Donald Trump has announced a 10-day extension of his pause on threatening to attack Iran's energy infrastructure, now lasting until 6 April. In a post on Truth Social, the US president claimed the delay was requested by Tehran and that talks are going 'very well', despite both Iran and the 'fake news media' reporting otherwise.
The threat was initially made last Saturday, when Trump said he would strike Iranian energy infrastructure if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, he postponed the threat for five days, citing 'very good and productive conversations' with Iran, which Tehran dismissed as 'fake news' aimed at manipulating oil markets.
Meanwhile, severe explosions have been reported at a US military base in Saudi Arabia, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. The agency linked to the Revolutionary Guards said drone attacks targeted the Sultan Amir base in eastern Saudi Arabia.
In Israel, the IDF chief of staff, Gen Eyal Zamir, warned that the military will 'collapse in on itself' due to increasing demands and a growing manpower shortage while fighting on multiple fronts. Speaking at a security cabinet meeting, he said the IDF urgently needs new laws on conscription, reserve duty, and mandatory service extension.
Blasts were heard in southern Beirut early on Friday in what local media described as another Israeli strike on the Hezbollah stronghold. Since renewed hostilities erupted on 2 March, Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,116 people in Lebanon, including 121 children, and displaced over 1 million.
Yemen's Houthis have said there is no need to worry amid fears that if Trump follows through on threats to seize Iran's Kharg Island, Tehran may ask them to attack shipping in the Red Sea.
