Welcome to our live coverage of the US and Israel’s war with Iran.
Iran’s military has warned that hotels accommodating American soldiers across the Middle East are targets in its war with the US and Israel.
“When all the Americans (forces) go into a hotel, then from our perspective that hotel becomes American,” armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi told state television.
“Should we just stand by and let the Americans strike us? When we respond, naturally we have to strike wherever they are.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also urged civilians across the region to stay away from areas near US forces on Friday.
Meanwhile, the IRG said they had turned back three ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz, adding the route was closed to vessels travelling to and from ports linked to its “enemies”.
It comes as the US and Iran gear up for direct talks, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, adding it was “expected to take place in Pakistan very soon”, without revealing the source of the information.
US President Donald Trump is reportedly moving towards ordering a “ground operation” against the regime in an effort to deliver a “final blow”, even as he speaks publicly about negotiating with it.
The Times of Israel, citing an official from one of the third-party countries mediating between the US and Iran, says Mr Trump “appears to be leaning towards ordering a ground operation against Iran”.
The report says America is “convinced Tehran will buckle under such military pressure”.
“The official, intimately familiar with the mediation efforts, says the US privately recognises that Iran isn’t likely to agree to the concessions presented in Washington’s 15-point plan and has dispatched thousands of troops to the region in order to capture Tehran’s Kharg Island on Trump’s orders,” it reports.
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