Hezbollah targets several areas in northern Israel, launching a barrage of rockets on kibbutzim and towns near the border with Lebanon on Wednesday.

The town of Kiryat Shmona was targeted twice, first at 08:00 local time (06:00 BST / 05:00 GMT) and then again at 08:55.

Other areas in northern Israel targeted by the Iran-backed Shia Muslim armed group include Metula, Kfar Giladi, Dovev, Shlomi, Metzuba, Ya'ara, Avdon, Kfar Vradim, Nahariya, and Shavei Zion.

In an update on Telegram, Hezbollah says attacks on Israel "will continue until the Israeli-American aggression against our country and our people ceases".

Israel has not yet commented and it is unclear if the strikes have caused any damage.

• For context: Hezbollah emerged out of Shia militias formed to resist Israel after its invasion of southern Lebanon in 1982, during Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. It has strong backing from Iran and opposes Israel's right to exist. It is considered a terrorist organisation by Israel and many other nations, including the UK and US.

Image source, Getty Images

An Israeli military spokesperson tells the AFP news agency around 30 rockets were fired by Iran-backed group Hezbollah into northern Israel early on Wednesday.

It comes as Lebanon's state news agency NNA reports two "dawn raids" in southern Lebanon, which they say killed a family of four in Jbaa and five people in Ansariya.

NNA also says a car was targeted heading south on the Jiyyeh highway - which connects Beirut to southern cities in Lebanon.

The Lebanese government yesterday held their first diplomatic talks with Israel in over three decades, aimed at ending fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Hezbollah is not involved in the discussions, and an official told the news agency AP that it would not abide by any settlement agreed there.

Over 2,000 people have been killed since Israeli military operations in Lebanon began on 2 March, according to Lebanon's health ministry, just days after US and Israeli strikes began in Iran.

While the two sides were meeting in Washington on Tuesday, Hezbollah claimed at least 24 attacks on Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon - we've been hearing more from them this morning, and will bring you their latest comments shortly.

• Read more on the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1993 in our news story

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to begin a four-day trip to three countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, Pakistan's foreign ministry said.

It comes as Pakistan is gearing itself up for a possible second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad - following on from the first round of talks over the weekend.

For context, Trump told a New York Post reporter on Tuesday that "something could be happening" in Islamabad over "the next two days".

Sharif's trips to Saudi Arabia and Qatar would be conducted "in the bilateral context," the ministry said on Wednesday morning.

In Turkey, Sharif will take part in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and will hold bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other leaders on the sidelines of the forum.

Image source, Reuter.

As we've reported, President Trump - speaking about the possibility of more US-Iran talks - said "something could be happening" in Islamabad over "the next two days".

That came hours after a diplomatic source told Iran's state news agency IRNA there was "no information" about further talks.

IRNA said messages had been exchanged between Tehran and Pakistan - which has been acting as a mediator - but there was nothing confirmed.

The source said Pakistan "remains committed to its mediation efforts" after previous US-Iran talks in Islamabad ended without agreement.

Iran has seemingly not commented on Trump's latest comments. The two-week ceasefire was announced on 8 April - meaning it is due to expire next Wednesday on 22 April.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Later today, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves will hold talks with the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington.

As she set off for the US, the chancellor had an interview with the Daily Mirror, external, saying she is "very frustrated and angry" the US went to war with Iran without an exit plan.

Government minister James Murray was asked on BBC Breakfast about the chancellor's strong words.

"I think the chancellor is reflecting views that probably quite a lot of people in Britain feel," Murray answers.

"This is not our war. This is a war we chose not to get involved in and yet it is going to have an impact on our economy."

The chancellor's comments come after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned the economic fallout from the conflict will hit the UK harder than any other advanced economy.

Meanwhile, Bessent has told the BBC a "small bit of economic pain" is worthwhile for long-term international security.

Image source, Reuters

President Trump has renewed his criticism of the Pope, writing on social media overnight: "Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable.

"Thank you for your attention to this matter. AMERICA IS BACK!!!"

After the Pope commented on the war in Iran, Trump told reporters earlier this month he is "not a big fan" of the American pontiff, accusing him of being "WEAK on crime and terrible for foreign policy".

Pope Leo has said he has "no fear" of the Trump administration and will continue to speak out.

Trump has also commented on Nato, writing three hours ago: "NATO wasn’t there for us, and they won’t be there for us in the future!"

Image source, Reuters

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is continuing attacks in Lebanon, the day after Israel and Lebanon held their first diplomatic talks in over three decades.

Israel said it wanted to disarm all non-state terror groups - a reference to Hezbollah - who were not involved in the talks.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it struck "Hezbollah terrorists and military infrastructure" over the past few days, and "will continue to operate against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation".

In a statement about the Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington yesterday, the US said it "congratulated the two countries on this historic milestone and expressed its support for further talks, and for the government of Lebanon's plans to restore the monopoly of force and to end Iran's overbearing influence".

Image source, MarineTraffic

On Sunday, the US military announced a "blockade" of Iranian ports to begin at 14:00 GMT on Monday. It said it would be "enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas".

But yesterday, ship tracking data analysed by BBC Verify showed that at least four Iran-linked ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz as the US blockade of Iranian ports began.

Later, the US Central Command (Centcom) insisted no ships had made it past its blockade - saying six merchant vessels "complied with direction from US forces" to turn around and "re-enter an Iranian port".

A US official told the BBC's US partner CBS that the US had interdicted two oil tankers on Tuesday, which were part of the six told to turn back by US forces.

Tracking data shows that one Iran-linked vessel, the Rich Starry, did indeed cross the strait, heading east. But it then seems to turn back upon reaching the Gulf of Oman - possibly under the instruction of US forces.

BBC Verify reported yesterday that at least one other vessel, the Christianna - which crossed the strait having called at Iran’s Bandar Iman Khomein - also changed direction.

Talks between the US and Iran could restart "in the next two days", Donald Trump has said, in an interview with the New York Post., external

The paper said that, in an initial phone interview, the US president said discussions were "happening, but, you know, a little bit slow" - before indicating more talks could happen in Europe.

About half an hour later, the paper says, Trump called their reporter back.

"You should stay there [Islamabad, where talks previously happened], really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there," he said.

"It’s more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job."

Trump was referring to Pakistan Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir - who he has previously called his "favourite".

Image source, Reuters

The efficacy of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports has remained largely unclear during its first full day, with our security correspondent Frank Gardner suggesting a lack of preparation and transponder interference as possible explanations.

Shipping data analysed by BBC Verify shows that at least four Iran-linked ships, including two that visited Iranian ports, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.

A further three ships that were not linked to Iran were seen to have crossed the strait after the blockade started at 10:00 ET (14:00 GMT) on Monday.

On Tuesday, Adm Brad Cooper, the commander of US Central Command said: "A blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented."

"In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea," he added.

US Central Command earlier said that six merchant vessels turned around and re-entered an Iranian port after complying with "direction from US forces" - while ship tracking data analysed by BBC Verify showed two Iran-linked ships changing direction after travelling through the strait off the back of the blockade being imposed.

Oil prices were steady in Asia trade today as hopes of new US-Iran peace talks grow.

Donald Trump has suggested that talks could restart "in the next two days", though Tehran has said there is "no information" about any agreement for a second meeting.

The price of global benchmark Brent crude gained by 0.3% just above $95 (£70) a barrel, while US-traded oil was lower by 0.3% at just shy of $91.

Energy prices came down on Tuesday after Trump said that the White House was contacted by Iran in hopes of making a deal.

Major Asian markets also gained on Wednesday. The Nikkei 225 index in Japan was up by around 1%, while South Korea's Kospi exchange rose by 3%.

US President Donald Trump says the war with Iran is "close to over" during an interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox.

In a preview clip of the interview posted to Fox News online, Trump is ask directly whether the war has ended.

"I think it's close to over, yeah," he replies. "I view it as very close to over."

The full interview is set to air at 06:00 ET (11:00 BST) on the Fox Business Network.

An inconsistent blockadepublished at 05:08 BST

05:08 BST

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

The first 24 hours of the US naval blockade of Iran's ports have been notable for their inconsistency.

At least four Iran-linked vessels have passed through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, two of them having come from Iranian ports: Bushehr and Bandar Imam Khomeini.

There are several possible explanations for this.

One is that US naval forces were not quite ready to enforce it yet. Another suggestion is that the vessels interfered with their onboard AIS transponders to mislead others as to their true whereabouts, a practice known as "spoofing".

Then there is the China factor. China is a major buyer of Iran's oil and it has made no secret of its displeasure over the restrictions on energy supplies coming out of the Gulf, calling the blockade reckless and dangerous.

China would prefer to resolve this crisis by peaceful, diplomatic means. But as the standoff continues there may well be discussions back in Beijing about whether it is now time to consider providing a naval escort for cargoes bound for China.

During an event on Tuesday, US Vice-President JD Vance said Trump wanted to make a "grand bargain" with Iran, BBC's US partner CBS News, reports.

Vance told the audience at a Turning Point USA event in Athens, Georgia, that negotiators "made a ton of progress" in Pakistan over the weekend.

But he said Trump is not looking for a "small deal" with Iran, and instead wants to strike a "Trumpian grand bargain", CBS says.

Vance noted there was a lot of mistrust between the two countries.

"You are not going to solve that problem overnight," he said, according to Reuters.

Image source, Reuters

Peter Bowes
North America correspondent

Donald Trump has hinted that a second round of talks with Iran could take place later this week.

It follows the collapse of negotiations in Pakistan last weekend, with Washington and Tehran failing to reach an agreement over the Strait of Hormuz and the future of Iran's nuclear programme.

US Vice-President JD Vance acknowledged that mistrust between the two countries, spanning several decades, could not be overcome overnight, but he believed the Iranian negotiators wanted to make a deal.

He reiterated that it was the Trump's policy that Iran could not have a nuclear weapon and that negotiations to that end were taking place.

Speaking to the New York Post yesterday, Trump said peace talks "could be happening over the next two days".

Welcome back to our live coverage of the Iran war. We will continue bringing you the latest developments on the conflict.

• US President Donald Trump has suggested talks aimed at ending the war in Iran could resume this week
• Iran has not responded to Trump’s remarks, but the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said it was "highly probable" that talks would restart
• Lebanon's ambassador to the US called preliminary talks between Lebanon and Israel in the US "productive". Israel's ambassador to the US said the talks showed the three nations "are on the same side of the equation"

• The US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in full force, and the US said it would revive full sanctions on Iranian oil. The actions follow talks between Iran and the US at the weekend that failed to reach a peace deal
• The US said no ships have passed through its blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas in the first 24 hours. Tracking data, verified by the BBC, showed four Iran-linked ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz after the blockade began
• The blockade stand-off has come during a two-week ceasefire that is due to expire next week

Image source, Reuters