Nato allies have have cast doubt over the alliance’s role in reopening the Strait of Hormuz in a fresh blow to Donald Trump.
The US president had called for “about seven” countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning Nato that the bloc faces a “very bad future” if allies refuse to help the US open up the maritime chokepoint, which has been under Iranian control since the war began.
German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said: “I don't see that Nato has made any decision in this direction or could assume responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz. If that were the case, then the Nato bodies would address it accordingly.”
The UK has also expressed an unwillingness to involve Nato, with Sir Keir Starmer saying that it “won’t be and it's never been envisioned to be a Nato mission.” Meanwhile, Greece has refused any military involvement in the Persian waterway and Italy has called for diplomacy to prevail.
The price of oil reached the highest peaks since July 2022 on Monday, peaking at $104 per barrel as the fuel costs continues to soar.
Read MoreHow major countries are responding to Trump’s Strait of Hormuz calls
‘Iran is someone else’s war’: Readers on why Gen Z are reluctant to fight
Key Points
- Nato faces 'very bad future' if allies fail to help US in Iran, Trump warns
- Israel says it still has ‘thousands of targets’ left to hit in Iran
- Dubai airport temporarily shut
- Israel expands ground operations in Lebanon
- Iran women’s football captain leaves Australia after turning down asylum
- We will not be drawn into the wider war, Starmer warns
Trump could delay China visit in effort to ramp up pressure on Beijing to reopen Strait of Hormuz
12:44 , Bryony GoochPresident Donald Trump may delay his much-anticipated visit to China at the end of the month as he seeks to ramp up the pressure on Beijing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and calm oil prices that have soared during the Iran war.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Trump said China's reliance on oil from the Middle East means it ought to help with a new coalition he is trying to put together to get oil tanker traffic moving through the strait after Iran's threats have stifled global flows of oil.
The president said "we'd like to know" before the trip whether Beijing will help.
"We may delay," he said in the interview.
Booms heard in Doha - report
12:34 , Alex CroftWe’re seeing an alert from Reuters news agency that booms have been heard in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
We’re working to bring you more.
German defence minister rejects US demands for European involvement in Iran war
12:30 , Bryony GoochGerman defence minister Boris Pistorius on Monday rejected demands by US president Donald Trump for military support in the war against Iran and downplayed threats that such a stance by allies would hurt NATO.
"What does (...) Donald Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful U.S. navy cannot do?" he said in Berlin.
"This is not our war, we have not started it."
Watch: Strait of Hormuz reopening won't be a Nato mission, Starmer says
12:24 , Bryony GoochItalian foreign minister joins growing Nato voices casting doubt over military involvement over Strait of Hormuz
12:16 , Bryony GoochItalian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday that diplomacy was the right way to solve the crisis in the Hormuz Strait and there were no naval missions Italy is involved in that could be extended to the area.
“As far as Hormuz is concerned I believe diplomacy needs to prevail," Tajani told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting in Brussels.
Italy is involved in defensive naval missions in the Red Sea, "but I don't see any missions that can be extended to Hormuz," he added.
In pictures: Members of Iran's women's football team arrive at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport
12:09 , Bryony Gooch ‘Like an earthquake’: Inside Israel’s deadly strike on medical centre
12:01 , Bryony Gooch ‘It was like an earthquake’: Rescuers describe Israel’s attack on medical centre
Greece will not engage in military operations in Strait of Hormuz, says government official
11:51 , Bryony GoochGreece will not engage in any military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said on Monday.
It comes as both Germany and the UK have cast doubt on Donald Trump’s calls for Nato involvement in the Strait of Hormuz.
Dubai shutdown reveals ‘asymmetric’ passengers' rights rules
11:45 , Bryony GoochSimon Calder, travel correspondent, reports:
Dubai airport is now back and running a reduced service. The latest shutdown will impact UK travellers for many days as Emirates seeks to recover is schedules.
Under air passengers’ rights rules, travellers whose journeys start in the UK are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible on any airline that has seats available.
But with a sharply reduced schedule of flights between the UK and the Middle East, rebooking passengers will prove difficult. Many intercontinental flights returned to their starting points, including inbound aircraft from Sydney, Melbourne, Bangkok and Hong Kong – all of which will have had significant numbers of British passengers on board.
In addition, some Emirates flights are on the ground in Europe, Africa and Asia rather than in the Middle East. Passengers from Toronto found themselves in Rome, while the flight from Dallas Fort Worth is in Milan. The Emirates flight from Accra landed in Addis Ababa.
Many departing flights have been cancelled, which will also affect passengers in the UK due to travel out to Dubai on Monday night and into Tuesday.
British travellers heading home from Asia and Australia are likely to face yet more problems. Air passengers’ rights rules are asymmetric: they do not apply for flights starting outside Europe for non-UK/EU airlines. If Emirates, Etihad or Qatar Airways cancels a flight from an Asian airport to its hub, or an onward service to the UK, the carrier merely has to offer a replacement flight at a time of its choosing – or a refund of the appropriate fare.
The Gulf crisis has revealed air passengers’ rights rules are unfit for purpose.
Citibank branches and offices will remain closed until further notice in UAE
11:31 , Bryony GoochAmerican bank Citibank has said most of its branches and offices in the United Arab Emirates will continue to be closed until further notice.
It comes after Iran threatened to target the Gulf’s financial institutions last week as part of the Iran war.
Watch: Medical centre destroyed by Israeli missile in Lebanon
11:23 , Bryony GoochStarmer: We cannot allow Iran war to become windfall for Putin
11:12 , Bryony GoochMillie Cooke, political correspondent, reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has warned against allowing the war in Iran to benefit Vladimir Putin.
He told a press conference in Downing Street: “It's vital we continue to focus on supporting Ukraine.
“We cannot allow the war in the gulf to turn into a windfall for Putin.”
Starmer resists call to send UK ships to Strait of Hormuz as Trump warns Nato faces ‘very bad’ future
11:00 , Bryony Gooch PM resists Trump’s ships demand as US president warns Nato faces ‘very bad’ future
We will not be drawn into the wider war, Starmer warns
10:52 , Bryony GoochMillie Cooke, political correspondent, reports:
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that the UK will “not be drawn into the wider war” in Iran as the conflict enters its third week.
It comes as Donald Trump piles pressure on Britain and other allies to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to protect the shipping route.
But Sir Keir has so far resisted the calls, on Monday insisting ministers are working hard to secure de-escalation.
Iranian missile prompted evacuation in Doha residential neighbourhood, says Qatar
10:43 , Bryony GoochEvacuations in parts of Doha on Saturday were prompted by an Iranian missile, launched on a residential neighbourhood, Qatar’s foreign ministry has claimed.
The missile was intercepted, a spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that Qatar was unaware of any formal mediation between the US and Iran right now.
1.7m UK homes facing soaring bills as heating oil costs doubled in a week amid Iran conflict
10:32 , Bryony Gooch 1.7m UK homes facing soaring bills as heating oil costs doubled in a week
Watch: Fire and smoke seen near Dubai airport after drone attack
10:23 , Bryony GoochBrent Crude Oil prices the highest they've been since July 2022
10:09 , Bryony GoochThe price of Brent Crude Oil is currently past $104 per barrel, the highest they’ve been since July 2022.
How countries are responding to Trump’s call to send ships to Strait of Hormuz
10:00 , Bryony Gooch How countries are responding to Trump’s call to send ships to Strait of Hormuz
UK flights on 11-hour 'flights to nowhere' after Dubai airport temporarily closes
09:52 , Bryony GoochSimon Calder, travel correspondent, reports:
Thousands of British travellers have endured a miserable night on a series of “flights to nowhere” after another Iranian drone strike shut down Dubai’s main airport, DXB.
The latest shutdown of the world’s busiest international airport was caused by a fresh drone attack launched by Iran against Dubai. A blaze began near the airport in the early hours of Monday.
At around 4am local time, Dubai Airports posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Flights at DXB are temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff. Please contact your airlines for the latest flight updates.”
Six Emirates flights from UK airports were en route to Dubai when news of the closure emerged. One inbound flight from Heathrow, Emirates flight EK30, diverted to Dubai World Central – the second airport serving the metropolis.
Two flights from Heathrow, and one each from Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh, turned around and flew back to their starting points.
The Emirates flight from Edinburgh to Dubai, EK24, spent 11 hours airborne before returning to the Scottish capital. It had taken off from Edinburgh shortly after 8 pm, and had reached Egypt before the crew were ordered to return to the starting point.
Those on the Sunday night Emirates flight from London Stansted to Dubai endured a similar 11-hour flight that failed to reach the UAE.
Their aircraft was close to Dubai, but was turned back and ended up in Vienna at 8.30am local time on Monday. Flight EK68 is expected to continue to Dubai later in the day.
Watch: Netanyahu denies reports he is dead
09:43 , Bryony GoochGermany sees no role for the NATO in Strait of Hormuz
09:42 , Bryony GoochGermany does not see a role for the NATO defence alliance in addressing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, said Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Brussels on Monday.
"I don't see that NATO has made any decision in this direction or could assume responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz. If that were the case, then the NATO bodies would address it accordingly," said Wadephul ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
US president Donald Trump ratcheted up pressure on European allies to help protect the strait, warning that NATO faces a "very bad" future if its members fail to come to Washington’s aid.
Former BP boss warns government ministers should prepare for 'significant shortfall' of oil in next two months
09:39 , Bryony GoochNick Butler, the former head of strategy at BP and a former adviser to Gordon Brown, has warned that government ministers should be preparing for a “significant shortfall of supply over the next two months”.
He said this could involve “a form of rationing”, adding: “I think we learnt from the tanker drivers dispute in 2000 that oil and gas supplies are absolutely crucial to the running of the economy and you can’t bring on new supplies quickly.”
He told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: “In the short-term, we have to look at what supply we have and look at the crucial sectors, the health service, food supply, hospitals, those are key elements that must be protected.
“And beyond that, it is then for the government to decide how to ration what is left if we get to that situation.”
Trump to announce coalition to lead ships through Strait of Hormuz
09:34 , Bryony Gooch Trump to announce Strait of Hormuz escorts this week, officials say
Attacks on Dubai airport cause diversions
09:30 , Bryony GoochDrone and missile fire has regularly kept aircraft circling Dubai's busy airport, heavily affecting Middle East tourism worth about $367 billion a year. Air freight rates have also surged as much as 70 per cent on some routes.
In a statement on X, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority flagged a "gradual resumption" of some flights to selected destinations, the Dubai Media Office said.
Emirates airline said it expected to partially resume operations at 6am GMT after the attack, which prompted authorities to divert some flights to the smaller Al Maktoum international airport.
A Reuters reporter on board an Emirates plane from Rome to Dubai observed the disruption, as security concerns forced the aircraft to divert abruptly when it came in to land early on Monday, going instead to the inland city of Al Ain.
The airline told passengers it planned to fly them back to Dubai as the airspace had re-opened. At one point it said it would arrange a bus for the 130-km (81-miles) road trip back to the coastal city.
On its website, Emirates said it had cancelled some flights scheduled for Monday, while sister airline flydubai also halted flights temporarily.
Air India and Air India Express said in a statement flights with Dubai had been cancelled for the day.
Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since February 28, with targets including U.S. diplomatic missions and military bases but also key oil infrastructure as well as homes and offices.
The United Arab Emirates, which normalised relations with Iran's arch-foe Israel in 2020, has faced the brunt of the attacks. But all Gulf Arab states have been affected, and all have criticised Iran for the attacks.
On March 11, two drones fell near the international airport, which suffered damage on the first day of the conflict during an Iranian attack across Gulf states.
In pictures: South Beirut on Monday after an airstrike overnight
09:15 , Bryony Gooch I’m a trauma expert. This is what the Iran war is doing to our brains
09:00 , Bryony Gooch I’m a trauma expert. This is what the Iran war is doing to our brains
Iran's internet blackout intensifies as it enters 17th day
08:52 , Bryony GoochAn internet blackout in Iran has intensified as it crosses over 384 hours, according to digital governance watchdog Net Blocks.
Reserved telecoms network infrastructure and VPN availability have both been hindered as the blackout enters its 17th day.
The organisation said: “The internet blackout in #Iran is entering its 17th day after 384 hours.
“Over the last day a decline has been tracked in reserved telecoms network infrastructure, further reducing VPN availability and sending some whitelisted users and NIN services offline.”
⚠️ Update: The internet blackout in #Iran is entering its 17th day after 384 hours. Over the last day a decline has been tracked in reserved telecoms network infrastructure, further reducing VPN availability and sending some whitelisted users and NIN services offline. https://t.co/xFVkYHiHDr pic.twitter.com/zxXYqX7GPO
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) March 16, 2026
UK cabinet minister calls Trump's approach to international affairs 'transactional'
08:43 , Bryony GoochDonald Trump has a “transactional” approach to international affairs, a Cabinet minister said in response to the US president’s latest comments on Iran.
The US president has suggested the future of Nato is at stake if allies do not contribute to his mission to open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.
Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden told Sky News: “That’s the president right there. The quote that you’ve just given has summed him up.
“It’s a very transactional presidency and our job is to navigate this, to always remember that the friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom runs very deep.
“It’s a good relationship. It’s enduring and I think it will outlast all the personalities involved.”
Watch: Trump warns Nato faces 'very bad future' if allies don't help secure Strait of Hormuz
08:34 , Bryony GoochEU to discuss how to keep Hormuz strait open, EU's foreign chief says
08:26 , Bryony GoochEU member states will discuss what can be done from the European side to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday.
"It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and that's why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side," she said, speaking to journalists ahead a EU foreign affairs meeting in Brussels.
Dubai airport resumes some flights after drone attack spotlights risks
08:19 , Bryony GoochDubai's international airport was gradually resuming flights on Monday, authorities said, after a fire caused by a drone attack forced a temporary suspension, further disrupting traffic in one of the world's busiest air travel hubs.
The US-Israel war against Iran has thrown global aviation into turmoil, with flights cancelled, rescheduled and rerouted, as most Middle East airspace stays shut over fears of missile and drone attacks, while the crisis sends fuel prices soaring.
Monday's incident pointed to the challenges for UAE airlines and the wider aviation industry in the effort to ramp up capacity and return operations to normal.
It is the third attack at the Dubai international airport (DXB) since Iran launched assaults on Gulf nations on 28 February with strikes Tehran has said aim at the US presence in the region.
While the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries host US military facilities, Iran has used missiles and drones to target civilian facilities such as airports, hotels and ports.
In a statement on X, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority flagged a "gradual resumption" of some flights to selected destinations, the Dubai Media Office said.
Trump's comments over the future of Nato dismissed as 'rhetoric' by Cabinet minister
08:13 , Bryony GoochMillie Cooke, political correspondent reports:
Donald Trump’s comments about the risk to Nato if allies do not contribute to the military effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz have been played down by a Cabinet minister, who dubbed it "rhetoric" from the US president.
The UK appears unlikely to agree to the US president’s call for allies to contribute warships to a mission to protect shipping passing through the waterway from Iranian attacks.
Responding to Mr Trump's threat that Nato could face a "very bad" future if allies don't send warships to the Middle East, work and pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told Times Radio: “There’s a lot of rhetoric, always, in this presidency.
“Underneath that, there is a good and close relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. I’m confident that will continue. We speak to one another all the time.
“But that doesn’t mean that we will always have to support every intervention and every action that the United States chooses to take.”
China says it is communicating with all sides about the Strait of Hormuz
08:09 , Bryony GoochChina is in communication "with all sides" about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the foreign ministry said on Monday, reiterating the country's call for a de-escalation of the Middle East conflict.
At a regular press briefing, the ministry was asked if China had received any request from US president Donald Trump to assist in ensuring the security of the Strait, a vital artery for global energy shipments.
"We are in communication with all parties on the current situation and are committed to promoting the easing and cooling down of the situation," ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters.
Lin said China again urged all sides to cease fighting immediately to prevent escalation and broader economic fallout.
Israeli forces kill 16 people in Gaza and the West Bank, say medics
08:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsraeli forces killed 16 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, health officials said, in one of the heaviest death tolls in a single day in weeks, as Israel continued to launch attacks on Lebanon and Iran.
Medics and the interior ministry of the Hamas-run Gaza said an Israeli airstrike killed a senior police official and eight other officers when it hit their vehicle near the entrance to Zawayda town in the central Gaza Strip.
At least 14 other people, mostly bystanders, were wounded, the Gaza health ministry said.Earlier on Sunday, health officials said an Israeli airstrike had killed three people - a man, his pregnant wife, and their son - in the western area of Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military said it had carried out a strike in Gaza on Sunday in response to an incident a day earlier in which Hamas militants opened fire on Israeli troops. It did not say if it was referring to the strike that killed the officers or the strike that killed the family in Nuseirat.
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a Palestinian father, mother, and two of their children were killed as they drove in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health authorities said, and the Israeli military said the incident was under review.
In Gaza, there have been regular outbreaks of violence since a ceasefire went into effect in October following two years of devastating war triggered by Hamas-led attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023.
One casualty as Abu Dhabi officials respond to falling missile in Al Bahyah
07:50 , Bryony GoochAbu Dhabi authorities have responded to an incident involving a missile falling on a civilian vehicle in the Al Bahyah area, resulting in one casualty - a Palestinian national.
Authorities advised the public to “obtain information only from official sources and to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information.”
Abu Dhabi authorities have responded to an incident involving a missile falling on a civilian vehicle in the Al Bahyah area, resulting in one casualty of Palestinian nationality.
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) March 16, 2026
The public is advised to obtain information only from official sources and to avoid spreading…
Iran women’s football captain leaves Australia after turning down asylum
07:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarZahra Ghanbari, the captain of the Iranian women’s national football team, left Australia after withdrawing her asylum request.
Ms Ghanbari is the fifth member of the Iranian delegation to reverse her decision after initially accepting an offer to remain in the country following the Asian Cup.
A spokesperson for the office of home minister Tony Burke confirmed on Monday that another team member had departed late on Sunday night.
More here.
Iran women’s football captain leaves Australia after turning down asylum
IDF troops begin 'limited ground operations' in southern Lebanon
07:29 , Bryony GoochThe Israeli army said on Monday it had begun what it described as “limited ground operations” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The military said in a statement quoted by AFP: “In recent days, IDF troops from the 91st division have begun limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, aimed at enhancing the forward defence area.
“This activity is part of broader defensive efforts to establish and strengthen a forward defensive posture, which includes the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and the elimination of terrorists operating in the area, in order to remove threats and create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel.
Iran sees 'no reason to talk' to US over Strait of Hormuz
07:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS that Tehran has been "approached by a number of countries" seeking safe passage for their vessels, "and this is up to our military to decide".
He said a group of vessels from "different countries" had been allowed to pass, without providing details.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of global oil exports normally pass, is open to all except the United States and its allies.
Mr Araghchi added that "we don't see any reason why we should talk with Americans" about finding a way to end the war, noting that Israel and the US started the fighting with coordinated attacks on 28 February during indirect talks on Iran's nuclear programme.
He also said Tehran had "no plan to recover" the enriched uranium that is under rubble following US and Israeli attacks last year. Mr Trump said that he has demanded that about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
Tehran has accused the US of using "ports, docks and hideouts" in the United Arab Emirates to launch strikes on Kharg Island, home to the main terminal handling Iran's oil exports, without providing evidence, as oil prices soared.
Starmer pledges cost-of-living help after resisting Trump's call for warship
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSir Keir Starmer will pledge to help households with the cost of living amid the energy price spike caused by the war in the Middle East, after he appeared to resist Donald Trump's calls to send warships to the region.
The prime minister this morning will say that helping households with living costs is "my first priority" as he announces a subsidy for those who use heating oil to warm their homes, after they faced price spikes caused by the war.
Sir Keir yesterday did not heed calls from Mr Trump to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil trade route in the Middle East being blockaded by Iran.
Instead, Britain is currently mulling over the possibility of sending mine-hunting drones to the region amid worries of an Iranian build-up of explosives in the narrow sea passage.
Inside Downing Street, Sir Keir will say: "It's moments like this that tell you what a Government is about."
My answer is clear. Whatever challenges lie ahead, this Government will always support working people. That is my first instinct - my first priority - to help you with the cost of living through this crisis."
Vietnam braces for flight cuts from April
06:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarVietnamese authorities have warned the country's aviation industry to prepare for potential flight reductions from April after China and Thailand halted exports of jet fuel due to the Iran war, increasing the likelihood of shortages.
Vietnam imports more than two-thirds of its jet fuel needs, with 60 per cent coming from China and Thailand, according to documents from the aviation regulator and importers seen by Reuters.
"There are risks of jet fuel shortages for Vietnamese airlines from the beginning of April and the following months," the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said in a March 9 document sent to the ministry in charge of transport.
It said airlines should review their plans, especially for domestic routes, and instructed airport operators to prepare additional parking space for Vietnamese carriers "in case they have to cut down on operations due to lack of aviation fuel."Vietnam has also seen reduced supplies from Singapore, the document showed.
Israel begins ground operations in Lebanon
06:26 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Israeli military said this morning that its troops had begun limited ground operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon in recent days to bolster forward defences.
Emirates to operate limited schedule from Dubai today
06:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarEmirates said it expects to operate a limited schedule after 10am local time today, following a drone strike near Dubai International Airport that forced authorities to temporarily shut down flight operations.
"Unfortunately, some flights from today’s schedule have been cancelled. Affected customers will receive a cancellation notice and will be advised on reaccommodation options," the airline said.
Iran war an 'abject lesson' on fossil fuel dependence, UN climate chief says
06:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe disruption to energy markets caused by the Iran war is an “abject lesson” in the risks of relying on fossil fuels and underscores the case for governments to wean their economies off oil and gas, the UN climate secretary will tell EU policymakers.
While geographically far from the crisis in the Middle East, the European Union has felt its disruption through surging global energy prices. European gas prices have jumped by 50 per cent during the two-week war.“Fossil fuel dependency is ripping away national security and sovereignty, and replacing it with subservience and rising costs,” Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN climate change arm UNFCCC, will tell EU officials and government ministers at an event in Brussels.
“Europe is more reliant on fossil fuel imports than almost any other major economy,” Stiell will say, in prepared remarks that warned reliance on fossil fuels was leaving consumers “at the mercy of geopolitical shocks and price volatility”.
The EU imports more than 90 per cent of its oil and 80 per cent of its gas. EU leaders are hurriedly drafting emergency measures to shield consumers from the energy price spike and avoid a repeat of Europe’s 2022 energy crisis, when Russia slashed gas deliveries, sending prices to record highs.
Israel says it still has ‘thousands of targets’ left to hit in Iran
06:08 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Israeli military has claimed that it still has thousands of targets to hit across Iran, with new ones identified every day.
“We have a precise plan. We still have thousands of targets in Iran, and we are identifying new targets every day,” military spokesman Brig Gen Effie Defrin said in a televised briefing.
Watch: Netanyahu denies reports he is dead
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarTrump may delay Beijing visit sans China support on Hormuz
05:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDonald Trump said he was expecting China to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz before his scheduled meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping in Beijing at the end of this month.
However, the US president said he might postpone his trip if it did not provide assistance."I think China should help too because China gets 90% of its oil from the Straits," Mr Trump said.
"We may delay," he said in reference to his visit if China did not offer support in the Gulf.
Oil slips to $102 a barrel
05:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices slipped this morning, paring early gains after US president Donald Trump called on other countries to help safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil and gas shipments.
Brent crude futures fell 24 cents, or 0.23 per cent, to $102.90 a barrel by 0049 GMT after settling $2.68 higher on Friday.
US West Texas Intermediate crude slipped $1.07, or 1.08 per cent, to $97.64 a barrel, after gaining nearly $3 in the previous session.
Both contracts have surged more than 40 per cent this month to their highest levels since 2022 after the US-Israeli attacks on Iran prompted Tehran to halt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz - choking off a fifth of global oil supply in the biggest disruption ever.
Trump accuses Iran of using AI to spread disinformation
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump has accused Iran of using artificial intelligence as a “disinformation weapon” to misrepresent its wartime successes and support.
“AI can be very dangerous, we have to be very careful with it,” Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One shortly after he made a post on his Truth Social platform where he accused Western media outlets, without evidence, of “close coordination” with Iran to spread AI-generated “fake news”.
The comments come amid renewed tensions between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and broadcasters after Trump took aim at media coverage of the US and Israel’s war with Iran.
FCC chair Brendan Carr on Saturday threatened to pull licences of broadcasters who did not “correct course” on their coverage.
On Truth Social, Mr Trump claimed that Iran had shown “kamikaze boats” that do not exist. He further stated that Iran used AI to falsely depict a successful attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, adding that publications that propagated the news should be charged with treason.
US energy chief has dire prediction about gas prices under Trump
04:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDonald Trump’s energy secretary has warned that the Iran war could likely last for several more weeks and deflected a question about whether it was possible that oil prices could hit $200 a barrel.
Chris Wright appeared on several programs on Sunday as he presented the Trump administration’s domestic response to a war in Iran that despite the president’s proclamations seems far from over just yet.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Wright was questioned by moderator Kristen Welker about a prediction from Iranian officials that oil would soon reach $200 per barrel.
More here.
US energy chief has dire prediction about gas prices under Trump
Dubai shuts down airport road after drone attack
04:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDubai authorities brought under control this morning a fire caused by a drone attack near the city's international airport that forced a temporary suspension of flights, though no injuries were reported, they said.
“A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport affected one of the fuel tanks,” the Dubai Media Office said on X.
Traffic was temporarily halted on road and tunnel links with the airport, police said, while Emirates airline suspended flights to and from Dubai.
Some flights were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport, the Dubai Media Office said on X.
Japan won't send ships for Hormuz escort mission, Takaichi says
04:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarJapan has no plan to dispatch naval vessels to escort ships in the Middle East, prime minister Sanae Takaichi said, after Donald Trump called on allies to protect tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done within the legal framework,” Ms Takaichi told parliament this morning.
The US president’s call in a social media post for US allies, including Japan, to help protect oil and gas shipments through the strategic waterway puts Tokyo in a difficult position because, while it relies heavily on Middle East energy, its war-renouncing constitution limits the scope of overseas military operations it can conduct.
Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force has conducted anti-piracy operations in waters near the Middle East, but those missions were policing operations rather than combat missions against state actors.
Japan can deploy its military overseas to respond to what it determines to be an existential threat to the nation, but that would be politically difficult and a high legal threshold for Takaichi’s government to justify.
“I would like to engage in solid discussions based on Japan’s views and position regarding the need for early de-escalation,” she told lawmakers, ahead of her Washington visit.
Watch: Three arrests made amid Al Quds Day demonstration and counter-protest
03:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarMinister says Australia will not send warships to Strait of Hormuz
03:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAustralia will not send ships to the Strait of Hormuz, federal infrastructure minister Catherine King said this morning.
Ms King told RN Australia: "It’s clear, obviously, the longer that the war continues, the greater the impacts will be felt, not just by us, but obviously the Asia-Pacific region overall. We’ll continue to monitor those events as they occur."
"But at this stage, all of the ships that are planned to come into Australia are coming in. The fuel supply is holding," she added.
However, she admitted that there were local distribution issues, but the national fuel stockpile would hold Australia “in good stead”.
Dubai airport temporarily shut
03:06 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarDubai international airport temporarily suspended flight operations after a fire broke out following a drone attack this morning near the airport.
The fire has been contained with no injuries, authorities said."A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks", the Dubai media office said on X.
Emirates airline also announced in a post on X the temporary suspension of flights to and from Dubai.
Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran on 28 February, with targets including US diplomatic missions and military bases but also critical Gulf oil infrastructure, ports, airports, hotels and residential and office buildings.
Yesterday Dubai – tomorrow, who knows? How Iran conflict could change UK travel plans once and for all
03:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDubai, seen for decades as a safe and serene haven, now finds itself on the Foreign Office no-go – along with Abu Dhabi, just down the road in the UAE, and Doha in Qatar. So what does this mean for the future of tourism in the Gulf?
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder finds out.
Yesterday Dubai – tomorrow, who knows? How Iran conflict could change UK travel plans