Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed down drastically since the beginning of the war last month.

Iran, which controls parts of the vital passageway, has restricted which ships can pass through resulting in rising oil prices.

But the severity of the blockade is not felt uniformly around the world, with countries in Asia being the most impacted by the reduced supply, as the graphic below shows.

The shipping route is not only vital for oil; other energy sources including natural gas pass through this narrow shipping lane.

About 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas usually passes through the strait.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has told Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera that what is happening right now is not "negotiations but rather exchange of messages directly or through" Iran’s "friends in the region".

Araghchi said that he receives messages from US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff "directly as before but this does not mean that we are negotiating".

Araghchi also said that Iran has not responded to the 15-point plan by the US. This comes despite a report from the Tasnim News Agency - which is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - quoting an "informed source" on 26 March that Iran had responded with their own terms to the plan.

Iran’s "conditions for ending the war are clear", Aragchi has said, insisting that Iran wants to ensure there is "no repetition" of attacks and that it receives compensation for the losses caused by the conflict.

He says that Iran will not accept a ceasefire but rather wants "a complete end to the war, not just in Iran but in the entire region".

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

The investment arm of Iran’s Social Security Organization (SHASTA), which provides healthcare entitlements and pension benefits, has said in a statement that one of the largest manufacturers of medicine in the country has been "destroyed and its production line has also been damaged".

In its statement, published by Iranian outlets, SHASTA has labelled it a "brutal act by the enemy" and said that it "clearly targets the lives and health" of the Iranian people.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused Israel of "openly and unashamedly bombing pharmaceutical companies", and has said that Iranian armed forces will "severely punish aggressors" in a post on X.

Iranian outlets and former foreign minister Javad Zarif have named the company hit as Tofigh Daru Research and Engineering Company.

The company is a member of SHASTA and is located in an area the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had issued an evacuation warning for on its account in Persian on X.

The IDF has told me it is "still checking" regarding the claim by Iran that Israel has attacked the company.

Isfahan explosions so big they were seen by weather satellitepublished at 18:52 BST 31 March

18:52 BST 31 March

By Barbara Metzler and Richard Irvine-Brown

Some of the explosions near Isfahan in central Iran last night were so large they could be seen on weather satellite images, which can detect sudden changes in the level of light over large areas.

BBC Verify has analysed imagery from Meteosat-12, which shows cloud drifting over the city in central Iran before a white flash appears.

Frames from the feed show the light at 22:30 and 22:40 GMT (02:30 and 02:40 local time), suggesting there were fires or a series of explosions lasting over a period of at least 10 minutes.

While the flash itself appears small, the fires or smoke plumes which caused it must have been significant enough for it to register on the imagery.

In the most zoomed in version of the Meteosat-12 feed, each pixel covers 1 sq km (0.4 sq miles). Here’s a before and after image of two frames for you to compare:

Videos from Isfahan show likelihood of weapons storage sites being targetedpublished at 18:50 BST 31 March

18:50 BST 31 March

Image source, Vahid Online

By Richard Irvine-Brown and Joshua Cheetham

BBC Verify is continuing to analyse videos showing a series of explosions at Isfahan, in central Iran.

One video, which has also been shared by US President Donald Trump, shows fire and smoke from an explosion, followed by several secondary blasts. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a Pentagon news conference an "ammo depot" was "struck by US bombers".

We've located the blast to a walled-off compound between two air bases on the south side of the city.

We shared this and other videos we've verified with experts who agree they show weapons storage facilities being struck.

Experts at McKenzie Intelligence Services and the International Institute of Strategic Studies point out the secondary blasts are evidence of munitions "cooking off" where they explode due to the heat caused by an explosion.

Jackie Akhavan, professor of explosive chemistry at Cranfield University, said although there were no visible shock waves from high explosives the brown smoke seen in some videos "is evidence of nitrous oxide which is produced when a high explosive burns".

According to the defence intelligence company Janes and Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute, targeting such facilities - likely to be underground - would require US heavy-penetration "bunker-buster" bombs.

The foreign ministers of 10 European countries have issued a joint statement calling on Israel to avoid a "further widening" of the conflict in Lebanon - asking it to respect the "territorial integrity" of the country.

The statement condemns Hezbollah's attacks on Israel in support of Iran, and says it supports and encourages the Lebanese government to "restore its sovereignty" over the whole of Lebanon.

It calls for "direct political negotiation" between Lebanon and Israel, saying all parties should "immediately deescalate".

Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas have all signed it.

Israel sent ground troops into southern Lebanon on 2 March and has also been launching broad strikes across the country. It says it is trying to protect communities from attacks by Hezbollah, which is an Iranian-backed armed group.

Under the ceasefire agreement that ended the war in 2024, Hezbollah was meant to disarm and leave its positions in the south.

Image source, Getty Images

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has denounced what he calls Israel's "illegal invasion" of Lebanon.

Speaking in Quebec, he tells reporters: "It’s an illegal invasion, it’s an invasion of Lebanon, it’s a violation of their territorial sovereignty."

"From a practical perspective, the government of Lebanon has banned Hezbollah, is trying to take action against Hezbollah and their terrorist activities and their threats to Israel," he adds.

"That is the purported justification for this invasion, so we condemn it."

It comes as Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says the country will keep security control over parts of southern Lebanon even after the current war with Hezbollah ends.

Israeli officials say ground troops were moved into Lebanon to protect communities in northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks, with Katz previously stating that Israel was taking action because the Lebanese government had done "nothing".

Gary O'Donoghue
Chief North America correspondent

Perhaps the most telling moment of Pete Hegseth’s briefing earlier - the first in almost two weeks from the Pentagon, was when the secretary of defence was asked whether opening the Strait of Hormuz was an “essential” objective of the war.

He could have given a simple yes to that answer, instead he focused on degrading Iran’s missiles, its ability to project power and its nuclear capabilities.

Crucially on the strait he said: “it’s not just a US problem set, it’s not just us, other countries should pay attention.”

He said these other countries, meaning Nato - and including the UK - should, as he put it, “start learning to fight for yourself.”

The attacks on Nato allies are not surprising.

What is fascinating here is that it opens up the possibility that the US could declare its objectives met without the free flow of oil and gas reestablished through the strait.

An indication perhaps that this administration is prepared to settle for something less than complete and utter victory.

Criticism of Nato was threaded throughout the briefing. Pete Hegseth took a swipe at Britain’s Royal Navy, reflecting not just his but also the president’s anger that Nato allies and in particular the UK, have not “stepped up” in the way Washington wanted.

So here we are, another inflection point in the transatlantic relationship that threatens to widen an already deep rift.

Image source, Reuters

There have been multiple explosions in Beirut today, with further Israeli strikes on the Lebanese capital.

The death toll in Lebanon has risen to 1,268 since 2 March, with a further 3,750 injured, according to the state-run National News Agency.

Israel has regularly launched strikes at Beirut and southern Lebanon since the war began, saying it is targeting sites associated with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Davide Ghiglione
in Rome

Earlier, Italy reportedly denied a US request to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for military aircraft a few days ago, in a move that underscores Rome’s cautious approach to involvement in military operations in the Middle East.

Following the reports, the Italian government now says in a statement that “all requests to use its military bases are assessed on a case-by-case basis in full compliance with existing international agreements and parliamentary guidance.”

It said no tensions have emerged with international partners, describing relations with the US as “strong and based on full and effective cooperation,” and confirmed it will continue to act within the framework of current treaties while safeguarding national interests.

Increasingly impatient tone of Trump's posts suggests he knows he's in a bindpublished at 16:34 BST 31 March

16:34 BST 31 March

Paul Adams
Diplomatic correspondent

Image source, Reuters

Donald Trump’s insistence that allies, including Britain, should "go to the Strait, and just take" Iran’s oil may appeal to some of his more vociferous supporters, but in the midst of a war without an end in sight makes little sense.

Assuming the president does not mean that western partners should take control of Iranian oil – by seizing tankers or parts of Iran’s oil infrastructure – then he’s repeating a demand he’s been making for some time: that the time has come for countries to contribute to an escort mission through the Strait of Hormuz.

The problem is that few countries believe the president when he says "the hard part is done".

No-one is yet ready to challenge Iran’s chokehold over the strait. Not even US warships have done this.

With the president also saying that negotiations with Iran are going well – something of which, again, there’s little evidence – there is no appetite to pre-empt the outcome by mounting a risky military operation.

The increasingly impatient tone of Donald Trump’s social media posts (this morning blasting France as "VERY UNHELPFUL") suggests that he knows he’s in a bind.

Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent

More now from the UK’s Defence Secretary John Healey, who has been visiting the Gulf.

He says around 1,000 UK military personnel have now been deployed to the region - a figure which includes those deployed to Cyprus.

Healey also announced additional air defence contributions to allies in the region.

He adds that Iran has been “expanding” its attacks in the region, and that he expects the war to continue “for some weeks”.

During his visit, Gulf nations had stressed to him the importance of opening up the Strait of Hormuz, he continues.

Allies were looking at a range of options to keep the key shipping lane open, he says, adding that it would require an international response - which includes the US.

Healey gave no timeline or further details - but said the conflict would have to be "dialled down".

He would also not be drawn on recent criticisms from President Trump of the UK and European nations, saying the US and UK were still working together in their military and security relationship.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey says it's become clear in the last couple of days that "Iran is expanding its attacks", as he announces new UK air defence systems for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.

In addition to this, he says British Typhoon jets will continue their action in Qatar.

On a visit to Qatar’s capital, Doha, Healey relays a message to the Gulf states that the UK "stands with you and will stand with its partners".

"Some of Britain's best are now defending Middle Eastern skies," he says.

Asked about an earlier comment by his US counterpart Pete Hegseth, where he said there used to be a "big bad Royal Navy", Healey says "the US is a uniquely close ally".

Read more on what Healey has announced in our story here.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

It’s still very difficult to contact those inside Iran amid the ongoing internet outage, but some are paying hefty prices to connect using services like Starlink.

I’ve been speaking to some of them since the war started last month. Most of the people I have contacted are young and tech-savvy.

A woman in her 20s in Tehran said earlier: “I’m tired and worried. The past few days have been terrible in Tehran. It’s not just the number of strikes. They sound even more horrific to me.”

She says she is "constantly worried" about Iran’s infrastructure being targeted and has been trying to keep her phone “fully charged” as there have been power cuts over the last few days.

A man in his 20s in Karaj, a city near Tehran says: “I’m starting to lose hope. But it is what it is. At some point or another, the war would have happened. I had the chance to leave Iran years ago, but I decided to stay and experience these days.”

Another woman in her 20s in the capital says: “I sometimes go out during the day when I can, and Tehran is lovely during the spring these days. I’m starting to get used to the war”.

Israeli airstrikes have hit 230 "regime targets" in Iran over the last 24 hours, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

It says the strikes were targeting air defence systems, ballistic missile launchers and weapon production sites.

Image source, Reuters

The death toll in Lebanon has risen to 1,268 since 2 March, according to the state-run National News Agency.

Citing the country’s health ministry, it adds that a further 3,750 have been injured in the same period.

Israel has regularly launched strikes at Beirut and southern Lebanon since the war began, saying it is targeting sites associated with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.

Since ground troops have moved into the country, Israel has reported nine of its own soldiers have been killed in Lebanon.

Only three ships have passed the Strait of Hormuz with trackers on so far todaypublished at 15:06 BST 31 March

15:06 BST 31 March

By Joshua Cheetham

In a news conference earlier US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said "there are many more vessels flowing [through the Strait of Hormuz] today than there were, that the president has arranged".

His comments come after President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran had agreed to allow 20 more vessels through the waterway. The Iranian government has effectively closed the strait through which some 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.

We’re continuing to monitor the flow of commercial ships through the strait - which has slowed to a trickle since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.

Today only three ships appear to have gone through so far, according to our analysis of MarineTraffic data.

Image source, MarineTraffic

Two of these are bulk carriers and the third is a tanker - the Louiza - which is sanctioned by the US. Three others appear to be trying to make the journey as well.

Signal jamming is still prevalent in the region, and many ships have been switching off their onboard trackers, making the actual number of crossings difficult to determine.

According to an analysis of tracking data by maritime intelligence firm Kpler, four ships passed through the strait yesterday and six on Sunday. The highest number to get through in the past week was 13 on Saturday.

Before the conflict started nearly 140 ships would make the journey every day, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center.

Shanaz Musafer
Business reporter

Since the war began, the price of a barrel of Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, has soared from $73 to about $117 today.

Higher wholesale energy prices often show up first at the fuel pump and this is being seen around the world.

In the US, the average price of petrol has risen by more than a dollar since the start of the conflict, to top $4 for the first time in nearly four years.

In the UK, average petrol prices have risen by 14% and diesel by 27%.

Some countries, such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have introduced fuel rationing, and last week Slovenia became the first EU country to do so.

In Australia, fuel excise tax has been halved for three months to help motorists with high fuel prices, while two states are offering temporary free public transport to incentivise people not to drive.

Most likely way for Strait of Hormuz to get permanently unblocked remains by negotiationpublished at 14:53 BST 31 March

14:53 BST 31 March

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

Image source, Reuters

When it comes to the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, to coin a certain phrase, “holds all the cards”.

Because even though it has no conventional navy left, and its top naval commander has been killed, the Islamic Republic still has geography on its side.

Adjoining this strategically vital waterway is Hormozgan province on the mainland. It stretches all the way from the Gulf of Oman in the east to Asaluyeh in the west, where Israel bombed Iran’s South Pars gas facility.

Dotted along this coast - and Iran has by far the longest coastline of any Gulf state - are numerous islands: Qeshm, Larak, Hormuz, Abu Musa and others.

Any one of these can be used as a hidden ambush site to launch drones, mines and uncrewed “kamikaze” explosive speedboats at shipping, if Iran chooses.

During my past visits to Hormozgan province and the outlying islands I could see how the topography would lend itself to a defender. This is rocky, mountainous country, full of caves, tunnels and inlets.

Even if the US hits every single missile and drone launch site, or even lands troops to “make sure the job is done”, Iran will likely rebuild its arsenal, probably with Chinese and Russian help.

So the most likely way for the Strait of Hormuz to get permanently unblocked remains by negotiation.

Threat US could abandon alliances would be potentially history-definingpublished at 14:30 BST 31 March

14:30 BST 31 March

Tom Bateman
US State Department correspondent, at the Pentagon

The main thing I took from that news conference with Hegseth and Caine was how erratic the Trump administration is in its relationship with the US’s traditional allies.

Over the last 3 weeks, as Iran took control of the Strait of Hormuz, the administration has whipsawed from asking Nato and European allies for help, to saying it doesn’t need any help, to accusing them of disloyalty, to saying the requests for help were a “test”, to now increasingly angrily demanding allies go and reopen it themselves, implying it’s not America’s problem.

This comes with a threat that the US could abandon its alliances, which would be a potentially history-defining shift.

Hegseth didn’t list reopening the strait among his war objectives in his prepared statement, then later described it as “the goal”.

He reiterated Trump’s irritation with the UK, saying its “big bad Royal Navy” should get involved (the UK has said it won’t be “dragged into” the war). “So, the world ought to pay attention to be prepared to stand up,” said Hegseth.

“A lot has been laid bare. A lot has been shown to the world about what our allies would be willing to do for the United States of America... the president is pointing out you don’t have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them,” he said.