United States President, Donald Trump has said that there are no plans to deploy American ground troops in the region and claimed the operation is “ahead of schedule”.

Meanwhile, the price of gas has risen sharply in the UK and Europe following an attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy complex.

Qatar’s PM says strikes on the facility are a “very dangerous escalation by the Iranians” and demands an immediate end to attacks.

There are new reports in Israeli media saying that Haifa oil refinery in Israel has been damaged following an Iranian missile strike.

The UK, France, Germany and allies have condemned Iran’s attacks on civilian infrastructure, and called on Tehran to stop its threats to vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, in a strongly worded post, Donald Trump warned Iran against further attacks in Qatar, after “extensive damage” to facilities there.

Iran’s foreign minister has warned that Tehran would act with “zero restraint” if there were further attacks on its infrastructure.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said it is “only” Trump who can achieve peace across the world.

She adds that Iran’s development of nuclear weapons must “never be allowed”.

“And also the global economy is now about to experience huge hits because of this development,” she said.

Takaichi said Japanese officials have made direct appeals to Iran to stop its attacks on energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Israel’s energy minister, Eli Cohen, saif damage to the country’s electricity grid in the north is “localised and not significant”.

Cohen doesn’t confirm that the Haifa refinery was targeted, but his statement comes as verified footage shows smoke rising above Haifa refinery following a reported Iranian attack.

Also, Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired a Cobra meeting with ministers and officials yesterday to discuss the war in the Middle East.

Cobra meetings, named after Cabinet Office Briefing Room A, are held when senior ministers and officials need to gather to co-ordinate the emergency response to a crisis.

The focus of the meeting was the impact of the war, particularly the Iranian strikes on oil fields, on the UK.

Earlier Downing Street said the government was continuing discussions with the US, allies in the Gulf, and the EU over what support could be offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Officials in government are concerned that the situation was “too hot” at the moment to send the Navy to escort vessels through the crucial shipping lane.

The prime minister’s spokesperson said ministers were working with airlines and airports to make sure tickets remained “fairly and appropriately priced”.