Iran has warned that energy and oil infrastructures will be viewed as “legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed” if strikes continue.
Their parliament speaker warned that oil prices would then “rise for a long time” and that their forces would cause “irreversible damage”.
It comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to “obliterate” the Islamic Republic’s power grid if the Strait of Hormuz was not "fully open" within 48 hours. Tehran hit back, saying the key shipping route remains open to all except vessels linked to "Iran's enemies".
Tanker traffic through the waterway — a vital artery of global commerce — has ground to a halt amid Iran’s de facto blockade. As a result, oil prices have surged beyond the $100-a-barrel threshold and the average cost for a gallon of diesel has risen above $5.
On Friday, Trump criticised Nato allies for refusing to help secure the strait, though he later claimed it would soon “open itself” and dismissed the waterway as being of little importance to the US.
Read MoreTrump says he’s considering ‘winding down’ Iran war even as US sends more troops to region
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Trump administration lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea as prices soar
How Trump’s Iran war could derail the economy – and the Labour government
Key Points
- UK has 'systems and defences' in place to keep country safe, minister says
- Iran warns of 'irreversible damage' to regional infrastructure if power plants attacked
- IRGC: Strait of Hormuz will be 'closed' if power plants targeted
- Trump gives 48-hour ultimatum to Iran
- Minister insists UK has a 'contingency plan' over fuel
- Iranian missiles 'can reach London, Paris or Berlin'
Has Donald Trump really ‘obliterated’ Iran’s military infrastructure?
16:45 , Holly Evans Analysis: Has Donald Trump really ‘obliterated’ Iran’s military infrastructure?
Why is the US-UK Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands a target for Iran?
16:30 , Holly EvansIran has fired missiles at a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean as it warned British lives were “in danger” after prime minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the US to carry out further strikes.
Tehran directed two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands but neither hit. One of the missiles wasreportedly shot down by a US warship, while the other failed in flight.
It is undertood that the attack took place before Downing Street said on Friday that UK bases will now be used for US “defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships”.
Read the full analysis here:
Why is the US-UK Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands a target for Iran?
Treasury's Bessent says US has 'plenty' of funds for Iran war
16:15 , Holly EvansThe US government has "plenty of money" to fund the war against Iran, but is requesting supplemental funding from Congress to ensure the military is well supplied in the future, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday.
Bessent, speaking on NBC News' "Meet the Press" program, also ruled out pushing for any tax increases to fund the war.
The U.S. military's request for $200 billion in additional funding for the Iran war faces stiff opposition in Congress, with Democrats and even some Republicans questioning the need after large defense appropriations last year.
Bessent defended the request without confirming the amount.
President Donald Trump has not yet sent a request for the Senate and House of Representatives to approve the sum and his administration â has made clear that the number could change.
"We have plenty of money to fund this war," Bessent said. "This is supplemental. President Trump has built up the military, as he did in his first term, as he is now doing in his second term, and he wants to make sure that the military is well supplied going forward."
Zelensky says Starmer and Trump need to 'reload the relationship'
16:00 , Holly EvansOn Friday, the US president said the UK “should have acted a lot faster” in allowing America to use British bases to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.
It is not the first time the president has berated Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership over the war, including a personal attack on him for being “no Winston Churchill”.
Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelensky said the two leaders can meet and “reload” the relationship.
He told the programme: “Keir is a smart and very good partner. Absolutely.
“We know there are emotions in everyone at different times. I think that Keir, he’s in touch with President Trump, he can meet with him and reload the relationship again. It happens.
“I don’t see a big problem, to be honest. I do not see a big challenge. Your history is stronger than the emotions of two or three people. Your history is simply stronger.”
Asked if he believes Mr Trump’s actions have made the world more dangerous, he said: “I believe that any split in Nato will weaken both sides. I would really like President Trump to meet with Starmer, with the main countries, so that they have a common position.
“We want to be allies with that kind of Nato, a strong Nato, where everyone respects one another and is ready to defend.”
Watch: Netanyahu: 'Iran have the capacity to reach deep into Europe
15:43 , Holly EvansHow reliant are Gulf Arab states on desalination plants now facing Iranian threat?
15:19 , Holly EvansThe Iranian military has warned it would launch attacks on desalination plants and other infrastructure in the region if the US follows through on a threat to target its fuel and energy infrastructure over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Below are some details about how reliant Gulf Arab states are on desalination for their basic water needs:
- In the United Arab Emirates, desalinated water accounts for more than 80 per cent of drinking water.
- Bahrain became fully reliant on desalinated water in 2016, with 100 per cent of groundwater reserved for contingency plans, authorities say.
- Qatar is 100 per cent dependent on desalinated water.
- In Saudi Arabia, a much larger nation with a greater reserve of natural groundwater, about 50 per cent of the water supply came from desalinated water as of 2023, according to the General Authority for Statistics.
- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE combined produce around a third of the world's desalinated water and are home to many of its largest desalination plants.
Turkey discusses steps to end war with Iran, US, EU, Egypt in calls
14:55 , Holly EvansTurkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan discussed steps to end the war between Iran, the United States and Israel with counterparts from Iran and Egypt, as well as US officials and the European Union, a Turkish diplomatic source said on Sunday.
The source said Fidan had held separate calls with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and US officials, without elaborating further.
Iran to completely close Hormuz if Trump executes threats on Iranian energy, Revolutionary Guards say
14:30 , Holly EvansIran will completely shut the strategic Strait of Hormuz if US President Trump executes threats to target Iranian energy facilities, the country's Revolutionary Guards said in a statement on Sunday.
Trump on Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48-hours, suggesting a significant escalation barely a day after he talked about "winding down" the war, now in its fourth week.
In their Sunday statement Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said companies with U.S. shares will be 'completely destroyed', if Iranian energy facilities were targeted by Washington and energy facilitiesin countries that host US bases will be 'lawful' targets.
Starmer to hold Cobra meeting on cost of living crisis
14:14 , Holly EvansThere are increasing concerns about how the Iran conflict could affect the cost of living, with the Prime Minister due to hold a Cobra meeting next week to discuss plans to help households.
Iran has kept up its stranglehold on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil prices to spike.
On Sunday, the chief executive of Centrica, which owns British Gas, said global oil supplies are down 20 per cent because of the conflict.
Chris O’Shea told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “Cornwall Insight, I think, have predicted that there’s going to be an increase in prices.
“If it stays as it is then I think that’s inescapable.
“The world uses about 100 million barrels of oil a day. We’ve lost about 20 per cent of that through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Reeves warned not to raise taxes to protect UK from Iran war economic shock
14:00 , Holly EvansRachel Reeves has been urged not to raise taxes in response to the economic shock brought on by the US’s war with Iran.
Ministers will next week hold an emergency meeting with Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, to discuss plans to help households with the soaring cost of living caused by the conflict.
The average annual household energy bill alone is predicted to rise by £332 in July, according to the latest forecast from Cornwall Insights and experts have warned that further rises in the price of petrol and diesel are inevitable after attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East.
Read the full article here:
Reeves warned not to raise taxes to protect UK from Iran war economic shock
Israel orders destruction of bridges in Lebanon and homes near Israeli border
13:45 , Holly EvansIsrael's military has been ordered to destroy all bridges over Lebanon's Litani River and to step up the demolition of Lebanese homes near the Israeli border, the country's defence minister said on Sunday.
Earlier, an Israeli was killed in his car near the border with Lebanon after what the military described as a "launch" from Lebanese territory. It was the first Israeli civilian death linked to fire from Lebanon in the current war. Two Israeli soldiers have also been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon.
International law generally prohibits militaries from attacking civilian infrastructure, and the United Nations human rights chief has criticised Israel's actions in Lebanon, particularly its use of widespread evacuation orders.
Defence minister Israel Katz said the military had been ordered to destroy all bridges over the Litani River used for "terrorist activity," to prevent Hezbollah militants and weapons from moving south. He also said the military was ordered to accelerate the demolition of Lebanese homes in "frontline villages" to neutralize threats to Israeli communities.
Trump and Netanyahu say the war will be over ‘very soon’ – but Iran is preparing for a marathon
13:30 , Holly EvansAfter three weeks of intense US attacks on Iran’s missile facilities, Donald Trump has boasted that Iran’s navy and military has been “obliterated”.
“We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability,” Donald Trump declared on Truth Social earlier this week - despite failing to achieve his stated aim of instigating regime change and stopping Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The picture on the ground and the potential timeline of the war is more complex than Washington has portrayed, according to experts. Rather than a short, successful military operation, analysts suggest the conflict could drag on for weeks - or even months - if the US and Israel do not withdraw.
Read the full article here:
Trump says the war will be over ‘very soon’ – but Iran is preparing for a marathon
The tiny oil hub in Persian Gulf that Trump could seize
13:10 , Holly EvansAs the US war with Iran continues, attention has turned to a tiny island off the coast of the Middle Eastern country.
Kharg Island, whose total area is just 7.7 square miles, is situated northwest of the strategically important shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite its small size, the island holds around 94 per cent of the country’s crude oil for export, mostly bound for China, and its main oil export terminal.
It has now been reported that Donald Trump is considering putting American troops on the ground in Iran to seize the key oil terminal in the Persian Gulf.
Read the full article here:
Kharg island: A tiny Persion oil hub could be Trump’s secret weapon against Iran
Pope Leo says war in the Middle East is a 'scandal to the whole human family'
13:05 , Holly EvansPope Leo on Sunday said death and suffering caused by the war in the Middle East are a "scandal to the whole human family", renewing his plea for an immediate ceasefire.
As the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran enters its fourth week, the first US pope said that he continues to follow with "dismay" the situation in the Middle East and in other regions torn apart by war and violence.
"We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of so many people, the defenceless victims of these conflicts. What hurts them hurts the whole of humanity," Leo said at his weekly Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square.
"I strongly renew my appeal for us to persevere in prayer, so that hostilities may cease and the way may finally be paved for peace," he added.
Britain must be prepared for food and fuel shortages due to Iran war, minister warns
12:55 , Holly EvansBritain must be prepared for possible food and fuel shortages due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, a minister has warned as Keir Starmer prepares to hold a Cobra meeting to discuss plans to help households.
Steve Reed said the government was monitoring the situation “hour by hour” but said there was no need for rationing yet.
Asked if the government had a plan for shortages of petrol and food, he told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “Of course, we need to be prepared for any eventuality.”
Read the full article here:
Britain must be prepared for food and fuel shortages due to Iran war, minister warns
Scores hurt after Iranian missiles hit Israeli desert towns
12:38 , Holly EvansSouthern Israeli towns woke to widespread damage on Sunday after air defences failed to intercept two Iranian missiles overnight that injured scores of civilians in one of the worst attacks of the war so far on Israeli soil.
As daylight broke, the scale of the damage in the desert town of Arad, where one of the strikes hit a multi-story apartment bloc, came into clearer view, with entire floors blown open by the blast.
Uri Shacham, the chief of staff of Israel's ambulance service, said at least eight buildings were damaged by the missile, which left a crater not far from the apartment blocks.
Footage verified by Reuters showed flames engulfing the top floor of an apartment building shortly after the strike. Search and rescue teams moved from floor to floor inside the damaged buildings.
Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said both strikes had been carried out with conventional ballistic missiles. He declined to comment when asked about the initial findings of a military investigation into the failure to intercept the missiles.
Donald Trump claims 'death of Iran' on Truth Social
12:32 , Holly EvansIn a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump has claimed the “death of Iran” while taking aim at the Democrats.
From his Florida golfing retreat, he said: “Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The US president claimed victory over Tehran on Friday as the war enters its fourth week, with strikes continuing. Despite this, there has been no regime change and Iran continue to block the Strait of Hormuz with a significant knock-on effect to global trade.
Former diplomat questions evidence that Iran has longer distance missiles
12:18 , Kate DevlinA top former diplomat has thrown doubt over the credibility of Israel’s claims that Iran has missiles capable of reaching “deep into Europe”.
Simon McDonald told Times Radio: “They're curious. I mean, we know that Iran has been developing a missile programme. They wanted longer and longer range missiles.
“But frankly, there's no evidence that they have missiles of this capability apart from an Israeli source. And the Israeli agenda is to get Europe more concerned, more involved, more supportive of what they're doing.
“But I note as a fact that Iran hasn't tried to use a missile with this range, and it is in a pretty desperate state.”
When questioned if the UK could be vulnerable to an attack, he said: “True. But I repeat, apart from this Israeli report, I don't see any evidence that Iran has this capability.
“And I also note that in the last three weeks, Israel and the United States have been very specifically targeting Iran's missile programme. So what capabilities Iran had three weeks ago have been significantly degraded.
Trump's 48 hour threat has caused 'elevated uncertainty' in financial markets
12:04 , Holly Evans"President Trump's threat has now placed a 48-hour ticking time bomb of elevated uncertainty over markets. If the ultimatum is not walked back, we will likely see a Black Monday reopening of global equity markets in free fall and oil prices spiking significantly higher," said IG market analyst Tony Sycamore.
Tehran would likely strike Gulf energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which "would deepen and prolong the pain of higher energy prices", Sycamore said.
Oil prices jumped on Friday and settled at their highest in nearly four years, after Iraq declared force majeure on all oilfields developed by foreign firms, Israel attacked a major gas field in Iran and Tehran responded with strikes on neighbours, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.
Netanyahu claims Iran have missile capacity to 'reach deep into Europe'
11:47 , Holly EvansIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran have the capacity to “reach deep into Europe” as he urged other leaders to join the war against Tehran.
He told reporters: “They fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Diego Garcia. That's 4,000 kilometers. I've been warning all the time.
“They have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe. They already have fired on European countries, Cyprus. They are putting everyone in their sights.”
He added: “What more proof do you need that this regime that threatens the entire world has to be stopped? Israel and the United States are working together for the entire world.
“And it's time to see the leaders of the rest of the countries join up. I'm happy to say that I can see some of them beginning to move in that direction, but more is needed.”
'Inevitable' that US and Israel took action in Iran, Cleverly says
11:30 , Holly EvansIt was “inevitable” that the US and Israel decided to “take action” in Iran, the shadow housing secretary has said.
Sir James Cleverly told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that Iran is now deploying “very, very long-range missiles”, but did not say if he believed them capable of hitting the UK as he is not privy to the types of intelligence reports he once was.
This came after his Government counterpart Steve Reed appeared to suggest Israel’s warning that Tehran has developed missiles that could reach Europe is exaggerated.
Sir James said: “When I was foreign secretary we were absolutely consistent that our primary focus with regard to Iran was preventing them acquiring a credible nuclear weapon, they were tiptoeing towards that with greater enrichment, so it was inevitable that Israel and the US decided they needed to take action to prevent that from happening.”
He added: “We’re relying on other countries to protect British personnel, British nationals and British interests, and that is not the position we should be in.”
Asked if Conservatives would retaliate against Iran’s attempt to strike Diego Garcia, he said: “It’s not about retaliation, it’s about making sure that – whether it is the UK directly, or our allies, or in conjunction – we degrade their ability to target us.”
Iran warns of 'irreversible damage' to regional infrastructure if power plants attacked
11:16 , Holly EvansCritical infrastructure and energy facilities in the Middle East could be "irreversibly destroyed" should Iranian power plants be targeted, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in comments posted on X on Sunday.
His comments come after US President Donald Trump warned that Iranian power plants would be targeted if the Strait of Hormuz is not "fully open" within 48 hours.
Qalibaf said regional infrastructure would become "legitimate targets" should Iran's facilities be hit, and that its retaliation would increase the price of oil for a while.
بلافاصله پس از هدف قرار گرفتن نیروگاههای برق و زیرساخت در کشورمان، زیرساختهای حیاتی و زیرساختهای انرژی و نفت در سراسر منطقه اهداف مشروع تلقی شده و به نحو بازگشتناپذیر منهدم خواهند شد و قیمت نفت برای مدتها بالاتر خواهد رفت. وألقِ ما في يمينك تَلْقَفْ ما صَنَعوا.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) March 22, 2026
Zelensky says a long war in Iran is a 'plus' for Putin
11:08 , Holly EvansUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has a “very bad feeling” about how the war in the Middle East will affect Ukraine.
He told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “I have a very bad feeling about the impact of this war on the situation in Ukraine and the focus of America, it’s more on the Middle East than on Ukraine unfortunately.
“Therefore, you see that our diplomatic meetings, trilateral meetings, are constantly postponed. There is one reason: war in Iran.”
He added that US President Donald Trump is “concentrating on Iran”.
On whether the Kremlin is benefiting from the Middle East war, Mr Zelensky said: “Putin will want a long war. For Putin, a long war in Iran is a plus.
“In addition to energy prices, it means the depletion of US reserves and the depletion of air defence manufacturers, so we have a depletion of resources.
“So, it is beneficial for Putin that the resources do not go to Ukraine against whom he has directed his army and is fighting with. He needs to weaken us and this is a long process. The Middle East is one of the ways to do that.”
He added that there will “definitely be a deficit” of Patriot missiles available to come to Ukraine’s aid if needed, saying it presents “another challenge”.
Watch: Iranian missile hits Israeli city near nuclear facility after failed interception
11:03 , Holly EvansGas executive says North Sea exploration would 'make a difference' to prices
10:58 , Holly EvansThe chief executive of British Gas owner Centrica said more exploration in the North Sea “would definitely make a difference” to energy prices as he was questioned on the impact of the war in the Middle East.
On future-proofing the UK, Chris O’Shea told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “I think we need to look at getting more gas storage, we need to look at getting more home renewables, we need to look at more batteries and I do think that we should look at producing the resources that we’ve got ourselves.
“Now we don’t do that in Centrica, we don’t produce in the North Sea any more, we sold that business, but it makes sense if you’ve got resources you should.
“It’s not a silver bullet … nothing in and of itself will fix this but these activities will bring prices down.”
Asked if it would make a difference if the UK Government said yes to more exploration, Mr O’Shea said: “It would definitely make a difference but it wouldn’t make a difference just in the UK, it would make a difference across Europe.”
Increase in energy bills may be 'inescapable' if war continues
10:47 , Holly EvansAn increase in energy prices may be “inescapable” if the war in the Middle East “stays as it is”, the chief executive of Centrica, which owns British Gas, has said.
Chris O’Shea told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “There is some speculation as to where prices will go from 1 July but the reality is that we are less than one month into what’s called the observation period, so we’ve got to wait and see what happens over the next 10 weeks.
“Cornwall Insight, I think, have predicted that there’s going to be an increase in prices. If it stays as it is then I think that’s inescapable, but I don’t think it’s helpful to have speculation at the moment because we have to see what’s going to happen over the next 10 weeks.”
Mr O’Shea also told the programme: “The world uses about 100 million barrels of oil a day. We’ve lost about 20 per cent of that through the Strait of Hormuz. The loss of gas through the Strait of Hormuz being closed is about three or 4% of global gas.
“So, the impact on gas, and therefore on electricity bills, should be lower than the impact on oil. So, my gut feel is that you’ll see more of an impact of this in the petrol pumps than you will in bills.”
Asked about support to help people with bills, he said Centrica has had meetings with the Government and hopes they are looking at “targeted support”, telling the programme: “I do think targeted help is far better than blanket help.”
Mapped: What countries Iranian missiles could hit after warning they pose ‘global threat’
10:38 , Holly EvansIran has developed long-range missiles capable of reaching major European cities, Israel has warned, after the targeting of the UK-US base on Diego Garcia.
Iran took aim at the military base on the Chagos Islands before the UK government gave the US permission to strike missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, but it is not clear exactly when the two intermediate-range ballistic missiles were fired.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it was the first time Tehran had launched a long-range missile since the start of the war, and showed it is now capable of reaching cities such as London, Paris or Berlin.
Read the full analysis here:
Mapped: What countries could Iranian missiles hit?
Analysis: UK struggling to respond as Iran war escalates
10:13 , Holly EvansOur Whitehall editor Kate Devlin writes:
The pace of the Iran war is leaving the UK scrambling to respond.
The key word ministers keep using about Iran’s behaviour is “reckless”, a sign of how difficult it is to counter.
Steve Reed, the housing secretary, today repeated that ministers believe de-escalation is needed in the region.
But he would not be drawn on what the UK is saying to the US president over his latest demand after Donald Trump issued a fresh 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, or the US would "obliterate" Iran's power plants.
Ministers will this week meet in Whitehall to discuss how to deal with the economic crisis prompted by the war, including spiralling energy prices.
But the scale of the conflict risks making anything they decide out of date within hours.
'Dithering' Starmer may have undermined UK's standing in the world, Cleverly says
10:02 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer may have “undermined our standing in the world” by “dithering” on Iran, Sir James Cleverly has said.
The shadow housing secretary told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that Donald Trump was “deeply unfair” when he accused the UK and European allies of being cowards.
He said: “It’s inappropriate language. We know that President Trump shoots from the hip when it comes to his description of things, look, I think that’s deeply unfair.
“However, I don’t think it has been helped by the fact that our Prime Minister has sat on his hands at a time when the Canadians, a left-of-centre government, were supportive of the action against Iran.
“Australia, a left-of-centre government, supportive of the action against Iran – so it’s not a left-right split.
“The fact is Keir Starmer was equivocal, he was dithering, he was undecided and that, I fear, has undermined our standing in the world.”
Israeli military to accelerate the demolition of Lebanese homes in 'frontline villages'
09:59 , Holly EvansIsrael's defence minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that he and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the military to accelerate the demolition of Lebanese homes in "frontline villages" to end threats to Israeli communities.
The military was instructed to immediately destroy all bridges over Lebanon's Litani river which he said were used for "terrorist activity", Katz said in a statement released by his office.
Steve Reed refuses to say how close missiles came to Diego Garcia
09:46 , Holly EvansSteve Reed has refused to say how close Iran’s long-range missiles came to reaching Diego Garcia.
The housing secretary appeared to suggest Israel’s warning that Iran has developed long-range missiles capable of reaching Europe is exaggerated.
He told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “There is no specific assessment that the Iranians are targeting the UK or even could, if they wanted to.
“We have the finest military in the world. We are perfectly capable of protecting this country.”
Mr Reed said the Israeli Defence Forces’ statement was “conditional”, adding “there is no assessment to substantiate what’s being said”.
Minister insists UK has a 'contingency plan' over fuel
09:32 , Holly EvansThere is no need to ration fuel despite the ongoing Middle East war, Steve Reed has said.
The Housing Secretary insisted the Government does have a contingency plan.
He told Sky: “There’s no need to ration fuel. People should go around and buy their fuel just like they always would.
“If the situation were to change, then the Government would look at what was required in that circumstance.
“We did intervene when it came to heating oil, because we saw the prices escalating and people were seeing their bills doubling and tripling overnight. We can’t have that, so we stepped in to support people.”
Watch: UK has contingency plans for supply shortages driven by Middle East conflict
09:22 , Holly EvansJapan could consider Hormuz minesweeping if ceasefire reached, minister says
09:13 , Holly EvansJapan could consider deploying its military for minesweeping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies, if a ceasefire is reached in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Sunday.
"If there were to be a complete ceasefire, hypothetically speaking, then things like minesweeping could come up," Motegi said during a Fuji TV programme. "This is purely hypothetical, but if a ceasefire were established and naval mines were creating an obstacle, then I think that would be something to consider."
Japan's military actions are limited under its postwar pacifist constitution, but 2015 security legislation allows Japan to use its Self-Defence Forces overseas if an attack, including on a close security partner, threatens Japan's survival and no other means are available to address it.
Tokyo has no immediate plans to seek arrangements to allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz for stranded Japanese vessels, Motegi said, adding it was "extremely important" to create conditions that allow all ships to navigate through the narrow waterway, the conduit for a fifth of the world's oil shipments.
Minister won't confirm if UK supports Trump's 48 hour deadline
09:00 , Holly EvansSteve Reed would not be drawn on whether the Government backs President Donald Trump's 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
He was repeatedly asked about his position appearing on Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme but only said the UK will not be drawn into a wider conflict.
"I think you need to ask President Trump about the things that President Trump is talking about," the Housing Secretary said.
Early on Sunday, Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran had 48 hours to "FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz", or the US would "obliterate" Iran's power plants.
UK has 'systems and defences' in place to keep country safe, minister says
08:52 , Holly EvansHousing secretary Steve Reed insisted that the UK was safe and will not be dragged into the Iran conflict.
Despite warnings Iran has developed long-range missiles capable of reaching major European cities, he said the UK had strong defensive capabilities.
He told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “We have systems and defences in place that keep the United Kingdom safe, and that will continue to happen, but the Prime Minister has been crystal clear about this war.
“We didn’t join the war, we’re not going to be dragged into this war, but we will take necessary defensive action to protect British interests, British people, or our allies across the region.
Mr Reed said the fact that one of the missiles fired at Diego Garcia was intercepted, and the other failed, shows shows “that our defensive capabilities are correct”.
Starmer to hold cost-of-living Cobra meeting
08:41 , Holly EvansThe Prime Minister will hold a Cobra meeting next week to discuss plans to help households with cost of living issues caused by the war, it is understood.
Lord Richard Walker, the cost-of-living tsar, said he has “asked the government to consider a temporary profit cap, if required, to stop producers and retailers exploiting the crisis to make windfall profits at the expense of consumers”.
Read: Britain cannot ‘stay out’ of war in the Middle East
08:12 , Holly EvansThe desire to stay out of other people’s wars is understandable, and there is no dishonour in John McDonnell, a Labour neutralist, seeking Liberal Democrat and Green support in parliament to try to block the United States using British bases for attacks on Iran.
But it is not possible for Britain to have nothing to do with the conflict in the Middle East. Our citizens’ standard of living is affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. British expatriates are vulnerable to Iranian missiles in several Gulf countries, which are allies. And British bases, including Cyprus and Diego Garcia, are also within range.
Mr McDonnell would no doubt want to give up British military bases around the world, and thinks that British expats and the allied nations that accommodate them should look after themselves. But even then he ought to recognise that Britain has an economic interest in the free passage of ships in international waters – at least until such a time, some decades in the future, when we can function without petroleum products at all.
Read the full editorial here:
Britain cannot ‘stay out’ of war in the Middle East
One killed after fire in vehicles near Israel's Galilee
07:42 , Holly EvansOne person was killed after a fire broke out in two vehicles near Israel's northern Galilee, the Israeli emergency service said on Sunday, after the Israeli military reported strikes from Lebanon toward a community along the north border.
Damage and wounded were reported, the Israeli military said, without further elaborating.
IDF say Tehran are a 'global threat' with long range missiles
07:22 , Holly EvansThe Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the attempted attack on Diego Garcia was the first time Tehran had launched a long-range missile since the start of the war, and showed it is now capable of reaching cities like London, Paris or Berlin.
“We have been saying it: The Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat,” the IDF said in a statement.
The Israeli military claimed the missiles could reach a distance of around 4,000km, posing a danger to dozens of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Iran ready to cooperate for Gulf maritime safety, IMO representative says
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran is ready to cooperate with the International Maritime Organisation to improve maritime safety and protect seafarers in the Gulf, the Iranian representative to the UN
maritime agency said, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Sunday.Ali Mousavi said the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all shipping except vessels linked to "Iran's enemies", adding that passage through the narrow waterway was possible by coordinating security and safety arrangements with Tehran."
Diplomacy remains Iran's priority. However, a complete cessation of aggression as well as mutual trust and confidence are more important," Mousavi said, adding that Israeli and U.S. attacks against Iran were at the "root of current situation in Strait of Hormuz"
Teachers, athletes and students arrested in new Iran crackdown during US-Israel war
06:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeWhile the fate of many detainees arrested during the nationwide protests in January – which many consider to have been a “national uprising” – remains unclear, reports received by Independent Persian indicate that a new wave of arrests has begun across various cities in Iran.
Informed sources say that since the start of US and Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic on 28 February, the scale of arrests has expanded, with thousands detained on security-related charges.
Amirhossein Miresmaeili reports on an increase in security-related arrests in Iran during its conflict with the US and Israel.
Read more here.
Iran’s missiles are a threat to London, Israel warns
06:10 , Rituparna ChatterjeeIran’s missiles are a threat to European cities – including London, Paris and Berlin – after the attack on the UK-US Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands, Israel has warned.
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper hit out at “reckless Iranian threats” after two ballistic missiles were fired towards the military base. Both were unsuccessful, with one shot down by a US warship and the other failing in flight.
However, The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was the first time Tehran had launched a long-range missile since the start of the war, and showed it was now capable of reaching cities like London, Paris or Berlin.
Japanese national detained in Iran released
06:00 , Rituparna ChatterjeeOne of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has been released and will be returning to Japan, foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, said on Sunday.
Mr Motegi, speaking on a Fuji Television talk show, said the person had been detained since last year and was released on Wednesday.
He said the person took a flight from Azerbaijan which was scheduled to arrive in Japan on Sunday.
Mr Motegi said another Japanese national who was arrested earlier this year is still in custody.
Mr Motegi said the release came after his repeated demands to Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and that he is "working to win an early release" of the other detainee while communicating with his family and other concerned parties.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has named the person detained in Iran in January as a journalist at Japan's public broadcaster NHK.
The CPJ said the NHK journalist was arrested on 20 Jan by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was transferred 23 Feb to Evin Prison, quoting unidentified sources citing fear of persecution.
Mr Motegi did not identify either of the people detained and said the released Japanese national was detained in 2025.
