Naim Qassem — the leader of pro-Iran Hezbollah, which is battling Israel — called for the talks to be scrapped before they even began, describing them as “futile.”

Lebanon was pulled into the region-wide Iran war on March 2 after Hezbollah attacked Israel.

Since then, Israeli strikes — including an extremely heavy attack on Beirut on April 8 — have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced more than one million, despite international calls for a ceasefire. And Israeli ground forces have invaded south Lebanon.

The meeting mediated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio will include the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington and the US ambassador to Beirut.

“The Israeli and Lebanese governments are engaging in open, direct, high-level diplomatic talks — the first such talks since 1993 — brokered by the United States,” a State Department official said on condition of anonymity.

“This conversation will scope the ongoing dialogue about how to ensure the long-term security of Israel’s northern border and to support the government of Lebanon’s determination to reclaim full sovereignty over its territory,” the official added.

But the two sides remain diametrically opposed.

“This dialogue between Israel and Lebanon… is aimed at disarming the Hezbollah terrorist organization, removing them from Lebanon, and establishing peaceful relations between our two countries,” Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian told journalists on Monday.

“We will not discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which continues to carry out indiscriminate attacks against Israel and our civilians,” Bedrosian said.

‘Expectations are low’

On the Lebanese side, President Joseph Aoun said Monday he hoped the Washington talks will yield “an agreement… on a ceasefire in Lebanon, with the aim of starting direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.”

US diplomats have meanwhile found themselves in a difficult position in recent days regarding the Lebanon conflict, fearing that it might hinder talks with Iran, which failed to achieve a breakthrough on Sunday in Pakistan.

President Donald Trump’s administration insists on the disarmament of Hezbollah, but also respect for Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, while simultaneously upholding Israel’s rights — positions that appear difficult to reconcile.

It would take “a lot of imagination and optimism to think” that the issues between Israel and Lebanon can be solved in Washington Tuesday, a former Israeli defense official told journalists on condition of anonymity, adding that “expectations are low.”

“It will be very difficult to reach any agreement, and Israel will create a buffer zone in the north very similar to what we have in Gaza,” the former official added.

Hezbollah entered the Middle East war on March 2 to avenge the death of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the Israeli-American offensive on February 28.

Israel hit back with large-scale, deadly air strikes across Lebanon, and a ground offensive in the country’s south.

Lavrov arrived in the Chinese capital, where he was given a red-carpet welcome, photos by the Russian foreign ministry showed.

China welcomed a string leaders of countries that have been impacted by the war and its economic fallout on Tuesday, including Vietnam’s To Lam and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Lavrov will hold talks with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi in which the two will “exchange views and coordinate positions on the development of bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international and regional issues of common concern”, China’s foreign ministry said this week.

The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that the pair would discuss the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.

Beijing and Moscow are close economic and political partners, and the relationship has deepened further since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Wang also held a call with Lavrov on April 5, when the pair agreed Beijing and Moscow would work together to deescalate tensions in the Middle East.

China’s Premier Li Qiang meanwhile told the UAE leader that Beijing is “ready to further play a constructive role and contribute to the restoration of peace and tranquility in the Gulf region”.

“Whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court, because we put a lot on the table,” Vance said in a Fox News interview.

اسلام آباد میں ایران کےساتھ بات چیت میں سب کچھ خراب نہیں ہوا، امریکی نائب صدرجےڈی وینس#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/A7kiwuCDTd

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 13, 2026

JD Vance stressed that Iran must not attempt to acquire nuclear weapons, adding that Washington has made it clear to Tehran that nuclear material must be removed from the country.

JD Vance further stated that the United States has clearly defined its red lines in discussions with Iran.

He also accused Iran of engaging in “economic terrorism” against the world. Expressing cautious optimism, the US Vice President said he hoped progress would be made regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance told Fox, “We need to see the Strait of Hormuz fully open. And this is, frankly, one of the things where the Iranians tried to move the goalposts during the negotiation.”

The fragile 14-day ceasefire with Iran, which began last week, was premised in part on Tehran agreeing to reopen the strait, JD Vance said.

All of America’s “red lines” for a peace deal stem from the position that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, the vice president said.

US President Donald Trump launched the war on February 28 under the pretext that Iran was developing an atomic bomb — which it denies — and vowed to never let the Islamic republic get its hands on a nuclear weapon.

Vice President JD Vance left negotiations with Iran over the weekend empty-handed, with sticking points including freeing up the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program.

Media outlets reported that Washington asked Tehran to agree not to enrich uranium for 20 years, citing officials close to the negotiations held in Islamabad on Saturday.

The 20-year pause would be accompanied by sanctions relief, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Iran in turn proposed to suspend its nuclear activity for five years, according to The New York Times.

The reported proposals would be a watered-down version of Trump’s previous demands that Iran permanently give up its nuclear ambitions.

In 2018, Trump pulled out of what he called a “one-sided” pact that lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for guarantees that Tehran would not make an atomic bomb.

Vance said that Washington had made its red lines clear in talks with Tehran, and that the “ball is in the Iranian court” now.

“There are two things in particular where the president of the United States really said we have no flexibility,” Vance said on Monday.

“It’s one thing for the Iranians to say that they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s another thing for us to put in place the mechanism to ensure that’s not going to happen,” he added.

Iran has previously ruled out restrictions on its right to enrich uranium in what it insists is a civilian nuclear program.

Earlier on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Vance had told him the removal of all of Iran’s 60-percent enriched uranium from the country is a “central issue” for Trump.

The Washington delegation also wanted to ensure “that there is no further enrichment in the years ahead — even decades ahead — no enrichment within Iran,” Netanyahu added.

Russia has offered to hold Iran’s enriched uranium safely as part of any deal on Monday.

“The offer still stands, but has not been acted upon,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

It will also likely mean Carney, who took office with no political experience and has earned global praise for his efforts to band middle-power nations together, won’t have to worry about an election for years.

Capping off an extraordinary few months in Canada when several opposition members joined Carney’s Liberals, his party said on X that it had secured two districts – ​known as ridings – in Ontario in special elections.

Those were the ridings of University-Rosedale and Scarborough Southwest which have long voted Liberal. The results of a ​third election are still being counted.

The win takes Carney’s Liberals to 173 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons.

“He will ⁠be able to pass legislation without having to go to the opposition to secure enough votes,” said Andrew McDougall, assistant professor in Canadian politics at the University ​of Toronto.

The Liberals have relied on selective support from the Conservatives to pass economic and trade-related legislation in the last year.

Carney has solidified his grip on leading Canada ​until at least 2029, when national elections are due to be held next. The last time a federal government had a majority in Parliament was under Justin Trudeau from 2015 to 2019.

Carney’s position strengthened when five opposition legislators in five months defected to the Liberals. Only the governments led by John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, and Jean Chretien have seen more politicians ​defect to the ruling party.

‘LARGE LIBERAL TENT’

On Wednesday, longtime Conservative politician Marilyn Gladu switched parties to join Carney’s government, saying Canada needs “a serious leader who can address the ​uncertainty that has arrived due to the unjustified American tariffs.”

Gladu, a former chemical engineer who has previously drawn criticism for promoting unproven scientific treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic, opposing a ban ‌on conversion ⁠therapy and suggesting the military be used to end Indigenous-led protests against oil pipelines, thanked Carney for inviting her into “the large Liberal tent.”

The University-Rosedale seat was previously held by former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who resigned after being appointed as economic development advisor in Ukraine.

The Liberals also said they won a special election to replace former Liberal lawmaker Bill Blair, who resigned after he was appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom.

In the third riding in Terrebonne, Quebec, the Liberals are in an extremely ​tight race with the Bloc Quebecois. The ​Liberals won it by just one ⁠vote in the last federal election, but the result was overturned by Canada’s Supreme Court because of a misprint on a voter’s envelope.
Laura Stephenson, chair of the political science department at the University of Western Ontario, noted that while Trudeau had ​shifted the party to the left and prioritized issues like reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, rights for minority groups and immigration, ​there are more pressing ⁠matters for Carney, a more centrist leader.

“He is focused on helping Canada survive the economic turmoil, not remaking society,” she said. “When we’re in tough times like this, there are different calculations being made.”

Recent polling from Nanos shows more than half of Canadians prefer Carney as their prime minister, with just 23% picking Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Before Carney ⁠became leader ​of the Liberal Party last year, Poilievre had been projected to win the next election by more ​than 20 points.

“Carney has done a fairly good job showing Canadians he can handle Trump,” said McDougall of the University of Toronto. “He’s shown Canadians he’s a competent manager of the economy and the country,” ​he said. “And so far Canadians have not been overly impressed by the alternatives.”

A combination of two of the largest U.S. network carriers would mark the biggest consolidation move in more than a decade, further tightening a domestic market already dominated by four similarly sized players.

Including international flights, United and American were already the world’s two largest airlines by available capacity in 2025, according to OAG data.

The meeting with Trump took place on February 25 toward the end of a scheduled White House meeting on the future of ​Dulles airport, said the sources with knowledge of the matter. That was three days before the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that sent jet fuel prices soaring and has led ​airlines to raise fares and fees to offset higher costs.

Kirby has argued to administration officials that a combined airline would be a stronger competitor in ⁠international markets and noted the Trump administration has focused on U.S. trade deficits around the globe, the sources said.

The United CEO said at a forum in September that two-thirds of long-haul seats ​to and from the United States are on foreign carriers, but 60% of passengers are U.S. citizens.

Industry officials said the chances of the deal’s approval would be slim, citing likely opposition from unions, rival ​airlines, lawmakers and airports, as well as concerns about route overlap and job losses.
One person close to the White House said there was skepticism about such a tie-up, given its potential impact on competition and ticket prices at a time when the administration is already focused on rising costs for consumers ahead of midterm elections in November.

Antitrust lawyer Seth Bloom said the deal would be unlikely to clear regulatory hurdles, even under a Trump administration ​that has taken a more relaxed approach to enforcement.

“The administration has said it really cares about the issues that affect the consumer’s pocketbook, and this would give the airlines more pricing power,” Bloom ​said.

It was not clear whether United has made any formal approach to American or whether a process was underway. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were not public.

United and American declined to ‌comment. The ⁠White House did not respond to requests for comment.

American shares rose more than 5% in after-hours trading following the report, while United shares were little changed.

HIGHLY CONCENTRATED MARKET

The U.S. airline industry is already highly concentrated, with American, Delta Air Lines, United and Southwest Airlines controlling the bulk of domestic traffic, each with a share of roughly 17%, according to Department of Transportation data.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this month that there was room for consolidation in the U.S. airline industry, but warned any deal would face close scrutiny for its impact on consumers.

Ganesh Sitaraman, director of the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator and ​author of “Why Flying Is Miserable,” said a United-American merger ​would reduce competition.

“Fewer choices mean higher ticket ⁠prices, more fees, and fewer options for anyone who wants to get from point A to point B,” he said.

AMERICAN UNDER PRESSURE

American has been under pressure to improve profitability and close the gap with Delta and United, after unions earlier this year criticized management over lagging returns. The airline has pointed to ​strong premium demand and corporate travel to drive a recovery in 2026.

The Texas-based carrier also carries about $25 billion in long-term debt, more than its ​larger rivals, leaving it ⁠with less financial flexibility as it works through a turnaround at a time of high fuel costs.

American is the smallest of the big four U.S. airlines by market value, at about $7 billion, compared with roughly $31 billion for United, $19 billion for Southwest and $44 billion for Delta.

“We have been very open about our concerns regarding American’s financial, operational and customer service underperformance,” said Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for American’s pilots’ union.

United has struck ⁠a more ​confident tone as high fuel prices test the industry, with Kirby saying last month that a prolonged cost shock could create ​opportunities for stronger airlines to gain share as weaker rivals struggle.

Kirby previously served as American’s president from 2013 to 2016, but in the past he has played down the appeal of large acquisitions.

Security officials in Kuwait revealed that many of these calls follow a distinctive pattern — the phone rings briefly before disconnecting — a tactic widely known as the Wangiri Scam, meaning “one ring and cut”.

Fraudsters are believed to use automated systems to place thousands of calls worldwide. When recipients return these missed calls, they are often redirected to premium-rate international numbers, resulting in significant per-minute charges that can accumulate without their awareness.

In certain cases, victims are deliberately kept on the line through pre-recorded messages or repeated call transfers to maximise billing. Other variations of the scam involve attempts to record the victim’s voice, which may later be exploited for fraudulent authorisations or financial transactions.

Kuwait authorities have also warned of follow-up text messages sent by scammers, often containing malicious links disguised as delivery notifications or account alerts. Engaging with these links can lead to mobile device compromise or the theft of sensitive personal information.

Although the calls may appear to originate from neighbouring countries, investigations suggest they are frequently routed through regions in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Pacific island states.

Safety Advice:

Residents in Kuwait are strongly advised to remain vigilant by avoiding unknown international calls, ignoring single-ring calls, and refraining from returning suspicious missed calls.

They are also urged not to click on links from unfamiliar numbers and to block any suspicious contacts immediately.

Officials stressed that even seemingly harmless calls may serve as the entry point to a wider, coordinated cybercrime operation.

According to the Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment in Islamabad, new rules governing leave and absenteeism have been implemented under Saudi Arabia labour law, and will apply to all foreign workers across the Kingdom.

Under the revised framework, individuals travelling to Saudi Arabia for employment must be at least 21 years old, while job seekers are required to fully comply with the terms of their contracts.

The updated regulations state that employees who fail to return on time following annual leave will be classified as absent. Moreover, any worker who remains absent without prior notice for 30 consecutive days, or accumulates 60 days of intermittent absence, may face termination of their employment contract.

Officials said the measures are intended to strengthen workplace discipline among foreign workers and ensure stricter enforcement of labour laws.

Pakistani nationals have been urged to complete all legal formalities prior to departure and to thoroughly understand the new regulations to avoid complications.

The development follows recent action against violations of residency and labour laws in Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that the Saudi General Directorate of Passports issued more than 15,000 decisions within a month through administrative committees addressing breaches related to residency, labour, and border security.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, these measures applied to both Saudi citizens and foreign residents, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and deportation.

Leader Kim Jong Un observed the ​test alongside senior defence officials and naval commanders, the report said.

Two strategic cruise missiles ​and three anti-warship missiles were fired to check the warship’s integrated weapons command ⁠system, train crews in missile-launch procedures and verify the accuracy and anti-jamming performance of upgraded ​navigation systems, KCNA said.

The cruise missiles flew for about 7,869 to 7,920 seconds and the anti-warship ​missiles for about 1,960 to 1,973 seconds over waters off the country’s western coast, striking their targets with what the report described as ultra-precision accuracy.

KCNA said Kim was briefed the same day on weapons system plans ​for two additional destroyers under construction, indicating preparations for the third and fourth vessels of the Choe ​Hyon class.

Kim said strengthening what he called the country’s nuclear war deterrent remained a top priority, and called ‌for ⁠improving strategic and tactical strike capabilities and rapid-response readiness, the report said.

Pyongyang first test-fired weapons on the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class warship in April 2025, and in June Kim announced plans to build two additional destroyers in 2026 and commission two ships of the same or a more advanced class annually.

Lim Eul-chul, ​a professor at Kyungnam ​University, said the ⁠reference to a fourth destroyer appeared to be the first official acknowledgment of construction on the vessel beyond earlier announcements.

“The mention of the third ​and fourth destroyers suggests North Korea is accelerating the formation of a ​destroyer flotilla ⁠rather than fielding isolated platforms,” Lim said, adding that faster follow-on production typically follows once initial testing is deemed successful.

Lim said weapons development appeared to be speeding up across multiple fronts as North Korea ⁠seeks to ​exploit global strategic distractions, including the conflicdt in the ​Middle East, to push ahead with irreversible advances in nuclear and delivery capabilities.

The North Korean embassy in Beijing did not ​immediately respond to a request for comment.

Aziz Nasirzadeh, the Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, Mohammad Pakpour, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Abdolrahim Mousavi, the Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and adviser and other Iranian military and political leaders were martyred in the Iran war .

Iran responded swiftly and targeted key Israeli cities with a barrage of Ballistic missiles and closed the Strait of Hormuz, which now has been reopened.

[09: 30 AM] JD Vance claims ‘significant progress’ in Iran talks

اسلام آباد میں ایران کےساتھ بات چیت میں سب کچھ خراب نہیں ہوا، امریکی نائب صدرجےڈی وینس#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/A7kiwuCDTd

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 13, 2026

[08: 58 AM]: Iran warns of “serious consequences” over US actions in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the two sides exchanged views on the latest regional developments and the ongoing Islamabad talks.

Araghchi warned of serious consequences arising from US actions in the Strait of Hormuz, cautioning that American provocations in the Gulf could lead to dangerous outcomes.

The Russian Foreign Minister condemned aggression against Iran and reaffirmed Moscow’s principled stance.

ایرانی وزیر خارجہ عباس عراقچی کا روسی ہم منصب سرگئی لاوروف سے رابطہ#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/jw6KQgVSiy

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 14, 2026

[08: 32 AM]: Oil prices likely to rise until ‘meaningful’ traffic resumes through Hormuz: US

[08: 01 AM] : Trump lashes out at US media for coverage of war on Iran

[09: 50 AM] Trump again says blockade will begin at 10am ET

[09: 23 AM] IRGC warns Trump over Hormuz blockade

“آبنائے ہرمز میں دشمن کو موت کے بھنور میں پھنسا دیں گے،” ایرانی پاسداران انقلاب کا امریکی صدر ٹرمپ کے بیان پر ردعمل#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/pvV4iTOikn

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 12, 2026

[ 08: 42 AM] Trump attacks Pope Leo, calling him ‘terrible’ for foreign policy and ‘weak’ on crime

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo ​XIV late on Sunday following the pontiff’s criticism of his foreign and immigration policies.

“Pope Leo is ‌WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Leo, who last year became the first U.S.-born pope, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28. He ​previously questioned the Trump administration’s approach to immigration.

پوپ لیو اگرکہیں ایران کےاس ایٹمی ہتھیار ہوں تو یہ بری بات ہے
میں پوپ لیو کو پسند نہیں کرتا،وہ بہت زیادہ لبرل ہیں،امریکی صدرٹرمپ#ARYNews #BreakingNews #Trump pic.twitter.com/nLoG7wJHrG

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 13, 2026

[ 08: 01 AM] Donald Trump orders US navy to blockade Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. ​Navy would immediately start blockading the ‌Strait of Hormuz and would also interdict every vessel in international waters that had paid ​a toll to Iran.

Trump made his ​remarks in a Truth Social post ⁠hours after U.S-.Iran peace talks ended without a ​deal. Trump said the meeting “went well, most ​points were agreed,” but added the two sides had not agreed on Iran’s nuclear program.

“Effective immediately, the ​United States Navy, the Finest in ​the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING ‌any ⁠and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” said Trump, who is strongly opposed to the ​idea of ​Iran charging ⁠ships a toll to pass through the strait.

“I have also ​instructed our Navy to seek and ​interdict ⁠every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one ⁠who ​pays an illegal toll ​will have safe passage on the high seas,” he ​said.

آج صبح 10بجے ایرانی بندرگاہوں کی ناکہ بندی کردیں گے،امریکی صدرٹرمپ#ARYNews #BreakingNews #Iran #USA #Trump pic.twitter.com/H10PiAJup7

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 13, 2026

[02: 23 PM] Iranian president accepts invitation for Islamabad talks

President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian has accepted an invitation to participate in talks in Islamabad following ceasefire with United States, according to an official statement.

As per details, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian following ceasefire announcement by President Donald Trump.

The discussion, described as cordial and friendly, lasted for more than 45 minutes. During the conversation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the Iranian leadership’s wisdom in showing willingness towards a ceasefire.

ایران نے رواں ہفتے اسلام آباد میں امریکا کے ساتھ مذاکرات کی میزبانی کی پیشکش قبول کرلی#ARYNews #BreakingNews #Islamabad #Pakistan #Iran #USA pic.twitter.com/qds5OjzwKb

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 8, 2026

[01: 32 PM] Iran Speaker Qalibaf, US VP JD Vance to lead teams in Islamabad talks

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf is to head a negotiating team for talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad in Pakistan, Iranian Students’ News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday morning announced that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere.

اسپیکر ایرانی پارلیمنٹ قالیباف مذاکرات کیلئے اسلام آباد جائیں گے، ایرانی میڈیا#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/EOdou2dUxT

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 8, 2026

[09 : 42 AM] UN chief welcomes two-week ceasefire

[09: 10 AM] Tehran celebrates ceasefire with US after 40-day war

People in Tehran hit the streets to celebrate the historic ceasefire with United States after 40-day war.

ایران کے دارالحکومت تہران میں جنگ بندی کے بعد جشن#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/tcrmSExeCe

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 8, 2026

[08: 55 AM] PM Sharif invites US, Iran leadership to Islamabad

فریقین کو 10اپریل کو اسلام آباد آنے کی دعوت دیتا ہوں، وزیراعظم شہباز شریف#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/yQZ1TTvXPS

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 8, 2026

[08: 32 AM] Oil falls below $100 barrel after Trump announces ceasefire with Iran

Oil fell below $100 per barrel on Wednesday after ‌US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran that was subject to the immediate and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent fell $14.84, or 13.6%, to $94.43 a barrel and WTI slid $16.13, ​or 14.3%, to $96.82 a barrel as of 0023 GMT.

جنگ بندی کےاعلان کےبعد تیل کی قیمتوں میں نمایاں کمی#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/dgET9ifact

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 8, 2026

[08: 10 AM] Trump claims ‘total and complete victory’ after US-Iran ceasefire

[04: 17 AM] Trump agrees for two-week ceasefire with Iran

President Donald Trump delays the decision to strike Iran to reach a ceasefire agreement on Tuesday evening, following a series of cries to reconsider from allies. Pakistan’s prime minister urged the United States and Iran to agree to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, proposing a temporary pause in hostilities to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to gain traction.

[8:58 PM] – Iran calls off talks with US

Iran has called off negotiations with the United States and informed Pakistan that it would not participate in ceasefire efforts, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

[5:35 PM] Trump says ‘a whole civilization will die tonight’

US President Donald Trump posted a bombshell post on his TruthSocial account saying Iran has a complete regime change now but also threatened the country in the same breathe.

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to ​be brought back ​again. I don’t want that ‌to ⁠happen, but it probably will,” Trump said in a post on ​Truth ​Social.

[4:57 PM] Pezeshkian says ready to die for Iran as official urges youth to form human chains near targets

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Tuesday that he is ready to sacrifice his life for Iran, writing on X that more than 14 million citizens have already declared their readiness to do the same.

The post came just hours before an Iranian official urged young people to form human chains around the country’s power plants, as fears mount over potential US strikes on civilian infrastructure.

Emphasizing his lifelong devotion, Pezeshkian wrote that he “has been, is, and will be” dedicated to Iran, praising the millions who volunteered to give their lives in defense of the country. As the crisis deepens, the message amounts to one of the clearest public calls yet from Iran’s leadership for national sacrifice.

بیش از ۱۴ میلیون ایرانی غیور تا این لحظه اعلام آمادگی کرده‌اند جان خود را برای دفاع از ایران فدا کنند. من نیز جان‌فدای ایران بوده‌ام، هستم و خواهم بود.#جان_فدا

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) April 7, 2026

[12:54 PM] Series of explosions heard in Iranian capital: local media

Explosions rocked the Iranian capital on Tuesday, according to the country’s Mehr news agency as well as the newspapers Shargh and Ham-Mihan.

An AFP journalist confirmed that a series of blasts were heard coming from the north of the city.

[11:36 AM] Israeli army tells Iranians not to take trains until Tuesday evening for ‘safety’

Israel’s military on Tuesday morning urged Iranians to refrain from travelling by train until 1730 GMT, in a message on X that appeared to signal upcoming strikes on Iran’s railway network.

“For your safety, we ask you to refrain from using trains or travelling by train throughout the country from now until 9 pm Iran time,” the military wrote on its Persian-language account.

“Your presence on trains and near railway tracks puts your life in danger.”

Pakistan positive and productive endeavours in Good Will and Good Office to stop the war is approaching a critical, sensitive stage …

Stay Tuned for more

— Reza Amiri Moghadam (@IranAmbPak) April 7, 2026

[11:29 AM] Strikes ‘completely destroyed’ synagogue in Iranian capital: local media

US-Israeli strikes early on Tuesday “completely destroyed” a synagogue in Tehran, Iran’s Mehr news agency and the Shargh daily reported.

“According to preliminary information, the Rafi-Nia Synagogue… was completely destroyed in this morning’s attacks,” Shargh wrote.

Judaism is one of Iran’s official religions, and the country has a small Jewish community, although many members fled in the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

[3:43 PM] Hezbollah claims rocket attacks on Israeli forces, hits Merkava tank

Hezbollah has announced that its fighters carried out a series of coordinated strikes against Israeli military targets operating in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese resistance group stated that it targeted Israeli troop positions in the border towns of Ainata and Maroun al-Ras with heavy rocket barrages. In an additional statement, Hezbollah forces claimed to have successfully hit an Israeli Merkava tank with a guided missile in the town of Rashaf.

[3:28 PM] Iran hangs man convicted of links with US, Israel in pre-war protests

Iran on Monday executed a man convicted of acting on behalf of Israel and the United States during a wave of anti-government protests earlier this year, the judiciary said.

“Ali Fahim, one of the enemy elements in the terrorist riots of Dey (January)… was hanged after the Supreme Court reviewed the case and confirmed the verdict,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said.

The execution also takes place against the backdrop of Iran’s war with Israel and the United States, which erupted on February 28 with strikes that killed the Islamic republic’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

[3:22 PM] Israel recovers four bodies from Haifa rubble after Iranian missile strike: AFP

Israeli rescue teams have recovered the bodies of four individuals who went missing after an Iranian missile struck a residential building in the northern city of Haifa on Sunday.

Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency service, confirmed on Monday that all four missing persons were located beneath the debris. Paramedics pronounced all of them dead at the scene. The final confirmation follows an earlier report by Israeli firefighters who had initially retrieved the first two victims from the wreckage.

[3:20 PM] Qatar LNG vessels retreat from Strait of Hormuz amid war risks

Two liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers departing from Qatar’s Ras Laffan have turned back after approaching the Strait of Hormuz. Ship-tracking data from analytics firms Kpler and LSEG reveals that the Al Daayen and Rasheeda, both operated by QatarEnergy, altered their course to avoid the narrow channel. A successful passage would have marked the first LNG transit through the strait since the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28.

Both vessels loaded their cargoes in late February, with tracking signals indicating that the Al Daayen was originally bound for China. QatarEnergy has not yet released an official statement regarding the delayed shipments or the current status of its fleet.

[3:14 PM] Iran VP Aref condemns US ‘bunker-buster’ strike on Sharif University

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has accused the United States of dropping a “bunker-buster” bomb on Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology. In a statement shared on X, Aref strongly condemned the alleged attack, describing it as a “symbol of Trump’s madness and ignorance.”

The vice president highlighted the resilience of the nation’s academic and tech institutions, noting that the country’s knowledge “is not embedded in concrete to be destroyed by bombs.” Aref further emphasized that no historical act of barbarity could strip the Iranian people of their scientific progress and achievements.

[12: 22 PM] US, Iran receive peace proposal as Trump vows ‘hell’ if Strait stays shut

The United States and Iran have received the framework of a plan to end hostilities, a day after ​President Donald Trump threatened to rain “hell” on Tehran if it did ‌not make a deal, although Iran said it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of a temporary ceasefire, according to Reuters.

[09: 34 AM] Iran strikes on Israel kill two

Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service said two people died after an Iranian missile strike on a residential building in the northern city of Haifa.

Firefighters were searching for two others missing in the rubble.

The seven-storey building partially collapsed after being hit by the “direct impact of a missile”, the military told AFP.

ایران کی جوابی کارروائی، اسرائیل پر 10 میزائل داغ دیے#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/Sn1xEGy8UJ

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) April 6, 2026

[08: 45 AM] Iran slams US-Israeli attack on its heavy water facility

[08: 30 AM] Javad Zarif slams Trump’s ‘vulgar outburst’, says Iran will defend itself

[12:30 AM] Russia says US should abandon ‘language of ultimatums’ on Iran

Russia expressed hope on Sunday ​that efforts to de-escalate the Iran ‌conflict would bear fruit and said the U.S. would contribute by “abandoning the language ​of ultimatums and returning ​the situation to a negotiating track.”

The ⁠Russian Foreign Ministry statement was issued ​after a conversation between Russian Foreign ​Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

It said both sides “called for ​efforts to avoid actions, including ​in the U.N. Security Council, that could undermine ‌the ⁠remaining chances for advancing political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.”

[5:30 PM] Trump threatens to hit Iran infrastructure on Tuesday if Strait remains blocked

U.S. President Donald Trump ‌said in an expletive-laden social media post on Sunday that the United States will target ​Iran’s power plants and bridges on ​Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz ⁠is not reopened.

“Tuesday will be Power ​Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped ​up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” Trump said in a Truth ​Social post, referencing the key shipping ​lane that Tehran has effectively closed since the U.S. ‌and ⁠Israel launched attacks on Iran more than a month ago.

“Open the F*****’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living ​in Hell – ​JUST ⁠WATCH!,” Trump said, ending his Easter morning post with: “Praise be to ​Allah.”

[10:58 AM] Trump confirms rescue of second airman from Iran in ‘daring’ mission

President Donald Trump announced early Sunday that the second crew member of the F-15E fighter jet downed in Iran has been rescued and is “safe and sound.” In a Truth Social post, Trump described the extraction as one of the most “daring search and rescue operations in U.S. history,” involving dozens of aircraft and special operations teams to retrieve the officer, identified as a “highly respected Colonel.”

The airman, a weapons systems officer (WSO), had been missing for two days in Iran’s rugged terrain after the jet was shot down on Friday. While the pilot was recovered shortly after ejecting, the second rescue was kept secret to avoid jeopardizing the mission. Trump noted the officer sustained injuries but is expected to recover, adding that the operation was completed without a single American fatality. The rescue concludes the most high-stakes search mission since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began five weeks ago.

[8:25 PM] Trump issues stern warning to Iran over Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran has 48 hours to meet Washington’s demands to make a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social.

“Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” he added.

On March 26, Trump said that he had extended Iran’s nuclear negotiation deadline to 10 days partially because Tehran sent him 10 Pakistani-flagged oil tankers as a goodwill gesture.

The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.​​​​​​​

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Iran has also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

[7:20 PM] Iran says it hit Israel-linked vessel in Hormuz strait

[4:10 PM] Iran FM Araghchi slams US media, affirms ties with Pakistan

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has accused U.S. media outlets of misrepresenting Tehran’s diplomatic stance regarding potential peace talks. In a statement released on Saturday, Araghchi clarified that Iran has never refused to participate in negotiations in Islamabad, expressing deep gratitude for Pakistan’s ongoing mediation efforts.

Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s primary focus remains on securing a “conclusive and lasting end” to what he termed an “illegal war” imposed by the U.S.-Israeli alliance. He dismissed claims of Iranian reluctance to engage, noting that the specific terms of any ceasefire must address the root causes of the aggression. He concluded his message with a nod to bilateral ties, stating, “Pakistan Zindabad.”

Iran’s position is being misrepresented by U.S. media.

We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad. What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us.

پاکستان زنده باد pic.twitter.com/AUjBQxOFyA

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 4, 2026

[12:37 PM] IRGC denies Riyadh US Embassy attack, blames ‘Zionist’ provocation

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has officially denied any involvement in the March 3 drone attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh, instead attributing the strike to Israel. In a statement released Saturday, the IRGC claimed the operation was a “Zionist” attempt to destabilize the region and sow discord between Iran and its neighbors.

The denial follows an exclusive report by The Wall Street Journal revealing that the attack was far more destructive than Saudi authorities initially admitted. While official reports originally cited a “limited fire,” the Journal found that the blaze burned for 12 hours, severely damaging three floors of the compound, including the local CIA station.

 The IRGC warned neighboring Muslim countries to remain vigilant against such “seditious intent” by the US-Israeli alliance.

[12:35 PM] Drone strike ignites fire at foreign oil facilities in Basra

A drone strike sparked a massive fire early Saturday at storage facilities belonging to foreign oil companies west of Basra, Iraq. Security sources and officials from the Basra Oil Company (BOC) confirmed the attack targeted a complex in the Al-Burjusiya area, a key hub for international energy operations in the region.

[12:25 PM] IRGC claims to shoot down US MQ-1 drone over Isfahan

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that its “advanced” air defense systems shot down a U.S. MQ-1 drone over Isfahan province. According to the Fars and Tasnim news agencies, the unmanned aerial vehicle was neutralized by the country’s integrated air defense network.

This incident follows a series of Iranian claims regarding the downing of American aircraft, including a fighter jet reportedly hit near the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.

[11:03 AM] Rocket hits Kiryat Shmona residential area; no sirens reported

A rocket launched from Lebanon struck a residential street in the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona on Saturday morning, causing significant property damage. According to YNet News and local reports, the projectile hit without the activation of warning sirens, catching residents off guard.

While no physical injuries were reported, footage from the scene showed a column of smoke rising over empty streets and damage to nearby homes. The attack follows a week of heavy barrages during the Passover holiday, with Hezbollah and the IRGC intensifying strikes on northern Israel in response to Israeli ground operations and air raids on Beirut.

[4:53 PM] France condemns ‘unacceptable’ intimidation of peacekeepers in Lebanon

France’s junior army minister, Alice Rufo, has condemned the “absolutely unacceptable intimidation” of French peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Speaking at the War & Peace conference in Paris on Wednesday, Rufo expressed solidarity with her troops following three separate incidents involving the Israeli military on March 28.

The statement comes after the deaths of three Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeepers, who were killed in separate explosions over the weekend. Rufo, who recently returned from a visit to Beirut where she delivered 39 armored vehicles to the Lebanese Army, warned that such threats against UN personnel are intolerable. Indonesia has since called for a formal UN investigation into the strikes that killed its soldiers.

[4:34 PM] Mojtaba Khamenei praises Hezbollah for ‘leading this movement’

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hussein Khamenei, has issued a formal message of gratitude to Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, commending the group’s role in the ongoing conflict. In a statement circulated by the state-linked ISNA news agency, Khamenei described Hezbollah’s leadership as a symbol of “uprightness, steadfastness, and patience.”

The Supreme Leader emphasized that the group remains at the forefront of the struggle against what he termed “the worst enemies of the Islamic world.” This public endorsement comes as Hezbollah continues daily operations against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, despite intensifying air strikes on its own infrastructure and leadership.

[4:26 PM] Strikes on Iranian industrial giants threaten economic stability

A new phase of air strikes has shifted focus toward Iran’s critical industrial infrastructure, with the Mobarakeh Steel Company—one of the country’s largest producers—targeted for the second time in a week. The company reported “massive damage” to its production units and power substations following the latest raids, which also hit the Khuzestan and Sefid-Dasht steel facilities. Analysts warn that these disruptions will have a severe ripple effect across Iran’s manufacturing and export sectors.

In Tehran, the Red Crescent reports that over 92,000 civilian units, including 600 schools and nearly 300 medical facilities, have been damaged since the conflict began on February 28. Recent strikes have also hit a pharmaceutical company and the Tabriz Petrochemical complex, further straining essential supplies. The intensifying campaign against industrial assets is expected to cause widespread shortages and long-term economic instability as the regional war enters its second month.

[4:25 PM] IRGC launches massive drone and missile wave against Israel and US bases

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a major escalation, deploying over 100 heavy missiles and attack drones alongside 200 rockets in its latest “True Promise 4” operation. According to a statement carried by IRIB, the coordinated strikes targeted multiple locations across Israel and several US military positions in the Gulf.

The IRGC specifically claimed to have struck a US facility in Bahrain and the al-Adiri base in Kuwait, where they reported the destruction of an American helicopter unit. The statement emphasized that these operations, conducted in partnership with allied “resistance fronts,” will continue with “full intensity” until their strategic objectives are met. This latest barrage follows a month of high-tension conflict that has seen significant damage to regional energy and military infrastructure.

[4:56 PM] France ‘very unhelpful on Iran,’ Trump says

US President Donald Trump lashed out at France on Tuesday, saying it had been ‘very unhelpful’ in the US-Israel war on Iran.

“The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the ‘Butcher of Iran, who has been successfully eliminated!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

[4:30 PM] EU calls attacks on UN Lebanon peacekeepers ‘grave violation’ of law

The EU on Tuesday demanded an investigation into attacks on United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon, after three Indonesian troops were killed amid fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

“We call for a thorough investigation to shed light on these grave attacks. These attacks are a grave violation of international law, are totally unacceptable and must stop immediately,” EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni said.

[4:27 PM] Spain PM says Israel death penalty law ‘step closer to apartheid’

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday condemned as “a step closer to apartheid” a bill passed by Israeli lawmakers that would allow the execution of Palestinians convicted on terror charges for deadly attacks.

“It is an asymmetric measure that would not apply to Israelis who committed the same crimes. Same crime, different punishment. That is not justice. It is a step closer to apartheid,” Sanchez wrote on X.

[3:19 PM] Iran executes two more men over alleged ties to banned opposition group

Iran executed two men on Tuesday, identified as Babak Alipour and Pouya Ghobadi, after they were convicted of membership in the banned People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK). According to the judiciary’s Mizan Online website, the men were hanged following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold their sentences for “rebellion” and plotting to overthrow the Islamic Republic.

The judiciary stated the men were involved in multiple “terrorist acts” and sabotage aimed at the state. These executions follow the hanging of two other individuals on similar charges just a day prior. The surge in capital punishment occurs as Iran remains embroiled in a month-long war with the United States and Israel, which began following the strikes on February 28.

[3:17 PM] US gas prices cross $4 threshold as Iran war roils energy markets

The US national average for retail gasoline has crossed $4 per gallon for the first time in over three years, according to data from GasBuddy and AAA. This milestone, last seen in August 2022, marks a significant psychological barrier for American consumers as the ongoing conflict with Iran continues to disrupt global energy supplies.

Fuel costs have surged approximately 36% since the start of the war in late February, primarily driven by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. With Brent crude hovering near $117 per barrel, the price hike has become a major political challenge for President Trump ahead of the November midterm elections.

Despite the administration’s efforts to boost domestic production, volatile markets and the threat of ground operations continue to push prices higher.

[08:49 AM] Iran defiant as Trump threatens to destroy oil island, power plants

Iran fired new missiles early Tuesday as it vowed defiance against US President Donald Trump, who threatened to destroy the country’s oil export hub of Kharg Island along with power and desalination plants unless Tehran quickly accepts a deal to end the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump’s partner in attacking Iran, said more than half of his military aims had been achieved, but both leaders refused to put a timeline on an operation that has ignited a regional war and sent global oil prices soaring.

[5:10 PM] Trump warns to ‘obliterate’ Iranian energy sites, hints at ground invasion

US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s civilian energy infrastructure, including power plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island, if Tehran does not immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In a social media post, Trump warned that if a deal is not reached shortly and the strait is not “Open for Business,” the U.S. will “completely obliterate” these strategic targets.

While claiming “great progress” toward a deal, Trump did not rule out the possibility of ground operations to secure the region. This follows reports that the Pentagon has been preparing plans for weeks for potential ground raids near the Strait of Hormuz, coinciding with the arrival of the USS Tripoli and 3,500 Marines in the Middle East.

[5:00 PM] Ghalibaf slams Israel, claims Zionism seeks to ‘erase’ Islam and Christianity

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf on Monday criticized Israel in a post on X, highlighting the survival of Christian life in Iran despite the ongoing conflict. Ghalibaf noted that Palm Sunday masses were held in Tehran, Tabriz, and Urmia, even as “Israel’s brutal bombing” continues to target civilians across the region.

The Speaker pointed to a sharp decline in the Christian population within Israeli-occupied territories, claiming it has dropped from 12.5% in 1948 to just 1% today. Ghalibaf asserted that “Zionism is trying to erase every trace of Islam and Christianity,” accusing Israel of a systematic campaign to eliminate religious diversity in the Levant.

Earlier, Israeli police had prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to mark Palm Sunday Mass.

The Catholic Church said on Sunday that Pizzaballa and Francesco lelpo, the official Guardian of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, were both prevented from entering the church.

Palm Sunday masses were held yesterday in Tehran, Tabriz, and Urmia, despite Israel’s brutal bombing of civilians.

Before 1948 Christians made up 12.5% of the population in the occupied territories. Now, only 1%.

Zionism is trying to erase every trace of Islam and Christianity. https://t.co/fMjL2ZZC0A pic.twitter.com/6K3X4lofYu

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) March 30, 2026

[3:59 PM] IRGC Navy chief Alireza Tangsiri martyred following US-Israeli strikes

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has announced the martyrdom of Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri. He succumbed to injuries sustained during recent US-Israeli strikes while organizing defensive positions along Iran’s coastal areas.

The IRGC statement noted that the operations involving Tangsiri resulted in significant damage to enemy infrastructure and the downing of an American fighter jet. Despite the loss of the veteran commander, the IRGC reaffirmed its “firm command” and vowed to continue daily missile and drone operations against US and Israeli assets across the region.

Read more about Alireza Tangsiri

[3:12 PM] Iran denies direct talks with US, dismisses ‘unreasonable’ demands

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, has categorically denied any direct negotiations with the United States regarding the ongoing month-long conflict. Speaking to the Tasnim news agency on Monday, Baqaei clarified that while Tehran has received messages through intermediaries expressing Washington’s desire to negotiate, no face-to-face talks have occurred.

Baqaei dismissed recent U.S. proposals as containing “excessive and unreasonable requests,” questioning the credibility of American diplomacy. He also addressed the recent mediation efforts in Islamabad, stating that the quadrilateral meetings involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt were established independently and did not include Iranian participation.

The spokesperson emphasized that while regional concern over the war is welcome, countries must remain mindful of “which side started the war.” His comments follow reports of a U.S.-led 15-point peace framework, which Iranian officials have publicly scoffed at as “one-sided” and “deceptive.”

[2:18 PM] Fire reported at Haifa’s Bazan oil refinery following missile attack

Israeli media are reporting a fresh fire at the Bazan oil refinery in Haifa following an Iranian missile barrage on Monday. Preliminary reports indicate that either a direct hit or falling interception debris struck the facility’s industrial zone, a site previously damaged in strikes on March 19.

The Jerusalem Post and other local outlets noted that sirens sounded across northern Israel before the impact was detected near the sensitive energy infrastructure. Firefighting teams have been deployed to the scene to contain the blaze and assess potential hazardous material leaks. This latest escalation follows a weekend of intense strikes on Iranian electrical facilities, which Tehran vowed to avenge by targeting Israeli and regional economic centers.

The Bazan refinery, which produces approximately half of Israel’s domestic fuel, has been a frequent target since the conflict began on February 28. While previous strikes caused localized damage and temporary power outages, this new incident comes as global oil prices continue to surge, with Brent crude nearing $117 per barrel.

[12:35 PM] FIFA faces calls to ban Israeli footballer after video shows him opening fire in Lebanon

Football officials and fans are calling on FIFA to take action against Israeli Premier League player Menashe Zalka after he was filmed opening fire in southern Lebanon. A video verified by Al Jazeera shows Zalka, the captain of Hapoel Hadera, in military uniform firing a machine gun and throwing a grenade from a damaged residential building.

Zalka, a reservist in the Israeli army’s paratrooper brigade, has reportedly been on active duty for “hundreds of days” throughout the conflict. Critics have accused FIFA of a “double standard” for failing to suspend the Israel Football Association (IFA) despite having previously banned Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.

The incident has intensified pressure on the global governing body to reconsider its position as the regional war continues to escalate.

HE SHOOTS – HE SCORES!

Menashe Zelka, captain of the Hapoel Hadera soccer team uses a grenade launcher on a Hezbollah structure in southern Lebanon.

The footballer enlisted in the Paratroopers, sacrificing prime career years, and continues serving in reserves since his… pic.twitter.com/L707wQQ1nK

— C14 News Israel | EN (@c14israel) March 29, 2026

[12:30 PM] Israeli settlers carry out arson attack on Palestinian vehicles near Bethlehem

Israeli settlers set fire to two Palestinian vehicles and sprayed racist graffiti in the town of Nahalin, west of Bethlehem, early Monday morning. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the group stormed the outskirts of the town and gathered in the Baqoush area before torching the cars and leaving threatening slogans on residential walls.

The incident was confirmed by local media outlets, which reported that the graffiti included references to the IDF Central Command chief. No injuries were reported, and no arrests have been made by Israeli authorities following the raid.

[12:26 PM] Netanyahu orders expansion of Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to further expand its security zone in southern Lebanon to counter ongoing Hezbollah rocket and anti-tank missile fire. In a video statement from the Northern Command, Netanyahu stated the expansion aims to thwart invasion threats and push back launch sites from the border.

While Defense Minister Israel Katz previously indicated plans to control territory up to the Litani River, it remains unclear if Netanyahu’s new directive targets additional areas. The move has not yet been formally discussed by the security cabinet. According to the Lebanese health ministry, the offensive has already killed over 1,100 people, including women, children, and medical staff.

[12:24 PM] Iranian strike on Kuwaiti power plant kills Indian worker

An Iranian strike on a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait has killed an Indian worker and caused significant structural damage. Ministry spokesperson Fatima Abbas Jawhar Hayat confirmed the “Iranian aggression” targeted a service building, resulting in the fatality. This follows a wave of retaliatory strikes by Tehran against Gulf states it accuses of supporting US-Israeli operations.

Meanwhile, Israel launched fresh strikes on military targets across Tehran on Monday following weekend attacks on Iran’s power grid. Iran responded with new strikes on Israel, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, specifically targeting energy infrastructure. The conflict has pushed Brent crude near $117 per barrel, causing fuel shortages across Asia. Despite President Trump claiming a deal could be reached “soon,” he has not ruled out ground operations as the USS Tripoli arrives in the region.

[4:40 PM] Journalists Ali Shoeib and Fatima Ftouni martyred in Israeli strike on Jezzine

[02:45 PM] Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon kill multiple civilians

Israeli forces have intensified their bombardment of southern Lebanon, with recent attacks causing numerous casualties in the municipalities of Deir ez-Zahrani and al-Hanniye.

According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), all of the wounded in the al-Hanniye strike were identified as Syrian nationals, who were immediately transported to hospitals in Tyre for emergency treatment. The offensive also included air raids on Beit al-Sayyad and al-Mansouri, while Qlailah was subjected to heavy artillery fire.

The Lebanese Health Ministry reported on Friday evening that the total death toll since the escalation began on March 2 has risen to 1,142, with 3,315 others injured. This latest wave of violence occurs as the regional conflict continues to spread following the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran that commenced on February 28.

[01:42 PM] UN engages Pakistan to launch task force for Strait of Hormuz safety

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced a special task force to secure the passage of humanitarian and agricultural goods through the Strait of Hormuz amid a near-total halt in maritime traffic.

The task force, led by UNOPS Executive Director Jorge Moreira da Silva, aims to mitigate global food security risks caused by the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that Pakistan is among the key member states currently being consulted to operationalize the mechanism.

The initiative seeks to facilitate the trade of fertilizers and raw materials while building diplomatic confidence toward a broader political settlement. According to the IMO, the conflict has already impacted approximately 2,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers in the region.

[12:45 PM] Yemen’s AnsarAllah claims responsibility for missile attack on Israel

Yemen’s AnsarAllah has officially claimed its first missile attack on Israel since the conflict began on February 28. The group confirmed it launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting Israeli military sites in the southern occupied West Bank.

In a statement, the Iran-aligned group said the operation was a response to the “targeting of infrastructure and the killing of civilians” across Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, and Palestine. The Houthis warned that their operations “will continue until the declared objectives are achieved” and aggression against all resistance fronts ceases.

Earlier, the Israeli military confirmed it had detected a single missile launched from Yemen, marking a significant expansion of the month-long war’s geographical reach.

[11:57 AM] Iranian strike wounds 12 US soldiers at Saudi air base

At least 12 American soldiers were wounded, two seriously, following an Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

The strike, involving at least one ballistic missile and several drones, hit a building housing personnel and damaged multiple aerial refueling planes. This brings the total US casualties since the conflict began on February 28 to 13 killed and over 300 wounded.

Iran continues to target Gulf nations it accuses of hosting US-Israeli operations, despite recent claims from Washington that military actions could conclude within weeks.

[11:38 AM] Israel detects first missile from Yemen as Rubio forecasts war’s end in ‘weeks’

The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it has detected a missile launch from Yemen, marking the first time the country has faced fire from that territory since the conflict with Iran began one month ago.

The projectile triggered air raid sirens across southern Israel, including Beersheba and areas near Israel’s main nuclear research center. While the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen did not immediately claim responsibility, they had warned hours earlier of “direct military intervention” if the US-Israeli campaign continued

[10:00 AM] Iran’s men’s national soccer team holds schoolbags in protest against US-Israeli strikes

Iran’s men’s national soccer team wore black armbands and held pink and purple schoolbags during their national anthem ahead of a friendly match against Nigeria in Turkey on Friday. The gesture was a tribute to the students and teachers killed on the first day of the conflict.

The protest specifically referenced the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh School, which Tehran reports killed over 175 people, including 165 girls. “The players are holding the schoolbags close to their hearts in remembrance of the girls killed in an Iranian school,” a media official for the team told Reuters.

The match, held in the resort town of Belek, comes as Iran’s participation in the upcoming World Cup in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada remains in doubt due to the ongoing war. While U.S. military investigators have stated it is “likely” that U.S. forces were responsible for the school strike, a final conclusion has not yet been reached.

[04: 10 PM] Israel to ‘intensify’ strikes on Iran to stop missile fire: defence minister

Defence minister Israel Katz said on Friday that Israel would step up strikes against Iran as a result of its continued missile fire, warning the Islamic republic would pay a “heavy price”.

“Despite the warnings, the firing continues — consequently, IDF strikes in Iran will intensify and expand to other targets in sectors that help the regime develop and use military means against Israeli civilians. They will pay a heavy price, an increasingly heavy one, for this war crime,” Katz said in a video released by his office.

[09: 32 AM] Israeli Army Chief Zamir warns IDF will collapse due to lack of manpower

Israel’s army chief warned that the military could face internal collapse if the government fails to address a growing manpower shortage, media reports said on Thursday.

Speaking during a security Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said: “I am raising 10 red flags before the IDF collapses into itself,” according to The Jerusalem Post.

[09: 01 AM] Two Israeli mayors criticise Netanyahu government

جنگ میں ہزیمت پر 2 اسرائیلی میئرز کی اپنی حکومت پر شدید تنقید#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/nzrFGyqTMi

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 26, 2026

[08: 15 AM] Israeli forces strike areas around Pakistan embassy in Tehran: reports

تہران میں پاکستانی سفارتخانے کے اطراف اسرائیل کی بمباری#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/neuirltBZL

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 26, 2026

[11: 30 PM] Trump claims Iran allowed 10 oil tankers through Hormuz as “goodwill gesture”

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran was letting 10 ​oil tankers transit the Strait of Hormuz as an ‌apparent goodwill gesture in negotiations.

Trump made the comments at a Cabinet meeting in the White House, elaborating on what he ​had previously described as a “present” from Iran.

“They ​said, to show you the fact that we’re ⁠real and solid and we’re there, we’re going ​to let you have eight boats of oil, eight ​boats, eight big boats of oil,” Trump said.

“I guess they were right, and they were real, and I think they ​were Pakistani-flagged… It ended up being 10 boats.” The ​White House did not immediately respond to a request for more ‌details ⁠on the vessels.

[09:00 PM] Trump outlines conditions for ending bombing of Iran

President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Iran to make a ​deal to end U.S. and Israeli bombing ‌or face more strikes on their country.

“They now have the chance, that is Iran, to permanently abandon their ​nuclear ambitions and to join a new ​path forward,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting ⁠at the White House. “We’ll see if they ​want to do it. If they don’t, we’re their ​worst nightmare. In the meantime, we’ll just keep blowing them away.”

[08: 28 PM] US confirms death of Iranian IRGC naval commander

The ​United States ‌on Thursday confirmed ​the death ​of Iranian Islamic ⁠Revolutionary ​Guard Corps – ​Navy commander Admiral Alireza ​Tangsiri ​from an Israeli ‌airstrike, ⁠according to a post on ​X ​from ⁠U.S. Central ​Command.

[06:00 PM] China says ‘glimmer of hope’ on Iran war talks

China’s top diplomat has said that a “glimmer of hope” for peace has emerged due to moves to stop the war in the Middle East, despite Tehran vowing to keep fighting.

The White House has warned that US President Donald Trump is ready to “unleash hell” if Iran does not accept a peace plan to end the war, but Tehran insisted it will not negotiate.

The ramped-up messages dashed hopes of any imminent de-escalation, with violence on the ground showing no sign of abating after almost four weeks.

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi urged dialogue in separate calls with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts, suggesting that both Tehran and Washington had shown signals they were willing to return to the negotiating table.

“With both the United States and Iran signalling a willingness to negotiate, a glimmer of hope for peace has emerged,” Wang told Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, according to a Beijing readout published late Wednesday.

[05:00 PM] Israel medics say Iranian missile attack leaves 2 wounded

The Israeli military said air defences responded to missile attacks from Iran on Thursday that according to medics left two people lightly wounded and caused some damage.

A spokesman for Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency medical service told public radio there was damage to several houses in the central city of Kafr Qassem, whose Mayor Haitham Taha said it was caused by cluster munitions.

The military said Home Front Command rescuers were called to an impact site “in central Israel”.

[08:55 AM] Trump claims Iranian leaders want deal ‘so badly’

US President Donald Trump claimed Iran is negotiating with the US but is “afraid to say it”. Speaking at a Republican fundraising dinner, Donald Trump said that Iran’s leaders fear they could be “killed by their own people” or by the US.

“ایرانی قیادت ڈیل چاہتی ہے لیکن بولنے سے ڈرتی ہے”، امریکی صدر ٹرمپ#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/SUCgk0J5Py

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 26, 2026

[08: 40 AM]  Saudi Arabia shoots down four more drones

[08: 32 AM] US says Abraham Lincoln carrier continuing operations against Iran

[08:05] Iran rejects US proposal, lays out five conditions for ending imposed war

Iran has responded negatively to an American Proposal  aimed at ending the ongoing imposed war, insisting that it will only occur on Tehran’s own terms and timeline, a senior political-security,  Press TV  reportedon Wednesday.

The official with knowledge of the details of the proposal, speaking exclusively to Press TV, said Iran will not allow US Presidentr Donald Trump to dictate the timing of the war’s end.

The official outlined five specific conditions under which Iran would agree to end the war. These include:

• A complete halt to “aggression and assassinations” by the enemy.
• The establishment of concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed on the Islamic Republic.
• Guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war damages and reparations.
• The conclusion of the war across all fronts and for all resistance groups  involved throughout the region
• Iran’s exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz  is and will remain Iran’s natural and legal right, and it constitutes a guarantee for the implementation of the other party’s commitments, and must be recognized.

[4:14 PM] Netanyahu seeks Gaza-style destruction in Lebanon, says Spain’s PM

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to inflict the “same level of damage and destruction” on Lebanon as seen in Gaza.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Sánchez described the ongoing conflict as an “absolute disaster” that serves the “interests of the usual suspects.” He criticized the military operations, stating they serve to “undermine international law, destabilize the Middle East, reignite conflicts in Iraq and Lebanon, and bury Gaza under the rubble of oblivion and indifference.”

[03:05 PM] Ghalibaf warns US against troop deployments: ‘Do not test our resolve’

Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, issued a stern warning to the United States regarding its military movements in the Middle East. In a post on X, the Speaker emphasized that Tehran is closely monitoring all regional activities, specifically highlighting recent troop deployments.

“We are closely monitoring all US movements in the region, especially troop deployments,” Ghalibaf wrote. “What the generals have broken, the soldiers can’t fix; instead, they will fall victim to Netanyahu’s delusions.”

He concluded his message with a direct caution to Washington: “Do not test our resolve to defend our land.”

The statement comes amid reports of the US 82nd Airborne Division being deployed to the region and follows Ghalibaf’s recent dismissal of “productive talks” with the Trump administration as “fake news.”

We are closely monitoring all US movements in the region, especially troop deployments.

What the generals have broke, the soldiers can’t fix; instead, they will fall victim to Netanyahu’s delusions.

Do not test our resolve to defend our land.

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) March 25, 2026

[12:45 PM] Abbas Kiarostami’s home hit in US-Israeli bombardment, Iran says

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has confirmed that the home of the late world-renowned filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami was struck during recent US-Israeli air raids on Iran.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Baghaei questioned the strategic value of the site, writing: “Was Kiarostami’s home part of the alleged ‘imminent threat’ to the United States?!” He further characterized the offensive as a war against Iran’s “deep-rooted culture, civilization, and identity.”

Kiarostami, a monumental figure in global cinema, is best known for winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes for Taste of Cherry. His legacy includes seminal works such as Close-Up and Where Is the Friend’s House?, which helped bring Iranian cinema to the forefront of the international stage.

Remember Abbas #Kiarostami, the renowned Iranian director who won the Palme d’Or at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for his masterpiece Taste of Cherry?

Even his HOME was not spared from the bombs of the American-Israeli aggressors.
Was Kiarostami’s home part of the alleged… pic.twitter.com/Ddnq7Tii74

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) March 25, 2026

[04:24 PM] Iran appoints Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as new security chief

Iran has appointed former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), according to the IRNA news agency.

Zolghadr is known for his long-standing career within the IRGC command hierarchy, having served as the deputy commander-in-chief and the head of the IRGC Joint Staff. His move to the SNSC is seen as a move to consolidate military control over Iran’s strategic and security affairs during the ongoing conflict.

Read details here.

[02:34 PM] IRGC threatens ‘unrestrained’ strikes if Israel continues targeting civilians

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that it will launch “heavy missile and drone attacks” against Israeli forces “without restraint” if strikes on civilians in Lebanon and Gaza continue.

In a statement carried by the IRNA news agency, the IRGC accused Israel of exploiting current “wartime conditions” to commit “extensive war crimes” against non-combatants. The warning specifically targeted Israeli troop concentrations in northern Israel and areas surrounding the Gaza Strip.

This escalation follows recent reports of intensified Israeli aerial campaigns in dense urban environments, which the UN has previously noted raise “concerns under international humanitarian law.”

Iran on Monday officially denied engaging in negotiations with the United States, following a claim by President Donald Trump that he postponed a strike on Iran’s power grid due to “productive talks” with Iranian officials.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf dismissed the reports as “fake news” on X, suggesting they were an attempt to manipulate financial and oil markets. “No negotiations have been held with the U.S.,” Qalibaf wrote, adding that Iranian officials remain committed to the “punishment of the aggressors.”

While a European official noted that no direct talks have occurred, they mentioned that Pakistan, Egypt, and Gulf states are currently relaying messages. Sources told Reuters that direct negotiations could potentially be hosted in Islamabad as early as this week.

Contradicting the diplomatic narrative, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dismissed Trump’s statements as “psychological operations” and announced fresh strikes on Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and Dimona, as well as several U.S. bases. The IRGC stated it is “negotiating” through “impact-focused operations” rather than diplomacy.

[12:55 PM] US air strike on PMF base in Iraq: Death toll rises to 14

The death toll from a US air strike targeting the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Iraq’s Anbar province has risen to 14.

The attack targeted the PMF operations command headquarters and specifically aimed at the group’s head, Saad Dawai. Officials have confirmed that Dawai was among those killed in the strike.

[12:53 PM] Iran arrests 3 people for alleged ‘spying’ on sensitive sites

Iranian authorities have arrested three individuals in the city of Shahroud, Semnan province, on charges of spying on sensitive military and law enforcement locations, according to a provincial police commander.

The suspects are accused of attempting to “obtain information and documentation” from high-security sites to “send it to the enemy,” as reported by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

The police official stated that authorities confiscated communication equipment and various prohibited items from the suspects. He further alleged that the individuals maintained active contacts in the United States and Israel.

[5:28 PM] Israeli weapons factory torched in the Czech Republic

A facility linked to Israeli arms giant Elbit Systems has been set ablaze in the Czech Republic, with an underground group claiming responsibility and authorities launching an investigation.

Several buildings at the site, a joint operation involving a Czech company and Elbit Systems, were destroyed in the early morning attack. Elbit Systems describes itself as a key supplier of land and air weapons used by the Israeli military in its current conflicts, including in Gaza and Iran.

A group calling itself “The Earthquake Faction” claimed the attack on Telegram, stating, “The site is central to the European operations of Israel’s biggest weapons producer. Now, it’s in flames.” The group added, “We are in the belly of the beast… we will take necessary action to quash their means to kill.”

Czech police stated on X that they are currently investigating the incident for a “possible terrorist link.”

[4:35 PM] Trump plans Kharg Island occupation to pressure Iran on Hormuz: Report

US President Donald Trump is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Axios citing four unnamed sources.

“We need about a month to weaken the Iranians more with strikes, take the island, and then get them by the balls and use it for negotiations,” one source told Axios.

While previous US and Israeli strikes on the island—which handles 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports—targeted military installations, a ground invasion would put US troops within direct Iranian striking range.

The US military has already approved additional troop deployments to the region. “If [Trump] decides to have a coastal invasion, that’s going to happen. But that decision hasn’t been made,” a senior administration official told Axios regarding the plans to reopen the strategic waterway.

[03:54 PM] US, Israel strike 16 Iranian cargo vessels in port towns: Iran media

The United States and Israel struck 16 Iranian cargo vessels in port towns on the Gulf on Friday, local media reported, saying the ships were burnt.

“Following the American–Zionist air attack, at least 16 cargo vessels belonging to citizens of the towns of Bandar Lengeh and Bandar Kong were completely burnt in the fire,” a local official from the southern Hormozgan province said, quoted by the Tasnim news agency.

[03:44 PM] Israeli warplanes break sound barrier over Beirut: media

An Israeli warplane broke the sound barrier over Beirut on Friday morning, state media said, as AFP journalists heard loud booms reverberate across the city and in distant mountains.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency said “a strong sonic boom, in two successive waves, shook the skies over Beirut and its suburbs” on the morning of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the Ramadan fasting period.

The incident set social media abuzz.

“On a day without shelling — so far — the Israelis are greeting the people of Beirut and its suburbs with two sonic booms,” one internet user, Salah Halawi, wrote on X.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel after the killing of the Islamic republic’s supreme leader.

Last week Israeli warplanes also caused loud booms in the skies of the Lebanese capital, as they dropped propaganda leaflets on the city, terrifying residents.

[03:39 PM] Russia’s foreign ministry summons Israeli ambassador over strike near RT crew in Lebanon

Russia’s foreign ministry has summoned the Israeli ambassador to Moscow, Oded Joseph, following an Israeli missile strike that wounded a Russia Today (RT) television reporter, Steve Sweeney, and crew reporting in southern Lebanon.

On Thursday, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the “circumstances indicate the attack on the journalists was deliberate and targeted.” She further characterized the incident as a “gross violation of international law.”

The summoning of the ambassador marks a significant diplomatic escalation between Moscow and Tel Aviv as the conflict continues to impact international media personnel on the ground.

Today I$rael tried to kill me in a targeted airstrike in southern Lebanon as I was reporting on was the targeting of bridges and the forced displacement of 1 million people, an ethnic cleansing operation on a larger scale than the Nakba

I have absolutely no doubt that this was… pic.twitter.com/5igboFLvH8

— Steve Sweeney (@SweeneySteve) March 19, 2026

[13: 25 PM] UN chief says both sides might have committed war crimes: Report

[12:50 PM] IRGC says spokesperson killed: State media

[10: 23 AM ] IRGC unleashes ‘super-heavy multi-warhead’ missiles at Israel

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announces execution of the 66th wave of its ongoing retaliatory Operation True Promise 4 featuring deployment of a large-scale reprisal involving multiple missile systems targeting locations across the occupied territories and US military positions in the region.

[09: 58 AM] Oil prices fall as countries offer to help unblock Strait of Hormuz

[09: 32 AM] Iran warns of possible Israeli strike on Aramco

The Iranian military official alleged that Israel could carry out such an attack and attempt to blame Iran, warning that previous actions by what it described as the “Zionist regime” point to similar tactics. He further stated that such moves are aimed at fuelling instability and unrest across the region, according to Press Tv report.

The spokesperson emphasised that Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to respond decisively to any aggression, adding that all critical installations linked to the United States and Israel could become targets in the event of an attack.

He said any response would be carried out with “full responsibility” and has effectively been declared in advance, underscoring heightened tensions in the Middle East.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters also expressed serious concern over the evolving regional situation, warning that further escalation could threaten vital energy corridors and global stability.

[09: 47 AM]: President Trump was aware of Pars gas field attack, claims Wall Street Journal 

Wall Street Journal in a report has claimed that US President Donald Trump was aware of Pars gas field attack in Iran.

صدر ٹرمپ کو ساؤتھ پارس گیس فیلڈ پر حملے کا علم تھا، وال اسٹریٹ جرنل#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/w7eWI30gv0

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 19, 2026

[09: 12 AM]: Pentagon seeks more than $200 billion in budget request for Iran war

The Pentagon has asked the White House to approve a more than $200 billion request to Congress to fund the war in Iran, according to a senior administration official, in an enormous new ask that is almost certain to run into resistance from lawmakers opposed to the conflict, according to The Washington Post report.

پینٹاگون کا وائٹ ہاؤس سے ایران جنگ کیلئے 200 ارب ڈالر کا مطالبہ#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/VLZABhlHCh

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 19, 2026

[08: 38 AM ] Qatar orders Iranian diplomats to leave country within 24 hours

قطر کا ایرانی ملٹری اتاشی اور سیکیورٹی عملے کو 24 گھنٹے میں ملک چھوڑنے کا حکم#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/O3LhAWOpR1

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 19, 2026

[04:14 PM] Iran’s parliament speaker says returning women footballers will be welcomed home

Iran’s Parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has stated that returning members of the national women’s football team will be embraced by the public.

The team has been at the center of controversy after refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem during a match in Australia. This act led to them being branded “traitors” by an IRIB presenter. Following the incident, six players and one support staff member initially accepted asylum in Australia, though five later reversed their decision to return home.

In a post on X, Ghalibaf described the players as the “dear daughters of this land,” adding that “the people of Iran embrace them.”

He further stated, “Our daughters, despite all the malice of the enemies of this country, have not become disillusioned with themselves; they have not surrendered to the temptations and intimidation of the Iran-haters, and they will return with pride to their eternal home, Iran.”

[3:35 PM] Israel says it killed Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Wednesday that the Israeli military has killed Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Esmail Khatib, in an overnight strike in Tehran.

Khatib, a cleric who has served as the head of the Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) since 2021, is the third high-ranking Iranian official Israel has claimed to have killed in the past 24 hours, following the reported deaths of security chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani.

Additionally, Minister Katz confirmed that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have granted the IDF and Mossad unprecedented authorization to eliminate senior Iranian and Hezbollah figures immediately upon receiving actionable intelligence, without requiring further political approval.

There has been no official confirmation or comment from Tehran regarding Khatib’s status at this time.

[03:15 PM] Al-Manar TV director killed in Israeli strike on Beirut

Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV has confirmed that the director of its political programmes, Mohammad Shari, was killed alongside his wife in an Israeli strike on central Beirut.

The channel issued a statement confirming that the “Zionist raid” targeted the Zuqaq al-Blat area in the capital. According to Al-Manar, Shari’s children and grandchildren were also wounded in the attack and have been hospitalised.

[03:05 PM] NATO deploying more missile defenses to guard southern Turkish base

NATO is deploying an additional US Patriot missile defense system to the southern Turkish province of Adana, where personnel from the US and other allied nations are stationed at the Incirlik Air Base, according to Turkiye’s Defence Ministry.

Turkiye, which maintains NATO’s second-largest army and shares a border with Iran, previously confirmed the alliance had deployed a Patriot system to the southeastern Malatya province. That deployment, located near a NATO radar base, is part of a broader effort to strengthen air defenses against missile threats from Iran.

Despite ongoing development efforts, Turkiye currently lacks its own fully fledged air defense network. The country has relied on NATO systems stationed in the eastern Mediterranean to intercept three missiles reportedly fired from Iran since the conflict began.

[2:57 PM] Missile falls in central Israel following reports of loud explosion

Israeli media reports indicate that a missile has fallen in central Israel after a loud explosion was heard in the region. Additionally, another missile was reportedly intercepted over northern Israel.

No injuries have been reported at this time. The incident follows a period of high alert, with sirens sounding in several areas. Authorities are currently assessing the impact site.

[09: 30 AM] Martyrdom of Ali Larijani will not destabilise Iranian political system: FM Aragchi

In an interview with Al Jazeera, aired after the killing of Larijani was confirmed by Tehran early on Wednesday, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi said the United States and Israel had yet to realise that Iran’s government does not rely on a single individual.

“I do not know why the Americans and the Israelis still have not understood this point: The Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure with established political, economic, and social institutions,” Araghchi said.

“The presence or absence of a single individual does not affect this structure,” he said.

“Of course, individuals are influential, and each person plays their role – some better, some worse, some less – but what matters is that the political system in Iran is a very solid structure.”

Araghchi pointed to the assassination of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of US-Israeli strikes on 28 February, noting that despite the huge national loss, “the system continued”.

“علی لاریجانی کی شہادت حکومت کے پیچھے ہٹنے کا سبب نہیں بنے گی”، عباس عراقچی#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/8knXzj1Upb

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 18, 2026

[01: 56 AM] Ali Larijani: Iran confirms martyrdom of security chief

TEHRAN: Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani has embraced martyrdom, Iranian media confirmed on Tuesday.

Israeli leaders had said earlier today that he had been killed.

[09: 26 PM] Trump says NATO’s refusal to help on Iran is “very foolish mistake”

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States had been informed ​by most of its NATO allies that they did ‌not want to get involved with the country’s military operation in Iran, a move he described as a “very foolish mistake”.

Speaking at an ​Oval Office event, Trump said NATO countries were ​supportive of the joint U.S.-Israeli war, which has ⁠now entered its third week, even as they did ​not want to get involved.

“I think NATO is making a ​very foolish mistake,” Trump said.

“Everyone agrees with us, but they don’t want to help. And we, you know, we as the ​United States have to remember that because we think ​it’s pretty shocking,” he added.

Trump called on nations to help police the ‌Strait ⁠of Hormuz after Iran responded to U.S.-Israeli attacks by using drones, missiles and mines to effectively close the channel for tankers.

But several U.S. allies said on Monday ​they had no ​immediate plans ⁠to send ships to help unblock the strait, effectively rebuffing Trump’s plea for military ​support.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump wrote on Truth Social ​that “Because ⁠of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — ⁠WE ​NEVER DID!.” He singled out Japan, ​Australia and South Korea.

[07:30 PM] Top US Counterterrorism Chief Resigns Over Iran War

The head ​of the National Counterterrorism Center resigned on Tuesday, becoming ‌the first and most senior member of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to resign over the war in Iran, saying Tehran ​posed no imminent threat to the United States.

“I ​cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war ⁠in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to ​our nation, and it is clear that we started this ​war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful lobby,” Joseph Kent wrote in a letter to Trump posted on X.

Some ​experts have said an imminent threat would be required ​for the United States to launch a war under current law.

‌The ⁠White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also did not immediately respond.
Intelligence officials were ​caught off guard ​by the ⁠news.

[04:47 PM] Iran confiscates hundreds of Starlink devices smuggled by US, Israel

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry has announced the seizure of hundreds of Starlink systems, claiming the satellite internet terminals were smuggled into the country by the United States and Israel.

In a statement cited by the Tasnim news agency, the ministry declared its intention to continue tracking illicit Starlink units until all terminals “serving the enemy” are identified.

The ministry further warned that the acquisition or use of Starlink systems is considered a crime punishable by “the severest penalties” during wartime, particularly for individuals found to be connected to or acting on behalf of foreign adversaries.

[04:15 PM] Iran targets Israeli cyber-tech centres and weapons manufacturing facilities

Iran’s Tasnim news agency, quoting the Iranian military, reports that Iranian forces have targeted cyber technology centres and weapons manufacturing facilities belonging to the Israeli police.

The report specified that the army utilized drone attacks starting this morning to strike “the Zionist regime’s” cyber-technology hubs and the Rafael weapons manufacturing complex.

[03:56 PM] Israel’s attacks on Lebanon residential buildings raise humanitarian law concerns: UN

UN human rights office spokesperson Thameen al-Kheetan, speaking in Geneva, stated that Israeli airstrikes have destroyed entire residential buildings in dense urban areas. He noted that multiple members of the same families, including women and children, are frequently killed together in these strikes.

“Such attacks raise concerns under international humanitarian law,” the official remarked.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israel’s intensified attacks this month have claimed at least 886 lives, including 111 children and 67 women.

[03:45 PM] Iran’s president calls on Tehran residents to attend funerals of killed sailors

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on the residents of Tehran to attend the funerals of 84 sailors killed when the Iranian Navy’s IRIS Dena was sunk by a US torpedo off the coast of Sri Lanka earlier this month.

In a message carried by the Tasnim news agency, Pezeshkian stated that Iran’s enemies “should know that in the shadow of the name of each of these high-ranking martyrs, thousands of other brave men will rise.”

Iranian officials have announced that the coffins of the sailors will be placed in 34 squares across Tehran to allow the public to pay their respects.

[03:28 PM] Mojtaba Khamenei rejects peace proposals, says not the time for peace

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Syed Mojtaba Khamenei, has reportedly rejected peace proposals sent to the foreign ministry by international intermediaries.

According to a senior Iranian official quoted by Reuters, Khamenei told a foreign policy meeting that “it is not the time for peace.” The official added that the Supreme Leader believes the United States and Israel must first be defeated and made to pay compensation before any diplomatic path can be considered.

[02:44 PM] Israel claims Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani killed in strike

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced that Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, was killed in an overnight strike.

Larijani, who serves as the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has been a key figure in managing the country’s strategic and security affairs. This announcement follows reports of a wide-scale wave of strikes across the Iranian capital.

There has been no official comment or confirmation from Tehran regarding Larijani’s status. We will bring you more updates on this developing story as soon as they become available.

[2:40 PM] Israel says it kills IRGC’s Basij force commander Gholamreza Soleimani

The Israeli military has announced the killing of Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC’s Basij militia, during an operation on Monday night.

The Israeli army stated that the reported killing of Soleimani represents a “significant blow” to Iran’s “command-and-control structures.” The military further pledged to “continue to act with force” against Iranian commanders.

There has been no official response or comment from Iran regarding these claims yet.

[10: 25 AM] UAE reopens airspace after ensuring safety, security

Air traffic in the United Arab Emirates has returned to normal after authorities lifted temporary precautionary measures, according to the General Civil Aviation Authority.

Officials in Dubai said the decision was taken following a comprehensive review of the security situation, allowing full restoration of air navigation services.

The aviation authority confirmed that continuous monitoring of the airspace remains in place, while technical and operational teams are fully prepared to respond to any potential developments.

The authority also expressed appreciation to passengers and airlines for their cooperation during the temporary restrictions.

Authorities have advised the public to rely only on official sources for updates and information.

GCAA: Air traffic operations return to normal across UAE Airspace#WamNews https://t.co/6dG3FQw5wx pic.twitter.com/WAvGTbMIu9

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) March 17, 2026

[10: 20 AM] IRGC launches fresh retaliatory strikes on Israel

نئی لہر کا نام “یا سید الساجدین” رکھا گیا ہے، پاسداران انقلاب#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/9ROEt3xWaZ

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 17, 2026

[10: 10 AM] Iran claims destruction of over 80% of strategic US radars in Middle East

A spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Headquarters has claimed that more than 80 per cent of strategic radar systems at United States bases across the Middle East have been destroyed.

The Iranian official further asserted that key locations at American military installations in the region were specifically targeted during the strikes.

The claim comes amid escalating tensions, although no independent verification of the damage has yet been provided.

[09: 50 AM] CENTCOM releases details of Operation Epic Fury 

The United States Central Command has released details of a large-scale military campaign, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, carried out against Iran over a period of 16 days.

According to CENTCOM, more than 7,000 targets across Iran were struck during the operation, with over 6,500 combat sorties conducted by the United States Air Force.

The statement claimed that over 100 Iranian naval vessels and submarines were either destroyed or severely damaged, while key military infrastructure — including missile bases, command centres and defence systems — was heavily targeted.

The operation also focused on Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programmes, as well as weapons manufacturing facilities. CENTCOM said the strikes aimed to significantly degrade Iran’s military capabilities.

CENTCOM further claimed that command and control centres, including facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were among the primary targets of the operation.

Operation Epic Fury: March 16th Update pic.twitter.com/BjaySOYPe1

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 16, 2026

[09: 22 AM] Iran denies reports of ongoing contacts with US

Abbas Araghchi has rejected reports suggesting ongoing communication between Iran and the United States, stating that no recent contacts have taken place.

The Iranian foreign minister said the last interaction with US envoy Steve Witkoff occurred prior to the recent American strike.

He added that what he described as an “illegal military attack” by the United States had effectively ended diplomatic efforts between the two sides.

Araghchi further claimed that reports of renewed contacts are aimed at misleading the public and influencing global oil markets.

My last contact with Mr. Witkoff was prior to his employer’s decision to kill diplomacy with another illegal military attack on Iran.

Any claim to the contrary appears geared solely to mislead oil traders and the public.

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 16, 2026

[10:00 PM] Germany has no UN, EU or NATO mandate to join Iran war: Friedrich Merz

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday ​that Germany would not ‌participate in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

“We lack the mandate ​from the United Nations, ​the European Union or NATO ⁠required under the Basic ​Law. It was therefore clear ​from the outset that this war is not a matter for ​NATO,” Merz said at ​a news conference in Berlin.

“The United States ‌of ⁠America and Israel did not consult us prior to this war either. As ​for Iran, ​there ⁠has never been a joint decision on ​the ‘whether’ of the matter. ​That ⁠is why the question of how Germany might become ⁠militarily ​involved here ​does not arise,” he added.

[08:20 PM] Iran asks India to return three seized tankers 

Iran has asked India to release three tankers seized in February as part of talks ​seeking the safe passage of Indian‑flagged or India‑bound vessels out of the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, three sources ‌with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Indian authorities seized the three Iran‑linked tankers near Indian waters, alleging they had concealed or altered their identities and were involved in illegal ship‑to‑ship transfers at sea.

Tehran has also sought supplies of certain medicines and medical equipment, according to one of the sources, an Iranian official.

Iran’s ambassador to ​New Delhi met Indian foreign ministry officials on Monday to discuss the issue, the source said.

The sources declined to be named ​due to the sensitivity of the matter.

[05:39 PM] UK’S Starmer rules out joining wider Iran war

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday Britain would not be drawn into a wider war in Iran ‌but would work with allies on a “viable collective plan” to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz, though he acknowledged that would not be a simple task.

U.S. President Donald Trump has heavily criticised Keir Starmer for not initially supporting the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, and ​said at the weekend that Britain, China, France, Japan and South Korea should send warships to the ​region to reopen the waterway.

Starmer told a press conference that reopening the strait was the ⁠only way to stabilise energy markets, and that he was talking to allies in Europe, the Gulf and ​the U.S. on a plan to secure freedom of navigation. He said it would not be a NATO-led ​mission.

[5:21 PM] Italy backs diplomacy for Hormuz crisis, rules out naval missions

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has stated that diplomacy is the proper approach to resolving the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Italy’s current naval missions will not be extended to the area.

“As far as Hormuz is concerned, I believe diplomacy needs to prevail,” Tajani told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting in Brussels.

He clarified that while Italy participates in defensive naval missions in the Red Sea, he does not foresee any of these operations expanding into the Hormuz Strait.

Tajani’s remarks come as US President Donald Trump demanded allies join a military mission to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, issuing threats to NATO if they refuse.

[05:05 PM] Qatar: Israel violating Lebanon sovereignty and committing Gaza crimes

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, has stated that the current escalation amid the ongoing war “will not bring peace or security.”

Speaking at a news conference in Doha, al-Ansari stated that Israel is fueling a “continued circle of escalation.”

He noted that Israel is violating Lebanon’s sovereignty daily and continuing to perpetrate crimes in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, al-Ansari added that Israel is taking advantage of the volatile situation in the occupied West Bank, citing ongoing assaults and attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

[3:36 PM] Iran thanks Pakistan for solidarity against US-Israeli aggression

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Monday expressed gratitude to the government and people of Pakistan for showing solidarity with Iran in the face of aggression by the United States and Israel.

In a message on X, Araghchi said, “On these blessed, divine, and spiritual moments of Ramadan, I sincerely thank the government and people of Pakistan for expressing full support and solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran against US and Israeli aggression.”

Earlier, Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah said Pakistan’s leadership is in close contact with Muslim countries regarding the evolving regional situation. Speaking to a private TV channel, he mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and also visited Saudi Arabia as part of diplomatic engagements.

ان بابرکت، الٰہی اور روحانی دنوں اور گھڑیوں میں،
میں حکومت اور عوامِ پاکستان کا تہہِ دل سے شکریہ ادا کرتا ہوں کہ انہوں نے امریکہ اور صہیونی رجیم کی جارحیت کے مقابلے میں عوام اور حکومتِ اسلامی جمہوریہ ایران کے ساتھ اپنی یکجہتی اور حمایت کا بھرپور اظہار کیا۔

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 16, 2026

[3:23 PM] Iran says it never trusted the US in negotiations

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has stated that the country never trusted the United States during negotiations.

Baghaei noted that the talks were conducted “with our eyes wide open” and with an absolute distrust of the opposing side. He added that Iran has demonstrated it does not hesitate to engage in negotiations, despite what he described as US crimes being a stain on history.

[3:20 PM] Iran criticises Australia over footballers’ security

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has criticised Australia over what he described as deceit and hypocrisy related to Iranian footballers.

Baghaei stated that Iran was proud of its female players for not succumbing to what he called Australia’s actions. He added that the World Cup host had apparently been unable to ensure the security of Iranian footballers at the tournament.

This comes after two more Iranian female footballers and a member of their support staff reportedly withdrew requests for asylum in Australia. The asylum requests were initially granted over fears that the individuals might be punished upon returning home after the team refused to sing Iran’s national anthem at the Asian Cup tournament.

[03:15 PM] Iran warns Strait of Hormuz cannot be used to strike country

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to any nation attempting to launch strikes against Iran.

He stated that maritime traffic through the strait will now operate under special conditions, citing regional insecurity caused by Israel and the United States. Baghaei emphasized that Iran’s armed forces maintain full control over the passage, ensuring no country can utilize it for military offenses.

As a coastal state, Iran asserts its right to implement necessary measures within the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard its national security and prevent aggressors from exploiting the waterway.

While maintaining that Iran has historically safeguarded secure transit through the strait, Baghaei held the US and Israel directly responsible for instigating the current conditions.

[10:50 AM] UAE says air defence systems intercepting Iranian missiles and drones

The United Arab Emirates’ air defence systems were intercepting Iranian missiles and drones on Monday, the Gulf nation’s defence ministry said.

“UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran,” the UAE Ministry of Defence posted on X.

Earlier, Dubai authorities said a “drone-related incident” had sparked a fire near the airport and flights had been temporarily suspended.

[10:52 AM] Saudi Arabia has intercepted more than 60 drones since midnight: defence ministry 

Saudi Arabia has intercepted more than 60 drones since midnight, according to a tally of defence ministry figures released on Monday.

The Saudi defence ministry posted a series of statements on X describing the interception of a total of 61 drones in the east of the country in the early hours of Monday morning.

[05:21 PM] Norway PM says US-Israel plan for Iran war remains unclear

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has expressed concern that the war in Iran is escalating, stating that the U.S.-Israeli strategy for the ongoing military campaign remains unclear.

In his remarks, Gahr Store also confirmed that no nuclear weapons would be stationed in Norway. The Norwegian government has strongly criticized Israel’s “preemptive” attacks on Iran, which initiated the current conflict, stating the strikes violated international law and labeling Israel an “aggressive nation.”

Furthermore, Norway has warned that the expanding U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is severely undermining broader regional stability.

[05:14 PM] Netanyahu requests call with Zelensky to discuss acquiring Ukrainian interceptors

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the potential acquisition of Ukrainian interceptors.

According to a report by the Israeli news outlet Ynet, the conversation between the two leaders is scheduled to take place next week. The diplomatic outreach highlights Israel’s ongoing efforts to bolster its aerial defense capabilities amid the escalating regional conflict.

[05:02 PM] IRGC denies role in Saudi drone strikes amid escalating regional war

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has strongly denied any involvement in recent drone strikes targeting Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, and its Eastern Province.

In a Sunday statement, the IRGC distanced itself from the attacks—which reportedly involved ten intercepted drones—and urged Saudi authorities to investigate their true origin. Meanwhile, Iran’s Fars news agency cited an unnamed source claiming the United Arab Emirates was actually behind the strikes.

The incident further escalates tensions around the strategic Strait of Hormuz amid the broader U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. The conflict, sparked on February 28 by the assassination of top Iranian leaders, has seen Tehran launch continuous retaliatory strikes across the region.

[4:56 PM] Israel approves emergency military funding as war with Iran rages

Israel has approved an $827 million emergency budget allocation for military purchases as the U.S.-Israel war on Iran enters its third week.

The 2.6-billion-shekel package was approved over the weekend by cabinet ministers during a telephone meeting, according to the Haaretz daily. The funds will be utilized for “security purchases” and to address “urgent needs” without providing further specifics.

A Finance Ministry document circulated to all ministers cited the “intensity of the fighting” as the primary reason for the additional budget allocation. The document outlined an urgent need to provide an operational response, which includes acquiring munitions, procuring advanced weapons systems, and replenishing critical combat stocks. It further described the move as an “exceptional emergency decision intended solely to address needs arising from the conduct of the fighting.”

According to reports, the funds will be drawn from the $222 billion state budget approved by the government on March 12, which is expected to be officially adopted by the Knesset by March 31.

[4:38 PM]  Zelenskyy hopes US war with Iran will not cost Ukraine support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told journalists that Ukraine does not want to lose U.S. backing for its war against Russia due to Washington’s ongoing conflict with Iran.

“We don’t want to lose the Americans,” while they are “without a doubt currently preoccupied with the Middle East,” the Ukrainian leader stated Saturday in comments that were held under embargo until today.

He added that Kyiv is showing its willingness to assist the U.S. and its allies by offering to share Ukraine’s extensive drone expertise. “We strongly hope that as a result of the Middle East, the United States will not turn its back on the question of the war in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

[04:25 PM] Ali Larijani warns of US plot for 9/11 false flag

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned Sunday on X of a “false flag” conspiracy to stage a 9/11-style attack and blame Iran. Larijani claimed remnants of the “Epstein network” are behind the plot, stressing that Iran opposes terrorism and has no quarrel with the American people despite defending itself against ongoing U.S. and Israeli aggression.

The warning follows the IRGC’s firm denial of involvement in recent drone strikes in Saudi Arabia. Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, suggest the U.S. and Israel might be using copied “Shahed” drones to attack Arab nations and frame Tehran to sabotage regional diplomacy.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei also dismissed U.S. intelligence about potential Iranian strikes off the California coast, sarcastically calling it another false flag setup since the U.S. already possesses copied Iranian drones.

[ 10: 22 AM] Israel is running critically low on interceptors, reports Semafor

اسرائیلی حکام نے انٹرسیپٹرز کی شدید کمی سے متعلق امریکا کو آگاہ کردیا، امریکی میڈیا#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/E9noFMPHdT

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 14, 2026

[ 09: 42 AM] UAE rejects Iran’s claim US strike on Kharg Island launched from its territory

The United Arab Emirates hit back at Iran over accusations that a US strike on Kharg Island — an oil hub handling about 90% of Iran’s exports — originated from the Gulf state, saying Tehran’s policy was confused and lacked wisdom.

In a post on X, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said the country had the right to defend itself but “continues to prioritise reason and logic.”

متحدہ عرب امارات نے ایران کا الزام مسترد کر دیا
خرگ پر حملہ میں اماراتی سر زمین استعمال نہیں ہوئی، حکام#ARYNews #Iran pic.twitter.com/U3jtVe1aBt

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 15, 2026

[09: 03 AM] IRGC vows to ‘pursue and kill’ Israeli PM Netanyahu

[05:03 PM] Yemen’s Ansarallah Ready to Join Conflict in Support of Iran

A senior official from Yemen’s Ansarallah resistance movement has confirmed that the country is fully coordinating with Iran and its allies in response to the ongoing aggression from Israel and the United States.

In a Saturday interview, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of Ansarallah’s political bureau, stated that Yemen’s military involvement is “only a matter of time.” Echoing movement leader Sayyed Abdulmalik al-Houthi, al-Bukhaiti declared, “Our hands are on the trigger,” emphasizing a state of readiness to intervene whenever circumstances require.

Al-Bukhaiti firmly defended Tehran’s retaliatory strikes against American military assets and urgently called on regional countries to unite against the U.S. and Israel. He issued a stern warning to Persian Gulf nations about Washington’s true intentions, asserting the U.S. aims to “entangle them in wars against Iran.”

The conflict, which began on February 28 following the assassination of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking commanders, has now entered its 15th day with no resolution in sight. In retaliation, Iranian armed forces have carried out more than 45 waves of Operation True Promise 4, targeting Israeli military sites and U.S. bases across the region.

[03: 15 PM] US ‘hideouts’ in UAE ‘legitimate targets’ after island attacks: IRGC

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has issued a warning to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a US strike on Iran’s Kharg island, declaring that US “hideouts” within the UAE are “legitimate targets.”

In a statement circulated by Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency, the IRGC asserted its “legitimate right to defend its national sovereignty and territory by hitting and targeting the origin of the American enemy missiles in shipping ports, docks, and hideouts of American soldiers sheltered in some cities in the UAE.”

Furthermore, the IRGC strongly advised UAE residents and those in population centers near ports, docks, and US military areas to evacuate to avoid potential harm.

[02: 59 PM] Keisuke Honda claims US company axed deal over Iran World Cup support amid controversy

Former Japan international Keisuke Honda has publicly criticized a US company, claiming it withdrew an advertising deal due to his support for Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling the move politically motivated.

The controversy surrounds Iran’s potential involvement in the tournament. US President Donald Trump initially signaled that Iran’s team was welcome but later expressed reservations, suggesting their attendance might be “not appropriate” for safety reasons amidst the ongoing conflict.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials have indicated the country might not participate. Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali stated that under the current conditions, following the US-Israeli attacks, participation is impossible. FIFA has not yet issued a final ruling on the matter.

I know it’s very sensitive thing but I personally want them participate the World Cup https://t.co/MxO2K4OPLl

— Keisuke Honda (@kskgroup2017) March 12, 2026

[01: 40 PM] At least 112 people killed in Iran’s Kurdistan: Official

US-Israel attacks on Iran’s Kurdistan province have resulted in at least 112 deaths and 969 injuries so far, according to an unnamed local official cited by the Tasnim news agency.

The Head of the Kurdistan Provincial Emergency Department, who provided these figures, also noted that 27 people are currently hospitalized in standard wards, with an additional five receiving treatment in intensive care units.

[01: 30 PM] Iran reports widespread damage to 56 cultural sites from US-Israeli attacks

The Iranian Culture Ministry reports that US-Israeli attacks since the start of the war have inflicted “serious structural damage” on at least 56 of Iran’s cultural sites, which include museums and historic monuments.

According to a statement carried by the ISNA news agency, Tehran province is the most affected region, with 19 damaged monuments. Iran’s Kurdistan province also suffered significant damage, with 12 prominent monuments reported harmed.

[06: 25 PM] Trump says US will hit Iran ‘very hard’

President Donald Trump said the U.S. was going to be hitting Iran “very hard ​over the next week”, shortly after issuing a partial 30-day waiver for purchases of sanctioned Russian oil, hoping to ease prices fuelled by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

Prices have been whipsawing ‌on Trump’s comments about the likely duration of the war, which has prompted Iran to attack vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil.

Trump has previously said the war is “complete”, and also promised to guarantee the safety of vessels in the Strait. In a Fox News interview aired on Friday, Trump said the U.S. would escort shipping there “if we needed to”.

Benchmark Brent crude eased about 1% to around $99.50 in European trading, still up almost 40% since the start of the war, ​with European and Asian shares under pressure.

[05:35 PM] No evidence Iran has mined Strait of Hormuz, Pentagon’s Hegseth says

There is no ​clear evidence that Iran has placed ‌mines in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a ​news briefing on Friday.

The assessment ​by Hegseth contrasts with news reports ⁠earlier this week suggesting Iran ​had deployed about a dozen mines ​in the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil.

Asked ​about the possibility of mines in ​the Strait, Hegseth said: “We’ve heard them talk ‌about ⁠it just like you’ve reported recklessly and wildly about it. But … we have no clear evidence of that.”

Hegseth’s ​comments come ​as ⁠the United States and other countries face spiking oil ​and gas prices with the ​U.S-Israel ⁠war entering its 14th day, with oil prices hovering near $100 a barrel ⁠on ​Friday.

[09: 50AM] Iraqi group claims responsibility for downing US military aircraft

The Islamic Resistance ​in Iraq, ‌an umbrella group of ​’Iran-backed ​factions’, claimed ⁠responsibility for ​downing a US ​military refueling aircraft in western ​Iraq ​on Thursday.

The group said ‌in ⁠a statement it had shot ​down ​the ⁠KC-135 aircraft “in ​defense of ​our ⁠country’s sovereignty and ⁠airspace”.

[09: 10 AM] President Macron confirms first death of French soldier in Middle East war

A French soldier has been killed in an attack in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, President Macron said Friday, confirming the first French military death in the Middle East war, according to AFP.

A French soldier has been killed in an attack in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, President Macron said Friday, confirming the first French military death in the Middle East warhttps://t.co/OiGBl4wkkP pic.twitter.com/mLpaVVucU7

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 13, 2026

[08: 35 AM] USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier sustained heavy damage, claims IRGC

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps say USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier sustained heavy damage after being targeted with missiles and drones, Anadolu News agency reported on Friday. 

#BREAKING Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps say USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier sustained heavy damage after being targeted with missiles and drones pic.twitter.com/GnTdUDqNBA

— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) March 12, 2026

[08: 10 AM] US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq

A US military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident US Central Command ​said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or ‌friendly fire.

The United States has deployed a large number of aircraft into the Middle East to take part in operations against Iran and the incident highlights the risk of operations, even ​over friendly skies.

In a statement, US Central Command said it was carrying out ​rescue efforts after the US KC-135 refueling aircraft went down. The ⁠second aircraft landed safely.

امریکی کے سی 135 ری فیولنگ طیارہ عراق میں گر کر تباہ#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/2QGmMxPqfi

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 12, 2026

[10:00 PM] Khamenei pledges retaliation, Strait of Hormuz to stay shut

Iran will fight on and keep the Strait of Hormuz shut, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday in a statement read out on state television, the first remarks attributed to him ​since he succeeded his slain father.

In a defiant address, Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran’s neighbours should close all U.S. bases on their territory, which Iran would continue to attack.

“I assure everyone that we will not neglect avenging ‌the blood of your martyrs,” he told the Iranian people.

“The popular demand is to continue our effective defence and make the enemy regret! The lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must continue to be used,” he said of the shipping route, where a fifth of global oil normally runs past Iran’s coast.

[09:30  PM] Iran war cost at over $11 billion in six days

Officials from ​President Donald Trump’s administration estimated during a congressional briefing this week that the ‌first six days of the war on Iran had cost the United States at least $11.3 billion, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

That figure, from a closed-door briefing for senators on Tuesday, ​did not include the entire cost of the war, but was provided to ​lawmakers as they have clamored for more information about the conflict.

Several ⁠congressional aides have said they expect the White House to soon submit a request ​to Congress for additional funding for the war.

Some officials have said the request ​could be for $50 billion, while others have said that estimate seems low. The administration has not provided a public assessment of the cost of the conflict or a clear idea of its expected duration. ​

[3:58 PM] Russia to deliver over 13 tonnes of medical aid to Iran via Azerbaijan

Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) has announced that an Il-76 transport aircraft will deliver more than 13 tonnes of first aid and medical supplies for the people of Iran.

The humanitarian aid will initially be transported to Azerbaijan, where it will then be officially handed over to authorized Iranian representatives.

Russia’s EMERCOM:

An Il-76 aircraft will deliver 13+ tonnes of first aid & medical supplies for the people of Iran.

The humanitarian aid will be first transported to Azerbaijan, where it will be delivered to the authorized representatives of Iran.#RussiaHelps pic.twitter.com/DzcfQRTazz

— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) March 12, 2026

[03:42 PM]  Israel’s defense minister threatens to “take Lebanese territory” if Hezbollah attacks continue

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has issued a stark ultimatum to the Lebanese government: stop Hezbollah from launching attacks into northern Israel, or the Israeli military will invade and “do it ourselves.”

According to The Times of Israel, Katz referenced recent escalations, stating, “Hezbollah launched heavy barrages toward the State of Israel yesterday.”

He further emphasized his direct warning to the Lebanese president, declaring that if the government “does not know how to control the territory and prevent Hezbollah from threatening the northern communities and firing at Israel, we will take the territory and do it ourselves.”

[03:13 PM]  Twelve Tehran medical centers, including Gandhi Hospital, damaged in strikes

Twelve medical centers in Tehran, including emergency facilities, have been damaged in US-Israeli strikes, according to Governor General Mohammad-Sadegh Motamedian. Speaking to the Mehr News Agency, Motamedian confirmed that patients were quickly evacuated to other hospitals, ensuring that medical services in the capital continue uninterrupted. He strongly condemned the attacks, stating, “Targeting residential areas, medical centers, and service infrastructure in Tehran is a clear violation of international rules and protocols.”

Among the facilities hit was the prominent Gandhi Hospital, which suffered significant damage. State media and hospital officials report that the hospital’s in vitro fertilization (IVF) department was completely destroyed, leading to severe disruptions in critical services.

[02:24 PM] Iran condemns German FM for “siding with the aggressor”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has strongly criticized German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, accusing him of “siding with the aggressor” following Wadephul’s recent expressions of solidarity with Israel.

In a statement posted to X, Baqaei pointed to the civilian toll of the conflict, writing, “It is the Israeli regime that has attacked Iran and killed Iranian civilians – including 168 innocent children in Minab alone.” Condemning the German official’s diplomatic stance, Baqaei added, “This is how one ends up on the wrong side of history: by overlooking injustice and atrocities.”

#Germany‘s FM! You’re siding with the aggressor while ignoring the fact that it is the Israeli regime that has attacked Iran and killed Iranian civilians — including 168 innocent children in the city of #Minab alone.

This is how one ends up on the wrong side of history: by… pic.twitter.com/FiAohQs9BX

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) March 11, 2026

[02: 03 PM] Israeli air attacks hit towns in southern Lebanon

[09: 35 AM] Iran launches 40th wave of strikes under ‘Operation True Promise 4’

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced the 40th wave of attacks as part of Operation True Promise 4.

According to the IRGC, the latest wave of strikes has been named “Ya Amir al-Mumineen.” Officials said the attacks were carried out using Qadr, Emad, Kheibar Shekan and Fattah missiles against designated targets.

The statement added that the strikes targeted locations in Tel Aviv, Haifa, as well as US bases in the region, and were conducted in coordination with allied resistance forces.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said its defence systems had been activated and urged civilians to remain in shelters.

[08: 59 AM] G7 considers security squadron to protect shipping in the Gulf

Leaders of the Group of Seven are considering the formation of a naval security squadron to safeguard commercial vessels operating in the Gulf.

G7 members agreed to review options for providing security to ships amid rising regional tensions, emphasising the need to ensure the free flow of maritime traffic through key sea routes.

The bloc has also decided to establish a task force aimed at protecting merchant shipping. As part of the initiative, consultations will be held with international shipping and insurance companies to assess risks and coordinate security measures.

[08: 45 AM] Saudi, Turkish defence ministers discuss regional security 

Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman held a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart to discuss the evolving security situation in the region.

During the call, the two leaders condemned Iran’s attacks on Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region. They also exchanged views on the impact of the escalating tensions on regional stability, national security and overall security conditions.

The Saudi defence minister reaffirmed the Kingdom’s determination to take all necessary measures to safeguard its national security and stability.

سعودی وزیر دفاع خالد بن سلمان کا ترک ہم منصب سے ٹیلیفونک رابطہ#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/IZOf2Z2TMX

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 12, 2026

[08: 30 AM] Pentagon says first six days of war cost $11.3bn: Report

[08: 10 AM] Trump on Iran: We won, but don’t want to leave early

President Donald Trump said on ‌Wednesday that “we won” the Iran war but that the United States will stay in ​the fight to finish the ​job.

“You never like to say too ⁠early you won. We won,” ​Trump told a campaign-style rally in Hebron, Kentucky. “In ​the first hour it was over.”

He said the United States had knocked out 58 ​Iranian naval ships.

Trump has seesawed ​on Iran, crediting the U.S. military for significantly ‌degrading ⁠Iran’s military but resisting a speedy end to the conflict.

“We don’t want to leave early do we?” Trump ​said. “We ​got to ⁠finish the job.”

“ایران کے خلاف جنگ جیت چکے ، لیکن جلد نکلنا نہیں چاہتے”، صدر ٹرمپ#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/gKbsAzdQkU

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 12, 2026

[08:00 PM] Oil prices could reach $200 a barrel

Iran’s military command said on Wednesday the world should be prepared for oil to hit $200 a barrel, as three more ships came under attack in the blockaded Gulf.

Iran fired at Israel and targets across the Middle East on Wednesday, demonstrating it can still fight back ​and disrupt energy supplies despite what the Pentagon has described as the most intense U.S.-Israeli strikes yet.

Oil prices that shot up earlier this week have eased and stock markets have rebounded, with investors betting ‌for now that U.S. President Donald Trump will find a quick way to end the war he began alongside Israel nearly two weeks ago.

But so far there has been no let-up on the ground, or any sign that ships can safely sail through the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil has been blockaded behind a narrow channel along the Iranian coast in the worst disruption to energy supplies since the oil shocks of the 1970s.

“Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security which you ​have destabilised,” Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s military command, said in comments addressed to the United States.

[05:00 AM] Will target US-Israeli economic, banking interests in region

Iran will target economic and banking ​interests linked to the U.S. ‌and Israel in the region, after an attack on an Iranian bank, a ​spokesperson for Tehran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters said ​on Wednesday.

An administrative building linked to ⁠Bank Sepah, one of the ​country’s largest public banks and ​with historical links to the military, was hit overnight in Tehran, according to the ​semi-official Mehr news agency.

“Following their ​failed campaign, the terrorist U.S. army and ‌cruel ⁠Zionist regime (Israel) have targeted one of the country’s banks,” state media quoted Ebrahim Zolfaqari as saying.

“With ​this illegitimate ​and uncommon ⁠action, the enemy is forcing our hand to ​target economic centres and banks ​linked ⁠to the U.S. and Zionist regime in the region,” he added.

The spokesperson ⁠warned ​people of the ​region to stay 1,000 metres away from banks.

[11: 52 AM] Iran’s new supreme leader ‘safe and sound’ despite war injury reports: president’s son

Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “safe and sound” despite reports of an injury during the war with Israel and the United States, said the son of the Iranian president on Wednesday.

“I heard news that Mr Mojtaba Khamenei had been injured. I have asked some friends who had connections. They told me that, thank God, he is safe and sound,” said Yousef Pezeshkian, who is also a government adviser, in a post on his Telegram channel.

State television had called Khamenei a “wounded veteran of the Ramadan war” but never specified his injury.

[10: 45 AM] White House spokeswoman admits around 150 US troops wounded in Iran war

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has admitted that about 150 American troops have been wounded in the war with Iran.

As the conflict entered its 11th day, Leavitt acknowledged the new figure while updating reporters at the White House on Tuesday.

“I can’t confirm the exact number. I know it’s within that ballpark, but I would defer you to the Pentagon for a specific number,” she said.

BREAKING — White House Confirmed Around 150 US Casualties in Iran War. pic.twitter.com/xZj0W5R5sP

— ✦✦✦ 𝙿𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚑𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚜 ✦✦✦ (@PamphletsY) March 10, 2026

[09: 50 AM] China’s special envoy visits UAE amid Middle East conflict

China’s special envoy visited the United Arab Emirates for talks with senior officials as regional tensions continue in the Middle East.

During the visit, the envoy met with the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Both sides discussed the strategic partnership between the UAE and China and explored ways to expand bilateral cooperation.

Sheikh Abdullah briefed the Chinese representative on what he described as unprovoked missile attacks by Iran. The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening peace, security and stability in the region.

The UAE deputy prime minister emphasised the importance of diplomatic solutions to resolve tensions and praised China’s efforts to promote peace and stability.

Also present at the meeting were UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy and Minister of State Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri

مشرق وسطی جنگ، چین کے خصوصی نمائندے کا متحدہ عرب امارات کا دورہ#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/CuBX7TfyIy

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 10, 2026

[09: 16 AM] Kuwaiti air defences shoot down drones after attack

Kuwait has reported a drone attack, according to a statement from the Kuwaiti Armed Forces.

Military officials said air defence systems successfully shot down four drones during the incident.

According to the Kuwaiti military, one of the attacking drones fell outside residential areas. The explosions heard in the area were the result of air defence operations intercepting the drones

بغداد ایئر پورٹ کے قریب امریکی سفارت خانے پر ڈرون حملہ#ARYNews #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/EWVmFp5KF2

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 11, 2026

[08: 55 AM] US Navy has not escorted any oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz yet, says White House

The White House has said that the United States Navy has not escorted any oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz so far.

During a press briefing, a spokesperson for the White House was asked why Chris Wright had deleted a social media post related to the issue. The spokesperson said the administration was aware that the energy secretary had removed the post shortly after publishing it but added that there had not yet been an opportunity to discuss the matter with him.

BREAKING: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the US Navy had not escorted any vessel through the Strait of Hormuz, disputing Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s claim the US navy escorted an oil tanker.

LIVE updates: https://t.co/1a0pGLebHo pic.twitter.com/49Ku54N4eG

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 10, 2026

The spokesperson reiterated that no oil tanker has been escorted through the Strait of Hormuz by the US Navy at this stage.

She also noted that Donald Trump had earlier said the United States could assist tankers passing through the strait if necessary.

[08: 32 AM) Qatar calls for Iranian attacks to stop ‘immediately’

[10:00 PM] Moscow denies reports of providing Iran locations of U.S. forces

Russia has denied sharing ​intelligence with Iran on U.S. military ‌assets in the Middle East, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday in a CNBC ​interview.

Witkoff said the denial came during ​a phone call that U.S. President Donald ⁠Trump had with Russian President Vladimir ​Putin on Monday.

The Washington Post reported on ​Friday that Russia was providing Iran with targeting information that included locations of U.S. warships and aircraft ​in the Middle East.

“Yesterday on the call ​with the president, the Russians said that they have ‌not ⁠been sharing,” Witkoff said when asked if Washington thought Russia had shared with Tehran intelligence about the location of U.S. military ​assets.

“We can ​take them ⁠at their word. But they did say that. And yesterday ​morning, independently, Jared (Kushner) and I had ​a ⁠call with (Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri) Ushakov who reiterated the same,” said Witkoff.

He added: “That’s a ⁠better ​question for the intel ​people, but let’s hope that they’re not sharing.”

[08:10 PM] Trump administration estimates cost of Iran war’s first two days

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration said it used $5.6 billion in munitions during the ​first two days of strikes against ‌Iran in a report provided to U.S. congressional committees, a source familiar with the information said on Tuesday.

Members ​of Congress, who may soon have ​to approve additional funding for the war, ⁠have expressed concern that the Iran conflict will deplete ​U.S. military stocks at a time when the ​defense industry was already struggling to keep up with demand.

Trump met executives from seven defense contractors on Friday as ​the Pentagon worked to replenish supplies.

The administration ​has not provided a public assessment of the cost of ‌the ⁠conflict it launched against Iran on Feb. 28 along with ally Israel.

Members of Congress have clamored for more information, including public testimony from officials about ​issues including ​how the ⁠conflict might affect the U.S. military’s readiness to defend the country.

Several ​congressional aides have said they expect ​the ⁠White House to soon submit a request to Congress for additional funding for the war. Some ⁠officials ​have said the request could ​be for $50 billion, but others have said that estimate seems ​low.

[04:43 PM] Iran FM Spokesperson condemns “hypocrisy” regarding Women’s football team

Esmaeil Baqaei, Spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has issued a sharp rebuke on X following reports of international attempts to “save” Iranian athletes.

Baqaei cited the recent “double-tap Tomahawk attack” in Minab, which he stated killed more than 165 schoolgirls, as evidence of “staggering” audacity and hypocrisy from those now claiming to offer refuge. Addressing the Iranian Women’s football team directly, Baqaei wrote, “Don’t worry—Iran awaits you with open arms. Come home”.

They slaughtered more than 165 innocent Iranian schoolgirls in a double-tap Tomahawk attack in the city of Minab, and now they want to take our athletes hostage in the name of “saving” them?

The audacity and hypocrisy are staggering.

To Iran’s Women’s football team: don’t… pic.twitter.com/MhO3VRf2cY

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) March 10, 2026

[04:36 PM] Larijani dismisses Trump’s “hollow” threats; warns aggressors of their own “vanishing”

Iranian official Ali Larijani has issued a defiant response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest escalation of rhetoric regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Responding to Trump’s post—in which the President threatened to hit Iran “TWENTY TIMES HARDER” and warned that “Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them”—Larijani characterized the statements as ineffective.

In a post on X, Larijani stated, “The Ashura-loving Iranian people do not fear your hollow threats; for those greater than you have failed to erase it…”.

He concluded with a counter-warning to the U.S. administration, stating, “So beware lest you be the ones to vanish”. This exchange follows Trump’s vow to target Iranian infrastructure to make it “virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back as a Nation” if the flow of oil is obstructed.

الشعب الإيراني العاشورائي لا يخشى تهديداتكم الجوفاء؛
فقد عجز الأكبر منكم عن محوه…
فاحذروا أن تكونوا أنتم من يزول. pic.twitter.com/dmxd4kKTmi

— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 10, 2026

[04:25 PM] IRGC claims destruction of 10 US radar systems, says Iran will “determine end of war”

The spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, stated today that Iranian forces have destroyed 10 “highly advanced” US radar systems in the Persian Gulf, including four THAAD units.

Naeini addressed US authorities, claiming their ammunition stockpiles are running out and that President Trump is “confused and frustrated” by the waves of “Operation True Promise 4.”

While President Trump recently characterized the conflict as a “short-term excursion,” the IRGC maintains that Iran is more powerful than in the early days of the war, utilizing warheads weighing more than a ton to target US and Israeli bases.

Naeini emphasized that the “equations of the region” are now in the hands of Iran’s armed forces and that Tehran, not Washington, will determine when the conflict ends.

[04:21 PM] Israel intercepts Iranian drones and missiles over southern Syria

Israeli air defenses have intercepted an Iranian drone near the village of Jleen in southern Syria, according to Syrian media reports. Additionally, Iranian missiles were reportedly intercepted over Quneitra province.

These incidents follow a pattern of increased activity in the region this week; on March 6, an Iranian drone was destroyed over Al-Hara in Daraa, and another was intercepted a day earlier in the city of Inkhil.

[3:45 PM]  Iran defends regional strikes as “legitimate self-defense” in letters to UN

Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations has submitted three letters to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, defending its recent retaliatory strikes on US bases as legitimate acts of self-defense under international law.

Addressing complaints from Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani stated that the US-Israeli military actions—which he noted have killed over 1,300 civilians and included the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—warranted a proportionate response.

Iravani argued that nations allowing their territories to be used as launch pads for these assaults bear international legal responsibility. However, he emphasized that Iran’s counterstrikes do not target the sovereignty of the host nations and that Tehran remains committed to maintaining normal, good-neighborly relations in the region.

[03:41 PM] Strikes continue across Iran as Tehran rejects possibility of talks

Explosions have been heard in the eastern part of Tehran over the past couple of hours, with additional reports of attacks across the country, including in the cities of Isfahan, Tabriz, and Ahvaz.

While the death toll remains unclear, concern is rapidly growing. According to statements emerging from Tehran, the official line is that retaliatory strikes will continue for as long as needed.

Iranian officials state they are prepared for a prolonged war of attrition and that a ceasefire is not possible at this stage.

[03:11 PM] Nine hospitals in Iran no longer functional, official says

[02:49 PM] Israel launches air strikes on southern Lebanon

Israel has launched a series of air strikes across southern Lebanon, according to reports from the Israeli military, Lebanese state media, and journalists on the ground.

Strikes hit the town of Qabrikha, while Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes also targeted the towns of Deir Siryan and Taybeh.

Additionally, the Israeli military confirmed it launched strikes near Ansariyeh, stating that the attack targeted a Hezbollah headquarters in an area from which rockets had recently been fired toward Israel.

[02:47 PM] Closure of Iraqi airspace extended for 72 hours

The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority has announced a 72-hour extension of the closure of the country’s airspace to all arriving, departing, and overflying aircraft. This “temporary precautionary measure” began today at noon (09:00 GMT) and will remain in effect until the same time on Friday.

The authority stated that the decision is based on an “ongoing assessment of the security situation and regional developments” and will be continuously reviewed as new updates emerge.

[09: 50 AM] Oil falls over 6pc as Trump predicts Middle East de-escalation

Oil ‌prices fell on Tuesday after hitting their highest level in more than three years in the prior session as U.S. President Donald Trump predicted the war in the Middle East could end soon, easing concerns about prolonged disruptions to global oil supplies.

Brent futures ​fell $6.51, or 6.6%, to $92.45 a barrel at 0018 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was ​down $6.12, or 6.5%, to $88.65.

Oil prices surged past $100 a barrel on Monday, hitting session highs ⁠of $119.50 for Brent and $119.48 for WTI, their highest since mid-2022, as supply cuts by Saudi Arabia and other ​producers during the expanding US-Israeli war with Iran stoked fears of major disruptions to global supplies.

عالمی منڈی میں خام تیل کی قیمتوں میں نمایاں کمی#ARYNews #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/JvlJL95cWC

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 10, 2026

[10: 22 AM] US orders diplomats out of Saudi Arabia

امریکا نے سعودی عرب میں سفارتی مشن کے عملے کو ملک چھوڑنے کا حکم دے دیا#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/a01GhoSruQ

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 8, 2026

[09 : 10 AM]: Two more US soldiers killed in Iran war, death toll rises to 8: CENTCOM

Two more US soldiers have been killed in the retaliatory strikes of Iran. Death toll has jumped to eight so far, confirmed US CENTCOM.

ایرانی حملوں میں ٢ اور امریکی فوجی ہلاک ہو گئے ، سینٹ کام#ARYnews #BreakingNews #Iran #USA pic.twitter.com/ZfiJvuaKFR

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 9, 2026

[ 08-10 AM ] Revolutionary Guards swear allegiance to new supreme leader

[03:50 A.M] Iran defies Trump, elevates Khamenei’s son Mojtaba as Supreme Leader

Iran’s clerical leadership appointed Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, a move regional officials say is a direct rebuke to U.S. President Donald Trump, who had declared the son “unacceptable”.

[10:50] At least 104 killed in US attack on Iranian warship last week

The Iranian army said on ​Sunday that at ‌least 104 people were killed and 32 ​were wounded ​in an attack by ⁠the U.S. on ​an Iranian warship ​off Sri Lanka’s coast last week.

A U.S. submarine sank ​the frigate Dena ​in the Indian Ocean ‌about ⁠19 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s southern port city ​of Galle ​on ⁠Wednesday, killing dozens of ​sailors and dramatically ​widening ⁠Washington’s pursuit of the Iranian navy.

[06:20]  Iran’s Assembly of Experts moves toward selecting next supreme leader

The clerical ​body that will choose Iran’s next supreme leader, succeeding the slain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has more or less reached a ‌majority consensus, Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri said on Sunday.

The Mehr news agency quoted him as saying “some obstacles” still needed to be resolved regarding the process.

On Saturday, a senior cleric in the Assembly of Experts said its members would meet “within one day” to choose the leader.

[04:44 PM] At least 394, including 83 children, killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon: Health Ministry

[04:42 PM] IRGC Aerospace Force to intensify offensive operations tonight

An informed official told Fars News that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force will significantly increase its operational capabilities starting tonight.

According to the official, the IRGC will boost the volume of its drone operations by up to 20% in order to “counter the savagery of Trump and the White House.”

Furthermore, the deployment of ultra-heavy and strategic missiles is set to double, marking a 100% increase in their use.

[03:45 PM] Iranian President Pezeshkian visits airstrike victims in hospitals

Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian visited several hospitals today to meet with wounded victims of the recent US and Israeli airstrikes. Pezeshkian, who previously served as a combat physician during the Iran–Iraq War, was seen personally supervising the medical services and care being provided to the victims.

[03:38 PM] At least six killed in attack on oil depot in Iran’s Karaj city

The US-Israeli attack on the Fardis oil depot in the city of Karaj, Alborz province, has killed at least six people and injured 21 others. The Tasnim news agency, quoting a local security official, reported that the victims included residents of nearby houses.

[03:05 PM] Iran FM Araghchi saysTrump “killed” de-escalation efforts, warns of rising gas prices for Americans

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly criticized US President Donald Trump for immediately “killing” President Masoud Pezeshkian’s recent offer of regional de-escalation.

In a statement on X, Araghchi warned that if the US seeks escalation, Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to respond. He claimed that the ongoing US military “misadventure” has already cost $100 billion and warned that ordinary Americans will soon feel the financial impact at the gas pump.

Araghchi further accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of duping the US administration into fighting Israel’s wars, stating that an “Israel First” policy means “America Last.”

Concurrently, President Pezeshkian issued a defiant statement, declaring that enemies will “take the dream of Iran’s surrender to the grave.”

President Pezeshkian expressed openness to de-escalation within our region-provided that our neighbors’ airspace, territory, and waters are not used to attack the Iranian People. Gesture to our neighbors was almost immediately killed by President Trump.

My statement: pic.twitter.com/tnyCWTTqaj

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 7, 2026

[02:52 PM] Double-tap missile attack kills over 20 in central Iran’s Najafabad

More than 20 people have been killed and 50 others injured in a US-Israeli double-tap missile attack in Iran’s central city of Najafabad, according to the Fars news agency.

An unnamed police officer reported that the second missile hit the exact same spot minutes after the first, striking just as rescue workers and local residents had gathered to assist the injured.

[02:24 PM] Photos: Protesters rally outside White House against US-Israeli attacks on Iran

[02:13 PM] Dark clouds and soot blanket Tehran following strikes on oil installations

Tehran is covered in dark clouds today following overnight US and Israeli strikes targeting nearby oil installations. The environmental fallout has left cars across the Iranian capital blackened by what is being described as “toxic particles and soot” raining down over the city.

[02:08 PM] China’s top diplomat condemns Middle East war, urges US to manage differences

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi strongly condemned the recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran, stating that the war “should never have happened” and warning that the “world cannot return to the law of the jungle.”

Speaking at the annual “Two Sessions” political gathering in Beijing, Wang specifically criticized the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Addressing broader geopolitical tensions, he urged the United States to manage existing differences and avoid destructive tariff barriers, which he likened to “trying to extinguish a fire with fuel.”

Furthermore, Wang reaffirmed Beijing’s “steadfast” relationship with Russia and invited European nations to turn away from protectionism and engage with the Chinese market as a global partner.

[01:50 PM] New Iranian Supreme Leader reportedly chosen as Israel threatens Assembly of Experts

A new Supreme Leader for Iran has been officially chosen, according to senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Alamolhoda. He stated that the final announcement now rests entirely with the Secretariat of the Assembly of Experts.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has issued a stark warning to the Assembly. In a post from its Farsi-language X account, the IDF noted that the Assembly of Experts is gathering in Qom to select a successor following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Israeli military explicitly warned that it will “continue to pursue every successor” and will “not hesitate to target” anyone who intends to participate in the selection meeting.

[09:00 AM] Trump rejects settling war with Iran, raises notion of eliminating all its potential leaders

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he is not interested in negotiating with Iran and raised the possibility that the Iran war would only end once that country no ​longer has a functioning military or any remaining leadership in power.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the air campaign could make negotiations a moot point if all potential leaders of Iran ‌are killed and the Iranian military is destroyed.

“At some point, I don’t think there will be anybody left maybe to say ‘We surrender,’” Donald Trump said.

Israel and Iran traded numerous attacks on Saturday as the Middle East war entered a second week. Iran’s president apologised to neighbouring states to cool anger across the Gulf but stirred criticism from hardliners at home.

“I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, urging them not to join U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.

[2:10 AM] Trump attends return of first US troops killed in Iran war

US President Donald Trump attended the return Saturday of the bodies of the first six US soldiers killed during the escalating war with Iran.

Trump, wearing a white “USA” baseball cap and accompanied by several Cabinet members, saluted as each flag-draped case was carried from a military transport plane at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the remains of US troops killed overseas are returned to American soil.

The troops were killed last Sunday when a drone struck a key US command center in Kuwait, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran.

ڈوور ایئر فورس بیس پر ہلاک 6 فوجیوں کے اعزاز میں تقریب
صدر ٹرمپ، ملینیا ٹرمپ ، نائب صدر جے ڈی وینس کی تقریب میں شرکت#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/nFjP6zWqxc

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 7, 2026

[ 2:09 AM] US starts using UK bases for ‘defensive’ Iran operations

The United States has started using British bases for certain operations against Iran during the Middle East war, the UK government announced on Saturday, AFP reported

Britain’s defence ministry said the US had begun using the military sites for “specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region”.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer annoyed US President Donald Trump for initially refusing to have any role in the US-Israeli war with Iran, which started a week ago, on February 28.

He later agreed to a US request to use two British military bases for a “specific and limited defensive purpose”.

Those bases are Fairford in Gloucestershire, southwestern England, and the UK-US Diego Garcia base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.

A US Air Force B-1 Lancer bomber landed at Fairford on Saturday, an AFP photographer saw.

An American C-5 Galaxy plane could also be seen on the runway of the base, as anti-war protesters demonstrated outside.

[12:50 AM] US, Israel strikes hit oil depot in Tehran: Iran state media

US and Israeli strikes hit an oil depot in Tehran on Saturday, Iranian state media said, marking the first reported attack on the Islamic republic’s oil infrastructure, AFP reported.

“An oil depot in southern Tehran was targeted by the US and Zionist regime,” the official IRNA news agency said.

The depot was in an area close to a key oil refinery but the ILNA news agency reported that the refinery’s facilities “were not damaged in the military attacks”.

Strikes hit another oil depot in northwestern Tehran, according to an AFP journalist who saw flames and smoke rising from the site.

[5:10 PM] Lebanon army says 3 soldiers killed in Israeli shelling during commando operation in east

Lebanon’s military said on Saturday that three soldiers were killed in Israeli shelling during the Israeli army’s commando operation in eastern Lebanon to find the remains of airman Ron Arad, missing since 1986.

In a statement, the Lebanese military said that “three soldiers and several civilians were killed as a result of the violent enemy shelling that accompanied” a commando operation carried out by Israeli forces, followed by “an exchange of fire between the enemy force and locals” in Nabi Sheet.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported earlier on Saturday that at least 16 people were killed in Israeli strikes on the area, while Israel’s army said that “no findings” relating to Arad were found.

[5:01 PM] Hezbollah issues evacuation call to Israeli city residents near border

[4:42 PM] Trump claims Iran “surrendered” to neighbors, threatens severe new strikes

US President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Iran “will be hit very hard” today, claiming the country has “surrendered” to its Middle East neighbors and promised to cease attacks against them. Trump attributed this shift entirely to the “relentless U.S. and Israeli attack.”

His comments follow an earlier pre-recorded message from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who stated that Iran’s interim leadership council approved halting attacks on neighboring countries, provided no attacks on Iran originate from those territories.

The IRGC also issued a warning that all US and Israeli military bases will be considered “primary targets” if strikes against Iran continue.

In his post, Trump vowed further escalation, stating that new areas and groups of people are now under “serious consideration for destruction and certain death” due to Iran’s behavior.

[3:57 PM] Israeli military says found no remains of missing airman in Lebanon operation

The Israeli military has announced that it found no remains of a missing airman during its operation in Lebanon. Earlier, anti-aircraft fire was observed in the Bekaa Valley of eastern Lebanon amid reports of an attempted landing by Israeli forces. Clashes have also been reported between Israeli commandos and Hezbollah fighters in the town of Nabi Chit.

According to Al-Hadath, the operation conducted last night was aimed at retrieving the remains of an Israeli Air Force navigator who went missing in 1986.

[3:20 PM] Sri Lanka to treat Iranian sailors according to ‘international law’

Sri Lanka will treat Iranian sailors rescued from a torpedoed frigate according to international law, a minister said Saturday, following reports Washington was pressuring Colombo to not repatriate them.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told a conference in New Delhi that Sri Lanka was caring for 32 sailors from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena under Colombo’s international treaty obligations.

The frigate was sunk by a US submarine on Wednesday just off Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

Sri Lanka sent its navy to rescue survivors and recover 84 bodies.

Asked if Colombo was under pressure from the US to not repatriate the Iranians, Herath did not answer directly.

“We have taken all the steps according to international laws,” Herath said.

Sri Lanka also provided safe haven to a second Iranian warship, the IRIS Bushehr, and evacuated its 219 crew a day after the Dena was torpedoed.

The ship was taken to Trincomalee on Sri Lanka’s northeast coast after reporting engine problems.

[3:14 PM] Air raid sirens sound, blasts heard in Jerusalem: AFP

Saturday, AFP journalists said, as the US-Israeli war with Iran entered a second week.

At least three explosions were heard, while over the past 24 hours, at least six air raid alerts have been issued across Israel.

[3:06 PM] Iran to suspend strikes on neighbours unless attacks come from them

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian ​said on ‌Saturday that the country’s temporary leadership ​council had ​approved the suspension ⁠of attacks ​against neighboring countries ​unless an attack on Iran came ​from those ​countries.

The announcement came as ‌Iran ⁠continued to launch attacks in the ​region ​in ⁠response to U.S.-Israeli strikes ​on the ​Islamic ⁠Republic.

The U.S. Navy could begin escorting oil ​tankers through the Strait of Hormuz ⁠if necessary, Trump said on Tuesday. The conflict ​in the Middle East has halted shipping and ​energy exports through the vital Strait of Hormuz.

“We recommend that, before making any ​decision, the Americans ​remember ⁠the fire on the American supertanker Bridgeton in 1987 and the ​oil tankers that were recently ​targeted,” ⁠Naini said.

At least nine vessels have been attacked since the U.S. and Israel first began ⁠strikes ​on Iran on Saturday, and ​the Guards ordered ships not to cross the strategic waterway.

[3:04 PM] Iran destroys $300M US missile defence radar in Jordan: Bloomberg

Iran has destroyed a $300M radar system vital for directing US missile defence in the Gulf, Bloomberg reported citing a US official.

Analysts state that the damage creates a significant gap in high-altitude surveillance coverage.

The destruction of the equipment was later confirmed by a US official.

According to data gathered by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) show two reported Iranian strikes in Jordan: one on Feb 28 and one on March 3. Both were initially reported to have been intercepted.

US THAAD units intercept ballistic missiles at the atmosphere’s edge, tackling tougher threats than Patriot batteries.

[12:00 PM] Field Marshal, Saudi defence minister discuss joint measures to halt ‘unprovoked Iranian aggression’ against Saudi Arabia

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, met Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, in Riyadh to discuss recent Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and ways to address the escalating situation, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday.

According to the ISPR, Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Saudi Arabia and held talks with Prince Khalid bin Salman. Both sides discussed the gravity of security situation accruing from Iranian drone and missile attacks on the Kingdom and joint measures needed to halt them within the framework of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement.

Israel’s Channel 12 claimed, citing an Israeli security source, that the attack underway in Iran is a joint US-Israel operation.

[11:00 AM]  Indian journalist who visited Israel claims massive destruction caused by Iranian missiles

New Delhi: An Indian journalist, Brijmohan Singh, has claimed that Iranian missile strikes caused significant destruction in Israel, alleging that the Israeli government is concealing the true scale of the damage and casualties.

[7:00 PM] Trump says there will be no deal with Iran except ‘unconditional surrender’

U.S. President ‌Donald Trump said on Friday there would be no ​deal struck with ​Iran except “unconditional surrender,” a week after ⁠launching war with Israel ​against Tehran.

“After that, and the ​selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of ​our wonderful and very ​brave allies and partners, will work ‌tirelessly ⁠to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction,” Trump said in ​a social ​media ⁠post, adding that they would work to ​boost Iran’s economy.

[5:02 PM] Israel’s military tells residents of industrial area in Iran’s Qom to flee

[4:24 PM] Iranian President addresses mediation efforts, vows to defend sovereignty

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that several countries have initiated mediation efforts amid the ongoing regional conflict. In a statement posted to X, Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s commitment to lasting peace but warned that the nation will not hesitate to defend its dignity and sovereignty.

He further stated that any mediation attempts must specifically address those who “underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict.”

Some countries have begun mediation efforts. Let’s be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation’s dignity & sovereignty. Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict https://t.co/MxWCuNYOYR

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) March 6, 2026

[3:43 PM]  Large crowd in Tehran attends Friday prayers to denounce US-Israeli attacks

A large crowd of people in Tehran attended Friday prayers at the Mosalla today in a strong show of solidarity with the Islamic establishment. The gathering was also organized to publicly denounce the ongoing US-Israeli military actions against Iran.

[3:22 PM] Azerbaijan withdraws diplomats from Iran following drone dispute

Azerbaijan is withdrawing its diplomats from Iran for their own safety, according to Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. The evacuation includes employees from the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran and its consulate general in Tabriz.

This sudden diplomatic withdrawal comes just a day after Baku reported that four Iranian drones crossed its border, injuring four people in the Nakhchivan exclave. Iran has firmly denied launching the drone attack.

[2:52 PM] Kremlin says Iran war has fuelled demand for Russian energy

The Kremlin said on Friday that the war in Iran had fuelled demand for Russian energy products, noting that buyers like China and India were guided by their national interests.

On Thursday, the U.S. Treasury issued a 30-day waiver allowing India to buy Russian oil currently stuck at sea.

The conflict has left the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping passage all-but shut, with countries around the world cut off from a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

“We are seeing a significant increase in demand for Russian energy resources in connection with the war in Iran. Russia has been and remains a reliable supplier of both oil and gas — including pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“It also remains capable of guaranteeing the continuity of all deliveries for which contracts have been concluded.”

Peskov declined to disclose possible volumes of Russian oil supplies to India following Washington’s waiver, which followed months of U.S. pressure on New Delhi not to buy Russian oil.

[2:50 PM] Israeli military carries out raid in Lebanon’s Sidon

The Israeli military has conducted a raid in the southern coastal city of Sidon, Lebanon, expanding its ongoing operations in the region.

This latest strike comes in addition to recent attacks targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that Israeli warplanes were also seen flying over the southern towns of Tyre and Bint Jbeil.

[10: 58 AM] US strike on Iranian naval base may have hit nearby school, NYT reports

A school in Iran may have been struck during a United States attack on an Iranian naval base, according to a report by The New York Times.

The newspaper said the incident occurred on 28 February in the city of Minab, where a school located close to a naval facility was destroyed during the strike. Several children were reportedly killed in the attack.

The report suggested the school was likely hit while the US military was targeting the nearby naval base, with the strike taking place at the same time operations were underway against the facility.

According to the report, the US Department of Defense has launched an investigation into the incident to determine how the school came to be struck during the operation.

امریکی فوج ممکنہ طور پر ایرانی اسکول پر حملے کی ذمہ دار ہے ، امریکی تفتیش کار#ARYnews #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/k38FZVHAnu

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 6, 2026

[10: 15 AM ] Death toll in US-Israel strikes on Iran jumps to 1,230

The conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran has entered its seventh day, with the Israeli Defense Forces announcing the launch of a wide wave of air strikes on Tehran.

According to the Israeli military, fighter jets are targeting key infrastructure in the Iranian capital. Reports from Al Jazeera said warplanes were seen flying over Tehran as some of the heaviest bombardment since the start of the conflict was carried out.

Iranian news agencies reported that strikes also hit areas around University of Tehran and several residential neighbourhoods. Explosions were reported in eastern and southern Tehran as well as in the cities of Isfahan, Shiraz and Kermanshah.

According to Iranian reports, the ongoing US and Israeli attacks have so far left 1,230 people dead and hundreds injured.

امریکی اور اسرائیلی حملوں میں 1230 افراد شہید سیکڑوں زخمی#ARYNews #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/W1FlqvXy1l

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 6, 2026

[09: 45 AM] Kuwait says air defence system intercepted missile

Kuwait’s air defence system has successfully intercepted a missile, preventing it from reaching its intended target, the Kuwait Ministry of Defense said.

According to the ministry, debris from the intercepted missile fell onto a vehicle, causing damage, though no casualties were reported in the incident.

A spokesperson for the ministry said the country’s armed forces remain on high alert to safeguard Kuwait and respond to any potential threats.

[09: 15 AM] Iran delays announcement of Ayatollah Khamenei’s successor: claims NYT

Iran has postponed the announcement of a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei due to security concerns, according to a report by The New York Times.

The newspaper claimed that the decision to delay the announcement came in the wake of threats from Israel and the United States.

According to the report, warnings were allegedly issued that any newly named successor could also become a potential target.

[09: 00 AM] We are waiting for them, Iran’s FM on a possible US ground invasion

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is prepared to confront a potential US ground invasion and is not afraid of American troops entering the country.

Asked in an interview with NBC News whether he feared a US ground invasion, Araghchi replied: “No, we are waiting for them.”

“We are ready for this war,” he added.

ایران پر امریکا کے زمینی حملوں کیلئے تیار ہیں ایرانی وزیر خارجه#ARYnews #BreakingNews #Iran #USA pic.twitter.com/YYpC58hPmh

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 6, 2026

[3:11 AM] US military says it has sunk over 30 Iranian ships so far

The U.S. military said on ​Thursday it has ‌sunk over 30 Iranian ships so far during ​the U.S. ​and Israel’s war against Iran, ⁠including an Iranian ​drone ship that ​is on fire, Reuters reported.

Ballistic missile attacks by Iran have decreased ​by 90% since ​the first day of the ‌war, ⁠U.S. Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads U.S. forces in the ​Middle ​East ⁠as the head of Central ​Command, told reporters.

[3:05 AM] Iran missile fire sparks explosions over Tel Aviv

The latest round of Iranian missile fire caused explosions across Tel Aviv and damage in central Israel on Thursday, but there were no reported casualties and residents have been cleared to leave shelters.

Iran’s state broadcaster reported that Tehran had fired missiles “against targets in the heart of Tel Aviv,” after Israel’s military said it was working to intercept incoming Iranian fire.

AFP journalists in Tel Aviv reported two near simultaneous waves of explosions reverberate across the city.

After the barrage, Israel’s emergency services, the Magen David Adom, said its teams had visited several impacted sites but reported no casualties.

Israeli police said it was “currently handling scenes involving fallen projectiles in central Israel,” adding that “damage has been caused,” but also reporting no injuries.

The military has released a statement clearing people “to leave protected spaces.

[ 2: 51 AM] Iran calling US about a deal, Trump claims

President Donald Trump on Thursday said Tehran was reaching out to ​the United States about making a deal amid ‌U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, adding that further action to reduce pressure on oil was imminent.

“They’re calling, they’re saying ‘how do we ​make a deal?’ I said you’re being ​a little bit late,” said Trump, speaking at ⁠an event with the Inter Miami soccer team ​at the White House.

Trump touted the U.S. ​military actions in Iran, saying they were destroying Tehran’s missile and drone capability and that “their navy is gone – 24 ships ​in three days,” as he called on Iranian ​diplomats to request asylum and help shape a better country.

“We also ‌urge ⁠Iranian diplomats around the world to request asylum and to help us shape a new and better Iran,” he said.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations ​in New ​York declined to ⁠comment.

While Trump said oil had “pretty much stabilized,” he said further action ​to reduce pressure on it was imminent.

The U.S. ​Treasury ⁠Department is expected to announce measures as soon as Thursday aimed at combating rising energy prices, including potential action involving the ⁠oil ​futures market, a senior White ​House official said earlier on Thursday.

[ 10:24 PM] WHO says it has verified 13 attacks on health sites in Iran

The World Health ‌Organization chief said on Thursday that it has verified 13 attacks on health infrastructure in Iran amid ​a U.S.-Israeli campaign and it was checking reports ​that four medics were killed and 25 ⁠others injured.

“WHO has verified 13 attacks on health ​care in Iran and one in Lebanon,” World ​Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference, without attributing blame or giving details.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy added ​at the same briefing that four ambulances ​in Iran were also affected and that hospitals and other ‌health ⁠sites suffered minor damage due to strikes nearby, citing Iranian authorities. One of these hospitals in the capital Tehran was evacuated as a result, the ​U.N. health agency ​previously ⁠said.

Iran’s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva has alleged that 10 facilities ​have been hit by military strikes ​in a ⁠letter to Tedros earlier this week.

Balkhy says that the WHO logistics hub in Dubai which provides ⁠health ​supplies to dozens of ​countries is temporarily out of service because of transport restrictions in ​the region.

[ 10: 15 PM] Trump says he needs to be involved in selecting Iran’s next leader, Axios reports

U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios ​on Thursday that he needs to ‌be personally involved in selecting Iran’s next leader.

“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. ​We want someone that will ​bring harmony and peace to Iran,” ⁠Axios quoted Trump as saying ​in an interview.

“I have to be ​involved in the appointment, like with Delcy (Rodriguez) in Venezuela,” Trump said.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of ​Iran’s late Supreme Leader, has survived ​the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran ‌in ⁠which his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, Iranian sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
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A mid-ranking cleric with close ties ​to Iran’s ​elite ⁠Revolutionary Guards, hardliner Mojtaba is one of the most ​influential figures in the Iranian ​clerical ⁠establishment and is seen as a possible successor to his father.

Iran has ⁠not ​yet announced a new ​leader.

[ 11: 15 AM] Iran threatens to target Dimona nuclear site if Israel, US seek to topple Islamic Republic

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has issued a stark warning that Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility would be targeted if any attempt is made to force regime change in Iran.

The Guards asserted that Tehran possesses the capability to strike critical installations in retaliation and will respond decisively to any external efforts to destabilise the country.

حکومت گرانے کی کوشش کی تو دیمونا جوہری مرکز کو نشانہ بنائیں گے ، پاسداران انقلاب#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/WpTNghJAza

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 5, 2026

[ 10: 50 AM ] Iran-Israel conflict: 708 flights from Pakistan to Middle East cancelled in six days

As many as 708 flights from Pakistan to Middle East have been cancelled amid Iran-Israel conflict during last six days.

As per details, due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, a total of 130 flights from Pakistan to destinations including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar were cancelled on Thursday (today).

At Karachi Airport, 30 flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Sharjah, Kuwait, and Bahrain were suspended. Islamabad saw 36 flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Sharjah cancelled. Lahore Airport reported 22 cancellations to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, while Peshawar experienced 14 flight suspensions to Dubai, Sharjah, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.

مشرق وسطیٰ کی صورتحال، پاکستان سے یو اے ای، بحرین، کویت، قطر سمیت دیگر ممالک کی 130 پروازیں منسوخ#ARYNews #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/y3cMXjKFcD

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 5, 2026

[10 :01 AM ] Oil leaps 3% on supply concerns as Iran conflict widens

Oil prices surged ​more than 3% on Thursday, extending a rally as the escalating U.S.-Israeli war with Iran raised fears ‌of prolonged disruptions to vital Middle East oil and gas supplies.

Brent crude advanced $2.65, or 3.26%, to $83.99 per barrel by 0520 GMT, a fifth session of gains. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $2.76, or 3.70%, to $77.42.

Crude oil markets remained on edge as they face ongoing risks ​to supply following the attacks in the Middle East and concerns are centred on the flow of ​supply through the Strait of Hormuz, ANZ analysts said in a note on Thursday.

Iran launched a ⁠wave of missiles at Israel early on Thursday, sending millions of residents into bomb shelters as the conflict entered its ​sixth day and just hours after moves to halt the U.S. air assault were blocked in Washington.

[ 09 : 10 AM] Iran launches wave of missiles at Israel; US Republicans block measure to halt US air campaign

Iran launched a wave of missiles at Israel early on Thursday, sending millions of residents into bomb shelters as the U.S.-Israel war with Iran entered ​its sixth day and just hours after moves to halt the U.S. air assault were blocked in Washington.

Republican senators in Washington voted against a motion aimed ‌at stopping the air campaign and requiring that military action be authorised by Congress, leaving President Donald Trump’s power to direct the war largely unbound, as the conflict continues to widen across the Middle East and beyond.

پاسداران انقلاب کا میزائل شد ڈرونز حملوں کی 18 ویں لہر کے آغاز کا اعلان#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/MO29O1OQVY

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 5, 2026

[3:16 AM] Majority of US Senate votes to block bid to rein in Trump Iran war powers

A majority of ​the U.S. Senate ‌on Wednesday backed President Donald Trump’s military ​campaign against Iran, ​voting to block a ⁠bipartisan resolution ​aiming to stop ​the air war and require that any ​hostilities against ​Iran be authorized by Congress, Reuters reported

As ‌voting ⁠continued, the tally in the 100-member chamber ​was ​52-47 ⁠not to advance the war ​powers resolution.

امریکی سینیٹ کی اکثریت نے ٹرمپ کی ایران کےخلاف فوجی مہم کی حمایت کردی#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/vn62fiytcH

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 4, 2026

[01:39 AM] Trump claims US in ‘very strong position’ against Iran

President Donald Trump said Wednesday the United States and Israel were in a strong position in their war with Iran, vowing that they would “continue forward” against the Islamic republic, AFP reported.

Trump said prospective replacements for slain Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “end up dead” and that Tehran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles was being “wiped out rapidly.”

“We’re doing well on the war front, to put it mildly. Somebody said on a scale of 10, where would you rate it? I said about a 15,” Trump told a gathering of tech bosses at the White House.

“We’re in a very strong position now, and their leadership is just rapidly going. Everybody that seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead.”

Speaking on the fifth day of the war, Trump repeated his justifications for attacking Iran, saying Tehran was on its way to obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“When crazy people have nuclear weapons, bad things happen,” Trump added.

[11:45 PM] Qatar PM condemns Iran attacks in call with foreign minister

Qatar’s prime minister condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf states in a call with Tehran’s foreign minister Wednesday, the first high-level contact since the Islamic republic launched its missile and drone campaign.

Qatari premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Iran of seeking to “harm its neighbours and drag them into a war that is not theirs”, on the call with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, according to a statement by Qatar’s foreign ministry.

The Qatari prime minister urged “an immediate halt to these attacks” on the call and said Iran had “struck civilian and residential areas” despite Araghchi’s assertion “the Iranian missile attacks were directed at US interests and did not target the State of Qatar”.

“These attacks cannot pass without a response,” Sheikh Mohammed added.

[10:55 PM] US says submarine sank Iranian warship off Sri Lanka

A US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, the Pentagon said, as more nations were sucked into the Middle East war.

On another front, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted armed groups hostile to the Islamic republic in the autonomous Kurdish region of neighbouring Iraq.

Iran also claimed it had total control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy transit, and where several ships have reportedly been attacked in since the start of the war.

Sparked by a massive US-Israeli attack that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the war has seen Iran lash out with missile and drone strikes from Israel across the Gulf.

Cities like Dubai and Riyadh, which have long taken pride in their safety from the tumult of the region, have been drawn in, with the growing chaos sparing few countries in Iran’s vicinity and beyond.

[10:21 PM] Iran targeting US and UK vessels in the Gulf, state media says

Iran is targeting U.S. and UK vessels and ships, regardless of flag, that carry cargo for Israel in the Gulf, Iranian state media reported, citing a Revolutionary Guards navy commander.

It also reported that Iran has targeted more than 10 ships and tankers in the conflict.

[09:40 PM] U.S. sub sinks Iranian warship off Sri Lanka

A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, killing dozens of sailors and dramatically widening Washington’s pursuit of the Iranian navy.

Sri Lanka’s deputy foreign minister identified the warship as the frigate IRIS Dena, and said it was heading back to Iran from an eastern Indian port.

The attack happened hundreds of miles across the Indian Ocean from the Gulf, where U.S. ​and Israeli forces are striking Iran and Tehran is retaliating with missile and drone attacks.

“An American submarine sank an Iranian warship that thought it was ​safe in international waters,” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at the Pentagon. “Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo. Quiet death.” ⁠

Hospital authorities in the Sri Lankan port city of Galle said 87 bodies were brought in by military rescuers who responded to an early morning distress ​call.

Another 32 were rescued and were being treated at hospital and about 60 people were likely unaccounted for from an estimated 180 people on board, Sri Lankan ​authorities said.

[09:10 PM] Qatar rejects Iran’s claim its strikes are targeted at US

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has spoken with his Iranian counterpart.

Abbas Araqchi told Sheikh Mohammed that Iranian missile attacks were directed at U.S. interests and not at Qatar, the Qatari foreign ministry said on X.

In response, Sheikh Mohammed “categorically rejected” that claim and called for an immediate halt to Iran’s attacks, the ministry said.

Sheikh Mohammed, who is also Qatar’s prime minister, said his country would confront any aggression and had the right to self-defence. He also stressed that Doha has always been inclined towards dialogue and diplomacy conducted in good faith.

[06:00 PM] Khamenei’s son emerges as Potential Successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader

Speculation is intensifying in Iran’s political circles that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, could emerge as the country’s next supreme leader.

Mojtaba, who has long remained behind the scenes in Iranian politics, is believed to wield significant influence within the powerful security and clerical establishments.

Observers say Mojtaba Khamenei has built strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and key conservative clerics, factors that could play a crucial role in any future leadership transition. Although he holds no major official government position, analysts say his influence inside Iran’s political system has steadily grown over the years.

The selection of Iran’s supreme leader is formally the responsibility of the Assembly of Experts, a body of clerics tasked with appointing and supervising the country’s top authority.

However, experts note that internal power dynamics among Iran’s political and military elites are likely to shape the outcome if a succession process begins.

If Mojtaba Khamenei were to take over from Ali Khamenei, it would mark an unprecedented moment in the history of the Iranian Revolution, as critics have long warned it could resemble a hereditary transfer of power within the Islamic Republic’s leadership.

[05:45 PM] Israel says it struck compound housing headquarters of all of Iran’s security bodies

The Israeli military said the targets included the Revolutionary Guards, Basij militia, intelligence and cyber warfare headquarters in eastern Tehran.

[4:38 PM]  IAEA: No damage to nuclear material, but strikes confirmed at Natanz

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has provided a critical update on Iran’s nuclear facilities following recent military strikes.

Based on the latest satellite imagery, the watchdog reports “no damage to facilities containing nuclear material” and confirmed there is “no radiological release risk at this time.”

However, the agency did identify visible damage to two buildings near the Isfahan nuclear site and confirmed that the entrance buildings to the underground Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant were struck.

Other major sites, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, show no signs of impact.

[3:56 PM] White House to meet defense CEOs to accelerate weapons production

The Trump administration has summoned executives from top defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin and RTX, to a Friday meeting to discuss rapidly boosting weapons output.

The move comes as the Pentagon works to replenish stockpiles depleted by recent military strikes on Iran and ongoing global conflicts. Officials are also reportedly finalizing a preliminary $50 billion supplemental budget request to replace munitions, such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, used in recent operations.

The administration continues to pressure contractors to prioritize production over shareholder payouts, warning that underperforming companies could face contract terminations.

[3:35 PM] Israeli army enters south Lebanon town Khiam, about six km from border: state media

Lebanese state media reported on Wednesday that the Israeli army entered the southern Lebanese town of Khiam, about six kilometres from the Lebanon-Israel border.

“The town of Khiam is witnessing continuous artillery shelling, while the Israeli enemy army penetrated into the town,” state media said.

A Lebanese military source told AFP on Tuesday that Israel had launched a ground incursion into a border area in southern Lebanon, in parallel with its campaign of airstrikes.

[3:26 PM] UN experts ”deeply disturbed” by child deaths

A committee of UN experts said it was “deeply disturbed” by the deaths of children amid escalating violence across the Middle East, particularly the bombing of a girls’ school in Iran.

The Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school in Minab in southern Iran was hit on Saturday, the first day of U.S. and Israeli attacks against the country.

It killed 160 children, UN experts stated. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about the incident on Monday.

“The Department of War would be investigating ​that if that was our strike, and I would refer your question to them,” he told ​reporters.

“The United States would not deliberately target a school,” he added.

The Pentagon and the U.S. Central Command did not respond to a request for comment. Over the weekend, the U.S. Central ​Command told media outlets it was “looking into” reports of “civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations.”

[3:22 PM] Iranian air defense strikes military aircraft over Tehran

Iran’s air defense systems successfully engaged and struck an enemy military aircraft over northern Tehran, according to reports. Press TV stated that while the aircraft was intercepted, the specific model and type involved have not yet been determined.

The incident marks a significant escalation in kinetic activity over the Iranian capital.

[2:54 PM] US invented threat from Iran as pretext to overthrow gov’t: Russia

Russia has accused the United States of fabricating a threat from Iran as a pretext to overthrow the Iranian government. During a recent briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed that the U.S. used nuclear negotiations as a cover to disguise plans for regime change.

She highlighted that Iran’s nuclear facilities have once again come under attack, posing a serious regional risk.

Zakharova emphasized that Moscow firmly believes there is no military solution to the crisis and remains ready to pursue resolutions grounded in international law.

[2:50 PM] Hezbollah says targeted the headquarters of Israel Aerospace Industries

Hezbollah said on Wednesday it had targeted the headquarters of Israel Aerospace Industries, in central Israel, overnight with a drone attack, while also saying it launched a missile at a drone control base.

In a statement, the pro-Iran group said it had “struck the headquarters of the Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) company in central occupied Palestine with a swarm of attack drones” at 2:00 am (0000GMT) on Wednesday, “in response to the criminal Israeli aggression that targeted dozens of Lebanese cities and towns”.

In a separate statement, Hezbollah said it had struck a “drone control base” in northern Israel with a “precision-guided missile” shortly before dawn.

[2:07 PM] ‘You cannot play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions’

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said his country is against the “disaster” of the ongoing war in the Middle East.

He was speaking on Wednesday following Trump’s threats to cut trade with Madrid over its position on the conflict.

“This is how humanity’s great disasters start … You cannot play Russian roulette with the destiny of millions,” Sanchez said in a televised address to the nation.

Tensions between the two NATO allies increased after Sanchez denounced the U.S. and Israeli bombings of Iran as reckless and illegal.

He later banned U.S. aircraft from using naval and air bases in southern Spain for the offensive against Tehran.

[2:04 PM] Trump betrayed diplomacy and Americans who elected him, says Iran’s FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that President Donald Trump has “betrayed diplomacy and the Americans who elected him” by initiating military attacks during ongoing nuclear negotiations.

In a post on X, Araghchi criticized the administration for treating complex diplomatic talks like real estate transactions and allowing “big lies” to cloud reality. He concluded that these unrealistic expectations ultimately led to the U.S. “bombing the negotiation table out of spite.”

When complex nuclear negotiations are treated like a real estate transaction, and when big lies cloud realities, unrealistic expectations can never be met.

The outcome? Bombing the negotiation table out of spite.

Mr. Trump betrayed diplomacy and Americans who elected him.

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 4, 2026

[10: 10 AM] US-Israeli campaign against Iran stretches into its fifth day

Israeli and U.S. forces have pounded targets across Iran and are prompting Iranian retaliatory strikes around the Gulf.

However, the U.S. military said Tuesday evening that it has “severely degraded” Iran’s air defenses and destroyed hundreds of Iran’s ballistic missiles, launchers and drones.

Nonetheless, the conflict has spread to Lebanon, rattled global markets and have sent oil prices sharply higher, with tens of thousands of people stranded across the Gulf with few options for leaving.

Iran has strangled shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would provide insurance to tankers in the region and the Navy would escort them through the strait if necessary.

Scores of people have been killed across the Middle East since the U.S. and Israel attack began.

[09: 35 AM] Over 9000 Americans safely back from Middle East: Trump

President Donald Trump said that more than 9000 Americans safely returned to homeland from Middle East after escalating tensions following attack on Iran.

نو ہزار سے زائد امریکی مشرق وسطی سے وطن واپس پہنچے ، ٹرمپ#ARYNews #BreakingNews #Trump pic.twitter.com/AruNpr2Xp0

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 4, 2026

[09: 10 AM] Trump says he felt Iran was going to attack first

Trump speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, where he hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he felt Iran was iong to attack first.

He has been talking about the conflict in the Middle East that began on Saturday with a joint U.S. and Israeli assault on Iran.

The U.S. leader said he launched the campaign because he felt very strongly that Iran was going to attack first, based on the way diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran had been going.

“If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand,” he said.

He criticised Iran’s response to the assault, saying it was attacking countries that had “nothing to do with what’s going on”.

He also accused Iran of hitting only civilian targets – something that Iran has denied.

[10:00 PM] Trump says U.S. has knocked out many Iranian naval and air targets

President Donald Trump said ​on Tuesday that the U.S. military ‌had been successful against many Iranian naval and air targets, saying “just about everything ​has been knocked out.”

He made ​his comments in the Oval Office ⁠ahead of a meeting with ​German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Trump, answering questions from ​reporters, said he ordered the attack against Iran because “I had a feeling” that Iran ​would attack the United States as ​negotiations over its nuclear program stalled.

He presented no ‌evidence ⁠to support the view. Iran had been anticipating another round of talks with U.S. envoys after negotiations were ​held ​in Geneva ⁠last Thursday.

Trump said Iran was still lobbing missiles but ​predicted Tehran will eventually lose this ​capability ⁠due to a sustained assault against them.

“They’ve shot a lot of them, ⁠and ​we’re knocking out a ​lot,” he said.

[06:40 PM] Israeli military says Iranian missiles hit central Israel

Israel’s ​military on Tuesday ‌reported strikes in the Tel Aviv area ​of Israel from ​Iranian missiles.

“Search and rescue ⁠forces, together with ​numerous emergency teams, ​are currently operating at the impact sites in central ​Israel,” the ​military said. “The circumstances of the ‌impact ⁠are under review.”

Israel’s ambulance service said it was treating three ​people ​at ⁠the sites who were lightly ​injured.

Israeli police said ​there ⁠were several impact areas involving munition ⁠fragments ​within the ​Tel Aviv district.

[4:32 PM ] Russia’s Lavrov warns attacks on Iran could unleash nuclear arms race in region

[4:23 PM ] UN urges investigation into ‘horrific’ attack on Iran school

The U.N. human rights office, without naming them, urged the forces behind an attack on a girls’ school in Iran to investigate and share insights into the “horrific” incident.

“The High Commissioner (Volker Turk) calls for a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the attack. The onus is on the forces that attacked to investigate it,” U.N. human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said U.S. forces “would not deliberately target a school”, after Iranian state media reported over 160 were killed on the first day of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on Saturday.

[4:23 PM ] Nearly 30,000 displaced in Lebanon, says UN refugee agency

At least 30,000 displaced people have sought protection in shelters in Lebanon since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began on Monday, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.

“Conservative estimates suggest that nearly 30,000 people were hosted and registered at collective shelters,” said UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch.

“Many more slept in their cars on the side of roads or were still stuck in traffic jams on the roads,” he added.

[3:22 PM ] Hezbollah official says’ era of patience has ended’

[3:19 PM ] Russia says no evidence Iran working on nuclear weapons

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow had still not seen any evidence that Iran was developing nuclear weapons.

Trump has said the war was needed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to thwart its long-range ballistic missile program.

Iran has denied it is seeking nuclear weapons and said the U.S. and Israeli assault was unprovoked, occurring as Tehran and Washington were in negotiations on a nuclear accord.

Trump withdrew from a prior international agreement curbing Iran’s nuclear program during his first term in 2018, three years after it was signed.

[3:00 PM ] ‘Time for Pakistan to leave the Board of Peace,’ says former envoy to the UN

A former Pakistani ambassador to the UN has called on the Prime Minister to withdraw from the “Board of Peace,” a group supported by Trump, in the wake of the attacks on Iran.

“Time for Pakistan to leave the Board of Peace which it should not have joined in the first place, set up and headed by a man who has launched attacks against 7 countries and whose admin is complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza,” Maleeha Lodhi, who was also ambassador to the US and UK, said on X.

Time for Pakistan to leave the Board of Peace which it should not have joined in the first place, set up and headed by a man who has launched attacks against 7 countries and whose admin is complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza

— Maleeha Lodhi (@LodhiMaleeha) March 3, 2026

[2:18 PM ] Iran death toll from US-Israel strikes rises to 787, state media reports

The information came from the Iranian Red Crescent, the report said. On Monday, the death toll stood at 555.

[2:16 PM ] China urges return to talks, respects right to peaceful nuclear use

China ⁠has condemned continuous US strikes on Iran, and has urged a return to negotiations over the nuclear issue, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said.

Mao Ning ⁠said US strikes on Iran “during ongoing negotiations … violate ⁠international law and ⁠basic principles of international relations”.

“The ⁠Iran nuclear issue should eventually return to the track ‌of political and diplomatic settlement,” Mao ‌said, adding that Beijing respected ⁠Iran’s “legitimate right to the peaceful use ⁠of nuclear energy”.

[1:56 PM ] France to send anti-drone systems to Cyprus: Reuters

France plans to send anti-missile and anti-drone systems to Cyprus after a British air base on the island was attacked by drones, the semi-official Cyprus News Agency (CNA) said on Tuesday.

The reported French aid to the island follows Greece’s offer of assistance hours after RAF Akrotiri, a British sovereign base, was targeted in two separate drone incidents on Monday.

In the first instance, an Iranian-made Shahed drone crashed into the runway of the base, causing limited damage.

Hours later, two other drones were intercepted. France would send anti-missile and anti-drone systems, as well as a frigate, CNA reported.

It said French President Emmanuel Macron communicated the intention to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides early on Tuesday.

A Cypriot government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the report.

[1:44 PM ] Lebanese army withdraws from ‘advanced positions’ along Israel border

The Lebanese army is pulling back from “advanced positions” along its border with Israel, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.

This withdrawal involves at least seven forward operating posts, Reuters news agency reported, citing witnesses.

These moves follow a statement from Israel’s Defence Minister Katz, who said the Israeli army has been ordered “to advance and seize additional controlling areas in Lebanon to prevent firing on Israeli border settlements.”

[1:12 PM ]  Thirteen Iranian soldiers killed in US-Israeli strikes

Thirteen Iranian soldiers have been killed in a US-Israeli strike on a military base in Kerman province, according to the Iranian army.

The attack targeted the base in the south of the country. Currently, US-Israeli strikes are continuing on the east and West of Tehran.

[12:50 PM ]  Iran holds mass funeral for children killed in school attack

[10:38 AM ]  Israel continues strikes on Tehran and Beirut

The Israeli military has said it is now carrying out simultaneous strikes in both Tehran and Beirut, Reuters reported.

A military statement on Tuesday morning said the Israeli Air Force has begun targeted attacks against military objectives belonging to what it described as the Iranian regime and the Hezbollah  group.

The statement provided no immediate details on the targets or the extent of the strikes.

اسرائیل کے ایک بار پھر ایران پر میزائل حملے#ARYNews #BreakingNews #Iran #USA #Israel pic.twitter.com/Qk0YAEmTVg

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 3, 2026

[09: 47 AM] US military says it has destroyed Revolutionary Guard assets in Iran

U.S. Central Command says it has destroyed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ command and control facilities, as well as Iranian air defense capabilities, missile, drone launch sites and military airfields.

“We will continue to take decisive action against imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime,” the U.S. military command said in a statement, Reuters reported.

[09: 10 AM] : Trump suggests US could retaliate ‘soon’ over strike on embassy

President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States would retaliate “soon” for the attack on its embassy in Riyadh and for the killing of six US military personnel in Iranian strikes.

Speaking to the US cable network NewsNation on Monday, Trump reportedly said “you’ll find out soon” how the US would respond, without providing further detail.

He added that he didn’t “think boots on the ground [in Iran] will be necessary,” according to NewsNation White House correspondent.

[03:48 AM] US urges Americans to ‘depart now’ from much of Middle East

The State Department on Monday urged Americans to leave much of the Middle East including Egypt and Gulf states due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. AFP reported.

The State Department “urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks,” Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, wrote on X, listing 14 countries.

امریکا کا مشرق وسطیٰ کے 14 ملکوں سے اپنے شہریوں کو فوری انخلا کی ہدایت#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/L1WXb488Zy

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 2, 2026

[2:57 AM] Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran

Israel has carried out another round of major military strikes on Tehran, targeting multiple locations in the Iranian capital, Iranian state media reported.

Explosions were heard across central, southern and eastern parts of the city, and missiles struck close to a television building and near the central prison complex.

[2:06 AM] Six US service members killed in Iran conflict, US military confirms

The US. ‌Central ​Command ​said on ⁠Monday ​that ​six US. service ​members ​have been ‌killed ⁠in the ​conflict ​with ⁠Iran, Reuters reported.

سینٹ کام نے 6 امریکی فوجیوں کی ہلاکت کی تصدیق کردی#ARYNews #BreakingNews #USA #Iran pic.twitter.com/7F0prUua6R

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 3, 2026

[ 01:34 AM] US-Israel conduct airstrikes on Iran’s Port City of Jask

The port city of Jask in southern Iran has come under heavy airstrikes carried out by the US  and Israel.

امریکا اور اسرائیل کی ایران کی پورٹ سٹی جاسک میں بمباری
حملے میں 100 سے زائد کشتیوں کو آگ لگ گئی، گورنرہرمزگان#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/N9V9MIF0ov

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 2, 2026

According to the governor of Hormozgan province, more than 100 vessels caught fire during the attacks, causing significant damage to fishing boats.

One person has been reported injured in the airstrike, the governor added.

[10:44 PM] UAE shoots down hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has successfully intercepted nine ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles, and 148 drones in the air, the UAE Ministry of Defense confirmed.

UAE Ministry of Defence stated that in total, Iranian forces have launched 174 ballistic missiles and 689 drones at UAE territory. Of these, 161 missiles were intercepted, with 13 falling into the sea, and 645 drones were destroyed mid-air. Eight cruise missiles were also neutralized.

The attacks have caused casualties, with three people killed, including citizens from Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh and several others injured. Ten people reportedly sustained minor injuries from falling debris and related incidents.

Explosions were heard across multiple areas during the air defense operations, and some civilian property was also damaged.

The UAE Ministry of Defense described the Iranian strikes as a “clear violation of national sovereignty and international law” and stated that the country reserves the right to take all necessary measures to defend its territory. Armed forces remain on high alert amid ongoing security concerns.

[10:00 PM] Trump details objectives of Iran offensive

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had ordered the attack on Iran to thwart Tehran’s nuclear development and ​a ballistic missile program that he said was growing rapidly.

Trump offered ‌his most extensive comments about the war beyond two video messages and a series of brief phone interviews with reporters over the weekend that offered sometimes conflicting objectives in the conflict.

He said, ​without providing evidence, that the threat from Iran had been imminent.

“This was ​our last best chance to strike … and eliminate the intolerable threats ⁠posed by this sick and sinister regime,” he said at an event in the ​White House East Room.

[07:35 PM] Iran Revolutionary Guards say targeted 500 US, Israeli sites

Iran’s retaliatory strikes have so far targeted 500 sites linked to the United States and Israel in the Middle East, the Revolutionary Guards said on the third day of fighting Monday.

[07:35 PM] Ayatollah Ali Khomeini’s wife embraces martyrdom

The wife of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei embraces martyrdom on Monday after succumbing to wounds sustained during the US-Israeli attack, Iranian media reported.

Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, 79, had been in a coma since strikes on Saturday killed Ayatollah Khamenei, the Tasnim news agency said.

[7: 24 PM] US Embassy Beirut renews call for citizens to leave Lebanon

[4: 24 PM] Three US F-15 fighter jets mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defense, CENTCOM says

[4: 19 PM] Explosions heard across Tehran: State media

[3: 02 PM] Iran says its Natanz nuclear facility was attacked

Iran’s sprawling nuclear facility at Natanz was struck during U.S. and Israeli military operations against the Islamic Republic, Iran’s ambassador to the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Monday.

“Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful, safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday,” Reza Najafi told reporters at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation board of governors. Asked by Reuters which facilities were hit, he replied: “Natanz”.

[2: 46 PM] France ‘ready’ to defend Gulf countries, Jordan against Iran

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has announced that France stands “ready” to defend Gulf countries and Jordan against any necessary action from Iran.

“To allied countries that have been deliberately targeted by the missiles and drones of the [Iranian] Revolutionary Guards and dragged into a war they did not choose – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan – France expresses its full support and complete solidarity,” he said.

“It stands ready … to take part in their defence,” he added.

[2: 37 PM] Israeli army says ‘all options on table’ for Lebanon ground invasion

Israel’s army spokesperson, Effie Defrin, has stated that Israel has mobilized approximately 100,000 reservists, along with dozens of battalions, brigades, and divisions.

Defrin emphasized that these forces are prepared for “all possibilities, both defence and offence,” adding that “All options are on the table.”

[2: 25 PM] US embassy in Islamabad issues security alert for its citizens

The United States (US) Embassy in Islamabad has issued a security alert for its citizens amid protest calls after Ali Khamenei’s assassination.

The US embassy, in its alert, said it is monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations outside US diplomatic facilities in Pakistan.

[2: 19 PM] US cancels all visa appointments in Pakistan

The Embassy of the United States, Islamabad and US Consulates in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar have cancelled all visa appointments in Pakistan following nationwide demonstrations, some of which turned violent in Karachi, Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan, leaving at least 10 people dead and dozens injured.

In a statement posted on X, the US Embassy in Islamabad announced that all appointments for US visa services and American Citizen Services were cancelled for today, March 2, at the embassy in Islamabad and the US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore.

[2: 03 PM]Amazon cloud services in Bahrain, UAE disrupted

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is currently experiencing power and connectivity outages at its data centers in Bahrain and the UAE, which the company attributes to Iran’s retaliatory strikes.

AWS reported on its status page that two zones—clusters of data centers—in the UAE are without power. The cloud unit specified that one UAE zone was affected after “objects” struck the data center, resulting in sparks and a fire, necessitating an immediate power shutdown.

The cloud firm has advised customers to utilize services in other regions, with the expectation that recovery will take “multiple hours.”

[1: 57 PM] Death toll in Iran surpasses 550: Red Crescent

[1: 43 PM] Iran confirms shooting down US jet in Kuwait

The Khatam Al-Anbiyaa Central Headquarters has confirmed that Iranian air defenses successfully intercepted and shot down an American F-15 fighter jet in the vicinity of the Kuwait-Iraqi border. This official announcement was issued moments ago via IRIB.

Earlier, Kuwait’s Defense Ministry said “several” US warplanes had crashed in the country; all the crew survived.

[1: 37 PM] Iran condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon, ‘shameful’ silence

[1: 09 PM] ‘Several’ US warplanes crashed in Kuwait: Defence Ministry

Kuwait’s Defense Ministry says “several” US warplanes have crashed in the country; all the crew survived.

A video widely shared on social media captured a US F-15 pilot safely ejecting after the aircraft’s tail caught fire moments before it crashed.

The Kuwait Defence Ministry confirmed that all crew members of the crashed aircraft survived, and Kuwaiti authorities immediately launched search and rescue operations, safely evacuating all crews and transporting them to a hospital for medical treatment, where their condition is reported as stable.

Furthermore, Kuwaiti authorities are coordinating their efforts with the US, and an investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the crash.

[12: 50 PM] China confirms its citizen killed in Tehran

China’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed the death of a Chinese citizen in Tehran following a joint airstrike by the U.S. and Israel, RT reports.

This confirmation follows an earlier statement from the Ministry expressing high concern over the military strikes against Iran by the U.S. and Israel, emphasizing that Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be respected.

Consequently, China is urging an immediate cessation of all military actions to prevent further escalation. The country advocates for a return to dialogue and negotiation to uphold peace and stability in the Middle East.

[12: 38 PM] Israeli-US attack Kataib Hezbollah sites south of Baghdad

An Israeli-US missile attack struck positions belonging to the Iran-backed paramilitary group Kataib Hezbollah in Jurf al-Sakhr, located south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. This information was confirmed by a security source to Al Jazeera.

The strike resulted in considerable material damage, including the incineration of vehicles, facilities, and storage depots. As of now, no casualties have been confirmed.

[11: 05 AM] Iran will not negotiate, says Ali Larijani

Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani, who was also an adviser to the country’s former Supreme Leader, said that Tehran will not negotiate with the US, in response to a report that Iran is trying to revive negotiations with Washington.

لن نتفاوض مع الولايات المتحدة https://t.co/cvEweU8ODj

— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 2, 2026

[ 10: 27 AM] France, Germany and Britain signal readiness for defensive action against Iran

France, Germany and Britain have issued a joint statement declaring their readiness to defend their interests and those of their allies in the Middle East.

The three governments expressed strong condemnation of what they described as Iran’s indiscriminate and disproportionate missile attacks. In their statement, they noted that Tehran had also targeted countries that were not involved in the initial American and Israeli operations.

The joint declaration further indicated that, if necessary, the three nations would take steps to neutralise Iran’s missile and drone capabilities.

[09: 43 AM] PSX loses over 15,000 points amid Middle East tensions after Iran-Israel war

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the week in the red, plunging more than 15,000 points amid heightened geopolitical tensions following the US-Iran conflict, which has also roiled global equity markets.

اسرائیل امریکا کےایران پرحملےکے بعدپاکستان اسٹاک مارکیٹ کریش کر گئی#ARYNews #BreakingNews #PSX #iran #Israel #USA pic.twitter.com/fKAAzT945W

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 2, 2026

[ 09: 01 AM] No one can deny Iran’s right to self-defence: FM Araghchi 

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly rejected a warning from US President Donald Trump that Tehran should avoid retaliation or face overwhelming force, insisting that Iran is acting in self-defence amid rising tensions.

In remarks responding directly to Trump’s statement, Araghchi said Iran has a “legitimate right” to defend itself and described US actions as “an act of aggression.” He stressed that there is a fundamental difference between initiating force and responding to it.

“We are defending ourselves, whatever it takes,” Araghchi said, adding that no country can be told it does not have the right to protect its sovereignty.

[07: o2 AM] Hezbollah joins Iran, fires missiles at Isael

حزب اللّٰہ نے اسرائیل پر راکٹ داغ دیے، ایران کیساتھ جنگ میں شامل#ARYNews #BreakingNews #iranisraelwar pic.twitter.com/VPu5pp5LiI

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 2, 2026

[11:48 PM]  UAE withdraws ambassador from Iran, closes embassy over attacks: statement

The United Arab Emirates was shuttering its embassy in Iran and recalling its ambassador, a statement from the foreign ministry said on Sunday, following a barrage of Iranian attacks targeting the Emirates.

“The UAE announces closure of its embassy in Tehran and withdrawal of its ambassador and all members of its diplomatic mission, and condemns the Iranian missile attacks,” read a statement posted by the foreign ministry’s director of strategic communications on X.

The decision was made in response to “the blatant Iranian missile attacks that targeted the country’s territories, which constitute aggressive assaults that struck civilian sites, including residential areas, airports, ports, and service facilities, and exposed defenceless civilians to danger”.

[11:40 PM] Hackers hit Iranian apps, websites after US-Israeli strikes

A wave of cyber-enabled operations took place early Saturday morning alongside the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on targets across Iran, according to cybersecurity experts and observers.

The operations included the hacking of multiple news websites to display various messages and the hack of BadeSaba, a religious calendar app with more than 5 million downloads, which displayed messages telling users “It’s time for reckoning” and urging armed forces to give up weapons and join the people.

Reuters could not establish contact with BadeSaba’s chief executive.

A spokesperson for U.S. Cyber Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Internet connectivity in Iran dropped precipitously at 0706 GMT, and then again at 1147 GMT, with only minimal connectivity remaining, Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, said in a post on X.

The cyberattack on BadeSaba was a smart move because government supporters use it and they tend to be more religious, said Hamid Kashfi, a security researcher and founder of cybersecurity firm DarkCell.

Cyber operations also struck a variety of Iranian government services and military targets to limit a coordinated Iranian response, the Jerusalem Post reported on Saturday. Reuters has not been able to independently verify the claims.

[10:42 PM] Trump says nine Iran navy ships ‘destroyed and sunk’

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that US military strikes had sunk nine Iranian naval vessels and partially destroyed Iran’s navy headquarters.

“I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.

“We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!”

[10:37 PM] Some 60 French-owned or -flagged commercial ships blocked in Gulf

Some 60 French-owned or -flagged commercial vessels are currently blocked in the Gulf, because of threats in the Strait of Hormuz related to the Iran war, the boss of a French organisation representing shipping companies told AFP.

Those ships have been told by the French navy “to get to safe shelter”, Laurent Martens, director general of Armateurs de France, said.

He added that these vessels were “not priority targets” in the conflict and their crew members “were sheltering in the ships, in ports”.

[10:30 PM] Iran’s new leadership wants to talk, claims Trump

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Iran’s new leadership wants to talk to him and that he has agreed, according to an interview with the Atlantic magazine. “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them.

They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long,” Trump said in the interview from his Florida residence.

Trump did not specify who he would be speaking with or say whether it would occur on Sunday or Monday.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said a leadership council composed of himself, the judiciary head and a member of the powerful Guardians Council had temporarily assumed the duties of the supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Trump said some of the people who were involved in recent talks with the U.S. are no longer alive.

“Most of those people are gone. Some of the people we were dealing with are gone, because that was a big – that was a big hit,” he was quoted as saying in the interview with Atlantic staff writer Michael Scherer. “They should have done it sooner, Michael. They could have made a deal. They should’ve done it sooner. They played too cute.”

[08:44 PM] Attack in western Iran kills 43 members of security forces: local media

Iranian media reported that 43 members of the security forces were killed in an attack on the headquarters of a border regiment in the western city of Mehran near Iraq on Sunday.

“This attack, which was accompanied by bombing, unfortunately resulted in the martyrdom of 43 security personnel, most of them border guards, and parts of nearby buildings were also seriously damaged,” the Mehr news agency said.

“According to initial reports, this hostile act was carried out by agents of the United States and the Zionist regime.”

[08:37 PM] US military says three of its service members killed in Iran operation

WASHINGTON: Three U.S. service members have been killed in action as part of U.S. military operations against Iran, the U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Sunday.

Five others were seriously wounded as part of Operation Epic Fury, it said.

[08:33 PM] US says it sinks Iranian warship

WASHINGTON: The U.S. military said on Sunday it has sunk an Iranian warship and called on Iranian forces to lay down their arms and leave their posts.

The U.S. Central Command, which is overseeing ongoing U.S. attacks on Iran, said it sunk an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette in the Gulf of Oman at a Chah Bahar pier.

“As the President said, members of Iran’s armed forces, IRGC and police ‘must lay down your weapons.’ Abandon ship,” Central Command said in a post on X, referring to remarks on Saturday by President Donald Trump.

[07:45 PM] Iran Guards say ‘struck’ US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Sunday that they had attacked the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf after US and Israeli strikes killed the country’s supreme leader.

“The US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was struck by four ballistic missiles,” the Guards said in a statement carried by local media, warning that the “the land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of the terrorist aggressors”.

[7:20 PM] Nine killed in Iran missile attack on Israel: first responders

The death toll from an Iranian missile attack Sunday in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh rose to at least nine people, first responders said, in the deadliest strike in the country since the war began.

The Magen David Adom emergency service said: “In the Beit Shemesh area, MDA EMTs and paramedics have pronounced the deaths of nine” people, as well as 28 others injured, with police saying it was a direct hit on a building.

Dozens of Israeli rescue personnel were deployed to the site of the impact, and an AFP photographer saw teams removing a body from the rubble of the building that bore the brunt of the missile strike.

“They are bringing all kinds of equipment to try to locate people,” said another AFP photographer at the scene of the attack.

“Apparently, there are still people underneath,” he added, as rescue teams continued their search.

Photographs from the scene showed a house destroyed by the blast, its roof reduced to mangled concrete and twisted iron bars.

Rescue teams continued searching for survivors beneath the debris.

“When I arrived, I saw a terrible scene,” Yehuda Shlomo, an MDA paramedic, said in a statement.

“I saw heavy structural damage, smoke in the air, and a great deal of chaos, with dozens of frightened casualties emerging from damaged buildings.”

[06:43 PM] Who will take over from Khamenei?

Insiders in Iran said the ruling establishment would immediately seek to name a successor to Khamenei to signal stability and continuity. Under Iran’s constitution, the Supreme Leader is appointed by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body.

For now, the body tasked with fulfilling the role until the Assembly of Experts elects a new leader is the Leadership Council. Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was appointed on Sunday as the jurist member of that council, ISNA news agency reported. The council’s two other members are President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

The Supreme Leader holds ultimate power, acting as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and deciding on the direction of foreign policy, defined largely by confrontation with the United States and Israel.

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday told Iranians to pursue a rare chance to topple their clerical leaders. However, experts said Khamenei’s demise would not necessarily spell the end of Iran’s entrenched clerical rule or the power of the elite Revolutionary Guards over the population.

[05:59 PM] Six people killed in missile strike on Israel

The Israeli ambulance service said six people had been killed in a missile strike on the town of Beit Shemesh, west of Jerusalem.

[4:00 PM] North Korea condemns US-Israeli attacks on Iran as ‘illegal aggression’

North Korea’s foreign ministry spokesperson, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, has condemned the US-Israeli attacks on Iran as “illegal aggression” and a “violation of national sovereignty.”

The spokesperson stated that US involvement was “within the range of expectations,” describing it as an inevitable outcome given the country’s “hegemonic and gangster-like” character.

The statement concluded that this “war of aggression” by the US and Israel is unacceptable under any circumstances.

[3: 54 PM] Putin calls Khamenei killing ‘cynical murder’

[3: 42 PM] OPEC+ debates oil output boost as war disrupts shipments

OPEC+ will consider a larger-than-expected oil output increase on Sunday, two OPEC+ sources said.

The grouping has a history of raising oil output to cushion disruptions.

But analysts said the group currently has very little spare capacity to meaningfully add to supply, except for its leader Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Oil prices jumped on Friday to $73 per barrel, the highest level since July, on fears of a wider conflict.

The meeting on Sunday will start at 1100 GMT and will involve only eight members of OPEC+ – Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria and Oman.

[3: 18 PM] Alireza Arafi appointed to Iran’s Leadership Council

[2: 53 PM] Security chief says Iran to hit US, Israel ‘with a force they never experienced before’

[2: 43 PM] Here’s the latest on flight cancellations

Emirates Airlines now says it has suspended all operations to and from Dubai until 3 p.m. (1100 GMT) on Monday.

Airlines continued to cancel flights across the Middle East on Sunday as much of the region’s airspace remained closed.

Dubai International Airport sustained damage during Iran’s retaliatory attacks while airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were also hit.

[2: 05 PM] Oil tanker attacked near the coast of Oman

An oil tanker sailing under the Palau flag, the Skylight, was reportedly attacked approximately five nautical miles off Oman’s Musandam, according to Oman’s maritime security centre.

The attack resulted in injuries to four people, and the entire crew of 20 was evacuated.

Details remain limited, but the incident follows an earlier event where two drones targeted the port of Duqm, as reported by Oman’s state media, injuring one foreign worker.

[1: 45 PM] PM Shehbaz Sharif ‘postpones’ Russia visit amid regional tensions

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly postponed his planned visit to Russia in view of the rapidly evolving and exceptional situation in the Middle East and the wider region.

According to sources at the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif was due to depart for a two-day official visit to Moscow on Monday (2 March). However, given the prevailing tensions and security challenges, the trip has been deferred for the time being.

وزیر اعظم شہباز شریف کا دورہ روس منسوخ#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/YeUafYHGuy

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 1, 2026

[1:05 PM] Iran’s 24-hour Internet Blackout After Ayatollah Khamenei’s Killing

Iran’s internet blackout has now passed the 24-hour mark, with national connectivity flatlining at 1% of ordinary levels, according to Netblocks.

The measure limits civic engagement at a key moment for the country’s future after the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei in US and Israeli airstrikes on Saturday.

[12: 35 PM] Israel claims to have dropped over 1,200 bombs on Iran in one day

Israel’s air force says it dropped more than 1,200 munitions on Iran over the past day in its joint attack with the US.

Among the sites attacked in Iran was an elementary girls’ school in Minab, a city in the Hormozgan province of southern Iran, where at least 148 people have been reported killed and dozens more injured.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said “dozens of innocent children” were murdered in the attack on the school, which would “not go unanswered”.

[11:40 AM] Iranian TV confirms military Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi is dead

Iran’s military Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi has been killed, state media said on Sunday.

The news is another blow to Iran, after the death of Khamenei was confirmed on Sunday along with top officials Ali Shamkhani and Mohammed Pakpour.

ایرانی میڈیا کی ایران کے آرمی چیف عبد الرحیم موسوی کی شہادت کی تصدیق#ARYNews #Iran pic.twitter.com/3gknlooYgb

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 1, 2026

[11: 35 AM] Protester storm US Consulate Karachi

At least five injured as protests have erupted outside the United States Consulate shortly after news spread of the reported assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israel strike on Iran.

According to details, a large number of protesters assembled near the consulate in Karachi, chanting slogans and attempting to move towards the building.

Police used tear gas and baton charges in an effort to disperse the crowd. The situation escalated further when some protesters allegedly broke through the main gate and entered the consulate’s outer premises.

کراچی: مظاہرین امریکی قونصل خانے میں داخل توڑ پھوڑ#ARYNews #Karachi #iranisraelconflict pic.twitter.com/0c0ghdFgPN

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 1, 2026

[11:13 AM] Iran to set up temporary leadership council Sunday

Iran’s top security official, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani, said a temporary leadership council will be set up on Sunday, Iranian state TV reported.

He also warned that secessionist groups will face a harsh response if they attempt any action, as he accused the U.S. and Israel of seeking to plunder and disintegrate Iran, state TV said.

3 رکنی کو نسل عارضی طور پر ایران کی قیادت سنبھالے گی#ARYNews #iranisraelconflict #ayatullahkhamenei pic.twitter.com/r0cQYH8pZI

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 1, 2026

[10: 46 AM] Trump warns Iran: ‘THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT’

The U.S. will hit Iran “with a force that has never been seen before” if the Middle East nation retaliates, Trump said on Sunday.

“Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever been hit before,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

He added, “THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”

[10:04 AM]  IRGC attacks US Bases in Middle East

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that American military bases in the Middle East are being targeted, alleging that 27 US installations across the region have come under attack.

The IRGC further claimed that explosions occurred near Erbil International Airport in Iraq, which it said is used by US and allied forces.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that at least 11 explosions were heard in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Reports also suggested that multiple blasts were heard in Dubai, although there has been no immediate official confirmation regarding the nature or cause of the explosions.

ایران نے اسرائیل، امریکی اڈوں کے خلاف حملوں کی چھٹی لہر شروع کردی، پاسداران انقلاب
تازہ ترین صورتحال#ARYNews #iranisraelconflict #ayatullahkhamenei pic.twitter.com/v54vw9zy58

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 1, 2026

[ 09: 48 AM] Air raid sirens sound across Israel

Shortly after 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) air raid sirens repeatedly sounded across Israel, warning residents of an incoming attack.

In Tel Aviv, a series of explosions were heard as Israel’s sophisticated air defense system sought to intercept the latest Iranian offensive.

There was no immediate reports of any damage or injuries.

[ 09: 26 AM] Iran continues retaliatory strikes against Israel

Despite death of Iran’s supreme leader, IRG continues attacking Israel in retaliatory strikes. One Israeli is dead and 20 are injured as per Israeli media reports.

[ 06: 59 AM] Revolutionary Guard mourns ‘great leader’ Khamenei

“We have lost a great leader and we are mourning him, a leader who was unique in in terms of purity of spirit, strength of faith, resourcefulness in affairs, courage in the face of the arrogant, and jihad in the path of God”, a statement from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said.

ایرانی فوج کا سپریم لیڈر آیت اللہ خامنہ ای کو شہیدکیےجانےکا بدلہ لینےکااعلان#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/BpwTyIN0Zn

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 1, 2026

[06:47 AM] Muhammad Raza Arif appointed Iran president: Israeli media

According to Israeli media reports Muhammad Raza Arif has took charge as Iran president.

[05:53 AM] Ayatollah Khamenei dead in Israeli-American strikes: Iranian media

Iranian state media have confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed at his office in the Israeli-US attacks on Iran, following earlier reports of his killing by US and Israeli officials.

A 40-day mourning period for the longtime Iranian leader has been announced.

ایران کےسرکاری میڈیا نے آیت اللہ خامنہ ای کی شہادت کی تصدیق کردی#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/xJ9nOybEZZ

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 1, 2026

[03:44 AM] Iran envoy to UN slams civilian deaths as ‘war crime’

The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations on Saturday alleged the US and Israel had committed a “war crime,” saying their strikes had targeted civilian infrastructure and killed more than 100 children at a school, AFP reported.

“The number of innocent civilians continues to rise. This is not only an act of aggression, it is a war crime and a crime against humanity,” Amir Saeid Iravani told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

“ایران پر اسرائیل اور امریکا کے حملے میں عام شہری مارے گئے”، ایرانی مندوب#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/uiw7BMDgmZ

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) February 28, 2026

[2:46 AM] Iran Strikes Dubai International Airport

Dubai airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, was damaged and four staff were injured in an “incident”, it said on Saturday following waves of Iranian missile attacks, AFP reported

“A concourse at Dubai International sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained,” Dubai Airports said in a statement, adding: “Due to contingency plans already in place, most of the terminals were previously cleared of passengers.”

Dubai authorities said debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire at the city’s famed luxury hotel the Burj Al Arab, according to a statement Sunday, following a wave of Iranian strikes launched at Gulf states.

“Authorities confirm that a drone was intercepted and debris caused a minor fire on the Burj Al Arab’s outer facade,” the Dubai Media Office wrote on its X account.

“Civil Defence teams responded immediately and brought the incident under control. No injuries have been reported.”

دبئی کےانٹرنیشنل ایئرپورٹ ٹرمینل 3کےقریب ایران کا ڈرون حملہ#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/5TnbOrkitG

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) February 28, 2026

[1:42 AM] Trump claims Iran’s top leadership killed

US President Donald Trump has claimed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

In the post, President Trump stated that Khamenei was “unable to avoid our intelligence and highly sophisticated tracking systems” and suggested that other Iranian leaders had also been killed.

He described the situation as an opportunity for the Iranian people to “take back their country” and claimed that some members of Iran’s IRGC, military, security, and police forces were seeking immunity from the US.

Trump added that US military operations in the region would continue, describing the bombing campaign as “heavy and pinpoint” and saying it would persist as long as necessary to achieve “peace throughout the Middle East and, indeed, the world.”

Earlier, Trump also calimed in an interview with American television that most of Iran’s key decision makers have been killed.

US President Trump said that reports suggesting the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, appeared to be accurate.

He described the US strike on Iran as “very powerful”, adding that he was confident reports regarding Ayatollah Khamenei’s killing were correct. Trump also said the conflict with Iran could either be prolonged or conclude within a matter of days.

[1:20 AM] Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed, senior Israeli official claims- Reuters report

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who turned the country into a powerful anti-US. force and extended its military influence across the Middle East while crushing repeated domestic unrest, was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes, a senior Israeli official told Reuters on Saturday.

سینئر اسرائیلی حکام کا ایرانی سپریم لیڈر علی خامنہ ای کی لاش ملنے کا دعویٰ، رائٹرز#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/9JKm0hApo9

— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) February 28, 2026

[12:47] Iran strongly rejects Israel’s claims about Khamenei, says he is ‘commanding the field

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is personally overseeing and directing the country’s war effort, according to reports in Iranian  media.

[12:19] Israel’s Netanyahu says many signs that Khamenei ‘is no longer’

[12:07 AM] son-in-law and daughter-in-law of Iran’s Supreme Leader Martyred

The son-in-law and daughter-in-law of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, have been martyred, according to a statement issued by the Iranian embassy.

[11:20 PM] Iranian Red Crescent says more than 200 killed in US-Israeli strikes

The Iranian Red Crescent reported on Saturday evening that at least 201 people were killed and 747 wounded in strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran.

The organisation said “24 (of Iran’s 31) provinces were affected and the Red Crescent is in a state of alert”, in a statement published by the ISNA news agency. This is the first official Iranian toll from the strikes.

[10:13 PM] Iran’s revolutionary guards tell ships passage through Strait of Hormuz ‘not allowed’, EU naval

An official from the European Union’s naval mission Aspides said on Saturday that vessels have been receiving VHF transmission from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards saying “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz”.

The strait is the world’s most vital oil export route, which connects the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Iran had not formally confirmed any such order. Tehran has for years threatened to block the narrow waterway in retaliation for any attack on the Islamic Republic.

[8: 58 PM] Death toll from attack on school in Iran’s south rises to 85: judiciary

The death toll from an attack Saturday on a school in Iran’s south has risen to 85, the judiciary said, after the US and Israel launched strikes on the Islamic republic.

“The number of martyrs at the girls’ school in Minab has increased to 85,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website quoted the area’s prosecutor’s office as saying.

[8: 37 PM] Khamenei is alive, Iran interested in de-escalation: foreign minister

Iran’s foreign minister said the country’s supreme leader was alive, along with all high-ranking officials, after Israel and the United States launched strikes across the country on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was alive “as far as I know”, in an interview from Tehran with the US outlet, adding that “all high ranking officials are alive”.

Araghchi said he had been in contact with Gulf states and “explained for them that we have no intention to attack them but we are actually attacking the American bases in the act of self defence”.

He added that while there was no communication with Washington now, “if Americans wants to talk to us. They know how they can contact me. We are certainly interested for de-escalation”.

[8: 30 PM] UN calls emergency Security Council meeting after strikes on Iran

The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting Saturday after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes by Tehran.

The session due to start at 4:00 pm (2100 GMT) will address “the situation in the Middle East,” the United Nations said. The meeting was urged by France and Bahrain, according to the Israeli delegation to the world body.

[7: 52 PM] UN chief condemns Mideast ‘escalation,’ urges immediate end to hostilities

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned the “escalation” of military violence in the Middle East and urged an immediate cessation of fighting.

[7: 41 PM] Iran defence minister, Guards commander killed in Israeli attacks, three sources say (Reuters)

Iran’s Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour are believed to have been killed in Israeli attacks, two sources familiar with Israel’s military operations and one regional source said.

[7:17 PM] China calls for ‘immediate halt’ to Iran escalation

China warned against any further escalation in the Middle East on Saturday, calling for an “immediate halt” to violence after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, which has retaliated with missiles.

“China calls for an immediate halt to military actions, urges avoiding further escalation of tensions, and encourages the resumption of dialogue and negotiations to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said.

“Iran’s national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected,” it added.

[7:17 PM] 20 of Iran’s 31 provinces ‘affected in attacks’: Iran’s Red Crescent Society

More than 20 of Iran’s 31 provinces have been impacted by US and Israeli strikes launched on Saturday, Iran’s Red Crescent Society said.

[ 7:17 PM] Baghdad denounces strikes on Iran, warns against involving Iraq

Iraqi authorities denounced US-Israeli strikes on neighbouring Iran and warned against drawing Iraq into the conflict, after air strikes killed two people in the country’s south.

Sabah Al-Numan, the military spokesman for the prime minister, said that Iraq “condemned the unjustified aggression against the Islamic republic”, and “warned of the consequences of the blatant aggression” against Iraqi sites.

Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran on Saturday, with the Islamic republic retaliating with barrages of missiles targeting Gulf states and Israel.

In Iraq, two people were killed Saturday in air strikes on a military base housing the powerful pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah, which has threatened the US with an imminent response.

Earlier Saturday, Iraq said it had closed its airspace.

Witnesses and a military source told AFP that warplanes and missiles were seen flying through Iraqi airspace.

Numan warned against using Iraq’s airspace and territory “as a corridor or launching point for aggression against Iran”.

Iraq “equally rejects the use of its land or territorial waters as a means of dragging the country into the conflict”, he added.

Baghdad also called “for the immediate cessation of military operations” and urged powers, especially the US, to “act responsibly and contribute effectively to finding solutions away from the military option”.

[ 7:17 PM] Jordan strongly condemns Iran’s attacks on UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait

Jordan’s foreign ministry on Saturday strongly condemned Iran’s attacks on the kingdom as well as the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, stressing the “need for restraint” in the conflict.

The ministry said in a statement it “condemned in the strongest terms Iran’s attack on Jordanian territory with ballistic missiles, as well as the attacks on the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait”.

The ministry underscored “the need for restraint and the adoption of diplomatic solutions and dialogue”.

[ 7:13 PM] Qatar ruler, Saudi crown prince urge ‘immediate halt’ to escalation on call: Qatari emir’s office

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday urged a halt to escalation and return to dialogue after Iranian missiles targeted countries across the Gulf.

On a call “both sides emphasised the necessity of an immediate halt to any escalatory actions and a return to the dialogue table to preserve regional security and prevent a slide toward broader confrontations,” the Qatari ruler’s office said in a statement.

[ 6:18 PM] Toll from southern Iran school strike rises to 51: state TV

A strike that hit a school in southern Iran killed 51 students, state television reported Saturday, citing a local official who gave an updated toll.

“In this morning’s Israeli missile attack on a girls’ elementary school in the (Minab) county, 51 students have so far been killed and 60 students have been wounded,” the county governor said.

[5: 15 PM] Omani foreign minister urges US ‘not to get sucked in further’

Badr Albusaidi, the foreign minister of Oman, who had been mediating the recent rounds of indirect talks between the US and Iran.

In a social media post, Albusaidi said he was “dismayed” by today’s attacks.

“Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined. Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this. And I pray for the innocents who will suffer,” he added.

I am dismayed. Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined. Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this. And I pray for the innocents who will suffer. I urge the United States not to get sucked in further.…

— Badr Albusaidi – بدر البوسعيدي (@badralbusaidi) February 28, 2026

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[4:53 PM] — Israel’s opposition reacts to Iran operation

Arab-Israeli opposition MK Ayman Odeh stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has decided that Israel will “live by the sword forever,” amid ongoing strikes by the Israeli Air Force and U.S. forces on Iran.

“Look after yourselves, because this government won’t do it for you,” Odeh warned, emphasizing that military action isn’t “the only way” and advocating for a regional solution that would bring “justice, peace, security, stability, and prosperity to all of us.”

Meanwhile, other opposition MKs showed less criticism of the joint operation, which started Saturday morning.

[4:44 PM] — Death toll from Israeli strike on Iranian elementary school surges to 40

The Epstein regime has murdered 24 girls at their elementary school in Minab city. pic.twitter.com/oYg4Fm3MVq

— Seyed Mohammad Marandi (@s_m_marandi) February 28, 2026

The political, security, and social deputy governor of Hormozgan reported to Tasnim News that an Israeli strike directly hit a girls’ elementary school in Minab County during today’s attacks. So far, 40 students have been confirmed killed.

[4:20 PM] — American/Israeli air strikes on Supreme Leader Khamenei’s compound

A photo from the New York Times displays the damage caused by American/Israeli air strikes to Supreme Leader Khamenei’s compound in Tehran.

The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, plunging the Middle East into a new conflict that President Donald Trump said would end a security threat to the United States and give Iranians a chance to topple their rulers.

The strikes put nearby oil-producing Gulf Arab countries on edge as fears of escalation in the region grew, and Israel said Tehran responded by launching missiles towards Israel.

[3:48 PM] — Israeli assassination attempt failed

Israeli assessments indicate that the attempt to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei and the Iranian President has failed,’ – Channel 15

The first wave of strikes in what the Pentagon named “OPERATION EPIC FURY” mainly targeted Iranian officials, a source familiar with the matter said.

Earlier, an Israeli official said Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Masoud Pezeshkian were both targeted, but the result of the strikes was not clear. A source with knowledge of the matter had earlier told Reuters that Khamenei was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a secure location.

[3:34 PM] — Russia’s Medvedev says US negotiations were ‘a cover’

[3:32 PM] — Israel targets elementary school in Iran; 5 killed

Iran’s Pres TV reports that the political, security, and social deputy governor of Hormozgan said: A girls’ elementary school was directly hit in today’s Israeli attacks on Minab County, and so far five students have been killed.  No injuries were reported.

[2:48 PM] — Explosions reported in Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi

Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the fifth US base in Bahrain have been targeted by Iranian missile attacks, according to Iran’s Fars news agency. AFP news agency is also reporting explosions in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh as well.

[2:25 PM] — Israelis head for shelter as missiles launched from Iran

[2:09 PM] — Iran repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons ahead of attacks

[1:53 PM] — Iran’s Interior Ministry urges citizens to remain calm

[1:49 PM] — OPERATION EPIC FURY.’

The Pentagon says the strikes on Iran were named ‘OPERATION EPIC FURY.’

We have now heard from U.S. President Donald Trump. In a video posted on social media, he said:

• “A short time ago, the U.S. military began major combat operations in Iran.”
• “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
• Iran “can never have a nuclear weapon.”
• “We sought repeatedly to make a deal.”
• Iran “attempted to rebuild their nuclear programme.”
• Iran is developing long-range missiles that threaten the U.S. and others.”
• “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”
• “We’re going to annihilate their navy.”
• “We will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.”

[1:44 PM] — Iranian missiles intercepted

The Israeli Defence Force reported that another volley of projectiles had been launched toward Israel, urging citizens to follow the directives of the Home Front Command strictly. The military instructed residents to remain in their protected spaces until an official announcement is made regarding their safety.

Additionally, an IDF spokesperson strongly warned the public against publishing or sharing the locations of vulnerabilities or any documentation of impacts. To reassure citizens, the military stated that its air defense systems are continuously detecting and intercepting incoming threats.

Iranian authorities have vowed to give a harsh response to Israel and the US bases in the Middle East.

[1:29 PM] — Explosions rock northern Israel

[1:22 PM] — Iran launches missiles towards Israel: Israeli army

[1:00 PM] — Places where Israeli attacks targeted in Tehran?

[12:48 PM] — Iranian President is unharmed

The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, was unharmed during the attacks by Israel and the U.S., according to the Iranian Mehr agency.

[12:39 PM] — US President Donald Trump

“We have started an extensive military operation in Iran; we will destroy the threat from the cruel Iranian regime,” – President Donald Trump.

“Our goal is to protect the American people by destroying the threats from the Iranian regime.” – President Donald Trump.

[12:34 PM] — Iran’s response will be crushing

Tehran is preparing for retaliation, and the response will be crushing, an Iranian official tells Reuters.

[12:25 PM] — Israel will carry out attacks for four days

The New York Times reported that the first phase of the assault on Tehran is set to last for four days.

[12:17 PM] — Multiple cities targeted

Tehran Times reported strikes in several cities, including Qom, Khoramabad, Esfahan, and Tehran.

[12:15 PM] — Civilians targeted in Tehran

Civilians hit by Israeli strike in Iran

[12:05 PM] — US-Israel joint attack on Iran

The U.S. participated in the attack and was also carrying out strikes. – WSJ citing U.S. official.

[12:00 PM] — Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was not in Tehran

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was not in Tehran during the attacks. – Reuters.

Joseph Aoun condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanese Soldiers

Lebanese president says Israel’s targeting of soldiers undermines calls on army to confront Hezbollah

The Lebanese presidency has said in a statement on X that Joseph Aoun made calls to top security officials, offering his condolences for the soldiers killed today in Israeli air strikes.

“President Aoun emphasised that targeting the military institution, which plays a unifying national role in protecting stability and preserving sovereignty, blatantly contradicts the calls by Lebanon and the international community to empower the army to extend state authority over all Lebanese territory and to confine weapons to the legitimate armed forces,” the statement said.

Israel and the US have made it clear that they expect the Lebanese Army to confront and disarm Hezbollah or face the open-ended wrath of an intensified Israeli military campaign.

In its latest targeting of Lebanese army personnel, two soldiers were killed today when Israel attacked them on the Zebdine-Nabatieh road in southern Lebanon.