Iran has warned that it will target all major economic centers in the Middle East if attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian sites continue. The threat was issued on Tuesday by General Ebrahim Jabbari of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He stated that Iran would retaliate decisively if its key facilities were struck, emphasizing the country’s readiness to escalate its response.

General Jabbari also announced that Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route. He noted that oil prices had risen above 80 dollars per barrel and could soon reach 200 dollars, with Brent crude surpassing 85 dollars per barrel for the first time since July 2024. The Strait of Hormuz handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply and significant liquefied natural gas exports from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The statement underscores heightened regional tensions and the potential for further disruption in global energy markets if the situation escalates.

The United States Embassy in Oman has instructed its employees and American citizens in the country to remain sheltered until further notice. The directive was issued in response to what the embassy described as 'ongoing activity,' though no details were provided about the nature of the situation. The embassy urged all individuals to stay inside their residences or any other secure buildings and to identify a safe space within those locations.

According to the embassy’s statement, the precautionary measure will remain in effect until additional guidance is issued. The announcement did not specify whether the activity posed a direct threat or was related to any particular incident. The embassy emphasized maintaining caution and following official updates.

The lack of detail about the ongoing activity leaves uncertainty regarding the cause or expected duration of the alert, but the embassy’s message underscores a heightened security posture for Americans in Oman.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Israel’s planned attack on Iran influenced the timing of Washington’s own military strike, which later triggered broader conflict. Rubio said the United States had prior knowledge of Israel’s intentions and feared Tehran might retaliate against American interests in the region, prompting a preemptive US strike.

Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Center, criticized Rubio’s remarks, saying he effectively admitted that the United States had fallen into an Israeli trap. She noted that the US provides Israel with billions of dollars in military aid annually, reflecting their deep strategic ties. Grieco argued that there is now an urgent need to discuss where US and Israeli interests align and where they diverge.

Grieco made these comments in an interview with Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera, highlighting growing debate over the implications of US-Israel coordination in Middle East security policy.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the ongoing war could only be stopped if the United States and Israel ceased their attacks on Iran. He made the remarks on Tuesday during a press conference held at a school in Tehran, emphasizing that Iran had tried to avoid war until the last moment but that other parties had chosen conflict.

Baghaei urged the international community to act before it was too late, calling on the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its responsibility to restore regional security and stability. He said the council must compel the aggressors to end their attacks to prevent the war from expanding further.

The statement reflects Iran’s stance that external military actions are the root cause of the current conflict and that international intervention is necessary to de-escalate tensions.

The United Kingdom is sending charter flights to rescue British citizens stranded in various Middle Eastern countries amid the ongoing war. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons that a government charter flight will depart from Muscat, Oman, for the UK within the next few days. The initiative aims to assist citizens unable to leave the region due to the conflict.

The UK government has launched a new registration process to identify how many British nationals are currently in Middle Eastern countries. According to the BBC, by Tuesday morning, about 130,000 British citizens had registered through this system. Cooper stated that those in 'vulnerable' conditions will be given priority for evacuation on the charter flights.

The move reflects the UK’s effort to ensure the safety of its nationals as instability spreads across the region, though details about the specific countries affected were not disclosed.

Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom has suspended operations at Iran’s only nuclear power plant located in the city of Bushehr. According to Interfax, Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev stated that the Moscow-built facility is under threat due to the ongoing conflict. More than 600 Russian personnel working at the site are gradually leaving Iran.

The decision follows a series of attacks launched by the United States and Israel on Saturday, after which around 100 workers were initially evacuated from the Bushehr plant. With rising tensions and fears of a larger assault, Rosatom has now opted to completely shut down all activities at the facility.

The suspension underscores the growing instability in the region and highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure amid escalating hostilities.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated that inspectors have found no evidence of a coordinated nuclear weapons program in Iran, despite allegations from Israel and the United States. Speaking to NBC News, Grossi confirmed that the agency could not identify any systematic or structural elements of such a program.

Grossi acknowledged that Tehran has enriched uranium up to 60 percent purity, a level far beyond civilian energy needs. He noted that this degree of enrichment is typically associated only with nuclear-armed states. However, he emphasized that inspectors have not concluded that Iran intends to build a bomb.

Grossi described the enrichment activity as a cause for concern, citing the continuous operation of centrifuges producing material theoretically sufficient for more than ten nuclear warheads, though he clarified that Iran does not possess such weapons.

The United Kingdom is considering sending a warship to the Mediterranean following a drone attack on its military base in Cyprus. According to defense sources cited by the BBC, the Royal Navy’s HMS Duncan has been kept ready for possible deployment, though no final decision has yet been made.

The reported attack targeted a British military installation in Cyprus, prompting London to evaluate its security posture in the region. The move reflects heightened concern over regional stability and the safety of British forces stationed abroad.

While the UK has not confirmed when or if the deployment will occur, the preparation of HMS Duncan indicates that the government is maintaining readiness for potential escalation or deterrence operations in the Mediterranean.

The Gaza crossing was reopened for the first time following a joint United States and Israeli attack on Iran, according to the report published on March 3, 2026. The route is described as crucial for delivering food, medicine, and other humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza. Israeli forces had previously closed the crossing after the conflict involving Iran began.

The closure had severely restricted the entry of relief supplies, leading to rapidly depleting food and fuel reserves in Gaza. The United Nations and other organizations had warned that the blockade could trigger an acute food crisis if not resolved. The reopening marks a significant development in efforts to restore humanitarian access to the enclave.

The report also referenced related regional tensions, including threats from Iran to target economic centers and statements from the United States offering new explanations for the attack on Iran.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has announced the cancellation of all flights on six major Middle Eastern routes until March 5 due to ongoing war conditions and heightened security risks in the region's airspace. The state-owned carrier made the announcement on Tuesday, citing disruptions caused by the conflict. The affected routes include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dammam, Doha, and Kuwait. The airline’s General Manager for Public Relations, Bosra Islam, confirmed the decision.

According to the airline, the cancellations follow the temporary closure of airspace by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan since February 28. This closure has disrupted flight schedules at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and affected multiple international carriers. Biman stated that passengers will be informed of new schedules once the situation improves.

The airline advised travelers to stay in contact with its call center or relevant offices for updates, noting that uncertainty will persist until regional airspace tensions ease.

The United States Embassy in Jerusalem has issued a security alert stating that it is not in a position to evacuate or directly assist Americans wishing to leave Israel. The embassy instructed all US government employees and their families to remain at or near their residences until further notice. The advisory follows the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, which triggered retaliatory strikes by Tehran against Israel, neighboring Gulf states, and key global energy targets.

The embassy noted that Israel’s Ministry of Tourism has launched a shuttle service to the Taba border crossing, where travelers can register through an exit form. The crossing with Egypt remains open 24 hours a day. However, the embassy emphasized that it cannot recommend for or against using the shuttle and cannot guarantee the safety of those who choose to leave Israel by this route.

The embassy also mentioned that travelers heading to Jordan may take the shuttle to Eilat and then proceed independently to the Yitzhak Rabin border crossing by taxi.

China has called on all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to maintain security in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil and gas transport. The appeal came after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard announced the closure of the strait on Saturday, prompting several international shipping companies to suspend operations in the area. During a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged an immediate halt to military actions and warned against further escalation that could harm the global economy.

Mao emphasized that energy security is crucial for global economic stability and stated that China would take necessary measures to safeguard its own energy supply. The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly one-fourth of the world’s seaborne oil shipments, along with significant volumes of other goods. China is a major buyer of Iranian oil, most of which passes through this strategic waterway.

The statement underscores Beijing’s concern over potential disruptions to global energy flows and its commitment to protecting its national energy interests.

Iran has accused Israel of carrying out a drone attack on Saudi oil company Saudi Aramco, describing the incident as a 'false flag' operation. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing military sources, the attack was allegedly orchestrated by Israel to divert regional attention from its own actions against civilian sites in Iran.

The report stated that Iran has previously declared its intent to target all U.S. and Israeli interests and facilities in the Gulf region, and that several such attacks have already taken place. However, the sources emphasized that Aramco installations were not among Iran’s designated targets. The information was reported by Al Jazeera and relayed through Tasnim.

The accusation adds to escalating regional tensions, with Iran framing the incident as part of a broader strategic conflict involving Israel and Western interests in the Middle East.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a severe warning to the United States and Israel as the ongoing war between Iran and the two countries entered its fourth day on Tuesday. The IRGC declared that Iran’s military operations against both nations would intensify, promising that more 'gates of hell' would open for them.

In a televised address, IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini stated that the enemies should expect increasingly harsh and continuous punitive strikes. He emphasized that the United States and Israel would face a series of escalating retaliatory attacks as Iran continues its military campaign.

The statement underscores Iran’s determination to sustain and expand its military response, signaling a further escalation in the conflict as tensions remain high across the region.

The United States Embassy in Riyadh announced the suspension of all consular services across its missions in Saudi Arabia. According to an embassy statement, all regular and emergency appointments scheduled for Tuesday have been canceled. The missions in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dhahran have been placed under a 'shelter in place' directive. The embassy also advised American citizens to maintain personal security plans and avoid approaching the embassy area until further notice.

The statement linked the suspension to an attack on the organization, prompting heightened security measures. The development comes amid a series of regional attacks following Iranian strikes on US military bases in the Middle East. One such attack reportedly targeted Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil giant, causing a fire at its facility.

The embassy has not indicated when consular operations might resume, leaving uncertainty about the duration of the suspension and its impact on American citizens in Saudi Arabia.