US-Israel-Iran War LIVE | Trump Again Claims He’s Having ‘Really Good Discussions’ With Iran; Iran Launches 77th Wave Of Attacks

Despite Iran’s denials, Trump has again said the US and Iran are in negotiations, reported AL Jazeera.

“We’re now having some really good discussions. They started last night, a little bit, the night before that,” he said.

“They want peace. They’ve agreed they will not have a nuclear weapon.”

He added that he hoped “we can make a deal that’s good for all of us”, including Middle Eastern allies and Israel.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has launched its 77th wave of strikes targeting Israel and US military bases in the Middle East, reported Al Jazeera.

Attacks “targeted the north, centre and south” of Israel “using super-heavy and point-and-shoot systems, Khyber Shaken and destructive drones”, its spokesperson said in a statement carried by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

Iran’s ambassador to the UK has been summoned by the British Foreign Office over what it called his country’s “reckless and destabilising actions” in Britain and overseas, according to Al Jazeera.

Seyed Ali Mousavi was called into the Foreign Office after an Iranian and a British-Iranian dual national were accused of carrying out hostile surveillance on London’s Jewish community.

“Iran has one more opportunity to end its threats to America and its allies – and we hope they take it,” said US President Donald Trump. “Either way, America and the entire world will be much safer soon.”

He also repeated previous claims about destroying Iranian military capabilities, saying he is “systematically dismantling the regime’s ability to threaten America”, as reported in Al Jazeera.

TotalEnergies chief Patrick Pouyanne said on Monday that he expected "very high" prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the summer if the Strait of Hormuz, closed by Iran due to the war, was not reopened.

"If the Strait of Hormuz is not open again, I can predict a very high price for LNG by summer and September, when we are refilling the gas storage in Europe," the French executive said at the annual CERAWeek energy conference in Houston.

"The consequence is not only high energy prices, but it would also damage other economies, for example, the supply chain." (AFP)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday he welcomed reported talks between the United States and Iran over the war in the Middle East.

"I welcome the talks reported between the US and Iran," Starmer told a parliamentary committee, adding the UK was "aware" discussions were happening. He talked late Sunday by telephone with US President Donald Trump, according to Downing Street.

Trump has said there are "major points of agreement" between the two sides, but Iran has denied that the talks are taking place. (AFP)

Iran's foreign ministry said on Monday that it had received messages through "friendly countries" about a request from the United States for talks, but denied any such negotiations had taken place since the start of the war.

"Over the past few days, messages were received through some friendly countries indicating a US request for negotiations aimed at ending the war," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, according to the official IRNA news agency.

However, he "denied any negotiations or talks with the United States during the past 24 days of the imposed war".

Israeli Air Force, on X, stated that it attacked the central security headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. "The headquarters served the Revolutionary Guards for coordinating the district units responsible for enforcing the regime's order and internal security," the Israeli Air Force stated on X, adding, "Prior to the strike, numerous measures were taken to minimise harm to civilians, including the use of precision weaponry, aerial observations, and additional intelligence information."

An Israeli strike on Hazmieh, east of Beirut, killed at least one person, Lebanon's health ministry said, the second strike on the residential Christian area in the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war.

The Israeli military said around the same time that it had "struck an IRGC Quds Force terrorist in Beirut", referring to the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Hazmieh, which is near Lebanon's presidential palace, hosts several foreign embassies. (AFP)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday he welcomed reported talks between the United States and Iran over the war in the Middle East.

"I welcome the talks reported between the US and Iran," Starmer told a parliamentary committee, adding the UK was "aware" discussions were happening. He talked late Sunday by telephone with US President Donald Trump, according to Downing Street.

Trump has said there are "major points of agreement" between the two sides, but Iran has denied that the talks are taking place. (AFP)

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has welcomed Trump’s announcement that there will be no attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure.

Kallas said that attacks on infrastructure were causing chaos in the region and escalating the war even further, as reported in Al Jazeera.

"No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," stated Iranian Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf, adding, "Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors. All Iranian officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved."

Iran’s IRGC has termed Trump as a “deceitful American president”, saying his “contradictory behaviour will not make us lose sight of the battlefront”.

This comes after Iran denied that any talks with the US had taken place after Trump had earlier claimed “major points of agreement”.

The Israeli Defence Forces stated that it conducted a massive wave of attacks in Tehran, Sunday night. IDF stated on X that it used over 100 munitions to attack the Quds Force base, IRGC Air Defence Headquarters, and other weapons production sites.

The top commander of the U.S. military’s Central Command said top leaders of Iran’s military are “in deep bunkers” while their frontline troops remain exposed to incoming American and Israeli airstrikes.

U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper gave an interview to the Farsi-language satellite network Iran International, which the network aired early Monday.

Iran International has been a preoccupation of Iran’s theocracy, with authorities repeatedly saying they’ve arrested people who allegedly gave footage to the network.

“I’d like everyone to note that I’ve watched this over the last week, this extraordinary contrast between the comfort and protection that you’re seeing with the senior generals in the Islamic Republic, at least those that are still alive, who are up in deep bunkers and facilities in and around Tehran,” Cooper said, according to AP.

“And contrast that with the soldiers who are down on the ground who are unprotected. The generals are protected. The soldiers are not protected.”

The chief of UAE state energy company ADNOC on Monday slammed Tehran's actions to effectively blockade the Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli strikes -- a move that squeezed supplies and caused a surge in oil prices.

"Weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz is not an act of aggression against one nation," Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said in virtual remarks to the CERAWeek conference in Houston.

"It's economic terrorism against every nation. And no country should be allowed to hold Hormuz hostage," he added. (AFP)

"Two of the missiles fired by the Iranian regime at Israel fell in Lebanese Territory," stated Lt. Col. Ella Waweya, a spokesperson of the Israeli Military on X.

The Kremlin says it is monitoring what it describes as ⁠contradictory statements regarding the situation in Iran but hopes ⁠the conflict will be resolved quickly, the state news agency TASS reports.

“There have been many different ‌statements today, including some contradictory ones. We continue to monitor the situation closely and hope that it will soon return to a ⁠peaceful course,” TASS quoted Kremlin ⁠spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying, according to Al Jazeera.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency says Iran’s U.N. ambassador wrote to both the council and U.N. chief Antonio Guterres. The letter calls attacks on power plants “inherently indiscriminate and clearly disproportionate.”

Trump late Saturday threatened to attack such plants if Iran doesn’t open the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours. (AP)

A Foreign Ministry statement says “vessels, equipment and any capacities” belonging to the United States and Israel, “as well as other participants in the aggression,” do not qualify.

It also says any security arrangements in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Sea of Oman must be coordinated with Iran’s “competent authorities,” while taking into account “realities” around armed conflict.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron, during which Macron expressed his country’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, condemning what he described as repeated Iranian attacks targeting the kingdom, according to a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry posted early Monday.

Macron reaffirmed Paris’s support for measures taken by Riyadh to “safeguard its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.” (AP)

President Donald Trump said Monday that there are "major points of agreement" in US-Iran talks, which he said must result in Tehran giving up its nuclear ambitions and enriched uranium stockpile.

Trump said the talks, which Iran denies are taking place, were being conducted with a "top person" but not the country's supreme leader.

"We've wiped out the leadership phase one, phase two, and largely phase three. But we're dealing with the man who I believe is the most respected and the leader," Trump told reporters. "We want no enrichment, but we also want the enriched uranium."

He also said that the USA will continue bombing Iran if talks fail.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi spoke by phone with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. Araghchi condemned the ongoing illegal U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, highlighted attacks on civilian sites (schools, hospitals, residential areas), reaffirmed Iran's right to self-defence, including strikes on aggressor military facilities in the region, and blamed the U.S. and Israel for Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions.

"No conversation has taken place between Iran and the US, and Trump's claim about having these talks is false. Trump's false claim is an attempt to escape his recent threat on Iran's power infrastructure. Iran's stance on the Strait of Hormuz has not changed," stated Iran's IRIB.

The head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom said Monday it will evacuate more workers from Iran’s Russia-built nuclear power plant but will also keep some.

Alexei Likhachev, who said last week that Rosatom had 480 workers at the plant in Bushehr, announced that evacuations this week will leave just a few dozen Rosatom workers at the plant.

Last week, Likhachev reported a strike hit close to the working nuclear reactor without causing damage or injuries. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia had urged the U.S. to avoid hitting the plant, warning it could trigger “irreparable” consequences. (AFP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Monday, after US President Donald Trump revealed Washington and Tehran had held "very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities."

Russia's Lavrov called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities and a political settlement that takes into account the legitimate interests of all parties involved, above all Iran," the Russian foreign ministry said in a readout of the call, which it said was initiated by Tehran. (AFP)

"Two LPG tankers are crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The combined quantity of LPG tankers should be 92,000 metric tons. The movement has been initiated, but I don't have any more information than this. Perhaps I would be able to tell more about it in tomorrow's briefing," stated Rajesh Sinha, Special Secretary, Ministry of Shipping.

China’s Middle East envoy pinned the blame squarely on the U.S. and Israel for a war he said has dealt a heavy blow to the global economy and shipping lanes.

“We all know who started this war,” Zhai Jun told reporters in Beijing after a recent trip to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Egypt.

Asked about the biggest obstacle to a ceasefire, he quoted a Chinese saying. “To untie a belt, the person who tied it is needed,” he said, repeating his government’s call for the U.S. and Israel to halt their military actions immediately and return to negotiations.

Zhai said the ongoing fighting made his delegation’s trip an unusual one, including witnessing missile interceptions above them. “We heard explosions and sirens for the first time in a real war, he said. (AP)

Oil prices fell by ⁠more than 13 per cent after ⁠Trump said he would order the military ‌to postpone any strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure.

Brent crude futures had ⁠fallen about $17, or ⁠15 per cent, to a session low of $96 a barrel ⁠by 11:08 GMT ⁠while US ⁠West Texas Intermediate had fallen $13, or about 13.5 per cent, ‌to a session low of $85.28, as reported in Al Jazeera.

Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported that the nation's Foreign Ministry stated, "The Islamic Republic is steadfast in its position rejecting any type of negotiations before achieving Iran's objectives from the war." This comes after US President Donald Trump announced that he has extended the 48-hour deadline on Iran to open Strait of Hormuz, to five days.

"Trump, fearing Iran's response, backed down from his 48-hour ultimatum: 'I told the Department of Defense not to carry out any attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure for the time being'," stated Iran's IRIB on X. This followed a warning issued to the USA on Sunday by the Iranian military, where they stated, that if US doesn't stop attacks on power plants, "Strait of Hormuz will be closed until damaged plants are rebuilt. Israel’s power, energy & ICT infrastructure will be targeted. Power plants in ME countries hosting US bases will be legitimate targets."

"Satellite images of a drone striking data centres supporting information related to the United States in Abu Dhabi and Rahba, UAE. U.S. interests in countries cooperating with the United States are being targeted," stated Iran's IRIB on X.

Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social website on Monday, just hours ahead of a deadline later in the day.

Writing in all capital letters, Trump said, "BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WITCH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD (sic)."

"Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making. This is already causing widespread economic problems, and I fear they promise to get much worse if the war continues," stated Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi on X.

According to an X post by the UAE Ministry of Defence, the country's Air Defences engaged 7 ballistic missiles and 16 drones on Monday. The Ministry also stated that the UAE has intercepted 352 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,789 drones since the start of the conflict.

"In response to certain claims regarding the alleged receipt of a sum of 2 million dollars by the Islamic Republic of Iran from vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, it is emphasized that such claims are unfounded. The statements made in this regard merely reflect the personal views of individuals and do not, in any way, represent the official position of the Islamic Republic of Iran," stated the Iranian Embassy to India, on X.

Alexey Likhachev, the head of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM), spoke to Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in the context of reports of military activity near the operating Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran.

Grossi stated that, "no military action should put at risk the physical integrity and safety of NPPs and their operating staff, who must be able to carry out their vital work in safe conditions."

“The deliberate destruction of infrastructure in Lebanon represents a blatant Israeli policy of collective punishment,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a Monday statement.

It criticized Israel’s “systemic and deliberate” strikes, including on bridges on the Litani River in southern Lebanon. (AP)

The wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Washington early Monday morning to take part in a meeting of first spouses from dozens of countries organized by First Lady Melania Trump.

According to the prime minister’s office, Netanyahu will be in the United States for two or three days and is expected to return to Israel immediately afterwards. The White House said the meeting of first spouses will focus on supporting children through the “safe and innovative use of technology.” (AP)

The Kremlin said Monday that any U.S. strikes on Iran’s Russia-built nuclear power plant could trigger “irreparable” consequences.

Asked about President Donald Trump’s warning to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if it doesn’t fully open the Strait of Hormuz, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the “catastrophically tense” situation in the region could only be settled by political and diplomatic means.

Peskov warned that any strikes on nuclear facilities would be “extremely dangerous and fraught with possibly irreparable consequences,” adding that Russia has “conveyed relevant signals” to the U.S. (AP)

According to an X post by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Al Thani "affirmed (on teleconversation with Kaja Kallas, EU Commission Vice President) that the Iranian targeting of energy facilities constitutes a flagrant violation of the principles of international law, and a serious threat to global energy security, the environment, and freedom of navigation." He also stated the necessity of sparing the region the consequences of these unjustified attacks and working to de-escalate in order to restore security and stability at both the regional and international levels.

Kallas reportedly called for de-escalation, upholding the voice of reason, and returning to negotiations and diplomatic means to avoid further chaos.

The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that no missiles hit the Chagos Islands, though two were heading in that direction. "It's really important we call out these reckless acts by Iran against British interests, British lives, British allies in the Gulf region. We are standing with allies, and my number 1 concern is protecting British interests and lives. That is why we have got defensive action going on in the region, and we will continue to do so. We need to do everything we can to protect our interests and allies," said Starmer.

According to Iran's Mizan News Agency, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a drone attack on "gatherings of separatist terrorists in Erbil, Iraq". In the visuals shared, a line-up of drones can be seen, with the drones being launched from the launch platforms.

"China strongly calls on parties to the conflict to immediately stop military operations, return to dialogue and negotiation, and not continue the war that should not have happened," stated a Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, adding, "If the conflict evolves into indiscriminate attacks in the region, the region will plunge into chaos. Force will only lead to a vicious circle," as reported by the independent conflict tracker Clash Report, on X.

Iranian air defence systems affiliated with the Iranian Navy were able to detect and destroy two suicide drones belonging to the U.S. Army before they could target naval units in Bandar Abbas. The total number of drones destroyed by the country's air defence network has risen to 129 aircraft, reported Iran's Tasnim News Agency.

Cargo movement through the Strait of Hormuz has been a challenge since the start of the war, but despite that, the government is ensuring that gas and fuel supplies remain least affected, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he addressed Lok Sabha on the West Asia conflict.

India, from the very beginning, has expressed deep concern about the conflict, PM Modi said and added that he has spoken to the leaders of West Asia, requesting them to end the escalation.

"India has opposed attacks on civilian, energy, and transport infrastructure. Attacks on commercial ships and disruptions in waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable. Through diplomacy, India is making continuous efforts to ensure the safe movement of Indian ships in this situation," the PM said.

"Pedro Sánchez - Iran’s mullah regime is thanking you by putting your words on the missiles it fires at civilians in Israel and the Arab world. How does it feel knowing your face & words are on these missiles? Keep in mind that Europe - including Spain - is within range of these missiles," stated the Israeli Foreign Ministry on X, sharing visuals of Iran reportedly putting Sanchez's words on a poster on missiles.

"The Spanish Government expresses its strongest condemnation of statements by Israeli authorities claiming that the Israeli army has been ordered to destroy all bridges over the Litani River and the homes of Lebanese civilians in neighbouring villages," posted the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X.

Today marks the 24th day of the internet blackout imposed by Iranian authorities across the country, according to the independent monitoring group NetBlocks.

Passing the 552-hour mark, the outage is “among the most severe registered in any country”, it said.

“International connectivity remains unavailable to the general public while authorities maintain a selective whitelist for global access.”

An Israeli strike on the bridge on Monday in the southern village of Qaaqaaiyet al-Jisr cut a main link between the southern city of Nabatiyeh and al-Hujair valley region further south, reported AP.

The state-run National News Agency gave no further details about the latest strike on a bridge on the Litani river to be destroyed in recent days.

On Sunday, Israel struck the Qasmiyeh bridge near the southern port city of Tyre.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called Israel’s new targeting of bridges in the south “a prelude to a ground invasion.”

The Israeli military said on Monday that its own artillery fire killed an Israeli civilian a day earlier near the northern border with Lebanon, where its forces are fighting Hezbollah.

After opening an investigation, the military said "the initial findings suggest that the Israeli civilian was killed by IDF artillery fire conducted to support IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon", adding that "several severe issues and operational errors took place during the incident, including both the planning and execution of the fire". (AFP)

Lebanon’s National News Agency says one civilian was killed in an air strike in the al-Shahabiya district of Tyre in southern Lebanon.

Four others have been moderately wounded, the report said, adding that the attack caused significant damage to a residential area, according to Al Jazeera.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday called for Russia and North Korea to further develop their strategic ties, as he congratulated his counterpart Kim Jung Un on his reappointment as president of state affairs.

"We in Russia highly value your personal input to strengthening the friendly, allied ties between our countries," Putin wrote in a message. "And we will, of course, continue our close cooperation to further develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang." (AFP)

Iran’s Defence Council threatened Monday to deploy naval mines across the “entire Persian Gulf” if a land invasion happens, Associated Press reported, quoting from the council's statement as concern in Tehran grows about the potential arrival of US Marines to the region.

“Any attempt by the enemy to target Iran’s coasts or islands will, naturally and in accordance with established military practice, lead to the mining of all access routes ... in the Persian Gulf and along the coasts,” the council said.

The US has been trying to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, to energy shipments. AP reported that the US Marines could come ashore to seize either islands or territory in Iran to support that mission. Israel, too, has suggested that a ground operation could take part in the war.

Iran has begun charging certain vessels a transit fee of $2 million (approximately Rs 18.8 crore) to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Iran International.

According to the report, Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi said the move represents a shift toward what he called a new "sovereign regime" governing the waterway. “Collecting $2 million as transit fees from some vessels crossing the strait reflects Iran's strength,” Boroujerdi said.

“Now, because war has costs, naturally we must do this and take transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz,” he added, claiming the policy demonstrates the Islamic Republic’s “authority.”

As Trump’s 48-hour deadline to bomb power-generation sites in Iran over the opening of the Strait of Hormuz approaches, there are several electrical sites that could be targets in the Islamic Republic.

Some 80% of all power generated in Iran is created at plants powered by natural gas. Those plants have continued working, even after Israel last week bombed Iran’s South Pars offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf.

Among the top natural gas plants are Damavand Power Plant, Shahid Salimi Neka Power Plant and Shahid Rajaee Power Plant – all around Iran’s capital, Tehran. Knocking those plants offline could affect businesses and homes in Tehran, as well as halt gas stations and other crucial sites. (AP)

US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social website early Monday: “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, TO PUT IT MILDLY!!!”

After Iran threatened power plants across the Mideast, news outlets published a list of such facilities, including the United Arab Emirates’ nuclear power plant. The report by the semiofficial Fars news agency, close to its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, appeared to be an indirect threat to the sites, including desalination plants in the Middle East.

"Technical and infrastructural data analysis indicates that 11 key facilities for electricity and desalination production in the Gulf states and Jordan play a vital role in meeting the essential needs of the region's population and industries," read one post shared by Fars news agency.

The list also included the UAE’s Barakah nuclear power plant, which has four reactors out in the western deserts of the country near its border with Saudi Arabia. The judiciary’s Mizan news agency also published the list.

Israel's military said on Monday morning it was working to intercept missiles fired from Iran, and urged people to take cover. "A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel," Israel's military posted on Telegram, using the official acronym for the country's armed forces. "Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat."

A strike on a broadcast station in southern Iran killed at least one person, state television reported on Monday. "The 100-kilowatt AM transmitter of the Persian Gulf Radio and Television Centre was attacked by the American-Zionist terrorist army," AFP reported, quoting the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. "In this attack, which was against international laws, one of the centre's security colleagues was martyred and another person was injured."

Congress took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, asking why the “self-styled Vishwaguru” is not advancing the BRICS+ Summit that India is set to host this year to put together a diplomatic initiative to deal with the crisis in West Asia.

Congress general secretary and in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, in a social media post, claimed that PM Modi does not want to “antagonise” US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, the top commander of the US military’s Central Command, has said time was not right for the Iranian public to come out and protest against the Iranian government, although both Israel and the US have said they hope the Iranian public would topple the country’s theocracy as a result of the strikes.

"It isn’t time for the Iranian public to come to the streets...They’re launching missiles and drones from populated areas and you need to stay inside for right now,” Cooper said. He added: “There will be a clear signal at some point, as the president has indicated, for you to be able to come out.”

He made the remarks in his first one-on-one interview of the war to the Farsi-language satellite network Iran International, which aired it early Monday.

Cooper said the US campaign against Iran is “ahead or on plan.” “We’re also going after the manufacturing,” he said. “So it’s not just about the threat today. We’re eliminating the threat of the future, both in terms of the drones, the missiles, as well as the navy.”

Iran, he added, is “operating in a sign of desperation” by targeting civilian sites in the war. “They’re operating in a sign of desperation. ... In the last couple of weeks, they’ve attacked civilian targets very deliberately, more than 300 times.”

As US President Donald Trump’s deadline on opening the Strait of Hormuz approaches, Iran on Monday threatened to attack Mideast electrical plants powering American military bases.

The statement from Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard marks the latest attempt by Tehran to try and explain its attacks on the Gulf Arab countries. Iranian state television read out the statement on air on Monday morning.

“What we have done is to announce our decision that if the power plants are attacked, Iran will retaliate by targeting the power plants of the occupying regime and the power plants of regional countries that supply electricity to US bases, as well as the economic, industrial and energy infrastructures in which Americans have shares,” the statement said, referring to Israel as an “occupying regime.” It added: “Do not doubt that we will do this.”

Trump warned early Sunday morning that the US would target Iranian power plants in 48 hours if the strait remains effectively closed by Iranian fire on shipping. (AP)

The head of the International Energy Agency said Monday that at least forty energy assets had been "severely or very severely" damaged in the Middle East due to the war in the region.

"At least forty... energy assets in the region are severely or very severely damaged across nine countries," Fatih Birol told the National Press Club in Australia's capital, news agency AFP reported.

He said that the global economy is under "major threat" from the energy crisis caused by the war warning that "no country will be immune" to its effects. "The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible," Birol said, adding, "No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. So there is a need for global efforts."

An Indian national suffered minor injuries from falling debris after the UAE's air defence systems successfully intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the country's capital, the authorities in Abu Dhabi said on Monday. The incident occurred in Abu Dhabi's Al Shawamekh area.

In a post on X, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said, "Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national. The public is reminded to obtain information from official sources only and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information."

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence said it detected two incoming ballistic missiles on Monday, as the kingdom and its Gulf neighbours face Iranian strikes. "Two ballistic missiles were launched towards the Riyadh region, one of which was intercepted and the other fell in an uninhabited area," the ministry posted on social media.

The United States said on Monday that it has carried out a major strike on Iran's Qom Turbine Engine Production Plant, reportedly destroying the facility. According to the US Central Command, the plant was used to produce gas turbine engines for attack drones and aircraft components linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

CENTCOM also shared visuals of the site, showing the scale of damage after the airstrikes on the facility. One photo, taken on March 6, shows the plant before the strike, while another image taken three days later shows it completely destroyed after the US attack. In a post on X, CENTCOM said, "The Qom Turbine Engine Production Plant produced gas turbine engines for attack drones and aircraft components used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The photo dated on March 6, 2026 shows the plant before U.S. airstrikes and the second photo shows the plant three days later after a devastating attack from US forces."

After US President Donald Trump threatened to 'obliterate' Iranian energy plants, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that America is firmly in control of the Iran conflict, and said "we have demolished Iran's capability for aggression". He said President Trump, War Secretary and General Caine are spearheading the campaign to destroy all fortifications along the Strait of Hormuz. He further noted that the United States may need to 'escalate' its attacks against Iran to be able to wind down the war.

"President Trump is defanging the Iranian regime and bringing peace to the Middle East. Given another year or two, it would have been impossible to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. There is no prosperity without security, and what we had before was the illusion of security. Thanks to President Trump’s decisive action, our world is now a safer and more secure place," he said.

Iran's Exiled Crowned Prince Reza Pahlavi has appealed to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue targeting the regime and its apparatus of repression, while sparing the civilian infrastructure.

"Iran is not the Islamic Republic. Iran's civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran. The Islamic Republic's infrastructure is the machinery of repression and terror used to keep that future from becoming reality. Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled," he said in a post on X.

He further said, "I ask President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to continue targeting the regime and its apparatus of repression, while sparing the civilian infrastructure, Iranians will need to rebuild our country. With the support of the US and Israel, and above all, the sacrifice of Iranian patriots, the hour of Iran's freedom is at hand. Long live Iran!"

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has backed US actions against Iran saying that it is currently assessing reports of a long-range strike on a US-UK base in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. At the same time, it warned that Tehran is "very close" to developing missile capabilities that could threaten Europe. "What we know for sure is that they are very close to having that capability," he said, referring to the potential range of Iranian missiles.

Rutte further warned that a combination of nuclear and missile capabilities in Iran would pose a global danger. "If Iran would have the nuclear capability, including, together with the missile capability, it will be a direct threat, an existential threat, to Israel, to the region, to Europe, to the stability in the world," he said.