Iran

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.

By Dr. Umar Musa Kallah

As the US-Israeli war against Iran enters its second week, the initial narrative of a rapid Western triumph has collapsed. What began with coordinated strikes on Iranian leadership and infrastructure has instead unleashed a sophisticated Iranian counter-campaign rooted in decades of preparation, control of global chokepoints, and asymmetric warfare. Verifiable maritime data, energy market reports, and military analyses confirm that Iran is not merely holding ground, it is systematically eroding the economic foundations of American power and its Gulf allies.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz stands as Iran’s most potent immediate weapon. Since Iran’s declaration and attacks on transiting vessels in early March 2026, shipping traffic has effectively halted, with oil and LNG flows, representing roughly 20% of global trade is severely disrupted. Global crude prices have spiked, insurance markets have pulled coverage, and Asian importers face acute shortages. This is no bluff: tanker tracking and satellite imagery show near-total cessation of commercial traffic, directly strangling revenues for US-aligned Gulf states.

Tehran has complemented this blockade with hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones targeting US military installations and infrastructure across Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Strikes have damaged communication systems, radar sites, and air bases, including the US Fifth Fleet headquarters and Al Udeid Air Base. The cost asymmetry is telling: cheap Iranian drones and missiles exhaust multimillion-dollar Western interceptors at a pace that cannot be sustained indefinitely.

Iran has also struck desalination plants and power infrastructure critical to Gulf freshwater supplies. With over 90% of drinking water in several Gulf nations dependent on energy-intensive desalination, these targeted hits are creating humanitarian pressure and accelerating economic paralysis. By weaponizing both energy exports and water security, Tehran is holding civilian populations and regional economies hostage.

This economic siege directly undermines the Gulf sovereign wealth funds that have bankrolled much of America’s AI boom. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala have channeled tens of billions into US tech, data centers, and AI ventures. With oil revenues frozen, airspace closed, and infrastructure under fire, these funds are already curtailing new commitments to American projects. The resulting capital drought threatens Silicon Valley valuations and risks triggering a broader stock-market correction, a strategic blow at the heart of US technological supremacy.

None of this is improvised. Iran has spent decades building precisely this capacity: an estimated pre-war arsenal of thousands of ballistic missiles, mass-produced drones, and resilient proxy networks designed for attrition warfare. Its high-ranking scientists and engineers have indigenously advanced these systems through reverse-engineering and innovation, often drawing on historical technological exchanges. Battle-hardened IRGC commanders , seasoned warlords operating with decentralized command, coordinate the response, while a population of over 90 million, tempered by generations of sanctions and pressure, demonstrates profound civilizational resilience and refusal to surrender easily.

This internal steel is coupled with broader strategic depth from longstanding partnerships. Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan have provided diplomatic condemnation of the US-Israeli aggression, alongside decades of technological collaboration in missiles, drones, and defense systems that now equip Iran to endure. While direct military intervention has been limited, these ties  combined with Iran’s own preparations will ensure sustained resistance that outlasts Western political will and munitions stockpiles.

The world now faces Tehran’s calculated endgame: choking global energy arteries, disrupting vital water supplies, and redirecting Gulf capital away from American innovation. Every day of blockade, every intercepted drone salvo, and every sign of Iranian societal cohesion deepens the strain on Washington and its partners. Iran did not stumble into this conflict; it prepared for it across a lifetime of strategic patience. As oil prices climb, water crises intensify, AI investments falter, and resilient Iranian forces continue to dictate the tempo, the balance of power is shifting decisively.

The verifiable data from shipping trackers, strike assessments, and resilience analyses  is clear: Iran is not on the defensive. It is leveraging geography, technology, alliances, and unbreakable national will to hold the world ransom. Tehran is on course to prevail.

Dr Umar Musa Kallah, a writer and community advocate, can be reached via yakubunasirukhalid@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

United States President Donald Trump has suggested that Iran’s national football team should reconsider taking part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, citing concerns about the players’ safety.

Trump shared the view in a message posted on his Truth Social account on Thursday. He stated that the Iranian team would still be welcomed at the tournament. However, he said the present circumstances might make participation risky.

“The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety. Thank you …,” Trump wrote.

The comment comes at a time of rising tension between the United States and Iran. The situation has raised concerns about security and diplomatic relations ahead of the global football competition.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will feature an expanded format with 48 national teams.

Iran has already secured qualification for the competition. The team has been placed in a group with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Their matches are scheduled to be played in cities across the United States.

Trump’s statement appears to differ from earlier assurances he gave to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. At that time, he indicated that the Iranian team would be allowed to participate in the tournament.

Iranian officials have also expressed doubts about the country’s participation. The country’s sports minister said the team may not attend the competition under the current conditions. He argued that Iranian athletes might not be safe if they travel to the United States.

The situation has created uncertainty over Iran’s final decision on the tournament. It has also raised questions about how FIFA would respond if the country withdraws.

Trump also used the social media post to repeat his opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. He noted that the United States produces more oil than any other country and could benefit financially if oil prices increase.

“The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money,” Trump said.

He added that financial gains were not his main concern as president.

“But, of far greater interest and importance to me, as President, is stoping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World,” he added.

Trump ended the message with a firm warning.

“I won’t ever let that happen!” he said.

Meanwhile, tensions surrounding Iranian football players have also drawn attention in Australia. Authorities there recently relocated six members of Iran’s women’s national football team after they sought asylum in the country.

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the emergency relocation while addressing parliament. He said the government acted after learning that one of the players had contacted the Iranian embassy and revealed the group’s location.

“Unfortunately, in making that decision, she’d been advised by her teammates and coach to contact the Iranian embassy and to get collected,” Burke said.

“I immediately gave the instruction for people to be moved,” he added.

The issue began after the players refused to sing Iran’s national anthem before a match. The action drew criticism from Iranian state media, which reportedly described the athletes as traitors. Human rights groups later raised concerns about the players’ safety, which led Australian authorities to arrange visas and protective accommodation for them.

Five U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft sustained damage after an Iranian missile attack targeted Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper said on Friday that the aircraft were struck while stationed on the ground at the military facility. It cited two U.S. officials who confirmed the incident.

The report stated that the strike occurred during an Iranian missile attack on the Saudi base in recent days. The aircraft were damaged but not completely destroyed. Repair work is now underway to restore them to service.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that the attack did not cause any fatalities.

Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report.

Prince Sultan Air Base hosts U.S. military personnel and serves as a key facility for American air operations in the region. The reported strike comes at a time of rising tension linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran and its regional rivals.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A chartered aircraft arranged by Iran left southern India late on Friday carrying sailors and the bodies of crew members killed in a recent U.S. attack at sea, according to two sources familiar with the development.

The aircraft had earlier departed from Sri Lanka with the remains of Iranian sailors who died after a U.S. submarine struck an Iranian warship off the Sri Lankan coast last week. An Indian official with direct knowledge of the situation said the plane transported the bodies of 84 sailors.

The flight later landed in Kochi in southern India. It then departed with sailors from another Iranian vessel that had docked in India. The aircraft also carried several Iranian tourists who had been stranded in the country, the official said.

An Iranian source confirmed that the plane departed from Kochi. The source declined to reveal the destination or provide further details due to security concerns.

The Iranian warship IRIS Dena sank on March 4 after a torpedo fired from a U.S. submarine struck it. The vessel was returning from a naval exercise in India when the incident occurred. The attack took place during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Two other Iranian naval vessels that took part in the exercise sought shelter in nearby countries. The IRIS Lavan docked in India. The IRIS Booshehr sailed to Sri Lanka.

A Sri Lankan court ordered authorities earlier this week to hand over the bodies of the sailors killed in the attack to Iran’s embassy. The remains had been kept at a morgue in the National Hospital in Galle, a southern port city.

Thirty-two survivors from the sunken vessel remain in Sri Lanka. Another 208 crew members from the IRIS Booshehr are also in the country.

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said it has maintained communication with the Iranian embassy in Colombo regarding the situation of the crew. Iranian authorities in Tehran are also involved in consultations.

The developments come amid rising tension in the region. The war involving Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. About 40 percent of India’s crude oil imports pass through the strategic waterway.

Iran confirmed on Friday that Indian ships would be allowed to transit the strait safely. The announcement brought relief to New Delhi after days of uncertainty caused by Iranian attacks on vessels in the area.

Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, reaffirmed the decision while speaking to reporters.

“Because we believe that Iran and India are friends,” he said. “We have common interests and a common fate. I, as the ambassador for Iran in India, I say to you that the government of India .. after the war, will help us in different fields.”

India has continued discussions with Iranian officials to ensure safe passage for ships flying the Indian flag or carrying cargo to the country. Several vessels have already passed through the Strait of Hormuz in recent days. Officials in New Delhi see the development as an important step toward stabilising energy supplies.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

China has announced a $200,000 humanitarian donation to support the families of students killed in a missile strike on a school in Iran earlier in the war, according to reports by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

In a statement on Friday, China’s foreign ministry said the Chinese Red Cross Society will channel the funds through the Iranian Red Crescent Society to assist the parents of the victims.

Beijing described the incident as an “indiscriminate” missile strike carried out by the United States that resulted in the deaths of several students. The donation, officials said, will serve as emergency humanitarian assistance intended for “condolences and compensations” to the bereaved families.

China also reiterated its call for the protection of civilians, particularly children, during armed conflicts.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A United States military refueling aircraft has crashed in western Iraq, the US Central Command confirmed on Thursday, saying the incident involved another aircraft but was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.

In a statement, the command said rescue operations were underway after the KC-135 refueling aircraft went down during a mission. It added that the second aircraft involved in the incident landed safely.

“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury,” the statement said, referring to the military operation name for the US campaign against Iran.

A US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the second aircraft was also a KC-135. The official added that up to six service members were on board the aircraft that crashed.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed armed groups, claimed responsibility for bringing down the aircraft.

In a statement, the group said it had shot down the KC-135 aircraft “in defense of our country’s sovereignty and airspace”.

The KC-135 tanker aircraft was produced by Boeing in the 1950s and early 1960s. It has remained a key part of the US military’s aerial refueling fleet. The aircraft allows combat planes to continue missions without the need to land for fuel.

The latest incident comes as fighting continues between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Since the US and Israel began strikes on Iran on February 28, seven American troops have been killed.

Reuters reported earlier this week that up to 150 US troops have been wounded in the conflict.

On the same day as the crash, two US sailors were also injured after a fire broke out aboard the USS Gerald Ford. Officials said the fire was not related to combat.

Overall, the war has claimed more than 2,000 lives so far, including nearly 700 people in Lebanon.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Some commercial ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz and nearby Gulf waters have begun identifying themselves as linked to China in an apparent effort to avoid attacks since the start of the Iran war.

Marine traffic data shows that several vessels in the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman altered their destination signals to short messages such as “CHINA OWNER” or “CHINA OWNER&CREW”. The Associated Press reviewed the data from the ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic.

At least eight vessels adopted the practice. Some of them later continued their journey through the strait toward their destinations. Others remained within the surrounding waters.

Security analysts say the move appears intended to lower the chances of being targeted. Ana Subasic, a trade risk analyst at data and analytics firm Kpler, which owns MarineTraffic, explained the reason behind the signals.

“The main goal of vessels publicly identifying themselves as ‘Chinese’ while transiting the Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz is primarily to reduce the risk of being attacked rather than to facilitate passage through the strait itself,” she said.

According to analysts, Iran and groups allied with it have generally avoided striking vessels connected to China. Observers attribute this to Beijing’s relatively neutral position and its strong economic ties with Tehran.

Kun Cao, client director at consulting firm Reddal, said the message carried by such signals is clear. “The message is more like ‘do not mistake me for the kind of ship you said you would hit,’” he said.

Attacks on ships in the Gulf and surrounding waters have raised alarm among global shipping companies. Reports indicate that at least 19 commercial vessels in the region have sustained damage since the conflict began.

MarineTraffic data also shows that most of the ships using the China identification messages do not sail under the Chinese flag. Several of them are registered in countries such as Panama and the Marshall Islands.

Cao explained that the nationality of a ship’s flag often does not reflect the origin of its owner in international shipping.

Experts say the effectiveness of the tactic remains uncertain. Rico Luman, a senior economist at Dutch bank ING who specialises in transport and logistics, said many cargo ships have strong business links with China through ownership, operations or cargo.

Destination signals are short messages that ship crews manually enter into their vessel’s tracking system. The information is broadcast publicly and usually indicates the ship’s next port.

Subasic said the messages help improve navigation safety and allow ports to prepare for arriving vessels. However, the information is not always verified immediately.

Because of that, she said, “some vessels occasionally use it to display additional information or signals, such as references to ownership or nationality.”

A similar tactic appeared earlier during attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group in the Red Sea. At that time, some ships also declared links to China in an attempt to reduce the risk of being targeted.