US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday warned that today will be the day of “most intense” strikes on Iran even as President Donald Trump signalled that Washington believes the most dangerous phase of its military campaign against Tehran has already passed.
Smoke was seen over Tehran as IDF also said that it has launched a new wave of strikes on “Iranian regime” targets.
Speaking at multiple events and in media interactions, Trump said the operation could end “very soon” but also suggested the US was ready to push harder if needed.
The remarks came on a day that saw the conflict widen on several fronts in public messaging. US officials spoke about thousands of targets hit inside Iran, lawmakers in Washington clashed over the legality and cost of the war, and the administration sharpened its warnings over the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, questions also grew over civilian casualties and the financial burden of a prolonged campaign.
Top updates on US-Iran conflict
Air India fares set to increase as airline hikes fuel surcharge
The fare of Air India flight tickets is set to increase after the airline announced a hike in fuel surcharge amid global energy crisis.
Jaishankar speaks to Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that he held a detailed conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
Two leaders discussed the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict and agreed to remain on touch.
"A detailed conversation this evening with Foreign Minister @araghchi of Iran on the latest developments regarding the ongoing conflict. We agreed to remain in touch,” Jaishankar said on X, without sharing details.
US Navy escorts oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Tuesday said that the US Navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Straits of Hormuz.
In a now deleted post on X, Wright said, "President Trump is maintaining stability of global energy during the military operations against Iran...The U.S. Navy successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure oil remains flowing to global markets."
After surging to nearly USD 120 per barrel, crude oil fell to USD 82 a barrel on Tuesday.
Today will be the 'most intense' day of US strikes on Iran
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday said that today will be the "most intense" day of US strikes on Iran so far - with "the most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes."
He also noted that Iran has fired the fewest number of missiles in a 24-hour period since the war began.
Iranian strikes destroyed 10 US radars in the region, says IRGC
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday claimed that the Iranian military forces have so far managed to destroy 10 highly advanced radar systems of the United States in the Persian Gulf region.
The spokesperson of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, said that Tehran and not Washington will determine the end of the current war.
Air Force carries out new wave of strikes targeting regime sites in Tehran, says IDF
The Israeli Air Force has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes in Tehran, the IDF announced on Tuesday.
According to the IDF, the strikes are targeting Iranin regime sites.
Netanyahu says Iran regime change depends on Iranian people
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said any political change in Iran must ultimately come from within the country. Speaking during a visit to Israel’s National Health Emergency Operations Centre, he said the Iranian people themselves would decide the future of their leadership.
“Our aspiration is to enable the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, it is up to them,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel’s actions were already weakening Iran’s leadership.
Iranian missile strike in Israel leaves one dead
An Iranian missile strike on the Israeli town of Yehud killed one person on Monday, Al Jazeera reported citing emergency services.
The Magen David Adom ambulance service confirmed the fatality and said two others were injured in the attack.
Israeli health ministry reports 191 injured in past 24 hours
Israel’s Health Ministry said 191 people were injured over the past day amid ongoing hostilities with Iran, according to figures cited by The Times of Israel.
Authorities said the casualties include both civilians and soldiers. One person is in critical condition, three are serious, while most patients are reported to be in stable condition.
Medical officials said ten people were treated for anxiety following attacks, while three others are undergoing further medical evaluation.
The ministry added that 2,339 people have been admitted to hospitals since the war began on February 28, underscoring the strain on Israel’s healthcare system.
Iran claims missile strike on US military base in Iraq
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a US military installation in northern Iraq, Al Jazeera reported citing Iranian sources.
In a statement, the IRGC said it targeted the US Army headquarters at Harir Air Base in Erbil, a key hub for coalition operations. The group added that five missiles were launched during the strike.
Australian surveillance aircraft to monitor Gulf airspace
Australia has announced the deployment of military assets to the UAE to help strengthen air defence amid rising tensions.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move was aimed at protecting Australians in the region and supporting the UAE, stressing the mission was defensive in nature.
As part of the deployment, Canberra will send a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail early warning aircraft to the Gulf region.
The aircraft is expected to operate for about four weeks, monitoring airspace and supporting regional security.
Australian surveillance aircraft to monitor Gulf airspace
Australia has announced the deployment of military assets to the UAE to help strengthen air defence amid rising tensions.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move was aimed at protecting Australians in the region and supporting the UAE, stressing the mission was defensive in nature.
As part of the deployment, Canberra will send a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail early warning aircraft to the Gulf region.
The aircraft is expected to operate for about four weeks, monitoring airspace and supporting regional security.
UAE says drone strike on consulate threatens regional stability
The UAE Foreign Ministry described the drone attack on its consulate building in Iraq’s Kurdish region as a “dangerous escalation.”
Officials confirmed the building suffered damage but said there were no casualties.
Saudi Arabia condemns attack on UAE consulate in Iraq
Saudi Arabia has strongly criticised the strike on the UAE Consulate General in Erbil, calling repeated attacks on diplomatic sites unacceptable.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said targeting diplomatic premises amounts to a clear breach of international law.
Iran rejects US denial over deadly Minab school strike
The Iranian foreign minister dismissed American claims denying responsibility for the missile strike on a girls’ school in Minab that reportedly killed more than 170 people.
Calling the denial “ridiculous”, he said multiple US media and intelligence sources had acknowledged the strike was carried out by an American missile.
Tehran denies choking oil supply, blames war for market disruption
Iran has denied intentionally disrupting global oil flows as prices rise amid the conflict.
Araghchi said the slowdown in production and shipping was a result of military strikes by the US and Israel. Tankers are avoiding the Strait of Hormuz because the region has become unstable, he said.
Iran rejects fresh talks with US, says ‘bitter experience’ with negotiations
Iranian Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araghchi has ruled out restarting negotiations with Washington, saying past diplomatic efforts ended in military strikes.
Speaking to PBS News, he said Tehran had tried talks in good faith but was attacked during the process. “We negotiated… but they attacked us in the middle of negotiations,” he said, adding that discussions with the US are now unlikely.
Araghchi claimed that US and Israeli forces had expected a rapid outcome to the conflict but failed to achieve their objectives.
“They thought they could achieve regime change or a quick victory within days,” he said, arguing that those plans had not materialised.
Exiled crown prince calls on Iranian military to join people
Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has urged the country’s armed forces to abandon the current leadership and side with protesters seeking change.
“To Iran’s own military: lay down your arms and join the people. If you do, there will be a place for you in a free Iran,” he wrote on X.
In an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes, Pahlavi described the courage of protesters involved in what supporters call the “Lion and Sun Revolution".
Recalling an incident where a firefighter was killed while carrying an injured protester, he said the image represented the “ultimate praise of heroism".
China urges immediate ceasefire and return to dialogue
China has called for an urgent halt to military operations. In a phone conversation with Bahrain’s foreign minister, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that the top priority should be preventing the conflict from spreading further.
Beijing said its special envoy for Middle East affairs is currently travelling across the region to promote negotiations and restore stability.
Australia deploys military support to UAE
Amid the rising tensions, Australia announced it would send missiles and aircraft to the UAE to strengthen defensive capabilities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move was intended to protect Australians in the region and support the UAE, stressing that the deployment was “purely defensive".
UAE diplomatic mission hit by drone strike in Iraq
A drone strike early Tuesday targeted the United Arab Emirates consulate in Erbil, in Iraq’s Kurdish region. Officials said the building sustained structural damage but no casualties were reported.
The UAE Foreign Ministry described the attack as a “dangerous escalation” and a clear violation of international norms protecting diplomatic missions.
US missile strike reported on school building in Iran
A missile strike attributed to the United States has reportedly struck the Dr Hafez Khomeyni School in the central Iranian city of Khomeyn, Al Jazeera reported citing Iran’s Mehr News Agency. Nearby homes were also damaged in the blast.
Local reports said there were no immediate casualties, though the strike comes amid rising scrutiny of attacks on civilian sites during the conflict.
France prepares mission to reopen Strait of Hormuz
French President Emmanuel Macron said France and its allies are planning a “purely defensive” mission aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz if shipping routes are disrupted.
Macron stressed that protecting maritime trade was critical because of the waterway’s importance to the global economy.
With energy supplies already under pressure, the security of the strait has become one of the central concerns in the crisis.
Iran threatens oil exports as Hormuz tensions grow
Tehran warned that it could block oil exports to countries it considers hostile if the confrontation continues.
The IRGC said it would not allow “a single litre of oil” from the region to reach those nations until further notice. The warning comes as global markets remain sensitive to any disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.
Nearly 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil passes through the narrow waterway, making it a crucial route for international energy supplies.
Tehran claims US forces moved away after missile threats
The IRGC said American ships and fighter jets had withdrawn more than 1,000 kilometres from Iranian positions after recent missile launches.
The statement mocked the movement of the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying US forces increased their distance following missile fire toward the carrier. Iranian officials also rejected reports that their missile reserves were weakening.
According to the IRGC, the country’s weapons are now “more powerful than in the early days of the war”, with some warheads weighing more than a tonne.
Iran rejects Trump’s timeline, says it will decide when war ends
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has pushed back strongly against claims by US President Donald Trump that the conflict could soon conclude.
In a statement, the elite force said it would be Iran that determines when military operations stop. The IRGC added that the future balance of power in the region is now shaped by Tehran’s military strategy rather than American intervention.
The spokesperson also accused Trump of using “cunning and deceit” to influence public opinion after what Iran described as setbacks for Washington.
Iranian footballers seek refuge in Australia amid safety fears
Five members of Iran’s women’s national football team have been granted humanitarian visas in Australia after requesting protection during the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, according to a report by 9News.
The players, Fatemeh Pasandideh, Zahra Ghanbari, Zahra Sarbali, Atefeh Ramezanizadeh and Mona Hamoudi, reportedly slipped away from team officials at a hotel on the Gold Coast. Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the visas were approved overnight, with processing completed shortly after 1.30 am.
Concerns about their safety grew after the team refused to sing Iran’s national anthem before a match against South Korea, a gesture widely seen as a protest that reportedly drew backlash from Iranian state media.
Israeli strikes reported in Beirut against Hezbollah-linked targets
The Israeli military says it has also stepped up operations in Lebanon, striking targets linked to Hezbollah. According to Defrin, Israeli forces have hit more than 700 Hezbollah sites since the start of the war.
He added that 35 high-rise buildings in Beirut believed to be used by the group were targeted in recent strikes.
Over 2,200 injured people taken to Israeli hospitals
Israel’s Health Ministry said 2,238 people have been evacuated to hospitals since the conflict began. Of these, 91 patients remain hospitalised, officials said.
The injuries are linked to missile strikes and other attacks inside Israel since the start of the US-Israeli offensive.
Iranian missile attacks kill 12 civilians in Israel
Israel confirmed that a second person died on Monday from injuries sustained in an Iranian missile strike earlier in the day. That brings the civilian death toll from Iranian attacks in Israel to 12 people, according to the military.
In addition, two Israeli soldiers were killed during clashes with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Six Iranian military airports hit; cargo aircraft destroyed
Since February 28, Israeli warplanes have struck six Iranian military airbases, the military said. The operation also targeted aircraft used by the Quds Force, which Israel says were involved in transporting weapons and funds to allied groups.
Israeli officials claim 16 cargo planes linked to these activities have been destroyed during the strikes.
Israeli air force continues strikes in Tehran, Isfahan and southern Iran
According to the Israeli military, air strikes were carried out again on Monday across Tehran, Isfahan and parts of southern Iran. The operations are part of an ongoing campaign launched jointly with the United States.
Defrin said the Israeli air force would keep hitting targets “as long as needed.”
Israel claims 1,900 Iranian soldiers killed since war began
Israel’s military says nearly 1,900 Iranian soldiers and commanders have been killed since the conflict began on February 28. Military spokesman Effie Defrin, speaking at a press briefing in Jerusalem on Monday, said Israeli operations are continuing and new targets remain under review.
Defrin also left open the possibility of striking Iran’s newly announced Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, saying anyone posing a threat to Israel could be targeted.
Trump says he has not seen evidence in school strike case
When asked about footage suggesting an American missile may have hit the Iranian school, Trump said he had not yet reviewed it. He noted that Tomahawk missiles are used by multiple countries and said the case was being investigated.
Democratic senators seek probe into reported school strike
A group of senior Democratic lawmakers called for a full investigation into an apparent strike on an Iranian girls’ school near Minab that reportedly killed at least 175 people, most of them children. The senators said independent analysis suggested the strike may have been carried out by US forces, though the Pentagon has not publicly confirmed responsibility and says the matter is under review.
Trump mixes Iran war message with 2026 midterm pitch
In a closed-door speech to House Republicans in Florida, Trump tied the Iran campaign to election-year politics. He praised the military operation as a show of restored American strength, while also pressing lawmakers to unite behind his proposed “Save America Act”. The speech blended wartime language with hard domestic political messaging.
US lawmakers split sharply over Trump’s Iran war
Washington saw an open political divide over the conflict. Republican Senator Roger Wicker defended Trump’s decision and said the campaign was deliberate, necessary, and aimed at destroying Iran’s military capabilities. Democrats, including Adam Schiff, Edward Markey and Hakeem Jeffries, argued the war lacked authorisation, could spiral unpredictably and was already carrying heavy economic costs.
Concerns rise over US weapons stockpiles
According to the same report, parts of a THAAD missile defence system were shifted from South Korea to the Middle East, while Patriot interceptor stocks were also drawn down. Defence experts warned that extended use of these systems could affect readiness in other theatres, including the Indo-Pacific and Ukraine.
Report says first two days of war cost $5.6 billion in munitions
A report cited by The Washington Post said the opening two days of US strikes on Iran cost around $5.6 billion in munitions alone. The figure does not include the wider cost of maintaining forces, aircraft, ships, or personnel in the region. The report has added to concerns in Washington over how long such a campaign can be sustained.
CENTCOM says US has hit more than 5,000 targets in 10 days
US Central Command said Operation Epic Fury has struck more than 5,000 targets across Iran since it began on February 28. The military overview said the campaign has involved bombers, stealth aircraft, drones, missile defence systems, naval platforms, and surveillance assets. It also said 50 Iranian vessels had been damaged or destroyed.
Rubio condemns Iran-linked attacks in Iraq
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in separate calls with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, condemned recent attacks blamed on Iran and Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq. The State Department said Rubio also stressed the need to protect US diplomatic staff and maintain close coordination with allies.
Trump says he had ‘very good’ call with Putin
Trump said he had a “very good” conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two leaders discussed both Ukraine and the fast-moving Middle East conflict. According to Trump, Putin wanted to be “helpful and constructive” on the regional crisis, though Trump added that ending the Russia-Ukraine war would be the more useful contribution.
Trump says US may even ease some oil-linked sanctions to steady markets
While warning Iran over the Strait, Trump also said the administration was considering temporary oil-related sanctions relief to help contain price spikes. He argued that keeping Hormuz open mattered especially for major energy importers, including China, even more than for the United States itself.
Trump warns Iran over Strait of Hormuz
In a sharply worded message, Trump said any Iranian move to block or disrupt oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz would trigger retaliation “twenty times harder” than what Iran has already faced. He said the US would keep the waterway open and added that naval assets, mine-clearing systems and possible tanker escorts were all part of the planning.
Trump says Iran rebuilt parts of weapons programme at another site
The US President claimed Iran had restarted sensitive work at another site protected by granite after earlier nuclear facilities were hit. He said Tehran was also building up conventional ballistic missiles at speed, creating what he described as a growing threat to US bases overseas and, eventually, the American homeland.
Trump links present strikes to earlier Iran operation, orders more B-2 bombers
Trump also referred to last year’s Operation Midnight Hammer, saying it had prevented Iran from moving closer to a nuclear weapon. He argued that without that earlier strike, Israel would have faced far graver danger. He added that the US had placed an order for 25 more B-2 bombers.
Trump says no call yet on sending troops into Iran
Trump told The New York Post that the US has not decided on sending ground troops into Iran to secure enriched uranium from nuclear sites. His comment appeared to soften earlier remarks in which he had said the idea was under consideration. For now, he said, Washington was “nowhere near it”.
Trump unhappy with Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment
Asked about Mojtaba Khamenei becoming Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Trump said he was disappointed by the choice. He told reporters he believed the appointment could mean “more of the same problem” for Iran. In a separate media interaction, he again said he was “not happy with him”.
Trump claims Iran’s military was broken in first two days
In one of his strongest claims yet, Trump said Iran’s military had effectively been wiped out in the first two days of Operation Epic Fury. He said Tehran had lost key capabilities, including naval strength, air power, anti-aircraft systems, radar, telecommunications, and leadership. He called the operation a “tremendous success” and hinted that the US could still go further.
Trump says US has won ‘in many ways’, vows ‘ultimate victory’
At the Republican Members’ Issues Conference, Trump said the US had already won against Iran “in many ways” but had “not won enough”. He said Washington was moving ahead with greater resolve and promised “ultimate victory” that would end the threat once and for all. Trump also said the operation would be finished “pretty quickly”.
Trump says operation may end soon, but warns of harder strikes
US President Donald Trump said the military operation in Iran could be over “very soon”, though he did not share any timeline. Speaking in Florida, he claimed Iran’s senior leadership had been badly hit and described the campaign as “very, very powerful” and “very effective”. Trump also warned that if the conflict restarted, Iran would be struck “even harder”.
Casualties and regional retaliation keep tensions high
The conflict has continued to spread across the region after the February 28 joint US-Israel strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures. Tehran has responded with counter-strikes on American military bases in Arab countries and Israeli targets, while the wider regional front remains volatile.