US President Donald Trump has warned that he could destroy what remains of Iran and hand over responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz to the countries that use it. He issued the warning on Wednesday in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, saying the United States no longer needs the vital waterway for global oil supply.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s key oil transit routes. Trump suggested that transferring its control to other nations would push America’s inactive allies to act faster. Iran has maintained that the strait remains open but has warned that ships from US and Israeli allies will not be allowed to pass if attacks continue. Reports indicate that tankers from India, Turkey, and Pakistan have crossed the strait with Iran’s permission since the conflict began.

Following reports of an attack on one of Iran’s major natural gas facilities, crude oil prices rose above $108 per barrel. Despite Trump’s repeated calls, most NATO and Asian allies have declined to send warships to the area, except South Korea, which said it would consider the request.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Wednesday that the military has been authorized to target any senior Iranian officials without requiring additional approval. Katz stated that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have granted the Israel Defense Forces permission to eliminate Iranian officials once intelligence and operational preparations are complete. He added that Israel will continue to locate and eliminate such figures.

Katz claimed that Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, was killed in an airstrike the previous night, though Iran has not confirmed his death. He also suggested that further operations could occur in Lebanon in the coming days, emphasizing that the conflict will continue on both the Iranian and Hezbollah fronts. Earlier, Israel claimed responsibility for airstrikes in Tehran that killed Ali Larijani, his son, and Basij chief General Gholamreza Soleimani, deaths later confirmed by Iran.

Turkey condemned Israel’s targeted killings of Iranian leaders, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan calling them illegal acts beyond the laws of war, according to AFP and Al Jazeera reports.

Russia has strongly condemned a reported missile strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry on March 18, 2026. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran reported a projectile impact at the site but said there was no damage to the facility and no injuries. The agency warned, however, that such attacks could pose risks of radioactive contamination.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described the incident as an irresponsible and completely unacceptable act, noting that the projectile landed only a few meters from an active reactor. She added that Russia had previously warned the United States and Israel about the presence of Russian citizens working at the plant.

The IAEA continues to monitor the situation, emphasizing the importance of protecting nuclear facilities from any form of military action that could endanger safety and security.

Saudi Arabia announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, meaning the country will complete 30 days of fasting for Ramadan. The Supreme Court, through the Royal Court, confirmed that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated nationwide on Friday, March 20, 2026.

According to the report, members of the moon-sighting committee observed cloudy weather across most parts of the kingdom, with rain expected in several areas. These conditions affected the visibility of the moon, leading to the official decision that the crescent was not visible. The announcement was made on Wednesday evening following the committee’s observations.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and is one of the most significant religious festivals for Muslims, celebrated on the first day of Shawwal after the sighting of the new moon.

The US Embassy in Dhaka has issued a new directive for Bangladeshi citizens regarding the use of B1-B2 visitor visas. Published on the embassy’s official Facebook page on March 18, the notice explicitly prohibits using the visa to give birth in the United States. The embassy stated that some visa holders had recently attempted to secure US citizenship for their children through such actions, known as “birth tourism,” which violates visa regulations.

The directive also clarifies that B1-B2 visa holders are not allowed to engage in paid employment in the United States. They may only attend business meetings or conferences. Using the visitor visa to pursue academic degrees or earn credits toward a student program is also forbidden; those seeking full-time study must obtain an F-1 student visa.

The embassy said the warning comes amid stricter immigration and visa policies under the US President’s second term. Violating these rules could result in visa cancellation and entry bans to the United States.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that the United States is responsible for the recent attacks in several cities across neighboring Gulf countries. Speaking to Al Jazeera on Wednesday, he claimed that Iran should not be blamed for the strikes, arguing that the U.S. moved its troops from military bases to hotels in those cities, effectively making them targets.

Araghchi explained that Iran’s operations did not only target official enemy bases but also locations where U.S. forces had gathered and established facilities. His remarks came amid heightened regional tensions following multiple incidents involving Iranian and U.S. interests in the Gulf region.

The statement reflects Iran’s attempt to shift responsibility for the attacks onto Washington, emphasizing that the presence and movement of U.S. forces in civilian areas contributed to the escalation.

China has pledged to continue its mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire and end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The statement came as the joint attacks by Israel and the United States in Iran entered their nineteenth day. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with the United Arab Emirates’ special envoy to the president, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.

During the meeting, Wang Yi said the war should never have happened and that there is no justification for its continuation. He also expressed China’s support for the UAE’s sovereignty and security. The Chinese foreign ministry emphasized that Beijing remains committed to promoting peace and stability in the region.

The situation follows a series of regional developments, including arrests in Iran and condemnations from Russia and Qatar over recent attacks, underscoring the growing international concern over the conflict’s escalation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has instructed residents near five major oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to evacuate immediately. Iranian state media broadcast the warning, urging people to move to a safe distance without delay. The directive came shortly after an Israeli airstrike targeted a petrochemical complex at Iran’s South Pars gas field early Wednesday, according to Israeli outlets and Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

Qatar condemned the Israeli attack, calling it a dangerous and irresponsible act amid heightened regional military tensions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said the strike on infrastructure linked to the South Pars field, which extends into Qatar’s North Field, poses a serious threat to global energy security, local populations, and the environment.

Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that the fire at the site has been brought under control, with no casualties confirmed so far.

Russia has condemned the killing of Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani, according to a report citing Al Jazeera. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said during a briefing that Moscow strongly denounces actions aimed at harming the leadership of sovereign Iran, particularly assassinations targeting its officials.

The report states that on Tuesday, Israel killed Iran’s security chief Larijani and Basij paramilitary commander Soleimani. The following day, Israel’s defense minister claimed responsibility for the killing of Iran’s intelligence minister Esmail Khatib. The incidents mark a sharp escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran.

The developments have drawn international attention as regional powers respond to the rising violence. Russia’s condemnation underscores its opposition to attacks on Iranian leadership, while tensions continue to mount across the Middle East.

Qatar has strongly condemned Israel’s attack on facilities linked to Iran’s South Pars gas field, calling it a dangerous and irresponsible act amid ongoing military tensions. The strike occurred on the 19th day of joint Israeli and U.S. operations in Iran, while Tehran continues retaliatory attacks on U.S. bases in Gulf countries. Iran has repeatedly accused its adversaries of targeting civilian infrastructure since the conflict began.

Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the assault on energy infrastructure poses a threat to global energy security and endangers regional populations and the environment. He noted that the South Pars field is connected to Qatar’s North Field expansion project.

Al-Ansari urged all parties to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and work to de-escalate tensions to preserve regional security and stability.

Iran launched 13 ballistic missiles and 27 drones toward the United Arab Emirates, according to the UAE Ministry of Defense. The attack occurred on Wednesday, marking the 19th day since joint Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran began. The ministry reported that since the start of hostilities, the UAE has faced a total of 327 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,699 drone attacks.

The strikes are part of Iran’s continued retaliation against U.S. military bases in Gulf countries following the earlier attacks on its territory. The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights the growing intensity of the conflict in the Gulf region as Iran expands its counterstrikes beyond its borders.

The situation underscores rising instability in the Gulf, with regional energy and security infrastructures increasingly at risk as hostilities persist.

An Israeli airstrike targeted gas installations in Iran’s Bushehr province, according to reports from Al Jazeera citing Iranian state media. The attack struck offshore facilities linked to the South Pars gas field, one of Iran’s most vital energy assets that supplies a major share of the country’s gas production. The incident occurred amid heightened regional conflict, with Iranian energy infrastructure increasingly coming under attack.

Israeli media, quoting local officials, also confirmed that Israeli fighter jets carried out the strike on Iran’s gas infrastructure in Bushehr. However, no immediate details were available regarding the extent of damage or possible casualties resulting from the attack.

The South Pars field holds strategic importance for Iran’s energy sector, and repeated strikes on such facilities could further strain the country’s gas output and regional energy stability.

Iran held a state funeral in Tehran on Wednesday for senior security officials and naval officers killed in recent US-Israeli attacks. The ceremony included the burial of Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary force. State media reported that government officials and large crowds attended to pay their final respects.

According to Tasnim News, Larijani and his son were killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 17 in Tehran, while Soleimani died in a similar attack. The funeral also included sailors from the Iranian destroyer Dena, which was damaged by a US Navy torpedo strike off Sri Lanka on March 4. The attacks followed the February 28 killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior figures, after which the United States and Israel reportedly launched a broad military campaign against Iran.

Iranian forces have since carried out missile and drone strikes targeting US and Israeli positions in retaliation, according to state reports.

Russia is providing Iran with satellite imagery and assistance in modernizing its drone technology, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal cited by Amar Desh Online on March 18, 2026. The cooperation aims to help Iran target U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East and sustain its military confrontation against the United States and Israel. Moscow is reportedly supplying equipment to upgrade Iran’s Shahed drones, improving communication, navigation, and strike precision.

The report states that Russia has begun directly supplying satellite images to Iran, offering intelligence on the positions of U.S. troops and regional allies. A senior European intelligence official confirmed the information, noting that the collaboration deepened in the early days of the conflict. Analysts compared Russia’s support for Iran to the intelligence assistance the U.S. and European allies provide to Ukraine.

According to the report, Iran has recently used this support to successfully strike U.S. radar systems in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. The Kremlin did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Iranian military spokesperson Amir Akraminia has claimed that the country is deploying weapons never before used in combat amid its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. Speaking to an Iranian television channel on Wednesday, he warned that the use of these weapons would increase in the coming days and that their impact would soon be felt globally.

Akraminia stated that while these armaments had existed in Iran’s arsenal, they had not been deployed on the battlefield until now. Reports from residents in the United Arab Emirates and Israel described louder and more powerful explosions during recent missile interceptions, which appeared to support the claim. According to the Israeli military, Iran is now using cluster warheads in its ballistic missiles at a higher rate than before.

The statements come as regional tensions continue to escalate, with Iran also reportedly ordering the evacuation of five energy facilities in the Gulf region.