Iranian Women’s Football Captain Withdraws Asylum Claim
The captain of the Iranian women’s football team, Zahra Ghanbari, has departed Australia after retracting her asylum claim. Ghanbari became the fifth player from the squad to reverse her decision following their participation in the Asian Cup.
The office of Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed on Monday that another team member left late Sunday night. Iranian state news agency Irna reported Ghanbari’s move to join fellow players in Malaysia, portraying the reversals by most team members as a propaganda victory for Iran’s embattled regime.
Australia initially granted asylum to seven individuals from the group, including one support staff member, during their stay for the Asian Cup. Minister Burke stated on Sunday, after three players had withdrawn their claims, that the players were repeatedly offered opportunities to reconsider their options after informing Australian officials of their decisions.
Iran Condemns Israeli Strikes as Ecocide
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Israeli attacks on fuel depots in Tehran, describing them as violations of international law and acts of "ecocide" due to their detrimental effects on residents’ health.
"Israel’s bombings of fuel depots in Tehran violate international law and constitute ecocide," Abbas Araghchi said. "Residents face long-term damage to their health and well-being. Contamination of soil and groundwater could have generational impacts. Israel must be punished for its war crimes."
Japan Declines to Send Warships to Strait of Hormuz
Japan announced it will not dispatch warships "at the moment" to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, despite US calls for a collective effort to protect vessels from Iranian attacks. The strait has been effectively closed since the onset of the conflict, raising concerns over global energy supplies.
US President Donald Trump has urged countries including China, the UK, Japan, France, and South Korea to contribute naval forces to secure the strait. He also warned NATO of a "very bad" future if member states do not increase their involvement.
Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told parliament:
"In the current Iran situation, we are not at the moment considering issuing a maritime security operation."
UK and Australia’s Response to US Requests
UK ministers are preparing plans to deploy minesweeping drones to the strait amid concerns that sending warships could escalate tensions. Australia has confirmed it will not send naval vessels, with Transport Minister Catherine King stating to ABC that while the issue is important, Australia has not been asked to contribute.
Trump Seeks Coalition to Reopen Strait
President Trump is reportedly working to form a coalition of nations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with plans to announce the list later this week, according to Axios citing four anonymous sources. Over the weekend, Trump claimed multiple countries would send warships to the region and publicly called on specific nations to do so.
Approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through the narrow waterway on Iran’s southern coast. Iran’s effective closure of the strait, in retaliation for US-Israel attacks, has severely disrupted global energy and trade flows, causing oil prices to surge amid what has been described as "the energy crisis."
Welcome Summary
Hello and welcome to our ongoing live coverage of the US-Israel conflict with Iran and its regional and global implications.
Recent developments include President Trump’s warning that NATO faces a "very bad" future if US allies do not assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by the Financial Times. Despite his demands for about seven countries to send warships, no commitments have been secured amid rising oil prices. The president has not disclosed the countries heavily dependent on Middle East crude with which the administration is negotiating. Both Australia and Japan have declined to deploy their navies to the strait.
Drone Incident Halts Flights at Dubai Airport
Flights were temporarily suspended at Dubai International Airport, once among the world’s busiest, following a "drone-related incident" that caused a fire nearby, according to city authorities on Monday. The fire affected a fuel tank, the Gulf financial hub’s media office reported, later confirming the blaze had been extinguished with no injuries reported.
Israel Maintains Focus on Iranian Targets
Israel stated its military remains focused on thousands of potential targets within Iran, even as Tehran issued stern warnings to neighboring countries against further involvement in the expanding regional conflict.
Rising Oil Prices Amid Conflict
Oil prices climbed again amid growing supply concerns after the US struck Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub and President Trump urged allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 1.8% to $104.98 per barrel in early Monday trading. Continued violence across the Middle East has heightened worries about the conflict’s impact on global energy markets.
International Leaders Discuss Strait of Hormuz
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed the necessity of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to alleviate disruptions to global shipping with President Trump, according to a Downing Street spokeswoman on Sunday. Starmer also spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about the strait’s closure and its effects on international shipping, the spokeswoman told .
Drone Attack on Kuwait Airbase
Italy’s military reported a drone attack on the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait, which hosts Italian and US forces, confirming that all personnel are safe. Chief of Defence General Staff Luciano Portolano stated:
"This morning, Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait was the target of a drone attack that hit a shelter housing a remotely piloted aircraft of the Italian Task Force Air (TFA), which was destroyed."
UN Peacekeepers and Regional Violence
UN peacekeepers reported being fired upon, likely by non-state armed groups, in southern Lebanon on Sunday. Additionally, a Hamas source stated that an Israeli strike killed a Palestinian militant group official.
Rocket Attack on Baghdad Airport
A rocket attack targeted Baghdad International Airport, which includes a US diplomatic facility, injuring five people, Iraqi authorities reported. The Iraqi government’s security media cell said:
"Five rockets targeted Baghdad International Airport and its surrounding area, injuring four airport employees and security personnel, and an engineer."
US Energy Secretary Comments on Gas Prices
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright indicated there is "a very good chance" that gasoline prices could fall below $3 per gallon by summer, contingent on the resolution of the Iran conflict. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Wright said drivers are currently feeling the impact at the pump and will continue to do so for several weeks, but after the conflict ends, the energy market is expected to become more abundant and affordable.
Netanyahu Addresses Rumors of Death
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a brief video mocking viral rumors of his death. Filmed at a café near Jerusalem, he sipped coffee and posted on his official X account:
"I’m dead for coffee,"
using a Hebrew slang expression equating being "dead" for something with loving it.
WHO Releases Emergency Funds
The World Health Organization announced on Sunday that it had released $2 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support health responses in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria amid the Middle East crisis.
