Oil jumps more than 3% after US, Iran launch strikes in Mideast
Iran says latest US strikes have 'rendered futile' recent diplomatic efforts
Iran has condemned the latest wave of US attacks on its territory, saying they had "rendered futile" all the diplomatic efforts of the last few months.
"The US regime has also caused the return of insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and disruption of international commercial shipping by openly interfering in the process of Iran implementing the necessary arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz," a foreign ministry statement said.
US military says began new wave of strikes in Iran
The United States launched several waves of strikes on Iran on Sunday over an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz that set it ablaze and left a crew member missing earlier in the weekend. Iran responded with attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Oman — the nation on the other side of the strait that Tehran has pressed to collaborate in managing shipping traffic.
The US military said it was seeking “to degrade" Iran's "ability to attack commercial ships freely transiting" the critical strait. The statement came after a third round of strikes late Sunday night and into Monday in Iran.
UN chief urges US, Iran to halt new fighting, resume talks
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the United States and Iran Sunday to halt their new outbreak of fighting in the Mideast war and resume talks to end it.
Guterres specifically mentioned US attacks on Iran and the latter's strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and US allies in the Gulf region. "These attacks must stop," Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
Kuwait says three border posts, offshore oil platform attacked
Kuwait's defence ministry said on Sunday that three border posts and an offshore oil platform were attacked during a fresh exchange of strikes between the United States and Iran.
"Three land border posts in the north of the country were subjected to a cowardly attack, resulting in material damage," the statement said, without specifying the origin of the assault. It added that an "offshore drilling platform belonging to the Kuwait Oil Company... was targeted by a hostile drone, resulting in material damage and the injury of one worker".
One killed, two injured in attacks on southern Iran: state media
Iranian state media reported Sunday that an employee of a telecommunications company was killed in attacks in the southern province of Hormozgan on the Gulf, as hostilities resumed between Tehran and Washington.
"Following the enemy attack on Farur in Bandar Lengeh, one employee of the Mobile Communications Company of Iran was killed while carrying out his duties, and two of his colleagues were injured," the IRNA state news agency reported.
US conducts strikes on Iran missile systems around Strait of Hormuz, Axios reports
The U.S. carried out several strikes on Iranian missile and air defense systems and targeted small speed boats of the IRGC at several locations around the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on Sunday, citing a senior US official.
Projectiles hit Iran's Gulf island of Qeshm: state media
More than 10 projectiles struck Iran's Gulf island of Qeshm in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, state media reported, as hostilities resumed between Tehran and Washington.
"Between 10 to 11 enemy projectiles have struck Qeshm Island since Sunday afternoon," Hossein Amir Teymouri, governor of Qeshm township, told the IRNA state news agency, adding that "all of the targets were military" and that there had been no casualties.
Iran's IRNA says 'enemy' launches missiles towards Qeshm Island
Iran's IRNA state news agency said missiles were launched by the "enemy" towards Qeshm Island on Sunday afternoon, adding that no casualties were reported.
Trump says US hit Iran 'very hard' in latest attacks
President Donald Trump said Sunday the United States hit Iran hard in response to its latest attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
"We hit them very hard last night," Trump told CNN by telephone in an interview centering mainly on the death of Senator Lindsey Graham.
Trump said the United States and Iran had been close to "a deal" on Saturday. "They were giving up everything, and then all of a sudden two hours after that they hit a ship with a drone. These people, there is something wrong with them," he said.
US military says 'traffic is flowing' in Strait of Hormuz
The US military insisted Sunday that ships are moving through the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran's claim to have closed it in the latest flare-up of the Mideast war.
"Iran does not control the strait. Traffic is flowing," CENTCOM, which oversees US forces in the Middle East, said on X.
US forces ready to ensure navigation in Strait of Hormuz, Central Command says
The Strait of Hormuz is open to all vessels and US military forces are "positioned and prepared" to ensure freedom of navigation, US Central Command said on Sunday, a day after U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged fire and Iran said it had closed the vital waterway.
Oman summons Iranian ambassador, issues formal protest after attack: state media
Oman on Sunday issued a formal protest to the Iranian ambassador following an attack on the country, state media reported, in a rare instance of it publicly accusing Tehran of targeting its territory.
"Oman expresses its profound dismay at these irresponsible acts, and underscores the imperative of adhering to the provisions of state sovereignty, good neighbourliness, non-interference in internal affairs," the state news agency said in a post on social media, just a day after Oman hosted the Iranian foreign minister for talks on the Strait of Hormuz.
Overnight US strikes killed Iranian soldier
Overnight US strikes on Iran killed one soldier, Iranian media reported Sunday after fighting resumed between the foes.
"Lieutenant Hamidreza Dehghani, of the navy of the Islamic republic's armed forces, was martyred during the criminal, terrorist attack last night by the United States on the port of Jask" in southern Iran, the Mehr and Tasnim news agencies said, citing a local official.
Iraqi prime minister to visit Washington on Monday; oil and gas deals expected
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi will travel to Washington on Monday at the head of an official delegation after an official invitation, government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said in a press conference.
"The agreements to be signed will include several memorandums of understanding in the oil and gas sector as Iraq prepares to bring in various U.S. companies that will provide momentum to increase oil production capacity," al-Aboudi said.
Qatar calls Iran attacks on its territory and on Arab neighbours a 'dangerous escalation'
Qatar condemned Iranian attacks against its territory and its neighbours, after the Islamic republic launched salvos against Arab countries.
"Qatar condemns in the strongest possible terms the renewed attacks carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran," the foreign ministry said in a statement, also referring to the targeting of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait and calling the barrages a "dangerous escalation".
Iran adviser says Hormuz 'more important' than nuclear bombs
An adviser to Iran's supreme leader said that the Strait of Hormuz was more important than "dozens of atomic bombs", vowing to protect the vital waterway.
"This strategic passage is more important than dozens of atomic bombs, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will protect it," Mohsen Rezaee was quoted by the ISNA news agency as saying. Western countries accuse Iran of seeking to create an atomic bomb, but Tehran has insisted its nuclear programme is for peaceful, civilian purposes.
US strikes Iran while Tehran hits Gulf states,
US and Iranian forces exchanged heavy missile and drone assaults with Tehran targeting US facilities in states across the Gulf on Sunday and saying it had again closed the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Iran newspaper lists Trump, European leaders as revenge targets
A conservative newspaper in Iran known for its provocative tone has published a list of people to be targeted as revenge for the killing of supreme leader Ali Khamenei, including the leaders of the US, Israel and European countries.
US-Israeli strikes killed the late ayatollah on February 28, the first day of the Middle East war, and his son and successor Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed revenge.
"Vengeance is the will of our nation and must inevitably be carried out," Mojtaba said on Saturday in his first message since his father's funeral this week.
"These criminals, whose names appear on a list, will take to their graves the wish of a peaceful death in their beds."
The Hamshahri newspaper, which is published by authorities in the Iranian capital, released an infographic online late Saturday featuring photos of 13 foreign leaders alongside Mojtaba's statement.
Oman condemns attack on its territory, says state media
The Omani government lambasted an attack on its territory, state media announced, with Iran's Guards saying they targeted it during a barrage aimed at countries across the Gulf.
The Oman News Agency said on X that "the Sultanate of Oman affirms its condemnation and denunciation of this attack", which came just hours after the country hosted Iran's foreign minister to address security issues in the Strait of Hormuz.
Countries from across the region, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt, also condemned the Iranian attacks.
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President Donald Trump said Friday the United States would "completely decimate" Iran if it attempted or succeeded in assassinating the sitting president.
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that avenging his slain predecessor and father is "the demand of the nation" and "must certainly" take place, according to a written message released on his X account.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)
