Middle East crisis live: Trump says US close to ‘finishing the job’ in Iran during prime-time address

From 14h agoDeath toll in strike on Iranian bridge rises to 8 with almost 100 injured, Iran state media reportsThe death toll from Thursday’s attack on the B1 bridge in Karaj, Iran, has risen to eight, up from two, and 95 others were injured, Iranian state media reports.Donald Trump earlier boasted about the attack, warning Tehran there was “much more to follow” and urged it to “make a deal before it is too late”.Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the attack wouldn’t force Tehran to surrender. “It only conveys the defeat and moral collapse of an enemy in disarray,” he said. double quotation markEvery bridge and building will be built back stronger. What will never recover: damage to America’s standing. Key events8h agoSummary12h ago'Spiral of death and destruction must stop,' says Guterres12h agoHegseth asks US army chief to step down14h agoDeath toll in strike on Iranian bridge rises to 8 with almost 100 injured, Iran state media reports14h agoStrait of Hormuz is 'open for us', says Russia14h agoUS striking civilian structures a sign of 'moral collapse', says Iranian foreign minister15h agoHouthis claim further strikes on Israeli targets15h agoIran preparing proposal for joint post-war Strait of Hormuz navigation protocol with Oman17h agoTrump urges Iran to make deal 'before it is too late'17h agoThe day so far17h agoWar without a plan?: What Trump's latest speech revealed - podcast18h agoReport: Iran is drafting a protocol with Oman to monitor traffic in the strait of Hormuz20h ago‘Everyone is thinking about oil prices’: is Iran using the war to hide a surge in executions?22h agoYvette Cooper condemns 'Iranian recklessness' over global economic security22h agoMacron criticises Trump, says 'unrealistic' to reopen Strait of Hormuz by force23h agoKey moments from Trump's address to the nation1d agoChina blames US and Israeli attacks on Iran for Hormuz strait closure1d agoUS embassy in Iraq warns of attacks from 'Iran-aligned militias' in Baghdad within 24 to 48 hours1d agoRationale for Iran war questioned after Trump says ‘I don’t care’ about regime’s uranium stockpiles1d agoKey moments from Trump's oval office address1d agoOil prices rise after Donald Trump addresses Americans about progress of Iran war1d agoTrump once again sets out a timeline of 'two to three weeks', as he defends his decision to go to war1d agoTrump says US close to ‘finishing the job’ in Iran1d agoTrump makes the case for the Iran war1d agoTrump begins address to the nation1d agoTrump preparing to make first national address since launching Iran war a month ago1d agoOpening summaryShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureThis blog is closing now. You can read the latest major development in this story about Trump’s warning to Tehran here. Thank you for reading.SummaryHere is a summary of the latest developments: The UN security council is expected to vote today on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomats said Bahrain, which now chairs the 15-member Security Council, finalized a draft resolution seen by Reuters that would authorize “all defensive means necessary” to protect commercial shipping. Iran says it is drafting a peacetime protocol that will supervise – but not restrict – maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz with Oman. Meanwhile, the strait is open for Russia, according to a Russian official quoted by that country’s state media. UN secretary-general António Guterres has issued a stark warning to the warring parties, calling for an immediate end to the “spiral of death and destruction” in the Middle East. US army chief of staff Randy George was asked to step down by defense secretary Pete Hegseth and take immediate retirement, CBS News reported. His removal adds to recent upheaval at all levels of leadership at the Pentagon. US forces have struck a bridge connecting Tehran and Karaj in Iran in an attack that Iranian media reported killed at least 8 people and injured about 100 others. The attack reportedly eliminated a planned military supply route for sustaining Iran’s ballistic missile and attack drone force. The US president, Donald Trump, shared footage on his Truth Social of the bridge strike near Tehran, warned there was “much more to follow” and urged Tehran to “make a deal before it is too late”. Yemen’s Houthis have said they have carried out another military operation using a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting “vital Israeli enemy targets”, this time as part of a joint operation with Iran and Hezbollah. US oil prices settled more than 11% higher and Brent soared nearly 8% on Thursday in volatile trading, as traders worried about prolonged disruptions to oil supply the day after President Donald Trump said the US would continue attacks on Iran. Kuwait’s military said on Friday its air defences were working to intercept missiles and drones fired towards the Gulf nation’s territory.The Kuwaiti army posted the news on X, saying any explosions heard were air defence interceptions.Updating our earlier post about today’s UN security council vote on a proposal to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a final draft seen by Reuters says it authorises the use of defensive – but not offensive – action to ensure vessels can safely pass through the strait. Bahrain’s initial draft resolution would have allowed countries “to use all necessary means” – UN language that would include possible military action – “in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman” to secure passage and deter attempts to interfere with navigation. Russia, China and France, all veto-wielding countries , had expressed opposition to approving the use of force. The final draft eliminates any reference to allowing offensive military action, but the three countries’ views on the changes are not known, so Friday’s vote will be closely watched.Israel’s military said Friday its air defences were operating to down missiles fired from Iran, as Tehran keeps up its retaliatory fire on the country.The military said in a statement it had “identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the state of Israel”, adding that “defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat”. There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage.US oil prices settled more than 11% higher and Brent soared nearly 8% on Thursday in volatile trading, as traders worried about prolonged disruptions to oil supply the day after President Donald Trump said the US would continue attacks on Iran.Brent crude futures closed at $109.03 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose to $111.54 per barrel, settling at their biggest absolute price rise since 2020.Both benchmarks remained below highs near $120 a barrel reached earlier in the conflict.The UN security council is set to vote on Friday on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats said.Diplomats said Bahrain, which now chairs the 15-member Security Council, finalized a draft resolution seen by Reuters that would authorize “all defensive means necessary” to protect commercial shipping.“We look forward to a unified position from this esteemed council during the vote that will take place on the draft resolution tomorrow, God willing,” Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told the council.Bahrain, backed in its efforts to secure a resolution by other Gulf Arab states and Washington, had previously dropped an explicit reference to binding enforcement in a bid to overcome objections from other nations, particularly Russia and China.The draft seen by Reuters authorises the measures “for a period of at least six months … and until such time as the council decides otherwise.” Israeli emergency responders inspect a scene of a direct ballistic hit, after it was launched from Iran on Thursday in Petach Tikva. Photograph: Amir Levy/Getty ImagesIsraeli emergency responders inspect a scene of a direct ballistic hit, after it was launched from Iran in Petach Tikva, Israel. Iran has continued firing waves of drones and missiles at Israel after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran early on February 28th. Photograph: Amir Levy/Getty Images'Spiral of death and destruction must stop,' says GuterresUN secretary-general António Guterres has issued a stark warning to the warring parties, calling for an immediate end to the “spiral of death and destruction” in the Middle East.“Every day the war in the Middle East continues, human suffering and devastation grow, indiscriminate attacks grow, and the perils to our world grow,” he said. double quotation markThe conflict is being felt everywhere. We must find a peaceful way out. The spiral of death & destruction must stop now. In a prior post, he called on the United States and Israel to “stop the war that is inflicting immense human suffering & triggering devastating economic consequences”, and urged Iran to stop attacking its neighbours.“Conflicts end when leaders choose dialogue over destruction,” he said. “That choice still exists. And it must be made now.”Hegseth asks US army chief to step downUS Army chief of staff Randy George was asked to step down by defense secretary Pete Hegseth and take immediate retirement, CBS News reports.In the last year, Hegseth has moved quickly to reshape the department, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement Donald Trump’s national security agenda.George, an infantry officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was confirmed to the top post in 2023. Terms in that role usually run for four years.Prior to holding the top job, George was the vice chief of the army and, before that, the senior military adviser to then-defense secretary Lloyd Austin.His removal adds to recent upheaval at all levels of leadership at the Pentagon, including the firing last year of the previous chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, air force general CQ Brown, as well as the chief of naval operations and air force vice-chief of staff.The office for George did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.