US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that while the United States’ military strength is increasing, Iran’s military capability is weakening. He made the remarks during a briefing on the latest situation in the ongoing war involving Iran. According to Hegseth, President Donald Trump is taking actions that no previous president had dared to take.

Hegseth added that Iran launched the fewest number of missiles in the past 24 hours, suggesting a decline in its operational activity. He claimed that the morale of Iran’s armed forces has deteriorated, leading some members to leave the service and causing frustration among senior military leaders. The briefing highlighted the shifting balance of military momentum between the two nations.

The report also referenced broader regional developments, including the rise of a new alliance among four Muslim countries and the rising fuel prices worldwide due to the war’s impact, indicating the conflict’s expanding geopolitical and economic consequences.

The White House indicated that President Donald Trump may request financial assistance from Gulf countries to help cover the costs of the ongoing Iran-US-Israel war. Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt, when asked whether Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates would contribute a major share of the war expenses as they did during the 1990–91 Gulf War, said the president might be interested in making such an appeal and that further details could come soon.

The first Gulf War began after Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, when regional states along with Japan, Germany, and South Korea bore significant portions of the war costs. In the current conflict, which the United States initiated, Gulf nations have shown reluctance to get involved, fearing economic repercussions from potential Iranian retaliation. Analysts cited in the report said these countries are already facing major revenue and infrastructure losses.

Levitt also stated that the United States has carried out more than 11,000 strikes on Iranian targets in the past four weeks, while Trump has warned that Iran’s power plants, oil fields, and Kharg Island could be destroyed if it fails to meet US conditions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that Iran still possesses the ability to launch missile strikes despite a month of joint US-Israeli attacks. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, he said the decision on when the war will end ultimately rests with President Trump. Hegseth stated that Iran retains retaliatory capacity but claimed its military strength has been significantly weakened.

This was the first official Pentagon briefing on the war situation in about two weeks, following the last one on March 19. Hegseth also revealed that he made an unannounced visit to US troops stationed in the Middle East, where he observed their morale and urgency to conclude operations quickly. He asserted that the United States is now closer to victory than ever before.

The ongoing conflict has already placed heavy pressure on the global economy, with energy markets becoming unstable and fuel prices rising in the United States. Analysts believe Iran’s limited yet effective missile capability and strategic position are prolonging the war, making a swift resolution uncertain without diplomatic efforts from the White House.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the joint United States–Israel war with Iran is “more than halfway” toward achieving its objectives, clarifying that his remark referred to progress toward goals rather than time elapsed. He said thousands of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have been killed and that both nations are close to destroying Iran’s weapons stockpiles and nuclear infrastructure.

The Israel Defense Forces reported launching new strikes on Tehran hours after Iran fired missiles toward Israel. Attacks have spread across the Gulf region, including Dubai, where authorities confirmed a drone strike set a tanker ablaze but caused no reported environmental damage. Meanwhile, an Iranian parliamentary committee approved a plan to impose tolls on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially restricting U.S., Israeli, and allied ships.

According to the Wall Street Journal, former U.S. President Donald Trump told aides he was willing to end military operations against Iran despite the strait’s closure. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened “one way or another.”

The war that began on February 28 between the United States-Israel alliance and Iran has led to a growing number of casualties across the region. According to Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAANA), 3,492 people have been killed in Iran so far, including 1,574 civilians and 236 children. In Israel, emergency service Magen David Adom reported 19 deaths from missile attacks, while the Israeli army confirmed nine soldiers killed in Lebanon. Lebanon’s health ministry stated that 1,247 people have died there, including 124 children. In the Gulf region, at least 24 people have been killed, most of them security personnel or foreign workers, with 11 in the UAE, seven in Kuwait, and two each in Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.

The figures, sourced from the BBC and local authorities, highlight the widespread human cost of the ongoing conflict. The fighting has affected multiple countries and civilian populations, with reports of significant child casualties and cross-border military losses.

The continued escalation suggests further humanitarian strain across the Middle East if hostilities persist.

Questions are rising over why the United States, despite being a global military and economic superpower, has been unable to swiftly end its ongoing war with Iran. Analysts suggest that while the balance of visible power appears one-sided, the reality is far more complex. Iran, though militarily weaker, is exploiting strategic advantages that have turned the conflict into a major challenge for Washington.

One key factor is Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route through which massive volumes of oil are transported daily. By threatening to restrict or close this passage, Tehran has demonstrated its ability to disrupt global markets. Analysts note that any U.S. military attempt to reopen the strait could trigger Iranian retaliation and escalate the conflict, posing political risks for President Donald Trump. Deploying ground troops would also increase U.S. casualties and domestic political pressure.

Experts warn that without an effective diplomatic resolution, the conflict could become prolonged and further destabilize the global economy, as both sides engage in a test of strategic endurance rather than direct military confrontation.

Italy has refused a US request to use a key military base in Sicily for operations in the Middle East. According to a Reuters report published on Tuesday, the Italian government declined to allow US military aircraft to operate from the Sigonella airbase in eastern Sicily. The report noted that several US bombers had planned to land there before heading to the Middle East, though the exact timing of the plan was not specified.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that the denial came because the United States had not formally sought permission or informed Italy’s military leadership. Under existing agreements, such authorization is mandatory for the use of US military installations in Italy. The right-wing government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that any similar requests in the future would require parliamentary approval before being granted.

The decision underscores Italy’s insistence on procedural compliance and parliamentary oversight in foreign military cooperation involving its territory.

Iran’s military announced that its air defense forces shot down a US-made MQ-9 drone over the central city of Isfahan. The incident was reported on Tuesday by Press TV, according to Iranian military sources cited in the report.

In addition to the MQ-9, Iran’s forces also downed a Lucas drone over Qasem Island in the Persian Gulf. The report did not specify when the interceptions occurred or provide further details about the drones’ missions or any resulting damage. The announcement underscores ongoing tensions involving Iranian airspace and foreign surveillance activity.

No official response from the United States or other parties was mentioned in the report, leaving the broader implications of the incident unclear.

A U.S. Department of Defense official told The Wall Street Journal that American forces carried out an airstrike using a 2,000-pound bunker-buster bomb on a large ammunition depot in Isfahan, Iran. The report said multiple penetrator munitions designed to destroy underground facilities were used in the attack. The strike followed the online circulation of a video showing a massive explosion in Isfahan, which former U.S. President Donald Trump shared on social media without any caption.

The report cited footage from the Baluch human rights group Halvash, showing similar explosions recorded outside Isfahan. NASA satellite data indicated that the blasts occurred near Sofeh Mountain, an area believed to host military installations. The videos showed large fireballs and repeated smaller detonations, consistent with explosions at an ammunition depot.

The incident has drawn attention due to the scale of the explosions and the use of specialized bunker-buster weapons, though official Iranian responses were not mentioned in the report.

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has passed a bill authorizing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks while imprisoned in Israeli facilities. The vote took place on Monday evening, marking the potential return of capital punishment in Israel after more than six decades.

Human rights organizations and Palestinian leaders have strongly condemned the law, calling it discriminatory and a violation of international law. The UN Human Rights Office urged Israel to immediately revoke the legislation, warning that its implementation would breach international prohibitions against cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment. The office also said the law deepens racial discrimination and undermines global norms against state-sanctioned inequality.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry described the law as a dangerous escalation and evidence of Israel’s colonial system that legitimizes extrajudicial killings. Hamas called it a dangerous precedent threatening Palestinian prisoners’ lives. Amnesty International, the Council of Europe, Ireland, and Italy also joined in condemning the move.

Several thousand paratroopers from the US Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division have begun arriving in the Middle East, according to two US officials cited by Reuters. The deployment started on Monday as discussions continue over President Donald Trump’s possible next steps in the conflict with Iran. The troops departed from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, joining additional US naval, marine, and special operations forces already stationed in the region.

Reuters previously reported on March 18 that the Trump administration was considering sending thousands more troops to the Middle East, potentially including deployments inside Iran. The latest movement follows the arrival of about 2,500 US Marines over the past weekend, signaling a significant buildup of American military presence in the area.

The expanded deployment underscores Washington’s growing military posture in the Middle East as tensions with Tehran remain high, though no official statement has clarified the ultimate scope or duration of the mission.

Lebanon’s Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for 43 attacks on Israeli forces within a 24-hour period, according to a report citing Al Jazeera. In a statement, the group said that 26 of the attacks targeted Israeli troops positioned inside Lebanon, while the remaining 17 were directed at northern Israel.

Hezbollah further asserted that the operations struck four Israeli military bases, eight military facilities, one barracks, and four newly established border posts. The report did not include independent verification of these claims or any response from Israeli authorities.

The announcement underscores the continuing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel along the border area, though the report provided no details on casualties or damage.

Two Chinese container ships have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz on their second attempt after initially turning back mid-journey last Friday. According to vessel tracking data, the ships passed through the critical waterway on Monday, sailing close to each other as they exited the Persian Gulf toward open waters. The ships are now moving rapidly toward the Gulf of Oman, Reuters reported.

Marine Traffic data confirmed the crossing, and Kepler analyst Rebecca Gardes noted that these are the first non-Iranian container ships to leave the region since the start of the ongoing conflict. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz but continues to allow passage for vessels from countries it considers friendly or non-hostile.

The successful passage of the two large COSCO Shipping-operated vessels is seen as a sign of diplomatic coordination between China and Iran, suggesting that Tehran may be expanding its list of friendly nations.

A Kuwaiti oil tanker named Al-Salmi caught fire after a drone attack near Dubai’s outer anchorage on Monday, according to local authorities who blamed Iran for the strike. The vessel, owned by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), suffered structural damage, and officials warned of possible oil leakage into the sea. Firefighting teams managed to control the blaze after several hours, and all 24 crew members were reported safe with no casualties.

The incident occurred just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran that the United States could destroy its power plants and oil wells if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed. The Guardian reported that since February 28, commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz have faced repeated attacks following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. The Al-Salmi attack marks the latest escalation in the ongoing regional conflict that has disrupted oil supplies and strained the global economy.

KPC said damage assessment is underway while monitoring continues. Crude oil prices briefly rose after the attack before stabilizing later in the day.

US President Donald Trump has signaled that American forces may move to take control of Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub in the northern Persian Gulf. The island handles about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports and lies in deep waters suitable for large crude carriers. The United States reportedly struck nearly 90 military targets on the island on March 13 but avoided oil infrastructure. Analysts suggest any US operation would likely be temporary, aimed at pressuring Tehran to ease its control over the Strait of Hormuz and meet Washington’s demands.

Iran has reinforced its defenses on Kharg Island, deploying surface-to-air missile batteries and warning of severe retaliation if US troops attempt to land. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed that any invading force would face “a rain of fire.” The US has positioned about 5,000 naval personnel and 2,000 paratroopers in the region, fueling speculation about a potential assault.

Despite military readiness, the report notes that a prolonged occupation would be difficult for the US to sustain and unpopular domestically. Trump also indicated that ongoing talks with Iran could still avert a military confrontation.