Israel US Iran War Live Updates: US Identifies 7th Troop Killed In War, Tanker With Saudi Oil Passes Hormuz

The White House said Donald Trump will hold a news conference focused on Iran, where he is expected to provide updates on the ongoing conflict and respond to questions from reporters.

The briefing is scheduled to begin at around 5:30 pm EDT, after US financial markets close. The event comes as concerns grow over rising oil and gasoline prices linked to the war in the Middle East.

A Greek-operated oil tanker has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, ship-tracking data showed, indicating commercial vessels are still using the key route despite the US-Israel war with Iran.

The Shenlong Suezmax, carrying about 1 million barrels of Saudi crude from Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia, is headed to Mumbai, according to maritime data platforms Kpler, Lloyd’s List Intelligence and MarineTraffic.

The death toll from Israeli strikes in Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 486, with 1,313 people injured, the Health Ministry said Monday.

The casualties were reported as Israel continued airstrikes across several areas. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it fired rockets toward Israel for the first time since the Nov 27, 2024, ceasefire, prompting the Lebanese government to ban its security and military activities.

US authorities have intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran that may serve as an “operational trigger” for sleeper cells abroad, according to a federal alert sent to law enforcement agencies.

The warning said intelligence detected a broadcast station repeatedly transmitting messages to several countries outside Iran. According to ABC News, officials said the transmissions have raised security concerns. The memo added that the exact content of the messages remains unknown, but the signals are “likely of Iranian origin.”

Vladimir Putin said Russia will continue supplying energy resources to nations it considers “reliable partners.” The Russian president noted that changing oil delivery logistics would take considerable time and require major investment. He also emphasised that Russian companies should make the most of the current situation while adapting to shifting global energy routes.

The Security chief Ali Larijani on Monday said that it is unlikely any security will be achieved mid war, in response to French President Emmanuel Macron's comments that France and its allies were preparing a "defensive" mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The Foreign Minister of Russia and his UAE counterpart on Monday called for an end of all attacks on Iran and Gulf states.  "Attention focused on the necessity of stopping attacks that lead to casualties among the civilian population and cause damage to civilian infrastructure both in the Arab countries of the ... Gulf and in Iran," the ministry said of Lavrov's telephone conversation with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.

NATO on Monday confimed intercepting missile 'heading' towards Turkey. The alliance said it was second such incident. 

"NATO has again intercepted a missile heading to Türkiye," NATO spokesperson Allison Hart posted on X, using the country's official name. "NATO stands firm in its readiness to defend all Allies against any threat," she added.

After Iran announced the son of slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the successor, thousands of people gathered at Tehran Square to express support for the new Supreme Leader of Iran. 

Lebanon’s parliament has postponed legislative elections, initially due to be held in May, by two years, according to a statement from the parliament speaker, due to the war between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Israel said on Monday that an Iranian missile attack killed a man, raising the country's death toll in the war to 11. This marked the first death from missiles in Israel in a week. The man was killed in an attack that targeted central Israel.

Bahrain's state oil company declared force majeure on Monday for its shipments after an Iranian attack set its refinery ablaze. The state-run Bahrain News Agency carried the announcement of the force majeure, a legal manoeuvre that releases a company from its contractual obligations because of extraordinary circumstances.
It said the company's operations "have been affected by the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and the recent attack on its refinery complex."

A summit between US President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping this month is unlikely to create room for even a limited reset of business and investment ties, five people briefed on preparations told news agency Reuters. American business leaders at this stage have not secured the CEO delegation some had sought. On the other side, there is no indication ‌Beijing is on track for the investment protections it has sought on behalf of Chinese companies.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has extended his support to the country's new leadership, following the official appointment of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

The Foreign Minister expressed his sentiments in a post on X, formally welcoming the transition which took place during a significant period in the Islamic calendar. In his post, Araghchi stated, "Congratulations on the worthy selection of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, coinciding with the first blessed night of Qadr."

A barrage of drones was fired toward Saudi Arabia early Monday, hours after an attack killed two Bangladeshi nationals in the kingdom. The Saudi Defence Ministry said it intercepted drones in the northern Jawf region, as well as the vast Shaybah oil field. Late Sunday, an attack in the central city of Kharj killed two Bangladeshi nationals and wounded 12 others. All but one were from Bangladesh. Later, local media report of Israel reported about missiles blasts in Tel Aviv. At least ten blasts were reported in Tel Aviv. As of writing this update, at least one person was killed in the explosion.

Iran launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf countries Monday, hours after Iranian state TV said Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the country's late supreme leader and long considered a contender, had been named his successor. Iran's powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard answers to the supreme leader, and the younger Khamenei will have a central say in the war strategy.

Saudi Arabia sharpened its warnings to Iran, telling Tehran Monday it would be the "biggest loser" if it continues to attack Arab states. The Saudi statement came after a new drone attack apparently targeted its massive Shaybah oil field.

“The interest of Indians is the top priority. Our national interests will always be paramount," EAM S Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha.

Oil prices spiked near $120 per barrel before falling back slightly on Monday as the Iran war intensified, threatening production and shipping in the Middle East and pummelling financial markets. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, surged to $119.50 per barrel but later was trading at $112.98.

West Texas Intermediate, the light, sweet crude oil produced in the United States, spiked at $119.48 per barrel but fell back to $110.17. The war's toll on civilian targets grew as Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant vital to drinking water supplies, and oil depots in Tehran smoldered following overnight Israeli strikes.
Oil prices have surged as the war, now in its second week, ensnares countries and places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf.

Chants were heard in Iran after Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Iran's supreme leader. In a 17-second video clip circulated on social media, women were heard shouting, "Death to Mojtaba," in Persian. The video was filmed from a building window. Religious chants were also heard from a distance. The slogans reflected a brewing public anger amid the transfer of dynastic power.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has held high-level discussions with United States President Donald Trump, covering a broad spectrum of bilateral and international concerns. In a post on X, the Canadian leader detailed the nature of the conversation, stating: "I spoke with President Trump this afternoon on a range of issues, including the economy, developments in the Middle East, and trade relations between our two countries -- and we agreed to stay in close contact."

Thick smoke was seen rising from the direction of the Bapco oil refinery in Bahrain on Monday, a witness told news agency Reuters. Smoke surrounded the refinery after the government earlier said injuries and damage were sustained in the Sitra area as a result of an Iranian drone attack, the witness added. Bapco is Bahrain's main oil refinery and a key facility in the country's energy sector.

Indian carriers have planned 50 inbound flights from airports in the Iran war-affected West Asia region on Monday, subject to operational feasibility and prevailing conditions, according to the government. Air India, Air India Express, Indigo, Spicejet and Akasa are set to operate flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat and Jeddah.

Shares of Indian refiners slumped on Monday, as the widening US-Israeli war with Iran propelled Brent crude prices toward $120 per barrel - a near four-year high- threatening their near-term earnings. State-run Indian Oil dipped 6.6%, Hindustan Petroleum slid 7.5 per cent and Bharat Petroleum dropped 7.1%, and were headed for their steepest falls in more than a year.

An Iranian drone attack targeting the Gulf nation’s island of Sitra has wounded over 32 civilians, Bahrain’s health ministry said. The attack came at a time when the Trump administration asked the US' non-emergency staff to leave Saudi Arabia as Iran continues to target US embassies.

Amid surging global oil prices triggered by escalating conflict in West Asia, Trump said the "short-term" spike is worth the cost if it eliminates Tehran's nuclear threat. In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that oil prices would "drop rapidly" once Iran's nuclear capabilities are destroyed, adding that "only fools would think differently."

Calling it a small price to pay for American and world safety and peace, Trump wrote, "Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!"

US President Donald Trump has declined to offer a formal assessment of Mojtaba Khamenei's elevation as Iran's new Supreme Leader, sufficing with the brief remark, "We'll see what happens." The 56-year-old was designated to the country's highest office by the 88-member Assembly of Experts. The clerical body confirmed he was "appointed and introduced as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the decisive vote of the respected representatives of the Assembly of Experts".

This transition occurs amidst significant regional volatility, following a military campaign that resulted in the death of the former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a conversation with The Times of Israel, Trump declined to provide an extensive critique of the selection, despite his previous public assertions that the younger Khamenei was a "lightweight" and an "unacceptable" candidate.

Before the official announcement, Trump had expressed a desire for a role in the succession process. Speaking to ABC News, he suggested that the longevity of any new Iranian leader depended on American recognition, stating: "If he doesn't get approval from us, he's not going to last long."

Iran's soccer team lost its last group match at the Women's Asian Cup and had to contemplate returning home to a country embroiled in war. The Iranian women's squad arrived in Australia for the continental championship last month, before the war that began with the US and Israel February 28 strikes on Iran. Teams ousted during the group stage usually leave within days but organizers have not announced details for the departure of the Iran delegation.
Australia's national news agency quoted Iran's head coach Marziyeh Jafari saying the squad "want to come back to Iran as soon as we can."

"I want to be with my country and home ... We are eager to come back," AAP quoted Jafari as telling a post-match news conference.

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(CREDIT: REUTERS)

(CREDIT: REUTERS)

The Department of State ordered non-emergency US government employees and US government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks. This amends the prior on March 3, Department of State authorization for non-emergency US government employees and US government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks.

The United States has said it will ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz and maintain the free flow of global energy supplies as the conflict with Iran escalates, while warning that Tehran is miscalculating American military resolve.In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said American forces were already degrading Iran's naval capabilities and were prepared to take further action to safeguard critical shipping routes.

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters urged Muslim states in the region to prevent US and Israeli attacks on Iranian fuel and energy facilities, warning that Tehran would respond with similar actions if strikes continue. Spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari made the remarks after several fuel storage facilities in Tehran and neighboring Alborz province were hit in US and Israeli strikes on Saturday night, causing temporary fuel supply disruptions and raising health and environmental concerns, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Iranian Students' News Agency.

Another American service member has died from injuries sustained in attacks linked to the expanding conflict with Iran, the US military said, bringing the number of US troops killed in the war to seven. US Central Command said the service member had been "seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on US troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1" and later died from those injuries. The identity of the soldier is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The expanding war has severely impacted the oil trade and surging prices sparked a fall in share futures in Asia on Monday, amid fears of rising living costs.The dollar rose sharply against the euro and the yen. US crude futures rose more than 20 per cent in early trade on Monday, hitting their highest since July 2022, amid fears of tighter supply and prolonged disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent jumped 17 per cent to USD 108.73 a barrel, having already soared 28 per cent last week. 

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son Mojtaba was chosen by Iran's Assembly of Experts to succeed his late father as supreme leader, in a sign that hardliners were still firmly in charge.The clerical body named the 56-year-old mid-ranking cleric, who has survived the US-Israeli air war on Iran, as successor more than a week after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an air strike, Iranian media reported.