Ballistic missiles enters Turkish airspace, says defence ministry
Turkey’s defence ministry says that another ballistic missile from Iran has been neutralised by Nato air and missile defence assets deployed in the eastern Mediterranean.
“All necessary measures are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at our country’s territory and airspace,” the ministry says.
This news is breaking: more to follow
Oil market it ‘well supplied’ says US treasury secretary
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that the global oil market is well supplied, with more boats traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Over time, the U.S. is going to retake control of the Straits and there will be freedom of navigation, whether it is through U.S. escorts or a multinational escort,” Bessent said in an interview with Fox News.
Analysis: I’m a naval expert. Here’s why the US military hasn’t used force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in late February, Iran has retaliated by targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively shutting down the narrow channel of water.
It’s caused a global fuel crisis, even though some ships are managing to get through the strait. US President Donald Trump has given Iran an ultimatum to fully reopen the waterway to oil and gas shipments, and called on NATO allies to help in the effort.
We asked naval expert Jennifer Parker, who served for 20 years with the Royal Australian Navy, to explain what kind of military force would be required to reopen the strait to commercial shipping and why the US hasn’t yet taken this step.
Liberia-flagged container ship reporting projectiles off Saudi Arabia
A Liberia-flagged container vessel is reporting projectiles impacting water nearby, northeast of Saudi Arabia’s Dammam, according to risk monitor Ambrey.
No damage or injuries have been reported.
More than 20 universities struck during war, says Iran
As many as 154 academic departments across 21 Iranian universities have been “destroyed” in the war so far, according to Iran’s ministry of science, via the Fars news agency.
Watch: Trump reveals military is building ‘massive complex’ under new White House ballroom
Which key Iranian figures have been killed?
Strikes on Iran have killed several senior political and military figures, hitting the Islamic Republic’s core leadership.
– Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of Iran, killed in an airstrike on his compound on 28 February.
– Ali Larijani, secretary of the supreme national security council, killed in an air strike in the Paris area on 17 March.
– Mohammad Pakpour, commander-in-chief of the IRGC, killed in Tehran on 28 February.
– Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran’s defence minister, killed in Tehran on 28 February.
– Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, killed in Tehran on 28 February.
– Esmail Khatib, Iran’s intelligence minister, killed in a strike on 18 March.
– Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, leading the force central to internal security, killed in strikes on 17 March.
US expects to achieve objectives ‘within weeks’
Secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Monday that the US would achieve its objectives “in a matter of weeks, not months.”
He described Iran’s missile stockpiles and ability to make more as “an unacceptable risk” that president Donald Trump is now “addressing.”
In comments to GMA, Rubio said, “there is a way forward here to achieve our objectives” and “we are going to achieve our objectives in a matter of weeks, not months.”
Impact of war on Europe could be as bad as Covid, says Germany’s Merz
German chancellor Friedrich Merz during a press conference in Berlin that the impact of the war on Europe and Germany could be as bad as Covid if it expands.
Merz spoke at the Chancellery during a visit from Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Meanwhile, Germany’s economy minister says that signs of a significant slowdown are already visible in Germany’s economy.
Katherina Reiche says that the government will decide after the Easter Holiday what measures to take for energy relief.
Will Trump invade Kharg Island?
Trump told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday that he wanted to “take the oil in Iran” and could seize the export hub of Kharg Island.
Taking control of Kharg would require ground troops, which the US has rushed to the region in recent days. But most Americans are still opposed to the war and a new escalation, which would likely weigh on Trump’s already low approval ratings ahead of November midterm elections for Congress.
Officials have told Reuters the administration is weighing whether to send ground forces to the island.
Why launch a ground invasion?
The island handles 90% of Iran’s oil exports, and seizing it would give the United States the ability to disrupt Iran’s energy trade, placing enormous pressure on Tehran’s economy.
Trump would also hope that taking Kharg Island would force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide him with potential leverage in future negotiations, analysts say.
Two contingents of Marines could arrive in the region around the end of the month, and sources say the Pentagon is planning to send thousands of airborne troops as well to give Trump more options if he were to order a ground assault.
A former commander of the U.S. Central Command, Joseph Votel, told TWZ.com last week that while only 800 to 1,000 troops would be needed on Kharg Island, they would require logistical backup that would need protection as well.
Tehran has already sent extra surface to air missiles to the island and has laid traps including anti-personnel and anti-armour mines in the waters surrounding it, CNN reported, citing people familiar with US intelligence.
US troops landing on the island would also be exposed to missile and drone attacks.
Tehran could opt to lay more mines to target shipping, including floating mines deployed from the coast, which would make the region even more hazardous for shipping, which has already been significantly disrupted by the conflict.
