LIVE: Iranians mark Eid as Tehran reports strike on nuclear plant

This live blog follows updates for Day 22 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 21, go here.

• Iran 'unsuccessfully' targeted Diego Garcia base, UK official source to AFP
• Drone attack against Iraqi intelligence services kills one in Baghdad
• UN nuclear watchdog calls for 'military restraint' after Iran reports attack on Natanz nuclear site
• Israel defense minister warns strikes on Iran to increase 'significantly'
• US, Israel attack Iran's Natanz nuclear facility: Iran atomic energy organization

Iran 'unsuccessfully' targeted Diego Garcia base, UK official source to AFP

Published March 21, 2026 | 12:21 GMT

Iran was "unsuccessful" in targeting the joint UK-US Indian Ocean military base at Diego Garcia, a UK official source confirmed to AFP on Saturday, after the Wall Street Journal reported Tehran fired two ballistic missiles at it.

The source said the "unsuccessful targeting of Diego Garcia" took place before the UK government announced Friday that it would allow the United States to use some of its bases to target Iranian sites being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranians mark Eid as Tehran reports strike on nuclear plant

Published March 21, 2026 | 11:59 GMT

Thousands of Iranians held Eidul Fitr prayers on Saturday to mark the end of the Ramadan fast, as Tehran reported a strike on its nuclear enrichment plant and Israel threatened intensified bombardment.

The head of the judiciary, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, attended prayers at central Tehran's Imam Khomeini grand mosque, which was filled to overflowing, with worshippers flooding the streets outside.

The previous evening, airstrikes had darkened the mood as the city celebrated Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

"The atmosphere of the New Year was spreading through the city. Places like Tajrish or Golestan Shahrak, where I went, were full of well-dressed and beautiful women buying flowers," said Farid, an advertising executive, reached by AFP through an online message.

"The Israeli attacks happening exactly at the moment of the New Year were deeply upsetting. The thought that some people could be dying right at the New Year dinner table was painful."

Iran's key ally Russian President Vladimir Putin sent greetings to Khamenei, "wished the Iranian people strength on overcoming these severe trials and emphasised that during this difficult time, Moscow remained a loyal friend and reliable partner of Tehran".

Drone attack against Iraqi intelligence services kills one in Baghdad

Published March 21, 2026 | 11:36 GMT

An Iraqi officer was killed on Saturday in a drone attack targeting an Iraqi intelligence services building in a residential Baghdad neighbourhood, the agency said, as the Middle East war reverberates across the country.

At around 10:00 am local time (0700 GMT) the Iraqi National Intelligence Service was attacked in a drone strike, said Saad Maan, head of the Iraqi government's security media unit.

"An officer was martyred," the Iraqi intelligence agency said in a statement, condemning the strike as a "terrorist attack carried out by rogue elements".

No group immediately claimed responsibility.

UN nuclear watchdog calls for 'military restraint' after Iran reports attack on Natanz nuclear site

Published March 21, 2026 | 10:41 GMT

The UN atomic watchdog on Saturday said it was looking into a report by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked in the war with the United States and Israel.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi repeated a "call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident", the agency posted on X.

"The IAEA has been informed by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked today. No increase in off-site radiation levels reported," it added.

Israel defense minister warns strikes on Iran to increase 'significantly'

Published March 21, 2026 | 10:28 GMT

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that the United States and Israel would intensify their strikes on Iran in the coming week starting Sunday.

"This week, the intensity of the strikes to be carried out by the IDF and the US military against the Iranian terror regime and the infrastructure on which it relies will rise significantly," Katz said in a statement issued by the defence ministry on Saturday.

US, Israel attack Iran's Natanz nuclear facility: Iran atomic energy organisation

Published March 21, 2026 | 08:37 GMT

The United States and Israel struck Iran's Natanz nuclear facility on Saturday, the Islamic republic's atomic energy organisation said.

"Following the criminal attacks by the United States and the usurping Zionist regime against our country, the... Natanz enrichment complex was targeted this morning," the organisation said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency.

It added that there was "no leakage of radioactive materials reported" in the area in central Iran.

Drone attack in residential Baghdad neighborhood: Security source

Published March 21, 2026 | 08:13 GMT

Drone attack in residential Baghdad neighbourhood: security source

Hezbollah denies UAE accusations of having network in country

Published March 21, 2026 | 07:51 GMT

Hezbollah denied on Friday that it has a presence inside the United Arab Emirates, after Emirati authorities announced they had arrested at least five members of a "terrorist network" linked to Hezbollah and its backer, Iran.

Earlier this week Hezbollah issued similar denials that it maintained a presence in Kuwait, after Kuwaiti authorities announced the discovery of two alleged cells linked to the group, arresting a combined 26 people.

In a statement, the Lebanese militant group said it "denies the fabricated accusations made against it by the security authorities in the United Arab Emirates".

"Hezbollah has no presence inside the UAE or in any other country under any cover or commercial designation or otherwise."

Iran military warns UAE over attacks on disputed Gulf islands

Published March 21, 2026 | 06:44 GMT

Iran's military warned the United Arab Emirates on Saturday against allowing attacks from its territory on two disputed islands in the Gulf, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"We warn the United Arab Emirates if any further aggression originates from its territory against the Iranian islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf, Iran's powerful armed forces will subject Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE to heavy strikes," the military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.

Abu Musa and the Greater Tunb islands, which are controlled by Iran but claimed by the UAE, have long been a source of dispute between the two countries.

Israel says targeting Hezbollah in Beirut as south Lebanon struck

Published March 21, 2026 | 05:14 GMT

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes on Beirut claiming to target the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah early Saturday, while Lebanese state media reported strikes in the country's south.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel has since launched strikes across Lebanon and sent ground troops into the country's south.

In a brief statement on Saturday, the Israeli military said its forces were "currently striking Hezbollah terrorist organisation targets in Beirut."

Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli 'aggression' against Syria

Published March 21, 2026 | 03:14 GMT

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned on Saturday Israel's strikes on Syrian army camps as "aggression", joining Turkey in calling on the international community to intervene.

The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement that the kingdom condemned "the blatant Israeli aggression... in flagrant violation of international law and Syrian sovereignty".

It urged the international community "to put an end to Israel's violations of international laws and norms".

Iran says ready to help Japan ships through Hormuz Strait: Kyodo

Published March 21, 2026 | 02:47 GMT

Iran is willing to help Japanese ships sail a vital route for global fuel supplies, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Kyodo News in an interview published on Saturday.

Japan depends on crude oil imports from the Middle East, most of which transits the Strait of Hormuz.

In a telephone interview with Kyodo News on Friday, Araghchi denied closing the passageway, insisting instead that countries attacking Iran face restrictions, while others were being offered assistance.

"We have not closed the strait. It is open," he said.

He added that Iran was prepared to ensure safe passage for Japan.

Israel military says striking 'regime targets' in Tehran

Published March 21, 2026 | 02:37 GMT

The Israeli military said it launched strikes on "regime targets" in Tehran early Saturday, after reporting several rounds of Iranian missile fire at Israel.

A brief Israeli military statement on Saturday said forces were "striking Iranian terror regime targets in Tehran" following an earlier air raid targeting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon's capital Beirut.

There were no immediate details on the outcome of the strikes.

The military earlier said it had "identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel" at least three times within six hours.

Kuwait military says air defences responding to missile attack

Published March 21, 2026 | 02:24 GMT

Kuwait's military said its air defence systems were responding to a missile and drone attack on Saturday, as Iran continues to strike Gulf nations.

"Kuwaiti air defences are currently responding to hostile missile and drone threats," an army statement said.

Iran fired missiles at joint US-UK base in Indian Ocean: report

Published March 21, 2026 | 01:54 GMT

Iran recently fired two ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing US officials.

Neither missile hit the target, which is around 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) from Iranian territory, but the launch suggests that Tehran has missiles with longer ranges than previously thought, the report said.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

One of the missiles failed in flight, and the other was targeted by an interceptor fired from a US warship, though it was not clear if the missile was hit, The Journal reported.

Israel says striking Hezbollah in Beirut

Published March 21, 2026 | 00:59 GMT

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes on Lebanon's capital Beirut targeting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah early Saturday, after calling on residents of several areas to evacuate.

In a brief statement on Saturday, the Israeli military said its forces were "currently striking Hezbollah terrorist organisation targets in Beirut".

A military spokesman earlier issued a warning to residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, to evacuate ahead of strikes.

In southern Lebanon, close to the border, state media said an Israeli airstrike hit a house in the town of Ghandouriyeh, killing at least one person and wounding two others.

The official National News Agency reported more strikes overnight on the coastal city of Tyre and the border town of Naqoura.

Hezbollah meanwhile said its fighters had targeted Israeli troops in six villages in southern Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia intercepts more than 20 drones in east: defence ministry

Published March 21, 2026 | 00:57 GMT

Saudi Arabia intercepted 22 drones in the east of the country, the defence ministry said on Saturday, as Iran continues striking Gulf nations.

"10 drones intercepted and destroyed in the eastern region," the Saudi defence ministry posted on X.

The ministry later posted that its air defences had shot down 12 more drones, also in the east.

Lebanon state media says Israeli strike kills one in south

Published March 21, 2026 | 00:11 GMT

Lebanese state media said an Israeli airstrike hit a house in a southern town early on Saturday, killing one person and wounding two others.

"Israeli fighter jets launched a heavy strike at dawn on a house in the town of Ghandouriyeh... resulting in one martyr and two wounded people who were pulled from under the rubble," the official National News Agency said.

US green-lights delivery and sale of Iranian oil at sea

Published March 21, 2026 | 00:04 GMT

The US Treasury temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded onto vessels, in Washington's latest step to stem a supply crisis over the Middle East war.

The authorization allows for the delivery and sale of Iranian crude oil and other petroleum products loaded onto ships before March 20, and will last through April 19, the Treasury said in a statement.

Bessent described the move in a statement as a narrowly tailored, short-term authorization that follows President Donald Trump's intention to "maximize the flow of energy to the world" and ensure market stability.

"At present, sanctioned Iranian oil is being hoarded by China on the cheap," Bessent said in a statement.

"By temporarily unlocking this existing supply for the world, the United States will quickly bring approximately 140 million barrels of oil to global markets, expanding the amount of worldwide energy and helping to relieve the temporary pressures on supply caused by Iran."

Strike kills fighter in northern Iraq: ex-paramilitaries

Published March 21, 2026 | 00:03 GMT

A strike killed a fighter from the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi at a military airfield in northern Iraq on Friday, the group said, blaming the attack on the United States and Israel.

"One fighter was martyred and another wounded," in the latest strike at a military airbase in the Tuz Khurmatu area, Hashed al-Shaabi said in a statement.

Israel military says new wave of missiles fired from Iran

Published March 21, 2026 | 00:01 GMT

Israel's military said early Saturday that its air defences were operating to intercept a new wave of missiles launched by Iran.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said on its official Telegram account.

Trump mulls 'winding down' Iran war

Published March 21, 2026 | 00:00 GMT

US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was considering "winding down" military operations against Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz would need to be "guarded and policed" by other countries who use the vital waterway.

"We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran," Trump posted on Truth Social.