Iran maintained that its nuclear programme is civilian, stating it is used for energy and medical purposes and is within its sovereign rights.

Uranium enrichment is not unique to Iran. Several countries have operated enrichment facilities, including Argentina, Brazil , China, France, Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The US position has often been based on concerns about security and stability, arguing that other countries with such capabilities are allies or partners. Iran, however, is located in a region with multiple neighbouring states.

Miadfar said the heaviest casualties were recorded in Tehran, Khuzestan, Lorestan, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Ilam provinces. He described one of the worst incidents as taking place at a school in Minab, saying the number of victims there included large numbers of women and minors. He also said Iran’s emergency response system had been hit hard, with “118 people ” injured among responders, “26” killed, and dozens of bases and ambulances damaged, Viory reports.

His remarks came as diplomacy between Tehran and Washington remained deadlocked. U.S. and Iranian delegations ended talks in Islamabad without an agreement after marathon negotiations, casting fresh doubt over a fragile two-week ceasefire reached earlier this week.

That ceasefire, brokered with Pakistani mediation, was tied to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Although the truce initially eased fears of a wider regional war, the breakdown in talks has renewed uncertainty over both the ceasefire and shipping through the strait.

Before the negotiations were underway, US President Donald Trump declared that the US had 'won' the war regardless of diplomatic efforts, adding, "Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me."

Iran’s demands include maintaining its right to enrich uranium, the withdrawal of all US combat forces from the Middle East, the introduction of charges for shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and the removal of all sanctions .

In contrast, the United States has called for Iran to completely abandon its enriched uranium programme, stating there should be no enrichment. This position has been described as a firm condition. The US also maintains that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open for free passage, although a toll proposal has been mentioned.

Disagreements have also emerged over a reported ceasefire. Iran has stated that the ceasefire includes Lebanon, while the United States has said it does not. During the same period, Israel reportedly launched a large wave of strikes on Lebanon, resulting in over 300 deaths in one day.

Iran has stated that “the U.S. must choose between ceasefire, or continued war through Israel. It cannot have both.”

Uncertainty remains over the scheduled talks in Islamabad, Pakistan. Details regarding the meeting, including participation and agenda, are still being confirmed. Reports indicate that the Strait of Hormuz has been reclosed, adding to tensions.

If the talks proceed, they are expected to be the highest-level meeting between the United States and Iran in 47 years.

According to Netanyahu, the talks would focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah and the possibility of reaching what he described as a “sustainable, historic” peace agreement between the two countries.

Khamenei’s statement came despite a fragile two-week ceasefire agreed this week between Washington and Tehran, with further talks expected in Islamabad under Pakistani mediation. The truce has been presented by both sides as a temporary opening for diplomacy , but its durability remains in doubt amid continued regional tensions.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said the Strait of Hormuz remained open, but added that traffic was still subject to technical restrictions because of the recent war and measures imposed during the conflict. He said vessels seeking passage would need to coordinate with Iran’s military , underlining that navigation through the chokepoint remains tightly controlled.

The status of Hormuz remains central to the ceasefire, with U.S. President Donald Trump insisting that the waterway must be fully reopened. Shipping data and industry reports suggest traffic is still heavily restricted, with many vessels waiting to transit the route.

"The ceasefire between the US and Iran offers an opportunity to prevent further loss of lives between Lebanon and Israel. We urge all concerned to abide by the ceasefire. Now is the time to pursue talks to resolve outstanding differences and work towards a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution to the conflict," Haq said.

He also added that UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon continued to be affected by the violence . It said six UNIFIL personnel were injured on Thursday after rocket and artillery fire near Atteri in Sector West, with one suffering a shrapnel wound and five others affected by acoustic trauma. UN vehicles were also damaged.

Separately, the UN said Israeli forces briefly detained a UNIFIL peacekeeper after blocking a logistics convoy, before releasing the person less than an hour later following direct intervention by mission officials. The organisation said the detention violated international law and called for an immediate end to any intimidation or interference with its peacekeeping operations.

The pope also invited Catholics to join him for a prayer vigil for peace at St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, April 11, saying the current moment required prayer as delicate diplomatic efforts continued. He has repeatedly urged world leaders to choose negotiation over war in recent weeks.

His remarks came after Washington and Tehran announced a provisional two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, under which Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and both sides were expected to continue talks in Islamabad. President Donald Trump said he had suspended threatened attacks on Iran as part of the deal.

The truce has been welcomed internationally as a chance to step back from a wider regional war, though its durability remains uncertain amid fresh tensions involving Lebanon and shipping through Hormuz. Global markets initially rallied on the news , while diplomats cautioned that only sustained negotiations could turn the pause into a lasting settlement.

"Therefore, the possibility that this was a deception operation to steal the enriched uranium should not be dismissed, but as I said, what is clear is that the result of this operation was nothing more than Second Tabas,” he added. The reference to "Second Tabas" relates to the failed 1980 US mission to rescue hostages in Tehran.

US President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that two US airmen had been rescued after their F-15 aircraft was shot down over Iranian territory. He described the mission as "one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations in US history.”

The journalist then asked: “What is your response to critics who say that it is your mental health that should perhaps be examined as this war continues?”

Trump responded: “I haven't heard that. But if that's the case, you're going to have to have more people like me, because our country was being ripped off on trade, on everything, for many years until I came along.”

The exchange followed a post Trump made on Sunday, April 5, in which he set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He wrote: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.”

Sadrist Movement official Sabah al-Saadi said the demonstrations reflected Iraqis’ desire for peace, freedom and dignity, while rejecting aggression, colonialism and foreign domination in the region. Another protester, Sheikh Muhammad al-Atwani, denounced attacks on what he described as safe areas, including schools sheltering families and children, and reaffirmed opposition to occupation.

The protests followed a statement issued by al-Sadr earlier in the week urging Iraqis to take to the streets to condemn what he called “Zionist-American aggression” and to call for peace . Demonstrators said Iraq and the wider region wanted stability, but rejected what they described as U.S.-Israeli hegemony against Arab and Muslim peoples.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters later praised Iraq’s position, thanking in particular the Popular Mobilisation forces, resistance factions and the Shiite community for their support. It also said Iraq would be exempt from any Iranian transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Regional tensions have soared since the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on February 28, amid diplomatic efforts over Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes.

The rescue came after a U.S. F-15E was shot down over Iran, triggering a nearly two-day search for its second crew member. U.S. forces eventually extracted the wounded officer in a high-risk operation that U.S. media said involved special operations troops and a CIA deception effort to mislead Iranian forces.

The episode has unfolded against the backdrop of the widening U.S.-Iran war, which began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

Reuters, citing an Israeli security official, reported that Israeli intelligence helped the rescue mission and that Israel paused operations in the area to support it, underlining the close coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv as the conflict deepens.

Another protester described the law as “barbarism in the 21st century” and accused Israel and the United States of justifying abuses under the banner of religion.

The protest is the latest in Spain to denounce Israeli policies toward Palestinians amid continued anger over the conflict.

“We are in touch with Iran and other countries there to see how best we can get unimpeded transit and safe transit for our ships, which are carrying products including LPG, LNG and other products. Through this conversation that we have had over the last several days, we have had six Indian ships which have been able to safely cross Hormuz and we continue to be in touch with relevant parties on this matter,” Viory quotes.

He said New Delhi would continue engaging with relevant parties to safeguard the movement of Indian vessels through the strategic waterway.

The comments came hours after reports that the bridge, a major artery linking Tehran and Karaj, was hit in two waves of US airstrikes. Iranian state media said the second strike occurred while emergency teams were already responding to the first, Viory reports.

Iranian officials said the strikes killed eight people and wounded 95, while US officials cited in international media described the bridge as a key route they claimed was being used to move military supplies.

What they said

Limor Son Har-Melech, Knesset member for Otzma Yehudit, announced, "The Death Penalty for Terrorists Law, 5786–2026, has been approved in the second and third readings and will enter the law books of the State of Israel. Blessed are we who have lived, endured, and reached this moment. The people of Israel live." National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also said, “Today we are restoring sanity to the State of Israel… A law of the death penalty for terrorists… is a historic law that changes the current reality.”

Earlier, Trump said the US would leave Iran “whether we have a deal or not” and stated that it could “finish the job” within “two or three weeks.”

"They were the bully of the Middle East, but they're the bully no longer. This is a true investment in your children and your grandchildren's future. The whole world is watching, and they can't believe the power, strength, and brilliance," he said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway located between Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman. It is one of the most important global energy transit routes, with about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passing through it. The strait has been effectively closed by Iran since the United States and Israel launched attacks on 28 February. This has disrupted one of the world’s busiest oil shipping channels.

"Russia can offer the world such solutions and play an important role in shaping the new architecture of global logistics and international trade as a whole. For our partners, Russian logistic routes can be economically beneficial due to reduced transportation times as well as in terms of diversifying global transport flows," he added.

According to estimates from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), about 20 million barrels of oil passed through the strait per day in 2025. This represents nearly $600 billion (£447 billion) in annual energy trade .

Trump also suggested allies should secure their own energy supplies, while Iranian authorities warned access through the Strait of Hormuz could be restricted depending on countries’ positions in the conflict .

Damage to emergency response services has also mounted. Iran’s Red Crescent has reported that 17 of its centres have been hit and nearly 100 ambulances damaged or destroyed, limiting the ability of medics to reach casualties and transport patients, China Daily r eports.

Beyond ambulances, the Red Crescent said hundreds of facilities essential to public health have been affected, including medical, pharmaceutical and sanitation sites, alongside widespread damage to schools and education facilities, raising concern about longer-term disruptions for families and children.  

Martinez said conditions vary across the country while basic services continue in parts of Tehran, some southern cities have faced water and electricity outages, and the broader economic squeeze is making it harder for households to cover daily needs.

The IFRC has already launched an emergency appeal to support the Iranian Red Crescent response covering shelter, medical services, water and sanitation, and psychosocial support warning that needs are rising as hostilities continue. 

The exchange of attacks has raised concerns over regional stability and triggered a surge in global oil and gas prices.

Trump is now urging countries, including China, Japan , and others, to take part in efforts to reopen the strait. Reports indicate that the United States has approached about seven countries, including China, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and South Korea, to provide naval support in the region. These efforts include escorting oil tankers and conducting de-mining operations to ensure safe passage.

The United States, however, is not the country most directly affected by a blockade. Over the past decade, it has become one of the world ’s largest oil producers. Much of its oil imports now come from Canada, Mexico, and other countries in the Western Hemisphere. As a result, only a small portion of the U.S. oil supply depends on the Strait of Hormuz.

Kuwait’s Interior Ministry said it had arrested members of a Hezbollah-affiliated terrorist cell accused of planning operations that threatened national security. Authorities described the operation as a major success in preventing destabilising activities inside the country. The group was reportedly linked to external networks and had been under surveillance before being apprehended. The case highlights Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to counter extremist threats and maintain internal stability amid a volatile regional environment.

Seven hostile drones shot down

In a separate development, the Kuwait National Guard announced it had intercepted and downed seven hostile drones within 24 hours, signalling a sharp escalation in aerial threats. Officials did not disclose the origin of the drones but indicated they were considered hostile and posed a direct security risk. The incident reflects a broader pattern of increasing drone activity across the Gulf, where such technology is being used in asymmetric warfare.

Kuwait condemns Iranian attacks

Kuwait strongly condemned continued Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states, aligning with broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) positions. In a statement, Kuwaiti authorities criticised Tehran’s actions as destabilising and called for respect for regional sovereignty.

Dispute over UN reporting

Kuwait also rejected aspects of recent United Nations reporting , arguing that the assessments failed to clearly and explicitly condemn Iran’s role in the attacks. Officials said the omission undermines international accountability and called for stronger global responses to escalating security threats in the region.

GCC issues unified response

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) echoed Kuwait’s stance , issuing a collective condemnation of what it described as “heinous” Iranian attacks against member states. The unified response underscores growing alignment among Gulf nations as they face shared security challenges, particularly in relation to missile and drone threats.

Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council and Gholamreza Soleimani, chief of the feared Basij militia were both killed, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz says.

Larijani was widely viewed as setting Tehran’s strategy following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the conflict. Unlike Khamenei’s son, the new supreme leader, Larinjani had a significant public profile and was seen as someone who could lead international talks.

His removal makes a negotiated end to the conflict less likely.

After a career in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Soleimani took over the Basij in 2019. With 450,000 personnel, it was seen as a key element in maintaining internal discipline, helping to repress dissents and curb protests .

There has been no confirmation of the deaths from Iran

Major General Samir Farag told Global South Voices’ Kadria Kassem that the current fighting cannot end regional tensions and that a coordinated approach would be necessary.

“We hope the Arab states will heed the advice of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and form an Arab Army with real military capabilities,” he said in an interview.

Wealthy Arab nations could fund a regional defence industry with the ability to bind their militaries together temporarily in times of war, Farag said.

He pointed out that Washington’s military involvement in the region would fluctuate, but the underlying problems would remain, especially after Tehran’s policy of retaliating against its neighbours.

“The war might end, but the conflict will persist,” he warns.

Egypt’s three demands

Farag, who has held a range of positions in the military at home and abroad and is a former governor of Luxor, set out Egypt's position on the conflict:

That Iran should not have nuclear weapons

That Iran should not attack the Gulf states

That Iran’s government should not fall.

The latter, according to Farag, would create a vacuum and disrupt the regional balance between Turkey, Egypt, Iran and Israel. “Iran’s exit would be harmful to the strategic balance in the Middle East,” he said

Strategic regional balance

Historically, Egypt’s policy has swung from close links with the Soviets under President Abdel Nasser to tight ties with America. Today, according to Farag, President Sisi is seeking a strategic balance, building relationships with Russia, China, the European Union and the USA as well as regional partnerships.

A key part of this careful navigation is a desire to avoid conflict.

It would have been easy, Farag notes, for his country to have been drawn into the conflict in Gaza.

“We in the military know the cost of war, its problems, the various dimensions and dangers. We know what problems can occur. That is why we are careful,” he says.

Nevertheless, despite avoiding conflict itself, Egypt is profoundly impacted by wars elsewhere. As the largest importer of wheat from Russia and Ukraine, it has been hard hit by price rises and disruptions from the fighting there. And the turmoil in the Gulf has had a profound impact on shipping, hammering important revenues from the Suez Canal.

Farag points out that Egypt has taken in 10 million refugees – he calls them guests – far more than any of its neighbours. And those displaced peoples have found a home in the country that means they are not trying to move on towards Europe, he observes: “Egypt always offers help to every country.”

Within hours, Iranian officials warned that any strike on Iran’s oil infrastructure would trigger retaliation against US-linked oil and energy assets across the region. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has also vowed to keep Hormuz shut as a pressure tool, according to reports .

Iran’s threats extended beyond US assets on Saturday when Tehran warned residents to evacuate areas around major ports in the United Arab Emirates, including Jebel Ali in Dubai, as well as Khalifa and Fujairah, claiming the US used “ports, docks and hideouts” in the UAE to support strikes.

The escalation came as a missile struck inside the US Embassy compound in Baghdad and debris from an intercepted Iranian drone hit an oil facility in Fujairah, adding to market anxiety about supplies and maritime security .

Trump said the US Navy could begin escorting oil tankers through Hormuz “soon,” as the confrontation increasingly centres on shipping and energy exports.

Oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel as military strikes, tanker attacks and the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz rattle global markets.

Global energy watchdog, the International Energy Agency (IEA), said on Thursday, March 12, the conflict has created the "largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market", removing millions of barrels a day from the market.

The Strait of Hormuz alone normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. With shipping traffic collapsing after Iranian retaliation and US-Israeli strikes, global energy markets have entered a period of extreme volatility.

For Africa, the consequences could be severe.

According to a Ghanaian financial analyst, Nelson Cudjoe Kuagbedzi, the biggest risk for African economies lies in the disruption of international supply chains.

“Okay, so I think the biggest risk has to do basically with the disruption in the international supply chains,” he told Global South  World. “Most of the goods and products that we use in Africa are imported, most especially petroleum products.”

That vulnerability is rooted in the structure of Africa’s energy sector. Despite producing crude oil, the continent lacks sufficient refining capacity and therefore imports much of the fuel it consumes.

In fact, Africa imports more than 70% of its refined petroleum products, leaving economies highly exposed to fluctuations in global oil markets.

Nelson says the continent’s limited production also makes it impossible to cushion the impact of a prolonged conflict.

“It is also important to know that the total crude output in Africa represents less than 10% of global crude output,” he explained.

The crisis also exposes another longstanding economic challenge of how Africa exports raw materials but imports many finished products.

“We haven't also developed our economies enough to the extent that we will use homegrown solutions to solve homegrown policies,” Kuagbedzi said.

“I mean, raw cocoa, raw gold, raw coffee, raw timber.”

For him, the war should serve as a wake-up call.

However, the Middle East remains the backbone of global oil supply. Many members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are located in the region, producing a significant share of the petroleum used worldwide.

According to Nelson, that concentration makes Africa particularly vulnerable.

“Most of the OPEC members that produce the chunk of the petroleum products, whether crude or refined, that we use in Africa, most of those OPEC members are in the Middle East,” he said.

With tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz disrupted and oil shipments stalled, markets are already reacting. Brent crude surged past $100 per barrel for the first time since the Ukraine war's energy shock.

If the crisis deepens, some analysts warn prices could climb much higher, intensifying inflation worldwide.

The warning comes a week after Washington urged its nationals to leave Iraq, after the United States launched strikes with Israel against Iran on February 28, triggering a wider regional conflict that has threatened US-linked interests across the Middle East.

The alert was issued as fighting continued on multiple fronts. Iranian state television reported heavy explosions in central Tehran on Friday, while the Israeli military warned residents in two Tehran neighbourhoods to evacuate ahead of strikes.

In Oman, state media said two people were killed after security forces intercepted a drone in an industrial area, with others injured.

The embassy did not provide specific details of any new kidnapping plot, but urged US citizens to remain alert and monitor official updates as security conditions change quickly.

Iraq hosts US diplomatic facilities and American personnel, and has long been a focal point for tensions between Washington and Tehran-linked armed groups, a risk that analysts say tends to rise during periods of regional escalation.

In the UK, residents are typically taxed on income such as dividends paid through their businesses. The Daily Mail reported that Joshua received £10.1 million in dividends in 2024, up from £6.3 million the year before. It also reported that Sparta Promotions posted £20.396 million in earnings in 2024 and paid about £6.65 million in UK taxes.

By contrast, Dubai is widely seen as attractive to wealthy individuals because the UAE does not levy personal income tax, making it a draw for internationally mobile stars whose earnings often include sponsorship and endorsement deals alongside sporting income.

Joshua has also expanded his property footprint in the region. Reports in December said he bought a high-end home in Sultan Haitham City near Muscat, Oman, including a large penthouse.

Joshua confirmed the move in the same week that former England footballer Rio Ferdinand and his wife spoke publicly about life in Dubai during heightened regional tensions.

The episode represents what could be described as a Latin American turn in a distant war. For decades, most countries in the region tried to maintain diplomatic balance in Middle Eastern conflicts, avoiding explicit alignment while preserving relations with multiple actors. Milei’s rhetoric breaks with that tradition. By openly identifying himself with Zionism and the strategic position of Israel and the United States, the Argentine leader has moved his country closer to the political logic of global blocs.

The shift is not only diplomatic but also ideological. Milei often frames international politics as a struggle between what he calls the “free world” and authoritarian regimes. In that worldview, support for Israel becomes part of a broader narrative that links Argentina to Western political and economic models. Foreign policy , therefore, is presented not simply as pragmatic diplomacy but as an extension of a larger ideological project.

This posture also reflects Milei’s effort to redefine Argentina’s international identity. Historically, Latin American diplomacy leaned toward multilateralism, neutrality, or regional consensus when confronting distant conflicts. By contrast, Milei’s discourse suggests a more assertive positioning within global disputes. In doing so, Argentina becomes one of the few countries in the region to openly take sides in a conflict unfolding thousands of kilometres away.

The implications go beyond Buenos Aires. If Argentina adopts a consistently aligned stance with Israel and the United States on Middle Eastern affairs, it could alter long-standing diplomatic patterns across Latin America . Some governments in the region have traditionally supported Palestinian causes, while others prefer cautious neutrality. Milei’s position introduces a new variable into that delicate balance.

Ultimately, the significance of the statement lies less in the phrase itself than in what it reveals about the changing geopolitical posture of the region. A Latin American turn in a distant war may still be largely rhetorical, but it reflects a broader question about the region’s place in an increasingly polarised world: whether Latin America will continue observing global conflicts from the sidelines, or whether some of its leaders will choose to take clearer positions in the battles shaping the international order.

Speaking in Washington, D.C. on Monday, March 9, the U.S. president made the remarks when asked whether ending military operations after achieving strategic objectives would amount to abandoning the Iranian population .

In a televised interview, Gharibabadi said Iran considers its current actions to be self-defence rather than aggression.

STB said the Muscat flight is strictly for non-resident travel lers currently in Singapore whose travel plans between February 28 and March 8 were cancelled by an airline due to Middle East airspace closures.

In response to queries, STB said passengers must cover all costs. “Travellers are responsible for all costs, including any onward travel to other destinations, accommodation, meals and ground transportation,” STB said.

The board added that the flight is intended to help affected visitors return to their home destinations in the Middle East or connect to onward travel.

“Singapore is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East,” STB said. “We understand the uncertainty and inconvenience caused by flight disruptions during this challenging period and remain committed to ensuring that Singapore continues to be a safe and welcoming destination for all visitors.”

The remarks come after US and Israel i strikes on February 28 that Iranian authorities and multiple media reports said killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a widening conflict across the Middle East. Iran has since launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and on US-linked interests in several regional countries, particularly in the Gulf.

Pezeshkian, who sits on a three-member interim leadership council formed after Khamenei’s death, also sought to reassure neighbouring states after Iranian strikes in the region. “I must apologise… to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran,” he said, adding that they would not be targeted unless attacks originated from their territory.

He said the interim council had agreed to halt strikes on neighbouring countries going forward. “No more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries, and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries,” he said.

Why the Strait of Hormuz is the big pressure point

Oil prices have climbed sharply as tankers and insurers reassess the risks of moving through the Strait of Hormuz , the narrow waterway linking the Gulf to global markets. Roughly a fifth of global oil supply depends on the route, making any sustained disruption a global price shock.

Shipping has also taken a major hit. Danish container giant Maersk has suspended services on routes affected by the security situation, one sign that supply-chain disruption is spreading beyond the energy market.

Silent evacuations

Commercial aviation has also been hammered by airspace closures and security restrictions. 

Governments are also evacuating people out of harm’s way. The Financial Times reported that Dubai International has been operating at a fraction of normal capacity under military-controlled corridors, while Emirates said it aims to restore its Dubai routes within days as air travel begins to recover. The US State Department has been offering assistance, including charter flights and ground transport, and US officials say tens of thousands of Americans have left the region as commercial travel remains patchy.

"It is being done quietly, but seamlessly," Trump said in a social media post. "Several flights have safely returned hundreds of Americans to the United States with additional flights scheduled to take place over the coming days, as security conditions allow," Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said

Germany has also been adjusting its posture in the region as Berlin previously moved some troops out of Erbil in northern Iraq, citing the rising tensions.

A new ripple effect in other sectors

The economic fallout is being felt far from the Gulf. In Sri Lanka, tea exporters have warned that the Middle East conflict is disrupting shipments and payment channels, putting pressure on one of the country’s key export earners and an already-fragile recovery. At this rate, could lose at least $10 to $15 million a week in the tea industry.

Sri Lanka has also been pulled into the conflict’s maritime shadow after reports that the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena sank following a US submarine strike off the island’s southern coast, an incident that has heightened regional anxiety along Indian Ocean shipping lanes.

What next?

With oil and shipping costs rising, the next signals investors and governments are watching include whether Gulf export routes stay disrupted, whether major carriers restore normal schedules, and whether diplomatic efforts, including via intermediaries, can slow the fight before energy and trade shocks worsen.

Iran has launched missile and drone attacks across parts of the Gulf, while Israel has continued strikes in Iran and intensified operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to the Associated Press.

Standing at the lectern, Chávez pointed to the podium and said:

“Yesterday, the devil came here. Yesterday, the devil was right here. In this very spot. It still smells like sulphur... Ladies and gentlemen, from this very podium, the President of the United States, whom I call the devil, came here speaking as if he owned the world.”

During his nearly six-minute speech, Chávez used the platform to criticise what he described as Washington’s efforts to impose its political and economic model on other countries, often through military force. According to Chávez, the United States was attempting to shape the world in its own image while dismissing critics as extremists.

He also challenged Bush’s claim that the United States wanted peace, arguing that the actions of the US government told a different story.

“The United States does not want peace; it wants to impose its model of exploitation and looting and its hegemony at the point of a gun.”

The former Venezuelan leader also condemned military actions in the Middle East and accused what he described as imperialist powers of targeting civilians.

“Imperialist fire. Fascist fire. Murderous fire and genocidal fire. That of the Empire and Israel against the innocent people of Palestine and the people of Lebanon.”

Nearly two decades later, the issues Chávez raised during that speech are once again being debated amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Iran after weeks of military buildup and threats from US President Donald Trump. Later, it was confirmed that the strikes on Tehran killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran quickly retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at Israel and US facilities across the Middle East, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the goal of the operation was to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and “to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime", urging the people of Iran to capitalise on the attack as what he described as the “only chance for generations” to take over their government.

Before the Iran attack, Chávez’s own successor, Nicolás Maduro, was removed from power after US special forces carried out a direct military operation in Venezuela on January 3. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of the country to face drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in the US.

The operation included coordinated airstrikes in Caracas and naval deployments along the Venezuelan coast. Trump later described it as a “flawless” mission and said there were no American casualties.

Miadfar said the highest number of injuries had been recorded in Tehran, Kermanshah, West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan and Hormozgan provinces.

Washington hopes to use Kurdish fighters based along the western border with Iraq as a proxy force to support opposition movements to overthrow the Islamic ruling structures.

With this in mind, US and Israeli attacks have targeted police stations and border infrastructure. However, the Kurds are traditionally lightly armed and would lack the firepower to take on the Iranian army without support from foreign militaries. Additionally, their geographic presence is limited, so other ethnic groups would need to be involved to achieve national impact.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said the exchange of attacks had already spread beyond Iran and Israel, with Iran striking targets in several countries including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

The widening confrontation, ASEAN warned, posed “a grave threat to the lives and safety of civilians” and endangered both regional and global stability.

“We call on all countries to respect international law, including the Charter of the United Nations,” the foreign ministers said.

In the statement, the ministers also underscored that the escalation came while diplomatic efforts were still underway, pointing to mediation initiatives led by Oman that were aimed at advancing a negotiated solution.

ASEAN described the timing of the attacks as “particularly regrettable,” highlighting concerns that military action had derailed ongoing attempts to defuse tensions.

The bloc called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” and urged all parties to exercise “utmost self-restraint” to prevent further escalation.

It also warned against actions that could worsen the crisis and called on all sides to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy .

The ministers reaffirmed that all states must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations and resolve disputes through peaceful means in line with international law and the UN Charter.

Beyond the geopolitical fallout, ASEAN said member states were closely coordinating to assist citizens caught in the crisis.

The bloc reaffirmed its commitment to providing emergency assistance to ASEAN nationals in the Middle East, including through coordinated consular support under existing regional guidelines for crisis situations.

Spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said Iranian forces had launched more than 700 drones and hundreds of ballistic missiles within 48 hours, describing the barrage as surpassing the scale of a previous 12-day confrontation.

Iranian authorities blamed the United States and Israel for the attack. Israel said it was “not aware” of operations in the area, while the United States said it was reviewing the reports.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed dead in the attack.

Iran has responded with strikes on Israel and US assets across the Gulf region, with explosions reported in several countries.