New Delhi, May 1: The war-of-words between the US and Iran has escalated, with Donald Trump talking about the possibility of restarting the war, responding to which the Iranian leaders have vowed a strong retaliation.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has advised its nationals to urgently leave Iran, Lebanon and Iraq.
Escalation in posturing between the US and Iran got reflected when Trump said that he “might need” to restart the war, which was paused on April 8 after 40 days of intense fighting.
He added that only a handful of people know the details of ongoing talks.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, on the other hand, described the US naval siege of Iranian ports as an “extension of military operations” that is “intolerable”.
In Iran, Air defences were heard activated in the capital Tehran night apparently to deal with small aircraft and drones, the country’s media reported.
As the ceasefire continues, the US and Iran have held one round of direct talks at a very high level on April 10 and 11 in Islamabad following mediation by Pakistan but those failed to produce any results.
Pakistan has subsequently been trying to bring the two sides back to the table but Iran has refused to oblige because of its deep distrust in the US, and possibly the Pakistani regime too.
The 40-day war left 1,701 civilians dead, including 254 children, according to the Iranian media.
In the US:
A senior official in the US administration said for War Powers Resolution purposes, US hostilities with Iran, that began on February 28, have now “terminated”.
“Both parties agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, April 7, that has since been extended,” the official said.
“There has been no exchange of fire between US Armed Forces and Iran since Tuesday, April 7.”
In Israel
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said his country may soon have to “act again” against Iran, to ensure the Islamic republic “does not once again become a threat to Israel”.
It, meanwhile, continues to attack Lebanon despite a two-week-old ceasefire.
Its latest strikes on three south Lebanon villages killed nine people, among them two children and five women, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
Two Israeli military personnel were injured after an explosive drone detonated in southern Lebanon, according to the army.
An officer and a non-commissioned officer sustained moderate wounds and were taken to hospital for treatment, Israeli media reported.
