Iran's armed forces warn Gulf countries against assisting US military | LIVE

Trump says no talks planned with Iran, Tehran says Strait of Hormuz still shut

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that no talks were taking place with Iran and insisted the Strait of Hormuz was open, contradicting Iran's assertion that the critical waterway remained shut to shipping. 

A temporary cease-fire agreement expired on Monday, and a senior Iranian official told Reuters that his country was moving to a "fully offensive" military posture due to the diplomatic stalemate, though there were no reports of fresh strikes by either side on Tuesday.

"There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

"The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated," he added.

On Monday, Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and special envoy, said talks with Iran were still under way and were "probably more robust" than they had ever been.

Iran denies firing missiles at UAE on Tuesday

Iran denied UAE's claims that it had launched two ballistic missiles at shipping in the Gulf on Tuesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei "categorically rejected the United Arab Emirates' claim that Iran had launched a missile toward that country," calling it harmful to regional trust and security efforts.

Israeli strike destroys house in Nabatieh Fawqa overnight

An Israeli airstrike destroyed a house belonging to the Hajj Ali family in al-Deir neighborhood, in Nabatieh Fawqa, overnight, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Wednesday morning.

South Lebanon: Israel continues overnight attacks on Ali Taher and Mansouri, as well as demolition operations

Israel continued overnight attacks on the hills of Ali Taher in Nabatieh, which it is reportedly seeking to occupy, as well as the village of Mansouri in the Sour district, divided by its “yellow line.”

Around 1 a.m., Israel carried out a series of air strikes on the Ali Taher heights and the outskirts of Kfar Roummane (Nabatieh district), as well as the outskirts of Deir Siryan (Marjayoun district), according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

The Israeli army also continued its demolition operations in Haddatha (Bint Jbeil district) and Mansouri, the NNA reported. It also fired several shells at Majdal Zoun (Sour district) and the surrounding valleys.

Flares were also launched overnight over the Sour and Bint Jbeil areas. Israeli artillery fire also targeted the outskirts of the Zibqine valley (Sour district).

UAE halts all trade, financial dealings with Iran

The United Arab Emirates has said it is suspending all trade and financial dealings with Iran after reporting an Iranian missile attack directed at its ships.

The announcement comes after a period of relative calm in the UAE, with no Iranian missiles aimed at the country since May, after it bore the brunt of attacks in the early weeks of the Middle East war.

Abu Dhabi has accused Tehran of repeatedly targeting its tankers at sea in recent weeks.

Yesterday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the war and shut Iran-linked schools and a hospital.

At the height of the war in March, authorities ordered the closure of an Iranian state-linked hospital in Dubai, three employees at the facility told AFP, with schools and a community centre also ordered closed.

Iran's armed forces warn Gulf countries against assisting US military

Iran's armed forces on Wednesday warned Gulf countries against assisting the U.S. military, saying it would be tantamount to joining American military operations.

"It seems unlikely that such a large number of military aircraft, particularly refuelling aircraft, could be present at regional bases without knowledge of host countries," armed forces chief of staff Ali Abdollahi said, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.

The warning comes as the USS George Washington aircraft carrier is being redeployed to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln following reports of deteriorating living conditions for its crew. 

Good morning, and thank you for joining us for today's live coverage of the events in the region, two days after the 60-day, 14-point memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States expired.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that no talks with Iran were currently taking place, while Tehran said its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remained in effect.

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