Israel's war with Iran incurred 35 billion shekels ($11.52 billion) in budgetary expenses, with 22 billion shekels of that going to defence, the Finance Ministry said on Sunday, citing a preliminary estimate.
US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance met directly with Iranian officials in Pakistan on Saturday — a significant moment for two countries that have typically held high-level talks through intermediaries, a CNN report said.
The US military conducted strikes on military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, the Axios news outlet reports, citing an unidentified senior US official. Several blasts have been reported on the Island, a vital oil export terminal for the country, stated Iranian media, adding a rail bridge has been struck in central Iranian city.
Iran said on Monday it wanted a lasting end to the war with the US and Israel, and pushed back against pressure to swiftly reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary ceasefire as US President Donald Trump warned the country could be "taken out" if it did not meet his Tuesday night deadline to reach a deal.
Two US warplanes were downed over Iran, said media reports, with two pilots rescued and a third still missing and being hunted by Tehran's forces. The incidents show the risks still faced by US jets over Iran despite assertions from President Donald Trump that their forces had total control of the skies.
The heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank on Wednesday said they will form a coordination group to maximise their response to the significant economic and energy impacts of the war in the Middle East.
The risk of an expanded Iran war grew as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Saturday launched their first attacks on Israel since the start of the conflict, as additional US forces reached the Middle East. The first of two contingents of Marines arrived on an amphibious assault ship.
Ukraine has agreed to co-operate on defence with the UAE and Qatar as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy travelled to both countries amid escalating tensions in the region. Zelenskiy is looking at signing 10-year partnership agreements with both the Gulf countries.
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the world's largest aluminium smelter on one site, confirmed early Sunday that its facility was targeted in an Iranian attack a day earlier resulting in mild injuries to two of its employees.
Kuwait International Airport was targeted by multiple drone attacks that caused significant damage to its radar system but resulted in no casualties, according to state news agency KUNA. Also the country's Mubarak Al Kabeer Port infrastructure came under a missile attack early Friday.
