Israel-Iran War Updates: Iran's IRGC Threatens To Target US Tech Companies In The Region

The video of a massive explosion shared without comment early Tuesday by U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be of a major strike conducted outside of the central Iranian city of Isfahan.

The Baluch advocacy group HalVash shared the same video and others from the ground outside of Isfahan. Fire-tracking satellites from NASA suggest the explosions happened near Mount Soffeh, an area believed to have military positions.

The videos show massive fireballs and secondary explosions common with ammunition igniting in a blaze.

Iran has not formally acknowledged the attack.

Isfahan is home to one of three uranium enrichment sites bombed by the U.S. in the 12-day day between Iran and Israel in June. A portion of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is believed to be entombed there — something America has suggested it could seize with ground forces.

AP

Two Indonesian United Nations peacekeepers have died while on escort duty in support of UNIFIL operations in southern Lebanon. The Indonesian Ministry of Defense said in a written statement on Tuesday that two other soldiers were also seriously injured amid intensifying hostilities in the area.

The statement added that the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation by UNIFIL in accordance with established procedures.

An Indonesian soldier was reported to have died and several other injured the previous day in his area of deployment as a result of the conflict taking place in the operational zone.

“The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that the safety of peacekeeping forces must be the top priority,” the statement said. “All parties involved in the conflict are expected to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of peacekeeping personnel.”

Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off Dubai on Monday, ​as President Donald Trump warned the U.S. would obliterate Iran's energy plants and oil wells if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz.

Kuwait Petroleum Corp, the ship's owner, said work was underway to assess damage and warned of a possible oil spill.

Authorities ​in Dubai later said they had been able to bring the fire under control following a drone attack on the tanker. No injuries have been ⁠reported, they said.

Despite attacks on civilian targets across the region, Iran's foreign minister reiterated early on Tuesday that Tehran's attacks on the Gulf Arab states solely target U.S. military.

The remarks made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Saudi Arabia coincide with the Gulf Arab states' growing resentment, which is pushing the United States to pursue the war.

“Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation,” Araghchi wrote on X, sharing a photo purportedly showing damage to an American aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in the kingdom. “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.”

Authorities brought the fire under control and extinguished it, the Dubai Media Office said. All 24 crew members are safe, and no injuries have been reported, the office said.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, run by the British military, reported the strike, saying the vessel was 31 nautical miles (57 kilometers) northwest of Dubai.

It said an unknown projectile struck their tanker on the starboard side, causing a fire on the vessel. No environmental impact has been reported, the center said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pronounced his tour of Middle Eastern countries a success on Monday and said a number of ​security cooperation accords had been clinched or were under discussion.

Zelenskiy ‌embarked on a tour of the region to offer Ukrainian expertise on how to counter attacks from drones fired by Iran in its conflict with the United States ​and Israel, which has spread across the Middle East.

Iran held a funeral Tuesday for Rear. Adm. Alireza Tangsiri, the head of Revolutionary Guard’s navy.

An Israeli airstrike killed Tangsiri last week, with Tehran only acknowledging his death Monday.

It showed his casket on a flat bed truck driving through the streets of Bandar Abbas, a crucial port city on the Strait of Hormuz that has seen repeated U.S. airstrikes during the war.

AP

Authorities in Dubai said Tuesday morning they “contained” a Kuwaiti oil tanker after it came under attack from Iran.

"No oil leakage and no injuries reported," according to officials.

The Kuwaiti ship was struck by a drone in Dubai waters, according to the Dubai Media office.

The media office said that all 24 crew members were safe after authorities put out a fire.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre, which is run by the British military, reported the strike, saying the vessel was 31 nautical miles (57 kilometres) northwest of Dubai.

An unknown projectile struck the tanker on the starboard side, causing a fire on the vessel. No environmental impact was reported, the center said.

The defense ministers of Italy and France expressed “deep and profound concern” Tuesday over the deteriorating security in Lebanon.

Guido Crosetto and Catherine Vautrin's joint statement specifically mentioned recent attacks on members of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

They emphasised the "unacceptability of such incidents and the increasing risks faced by the personnel deployed in the mission" during a phone call on Monday, according to the statement.

The ministers agreed on the strategic importance of UNIFIL, saying Lebanon’s stability constitutes “an indispensable pillar for the balance of the entire Mediterranean basin.”

They confirmed Italy and France will continue operating in close coordination to ensure the safety of international personnel, the protection of peace and support for Lebanese authorities.

Some of Myanmar’s most visible fuel constraints have appeared in big cities with long lines at gas stations becoming a daily sight, according to a report in the state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper on Tuesday.

Authorities have gradually rolled out measures and controls including an odd-even vehicle numbering system limits which cars can be on the roads each day, a QR code system and daily fuel purchase limits.

The measures have slowed fuel distribution and added to congestion as vehicles often wait for hours or even overnight under rationing rules.

The report says authorities have taken action against 17 gas stations and warned 24 others for violations such as selling without scanning codes, failing to open or overcharging.

AP

Three Chinese vessels recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz “through coordination with relevant parties,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

“We appreciate the assistance provided by the relevant parties,” she said without naming them.

She repeated China’s call for an immediate ceasefire, saying the strait is a vital corridor for goods and energy trade.

Former Iranian foreign minister and founder of the Payab Research Institute, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said Israeli-US strikes have hit one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the country producing anti-cancer, anaesthetic and specialised medicines.

European Union governments should prepare for a prolonged disruption to energy markets as a result of the Iran war, the bloc's energy chief has told ministers ahead of an emergency meeting on Tuesday.

In a letter to energy ministers, dated March 30 and seen by Reuters, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said governments were "encouraged to make timely preparations in anticipation of a potentially prolonged disruption".

Iran-US war news LIVE: An explosion was heard Tuesday morning near the international airport of Erbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, an AFP journalist said.

Iraq has been drawn into the broader Middle East war that started with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

- AFP

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the US and Israel are not seeking normalisation between Iran and its neighbours.

Lavrov added that ongoing “regime changes” are intended to gain more control over oil and gas resources and that the Middle East crisis could spin into a wider conflict.

Qatar has called for a collective regional approach to determining the future of the Strait of Hormuz, with its foreign ministry spokesperson stressing that decisions on such a critical waterway should not be taken unilaterally.

Doha’s strategic defence partnership with Washington has been instrumental in protecting Qatar’s resources amid attacks from Iran, the Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson says.

He added that Qatar’s armed forces thwarted 90 percent of the attacks and proved Qatar is not an easy target.

Strikes from Israel and USA Iran's Isfahan, the city some major nuclear facilities.

Iran hit a fully laden Kuwaiti oil tanker off the coast of Dubai during a fresh wave of attacks around the Persian Gulf, a sign it’s willing to escalate strikes on energy assets as the war drags on.

The Tuesday assault on the Al-Salmi, a large crude carrier in an area packed with ships, is one of the most significant on a vessel since the US and Israel began bombarding the Islamic Republic more than a month ago. Dubai authorities said a fire was contained and all 24 crew members are safe, with no oil leaking.

The UAE says its air forces intercepted eight ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and 36 drones launched from Iran today.

Iran’s IRGC has confirmed the killing of Jamshid Eshaghi, a major general in Iran’s armed forces and an adviser to the chief of the General Staff.

Iran’s FM Araghchi has rejected as “completely baseless” reports that Tehran had fired missiles at Turkiye and offered to jointly investigate the issue.

In a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, Araghchi warned against “false-flag operations by enemies” and said Iran was “ready for joint technical cooperation to examine any possible claim”, according to a statement by the Iranian foreign ministry.

At least 1,268 people have been killed and 3,750 wounded since the start of the Israeli attacks across Lebanon since March 2, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.

President Trump claims France refused to allow US military supply flights bound for Israel to pass through its airspace.

In a social media post, Trump said France had been “very unhelpful” in relation to what he described as the elimination of a senior Iranian figure.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar have released a five-point initiative aimed at “restoring peace and stability” in the Gulf and Iran following talks in Beijing.

The five points are as follows:

1. China and Pakistan have called for the “immediate cessation of hostilities” and efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading

2. Peace talks should begin as soon as possible, while ensuring the sovereignty and security of Iran and Gulf states. The two countries added that they would support all parties in initiating these talks

3. Attacks on civilians and non-military targets must end

4. The Strait of Hormuz’s shipping lanes must be secured

5. A comprehensive peace framework, in line with the UN Charter, must be established.

The UN chief Antonio Guterres has condemned the killing of two Indonesian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), following an explosion in southern Lebanon, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

The peacekeepers were killed on March 30 when a blast of “unknown origin” destroyed their vehicle near Bani Haiyyan, the statement said. A third peacekeeper was severely injured, and a fourth was also wounded.

The ongoing Middle East conflict could cost the region up to $194 billion, according to a stark warning from the UN Development Programme. A new report models how a localized escalation could become a "systemic regional shock," shrinking GDP by 3.7 to 6 percent due to disruptions to trade, energy markets, and shipping routes.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to target US tech companies operating in the region, urging employees and people living nearby to evacuate immediately.

“Since the main element in designing and tracking terrorist targets are American and ICT and AI companies … from now on, [these] main institutions will be our legitimate targets,” it said in a statement relayed by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

The IRGC said more than 15 companies will be targeted, including Boeing, Tesla, Meta, Google and Apple, from 8pm local time tomorrow.

An Iranian attack sparked a fire on a Kuwaiti oil tanker at Dubai Port, state media reported on Tuesday (March 31), as Tehran continued its campaign in the Gulf in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes.

“The Kuwaiti giant crude oil tanker was subjected to a direct and malicious Iranian attack while in the anchorage area of Dubai Port in the UAE,” official news agency KUNA reported, citing Kuwait’s state-owned oil company.

Source- AFP

Ten European countries, including France and the UK, have urged all sides to ensure the safety of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) after three of its peacekeepers were killed in recent days.

“We urge all parties, under all circumstances, to ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises, in accordance with international law,” the foreign ministers of Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and the UK as well as the European Union’s top diplomat said in a joint statement.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, urged an end to the ongoing West Asia violence and conflicts.

Calling for global unity, the Dalai Lama appealed to the people worldwide to work towards peace and prayed for an early end to ongoing violence and conflicts

In a statement issued at Dharamshala, the Nobel Peace Laureate, the Dalai Lama, on Tuesday issued an appeal for an early end to the war and endorsed the recent appeal for peace made by Pope Leo XIV.

“I wholeheartedly endorse the powerful appeal for peace made by the Holy Father, Pope Leo, during his Palm Sunday Mass. His call for the laying down of arms and the renunciation of violence resonated profoundly with me, as it speaks to the very essence of what all major religions teach,” the Tibetan spiritual leader said.

He further said, “Indeed, whether we look to Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, or any of the world’s great spiritual traditions, the message is fundamentally the same: love, compassion, tolerance, and self-discipline. Violence finds no true home in any of these teachings. History has shown us time and again that violence only begets more violence and is never a lasting foundation for peace."

An enduring resolution to conflict, including the ones we see in the Middle East or between Russia and Ukraine, must be rooted in dialogue, diplomacy, and mutual respect—approached with the understanding that, at the deepest level, we are all brothers and sisters, the official statement said.

The Dalai Lama added, "I urge and pray for the swift end of violence and conflicts."

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office has expressed surprise at US President Donald Trump’s criticism of France, stressing the country’s position on US military overflights had not changed.

“France has not changed its position since day one,” the presidency said.

“We are surprised by this tweet,” it said, referring to Trump’s social media post in which he accused France of being “very unhelpful” in the US-Israeli war on Iran and not allowing planes carrying military supplies to “fly over French territory”.

Satellite images are beginning to be released, giving a glimpse into the toll of the Iran war, with ships ablaze in an Iranian port and destroyed buildings at American bases in the region.

Information has so far been scarce about the damage being done across the West Asia, particularly when it’s inside closed military facilities, since the war started on February 28.

The images come from Planet Labs PBC, a San Francisco-based firm used by media outlets, including The Associated Press. Planet Labs has put a two-week delay on its imagery becoming public, citing concerns its imagery could be used by “adversarial actors.” High-resolution images have also been published by competing firms. Other providers, like the US Geological Survey, have been publishing lower-resolution imagery as well, which has been useful.

Source: AP

An Iranian attack sparked a fire on a Kuwaiti oil tanker at Dubai Port, state media reported on Tuesday (March 31), as Tehran continued its campaign in the Gulf in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes.

“The Kuwaiti giant crude oil tanker was subjected to a direct and malicious Iranian attack while in the anchorage area of Dubai Port in the UAE,” official news agency KUNA reported, citing Kuwait’s state-owned oil company.

Source: AFP

European Union energy ministers say that stronger coordination is needed on gas storage to avoid price spikes, though they agreed Europe’s wider energy supply remains relatively safeguarded from the impact of the US-Israel war on Iran, Cyprus Energy Minister Michael Damianos has said.

“We agreed that EU and national measures must be carefully designed, coordinated, targeted and tailored to the current situation, while remaining fully consistent with our long-term objectives,” Damianos told reporters.