Middle East conflict live updates: Donald Trump says Iran ceasefire proposal ‘not good enough’
Trump says 'entire' Iran could be 'taken out in one night'
Pinned James Wheeler
Donald Trump warned at his media conference that all of Iran could be “taken out” at the expiry of a deadline he issued for the Islamic Republic to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz waterway.
“The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump told a news conference this morning.
– AFP
Hegseth cancels press conference
Vera Alves
Vera Alves
Israel military says air defences responding to Iranian missiles
Vera Alves
Israel's military says that its air defences were activated in response to missiles fired by Iran on Tuesday (local time), shortly after it announced that it had launched a "wave" of air strikes on Iran.
"A short while ago, the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said on its official Telegram channel.
– AFP
Israeli military announces 'wave' of air strikes on Iran
Vera Alves
Israel's military announced a "wave" of air strikes on Iran after US President Donald Trump said that a truce proposal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran from international mediators was not yet enough.
"A short while ago, the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] completed an air strike wave with the aim of damaging Iranian terror regime infrastructure in Tehran and additional areas across Iran," the Israeli military wrote on its official Telegram channel.
– AFP
Saudi Arabia says downed 7 missiles, debris fell near power facilities
Vera Alves
Saudi Arabian air defences intercepted and destroyed seven ballistic missiles launched toward the country's east, the Defence Ministry's spokesman said.
The ministry said on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday (local time) that seven "ballistic missiles launched toward the eastern region were intercepted and destroyed. Parts of ballistic missile debris fell around power facilities; damage assessment is underway".
– AFP
Donald Trump calls out Australia for ‘not helping’ Iran war effort
Vera Alves
US President Donald Trump has taken another swipe at Australia for refusing to aid his war effort in Iran.
Trump made the remarks about Australia during a White House press conference overnight, where he directly called out a number of allies who he claimed “didn’t help”.
“Japan didn’t help us, Australia didn’t help us, South Korea didn’t help us, and then you get to Nato. Nato didn’t help us,” he said.
He made the comments in response to a question about the Nato alliance, which he described as a “paper tiger”.
The US leader has frequently taken to social media to share his frustrations with Iran, as well as Nato countries and Asia-Pacific allies – including singling out Australia twice before – for refusing to aid his war effort, including the provision of a naval coalition to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Australia has insisted there has been no such request, but has taken part in British-led crisis talks discussing what diplomatic and political measures can be taken to reopen the shipping channel.
That meeting included more than 40 countries but excluded the US.
– News.com.au
Drone 'from Iran' crashes into Iraqi Kurdistan home, kills two: Authorities
Vera Alves
A drone "coming from Iran" killed a couple in Iraqi Kurdistan after crashing into their home, local authorities reported early on Tuesday (local time).
The autonomous region's Counter-Terrorism Service said in a statement that the incident took place on Monday (local time) "when a bomb-laden drone coming from Iran crashed into a civilian home in ... the Dara Shakran subdistrict within Erbil Province".
– AFP
Vera Alves
Christopher Luxon speaks as fuel crisis takes toll at pumps, Trump threatens to ‘take out’ Iran
Vera Alves
This morning, US President Donald Trump warned all of Iran could be “taken out” if it does not immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key pipeline for 20% of the world’s oil.
Air New Zealand cuts Tauranga flights as jet fuel prices surge
Vera Alves
Air New Zealand is cutting flights in and out of Tauranga because of the fuel crisis.
Iran Army dismisses Trump's 'rude, arrogant rhetoric'
Vera Alves
Donald Trump's "arrogant rhetoric" on the war on the Middle East is not hindering Iran's soldiers, Tehran's Army said, after the US President on Monday (local time) threatened to raze Iran's infrastructure.
"The rude, arrogant rhetoric and baseless threats of the delusional US President ... have no effect on the continuation of the offensive and crushing operations of the warriors of Islam against the American and Zionist enemies," a spokesman for the Army's Khatam Al-Anbiya central command said, cited by the national broadcaster.
– AFP
Trump lashes out at 'paper tiger' Nato while re-upping Greenland claim
Vera Alves
Donald Trump lashed out at Nato allies who did not support the United States in the war in Iran and reiterated his desire to annex Greenland.
Trump's remarks came ahead of a visit by the defence alliance's chief Mark Rutte scheduled for later this week.
"Look, we went to Nato," Trump recalled. "I didn't ask very strongly, I just said, 'Hey, if you want to help, great'.
"'No, no, no we will not help'," Trump said he was told, while not saying who he spoke to.
Trump went on to say that Nato members had "actually gone out of their way not to help".
The alliance, Trump said, "is a paper tiger" that Russian President Vladimir "Putin's not afraid of".
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, who Trump called "a great person", is expected in Washington this week.
On Wednesday, he will hold talks with Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the alliance said on Friday.
The remarks mark the latest dust-up between Trump and the alliance.
Trump has made no secret of his desire to annex Greenland – controlled by Nato ally Denmark - which has been strongly resisted by the alliance.
Discussing his displeasure with Nato, Trump said: "It all began with – if you want to know the truth – Greenland."
"We want Greenland," Trump said. "They don't want to give it to us. And I said, 'bye, bye'."
Trump also criticised other traditional non-Nato allies including South Korea, Australia and Japan for not assisting with the Iran war.
Trump praised Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for their support during the conflict.
– AFP
Trump 'feels insulated from the consequences' of war, expert says
Vera Alves
Defence expert Gil Barndollar believes Donald Trump feels the United States is insulated from the consequences of the Middle East war.
He told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast it is hard to know how much of the US President's claims that Iran could be taken out quickly is bluster or belief in the country's military capacity.
"To be honest, part of it is that the United States really is just purely by geography kind of insulated from the worst of this war. Both in terms of oil shock and oil prices will hit the United States, but will hit us last, you know, after they hit Asia and after they hit Europe."
Although Iran can cause physical damage to the Gulf states and Israel, its weapons cannot threaten the US, Barndollar said.
"So I think he [Trump] feels insulated from the consequences of any destruction the US could release, you know, in or outside the bounds of law, and that's a whole other discussion."
Pictured: Donald Trump holds press conference about Iran war
Vera Alves
Winston Peters to call for winding down of conflict in meeting with Rubio
Vera Alves
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week will be dominated by calling for a winding down of the conflict in the Middle East, according to the Prime Minister.
“It's really a chance for Winston to say, look, this is having huge impacts around the world, it's obviously having huge impacts for us at home, and to encourage the US and Iran to deescalate as quickly as possible,” Christopher Luxon told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast.
The High Commissioner had also represented New Zealand at a diplomatic meeting of countries convened by the UK to discuss ways of moving ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
But Luxon said the bigger issue was the need for the US and Iran to “deescalate quickly”.
“We've always got to try and strengthen those international bodies that did serve us well for 80 years and remake the case for multilateralism versus just multipolar powers, big powers that can make decisions on their own and bully others into different positions.
“We will continue to advocate for the rules-based system, but no doubt about it, there's a hell of a lot of work that needs to happen at the UN and other bodies as well.”
'It’s not Covid – it’s not life and death,' Luxon says
Vera Alves
New Zealand remains in Phase 1 of its fuel supply plan because there are no signs of significant supply disruptions, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.
He rejected the idea of whipping people into a frenzy over the fuel crisis to gain political capital, telling Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast: “It’s not Covid – it’s not life and death”.
The Government was focused on keeping people informed, providing targeted support, and putting in “some prudent thinking ahead in case there is a risk to any supply down the road”, he said.
Asked if New Zealand was hustling, like Australia, to get fuel shipments from different sources, Luxon pointed out Australia had started with lower fuel stocks in the country and did not have the regulatory frameworks New Zealand had already in place.
The Government was talking to fuel importers every day, he said, often several times a day, and all were saying they had no risk to future orders.
“They're finding sources of oil from other places ... some of it is coming from Canada, some of it will be coming from Peru, Chile, Suriname, West Africa, other places as well.”
'Desperate old man': Defence expert says Trump's threats should be taken seriously
Vera Alves
Donald Trump's threats to Iran should be taken seriously, says a defence and security expert.
The United States President Donald Trump has repeatedly given Iran ultimatums throughout the war, most recently threatening to bomb civilian infrastructure if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz, in an expletive-ridden Truth Social post.
The University of Buckingham's Anthony Glees told Ryan Bridge TODAY that Trump is a "vindictive, angry, desperate old man who has tried to use America's massive military power to take out Iran in days, rather as he dealt with the problems that America faced in Venezuela".
The war, now into its second month, has shown that no matter how many times the US and Israel attack Iran, it still fights back, he said.
Glees said he believes Trump will escalate the conflict.
Trump threatens to take out Iran on Tuesday | Ryan Bridge TODAY
Vera Alves
Nicola Willis 'really concerned' about trajectory of war
Vera Alves
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she is "really concerned" about the trajectory of the war in the Middle East.
Yesterday, United States President Donald Trump threatened to bomb civilian infrastructure if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz, in an expletive-ridden Truth Social post.
Willis told Ryan Bridge TODAY that the sooner the conflict ends, the better it is for New Zealand and the world.
"We want to see resolution. And that requires negotiation, it requires people looking for a cessation to these sorts of activities. And once again, we call on all actors in the conflict to uphold international law, that includes humanitarian law, which is pretty explicit. You shouldn't be targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure."
The Government was looking at further options to create more security in New Zealand fuel stocks following the deal with Channel Infrastructure to add more storage to Marsden Point, Willis said.
"One is to work with the existing fuel importing companies on commercial arrangements that would allow them to bring in more supply than they normally do.
"Another would be to have bespoke arrangements with one-off shipments."
Swapping International Energy Agency tickets for fuel which can't be used in New Zealand for fuel that could be used is another option, she said.
'The great powers are doing what they can and the rest of us just suffer'
Vera Alves
The world's security environment has changed from one of predictability to uncertainty since the start of the century, former Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast, Mapp referenced Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January speech talking about a fundamental rupture to the global order.
“That's created a sort of level of anxiety I think all of us are experiencing in one way or another,” he said.
At the start of the century, New Zealand had far more troops deployed, including in East Timor, Afghanistan, and the Solomon Islands, and some were being killed.
But senior officers were saying there was much more pressure now because things had become so unpredictable.
“We've had Russia invade Ukraine, US attacks Iran. Neither of those things are even remotely legal, but nevertheless they're happening.
"The great powers are doing what they can and the rest of us just suffer.”
Trump ‘not concerned’ about war crimes as he threatens destruction of infrastructure
Vera Alves
Donald Trump said he was “not at all” concerned about committing war crimes if he attacks civilian infrastructure.
Asked by a reporter if he was concerned his threats to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges could amount to war crimes, Trump responded: “No, not at all. No. No, no. I hope I don’t have to do it.”
The reporter had earlier reminded the US President that deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure are illegal under the Geneva Convention.
The US President reiterated his threats to take out sites like power plants and bridges if a deal is not reached with Iran in the next few hours.
– Daily Telegraph UK
The fuel stocks are strong, so why is the confidence low? | Ryan Bridge TODAY
Vera Alves
Trump says will destroy all Iran bridges, power plants in 'four hours' if no deal
Vera Alves
US President Donald Trump said Monday that the military had war plans to destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran over a four-hour period if his peace deal deadline is not met.
"We have a plan - because of the power of our military - where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again," Trump said at a press conference. "I mean complete demolition by 12 o'clock (midnight), and it'll happen over a period of four hours - if we wanted to."
Trump previously set 8:00pm Washington time on Tuesday (11am NZT) for Iran to agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
– AFP
Trump ‘very disappointed’ with Nato over Iran
Vera Alves
Donald Trump said the conflict with Iran has left a “mark on Nato that will never disappear”.
“I have to tell you that I am very disappointed in Nato,” he said.
He claimed that Nato members including Britain wanted to refrain from helping until the US won the war.
– Daily Telegraph UK
'Serious concern': 274 stations out of fuel in Australia
Vera Alves
Australians are still “hyper-focused” on fuel supplies, but the number of empty service stations has fallen over Easter weekend, Australia correspondent Donna Demaio says.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has reassured Australians there are fuel shipments on the way well into May, Demaio told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking.
“Up until that announcement, we've been told fuel supplies…had been locked in until about the end of April, so now it stretches into May. So people are starting to breathe a sigh of relief.”
About 274 service stations across the country are out of diesel which is of “serious concern”, but 53 ships carrying fuel are on their way to Australia from refineries across Asia, the United States and Mexico.
As enemies closed in, US airman only broke cover at the final moment
James Wheeler
After a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down over Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province on Friday, the pilot was rescued almost immediately. But the weapons officer remained missing.
What followed was a race against time between the US and Iran to recover the stranded colonel.
At stake was not just the life of the airman and the dozens of special forces troops who risked everything to save him, but the reputation of the US military.
How special forces pulled off the ‘most daring operation in history’ to save a wounded airman from Iran’s forces:
Trump criticises UK for not joining Iran war
James Wheeler
Donald Trump has mocked the Royal Navy’s “old” aircraft carriers, which he said “barely work”.
The US President said he expected Britain to be the “first” to help the US in its war against Iran as their oldest ally, but was told: “No, sir, we’d rather wait till you win.”
Trump continued: “They have two old, broken aircraft carriers that barely work. I said, I guess we can use them.”
He claims he offered the ships to a US general who turned down the offer, noting that America has the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Middle East.
Earlier today, Trump mocked Sir Keir Starmer, comparing him to Neville Chamberlain, whose policy of appeasing Nazi Germany in the 1930s failed to prevent the Second World War.
–Daily Telegraph UK
Trump says US tried to arm Iran protesters, but lost weapons
James Wheeler
Trump said the United States attempted to arm Iranian protesters, but the weapons were diverted and never passed to the right people.
Trump said the armaments were meant to help anti-government protesters fight back against the authorities.
"We sent guns, a lot of guns, they were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs," Trump told reporters while at a White House Easter event.
"You know what happened? The people that they sent them to kept them," Trump went on, adding: "So I'm very upset with a certain group of people, and they're going to pay a big price for that."
Trump did not give details about who he was accusing of taking the US weapons.
However, on Sunday, Trump was quoted as saying by a Fox News reporter that he blamed Kurdish intermediaries for having taken weapons destined for Iranian dissidents.
– AFP
US defence secretary compares rescue mission to Easter story
James Wheeler
Pete Hegesth, the US Secretary of War, appeared to compare the search and rescue mission to the Easter story.
“Shot down on a Friday, Good Friday. Hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday, and rescued on Sunday,” he said.
“Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday.”
“A pilot reborn, all home and accounted for. A nation rejoicing.”
– Daily Telegraph UK
Trump looking for ‘leaker’ who let slip details of rescue mission
James Wheeler
Trump said his Administration is looking “very hard” to find a person who leaked information about the mission to rescue downed airmen in Iran.
“They put the mission at great risk,” Trump said.
“They put that man at great risk, and they put the hundreds of people that went in looking for him.”
– Daily Telegraph UK
More than 170 US aircraft used in Iran fighter crew rescue: Trump
James Wheeler
Trump said that more than 170 US military aircraft were used in the rescue of the crew of a fighter plane downed in Iran.
Trump told reporters at a White House briefing that 21 aircraft were used in the operation to recover the first crew member and another 155 in the second rescue mission.
Two transport planes got stuck in sand and had to be blown up, he added.
– AFP
US used subterfuge to rescue aircrew, Trump says
James Wheeler
Donald Trump said US forces used “subterfuge” in the mission to rescue the crew of a downed F-15 jet from Iran.
“A lot of it was subterfuge. We wanted to have them think he was in a different location,” he said.
“Thousands of people were looking, so we wanted them to look in different areas, so we were scattered all over ... we had seven different locations.”
“They were very confused. They said ‘well, wait a minute they’ve got groups here, they’ve got groups there’. It’s amazing.”
– Daily Telegraph UK
Injured pilot scaled cliffs: Trump details F-15 jet crash rescue
James Wheeler
Trump is describing the escape of one of the crew of the downed F-15 jet.
“He was injured, it was an amazing, amazing thing,” he said. “He scaled cliff faces, bleeding rather profusely, treated his own wounds and contacted American forces to transmit his location.”
“We immediately mobilised a massive operation to retrieve him.”
– Daily Telegraph UK
Trump: ‘We leave no American behind’
James Wheeler
Donald Trump, speaking to media this morning, said the US military leaves “no American behind” as he began a press conference addressing the mission to rescue two downed US fighter pilots from Iran.
“Our armed forces deployed 21 military aircraft into hostile airspace, many flying at very low altitude, being shot by bullets,” he said.
“We have a helicopter that’s got a lot of bullets in it,” he continued.
“The flight crews and war fighters aboard those aircraft took extraordinary risks to rescue their fellow service members.”
– Daily Telegraph UK
State media says Iran rejects ceasefire proposal
James Wheeler
Iran has rejected a proposed truce in its war with the United States and Israel, state media reported on Monday (local time), despite a stark threat by US President Donald Trump to destroy its vital infrastructure.
“Iran has conveyed to Pakistan its response to the American proposal to end the war,” the IRNA news agency said, without revealing its source or what the US offer contained.
“In this response – set out in 10 points – Iran ... has rejected a ceasefire and insists on the need for a definitive end to the conflict.”
Several countries are trying to find a diplomatic solution to end 38 days of war sparked by Israeli and US attacks against Iran, which has responded by firing missiles at targets across the Middle East.
Trump warned on Sunday (local time) that unless Tehran agreed by Tuesday evening to allow free passage to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, he would order strikes on its power plants and bridges.
But the IRNA said Tehran had countered with demands of its own, including “an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction, and the lifting of sanctions”.
– AFP
Iran Guards vow to avenge slain intel chief
James Wheeler
Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed on Monday (local time) to avenge the death of its intelligence chief, Major General Majid Khademi, killed earlier in the day in an Israeli strike.
"The malicious and desperate enemy should know that a major retaliatory strike by the IRGC Intelligence Organisation, under Operation 'Crushing Revenge', awaits the planners and perpetrators of this crime," Khademi's agency said in a statement on the Guards' official site Sepah News.
– AFP
Trump: Downed US airmen ‘recovering well’
James Wheeler
Donald Trump said two American fighter jet airmen rescued by special forces from inside Iran after being shot down were “recovering very well”.
“They are both recovering very well. They were both injured – and they’re doing well,” Trump said.
The US President is holding a press conference on the rescue operation now.
We have a livestream pinned to the top of this blog.
– Daily Telegraph UK
Watch live: Trump gives update
James Wheeler
Donald Trump is due to address the conflict in a press conference at 5am NZT.
The Republican leader had given Iran until noon Wednesday NZT to open the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that is crucial to global oil and gas flows, or else face strikes on bridges and power plants.
In a stark, expletive-laden social media post on Sunday, Trump demanded: “Open the F***** Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell.”
The Revolutionary Guards, however, said Hormuz “will never return to its former status, especially for the US and Israel”.
Iran's virtual blockade of Hormuz has sent oil and gas prices soaring and pushed countries around the world to enact measures to contain the fallout.
Without singling out either side in the conflict, International Committee of the Red Cross chief Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement that there had already been widespread destruction of “essential” infrastructure and that “any war fought without limits is incompatible with the law” and “indefensible”.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi warned against further strikes near Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant, saying one recent impact hit just 75m from the perimeter.
– AFP
Trump says Iran ceasefire proposal 'not good enough'
James Wheeler
US President Donald Trump said a proposed 45-day ceasefire with Iran was a "very significant step" but "not good enough" for him to sign, as Iranian officials vowed to keep fighting.
Talk of a ceasefire came as the US and Israel struck targets across Iran, including major petrochemical facilities, while time ticked down to Trump's Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its civilian infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Iran continued missile and drone attacks around the region.
Trump said intermediaries between the US and Iran "are negotiating now" on improving the ceasefire proposal, which US media reported was being mediated by Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey.
"It's not good enough, but it's a very significant step," he told reporters at the White House.
Trump added that he would still go through with his threat against civilian targets if a deal is not reached.
Iran's IRNA state news agency said Tehran "has rejected a ceasefire and insists on the need for a definitive end to the conflict" in a message relayed to America via Pakistan.
Neither Trump nor the IRNA named any specifics of the proposed ceasefire.
Iran's military would "continue the war as long as the political authorities see fit", Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia told the ISNA news agency.
– AFP
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