Iran-US live updates: Pentagon names American troops killed in drone strike after Trump lashes out at allies

The Pentagon has named the first four American personnel killed in the widening conflict with Iran.

Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, were identified on Tuesday, two days after they were killed in Kuwait.

The Defense Department said they were killed in a drone attack in Port Shuaiba while “supporting Operation Epic Fury”.

Donald Trump’s administration has not yet identified two other American service members killed in the conflict.

Earlier on Tuesday, the president attacked his European allies for being “uncooperative” on Iran, lashing out at Britain’s prime minister over delayed access to airbases, and threatening to cut off all trade with Spain over its refusal to let US forces use its military hubs.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, meeting with Trump at the White House, told reporters he made clear in private that Spain was part of the EU and could not be excluded from trade deals.

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Trump-Iran latest: Key Points

• Four US service members killed in Iran conflict identified
• How many people have been killed in the US-Israel war on Iran?
• Trump says most of his preferred successors to Khamenei are dead
• German Chancellor says US-Israeli plan is 'not without risk'

What to know about US-Israel strikes on Iran

01:28 , Rachel Dobkin

• The US and Israel began attacking targets in Iran over the weekend, killing the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other senior officials.
• Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and several Gulf Arab states.
• The US Defense Department named four American service members —Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20 — who were killed in a drone attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait.
• Two other American service members killed in the attack have yet to be identified.

Khamenei's son is front runner in selection for supreme leader's successor: report

02:15 , Rachel Dobkin

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is the frontrunner in the selection for the successor to Iran’s slain supreme leader, according to a new report.

The New York Times reported, citing Iranian officials familiar with the matter, that senior clerics were considering announcing Khamenei as the next supreme leader as early as Wednesday.

Other top contenders for supreme leader are cleric and jurist Alireza Arafi and Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, according to The New York Times.

US military leader who oversees Middle East details 'unprecedented' Operation Epic Fury

02:00 , Rachel Dobkin

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, who leads American forces in the Middle East, has shared details about what he called an “unprecedented” operation to dismantle Iran’s security apparatus.

“More than 50,000 troops, 200 fighters, two aircraft carriers and bombers from the United States are participating in this operation, and more capability is on the way”, Cooper said in a newly released video. “These forces bring a massive amount of firepower, representing the largest buildup by the US in the Middle East in a generation”.

The US and its partner forces began striking targets last Saturday.

“We're less than 100 hours into this operation, and we've already struck nearly 2000 targets with more than 2000 munitions”, Cooper said.

11-year-old girl killed by shrapnel in Kuwait, country's health ministry says

01:45 , Rachel Dobkin

An 11-year-old girl was killed by shrapnel in Kuwait, the country's health ministry has said.

In a social media post, the health ministry announced that the girl was hit by shrapnel in a residential area and died from her injuries, despite life-saving efforts.

Watch: Martin Lewis reveals ‘scary’ impact of Iran conflict on energy prices

01:30 , Shaheena Uddin

Comment: In its fightback against the US invasion, Iran still has a few trump cards

01:00 , James Reynolds

Faced with an impatient White House, Tehran’s best defence will be to draw neighbouring Gulf states into the conflict and make itself a nuisance to the global economy, says Bilal Y Saab:

In its fightback against the US invasion, Iran still has a few trump cards

Watch: US military leader who oversees Middle East shares update on Operation Epic Fury

00:30 , Rachel Dobkin

Update from CENTCOM Commander on Operation Epic Fury: pic.twitter.com/epEohq64Vf

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 3, 2026

What is HMS Dragon, the British warship en route to Cyprus?

Tuesday 3 March 2026 23:58 , James Reynolds

Destroyers are warships often used to escort larger vessels, offering defensive capabilities against incoming threats.

HMS Dragon is one of six Type 45 Destroyers that were purpose-built for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare to replace the outgoing Type 42s.

The ships carry the Sea Viper missile system, capable of targeting and destroying multiple targets at once. The SAMPSON radar system - the visible tower with a sphere on top - helps detect threats from up to 250 miles away.

The Type 45s have a displacement of 7,500 tonnes, a range of 7,000 miles, and a crew of approximately 190. They also have a flight deck and hangar to support a single Merlin helicopter.

According to the BBC, only three of the six destroyers are currently at various stages of readiness. The other three are in maintenance and not currently unavailable.

Four US service members killed in Iran conflict identified

Tuesday 3 March 2026 23:13 , James Reynolds

The Pentagon has released the names of four US service personnel killed in the course of the conflict with Iran.

They were identified today as:

• Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida
• Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska
• Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota
• Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa

All Soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa, the department said.

They were killed on March 1, 2026, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack. The incident is under investigation.

Pentagon identifies first US troops killed in Iran war after Kuwait drone strike

FBI director fired key members of spy group days before Iran attacks: report

Tuesday 3 March 2026 23:00 , James Reynolds

FBI Director Kash Patel’s vengeful firing of FBI agents who worked on the probe into classified documents at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate left the department without an elite global spy unit that monitors threats from Iran.

Patel fired a dozen FBI agents last Wednesday after learning that his and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ phones had been under subpoena as part of the probe into Trump’s hoarding of top secret records at Mar-a-Lago.

His firing of the global espionage unit, known as CI-12, came days before the U.S. and Israel jointly launched Operation Epic Fury, with airstrikes on Iran that have led to a wider conflict throughout the Middle East.

Read the full story:

Patel fired key members of FBI spy group days before Iran attacks: report

US and Israel 'back volunteer-led uprising in Iran': report

Tuesday 3 March 2026 22:59 , James Reynolds

The US and Israel and hoping to spur an armed uprising within Iran using an armed Kurdish fighting forces, according to a report.

ITV News reported on Tuesday that weapons have been smuggled into Western Iran since last year to arm thousands of volunteers.

The Kurds are expected to begin a ground operation with days, the report claims, citing unnamed Kurdish sources.

Syria readies troops as conflict flares to its south

Tuesday 3 March 2026 22:52 , James Reynolds

Syria's defence ministry said it reinforced its border with Lebanon as Israel and Hezbollah clashed its south amid the wider crisis in Iran.

The Syrian defense ministry said in a statement that the army has reinforced its deployment along the Syrian borders with Lebanon and Iraq as part of efforts to “protect and control the borders amid the escalating regional conflict”.

Eight Syrian and Lebanese sources said Syria’s fortified defences included rocket units and thousands of troops. The deployed units belong to the border guard and reconnaissance battalions tasked with monitoring border activities and combating smuggling, the ministry added.

The sources included five Syrian military officers, a Syrian security official and two Lebanese security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Chuck Schumer 'more concerned than reassured' after briefing

Tuesday 3 March 2026 22:47 , James Reynolds

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said there appears to be ‘no strategy’ to the conflict with Iran following a briefing of members of Congress on Tuesday.

“I left the intelligence briefing more concerned than reassured,” he said. “If the case for war were strong, it would be consistent. Instead, the rationales change by the hour.”

“Regime change, nuclear weapons, missiles, defense. Preemptive. Which is it? When the justification keeps shifting, a strategy is missing. There is no strategy.”

Members of Congress were briefed on Iran by secretary of state Marco Rubio, secretary of war Pete Hegseth, CIA director John Ratcliffe, and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Dan Caine.

Blumenthal 'more fearful than ever' conflict will lead to boots on the ground

Tuesday 3 March 2026 22:41 , James Reynolds

Dem Senator Richard Blumenthal said on Tuesday he was “more fearful than ever” that the US is preparing to put boots on the ground following a closed-door briefing on the situation in Iran.

“I am more fearful than ever after this briefing that we may be putting boots on the ground and that troops from the United States may be necessary to accomplish objectives that the administration seems to have. But I also am no more clear on what the priorities are going to be of the administration going forward.”

Mr Blumenthal added that he believed the administration owed it to the American public to brief them, and not just members of Congress, on aims.

“Nothing here should have been classified. It should have been available to the American people,” he added.

Two Kuwaiti personnel killed by Iran, government says

Tuesday 3 March 2026 22:32 , James Reynolds

Two Kuwaiti army personnel who were killed on Monday fell as a result of Iran's attacks against the country, Kuwait’s government media office said on Tuesday.

Watch: Moment RAF F-35B jet shoots down Iranian drone over Middle East

Tuesday 3 March 2026 22:25 , James Reynolds

Recap: Trump says most of his preferred successors to Khamenei are dead

Tuesday 3 March 2026 22:08 , James Reynolds

Donald Trump admitted on Tuesday that most of the preferred successors to Khamenei are already dead.

“Most of the people we had in mind [to lead Iran] are dead,” the president said at the White House today, adding: “Pretty soon we’re not going to know anybody.”

“Now, we have another group,” he continued. “They may be dead also, based on reports. So I guess you have a third wave coming in. Pretty sure we’re not going to know anybody.”

Satellite images show damage to Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility

Tuesday 3 March 2026 22:00 , James Reynolds

Satellite images of Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility taken on Monday show several damaged buildings, compared with imagery from the previous day, along with additional damage across the facility’s complex:

Satellite images show damage to Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility

Iran launched missile targeting US-run Al Udeid base, says Qatar

Tuesday 3 March 2026 21:34 , James Reynolds

Iran launched a missile towards the US-run Al Udeid air base, Qatar’s defence ministry said late on Tuesday.

Al Udeid is the US’s largest base in the region, housing thousands of personnel. Qatar said there was no human loss in the strike this evening.

'I really don't care' if Iran plays in World Cup, Trump says

Tuesday 3 March 2026 21:30 , Shaheena Uddin

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he did not care whether Iran took part in this summer's football World Cup, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

"I really don't care. I think Iran is a very badly defeated country. They're running on fumes," Trump told Politico.

Iran was the only nation noticeably absent from a FIFA planning summit for World Cup participants held this week in Atlanta, deepening questions over whether the country's football team will compete on US soil this summer amid an escalating regional war.

The world governing body FIFA, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

How many people have been killed in the US-Israel war on Iran?

Tuesday 3 March 2026 21:18 , Shaheena Uddin

Death tolls from the war against Iran have been totalled up so far since the US and Israel first attacked on February 28. Four days on and the conflict has sprawled out to other countries across the Gulf.

• IRAN - 787 people killed, including 165 schoolgirls and staff killed in a missile strike on a primary school in Minab in the country's south on the war's first day, according to the non-profit humanitarian group Iranian Red Crescent Society. It was unclear if the death toll included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military casualties.

• LEBANON - 40 people killed in Israeli missile strikes, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

• ISRAEL - 10 civilians killed, including nine people in an Iranian missile strike on Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem on March 1, according to Israel's ambulance service Magen David Adom. The Israel Defense Forces has reported no military casualties.

• US MILITARY - Six US service members were killed in a strike on a facility in Kuwait, according to U.S. Central Command.

• UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Three people killed, according to UAE's defense ministry.

• BAHRAIN - One person killed after fire broke out in Bahrain's Salman Industrial City following missile interception, according to the interior ministry.

• KUWAIT - One person killed, according to Kuwait's health ministry. Separately, the Kuwaiti army said that two soldiers were killed "in military operations," without providing details on the circumstances of their death.

• OMAN - One person killed after a projectile hit the Marshall Islands–flagged product tanker MKD VYOM off the coast of Muscat.

German Chancellor says US-Israeli plan is 'not without risk'

Tuesday 3 March 2026 21:11 , Shaheena Uddin

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday cast doubt on whether US and Israeli military strikes would trigger a political regime change in Iran, and said the plan was not without risk.

"This plan is not without risk, and we would also have to bear the consequences," he said after meeting US President Donald Trump in Washington.

Neither Israel or the United States have asked Germany to participate in the conflict he said. He added that he had explained to Trump that any such action would require formal German parliamentary approval.

Watch: UK sending warship to Cyprus after RAF base attacked by Iran

Tuesday 3 March 2026 21:05 , James Reynolds

Oil prices at their highest since January 2025

Tuesday 3 March 2026 21:01 , Shaheena Uddin

Oil prices have risen by 4.7 per cent on Tuesday and have reached their highest record since January 2025, as US-Israel’s war with Iran intensified, disrupting energy shipments from the Middle East and stoking fears of a longer conflict.

Iraq, the second largest crude producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) behind Saudi Arabia, cut production by nearly 1.5 million barrels a day (bpd). The cuts could more than double within days as the country runs out of storage space for crude it cannot export due to the crisis.

Iran has responded with retaliatory attacks against regional energy infrastructure and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes.

Tankers and container ships are avoiding the strait after insurers cancelled coverage for vessels and global oil and gas shipping rates soared. Worries rose after Iranian media reports on Monday said that Iran will fire on any ship trying to pass through the strait.

Watch: US consulate in Dubai on fire after Iranian drone strike

Tuesday 3 March 2026 20:54 , Shaheena Uddin

US state department says it is now facilitating charter flights

Tuesday 3 March 2026 20:52 , Shaheena Uddin

The United States said on Tuesday it has started facilitating charter flights from several countries in the Middle East for US citizens stranded in the region, as Washington's joint military strikes with Israel on Iran have significantly disrupted global air travel.

The countries the flights will be travelling from include: the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

The decision follows four days after the US-Israeli air war on Iran began, prompting heavy criticism from US lawmakers that the State Department was late in warning Americans to leave the region and that this showed poor planning and “incompetence.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there were about 1,500 US citizens who requested assistance with departure and that the government was working to identify charter flights and military flight options, while communicating with airlines to send bigger airplanes with more seats.

On Monday, the department urged Americans across 14 countries in the Middle East to immediately evacuate the region using "available commercial transportation" without offering any U.S.-government-vouched means.

'All personnel accounted for', Rubio says after Dubai drone attack

Tuesday 3 March 2026 20:37 , Shaheena Uddin

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that all personnel were accounted for after a drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the US consulate in Dubai.

Mr Rubio also confirmed that approximately 9,000 Americans had evacuated the Middle East since the start of US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Turkey says Iran's indiscriminate attacks on Gulf states 'incredibly wrong strategy'

Tuesday 3 March 2026 20:33 , James Reynolds

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says that Iran's strategy of attacking Gulf states is an "incredibly wrong strategy".

"Iran's indiscriminate bombing of all these places is an incredibly wrong strategy," he told state broadcaster TRT Haber, and added that Tehran was using a strategy of "if I drown, I'll drown the region as well".

Fidan said that countries attacked by Iran may not be able to remain silent if the strikes continued, and that the risk of the conflict widening further was worrying.

UAE says it received over 1,000 attacks from Iran

Tuesday 3 March 2026 20:31 , Shaheena Uddin

The United Arab Emirates said it was exposed to over 1,000 attacks since Iran launched retaliatory strikes in the region in response to US-Israeli strikes, according to a foreign ministry statement on Tuesday.

The UAE foreign ministry said it has not taken any decision to change its defensive stance towards Iran's attacks, but reserves the right to defence itself.

No evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb, says UN nuclear watchdog

Tuesday 3 March 2026 20:07 , James Reynolds

Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, says there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb.

He says that Iran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium and the refusal to grant IAEA inspectors full access to their sites remain cause for serious concern, however.

Recap: Trump pushes back on suggestion Israel led US to war

Tuesday 3 March 2026 20:00 , James Reynolds

Donald Trump said on Tuesday he ordered US forces to join Israel's attack on Iran because he believed Iran was about to strike the United States, his latest explanation amid conflicting accounts from the administration of how the war started.

"I might have forced their (Israel’s) hand," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first. If we didn't do it, they were going to attack first. I felt strongly about that."

Trump's comments about the run-up to the war were at odds with an earlier account from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told reporters on Monday that the United States launched the attack because of fears that Iran would retaliate in response to planned Israeli action against Tehran.

US consulate in Dubai 'on fire following suspected drone strike'

Tuesday 3 March 2026 19:49 , James Reynolds

The US consulate in Dubai is on fire after being struck by a suspected Iranian drone, according to CNN, citing a source in the area.

Two witnesses separately told Reuters that smoke was seen rising from an area near the consulate.

Trump orders DFC to provide risk insurance and guarantees for 'ALL maritime trade'

Tuesday 3 March 2026 19:44 , James Reynolds

Donald Trump has just posted on his Truth Social platform, ordering the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide risk insurance and guarantees for “ALL Maritime Trade”.

He says: “Effective IMMEDIATELY, I have ordered the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide, at a very reasonable price, political risk insurance and guarantees for the Financial Security of ALL Maritime Trade, especially Energy, traveling through the Gulf.

“This will be available to all Shipping Lines. If necessary, the United States Navy will begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, as soon as possible. No matter what, the United States will ensure the FREE FLOW of ENERGY to the WORLD.

“The United States’ ECONOMIC and MILITARY MIGHT is the GREATEST ON EARTH — More actions to come. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

Trump addresses his 'worst case scenario' for Iran

Tuesday 3 March 2026 19:28 , James Reynolds

On Tuesday, Donald Trump addressed his worst-case scenario for Iran post-conflict, amid scrutiny over the deaths of Iranian officials pegged to replace the late ayatollah:

Trump admits new leader of Iran could be ‘as bad or worse than the ayatollah’

Israel claims strike on compound aimed at building nukes

Tuesday 3 March 2026 19:22 , James Reynolds

Israel’s military claims to have just struck a compound in Iran that it says aimed to develop “capabilities” for nuclear weapons.

It did not provide evidence for the claims.

“The covert ‘Minzadehei’ compound was used by a group of nuclear scientists who operated to develop a key component for nuclear weapons,” it said.

“Using intelligence, the IDF tracked the activities at this new location, removing a key component of the Iranian regime’s capability to develop nuclear weapons.”

France bolsters defences with aircraft carrier escort

Tuesday 3 March 2026 19:14 , James Reynolds

France cannot “approve” the ongoing actions of the US and Israel in Iran - but will send military assets to bolster defences in the region, Emmanuel Macron says.

The French president said in a televised address on Tuesday evening that he has ordered the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and a fleet to escort frigates to the Mediterranean.

"Faced with this unstable situation and the uncertainties of the coming days, I have ordered the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, its air assets, and its frigate escort to set sail for the Mediterranean," he said.

Macron earlier told the president of Cyprus he was sending two frigates to the island, following a request for aid. Britain has since sent one destroyer, with helicopters.

French Rafaele jets, anti-air systems and air radars were also deployed in recent hours, Macron said.

US weighing military support for Middle East energy: report

Tuesday 3 March 2026 19:05 , James Reynolds

The United States is reportedly considering offering military support to tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran threatened vessels passing through the vital chokepoint on Monday.

A person familiar with discussions told Politico: “It’s becoming a growing concern that the energy markets could face pressures in the coming days as the military campaign intensifies and expands in geographic scope.

“Access to the Straits of Hormuz is obviously vital for both natural gas and crude oil shipments, especially from Qatar and Saudi.”

They said, without additional detail, that “military support for oil and gas supplies” was under discussion.

US expects to help 100 citizens leave Israel today

Tuesday 3 March 2026 19:00 , James Reynolds

A US state department official tells Reuters they have already helped 130 US citizens leave Israel since hostilities began.

Another 100 are expected to depart on Tuesday, they said.

The department said in an official statement that they are in touch with 500 Americans in Israel trying to leave.

British F-35Bs shoot down targets in RAF first: MoD

Tuesday 3 March 2026 18:58 , James Reynolds

British F-35B jets operating over Jordanian airspace shot down uncrewed aerial systems in defence of Jordan in an RAF first, the ministry of defence says.

“This marks the first time RAF F-35 has shot down a target on operations,” a statement published Tuesday evening read.

“The aircraft was supported by RAF Typhoon jets and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft as part of our defensive operation to protect British interests and allies.”

The statement continues: “A British Armed Forces Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) team successfully took down drones in Iraqi airspace that were heading towards Coalition forces. The action was taken in defence of our personnel and allies operating in the area.

“On Monday, an RAF Typhoon shot down an Iranian one-way attack drone directed at Qatar. The Typhoon was operating in the region as part of 12 Squadron, the joint UK-Qatar squadron.”

US has hit 1,700 targets so far: Centcom

Tuesday 3 March 2026 18:45 , James Reynolds

US central command says that the US has struck 1,700 targets since it started operations in Iran on Saturday.

That figure has climbed from the 1,250 given in the report yesterday evening.

Iran-US war could lead to the largest refugee crisis in decades, EU warns

Tuesday 3 March 2026 18:30 , James Reynolds

Ongoing conflict in Iran could lead to refugee movements of an “unprecedented magnitude”, the EU has warned.

A report from the European Union Agency for Asylum said that displacement of just 10 per cent of Iran’s population of 90 million as a result of the war with the US “would rival the largest refugee flows of recent decades.”

Read the full story:

Iran-US war could lead to the largest refugee crisis in decades, EU warns

Projectiles entering Israel from Lebanon, says IDF

Tuesday 3 March 2026 18:25 , James Reynolds

The Israeli military says it has identified several projectiles crossing from Lebanon towards central and northern Israel.

It said the majority of the projectiles had been intercepted, while another fell in an open area.

The full story: Trump hits out at Starmer over Iran: ‘This is not Winston Churchill we’re dealing with’

Tuesday 3 March 2026 18:17 , James Reynolds

Donald Trump has said he is “not happy” with the UK over its approach to the Iran conflict, declaring that Sir Keir Starmer is “not Winston Churchill”.

Speaking at the White House, the US president unleashed another rant about the UK, claiming Sir Keir had been “very uncooperative” and “ruined relationships” over Iran and the Chagos Islands.

Read the full story:

Trump hits out at Starmer over Iran: ‘This is no Churchill we’re dealing with’

Watch: Trump denies Israel forced him into war with Iran

Tuesday 3 March 2026 17:24 , James Reynolds

Trump appraises Europe's responses to Iran crisis

Tuesday 3 March 2026 17:22 , James Reynolds

United Kingdom

Trump reiterated his criticism of the UK for not immediately allowing the US to use bases with access to Iran.

He said he is “not happy with the UK” and “this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with” in apparent reference to Starmer.

Germany

Trump says Germany has been “great” on Iran, sat next to Chancellor Merz.

He says he is talking about trade deals with Germany.

Spain

Trump is still unhappy with Spain, after Madrid denied the US permission to use jointly operated bases in Rota and Moron.

Spain called the US-Israeli attack an “unjustified and dangerous military intervention”.

Trump today said the US would cut all trade with Spain. He says: “I have the right to stop everything that has to do with Spain.”

US had no plan to help US citizens because conflict started quickly

Tuesday 3 March 2026 17:12 , James Reynolds

Asked why Washington did not have an evacuation plan for US embassies to get US citizens out of harm’s way at the start of the conflict, Trump says because it happened very quickly.

Loud bangs heard in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Tuesday 3 March 2026 17:09 , James Reynolds

Loud explosions have been heard in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, according to a witness cited by Reuters.

"This is not Winston Churchill": Trump lays into Starmer over access to bases

Tuesday 3 March 2026 17:06 , James Reynolds

Trump says he is “not happy with the UK”, after laying into the prime minister for his reluctance to let the US use British bases closer to Iran.

The president says it took “three or four days to work out whether or not we can land there”. He did not specify which base he was talking about.

“This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” he says in apparent reference to Starmer.

Trump pushes back on claims Israel led the US into strikes

Tuesday 3 March 2026 17:01 , James Reynolds

Speaking now, Donald Trump pushes back on Marco Rubio’s suggestion that Israel led the US into striking Iran.

He says: “If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand.”

'We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first,” he claims.

“They were going to attack if we didn't do it. They were going to attack first, I felt strongly about that. We have great negotiators, great people, people who do this very successfully. And based on the way that the negotiations was going, I think that they were going to attack first. And I didn't want that to happen.

“So if anything, I might have forced Israel's hand. But Israel was ready and we were ready.”

Analysis: 'Trump's endgame is not regime change'

Tuesday 3 March 2026 17:00 , Tara Cobham

Commenting on the direction of the burgeoning Iran crisis, Dr Neil Quilliam, from Chatham House, told The Independent: “Trump’s endgame in Iran is not regime change - he may have created the conditions in which regime change can happen, but he certainly believes in DIY regime change for the Iranians.

“As we saw in Venezuela, he is equally happy to deal with the remnants of the Iranian regime and strike a deal - over the heads of the protests - and it would be deal for which the US president would claim credit, though he would, in fact, leave Iran in a worse domestic state than he found it and the Gulf Arab states traumatised by war - not to mention the impact on the global economy.”

He said the so-called Trump doctrine is “predicated on ‘breaking’ states and then walking away”.

Trump “does not have the patience for long drawn out negotiations and neither has faith in institutions or established processes to deliver, and so he negotiates for short periods and when he is unable to achieve his goal, Trump then resorts to using US hard power”, he assessed.

Trump pushes back on claims Israel led the US into strikes

Tuesday 3 March 2026 17:00 , James Reynolds

Speaking now, Donald Trump pushes back on Marco Rubio’s suggestion that Israel led the US into striking Iran.

He says “if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand.”

Trump says Iran has no navy, air force left

Tuesday 3 March 2026 16:57 , James Reynolds

Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, says the US military is “doing very well” against Iran.

“They have no navy, it's been knocked out. They have no air force, it's been knocked out. They have no air detection, it's been knocked out. Their radar's been knocked out. Just about everything's been knocked out,” he says.

Trump is meeting with his German counterpart, Friedrich Merz, in Washington today.

Virgin Atlantic to resume flights between London and Dubai

Tuesday 3 March 2026 16:52 , Simon Calder

After four days of disruption, Virgin Atlantic is to resume flights between London and Dubai from tonight.

The link from Heathrow to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, will also be restored.

A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic said: “Following the reopening of airspace in the Middle East, our services between London Heathrow and Dubai and Riyadh on Tuesday 3 March plan to operate as scheduled. The safety and security of our customers and people is always our top priority, and our operation is subject to ongoing assessments.

“We are contacting customers regarding their travel arrangements. We’d like to thank them for their patience and understanding and recommend that all customers due to travel to or from Dubai and Riyadh over the next 48 hours check the status of their flight before going to the airport.

“We continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East with ongoing dynamic assessments and active changes to our flight routings based on the latest information and guidance, if required.”

What is HMS Dragon, the warship en route to Cyprus?

Tuesday 3 March 2026 16:39 , James Reynolds

Destroyers are warships often used to escort larger vessels, offering defensive capabilities against incoming threats.

HMS Dragon is one of six Type 45 Destroyers that were purpose-built for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare to replace the outgoing Type 42s.

The ships carry the Sea Viper missile system, capable of targeting and destroying multiple targets at once. The SAMPSON radar system - the visible tower with a sphere on top - helps detect threats from up to 250 miles away.

The Type 45s have a displacement of 7,500 tonnes, a range of 7,000 miles, and a crew of approximately 190. They also have a flight deck and hangar to support a single Merlin helicopter.

According to the BBC, only three of the six destroyers are currently at various stages of readiness. The other three are in maintenance and not currently unavailable.

Britain to send HMS Dragon to region

Tuesday 3 March 2026 16:20 , James Reynolds

Britain will send helicopters and a warship to Cyprus, following pressure from the local government over drone strikes at RAF Akrotiri.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the UK will bolster its forces in the region with HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer capable of shooting down incoming missiles.

He said the decision followed a conversation with the president of Cyprus.

Israel orders evacuation of residents in southern Lebanon

Tuesday 3 March 2026 16:04 , James Reynolds

Israel has issued evacuation orders for residents in Sidon, in southern Lebanon, following the announcement of the new ground incursion.

Lavrov discusses Iran situation with Omani counterpart

Tuesday 3 March 2026 15:52 , Alex Croft

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi to discuss the situation around Iran, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministers urged the earliest possible halt to hostilities and a return to political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.

Both sides said they were ready, including at the United Nations, to support peaceful, compromise solutions based on international law.

Iran women's football team refuses to sing national anthem

Tuesday 3 March 2026 15:35 , Alex Croft

China's foreign minister says attacks on Iran must end

Tuesday 3 March 2026 15:17 , Maira Butt

China opposes US-Israeli military strikes launched against Iran and has demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar on Tuesday, according to his ministry.

“Force cannot truly solve problems; instead, it often creates new ones and leaves serious long-term consequences. The real value of military power lies not on the battlefield but in preventing war,” it quoted Wang as telling Saar in a call.

US urges Americans to leave Middle East

Tuesday 3 March 2026 15:11 , Maira Butt

The United States has said is it pulling out non-essential personnel from several American missions across the Middle East on Tuesday.

Non-emergency US government personnel and family members from US embassies in Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan were ordered to depart.

It has also on Monday urged American citizens across 16 countries in the Middle East to leave now using “available commercial transportation”. The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem said it was unable to offer assistance to Americans trying to leave.

Israel launches fresh attacks on Tehran and Beirut, as US vows 'hardest hits yet to come'

Tuesday 3 March 2026 15:10 , Alex Croft