Trump cites Churchill in taunt at Starmer over Iran: All the latest news on the Iran strikes on Tuesday

Trump cites Churchill in taunt at Starmer over Iran: All the latest news on the Iran strikes on Tuesday
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., 3 March, 2026.
Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day. 

⦿ 17:20 GMT | BREAKING

'We're not dealing with Winston Churchill here'

The White House

In a press conference at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly criticised the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's approach to Saturday's attack on Iran, calling out lack of action. He said he is "not happy" with the UK.

U.S. President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 3, 2026.
Reuters
⦿ 16:33 GMT | UPDATE

UK sending warship to southern Cyprus, British Prime Minister 

X

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said in a post on X that HMS Dragon will be deployed to southern Cyprus to help protect British and south Cypriot military personnel based there. Helicopters with counter drone capabilities will also be sent to the region.

⦿ 15:55 GMT | UPDATE

Israel's largest airport set to reopen 

Reuters

Ben Guiron Airport, Israel's main international gatway near Tel Aviv, intends to gradually resume flights on Wednesday night, the airport said in a statement. Israel's airspace was closed on Saturday (28 February), the same day as U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran. 

⦿ 15:36 GMT | UPDATE

China opposes U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, Chinese Foreign Minister 

Reuters

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar that Beijing demands an immediate end of hostilities in a phone call on Tuesday, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. 

"Force cannot truly solve problems; instead, it often creates new ones and leaves serious long-term consequences. The real value of military power lies not on the battlefield but in preventing war," it quoted Wang as telling Saar.

⦿ 15:13 GMT | UPDATE

Oil and gas prices surge as Middle Eastern energy exports disrupted 

Reuters

Oil prices have risen by more than 15% since Friday, a day before the U.S. strikes against Iran. Meanwhile, the European wholesale price for natural gas is up by 40%. Supplies have been interrupted, as Tehran attacks ships and energy facilities in the Middle East. 

⦿ 14:50 GMT | UPDATE

United Nations calls for investigation into deadly Iranian school strike  

Reuters

The U.N. Human Rights Office has demanded an investigation into an attack on a primary school in Minab, Southern Iran on Saturday, with a spokesperson calling it "absolutely horrific". Iranian officials said over 100 were killed in the bombing. The U.S. has said its forces "would not" deliberately target a school.

People and rescue forces work following a strike on a school in Minab, Iran, February 28, 2026.
Reuters
⦿ 14:35 GMT | UPDATE

U.S. has enough weapons to fight wars 'forever', Trump says 

Reuters

U.S. President has boasted that the U.S. has a "virtually unlimited supply" of munitions and can fight wars "forever" in a post on social media platform, Truth Social. "The United States is stocked, and ready to WIN, BIG!!!" he added. 

⦿ 14:02 GMT | UPDATE

Rumaila oil output cut as tankers delayed, Iraqi officials say

Reuters

Iraqi officials say oil output at Rumaila, part of the Basra Oil Company and Iraq’s largest producing field, has been cut as full storage and tanker delays in the Strait of Hormuz disrupt shipments.

⦿ 12:49 GMT | UPDATE

UK ready to send warship to southern Cyprus military base

Reuters

Britain considers sending a warship to defend its Royal Air Force Akrotiri base in southern Cyprus after several apparently hostile drones targeted RAF Akrotiri on the island, according to Defence sources.

⦿ 12:40 GMT | UPDATE

Trump warns it's "too late" for talks with Iran

Reuters

Trump said on Truth Social that Iran’s military and leaders had been destroyed, and any offer of talks came too late.

⦿ 12:22 GMT | UPDATE

UK to work with airlines to boost Oman evacuations

Reuters

UK Foreign Minister Cooper said on Tuesday that Britain was working with airlines on increasing capacity out of Muscat, Oman to prioritise the evacuation of vulnerable British nationals.

"We are also working with airlines on increasing capacity out of Muscat for British nationals, with priority for vulnerable nationals," Cooper said.

⦿ 11:55 GMT | UPDATE

Türkiye seeks diplomatic talks to end Iran conflict

Reuters

Türkiye is engaging with all parties to find a way to end the war in Iran and return to negotiations, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, adding that Ankara was also in talks with Oman on the matter as the Gulf nation works for the same goal.

"We have been talking to the Europeans for a few days... If you want peace, let's work together. We are urging them to take action. The Gulf nations are now facing a serious situation," he said.

⦿ 11:45 GMT | UPDATE

UNESCO listed Golestan Palace damaged in Tehran

Reuters

Tehran’s historic Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been damaged following strikes on the capital, Iranian state media reported.

UNESCO continues to closely monitor the situation of cultural heritage in the country and across the region, with a view to ensuring its protection.

Local media also reported an explosion in Arg Square, near the palace.

⦿ 11:29 GMT | UPDATE

Thousands displaced in Lebanon amid Israel-Hezbollah clashes

Reuters

At least 30,000 displaced people have sought protection in shelters in Lebanon since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began on Monday, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.

"Conservative estimates suggest that nearly 30,000 people were hosted and registered at collective shelters," said UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch.

"Many more slept in their cars on the side of roads or were still stuck in traffic jams on the roads," he added.

⦿ 10:32 GMT | UPDATE

Russia has seen no evidence Iran was developing nuclear weapons, Russian foreign minister

Reuters

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow is still yet to see any evidence that Iran was developing nuclear weapons, amid what he said was "essentially a war" happening in the Middle East.

⦿ 08:44 GMT | UPDATE

Bahrain, Qatar intercept 170+ Iranian missiles and drones in 3 days

Anadolu Agency

The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force said its air defence systems destroyed and shot down 70 missiles and 76 drones launched from Iran since the attacks began on Saturday (28 February).

⦿ 08:22 GMT | UPDATE

French foreign minister says France ready to defend partners

Reuters

France is ready to defend its partners if they request help after Iranian retaliatory strikes and ireserves its right to intervene, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday.

"This war... is dragging a number of countries in the region into the conflict with which we have relations, defence agreements, and interests, including military bases," Barrot told French broadcaster BFM TV.

He added that French Rafale fighter jets carried out air operations to secure the skies above France's bases in the region. 

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot gives a press conference after a crisis meeting, in Paris, France, 2 March, 2026.
Reuters
⦿ 08:19 GMT | UPDATE

Israeli troops conduct incursions along Lebanese border, official says

Reuters

Witnesses said the Lebanese army had pulled out of at least seven forward operating positions along the border.

⦿ 08:08 GMT | UPDATE


Explosions in Iranian capital as Israel announces renewed attack

Anadolu Agency

Warplanes targeted several sites in Tehran since the early morning hours, according to an Anadolu reporter.

Iranian media also reported fresh explosions in the city of Isfahan in central Iran.

There was no immediate official statement identifying the sites targeted in Tehran and Isfahan.

⦿ 08:00 GMT | UPDATE

Iran FM says Rubio acknowledged U.S. joined ‘war of choice’ for Israel

Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio "admitted" that Washington entered "a war of choice" against Tehran "on behalf of Israel," said Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday. 

⦿ 07:49 GMT | UPDATE

Israel ready for weeks-long Iran campaign, ground forces unlikely

Reuters

The Israeli military has prepared for a campaign against Iran that could last several weeks but is unlikely to see the deployment of ground forces, a military spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday.

"We have prepared a general scope of weeks," Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said in an online briefing, adding that the duration of the military campaign could change depending on developments. He described progress so far as positive.

⦿ 07:47 GMT | UPDATE

France ready to evacuate most-vulnerable citizens

Reuters

French Foreign Minister Barrot said there are 400,000 French nationals in regions affected by the Middle East crisis and that France is ready to evacuate those most at risk, emphasising that the priority is the safety of its citizens and de-escalation of the conflict.

State media reported that 13 members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were killed on Monday in U.S.-Israeli attacks in Kerman province.

⦿ 07:37 GMT | UPDATE

Drone strikes fuel tank at Oman’s Duqm port

Reuters

Fuel tanks at Oman's Duqm commercial port were targeted by several drones, with one striking a fuel tank, Oman state news agency reported on Tuesday, citing a security source.

The resulting damage was contained and no casualties were recorded, the agency added.

⦿ 07:29 GMT | UPDATE

Israeli military deploys additional forces to southern Lebanon

Reuters

The Israeli military deployed additional forces to southern Lebanon overnight, to take up what a military spokesperson on Tuesday described as defensive positions to protect Israeli civilians and strategic sites from any potential Hezbollah attack.

"We're only at the borderline area in a defensive manner to prevent attacks against civilians and very strategic important points," Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said in an online briefing with reporters.

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, in Lebanon, 3 March, 2026.

Meanwhile, Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said the military is authorised to advance and take control of additional positions in Lebanon. 

⦿ 07:10 GMT | UPDATE


U.S. Embassy in Kuwait announces closure

Anadolu Agency

The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait said on Tuesday that it "will be closed until further notice," over the ongoing regional tensions.

⦿ 06:39 GMT | UPDATE

Air France suspends Middle East flights through Thursday

Reuters

Air France has cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh until Thursday, inclusive, the airline said in a statement on Tuesday, citing security risks due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

It said the safety of its customers and crew was a top priority and that it will assess the situation before resuming flights.

⦿ 06:10 GMT | UPDATE

Israel launches large-scale airstrikes on Tehran, Beirut

Anadolu Agency

In a statement, the military said the Israeli Air Force carried out coordinated strikes on sites affiliated with the Iranian administration in Tehran and on positions belonging to Hezbollah in Lebanon’s capital.

Meanwhile, Iran says five members of its Revolutionary guards have been killed. The deaths come after Israeli-U.S. attacks according to the ISNA news agency.

⦿ 05:45 GMT | UPDATE

U.S. orders non-emergency staff to leave Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan

Reuters

The United States has ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their family members, the U.S. State Department said in a statement on X on Tuesday.

The order comes as the U.S. monitors security risk linked to its conflict with Iran.

⦿ 04:48 GMT | UPDATE

Israeli military says it has intercepted two drones 

Reuters

The Israeli Air Force reported that it intercepted two drones entering Israeli territory from Lebanon early Tuesday (3 March).

Earlier, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for dozens of Lebanese villages and settlements and said it had started striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut.

Hezbollah confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that it had launched drones into Israeli territory.

⦿ 04:07GMT | UPDATE

U.S. embassy in Riyadh hit by drones, Saudi defence ministry 

Reuters

The U.S. embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones resulting in a limited fire and some material damage, the kingdom's defence ministry said in a post on X on Tuesday, citing an initial assessment.

There were no reported injuries, two of the people familiar with the matter said, given the building was empty in the early morning hours.

⦿ 03:53 GMT | UPDATE

Netanyahu says Iran war could take 'some time' but not years 

Reuters

The conflict with Iran “could be quick and decisive” but acknowledged that “it may take some time, but it's not going to take years. It's not an endless war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during an interview on Fox News’ 'Hannity' programme.

Netanyahu described the war as an opportunity for lasting peace in the Middle East, including improved relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. 

“Now, of course, it's up to the people of Iran in the final count to change the government, but we are creating- America and Israel together are creating-the conditions for them to do so,” he said.

⦿ 03:29 GMT | UPDATE

U.S. to act to ease oil price spike for Americans, Rubio says

Reuters

The U.S. will take action to mitigate rising energy prices due to a spike in the price of oil caused by the Iran conflict, Secretary of State Rubio said on Monday (2 March).

"Starting tomorrow, you will see us rolling out those phases to try to mitigate against that ... We anticipated this could be an issue," Rubio said.

⦿ 03:26 GMT | UPDATE

Satellite images suggest attack on Iranian nuclear site

Reuters

Commercial satellite imagery has captured what appears to be the first known strikes on an Iranian nuclear site since the start of the U.S.-Israeli air operation, an independent policy institute said on Monday (2 March).

A satellite image shows an overview of the Natanz Nuclear Facility with new building damage, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, near Natanz, Iran, 2 March, 2026.
Reuters

The Institute for Science and International Security said imagery produced by Colorado-based Vantor showed two strikes on access points to the underground uranium enrichment plant at Natanz, which was hit by the U.S. last June.

 
 

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