US-Israel-Iran War | Iran's President Pezeshkian Sets Conditions For Ending The War

Drone attacks were launched late Wednesday toward the cities of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. One intercepted drone fell near the Divan Hotel in the Saad Abdullah Conference Hall complex in Erbil, a venue for high-level political meetings, reports AP.

In southern Iraq, an oil vessel flying the Australian flag was struck near Khor Al-Zubair Port, according to two Iraqi navy officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly.

The attack occurred in a loading area within Iraqi territorial waters, the officials said, adding that 25 members of the crew were rescued. It was not immediately clear whether any others remained unaccounted for.

Videos circulating online showed a large vessel engulfed in flames, with massive plumes of fire and thick black smoke billowing into the sky. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Fire crews were working to contain a blaze Wednesday at the fuel storage tanks at Oman’s Port of Salalah, amid days of Iranian attacks, according to the Oman News Agency.

Kuwait’s foreign ministry condemned what it said was Iran’s targeting of the port and the fuel tanks, saying hitting such economic facilities was a “dangerous escalation” that threatened global trade. Videos showed thick plumes of black smoke and large flames rising from the fuel tanks.(AP)

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations on Wednesday criticised as politically motivated a resolution passed by the Security Council that demanded an immediate halt to Iranian attacks on Gulf states, reports AFP.

"Today's action represents a blatant misuse of the Security Council mandate in pursuit of the political agendas of the certain members, the various states responsible for the brutal war of aggression against my country," Amir Saeid Iravani told the Council.

Simultaneous blasts rocked the Lebanese capital’s densely populated southern suburbs — an area known as Dahiyeh — where large fires and plumes of smoke could be seen Wednesday evening, reports AP.

The Israeli military said it would respond aggressively after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets at the same time into northern Israel, one of the group’s largest attacks in the current conflict. Israel struck what it said was infrastructure belonging to the militant group.

The exchange marks an apparent escalation in the past week of fighting, which has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon and displaced about 800,000 others in the small country.

After abstaining from the U.N. Security Council resolution that demanded a halt to Iran’s attack on Gulf countries, the Chinese and Russian ambassadors defended their position, saying that the Bahrain proposal was “extremely unbalanced” in not mentioning the strikes against Tehran that began this war, reports AP. “It muddies up the cause and effect. And if someone who is not well-versed in international affairs reads this then this person will be left with the impression that Tehran, on its own volition, and out of malice, conducted an unprovoked attack on Arab states,” Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said during a Security Council session Wednesday.

Both Nebenzia and China’s U.N. envoy Fu Cong said they attempted to negotiate with Bahrain and the U.S. to include the initial strikes from Israel and the U.S. on Feb. 28 that launched the war, but the final resolution text ended up “unbalanced.”

Even as leaders in Iran say it’s “not possible” for the country to participate in this year’s World Cup, the U.S. president is indicating Iran’s team is still welcome in the United States, reports AP. Trump met privately with soccer chief Gianni Infantino on Tuesday at the White House, according to the FIFA president’s Instagram account.

During the meeting, Trump “reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” Infantino wrote in the Instagram post.

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations, confirmed Trump’s message to Infantino about Iran’s participation. Since June, Iran has been subject to a travel ban into the U.S. as part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. But athletes and coaches from the target nations are exempt, which means the Iranian team would be allowed in. The U.S. is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

According to CNN, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a top Kremlin envoy, is currently in Florida for talks with Trump administration officials. Dmitriev’s meetings are focused on Russia-US economic cooperation, the source said.

Sirens have sounded in Bahrain, warning citizens to head to the nearest safe location, Bahrain's Interior Ministry said in a post on X. Officials urged people to remain calm.

Iran has set conditions to end the war, as President Masoud Pezeshkian said the only way to end the war is by "recognising Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm [international] guarantees against future aggression."

"Talking to leaders of Russia and Pakistan, I reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region," he said in a post on X. Meanwhile, according to Reuters, a spokesperson for the Israeli military said they "are prepared to continue the war with Iran as long as necessary."

Lebanon's Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said Wednesday that it launched dozens of rockets at northern Israel as part of a new operation against its foe, as Israel carried out fresh strikes on south Beirut, reports AFP.

Hezbollah in a statement said that "in response to the criminal aggression against dozens of Lebanese cities and towns and Beirut's southern suburbs", its fighters targeted sites in northern Israel "with dozens of rockets" as part of a new operation announced a short time earlier.

The Israeli military said Wednesday that it had launched a new wave of strikes on Hezbollah targets in the southern Beirut suburbs, vowing to act with "great force" in the area, reports AFP.

The military said it had begun a "large-scale wave of strikes" on Hezbollah infrastructure in Dahiyeh, the Lebanese capital's southern suburb, where the Iran-backed group holds sway.

In a separate statement on X, military spokesman Avichay Adraee said Israeli forces "will soon act with great force against (Hezbollah) facilities, interests, and military capabilities" in the area, after the military reported rocket fire from Hezbollah towards Israel "in the last few hours".

US forces have struck 28 Iranian mine-laying vessels, President Donald Trump said Wednesday, as Tehran seeks to choke the vital Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic amid the Middle East war.

"We hit 28 mine ships as of this moment," Trump told reporters during a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, a day after the US military gave a figure of 16 mine-laying boats destroyed.

The action comes amid fears of damage to the global economy over the lack of shipping through the strait.

With Lebanon engulfed in another Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, the 29 nations condemned “in the strongest terms Hezbollah’s reckless decision to join the Iranian attacks against Israel," reports AP.

The statement also urged Israel “to abstain from attacks against civilian infrastructure and heavily populated areas and to respect the Lebanese sovereignty and its territorial integrity.” The countries called on all sides to uphold international law protecting civilians.

France’s U.N. Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont read the statement, surrounded by diplomats supporting it, mostly from European countries. The U.S., Russia and China did not sign.

The UN Security Council on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for Iran to immediately halt its attacks on Gulf states, saying they breach international law and pose a "serious threat to international peace and security."

The resolution, passed by 13 votes with two abstentions, "demands the immediate cessation of all attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan."(AFP)

A preliminary US military review has found that an American Tomahawk missile was responsible for the strike that destroyed an elementary school in Minab, Iran, killing multiple children, reports New York Times. The report directly contradicts Trump’s earlier assertions that Iran was to be blamed. The findings point to a targeting error rooted in outdated intelligence, raising new questions about the opening hours of the war and the administration’s initial account of the attack.

Investigators said the February 28 strike hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh school after US forces relied on incorrect data that misidentified the building as part of a nearby IRGC naval facility. A Pentagon spokesperson said the incident remains under investigation and the findings are not yet final.

Amid rumours spreading on social media about a potential large-scale fire on Israel tonight, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin says there are no changes to the guidelines for civilians.

“I am aware of the public discourse in recent hours regarding the possibility of an increase in the rocket fire. I want to emphasize that there is no change in the Home Front Command’s defensive policy at this time,” he says on X.

Some local authorities sent messages to residents warning them of planned rocket fire in their area tonight.

“The IDF is prepared with strong defences and will do whatever is required to protect the citizens of Israel,” he says, adding that “we continue to hold ongoing situation assessments and will update on any change if and when there is one.”

U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called this “a moment of grave peril for Lebanon and for the region,” as the conflict disrupts markets, supply chains and aid operations, reports AP.

Speaking Wednesday at an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, he said disruptions to sea routes like the Strait of Hormuz are driving up costs and delaying humanitarian supplies by as much as six months.

“And when that happens,” he said “the most vulnerable people in Lebanon and across the region are hit first — and hardest,”

When asked on Wednesday if a preliminary determination has been made into responsibility for the strike that killed more than 165 people, mostly children, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded that “the investigation is still ongoing.”

Trump was later asked as he left the White House, about a report in The New York Times that a preliminary military probe had found the U.S. was responsible for striking the school because of a targeting mistake, reports AP.

When asked if he took responsibility for the airstrike as the commander-in-chief of U.S. forces, Trump responded by saying, “I don’t know about it.” He didn’t say anything more.

French President Emmanuel Macron says he has “no confirmation” Iran is laying sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz following reports Tehran is mining the key waterway virtually closed by the Middle East war, reports AFP.

“I have no confirmation of this, either from partner services or from our own services,” Macron says after a video call with G7 leaders. The United States said yesterday it had destroyed Iranian minelaying boats near the strategic waterway through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passes.

Macron adds that Iran’s military capabilities have been weakened but not “reduced to zero” in US and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic.

“Considerable damage has already been inflicted on Iran’s military ballistic capabilities, but it continues to attack several countries in the region, and therefore its capabilities have not been reduced to zero,” he says.

An Iran-linked hacking group claims responsibility for a sweeping cyberattack on US medical technology giant Stryker, saying it wiped more than 200,000 systems and extracted 50 terabytes of data in retaliation for military strikes on Iran, reports AFP.

“Our major cyber operation has been executed with complete success,” Handala says in a statement, describing the attack as retaliation for what it calls “the brutal attack on the Minab school” and for “ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the Axis of Resistance.”

The group says it shut down Stryker offices in 79 countries and that all extracted data is “now in the hands of the free people of the world.” It issues an open warning to what it describes as “Zionist leaders and their lobbies,” adding: “This is only the beginning of a new chapter in cyber warfare.”

Founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Stryker is a global medical device giant with some 56,000 employees and $25.12 billion in 2025 revenues, making everything from orthopaedic implants and surgical instruments to hospital beds and robotic surgery systems.

The hackers’ claim has not been verified.

Iran said on Wednesday it was ready for a long war of attrition that would "destroy" the world economy, after firing on two commercial ships and threatening any vessels from the US or its allies.

As Tehran tightened its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea passage for the global oil trade, US President Donald Trump said the war would end "soon" as there was little left for US forces to target in Iran, reports AFP.

Oil prices have surged since February 28, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killed its supreme leader and plunged the Middle East into war. In an attempt to manage price jumps, the International Energy Agency said its member countries would unlock 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves -- the biggest such release ever.

With the conflict now in its 12th day, Iran's Revolutionary Guard vowed to target "economic centres and banks" that it deems linked to US and Israeli interests, prompting more international firms to evacuate employees from Dubai.

But all eyes were on the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of global crude and LNG passes. The US and Israel "must consider the possibility that they will be engaged in a long-term war of attrition that will destroy the entire American economy and the world economy", Ali Fadavi, advisor to the Revolutionary Guards' commander-in-chief, told state television.

Iran said it had struck the Liberian-flagged container ship Express Rome and the Thai bulk carrier Mayuree Naree because they had entered the strait "after ignoring the warnings of the IRGC naval forces".

Oman's navy rescued 20 crew members, but efforts were underway to find three more. Pictures shared by the Thai navy showed black smoke pouring out of the vessel.

There were no deaths or injuries reported after a U.S. Embassy operations center at Baghdad’s airport was hit by a drone launched by Iraq-based Iranian proxies, a State Department official said.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because an investigation into the attack is still ongoing, said Wednesday that the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center “was targeted by Iran-backed terrorist militias overnight.” The actual U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad was not struck in the attack.

The official condemned the strike and said the U.S. was in close contact with Iraqi authorities “regarding steps to protect U.S. personnel and facilities.”(AP)

India on Wednesday condemned the 'unprovoked' attack on a Thai commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, Mayuree Naree, was struck while transiting one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints en route to Kandla, a major port on India’s western coast in Gujarat.

A press release by Ministry of external affairs reads, "A statement regarding ship bound for Kandla, India. We have seen reports about the attack on a Thai ship, Mayuree Naree, in the Straits of Hormuz on 11 March. The ship was bound for Kandla in India."
"India deplores the fact that commercial shipping is being made a target of military attacks in the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Precious lives, including of Indian citizens, have already been lost in multiple such attacks in the earlier phase of this conflict and the intensity and lethality of the attacks only seems to be increasing. India reiterates that targeting commercial shipping and endangering innocent civilian crew members, or otherwise impeding freedom of navigation and commerce, should be avoided," it added to its statement.

British consulting group Deloitte told its staff on Wednesday to vacate their offices in the Dubai International Financial Centre, a source with knowledge told AFP.

The decision came in the afternoon, said the source who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, after Iran threatened US and Israel-linked economic targets and centres in the Middle East.

The International Energy Agency agreed Wednesday to release the largest volume of emergency oil reserves in its history., According to the Associated Press. The Paris-based organisation said it will make 400 million barrels of oil available from its members’ emergency reserves. That’s more than twice the 182.7 million barrels released in 2022 by the IEA’s 32 member countries in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

These countries currently hold over 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, and 600 million barrels of industry stocks under government obligation.

Germany, Austria and Japan said earlier Wednesday that they would release parts of their oil reserves following the IEA’s request to mitigate energy price spikes due to the Iran war.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway off Iran’s coast now effectively closed by the war, is so vital for the global economy that governments are working on blueprints to speedily reopen it to oil tankers and other shipping when the shooting stops.

Former naval officers who are intimately familiar with the narrow Hormuz passage say vessels would be sitting ducks if military forces tried to reopen the waterway before hostilities cease.

“In today’s context, sending warships or civilian vessels into the Strait of Hormuz would be suicidal,” French navy retired Vice Adm. Pascal Ausseur said in an interview with The Associated Press. A ceasefire agreement with Iran “would make the situation shift from suicidal to dangerous. At that point, military ships could be deployed. And then escort operations could begin,” he said.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said that as a result of the U.S. strikes, including one on a “large ballistic missile manufacturing facility,” Iran’s ballistic missile and drone attacks have “dropped drastically.” The targets have included more than 60 ships, he said in a video posted to social media on Wednesday, reports AP.

Cooper also confirmed that the military was using “advanced AI tools” to “sift through vast amounts of data in seconds.” He said these tools are enabling leaders to make smarter decisions faster but stressed that “humans will always make final decisions on what to shoot and what not to shoot and when to shoot.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is the current president of the Group of Seven advanced economies, urged other G7 leaders to act to restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz "as soon as possible."

Addressing a video conference of the group's leaders, he said it was important to coordinate "to make sure that freedom of navigation is clearly restored in all the states as soon as possible" after the Middle East war brought traffic in the key shipping route to a standstill. Macron said it was necessary to "engage with third parties to avoid any type of export restrictions for oil and gas".

Emphasising the Centre's effort to ensure uninterrupted cargo movement and maintain stability across the maritime sector while addressing industry concerns amid West Asia conflict, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Wednesday, chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi.

The meeting with the National Shipping Board (NSB) addresses emerging challenges in India’s shipping sector and reviews measures to strengthen maritime capacity amid evolving global geopolitical and trade dynamics.

"Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is steadily advancing towards becoming a major maritime power. Through strategic reforms, infrastructure expansion and close collaboration with stakeholders, we are unlocking the immense potential of the blue economy and strengthening India’s position in global maritime trade," said Sonowal.

Participants discussed challenges faced by the shipping industry, which has been impacted by recent global geopolitical developments, supply chain management and rising operational pressures on maritime trade, a government spokesperson said.

"The deliberations focused on identifying policy interventions to strengthen India’s shipping ecosystem, enhance fleet capacity and ensure resilience in maritime logistics. The Union Minister took note and directed the officials to prepare a roadmap to resolve them," the official said.

According to the official, the discussions also aimed at resolving key concerns raised by industry stakeholders while aligning policy responses with the government’s long-term maritime roadmap. The meeting also reviewed progress under major national initiatives such as Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and Maritime India Vision 2030, which seek to expand port infrastructure, boost shipping capacity and position India as a leading global maritime hub. Sonowal highlighted the role of the National Shipping Board as a critical advisory platform for addressing sectoral issues and shaping policy direction.

Us President Donald Trump on Wednesday again signalled there could be a swift ending to the US war on Iran, saying there is little left in the country for US forces to attack.

There is "practically nothing left to target" and the war will end "soon," Trump was quoted as saying in an interview with Axios. "Any time I want it to end, it will end." Trump has given repeated mixed messages about the timing and aims of the war, but on Monday, he said the ending could come "soon." The US president faces negative domestic polls and fears over the global economic disruption from the US-Israeli operation against Iran.

Hezbollah says it targeted an Israeli military position in Balat, southern Lebanon, with artillery shelling.

Earlier, the group said it launched a rocket attack on Israeli positions south of Khiam to the south.

Oil reserves could be used to counter a “temporary transit problem” that is causing oil prices to spike as strikes continue in Iran, US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum says.

“These are the kinds of moments that these reserves are used for, because what we have here is not a shortage of energy in the world. We’ve got a transit problem, which is temporary,” Burgum said.

Certain countries’ plans to release part of their strategic oil reserves “are undoubtedly part of a highly coordinated strategy”, France’s Finance Minister Roland Lescure has said.

Japan said it would tap into its oil reserves to counter high energy prices as a result of the war in the Middle East, while a German government source told the AFP news agency that Germany would do the same.

“Considering that this corrupt ⁠regime has ⁠assassinated our leader, under no circumstances ⁠can we ⁠participate in ⁠the World Cup,” Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s sports minister, says.

The 2026 football World Cup is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

A woman has been killed by shrapnel following a strike on an arms depot belonging to an Iran-backed armed group in Iraq, health and security officials told the AFP news agency.

A security source said “a bombing targeted an arms depot at a military base”, which mainly hosts the powerful Asaib Ahl al-Haq group, near the town of Al-Suwaira, southeast of Baghdad.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday they had struck a Liberia-flagged vessel, which they claimed was Israeli-owned, as well as a Thai bulk carrier in the Strait of Hormuz after they ignored warnings to stop.

"The Israeli-owned Express Rome ship, flying the Liberian flag, and the container ship Mayuree Naree, were hit by Iranian projectiles and stopped after ignoring the warnings of the IRGC naval forces," the Guards said in a statement carried by Iran's ISNA news agency.

Guards navy commander Alireza Tangsiri said in a post on X that "any vessel intending to pass must get permission from Iran". (AFP)

Israel has carried out an air strike on the town of Qabrikha in southern Lebanon, the National News Agency is reporting.

Iran’s military has said any ships belonging to the US, Israel or their allies passing through the Strait of Hormuz could be targeted, as per Al Jazeera.

“Any vessel whose oil cargo or the vessel itself belongs to the United States, the Zionist regime or their hostile allies will be considered legitimate targets,” said the military’s central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a container vessel sustaining damage after being hit by an unknown projectile. According to the report, the extent of the damage is unknown, but the crew are reportedly safe and accounted for. There has also been no environmental impact reported because of this incident.

The Chinese FM Wang Yi held a phone conversation with Qatari PM & FM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. On an X post, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated, "The US-Israeli use of force against Iran, without authorization from the UN Security Council, clearly violated the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations. Meanwhile, China does not approve of expanding the scope of strikes and condemns indiscriminate attacks against civilians and non-military targets."

The post further stated, "China calls for an immediate ceasefire and an end to hostilities, urges the pursuit of a political settlement, and supports the Gulf countries in taking the future of the region into their own hands."

Spain has formally removed its ambassador to Israel, signalling a further cooling of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The decision appeared in Spain’s official state gazette published on Wednesday, confirming a move approved by the government a day earlier. Spain’s embassy in Tel Aviv will now operate under a charge d’affaires, according to Al Jazeera.

Iran on Wednesday accused the United States and Israel of striking a maritime ambulance boat at an island in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, local media reported.

"Following the US-Zionist attacks this afternoon, a maritime ambulance stationed at the dock of Hormuz Island was hit by missiles," Mehr news agency reported, showing footage of the boat on fire.

It said the vessel transports emergency patients from the island to Bandar Abbas in Iran's southern Hormozgan province. Other media carried similar reports. (AFP)

Iran has arrested 81 people who have posted information on social media that the authorities deem unacceptable during wartime, Iran’s state TV reported.

“Since we are at war, we will act like it. Those in social media who cause tension for the public mind will be considered the enemy and will be treated as such,” Ahmad Reza Radan, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Republic’s security forces, said on state TV late Tuesday.

He said the people who post critical things or repost things connected to Iran’s enemies will face lengthy prison sentences and possibly executions.

Several other countries in the Middle East have also instituted similar bans.

Israel has restrictions on sharing photos and videos that show specific locations of strikes. Several dozen have been arrested in Bahrain and Qatar for sharing “misleading” opinions and information online, according to DAWN, a Washington-based rights organisation. (AP)

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that her country will start releasing its own oil reserves starting Monday to minimize the fallout of the war in the Middle East.

More than 90% of Japan’s oil imports come from the Middle East, and most of the shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan has oil reserves worth 254 days. With the strait virtually being blocked, however, oil imports to Japan are expected to significantly decrease from the end of March, Takaichi said. (AP)

The EU ⁠is considering subsidising or capping the price of ⁠natural gas as a means of curbing ⁠energy costs, European Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen has said.

She said the EU’s emergency oil stocks were full and that it was prepared to take all measures necessary to tackle soaring costs, in coordination with ⁠members of the ⁠International Energy Agency.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the safe evacuation of Tamils stranded in West Asia and requested urgent intervention to address disruptions in LPG supply caused by the ongoing conflict in the region.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Stalin highlighted the dual impact of the West Asia war on the state's diaspora and its energy security.

According to Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military has issued an evacuation warning for Lebanese villages of Maatriya al-Shomar, Al-Kharayeb, Arzi (Saida), Al-Zarariya, Mazra'at al-Wasita, and Mazra'at Jamjam. In an X post, Adraee stated, "Hezbollah activities are forcing the Defence Army to act against it forcefully without harming you. For the sake of your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and stay away from the villages by at least 1000 meters. Anyone present near Hezbollah elements, their facilities, and their combat vehicles is putting their life in danger."

Two people have been killed in an Israeli drone attack in southern Lebanon, the National News Agency reported.

The attack, which we reported on earlier, took place between the towns of Haboush and Arabsalim, the agency reported.

With the latest deaths, at least 21 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Lebanon today, according to Al Jazeera.

Qatari authorities have sent out a message saying, “The security threat has been eliminated, and the situation has returned to normal.”

The Defence Ministry twice tweeted that missile attacks aimed at the country had been intercepted, Al Jazeera reported.

A convoy of humanitarian aid from Jordan has arrived in Lebanon through the Masnaa border crossing with Syria, as reported in Al Jazeera.

The aid convoy has come after a shipment of aid from the EU arrived on Tuesday, with additional aid also expected from France today, Lebanon’s social affairs minister Haneen Sayed told reporters.

US refuelling planes, monitoring equipment and satellite communications could use Romanian military bases during its war on Iran, Romanian President Nicusor Dan has said.

The US request was approved during a meeting of the EU and NATO states’ top defence council, with approval from parliament expected later today.

"France is currently delivering 60 tonnes of emergency aid for them, with the support of the CMA CGM foundation, in addition to what is being done with the United Nations and NGOs on the ground," stated Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, in an X post.

He further added that, "Hezbollah must cease its attacks from Lebanon toward Israel and hand over its weapons to the Lebanese Armed Forces. Israel must respect Lebanese sovereignty and exercise restraint. Israelis and Lebanese people have the same right to live in peace and security. This is the very reason for the constant commitment of the French armed forces within UNIFIL since 1978."

Russian ⁠President Vladimir Putin has discussed the conflict in the ⁠Middle East with his UAE counterpart, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Kremlin says.

“The leaders continued to exchange views on the dangerously deteriorating situation in ⁠the Middle East, ⁠which is having serious consequences for Iran and ⁠Arab countries,” the Kremlin said ‌in the statement.

“The ⁠Russian president ⁠stressed the need to stop further escalation of ‌the conflict and resolve it through ‌negotiations,” it ‌said, according to Al Jazeera.

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways will soon raise its fuel surcharges after experiencing a jump in jet fuel prices during the Iran war, its leaders said Wednesday.

The company’s CEO, Ronald Lam, said an announcement on surcharge adjustment will be made soon. The airline saw jet fuel prices roughly double in March from the average prices recorded in January and February.

Lavinia Lau, the firm’s chief customer and commercial officer, reported a surge in demand for routes, including those flying between Hong Kong and Europe, as passengers sought alternatives.

The airline has already halted flight services to Dubai and Riyadh for this month. (AP)

Iran’s IRGC says it attacked US troops in Kuwait, claiming to hit the al-Udairi helicopter airbase, the Mohammed al-Ahmad naval base and the Ali al-Salem airbase.

In the statement, it also claimed to have struck a naval base in Bahrain, hosting US troops, with missiles and drones, according to Al Jazeera.

Iranian military has also stated that it has targeted Israel’s military intelligence agency, a naval base in the northern port city of Haifa and an Israeli radar system.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar had a telephone conversation with Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, and according to an X post, he "briefed her" on Israel's war against the "Iranian terror regime". "I described the regime's savage attacks against us and its neighboring states, while not possessing a nuclear umbrella. Imagine what it could do if it had nuclear weapons. I detailed the Iranian proxy Hezbollah's attacks against Israel's citizens and communities and even against Cyprus. I said that Lebanon will remain under de-facto Iranian occupation if Hezbollah isn't dismantled, (SIC)" stated the post.

Kaja Kallas, the Vice President of the European Commission, stated that "EU Member states ambassadors approved new sanctions targeting 19 regime officials and entities responsible for serious human rights violations," holding Iran accountable.

The Red Crescent Society of Iran (IRCS) says more than 19,000 civilian units across the country have been damaged as a result of US-Israeli airstrikes. The head of the humanitarian organisation, Pir-Hossein Koulivand, said in a statement on Tuesday that, based on preliminary assessments, a total of 19,734 civilian units have been damaged nationwide. This figure includes 16,191 residential units, 3,384 commercial units, 77 pharmaceutical and medical centres, and at least 69 schools. (ANI)

Iran's army said Wednesday it had targeted Israel's military intelligence agency, a naval base in the city of Haifa, and an Israeli radar system.

"Since this morning, the army of the Islamic republic has targeted the Israeli military intelligence directorate known as Aman, as well as Israeli military unit 8200, the Green Pine radar, and the submarine headquarters building at Haifa naval base," the army said in a statement broadcast by state TV.

It added that the attacks were ongoing. (AFP)

Germany is to release part of its strategic oil reserve to counter high energy prices as a result of the war in the Middle East, a government source told AFP on Wednesday.

Germany's Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche was due to address the media in Berlin shortly.

According to an X post by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, "discussed and exchanged views in a telephone conversation regarding the latest developments following the attack and aggression of the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran."

Emphasizing Iran's inherent right to defend itself against this imposed war, Araghchi stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran had previously warned all relevant parties in the region and beyond that in the event of a US military action against Iran, it would inevitably target all American facilities and bases in the region, which would lead to the expansion of the war across the entire region.

Israel's military said Wednesday it had begun a new "wide-scale wave of strikes" across Iran and was also hitting Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon's capital Beirut.

The fresh strikes targeting what the Israeli army called "Iranian terror regime infrastructure" came on the 12th day of the US-Israeli war with Tehran.

Sara Aagesen, the energy minister of Spain, says her country supports the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) reported proposal to undertake the largest release of oil reserves in its history to mitigate soaring crude prices caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.

Energy ministers of the Group of Seven said earlier that they “stand ready” to take “all necessary measures” in coordination with the IEA, as reported in Al Jazeera.

Oman’s state news agency has reported the downing of a drone, adding that another fell into the sea north of the city of Duqm.

No casualties or damage were reported, the agency said.

It said Oman condemned “the continuous targeting operations” and said it was “taking all necessary measures to safeguard the country’s security and the safety of its residents”, according to Al Jazeera.

The war must be ended before it spreads across the entire region at increasing cost to the global economy, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says.

“This war must be stopped before it becomes bigger and completely engulfs the region in flames,” he said, warning that if it continues, “there will be more loss of life and property, and the cost to the global economy will increase even further.”

World oil prices surged more than five per cent on Wednesday as the Middle East war disrupted crude exports.

The international benchmark, Brent North Sea crude, jumped 5.1 per cent to $92.23 per barrel.

The main US contract, West Texas Intermediate, soared 5.9 per cent to $88.38 per barrel. (AFP)

Israeli strikes have killed 570 people in Lebanon since the Middle East war spread to the country on March 2, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry provided a demographic breakdown of those killed, reporting that 439 of them were men, 45 women, and 86 children.

The toll includes 14 healthcare workers, the ministry said. (AFP)

The British military says a fire on board a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz that started when it was hit by an unknown projectile has been extinguished.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations said no environmental effect from the incident had been detected and that a skeleton crew remained on board.

As Al Jazeera reported, crew members were evacuated from the vessel after it was struck about 11 nautical miles (equivalent to about 20km) north of Oman earlier today.

Authorities said the bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, sailing under the Thailand flag, was struck by projectiles while travelling about 11 nautical miles (18km) north of Oman.

Israeli army to send reinforcements to the northern sector bordering Lebanon

The Israeli army says its military chief has ordered reinforcements to the Northern Command sector bordering Lebanon.

According to Al Jazeera, in a statement, it said the decision was made to send reinforcements to the north, including redeploying the Golani Brigade’s combat team from the Southern Command, after a situation assessment.

Gas prices across Europe and the UK have risen sharply as fears grow that the war in the Middle East could disrupt energy supplies.

Markets reacted after unconfirmed reports that Iran had begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route used to transport fuel around the world. Any disruption to traffic through the strait could affect deliveries of liquefied natural gas to Europe and Asia.

The benchmark European gas price increased by about 5.7 per cent during morning trading, while the main British wholesale contract rose by roughly 6 per cent.

Tensions also escalated after the United States Central Command said US forces had “eliminated” 16 Iranian vessels it claimed were laying mines near the waterway.

Energy ministers of the G7 have said they “stand ready” to take “all necessary measures” in coordination with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to tackle the rise in crude oil prices due to the Middle East war.

After a virtual meeting yesterday with the IEA’s executive director, they said in a statement that “G7 members will carefully consider the recommendations issued during these discussions”.

“In principle, we support the implementation of proactive measures to address the situation, including the use of strategic reserves,” they said, adding they were coordinating within the G7, with IEA member countries and beyond.

“We agreed to stand ready to take all necessary measures in coordination with IEA Members,” reported Al Jazeera.

IEA member countries currently hold more than 1.2 billion barrels of public emergency oil stocks, with a further 600 million barrels of industry stocks held under government mandates.

Hezbollah says it launched another rocket attack on Israeli military positions south of Khiam in southern Lebanon.

The group says it has repeatedly targeted Israeli military positions in the area in recent days, Al Jazeera reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a Ukrainian delegation is heading to Gulf countries.

The delegation, including military specialists and led by Defence Council secretary and chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, will help strengthen defences as tensions rise following Iranian attacks.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian specialists could help protect lives and stabilize the situation in the region.

He added that it is impossible to predict how long the crisis will last, but stressed that protecting lives and restoring stability is urgently needed, including for Ukraine.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Wednesday said that India has been a great partner in maintaining stable oil prices around the world. In a post on X, he said, "The United States recognises that ongoing purchases of Russian oil are a part of this effort. India is one of the largest consumers and refiners of oil, and it is essential for the United States and India to work hand in hand for market stability for Americans and Indians."

The European Union’s top official says the Iran war has already cost the 27-nation bloc’s citizens around 3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) in energy imports and warns Europe must resist the temptation to buy Russian oil and gas again.

“Gas prices have risen by 50% and oil prices have risen by 27%. If you translate that into euros — the 10 days of war have already cost European taxpayers an additional 3 billion euros in fossil fuel imports,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “That is the price of our dependency,” she told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, France, noting the price of European renewables and nuclear energy has remained steady.

Von der Leyen rejected calls for the EU to return to buying Russian energy, which the bloc has stopped doing since President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into Ukraine in 2022. (AP).

A court in Sri Lanka has ordered a hospital to hand over the bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in a U.S submarine attack off the island nation’s southern coast. Galle National Hospital Director Ranga Sabapathige said he received the order from the Galle magistrate to return the bodies to Iranian officials. The Iranian officials will travel from the capital Colombo to Galle on Wednesday for the transfer, he said. (AP).

The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency has released a list of offices and infrastructure run by top US companies with Israeli links whose technology has been used for military applications, describing them as “Iran’s new targets,” Al Jazeera reported.

“As the scope of the regional war expands to infrastructure war, the scope of Iran’s legitimate targets expands,” it said. The companies include Google, Microsoft, Palantir, IBM, Nvidia and Oracle, and the listed offices and infrastructure for cloud-based services are located in multiple Israeli cities, as well as in some Gulf countries.

An Israeli air strike killed seven people and wounded 18 others in an eastern Lebanese town on Wednesday, the Lebanese health ministry said, as the war in Lebanon entered its 10th day. "The Israeli enemy's air strikes this morning on the Bekaa resulted in the following toll in Tamnin al-Tahta: seven martyrs and 18 wounded," the ministry said.

State media reported that the raid targeted "a building... inhabited by a Syrian family". (AFP).

A joint Iranian military command said Wednesday that banks and financial institutions are now targets in the Middle East. The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters issued a statement identifying the targets.

It came after Iranian media reported staff at a bank in Tehran had been killed in Israeli-American airstrikes. The threat would put at risk particularly Dubai, which is home to many international financial institutions, as well as Saudi Arabia and the island kingdom of Bahrain. (AP).

At least 17 U.S. military, diplomatic and air defence sites across the Middle East have been damaged since the war with Iran began, according to a New York Times analysis based on satellite imagery, verified videos and official statements. The strikes have hit 11 U.S. military bases or installations across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Jordan.

Several sites, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al Salem Air Base and Camp Buehring in Kuwait, and the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, have been struck multiple times, the report said. Satellite images also show damage to air defence radar systems and communications infrastructure across the region, some valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.

Among the costliest American losses to infrastructure, the report said, have been to the air defence.

The disruptions in global fuel supplies due to the Middle East conflict have started affecting industrial production in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam, with a shortage of gas now impacting operations at the city steel plant.

Trade unions say the depletion of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) reserves could soon disrupt steel production if fresh supplies do not reach on time. LPG plays a crucial role in several stages of the plant's production process. In the steel melt shop (SMS), the gas is used to cut blooms, an essential step before the next phase of production.

Around 4,000 blooms have to be cut every day to clear the beds and ensure that the continuous casting process runs smoothly. Only after this process is complete can the plant maintain its daily output of about 10,000 tonnes of finished steel. Read more...

Two Iranian drones hit near Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, wounding four people though flights continue, authorities said.

The Dubai Media Office, which issues statement on behalf of the city-state’s government, said the attack caused “minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national.” It said flights continued.

Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates, is the world's busiest for international travel. Authorities have been trying build up its flight schedule though the airport has been targeted in the war.

With the West Asia conflict roiling energy prices, Iran has held the US responsible for the disruptions in the shipping of crude oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, holding Washington's "destabilising actions" as the cause of the problem. Iran's foreign ministry said this in a readout on Wednesday while providing details of the previous night's phone conversation between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

It said Araghchi provided Jaishankar a "detailed" account of the "crimes" committed by the US and Israel against Iran over the past 11 days, including the missile attack on a girls' school in Minab and subsequent strikes on civilian sites. He emphasised Iran's determination to comprehensively defend the integrity of Iran, the readout said.

It said the two foreign ministers also discussed the consequences of the disruptions in the movement of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian foreign ministry blamed the US for the disruptions in the flow of energy through the passage. Global oil and gas prices have surged after Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

"Referring to Iran's principled approach to safeguarding shipping security in the Persian Gulf, Iran's foreign minister reminded that the insecure situation and problems arising for shipping in the Persian Gulf are a result of the aggressive and destabilising actions of the US, and the international community must hold the US accountable for this situation," the readout said.

Another ship came under attack Wednesday in the Persian Gulf, the British military said. A bulk carrier was hit by a projectile at a distance from the United Arab Emirates, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said.

“There is no report of any environmental impact,” the centre said. “The crew are reported safe and well.” It was the third attack reported on Wednesday. (AP).

The UN Security Council will vote later today on a resolution introduced by Bahrain condemning Iran for its attacks on several Arab countries in the region, Al Jazeera reported. The proposed resolution calls for an immediate end to Iranian attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan, as well as an end to the use of proxy groups

In the face of a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders needed for the food industry, Hotel owners in Chennai have expressed concern that restaurants in the city are being forced to close due to the lack of supply.

In this situation, the Bangalore Hotel Owners Association has also announced that restaurants would not function in the city due to the shortage of cylinders. According to hotel owners, there is a similar risk in Tamil Nadu.

According to them, their business has been affected for the second day due to the shortage of cylinders. Due to the shortage of commercial cylinders, boards have been put up in many hotels in Chennai stating that there is no 'variety rice'. Production of food items, including idlis and rotis has also been suspended.

Read more...

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. (AFP).

The Iranian women’s soccer team is in a hotel in Malaysia awaiting travel arrangements to return home, officials said Wednesday. Iran’s embassy in Malaysia confirmed the squad members landed in the capital Kuala Lumpur early Wednesday and are expected to depart when flights are available, and Iran’s airspace reopens, according to the Bernama news agency.

“They want to return home,” the embassy told Bernama. The Asian Football Confederation said the team is staying at a Kuala Lumpur hotel in the meantime and will receive support from the confederation until their travel arrangements are confirmed, a spokesperson said.

Six women from the Iranian squad will remain in Australia on humanitarian visas after accepting offers of asylum shortly before their scheduled return home. (AP).

Member states of the International Energy Agency (IEA) met on Tuesday for crisis talks to assess security of supply and the potential release of emergency stocks as the Middle East war roils markets, the body's chief said.

In a statement following a Paris meeting of G7 energy ministers on the economic fallout of the conflict, IEA executive director Fatih Birol said he was "in close contact" with energy ministers from key energy producers and consumers regarding the situation.

"In oil markets, conditions have deteriorated in recent days. In addition to the challenges of transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a substantial amount of oil production has been curtailed. This is creating significant and growing risks for the market," he said ahead of the meeting.

Read more...

Some tankers, believed to be linked to Iran, are continuing to get through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. Some of the ships getting through are so-called “dark” transits, meaning they aren’t turning on their Automatic Identification System tracks, which show where vessels are. Vessels carrying sanctioned Iranian crude often turn off their AIS trackers.

The security firm Neptune P2P Group said Wednesday that seven ships had passed through the strait since March 8. Of those, five were linked to Iranian-associated shipping, it said. The commodity-tracking firm Kpler said Iran has restarted crude exports through its Jask oil terminal on the Gulf of Oman. A tanker loaded roughly 2 million barrels at Jask on March 7, the firm said. (AP).

A projectile hit a cargo ship on Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, setting the vessel ablaze after the United States targeted Iranian minelaying vessels that could target the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre, run by the British military, said the vessel had been hit just north of Oman in the strait.

It said the crew was evacuating the ship. Iran did not immediately claim the attack, though it has been targeting ships in and around the strait, disrupting a waterway that sees a fifth of all oil and natural gas traded pass through it. The UKMTO earlier reported on another attack targeting a vessel off Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. (AP).

FIFA said Tuesday night that it anticipates Iran's national team will be allowed to come to the United States, even with war going on between the countries, and compete in the World Cup that begins in about three months.

Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 before finishing group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The U.S. is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Iranian officials have recently suggested that the country's participation is in some doubt because of the war.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he met with President Donald Trump on Tuesday night "to discuss the status of preparations" for the tournament and received assurances that Iran would be permitted to come to the U.S.

"We also spoke about the current situation in Iran, and the fact that the Iranian team has qualified to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026," Infantino said. "During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States." (AP).

The Iran-Israel-US conflict and its impact on the global energy supply chain have turned the clock back in Madhya Pradesh, where marriage feasts will now be cooked on wood, among other alternatives.

The supply of commercial LPG cylinders across the country has been disrupted as Iran has choked the crucial Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the US-Israel's premeditated attacks that killed Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei late last month and triggered a major conflict in the Middle East.

As several restaurants in India face shutdown due to a short supply of LPG, the fuel crisis now impacts wedding meals as well. The Madhya Pradesh Food Department, in a meeting with catering companies in the state on Tuesday, urged them to use traditional fuel sources for weddings, emphasising the use of wood, charcoal, and traditional furnaces. Read more...

Several blasts rang out across the Qatari capital Doha on Wednesday, AFP correspondents said, as Iran's retaliatory strikes on the Gulf entered a twelfth day. "The security threat level is high," the interior ministry posted on X, urging "everyone to adhere to staying at home, not going out, and staying away from windows and open areas to preserve public safety". (AFP).

Qatar says it won’t serve as a mediator for Iran as it remains under attack from Tehran. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, Qatar’s minister of state for foreign affairs, made the statement to the Qatari-funded satellite news network Al Jazeera in an interview aired Wednesday.

He noted both Qatar and Oman had been attacked even though they worked to “build bridges between Iran and the West.” “We will not be able to fulfill that role under attack, and that’s something the Iranians need to understand,” al-Khulaifi said. "The regional countries are not an enemy of Iran, and the Iranians are not understanding that idea.” (AP).

Videos circulating online and broadcast by local news channels from an apparent strike site in the densely populated Aicha Bakkar area of central Beirut show two floors of a multistory building engulfed in flames. The strike came without warning. There were no immediate reports concerning who was targeted or the number and extent of casualties.

The structure that was hit is several buildings away from Dar al-Fatwa, the country’s highest Sunni Muslim religious authority.

The strike was in an area far from Beirut’s southern suburbs, where the Israeli military had issued evacuation warnings earlier in the renewed conflict with Hezbollah. (AP).

Explosions were reported near Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, the Iranian capital, Al Jazeera reported. Footage purportedly verified by Al Jazeera shows large explosions near Mehrabad Airport in the Iranian capital overnight. The clip shows successive explosions and smoke rising around the airport. There’s been no official statement on the incident

An Israeli strike hit an apartment in central Beirut on Wednesday, state media reported, the second targeting the heart of the Lebanese capital since the start of the latest war with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said that "the enemy targeted an apartment in the Aisha Bakkar area" in central Beirut. (AFP).

Iran's top police officer warned protesters who support the positions of the country's enemies that they would be treated as such by authorities, according to footage posted by state broadcaster IRIB late on Tuesday.

"If anyone comes forward in line with the wishes of the enemy, we will no longer see them as merely a protester, we will see them as an enemy. And we will do to them what we do to an enemy. We will deal with them in the same way we deal with enemies," said national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan in comments aired by IRIB.

"All our forces are also ready, with their hands on the trigger, prepared to defend their revolution." (AFP).

Netanyahu doesn't want you to see how Iran's Powerful Armed Forces are punishing Israel for its aggression. Here's what our men & women on the ground report: utter destruction caused by our missiles, panicked leaders, and air defences in disarray. And we're just getting started.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote a message on his office’s official X account on Tuesday night (local time), where he addressed Iranians, urging them to seize what he called a “once in a lifetime opportunity to remove the Ayatollah regime and gain your freedom”.

“The Ayatollah [Ali Khamenei] is no more, and I know you don’t want him replaced with another tyrant,” Netanyahu said. “So you must act. We are creating the conditions for you to do so. When the time is right, and that time is fast approaching, we will pass the torch to you. Be ready to seize the moment!” He also referred to Israel as Iran's "best ally" and that Israel fully respects Iran's "sovereignty, culture and heritage".

"We are focused on regime targets and are doing our best not to harm the People of Iran. We are your ally. Your best ally," he added. The post comes in the wake of reports that the Trump administration is not happy with the Israeli attacks on the energy infrastructure in the Islamic Republic.

The United Nations has warned of significant risks to global trade and development, including higher food prices and cost-of-living, if the Strait of Hormuz is closed amid the West Asia conflict.

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in a report Tuesday that the ongoing military escalation in the region due to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliation by Tehran has disrupted shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

The narrow passage carries around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilisers. “The resulting ripple effects go far beyond the region, affecting energy markets, maritime transport and global supply chains,” the report said. Read more...

One of the world's largest refineries in the UAE was shut as a "precaution" after a drone attack nearby, a source said, while Saudi giant Aramco warned of the war's devastating impact on oil.

Aramco CEO and president Amin H. Nasser warned the war could have "catastrophic consequences" on oil markets, and called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz -- which normally carries about 20 per cent of global oil supplies but has been closed by the conflict.

Tehran appears to be attempting to knock major Gulf refineries offline as it tightens its chokehold on the strait in a quest to inflict maximum pain on the global economy. The Abu Dhabi Media Office said Tuesday that a drone attack caused a fire in Ruwais Industrial City in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Read more...

A container ship was hit off the coast of the United Arab Emirates by an unidentified projectile, a British maritime security agency reported Wednesday, as Iran carries out a retaliation campaign in the Gulf in response to US-Israeli strikes. "The Master of a container vessel has reported that the vessel has sustained damage from a suspected but unknown projectile," the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said, adding the extent of the damage was unknown, but all crew members were safe.

The incident took place 25 nautical miles (29 miles) northwest of the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, the agency said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday that at least two missiles targeted a United States base in Kuwait, according to Iranian news agencies Fars and Mehr. "The American base in Arifjan was... hit by firing 2 missiles by the IRGC Ground Force missile unit," the Guards said, Fars and Mehr reported, referring to Camp Arifjan located south of Kuwait City.

Kuwaiti authorities have not yet commented on the reports. (AFP).

Iran is considering reducing its strikes in most Arab nations that house U.S. military bases while expanding attacks against Israel, Drop Site News reported, quoting a senior Iranian official. As per the report, the official said that Iran’s political and military leaders believe their ballistic missile and drone operations targeting US bases and infrastructure have largely achieved their intended aim of degrading major radar systems and depleting stockpiles of interceptors.

“This is a trend we are likely to observe over the course of the coming week in the ongoing conflict,” the senior Iranian official said. “There has been no change to the overall strategy—this continues the previous defensive approach. In the coming days, it is likely that operations will place greater emphasis on targets associated with Israel, while attacks on U.S. bases in the region may decrease to some extent. However, this reduction may not apply to U.S. bases in two particular countries, where such actions could continue.”

The Pentagon says about 140 U.S. service members have been wounded in conflict with Iran. “The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in an emailed statement. Eight are currently “severely injured,” Parnell added.

These numbers are the first insight into the broader toll of injuries sustained by U.S. troops after a barrage of retaliatory rocket and drone strikes from Iran that also killed seven soldiers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. (AP)

The United States has asked Israel not to carry out any further strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure, Axios reported. According to the report, the Trump administration cited three reasons for its request, viz.

1. Such strikes harm the Iranian public, a large portion of which opposes the regime.
2. Trump aims to cooperate with Iran's oil sector after the war — similar to the approach he has taken with Venezuela.
3. The strikes could trigger massive Iranian retaliatory attacks on energy infrastructure across Gulf states.

The man succumbed to his wounds early Wednesday, two days after the strike on his team while they were rescuing people following an earlier attack, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. It is the first time a Red Cross worker has been killed since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel erupted on March 2.

The Health Ministry and the Lebanese Red Cross have condemned repeated strikes on medical and rescue teams. Another, separate strike on Monday wounded one member of a team. (AP).

North Korea on Tuesday said that it supports the election of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Pyongyang also criticised the United States and Israel for what it called “illegal” attacks on Iran and interference in its internal affairs.

In comments attributed to an unidentified Foreign Ministry spokesperson, North Korea said it respects the Iranians’ right to choose their leader. The spokesperson denounced the United States and Israel, saying their military actions against Iran and efforts to “interfere in its internal affairs and openly advocate the attempt to overthrow its social system deserve worldwide criticism.”

Separately, state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un supervised tests of nuclear-capable cruise missiles from a prized new warship for the second time in two weeks. Some analysts say the display of naval power is meant to showcase Kim’s military capabilities after the killing of Iran’s previous supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the U.S. sinking of Iranian naval assets — signalling that, unlike Iran, his ships could carry nuclear warheads. (AP).

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called for a swift de-escalation in West Asia in a call with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, the Kremlin said. The call came as the US and Israel, and Iran maintain a cycle of retaliatory strikes, including on neighbouring Gulf nations.

“The Russian President reaffirmed his principled position in favour of a swift de-escalation of the conflict and its resolution through political means. Pezeshkian thanked Russia for its support, particularly for providing humanitarian aid to Iran,” the Kremlin said without giving further details.

This was the second phone conversation this week between Putin and Pezeshkian. Moscow, which has vital interests in the Gulf States, has been actively interacting with all parties to seek de-escalation of the crisis amid the conflict in West Asia. Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also discussed the situation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

Read more...

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday accused US officials of posting fake news to manipulate markets amid the ongoing conflict. In a post on X, he said, "US officials are posting fake news to manipulate markets. It won't protect them from the inflationary tsunami they've imposed on Americans. Markets are facing biggest shortfall in HISTORY: bigger than Arab Oil Embargo, Iran's Islamic Revolution and the Kuwait invasion COMBINED".

Two more members of the Iranian women’s soccer team were granted asylum in Australia before their teammates departed the country, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Wednesday.

It brings to seven the number of women granted humanitarian visas in Australia after five Iranian players sought asylum earlier, Burke told reporters in Canberra. One of those in the later group was a player and the other a team staffer, and both sought asylum before their teammates were transported to the airport.

The rest of the team’s departure from Sydney to return to Iran happened during fraught and outraged protests at the delegation's hotel and at the airport. Iranian Australians sought to prevent the women from leaving the country, citing fears for their safety in Iran. Their flight departed late Tuesday. Read more...

The South Carolina Republican told reporters that he does not support an independent investigation into whether the U.S. military struck a school in Iran. “I’m not worried about that right now,” said Graham, a staunch supporter of the war. “I’m sorry anybody died. I’m not taking the Iranian bait and listening to them.”

Graham added that if the U.S. were responsible for the deadly strike, it would be “a mistake.” “These things happen in war.” (AP).

A spokesperson said the video clip posted by the US Energy Secretary Chris Wright was deleted from his official X account after it was determined that it was incorrectly captioned by department staff. The post, which claimed that the U.S. Navy had helped an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, was quickly taken down.

Spokesperson Ben Dietderich said the secretary and other officials are “closely monitoring the situation” in the strait, a key access point for oil and natural gas shipments in the Middle East. The military is considering additional options to keep it open, “including the potential for our Navy to escort tankers,” Dietderich said.

The prospect of military escorts could help reduce price pressures created by the war. (AP).

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry said Wednesday that it intercepted two drones heading towards an oil field in the southeast of the country. "Two drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field were intercepted and destroyed," the ministry said in a post on X.

Israel's military said on Wednesday that Iran fired a new wave of missiles toward Israel, calling on those in affected areas to head to shelters.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said on its official Telegram account. (AFP).

Russia said on Tuesday that its consulate general in the Iranian city of Isfahan was damaged in an attack over the weekend, Anadolu news agency reported. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a commentary that the diplomatic mission was damaged “in an attack on the nearby provincial governor's office” on Sunday.

“Windows in the office building and residential apartments were shattered, and several employees felt the impact of the blast wave, but there were no casualties, Zakharova said. Russia, she added, considers attacks on diplomatic and consular missions to be a “flagrant violation” of international law.

“We demand that all parties strictly respect the inviolability of diplomatic facilities and refrain from attacks on the safety, life, and health of their personnel,” she added, calling on parties to the conflict to “immediately end the military confrontation and return to the negotiating table.”

The United Arab Emirates said Wednesday that its air defence systems were trying to intercept missiles and drones launched from Iran, after Tehran said it had fired a new salvo against US targets in the region.

"UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the UAE defence ministry said in a post on X, adding sounds of explosions were a result of the systems "intercepting missiles and drones".

Iran has launched new strikes on Israeli and American targets in the Middle East, state broadcaster IRIB said on Wednesday. The barrage was "the most intense and heaviest since the start of the war", lasting three hours and targeting Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, the broadcaster said, citing a statement from Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.

The broadcaster said the missile salvo targeted "numerous US targets in Erbil" in Iraqi Kurdistan and the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Bahrain. (AFP).

The US military said Tuesday it has destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels "near the Strait of Hormuz," following reports Tehran is mining the key waterway that has been virtually closed due to the Middle East war.

"US forces eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, March 10, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz," the United States Central Command said in a post on X that included video footage of various boats being struck by projectiles and exploding.