US-Iran war live updates: Trump slams NATO allies as ‘cowards’ for failing to help open Strait of Hormuz; Iran threatens to target tourist sites worldwide; Iran attacks Gulf energy sites,

Welcome to our continuing coverage of the conflict in the Middle East. Here’s a recap of key developments:US President Donald Trump has slammed NATO allies as “cowards” for not sending troops to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil trade.

It comes as oil jumped to $US110 a barrel, pushing petrol prices higher around the world and raising fresh concerns about supply.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written statement to mark the Persian New Year, paying tribute to the countries fallen fighters and praising Iranians for standing firm in the wake of repeated attacks.

Iran warned that “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” would not be safe for its enemies, as it launched strikes on energy facilities across the Gulf. Kuwait said its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was hit for a second time by Iranian drone attacks, sparking fires at several units.

Israel meanwhile pounded Tehran with new strikes as Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

IThe United States said it was deploying three more warships and about 2,500 additional Marines to the Middle East.

Trump said he would seek an additional $US200 billion ($284b) from Congress to fund the war with Iran.

LoadingLatest PostsNewly appointed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written statement to the Iranian people on Friday, saying their vigilance and sacrifices delivered a “crippling blow” to “the enemy”.

Mojtaba Khamenei replaced his father, Ali Khamenei, as supreme leader after the ayatollah was killed at the start of the war. The younger Khamenei has not been seen publicly during the conflict and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week he was likely “wounded” in the strike.

The statement read on state TV from the younger Khamenei said “the enemy” had a “false assumption” that the killing top military figures “would create fear and despair among the people and enable their domination over Iran and eventual partition.““The enemy, America and Israel, have been repeatedly trying to inflict harm on the Iranian nation, but your resilience and widespread efforts have confused and weakened them,” the message said.

Iran said on Friday it would target tourist and recreational sites around the world as it boasted it was still building missiles.“We are producing missiles even during war conditions, which is amazing, and there is no particular problem in stockpiling,” a defiant Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson General Ali Mohammad Naini told state-run newspaper IRAN.

He added that the country will target the “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” of its enemies.

The threat renewed concerns that Iran may revert to using militant attacks beyond the Middle East as a pressure tactic.

Welcome to our continuing coverage of the conflict in the Middle East. Here’s a recap of key developments:US President Donald Trump has slammed NATO allies as “cowards” for not sending troops to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil trade.

It comes as oil jumped to $US110 a barrel, pushing petrol prices higher around the world and raising fresh concerns about supply.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written statement to mark the Persian New Year, paying tribute to the countries fallen fighters and praising Iranians for standing firm in the wake of repeated attacks.

Iran warned that “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” would not be safe for its enemies, as it launched strikes on energy facilities across the Gulf. Kuwait said its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was hit for a second time by Iranian drone attacks, sparking fires at several units.

Israel meanwhile pounded Tehran with new strikes as Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

IThe United States said it was deploying three more warships and about 2,500 additional Marines to the Middle East.

Trump said he would seek an additional $US200 billion ($284b) from Congress to fund the war with Iran.

Loading