US-Israel-Iran War Latest Update: Tensions in the Middle East continue to rise as the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran is escalating. On Sunday, missiles and drones were seen flying across the Middle East as political uncertainty increased in Iran.
During a press conference from the presidential plane Air Force One, President of the United States Donald Trump announced that the war would only end if the military capabilities and leadership of Iran were completely destroyed. He also announced that he was not interested in negotiating an end to the war.
“At some point, I don’t think there will be anybody left maybe to say, ‘We surrender,’” he announced.
Just after the announcement by President Trump, Israel announced that it had launched new airstrikes against Iran. According to sources from Israel, the airstrikes were against important fuel storage facilities and other strategic locations.
US-Israel-Iran War: Iranian President’s Apology Sparks Debate
Meanwhile, various Gulf nations reported Iranian drone attacks over the weekend. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain reported that drones launched from Iran attacked their territories. In Kuwait, a major fire occurred at a government office after one of the reported Iranian drone attacks.
Another explosion occurred near the United States Embassy in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Police reported that the explosion resulted in minor damage without any casualties. However, the investigation into the cause of the explosion continues.
Saudi Arabian officials reportedly threatened Iran that if the attacks on the kingdom and its energy resources persist, the Iranian government will face a strong reaction.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized to the nations in the Gulf region for the attacks on the U.S. facilities located in their territories. He rejected President Trump’s demand for the Islamic Republic’s unconditional surrender. Pezeshkian said that the demand for the Islamic Republic’s surrender was “a dream” for the Iranian government. However, the Iranian president said that the temporary leadership council of the Islamic Republic decided to stop attacking the nations in the Gulf region unless the Iranian government faces attacks from their territory.
His remarks triggered criticism from hardline groups within Iran, prompting his office to clarify that Iran’s military would respond strongly to any attacks launched from U.S. bases.
US-Israel-Iran War: Iran Moves to Choose New Supreme Leader
At the same time, Iran’s powerful clerical body responsible for selecting the country’s top religious authority could soon meet to appoint a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed earlier in the conflict, according to Iranian media.
The decision is expected to be taken by the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for choosing the country’s supreme leader.
Ayatollah Mohammadmehdi Mirbaqeri, a member of the assembly, indicated that a broad agreement had already been reached regarding the next leader.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military warned that it would pursue anyone who replaces Khamenei if the conflict continues.
US-Israel-Iran War: Nuclear Concerns and Possible Ground Operations
Trump has defended the large-scale U.S. military operation in the Middle East, the biggest since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying Iran posed an immediate threat to the United States. However, he did not provide evidence to support the claim.
He also argued that Iran was getting dangerously close to developing a nuclear weapon.
Reports suggest that the United States and Israel have discussed the possibility of sending special forces into Iran later in the conflict to secure stockpiles of highly enriched uranium.
When asked about deploying ground troops to protect nuclear sites, Trump said such a step could be considered “later on.”
Israel Warns Lebanon Over Hezbollah Activity
There were reports of explosions in different parts of Tehran as Israel said that it had attacked missile launch sites, command centers, and fuel depots.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. Amir Saeid Iravani, said that the attacks by the U.S.-Israeli forces had killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians.
There were reports that the Iranian forces had attacked a girls’ school and that many children had been killed in the attack. The U.S. forces may have been responsible for the attack, according to the U.S., but Trump said that Iran was behind the attack.
Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary, said that the incident was under investigation.
Iranian attacks have also caused the loss of lives on the other side. Ten people have been killed in Israel, while at least six U.S. service members have died during the conflict.
Iran said on Sunday that it had attacked American bases in Kuwait as part of the retaliation.
Israel has launched attacks in Lebanon after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah fired rockets across the border. Israel said that Lebanon would face a very heavy price if it was not able to control Hezbollah fighters.
The death toll from Israeli strikes in Lebanon since the start of the week has reportedly reached around 300.
US-Israel-Iran War: Global Impact of the Conflict
The widening conflict has begun to affect the global economy. Iran’s strategy of expanding the conflict across multiple fronts has pushed up energy prices and disrupted international trade and transport networks.
Several oil-producing countries have already started cutting production. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reduced output on Saturday, following earlier supply cuts in Iraq and Qatar.
Oil prices have surged to multi-year highs as the conflict has effectively disrupted shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes.
