Hormuz, the yellow of the escorted oil tanker causes crude oil to plummet. Trump: if Tehran has planted mines remove them

"Certainly, we do not seek a ceasefire". This is what the president of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, former commander of the Guardians of the Revolution, wrote on X. "We believe that the aggressor must be punished and must learn a lesson that will deter him from wanting to attack Iran again," he added.

Explosions were heard this evening in Bahrain's capital Manama. This was reported by Afp. Since the beginning of the conflict, Bahrain has been targeted by waves of Iranian drones and missiles, which have so far killed two people in the country, according to the authorities.

The naval commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (Irgc) has warned that any US or its allies' military ship crossing the Strait of Hormuz will be hit. "The claim of a tanker crossing the Strait of Hormuz with a US military escort is completely false. Any passage of the US fleet and its allies will be blocked by Iranian missiles and kamikaze drones," said Irgc Navy Chief Alireza Tangsiri, according to Al Jazeera reports.

La nave portarinfuse Galaxy Globe e la petroliera Luojiashan sono ancorate mentre l'Iran promette di chiudere lo Stretto di Hormuz, nel contesto del conflitto tra Stati Uniti, Israele e Iran, a Muscat, Oman, il 9 marzo 2026. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier TPX IMMAGINI DEL GIORNO

The US has not escorted any oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. This was stated by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt after the Secretary of Energy published on X and then removed a post saying that the US Navy had "successfully" escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz.

The US is calling on Israel to stop attacks against Iran's energy infrastructure. Axios reports this, citing sources who say it is the first time the Trump administration has sought to control Israel since the war began.

Some 140 Americans were wounded in the Epic Fury operation in Iran. Cnn reports citing a Pentagon spokesman.

The US has destroyed 50 Iranian ships. This was said by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, reiterating that the recent rise in oil prices is "temporary. After the Iran operation, prices will fall. Donald Trump and his team are closely monitoring the markets,' she highlighted

US intelligence has begun to see indications that Iran is taking steps to deploy mines in the sea route of the Strait of Hormuz. Cbs reports.

It is still too early to predict what kind of regime change will emerge in Iran when the clamour for weapons stops. Europe could, however, already now make its voice heard on the ground that belongs to it, not the military one but that of guided immigration, of scientific and cultural exchanges with a civil society that must be helped to revive after the long parenthesis (we hope) of theocratic obscurantism.

In the field of science, where the potential for collaboration with that country has long been underestimated, the competent EU commissioner could ask the major research institutions such as the German Max Plank, the French CNRS and the Italian CNR (perhaps extending the invitation to the British Uk Research and Innovation) to quickly prepare special calls for tenders to attract Iranian professors and researchers to research programmes that have already begun and possibly to be promoted in the coming years. The calls for proposals should provide for simplified procedures at most, also in light of the political-diplomatic requirements.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright's announcement on the crossing of the Strait of Hormuz triggered a race to the bottom for oil, which lost up to 15% within minutes. Wright later deleted the post on X. After breaking through $100, crude oil has been falling since after hours and is now around $80 per barrel.

"Work with key European, international and regional partners on creating the necessary conditions for a return of diplomacy to resolve the crisis in the Middle East", "continue to strongly condemn the violent repression of civil protests in Iran and the flagrant violation of human rights by the Islamist regime", "also condemn Iran's destabilising role throughout the region, expressing its full support for the Iranian people in their struggle for freedom". This is what is stated in a draft resolution of the majority in view of tomorrow's communications by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Parliament. Another commitment is 'to reiterate the importance of safeguarding the integrity and security of the European Union's land, air and maritime borders, and to ensure that they are effectively protected in accordance with Union and international law'. The majority, therefore, aims to "support and enhance, in all European and international fora, the fundamental role of the Aspidese Atalanta defensive maritime operations, which are essential for the protection of critical maritime routes and for the prevention of disruptions in the supply chains vital for Italia and the European Union; and to promote, in liaison with the European institutions and the Member States, the possible adaptation and strengthening of these missions, should the situation on the ground require it, thus contributing to the improvement of maritime security and regional stability".

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright appears to have deleted the post on X in which he announced that the US Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by the American media.

The Syrian army accused Hezbollah of launching projectiles towards its positions near the border town of Serghaya. The Times of Israel reports this, citing the state news agency Sana. "The appropriate options are being studied to do what is necessary, the army will not tolerate any aggression against Syria," the Syrian army said in a statement. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he had spoken with Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and agreed on the need for the countries to coordinate "to control borders and prevent violations".

A US Navy ship escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz 'successfully'. This was stated by Secretary of Enerigua Chris Wright. "The president maintains global energy stability during military operations in Iran," he added.

Three loud explosions were heard tonight in Tehran. This was reported by Afp journalists, who said it was not known at the moment which targets would be hit.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed alarm at the 'apparent eye-for-an-eye dynamic' between the conflicting parties in the Middle East, which he said endangers civilians and infrastructure in the region. "This apparent eye-for-an-eye dynamic affecting critical infrastructure and having extremely significant repercussions on the civilian population will only increase the risks to the civilian population at large, with potentially disastrous consequences for the entire region," he said in a statement.

Russia does not share any intelligence information with Iran: this was stated by White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, interviewed by Cnbc in the aftermath of the telephone conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on the ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine. "I can tell you that yesterday, during the call with the president, the Russians said they shared nothing" with Tehran, he said.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said that he and Jared Kushner might visit Israel next week, pointing out, however, that the decision is not yet final. Witkoff said the purpose of the visit is to coordinate with Israel on the Iran issue.

L'inviato speciale della Casa Bianca in Medio Oriente Steve Witkoff ascolta il presidente Donald Trump durante una conferenza stampa, lunedì 9 marzo 2026, al Trump National Doral Miami a Doral, in Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

The Iranian army claimed to have struck a military centre and another dedicated to intelligence in Israel, in the eleventh day of the war that is inflaming the Middle East. In a statement, the army said it had 'attacked, using destructive drones, a military centre in Haifa' and an 'intelligence reception centre for spy satellites'. The targeted military site 'plays a key role in the production of armaments and is of fundamental strategic importance in strengthening the enemy's combat capabilities', adds the statement, released by the Tasnim news agency.

The note recalls that for Italia the theme is particularly relevant, given that through the strait "in 2025 our country imported from the Persian Gulf countries about 14.3 million tonnes of energy products, equal to over 13% of total energy imports, volumes that arrive entirely by sea". "The safety of shipping and seafarers," stressed Confitarma president Mario Zanetti, "represent absolute priorities for our country; in a phase characterised by strong geopolitical tensions, such as the one we are observing in the Persian Gulf area and the Strait of Hormuz, it is essential to guarantee the free flow of international merchant traffic.

The Senate Chamber rejected the oppositions' proposal to have 'double' communications from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the first tomorrow on Iran and the second on 18 March in view of the EU Council. 84 against, 53 yes. The calendar approved by a majority at the conference of group leaders is thus confirmed, with the prime minister expected in the Senate tomorrow at 9.30 a.m. to report on the crisis in the Middle East and in view of the EU Council of 19 and 20 March.

'Be careful you don't get obliterated yourself'. Thus Alì Larijiani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, in a post on X, dismissed US President Donald Trump's threats to hit Iran twenty times harder. "The people of Ashura in Iran are not afraid of your empty threats," Larijiani wrote in particular, "not even people bigger than you could wipe out the Iranian nation. Be careful not to be wiped out yourself,' the Iranian leader warned, addressing Trump.

"Hormuz," reads a post on X by the Secretary of the Supreme Security Council in several languages, "will either be a Strait of peace and prosperity for all or a Strait of defeat and suffering for the warmongers.

"Working together on a range of options to protect commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz in response to Iran's growing threats". This is what the leaders of Italy, United Kingdom and Germany, Giorgia Meloni, Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz, agreed in separate phone calls, Downing Street reports. The 'vital importance of freedom of navigation' was also emphasised and close coordination in the coming days agreed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Serghei Lavrov had a telephone conversation "to discuss the sharp escalation and the serious deterioration of the situation in the Middle East," according to Mehr reports. During the talks, Lavrov stressed Russia's principled position on the need for rapid de-escalation and expressed Moscow's readiness to facilitate this process. "The exchange of views on the evolving situation in the Middle East, which has drastically deteriorated due to the unprovoked aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement on its Telegram channel. "Lavrov," the note added, "again expressed a principled position in favour of a rapid de-escalation and the return of the situation within the framework of a political-diplomatic solution, to which the Russian side is always ready to contribute, taking due account of the security interests of Iran and its neighbours in the region.

Il ministro degli Esteri russo Sergey Lavrov parla durante una conferenza stampa congiunta con il secondo ministro degli Esteri del Brunei Erywan Yusof dopo i colloqui tenutisi presso la residenza di Zinaida Morozova a Mosca, martedì 3 marzo 2026. (Pavel Bednyakov, Pool)

The Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, today confirmed the temporary closure of the embassy in Tehran in the face of escalating attacks in the region, as "there are not the minimum security conditions for personnel to continue working on the ground" in Iran. This was said by the head of diplomacy at the press conference following today's cdm, confirming Spain's anti-war stance in defence of international law, with a call for de-escalation of the conflict and a return to peace negotiations. Albares also informed that of the approximately 31,000 Spaniards who were in the Middle East before the start of the Israeli-US attacks on Iran and the response of the Ayatollahs' regime, 'already 5,685 citizens have been evacuated and have been able to return to Spain', with military and commercial flights. And with three new flights arriving today from the Arab Emirates and Qatar, the number of 6,000 repatriated Spaniards will be reached. 'We will not leave anyone behind,' the minister assured, reiterating that 'every last Spaniard who wants to will be repatriated'.

At yesterday's meeting between the G7 countries "the issue was raised" of the use of strategic oil reserves to cope with the situation triggered by the war in the Middle East and "at today's meeting we will take stock of the availability of reserves". "Italy is one of the countries with the highest reserves but the assessment concerns the pooling of reserves because there are countries in difficulty." This was said by the Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, on the sidelines of the Nuclear Energy Summit.

Italia's position,' the minister recalled, 'is the one brought by Minister Giorgetti yesterday at the meeting of financial ministers: to arrive as soon as possible at a state of peace on the one hand and, on the other, to make a closer assessment of the emergency on the energy front. Yesterday, the economy minister argued the need for Europe to take extraordinary measures to prevent the surge in energy prices from being transferred to those of consumer goods.

The war in the Middle East may have potentially 'catastrophic' consequences for the oil markets. This was the warning sounded by the CEO of oil giant Saudi Aramco, Amin Nasser, during a conference call on the occasion of the publication of its 2025 financial results. If 'the disruptions' caused by war activities in the Gulf are prolonged, he emphasised, 'the consequences will be catastrophic for global oil markets'. "It is absolutely crucial," he added, "that shipping resumes in the Strait of Hormuz" through which approximately 20 per cent of the world's oil supplies transit.

Iraq is looking for alternative ways to export its oil after the closure of the Straits of Hormuz and the suspension of crude oil transit through the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline in Kurdistan. In a statement to Afp, Baghdad Oil Ministry spokesman Saheb Bazoun said, without going into detail: 'As with many other countries in the region, oil production and marketing have been severely affected, leaving the government no choice but to seek other avenues for our sales. The Iraqi federal budget is 90 per cent dependent on oil revenues.

- The United States has struck over 5,000 targets in the course of the Iran war that began 11 days ago. This was stated by the Chief of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Dan Caine, providing an operational update on the offensive against Iran. The US, he said, has sunk more than 50 Iranian ships, up from more than 30 last Thursday, 'using a combination of artillery, fighters, bombers and sea-launched missiles'. Caine reiterated that the US has made 'significant progress' in reducing the number of missile and drone attacks from Iran, with ballistic missile attacks down 90 per cent and drone attacks down 83 per cent since the first day of the war on 28 February.

The US is not commenting on the condition of Iran's new supreme leader, who is reportedly injured, but is telling him to listen to President Donald Trump. During a press conference, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth explained that for Mojtaba Khamenei 'it would be wise to listen to our president's words and not pursue nuclear weapons. As for his status, that's something I can't comment on at this time'.

Today will be the 'busiest day of attacks' against Iran. This was said by Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defence, during a press conference at the Pentagon. According to him, Tehran has 'an increasingly low capability to respond, which is what we're aiming for', demonstrating a degradation of defence capabilities and 'the effectiveness' of US actions.

Forward until the 'complete defeat of the enemy'. This was reiterated by the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, at a press conference on the 11th day of the war and after President Donald Trump stated that the conflict will end 'soon'. The Iranians are 'running towards a nuclear bomb', the Pentagon number one argued, and Trump 'will never allow it'. According to Hegseth, the mullahs know that their army is being 'systematically degraded' and that Iran 'is alone and losing badly'. On the contrary, he says, America is "winning" and is pursuing its goals to destroy its missiles, its navy and "permanently prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons forever". "We will not desist until the enemy is totally and completely defeated," he scolds.

Donald Trump has told Fox News that it is possible he is willing to talk to Iran but that this will depend on conditions, the cable news network said on Tuesday. Trump told Fox he had heard that Tehran strongly wanted to talk, Reuters reported on the site. The US president also reiterated his dissatisfaction with Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei: 'I don't think he can live in peace'

Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, said it will be able to export about 70 per cent of its regular crude shipments within days as it rushes to restore sales disrupted by the US-Iran war in global markets. Saudi Aramco's CEO Amin Nasser said during a conference call on financial results, as reported by the Financial Times, that the company is working to rapidly increase exports from its Red Sea port of Yanbu, which will allow about 5 million barrels per day to reach the global market without crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia normally exports about 7 million barrels per day, only a small part of which comes from the Red Sea, while most of its crude goes from the East Coast to the Gulf. But Iran's threats to shipments have largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off most of its oil from global markets. In total, around 20% of global oil supplies have been affected, with Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates all reducing production to varying degrees

"Trump has no idea how to end the war with Iran": this is the title of an editorial in the New York Times by the influential columnist Thomas L. Friedman, winner of three Pulitzer prizes and a profound connoisseur of the Middle East. For Friedman 'it is obvious that Trump and Netanyahu started this war without a clear end goal in mind'. "Netanyahu, I suspect, would probably be happy to turn Iran into another great Gaza and continue 'cutting grass' or threatening periodically, as he was so inclined to do in Gaza," the columnist writes. For his part, Friedman continues, "Trump has made a big deal about the 'morning after' in Iran, saying really ridiculous and often contradictory things that reveal a commander-in-chief who makes it all up as he goes along. One day it's regime change, one day it's not; one day he doesn't care about Iran's future, the next day he'll have a say in choosing the country's next leader; one day he's open to negotiations, the next day he's calling for 'unconditional surrender'." "The wise thing to do now is to pause and see how the situation will evolve in what I call 'the morning after the morning after,'" suggests Friedman, who would bet "on an explosive debate and infighting among the ruling elite in Tehran. "Of course," Friedman admits, "no one can guarantee that this morning-after politics will end in regime or regime change. But it is as likely as bombing Tehran and Beirut to rubble and hoping that a popular uprising will ensue'. "Bombing Iran indefinitely," he concludes, "destroying more and more military and civilian infrastructure and simply hoping that democracy-seeking Iranians will unite - with barely an internet connection to communicate and where moving anywhere on the roads can be deadly dangerous - and topple this murderous, entrenched regime on their own.... well, show me where in history such a thing has ever happened. My guess is that this regime will only collapse from the top, and this will be a process that will only begin after a ceasefire

According to Iranian government officials, the number of people killed in Iran since the beginning of the war has reached 1,332. This is reported by the BBC. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani says that 206 women and children are among them and that dozens of health centres have been targeted by the attacks.

The French President, Emmanuel Macron, returning to Paris from his mission to Cyprus and on the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean, has convened a new defence council on the war in the Middle East for this evening, according to the Elysée Palace

The Israel Defence Forces announced a new wave of attacks against Iran. They did so through a statement released on their online channels.

Israel is reportedly preparing for an extended campaign against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is likely to continue even after the end of the war against Iran, sources tell the British newspaper Financial Times.

According to reports in the FT, people briefed on the planning said that the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah, launched after the Iranian-backed group fired rockets into northern Israel last week, will last at least as long as the assault against Iran and may even continue after an eventual ceasefire with Tehran

China referred to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states when commenting on US President Donald Trump's statements on the possible replacement of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, speaking at a briefing, said that the choice of the supreme leader is solely up to Iran according to its constitutional procedures. "The election of a new supreme leader is a decision made by Iran according to its Constitution and non-interference in internal affairs is a fundamental principle of international relations," he said.

Some of Donald Trump's advisers are privately urging the US president to seek an exit plan for the Iran conflict and argue that the US military has largely achieved its goals. The Wall Street Journal reports, explaining that although many of Trump's conservative base still support the operation, some advisers have privately expressed concerns that a longer war could progressively reduce that support. Trump, writes the WSJ, has been updated on some polls regarding the war that show a majority of Americans oppose the conflict. Some of Trump's advisers also noted with concern the rise in oil prices above $100 per barrel. Some administration officials said that as long as Tehran continues to attack regional countries and Israel wants to strike Iranian targets, it is unlikely that the US can easily withdraw from the war. According to one senior official, Trump will not stop fighting until he can declare a satisfactory victory.

UNHCR says there are more than 100,000 new war-displaced people in Lebanon in 24 hours

Iran denies Trump's optimistic statements yesterday about the duration of the war and promises that not a single drop of oil will leave the Middle East 'until further notice'. The Islamic Republic said negotiations with Washington 'are no longer on the agenda' in the conflict that has engulfed the entire region since 28 February and threw global markets into panic on Monday. "The Iranian military will not allow the export of a single litre of oil from the region to the enemy camp and its partners until further notice," said Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. The Iranian regime thus denies Washington the right to unilaterally decide the course of the conflict by claiming it can fully exercise its control over the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production passes.

Italia, Germany and Belgium, according to several European sources, have convened a meeting between leaders on video call today to take stock of simplification and energy, also in light of the new price crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The meeting, the time of which has not yet been announced, follows the same format inaugurated by Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz and Bart De Wever at the meeting convened on the sidelines of the EU summit on competitiveness on 12 February. The total number of countries participating in today's meeting has not yet been announced.

"The EU stands by the Iranian people. We support its right to live in peace and to determine its own future. But freedom and human rights cannot be won with bombs. Only international law protects them. Protecting civilians, ensuring nuclear safety and respecting international law is crucial. We must avoid further escalation. Such a path threatens the Middle East, Europe and beyond. The consequences are serious, also in the economic sphere'. This was said by European Council President Antonio Costa addressing the EU Ambassadors' Conference. (

Middle Eastern countries reduce daily oil production. Bloomberg writes. Saudi Arabia reduced its oil production by between 2 and 2.5 million barrels per day, while the United Arab Emirates cut its output by 500,000 to 800,000 barrels per day. Kuwait also reduced production by half a million barrels per day, and Iraq by about 2.9 million, the report adds, citing people familiar with the matter

The war against Iran so far sees 'only one winner', Vladimir Putin's Russia. This was emphasised by European Council President Antonio Costa, speaking at the EU ambassadors' conference in Brussels. For Costa, "we must avoid further escalation. Such a course" of the conflict in Iran "threatens the Middle East, Europe and not only them. The consequences are serious, also in the economic sphere, as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz shows. So far, there is only one winner in this war: Russia'. Moscow, Costa continues, 'constantly undermines Ukraine's position by violating international law. It obtains new resources to finance its war against Ukraine by raising energy prices. It profits from the displacement of military capabilities that might otherwise have been sent to support Ukraine. And it benefits from the reduced focus on the Ukrainian front, while the conflict in the Middle East takes centre stage,' he concludes.

On the sidelines of the Nuclear Energy Summit underway in Paris, a G7 Energy Summit has been urgently convened for today. Italy's Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, will attend. Efforts will be made to 'make progress' on the issue of oil prices, in the context of the war in the Middle East that is disrupting energy prices, government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon explained on France 2.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel has been "breaking the bones" of Iranian power since the beginning of the offensive conducted jointly with the US since 28 February, but that it is "not yet finished". "We aspire to bring the Iranian people to break the yoke of tyranny, but in the end it is up to them," Netanyahu said during a visit to an Israeli Health Ministry emergency centre late yesterday evening. "There is no doubt that with the actions taken so far we are breaking their bones - and we are not done yet," he added.

Turkey announces that a Patriot air defence system is being prepared for deployment in the east of the country as part of coordinated efforts with NATO to help protect national airspace amid regional tensions. Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Ministry of National Defence said "in light of recent developments in our region, the necessary measures have been taken to secure our borders and airspace and we are in consultation with Nato and our allies

After a 10-hour pause, the IDF detected a new ballistic missile attack from Iran against central Israel. Sirens are expected to sound in central Israel in the next few minutes. This is reported by the Tel Aviv media.

The fall of the regime in Iran is in the hands of the Iranian people. This was stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit late yesterday evening to the National Centre for Emergency Health Operations.

'Our aspiration is to induce the Iranian people to break the yoke of tyranny,' Netanyahu explained. 'Ultimately, it is up to them. But there is no doubt that with the actions taken so far we are breaking their bones, and our arm is still outstretched'.

The IDF has issued an evacuation order for a number of buildings in the Lebanese coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon, in view of air strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure. "The Idf will strike military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist organisation Hezbollah," says the spokesman, Colonel Avichay Adraee. Civilians in the area have been instructed to keep a distance of at least 300 metres from the buildings

The US embassy in Beirut urges its citizens to find 'sanctuary' if they do not intend to leave Lebanon. The BBC reports. In a security advisory issued this morning, the embassy says US citizens 'should seriously consider' leaving the country on Middle East Airlines flights departing from Beirut's Rafic Hariri airport if they believe it is safe to do so.

Iran launched new attacks against Gulf countries: missile warning sirens sounded in the early morning hours in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. Riyadh destroyed two drones in its oil-rich eastern region. Kuwait, on the other hand, shot down six drones. The Pasdaran then announced that it had 'hit' the US airbase in Al-Harir, Iraqi Kurdistan, which was targeted with 'five missiles'.

In the last 24 hours, 191 wounded Israelis have been admitted to hospitals as a result of the conflict with Iran. This was reported by the Israeli Ministry of Health, pointing out that the figure includes both civilians and soldiers. Of those treated in hospitals, one is in critical condition, three are in serious condition, two are in moderate condition and 172 are in good condition. The ministry says that since the beginning of the war with Iran, 2,339 people have been taken to hospital, of whom 95 are currently still hospitalised.

The United Arab Emirates is facing a new drone and missile attack from Iran. This was announced by the Emirati Ministry of Defence, pointing out that 'the UAE's air defences are currently responding to missile and drone threats from Iran'.

Israeli attacks struck southern and eastern Lebanon overnight. This was reported by the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA), pointing out that 'enemy warplanes launched attacks during the night on the towns of Almajadel, Shaqra and Srifa' and adding that attacks also took place in the Bekaa valley.

Iran's foreign minister said his country is ready to continue attacks as long as necessary and ruled out talks after President Donald Trump said the war with Iran will end 'very soon'. Abbas Araghchi told US broadcaster PBS News that his country is ready to continue missile attacks and that negotiations with the US are no longer on the agenda.

The US hit more than 5,000 targets during the first 10 days of the war against Iran. The targets hit include more than 50 Iranian ships, reported the US Central Military Command (Centcom), which heads US forces in the region. Other targets, a note explained, included air defence systems, ballistic missile sites, missile and drone production, and military communications.

"I am disappointed" by the appointment of Iran's new supreme leader. Donald Trump said this. Asked about his idea for the country's leadership, the president said: 'I like the idea of someone on the inside, it works well. We did it in Venezuela: it's a formula that works well."

- US President Donald Trump said he will waive some oil-related sanctions due to market turmoil related to his and Israel's attack on Iran. "We are also waiving some oil-related sanctions to reduce prices," Trump told a press conference after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump spoke of crude oil prices being 'artificially inflated' in the wake of Iran's conduct. While quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping, the tycoon added that 'we will remove sanctions until the situation is resolved'.

If it 'stopped the flow of oil in the Strait of Hormuz', Iran would be hit by the US 'twenty times harder' than it has been so far. This is President Donald Trump's warning, in addition to the one issued in the afternoon. The tycoon on Truth added that 'easily destroyed targets that would make it virtually impossible for Iran to rebuild itself as a nation' would be eliminated. Death, Fire and Fury would reign over them. But I hope, and pray, that this does not happen! This is a US gift to China and all nations that intensively exploit the Strait of Hormuz. I hope it is a gesture that will be greatly appreciated