Iran Steps Up Retaliation as U.S. Says War Could Last Weeks
Iran targeted American sites throughout the region as President Trump said the United States was ready for a protracted fight. U.S. embassies and Amazon data centers were among the sites struck.
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U.S. urges Americans across the Middle East to evacuate as war with Iran intensifies
The United States evacuated diplomats across the Middle East and shut down some embassies as the war with Iran intensified on Tuesday.
Former Department of Defense official talks about Iran's military capabilities
NPR's Leila Fadel asks Dana Stroul, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, what Iran's current military capabilities are and whether it's retaliating with full force.
Qatari government spokesperson shares his country's view on the U.S. attacks on Iran
U.S. ally Qatar struck down two Iranian planes Monday. Leila Fadel asks Qatari government spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari about his country's view of U.S. attacks in Iran.
France to expand nuclear arsenal, French president says
French President Emmanuel Macron says France will increase its nuclear arsenal and allow the temporary deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to other European nations.
Iranians who hoped for regime change remain cautious as strikes continue
Even as some Iranians who hoped for regime change celebrate the killing of the country's supreme leader, they remain cautious as bombs fall and security forces stay in place.
Israeli Forces Advance in Lebanon and Seize Land, as Hezbollah’s Fight Escalates
The Israeli military said troops advanced to protect border towns from Hezbollah attacks, spurring fears that the government is weighing a wider ground war.
Trump says ‘special relationship is obviously not what it was’ after Starmer’s refusal to back Iran strikes – UK politics live
US president doubles down on criticism of the prime minister, saying ‘he has not been helpful’ Asked whether the so-called “special relationship” had changed, Darren Jones told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:The UK-American relationship is important. It has been for a long time and will continue to be, and we’re working in collaboration right now in the Middle East on defensive action to protect British citizens.I think the President’s frustration, from the way he’s articulated it, has been that we were not involved in the initial American and Israeli strikes in Iran, but as the prime minister said to the House of Commons yesterday, we will only engage British armed forces when it’s in British interests with a clear plan and on a legal basis.That’s just, that’s not right. The UK will act in the interests of British citizens, regardless of their faith or where they are in the United Kingdom.I think the public would rightly say they don’t want to be involved in a wider war in the Middle East, but they would expect us to do whatever we can to defend British citizens. Continue reading...
US embassy in Riyadh hit by Iranian drones as Israeli troops enter southern Lebanon
Iran continues to target American bases and Hezbollah fires at Israel as conflict spreads across Middle EastUS-Israel war on Iran – live updatesIranian drones hit the US embassy in Riyadh as Tehran continued to launch waves of retaliatory strikes at the Gulf and Israel, while Israeli soldiers began operating in southern Lebanon on the fourth day of an increasingly regional war in the Middle East.The drone attack on the US embassy in Riyadh caused a minor fire, prompting the diplomatic mission to tell Americans to distance themselves from the compound. The attack followed an earlier Iranian drone strike on the US embassy in Kuwait, as Iran continued to target US bases, facilities and personnel in Arab Gulf states. Continue reading...
Spring forecast: Reeves to insist she has ‘right economic plan’; Markets plunge as Middle East crisis drives up oil and gas prices – live updates
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, including the UK’s spring forecastRachel Reeves’s plans could be hit by Middle East conflict, say economistsUK grocery price inflation has risen, showing that people are being hit in the pocket even before the surge in energy prices feeds through to the economy.Data provider Worldpanel by Numerator has reported that annual grocery inflation rose to 4.3% in February, after four consecutive months of falls, in a blow for households. That’s up from 4% in January.Sentiment towards BP and Shell has strengthened significantly off the back of oil price spikes. But it’s a complex picture. Neither company has production in Iran. But BP’s significant production in Iraq and Abu Dhabi risks being bottlenecked through disruption to the Strait of Hormuz. For Shell the same applies to its LNG facilities in Qatar and the Emirates. If a moderate sustainable regime is established in Iran, there is the potential for substantial derisking, and for prices to be rebased downwards. If sanctions are removed, it also opens the door for investment into Iranian oil fields.But uncertainty remains high. This could prove to be highly profitable for both Shell and BP’s trading arms with Shell’s optimisation capabilities in LNG transit likely to be in particularly strong demand. Shell’s balance sheet strength also leaves it better placed to deal with any prolonged volatility and while BP’s buybacks remain on pause, we’re expecting Shell’s generous payouts are likely to continue this year. Continue reading...