Iran War 2026- Live Updates
- By Agencies -
- Mar 20, 2026

TEHRAN: The US and Israel have launched a major combat attack on Iran, the Israeli defence minister said on Saturday. Iran has responded swiftly and has targeted key Israeli cities with a barrage of Ballistic missiles.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced missile and drone attacks against Israel in retaliation for the strikes, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Israel’s military said it had protectively sounded air raid sirens in areas across the country “to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward Israel” in retaliation.
“We have started an extensive military operation in Iran; we will destroy the threat from the cruel Iranian regime,” the US President said in a video statement.
[2:34 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.”
[2:05 PM] Oil prices climb as Iran denies Trump’s claims of productive talks
Oil prices rose on Tuesday as supply fears resurfaced following Iran’s denial of any negotiations with the United States. The move contradicts President Donald Trump’s earlier assertions that a deal to end the Gulf conflict could be reached soon.
Market Reaction
-
Brent crude futures increased by $2.89 (2.9%) to $102.83 per barrel.
-
WTI climbed $2.49 (2.8%) to $90.62 per barrel.
This follows a sharp 10% drop in crude futures on Monday after Trump delayed strikes on Iranian power plants for five days, citing “major points of agreement” with unnamed officials. KCM Trade analyst Tim Waterer noted that while the “war premium” was briefly reduced, the market is finding its footing as the Strait of Hormuz remains a contested waterway.
The conflict has effectively halted nearly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments through the Strait. Despite the tension, two tankers bound for India successfully transited the waterway on Monday. Tehran has dismissed the talk of diplomacy as “fake news” intended to manipulate markets, while the IRGC continues to report strikes on U.S. targets.
[1:02 PM] Iran denies Trump’s claim of productive peace talks, calls reports ‘fake news’

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
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that he believes both the US-Israel coalition and Iran might be guilty of war crimes in the current conflict.
In comments made during an interview to the US publication POLITICO, Guterres said: “If there are attacks either on Iran or from Iran on energy infrastructure, I think that there are reasonable grounds to think that they might constitute a war crime.”
Israel on Wednesday struck Iran’s South Pars gasfield. Iran hit back by launching missiles against oil and gas facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. An Iranian missile struck Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas field — the world’s biggest producer of LNG — setting Qatar’s gas production back by 17 percent for the next five years, according to the CEO of QatarEnergy.
[12:50 PM] IRGC says spokesperson killed: State media
The IRGC has confirmed that General Ali Mohammad Naeini, its spokesman, has been killed in an Israeli-American missile attack.
The state-owned Tasnim news agency reported on Telegram and X that Naeini was killed early on Friday.
[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
Oil prices have fallen after leading European nations and Japan offered to join efforts to secure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz and the US outlined moves to boost oil supply.
On Friday morning, Brent futures fell by 1.3 percent, to $107.29 a barrel.
Oil prices had surged to nearly $119 a barrel on Thursday and later settled at around $109 a barrel.
[09: 32 AM] Iran warns of possible Israeli strike on Aramco
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
Qatar has expelled key Iranian military and security officials on Wednesday, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf following recent missile strikes on critical energy infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said it had declared the military and security attaches at the Iranian embassy, along with their staff, “persona non grata” and ordered them to leave the 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.
[04:42 PM] Israel shuts Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan citing Iran war

Occupying Israel has closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, using the ongoing war with Iran as a pretext.
For the first time since the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Muslims are unable to perform Tarawih prayers at the mosque during Ramadan, and the traditional practice of I‘tikaf in the last 10 days of the month cannot be observed.
Last year, despite the restrictions imposed by Israel, Palestinians successfully performed Tarawih prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power).
This year, however, the site has been closed for days under the pretext of the conflict. In response, worshippers are refusing to leave the area, choosing instead to pray in the immediate vicinity of the mosque.
[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.
[3:17 PM] Nearly 900 civilian building units damaged in US-Israeli attacks on Iran’s Khuzestan province
According to a provincial official cited by the Mehr news agency, at least 869 civilian buildings have been damaged in Iran’s southwestern province of Khuzestan since the US-Israeli attacks began.
The official detailed that the damaged properties consist of 847 residential and 22 commercial units.
[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
Israel informed the US this week that it is running critically low on ballistic missile interceptors as the conflict with Iran continues, Semafor reported on Saturday, citing US officials familiar with the matter.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
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
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vowed to target Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the war with Israel and the United States continues.
“If this child-killing criminal is alive, we will continue to pursue and kill him with full force,” said the Guards on their website Sepah News.
BREAKING Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vow to “pursue and kill” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pic.twitter.com/DTigrGXjxJ
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 15, 2026
[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
Israeli air attacks have taken place on the towns of Rashaf and Yater in southern Lebanon, as well as on the outskirts of Qantara town.
Yesterday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said at least 634 people had been killed and 1,586 wounded by Israeli attacks on the country since March 2.
[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
Pentagon officials have estimated the cost of the first six days of the war at more than $11.3bn, according to US media.
Military officials provided the estimate to lawmakers in a closed-door briefing on Tuesday, The New York Times and NBC News reported, citing unnamed sources.
The estimate does not include some other costs associated with the conflict, such as the buildup of military hardware and personnel ahead of the first attacks, meaning the true figure is expected to be significantly higher, according to the reports.
[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’
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi says attacks on Qatar and neighbouring countries “need to immediately stop”.
“We have condemned, in the strongest terms, the unjustified and outrageous attacks on the state of Qatar, that directly impact our sovereignty,” he said in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera.
[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
Mohammad Jamalian, a member of Iran’s parliamentary health committee, says nine hospitals in the country are no longer operational due to US and Israeli attacks.
Pharmaceutical stockpiles are sufficient for six months, Jamalian said, while cosmetic surgeries have been suspended to make room for emergency patients.
[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
[09: 10 AM] Trump, Putin discuss ‘quick’ ending to Iran war
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Monday and shared his proposals for a quick settlement to the Iran war, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
امریکی صدر ڈونلڈ ٹرمپ اور روسی ہم منصب ولادیمیر پیوٹن کےدرمیان رابطہ،خبرایجنسی#ARYNews pic.twitter.com/nMB8kTCk4a
— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 9, 2026
[08 : 00 AM] Not this week but Iran war will end soon: Trump
US President Donald Trump said Iran war will end soon, he was talking to reporters.
“اس ہفتے نہیں لیکن ایران جنگ جلد ختم ہونے والی ہے”
صحافی کے سوال پر امریکی صدر ٹرمپ کا جواب #ARYNews pic.twitter.com/1VKcLAJup9— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 9, 2026
[04: 28 PM] Saudi Aramco reducing output at two oilfields, two sources say

Saudi oil giant Aramco has begun cutting output at two of its oilfields, two sources said on Monday.
It was not immediately clear at which fields and by how much production was being curtailed.
Aramco, which has been rerouting some of its crude cargoes to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Several of Saudi Arabia’s neighbours, which have also been subject to attacks, have begun cutting oil output because of the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
[04: 25 PM] Iran security chief says election of new leader caused US, Israel ‘despair’

Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani said on Monday that the election of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father had left Israel and the United States in “despair.”
“Your selection by the Assembly of Experts as the leader of the Islamic Republic system has caused the hostile and warmongering enemies to despair,” said Larijani in a post on X.
[03: 51 PM] Lebanon postpones parliamentary elections by two years
Lebanon’s parliament on Monday postponed legislative elections, initially due to be held in May, by two years, according to a statement from the parliament speaker, due to the war between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
MPs convened on Monday including Mohammed Raad, head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, even as Israeli warplanes flew above the nearby southern suburbs of Beirut.
[03: 45 PM] Iran says European countries helped create conditions for US, Israeli attacks
Iran on Monday accused European countries, including France, of creating the conditions that led to the United States and Israel attacking the Islamic Republic and triggering a war.
“European countries have unfortunately helped create these conditions,” said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a weekly press briefing.
“Instead of insisting on the rule of law, instead of standing up to the bullying and excesses of the United States, they spoke and agreed with them at the UN Security Council regarding the discussion on restoring sanctions, and all these things together emboldened the American and Zionist parties to continue committing their crimes.”
[03: 40 PM] Putin offers ‘unwavering support’ to new Iran supreme leader

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday pledged “unwavering support” to Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed after his father and predecessor was killed in US-Israeli strikes.
“I would like to reaffirm our unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends,” Putin said in a message to Khamenei, adding that “Russia has been and will remain a reliable partner” to Iran.
“At a time when Iran is confronting armed aggression, your tenure in this high position will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication,” the Russian leader said.
[01: 10 PM] Bahrain’s Babpco declares force majeure after refinery hit
Bapco Energies declared force majeure on its group operations on Monday following a recent attack on its refinery complex, the company said.
Earlier, we brought you initial reports of a fire at Bahrain’s main oil refinery.
Bapco said on Monday that all domestic market needs remain fully secured and supplies will continue without disruption, supported by proactive plans in place.
[12: 52PM] Saudi Aramco offers crude in rare tenders, traders say

Saudi Aramco has offered more than 2 million barrels of Saudi crude in rare tenders as the U.S.-Iran conflict disrupted exports from the Middle East, trade sources said.
The state company offered 2 million barrels of Arab Heavy crude for March loading in one of the tenders it issued last week. It also offered 650,000 barrels of Arab Light crude in a separate tender, the people said.
[10: 22 AM] US orders diplomats out of Saudi Arabia

The US State Department has ordered non-essential U.S. diplomats and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks.
The decision was announced on Sunday night from Washington.
The United States began to pull out non-essential staff from Gulf Arab countries last Monday, three days into the war.
The U.S. embassy in Riyadh last week was struck by Iranian drones that led to a fire that damaged the mission’s facilities.
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
Iranian state media said the leadership of Iran’s armed forces had pledged allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei.
The powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also said in a statement they are ready to follow the new supreme leader.
ایران میں نئے سپریم لیڈرکا انتخاب،پاسداران انقلاب کا اطاعت کا اعلان#ARYnews #MojtabaKhamenei #Iran pic.twitter.com/KYXUBbzDhr
— ARY NEWS (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) March 9, 2026
[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
We have an update from the Lebanese Health Ministry about the casualties in Israeli attacks on the country.
It said the number of people killed has risen to at least 394, including 83 children.
At least 1,130 others have been wounded, it added.
[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
Hezbollah has told residents of a northern Israeli city close to the border with Lebanon to evacuate and head south.
“Warning. All residents of Kiryat Shmona are asked to evacuate immediately. Head south,” it said in a statement.
[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
The Israeli military has issued a forced displacement order for individuals located in the Shokouhiyeh industrial area of Qom, Iran.
In a message posted to its Farsi-language X account, the military shared a map with a specific zone highlighted in red, warning that operations will commence there “in the coming hours.”
The statement explicitly urged people to immediately evacuate the designated area, cautioning that remaining inside the zone puts their lives at risk.
[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
[4:10 PM] Middle East situation a ‘major humanitarian emergency’

The U.N. refugee agency said nearly 100,000 people have been displaced within Lebanon, and tens of thousands of Syrian refugees there have fled back over the border.
They called the situation a “major humanitarian emergency”.
Israel has issued large-scale evacuation orders for southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut.
“UNHCR has declared the escalating crisis in the Middle East as a major humanitarian emergency requiring an immediate response across the region and into Southeast Asia,” Ayaki Ito, the U.N. refugee agency’s Director of Emergency and Programme Support, told a Geneva press briefing.
Ito said the figures given for the scale of displacement so far are likely an underestimate.
He also said that some 100,000 people have been displaced within Iran in the first days of the conflict and that UNHCR staff there are receiving hundreds of calls daily from Iranians seeking assistance.
[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.
[3:02 PM] Iran thanks Sri Lanka for helping rescue sailors after US strike

Iranian media reported that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held separate phone calls with Sri Lankan and Indian counterparts.
Araqchi condemned the U.S. targeting of the Iranian Dena warship in international waters, calling it a violation of international law, and said Tehran would pursue legal accountability.
He also thanked Sri Lanka for rescuing Dena’s crew and stressed the importance of protecting Iranian vessels and personnel, media reported.
The IRIS Dena was sunk by the U.S. on Wednesday, 19 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s southern port city of Galle.
[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.
[01: 23 PM] Iran says it is targeting heart of Tel Aviv
In a statement, the Revolutionary Guard said the new wave of attacks began with a combined missile and drone operation targeting sites in the heart of Tel Aviv.
[11: 50 AM] UAE explores freezing Iranian assets, WSJ reports
The United Arab Emirates is weighing freezing billions of dollars of Iranian assets held in the Gulf state, the Wall Street Journal reported late on Thursday, citing people familiar with the discussions.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the report.
[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.
Advertisement · Scroll to continue
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.
[2:12 PM] Drone targets Iranian Kurdish opposition group headquarters in Iraq’s Kurdistan
A drone targeted the headquarters of an Iranian Kurdish opposition group in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Wednesday, security sources said, without immediately providing details on casualties or damage.
[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

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that US and Israeli attacks on Iran could drive not only Tehran but its neighbours to seek to acquire nuclear weapons.
The widening conflict in the region raises the risk of nuclear proliferation, he said.
[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’

A senior Hezbollah official says the recent attacks have left the group with “no option but to return to resistance”.
Israel wanted open war, “so let it be an open war”, said Mahmoud Qmati, adding that “the 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
Iran has conducted a mass funeral for 165 victims, including students, who were killed in an attack on a girls’ school in the southern city of Minab.
Thousands of people filled a public square, as shown on Iranian state television. On stage, a woman identifying herself as the mother of “Atena” displayed a printed image of portraits, calling it “a document of American crimes,” which triggered the crowd to erupt into chants of “Death to America,” “Death to Israel,” and “No surrender.”
An Israeli military spokesperson stated on Sunday that he did not know about any Israeli or US strikes in the area.
[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
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has said that three US Air Force F-15 fighter jets were “mistakenly shot down” by Kuwaiti air defence.
At 11:03 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 1, three US F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to “an apparent friendly fire incident,” CENTCOM said.
At 11:03 p.m. ET, March 1, three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident.
Read more:https://t.co/i2y3Q3vo2E
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026
However, Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiyaa Central Headquarters earlier claimed that 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 via IRIB.
[4: 19 PM] Explosions heard across Tehran: State media
Several explosions have been heard in Tehran, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
The report said “the air strike targeted an area near Revolution Square, where demonstrators were gathered in a rally condemning the aggression.”
“Iranian air defences intercepted the attack in the skies over central Tehran,” it added.
[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
Over 555 people have been killed in joint US-Israeli strikes across the country, the Iranian Red Crescent Society has said in a statement.
US-Israeli attacks have now impacted 131 cities across the country.
Relief operations, spearheaded by the Red Crescent’s humanitarian mission, are ongoing and uninterrupted. Rescue teams are deployed in the affected areas, and over 100,000 responders are on full alert nationwide.
Furthermore, a network of approximately four million volunteers is currently on standby to provide humanitarian services, assistance, and psychosocial support.
[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
Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, has strongly condemned what he called “brutal”, deadly Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Baghaei condemned the “repeated and gross violations of Lebanon’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity” by Israel. The spokesperson also pointed to violations of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement.
He described the silence of those who claim to uphold the “rule of law” and “human rights” in the face of such heinous crimes as “shameful”. He warned that this situation has placed international peace at an unprecedented level of risk.
[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’

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the killing of Khamenei as murder and said it violated all the norms of human morality and international law.
“Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the murder of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law,” Putin said in a note to Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian released by the Kremlin.
Russia itself stands accused by many nations of violating international law with its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
[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
![]()
Alireza Arafi was appointed on Sunday as the jurist member of Iran’s Leadership Council, a body tasked with fulfilling the supreme leader’s role until the Assembly of Experts elects a new leader, ISNA news agency reported.
[2: 53 PM] Security chief says Iran to hit US, Israel ‘with a force they never experienced before’
Iran’s top security official, Ari Larijani, has issued a warning against the US and Israel.
“Yesterday Iran fired missiles at the United States and Israel, and they did hurt,” he said on X.
“Today, we will hit them with a force that they have never experienced before.”
His language echoed a warning by Trump against Iran earlier in the day.
“Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever been hit before,” the US president had written on social media.
“They better not do that, however, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen 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
[1:15 PM] Scenes from Tehran



[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
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
[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’

Russia has issued its first comments on the situation, with Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the country’s Security Council, sharply criticizing Donald Trump.
Medvedev sarcastically referred to the president as a peacemaker, showing his true face, claiming that all negotiations with Iran were merely a cover operation and that there was never any real intention to reach an agreement.
He framed the ongoing tensions as a test of patience, contrasting the 249-year history of the United States with the 2,500-year legacy of the Persian Empire, and suggested waiting a century to see which nation outlasts the other.
[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.
[2:56 PM] — Blasts heard in Qatari capital
Iran’s foreign minister said Iran’s response would be to target all U.S. military bases in the region, according to the Iraqi foreign ministry.
Semi-official Iranian Fars news agency reported several U.S. bases in Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain are under attack by Iran.
[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
Iran has consistently denied any intentions of developing a nuclear bomb.
On Thursday, Iran’s President Pezeshkian refuted former President Trump’s accusations that Tehran was pursuing nuclear weapons, asserting that Iran will not possess such weapons.
Earlier this week, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi addressed the UN Conference on Disarmament, stating that Iran would “never seek nuclear weapons.”
He emphasized the importance of complete disarmament and advocated for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
[1:53 PM] — Iran’s Interior Ministry urges citizens to remain calm
Iran’s Interior Ministry has said that the “criminal enemy, once again, has attacked our beloved homeland in violation of all international laws and during negotiations.”
According to the Tasnim news agency, the ministry has issued a statement directing governors across the country to recall previous instructions. It emphasized the need for prompt reporting on the situation in the provinces and the mobilization of all resources to address the urgent needs of the people.
[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
Explosions have been heard in northern Israel as the country attempts to intercept incoming missiles from Iran, following a nationwide attack in collaboration with the United States.
The blasts occurred shortly after the Israeli military announced its intention to deploy air defense systems to counter the Iranian fire. There are no immediate reports regarding damage or casualties from the ongoing conflict.
[1:22 PM] — Iran launches missiles towards Israel: Israeli army
The Israeli army has reported that missiles launched from Iran were detected heading toward Israel, triggering sirens in several areas of the country.
“The public is advised to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command,” they stated. “At this time, the Israeli Air Force is actively working to intercept and neutralize any threats as necessary.”
“While we strive for comprehensive defense, it is important for the public to remain vigilant and adhere to the guidelines issued by the Home Front Command. We request that everyone continue to follow these instructions.”
[1:00 PM] — Places where Israeli attacks targeted in Tehran?
So far, Israeli attacks on the Iranian capital have targeted:
- Ministry of Intelligence
- Ministry of Defence
- Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran
- Parchin military complex
[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.

