President Donald Trump told NBC News that he is not ready to make a deal with Iran, and suggested he might continue bombing Kharg Island – a critical island for Iran’s oil exports – “just for fun.”
Trump made his plea as he warned the US will continue “bombing the hell out of the shoreline” of Iran until the key shipping passage is no longer controlled by the country.
The route has been under siege after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to take "complete control" of the waterway through which one fifth of the world's oil and liquefied gas passes.
Writing on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump called for “many countries” to send warships to the area to help end the blockade and listed the UK, China, Japan, France and South Korea among them.
His comments came after a fire broke out at the Fujairah port in the UAE after being targeted in an Iranian drone strike, forcing the facility to suspend part of its operations. It is one of the Middle East’s largest oil storage hubs, heightening concerns over already-surging oil prices.
Key Points
- Fire breaks out at key UAE oil terminal after Iranian drone strike
- Trump vows to 'bomb the hell' out of Iran's shoreline
- UK, China, Japan and others should 'hopefully' send ships to Strait of Hormuz, says Trump
- Iran orders UAE residents to evacuate key ports
- F1 cancels races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia amid chaos in the Middle East
Iran launches new missiles toward Israeli territory, IDF says
04:42 , Shweta SharmaThe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has detected missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory a short while ago.
The military said air defence systems were working to intercept the incoming threats.
Israel’s Home Front Command has issued preliminary alerts to mobile phones in affected areas, urging residents to immediately enter protected spaces when sirens sound.
Authorities said people should remain in shelters until further notice and only leave once an explicit instruction is issued.
Officials stressed that following Home Front Command directives is critical for public safety as the situation develops.
Grieving families speak of US airmen killed in Iraq plane crash
04:30 , Shweta SharmaAn Alabama pilot who had been promoted to major just weeks ago was among the victims of an Air Force plane crash in Iraq this week.
All six crew members aboard the KC-135 Stratotanker died when the refueling aircraft came down Thursday.
It was supporting operations against Iran during Operation Epic Fury – the growing conflict between the U.S. and Iran which was launched by President Donald Trump at the end of February.
The Pentagon identified the six U.S. service members who were killed in an aircraft crash in Iraq on Thursday.
All were members of the U.S. Air Force.
The service members were identified as:
- Major John A Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama
- Captain Ariana G Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington
- Tech Sergeant Ashley B Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky
- Captain Seth R Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana
- Captain Curtis J Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio
- Tech Sergeant Tyler H Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio
Explosions in Bahrain's capital
04:27 , Shweta SharmaExplosions have been reported in Bahrain’s capital of Manama early on Sunday, according to AFP.
Bahrain says it intercepted 125 missiles and 203 drones since the start of Iran’s attacks.
At least two people have been killed in Bahrain and 24 others in neighbouring Gulf nations.
UK considers sending minehunting drones amid oil blockade
04:00 , Shweta SharmaBritain could send minehunting drones to unblock Iran's stranglehold over a key oil shipping route, as Donald Trump called for allied warships to protect tankers in the region.
On Saturday, the US president urged the UK and other nations to send naval vessels to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran is blockading the narrow sea passage out of the Persian Gulf, stemming the flow from the Middle East and pushing up energy prices across the globe.
The ministry of defence said "a range of options" were being considered to secure shipping through the strait, where some 20% of the world's oil ordinarily passes through each day.
The Sunday Times, which first reported the proposals, said the minehunting drones could be deployed from the Royal Navy's Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, which is currently in the Middle East.
But the newspaper said it is not known how many drones are in service and which could be deployed.
Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar report new interceptions
03:45 , Shweta SharmaSaudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar have reported air defence interceptions of suspected Iranian strikes.
The Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said that it recently intercepted and destroyed seven drones in Riyadh and the Eastern Region.
Authorities in Dubai and Qatar have also reported air defence interceptions earlier this morning.
Dubai’s media office said on X that sounds heard in the Marina and Al Sufouh areas were the result of successful interceptions.
The Qatari defence ministry also said it had intercepted four ballistic missiles and a number of drones launched by Iran on Saturday.
US orders non-emergency personnel to leave Oman
03:30 , Shweta SharmaThe US State Department said on Saturday it had ordered non-emergency government employees and the family members of government employees to leave Oman.
It cited safety risks as the US–Israeli war on Iran continues.
Earlier on Saturday, the US embassy in Baghdad warned its citizens in Iraq to leave "immediately" after a missile hit the building.
London bracing for massive turnout of protesters despite warning
03:28 , Shweta SharmaThousands of protesters are set to gather in London for the Al Quds Day demonstration as police warn officers will "act decisively" on intifada chants and placards spreading hate.
Scotland Yard is bracing for a "difficult public order" environment on Sunday, with at least 1,000 officers drafted in to manage crowds expected of around 12,000 people as conflict continues in Iran.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood granted the police's bid for a month-long ban of the annual march organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), making it the first time such a restriction on protest had been imposed since 2012.
However, people can still legally assemble and take part in a so-called "static protest".
The IHRC said the demonstration will take place "in defiance of a government ban on the march".
The annual Al Quds Day demonstration in London had drawn criticism over apparent backing for the Iranian regime after its organisers expressed support for the country's late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
It is thought to be the first time that Scotland Yard has used the river as a physical barrier to keep a large-scale protest and counter-protests apart.
The demonstration will take place between Vauxhall Bridge and Lambeth Bridge and is permitted between 1pm and 3pm. The gathering will be held at Albert Embankment, while Lambeth Bridge will be closed except for emergency vehicles.
Russia is supplying Iran with Shahed drones, Zelensky says
02:46 , Shweta SharmaRussia is sending Shahed drones to Iran to be used in the war against the US and Israel, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN.
Zelensky told CNN's Fareed Zakaria that it is “100% fact” that Iran has used Russian-made Shaheds to attack US bases.
Shahed drones have also been linked to other attacks in the region, although their manufacturers are not always clear.
Iran pioneered the Shahed drone, a much cheaper alternative to expensive missiles. They were first used extensively during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where thousands have been launched by Russian forces since fall 2022, according to Ukrainian sources.
Although Iran initially provided the drones, Russia now manufactures its own Shaheds. Armed forces of other countries have since adopted Shahed-type drones, including the US military, which has said they are part of the current campaign against Iran.
F1 cancels races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
02:20 , Graig GraziosiFormula 1 is cancelling next month’s Grand Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia amid the escalating tensions in the Gulf.
“Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April,” F1 said in a statement. “While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April.”
Will Trump's attack on Kharg Island cause further mayhem for the global oil economy?
02:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneNeil Quilliam, an energy policy and foreign affairs analyst at Chatham House, previously told The Independent that while it is “unlikely” President Donald Trump would completely take over the territory, any attempt would “likely send the markets into a tailspin”.
It could also block any future resolution between the countries, leading to an endless standoff.
“The US would effectively control Iran’s major export terminal but the Iranian leadership would remain in control of the country’s production so there would be a standoff,” he said. It could also be a “major cause for concern” for Gulf countries, setting a dangerous precedent.
“It is Iran’s Achilles heel in this war but fighting for and occupying Kharg could cause irreparable damage to the terminal and hurt any successor regime’s chances of managing the economy,” he continued. “Previous presidents have steered away from Kharg understanding its strategic important to global oil markets.”
Pentagon identifies U.S. military members killed in Iraq plane crash
01:54 , Graig GraziosiThe Pentagon identified the six U.S. service members who were killed in an aircraft crash in Iraq on Thursday.
All were members of the U.S. Air Force.
The service members were identified as:
- Major John A Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama
- Captain Ariana G Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington
- Tech Sergeant Ashley B Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky
- Captain Seth R Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana
- Captain Curtis J Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio
- Tech Sergeant Tyler H Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio
The service members were killed when their KC-135 aircraft crashed in western Iraq.
The U.S. military says the crash was not related to hostile or friendly fire in the area.
The Department of Defense said the crash is under investigation.
Trump says he isn't ready to make a deal with Iran yet
01:30 , Graig GraziosiPresident Donald Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he isn’t ready to discuss a potential ceasefire with Iran “because the terms aren’t good enough yet.”
He did not elaborate on what concessions would convince him to open up negotiations with Iran.
Trump also questioned if Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was still alive, and boasted about what he calls the “totally demolished” Kharg island, which is home to critical Iranian oil infrastructure.
He added that the U.S. might continue to bomb the island “a few more times just for fun.”
France says it is not sending warships to assist the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran
01:17 , Graig GraziosiThe French Foreign Ministry response account on social media said on Friday that the nation is not sending warships to assist with the war in Iran.
Earlier on Saturday, President Donald Trump called on U.S. allies — including the UK and France — to send ships to help prevent Iran from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz.
French officials confirmed on Saturday they were not responding to Trump’s call.
“Let’s be clear: There is no change in posture and the [French] aircraft carrier strike group remains deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the account replied on X. It added that its assets in the region will remain primarily “defensive” and “protective.”
In another post, the ministry confirmed that the strike group was still in the eastern Mediterranean.
Iran foreign minister says the Strait of Hormuz is open
01:03 , Graig GraziosiIran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told MSNOW on Saturday that, so far as Tehran is concerned, the Strait of Hormuz is open.
Just not to its enemies.
“The Strait of Hormuz is open; it is only closed to tankers and ships that belong to our enemies,” he said during the interview.
‘You live in Dubai, aren’t you scared?’ How the UAE ‘safe haven’ tried to spin two weeks of drone strikes
01:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDrones have crashed near Dubai airport, its harbour and the financial district. Flights have been cancelled, daily alerts warn residents to stay away from windows, and tourists are being arrested on suspicion of filming missiles.
But two weeks after the US-Iran war began, some corners of social media would have you believe it’s still business as usual in the emirate.
The Independent’s Bryony Gooch reports on how the emirate has been spinning its own story of the last fortnight:
‘You live in Dubai, aren’t you scared?’ How UAE ‘safe haven’ tried to spin a war
Trump-linked PAC sends fundraising email using dead soldier’s casket photo from dignified transfer
00:19 , Graig GraziosiA political action committee linked to Donald Trump used a photo of the president saluting a dead soldier’s casket in a fundraising email, prompting backlash from several Democratic officials and veterans groups.
The message, sent Thursday and paid for by Never Surrender Inc., advertises a new “National Security Briefing Membership” and includes multiple donation links. The message included an image of Trump saluting during last week’s dignified transfer ceremony for six U.S. service members who were killed during an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait.
“As a National Security Briefing Member, you'll receive my private national security briefings, unfiltered updates on the threats facing America,” the email reads. “The straight truth on border invasions, foreign adversaries, deep state sabotage, and every danger the fake news hides.”
READ MORE:
Trump-linked PAC sends fundraising email using photo from dignified transfer
Editorial: Having misjudged Iran, Donald Trump now risks falling into his own trap
00:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Having misjudged Iran, Donald Trump now risks falling into his own trap
In pictures: UAE eerily quiet as region under fire from Iran
Saturday 14 March 2026 23:45 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Britain considers sending minehunting drones to Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 14 March 2026 23:40 , Nicole Wootton-CaneBritain is considering sending minehunting drones to unblock Iran’s stranglehold over a key oil shipping route, as Donald Trump called for allied warships to protect tankers in the region.
On Saturday, the US president urged the UK and other nations to send naval vessels to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
The Ministry of Defence responded by saying “a range of options” were being considered to secure shipping through the strait.
The Sunday Times has reported minehunting drones could be deployed from the Royal Navy’s Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, which is currently in the Middle East.
But the newspaper said it is not known how many drones are in service and which could be deployed.
The Sunday Telegraph meanwhile reported that interceptor drones, made in the UK for Ukraine to use against Russia, could also be used against Iran’s aerial Shahed drones.
That option is understood to be at a much earlier stage of consideration.
Rachel Reeves vows to support households with rising energy costs as Middle East crisis hits oil prices
Saturday 14 March 2026 23:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRachel Reeves has vowed to support households grappling with spiralling energy bills as a result of the deepening crisis in the Middle East.
The chancellor’s announcement comes as a package of support for those reliant on heating oil, a fuel not covered by the energy price cap, is expected to be set out next week.
Approximately 1.5 million households currently using heating oil are facing severe cost increases, with the price per litre having doubled since the onset of the crisis.
It comes amid concerns that instability in the Middle East could hit the cost of living around the world, after Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, jumped to more than $100 (£74) a barrel earlier this week for the first time since 2022, contributing to higher fuel bills and the risk of increased household energy costs across the UK.
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Reeves vows to support households with energy costs as Iran war hits oil prices
Trump says countries have 'committed' to action in Strait of Hormuz and questions whether Iran's new supreme leader is alive
Saturday 14 March 2026 23:25 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDonald Trump has said Iran’s new supreme leader “may not be alive” in an interview on Saturday.
Speaking to NBC News, the US president also said he’s not ready to make a deal to end the war with Iran despite the country’s willingness to do so “because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” but declined to say what those terms would be.
He added he is he is working with other countries on a plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid surges in global oil prices, but dismissed concerns about rising costs of oil.
“They’ve not only committed, but they think it’s a great idea,” he said, but refused to say which countries he had spoken to.
The president also said US strikes on Kharg Island on Saturday “totally demolished” most of the island but that “we may hit it a few more times just for fun.”
Watch: Trump says Iran's new supreme leader is alive but 'damaged'
Saturday 14 March 2026 23:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWhat to know about the port of Fujairah and its importance to the oil industry
Saturday 14 March 2026 23:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSome oil-loading operations have been suspended at Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah port following a suspected Iranian drone attack and fire on Saturday.
Fujairah, a major global hub for refuelling ships and crude and fuel exports, was struck following Iranian threats to expand strikes on US allies.
Those followed a US strike on Iran’s Kharg Island, a vital hub for its oil industry.
President Donald Trump claimed that the US had "totally obliterated every military target in Iran’s crown jewel" on Kharg Island.
You can read more below:
What to know about the port of Fujairah and its importance to the oil industry
Three more members of Iranian women's football team reportedly reverse asylum decision
Saturday 14 March 2026 22:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThree more members of Iran’s national women’s football team have reversed their decision to accept Australian visas, it has been reported.
When the Iranian women’s national football team refused to sing their country’s national anthem on Monday, 2 March, they were branded “wartime traitors” by state TV presenters.
The trio, named by human rights activists in the Iranian diasporaas Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Sarbali, were given humanitarian visas to stay in Australia.
But it has now been reported that they have changed their minds over accepting them.
Australia's home affairs minister Tony Burke said: “Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices and interacted with authorities seeking to help them.
"While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions."
Full report: Donald Trump urges UK to send warships to secure Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 14 March 2026 22:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDonald Trump has pleaded for the UK and its allies to send warships to the embattled Strait of Hormuz in an effort to break Iran’s blockade of the key oil shipping route.
Piling pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to deepen his involvement in the escalating conflict, the US president urged Britain and other nations – including France, China and Japan – to send warships to the area to protect oil tankers from Iranian attacks.
The Independent’s Maira Butt and Millie Cooke report:
Donald Trump urges UK to send warships to secure Strait of Hormuz
Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races will not take place in April
Saturday 14 March 2026 22:20 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFormula One has confirmed next month’s races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will not take place as FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the sport “will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first”.
The Middle East conflict had already placed the rounds on April 12 and April 19 in major doubt and they were both officially cancelled ahead of Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix.
A statement from F1’s governing body, the FIA, read: “It has been confirmed today that, after careful evaluations, due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April.
“While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April. The FIA Formula 2, FIA Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds will also not take place during their scheduled times.
“The decision has been taken in full consultation with Formula One Group, local promoters and our member clubs in the region.”
Kieran Jackson reports:
F1 cancels races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia amid chaos in the Middle East
WHO chief Tedros says 12 dead in strike on primary healthcare centre in Lebanon
Saturday 14 March 2026 22:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Saturday that it has verified 12 doctors, paramedics and nurses were killed in a strike on the Bourj Qalaouiyeh primary healthcare centre in Lebanon late on Friday.
"The killings in the last 24 hours of 14 health workers in southern Lebanon mark a tragic development in the escalating Middle East crisis," Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X, noting that earlier in the day two paramedics had been killed in an attack on a health facility in Al Sowana.
Israel has launched an extensive bombing campaign against the powerful Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which has killed more than 770 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more, while Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets across the border.
The killings in the last 24 hours of 14 health workers in southern #Lebanon mark a tragic development in the escalating Middle East crisis.@WHO has confirmed that 12 doctors, paramedics and nurses were killed in a strike late last night on the Bourj Qalaouiyeh primary… pic.twitter.com/SXazI9XBai
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 14, 2026
Where is Kharg Island? Tiny oil hub in Persian Gulf that could be Trump's secret weapon against Iran
Saturday 14 March 2026 22:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneKharg Island, whose total area is just 7.7 square miles, is situated northwest of the strategically important shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite its small size, the island holds around 94 per cent of the country’s crude oil for export, mostly bound for China, and its main oil export terminal.
US administration officials said that discussions on seizing the key island have taken place, according to Axios. The land, which is smaller than the city of Westminster in London, could choke off Iran’s economy and leave a devastating impact for years to come.
FCC chair suggests pulling broadcast licenses for news outlets
Saturday 14 March 2026 21:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe chair of the Federal Communications Commission has suggested broadcasters that reported several US Air Force refuelling crafts had been damaged may lose their licences if they do not “correct course”.
In a post on X, Brendan Carr said outlets that are running “hoaxes and news distortions” could have their licenses revoked.
It comes after a number of outlets reported US air force refuelling planes had reportedly been hit in an Iranian strike in Saudi Arabia. US president Donald Trump later confirmed the reports.
Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) March 14, 2026
The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they… https://t.co/7bBgnsbalw
UAE rejects Iran claim US strike on Kharg Island launched from its territory
Saturday 14 March 2026 21:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe United Arab Emirates hit back at Iran over accusations that a US strike on Khar Island originated from the Gulf state, saying Tehran's policy was confused and lacked wisdom.
In a post on X, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said the country had the right to defend itself but "continues to prioritise reason and logic."
It comes as UAE Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh told NBC News her country did not want this war but will "fully and assertively" defend itself, and accused Iran of strikes "shockingly aimed at civilian infrastructure".
At least 2,000 killed in two weeks of conflict so far
Saturday 14 March 2026 21:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneTwo weeks into the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, the conflict has left a growing humanitarian and regional toll, with around 2,000 people reported killed, the majority in Iran but also many in Lebanon and an increasing number in Gulf countries.
Several million people have been displaced from their homes as the fighting spreads across the region.
The United States has also suffered casualties.
All six crew members aboard a US refuelling aircraft were killed after it crashed in western Iraq during the conflict.
Five US Air Force tanker aircraft stationed at a base in Saudi Arabia were damaged in an Iranian missile strike and are undergoing repairs, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials.
Beyond direct military exchanges, the war has raised concerns about global energy security. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has attempted to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which roughly 20% of the world’s fossil fuel supplies pass.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US Navy would soon begin escorting oil tankers through the strait to ensure the flow of energy supplies.
Although Trump had earlier suggested the conflict could last only weeks, he declined to predict when it might end, telling reporters: “It’ll be as long as it’s necessary.”
Israel is running critically low on interceptors, Semafor reports
Saturday 14 March 2026 21:01 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIsrael informed the US this week that it is running critically low on ballistic missile interceptors as the conflict with Iran continues, Semafor reported on Saturday, citing US officials familiar with the matter.
The Independent could not immediately verify the report.
The US has been aware of Israel's low capacity for months, the report said, adding that it is not running low on interceptors of its own.
Watch: Cost of Iran war 'not something we have to worry about', says US Treasury Secretary
Saturday 14 March 2026 20:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneArtificial intelligence has brought a new way of war to the Middle East – and it makes crimes harder to hide
Saturday 14 March 2026 20:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe staggering pace of air attacks by the US and Israel against Iran has been driven by the same artificial intelligence systems that contributed to the indictment of Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for crimes against humanity.
According to arms industry insiders and the US Department of War, more than 2,000 targets were hit by American forces in just four days of the ongoing Iran conflict.
The speed of the “kill chain” has been drastically accelerated by the use of an AI system known as Maven, which was developed with the US Department of Defense by Palantir, an AI company, and later sold to the Pentagon. Palantir signed a major deal with the UK’s Ministry of Defence last December.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
AI has brought a new way of war to the Middle East – and makes crimes harder to hide
Crew of fatal US military crash included Georgia father and several from Ohio
Saturday 14 March 2026 20:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneA pilot from Alabama had just been promoted to major in January and had been deployed less than a week when the refuelling aircraft he was aboard crashed in Iraq this week, killing him and five others, his brother-in-law said Saturday.
Also aboard was an Ohio man whose loved ones remembered for his smile, his parents said.
The Pentagon hasn't yet revealed the identities of the six, but families began revealing who had died Saturday.
The aircraft was in "friendly" airspace, supporting operations against Iran, when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred, according to US Central Command. The other plane landed safety, US military officials said.
You can read more below:
ICYMI: Trump says US forces 'obliterated' military targets on Iran's Kharg island
Saturday 14 March 2026 20:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Donald Trump said US forces had "obliterated" military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, just hours after the American military said it had ordered 2,500 Marines and an amphibious assault ship to the Middle East.
Kharg Island is the primary terminal that handles Iran's oil exports and Mr Trump warned that the island's oil infrastructure could be next.
Announcing the action in a social media post, the president said: "Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran's crown jewel, Kharg Island.
"For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision."
In a later post, Mr Trump said: "Iran had plans of taking over the entire Middle East, and completely obliterating Israel. JUST LIKE IRAN ITSELF, THOSE PLANS ARE NOW DEAD!"Iran's parliament speaker warned on Thursday that attacks on the Persian Gulf islands on Iran's southern maritime frontier would provoke a new level of retaliation, underscoring how central they are to the country's economy and security.
In a social media post, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Iran "will abandon all restraint" if the islands come under attack and said Trump will be responsible for "the blood of American soldiers".
Later on Saturday, Iran vowed to attack facilities of US companies in the region if its energy infrastructure is targeted.
Swiss reject two flyover requests from US for flights related to Iran war
Saturday 14 March 2026 19:50 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Swiss government has rejected two flyover requests related to the war in Iran by the US, but accepted three, it said on Saturday.
"The law on neutrality prohibits overflights by parties to the conflict that serve a military purpose related to the conflict,” it said.
“Permitted are humanitarian and medical transits, including the transport of wounded persons, as well as overflights that are unrelated to the conflict.”
Iran warns US to move industries out of region, state media says
Saturday 14 March 2026 19:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran's Revolutionary Guards warned the United States on Saturday to move industries out of the region and urged people to stay away from factories in which the US holds shares, Iranian state media said.
The warning follows strikes over the past 48 hours that killed several civilian workers at non-military factories in Iran, the country’s Press TV said.
Recap: European leaders criticise Trump's decision to ease oil sanctions
Saturday 14 March 2026 19:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneEuropean leaders have reacted sharply to a US decision to temporarily ease sanctions on the purchase of Russian oil.
The waiver will allow countries to buy Russian oil already on vessels at sea but unsold due to sanctions.
European Council President Antonio Costa said the decision was "very concerning" as it "impacts European security".
"Weakening sanctions increases Russian resources to wage the war of aggression against Ukraine," he wrote in a post on X.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said at a news conference the move could allow Russia to gain about $10bn, adding: "It certainly does not help peace."
French president Emmanuel Macron, speaking alongside Zelensky, said the reported shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz "in no way" justified lifting sanctions.
Canada's prime minister Mark Carney said earlier that Canada's position was to "maintain sanctions on Russia".
German chancellor Friedrich Merz also criticised the decision, calling it "wrong" at a separate news conference.
Trump calls for 'team effort' in securing Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 14 March 2026 19:05 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDonald Trump has called for a “team effort” in securing the safe passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as he promises the US “will help - A LOT”.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, the US president said the US has “beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way”.
But he called on countries reliant on oil that travels through the strait to help secure it in a reiteration of his message earlier on Saturday.
“The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way, but the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!,” he wrote.
“The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well. This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be — It will bring the World together toward Harmony, Security, and Everlasting Peace!”
Watch: Trump releases video showing apparent strike on Kharg Island
Saturday 14 March 2026 19:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDrone strike halts operations at refinery in Iraq's Erbil, officials say
Saturday 14 March 2026 18:49 , Nicole Wootton-CaneOperations at the Lanaz refinery in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil have been suspended until a fire caused by a drone strike on Saturday is extinguished, provincial officials said.
Work will remain suspended until the extent of the damage is assessed, officials at the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Natural Resources told Reuters.
Yesterday Dubai – tomorrow, who knows? How Iran conflict could change UK travel plans once and for all
Saturday 14 March 2026 18:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDubai, seen for decades as a safe and serene haven, now finds itself on the Foreign Office no-go – along with Abu Dhabi, just down the road in the UAE, and Doha in Qatar. So what does this mean for the future of tourism in the Gulf?
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder finds out.
Yesterday Dubai – tomorrow, who knows? How Iran conflict could change UK travel plans
'Too risky' for UK to escort oil tankers, ex-naval chief warns
Saturday 14 March 2026 18:21 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe risks are “too great” for the UK to ensure the safety of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran conflict, a former Navy admiral has warned.
Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, who was in charge of military escorts during the Iran-Iraq war, told The Times he believes it would be “easy” for Iran to attack while they travel the passage.
It comes after President Donald Trump called on countries including the UK, China, and Japan to secure the waterway.
Israel claims it killed two senior Iranian intelligence officials in attacks
Saturday 14 March 2026 18:07 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIsrael has claimed it killed two senior Iranian intelligence officials in attacks on Tehran on Friday.
In a post on X, army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Abdullah Jalali-Nasab and Amir Shariat were killed.
He claims the two were appointed heads of the of the intelligence apparatus following the dead of its chief Saleh Asadi in the opening strike of the war.
“The two were among the top intelligence commanders and pivotal figures in the Iranian intelligence institution, and they were close to the leadership of the Iranian terrorist regime,” he added.
Why the Houthi rebels have yet to join the war in Iran
Saturday 14 March 2026 18:00 , Maira ButtIran's Shi'ite allies in Lebanon and Iraq have joined the war in the region unleashed by US and Israeli strikes on Tehran.
But Yemen's Houthi rebels, heavily armed and capable of striking Gulf neighbours and causing major disruption to maritime navigation around the Arabian Peninsula, have not yet entered the fray.
Here is a look at why that might be:
On March 5, Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi said his group was ready to strike at any moment.
“Regarding military escalation and action, our fingers are on the trigger at any moment should developments warrant it," he said in a televised speech. But unlike Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iraqi armed groups, they have not made any formal announcement of joining the war.
Houthi religious doctrine does not adhere to Iran's supreme leader in the same way Hezbollah and the Iraqi groups do.
While Iran champions the Houthis as part of its regional "Axis of Resistance", Yemen experts say the movement is motivated primarily by a domestic agenda though they share a political affinity with Iran and Hezbollah.
The US says Iran has armed, funded and trained the Houthis with help from Hezbollah.
The Houthis deny being an Iranian proxy and say they develop their own weapons.
US security umbrella 'full of holes', Iran's foreign minister says
Saturday 14 March 2026 17:56 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran’s foreign minister has accused the US’s “security umbrella” of being “full of holes” after President Donald Trump called on countries to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on X, Abbas Araghchi said the US is “inviting rather than deterring trouble” in the region.
“Touted US security umbrella has proven to be full of holes and inviting rather than deterring trouble,” he wrote.
“US is now begging others, even China, to help it make Hormuz safe. Iran calls on brotherly neighbors to expel foreign aggressors, especially as their only concern is Israel.”
US embassy urges Americans to leave Iraq
Saturday 14 March 2026 17:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUS citizens should leave Iraq immediately, the US embassy in Baghdad said in an updated security alert on Saturday, following an overnight missile attack on the embassy's building.
“US citizens choosing to remain in Iraq are strongly encouraged to reconsider in light of the significant threat posed by Iran-aligned terrorist militia groups," the embassy said.
Iran launch strikes at Israel
Saturday 14 March 2026 17:36 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran has launched a fresh wave of strikes against Israel on Saturday, according to the Israeli military.
The IDF said defensive systems are operating to “intercept the threat”.
How the White House is using memes and viral content to frame violence in Iran
Saturday 14 March 2026 17:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneMillions of people recently watched a video posted by the White House showing US strikes against Iranian targets. The clip didn’t just resemble Call of Duty: it mixed real strike footage with footage from the game itself, complete with “killstreak” animations designed to reward performance and simulate achievement.
Governments are increasingly communicating war using the visual language of video games and internet memes. In doing so, they don’t just trivialise violence – they make it harder to grieve the victims of the violence, by anaesthetising our responses to the suffering.
It’s a tactic that shapes how we interpret violence, and which quietly determines whose deaths register as deaths at all.
Daniel Baldino reports:
How the White House is using memes and viral content to frame violence in Iran
Strait of Hormuz 'only closed to enemies', Iranian foreign minister says
Saturday 14 March 2026 17:20 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran’s foreign minister has insisted the Strait of Hormuz remains “open” and is only closed to “enemies” of Iran.
In an interview on Saturday, Abbas Araqchi said tankers and ships belonging to countries not attacking Iran or their allies are “free to pass”.
“The Strait of Hormuz is open,” he said.”It is only closed to the tankers and ships belonging to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies. Others are free to pass.
“Of course, many of them prefer not, because of their, you know, security concerns. This has nothing to do with us. And at the same time, there are many tankers and ships who are passing through the Straits of Hormuz.
“And I can say that the Strait is not closed, but it is only closed to American, Israeli, you know, ships and tankers, and not to others.”
'Semper Fi': US senator uses Marine Corps motto amid reports troops are preparing for deployment
Saturday 14 March 2026 17:10 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUS senator Lindsey Graham has signed off a post on social media with the Marine Corps motto “Semper Fi” amid reports troops are preparing for deployment.
In a post on X, senator Graham wrote: “Iran’s attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz is done at its own peril. President Trump’s decision to take the war to Kharg Island - the crown jewel of Iran’s oil and gas economy - was necessary, bold and in my view, highly effective. This will help shorten the war.
“Seldom in warfare does an enemy provide you a single target like Kharg Island that could dramatically alter the outcome of the conflict. If Iran loses control or the ability to operate its oil infrastructure from Kharg Island, its economy is annihilated. He who controls Kharg Island, controls the destiny of this war.
“Semper Fi.”
The phrase is an abbreviation of the Latin Semper Fidelis, meaning "always faithful" or "always loyal".
Iran’s attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz is done at its own peril.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 14, 2026
President Trump’s decision to take the war to Kharg Island - the crown jewel of Iran’s oil and gas economy - was necessary, bold and in my view, highly effective. This will help shorten the war. Seldom in…
Trump rejects efforts to launch Iran ceasefire talks, sources say
Saturday 14 March 2026 17:00 , Nicole Wootton-CanePresident Donald Trump’s administration has turned down proposals by Middle Eastern allies to launch ceasefire talks in the region, sources have said.
A senior White House official told Reuters Trump has rebuffed those efforts to start talks and is focused on pressing ahead with the war to further weaken Tehran's military capabilities.
"He's not interested in that right now, and we're going to continue with the mission unabated. Maybe there's a day, but not right now," the official said.
Equally Iran has also rejected the possibility of any ceasefire until US and Israeli strikes end, two senior Iranian sources told Reuters, adding that several countries had been trying to mediate an end to the conflict.
Air attack kills 15 in Iranian city of Isfahan, state media reports
Saturday 14 March 2026 16:55 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAt least 15 people have been killed in an air attack on a factory in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, according to the Fars news agency.
There were workers inside the factory, which produces heaters and refrigerators, when the strike hit, Fars reported.
What to know about the Strait of Hormuz and why Iran can close it off so easily
Saturday 14 March 2026 16:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneEarlier, we brought you the news Donald Trump has called on the UK, China, Japan, and others to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz.
His calls come as the battle between US and Iranian troops intensifies over the major shipping route.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps once warned that cutting off the strait would be "easier than drinking a glass of water" – but why?
You can read more below:
What to know about the Strait of Hormuz and why Iran can close it off so easily
UK defence ministry responds to Trump call for ships in Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 14 March 2026 16:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe UK’s Ministry of Defence has said it is “discussing a range of options” with allies and partners following Donald Trump’s call for military assistance in the Strait of Hormuz.
"As we've said previously, we are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region,” a spokesperson said on Saturday.
British counter-drone forces shoot down multiple drones in Middle East
Saturday 14 March 2026 16:20 , Nicole Wootton-CaneBritain's counter-drone forces in the Middle East have shot down multiple drones overnight.
The counter-attacks were part of the UK's operations to defend its bases in Qatar, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Turkey discussing contradiction with Iran over missiles, foreign minister says
Saturday 14 March 2026 16:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran has denied responsibility for missiles fired toward Turkey, the Turkish foreign minister said on Saturday, adding that Ankara was discussing contradictions between Tehran's statements and available technical data on the launches.
Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Hakan Fidan said Turkish authorities possessed technical data regarding the missiles fired toward Turkey and were raising the inconsistencies with Iranian officials.
It comes after Nato air defences in the eastern Mediterranean shot down a third ballistic missile that was fired from Iran towards Turkey on Friday.
Watch: Marjorie Taylor Greene confused by Trump's Iran war timeline: 'I have no idea what that means'
Saturday 14 March 2026 16:05 , Nicole Wootton-CaneSpecial report: ‘There is nothing, no one left’: Inside Lebanon’s destroyed south where Israel threatens ground invasion
Saturday 14 March 2026 15:54 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFor nearly two weeks, Lebanon has been pounded by Israeli strikes.
The brutal and relentless bombing has seen families flee their homes and take shelter in classrooms and displacement camps, forced to leave everything behind. For many, the cost of war is more than they can bear.
The Independent’s Bel Trew has this special dispatch from Tyre in south Lebanon.
Inside Lebanon’s destroyed south: ‘There is nothing, no one left’
Israeli strikes kill 826 in Lebanon, authorities say
Saturday 14 March 2026 15:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIsraeli strikes in Lebanon have killed 826 people, with a further 2,009 people injured, according to the country’s health ministry.
It comes as the Israeli military issues an evacuation order for the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as the Dahiyeh, telling people to “evacuate immediately and not return to these neighbourhoods until further notice”.
Iran threatens to target US company facilities in region if its energy sites are hit
Saturday 14 March 2026 15:37 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIran vowed on Saturday to attack facilities of US companies the region if its energy infrastructure is targeted.
In comments reported by state media, foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran would act with caution to avoid targeting populated areas.
'Humanitarian aid must be allowed to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz,' says UN official
Saturday 14 March 2026 15:00 , Maira ButtA United Nations official has called for humanitarian aid to be allowed to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz.
Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator said: "When routes close and costs surge, the help we can deliver shrinks and the people who need it most are the ones who lose it first.”
"So my message to the parties to the conflict and all those with influence over them is simple: humanitarian cargo must be allowed to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz."
Trump says four Air Force refueling planes are ‘back in service’ after damage from Iranian strike in Saudi Arabia
Saturday 14 March 2026 14:45 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump said four U.S. Air Force tanker planes are “back in service” following reports of damage from an Iranian missile strike in Saudi Arabia.
Five U.S. Air Force refueling tanks were damaged, but not completely destroyed, in a strike at Prince Sultan air base in recent days, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. No one was killed, and officials are now working to repair the tankers, the outlet’s sources said.
In a Saturday morning Truth Social post, Trump railed against the “Fake News Media” and said the base was “hit a few days ago.” None of the planes were “‘struck’ or ‘destroyed,’” he added.
“Four of the five had virtually no damage, and are already back in service,” Trump wrote. “One had slightly more damage, but will be in the air shortly.”
Trump says four Air Force refueling planes are ‘back in service’ after Iranian strike
Watch: Major UAE port hit in drone strike after Trump claims key oil island ‘obliterated’
Saturday 14 March 2026 14:33 , Maira ButtTrump calls on UK, China, Japan and others to send ships to Strait of Hormuz as battle intensifies
Saturday 14 March 2026 14:23 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has emphasised the importance of opening the Strait of Hormuz as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to take “complete control” of the major shipping route last week.
“Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social on Saturday.
“We have already destroyed 100 per cent of Iran’s Military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are.
“Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated.
“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!”
Iran orders Gulf residents to evacuate key port areas
Saturday 14 March 2026 14:16 , Maira ButtIran has warned residents to leave areas near Jebel Ali port in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi and the Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates, according to Iranian news agencies.
It comes as a fire broke out at the major UAE port on Saturday, forcing the facility to suspend part of its oil operations.
Trump admits damage to four US Air Force refuelling planes
Saturday 14 March 2026 14:08 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has appeared to admit that five US Air Force refuelling planes were damaged amid the ongoing war with Iran.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday afternoon, he wrote: “Yet again, an intentionally misleading headline by the Fake News Media about the five tanker planes that were supposedly struck down at an Airport in Saudi Arabia, and of no further use.
“In actuality, the Base was hit a few days ago, but the planes were not ‘struck’ or ‘destroyed.’
“Four of the five had virtually no damage, and are already back in service. One had slightly more damage, but will be in the air shortly.
“None were destroyed, or close to that, as the Fake News said in headlines.”
Five refueling planes were hit in Iranian strike on Saudi Arabia, according to reports by the Wall Street journal earlier today.
Casualties of the US-Israeli war on Iran
Saturday 14 March 2026 13:50 , Maira ButtWill Trump's attack on Kharg Island cause further mayhem for the global oil economy?
Saturday 14 March 2026 13:30 , Maira ButtNeil Quilliam, an energy policy and foreign affairs analyst at Chatham House, previously told The Independent that while it is “unlikely” President Donald Trump would completely take over the territory, any attempt would “likely send the markets into a tailspin”.
It could also block any future resolution between the countries, leading to an endless standoff.
“The US would effectively control Iran’s major export terminal but the Iranian leadership would remain in control of the country’s production so there would be a standoff,” he said. It could also be a “major cause for concern” for Gulf countries, setting a dangerous precedent.
“It is Iran’s Achilles heel in this war but fighting for and occupying Kharg could cause irreparable damage to the terminal and hurt any successor regime’s chances of managing the economy,” he continued. “Previous presidents have steered away from Kharg understanding its strategic important to global oil markets.”
Putin ‘offered to move Iran’s uranium to Russia’ to end war against Tehran. Trump rejected it
Saturday 14 March 2026 13:15 , Maira ButtDonald Trump has reportedly rejected an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to move Iran's enriched uranium to Russia.
The proposal was made as part of a deal to end the U.S. and Israel's war against Tehran, Axios report.
The offer was put forward during a phone call between the two leaders this week, but Trump is said to have declined it.
This rejection comes amid Mr Trump's recent admission that Mr Putin could be assisting Iran in its military efforts against the U.S.
It appeared to contradict earlier assertions from his Middle East envoy. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who had previously stated that following a conversation with Mr Trump and other Russian officials on Monday, Moscow had denied sharing intelligence with Iran.
Iran says US 'begging the world' to buy oil after bullying tactics
Saturday 14 March 2026 13:00 , Maira ButtIran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi criticised the US over what he described as a shift in Washington’s stance on Russian oil amid its ongoing war with Iran.
In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi said the Donald Trump administration was now urging countries, including India, to buy Russian crude despite previously pressuring them to stop such imports.
“The US spent months bullying India into ending oil imports from Russia. After two weeks of war with Iran, the White House is now begging the world – including India – to buy Russian crude,” Araghchi wrote.
"Europe thought backing illegal war on Iran would win US support against Russia. Pathetic," he said.
Iran say USA should be banned from World Cup 2026 after Trump claims ‘not appropriate’ for them to play
Saturday 14 March 2026 12:45 , Maira ButtThe Iran national team has said that hosts USA should be “excluded” from the World Cup 2026, just hours after Donald Trump claimed it would not be “appropriate” for them to participate.
While the national team have qualified for the tournament and are scheduled to play matches in Los Angeles and Seattle between 15 and 26 June, their participation has been thrown into doubt after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing the country's supreme leader.
Iran responded with military action of its own against Israel and US interests and allies in the Gulf, further escalating a conflict that has run since the end of February.
And while US president Trump claimed that Iran is “welcome” at this summer’s tournament, he has outlined that he does not think it is “appropriate that they be there”.
Chris Wilson reports:
Iran say USA should be banned from World Cup 2026 after latest Trump claims
Analysis: Trump’s terror claim about Iran could help an accused Osama bin Laden henchman walk free again
Saturday 14 March 2026 12:30 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump’s invocation of the 25-year-old bombing of an American warship as part of his justification for launching a massive bombing campaign against Iran could hamper long-running Pentagon efforts to finally bring the alleged terrorists accused of perpetrating the terror attack to justice.
On two occasions over the nearly two weeks since the Defense Department launched Operation Epic Fury against targets across Iran, Trump has claimed Tehran was responsible for the October 2000 bombing of U.S.S. Cole, a grisly attack that killed 17 U.S. Navy sailors and left 37 others injured.
When he announced the start of the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign in the early hours of Feb. 28, Trump claimed Tehran “knew and [was] probably involved” with the Cole attack, and he repeated the allegations during a press conference on Monday when he insisted that Iran had been “involved very strongly” in the attack.
Yet according to the very government he leads — including a blue-ribbon commission’s report on the attacks and filings by military prosecutors seeking to convict the alleged perpetrators — Iran wasn’t involved at all.
Trump’s terror claim about Iran could help an accused bin Laden henchman walk free
Watch: Smoke and fire at US embassy compound in Baghdad after reported missile strike
Saturday 14 March 2026 12:15 , Maira ButtRachel Reeves vows to support households with rising energy costs as Middle East crisis hits oil prices
Saturday 14 March 2026 12:00 , Maira ButtRachel Reeves has vowed to support households grappling with spiralling energy bills as a result of the deepening crisis in the Middle East.
The chancellor’s announcement comes as a package of support for those reliant on heating oil, a fuel not covered by the energy price cap, is expected to be set out next week.
Approximately 1.5 million households currently using heating oil are facing severe cost increases, with the price per litre having doubled since the onset of the crisis.
It comes amid concerns that instability in the Middle East could hit the cost of living around the world, after Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, jumped to more than $100 (£74) a barrel earlier this week for the first time since 2022, contributing to higher fuel bills and the risk of increased household energy costs across the UK.
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Reeves vows to support households with energy costs as Iran war hits oil prices
