LiveIran to suspend strikes on neighbours unless attacks come from them, says president
15:45
Iran to suspend strikes on neighbours unless attacks come from them
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the interim leadership council approved a suspension of attacks against neighbouring countries unless an attack on Iran came from those nations, Reuters reported.
Mr Pezeshkian also apologised to the neighbouring countries for the strikes against them in the past few days, Al Jazeera reported.
15:41
Almost 130 flights cancelled since start of conflict in Iran: Changi Airport Group
A total of 61 flights from the Middle East and 66 flights departing for the region have been cancelled between last Saturday and Friday, averaging nine cancelled departure flights per day.
As at 3.30pm, a Changi Airport Group spokesperson said that nine arrival and 10 departure flights are expected to be cancelled on Saturday, affecting about 1,400 departing passengers.
On Sunday, there will likely be nine or 10 cancelled arrival and departure flights, said the spokesperson.
15:28
Emirates says all flights to and from Dubai suspended
UAE flag carrier Emirates said in an X post on Saturday that all flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice.
The airline had been operating limited services from Dubai and Abu Dhabi through safe air corridors.
15:12
Putin calls for immediate halt to Iran conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the numerous civilian casualties from “the armed Israeli-American aggression against Iran” and called for an immediate halt to hostilities, the Kremlin said.
“Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s principled stance in favour of an immediate cessation of hostilities, the rejection of force as a method to solve any issues surrounding Iran or arising in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution,” the Kremlin said.
Mr Putin said, in a phone call late on Friday with Mr Pezeshkian, that he was in constant contact with the leaders of Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
PHOTO: REUTERS
15:05
Arab League to meet on Sunday over Iranian attacks
Foreign ministers of the Arab League will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss “Iranian attacks on the territories of several Arab countries”, the bloc’s assistant secretary-general told AFP.
The meeting, which will be held via video conference, was requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Egypt, Mr Hossam Zaki said.
14:45
Gold stuck in Dubai selling at major discount due to shipping issues
Gold is being offered at a steep discount in Dubai, as the war in the Middle East grounds flights and hampers suppliers’ ability to move bullion out of the key trading hub.
Buyers have shied away from new orders because of the exceptionally high price of shipping and insurance costs - but at no guarantee of prompt delivery.
But now, traders are offering discounts as much as US$30 (S$38) an ounce to the global benchmark in London instead.
Many shipments remained stranded on Friday, despite bullions having been loaded onto flights leaving Dubai from the middle of this week.
The United Arab Emirates, and Dubai more specifically, is an important centre for refining and exporting bullion to buyers across Asia, as well as a conduit for shipments from Switzerland, Britain and several African countries.
14:31
Israel accuses Iran of using cluster bombs
Israel said on Friday that Iran had launched cluster bombs “multiple times” since the war in the Middle East broke out on Feb 28.
Cluster munitions explode in mid-air and scatter bomblets and while some of them do not explode on impact, they can cause casualties over time, particularly among children.
The Iranians “are using cluster munitions”, an Israeli military spokesman said, adding: “They’ve used it multiple times, which is a war crime when it’s directed towards civilians, and we’re tracking that situation.”
Thursday’s footage from news outlet AFP showed a swarm of flaming projectiles falling in the darkened sky over central Israel, which Israel’s military said were cluster bombs.
Both Iran and Israel have been accused of using cluster munitions.
14:01
Impact of Middle East conflict on Asia: Queues, price hikes and supply shortages
Though Asia is thousands of kilometres from the Middle East, the region is already feeling the ripple effects of the ongoing war, with longer queues, rising prices and supply shortages.
The US and Israeli strikes on Iran have triggered retaliatory attacks that disrupted energy production, halted some exports and effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.
Prices for some industrial end-users have already spiked.
Singapore’s providers of fuel for ships are among those rationing supply, while the Philippines has said it will shorten the work week for government offices to save energy. Bangladesh has also limited Ramadan light displays. China has asked refiners to curb exports to protect domestic stocks.
Disarray has been spreading after just days of war, and for many the risks are rising.
13:37
Saudi defence minister urges Iran to ‘avoid miscalculation’ after Tehran launches missiles and drones at the kingdom
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, Prince Khalid Salman, on Saturday urged Iran to “exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation”, following repeated missile and drone launches at the kingdom.
After meeting Pakistan’s military chief, the Saudi minister posted on X: “We discussed Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and the measures needed to halt them... We stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability and expressed hope that the Iranian side will exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation.”
His comments come after Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base with US military personnel, as Iran continued to launch strikes across the Gulf.
Another drone targeting a major oil field near the Emirati border was also thwarted, resulting in a total of six drones being intercepted and destroyed.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, also reported at least two drone attacks earlier this week that targeted the Ras Tanura refinery in the east.
13:21
The situation so far
On the eighth day of the US-Israeli war on Iran, Israel said it has launched a “broad-scale wave of strikes” on targets in Tehran, hours after US President Donald Trump said the war will end only with Iran’s unconditional surrender.
- Iran’s envoy to the UN said at least 1,332 civilians have died so far and thousands injured since US-Israeli strikes began on Feb 28.
- Iran destroyed a key US$300 million (S$382 million) radar system in Jordan that is crucial in directing US missile defence batteries in the Gulf.
- Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues to upend the global energy sector, with several governments and businesses in Asia initiating policies to reduce energy usage in face of faltering stock.
- The US State Department, skipping a congressional review, approved a munitions sale worth US$151.8 million to Israel.
- In the US, fuel prices have jumped more than 10 per cent this week as oil rose above US$90 a barrel, its highest in years.
- The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has extended the deadline for foreigners stuck in Singapore who wish to return to the Middle East to express their interest for a special flight to Muscat, Oman.
PHOTO: AFP
