US President Donald Trump told CBS News that his administration is considering taking control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, has become a focal point of tension following the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel, and Iran ten days ago. Trump said the strait remains open for now, but the White House is thinking about securing it and could take various actions there.

Since the conflict began, commercial shipping through the strait has largely come to a halt. Iran has not yet closed the passage but has warned that it would attack any US or Israeli oil tanker attempting to transit the route. The situation underscores the growing risks to global energy transport and regional stability as hostilities continue.

The US consideration of direct control over the strait could further escalate tensions with Iran, though no specific timeline or operational details were disclosed.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has escalated its counterattacks, describing the latest phase as the 33rd stage of “Operation Promise IV.” The country announced plans to deploy its heaviest missiles, weighing around one ton or more, against Israel and other designated targets.

According to Iran’s deputy foreign minister, China, France, and Russia have formally reached out regarding a possible ceasefire. However, he did not disclose details of any specific proposals. The deputy minister made clear that Iran will not return to the negotiation table unless it receives guarantees that current or future acts of aggression, similar to those seen in June, will not recur.

The statements underscore Iran’s firm stance amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing international diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that Tehran will determine when the ongoing war ends, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that the conflict with Iran could end soon. The IRGC emphasized that the balance of power and the region’s future are now under Iran’s control.

Trump earlier said the conflict with Iran might be short-lived but warned that if Iran’s leadership transition disrupts global oil supplies, tensions could escalate. Hours later, he posted on social media that if Iran blocks oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States would retaliate with force twenty times stronger than before.

The IRGC’s statement underscores Tehran’s defiance and its claim of controlling the regional situation, rejecting the notion that Washington could dictate the war’s conclusion.

Iran’s state news agency Mehr has alleged that the United States carried out a missile strike targeting a school in the central city of Khomein. According to the report, the missile hit the Dr. Hafez Khomeini School, damaging several nearby residential houses. No casualties were immediately reported following the incident.

The report noted that this follows an earlier alleged U.S. missile attack on a girls’ school in the southern Iranian city of Minab, where at least 170 people, mostly teenage students, were reported killed. The recent incidents have drawn growing concern from the international community, with calls intensifying for an impartial investigation into the attacks.

The situation has heightened tensions surrounding U.S.–Iran relations, as international observers continue to urge transparency and accountability in assessing the reported strikes.

Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo stated that the United States has not contacted Taiwan regarding any transfer of weapons to the Middle East. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Koo clarified that despite the ongoing US-Iran war, Washington has not asked Taiwan to deploy or use any US-made military equipment it possesses.

He added that any potential deployment of US-manufactured weapons from Taiwan to another region would only occur following an official request from the United States. Meanwhile, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said last Friday that discussions are underway between the US and South Korean militaries about relocating some Patriot missile defense systems from South Korea to the Middle East for use in the conflict against Iran.

According to South Korean government sources cited by local media, preparations are being made to send these Patriot systems, with heavy US military transport aircraft already arriving in South Korea to facilitate the transfer.

The United Arab Emirates reported that its Consulate General in Iraq’s Kurdistan region was struck by a drone attack. The incident caused structural damage to the facility but resulted in no casualties, according to a statement released by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on social media platform X.

The ministry described the attack as a dangerous provocation and a threat to regional security and stability. It further stated that targeting diplomatic missions and premises constitutes a serious violation of international norms and laws. The statement did not specify where the drone was launched from.

The UAE called on local authorities in Iraq to investigate the incident and identify those responsible for the attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the ongoing conflict involving Iran. According to Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, Putin presented several proposals aimed at achieving a swift resolution to the Iran war. The conversation also touched on the situation in Venezuela in the context of the Ukraine war and global oil markets.

During a separate meeting at the Kremlin, Putin warned that the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel has triggered a global energy crisis. He cautioned that oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz could soon come to a complete halt. Putin urged Russian oil and gas companies to take advantage of the current circumstances while emphasizing that Russia remains ready to supply energy to various countries, including those in Europe, through long-term agreements beyond political considerations.

Putin reaffirmed that Moscow will continue providing energy resources to its “trusted partners,” highlighting Russia’s position as the world’s second-largest oil exporter and holder of the largest natural gas reserves.

Iran’s senior official Kamal Kharrazi has warned that the country is prepared for a long-term war with the United States. In an exclusive interview with CNN in Tehran, Kharrazi, who serves as the foreign policy adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, suggested that Iran may continue attacks on Gulf countries to pressure them into persuading U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw from the conflict.

Kharrazi dismissed the possibility of pursuing diplomatic solutions, asserting that the war could only end through economic pressure or military impact. His remarks came on the tenth day of the ongoing war between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance, signaling Tehran’s firm stance against any ceasefire or negotiation efforts.

The statement follows reports that Iran considers the U.S.-Israel war effort a failure, while neighboring Azerbaijan has sent humanitarian aid to Iran, including food and medicine.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the ongoing war with Iran is nearing its end. In an interview with CBS News on Monday, Trump stated that he believes the war is almost over, claiming Iran now lacks an effective navy, communication system, and air force. He added that Iran’s missile capabilities have also been dismantled.

Trump noted that the United States is ahead of schedule in the conflict and suggested that the war’s conclusion depends largely on his own plans. When asked if he had a message for Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump replied that he had none.

Earlier, the White House had indicated that the war could last more than a month, but it is currently in its tenth day, suggesting a faster-than-expected progression according to Trump’s remarks.

Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for a rocket attack targeting Israeli soldiers near the Lebanon border. According to a statement from the group, its fighters carried out the assault at around 5 p.m. local time in the Lebanese border town of Meis al-Jabal. The statement did not provide further details about the scale of the attack or any casualties.

As of now, Israeli authorities have not issued any comment regarding the incident. The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not include additional information about the aftermath or potential military responses. The situation remains unclear, with no confirmation of damage or injuries on either side.

The attack adds to ongoing tensions along the Lebanon-Israel frontier, where cross-border hostilities have periodically flared. Further developments or official statements from either side may clarify the extent and implications of the latest exchange.

Israel has continued its attacks in Lebanon, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting that 486 people have been killed since the strikes began on March 2. The ministry also stated that 1,313 others have been injured in the ongoing assaults.

According to the report, the latest incident involved an Israeli drone targeting a car in the southern Lebanese city of Burj Rahal. Additionally, airstrikes were carried out in the city of Sifra. The information was sourced from Al Jazeera and published by the outlet Amar Desh.

The situation reflects a continued escalation of violence in Lebanon, with civilian areas being struck and casualties rising as the attacks persist.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the United States and 11 other countries have requested Ukraine’s assistance in countering Iranian drones, electronic warfare systems, and related training. He said the requests came from several European nations, the US, and some of Iran’s neighboring countries. Zelensky shared the information on social media after a meeting with top Ukrainian military and government officials.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine is ready to respond positively to these requests from nations that have supported its defense and independence. He emphasized that Kyiv’s experience in drone defense, gained during four years of resisting Russia’s aggression, could be valuable for its partners’ long-term security. Ukraine hopes that the ongoing Middle East crisis will strengthen its bargaining position with allies.

Zelensky added that specific decisions and assistance have already been provided in response to some of the requests, though he did not disclose details. Earlier, he told The New York Times that Ukraine had sent drone-destroying systems and an expert team to help protect US bases in Jordan at Washington’s request.

Israeli military authorities have enforced strict censorship on local media coverage of ongoing attacks during the current war. According to reports, the military censor has effectively imposed an information blackout on the locations and extent of damage caused by missile strikes. Al Jazeera reported that details such as the number of missiles or rockets fired by Iran or Hezbollah and their impact sites are under severe publication restrictions. Journalists who reveal additional information during broadcasts are reportedly being detained.

Recent updates indicate that at least two people were killed in a missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport close to Tel Aviv. Witnesses said some missiles launched from Iran contained cluster warheads, which disperse multiple smaller explosives upon detonation, causing extensive damage across wide areas. Emergency workers have been conducting prolonged searches to ensure no unexploded ordnance remains at the targeted sites.

The situation underscores the growing intensity of the conflict and the heightened control over information flow within Israel’s media landscape.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will send two warships to the Red Sea as part of a European Union naval mission. The decision was revealed following his meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Macron stated that the initiative aims to build a fully defensive and security-cooperative mission. He emphasized that the mission will be prepared in coordination with both European and non-European countries. The announcement reflects France’s intention to strengthen maritime security efforts within the EU framework.

Further details about the deployment timeline or the specific objectives of the mission were not disclosed in the statement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gulf region following separate phone conversations with the foreign ministers of Bahrain and Kuwait, according to Al Jazeera. The discussions took place as regional tensions continued to escalate.

A statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wang Yi expressed deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating situation during his conversation with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. He affirmed that China is ready to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability. In a separate call with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Wang reiterated the need to implement a ceasefire as soon as possible.

Wang Yi also emphasized that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Gulf countries must be respected, underscoring China’s position on preserving stability in the region.