Iran War News March 9 Highlights: Iran Guards say they 'will determine the end of the war'

The United States is investigating a deadly strike on a school in the opening days of the US-Israeli war on Iran, President Donald Trump said on Monday.

"That's being investigated right now," Trump said of the strike on an elementary school in the southern city of Minab, which Iran said killed more than 150 people.

"Whatever the report shows, I'm willing to live with that report," Trump said, adding he did not "know enough about" the strike while also suggesting Iran may have used a Tomahawk missile -- a weapon it does not possess -- to hit the school itself.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he will waive some sanctions on oil due to market turmoil over his attack with Israel on Iran.

"We're also waiving certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices," Trump told reporters after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and as he mentioned Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"We're going to take those sanctions off till this straightens out."

US President Donald Trump said Monday he had an upbeat conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on ending the four-year-old war in Ukraine.

"We were talking about Ukraine, which is just a never-ending fight," Trump told reporters. "But I think it was a positive call on that subject."

US President Donald Trump said Monday that the war on Iran would end soon, without setting a date, as he claimed the US-Israeli attack had achieved objectives.

"It's going to be ended soon, and if it starts up again they'll be hit even harder," Trump told a news conference.

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened a larger attack on Iran if it blocks supplies of oil, whose prices have spiked over the Middle East war.

"I will not allow a terrorist regime to hold the world hostage and attempt to stop the globe's oil supply. And if Iran does anything to do that, they'll get hit at a much, much harder level," Trump told a news conference in Florida.

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on Monday congratulated Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran's new supreme leader, the official Oman News Agency reported.

"His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq -- may God protect and preserve him -- sent a cable of congratulations to His Eminence Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on the occasion of his selection as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the agency said.

Oman was a mediator in recent talks between Iran and the United States, which collapsed during the war triggered by joint US-Israel strikes on Iran.

Hezbollah said on Monday that it had targeted the Israeli Home Front Command base in Ramla, near Tel Aviv, with "advanced missiles" as the war between the pro-Iranian group and Israel hit the one-week mark.

In a statement, the group said it had targeted the base with a "salvo of advanced missiles" in response to "the criminal Israeli aggression that has struck dozens of Lebanese cities and towns and the southern suburbs of Beirut".

France's Emmanuel Macron said Monday that "profound" changes to Iranian leadership could not occur "through American-Israeli bombings alone", adding that war in the Middle East could continue for "several weeks".

"I don't think you can achieve profound regime change or changes in the political system through bombings alone," Macron said aboard France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier currently stationed in the Mediterranean.

The war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, "in this intense phase", could last "several days, perhaps several weeks", he said.

The toll from Israeli strikes on Lebanon rose to 486 people killed and 1,313 wounded since the start of fighting last week, the Lebanese health ministry said Monday.

"The toll of the Israeli aggression from dawn on Monday, March 2, until Monday afternoon, March 9, has risen to 486 martyrs and 1,313 wounded," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry had previously reported a death toll of 394. AFP could not independently verify these figures.

President Donald Trump is reviewing "all credible options" for controlling oil prices amid the joint US-Israeli operation against Iran, the White House said Monday, insisting that the current spike was "short-term."

"President Trump and his entire energy team have had a strong game plan to keep the energy markets stable well before Operation Epic Fury began, and they will continue to review all credible options," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement to AFP.

Israel's foreign ministry said Monday that Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was a "tyrant" like his slain father, and would continue what it described as the Iranian "regime's brutality".

In a post on X featuring a picture of Mojtaba Khamenei and his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, holding guns, the ministry wrote: "Mojtaba Khamenei. Like Father Like Son".

"Mojtaba Khamenei's hands are already stained with the bloodshed that defined his father's rule. Another tyrant to continue the Iranian regime's brutality," the ministry said, in Israel's first reaction to Mojtaba Khamenei's selection as supreme leader following the killing of his father on February 28 in Israeli strikes.

The EU's top diplomat called Monday for a 2024 ceasefire to be upheld to prevent Lebanon from "sliding into chaos," saying Israel's "heavy-handed" response to Hezbollah attacks was further destabilising the region.

"Israel should cease its operations in Lebanon," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a statement after crisis talks with a dozen Middle East leaders including Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

She likewise called for Hezbollah to "disarm and cease all actions against Israel," saying: "Diplomacy and a return to the ceasefire offer the best chance of averting Lebanon from sliding into chaos."

US President Donald Trump said Monday that Australia had agreed to grant asylum to some of Iran's visiting women's football team, whose players refused to sing the national anthem while playing there during the Middle East war.

"I just spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, of Australia, concerning the Iranian National Women’s Soccer Team. He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of," Trump said on his Truth Social network, less than two hours after an initial post urging Australia to take them in.

Trump added that "some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don't return."

Rafael Grossi said the International Atomic Energy Agency believes that slightly more than 200 kilograms of Iran’s uranium enriched to up to 60% purity had been stored at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, adding that the prevailing assumption is the material remains at the site.

Iran has issued a fresh warning to the United States as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, with Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi claiming that Tehran is prepared to respond to any attempt to target its oil and nuclear infrastructure.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of taking the world hostage through its retaliatory strikes and said the United States remained on track to achieve its war objectives.

“I think we are all seeing right now the threat this clerical regime poses to the region and to the world. They are trying to hold the world hostage,” Rubio said at an event at the United States Department of State.

“They are attacking neighboring countries, their energy infrastructure, their civilian population,” he said.

“The objective of this mission is to destroy their ability to continue to do that, and we are well on our way to achieving that.”

The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, during which the Islamic republic’s longtime supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi said legal proceedings have been initiated against Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and others he described as responsible for recent attacks on the Islamic Republic.

According to Tasnim News Agency, the case has been referred to Tehran’s international affairs prosecutor’s office, with orders issued to open a judicial file and begin preliminary investigations.

Wall Street stocks opened lower Monday as a surge in oil prices due to the Middle East war dampened the global economic outlook.

All three major US indices were down at least one percent, joining a global equity market rout, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average at 46,921.58, down 1.2 percent.

Eyewitness footage captured the aftermath of an Iranian drone strike in Bahrain’s Sitra area on Monday, close to the Bapco oil refinery, where another attack was also reported. The video showed damaged vehicles and buildings, with debris scattered across nearby streets.

Turkey's defence ministry on Monday said a ballistic missile fired from Iran was intercepted in Turkish airspace by NATO defence systems, in the second such incident in five days.

"A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralised by NATO air and missile defence assets in the eastern Mediterranean," it said in a statement.

Some fragments from the weaponry fell in open territory in the southern Gaziantep area, causing no injuries, the ministry added.

The Israel Defense Forces said it has launched a major wave of coordinated strikes targeting infrastructure linked to the Iranian regime in several parts of Iran.

According to the Israeli military, the operation involved simultaneous attacks on sites in the capital Tehran, the central city of Isfahan, and areas in southern Iran.

The military described the operation as a large-scale assault aimed at infrastructure belonging to the Iranian regime.

The strikes are part of Israel’s ongoing military campaign targeting Iranian facilities and capabilities across multiple regions of the country.

Turkey on Monday deployed six F-16 fighter jets along with air defence systems to northern Cyprus to strengthen the security of the Turkish Cypriot community amid the ongoing war involving Iran, the defence ministry said. Ankara added that it may take additional measures depending on how the regional situation develops.

As hostilities continue to intensify in West Asia, Human Rights Watch has reported evidence that incendiary weapons were used over a populated area in southern Lebanon.

The organisation said the Israel Defense Forces deployed artillery shells containing white phosphorus above homes in the town of Yohmor on March 3, 2026. According to Human Rights Watch, seven images were verified and geolocated that appear to show airburst white phosphorus munitions exploding over a residential neighbourhood.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Mojtaba Khamenei on his appointment as Iran's new leader. Putin expressed confidence in Khamenei continuing his father's legacy and assured Russia's unwavering support for Tehran. The Kremlin communicated Putin's solidarity with Iran amidst challenging times.

Israel on Monday carried out fresh strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, according to Lebanese state media, after issuing a warning that it would target branches of a financial institution linked to Hezbollah. Footage broadcast live by Agence France-Presse showed large plumes of smoke rising from the area, a stronghold of the Iran-backed group. Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said it would strike branches of Al-Qard al-Hassan, a financial firm that mainly operates in Hezbollah-controlled areas across southern and eastern Lebanon as well as Beirut's southern suburbs.

Heavy explosions were heard in the Iranian capital, Tehran, according to reports from the Agence France-Presse (AFP). The blasts were reportedly heard across several parts of the city, though it was not immediately clear what locations were targeted, AFP journalists said. The explosions come amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which has seen repeated airstrikes and missile attacks across the region in recent days.

Turkey has deployed six F-16 fighter jets along with air defence systems to Northern Cyprus to strengthen the security of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the country's defence ministry said. Turkey, a member of NATO, has sought to maintain a neutral position in the ongoing conflict, while keeping ties with authorities in Iran as well as with US President Donald Trump. Over the weekend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer that there could still be opportunities to create conditions for dialogue with Iran.

India does not expect inflation to rise substantially from a jump in global crude oil prices triggered by the war in the Middle East, as domestic price levels remain near the lower end of the central bank's tolerance band, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. Oil prices surged about 26% in early trade to their highest since July 2022 after Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei as successor to his father Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in air strikes by Israel and the United States more than a week ago. Major Middle Eastern oil producers have cut supply because they cannot safely send shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to refiners worldwide. - Reuters

Qatari authorities have arrested more than 300 people for sharing images and what they described as "misleading information" during days of attacks by Iran, the interior ministry said on Monday.

The arrests echo measures across the Gulf as Iran targets airports, military bases, energy installations and residential areas with daily drones and missiles.

Those arrested "filmed and circulated video clips and published misleading information and rumours that could stir public opinion", a statement said.

The people of "various nationalities" were held by the Department for Combating Economic and Cyber Crimes at the ministry's General Directorate of Criminal Investigations. - AFP

European stock markets slid on Monday as the latest surge to energy prices added to fears that supply disruptions caused by the Middle East war will spur inflation. The Frankfurt and Paris stock markets shed more than 2.5 percent in morning deals, while London lost 1.8 percent. World oil prices soared around 15 percent and European natural gas prices rocketed as much as 30 percent. - AFP

China has backed Iran’s decision to name Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader following the killing of his father was a domestic matter, adding that it opposed any attempt to target him.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters on Monday that Iran's decision to appoint the younger Khamenei was "based on its constitution". Read more

Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO)---the main state-owned company responsible for most of the country’s oil operations---on Monday declared force majeure for its shipments after an attack by an Iranian drone set ablaze it's largest oil refinery.

The announcement was made by the state-run Bahrain News Agency, which said the company invoked force majeure — a legal provision that releases a company from contractual obligations due to extraordinary circumstances.

Iranian authorities will confiscate the properties and impose penalities of members of the Iranian diaspora who "cooperate" with Israel and the United States, the judiciary said on Monday. "Iranians abroad who align, accompany and cooperate with the American-Zionist aggressor enemy will face confiscation of all their property and other legal penalties in accordance with the law," the judiciary's Mizan Online website said, quoting the prosecutor general's office. Mizan cited a law adopted after the 12-day war in June with Israel, which saw the United States briefly joining with strikes. - AFP

Air defence systems in the United Arab Emirates are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats launched from Iran, according to the country's Ministry of Defence. Authorities said the loud sounds heard in different parts of the country were caused by air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, while fighter jets were deployed to intercept drones and loitering munitions. The ministry confirmed that the defensive operations were ongoing as the UAE's air defence network continued to track and neutralise incoming aerial threats.

The White House has said there are no current plans to deploy US ground troops in Iran, but it has not ruled out the possibility as the conflict continues to escalate. Speaking to Fox News, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said sending American forces into Iran is "not part of the plan for this operation at this time." However, she stressed that President Donald Trump intends to keep all military options available as commander-in-chief. Leavitt said the administration would not publicly remove potential military options, arguing that circumstances in a conflict can change quickly and the president must retain flexibility in deciding how to respond. Trump has also suggested that US ground troops could "possibly" be deployed if necessary, though no final decision has been announced and the current strategy continues to rely primarily on air and naval strikes.

The G7 countries are considering a coordinated release of oil from strategic reserves-potentially up to 400 million barrels-as global crude prices surge, according to a report by the Financial Times.

Key details of the proposal include:

The release could be coordinated by the International Energy Agency.

Three G7 nations, including the United States, have so far expressed support for the plan.

US officials believe a joint release in the range of 300-400 million barrels would be appropriate.

G7 countries collectively hold about 1.2 billion barrels of oil in their reserves.

Following the news, oil prices eased, slipping back below $108 per barrel.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said the Prime Minister is closely tracking the evolving situation in West Asia while the government coordinates its response. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, he stated that relevant ministries are working together to address the developments. "The Prime Minister continues to closely monitor the emerging developments, and relevant ministries are coordinating to ensure effective responses," Jaishankar said while making a statement on the situation in West Asia.

External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar made a statement in the Rajya Sabha on the situation in West Asia, even as Opposition MPs raised slogans in the House. Jaishankar said the government had already expressed its concerns earlier. "Our government issued a statement on February 20 expressing deep concern and urging all sides to exercise restraint," he said. He added that India continues to believe the crisis should be addressed through diplomatic means. "We continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate the tensions," the minister stated.

Shares of Indian refiners slumped on Monday, as the widening U.S.-Israeli war with Iran propelled Brent crude prices toward $120 per barrel - a near four-year high - threatening their near-term earnings. State-run Indian Oil dipped 6.6%, Hindustan Petroleum slid 7.5% and Bharat Petroleum dropped 7.1%, and were headed for their steepest falls in more than a year. Reliance Industries lost 2%. Brent crude soared as much as 26.4% to $117.16 a barrel and was last up 23% at $114.08 by 9:15 a.m. IST. - Reuters

Indian equity benchmark indices plunged at the opening bell on Monday, with the Sensex crashing more than 2,400 points and the Nifty slipping below 23,750, tracking a sharp global risk-off move after crude oil prices surged above $115 per barrel amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. At 09:25 am, the Sensex was down 2,401 points or 3 percent at 76,518, while the Nifty fell 727 points to 23,723. Market breadth was sharply negative, with 537 shares advancing against 2,603 declines, while 180 remained unchanged. (Read More)

At least 32 people were injured after an Iranian drone strike hit the island of Sitra in Bahrain overnight, as Gulf countries reported a new wave of missile and drone attacks amid escalating regional tensions. Bahrain's health ministry said all those wounded were Bahraini citizens, with four people in serious condition, including children. The information was released in a statement carried by the country's state news agency. Among the injured were a 17-year-old girl who suffered severe head and eye injuries and a two-month-old baby, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, explosions were also reported in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Monday, according to journalists from Agence France-Presse. Authorities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait also reported fresh missile and drone attacks as Iran continued retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region.

The United States has ordered non-emergency government employees to depart Saudi Arabia as the widening war involving Iran spreads across the Middle East, pushing oil prices above $110 per barrel and triggering a sharp sell-off in Asian markets. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh said on Monday that non-essential American government personnel and their family members must leave the kingdom due to heightened security risks. Officials cited growing threats from armed conflict, terrorism, and potential missile and drone attacks originating from Yemen and Iran. The directive marks the first departure order issued by Washington in Saudi Arabia since the war began, reflecting rising concerns about the conflict spilling further across the region.

An Iranian drone attack on the island of Sitra in Bahrain overnight has left 32 civilians injured, according to the country's health ministry. The ministry said all those wounded were Bahraini citizens, with four people in serious condition, including children. The statement was carried by the Gulf nation's state news agency.

Australia must protect the visiting Iranian women's football team, the son of the nation's late shah urged Monday, warning their refusal to sing the national anthem before a match could have "dire consequences". Iranian players refused to sing ahead of an Asian Cup tournament match in Australia last week -- a gesture widely seen as an act of defiance against the Islamic republic. US-based Reza Pahlavi lent his voice to a growing chorus calling for Australia to offer the women asylum, joining politicians, human rights activists and even author JK Rowling. - AFP

The ongoing war in West Asia has triggered what analysts describe as the largest oil supply shock in modern history, after the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted nearly 20 million barrels of oil per day. In a post on X, The Kobeissi Letter, an industry leading commentary on the global capital markets said that the strategic waterway-one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints-handles a significant portion of global crude shipments. Its disruption has sent shockwaves through energy markets and pushed oil prices sharply higher. (Read More)

South Korea's Kospi triggered its second circuit breaker in four trading sessions on Monday, leading a broad regional sell-off after oil prices climbed past $110 per barrel for the first time since 2022. The benchmark index plunged more than 8%, prompting a 20-minute halt in trading starting at 10:31 a.m. local time. Market heavyweights were hit hard, with Samsung Electronics dropping over 10%, while chipmaker SK Hynix fell 11.6%. A circuit breaker had also been activated last week after the index slumped more than 12% on Wednesday, marking its steepest single-day decline on record. Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled 6.48%, slipping below the 53,000 level for the first time since February 6, while the broader Topix index declined 5.8%. SoftBank Group was among the biggest drags on the benchmark, sliding more than 11%. Semiconductor-linked stocks also came under heavy pressure, with Advantest and Lasertec falling over 10% and 9%, respectively.

A loud explosion was heard in Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday, an AFP correspondent said, amid the latest outbreak of war between Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel. Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the southern suburbs after the blast was heard, the AFP journalist reported. The area, a Hezbollah stronghold whose residents the Israeli military ordered to evacuate, has been pounded by Israel over the past week but had not suffered any strikes since Saturday. - AFP

Hezbollah on Monday said it was engaging Israeli forces who landed in eastern Lebanon by helicopter across the Syrian border, the second such operation since the outbreak of the latest conflict with Israel. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes. - AFP

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. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY! President DJT - President Trump on Truth Social

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States and President Donald Trump would determine the "terms of surrender" for Iran, though he did not specify what those conditions might include. Trump said last week that there would be no agreement with Iran other than "unconditional surrender". Speaking in an interview on the television program 60 Minutes on CBS, Hegseth was asked what such a surrender would look like. He responded that it means the US is determined to win and will dictate the conditions. "It means we're fighting to win. It means we set the terms. We'll know when they're not capable of fighting," Hegseth said. "There will come a point where they have no choice but to do that. Whether they realise it or not, they will become combat-ineffective and they will surrender." He added that surrender could take different forms, including direct person-to-person negotiations, but emphasised that the final terms would be decided by Trump rather than Iran.

The United States has also urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia, citing risks including Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting American interests, armed conflict, terrorism threats, possible exit bans, and strict local laws regarding social media activity.

Amid ongoing drone attacks in the Gulf, the US State Department has ordered non-emergency US government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia due to security concerns.

Stock markets across the Asia-Pacific region have fallen sharply in early trading after oil prices jumped above $100 a barrel for the first time in four years. Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped more than 6%, South Korea's Kospi fell over 7%, and Australia's ASX 200 declined nearly 4%.

A Saudi official says two people were killed after a projectile struck a residential area in the kingdom.

Residents in Tehran have described scenes of destruction after oil depots were hit by intense aerial bombardment. One woman said the smell of burning fuel filled the air following the attacks.

Lebanon's health minister says the death toll from Israeli strikes has climbed to nearly 400, highlighting the growing humanitarian impact of the conflict.

Global oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel as the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil shipments, remains effectively closed amid escalating tensions.

US Central Command says a seventh US service member has died from injuries sustained during Iran's initial attacks across the Middle East last week.

Iran's state media reports that Mojtaba Khamenei has been named the country's new supreme leader. He succeeds his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed at his compound in Tehran during the first wave of US and Israeli strikes.