Saudi Arabia tells Iran it will likely be ‘the largest loser’ as drone strikes spray Arab states | Fortune

Iranian state TV early Monday mentioned Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the nation’s late supreme chief, has been named his successor.

He had lengthy been thought of a contender, even earlier than an Israeli strike killed his father in the beginning of the warfare, and regardless of by no means being elected or appointed to a authorities place.

Iran’s highly effective paramilitary Revolutionary Guard solutions to the supreme chief, and the youthful Khamenei can have the central say in warfare technique.

Right here is the most recent:

Saudi Arabia sharpens warnings to Iran

Saudi Arabia sharpened its warnings to Iran early Monday, telling Tehran it will be the “biggest loser” if it continues to assault Arab states.

The Saudi assertion got here after a brand new drone assault apparently focused its large Shaybah oil discipline.

The dominion dismissed feedback by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday that Iran had halted its assaults on Gulf Arab states.

“The kingdom affirms that the Iranian side has not implemented this statement in practice, neither during the Iranian president’s speech nor afterward,” Saudi Arabia’s Overseas Ministry mentioned in an announcement.

“Iran has continued its aggression based on flimsy pretexts devoid of any factual basis.”

It added the Iranian assaults imply “further escalation which will have grave impact on the relations, currently and in the future.”

Trump says oil costs will ‘drop rapidly’ as soon as Iran battle ends

U.S. President Donald Trump provided assurance to shoppers as oil costs eclipsed $100 per barrel for the primary time in additional than three and a half years Sunday, with the Iran warfare hindering manufacturing and delivery within the Center East.

“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace,” Trump mentioned in a social media publish. “ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY.”

Saudi Arabia says two lifeless in Kharj assault are Bangladeshi nationals

Saudi authorities mentioned the 2 folks killed in an assault Sunday in a central metropolis have been from Bangladesh.

The Civil Protection mentioned in an announcement that 11 different Bangladeshi folks have been injured together with an Indian nationwide.

An earlier assertion from the Saudi company incorrectly acknowledged the lifeless included an Indian nationwide.

The assault occurred in Kharj on Sunday when a army projectile fell on the residential constructing of a upkeep and cleansing agency, it mentioned.

4 extra drones attacking huge Saudi oil discipline destroyed

Saudi Arabia’s Protection Ministry mentioned forces destroyed Monday morning 4 extra drones that have been attacking the huge Shaybah oil discipline.

Bahrain says 32 folks together with youngsters injured in Iranian drone assault

An Iranian drone assault hit a residential space in Bahrain and wounded 32 Bahraini civilians, together with youngsters as younger as two years outdated, authorities mentioned.

The assaults occurred in Sitra Island near power infrastructure, the Nationwide Communication Middle mentioned.

4 of the wounded are in important situation, together with two boys aged 7 and eight who suffered severe leg accidents and have been present process surgical procedures, it mentioned.

US State Division points order for non-emergency employees and households to depart Saudi Arabia

The anticipated order was formally issued on the identical day the U.S. army introduced an American service member has died of accidents sustained throughout an Iranian assault on the dominion.

The service member died on Saturday from accidents sustained throughout a March 1 Iranian assault on the dominion.

The dominion’s Civil Protection additionally confirmed Sunday {that a} army projectile that fell onto a residential space killed two foreign-born residents and wounded 12 others in Al-Kharj governorate.

The Civil Protection spokesperson mentioned in an announcement that the 2 killed have been of Indian and Bangladeshi nationality, and all wounded are Bangladeshi residents.

They’re the primary casualties to be reported by Saudi Arabia because the warfare started on Feb. 28.

Drone intercepted close to US-linked base in Baghdad

Iraqi air defenses shot down a drone early Monday because it approached Victoria Base, a U.S.-operated army compound inside Baghdad Worldwide Airport, a safety supply advised the AP on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk to the press.

There have been no reported accidents or harm.

It was not instantly clear who was behind the assault.

Professional-Iranian Iraqi militias, reminiscent of Saraya Awliya al-Dam, have beforehand focused the bottom.

By Qassem Abdul-Zahra

Israel’s army warns of Iranian missile launch

Israel’s army warned of an Iranian missile launch early Monday morning.

It additionally mentioned it focused Hezbollah in airstrikes on Beirut and started airstrikes concentrating on central Iran early Monday.

Qatar arrests greater than 300 folks over ‘misleading information’

Qatar mentioned greater than 300 folks from totally different nationalities have been arrested over allegations of inciting public concern amid the warfare within the Center East.

The Inside Ministry mentioned they have been detained for “filming, circulating, and publishing misleading information.”

Assaults in Gulf international locations

Qatar’s Protection Ministry reported a missile assault on the nation early Monday.

In Saudi Arabia, the Protection Ministry mentioned forces early Monday destroyed two drones that have been concentrating on its huge Shaybah oil discipline.

In the meantime, hearth broke out at an oil facility within the United Arab Emirates early Monday following an assault in Fujairah, one of many UAE’s seven emirates, authorities mentioned.

The hearth within the Fujairah Oil Trade Zone was extinguished, they mentioned.

Lady injured after Iranian missiles launched towards Israel

One girl was injured by flying particles in Rishon LeZion metropolis in central Israel and is in average situation, the nation’s emergency service, Magen David Adom, mentioned early Monday, following the launch of Iranian missiles towards Israel.

The service added that it offered the lady with medical remedy on the scene. A video circulating on social media confirmed a automobile with shattered glass and particles scattered throughout the highway.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard pledges allegiance to the brand new Supreme Chief in an announcement

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard introduced its allegiance to the brand new Supreme Chief in an announcement early Monday.

“The Guard as a powerful soldier and arm of the Supreme Leader is ready to follow the orders of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei while supporting the selection by the assembly,” mentioned the Guard in an announcement broadcast by state media retailers.

The Guard is accountable for missiles operation within the warfare in opposition to the U.S. and Israel.

Trump has referred to as new Iranian supreme chief ‘a lightweight’

The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark concerning the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s supreme chief, however Trump has beforehand acknowledged he has a dim view of Mojtaba Khamenei.

Trump has derided the 56-year-old who has by no means been elected or appointed to a authorities place, as “a lightweight.”

“We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump mentioned in an interview with Axios final week.

“I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela,” Trump mentioned, referring to the appearing president within the South American nation. Delcy Rodríguez took energy in January after a U.S. army operation captured Nicolás Maduro and whisked him to the U.S. to face federal drug conspiracy fees.

Trump earlier on Sunday repeated that he expects to have a say in choosing Iran’s subsequent chief, warning {that a} new chief “is not going to last long” if the individual doesn’t have his approval.

Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s late supreme chief, has been named his successor

Iranian state TV early Monday mentioned Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the nation’s late supreme chief, has been named his successor.

He had lengthy been thought of a contender, even earlier than an Israeli strike killed his father in the beginning of the warfare, and regardless of by no means being elected or appointed to a authorities place.

Iran’s highly effective paramilitary Revolutionary Guard solutions to the supreme chief, and now the youthful Khamenei can have the central say in warfare technique.

Saudi Arabia intercepts a minimum of 3 drones and a missile

The Kingdom’s Protection Ministry mentioned Sunday night time it had intercepted a missile headed towards Prince Sultan Air Base, and two drones in northern Riyadh metropolis

In an earlier publish on X, it mentioned it intercepted a drone over the Empty Quarter desert whereas heading towards the Shaybah oil discipline.

A separate publish had the identical particulars for the latter drone, but it surely was unclear if that was a distinct occasion.

The ministry additionally shared footage it mentioned confirmed Saudi air defenses intercepting and destroying “a number of drones” launched at it in latest days

seventh American killed in Iran operations, army confirms

The U.S. army introduced an American service member has died of accidents sustained throughout an Iranian assault on troops stationed in Saudi Arabia.

The seventh American service member killed within the Iran warfare was an Military soldier, a U.S. official who was not approved to talk publicly and spoke on situation of anonymity confirmed to The Related Press.

The service member died on Saturday from accidents sustained throughout a March 1 Iranian assault on the dominion

The American dying toll because the begin of fight operations now stands at seven. Six Military reservists have been additionally killed within the March 1 assault on Kuwait.

All seven casualties from the warfare in Iran have been Military troopers. The primary six deaths have been Military reservists killed in a March 1 assault on a command middle in a Kuwaiti port.

By Konstantin Toropin

Israel says it destroyed headquarters of the Revolutionary Guard air pressure

The army mentioned in an announcement that the headquarters struck in Tehran operated “the ballistic missile command, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) array, and other air force units.” The military’s spokesman, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, mentioned the headquarters have been “destroyed.”

Israel has pounded Iran with widespread airstrikes for days, hitting greater than 140 targets on Sunday alone, in accordance with Defrin. (edited)

Israel’s military chief tells Israeli public to organize for warfare to take ‘a long time’

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir spoke at an evaluation held with the House Entrance Command chief and different army officers, in feedback offered by the military.

“Israel has already been in a state of prolonged emergency for two years,” Zamir mentioned. “What we mainly need right now is perseverance and patience. It will take a long time yet, you need to be prepared for that, and however long it takes, it will take.”

Israel confirms it struck resort in central Beirut, says 5 Iran-linked commanders killed

The army mentioned the in a single day strike by its navy killed 5 high commanders in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps whereas they have been “hiding in a civilian hotel.”

It mentioned they served within the Guard’s Quds Pressure’s Lebanon and Palestine corps and have been concerned in funding, arming and offering intelligence to Hezbollah and Hamas.

The Quds Pressure works closely with Iran’s allied militant teams within the area.

Final week the Israeli army mentioned it killed the appearing commander of the Quds Pressure’s Lebanon Corps in an airstrike in Tehran.

Macron urges Iran to halt strikes in telephone name with the nation’s president

French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned he had talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday and urged him to cease the strikes.

“I stressed the need for Iran to immediately cease its strikes against countries in the region,” Macron mentioned on X.

He additionally referred to as on Iran to ensure freedom of navigation by “putting an end to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.”

Macron additionally talked about the case of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, two French nationals who have been launched from an Iranian jail in November and transferred to the French Embassy in Tehran, after greater than three years in detention on spying fees. He referred to as for his or her return to France as an “absolute priority.”

Macron additionally burdened deep concern concerning the event of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic program and mentioned a diplomatic resolution is important.

Each leaders agreed to stay in touch, in accordance with Macron’s publish on X.

Macron is the primary Western chief to speak to Iran’s president because the starting of the warfare.

Macron speaks with Iranian president

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on the telephone Sunday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. He additionally had separate talks with President Donald Trump, Macron’s workplace mentioned.

No different particulars offered.

Lebanon says over a half-million folks have been displaced within the week of combating between Israel and Hezbollah

Lebanon says over a half-million folks have been displaced within the week of combating between Israel and Hezbollah.

The precise quantity is probably going larger. Lebanon’s depend of 517,000 refers to those that registered on the federal government’s on-line portal. The cash-strapped authorities has struggled to accommodate the big quantity of people that have fled their houses in massive elements of southern and japanese Lebanon.

Israel over the previous week has referred to as on residents in dozens of villages throughout southern Lebanon and the whole lot of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate because the combating intensifies.

Six Palestinians have been killed this week in interactions with Israeli settlers

Palestinian mourners marched down the primary avenue of the West Financial institution village of Khirbet Abu Falah Sunday, hoisting excessive the coffins of three males killed in an interplay with settlers.

Earlier within the day, Israeli settlers had attacked Palestinians close to the village, which is east of Ramallah within the Israeli-occupied territory, the army mentioned. Two Palestinians have been killed by gunfire and a 3rd died from suffocation, seemingly on account of tear gasoline, the army mentioned.

The deaths convey the entire variety of settler-related killings of Palestinians within the West Financial institution to 6 this week, and 7 within the roughly 9 weeks because the begin of 2026.

That’s a significant spike. In all of 2025, the UN human rights workplace reported 9 Palestinians killed by settlers.

Sri Lanka plans to challenge free visas for evacuated Iranian sailors

Sri Lanka will challenge a monthlong visa for the Iranian sailors evacuated outdoors its waters after a U.S submarine assault sunk one other ship in the identical space, killing greater than 80 sailors.

Public Safety Minister Anada Wijepala advised the media on Sunday that the federal government will challenge “a free visa” for the Iranian sailors, including that “it will take sometime for them(sailors) to leave this country.”

On Saturday, 204 sailors have been transferred to a Sri Lankan naval base from their ship “IRIS Bushehr” which was taken below Sri Lankan custody.

The ship had sought assist from Sri Lanka reporting an engine failure. The attraction adopted the sinking of the Iranian warship “IRIS Dena by the U.S. torpedo assault, off Sri Lanka’s coast on Wednesday. The Sri Lankan navy rescued 32 sailors and recovered 87 our bodies.

The strike marked one of many uncommon cases since World Struggle II wherein a submarine sank a floor warship.

Tensions on Israel’s northern border as army beefs up presence to counter Hezbollah

Israelis alongside the northern border with Lebanon Sunday watched and nervous as the world grew more and more militarized throughout yet one more spherical of combating with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Navy jeeps and vans with tanks on them might be seen on roads near the border.

“I believe that our army today will bring order regarding Hezbollah and eliminate them permanently so we can live here in peace,” mentioned Morris Yakuti, a poultry farmer from the world.

Others weren’t so positive.

“Since I have enough experience in this area all my life, I think it’s just another circle of war and it will not end this war, so it will happen again and again,” mentioned Harella Matalon Aizenshtadt.

Israel’s renewed offensive started final week after Hezbollah launched rockets towards northern Israel through the warfare’s opening days.

The following strikes have been essentially the most intense since a November 2024 ceasefire.

The primary day of the Iran warfare was the deadliest, an impartial monitoring group says

Armed Battle Location and Occasion Information, the usbased group identified as ACLED, mentioned over 43% of the fatalities have been documented that day, Feb. 28, in 10 international locations. ACLED has documented over 1,000 incidents within the first week of the warfare throughout 16 international locations.

The deadliest single strike through the first week was on Feb. 28 on a woman’s college close to a Revolutionary Guards base in Minab in southern Iran, that killed 168 civilians.

That was adopted by one other strike on a playground in Shiraz, in central Iran, on March 5, that killed 20 folks. One other strike on a residential space in Lamerd, in Fars province, killed 19 on the primary day of the warfare, ACLED mentioned.

Though ACLED recorded fewer strikes on civilian websites in Iran, they prompted extra causalities, it mentioned. Over 57% of civilian casualties in Iran resulted from 3.4% of the recorded strikes by the US and Israel.

Sirens unfold to central Israel in successive barrages from Iran

Moments after residents of southern Israel have been warned of incoming ballistic missiles from Iran, sirens despatched thousands and thousands extra Israelis within the Tel Aviv metro space and elements of the West Financial institution into shelters as the military mentioned it had detected one other missile assault.

Analyst says separatism will strengthen Iranian authorities

Nonetheless disdainful of their authorities in Tehran, most Iranians are cautious of Trump’s courting of Iranian Kurdish teams, mentioned Alex Vatanka, a fellow on the Center East Institute in Washington, D.C.

Iranians see the U.S. president’s calls to the Kurds and posts on social media as indicators that Trump needs not the liberation however reasonably than the fragmentation of Iran.

“What Iranians are by and large hearing is not regime change in Tehran, not this glorious move to a secular democracy and so forth, but basically the dismantling of Iran,” Vatanka mentioned. Speak of separatism, from the Kurds and different minority teams like Baluchis, Ahwazi Arabs and Azeris “is going to undermine that bigger effort aimed at the regime and it will demoralize the opposition.”

Vatanka mentioned that territorial losses in Iranian Kurdish areas or maybe three Iranian islands claimed by the United Arab Emirates would rally Iranians across the flag if not the authorities in opposition to overseas interference.

Saudi Arabia stories its first deaths within the warfare with 2 killed

The Kingdom’s Civil Protection mentioned Sunday night {that a} army projectile that fell onto a residential space killed two foreign-born residents and wounded 12 others in Al-Kharj governorate.

The Civil Protection spokesperson mentioned in an announcement that the 2 killed have been of Indian and Bangladeshi nationality, and all wounded are Bangladeshi residents.

These are the primary casualties to be reported by Saudi Arabia because the warfare started every week in the past.

Analyst says defections remaining key sign to instability in Iran

Three key indicators may sign deadly cracks within the Iranian authorities, mentioned Farzan Sabet, researcher on the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Widespread uprisings, overseas intervention, and defections from the political and army elites are key indicators of massive modifications in Iranian historical past, he mentioned. Overseas intervention is obvious within the smoke and flames throughout Tehran from Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, he mentioned, and the most recent protest motion in 2026.

However we’ve got but to see defections that may precipitate change, Sabet mentioned.

Israeli concentrating on of Iran’s home safety infrastructure is probably going geared toward demoralizing the police and giving opposition teams area to prepare, he mentioned.

“It potentially creates a structure where it makes both a kind of popular uprising potentially more likely and more likely to succeed in the future, but it also creates space for the opposition to have organized armed resistance in the core of the country,” Sabet mentioned.

Starmer and Trump focus on army cooperation

British Prime Keir Starmer has spoken to U.S. President Donald Trump concerning the army cooperation between the 2 international locations within the Center East.

Trump has rebuked Starmer on a number of events since they final spoke over every week in the past over the prime minister’s preliminary determination to not allow the U.S. army to make use of British bases within the preliminary assaults in opposition to Iran, describing him at one level as “not Winston Churchill.”

Starmer has now granted permission for “defensive” actions in opposition to Iranian missile websites from U.Okay. bases after Iran began attacking international locations all through the area.

Starmer’s workplace in No. 10 Downing Avenue mentioned the pair mentioned the army cooperation between the U.Okay. and U.S. by way of using bases “in support of the collective self-defense of partners in the region.”

Starmer additionally shared his “heartfelt condolences” following the deaths of six U.S. troopers.

Israeli drone strike kills three in Gaza, hospital director says

The strike Sunday within the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza Metropolis killed the three Palestinians and wounded a number of others, mentioned Mohamed Abu Selmiya, the director of Shifa Hospital, the place the our bodies have been introduced.

The Israeli army had no rapid remark.

Israeli assaults have continued throughout the strip because the begin of the most recent warfare within the Center East.

Greater than 72,100 Palestinians have been killed within the warfare sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 assault into Israel, in accordance with the Gaza Well being Ministry. A part of the Hamas-run authorities, its statistics are seen as typically dependable by the United Nations and impartial consultants.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 folks, principally civilians, within the preliminary assault and took one other 251 hostage. The ceasefire deal ended main army operations and led to the discharge of all remaining captives however left main questions on Gaza’s future unanswered.

Trump says members of Iranian regime ‘could qualify’ to take energy

Trump additionally expressed openness to somebody with ties within the present regime.

“I would, in order to choose a good leader I would, yeah, I would,” Trump mentioned. “There are numerous people that could qualify.”

He didn’t specify any Iranian figures who match his standards.

US defends permitting India purchase Russian oil amid stories Moscow is aiding Iran

Trump has confronted blowback in Washington after the Treasury Division introduced it will permit India to purchase Russian oil till April 4.

The transfer, which quickly offers Russia a stream of income to fund its warfare in opposition to Ukraine that the U.S. solely lately managed to chop off, -comes whilst Moscow is reportedly sharing data with Iran that would assist it goal U.S. troops and property within the Mideast.

However high Trump administration officers say the waiver is motivated by pragmatism.

Power Secretary Chris Wright mentioned Russian oil being bought to India had been anticipated to go to Chinese language refineries however had been idling at sea.

“Instead of having it wait six weeks to unload there, let’s just pull that oil forward, have it land at Indian refineries and tamp this fear of shortage of oil, tamp the price spikes and the concerns we see in the marketplace,” Wright mentioned in an look on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Ambassador Mike Waltz, the U.S. envoy to the United Nations, mentioned on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “it was kind of common sense” to let the oil on idling ships go to India.

Israeli ambassador envisions transitional Iranian authorities below US-Israeli ‘guidance’

Michael Leiter, Israeli’s ambassador to america, has laid out a imaginative and prescient for a post-theocracy Iran, with Jerusalem and Washington offering “guidance” for a pluralistic transitional authorities.

“What we’re hoping for is that we move into a period of a transitional government where the minorities come together, where the majority of the people come together, all the various opposition parties come together for a transitional government where they can lead the country for a year or so together with the guidance from the United States and Israel and other regional allies,” Leiter advised CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday morning.

Leiter mentioned Israel has cultivated relations with Iranian ethnic minorities, such because the Kurdish and Baluchi communities. However he mentioned the nation’s ethnic Persian majority would want to purchase in as effectively.

“We want a united Iran,” he mentioned. “What we’re encouraging them to do is to coalesce.”

Leiter hailed the Israeli-American alliance that launched the continuing unilateral warfare, saying, “We’ve reached a level of collaboration that we’ve never seen between our two countries and between our two militaries.”