US-Iran strikes: latest developments

Iran's president said his country is fighting a "full-scale war" with the United States, as Washington expanded its strikes across the Islamic republic and Tehran hit Gulf states. Here are the latest developments on Monday: Houthis announce Saudi blockade Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia, after the two adversaries traded fire last week for the first time in years. The Iran-backed group did not say how it planned to impose the embargo. The Houthis' naval blockade, if enforced, could further strain Saudi Arabia's economy by cutting off access to its Red Sea ports, which have been vital for oil exports redirected from the Strait of Hormuz. Vessel hit off UAE A ship was struck off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said, adding that the incident occurred 17 nautical miles east of Dibba, near the Strait of Hormuz. Trump warning President Donald Trump warned Iran it would pay "many times over" for every US soldier it killed after Washington announced over the weekend three new military fatalities and one service member missing in action. "Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over!" Trump posted on his platform, Truth Social. "This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every Leader in the Military." Lebanon takes over 'pilot zones' The Lebanese army began taking charge of security in three southern villages, the United States said. The US State Department said operations had started in "pilot zones" in Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya. Iran in 'full-scale war' with US Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country was in a "full-scale war" with the United States and that Tehran should "accept the natural consequences of this resistance". Oil prices rise Oil prices hit one-month highs before scaling back as Iran said diplomatic exchanges with the United States were ongoing via mediators. The benchmark international crude contract, Brent North Sea, rose above $91 a barrel, its highest price since June 11. But it gave up some of those gains after Iran indicated that diplomacy with Washington was continuing through mediators, even as it struck Gulf targets and was targeted by US strikes. France slams 'intimidation' Two French diplomats in Iran suffered "an extremely serious act of intimidation" by Islamic republic security services, with one of them physically abused, France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said. Bahrain, Kuwait targeted Bahrain said Iranian drones targeted its air navigation systems, though traffic remained unaffected, while Kuwait also reported attacks. Both Kuwait and Bahrain, which host US military installations, have borne the brunt of attacks by Iran on its Gulf neighbours since hostilities resumed this month. Iran minister to visit Pakistan Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni is set to travel to mediator Pakistan's capital Islamabad, a Pakistani interior ministry source said. The source confirmed to AFP that the minister would have talks with Pakistani officials but did not elaborate on whether it was linked to Pakistan's long-running mediation efforts to end fighting between the United States and Iran. burs-ach/rmb