Image source, EPA

Speaking during a visit to Australia, European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the need for negotiated peace to bring an end to the Iran war, saying she was "deeply concerned" about the ongoing conflict.

"It is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated, and this puts an end to the hostilities that we see in the Middle East," von der Leyen said alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra.

Some EU countries are preparing to assist in a "mission" to protect the Strait of Hormuz once the war ends, von der Leyen said.

"We all feel the knock-on effects on gas and oil prices, our businesses and our societies," adding that the trade channel is "critical for the energy supply lines worldwide".

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) say they are are heading to "several areas" in the country's south where "reports of impacts have been received", according to a statement.

Several alerts of missiles launched from Iran towards Israel have been issued overnight.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

Donald Trump's activities over the past few days have been a mix of diplomacy and diversions - with the occasional swing towards the surreal.

On Friday, he said the US war against Iran was "winding down".

By Saturday night, he had given Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face withering new airstrikes on its energy production infrastructure.

On Sunday, he golfed and by Monday morning, he said the Iranians were engaging in "constructive" talks with the US. Later that day, he visited Graceland, music legend Elvis Presley's historic home.

US contact with an unnamed Iranian leader - not confirmed by Iran - was enough to merit a five-day stay of the threatened attacks, he said.

But the prospect of talks was enough to send the US stock market surging and global oil prices dropping.

You can read more analysis here.

At least one building in Nesher, located in the Haifa region of northern Israel, has been hit by a missile overnight.

Earlier, the Israeli military warned missiles were launched towards the country from the direction of Iran.

Emergency services say one woman suffered a shrapnel injury while she was on her way to a shelter.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says Japan will begin releasing part of its national oil stockpile on Thursday, in response to growing supply concerns.

Takaichi said in a post on X, that "from this week on the 26th, we will begin releasing national stockpiles".

Japan already tapped into private stockpiles last week to secure the "amount required for Japan as a whole", the post said.

Nearly 95% of the oil Japan uses flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Daniel Bush
Washington correspondent

The White House on Monday appeared to tamp down speculation surrounding potential US-Iran negotiations over the war after President Donald Trump suggested the two sides were making "major" progress toward a deal.

Trump's comments about negotiations on a whirlwind day of remarks on the war sparked reports that US Vice-President JD Vance might represent the administration in talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan.

But the White House says the situation is “fluid” and cautioned that no formal meetings between any top leaders from the US and Iran have been announced.

"These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press," Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, tells the BBC in a statement.

"This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House," Leavitt says.

Peter Hoskins
Business reporter, Singapore

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

The price of Brent crude has moved back above $100 a barrel, after plunging on Monday.

On Tuesday morning in Asia, the oil benchmark was up by 3.75% at $103.69 (£77.42), while Nymex Light Sweet was 3.42% higher at $91.55.

The price of Brent fell by more than 10% on Monday after US President Donald Trump delayed fresh strikes on Iran that were seen as an escalation of the conflict and said a peace deal could be reached soon.

But now investors are weighing that against Tehran's denials that it had held talks with the US.

Read more here

Amid conflicting reports about possible US-Iran negotiations, a senior Iranian foreign ministry official told the BBC's US partner CBS News: “We received points from the US through mediators and they are being reviewed."

CBS clarifies that this step was taken as a potential precursor to talks, and that talks are not confirmed or under way.

The comments come after President Trump said the US and Iran held talks on ending the war, but Iran's parliament speaker denied it.

Trump has reiterated that the US could reach a deal to halt the conflict after walking back on threats to bomb Iranian energy sites and postponing the strikes.

Our live coverage of conflict in the Middle East continues, as US and Iranian officials give conflicting accounts of talks between the two countries on the war after President Donald Trump decided to postpone threatened strikes on Iranian power plants.

Let's take a look back at what has been said in recent days:

On Saturday, Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz, or the US would "obliterate" its power plants.

However, on Monday, Trump said he delayed the strikes after "productive" conversations with Tehran, but Iran's parliament speaker denies discussions have taken place, calling it "fake news".

A senior Iranian official has however told the BBC's news partner, CBS: “We received points from the US through mediators and they are being reviewed."

CBS clarifies that this step was taken "as a potential precursor to talks", and that talks are not confirmed or under way.

The White House, too, has urged caution, saying the situation is “fluid" and that, "speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House."

Stay with us as we bring you the latest developments.

Image source, Reuters