Iran

Oil and natural gas prices surged as Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Tehran forced shutdowns of energy facilities across the Middle East and snarled shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. A sustained rise threatens to undercut the global recovery, stoke inflation and lift U.S. gasoline prices — a political risk for President Donald Trump and Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections. Brent crude futures jumped as much as 13% to $82.37 a…

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that ongoing military operations against Iran will not become an “endless war,” describing a campaign focused on destroying Tehran’s missiles, navy and security infrastructure while U.S. commanders warned the effort will take time and carry a human toll. “We’re hitting them surgically, overwhelmingly and unapologetically,” Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. “This is not Iraq. This is not endless.” He emphasized the mission is not an attempt to build…

Three U.S. soldiers killed, five wounded as Iran retaliates; Trump warns of more losses Three American service members were killed and five others seriously wounded during U.S. attacks on Iran, the military said Sunday, marking the first American casualties in a major offensive that President Donald Trump warned could bring further losses in the coming weeks. U.S. Central Command announced the deaths in a post on X but did not say when or where they occurred as Iran strikes back after joint U.S.-Israeli attacks. The command…

Iran’s state media said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a large-scale U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, a watershed moment that jolted the region and set off competing scenes of mourning and celebration across the country. State television announced a 40-day mourning period and seven public holidays for the leader, who had ruled since 1989. A presenter on state TV vowed Khamenei’s “path and mission” would continue with “greater vigour and zeal.” The claim of his death, which Iranian and Israeli officials…

Iran declares 40 days of mourning as state media confirm Khamenei killed in Israeli-US strikes Iranian state media on Sunday confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed at his office during Israeli-US attacks on Iran, an escalation that has jolted the region and set Tehran on a 40-day period of mourning for its paramount leader. The announcement followed hours of uncertainty after the Tasnim and Mehr news agencies initially reported that Khamenei was “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.” The…

When Donald Trump threatens Iran with “force never been seen before,” the words do more than light up headlines. They signal a strategy of coercive diplomacy that has defined the most fraught chapters of U.S.-Iran relations this century, raising the stakes across a Middle East already primed for miscalculation. Rhetoric at that volume can deter, but it can also lock leaders into escalatory paths, unsettle markets and embolden hard-liners on both sides who thrive on grievance and spectacle. The central question is not whether…

NEW YORK — The United States launched a sweeping series of strikes against Iran over the weekend under the banner of Operation Epic Fury, jolting a country that had not been primed for war and igniting a rapid clash of narratives at home and at the United Nations. Many Americans awoke to the news with confusion and unease. “No one in my circle ever talks about Iran,” a New Yorker told RTÉ News, adding he felt less safe and was unsure about gathering in public spaces. President Donald Trump addressed the Iranian public…

Saturday February 28, 2026 Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran on Saturday 28 February (AP) The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes inside Iran early Saturday, with multiple explosions reported across Tehran as regional tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and proxy forces escalated sharply. Iran’s Fars News Agency said missiles struck areas along University Street and in the Jomhouri district of the capital after Israel announced it had carried out a missile attack. The Associated…

U.S., Israel launch major strikes on Iran as Trump urges uprising; Tehran fires missiles at Israel, U.S. bases The United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes across Iran on Saturday, opening a new chapter of military confrontation as President Donald Trump urged Iranians to “seize control of your destiny” and rise up against the Islamic Republic’s leadership. Within hours, Iran said it fired a “first wave” of missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted U.S. military sites across the Gulf. Strikes reported near…

France has called for an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Iran, elevating the issue to the world’s top diplomatic forum as member states weigh next steps and potential responses. The request places Iran back on the Security Council’s immediate agenda. While details on timing, the precise agenda and potential outcomes were not immediately available, an emergency session would allow council members to receive briefings, consult behind closed doors and consider statements or resolutions addressing the situation.…