Tensions Rise Between Iran and US-Israel as Missile Strikes and Attacks Continue
Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected US Central Command's assertion that the school hit in February missile strikes in Minab was part of a missile launch facility, calling the claim a "baseless fabrication" aimed at concealing what it described as the killing of more than 170 school children and teachers. An Israeli-developed plan envisioned former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad taking power after the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials, The New York Times reported, citing US officials briefed on the proposal. According to the report, installing Ahmadinejad was part of a broader multiphase strategy for the conflict. The first phase allegedly involved a joint US-Israeli aerial campaign targeting top Iranian leaders, including Khamenei. The plan also anticipated the mobilization of Kurdish forces inside Iran, though that aspect of the strategy never materialized, the report said. Iran’s Foreign Ministry says it is reviewing a new U.S. proposal as the country’s foreign minister issues a fresh warning to Washington. The near-total internet blackout in Iran has now “entered its 83rd day with international networks largely barred for over 1968 hours”, according to internet watchdog NetBlocks. The energy shock from the Iran war is seeping ever deeper into the European economy, presenting policy-makers with a dilemma as it simultaneously weighs on growth and pushes prices higher, a broad set of data on Thursday showed. While most economists say this still cannot be compared to the outright "stagflation" mix of high inflation and stagnant growth that accompanied the energy shocks of the 1970s, it will exacerbate the cost of living crisis that followed the COVID-19 pandemic and which millions of households are still facing, reported Reuters. At least four Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza, the Wafa news agency reports. Two Palestinians were killed in areas under Israeli military control in the al-Mawasi area of Rafah governorate in southern Gaza. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei directed that the country's stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium must not be sent abroad, according to two senior Iranian sources cited by Reuters. The move hardens Tehran's position on one of the key issues in discussions with the United States and its allies over Iran's nuclear programme. The directive rejects calls for Iran to transfer its highly enriched uranium stockpile overseas as part of any potential agreement. India is in discussions with the foreign ministry regarding the deployment of tankers for loading operations in the Strait of Hormuz, a government official said. The official said that vessels will be sent to the region “when the situation is conducive.” The official also said that 14 Indian vessels are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Iran crisis can only be resolved through diplomatic channels that take Iranian interests into account. Iran is responding to a text message sent by the United States, according to Iran's ISNA news agency. ISNA also reported that the visit of Pakistan's army chief to Tehran is aimed at narrowing differences between the parties and paving the way for an official announcement of an agreement. “The visit of Pakistan's army chief to Tehran is in order to minimize the gaps and reach an official announcement of agreement,” ISNA said. Pakistan’s army chief visit to Tehran is to minimise the gaps and help reach an official announcement of understanding, Iran’s ISNA news outlet reported. “The Iranian text is being discussed in Tehran regarding the overarching framework, some details, and confidence-building measures as guarantees,” said ISNA, adding that “the submitted text has narrowed the gaps to some extent, but further reductions require an end to the temptation for war from Washington”. According to Iran's ISNA news agency, Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir is set to visit Tehran. This comes after Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was headed to Iran as well. 20 Iranian sailors who were on board a vessel captured by the US have returned to Tehran from Islamabad, according to IRNA outlet. “The release was achieved after intensive consultations between Iranian Foreign Minister and his Pakistani and Singaporean counterparts,” the Iranian report added. Sri Lanka’s tea sector is facing strain as the Iran war pushes up energy costs and weakens export demand. Tea worker Jacintha Malar told Reuters: “We don’t know whether we can cope. If this war continues, many people will face hardship.” Export earnings fell 17.3% in March to $114.75 million, with a sharp drop in shipments to the UAE and Iraq. Workers say rising fuel and cooking gas prices are forcing households to switch to firewood. Reports from the occupied West Bank also describe a series of raids, arrests, and settler attacks across multiple towns and villages. Incidents include tear gas attacks, detentions, and destruction of property, with residents facing daily disruptions and insecurity. The situation continues to fuel concerns that the conflict is expanding beyond Gaza into wider Palestinian territories. Far from the Middle East, Kenya is also feeling the effects of rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing Iran conflict. With disruptions to global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, fuel prices have surged sharply in the country. The increase has triggered protests, with reports saying at least four people have died during demonstrations over the rising cost of living. Iran has executed two men accused of forming a group aimed at disrupting national security, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Authorities said the individuals were also linked to a “terrorist organisation” and were involved in armed activities including shootings and attempted assassinations. In Washington, US military veterans and lawmakers joined protests against President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran. Senator Tammy Duckworth and Senator Tim Kaine were among those speaking at the demonstration organised by VoteVets outside the U.S. Capitol. Protesters raised concerns about rising fuel prices and the wider impact of the war, saying ordinary citizens are already feeling the economic pressure. The demonstration reflects growing political debate inside the U.S. over the direction of the Iran conflict. Ben-Gvir has been one of the most controversial figures in Israeli politics. The 50-year-old has served as Israel’s national security minister since December 2022 and leads the far-right Otzma Yehudit, or Jewish Power, party. As a teenager, he joined the now-banned Kach movement, which led to convictions in Israel related to incitement against Palestinians and support for what authorities described as a “terror” organisation. Global anger is also building against Itamar Ben-Gvir after he shared a video showing himself mocking Gaza aid flotilla activists while they were being handled by Israeli prison guards. The activists had been detained after trying to deliver aid linked to Gaza. Critics around the world accused Ben-Gvir of humiliating the detainees and turning their treatment into a public spectacle. European Council President Antonio Costa said he was “appalled” by the treatment shown in the video. “This behaviour is completely unacceptable. We call for their immediate release,” Costa wrote on social media. Michael Lynk, the former UN special rapporteur for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, also criticised Israel’s actions. He told Al Jazeera that the activists “committed no crime known to international law or even domestic law”. According to Lynk, the issue exploded globally because the footage was recorded and shared publicly. He said even Mike Huckabee, who is seen as strongly supportive of Israel, called the video “disgraceful”. Schools in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin were forced to delay opening hours after Israeli military forces carried out early morning raids across the area, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Residents said Israeli military vehicles entered Jenin’s central commercial market area shortly after dawn, triggering fear and disruption across the city. During the operation, Israeli soldiers reportedly entered a local shop, assaulted a resident, and confiscated agricultural supplies including fertilisers and pesticides. Wafa reported that schools were told not to open on time and would only resume classes once Israeli forces withdraw from the city, with authorities prioritising student safety. On the diplomatic front, Iran confirmed it has received a new U.S. proposal and is currently studying it. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran is reviewing “the points of view of the American side,” while talks are being supported through mediation channels, including Pakistan. Iran also repeated its demands in the negotiations, including the release of frozen Iranian assets abroad and an end to restrictions on Iranian ports. The country’s Supreme National Security Council reposted a message confirming that the authority’s official X account was now active, signalling that the new body had formally started operations. The new organisation is expected to monitor and manage developments linked to the Strait of Hormuz, including maritime movement and transit regulations. Iranian state media outlet Press TV had earlier reported that Tehran introduced a fresh mechanism to control maritime traffic in the region. Under the new system, ships planning to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will receive official instructions through an email address linked to the authority — info@PGSA.ir. The communication reportedly includes rules and conditions vessels must follow before entering the strait. Ships are also expected to secure a transit permit under the newly introduced framework. Press TV described the system as a “sovereign governance mechanism” that is now fully operational. Iran has formally defined the boundaries of its new supervision zone in the Strait of Hormuz and announced that ships passing through the critical waterway will now need coordination and official permits from Tehran. The move comes at a time when peace talks between the United States and Iran remain stuck, with neither side willing to step back from its demands. The newly launched Persian Gulf Strait Authority, also known as the PGSA, shared details of the new maritime zone in a post on X. According to the authority, the supervision area stretches from the line connecting Kuh Mobarak in Iran and the southern part of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz, to the line connecting the end of Qeshm Island in Iran and Umm al-Qaiwain in the UAE on the western side. The authority said vessels passing through the area must now coordinate with Iran’s waterway management system and obtain permission before transit. 1/ جمهورى اسلامى ايران محدودهٔ نظارتى مديریت تنگه هرمز را به این شرح تعيین کرده است: «خط اتصال كوه مبارك درايران وجنوب فجيره درامارات در شرق تنگه تاخط اتصال انتهاى جزيره قشم درايران و ام القيوین امارات درغرب تنگه.» pic.twitter.com/3ELSwYx5Bp Meanwhile, Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon killed more than 20 people, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry and local media reports. Although Lebanese and Israeli officials had agreed to extend a ceasefire, fighting has continued on the ground. In Gaza, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 72,773 people have been killed and another 172,723 injured since October 2023 during Israel’s war in the territory. In another major development, the United States removed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, a UN expert known for speaking out against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. The decision came after a US judge temporarily blocked the sanctions. A lawsuit filed by Albanese’s family argued that the Trump administration had punished her because of her public criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. At the White House, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller issued a sharp warning to Tehran. “This new team in Iran has a choice to make,” Miller told Fox News. “They can either agree to a piece of paper that is satisfactory to the United States, or they can face a punishment from our military, the likes of which has not been seen in modern history.” Separately, reports emerged that a former Iranian national football team goalkeeper, Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri, has been jailed after posting criticism of Iran’s leadership earlier this year. His wife said he is being held in solitary confinement, while Iranian authorities confirmed his arrest. Inside Iran, officials continued to signal readiness for escalation. The speaker of parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said the country is facing “a war of wills” and warned of possible new attacks. He urged Iran to strengthen its preparedness and economic resilience, saying the country must not show any sign of surrender. US Marines boarded and searched an Iranian-flagged tanker suspected of violating a blockade on Iranian ports. The vessel was later released after being redirected. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned that if the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted further, it could trigger a “severe global food price crisis,” especially due to its role in oil and fertilizer shipments.
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