21 h. ago NATALIE LISBONA: I cowered with my children in the shelter as the blasts above said we were under attack

The first indication I had that Israel's long-awaited operation to take out Iran's nuclear weapons programme was under way came in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Events

26 h. ago Trump scrambles to claim credit for Israel’s Iran attack he publicly opposed

Discordant US response as president says he was fully aware of plans for what Marco Rubio called a ‘unilateral action’ Middle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump is walking a tightrope as he claims that he was fully aware of Israel’s plans to launch massive airstrikes against Iran while continuing to distance the US from those strikes and deny Washington took any active role in the preparations.The White House’s messaging has shifted quickly from Marco Rubio’s arms-length description of the Israeli attack as a “unilateral action”, to Trump claiming on Friday morning that he was fully in the loop on the operation and that it came at the end of a 60-day ultimatum he had given Iran to “make a deal” on its nuclear programme. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago The Guardian view on Israel’s shock attack on Iran: confusing US signals add to the peril | Editorial

The recklessness of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and the incoherence of Donald Trump’s deepen the crisis in the Middle EastUS presidents who thought they could easily restrain Benjamin Netanyahu have quickly learned their lesson. “Who’s the fucking superpower?” Bill Clinton reportedly exploded after his first meeting with the Israeli prime minister.Did Donald Trump make the same mistake? The state department quickly declared that the devastating overnight Israeli attack on Iran – which killed key military commanders and nuclear scientists as well as striking its missile capacity and a nuclear enrichment site – was unilateral. Mr Trump had reportedly urged Mr Netanyahu to hold off in a call on Monday, pending US talks with Iran over its nuclear programme due this weekend. The suspicion is that Israel feared that a deal might be reached and wanted to strike first. But Israeli officials have briefed that they had a secret green light from the US, with Mr Trump only claiming to oppos...

Events

28 h. ago Israelis in triumphant but foreboding mood after unprecedented Iran strikes

Many welcome attack on military and nuclear targets but unease lingers as country braces for what happens nextMiddle East crisis – live updatesTrepidation mixed with triumphalism in Israel on Friday, after an unprecedented attack on Iran’s military and nuclear programme brought ordinary life to an abrupt halt.The country’s main airport was closed “until further notice” with no flights expected for days and hospitals began moving hundreds of vulnerable patients to emergency underground facilities and sending home anyone who could be discharged. Continue reading...

Politics

28 h. ago Is Iran as close to building a nuclear weapon as Netanyahu claims?

Israeli PM alleges Tehran has capacity to make nine bombs, but this runs contrary to recent US and UN assessmentsMiddle East crisis – live updatesIn justifying Israel’s attack on Iran, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he had acted to pre-empt a secret Iranian programme to build a nuclear bomb, claiming Tehran already had the capacity to build nine nuclear bombs. Israeli officials also claimed to have presented information to the US that Iran had recently made the necessary technical breakthroughs.Netanyahu’s critics are saying he acted to pre-empt something else: a diplomatic agreement between the US and Iran on its civil nuclear programme, or even the demise of his own government. They point out that Israel has been saying for 20 years that Iran is on the brink of building a bomb. Continue reading...

Events

32 h. ago Three terrifying ways the world could destroy Iran's threatened nuclear warheads

Strikes on Iran designed to wipe out the country's nuclear enrichment programme started last night as Israel fears Iran could already have enough enriched uranium for 10 nuclear warheads

Events

33 h. ago Oil surges after Israel’s attack on Iran, risking ‘stagflationary shock’ – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsIsrael launches strikes on ‘dozens’ of targets in Iran, targeting nuclear programmeBudget airline Wizz, whose shares are down almost 5% today, says it has suspended flights to Tel Aviv and re-routed flights affected by closed airspace in the region for the next 72 hours.The jump in the oil price today, following Israel’s attack on Iran, is a “bad shock for the global economy at a bad time”.For the average consumer, they will be looking at more income uncertainty. They will be looking at higher petrol prices, and in the UK, they’re probably looking now at higher risk of taxation in October.So whatever way you look at it, it’s negative short term, it’s negative longer term. Continue reading...

Events

35 h. ago Oil surges after Israel’s attack on Iran, as markets slide – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsIsrael launches strikes on ‘dozens’ of targets in Iran, targeting nuclear programmeEuropean stock markets have joined the global selloff, as the overnight escalation in the Middle East has triggered a wave of risk-off sentiment.Here’s now the main indices have fallen:Germany’s DAX: -1.35%France’s CAC: -1.2%Italy’s FTSE MIB: -1.45%Spain’s IBEX: -1.55%This alarming escalation in the Middle East has likely caught many investors off guard. Those who have been looking for an opportunity to sell stocks and take profits are now becoming active. It seems the DAX has seen its yearly high from just over a week ago for the time being.Oil prices are skyrocketing as fears grow not only regarding the disruption of Iran’s recent strengthened oil exports but also the potential targeting of other oil production facilities in the region, should this conflict escalate further. Additionally, the transportation of oil through the Strait of Hormuz...

Politics

36 h. ago Israel launches strikes on ‘dozens’ of sites in Iran, targeting nuclear programme

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says operation will take ‘many days’ as Tehran threatens swift retaliationMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael has launched an attack on Iran aimed at “dozens” of targets including its nuclear facilities, military commanders and scientists, claiming it took unilateral action because Tehran had begun to build nuclear warheads.As Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, threatened “severe punishment” against Israel, the Israeli military said on Friday morning that Iran had launched 100 drones aimed at Israel and that the country’s defences were focused on intercepted them. Continue reading...

Events

38 h. ago Everything we know about Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear sites and military commanders

Israel has carried out a series of massive airstrikes on Iran, targeting the country's nuclear programme. Here's everything we know so far about the huge explosion across Tehran

Events

47 h. ago Iran’s nuclear facilities may be bombed by Israel. That would be bad for the US – but not Trump’s friends

Israel may bomb Iran. Putin and Netanyahu will gain but that suits Trump, says world affairs editor Sam Kiley

Politics

49 h. ago The Guardian view on Iran’s nuclear programme: Trump undid a crucial accord. A new deal is urgently needed | Editorial

Diplomacy can do more to slow Tehran’s alarming progress than threats from IsraelA year into his first term, Donald Trump pulled the US out of the hard-won international deal that had slowed Iran’s advance towards nuclear weapons, and imposed punishing sanctions. Europe tried to keep the joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA) on life support. But the strangling of Iran’s economy, and the US assassination of Qassem Suleimani, the powerful head of its Quds force, undermined the country’s moderates and the progress on non-proliferation.The fallout of Mr Trump’s Iran policy is still becoming evident. On Thursday, the UN nuclear watchdog found, for the first time in two decades, that Tehran was not in compliance with the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Iran vowed to “significantly” increase production of enriched uranium in retaliation, following a pattern of escalation in response to International Atomic Energy Agency criticism. US and European officials say th...

Politics

49 h. ago Iran’s nuclear programme may get bombed by Israel. That would be bad for America

Israel may bomb Iran. Only Putin and Netanyahu will gain but that suits Trump, says Sam Kiley, world affairs editor

Events

57 h. ago Iraq embassy evacuation explained as Iran nuclear tensions soar with Trump's US

While Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, the West believes Tehran is close to getting its own nuclear warhead through uranium enrichment

Events

8 d. ago War of words between president and former adviser escalates – as it happened

This blog is closed. Musk calls for Trump to be impeached as extraordinary feud escalatesTesla share plunge amid Trump feud wipes $152bn off companyMusk says SpaceX will retire Dragon spacecraftPresident Vladimir Putin told US president Donald Trump that he was ready to use Russia’s close partnership with Iran to help with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, the Kremlin said on Thursday.Trump said after a phone call with Putin on Wednesday that time was running out for Iran to make a decision on its nuclear programme and that he believed Putin agreed that the Islamic Republic should not have nuclear weapons. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Elon Musk escalates war of words with Trump after president threatens to terminate government contracts – live

In flurry of X posts, former adviser hits out at Trump - including threat to decommission Dragon spacecraft - as allies-turned-enemies spar on social mediaMusk calls for Trump to be impeached as extraordinary feud escalatesTrump and Musk trade barbs as rift over tax and spend bill erupts into openPresident Vladimir Putin told US president Donald Trump that he was ready to use Russia’s close partnership with Iran to help with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, the Kremlin said on Thursday.Trump said after a phone call with Putin on Wednesday that time was running out for Iran to make a decision on its nuclear programme and that he believed Putin agreed that the Islamic Republic should not have nuclear weapons. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Trump threatens to ‘terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts’ as feud with Musk escalates – live

Trump claims he asked Musk to leave administration and suggests cutting Musk’s governmental contracts would achieve Doge’s mission of saving US moneyTrump says he is ‘very disappointed’ in MuskPresident Vladimir Putin told US president Donald Trump that he was ready to use Russia’s close partnership with Iran to help with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, the Kremlin said on Thursday.Trump said after a phone call with Putin on Wednesday that time was running out for Iran to make a decision on its nuclear programme and that he believed Putin agreed that the Islamic Republic should not have nuclear weapons. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Elon Musk claims ‘without me, Trump would have lost the election’ – US politics live

Former adviser accuses Trump of being ungrateful in tweet after US president said he was ‘very disappointed’ in Tesla CEOTrump says he is ‘very disappointed’ in Elon Musk after attacks on tax billPresident Vladimir Putin told US president Donald Trump that he was ready to use Russia’s close partnership with Iran to help with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, the Kremlin said on Thursday.Trump said after a phone call with Putin on Wednesday that time was running out for Iran to make a decision on its nuclear programme and that he believed Putin agreed that the Islamic Republic should not have nuclear weapons. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Trump says he’s ‘very disappointed in Elon’ and unsure if they will have good relationship after Musk’s criticism of his tax bill – live

US president says he’d rather have Elon Musk criticize him than the tax legislation because ‘the bill is incredible’President Vladimir Putin told US president Donald Trump that he was ready to use Russia’s close partnership with Iran to help with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, the Kremlin said on Thursday.Trump said after a phone call with Putin on Wednesday that time was running out for Iran to make a decision on its nuclear programme and that he believed Putin agreed that the Islamic Republic should not have nuclear weapons. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Trump says Xi invited him to China during ‘very good’ phone call – live

US president says call was entirely about trade; Chinese president Xi says ‘Consensus has been reached’President Vladimir Putin told US president Donald Trump that he was ready to use Russia’s close partnership with Iran to help with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, the Kremlin said on Thursday.Trump said after a phone call with Putin on Wednesday that time was running out for Iran to make a decision on its nuclear programme and that he believed Putin agreed that the Islamic Republic should not have nuclear weapons. Continue reading...

Politics