Robert White
Last updated 29 April 2026 7:41am BST
Key moments
- President targets Iranian economy
- US aides are preparing for a prolonged blockade rather than a return to conflict.
- King 'agrees with me' on Iran, says Trump
The President claims His Majesty supports the mission to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare for an extended naval blockade of Iran. The US president suggested he would continue squeezing the Iranian economy and oil exports rather than resume bombing. Mr Trump believes a return to conflict, or a withdrawal from the region, would carry more risk than maintaining the naval blockade of the Islamic Republic’s ports, officials told the Wall Street Journal.
On Wednesday evening, the president claimed the King supported his mission to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while hosting a state dinner.
“We have militarily defeated that particular opponent,” Mr Trump said at the White House. He added: “Charles agrees with me even more than I do – we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.”
The president previously told US security officials that he was likely to reject Iran’s latest proposal to end the war.
It would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz while postponing talks on Tehran’s nuclear enrichment programme – a sticking point in negotiations.
The deal would bypass US demands for Iran to give up its enriched uranium stockpile in exchange for reopening the strait.
On Tuesday, the US president claimed the naval operation had led to Iran being in a “state of collapse”. He added that Tehran had informed him it wanted to “open the Hormuz Strait as soon as possible”.
7:58AM
Pictured: Israel attacks Lebanon despite ceasefire
7:41AM
A few seconds later, the helmet-cam footage of a nearby Israeli defence forces (IDF) soldier shows him suddenly jerk his rifle barrel towards the sky.
Some soldiers run and jump for cover; others look around, not sure what is happening.
Then an object ploughs into the ground and explodes, not far from the chopper.
If proof was needed that the Ukraine war has well and truly arrived in Lebanon, this video from the town of Taybeh was it.
That is because, according to multiple experts, the projectile that nearly took out the medevac helicopter on Sunday was a Hezbollah FPV (first person view) fibre optic drone.
7:20AM
The hearing before the House armed services committee is being held to discuss the Trump administration’s Iran war military budget proposal, which would boost defence spending to a record $1.5tn.
It is the first time the US secretary of war will face questions from representatives since the conflict in the Middle East began on Feb 28.
The hearing is set to begin at 3pm BST.
7:10AM
A giant billboard depicting Iranian troops using a net to catch US combat aircraft is seen at the Revolution Square in Tehran Credit: Atta Kenare/AFP
Hezbollah attacks Israeli military helicopter with fibre optic drones
The stretcher party crowds around the open door of the Black Hawk helicopter, doing their best to load their wounded comrade onboard quickly and carefully.A few seconds later, the helmet-cam footage of a nearby Israeli defence forces (IDF) soldier shows him suddenly jerk his rifle barrel towards the sky.
Some soldiers run and jump for cover; others look around, not sure what is happening.
Then an object ploughs into the ground and explodes, not far from the chopper.
If proof was needed that the Ukraine war has well and truly arrived in Lebanon, this video from the town of Taybeh was it.
That is because, according to multiple experts, the projectile that nearly took out the medevac helicopter on Sunday was a Hezbollah FPV (first person view) fibre optic drone.
7:20AM
Hegseth to face Congress for first time since Iran war began
Pete Hegseth will face questions from members of Congress later today.The hearing before the House armed services committee is being held to discuss the Trump administration’s Iran war military budget proposal, which would boost defence spending to a record $1.5tn.
It is the first time the US secretary of war will face questions from representatives since the conflict in the Middle East began on Feb 28.
The hearing is set to begin at 3pm BST.
7:10AM
Pictured: An anti-US poster in Tehran
A giant billboard depicting Iranian troops using a net to catch US combat aircraft is seen at the Revolution Square in Tehran Credit: Atta Kenare/AFP
7:01AM
The US president risked dragging the monarch into a political row after he hinted that he had discussed the conflict in the Middle East during private meetings with His Majesty before the state banquet at the White House on Tuesday.
Mr Trump said: “We’re doing a little Middle East work right now. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever – Charles agrees with me – we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump claims King ‘agrees with me’ on Iran
Donald Trump has claimed the King supports his mission to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.The US president risked dragging the monarch into a political row after he hinted that he had discussed the conflict in the Middle East during private meetings with His Majesty before the state banquet at the White House on Tuesday.
Mr Trump said: “We’re doing a little Middle East work right now. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever – Charles agrees with me – we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.”
Donald Trump speaks as he and Melania Trump host the King and Queen Camilla during a State Dinner in the East Room of the White House Credit: Henry Nicholls/AFP
Earlier in the day, the King had suggested that Nato was “more important than ever”, given the political climate.
Mr Trump previously told The Telegraph that he was strongly considering pulling the US out of Nato after it failed to join his war on Iran. He has claimed that Britain stayed “off the front lines” in Afghanistan.
6:59AM
Trump lashes out at Merz over Iran war
Donald Trump has lashed out at Friedrich Merz over his perceived lack of support for the Iran war.The US president accused the German chancellor of being responsible for Germany “doing so poorly, both economically and otherwise”.
In a post on Truth Social, he said: “The chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!
“If Iran had a Nuclear Weapon, the whole World would be held hostage. I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago.
“No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!”
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