Iran War Updates: Trump Says US Could Leave in 2 to 3 Weeks

Gulf partners of the United States — led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — are privately urging President Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran, arguing that a month of U.S.-led strikes has not weakened Tehran enough, according to U.S., Gulf and Israeli officials familiar with the discussions.

After initially complaining they were blindsided by the start of the conflict, officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain are now telling the White House they do not want the operation to end without major changes in Iran’s leadership or a dramatic shift in its regional behavior. They view the current moment as a rare opportunity to decisively curb Tehran’s power.

The pressure comes as Trump alternates between suggesting Iran’s leadership is ready for a deal and threatening further escalation. The war has killed more than 3,000 people across the Middle East and rattled the global economy, yet Trump has emphasized that Gulf states are firmly aligned with Washington.

While none of the Gulf nations have joined offensive operations, they host U.S. bases from which strikes are launched. Support varies: Saudi Arabia and the UAE are pushing hardest for increased military pressure — with the UAE even advocating a ground invasion — while Oman and Qatar continue to favor diplomacy.

Saudi officials have told Washington that ending the war now would not secure the region, arguing that any settlement must neutralize Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, end its support for proxy groups, and ensure the Strait of Hormuz cannot be shut down again.

Iran, meanwhile, has warned Gulf states that their critical infrastructure could be targeted if Trump follows through on threats to strike Iran’s power grid. Tehran insists its attacks are aimed at U.S. forces, not neighboring countries.

Despite the risks, Trump has highlighted Gulf unity as a key pillar of his strategy, praising regional leaders for backing the U.S. campaign even after initial hesitation. Whether any Gulf state will ultimately join the fight remains uncertain, with analysts noting that the absence of a clear endgame — and the danger of Iranian retaliation — continues to shape their calculations.

Israel’s defense minister Israel Katz offered his most explicit outline yet of plans to occupy a broad stretch of southern Lebanon, saying Tuesday that Israeli forces would maintain control of all territory from the border up to the Litani River once the current ground invasion concludes.

Katz said the post‑offensive reality would include the demolition of entire border towns and a continued ban on the return of the more than 600,000 Lebanese residents who fled north in recent weeks. He argued that northern Israeli communities would not be secure unless the area south of the Litani — roughly 20 miles deep at its farthest point — remained under Israeli control.

The comments mark the clearest indication to date that Israel is preparing for a renewed occupation of southern Lebanon, more than 25 years after ending its previous 18‑year presence there. Israeli officials say the goal is to create a “security zone” to prevent Hezbollah, the Iran‑backed armed group that dominates the region, from using the area to launch attacks.

The latest escalation began after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Iran following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran in late February. Since then, Israel has issued sweeping evacuation orders, carried out heavy bombardment, and pushed ground forces several miles into Lebanese territory. More than 1,200 people have been killed in Lebanon and over one million displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.

Lebanon’s government has condemned Israel’s campaign and warned of what it called a looming annexation. At the U.N. Security Council, humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher cautioned that the international community must prepare for the possibility of “a new addition to the list of occupied territories.”

On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes hit the southern outskirts of Beirut shortly after new evacuation orders were issued, while drones buzzed over the capital as weather cleared. Further south, Hezbollah fighters clashed with Israeli troops advancing toward the Litani.

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Andrew Day, senior editor at The American Conservative, a conservative publication, is raising alarms about what he sees as a dangerous calculus in the Trump administration's approach to the Iran war: that the president might view nuclear weapons as a more politically palatable option than a ground invasion.

In a series of posts on social media, Day argues that President Donald Trump could rationalize nuclear strikes on Iran as preferable to deploying American troops on the ground.

"Considering only 7% of Americans support a ground invasion, and since all the ground force operation options sound like suicide missions, Trump might even see nuclear weapons as the safer political option," Day posted on X.

The Trump administration has insisted repeatedly that Operation Epic Fury, which began February 28, targets only Iran's military infrastructure and nuclear program. The operation killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and has struck over 9,000 targets.

But Trump has offered shifting justifications for the war's aims, from counterproliferation to regime change, leaving questions about what would constitute victory.

Read more here.

Russian President Vladimir Putin raised what the Kremlin described as “serious concern” over the ongoing Middle East war during a phone call Tuesday with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

According to the Kremlin readout, both leaders stressed the need for a swift halt to hostilities and a renewed push for diplomacy. They highlighted the importance of intensifying political efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution that takes into account the “legitimate interests of all states in the region,” with which Russia says it maintains traditionally “friendly and mutually beneficial” ties.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry said Tuesday that security forces are pursuing a group of kidnappers after a journalist was abducted, though officials did not release the victim’s name or nationality.

In a statement, the ministry said the operation began after authorities intercepted a vehicle linked to the kidnappers, which overturned as they attempted to flee. One suspect was arrested and one of the vehicles used in the abduction was seized, but several others remain at large.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad declined to comment on the incident. It remains unclear whether the kidnapping is connected to the ongoing U.S.–Israeli war on Iran, which has fueled instability across Iraq.

Iran‑backed militias have carried out frequent attacks on U.S. facilities in the country since the conflict began, heightening concerns about the safety of journalists, aid workers and foreign personnel operating in Iraq.

The Free Narges Coalition said Tuesday that imprisoned Iranian human rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi is facing an “imminent danger” to her life after suffering a suspected heart attack and being denied hospital care.

In a report detailing a March 29 prison visit, the group said Mohammadi appeared “pale and weak with significant weight loss,” raising alarm about her rapidly deteriorating health. Fellow inmates told the coalition she had been found unconscious days earlier, yet authorities refused to transfer her to a medical facility.

Mohammadi, awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy of women’s rights and her opposition to the death penalty, is serving a sentence on national security charges widely condemned by international rights groups. Her supporters say the government’s continued denial of medical treatment amounts to life‑threatening neglect.

While talking to reporters from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said he thinks the war in Iran could end in two to three weeks.

The president said, "we'll be leaving very soon," adding later, "I think two to three weeks...we'll leave."

The European Union is preparing a new “toolbox” of measures to help member states manage the economic fallout from the U.S.–Israel war on Iran, warning that energy markets will remain unstable long after the fighting stops.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said in Brussels that the conflict has already added €14 billion to the bloc’s fossil‑fuel import bill in just 30 days, underscoring how exposed Europe remains to disruptions in global supply routes.

Jorgensen cautioned that even a sudden ceasefire would not restore normal conditions. “Energy infrastructure in the region has been ruined by the war and continuously is being ruined,” he said, noting that shipping and production networks across the Middle East have been severely damaged.

The upcoming EU package is expected to include proposals to lower electricity taxes and grid tariffs, along with additional options to cushion households and industries from prolonged volatility.

Jorgensen said the Commission is also developing further “opportunities and possibilities” for member states as Europe braces for a long period of elevated energy costs and supply uncertainty.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said strikes over the past two nights hit close to the WHO office in Tehran, shattering windows and forcing staff to shelter in place. All personnel have since been accounted for and none were injured, he said.

Tedros warned that attacks affecting the operations or premises of WHO and other U.N. agencies — whose locations are formally registered and clearly marked — “cannot be tolerated and must be avoided at all costs.” His comments come amid growing concern about the safety of humanitarian workers as the conflict continues to expand across Iran.

A Lebanese security source told Al Jazeera Arabic that the Lebanese army has withdrawn from several posts in the country’s south as Israel’s ground invasion expands and communication with frontline units becomes increasingly difficult.

According to the source, troops evacuated positions in Dibil, Ain Ebel, Rmeish, al‑Tayri, and Beit Yahoun in the central sector. The decision was driven by concerns over escalating Israeli attacks and the risk that units could become isolated if communications were severed.

Iran’s missile and drone attacks continue to pierce Israeli airspace, kill civilians, and rattle neighboring states, even as the war enters its second month. Low‑cost Iranian drones have repeatedly slipped past Gulf air defenses, injuring U.S. troops and undermining the region’s image of security. Meanwhile, Tehran’s threats against oil and gas tankers have choked traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, driving global energy prices sharply higher.

Despite heavy U.S. and Israeli bombardment, analysts say Iran’s goal is not to match its adversaries strike for strike, but to endure long enough to raise the cost of the conflict for Washington.

“Their strategy is to try to cause sustained pain and to drive up the costs of the war for the U.S.,” said Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center who studies U.S. military strategy.

Iran is firing fewer missiles than in the early days of the war, but it has increased its use of low‑flying drones, which are harder to detect and intercept. The shift allows Tehran to keep pressure on its rivals while conserving more expensive weapons systems.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz urged the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to pause escalating rhetoric while investigators determine whether Israel or Hezbollah was responsible for the recent killings of peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

Waltz said the United Nations must “fully investigate and assess the circumstances of these tragic incidents,” emphasizing that accountability should follow only after the facts are clear. He acknowledged the shared grief among member states but argued that a measured approach was essential.

The ambassador also pressed for reforms to U.N. peacekeeping operations, saying the council owes deployed troops more than condolences. Peacekeepers, he said, need “a wise approach” that recognizes they are operating in environments where “terrorists have no respect for the norms of international law.”

Iranian human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi may have suffered a heart attack in custody, according to a statement from the Free Narges Coalition. Her legal team and a family member were permitted a visit at Zanjan Prison on March 29, where they found her in visibly deteriorated condition.

The group said Mohammadi appeared “pale and weak” and had lost significant weight. Fellow inmates reported finding her unconscious in her bed on March 24, her eyes rolled back — signs her supporters believe point to a cardiac episode.

Despite the apparent medical emergency, prison authorities allegedly refused to transfer her to a hospital or allow her to see a specialist. Mohammadi has a long‑standing heart condition and has suffered multiple heart attacks while imprisoned, undergoing emergency surgery in 2022.

France’s U.N. ambassador Jerome Bonnafont pressed the Security Council on Tuesday to move beyond statements of condemnation and take concrete steps after Israeli strikes killed three Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the U.N. mission in Lebanon.

Bonnafont said the council “must act so that these kinds of acts do not happen again,” calling on Israel to provide immediate assurances that deconfliction procedures are in place and will be respected. He warned that any party failing to safeguard U.N. personnel “should be accountable before this council and the entire international community.”

France requested the emergency meeting following the attack, which also endangered French peacekeepers operating in southern Lebanon. Bonnafont urged both Israel and Hezbollah to ensure the safety of U.N. forces, stressing that peacekeepers cannot operate effectively if they are targeted or caught in crossfire.

The Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling on Congress to condemn a newly passed Israeli law that would impose the death penalty exclusively on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, while opposing an additional $500 million in U.S. military funding for Israel.

Israel’s Knesset approved the measure making capital punishment the default sentence for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis. The law does not apply to Israeli settlers or soldiers, a disparity CAIR argues amounts to state‑sanctioned discrimination. Human rights groups and legal observers have long warned that Israel’s military court system — which tries Palestinians — offers limited due‑process protections and maintains conviction rates near 100 percent.

CAIR said the law represents a deepening of what it calls an apartheid system, pointing to ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, the West Bank, southern Lebanon, and Syria, as well as the war with Iran. The organization criticized Congress for advancing expanded military aid through the FY2026 defense bill even as Israeli policies draw international condemnation.

The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said it was taken aback by President Donald Trump’s latest criticism of France’s role in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, insisting that Paris has not altered its policy on American military overflights.

“France has not changed its position since day one,” the Élysée said, adding that officials were “surprised” by Trump’s social‑media post accusing France of refusing to let U.S. aircraft carrying military supplies transit French airspace.

Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia warned against what he called “half‑measures” in the U.S. campaign to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, telling CNN’s John Berman that the United States should commit fully to its objectives in Iran rather than scale back while the waterway remains closed. McCormick, a Marine veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, argued that limited operations risk prolonging the conflict and eroding public support, citing past wars where unclear or restrained strategies led to drawn‑out engagements.

He said the U.S. has the capability to control the strait, strike key Iranian assets such as Kharg Island, and weaken Tehran’s ability to support regional armed groups. McCormick framed these steps as necessary to “finish this for sure,” adding that President Trump’s shifting public statements may be part of a pressure campaign aimed at pushing allies to take on a greater role.

The congressman also raised concerns about Iran’s stockpile of enriched nuclear material, suggesting that either the U.S. or Israel may ultimately need to “raid” nuclear sites to ensure they cannot be used. He described the prospect of nuclear escalation as the issue that “keeps me awake at night,” warning that even a single extremist actor could trigger catastrophic consequences.

Throughout the interview, McCormick emphasized unpredictability as a strategic asset, arguing that keeping adversaries uncertain about U.S. intentions is preferable to telegraphing military plans.

The UN Development Programme has issued a stark assessment of the economic fallout from the widening Middle East conflict, warning that the war has already shifted from a localized confrontation to what it calls a “systemic regional shock.” Its new modelling shows the region’s GDP could shrink by 3.7 to 6 percent, representing losses of up to $194bn.

According to the report, the disruption to trade, energy markets and shipping routes is driving the downturn. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged by more than 70 percent since the escalation began, pushing global oil prices from roughly $72 a barrel to nearly $120.

The UNDP estimates that as many as 4 million additional people could be pushed into poverty, with the Levant — including Iraq, Lebanon and Syria — facing the most severe strain. Between 1.6 and 3.6 million jobs are at risk across the region, particularly for low‑skilled workers who have the least protection from economic shocks.

The humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly as well. Lebanon has been designated a major emergency zone, with nearly one million people displaced and more than 325 schools converted into temporary shelters.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has recast himself as an unlikely financial commentator during the U.S.–Israel war on Iran, using his X account to mock Western market reactions and warn investors against what he calls U.S.-driven “fake news” designed to sway oil and financial markets.

In recent posts, Ghalibaf has urged followers to treat pre‑market headlines as manipulation, calling them “reverse indicators” and joking that traders should short whatever Washington “pumps” and buy whatever it “dumps.” His messages, often laced with sarcasm, frame the conflict as a contest fought not only with missiles but also through information and market psychology.

Behind the humor, analysts say, lies a deliberate strategy. Ghalibaf’s commentary reflects Iran’s broader use of asymmetric pressure, including its closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for roughly 20 percent of global oil and LNG shipments. The move sent energy prices soaring and heightened economic pressure on the U.S. and its allies — a dynamic Tehran has sought to amplify online.

Ghalibaf has also issued direct warnings to financial institutions tied to U.S. defense spending, claiming Iran is monitoring portfolios linked to American military assets. Economists note that Tehran appears to be exploiting the volatility created by the war, betting that sustained market turmoil — from falling stocks to rising energy costs — could eventually push Washington toward diplomacy.

Analysts say Ghalibaf is also tapping into President Donald Trump’s own online habits. Trump has repeatedly issued aggressive weekend threats only to soften them before markets open, a pattern traders have dubbed TACO — “Trump always chickens out.” Tehran appears to be using that inconsistency to its advantage, understanding how even small rhetorical shifts can jolt global markets.

Experts argue that Ghalibaf’s posts highlight a key reality of the conflict: uncertainty itself has become a weapon. With investors searching for any signal about the war’s trajectory, even playful jabs from Iranian officials can fuel volatility. And as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains central to global energy flows, Iran’s influence over market expectations — and its willingness to wield it — is unlikely to fade.

Air France has extended its service suspensions to several major destinations in the Middle East, citing the ongoing instability caused by the regional war.

The carrier said flights to and from Dubai, Riyadh, Tel Aviv, and Beirut will remain suspended until April 19.

The destruction of a U.S. E‑3 Sentry AWACS aircraft in an Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia has intensified scrutiny over how one of the military’s most valuable surveillance assets was left exposed — and how Iran managed to hit it with such precision. The attack on March 27 wiped out one of only 16 operational E‑3s, aircraft that serve as airborne command hubs capable of tracking hundreds of targets and coordinating air operations across vast distances.

Images from the scene show a direct hit on the aircraft’s distinctive radar dome, a level of accuracy that surprised many analysts and left several U.S. personnel injured. The strike also damaged multiple refueling aircraft parked nearby, underscoring Iran’s continued ability to target high‑value assets despite a month of U.S. and Israeli bombardment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his intelligence services had evidence that a Russian spy satellite photographed the base three times in the week before the attack — on March 20, 23, and 25 — suggesting possible coordination. Russia has denied providing targeting data to Iran.

The destroyed E‑3 was one of six reportedly deployed to the Saudi base. The aging fleet has long struggled with maintenance issues, with barely half of the aircraft considered mission‑ready in recent years. Still, their loss is significant. Former F‑16 pilot Heather Penney of the Mitchell Institute said the AWACS platform is central to everything from airspace management to targeting, calling the loss “incredibly problematic” for U.S. operations.

While U.S. and Israeli commanders insist Iran’s missile capacity has been sharply reduced, analysts say Tehran appears to be shifting tactics — conserving resources while focusing on key enablers of U.S. airpower, including radar systems and support aircraft. The strike on the E‑3 suggests Iran is still capable of landing high‑impact blows and may be aiming to prolong the conflict to maximize its economic and strategic leverage.

Russia and Iran were supposed to be strategic partners. They signed a comprehensive partnership treaty last year, pledging deeper defense cooperation and economic integration. When the United States struck Iran, some predicted Russia would stand by its ally. Instead, Moscow has treated Tehran's war as a business opportunity—pocketing oil windfalls, leveraging Western desperation for energy and bleeding U.S. military resources through covert intelligence sharing, all while risking nothing of its own.

By every short-term measure, Russia is winning a war it is not fighting. But the Middle East that Russia spent two decades inserting itself into is being reshaped by forces Moscow can neither direct nor contain, and the long-term costs may outweigh the dividends.

Before the war on Iran began, Russia was earning roughly $135 million a day from oil exports. Today, with the Strait of Hormuz functionally closed and Middle Eastern supply in chaos, that figure has doubled to approximately $270 million. Brent crude has surged past $115 a barrel. Washington, under pressure to stabilize oil prices, issued a 30-day sanctions waiver allowing countries to purchase roughly 128 million barrels of Russian crude stranded on tankers—the same sanctions regime designed to starve the Kremlin's war machine in Ukraine. Putin, sensing the opening, publicly offered to resume oil and gas deliveries to Europe on the condition that European buyers commit to long-term cooperation "free from political pressure." In plain language: drop the sanctions posture and the taps reopen.

Meanwhile, Russia has been sharing satellite intelligence with Iran, providing targeting data on U.S. troop positions and military assets in the Middle East. When Politico reported that Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev offered to halt this intelligence sharing if the United States stopped providing intelligence to Ukraine—a proposal the Trump administration rejected—the offer itself was more revealing than the rejection. Moscow is treating Iran's war and Ukraine's war as a single strategic ledger, looking for ways to cash in on one to gain an advantage in the other.

Continue reading this opinion piece here.

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A key measure of manufacturing activity in the Chicago region showed a sharp loss of momentum this month, adding to concerns about the broader U.S. industrial outlook as the Iran war continues to push up prices for essential goods.

The Chicago Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) came in at 52.8, below expectations of 54.8. While any reading above 50 still signals expansion, the latest figure points to a notable slowdown in growth, a trend investors watch closely for clues about the national ISM Manufacturing PMI.

The softer reading lands as American households and businesses face rising costs across the board. Gas prices have surged past $4 per gallon for the first time in more than three years, according to GasBuddy, as the conflict disrupts global oil supplies and fuels inflationary pressure.

Economists say the combination of slowing factory activity and rising energy prices underscores the strain the war is placing on the U.S. economy, with manufacturers now navigating both cooling demand and higher input costs.

The war in the Middle East has upended household budgets in just a few weeks, pushing up fuel costs, rattling mortgage markets, and setting the stage for higher energy bills this summer. From supermarket shelves to pension pots, the economic shock is filtering into nearly every corner of daily life.

Energy bills remain protected in the short term by the Ofgem price cap, which will fall to £1,641 in April and stay there until the end of June. But analysts warn the cap could jump to nearly £1,973 from July as wholesale prices surge. Fixed‑rate energy deals have become scarce since the conflict began, and the cheapest available fix now sits above the current cap. Some experts say a tracker tariff, which guarantees a discount against the cap, may offer better value for households willing to ride out volatility.

Mortgage holders are facing a similar squeeze. More than 1,400 fixed‑rate products have vanished from the market since late February, and average rates have climbed sharply — with two‑year fixes now around 5.84 percent. Brokers advise homeowners to lock in rates early, as some lenders allow applications up to six months before a current deal expires. Those struggling with payments may temporarily extend their mortgage term or switch to an interest‑only mortgage, though both options raise long‑term costs.

Air travel is also feeling the strain. Several airlines have introduced fuel surcharges, and industry leaders warn fares could rise further if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Most carriers hedge fuel purchases months in advance, meaning the full impact may not be felt by passengers until next year.

At the pump, fuel prices have soared. Filling a family car with diesel now costs more than £100 for the first time in three years, with diesel up 40p per litre and petrol up 20p since the war began. Motoring groups say the best defence is simply to shop around, as options for shielding drivers from rising prices are limited.

Food supplies are under pressure too. British growers warn of potential shortages of cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers as rising gas prices make heating greenhouses too costly. Some farmers are considering halting production altogether, raising the risk of empty shelves later this year.

Investors have watched markets tumble, with the FTSE 100 down 6.5 percent in March and the S&P 500 off more than 7 percent. Even gold has fallen sharply. Financial advisers stress that investing is a long‑term discipline, urging savers to stay diversified and avoid making sudden changes in response to short‑term volatility.

An Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza on Tuesday killed a father and his 5‑year‑old son, according to medical staff at Nasser Hospital, where the bodies were taken. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.

In the hospital courtyard, relatives and neighbors gathered in grief, carrying the two victims wrapped in white shrouds as they performed funeral prayers. Witnesses described the scene as one of anguish and disbelief.

The Gaza Strip has faced near‑daily Israeli fire despite a fragile ceasefire reached in October. According to the Hamas‑run Gaza Health Ministry, nearly 709 Palestinians have been killed since then, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violating the truce.

President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of European partners on Tuesday, accusing France of blocking U.S. warplanes from its airspace and telling Britain to “go get your own oil” by forcibly reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks, posted on his Truth Social account, marked a fresh rupture between Washington and key NATO allies as the war with Iran grinds on.

France did not publicly respond, though a French military official, speaking anonymously, denied that Paris had closed its airspace to American aircraft. Trump’s comments came shortly after Spain confirmed it had refused overflight permission for U.S. planes ahead of strikes on Iran — the latest in a series of moves by Madrid distancing itself from the conflict.

Italian media also reported that Italy had restricted U.S. access to a base in Sicily, though Rome downplayed the claims and insisted it evaluates requests individually. Both Britain and France have declined to join offensive operations, citing Trump’s decision to launch the campaign with Israel without prior consultation. Britain has allowed U.S. bombers to use its bases only for defensive missions tied to threats against British interests.

London and Paris are instead working to assemble a multinational coalition of up to 35 countries to secure the Strait of Hormuz once the conflict subsides — a plan that could involve deploying frigates to escort tankers and installing air‑defense systems to counter Iranian drones and missiles.

In his posts, Trump repeated his assertion that the United States and Israel have “decimated” Iran’s military capabilities and argued that European nations should now take responsibility for reopening the strait, which he framed as essential to their own economies. He again warned that the United States would no longer guarantee defense for NATO allies who, in his view, failed to support the war effort.

Trump also sharpened his rhetoric toward France, saying Paris had been “VERY UNHELPFUL” and vowing that the United States “will REMEMBER.” The shift came just days after he offered a lukewarm compliment to President Emmanuel Macron, calling him an “8 out of 10” in a recent phone call.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says at least 125 children have been killed in Israeli strikes since March 2, a stark indicator of how deeply civilians are being affected as the Middle East war stretches into its second month. The ministry also reported the deaths of 52 healthcare workers and confirmed that 19 medical centers and 52 medical vehicles have been hit during the same period.

These casualties form part of a much larger regional toll that has climbed into the thousands since the conflict began on February 28, according to figures released by local authorities. CNN notes it cannot independently verify the numbers, but they paint a picture of widespread destruction across multiple countries.

In Iran, the Red Crescent says at least 1,900 people have been killed, with officials reporting that hundreds of civilians — including more than 200 children — are among the dead. Lebanon’s tally has risen to at least 1,268 people killed since March 2. Iraq has recorded at least 101 deaths nationwide, including 13 in the Kurdistan Region. Inside Israel, authorities report 19 civilian deaths and 10 soldiers killed in fighting in southern Lebanon. The United States has confirmed the deaths of 13 service members since entering the war.

Additional fatalities have been reported in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, the occupied West Bank, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

U.S. stocks climbed Tuesday morning as the sharp rise in global oil prices — driven by the war with Iran — showed signs of slowing, giving investors some breathing room after days of heavy selling.

The S&P 500 rose 1.2%, recovering part of the ground it lost after sinking more than 9% below its record high on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained about 410 points, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.6%.

Foreign ministers from 10 European countries, joined by the EU’s foreign policy chief, issued a joint appeal on Tuesday urging Israel to avoid any further widening of the conflict in Lebanon, including through a ground offensive.

The statement followed comments earlier in the day from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said Israel intends to control a large section of southern Lebanon, demolish border towns, and bar displaced residents from returning — remarks that deepened fears of a long-term occupation.

While the European diplomats placed primary blame on Hezbollah for reigniting hostilities, they also warned that an expanded Israeli operation would risk a broader regional crisis. They called on Israel and Lebanon to enter direct negotiations to halt the fighting and prevent further destabilization.

UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres has condemned the killing of two Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) after an explosion struck their vehicle in southern Lebanon, according to a statement from his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

The blast, described as being of “unknown origin,” occurred on March 30 near Bani Haiyyan, killing two peacekeepers and leaving two others wounded — one of them severely. Indonesia’s government later said the casualties resulted from “indirect artillery fire.”

The attack was the second fatal incident involving peacekeepers in less than 24 hours, highlighting the rapidly deteriorating security environment along the Lebanon‑Israel frontier.

Guterres reiterated his call for immediate de‑escalation and urged all parties to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the framework intended to prevent a return to full‑scale war in southern Lebanon.

Indonesia has introduced fuel rationing and ordered civil servants to work from home one day a week as it scrambles to protect energy supplies amid soaring global prices driven by the war.

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said Tuesday that fuel purchases will now be capped at 50 liters (13.2 gallons) per vehicle per day, calling the limit a necessary step to manage tightening stocks. He added that all government employees will shift to remote work every Friday to further reduce consumption.

President Donald Trump is weighing the deployment of American ground forces to seize Kharg Island, the hub of Iran’s oil exports — a move military analysts say could endanger U.S. troops while offering no guarantee of ending the war.

Kharg Island handles roughly 90% of Iran’s oil shipments, making it one of the country’s most valuable strategic assets. Trump has suggested that capturing it could give Washington leverage in negotiations. But experts caution that the operation would be perilous and could provoke heavy Iranian retaliation.

Michael Eisenstadt, a former U.S. military analyst who now directs the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the idea carries both symbolic power and serious risk. “Putting people on the ground might be the most psychologically compelling way of striking a blow at Iran,” he said. “On the other hand, you’re putting your own troops at jeopardy.”

Eisenstadt noted that the island sits close to Iran’s mainland, making any occupying force vulnerable to sustained attacks — even if Tehran is willing to damage its own infrastructure in the process.

Some analysts argue that if the administration’s goal is to squeeze Iran’s oil revenues, a maritime blockade targeting tankers departing Kharg Island could be more effective and far less dangerous than a ground invasion.

China and Pakistan have agreed to advance a joint five‑point proposal aimed at ending the month‑long war in the Middle East, underscoring their growing diplomatic coordination as the conflict drags on.

During talks in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar endorsed a framework calling for: an immediate halt to hostilities, the launch of peace talks, protection of non‑military sites, safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and upholding the UN Charter. The plan was announced by Chinese state media and Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.

While both governments urged all parties to adopt the proposals, neither outlined concrete steps for implementation.

US‑Israeli airstrikes in Iran have damaged a major cancer‑drug factory and a psychiatric hospital in recent days, according to state‑backed Iranian media, intensifying concerns about the mounting toll on the country’s health system.

State broadcaster IRIB reported Tuesday that one of Iran’s largest producers of anti‑cancer medications and anesthetics was struck, disrupting supplies of critical treatments. Earlier in the week, the newly built Delaram Sina Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran sustained significant damage during an attack on the capital, the IRNA news agency said. About 30 patients were inside at the time. “Doors and windows were shattered, and the walls of the building were also damaged,” the hospital’s director told IRNA.

The strikes are part of a broader campaign that Iranian officials say has devastated neighborhoods, killed hundreds, and crippled essential services. Iran’s deputy health minister claims at least 190 medical facilities have been hit since the war began on February 28.

Humanitarian groups are also reporting heavy losses. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says 17 of its centers have been struck and nearly 100 ambulances destroyed. “These are not just vehicles. They are often the only hope people have when the bombs fall,” said Maria Martinez, the IFRC’s head of delegation in Iran.

Spain’s defense minister Margarita Robles said the country will not authorize the use of its military bases or airspace for any activity linked to the U.S.‑Israeli war with Iran, marking Madrid’s strongest stance yet against the conflict.

It is the latest move in a month‑long pattern of resistance. When the war erupted on February 28, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the strikes as “unilateral military action” that escalated global instability. He has repeated that position despite sharp criticism from President Donald Trump and a more muted response from other European leaders.

Tensions between Washington and Madrid have grown steadily. Early in the conflict, Trump accused Spain of refusing to support further U.S. strikes and threatened to cut trade ties. Days later, he publicly labeled Spain a “loser” and “not a team player.”

Sánchez has not backed down. Just last week, he said the U.S. and Israel had “undermined international law, destabilized the Middle East and reignited conflicts in Iraq and Lebanon.” Being an ally, he argued, means standing firm when partners take the wrong path.

Italian authorities refused permission for a U.S. aircraft bound for the Middle East to land at the Sigonella military base in Sicily, according to multiple Italian media reports. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto denied the request after it was submitted while the aircraft were already en route, state broadcaster RAI reported.

RAI said no prior authorization had been sought and that checks showed the flights “were not normal or logistical flights and therefore not covered by the treaty with Italy.” An Italian Defense Ministry spokesperson confirmed the incident to CNN but declined to elaborate.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office later said Italy was acting “in full compliance with existing international agreements.” Under those agreements, U.S. forces may use Italian bases for routine logistics, but anything beyond that requires additional approval.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Tuesday that claims of missiles launched from Iran toward Turkey were “completely baseless,” pushing back against Ankara’s repeated reports of cross‑border launches since the war began.

The call came a day after Turkey’s Defense Ministry said NATO air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Iran that briefly entered Turkish airspace — the fourth such incident Turkey has reported during the conflict.

In a readout posted by Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Araghchi dismissed the allegations and cautioned against “the repetition of false‑flag operations by enemies of peace and friendship in the region.” He said Iran remains committed to “good neighborliness” and respects Turkey’s sovereignty, adding that Tehran is ready to engage in joint technical cooperation to investigate any claims.

President Donald Trump said the United States will maintain its military presence around the Strait of Hormuz for now, even as he pressures allies to take on more responsibility for securing the vital waterway.

“At some point I will, not quite yet, but countries have to come in and take care of it,” Trump told CBS News in a phone interview Tuesday. He argued that Iran has been “decimated” and no longer poses a “real threat,” but insisted regional partners must step up. “They’re going to have to come in and do their own work.”

The comments followed a social‑media post in which Trump sharply criticized NATO members for refusing to help the U.S. reopen the strait, calling their reluctance shortsighted given their dependence on global oil flows. “NATO is terrible, and they’re all terrible,” he said. “So if they want oil, come up and grab it.”

Despite a fresh round of indirect negotiations, the United States and Iran remain far from any meaningful breakthrough, according to Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group. Vaez says Tehran is unlikely to accept an agreement limited to a ceasefire, underscoring how narrow the diplomatic space has become.

“A comprehensive solution is just not on the cards,” he said, warning that failure at the negotiating table would reverberate across the Middle East. If the conflict escalates and GCC states are drawn into direct confrontation, he argued, the region would emerge weakened — especially when compared with a more assertive and militarily dominant Israel.

Energy security is a central concern. Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia fear disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, now effectively under Iranian control. Vaez noted that Egypt is also anxious about potential Houthi escalation in the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, a move that could choke Red Sea shipping and threaten Suez Canal traffic.

“So everybody is affected if this conflict continues to escalate,” he said, emphasizing that the economic and security fallout would not be contained to the immediate front lines.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the Pentagon is deliberately maintaining ambiguity about whether American forces could deploy ground troops inside Iran, arguing that unpredictability is central to wartime strategy.

“You can’t fight and win a war if you tell your adversary what you are willing to do or what you are not willing to do — to include boots on the ground,” Hegseth told reporters. He said Iran currently believes the U.S. has “15 different ways” it could introduce ground forces, adding, “And guess what? There are.”

Hegseth emphasized that Washington could execute those options if necessary, but stressed that diplomacy or alternative approaches could also shape the next phase of the conflict. The goal, he said, is to avoid signaling limits that Tehran could exploit.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, echoed that message, describing the U.S. military’s range of options as “extensive.” He noted that additional troop deployments to the region expand more than just land‑combat possibilities.

“I wouldn’t want to take away the president’s decision space,” Caine said, adding that Iran should recognize the pressure those forces represent and consider the diplomatic consequences of continuing the conflict.

A month of the American‑Israeli war with Iran could push an additional four million people in the Arab world into poverty and wipe out up to 6 percent of the region’s economic output, according to new projections from the United Nations Development Program.

The report, released Tuesday, models the economic fallout of a conflict that has already stretched beyond the four‑week window used in the simulation. Abdallah Al Dardari, who heads the UNDP’s regional bureau for Arab states, told The New York Times that the damage compounds rapidly as the war continues. “Every week we add to the destruction, the structural weaknesses sink in and that will make the recovery more difficult and more costly,” he said.

The UNDP estimates that just one month of fighting could cost the region $194 billion in lost output — a downturn Al Dardari described as “unprecedented.”

Many Arab countries were already struggling before the conflict. Gaza and Lebanon face massive reconstruction needs after recent Israeli offensives, while Syria remains battered by more than a decade of civil war. Now, officials warn that Iraq, Jordan and Egypt could be pushed into deeper crisis. Egypt, home to roughly 120 million people, is grappling with soaring fuel prices, heavy debt, and dwindling access to Gulf investment.

That reliance on Gulf capital is becoming a new vulnerability. With oil‑producing states themselves hit by attacks on energy infrastructure, Al Dardari cautioned that the Gulf may not have the surplus revenue needed to bankroll regional recovery once the war ends. “There isn’t enough surplus revenue in the Gulf to invest in the recovery of those countries,” he said. “That’s a structural challenge we never faced before.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a sweeping threat against a list of major American and regional technology and aerospace companies, accusing them of aiding “terrorist operations” and warning that their facilities will be treated as legitimate targets beginning 8 p.m. Tehran time on April 1.

In a notice circulated on a public Telegram channel, the IRGC claimed that U.S. intelligence, ICT, and AI firms were involved in supporting assassination plots inside Iran. The message urged employees of the named companies to evacuate their workplaces and advised residents living within one kilometer of those facilities to leave the area.

The list includes some of the world’s largest corporations — among them Cisco, HP, Intel, Oracle, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Meta, IBM, Dell, Nvidia, Tesla, Boeing, and several Gulf‑based cybersecurity firms. The IRGC said each company should expect retaliation “for every assassination target” inside Iran.

The statement framed the threat as a response to recent U.S. and Israeli strikes that Iran says killed multiple civilians. It also invoked religious justification and accused Washington of ignoring repeated warnings to halt what Tehran calls “terrorist operations.”

Indonesia has begun rolling out a limited work‑from‑home policy for civil servants, part of a broader effort to cushion the country from global disruptions triggered by the Middle East war and its strain on energy supplies.

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto announced the measures Tuesday, saying government employees at both the central and regional levels will work remotely one day a week, on Fridays. The move is framed as an “adaptive and proactive” response to rising uncertainty in global supply chains.

Jakarta is also imposing strict mobility‑reduction rules. Official vehicle use will be cut by 50%, except for essential operations and electric vehicles, and civil servants are being encouraged to rely more on public transportation. Business travel is being sharply reduced as well — up to 50% for domestic trips and 70% for international ones.

Hartarto said similar recommendations have been issued to the private sector, with flexibility for each industry’s needs.

A key water desalination facility on the Iranian island of Qeshm has been forced out of operation, an Iranian health ministry official confirmed in comments published Tuesday by the semi‑official Iranian Students News Agency. The outage comes weeks after Tehran accused the United States of striking the plant — an allegation Washington has denied.

Mohsen Farhadi, a senior health ministry official, said the damage was severe enough that “repairing it in the short term was not possible,” according to the report. His remarks were later carried by the newspaper Asr‑e Iran.

To prevent shortages, authorities have begun trucking in drinking water from other functioning plants on the island, Farhadi added.

Earlier this month, Iran claimed U.S. forces were behind an attack on the facility, but a U.S. military spokesperson said American troops had not conducted such a strike.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed reports that Tehran launched missiles toward Turkey, calling the allegations “completely baseless” during a phone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. According to a statement from Iran’s foreign ministry, Araghchi warned that “false‑flag operations by enemies” could be fueling misinformation and said Iran was prepared to cooperate on a joint technical investigation into any claims.

The remarks come after Turkey’s defense ministry said on Monday that NATO forces intercepted a missile fired from Iran, marking the fourth such incident since the outbreak of the Middle East war. Ankara has not publicly responded to Iran’s offer of a joint inquiry, but the repeated interceptions have heightened regional tensions and raised concerns about spillover from the conflict.

President Donald J. Trump said he and Melania Trump will host the King and Queen of the United Kingdom for a state visit to the United States from April 27–30, marking a major diplomatic moment during the nation’s 250th anniversary year.

In a post on his social media account, Trump said the visit will include a formal White House state banquet on April 28 and described the upcoming trip as “historic.” He added that he holds “great respect” for the king and expects the visit to be “terrific.”

The White House is brushing off the latest surge in fuel costs as the national average for gasoline climbed to $4.02 a gallon, the highest level in four years. Officials insist the jump is temporary and tied directly to the ongoing U.S.–Israeli war with Iran.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration expects prices to fall sharply once the conflict winds down. “When Operation Epic Fury is complete, gas prices will plummet back to the multi-year lows American drivers enjoyed before these short-term disruptions,” she told CNN, adding that President Donald Trump remains focused on expanding domestic energy production and easing costs for households.

Trump has long framed energy affordability as a core political promise, frequently criticizing Joe Biden over past price spikes. With midterm elections approaching, aides see stabilizing fuel costs as a critical test of the administration’s economic stewardship.

The White House has also urged international partners to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil corridor controlled by Iran, after launching joint strikes with Israel. Officials argue that restoring stability in the region is essential to easing pressure on global energy markets and bringing relief to U.S. drivers.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that Washington’s main objective in its war with Iran is reaching a negotiated agreement, framing diplomacy as the preferred path even as military operations continue.

“Our job is to ensure that we compel Iran to realize that this new regime, this regime in charge, is in a better place if they make that deal,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon. He emphasized that the administration is “working hand in hand” across agencies, but that “the primary effort is a deal.”

Hegseth added that the U.S. is prepared to keep fighting if negotiations fail, but stressed that the decision on when objectives are met rests solely with President Donald Trump. It will be Trump’s “determination alone,” he said, to decide when U.S. goals in Iran are achieved and when it “serves the interest of the American people to cut that deal.”

Rising fuel costs aren’t just hitting Americans at the pump — they’re reshaping nearly every part of the grocery experience, according to new consumer research from Snipp Interactive. With gas averaging $3.88–$3.93 per gallon and diesel jumping 36% in a month to $5, shoppers are adjusting how they spend, shop, and prioritize.

More than 31% of surveyed grocery shoppers say gas prices have significantly strained their household budgets, and 66.4% have already changed their overall spending habits. The first cuts come from outside the grocery store: 63.6% are dining out less, followed by reductions in clothing, entertainment, and travel. But groceries aren’t untouched — nearly 36% report trading down or buying less.

Even as 37.6% say their weekly grocery bill has risen, shoppers are still cutting back inside the cart. Discretionary categories like snacks, alcohol, meat, and prepared foods are taking the biggest hits, with even essentials such as produce and dairy seeing pullbacks.

Fuel-saving behavior is also reshaping store trips. Over half of shoppers have changed how often they shop, with many consolidating visits into larger, more planned trips. 26.1% are choosing stores closer to home, and 13.1% are shifting more purchases online.

One of the most consequential shifts: 40% of shoppers have switched from national brands to private label, making store brands one of the clearest winners of this inflationary moment. Local sourcing, by contrast, ranks last as a coping strategy.

The financial strain extends beyond groceries. 38.5% of respondents have postponed major purchases, especially travel, electronics, and appliances — a sign of broader consumer caution. Looking ahead, 46% are very concerned grocery prices will continue rising, and many plan to seek more promotions or cook at home more often if fuel costs stay high.

More from that press conference at the Pentagon, and defense secretary Pete Hegseth said that the Trump administration was confident Iran would make a deal.

“If Iran is wise, it will cut a deal. Trump doesn’t bluff, and he does not back down,” Hegseth said. “The new Iranian regime should understand that by now. Regime change has occurred. This new regime should be wiser than the last. “

“Trump is willing to make a deal, and the terms are known to them. If Iran is not willing, then the United States Department of Defense will continue with even greater intensity," added Hegseth.

Also speaking at the briefing was Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as he said U.S. military action was focused on targeting Iran's minelaying capability and naval assets. “We’ve taken out again more than 150 ships,” Caine said, adding that the aim was to disable Iran’s defense industrial base, including nuclear research sites.

This includes factories, warehouses, nuclear weapons research and development labs, and the associated infrastructure, he added.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has backed President Donald Trump’s social media post which criticized the contribution of U.S. allies in the Iran War.

During a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, Hegseth referred to Truth Social posts in which Trump lashed out at the UK, France and other countries, telling them to "go get your own oil" from the Strait of Hormuz.

"You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself,” Trump said expressing his unhappiness at what he sees as allies’ reluctance to help with the U.S. war effort, “the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us.”

Hegseth told reporters that Trump “was clear this morning” in his post that he believed “there are countries around the world who ought be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well. "

"It's not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad (British) Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well," said Hegseth.

...

Italy has insisted its ties with the U.S. are strong despite reports it had denied permission for American military aircraft to land at an air base in Sicily en route to the Middle East.

The daily newspaper Corriere della Sera daily reported how last week, U.S. bombers had been due to land at the Sigonella air base in eastern Sicily but had been denied because Washington had not sought prior authorization from the government.

But the Italian government said Tuesday that its relationship with the U.S. is “solid and based on full and loyal cooperation,” and that each request for military use of Italian bases is examined on a case-by-case basis, its longstanding procedure.

The report comes as President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social his criticism of countries like the UK and France for not doing enough to help his war effort.

More regarding Donald Trump’s social media messaging on Tuesday and the U.S, president has also taken aim at France.

He posted how France “wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory” during the Iran War.

“France has been VERY UNHELPFUL with respect to the “Butcher of Iran,” who has been successfully eliminated! The U.S.A. will REMEMBER!!!”

Trump’s post was a follow up to one in which he criticized the U.K. whose prime minister Keir Starmer has said would not be drawn into the wider war against Iran in what was seen as a rebuke to the U.S. president.

President Donald Trump has said on Truth Social that countries like the U.K. should get the courage to go to the Strait of Hormuz and “just take” fuel.

Trump referred to the U.K. in his post that said countries that cannot get jet fuel because of Iran's blocking of the Strait of Hormuz should buy from the U.S. and "build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT."

Trump’s post took aim at countries who “refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran,” adding that “you’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.”

Trump has previously expressed his anger at countries which refused to send warships to the region and has criticized UK prime minister Keir Starmer for what he perceived as a reluctance to help the U.S.

Trump had also previously warned that NATO faced “a very bad future” if members failed to help reopen the critical waterway.

“Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” said Trump's post on Tuesday.

...

U.S. gas prices went over $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 as American drivers feel the impact of the Iran war, adding pressure on President Donald Trump.

Motor club AAA said that the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.02, which is more than one dollar more than before February 28 when the war started.

This puts the cost of filling up at its highest since 2022, the year that Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Iran has in effect blocked the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes, spiking the cost of a barrel of crude oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, by over one third.

Diesel prices, the fuel used for many freight and delivery trucks, has also gone up, reaching an average of $5.45 a gallon, compared with $3.76 a gallon before the war began, per AAA.

...

Israeli military spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani has said that Israel is ready for “weeks” more of fighting in comments to Reuters that follow prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assessment that the Iran War was beyond the halfway point.

Reuters reported that Shoshani had said Israel had the targets, munitions and manpower to continue fighting, “and it’s up to the leadership to decide”.

Netanyahu has said on Monday that the assault on Iran was “definitely beyond the halfway point”, in terms of “missions” and “not necessarily in terms of time”.

Netanyahu told Newsmax that the war had killed "thousands" of members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and that his country and the U.S were close to ending its defense industry as well as "wiping out" entire plants and Iran's nuclear program, as he added that he hoped the Islamic Republic's regime would "collapse internally".

A desalination unit on Iran’s Qeshm Island is out of service after a U.S. air strike, an Iranian health official has said.

Drinking water on the island depends on desalination plants, and the damaged unit cannot be repaired straight away, the Iranian health official said Tuesday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said on March 7 that a U.S. strike hit the facility.

It comes as Israeli military said it had conducted a new wave of strikes across Tehran which the IDF said targeted the "infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime".

Explosions were reported across the Iranian capital including near military-linked sites, while new strikes were also reported Tuesday in the cities of Isfahan, Khorramabad and Mazandaran.

Iran's parliament has approved plans to create a toll system for ships using the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.

Lawmakers in the Islamic Republic passed plans for the waterway which will see the banning of U.S. and Israeli vessels and new tolls to tighten its grip on the strait through which one fifth of the world’s oil and gas used to transit.

The plan would also include beefing up security and financial regulations and tolls in the Iranian currency the rial, for vessels passing through, Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported.

President Donald Trump has warned that if a deal was not struck to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, American forces would destroy “all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinisation plants!).”

Former UK naval commander Tom Sharpe told BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday he did not believe the strait can be opened with force like the U.S. is threatening.

Unless Iran agrees to stop attacking boats who pass through, using force is "unlikely to work", Sharpe told the Today program, “Iran have control of this situation, I think that much is clear, and I think they will continue to do so.”

Iran is focused on blocking vessels from “hostile” countries and on Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry said that three vessels from the country, which is an ally of Tehran, were allowed to pass through the strait.

...

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its naval forces struck a container ship it identified as Israeli-linked, named Express Halfong.

In a statement, the IRGC said the vessel was hit by ballistic missiles in waters of the Persian Gulf although this has not been independently confirmed. It comes as Iran launched strikes across the region as it vows to continue to control the Strait of Hormuz, saying that it will introduce a toll system to transit the critical waterway.

The IRGC announced it had launched drone strikes on what it said was a gathering of American troops on the coast of the United Arab Emirates and targeting American-linked air defense systems near Bahrain and radar systems at a US base in Kuwait. Saudi Arabia has also reported that it had intercepted three ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh.

Iran attacked a fully loaded crude oil tanker anchored at Dubai port on Tuesday, with the strike damaging the vessel’s hull.

Dubai authorities said the drone attack on the Kuwaiti-flagged Al Salmi tanker took place at 12.10am Tuesday and caused a fire on board that was extinguished. All 24 crew members are safe and uninjured, according to Dubai authorities and there was no oil leak.

The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation described the incident as "a brutal Iranian airstrike," in what was the latest attack on merchant vessels in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

"Emergency response and firefighting teams were immediately mobilized and are currently working to contain and control the situation,” it added in a statement.

President Donald Trump has shared video of what has been reported as a bunker busting bomb strike on the central Iranian city of Isfahan.

The video posted by Trump on Truth Social showed explosions in the night sky in what The Wall Street Journal reported was a strike on the city which is reported to host enriched uranium, the critical ingredient for nuclear weapons.

Citing an unnamed U.S. official, the WSJ said a "high volume of bunker busters, or penetrator munitions, was used for the strike" at an ammunition depot, aimed at destroying missiles, rockets and other explosives.

Iran has not yet commented on the reported strike. Isfahan houses Iran's military bases and defense industry and is also home to one of three uranium enrichment sites bombed by the U.S. in the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel last June.