US-Israel-Iran War Highlights: Iran blames US’ ‘war of choice’ for shipping disruptions at Strait of Hormuz

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US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said “all options should be on the table” in dealing with Iran after President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

Waltz made the comments on CBS, stressing he would “never take anything off the table for the president.”

His remarks came as Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum to attack Iranian power infrastructure if it does not open Stair of Hormuz for shipping.

Iran’s state‑run Islamic Republic News Agency says Iran’s UN ambassador sent a letter to both the UN Security Council and Secretary‑General António Guterres condemning threats to strike Iranian power plants.

The letter calls attacks on power plants “inherently indiscriminate and clearly disproportionate,” highlighting Iran’s rejection of such actions.

Iran’s complaint comes after US President Donald Trump issued a 48‑hour ultimatum warning that the United States would attack Iranian power plants if Tehran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.

Israel’s military says it detected missiles launched from Iran targeting northern Israel

The detection comes amid ongoing missile exchanges in the Iran–Israel conflict

Israeli defence systems were activated to intercept incoming threats

The latest alert follows two earlier air defence failures, where missiles were not intercepted

Those failures allowed Iranian missiles to hit targets inside Israel

France president Macron said he held talks with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid rising regional tensions

-Reaffirmed France’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia

-Pledged support to strengthen Saudi air defence systems

-Condemned repeated missile and drone attacks on the Kingdom

-Warned of escalation “spiraling out of control”

-Called for a temporary halt to attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure

-Urged Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

-Stressed need for “responsibility and restraint” from all sides

-Emphasised dialogue as the only path to peace and security

-Called for stronger coordination between G7 and Gulf Cooperation Council

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday: "- Strait of Hormuz is not closed. Ships hesitate because insurers fear the war of choice you initiated—not Iran

- No insurer—and no Iranian—will be swayed by more threats. Try respect

- Freedom of Navigation cannot exist without Freedom of Trade. Respect both—or expect neither"

The Iranian official warned that any US strike would trigger retaliation across the region.

“All power plants, energy infrastructure, and information technology (ICT) infrastructure of the Zionist regime will be extensively targeted,” Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said.

He added that “the power plants of countries in the region that host American bases will be legitimate targets for us.”

Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said said the vital shipping route remains operational for now but under Iran’s control.

“We have said repeatedly that the Strait of Hormuz is closed only to the enemy and to harmful traffic… it has not yet been fully closed. It remains under our intelligent control,” he said.

Iran has warned that the strategic Strait of Hormuz will be “completely closed” if the United States targets its power plants, sharply escalating tensions in a key global energy corridor.

In a statement carried by Press TV, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said: “The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt.”

Iran on Sunday said at least 210 children have lost their lives, and over 1,510 have been injured in US-Israeli attacks across the country since February 28.

Iranian Health Minister Mohammadteza Zafarqandi said nearly 300 medical facilities, including hospitals and emergency centers, have suffered significant damage in the US-Israeli strikes.

Saudi Arabia issued a statement declaring the Iranian military attache, his deputy, and three other diplomatic staff persona non grata. They must leave the kingdom within 24 hours after being declared persona non grata, the Saudi foreign ministry said on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement that continued Iranian attacks would lead to further escalation and have “significant consequences” for current and future relations.

Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that he is hopeful of reestablishing the nuclear discussions between the US and Iran after the conflict ends.

Nothing can happen while bombs are falling. But yes, I’ve been having important conversations here at the White House, and also with Iran,” he told CBS News.

Grossi added that “there are some contacts, and we hope to be able to reestablish that line.”

Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, has congratulated Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the occassion of the Persian New Year.

“Iran will overcome challenges with courage,” Lukashenko said in a statement carried by Iran’s Tasnim news agency. “At the moment of the New Year, Iran continues to courageously fight difficult external challenges.”

Lukashenko said he is “confident that the wise people of Iran, relying on their great experience gained over centuries, will overcome all difficulties with courage and will preserve their right to continue on the chosen path of independence and sovereignty”.

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry on Sunday said its air defences have tracked the launch of three ballistic missiles targeting the country's capital, Riyadh, intercepting one, while the other two fell in an uninhabited area.

The ministry also said it downed six drones headed toward Saudi Arabia's eastern region, which is home to major oil installations.

Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran, has said that the country’s civilian infrastructure should be spared from the US-Israeli bombing campaigns.

“Iran’s civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran. The Islamic Republic’s infrastructure is the machinery of repression and terror used to keep that future from becoming reality. Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled,” he said in a post on X.

Iran has claimed that its air defense systems have successfully reduced military aggression by US and Israeli fighter jets in the central regions of the country after the F-35 aircraft was struck.

Iran’s Press TV, citing intelligence sources, said that its air defense network inflicted multiple blows against invading aircraft.

"The multiple strikes by Iran's integrated air defense system against American and Israeli invading aircraft have led to a significant reduction in military operations by American and Israeli fighter jets in the central regions of the country," the source said.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis said the Trump administration must make its objectives of the operation clearer before Congress approves additional funding. When asked by ABC News’ Jonathan Karl about the war objective, Tillis said, "I don't know, and I think it's a real problem."

According to Tillis, the operation is now "ambiguous."

"I don't know what our long-term strategic goals are, but we're going to need to know that," Tillis said. "I generally support what the president's doing in Iran, but if we're going to get anything close to the $200 billion supplemental request, we got to get 60 votes, and we're going to have to figure out how to accomplish that."

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said on Sunday that the country’s death toll as of Saturday was 1,024 people. This includes 118 children and 79 women. At least 2,786 others have been wounded in the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah.

Sixty percent disapprove of the US taking military action against Iran, a new poll by CBS News and YouGov has found. This is an increase from the 56 per cent earlier this month. The poll also found that 66 per cent of Americans describe the war as one of choice, while only 34 per cent felt it’s a war of necessity.

In the latest poll, 92 per cent of the participants agreed that it’s important to “end the conflict as quickly as possible.”

Joseph Aoun, the President of Lebanon, has condemned the Israeli strikes that blew up a key bridge in his country, calling the action ‘unjustified’. He also claimed that Israel was planning a ground invasion of Lebanon.

“They are a prelude to a ground invasion,” Aoun said, adding that Lebanon has raised concerns through diplomatic channels.