Pete Hegseth says US ‘knows exactly what Russia and China are doing’ amid claims they are supporting Iran – live updates

By JAMIE BULLEN, LIVE COVERAGE EDITOR

Updated: 16:10 EDT, 31 March 2026

Pete Hegseth has said the US knows ‘exactly’ what roles Russia and China are playing in the Iran war amid claims both countries are supporting Tehran.

The US Defense Secretary insists Washington will confront Moscow and Beijing ‘where necessary’ as he provided an update on the war in a Pentagon briefing today.

Asked about reports of the countries providing support to Tehran during the conflict, Hegseth said: ‘As far as Russia and China, we know exactly what they’re doing, what they are or are not doing.

‘We don’t have to air publicly what all of that is, but where necessary, we’re addressing it, we’re mitigating it or we’re confronting it head on.’

Russia has been accused of providing Iran with the locations of American assets to attack and sharing advanced drone tactics.

While China is said to be providing military co-operation, according to Iranian foreign minster Abbas Araghchi.

Follow the latest updates on the US-Israel war with Iran 

Hegseth – We know what Russia and China are doing for Iran

The US ‘knows exactly’ what China and Russia are doing in regards to the Iran war, Pete Hegseth has claimed today.

Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing that Washington will ‘address’ and even ‘confront’ both Moscow and Beijing ‘where necessary’.

It comes amid claims both nations are supporting Tehran in its war against the US and Israel.

Asked about reports of Russia and China aiding Iran, Hegseth said: ‘As far as Russia and China, we know exactly what they’re doing, what they are or are not doing.

‘We don’t have to air publicly what all of that is, but where necessary, we’re addressing it, we’re mitigating it or we’re confronting it head on.’

Russia has been accused of passing Iran the locations of American assets to attack and sharing advanced drone tactics.

While China is said to be providing military co-operation, according to Iranian foreign minster Abbas Araghchi.

Day 32 of the Iran war: Everything you need to know

Here’s all the latest developments on the US-Israel war with Iran:

• Donald Trump told countries including the UK ‘go get your own oil’ as he challenged nations to get supplies straight from the Strait of Hormuz
• Fears are growing the UK faces a jet fuel shortage in days as the ‘last shipment’ from the Middle East arrives in the next 48 hours
• Trump also lashed out at France describing the nation as ‘very unhelpful’ over the Iran war amid claims Emmanuel Macron blocked US planes from French airspace
• The President has reportedly signalled to aides he is willing to leave the Iran war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz
• Pete Hegseth has said the US ‘knows exactly’ what China and Russia are doing amid claims the countries are supporting Iran
• Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing the US would ‘much prefer’ a deal to end the war with Iran’s leadership
• An Iranian drone has stuck a fully loaded Kuwaiti tanker anchored at Dubai port
• Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have claimed an Israeli-owned ship has been struck in the Persian Gulf and US marines have been targeted with drones in the UAE
• Israel’s emergency services say eight people have been injured after an Iranian missile strike in central Israel
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war on Iran had achieved more than half its aims without putting a timeline on when it would end
• Italy denied US bombers access to an air base in Sicily last week after pilots apparently failed to ask for permission to land
• China has expressed its ‘gratitude’ after ships pass Strait of Hormuz

Stick with us for the latest developments throughout the day.

Breaking:S&P 500 surges 2.9% to its biggest gain since last spring as hopes build for an end to Iran warRevolutionary Guard threatens US tech firms, saying they help spy on Iran

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has threatened to attack US companies, including some of the biggest tech giants, after accusing them of being involved in ‘terrorist espionage’ operations in Iran.

A statement carried by Iranian state media listed 18 companies whose offices in the Middle East region they claimed would be legitimate targets for Iran starting Wednesday.

Those include Apple, Microsoft, Google, and others.

The Guard has launched missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab countries since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28.

Earlier this month, Iranian drone strikes caused damage to three Amazon Web Services facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Breaking:Kidnapped US journalist was warned about ‘threats against them’, US State Dept says

The US journalist kidnapped in Baghdad was previously warned ‘about threats against them’, the US State Department has said.

Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson said that the US believed an individual with ties to an Iranian-aligned militia, Kataib Hizballah, was involved in the kidnapping and had been taken into custody.

Johnson said the department was aware of the reported kidnapping and was coordinating with the FBI ‘to ensure their release as quickly as possible’.

He added:

Iraq remains at a Level 4 Travel Advisory and Americans are advised not to travel to Iraq for any reason and to leave Iraq now.’

Jordan says it intercepted and destroyed four Iranian missiles

Jordan’s armed forces said today they had intercepted and destroyed four Iranian missiles in the past day.

In a post on X, they added that they also responded to 17 reports of falling debris and projectiles during the same time period.

Pope Leo hopes Trump is looking for an ‘off-ramp’

P‌ope Leo has urged the US president to end the war in Iran, saying he hopes he’s looking for an ‘off-ramp’.

Speaking to journalists outside ​his residence in Castel ⁠Gandolfo, near Rome, he said:

I’m told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war. Hopefully he’s looking for an off-ramp. Hopefully, he’s looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that’s being created and that’s increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere.

I would certainly continue to give this call to all leaders of the world and say, come back to the table to dialogue. Let’s look for solutions to problems. Let’s look for ways to reduce the amount of violence that we’re promoting. That peace, especially at Easter, might reign in our hearts’

Since he became Bishop of Rome in May, Pope Leo has often spoken out against war, urging dialogue and reconciliation.

Two days ago, on Palm Sunday, the pope told a crowd of worshippers that God ‘does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.’

Trump asks nations upset by high fuel rates to ‘go get your own oil’

United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday asked the nations that are upset by the high fuel rates after ongoing tensions with Iran to ‘go get your own oil’.

The shooting of fuel prices was triggered as Iran continues to maintain a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a major route in trade.

The US-Israeli war with Iran has caused major disruptions to the world’s supply of oil and natural gas, roiling global markets.

US gas prices jumped past an average of $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 as fuel prices continue to soar worldwide.

The last time US drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Iran believes Strait of Hormuz to be open, says country’s foreign minister

‘As of now, we believe the Strait to be open’, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, told Al Jazeera.

‘Only for the ships of those who are at war with us, this strait is closed. That is normal during war – we cannot let our enemies use our territorial waters for commerce’.

Syrian President says country to stay out of US-Iran conflict

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Tuesday his country will stay out of the US-Israeli war against Iran unless Syria is subject to aggression and has no diplomatic solutions.

‘Unless Syria is targeted by any party, Syria will remain outside any conflict,’ Reuters reported, quoting the Syrian president as saying in a speech at an event hosted by think tank Chatham House in London.

The month-long conflict has spread across the region, killing thousands, disrupting energy supplies, and threatening to send the global economy into a tailspin.

Netanyahu says Iran can no longer threaten Israel’s existence

Netanyahu says Israel has scored major achievements in weakening the Iranian regime and its military capabilities.

He said Israeli forces are systematically crushing the Iranian regime, even if it still has weapons launch capabilities.

The Israeli prime minister adds that Israel hopes to soon be able to speak about new alliances in the region.

US State Department warns Americans in Saudi Arabia that hotels may be targeted

The US State Department warned US citizens in Saudi Arabia that it is ‘tracking reports of threats against locations where American citizens gather,’ noting that ‘hotels and other gathering points, including US businesses and US educational institutions may be potential targets.’

Tuesday’s security alert reiterated that US government employees have been instructed to shelter in place and advised US citizens to do the same.

Key Updates

• UK to boost defence support to Gulf allies

  View post

• Pete Hegseth – Next days will be ‘decisive’ in Iran war

  View post

• King Charles will head to US ‘at the end of April’ for state visit

  View post

• Trump hits out at ‘very unhelpful’ France during Iran war

  View post

• Trump challenges UK to ‘build courage’ and take fuel from the Strait of Hormuz

  View post

• Pictured: Kuwaiti oil tanker damaged after Iranian drone strike

  View post

• Day 32 of the Iran war: Everything you need to know

  View post

• Italy denies US bombers access to Sicily air base

  View post

• UK faces jet fuel shortage in days with last known shipment set to arrive in 48 hours

  View post

• Oil prices sink as Trump signals he could end war even if Strait of Hormuz remains shut

  View post

• Netanyahu says Iran war goals achieved ‘beyond halfway point’

  View post

• Iran claims it has hit Israeli-owned ship in Persian Gulf and fired drones at US marines

  View post

• Kuwait’s oil company hits out at ‘heinous’ Iranian attack on oil tanker

  View post

• Trump unleashes 2,000lb bunker busters on ammunition depot

  View post

• Trump tells aides he is willing to leave Iran war without reopening Strait of Hormuz – report

  View post

Share or comment on this article:
Pete Hegseth says US ‘knows exactly what Russia and China are doing’ amid claims they are supporting Iran – live updates