US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: Explosions Heard Near US Embassy In Baghdad; Trump Demands NATO Support In Securing Hormuz

Iran has said it is defending itself against what it described as external aggression and called on the international community to condemn attacks on the country.

In a statement following a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Iran said it had made clear that it was not responsible for starting the conflict and that defending its territory was a legitimate right.

“In my conversation with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, I emphasized that Iran did not start this brutal war. Defending against aggression is a natural right that we know well how to exercise.”

Iran also raised concerns about the use of US military bases in the region, saying such actions risk damaging its ties with neighbouring countries.

“The use of U.S. bases in the region against Iran, with the aim of disrupting our relations with our neighbors, must be stopped.”

Tehran said regional stability cannot be achieved without addressing what it called attacks by Israel and the United States.

“Peace and stability in the region cannot be achieved by ignoring the Zionist-American aggression against our country. The Islamic Republic of Iran will not submit to bullies. We expect the international community to condemn this aggression and persuade the aggressors to respect international law.”

US President Donald Trump said Iran’s military infrastructure has suffered major losses during the ongoing conflict, claiming significant progress in operations carried out by US forces and their partners.

Trump said Iranian radar systems and leadership structures had been heavily affected and argued that the military action had weakened Iran’s ability to launch attacks.

“The radar is gone and their leaders are gone other than that. They’re doing quite well. They’ve been a terror for 47 years and now I guess the world for the United States with the help of is doing what should’ve been done. Many years ago. Should’ve been done many years ago, since the beginning of the conflict with struck more than 7000 targets across rent, and these have been mostly commercial and military military target. We have achieved a 90% reduction in their ballistic missile launches and 95% reduction in drone attacks,” Trump said.

Trump also said Iranian defence systems had been significantly weakened.

“Iran’s anti-aircraft equipment is decimated,” he said.

He added that the military effort is continuing without slowing down.

“Military campaign continued in full force over past days.”

A fire that broke out in a fuel tank near Dubai Airport has been brought under control, according to officials.

The Dubai Media Office said civil defence teams successfully extinguished the blaze and are now carrying out cooling operations at the site to prevent any flare-ups.

Amid the West Asia tensions, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that negotiations with Iran will be necessary once the current fighting ends, stressing the importance of reaching an agreement to ease tensions in the region.

Speaking on the situation, he said that when hostilities stop, efforts will be needed to establish some form of agreement with Iran through negotiations.

US stock markets surged on Monday after signs of easing tensions in global trade and shipping routes. Investors reacted positively after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said some vessels had been allowed to leave the Strait of Hormuz and described recent discussions with Chinese officials as constructive.

The S&P 500 climbed about 1.4%, putting the benchmark index on track for its strongest day in nearly five weeks. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained more than 600 points, an increase of roughly 1.3%.

Technology stocks also advanced. The Nasdaq Composite rose by as much as 1.6% during trading.

Bessent said the talks with senior Chinese officials took place in Paris and described the discussions as “constructive.” Analysts believe the meeting could help prepare the ground for a potential visit by US President Donald Trump to China in the future.

The developments come after a difficult year in economic relations between Washington and Beijing, particularly since Trump returned to the presidency.

Greece has also ruled out involvement in military action in the Strait of Hormuz.

A government spokesperson said on Monday that Athens would not participate in any military operations in the strategic waterway.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said diplomacy should be the main approach to resolving the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz.

He added that Italy is not currently part of any naval mission that could be extended to the Strait.

Denmark said Europe should remain open to discussing possible involvement in the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said it would be wise for Denmark, despite being a small country, to keep an open mind given its strong maritime interests.

Even if Europe did not support the US-Israeli decision to go to war, he said, “we must face the world as it is, not as we want it to be.”

Germany has ruled out participating in military efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius questioned the idea of European involvement, saying, “What does Trump expect from a handful of European frigates that the powerful U.S. Navy cannot do? This is not our war, we have not started it.”

Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also expressed doubts about expanding the EU’s naval mission to the Strait, saying he was “very sceptical” it would improve security.

Foreign ministers from the European Union are set to discuss strengthening their existing naval presence in the Middle East, diplomats said.

However, the talks are not expected to include expanding operations to the Strait of Hormuz.

The EU’s Aspides mission, launched in 2024, currently focuses on protecting commercial ships from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom would not be drawn into a wider conflict with Iran, while confirming that discussions with allies are ongoing about reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

“We are working with others to come up with a credible plan for the Strait of Hormuz to ensure that we can reopen shipping and passage through the Strait. Let me be clear, that won’t be and it’s never been envisioned to be a NATO mission,” Starmer told reporters.

South Korea said it will closely consult with the United States before deciding whether to take any role in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

“We will communicate closely with the US regarding this matter and make a decision after careful review,” the presidential office said on Sunday.

Under South Korea’s constitution, any overseas military deployment requires approval from parliament, and opposition leaders have said such a move would need legislative consent.

Australia will not deploy naval vessels to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a government minister said on Monday.

“We won’t be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. We know how incredibly important that is, but that’s not something that we’ve been asked or that we’re contributing to,” Catherine King, a minister in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cabinet, said in an interview with state broadcaster ABC.

Japan currently has no plans to send naval ships to escort vessels in the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday.

“We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done within the legal framework,” Takaichi told parliament.

The Japanese leader is expected to travel to Washington later this week for talks with US President Donald Trump, where the conflict involving Iran is likely to be discussed

Qatar has accused Iran of launching attacks on civilian locations, including residential neighbourhoods and Hamad Airport in Doha, according to the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari.

Al Ansari said the strikes had hit or attempted to hit civilian infrastructure, contradicting Tehran’s repeated claims that it is not targeting non-military sites.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defence has said that its armed forces successfully intercepted a missile attack that was aimed at the country.

In a statement, the ministry said the missiles were intercepted before they could cause damage, confirming that the attack had targeted the State of Qatar.

“The Ministry of Defense of State of Qatar announces that armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted State of Qatar,” the ministry said.

US President Donald Trump is in talks with European allies and partners in the Gulf and Arab world to push for greater efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to the White House.

Speaking to reporters, the White House press secretary said Washington is encouraging its allies — particularly NATO members — to take a more active role in ensuring the vital maritime route is reopened and remains secure.

“POTUS is speaking with our allies in Europe, and also many of our partners in the Gulf and Arab world to encourage them to step up to do more to open the Strait of Hormuz — and our NATO allies especially need to step up… The United States of America is leading way not just to support and protect our American assets and bases in the Middle East, but also to defend Europe, and the Middle East, and the rest of the world from the rogue Iranian regime obtaining a nuclear bomb.”

The press secretary also addressed questions about a planned meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying the talks could be postponed depending on the situation.

“I don’t think the meeting is in jeopardy, but it’s quite possible the meeting could be delayed… I know President Xi was very excited to welcome POTUS to Beijing, and I know POTUS looks forward to this trip. It’s really just a matter of the timing.”

The Indian Navy has deployed three warships to escort merchant vessels travelling towards India as security concerns grow in waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

According to sources, two naval ships, including INS Surat, were already operating in the region under the navy’s mission-based deployment. A third warship has been specifically assigned to escort commercial vessels passing through the area.

The naval ships are currently operating in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, ensuring the safe movement of vessels bound for Indian ports.

Officials said the decision comes after several attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Oman, highlighting that risks remain even beyond the Strait of Hormuz.

The escort mission is primarily intended as a deterrent measure, signalling the presence of Indian naval forces in the region to counter potential threats.

While the Arabian Sea continues to be considered a relatively safe route, the presence of naval warships is aimed at reassuring commercial shipping and sending a clear message that security forces are prepared to respond to any threat.

A planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could be rescheduled if Trump decides to remain in the United States because of the ongoing conflict with Iran, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said.

Bessent said any change in the schedule would be due to Trump’s decision to stay in Washington as the situation surrounding the Iran war continues to develop.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed held talks on Monday over Iran’s retaliatory strikes in the Gulf, expressing solidarity amid rising tensions in the region.

According to a statement carried by the Emirati state news agency WAM, the two leaders discussed what they described as “continued and blatant Iranian attacks targeting countries in the region.”

The call comes as concerns grow over escalating military activity in the Gulf and its potential impact on regional stability and global energy routes.

During the conversation, both leaders emphasised the need to bring down tensions and avoid further escalation.

“Both sides stressed the need for the immediate cessation of military escalation… underscoring the importance of prioritising serious dialogue and diplomatic means,” the statement said.

The discussion marked the second call between the two leaders since a public disagreement in late December, highlighting renewed coordination between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi as the regional situation continues to evolve.

Greece will not participate in any military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis has said.

Speaking on the issue, Marinakis clarified that Greece has no plans to engage in military action in the strategic waterway, which has been at the centre of rising tensions in the region.

Energy major TotalEnergies has shut down or is in the process of shutting down some of its production facilities in Qatar, Iraq and offshore UAE, according to a report.

Bloomberg TV’s Chief Political Correspondent Annemarie Hordern said the affected operations account for around 15% of the company’s total output.

The development comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East, which have begun to affect energy production and operations across the region.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly advised former US President Donald Trump to continue taking strong military action against Iran, according to a report by The New York Times.

The report said the Saudi leader urged Trump to “keep hitting the Iranians hard” amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

The Israeli army has released new footage showing its troops operating in southern Lebanon, as the military confirmed it has begun what it described as “limited, targeted ground operations” against Hezbollah in the area.

According to the Israeli military, the operations are focused on specific locations linked to Hezbollah’s activities near the border. The army said the actions are aimed at addressing security threats and preventing attacks against Israel.

Israel said its air force overnight struck and destroyed an aircraft used by former Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei at Mehrabad Airport, marking what it described as a significant blow to Iran’s regional coordination capabilities.

The Israel Defence Forces said the plane had been used by Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials to facilitate military procurement and manage relations with allied “axis” countries through domestic and international travel. Read More

The Centre on Monday said the LPG situation in India remains concerning, but there is no news of dry up by distributors.

“Crude is available in sufficient quantity. All refineries are operating at the highest capacity. Our petrol pumps are operating normally. No dry out has been reported anywhere…” said Sujata Sharma, joint secretary (marketing and oil refinery), ministry of petroleum and natural gas. Read More

Two Indian-flagged vessels, Nanda Devi and Shivalik, have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions in the region.

According to sources, Shivalik is expected to arrive at Mundra port around 5 pm on Tuesday. Once the vessel reaches the port, the cargo on board will be immediately discharged to ensure timely supply.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the Strait of Hormuz is not completely closed, stressing that the key shipping route remains open to most countries but is restricted for nations that support attacks against Iran.

Speaking amid rising tensions in the region, the minister said the strategic waterway is “only shut to enemies and those supporting their aggression.”