Iran has firmly rejected the ideas of ending the conflict expressed by Donald Trump. A spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated: “We are free to make decisions regarding the expansion of the war. Security can only be ensured for all, or for no one. The Islamic Republic determines for itself when the war will end.” The IRGC called Trump a “criminal,” and characterized his words about the imminent end of the war as “absurd” and “lies.”
On March 9, Trump stated that the war against Iran is “practically over,” as Tehran has neither a navy, nor communications, nor air forces. However, by the morning of March 10, Iran resumed shelling of the Persian Gulf countries, triggering sirens in countries such as Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
Summary:
- The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps refuted U.S. claims about the elimination of its missile program and announced the deployment of more missiles with warheads weighing over one ton.
- Donald Trump threatened Iran with a “20 times more powerful strike” if it stops the movement of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after his statements about the imminent end of the war. “Very soon.”
Planet Labs extends the publication delay of satellite images for the Middle East.
According to Bloomberg News, the American company Planet Labs has increased the delay in publishing satellite images from the Middle East from four days to two weeks.
The company expressed concern that these images could be used by “hostile parties to attack military personnel and civilians of allied countries and NATO partners.”
Additionally, Planet Labs is expanding the conflict monitoring area to include all of Iran, allied bases, Gulf states, and areas of active conflict.
This move has drawn sharp criticism from Iranian state media.
“The American company Planet Labs, after consultations with the U.S. government, announced an unprecedented 14-day ban on the publication of satellite images of Western Asia. Critics believe this is done to conceal significant damage inflicted on Israeli and American bases as a result of Iran's retaliatory attacks,” reported Press TV on X.
Israeli media report interception of a drone over Israel's northern border.
According to Israeli media, a drone was intercepted over the northern border of the country after sirens warning of a possible UAV incursion went off in cities in western Galilee.
Later, Israeli Channel 12, citing the army, reported that the incident had been resolved.
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut strongly advises citizens to stay home.
Americans in Lebanon should “prepare to stay in place” if they “decide not to use available evacuation options,” warns the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
The embassy also recommended finding a “safe place in their home or another secure building,” as well as “ensuring they have supplies of food, water, medications, and other necessities.”
In the past week, more than half a million people in Lebanon have been forced to leave their homes due to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, with at least 486 people killed as a result of Israeli attacks.
According to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA), Israeli military aircraft carried out new attacks across Lebanon, including in Srifa, Rihane-Shakra, and the heights of Ain-el-Tine in the Bekaa province.
Intense clashes have been reported on the outskirts of Khiam in southern Lebanon, where residents hear the sounds of shelling, flares, and gunfire.
Earlier, the NNA reported that four people were killed as a result of Israeli strikes on two areas of Bint Jbeil.
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that at least 486 people have died and 1,313 have been injured as a result of the latest wave of Israeli attacks.
The conflict between the U.S. and Israel over the war with Iran escalates.
Nida Ibrahim
Reporting from Ramallah, occupied West Bank.
For decades, Netanyahu has been waiting for a U.S. president to start a war with Iran, so it is unlikely he will openly conflict with Trump.
However, behind closed doors, active lobbying is taking place. From the very beginning, the goals of the U.S. and Israel in this war have proven to be different.
Now these disagreements have become evident. Israeli media describe Trump's statements as “contradictory,” as his advisors have informed him that the war is not going as planned. A quick collapse of Iran was expected, but that has not happened.
Israeli sources claim that advisors advised Trump to speak of victory in Iran as a way out of the situation, but this will not please Israel, where officials intend to tighten control.
Perhaps these disagreements were the reason for the cancellation of the visit by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, for which no public explanations were provided.
Hezbollah reports new attacks on Israeli military facilities and personnel.
The Lebanese group Hezbollah stated that its fighters early in the morning shelled the Al-Maliqiya facility in northern Israel, opposite the Lebanese town of Aitarun.
The group also claimed responsibility for the rocket attack on a “recently established facility” in Jabal al-Bat, as well as for attacks on Israeli troops and artillery positions near El-Abbada in southern Lebanon.
Additionally, Hezbollah reported a rocket attack on an Israeli facility in Tell al-Hamamese, south of the city of Khiam.
Saudi Arabia condemns the attack on the UAE consulate in Kurdistan.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong condemnation of the attack on the UAE General Consulate in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The ministry noted that “numerous shellings” of diplomatic institutions are a “clear violation” of international law.
The incident occurred after the UAE called for an investigation into the incident that caused damage to the consulate, but there were no casualties.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham criticized his Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, for their lack of involvement in the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran.
On Fox News, Graham expressed dissatisfaction that the UAE stated it would not allow its territory to be used for attacks on Iran, adding: “This is very disappointing.”
“We need partners who are willing to take the initiative in a fight that we cannot afford to lose,” he stated.
Graham expressed hope that U.S. allies in Saudi Arabia and other countries “will step forward and say, ‘This is my fight too.’”
He added: “I have tried to help our Arab friends build a new Middle East. You need to raise the bar on this issue.”
Additionally, Graham criticized Spain for stating that it would not allow the U.S. to use joint military bases on its territory for the war against Iran.
“To our allies: step up,” Graham urged. “Get our air bases out of Spain. They are unreliable. Move those planes to a country that will allow us to use them when we are threatened by a regime like Iran.”
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that the possible redeployment of American weapons from South Korea to the Middle East “does not hinder” his country's deterrence strategy.
Lee noted that while Seoul “expressed disagreement” with the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea, “it is also clear that we cannot fully implement everything according to our position.”
The South Korean leader spoke at a cabinet meeting in Seoul, where contingency measures were discussed in light of the conflict in the Middle East.
On Friday, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin reported that U.S. and South Korean military officials are discussing the possibility of redeploying some American Patriot missile defense systems from South Korea to the Middle East.
The article “War in Iran: Tehran promises to use powerful missiles and rejects Trump's negotiations” was first published on K-News.
