US–Israel war on Iran, day 38: 45-day ceasefire talks underway

Day 37: Second F-15E crew member rescued in Iran

Day 36: Trump warns Iran: 48 hours or all hell will reign down

Day 35: Trump seeks $1.5t defence budget as war intensifies

Day 34: UN chief warns world on 'edge of a wider war'

Day 33: Trump says US to hit Iran 'extremely hard'

Day 32: Debris hits several homes in Dubai, 4 injured

Day 31: Trump threatens to obliterate Iran's Kharg island

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that RAF Regiment gunners successfully engaged hostile threats overnight in a high-threat area of the Middle East, as part of ongoing operations linked to the escalating Strait of Hormuz crisis. The update highlights the RAF Regiment's role in defending key positions amid heightened tensions.

UAE authorities issued an alert to residents stating that the country's air defence systems had been activated and are currently responding to an aerial threat, according to the Ministry of Interior and National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA). "Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building, steer away from windows, doors, and open areas. Await further instructions," an X post by the UAE Ministry of Interior states.

UAE authorities have lifted the missile alert and declared the country safe, Residents were instructed to resume normal activities, though they were urged to remain vigilant and follow official updates from official sources.

An Israeli strike on Sunday targeting an apartment building in a town east of Beirut killed three people, Lebanon's health ministry said.

"Israeli enemy airstrike on the hills of Ain Saadeh kills three civilians, including two women, and injures three others," the ministry said in a statement.

UAE authorities issued an alert to residents stating that the country's air defence systems had been activated and are currently responding to a missile threat.

US crude (WTI) traded above $114 per barrel and surpassed Brent crude, an unusual inversion that underscores deepening market stress.

Brent — the global benchmark — was above $111, while UAE Murban crude climbed above $114.8, marking strong demand for barrels that can be moved outside chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.

Urals crude, the Russian benchmark, stayed elevated at $121.17, up $15.44, or 14.60%, as of 7.38am on Monday (April 6, 2026) Tokyo | 10.38pm GMT (April 5, 2026). Natural gas prices also rose modestly, reflecting broader energy market tightness.

US President Donald Trump made an stark threat to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure, demanding Tehran bow to his demands for a deal to reopen the Gulf to shipping as oil prices surge.

As Christians marked Easter, Trump revived warnings of air strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges, after celebrating the rescue of a wounded airman whose fighter jet went down inside Iran.   

Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy chokepoint, provoking Trump to demand Sunday: "... you'll be living in Hell," if the strait is not opened.

In a terse follow-up post, the president apparently set a new deadline for Iran to comply: "Tuesday, 8:00 PM" (midnight GMT).

Trump told Fox News that Iran was "close" to making a deal, security analyst Danny Citrinowicz said "the prospect of a negotiated agreement with Iran, at least under current conditions, is close to nonexistent."

UAE authorities have lifted the aerial threats alert and declared the country safe. Residents were instructed to resume normal activities, though they were urged to remain vigilant and follow official updates from official sources.

The Kuwaiti military has said their air defences are responding to missile and drone threats.

The UAE has joined Bahrain in urging the United Nations Security Council to take action on the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the crisis now poses a direct threat to global stability, food and energy security, and international law.

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stressed that the issue is no longer confined to the region and requires attention to prevent a broader crisis. He warned that continued inaction could deepen global economic and humanitarian risks, particularly for countries in the Global South that are heavily dependent on stable energy and food supplies.

Iran's central military command warned on Monday of "much more devastating" retaliation if its adversaries hit civilian targets.

"If attacks on civilian targets are repeated, the next stages of our offensive and retaliatory operations will be much more devastating and widespread," a spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement posted by state broadcaster IRIB on Telegram.

The warning came after US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure, demanding Tehran bow to his demands for a deal to reopen the Gulf to shipping.

Gas outages hit parts of Tehran after a strike on a university, Iran's state broadcaster reported on Monday.

The attack "hit the Sharif University gas station and we are facing a temporary gas outage in the Sharif neighborhood," state broadcaster IRIB quoted the head of Tehran's District 9 neighbourhood as saying.

The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army has confirmed that the country’s air defense systems are currently intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks targeting the nation.

Authorities warned that any explosion sounds heard across the city or surrounding areas are caused by the interception of incoming threats and do not indicate civilian danger.

Residents are urged to follow all security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities and remain calm while air defenses continue operations to protect the country.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defences were responding to a missile and drone attack.

Air defence systems "are actively engaging with missiles and UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) threats," the NCEMA posted on X.

UAE residents have received a new mobile alert from the Ministry of Interior confirming that the situation in the country is currently safe following earlier warnings about potential missile threats.

In the message sent to phones across the country, authorities thanked residents for their cooperation during the emergency alert and reassured the public that normal activities can now resume.

Israel's army said Monday it had completed a wave of strikes against "regime targets" in Tehran.

"A short while ago the IDF completed a wave of strikes on Iranian terror regime targets in Tehran," the Israeli military posted on Telegram.

It came after Iranian media reported attacks on residential areas in Tehran early Monday.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi are managing an incident at Rinn Systems Company in Musaffah—ICAD City after shrapnel fell following a successful air defence interception. A Ghanaian national sustained moderate injuries in the incident.

Officials urged the public to rely solely on official sources for updates and to avoid spreading rumors or unverified information.

The United States, Iran and regional mediators are discussing terms for a proposed 45-day ceasefire that could pave the way toward a permanent end to the conflict, Axios reported, citing four US, Israeli and regional sources familiar with the talks.

Dubai gold prices opened the week softer, tracking a pullback in global bullion markets as geopolitical signals turned mixed and investors reassessed risk

At 8.15am, 24K gold was priced at Dh560.50 per gram, down from Dh563.50 on Sunday. The 22K variant slipped to Dh519 from Dh521.75, reflecting a modest but noticeable easing for retail buyers.

The move comes after a volatile stretch that had pushed prices sharply higher through March, before momentum began to fade.

Authorities in the Emirate of Fujairah are dealing with an incident that occurred early this morning involving the targeting of the “du” telecommunications company building in the emirate by a drone coming from Iran. No injuries have been reported.

Israel's Fire and Rescue Service said two people died after an Iranian missile strike on a residential building in the northern city of Haifa.

Firefighters were searching for two others missing in the rubble.

The seven-storey building partially collapsed after being hit by the "direct impact of a missile", the military told AFP.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Monday that US President Donald Trump's threats to strike power plants and bridges in Iran could amount to war crimes.

"The American president, as the highest official of his country, has publicly threatened to commit war crimes," Gharibabadi said in a post on X, citing provisions of international law that could be breached.

Sri Lanka raised prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by nearly a quarter, blaming higher global prices triggered by the Iran war.

As well as gas, Sri Lanka also imports all of its oil and buys coal for electricity generation.

Colombo has warned that a prolonged war in the Middle East could seriously undermine efforts to emerge from its economic meltdown of 2022.

The increase in cooking gas prices on Monday is on top of an eight percent hike last month.

A private company, which accounts for about a quarter of the domestic LPG market, raised its retail price by 23 percent to 5,700 rupees ($18.08), up from 4,630 rupees ($14.69).

The state-owned Litro Gas, the main supplier of LPG used in cooking stoves, increased the price of a 12.5-kilogramme refill to 4,765 rupees ($15.62), up from 3,990 rupees - an increase of 19.42 percent.

Dubai Police has urged residents to remain cautious online, warning that some images and videos circulating on the internet may be generated using artificial intelligence and appear convincingly real.

In a public advisory shared on social media, Dubai Police highlighted that the growing use of AI technology has made it easier to create misleading visual content that can spread quickly across digital platforms.

Authorities stressed the importance of verifying the source of any content before forwarding or reposting it online.

Officials noted that fabricated images and videos can mislead viewers, spread misinformation and create unnecessary concern, particularly during times of heightened public attention.

The Ministry of Health announced on Monday morning that medical teams have successfully managed several injuries in the north of the country following the fall of projectiles and shrapnel in a residential area. Officials confirmed that all reported cases are currently in stable condition.

Dr. Abdullah Al Sanad, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, stated that the ministry’s central operations room received reports regarding the impact of the Iranian aggression on a northern residential neighborhood.

Iran and the United States have received a draft proposal that calls for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a possible way to end the war, two Mideast officials told The Associated Press.

The proposal comes from Egyptian, Pakistani and Turkish mediators working to halt the fighting, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations.

They hope the 45-day window would provide enough time for extensive talks between the countries to reach a permanent ceasefire.

Iran and the US have not responded to the proposal, which was sent late Sunday night to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, the officials said.

It remains unclear whether the sides would agree to such terms. Iran has insisted it will keep fighting until it receives financial reparations and a promise it won’t be attacked again. US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Iranian bridges and power stations this week. The news website Axios first reported terms of the proposal.

US-Israeli strikes killed on Monday the intelligence chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, the Guards said.

"Major General Majid Khademi, the powerful and educated head of the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was martyred in the criminal terrorist attack by the American-Zionist enemy... at dawn today," said the Guards in a post on their Telegram channel.

A third Turkish-owned ship has crossed the war-torn Strait of Hormuz, Turkey's Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.

"The Turkish-owned vessel 'Ocean Thunder' which was en route carrying crude oil loaded from Iraq to Malaysia, safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz last night," Uraloglu said on X.

According to the global ship tracking intelligence Marine Traffic, it was coming from the port of Basra in Iraq. This is the third vessel that safely departed the strait after two made an exit at the weekend.

"With this passage, the number of Turkish-owned vessels in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz has decreased to 12, and the number of vessels requesting exit has decreased to eight," the minister said.

He added efforts were under way to ensure the safe transfer of the eight ships that wish to depart from the region and the 156 personnel serving on these vessels.

Indonesia announced a 28-percentage point rise in the surcharge on jet fuel, and said it will allow airlines to raise the domestic ticket price, which the government caps, by up to 13 percent.

As global oil prices soar on the back of the Middle East war, Economy Minister Airlangga Hartarto told reporters the jet fuel surcharge would rise from 10 to 38 percent, and the base ticket price between nine and 13 percent.

Southeast Asia's largest low-cost carrier AirAsia X said Monday it, too, was raising ticket prices and cutting routes to cushion the impact of the war on Iran.

In Jakarta, Airlangga said the government would bear the 11-percent value added tax on domestic flight tickets to offset the impact of the price rise on travellers.

"The amount of subsidy given by the government is around 1.3 trillion rupiah (about $76 million) per month," the minister said.

The measures would be reevaluated after two months, he added, depending on whether "the war in the Middle East continues".

Three Turkish vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz have safely transited, Turkiye’s Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed.

The move reduces the number of stranded Turkish ships to 12, with eight still awaiting departure. The ministry, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, continues efforts to evacuate 156 seafarers safely.

The tanker Ocean Thunder, carrying Iraqi crude to Malaysia, was among the vessels that passed through the Strait overnight, marking a key step in ongoing evacuation efforts.

European Council President António Costa said Monday that an “escalation will not achieve a ceasefire and peace,” which was likely a warning aimed at US President Donald Trump.

“Only negotiations will, namely the ongoing efforts led by regional partners,” he added in the statement posted on X.

Costa’s call comes as Trump has threatened to begin bombing power plants and bridges this week if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz.

He wrote that “any targeting of civilian infrastructure, namely energy facilities, is illegal and unacceptable.”

“The Iranian civilian population is the main victim of the Iranian regime,” Costa wrote. “It would also be the main victim of a widening of the military campaign.”

Israel's defence ministry said it plans to accelerate production of Arrow missile interceptors, as it fights a war with Iran.

The announcement came after questions emerged in the international media over how long Israel's interceptor stocks would last, with some analysts pointing to shortages of Arrow interceptors in particular.

Israel has a multi-layered air defence array, with a variety of systems intercepting threats at different altitudes.

The top tier consists of the anti-ballistic missile Arrow systems, with Arrow 2 operating both within the Earth's atmosphere and in space and Arrow 3 intercepting above the Earth's atmosphere.

"The Ministerial Committee for Procurement has approved the Israel Ministry of Defence (IMOD) plan for a major additional acceleration of Arrow interceptor production," a defence ministry statement said.

It added that the plan would enable "a significant increase in both the production rate and stockpile of Arrow interceptors as part of preparations for the evolving campaign". Each Arrow 2 interceptor costs an estimated $1.5 million, with Arrow 3s around $2 million.

Iran's foreign ministry said on Monday that a US operation to rescue a downed airman may have been a cover to "steal enriched uranium" from the Islamic republic.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump said the US recovered a second crew member of an F-15E that went down over Iran on Friday in what he called a "daring" search and rescue operation.

Iran's military has called it "a deception and escape mission", insisting it was "completely foiled".

On Monday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said there were "many questions and uncertainties" about the operation.

"The area where the American pilot was claimed to be present in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province is a long way from the area where they attempted to land or wanted to land their forces in central Iran," Baqaei said.

"The possibility that this was a deception operation to steal enriched uranium should not be ignored at all."

He added that the operation was "a disaster" for the United States.

Iran's military said several US aircraft had to "make emergency landings" in southern Isfahan province after being hit during the mission, with the US "forced to heavily bombard the downed aircraft" as a result.

The UAE Ministry of Defense confirmed that its air defenses engaged 12 ballistic missiles, 2 cruise missiles, and 19 drones originating from Iran on Monday.

Since the start of the recent attacks, UAE air defenses have intercepted 519 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles, and 2,210 drones, highlighting the sustained threat and the country’s advanced defensive capabilities.

Attacks targeted facilities at Iran's South Pars natural gas field on Monday, media outlets reported.

The semiofficial Fars news agency and the judiciary's Mizan news agency both reported the attack, blaming the US and Israel. Neither country immediately claimed any attack on the gas field at Asaluyeh in Iran's southern Bushehr province.

The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) announced that air defences have intercepted and destroyed 188 ballistic missiles and 468 drones since the onset of Iranian aggression.

In a statement carried by Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the BDF General Command emphasised that the use of ballistic missiles and drones to target civilian areas and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that Israel had conducted a "powerful strike" on Iran's largest petrochemical facility in Assaluyeh, after Iranian media reported multiple explosions at the site.

"The Israel Defense Forces have just carried out a powerful strike on Iran's largest petrochemical facility, located in Assaluyeh - a central target responsible for about 50 per cent of the country's petrochemical production," Katz said in a video statement.

Authorities in Bahrain have ordered the detention of a number of suspects accused of collaborating with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to an official statement.

The Public Prosecution said the individuals were arrested after investigations indicated alleged links with intelligence entities affiliated with the IRGC.

Prosecutors stated that the suspects had been tasked with monitoring sensitive and vital locations inside the kingdom, gathering information and transmitting it to external parties. The statement added that the group was also allegedly instructed to document the potential impact of targeting such sites, including assessing damage and disruption.

Authorities said investigations are ongoing, without providing further details on the number of detainees or the specific locations involved.

Officials reiterated that any actions threatening national security would be dealt with firmly, in line with the country’s laws.

The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog on Monday warned attacks near Iran's Bushehr atomic power plant "pose a very real danger to nuclear safety and must stop".

The facility, located in the south of the country and equipped with a 1,000-megawatt reactor, has been targeted four times since the US-Israeli war on Iran began. The latest strike was reported by Iranian state media on Saturday.

Strikes near the operating plant "could cause a severe radiological accident with harmful consequences for people and the environment in Iran and beyond," said Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on X.

The IAEA analysed satellite imagery of the site, confirming the impact of the latest strike, which did not damage the power plant.

Grossi added that one strike hit just 75 metres (246 feet) from the plant perimeter.

"A nuclear facility and surrounding areas should never be struck," he said.

Bushehr, built with help from Russia, is Iran's only operational nuclear power reactor, according to the IAEA.

The operator of Iran's largest petrochemical complex said the situation was "under control" after Israel on Monday bombed the facility, with the extent of the damage being assessed.

"A fire has been brought under control. The situation is currently under control, and technical aspects, as well as the extent of the damage, are under investigation," state news agency IRNA cited the National Petrochemical Company as saying, adding that no injuries had been reported.

Israel claimed responsibility for the strikes on the South Pars petrochemical complex in Asaluyeh, a key site for Iran's energy sector, both for production of petroleum by-products and for joint work with Qatar on the world's largest natural gas field.

Strikes hit a petrochemical complex near the Iranian city of Shiraz on Monday, local authorities said, shortly after an attack on another facility further south.

"Following the attack on the petrochemical complex in Marvdasht... the fire has been contained," authorities said in a statement carried by the Fars news agency, which reported "minor damage".

The White House on Monday confirmed there was a deal under consideration for a 45-day ceasefire with Iran, but that President Donald Trump had "not signed off" on the proposal and is continuing the war.

US media have reported that a proposal by mediators for a 45-day ceasefire in the Middle East war has been received by Washington.

"This is one of many ideas, and POTUS (Trump) has not signed off on it. Operation Epic Fury continues," a White House official told AFP, adding that the president will speak more on the conflict at a press conference scheduled for 1pm (1700 GMT).

Iran will continue the war with the United States and Israel for as long as its political leaders deem necessary, the army spokesman said Monday.

"We can continue the war as long as the political authorities see fit," Mohammad Akraminia told ISNA news agency, adding that "the enemy must definitely regret it because, after this war, we need to reach a point of security and not witness another war".

Kuwait's Ministry of Defense says the armed forces detected 14 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 46 hostile drones within the country's airspace over the past 24 hours, all of which were dealt with in accordance with established procedures.

Iran has rejected a proposed truce in its war with the United States and Israel, state media reported Monday, despite the stark threat by US President Donald Trump to destroy its vital infrastructure.

"Iran has conveyed to Pakistan its response to the American proposal to end the war," the news agency IRNA said, without revealing what the offer contained.

"In this response - set out in ten points - Iran... has rejected a ceasefire and insists on the need for a definitive end to the conflict."

US President Donald Trump said Monday the United States has studied a proposal for a 45-day ceasefire in the Iran war, a move he called a "very significant step" in the conflict.

"It's a significant proposal, it's a significant step. It's not good enough, but it's a very significant step," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that intermediaries "are negotiating now."

Iran has rejected a proposed truce in its war with the United States and Israel, insisting "on the need for a definitive end to the conflict".

Yemen's Houthi rebels said on Monday that they had launched an attack targeting Israel alongside their backer Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

The group, along with "the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps... and the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, launched a barrage of cruise missiles and drones targeting several vital and military sites belonging to the Israeli enemy", military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement.

The Houthis, who control most of northern Yemen, joined the war on March 28 in support of Iran.

Air India and Air India Express will together operate 32 scheduled and non-scheduled flights, to and from the West Asia region on 07 April 2026.

This includes 16 non-scheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), subject to availability of slots and other prevailing conditions at the departure stations at the time. These flights are being operated with the requisite permissions from the relevant Indian and local regulatory authorities in the UAE.

All Air India flights to and from North America, Europe, Australia and other regions continue to operate per schedule.

The Qatari Ministry of Defence announced that the State of Qatar was targeted on Monday by an attack involving a number of drones launched from Iran.

The Qatar Armed Forces successfully intercepted and neutralised all incoming drones, the Ministry's statement, carried by Qatar News Agency (QNA), said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed on Monday to avenge the death of their intelligence chief, Major General Majid Khademi, killed earlier in the day in an Israeli strike.

"The malicious and desperate enemy should know that a major retaliatory strike by the IRGC Intelligence Organisation, under Operation 'Crushing Revenge,' awaits the planners and perpetrators of this crime," Khademi's agency said in a statement on the Guards' official site Sepah News.

US President Donald Trump brushed off concerns on Monday that hitting Iran's power facilities as he has threatened after a deadline expires this week would be a war crime.

"I'm not worried about it," Trump told reporters at an Easter egg roll at the White House when asked what he would say to those who allege that striking power plants would breach the laws of war.

"You know the war crime? The war crime is allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon," the president said.

The Israeli military said Monday it carried out overnight strikes on three airports in Tehran, targeting several Iranian planes and helicopters.

Dozens of Israeli fighter jets struck aircraft and other military infrastructure at Bahram Airport, Mehrabad Airport and Azmayesh Airport in Tehran, the military said.

It described Mehrabad Airport, which has been hit several times before in the ongoing war, as a hub used by the Iran Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force to transfer weapons and funds to allied groups in the region.

The Israeli military said the strikes were part of efforts aimed at "degrading the Iranian Air Force and the IRGC air force at airports in Tehran".

US President Donald Trump warned Monday that all of Iran could be "taken out" Tuesday at the expiry of a deadline he issued for the Islamic republic to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz waterway.

"The entire country could be taken out in one night and that night might be tomorrow night," Trump told a news conference on Monday.

Trump also shared details of F-15 crew rescue mission at the press conference. He said on Monday that more than 170 US military aircraft were used in the rescue of the crew of a fighter plane downed in Iran.

Trump told reporters at a White House briefing that 21 aircraft were used in the operation to recover the first crew member and another 155 in the second rescue mission. Two transport planes got stuck in sand and had to be blown up, he added.

He also threatened an unspecified media outlet with jail time if it does not reveal the person who leaked information about a US military pilot who was missing in Iran. "We're going to go to the media company that released it, and we're going to say, 'National security. Give it up or go to jail,'" he said.

The US foreign intelligence service ran a deception effort to misdirect Iranian authorities looking for the crew of the fighter plane downed in the country, CIA director John Ratcliffe added.

"The CIA executed a deception campaign to confuse the Iranians who were desperately hunting for our airmen," he said, adding one airman hid in a mountain crevice until he was rescued.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States attempted to arm Iranian protesters but the weapons were diverted and never passed to the right people.

Trump said the armaments were meant to help anti-government protesters fight back against the authorities.

"We sent guns, a lot of guns, they were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs," Trump told reporters while at a White House Easter event.

"You know what happened? The people that they sent them to kept them," Trump went on, adding: "So I'm very upset with a certain group of people, and they're going to pay a big price for that."

Trump did not give details about who he was accusing of taking the US weapons.

The Emir opf Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a phone call from President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.

During the call, the two sides discussed regional developments in light of the ongoing Iranian attacks targeting the State of Qatar, and their repercussions on regional and international security and stability, according to Qatar News Agency.

They also exchanged views on the impact of the escalation on global energy supplies, underscoring the importance of strengthening international efforts to ensure their stability and continued flow.

He further stressed the importance of de-escalation, particularly given its implications for global energy security.

The two sides also discussed developments in Lebanon and emphasised the need to intensify efforts to reduce tensions and enhance stability in the region.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that the military had war plans to destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran over a four-hour period if his peace deal deadline is not met.

"We have a plan - because of the power of our military - where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again," Trump said at a press conference. "I mean complete demolition by 12 o'clock (midnight), and it'll happen over a period of four hours - if we wanted to."

Trump previously set 8pm Washington time on Tuesday (midnight GMT) for Iran to agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The United Nations has renewed its call for all parties to the conflict in the Middle East to comply with international law regarding the conduct of hostilities, emphasising that civilian infrastructure must not be targeted.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric urged all parties on Monday to adhere to their obligations concerning the conduct of military operations.

Dujarric stated that Secretary-General António Guterres reminds all actors that civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, must be protected from attack. He noted that even if specific infrastructure could be considered a military objective, international humanitarian law prohibits attacks if they result in excessive incidental civilian harm.

US President Donald Trump insisted to the US media that "free traffic of oil" through the Strait of Hormuz must be part of any deal with Iran.

Trump has said he's now dealing with a "more reasonable, less extreme" leadership in Iran.

When a US reporter asked Trump if he's concerned that his threat to bomb Iran's powerplants and bridges would amount to war crimes, the US president replied: “No. I’m not... I hope, I don’t have to do it.”

Trump warned Iranian officials that Tuesday, April 7, 8pm Eastern Time would be "Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one," if no deal is achieved. The hard deadline Trump gave on Sunday (April 5), was directed at Tehran's leadership to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on critical infrastructure.

Seven ballistic missiles launched toward the Eastern Province were intercepted and destroyed; debris fell near energy facilities and damage assessment is underway: Saudi Defence Ministry spokesperson.

A drone "coming from Iran" killed a couple in Iraqi Kurdistan after crashing into their home, local authorities reported early on Tuesday.

The autonomous region's Counter-Terrorism Service said in a statement that the incident took place on Monday "when a bomb-laden drone coming from Iran crashed into a civilian home in...the Dara Shakran subdistrict within Erbil Province".

Kuwait's Ministry of Defence announced that the armed forces detected 14 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 46 hostile drones within the country's airspace over the past 24 hours, all of which were dealt with in accordance with established procedures.

The announcement was made by the Ministry's official spokesperson, Colonel Staff Saud AlAtwan, during the daily media briefing on the latest developments and operational events amid ongoing Iranian attacks on Kuwait.

The Qatari Ministry of Defence announced that the State of Qatar was targeted on Monday by an attack involving a number of drones launched from Iran.

The Qatar Armed Forces successfully intercepted and neutralized all incoming drones, the Ministry's statement said, carried by Qatar News Agency (QNA).

Air defence systems in the UAE are currently responding to a missile and drone threats, with authorities urging residents to remain in safe locations and follow official channels for updates.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the sounds heard across parts of the country are from ongoing interception operations targeting missiles and UAVs. Residents are urged to stay indoors and follow official updates.

Israel's military announced a "wave" of air strikes on Iran after US President Donald Trump's said that a truce proposal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran from international mediators was "not yet enough".

We are closing coverage for now. Follow our live updates for the latest developments here.