Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran would target US company facilities in the Middle East if its oil infrastructure came under attack. Speaking on Saturday, he told UCJ News Agency that Iranian forces would respond by striking American installations in the region should Iranian sites be hit.

Araghchi urged Iranian forces to act with caution, emphasizing that densely populated areas must not become targets of retaliatory operations. He also commented on the Strait of Hormuz, saying that despite it remaining open, Iran would not allow oil tankers or ships belonging to either enemies or allies to pass through.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect heightened regional tensions and Iran’s warning of potential escalation if its energy assets are threatened.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on branches of US banks in several Gulf countries, describing them as retaliation for earlier American strikes on two Iranian banks. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera, citing Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

IRGC spokesperson Sardar Naeini said the US bank branches were targeted in direct response to those previous attacks. He warned that if the United States carries out similar operations again, all American bank branches in the region would become legitimate targets for Iran. The incidents included two consecutive attacks in Dubai’s International Financial Centre area, prompting major US financial institutions such as Citigroup and Standard Chartered to evacuate offices and shift employees to remote work.

In a related move, HSBC closed its branch in Qatar and implemented remote work policies for its regional staff following the attacks.

Exiled Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi has declared his readiness to assume leadership if the Islamic Republic of Iran collapses. In a message shared on social media, he said preparations are underway to establish a transitional system that would govern the country during an interim period. According to Pahlavi, this system would immediately take charge to restore law, order, security, and freedom once the current regime falls.

Pahlavi stated that he has already begun forming the transitional structure with individuals from both inside and outside Iran. He said capable figures have been identified and evaluated to manage different parts of the interim administration. Saeed Ghasseminejad, an adviser on Iran and financial economics at the U.S.-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, is reportedly leading the selection process for council members.

Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last Shah, has become a prominent figure among opposition movements abroad. His visibility increased after protests earlier this year, during which some demonstrators called for the restoration of the monarchy.

A large-scale conflict has erupted across the Middle East following a joint US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28, 2026. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting American bases in the region. According to Al Jazeera, the ensuing clashes have caused hundreds of deaths across multiple countries, affecting both military and civilian populations.

The conflict has quickly spread as Iran’s regional allies became involved, intensifying violence in several Middle Eastern nations. The situation has grown increasingly complex, with rising casualties and expanding fronts of confrontation. The report indicates that the fighting has not been confined to Iran but has drawn in neighboring territories as well.

Instability has also emerged in key energy transport routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about disruptions in global energy markets. The ongoing hostilities have heightened regional tensions and created uncertainty over the next phase of the crisis.

Iran’s Unified Combatant Command has warned that any attack on its oil and energy infrastructure will trigger immediate retaliation against US-linked oil companies in the Middle East. The statement came after an assault on Kharg Island, a key terminal responsible for about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.

The Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters said in a statement that if Iranian energy facilities are targeted, US-affiliated oil and energy infrastructure will be destroyed and reduced to ashes. The warning followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that American forces had destroyed military targets on Kharg Island, though he clarified that oil infrastructure was not targeted.

Trump also cautioned that if Iran or any other party disrupts free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, he would reconsider that restraint. The development marks a sharp escalation in tensions following earlier US reluctance to strike Iranian energy sites and comes amid ongoing regional conflict involving Israel and Iran.

Iran has launched extensive attacks on US military bases located in three Middle Eastern countries, according to a report by Al Jazeera on Saturday, March 14, 2026. The Iranian Navy claimed responsibility for multiple strikes targeting US installations in the region. Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, stated that the attacks were directed at the Al-Dhafra base in the United Arab Emirates, the Al-Adiri base in Kuwait, and the Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain. The strikes reportedly targeted US Patriot radar systems, military aircraft, and fuel storage tanks.

The escalation follows a US attack on an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean that killed 104 naval personnel. Iranian Army Chief Amir Hatami condemned the incident, vowing retaliation. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the IRIS Dena destroyer was returning from a military exercise when it was struck. Hatami described the crew’s deaths as a symbol of courage and duty, pledging to strengthen Iran’s naval capabilities to defend its maritime borders.

The developments mark a sharp rise in regional tensions, with both sides signaling readiness for further military action.

Iran has allowed a limited number of Indian ships to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing regional conflict. The announcement was made by Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, during a conclave organized by India Today in New Delhi. He did not specify how many ships received permission.

Due to current hostilities, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been largely suspended. Iran imposed extensive restrictions on navigation in the key waterway amid heightened tensions with the United States and Israel. The decision to permit certain Indian vessels safe passage is being viewed as an unusual exception under the circumstances.

The development comes as regional tensions remain high, with reports of threats to U.S. oil facilities and military actions across several Middle Eastern countries.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed responsibility for what it described as a large-scale precision strike on Iran’s Kharg Island. According to a brief statement posted on social media platform X, the operation destroyed more than 90 Iranian military targets, including naval mine storage facilities and missile bunkers. CENTCOM stated that the island’s oil infrastructure was deliberately left intact during the attack.

An Iranian official earlier said that oil exports from Kharg Island were continuing normally and that operations of oil companies had not been disrupted. Kharg Island serves as Iran’s main oil export hub, handling the majority of the country’s crude shipments to international markets.

The report did not specify the timing or duration of the strike, and no details were provided about casualties or potential retaliatory actions.

An Iranian official stated that oil exports from Kharg Island are continuing normally, with oil company operations on the island proceeding without disruption. The statement was reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA and the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, according to Al Jazeera.

The announcement came after the United States claimed to have carried out airstrikes on military installations on Kharg Island. Washington also warned that if Iran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz, key oil facilities on the island could become targets. Kharg Island is a vital hub for Iran’s oil exports, accounting for more than 90 percent of the country’s total crude shipments.

The situation underscores the island’s strategic importance and the potential risks to global oil supply if tensions in the region escalate further.

Iran has claimed responsibility for attacks on US military bases located in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, according to a report by Al Jazeera citing Iranian media. The announcement came on the fifteenth day of ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, stated that Iranian naval forces carried out several consecutive strikes on three US bases in the region.

Tangsiri said the targeted sites included Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Isa Base in Bahrain. He claimed that the attacks specifically hit Patriot radar systems, aircraft, and aviation fuel storage tanks. However, details about the extent of damage or any official response from the United States were not immediately available.

The situation reflects escalating tensions in the Gulf region, with Iran continuing to retaliate against US and Israeli actions while regional security remains uncertain.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared United States military positions in the United Arab Emirates as legitimate targets following a US attack on Iran’s Kharg Island, according to Al Jazeera. In a statement published by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the IRGC said it reserves the right to defend the country’s sovereignty and territory by targeting the sources of American missile attacks.

The statement added that ports, docks, and shelters for US troops located in several UAE cities could be considered lawful defensive targets. The IRGC also urged UAE residents to stay away from ports, jetties, and areas near US military facilities to avoid potential harm.

Analysts cited in the report said tensions between Iran and the United States have sharply escalated after the Kharg Island strike, raising fears of a broader conflict across the Middle East.

Iran is reportedly considering a new condition for oil tankers passing through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. According to a CNN report citing a senior Iranian official, Tehran may allow a limited number of tankers to transit the waterway only if the oil cargo or transactions are conducted in Chinese yuan. The move is part of a broader plan Iran is developing to manage tanker traffic in the strait.

The official indicated that while the global oil market remains dominated by the US dollar, Iran is signaling its intent to challenge that dominance. This approach aligns with recent trends where Russia, under Western sanctions, has increasingly sold oil in rubles or yuan. By following a similar path, Iran aims to support Beijing’s efforts to expand the international role of the Chinese currency in global energy trade.

If implemented, the policy could further shift parts of the global oil trade away from dollar dependence, reinforcing China’s influence in energy markets.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has called on Iran to refrain from targeting neighboring countries in its response to recent attacks. In a statement issued on Saturday, Hamas acknowledged Iran’s right to respond to aggression by Israel and the United States under international law but urged Tehran to avoid actions that could harm regional neighbors.

Earlier, on February 28, Hamas had condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing it as a brutal crime. The group also noted Khamenei’s longstanding political, diplomatic, and military support for the Palestinian cause and its fighters.

The appeal reflects Hamas’s attempt to balance solidarity with Iran while discouraging escalation that could draw other regional states into the conflict.

At least 112 people have been killed in US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s Kurdistan province, according to the provincial emergency department chief cited by Tasnim news agency. The report added that around 969 people were injured, with 27 receiving treatment in general wards and five in intensive care units.

Since the war began on February 28, nearly 1,450 people have been killed in Iran due to US and Israeli strikes. In southern Lebanon, an Israeli attack on a health center killed 12 doctors, bringing the total death toll there to 773, including 103 children. The figures reflect the escalating toll of the conflict across multiple fronts in the region.

The report did not specify the immediate response from Iranian authorities or the broader international community, but the rising casualties indicate a worsening humanitarian situation in both Iran and Lebanon.

Iran’s armed forces chief Amir Hatami has warned that the country will deliver an appropriate response to a deadly attack on its warship in the Indian Ocean. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the vessel was returning from a military exercise when it was struck, killing all 104 crew members on board.

Hatami stated that the ship’s crew had completed a peaceful mission and were attacked despite not being engaged in any direct conflict. He emphasized that the ship, named Denar, and its crew would be remembered as symbols of courage and dedication in Iran’s naval history.

He further pledged that Iran’s military would continue to defend the nation’s maritime borders and strengthen its naval forces with greater determination following the incident.