Key facts
- President Trump claimed Iran is becoming a "failed nation" due to a successful US naval blockade.
- Tensions escalated as the US conducted "self-defence strikes" against Iranian targets after a US helicopter was reportedly shot down over the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran's Foreign Minister warned Iran would "leave no attack or threat unanswered."
- Netanyahu's party confirmed he will run in the upcoming election after comments by Donald Trump raised doubts.
- The Health Ministry in Gaza reported at least 72,991 Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated significantly, with President Donald Trump asserting that Iran is rapidly becoming a "failed nation" due to a successful US naval blockade. Trump claimed on Truth Social that "NOTHING GETS THROUGH unless we want it to," describing the blockade as the "most successful Blockade in the history of Naval Warfare."
In response to an Iranian helicopter being shot down over the Strait of Hormuz, the US military conducted "self-defence strikes" against Iranian targets. Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, warned that Iran would "leave no attack or threat unanswered," raising fears of further escalation. Separately, Trump told Fox News he was close to ordering new strikes on Iran's power plants and bridges if an agreement is not reached.
Amidst the heightened tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party confirmed he will run in the upcoming election after Trump appeared to question his intentions. Trump had previously stated that Iran would "pay the price" for taking too long to negotiate.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that Israel's aggression poses a threat to the entire world and must be stopped, stating that if "Israeli thuggery is not stopped, the consequences will be borne by the entire region and all of humanity." The UN human rights office announced it would send investigators to Lebanon to assess potential violations of international law by all parties involved in the conflict, which has seen Hezbollah attack Israel in solidarity with Iran. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that at least 72,991 Palestinians have been killed and 173,212 wounded since October 7, 2023, due to Israeli attacks.