War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Lebanon’s National News Agency reports that an Israeli drone hit a vehicle in the town of Seddiqine in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon overnight.

The Israeli military claims one of its soldiers was “seriously injured” during what it described as an “encounter” in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reports.

In a statement, the military said: “The soldier was evacuated to receive medical treatment at a hospital, and his family was notified.”

United States President Donald Trump has said it is “ridiculous” for the country to continue its “one-sided” relationship to Nato, less than a week before a summit in Ankara, AFP reports.

“They were not there for us!!!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that Washington’s relationship with Nato “is not reciprocal”.

Trump has repeatedly lashed out at European allies over their response to the war on Iran.

The body of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in US-Israeli strikes, arrived at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex ahead of his funeral, AFP reports, citing state media.

“The body of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution has arrived at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla,” IRNA wrote on Telegram, using the complex’s official name.

An Iranian lawmaker says Tehran should reconsider its nuclear doctrine following Israel’s latest threat to assassinate Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

In a post on X, Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, said the threat made by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz provided “a valid and compelling reason for reconsidering the nuclear doctrine as well as Article Eight of the Islamabad Accord”.

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Khan has said that it is the country’s “consistent belief that the only way to settle the situation in the region, conclusively and comprehensively, is through diplomacy, dialogue and negotiations”.

He made the remarks during a UN Security Council meeting called by Bahrain.

“From the outset, Pakistan has maintained a principled position with respect to the inadmissibility of any use of force outside the bounds of international law – the unwarranted strikes against Iran and those targeting the GCC countries. Pakistan has been categorically condemning attacks against the GCC countries and once again expresses its full solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Bahrain and Kuwait,” it said.

“Pakistan’s leadership remains engaged with the parties, our partners and the regional countries. We continue to facilitate dialogue and confidence-building measures to prevent any escalation and to sustain the diplomatic engagement,” he said.

“From our perspective, the fact that the talks are continuing and the parties are on the negotiating table is a significant positive outcome. The channels of communication remain open, and we are persisting in our efforts geared towards ushering peace, security and tranquility that benefits the entire region and all countries without exception,” he added.

A former US-Iran negotiator has said that the US needs to move more quickly to maintain momentum in talks with Tehran once the funeral for former Supreme Leader Khamenei has concluded, Al Jazeera reports.

Alan Eyre, also a distinguished diplomatic fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute think tank, said the two sides need to be speaking more frequently and for longer than they have been.

“This is a pretty desultory process so far. I understand they have to take time off for the funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei, but after that is over, I hope that the US side really picks up the pace,” Eyre said.

Preparations for the funeral of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei are in full swing, with authorities expecting millions and a coterie of foreign dignitaries to attend the official ceremony, AFP reports.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the funeral in Tehran.

China, Afghanistan and Iran’s neighbours in the Caucasus region say they aill also be sending representatives.

Workers were readying Tehran’s Grand Mosalla religious complex, while security teams stopped passing cars and curious bystanders looked on.

“We are planting flowers and watering the shrubs for the farewell ceremony of our martyred guide,” says worker Hossein Moghadassi, clad in a hat and a scarf to cover his face as the temperature soared.

“People will come from all over Iran. There will be huge crowds.”

Oil prices rose slightly on Friday before a long holiday weekend in the US as wary optimism held over efforts to make peace in the Middle East between the United States and Iran, Reuters reports.

Brent futures were up 17 cents, or 0.24 per cent, to $72.10 a barrel as of 0155 GMT. West Texas Intermediate was up 14 cents, or 0.20pc, to $68.83 a barrel.

During the prior session the two benchmarks hit their lowest levels since before the US-Israeli war on Iran began in late February. Brent for the week was down 0.02pc and WTI up 0.12pc, the smallest weekly movements for both in months.

The US Air Force said it would investigate a uniformed officer who called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance during a protest event on the steps of the Capitol, Reuters reports.

The active-duty officer, Major Jason Watson, denounced Trump and Vance for actions, including going to war with Iran without congressional authorisation, according to a video of the protest event posted online.

In one part of the video, the US Capitol Police can be seen detainingWatson, who held a protest sign calling for the impeachment, conviction and removal of Trump and Vance.

Without mentioning Watson by name, the office of Air Force Secretary Troy Meink acknowledged reports about an Air Force officer protesting at the Capitol and said in a statement that an investigation “will proceed unimpeded”.

The Israeli army says air raid sirens had been activated in the country’s north, before saying in another statement that it was a false alarm, according to Al Jazeera.

“Alerts have been activated in the Avashdim and Yir’on areas,” the Israeli Defence Force says on X.

In another post, it says, “Following the alerts that were activated a short time ago in the Avichayil and Yavne airspace, this was a false identification.”

Lebanon’s National News Agency reports that an Israeli drone has struck Ghandour Hospital in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh al-Fawqa.

More than 20 million people are expected to travel to Tehran for the funeral of supreme leader Ali Khamenei, which would more than double the capital’s population of roughly 10 million residents, Al Jazeera reports citing IRIB state TV.

In addition to ceremonies in Tehran, funeral events are also planned in the holy city of Qom and in Mashhad, where large crowds are also anticipated.

Residents are gradually returning to the southern Lebanese town of Qana, and other villages in the Tyre district, Al Jazeera correspondents on the ground report.

About 90 per cent of Qana’s population has returned, despite widespread destruction of roads, homes and infrastructure.

The UN estimates that about 40pc of Lebanon’s total displaced population has returned home.

Iran has criticised a US-led regional security meeting hosted by Bahrain, after senior military officials from 12 Middle Eastern countries met with US Central Command (Centcom) to discuss regional defence cooperation and maritime security, Al Jazeera reports.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei writes in a post on X that Washington had “constantly demonstrated its complete contempt for genuine peace and security in West Asia”, dismissing such meetings as “nothing more than performative posturing”.

Baqaei accuses Washington of seeking to conceal the US’ “destabilising policies and lawless behaviour in the region” and urges regional states to “remain vigilant and draw clear lessons from the most recent US and Israeli military aggressions”.

Lebanese Army Commander General Rudolph Haykal has met British Deputy National Security Adviser for International Affairs Barbara Woodward and a British delegation in Yarzeh, in the presence of UK Ambassador Hamish Cowell, Al Jazeera reports citing the National News Agency (NNA).

The talks focused on the Lebanese army’s role, progress on implementing the framework agreement, and avenues of support for the military amid the challenges facing Lebanon during what officials described as a critical period, NNA adds.

Haykal has also received Pakistani Ambassador Salman Athar and discussions covered Haykal’s recent visit to Pakistan and ways to advance the outcomes of the trip.

Deputy PM and FM Ishaq Dar spoke on the phone today with Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Foreign Office says.

“The two leaders discussed the regional situation, especially the recent round of mediations in Doha,” it said, adding that both expressed their “satisfaction on the positive progress made during this negotiation and hoped that the discussions would continue in near future”.

The Saudi minister appreciated Pakistan’s “efforts and steadfast commitment to the implementation of the Islamabad MoU and its continued role in advancing dialogue and promoting lasting peace in the region”, the FO said.

Lebanon’s health ministry says at least 4,298 people have been killed and 12,196 wounded by Israeli attacks since March 2, according to Al Jazeera.

Oil prices have fallen nearly 2 per cent to a four-month low as concerns over supply disruptions eased after Qatar said Iran and the US made progress in talks over the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.

Brent futures are 91 cents, or 1.3pc lower, at $70.66 a barrel as of 1316 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude has fallen by $1.04, or 1.5pc, to $67.54 a barrel.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says a massive public turnout at the funeral of late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will serve as a “decisive” response to terrorism, violence and bullying, while demonstrating national unity, state broadcaster Press TV reports.

“Your huge presence is a decisive response to terror, violence, and bullying, and a clear message to the world showing that the Iranian nation stands united and unanimous in defending their independence and dignity,” he says.

Lebanon and Syria have signed an agreement of mutual respect and non-interference in Beirut, AlJazeera reports.

It comes as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Lebanon’s capital in the presence of delegations from both sides.

The agreement includes “principles of cooperation, including respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of either state, equality between the two parties, and non-interference”, the report states, citing Lebanon’s National News Agency.