Iran chief requires Hormuz closure as oil value spikes

[ad_1] Skip next section Australia orders non-essential officials to leave UAE, Israel 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 Australia orders non-essential officers to depart UAE, Israel

Australia has ordered all non-essential officers in Israel and the United Arab Emirates to depart as a result of deteriorating safety scenario:

"Important Australian officers will stay in-country to assist Australians who want it," International Minister Penny Wong stated in a put up on X late on Thursday.

Australia continued to advise its residents in opposition to journey to Israel and the UAE, she stated in an X thread.

"We urge you to depart the Center East if you happen to can and if it is protected to take action. Do not wait till it is too late. It could be the final probability for a while," Wong stated.

There are about 115,000 Australian nationals within the Center East, with round 24,000 within the UAE, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated earlier this week.

Greater than 2,600 of those had returned house as of Tuesday.

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Skip next section US loses KC-135 refueling aircraft over Iraq 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 US loses KC-135 refueling plane over Iraq

US Central Command stated it's "conscious of the lack of a US KC-135 refueling plane" over Iraq .

"The incident occurred in pleasant airspace throughout Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing," the assertion from CENTCOM stated. "Two plane had been concerned within the incident. One of many plane went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely."

"This was not on account of hostile hearth or pleasant hearth," the assertion added.

It is unclear whether or not there are any casualties from the incident.

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Skip next section Iran UN envoy: 'We are not going to close the Strait of Hormuz' 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 Iran UN envoy: 'We're not going to shut the Strait of Hormuz'

Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani instructed journalists on the UN in New York that "we aren't going to shut the Strait of Hormuz."

"However it's our inherent proper to protect the peace and safety in its waterway," Iravani stated.

He stated the "present scenario within the area, together with within the Strait of Hormuz, will not be the results of Iran's lawful train of its proper of self-defense."

"Relatively it's the direct consequence of the destabilizing actions of america in launching aggression in opposition to Iran and undermining regional safety," Iravani stated.

Iran warfare: Who advantages from the oil value shock? To view this video please allow JavaScript, and contemplate upgrading to an online browser that supports HTML5 video

Main economies equivalent to China , Japan , South Korea and others are reliant on oil and liquid pure fuel (LNG) tankers transferring via the Strait of Hormuz. Some 20% of the world's oil provide passes via the strait.

Iranian International Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated earlier that ships should coordinate with the Iranian navy with the intention to go via the strait. It comes as a number of ships have been attacked within the Gulf area.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent instructed UK broadcaster Sky Information that he believes "as quickly as it's militarily attainable, the US Navy, maybe with a world coalition, will likely be escorting vessels via."

Bessent stated the technique to escort the ships would happen as quickly because the US has "full management of the skies... (Iran's) rebuilding capabilities for the missiles fully degraded."

A US navy official, nonetheless, has stated the US will not be able to guard ships as they undergo the Strait of Hormuz.

Transport in limbo as Strait of Hormuz disaster deepens To view this video please allow JavaScript, and contemplate upgrading to an online browser that supports HTML5 video

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Skip next section Trump: Situation with Iran 'moving along very rapidly' 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 Trump: State of affairs with Iran 'transferring alongside very quickly'

US President Donald Trump, throughout a Girls's Historical past Month occasion on the White Home with first girl Melania Trump, sounded optimistic when discussing the warfare with Iran.

"The scenario with Iran is transferring alongside very quickly. It is doing very effectively, our navy is unsurpassed," Trump stated.

"They are surely a nation of terror and hate, and so they're paying a giant value proper now," the president stated.

Trump's optimism comes as Iranian officers have vowed to not give up within the warfare launched by the US and Israel.

Safety fears surrounding the security of ships within the Strait of Hormuz have precipitated oil costs to spike, sparking a worldwide power disaster and rising gasoline costs for customers. Iran additionally continues to wage counterattacks on US pursuits, Israel and the Arab Gulf states because the warfare continues, which means some Iranian navy capabilities nonetheless stay intact.

Trump sends conflicting messages on Iran warfare To view this video please allow JavaScript, and contemplate upgrading to an online browser that supports HTML5 video

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Skip next section WATCH: Israeli settler attacks on West Bank Palestinians increase 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 WATCH: Israeli settler assaults on West Financial institution Palestinians enhance Palestinians fear that the worldwide concentrate on Iran will enable Israeli settlers to accentuate their assaults within the occupied West Financial institution. Within the village of Qaryut, DW met a mom whose two sons had been killed.

Israeli settler assaults on West Financial institution Palestinians enhance To view this video please allow JavaScript, and contemplate upgrading to an online browser that supports HTML5 video

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Skip next section Netanyahu: 'We are crushing Iran and Hezbollah' 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 Netanyahu: 'We're crushing Iran and Hezbollah'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , in his first press convention for the reason that starting of the warfare, stated "we're crushing Iran and Hezbollah ."

Netanyahu stated Iran is "not the identical" after the almost two weeks of the US-Israeli navy operation. He stated there have been crushing blows to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. and the Basij paramilitary.

He stated Israeli assaults have killed high Iranian nuclear scientists. Netanyahu additionally stated he speaks with US President Donald Trump day by day and brazenly because the warfare continues.

Netanyahu stated the warfare is meant to assist Iranians "convey down the regime," in a reference to Iran's Shia Islamist ruling authorities.

"However on the finish of the day, it will depend on you. It's in your palms," Netanyahu stated in a message pointed on the Iranian folks.

Netanyahu suggeted that new Iranian Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem could possibly be the following targets.

"I would not subject life insurance coverage insurance policies on any of the leaders of the terrorist group... I do not give a precise message right here about what we're planning or what we're going to do," Netanyahu stated.

Israel threatens to 'take territory' in Lebanon To view this video please allow JavaScript, and contemplate upgrading to an online browser that supports HTML5 video

Netanyahu known as on the Lebanese authorities to disarm Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite paramilitary and political group which Israel considers a terrorist group.

"I instructed the Lebanese authorities a couple of days in the past: you might be taking part in with hearth if you happen to proceed permitting Hezbollah to function, in violation of your dedication to disarm it," Netanyahu stated. "The time has come for you to take action. Now if you don't achieve this, it's clear that we'll achieve this."

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Skip next section WATCH: UN says Iran war raises 'serious environmental concerns' 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 WATCH: UN says Iran warfare raises 'severe environmental considerations'

The warfare within the Center East is proving devastating for the surroundings. The UN warns the assaults danger extreme environmental injury, from air and water contamination to main oil spills.

UN: Iran warfare raises 'severe environmental considerations' To view this video please allow JavaScript, and contemplate upgrading to an online browser that supports HTML5 video

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Skip next section Israeli military launches new wave of attacks in Tehran 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 Israeli navy launches new wave of assaults in Tehran

The Israeli navy stated it has launched a brand new wave of assaults on targets within the Iranian capital, Tehran.

"The IDF has simply begun a wide-scale wave of strikes focusing on infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime throughout Tehran," the navy stated, referring to the Israel Protection Forces.

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Skip next section Modi speaks with Iran's President Pezeshkian 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 Modi speaks with Iran's President Pezeshkian

Because the warfare continues, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian by cellphone.

Modi expressed "deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the lack of civilian lives in addition to injury to civilian infrastructure" within the name with Pezeshkian.

"The security and safety of Indian nationals, together with the necessity for unhindered transit of products and power, stay India's high priorities," the assertion from Modi added. "Reiterated India's dedication to peace and stability and urged for dialogue and diplomacy."

India is closely depending on the Strait of Hormuz for its power wants, and media reviews from Reuters and different retailers recommend that Iran could enable Indian-flagged tankers to transit the strait.

Though India and Iran nonetheless have cordial dialogue, the connection between the 2 international locations is sophisticated.

Iran has beforehand criticized the Modi authorities's choice in 2019 to revoke Muslim-majority Kashmir's autonomy. India , meanwhiie, has shut ties with Israel, with Modi praising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu final month on a visit to Jerusalem simply days earlier than the US-Israeli operation started.

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Skip next section Israel targets Basij paramilitary force in Tehran 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 Israel targets Basij paramilitary power in Tehran

The Israeli navy stated it has attacked checkpoints utilized by the Iranian Basij paramilitary power in Tehran.

"Over the previous day, the Israeli Air Pressure, appearing on (navy) intelligence, has focused the Basij roadblocks and operatives," the Israeli military stated.

<img data-format="MASTER_LANDSCAPE" data-id="76338270" data-url="https://static.dw.com/image/76338270_${formatId}.jpg" data-aspect-ratio="16/9" alt=" A Basiji man wearing a face-mask carries a mockup of a missile during a parade of an alleged 110,000 paramilitary Basij and IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) forces in downtown Tehran, Iran, on January 10, 2025" style="padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; max-height: 0;"/> The Basij function a instrument of the regime to crackdown on the opposition, with the paramilitary group accused of human rights violations (FILE: January 10, 2025) Picture: Hossein Beris/Center East Photographs/AFP/Getty Photographs

The Basij are part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. which is staffed by volunteers who vehemently again the regime. The Basij have operated checkpoints to observe the civilian inhabitants so they do not arrange an anti-government rebellion.

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Skip next section Top Iran security official to Trump: War 'cannot be won with a few tweets' 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 High Iran safety official to Trump: Battle 'can't be gained with a couple of tweets'

Larijani is the secretary of Iran's Supreme Nationwide Safety Council and a retired navy officer (FILE: September 27, 2025) Picture: Courtney Bonneau/SIPA/image alliance High Iranian safety chief Ali Larijani stated Iran won't give up to the US.

"Trump says he's searching for a speedy victory. Whereas beginning a warfare is simple, it can't be gained with a couple of tweets," Larijani posted on X. "We won't relent till making you sorry for this grave miscalculation."

Larijani comes from a outstanding household with ties to the regime and is seen as a pragmatist who has been concerned with worldwide negotiations. He has railed in opposition to the US and Israel for beginning its ongoing navy operation in opposition to the Iranian regime.

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Skip next section Totalenergies says 15% of output shutdown 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 Totalenergies says 15% of output shutdown

French power agency Totalenergies stated 15% of its complete fuel and oil output has been shutdown amid the US-Israel warfare with Iran.

"Manufacturing has been shut down or is within the means of shutting down in Qatar , Iraq and UAE , representing roughly 15% of our complete output," the corporate stated. This output consists of about 10% of Totalenergies upstream money circulate.

Nonetheless, the French firm stated the rise in oil costs has offset the losses in output incurred on account of the warfare.

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Skip next section Lufthansa postpones resumption of flights to Dubai 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 Lufthansa postpones resumption of flights to Dubai

Gerrnany's flag provider, Lufthansa, has postponed its resumption of flights to Dubai till at the least March 28.

Lufthansa had initially suspended flights to and from Dubai till March 15.

Dubai, a serious monetary hub and trip spot within the Center East, has been focused by Iranian missiles and drones in retaliation for the US-Israeli military operation in opposition to Iran.

The US and Israel-friendly UAE has been closely focused by Iranian missile and drones for the reason that starting of the warfare final month Picture: Fatima Shbair/AP Picture/image alliance

Dubai lies within the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE is house to a middle used for US air fight, making it a goal for Iran. As well as, the UAE has normalized its ties with Israel in August 2020 as a part of the Abraham Accords, making it one of the Israel-friendly international locations within the Gulf area.

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Skip next section US CENTCOM says 6,000 targets hit in Iran 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 US CENTCOM says 6,000 targets hit in Iran

US Central Command, also called CENTCOM, stated 6,000 targets have been struck by the US navy for the reason that begin of the Iran warfare, which the Pentagon calls "Operation Epic Fury."

CENTCOM stated 90 Iranian vessels had been broken or destroyed within the operation, together with greater than 60 ships and over 30 minelayers.

The US navy has used bombers, fighter jets, assault plane and destroyers, amongst different capabilities, in its assaults.

CENTCOM stated it has focused Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters buildings and intelliigence websites, protection programs and missile amenities, together with different websites.

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Skip next section Israel launches new Beirut strikes 03/12/2026 March 12, 2026 Israel launches new Beirut strikes

Israeli airstrikes hit a constructing within the coronary heart of Beirut Picture: Claudia Greco/REUTERS The Israeli navy on Thursday night stated it had begun a "wave of strikes focusing on Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure throughout Beirut."

Footage from Reuters and AFP information companies confirmed a big explosion within the heart of the Lebanese capital. AFP reported missiles hitting a constructing within the central neighborhood of Bashoura. The Israeli navy had issued a warning beforehand that it might be focusing on a constructing there.

Israel launched an air and floor offensive final week in opposition to Hezbollah, which launched assaults at Israel on March 2 that it stated aimed to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme chief Picture: Mohamed Azakir/REUTERS

Israel has carried out several strikes on Beirut focusing on Tehran-backed Hezbollah for the reason that warfare with Iran was launched almost two weeks in the past.

Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli navy known as on residents in a big swathe south of the Zahrani river of southern Lebanon to evacuate, warning of upcoming navy operations.

Hezbollah has fired rockets and drones at Israel for the reason that warfare with Iran was launched on February 28. Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz stated in a current assertion that if the Lebanese authorities can't stop Hezbollah assaults, Israel "will take the territory and do it ourselves."

Based on Lebanese authorities figures, greater than 600 folks have been killed and over 800,000 displaced in Lebanon for the reason that newest escalation started.