Donald Trump has said he is "not at all" concerned about committing possible war crimes as he again threatened to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants if Tehran does not meet his Tuesday deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” the US president told a news conference on Monday at the White House.
Trump has given Tuesday at 8pm Washington time as his supposed final deadline for Iran to make a deal before the US begins striking key infrastructure. He reconfirmed this ultimatum during the press conference, but after issuing at least four prior deadlines, questions have been raised over his latest threat.
The president earlier claimed Iranians “want to hear bombs because they want to be free” in his latest bizarre rant as he stood next to the Easter Bunny at the White House Easter Egg Roll.
Meanwhile, Iran rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal and said it wants a permanent end to the conflict. Airstrikes from both sides continued into Tuesday, with Iran accusing Israeli and US strikes of flattening a synagogue in Tehran.
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Iran claims 14 million have volunteered to fight if US invades
Iranian state television this morning claimed 14 million people had volunteered to fight for the country if there is a ground invasion by the US and Israel.
The claim by state TV, which included no other information or an explanation of how that figure was reached, doubles a 2 April claim by Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf that 7 million had volunteered.
Iran is home to some 90 million people. Iran had conducted a bloody crackdown on nationwide demonstrations in January that killed thousands and saw tens of thousands detained.
State media and text message campaigns have urged people to volunteer.
The government has also called on retired soldiers to express their interest in fighting, while the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force has begun accepting children as young as 12 into its ranks.
After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called for the creation of a 20-million-strong Basij force.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 April 2026 07:30
Watch: Trump vows to decimate Iran as deadline approaches
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 April 2026 07:15
UK to host Strait of Hormuz planning meeting
The UK will host a meeting of allied military officers to discuss plans for securing the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to reopen the waterway looms.
The US president has given Tehran until 8pm on Tuesday Washington time to end its blockade of the strait or be bombed "back to the Stone Ages".
The UK government has pledged to stay out of any offensive action against Iran.
Ahead of Tuesday's deadline, Britain's Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood, outside London, will host a meeting of military planners to discuss long-term measures to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait, a vital shipping route for oil and gas, has been effectively blockaded by Tehran since the outbreak of war, causing major disruption to oil supplies and threatening fuel shortages across the world.
Today's meeting is expected to focus on plans for an international coalition to make the strait safe for shipping once hostilities have ended.
It follows a meeting of more than 40 nations, chaired by foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, that discussed collective action to increase pressure on Tehran to reopen Hormuz.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 April 2026 07:00
History will be far kinder to PG-rated Keir Starmer than foul-mouthed Donald Trump
Can you imagine if Keir Starmer acted like Donald Trump?
Just picture it, the next time you are watching PMQs: the UK prime minister standing up, adjusting his tie, nudging up his glasses and then facing Kemi Badenoch and Mel Stride – swapping “honourable lady” and “honourable gentleman” for “crazy ba******” and dropping the f-bomb before the BBC bleeps it out.
Much as it might liven things up, it’s just not cricket, is it? And it only serves to highlight the enormous gulf between the behaviour of the two men, with one remaining composed, professional and statesmanly – and the other, well, being Donald Trump.
But while we are used to the US president acting like a 6ft toddler and throwing his toys out of the pram, his latest social media rant felt embarrassingly juvenile, even for him.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” Trump wrote on his own platform, Truth Social.
More here
History will be far kinder to PG-rated Starmer than foul-mouthed Donald Trump
The US president’s expletive-laden social media post proved one thing: he’s not a classy statesman like Keir, writes Victoria RichardsAlisha Rahaman Sarkar7 April 2026 06:59
Saudi Arabia intercepts Iranian drones
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said its air defences intercepted and destroyed 18 incoming drones in the past hours.
Earlier today, it said seven ballistic missiles from Iran targeted the kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province, with “debris from the missiles” crashing into the ground near energy facilities.
The brief statement from Maj Gen Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the Saudi military, did not elaborate on the extent of the damage on the ground, though he said an "assessment is underway".
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 April 2026 06:45
Israel warns Iranians not to take trains today
The Israeli military has issued a fresh warning to Iranians to avoid taking trains until at least 9pm local time.
"For the sake of your security, we kindly request that from this moment until 21:00 Iran time, you refrain from using and travelling by train throughout Iran," the military posted on its Persian-language account on X.
"Your presence on trains and near railway lines endangers your life."
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 April 2026 06:42
House Democrat calls for impeachment of Pete Hegseth
A Democratic congresswoman has introduced an impeachment complaint against US defence secretary Pete Hegseth over his handling of the war on Iran.
Yassamin Ansari said she will introduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth next week for "repeatedly violating his oath of office and his duty to the Constitution".
Ansari, an Arizona lawmaker of Iranian descent, said: “What we have seen out of the Trump administration over this weekend has been absolutely horrifying and gut-wrenching."
“The threats against Iranian civilian infrastructure and the entire country of Iran are unreal and apocalyptic,” she said.
“Iran is a country of 90 million people, and threatening them with annihilation is a monstrous war crime.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 April 2026 06:35
China’s Xi urges faster development of new energy system
Chinese president Xi Jinping has called for accelerated planning and construction of a new energy system to safeguard the country’s energy security, weeks into the Iran war that has triggered global energy shocks.
The leader of the world’s second-largest economy also emphasised hydropower development and ecological protection, while urging the safe and orderly expansion of nuclear power, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“The Party Central Committee has gained a profound grasp of global energy development trends and made major decisions by advancing the new energy security strategy in depth,” he said, referring to the ruling Communist Party’s centre of authority.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 April 2026 06:00
Malaysian commercial vessel allowed to pass through Strait of Hormuz
Malaysia’s foreign ministry today said that one of seven Malaysian commercial vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz has been allowed to pass and is now heading to its destination.
The ministry said this followed diplomatic talks with Iranian officials led by Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Malaysia reaffirmed its support for safe and open sea routes under international law, the foreign ministry said in a statement. It called for continued dialogue to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 April 2026 05:45
Key bridge linking Saudi Arabia to Bahrain shut
A key bridge linking Saudi Arabia to the island of Bahrain has been shut this morning over threats of an Iranian attack.
Vehicle movements on the King Fahd Causeway have been “suspended as a precautionary measure” over Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, the authorities said.
The 25km-long bridge is the only connection by road for Bahrain.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 April 2026 05:31NewerOlder