The conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel intensified over the past week, with Tehran targeting Gulf nations even after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an apology and pledged to halt strikes unless provoked. The escalation has disrupted civilian air travel, energy supplies, and regional security.
US and Israeli offensive against Iran
The US and Israel have carried out sustained military strikes against Iranian targets, including air defence systems and key facilities near Tehran and Isfahan. US Central Command reported that Iranian ballistic missile attacks fell by 90 per cent and drone attacks by 83 per cent over the past several days. Israel claimed near-complete air superiority and the destruction of 80 per cent of Iran’s air defence systems.
The US also targeted the Iranian warship IRIS Dena near Sri Lanka on 4 March, killing at least 87 personnel and leaving 60 missing. Pentagon officials confirmed the ship was hit by a submarine-launched torpedo, marking the first torpedo strike since World War II. Iran vowed retaliation, claiming a strike on an American tanker in the northern Persian Gulf hours later.
Iranian strikes hit Gulf neighbours
Despite President Pezeshkian’s apology, continued attacks on Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE. On Saturday, drone and missile strikes briefly forced the closure of Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs. Passengers were evacuated into underground train tunnels as debris from intercepted drones caused smoke and fire. Emirates temporarily suspended flights, which later resumed.
Other targets included the Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, also used by US forces, and Saudi Arabia’s Shaybah oil field, where 16 drones were intercepted. Iran reportedly damaged components of the US THAAD missile defence system at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
Iranian apology and US response
In a televised address, President Pezeshkian apologised to Gulf neighbours, stating Iran had no intention of invading other nations and would cease strikes unless attacks originated from these countries. Shortly after, US President Donald Trump mocked Tehran on social media, calling Iran the “loser of the Middle East” and warning of further US retaliation. Trump asserted that the US would not negotiate with Iran without “unconditional surrender.”
The US is preparing to deploy a third aircraft carrier, USS George HW Bush, to the region. Central Command said over 3,000 Iranian targets had been struck and 43 Iranian warships destroyed in the past seven days.
The ongoing conflict has killed at least 1,332 people in Iran and around 10 across the Gulf. Air travel disruptions, infrastructure damage, and heightened military deployments have intensified global concern over energy security and regional stability.
