Iran: Hormuz open but will hit US and Israeli ships. IDF attacks oil deposits in Iran for the first time

Iran said it is capable of fighting for at least another six months against the US and Israel, in a war that has entered its ninth day. "The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are capable of continuing at least six months of intense warfare at the current pace of operations," Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps quoted by the Fars news agency, as saying.

The Israeli army is attacking oil deposits in Tehran for the first time. Ynet reports.

"To guarantee the security of the European Union's borders, we have ordered the deployment of an Italian frigate in Cyprus. An act that is of European solidarity, but above all of prevention. But our line is very clear: Italia is not part of the conflict and does not intend to become part of the conflict. We are working, as far as possible, towards the goal of reducing tensions and verifying whether there is still a chance to resume negotiations'. This was said in a video message by PM Gioria Meloni speaking on the conflict in Iran.

For more: Cyprus, Kuwait and Lebanon: here are the hypotheses on the deployment of Italian troops

The Israeli Air Force attacked Iran 3,400 times, dropping over 7,500 munitions. 150 defence systems were shot down and the Idf also hit ''strategic ballistic missile production facilities'' in Parchin and Shahrud. This was said by Idf spokesman Effie Defrin in a statement. "We have moved on to the second phase: hitting the top leadership of the regime's command system. In Lebanon, we hit 600 Hezbollah targets. We will not give up the goal of disarming Hezbollah."

One person died in Dubai after debris caused by the interception of a projectile launched from Iran landed on his car. This was reported by the Dubai media office, pointing out thatthe victim is of Asian origin.

Israel estimates that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the Iranian Supreme Guide who was killed a week ago, is still alive. This was written by the Israeli media Channel 12. According to the report, it appears that Khamenei Jr. was injured during an air strike carried out in an attempt to assassinate him, shortly after the assassination of his father. Despite initial reports of serious damage to the compound he was in, the current assessment in Jerusalem is that he managed to survive the attack, although his exact condition remains strongly concealed by the regime in Tehran. New York Times sources, Channel 12 recalls, revealed that there was a lot of tension among the religious leadership in Iran this morning. According to the report, the council that was considering the appointment of the next leader was close to declaring Mojtaba as the official successor, but the project was halted at the last minute due to the fear of some clerics that, once the new leader is officially elected supreme leader, he will become a priority target.

"Today I convened an emergency meeting by video conference with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, the National Armaments Director, Admiral Giacinto Ottaviani, and representatives of the Italian defence industry. The meeting was attended by some 130 people. The aim of the meeting was to share the complex geopolitical situation, especially, now, in the Middle East; and to stimulate and empower the defence industry on the need to protect national interests, committing itself beyond normal commercial canons". Thus the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, in a note.

'During the meeting,' he explained, 'I urged the defence industry to point out all its operational availabilities, the programmes being finalised and any initiative that could contribute, in a very short time, to further strengthening the defence, especially air defence, of the country, as well as that of allied and friendly countries. I also emphasised that, at such a delicate and dramatic time, it is essential to reduce to a minimum the impediments and bureaucratic procedures that are increasingly out of step with needs that cannot wait and that negatively affect the efficiency and, ultimately, the very security of the country. At this time, it is of fundamental importance that the country's system work in close synergy and with speed in the face of an international situation that could degenerate, creating significant complications and difficulties for Italia in both geopolitical and economic terms,' he concludes.

Since the escalation of tension in the Middle East a week ago, more than 20,000 Italians have returned. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during a press point at the Farnesina.

A new loud explosion was heard in Dubai. This was reported by Afp, after the Emirates had announced 'incoming threats with missiles and drones from Iran'.

"In response to the US terrorists' attack on the Qeshm desalination plant, the US base in Juffeir" in Bahrain "was immediately targeted by missiles" from Iran.This was stated by the Guardians of the Revolution as reported by the semi-official Iranian Tasnim agency.

Tehran claims to have 'evidence' that some countries in the region have 'put themselves at the disposal of the enemy', making use of their territory to launch attacks against the Islamic Republic. The accusations come from the head of the Iranian judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, one of the three members of the Iranian Interim Council, according to whom, "at the moment, the evidence available to the armed forces shows that the geography of some countries in the region is openly and secretly placed at the disposal of the enemy and that attacks against our country are conducted from these locations.

After the explosions heard in Doha, the emirate's Defence Ministry announced in a brief statement that "the armed forces intercepted a missile attack directed against the State of Qatar". A clarification, that of the target, which seems to be made in order to refute what Iran claims, according to which only American sites from which actions against Tehran are launched are attacked in the Gulf countries.

The meeting of Iran's Council of Experts to elect the country's new Supreme Leader will be held in the next 24 hours. This was announced by council member and Ayatollah Hossein Mozaffari quoted by Fars news agency. "The people's representatives in the Assembly of Experts are eagerly awaiting the conditions and deliberations to select a new leader and successor to the martyred Imam" Ali Khamenei and "we have the confident hope that, with God's help, this can happen in the next 24 hours," Mozaffari said. The news was also relayed by Ria Novosti.

The Iraqi Kurds try to maintain neutrality in the conflict with Iran, resisting pressure from both Tehran and Iranian Kurdish militants who would like to launch attacks from Iraqi territory. Kurdish officials pointed out to Axios the region's defensive limitations: '200 Shahed drones could cause a lot of damage here. We have no air defence systems and no way to shoot them down'. The Kurdish leadership also fears being left alone by the US and doubts the US objectives in the war: 'Is it a complete regime change or just personnel?' they asked the US administration. So far, Kurdish forces have prevented Iranian Kurdish militias from launching offensives from Iraq and consider regime change unlikely without American troops on the ground: 'There can be no regime change without soldiers on the ground.

The neutrality of the Iraqi Kurds is also motivated by the fear of reprisals from Tehran: Yesterday, a senior official of the Iranian Defence Council warned that if Iranian Kurdish groups were to operate from Iraq or if elements of the 'Zionist regime' were to cross the border, 'all facilities in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region will be hit on a large scale'. The Kurdish administration emphasises that it wants to avoid becoming 'the spearhead of the conflict'.

With the operation in Iran 'we did the world a favour'. Donald Trump said so. Tehran, he added, was close to obtaining the nuclear weapon.

The United States has destroyed 42 Iranian Navy vessels in the course of operations against Tehran, US President Donald Trump said in his speech at the Shield of Americas summit. "We knocked out 42 Navy ships, some of them very large, in three days and all telecommunications are down," Trump continued: "I don't know how they communicate, but I imagine they will find a solution."

"The United States committed a blatant and desperate crime by attacking a fresh water desalination plant on the island of Qeshm". This was written on X Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, adding that with this attack "the water supply of 30 villages has been compromised". "Attacking Iranian infrastructure is a dangerous move with serious consequences. It was the United States that set this precedent, not Iran,' the foreign minister ruled.

Kuwait has announced a precautionary reduction in crude oil production and refining following Iran's continued attacks on the country and 'Iranian threats to the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz'. The Guardian reports. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the state-owned oil company, said thatthe decision is part of its 'risk management and business continuity strategy'.

'We control the Strait of Hormuz, but we will not close it and all ships will be allowed to cross it'. This was said by the spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces, Abolfazl Shekarchi, specifying, however, that 'the ships of the United States and Israel will be targeted by the Iranian Armed Forces'. The spokesman added that 'Iran cannot provide any guarantee on the safety of the ships of all countries, and should they cross the Strait, the responsibility for any incident will be theirs, due to the war situation'.

A classified report by the US National Intelligence Council claims that a military attack - even a large-scale one - by the US would be unlikely to topple the Iranian regime. The document, confirmed by three sources to the Washington Post and written before the start of operations on 28 February, analyses scenarios of both offensives targeted at leaders and broader campaigns against government and military institutions, concluding that 'the clerical and military regime would respond to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by following protocols designed to preserve continuity of power'. The report then defines it as 'unlikely' that the internal opposition would be able to take control of the country, pointing out that 'there is no other force within Iran capable of confronting the power remaining with the regime'.

The paper also points out that the succession of the Supreme Leader remains in the hands of the Assembly of Experts, with the Pasdaran and other security structures playing a significant role, and that 'even if they are unable to effectively project their power to their neighbours, they can certainly dominate within the country'. Analysts quoted by the Post note thatTrump's intention to 'clean up' the Iranian leadership and choose a successor would meet structural limits: 'Bending to Trump would go against everything they stand for,' explained Holly Dagres, an expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Code name: Operation Ajax. Year: 1953. Location: Tehran. Principals: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and US President Dwight Eisenhower. Material executor: CIA agent Kermit Roosevelt. Victims: the Iranian prime minister Mossadeq. And the nascent democracy.

The subject of regime change in Iran has been back in the news in recent weeks. The Trump administration has never hidden the fact that it wants to promote a regime change that would overthrow the Islamic Republic and pave the way for a democratic government that is no longer hostile to Israel and the United States.

The United States is expected to deploy a third aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush, to the Middle East. Fox News reports that it is expected to head for the eastern Mediterranean. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, is now in the Red Sea, while the USS Abraham Lincoln is stationed in the Arabian Sea.z

For more: Camp Derby, Sigonella and the other US bases in Italia: where are they and who decides when to use them?

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon that it will 'pay a high price' if Hezbollah continues to attack his country. In a televised statement, he said Israel will not allow attacks on its troops or communities from Lebanese territory, stating that residents will not be evacuated. In a message to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, he wrote that if 'the choice becomes to protect our civilians and soldiers or Lebanon, we will choose to defend our civilians and soldiers, and the government of Lebanon and Lebanon will pay a very high price'.

Iran's influential cleric, Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, called on the country's Assembly of Experts to act quickly to appoint a new Supreme Leader, probably in response to the current climate of political uncertainty. Buildings linked to the group of 88 clerics were hit by air strikes, a circumstance that could delay any meeting of the assembly. 'The timely implementation of this important decision will strengthen the national authority and enable the best possible organisation of the country's affairs,' Shirazi said in a note.

'We endanger others, that's our job'. This is how Pete Hegseth responded to those who asked him whether Russia's possible intelligence involvement in support of Iran could endanger the US military in the region. "We're not worried about that, but the only ones who need to be worried now are the Iranians who think they're staying alive," the Pentagon chief added in the interview with '60 Minutes'. Asked if it is expected that there will be contacts with the Russians to stop their involvement, Hegseth went on to say that Donald Trump "has a unique relationship with a lot of world leaders and manages to get cohesiveness that other presidents, certainly Joe Biden, have never gotten." He added that 'through direct or indirect talks, either directly from him or through his cabinet, messages will certainly be sent'.

"Iran, which is being overwhelmingly defeated, has apologised and surrendered to its Middle Eastern neighbours, promising that it would no longer fire on them." US President Donald Trump said this, explaining that "this promise was only made because of the relentless attack by the United States and Israel". "Their goal was to conquer and rule the Middle East," he wrote on Truth Social, "This is the first time in thousands of years that Iran has lost to the surrounding Middle Eastern countries. They said, 'Thank you, President Trump.' I replied, 'You're welcome!' Iran is no longer the 'bully of the Middle East', but is instead 'the loser of the Middle East' and will be for many decades until it surrenders or, more likely, collapses completely!"

Donald Trump said today that Iran will be hit very hard.

Tehran 'is semi-deserted, the city is under constant and massive bombardment. Many have decided to leave, because staying here seems very dangerous indeed': this is the first report by CNN correspondent Fred Pleitgen, who, with photoreporter Claudia Otto, arrived in the Iranian capital late yesterday evening. They are the first journalists from an American broadcaster to travel to the Islamic Republic since the beginning of the war. CNN points out that they only operate in Iran with government permission, and that Pleitgen shares his reports with Erin Burnett.

"We control the Strait of Hormuz, but we will not close it and all ships will be allowed to cross it. However, US and Israeli ships will be targeted by the Iranian Armed Forces,' said Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi, adding 'that Iran cannot provide any guarantee on the safety of ships from all countries, and should they cross the Strait, the responsibility for any accidents will be theirs, due to the war situation.

The Guardians of the Revolution claimed today to have attacked the Al-Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates with drones. "Drone units of the Guardians of the Revolution's naval forces conducted a massive attack on Al-Dhafra airbase early this morning," reads the statement reported by Iranian media, which specified that a satellite communication centre, early warning radar and an air operations control centre would be hit.

The night raid by Israeli forces in the village of Nabi Sheet in eastern Lebanon was aimed at locating the remains of missing Israeli fighter pilot Ron Arad. This was reported by Israeli media citing Lebanese sources. The IDF helicopters landed near the village, in the Beqaa valley, then the soldiers advanced to the cemetery. Hezbollah militiamen opened fire, the Israeli troops responded, retreating with air cover. The latest official toll speaks of 16 dead and 35 wounded among the Lebanese.

Only a few small tankers have been transiting. in the last two days. through the Strait of Hormuz due to the war. According to data compiled by Lloyds List Intelligence, no vessels over 10,000 tonnes have transited since 3 March and only five large vessels, including three oil tankers have entered since 1 March, the day after the US and Israeli attack, while nine have left the Gulf. In the past two days, only six large vessels have left the strait, four of which are sanctioned vessels linked to Iran or from the 'ghost' fleet. However, according to Lloyds, it is possible that there have been others that have switched off the automatic identification system at sea. For comparison, in early February, 561 ships had transited in both directions through the Strait.

Alarm sirens went into action in Jerusalem, the West Bank and southern Israel over a new wave of missiles fired by Iran. Haaretz reports. The army reported in a brief note that it had 'identified missiles launched from Iran', pointing out that 'defensive systems are operational to intercept the threat'.

Donald Trump confirms that he will be in Delaware today for the return of the bodies of the six American servicemen killed in Kuwait in the attack launched by Iran in response to US and Israeli raids. "I will be at Dover Air Force Base, with the first lady and members of my cabinet, to pay the ultimate tribute to our great warriors returning home for the last time," he wrote in a post on Truth Social last night. According to US media reports, the servicemen were in a building in Port Shuaiba and received no warning before the Iranian drone attack. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell described the building as 'a secure facility with high fortified walls'. The Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, attacked the media for reports of the soldiers' deaths: 'we're taking control of Iran's air and maritime space, but when a few drones go by and tragic things happen, it makes headlines,' he said in recent days. 'I understand, the press just wants to make Trump look bad, but try for once to report reality'.

Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, met with Pakistani army chief General Syed Asim Munir in Saudi Arabia to discuss Iranian attacks and the 'joint measures needed to stop them'. The Guardian reports that both countries signed a mutual defence pact last year under which 'any aggression against either country would be considered an aggression against both'. In a statement published in X, the Pakistani armed forces said that: 'both sides expressed the hope and desire that the brother country Iran will show prudence and wisdom and avoid errors of judgement'.

Dubai Airport has announced the 'partial resumption' of operations. "Dubai Airports confirms the partial resumption of operations as of today, 7 March, with some flights departing from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum Internationa (DWC)," a statement read, urging "travellers not to travel to DXB or DWC unless they have been contacted by their airline to confirm their flight, because schedules continue to change"

Emirates has announced the resumption of operations after the temporary suspension of flights to and from Dubai: 'Passengers who have confirmed their reservations for flights this afternoon can go to the airport. This also applies to customers in transit in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operational,' reads a note from the airline. The Dubai airport, temporarily closed after the interception of drones from Iran, has meanwhile resumed operations, says the BBC.

- The Israeli army announced that it has launched a new wave of attacks against Iran, in Tehran and Isfahan. In a statement, the IDF wrote that the army 'launched a large wave of attacks against the infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime in Tehran and Isfahan'.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring countries for the attacks launched during the Islamic Republic's war against Israel and the US. "I apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," Pezeshkian said in a speech broadcast on state TV. He also said he will not target neighbouring countries unless they are attacked from there.

Dubai Airport, the world's busiest airport by international traffic, said it has suspended operations after an object was intercepted by air defence in the area. "For the safety of passengers, airport staff and airline crews, operations at Dubai International Airport (Dxb) have been temporarily suspended. All procedures are being managed in line with established security protocols," the Dubai government press office said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said today that Iran's 'unconditional surrender' demanded by the US is 'a dream they will take to their graves'. In a video message released by the Iranian media today, the president said that they will 'take their dream to the grave if they think we will surrender unconditionally'.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said Israeli air strikes killed at least 16 people and wounded 35 others during overnight raids in the town of Al Nabi Sheet. The Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with an Israeli force that landed in the mountains of eastern Lebanon on Friday night. Israel has not yet commented on the fighting there.

The interim leadership council leading Iran after the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has decided to end attacks against neighbouring countries unless Iran is attacked from those territories. This was said by the Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, in a video message relayed by Iranian news agencies.

Israeli-American attacks on the central Iranian province of Isfahan resulted in the death of at least eight people. This was reported by the Tasnim news agency quoting Akbar Salehi, a security official at the governor's office in Isfahan province, as saying that 'eight citizens, including a woman, were killed in these terrorist attacks'. 'American and Zionist regime fighters,' he added, 'attacked areas in the city of Isfahan and seven other cities in the province. Eighty houses were severely damaged' in the city, as well as numerous homes in the Lenjan and Borkhar areas.

US President Donald Trump has expressed in private talks 'a serious interest in deploying American troops on Iranian soil'. This was reported by broadcaster NBC, citing two US officials, a former US official and another person familiar with the conversations, who said that Trump had discussed the idea of deploying ground troops with Republican aides and officials outside the White House.

In these talks, according to the reconstruction, the president reportedly outlined his vision of a post-war Iran, with Iranian uranium secured and the US ready to cooperate with the new authorities in Tehran on oil production. Regarding troops, Trump would not speak of a large-scale deployment in Iran, but of sending a small contingent to be used for specific strategic purposes.

All Emirates flights to and from the UAE city of Dubai have been suspended due to the war in Iran until further notice. This was announced by the airline.

Iran claimed to have struck an oil tanker in the Gulf, in the eighth day of its war with Israel and the US. "This morning, the tanker named Prima was hit by an explosive drone after ignoring repeated warnings from the Revolutionary Guardians Army regarding the traffic ban and the insecurity of the Strait of Hormuz," the Pasdaran said in a statement released by the Tasnim news agency.

The Israeli Air Force completed another wave of attacks in Iran, during which over 80 fighter jets launched some 230 munitions at various military sites overnight. This was announced by the IDF, pointing out that the targets included the main military university of the Revolutionary Guards, a missile unit storage site containing bunkers and launching facilities, and an underground ballistic missile storage and production site operated by hundreds of soldiers and containing bunkers and regime military headquarters. In addition, missile launch sites in western and central Iran were targeted in order to continue to reduce the range of fire towards Israeli territory.

The foreign ministers of the Arab League will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to discuss "Iranian attacks on the territories of several Arab countries". This was announced by the organisation's Deputy Secretary General Hossam Zaki, adding that the meeting, which will be held via video conference, was requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Egypt.

The Lebanese Hezbollah group reported clashes with Israeli forces in the Nabi Sheet area of the Bekaa Valley, while Lebanese media revealed that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had landed in the area in search of the body of soldier Ron Arad, reported missing in Lebanon in 1986.

In a statement released by the Al Manar broadcaster, Hezbollah reported that its fighters 'observed, at 22:30 on Friday, 6 March 2026, the landing of four Israeli army helicopters from the Syrian side', from which 'an infantry unit' emerged.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed to have struck "separatist groups" in the Iraqi Kurdistan region as the war against Israel and the US enters its second week. "Three positions of separatist groups in the Iraqi (Kurdistan) region were hit this morning," the Pasdaran said in a statement released by the Tasnim news agency. "If the separatist groups in the Kurdistan region take any action against Iran's territorial integrity, we will crush them," they added.

Iran's ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said that at least 1,332 Iranian civilians have lost their lives so far in the war and thousands more have been injured. The Guardian reports. The US and Israel "have shown that they recognise no red lines in committing their crimes," the ambassador said the two countries are attacking "densely populated" civilian areas and infrastructure, including schools, medical, recreational and sports facilities. "These acts constitute clear war crimes and crimes against humanity," he said calling on the Security Council to "act now, without delay."

The US hit more than 3,000 targets during the first week of the war on Iran, part of the 'Epic Fury' campaign. This was reported by the US Central Military Command (Centcom), which is responsible for US forces in the Middle East, posting a series of summary sheets on X of the progress of operations. Targets included command and control centres, air defence systems, missile sites, Iranian Navy ships and submarines. In detail, 43 ships were 'damaged or destroyed'.

A senior Trump administration official said last night marked the 'largest US bombing campaign' in Iran. Sky News writes. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business: 'We're doing the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers, to the factories that build the missiles. And we're basically degrading them. And, you know, our campaign has been overwhelming."