live Trump warns U.S. would hit Iran “20 times harder” if Strait of Hormuz oil flow halted - Tuesday 10 March

Egypt hikes fuel prices by up to 17% amid Middle East energy crisis

Egypt has increased domestic fuel prices by up to 17%, the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum announced on Tuesday, citing the impact of global energy market disruptions linked to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Diesel rose 3 Egyptian pounds to 20.50 per litre, while gasoline increased by up to 16.9%: 80 octane now 20.75 pounds, 92 octane 22.25 pounds, and 95 octane 24 pounds (around $0.39–0.46 per litre, based on $1 = 52.7400 Egyptian pounds).

This is the first price hike of 2026, following increases of 10.5–12.9% in October, after which the government pledged a one-year freeze.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly had earlier warned of “exceptional measures” if global prices rose further.

Global oil and gas markets have been hit by attacks on energy facilities and shipping in the Gulf, causing production stoppages from Qatar to Iraq. Analysts warn domestic prices could remain under pressure.

Egypt has been implementing IMF-backed reforms since 2016, including subsidy cuts and social safety net expansions, with an $8 billion programme signed in March 2024.

Nearly 700,000 displaced as Lebanon conflict enters second week

Escalating hostilities in Lebanon have forced almost 700,000 people from their homes over the past week, the United Nations reported on Monday, as the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah enters a second week.

The conflict erupted after Hezbollah opened fire to avenge the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, sparking a major Israeli offensive. Lebanese authorities report nearly 500 deaths so far, with the toll rising by around 100 a day.

On Monday, Israeli airstrikes sent columns of smoke over Beirut’s Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs and across the hilltops of southern Lebanon. Security sources said strikes targeted five branches of the Hezbollah-run financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan, following Israel’s announcement that it would act against the group’s infrastructure.

Hezbollah responded with missile launches deep into Israel, triggering air raid sirens across central Israel and its commercial hub Tel Aviv, while interception blasts were reported as far as Jerusalem

Canada and Qatar leaders call for diplomatic efforts to prevent Middle East war

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held talks with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Monday, focusing on diplomatic efforts to prevent the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East.

A statement from Carney’s office said the two leaders “underscored the importance of intensifying diplomatic engagement to avoid a wider conflict with global consequences.”

The discussion reflects growing international concern over recent military actions and heightened regional tensions, with both leaders calling for measured dialogue and coordination among key stakeholders.

Woman killed and eight injured in Iranian attack on Manama residence

The Interior Ministry of Bahrain has reported that an Iranian attack on a residential building in Manama has killed one person and injured at least eight others.

Officials said the victim was a woman, with the injured including both men and women, though no further details on their condition were immediately available.

The ministry described the strike as “blatant,” underscoring rising tensions in the region following recent escalations. Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene, with residents being evacuated and local authorities securing the surrounding area.

The attack comes amid a broader surge in regional hostilities, as Iran’s actions have increasingly targeted civilian and infrastructure sites across the Gulf.

Iran says countries expelling U.S. and Israeli envoys could gain Strait of Hormuz access

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has declared that any Arab or European country expelling the ambassadors of the United States and Israel will gain full authority to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported on Monday.

The announcement comes amid a growing crisis in the Middle East that has effectively halted shipping and energy exports through the vital waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, making it a key chokepoint for international trade.

Hundreds of vessels remain anchored on both sides of the strait as markets closely monitor the situation for any indication that traffic may resume.

U.S. hits over 5,000 Iranian targets since 28 February 

The United States says it has carried out strikes on more than 5,000 Iranian targets since launching operations against the country on 28 February, according to a fact sheet released by United States Central Command on Monday.

The military said the campaign tagged "Operation Epic Fury" has also destroyed or damaged 50 Iranian vessels, highlighting the scale of U.S. operations in the region.

Meanwhile Iran says it has launched around 1600 drones and missiles in retaliatory attacks, with majority of them targeted at mainland Israel. 

Erdoğan warns Iran over airspace violations

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern warning to Iran over repeated violations of Turkish airspace.

Speaking to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a phone call, Erdoğan said such incursions “cannot be justified” and stressed that striking countries in the region benefits no one.

A statement from the Turkish presidency, released early Tuesday, said Erdoğan emphasised Türkiye’s efforts to “open the door for diplomacy” as a means to help end ongoing conflicts in the region.

Trump says “too soon” to talk about seizing Iran’s oil amid conflict

U.S. president Donald Trump has told NBC News that it is “too soon to talk about” seizing Iranian oil as the war with Tehran continues, though he stopped short of ruling the idea out entirely.

In a phone interview on Monday, Trump declined to say whether he would like the United States to take control of Iran’s oil reserves, but acknowledged that the prospect has been discussed among some commentators and policymakers, pointing to the recent situation in Venezuela as a precedent.

“We’ve got people talking about that, but it’s too soon to talk about that,” he said, underlining that the conflict is still unfolding.

Australia to send missiles, surveillance aircraft to Middle East

Australia will deploy a military surveillance aircraft to the Middle East and supply medium-range air-to-air missiles to the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday.

Speaking after a request from the UAE, Albanese said the support aimed to help Gulf nations defend themselves against what he described as unprovoked attacks from Iran.

He confirmed that no Australian troops would be sent on the ground in Iran, with the assistance limited to defensive capabilities in the region.

Iranian women footballers granted asylum after Australian police extraction

Five Iranian women footballers, including team captain Zahra Ghanbari, have been granted asylum in Australia after being secretly extracted from their hotel by Australian police, Interior Minister Tony Burke confirmed on Tuesday.

The players sought protection following threats from Iranian government minders, who had labelled the team "wartime traitors" for refusing to sing their national anthem during an Asian Cup match. The extraction took place on Monday evening, and the women remain under police protection at a secure location.

The minister confirmed that offers of asylum remain open for other members of the squad still on the Gold Coast.

The five women are Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali Alishah, Mona Hamoudi, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh, and 21-year-old Fatemeh Pasandideh, most of whom are teammates at the Bam Khatoon club, Iran's record-winning women’s football team.

South Korea says it cannot stop U.S. redeploying weapons

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has said Seoul cannot prevent U.S. forces stationed in the country from moving some weapons out of the region, amid reports that American military equipment could be redeployed to the Middle East.

President Lee said on Tuesday that while the South Korean government had voiced its opposition, it was ultimately not in a position to block such decisions by U.S. Forces in Korea.

“There appears to be a controversy recently over U.S. Forces in Korea shipping some weapons out of the country,” Lee said, adding that the move would not weaken deterrence against North Korea.

The comments come after South Korean foreign minister Cho Hyun said last week that U.S. and South Korean militaries were discussing the potential redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile defence systems currently based in South Korea for use in the Middle East conflict.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threaten to halt regional oil exports

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned they could block oil exports from across the region if U.S. and Israeli strikes continue, vowing that Tehran would ultimately decide how the war ends.

According to Iranian state media on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Iran would not allow “one litre of oil” to be exported from the region should attacks by Washington and Israel persist.

The remarks underline rising tensions in the Middle East and came shortly after U.S. president Donald Trump suggested the conflict could soon come to an end.

At the same time, hardline factions in Iran staged a show of loyalty to the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, signalling continued defiance as the confrontation escalates.

Trump warns U.S. would hit Iran ‘20 times harder’ over Hormuz oil flow

Donald Trump has warned that the United States would respond with far greater force if Iran attempted to stop oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Writing on social media on Monday, the U.S. president said Tehran would face severe consequences if it disrupted the vital shipping route.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” Trump said.

He added that the U.S. could target sites that would make it “virtually impossible” for Iran to rebuild, warning that “death, fire, and fury will reign upon them”, though he said he hoped such a scenario would not occur.