No plan to evacuate Irish in Middle East as advice is 'to shelter in place'; war widens to Lebanon as Hezbollah strike Israel

"A senior White House official said on Sunday that 'new potential leadership' in Iran has suggested they are open for talks with the US and that Mr Trump says he is 'eventually' willing to talk. For now, though, Mr Trump said in a video posted on Sunday that the operation in Iran - 'one of the most complex, most overwhelming military offensives the world has ever seen' - will continue until 'all of our objectives' are achieved."

"The joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which started on Saturday, stoked fears of a wider war and damage to the world economy. Global reaction ranged from jubilation to condemnation. The strikes came two days after the latest US-Iran talks, as US President Donald Trump pressured Tehran for a deal to constrain its nuclear programme."

"In Tehran on Sunday, the streets were largely deserted as people sheltered during heavy airstrikes, witnesses told The Associated Press, speaking anonymously for fear of retribution. Israel said it had worked with the US for months to plan the attacks."

Joint US-Israeli military operations targeting Iran resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting Iranian retaliatory strikes across the region including drones and missiles fired at Israel and Gulf sites. The escalation sparked widespread international concern about potential wider conflict and economic consequences. A White House official indicated that emerging Iranian leadership has expressed openness to negotiations with the US, with President Trump stating willingness to eventually engage in talks. Iran's provisional governing council began operations to select a new supreme leader. The strikes followed recent US-Iran discussions focused on constraining Iran's nuclear program. Regional allies of the US declared readiness to defend their interests, while global reactions ranged from support to condemnation.

Read at Irish Independent