Iran has completely stopped exporting gas to Iraq following an Israeli attack on the South Pars gas field, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity announced. The ministry confirmed that gas imports from Iran, which supply more than one-third of Iraq’s gas and electricity needs, have been suspended since the incident.

According to reports, Israel launched an early morning strike on Wednesday targeting the South Pars gas field, the world’s largest natural gas reserve shared by Iran and Qatar. Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that a petrochemical complex at the site caught fire after the attack. The South Pars field is jointly operated by both Iran and Qatar, each managing its own gas facilities within the field.

The disruption in gas supply could significantly affect Iraq’s electricity generation, as the country relies heavily on Iranian gas imports to meet domestic energy demand.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that those responsible for the killing of national security chief Ali Larijani will pay a heavy price. In a statement released Wednesday through Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, Khamenei described Larijani as an intelligent and committed figure and a prominent personality within the country’s political structure.

Khamenei said the assassination of such a figure demonstrates both Larijani’s importance and the hatred he inspired among the enemies of Islam. He declared that every drop of blood shed will be avenged, and that the killers of these martyrs will soon face consequences.

According to the report, Larijani and his son were killed Monday night in Tehran in an Israeli attack. In a separate strike the same day, Gholamreza Soleiman, head of Iran’s paramilitary Basij force, was also killed. The statement underscores rising tensions following the attacks.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that the United States has not observed any effort by Iran to rebuild its nuclear enrichment capacity following the attack in June last year. Her remarks were made during a briefing to lawmakers on recent intelligence assessments.

Gabbard stated that Iran and its allied forces remain capable of launching attacks against US and allied interests in the Middle East. She added that if Iran’s leadership survives the ongoing conflict, it may begin a year-long effort to rebuild its missile and drone programs. The information was reported by Al Jazeera.

The statement underscores Washington’s continued monitoring of Iran’s military and nuclear activities amid regional tensions, though no immediate reconstruction of enrichment facilities has been detected.

Iran’s military has announced plans for a decisive response following an attack on parts of the country’s energy and power infrastructure in the south. The statement, released through Tasnim, a news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that the assault targeted sections of Iran’s energy facilities.

According to the military statement, Iran had previously warned that any attack by what it called American-Zionist enemies on its energy, gas, or economic infrastructure would trigger a powerful counterattack. The statement emphasized that Iran now considers the energy and gas infrastructure of the aggressor nations as legitimate targets for retaliation.

The declaration signals Tehran’s intent to respond forcefully to the latest strike, framing it as part of a broader confrontation over regional energy and security interests.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed the death of the country’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib. In a post on social media platform X, Pezeshkian expressed grief over what he described as the cowardly killing of Khatib, senior security official Ali Larijani, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and several of their family members and associates.

The deaths of Larijani and Nasirzadeh had been confirmed earlier by Iranian authorities. Prior to Pezeshkian’s statement, Israel had claimed responsibility for killing Khatib during an overnight operation. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel, following a series of targeted attacks on Iranian officials.

The confirmation from the Iranian president underscores the gravity of the situation and may lead to further political and security repercussions within the region, though no immediate response from Tehran was detailed in the report.

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.

Global oil prices rose sharply after Iranian media reported an attack on a facility at one of the world’s largest natural gas fields. On Wednesday, Brent crude oil climbed to $108.60 per barrel, marking a five percent increase compared to Tuesday’s level. The report also noted that gas prices in the United Kingdom rose by nearly six percent following the news.

The incident has drawn renewed attention to energy market volatility linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Iranian report did not specify the extent of the damage or identify the perpetrators of the attack. The price surge reflects market sensitivity to potential disruptions in global energy supply.

The situation underscores ongoing instability in the region’s energy infrastructure, which continues to influence global oil and gas markets amid heightened uncertainty.

Iranian authorities announced the arrest of more than one hundred individuals accused of acting in the interests of the United States and Israel, labeling them as “traitors.” The Ministry of Intelligence stated that 111 pro-monarchy cells operating across 26 of Iran’s 31 provinces were dismantled overnight. These groups were alleged to support the US-backed regime that was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The ministry also reported the seizure of weapons and urged citizens to report suspicious activities.

According to the statement, 21 people were detained for allegedly sending videos to foreign-based “terrorist” media outlets during a nationwide internet shutdown that has lasted three weeks. Authorities further claimed to have confiscated 350 Starlink satellite internet terminals being smuggled into the country. State news agency Fars reported that some detainees in Karaj, near Tehran, had burned and desecrated images of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reported killed at the start of the current conflict on February 28.

The announcement comes amid ongoing hostilities involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, with Tehran asserting that its adversaries are facing defeat.

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.

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’s Intelligence Ministry announced that 111 individuals allegedly connected to the country’s former monarchy were arrested during a nationwide security operation. The ministry said the raids, conducted across 26 provinces, led to the seizure of a significant cache of weapons. The arrests were reported by state news agency Tasnim and cited by Al Jazeera.

According to the ministry, several cells belonging to an opposition monarchist group were dismantled during the operation. In addition, four alleged spies linked to the United States were detained in Hamadan and West Azerbaijan provinces. Authorities accused them of providing information about security headquarters, equipment, and troop deployments to hostile entities.

The report did not specify when the operation began or provide details about the detainees’ identities or legal proceedings, leaving aspects of the case unclear.

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.