US-Iran War as it happened: US halts latest round of Iran strikes

Three Indian crew members have been killed following a US military strike on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.

According to the Indian media outlet The Hindu, the deceased seafarers have been identified as deck cadet Aditya Sharma, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya, and chief engineer Patnala Suresh.

India’s Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal subsequently confirmed that all three have died.

In response to the fatalities, the Indian government summoned US Deputy Chief of Mission Jason Meeks yesterday to lodge a “strong protest” over the military action.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, when US Central Command carried out what it described as a “precision” strike on the Settebello oil tanker.

US military officials claimed the vessel was carrying Iranian crude oil and alleged that the crew had ignored instructions from American forces.

Kuwait has reopened its airspace to civilian flights after a temporary closure due to Iranian missile attacks, and airport operations are now back to normal.

The country’s General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed Kuwait International Airport had resumed normal services and said it was “closely monitoring the situation around the clock”.

The airspace was briefly closed after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed they had targeted US military bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain.

Former US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro has claimed after the current tit-for-tat strikes, Iran has the upper hand against the US and Israel.

“These additional strikes tonight, while undoubtedly doing some damage, are additional evidence of who has the leverage in this negotiation: Iran,” he said in a post on X.

“It is Trump that is desperate for them to sign the agreement, as his statements reveal, and Iran that is dragging their feet. 

“These strikes will reinforce for Iran that time works in their favor. Recall the predictions that the blockade would make them cry uncle as it tanked their economy. Doesn’t seem to be the case.”

He claimed the war had been a “mistake” and that getting the Strait of Hormuz open was the most “important strategic need” for the United States.

“A deal that punts nuclear negotiations to a second phase and requires some sanctions relief is a lousy deal — and still the least bad available alternative,” he added.

Shapiro was Ambassador to Israel from 2011 to 2017 under President Barack Obama.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has once again urged both sides in the conflict to negotiate, calling for a settlement that gives Lebanon “political independence”.

“All parties must work towards a diplomatic settlement that fully respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty & political independence of Lebanon,” he said in a post on X.

“The process must start with a comprehensive ceasefire respected by all parties everywhere, alleviating the suffering of communities on both sides of the Blue Line.

“I hope further negotiations will contribute to lasting peace and stability.”

The US Embassy in Jordan has sent an official warning as the country continues to be threatened by Iranian strikes.

“Reports indicate missiles, drones or rockets are in Jordanian airspace,” a statement on the embassy’s official website, cited by Associated Press, said.

In what has become a familiar theme of the conflict, an Iranian official has made a bold threat to the United States if they continue their strikes in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to Tasmin, the semi-official Iranian news agency with close ties to the government, the commander of the IRGC air force, Seyed Majid Mousavi, warned the USA that Iran “will make the region hell for you.”

“This is the response to the Americans’ boldness in the region, God willing.”

Israel’s military has told citizens in the country’s north to prepare for the risk of strikes from Lebanon.

“The Home Front Command has sent a precautionary directive following the identification of launches from Lebanon toward several communities in northern Israel,” the warning from the IDF on Telegram said.

“The public is instructed to enter protected spaces upon the activation of the alert.”

Kuwait has confirmed its air defence systems are taking action, Associated Press has reported.

Iran had previously pledged retaliation against regional US-friendly nations for today’s round of bombing.

Iranian state media said Kuwaiti airbases were among the targets.

US President Donald Trump is well-known for launching military action at short notice, and often in apparent contravention of his declared preference for negotiation and deal-making.

If Trump is convinced that further bombing runs will push Iran’s fractured leadership closer to a favourable negotiating stance, he could easily declare a third consecutive day of strikes.

But it’s already been a costly war for the US - in terms of money spent, munitions depleted, and international goodwill squandered.

And Trump may wish to show the carrot next rather than the stick, declaring American honour sufficiently restored over this week’s downed helicopter.

Iran’s hardliners, who are generally considered to be in control of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the country overall, are unlikely to factor in the Iranian people’s unhappiness or poverty or pain to any great degree (though Trump’s comments today about how much he loves inflation could indicate that’s not an entirely singular stance).

Iran’s leadership is gambling on Trump losing patience with the war. Trump is gambling that the prospect of him losing his patience is something his foes know to fear.

Trump’s attitudes and outbursts may be predictable, but his actions are less so.