US-Israel Iran war updates: Explosions rattle Tehran, Jerusalem as Iranian internet blackout enters 21st day

US President Donald Trump has greeted Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warmly at the White House and says he believes Japan is “really stepping up to the plate” on Iran, unlike the NATO military alliance.

Mr Trump has criticised allies for their lukewarm support for the US-Israeli military campaign and said the United States does not need any help.

However, he is still pushing for more ships to clear mines and escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, largely closed by Iran in the conflict.

Ahead of the meeting, Japan joined several European countries in a joint statement, saying they would take steps to stabilise energy markets and were ready to join “appropriate efforts” to ensure safe passage through the Strait.

Read the full story.

Benjamin Netanyahu has attempted to dismiss speculation that Israel dragged the US into conflict with Iran. The claims have persisted as some US politicians and others around the world questioned whether Iran posed an imminent threat.

“I want to close these opening remarks with one other (bit of) fake news, and that is that Israel somehow dragged the US into a conflict with Iran,” Mr Netanyahu said.

“Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? Come on.

“President Trump always makes his decision on what he thinks is good for America, and may I add, what is good for future generations.

“Together in close coordination with President Trump, close coordination with American and Israel, our militaries and our intelligence services, are achieving goals in lightning speed.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel, along with the US, was taking steps to create safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz.

He said, “despite fake news”, that Iran’s regime, nuclear, military and missile capabilities were being decimated.

The Israeli Prime Minister asked the world to imagine what Iran could do if they had international range ballistic missile capabilities with nuclear tipped warheads.

“Imagine what a great threat that would be,” Mr Netanyahu said.

“Today, Israel and United States are protecting America, Israel, the entire Middle East, but I venture to say, the entire world.

“We are winning.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says

“First of all, I just want to say, I’m alive, and you’re all witnesses,” he told a rare live press conference which included members of the foreign press.

“Now that I dispatch this piece of fake news, I want to give you an update.

“Under President Trump’s visionary leadership, America and Israel are acting together in Iran with great determination and unprecedented strength.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel, together with the US, is removing the threat from Iran and to Iranians from the Ayatollah regime, revealing three key priorities.

“One, removing the nuclear threat. Second, removing the ballistic missile attack. Third, this means creating the conditions for the Iranian people to grasp their freedom, to control their destiny,” he said.

Mr Netanyahu said the Ayatollah regime is targeting the entire Middle East, and through proxies, have targetted Cyprus.

He added that if Iran was not stopped, the aggression seen in the past 20 days of war was “just the beginning”.