War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US had made some adjustments to a draft UN resolution on the Strait of Hormuz to try and avoid vetoes by China and Russia, reports Reuters.

“Everyone wouldn’t want to see this vetoed again,” he said.

The new resolution, also drafted by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar, would require Iran “to cease attacks, mining, and tolling” and demands that Iran disclose the number and location of the sea mines it has laid and cooperate with efforts to remove them.

The US secretary of state said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are “working hard” to advance diplomatic efforts with Iran.

He added that Iran must “accept the reality of the situation” and come to the negotiating table, agreeing to terms that are “good for it, but ultimately good for the world.”

Marco Rubio said that ‘Project Freedom’ was “defensive in nature”, asserting that US forces would only engage militarily if attacked first. “This is not an offensive operation. This is a defensive operation,” he said, adding that there would be “no shooting unless we’re shot at first.”

Commenting on “Project Freedom”, Rubio said the initiative aimed to “rescue” nearly 23,000 civilians from 87 countries who were trapped in the Gulf and “left for dead” in the Persian Gulf. He added that the sailors had been stranded for more than two months.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would continue to deploy its assets to defend freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, reports Reuters.

He insisted the US was taking defensive action in enforcing its blockade of Iranian ports. The initial military operation against Iran was over, he said.

“We are only responding if attacked first. This is a defensive operation,” Rubio said.

He added that the United States has been in touch with a number of ships about moving out of the strait, echoing remarks made earlier by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Rubio said it was time for Tehran to “accept the reality of the situation”, adding that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were continuing to explore a diplomatic solution.

That solution had to address any nuclear material that Iran still had buried “deep somewhere,” Rubio said.

Rubio said peace between Israel and Lebanon was achievable but Lebanese group Hezbollah was a problem, reports Reuters.

“By and large, I think a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel is imminently achievable and should be,” he said.

“The problem with Israel and Lebanon is not Israel or Lebanon, it’s Hezbollah. Hezbollah operates from inside of Lebanese territory.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said 10 civilian sailors have died due to the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, reports Reuters.

“They’re isolated, they’re starving, they’re vulnerable and at least 10 sailors have died as a result, civilian sailors,” Rubio said, without providing additional details.

He added that the US will continue to target drones and boats that pose a threat to US forces.

“If no shots are fired at these ships and no shots are fired at us, we’re not firing shots, but if we’re fired on, we will respond.”

He also said the US is deploying assets to extend a defensive umbrella over commercial shipping in the strait.

US forces have destroyed seven Iranian fast boats in the waterway, he added.

Operation Epic Fury has concluded with its objectives achieved, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, adding that there was no desire for an “for an additional situation to occur”. He emphasised that the preference remained for a “path of peace”.

Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has commended the country’s armed forces for their response to Iranian drone and missile attacks, according to Al Arabiya.

He adds that the UAE “is capable, through the efficiency of its military and the cohesion of its society, of repelling any aggression and confronting any threat”.

Greek lawyers have appeared in court to testify and submit evidence against Israel Katz, Israel’s current minister of defence, Al Jazeera reports.

This comes a few months after the Hind Rajab Foundation, an organisation that takes legal action against individuals accused of war crimes in Gaza, filed a formal complaint against Katz with Greek lawyers on January 21.

The Hind Rajab Foundation says in a statement that “the complaint was submitted in connection with Katz’s visit to Greece and set out allegations relating to his potential responsibility under international law.”

It adds, “The complainants allege that Katz may bear responsibility, both as a participant and an instigator, for conduct allegedly amounting to serious international crimes, including war crimes, torture, crimes against humanity, and genocide, in connection with the ongoing situation in Gaza.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar says that Iran’s drone and missile strikes against the UAE yesterday are “condemnable”

“We stand with the brotherly people of UAE and express full solidarity with His Highness the President [Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan], His Highness Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister [Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan] and the leadership and people of UAE,” the deputy premier says on X.

He reiterates that Pakistan will continue its efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region and beyond.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the US is taking a contradictory approach when it comes to negotiations, Al Jazeera reports.

“Our problem is that on the one hand, America is pursuing a policy of maximum pressure against our country, and on the other hand, it expects Iran to come to the negotiating table and submit to their unilateral demands. Such an equation is impossible,” Pezeshkian has been quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command, says in a statement that the UAE should not “become a nest for Americans and Zionists (Israel) and their military forces and equipment”, Al Jazeera reports.

According to the spokesperson, Iran has been subjected to “unfair media attacks, baseless accusations and propaganda” by the UAE, adding that the Gulf country has become “one of the main bases for the Americans and Zionists, as enemies of the Islamic world and the main cause of insecurity in the region”.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command claims it has not carried out attacks against the United Arab Emirates in recent days, yet warns of a “crushing response” if any action is carried out by the Gulf country against Iran, Reuters reports.

Israel’s military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir says the country is prepared to respond “with force” to any attack by Iran, AFP reports.

“The IDF (Israeli military) remains on high alert across all fronts. We are closely monitoring developments in the Persian Gulf and are prepared to respond with force to any attempt to harm Israel,” Zamir has said at a ceremony marking the appointment of the new air force chief.

Israel’s new air force chief says the country is prepared to deploy its entire fleet of fighter jets against Iran if necessary, AFP reports.

“We are closely monitoring the developments in Iran and are prepared to deploy the entire air force eastward if required,” Major General Omer Tischler said at a ceremony where he assumed command from his predecessor, Tomer Bar.

Iran says it has officially launched a new mechanism for governing maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, state-run Press TV reports.

“Under the newly implemented system, all vessels intending to transit the Strait will receive an email from the official address info@PGSA.ir outlining the rules and regulations for passage,” the state broadcaster says.

Ships need to adjust operations according to this new framework and obtain a transit permit before crossing the waterway.

A spokesperson for US Central Command (Centcom) has told Al Jazeera that the military’s “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz is a “temporary” operation that is creating a “safe corridor” and “security umbrella” over the waterway.

The spokesperson says that ship owners and insurance companies have responded positively to the operation, which has “just begun”.

It is aimed at ensuring commercial ships can pass the strait safely, to benefit global and regional economies, adds the spokesperson.

Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad says the reconstruction of oil facilities that were damaged during the war should be among the country’s “urgent priorities”, Al Jazeera reports.

Paknejad adds that crude oil production did not decline during the war and that oil exports were “good and satisfactory”.

Iraqi prime minister-designate Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi says in a post on X that he has spoken to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and offered Baghdad’s contribution as a possible mediator in peace talks with the US.

“The call also featured a review of the bilateral relations of cooperation between the two countries and ways to support and strengthen them, where we agreed on the exchange of visits in the upcoming phase,” Al-Zaidi adds.

“We also pointed to Iraq’s supportive stance toward the diplomatic track and reliance on dialogue to resolve disputes and contain crises, affirming Iraq’s ability to contribute to playing a mediation role between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America.”