LIVE: Oil prices soar after Trump demands Iran's 'unconditional surrender'
The president has ruled out a ground invasion for the moment as he insists on celebrating the successes of joint strikes with Israel. The Jewish state stepped up bombing after announcing "a new phase" of the war.
An F18 prepares to take off from the USS Abraham Lincoln during Operation Epic Fury.
Donald Trump ruled out deploying U.S. troops to Iran. In a televised interview, the president noted that such a move would be a "waste of time," deeming it no longer worthwhile given the development of the war: "They've lost everything. They’ve lost their navy. They’ve lost everything they can lose," thus responding to the declarations of an Iranian leader who assured that he was prepared for a land invasion.
Now on its sixth day, the conflict has entered "a new phase," according to the Israeli military, which further intensified attacks on Tehran, targeting the regime's infrastructure. In response, Tehran again launched barrages of drones and missiles against Israel and several Gulf countries.
All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Trump’s strike on Tehran exposes Europe’s blindness
Why did Donald Trump attack Iran? Ask many newspapers and television panels across Europe, and you will hear a familiar answer: because he is an imperialist, reckless and aggressive. That is the dominant explanation repeated across much of the continent’s media and political discourse.
According to this narrative, Trump acts out of arrogance and geopolitical ambition. Following closely behind him, critics say, is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, often portrayed in the same commentary as a dangerous provocateur. Together, they become convenient symbols of Western aggression.
Yet this interpretation ignores the central fact that has defined Middle Eastern politics for more than four decades: The Islamic Republic of Iran has built a vast system of ideological warfare, military expansion and terrorism directed not only at Israel but at the West as a whole...
Read the full analysis by the Italian-Israeli journalist on the "complex strategy" that led the US president to order the offensive against Iran.
Iranian warship docks at Kochi port in India
An Iranian warship has docked at the Indian port of Kochi in southwestern India, a government source in New Delhi said Friday, after an American submarine sank another Iranian frigate and a third docked in Sri Lanka.
"The IRIS Lavan ... docked in Kochi on March 4. In this context, its crew of 183 people are currently being accommodated in naval facilities in Kochi," the source said in remarks picked up by AFP.
Like the IRIS Dena, the Iranian warship sunk on Wednesday by a U.S. submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka, the IRIS Lavan had also been part of a naval magazine off the Indian port city of Visakhapatnam.
France deploys helicopter carrier in the Mediterranean Sea
France has sent a helicopter carrier to the Mediterranean in response to the war in the Middle East, the French military told AFP on Friday.
"An amphibious helicopter carrier has been deployed to the Mediterranean to reinforce the presence of the French armed forces in the context of the crisis in the Middle East," a spokesman said, after France decided earlier this week to deploy its flagship aircraft carrier and a frigate.
A similar ship was sent off the coast of Lebanon as a precautionary measure to assist in possible repatriations during the 2024 war between Israel and the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. The current conflict has already involved Lebanon.
Oil prices soar after Trump's demand on Iran
The price of the benchmark U.S. oil contract shot up more than 10% on Friday due to fears of a prolonged crude supply disruption after President Donald Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender."
The West Texas Intermediate rose 10.63%, to $89.62 per barrel, while North Sea Brent, the international benchmark, reached $91.89, its highest level in nearly two years.
Israel claims Iran and Hezbollah coordinated Thursday's missile launches
Israel's military said Friday it had identified "simultaneous and coordinated" missile launches by Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah aimed at saturating Israeli air defenses.
"Yesterday we identified simultaneous and coordinated attacks between Iran and Hezbollah, with simultaneous missile launches from both Iran and Lebanon in an attempt to saturate our air defense systems," military spokesman Lt. Col. Col. Nadav Shoshani told AFP.
Shoshani added that there had been "no significant impacts" on Israel in the past 24 hours.
What to do if you are in the Middle East? Key information from the State Department
Following the commencement of combat operations in Iran, U.S. citizens in the region should exercise extreme caution and stay informed on an ongoing basis.
To receive security updates directly from the nearest embassy or consulate, you can enroll in the STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) through step.state.gov.
Other contact channels include:
- To receive alerts on your phone: The State Department recommends following the official WhatsApp channel U.S. Department of State - Security Updates for U.S. Citizens.
- If you require immediate assistance, in case of flight disruptions: Call the Task Force available 24 hours a day. Contact numbers are +1-202-501-4444 (from overseas) and 1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada).
- To leave the region: if you are in some Middle Eastern countries and are looking for options to return home, the government has provided an online form. The countries include Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Authorities also urge all citizens in the region to periodically review travel advisories and country-specific alerts on travel.state.gov to ensure their personal safety.
TRUMP SAYS ONLY “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” BY IRAN WILL END WAR
President Donald Trump published the message on Truth Social:
"There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. 'MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).' Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
U.N. calls on Washington to conduct "impartial investigations" into the alleged bombing of a school
The Pentagon is investigating the alleged bombing of a school in Iran. Iranian authorities said it was a girls' school in Minab, in the south of the country, that was hit on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli offensive. There were more than 160 reported dead, a figure that has not yet been confirmed.
"All I can say is we’re investigating that," Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said when asked about the incident in midweek. "We, of course, never target civilian targets, but we're taking a look and investigating that."
This Friday, the United Nations (U.N.) called on the Trump administration to ensure that the inquiries are "prompt, transparent and impartial, which we understand has been announced by the United States of America."
Video: American missiles hit Iranian drone carrier
The U.S. struck an Iranian ship designed to transport drones. This was reported by CENTCOM, which assured the ship was on fire. "U.S. forces aren't holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy," CENTCOM assured in a release that includes a video of the attack.
Iran inaugurated its first "drone carrier" early last year, as reported then by VOZ. Drones are a key weapon for Iran, because of their low cost and speed of production.
Iranian president assures that "some countries" have started "mediation efforts"
As the war enters its sixth day, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed on social media that some global leaders had undertaken efforts to reach a truce.
"Some countries have begun mediation efforts," Pezeshkian wrote before saying that the regime was committed "to lasting peace in the region," would not hesitate in "defending our nation's dignity & sovereignty." He further stressed that "mediation should address those who underestimated the Iranian people and ignited this conflict," alluding to the United States and Israel.
The Iranian leader did not specify which countries were putting themselves forward as mediators. His message comes two days after Trump assured that Tehran had tried to start new negotiations, but that it was "too late": "Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said “Too Late!"
U.N. declares "major humanitarian emergency" in Middle East crisis
The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) announced Friday that it declared the crisis in the Middle East a "major humanitarian emergency," stressing the need for an immediate response.
"UNHCR has declared the escalating crisis in the Middle East as a major humanitarian emergency requiring an immediate response across the region and into Southeast Asia," Ayaki Ito, the agency's head of emergencies and inter-regional coordinator for refugees, told reporters in Geneva.
Maersk shipping line announces temporary suspension of connections between Europe and the Middle East and between the Far East and the Middle East
Danish shipping company Maersk announced Friday the suspension of two of its connections, one between Europe and the Middle East and the other, between the Middle East and the Far East, because of the war.
"In view of the escalation of the conflict, which compromises the safety of shippingin the Gulf region, we have taken the decision to temporarily suspend the FM1 service (connecting the Far East to the Middle East) and the ME11 service (connecting the Middle East to Europe)," the company, the world's second leading shipping company said in a statement.
Like the world's major shipping lines, Maersk had previously announced the suspension of any bookings to and from the Gulf "until further notice."
There is "plenty of oil on the market" despite Middle East war, says IEA
The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, on Friday sought to calm fears of a global oil crisis following a spike in prices stemming from the war in the Middle East, saying "there is plenty of oil on the market."
Birol told reporters in Brussels that the "logistical disruption" caused by the conflict was "creating difficulties for many countries," but insisted that "there is no shortage of oil globally."
At the moment, "no collective action" on oil is planned, he said, although "all options" are being considered.
Explosions in Tel Aviv, no casualties reported
The Israeli city of Tel Aviv was rocked by eight explosions Friday morning following an Iranian missile alert, AFP journalists reported.
At the moment, Magen David Adom rescue services reported no casualties.
E.U. considers it "urgent" for Europe to increase "production of air defense and ballistic missile systems" because U.S. does not have enough ammunition for Gulf and Ukraine
European Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius warned Friday that the United States "will not be able" to produce and deliver enough missiles at the same time in the Gulf and Ukraine.
"It is now very clear that with the Iranian crisis ... the Americans will not really be able to guarantee enough missiles at the same time to the Gulf countries, to the U.S. military and to the needs of Ukraine," he said.
Thus, "it has become more urgent for us, in Europe, to increase the production of air defense systems and ballistic missiles," insisted Kubilius, who embarked in Poland on a European tour aimed at encouraging European production in that field.
Israel launches even more intense attacks on Tehran and Beirut after announcing that the war is entering a "new phase"
The Israeli military on Friday launched a series of "large-scale" attacks on Tehran as part of a "new phase" of its war against Iran, which it has also extended to Lebanon with heavy bombardments on Beirut.
Several Iranian media outlets, including state-run channel Irib, reported Friday morning a series of explosions in different neighborhoods of the capital. The Israeli military explained that its target was "the infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime in Tehran."
Missile attacks were also reported in Shiraz, in the south of the country, which left several citizens "dead or wounded" Thursday night, public news agency Irna said.
And in Lebanon, the southern suburbs of the capital, Beirut, were also shelled early Friday by Israel, Lebanon's state-run Ani news agency reported, without mentioning casualties.
Trump asserts that sending troops to Iran would be "waste of time"
Donald Trump ruled out deploying U.S. troops to Iran. In an interview on NBC, the president noted that such a move would be a "waste of time," considering that it is no longer worthwhile given the development of the war: "They've lost everything. They've lost everything. They’ve lost their navy. They’ve lost everything they can lose," thus responding to statements by the Iranian president who claimed to be prepared for a ground invasion.
Trump also stated that he would like to see Iran's leadership structure gone and that his team wants to "go in and clean out everything" quickly. "We don’t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period," he commented, noting that he already has some ideas about who might lead the country, but declined to name anyone.
Previously, Trump had said he would likely have to participate in the appointment of Iran's next leader, after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the bombings initiated by the United States and Israel on Saturday.
Oil gives a brief respite in the Asian trading session and Eastern markets stabilize
Oil took a breather on Friday in Asian markets after its impressive rise in the previous days due to the war in the Middle East. Asian markets stabilized at the end of a week full of ups and downs due to geopolitical concerns.
During the day, a barrel of North Sea Brent, the international benchmark, dropped 0.57% to $84.92, after rising 4.93% on Thursday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was down 0.85%, although it was still above the $80-a-barrel barrier ($80.30), after rising 8.51% the day before.
Check out the highlights of the war so far here
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