Iran-US battle newest: Trump says ‘we want to fight now more than they do’ as Israel declares ‘next stage’ of battle
Donald Trump said Thursday the US now wants to fight more than Iran does, pouring cold water on hopes of a diplomatic way out of the war.
Speaking at the White House, the president boasted that the US “continues to totally demolish the enemy far ahead of schedule and at levels that people have never seen before” — after his secretary of defence said they now expect the war to last eight weeks, up from four or fewer.
Trump said that Iran was still pursuing diplomatic avenues to end the war, but the US was not interested in making a deal.
“They’re tough, and they want to fight,” he said. “And they’re calling, they’re saying, how do we make a deal? I said, ‘You’re being a little bit late’, and we want to fight now more than they do.”
Earlier this week, the head of Iran’s national security council ruled out negotiations with Trump, claiming he had “plunged the region into chaos with his ‘delusional fantasies’”.
The U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran started over the weekend as concerns about the country’s nuclear program grew.
WHO chief announces 13 attacks on health infrastructure in Iran
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, has announced 13 attacks on health infrastructure in Iran.
“WHO has verified 13 attacks on health care in Iran and one in Lebanon,” the chief said during a news conference Thursday. “Under international humanitarian law, healthcare must be protected and not attacked.”
Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev vowed to “crush” Iran with an “Iron Fist” after four Iranian drones were launched into its territory,
Four people were injured when drones struck a school and an airport in the Nakhchivan area, which lies near the Iranian border, marking the latest escalation to the widening six-day conflict.
“Those who once tried to test our strength were crushed by the Iron Fist; today’s incident will have the same result,” Aliyev said on Thursday at a meeting of the Security Council, according to Azerbaijani news agency Trend.
Footage published on social media showed a drone colliding with an airport terminal building, causing a large explosion and plume of black smoke. Tehran denied targeting Azerbaijan with the drones.
Bahrain says a hotel and two residential buildings were targeted in an Iranian attack
Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior has said a hotel and two residential buildings were targeted in an Iranian attack in Manama.
No one was killed in the attack, and a fire that broke out in one of the residential buildings has been controlled, the Interior Ministry said.
The announcement, shared on X early Friday morning, was a correction to a previous statement from Bahrain officials, saying the attack targeted two hotels and a residential building.
Watch: Zelensky says US asking for Ukraine specialists to help combat Iran drones
Saudi Arabia announces destruction of drone
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence announced early Friday morning that the country had intercepted and destroyed a drone in the eastern region.
Pete Hegseth says ‘we have only just begun’ in Iran
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the United States has “only just begun” in the Iran conflict, where President Donald Trump will have a “heck of a say” in its next supreme leader.
The U.S. and Israel began striking Iran over the weekend, killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials.
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US allows Indian refiners to buy oil from Russia
The United States has allowed Indian refiners to buy oil from Russia amid the Iran conflict.
“To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil”, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on X.
“This deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only authorizes transactions involving oil already stranded at sea”.
Trump boasts US will ‘totally demolish’ Iran’s forces as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammates awkwardly stand behind him
Donald Trump boasted of “totally demolishing” Iranian forces as world-famous soccer star Lionel Messi and his Miami teammates stood awkwardly behind him at the White House on Thursday.
“The United States military, together with the wonderful Israeli partners, continues to totally demolish the enemy far ahead of schedule and at levels that people have never seen before,” the president said.
Trump made the comments at the top of the White House event to honor Inter Miami’s 2025 victory in the MLS Cup. The winning squad, including Luis Suárez and coach Javier Mascherano, were present, while Messi entered the room with the president.
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IRGC warns protesters to avoid streets as they have ‘shoot to kill’ order
An official from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has warned protesters to avoid the streets during an appearance on Iran’s state TV Thursday, The New York Times reported.
Protesters would be viewed as agents of Israel, and “the shoot to kill order has been issued”, the official said.
Source: independent.co.uk
