Iran war latest: Tehran ‘waiting’ for US invasion and vows to set troops ‘on fire’

The Royal Navy is getting ready to equip certainly one of its touchdown ships with superior minesweeping drones, as ministers discover choices to facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. RFA Lyme Bay is slated for a refit that can combine high-tech gear, reworking it right into a “mothership” able to deploying each underwater drones and crewless minehunting boats.

This improve is known to be central to the Navy’s technique for utilising autonomous minehunters to clear the crucial Strait of Hormuz, ought to such an operation develop into mandatory. The UK is at the moment collaborating with worldwide allies to develop army plans for re-establishing entry via the strait, a significant transport artery for world oil and fuel provides that has been successfully blockaded by Tehran.

A defence supply mentioned: “While no selections have but been taken on whether or not these capabilities shall be despatched to the Strait of Hormuz, this preventative step offers ministers choices ought to they be wanted to assist resume the conventional movement of service provider transport.”

The value of Brent crude is on monitor to interrupt information this month, surging by 51 per cent in accordance with LSEG knowledge.

The earlier month-to-month document was held in September 1990 when the worth of crude rose by 46 per cent amid Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, resulting in the primary Gulf struggle.

On Friday, the worth of oil closed at $112 a barrel amid conflicting feedback by the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, which has held up hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil for the reason that outbreak of struggle on 28 February.

Ships have been warned to keep away from getting into Yemeni territorial waters because the Houthis might resume “assaults on service provider ships” within the Crimson Sea and Gulf of Aden, the European Union’s maritime safety physique has warned.

The European Union Naval Drive Aspides has suggested ships to keep away from Yemeni territorial waters amid an elevated danger of assault.

In a report printed on Saturday, it assessed the menace degree as “excessive” for Israeli-linked vessels and as “medium” for vessels not linked to Israel or the US.

The US-Israeli struggle towards Iran has entered its fifth week as assaults continued throughout the area.

On Sunday, a funeral was held for 3 journalists killed in southern Lebanon by Israeli strikes.

Pope Leo XIV mentioned on Sunday that God rejects the prayers of leaders who begin wars and have “palms filled with blood”, in unusually sturdy remarks amid the continuing struggle in Iran.

Addressing tens of hundreds of individuals in St Peter’s Sq. on Palm Sunday, the pontiff mentioned that Jesus can’t be used to justify any wars.

“That is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects struggle, whom nobody can use to justify struggle,” he mentioned.

“Jesus) doesn’t take heed to the prayers of those that wage struggle, however rejects them, saying: ‘Although you make many prayers, I cannot pay attention: your palms are filled with blood’,” he mentioned, quoting a Bible passage.

Tasmanian state premier Jeremy Rockliff mentioned on X that buses and ferries could be free till 1 July 2026. “From tomorrow, Tasmanian public transport shall be free. We’ll be protecting it free till 1 July,” Mr Rockliff mentioned.

The choice was taken to ease the price of dwelling, he mentioned.

“We all know the rising value of gas is impacting the household finances, and that is why we have now once more taken sturdy and decisive motion to guard Tasmanians,” the premier mentioned in a joint assertion with Kerry Vincent, the minister for infrastructure and transport.

Russian spy satellites photographed the UK-US primarily based on Diego Garcia “within the pursuits of Iran”, in accordance with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

The images have been taken after Iran launched two ballistic missiles on the web site, in accordance with the chief.

Pictures of bases within the Center East housing American and British troops have been additionally taken.

The Ministry of Defence has beforehand mentioned it’s “extremely seemingly” that Russia shared intelligence with Iran even earlier than the outbreak of struggle final month.

In a put up on X, Zelensky mentioned he had obtained an intelligence briefing on Saturday setting out Russian satellite tv for pc exercise.

He mentioned: “On March 24, they imaged the US–UK joint army facility on Diego Garcia situated within the Chagos Archipelago within the Indian Ocean. Additionally they captured footage of Kuwait Worldwide Airport and components of the infrastructure of the Better Burgan oil discipline.

“On March 25, they took footage of the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The Shaybah oil and fuel discipline in Saudi Arabia, Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar have been all imaged on March 26.

“There are not any Ukrainian services on this listing. However who helps whom when sanctions are lifted from an aggressor that earns day by day income and gives intelligence for strikes towards American, Center Japanese, UK, and US–UK bases and so forth?”

The US has solely destroyed a 3rd of Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, in accordance with Reuters who spoke with sources aware of American intelligence.

Many of the nation’s stockpile is straight away inaccessible however a sizeable arsenal stays obtainable, in accordance with the 5 sources.

A 3rd of Iranian missiles have been destroyed and one other third are seemingly broken or buried underground, in accordance with the report, with an analogous evaluation made for its drone arsenal.

These potential operations wouldn’t quantity to a full invasion, however might embody raids by infantry troops and Particular Operations forces, in accordance with the outlet, which cited nameless U.S. officers.

One supply advised the Put up the targets being thought of might take “weeks, not months,” whereas one other estimated it might take “a few months.” It’s nonetheless unknown whether or not President Donald Trump will approve any of the plans, in accordance with the report.

“It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in an effort to give the Commander in Chief most optionality,” White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt advised the Put up. “It doesn’t imply the President has decided.”

Katie Hawkinson stories from Washington DC: