Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the attempted strike and condemned Tehran’s “reckless attacks”.
Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward the base but that they did not hit it, in what has been described by Iranian media as a “significant step”.
Donald Trump has said he is considering “winding down” the war with Iran, as he told countries that use the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane that they must “guard and police” it themselves.
The US president wrote on Truth Social on Friday evening: “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran”.
However, reports have emerged that the Pentagon have drawn up plans for putting boots on the ground, which would involve US troops seizing Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House earlier on Friday, Mr Trump rejected calls for a ceasefire and proclaimed victory over Iran.
Read MoreTrump says he’s considering ‘winding down’ Iran war even as US sends more troops to region
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Trump administration lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea as prices soar
How Trump’s Iran war could derail the economy – and the Labour government
Key Points
- Ministry of Defence condemns Iran's attempted attack on Diego Garcia
- Trump lifts sanctions on Iranian oil
- Pro-Iranian group attacks US facility near Baghdad airport
- Iran threatens to bomb tourist sites worldwide
- Full statement: Trump lashes out at 'cowards' in Nato
- UN nuclear watchdog calls for restraint after Iran nuclear site reportedly struck
Russia condemns alleged strikes on Iranian nuclear enrichment facility
13:30 , Amy-Clare MartinRussia’s foreign ministry has condemned alleged strikes on an Iranian nuclear enrichment facility as a “blatant violation of international law”.
It comes after an official Iran news agency reported that Iran's Natanz nuclear site has been hit in an air strike, saying there was no radiation leakage.
Israel’s military has said it is “unaware” of a strike on the facility.
The UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), urged military restraint and said it is looking into the reports.
UN nuclear watchdog calls for restraint after Iran nuclear site reportedly struck
13:12 , Amy-Clare MartinThe United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has called for military restraint to “avoid any risk of a nuclear accident” following reports that Iran’s Natanz nuclear site was targeted in strikes.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement on X it has been informed by Tehran that the site "was attacked today".
Reports have not been confirmed and Israel’s military says it's “unaware” of a strike on the facility.
The IAEA said it is looking into the report and no increase in off-site radiation levels have been reported.
Their director general Rafael Grossi "reiterates call for military restraint to avoid any risk of nuclear accident", the statement added.
The IAEA has been informed by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked today. No increase in off-site radiation levels reported. IAEA is looking into the report.
— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) March 21, 2026
IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi reiterates call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear… pic.twitter.com/jDCWYbOwao
Is Donald Trump in charge of America’s war machine – or is Netanyahu?
13:00 , Holly EvansSocial media addicts across the world – Benjamin Netanyahu among them – have had a lot of sport this week over trending suggestions that the Israeli PM had somehow died in the current Iran war.
Of course, Israel’s longest-serving head of government could hardly be more alive and kicking, politically as well as literally, than he is at present. So much so that it has been increasingly accepted – and justly so, as I argued 10 days ago – that he was pivotal in Donald Trump’s decision to start a joint US-Israel war on Iran on February 28.
We have Marco Rubio’s word for it that the US joined the attack because Israel was going to strike anyway. We also know that Netanyahu has wanted to do this since at least the turn of the century, but was blocked successively by George W Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Read the full article here:
Is Donald Trump in charge of America’s war machine – or is Netanyahu?
No signs of war abating as US and Israel offer different rationales
12:45 , Holly EvansThe three-week-old war has shown no signs of abating, with Israel saying Iran continued to fire missiles at it early on Saturday, while Saudi Arabia said it downed 20 drones in just a couple of hours in the country's eastern region, which is home to major oil installations.
The attacks came a day after Israeli air strikes hit in Tehran as Iranians celebrated the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz, a normally festive holiday that has been muted by the war.
The US and Israel have offered shifting rationales for the war, from hoping to foment an uprising that topples Iran's leadership to eliminating its nuclear and missile programmes.
There have been no public signs of any such uprising and no end to the war in sight.
Iran's supreme leader praises their steadfastness
12:30 , Holly EvansSupreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei praised Iranians' steadfastness in the face of war in a written statement read on Iranian television to mark Nowruz.
Mr Khamenei has not been seen in public since he became supreme leader following Israeli strikes that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and reportedly wounded him.
With little information coming out of Iran, it was not clear how much damage its arms, nuclear or energy facilities have sustained in the punishing US and Israeli strikes, which began on February 28 - or even who was truly in charge of the country.
Starmer speaks to Crown Prince of Bahrain
12:19 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer has spoken to the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to discuss the war in the Middle East, Downing Street said.
A spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister spoke to His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, this morning.
“The leaders began by discussing the situation on the ground, and the Prime Minister outlined the UK’s latest support for Bahrain, including deploying a team of experts to help counter drone attacks.
“Both condemned Iran’s ongoing attacks on critical national infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz. The Prime Minister updated on the US use of UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region, including to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack shipping.
“Discussing diplomatic efforts in the region, the Prime Minister welcomed Bahrain joining the growing list of signatories to the UK-led joint statement condemning Iran’s attacks and calling for de-escalation. The Prime Minister also thanked His Highness for Bahrain’s continued leadership in the United Nations to drive forward an end to the conflict.
“The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.”
Bahrain says Patriot missile system involved in March 9 blast over residential area
12:04 , Holly EvansA Patriot air defence system was involved in the interception of an Iranian drone over a residential area of Bahrain on March, Bahrain's government said on Saturday, describing an incident that led to civilian injuries.
The interception prevented a drone strike and saved lives, the spokesperson said. The US military had previously said an Iranian drone had struck a residential neighbourhood on 9 March, injuring civilians.
US deploys three more assault ships and 2,500 marines to region
11:44 , Holly EvansThe United States is deploying three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2,500 additional marines to the Middle East, an official told The Associated Press.
Two other US officials confirmed that ships were deploying, without saying where they were heading.
Days earlier the US redirected another group of amphibious assault ships carrying another 2,500 marines from the Pacific to the Middle East.
The marines will join more than 50,000 US troops already in the region.
Mr Trump has said he has no plans to send ground forces into Iran but has also asserted that he retains all options.
India's Modi speaks to Iranian president
11:25 , Holly EvansIndia's prime minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X on Saturday that he had spoken with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Modi condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the Middle East region, while also reiterating the importance of ensuring that shipping lanes remain open and secure.
"Appreciated Iran's continued support for the safety and security of Indian nationals in Iran," Modi added.
Spoke with President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and conveyed Eid and Nowruz greetings. We expressed hope that this festive season brings peace, stability and prosperity to West Asia.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 21, 2026
Condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which threaten regional stability and…
More than 1,000 killed in Lebanon in Israeli strikes
11:12 , Holly EvansMore than 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and over 1 million displaced in the Israeli attacks.
Israel said Saturday's attacks on Iran included Tehran, Karaj, west of the capital, and the central city of Isfahan. Three members of a family were killed in a strike on a residential building in the city of Ramsar, Iranian media quoted a local governor as saying.
Before its strikes on Lebanon, the Israeli military said it had issued evacuation warnings for seven neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Four Hezbollah militants were killed in southern Lebanon, one in a "ground engagement" and three using tank fire, it said.
Teachers, athletes and students arrested in new Iran crackdown during US-Israel war
10:59 , Holly EvansWhile the fate of many detainees arrested during the nationwide protests in January – which many consider to have been a “national uprising” – remains unclear, reports received by Independent Persian indicate that a new wave of arrests has begun across various cities in Iran. Informed sources say that since the start of US and Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic on 28 February, the scale of arrests has expanded, with thousands detained on security-related charges.
Ahmadreza Radan, the Islamic Republic’s police chief, announced last Sunday that 500 people had been arrested on charges of “sending information to the enemy and anti-Iranian media”. He described the detainees as “spies” and claimed that half of the cases were “serious”. Without presenting any concrete evidence, Radan added that those arrested had “provided intelligence on targeting sites, maintained contact with subversive groups, and attempted to disrupt public order”.
The Ministry of Intelligence also announced on Monday the arrest and prosecution of 39 more individuals on the pretext of “recording images of the aftermath of airstrikes and sending them to Persian-language media outlets abroad”.
Read the full article here:
Teachers, athletes and students arrested in new Iran crackdown during US-Israel war
Iran informs IAEA of attack on Natanz nuclear site, watchdog says
10:46 , Holly EvansIran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that the Natanz nuclear enrichment site was attacked on Saturday, the agency said in a post on X.
No increase in off-site radiation levels was reported, the United Nations nuclear watchdog said, adding that it is looking into the report.
The IAEA has been informed by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked today. No increase in off-site radiation levels reported. IAEA is looking into the report.
— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) March 21, 2026
IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi reiterates call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear… pic.twitter.com/jDCWYbOwao
Ministry of Defence condemns Iran's attempted attack on Diego Garcia
10:28 , Holly EvansThe UK has condemned Iran’s “reckless attacks” after it targeted the Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:“Iran’s reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies.
“RAF jets and other UK military assets are continuing to defend our people and personnel in the region.
“This government has given permission to the US to use British bases for specific and limited defensive operations.”
Iranian man and Romanian woman charged with submarine base incident
10:15 , Holly EvansAn Iranian man and a Romanian woman have been charged after two people tried to enter the naval base which is the home of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
A 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were charged following the incident at HM Naval Base Clyde, which is known as Faslane.
A statement from Police Scotland said: “Around 5pm on Thursday, March 19, 2026 we were made aware of two people attempting to enter HM Naval Base Clyde.
“A 34-year-old Iranian man and a 31-year-old Romanian woman have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
“They are due to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday, March 23.
“Inquiries are ongoing.”
Faslane is home to the core of the UK’s submarine fleet and the Trident nuclear deterrent.
The Royal Navy has previously said that two people unsuccessfully tried to enter the base.
Watch: What Americans and Brits think about Trump’s Iran war?
10:11 , Holly EvansOfficer killed in drone strike near Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad
09:58 , Holly EvansAn officer was killed after a drone launched by "outlaw groups" struck near the Iraqi intelligence headquarters on Baghdad on Saturday, the National Intelligence Service said in a statement.
Earlier, Saad Maan, the head of the country’s Security Media Cell, was quoted by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) as saying that “at 10:15am [07:15GMT] today, a drone crashed at the headquarters of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service in the Mansour district.”
How hard will the Middle East conflict hit flight prices? Airline bosses weigh in
09:46 , Holly EvansTwo Irishmen and an Englishman go to Brussels.
That isn’t the start of a joke: it’s what happened on Thursday this week, at the annual Airlines for Europe summit in the Belgian capital.
The Irishmen each have decades of experience in aviation: Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (Iata), and former boss of British Airways, has been in the industry for 47 years.
Michael O’Leary transformed a small and failing Irish airline called Ryanair into Europe’s biggest budget carrier, and has spent 32 years as CEO.
Read the full article from our travel correspondent Simon Calder here:
How hard will the Middle East conflict hit flight prices? Airline bosses weigh in
Watch: Trump's ex-counterterrorism chief says he 'did nothing wrong' in response to FBI probe
09:29 , Holly EvansNatanz enrichment facility targeted in US-Israeli attack, Iranian media reports
09:25 , Holly EvansThe U.S. and Israel reportedly launched an attack on the Natanz uranium-enrichment facility on Saturday morning, Iran's Tasnim news agency claimed.
No radioactive leaks occurred and residents near the site were not at risk, Tasnim added.
Four killed as Israeli forces clash with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon
09:13 , Holly EvansThe Israel Defence Forces (IDF) says it has clashed with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, killing four people.
An IDF spokesperson, Avichai Adraee, said that there were no Israeli casualties.
On Friday night, forces spotted several Hezbollah operatives with one person killed, while Israeli Air Force aircraft targeted other members who opened fire.
Three more people were killed with tank fire.
The Air Force also carried out strikes against Hezbollah headquarters in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
How Iran's IRGC rebooted Lebanon's Hezbollah to be ready for war
08:56 , Holly EvansIran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) rebuilt Hezbollah's military command after it was mauled by Israel in 2024, plugging gaps with Iranian officers before restructuring the Lebanese group and laying plans for the war it is now waging in support of Tehran, two people familiar with these IRGC activities said.
The overhaul was the first of its kind for Hezbollah, a Shi'ite Muslim group founded by the IRGC in 1982, pointing to a hands-on approach after the blows of the 2024 war, including the killing of its leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders.
Iran's investment paid off, getting Hezbollah back on its feet in time to enter the war in the Middle East on Tehran's side after it was attacked by the United States and Israel.
Reuters reported earlier in March that Hezbollah had seen another war as inevitable and spent months readying itself. This article sheds light on the IRGC's role in these preparations, based on accounts from six sources who spoke on condition of anonymity as well as an expert on Hezbollah.
The IRGC, deeply involved in Hezbollah since it was established, sent officers to retrain its fighters and oversee rearmament, the two sources familiar with IRGC activities said.
Missiles towards Diego Garcia show Iran 'more capable' than suspected
08:39 , Holly EvansIn a conversation with Labour MP John McDonnell and General Sir Richard Barrons, Today programme Nick Robinson said that the missiles launched towards Diego Garcia would prove Iran are “dramatically more capable” than previously suspected.
It had been believed that Iran only had ballistic missiles with 2,000km range, with the UK-US base in the Chagos Islands being 3,800km away in the Indian Ocean.
Kharg island: The tiny oil hub in Persian Gulf that Trump could seize
08:33 , Holly EvansAs the US war with Iran continues, attention has turned to a tiny island off the coast of the Middle Eastern country.
Kharg Island, whose total area is just 7.7 square miles, is situated northwest of the strategically important shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite its small size, the island holds around 94 per cent of the country’s crude oil for export, mostly bound for China, and its main oil export terminal.
It has now been reported that Donald Trump is considering putting American troops on the ground in Iran to seize the key oil terminal in the Persian Gulf.
Read the full article here:
Kharg island: A tiny Persion oil hub could be Trump’s secret weapon against Iran
Missile fired towards Diego Garcia shot down by US warship
08:26 , Holly EvansOne of the missiles fired towards Diego Garcia was shot down by a US warship, while the other failed in flight, the Wall Street Journal newspaper said, citing multiple officials.
Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands, is around 3,800km (2,360 miles) away from Iran and home to an airbase capable of accommodating long-range US bombers.
The UK has agreed to cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius and lease back the base.
11 answers travellers need as Iran war continues to bring travel chaos
08:09 , Holly EvansOn 28 February the US and Israel launched surprise air strikes on Iran. Tehran retaliated by attacking key infrastructure in the Gulf nations, including airports and hotels.
Much of the airspace in the region remains closed, disrupting the plans of millions of travellers. The Foreign Office has placed the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait on its no-go list.
Simon Calder has answered dozens of readers’ questions about the impact on their travel plans – from short-term needs to return home, to the long-term implications for travellers.
These 11 questions, some of which have been updated from previously published content, cover the main issues of concern to travellers.
Read the full article here:
Middle East flights crisis: The answers you need as Iran war brings travel chaos
Watch: Trump attacks UK again after they let him use bases
07:56 , Holly EvansDubai's property sector and safe-haven image hurt by three weeks of war
07:42 , Holly EvansDubai's property market is beginning to show early signs of weakening nearly three weeks into the US-Israeli war on Iran, with data from analysts showing tanking transaction volumes and some real estate agents pointing to price reductions.
The war, and Tehran's strikes against Israel, US bases and Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates, have pierced Dubai's image as a safe haven for the world's wealthy.
Real-estate transaction volumes in the UAE fell 37 per cent year-on-year in the first 12 days of March, and 49 per cent month-on-month, Goldman Sachs analysts estimated in a note published this week.
Some properties are already being offered at big discounts, with price cuts of 12-15 per cent according to some real estate agents and messages on social media that Reuters reviewed.
For instance, a seller was looking for a "quick sale" for a property close to the Burj Khalifa - the world's tallest building - a message shared by an agent read. The seller was looking for $650,000, down about 12 per cent from a previous price of $735,000 "due to the current situation". The agent spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
An off-plan flat in Dubai's coveted Palm Jumeirah was also being offered at a 15 per cent discount to its original price to around $2 million, according to a message reviewed by Reuters on a WhatsApp group created a week into the war.
Trump considers putting US troops on the ground, reports say
07:33 , Holly EvansDonald Trump is reportedly considering putting American troops on the ground in Iran to seize a key oil terminal in the Persian Gulf.
The possibility of US troops seizing Kharg Island is a starkly different tone from the one struck by the president on Friday, who said he was considering “winding down” the war with Tehran.
Mr Trump’s top spokeswoman confirmed the details to The Telegraph but cautioned that Mr Trump had not made a final decision.
In response to questions about boots on the ground, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary said: “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the commander in chief maximum optionality.”
The plans are said to include wargaming the possibility of capturing Iranian soldiers.
Putin tells Tehran: 'Russia stands by Iran'
07:19 , Holly EvansRussian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Iranian leaders on Nowruz and said Moscow remained a loyal friend and reliable partner to Tehran, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
Iran fires missiles toward US-UK base in Indian ocean, Iran's Mehr says
07:12 , Holly EvansIran fired two ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Iran had launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward the base but that they did not hit it.
Mehr said targeting the base was a "significant step ... that shows that the range of Iran's missiles is beyond what the enemy previously imagined".
Iran warns Starmer he is putting British lives 'in danger'
07:07 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarBritish lives are "in danger" after Sir Keir Starmer gave the US permission to strike Iranian missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz from UK bases, Tehran has warned.
Ministers agreed to the move on last afternoon, having previously limited the US to only using the bases to hit missile sites targeting British interests in the region.
US president Donald Trump said the UK "should have acted a lot faster" in giving the US permission.
He has already piled pressure on Nato allies, calling them "cowards" for refusing to offer warships to reopen the Strait.
Sir Keir Starmer had previously granted the US permission only for "defensive" action against Iranian missile sites from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
EU member states urged to lower gas-storage targets - report
06:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe European Commission has urged EU states to lower natural gas storage targets and begin refilling reserves gradually to curb demand, after the war in Iran disrupted key suppliers and triggered a surge in energy prices, the Financial Times reported.
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen instructed member states to lower the filling target for their gas storage facilities to 80 per cent of capacity, 10 percentage points below the EU’s official targets, “as early as possible in the filling season to provide certainty and reassurance to market participants”, the newspaper said, citing a letter.
Iranians gather for a rally in Tehran
06:10 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Iran 'prepared to allow' Japan-linked vessels through Strait of Hormuz
05:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is prepared to allow the passage of Japanese-linked vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr Araghchi told Kyodo News that discussions with the Japanese side had already begun, which could result in temporary lifting of the blockade.
A Japanese government official told Kyodo News that "direct negotiations with the Iranian side are the most effective way to lift the blockade."
Fire at US facility near Baghdad airport
05:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarA fire broke out at a US diplomatic facility near Baghdad airport in Iraq following an attack, Shadaq news reported.
Pro-Iranian militant group Ashab al-Kahf claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement.
The group said it struck the “Victoria base” in Baghdad using a drone and warned civilians to stay away from areas hosting US forces.
Israel strikes Hezbollah's civilian as well as military wings
05:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAn Israeli strike on a health center in southern Lebanon instantly killed 12 medical workers, seriously wounded one and left four missing under the rubble for hours.
The March 13 strike in the village of Burj Qalaouiyah, one of the single deadliest strikes in Lebanon since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2, targeted a center run by Hezbollah’s health arm, the Islamic Health Society, which has so far lost 24 members over the past two weeks.
Since the latest war began, Israel’s military has not only been targeting the group’s military assets but also its civilian institutions in an apparent attempt to weaken the Iran-backed group further and try to push its supporters away from it.
More here.
Israel strikes Hezbollah's civilian as well as military wings in an attempt to crush the group
Israel launches new strikes on Tehran
05:19 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Israel Defence Forces said they are striking "Iranian terror regime targets" in Tehran.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is separate from the army, said the 70th wave of retaliatory strikes against US and Israeli interests in the Gulf region was underway.
The IRGC described the latest wave of attacks as resulting in “loud explosions, bursts of fire, and columns of smoke” throughout the targeted areas.
Sri Lanka declined ground access to two US combat aircraft
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSri Lanka declined permission for two US combat aircraft to land at a civilian airport earlier this month, president Anura Kumara Dissanayake told parliament.
The US had requested permission for the two aircraft to land at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in the southern part of the country from March 4-8, Mr Dissanayake told lawmakers.
"They wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles from a base in Djibouti," he said during a statement.
"We turned down the request to maintain Sri Lanka's neutrality," he added to applause from parliamentarians.
The US had made the request on 26 February. The same day Iran requested three of its ships to make a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka from March 9-13 after participating in an Indian naval exercise. That request was also denied.
UN chief says he is cooperating with Trump's Board of Peace on Gaza
04:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUnited Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres welcomed Donald Trump's Board of Peace's aim of funding and delivering the basics of a Gaza reconstruction plan to rebuild Palestinian homes and infrastructure, he said in an interview with Politico this week.
Iran threatens to bomb tourist sites worldwide
04:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran threatened to expand its retaliatory attacks to include recreational and tourist sites worldwide, as the US announced it was sending more warships and Marines to the region.
Following news of the deployments, US president Donald Trump said on social media that his administration in fact was considering "winding down" military operations in the region.
The mixed messages came after another climb in oil prices plunged the US stock market, and was followed by a Trump administration announcement that it will lift sanctions on Iranian oil loaded on ships, a move aimed at wrangling soaring fuel prices.
Israel said Iran continued to fire missiles at it early this morning, while Saudi Arabia said it downed 20 drones in just a couple of hours in the country's eastern region, which is home to major oil installations.
Iran's top military spokesperson, General Abolfazl Shekarchi, warned that "parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations" worldwide will not be safe for the country's enemies. The threat renewed concerns that Tehran may revert to using militant attacks beyond the Middle East as a pressure tactic.
US governor reacts to Trump lifting sanctions on Iranian oil: 'Blood oil'
04:00 , Rachel DobkinCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom has reacted to the Trump administration temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian oil at sea.
“This is blood oil. Trump and [US Treasury Secretary Scott] Bessent have betrayed the American people and our soldiers”, Newsom’s press office wrote on X Friday night local time.
US ambassador to UN defends decision to lift sanctions on Iranian oil
03:30 , Rachel DobkinMike Waltz, the US ambassador to the United Nations, has defended the Trump administration’s decision to lift sanctions on Iranian oil at sea.
Waltz called the measure “very temporary” and said it will “basically defeat the Iranian strategy of driving energy prices so high, causing pain on consumers all over the world”, during a CNN town hall Friday night local time.
Oil prices have been rising as Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the world’s oil.
US ambassador to UN says Iran war 'completely within America First principles'
03:15 , Rachel DobkinMike Waltz, US ambassador to the United Nations, has said the Iran war is “completely within America First principles.”
US President Donald Trump has received pushback from his base for the military strikes against Iran since he ran in the 2024 election on an “America First” platform.
“America First” has widely been understood to mean putting the interests of the American people ahead of foreign issues and typically has been associated with opposition to new wars.
Asked during a CNN town hall Friday night local time how US involvement in Iran is “America First”, Waltz said, “It’s completely within America First principles to give diplomacy a chance, to try to resolve things peacefully, but also to back up that diplomacy with real strength”.
Trump’s former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent hits back over FBI leak probe in Megyn Kelly interview: ‘I did nothing wrong’
03:00 , Brendan RasciusJoe Kent, who served as US President Donald Trump’s counterterrorism chief, has pushed back against reports that he is under FBI investigation, insisting he “did nothing wrong” and denouncing the alleged probe as a “sideshow”.
Kent resigned as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center on Tuesday over his staunch opposition to the war in Iran, which he claimed Trump had been deceived into starting. The next day, multiple news outlets reported that the FBI had opened an investigation into Kent over allegations he inappropriately shared classified material.
“As for the leak allegations, I'm not concerned because I know I did nothing wrong”, Kent told Megyn Kelly, a popular conservative podcaster, in an interview released on Friday.
“Of course, I am concerned because we’ve all seen the FBI and the full weight of the government come down on individuals who speak out”, he added. “So that has me a little concerned but I know the truth and the facts are on my side”.
Read on...
Trump’s ex-counterterrorism chief responds to FBI leak probe: ‘I did nothing wrong’
WATCH: Trump says he has no interest in a ceasefire in Iran
02:30 , Rachel DobkinNew wave of Israeli strikes target Hezbollah
01:53 , Rachel DobkinThe Israeli military said early Saturday it had begun launching another wave of strikes against Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, per the Associated Press.
'Largest airline in the world' prepares for oil to surge to $175 per barrel
01:30 , Rachel DobkinUnited Airlines, which dubs itself the “largest airline in the world,” has predicted oil surges to $175 per barrel as the Iran war drags on.
In a message to employees that was publicly released Friday, United CEO Scott Kirby said, “Our plans assume oil goes to $175/barrel and doesn't get back down to $100/barrel until the end of 2027”.
“Honestly, I think there's a good chance it won't be that bad”, he added.
Oil prices have been rising amid the growing conflict in the Middle East, briefly reaching above $119 per barrel Thursday.
Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the world’s oil. President Donald Trump called on US allies to help open the vital waterway, but he was rebuffed.
Iran launches ballistic missiles at US-UK military base: report
00:56 , Rachel DobkinIran has launched two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a US-UK military base on an island in the Indian Ocean, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials.
Neither of the missiles hit the military base, which is roughly 4,000 kilometers from Iran.
IRGC says it hit more than 55 sites tied to US and Israel
00:45 , Rachel DobkinThe Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Iran’s paramilitary, said through state media late Friday local time it launched military strikes on more than 55 sites tied to the US and Israel, The New York Times reported.
The IRGC said it targeted American bases in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, and the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The paramilitary also went after sites in Haifa and Tel Aviv.
Saudi Arabia says it intercepted nearly 40 drones in just a few hours
00:22 , Rachel DobkinSaudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said early Saturday morning local time it intercepted nearly 40 drones in just a few hours.
In a series of updates to social media, the Defence Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed a total of 39 drones in the eastern region.
Blackouts and rationing: The Iran crisis is our wake-up call to just how vulnerable the UK is
Friday 20 March 2026 23:45 , Dan HaygarthThis latest dilemma should prompt fresh thinking about how to rely less on other nations for energy, says Octopus founder Greg Jackson.
But the answer isn’t just the North Sea: oil and gas aren’t the only way to keep the lights on. If other governments are taking alternatives seriously, why isn’t Britain?
Chris Blackhurst reports below.
Blackouts and rationing: The Iran crisis shows us just how vulnerable the UK is
Trump administration lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea as prices soar
Friday 20 March 2026 23:44 , Daniel HaygarthThe Trump administration is temporarily lifting longstanding sanctions banning the “sale, delivery, or offloading of crude oil or petroleum products of Iranian origin” for the next month in hopes of curbing the meteoric rise in oil prices that has threatened economies across the globe since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran last month.
Read more:
Trump administration lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea as prices soar
MAGA has been swooning over a soldier and her pro-Trump message. She is AI
Friday 20 March 2026 23:15 , Dan HaygarthMAGA has been swooning over photos of a blonde U.S. Army soldier, walking defiantly alongside President Donald Trump to carry out the America First agenda.
But there’s just one problem — she’s AI.
Images most likely generated by artificial intelligence depicted Jessica Foster wearing heels on a US warship in the Strait of Hormuz, posing for selfies with Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and giving a speech at the president’s “Board of Peace” event earlier this year.
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MAGA has been swooning over an Army soldier and her pro-Trump message. She is AI