Trump says US considering 'winding down' war in Iran but other nations must guard Hormuz

President Donald Trump says the US is considering "winding down" operations against Iran, but that other nations must guard the Strait of Hormuz - a vital shipping lane for oil.

We've had another update from US President Donald Trump on Truth Social.

"We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran," he says.

Turning to the Strait of Hormuz, Trump then says it "will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!"

"If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated.

"Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them."

Trump adds that he does not want a ceasefire.

He adds: "You don’t do a ceasefire when you are literally obliterating the other side."

US military officials are making detailed preparations for the possibility of deploying ground troops into Iran, the BBC's US partner CBS reports, citing multiple unnamed sources briefed on the discussions.

Senior Pentagon officials are making specific requests to plan for such a move, CBS reports.

The planning includes conversations about how the US would handle the detention of Iranian soldiers if there were US troops in the country, CBS cites two of the officials as saying.

Overnight, Israel launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran and Beirut. Israel, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait say they have intercepted drones and missiles Earlier, the UK approved the use of its bases for the US to launch strikes on Iranian sites that target Hormuz.

Trump says the UK's decision is "very late" - how has the UK's stance shifted? Iran's foreign minister accuses UK PM Keir Starmer of "putting British lives in danger", adding "Iran will exercise its right to self-defence"

The UK has approved the use of its bases for the US to launch strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz.

Downing Street had previously allowed American forces to use British bases for operations to prevent Iran firing missiles that put British interests or lives at risk. But ministers agreed during a meeting today that the US use of British bases could now be expanded to include protecting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK will still not be directly involved in the strikes and Downing Street says "the principles behind the UK’s approach to the conflict remain the same". A Downing Street spokesperson says ministers agreed today that bases could now be used for "US defensive operations" to target "capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz". They add that "ministers underlined the need for urgent de-escalation and a swift resolution to the war".