Middle East crisis live: Trump threatens ‘very hard’ attack on Iran tonight and says US will seize Kharg island | US-Israel war on Iran

Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran “very hard tonight” and seize the country’s Kharg Island and “other infrastructure” in his latest warning to Tehran. In a post on his Truth Social app, he said: “The United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT.”

Trump told Fox News that he would “rather not” attack civilian infrastructure in Iran – despite previously threatening to. This comes as the US said it will increase strikes on the Islamic Republic. “Yeah, but I’d rather not do it, because once you do that, the people suffer,” Trump said when asked if the United States would start attacking power plants and bridges as he has previously threatened.

One of Iran’s top negotiators has warned of an “endless quagmire” if the US makes “impulsive” decisions. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, said “wrong strategies” will “reset the entire board for the worse”.

The price of oil has risen since Donald Trump has threatened a ‘very hard’ attack on Iran tonight and said US will seize Kharg island, according to the BBC. Brent crude futures increased by around $2, to $94.16, a barrel in the space of a few minutes this afternoon – before shortly falling back down minorly.

The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the renewed US strikes against Iran “have rendered the ceasefire ineffective”, according to a statement on his Telegram channel. Araghchi discussed the latest developments with the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, in a phone call this afternoon, where he condemned the US attacks, the statement said.

The US has confirmed that it carried out a strike on Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel M/T Jalveer, which according to Central Command (Centcom) was violating the blockade. Centcom alleged that the ship was attempting to transport Iranian oil through the Gulf of Oman.

The Kuwaiti armed forces said it has responded to 24 Iranian drones in its airspace in the past two days. “The Iranian aggression resulted in limited material damage without any human casualties,” the army said in a statement on social media.

According to Mehr, Iran’s semi-official news agency, explosions have been heard in Sirik, which borders the strait of Hormuz. These blasts allegedly sounded from the sea, according to reports. “A few minutes ago, an explosion was heard in the Sirik area at sea,” a state television reporter said from the area, without providing further information.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that all parties must work towards a diplomatic settlement that fully respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon. In a post on X, Guterres added that there must be a comprehensive ceasefire and said he fully supports a monopoly on weapons by the Lebanese government.

A strike wounded 10 staff members of a hospital in the Lebanese city of Tyre on Thursday, the facility’s director told AFP, as Israeli raids continue in the country’s south. All three of the historic city’s hospitals have been hit since the start of the latest war between Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel in early March.

Saudi Arabia has lifted its five-year import ban from Lebanon – which marks a significant step in improving relations between countries in the Gulf region and Lebanon. The ban was introduced in 2021 and initially was only for Lebanese fruits and vegetables, citing drug smuggling concerns.

The Pakistani foreign ministry said the country will continue with mediation efforts to end the war despite an escalation in hostilities between the US and Iran. “Pakistan remains deeply concerned at the situation in the region marked by recent escalation. We appeal to the parties to adhere to the understanding reached on the ceasefire,” the ministry spokesperson, Tahir Andrabi, told reporters in a briefing today.

Bahrain’s interior ministry said an 11-year-old girl was injured from falling debris after Iranian drones were intercepted by air defences in the capital Manama and Hamad Town. The incident also damaged several vehicles and homes, the ministry said in a post on X, with pictures showing scorched cars and buildings.

Three Indian seafarers were killed in a US attack on an oil tanker earlier this week, India’s shipping minister, ‌Sarbananda Sonowal, said. “It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello. Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified,” he wrote in a post on X.