Down Iran

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps says it has targeted an airbase in Jordan hosting US forces, as well as Kuwait and Bahrain, in response to US strikes Trump launches strikes against Iran after downing of US army helicopterWelcome to our live coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.Iran says it has launched a missile attack at an airbase in Jordan hosting US forces, after also targeting Kuwait and Bahrain. The Revolutionary Guards said missiles have targeted the Muwaffaq Salti airbase, which is known to host US F-35 fighter jets and other aircraft.The US launched multiple waves of strikes on Iran in response to a military helicopter crash off the strait of Hormuz that Donald Trump said Iran had downed. The Associated Press reported that the Apache helicopter that crashed went down after colliding with an Iranian drone, but it was not clear whether the collision was intentional.US strikes were reported across Iran’s southern coast, on the strait of Hormuz. After more than three hours of military action, US central command (Centcom) said strikes were “completed”, adding that the US remained ready to defend against “unjustified Iranian aggression.”Soon after, Iran launched retaliatory attacks against the US, according to the countries state media, which said American bases in the region and the US fifth fleet in Bahrain were targeted with drones. Kuwait and Bahrain issued air raid alerts and reported that air defences were active in repelling attacks. Iran also claimed it had targeted a US base in Jordan with long range missiles.Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said no attack would go “unanswered”, soon after the US launched strikes on Iran. Posting an image of the strait of Hormuz with the label, “Forever Persian Gulf”, Araghchi says that “despite its defeats on the battlefield, the U.S. opted to test our determination.”Five hours before the airstrikes, Trump had posted on social media that the US “must” respond to the helicopter crash, from which two crew members were rescued in stable condition. Before his social media post, however, Trump appeared to downplay the crash, telling the Wall Street Journal in a phone interview that it “wasn’t a big deal” and that “the pilot is fine.”Iranian state media reported that no air military operations have taken place in the strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, according to Reuters.Lebanon’s health ministry said 11 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the southern city of Tyre on Tuesday. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) had reported the first strike taking place not long before Israel’s military issued an evacuation warning for the entire city and surrounding areas ahead of strikes there. Continue reading...

US president says crew members are ‘safe and uninjured’ after attack near strait of Hormuz early on TuesdayMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has blamed Iran for downing a US army helicopter near the strait of Hormuz, warning that the US would be forced to respond to the attack.The US army Apache helicopter gunship crashed off the coast of Oman early on Tuesday, according to US Central Command. The two crew members were later rescued in an unprecedented operation using an unmanned drone boat, the military said. Continue reading...

• GIFT Nifty declined on Tuesday, signaling a likely weak opening for India's benchmark Sensex and Nifty indices. • Market sentiment has been dampened by escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, which have contributed to rising global oil prices. • Investors are maintaining a cautious approach as geopolitical instability in the Middle East creates volatility across Asian markets.

• Oil prices surged as tensions escalated between the USA and Iran, causing WTI futures to gain 6% and settle around $92 a barrel. • Brent futures, the international benchmark, rose by 5% to reach 95 dollars, reversing a trend where WTI had previously seen a sharp 17% decline in May. • While oil prices climbed, global stock markets reacted with volatility, though Tokyo and Hong Kong saw gains of 1% and 0.8% respectively, driven by technology stocks.

• Stock markets in Japan and South Korea reached all-time closing highs, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 jumping 2.5% to 66,329.50 and South Korea’s Kospi surging 3.6% to 8,476.15. • The rally was driven by optimism that the U.S. and Iran will extend their ceasefire, alongside lower-than-expected core inflation data in Tokyo for May. • Technology stocks fueled the gains, particularly in South Korea where Samsung Electronics rose 5.8% due to the global artificial intelligence boom.

• Stock markets in Japan and South Korea reached new record highs as global shares generally advanced. • The rally is driven by investor optimism that the U.S. and Iran will agree to extend their current ceasefire by 60 days. • Other regional markets showed mixed results, with Taiwan's Taiex rising 2.5% and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gaining 1.6%, while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.7% to 4,068.57.

• Stock markets in Japan and South Korea reached new record highs as global shares generally advanced. • The surge is driven by investor optimism that the United States and Iran will agree to extend their current ceasefire, potentially winding down the conflict. • Other regional markets showed mixed results, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng rising 0.7% to 25,182.39 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbing 1.6%, while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.7%.

• Indian stock markets showed a tepid start on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, with the Sensex down 95 points at pre-open and GIFT Nifty trading lower at 24,035. • The market downturn follows news that the US launched fresh strikes in southern Iran to protect US troops, despite ongoing peace negotiations. • This escalation in US-Iran tensions has dampened global risk sentiment, though South Korea’s Kospi managed to reach a new high amid the uncertainty.

Budget airline, which took £25m hit on jet fuel in March, says passengers are waiting later to book tripsThe budget airline easyJet has said its summer holiday bookings are lagging behind last year as the Iran war weights on consumer confidence and has left passengers waiting later to book trips.The carrier said it had to spend an unexpected extra £25m on jet fuel in March after the start of the US and Israel’s war on Iran. Continue reading...

US president offers no news of any breakthrough on Iran. Plus, how renters’ rights could be key issue in midtermsGood morning.In his visit to China, Donald Trump, has seemed to revel in Chinese hospitality and flattery. Walking in the Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing, the US president was overheard saying that Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, was giving him roses for the White House Rose Garden, according to a pool report.What has China said on Iran? On Fridy, China’s foreign ministry again called for a ceasefire in Iran and said the strait of Hormuz should be opened “as soon as possible”. Ahead of the summit, there was speculation the US might appeal to China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, to use its leverage to encourage the country to reopen the strait of Hormuz. But that was walked back by US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Thursday, who said, “We don’t need their help.”What about talks over Taiwan? They weren’t mentioned much. Xi took a firm tone, declaring that “Taiwan independence” and peace in the Taiwan strait were “incompatible”. Trump took a muted approach as he sidestepped questions on Taiwan. A White House readout of the meeting published later also omitted mention of the country.What do Russia’s renewed heavy attacks tell us? Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, said on Thursday that Russia’s heavy bombardment of Kyiv showed Moscow was “banking on escalation rather than negotiation. Kyiv and its partners are ready for negotiations aimed at a just peace,” Merz said. “Russia, for its part, is continuing the war.” Continue reading...

China calls for ceasefire and opening of seaway, while Donald Trump says Xi feels ‘very similar’ about ending the war in IranTrump in China – latest updatesDonald Trump has claimed that the US and China “feel very similar” about ending the war in Iran but offered no details about a possible breakthrough.The US president was speaking alongside Xi Jinping of China at the Zhongnanhai garden in Beijing on the second and final day of the leaders’ summit. Continue reading...

Conflict appears to have reached painful stalemate, but leaders in Tehran and Washington seem to think victory is nearThe month-old ceasefire between Iran and the US appeared to be in new peril on Tuesday with a fresh barrage of Iranian missiles reported to have targeted the United Arab Emirates as US naval forces pressed ahead with efforts to reopen the strait of Hormuz.The Iranian strike on the UAE was the second in 48 hours, and came shortly after the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, insisted the shaky truce which has paused the war in the Middle East was intact, despite the new increase in violence. Continue reading...

The US president has criticised Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and raised the prospect of pulling US troops from Italy and Spain. Plus, 10 big lessons on ending the fossil fuel eraGood morning.Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw US troops from Italy and Spain a day after he saying was looking at curtailing the number deployed in Germany.What has Congress been saying about the war? A senior Democrat in the Senate grilled the US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, on Thursday, accusing him of failing to give Trump an accurate picture of the war on Iran while resorting to “dangerously exaggerated” statements to create an inaccurate picture of a US military triumph.What’s the latest on the suspect? The man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump agreed on Thursday to remain in custody while his federal criminal case moves forward. Continue reading...

• Iran shot down a US F-15E fighter jet over Iranian territory, representing a major battlefield setback in escalating tensions. • President Trump reacted with hours of intense exchanges with aides, reported by The Wall Street Journal as a full meltdown. • The incident underscores growing military confrontations amid collapsing ceasefire and stalled US-Iran diplomacy.

As fossil fuel prices soar ‘the era of clean energy security must come of age’, energy secretary will sayEd Miliband will double down on Labour’s commitment to net zero in the face of the Middle East conflict this week, insisting that as fossil fuel prices soar “the era of clean energy security must come of age”.The energy secretary is set to announce a package of new policies in a speech on Tuesday in response to an expected energy crisis prompted by Donald Trump’s war with Iran. Continue reading...

• A US fighter jet was shot down over Iranian airspace, marking a significant escalation in military confrontations amid ongoing US-Iran hostilities that began on February 28, 2026. • The incident occurred as tensions remain high following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and subsequent Iranian retaliatory strikes against Israel and US bases across the region. • The downing of the aircraft raises concerns about potential further military escalations and complicates ongoing ceasefire negotiations between US and Iranian delegations.

President’s press conference after White House Easter egg roll did little to dispel fears he has lost touch with realityDonald Trump began his day standing with a person in a giant bunny costume and boasting about the Iran war to an audience of children.The annual Easter egg roll on the White House South Lawn conjured a fitting Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland image for a US president who has disappeared down what many would call a rabbit hole. Continue reading...

Iranian authorities cut access to internet on 28 February leaving many with limited information about warIran’s internet shutdown, which began shortly after the first US-Israel strikes in late February, is now the longest national-scale blackout since the Arab spring, monitors have said.Iranian authorities cut all access to the internet on 28 February, the day the war began, after an earlier shutdown in January during nationwide protests. This current blackout has lasted more than 38 days. Continue reading...

• A US fighter jet was shot down over Iran as military tensions between Washington and Tehran intensify dramatically. • The incident marks a significant escalation in direct military confrontation between the two nations amid ongoing threats and counter-threats. • US forces have deployed advanced long-range missile systems in response, positioning for potential large-scale operations.

Donald Trump will claim rescue as a triumph but 48-hour drama should be a caution against launching ground operationMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump will inevitably claim the rescue of the second crew member of the downed F-15 fighter as a propaganda triumph, though the 48-hour drama is a reminder that an undefeated Iran is able to fight back and inflict costs on the US.It also ought to be a caution for a White House still contemplating a ground operation in Iran whether to seize an island in the Persian Gulf – particularly if there a serious ambition to extract Iran’s highly enriched uranium from deep underground. Continue reading...

• A US fighter jet was shot down over Iranian territory on April 3, 2026, intensifying the US-Israeli war on Iran that began with airstrikes on February 28 targeting nuclear sites and leadership. • The incident prompted immediate retaliatory concerns, with Bitcoin prices wavering amid rising geopolitical risk premiums affecting crypto markets globally. • Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered the largest oil supply disruption since the 1970s, spiking energy prices and impacting US economy.

• Two U.S. fighter jets were downed by Iranian fire, with one pilot successfully rescued following an active search and rescue mission in the ongoing Iran conflict. • Two Black Hawk helicopters were also struck by incoming Iranian fire during operations, according to defense officials. • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has maintained that U.S. forces have significantly degraded Iran's air defense capabilities in recent weeks.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was combing an area near where plane came down in south-western Iran; Israeli military strikes ‘Hezbollah infrastructure’ in Lebanon capitalUS F-15E jet confirmed shot down over Iran as Tehran releases wreckage imagesHello and welcome to our continuing live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran and its impact on the region, the world and the global economy.Iranian and American forces were racing each other early on Saturday to recover a crew member of the first US fighter jet to go down inside Iran since the start of the war.Tehran rejected a US proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, said Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, citing an unnamed source. There was no immediate comment from the US. Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported that Iran had officially told mediators it was unwilling to meet with US officials in Islamabad in the coming days.The UN force in Lebanon said a blast at one of its positions had wounded three peacekeepers, two of them seriously, in the third such incident in a week.Israeli fire killed a man in Syria’s Quneitra province in the south near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Syrian state media said. The man was killed in an attack by “an Israeli tank”, the Sana agency said, while state TV said a car was targeted.An Egyptian national was killed and four others wounded after a fire at a gas complex in Abu Dhabi, caused by falling debris from an intercepted attack, the government media office said. Two of the four people hurt were from Egypt, while the others were from Pakistan, it said.Trump asked lawmakers to approve a $1.5tr defence budget for 2027 as the US faces rising costs from its war with Iran and mounting global security commitments. The proposal would lift Pentagon spending by more than 40% in a single year – the sharpest increase since the second world war.The US embassy in Lebanon said Iran and allied groups could seek to target universities in the country, where Tehran-backed Hezbollah is at war with Israel and Israeli troops are carrying out a ground invasion.Three tankers, including one co-owned by a Japanese company, crossed the strait of Hormuz by hugging close to Oman’s shore –a rare transit route – maritime traffic data showed on Friday. With agencies Continue reading...

Downing of fighter plane – the first shot down over Iran since start of war – prompts frantic US rescue effort A US F-15E fighter has been shot down over Iran, prompting a frantic US search and rescue effort for its two-strong crew, in the first such incident since the start of the war.Images of a tail fin and other debris were released by Iranian state media early on Friday accompanied by an initial claim that an advanced US F-35 and been hit by a new air defence system over central Iran and the pilot probably killed. Continue reading...

Price of typical UK home increased by 0.9% in March, but surging mortgage rates amid conflict in Middle East is expected to put break on activityBusiness live – latest updatesUK house prices increased at the fastest rate in almost 18 months in March, although surging mortgage rates amid the Iran war is likely to lead to a slowdown in the market, according to Nationwide.The UK’s biggest building society said the price of a typical UK home increased by 0.9% month-on-month in March, the largest increase since December 2024. Continue reading...

• One month into the U.S. war with Iran started February 28, President Trump lists five objectives for the air campaign, up from initial three by Pentagon and four by staff, as he signals potential wind-down despite some unfulfilled aims. • Press secretary Karoline Leavitt states Operation Epic Fury is 'ahead of schedule,' with Trump claiming Thursday the Iranian regime is 'largely decimated' amid talks to reopen Strait of Hormuz. • Israeli strikes hit Iranian heavy water and yellowcake plants Friday, confirmed by Israel; conflict strains global economy, alliances, and raises questions on planning and aftermath.

Party intends to craft a bill using the reconciliation procedure, which will allow it to circumvent the Senate filibusterUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailSenate Republicans on Wednesday announced plans to begin a unilateral push for legislation that may include funding for Donald Trump’s war with Iran and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while also including elements of a voter ID bill that is a priority of the party’s right wing.The legislative effort – which could take weeks to play out and has no guarantee of success – comes amid a protracted standoff with Democrats over the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has led to lengthy lines at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints at some airports. Continue reading...

• The FTSE 100 fell 1.44% on Friday to close at 9,918, down approximately 9% since the Iran conflict began and at its lowest level since December 2025, reflecting broad market weakness across UK equities. • The FTSE 250 mid-cap index declined 1.01% on the day and has dropped 11.3% since the start of the conflict, hitting its lowest level since November 2025, indicating selling pressure across market capitalizations. • Oil prices climbed despite geopolitical uncertainty, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rising 2.8% to $98.50, though the Brent-WTI spread has widened sharply, signaling market stress and supply concerns.