38 m. ago Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza as Qatar calls for peace talks – Middle East crisis live

At least 49 people were killed across Gaza by Israeli strikes, health staff sayEmirates extended its cancellation of flights to and from Iran’s capital Tehran until July 5 due to the “regional situation“, it said in a statement on Saturday, Reuters reports.The Dubai-based airline said it will recommence operations to Baghdad on 1 July and Basra on 2 July. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago Trump denies US plan to offer Iran $30bn civilian nuclear deal

US president lashes out at media for reporting his administration discussed possible deal involving release of billions of dollars in frozen assets to support Iran’s non-military nuclear development

Economics

3 h. ago Qatar sees ‘window of opportunity’ for Gaza truce as dozens reported killed by Israel – Middle East crisis live

At least 34 people were killed across Gaza by Israeli strikes, health staff sayIran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Iranians had given their “blood” during a 12-day war with Israel but “not honour”, AFP reports.“Iranians gave blood, not land; gave their loved ones, not honour; they withstood a thousand-ton rain of bombs, but did not surrender,” Abbas Araghchi said on his Instagram account, adding that Iran does not recognise the word “surrender”. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago Trump says he would ‘absolutely’ consider bombing Iran again following ‘unbelievable’ nuclear strikes

Donald Trump has said that he would “absolutely” consider bombing Iran again if Tehran is enriching uranium to "concerning" levels.

Events

4 h. ago Trump says he would ‘absolutely’ consider bombing Iran again – Middle East crisis live

US president tells White House briefing he would ‘without question’ attack the country if Tehran is enriching uranium to concerning levelsWe have more on the state funeral being held in Tehran for around 60 people, including its military commanders and nuclear scientists.The proceedings started at 8.00am local time (04.30 GMT) in the capital as government offices and many businesses were closed on Saturday for the occasion, AFP reports. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago Trump claims he spared Khamenei’s life but would consider bombing Iran again

US president claims he saved Iran’s supreme leader from ‘ugly and ignominious death’

Politics

26 h. ago 18 killed in Israeli strike targeting Gaza police distributing flour, officials say

Attack at market is latest in series by Israeli forces that have killed hundreds of civilians seeking aidMiddle East crisis – live updatesEighteen people have been killed in an Israeli strike targeting Palestinian police distributing flour in a market in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, medical officials have said.The reported strike, on Thursday afternoon, is the latest in a series of air attacks, shootings and bombardment by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that has killed hundreds of desperate civilians seeking aid in the devastated Palestinian territory. Continue reading...

Events

27 h. ago How Israel pulled off audacious ‘Red Wedding’ and ‘Operation Narnia’ attacks on Iran

The success of key Israeli operations against Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists is said to have even caught planners by surprise

Politics

43 h. ago Your Middle East questions answered – from Trump’s fragile ceasefire to what Israelis think of Netanyahu

Readers shared their urgent questions about Israel, Iran, Trump, and Netanyahu with our world affairs editor, Sam Kiley, who has been reporting from Tel Aviv amid rising tensions in the region

Politics

44 h. ago Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatens more attacks on US after week

The supreme leader gave his first televised address since Donald Trump launched a bombing raid on Iran’s nuclear sites. But after a prolonged absence, questions about the ayatollah’s future remain

Events

44 h. ago Members of British Jewish body suspended after criticising Israel to launch appeal

Board of Deputies representatives hit by disciplinary action say they remain ‘deeply concerned’ about Gaza warMiddle East crisis – live updatesThirty-six elected representatives to the UK’s largest Jewish organisation are to appeal against disciplinary action taken against them after they criticised the Israeli government’s operations in Gaza, and have said they remain “deeply concerned” about the war.The Board of Deputies of British Jews announced on Tuesday that five of the group would be suspended for two years and 31 would be reprimanded for breaching its code of conduct after a two-month investigation. Continue reading...

Politics

49 h. ago Iran delivered ‘heavy slap to US’s face’, says Khamenei as he threatens further attacks on American bases – Middle East crisis live

In his first comments since the ceasefire, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the US ‘gained no achievement’ when it joined the war with Israel against TehranIsrael’s national security minister called for a “complete halt” of humanitarian aid to Gaza on Thursday, claiming that Hamas is taking control of the supplied goods and food.Itamar Ben-Gvir says that he will “demand” Benjamin Netanyahu put a new vote to the country’s cabinet on the issue of the introduction of aid to Gaza.The humanitarian aid currently entering Gaza is an absolute disgrace. What is needed in Gaza is not a temporary halt to the “humanitarian” aid, but a complete halt to it.When I warned and warned, and unfortunately the only one who voted a month and a half ago against the introduction of the aid, it was clear to me that it would give oxygen to Hamas.With all due respect and gratitude to the president of the United States, he’s not supposed to intervene in a legal process of an independent state.I hope and suppose tha...

Events

67 h. ago Pakistan debates Trump Nobel peace prize nomination after US strikes on Iran

Pakistani government had credited US president with ‘pivotal leadership’ in its ceasefire negotiations with IndiaMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump’s intervention into the Iran-Israel war, and brokering then announcing a ceasefire, has drawn a heated debate in Pakistan – where the government had formally nominated the US president for the Nobel peace prize as the US military was making its final preparations for a strike that threatened all-out war in the Middle East.A statement in the early hours of Saturday local time – shortly before US B-2 bombers left the Whiteman air force base in Missouri and headed to Iran – had credited Trump for a “legacy of pragmatic diplomacy” and “pivotal leadership” for ensuring Pakistan’s ceasefire with India in a conflict that had begun with the killing of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir in April. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Satellite images and leaked intelligence throw doubt on Trump’s claims of success in Iran nuclear base strikes

Pictures show superficial damage to Iran’s nuclear sites, while a leaked intelligence report suggests the strikes only set back Tehran’s atomic programme by a matter of months

Events

3 d. ago ‘It’s like being walled in’: young Iranians break through internet blackout

Desperate for news on war with Israel, people are searching for proxy links that route messages through servers outside Iran• Middle East crisis – live updatesAmir* hasn’t slept much in days. From his apartment in northern Tehran, the 23-year-old spends his nights searching for proxy links – fragile digital lifelines that briefly break through the internet blackout.Iran remains under a near-total internet shutdown, severely limiting access to information. A group of young Iranians are, however, working non-stop to breech the blackout to ensure their voices go out to the outside world. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago ‘It’s like being walled in’: young Iranians try to break through internet blackout

Desperate for news on war with Israel, people search for proxy links to route messages through servers outside Iran• Middle East crisis – live updatesAmir* hasn’t slept much in days. From his apartment in northern Tehran, the 23-year-old spends his nights searching for proxy links, fragile digital lifelines that briefly break through the internet blackout.Iran remains under a near-total internet shutdown, severely limiting access to information. A group of young Iranians are, however, working non-stop to ensure their voices reach the outside world. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Iran’s desire for nuclear weapons has only been spurred on by US strikes – no matter what Trump says

As leaked US intelligence suggests Trump’s strikes only put Iran’s nuclear programme back by a few months, Tehran will feel the incentive to secure a weapon more than ever, world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes from Tel Aviv

Events

3 d. ago Beijing, a longtime friend of Tehran, turns to cautious diplomacy in Iran's war with Israel

A longtime friend of Tehran, Beijing jumped into verbal action when Israel attacked Iran nearly two weeks ago

Politics

3 d. ago Caught in the crossfire, Qatar again finds itself Middle East peace broker

The US has turned to Qatar to mediate between Iran and Israel, despite one of the parties firing missiles at the tiny but staggeringly rich nationMiddle East crisis – live updatesCaught in the crossfire, Qatar on Monday night found itself in the unusual position of being asked by the US to mediate to end a war where one of the two parties was firing missiles at it. But then there are few countries as multifaceted as Qatar, or few conflicts quite as tangled as the Iran-Israel war.It seems Monday’s heavily signalled Iranian attack on Qatar’s 60-acre Al Udeid airbase, the largest US military facility in the Middle East, may even have become the opening to resume diplomacy. The attack, which caused no casualties, cleared the ground for Donald Trump and Qatar to work together to secure the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran. It once again highlights Qatar’s role as professional mediator – a bespoke service this tiny but massively wealthy country makes available from the Democratic...

Events

3 d. ago How to talk to your kids about Middle East wars in Gaza, Iran and Israel

Youngsters can grow fearful in times of conflict, even if they are not directly involved. Here's five top tips on how to discuss the difficult subject of war with them

Politics