US-IRAN CONFLICT: WAR AND DIPLOMACY

The Israeli prime minister has congratulated Trump and his Treasury secretary on the latest US sanctions they have imposed on Iran.

Netanyahu wrote in a post on X: “Congratulations President @realDonaldTrump and Secretary @SecScottBessent on the latest sanctions against the Iranian regime. You justly exact a steep price from that cruel dictatorship and from those who assist its continued aggression.”

An oil tanker has reported being struck and disabled by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency.

The report said the incident occurred about 9 nautical miles (16km) northeast of Ash Shishah, Oman.

“The Master of an oil tanker reports the vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile causing damage to the engine room and disabling the vehicle. Crew are reported safe,” UKMTO said in a statement.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday that the Trump administration was not ruling out military action against Iran, as Washington unveiled what it described as an “economic D-Day” against Tehran.

“By no means are we foreclosing using kinetic strikes anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz or around Iran,” Hegseth told reporters.

He said Iran would be unable to withstand the economic pressure being imposed by the US.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) have emphasised the need to reach a negotiated solution regarding Iran to avoid further escalation and ensure regional security, they said in a joint statement following their meeting in Paris.

The two leaders reiterated their commitment to a diplomatic solution that “guarantees the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program”.

As such, they called on Iran to resume its full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The statement also condemned attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and called for restoring navigation in the waterway to its normal state as it was before the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent laid out a fresh US sanctions campaign against Iran on Monday, warning that every country has a defined timeline to shut down activities identified by Washington or face action from Treasury.

Bessent said President Donald Trump was making phone calls to world leaders with specific requests to cease their interactions with Iran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that Washington will enforce “zero leakage” approach to Iran sanction.

He said: “No one is above the reach of US sanctions.”

Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri confirmed in a statement on Monday that one of its vessels, the "Amzan", had been attacked in the Red Sea.