The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, commented on the situation in Iran, assuring that the conflict will not be "endless." He noted that "this is not Iraq," emphasizing the differences between the current situation and previous military actions. According to him, the key objectives of the U.S. and Israel's operation are to eliminate the missile threat, destroy Iran's naval forces, and prevent its nuclear program.
Hegseth also noted that the U.S. does not aim to change the regime in Iran by eliminating Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating: "This is not a war for regime change, but the regime has indeed changed, and this has benefited the world."
Iranian commander threatens strikes on Cyprus to drive out American troops.
Brigadier General Ibrahim Jabari, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that Iran intends to launch missiles at Cyprus, as reported by Tasnim news agency. He explained that "the Americans have moved most of their planes to Cyprus, and we are going to attack this territory to force them to leave the country."
In response to a question from Al Jazeera about the rationality of creating enemies among neighbors in the Persian Gulf, Hasan Ahmadian from Tehran University replied: "It is not rational." Nevertheless, he noted that Iran is focused on American forces and bases, which also affects U.S. interests in the region, including global oil and gas markets.
Ahmadian added that Iran is targeting the energy infrastructure of the Persian Gulf countries to "increase pressure on the U.S. and force them to change their aggressive policy, contributing to rising oil and energy prices in the global market."
Other events at the moment...
As a result of the Israeli bombing of the village of Sarabeleh in Iran's Kermanshah province, five civilians were killed, including a child, as reported by the Iranian semi-official agency Tasnim.
The Israeli army stated that it has begun attacks on "Hezbollah" throughout Lebanon. "Further details will be provided later," the official statement said, as clouds of smoke rise over Beirut.
Sharp rise in oil and gas prices: consequences so far insignificant.
Darshini David,
Deputy Editor of the BBC's Economic Department.
In the context of global changes, the sharp rise in oil and gas prices may seem noticeable, especially considering that households are still feeling the effects of recent spikes in energy prices.
The economic consequences depend on how high these prices will rise and how long they will remain at current levels.
The existing price level suggests that the impact on the economy may be relatively small.
According to economists, a sustained rise in oil prices of 5% could increase inflation in the largest economies by about 0.1%, leading to a current inflation increase of 0.2%.
However, attention should be paid to gas futures, which have increased by more than 40%. If this trend continues, it could lead to significant increases in electricity bills, although this will not happen until summer. Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go before reaching the peak levels seen during the conflict in Ukraine.
If there are no sharp spikes in energy prices, the impact on inflation may be negative but not catastrophic. At the same time, it is too early to draw final conclusions, as the situation may change.
The IRGC stated that 60 strategic targets were attacked within 48 hours using over 700 drones and hundreds of missiles.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated in an interview with Deutschlandfunk that Germany will not participate in military actions against Iran. Unlike the UK, which allowed the U.S. to use its bases for attacks on Iranian missile installations, Germany does not have such bases: "We also do not have the corresponding military capabilities," he said.
Nevertheless, Wadephul added that "in the event of an attack, our Bundeswehr soldiers will defend themselves." "From the perspective of the Federal Republic of Germany, no additional measures are planned," he emphasized.
Bundeswehr troops are deployed in Jordan and Iraq. According to the German army, Iran attacked bases with German troops during its operations against Israel and the U.S.
A representative of the operational command reported that "the soldiers are in protected facilities and safe."
Wadephul characterized Iran as a serious threat to Germany: "It poses a danger not only to Israel and the region but also to Europe and Germany."
The minister also noted that there is "a significant ballistic missile program" in Iran that threatens Europe. Additionally, he pointed to "cyberattacks on Germany," adding that Iran supports Russia's war against Ukraine: "I cannot ignore this," Wadephul emphasized.
"If this regime is restricted in its actions in such a way that it does not threaten us, it will enhance our security in Germany. This is a key aspect for me," he added.
According to BILD from government sources, Wadephul's statement does not contradict the joint statement of Germany, France, and the UK regarding possible "defensive measures" in response to Iranian attacks. Each country interprets this in its own way: "We see this as an opportunity for our soldiers to defend themselves if they come under attack. This is obvious. The British needed this statement to expand their assistance to the U.S.," the report said.
Gas prices in Europe increased by 50%
This occurred after QatarEnergy, one of the leading global producers of liquefied natural gas, suspended its operations due to attacks from Iran.
The death of Khamenei may lead to discussions about his grandson — reports Reuters.
The grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is likely to become a key figure in discussions about the successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hassan Khomeini, 53, is the most prominent of the 15 grandsons and is considered a moderate figure in the Iranian clergy. He maintains connections with reformists, including former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani, who pursued a policy of cooperation with the West.
Khomeini holds an important symbolic position as the custodian of his grandfather's mausoleum in Tehran but has not held official positions.
Some Iranian politicians view him as a rival to the "hawks," whose influence has increased under Khamenei, particularly his son Mojtaba.
Support for the idea of appointing a more moderate successor to Khamenei has grown among Iranian politicians in the wake of unrest in the country in January, as this could strengthen the Islamic Republic amid rising discontent.
Iranian missiles could threaten southeastern Europe — Defence Express.
With further escalation, Iran is capable of posing a threat to European targets with long-range missiles, claims Defence Express. This refers to ballistic missiles with a claimed range of 2000-3000 km, such as Khorramshahr, Sejjil, Ghadr, and Emad. These systems could hit targets beyond the Middle East under certain conditions.
Also mentioned are strike drones: the Shahed family and its modifications, which can cover up to 2000 km depending on the version and payload.
Donald Trump on Arab countries and Iran — CNN.
Trump noted that Arab countries had not planned to participate earlier but are now insisting on their involvement. He also commented on Iran's leadership: "We do not know who is currently running the country and who will be next." He added that Iran has suffered losses among its leadership as a result of the initial strikes, mentioning: "Forty-nine people," which he described as "an impressive blow." Trump emphasized that they "thought they were undetectable, but that turned out not to be the case."
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