Kuwait closes airspace following Iranian strikes

Kuwait shut its airspace after Iran declared fresh attacks on the Gulf nation, with authorities noting that several flights were redirected to other airports.

Planes had been holding outside Kuwait airspace for a period prior to the closure, following reports that air defenses were engaging incoming targets.

Kuwait International Airport suffered a direct impact from an Iranian strike last week that killed one person and injured dozens.

Bahrain activated its missile alert sirens on Thursday after Iran announced strikes aimed at the US Navy fifth fleet headquarters located there.

The US embassy in Jordan issued a warning about possible missiles, drones or rockets entering Jordanian airspace.

Key developments

36m ago Iran claims US strikes make ceasefire practically void
3h ago Kuwait restarts air traffic with flights resuming soon
4h ago Kuwait airspace shut due to Iranian attacks
5h ago Opening update

Reports indicate that talks between Washington and Tehran continue even as both sides conducted strikes this week.

Negotiations for an agreement advanced after overnight discussions, according to CNN citing a diplomatic source.

Reuters reported that work on a preliminary accord has quickened, with negotiators examining ways to unlock frozen Iranian assets, based on Iranian sources and a European official.

One Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran seeks release of six to twelve billion dollars in frozen funds while Washington prefers staged releases tied to humanitarian goods rather than direct transfers.

Iran states US strikes make ceasefire practically void

Iran foreign ministry denounced recent US strikes on Tehran and said the attacks have made the ceasefire practically void.

A statement in Iranian media declared the US actions a clear breach of the UN Charter and international law on sovereignty, rendering the April 8 ceasefire practically meaningless.

Jordanian forces reported intercepting twenty missiles fired from Iran this morning, per the state Petra news agency.

At dawn on Thursday, Jordanian air defenses and the Royal Jordanian air force shot down twenty missiles aimed at the Azraq area in Zarqa governorate, about fifty miles east of Amman, according to a military statement.

The interceptions caused debris to fall but produced no injuries or damage, the statement noted.

Pakistan foreign ministry confirmed it will maintain mediation efforts to halt the conflict despite rising hostilities.

The ministry expressed deep concern over the regional escalation and urged parties to honor the ceasefire understanding, with spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stating that diplomacy must guide any negotiated settlement.

Bahrain interior ministry reported an eleven-year-old girl injured by falling debris after Iranian drones were intercepted over Manama and Hamad Town.

The incident also caused damage to vehicles and homes, with images showing scorched cars and buildings.

Three Indian seafarers died in a US strike on an oil tanker earlier this week, said Indian shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

The Palau-flagged MT Settebello suffered the loss after bodies were recovered, following US Central Command accusations that the vessel violated a blockade on Iranian ports.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres described the US-Iran ceasefire as a lesser fire and called on all sides to pursue a diplomatic settlement.

He warned against allowing the lesser fire to become full fire and noted that the Middle East is being drawn deeper into crisis with consequences beyond the region.

Kuwait restarts air traffic after suspension

Kuwait civil aviation authority announced resumption of air traffic following the earlier suspension caused by Iranian attacks.

Officials had diverted some flights while air defenses engaged targets, but the international airport is now operating normally with flights scheduled to resume.

Andrew Roth noted that as the US-Iran conflict unfolds on social media, Donald Trump often acts as an unreliable narrator.

On Wednesday Trump warned of a strong response to Iranian attacks on US allies yet also indicated a deal remained possible, saying strikes would continue while talks advanced.

The pattern of claims about imminent deals followed by threats has kept Trump central in coverage but has reduced trust in his statements on critical war matters.

Former official Brett McGurk told CNN the strikes appeared highly telegraphed, suggesting the US aims to set limits on escalation rather than restart a broader campaign.

McGurk observed that Iranian actions remain escalatory and saw no sign Tehran is close to an agreement.

Twenty-two nations including the United States, Australia and several European countries issued a joint warning to Iran on Thursday to cease attacks on their soil.

The statement condemned Iranian use of criminal networks for plots in Europe, North America and Australia and called for an immediate end to such actions.

Kuwait airspace closed amid Iranian attacks

Kuwait closed its airspace after Iran announced new attacks, with officials diverting flights to other airports.

Air defenses had engaged targets earlier, and Bahrain activated sirens while the US embassy in Jordan issued alerts about possible incoming projectiles.

Former ambassador Dan Shapiro stated that recent strikes show Iran holds leverage in talks with the Trump administration.

Shapiro noted that Washington appears eager for an accord while Tehran benefits from delay, and that any deal pushing nuclear issues to a later stage remains a poor but perhaps necessary option.

Welcome

Welcome to this live coverage of the Middle East conflict.

The US launched a second round of airstrikes after Donald Trump warned Tehran would pay the price for stalled talks, and Iran responded with strikes on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.

The US attacks on multiple Iranian cities occurred as negotiations appeared stalled, with Iran maintaining its position on the Strait of Hormuz.