Iran war updates: Iran says US strikes render ceasefire 'meaningless' with strait closed 'until further notice' Iran says US strikes render ceasefire 'meaningless' – as it happened

We're closing the blog for Thursday's events, but we are keeping across developments in the Middle East and in Washington DC after Donald Trump's latest comments over at our Iran blog for Friday, which is already live and running.

Thanks for joining us today.

The World Bank has lowered its global growth forecast to its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, warning of the expanding economic impacts of the war in the Middle East on countries around the globe.

Worldwide growth is now forecast to drop to 2.5 percent in 2026, from 2.9 percent a year earlier, with headline inflation averaging four percent, the multilateral lender said in its Global Economic Prospects report.

The US-Israel war on Iran has sent energy prices skyrocketing, causing steeper inflation with the potential for increased borrowing costs as central banks seek to tame the rampant price increases.

The World Bank said it was making up to $US60 billion ($85 billion) immediately available to developing countries which have been hardest hit by the crisis.

It said that number could increase to $US100 billion over 15 months.

"In response to the current shock, we are providing liquidity where it is needed now – and we are ready with additional financing, guarantees, and private-sector solutions if pressures deepen," said Ajay Banga, the Bank's president.

Growth forecasts for two-thirds of the world's economies have been downgraded in the new report relative to January of this year.

Reporting by AFP

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Benjamin Netanyahu of "following the path of Hitler", as the two regional leaders intensify a long-running feud.

That accusation from Mr Erdogan came after the Israeli leader alleged he was an "antisemitic dictator" who had committed a "genocide" against the Kurds.

The latest exchange erupted after Mr Erdogan on Wednesday said Israel's actions in Lebanon and Syria were a threat to Turkish security.

Mr Netanyahu hit back, saying Israel was willing to carry out military operations wherever it needed to in order to deal with Iran and its proxies.

"The antisemitic dictator Erdogan, who commits genocide against the Kurds, supports the Hamas terrorist organisation, oppresses his own people and imprisons political rivals, is the last person who can lecture Israel on morality," he said in a statement.

The relationship between Israel and Türkiye has nosedived since the Gaza war started in October 2023, with the pair regularly trading allegations of genocide and public insults.

Mr Erdogan, who has frequently accused Mr Netanyahu's government of genocide in Gaza with his top diplomat warning it might do the same in Lebanon, made the latest comments on Thursday, local time.

"Those who follow Hitler's path should not forget their fate will be like that of other tyrants in history," he said.

Reporting with AFP

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says all parties must work towards a diplomatic settlement that fully respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon.

The country, situated to Israel's north, has been the site of numerous Israeli air strikes and fighting between the IDF and militant group Hezbollah.

And thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes, particularly in the country's south, as Israeli forces move into the region.

In a post on X, Mr Guterres said that there must be a comprehensive ceasefire and said he fully supports a monopoly on weapons by the Lebanese government.

"Since March, we have witnessed a serious escalation – as Israel intensified its operations in Lebanese territory & Hizbullah fired deeper into Israel," he wrote.

"All parties must work towards a diplomatic settlement that fully respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty & political independence of Lebanon."

The view of the Strait of Hormuz from a beach in Iran.

It remains far from clear when the strait will reopen or what conditions will look like when it does.

While US President Donald Trump insists that traffic through the waterway should return to its pre-war norm.

Just a few hours ago, Iran's new body overseeing the strait confirmed a complete closure order for the strategic waterway until further notice.

The World Bank has cut its global growth forecast for 2026 to 2.5 per cent due to the war in the Middle East.

It said the growth could slow to just 1.3 per cent if energy supply disruptions prove more severe.

Global growth reached 2.9 per cent in 2025, the bank said in its semi-annual Global Economic Prospects, up 0.2 percentage point from its estimate in January.

Its 2026 forecast is down 0.1 percentage point from January, the lowest seen since the COVID pandemic that began in late 2019.

The bank lowered forecasts for two-thirds of countries as a result of the war.

The biggest cuts have affected the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and other countries in the Middle East whose energy exports have been hit hard by the conflict.

Reporting with Reuters and AFP

US President Donald Trump says he would like to take over Iran's oil infrastructure hub Kharg Island but he was not sure Americans have the appetite for a major escalation in the war.

"We are talking to them and all, but you know, look, my preference has always been — take Kharg Island … my preference would be that," he said in a Fox news interview.

"I don't know that America has the stomach for it."

Trump said the US will attack Iran again with intensified strikes on but he would rather not hit bridges and power plants.

"There will be more bombing tonight. It will be bigger — bigger, more powerful," he said.

Despite plans for more strikes, Trump said the US is still talking with Iran to reach a deal.

He also said that he would "rather not" hit Iran's civilian infrastructure.

"Yeah, but I'd rather not do it, because once you do that, the people suffer," Trump said when asked if the United States would start attacking power plants and bridges as he has previously threatened.

Kuwait's defence ministry says it has detected and intercepted 24 drones from Iran in its airspace over the past 48 hours.

While no one has been injured, the ministry's spokesperson said there had been limited material damage.

Israel has denied entry to French reporter Alice Froussard, who has been covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for French public service broadcasters.

The reporter was deported earlier today and put on a flight back to France after she "sought to return and work in Israel on a permanent basis", the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said.

The minister accused the reporter of supporting Hamas.

It comes two days after Paris announced that Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was banned from the country for his support of the annexation of the West Bank.

Radio France Internationale has condemned Israel's ban on the French reporter.

"Israeli authorities have not provided any justification to RFI for this decision," the broadcaster said in a statement.

"RFI's management offers its full support to Alice Froussard and protests against this expulsion, which constitutes an obstacle to press freedom and comes at a time when journalists are facing increasing difficulties in covering current events in the region," it added.

Reporting with AFP

Moments ago, US President Donald Trump took to social media to threaten Iran "very hard" tonight. 

Trump said he will be taking Kharg Island, which is an Iranian island located northwest of the Strait of Hormuz. 

In a post on his Truth social account, Trump wrote:

Yesterday, our Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran wrote an analysis piece on how Trump has begun ratcheting up his rhetoric about Iran. You can read more on this here.

The United States has confirmed it attacked an Indian crewed ship off the coast of Oman today.

US Central Command said the Guinea-Bissau flagged MT vessel Jalveer "violated the blockade against Iran by attempting to transport Iranian oil".

"A US aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from US forces," Centcom said.

It is the third oil tanker the US has attacked this week, with its strike on Palau-flagged MT Settebello killing three Indian sailors.

Centcom says it has disabled nine ships since it began its blockade of Iranian ports in April.

British defence minister John Healey has quit over a dispute over military spending.

In a letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Healey said "the demands on defence have increased further" amid the conflict in the middle east.

He accused Sir Keir of failing to commit the government resources that are needed to defend the country.

Britain's defence and finance ministries have been locked in talks for months over how to meet rising demands to expand military spending.

"You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats," Healey said in his letter to Sir Keir.

The delay has infuriated Britain's defence industry which says it cannot invest in long-term programs for the country's security at a time of huge geopolitical volatility as the United States pivots away from protecting Europe.

Another Indian-crewed tanker has been hit off the coast of Oman in a suspected US strike.

The 20 crew members aboard the Jalveer are safe, according to India's shipping ministry, and were being evacuated with help from the Royal Navy of Oman.

The Guinea-Bissau flagged Jalveer sent a distress call while off Oman's port of Shinas after a fire broke out around its engine room and funnel.

India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the US Navy attacked the ship but US Central Command has not yet commented.

If confirmed, it would be the third attack on an Indian-crewed tanker by US forces this week.

Three Indian sailors were killed on Wednesday in a US strike while aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello.

India has lodged a "strong protest" over the US attack, summoning a US diplomat in New Delhi.

On June 8, Omani authorities airlifted 24 Indian sailors off the MT Marivex after a US strike on the Palau-flagged tanker.

US Centcom said the Marivex and Settebello failed to follow directions as US forces enforced their blockade of Iranian ports.

Pakistan, which has played an important role in trying to broker a peace deal, has expressed deep concern over rising tensions between the United States and Iran.

Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi urged both sides to adhere to a ceasefire understanding, saying Islamabad would continue efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy.

"Pakistan reaffirms its support for the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues," he told a news briefing in Islamabad.

Reporting with AP

Iran's new body overseeing the Strait of Hormuz has confirmed a complete closure order for the strategic waterway until further notice.

"Due to the tensions caused by the aggression of the American forces in the region and the announcement made last night by the Iranian armed forces, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice," the Persian Gulf Strait Authority said in a post on X.

"Applicants who have been granted a transit permit are asked to be patient and wait for instructions from the PGSA."

The closure comes after the Revolutionary Guards announced the move overnight.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Iran and the United States must stop their renewed attacks and return to negotiations to avoid any further escalation.

Speaking in Sofia, Fidan said the recommendation to both sides from Türkiye, which is in close contact with Washington, Tehran, and mediators Pakistan, was to aim to conclude talks over a peace deal.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clapped back at Türkiye after its president criticised Israel's attacks on Syria and Lebanon.

Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan said that Israel's attacks on Syria and Lebanon had reached a point where they also threatened Türkiye.

The president said there were initiatives, led by Israel, to destabilise the Mediterranean region.

During periods of heightened tension or following failed diplomatic talks, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) parades these weapons through the city.

The displays are used to raise domestic support and warn enemies of the consequences of military action.

Efforts to reach a preliminary deal between Iran and the US have intensified, three Iranian sources and a European official have told Reuters, despite strikes launched by both sides, as they discuss a mechanism over releasing frozen Iranian funds.

The sources said Iran and the United States were still exchanging messages over details of a memorandum of understanding amid the ongoing confrontation between Tehran and Washington.

The Iranian sources said a political understanding had been reached, but some issues remained to be discussed in detail, including a mechanism for the release of tens of billions of dollars of Iranian oil revenues frozen in foreign banks.

"Iran wants $US6 billion to $US12 billion of its frozen funds to be released to Tehran, while Washington wants to release funds in stages for humanitarian goods and rejects returning funds to Iran outright," one of the Iranian sources said.

For its own survival, the clerical establishment's priority is not a comprehensive settlement but a framework that can restore minimum breathing space for the establishment by unlocking its frozen assets and ending the war, the Iranian sources said.

Reporting with Reuters

Iran's foreign ministry says the United States' attacks on sites in Iran render the ceasefire "practically meaningless".

A statement citing the ministry in an Iranian media report said:

"These attacks not only constitute a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental rules of international law regarding respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, but have also effectively rendered the April 19 ceasefire meaningless."

Earlier, Iranian state media reported that the country's armed forces had targeted multiple US military bases following US strikes.

The statement said:

"In retaliation for U.S. strikes in Alborz, Iran launched 12 ballistic missiles this morning targeting U.S. #F35, F15, and F16 jets and military facilities at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (located in Azraq) and its control center."

India's shipping minister has confirmed that three Indian sailors, initially reported missing, are dead.

Posting on X, Sarbananda Sonowal said India was seeking "immediate repatriation" of the three crew members of the MT Settebello.

The Indian government condemned the US attack on the Settebello called for de-escalation in the region.