Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue striking Iran and resumed hitting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Monday after talks with US President Donald Trump. Earlier in the day, Trump backed off a threat to "obliterate" Iranian energy plants, citing progress in negotiations that Tehran denies are taking place. Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.
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Iran state media says 'new wave of missiles' launched at Israel
Asia boosts coal use as Iran war squeezes global LNG supplies
Asian countries are turning to coal as the Iran war disrupts oil and gas shipments.
The continent is exposed because it relies on imported fuel, much of it passing through the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for about a fifth of global oil and natural gas trade.
LNG is a natural gas cooled to liquid form for easy storage and transport. It has been promoted as a bridge fuel in the shift from oil and coal to cleaner energy sources. The US has sought to expand exports of LNG across Asia. It burns cleaner than coal, but still emits climate change -causing gases, especially methane.
EU chief urges immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen called on Tuesday for an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East, describing a "critical" situation for energy supply chains globally.
"We all feel the knock on effects on gas and oil prices on our businesses and our societies," von der Leyen said alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra.
"It is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated, and this puts an end to the hostilities that we see in the Middle East," she added.
Japanese bonds rise as Trump pauses Iran strike plans
Japanese government bonds (JGBs) rose on Tuesday as investors saw signs of an off-ramp in the Middle East conflict after U.S. President Donald Trump held off on striking Iran's energy infrastructure.
The benchmark 10-year JGB yield fell 2.5 basis points to 2.280%, retreating from Monday's two-month high of 2.305%. Yields move inversely to bond prices.
EU chief urges immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen called on Tuesday for an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East, describing a "critical" situation for energy supply chains globally.
"We all feel the knock on effects on gas and oil prices on our businesses and our societies," von der Leyen said alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra.
"It is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated, and this puts an end to the hostilities that we see in the Middle East," she added.
Blast over Jerusalem, Israel building hit after Iran missile fire
A loud blast rang out over Jerusalem early Tuesday as the Israeli military sent search and rescue teams to a damaged building following two rounds of Iranian missile fire.
Israel's military announced the Iranian launches hours after US President Donald Trump said Washington had held talks with an unnamed Iranian official - a report denied by Tehran.
Minutes after the second missile alert, AFP reporters in Jerusalem heard a loud explosion, but the military said people were now cleared to leave their shelters and medics reported no casualties.
Airstrikes on Iraq's Shi'ite PMF site kill six including Anbar commander
Airstrikes targeting a site belonging to Iraq's Shi'ite Popular Mobilisation Forces in the western province of Anbar killed six fighters and wounded 15 others, including the PMF's Anbar operations commander, security sources told Reuters early on Tuesday.
Blast heard in Jerusalem after Iran missle alert
Strike in western Iraq kills seven fighters, says armed group source
Israel detects new Iranian missile launch
Iran fired missiles at Israel early Tuesday, the Israeli military said, hours after US President Donald Trump announced Washington had held talks with an unnamed Iranian official -- a report denied by Tehran.
The military said the latest Iranian missile barrage was aimed at northern Israel and that it was "working to intercept the threat".
Israel's Magen David Adom emergency services said it had no immediate reports of casualties following the barrage, but had dispatched paramedics to one area where a reported impact was received.
Roughly 20 minutes after the launch report, the military's Home Front Command cleared people to leave their shelters.
UN Security Council weighs resolution on use of force in Hormuz
The UN Security Council is negotiating on a draft resolution introduced by Bahrain to authorize states to use "all necessary means" to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, diplomatic sources said Monday.
The draft text, seen by AFP, also demands that Iran "immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels and any attempt to impede lawful transit passage or freedom of navigation" in and around the Strait.
The Debate: Whose war is it?
Ukraine has 'irrefutable' evidence of Russia providing intelligence to Iran, Zelensky says
Ukraine's military intelligence has "irrefutable" evidence that Russia continues to provide intelligence to Iran and such activity can only prolong the war in the Middle East, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday.
"Russia is using its own signals intelligence and electronic intelligence capabilities, as well as part of the data obtained through cooperation with partners in the Middle East," he said on X after meeting the head of military intelligence.
Speaking later in his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said there was "growing evidence" of continued Russian efforts to funnel intelligence to Iran.
Replay: Trump addresses war in Iran
Israel military says striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut
The Israeli military announced new strikes on Beirut on Monday targeting Hezbollah sites, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said attacks against the Lebanese armed group would continue.
"The IDF has begun striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut," the military said in a statement.
Israeli strike hits Beirut's southern suburbs after warning, state media reports
An Israeli strike hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday, state media reported, hours after the Israeli army issued a warning for residents of the area to evacuate.
AFPTV's live broadcast showed a cloud of smoke over the southern suburbs, which are considered a Hezbollah stronghold and have not been hit since Friday night.
US Interior Secretary Burgum confirms engagement with Iran
US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told US news broadcaster CNBC on Monday that there was currently engagement with Iran on a potential solution to the mid-east conflict.
Netanyahu says spoke with Trump, vows to protect Israel's interests
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he spoke with Donald Trump, saying that the US president believed US-Israeli military gains in Iran could be converted into a negotiated agreement that protects Israel's interests.
"President Trump believes there is a chance to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the US military in order to realise the war's objectives in an agreement -- an agreement that will safeguard our vital interests," Netanyahu said in a video statement.
"We will protect our vital interests under any circumstances," he said, adding: "At the same time, we continue to strike both in Iran and in Lebanon."
Netanyahu reiterated that the ongoing strikes were "crushing the missile programme and the nuclear programme" of Iran and also "inflicting heavy damage on Hezbollah".
"Just a few days ago we eliminated two more (Iranian) nuclear scientists, and this is not the end," he said.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the reason maritime traffic is not passing through the Strait of Hormuz is because insurance companies are concerned about the US-initiated war – not because of Iran’s actions.
French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone call with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in which he said that France is committed “to contributing to the air defence of Saudi territory”.
Israel’s military will expand its ground operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, its army chief said.
