\u2019s defence ministry said<\/a> in an update that it had intercepted and destroyed six drones in the country\u2019s eastern region.<\/p>\n In the last couple of hours, the UAE defence ministry said<\/a> it was responding to missile and drone attacks from Iran, while Kuwait\u2019s army said<\/a> it was also \u201cconfronting hostile missile and drone attacks\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.40 EDT<\/p>\n Israeli military issues new ‘evacuation order’ for Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs<\/p>\n In a post on X a short while ago, the IDF\u2019s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, called on residents of Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs to \u201cevacuate immediately\u201d, saying the Israeli military will target what it described as infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah.<\/p>\n He specified that the neighbourhoods of Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, Laylaki, Hadath, Burj al-Barajneh, Tahwitat al-Ghadir and Chiyah are under threat of attack.<\/p>\n Israel has repeatedly launched deadly strikes on Beirut\u2019s densely populated southern suburbs since its renewed offensive of Lebanon that began on 2 March \u2013 killing over 1,000 people, including at least 118 children, wounding over 2,500 others, and displacing over a million.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump considering ‘winding down’ Iran war and leaving other countries to ‘police’ strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n Donald Trump has said the US is \u201cgetting very close to meeting our objectives\u201d and is considering \u201cwinding down\u201d its war on Iran .<\/p>\n He repeated his claim that the US doesn\u2019t use the strait of Hormuz, and so other nations who do will have to \u201cguard and police\u201d it. This is after US-Israeli attacks on Iran prompted Tehran to target vessels in one the world\u2019s most vital shipping lanes.<\/p>\n The US will help \u201cif asked\u201d but that \u201cshouldn\u2019t be necessary\u201d, he said in a post on Truth Social, saying it would be \u201can easy Military Operation\u201d for those countries.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran.<\/p>\n The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it \u2014 The United States does not! If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn\u2019t be necessary once Iran\u2019s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.52 EDT<\/p>\n The day so far<\/p>\n Donald Trump continued to make his disappointment with the British government known, saying the UK \u201cshould have acted a lot faster\u201d in allowing the US military to use its bases in the Middle East. \u201cI was a little surprised at the UK, to be honest with you. They should have acted a lot faster,\u201d he told reporters as he departed the White House.<\/p>\n Earlier, Downing Street approved US use of its bases \u201cfor the collective self-defence of the region\u201d, including \u201cdefensive operations\u201d degrading Iranian missile sites targeting ships in the strait of Hormuz. Britain had previously only allowed US forces to use its bases for operations to prevent Iran firing missiles that put British interests or lives at risk. Downing Street maintained that the UK will still not be directly involved in the strikes and insisted that \u201cthe principles behind the UK\u2019s approach to the conflict remain the same\u201d.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the British prime minsiter Keir Starmer \u201cis putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran\u201d. \u201cIran will exercise its right to self-defense,\u201d he added.It followed the UK\u2019s foreign secretary Yvette Cooper saying she warned Araghchi in a phone call on Thursday \u201cagainst targeting UK bases, territory or interests directly\u201d. Iran\u2019s foreign ministry had earlier said the US use of British military bases for attacks would amount to the UK\u2019s \u201cparticipation in aggression\u201d.<\/p>\n Araghchi also accused the Trump administration of being \u201cdetached from reality\u201d as it continues to insist that it is winning the war against Iran. Comparing Washington\u2019s rhetoric to that of the US government during the Vietnam war, he said: \u201cUS government says one thing, reality says another.\u201d<\/p>\n Donald Trump also ruled out a ceasefire with Iran, after claiming the war was \u201cmilitarily won\u201d. \u201cYou don\u2019t do a ceasefire when you\u2019re literally obliterating the other side,\u201d he said. He also said the US was \u201croaming free\u201d in Iran, adding, \u201cthey\u2019re finished\u201d militarily.<\/p>\n Asked if he thinks Israel will be ready to end the war when he\u2019s ready, Trump said: \u201cI think so, yeah.\u201d The relationship is \u201ca very good one\u201d, he said, adding that, \u201cmore of less, we want similar things. We want victory, both of us, and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve got.\u201d It comes amid increasing evidence that the US and Israel aren\u2019t aligned on their war aims and how to proceed with their operation against Tehran.<\/p>\n Trump also reiterated his criticism of Nato \u2013 whose members he earlier branded \u201ccowards\u201d \u2013 adding that \u201ca lot of help\u201d would be needed to secure the strait of Hormuz and that \u201cit would be nice\u201d if countries that use the strait, like China and Japan, would \u201cget involved\u201d in reopening the vital waterway.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n From restaurant closures in the Philippines and petrol rationing in Sri Lanka, to Asian food production crises due to fertiliser shortages, my colleagues explore how the effects of the US-Israeli war on Iran are reverberating around the world.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump says UK should have ‘acted a lot faster’ over military base use<\/p>\n Asked about the UK government\u2019s decision to allow the US military to use UK bases in the Middle East<\/a> to strike targets in defensive operations, Trump continued to make his disappointment known:<\/p>\n double quotation markWell, it\u2019s been a very late response.<\/p>\n A surprise, because the relationship is so good, but this has never happened before.<\/p>\n They were really pretty much our first ally all over the world, first ally, and they didn\u2019t want us to use the island, the so-called island, which for some reason they gave up rights to it.<\/p>\n I was a little surprised at the UK, to be honest with you. They should have acted a lot faster.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.12 EDT<\/p>\n ‘I don’t want to do a ceasefire’, Trump says<\/p>\n Asked about the end of the war, Trump said:<\/p>\n double quotation markLook we can have dialogue but I don\u2019t want to do a ceasefire. You don\u2019t do a ceasefire when you\u2019re literally obliterating the other side.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.10 EDT<\/p>\n Trump says ‘it would be nice’ if China and Japan would help secure strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n Asked about reopening the strait of Hormuz to allow crucial oil and gas shipments, Trump reiterated his criticism of Nato saying they \u201chaven\u2019t had the courage to do so\u201d, before adding:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe don\u2019t use [the strait]. At a certain point, it will open itself.<\/p>\n He added that \u201ca lot of help\u201d would be needed to secure the strait and that \u201cit would be nice\u201d if countries that use the strait, like China and Japan, would \u201cget involved\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.09 EDT<\/p>\n Trump says US ‘roaming free’ in Iran and says ‘I think so’ when asked if Israel would end war when US does<\/p>\n Donald Trump has been speaking to reporters outside the White House before he departs for his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, for the weekend.<\/p>\n Asked if he thinks Israel will be ready to end the war when he\u2019s ready, he said: \u201cI think so, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n The relationship is \u201ca very good one\u201d, he said, adding that, \u201cmore of less, we want similar things. We want victory, both of us, and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n Donald Trump is accompanied by secretary of state Marco Rubio as he speaks with reporters before departing the White House. Photograph: Alex Brandon\/AP<\/p>\n Asked if he has a plan for Kharg Island, he said:<\/p>\n double quotation markI may have a plan, I may not, but how would I ever say that to a reporter \u2026 It is certainly a place that people are talking about.<\/p>\n Asked what he meant when he said the war was militarily won in Iran<\/a>, he said the US was \u201croaming free\u201d in Iran and \u201cthey\u2019re finished\u201d militarily.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.03 EDT<\/p>\n Iranian foreign minister says UK prime minister’s base decision ‘putting British lives in danger’<\/p>\n More from Abbas Araghchi, who also said today that the UK prime minsiter Keir Starmer \u201cis putting British lives in danger\u201d by allowing the US to use British bases<\/a> in its war on Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cVast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-U.S. war of choice on Iran,\u201d the Iranian foreign minister wrote<\/a> on X. \u201cIgnoring his own People, Mr. Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defense.\u201d<\/p>\n As I reported earlier, this follows the UK\u2019s foreign secretary Yvette Cooper saying she warned Araghchi in a phone call on Thursday \u201cagainst targeting UK bases, territory or interests directly\u201d.<\/p>\n It came after Iran\u2019s foreign ministry said the US use of British military bases for attacks would amount to the UK\u2019s \u201cparticipation in aggression\u201d.<\/p>\n
Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.<\/p>\n
Maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries.<\/p>\n