These are Iran’s key islands in the Gulf Iran 's islands are in the spotlight. While most of its roughly 400 islands are small and uninhabited, several of them are large and strategically important. The most significant of these islands lie in the Gulf, across from Iran's neighbours in the Arabian peninsula, and in the Strait of Hormuz.
Pope Leo urges Israel to reopen dialogue to end Iran war Pope Pope Leo has urged Israel to “reopen all paths of dialogue” to help end the war with Iran, following a phone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the Vatican said. The pontiff also called for the protection of civilians and respect for international and humanitarian law. The Vatican said the pope made the appeal during the conversation on Friday.
Ireland defence secretary cancels Lebanon troop visit over security fears Ireland’s Defence Minister Helen McEntee has cancelled a planned visit to Irish troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, citing security concerns. McEntee had been due to travel to Lebanon after a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, but said the Irish military advised against the trip due to the deteriorating situation. The warning followed the killing of three Indonesian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces continue to fight Hezbollah.
French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan to be tried for 'apology for terrorism' Submitted by Peter McNamara on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 10:37 The summons of the prominent politician over a post about Palestinian resistance has been criticised as 'political policing' French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan speaks with reporters after being released from police custody in Paris, on 2 April 2026 (Nassim Gomri/AFP) Off French - Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan , who was held in police custody for several hours in France on Thursday, will be tried in July for "apology for terrorism" due to a post on social media, the Paris prosecutor's office announced. The 33-year-old MEP for France Unbowed (La France Insoumise, LFI) was summoned after sharing an article about Kozo Okamoto, a former member of the Japanese Red Army who participated in an attack on Lod Airport in Israel in 1972 in the name of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), killing 26 passengers. Accompanied by Japanese and Palestinian flags, Hassan's post included a quote attributed to him: "Kozo Okamoto: I gave my youth to the Palestinian cause.
Iraq extends airspace closure for another week Iraq has extended the closure of its airspace to all aircraft for an additional week, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority said.
Iran says it shot down second US F-35 jet over Tehran Submitted by Peter McNamara on Fri, 04/03/2026 - 09:30 The IRGC claims fighter jet belongs to squadron stationed at US Air Force base in eastern England A US-made F-35 fighter aircraft on 11 March, 2026 (John Macdougall/AFP) Off Iran said on Friday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air defences defences had shot down a US F-35 fighter jet over central Iran. A spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters said the jet had been “completely destroyed” and that the pilot’s chances of survival were low, in comments carried by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The IRGC claimed the downed fighter jet was from a squadron based at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, a US-operated air base in eastern England.
French vessel crosses Hormuz as strait remains largely shut A container ship operated by French shipping group CMA CGM has transited the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from BFM TV. It remains unclear how the vessel secured safe passage through the narrow waterway, which typically carries around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. The strait has been largely closed since US-Israeli air war on Iran on 28 February.
Iran outlet publishes images of downed US jet over central Iran Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency has released images of a US fighter jet allegedly shot down over central Iran by IRGC air defences. The news agency identified the markings visible on the aircraft point to US European Command. "Based on the markings on the tail of this aircraft, this fighter jet belongs to the squadrons of the US Army European Command, which was used in the war against Iran.
Zelenskyy suggests Ukraine ready to confront Iran in Strait of Hormuz Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Kyiv is ready to help protect vital shipping lanes if asked, pointing to its experience maintaining Black Sea routes under sustained Russian attacks. “If we are invited, we will help,” Zelenskyy said, without elaborating. “The strait must be unblocked.
Iran claims second US fighter jet downed over central Iran Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has shot down a second US F-35 fighter jet over central Iran, according to official news outlets. A post by the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency said the aircraft was “completely destroyed and crashed”, adding that no information was available about the pilot due to the scale of the damage. Mehr News Agency reported that the pilot was unlikely to have ejected because of the “violent explosion” during the crash.
Chinese drone downed in Iran, sparking questions about UAE or Saudi Arabian role Iran appears to have shot down a Chinese Wing Loong II drone in the southern region of Shiraz, sparking questions among open-source intelligence analysts about whether Gulf states like Saudi Arabia or the UAE had joined offensive operations against Iran. Images of the destroyed drone were originally shared by Iran's Tasnim news agency, which said the Iranian military had downed an American MQ-9 Reaper drone. However, multiple open-source intelligence analysts identified the drone as a Chinese Wing Loong II, which is often compared to the MQ-9 Reaper.
US intel contradicts Trump's claims that Iran’s missile and drone arsenal destroyed Recent US intelligence assessments suggest Iran retains around half of its missile launchers and thousands of one-way attack drones, despite weeks of sustained US and Israeli strikes, according to sources cited by CNN. The findings cast doubt on earlier claims from the US president that Iran’s capabilities had been largely dismantled. The intelligence indicates roughly 50 percent of Iran’s drone capacity remains intact.
Debris from intercepted threat hits Abu Dhabi gas facility Debris from an intercepted aerial threat struck gas facilities in Abu Dhabi’s Habshan area, forcing a temporary halt to operations and sparking a fire, authorities said. The Abu Dhabi Media Office said emergency teams were working to contain the blaze, adding that no injuries had been reported.
Oil prices surge as Trump threatens further strikes on Iran Oil prices have jumped sharply after United States President Donald Trump renewed threats to target Iranian infrastructure. Brent crude, the global benchmark, climbed about 8 percent on Friday, rising above $109 a barrel. Prices have surged nearly 50 percent since the war began, driving up fuel costs worldwide and pushing governments to introduce energy-saving measures.
Former Iranian FM urges Iran to declare victory and strike deal to end war Former Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has called on Tehran to “declare victory and make a deal that both ends this conflict and prevents the next one,” in an article published in Foreign Affairs. Zarif, who led Iran’s nuclear negotiations with global powers, set out a roadmap he says could end the war with the United States and Israel on terms favourable to Iran. He suggested Tehran could limit its nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a full lifting of sanctions, a proposal he argues Washington may now be more willing to consider.
UK mass crackdown on Palestine activism has brought chaos to the courts Submitted by John Rees on Wed, 04/01/2026 - 21:40 As hundreds of cases grind through the system, high-profile activists are seeing their charges dismissed or rejected Protesters hold placards at a demonstration against the British government’s ban on Palestine Action, at Trafalgar Square in London on 4 October 2025 (Reuters) On The conviction of two leaders of the Palestine solidarity movement, Chris Nineham, the vice-chair of the Stop the War Coalition, and Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, for breaching police conditions as organisers of a peaceful Palestine protest has been widely seen as a direct assault on the right to protest. But it’s far from the only case of its kind. In fact state overreach is causing confusion in the UK court system, as it struggles to cope with hundreds of cases brought under the Public Order Act and anti-terrorism legislation.
Trump threatens expanded US strikes on Iran civilian infrastructure US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington “hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran”, signalling a potential escalation in attacks on infrastructure as efforts continue to restore energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly five weeks after the war began with a joint US-Israeli assault, the conflict continues to destabilise the region and rattle global markets. Posting late on Thursday, Trump said the US military “hasn't even started destroying what's left in Iran.
UN delays Hormuz shipping vote as China signals opposition The United Nations Security Council has postponed a vote on a proposal to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz from Friday to Saturday, according to media reports. The 15-member council is expected to consider a draft resolution put forward by Bahrain aimed at protecting commercial vessels passing through the strategic waterway, which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies. Reports by Reuters and Associated Press say the draft includes language allowing countries “to use all defensive means necessary” to secure shipping.
US defence chief sacks senior army officials amid leadership crises US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed two additional senior military officials, alongside US Army Chief of Staff Randy George, according to US media reports. Reports by The Washington Post and Stars and Stripes said General David Hodne, who leads the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, and Major-General William Green Jr have also been dismissed. The Pentagon has confirmed George’s retirement, first reported by CBS News, but has not publicly confirmed the reported removals of Hodne or Green.
Iran warns UN action on Hormuz could escalate tensions Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned against any “provocative action” ahead of an expected UN Security Council vote on the possible use of force in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has effectively blocked the key global energy route in response to the American-Israeli attack on its territory on 28 February, raising fears of a wider escalation. "Mr.
