Benjamin Netanyahu said Tehran is “weaker than ever” as he praised Donald Trump for his co-operation in the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles after 20 days of air attacks, the Israeli prime minister told a news conference on Thursday.
Earlier, US defense secretary Pete Hegseth accused America’s European allies of being “ungrateful” and said they should be “thanking” Mr Trump for his war.
Speaking at a briefing at the Pentagon on Thursday, Mr Hegseth said Washington’s allies should be appreciative of the US effort to “stop this terror state from holding the world hostage with missiles while building or attempting to build a nuclear bomb”.
American officials, including President Trump, have repeatedly criticised Nato allies for not supporting the US-Israeli war on Iran. Earlier this week, Mr Trump claimed that Nato had “abandoned the US in our time of need” but stressed: “We don’t need their help”.
How fire ripped through Trump’s biggest warship as it sails to Crete for repairs
Pentagon asks White House to approve $200B request to Congress for Iran war: report
Iran missile causes ‘extensive damage’ at Qatar energy hub in retaliatory strike
Even Joe Rogan is against Trump’s attacks on Iran: ‘It just seems so insane’
Key Points
- Hegseth attacks 'ungrateful' European allies
- Trump: I told Netanyahu to halt attacks on Iran's South Pars gas field
- Huge plumes of smoke after Iran strikes Israeli oil refinery in Haifa
- American F-35 fighter jet struck by Iran in first incident of its kind - report
- Trump warns US will 'massively blow up' Iran's South Pars if it continues attacks on Qatar
- Why was Israel's attack on South Pars oil field such a major escalation?
Natural gas prices soar as Iran and Israel strike Middle East energy infrastructure
22:15 , Dan HaygarthNatural gas prices in Europe surged as much as 35% on Thursday as Iranian and Israeli strikes targeted some of the Middle East's most important gas infrastructure, doing damage that will likely take years to repair.
The strikes on energy facilities since the onset of the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran have brought to life some of the energy industry's worst fears - that a conflict in the region will leave long-term damage and shortages in global energy supplies.
"We are now well on the road to the doomsday gas-crisis scenario," said Saul Kavonic, an energy analyst at MST Financial.
"Even once the war ends, the disruption to LNG (liquefied natural gas) supply could last for months or even years."
Iran on Thursday struck the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar, the world’s largest LNG complex, a day after Israel attacked Iran's huge South Pars gas facilities.
The hit on Ras Laffan destroyed two LNG trains that could cause a reduction of around 17 per cent of Qatar's liquefied natural gas exports for between three and five years.
"I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that Qatar would be - Qatar and the region - in such an attack, especially from a brotherly Muslim country in the month of Ramadan, attacking us in this way," QatarEnergy chief executive Saad al-Kaabi told Reuters.
He said the state-owned gas company may have to declare force majeure on long-term contracts to Belgium, China, Italy and South Korea.
Gas prices in Europe rose by as much as 35% on Thursday and oil jumped as much as 10%, before paring gains.
Trump’s White House can’t manufacture support for Iran war but is busy ‘grinding away on banger memes’
22:00 , Dan HaygarthWith public support collapsing for his administration’s war in Iran, Donald Trump’s White House has resorted to counting social media impressions as a sign of victory after gleefully posting images of destruction, threaded with clips from Marvel movies and Call of Duty.
Real-world footage of multi-million dollar airstrikes that have killed hundreds of Iranians has been spliced together with clips from video games and pop culture references in montages that appeal to accounts on Elon Musk’s X, all while trolling their antiwar critics.
Read more:
Inside the White House plan for ‘banger memes’ to sell his Iran war
Recap: Netanyahu's press conference
21:45 , Daniel Haygarth
Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles after 20 days of US-Israeli air attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a news conference this evening.
"We are winning, and Iran is being decimated," Netanyahu said, adding that he believes Iran's missile and drone arsenal is being massively degraded and will be destroyed.
"What we're destroying now are the factories that produce the components to make these missiles and to make the nuclear weapons that they're trying to produce," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu did not provide evidence for his claim that Iran no longer had the capacity to enrich uranium.
Despite the nearly three week war, it was still too soon to tell whether Iranians will take to the streets to try to overthrow their government, Netanyahu said.
"It's up to the Iranian people to show that, to choose the moment and to rise to the moment," he said.
While the war so far has been conducted through air attacks, Netanyahu said there could be a ground component as well and "there are many possibilities for this ground component." He did not elaborate.
Netanyahu also denied he dragged the United States into the conflict.
"Does anyone eally think that someone can tell President Trump what to do?" he said.
Netanyahu wants oil and gas to flow through Israel post war
21:30 , Dan HaygarthBenjamin Netanyahu said he believes pipelines should be built to transport Middle East oil and gas across the Arabian Peninsula and up to Israeli ports to avoid threats by Iran in the Hormuz Strait and other Gulf waters.
A day after Israel attacked Iran's main gas field in a sharp escalation of the war, Netanyahu told a press conference that Tehran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium, a claim that has been contested by the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog.
Netanyahu sought during the 45-minute event to defend his country's military operations even as its attacks on Iran's South Pars field inspired tit-for-tat strikes on energy plants across the Gulf, sending energy prices spiralling.
France's foreign minister to arrive in Israel tomorrow
21:15 , Dan HaygarthFrance's foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot will arrive in Israel on Friday, in an unscheduled visit, after visiting Beirut as part of efforts to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon.
As it announced Barrot's visit, the French foreign ministry added that Barrot would discuss with Israeli authorities regional security and humanitarian aid issues, and attempts to de-escalate the conflicts in the Middle East
Netanyahu is copying Putin’s tactics by bombing Iran’s energy system – it will backfire badly
21:00 , Dan HaygarthThe Israeli bombing of the South Pars gas field has chilling parallels to Russia’s bombing of Ukrainian infrastructure, which has been condemned as a possible war crime.
World affairs editor Sam Kiley writes that such a strategy will cause needless pain and do nothing to bring the regime to its knees.
Read more:
Netanyahu is copying Putin’s dreadful tactics in Iran –and it will backfire badly
Missile explodes yards from British journalist during news report from Lebanon
20:45 , Dan HaygarthRecap: Iran intensified attacks on fuel facilities
20:30 , Dan HaygarthIran intensified its attacks on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf on Thursday, raising the stakes in a war that is sending shock waves through the global economy.
The strikes, in retaliation for an Israeli attack on a key Iranian gas field, sent fuel prices soaring and risked drawing Iran's Arab neighbours directly into the conflict.
Iran's targeting of energy production further stressed global supplies already under pressure because of its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported.
Since the US and Israel launched the war on 28 February, Iran's top leaders have been killed in air strikes and the country's military capabilities have been severely degraded.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Thursday that Iran no longer has the ability to enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles.
Still, Iran - now led by the son of the supreme leader killed in the war's opening salvo - remains capable of missile and drone attacks rattling its Gulf Arab neighbours and a global economy dependent on the energy they produce.
Donald Trump is now trapped in a war even he can’t chicken out of
20:15 , Dan HaygarthThe president is supposed to be a good enough businessman to know when to cut his losses and call it quits – he should go back to making America great again while he has the chance, writes Sean O’Grady.
Read below:
Donald Trump is now trapped in a war even he can’t chicken out of
Netanyahu: Iran's 'navy is lying at the bottom of the sea'
20:00 , Dan Haygarth
Benjamin Netanyahu said "Iran's air defences have been rendered useless, their navy is lying at the bottom of the sea... their air force is nearly destroyed".
In a press conference this evening, the Israeli leader said he hopes the Iranian people will rise up against the Islamic Republic that has ruled for nearly half a century, but he conceded "it's too early" to say whether that will happen.
There has been no sign of such an uprising since the war began, after Iranian authorities quelled mass protests in January.
Iranian strikes on energy sites serious escalation of conflict, says John Healey
19:45 , Dan Haygarth
Britain will “step up” defensive support for Gulf states after Iran attacked energy sites across the region in a “serious escalation” of the war, the defence secretary has said.
John Healey told the Press Association that Tehran’s attacks overnight threatened to further destabilise the region as he reiterated the Government’s call for de-escalation.
Following an Israeli strike on its main natural gas field, Iran hit multiple energy sites across the Gulf last night, including a Saudi oil refinery, Qatari gas facilities and two more oil refineries in Kuwait.
Speaking to PA on a visit to Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh, Mr Healey said the UK shared concerns about Iranian attacks.
He said: “They’re a serious escalation. They further destabilise the region and we will step up the defensive support that we can offer to those Gulf states.”
British forces are already deployed to the Middle East, with RAF jets flying defensive sorties against Iranian drones across the Gulf and British air defence systems protecting critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
UK military planners have also joined the US Central Command to help formulate proposals for opening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade route for the world’s oil and gas.
Mr Healey told PA: “We can see the impact here on the cost of living, the price of fuel, so it’s important that we do everything we can with a lot of other countries that need to be involved in trying to reopen those straits.”
He added that the best way of taking the pressure off world oil prices was “to see a de-escalation and an end to the conflict”.
‘It takes money to kill the bad guys’: Senate skeptical of Trump and Hegseth’s $200B Iran war funding request
19:30 , Dan HaygarthRepublican Senate leader John Thune didn’t appear particularly confident on Thursday as he was asked about the Senate’s ability to pass Donald Trump’s reported $200bn supplemental funding request for the war in Iran.
Thune told CNN that the reported amount, which Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said Thursday morning was not a final number, would be reviewed by Congress but gave no prediction whether it could pass the Senate, where Republicans have a 53-vote majority.
Read more:
Senate skeptical of Trump and Hegseth’s $200B Iran war funding request
Netanyahu claims he cannot influence Trump on Iran
19:21 , Dan HaygarthNetanyahu is asked whether Trump knew about Israeli strike on Iran's gas field
19:19 , Dan HaygarthNetanyahu said: "Israel acted alone against the gas compound”, speaking about the attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field.
He added: "President Trump asked us to hold off on future attacks, and we're holding out."
Too soon to know whether Iranians will take to streets, Netanyahu said
19:16 , Dan HaygarthDespite the nearly three week war, it was still too soon to tell whether Iranians will take to the streets to try to overthrow their government, Netanyahu said.
"It's up to the Iranian people to show that, to choose the moment and to rise to the moment," he said.
Starmer condemns Iranian strikes on Qatari energy facilities
19:15 , Dan Haygarth
Sir Keir Starmer told the Amir of Qatar earlier today that he condemns the Iranian strikes on Qatari energy facilities overnight.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The prime minister spoke to the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani this afternoon.
“The prime minister began by condemning the Iranian strikes on Qatari energy facilities overnight.
“He said that such reckless attacks on critical infrastructure risk pushing the region further into crisis and worsening the severe economic impacts being felt globally, including in the UK.
“Discussing the ongoing defensive support the UK is providing to our partners in the region, the prime minister was clear that the UK would continue to stand with Qatar and all our allies in the Gulf.
“The leaders agreed that the immediate priority must be de-escalation and that they would stay in close touch in the coming days and weeks.”
Netanyahu denies that Israel dragged the US into the war
19:10 , Daniel HaygarthThe Israeli prime minister told the news conference: "Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? Come on.”
Tehran 'weaker than ever' says Netanyahu
19:04 , Daniel HaygarthBenjamin Netanyahu said Tehran is “weaker than ever” as he praised co-operation with Donald Trump in the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Netanyahu: 'We are winning and Iran is being decimated'
18:58 , Dan HaygarthNetanyahu says he the US are protecting the entire world through their strikes on Iran.
“We are winning and Iran is being decimated”, he adds.
'I'm alive', says Netanyahu
18:55 , Dan Haygarth“I’m alive and you’re all witnesses”, Benjamin Netanyahu says after rumours spread that the Israeli prime minister had been killed or injured in an Iranian strike.
'We are continuing to crush these capabilies'
18:49 , Dan Haygarth“We are continuing to crush these capabilities”, Netanyahu says when talking about Iran’s capabilities in warfare.
He adds Iran has no capacity to enrich uranium or make ballistic missiles as a result of the war.
Netanyahu has begun speaking
18:45 , Dan HaygarthBenjamin Netanyahu has begun his press conference.
Trump: ‘I’m not putting troops anywhere’ but ‘If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you’
18:45 , DanHaygarthPresident Donald Trump on Thursday denied any intention of ordering American ground troops onto Iranian soil as the nearly three-week-old conflict continues to wreak havoc on the global economy with multiple attacks on oil and gas infrastructure from both sides.
The president was speaking during a question-and-answer session with reporters alongside Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi when he was asked if he intends to deploy more American forces — specifically ground troops — to the Middle East region.
Read the full article below:
Watch live: Israel’s Netanyahu holds press conference as Iran conflict drags on
18:43 , Daniel HaygarthNetanyahu to hold press conference
18:35 , Dan HaygarthThe Israeli prime minister is to speak to the press imminently.
UN shipping agency IMO calls for safe corridor to evacuate seafarers from Gulf
18:15 , Dan HaygarthCountries at the UN’s shipping agency agreed to work towards a safe maritime corridor to evacuate commercial ships from the Gulf to protect seafarers during the US-Israeli war with Iran.
In an extraordinary session to discuss the Middle East, the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) governing council agreed to encourage the establishment of a framework to facilitate the safe evacuation of merchant ships from high-risk and affected areas.
The IMO did not provide a timeframe for the establishment of the corridor and it was not clear whether Iran would cooperate.
The conflict has impacted around 20,000 seafarers on nearly 2,000 ships west of the Strait of Hormuz, IMO secretary general Arsenio Dominguez said.
Shipping in the Gulf and along the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which carries around a fifth of the world's oil, has come to a near-standstill since the US and Israel began strikes on Iran on 28 February, as Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that any ship passing through the waterway will be targeted.
Several ships have come under attack in the Gulf since the beginning of the conflict, with the IMO reporting 17 vessel incidents that resulted in at least seven seafarer deaths.
Dominguez called on flag states to demand vessels stationed east of the strait avoid taking the ˜unnecessary risk” of sailing west of the strait.
"We must not expose seafarers to a higher risk than they already face right now," he said.
Netanyahu to hold press conference this evening
18:08 , Dan Haygarth
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a press conference at 6:30pm UK time, his office has said.
It is his second press conference since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began on 28 February.
Iranian attacks wiped out 17% of Qatar's LNG capacity for 5 years, company says
18:00 , Alex CroftIranian attacks have knocked out 17 per cent of Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity, causing an estimated $20 billion in lost annual revenue and threatening supplies to Europe and Asia, QatarEnergy's CEO and state minister for energy affairs has said.
Speaking to Reuters news agency, Saad al-Kaabi said two of Qatar's 14 LNG trains and one of its two gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities were damaged in the unprecedented strikes.
The repairs will sideline 12.8 million tons per year of LNG for three to five years, he said in an interview.
"I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that Qatar would be - Qatar and the region - in such an attack, especially from a brotherly Muslim country in the month of Ramadan, attacking us in this way," Kaabi said.
Hours earlier Iran had aimed a series of attacks at Gulf oil and gas facilities after Israeli attacks on its own gas infrastructure.
Trump suggests he will not deploy soldiers to Middle East
17:47 , Dan HaygarthDonald Trump suggested he would not deploy soldiers to the Middle East with the Iran war heading toward a fourth week.
"I'm not putting troops anywhere," Mr Trump said in response to o a reporter who asked whether he was planning to send more service members into the region.
The US president added: "If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you. But I'm not putting troops. We will do whatever is necessary."
He spoke at the White House during an Oval Office meeting with Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that the Trump administration is considering deploying thousands of U.S. troops to reinforce the Iran operation, citing a US official and three people familiar with the matter.
Thirteen American troops have been killed since Iran launched strikes against US military bases following the start of the conflict on 28 February.
Trump: 'I told Netanyahu 'don't do that' after Iranian oil field strike'
17:38 , Alex CroftStarmer speaks with Qatari Emir after Iranian attacks
17:16 , Alex CroftBritish prime minister Keir Starmer on Thursday told Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Britain would continue to stand with Qatar and its gulf allies, during a call between the two following Iranian attacks on Qatar's gas infrastructure.
"The prime minister began by condemning the Iranian strikes on Qatari energy facilities overnight," a readout of the meeting issued by Sir Keir’s office said.
"He (Sir Keir) said that such reckless attacks on critical infrastructure risk pushing the region further into crisis and worsening the severe economic impacts being felt globally, including in the UK.
"Discussing the ongoing defensive support the UK is providing to our partners in the region, the prime minister was clear that the UK would continue to stand with Qatar and all our allies in the Gulf."
Iran releases footage apparently showing strike on F-35 jet
17:00 , Alex CroftIran has released footage purporting to show the moment Iranian air defences attacked a US F-35 fighter jet.
We earlier reported that US Central Command spokesperson Captan Tim Hawkins had told CNN the fifth-generation jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced into making an emergency landing.
The pilot is in a “stable condition”, he said.
Here is the footage:
🎥 لحظۀ هدفقرارگفتن جنگندهٔ F35 آمریکا توسط پدافند نیروی هوافضای سپاه pic.twitter.com/QZyDy1AjvY
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) March 19, 2026
Mapped: Where have people been killed in the Middle East conflict?
16:55 , Alex CroftFull report: Pete Hegseth again uses Iran war update to tear into media
16:41 , Alex CroftDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth tore into the media again at a press conference to update the nation about President Donald Trump’s Iran War.
Hegseth began Thursday morning by paying tribute to the U.S. service members who have been killed in the conflict.
“What I heard through tears, through hugs, through strength and through unbreakable resolve was the same from family after family,” Hegseth said of the fallen soldiers’ families. “They said, ‘finish this.’”
The Pentagon chief again berated the press for “call[ing] into question every step” of the war, now in its third week, and has so far claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members.
Rhian Lubin brings our full report:
Hegseth again uses Iran war update to tear into media and says ‘we’re winning’
Iran strikes Israeli oil refinery in Haifa
16:24 , Alex CroftAn Iranian missile attack hit Israeli oil refineries in the northern port city of Haifa without causing "significant damage", Israel's Energy Ministry said on Thursday.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen said power was briefly disrupted, with electricity restored to most of those who were affected.
"The damage to the power grid in the north is localized and not significant," Mr Cohen said. "Also, in the barrage toward the north, there was no significant damage to Israeli infrastructure sites."
Police said bomb disposal units were at several sites in Haifa where munitions landed. No casualties were reported.
Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection said debris from a missile that was intercepted fell in Haifa and is being examined as a hazardous materials incident.
'It's too late': Trump slams UK and Nato over Strait of Hormuz
16:17 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has resumed his attacks on Nato and the UK for what he describes as their lack of support in the war in Iran and in defending the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’re defending the Strait for everyone else, then in the case of Nato, they don’t want to help us defend the Strait, and they’re the ones that need it,” Trump said.
“Now they’re getting much nicer because they’re seeing my attitude but as far as I’m concerned it’s too late.”
He added: “The UK wants to send aircraft carriers now. I said I want the aircraft carriers before the war, I don’t want them after the war is won. They want to send me aircraft carriers after the war is won, there’s practically no one to shoot at them.”
Trump: I told Netanyahu to halt attacks on Iran's South Pars gas field
16:08 , Alex CroftTrump has just been asked whether he spoke with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Israel attacked Iran’s South Pars gas field in a major escalation of its war on the country.
“I did, I did, I told him: ‘don’t do that’,” the US president said.
“We’re independent, we get along great, it’s coordinated. But on occasion, he’ll do something, and if I don’t like it... so we’re not doing that anymore.”
Trump: War will be over with soon, I thought the global impact would be worse
16:03 , Alex CroftDonald Trump speaking to reporters in the White House, during a meeting with Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi.
He says he thought the global impact of his war on Iran would be worse than it was and that it will be over with soon, adding that the US will not be putting troops anywhere.
The US president added that the Iranian leadership is gone and that they are now searching for new leaders again.
Israel attacks Iranian naval targets in Caspian Sea
15:52 , Alex CroftIsrael’s Air Force has carried out strikes against Iranian naval targets in the Caspian Sea, we’re hearing from Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani.
He told reporters that Israel had taken out Tehran's naval capabilities there, but did not say when the strikes were carried out.
'Pilot is in stable condition': More on F-35 fighter jet struck by Iran
15:40 , Alex CroftWe can bring you some more detail on the F-35 fighter jet which was struck by Iranian defences during an attack on Iran.
US Central Command spokesperson Captan Tim Hawkins told CNN the fifth-generation jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced into making an emergency landing.
“The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition. This incident is under investigation,” Capt. Hawkins added.
Both the US and Israel are flying F-35 jets - which cost upwards of $100 million (£75 million).
A source told the US outlet that Iranian fire is believed to be behind the damage to the jet.
American F-35 fighter jet struck over Iran - report
15:26 , Alex CroftA US F-35 fighter jet has been forced to make an emergency landing at a Middle East base after being struck over Iran, sources have told CNN.
It is believed to be the first time Iran has struck a US aircraft in the current conflict.
We’re working to bring you more on the incident.
Why are Yemen's Houthis not joining Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia?
15:16 , Alex CroftIran’s latest attacks on Saudi Arabian oil sites in retaliation to Israel’s attack on the South Pars gas field raise wider questions over its support from usual allies.
Iranian forces struck a refinery on the Red Sea, a region which is often the target of military activity by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.
Dr Luca Nevola, a senior analyst for Yemen and the Gulf at conflict monitor ACLED, said the Iranian attack raises the question of why the Houthis are not doing this on Tehran’s behalf.
“Before the war began, the Houthis were messaging that they would intervene if the US or Israel attacked Iran, so many expected them to react immediately,” Dr Nevola told The Independent.
“So far, the Houthi leadership has expressed rhetorical solidarity and even said they have their fingers on the trigger, but there has been no practical military commitment.
He added: “Instead, the Houthis are still talking with Saudi Arabia through back-channel communication and negotiating around the UN peace roadmap, and the financial support that the Saudis could provide is a lifeline for a Houthi regime that is cornered economically. When you look at the costs and the benefits of entering this war, the equation is clearly in favor of the costs of the intervention.”
US and Israeli war aims in Iran are not the same, Gabbard says
14:57 , Bryony GoochDirector of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Thursday during a hearing in front of the House intelligence committee that the American and Israeli objectives during the military campaign in Iran are not the same.
"The objectives that have been laid out by the president are different from the objectives that have been laid out by the Israeli government," Gabbard said.
"We can see through the operations that the Israeli government has been focused on disabling the Iranian leadership. The president has stated that his objectives are to destroy Iran's ballistic missiles launching capability, their ballistic missile production capability, and their navy,"
Brent Crude Oil prices rise to $115
14:42 , Bryony Gooch
Attack on South Pars gas field coordinated with US, says Israeli officials
14:31 , Bryony GoochIsrael's attack on an Iranian gas field on Wednesday was coordinated with the United States but will likely not be repeated, three Israeli officials said on Thursday, despite US president Donald Trump saying he knew nothing about it. The attack on Iran's South Pars gas field drew an Iranian aerial assault on energy infrastructure in Qatar and across the Middle East, marking the biggest escalation in the nearly three-week US-Israeli war on Iran.
Israel has not publicly acknowledged responsibility for the South Pars attack. On Wednesday night, Trump said in a social media post that Washington "knew nothing about this particular attack" and that Israel would not attack the gas field further unless Iran again attacked Qatar.
The three Israeli officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Israel was not surprised by Trump's comments.
They described the dynamic as similar to one that played out after Israel struck fuel depots in Iran several weeks ago. After those attacks, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said that in "that particular case those weren't our strikes".
Since the Israeli attack on South Pars, Iranian attacks have caused extensive damage to the world's largest gas plant in Qatar, targeted a refinery in Saudi Arabia and forced the United Arab Emirates to shut gas facilities.
Macron calls for conflict de-escalation in the Middle East
14:19 , Bryony GoochFrench president Emmanuel Macron has called for de-escalation in the Middle East, including a moratorium on strikes against civil infrastructure.
“It is time to open a path towards de-escalation in order to restore stability in the Middle East. France calls for the immediate implementation of a moratorium on strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, whether related to water or to energy. Freedom and security of navigation must be restored.
“As the region enters a period of religious celebrations and renewal, tempers must cool and hostilities must cease, in order to give a real chance to the prospect of a negotiated and sustainable solution.”
It is time to open a path towards de-escalation in order to restore stability in the Middle East.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 19, 2026
France calls for the immediate implementation of a moratorium on strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, whether related to water or to energy. Freedom and security…
In pictures: destruction after an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern coastal city of Tyre's Al Hosh neighbourhood
14:06 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Joe Kent claims Charlie Kirk warned him about Iran in final conversation
13:53 , Alex CroftUK and European allies condemn attacks on vessels in closed Strait of Hormuz
13:42 , Bryony GoochSir Keir Starmer has condemned Iranian attacks on vessels and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz in a joint statement with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan.
They said: “We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.
“We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict. We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks, and other attempts to block the strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council resolution 2817.
”The countries said the effects of Iranian actions will be felt in all parts of the world, especially by the most vulnerable people.“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” they said.
Iran detains 97 people for being 'soldiers of Israel'
13:35 , Alex CroftIran's intelligence ministry has arrested 97 people for being "soldiers of Israel", state media reported on Thursday.
It is the latest round of a security sweep that has seen hundreds detained over alleged linked to Israel and the US since the start of the war.
Earlier on Thursday, state media quoted the police commander of Alborz province as saying that 41 people were arrested for sending videos to foreign-based opposition media channels.
Why was Israel's attack on South Pars oil field such a major escalation?
13:19 , Alex CroftBryony Gooch reports:
South Pars is the world's largest fossil gas field, shared between Iran and Qatar.
The strikes from Israel mark the first time facilities associated with the production of fossil fuel energy have been hit in the war, as opposed to sites such as ports which are used to transport oil.
The strike could have a years-long impact on the damage to production itself, experts have warned, which could last after the war ends.
Saul Kavonic, an analyst at MST Financial, told the Financial Times: “Something that takes out a few million barrels of production would have a bigger impact because it means there is no way to refill stocks even after the war ends.”
Hitting a liquefied natural gas facility would be the worst, he added, because it could take several years to repair.
Iran's internet blackout longest in history
13:00 , Alex CroftIran’s ongoing internet blackout is now in its 20th day, making it the longest recorded shutdown in history, according to digital governance monitor NetBlocks.
It surpasses the long blackout imposed during the protests in January, which the Tehran used to carry out a deadly clampdown on widespread anti-regime protests.
Internet connectivity has now been unavailable to the general public for more than 456 hours, the monitor reports.
⚠️ Update: #Iran's internet blackout has entered its 20th day, with international connectivity unavailable to the general public for over 456 hours.
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) March 19, 2026
The incident is now the longest recorded shutdown in Iran's history, surpassing the blackout imposed during protests in January. pic.twitter.com/DovE5nA6AT
Hegseth: 'It takes money to kill bad guys'
12:50 , Alex CroftPete Hegseth was asked about a report that the Pentagon had asked for $200billion from the White House for its attacks on Iran.
“That number could move, obviously. It takes money to kill bad guys,” Hegseth said.
“We’re going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future,” he added.
'Our objectives remain the same', says Hegseth
12:40 , Alex CroftUS defence secretary Pete Hegseth stated in the press conference that Washington’s objectives in the war against Iran have not changed.
"Our objectives, given directly from our America-first president, remain exactly what they were on day one," Hegseth told reporters.
"These are not the media's objectives, not Iran's objectives, not new objectives. Our objectives - unchanged, on target and on plan," he added.
Hegseth told reporters that the objectives remained to destroy Iran's missile launchers, as well as its defense industrial base and navy and to never allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon.
Hegseth attacks 'ungrateful' European allies
12:37 , Alex CroftPete Hegseth has accused America’s European allies of being “ungrateful” and said they should be “thanking” Donald Trump for his war in Iran.
Hegseth said Washington’s allies should be appreciative of the US effort to “stop this terror state from holding the world hostage with missiles while building or attempting to build a nuclear bomb”.
He also said the US is taking “counter-measures” to Iran’s internet blackout.
Hegseth declined to give a definitive time frame on ending the operation in Iran, although did vow that the US would “finish” it.
US military striking Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, says Caine
12:24 , Alex CroftAmerica’s top general Dan Caine is now speaking at the briefing.
US strikes are moving deeper into Iranian territory each day, he says.
Mine storage facilities are being targeted, with US forces continuing to hunt and kill the facilities.
He also said the military is striking Iran-aligned militias in Iraq.
"AH-64s have been striking against Iranian-aligned militia groups to make sure that we suppress any threat in Iraq against US forces or US interests," he told reporters.
Today will see most intense US strikes of war , says Hegseth
12:12 , Alex CroftPete Hegseth says the US is “winning decisively and on our terms”.
He says the results of attacks on Iran “speak for themselves”, stating that the US has stuck more than 7,000 targets in Iran.
“Today will be the largest strike package yet,” he adds.
Hegseth says that Iran’s ability to manufacture new ballistic missiles has been hit hard.
Hegseth: There will be no 'forever war'
12:09 , Alex CroftUS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is has just started a briefing in the Pentagon.
He begins by paying tribute to US troops that have been killed so far in the Middle East conflict.
“Their names are now etched into our mission,” he says.
Directly addressing the public, he says the media “want President Trump to fail” - and asks US citizens to listen to the White House rather than media reports.
The US is not spinning into a “forever war” he says, describing the operation as “laser focussed and decisive”.
Watch: Israeli strike starts fire at Iran's South Pars gas field
11:53 , Alex CroftHow have UK petrol prices been affected by US-Iran war and oil price surge?
11:42 , Alex CroftDrivers in the UK are grappling with rising petrol and diesel prices at the pump as conflict in the Middle East continues to hit economies worldwide.
The rise has been fuelled by a spike in oil prices, which have soared to $117 after Iran hit the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar in retaliation for attacks on its own oil fields.
This is the highest since June 2022 when oil prices peaked at $119 during the Ukraine war. The cost of oil has a significant effect on the cost of wholesale fuel.
Petrol and diesel prices hit their highest in nearly three years this week, latest data shows, increasing by between 9.8p and 20.3p per litre since Saturday 28 February, when the US launched strikes on Iran.
On average, drivers can now expect 142.62p per litre of unleaded petrol and 162.66p per litre of diesel at the pump, according to data from the RAC.
Albert Toth reports:
How have UK petrol prices been affected by US-Iran war and oil price surge?
Stock markets down across Europe
11:25 , Alex CroftOur business and money editor Karl Matchett reports:
Stock markets are down across Europe after the first few hours of trading, with London's FTSE 100 index lower by more than 1.5% today - though that's less hard-hit than the likes of Netherlands, Spain or Germany, the latter of which is more than 2% down.
Overnight in Asia there were similarly significant drops with Hong Kong's Hang Seng down 2%, Korea's Kospi dropping 2.7%, India's Nifty 50 by 3% and Japan's Nikkei 225 falling a full 3.5%.
It's expected that US markets will drop again upon opening too later today, after the S&P 500 fell by more than 1.3% yesterday.
Back in Britain, energy giants BP, Shell and Centrica - the British Gas owner - are three of just four companies on the FTSE 100 whose share prices are up today.
Miners are suffering most, mostly down around 6-7% apiece.
Iranian minister calls for coordination among regional countries against US and Israel
11:07 , Alex CroftIran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi called for vigilance and coordination among regional countries to counter what he described as "destabilising and escalatory actions" by the US and Israel, Iranian state media is reporting.
Mr Araghchi made the remarks in separate phone calls with his counterparts in Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan.
He said recent US and Israeli attacks on Iranian infrastructure were aimed at escalating tensions and added that Iran would spare no effort in defending its sovereignty and security.
Trump has signalled he is prepared to end war on Iran, says Merz
10:50 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has sent signals that he is prepared to bring US attacks on Iran to an end, German chancellor Friedrich Merz has said.
"I am expressly grateful that the US president sent a signal in this regard last night that he is prepared to bring the fighting to an end," he told reporters ahead of an EU summit in Brussels.
This, Mr Merz said, would allow Europe to contribute to securing peace in the Middle East.
Trump said late on Wednesday that Israel had "violently lashed out" and attacked Iran's major gas field, a significant escalation in the US-Israeli war, but he added that Israel would not make further such attacks unless Iran retaliated.
Major airlines warn fares may rise if fuel price surge continues
10:34 , Alex CroftMajor European airlines have warned fares may rise if the surge in fuel prices persists.
The airlines urged passengers to book early to avoid extra costs, amid fears their fuel hedging strategies, in which companies lock in future fuel prices, will unwind in the case of a protracted war.
Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr, speaking alongside other airline leaders in Brussels, said it had added 40 flights to Asia to compensate for disruption to Gulf carriers but demand could be affected by higher fuel charges and fares.
In pictures: Shrapnel strikes West Bank after Iranian attack on Israel
10:17 , Alex Croft
Gulf states request urgent debate at the UN
09:59 , Alex CroftGulf states have requested an urgent debate at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva over Iran's strikes on civilians and energy infrastructure across the Middle East, documents show.
The diplomatic note describes Iranian strikes as a “situation of serious concern for international peace and security” with severe implications on human rights.
The US-Israeli war on Iran is now in its third week, and has sparked huge retaliation from Iran on energy and civilian targets.
Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on energy facilities across the region has spiked energy prices and fuelled fears of a rise in inflation globally.
The "unprovoked attacks" on Gulf countries - despite their assurances to Tehran that their territories won't host anti-Iran launches - demand immediate attention, the diplomatic note said.
Breaking: Saudi's Yandu port stops oil loadings
09:42 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing reports from Reuters news agency that the Saudi port of Yanbu, one of two major remaining export routes for Gulf Arab oil after Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, has stopped oil loadings.
The closure, which was reported by two sources, comes after the Saudi defence ministry said it intercepted a ballistic missile over the city.
The ministry said earlier that a drone crashed at the SAMREF refinery, with damage assessment underway.
