Iran War News Highlights (March 10): Qatar Airways says to operate 29 flights on Thursday

Qatar Airways will operate 29 flights to and from Doha on Thursday after "temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority", the company has announced.

"Following temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority allowing limited operating corridors, Qatar Airways plans to operate select flights in the coming days to support passengers affected by the disruption," the company said in a post on X late Tuesday.

The flights include departures to London, New York and Madrid, even as Iran continues its retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.

The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday accused the Security Council of ignoring what he called a "war crime" after Iran said Israel killed four of its diplomats in a weekend strike on a Beirut hotel.

"The Council is turning a blind eye to this grave violation despite its primary responsibility under the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security," Amir Saeid Iravani told reporters in New York.

US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Tuesday not to mine the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran vowed that no Gulf oil would pass through the key waterway while the Middle East war is ongoing.

"If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Iran is not seeking a ceasefire in the war against the United States and Israel, the powerful Iranian parliament speaker said on Tuesday, adding that the "aggressor" should be punished.

"Certainly we aren't seeking a ceasefire," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former top commander in Iran's Revolutionary Guards and key figure after the killing of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote in an English-language X post.

"We believe the aggressor must be punished and taught a lesson that will deter them from attacking Iran again," he added.

Explosions were heard on Tuesday in Bahrain's capital Manama, two AFP journalists reported, as Iran continued its retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.

Bahrain has been targeted by waves of Iranian drones and missiles, which have so far killed two people in the country, according to authorities.

The United States has not escorted any oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, the White House confirmed Tuesday, after the energy secretary deleted a post that had said so and Iran issued a denial.

"I can confirm that the US Navy has not escorted a tanker or a vessel at this time, though of course that's an option," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing.

Iranian officials say it will be Tehran that determines how long the war lasts, contradicting statements from the United States about the conflict’s trajectory. They added that Iran’s army is prepared for a war of attrition and a prolonged confrontation.

Meanwhile, US-Israeli strikes have continued across Iran in recent hours, with air defence systems reportedly activated in parts of the capital Tehran following attacks on targeted areas.

On the other side, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said it will continue retaliatory strikes, claiming it is using more advanced weaponry.

Hezbollah said it carried out a drone attack targeting an Israeli military base west of the Sea of Galilee.

In a statement, the Lebanese group said it targeted what it described as the Samson base, also known as Camp Shimshon, using drones.

Jose Manuel Albares has warned that an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon would be a “tremendous” mistake, while announcing that Spain would send humanitarian aid worth 9 million euros ($10.5 million) to Beirut.

Albares also demanded that Hezbollah stop firing rockets at Israel.

He added that Spain’s relations with United States had been operating as normal since Donald Trump threatened to cut ties with Madrid over its refusal to allow the US military to use Spanish bases for operations against Iran.

The United Arab Emirates Defence Ministry said it detected nine missiles and 35 drones on Tuesday as the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran continued to reverberate across the region.

In a post on X, the ministry said eight missiles were intercepted while one fell into the sea. It added that 26 drones were also intercepted by the country’s air defences.

Ali Larijani warned US President Donald Trump to “be careful not to be eliminated” in a message posted on his official Telegram channel.

Larijani said Iran was not afraid of what he described as Trump’s “empty threats,” adding that even more powerful adversaries had failed to destroy the Iranian nation.

US President Donald Trump said Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei would not be able to “live in peace,” expressing strong disapproval after Tehran chose the son of Ali Khamenei as the country’s new leader.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he was “not happy” with Iran’s choice of leader. “I don't believe he can live in peace,” Trump said.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the objectives of Operation Epic Fury remain unchanged: destroying Iran’s missile stockpiles, launchers and defence industrial base, eliminating its navy, and permanently preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Echoing remarks by Donald Trump, Hegseth said the United States was “crushing the enemy” in an unrelenting campaign conducted “on our timeline, and at our choosing.”

“Today will be yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes. Intelligence more refined, and better than ever,” he said.

Hegseth added that in the past 24 hours Iran had fired the lowest number of missiles it has been capable of launching since the war began.

The Israel Defense Forces has repeated its forced evacuation order for the entire southern part of Beirut, known collectively as Dahiyeh and home to hundreds of thousands of residents.

The army warned of imminent attacks on the neighbourhoods of Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, Laylaki, Hadath, Burj al-Barajneh, Tahwitat al-Ghadir and Chiyah.

Qatar’s Defence Ministry said its armed forces intercepted a missile attack targeting the country.

The statement came after an “elevated” threat alert was issued, followed by multiple explosions reported above the capital, Doha.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday threatened to choke off Middle East oil exports if attacks by the United States and Israel continue. However, crude prices fell after President Donald Trump suggested the war with Iran could end soon.

Oil markets had surged earlier on fears that the conflict could disrupt supplies from the region, but prices retreated after Trump signalled possible de-escalation, easing concerns about prolonged disruptions to global energy flows.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that Tehran was prepared to continue its attacks for as long as necessary and ruled out negotiations, after Donald Trump said the war with Iran would be over “very soon.”

Speaking to PBS, Araghchi said Iran was ready to continue missile strikes and that talks with the United States were no longer on the agenda.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel’s military offensive against Iran was “not done yet,” saying the operation was weakening the country’s clerical leadership.

"Our aspiration is to bring the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, it depends on them. But there is no doubt that with the actions taken so far, we are breaking their bones -- and we are not done yet," Netanyahu said during a visit to the National Health Command Centre on Monday night, according to a statement published Tuesday.

As scrutiny intensified, Donald Trump initially said he did not “know enough” about the incident but later said he would be willing to “live with” whatever conclusions an investigation reaches.

The strike reportedly targeted the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school during the early phase of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. Iranian authorities say more than 170 people were killed in the attack, with over 100 of them believed to be students.

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Iran’s prosecutor general’s office on Tuesday urged members of the national women’s football team to return home after at least seven team members sought refuge in Australia.

In a statement, the office said some members of the delegation had acted "unintentionally and under emotional influence caused by enemy plots," adding that the Islamic Republic would welcome them back.

It said the circumstances surrounding the situation were understandable and called on them to return to Iran.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that proposals by Russian President Vladimir Putin to mediate and reduce tensions in the Iran war remain on the table.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was ready to provide any assistance it could to help ease tensions in the Middle East.

Peskov declined to give details on the ideas Putin raised during a call with US President Donald Trump.

The US Central Command has outlined the range of military platforms and weapons systems deployed during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury, the US-led campaign launched against Iran on February 28.

In a summary of the first days of the operation, CENTCOM detailed several air, naval and missile defence systems used in the conflict and described the roles they play in modern warfare.

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Iran’s state media has referred to the country’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, as being wounded in the ongoing conflict, describing him as a “Jaanbaz of Ramadan” — a term that translates to an injured war veteran. The use of the phrase "jaanbaz" triggered speculations that Mojtaba, who has taken charge after his father Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israel strike, may have also sustained injuries during the ongoing conflict. (Read More)

Container terminal operators at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port will provide 100 per cent waiver on ground rent/dwell time charges for Middle East-bound containers stranded at the facility for up to 15 days in the wake of disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, JNPA said on Tuesday. In addition, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), in a notice to stakeholders, said these operators will also waive off 80 per cent of reefer plug-charges for up to 15 days. The waiver on storage/dwell time charges and reefer plug-in charges for Middle East-bound export containers stranded in port area comes due to geopolitical disturbances in the Middle East and in order to mitigate the hardships faced by port users due to these developments, JNPA said. - PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently chairing a key meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri as the ongoing conflict in West Asia begins to affect India’s energy supplies.

Iran's army has said it carried out a drone attack targeting an oil and gas refinery and fuel storage tanks in the Israeli city of Haifa, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency

Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry spokesperson said the country's military has intercepted and destroyed a drone east of the al-Kharj governorate. The incident occurred hours after the military intercepted two drones heading toward the country's eastern region, as well as two others earlier near the al-Kharj governorate.

Turkey said Tuesday a Patriot missile defence system was being deployed in the country's centre, a day after NATO intercepted a second ballistic missile fired from Iran in Turkish airspace. "A Patriot system assigned to support the protection of our airspace is being deployed in Malatya," said a defence ministry statement. The area is known as the location of the Kurecik air base, which houses a NATO early-warning radar system that can detect Iranian missile launches. - AFP

South Korea's benchmark Kospi finished more than five percent up on Tuesday and Japan's Nikkei by close to three percent as oil prices tanked after Donald Trump said the US-Israel war on Iran would "be ended soon". At the end of trading, the Kospi was up 5.35 percent to 5,532.59 points. The Nikkei 225 was up 2.88 percent at 54,248.39. - AFP

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they targeted a US base in Iraq's Kurdistan region as the war with the United States and Israel continues. "The headquarters of the invading US army in Al-Harir Air Base in the Kurdistan region was targeted with five missiles," the Guards said in a statement on their Telegram channel. - AFP

Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted nuclear laboratories in Iran's capital, Tehran, overnight, according to Israeli media. Israel's Channel 12 cited sources as saying that the attacks struck facilities linked to Iran's nuclear programme in the city late last night. There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian officials regarding the reported strikes.

Pakistan's navy has launched an operation to "counter multidimensional threats" to its national shipping and maritime trade, with concerns about fuel supplies due to the US-Israeli war on Iran. The military said late on Monday that navy ships were escorting merchant vessels "to ensure the uninterrupted flow of national energy supplies and the security of sea lines of communication". Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran in the southwest, depends on oil and gas from the Gulf and last Friday hiked prices at the pump by about 20 percent, triggering long lines at petrol stations across the country. - AFP

The government has issued the Natural Gas (Supply Regulation) Order 2026 to regulate the production and sector-wise allocation of natural gas, including LNG and re-gasified LNG, ensuring priority supply to critical sectors. Under the order, priority will be given to sectors such as domestic PNG supply, CNG for transport, LPG production, pipeline compressor fuel requirements, fertiliser plants, tea industries and other key industrial consumers. The government has tasked GAIL, in coordination with the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), with implementing the natural gas supply regulation and ensuring adherence to the sector-wise allocation framework.

India has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to ensure the uninterrupted supply of domestic cooking gas, directing refineries and petrochemical units to maximise the production of LPG. Authorities have also asked these facilities to divert key hydrocarbon streams to the LPG pool in order to boost availability and stabilise supplies for household consumption.

Hotels, restaurants, dhabas and roadside food vendors across Rajasthan are facing a sudden shortage of LPG cylinders after oil marketing companies (OMCs) directed distributors to halt fresh bookings for commercial use, according to a report by The Times of India. The directive, communicated through internal advisories on Sunday evening, aims to divert limited LPG supplies toward domestic households as availability tightens. "Distributors are instructed not to place new indents or orders for commercial cylinders starting Monday," Deepak Gehlot, president of the LPG Distribution Federation of Rajasthan, told The Times of India. Domestic consumers are also reportedly facing difficulties in obtaining cooking gas refills as the supply situation becomes strained.

Shares of oil exploration companies fell up to 6.5% on March 10 as oil prices fell after hitting their highest level in more than three years in the prior session as US President Donald Trump predicted the war in the Middle East could end soon, easing concerns about prolonged disruptions to global oil supplies. Brent futures fell $6.51, or 6.6%, to $92.45 a barrel at 0018 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down $6.12, or 6.5%, to $88.65. Shares of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Oil India Ltd were trading 1.5% and 1.7% lower, respectively. Shares of Hindustan Oil Exploration Company and Jindal Drilling were trading 6.7% and 3.3%, respectively. (Read More)

Cooking gas shortages linked to the Israel–Iran war has had a ripple effect through restaurant kitchens across India, pushing up LPG prices, forcing menu changes and prompting industry bodies to seek government intervention. (Read More)

Hotels and restaurants in Bengaluru have also warned of a possible shutdown following a sudden disruption in the supply of commercial LPG cylinders, according to latest media reports citing the Bengaluru Hotels Association. In a statement, the association said the stoppage of gas deliveries has severely affected the hotel industry, which it described as an essential service relied upon by many people for daily meals. It noted that senior citizens, students, patients and others depend on hotels for food, and the disruption could cause significant inconvenience to both the public and the industry.

The association also said oil companies had earlier assured that there would be no disruption in gas supply for around 70 days, making the sudden halt a major setback for hotel operators. It warned that the shutdown could proceed if LPG supplies are not restored promptly.

Around 20% of hotels and restaurants in Mumbai have already shut operations due to a disruption in commercial LPG supply, according to latest media reports citing the city's hotel and restaurant association AHAR. The association warned that up to 50% of establishments in the city could shut within the next two days if gas supplies are not restored. AHAR said the number of restaurants that remain operational will depend on the LPG stock available with individual establishments. However, it clarified that no collective decision has been taken to shut down hotels across the city, and the decision to remain open or temporarily close will be left to individual owners depending on gas availability.

Iran could stop the export of crude oil from the region if attacks by the United States and Israel continue, a spokesperson for Iran's Revolutionary Guard said on Tuesday. "If aggression by the U.S. military and the Zionist regime against Iran and its infrastructure continues, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow the export of even one liter of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice," Revolutionary Guard spokesperson Gen. Ali-Mohammed Naeini said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The US Embassy in Pakistan has issued a security alert ahead of planned large-scale religious processions across the country, announcing restrictions on the movement of US personnel starting Tuesday at 12 PM local time. In an official statement, the embassy said the US Embassy in Islamabad and the US Consulates General in Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar are closely monitoring the upcoming religious gatherings. "Beginning March 10 at 12:00 p.m., the movements of all U.S. personnel will be restricted," the statement said. The embassy warned that large crowds and significant traffic congestion are expected, along with an increased security presence, additional checkpoints, and possible disruptions to local mobile and internet services. Authorities also cautioned that the processions may lead to traffic delays and detours due to road closures or blockages near the event routes. The statement added that the likelihood, duration, and severity of any related protests remain uncertain. US citizens have been advised to avoid large gatherings and stay aware of their surroundings, noting that large rallies, processions, and protests can change rapidly and even peaceful events may turn violent.

US President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will waive certain oil-related sanctions in response to ongoing turmoil in global energy markets. "We're also waiving certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices," Trump told reporters, following earlier indications that the administration could scale back restrictions on Russian oil exports in an effort to ease supply pressures and stabilise prices.

Asian stocks rallied and oil prices plunged at the start of trading on Tuesday, following a volatile session for markets overnight after U.S. President Donald Trump declared the Middle East war could be "over soon."

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 2.6%, paring losses since the start of the conflict, while Brent crude futures fell as much as 10% to below $90 per barrel as trading resumed. U.S. equity futures were more muted, with S&P 500 e-mini futures down 0.2% to pare Monday's rebound.

Trump's remarks injected a burst of optimism that contrasted sharply with events in Iran, where hardliners rallied behind new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in a pointed show of defiance. -- Reuters

The UAE’s consulate in Iraq’s Kurdish region was reportedly attacked by a drone. The attack “represents a dangerous escalation and a threat to regional security and stability”, a statement from the foreign ministry on X said. It added that “targeting diplomatic missions and premises constitutes a flagrant violation of all international norms and laws”.

The United States has not approached Taiwan about transfers of weapons to the Middle East, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Tuesday, after South Korea said it was in talks about the possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile systems.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Friday the U.S. and South Korean militaries are discussing the possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile defence systems based in South Korea to be used in the war against Iran. -- Reuters

Iran's armed forces are "awaiting the US naval fleet in the Strait of Hormuz," and the end of the war "is in Iran's hands," a spokesperson for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said early Tuesday. Maj. Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini made the remarks in comments reported by state media, appearing to respond to US President Donald Trump's news conference on Monday and his recent statements about protecting the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil and shipping route. "The armed forces of the Republic of Iran are awaiting the US naval fleet in the Strait of Hormuz region and are waiting for the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford," Naeini said.

Amid disruptions in global fuel supply caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, India's Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has ordered oil refineries to boost LPG production for domestic use. The ministry has prioritized household supply and introduced a 25-day inter-booking period to prevent hoarding and black marketing. Essential non-domestic sectors like hospitals and schools will receive priority access to imported LPG, while a committee has been set up to review supply requests from restaurants, hotels, and other industries.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards stated on Tuesday that they would "determine the end of the war" in the Middle East, responding to US President Donald Trump's remark that the conflict would end "soon." "It is we who will determine the end of the war," the Guards said in a statement. "The equations and future status of the region are now in the hands of our armed forces; American forces will not end the war," the statement added.

Bahrain's Ministry of Interior reported that one person has died and eight others were injured following an Iranian strike on the country. "A 29-year-old Bahraini woman died and eight people were injured as a result of the blatant Iranian aggression against a residential building" in the capital, Manama, the ministry said in a post on X early Tuesday.

Brent crude fell more than 7% on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump hinted that the war in the Middle East could end soon, easing concerns about prolonged disruptions to global oil supplies. Brent crude futures were at $91.71 a barrel, down $7.25, or 7.3%, by 0001 GMT. The contract hit a session high of $119.50 on Monday. – Reuters

South Korea's Kospi index rose more than five percent in early trading after oil prices dropped, while Japan's Nikkei recovered over three percent following a sharp decline the previous day.

An Iranian source told CNN that Tehran is preparing to impose "security duties" on oil tankers and commercial ships from US-allied countries, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz remains "closed."

UK Defence Secretary John Healey said a drone that struck a British base in Cyprus last week likely came from Lebanon or Iraq.

In Australia, five members of the Iranian women's football team were granted humanitarian visas after being eliminated from the Asian Cup.

Turkey, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar reported intercepting Iranian missiles, while Israel detected additional attacks in the region.

Seven current and former officials told CNN that retrieving Iran's remaining highly enriched uranium, stored in a fortified underground facility, would require a significant US ground troop presence.

A senior Iranian official told CNN that Iran is prepared for a protracted conflict and is willing to continue targeting countries in the Persian Gulf.

At a press briefing, Trump said US forces have struck over 5,000 targets but left some of the most critical objectives for potential future action. He also claimed the conflict could eventually lead to lower oil prices.

As the Iran war enters its eleventh day, President Donald Trump made conflicting statements about US strategy. In one interview, he suggested the conflict was nearly over, yet later told House Republicans, "we haven't won enough."