Israel-Iran latest: Trump sends Tehran warning after nuclear sites targeted by Israeli strikes

Donald Trump has told Iran to “make a deal before there is nothing left” if it wants to “save what was once known as the Iranian empire”.

The US president is referring to the nuclear deal which negotiators from Washington and Tehran have been working to hash out recently – and which experts have suggested Israel is seeking to scupper by striking Iran.

Here is what the US president said in a post on Truth Social:

Prices in both gold and oil are surging following Israel’s overnight strikes on Iran which has escalated the risk of war.

Iran exports more than 1.5m barrels of oil a day and could impose an effective block on supply if they close the major shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz.

The price of crude oil shot up early on this morning. Brent crude oil jumped to just under $76 a barrel before dropping back somewhat, now at $71.65 to show a 4.7 per cent rise.

Crude oil is still 5 per cent up having also hit $75 earlier.

Let’s bring you up to speed on everything that has happened today so far, as the world reacts with concern to a major escalation between Iran and Israel.

Israel launched trikes against targets in Iran at around 3am local time (1am UK time), and warned citizens in the country to prepare for a missile attack in retaliation. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the operation, named Operation Rising Lion, would continue for “many days”. He claimed Iran has taken steps towards weaponising enriched uranium.Several Iranian commanders and scientists were killed in the strikes, according to the Israeli military. This includes Hossein Salami, chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Iran has fired around 100 drones in response. an Israeli military official said it has intercepted many of these but that some are still Israel-bound. The situation is said to be under control, the official said. There have so far been no reports of civilian casualties in the strikes, but reports are still emerging from on the ground. World leaders have called on Israel and Iran to exercise restraint to prevent an all-out war. This includes leaders from the across Europe, along with Russia and China. Later on Friday, reports are emerging that Israel has continued strikes on Iran. Unconfirmed reports in Iranian media state Israel has struck Iran’s northwestern city of Tabriz.

Israel claims to have killed three senior military figures during its strikes on Iran overnight.

From left to right, they are:

Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya (Emergency Command), Gholam-Ali RashidCommander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein SalamiChief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Iranian regime, Mohammad Hossein Bagheri

Israel has issued a renewed strike on Iran, Fars News has reported.

The unconfirmed report stated Israel has struck Iran’s northwestern city of Tabriz.

We’ll bring you all the latest on this live blog.

Israel has lifted restrictions on its population as it says Iran’s retaliatory fire of more than 100 drones.

Sirens were activated at around 3am local time (1am BST) and civilians were told to stay near bomb shelters, but a military official has said localised alerts can now be sent after a number of the drones were intercepted.

Some drones remain on course to Israel, the official added.

Keir Starmer has described reports of Israeli strikes on Iran as “concerning”.

He said on X: “The reports of these strikes are concerning and we urge all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently.

“Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.”

We’ve just heard from an official in the Israeli military, who gave a press briefing on the overnight strikes on Iran.

The strikes targeted Iranian ballistic missiles which were pointing towards Israel among other targets, the official said.

Depending on the Iranian response, the operation may go on for a number of days, he said, adding that Israeli pilots returned safely to Israel following the attacks.

Israel’s strikes were “clearly designed to scupper” talks on a nuclear deal between the US and Iran, the director of international affairs think tank Chatham House said.

“It also shows that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not much concerned with the views of Washington, which he appears to have disregarded,” Bronwen Maddox added.

“The attacks will risk destabilising the region depending on Iran’s response. There is concern across the Gulf that Iran may choose to hit back not just at Israel but at neighbours who are close to the US.

“The strikes could destabilise Syria where the success of the new government – or otherwise – will affect the wider region.”