LIVEWeeks of tense talks fail to end Middle East war or reopen the vital Strait of HormuzLast updated: June 07, 2026 | 12:09US-Israel-Iran warThe Middle East remains on edge 100 days after the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran, with fresh clashes threatening to deepen the conflict. The US military said it shot down two Iranian attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz late Saturday, while Iran responded to recent American strikes by launching missiles toward US allies Bahrain and Kuwait. The latest exchanges come after weeks of indirect diplomacy, tit-for-tat threats and sporadic military confrontations failed to secure a ceasefire or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil and gas shipments. As tensions rise, concerns are mounting over the risk of a wider conflict and further disruption to energy markets.
Follow our live coverage for the latest updates.Highlights12:06 PM, 7 June 2026UAE urges nuclear safety action after Barakah drone strikeThe UAE has urged the international community to strengthen protections for civilian nuclear infrastructure after a terrorist drone attack targeting the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, warning that assaults on peaceful nuclear facilities pose a serious threat to regional and global security.Speaking during an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Abdullah Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs, said the attack involved drones launched from Iraqi territory and targeted the Barakah facility, striking an electrical generator outside the plant's inner perimeter.No injuries were reported and there was no impact on radiation safety levels, according to Emirati authorities.The emergency session was convened following a request submitted by Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Saudi Arabia.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.11:06 AM, 7 June 2026Israel army says intercepted two projectiles fired from LebanonIsrael's military said Sunday that it had intercepted two projectiles launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory, despite a new ceasefire agreement announced this week aimed at ending hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah."Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in the areas of Yiftah and Ramot Naftali, two projectiles that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory were intercepted," the military reported.Israel and Lebanon agreed to a new US-brokered ceasefire on Wednesday. However, Hezbollah has rejected the agreement.08:34 AM, 7 June 2026Is Israel spying on US? Threat level 'critical'The Pentagon has reportedly raised the counterintelligence threat posed by Israel to its highest internal designation, amid growing friction between Washington and Jerusalem over the wars in Iran and Lebanon.According to NBC News, citing current and former US officials, the Pentagon’s Defence Intelligence Agency recently elevated Israel’s threat rating from “high” to “critical” following concerns that Israeli intelligence agencies were seeking information about sensitive US deliberations on the regional conflicts.The assessment, described by officials as a seven-page document, reportedly details a series of incidents that heightened concerns inside the US defence establishment. Officials told NBC that Israeli intelligence activities were viewed as going beyond the level of espionage typically expected between allied nations.Read more here.08:06 AM, 7 June 2026US weighs redirecting Iranian assets for Gulf reconstructionThe United States is considering redirecting Iranian assets to help Gulf allies fund reconstruction and repair damage attributed to Iran, according to a Reuters report citing a source familiar with the matter.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has directed a team to assess the costs of damage already inflicted on Gulf allies, the source said. The proposal would also explore the possible use of Iranian assets to cover future destruction.The development comes amid rising regional tensions, with Iran reportedly launching additional drone operations following a wave of strikes against Kuwait and Bahrain.07:47 AM, 7 June 2026World Cup fever muted in Iran under shadow of war, hardshipIn a Tehran neighbourhood dotted with shops selling football jerseys and sporting goods, 10-year-old Helma was already feeling World Cup fever."I'm supporting Iran because it's always the champion!" she said, sporting a bracelet in the green, white and red of the national flag. "This year, it will be number one out of all the countries!"Holding a shopping bag containing a national team jersey, her mother explained that Helma was set to appear in a video clip supporting Iran's side, adding: "We came to buy Team Melli outfits for the shoot."But after weeks of war with Israel and the United States - one of the co-hosts of this year's tournament - not to mention persistent economic hardship and stuttering efforts to bring the conflict to a final close, not every Iranian shares the grade-schooler's excitement.Read more here.06:30 AM, 7 June 2026Israeli airstrikes leave 3,593 dead, 10,990 injured in LebanonThe Lebanese Ministry of Health has announced that the death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 until Saturday has risen to 3,593 killed and 10,990 injured. In its daily statistical report, cited by the Lebanese National News Agency, the ministry stated that Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours resulted in the deaths of 35 people and the injury of 120 others.06:21 AM, 7 June 2026As OPEC+ meets, Iran war hobbles power to shape oil marketOPEC+ ministers meet Sunday to weigh higher production quotas in a bid to cap oil prices that have surged since the Iran war effectively choked off Gulf crude shipments.But even if the cartel members vow to ramp up output by thousands of barrels per day, analysts say geopolitical realities mean they probably won't move the needle on prices.With the crucial Strait of Hormuz shut since US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, oil prices have nearly doubled, igniting inflation pressures worldwide.Ministers from the 21 member states of OPEC+, the main oil producing nations and their allies, are holding their quarterly meeting online.The group is likely to beef up its production quotas by "188,000 barrels a day", said Jorge Leon, analyst at Rystad Energy, similar to recent increases.But in reality, only seven members - Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman - have the capacity to do so.06:09 AM, 7 June 2026
