"By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts appointed Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the assembly said in a statement issued just after midnight Tehran time.

Iran's Assembly of Experts has named Mojtaba Khamenei to replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country's new supreme leader, state media reported on Sunday. Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric with close ties to the powerful Revolutionary Guards, had long been viewed by elements of Iran's ruling establishment as a potential successor to his father, who was killed after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared to backtrack from his conciliatory remark towards his Gulf neighbours.

Israel's military said it had "conducted a precise strike targeting key commanders" in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, its foreign operations arm.

The Israeli Air Force said on Sunday that it carried out strikes on facilities housing Iran's F-14 Tomcat fighter jets at an airport in Isfahan.

A projectile strike killed two people, including an Indian national, and injured 12 more in Saudi Arabia's Al Kharj governorate south of Riyadh, the kingdom's civil defence said on Sunday, as Iran continued to launch missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours.

"The strike resulted in the deaths of two individuals of Indian and Bangladeshi nationalities, injuries to (12) Bangladeshi residents, and material damage," the Civil Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The United States will spare Iran's energy infrastructure as it wages war with Israel against the Islamic republic, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday.

With oil prices rising dramatically, he told CNN that disruptions to the petroleum and gas industry will be short lived -- "worst case, that's a few weeks. That's not months."

Israel attacked oil storage facilities Saturday in and around Tehran, sparking huge fires in the first such attacks reported since the war started last weekend. Wright seemed to downplay them.

"These are Israeli strikes, these are local fuel depots to fill up the gas tank," Wright said.

He added: "The US is targeting zero energy infrastructure. There are no plans to target Iran's oil industry, their natural gas industry, or anything about their energy industry."

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran's next supreme leader "is not going to last long" if Tehran does not get his approval first.

"He’s going to have to get approval from us," Trump told ABC News. "If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long."

His comments came as the Iranian clerical body responsible for choosing the successor to slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei was reported to have voted and would soon announce a name.

Iran's foreign minister said Sunday that the Iranian people, not Donald Trump, will elect their new leader and demanded that the US president apologize for starting the war with Iran.

"We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs. This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC's "Meet the Press," after Trump on Thursday asserted he should have a role in picking Iran's next supreme leader.

Araghchi also said Trump "should apologize to people of the region and the Iranian people for the killings and destruction they have done against us."

The Arab League's secretary-general said Sunday that Iranian attacks on several member states were "reckless", urging Tehran to reverse what he called a "massive strategic mistake".

In response to a US-Israeli air campaign that began on February 28, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on Israel and Gulf states, which house American bases.

Addressing an emergency videoconference of Arab foreign ministers from Cairo, Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the strikes "cannot be justified under any pretext or excuse", accusing Tehran of responding to Gulf peace efforts with "treacherous rockets and drone attacks".

He said Arab states were "not parties to the ongoing war" and had made it clear they would not allow "their territory or airspace to be used" to launch attacks.

Several Arab countries, including Oman -- until recently the mediator of US-Iran nuclear talks -- as well as Qatar and Egypt, had put in "earnest, sincere and serious efforts to spare the entire region, including Iran, the ravages of war", Aboul Gheit added.

Residents of Tehran woke up on Sunday expecting daylight. Instead, they found the city still shrouded in darkness.

Iran War Live: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a safety warning to civilians in Iran on Sunday, urging them to "stay at home."

“Iran’s terrorist regime is blatantly disregarding civilian lives by attacking Gulf partners while compromising the safety of their own people,” said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.

https://t.co/49uVoNzte3

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 8, 2026

Israel's military said Sunday that two of its soldiers were killed in combat in southern Lebanon, the first Israeli troops to have died since fighting flared with armed group Hezbollah.

"Master Sergeant Maher Khatar, aged 38, from Majdal Shams, a soldier from the Combat Engineering Corps in the 91st division, fell during combat in southern Lebanon," a military statement said, adding that a second soldier was killed in the same incident.

More than 100 Iranians, including some diplomats, were evacuated from Beirut overnight on a Russian plane, a Lebanese official told AFP on Sunday. 

The evacuation came after Lebanon on Thursday banned any activity by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps -- a main backer of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah -- and imposed a visa requirement on Iranians entering the country as part of measures to pressure the group.

"A total of 117 Iranians, including diplomats and embassy staff, were evacuated on a Russian plane that left Beirut overnight from Saturday to Sunday," the official said on condition of anonymity. 

The official said the Iranian embassy had informed Lebanese authorities beforehand of the evacuation operation, which was carried out via Beirut's international airport. 

The official did not specify the destination of the Russian flight. 

Nine days into the American and Israeli military campaign against Iran, Tehran's retaliatory strikes are showing no signs of letting up, and a video allegedly filmed in Qatar shows the chaos of living close to US military bases as strikes continue.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that they had launched missiles towards the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Bersheeva, as well as an airbase in Jordan.  

"The 28th wave of the Operation Honest Promise 4 was launched by the next-generation missiles of the Guards aerospace force against the areas of Beersheva, Tel Aviv, and the Al-Azraq airbase," the Guards said in a statement, according to state TV. 

The body tasked with selecting Iran's new supreme leader has reached a decision, members said Sunday, although the name has yet to be announced. "The most suitable candidate, approved by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been determined," said Mohsen Heydari, a member of the selection body who represents Khuzestan province, according to Iran's ISNA news agency. Another member, Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, confirmed in a video carried by Iran's Fars news agency that "a firm opinion reflecting the majority view has been reached."  (AFP)

Three Indonesian crew members are missing after the United Arab Emirates-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 sank in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, Jakarta's foreign ministry has said in a statement.

The Musaffah had seven crew members from Indonesia, India and the Philippines, the ministry said, adding that four survived and three others, all Indonesians, are missing.

Before it sank, the boat experienced an explosion that caused it to catch fire, the statement said, adding that an investigation is ongoing by local authorities.

The security firm Vanguard said the tugboat was struck by two missiles while attempting to provide assistance to the Malta-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige. 

That ship was struck by a missile on Wednesday, Vanguard said in a statement.

"One Indonesian survivor is currently receiving burn treatment at a hospital in the city of Khasab, Oman. The other three Indonesians are still being searched for by the local authorities," the Indonesian ministry said.

Another Indonesian national was at the location of the incident, but now on a different vessel and is currently safe, the statement added.

Iran said it had so far used "first and second generation" missiles, but will use "advanced and less-used long-range missiles" in the coming days.

Israel has warned it would continue pursuing every successor of Iran's Khamenei.

In a post on X in Farsi, the Israeli military also warned it would pursue every person who seeks to appoint a successor for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, referring to the clerical body charged with choosing the Islamic Republic's supreme leader.

Fuel distribution in Tehran has been 'temporarily' halted after oil depot strikes, an Iranian official said.

A sailor on the Iranian Navy warship IRIS Dena had phoned his father minutes before the frigate was struck by a torpedo, saying American forces had twice ordered the crew to abandon the warship, according to a report.

Donald Trump has said that he did not want the Kurds to launch an offensive against Iran.

"We're not looking to the Kurds going in," he told reporters in a briefing aboard Air Force One. 

"We're very friendly with the Kurds, as you know, but we don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is."

Trump had told Reuters news agency Thursday that he would be "all for" an offensive by Iranian Kurdish fighters in support of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic.

WATCH IN FULL: @POTUS, joined by @SecWar and @SEPeaceMissions, speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One pic.twitter.com/tsS0OvokX0

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 8, 2026

Trump has evoked the idea of sending ground troops into Iran to secure the country's stockpiles of enriched uranium, as part of efforts to dismantle Tehran's nuclear program.

"At some point maybe we will. That would be a great thing," he told reporters during a briefing aboard Air Force One.

"We haven't gone after it, but it's something we could do later," he said.

Asked about the use of ground troops in general, Trump did not rule it out, saying: "Could there be? Possibly, for a very good reason -- it'd have to be a very good reason."

"And I would say if we ever did that, they would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight at the ground level," he said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said his country "will be forced to respond" to any attack or invasion attempt from a neighbouring country.

If Iran's enemies "try to use any country to attack or invade our land, we will be forced to respond to that attack", he said.

"Responding does not mean we have disputes with that country or wish to harm its people -- we would be responding out of necessity," Pezeshkian said.

The remarks came a day after he apologised to neighbouring countries hosting US military bases for attacks on their territory.

Donald Trump has dismissed the threats from Iran's security chief Ali Larijani and said he doesn't know who he is.

"I have no idea what he's talking about, who he is. I couldn't care less," he told CBS News, adding that Larijani has "already been defeated."

The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, killing its 86-year-old supreme leader Ali Khamenei and triggering a war in the Middle East.

Bahrain has said that an Iranian drone attack damaged a water desalination plant.

"The Iranian aggression randomly bombs civilian targets and causes material damage to a water desalination plant following an attack by a drone," Bahrain's interior ministry said in a statement after Tehran earlier accused the US of striking one of its own desalination plants from a base in Bahrain.

A majority consensus over a successor to Iran's Ali Khamenei has more or less been reached, Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri said on Sunday, according to Mehr news agency.

He said, though, that "some obstacles" need to be resolved regarding the process, according to the report.

Iranian media said the body tasked with appointing Iran's supreme leader had a minor disagreement over whether their final decision must follow an in-person meeting or instead be issued without adhering to this formality.

The United States and Israel hit five oil facilities in overnight strikes in and near the Iranian capital, an official told state TV. 

"Last night, four oil depots and a petroleum products transport centre in Tehran and the Alborz were attacked by enemy aircraft," the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company Keramat Veyskarami told state TV.

He added that the five facilities "were damaged" but the "fire was brought under control". 

Iran's security chief Ali Larijani has said that US President Donald Trump "will pay" the price for "killing" Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, killing its 86-year-old supreme leader and triggering a war in the Middle East. 

"We will relentlessly avenge the blood of our leader and our people. Trump must pay and will pay," Larijani, who had been overseeing Iran's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with the United States, posted on X on Sunday.

In an interview with the state TV, he said that Iran will not "leave Trump alone".

"Trump got a taste of what happened in Venezuela and liked it, thinking he could quickly do the same in Iran. Now he's stuck," he said.

"We will not leave him alone. He must pay the price for what he did. He killed our leader and martyred more than 1,000 of our people. This is not a simple matter," Larijani said.

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes "across Iran", targeting "military infrastructure".

The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems were intercepting missiles and drones launched from Iran on Sunday.

"UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the defence ministry said in a post on X, adding sounds of explosions were a result of the systems "intercepting missiles and drones".

Kuwait's military said air defence systems were intercepting missile and drone attacks on Sunday, as Iran continues its strikes across the region.

"Kuwaiti air defences are currently engaging hostile missile and drone attacks," the military said in a post on X, adding that explosion sounds were the result of interceptions by air defence systems.

China's top diplomat Wang Yi said the war in the Middle East should "never have happened".

"This is a war that should never have happened," he told a press conference in Beijing, adding that "a strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle."

Fuel tanks at the Kuwait airport were hit while 15 drones were intercepted and destroyed in Saudi Arabia as Iran continued attacks a day after its President Masoud Pezkeshian said Tehran will not target neighbouring countries.

Donald Trump and JD Vance attended the return of the bodies of the first six US soldiers killed during the escalating war with Iran.

Trump, wearing a white "USA" baseball cap, saluted as troops carried each flag-draped case from a military transport plane at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Iran can fight an "intense" war against the United States and Israel for at least six months, the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by the Fars news agency on Sunday.

"The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are capable of continuing at least a 6-month intense war at the current pace of operations," said Guards spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini.

The Guards, Iran's elite force, also said they had targeted "more than 200" locations related to American and Israeli bases and facilities across the region.

Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel early Sunday, warning of incoming missiles from Iran.

An Israeli military statement said air defences were responding to "missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel".

Alerts were activated across much of northern Israel, including the port city of Haifa, according to the army's Home Front Command, which ordered residents to go into shelters or safe rooms.

An Israeli strike on a hotel in central Beirut killed at least four people Sunday, Lebanese officials said.

Donald Trump has said that Britain is giving "serious thought" to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, but added that the U.S. does not need them to win the war with Iran.

Trump has repeatedly criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggesting this week that he helped "ruin" the countries' historically close relationship after London blocked the U.S.'s initial use of British bases to attack Iran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he "will remember" the lack of British support during the conflict with Iran.

"The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East," Trump said.

"That's OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don't need them any longer - But we will remember. We don't need people that join Wars after we've already won!"

US President Donald Trump on Saturday blamed Iran for what the country's authorities said was a deadly strike on a school in the southern county of Minab.

"We think it was done by Iran. Because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

A strike hit a girls' elementary school in Minab last Saturday, killing more than 150 people, mostly students.

Ministry of External Affairs' update on Situation in Middle East and the Gulf Region

Government of India is continuously monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, especially with regard to the welfare of Indian nationals who have been stranded there during transit or on short duration visits.

2. All Indian nationals in the region are advised to follow the guidelines of the local authorities as well as the advisories being issued by the Indian Embassy or Consulate in their location. Each of our Embassies and Consulates in these countries have issued detailed advisories and set up 24x7 Helplines that are assisting in addressing concerns on account of the ongoing situation.

3. The Ministry of External Affairs has also set up a dedicated Special Control Room to monitor and respond to queries from those affected as well as their families. Complete details of all our Helplines are available at: https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/40846/Special_Control_Room_in_MEA

4. Following the partial opening of airspace across the region in the last few days, Indian and foreign airlines are operating commercial flights, including non-scheduled flights, to enable the return of Indian passengers who were in transit or on short-term visits in these countries. By now, more than 52,000 Indians have availed of these flights and travelled safely from the Gulf region to India between March 1-7, 2026, 32107 of whom have travelled on Indian carriers. More flights are planned in the coming days.

5. In those countries where commercial flight operations are unavailable, Indian nationals are advised to contact the concerned Embassy/Consulate for information and advice regarding the nearest available commercial flight options.

6. The safety and welfare of Indian nationals abroad is of utmost priority to the Government, which remains engaged with the Governments across the region to work towards facilitating all those in need of assistance.

A member of Iran's Assembly of Experts said Saturday the body would meet within a day to choose the country's next supreme leader, Iranian media reported.

"With divine assistance, this session will occur within the next twenty-four hours," said Hossein Mozafari, one of the assembly's 88 members, cited by the Fars news agency. 

The statement came a week after the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli attack.

Mozafari also urged Iranians to "refrain from any speculation and the spreading of rumors regarding this matter" as the assembly has not yet convened for a session. 

(AFP)

To all those who call the UAE home and guests in our beloved nation.
The UAE places its security and the protection of all citizens, residents, and visitors at the very top of its priorities. With God’s grace, the UAE is fully prepared to confront these threats.
I extend my…

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) March 7, 2026

The United Arab Emirates will emerge "stronger" after the Middle East war, the president told Abu Dhabi TV in a rare address on Saturday, as Iran continued its retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.

The UAE "is in a period of war", Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan told the TV channel, but "we will emerge stronger".

(AFP)

Iran says to continue attacks on sites in neighbouring countries used for 'aggression'

(AFP)

The Iranian regime is unlikely to be toppled even by a large-scale military assault, a classified report by the National Intelligence Council concluded.

More than 1,200 Marathi tourists from Maharashtra stranded in Dubai due to disruptions in air travel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East have received assistance through the IPF MahaHelpline, an initiative launched by the Marathi diaspora in the UAE. 

With coordinated efforts from volunteers, the Indian diplomatic mission, and the Maharashtra government, over 500 passengers have already safely returned to India.

The helpline, originally started to assist Marathi expatriates and the local community in the UAE, has now been activated as a special emergency support line for Maharashtrian travellers facing difficulties because of flight disruptions caused by regional conflict and restricted airspace.

According to Rahul Tulpule, who is leading the initiative from Dubai, more than 1,200 requests for assistance were received within just one day of the helpline becoming operational.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they have targeted "separatist groups" in Iraq's Kurdistan region, as the war against Israel and the United States entered its second week.

An official from an exiled opposition group in Kurdistan told AFP that drones struck positions belonging to three Iranian Kurdish parties without causing casualties.

The Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency that "three locations of separatist groups in the Iraqi region (of Kurdistan) were hit... this morning."

(AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Saturday labelled Tehran as the "loser of the Middle East" after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to the neighbouring countries for attacks launched during its war with Israel and the United States.

US to deploy third aircraft carrier to Middle East as it signals prolonged Iran war.

Israel's military said Saturday it had carried out an operation in Lebanon to find remains of airman Ron Arad, but failed to uncover any trace of the navigator missing since 1986.

Iran's army said Saturday its navy had launched a wave of drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US bases in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as the regional war raged into its second week.

"The Iranian Navy targeted American bases and occupied territories with a massive wave of drone attacks," the army said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.

It said the targets included the UAE's Al-Minhad base and another in Kuwait, as well as a "strategic facility" in Israel.

Later, the Revolutionary Guards said their forces also targeted Al-Dhafra air base in the UAE.

(AFP)

Israel's military said Saturday it had carried out an operation in Lebanon to find remains of airman Ron Arad, but failed to uncover any trace of the navigator missing since 1986.

"As part of IDF activities in Lebanon, IDF special forces operated overnight in an attempt to locate findings related to the missing navigator Ron Arad. No IDF injuries were reported," the Israeli army said in a statement.

"No findings related to him were located at the search site."

(AFP)

Sri Lanka will treat Iranian sailors rescued from a torpedoed frigate according to international law, a minister said Saturday, following reports Washington was pressuring Colombo to not repatriate them.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told a conference in New Delhi that Sri Lanka was caring for 32 sailors from the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena under Colombo's international treaty obligations.

The frigate was sunk by a US submarine on Wednesday just off Sri Lanka's southern coast.

Sri Lanka sent its navy to rescue survivors and recover 84 bodies.

Asked if Colombo was under pressure from the US to not repatriate the Iranians, Herath did not answer directly.

"We have taken all the steps according to international laws," Herath said.

(AFP)

Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, said Saturday it was partially resuming services shortly after it suspended operations. 

"We have partially resumed operations from today, 7 March, with some flights operating out of DXB and DWC," it said, referring to Dubai's main airport as well as the city's Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport. 

"Please do not travel to the airport unless you have been contacted by your airline that your flight is confirmed, as schedules continue to change," it told passengers, after an aerial interception in the area during attacks from Iran forced the airport to suspend operations.

We have partially resumed operations from today, 7 March, with some flights operating out of DXB and DWC.
Please do not travel to the airport unless you have been contacted by your airline that your flight is confirmed, as schedules continue to change.

— DXB (@DXB) March 7, 2026

Hezbollah on Saturday said it confronted Israeli troops that infiltrated an east Lebanon town overnight, with Lebanese authorities reporting at least 16 killed in Israeli strikes on the area.

In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters had "observed the infiltration of four Israeli enemy army helicopters from the Syrian direction".

After landing and disembarking, the advancing troops "were engaged" by a group of Hezbollah fighters as they reached a cemetery in the town of Nabi Sheet, Hezbollah said.

"The clash escalated after the enemy force was exposed," it added, saying the Israeli troops launched intense strikes before evacuating.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

An AFP correspondent in the area heard warplanes and intense gunfire throughout the night.

(AFP)

🔴#BREAKING | Emirates halts flights until further notice as tensions continue to escalate in the region; Passengers asked not to go to Dubai airport
NDTV's @AdityaRajKaul joins @reetksahni with more details from Tel Aviv pic.twitter.com/2WFp4nUWUH

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 7, 2026

Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, said on Saturday that it had suspended operations after an object was intercepted by air defence over the area.

"For the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew, operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended. All procedures are being managed in line with established safety protocols," the government's Dubai Media Office said.

(AFP)

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that the country's neighbours will not be targeted unless attacks are launched from them during the war with Israel and the United States. 

"The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries," said Pezeshkian in a speech broadcast on state TV. 

The leadership council has been leading Iran since last week's killing of the Islamic republic's supreme leader, in the US and Israel strikes which triggered a Middle East war. 

(AFP)

Lebanon's health ministry on Saturday said Israel's strikes on Nabi Sheet in east Lebanon a day prior killed at least 16 people, with Hezbollah saying Israeli troops infiltrated the town from the air.

In a statement, the ministry said "the series of raids launched by the Israeli enemy on the town of Nabi Sheet in the Baalbek district resulted in a preliminary toll of 16 killed and 35 wounded".

(AFP)

Emirates suspends all flights to and from Dubai until further notice

(AFP)

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised on Saturday to neighbouring countries for attacks launched during the Islamic republic's war with Israel and the United States.

"I apologise...  to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran," said Pezeshkian in a speech broadcast by state TV. 

(AFP)

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they had targeted an oil tanker in the Gulf in their conflict with Israel and the United States. 

"This morning, an oil tanker with the trade name Prima was hit by an exploding drone after ignoring repeated warnings from the IRGC naval forces regarding the prohibition of traffic and the insecurity of the Strait of Hormuz," the Guards said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency. 

(AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Iran's president over the numerous civilian casualties resulting from "the armed Israeli-American aggression against Iran" and called for an immediate halt to hostilities, the Kremlin said.

In a phone call late on Friday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin expressed his deep condolences over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, members of Khamenei's family, Iranian political and military leaders and "numerous civilians".

"Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's principled stance in favour of an immediate cessation of hostilities, the rejection of force as a method to solve any issues surrounding Iran or arising in the Middle East, and a swift return to the path of diplomatic resolution," the Kremlin said.

(Reuters)

The foreign ministers of the Arab League will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss Iranian attacks on several of the group's members, the bloc's assistant secretary-general told AFP. 

The meeting, which will be held via videoconference, was requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Egypt, Hossam Zaki said.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit had earlier condemned the Iranian attacks, saying they are "fully reprehensible" and "not only a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter, but also an assault on the principles of good neighbourliness". 

He added that the attacks "create an unprecedented state of hostility between Iran and its Arab neighbours". 

"This is a grave Iranian strategic mistake, which I hope they will rectify by halting these attacks immediately."

(AFP)

Israeli and US attacks on a central Iranian province killed at least eight people on Saturday, a provincial official said, as the regional war entered its second week.

"Eight citizens, including a woman, were martyred in these terrorist attacks," said Akbar Salehi, a security official at the governor's office in Isfahan province. 

AFP could not independently verify the toll. 

"American and Zionist regime fighter jets attacked areas of Isfahan city and seven other cities in the province," Salehi said, according to the Tasnim news agency. 

He added that "80 houses were severely damaged" in the city of Isfahan as well as the Lenjan and Borkhar areas.

(AFP)

Israel's military said more than 80 fighter jets completed a wave of strikes on Iranian military sites, missile launchers and other targets in Tehran and central Iran on Saturday.

"Over 80 Israeli Air Force fighter jets... completed an additional wave of strikes targeting infrastructure belonging to the Iranian terror regime," the military said in a statement.

(AFP)

Iran's army said Saturday its navy had launched a wave of drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US bases in the UAE and Kuwait, as the regional war raged into its second week.

"The Iranian Navy targeted American bases and occupied territories with a massive wave of drone attacks," the army said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.

It said the targets included the UAE's Al Minhad base and another in Kuwait, as well as a "strategic facility" in Israel.

(AFP)

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday they were waiting for US forces to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway where traffic remains strangled as the regional war rages.

"We are waiting for their presence," said Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini, after the US energy secretary announced the Navy was preparing to escort ships through the strait "as soon as it's reasonable to do it".

"We recommend that before making any decision, the Americans remember the fire of the American supertanker Bridgeton in 1987 and the oil tankers that were recently targeted," Naini said, according to Fars news agency.

(AFP)

Casualties mount as Iran war enters day 8 - Here's a breakdown @divyawadhwa pic.twitter.com/y4XN8c5bs2

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 7, 2026

Iran has spent decades and billions of dollars preparing foreign proxy fighters like A.J., a commander in a pro-Iranian paramilitary group in Iraq, for a moment just like this. Since the US and Israel went to war on the Islamic Republic a week ago, A.J. has been awaiting marching orders from Tehran.

But they have yet to come. And so as the leadership in Tehran faces a potentially existential threat, many of the fighters and militia groups the Iranians cultivated in Iraq have so far not entered the fight for them. There has been no mass mobilization of Iran's proxies inside Iraq, one of the last redoubts of the Islamic Republic's once-formidable system of alliances stretching from Gaza, Lebanon and Syria to Yemen and Iraq.

Israel and the United States are testing new or little-known weapons in the Middle East war, including an Israeli "Sparrow" missile and an Iranian-inspired drone made in America then fired back at Iran.

Lebanese official media reported on Saturday that clashes had erupted as Israeli forces attempted a landing operation along the Lebanon-Syria border, with militant group Hezbollah saying its fighters were involved.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA), citing the Lebanese health ministry, said Israeli strikes on Nabi Sheet killed at least three people and wounded 16 others.

The NNA said that "clashes are taking place on the eastern mountain range along the Lebanese-Syrian border... to repel Israeli landing attempts."

It gave the location as Nabi Sheet, in the eastern Baalbek district where Hezbollah holds sway.

Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters had "observed the infiltration of four Israeli enemy army helicopters from the Syrian direction".

(AFP)

Crude prices surged Friday on mounting fears about oil supply disruption during the Middle East war, while equities retreated on poor US hiring data.

The US-Israel war on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks across the Gulf region have upended the world's energy and transport sectors, virtually halting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The international benchmark oil contract, Brent North Sea crude, surged to $92.69 per barrel, up 8.5 percent for the day and nearly 30 percent for the week after US President Donald Trump said only the "unconditional surrender" of Iran would end the Middle East war. 

The main US contract, West Texas Intermediate, soared more than 12 percent to over $90 per barrel, topping off the biggest weekly gain on record.

Maritime traffic has all but dried up through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies run.

(AFP)

AFP journalists heard explosions in Dubai and Bahrain's capital Manama on Saturday, one week into Iran's retaliatory attacks on targets around the Gulf.

Two blasts were heard in Dubai and one in Manama, where a warning siren sounded.

"Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," Bahrain's interior ministry posted on X.

(AFP)

The US State Department approved the "emergency" sale of 12,000 bomb casings to Israel on Friday as the countries engage Iran in an escalating Middle East war. 

The requested sale of 1,000-pound (450-kilogram) bomb casings, worth an estimated $151.8 million, was approved by the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, according to a press release. 

"The proposed sale will improve Israel's capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats," the bureau said in a statement.

In addition to the munitions, the sale will include US government and contract engineering, logistics and technical support services, according to the release. 

(AFP)

🔴Watch #LIVE | Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) speaks to NDTV’s @VishnuNDTV on the Iran war and more#NDTVExclusive https://t.co/lsFMtYsclk

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 7, 2026

Dubai authorities have confirmed that a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception has been successfully contained. No injuries have been reported. Authorities have also denied reports circulating on social media regarding any incidents at Dubai…

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 7, 2026

Met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir. We discussed Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and the measures needed to halt them within the framework of our Joint Strategic Defense Agreement. We stressed that such actions undermine… pic.twitter.com/OuELnf9LU6

— Khalid bin Salman خالد بن سلمان (@kbsalsaud) March 7, 2026

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in an interview to Fox news channel said that the US is preparing its largest military strikes yet against Iran, describing the upcoming operation as the "biggest bombing campaign.

He said, "Tonight will be our biggest bombing campaign, we'll do the most damage to the Iranian missile launchers, the factories that build the missiles. We are substantially degrading them!Our campaign has been overwhelming."

The US State Department said on Friday it has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to Israel of munitions and munitions support for $151.8 million.

(Reuters)

Saudi Arabia said Saturday it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base which houses US military personnel, as Iran pressed attacks across the Gulf.

"A ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base" southeast of the capital Riyadh was "intercepted and destroyed," the Saudi defence ministry posted on X.

In a separate incident, the official Saudi Press Agency quoted a defence ministry spokesperson saying a drone attack targeting a major oil field near the Emirati border had been thwarted.

"Attempted attack on the Shaybah field; six drones intercepted and destroyed," the agency reported.

(AFP)

Israel said Saturday it had launched "broad-scale" strikes on targets in Tehran, as the Iranian state broadcaster reported an explosion in the western part of the city. 

"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has begun a broad-scale wave of strikes" on government targets in the Iranian capital, an Israeli military statement said. 

The IDF said earlier it had detected another round of Iranian missile fire headed towards Israel.

A series of explosions were heard in the Israeli commercial hub of Tel Aviv following the Iranian launches. 

Israel's emergency services, the Magen David Adom, said it received no reports of casualties after the barrage. 

The military issued a statement saying people were free to leave their shelters "in all areas of the country."

(AFP)

The United States struck more than 3,000 targets during the first week of the Iran war, the US military said on Friday.

Targets include command-and-control centers, air defense systems, missile sites, and Iranian navy ships and submarines, US Central Command, which is responsible for American forces in the Middle East, said in a fact sheet.

(AFP)

Iran targeted Qatar with 10 drones on Friday, Doha's defence ministry said in a statement as the Islamic republic pressed its air campaign against Gulf states.

"Qatar was subjected to waves of attacks from the Islamic Republic of Iran involving 10 drones, starting from dawn on Friday," it said, adding that the military "successfully intercepted nine drones, while one drone struck an uninhabited area, without causing any casualties".

(AFP)

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Friday they had targeted a US base in the UAE that they alleged had been used as a launchpad for a strike on a school.

According to Iranian authorities, a strike had hit a girls' elementary school on Saturday in Minab county in the south of the country, killing more than 150 people including students. 

AFP has neither been able to access the site in order to verify the incident, or to obtain independent confirmation of a toll.

"Al-Dhafra air base, belonging to American terrorists in the region, was targeted using drones and precision missiles," the Guards said in a statement broadcast on state TV. 

Neither Israel nor the United States has claimed responsibility for the reported attack.

The Pentagon has confirmed it is investigating, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the US would "not deliberately target a school."

(AFP)

Israel's military said on Friday that Iran had launched cluster bombs "multiple times" since the start of the war that began with a US-Israeli attack on the Islamic republic over the weekend.

"They (the Iranians) are using cluster munitions," military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said during a news briefing, without providing details on when and where those munitions were launched.

"They've used it multiple times, which is a war crime when it's directed towards civilians and we're tracking that situation," Shoshani added.

(AFP)

The United States on Friday warned that Iranian-backed fighters may target hotels in Iraqi Kurdistan frequented by foreigners as Washington again urged Americans to leave.

"US citizens are strongly encouraged to depart as soon as they are safely able to do so, and reconsider lodging options if choosing not to depart," the US embassy in Baghdad said in a security notice.

(AFP)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Friday "unlawful attacks" across the Middle East and warned that the situation could spiral out of control as the regional war raged across multiple countries.

"All the unlawful attacks in the Middle East and beyond are causing tremendous suffering and harm to civilians throughout the region -- and pose a grave a risk to the global economy, particularly to the most vulnerable people," he said.

"The situation could spiral beyond anyone's control. It is time to stop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations."

(AFP)

US President Donald Trump appeared to rule out negotiations with Iran in a social media post calling for its "unconditional surrender." Trump told media outlets on Thursday that he wants to be involved in picking Iran's next leader.

(AP)

 Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani on Friday said at least 1,332 Iranian civilians had lost their lives so far in the conflict with Israel and the United States and thousands more had been injured.
He made his comments while speaking to reporters at the United Nations in New York. 

Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with US intelligence on the matter. It's the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war.

(AP)

Saudi Arabia said Saturday it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired at an air base southeast of the capital Riyadh, as Iran pressed attacks across the Gulf.
"A ballistic missile launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base was intercepted and destroyed," the Saudi defence ministry posted on X.

Israel said Saturday it had launched "broad-scale" strikes on targets in Tehran, as the Iranian state broadcaster reported an explosion in the western part of the city. 
"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has begun a broad-scale wave of strikes" on government targets in the Iranian capital, an Israeli military statement said. 
The IDF said earlier it had detected another round of Iranian missile fire headed towards Israel.
A series of explosions were heard in the Israeli commercial hub of Tel Aviv following the Iranian launches. 

US President Donald Trump is to attend the dignified transfer on Saturday of six soldiers killed in an Iranian attack on Kuwait, the White House said Friday, as the escalating war with Tehran brings home its first American dead.
The troops were killed Sunday when a drone struck a key US command center in Kuwait's southern industrial hub of Port Shuaiba, a day after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran.
The ritual takes place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the remains of US troops killed overseas are returned to American soil.

Iran targeted Qatar with 10 drones on Friday, Doha's defence ministry said in a statement as the Islamic republic pressed its air campaign against Gulf states.
"Qatar was subjected to waves of attacks from the Islamic Republic of Iran involving 10 drones, starting from dawn on Friday," it said, adding that the military "successfully intercepted nine drones, while one drone struck an uninhabited area, without causing any casualties".

Qatar's aviation authority said Friday the Gulf state would partially reopen to limited air traffic after it closed its airspace at the start of a retaliatory Iranian missile and drone campaign following US-Israeli strikes.

"Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the partial resumption of air navigation in the State of Qatar, through designated navigational contingency routes with limited operational capacity," the body said.

"This phase includes the operation of a limited number of flights designated for passenger evacuation, in addition to the operation of air cargo flights," it added.

A loud bang was heard on Friday evening in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, before smoke rose from a hotel in the city, an AFP journalist said.
The journalist saw smoke billowing from the upper floors of the Erbil Arjaan by Rotana hotel, and said firefighters had arrived at the scene.
Earlier, the United States warned that Iranian-backed fighters may target hotels in Kurdistan that are frequented by foreigners.

Satellite images, expert analysis, a US official and public information released by the US and Israeli militaries suggest an explosion that killed scores of Iranian students at a school was likely caused by US airstrikes.

Israel's military chief said on Friday that its forces were "crushing the Iranian terrorist regime", a day after announcing that the joint US-Israeli campaign against the Islamic republic had entered a new phase.

"We are crushing the Iranian terrorist regime and will seize every opportunity to deepen our achievements," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir told soldiers, according to a statement issued by the military.
On Thursday, he had said the military campaign had moved into its "next phase" and warned that "additional surprises" were in store for Tehran.

Drone attack on Friday targeted military base at Iraq's Baghdad airport, news agency AFP reported citing security sources.

Only nine oil tankers, cargo and container ships, some of which at times concealed their position, have been recorded crossing the Strait of Hormuz since Monday, according to data by MarineTraffic analysed by AFP.

After three ships were attacked Sunday, at least three tankers and a vessel carrying gas have crossed this chokepoint.

Nearly 20 percent of the world's crude oil and about 20 percent of LNG transit through Strait of Hormuz.

France has sent a helicopter carrier to the Mediterranean in response to the Middle East war, the French military told AFP on Friday.

"An amphibious helicopter carrier has been deployed in the Mediterranean to reinforce the presence of the French armed forces in the context of the Middle East crisis," a spokeswoman said, after France decided to deploy its flagship aircraft carrier and a frigate earlier in the week.

The sources said Iran asked India to "take in" its ship IRIS Lavan and the request was approved on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia's defence ministry on Friday said it had intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile near the central Al-Kharj area.

"A cruise missile was intercepted and destroyed east of Al-Kharj governorate," the ministry said in a post on X.

Two loud explosions were heard in eastern Tehran on Friday, AFP journalists said, in an area of the Iranian capital frequently struck by the United States and Israel in its campaign.

A journalist heard two blasts at about 6:00 pm local time (1430 GMT) and saw two large clouds of black smoke rising from the sky in the city's east, while a third, smaller plume could be seen on the horizon.

It was not immediately clear what was targeted. The Shargh daily said fighter jets had been circling the area.

The price of the benchmark US oil contract soared more than 10 percent Friday on fears of extended disruption to crude supplies after President Donald Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender".

West Texas Intermediate surged 10.63 percent to $89.62 per barrel, while international benchmark Brent North Sea crude reached $91.89, the highest level in nearly two years.

Wall Street stocks tumbled early Friday following a poor US jobs report as oil prices shot higher due to supply disruption from the Middle East war.

The US economy shed 92,000 jobs last month, in a sharp reversal from the job growth of the previous month, lagging analyst estimates by a wide margin.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" as the only acceptable outcome to end hostilities as Brent oil prices surged above $90 a barrel, reaching its highest level in almost two years.

About 10 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones Industrial average was down 1.8 percent at 47,075.16.

"There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. “MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).” Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP," US President posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Friday said the US navy was preparing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz "as soon as it's reasonable to do it," as traffic through the key trade route remains choked due to the US-Israel war on Iran.

"As soon as it's reasonable to do it, we'll escort ships through the straits and get the energy moving again," he told US broadcaster Fox News's "Fox and Friends" show. 

As tensions rise in the Middle East, with the United States and Israel locked in an escalating confrontation with Iran, the consequences extend far beyond geopolitics.

Nine ballistic missiles and more than 100 drones were intercepted over the United Arab Emirates on Friday, according to a statement from the Emirati defense ministry. So far, almost 1,200 Iranian drones and over 200 ballistic missiles had been detected and mostly intercepted. Ministry statement said that a total of three people died in the strike.

Iran's police chief Ahmad Radan said on Friday that officers had been authorised to shoot at suspected looters amid the war with Israel and the United States. 

"Because we are in wartime conditions, I have issued orders to shoot at potential thieves," Radan told state TV, adding that any thieves would be "swiftly neutralised". 

He also said that authorities had taken measures to maintain order online. 

"We will not allow a group of paid agents to undermine the unity that the people achieved with the blood of thousands of martyrs by spreading agitation," said Radan. 

Several explosions were heard in the Bahraini capital Manama on Friday, AFP reported, with authorities sounding sirens as Iran pressed its retaliation campaign in the Gulf.

"The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the interior ministry said in a statement on X.

Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said some countries 'have begun mediation efforts' to end war adding that the mediation should address US, Israel because they 'ignited' the war.

"Some countries have begun mediation efforts. Let's be clear: we are committed to lasting peace in the region yet we have no hesitation in defending our nation's dignity and sovereignty," said Pezeshkian in a post on X.

"Mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict."

Seven international flights from Kolkata to Gulf countries were cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The cancelled services include flights operated by Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Emirates, all of which connect Kolkata with the three major transit hubs in the Gulf region.

The Emirates flights from Dubai to Kolkata, and from Kolkata to Dubai were cancelled. Air Arabia flight scheduled to operate from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi was cancelled, while Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi to Kolkata and from Kolkata to Abu Dhabi were also cancelled.

Two flights of Qatar Airways, bound for Doha, were also cancelled

📍Tel Aviv, Israel | #Watch: Dramatic iron dome interceptions and explosions caught on NDTV camera pic.twitter.com/o57A4mN52X

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 6, 2026

Several blasts were heard over Israel's commercial hub of Tel Aviv, AFP journalists reported, after the military said it had detected new missiles launched from Iran towards the country.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the military said.

Residents of Dubai received an Emirati interior ministry alert on their phones urging them to shelter from potential missile threats, AFP correspondents reported, as Iran pressed on with its Gulf retaliation campaign.

"Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building and steer away from windows, doors and open areas," the alert read.

South Korea struck a deal to ship around four million barrels of oil from the United Arab Emirates, bolstering supplies as the US-Israel war on Iran upends energy markets.

Heavily reliant on oil shipped through the strait, South Korea said it had dispatched tankers to secure alternative supplies of fuel.

"We plan to immediately berth two South Korean-flagged oil tankers -- each with a capacity of 2 million barrels -- at alternative ports within the UAE that do not require passage through the Strait of Hormuz," said presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik. 

South Korea is the fourth-largest importer of crude oil in the world, according to US government figures. 

About 70 percent of the crude oil South Korea imports passes through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the government. 

Around 50 French ships are currently blocked in the Persian Gulf and another eight in the Red Sea, France's Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said on Friday, as Paris seeks support to build a coalition of countries to secure shipping traffic in the region.

"There are around fifty ships - 52 to be precise - in the Persian Gulf and eight in the Red Sea, and we are also in permanent contact with the crews, as there are French sailors aboard a number of these vessels," Tabarot told French broadcaster CNews/Europe 1.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was not concerned about rising US gas prices driven by the widening Iran conflict, telling Reuters in an exclusive interview that the US military operation was his priority.

"I don't have any concern about it," he said, when asked about the higher prices at the pump. "They'll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit."

The comment "If they rise, they rise" reminds one of the iconic dialogue from 'Rocky IV', when the Russian boxer character Ivan Drago (played by Dolph Lundgren) says "if he dies, he dies" while fighting American boxer Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers).

Iran's currency is collapsing. Its economy is under crushing sanctions. Yet Tehran is still paying for machinery, fuel and military components abroad using a financial rail Donald Trump cannot control.

The workaround is simple: mine Bitcoin, then spend it.

"Iran can mine a single Bitcoin for roughly $1,300," says Jake Percy, a U.S.-based bitcoin strategist. With Bitcoin trading near $73,000, that creates a $71,700 margin per coin. That value can be deployed outside the global banking system.

The strategy quietly punches a hole through the sanctions architecture the United States spent two decades building.

India will purchase crude oil from Russia, government sources told NDTV, providing much-needed assurances on energy supply volatility amid the US-Israel-Iran war.

Sources also said efforts to stabilise petrol prices had 'paid off' thanks to 'continuous negotiation on multiple fronts' and stressed 'the crude oil situation is under control'.

Price of petroleum products in domestic markets will not be allowed to rise, sources said.

The government, NDTV was further told, has sufficient reserves in case of supply disruptions arising not only from the war in Iran but military pressure on oil tankers passing through Tehran-controlled Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.

When Tehran legalised Bitcoin mining in 2019, officials framed it as an economic experiment. Analysts now say it evolved into something far more strategic: a sanctions resistant payment network.

The Iran women's soccer team sang and saluted as its national anthem played ahead of the Women's Asian Cup contest against Australia on Thursday, a contrast to the silence before its opening game.

The outcome was similar, though, with World Cup semifinalist Australia winning 4-0. The silence during the anthem before Monday's 3-0 loss to South Korea was variously reported as an act of resistance or a show of mourning. The team didn't clarify.

But in a news conference on the eve of the game against Australia, Iran striker Sara Didar choked back tears as she shared the concerns of players and management for their families and loved ones amid the war in the Middle East.

President Donald Trump has suggested that he would turn to an unspecified project for Cuba, the Caribbean island already facing a US energy blockade, after the war against Iran.

"We want to fix, finish this one first -- but that will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba," Trump said at a White House reception.

India's access to crucial energy supplies received a temporary boost on Friday after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil. 

The move comes as the administration seeks to stabilise global energy markets amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that three Australian defence personnel were on board a United States submarine that sank an Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean. He stressed they did not take part in the attack.

The strike, which occurred off the southern coast of Sri Lanka this week, marked the first time since World War Two that the US has sunk an enemy vessel with a torpedo. Sri Lankan authorities recovered the bodies of 87 sailors.

The IRIS Dena was returning home after visiting India for naval exercises.

Bahrain has said that Iran had struck a hotel and two residential buildings in the capital Manama.

The attack came a day after an Iranian missile strike sparked a fire at Bahrain's main state-owned oil refinery as Tehran pressed attacks across the Gulf countries.

"Iranian aggression targeted a hotel & 2 residential buildings in Manama," Bahrain's interior ministry posted on X while correcting a previous announcement that two hotels and one residential building had been hit.

It reported "no loss of life".

Correction: MOI: Iranian aggression targeted a hotel & 2 residential buildings in Manama. No loss of life were recorded. Civil defence extinguished a fire in a flat in 1 of the 2 buildings pic.twitter.com/XVDduX69Bw

— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) March 6, 2026

It said the attack sparked a fire in one of the residential buildings, which had been extinguished.

The Israeli military announced a "next phase" in the war and bombed Lebanon's Beirut.

It said it killed Hezbollah's commander Zaid Ali Jumaa in Beirut.

"Jumaa served as Hezbollah’s head of artillery in southern Lebanon and was responsible for launching thousands of rockets, missiles and UAVs from Lebanon toward Israel. He also led the 2015 anti-tank missile attack in Mount Dov that killed an IDF officer and soldier," the Israel Defense Forces posted on X.

🔴ELIMINATED: Hezbollah firepower management commander Zaid Ali Jumaa in Beirut.
Jumaa served as Hezbollah’s head of artillery in southern Lebanon and was responsible for launching thousands of rockets, missiles and UAVs from Lebanon toward Israel.
He also led the 2015…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 5, 2026

Lebanon was dragged into the widening conflict on Monday, when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel to avenge the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The raging war in the Middle East entered its seventh day on Friday. The war broke out when Israel and the US attacked Iran last Saturday, killing 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 

Iran then fired a missile barrage at Israel and at multiple American military bases in Gulf countries. The war spread to Asia as the US sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, killing about 80 people.