Summary
Israel has been hitting Tehran with air strikes as Iranians mark Nowruz – the Persian New Year. Iran launched rounds of missiles at Jerusalem
Iran tells the UK that allowing the US to use British military bases will be considered “participation in aggression”, according to the Iranian foreign ministry – Downing Street says it is “not getting drawn into wider war”
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will “hold off” attacks on Iranian gas fields after being asked to by US President Donald Trump
Elsewhere, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain all reported missile or drone attacks. A drone attack at a Kuwaiti oil refinery has caused a fire, according to state media
The dark shadow of war hangs over the whole region on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr, writes Frank Gardner in Doha
“I don’t want this to be our last Nowruz” – Iranians tell the BBC about their fears on Persian new year
UK ‘not getting drawn into wider war’, Downing Street says after Iran criticises US uses of bases
Downing Street says the UK is “not getting drawn into the wider war” after Iran’s foreign minister told his UK counterpart that allowing the US to use UK military bases will be considered “participation in aggression”.
Earlier, the Iranian foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a call with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, in which he said that any assistance provided to the US would lead to “an escalation of the situation”.
The prime minister’s official spokesman says: “So our position is very clear. We didn’t participate in the initial strikes, and we’re not getting drawn into the wider war.
“We have authorised the US to use our bases for a specific defensive and limited purpose in response to Iran’s continued and outrageous aggression, and we’ve always said that this is the best way to eliminate the urgent threat and restore a path to diplomacy.”
Stranded sailors in the Gulf report having to ration food and drink
Seafarers stuck in the Gulf report they are being forced to ration food and water after being stranded since war broke out in the Middle East, according to interviews with the news agency AFP.
“We don’t have enough water on board right now,” an Indian worker onboard a refuelling boat off Iraq says.
“Till yesterday we had proper drinking water and fresh water for baths and stuff. But now since drinking water is over, we have contacted the owner for the drinking water and I hope they get it by today or tomorrow,” the sailor, who asked to be identified only by his last name Pereira, adds.
“Till then, we are boiling the water for drinking,”
Around 20,000 seafarers are stranded in the Gulf west of the Strait of Hormuz, the UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has reported, following Iranian threats to attack ships travelling through the strait.
Another ship’s captain says his vessel is stuck off Qatar near the major Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas plant, which was hit by an Iranian attack on Wednesday and Thursday.
The ship’s crew has begun rationing food and water onboard, he says, adding that 25 crew members have left the ship, with 95 remaining on board.
“If the port shuts down completely, then there is no possibility of getting the crew out,” he says.
‘I don’t want this to be our last Nowruz’: Iranians mark Persian new year
Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian
Image source,EPA/Shutterstock Image caption, People go shopping ahead of Nowruz in the Iranian capital of Tehran on ThursdayNames of contributors have been changed for safety reasons.
This year’s Persian new year festival Nowruz is the first Iranians have celebrated during wartime since the 1980s.
“People are losing their jobs with the war. My biggest worry is our country’s infrastructure,” Amir says. “At this rate, there might not even be much left of Iran. I don’t want this to be our last Nowruz.”
To Iranians, Nowruz represents their history, national character and tradition and it has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years.
Markets, shopping centres and streets across Iran are usually bustling and the celebration marks the point when winter gives way for spring.
The buzz is not the same this year but still some people are defiantly preparing the festival and its centrepiece – the Haft Sin table.
“I feel like some are still carrying on despite everything, like me. I was in the salon when a loud explosion went off, and no-one even flinched,” Tehran resident Parmis says.
