Fragile ceasefire broken? Fresh escalations reported hours after US-Iran truce

Hours after both the US and Iran confirmed a two-week ceasefire in the sixth week of the Middle East conflict, Tehran claimed to have been struck by American forces with several other countries in the region in a complex web of fresh attacks on Wednesday, according to foreign media reports Israel, which backed the US-Iran truce, reportedly engaged in strikes against Iranian-backed fighters in Lebanon, while Iran and multiple Gulf countries also mentioned fresh attacks. The reports fuelled concerns whether Trump's ceasefire calls were shortlived, merely hours after he said it was a “big day for world peace”.

Trump claimed that fake documents about US-Iran negotiations are being circulated.

“Numerous Agreements, Lists, and Letters are being sent out by people that have absolutely nothing to do with the U.S.A. / Iran Negotiation, in many cases, they are total Fraudsters, Charlatans, and WORSE. They will be rapidly exposed after our Federal Investigation is completed. There is only one group of meaningful “POINTS” that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations. These are the POINTS that are the basis on which we agreed to a CEASEFIRE. It is something that is reasonable, and can easily be dispensed with. It’s very much like Fake News CNN last night, headlining a 'source' that had no power or authority to write a Letter claiming great authority," the American president posted on social media.

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Here are some of the key developments in the conflict:

• Iran halts traffic in the Strait of Hormuz after Israel's attack against Lebanon; Consulate General of Iran in India confirms the move

• Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says attacks and ceasefire cannot go hand in hand, US must decide whether it wants a ceasefire or to continue the war through Israel

• Trump says the US intends to work with Iran to remove buried nuclear material after strikes; his administration has announced 50 per cent tariff on countries supplying weapons to Iran

• Trump claims fake documents related to US-Iran talks being circulated, calling those behind it “fraudsters”, saying that a federal probe will expose them

• Trump maintains that talks are continuing behind closed doors, claims that the ceasefire pact is based on these same terms

• An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson says operations will continue as long as Hezbollah remains a threat to their security
• Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will achieve its objectives, says ceasefire with Iran does not mean the end of war
• Operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon to continue, he categorically states; Hezbollah is not part of the Iran ceasefire, he says
• Netanyahu also vows to remove enriched uranium from Iran at any cost
• A team of American negotiators expected to visit Pakistan on Saturday
• Talks with Iran may be led by US Vice President JD Vance