Washington (United States) (AFP) – Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war:
The Philippines said Iran has pledged to allow safe passage for shipments of oil to the import-dependent archipelago through the Strait of Hormuz. “The Iranian Foreign Minister assured the (Foreign) Secretary that Iran will allow the safe, unhindered, and expeditious passage through the Strait of Hormuz of Philippine-flagged vessels, energy sources, and all Filipino seafarers,” the foreign affairs department said in a statement.
A US or Israeli strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant would constitute a “war crime” under international law, Tehran’s envoy to the UN atomic agency told AFP. Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, also denied that Tehran had “restarted enrichment” of radioactive uranium following the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic’s nuclear facilities in June 2025.
Iranian authorities executed a man convicted of acting on behalf of Israel and the US during a wave of anti-government protests earlier this year, the judiciary said.
A century-old medical centre in the Iranian capital suffered extensive damage in a strike, the country’s health ministry said. “The aggression against Pasteur Institute of Iran — a century-old pillar of global health and member of International Pasteur Network — is a direct assault on international health security,” said health ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour in a post on X.
China said US and Israeli strikes on Iran were the “root cause” of the Strait of Hormuz blockage. “The root cause of interruptions to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is the United States and Israel’s illegal military operations against Iran,” Beijing’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference. China also called for a halt to the war.
The US embassy warned that “Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad in the next 24-48 hours,” again urging Americans in the country to leave immediately.
Iran’s military vowed to carry out “crushing” attacks against the United States and Israel after Trump threatened to bomb the country into the “Stone Ages.” “With trust in Almighty God, this war will continue until your humiliation, disgrace, permanent and certain regret, and surrender,” said the military’s operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya in a statement carried by state TV.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said its fighters launched drones and rockets at northern Israel, targeting troops and a village. The Israeli military’s Home Front Command said air raid sirens were activated across the border. There were no reports of any casualties or damage.
Israel’s military said air defences responded to waves of Iranian missile fire, including at least two attacks after Trump delivered an address to the American public about the war. After the first attack, police said officers were called to “several” impact sites in central Israel, and media reports citing medics said four people were lightly wounded.
Oil prices spiked, with investors unimpressed after Trump repeated his threat that US forces would hammer Iran for another two to three weeks but offered no solution to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz that has crippled global markets. Brent crude, which had fallen back below $100 a barrel Wednesday, surged almost seven percent to hit $108.15, while West Texas Intermediate jumped more than six percent to as high as $106.75.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the original aims of the war in Iran had been met. “Now those objectives have been realised it is not clear what more needs to be achieved or what the end point looks like,” he said during a speech in the capital Canberra.
In a speech from the White House, Trump insisted that the US was nearing victory in Iran and vowed two to three more weeks of “extremely hard” strikes. “We are going to finish the job, and we’re going to finish it very fast. We’re getting very close,” he said in remarks that largely rehashed his daily streams of social-media postings and rapid media interviews.
© 2024 AFP
