LIVE: Hegseth says US knows what Russia and China are doing over Iran

The US ‘knows exactly’ what China and Russia are doing in regards to the Iran war, Pete Hegseth has claimed today.

Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing that Washington will ‘address’ and even ‘confront’ both Moscow and Beijing ‘where necessary’.

It comes amid claims both nations are supporting Tehran in its war against the US and Israel.

Asked about reports of Russia and China aiding Iran, Hegseth said: ‘As far as Russia and China, we know exactly what they’re doing, what they are or are not doing.

‘We don’t have to air publicly what all of that is, but where necessary, we’re addressing it, we’re mitigating it or we’re confronting it head on.’

Russia has been accused of passing Iran the locations of American assets to attack and sharing advanced drone tactics.

While China is said to be providing military co-operation, according to Iranian foreign minster Abbas Araghchi.

Here’s all the latest developments on the US-Israel war with Iran:

• Donald Trump told countries including the UK ‘go get your own oil’ as he challenged nations to get supplies straight from the Strait of Hormuz
• Fears are growing the UK faces a jet fuel shortage in days as the ‘last shipment’ from the Middle East arrives in the next 48 hours
• Trump also lashed out at France describing the nation as ‘very unhelpful’ over the Iran war amid claims Emmanuel Macron blocked US planes from French airspace
• The President has reportedly signalled to aides he is willing to leave the Iran war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz
• Pete Hegseth has said the US ‘knows exactly’ what China and Russia are doing amid claims the countries are supporting Iran
• Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing the US would ‘much prefer’ a deal to end the war with Iran’s leadership
• An Iranian drone has stuck a fully loaded Kuwaiti tanker anchored at Dubai port
• Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have claimed an Israeli-owned ship has been struck in the Persian Gulf and US marines have been targeted with drones in the UAE
• Israel’s emergency services say eight people have been injured after an Iranian missile strike in central Israel
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war on Iran had achieved more than half its aims without putting a timeline on when it would end
• Italy denied US bombers access to an air base in Sicily last week after pilots apparently failed to ask for permission to land
• China has expressed its ‘gratitude’ after ships pass Strait of Hormuz

Stick with us for the latest developments throughout the day.

Several explosions have been reported in Beirut today as Israeli strikes continue to hammer the Lebanese capital.

The death toll in Lebanon has risen to 1,268 since March 2, with a further 3,750 injured, according to the state-run National News Agency.

Areas near the World Health Organisation’s Tehran office have been hit by strikes over the past two nights, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a social media post.

‘Fortunately all WHO Iran office colleagues are accounted for and none were injured,’ he added.

Mohammadi’s legal team, accompanied by one family member, visited her in Zanjan Prison on March 29, according to a statement from the Free Narges Coalition campaign.

‘Her general health was extremely poor, and she appeared pale and weak with significant weight loss,’ it said in a statement, then cited her fellow inmates as saying she was found unconscious in her bed with her eyes rolled back on March 24.

‘Despite this medical emergency, and evident indications of a heart attack, authorities refused to transfer Mohammadi to a hospital or allow her to visit a specialist,’ the statement said.

Mohammadi has a heart condition and suffered multiple heart attacks while imprisoned before undergoing emergency surgery in 2022, her supporters say.

by Shannon McGuigan and Alesia Fiddler

Airlines are starting to hike up their flight prices as jet fuel supplies dry up amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Donald Trump dramatically washed his hands of the crisis and told the UK to ‘go get your own oil’ today as the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.

The US President insisted via a scathing social media post that he had already done ‘the hard part’ in launching the war against Iran on February 28.

Trump has maintained the US has ‘plenty’ jet fuel, but airline bosses say firms are facing an ‘existential challenge’ with depleting supply pushing up the cost of flying.

Meanwhile, a higher demand for journeys avoiding the war-torn region means more layovers and, as such, high prices.

And experts also anticipate more expensive tickets will continue for months, even if the conflict dwindles.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have confirmed the killing of a military general sanctioned by the US last year over shipping oil to China.

Revolutionary Guards commander-in-chief Ahmad Vahidi issued a message of condolences for Jamshid Eshaghi, the head of the budget and financial affairs at Iran’s armed forces general staff.

Vahidi, whose predecessor was killed at the start of the conflict, said Eshaghi had been killed along with several members of his family in a US-Israeli strike, without giving a date or further details.

He praised Eshaghi for ‘improving the strength of the defence forces of the homeland’, according to the message published by the state-run IRNA news agency.

In February 2025, the US treasury sanctioned Eshaghi and other individuals, entities and vessels over what it said was an ‘international network for facilitating the shipment of millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars to China.’

It said revenues are used to fund militant groups in the region including Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

John Healey has said he is ‘proud’ of the way the UK can fight as he shot back at Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth following disparaging comments about the UK.

On Britain’s contribution to defending countries from Iran’s attacks, Healey said: ‘We have British pilots supported by British ground crew, flying over 1,200 hours in the last month, taking out drones, defending our bases and our allies.

‘I am really proud of what they are doing. Their professionalism has been recognised by the leaders out here. They have described Britain as the cornerstone of their defence.

‘I am proud of the way they can fight, are willing to fight and to pull together with allies. As far as a running commentary on social media posts, I am going to allow what we do to speak for our nation and our forces.’

Britain expects the conflict in the Gulf that threatens to crash the global economy to ‘go on for some weeks’, the Defence Secretary has revealed.

Speaking on a visit to Qatar he said regional leaders agreed with that assessment as the conflict entered its second month.

John Healey also launched a strident defence of the UK’s military track record after further criticisms from US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth earlier today.

The US leaders mocked Britain’s capabilities and response to the energy crisis triggered by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Healey said: ‘The timelines are uncertain. We must be prepared for this to go on for some weeks, some time. Certainly that is the judgement of Gulf leaders, Gulf countries.’

A former UK navy chief has branded Pete Hegseth a ‘blustering anchorman’ following his mocking remarks about the Royal Navy earlier today.

Lord West of Spithead, the former first sea lord, said he believes ‘one should just ignore’ the US Defense Secretary.

‘He’s a blustering anchorman. He’s never done anything, really. So I think we should just ignore it.

‘The bottom line is, we want to have an operation to clear the Strait. It’s got to be a combined operation amongst several nations, and it’s going to be very, very difficult.

‘And having Hegseth making stupid comments in the margins doesn’t help very much.’

Lord West added no country could hope to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on its own as he dismissed Mr Trump’s comments about nations taking oil.

The Labour peer told the Mail: ‘Any operation to make sure the Strait of Hormuz is cleared needs to be an international operation – it should include America and various allies to actually achieve that. America saying ‘it’s nothing to do with us’ is a rather sort of fatuous comment.’

by Mark Nicol, Defence Editor

Britain is sending air defence systems to Gulf allies to boost their protection against Iranian suicide drones, it was confirmed today.

On a visit to partners in the region, whose natural energy infrastructure has been damaged, Defence Secretary John Healey pledged further support.

The UK will send Sky Sabre systems to Saudi Arabia and extend flight coverage provided by RAF Typhoons in Qatar. Defence teams have also deployed to Bahrain and Kuwait.

After meeting Gulf leaders, Mr Healey said: ‘Iran’s aggressive attacks continue to threaten our allies and interests in the Middle East.

‘That is why they UK has been flying defensive missions since day one of this conflict. Today, we’re delivering further support by extending our UK jets to Qatar and deploying extra air defence teams.

‘I am proud of the courage and professionalism our armed forces have shown since the start of the war and my message to Gulf partners is Britain’s best will help you defend your skies.

‘I pay tribute to the heroic efforts of our partners across the Gulf in protecting their nations. We will stand by our long-term partners in the Middle East and continue to push for a swift resolution to this conflict.’

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have published a list of 18 companies it says have now become ‘legitimate targets’ in its war with the US and Israel.

The Iranian military has warned employees at various American firms across the Middle East including Google, Meta, Tesla, Apple, Microsoft and Boeing to leave work as well as residents living within 1km of the offices.

In a message posted on Telegram, the Guards said: ‘Warning to the invading American ruling establishment and its affiliated spy companies!!!!

‘You ignored our repeated warnings about the necessity of halting terrorist operations, and today, in terrorist attacks carried out by you and your Israeli allies, a number of Iranian citizens were martyred.’

The IRGC has previously targeted American banks across the Middle East and yesterday threatened US industrial companies in the region.