Middle East crisis live: Trump cancels tonight’s ‘scheduled strikes and bombings’ on Iran as Iranian source says nothing agreed

US Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer took to the floor on Thursday to accuse the Trump administration of lying to the public about the war in Iran and to urge Senate Republicans to support the war powers resolution and “end this war for real”.

“It doesn’t take a military genius to see that Trump’s fiasco of a war with Iran never ended – not with American helicopters being shot down, not when American bases are being attacked, and American troops are coming under fire,” Schumer said.

“Saying this war is over is an insult, an insult to the brave American servicemen who are risking their lives every day to fight it.”

Trump is “incapable, given his way, his lack of concern for facts, his only concern being his own ego. He is incapable of ending the war, incapable of cleaning up his own mess”, Schumer said.

“Republicans need to stop buying the BS, show some spine, and help us bring our servicemembers home,” Schumer said.

On Thursday, Trump threatened to attack Iran “very hard tonight” and seize the country’s Kharg Island and “other infrastructure”.

• 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.

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”.

In a post on X, he said:

Wrong strategies and impulsive decisions will reset the entire board for the worse, explode energy infrastructure and markets and create an endless quagmire that you will be stuck in for years.

You will see a different Iran.

Israeli authorities on Thursday deported a prominent French journalist after she was refused entry upon landing at the country’s main international airport the day before, her employer and the Foreign Press Association in Israel said.

Alice Froussard, who has worked for years in Israel and the Palestinian territories, arrived at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on a flight from Paris on Wednesday, according to Radio France Internationale, the public radio news network for which she often reported.

Froussard had the required travel authorisation and had applied for a press visa to work in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, RFI said. But when she arrived, Froussard was questioned, held and then sent back on a plane to France.

“Israeli authorities have not provided RFI with any explanation for the decision,” the network said in a statement.

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.

“An area located around 15 metres (50 feet) from the hospital was targeted, and 10 members of the medical and administrative staff were wounded,” said Dr Salman Aydibi, who runs Hiram hospital.

He said the strike shattered windows and damaged cars parked in front of the facility.

“This is the sixth time that the area of the hospital has been targeted by Israeli raids since the start of the war,” he said.

Footage has emerged of the killing of seven-month-old Sam Abu Haikal in the occupied West Bank that appears to contradict the Israeli military’s account of the shooting.

The Israel Defense Forces said its troops had “perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them” and that one of its soldiers had “responded with single shots toward the vehicle”.

Video obtained by the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights, however, shows the family’s car slowing down and stopping.

The video has no sound and it is unclear when exactly the soldier opened fire at the vehicle, but the clip appears to corroborate the account of Sam’s father, Fahed Abu Haikal.

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Kfar Tibnit, Lebanon, earlier today:

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.

Trump’s latest comments came after Iran and the US traded strikes for a second successive day, triggered by the downing of a US helicopter above the strait of Hormuz.

The ceasefire, established in early April, has been undermined by sporadic retaliatory strikes, with both sides accusing the other of violating the temporary truce.

Trump said Thursday’s assault was prompted by Iran stalling in negotiations aimed at turning the temporary ceasefire into a permanent peace.

The most intense strikes yet took place on Thursday morning, with the US launching a wide-ranging salvo against what it described as “military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air-defence sites across Iran”.

The US military said it also struck an oil tanker near the strait of Hormuz that it claimed was attempting to breach a blockade of Iranian ports, firing Hellfire missiles at the vessel.

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.

This comes in as Trump claims he will be “taking” Kharg Island “at some point in the not too distant future”. He believes he will take control of their oil and gas markets, “much like we have with Venezuela”.

Kharg island, which is home to a major oil terminal that is considered vital to the country’s economy, is located just off the coast of Iran.

CNN is now reporting that Iran has laid traps on the island with anti-personnel and antiarmor mines, including along the shoreline that US troops could enter if Trump did announce an on-the-ground-mission.

It is also moving shoulder-fired, surface-to-air guided missile systems known as MANPADs to the island – according to the outlet.

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.

US president Donald 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.

In the same interview, Trump also said: “The problem is it could be the greatest deal in history. They could wave the white flag of surrender and say ‘Praise be to Allah’ and the fake news would say, ‘It was a great victory for Iran.’ It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. We’re killing them. We’re killing them.”

In further comments to Fox News, Donald Trump said the US “dropped $250m worth of bombs on them [Iran] last night”.

He said the US was “not hitting them hard enough” but also claimed Iran was “in submission, they just don’t know it yet”.

He added: “My preference has always been take Kharg Island … I don’t know that America has the stomach for it.”

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.

Kuwait had closed its airspace for several hours this morning as air defence systems engaged “hostile aerial targets”, the military said.

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. At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Iran’s Kharg Island in the Gulf is an economic lifeline for the country, which handles about 90% of its oil exports.

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.

In this call, our country’s foreign minister strongly condemned the recent US aggression, calling it a clear violation of the UN Charter and international law, and announced that these actions have rendered the ceasefire ineffective and that the US is responsible for its dangerous consequences.

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.

According to Centcom, it is the third vessel attacked by the US in the Gulf this week – after the Marivex and Settebello vessels were struck previously.

India’s shipping ministry said all 20 Indian crew members were safe after the Jalveer ship sent a distress call while off Oman’s port of Shinas after a fire broke out, according to Reuters.

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. It later extended to all Lebanese products after Lebanon’s information minister at the time criticized Saudi Arabia’s actions in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that the reversal of the ban at the order of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came as a result of “positive steps taken by the Lebanese state.”

The current government of Lebanon, which came to power last year with promises of reform, has sought to rebuild ties with the Gulf countries.