Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has described Iran’s recent attack on Saudi energy installations as a clear attempt at blackmail. The incident occurred just before a conference of regional and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh, which he said showed deliberate timing. Saudi authorities reported intercepting and destroying four ballistic missiles aimed at the capital.

Faisal stated that the attack was intended to intimidate delegates attending the conference and to signal that Iran would not retreat from its actions. He emphasized that Saudi Arabia was not frightened but argued that Iran’s conduct demonstrated it could not be a trustworthy partner. According to him, the incident completely eroded whatever limited trust remained toward Iran.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, underscore rising tensions between the two countries and highlight the fragile state of regional diplomacy amid ongoing security threats.

Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific has announced the suspension of all flights to Dubai until April 30, 2026, citing the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East. The decision was disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday, which attributed the move to the ongoing regional conflict.

According to AFP, the airline indicated that further adjustments to its flight schedule may occur depending on future developments. Earlier in March, Cathay Pacific had already canceled flights to both Dubai and Riyadh, and the suspension has now been extended through the end of April. The airline has also doubled fuel surcharges on most routes this month due to rising fuel prices triggered by the war, a trend mirrored by Hong Kong Airlines, which raised its surcharge twice within a week.

Cathay Pacific noted that demand for Europe-bound travel has increased, prompting the addition of extra flights in March. The airline said long-haul passenger demand has generally risen as travelers seek alternatives to Middle East routes.

China has strongly condemned the killing of Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani, describing the act as unacceptable. The statement came from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian during a press briefing, where he reiterated Beijing’s opposition to the use of force in international relations. Lin emphasized that the killing of Iranian leaders and attacks on civilian targets were particularly intolerable.

Following the incident, Iran’s army chief Amir Hatami warned that the country would deliver a decisive response to the assassination. The killing has drawn attention because Larijani was regarded as Iran’s most senior leader after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The development adds to regional tensions, with China’s remarks signaling its stance against targeted killings and its continued support for diplomatic approaches in international conflicts.

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi described the Iran war as former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “greatest miscalculation.” Writing in an opinion piece for The Economist, Albusaidi said he had mediated between Washington and Tehran before the conflict began. He urged U.S. allies to intervene to end what he called an “illegal war.”

Albusaidi noted that Gulf states, including Oman, had long relied on U.S. weapons and bases to deter potential Iranian attacks, enjoying relative peace and prosperity that are now under threat. He argued that the United States has lost control of its foreign policy and that its allies must speak the truth to help end the conflict. According to him, neither Iran nor the United States benefits from the ongoing war, which should end as soon as possible.

He further suggested that Israel may have “provoked” the United States into believing the war would be easily won, but achieving Israel’s goals would require U.S. troop deployment and a prolonged conflict that Trump had once vowed to avoid.

China and Russia are reportedly providing Iran with advanced intelligence and technological assistance amid ongoing hostilities with the United States and Israel in the Gulf region. According to senior US officials cited by the Washington Post, Russia has supplied Iran with sensitive intelligence, including the locations of American warships and aircraft. Moscow has denied these claims, but reports suggest that Russia’s satellite and radar support has enhanced Iran’s ability to identify and strike targets with precision. China, meanwhile, has supplied advanced radar systems, satellite mapping, and encrypted intelligence links to strengthen Iran’s electronic warfare capabilities.

The report describes how this cooperation has transformed the Gulf into a battlefield dominated by electronic and information warfare rather than conventional weapons. Iran’s improved surveillance and targeting systems have enabled it to carry out drone strikes on US facilities, while American and Israeli forces have responded by targeting Iranian radar infrastructure. Analysts note that the balance of power in the region is shifting as China and Russia challenge long-standing US-Israeli technological dominance.

The conflict marks a new phase in modern warfare, where control over data and signals may prove more decisive than traditional firepower.

A drone attack struck the Mina Abdullah oil refinery in Kuwait on Thursday morning, causing a fire at the facility operated by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company. The incident occurred about 30 miles south of Kuwait City. According to the Kuwait News Agency, citing the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the fire at the nearby Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was brought under control, and no casualties were reported.

Authorities have not disclosed where the drone attack originated. The strike on Mina Abdullah came shortly after reports of a drone attack at the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, located roughly seven miles away. The Mina Abdullah refinery has a daily production capacity of 730,000 barrels, making it one of the largest oil refineries in the Middle East.

The source did not provide details on potential disruptions to oil production or any official response from Kuwaiti authorities.

Iran has formally demanded compensation from the United Arab Emirates, accusing the Gulf state of aiding a United States-led attack on Iranian territory. The claim was made in a letter sent to the United Nations Secretary-General by Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, according to a report published Thursday by Nournews.

In the letter, Iravani alleged that the UAE allowed its territory to be used to facilitate the attack, describing the decision as an “internationally wrongful act” that carries state responsibility. Tehran asserted that the UAE bears international liability for providing compensation covering all material and moral damages resulting from the incident.

The report cited The Guardian as its source but did not specify the nature or timing of the alleged attack, leaving details of the incident and potential diplomatic responses unclear.

Iran launched retaliatory attacks on several energy installations across the Persian Gulf following an assault on its South Pars gas field. Tehran also warned of more destructive strikes if its energy infrastructure is targeted again. The escalation has raised fears of global energy supply disruptions, with oil prices rising by three percent on Thursday.

The attacks came after Iranian intelligence chief Esmail Khatib was killed in an Israeli strike, the latest in a series of assassinations of senior Iranian figures over the past three weeks. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared that any future attacks on its facilities would trigger continued strikes on the energy assets of its adversaries. Qatar reported a missile strike on its main gas field, prompting the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats, while Saudi Arabia intercepted multiple drones and missiles near its eastern energy hubs.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged restraint in calls with U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar’s emir, emphasizing the need to protect civilian infrastructure. The conflict has spread across the Middle East, causing hundreds of deaths and mass displacement, as Israel continues operations in Lebanon and Iran-backed groups respond across the region.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have jointly declared a ceasefire along their tense border during the Eid al-Fitr period. The announcement came after a devastating airstrike in Kabul earlier this week that killed more than a hundred people. Both Islamabad and Kabul confirmed in separate statements on Wednesday that the decision followed requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey to halt hostilities during the religious holiday.

The ceasefire follows weeks of escalating violence and mutual accusations. Pakistan has alleged that Taliban authorities shelter militants responsible for cross-border attacks, a claim Afghanistan denies. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said all operations would be suspended from Thursday to Monday but warned of strong retaliation if attacks continued. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid reaffirmed Afghanistan’s right to defend itself, while Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani condemned the airstrike that reportedly killed about 400 civilians.

The United Nations estimates that since February 26, at least 76 Afghans have been killed and over 115,000 displaced. Despite repeated mediation efforts, a lasting resolution remains elusive, though China and Russia have expressed willingness to facilitate future talks.

Iran has executed three men convicted of killing police officers and collaborating with the United States and Israel during protests in January. The executions were announced on Thursday through the judiciary’s official website, which stated that the men were found guilty of murder and of conducting operations on behalf of the US and the Zionist regime.

According to the report, the executed individuals were involved in the killing of two law enforcement officers. Authorities also stated that the anti-government protests, which began in late December, resulted in 3,117 deaths. Before the war began in February, the US-based human rights organization HRANA reported verifying 6,872 deaths and investigating more than 11,000 additional cases.

The executions highlight Iran’s continued crackdown on dissent following widespread unrest, with official and independent sources reporting sharply differing casualty figures.

The U.S. Department of Defense has requested more than $200 billion from the White House to finance the ongoing war with Iran, according to a senior American official cited in the report. The proposal, submitted for approval, is expected to face resistance from anti-war lawmakers. The requested amount far exceeds the costs of previous airstrike operations conducted by the administration.

White House officials reportedly remain uncertain whether Congress will approve such a large allocation, as war expenditures have already been rising at an unusually rapid pace. The report notes that spending surpassed $11 billion within the first week of the conflict. Analysts attribute the escalating costs to the use of advanced technology, missile defense systems, drone operations, and long-range strikes.

The conflict has intensified amid a three-way confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Following joint U.S.-Israeli attacks inside Iran, Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Gulf states and Israel, prompting heightened military readiness across the region.

Iran’s Ministry of Health announced that 206 individuals under the age of 18 have been killed and 1,401 injured in joint United States–Israel attacks since February 28. The ministry’s statement, released Wednesday, also reported that 227 women were among the dead, with an additional 3,329 injured. It said 1,111 wounded people remain hospitalized, while 19,506 have been treated and discharged.

According to the statement, 18 healthcare workers were killed and 101 injured, and 36 ambulances were damaged. Six hospitals were evacuated, and 47 emergency bases, 37 medical centers, and 180 health facilities were affected. The ministry did not specify the total number of deaths from the ongoing attacks.

The joint assault, launched by Israel and the United States on February 28, has sharply escalated the conflict, with reports indicating around 1,300 total deaths, including Iran’s then–Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has told lawmakers that Pakistan’s advancing missile program could eventually bring the US mainland within its strike range. Speaking at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on global threats, she said Islamabad’s efforts to develop long-range ballistic missiles may evolve into intercontinental systems capable of targeting the United States.

Gabbard highlighted the expanding scope of strategic risks, noting that Pakistan’s long-range missile development could include intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking US soil. She grouped Pakistan with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran as nations actively developing advanced missile technologies alongside cyber and kinetic warfare capabilities.

The remarks underscore growing US concern over the proliferation of long-range missile systems and the potential emergence of Pakistan as a new strategic threat if its program continues to advance.

Foreign ministers from twelve Arab and Muslim countries have jointly called on Iran to stop its attacks and comply with international law. The appeal was issued in a joint statement following a meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The ministers condemned Iran’s assaults on Jordan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, stating that residential areas, oil facilities, desalination plants, airports, housing complexes, and diplomatic zones had been targeted.

The ministers also denounced Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and reaffirmed their support for Lebanon’s security, stability, and territorial integrity. The joint statement came amid a period of heightened regional tension, as Iran has been carrying out strikes on energy infrastructure across the Gulf region.

According to the report, Iran’s state media has accused the United States and Israel of attacking its oil and natural gas production centers. The statement was issued on behalf of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

India’s long-standing policy of ‘strategic autonomy’—maintaining balanced relations with major global powers—faces new challenges amid rising tensions involving Iran. For over a decade, New Delhi has engaged with multiple blocs, including the Quad with the United States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with China, BRICS with Russia, and I2U2 with Israel and the UAE. The approach has aimed to protect national interests without overdependence on any single partner.

Recent developments around Iran have disrupted this balance, particularly affecting India’s priorities of ensuring expatriate safety, countering terrorism in neighboring states, and securing oil and gas supplies. Although diplomatic efforts have intensified, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar contacting Iranian leaders, only two Indian gas tankers have been cleared to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that 22 Indian vessels remain detained in the region.

The release of these ships may depend on India returning three seized Iranian vessels or sending medical supplies to Tehran. However, such moves risk straining India’s ties with Washington, which previously allowed limited Russian oil purchases under specific conditions.