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What you need to know
- US President Donald Trump told allies to buy US oil, or to come to Hormuz and just ‘take it’
- EU Council President Antontio Costa said he has spoken with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian
- Iran’s parliamentary Security Commission approved a plan to impose a fee on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz, state TV reported
- Indonesia has called for a UN meeting after three of its soldiers, acting as UN peacekeepers, were killed in Lebanon
Here are the main developments in the US-Israeli war on Iran on Tuesday, March 31:
Why reopening the Strait of Hormuz by force is so dangerous
Iran is calling the shots on the global choke point that is the Strait of Hormuz. What would it actually take to force the narrow waterway open again?
DW speaks to security analyst Megan Sutcliffe about the risks.
Iran threatens to strike US tech companies if assassinations continue
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Tuesday it will target US tech companies’ bases in the Middle East as of Wednesday in retaliation for any future assassinations of its leaders.
The Guard listed 18 companies including Microsoft, Meta, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Oracle, Tesla, Nvidia and Boeing.
“These companies should expect the destruction of their respective units in exchange for each terror act in Iran, starting from 8 PM Tehran time (1630 GMT) on Wednesday, April 1st,” the IRGC statement said.
The Guard accused the US tech companies of helping with assassination strikes targeting Iranian leaders by providing important data.
“Companies that actively participate in terrorist designs will face reciprocal action for every targeted assassination,” the statement said.
The ongoing war started with US-Israeli strikes on Iran which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has since seen the targeted assassination of several other Iranian top brass including Revolutionary Guard commander-in-chief Mohammad Pakpour and powerful security chief, Ali Larijani.
European countries condemn killing of UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon
A group of 10 European countries and the European Union high representative condemned on Tuesday the killing of three peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon.
“We strongly condemn all recent attacks on UNIFIL contingents, which provoked unacceptable casualties among the peacekeepers in recent days,” the joint statement read, urging all parties to ensure the peacekeepers’ safety.
The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, and the High Representative of the European Union.
What do we know about the 3 UNIFIL peacekeepers’ death?
One Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeeper was killed near Adchit Al Qusayr on Sunday, with an unnamed UN security source telling the French AFP news agency on Tuesday that he was killed by Israeli fire.
Investigations had shown the fire that killed the peacekeeper came from an Israeli tank, the source said, adding that “debris from a tank round has been recovered” at the site.
Israel’s military has said it was investigating the incident, while the United Nations Security Council was holding an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss the peacekeepers’ death, at the request of France.
Two more UNIFIL peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday, with UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix saying an initial investigation points to a roadside explosion hitting their convoy.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon blamed the incident on Hezbollah.
Israel says to remain in southern Lebanon after war
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday said the military would occupy parts of southern Lebanon even after the current conflict with the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militant group ends.
What did Katz say?
“At the end of the operation, the IDF will establish a security zone inside Lebanon — a line of defense against anti-tank missiles — and will maintain security control over the entire area up to the Litani River, including the remaining Litani bridges,” Katz said in a statement.
The Litani River flows some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. The area between it and the Israeli border represents nearly a 10th of Lebanon’s territory.
Katz’s statement was not the first Israeli one signalling an intention to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, but it was the clearest such statement since Hezbollah attacks on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei drew Lebanon into the conflict on March 2.
“All houses in villages near the Lebanese border will be destroyed, in accordance with the model used in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza, in order to permanently remove the threats near the border to northern residents,” he said.
Katz added that displaced residents would not be allowed to return south of the Litani “until the safety and security of residents of northern Israel is guaranteed.”
UN warns of Israeli occupation
United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday warned that Lebanon could become yet another Israeli-occupied territory in the region.
“Given the intensity of the coercive displacement that we are seeing, how should we prepare, collectively as the international community, for a new addition to the list of occupied territories?” Fletcher asked the UN Security Council.
Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon has left over 1,200 people killed and displaced over one million.
UN official estimates Arab countries lost 6% of GDP in one month of war
A top UN official on Tuesday said the US-Israeli war with Iran has cost Arab nations in the Gulf and Middle East an estimated $186 billion (€161 billion) since it was launched on February 28.
Speaking in Amman, Jordan, UN Assistant Secretary General Abdallah Al Dardari said, “We hope the fighting will stop tomorrow, as every day of delay has negative repercussions on the global economy.”
“We estimate that the loss to the Arab region’s GDP as a result of one month of fighting will be around six percent,” Dardari continued, adding, “Six percent of GDP means the region has lost around $186 billion from its economy in a single month.”
Dardari, a top UN official in the region, said, “The impact on GDP is very significant in the Gulf region, where it could reach $168 billion; and in the Levant region, where it could reach around $30 billion.”
As nations in the Gulf and Middle East are drawn into the conflict, Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed Gulf nations’ dependence on oil to run their economies.
“The Arab economy relies on virtually a single commodity,” said Dardari on Tuesday. “Even countries that do not export oil depend on remittances from expatriates in oil-exporting countries and on aid from those same countries, while the oil-exporting countries themselves rely on a single product.”
“This fragility in the Arab economy is demonstrated by recent events, which prove that it is unsustainable.”
Dardari also delivered a grim prognosis for employment in the region moving forward, “We estimate that the number of jobs we will lose as a result of this conflict is around 3.7 million.”
“As for the impact on poverty,” he continued, “we expect that around four million more people in the region will fall, or have already fallen, below the poverty line this month as a result of the hostilities.”
What to know if you’re just joining us
Tuesday is day 32 of the war in Iran, with no end in immediate sight, despite Washington’s repeated assertions that peace negotiations are ongoing. Here are the top headlines from today if you are just joining us:
- US President Donald Trump voices frustration with allies who have distanced themselves from the war, telling them to “go get your own oil”
- EU Council President Antonio Costa has urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to stop strikes across the Middle East and engage in diplomacy over the Strait of Hormuz
- The Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers have called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the war
- The Pentagon says US military operations in Iran are currently focused on targeting Tehran’s “minelaying capability, their naval assets”
- Iranian government officials confirm that military sites in the city of Isfahan were damaged by overnight airstrikes
- The US national average retail price of gasoline has crossed $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022, data from price-tracking service GasBuddy shows
- Kuwait’s state news agency reported says a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker anchored in Dubai was hit by strikes
- Iran’s parliamentary Security Commission approved a plan to impose a fee on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz, state TV reported
Pentagon: US has more options, Iran has ever fewer as war goes on
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine on Tuesday offered updates on the situation in Iran at a Pentagon news conference.
Caine said US military operations in Iran are currently focused on targeting Tehran’s “minelaying capability, their naval assets.” Caine, who said attack helicopters were joining the effort, told reporters that US forces have taken out “more than 150 ships.”
Additionally, Caine said that US and Israeli forces are targeting Iran’s defense industrial complex.
“This includes factories, warehouses, nuclear weapons research and development labs, and the associated infrastructure required for Iran to reconstitute its combat capability,” said the general.
For his part, Hegseth said the US was keen to wrap up the war on its own terms.
“We have more and more options,” he said, “and they have less… in only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive,” he said. “Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it.”
The defense secretary again refused to rule out “boots on the ground,” but reiterated what President Trump has said about alleged talks with Iran. “They are very real. They are ongoing, they are active, and I think, gaining strength.”
“In the meantime, we’ll negotiate with bombs,” he added.
Asked about reports that both China and Russia are aiding Iran’s defense, Hegseth said, “As far as Russia and China, we know exactly what they’re doing, what they are or are not doing.”
China, Pakistan call for immediate ceasefire in Iran
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministries of China and Pakistan called for an immediate ceasefire in Iran and a swift end to hostilities across the Middle East, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported.
Both nations’ foreign ministers, who met in the Chinese capital Beijing, demanded safe passage for ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz — a major global transport chokepoint that Iran has held closed for a month as well as those trapped in the area.
Beyond calling on warring parties to halt attacks on all non-military targets, the Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers released a five-point plan for restoring peace and stability in the region.
It wasn’t immediately clear what the peace plan consisted of. Washington has already sent a 12-point peace plan to Iran, via Pakistan, but the Iranian Foreign Ministry has rejected the plan as “excessive.”
Trump threatens allies again, ‘buy US oil’ or ‘just TAKE IT’ in Hormuz
In a Tuesday morning (US time) post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump continued his attacks on allies as he lashed out at nations unwilling to accompany him on his “excursion” in Iran.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself,” Trump added: “the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
Trump has consistently railed against allies unwilling to join the war after the US and Israel launched it on February 28 without consulting them.
With the Strait of Hormuz closed by Iran in response to US-Israeli attacks, global oil markets and energy prices have gone haywire, with nations around the world scrambling to come to grips with the new situation, especially oil and gas shortages and price spikes for food and other goods.
Trump not only singled out the UK for criticism, he also went after France for closing its airspace to US military planes, writing: “The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL.”
Earlier in the day, Italy announced that it had refused to allow US bombers headed for Iran to land at a shared air base in Sicily before completing their missions.
EU’s Costa holds call with Iran’s President Pezeshkian
EU Council President Antonio Costa has warned that the situation in the Middle East is extremely dangerous and called on Iran to show restraint.
In a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Costa urged de-escalation, protection of civilians and infrastructure, and full respect for international law.
He said the loss of innocent lives, including at a school in Minab that killed at least 165 people, most of them children — which appears to have been hit by a US Tomahawk missile according to reports — was “deeply regrettable.”
“To de-escalate the situation, I urged Iran to stop the unacceptable attacks on countries in the region and to engage positively on the diplomatic track, notably with the UN to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Costa said.
“There must be space for diplomacy. The EU stands ready to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and for a lasting solution to end the hostilities, while addressing the broader security concerns posed by Iran,” he added.
Iran confirms US strike on Isfahan military site
Iranian government officials on Tuesday confirmed that military sites in the city of Isfahan had been damaged by overnight airstrikes.
“At present there is no information available on the extent of the damage or the number of deaths and injuries resulting from these attacks,” the region’s deputy governor told Iranian state media outlet ISNA.
The attack had been previously reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump shared video of an attack purported to have targeted Iranian military facilities on his social media platform Truth Social, though he offered no information or context, just images of a missile strike followed by massive explosions.
The blasts seen in the video suggest that this may have been a munitions depot.
According to the WSJ, US forces dropped “a large number” of 2,000-pound (900-kilo) “bunker buster” bombs in the assault.
Qatar Foreign Ministry urges de-escalation, emphasizes regional unity
The Qatari Foreign Ministry on Tuesday called for “all parties to refrain from attacking energy and nuclear infrastructure” as the US-Israeli war against Iran enters its second month.
Speaking at a routine press briefing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters, “Our understanding is that there is a very unified position in the Gulf calling for de-escalation and an end to the war.”
The statement came after Iran attacked a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai and the US and Israel bombed Iranian water desalination plants and nuclear facilities overnight.
Speaking of the broader situation and without naming names, the Qatari spokesman called threats to Iran’s desalination plants, “a threat to the entire Middle East.”
Emphasizing that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz — which Iran has kept closed since the US and Israel launched their war on February 28 — the Qatari representative said that “the future of the Strait of Hormuz should be decided by the entire region,” adding “the sooner we get to the negotiating table the better.”
Eurozone inflation jumps in March as war pressures energy prices
Inflation across the 21 “eurozone” countries using the European single currency rose quite sharply in March amid the conflict in Iran and the wider Middle East.
Figures released by Eurostat on Tuesday showed aggregate inflation of 2.5% in March, compared to 1.9% in February, pushing the figure back past the target rate of 2%.
The increase was driven almost entirely by the sudden spike in energy costs amid the pressure on the oil and gas markets caused by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and more general tension for the energy industry.
Energy inflation figures went from a 3.1% decline in February to a 4.9% spike in March, while the rate of inflation for other core areas like services, non-energy industrial goods and food, alcohol and tobacco all showed modest reductions from February’s figures.
In Germany, the rise was slightly more pronounced. February inflation of 1.9% jumped to 2.7% through March, figures from Destatis showed on Monday. That was the highest level since January 2024.
European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde has said that businesses may be quicker to raise prices during this outbreak of inflation due to bitter memories of the last episode of higher prices in 2022. Then, inflation rose to double digits amid the economic aftermath of the COVID pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its restrictions on gas deliveries to Europe.
Iran says US-Israeli strikes destroyed desalination plant and key drug making facility
US and Israeli strikes destroyed a water desalination plant as well as a major pharmaceutical facility early Tuesday according to regime officials quoted by Iranian media outlets.
“One of the desalination plants on Qeshm Island was targeted and is now completely out of service, as it is not possible to repair it in the short term,” ISNA news agency quoted a Health Ministry official as saying.
In early March, the Iranian government said that US and Israeli forces had targeted a desalination plant on the island. These plants are key to providing drinkable water across the country.
Early on Tuesday, the Iranian government also confirmed airstrikes on pharmaceutical facilities producing life-saving drugs.
In a social media post, the government said, “During the US and Zionist regime attacks on civilian centers on the morning of Tuesday, one of the largest companies producing anti-cancer, anesthetic and specialized medicines was damaged and the drug production line was damaged.”
The strikes come after US President Donald Trump loudly proclaimed that the US would expand its attacks if Iran did not agree to a ceasefire “soon,” with Trump threatening Iran’s key oil installations at Kharg Island as well as floating the possibility of targeting water desalination plants — potentially a war crime.
Prior to the Tuesday attacks, Erika Guevara-Rosa of the rights group Amnesty International called on Trump to retract his threat.
“President Donald Trump must retract deeply irresponsible threats of acts that would unleash catastrophic harm on millions of civilians,” she said, adding: “The decision to not proceed with such attacks must be based on the USA’s obligations under international humanitarian law to avoid civilian harm, not the outcome of political negotiations.”
Dalai Lama calls for ‘love, compassion, tolerance and self-disciple’ over violence
The Dalai Lama on Tuesday took to social media to “endorse the powerful appeal for peace made by the Holy Father, Pope Leo.”
The Buddhist spiritual leader said Pope Leo XIV‘s Palm Sunday message calling for the complete renunciation of violence had “resonated profoundly” with him.
Noting that all of the world’s great spiritual traditions fundamentally preach “love, compassion, tolerance and self-discipline,” the Dalai Lama added that, “violence only begets more violence and is never a lasting foundation for peace.”
Urging mutual respect and a realization that “we are all brothers and sisters,” the spiritual leader said he prays for the end of the conflicts in Ukraine and across the Middle East while noting that lasting conflict resolution, “must be rooted in dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect.”
- US President Donald Trump told allies to buy US oil, or to come to Hormuz and just ‘take it’
- EU Council President Antontio Costa said he has spoken with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian
- Iran’s parliamentary Security Commission approved a plan to impose a fee on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz, state TV reported
- Indonesia has called for a UN meeting after three of its soldiers, acting as UN peacekeepers, were killed in Lebanon
Here are the main developments in the US-Israeli war on Iran on Tuesday, March 31:
Here are the main developments in the US-Israeli war on Iran on Tuesday, March 31:
Iran is calling the shots on the global choke point that is the Strait of Hormuz. What would it actually take to force the narrow waterway open again?
DW speaks to security analyst Megan Sutcliffe about the risks.
Iran is calling the shots on the global choke point that is the Strait of Hormuz. What would it actually take to force the narrow waterway open again?
DW speaks to security analyst Megan Sutcliffe about the risks.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Tuesday it will target US tech companies’ bases in the Middle East as of Wednesday in retaliation for any future assassinations of its leaders.
The Guard listed 18 companies including Microsoft, Meta, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Oracle, Tesla, Nvidia and Boeing.
“These companies should expect the destruction of their respective units in exchange for each terror act in Iran, starting from 8 PM Tehran time (1630 GMT) on Wednesday, April 1st,” the IRGC statement said.
The Guard accused the US tech companies of helping with assassination strikes targeting Iranian leaders by providing important data.
“Companies that actively participate in terrorist designs will face reciprocal action for every targeted assassination,” the statement said.
The ongoing war started with US-Israeli strikes on Iran which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has since seen the targeted assassination of several other Iranian top brass including Revolutionary Guard commander-in-chief Mohammad Pakpour and powerful security chief, Ali Larijani.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Tuesday it will target US tech companies’ bases in the Middle East as of Wednesday in retaliation for any future assassinations of its leaders.
The Guard listed 18 companies including Microsoft, Meta, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Oracle, Tesla, Nvidia and Boeing.
“These companies should expect the destruction of their respective units in exchange for each terror act in Iran, starting from 8 PM Tehran time (1630 GMT) on Wednesday, April 1st,” the IRGC statement said.
The Guard accused the US tech companies of helping with assassination strikes targeting Iranian leaders by providing important data.
“Companies that actively participate in terrorist designs will face reciprocal action for every targeted assassination,” the statement said.
The ongoing war started with US-Israeli strikes on Iran which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has since seen the targeted assassination of several other Iranian top brass including Revolutionary Guard commander-in-chief Mohammad Pakpour and powerful security chief, Ali Larijani.
A group of 10 European countries and the European Union high representative condemned on Tuesday the killing of three peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon.
“We strongly condemn all recent attacks on UNIFIL contingents, which provoked unacceptable casualties among the peacekeepers in recent days,” the joint statement read, urging all parties to ensure the peacekeepers’ safety.
The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, and the High Representative of the European Union.
What do we know about the 3 UNIFIL peacekeepers’ death?
One Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeeper was killed near Adchit Al Qusayr on Sunday, with an unnamed UN security source telling the French AFP news agency on Tuesday that he was killed by Israeli fire.
Investigations had shown the fire that killed the peacekeeper came from an Israeli tank, the source said, adding that “debris from a tank round has been recovered” at the site.
Israel’s military has said it was investigating the incident, while the United Nations Security Council was holding an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss the peacekeepers’ death, at the request of France.
Two more UNIFIL peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday, with UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix saying an initial investigation points to a roadside explosion hitting their convoy.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon blamed the incident on Hezbollah.
A group of 10 European countries and the European Union high representative condemned on Tuesday the killing of three peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon.
“We strongly condemn all recent attacks on UNIFIL contingents, which provoked unacceptable casualties among the peacekeepers in recent days,” the joint statement read, urging all parties to ensure the peacekeepers’ safety.
The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, and the High Representative of the European Union.
One Indonesian UNIFIL peacekeeper was killed near Adchit Al Qusayr on Sunday, with an unnamed UN security source telling the French AFP news agency on Tuesday that he was killed by Israeli fire.
Investigations had shown the fire that killed the peacekeeper came from an Israeli tank, the source said, adding that “debris from a tank round has been recovered” at the site.
Israel’s military has said it was investigating the incident, while the United Nations Security Council was holding an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss the peacekeepers’ death, at the request of France.
Two more UNIFIL peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday, with UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix saying an initial investigation points to a roadside explosion hitting their convoy.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon blamed the incident on Hezbollah.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday said the military would occupy parts of southern Lebanon even after the current conflict with the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militant group ends.
What did Katz say?
“At the end of the operation, the IDF will establish a security zone inside Lebanon — a line of defense against anti-tank missiles — and will maintain security control over the entire area up to the Litani River, including the remaining Litani bridges,” Katz said in a statement.
The Litani River flows some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. The area between it and the Israeli border represents nearly a 10th of Lebanon’s territory.
Katz’s statement was not the first Israeli one signalling an intention to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, but it was the clearest such statement since Hezbollah attacks on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei drew Lebanon into the conflict on March 2.
“All houses in villages near the Lebanese border will be destroyed, in accordance with the model used in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza, in order to permanently remove the threats near the border to northern residents,” he said.
Katz added that displaced residents would not be allowed to return south of the Litani “until the safety and security of residents of northern Israel is guaranteed.”
UN warns of Israeli occupation
United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday warned that Lebanon could become yet another Israeli-occupied territory in the region.
“Given the intensity of the coercive displacement that we are seeing, how should we prepare, collectively as the international community, for a new addition to the list of occupied territories?” Fletcher asked the UN Security Council.
Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon has left over 1,200 people killed and displaced over one million.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday said the military would occupy parts of southern Lebanon even after the current conflict with the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militant group ends.
“At the end of the operation, the IDF will establish a security zone inside Lebanon — a line of defense against anti-tank missiles — and will maintain security control over the entire area up to the Litani River, including the remaining Litani bridges,” Katz said in a statement.
The Litani River flows some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. The area between it and the Israeli border represents nearly a 10th of Lebanon’s territory.
Katz’s statement was not the first Israeli one signalling an intention to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, but it was the clearest such statement since Hezbollah attacks on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei drew Lebanon into the conflict on March 2.
“All houses in villages near the Lebanese border will be destroyed, in accordance with the model used in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza, in order to permanently remove the threats near the border to northern residents,” he said.
Katz added that displaced residents would not be allowed to return south of the Litani “until the safety and security of residents of northern Israel is guaranteed.”
United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday warned that Lebanon could become yet another Israeli-occupied territory in the region.
“Given the intensity of the coercive displacement that we are seeing, how should we prepare, collectively as the international community, for a new addition to the list of occupied territories?” Fletcher asked the UN Security Council.
Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon has left over 1,200 people killed and displaced over one million.
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A top UN official on Tuesday said the US-Israeli war with Iran has cost Arab nations in the Gulf and Middle East an estimated $186 billion (€161 billion) since it was launched on February 28.
Speaking in Amman, Jordan, UN Assistant Secretary General Abdallah Al Dardari said, “We hope the fighting will stop tomorrow, as every day of delay has negative repercussions on the global economy.”
“We estimate that the loss to the Arab region’s GDP as a result of one month of fighting will be around six percent,” Dardari continued, adding, “Six percent of GDP means the region has lost around $186 billion from its economy in a single month.”
Dardari, a top UN official in the region, said, “The impact on GDP is very significant in the Gulf region, where it could reach $168 billion; and in the Levant region, where it could reach around $30 billion.”
As nations in the Gulf and Middle East are drawn into the conflict, Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed Gulf nations’ dependence on oil to run their economies.
“The Arab economy relies on virtually a single commodity,” said Dardari on Tuesday. “Even countries that do not export oil depend on remittances from expatriates in oil-exporting countries and on aid from those same countries, while the oil-exporting countries themselves rely on a single product.”
“This fragility in the Arab economy is demonstrated by recent events, which prove that it is unsustainable.”
Dardari also delivered a grim prognosis for employment in the region moving forward, “We estimate that the number of jobs we will lose as a result of this conflict is around 3.7 million.”
“As for the impact on poverty,” he continued, “we expect that around four million more people in the region will fall, or have already fallen, below the poverty line this month as a result of the hostilities.”
A top UN official on Tuesday said the US-Israeli war with Iran has cost Arab nations in the Gulf and Middle East an estimated $186 billion (€161 billion) since it was launched on February 28.
Speaking in Amman, Jordan, UN Assistant Secretary General Abdallah Al Dardari said, “We hope the fighting will stop tomorrow, as every day of delay has negative repercussions on the global economy.”
“We estimate that the loss to the Arab region’s GDP as a result of one month of fighting will be around six percent,” Dardari continued, adding, “Six percent of GDP means the region has lost around $186 billion from its economy in a single month.”
Dardari, a top UN official in the region, said, “The impact on GDP is very significant in the Gulf region, where it could reach $168 billion; and in the Levant region, where it could reach around $30 billion.”
As nations in the Gulf and Middle East are drawn into the conflict, Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has exposed Gulf nations’ dependence on oil to run their economies.
“The Arab economy relies on virtually a single commodity,” said Dardari on Tuesday. “Even countries that do not export oil depend on remittances from expatriates in oil-exporting countries and on aid from those same countries, while the oil-exporting countries themselves rely on a single product.”
“This fragility in the Arab economy is demonstrated by recent events, which prove that it is unsustainable.”
Dardari also delivered a grim prognosis for employment in the region moving forward, “We estimate that the number of jobs we will lose as a result of this conflict is around 3.7 million.”
“As for the impact on poverty,” he continued, “we expect that around four million more people in the region will fall, or have already fallen, below the poverty line this month as a result of the hostilities.”
Tuesday is day 32 of the war in Iran, with no end in immediate sight, despite Washington’s repeated assertions that peace negotiations are ongoing. Here are the top headlines from today if you are just joining us:
- US President Donald Trump voices frustration with allies who have distanced themselves from the war, telling them to “go get your own oil”
- EU Council President Antonio Costa has urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to stop strikes across the Middle East and engage in diplomacy over the Strait of Hormuz
- The Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers have called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the war
- The Pentagon says US military operations in Iran are currently focused on targeting Tehran’s “minelaying capability, their naval assets”
- Iranian government officials confirm that military sites in the city of Isfahan were damaged by overnight airstrikes
- The US national average retail price of gasoline has crossed $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022, data from price-tracking service GasBuddy shows
- Kuwait’s state news agency reported says a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker anchored in Dubai was hit by strikes
- Iran’s parliamentary Security Commission approved a plan to impose a fee on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz, state TV reported
Tuesday is day 32 of the war in Iran, with no end in immediate sight, despite Washington’s repeated assertions that peace negotiations are ongoing. Here are the top headlines from today if you are just joining us:
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine on Tuesday offered updates on the situation in Iran at a Pentagon news conference.
Caine said US military operations in Iran are currently focused on targeting Tehran’s “minelaying capability, their naval assets.” Caine, who said attack helicopters were joining the effort, told reporters that US forces have taken out “more than 150 ships.”
Additionally, Caine said that US and Israeli forces are targeting Iran’s defense industrial complex.
“This includes factories, warehouses, nuclear weapons research and development labs, and the associated infrastructure required for Iran to reconstitute its combat capability,” said the general.
For his part, Hegseth said the US was keen to wrap up the war on its own terms.
“We have more and more options,” he said, “and they have less… in only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive,” he said. “Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it.”
The defense secretary again refused to rule out “boots on the ground,” but reiterated what President Trump has said about alleged talks with Iran. “They are very real. They are ongoing, they are active, and I think, gaining strength.”
“In the meantime, we’ll negotiate with bombs,” he added.
Asked about reports that both China and Russia are aiding Iran’s defense, Hegseth said, “As far as Russia and China, we know exactly what they’re doing, what they are or are not doing.”
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine on Tuesday offered updates on the situation in Iran at a Pentagon news conference.
Caine said US military operations in Iran are currently focused on targeting Tehran’s “minelaying capability, their naval assets.” Caine, who said attack helicopters were joining the effort, told reporters that US forces have taken out “more than 150 ships.”
Additionally, Caine said that US and Israeli forces are targeting Iran’s defense industrial complex.
“This includes factories, warehouses, nuclear weapons research and development labs, and the associated infrastructure required for Iran to reconstitute its combat capability,” said the general.
For his part, Hegseth said the US was keen to wrap up the war on its own terms.
“We have more and more options,” he said, “and they have less… in only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive,” he said. “Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it.”
The defense secretary again refused to rule out “boots on the ground,” but reiterated what President Trump has said about alleged talks with Iran. “They are very real. They are ongoing, they are active, and I think, gaining strength.”
“In the meantime, we’ll negotiate with bombs,” he added.
Asked about reports that both China and Russia are aiding Iran’s defense, Hegseth said, “As far as Russia and China, we know exactly what they’re doing, what they are or are not doing.”
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministries of China and Pakistan called for an immediate ceasefire in Iran and a swift end to hostilities across the Middle East, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported.
Both nations’ foreign ministers, who met in the Chinese capital Beijing, demanded safe passage for ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz — a major global transport chokepoint that Iran has held closed for a month as well as those trapped in the area.
Beyond calling on warring parties to halt attacks on all non-military targets, the Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers released a five-point plan for restoring peace and stability in the region.
It wasn’t immediately clear what the peace plan consisted of. Washington has already sent a 12-point peace plan to Iran, via Pakistan, but the Iranian Foreign Ministry has rejected the plan as “excessive.”
In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministries of China and Pakistan called for an immediate ceasefire in Iran and a swift end to hostilities across the Middle East, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported.
Both nations’ foreign ministers, who met in the Chinese capital Beijing, demanded safe passage for ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz — a major global transport chokepoint that Iran has held closed for a month as well as those trapped in the area.
Beyond calling on warring parties to halt attacks on all non-military targets, the Chinese and Pakistani foreign ministers released a five-point plan for restoring peace and stability in the region.
It wasn’t immediately clear what the peace plan consisted of. Washington has already sent a 12-point peace plan to Iran, via Pakistan, but the Iranian Foreign Ministry has rejected the plan as “excessive.”
In a Tuesday morning (US time) post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump continued his attacks on allies as he lashed out at nations unwilling to accompany him on his “excursion” in Iran.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself,” Trump added: “the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
Trump has consistently railed against allies unwilling to join the war after the US and Israel launched it on February 28 without consulting them.
With the Strait of Hormuz closed by Iran in response to US-Israeli attacks, global oil markets and energy prices have gone haywire, with nations around the world scrambling to come to grips with the new situation, especially oil and gas shortages and price spikes for food and other goods.
Trump not only singled out the UK for criticism, he also went after France for closing its airspace to US military planes, writing: “The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL.”
Earlier in the day, Italy announced that it had refused to allow US bombers headed for Iran to land at a shared air base in Sicily before completing their missions.
In a Tuesday morning (US time) post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump continued his attacks on allies as he lashed out at nations unwilling to accompany him on his “excursion” in Iran.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself,” Trump added: “the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”
Trump has consistently railed against allies unwilling to join the war after the US and Israel launched it on February 28 without consulting them.
With the Strait of Hormuz closed by Iran in response to US-Israeli attacks, global oil markets and energy prices have gone haywire, with nations around the world scrambling to come to grips with the new situation, especially oil and gas shortages and price spikes for food and other goods.
Trump not only singled out the UK for criticism, he also went after France for closing its airspace to US military planes, writing: “The Country of France wouldn’t let planes headed to Israel, loaded up with military supplies, fly over French territory. France has been VERY UNHELPFUL.”
Earlier in the day, Italy announced that it had refused to allow US bombers headed for Iran to land at a shared air base in Sicily before completing their missions.
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EU Council President Antonio Costa has warned that the situation in the Middle East is extremely dangerous and called on Iran to show restraint.
In a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Costa urged de-escalation, protection of civilians and infrastructure, and full respect for international law.
He said the loss of innocent lives, including at a school in Minab that killed at least 165 people, most of them children — which appears to have been hit by a US Tomahawk missile according to reports — was “deeply regrettable.”
“To de-escalate the situation, I urged Iran to stop the unacceptable attacks on countries in the region and to engage positively on the diplomatic track, notably with the UN to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Costa said.
“There must be space for diplomacy. The EU stands ready to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and for a lasting solution to end the hostilities, while addressing the broader security concerns posed by Iran,” he added.
EU Council President Antonio Costa has warned that the situation in the Middle East is extremely dangerous and called on Iran to show restraint.
In a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Costa urged de-escalation, protection of civilians and infrastructure, and full respect for international law.
He said the loss of innocent lives, including at a school in Minab that killed at least 165 people, most of them children — which appears to have been hit by a US Tomahawk missile according to reports — was “deeply regrettable.”
“To de-escalate the situation, I urged Iran to stop the unacceptable attacks on countries in the region and to engage positively on the diplomatic track, notably with the UN to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Costa said.
“There must be space for diplomacy. The EU stands ready to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and for a lasting solution to end the hostilities, while addressing the broader security concerns posed by Iran,” he added.
Iranian government officials on Tuesday confirmed that military sites in the city of Isfahan had been damaged by overnight airstrikes.
“At present there is no information available on the extent of the damage or the number of deaths and injuries resulting from these attacks,” the region’s deputy governor told Iranian state media outlet ISNA.
The attack had been previously reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump shared video of an attack purported to have targeted Iranian military facilities on his social media platform Truth Social, though he offered no information or context, just images of a missile strike followed by massive explosions.
The blasts seen in the video suggest that this may have been a munitions depot.
According to the WSJ, US forces dropped “a large number” of 2,000-pound (900-kilo) “bunker buster” bombs in the assault.
Iranian government officials on Tuesday confirmed that military sites in the city of Isfahan had been damaged by overnight airstrikes.
“At present there is no information available on the extent of the damage or the number of deaths and injuries resulting from these attacks,” the region’s deputy governor told Iranian state media outlet ISNA.
The attack had been previously reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump shared video of an attack purported to have targeted Iranian military facilities on his social media platform Truth Social, though he offered no information or context, just images of a missile strike followed by massive explosions.
The blasts seen in the video suggest that this may have been a munitions depot.
According to the WSJ, US forces dropped “a large number” of 2,000-pound (900-kilo) “bunker buster” bombs in the assault.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry on Tuesday called for “all parties to refrain from attacking energy and nuclear infrastructure” as the US-Israeli war against Iran enters its second month.
Speaking at a routine press briefing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters, “Our understanding is that there is a very unified position in the Gulf calling for de-escalation and an end to the war.”
The statement came after Iran attacked a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai and the US and Israel bombed Iranian water desalination plants and nuclear facilities overnight.
Speaking of the broader situation and without naming names, the Qatari spokesman called threats to Iran’s desalination plants, “a threat to the entire Middle East.”
Emphasizing that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz — which Iran has kept closed since the US and Israel launched their war on February 28 — the Qatari representative said that “the future of the Strait of Hormuz should be decided by the entire region,” adding “the sooner we get to the negotiating table the better.”
The Qatari Foreign Ministry on Tuesday called for “all parties to refrain from attacking energy and nuclear infrastructure” as the US-Israeli war against Iran enters its second month.
Speaking at a routine press briefing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters, “Our understanding is that there is a very unified position in the Gulf calling for de-escalation and an end to the war.”
The statement came after Iran attacked a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai and the US and Israel bombed Iranian water desalination plants and nuclear facilities overnight.
Speaking of the broader situation and without naming names, the Qatari spokesman called threats to Iran’s desalination plants, “a threat to the entire Middle East.”
Emphasizing that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz — which Iran has kept closed since the US and Israel launched their war on February 28 — the Qatari representative said that “the future of the Strait of Hormuz should be decided by the entire region,” adding “the sooner we get to the negotiating table the better.”
Inflation across the 21 “eurozone” countries using the European single currency rose quite sharply in March amid the conflict in Iran and the wider Middle East.
Figures released by Eurostat on Tuesday showed aggregate inflation of 2.5% in March, compared to 1.9% in February, pushing the figure back past the target rate of 2%.
The increase was driven almost entirely by the sudden spike in energy costs amid the pressure on the oil and gas markets caused by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and more general tension for the energy industry.
Energy inflation figures went from a 3.1% decline in February to a 4.9% spike in March, while the rate of inflation for other core areas like services, non-energy industrial goods and food, alcohol and tobacco all showed modest reductions from February’s figures.
In Germany, the rise was slightly more pronounced. February inflation of 1.9% jumped to 2.7% through March, figures from Destatis showed on Monday. That was the highest level since January 2024.
European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde has said that businesses may be quicker to raise prices during this outbreak of inflation due to bitter memories of the last episode of higher prices in 2022. Then, inflation rose to double digits amid the economic aftermath of the COVID pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its restrictions on gas deliveries to Europe.
Inflation across the 21 “eurozone” countries using the European single currency rose quite sharply in March amid the conflict in Iran and the wider Middle East.
Figures released by Eurostat on Tuesday showed aggregate inflation of 2.5% in March, compared to 1.9% in February, pushing the figure back past the target rate of 2%.
The increase was driven almost entirely by the sudden spike in energy costs amid the pressure on the oil and gas markets caused by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and more general tension for the energy industry.
Energy inflation figures went from a 3.1% decline in February to a 4.9% spike in March, while the rate of inflation for other core areas like services, non-energy industrial goods and food, alcohol and tobacco all showed modest reductions from February’s figures.
In Germany, the rise was slightly more pronounced. February inflation of 1.9% jumped to 2.7% through March, figures from Destatis showed on Monday. That was the highest level since January 2024.
European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde has said that businesses may be quicker to raise prices during this outbreak of inflation due to bitter memories of the last episode of higher prices in 2022. Then, inflation rose to double digits amid the economic aftermath of the COVID pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its restrictions on gas deliveries to Europe.
US and Israeli strikes destroyed a water desalination plant as well as a major pharmaceutical facility early Tuesday according to regime officials quoted by Iranian media outlets.
“One of the desalination plants on Qeshm Island was targeted and is now completely out of service, as it is not possible to repair it in the short term,” ISNA news agency quoted a Health Ministry official as saying.
In early March, the Iranian government said that US and Israeli forces had targeted a desalination plant on the island. These plants are key to providing drinkable water across the country.
Early on Tuesday, the Iranian government also confirmed airstrikes on pharmaceutical facilities producing life-saving drugs.
In a social media post, the government said, “During the US and Zionist regime attacks on civilian centers on the morning of Tuesday, one of the largest companies producing anti-cancer, anesthetic and specialized medicines was damaged and the drug production line was damaged.”
The strikes come after US President Donald Trump loudly proclaimed that the US would expand its attacks if Iran did not agree to a ceasefire “soon,” with Trump threatening Iran’s key oil installations at Kharg Island as well as floating the possibility of targeting water desalination plants — potentially a war crime.
Prior to the Tuesday attacks, Erika Guevara-Rosa of the rights group Amnesty International called on Trump to retract his threat.
“President Donald Trump must retract deeply irresponsible threats of acts that would unleash catastrophic harm on millions of civilians,” she said, adding: “The decision to not proceed with such attacks must be based on the USA’s obligations under international humanitarian law to avoid civilian harm, not the outcome of political negotiations.”
US and Israeli strikes destroyed a water desalination plant as well as a major pharmaceutical facility early Tuesday according to regime officials quoted by Iranian media outlets.
“One of the desalination plants on Qeshm Island was targeted and is now completely out of service, as it is not possible to repair it in the short term,” ISNA news agency quoted a Health Ministry official as saying.
In early March, the Iranian government said that US and Israeli forces had targeted a desalination plant on the island. These plants are key to providing drinkable water across the country.
Early on Tuesday, the Iranian government also confirmed airstrikes on pharmaceutical facilities producing life-saving drugs.
In a social media post, the government said, “During the US and Zionist regime attacks on civilian centers on the morning of Tuesday, one of the largest companies producing anti-cancer, anesthetic and specialized medicines was damaged and the drug production line was damaged.”
The strikes come after US President Donald Trump loudly proclaimed that the US would expand its attacks if Iran did not agree to a ceasefire “soon,” with Trump threatening Iran’s key oil installations at Kharg Island as well as floating the possibility of targeting water desalination plants — potentially a war crime.
Prior to the Tuesday attacks, Erika Guevara-Rosa of the rights group Amnesty International called on Trump to retract his threat.
“President Donald Trump must retract deeply irresponsible threats of acts that would unleash catastrophic harm on millions of civilians,” she said, adding: “The decision to not proceed with such attacks must be based on the USA’s obligations under international humanitarian law to avoid civilian harm, not the outcome of political negotiations.”
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The Dalai Lama on Tuesday took to social media to “endorse the powerful appeal for peace made by the Holy Father, Pope Leo.”
The Buddhist spiritual leader said Pope Leo XIV‘s Palm Sunday message calling for the complete renunciation of violence had “resonated profoundly” with him.
Noting that all of the world’s great spiritual traditions fundamentally preach “love, compassion, tolerance and self-discipline,” the Dalai Lama added that, “violence only begets more violence and is never a lasting foundation for peace.”
Urging mutual respect and a realization that “we are all brothers and sisters,” the spiritual leader said he prays for the end of the conflicts in Ukraine and across the Middle East while noting that lasting conflict resolution, “must be rooted in dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect.”
The Dalai Lama on Tuesday took to social media to “endorse the powerful appeal for peace made by the Holy Father, Pope Leo.”
The Buddhist spiritual leader said Pope Leo XIV‘s Palm Sunday message calling for the complete renunciation of violence had “resonated profoundly” with him.
Noting that all of the world’s great spiritual traditions fundamentally preach “love, compassion, tolerance and self-discipline,” the Dalai Lama added that, “violence only begets more violence and is never a lasting foundation for peace.”
Urging mutual respect and a realization that “we are all brothers and sisters,” the spiritual leader said he prays for the end of the conflicts in Ukraine and across the Middle East while noting that lasting conflict resolution, “must be rooted in dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect.”
[analyse_source url=”https://www.dw.com/en/iran-war-eu-calls-tehran-to-discuss-strait-of-hormuz/live-76600314″]