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Iran war: What is happening on day 42 of US-Israeli attacks?

A Pakistan-brokered US-Iran ceasefire has taken effect, but disputes over its scope are fuelling regional tensions.

An Iranian woman attends a ceremony marking 40 days since the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed — An Iranian woman attends a ceremony marking 40 days since the late supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed [Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters]

By Elizabeth Melimopoulos and AFP

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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered officials to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible”, citing requests from Beirut as tensions remain high despite a broader regional ceasefire.

Lebanon declared a day of mourning on Thursday after Israeli attacks killed at least 200 people and wounded more than 1,000 in a single day. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said the strikes violated the US-Iran ceasefire and warned that they threatened to undermine negotiations, adding that Tehran would not abandon Lebanon.

US President Donald Trump said US forces will remain around Iran until a “real agreement” is fully enforced, warning of further conflict if not.

Here is what we know:

In Iran

Major leadership casualties: Iranians are holding nationwide rallies to honour their assassinated leader, Ali Khamenei. The former foreign minister and head of Iran’s Council on Foreign Relations, Kamal Kharrazi, has died.
Iran pushes for sanctions relief: Analysts say Tehran may be using its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz to push for sanctions relief and a return to the global economy.
Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute said Iran’s plan includes lifting both primary and secondary sanctions to allow foreign investment and trade: “They want to be a normal country,” adding that while Hormuz could generate revenue, it is not a sustainable path.
Iran leader issues new message: Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said in his latest written message that the Islamic Republic did not want war with the US and Israel – but would protect its rights as a nation, state television reported. Khamenei has not been seen in public since the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, on February 28.
Turkiye aid to Iran: The Red Cross and Turkiye’s Red Crescent have dispatched an aid convoy to Iran, as the organisation warned of a “desperate” humanitarian situation.

War diplomacy

Status of the US-Iran ceasefire: A Pakistani-negotiated ceasefire between the US and Iran is under way, but its precise scope is causing regional tensions.
JD Vance departs Washington for talks in Pakistan: The US vice president is leading the US delegation that will take part in negotiations in Islamabad amid accusations from both sides of ceasefire violations, saying, “We’re going to try to have a positive negotiation.”
US-Iran trust ‘completely negligible’: Analyst Omar Rahman said the ceasefire was rushed and not fully agreed by all sides, with tensions already emerging over Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz. He added that Iran’s 10-point plan and the US’s 15-point proposal remain far apart, calling the outcome an “unmitigated failure” for Trump.
Ongoing diplomatic efforts: The UN chief’s envoy, Jean Arnault, met Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Tehran and visited sites damaged by recent strikes. He is expected to continue talks in Pakistan.
Israel-Lebanon talks planned in Washington: Israel and Lebanon are due to hold talks next week in Washington, a US official said Thursday.

In the Gulf

Saudi refinery shut: French energy giant TotalEnergies says it has shut down a major refinery on Saudi Arabia’s eastern Gulf coast after it was damaged during the war. The Saudi Energy Ministry said there had been “multiple attacks” on oil and gas facilities, including the SATORP refinery, a joint venture with state-owned Aramco.
Diplomatic push to stabilise region: Efforts are under way across the Gulf to contain the fallout of the war. The UK’s prime minister toured Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Keir Starmer stressed the need to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and voiced support for regional partners.

In the US

Trump urges de-escalation: Trump is reportedly pressing Israel to scale back its operations in Lebanon, telling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “low-key it”.
Trump warns Iran against Hormuz tolls: Trump has cautioned Iran against charging ship owners to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, saying that would be unacceptable.

In Israel

Backlash grows in northern Israel: Netanyahu is facing mounting criticism from communities in northern Israel, where local leaders say they feel abandoned. Opponents argue he launched the Lebanon offensive without a clear endgame. Security concerns remain high, with air raid sirens sounding in Haifa and nearby towns following a rocket launch from Lebanon.
International pressure mounts: Global calls for restraint are increasing. The World Health Organization chief urged Israel to reverse evacuation threats affecting hospitals in Beirut caring for hundreds of patients. Canada’s foreign minister called on Israel to “respect Lebanon’s territorial integrity”.
Israel air raid sirens: Air raid alerts sounded across Israel, including in the commercial hub of Tel Aviv and the southern coastal city of Ashdod, after rocket fire from Lebanon.

West Bank and Gaza:

Spain expelled from Gaza coordination hub: Netanyahu has removed Spain from a civil-military coordination centre linked to the Gaza “ceasefire”, citing what he described as the country’s “hostility” and criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.
OIC condemns new Israeli settlements: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned Israel’s recent approval of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning that the move aims to undermine the two-state solution and calling it a flagrant violation of international law.

In Lebanon and Iraq

Israel issues evacuation order for Beirut: Israel’s military warned residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, long a stronghold of Lebanese group Hezbollah, of imminent strikes and issued a leave-or-die threat to those remaining in their homes.
Strikes continue as ground offensive expands: Air raids go on with drones flying low over Beirut. Israeli forces are advancing to encircle Bint Jbeil, a town of 30,000 people in southern Lebanon.
Humanitarian concerns grow: Medical facilities in Lebanon are treating hundreds of patients and sheltering thousands of displaced people.
Netanyahu threatens Hezbollah: Netanyahu said Israel would keep hitting Hezbollah “wherever necessary”. “We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, precision and determination,” the prime minister said on his personal X account.
Hezbollah warns Lebanon government: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem urged the Lebanese government to stop giving “free concessions” to Israel, in the run-up to expected talks between the two governments.

Drone strike hits US facility in Iraq: The US deputy secretary of state summoned Iraq’s ambassador after a drone struck a major US diplomatic site in Baghdad.