Trump signals Iran deal chance as strikes, threats escalate

This live blog follows updates for Day 37 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 36, go here.

• IRGC claims downing US aircraft 
• Iran accuses US, Israel of committing 'war crimes'
• UAE says air defenses responding to Iran missiles, drones
• Iran Guards say destroyed US aircraft searching for missing pilot
• Iran denies rejecting talks, backs Pakistan mediation efforts

Russia's Lavrov says US should 'abandon language of ultimatums'

Published: April 5, 2026 | 05:31 GMT | By AFP

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Washington should abandon "the language of ultimatums" and return to negotiations, in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, his office said.

Lavrov's comments came after US President Donald Trump threatened in an expletive-laden post Sunday to strike Iran's power plants and bridges if it did not reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.

"The Russian side expressed hope that the efforts undertaken by a number of states to de-escalate tensions around Iran will be successful," said a Moscow read-out of Lavrov's conversation with Iran's Abbas Araghchi.

That, it added, "would be facilitated by the United States abandoning the language of ultimatums and returning the situation to a negotiating track".

Israel says Haifa residential building suffers direct hit in Iran attack

Published: April 5, 2026 | 05:28 GMT | By AFP

The Israeli military and medics said that a missile fired from Iran hit a residential building in the northern city of Haifa, injuring four people.

The building was hit by a "direct impact of a missile", the military told AFP. When asked if it was a missile fired from Iran, it said: "Yes."

Iran parliament speaker warns Trump 'whole region going to burn'

Published: April 5, 2026 | 05:18 GMT | By AFP

Iran's powerful parliament speaker warned US President Donald Trump that his "reckless moves" would mean "our whole region is going to burn".

"Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu's commands," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote in an X post in English, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ghalibaf added that the "only real solution is respecting the rights of the Iranian people and ending this dangerous game".

UAE says Iran strategy will boost Israeli influence in the Gulf

Published: April 5, 2026 | 04:35 GMT | By AFP

Israeli influence in the Gulf will increase as a result of Iran's strategy in the region, UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash said on Sunday, as Tehran pressed an air campaign against its neighbors.

"The Iranian strategy will actually concretize the American role...  It will not reduce it. We will also see Israeli influence become more prominent in the Gulf, not less," Gargash said, in remarks released to the media on Sunday.

Tha advisor also confirmed the UAE was ready to "join any American-led effort, international effort to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz".

Trump tells Fox News 'good chance' of deal with Iran on Monday

Published: April 5, 2026 | 02:55 GMT | By AFP

US President Donald Trump said he believes there is a "good chance" of making a deal with Iran on Monday, ahead of his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face heavy bombing.

"I think there is a good chance tomorrow, they are negotiating now," the president told a Fox News journalist.

"If they don't make a deal and fast, I'm considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil," he added.

US-Israeli strikes hit airport in southwestern Iran: state media

Published: April 5, 2026 | 02:25 GMT | By AFP

US-Israeli strikes hit an airport in southwestern Iran, state media reported.

"The Shahid (Qasem) Soleimani international airport was hit in an airstrike carried out by US and Zionist forces," the official IRNA news agency said, citing the deputy governor of Khuzestan province, Valiollah Hayati.

Trump says Iran power plants, bridges to be hit if Hormuz strait not re-opened

Published: April 5, 2026 | 01:27 GMT | By Web Desk

Donald Trump warned that the United States could strike Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran does not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz by Monday.

In a post Sunday on his Truth Social platform, the US President wrote, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran.” He threatened that Iran “will be living in Hell” if it does not reopen the strait.

Iran drones cause 'severe' damage to oil infrastructure: Kuwait state energy firm

Published: April 5, 2026 | 12:15 GMT | By AFP

Attacks by Iranian drones resulted in "severe" damage to Kuwaiti oil and petrochemical facilities, the country's state petroleum company said, as Tehran carries out strikes on civilian infrastructure in the Gulf.

The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said a number of facilities of its subsidiary Petrochemical Industries Company "have been subjected to a heinous Iranian attack and targeting involving the use of drones".

It said "the attack resulted in the outbreak of fires at several of these facilities and caused severe material damage".

Oman, Iran hold talks on ensuring transit through Strait of Hormuz

Published: April 5, 2026 | 10:37 GMT | By Web Desk

The Sultanate of Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran held a meeting on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the level of deputy ministers, attended by specialists from both sides, said a post shared on X by Oman's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. 

"The meeting discussed possible options for ensuring the smooth flow of transit through the Strait of Hormuz amid the circumstances currently prevailing in the region."

The post said, "During the meeting, experts from both sides presented a number of visions and proposals that will be studied."

US media says commandos probed deep into Iran to rescue downed airman

Published: April 5, 2026 | 10:09 GMT | By AFP

American commandos deployed deep into Iranian territory to rescue a downed airman, US news outlets reported on Sunday, hours after President Donald Trump announced that the crew member had been recovered "safe and sound."

Tehran said this week it had shot down an F-15 warplane, the first US fighter jet to go down inside Iran since the start of the war. Washington has not confirmed the details of how the fighter went down.

Trump said early on Sunday the US military had "pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!"

Israel strikes building in south Beirut after warning: State media

Published: April 5, 2026 | 10:09 GMT | By AFP

Israel struck a building in south Beirut on Sunday after issuing an evacuation warning, Lebanese state media reported, as the Israeli military said it was hitting Hezbollah targets.

"The enemy targeted the threatened building in the Ghobeiry area towards Bir Hassan-Jnah," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported.

An AFP photographer saw a missile hit a building and Israeli warplanes flying at low altitude over the capital.

Iran military says US rescue operation used abandoned airport in southern Isfahan

Published: April 5, 2026 | 10:00 GMT | By AFP

Iran's military said on Sunday that the US operation to rescue a missing airman from a downed American fighter jet used an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan province.

"The so-called US military rescue operation, planned as a deception and escape mission at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of recovering the pilot of a downed aircraft, was completely foiled," said Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the military's central command, Khatam Al-Anbiya.

He added that "two C-130 military transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters were destroyed" during the operation.

Israeli strike on Lebanon kills seven including family of six: Civil defense

Published: April 5, 2026 | 09:21 GMT | By AFP

An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon's Kfar Hatta, far from the border with Israel, killed seven people on Sunday including a family of six, a source from the Lebanese civil defense told AFP.

The source said the family, lacking a car and already displaced from a town further south, were waiting for a relative to come pick them up. 

That man was also killed in the strike. 

US-Israeli strikes kill five Guards members in northwest Iran: State media

Published: April 5, 2026 | 09:21 GMT | By AFP

US-Israeli strikes killed five fighters with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the country's northwest on Sunday, state media said.

"Following the brutal attacks of the American–Israeli enemy on the Moghan Plain... five IRGC fighters have attained martyrdom," said Iran's official IRNA news agency, citing a statement by the Guards in the northwestern Ardabil province.

Iran internet blackout is longest nationwide shutdown on record: NetBlocks

Published: April 5, 2026 | 08:24 GMT | By AFP

Iran's internet blackout, first imposed well over a month ago, is now the longest nationwide shutdown on record, according to the monitor NetBlocks.

"Iran's internet blackout is now the longest nation-scale internet shutdown on record in any country, exceeding all other comparable incidents in severity having entered its 37th consecutive day after 864 hours," NetBlocks said in a tweet.

Boosting ties with neighboring, Muslim states priority for Iran: Parliament speaker

Published: April 5, 2026 | 08:24 GMT | By Web Desk

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf says Iran has always prioritized the development of its relations with neighboring and Muslim countries "despite US-Israeli plots against regional security".

He made the remarks in a message addressed to the Islamic countries of the region, according to Press TV. 

Qalibaf cited a China-brokered reconciliation deal signed between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March 2023 and a meeting between the assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud in April 2025 as examples of Iran’s commitment to the principles of Muslim fraternity and unity, as well as distrust in "arrogant powers".

Lebanon president calls for Israel talks to prevent Gaza-style destruction

Published: April 5, 2026 | 07:57 GMT | By AFP

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reiterated on Sunday a call for negotiations with Israel, saying he wanted to spare his country's south from destruction on the scale seen in Gaza.

"It is true that Israel might want to do in southern Lebanon what it did in Gaza," Aoun said in a televised address, after Israel launched airstrikes and a ground offensive against Hezbollah, destroying several southern Lebanese villages.

"Gaza was destroyed, over 70,000 people were killed, and they eventually sat down and negotiated, so why don't we negotiate... until we can at least save the homes that have not yet been destroyed?" he added.

Iran drone sparks fire at storage tank of Bahrain energy firm

Published: April 5, 2026 | 07:57 GMT | By AFP

An Iranian drone attack on Sunday sparked a fire at a storage tank belonging to Bahrain's state energy firm that was later extinguished, the company said in a statement.

"Bapco Energies confirms an incident occurred at one of its storage facilities earlier today resulting in a tank fire, as a result of a hostile Iranian drone attack," the company said, without specifying the location of the blaze.

"The fire has been fully extinguished, and the situation is under control. Damages are currently being assessed and evaluated. No injuries have been reported," it added.

Iranian forces shoot down advanced US drone over Isfahan

Published: April 5, 2026 | 07:26 GMT | By Web Desk

Iran’s IRGC Aerospace Force "successfully intercepted and destroyed" an advanced American MQ-9 drone in the skies above Isfahan province, Iranian state-run Tasnim News Agency reported.

Hezbollah destroys Israeli warship off Lebanese coast: Iranian media

Published: April 5, 2026 | 07:26 GMT | By Web Desk

Hezbollah fighters "successfully struck and destroyed" an Israeli warship positioned 68 nautical miles off the Lebanese coast, as the vessel was preparing to launch attacks on Lebanese territory, Iranian state-run Tasnim News Agency reported.

Five killed in Iran in strikes during US pilot rescue: Iranian media

Published: April 5, 2026 | 07:26 GMT | By AFP

Strikes killed five people overnight in Iran's southwest during the rescue of a missing US crewmember of a downed American fighter jet, Iranian media reported Sunday.

"Five people were martyred in last night's attack on the Kouh-e Siah area" in southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, the Tasnim news agency cited provincial official Iraj Kazemijou as saying.

He said the killings took place while the US was trying to find "the pilot or pilots" of the downed fighter jet.

IRGC claims downing US aircraft 

Published: April 5, 2026 | 07:17 GMT | By Web Desk

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced that, through a joint operation alongside the Army and the Law Enforcement Force, it successfully downed American aircraft that had violated Iran's airspace, according to Iranian state-run IRNA news agency.

Moreover, Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran’s IRGC and Law Enforcement forces (FARAJA) have "successfully destroyed a US drone, a refueling aircraft, and a C-130 transport plane in coordinated operations."

Iran accuses US, Israel of committing 'war crimes'

Published: April 5, 2026 | 06:37 GMT | By Web Desk

The US and Israeli regime’s systematic targeting of civilians and critical infrastructure in Iran—including the Mahshahr Petrochemical Zone (today) and the Karaj–Tehran B1 Bridge (1 April)—constitutes war crimes and State terrorism, the Iranian Mission to the UN said in a post on X on Sunday. 

"These criminal acts violate IHL and terrorize civilians."

It demanded that the "international community must act decisively and condemn unequivocally."

UAE says air defenses responding to Iran missiles, drones

Published: April 5, 2026 | 05:45 GMT | By AFP

Emirati air defenses were responding to missile and drone attacks from Iran, the United Arab Emirates defense ministry said Sunday, as Tehran said it was targeting aluminum industries in the Gulf nation.

"UAE air defenses... are actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats," the ministry posted on X in English, along with an Arabic statement that said the projectiles were coming from Iran.

"MOD (Ministry of Defense) asserts that the sounds heard across the country are the result of ongoing engaging operations of missiles and UAVs," it added.

Iran's army said it was targeting "aluminum industries" in the UAE and US military infrastructure in Kuwait, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

Iran accuses its Gulf neighbors of allowing US forces to carry out attacks from their territory, but Gulf states have repeatedly denied the accusations, saying even before the war that they would not allow their territory or airspace to be used to attack Iran.

Iran Guards say destroyed US aircraft searching for missing pilot

Published: April 5, 2026 | 04:59 GMT | By Web Desk

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that a US aircraft searching for the pilot of the downed F-15 fighter jet was intercepted and destroyed south of Isfahan, Iranian state-run Press TV reported.

Iran claims it has shot down 162 drones so far

Published: April 5, 2026 | 04:45 GMT | By Web Desk

A Hermes 900 drone was intercepted and shot down by the Army Air Defense Force in Isfahan, central Iran, according to Iranian state-run Press TV.

It reported that the latest interception brought the total number of drones downed by the country’s integrated Joint Air Defense network to 162.

‘WE GOT HIM!’ President Trump confirms US officer’s rescue from Iran  

Published: April 5, 2026 | 04:27 GMT | By Web Desk

US President Donald Trump, in a post on TruthSocial, confirmed rescue of the missing US officer from Iran.

He said that the rescued officer was ‘safe and sound’.

President Trump said, “WE GOT HIM! My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!”

He stated, “at my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him. He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.”

Missing airman from downed US jet 'recovered': Report

Published: April 5, 2026 | 03:59 GMT | By Web Desk

The US has “recovered” the second crew member from the downed F-15E jet in Iran following a “heavy firefight”, a US government official said, according to Al Jazeera. 

The media outlet also reported strikes in the city of Dehdasht in Kohgiluyeh County, where the aircraft was downed two days ago. 

It said that it was very clear that there was an operation going on by the Americans to try to rescue the second pilot. 

Meanwhile, Axios quoting US officials reported that US special forces rescued the second crew member of the F-15 fighter jet that was shot down over Iran.

Strike hits area near search for missing US pilot

Published: April 5, 2026 | 02:30 GMT | By Web Desk

Iranian state media reported that a missile strike killed four people in southwestern Iran, near an area where search operations are underway for a missing US pilot.

Citing local officials, the reports described the attack as a “US-Israeli” operation targeting the Kouh Siah area in Dehdasht.

The strike hit a telecommunications facility and an IRIB broadcast tower, a provincial deputy governor said.

“Four people were killed and one injured,” the official told state media.

The incident comes as Iranian authorities and local forces continue searching for a US airman who went missing after ejecting from a downed fighter jet in the same region.

There was no immediate confirmation from US or Israeli officials.

Iran launches missiles, drones as regional conflict sharply escalates

Published: April 5, 2026 | 01:54 GMT | By AFP

Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and Kuwait early Sunday, a day after President Donald Trump said the Islamic Republic had 48 hours to cut a deal or face "all Hell."

Kuwait and Israel said their air defenses were responding to the latest attacks from Iran, part of the war that erupted more than a month ago with US-Israeli strikes that triggered retaliation by Tehran.

The war has spread conflict throughout the Middle East and convulsed the global economy. Iran's forces maintain a tight grip on the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, a vital conduit for oil and gas, and strike economic targets in Gulf neighbors they see as linked to the US-Israeli war effort.

Pope marks first Easter under cloud of Mideast war

Published: April 5, 2026 | 01:42 GMT | By Web Desk

Pope Leo XIV is set to mark Easter Sunday for the first time as pontiff, with the Middle East war casting a pall over the most important date in the Christian calendar.

The US-born pope, who has emerged as a leading voice against the war, will hold mass in St. Peter’s Square from 0830 GMT in front of thousands of faithful.

The leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics will then pronounce a traditional blessing at 1000 GMT that will be closely followed this year.

The ceremony will also bring back memories of late Pope Francis, who last appeared in public on Easter Sunday last year — a few hours before he died.

Speaking during an Easter Vigil on Saturday, the pontiff called for “a new world of peace and unity” and decried the divisions created by “war, injustice and the isolation of peoples and nations.”

Leo has repeatedly called for peace in the Middle East and this week directly urged US President Donald Trump to find an “off-ramp.”

Iran claims US jets downed, search underway

Published: April 5, 2026 | 00:54 GMT | By Web Desk

Iran said it shot down a US F-15 warplane earlier this week, with US media reporting that special forces rescued one of the two crew members while the other remains missing.

Tehran also said its forces downed a US A-10 ground attack aircraft over the Gulf, with US media reporting the pilot was rescued.

Washington has not officially confirmed either incident or provided updates on efforts to locate the missing airman.

According to Mehr news agency, a local official said search operations are ongoing. “The search… involves popular forces and tribesmen alongside military forces and is still ongoing,” deputy governor Fattah Mohammadi said.

He added that “people fired at enemy helicopters… and did not allow them to land.”

Kuwait intercepts missiles, reports damage from drone attack

Published: April 5, 2026 | 00:00 GMT | By Web Desk

Kuwait’s military said its air defense systems were actively intercepting incoming missiles and drones targeting the country, as regional tensions continue to escalate.

“Kuwaiti Air Defenses are currently responding to hostile missile and drone threats,” the army said in a post on X, adding that explosions heard were the result of interception operations.

Separately, authorities said an Iranian drone attack on a government office complex caused “significant” damage on Saturday, though no injuries were reported.