By Amanda Castro and Brendan Cole
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Global markets swung sharply on Monday after President Donald Trump renewed threats to strike Iran’s energy infrastructure unless Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz, rattling traders already on edge from weeks of escalating conflict.
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What To Know:
- Trump claimed “great progress” in talks with Tehran but warned he would target Iranian power plants, oil facilities and possibly desalination sites if negotiations failed.
- Iran publicly denied substantive talks with the United States and rejected Washington’s conditions as unreasonable.
- The war continues to widen across the Middle East, driving up global oil and gas prices and eroding Trump’s political support at home.
- Trump has alternated between narrowing his goals — saying “regime change” is already achieved — and escalating militarily, sending thousands more U.S. troops, including Marines and Special Operations Forces, to the region.
- Trump said Iran agreed to allow 20 additional oil cargo ships through the Strait of Hormuz, where Tehran’s blockade has choked a critical global shipping route.
- Two Chinese-owned commercial vessels passed through the strait Monday, a possible sign of easing restrictions, before Trump renewed threats to strike Iran’s energy infrastructure.
- Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey met in Islamabad for talks on ending the war; the U.S., Israel and Iran were absent, and progress remains unclear.
- In Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered forces to expand control in the south, heightening fears of a long-term occupation.
- Two U.N. peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon when their convoy was hit by an explosion; another peacekeeper from Indonesia died a day earlier amid clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.
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Mar 30, 2026 at 07:58 PM EDT
Israel passes controversial death penalty law for terrorism offenses
Israel’s parliament has approved a sweeping new law reinstating the death penalty for terrorism, marking the most significant expansion of capital punishment in the country’s history. The measure, passed 62–48 in the Knesset, comes after more than a year of political pressure following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
Israel has long kept the death penalty on its books only for extreme crimes such as genocide and Nazi war crimes, and it has been used just twice since the state’s founding. Under the new law, Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis with the intent of undermining the state’s existence can be sentenced to death or life imprisonment in civilian courts. In military courts in the occupied West Bank, the penalty becomes mandatory unless judges cite “special reasons” to commute it.
Human rights groups warn the law will apply almost exclusively to Palestinians and violates international humanitarian law. Critics inside Israel—including opposition lawmakers, legal advisers, and former security officials—argue the measure is discriminatory, unconstitutional, and could endanger Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. The EU and UN experts also condemned the bill before its passage.
The legislation was championed by far‑right National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir and lawmakers from his Jewish Power party, who framed it as a necessary response to the October 7 attacks. Opponents say it is a populist move ahead of Israel’s elections later this year.
The law is not retroactive and will not apply to October 7 suspects, though a separate bill could still establish a special tribunal with capital punishment for those cases. Executions, carried out by hanging, must occur within 90 days unless delayed by court order. The Israeli Supreme Court could still review or strike down the law.
Mar 30, 2026 at 07:44 PM EDT
White House says troop deployments aim to give Trump ‘maximum optionality’ in Iran war
The White House said Monday that the recent surge of U.S. forces into the Middle East is meant to give President Donald Trump broad military flexibility as the war with Iran enters its second month, even as officials insist diplomacy remains the preferred path.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether the buildup signaled an effort to escalate or wind down the conflict. She said the deployments are designed to support the goals of Operation Epic Fury, not to indicate a new decision by the president.
“It’s the job of the Pentagon to create maximum optionality for the commander in chief,” Leavitt said. “It does not mean the president has made any additional decisions.”
She pushed back on the idea that Trump’s calls for negotiations contradict the troop movements, saying diplomacy is still his “number one option and priority.” Leavitt noted that the administration had attempted to reach a deal with Iran before the war but said those efforts collapsed under the previous government in Tehran.
“If there’s ever a chance for a deal again, the president is open to listening,” she said. “But it does not deter him from focusing on the military objectives he set out 30 days ago and that our forces are achieving day by day.”
Mar 30, 2026 at 07:30 PM EDT
Iranian lawmakers advance plan to impose tolls, ban U.S. and Israeli ships in Hormuz
A parliamentary committee in Iran has approved a proposal to impose tolls on all ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz and to formally ban transit by American and Israeli vessels, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. The measure still requires approval from the full parliament before it can become law.
The plan would effectively codify practices already emerging during the war, as Iran tightens control over the world’s most important oil chokepoint. Lawmakers backing the proposal argue that Iran provides security for the strait and should be compensated by foreign shippers. If enacted, the toll system would further reshape global shipping routes at a moment when traffic through Hormuz has already collapsed due to the conflict.
Mar 30, 2026 at 07:16 PM EDT
Republican who quit Trump admin makes plea over Iran war
Joe Kent, the former head of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) who resigned from the Trump administration earlier this month over the Iran war, posted a video message on X on Monday urging Americans to contact the White House and their members of Congress to oppose sending U.S. ground troops into the conflict.
In the post, Kent included phone numbers for the White House comment line and the congressional switchboard, calling it a “call to action” and urging people to “respectfully” tell elected officials they do not support American boots on the ground in Iran.
His message comes as the White House faces mounting pressure—from critics and some allies—to clarify whether the escalating conflict could expand beyond air and naval operations.
Mar 30, 2026 at 07:02 PM EDT
EU expands naval missions to monitor Red Sea, Indian Ocean amid rising security concerns
The European Union says it will broaden its naval presence in the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean, authorizing ships and aircraft in two existing missions to gather intelligence on suspicious activity linked to undersea infrastructure. Member states announced the move Monday, saying the updated mandate will also allow EU forces to train Djibouti’s navy and deepen cooperation with the Yemeni coast guard.
The expansion applies to the EU’s ASPIDES mission, created to protect commercial vessels from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement, and Operation Atalanta, the long‑running anti‑piracy mission launched in 2008. Officials stressed the new measures are not a response to President Donald Trump’s calls for Europe to help safeguard oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Instead, they said the shift is partly aimed at improving surveillance of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which European governments believe is being used to evade the Western oil price cap and may also be involved in sabotage of underwater infrastructure.
Mar 30, 2026 at 06:48 PM EDT
Iran says nuclear sites remain safe as monitoring teams stay on alert
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization says the country’s nuclear facilities remain secure and under continuous monitoring despite recent strikes near key sites, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Deputy AEOI chief Mohammad Reza Kardan told state broadcaster IRIB that specialized teams are ready to deploy immediately if any damage or radiation risk is detected.
Kardan said current assessments show no incidents that threaten public health, adding that all safety, environmental monitoring, and emergency systems are operating normally. His comments come after multiple projectiles landed in the vicinity of Bushehr this month, though Iran maintains the plant itself has not been hit.
The reassurance follows reports that Russia’s Rosatom has scaled back its workforce at Bushehr amid the conflict. Reuters has reported that around 300 Russian specialists remain on site after more than 160 staff were evacuated, with further departures expected as Moscow reduces personnel to essential levels.
Iran has accused the United States and Israel of targeting infrastructure across the country during the war, but continues to insist that its nuclear facilities are stable and closely protected.
Mar 30, 2026 at 06:34 PM EDT
White House presses Israel to reopen holy sites after priest blocked from Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The White House urged Israel over the weekend to restore access to key Christian holy sites after authorities in Jerusalem initially prevented an Italian Catholic priest from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She said the administration raised concerns directly with Israeli officials, and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was personally involved in the appeal.
Leavitt said the administration’s position was clear: worshippers must be able to reach sacred sites, even amid heightened security tied to the war with Iran. Israel has since allowed Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa to enter the church, citing safety risks as the reason for the temporary closure. Israeli authorities have maintained that restrictions across Jerusalem’s holy sites—including the Western Wall, Al‑Aqsa Mosque, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—were imposed solely to protect civilians as Iranian missile fire continues to target the city.
Leavitt said the U.S. understands Israel’s security concerns but expects access to be restored throughout Holy Week. She added that Israel is working to adjust its security posture to allow worshippers to return safely.
Mar 30, 2026 at 06:20 PM EDT
Iran condemns strikes on universities and warns U.S. campuses in the region could be targeted
Iranian officials are denouncing a wave of U.S. and Israeli strikes on universities across the country, saying the attacks are part of a deliberate effort to cripple Iran’s scientific and cultural foundations. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stark warning that American universities in the Middle East could be treated as “legitimate targets” unless Washington formally condemns the bombings.
The IRGC said campuses linked to the U.S. and Israel in West Asia should be cleared by at least one kilometer, urging staff, students, and nearby residents to distance themselves for safety. The warning followed strikes that Iran says hit Tehran University of Science and Technology and Isfahan University of Technology, damaging buildings and injuring staff.
Iran’s foreign ministry accused the U.S. and Israel of systematically targeting universities, research centers, and cultural sites, calling the attacks an attempt to undermine Iran’s intellectual infrastructure. Officials rejected claims that the strikes were tied to nuclear concerns, describing them instead as a cover for broader aggression.
The threats have already prompted closures. Several American universities with campuses in the Gulf region temporarily suspended in‑person operations, and some shifted entirely online as a precaution.
Mar 30, 2026 at 06:06 PM EDT
WATCH: Trump boasts about ‘big day’ of strikes and regime changes in Iran
Mar 30, 2026 at 05:52 PM EDT
Kharg island becomes central flashpoint as U.S.–Israel war with Iran intensifies
Iran’s Kharg Island, the export hub for nearly all of the country’s crude oil, has become a focal point of the month‑old U.S.–Israeli war, with analysts warning that any strike on its energy infrastructure—or a full‑scale ground invasion—would dramatically escalate the conflict. The island’s terminal handles the overwhelming majority of Iran’s oil shipments, making it one of the Islamic Republic’s most valuable economic assets.
Striking or seizing Kharg would severely restrict Iran’s ability to export oil, cutting off a major source of government revenue and removing even more crude from global markets at a time when fuel prices are already surging. Experts say such an operation could trigger broader retaliation against Gulf Arab energy facilities, further destabilizing the region and driving prices higher.
A U.S. occupation would also place American forces just 33 kilometers (21 miles) from Iran’s coastline, well within range of Tehran’s drones and missiles. The island’s strategic value is amplified by its infrastructure: storage tanks, worker housing, and deep‑water jetties capable of loading supertankers. It also hosts historic sites, including a medieval Portuguese fortress and the ruins of one of the Gulf’s oldest Christian monasteries.
Other islands near the Strait of Hormuz are also drawing attention. Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, long disputed between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, sit at the gateway to the strait and host Iranian military assets. Qeshm Island, home to a desalination plant, has also been referenced in the conflict after Iran claimed the U.S. struck the facility earlier this month.
The U.S. has already hit thousands of targets across Iran but has so far avoided destroying Kharg’s oil infrastructure. President Trump has warned that continued Iranian interference in Hormuz could change that calculus, raising the stakes around an island that many analysts now view as central to the trajectory of the war.
Mar 30, 2026 at 05:38 PM EDT
NewsNation footage shows tense transit along Iran’s coast in the Strait of Hormuz
NewsNation released exclusive footage from the Strait of Hormuz showing a cargo vessel navigating close to the Iranian coastline, offering a rare on‑the‑water view of one of the world’s most dangerous maritime corridors. The report features international correspondent Robert Sherman aboard a ship whose captain, Srdan Jankovic, described the passage as increasingly perilous as the war in Iran continues to disrupt global shipping.
Jankovic said the crew had been “afraid” as they moved deeper into the strait, noting that Iranian military speedboats repeatedly passed in front of the vessel. He said the boats were clearly observing them, even if “nobody’s looking for us,” underscoring the constant tension for commercial ships attempting the transit.
The captain also described a buildup of maritime traffic near Bandar Abbas, with “many, many vessels just waiting” to load or pass through the strait. He said a significant number of those ships appeared to be Chinese vessels, part of what he called an “unmarked, gray fleet” lingering in the area.
Mar 30, 2026 at 05:24 PM EDT
Dubai rolls out 1 billion-dirham support package as attacks disrupt economy
Dubai has approved an economic facilitation package worth 1 billion dirhams (about $272 million) to support businesses as the emirate continues to face frequent drone and missile attacks linked to the war with Iran. The measures, announced by Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed on X, will take effect on April 1 and run for three to six months.
The package is designed to boost the flexibility of Dubai’s economy and help companies and families navigate the instability created by repeated strikes. Officials say the goal is to maintain confidence in the emirate’s business environment while ensuring that essential sectors can continue operating despite disruptions.
Mar 30, 2026 at 05:10 PM EDT
White House defends Trump’s threats while insisting U.S. will follow international law
The White House said Monday that the United States would continue to operate within the bounds of international law even as President Donald Trump threatens to strike Iran’s power grid, oil infrastructure, and potentially its desalination plants if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The clarification came after Trump renewed warnings that he may target civilian‑critical facilities—threats that legal experts say could constitute collective punishment or even war crimes if carried out.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt framed Trump’s comments as part of a pressure campaign aimed at pushing Iran toward a negotiated settlement. She said the president believes Iran’s “best move is to make a deal,” adding that the U.S. military has “capabilities beyond their wildest imagination” and that Trump “is not afraid to use them.” At the same time, she insisted that any U.S. action would remain “within the confines of the law.”
Trump’s threats have escalated over the past week, including warnings that the U.S. could “obliterate” Iran’s electric‑generation plants, oil wells, Kharg Island, and “possibly all desalination plants” if the strait is not reopened. He has argued that these targets have been deliberately left untouched so far, describing them as leverage in ongoing negotiations.
International law prohibits making civilian infrastructure the object of attack, and human‑rights groups have warned that striking facilities essential for water and electricity could cause catastrophic harm to millions of civilians. Amnesty International said such attacks would be disproportionate and could amount to war crimes, noting that power‑plant failures would immediately disrupt water pumping, sanitation, and access to basic necessities.
The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has intensified as Iran continues to restrict passage through the vital waterway, prompting Trump to issue multiple deadlines for reopening it. He has repeatedly suggested that a peace deal is close, even as he threatens sweeping strikes that would mark a major escalation of the conflict.
Mar 30, 2026 at 04:56 PM EDT
Conservative media figures try to influence Trump on Iran strategy
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Conservative commentators are increasingly using television to shape President Donald Trump’s thinking on the war in Iran, creating a feedback loop in which on‑air arguments appear to reach the Oval Office almost in real time. Trump urged his followers on Truth Social to watch Mark Levin’s weekend Fox News program, previewing Marc Thiessen’s appearance before the episode aired.
On that broadcast, Levin advocated for a deeper U.S. military role inside Iran, arguing there were “lots of reasons” to deploy specialized troops and declaring, “We’ve gotta get the uranium.” His comments aligned with a broader pattern in which Fox News hosts have encouraged Trump to intensify military action, including proposals to seize Iranian nuclear material.
The Wall Street Journal has noted the apparent loop between Trump’s media consumption and his policy considerations, particularly as he weighs options such as extracting uranium or expanding ground operations. Analysts have long observed that Trump often responds directly to Fox News commentary, and Levin’s show has become one of the most influential platforms in that dynamic.
Not all conservative media figures are pushing for escalation. Marine Corps veteran Johnny “Joey” Jones used his Fox News appearance to warn Trump against “nation building,” invoking the legacy of the Iraq War and urging any military action to remain limited. Other right‑leaning commentators, including some GOP lawmakers speaking through television appearances, have tried to signal opposition to sending U.S. ground forces into Iran.
The split reflects a broader rift within conservative media. Some Fox personalities and MAGA‑aligned commentators strongly support aggressive action, while others—particularly outside Fox—warn that Trump risks repeating past foreign‑policy mistakes. The debate has grown personal and heated, with figures like Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly clashing publicly with Levin and other pro‑war voices.
Mar 30, 2026 at 04:42 PM EDT
Powell signals patience as Fed watches war-driven economic risks
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank is prepared to wait before adjusting interest rates as it evaluates how the U.S.–Israel war on Iran affects inflation and economic growth. Speaking to a macroeconomics class at Harvard University, he noted that policymakers typically “look through” temporary shocks such as surging oil prices, which have pushed U.S. gasoline averages to about $4 per gallon.
Powell emphasized that inflation expectations remain well anchored, even as the conflict enters its second month and energy costs rise. He acknowledged that the Fed may eventually face a difficult policy choice if the war drives inflation higher while also weighing on economic activity. For now, he said the central bank is “not really facing it yet” because the full economic impact remains unclear.
The Fed kept its benchmark rate unchanged at 3.50%–3.75% earlier this month, maintaining a stance Powell described as appropriate for monitoring incoming data. Investors have grown more anxious about inflation, with Treasury yields rising and consumer surveys showing short‑term price expectations drifting upward. Still, Powell reiterated that the Fed’s long‑run focus remains on stability rather than reacting to every geopolitical shock.
Mar 30, 2026 at 04:28 PM EDT
Lebanon demands Ukraine hand over suspected Mossad operative
Lebanese authorities have formally asked the Ukrainian Embassy in Beirut to surrender a man accused of working with Israel’s Mossad, after he fled to the diplomatic mission earlier this month. The request follows claims from both a senior Lebanese security official and a Hezbollah source that the suspect—a Syrian‑Palestinian national with Ukrainian citizenship—had been involved in an attempted bombing near Beirut’s airport.
According to the Hezbollah source, the man was detained in September after allegedly parking a motorbike rigged with an explosive device disguised as a battery along a road in Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area where Hezbollah maintains tight security control. He remained in Hezbollah custody until March 6, when an Israeli strike on a nearby building enabled his escape to the Ukrainian Embassy.
Lebanon’s General Security chief, Hassan Choukeir, said the embassy contacted authorities on March 10 seeking permission for the man to leave the country after claiming he had lost his passport. Officials say they quickly determined he was wanted by the judiciary and subject to multiple security notices. Choukeir said the embassy was informed it must hand him over, describing the suspect as part of a Mossad cell accused of planning assassinations and bombings in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Lebanon has a long history of prosecuting individuals accused of collaborating with Israel, with convictions carrying sentences of up to 25 years. The case now adds diplomatic strain to an already volatile moment, as Israeli strikes continue across Beirut’s southern districts.
Mar 30, 2026 at 04:14 PM EDT
White House says Iran’s public defiance doesn’t match private negotiations
The White House pushed back against Iran’s increasingly pessimistic public statements on Monday, insisting that indirect negotiations remain active and constructive. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tehran’s harsh rhetoric does not reflect the private messages being exchanged, portraying the Iranian leadership as increasingly eager to end the conflict as U.S. military pressure intensifies.
Leavitt argued that the remaining elements of Iran’s government “recognize they are being crushed,” describing the U.S. operation as ahead of schedule and nearing its core objectives. She said talks are “productive” despite Iranian officials publicly rejecting aspects of the 15‑point U.S. proposal for halting the war.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei had earlier dismissed the U.S. plan as “excessive” and “unreasonable,” contradicting President Trump’s claim that Tehran had accepted most of the terms. Mediators, including Pakistan, have confirmed that Iran is still deliberating over the proposal and has issued its own counter‑conditions.
Leavitt warned that if Iran rejects a deal, President Trump is prepared to escalate militarily, saying the regime would be hit “harder than they have ever been hit before.” She emphasized that the president “does not bluff,” echoing earlier statements that the U.S. is ready to intensify strikes if diplomacy fails.
Mar 30, 2026 at 04:00 PM EDT
UNICEF says one-fifth of Lebanon’s population has been displaced
Roughly 20% of Lebanon’s population has been uprooted in the past month as Israeli strikes intensify across the country, according to UNICEF. The agency’s representative in Lebanon, Marcoluigi Corsi, said many families have now been displaced “for the second, third, or even fourth time,” underscoring how relentless the upheaval has become.
More than 370,000 children have been forced from their homes in just three weeks—an average of 19,000 children every day, a pace UNICEF described as staggering. Corsi said this daily exodus is “the equivalent of hundreds of school buses filled with children fleeing for their lives every 24 hours.”
UNICEF reports at least 121 children killed and hundreds more injured since the escalation began. With 435 public schools now functioning as shelters, formal education for tens of thousands has abruptly stopped. Many displaced families are living in overcrowded, unsafe spaces, including unfinished buildings, public areas, and vehicles.
Corsi warned that Lebanon’s already‑strained infrastructure is buckling under the pressure. More than 135,000 people are sheltering in over 660 collective sites, while essential services—water, sanitation, and schooling—are being severely disrupted.
Mar 30, 2026 at 03:46 PM EDT
Sisi appeals to Trump to end the Iran War
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi publicly urged President Donald Trump to intervene to stop the war with Iran, calling him the only leader capable of bringing the conflict to an end. Speaking at an international energy conference in Cairo, Sisi addressed Trump directly, saying he was appealing “on behalf of myself, humanity, and lovers of peace,” and insisting that Trump had the power to halt the fighting.
Sisi’s remarks come as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan continue diplomatic efforts to mediate between Washington and Tehran. The four nations’ foreign ministers met in Islamabad on Sunday, though no outcome from the talks has been announced.
Mar 30, 2026 at 03:32 PM EDT
Trump threatens to ‘completely’ destroy Kharg Island if Iran rejects peace deal
President Donald Trump warned that the United States would “completely” destroy Kharg Island—Iran’s central hub for oil exports—along with other major energy facilities if Tehran refuses to reach a peace agreement and end its effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In a social‑media post, Trump said Washington had made “great progress” in talks with what he described as “a new, and more reasonable, regime” in Iran, predicting a deal could be reached soon.
Trump reiterated that the U.S. military has deliberately avoided striking certain high‑value targets since the war began more than a month ago, including oil wells, electricity plants, desalination facilities, and Kharg Island itself. He framed those sites as leverage should Iran refuse to reopen the strait, a chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil normally flows.
In an interview published Sunday, Trump again floated the possibility of seizing Kharg Island, calling it an option the U.S. could execute “very easily” despite the island’s strategic importance and Iran’s warnings that any invasion would trigger severe retaliation. Military analysts note that while more than 50,000 U.S. troops are now deployed across the Middle East, the number is insufficient for a large‑scale ground invasion but could support a limited operation such as taking the island.
Kharg Island, which handles about 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports, has already been bombarded this month, though U.S. strikes have so far focused on military installations rather than oil infrastructure. Any move to destroy or seize the island would likely send global energy markets into deeper turmoil, especially if Iran responds by targeting regional infrastructure or commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mar 30, 2026 at 03:18 PM EDT
Rubio says U.S. will destroy Iran’s weapons factories within weeks
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington intends to eliminate Iran’s missile and drone production facilities as part of the ongoing war, arguing that the sites are central to Tehran’s ability to strike its neighbors and U.S. forces. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Rubio said the United States is “well on our way, or ahead of schedule” in meeting its military objectives.
Rubio claimed the campaign would achieve its goals “in weeks, not months,” framing the destruction of Iran’s weapons‑manufacturing infrastructure as essential to preventing future attacks. He added that once those objectives are met, the conflict will shift toward the question of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has intermittently threatened to block.
The secretary of state warned that any attempt by Iran to close the strait would trigger “real consequences” from the United States, regional governments, and the broader international community. His comments reflect Washington’s effort to project confidence in the trajectory of the war while signaling that the next phase may hinge on Iran’s actions in one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors.
Mar 30, 2026 at 03:04 PM EDT
Iran accuses Ukraine of aiding aggression in letter to the U.N.
Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has accused Ukraine of becoming an active participant in military aggression against the Islamic Republic after Kyiv acknowledged sending military experts to the Middle East. The claim was made in a letter addressed to U.N. Secretary‑General António Guterres and the Security Council, released through Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
Iravani wrote that by deploying what he described as “hundreds of specialists” to assist regional governments, Ukraine was providing operational and technical support that directly contributes to the use of force against Iran. He argued that such involvement carries international legal responsibility for aiding an “internationally wrongful act.”
The letter also warned that helping target Iranian territory or infrastructure could amount to violations of international humanitarian law. Iravani said that deliberately striking civilian industrial sites for economic pressure or collective punishment may constitute war crimes under international statutes.
Ukraine has said its teams are in the region to help countries defend against Iranian drones and missiles, a deployment President Volodymyr Zelensky has framed as part of broader cooperation with partners facing similar threats.
Mar 30, 2026 at 02:50 PM EDT
WATCH: Going inside Trump’s head with Geraldo Rivera | The 1600
Mar 30, 2026 at 02:36 PM EDT
NATO Downs fourth Iranian missile entering Turkish airspace
NATO air defenses shot down a ballistic missile launched from Iran after it entered Turkish airspace, Turkey’s Defense Ministry said in a statement. It is the fourth interception involving an Iranian‑fired missile in or near Turkey’s skies since the start of the war in Iran.
The ministry did not specify the missile’s intended target or the exact location of the interception. NATO officials have not yet commented, and Ankara said only that the munition was neutralized by alliance assets deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish leaders have not invoked NATO’s mutual‑defense clause, though a successful strike on a member state could raise the stakes of the conflict. Iranian officials continue to deny targeting Turkey, despite repeated interceptions over the past month.
Mar 30, 2026 at 02:22 PM EDT
Two UNIFIL peacekeepers killed in blast in southern Lebanon
Two members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were killed when an explosion destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan, the mission said in a brief statement. A third peacekeeper was critically wounded and another was also injured in the blast, which UNIFIL described as originating from an unknown source.
The incident came less than a day after an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed in a separate explosion, marking one of the deadliest stretches for the mission since the conflict intensified along the Lebanese‑Israeli border.
UNIFIL condemned the attacks, calling them "grave violations of international humanitarian law" and of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, warning that deliberate strikes on peacekeepers may amount to war crimes. The mission urged all parties to halt the violence as it investigates the circumstances of the latest blast.
Mar 30, 2026 at 02:08 PM EDT
White House says Trump open to asking Arab states to help fund Iran war
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump is considering calling on Arab countries to help cover the financial costs of the war in Iran, signaling that the idea is already circulating inside the administration.
Leavitt told reporters that while she would not “get ahead of” the president, it is “an idea that I know that he has and something that I think you’ll hear more from him on.”
Mar 30, 2026 at 02:08 PM EDT
Two Cosco megaships appear to complete first major container transit of Hormuz since war began
Two ultra‑large container vessels operated by China’s Cosco Shipping appear to have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to data from the maritime tracker MarineTraffic. The ships had aborted an earlier attempt on Friday but now show positions consistent with a completed passage through the chokepoint, which has been effectively sealed to most commercial traffic since the start of the Iran war.
The vessels — the CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean — sailed out of the Gulf in close formation and are now moving at elevated speed toward the Gulf of Oman, MarineTraffic data indicates. If fully confirmed, their transit would mark the first successful crossing by a major container carrier since the conflict began, excluding Iranian‑flagged ships.
Analysts say the move is significant because hundreds of ships and roughly 20,000 seafarers have been stranded inside the Gulf amid Iranian threats, attacks, and the imposition of de facto tolls for safe passage. Cosco had recently resumed bookings for cargo bound for Gulf states, signaling Beijing’s interest in re‑establishing trade flows despite the risks.
Mar 30, 2026 at 01:54 PM EDT
Rubio rebukes allies for blocking U.S. and Israeli war efforts against Iran
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply criticized several American allies for refusing to support the joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran, accusing them of undermining Washington at a moment of heightened national security risk. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Rubio said the United States had identified an urgent threat and launched the operation accordingly, only to see some partners distance themselves or deny assistance.
Rubio singled out Spain, a NATO member, for refusing U.S. requests to use its airspace and military bases during the campaign. He said Spanish officials had “bragged” about blocking American access, a move he framed as a betrayal of alliance commitments. According to Rubio, other unnamed countries have taken similar steps, prompting questions in Washington about the value of maintaining such partnerships.
Mar 30, 2026 at 01:41 PM EDT
Israel says it has destroyed more than 100 high-rises in Beirut
The Israeli military says it has demolished more than 100 high‑rise buildings in the Beirut area since launching a wave of strikes earlier this month, claiming the structures were being used by Hezbollah as command‑and‑control hubs for operations against Israel.
Lebanese officials say the bombardment has devastated large sections of the capital and its surrounding suburbs, with weeks of strikes killing significant numbers of civilians, including children. More than 1,200 people have been killed in Lebanon and over one million displaced in the nearly monthlong conflict, according to Lebanese authorities.
The scale of destruction in Beirut underscores how rapidly the fighting has escalated, with Israeli forces targeting dense urban areas as Hezbollah continues launching rockets and drones into northern Israel. The humanitarian toll continues to rise as families flee neighborhoods reduced to rubble, and aid groups warn that displacement on this scale is straining Lebanon’s already fragile infrastructure.
Mar 30, 2026 at 01:28 PM EDT
Rubio says Iran war was launched to prevent future regional threats
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision to launch the war against Iran, arguing that Washington acted to prevent a far more dangerous regional landscape in the coming years. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Rubio said Iran’s expanding missile and drone programs posed an unacceptable threat to its neighbors and to the United States, and that waiting would have allowed Tehran to grow bolder and more capable.
Rubio said U.S. intelligence assessments showed Iran was on track to field a larger, more sophisticated arsenal that could have been used to intimidate or attack states across the Middle East. He framed the conflict as a necessary step to stop that trajectory before it reached a point he described as “intolerable.”
The secretary of state also emphasized that the United States intends to “finish the job,” saying Washington is coordinating closely with regional partners who are facing sustained Iranian strikes. He described these governments as strong and stable allies whose security remains a core American priority.
Mar 30, 2026 at 01:15 PM EDT
Brent crude surges as stocks struggle throguh deepening market strain
Brent crude briefly jumped to $116 a barrel on Monday before easing later in the day, extending a sharp run‑up driven by the war in Iran. Prices remain more than 50 percent higher than before the conflict, reflecting persistent fears over supply disruptions and instability around the Strait of Hormuz.
The turbulence in energy markets came as the S&P 500 managed a modest gain after five consecutive weeks of losses. Even with the slight rebound, the index is still on pace for its worst monthly performance since March 2025, a period marked by inflation concerns and tariff‑related volatility.
Mar 30, 2026 at 01:01 PM EDT
Kuwait worker killed in strike on desalination plant
A worker was killed when a service building at a power and desalination plant in Kuwait was struck, according to the country’s Ministry of Defense. Officials said the attack caused significant structural damage at the facility, which is part of the infrastructure Kuwait relies on for its drinking water supply.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, quoted by the semi‑official Fars news agency, accused Israel of carrying out the strike and attempting to shift blame onto Iran.
Mar 30, 2026 at 12:30 PM EDT
Israeli military activity in Syria has doubled: analysis
In a sign of the regional reach of the Iran War, Israeli military activity in Syria has doubled since the start of the Iran war on 28 February, according to the monitor Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED).
Muaz Al Abdullah, Middle East Research Manager at ACLED said Monday that ACLED data shows 79 interception events of Iranian, Hezbollah, and proxy drones and missiles.
This has occurred while the ground operation of incursions, checkpoints, village raids, and civilian abductions has continued at the same pace, the research said.
“The focus of ground activity is now increasingly shifting toward Lebanon, with Israeli forces crossing from the Syrian side of Jabal al-Sheikh into Lebanese territory for the first time — an advance made possible by a military build-up that was already well underway prior to the Iran war,” al Abdullah said in a statement to Newsweek.
Mar 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT
Conflict deepens Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis: Mercy Corps
Families in Lebanon are facing worsening economic and humanitarian conditions, with increases in the costs of fuel, power and basic goods, an aid group working in the country has said.
Mercy Corps said Monday many families earning a median income of just $550 per month are spending beyond their means, forcing deeper debt and reducing access to essential needs.
Lebanon is entirely dependent on imported fuel, exposing it to global market shocks and since the start of the war, diesel prices have gone up over a half (57 percent) and gasoline by over a quarter (27 percent)
Staple goods like bread are sensitive to fuel costs—meaning even modest increases can hurt households, Mercy Corp said.
“What we are seeing is not just a fuel price increase, it is a systemic shock cascading across every aspect of daily life in Lebanon,” Elie Yaacoub, Mercy Corps Lebanon Crisis Analysis Team Leader told Newsweek in a statement.
Lebanese authorities have said more than one million people are displaced and since the start of the war, at least 1,116 people have been killed, including 83 women and 121 children. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said an Israeli strike on Monday on Beirut killed on person and injured 16 others.
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Mar 30, 2026 at 11:40 AM EDT
UK prime minister Keir Starmer says “this is not our war”
The Iran War was not a conflict that the UK would be dragged into, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said, in what is likely to be seen as a rebuke to President Donald Trump.
In comments on Monday to kick off his Labour Party’s local election campaign in the city of Wolverhampton, Starmer pledged to keep the UK out of the fighting in the Middle East.
Trump has condemned Starmer’s policy on the Iran War, accusing him of not doing enough to help is war effort.
Starmer referred to both the war in Ukraine and the Iran conflict, saying of the latter, “this is not our war and we are not going to be dragged into it.”
“Yes, of course, we will defend British lives and British interests in the region, will stand by our allies in the Gulf region, but we’re not going to get dragged in,” Starmer added.
Mar 30, 2026 at 11:20 AM EDT
Iranian missile enters NATO territory
A ballistic missile launched from Iran was downed by NATO air defenses after it entered Turkish airspace, Turkey’s defense ministry said.
This was the fourth time a missile fired by Iran had entered the NATO member, since the start of the war, after three earlier interceptions by NATO systems earlier this month that prompted Ankara to protest to Tehran.
Tehran has denied it authorized previous launches and has asked to conduct a joint investigation with Ankara.
Turkey’s defense ministry said according to Reuters that all measures were being taken “decisively and without hesitation” against any threat directed at Turkey’s territory.
Mar 30, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT
Iran’s internet blackout is in its 31st day
The internet blackout in Iran has lasted over 720 hours, according to internet monitoring group NetBlocks.
NetBlocks said in a post Monday that the digital blackout had entered its 31st day and that “misinformation and propaganda are filling the void.”
The blackout means that those without access to Starlink or other ways to communicate have been cut off from communicating with the outside world, which also hampers the ability of Iranians to mobilize against the ruling regime.
Mar 30, 2026 at 10:40 AM EDT
U.S. will take control of Strait of Hormuz: Scott Bessent
The United States would take control of the Strait of Hormuz eventually, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said.
Iran has effectively stopped shipping through the strait in a move which has sent oil prices rocketing to more than $100 a barrel. As the Iran War continues to make the oil prices volatile, Bessent told Fox News that said the market was “well supplied” but that additional supply would be helpful.
“Over time, the U.S. is going to retake control of the straits and there will be freedom of navigation,” he told Fox News, adding that this could take place either through U.S. escorts or a multi-national escort.
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Mar 30, 2026 at 10:10 AM EDT
UAE says it intercepted 11 Iranian missiles
The United Arab Emirates has given an update of the latest Iranian attacks on Monday as Tehran continues its attacks on countries throughout the Gulf.
It posted on X that UAE air defenses engaged 11 ballistic missiles and 27 drones launched from Iran. This takes the total intercepts over the war to 425 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,941 drones
“The attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 2 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty,” the post said, adding that there were nine other fatalities from citizens of other countries, including Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
"The Ministry of Defense affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country," the post added.
Mar 30, 2026 at 09:45 AM EDT
US is testing if Iranian figures can enact change: Rubio
More from that interview Marco Rubio gave ABC News in which the Secretary of State said that Washington was in indirect contacts with Iranian figures through intermediaries to see if they could deliver change,
Rubio said Monday that Washington distinguished between the Iranian people and their leadership, and that there were new people in charge in Tehran "with a more reasonable vision of the future, it would be good news for the entire world.”
However, he added, “we must be prepared if that isn’t the case.” Rubio also said that Iran would not be allowed to control the Strait of Hormuz and “will never be allowed to happen,” adding that President Donald Trump had multiple options to stop this.
Earlier, Trump had posted on Truth Social that if Tehran did not unblock the critical water, the U.S. would attack energy and water sites across Iran.
Mar 30, 2026 at 09:10 AM EDT
Oil prices will remain volatile: analyst
If tensions eased in the Middle East, the price of oil could drop to below $100, but the energy market will remain highly volatile, according to analysis shared with Newsweek.
As the cost of a barrel of Brent crude hit $116 on Monday amid fears about a global energy crisis caused by Iran’s blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, Russell Shor, senior market analyst at FXCM told Newsweek that if the situation stabilizes oil is likely to drift back toward $90-$100, but continued friction will keep it in the $105-$120 range.
“The bottom line is this is a geopolitical risk premium market, not a supply shortage market, and until that changes, volatility remains the dominant feature,” Shor said.
“The current oil risk premium is being driven more by transport disruption than outright supply loss, with surging insurance costs, rerouting, and tanker avoidance effectively tightening the market without removing barrels.”
Mar 30, 2026 at 08:48 AM EDT
Marco Rubio says U.S. will achieve war aims in “weeks, not months”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has given a timeline for the Iran War, saying that the U.S. would achieve its goals in weeks.
Rubio told Good Morning America that the U.S. was destroying Iran’s navy and missile capabilities and he said that Tehran’s threats to control the Strait of Hormuz with a toll system would not be allowed to happen.
“This is Iran at its weakest point,” he said, “we are going to achieve our objectives in a matter of weeks, not months," Rubio told ABC News.
Mar 30, 2026 at 07:50 AM EDT
Trump touts talks with “more reasonable regime”
President Donald Trump has warned that the U.S. could target Iran’s key infrastructure if a deal is not “shortly reached" as he touted how there were talks with a new regime in Tehran to end the war.
Trump's post on Truth Social said that if the Strait of Hormuz were not immediately opened, the U.S. would push to “completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!).”
Trump’s previous threats of targeting Iranian infrastructure were met last week with Tehran warning it would retaliate with attacks across the region which would include desalination plants.
Trump said that the U.S. was in “serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran.” Although the president has touted “great progress” Tehran has repeatedly denied that direct talks with Washington were taking place.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said Monday that American demands from Iran to end the war have been “excessive and unreasonable” and have played down any direct contact with Washington.
Mar 30, 2026 at 07:22 AM EDT
Iran War poses migration risks for Europe: experts
The increasing number of people displaced because of the Iran War could have knock-on effects far beyond the Middle East, experts have told Newsweek.
On Monday, Lebanon’s authorities said that over one million people had been internally displaced since the start of the war on February 28 as rights groups warn of a growing humanitarian crisis across the region.
On March 12, the UNHCR said that up to 3.2 million people had been internally displaced because of the war which shows no sign of ending as U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic are met with retaliation across the Middle East.
For now, the number of people crossing Iran’s borders is relatively small, but the country’s neighbors like Turkey, Armenia and Pakistan are on high alert in the event of the war continuing.
Aurélien Colson, Academic Co-Director, ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business, told Newsweek that Europe is unlikely to face an immediate surge of Iranian migrants, “but the risk rises sharply if the regime destabilizes.”
“Iran’s large population means that even limited displacement could translate into significant flows, most likely via Turkey along established routes,” Colson said.
Colson added that Europe is better prepared than in 2015 when there was a European migrant crisis driven by the Syrian War notably thanks to investments in Frontex, “but also more polarized, and even moderate arrivals could trigger political tensions in specific countries such as Germany.”
The European Union Agency for Asylum said this month that with Iran’s population of 90 million, even partial destabilization could cause refugee movements of an “unprecedented magnitude.”
Vuk Vuksanović, associate at LSE IDEAS, the think tank of the London School of Economics, told Newsweek that the risk of a new refugee and migration crisis is always lurking in the background of any new Middle Eastern conflict.
While the number of border crossings from Iran is relatively low, “one can easily see a change in circumstances if the conflict deepens or if a regime collapses, leading to a complete breakdown of any order on Iranian territory, as prior experience of regime change in the wider Middle East has taught us,” said Vuksanović.
Read: Iran War Could Trigger Europe’s Next Refugee Crisis
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Mar 30, 2026 at 06:54 AM EDT
Spain closes airspace to U.S. planes involved in Iran War
Spain has announced the closure of its airspace to U.S. planes involved in attacks on Iran, in a rebuke to President Donald Trump.
Spain’s defense minister Margarita Robles said Monday that it would not authorize the uses of “either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has strongly opposed U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran , prompting President Donald Trump to threaten to cut trade with Madrid.
Spain's economy minister Carlos Cuerpo told Spanish radio that the decision had been made "not to participate in or contribute to a war which was initiated unilaterally and against international law."
The U.S. has relocated 15 aircraft, including refueling tankers, from the Rota and Moron military bases in southern Spain after the country’s government said it would aid the U.S. campaign
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Mar 30, 2026 at 06:08 AM EDT
Israel says it has struck Hezbollah sites in Beirut
The Israeli military has said it had struck Hezbollah's infrastructure in Beirut with images showing smoke rising from Lebanon’s capital.
Lebanese media reported Israeli strikes on southern Beirut as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it is targeting the Iran-backed group's "terrorist infrastructures."
Israel has said it must establish a security zone in the south to shield its own northern communities. Over 1,200 people have been killed and more than one million have been displaced.
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Mar 30, 2026 at 05:43 AM EDT
Iran says there are no direct talks with U.S.
Tehran has reiterated its claims that there has been no direct contact with the U.S. over the Iran War.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister Esmaeil Baghaei said it had received messages from Washington through intermediaries, including Pakistan but that proposals described as a 15-point plan presented by the U.S. were “excessive and unreasonable.”
President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday that there was the chance of a deal with Iran, although Tehran has dismissed the chances of this.
Baghaeii also said Iran did not view regional countries as enemies and its military actions targeted bases and facilities used as launch points for attacks against it.
He added that any meetings that Pakistan holds "are within a framework they established themselves, and we have not participated. It is good that regional countries are concerned about ending the war, but they should be aware of which side started the war."
Earlier Monday, Iran’s first vice president Mohammad Reza Aref said Tehran’s adversaries must pledge not to strike the country again and recognize all of its international rights.
Mar 30, 2026 at 05:20 AM EDT
Flames seen at Israeli oil refinery after strike
Video shared by Israeli media show flames coming from an oil refinery in Haifa after an Iranian and Hezbollah missile attack.
Footage on Channel 12 showed a fire and smoke pouring out of the Bazan refinery, although it was unclear whether the site was directly hit or struck by shrapnel from an interception.
The strike on the Haifa refineries was the second one of the war, according to the outlet. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said the fire broke out in a commercial building in Al Dair, near its International Airport although no injuries were reported.
Rockets also struck an air base near Baghdad International Airport on Monday, destroying an aircraft but causing no casualties, according to Iraq’s defence ministry.
Mar 30, 2026 at 05:00 AM EDT
Iran confirms death of its naval commander
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) has said that its naval commander Alireza Tangsiri had been killed.
The confirmation of his death comes days after Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had been killed in an Israeli strike in Bandar Abbas. In a statement Monday, the IRGC said Tangsiri has been injured while organizing forces and strengthening defenses along Iran’s coasts and islands and died from his injuries.
The IRGC praised Tangsiri’s service and said its naval forces would continue its operations.
Majid Ebnolreza, Iran’s acting defense minister, said Monday in a call with Turkey’s defense minister that Tehran would pursue “full punishment” of attackers of the Islamic Republic.
Mar 30, 2026 at 04:40 AM EDT
Trump’s words “no longer holding as much sway” on markets: analyst
Traders are viewing comments by President Donald Trump about the Iran War with growing skepticism, a financial analyst has told Newsweek.
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist, Wealth Club said Monday that markets are reacting with high caution as strikes intensify in the war amid high caution amid ”intense wariness” about the war’s duration.
While last week Trump's boast that significant progress had been made in talks saw a sharp reversal in oil prices, “today it’s a different story”.
“Brent crude is staying stubbornly elevated, at the painful level of above $115 a barrel, as traders assess an increasingly complex and intractable conflict,” Streeter said, “the President is threatening escalation on one hand, positioning to seize the strategically important Kharg Island, while on the other claiming a deal is close to being done.”
“Trump’s words are no longer holding as much sway, with increasing skepticism about his claims about the war’s trajectory,” she added.
The warnings that crude prices could hit $150 a barrel if the war continues for many weeks or even months are “a highly troubling prospect.," said Streeter, “given the destruction of energy facilities and the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, any big retreat in crude prices looks unlikely right now.”
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Mar 30, 2026 at 04:15 AM EDT
Oil prices surge
Oil prices are on track for a record monthly surge with Brent crude climbing to $115.93 a barrel early Monday.
This has meant the price of the international benchmark has increased by more than 62 percent since February 27, the day before the war started.
U.S. benchmark WTI crude also surged, rising 3.01 percent to $102.64 a barrel— up more than 65 percent since the start of the war, as analysist warn that sustained high oil prices can fuel inflation across the world.
In a report on Friday by analyst firm Oxford Economics, a prolonged war scenario in which oil prices stay above $150 per barrel for four months alongside shortages of refined energy products would increase global inflation to 7.7 percent.
Mar 30, 2026 at 04:00 AM EDT
Trump touts progress in Iran talks via Pakistan
More from that FT interview, and Donald Trump has said that negotiations between the U.S. and Iran via Pakistan as an intermediary were progressing well.
As well warning that the U.S. could capture Kharg Island, Trump teased the prospect of a breakthrough in negotiations although did not give details, he said that the U.S. has about 3,000 targets left, adding that "we’ve bombed 13,000 targets — and another couple of thousand targets to go."
He said that “a deal could be made fairly quickly and told the FT that Tehran had allowed 10 Pakistan-flagged oil tankers, which had been doubled to 20, although this has not been independently confirmed.
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Mar 30, 2026 at 03:45 AM EDT
Trump says Iran deal could happen “soon”
Trump’s comments to the FT were reported after a Truth Social post in which boasted about American strikes on Iran following a “big day” in the war.
Trump told reporters on Air Force One that Iran had gone through “regime change,” a month on from launching what he called Operation Epic Fury.
“We're dealing with different people than anybody's dealt with before,” he said on Air Force One “so I would consider that regime change."
He said that a deal in Iran, “could be soon,” adding that talks were taking place “directly and indirectly” with Iranian officials.
Tehran has played down the prospect of talks or that any breakthrough was imminent as Pakistan acts as an intermediary.
Mar 30, 2026 at 03:27 AM EDT
Trump says he wants to take Iran’s oil
President Donald Trump has told the FT that his “preference would be to take the oil” in Iran as one of his war aims.
Trump’s war aims have shifted since the start of Operation Epic Fury launched on February 28, ranging from regime change, destruction of its missile capabilities to curbing its nuclear program.
But as Tehran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz, and the priority for Trump has shifted to reopen the critical waterway through which one fifth of the world’s energy transits.
Trump told the FT: “my favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran but some stupid people back in the US say: ‘why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people.”
“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” Trump told the FT, referring to the island through which most of Iran’s oil is exported.
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