US–Israel war on Iran, day 39: UAE, Qatar defence teams on alert as Trump's deadline nears

Day 38: Iran and US receive draft proposal for war ceasefire

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 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".

The Middle East war has claimed its second Philippine victim, Manila said Tuesday, when a missile struck the home of a Filipina living in Israel.

The woman was killed in the port city of Haifa on Sunday "alongside her Israeli husband and elderly parents-in-law", the foreign affairs department said, without naming the victims.

Israeli rescue services said Monday that the bodies of four people had been recovered from the rubble of a residential building in the city, after it was struck by an Iranian missile the previous day.

Israeli news outlets identified the Filipina victim's given name as Lucille-Jean, saying that she and her family had been pulled from the rubble of their collapsed residence following an hours-long rescue effort.

Mary Ann Velasquez De Vera, a 32-year-old caregiver, became the war's first Philippine fatality on March 1 as she attempted to escort her elderly ward to an Israeli bomb shelter.

Oil prices rose Tuesday while equities were mixed as investors assessed Donald Trump's latest deadline for Iran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz or be "decimated".

As the Middle East war entered its sixth week, the US president warned Tehran that its civilian infrastructure would be destroyed if it did not let ships through the waterway, through which a fifth of global crude and gas passes.

The remarks came as he and the Islamic republic said a proposal touted by international mediators for a 45-day ceasefire was not yet ready.

US President Donald Trump delivered brief remarks captured in a video addressing a time-sensitive extension amid a "critical period" in the US-Israel war against Iran.

The video was posted late on Monday by the White House itself, and simply reads: “Tomorrow, 8:00 PM Eastern Time.”

Japan said a Japanese national who had been detained in Iran since January has been released on bail.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters in Tokyo that his release was confirmed Monday and that Japan is demanding a full release from Iranian authorities.

He said the Japanese ambassador to Iran met the person released and that he was in good health without providing further details.

The person is believed to be a journalist at Japan’s NHK public television.

Another Japanese national, who was detained in Iran last June, was released and returned to Japan in March.

US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US operations in the Middle East, says American forces have struck more than 13,000 Iranian targets.

CENTCOM added that over 155 Iranian vessels have been damaged or destroyed, with nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, submarines, F-35 stealth jets, and B-52 bombers all taking part in Operation Epic Fury.

The UN Security Council is set to vote on Tuesday for a resolution addressing Iran's threats to the Strait of Hormuz, diplomatic sources told AFP.

The latest draft demands Iran end its attacks on commercial vessels and halt "any attempt to impede transit passage or freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."

But objections from several veto-holding permanent members have seen the text watered down and the latest draft does not expressly authorize force.

Tehran has virtually closed the key waterway since US-Israeli strikes targeting Iran on February 28, sending global oil and gas prices soaring.

Iran has rejected a proposed truce in its war with the United States and Israel, state media reported Monday, despite a 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 its source or what the US 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," the Iranian state news agency added.

IRNA also said Tehran's demands included "an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction, and the lifting of sanctions".

Under the reported plan, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping while charging about $2 million per vessel, a fee it would share with Oman, which borders the waterway, according to the New York Times.

Iran would use its share of the revenue to rebuild infrastructure damaged by US-Israeli strikes, instead of seeking direct compensation, the newspaper said.

Saudi Arabia said that seven ballistic missiles from Iran targeted the kingdom’s Eastern Province, with “debris from the missiles” crashing into the ground near energy facilities.

The brief statement from Maj. Gen. Turki Al Malki, a spokesman for the Saudi military, did not elaborate on the extent of the damage on the ground, though he said an “assessment is underway.”

Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), visited Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City to check on the condition of individuals receiving care following recent regional events and to review their treatment plans.

The visit was coordinated with the Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Centre – Abu Dhabi (ECDC).

Overnight attacks on Saudi Arabia hit a petrochemical complex in a sprawling industrial area in the eastern city of Jubail, a source on the ground told AFP on Tuesday, hours after similar installations in Iran were struck.

"An attack caused a fire at the SABIC plants in Jubail. The sounds of explosions were very loud," the source told AFP, referring to the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation.

Jubail in eastern Saudi Arabia is home to one of the world's largest industrial cities, where steel, gasoline, petrochemicals, lubricating oil and chemical fertilisers are produced.

Vehicle movement on the King Fahd Causeway, the bridge linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, has been temporarily suspended, the King Fahd Causeway Authority announced.

The authority said in a statement on X that the closure follows emergency alerts issued in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. No further details have been provided.

Oil prices moved higher on Tuesday while equities lost momentum, with investors pulling back ahead of a key US deadline tied to the Iran conflict.

Brent crude climbed above $111 a barrel after volatile swings, continuing a steady upward grind in recent sessions. At the same time, US stock futures fell about 0.5%, while Asian markets struggled to hold early gains, reflecting hesitation across risk assets.

The dollar held firm, reinforcing its role as the preferred haven during the ongoing conflict.

Israel's military on Tuesday morning urged Iranians to refrain from travelling by train until 1730 GMT, in a message on X that appeared to signal upcoming strikes on Iran's railway network.

"For your safety, we ask you to refrain from using trains or travelling by train throughout the country from now until 9 pm Iran time," the military wrote on its Persian-language account.

"Your presence on trains and near railway tracks puts your life in danger."

A strike killed a fighter from the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation Forces, in Iraq near the border with Syria on Tuesday, the alliance said, blaming the United States and Israel.

"At 4 am (0100 GMT) this morning the 45th Brigade... was subjected to a treacherous Zionist-American aggression in the Qaim district of Anbar province," the alliance said.

The strike resulted in "the martyrdom of one of the fighters of the 45th Brigade", which belongs to the US-blacklisted, pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah.

Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, which is mediating between Iran and the United States, said on Tuesday that efforts to end the war were approaching a "critical" stage.

"Positive and productive endeavours in Good Will and Good Office to stop the war is approaching a critical, sensitive stage," Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam wrote on X, without giving details.

The message came hours before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping or face attacks on key infrastructure.

The King Fahd Causeway, a key bridge linking Saudi Arabia and the island of Bahrain, reopened Tuesday morning after closing for hours over possible threats from Iran.

The King Fahd Causeway Authority made the announcement in a post on X, saying the only route by road between Bahrain and the Arabian Peninsula reopened.

Bahrain’s airport has been closed over the Iranian attacks for weeks.

US-Israeli strikes early on Tuesday "completely destroyed" a synagogue in Tehran, Iran's Mehr news agency and the Shargh daily reported.

"According to preliminary information, the Rafi-Nia Synagogue... was completely destroyed in this morning's attacks," Shargh wrote.

Airstrikes pounded sites across Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Monday, including residential areas.

Strikes also were reported in Qom, the seminary school to the south of Tehran.

Residential strikes in the past have targeted Iranian government and security officials.

Facing a looming US deadline, Iran’s president said that 14 million Iranians, including himself, have volunteered to sacrifice their lives in the war.

President Masoud Pezeshkian made the comment on X just ahead of US President Donald Trump’s deadline to bomb power stations and bridges in Iran if it doesn’t loosen its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

The figure is double other figures mentioned by state media in the past about volunteers the government had been soliciting by text messages and media as the war went on.

Iran is home to 90 million people. Many remain angry at the government over its bloody crackdown on nationwide demonstrations and the 14 million figure likely is aimed at trying to dissuade the promised American bombing campaign.

An airstrike targeting Iran’s Alborz province northwest of Tehran killed at least 18 people, state media reported Tuesday.

The strike also wounded 24 people, the judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported.

It wasn’t immediately clear what had been targeted.

A series of intense airstrikes have pounded Iran’s capital, Tehran, including a possible weapons depot in the mountains and residential neighborhoods.

The Israelis have conducted a campaign of airstrikes killing top officials in the theocracy and its military.

Sri Lanka announced a record $320 million relief package for farmers, fishermen and low-income households hit hardest by soaring energy costs due to the Middle East war.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the package, the biggest state handout ever, would help the most vulnerable in the island nation of 22 million.

Cash grants would be paid directly into the accounts of thousands of fishermen and rice and tea farmers, he said.

Those living below the poverty line - about 25 percent of the population - would get an additional $25 this month to celebrate the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivals, and also have their electricity bills subsidised.

"The total relief package is valued at 100 billion rupees ($320 million) over three months," Dissanayake said. "We are funding this through the existing budget."

Under the latest scheme, fishermen using smaller boats will get up to about $300 a month fuel subsidy, while operators of bigger boats will get about $483 a month for three months.

For farmers, the government will absorb about 30 percent of the cost of urea fertiliser, he said, adding that the state will also bear part of electricity generation costs, up to 15 billion rupees ($48 million).

The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) announced that, thanks to the vigilance of its personnel, its air defence systems have successfully intercepted successive waves of hostile Iranian attacks.

Since the start of hostilities, BDF forces have destroyed 188 ballistic missiles and 477 drones targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The General Command praised the exceptional combat readiness and dedication of BDF personnel, commending their sustained operational effectiveness in protecting the Kingdom. Their performance reinforces confidence that Bahrain’s skies remain secure.

 Iran's ambassador to Kuwait urged Gulf states to find a way to avert a "tragedy", as US President Donald Trump's evening deadline loomed for Iran to agree a deal or face strikes on civilian infrastructure.

"We hope that the countries in the region will use all their diplomatic and political capabilities to prevent such a tragedy from befalling the region," Mohammad Toutounji told AFP.

Toutounji said Tehran "does not want to escalate tensions in the region".

"On the contrary, it consistently strives to de-escalate tensions and diligently and in good faith follows the efforts and initiatives of other countries in this regard," he said.

He warned that US strikes on vital facilities would lead to "complete and total cessation of energy exports from the region".

The United Nations health agency has suspended evacuations from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing with Egypt after the death of one of its contractors.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a social media post that the contractor was killed Monday in what he described as a "security incident."

Two WHO staffers were present but were not hurt, he said without elaborating.

The incident is being investigated and the evacuations of patients and wounded people will be halted until further notice, Tedros said.

The Rafah Crossing was reopened in February after long delays in a key but mostly symbolic step in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.

At least three people were killed in a shooting incident near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, according to Turkish media reports. Turkish security forces responded to the situation, securing the area and neutralising three individuals at the scene near the consulate building.

The United Arab Emirates says its air defence systems are actively responding to incoming missile and drone threats launched from Iran, amid rising regional tensions.

All railway activity from and to Mashhad station have been suspended, the semi-official news agency Fars reported, after Israel issued an “urgent warning” to Iranians to not use trains and to stay away from railway lines for the next 12 hours.

“Following an unethical warning by the Zionist regime regarding a potential attack on the country’s railway system, and as a precautionary measure, all train departures from Mashhad railway station have been suspended until further notice,” the governor of the major northeastern city was cited as saying by Fars.

US Navy fighter jets took off from the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN‑72) as part of Operation Epic Fury, with American forces continuing strikes on military targets inside Iran.

The carrier-based aircraft are conducting precision operations aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities and infrastructure. These missions follow earlier efforts in the region, including the high-profile rescue of a downed F‑15E crew.

US military officials say the sustained operations involve a combination of fighter jets, long-range strike aircraft, and other assets to target command centers, air defenses, missile sites, and other strategic locations.

The United States and Israel launched an attack on a bridge near the Iranian city of Qom, south of Tehran, on Tuesday, the deputy governor of the province said, according to state TV.

"A few minutes ago, one of the bridges on Qom's communication lines, outside the city of Qom and in the west of the province, was attacked by American and Zionist enemy projectiles," Morteza Heydari said.

The Ministry of Defence announced that on April 7, 2026, the UAE Air Defence Forces intercepted 1 ballistic missile and 11 drones originating from Iran.

Since the start of Iran's brazen attacks, the UAE Air Defense Forces have intercepted 520 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles, and 2,221 drones.

Iran’s Mehr News Agency is reporting that an Israeli strike hit the Yahya Abad railway bridge in the city of Kashan, in central Iran.

The news agency quoted the Deputy Governor of Isfahan as saying that the strike killed two people.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard warned Tuesday it would “deprive the US and its allies of the region’s oil and gas for years” if US President Donald Trump carries out his threat to attack power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz doesn’t open.

“We have exercised great restraint and had considerations in choosing retaliatory targets, but from now on all these considerations have been removed,” the warning read.

The Israeli military said it had completed a broad wave of strikes targeting "infrastructure sites" across Iran on Tuesday, without providing details of what the sites were.

"A short while ago, the IDF completed a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting dozens of infrastructure sites belonging to the Iranian terror regime in several areas across Iran," the military said in a statement.

A US-Israeli strike on Tuesday shut down a key highway in northern Iran connecting the city of Tabriz with Tehran via Zanjan, regional authorities said.

The highway was hit around 90 kilometres (55 miles) outside of Tabriz, Iran's main northern city, the official IRNA news agency said, quoting the crisis management office of the northern East Azerbaijan province.

A Telegram channel of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the strike hit an overpass bridge.

Authorities in the Emirate of Sharjah are responding to an incident that occurred on Tuesday, April 7, involving a ballistic missile launched from Iran that struck an administrative building belonging to Thuraya Telecommunications Company in the Central Region.

The incident resulted in two Pakistani nationals sustaining moderate injuries. Both were transferred to hospital to receive medical treatment.

Authorities have urged the public not to spread rumours and to rely only on official sources for information.

Iranian officials reported damage to at least two bridges, railway infrastructure and a key highway on Tuesday as part of a wave of deadly US-Israeli airstrikes on infrastructure targets.

A bridge near Qom and another carrying a railway line in the central city of Kashan were struck, according to regional officials quoted by state media.

Two people were killed and three were injured in Kashan, senior regional security official Akbar Salehi said, according to Iran's IRNA news agency.

A key highway in northern Iran connecting the main northern city of Tabriz with Tehran via Zanjan was also closed after a hit around 90 kilometres (55 miles) outside of Tabriz, an official told IRNA.

A Telegram channel of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the strike hit an overpass bridge.

The Mizan news agency also reported a strike on railway tracks in Karaj, outside Tehran, with images showing Red Crescent rescuers carrying an injured man on a stretcher.

All trains were cancelled to and from Iran's second city of Mashhad on Tuesday following a warning from Israel against using the railways.

According to the ISNA news agency, there was a power outage in parts of the cities of Karaj and Fardis outside Tehran after power transmission lines and a power substation were knocked out of service by airstrikes.

Qatar on Tuesday warned the war in the Middle East was close to a threshold where it cannot be controlled after US President Donald Trump set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"We have been warning since 2023 that escalation left unchecked will get us into a situation where it cannot be controlled and we are very close to that point," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said.

"This is why we have been urging all parties to find a resolution to find a way of ending this war before it's too late," he added.

US Donald Trump said a major turning point could unfold imminently, warning that a civilisation may be on the brink of collapse, though he expressed hope it could be avoided. He suggested that a complete regime change could pave the way for more pragmatic and less radical leadership, potentially leading to positive and transformative outcomes.

He described the moment as one of the most significant in global history, adding that decades marked by corruption, coercion and violence could come to an end, while extending his support to the people of Iran.

US-Israeli strikes have hit the key Iranian oil export terminal of Kharg island, media reported Tuesday.

"The American-Zionist enemy has carried out several attacks on Kharg island, and several explosions have been heard there," Iran's Mehr news agency reported.

Pakistan has ordered early closure of markets and shopping malls across most of the country as surging fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict force urgent energy-saving measures.

The decision, reported by Geo News, was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday.

Under the new rules, markets, shopping malls, departmental stores and other retail outlets will close at 8pm from April 7 in all provinces except Sindh, according to an official statement.

The main US oil contract extended its gains Tuesday on reports of US-Israeli strikes on the key Iranian oil export terminal of Kharg island. West Texas Intermediate for delivery in May jumped 2.1 per cent to $114.71 a barrel. The international benchmark, Brent North Sea crude, for delivery in June, gained 0.4 percent to $110.22 a barrel.

While the oil prices are rising, and US stocks are falling, but the moves are not as dramatic as the dire talk coming from both sides in the war with Iran. The S&P 500 slipped 0.4 per cent on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 169 points, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.5 per cent. The moves were sharper in the oil market, where a barrel of benchmark US crude rose 3 per cent. Treasury yields held mostly steady, and global stock indexes were mixed, with just hours to go before President Donald Trump's latest deadline to bomb Iranian power plants if it doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz.

US Vice President JD Vance warned Tuesday the US has "tools in our toolkit that we so far haven't decided to use" against Iran, adding he was "hopeful" negotiations would avoid them being deployed.

"The United States States has largely accomplished its military objectives," Vance told reporters during a visit to Hungary, adding that "there's going to be a lot of negotiation between now and then" when the US deadline expires, at 0000 GMT Wednesday.

"They've got to know we've got tools in our toolkit that we so far haven't decided to use. The president of the United States can decide to use them, and he will decide to use them if the Iranians don't change their course of conduct," he added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel struck on Tuesday railways and bridges in Iran "used by the Revolutionary Guards", after Iranian officials reported damage to at least two bridges and railway infrastructure.

"We are crushing the terror regime in Iran... with even greater vigour and with increasing force," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office. "Yesterday, our pilots destroyed transport aircraft and dozens of helicopters at an Iranian Air Force base. Today they struck the railways and bridges used by the Revolutionary Guards."

Iran's hardline judiciary chief on Tuesday urged courts to speed up verdicts linked to the US-Israeli war, including capital punishment, as activists sounded the alarm about surging hangings of convicts seen as political prisoners.

Since the war began on February 28, Iran has hanged seven people in connection with January protests, six convicted of membership of banned opposition group the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) and a dual Iranian-Swedish citizen on charges of spying for Israel.

Rights groups have warned dozens more are at risk of execution over the January protests or after being arrested on suspicion of helping the enemy during the current war.

The White House denied Tuesday that remarks by Vice President JD Vance about military operations in Iran had contained any suggestion of a US nuclear strike against the Islamic republic.

After Vance said US forces have tools they "so far haven't decided to use" to enforce a dramatic ultimatum from President Donald Trump, the White House said on X: "Literally nothing @VP said here 'implies' this, you absolute buffoons."

The post was in response to one from an account associated with former vice president Kamala Harris that said Vance implied Trump "might use nuclear weapons."

Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials: "Iran has cut direct contact with Washington in response to US President Donald Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilisation."

In a strongly worded statement, the UAE Mission to UN, said: "The world is witnessing an unprecedented rise in food and fuel prices, and disruptions in the flow of raw materials and supplies across vital corridors, while billions of people around the world bear the increased cost of basic commodity prices as a result of the illegal actions carried out by Iran, which requires an urgent international response to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The UAE calls on the Security Council to adopt a "Strait of Hormuz Open" resolution, and to put an end to Iranian attacks and threats and their repercussions on the global economy."

In a press briefing, Kuwait's Defense Ministry announced that it detected 17 hostile drones within the country's airspace over the past 24 hours, confirming they were intercepted without causing any material damage or human casualties.

Russia and China veto UN resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz as US deadline for Iran deal looms.

The vote - 11 in favor, two against and two abstentions - took place just hours before an 8 p.m. Eastern deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for Iran to open the strategic waterway or face attacks on its power plants and bridges. One-fifth of the world's oil typically passes through the strait, and Iran's stranglehold during the war has sent energy prices soaring.

It's doubtful the resolution, even if it had been adopted, would have impacted the war, now in its fifth week, because it was been significantly weakened to try to get Russia and China to abstain rather than veto it.

The initial Bahrain proposal would have authorized countries to use "all necessary means" - U.N. wording that would include military action - to ensure transit through the Strait of Hormuz and deter attempts to close it.

US President Donald Trump is the only person who knows his plans for Iran, the White House said, after the US president warned that a "whole civilization will die' if Tehran fails to reach a deal Tuesday.

"The Iranian regime has until 8PM Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to AFP, when asked if Trump was prepared to use a nuclear weapon, and about a report that Iran had cut off negotiations.

"Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do."

Advisory from the Indian Embassy in Tehran: Indian nationals asked to stay put for the next 48 hours, remain indoors, avoid sensitive locations and upper floors, and coordinate movements strictly with the Embassy.

The UAE issued the following statement after the UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. It said: "The UAE deeply regrets that the UN Security Council failed today to endorse a clear framework for international cooperation in ending Iran’s illegal attacks and threats to the global economy by adopting a draft resolution demanding the immediate cessation of all attacks on vessels and attempts to impede freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The Strait of Hormuz must remain open to all, and the freedom of navigation must be preserved. No country should have the power to shut down the arteries of global commerce and drive the world to the brink of economic calamity. The Security Council's failure to act does not diminish the urgency of this crisis or the UAE’s resolve. We thank Bahrain for its leadership on the Security Council and for its diplomatic efforts. We will continue to push for international efforts to restore the Strait of Hormuz and work with partners to advance coordinated action to secure navigation and restore the flow of global commerce."

The UN rights chief decried Tuesday the "incendiary rhetoric" in the Middle East war, warning that deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure was "a war crime".

"Under international law, deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime. Anyone responsible for international crimes must be held to account by a competent court," Volker Turk said in a statement, without naming the United States, Israel or Iran.

Authorities in Sharjah responded to an incident involving a ballistic missile launched from Iran earlier today. Since then, Space 42 has issued a statement reported by WAM, saying: "Our operations are proceeding normally, and all services and the Thuraya infrastructure remain fully intact. We continue to execute our tasks without any interruption in the services provided to customers and partners."

UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed alarm Tuesday at President Donald Trump's dire warning that "a whole civilization will die" in Iran if the country does not meet an ultimatum to accept US war demands.

"The secretary-general is very troubled by the statements that we've heard yesterday and again this morning, statements suggesting that an entire people or an entire civilization may be made to bear the consequences of political and military decisions," spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.

The Israeli military on Tuesday expressed regret over "collateral damage" to a synagogue in Tehran caused by an overnight strike it said was targeting a senior Iranian commander.

"Last night (Tuesday), the IDF struck a senior commander in the emergency headquarters 'Khatam al-Anbiya' of the Iranian terror regime," an Israeli military spokesperson said in response to a question from AFP. "The IDF regrets the collateral damage to the synagogue and emphasises that the strike was targeted at a senior military target within the regime's armed forces, not at any place of worship."

Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian media reported that the Rafi-Nia Synagogue in central Tehran had been "completely destroyed".

Iranians formed human chains to protect power plants on Tuesday after President Donald Trump's threats to strike energy infrastructure, according to images published by state media, as top officials said they were also prepared to sacrifice their lives.

After a campaign online and through SMS texts to sign up for the human chains nationwide, officials claimed that more than 14 million people had joined.

It was not immediately possible to verify that figure or how many people were taking part, although initial images showed dozens involved at each location.

The state-run IRNA news agency showed people forming a human chain "to support power plants" in the southern city of Bushehr, which is home to Iran's nuclear power plant.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has urged citizens and residents to remain indoors and avoid leaving their homes except in cases of extreme necessity, as part of a precautionary measure to ensure public safety.

The advisory will be in force from midnight tonight until 6am tomorrow. Authorities said the step is aimed at safeguarding the public, enhancing preventive measures and enabling security forces to carry out their duties efficiently during the specified period.

Residents were urged to comply with the instructions and cooperate with authorities, with officials stressing that the measure has been introduced in the interest of maintaining safety and stability.

Bahrain's main port will suspend operations starting early Wednesday, around the time of a US deadline for Iran to agree to a deal or face attacks on civilian infrastructure.

"Operations in Khalifa Bin Salman Port will be temporarily suspended from early April 8. We continuously adapt our operations to the circumstances and have, as a result, temporarily paused operations in recent weeks when needed," APM Terminals Bahrain, which operates the port, told AFP.

Bahrain's foreign minister warned Tuesday that the patience of Gulf states is not limitless in the face of Iranian attacks, as Tehran has targeted its neighbors in retaliation to US-Israeli strikes.

"Our countries have exercised considerable restraint and patience in the face of ongoing Iranian aggression, but this restraint cannot be expected to continue without limit," Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told reporters.

"Our rights under international law cannot be diminished by inaction, nor can accountability be avoided by turning a blind eye."

In some of his strongest comments yet against the war, Leo urged Americans and other people of good will to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives to demand they reject war and work for peace.

"Today as we all know there was this threat against all the people of Iran. This is truly unacceptable," he said.

Military planners from over 30 countries on Tuesday discussed "appropriate measures" to make the Strait of Hormuz "accessible and safe" after a ceasefire in the Middle East war, the UK government said.

Britain hosted the military representatives in a virtual conference following a UK-led diplomatic meeting last week of some 40 countries on the critical waterway, which Iran has effectively blocked since early March.

"The conference explored appropriate measures for an international coalition to make the Strait of Hormuz accessible and safe once hostilities have ceased," the defence ministry said in a statement.

"This is part of the work to turn diplomatic consensus on the Strait of Hormuz into practical military planning," it added, noting another planning conference would be held "in due course".

The ministry did not let media witness the gathering. It posted brief video footage on social media showing British officials on the call from its Permanent Joint Headquarters in northwest London that serves as the UK's command center for overseeing and managing joint military operations around the world.

Madagascar declared a two-week national energy emergency on Tuesday, saying disruptions in supply because of the war in the Middle East were causing crisis.

The Indian Ocean island is a net importer of fuel, most of which comes from Oman, just south of the Strait of Hormuz.

The cabinet decided on the emergency at a special meeting after supply disruptions started affecting daily life, the economy and the functioning of public services, the government said in a statement.

It said the measure was introduced because of "a deep crisis linked to malfunctions in energy supply across the country due to the war in the Middle East".

The state of emergency will allow authorities "to take special, rapid measures to restore energy supply and ensure the continuity of public services", it said.

Iran is prepared for all possibilities in its war with the United States and Israel, First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said, following threats from US President Donald Trump.

"National security and infrastructure sustainability are the subject of our precise calculations. The government has finalised the necessary measures in detail for all scenarios. No threat is beyond our preparedness and intelligence," Aref said in a post on X.

UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority has issued an alert on X, saying: "Air defence systems are currently responding to a missile threat. Please remain in a safe location and follow official channels for warnings and updates."

It also urged people to not approach, touch, or photograph any fragments or objects that have fallen as a result of successful air interceptions, and allow the relevant authorities to assess the situation.

If you are witness to an incident, call 999 to report it.

The Ministry of Defence has asserted that the sounds heard across the country are the result of ongoing engaging operations of missiles and drones.

Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif requested US President Donald Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks and to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks.

Trump is "aware" of Pakistan's proposal to extend the Iran deadline, according to the White House. "The President has been made been aware of the proposal, and a response will come," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told AFP in a statement hours before the deadline was due to expire.

The Qatari Interior Ministry has announced that the level of the security threat is high, reported KUNA.

Kuwait Municipality announced that all shops and commercial establishments across the country will be closed from 12 am to 6 am on Wednesday.

The decision follows a directive from the Ministry of Interior urging the public to remain at home during the same period as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety.

The Municipality called on business owners to comply with the decision and cooperate with the relevant authorities.

Saudi defences intercepted and destroyed five ballistic missiles launched towards the Kingdom's Eastern region.

Four people, including a child, have been injured in Qatar after debris from intercepted missiles fell on a house, according to Qatar’s Interior Ministry.

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