Iran-US war latest: Trump says conflict will end in ‘two to three weeks’ as drone sparks fire at Kuwait airport

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to provide an update on the cost of living amid concerns over the amount energy bills could rise as a result of the Middle East conflict.

The prime minister is due to speak at a press conference later on Wednesday morning after he vowed to “protect the British people at home and abroad”.It is thought Sir Keir’s Downing Street press conference will cover both the conflict and Government support for households as rising prices bite.

Since fighting began in Iran, oil prices have soared in response to Tehran’s block on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Families with a 55-litre diesel car face paying more than £100 at the pump for the first time since December 2022.

It comes as Donald Trump alleged on his Truth Social platform that the UK was among several countries which “can’t get jet fuel” ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend – a claim which industry body Airlines UK has refuted.

The US president said the UK and other countries that did not take part in strikes against Iran should secure the Strait of Hormuz themselves.

Iran’s foreign minister has acknowledged receiving direct messages from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

He told Al Jazeera that the messages didn’t constitute negotiations.

US president Donald Trump has repeatedly described Iran and America as having talks over the war, while Pakistan has been a key intermediary along with Egypt and Turkey during the conflict.“I receive messages from Witkoff directly, as before, and this does not mean that we are in negotiations,” he said.

He added: “We do not have any faith that negotiations with the U.S. will yield any results. The trust level is at zero.”Asked about a possible ground offensive by the U.S., Araghchi said “we are waiting for them.”

“We know very well how to defend ourselves,” Araghchi reportedly told the Qatar-based broadcaster.

“In a ground war, we can do it even better. We are completely ready to confront any sort of ground attack. We hope they do not make such a mistake.”

The Indian Oil ​Corporation this morning said ​it ​will raise jet ⁠fuel ​and ​commercial LPG prices in ​metropolitan ​cities across the ‌country, ⁠including the capital ​New ​Delhi, ⁠effective from 1 April.

In the capital, the price of a 19kg commercial LPG cylinder has increased by Rs 195 (£1.5) to Rs 2,078.50 (£16.7).

Aviation Turbine Fuel prices have also been revised upward to cost Rs207,341 (£1,672) per kilolitre — a 114.5 per cent hike from Rs 96,638 (£779.2) last month.

The United Arab Emirates has reportedly barred all Iranian passport holders from entering or transiting through Dubai, including individuals holding valid residency and visas.

According to a Flydubai notice, the restriction took effect on 31 March and applied to all Iranian nationals.

Iranians with a UAE “golden visa” will still be permitted to enter and transit through the country, it said.

The Israeli military said this morning that it ⁠had identified the launch of ⁠a ​missile ⁠from Yemen towards Israel, ⁠adding that ​air ⁠defence systems ‌were operating to intercept the ‌threat.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned ‌Houthis joined the ⁠regional war in recent days, launching missiles at Israel in support of ‌Tehran.

Donald Trump has lashed out at Britain, saying the US “won’t be there to help you any more, just like you weren’t there for us” in an extraordinary rant against his allies over the Iran war.

The president told countries that did not take part in strikes against Iran to “get your own oil”, saying they should attempt to reopen the Strait of Hormuz themselves now that the US had “done the hard part”.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio ⁠said Washington could see the “finish line” in the Iran war, which is now in its fifth week, and the US will have to reexamine ties with Nato after the conflict.

“We can see the finish line. It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it is coming,” Rubio ⁠told Fox News.

The war began on ​28 February when the US and Israel attacked Iran. Tehran responded by launching its own attacks on Israel and Gulf states with US bases.

Joint US-Israeli strikes ⁠in Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions. The war has ​also ⁠raised oil prices and shaken ‌global markets.

Rubio said there were messages being exchanged between Iran and the US and there is the potential to have a “direct meeting at some point” between the two sides.

“There ‌are messages being exchanged, there are talks going on. ‌There is the potential for direct meeting at some point,” Rubio said.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said today that civil defence teams were ⁠extinguishing ​a ⁠fire at a company ⁠facility ​following what ⁠authorities ‌described as an Iranian attack, ‌adding that ‌relevant authorities were ⁠taking necessary measures at the site.No immediate details were provided on ‌the ​company, casualties or ‌the ⁠extent of ⁠damage.

US Central Command has denied reports of the military attacking a sports hall and residential area in Lamerd, Iran, at the start of the war.

“After looking into the reports, U.S. Central Command has confirmed the accusations are false”, US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for CENTCOM, wrote in a statement.

Hawkins continued: “U.S. forces did not launch any strikes at any time into the city of Lamerd or anywhere within 30 miles during the opening day of Operation Epic Fury”.

“U.S. forces do not target civilians, unlike the Iranian regime which has attacked civilian locations in neighboring countries more than 300 times”, the spokesperson added.