US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran is 'dying to make a deal' despite a military operation, while Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel may 'soon be required to act again' to remove 'existential threats' posed by the Islamic Republic.
Air defences were heard in Tehran on Thursday night, but the cause was unknown, Iranian media reported. Trump said Iran's Navy and Air Force are 'gone', and every ounce of equipment is 'practically gone'.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said the country will safeguard its 'nuclear and missile capabilities' as a core national asset, signalling a hardening stance. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that any attempt to impose a naval blockade on Iran is 'doomed to failure'.
The US war on Iran has cost $25 billion in munitions, and the Trump administration is seeking an extra $1.5 trillion for its defence budget. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said internal dissent is a major obstacle in the war on Iran.
Peace talks between the US and Iran have stalled, and the US continues a blockade of Iranian ports in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has responded with warnings of 'swift action' if US forces move closer.
The human cost of the war is mounting, with over 3,500 people, including women and at least 244 children, having died in strikes, according to US-based rights group HRANA.
