Iran has fired two ballistic missiles targeting the joint US-British military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US officials. The incident occurred recently and was reported on Friday. Both missiles failed to hit their targets, falling short of the base located about 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) from Iran. The attack suggests Tehran may now possess longer-range missile capabilities. AFP reported that the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

One missile reportedly malfunctioned mid-flight, while the other was intercepted by a defensive missile launched from a US warship. It remains unclear whether the second missile was destroyed. Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Archipelago, is one of two bases the United Kingdom has allowed the United States to use for defensive operations against Iran. The base hosts US bombers and other military assets and has been a key hub for operations in Asia, including past missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The report also noted that Britain recently returned control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius but retained a lease for the Diego Garcia base. Former US President Donald Trump criticized that decision.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Japan’s Kyodo News that Iran is ready to assist Japan-linked ships in transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, discussions between the two sides have already begun, and Iran is considering a temporary relaxation of the blockade.

A Japanese government official told Kyodo that direct talks with Iran are the most effective way to ease the blockade but emphasized the need for caution to avoid provoking the United States. The official also noted that even if Japanese vessels are allowed passage, it would not resolve the ongoing energy crisis. Another Japanese Foreign Ministry official said Araghchi’s statement should be carefully evaluated to understand its true intent.

The development highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts between Tokyo and Tehran to manage maritime access and regional tensions while balancing relations with Washington.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the 70th phase of its retaliatory operations, claiming to have struck more than 55 locations linked to US and Israeli interests. According to a statement published by Iran’s English-language outlet Press TV, the latest attacks caused powerful explosions, flashes of fire, and rising smoke columns in targeted areas.

Several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Israel, reported activating their air defense systems early Saturday to intercept incoming drones and missiles. The report also stated that Iran launched at least two medium-range ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean.

The overall situation across the Gulf and the wider Middle East has become increasingly tense following these developments, signaling a further escalation of regional hostilities.

Iran has threatened to expand its attacks to entertainment and tourism centers worldwide as its conflict with the United States and Israel enters the third week. The warning came from General Abolfazl Shekarchi, Iran’s top military spokesperson, who stated that parks, leisure areas, and tourist destinations across the world would no longer be safe for Iran’s enemies. The announcement has sparked renewed concern in international circles.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that Iran may employ asymmetric tactics beyond the Middle East to increase pressure on its adversaries. The situation intensified after Israel reportedly struck Iran’s large South Pars gas field on Wednesday, prompting Tehran to escalate attacks on energy facilities in the Gulf region.

In a related development, two drone strikes hit Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery early Friday, causing a fire at one of the region’s largest refineries, which has a daily capacity of about 730,000 barrels. The incidents underscore rising regional tensions and fears of broader instability.

Iran’s Supreme Religious Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has proposed Iran’s mediation to improve relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In a national address on March 20, 2026, he emphasized that national unity would force adversaries to retreat and highlighted Pakistan’s strategic importance from a regional perspective. Khamenei said Iran was ready to facilitate dialogue between the two neighboring countries to promote stability and cooperation in the region.

He accused Iran’s opponents of trying to damage its relations with neighboring states, particularly Pakistan, and described Pakistan as a vital partner for Iran. Khamenei also identified the United States and Israel as Iran’s external enemies, asserting that the unity of the Iranian people would defeat their ambitions. He praised the Iranian public’s resilience during fasting and struggle, claiming it had already weakened adversaries.

Khamenei concluded that internal unity within Iranian society plays a decisive role in resisting external pressure and will continue to guide Iran’s response to regional and international challenges.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Tehran no longer has the capability to produce missiles. According to a report by Al Jazeera, an IRGC spokesperson stated that Iran is still manufacturing missiles at full capacity and facing no difficulties in storing them.

The spokesperson emphasized that Iran’s missile industry remains strong, describing its performance as “20 out of 20.” He added that despite the ongoing state of war, production continues without interruption. The IRGC representative also declared that the war will continue.

Earlier, during a press conference in Israel, Netanyahu had asserted that Iran’s ballistic missile production capability had been destroyed, claiming that “we are winning, and Iran is collapsing.”

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that if sanctions on Iranian oil are lifted, shipments could begin reaching Asian markets within three to four days. He made the remarks in an interview with Fox Business Network, noting that rapid supply resumption could help stabilize global oil prices.

The statement comes amid volatility in global oil markets driven by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is reportedly considering various policy options to manage the situation. Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that sanctions on Iranian oil stored in tankers at sea might soon be lifted.

Experts cited in the report believe that easing sanctions would allow Iranian oil to flow quickly into global markets, potentially increasing supply and reducing price pressure.

The United States is reportedly considering a plan to seize or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island, a vital hub for the country’s oil exports, according to Axios. The move aims to break Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and compel Tehran to reopen the strategic waterway. Citing at least four sources, the report said Washington views this military pressure as essential to resolving the ongoing conflict with Iran. Nearly 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil is processed and exported through Kharg Island.

The report warned that such an operation could expose US forces to significant risk due to the island’s proximity to Iran. The US military presence in the region has already been increased, with preparations underway for additional troop deployments. Plans reportedly include weeks of airstrikes to weaken Iran’s defenses before any attempt to seize the island, though no final decision has been made.

Military analysts and former US naval officers cautioned that the operation would be highly risky and might not guarantee Iran’s return to negotiations. The rising tension has already unsettled global energy markets, raising concerns about broader economic impacts.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed on Friday that its spokesman, General Ali Mohammad Naini, was killed in a joint missile strike carried out by Israel and the United States. According to Iran’s state-run Tasnim News Agency, the attack took place early in the morning, and the news of Naini’s death was shared through the agency’s Telegram channel.

Before his death, Naini issued a statement asserting that despite repeated attacks by Israel and the United States, Tehran remained capable of producing missiles. He pledged to continue the fight, emphasizing that the Iranian people supported ongoing resistance until their enemies were completely defeated. He added that the conflict should only end once the “dark shadow of war” was fully removed from the country.

The Israeli military also confirmed Naini’s death, stating that he was killed overnight in an airstrike. The incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Iran and its adversaries in the region.

Israeli military officials have reported that nearly 20 Israeli drones were shot down within Iranian airspace amid the continuing conflict between the two countries. According to the officials, the Israeli military described the losses as 'acceptable,' as reported by the Times of Israel. No Israeli fighter jets have been downed so far, though pilots have repeatedly encountered Iranian air defense missiles. In one instance, a fighter jet narrowly avoided being hit, according to military sources.

The report indicates that both sides continue their military operations, with aerial tensions escalating steadily. The situation underscores the intensifying hostilities in the region as air defense systems on both sides remain on high alert.

The source of the report is Al Jazeera, as cited by the publication.

In Iran, preparations for the ancient Nowruz festival continue despite widespread anxiety over possible conflict. Traditionally marking the first day of spring, Nowruz is celebrated with new clothes, sweets, and family gatherings. However, this year the usual festive atmosphere is subdued. Markets remain open, but many residents, especially in Tehran, are hesitant to return to the capital after it suffered heavy damage from recent U.S. and Israeli attacks.

A woman from Damavand, northeast of Tehran, described how the season once meant cleaning homes and buying new clothes and sweets, but now each day feels unusually long and uncertain. The 3,000-year-old festival, meaning “new day,” remains one of the world’s oldest cultural celebrations, symbolizing renewal and hope.

Despite fears of war and instability, many Iranians are maintaining the tradition in limited ways, balancing their cultural heritage with the realities of current tensions.

Iran has announced that it will not play its scheduled FIFA World Cup matches in the United States due to security concerns arising from the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. The 2026 World Cup, set to begin in about three months, is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. According to the fixture, Iran’s three group-stage matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt were to be held in Los Angeles and Seattle. However, the Iranian Football Federation has requested that these matches be moved to Mexico.

Federation president Mehdi Taj clarified that Iran is not boycotting the World Cup but will not set foot on US soil because of safety risks. He cited a statement by Donald Trump suggesting that the US could not guarantee the Iranian team’s security. FIFA President Gianni Infantino rejected Iran’s request, stating that the schedule is final and that FIFA cannot intervene in political disputes but believes football can promote peace.

If Iran ultimately refuses to play in the US, it would mark one of the rarest political standoffs in modern football history since the post–World War II era.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for striking a US F-35 fighter jet in the skies over central Iran. The country’s state news agency IRNA reported that a video of the alleged attack has been released. The incident reportedly occurred amid ongoing hostilities, though the authenticity of the footage and the claim could not be independently verified.

According to the report, if confirmed, this would mark the first known instance of a US F-35 being hit and the first attack by Iran on an American aircraft since the start of the current conflict. The information was cited from Middle East Eye, and no official US response was mentioned in the report.

The development, if validated, could represent a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and the United States, but the lack of independent verification leaves the situation uncertain.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Thursday that Iran no longer has the capacity to enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles following joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel. Speaking at a press conference, he said Iran’s missile and drone stockpiles had been severely weakened and that facilities producing related equipment were being destroyed. Netanyahu added that Israel was also targeting factories involved in nuclear weapons development.

However, Netanyahu did not provide evidence to support his claim that Iran’s uranium enrichment capability had been eliminated. The statement came weeks after Oman’s foreign minister said Iran had agreed not to stockpile enriched uranium during indirect talks with the United States, before the February 28 airstrikes. Iran responded with missile attacks on Israel and other Gulf countries and disrupted oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Netanyahu noted that the conflict has so far remained largely aerial but suggested that ground operations may be necessary, without giving details. He denied accusations that he had drawn the United States into the conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy complex involved only a small portion of Iran’s military capability. In a post on social media platform X, he said Iran exercised restraint out of respect for requests to reduce tensions.

Araghchi indicated that if Iranian infrastructure is attacked again, the country will no longer maintain restraint. He also emphasized that any effort to end the ongoing conflict must include addressing the damage caused to Iran’s civilian facilities.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Gulf countries, with Iran signaling readiness to respond more forcefully if provoked further.