The destroyer USS Rafael Peralta on patrol in the Arabian Sea, April 2026

EA on FirstPost and WION: US-Israel War — Iran Puts Another Proposal to Trump Camp

UPDATES: US-Israel War on Iran, Day 70 — Saudi Arabia Forces Trump to Halt “Project Freedom” In Strait of Hormuz After 36 Hours

UPDATE 1930 GMT:

Israel set up a secret military base in the western Iraqi desert to support its airstrikes on Iran, confirm US officials and other sources.

Israel built the base, a hub for logistics to support the Israeli Air Force, shortly before the war began on February 28. It also hosted special forces troops and search-and-rescue teams.

Israel launched airstrikes against Iraqi forces who nearly discovered the base in early March, killing one soldier. Sources said the Israeli strikes deterred Iraqi forces from further investigation.

Iraq initially blamed the attack on the US: “This reckless operation was carried out without coordination or approval.”

But Washington was not involved in the operation, the sources said.

UPDATE 1520 GMT:

At least 18 people, including two children, have been killed by Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon so far on Saturday.

The Israeli army has issued forced displacement orders in nine towns and villages in the area and warned of further attacks.

The Israel Defense Forces said three reservists were wounded, one seriously, by a drone launched by Hezbollah at northern Israel.

UPDATE 1318 GMT:

Iranian semi-official outlets are acknowledging “unprecedented levels” of inflation for basic food items amid the US-Israel War.

During the latest Iranian month from March 21 to April 20, the price of solid vegetable oil rose 375% compared to the same period last year. Liquid cooking oil rose 308%, and imported rice 209%.

Products with the lowest year-on-year inflation rates included animal butter at 48%, powdered milk at 71%, and pasta at 75%.

UPDATE 1311 GMT:

In a phone call with Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticized the Trump Administration’s “destructive approach” to the diplomatic process.

Araghchi said, “Recent escalation by American forces in the Persian Gulf and their repeated violations of the cease-fire have increased suspicions regarding the American side’s intentions and seriousness on the path of diplomacy.”

UPDATE 1252 GMT:

A New York Times investigation has established that Iran’s retaliatory strikes hit 18 US military positions in seven countries across the Middle East.

CNN evaluated last week that 16 American positions were struck.

UPDATE 1211 GMT:

A Syrian man and his 12-year-old daughter have been killed by Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon.

The father and daughter were riding a motorcycle when they were targeted in Nabatieh. A first drone did not hit the pair. The second killed the father. The daughter then moved around 100 meters away before she was targeted in a third strike.

The girl was taken to a hospital in serious condition, where she died from her wounds.

UPDATE 0928 GMT:

Three people have been killed in the latest Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon.

The Israeli hit a car on a road between Burj Rahal and Aabbasiyyeh, after issuing evacuation warning for both towns. There were other attacks near the towns of Nabatieh, Kafra, Haris, and Mansouri.

As Israel demolished houses in an effective zone of occupation, at least 50 people were killed in the 24 hours up to Friday.

UPDATE, MAY 9:

The US Treasury has announced sanctions against 10 individuals and companies, including several in China and Hong Kong.

The Treasury claimed that the entities helped Iran’s military secure weapons and raw materials for the construction of Shahed attack drones.

UPDATE 2122 GMT:

Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has met US Vice President J.D. Vance in Washington.

The Prime Minister “stressed the need for all parties to engage with the ongoing mediation efforts, to pave the way for addressing the root causes of the crisis through peaceful means and dialogue, leading to a comprehensive agreement that achieves lasting peace in the region.”

UPDATE 1736 GMT:

US Central Command has acknowledged firing on and damaging two unladen Iranian-flagged oil tankers.

CENTCOM said it “disabled both tankers after firing precision munitions into their smokestacks”. It added, referring to a third Iranian-flagged vessel which it attacked on Wednesday. “All three vessels are no longer transiting to Iran.”

Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the attacks, described by Donald Trump as “a light tap”.

Vermin-like nocturnal scheming and naive euphemisms such as “a light slap” can do nothing to erase the profound disgrace born of narcissism, greed, reckless miscalculation, and lawless irresponsibility.

The consequences of this whimsical adventurism and roguish behavior have now become clear to the entire world. Disjointed, delusional tweets no longer hold any sway over reality — though, as ever, “the deeper they sink into folly, the more inventive they become in justifying it”.

UPDATE 1730 GMT:

At least five people were killed by Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon on Friday afternoon.

The Lebanese Health Ministry says at least 2,727 people have been slain by Israel since March 2. Israel is demolishing homes in a zone of occupation, comprising at least 55 villages, within a “yellow line”.

UPDATE 1431 GMT:

The US military has carried out more airstrikes in the Strait of Hormuz, targeting several empty tankers.

A “senior US official” said, “These were Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC)…massive, empty ships trying to make it back to Iran…Attempted to run the blockade.”

UPDATE 1202 GMT:

The UAE Defense Ministry says three people have been moderately wounded overnight by two ballistic missiles and three drones fired by Iran.

UPDATE 1147 GMT:

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared defiantly, “Iranians never bow to pressure.”

Responding to revelations in The Washington Post about US intellligence estimates, he blustered:

The CIA is wrong. Our missile inventory and launcher capacity are not at 75% compared to Feb 28 The correct figure is 120%.

As for our readiness to defence our people: 1,000%.

The confidential CIA analysis, delivered to Trump Administration policymakers this week, concludes that Iran can survive the US naval blockade on its ports for at least three to four months before facing more severe economic hardship, said “four people familiar with the document”.

Iran retains about 75% of pre-war inventories of mobile launchers and about 70% of missiles, said one official. They cited evidence that the regime has been able to recover and reopen almost all of its underground storage facilities, repair some damaged missiles, and even assemble some new missiles that were nearly complete when the US-Israel attacks began on February 28.

One official said Iran’s capacity to endure prolonged economic hardship may be far greater than even the CIA estimate:

The leadership has gotten more radical, determined and increasingly confident they can outlast U.S. political will and sustain domestic repression to check any resistance….

Comparatively, you see similar regimes lasting years under sustained embargoes and airpower-only wars.

An official added that the CIA analysis is underestimating Iran’s economic resilience if Tehran is able to smuggle oil via truck and rail on overland routes.

UPDATE 1026 GMT:

The Revolutionary Guards-linked Fars site says Iranian forces have seized the Barbados-flagged ⁠oil tanker Ocean Koi.

The Iranian military said the tanker, with a shipment of Iranian oil, “was attempting to exploit regional conditions to damage and disrupt oil exports and the interests of the Iranian nation”.

The ship was seized in the Gulf of Oman and taken to the southern coast of Iran.

The Ocean Koi is owned by the Marshall Island-based Ocean Kudos Shipping Company. The US Treasury sanctioned the tanker in February, claiming that it has transported millions of barrels of Iranian high sulfur fuel oil and condensate since May 2025.

UPDATE 0932 GMT:

A rescue worker has been killed in the latest Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon defying a ceasefire.

The rescuer was killed on a road between Rachaya al-Foukhar and Kfar Shouba in the Nabatieh district.

UPDATE 0921 GMT:

The UAE Defense Ministry says air defense systems have intercepted Iranian missiles and drones this morning.

Iran blamed the Emirates for enabling US attacks in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, including on Qeshm Island.

The Ministry posted:

The UAE’s air defenses are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran, and the Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of the UAE air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

UPDATE 0852 GMT:

Global food prices have risen for the third month in a row amid the effects of the US-Israel War on energy and fertilizer.

The cost of a basket of food commodities rose by 1.6% in April. Prices for vegetable oils, meat and cereals all rose, while sugar and dairy product prices dipped.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization said:

The price increase was further supported by expectations of reduced wheat plantings in 2026, as farmers shift to less fertilizer‑intensive crops amid high fertilizer prices, driven by elevated energy costs and disruptions linked to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

UPDATE 0152 GMT:

Iran has established a government agency to approve transit and collect tolls from shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Lloyd’s List Intelligence said the Persian Gulf Strait Authority has e-mailed it an application form for ships seeking passage.

The US and Gulf States are pressing the UN Security Council to support a resolution that condemns Iran’s control of the Strait and threatens sanctions. An earlier resolution was vetoed by Russia and China.

ORIGINAL ENTRY:

US and Iran forces exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz late Thursday, further eroding a temporary ceasefire and the possibility of negotiations in the near future.

The Iranians fired on three US destroyers, the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason. Tehran claimed that the destroyers had violated the ceasefire with a blockade on Iranian ports and interception of ships.

The US targeted “an Iranian oil tanker travelling from Iran’s coastal waters near Jask toward the Strait of Hormuz, as well as another vessel entering the Strait of Hormuz near the Emirati port of Fujairah,” said the Iranian military.

Tehran also claimed US aerial attacks, “with the cooperation of some regional countries” on civilian areas along the coasts of Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island.

The Iranians claimed they inflicted “significant damage”.

US Central Command said Iranian forces launched multiple missiles, drones, and small boats. It claimed that in response it “eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking U.S. forces including missile and drone launch sites; command and control locations; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance nodes”.

”No US assets were struck,” the military said.

The statement added, “CENTCOM does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.”

Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran is “in effect”. He said of the US strikes on the Iranians, “It’s just a love tap.”

If the Administration declares an end to the ceasefire, it risks having to pursue Congressional authorization of operations under the 1973 War Powers Act.

Saudi Arabia Lifts Block On “Project Freedom”

Earlier on Thursday, Saudi Arabia lifted its block on “Project Freedom”, the US operation to guide shipping out of the Strait.

Trump declared the launch of the operation on Monday but suspended it 36 hours later, purportedly because he was making progress towards a deal with Tehran. In fact, the Saudis effectively halted the project by denying airspace and use of a base.

The US Navy only guided two American-flagged vessels out of the Strait before the suspension.

Officials said the Saudis and other Gulf States were angered that the US did not offer protection in return for the permission to operate. Instead, the Trump camp indicated that it would not retaliate against any Irnaian strikes “because Donald Trump is busy chasing The Deal”.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who refused to lift the block in a call with Trump early in the week, relented after a second conversation.