Netanyahu to speak with Lebanese president, Israeli official says

Iran will keep schools across the country operating online until further notice, an education ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

All levels and grades would continue with virtual learning, Ali Farhadi said, adding that any decision to resume in-person classes would be announced at least three days in advance to students and parents.

The move comes amid ongoing disruptions, including internet connectivity, across the country, though no further details were given.

Qatar Airways operated more than half of its pre-war flight schedule for the first time on Wednesday, with 310 flights, Flightradar24 reported on Thursday.

The flight tracking service said the airline had now surpassed 50% of its pre-war operations as recovery efforts continued.

Persian Gulf airlines were hit by airspace closures, direct attacks on airport infrastructure and a sharp drop in demand across the region during the Iran war, according to the report.

US forces are continuing maritime patrols in regional waters as part of efforts to enforce Washington’s blockade on ships entering or exiting Iranian ports, US Central Command said.

“US service members continue to monitor and patrol regional waters in support of the U.S. blockade on ships entering or exiting Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.

A second US-sanctioned supertanker entered the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz despite a US-imposed blockade on vessels linked to Iranian ports, shipping data showed, according to Reuters, raising questions over enforcement as Washington says no ships have breached the restrictions.

Shipping data cited by Reuters showed the tanker RHN entered the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, a day after another sanctioned vessel, Alicia, transited the strait. Both tankers have previously carried Iranian oil, according to tracking data, though their current destinations were not immediately clear.

Iran could continue producing oil for up to two months despite a halt in exports before being forced to cut output, Reuters reported on Wednesday, as US measures blocking shipping to and from Iranian ports strain storage capacity.

"With its exports blocked, Iran faces having to divert crude ⁠into onshore storage tanks. Once those tanks are filled, Tehran would be required to curb ​upstream output," the report said.

"Consultancy FGE NextantECA estimates Iran has about 90 million barrels of available onshore crude storage capacity, ​out of total capacity of roughly 122 million barrels," the report added.