Iran–US-Israel War Latest LIVE Updates: US Announces Fresh Sanctions On Iran, American Aircraft Downed In New Strikes

Iran–US-Israel War Latest LIVE Updates: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi on Friday to discuss the security and future administration of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X, Araghchi stated that the talks were conducted “in line with their sovereign responsibilities and international law.” He also expressed Iran’s full solidarity with Oman in the face of any external threats.

Iran–US-Israel War Latest LIVE Updates: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli ground forces have crossed the strategic Litani River in southern Lebanon. The military advancement marks a significant escalation and a major breach of both the nominal regional ceasefire framework and UN Resolution 1701, which mandates that Hezbollah remain north of the river and Israeli forces stay south of the border.

Iran–US-Israel War Latest LIVE Updates: Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, doubled down on his hardline rhetoric, stating that any future peace deal is simply a strategic prelude to the next conflict. “The winner of any agreement is the one who prepares better for war from the day after,” Ghalibaf asserted.

Iran–US-Israel War Latest LIVE Updates: Iran’s chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, issued a defiant message Friday, asserting that Tehran’s diplomatic leverage is built on military force rather than dialogue. “We gain concessions not through talks, but through missiles,” Ghalibaf stated, signaling a hardline stance even as he leads high-stakes negotiations in Doha for a potential ceasefire with the US

Iran–US-Israel War Latest LIVE Updates: A Greek national has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service linked to Iran, British counter-terrorism police announced Friday. The suspect is accused of conducting hostile reconnaissance targeting a journalist at Iran International, a London-based Persian-language television channel. The independent network has long been a target of Tehran, previously forcing its staff to briefly relocate operations to the U.S. due to credible assassination and kidnapping threats. The arrest marks the latest escalation in state-sponsored “transnational repression” on UK soil, prompting British security services to intensify protection for exiled dissident media figures.

Iran–US-Israel War Latest LIVE Updates: An average of 11 children have been killed or injured every 24 hours in Lebanon over the past week, UNICEF reported, as expanding Israeli airstrikes continue to violate a nominal ceasefire. A total of 77 children were casualties over the last seven days, bringing the toll to 55 dead and 212 injured since the mid-April truce took effect.

The spike in casualties follows intensified overnight bombardment across southern Lebanon after Israel declared a new “combat zone” in the region. On Thursday, Israeli warplanes also struck a building in Beirut’s southern suburbs, highlighting the wider breakdown of the Washington-brokered truce between Israel and Hezbollah.

Gold prices were headed for a third consecutive monthly loss on Friday as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran heightened concerns over inflation and the prospect of further U.S. rate hikes.

Spot gold XAU= was up 0.6% at $4,518.57 per ounce, as of 0807 GMT, as investors assessed reports of an extension to the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Bullion fell to a two-month low of $4,365.76 on Thursday, but closed higher.

The metal has lost 2.2% so far this month and roughly 15% over the past three months. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 for August delivery inched 0.4% higher to $4,549.10, as reported by Reuters. 

Brent oil was trading around $92 a barrel as the price dropped by nearly 19% during this month, and is set for its biggest monthly drop since 2020 after the US and Iran reached an agreement to renew the ceasefire for 60 days and restart shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar are expected to take place in Washington, DC (local time) on Friday amid US-Iran deal negotiations, as reported by ANI. This was mentioned in the day’s schedule published by the United States Department of State which says that “10:00 a.m. (local time) Secretary Rubio meets with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the Department of State.”

The Israeli military claimed that there was an interception of a “suspicious aerial target” in an area of southern Lebanon where Israeli soldiers were stationed. This development occurs amid the current tensions at the Lebanese front.

A crude oil spill has occurred near the coast of the Iranian island of Kharg, which is home to one of the world’s largest oil export terminals, The New York Times reported, referring to satellite pictures. The cause of the accident, which took place near the island’s western coast, has not yet been established. The area of the spilled oil was estimated to exceed 52 sq km (20 sq mi), Orbital EOS said.

The airspace defences of Iran were put on alert late Thursday evening in the southern Bushehr province after the intrusion of a US military unmanned aerial vehicle in the area was claimed by Iranian media. This has added to the existing tensions in the region, following ongoing hostilities between the two countries. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the Iranian air defences fired missiles and shot down the drone within the vicinity of Bushehr. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that Iran’s forces had fired missiles against unknown targets in the southern part of the country.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City has forcefully condemned the relentless war on Iran and the great suffering it is causing to people not only abroad but at home too among those belonging to low-income strata of society. Addressing the issue on the platform of X, Mamdani stated: “Exactly three months ago today, an unapproved war broke out and the price was paid by people who weren’t even asked about it.” “Hundreds of civilians are dead,” he added, pointing out that “thirteen American servicemen won’t be coming home to their loved ones.”

The US President Donald Trump confused Iran with Venezuela while answering questions related to the West Asia crisis. “We have a problem with Venezuela. They no longer have a navy, they no longer have an air force, and they no longer have lots of people who used to run the country. They don’t have their leadership anymore,” Trump added. It should be noted that he had made such statements quite a few times in relation to Iran.

Israel has reportedly confirmed the incident. According to emerging reports, Iran has allegedly shot down two American fighter jets, delivering a major setback to the U.S. military. The reported losses, estimated at nearly $220 million, are raising serious concerns in Washington as tensions across the region continue to escalate.

Having expressed optimism regarding the future oil prices, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “Oil prices are down by roughly 10 percent in May. Nearly 2,000 ships are lined up to depart from the Gulf, and I think the market will be extremely well-supplied on the other side of this (West Asian turmoil), and we might see prices go down very rapidly. We have seen the UAE depart from OPEC. So I would expect on the other side of this that the gasoline prices would also follow.”

The US and Iran must iron out a few details before an agreement on the war is reached, according to Vice President JD Vance. When asked whether President Donald Trump will soon sign an agreement, Vance stated that it is too early to tell whether or when this will happen. According to reports, the agreement includes a 60-day extension of the ceasefire and negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran has announced that it targeted a US intelligence centre and oil refineries in the UAE and Bahrain.

Iran announced on Friday that its anti-aircraft defences had shot down a “hostile” US warplane in the Jam district of Bushehr province. The report was confirmed by the official Iranian television, quoting Jam County Governor Masoud Tangestani, who said that the plane was shot down near Bushehr province. 

The US announces fresh sanctions on Iran, targeting several foreign companies and vessels tied to Tehran’s shipping and oil sectors. Iran says US sanctions will not weaken the country, warning that attacks on American bases will continue until Tehran’s conditions are accepted. Trump tells Fox News US strikes on Iran nine months ago prevented Tehran from getting a nuclear weapon. Trump told Fox News that the Iranian Navy was completely sunk and the country’s air force was destroyed.