Iran launches fresh nissile attacks across Middle East as Trump signals possible peace talks

Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks across parts of the Middle East on Wednesday, just hours after United States President Donald Trump hinted at possible diplomatic progress to end the ongoing conflict.

The war, which began on February 28 following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has rapidly spread across the region, disrupting global energy markets and raising tensions.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the country fired “precision-guided” missiles and drones targeting Israel, as well as military bases hosting US forces in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain.

In Israel, rocket trails were seen over the coastal city of Netanya, while air raid sirens sounded across central areas. In Kuwait, drones struck a fuel tank at the international airport, triggering a fire, while authorities in Jordan reported falling debris near the capital, Amman. Bahrain also activated air raid warnings.

The attacks have extended to countries in the Gulf, long considered relatively stable in the region, affecting tourism and severely disrupting international air travel.

The conflict has also intensified in Lebanon, where Israeli forces are pushing towards the Litani River as part of an expanded offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah. In the town of Sahel Alma, north of Beirut, explosions left buildings damaged, with shattered windows and debris scattered across streets.

“We have two-year-old children scared and crying and going through this,” a resident, Gaia Khouiri, told AFP.

Lebanese authorities say at least 1,072 people have been killed, with over one million displaced since the escalation began. Israeli airstrikes also hit southern parts of Beirut overnight, damaging buildings and leaving streets littered with rubble.

Israel confirmed it had launched additional strikes targeting what it described as infrastructure linked to Iran.

“The sounds, the explosions, the missiles — they are part of our daily life now,” a resident in Tehran said.

Despite the continued fighting, President Trump indicated that efforts were ongoing to reach a diplomatic solution, saying the United States was “in negotiations right now” with Iran.

He claimed Tehran had given him “a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money”, which he linked to developments around the Strait of Hormuz, though he did not provide further details. The strait remains a key global oil route and has been partially blockaded by Iran in response to the conflict.

Reports suggest that Washington may have sent a proposal to Iran through Pakistan, which has offered to mediate, while also considering deploying an additional 3,000 troops to the region. Iranian officials have not confirmed any formal negotiations.

As tensions remain high, Iran has said it would allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for neutral vessels but warned that ships linked to what it described as “the aggressor parties — namely the United States and the Israeli regime” would not be granted access.

The crisis has begun to impact the global economy, with countries adjusting energy use and airlines reducing flights. However, Iran’s assurances and signs of possible talks helped ease markets slightly, with oil prices dropping and stocks rising in Asian trading.

A senior official of the World Trade Organization also warned of wider consequences, especially in agriculture.

“Fertilisers are the number one issue of concern today. If there is no more fertiliser, there is an impact on quantities but also on prices,” Jean-Marie Paugam said.

“The effect compounds the following year: harvests shrink and prices rise.”