US-Iran War Highlights: Iran activates air defences, engages 'hostile targets', local media reports

All updates to the live blog have ended.

US President Donald Trump has dismissed claims that Washington is under pressure to strike a deal with Iran, saying time is on the US side.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump said he is “possibly the least pressured person ever to be in this position” amid rising speculation over economic and political costs.

“I have all the time in the World, but Iran doesn’t — The clock is ticking,” he wrote.

Trump added that any agreement would be made strictly on US terms. “A deal will only be made when it’s appropriate and good for the United States of America, our allies and, in fact, the rest of the World,” he said.

The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) has entered the area of responsibility of US Central Command, marking a significant expansion of US naval presence in the region. According to US Central Command, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is now operating in the Indian Ocean, reinforcing ongoing military deployments.

With its arrival, three US Navy aircraft carriers are now active in the region at the same time.

Iran’s air defence systems were activated over parts of Tehran, with reports saying they engaged what were described as “hostile targets”. According to Mehr News Agency, the activity was heard on Thursday after earlier indications that air defence batteries had been put on alert in the city.

Iran’s political leadership is facing a deepening internal crisis, with reports pointing to a power struggle that is affecting key decision-making at the top levels in Iran. According to News 12, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has stepped down from his role in ongoing negotiations. Qalibaf had been overseeing backchannel talks with the United States and handling sensitive discussions, including those linked to negotiations in Pakistan.
 

The United States has criticised media reports suggesting that securing the Strait of Hormuz could take several months, accusing news outlets of misrepresenting classified data. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, speaking to the BBC, rejected claims that clearing mines in the critical waterway would take up to six months. He stated that one specific assessment does not make it plausible and characterised a six-month closure of the Strait as an impossibility that would be completely unacceptable to the Secretary. Parnell also condemned reporting based on leaked material, accusing the media of dishonest journalism and cherry-picking false information from a classified, closed-door briefing to distort the situation.

(Inputs from Al-Jazeera)

Lebanon will push for an extension of the ceasefire and stronger civilian protections in upcoming talks in Washington, DC, President Joseph Aoun has said. In a statement shared by his office on X, Aoun said the discussions mark a key moment for Lebanon’s future.

“For the first time, the Lebanon file is returning to the American table … which opens the door for us – if things proceed as they should – towards economic recovery, reconstruction, and more.”

While Aoun has expressed hope of visiting Washington to meet Donald Trump, Lebanon will be represented in the talks by its ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad. Officials say Beirut plans to press for a continued ceasefire and safeguards for civilians as fighting with Israel has taken a heavy toll.

Iran’s judiciary chief has praised what he described as a strong military show in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting recent naval activity by the country’s forces.

Posting on X, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejehi said Iran’s armed forces are demonstrating strength through a mix of speedboats, underwater drones and operations targeting vessels in the waterway. He wrote that “the IRGC’s mosquito fleet, with speedboats and drones, lies in wait from the sea caves of Faror Island for the American aggressor warships, ready to saturate their air defenses and bring utter ruin upon the invaders.”
 

Israel’s defence minister has said the country is ready to resume its war against Iran but is waiting for approval from United States before moving ahead with major strikes. Speaking after a security assessment, Israel Katz said Israeli forces are fully prepared for both offensive and defensive operations.

"Israel is prepared to renew the war against Iran. The IDF is ready in defense and offense, and the targets are marked," he said.

Katz added that Israel is seeking a "green light" from Washington to expand its targets, including Iran’s leadership and key infrastructure. He said Israel is "awaiting a green light from the United States, first and foremost to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty… and in addition to return Iran to the age of darkness and stone by blowing up central energy and electricity facilities and crushing national economic infrastructure."
 

The Israeli military says it has uncovered an underground Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon, located beneath a civilian site.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the command centre was found around 25 metres below a clothing store in the town of Khiam. Troops operating in the tunnel reportedly discovered weapons and multiple rooms used by Hezbollah to manage combat operations.
 

US President Donald Trump said his hardline approach towards Iran is delivering results, dismissing concerns over his recent threats.

In a brief call with BBC, Trump was asked about his earlier warning that "a whole civilisation will die tonight". He did not directly address it but said, "The other side is dying to make a deal… whatever I’m saying or doing, it seems to be working very well."
 

India has advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Iran amid ongoing regional tensions and disruptions to flight operations. In an advisory issued on April 23, the Embassy of India in Tehran said reports of limited flights resuming should not be taken as a sign of normalcy. Authorities warned that airspace restrictions and operational uncertainty continue to affect international travel to and from Iran.

The embassy urged Indian nationals not to travel to Iran by air or land under current conditions. The advisory also reiterated that Indian citizens currently in Iran should leave the country through designated land border routes. The process, it said, must be carried out in coordination with the embassy to ensure safety.

France has signalled it is ready to host an international conference to support Lebanon, focusing on strengthening its army and rebuilding the war-hit south.

Speaking after talks with Nikos Christodoulides, Emmanuel Macron said Paris would organise the meeting when Lebanon considers the timing right. The proposed conference is also expected to unlock additional European funding. Macron said both leaders support closer ties between the European Union and Lebanon, including a potential partnership agreement.
 

India has voiced concern for its sailors operating in the Strait of Hormuz after reports of vessels coming under fire, even as officials confirmed no Indian crew members were injured.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said it is “worried about Indian seafarers” in the region, where tensions have escalated in recent days.

Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary at the ministry, said two foreign-flagged ships that were targeted had 22 Indian sailors on board. “None of the Indian seafarer have been injured in the firing,” he said, according to Associated Press. 
 

Lebanon is urging the United States to use its influence over Israel ahead of upcoming talks in Washington, DC, as tensions remain high in the south of the country. Speaking to The Washington Post, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Beirut is counting on Washington to play a decisive role in the negotiations. “We are entering these negotiations convened by the US convinced that the US is the party that can have leverage over Israel,” he said.

“Their role was critical in reaching the ceasefire, and we hope they will continue exercising their leverage over Israel,” he added.
 

Hezbollah said it carried out two attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, claiming it shot down an Israeli drone and struck a troop position. In a statement, the group said the drone was downed over Majdal Zoun. It also claimed it targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in Taybeh. There was no immediate confirmation from Israel.
 

The toll from Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza Strip continues to rise, with Palestinian authorities reporting a sharp increase in deaths and injuries as fighting shows no sign of easing. According to Wafa, at least 71,568 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with thousands still believed to be trapped under rubble. The number of wounded has climbed to 172,338, reflecting the scale of destruction across the enclave.

The agency also reported that even after the October ceasefire, violence has persisted. Since then, 791 people have been killed and 2,235 injured. 
 

US President Donald Trump has claimed that internal divisions within Iran are deepening, while asserting that the United States has full control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump said: “Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know! The infighting is between the ‘Hardliners,’ who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the ‘Moderates,’ who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!”

US President Donald Trump has issued a blunt directive to the US Navy, ordering it to use lethal force against any boats suspected of laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions with Iran continue to escalate.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump said: “I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. There is to be no hesitation.”

Read the full story here.

Lebanon has ruled out signing any agreement that falls short of a complete Israeli military withdrawal, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said ahead of talks scheduled in Washington. In an interview with The Washington Post during a visit to Paris, where he met Emmanuel Macron, Salam rejected the idea of any buffer zone or continued Israeli presence on Lebanese territory. He said displaced residents must be allowed to return and reconstruction of damaged towns must proceed without restrictions.

“We cannot live with a so-called buffer zone, an Israeli presence where Lebanese displaced people are not allowed to return, where destroyed villages and towns cannot be rebuilt,” he said.

Salam added that Beirut is entering negotiations with the expectation that the United States will play a decisive role in influencing Israel. He credited Washington’s involvement in securing the earlier ceasefire and said Lebanon hopes that leverage will continue during the upcoming talks.