TEHRAN: Saudi Arabia and Russia called on Thursday for renewed efforts to end the Middle East war.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Vladimir Putin “emphasised the need for a rapid cessation of hostilities and the intensification of political and diplomatic efforts to achieve a long-term settlement of the conflict,” the Kremlin said after the two leaders spoke by telephone.
Meanwhile Tehran threatened “crushing” attacks on Israel and US military assets in the Gulf after US President Donald Trump promised more strikes on Iran. In a televised White House address, Trump said the US was “very close” to achieving its objectives but warned its attacks would intensify if Iran did not reach a negotiated settlement.
“Over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the stone ages, where they belong,” he said.
Iran’s response was immediate. Israel’s military worked to intercept incoming missiles, and sirens sounded in Bahrain, where the US Navy’s 5th Fleet is based. Four people were injured by strikes in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem came under attack and there were explosions in Dubai as air defenses worked to intercept an Iranian missile barrage,
US-Israeli strikes hit a bridge in Karaj west of Tehran twice on Thursday. The first strike caused two civilian casualties.
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