Iran live news: US jets crash; Iran says no Trump talks, hits energy sites

When asked by Al Jazeera whether it’s a good idea for Iran to be making enemies of its Gulf neighbours with its attacks, Hassan Ahmadian, of the University of Tehran, said “not at all … I don’t think it’s a rational choice”.

However, Iran is actually “focusing – as the official line goes – on US forces, on US bases and basically US interests in the region. And those interests seemingly, as we see in the attacks, include global oil and gas markets,” said Ahmadian.

Iran is “focusing on hurting the United States in the way that can hurt many in the region as well”, he told Al Jazeera.

Iran is targeting energy infrastructure in Gulf countries to “ratchet up the pressure to force the United States to rethink its aggression against the country through driving up prices of oil and energy prices globally”, added Ahmadian.

The French president has announced that his country will increase the number of nuclear warheads in its arsenal for the first time in decades.

Speaking on Monday at the L’Ile Longue military base in northwestern France, home to the country’s ballistic missile submarines, Emmanuel Macron said he had decided to raise the number of warheads from the current level of fewer than 300.

He did not specify how many would be added. It would mark the first increase in France’s nuclear stockpile since at least 1992.

Macron said the move was aimed at clarifying the role of France’s nuclear deterrent in Europe’s security architecture amid what he described as growing global threats and uncertainty surrounding US security guarantees to European allies.

Macron also said France would allow the temporary deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries and announced that France, Germany and the United Kingdom would work together on “very long-range missile projects” as part of deeper cooperation on strike capabilities.

We’re getting reports of loud explosions being heard from the area near a nuclear facility and airbase in the central Iranian city of Isfahan.

We’ll bring you more as soon as we get it.

Bahrain says its air defence systems have intercepted a new wave of Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.

“The total number of hostile projectiles amounted to 70 missiles and 59 drones,” the National Communication Centre said, according to state media.

The US Embassy in the Lebanese capital of Beirut has called on its citizens to not travel to the country.

It has also urged those already in the country to “depart Lebanon NOW while commercial flight options remain available”, it said in a social media post.

“The security situation in Lebanon is volatile and unpredictable. Airstrikes have occurred throughout the country, especially in the south, the Beqaa, and parts of Beirut.”

Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has said his country is now “directly affected by the course of the war”, warning its continuation would exacerbate instability and create chaos in the region, according to the Iraqi News Agency.

Hussein spoke to the phone with British Minister of State for the Middle East Hamish Falconer, during which they discussed the developments of the war and its regional repercussions.

The call included “a comprehensive assessment of the field and political situation,” during which Falconer reviewed his country’s new position, explaining “allowing US forces to use some facilities, while working to facilitate the related procedures”, the news agency.

Hussein stressed “the necessity of intensifying international and regional efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire, which would contribute to containing the escalation and creating the conditions for restoring stability.”

The Israeli military has released additional details about the killing of a senior Hezbollah figure in Beirut.

Earlier, the army said it had killed Hussein Makled, described as the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, in an overnight strike on the Lebanese capital.

In a statement, the Israeli military said Makled had held several positions within Hezbollah’s intelligence apparatus over recent years and was appointed to lead the unit after his predecessor, Hussein Hazima, was killed in October 2024.

According to the Israeli military, Makled was responsible for compiling intelligence assessments on Israeli forces and coordinating with senior Hezbollah commanders to plan attacks against Israel.

The military added that it would continue operations against Hezbollah.

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has said it will begin operating a limited number of flights starting this evening.

“We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates,” it said in a statement, urging people to “not go to the airport unless you have been notified”.

It added: “All other flights remain suspended until further notice.”

The US embassy in Baghdad says it has told US nationals and mission personnel to shelter in place, warning of threats posed by Iran-backed groups active in the country.

“The U.S. Mission in Iraq advises U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution, maintain a low profile, and shelter in place until further notice,” it said in a statement, adding that it had directed all staff to do the same.

The embassy warned that “Iran-aligned terrorist militias continue to pose a significant threat to public safety”.

Yesterday, hundreds of pro-Iran Iraqi protesters clashed with security forces near the embassy, with authorities accusing demonstrators of firing live rounds that wounded security personnel.

It had been their second attempt to enter the area after clashing in the morning with heavily deployed security forces.

Israel’s army says its forces have begun striking “Hezbollah terror targets throughout Lebanon”.

“Further details to follow,” it said in a statement published on Telegram as large plumes of smoke were rising over Beirut.

The general has issued a warning for US “enemies”.

“To those who would test our resolve or threaten the United States or its allies, understand clearly: We can reach you. We can sustain the fight, and we can scale the fight, and we will prevail.”

The US defence secretary has reiterated that there are currently no US “boots on the ground” in Iran but declined to rule out such future steps.

He added that Washington would go as far as necessary to advance US interests while also saying it would act without being “foolish”.

Hegseth questioned the logic of publicly outlining potential military options, saying it would not make sense to inform an adversary of what actions the US might take in pursuit of its objectives.

US forces have achieved air superiority over Iran, Caine says during the news conference.

“[Strikes by US forces] resulted in the establishment of local air superiority. This air superiority will not only enhance the protection of our forces but also allow them to continue the work over Iran,” the general said.

The US defence secretary is providing further details about the US casualties during operations against Iran, saying most incoming threats had been intercepted by air defence systems.

He said that while the majority of projectiles had been shot down, one strike had penetrated defences and hit what he described as a fortified “tactical operations centre”, noting that the weapons used were “powerful”.

As we’ve reported, the US military has said four of its service members have been killed in the operations.

The general laid out the objectives of the US-Israeli operation against Iran:

“Our mission is to protect ourselves and our regional partners, prevent Iran from the ability to project power from outside of its borders and be ready for follow-on actions as appropriate.”

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff says the US-Israeli operation against Iran is “not a single overnight mission”.

“We expect to take additional losses. As always, we will work to minimise US losses, but as the secretary said, this is major combat operations.”

Benchmark Dutch and British wholesale gas prices have soared by nearly 50 percent, after major liquefied ⁠natural gas (LNG) exporter Qatar Energy said it had halted production due to attacks in the Gulf country.

The Dutch front-month contract at the TTF ⁠hub, seen as a benchmark price for Europe, was up 14.56 euros ($17.04) at 46.52 euros ($54.45) per megawatt hour (MWh), or around $15.92/mmBtu, by 12:55 GMT, ICE data showed.

Prices were already about 25 percent higher earlier in the day, but extended gains after Qatar Energy’s ⁠production halt.

Benchmark Asian LNG prices jumped almost 39 percent on Monday morning with the S&P Global Energy Japan-Korea-Marker (JKM), widely used as an Asian LNG benchmark, ⁠at $15.068 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), Platts data showed.

“If LNG/gas ⁠markets start to price in an extended period of losses to Qatari LNG supply, TTF could potentially spike to 80-100 euros/MWh ($28-35/mmBtu),” Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING, said. The British April contract was up 40.83 pence at 119.40 pence per ‌therm, ICE data showed.

Speaking at the news conference at the Pentagon, Hegseth says US forces are carrying out strikes in what he characterises as a surgical and overwhelming manner.

He added that ongoing US military operations against Iran would not turn into an “endless war”.

Addressing reports that four US service members have been killed, Hegseth acknowledged that the operation would involve casualties.

The Red Crescent says at least 555 people have been killed in the US-Israeli attacks since Saturday. Iranian state media have reported that at least 165 have been killed in an attack on a school in southern Iran.