LIVE UPDATES: Trump weighs new Iran strikes as Tehran threatens ‘painful’ retaliation over Hormuz blockade

Iran’s supreme leader has vowed to protect the country’s “nuclear and missile capabilities” as a national asset, drawing a firm line amid ongoing tensions with the United States and fragile ceasefire efforts.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei delivered his remarks in a written statement read on state television, continuing a pattern of indirect addresses since taking over leadership.

He struck a defiant tone, saying the only place for Americans in the Persian Gulf was “at the bottom of its waters” and declaring a “new chapter” for the region.

“By God’s help and power, the bright future of the Persian Gulf region will be a future without America, one serving the progress, comfort and prosperity of its people,” Khamenei said.

He added that Iran and its neighbours shared a common destiny, warning against foreign interference in the region.

“We and our neighbours across the waters of the Persian Gulf and the [Gulf] of Oman share a common destiny. Foreigners who come from thousands of kilometres away to act with greed and malice there have no place in it – except at the bottom of its waters.”

The comments come as Iran’s oil sector faces growing pressure from a US naval blockade restricting tanker movements, further tightening economic conditions.

Khamenei also made clear that Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs would not be part of any concessions in wider negotiations linked to the ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw US troops from Italy and Spain, escalating tensions with key NATO allies over their opposition to the Iran war.

Speaking in the Oval Office, the Mr Trump said he was considering reducing America’s military presence in both countries, a day after floating a similar move involving Germany.

“Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?” Mr Trump told reporters when asked about troop reductions in Spain and Italy.

“Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”

On Wednesday, Mr Trump said Washington was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction” of US forces in Germany, adding he would make a decision “in a short period of time”.

As of December 31, 2025, there were 12,662 active-duty US troops in Italy and 3,814 in Spain, compared with 36,436 in Germany.

The US president has repeatedly criticised NATO allies for not supporting US and Israeli operations against Iran, as well as for failing to assist in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to oil shipping.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have begun wrapping up their four-day state visit to the United States with a very quick stop by the White House to bid farewell to President Donald Trump.

The official reason for the royal trip was to mark the 250th anniversary of the US winning its independence from British colonial rule, cueing multiple wry jokes from Charles in speeches to Washington DC’s elite about being on the losing side of the American Revolutionary War.

But it was also designed to mend what Charles called in Tuesday’s state dinner with Mr Trump an “unbreakable bond” and “indispensable alliance” between the two countries, lately strained by the United Kingdom, alongside other European allies, declining to join the two-month-old US-Israeli war against Iran.

It seemed to work.

As enraged as he has been by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mr Trump told reporters at some length how fond he was of his “great friend” Charles the day after their dinner: “When you like the king of a country so much, it probably helps your relationship with the prime minister.”

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The Federal Government says it has not been involved in any discussions with Syrian authorities over a group of Australians reportedly seeking to return home.

Health Minister Mark Butler has responded to reports that Syrian officials had blocked the return of a cohort of Australians who had travelled to, or been taken to, the region to join Islamic State.

According to The Australian, the Federal Government told Syrian authorities it would not accept the return of the women.

But Mr Butler said Australia has not engaged with Syria on the matter and is not assisting the group.

“The prime minister said yesterday quite clearly that we’re not engaged with Syrian authorities about this matter,” Mr Butler says.

“We’re not across the detail of what these people are trying to do because we’re not providing any assistance,” he says.

Australia’s Indigenous Australians Minister has called for calm in Alice Springs after violence erupted following the death of a five-year-old girl.

The alleged killer of Kumanjayi Little Baby has been moved to Darwin, as authorities work to stabilise the situation in the Northern Territory town.

Jefferson Lewis was arrested after the child’s body was discovered by a police search party on Wednesday morning.

Malarndirri McCarthy said the community was grappling with anger and fear in the wake of the tragedy, as she urged residents to support one another.

Speaking to ABC RN, the minister said the family was grieving and the priority must be de-escalation.

She said it was critical the focus remained on maintaining calm and ensuring appropriate trauma counselling was available for those affected.

“There needs to be calm, and there needs to be a proper process now in terms of this criminal investigation, and it must not be jeopardised by foolishness,” McCarthy says.

“I totally understand the deep grief that people are experiencing, but we do now have Mr Lewis in custody and he has been taken to Darwin in order for calm to be restored here in Alice Springs,” she says.

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Australia has secured two new shipments carrying around 100 million litres of jet fuel, and another cargo with 50 million litres of diesel, underwritten by taxpayers.

The Albanese Government says the three new fuel shipments, going to Brisbane, Perth and Darwin, are in addition to the eight shipments already announced under new financing rules.

Labor says it has now secured over 450 million litres of additional diesel and 100 million litres of additional jet fuel off the spot market to deal with the ongoing oil crisis.

Australia has joined international discussions over a US-led push to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions in the region continue to disrupt global energy supplies.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the Albanese Government is in talks with Washington and key allies about a proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump.

The plan would see countries form an international coalition, known as the Maritime Freedom Construct, aimed at reopening the vital shipping lane in a “post-conflict” scenario.

Under the proposal, participating nations could contribute through diplomacy, intelligence sharing, sanctions enforcement or even a naval presence.

Ms Wong said Australia was already working closely with its partners on potential next steps.

“We are working with all of our partners, the United Kingdom, France and the United States,” the foreign minister said.

“We are engaging on options, noting that we have already provided defensive and diplomatic support to the region”.

The White House is facing a looming legal deadline as the Trump administration continues its military campaign against Iran, with pressure mounting under a decades-old law designed to limit presidential war powers.

The 1973 War Powers Resolution requires the president to notify Congress when deploying US forces and sets strict limits on how long military action can continue without approval.

Under the law, any military action authorised by the president without Congress must end after 60 days unless lawmakers sign off or formally declare war. That 60-day window is set to expire on Friday (US time).

So far, the White House has not said whether Donald Trump will seek to extend the deadline.

One White House official said the administration was in “active conversations” with lawmakers on addressing the deadline, but did not elaborate. The official was granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

The law allows the administration to request a 30-day extension, provided Congress is formally notified in writing that continued military action is necessary.

While the White House has repeatedly said the president is pursuing a diplomatic solution with Iran, it has not publicly confirmed whether an extension will be sought.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the ceasefire postpones the deadline for securing approval.

Iranian authorities say the country’s forces will respond with “long and painful strikes” if the United States renews attacks, and also reasserted its control over the Strait of Hormuz, complicating US plans for a coalition to reopen the waterway.

Two months into the US-Israeli war with Iran, the vital sea channel remains closed, choking off 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas supplies.

That has sent global energy prices surging and heightened concerns about the risks of an economic downturn.

Efforts to resolve the conflict have hit an impasse, with a ceasefire in place since April 8 but Iran still blocking the strait in response to a US naval blockade of Iran’s oil exports, the country’s economic lifeline.

US President Donald Trump was slated to receive a briefing on Thursday on plans for a series of fresh military strikes on Iran to compel it to negotiate an end to the conflict, a US official told Reuters.

Such options have long been part of US planning but reports of the proposed briefing, first issued by news site Axios late on Wednesday, initially spurred big gains in oil prices, with the benchmark Brent crude contract hitting more than $US126 a barrel at one point.

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