US–Israel war on Iran, day 31: Trump threatens to obliterate Iran's Kharg island; Kuwait power site attacked

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has thrown strong support behind a bold new diplomatic initiative led by Bahrain at the United Nations.

The goal: build an international coalition to prevent Iran and its Houthi allies from seizing control of critical waterways like the Strait of Hormuz and turning them into extortion zones for global trade.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced confidence that Iran's Islamic republic would eventually fall, though he again said that was not the objective of the US-Israeli war on the country.

"I think this regime will collapse internally. But at the moment, right now, what we're doing is just degrading their military capacity, degrading their missile capacity, degrading their nuclear capacity and also weakening them from the inside," Netanyahu told conservative US broadcaster Newsmax.

Oil prices continue to stay elevated with both West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent showing net gains as Trump threatened to "take the oil" in Iran's Kharg. These figures reflect intraday moves in a highly volatile environment: As of 8.12am Tokyo time on Tuesday (March 31, 2026), real-time and end-of-session data indicate WTI crude trading in the $101–105+ range (with intraday swings and reports of levels near or above $103–105), and Brent Crude in the $112–115+ range (some quotes around $114+). Murban hovered near the screenshot's $116.50 level in delayed quotes.

The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) announced that at approximately 12:10 am on Tuesday, March 31, the Kuwaiti very large crude carrier (VLCC) Al Salmi was directly attacked by Iranian forces while positioned in the anchorage area of Dubai Port.

In a statement, the KPC confirmed that the tanker was fully laden at the time of the incident. The attack resulted in "damage to the vessel's hull and the outbreak of a fire onboard, with a potential oil spill in the surrounding waters," it stated.

Dubai authorities have confirmed that response teams have successfully extinguished the fire involving a Kuwaiti oil tanker. Relevant teams continue to assess the situation and take the necessary measures, and updates will be shared as they become available.

All 24 crew members aboard the Kuwaiti crude tanker Al Salmi have been confirmed safe following the incident in waters off Dubai.

Authorities in Dubai responded to a fire in an abandoned house in Al Badaa caused by debris following an air defence interception. Four minor injuries were reported among individuals in the vicinity of the house.

Moments after an emergency alert urged residents across the United Arab Emirates to follow safety guidelines during ongoing defense operations, a second notification sounded — this time reassuring the public that the operation had concluded and that everyone was safe.

UAE authorities issued an alert stating that air defense systems were actively responding to missile threats, urging residents to immediately take shelter in the nearest secure building and stay away from windows, doors, and open areas.

Iran's top diplomat urged Saudi Arabia on Monday to evict US forces from its territory, reiterating that its attacks in the region only targeted its enemies.

"Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X. "Our operations are aimed at enemy aggressors who have no respect for Arabs or Iranians, nor can provide any security... High time to eject U.S. forces."

Sharjah Government Media Office said authorities are dealing with a drone-related incident that targeted the administrative building of Thuraya Telecommunications Company in the emirate’s Central Region.

In a statement issued past midnight, officials confirmed that the incident that took place on Monday, March 30, involved a drone reportedly originating from Iran. Authorities said no injuries were recorded and that response teams are continuing to handle the situation.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed the UAE's strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist plot foiled in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The plot involved a cell linked to the banned Hezbollah terrorist organisation, which attempted to collaborate with terrorist groups abroad in an act that threatened the security and safety of the Kingdom.

Shortly after the phone alert was sent out in the UAE calling on residents to follow the safety guidelines set out during defence ops, another notification rung out - this time to assure everyone that the ops were over and everyone was safe.

The UAE Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior (MOI) sent out an alert saying air defence systems are responding to missile and AUV threats, urging residents to immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building, steer away from windows, doors and open areas.

The Ministry of Education on Monday night announced the continuation of distance learning until Friday, 17 April 2026, for students, as well as teaching and administrative staff, across all nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools nationwide to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone. The situation will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has introduced a series of support measures, allowing lenders to offer payment deferrals, easing reserve requirements and providing unlimited repo liquidity as Gulf policymakers respond to the fallout from the Iran war, now in its fifth week.

According to Bloomberg , the measures include permitting banks to defer loan principal and interest payments for up to three months for customers affected by current conditions, the central bank said on Monday.

It will also offer unlimited Qatari riyal repurchase facilities against eligible securities held by banks, alongside a term repo facility with maturities of up to three months.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday voiced hope for working with elements within Iran's government, saying the United States privately had received positive messages.

Rubio said there were internal "fractures" inside the Islamic republic and that the United States hopes figures with "power to deliver" take charge.

"We are hopeful that that's the case," Rubio told the ABC News program Good Morning America.

"There are clearly people there talking to us in ways that previous people in charge in Iran have not spoken to us in the past, some of the things they're willing to do," he said.

Rubio nonetheless also denounced the Islamic republic in broad strokes, insisting that the war aimed to end its nuclear weapons building capacity, which President Donald Trump said he accomplished during an attack last year.

"These people are lunatics. They are insane. They are religious zealots who can never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon because they have an apocalyptic vision of the future," Rubio said.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a trilateral meeting in Jeddah on Monday with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as regional tensions intensified following the ongoing military escalation linked to the US-Israel war on Iran.

During the tripartite meeting, the leaders reviewed the latest developments and their potential repercussions on regional and global stability, including growing risks to international maritime navigation, energy supply security and the broader global economy.

Kuwait's Ministry of Defence was quoted by KUNA saying: "13 hostile drones dealt with in the past 24 hours, a worker was killed and serious material damage was caused due to an Iranian drone attack on a power and water desalination plant."

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said two of its personnel were killed on Monday in a blast in the country's south, after another peacekeeper was killed a day earlier.

"Two UNIFIL peacekeepers were tragically killed in south Lebanon today, when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan. A third peacekeeper was severely injured, and a fourth was also hurt," the force said in a statement, adding it had launched an investigation.

The commander of the foreign operations branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a rare message on Monday hailing Iranian proxy groups for helping create a "new regional order".

Esmail Qaani became head of the Guards' Quds Force after the killing of Qassem Soleimani in a US strike in Iraq in 2020.

His message, just the second attributed to him since the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic began on February 28, was posted on X under the handle @general_Qaani, although the social media giant then rapidly suspended the account with a note that "X suspends accounts which violate the X Rules."

The message was also widely published by Iranian news agencies and state television.

Qaani said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to create a "security belt across the region" but the actions of Tehran-backed militant groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen had "exposed the regime's false promises".

"Get used to the new regional order," he said.

Qaani was reported to have been killed in the 12-day war between Israel and Iran last June, but re-emerged in public.

A Lebanese soldier was killed and five others were injured after an Israeli attack on an army checkpoint in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army said on Monday.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced on Monday that one of its vehicles was hit by an explosion, resulting in injuries among its personnel.

A spokesperson for the international force said the blast occurred while troops were carrying out field duties in the border area.

Kuwait said on Monday an Iranian attack on a desalination and electricity plant killed one worker and caused damage to a building as the Islamic republic pressed its aerial campaign against its Gulf neighbours.

"A service building at a power and water desalination plant was attacked as part of the Iranian aggression against the State of Kuwait," the Gulf state's electricity ministry said.

The attack caused "the death of an Indian worker and significant material damage to the building," the statement added, without elaborating on the location of the facility.

Kuwait's military said later on Monday that it had intercepted 13 hostile drones in the past 24 hours, with "major damage" caused to the building at the power and water plant.

The oil-rich Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran's attacks in response to US-Israeli strikes that sparked the Middle East war.

Turkey's Defence Ministry said Monday that NATO forces had intercepted a new missile fired from Iran - the fourth since the start of the Middle East war.

"A ballistic munition, which has been determined to have been fired from Iran and to have entered Turkish airspace, was neutralised by NATO air and missile defence forces deployed in the eastern Mediterranean," said a ministry statement.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday urged his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to help end the Middle East war, now in its second month.

"I say to President Trump: no one will be able to stop the war in our region, in the Gulf... Please, help us to stop the war, you are capable of it," Sisi said in joint remarks to the press in Cairo alongside Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

G7 ministers and central bank officials gathered Monday to tackle the economic consequences of the war in the Middle East that has sent energy prices soaring and has triggered fears for the world economy.

The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, and Tehran has hit back by targeting crude-exporting countries in the region and halting most shipments through the Gulf.

The squeeze on supply has pushed oil and natural gas prices higher, with drastic knock-on effects for supply chains in multiple industries.

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the G7 was convening finance ministers, energy ministers, and central bank officials, the first gathering in that format since the G7 was established in 1975.

"We know that what's happening now in the Gulf is having energy consequences, economic consequences, financial market consequences and potentially inflation consequences," he told reporters ahead of the meeting.

"The idea is to monitor developments, to exchange diagnoses especially on potential disruptions."

Representatives of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank were present at the meeting held by video link.

Israel's military said Monday that it had struck a university in Tehran run by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, claiming the institution was used for advanced weapons research.

"In recent days, one of the IRGC's central military infrastructure sites was recently struck, located within the compound of Imam Hossein University - the IRGC's primary military academic institution, which also serves as an emergency asset for the regime's military bodies," a statement by the Israeli military said.

"During the operation, the IDF struck military infrastructure within the university multiple times in order to inflict significant damage to the regime's weapons production and development capabilities," the Israeli military said.

It added that it had destroyed wind tunnels beneath the university, its chemistry centre, and a technology and engineering centre of its mechanics and development group - which the Israelis said were all used for the development of weapons.

Israel's fire and rescue service said its crews were working to extinguish a large blaze at the Haifa oil refinery after it was hit by debris from the interception of a projectile Monday.

Television channels showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky from the site, while the fire service shared photos of a tank on fire.

"The incident involves a fire at a tank containing 3,000 cubic metres of gasoline," the service said, adding that the gasoline was being pumped out of the tank.

Firefighters were operating at the scene "where debris from an interception was identified following the latest barrage", the service said, adding there were no casualties.

The incident occurred shortly after the Israeli military said it had detected new incoming missiles from Iran.

It was not immediately clear whether the refinery had been hit by debris from a missile from Iran or Lebanon or from an intercepting Israeli projectile.

Israel renewed its bombardment of Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday while continuing air strikes on Lebanon's south, one of which targeted an army checkpoint and killed a soldier.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East conflict when Tehran-backed armed group Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2 in revenge for the killing of Iran's supreme leader, the opening salvo in the US-Israeli war against the Islamic republic.

Israel has responded with large-scale air strikes across Lebanon and a ground offensive in the south. Lebanese authorities say more than 1,200 people have been killed since the hostilities broke out.

On Monday, two strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs, one of them targeting an apartment in a residential building, according to an AFP photographer, who said Hezbollah gunmen imposed a security cordon at the site after the attack.

US President Donald Trump threatened Monday to destroy Iran's oil export hub of Kharg Island, oil wells and power plants if it does not agree soon to a deal to end the war.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social network that the United States is in "serious discussions" with "a more reasonable regime" in Tehran.

"Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately 'Open for Business,' we will conclude our lovely 'stay' in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet 'touched,'" Trump said.

Iran's military said Monday that Israel was behind an attack on a desalination plant in Kuwait.

"The brutal aggression by the Israeli regime against Kuwait's desalination plant, carried out in recent hours under the pretext of accusing the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a sign of the vileness and depravity of the Zionist occupiers," said the military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya in a statement carried by state TV.

On Monday, March 30, 2026, UAE air defences intercepted 11 ballistic missiles and 27 drones launched from Iran.

Since the start of the blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have engaged a total of 425 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,941 UAVs.

Iran said it was not seeking nuclear weapons but the issue of whether to remain part of the non-proliferation treaty was under review in parliament.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought and does not seek nuclear weapons," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.

"Regarding membership in this treaty, regardless of our clear position on the prohibition of all weapons of mass destruction, this is genuinely a debate taking place within public opinion and at the parliamentary level."

Spain's leftist government has closed Spanish airspace to US planes carrying out missions against Iran in addition to denying Washington use of its bases, the defence minister said on Monday.

"The bases are not authorised, and of course neither is the use of Spanish airspace for actions related to the war in Iran," Margarita Robles told journalists, confirming a report by El Pais daily.

Oil and aluminium prices moved higher as tensions in the Middle East intensified, raising concerns over supply disruptions and market stability. Brent crude climbed to $115.98, well above pre-conflict levels of around $70, while US crude rose to $101.59 a barrel. Aluminium also surged, gaining about 6% before settling 4.2% higher at $3,435 per tonne.

The rally comes as investors prepare for continued volatility. Analysts noted that escalating tensions pushed both oil and metals higher at the open, while adding that markets expect near-term uncertainty.

Aluminium prices climbed around six percent in early trading on Monday after Iran attacked two major plants in the Gulf that produce the widely used metal, raising concerns over supply disruptions.

Gains later reduced, though prices were still up 4.2 percent at $3,435 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange.

"Escalation and expansion of the Middle East conflict sent crude oil and aluminium up at the open," noted Ipek Ozkardeskaya, an analyst at Swissquote Bank.

Following sanctions on Russian aluminium over the war in Ukraine, "the Middle East became a crucial supplier to the European Union and countries including the US and Japan", analysts from ANZ bank said.

"Any further disruption to deliveries would add upward pressure on aluminium prices and premiums," they added.

The soldier was killed in southern Lebanon on Sunday.

Israeli troops have invaded Lebanon after Hezbollah launched hundreds of projectiles in the past month toward Israel.

Israel says it needs to establish a security zone in the depopulated south to shield its own northern communities. Lebanese officials say more than 1,200 people have been killed and more than 1 million have been displaced in the country.

A fire broke out at an oil refinery in the northern Israeli city of Haifa for the second time during the monthlong war with Iran, according to footage from the scene.

Video showed flames on a large refinery tank with thick black smoke that was quickly extinguished by Israel's fire and rescue services.

It wasn't clear if it was a missile strike or debris that caused the blaze.

Israel only has two refineries and the attack comes as Israel has launched attacks targeting Iran's South Pars natural gas field and as other petrochemical sites have been hit in Iran during the war.

Israel needed to pass a budget before April 1 in order to avoid triggering early elections. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still reserves the right to call early elections before then if he wants.

Israel’s opposition slammed the budget for increasing funding to Israel’s ultra-Orthodox communities at a time when the country is facing soaring costs over its war in Iran and is still reeling from a two-year war in Gaza.

The $270 billion budget, Israel’s largest ever, included a 20% increase for the Ministry of Defense due to the ongoing war against Iran. The ministry’s budget has swollen to $45 billion, forcing cuts in other government ministries.

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes in Lebanon's capital Beirut on Monday targeting Hezbollah.

"The IDF has begun striking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in Beirut," the military said in a brief statement.

Iran confirmed on Monday that Revolutionary Guards commander Alireza Tangsiri had been killed, days after Israel said it targeted him in an air strike.

A statement carried by the Guards' Sepah News website said Tangsiri "succumbed to severe injuries" from the attack.

Israel's military said Monday it had struck dozens of weapons production sites including a long-range surface-to-air missiles manufacturing line in Iran's capital Tehran.

"During waves of airstrikes over the past two days in Tehran, approximately 40 weapons production and research facilities were struck," the military said.

The targets, it said, included "a facility used for assembling long-range surface-to-air missiles", a site assembling components for "anti-tank missiles and small anti-aircraft missiles", and a facility that produced and researched "ballistic missile engines."

Iran has restored electricity in parts of the capital and nearby areas after strikes damaged power grids and briefly disrupted supply, the deputy energy minister said on Monday.

"Following last night's enemy attack, the power grid in the provinces of Alborz and Tehran sustained damage and was affected," said Mostafa Rajabi-Mashhadi in an interview with state television.

"The power network across Iran's national electricity grid is stable; in Tehran and Alborz the problems have also been resolved," he added.

A strike hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday, AFPTV footage showed, after Israel issued a warning for people in the Hezbollah stronghold to leave.

The strike is the first since Friday in the area, which is now largely deserted since Israel began frequent attacks against Hezbollah in early March.

AFPTV's live broadcast showed plumes of smoke rising from the southern suburbs.

Australia will cut its fuel excise by half through to the end of June, delivering relief to households at the petrol pump.

The excise, a government sales tax applied to fuel, will be reduced by 26.3 cents per litre on petrol under the measure.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the move on X, saying global conflict was driving up prices domestically. 'We're halving the fuel tax for three months to save you money when you fill up,' he wrote, adding: 'Conflict overseas is pushing up prices at home. And we know Australians are feeling the pressure.'

The Official Spokesman for the National Guard, Brigadier General Dr. Jadaan Fadel, confirmed that the Duty Force successfully intercepted and shot down one drone and four UAV aircraft within sites under the Guard's security mandate.

The spokesman stated the operation is part of continuous efforts to strengthen security, safeguard vital installations, and neutralise any emerging threats before they can escalate.

Gold prices in Dubai are holding near Dh540 after a sharp fall from early March highs above Dh640, with buying interest returning at lower levels. The market remains range-bound, with global uncertainty and interest rate expectations keeping momentum in check.

Dubai Police has issued a public awareness reminder on social media, cautioning residents and visitors against photographing or sharing images of security installations and critical infrastructure.

"It may seem like just a photo," the force wrote, "but to some, it's information."

The message emphasises that safeguarding sensitive sites is a collective national responsibility, one that directly contributes to the safety and security of the wider community.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that all four victims of a recent incident in Lebanon were its nationals. The ministry said the deaths and injuries were caused by “indirect artillery fire in the vicinity of the Indonesian UNIFIL contingent’s position near Adchit Al Qusayr.”

The ministry strongly condemned the incident and called for a thorough and transparent investigation.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry also condemned Israel’s invasion of Lebanon and urged “all parties to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The Israeli military said its air defences were responding to "missiles launched from Iran" on Monday.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel," the military statement said.

"Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," it added, urging people to take shelter until further notice.

The French government said ministers from the G7 will hold talks Monday to unpack the economic consequences of the war in the Middle East.

Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the meeting would include energy and finance ministers as well as central bank chiefs and the heads of other international agencies.

G7 allies held a meeting, attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in France last week.

The ministers "reiterated the absolute necessity to permanently restore safe and toll-free freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz", according to the final statement.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that Iran's heavy water production plant in Khondab was no longer operational after an Israeli military strike.

The Israeli military said Friday it carried out a strike against a heavy water plant in Arak, central Iran, describing the site as a "key plutonium production site for nuclear weapons".

IAEA said based on an independent analysis of satellite imagery the heavy water production plant at Khondab, which Iran reported had been attacked on 27 March, had "sustained severe damaged (sic) and is no longer operational".

It added the "installation contains no declared nuclear material".

The Philippines' sole oil refinery has secured nearly 2.5 million barrels of Russian crude out of "extreme necessity", a stock exchange filing revealed Monday, as the country seeks to replenish fast-dwindling fuel reserves.

AFP reported last week that a tanker filled with Russian crude oil had arrived at the harbour servicing refinery operator Petron Corp, a purchase unthinkable before longtime treaty ally the United States eased sanctions tied to Moscow's war in Ukraine.

In a report to the Philippine stock exchange released Monday, Petron said it had agreed to purchase Russian crude after seeing at least four million barrels in shipments cancelled since the start of the Middle East war.

"The purchases were undertaken strictly out of extreme necessity as an extraordinary emergency measure in response to unprecedented geopolitical and supply-chain disruptions and only after exhausting all commercially and operationally viable alternatives," the report reads.

"A refinery shutdown for failure to secure crude would lead to serious nationwide fuel shortages and sharp price spikes," said the company, whose refinery accounts for about 30 percent of the country's fuel needs.

Israel’s military said on Monday morning that it was striking ‘military infrastructure’ across Tehran.

“Many long sought after targets have been taken out and destroyed by our GREAT MILITARY, the finest and most lethal in the World,” US President Donald Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social website, without elaborating.

Public transport will be free in two Australian states under new measures aimed at easing the impact of rising fuel costs, amid global supply strains linked to the ongoing war in Iran, CNN reports.

In Victoria, trains, trams, and buses will be free throughout April, while Tasmania will offer free travel on buses and ferries until 1 July.

The move comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convenes a meeting with state and territory leaders to discuss a coordinated national response to surging oil prices.

Qatar’s Ministry of Transport announced that maritime navigation will gradually resume on Monday, exclusively for vessels licensed for marine fishing activities.

In a statement on Sunday, the ministry outlined the following technical requirements for vessels:

• Ensure the safety, readiness, and seaworthiness of the vessel before departure.

• Operate the Automatic Identification System (AIS) throughout the voyage until returning to port.

• Maintain operation of the VHF radio (Channel 16) during the voyage and until return.

• Comply with all provisions of the Maritime Equipment Law and related regulations.

The ministry urged all operators to adhere to these guidelines to avoid legal accountability.

Asian shares mostly dipped in today morning trading as worries continued about soaring oil prices and the potential for further escalation in the US war with Iran.

The drops in Asia follow the deep declines on Wall Street last Friday that finished off a fifth straight losing week, its longest such streak in nearly four years.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 slipped 4.5% in morning trading to 50,979.54. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 1.2% to 8,417.00. South Korea's Kospi dove 3.2% to 5,264.32. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1.7% to 24,519.63, while the Shanghai Composite shed 0.7% to 3,884.57.

President Donald Trump said he has no problem with Moscow delivering oil to Cuba, as a sanctioned Russian oil tanker approached the Communist-ruled island.

"Cuba's finished, they have a bad regime, they have very bad and corrupt leadership, and whether or not they get a boat of oil it's not going to matter," Trump told reporters as he flew back to Washington from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

US President Donald Trump said that the US-Israel war had achieved regime change in Iran, even as he assured that he would "make a deal" with the Iranians.

"I think we'll make a deal with them, pretty sure...but we've had regime change," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, citing the number of Iranian leaders killed in the month-long war.

"We're dealing with different people than anybody's dealt with before. It's a whole different group of people. So I would consider that regime change," Trump said.

Brent crude was just over $70 a barrel when the war started on Feb. 28. Prices have spiked by over 50% since.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence announced on Monday that five ballistic missiles were detected and intercepted heading towards the Eastern Region.

This was reported by the Saudi Press Agency, quoting Major General Turki Al-Malki, the official spokesperson for the ministry.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence had earlier announced the detection and destruction of a cruise missile heading towards the same region.

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday that he could take Iran's Kharg Island "very easily."

Kharg Island, located off the west coast of Iran, is a vital oil terminal for the Middle Eastern country and is being eyed by the Pentagon for ground operations, though the United States insisted it would stop short of a full-scale invasion.

When asked about the state of Iranian defense on the island Trump said "I don't think they have any defense. We could take it very easily."

In Kuwait, a worker from India has been killed in an Iranian attack on a power and desalination plant, Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water says in a statement on X.

The attack caused "significant damage" to the facility, the statement says, and technical teams are working "to ensure the continuity of vital services".

Authorities in Dubai have confirmed that the loud sounds reported across parts of the city were the result of successful air defence interceptions.

Residents and the public are urged to rely solely on official sources for updates and avoid spreading unverified information.

Pakistan announced that it will soon host talks between the US and Iran, though there was no immediate word from Washington or Tehran, and it was unclear whether discussions on the monthlong war would be direct or indirect.

"Pakistan is very happy that both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks. Pakistan will be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days," Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said after top diplomats from Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia met in Islamabad.

Pakistan later said the diplomats had departed for their home countries. The talks were originally scheduled to continue Monday.

Pakistan's foreign ministry did not answer questions, and Iran's mission to the United Nations declined to comment.

Islamabad has emerged as a mediator, having relatively good ties with Washington and Tehran, after what Pakistani officials call weeks of quiet diplomacy.

Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity has reported that the service building in one of its power stations and water desalination plants was damaged due to an Iranian attack on the State of Kuwait, according to the official news agency.

KUNA reported that technical teams and emergency units immediately activated approved emergency plans to address the repercussions of the incident and ensure the continuity of operational efficiency.

UAE authorities confirmed that air defence systems responded to a missile threat, following precautionary alerts sent out to residents across the country.

The authorities thanked the residents for their cooperation, reassuring that the situation is currently safe, while urging them to remain cautious and take necessary precautions.

The authorities have also urged the public not to circulate rumours and to obtain information solely from official sources.

The UAE Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed that air defence systems are responding to missile threats, urging residents to immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building, steer away from windows, doors and open areas.

The Jordan Armed Forces announced on Sunday that Iran had targeted the Kingdom with one missile and two drones over the past 24 hours.

The Military Media Directorate at the General Command said the Royal Jordanian Air Force intercepted the missile and the two drones.

Meanwhile, the Public Security Directorate spokesperson said the relevant units had handled 26 reports over the past 24 hours involving the fall of shrapnel and projectiles.

The RAF Regiment Gunners successfully engaged and destroyed 7 one-way Iranian attack drones overnight, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

In its March 29 operational update on defensive missions in the Middle East, the ministry stated the mission continues — and the Royal Air Force (RAF)’s new generation of “aces” is proving highly effective at it.

The UAE has condemned in the strongest terms Iran’s unprovoked terrorist attack targeting a military camp in the State of Kuwait, which resulted in the injury of 10 members of the armed forces, in a flagrant violation of international law.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that this aggression constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait and a threat to its security and stability and further represents a dangerous escalation that threatens the security of GCC states and the wider region.

The UAE expressed its full solidarity with Kuwait, stressing its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding its security and stability.

Cruise missile targeting Eastern Province intercepted and destroyed, according to the Saudi Ministry of Defence.

Saudi Arabian low-cost Flyadeal has cancelled flights to Dubai, Amman and Damascus until April 14 due to the US-Israel war in Iran.

The Council of the League of Arab States, at the level of Foreign Ministers, has renewed its full and strongest condemnation of Iran's deliberate and unprovoked attacks against the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, and the Republic of Iraq.

The Israeli military announced on Sunday evening it had launched new strikes on targets across Tehran, after it had detected seven new incoming missile salvoes fired from Iran during the day.

"The IDF is currently striking Iranian terror regime targets across Tehran," the military said.

Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has in a written message thanked the people of Iraq for their support in the war against the United States and Israel, Iranian media said on Sunday.

Mojtaba, the son of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei who was killed in an airstrike at the start of the war on February 28, has still yet to appear in public after being named and has only issued a handful of written statements

In the message, Khamenei "expressed his appreciation to the supreme religious authority (in Iraq) and the people of Iraq for their clear stance against aggression against Iran and their support for our country", the ISNA news agency said, referring to the Iraq-based Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, one of the most revered figures in Shia Islam.

The message was delivered following a meeting between the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a Shia party, and the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad, it said.

No further details were given on how the message was transmitted.

Day 30: Tehran warns Washington against ground invasion

Day 29: Yemen's Houthis enter war with missile targeting Israel

Day 28: Rubio says US expects victory in weeks after G7 talks

Day 27: Trump insists Iran is ‘begging’ to make a deal, not him

Day 26: US preparing to deploy 1,000 troops to Middle East

Day 25: UAE intercepts threats from Iran ; 1dead, 5 hurt in Bahrain

Day 24: Netanyahu speaks with Trump, vows to protect Israel's interests

Day 23: Trump gives Iran 48 hours to reopen Strait of Hormuz

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