War in the Middle East: latest developments

Here are the latest events in the Middle East war:

- Energy prices drop, stocks rally -

Oil and gas prices tumbled after US President Donald Trump said "I think the war is very complete, pretty much".

World oil prices dropped by around eight percent, while the European benchmark gas price, the Dutch TTF natural gas contract, fell around 15 percent.

European stocks jumped at open on Tuesday, after Asian markets rallied and all three main indexes on Wall Street ended sharply higher at their Monday close.

- Talks 'not on agenda' -

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told PBS news that "I don't think talking with the Americans would be on our agenda anymore", adding that Tehran had a "very bitter experience" during previous negotiations.

- Fresh Lebanon warnings -

Israel's military said it would strike Hezbollah targets in the southern Lebanese cities of Tyre and Sidon, telling residents to move away at least 300 metres (985 feet) from buildings that it said were military infrastructure of the Iran-backed group.

- 'Not done yet' -

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the offensive against Iran was "not done yet".

"Our aspiration is to bring the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, it depends on them. But there is no doubt that with the actions taken so far, we are breaking their bones -- and we are not done yet".

- Patriot in Turkey -

Ankara said a US-made Patriot missile defence system would be deployed to central Turkey, a day after NATO shot down a second ballistic missile fired from Iran in Turkish airspace.

- Iran targets US base in Iraq -

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they targeted a US base in Iraq's Kurdistan region, the Al-Harir air base, with five missiles.

- Iran vows to block oil exports -

Iranian forces will not allow the export of oil from the region to US and Israeli allies as long as the war continues, Iran's Tasnim news agency quoted a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards as saying.

- Pakistan ship escorts -

Pakistan's navy said its ships began escorting merchant vessels "to ensure the uninterrupted flow of national energy supplies and the security of sea lines of communication".

- Pro-Iran fighters killed in Iraq -

The Tehran-backed Kataeb Imam Ali armed group said four of its fighters were killed in air strikes it blamed on the US in northern Iraq, in the Debs district in Kirkuk province.

- UAE intercepts attack -

The United Arab Emirates said it was intercepting a missile and drone attack from Iran, hours after the Iranian foreign minister told broadcaster PBS News that his country had ruled out further talks with the United States and was prepared to continue missile attacks for "as long as needed."

- US to roll back oil sanctions -

US President Donald Trump said he will waive some sanctions on oil due to market turmoil over supply concerns.

"We're also waiving certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices," Trump told reporters after his administration previously signalled it would roll back sanctions on oil exports from Russia.

- Trump says war will end 'soon' -

Trump suggested the Iran war could soon end, but remained vague on a timeline for stopping the attacks.

"It's going to be ended soon, and if it starts up again they'll be hit even harder," Trump said at a news conference in Florida.

- Iran pushes back on timing -

In response to Trump's comments, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they would "determine the end of the war" -- not the Americans.

Trump also pressed for what he called "ultimate victory" against Tehran's clerical establishment, which over the weekend picked the son of slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei as its new chief.

- Iran, Turkey leaders speak -

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan after an incoming Iranian missile was intercepted in Turkey's airspace.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always declared its readiness to reduce tension in the region; provided that the airspace, soil and waters of our neighbours are not used to attack the Iranian people," Pezeshkian said in a statement about the call.

- Iran targets Gulf energy installations -

Iran launched fresh strikes on energy installations in the Gulf, including a petroleum complex in Bahrain, as oil prices soared on fears of supply disruptions due to the war.

burs/yad/sbk