Trump warns of strikes on Iran if it ‘misbehaves’

 This live blog follows updates for Day 65 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 64, go here.

• Iran Guards say US options are 'impossible' military operation or 'bad deal'
• Israel court extends detention of two Gaza flotilla activists by two days: Rights group
• Israel approves plan to buy new F-35, F-15IA combat squadrons
• Iran Red Crescent pays tribute to over 60 teachers killed in war
• Iran plans to turn university site hit in US-Israeli strikes into museum

Iran Guards say US options are 'impossible' military operation or 'bad deal'

Published: May 3, 2026 | 09:53 GMT | by AFP

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that the United States faced a choice between an "impossible" military operation or a "bad deal" with the Islamic republic.

In a statement carried by state television, the Guards intelligence organisation said that "Trump must choose between 'an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran'".

It cited what it described as a "shift in tone" from China, Russia, and Europe towards Washington as well as what it called an Iranian "deadline" over the US naval blockade.

Israel court extends detention of two Gaza flotilla activists by two days: Rights group

Published: May 3, 2026 | 09:52 GMT | by AFP

An Israeli court on Sunday approved a two-day extension to the detention of two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla who were brought to Israel for questioning, a rights group representing them told AFP.

"The court extended their detention by two days," said Miriam Azem, international advocacy coordinator at the rights group Adalah.

Israeli authorities had asked to extend their detention by four days, Azem said.

Israel approves plan to buy new F-35, F-15IA combat squadrons

Published: May 3, 2026 | 09:17 GMT | by Web Desk

Israel has approved a plan to purchase two new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing, in a deal worth billions of dollars, Al Jazeera reported, quoting the country's defense ministry.

Iran Red Crescent pays tribute to over 60 teachers killed in war

Published: May 3, 2026 | 08:24 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran Red Crescent, in a post on X on Saturday, paid tribute to 67 teachers killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

The social media post stated, "Today, Iran observed National Teacher’s Day. We honor 67 martyred teachers, including 26 from Minab school, who were killed during U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran."

Sri Lanka raises fuel prices as inflation spikes

Published: May 3, 2026 | 07:30 GMT | by AFP

Sri Lanka raised fuel prices by nearly four percent on Sunday, further fueling inflation, which more than doubled last month due to the US-Israel war on Iran.

Since March, Sri Lanka has raised fuel prices by more than 35 percent, while gas and electricity rates have also increased by a similar amount.

The island has also rationed fuel following supply disruptions.

On Sunday, the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation increased the price of kerosene –- used by agricultural machinery –- to 265 rupees ($0.85) a liter, up 10 rupees.

Petrol rose 12 rupees to 410 rupees ($1.32). Diesel was up 10 rupees to 392 rupees.

Higher energy prices pushed inflation to more than double, reaching 5.4% in April, according to official data.

Fuel and electricity tariffs drove up transport costs as well as food prices, the Department of Census and Statistics said.

Iran plans to turn university site hit in US-Israeli strikes into museum

Published: May 3, 2026 | 06:54 GMT | by AFP

Iranian authorities plan to turn a bombsite at a university in central Iran into a museum about the impact of US-Israeli strikes, an official said.

"The current damaged site will be preserved as a war museum at the university to remain a document of the country's scientific oppression in history," said Zafarollah Kalantari, head of Isfahan University of Technology on Saturday.

He added that other land had been allocated for the "construction of a new building and provision of advanced equipment" for the university, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Kalanari said initial assessments had put the cost of the damage to the university's buildings and facilities at around $11 million.

US-Israeli strikes hit the institution in Isfahan -- among the largest universities in Iran -- in March during the war that began a month earlier and subsequently spread across the region.

Officials have said that strikes hit more than 30 universities across Iran, including in the capital Tehran, as well as residential areas and other civilian infrastructure.

A ceasefire has been in place since April 8.

US okay over $8B in arms sales to Gulf allies 

Published: May 3, 2026 | 05:34 GMT | by Web Desk

The US State Department has approved about $8.6 billion in weapons sales and military support for several Gulf allies, Al Jazeera reported, citing US State Department's website. 

These agreements include major deals with Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, covering a range of defense systems and services.

Qatar will receive $4.01 billion in Patriot missile defense support, Kuwait a $2.5 billion battle command system, and the UAE is set to obtain Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems valued at $147 million.

Israel tells residents of 12 Lebanese towns to flee 

Published: May 3, 2026 | 05:23 GMT | by Web Desk

The Israeli military has warned of potential attacks on 12 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, instructing residents to evacuate their homes, according to Al Jazeera. 

It directed people in al-Duwayr, Arab Salim, al-Sharqiya (Nabatieh), Jibshit, Braashit, Sarafand, Dounin, Briqa, Qaaqaiya al-Jisr, al-Qasiba (Nabatieh), and Kfar Sir to move at least 1,000 meters away to open areas.

Trump warns of strikes on Iran if it ‘misbehaves’

Published: May 3, 2026 | 00:36 GMT | by Web Desk

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that there is a possibility of restarting strikes on Iran if they ‘misbehaves’ or does something bad.

In a brief interview with reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, he declined to specify what could trigger new military action against the Islamic Republic.

"If they misbehave, if they do something bad, but right now, we'll see," he said. "But it's a possibility that could happen, certainly."

Trump says US will cut troop numbers in Germany 'way down'

Published: May 3, 2026 | 00:36 GMT | by AFP

President Donald Trump said Saturday the United States will "cut way down" on the number of American troops stationed in Germany amid a growing transatlantic rift over the Middle East war.

"We're going to cut way down, and we're cutting a lot further than 5,000," Trump said, referring to Washington's decision to withdraw that number of troops from Germany, where there were 36,436 active-duty US troops as of December 31, 2025.