(REUTERS) Israeli Defence Minister Katz issued a statement on Friday (March 27), saying that Israel will escalate attacks on 'areas used to assist in strikes aimed at Israel's civilians' in Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new extension of his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its energy plants, after Iran rejected his 15-point proposal to end the war he launched with Israel.

Iran gave no direct indication that it was ready for negotiation or compromise. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement reaffirming that all shipping "to and from ports of allies and supporters of the Israeli-American enemies" to any destination was prohibited.

The war has spread across the Middle East, killing thousands of people and causing the biggest disruption in history to energy supplies, hitting the global economy with soaring oil, gas and fertilizer prices that have fuelled inflation fears.

The U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28 during talks with Tehran about its nuclear program that had not yet yielded a deal. Attacks on Israel by Iran's Lebanese ally Hezbollah then triggered an Israeli onslaught there that has displaced a fifth of Lebanon's population.

Posted by: Alma Angeles/NET25 News