US‑Israel war on Iran, Day 25: Netanyahu speaks with Trump as oil tops $100

South Korea will restrict car use by public employees and extend government-set caps on fuel prices as it tries to weather the shock of the war in Iran that has exposed the vulnerabilities of an economy highly dependent on trade and imported energy.

In announcing the measures at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, President Lee Jae Myung called for national unity to overcome the war’s growing strain, which he compared to challenges the country faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and past financial crises.

Public employees with fossil-fuel vehicles will be required to keep their cars off the road at least one day per week starting Wednesday.

Electric and hydrogen vehicles will be exempt.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy (MEW) has taken seven overhead power lines out of service following damage from falling debris after air defence interceptions.

The ministry’s spokesperson, said the incident caused partial power outages in several areas. Technical teams are working to restore services as quickly as possible, with repair crews set to begin operations once sites are secured in coordination with security authorities.

The ministry confirmed that field teams will carry out a full damage assessment to ensure safe and efficient restoration of the affected lines. Emergency crews remain on high alert to address any disruptions and maintain continuity of the national power supply.

Iran launched another round of missiles towards Israel on Tuesday morning, state television announced, after earlier strikes hit a building in the north while a loud explosion rang out in Jerusalem.

"Iran fires new wave of missiles at occupied territories," the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) posted on Telegram.

Moments later, it posted that the "Iranian missiles pass(ed) through several Israeli missile defences".

The Magen David Adom emergency services released video of a damaged building in the north of Israel, and said there were no deaths from the incident.

The Israeli military later on Tuesday morning issued several notices that it had detected incoming Iranian missiles and was working to intercept them.

Brent crude jumped back above $100 a barrel on Tuesday, a day after plunging more than 10% following Donald Trump’s decision to delay fresh strikes on Iran amid “very good” talks with Tehran.

Brent rose 2.9% to $102.84 per barrel.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 3.5% to $91.20 per barrel.

Analysts cautioned that oil prices remain volatile, with the potential to dip back toward $90 if tensions in the Middle East ease.

Japan will release another part of its strategic oil reserves from Thursday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday, after Tokyo began to tap stockpiles last week.

"In order to secure 'the necessary amount for the whole of Japan' ...we will release the state (oil) reserve from 26th March this week," she said in a post on X.

Asian stocks rose on Tuesday after Donald Trump delayed strikes on Iranian energy sites, as investors reacted with cautious optimism about a possible de-escalation in the Middle East.

Markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Taipei, and Manila opened higher, though gains were trimmed as the morning progressed. Singapore and Wellington slipped.

• Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.1% to 52,093.02, recovering some losses from the previous day. Toyota Motor Corp. rose 1.1% after announcing a $1 billion investment in its Kentucky and Indiana plants, part of a $10 billion U.S. expansion plan over five years.

• Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.5% to 8,404.00, while South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.2% to 5,526.24.

• Global markets have been volatile amid concerns over the Iran conflict, particularly in Asia, where disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz could affect energy shipments.

US-Israeli strikes reportedly targeted energy infrastructure in Iran on Monday, hitting facilities in Isfahan province and the southwestern city of Khorramshahr, according to Iranian media reports. Fars News Agency said a natural gas administration building and a gas pressure reduction station in Isfahan sustained damage, along with nearby residential properties.

In Khorramshahr, a missile reportedly struck near a gas pipeline linked to a power plant, though officials said there were no casualties and electricity supplies remained stable. The reported strikes came despite earlier remarks by former US President Donald Trump indicating a five-day delay in attacks on Iranian energy facilities.

Iran launched another round of missiles towards Israel early Tuesday, state television announced.

"Iran fires new wave of missiles at occupied territories," the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting posted on Telegram.

Kuwaiti air defense systems are currently engaged in intercepting hostile missiles and drones that breached the country's airspace, Ministry of Defense Spokesman Colonel Staff Saud Al-Atwan announced on Tuesday morning.

Brent crude oil jumped back above $100 a barrel on Tuesday, a day after plunging more than 10 per cent in reaction to Donald Trump's decision to delay fresh strikes on Iran as he hailed "very good" talks with Tehran.

Brent rose 2.9 per cent to $102.84, while West Texas Intermediate jumped 3.5 per cent to $91.20.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen called on Tuesday for an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East, describing a "critical" situation for energy supply chains globally.

"It is of utmost importance that we come to a solution that is negotiated, and this puts an end to the hostilities that we see in the Middle East," she added.

A loud blast rang out over Jerusalem early Tuesday after Israel's military said it detected another Iranian missile launch, the second of the day.

AFP reporters in the city heard a loud explosion minutes after the military said it had detected missile launches from Iran and was "working to intercept the threat."

A UK ground-based counter-drone unit operating in a high-threat zone successfully intercepted and downed two Iranian drones, according to the UK Defence Ministry.

This develops as Britain has bolstered its forces in the region, positioning more forces in the Middle East than at any time in the last 15 years amid threats from Iran, said British Secretary of State for Defence John Healey.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence announced the interception and destruction of eight drones. In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Major General Turki Al-Maliki, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, stated that the drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Region.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, extended his sincere condolences to the State of Qatar during a phone call with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, over the martyrdom of members of the Qatari Armed Forces.

The deceased were identified as Captain (Pilot) Mubarak Salem Dawai Al Marri; Captain (Pilot) Saeed Nasser Smeikh; Sergeant Fahad Hadi Ghanem Al Khayareen; and Corporal Mohammed Maher Mohammed, who were among the crew of a helicopter that crashed into Qatar’s territorial waters following a technical malfunction.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Catherine Vautrin, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of the French Republic.

The leaders discussed cooperation and coordination between the two countries in defence affairs and their shared commitment to strengthening them within the framework of the two countries’ Strategic Partnership.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call with Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), to discuss the ongoing military escalation in the region and its implications for regional and international security, as well as the impact on international shipping and the global economy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he spoke with Donald Trump, saying that the US president believed US-Israeli military gains in Iran could be converted into a negotiated agreement that protects Israel's interests.

"President Trump believes there is a chance to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the US military in order to realise the war's objectives in an agreement - an agreement that will safeguard our vital interests," Netanyahu said in a video statement.

"We will protect our vital interests under any circumstances," he said, adding: "At the same time, we continue to strike both in Iran and in Lebanon."

Netanyahu reiterated that the ongoing strikes were "crushing the missile programme and the nuclear programme" of Iran and also "inflicting heavy damage on Hezbollah".

"Just a few days ago we eliminated two more (Iranian) nuclear scientists, and this is not the end," he said.

Day 22: Trump says US considering ‘winding down’ war

Day 21: UK to let US use bases for strikes on Iran threats

Day 20: Trump vows to destroy Iran gas field; UAE intercepts threats

Day 19: Iran warns of 'consequences' after gas field hit

Day 18: Iran confirms security chief Ali Larijani killed

Day 17:  Trump urges allies to secure Strait of Hormuz,

Day 16: Trump calls for allies on Strait of Hormuz security

Day 15: Trump threatens Iran’s oil infrastructure after US bombs Kharg

Day 14: Trump vows intense strikes against Iran in coming days

Day 13: US refueling aircraft crashes in Iraq

Day 12: Donald Trump says Iran near point of defeat

Day 11: US says today will be the 'most intense' of attacks

Day 10: UAE intercepts 15 missiles and 119 drones