Iran-US war latest: US forces fire at ship running Hormuz blockade while Israel intensifies war in Lebanon
In Focus | As Iran war threatens undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz, is it time to rethink the internet?When one of the world’s worst ever energy crises began in the Strait of Hormuz in February, few believed that their internet access – rather than their gas bill – would be the worst affected aspect of daily life.But lurking many thousands of metres beneath the oil ships being attacked by the Iranian navy lie a series of undersea cables that play a vital role in the global economy, helping to power our internet and keep the world connected.Earlier this month, Tehran floated plans to impose tariffs on Strait of Hormuz submarine cables, warning that they were a vulnerable chokepoint for the region's digital economy.Undersea internet cables form the backbone of all worldwide connectivity, enabling bank transfers, messaging, and critical services to function. But as global conflicts threaten crucial chokepoints through which they run, how can the critical cables be protected? Alex Croft reportsAlex Croft31 May 2026 10:14Dutch defence minister says Iran war shows conflicts are interconnectedDutch defence minister Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius has warned that the Iran war is exposing how closely conflicts in Europe and the Middle East have become intertwined.Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, she cited Iran’s alleged drone support for Russia during the war in Ukraine and growing military cooperation between Tehran, Moscow, North Korea and China.“A war in Europe involves drones from Iran, soldiers and ammunition from North Korea and various types of support from China,” she said. “The lesson is clear: regional tensions are no longer regional. Our security is interconnected.”The US, UK, France, and the EU have accused Iran of supplying Shahed drones to Russia for use in Ukraine. Iran has denied sending drones for use in the war, although it acknowledged in 2022 that it had supplied a “small number” of drones to Moscow before Russia’s invasion.Shahana Yasmin31 May 2026 09:52ICYMI: Kazakhstan offers to store Iran’s enriched uranium, says IAEA chiefKazakhstan has offered to take custody of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium if Washington and Tehran reach a nuclear agreement.Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the Financial Times that Kazakhstan has “a place where this could be stored safely,” since it has a “bank” for low-enriched uranium.Iran’s 440kg stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity has become one of the biggest sticking points in negotiations over a proposed deal to extend the ceasefire and restart talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme.Experts have said the material could be refined further to produce about 10 nuclear weapons.Donald Trump has demanded the stockpile either be removed from Iran or destroyed under international supervision.Shahana Yasmin31 May 2026 09:30Hegseth walks back on 'any Iran deal will be a good deal' comment with 'important clarification'Hegseth walks back on 'any Iran deal will be a good deal' comment with 'important clarification'Shahana Yasmin31 May 2026 09:10ICYMI: The Situation Room meeting that had the world watching for a dealPresident Donald Trump on Friday met with with top aides in the White House Situation Room “to make a final determination” on whether to accept a proposed agreement to end the war he started with Iran three months ago and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global maritime traffic.Writing on Truth Social, Trump said the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would end and Iran would “complete the immediate removal and/or detonation of any mines” in the key waterway so that the strait would be “immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic” to allow hundreds of ships that have been trapped on the wrong end of the strait to “start the process of ‘heading home!’”“Say HELLO to your wives, husbands, parents, and families from me, your favorite President,” he said. “I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination.”Shahana Yasmin31 May 2026 08:50Iranian commander warns of ‘more forceful’ retaliationIran has warned that any new attack on its territory would trigger a stronger military response, as tensions remain high despite ongoing discussions over a possible ceasefire extension.Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, Iran’s deputy army commander for coordination, said the country’s armed forces were prepared to respond to further military action.“The enemy should know that any aggression against the country’s territory will be met with a response even more forceful than before,” he said, per Al Jazeera.“Today, the army of the Islamic Republic stands firmly and resolutely against any hostile move by the enemy,” Sayyari added.The warning comes as the US and Iran remain divided over a proposed agreement covering Tehran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.Shahana Yasmin31 May 2026 08:30‘A cartoon villain’: Hegseth shredded for ‘cringe’ pep talk to Navy soldiers about Iran warA clip of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth giving a “cringe” speech to US sailors about the Iran war is going viral.Hegseth was in Singapore on Friday, where he did drills with the crew of the USS Boxer and then spoke to a group of assembled sailors about the ongoing conflict.In his remarks, Hegseth pointed to a recent comment from President Trump, which threatened further US strikes if Iran doesn’t agree to a deal to end the war.Online commentators quickly mocked the speech and the audience of service members, who appeared to be mostly unmoved by Hegseth’s call to arms.Pete Hegseth tries to pump up troops about Iran war in Singapore speechShahana Yasmin31 May 2026 08:10Israel issues fresh evacuation orders for southern LebanonThe Israeli military has issued a fresh evacuation warning for residents south of the Zahrani River in southern Lebanon. Israel is deepening its invasion of the country to the furthest point in decades, as it intensifies its attacks.The evacuation order comes ahead of potential strikes, and is the latest in a significant number of evacuation orders .Alex Croft31 May 2026 07:50What a peace deal between Iran and the US could look like as Trump outlines key demandsShahana Yasmin31 May 2026 07:30Israel captures Beaufort castle in deepest Lebanon incursion in decadesIsraeli troops have captured the Beaufort castle in southern Lebanon in their deepest incursion into the country in more than 25 years.The Crusader-era fortress sits on a strategic hilltop near Nabatiyeh, where Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters have clashed for days amid heavy airstrikes.The Israeli military said troops launched an operation in the Beaufort Ridge and nearby Suluki valley to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and remove “direct threats to Israeli civilians”. It added that the army was prepared “to expand the operation if needed”.Israeli forces have advanced beyond the Litani River and are now about 5km from Nabatiyeh, one of southern Lebanon’s main cities, despite a ceasefire that officially took effect on 17 April.Shahana Yasmin31 May 2026 07:10
