Emmanuel Macron has told Donald Trump that the war in Iran requires a “serious” approach in the most scathing attack on the US president by an ally since the war began.
Speaking to reporters in South Korea, the French leader said that the conflict was “not a show” and that Trump should not make contradictory remarks about his aims.
"When you want to be serious you don't say every day the opposite of what you said the day before," Macron said. "And maybe you shouldn't be speaking every day. You should just let things quieten down."
Trump has offered mixed messages on his objectives in the Iran war, often in the same day.
His comments came hours after Trump sparked outrage by mocking Macron and his wife, Brigitte, over a video that surfaced last year in which she appeared to shove the French president. “He is still recovering”, Trump told reporters in comments that sparked a significant backlash in France.
On Wednesday, Trump attacked France for not allowing US aircraft to fly over its space - a decision already implemented by Spain, Austria and Switzerland.
Key Points
- Oil jumps over 4% after Trump's speech on Iran war
- Trump says end of U.S. military operations in Iran is 'very close'
- Trump says US has won 'victories like few people have seen'
- Iran's president says the world 'stands at crossroads' between diplomacy and confrontation
- Trump slurs his way through address to nation on Iran war - watch
Key points recap: Donald Trump's address to the nation on Iran
03:33 , Mike BediganOn Wednesday night President Donald Trump delivered a 17-minute national address on Iran.
Here’s a recap of key points in case you missed it:
- Trump announced that the U.S. military’s “core strategic objectives are nearing completion,” though offered no further information on those objectives.
- The president appeared to slur his words on several occasions during the speech.
- He claimed the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” had “delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield, victories like few people have ever seen before.”
- Trump repeated many of his same justifications for the month-old bombing campaign against Iran, including his claim there was an imminent threat of Tehran producing a nuclear weapon.
- He paid tribute to the 13 U.S. service members killed in the conflict and claimed their families had all told him to “finish the job.”
- Trump also once again blamed the rise in gas prices in the U.S. on the Iranian conflict and boasted the economy he had cultivated was strong enough to withstand it.
EU must scale up its Aspides naval mission to protect key maritime routes, says Kallas
19:21 , Harriette BoucherThe European Union (EU) must scale up its Aspides naval mission as part of broader moves to protect key maritime routes from disruption caused by the US-Israeli led war with Iran, said the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Thursday.
Kallas made the comments on X, after she had taken part in a call with more than 40 countries, organised by British foreign minister Yvette Cooper, to discuss joint action to re-open the Strait of Hormuz.
"Thank you @YvetteCooperMP for convening a call of over 40 countries on the Strait of Hormuz. This waterway is a global public good. Iran cannot be allowed to charge countries a bounty to let ships pass. International law doesn't recognise pay-to-pass schemes," wrote Kallas on X.
"Today, we looked at diplomatic, economic, and security measures to restore safe passage, alongside working with the shipping industry. The EU's Aspides naval mission has already assisted 1,700 ships in the Red Sea and must be scaled up. We cannot afford to lose another critical trade route," she added.
Kremlin aide Ushakov says Strait of Hormuz is open for Russia - report
18:48 , Harriette BoucherKremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz was open for Russia.
"It is open for us," said Ushakov, speaking on Russian state TV channel Vesti, Interfax news agency reported.
The US-Israeli war against Iran has all but halted shipments of about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas through the strait, causing oil supply disruption and soaring prices.
At the end of March, the Russian foreign ministry stated that it opposed Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but added that the situation must be viewed "in the context of the broader global situation."
UK and allies discuss 'sanctions to bear down on Iran'
18:31 , Harriette BoucherThe UK and its allies have discussed “sanctions to bear down on Iran” as she accuses the country of “trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz”.
In a meeting chaired by Yvette Cooper with more than 40 countries, she said nations had looked at ways they could ramp up diplomatic pressure on Iran and work together with the International Maritime Organisation to secure the release of thousands of ships and sailors trapped in the Strait and get shipping moving again.
The foreign secretary said: “This meeting showed clearly the determination of the international community to secure freedom of navigation and re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz is a direct threat to global prosperity.
“Iran is trying to hold the global economy hostage in the Strait of Hormuz. They must not prevail. To that effect, partners today called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait and respect for the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation and the law of the sea. We discussed a number of areas of possible collective, coordinated, action.
“We agreed to take forward further discussions among experts and officials in participating countries to secure freedom of navigation. It is imperative that international law is respected and that Iran fully re-opens the Strait of Hormuz.”
Trump tells Iran to make a deal before 'there is nothing left'
17:55 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has threatened Iran to “make a deal before it is too late”, as he boasts of an attack on civilian infrastructure.
In a post on Truth Social, he said: “The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow!
“IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Starmer and Trump's 'bust-up' is different to previous US-UK rows, former ambassador says
17:35 , Harriette BoucherThe “bust-up” between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump is different to past disputes between British and American leaders, a former ambassador to the US has said.
Lord Darroch said the US president’s rhetoric towards Starmer was “pretty wounding”.
He told Sky News: “What’s different, I think, is first of all, the president keeps banging on about how disappointed he is with Starmer.
“He seems to say something new every two or three days and the tone of it is pretty wounding.
“Second, the difference between Trump and some of his predecessors, with whom British prime ministers have clashed, is you can't imagine Clinton or Reagan imposing tariffs or taking other action like that, whereas I'm afraid you can imagine that with Trump.”
“It’s not good but the government has to basically ignore the noise and carry on.”
Trump has repeatedly hit out at Starmer over what he says is a lack of support from the UK in the Iran war.
Moment Macron hits out at Trump: 'Perhaps we should not speak every day'
17:24 , Harriette BoucherCooper refuses to say if US is still an ally as she vows to do everything possible to reopen Strait of Hormuz
17:07 , Harriette BoucherThe Independent’s Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:
Yvette Cooper dodged questions on whether the US was still an ally as she said the UK and other nations would use "every possible” diplomatic, economic and co-ordinated measure to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
The foreign secretary comments came after she chaired international talks on tackling "reckless" Iranian attacks on the vital oil shipping lane, where 2,000 ships remain trapped.
But she evaded a question on whether or not Washington was still an ally, a day after Rachel Reeves expressed her anger at Donald Trump over the Iran war, saying only: "We want to see the conflict resolved, concluded, as rapidly as possible, because, frankly, that's what's best for the cost of living here in the UK."
Tehran has blocked the channel in retaliation for the month-long US-Israeli campaign against it, causing global oil prices to soar.
In the face of US President Donald Trump's repeated criticism of allies over their refusal to take part in his offensive against Iran, Ms Cooper said that "our job is to take decisions in the UK national interest".
Cooper refuses to say if US is still an ally after talks to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Trump's threat to leave Nato is Putin's 'dream plan'
16:53 , Harriette BoucherThe threat of Nato’s break-up alongside the energy crisis is Europe “looks like Putin’s dream plan”, the Polish prime minister has stated.
Donald Tusk, who was previously president of the European Council, wrote on social media: “The threat of NATO’s break-up, easing sanctions on Russia, a massive energy crisis in Europe, halting aid for Ukraine and blocking the loan for Kyiv by Orbán - it all looks like Putin’s dream plan.”
It comes after Donald Trump said he was seriously considering withdrawing the US from Nato.
The US president has continued to criticise the alliance for its lack of involvement in the Middle East.
He told Politico on Friday he “couldn’t care less” about Nato, saying: “They were they weren't there. I have no frustration. I couldn't care less.
“I didn't need them ... But if I ever did need them, they wouldn't be there. And we had a lot of money every year in NATO, so I learned a lot. So did the country, so did the United States, and NATO is -- NATO is a paper tiger.”
What in god’s name is Pete Hegseth doing in Iran? Religious framing is ‘completely, totally unprecedented,’ experts say
16:50 , Maira ButtFor Pete Hegseth, the Iran war is not only a conflict between states, but a cosmic showdown between good and evil, where bullets are instruments of divine will, and fallen foes are condemned to eternal hellfire.
The defense secretary, an Evangelical Christian, has explicitly framed the Middle East war through the lens of his faith, weaving scripture into his remarks, praying for “overwhelming violence” against his enemies and insisting that God stands with the U.S. against Iran, a Muslim-majority nation of some 90 million people.
Rhetoric of this intensity and frequency — from an official of Hegseth’s stature — has scant precedent in modern American history, according to former officials, scholars and military advocates who spoke with The Independent.
Brendan Rascius reports:
'They gotta get guts and go in' Trump tells Politico about Nato
16:27 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has revealed why he did not address Nato in his speech last night.
“Well, I did indirectly. I talked about the people that use the – it wasn’t a Nato speech, it was a Middle East speech, but I did indirectly,” he told Politico in a phone call on Wednesday. “I talked about the Strait, they weren't there….”
He added” “They gotta get guts and go in. Just send your ships up there and enjoy it.”
What happened at today's planning meeting to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
16:00 , James ReynoldsWhat happened?
British foreign minister Yvette Cooper held a virtual meeting with around 40 countries on Thursday to discuss options to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Who was there?
The meeting included reps from France, Germany, Canada, the UAE and India. The US was apparently absent from the group.
What are they planning?
Cooper said that partners were focused on diplomatic planning (not military). “Economic tools and pressures” - likely sanctions - were also on the agenda, she said.
What happens next?
European diplomats said putting the coalition together was at an early stage, with Britain and France leading. Officials said the talks would focus on which countries were prepared to take part before military planners meet for talks next week.
France said the process would be multi-phased and could not start until hostilities had calmed or ended.
Macron tells Trump: You don't need to speak every day
15:45 , Daniel KeaneEmmanuel Macron has told Donald Trump that the war in Iran requires a “serious” approach in the most scathing attack on the US president by an ally since the war began.
Speaking to reporters in South Korea, the French leader said that the conflict was “not a show” and that Trump should not make contradictory remarks about his aims.
"When you want to be serious you don't say every day the opposite of what you said the day before," Macron said. "And maybe you shouldn't be speaking every day. You should just let things quieten down."
Zelensky says Ukraine is helping US to defend shipping lanes in Middle East
15:31 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky told NewsNation on Thursday that Ukraine is currently sharing expertise with the US and Middle East countries on defending shipping lanes.
The Ukrainian president told Robert Sherman that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would require joint international action, not one country alone.
He added that Ukraine has “the biggest experience in the world” in electronic warfare and drone production, and said that the US and Ukraine “have to be partners after the war.”
How Trump promised 'no new wars' before election
15:30 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has said that the US is close to achieving its military objectives and will wind down the conflict with Iran in the next few weeks, more than a month into fighting that has killed 13 US soldiers and brought chaos back to the region.
The president has acknowledged that he does not call the ‘military operation’ a war, as a war would require congressional approval.
Trump repeatedly promised that there would be “no new wars” on his watch while campaigning in 2024. During his election night victory speech in November 2024, he said: “I’m not going to start a war. I’m going to stop wars.”
During his inaugural address, he said the US would measure its success “not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end - and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into”.
Trump says he 'couldn't care less' about Nato
15:23 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said he ‘couldn’t care less’ about Nato, after suggesting to the Telegraph that he was seriously considering pulling the US out of the military alliance.
“I don't have any frustrations,” he told Politico. “They were they weren't there. I have no frustration. I couldn't care less.
“I didn't need them ... But if I ever did need them, they wouldn't be there. And we had a lot of money every year in NATO, so I learned a lot. So did the country, so did the United States, and NATO is -- NATO is a paper tiger,” he said.
Mapped: The countries restricting airspace access to the US
15:00 , James ReynoldsKremlin to ask US and Israel for ceasefire to evacuate staff
14:44 , James ReynoldsRussia will ask the United States and Israel to ensure a ceasefire while it evacuates more Russian staff from the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, the RIA news agency reported on Thursday.
The head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, said that a "final wave of evacuation" involving about 200 people is tentatively scheduled for next week.
Russia built the Iranian nuclear reactor at Bushehr and Rosatom staff are working there on construction of additional units.
What happened at today's planning meeting to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
14:30 , James ReynoldsWhat happened?
British foreign minister Yvette Cooper held a virtual meeting with around 40 countries on Thursday to discuss options to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Who was there?
The meeting included reps from France, Germany, Canada, the UAE and India. The US was apparently absent from the group.
What are they planning?
Cooper said that partners were focused on diplomatic planning (not military). “Economic tools and pressures” - likely sanctions - were also on the agenda, she said.
What happens next?
European diplomats said putting the coalition together was at an early stage, with Britain and France leading. Officials said the talks would focus on which countries were prepared to take part before military planners meet for talks next week.
France said the process would be multi-phased and could not start until hostilities had calmed or ended.
Trump’s war with Iran could see fuel rationing and global recession within months, experts warn
14:05 , James ReynoldsA global recession and widespread fuel rationing are likely if the conflict in the Middle East does not end soon, a leading economic body has warned.
Oxford Economics forecast that a prolonged war could see an “unprecedented” shortage of around 12 per cent of consumption, leading to widespread rationing and supply chain disruption.
Read the full story:
Trump’s war could see fuel rationing and global recession within months, experts warn
G7 and Gulf countries to discuss Hormuz situation next week
14:00 , James ReynoldsFrance's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux says at a news conference that the Group of Seven countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council will hold a meeting next week to discuss the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US. The GCC consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Iranian highway 'hit by air strike'
13:51 , James ReynoldsA highway bridge linking Iran’s capital Tehran to the western city of Karaj was hit by air strikes on Thursday, Fars news reported.
Early assessments suggest several people were injured. Other areas of Karaj were also struck, Fars reported.
The agency added that the B1 bridge is considered the Middle East's highest bridge and was inaugurated earlier this year.
How Iran is recruiting children to 'defend the homeland'
13:29 , James ReynoldsIran is recruiting children as young as 12 into military-aligned roles in a desperate effort to mobilise the population and bolster its war effort, human rights groups have warned.
A senior official with the IRGC called on the public to step up and ‘defend the homeland’ in comments to state-affiliated media last week. He said there were volunteer roles for children to support in a number of roles.
Rights groups have said the military recruitment and use of children aged 15 and under constitutes a war crime.
Wayne Jordash KC, president of international law foundation Global Rights Compliance, told The Independent such a move would ‘unequivocally’ be a war crime.
“International law is clear on the recruitment and use of children, that is those under 15, in hostilities. This is not even about whether Iran has signed or ratified particularly conventions ... It is about customary international law, that is law which is legally binding on all states, even without being written into domestic law and which prohibits these practices.”
Read the full story:
Iran recruits children as young as 12 to ‘defend the homeland’ in new campaign
Secret passwords and crypto payments: Inside Iran’s mysterious new ‘tollbooth system’ in the Strait of Hormuz
13:25 , Maira ButtThe Iranian navy is escorting foreign tankers through the Strait of Hormuz in return for significant fees paid in Chinese currency and crypto, according to a report.
The regime is still enforcing a selective blockade of the vital waterway, cutting traffic by 90 per cent and forcing up oil prices around the world.
Several countries have already cut deals to guarantee unimpeded transit. One Iranian lawmaker said last week that Tehran was charging $2 million for a journey.
But people with knowledge of the situation say that a more formal system is now emerging to offer certain ship operators safe passage in return for a variable fee.
Secret passwords and crypto payments: Inside Iran’s new ‘tollbooth system’ in Hormuz
'Locked. Loaded and standing tall. Bring it on', says Iranian parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf
13:10 , Maira ButtIran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has issued a lengthy statement on an account generally associated with him on X on Thursday, writing: “You come for our home... You meet the whole family.”
“Back when I was eighteen years old, I grabbed my rifle and ran straight into the fight to defend the soil of my beloved, unbreakable Iran, the only home I ever knew,” he wrote in the post shared on social media. He went on to describe his brother’s death “for our homeland”.
“My own brother, Hassan, he laid it all on the line in that same fight for our homeland. He never came home. To this day, I still ache to wrap my arms around him one more time. That kind of pain never leaves a man.”
He hit back: “We are not warmongers. But when the time comes to defend our homeland, every last one of us becomes a soldier.”
Ghalibaf claimed that a “powerful national campaign” had swept across the country bringing forward “around seven million Iranians” who have joined the country’s armed forces in less than a week.
“Iranians don’t just talk about defending their country, we bleed for it. We’ve done it before, and we’re ready to do it again,” he continued.
“You come for our home… you’re gonna meet the whole family. Locked, loaded, and standing tall. Bring it on.”
Is it safe to travel to Jordan? The UK government’s updated advice as strikes continue
13:00 , James ReynoldsThe UK government has changed its travel advice for Jordan, advising against all but essential travel for the entire country, apart from its border with Syria where it advises against all travel.
Here’s what it means for you:
Ships being asked to pay Hormuz toll in Chinese currency: report
12:45 , James ReynoldsThe Iranian navy is escorting foreign tankers through the Strait of Hormuz in return for large fees paid in Chinese currency and crypto, according to a report.
People with knowledge of the situation say that a more formal toll system is now emerging to offer certain ship operators safe passage in return for a variable fee.
Sources told Bloomberg that approved oil tankers pay a fee starting at $1 per barrel of oil, paid in yuan or cryptocurrency.
Successful payment grants ships access to a route and a secret passcode they can broadcast on approach to the Strait, summoning a patrol boat for escort through the channel.
UK foreign secretary Cooper condemns Iran's 'recklessness' amid Strait of Hormuz chaos
12:36 , Maira ButtBritish foreign secretary Yvette Cooper has condemned Iran’s “recklessness” in not allowing ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as she met with a coalition of countries seeking to reopen the vital shipping route through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.
She blamed Iran for “hitting global economic security” as she seeks to lead a diplomatic initiative including countries such as France, Germany and some Gulf nations in order to restore access to the waterway.
Inside Iran's 'unsinkable aircraft carrier' guarding the Strait of Hormuz
12:30 , James ReynoldsA large island housing anti-ship missiles in the Strait has been briefed as a possible target of a ground offensive to break Iran’s grip, alongside key oil export hub Kharg Island.
Qeshm is a 558sq mile stretch off mainland Iran that has been fortified with an underground missile “city” that is used intermittently to attack ships passing through the waterway.
Iran has fortified the island with missiles, drones and fast-attack boats. Exact details are kept confidential, but retired Lebanese Brigadier-General Hassan Jouni, a military and strategic expert, told Al Jazeera that the island has the ability to strike from an underground “missile city”.
Here’s the full story:
Inside Qeshm: How Iran’s fortress island holds the key to the Strait of Hormuz
Pictured: Aftermath of 'drone strike' in Iraq's Erbil
12:15 , James ReynoldsIraq has seen its share of attacks since hostilities erupted in February.
The picture below shows the aftermath of a suspected drone strike on an oil warehouse on the outskirts of Erbil on Wednesday.
Security sources have reported a string of attacks near Erbil Airport in Iraqi Kurdistan in recent days.
Watch: Trump promises to 'bring Iran back to Stone Age'
12:00 , James ReynoldsTrump ‘isn’t smart enough’ to end war in Iran, says Ed Davey
11:35 , Athena StavrouEd Davey has called for Sir Keir Starmer and allies to do the “diplomatic heavy lifting” as he said Donald Trump “isn’t smart enough” to end the war in Iran.
The Liberal Democrat leader said the US president “isn’t capable” of ending the conflict or reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
“I was listening to Donald Trump last night…he’s incapable he’s not smart enough to bring this to an end,” Mr Davey told a press conference where he called for a ten per cent cut in rail fares and a fuel duty cut of 10p a litre on Thursday.
“And we’ve got to see an end to the fighting, he’s shown that he’s not smart enough to deal with the Strait of Hormuz challenge, which will remain according to the president - and that’s where the prime minister has to step up.”
He added that there needs an international coalition to do the “diplomatic heavy lifting” to reopen the key oil route, which he said the US president “isn’t capable of doing”.
‘Unprecedented’ UK fuel price rises surpass 2022 record
10:46 , James ReynoldsFuel price rises in March were the highest on record, adding an “unprecedented” £11 to the cost of filling up an average vehicle.
The average cost for a litre of unleaded petrol rose by 20p in the month following America’s strikes on Iran, from 132.83p per litre to 152.83p. In the same period, diesel prices were up 40p to 182.77p, analysis by the RAC shows.
This surpasses the speed of the price rises seen after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, when petrol prices rose by 16.6p and diesel by 22p.
Read the full story:
Kremlin says its ready to help end the war in Iran
10:28 , James ReynoldsRussia is ready to contribute to resolving the Iran conflict and President Vladimir Putin is continuing to talk with regional leaders, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
"The president is continuing these contacts, and if our services are somehow required, we are, of course, ready to make our contribution to ensuring that the military situation transitions to a peaceful course as soon as possible," Peskov told reporters.
Peskov was responding to a question about U.S. President Donald Trump's speech to the nation about the Iran war and his separate comment that he was considering pulling the United States out of NATO.
Ships being asked to pay Hormuz toll in Chinese currency: report
10:00 , James ReynoldsShips attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz are being asked to pay a toll in Chinese yuan, according to a report.
Bloomberg reports that Iran is offering different terms for safe passage to ships according to a 1-5 grading scale, in which friendlier countries get a better deal.
Sources told the outlet that approved oil tankers pay a fee starting at $1 per barrel of oil, paid in yuan or cryptocurrency.
The IRGC then gives the tanker a passcode and route instructions, allowing them to be escorted through the strait by a patrol boat.
Trump shares op-ed arguing benefits of war outweigh costs
09:17 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump on Thursday shared an opinion piece on Truth Social arguing the benefits of “defanging” Iran still outweighs the cost of the war.
The article was written by Mark Penn, a pollster and former adviser to the Clintons.
The editorial concluded: ”In short — the price of the Iran war is much, much less than the benefits it provides. A temporary increase in oil prices has been overblown and in the end will be worth it compared to crippling one of the worst regimes in history.”
IRGC base and leaders' hub in Tehran struck by Israel
08:56 , James ReynoldsIsrael has claimed attacks on a base linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and a mobile HQ for regime leaders in Tehran.
IDF spokesperson Ella Waweya said on Wednesday the Defense Army carried out a wave of strikes on infrastructure across Tehran.
“As part of this wave, the Air Force, directed by the Military Intelligence Directorate, struck a base affiliated with the Ground Forces of the Revolutionary Guard, which serves as a central unit within the terror regime's forces,” she said.
“Throughout Operation ‘Lion's Roar,’ the Defense Army systematically attacked hundreds of headquarters affiliated with the Iranian terror regime across Iran, which were taken out of service.”
Iran 'will not tolerate' going back to cycle of war, talks, ceasefire
08:27 , James ReynoldsIran’s foreign ministry spokesperson says in response to Trump’s speech that Iran will not tolerate going back to the position they were in with the US before the war.
“We will not tolerate this vicious cycle of war, negotiations, ceasefire, and then repeating the same pattern,” Esmail Baghaei said.
He said the ongoing conflict was “catastrophic not only for Iran, but for the entire region and beyond”, stressing that Iran does not consider its Gulf neighbours as enemies.
“The problem is that the United States and Israel are exploiting their territories to carry out their military aggression against Iran.
“This is an unjust war that has been imposed on the Iranian people. We have no choice but to fight back strongly,” he added.
Graph: Brent crude prices climb following Trump address
08:13 , James ReynoldsBenchmark Brent crude prices climbed some 6-7% on Thursday, reflecting pessimism in the market for a quick end to the war in the Middle East.
Stocks took a hit following the rambling address to the nation, with US index futures down 1.3% and European futures sinking over 2%.
"If he (Trump) was trying to inspire confidence in the markets, he has not done that," said Russel Chesler, Head of Investments and Capital Markets at Vaneck Australia.
"The key question in all investors' minds is 'When is this going to be over?'"
European shares fall with hopes of quick end to Iran war
08:03 , James ReynoldsFutures tracking Europe’s main stock indexes fell more than 1 per cent on Thursday, in step with hopes of a quick end to the Middle East conflict after Donald Trump vowed to keep up strikes on Iran.
Futures tracking the pan-European STOXX 600 index slid nearly 2% by 6:36 GMT, with contracts tracking Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 index down 1.7% and 1.6%, respectively.
Brent crude shot past $100 a barrel, up nearly 7%.
Market sentiment weakened after Trump said, "we're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong."
Iraq expecting attacks from 'terrorist militias', US says
07:55 , James ReynoldsThe US has told its citizens in Iraq to leave the country “immediately”, warning of possible attacks in the capital within the next 24 to 48 hours.
A statement said that Iraqi “terrorist militias” aligned with Iran “may be planning attacks” in central Baghdad.
What happens if Trump exists Iran without reopening the Strait of Hormuz?
07:30 , James ReynoldsIn his first address to the nation since the start of the war, Trump claimed that the U.S. had decimated Iran and would strike the Islamic Republic “extremely hard” for the next two to three weeks.
He claimed that almost all of the American military’s objectives in Iran had been met.
But the Strait of Hormuz has become a central anxiety for Washington’s allies since Tehran forced its effective closure with strikes on commercial shipping.
With the U.S. now said to be considering a “no deal” exit strategy, focus turns to what would be the outcome of it leaving with the Strait of Hormuz issue unresolved. Here are three ways it could play out:
Three possible scenarios if Trump leaves Iran without reopening the Strait of Hormuz
Iran threatens 'more destructive' attacks until US and Israel 'surrender'
07:15 , James ReynoldsIran will press on with the Middle East war until the US and Israel face "permanent regret and surrender", the spokesperson of its armed forces' unified command said on Thursday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson of the Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, said that US and Israeli assessments of Iran’s military capabilities were "incomplete".
Iran would step up its military actions, with "more crushing, broader and more destructive" attacks in store for its adversaries, he added.
Hegseth repeats Trump’s vow to obliterate Iran
07:06 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe US defence secretary has repeated a claim made by Donald Trump, threatening to obliterate Iran.
Pete Hegseth wrote “Back to the Stone Age” on X, shortly after Trump finished his address to the nation on Iran war. During his speech, Trump said: "We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks"
."We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong."
