Trump says Israel didn't drag U.S. to strike Iran, if anything, 'I might have forced their hand'

Intelligence assessment warns of Iranian attacks on US following Khamenei's death

By Jana Winter WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - Iran and its proxies could target the U.S. with attacks in response to the Saturday killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by Israeli and U.S. strikes, according to a U.S. intelligence assessment reviewed by Reuters. The

State Department urges Americans in Middle East to leave immediately

The latest travel advisory applies to nearly the entire region and comes as the US Embassy in Jordan evacuated all personnel due to an unspecified threat.

Melania Trump chairs UN meeting on children in conflict

By David Brunnstrom March 2 (Reuters) - U.S. first lady Melania Trump chaired a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on children and education in conflict on Monday, two days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel launched attacks on Iran that prompted a U.N.

Rubio says Israel's strike plan triggered US attack on Iran

The United States attacked Iran only after learning that ally Israel was going to strike and fearing Tehran would retaliate against US forces, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday. "We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate

US not currently postured for ground forces in Iran, Rubio says

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The United States is not postured for ground forces in Iran at this moment but U.S. President Donald Trump has those options, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Monday, adding that the administration believes that the objective

As Iran weighs Khamenei’s successor, some question future of role

Iran faces uncertainty as the process of choosing Khamenei’s successor unfolds, with some experts saying that wartime conditions and the lack of a clear heir could prompt debate over whether the supreme leader’s office should continue in its traditional form.

Kazakhstan foreign minister discusses Middle East with regional ministers

March 2 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister discussed events in Iran and throughout the Middle East on Monday with counterparts from Central Asia and Azerbaijan, the Kazakhstan Foreign Ministry said. A ministry statement said those taking part in the discussion, unusual

Iran vows to attack any ship trying to pass through Strait of Hormuz

CAIRO, March 2 (Reuters) - An Iranian Revolutionary Guards senior official said on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and Iran will fire on any ship trying to pass, Iranian media reported. This is Iran's most explicit warning since telling ships it was closing the

Greek police detain man on suspicion of spying on naval base in Crete

ATHENS, March 2 (Reuters) - Greek police have detained a 36-year-old man on suspicion of spying on a naval base on the island of Crete, a strategic facility for the United States in the eastern Mediterranean, police officials said on Monday. The man was detained at Athens’

About 10% of global container fleet caught in Hormuz backup, shipping CEO says

By Lisa Baertlein LONG BEACH, Calif., March 2 (Reuters) - Container ships account for roughly 100 of the 750 ships backed up around the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, Jeremy Nixon, CEO of container carrier Ocean Network Express (ONE), said on

Bombing Iran, Trump has 'epic fury' but endgame undefined

US President Donald Trump says he attacked Iran to eliminate a threat. How he sees the war ending is much less clear. Trump at first said he was eliminating a nuclear threat. After Saturday's first strikes killed the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he called on Iranians

Authorities probe Iran, terror links in Texas shooting, but say too soon to tell

By Brad Brooks and Jana Winter March 2 (Reuters) - Authorities investigating a mass shooting at a bar in Austin, Texas, that killed at least two people said on Monday it was too early to say if the gunmanwas motivated by the war in Iran. The body of the gunman, who was killed

Analysis-How Dubai's safe-haven status is being put to the test

By Hadeel Al Sayegh, Rachna Uppal and Federico Maccioni DUBAI/ABU DHABI, March 2 (Reuters) - For decades, Dubai's sales pitch featured gleaming skylines, tax-free salaries, ease of doing business and something far more intangible: the unspoken promise that whatever was

About 10% of the global container ships caught in Gulf of Hormuz backup, ONE CEO says

By Lisa Baertlein LONG BEACH, Calif., March 2 (Reuters) - Container ships account for roughly 100 of the 750 ships backed up around the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, Jeremy Nixon, CEO of container carrier Ocean Network Express (ONE), said on

US Congress to debate Trump's war powers

The US Congress is scheduled to vote this week on motions seeking to curb President Donald Trump as he wages war against Iran but the Republican majority will probably shield him. Trump has sought to expand executive power dramatically since returning to the White House in

'A war we have nothing to do with': A weary Lebanon grapples with Hezbollah's entry into Iran war

For some, the moment feels existential: 'If Iran falls, all of us will,' one woman said. But for a war-tired country, sectarian tensions seethe under the pressure of displacement and uncertainty

EU's Costa backs Lebanon's decision to end Hezbollah military activities

BRUSSELS, March 2 (Reuters) - European Council President Antonio Costa said on Monday he welcomed the Lebanese government's decision to end Hezbollah's military activities and its demand that those responsible for firing at Israel be brought to justice. "It is now important for

Fuel tanker ablaze in Strait of Hormuz after drone strike, Iran Revolutionary Guards say

CAIRO, March 2 (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards said a fuel tanker, identified as the Honduran-flagged Athe Nova, was burning in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by two drones, Iranian news agencies reported on Monday. The strait is the world's most vital oil export

Cricket-West Indies, Zimbabwe unable to return from India due to Middle East airspace closures

March 2 (Reuters) - The West Indies and Zimbabwe teams said on Monday they have delayed their return from India after their exit from the Twenty20 World Cup due to international airspace closures amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. West Indies failed to reach the

Hundreds of Iranians cross border into Turkey, witness says

On Sunday, a day after the joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran began, travelers told Reuters that some Iranian citizens were being stopped from crossing into ‌Turkey, but by Monday afternoon Iranians were being allowed through

From handwashed underwear to fake Adidas, stranded travellers wait out travel chaos

By Lucy Craymer and Justyna Pawlak DUBAI/DOHA, March 2 (Reuters) - In the lobby of a tired hotel near Doha airport, stranded travellers wear identical fake Adidas T-shirts bought from a nearby store and swap tips on where to buy underwear. "It’s our uniform,” said Erika

Middle East war puts shipping firms in tight insurance spot

The outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East has seen maritime insurers cancel coverage, adding to the risk shipping companies face. Many insurers now refuse to offer war risk coverage for the Gulf, a key hub for global oil trade, as the war pitting Iran against the United

UN chief calls for Israel to re-open Gaza crossings: spokesman

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Monday for Israel to re-open Gaza border crossings it closed after launching the war against Iran along with the United States. Among the crossings shut down on Saturday as a security measure is the Rafah conduit -- the only gateway

U.S.-Iran diplomatic channel remains open, Switzerland says

GENEVA, March 2 (Reuters) - Switzerland said on Monday thatits diplomatic channel between the United States and Iran has remained active since the U.S.-Israeli air war against Iran began on February 28. "It is available to both parties and operates in both directions," the

Turkey's Erdogan says attacks on Iran are clear violation of international law

ANKARA, March 2 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan criticised attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel as a "clear violation" of interntional law on Monday, adding that Turkey shared the pain of the Iranian people. Speaking at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner in

NATO's Rutte praises US, Israeli military action against Iran but says alliance won't be involved

BRUSSELS, March 2 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday praised U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran, saying it was degrading Tehran's ability to get its hands on nuclear and ballistic missile capability, but he said NATO itself would not be involved.

Analysis-Middle East conflict puts Dubai mega-hub's market muscle to the test

By Federico Maccioni and Tim Hepher DUBAI/PARIS, March 2 (Reuters) - Escalating conflict in the Middle East has laid bare how heavily global air travel relies on a handful of hubs led by Dubai, the world’s busiest international airport, after the shutdown of Gulf airspace

UK PM says US will not use British bases in Cyprus

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday British military bases in Cyprus will not be used by the US in its ongoing war with Iran. Starmer's comments came despite criticism from US President Donald Trump over the UK leader's initial refusal to let Washington use British

Qatar downs Iran warplanes, halts LNG production as Gulf crisis deepens

Qatar shot down two Iranian fighter jets and halted LNG production over Iran's latest strikes, sending prices soaring, as the Gulf crisis escalated sharply on Monday. Qatar's air force downed two Sukhoi SU24 bombers, the defence ministry said -- the first such action by a Gulf

Qatar downs Iran jets as Tehran targets oil and gas in spiralling Gulf crisis

Qatar downed two Iranian bombers and halted LNG production on Monday, as Tehran widened its attacks to hit oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE in a sharply escalating Gulf crisis that has sent prices soaring. Qatar's air force shot down two Sukhoi Su-24 bombers, the

Israel won't end Iran war until Hezbollah threat in Lebanon is 'eliminated,' army chief says

The IDF said it intercepted a missile and a drone launched from Lebanon after sirens sounded across northern Israel, and that another missile fell in an open area; Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam vowed to ban Hezbollah's military activity and limit the group to political

From oil to data centers, US-Iran war takes key Mideast infrastructure offline

Although disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have long been expected as a by-product of a regional war with Iran, Tehran is expanding the list of targets — with other key energy assets potentially in the crosshairs.

Trump pledges 'whatever it takes,' signals Iran war could last weeks

President Donald Trump said the US military projected the war would last four to five weeks, though it has the capacity "to go far longer."

Trump says he ordered Iran strikes to thwart Tehran's missile program

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he ordered the U.S. military to attack Iran to thwart Tehran's nuclear program and a ballistic missile program that he said was growing rapidly. (Reporting by Steve Holland; eduiting by David Ljunggren)

Stranded tourists shelter from missile fire in Dubai

On Dubai's artificial island, empty beaches stand in stark contrast to frantic hotel lobbies, where stranded tourists have taken shelter as they wait for a way home. Iran's strikes on Gulf neighbours since Saturday, following the US-Israeli attack, forced the UAE to shut its

Mideast war risks sending global economy into stagflation

An extended conflict in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran could trigger global stagflation -- a troublesome blend of high inflation and anaemic growth -- due to spiking oil and gas prices, economists warned. - Will there be an oil shock ? - The

Qatar says it shot down two Iranian jets, intercepted missile and drone barrage

Ballistic missiles and drones 'targeted several areas' in Qatar, according to the country's Defense Ministry, and the missiles were shot down before they reached their targets

Khamenei's chosen successor could offer Trump a 'dream deal' to end the Iran war

Ali Larijani – whom Khamenei designated to assume control in the event of his death – could pitch Trump a deal that trades regime survival for the strategic gains Washington seeks, arguing that overthrowing Iran's leadership risks chaos and that there is no viable alternative

Russia's Putin, Saudi crown prince discuss Iran escalation risks

MOSCOW, March 2 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed risks of escalation around Iran in a phone call with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, the Kremlin said in a statement. "Both sides expressed serious concern about the real risks of

Factbox-Top U.S. general outlines initial timeline of U.S. military operation in Iran

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - Top U.S. General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Monday gave an initial timeline and some details on the start of the U.S. military operation in Iran. So far four U.S. service members have been killed and four others remain

'It feels like money is melting': In Gaza, a cash crisis makes daily life harder, fuels talk of cryptocurrency

With a crippled economy and all crossings closed due to the new Iran war, Gaza's worsening cash shortage is distorting exchange rates and inflating prices. 'We live in a place where you can have money in your account and still not be able to touch it,' says one vendor

Memories surface of Iraqi invasion as Kuwait hit by Iran

Workers stayed home and Ramadan prayers were cancelled in Kuwait on Monday as the tiny Gulf emirate was left on edge following Iranian attacks that marked its biggest upheaval in decades. Home to a major US military presence, Kuwait has been sucked into Iran's war against the

'No aborts. Good luck': Key moments in the US war on Iran

After years of US planning and weeks of military buildup, President Donald Trump gave the order for American forces to strike Iran: "Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck." US forces then launched a sweeping campaign of strikes that has smashed Iranian

Trump: U.S. ahead of schedule in Iran but can extend fighting beyond projected 4-5 weeks

'The big wave hasn't even happened. The big one is coming soon,' Trump told CNN earlier Monday. Meanwhile, the U.S. defense secretary declined to give a timeline for the war, saying it was up to Trump to ⁠decide the length while insisting 'this is not endless war'

Trump: Main wave of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran yet to come, report says

'The big wave hasn't even happened. The big one is coming soon,' Trump told CNN. The U.S. Defense Secretary declined on Monday to give a timeline for the war, saying it was up to Trump to ⁠decide the length – 'This is not Iraq. This is not endless war'

UK PM Starmer says Iran stepping up 'reckless' strikes after Khamenei’s killing

LONDON, March 2 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has led Iran to strike military and economic targets in a more "reckless" manner in the region. The death of Khamenei "will not stop Iran from

Trump tells CNN the 'big wave' in war with Iran is yet to come

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The "big wave" is yet to come in the war with Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump told CNN on Monday, adding that Washington did not know who the country's new leader would be following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "We haven't even

Italy says Gulf countries have requested air defence systems

By Angelo Amante ROME, March 2 (Reuters) - Italy has received requests for air defence and anti-drone systems from Gulf countries caught up in the conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States, Rome's defence minister told lawmakers on Monday. The war against Iran is

Is Netanyahu's aim in Iran to remove an existential threat? Ministers in his orbit say otherwise

While a desire to see the Ayatollah regime in Iran come to an end contributed to Saturday's strike, the looming election and a set of unflattering polls also weighed heavily on the Israeli PM ■ 'The road to the polling stations runs through Washington and Tehran,' one minister