Iran

By Sabiu Abdullahi

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has firmly denied any American participation in the recent Israeli attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field, the country’s largest gas facility. He also warned that Israel will not conduct further strikes on the site.

In a post on his Truth Social page, Trump said, “Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran,” adding that “a relatively small section of the whole has been hit.”

He emphasized that “the United States knew nothing about this particular attack,” and made clear that “the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen.”

Trump accused Iran of responding without full understanding of the situation, stating that Tehran “unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility.”

The president further stated, “NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field,” unless Iran escalates tensions. He also warned that any future strikes on Qatar’s gas infrastructure could trigger a powerful response from the United States.

“If Qatar’s LNG facilities are hit again,” Trump said, “the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before.”

While highlighting the gravity of such action, he added, “I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so.”

South Pars represents the Iranian portion of the world’s largest natural gas deposit. Iran shares the resource with Qatar, a close U.S. ally that hosts America’s largest military base in the Gulf.

The ongoing conflict has seen Tehran target not only Israel but also U.S. diplomatic and military facilities in the Gulf, while warning neighboring countries against hosting attacks on Iran.

Earlier reports from SaharaReporters indicated that Qatar’s main gas production hub, Ras Laffan Industrial City, was struck by a missile fired from Iran. The attack caused extensive damage and prompted immediate emergency operations.

QatarEnergy confirmed in a statement, “that Ras Laffan Industrial City on Wedy was subject of missile attacks.” The company added, “emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the resulting fires, as extensive damage has been caused,” noting that “all personnel have been accounted for and no casualties have been reported at this time.” QatarEnergy also assured that it “will continue to communicate the latest available information.”

The Qatari Ministry of Defense said, “the State of Qatar was subjected today, Wednesday, to an attack involving (5) ballistic missiles launched from the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The ministry explained that “Our Armed Forces, by the grace of God, successfully intercepted (4) of the ballistic missiles, while one missile fell in Ras Laffan Industrial City, causing a fire.”

United States President Donald Trump has criticised Israel’s recent strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, as tensions escalate across the Middle East with retaliatory attacks hitting key energy facilities in several countries.

In a message shared by the White House on X early Thursday, Mr Trump stated that the United States had no involvement in the Israeli operation. He said, “Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran.”

He added that further attacks on the facility would not occur under certain conditions. According to him, “NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field…” unless Iran continues its strikes on Qatar.

The US president also condemned Iran’s response, which targeted gas infrastructure in Qatar. He warned that any additional assault on Qatar’s facilities would trigger severe consequences, including the destruction of “the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field.”

The developments follow reports that Iran launched missiles at the Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar. QatarEnergy confirmed that the strike caused fires and “extensive damage.” The company later disclosed that multiple liquefied natural gas facilities were hit, leading to “sizeable fires and extensive further damage.”

Authorities had evacuated the site earlier after Iran announced plans to strike several locations in the region. The move was described as retaliation for earlier attacks on the South Pars gas field, which Iran attributes to Israel and the United States. Washington has since denied any role in that incident.

Beyond Qatar, Iran extended its response to other parts of the region. Two refineries in Saudi Arabia were struck, while the Habshan gas facility in Abu Dhabi was also targeted. The United Arab Emirates subsequently shut down the affected facility.

There has been no official response from Iran regarding Mr Trump’s warning as of the time of filing this report.

Analysts say the latest attacks on critical energy infrastructure could deepen the global gas supply crisis. Prices of gas and other petroleum products have already climbed sharply since late February, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

The ongoing conflict has claimed more than 1,500 lives, with most of the casualties reported in Iran.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

United States intelligence agencies have concluded that Iran has not resumed efforts to rebuild its nuclear enrichment programme following the destruction of key facilities in a joint US-Israeli strike in June 2025. The finding contrasts with President Donald Trump’s justification for his ongoing military campaign.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard disclosed the assessment in a written submission presented during an annual threat review before the Senate intelligence committee. However, she did not repeat the position while addressing lawmakers in person.

“As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated. There has been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability,” Gabbard said in the testimony to the Senate intelligence committee.

When questioned by a Democratic senator over the omission during the hearing, Gabbard explained that time constraints prevented her from reading the full statement. She did not dispute the conclusion.

President Trump has consistently defended the February 28 strike on Iran, which was carried out alongside Israel. He cited what he described as an “imminent threat.” After the 2025 bombing, Trump stated that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been completely destroyed. More recently, he has claimed that Tehran was close to producing a nuclear weapon. That position is not widely supported by analysts and comes amid ongoing negotiations over a possible nuclear agreement.

Meanwhile, a senior aide to Gabbard stepped down on Tuesday. The official said there was no “imminent threat” and argued that Trump had been misinformed by both Israel and sections of the media.

In her remarks to senators, Gabbard noted that Iran had suffered significant damage in recent weeks of attacks. The strikes included the killing of longtime supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite this, she said the country’s governing system remains in place.

The US intelligence community “assesses the regime in Iran to be intact but largely degraded due to attacks on its leadership and military capabilities,” Gabbard said.

She added that if the current leadership remains, it may attempt to rebuild over time.

“If a hostile regime survives, it will likely seek to begin a years-long effort to rebuild its military, missiles, and UAV forces,” Gabbard said.

Iranian state media has announced the death of Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, following reported Israeli air attacks carried out overnight.

The confirmation came after Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, stated that Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani were killed during the strikes.

In a statement issued by his office, Katz alleged that both men lost their lives in the operation.

“I have just been updated by the Chief of Staff that Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and the head of the Basij — Iran’s central repression apparatus — (Soleimani), were eliminated last night,” Katz claimed in a statement released by his ministry.

Earlier reports from Israeli media indicated that Larijani was the intended target of the overnight assault.

The development marks a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel, as both sides continue to exchange accusations over ongoing military actions.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Donald Trump has responded to the resignation of Joseph Kent, Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center, following controversy linked to U.S. military action against Iran.

Trump spoke on the development during an interview with Fox News, where he shared his views on Kent’s position on national security and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

He claimed that he had long held concerns about Kent’s approach. “I always thought he was weak on security. Very weak on security. I didn’t know him well. But I thought he seemed like a pretty nice guy. But when I read his statement, I realised that it’s a good thing he’s out because he said Iran was not a threat,” Trump said in a video released by Fox News on Tuesday.

Kent stepped down earlier the same day. His resignation followed criticism of the war in Iran and questions about the reasons behind the military engagement.

In a letter addressed to the president, Kent stated that his decision came after careful consideration. “After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today,” he wrote.

He explained that he could not align himself with the administration’s current foreign policy, especially its military actions. “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” he stated.

Kent added that his views were based on principles he believed had guided previous policies. “I support the values and the foreign policies that you campaigned on in 2016, 2020, 2024, which you enacted in your first term. Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation,” he said.

He also criticised what he described as the role of external influence and media narratives. Kent said “high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media” promoted misinformation that “wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments” encouraging military action.

The former counterterrorism chief warned that U.S. leaders may have been misled about the level of threat posed by Iran. “This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory. This was a lie,” he said.

Reflecting on his personal experience, Kent pointed to the cost of war. “As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives,” he said.

He concluded his message with a call for a policy rethink. “I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran, and who we are doing it for. The time for bold action is now. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards,” he wrote.

Kent ended his letter on a note of appreciation for his time in office. “It was an honor to serve in your administration and to serve our great nation.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Key European countries have turned down calls by United States President Donald Trump to support military efforts aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions rise during the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.

The position was made clear during a meeting of European Union officials in Brussels on Monday, where leaders discussed the sharp increase in global oil prices linked to the conflict. Germany stated firmly that it would not take part in any military action in the region.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said more information was needed before any further steps could be considered. “We need more clarity here,” he told reporters. “We expect from the US and Israel to inform us, to include us into what they’re doing there and to tell us if these goals are achieved.”

He added that once the situation becomes clearer, attention should shift towards broader regional security arrangements. “Once we have a clear picture of that, we believe we need to move into the next phase, namely, defining a security architecture for this entire region, together with the neighbouring states,” he said.

Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius also ruled out military involvement. He said Berlin would instead support diplomatic efforts to maintain safe passage through the strategic waterway. “This is not our war. We have ⁠not started it,” he said, while questioning the expectation for European naval forces to succeed where the US Navy already operates. “What does … Trump expect a handful or two handfuls of European frigates to do in the Strait of Hormuz that the powerful ⁠US Navy cannot do?”

A spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed that the conflict is unrelated to NATO operations. Stefan Kornelius said the alliance’s purpose is territorial defence and noted that “the mandate to deploy NATO is lacking”.

The United Kingdom echoed a similar stance. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that any involvement in the Strait of Hormuz would not fall under NATO. “Let me be clear: that won’t be, and it’s never been envisioned to be, a NATO mission,” he said. He also made it clear that Britain would avoid being pulled into a broader conflict, although discussions are ongoing with allies about possible support roles.

Several other European nations expressed doubts about the feasibility of a naval mission in the short term. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said it would be “very difficult to launch a successful mission there in the short term”.

Countries such as Lithuania and Estonia indicated they were open to considering a US request, but insisted on clearer details about the objectives. Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna asked: “What will be the plan?” as he called for clarity on Washington’s “strategic goals”.

Greece and Italy also ruled out participation in military operations in the area, while Denmark suggested Europe should remain open to supporting safe navigation, even if it disagrees with the decision to go to war. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said, “We must face the world as it is, not as we want it to be,” adding that any plan should aim at de-escalation.

Poland signalled willingness to review a formal request made through NATO channels. Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said, “If there is a request via NATO, we will, of course, out of respect and sympathy for our American allies, consider it very carefully.”

Despite the resistance, President Trump has continued to press allies to join efforts to reopen the vital shipping route. Speaking at the White House, he criticised countries that have shown little enthusiasm. “Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren’t,” he said, adding that “the level of enthusiasm matters to me.”

He also expressed surprise at the United Kingdom’s hesitation and said Secretary of State Marco Rubio would soon announce countries willing to support the initiative.

Within the European Union, there appears to be little support for expanding existing missions to cover the Strait of Hormuz. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said there had been “no appetite” for such a move. “Nobody wants to go actively in this war,” she said.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global shipping route, with about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passing through it. The ongoing conflict has disrupted traffic and driven oil prices above $100 per barrel, raising concerns about the wider impact on the global economy.

European leaders are now under increasing pressure from Washington to act, but many remain cautious. While discussions continue on how to ensure safe passage through the strait, there is no clear agreement on military involvement.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Several European countries have stepped back from any direct military role in the deepening Middle East crisis, as Iran indicated it is ready for a prolonged confrontation with Israel and the United States.

The German government made it clear that it will not join any military effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz while the conflict persists. A government spokesperson stressed that the ongoing war involving Iran is not linked to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

“As long as this war continues, there will be no participation, not even in any effort to keep the Strait of Hormuz open by military means,” the spokesperson said as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Greece has taken a similar position. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis stated that Athens will not be involved in any military operation in the strategic waterway despite rising regional tensions.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global shipping route. A large share of the world’s oil supply passes through it. Concerns have grown over possible disruptions as the conflict intensifies.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would avoid being pulled into a wider regional conflict. His remarks followed a warning by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who said NATO’s future could be affected if allied countries fail to offer military support.

Starmer said the UK is focused on safeguarding its citizens in the Middle East. He added that Britain will also take steps to protect its national interests and support its allies.

“We will not allow ourselves to be drawn into a broader conflict,” he said.

He also noted that the UK would continue to pursue diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring stability in the region.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is prepared to sustain the confrontation for as long as necessary. He spoke during a weekly briefing at the foreign ministry.

“I think by now they have learned a good lesson and understood what kind of nation they are dealing with, one that does not hesitate to defend itself and is ready to continue the war wherever it may lead,” he said.

Araghchi added that the Strait of Hormuz is effectively restricted for countries Iran considers hostile.

“From our perspective, the strait is open, but it is closed to our enemies — those who carried out this aggression against us and their allies,” he said.

He also accused the United States and Israel of triggering the crisis by demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” a condition Tehran has rejected.

The latest developments point to growing divisions among global powers. While some European nations are avoiding deeper involvement, Iran has maintained that it is ready to press on with the confrontation if the situation continues.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran has warned that Ukraine could become a target after Tehran accused Kyiv of providing drone assistance to Israel.

Ebrahim Azizi, who heads Iran’s parliamentary national security committee, made the claim on the social media platform X. He alleged that Ukraine had effectively joined the ongoing conflict.

“By providing drone support to the Israeli regime, failed Ukraine… has turned its entire territory into a legitimate target for Iran,” Mr Azizi wrote. He did not present evidence to support the allegation.

Ukraine has not officially confirmed any drone assistance to Israel. However, Kyiv has deployed military specialists to countries such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said several countries had asked Ukraine to help counter Iranian-made Shahed drones. According to him, the requests came from 11 nations, including the United States and several countries in the Middle East and Europe.

Zelensky also met Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Crown Prince of Iran, in Paris on Friday. The meeting focused on the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

Iran’s envoy to Ukraine, Shahriar Amouzegar, dismissed Ukraine’s actions in the Middle East. Speaking to AFP on Saturday, he said: “As for the actions Ukraine is taking in the Middle East against drones, we essentially consider them nothing more than a joke and a showy gesture.”

Iran maintains close strategic relations with Russia. The two countries cooperate on military technology, intelligence sharing, and regional security matters.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry responded strongly to the threat from Tehran. Heorhii Tykhyi, a ministry spokesman, accused Iran of helping Russia attack Ukraine.

“The Iranian regime has been supporting the murder of Ukrainians for years by directly supplying drones and technology for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

“Hearing anyone from that regime threaten Ukraine while citing the right to self-defence enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter is absurd. It’s like hearing a serial killer justify his crimes by citing the criminal code.”

Iran-designed Shahed-136 drones have frequently struck Ukrainian cities since at least 2024. Russia initially relied on Iranian supply but later began producing the drones locally and upgrading the designs.

Since the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran on February 28, reports suggest the Kremlin has shared intelligence with Tehran. The information is believed to assist Iranian attacks on US military targets and personnel in the region.

Zelensky also accused Moscow of increasing its military support for Iran.

“Russia has started supporting the Iranian regime with drones. It will definitely help with missiles, and it is also helping them with air defence,” Mr Zelensky said on Wednesday.

Britain’s Defence Secretary, John Healey, also linked Russia to Iranian military operations in the Middle East. He said President Vladimir Putin may be influencing Tehran’s drone campaign against Western forces and their allies.

Mr Healey spoke after Iranian drones struck a coalition air base in Erbil in northern Iraq. British forces intercepted two drones, but others managed to hit the facility on Wednesday night.

“No one will be surprised to believe that Putin’s hidden hand is behind some of the Iranian tactics and potentially some of their capabilities as well,” the Defence Secretary added.

Meanwhile, Russia announced it had delivered 13 tons of humanitarian aid to Iranian authorities through Azerbaijan. The shipment followed instructions from President Vladimir Putin.

Officials in Moscow also confirmed frequent communication between Russian and Iranian leaders. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin remains in “constant contact” with Tehran’s leadership.

During a phone conversation with Donald Trump on Monday, Putin reportedly suggested moving Iran’s enriched uranium to Russia as part of proposals aimed at ending the conflict.

“This is not the first time it was offered. It hasn’t been accepted. The US position is we need to see the uranium secured,” a US official told Axios.

Russia has criticised the United States and Israel for attacking Iran. Moscow described the strikes as “the implementation of a long-cherished plan to violently overthrow the constitutional order of a sovereign state that Washington and Tel Aviv dislike.” It also called for an immediate end to the fighting.

However, analysts estimate that rising global oil prices linked to the conflict may bring Russia as much as $150 million in additional revenue each day. The International Energy Agency described the situation on Thursday as “the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a threat against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it will pursue him and kill him.

The threat appeared in a statement released on Sunday through Sepah News, the official website of the IRGC. In the message, the Iranian military body described Netanyahu as a “child-killing criminal” and warned that it would continue efforts to locate him.

“If this criminal, the killer of children, is still alive, we will continue working to hunt him down and kill him with all our strength,” the statement reads.

The development came as speculation circulated on social media about the Israeli leader’s health and whereabouts.

Israel’s prime minister’s office dismissed the claims. It said the reports spreading online were false and confirmed that Netanyahu was in good condition.

“These are fake news; the Prime Minister is fine,” the office told Anadolu Agency in response to claims circulating on social media that Netanyahu had been killed in retaliation for the strikes.

The rumours intensified after a video of Netanyahu circulated online. Some social media users claimed the clip showed him with “six fingers”.

The unusual detail raised suspicion that the footage might have been created with artificial intelligence. This added to the speculation about the Israeli leader’s condition and location.

The IRGC’s threat comes as the confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States continues. The conflict has now entered its 16th day.

On the morning of February 28, the United States and Israel carried out air strikes inside Iranian territory.

Iran responded with military action. Its forces launched ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel. The country also carried out missile and drone attacks against United States bases and targets in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan.

Russia has delivered humanitarian assistance to Iran as tensions continue in the Middle East during the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.

The development emerged from a statement shared by the Russian Embassy in Kenya through its official X account. The embassy indicated that Russia had become “the first country to send humanitarian aid to Iran” since the crisis intensified.

According to the statement, an aircraft transported medical materials meant to reach Iranian authorities through a neighbouring country. The embassy explained that the supplies were first delivered to Azerbaijan for onward transfer.

“An Il-76 aircraft delivered more than 13 tons of medical supplies to Azerbaijan which will assist in transferring it to the Iranian authorities,” the post said.

The embassy described the shipment as “first aid & medical supplies” intended to support civilians in Iran during the current conflict.

The humanitarian move follows earlier diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Tehran. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently sent a message to Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, after his emergence as the country’s leader.

In a message released by the Kremlin and cited by Al Jazeera, Putin congratulated Khamenei and expressed confidence in his leadership at a time of mounting international pressure on Iran.

The Kremlin stated that the Russian president commended Khamenei’s potential to lead the country and referred to the legacy of his father. Putin said he believed the new leader would maintain the direction previously set for Iran.

Putin also said he was confident Khamenei would continue his father’s work “with honour” and unite the Iranian ⁠people “in the face of ⁠severe trials”.

He used the message to reiterate Russia’s close ties with Iran. Putin said Moscow would maintain its partnership with Tehran and added that he wished to “confirm unwavering support for Tehran ‌and solidarity with our Iranian friends.”

The Kremlin statement came at a time when hostilities between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance continue to raise global concern.

Russia and Iran have strengthened cooperation in recent years. Their partnership covers areas such as energy, security coordination and diplomatic engagement on international matters.

The aid delivery also follows a decision by the United States to ease restrictions on Iran’s oil exports. Washington said the measure aimed to reduce pressure on global crude oil prices amid disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.