- Israel attacks Iran's biggest gas plant -

Israel said it had attacked Iran's biggest gas plant, the South Pars petrochemical complex, and Iranian media said several explosions had been heard at the plant at Assaluyeh in the south of the country.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Israel had conducted a "powerful strike" on South Pars, adding it accounted for about half of Iran's petrochemical production. Israel said earlier it had also hit "regime targets" in Tehran.

- UN nuclear chief warns over attacks near Iran plant -

The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog said that attacks near Iran's Bushehr atomic power plant "pose a very real danger to nuclear safety and must stop".

Strikes near the plant risk "harmful consequences for people and the environment in Iran and beyond," said Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He said one recent strike hit just 75 metres (245 feet) from the Bushehr perimeter.

- Iran says intelligence chief killed -

Israeli strikes killed the intelligence chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Iran said Monday as the Islamic republic defied threats from US President Donald Trump to inflict "hell" on civilian infrastructure if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump vowed in an expletive-laden social media post to strike Iran's bridges and power plants. But he appeared to extend by 24 hours his deadline for a deal. "Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!" he said on his Truth Social platform. Citing US, Israeli and regional sources, US news website Axios said a deal mediated by Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey for a 45-day ceasefire was under discussion.

The Revolutionary Guards said they were completing preparations to enforce new operating conditions in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's central military command warned of "much more devastating" retaliation if enemies hit civilian targets.

- Four killed in attack on Israeli apartments -

Israeli rescue services said the bodies of four missing people had been recovered from the rubble of a residential building in the northern city of Haifa after it was struck by an Iranian missile the previous day.

Israel's defence ministry said it plans a "major" acceleration in production of Arrow missile interceptors. After questions emerged in international media over how long Israel's interceptor stocks would last, Defence Minister Israel Katz said "Israel has sufficient interceptors to protect its citizens".

- Six wounded in Kuwait attack -

An Iranian attack on a residential area in northern Kuwait injured six people, the health ministry said. Kuwait's army said earlier that the Gulf nation's air defences were working to intercept missiles and drones.

The United Arab Emirates defence ministry said its air defences were responding to a missile and drone attack, with falling debris injuring one person in Abu Dhabi.

- Israel hits southern Beirut -

An Israeli strike hit Beirut's southern suburbs as Israel's army said it was targeting Hezbollah. Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Sunday killed at least 15 people and wounded 39, Lebanese officials said.

- More ships pass through Strait of Hormuz -

A third Turkish-owned ship has passed through the war-torn Strait of Hormuz, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said. In a new sign of activity in the strategic waterway, Japanese firm Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said an Indian-flagged LPG tanker owned by a subsidiary had passed through the strait.

South Korea will meanwhile send five ships to the Saudi Red Sea port of Yanbu to help establish alternative oil supply routes avoid the Strait of Hormuz, a ruling MP said. Taiwan said it will also redirect ships to bring crude oil from Saudi Red Sea ports.

- Oil benchmarks around $110 -

Oil prices made early gains Monday but fell back following US President Donald Trump's latest threats against Iran.

Prices fluctuated, and by late afternoon US benchmark West Texas Intermediate, which at one stage was at $113.62 a barrel, was back at $110.01. North Sea Brent was at $108.20, having earlier hit $110.30.

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