Israel-Iran News Highlights: Tehran prefers peace but ready to respond strongly, Iran FM to British counterpart

Israel-Iran News LIVE: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies on Monday to show the same "unity" toward Ukraine as Israel, which said it repelled an Iranian attack over the weekend with Western support.

Israel-Iran News LIVE: Efforts to end wars in the Middle East and Ukraine will dominate this week's meeting of Group of Seven foreign ministers, host Italy's top diplomat Antonio Tajani said on Monday

Israel-Iran News LIVE: "We don't seek escalation, but we'll continue to support the defence of Israel and to protect our personnel in the region," United States secretary of state Antony Blinken said at the start of a meeting with Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Tamim. "What this weekend demonstrated is that Israel did not have to and does not have to defend itself alone when it is the victim of an aggression, the victim of an attack," he added, calling Iran's actions "unprecedented."

Israel-Iran News LIVE: Iran's Foreign Minister conveyed to his British counterpart that while Tehran prefers peace, it stands prepared to respond vigorously and swiftly if Israel retaliates.

Israel-Iran News LIVE: Israel is "strong and resilient" and, if needed, it will "confront Iran" after the recent attack, the Israeli envoy in New Delhi asserted on Monday and said India should play a role in bringing stability in the West Asia region.

Israel-Iran News LIVE: Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said that Tehran will "soon" allow Indian authorities to meet 17 Indian crew members of a cargo vessel that was seized by Iran's military near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

Israel-Iran News LIVE: Qatar Airways announced the resumption of its scheduled services to Iran in a post on X on Monday.

Israel-Iran News LIVE: In an official post on X, US Central Command said, "On April 13 and the morning of April 14, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, supported by US European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen."

Israel-Iran News LIVE: Israel's currency, the shekel, recovered from recent selling as investors expressed confidence that the conflict with Iran wouldn't escalate further. The shekel strengthened by up to 0.9 per cent to 3.7189 per dollar on Monday.

Tehran on Monday called on Western nations to "appreciate Iran's restraint" towards Israel after it attacked its regional foe in response to a deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. 

"Instead of making accusations against Iran, (Western) countries should blame themselves and answer to public opinion for the measures they have taken against the... war crimes committed by Israel" in its war against Tehran-backed Hamas in Gaza, said Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani. 

The spokesman added that Western countries "should appreciate Iran's restraint in recent months". Western governments have condemned Iran over its unprecedented drone and missile attack on Israel, which Tehran insists was an act of "self-defence".

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday warned Iran not to launch another attack on Israel but said the Israeli government must also contribute to cooling tensions.

Speaking in Shanghai on a visit to China while addressing trade frictions between the European Union and China, Scholz said there should be fair competition conditions and no protectionist motives.

He also said he would raise the issue of China supplying dual use goods that Russia could deploy militarily while waging war in Ukraine.

Several Middle Eastern countries including Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon temporarily closed their airspace over the weekend as Iran launched drones and missiles. Both Israel and Iran also imposed restrictions on airline traffic, requiring airlines to rerout, thereby extending flight times and adding to fuel costs.

Britain would consider more sanctions against Iran, foreign minister David Cameron said on Monday, following its drone and missile attack on Israel. Asked whether the government would consider more sanctions on Iran, Cameron told the BBC: "Yes, absolutely. We already have 400 sanctions on Iran. We put in place a whole new sanctions regime at the end of last year, which is proving very effective. (Reuters)

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged Israel not to retaliate after Iran's drone and missile attack, saying it should "think with head as well as heart" because Tehran's strike had been a near total failure. (Reuters)

France will do all it can to avoid further escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran in the Middle East, President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, urging Israel to show restraint in any response. "We are all worried about a possible escalation," Macron told BFM TV and RMC radio.

India's BSE Sensex tanked by 929 points in the early trade hours on Monday as a result of the crisis in the Middle East, leading to a weak trend in the global markets.

The Iranian foreign ministry on Monday issued a statement allowing officials from the government of India to meet the 17 Indian crew members of a cargo vessel that was seized by the Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

In controlling the targeted attack by Iran, the resilience and efficiency of Israel's advanced multilayered air defences, which include the anti-ballistic Arrow system and the Iron Dome system, and the extraordinary close cooperation between Israel and its western allies, the United States, Britain and France, played a major role, a report by a US publication noted.

Indian shares fell on Monday as investors sold riskier assets after Iran's retaliatory attack on Israel over the weekend spurred fears of a wider regional conflict. The NSE Nifty 50 was down 0.73% at 22,354.70 as of 10:10 a.m. IST, while the S&P BSE Sensex fell 0.75% to 73,687.02.

Iran's attack on Israel led to closure of significant amount of airspace between Europe and Asia, leading to major disruptions in flights across the Middle East.

PM Modi, while addressing a public rally on Sunday, said, “Clouds of uncertainty are hovering over the world today. Several regions are staring at a war-like situation and the world is tense and not at peace. In such times, ensuring the safety and security of our citizens becomes a priority and a paramount task for any government that comes in. Hence, the safety of our people will be the top priority for our government, if we return for another term.”

US President Joe Biden reached out to the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt by phone on Sunday in order to contain the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

As the tensions in the Middle East continue to soar, US President Joe Biden is set to host Iraq's leader in the country. This might shake America's position on the ongoing crisis.

Issuing a warning to Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Joe Biden said that US would not participate in any retaliation measure against Iran.

Oil prices fell during trade on Monday, as market participants dialled back risk premiums following Iran's attack on Israel late on Saturday which the Israeli government said caused limited damage. Brent futures for June delivery fell 20 cents, or 0.2%, to $90.25 a barrel while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for May delivery were down 33 cents, or 0.4%, at $85.33 a barrel by 0225 GMT.