The Latest: Iran strikes fully loaded oil tanker off Dubai coast as gas reaches $4 a gallon in US
Authorities in Dubai said Tuesday morning they “contained” a Kuwaiti oil tanker after it came under attack from Iran. Officials said there was “no oil leakage and no injuries reported.” The Dubai Media office earlier said a drone hit the Kuwaiti tanker in Dubai waters.
Meanwhile, U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 as fuel prices continue to soar worldwide. The last time U.S. drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump on Tuesday said nations upset by high fuel prices should “go get your own oil” as Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
Also, Israel and the U.S. launched a new wave of strikes on Iran, hitting Tehran in the early morning hours.
Here is the latest:
Iranian foreign minister warns against targeting infrastructure
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday issued a warning against Israel “unashamedly” bombing pharmaceutical companies as part of the Iranian infrastructure the U.S. and Israel have been targeting since the war began.
“Their intentions are clear. What they’ve gotten wrong is that they’re not dealing with defenseless Palestinian civilians. Our Powerful Armed Forces will severely punish aggressors,” he wrote on X.
Israel’s defense minister outlined plans for Israeli invasion of Lebanon
Speaking to military officials, minister Israel Katz reiterated that the military aims to control the area south of the Litani River — some 20 miles (about 30 kilometers) north of the border.
He said Israel will prohibit the return of 600,000 Lebanese who fled the area over the last few weeks until safety and security were “ensured” for residents of Israel’s north.
Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged consistent cross-border fire since the latest flareup that began March 2. He said all homes in the Lebanese villages directly across the border from Israel would be demolished “in order to remove once and for all the threats near the border from residents of the north.”
Indonesian government implements efficiency measures as the Iran war squeezes the energy sector
The Indonesian government has started to implement a work-from-home policy for civil servants as an adaptive and proactive measure in response to global developments of the ongoing war in the Middle East that’s straining global supply chains, particularly in the energy sector.
“Implementing work-from-home arrangements for civil servants at the central and regional levels, with one workday per week on Fridays,” Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said in a broadcasted conference Tuesday.
The government is also implementing mobility efficiency measures that include a 50% reduction in official vehicle use, except for operational purposes and electric vehicles, and encouraging the use of public transportation.
The measure include a reduction of up to 50% in domestic business trips and up to 70% in international business trips, Hartarto said.
Recommendations regarding working from home and efficiency have also been provided to the private sector, taking into account the needs and characteristics of each business.
Trump says the US isn’t pulling assets from around the Strait of Hormuz just yet
“At some point I will, not quite yet, but countries have to come in and take care of it,” he told CBS News in a telephone interview Tuesday. “Iran has been decimated, but they’re going to have to come in and do their own work.”
The conversation followed Trump’s social media post in which he lashed out at allies over their unwillingness to help the U.S. reopen the critical passageway. He said Iran has been “decimated” and no longer poses a “real threat.”
“Let them come up and take it. They didn’t want to give a hand to anybody. NATO is terrible, and they’re all terrible,” Trump said. “So if they want oil, come up and grab it.”
Hegseth says Britain and other allies should ‘step up’ to open the Strait of Hormuz
“There are countries around the world who ought be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well,” Hegseth said Tuesday, speaking at a news conference from the Pentagon. “It’s not just the United States Navy. Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.”
In a social media post Tuesday, President Trump said nations upset by high fuel prices should “go get your own oil” as as average U.S. gas prices shot past $4 a gallon.
If countries don’t stand with you, it’s not much of an alliance, Hegseth says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the U.S. undertook the war in Iran for the “free world” and questioned the value of the NATO alliance if those countries don’t stand with America.
Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine have wrapped up a news conference at the Pentagon. Hegseth pointed to a social media post from President Donald Trump about allies and said Iranian missiles don’t reach the U.S. but could hit allies and others.
“The president’s pointing out you don’t have much of an, an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth won’t say if US will put ‘boots on the ground’ in Iran
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to tell reporters Tuesday whether or not the U.S. military will deploy ground troops against Iran.
“You can’t fight and win a war if you tell your adversary what you are willing to do or what you are not willing to do to include boots on the ground,” he said.
Hegseth added: “Our adversary right now thinks there are 15 different ways we could come at them with boots on the ground. And guess what? There are. ”
Hegseth also said talks with Iran to end the conflict are ongoing.
“We don’t want to have to do more militarily than we have to,” he said. “But I didn’t mean it flippantly when I said, in the meantime, we’ll negotiate with bombs.”
Gen. Caine says US strikes are focused on Iranian naval targets and defense industrial sites
Speaking at a news conference from the Pentagon on Tuesday, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. military action in Iran remains focused on “targeting their minelaying capability, their naval assets.”
“We’ve taken out again more than 150 ships,” Caine said, adding that attack helicopters are now joining in the effort targeting Iranian naval targets.
Another key objective of the war is disabling Iran’s defense industrial base, including nuclear research sites, Caine said.
“This includes factories, warehouses, nuclear weapons research and development labs, and the associated infrastructure required for Iran to reconstitute its combat capability,” Caine said.
UN’s refugee agency says more than 200,000 people crossed from Lebanon into Syria in March
The agency says the tally follows renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in the war and covers a period from March 2 to March 27.
The vast majority – nearly 180,000 – were Syrians returning to their war-battered country, in addition to more than 28,000 Lebanese.
“Most are people fleeing the intense Israeli bombardments. They arrive exhausted, traumatized and with very, very few belongings,” UNHCR’s representative in Syria, Aseer Al-Madaien, told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by video from Damascus.
The agency has already helped more than 3 million people displaced both within Syria and abroad who’ve returned home following the fall of President Bashar Assad in December 2024.
Unlike the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war, when Lebanese could flee across the border without visas, the current Syrian government has restricted the entry of Lebanese unless they have residency in Syria, a Syrian spouse or parent, or other exceptional circumstances.
Hegseth says he visited US troops fighting in Iran war
Speaking at a news conference from the Pentagon on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he visited American service members in the Middle East. He said he wouldn’t disclose the base names or locations for operational security.
Hegseth said he visited areas under the responsibility of U.S. Central Command on Saturday for about half a day.
“Suffice it to say, the trip was in honor,” Hegseth told reporters. “I had a chance to bear witness, and I witnessed the best of America.”
Israel begins new wave of airstrikes on Hezbollah in Beirut
Israel’s military says it has begun a new wave of airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut.
Italy says its relationship with the US is ‘solid’ after reports it denied use of a base to the US
The Italian government says its relationship with the U.S. is “solid and based on full and loyal cooperation,” following reports it denied the use of a Sicilian base to U.S. aircraft headed to the Middle East.
The government of Premier Giorgia Meloni said in a statement that Italy is acting “in full compliance with existing international agreements and the government’s guidelines expressed in parliament.”
It said each request for military use of Italian bases is examined on a case-by-case basis, its longstanding procedure.
“No critical issues or frictions with international partners have been registered,” it added.
New airstrikes target Tehran
Airstrikes hit Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Tuesday afternoon as air defenses could be heard firing.
Trump says nations upset by high fuel prices should ‘go get your own oil’
U.S. President Donald Trump says nations upset by high fuel prices should ‘go get your own oil’ as Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
His comments in a social media post on Tuesday came as average U.S. gas prices shot past $4 a gallon.
He expressed his frustration toward allies that have been unwilling to help the U.S. reopen the critical passageway. He also said they should buy from the U.S. because “we have plenty.”
Gasoline and diesel prices jump in UAE
The United Arab Emirates set sharply highly gasoline and diesel fuel prices on Tuesday for the coming month, with gasoline going up by over 30% and diesel jumping up more than 70%.
The UAE government sets the price monthly in line with international pricing, which has spiked over the Iran war and Tehran maintaining its chokehold over the Strait of Hormuz.
In the UAE, diesel fuel will jump to 4.69 dirhams ($1.28) a liter, up from 2.72 dirhams (74 cents). The new price is $4.38 a gallon for diesel, lower than the average gallon of diesel in the U.S., which sits at $5.45 a gallon.
Premium gasoline in the UAE will be 3.39 dirhams (92 cents) a liter. That’s $3.49 a gallon, where premium on average in the U.S. is $4.90 a gallon.
Egyptian president briefs Russia leader in call
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi briefed Russian leader Vladimir Putin about Egypt’s efforts to de-escalate in the region during a phone call Tuesday, according to el-Sissi’s office.
He said Russia is able to help put an end to the war, a statement from the office said.
Italy refuses US permission to use air base
Italy has refused permission for U.S. military assets to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for an operation linked to the Middle East offensive, an official said.
The refusal was issued a few days ago and concerned U.S. aircraft including bombers, which were intended to land at the base before continuing toward the Middle East, the official said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Under agreements governing U.S. military use of bases in Italy, Rome must be formally consulted and grant approval before operations can proceed.
The request was denied because Italian authorities were not alerted in time and the U.S. assets included bombers, the official said.
Premier Giorgia Meloni’s government has pledged decisions involving military actions would require parliamentary approval.
Italy’s defense ministry did not immediately issue a statement on the decision.
Turkey condemns attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
Turkey has denounced attacks targeting personnel with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon as a serious violation of international law.
The statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued Tuesday added that those responsible for attacking UNIFIL peacekeepers must face justice.
The statement criticized Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, saying it was deepening regional instability, and issued a call to the international community to end “Israel’s expansionism, aggression, and occupation.”
Korean Air to enter cost-cutting mode
Korean Air says it is entering an “emergency management mode” to cope with soaring fuel costs triggered by the war in the Middle East.
South Korea’s biggest airline said Tuesday it is setting internal targets to reduce costs that are not essential to flight operations.
The company said cost-cutting measures would be implemented in phases starting in April, but didn’t specify what they would be or whether they would include major flight reductions.
It added that fuel costs for April are expected to be more than double its previous projections stated in annual business plans.
Satellite images show damage to Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base
Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press show damage after an Iranian attack targeting Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base.
The March 15 photo from Planet Labs PBC shows damage to one of the massive air base’s buildings.
Qatar and the U.S. have not acknowledged the damage.
Al Udeid serves as the forward headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command, which is prosecuting the war.
Information has so far been scarce about the damage being done across the Middle East, particularly inside closed military facilities, since the war started Feb. 28.
The images come from Planet Labs PBC, a San Francisco-based firm used by media outlets, including the AP.
Planet Labs has put a two-week delay on its imagery becoming public, citing concerns its imagery could be used by “adversarial actors.”
Egypt minister discusses mediation with Arab counterparts
Egypt Foreign Minister Badr Abdelattay briefed foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan about the latest round of mediation efforts.
Abdelattay and Pakistani and Turkish counterparts met over the weekend in Islamabad for talks aimed at bringing Iran and the United States back to the negotiating table, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.
Abdelattay discussed the meeting’s outcome and ongoing efforts to stop the war with his counterparts, Egypt’s ministry said without elaborating.
Israel says 10 soldiers have died in Lebanon since invasion
Israel’s military spokesperson says 10 soldiers have died fighting in Lebanon since the start of the Israeli invasion, including four deaths announced Tuesday.
As of Friday, the military said 261 troops had been injured, 22 seriously, in fighting since the start of the latest war.
UN special rapporteur on Iran decries executions
The United Nations’ special rapporteur on Iran denounced executions being carried out by Tehran.
Mai Sato made the comment on X after two more members of the Iranian exile group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq had been executed Tuesday.
Two others were hanged Monday.
“Given the ongoing internet shutdown, it remains unclear who else has been or is being executed,” she wrote. “What is clear is that executions are being used as a means of suppressing political dissent amid war.”
Israeli soldier dismissed over CNN incident
An Israeli soldier has been dismissed after making “inappropriate comments” to a CNN crew, Israel’s military spokesperson said Tuesday.
The soldier’s battalion assaulted and detained the crew in the West Bank last week. CNN said one of the soldiers put producer Cyril Theophilos in a chokehold during the encounter.
It was not clear which soldier was dismissed. There were multiple soldiers filmed by CNN claiming the Israeli-occupied West Bank belonged to them. Other soldiers involved in the incident received reprimands, the spokesperson said.
A formal police investigation was opened into allegations of violence against another soldier, the spokesperson said.
The military’s chief of staff has suspended the battalion from its current deployment.
Chinese ships transit Strait of Hormuz
Three Chinese vessels recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz “through coordination with relevant parties,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.
“We appreciate the assistance provided by the relevant parties,” she said without naming them.
She repeated China’s call for an immediate ceasefire, saying the strait is a vital corridor for goods and energy trade.
Gas prices soar past $4 on average for gallon of regular in the US
U.S. gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 as fuel prices continue to soar worldwide.
According to motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.02, over a dollar more than before the war began.
The last time U.S. drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The price is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over $4 a gallon for a while now.
Myanmar hit with fuel constraints and regulations
Some of Myanmar’s most visible fuel constraints have appeared in big cities with long lines at gas stations becoming a daily sight, according to a report in the state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper on Tuesday.
Authorities have gradually rolled out measures and controls including an odd-even vehicle numbering system limits which cars can be on the roads each day, a QR code system and daily fuel purchase limits.
The measures have slowed fuel distribution and added to congestion as vehicles often wait for hours or even overnight under rationing rules.
The report says authorities have taken action against 17 gas stations and warned 24 others for violations such as selling without scanning codes, failing to open or overcharging.
Oil steadies and Asian stocks mostly lower
Oil steadied and Asian stocks were mostly lower Tuesday as signs of a de-escalation of the Iran war remained mixed.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 was down 1.6% to 51,063.72. South Korea’s Kospi lost 4.3% to 5,052.46.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down 0.3% to 24,678.17, while the Shanghai Composite index fell 0.8% to 3,891.86.
Brent crude futures were less than 0.1% lower at $107.37 a barrel on Tuesday, while benchmark U.S. crude edged up 0.1% to $102.93 per barrel.
