President Donald Trump has threatened to \u201cobliterate\u201d Iran\u2019s power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the strait of Hormuz within 48 hours<\/strong> \u2013 threatening a new escalation, just a day after the president spoke of \u201cwinding down\u201d the war<\/a>.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s warning on Saturday triggered a response from Iran\u2019s military that it will target all US \u201cenergy, information technology and desalination infrastructure\u201d if its own facilities are attacked<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If you are just tuning in, here is a quick recap of the latest:<\/p>\n Iranian ballistic missile barrages wounded about 100 people<\/a> in southern Israel on Saturday<\/strong>, striking the cities of Arad and Dimona after air defence systems failed to intercept at least two projectiles. The Israeli Air Force is investigating its failure to prevent the attacks. Benjamin Netanyahu called it \u201ca very difficult evening in the campaign for our future\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had received no indication of damage to the Negev<\/strong> nuclear research centre, which is near to Dimona.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n In the early hours on Sunday, Israeli military announced in a brief statement that it was conducting strikes in Tehran.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Saudi Arabia\u2019s ministry of defence<\/strong> said it had detected three missiles launched towards Riyadh early in the morning.<\/strong> One of the missiles was intercepted, while two fell in an uninhabited area, it said<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Iran on Saturday launched two ballistic missiles<\/a> with a range of 4,000 km (2,500 miles) at the US-British military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean,<\/strong> according to the Israeli military, which said it was the first time Iran had used long-range missiles since the conflict began on February 28.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The British foreign secretary condemned the attacks <\/strong>on Diego Garcia, while stressing the UK has \u201ctaken a different position from the US and Israel\u201d on the conflict<\/strong>. Yvette Cooper said ministers wanted to see a swift resolution to the war, adding the government was supporting defensive action against the \u201creckless Iranian threats\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n A projectile struck close to a bulk carrier off the coast of the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, causing an explosion,<\/strong> according to the British military\u2019s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The death toll has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 US military members, and a number of civilians on land and sea in the Gulf region<\/strong>, according to Associated Press. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Six oil ships bound for Australia have been cancelled Six oil ships bound for Australia have been cancelled in recent days but the federal government is not yet considering any drastic measures,<\/strong> the energy minister, Chris Bowen, says.<\/p>\n Bowen said on Sunday that six ships from Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea, that had been expected to arrive next month, were cancelled or deferred<\/strong>. The federal government was working to replace the ships, with some already substituted, the minister told ABC TV.<\/p>\n Australia receives about 80 shipments of oil each month, on average, predominantly from Asia. On Friday, Reuters reported record amounts<\/a> of US fuel were being exported to Australia amid supply chain disruptions.<\/p>\n \u201cThe flow of oil to Asian refineries has slowed, and that has downward impacts on us,\u201d Bowen said on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re in an uncertain environment, so that\u2019s why we\u2019re doing \u2026 all the preparatory work.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople think \u2018Well, all the ships are coming now, and one day they\u2019ll all stop in one go\u2019. [But] that is highly unlikely to be the case. It\u2019s much more likely that there\u2019ll be bumps in supply, but that governments will work with the refiners and the importers to manage those and minimise impacts.\u201d<\/p>\n Bowen said fuel supplies within<\/strong> Australia were slightly higher than before the crisis began, with 38 days of petrol. There was 30 days supply of diesel and jet fuel.<\/strong><\/p>\n The weeks ahead could be more challenging with disruptions expected to occur for shipments arriving in late April and May, the minister conceded.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.08 EDT<\/p>\n Sri Lanka raised fuel prices by 25%, the second increase in two weeks<\/p>\n Sri Lanka raised fuel prices by 25% on Sunday, <\/strong>as the economic shockwaves triggered by the war continue to ripple across the world.<\/p>\n Regular petrol was increased to 398 rupees ($1.30) per litre, up from 317 rupees, while diesel, the fuel commonly used for public transport, rose by 79 rupees to 382, according to a report by AFP. This is the second increase in two weeks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope to achieve a 15 to 20% reduction in fuel consumption with the latest increase,\u201d an official at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation said.<\/p>\n He said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake told them last week that the country must prepare for a prolonged conflict in the Middle East that could affect the island\u2019s energy supplies.<\/p>\n Sri Lanka\u2019s president ordered a four-day working week from last Wednesday and asked employers to reintroduce work-from-home arrangements where possible.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.10 EDT<\/p>\n Agence France-Presse has spoken to residents in Arad, the southern Israeli town that was hit by an Iranian missile on Saturday night<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Ido Franky, 17, recalled hearing \u201cterrifying\u201d blasts like nothing he had experienced before:<\/p>\n double quotation markFranky rushed to shelter with his family as air raid sirens sounded, warning of an incoming attack. \u201cThere was a \u2018boom, boom!\u2019, my mother was screaming,\u201d he said near the impact site, where an AFP correspondent saw three damaged buildings and firefighters reported a blaze.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was terrifying… this town had never seen anything like this,\u201d the teenager told AFP.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s Magen David Adom emergency medical service said 84 wounded people were taken to hospitals from the Arad scene, including 10 in serious condition.<\/p>\n In the early hours of Sunday, dozens of people were still at the site, taking photos or calling friends and family to share details of the destruction, even as police warned residents on loudspeakers not to approach.<\/p>\n Security forces patrolled the streets with flashlights while rescuers searched the rubble to ensure all casualties had been recovered.<\/p>\n A crater around of around five metres (16 feet) was left amid the bombed-out buildings.<\/p>\n Police spokesman Dean Elsdunne told AFP that \u201cthe operation will take a few hours\u201d before authorities can clear the scene and ensure all residents are accounted for.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Ultra-Orthodox Jewish residents look on at the scene of a direct hit of an Iranian missile in Arad, Israel. Photograph: Abir Sultan\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.07 EDT<\/p>\n Trump’s strait of Hormuz ultimatum<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a recap of Trump\u2019s remarks on Saturday night, in which he threatened to strike Iranian power plants if Tehran does not \u201cfully open\u201d the strait of Hormuz within 48 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Writing on Truth Social, Trump said:<\/p>\n double quotation markIf Iran doesn\u2019t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Iran has effectively closed down the strait by attacking ships and reportedly laying mines in the waterway<\/a>, causing a major crisis in global energy markets that is now entering its fourth week.<\/p>\n The strait is one of the world\u2019s most important trade routes, through which a fifth of global oil and seaborne gas is shipped.<\/p>\n Several Nato members and other US allies pledged last week to join \u201cappropriate efforts to ensure safe passage\u201d through the strait, though they have no given details of how they would do this. Trump earlier called alliance members \u201ccowards\u201d for not stepping in to help guard the strait.<\/p>\n Donald Trump has given conflicting messaging about the war in recent days. Photograph: Bryan Dozier\/NurPhoto\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s latest ultimatum \u2013 which marks a change in tone from remarks on Friday about \u201cwinding down\u201d the war \u2013 has elicited warnings from Iran\u2019s military.<\/p>\n The Iranian military\u2019s operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement carried by Fars news agency:<\/p>\n double quotation markFollowing previous warnings, if Iran\u2019s fuel and energy infrastructure is violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.55 EDT<\/p>\n Japan open to mine sweeping strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n Japan could consider deploying its military for minesweeping in the strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is reached in the US-Israeli war on Iran,<\/strong> the foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, said on Sunday, according to a Reuters report.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there were to be a complete ceasefire, hypothetically speaking, then things like minesweeping could come up,\u201d Motegi told Fuji TV. \u201cThis is purely hypothetical, but if a ceasefire were established and naval mines were creating an obstacle, then I think that would be something to consider.\u201d<\/p>\n Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Photograph: Vincent Thian\/Reuters<\/p>\n Tokyo has no immediate plans to seek arrangements to allow passage through the strait of Hormuz for stranded Japanese vessels, Motegi said, adding it was \u201cextremely important\u201d to create conditions that allow all ships to navigate through the strait.<\/p>\n Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi<\/strong> told Japan\u2019s Kyodo news agency on Friday that he had spoken to Motegi about potentially letting Japanese-related vessels pass through the waterway.<\/p>\n Japan gets around 90% of its oil shipments via the strait<\/strong>, which Tehran has effectively closed during the war.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.16 EDT<\/p>\n The United Arab Emirates says it is responding to incoming aerial attacks from Iran<\/p>\n The United Arab Emirates defence ministry says it is responding to \u201cincoming missile and drone threats from Iran\u201d,<\/strong> adding that sounds heard are the result of air defence systems intercepting attacks.<\/p>\n A ministry spokesperson said three drones had been intercepted and destroyed in the country\u2019s eastern region, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.32 EDT<\/p>\n More than 100 people were wounded in Iranian missile strikes on two southern Israeli towns on Saturday, after Israeli air defence systems failed to intercept the projectiles. <\/p>\n Images from the scene showed first responders searching the wreckage, including damaged residential buildings.<\/p>\n Emergency workers gather in the early hours of March 22, 2026 at the site of an Iranian missile strike hours earlier in Arad, Israel. Photograph: Erik Marmor\/Getty ImagesAn Israeli rescue worker inspects the scene of a direct hit of an Iranian missile in Arad, Israel, 22 March 2026. Photograph: Abir Sultan\/EPAEmergency responders at the site of an Iranian missile attack in Arad, southern Israel, March 21, 2026. Photograph: Abir Sultan\/EPAShare<\/a>Welcome summary<\/p>\n Hello and welcome to our continuing live coverage of the US-Israel war on Iran<\/a> and its repercussions for the Middle East, the world and the global economy.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump has threatened to \u201cobliterate\u201d Iran\u2019s power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the strait of Hormuz within 48 hours<\/strong> \u2013 threatening a new escalation, just a day after the president spoke of \u201cwinding down\u201d the war<\/a>.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s warning on Saturday triggered a response from Iran\u2019s military that it will target all US \u201cenergy, information technology and desalination infrastructure\u201d if its own facilities are attacked<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If you are just tuning in, here is a quick recap of the latest:<\/p>\n Iranian ballistic missile barrages wounded about 100 people<\/a> in southern Israel on Saturday<\/strong>, striking the cities of Arad and Dimona after air defence systems failed to intercept at least two projectiles. The Israeli Air Force is investigating its failure to prevent the attacks. Benjamin Netanyahu called it \u201ca very difficult evening in the campaign for our future\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had received no indication of damage to the Negev<\/strong> nuclear research centre, which is near to Dimona.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n In the early hours on Sunday, Israeli military announced in a brief statement that it was conducting strikes in Tehran.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Saudi Arabia\u2019s ministry of defence<\/strong> said it had detected three missiles launched towards Riyadh early in the morning.<\/strong> One of the missiles was intercepted, while two fell in an uninhabited area, it said<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n
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Sarah Basford Canales<\/p>\n\n
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