Iran-US War Live Updates
- US President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that “many countries”, especially those affected by Iran’s blockade of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships to keep the Strait open and safe. Earlier in the day, he claimed US forces have “obliterated” military targets on Kharg Island — the primary terminal through which Iranian oil exports pass
- Iranian state media, quoting Iran Revolutionary Guards Spokesperson, said that many branches of US banks were targeted in the Gulf in retaliation for attacks on Iranian banks
- Nearly 500 Indians have departed from Qatar aboard flights operated by Qatar Airways. Additional flights to various Indian cities are planned
- All six US service members aboard the refueling aircraft were killed when it went down in Iraq, with an Iranian proxy group claiming responsibility even as CENTCOM denied hostile fire
- Five US Air Force refuelling planes struck and damaged on the ground at Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia. According to the Wall Street Journal, the planes were hit and damaged during an Iranian missile strike on the Saudi base. But they were not fully destroyed and are being repaired
- Hegseth said Khamenei is “wounded and likely disfigured”, adding, “His father is dead, he’s scared, he’s injured, he’s on the run and he lacks legitimacy. Who’s in charge? Iran may not even know.”
- Iran’s Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali on Friday signalled that Indian vessels may soon be granted safe passage despite rising tensions affecting shipping routes in the region
- Heavy Israeli strikes hit Tehran as Iran launched waves of drones and missiles at Gulf states, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining severely disrupted and oil prices continuing to soar
- Goldman Sachs raised its 2026 oil price forecast by 20%; Brent crude settled above $100 per barrel
- The US is releasing 172 million barrels from the SPR as part of a coordinated IEA release of 400 million barrels — but analysts warn it can only partially offset a prolonged Hormuz shutdown
- At least 1,348 civilians killed, over 3.2 million displaced in Iran
Iran dismisses US claim that Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded
Abbas Araqchi said there was “no problem” with Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, dismissing claims by Pete Hegseth that the cleric had been wounded and possibly disfigured.
Speaking in an interview with MS Now on Saturday, Araqchi rejected the US defence secretary’s remarks and insisted that Khamenei’s condition was not an issue.
15 killed in US-Israel strike on Iran’s industrial city of Isfahan
An attack by the United States and Israel on the industrial city of Isfahan has killed at least 15 people and injured several others, according to Iranian media reports.
The semi-official Fars News Agency said the strike hit the city on Sunday, though details about the specific target and the full extent of casualties were not immediately clear.
Initial reports indicated the attack struck a factory site where workers were present at the time of the strike, marking another escalation in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Trump urges nations to send warships to keep Strait of Hormuz open
Donald Trump on Saturday urged other nations to deploy warships to waters near Iran to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open for oil tankers.
In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump suggested that several countries might already be preparing to send naval vessels, while expressing hope that they would soon head to the region.
“Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others that are affected by this artificial constraint will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated,” he wrote.
With rising gasoline prices creating political pressure at home, Trump has also indicated that the United States could begin escorting oil tankers through the strategic waterway even as the conflict continues.
'No serious disruption in service delivery to Iranian people,' says Prez Pezeshkian
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X that the country is working as usual and smoothly despite the "unjust" war against it. "Fifteen days have passed since the imposed and unjust war, and despite the transportation, communication, and other challenges, thanks to our colleagues in the government, no serious disruption in service delivery to the people has occurred. With the companionship of you noble people of Iran, we will overcome these conditions and rebuild everything they have destroyed even better than before," he wrote.
Hezbollah says it fired rockets towards northern Israel
Hezbollah says it launched rockets at Goren in northern Israel. As per the Al Jazzera report, the Lebanese group also said it targeted an Israeli air defence system in the town of Ma’alot-Tarshiha.
Son of ousted shah says ready for Iran transition ‘under my leadership’
The exiled son of Iran’s last shah, who was ousted by the 1979 revolution, says he is ready to lead the country “as soon as the Islamic Republic falls.”
In a message on his social media channels, US-based Reza Pahlavi says he has already been working on two projects to make sure that Iran does not suffer a big disruption when the Islam republic ultimately falls.
As per Pahlavi's latest post on social media, these projects include developing a clear plan to lead the transition for Iran's governance model.
The second part of this project as per Pahlavi has been the recruitment of individuals both inside and outside Iran to serve on what he calls a “Transitional System.”
Pahlavi leads one of several opposition movements based outside Iran, but his prominence grew after January protests against the clerical system, with some demonstrators calling for a return of the monarchy.
A public ally of Donald Trump, Pahlavi has previously publicly praised Donald Trump for his efforts to bring in a much needed change sought by the people of Iran.
Notably, the Trump administration's war efforts in Iran recently came under scrutiny after reports surfaced that a US missile had resulted in the death of more than 150 schoolgirls in Iran. A formal investigation into the matter is currently underway.
Pahlavi says that Saeed Ghasseminejad, senior Iran and financial economics advisor at the US-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), which is staunchly critical of the Islamic Republic, had been leading the process to select members of a transitional body.
“Capable individuals both inside and outside the country have been identified and evaluated to lead various sections of the Transitional System,” he further said in a message.
“The Transitional System, under my leadership, will be ready to assume governance of the country as soon as the Islamic Republic falls, and in the shortest possible time, establish order, security, freedom, and the conditions for Iran’s prosperity and flourishing,” he concluded.
In another major development, The United Arab Emirates has “strongly condemned the treacherous drone attack that targeted the UAE Consulate General in Iraqi Kurdistan for the second time in a week, injuring two security personnel and causing damage to the consulate building”.
In a statement, its Foreign Ministry said the attack represents “a dangerous escalation and a threat to regional security and stability”.
“The UAE called upon the governments of the Republic of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to investigate the circumstances of this attack to identify those responsible and to take all necessary measures to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable,” it said.
Three Iraqi PMF fighters killed in strike in Baghdad
Three members of Iraq's Shi'ite Popular Mobilisation Forces were killed in a strike on PMF headquarters in Baghdad earlier morning, Reuters reported on Saturday.
In another development, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated that the war with Tehran has now entered a “decisive phase”, praising US attacks on what Washington called military targets on Iran’s Kharg island oil export hub.
“The global and regional struggle against Iran, led by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is escalating and entering the decisive phase that will continue as long as necessary,” Katz told military top brass in a televised statement as per reports carried out by Israeli media
(With Inputs from Agencies.)
In another development, spokesperson for Iran's government, Fatemeh Mohajerani said that US and Israel's strikes have severely damaged the country's civilian infrastructure including 36,469 residential units and 6,179 commercial facilities.
Notably, Iran hasn’t yet provided any information about military losses and damage. Mohajerani, meanwhile, said the war has taken a heavy toll on women, with 223 women and girls killed and 2,129 others wounded since Feb. 28.
(With inputs from agencies.)
Iranian Navy targets US bases in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Bahrain
In another development, Iranian media is showcasing that their naval forces launched “several consecutive waves” of attacks against US forces in two military bases in the region.
Quoting IRGC’s navy chief, Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, Iranian media outlets listed Abu Dhabi’s al-Dhafra, Kuwait’s al-Adiri and Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa as the affected sites.
The targets, Tangsiri claimed, included patriot radar systems, planes and aircraft fuel storage tanks.
(With inputs from Agencies.)
Iran retaliates after US bombs an oil-critical Iranian island
In its latest report, the Associate press reported that a missile struck a helipad inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad and debris from an intercepted Iranian drone hit an oil facility in the United Arab Emirates as the U.S.-Israel war with Iran entered its third week Saturday.
Associated Press images showed a column of smoke rising over the embassy compound in the Iraqi capital and a fire in the Fujairah port in the UAE that broke out after what authorities said was a drone interception.
A day earlier, President Donald Trump said the U.S. has destroyed military sites on an island vital to Iran’s oil network and warned that its oil infrastructure could be next if Iran continues to interfere with the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said U.S. forces on Friday “obliterated” targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, which is home to the primary terminal that handles the country’s oil exports.
All Indian seafarers safe in Persian Gulf, says govt
Shipping Ministry’s Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said all Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf are safe and no incidents involving them have been reported in the past 24 hours.
Speaking on the situation, he said 24 Indian-flagged vessels had been positioned west of the Strait of Hormuz. Two of them — the LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi — successfully transited the strait late last night and early this morning and are now sailing toward India.
The two ships are carrying around 92,700 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, with expected arrivals at Mundra Port on March 16 and Kandla Port on March 17. Following their transit, 22 Indian-flagged vessels remain in the Persian Gulf, with a combined crew of 611 seafarers, he added.
Kharg Island exports ‘fully under way’ after US bombing: Iran
An Iranian official said oil exports from Kharg Island are continuing “fully under way” and that operations by energy companies at the terminal remain unaffected.
The statement, carried by the IRNA and Tasnim news agencies, came after the United States said it had struck military targets on the island and warned that its key oil facilities could be targeted next if Iran continues to obstruct shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran warns of advanced weapons 'with greater destructive power'
Iran will deploy ballistic missiles and other advanced weapons with greater destructive power and precision, a spokesperson for the Defence Ministry said.
Israeli strike kills 12 doctors and nurses at Lebanese healthcare centre
Lebanon's Health Ministry strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike on a healthcare centre in Borj Qalaouiye that killed 12 medical staff — including doctors, nurses and paramedics. Separately, Israeli shells struck the headquarters of a Nepalese peacekeeping battalion serving with UNIFIL in southern Lebanon's Meiss el-Jabal. Lebanon's toll from Israeli attacks has risen to at least 773 killed since March 2. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem declared his group is ready for a "long confrontation" with Israel.
IRGC warns of strikes on US-linked sites in UAE
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned on Saturday that US-linked assets in the United Arab Emirates, including ports, docks and military facilities, could become “legitimate targets”, according to Iranian state media.
In a statement cited by Reuters, the IRGC urged residents in the UAE to move away from areas surrounding ports, docks and US military shelters in order to avoid civilian casualties.
UNESCO warns Iran war threatening cultural heritage sites
The ongoing war involving the United States and Israel against Iran is raising alarms over the safety of the country’s cultural heritage, with several historic landmarks reportedly damaged in strikes that began on February 28. Among the sites affected are palaces and an ancient mosque included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. UNESCO said it has conveyed the geographic coordinates of World Heritage sites and other nationally significant landmarks to all parties involved in the conflict in an effort to prevent further damage.
The UN body added that it is closely monitoring the situation across Iran and the wider region to safeguard cultural heritage at risk from the fighting.
Helipad at US embassy in Baghdad struck in Iranian missile attack
Iraqi officials confirmed that a helipad at the US Embassy compound in Baghdad was struck in a missile attack, according to the Associated Press. No casualty figures were immediately available. The strike represents a direct hit on a US diplomatic facility and is among the most audacious Iranian-linked attacks since the war began. The US Embassy had renewed its Level 4 security alert for Iraq earlier today.
At least 112 people killed in US-Israel attacks on Iran’s Kurdistan province
At least 112 people have been killed in US-Israel attacks on Iran’s Kurdistan province, according to a local official quoted by the Tasnim news agency.
The head of the province’s emergency department said at least 969 people have also been injured in the strikes. Of the wounded, 27 are currently being treated in hospital wards, while five remain in intensive care units, the official added.
Iran internet blackout enters third week
According to monitoring group NetBlocks, two full weeks have passed since Iranian authorities imposed an internet blackout across the country.
"Two full weeks have now passed since Iran fell into digital darkness amid a regime-imposed internet blackout. The public remains isolated from the outside world with only a limited domestic intranet after 336 hours, while state-approved accounts get whitelisted access,"
No crisis in petroleum, India diversified crude oil supply: Union Minister
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday said there is no crisis regarding petroleum products in India, even as the West Asia conflict poses challenges for global energy markets. Shekhawat told ANI that the current war-like conditions in the Middle East have created concerns for several countries, stating that some neighbouring countries are facing serious disruptions.
"There is no crisis regarding petroleum products in India... the war-like situation in the Middle East has posed a challenge before all countries. Speaking of our neighbouring countries, an emergency-like situation prevails in Pakistan, while schools and colleges have been closed in Bangladesh," he said.
According to a Bloomberg News update, some oil loading operations in the port of UAE's Fujairah, outside the Strait of Hormuz, have been suspended after a drone attack and fire on Saturday morning.
Abu Dhabi state oil company ADNOC has also shut the 922,000-bpd Ruwais refinery after a drone strike caused a fire. A separate fire also broke out at the Fujairah port, a key global oil storage and bunkering hub, on Friday.
North Korea fires projectile towards sea amid US-South Korea military drills
North Korea fired a projectile towards the sea on Saturday as the US and South Korea conducted military drills. Japan said it might have been a ballistic missile. The South Korean military said in a brief message to reporters that the projectile was fired toward the sea off North Korea’s east coast.
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed possible reopening of talks between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a meeting in Washington, Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday.
Iran army chief vows response to deadly Indian Ocean strike
The commander-in-chief of the Iranian army has warned that the recent strike against IRIS Dena “will not go unanswered”. More than 100 members of the crew were killed while returning to Iran following a military exercise in India. IRIS Dena had been one of the country's newest warships.
“The crew of the Dena destroyer had completed a peaceful mission and were targeted while on their way back to Iran,” Amir Hatami was quoted as saying by IRNA news agency
He noted that the sailors were attacked despite not being engaged in a direct battle.
“The name of Dena and the sacrifice of its crew will remain a symbol of courage and dedication in Iran’s naval history. The army will defend Iran’s maritime borders and strengthen its naval power with even greater determination," Hatami added.
Nearly a million people displaced in Lebanon, aid groups warn of humanitarian crisis
In just 10 days, more than 800,000 people in Lebanon have been displaced by war, just over a year since the last conflict uprooted over a million Lebanese from their homes. That's one in every seven people in the tiny country, according to the humanitarian organisation the Norwegian Refugee Council. Many don't have a place to stay, and the cash-strapped government has only been able to accommodate roughly 120,000 people as it scrambles to open shelters and bring in more supplies.
More than a million people were displaced in the last war, but that was toward the end of it, after a year of limited fighting that gradually escalated. This time, what took months took days. Humanitarian groups, saddled by years of underfunding, are struggling to keep up. They warn of a humanitarian crisis.
"The needs are escalating much faster than our capacity to respond," Mathieu Luciano, the head of the International Organisation for Migration in Lebanon, said during a recent press briefing.
US may suspend maritime shipping requirements - What is the Jones Act?
The Trump administration has said it might suspend maritime shipping requirements under a more than a century-old law known as the Jones Act. The White House confirmed that it was looking into waiving Jones Act requirements this week in a temporary measure amid wider efforts to counter steep oil prices and cargo disruptions due to the war.
The Jones Act requires that goods hauled between US ports be moved on US-flagged vessels. Passed in 1920, it aims to protect the American shipping sector — but it has also faced criticism over the years for slowing the delivery of goods, including critical aid during time of crisis. And it is often blamed for making gas, in particular, more expensive.
Trump says Iran 'wants a deal' as strikes continue
US President Donald Trump threatened to strike the oil infrastructure of Iran's Kharg Island hub unless Tehran stopped attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. He also claimed that Tehran now wanted a deal --- but he refused to accept.
"Iran's Military, and all others involved with this Terrorist Regime, would be wise to lay down their arms, and save what's left of their country, which isn't much! The Fake News Media hates to report how well the United States Military has done against Iran, which is totally defeated and wants a deal - But not a deal that I would accept!" he posted on his Truth Social platform.
How long will Iran war last? Trump says 'I can't tell you'
"I can’t tell you that. I mean, I have my own idea, but what good could you do? It’ll be as long as it’s necessary. They’ve been decimated. The country is in bad shape, the whole thing is collapsing...” he said on Saturday.