US Military: London Authorizes UK Bases for Hormuz Security

Furious Trump insults allies over Iran and sends three more ships and 2,500 marines to the Middle East. ‘They don’t want to join the fight to stop a nuclear Iran. Cowards, we will remember. Without the USA, NATO is a paper tiger,’ thunders the American president on Truth.

Meanwhile, the Alliance temporarily leaves Iraq as a precaution: the evacuation also concerns the Italian soldiers involved in the mission. The activities will continue from the Naples base. Threats from Tehran.

The Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urges to strike enemies ‘inside and outside Iran’, the armed forces are targeting tourist destinations. Piantedosi convenes the anti-terrorism committee for tomorrow at the Interior Ministry. Erdogan curses Israel: ‘God destroy it’.

Pichetto’s alarm on energy: ‘I see the specter of 1973 again’. Btp-Bund spread up to 92 points, stock markets falling again: in three weeks Europe has burned 1,700 billion.

“The vast majority of British citizens want no part in the war waged by Israel and the United States against Iran. By ignoring his own people, Mr Starmer is endangering British lives by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defence.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi writes this on X.

“I read that Trump called all the NATO allies cowards. I didn’t understand why though. I don’t think there was any act of cowardice on anyone’s part. In fact I think that the attitude held by many NATO allies is an attitude that helps the Americans even in a moment of difficulty, not for the Americans, but of difficulty in getting out of a complex situation like that of Hormuz”. Thus Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on Dieci Minuti, commenting on the statements of US President Donald Trump.

The British government has given the green light to the United States to use its military bases to launch attacks against Iranian targets threatening the Strait of Hormuz. The bases had previously been authorized to be used only for defensive operations to prevent missiles being fired at British interests or lives. However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet decided at a meeting today to broaden the scope of the air operations.

According to what was communicated by Downing Street, Starmer’s green light appears to be the result of an agreement between the Labor prime minister and President Donald Trump. And it was authorized today at an ad hoc meeting of the Council of Ministers in London. A spokeswoman clarified that British forces will not, however, be directly involved in attacks against Iran and tried to downplay the change – destined to reignite the controversy against Sir Keir from the left inside and outside Labor on the domestic political front – arguing that “the principles behind the UK’s approach to the conflict remain the same”. In his words, the approval granted tonight concerns attacks that the US will be able to conduct to hit Iranian forces committed to “attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz”, as part of operations that the Starmer government continues to indicate as “defensive”. While the appeal for “a de-escalation and rapid resolution of the war” is reiterated in parallel. According to the first interpretations of various media, the move actually represents the premise of abandoning the cover on the alleged use by the US of British bases for strictly “defensive” purposes only in the raids on Iran.

In a message released today on the occasion of the Iranian New Year, the Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said: “At the moment, the enemy has been defeated, thanks to the particular unity that unites you, our compatriots, despite all the differences of religious, intellectual, cultural and political origin”. The message attributed to Khamenei was broadcast on state television in written form, as he has not yet appeared in public or on television since he was elected leader.

“The leaders of Iran are gone, the next leaders are gone, and no one wants to be leader of Iran anymore.” Donald said it Trump referring to the killing of the leaders of the Iranian regime. “We want to talk” with Tehran but “there is no one to talk to. We have no one. And you know what? We like it that way”, added the president, reiterating that Iran wants to take control of the Middle East.

“Over the past few weeks, the world has witnessed the true strength and power of our sailors and airmen as they fought in one of the most complex and successful operations of all time against the Iranian regime,” Trump said. “I don’t want to exaggerate” because “it’s not a competition” but “no force on Earth can beat the American sailors and military.”

“We are doing very well in Iran. We will not let it have nuclear power, because if it had it it would use it.” Donald Trump said this, underlining that “two weeks ago” Tehran had a Navy “now it no longer has one. Its ships are on the bottom, we shot down 58 of them in two days”.

The Pentagon is sending three warships and thousands of Marines to the Middle East. The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing some sources, according to which 2,200-2,500 marines are headed to the US Central Command, responsible for the American armed forces in the Middle East.

“We keep the cowardly enemy officials and commanders under surveillance: Iranian officials and authorities live with the people, among the people and for the people and are not like the Israeli and American ones, who hide in basements and shelters. From now on, tourist and recreational centers around the world will no longer be safe for enemies.” General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for the Iranian armed forces, said this, according to a post on X from the ISNA agency in Farsi.

Donald Trump attacks NATO allies. “Without the USA” the Alliance “is a paper tiger. They don’t want to join the battle to stop a nuclear Iran. Now that the battle is won from a military point of view, with very little danger for them, they complain about the other oil prices they have to pay but they don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz. Cowards, we will remember that.” Donald Trump states this on his social network Truth.

The NATO mission in Iraq has temporarily withdrawn from the country, two Iraqi security officials told AFP, citing the impact of the war in the Middle East. “There are no disagreements” with the Iraqi government, an official said on condition of anonymity. “This is a temporary withdrawal. They are worried about the situation,” he added. “We can confirm that we are reshaping our deployment as part of the NATO mission in Iraq. The safety of our personnel is of primary importance”, said Alliance spokesperson Alisson Hart, without giving further details.

Yet another alarm in Tel Aviv, with the sirens ringing for the eighth time since this morning, with residents in shelters. Also on alert in Jerusalem and northern Israel for attacks from Iran.

In his condolence message for the killing of Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib, Iran’s supreme leader, Mojktaba Khameni, says that the regime’s enemies, both “internal and external”, should have no security. Words read by some international media, including the Times of Israel, as a threat to the security of enemies both inside Iran and abroad.

The UAE’s air defense systems today intercepted 4 ballistic missiles and 26 drones launched from Iran. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Emirates on from mild to moderate and serious. The injured include citizens of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Turkey, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, Sweden and Tunisia attempt to undermine the security of the State, ensuring the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, as well as the safeguarding of its national interests”.

The IDF announces that the Air Force “is attacking Iranian regime structures in the Nur area, east of Tehran”. The area of Iran where the Israeli Air Force is currently attacking “regime” infrastructure is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, in the northern part of Iran.

At least 16 cargo ships caught fire in the Iranian port of Bandar Lengeh in the southern Persian Gulf after being hit during US and Israeli attacks today. This was stated by the port governor Foad Moradzadeh.

China is limiting exports of jet fuel, diesel and fertilizer. This was reported by industry sources, diplomats and analysts to the Financial Times. According to these sources, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s main economic planning body, has in recent days asked fertilizer exporters to suspend overseas shipments of some product lines. This follows instructions given by the NDRC earlier this month to large state-backed oil refineries to stop overseas shipments of jet fuel, diesel and kerosene. China is the world’s second largest exporter of fertilizers, after Russia, and the sixth largest exporter of jet fuel, according to data from the International Trade Centre. According to analysts, it is trying to preserve energy and food reserves and protect the domestic market due to the war in the Middle East.

Among the three people executed yesterday by the Iranian regime was the teenager Saleh Mohammadi, 19, a member of the Iranian national wrestling team. This was reported by sources cited by the BBC. The executions took place in the northern province of Qom, after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentences, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported. The three were accused of killing police officers during anti-government protests in January, state media reported. According to the Tasnim agency, the three men were also convicted of “moharebeh” – waging war against God – one of the charges that Iran uses to issue death sentences against protesters and opponents of the Islamic Republic.

“Once the war is over, we can participate in broader United Nations initiatives to guarantee maritime transport to Hormuz. We must persist with our diplomacy.” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said this to Mattino Cinque. “We didn’t want this war, we don’t want to participate in it – he reiterated – but yesterday in the EU we gave a fundamental contribution to give a strong message for a moratorium on attacks on oil and gas centres. A message that aims to re-establish greater tranquility” to achieve a “de-escalation”. “The fact that the EU listened to Guterres – concluded the minister – means that it wants to be a protagonist”.

“May He, ‘the ruler’ (Al-Kahrar), crush and destroy Israel.” This was stated by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, using one of the names used in Islam to describe God: Kahrar, translatable as “the ruler” or “he who subdues”. As Anadolu reports, the Turkish leader expressed himself in these terms when speaking after Friday prayers in a mosque in Rize, a town on the Black Sea where his family is originally from. “May God protect us and preserve us as soon as possible from the calamity of the Zionists,” Erdogan added in his speech.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said US and Israeli strikes killed their spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini. Naini “was martyred in the cowardly and criminal terrorist attack conducted by the American-Zionist side at dawn,” the Guards said in a statement on their Sepah News website.

“The Ministry of Intelligence must continue on its path, creating insecurity for enemies and security for Iranian citizens.” This can be read in a message attributed to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, in which he expressed his condolences to President Masoud Pezeshkian “for the martyrdom of Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib”. In the message published on Mehr News, Iran’s semi-official state-owned news agency, Khatib is described as “a tireless war veteran” who “has put in great efforts for the cause of the Islamic Revolution.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of killing thousands of people, adding that the Jewish state will pay the price. “This Zionist Israel has killed hundreds and thousands of people,” the Turkish leader said last night during a ceremony for the end of Ramadan, after prayers in a mosque in Rize, on the Black Sea coast. “I have no doubt that he will pay the price,” Erdogan added, as Anadolu reports, underlining that “the Middle East is incandescent right now.”

Strong explosions were reported overnight in several Iranian cities. Iran International writes it. According to initial information, the explosions occurred in Bandar Lengeh and Isfahan, while in Yazd the authorities reported that two military sites on the outskirts of the city were targeted in the early hours of the morning. Explosions were also heard in Bardsir and Baft counties, Kerman province, and in Arak.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that in early March his country denied the United States permission to station two of its warplanes at an airport in the south of the island. “They wanted to fly two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles from a base in Djibouti to Mattala International Airport from March 4 to 8 and we said no,” Dissanayake said.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said missile production continues despite the ongoing conflict, adding that there are no shortages in the stockpile. Iran International writes it. “Our missile industry has deserved top marks in 2025 and there is no reason to worry in this regard,” Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini said, adding that production continues under war conditions and warning of “surprises” and more complex operations in the future.

Israel carried out airstrikes on cities in southern Lebanon, causing numerous injuries, state media reported Friday. “Israeli enemy fighter jets struck at dawn, targeting the towns of Bafliyeh and Hanine in the Tire and Bint Jbeil districts,” the official NNA news agency reported, adding that Israeli forces struck five other towns in the south of the country.

A fire broke out today at a refinery belonging to Kuwait’s national oil company following drone attacks, the country’s official news agency reported. “The Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, owned by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), was targeted early this morning by several hostile drone attacks that caused fires in some of its units,” leading to the closure of several of them, according to the KNPC, after an attack the previous day on the same plant that had already caused a fire.

The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait said in separate statements today that they had responded to missile attacks. Also in the Gulf, Bahrain’s Ministry of the Interior reported the activation of air raid sirens, while Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported the interception of a drone in the eastern part of the country.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have arrested at least five members of a “terrorist network” linked to Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, state media reported on Tuesday. The alleged network allegedly “sought to infiltrate the national economy and implement external plans that threaten the country’s financial stability” as part of “a pre-established strategic plan in coordination with external entities linked to Hezbollah and Iran,” the official Wam news agency said, citing the UAE’s state security apparatus. The release includes mug shots of the five arrested suspects.