The Middle East crisis entered another tense day on Friday with the Strait of Hormuz again at the centre of the standoff between Washington and Tehran.
Trump said the US was in “total control” of the key oil route and would not rush into a deal, while Iranian leaders dismissed his claims of infighting and said the country remained united behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.
Middle East tensions: LIVE updates
Iran dismisses health reports as ‘enemy narrative’
Iran pushed back against reports about the leader’s health, calling them attempts to undermine national unity.
Officials said such claims are part of a broader information campaign targeting the country.
Report claims Khamenei injured in earlier strikes
A report cited officials as saying Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously injured in the February strikes.
He is said to be undergoing treatment, with injuries affecting his mobility and speech, though he remains actively involved in decision-making.
Handwritten messages used to avoid surveillance
Iran is reportedly using a low-tech communication system to reach its top leader.
Messages are handwritten, sealed, and passed through a chain of couriers travelling across routes to avoid detection.
Extreme security measures surround Iran’s top leadership
Security around Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly been tightened to unprecedented levels.
Senior officials are said to avoid direct contact, amid fears that movements could be tracked by Israel and expose his location.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader remains out of public view
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since taking over after his father’s death.
Reports say no video or audio messages have been released, with directives issued only via written statements or readouts on state TV.
Ceasefire holds on paper, tensions persist on ground
The strikes come a day after US President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks.
US officials described the extension as a step towards longer-term stability, though fresh strikes suggest the situation remains fragile.
IDF strikes Lebanon despite ceasefire claim
The Israeli military said it carried out airstrikes in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah-linked sites, despite the announced ceasefire extension.
The strikes followed rocket fire towards northern Israel, with the IDF saying the targets were used to plan attacks.
Oil risks may accelerate shift to renewables: Report
Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz could push countries to speed up their transition to renewable energy, according to a Jefferies report.
It warned that disruptions pose an “existential risk” for oil-importing economies, especially in Asia, and could drive faster investment in clean energy.
Global push grows to reopen Strait of Hormuz
France and the UK are working with international partners on plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with military planners from over 30 countries meeting in London earlier this week.
Separately, leaders from 49 countries backed de-escalation and “freedom of navigation” at a summit co-hosted by Macron and UK PM Keir Starmer.
Macron calls for stability, opposes ‘blockade-style’ pressure on Iran
French President Emmanuel Macron called for a return to stability in West Asia, warning the ongoing conflict is unsettling global markets.
“It is in everyone's interest for stability to return as soon as possible,” he said, adding that engagement with Iran must be “systematic” and not driven by blockades or military pressure.
Katz warns of ‘deadly’ next phase of operations
Katz said future strikes would target “the most painful places” and could “shake and collapse” Iran’s foundations.
He also accused Tehran of using energy routes to exert pressure on global markets.
Israel signals readiness to escalate, awaits US green light
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the country is prepared to expand military action against Iran.
“The IDF is prepared for both defence and attack, and the targets are marked,” he said, adding Israel is awaiting US approval for further operations.
Report raises questions over Iran leadership decision-making
The same assessment suggested Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei may be under medical supervision and reliant on senior IRGC commanders for strategic decisions.
It identified IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi as playing a key role in shaping Iran’s stance on the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear programme.
Think tank flags ‘choreographed’ unity messaging in Iran
A new assessment by the Institute for the Study of War said recent statements by Iran’s leadership appear to be a coordinated response to US pressure.
It said the messaging was likely aimed at both internal factions and Washington to signal unity and shut down perceptions of division.
Iran-linked militias step up regional attacks: Report
According to a Washington Institute analysis, Iran-backed militias, including KSS, have intensified attacks in the region since the conflict escalated.
The report said groups have used drones, rockets and possibly short-range ballistic missiles to target areas including Iraq’s Kurdistan region and Gulf-linked interests.
US offers $10 million reward for Iran-linked militia leader
The US State Department has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information on Abu Ala al-Walai, leader of the Iran-aligned Iraqi group Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS).
Washington said the group has attacked US personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria, and killed civilians.
India advises citizens to avoid Iran, urges those present to leave
The Indian Embassy in Tehran has advised citizens to avoid travelling to Iran amid ongoing regional tensions and flight disruptions.
In a post on X, the Embassy said those already in the country should leave through designated land routes in coordination with officials.
The advisory follows earlier warnings issued this month, asking Indian nationals to exit “expeditiously” as the situation evolves.
Meanwhile, the MEA said over 12 lakh passengers have travelled from the region to India since February 28, with limited flights continuing based on safety conditions.
Iran’s FIFA World Cup participation under cloud amid US concerns
Uncertainty has grown over Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after remarks from US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump said he would “give that a little thought” when asked about a proposal to replace Iran with Italy.
Rubio clarified the issue was not the players but accompanying personnel, saying individuals with alleged IRGC links may not be allowed entry.
Iran has qualified for the tournament, but its sports minister said a final decision will depend on evolving political and security conditions.
Support concerns emerge in US as conflict stretches on
According to Politico, some Republican lawmakers have privately indicated that the 60-day mark in the conflict could be a turning point for continued support.
During hearings on Capitol Hill, US officials avoided giving clear timelines on when energy prices might stabilise.
Trump says he is under ‘no pressure’ to end conflict
Trump reiterated that he was not under pressure to end the war with Iran.
“I have all the time in the world, but Iran doesn't — the clock is ticking,” he said on Truth Social.
He claimed Iran’s military had been severely weakened and said the US blockade remained “airtight and strong.”
Iran MP calls nuclear talks with US a ‘strategic mistake’
In Tehran, a senior Iranian lawmaker questioned earlier engagement with Washington.
Mahmoud Nabavian, a member of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said putting Iran’s nuclear programme on the negotiating table in Pakistan was a “strategic mistake”.
“By doing so, the enemy became bolder,” he said, adding that US demands included removing Iran’s 60 per cent enriched material — something Tehran rejected.
US lawmakers slam Trump amid war escalation
Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee sharply criticised US President Donald Trump, saying the country needed “responsible leadership” as tensions with Iran escalated.
“The US is at war with Iran. Thirteen service members are dead, and the president has placed tens of thousands of Americans in harm's way,” they said in a post on X.
They accused Trump of treating the presidency “like a reality TV gig” and said, “This is a serious moment. Our country deserves leadership that acts like it.”
Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks
Trump said Israel and Lebanon had agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks.
“They’ve agreed to an additional three weeks of, I guess, no firing,” he said.
He added that Hezbollah remained a concern, while US officials called the extension a step toward possible permanent peace.
Trump says he is in no hurry on Iran deal
Trump said he would not set a deadline for ending the conflict.
“Don’t rush me,” he told reporters, claiming Iran’s military had been badly weakened.
He said Iran would not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and claimed Tehran was under pressure to negotiate.
Iran says Hormuz toll revenue deposited in central bank
Iran’s central bank said revenue from new transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz had been deposited in cash currency.
Iran’s Deputy Parliament Speaker Hamidreza Hajibabaee said all ships using the route must pay tolls in Iranian rials.
He also claimed two “violating vessels” had been seized.
US will keep Hormuz closed until Iran makes a deal: Trump
Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Iran agrees to a deal.
“We have total control of it,” he said. “It’ll open when they make a deal or something else happens that’s very positive.”
He said Iran had offered to open the Strait three days earlier, but he refused because it would allow Tehran to earn “$500 million a day.”
Trump says he will not use nuclear weapon against Iran
Asked whether he would use a nuclear weapon in the conflict, Trump rejected the suggestion.
“No, I wouldn’t use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody,” he said.
He added that the US had enough oil supply and was not facing a shortage.
Trump says US blockade on Iran is ‘airtight’
Trump said the United States had full control over blockade measures against Iran.
“What we have done with the blockade is amazing, and nobody gets through,” he told reporters at the White House.
He said Iran’s alleged firing at countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain was a “big mistake.”
Khamenei says Iranian unity has fractured the enemy
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei praised what he called the “strange unity” among Iranians.
“Due to the strange unity created among compatriots, a fracture has occurred in the enemy,” he said in a message on X.
He warned that enemy “media operations” were aimed at weakening national unity and security.
Pezeshkian says all Iranians are united as ‘revolutionaries’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also rejected Trump’s remarks about a divide between “hardliners” and “moderates.”
“In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates; we are all ‘Iranian’ and ‘revolutionary,’” he wrote on X.
He said Iran would make the “aggressor criminal regret his actions” and added: “One God, one nation, one leader, and one path.”
Iran rejects Trump’s claim of internal divisions
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed Trump’s claim that there were divisions within the country’s leadership.
“In Iran, there are no radicals or moderates; we are all ‘Iranian’ and ‘revolutionary,’” he said, adding that Iran remained united against external pressure.
He said the Iranian people and government stood in “iron unity” and obedience to the Supreme Leader.