US-Iran War Highlights: Israel says preparing to rejoin potential fresh US strikes on Iran

France has no confirmation at this stage that mines have been laid in the Strait of Hormuz, Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said on Wednesday, following US media reports that at least 10 mines had been identified in the area.

"At this moment, I have no certainty on the subject, but in any case we are preparing for the necessity to potentially remove mines," Vautrin told France Info radio.

As US negotiations with Iran made little headway, Israel’s leaders were reportedly expecting and preparing to join potential fresh US strikes on the Islamic Republic, Channel 12 reported on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump indicated that his patience was running out, the The Times of Israel reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said further hostilities in the Middle East is "inadvisable", calling for a "comprehensive" ceasefire, as he spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday, news agency AFP reported, citing Chinese state media.

"A comprehensive ceasefire is of utmost urgency, resuming hostilities is even more inadvisable and maintaining negotiations is particularly important," Xi told Putin, according to Xinhua news agency.

A senior Iranian lawmaker has underscored the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, describing the crucial waterway as a permanent asset of the Islamic Republic that would remain under the control and management of the Iranian nation, Iranian media reported.

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, made the remarks in an interview published on Tuesday. He warned countries seeking to project power in the key maritime chokepoint that Iran would assert its legal rights in the waterway “with full strength” and “show no leniency toward anyone” on the issue.

Two Chinese oil tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, shipping data showed, raising hopes that the US-Israel conflict with Iran could soon ease following optimistic remarks from US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, news agency Reuters reported.

Trump said on Tuesday that the war would end “very quickly”, while Vance highlighted progress in talks with Tehran aimed at reaching an agreement to end hostilities.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday told lawmakers at the White House that the United States "will end the war very quickly" with Iran, as talks on a permanent peace deal continue.

The US Senate on Tuesday advanced a measure aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s war powers by requiring congressional approval for any future military action in Iran.

The measure advanced, 50-47.

Oil prices eased on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump again asserted the war with Iran will end "very quickly", though investors remain wary about the outcome of peace talks amid continued disruptions to Middle East supply from the conflict.

Brent crude oil futures 0.4 per cent, to $110.83 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were down 0.3 per cent, to $103.88.

Both benchmarks fell nearly $1 on Tuesday after US Vice President JD Vance said the US and Iran had made progress in talks, with neither side wanting to see a resumption of military action.

Source: Reuters

Iran has rejected US claims about a missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, calling them an “appalling lie” and a “baseless fabrication”.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on X that comments by US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper alleging the Shajareh Tayyebeh school was located on an active Iranian cruise missile site were an attempt to “obscure the severe reality” of the February 28 attack.

Baghaei said the missile strike killed more than 170 schoolchildren and teachers, describing the targeting of an educational institution during school hours as “a grave violation of international humanitarian law” and “a clear war crime”.

He added that “the civilian nature of the site cannot be obscured by technical misrepresentations” and said US officials responsible for the attack “must be held fully accountable under international law”.

US President Donald Trump told lawmakers at the White House on Tuesday that the United States “will end the war very quickly” with Iran.

Iran’s UN mission has accused the US of attempting to “whitewash” its own actions at the United Nations, saying Washington was spreading “lies, false accusations and disinformation” about Tehran and its peaceful nuclear programme.

In a post on X, the mission said the US continues to violate international law through “unlawful maritime blockades” and steadfast support for Israel’s actions across the region.

“The culprit and the thief are now playing the role of prosecutor and judge, trying to whitewash their own crimes,” the statement added.

A top US military commander has again stopped short of taking responsibility for a strike on a school in Iran that killed about 170 people, most of them children, on the opening day of the war, saying a “complex” investigation is still underway, Al Jazeera said.

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, told a congressional oversight hearing that the school was located on an “active IRGC cruise missile base”, making the probe “more complex than the average strike”. IRGC refers to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The February 28 attack in the southern Iranian city of Minab killed 73 boys, 47 girls, 26 teachers, seven parents, a school bus driver and another adult. The United States has repeatedly declined to accept responsibility for the incident.

Cooper made the remarks in response to questions from House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith, who noted that in previous cases involving such mistakes, the US had acknowledged them quickly even while investigations were ongoing.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed deep sorrow over the death of Major (res.) Itamar Sapir, who was killed in combat in southern Lebanon.

Netanyahu said Sapir, a resident of the Eli settlement, was a dedicated commander who fought courageously against Hezbollah militants to protect Israel’s northern border.

The Israeli premier and his wife Sarah extended their condolences to Sapir’s family, saying the entire nation stands with them during this difficult time, and added: “May his memory be a blessing.”

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday that 89 commercial vessels had been "redirected" as Washington continued enforcing its blockade on Iranian ports. CENTCOM said the operation aimed to stop the flow of commerce into and out of Iran. Iranian officials meanwhile blamed the United States for stalled negotiations and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, insisting Tehran would not bow to what it called American "bullying". With no new date fixed for talks, concerns remain that fighting could resume at any moment.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz during a phone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to his office, Erdogan said Turkey was working for the preservation of the ceasefire and peace across regional conflicts. He also stressed the need to increase international pressure on Israel, accusing it of wanting conflicts in the region to continue.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday warned that a direct strike on the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE could lead to a major release of radioactivity. Addressing a special session of the UN Security Council after this weekend's attack on the facility, Grossi said electricity supply had been restored, calling it an "important step for nuclear safety". However, he cautioned that "a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment". Grossi also warned that damage to power supply lines could increase the risk of reactor core meltdowns, potentially forcing emergency measures such as evacuations.
 

US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday said Washington and Tehran had made "a lot of progress" in ongoing negotiations and suggested that neither side wanted a return to military conflict. "We think that we've made a lot of progress. We think the Iranians want to make a deal," Vance told reporters during a White House briefing.

Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran's parliamentary national security committee, said US President Donald Trump's hesitation over launching fresh attacks on Iran reflected fears of a strong Iranian response. "He knows any move against Iran means facing a decisive military response and a unified nation," Azizi wrote. He added, "Power is the only language he understands!"

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday discussed American efforts to stop Iran from placing mines and imposing tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the US State Department. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio also discussed a possible UN Security Council resolution on the issue and stressed the "overwhelming support" among UN member states for the effort. The two leaders also discussed the nomination of USDA Undersecretary Luke Lindberg to lead the UN World Food Program.

The Israeli military on Tuesday repeated evacuation threats against residents of 12 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, warning people to immediately leave their homes ahead of expected attacks. In a post on X, Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee named the affected areas, including Toura, Nabatieh, Habboush, Tayr Debba and Burj Al-Shamali.

The Trump administration on Tuesday announced fresh sanctions targeting an Iranian foreign currency exchange house and a network of companies allegedly linked to Iranian banking transactions. The US Treasury Department said it had sanctioned Iran-based Amin Exchange, also known as Ebrahimi and Associates Partnership Company, accusing it of operating front companies across the UAE, Turkey and Hong Kong. Washington also blocked 19 vessels that it said were involved in transporting Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products to foreign buyers.
 

US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping had assured him during their meeting last week that Beijing would not send weapons or military equipment to Iran. Trump described the assurance as a significant development amid growing concerns in Washington over foreign support for Tehran.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was giving Iran "a limited period of time" to reach a deal with Washington, stressing that Tehran could not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. "Well, I mean, I'm saying two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week, a limited period of time, because we can't let them have a new nuclear weapon" Trump said, adding, "There's no question in my mind that they'd use it." He also described Iran's leadership as "extremely radicalised" as tensions between the two countries continue over Tehran's nuclear programme.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was just "one hour away" from launching another military strike on Iran before diplomatic efforts paused the operation. Speaking at the White House, Trump said US naval ships had already been loaded with missiles and other weapons and were prepared to move forward. He added that the US military may still need to deliver "another big hit" on Iran as negotiations continue over a possible peace deal to end the conflict.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States may need to strike Iran again, while claiming that Tehran was "begging" to make a deal with Washington. Trump, however, added that he was "not sure" whether further military action would be necessary.

The G7 finance ministers on Tuesday stressed the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in the region. In a joint statement, the group said it was "imperative" to restore access through the key shipping route and also highlighted the importance of addressing global current account imbalances. The ministers further reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral cooperation in tackling risks facing the global economy.

Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom said it plans to return its staff to Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant in the coming weeks, according to Russia's RIA news agency. Rosatom, which is building two new units at the Bushehr site, had withdrawn hundreds of workers after the war on Iran began at the end of February.

The death toll from Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 3,042, according to the latest figures released by the Lebanese Health Ministry on Tuesday. Another 9,301 people have been wounded during the same period as Israel and Hezbollah continue exchanging attacks across the border.

Qatar on Tuesday said no country has the right "under any circumstances" to hinder access to the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in the region. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari also said that although two LNG tankers had crossed the strategic waterway, normal shipping traffic had not yet resumed.

Qatar on Tuesday said ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States need "more time" and praised Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to bring both sides closer to a solution. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said Doha remains in contact with both Washington and Tehran, adding that communication with US President Donald Trump would continue. Referring to Trump's decision to postpone a planned attack on Iran after requests from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, al-Ansari described the move as "a good response". He also acknowledged growing tensions with Tehran, saying Qatar continues to maintain "positive relations" with Iran, but added that "Iran has chosen to attack Qatar, and this is a threat to the relations between both countries".

• Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi briefed parliament on the latest talks with the US and reiterated Tehran's right to continue uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes, according to state media.
• Iran's latest proposal to Washington reportedly includes ending conflicts across the region, including Lebanon, lifting US sanctions and naval restrictions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, compensating war damage and withdrawing US forces from areas near Iran.
• Qatar said negotiations between Iran and the US need "more time" and praised Pakistan's mediation efforts while confirming contacts with both Tehran and Washington.
• The comments came after US President Donald Trump said he had paused a planned strike on Iran following requests from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• Israel warned residents of 12 towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate ahead of expected attacks targeting Hezbollah infrastructure.
• Israeli forces continued seizing Gaza-bound aid ships in international waters and detaining flotilla activists.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared before a court in Tel Aviv in his ongoing corruption trial, marking his 88th appearance in the case.