https://sputnikglobe.com/20260302/live-updates-middle-east-tensions-mount-after-strikes-on-iran--day-3-1123732917.html

LIVE UPDATES: Middle East Tensions Mount After Strikes on Iran – Day 3

Sputnik International

The United States and Israel carried out a coordinated series of strikes on February 28 targeting multiple sites in Iran, including locations in Tehran. The attacks reportedly caused significant destruction and civilian casualties. In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli territory and US military bases across the Middle East.

2026-03-02T08:42+0000

world

middle east

ayatollah ali khamenei

iran

israel

tehran

islamic revolutionary guard corps (irgc)

strike

missile strike

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07ea/03/02/1123732744_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0c235e673f44db0f87df5fe2b9163696.jpg

iran

israel

tehran

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

2026

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

News

en_EN

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

1920

1080

true

1920

1440

true

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07ea/03/02/1123732744_171:0:2902:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_31445baf1255dbf2928d3e3e1b9e2c96.jpg

1920

true

Sputnik International

feedback@sputniknews.com

+74956456601

MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“

252

Sputnik International

united states and israel, coordinated series of strikes, israeli territory and us military bases across the middle east, multiple sites in iran, including locations in tehran

LIVE UPDATES: Middle East Tensions Mount After Strikes on Iran – Day 3

08:42 GMT 02.03.2026

The operation against Iran took place despite ongoing Oman-mediated talks between the US and Iran in Geneva aimed at addressing the Iranian nuclear issue.

Iranian authorities reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes. Among other senior officials reported killed were Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces’ General Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Mohammad Pakpour, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

Following the attacks, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the launch of True Promise 4, describing it as the most extensive and forceful offensive operation in the country’s history, targeting Israel and US military bases in the region.

Follow Sputnik's live updates to find out more!

Table of contents

New firstOld first

19:08 GMT 02.03.2026

People walk past buildings damaged during a strike on a police station during ongoing, joint U.S.-Israeli military attacks in Tehran, Iran, Monday, March 2, 2026. - Sputnik International, 1920, 02.03.2026

Analysis

US Can’t Bully and Bomb Iran Into Submission If Its Leaders Don’t Let It - Experts

2 March, 18:43 GMT

19:08 GMT 02.03.2026

Rubio, Hegseth, Caine, Ratcliffe to Brief All Congress Members on Iran Tuesday - Speaker

US House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday that he arranged a classified briefing on March 3 for all members of Congress with senior administration officials amid the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

"I've arranged for a classified briefing for all members of Congress tomorrow at 5pm [22:00 GMT], and we're going to to have Secretary [Marco] Rubio, Secretary [Pete] Hegseth, the CIA Director [John] Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General [Dan] Cain. They're all going to brief the House and Senate members, Republican and Democrat," Johnson told the KEEL radio station.

Rubio is also set to brief House and Senate leaders on Capitol Hill later on Monday, according to the State Department's schedule.

19:07 GMT 02.03.2026

Jordan's King Stresses Importance of Achieving De-Escalation, Peace in Middle East

Jordanian King Abdullah II, in a phone call with US President Donald Trump, emphasized the importance of achieving sustainable de-escalation that would contribute to peace in the region, the king's office said on Monday.

"His Majesty King Abdullah II received a phone call from United States President Donald Trump on Monday. The call covered the recent escalations in the region and their implications for regional and global security and stability ... The King emphasised the need to work towards achieving comprehensive and sustainable calm that would contribute to restoring stability and achieving peace in the region," the office said in a statement.

19:07 GMT 02.03.2026

Military Operations Against Iran Will Last For 'as Long as it Takes - Israeli Envoy to UN

Israeli and US military operations against Iran will last for "as long as it takes", Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said on Monday.

"As long as it takes," Danon told reported at a media stakeout when asked whether Israel shares US President Donald Trump's assessment that the conflict with Iran will last around four to five weeks.

19:06 GMT 02.03.2026

UN on Khamenei's Assassination: We Don't Want To See More Killings

The United Nations does not want to see any more killings, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Monday after Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the US-Israeli strike campaign on the Islamic republic.

"We don't want to see any more killings, whether targeted or otherwise," Dujarric told reporters when asked to comment on Khamenei's assassination.

19:06 GMT 02.03.2026

Israel, US Struck Natanz Nuclear Facility on March 1 - Iran's Vice President

The United States and Israel launched two series of strikes on the Iranian nuclear facility in Natanz on March 1, Iranian Vice President and head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami said on Monday.

"The United States and Israel, continuing their aggressive attacks on Sunday afternoon, March 1, again launched two series of brutal strikes on the Natanz nuclear facility," Eslami said in a statement.

19:06 GMT 02.03.2026

IAEA Sees No Significant Activity by Iran to Restore Nuclear Facilities - Grossi

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not seen any significant activity from Iran that would indicate large-scale restoration of nuclear facilities following the June attacks last year, Director General Rafael Grossi said on Monday.

The agency continues to monitor Iran's nuclear facilities, and it did not see any significant activity that would indicate large-scale restoration work, Grossi said.

Iran did not have nuclear weapons, and the presence of signs of concern is not equal to the fact that the country has a nuclear military potential, Grossi added.

19:06 GMT 02.03.2026

Iran Did Not Strike Saudi Arabia's Oil Facilities – Reports

Iran did not strike Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, and the attack on the oil refinery of Saudi oil company Saudi Aramco was carried out by Israel, the Tasnim news agency reported on Monday, citing a military source familiar with the matter.

Earlier in the day, Saudi Defense Ministry representative Turki al-Maliki said that fragments of downed drones had fallen on the oil refinery of Saudi Aramco in the Ras Tanura area in the east of the kingdom.

The goal of Israel's operation is to divert attention from Middle Eastern countries from its crimes related to attacks on civilian targets in Iran, the report said, adding that Israel wants to strike the UAE port of Fujairah, blaming Iran for the attack.

19:05 GMT 02.03.2026

In this Tuesday, April 7, 2015, file photo released by the semi-official Fars News Agency, Iranian warship Alborz, foreground, prepares before leaving Iran's waters, at the Strait of Hormuz - Sputnik International, 1920, 02.03.2026

World

Prolonged Hormuz Closure Could Unleash Multi-Year Oil Price Shock – Energy Expert

2 March, 16:51 GMT

19:05 GMT 02.03.2026

Israel Expects Operation Against Iran to Last at Least One Week - Reports

The Israeli military expects the current operation against Iran to last at least a week, The Times of Israel newspaper reported on Monday.

The Israel Defense Forces reportedly aims to deal a serious blow to the Iranian government, stating that achieving this goal will require more than a few days.

US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday the US military's intention to continue attacks on Iran for "four to five weeks" if necessary.

19:05 GMT 02.03.2026

UAE, Qatar Want to Persuade Trump to Find Way to Quickly End Attacks on Iran - Reports

The UAE and Qatar are privately calling on allies to help them persuade US President Donald Trump to find a way to quickly end attacks on Iran, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing sources.

Qatar and the UAE are seeking to form a coalition to advance a diplomatic end to the conflict to prevent escalation in the region and further increases in energy prices, the report said.

Qatar has enough Patriot missiles to repel Iranian attacks for four days, the report added.

19:05 GMT 02.03.2026

US Has Capability to Go 'Far Longer' Than Projected 4-5 Weeks in Iran Operation - Trump

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States has capability to "go far longer" than the four to five weeks it initially projected its military operation against Iran would take.

"From the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that, we'll do it," Trump said during a Medal of Honor Ceremony in the White House.

19:00 GMT 02.03.2026

Iran Strikes Command Center at US's Al Minhad Air Base in UAE – IRGC

Iran attacked a command center at the United States' Al-Minhad air base in the UAE using six drones and five ballistic missiles, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday.

"The US military's command and control center at the Al Minhad air base in the UAE was attacked using six drones and five ballistic missiles," the IRGC said in a statement, as quoted by the Fars news agency.

A US tanker is on fire in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by two Iranian drones, the IRGC said, adding that Iran also struck remaining US naval facilities in Bahrain and destroyed them.

18:59 GMT 02.03.2026

Trump Says US Military Continues Large-Scale Combat Operations Against Iran

The United States military continues to conduct large-scale operations against Iran for a third consecutive day, US President Donald Trump said on Monday.

"Today, the United States military continues to carry out large scale combat operations in Iran," Trump said from the White House.

18:59 GMT 02.03.2026

Iran Attacks US Air Base Arifjan in Kuwait Using 12 Drones – IRGC

The Iranian military launched strikes on the United States's Arifjan air base in Kuwait using 12 drones, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday.

"The US's Arifjan air base in Kuwait was attacked by 12 drones," the IRGC said, as quoted by Iranian news agency Fars.

18:57 GMT 02.03.2026

Israeli Army Says Struck Senior Hezbollah Member in Beirut

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Monday that it had struck a senior member of Shiite movement Hezbollah in Beirut.

"A short while ago, an additional senior terrorist was struck in Beirut," the IDF said in a statement.

18:57 GMT 02.03.2026

US Suspends Consulate General Operations in Pakistan's Peshawar

The US Consulate General in the Pakistani city of Peshawar has temporarily suspended operations amid a regional fallout from US-Israeli strikes on Iran, the US embassy announced on Monday.

"U.S. citizens should be aware that effective March 2, the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar has temporarily suspended operations," the diplomatic mission said in a statement.

The embassy in Islamabad will maintain all regular or emergency consular services for US citizens, the statement added.

The move follows clashes on Sunday between police and demonstrators protesting the US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Washington Post reported that at least 22 people were killed and over 120 injured in protests near the US consulate in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

18:57 GMT 02.03.2026

Trump Disappointed With Starmer's Initial Refusal to Lend Chagos for Iran Strikes - Reports

US President Donald Trump was very disappointed with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his initial refusal to allow Washington using the Chagos Island's Diego Garcia base for its operations against Iran, The Telegraph reported on Monday.

On February 19, The Times newspaper reported London refused to provide the United States with its military bases, including the Diego Garcia base in the Chagos Archipelago and RAF Fairford airbase in England, for strikes on Iran. The UK reportedly feared violating international law and facing legal consequences over strikes on Iran.

"That's probably never happened between our countries before," Trump said. "It sounds like he was worried about the legality," he continued.

Although the British prime minister overturned the decision on Sunday night, announcing he would allow the United States to use Diego Garcia for specific and limited "defense purposes", the president believes the decision took "far too long" to be made, the report noted.

On October 3, 2024, the UK agreed to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including the island of Diego Garcia, to Mauritius. The agreement stipulates that the UK will provide financial support and infrastructure investment to Mauritius while retaining control of the airbase on Diego Garcia for 99 years.

Mauritius for decades has challenged UK sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, but it was not until 2019 that the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution urging the UK to give up the islands.

18:56 GMT 02.03.2026