All you need to know about the US Israel war on Iran day 31

This live blog follows updates for Day 31 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 30, go here.

• Iran launches missile and drone attacks across Gulf states, widening regional conflict
• Israel conducts strikes across Tehran, causing explosions and damaging key infrastructure
• Israeli operations in Lebanon continue, causing heavy casualties among civilians and workers
• United States prepares potential ground operations, while Iran threatens retaliation against forces
• Oil prices surge globally as conflict threatens supply routes near Strait of Hormuz

Iranian attack sparks fire on Kuwaiti oil tanker at Dubai Port: state media

Published March 30, 2026 | 23:30 GMT

An Iranian attack sparked a fire on a Kuwaiti oil tanker at Dubai Port, state media reported on Tuesday, adding there were no injuries.

"The Kuwaiti giant crude oil tanker was subjected to a direct and malicious Iranian attack while in the anchorage area of Dubai Port in the UAE," official news agency KUNA reported, citing Kuwait's state-owned oil company.

Kuwait's military also said on Tuesday its air defenses were responding to "hostile missile and drone attacks", according to an X post.

Netanyahu says Iran war goals achieved 'beyond halfway point'

Published March 30, 2026 | 22:05 GMT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the war on Iran had achieved more than half its aims, without putting a timeline on when it would end.

"It's definitely beyond the halfway point. But I don't want to put a schedule on it," Netanyahu told the conservative US broadcaster Newsmax.

He added that he meant the war was more than halfway "in terms of missions, not necessarily in terms of time."

Iran FM says 'high time' for Saudi Arabia to eject US forces

Published March 30, 2026 | 21:21 GMT

Iran's top diplomat urged Saudi Arabia on Monday to evict US forces from its territory, reiterating that its attacks in the region only targeted its enemies.

"Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X. "Our operations are aimed at enemy aggressors who have no respect for Arabs or Iranians, nor can provide any security... High time to eject US forces."

Netanyahu says Iran's Islamic republic will 'collapse internally'

Published March 30, 2026 | 20:59 GMT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced confidence Monday that Iran's Islamic republic would eventually fall, though he again said that was not the objective of the US-Israeli war on the country.

"I think this regime will collapse internally. But at the moment, right now, what we're doing is just degrading their military capacity, degrading their missile capacity, degrading their nuclear capacity and also weakening them from the inside," Netanyahu told conservative US broadcaster Newsmax.

 Iran parliament commission approves Hormuz toll plan: state TV

Published March 30, 2026 | 20:54 GMT

Iranian state media reported Monday that a parliamentary commission had approved plans to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital to oil and gas shipments that has been effectively closed due to the Middle East war.

Citing a member of the parliament's security commission, state TV said the plan involved, among other things, "financial arrangements and rial toll systems" and "implementing the sovereign role of Iran", as well as cooperation with Oman on the other side of the Strait.

It also included the "prohibition of Americans and the Zionist regime from passing through", as well as a ban on other countries imposing sanctions on Iran.

NATO confirms intercepted Iranian missile heading to Turkey

Published March 30, 2026 | 19:40 GMT

NATO said Monday its forces had intercepted an Iranian missile heading towards Turkey, confirming an earlier announcement by the Turkish defense ministry.

"On Monday 30 March, NATO again successfully intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile heading to" Turkey, alliance spokeswoman Allison Hart said.

"NATO is prepared for such threats and will always do what is necessary to defend all allies," she added.

White House hints that Trump could ask Arab leaders to pay for war
Published March 30, 2026 | 18:51 GMT

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted at the possibility that Donald Trump would call on Arab leaders to cover the cost of the war in Iran.

When asked by a reporter about who is paying for this war, "considering Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates covered much of the costs of the Gulf War in 1990-91," Leavitt said the president is considering the possibility.

"It’s something the president would be quite interested in calling them to do," she said while noting that the president would have more to say on the topic.

France seeks 'urgent' Security Council meeting on Lebanon peacekeepers

Published March 30, 2026 | 18:10 GMT

France has requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting on the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon after the death of three peacekeepers and has made its condemnation of the deaths known to Israel, its foreign minister said Monday.

France "condemns in the strongest terms the gunfire" that caused the deaths of three UNIFIL peacekeepers in southern Lebanon in two incidents, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on the X social media platform.

IRGC vows ‘more crushing’ blows to enemies after Tangsiri’s martyrdom

Published March 30, 2026 | 17:34 GMT

Major General Ali Abdollahi of the Iranian military has warned that Iran’s Guards will deal “more crushing” blows to the United States and the Israeli regime following the martyrdom of the elite force’s Navy chief, Iran’s semi-official Press TV said.

The commander made these remarks on Monday, after the IRGC announced the martyrdom of Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri due to injuries he sustained in US-Israeli strikes.

“The American and Zionist enemies must know that the glorious flag that was in the hand of the brave, competent and prudent IRGC Navy commander would never remain on the ground,” he said.

Spain says ‘new red line’ crossed after UN peacekeeper killed in Lebanon

Published March 30, 2026 | 16:17 GMT

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has condemned the killing of an Indonesian peacekeeper with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in an explosion late on Sunday, according to a post on his X account.

“Spain strongly condemns these events. It demands that the origin of the projectile be clarified. And it calls on the Israeli government to halt the hostilities,” he wrote on X.

Attacks on UN peacekeeping missions are “an unjustifiable aggression against the entire international community”, he added.

Egypt's Sisi asks Trump to 'help us stop the war'

Published March 30, 2026 | 16:01 GMT

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday urged his US counterpart Donald Trump to help end the Middle East war, now in its second month.

"I say to President Trump: no one will be able to stop the war in our region, in the Gulf... Please, help us to stop the war, you are capable of it," Sisi said in joint remarks to the press in Cairo alongside Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

"I speak to you in the name of humanity and in the name of everyone who loves peace -- and you, Mr President, are among those who love peace," Sisi said.

Egypt was one of several Muslim-majority countries whose foreign ministers took part in talks in Pakistan on Sunday aimed at finding a route to peace

Turkey says fourth missile fired from Iran has been intercepted

Published March 30, 2026 | 15:18 GMT

Turkey's Defense Ministry said Monday that NATO forces had intercepted a new missile fired from Iran -- the fourth since the start of the Middle East war.

None of the four projectiles managed to hit Turkish soil, according to the authorities.

"A ballistic munition, which has been determined to have been fired from Iran and to have entered Turkish airspace, was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense forces deployed in the eastern Mediterranean," said a ministry statement.

Rubio says US hopeful after private talks with Iran officials

Published March 30, 2026 | 14:15 GMT

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday voiced hope for working with elements within Iran's government, saying the United States privately had received positive messages.

Rubio said there were internal "fractures" inside the Islamic Republic and that the United States hoped that figures with "power to deliver" take charge.

"We are hopeful that that's the case," Rubio told ABC News program "Good Morning America."

"There are clearly people there talking to us in ways that previous people in charge in Iran have not spoken to us in the past, some of the things they're willing to do," he said.

UK will not send troops to Iran: PM Starmer

Published March 30, 2026 | 13:25 GMT

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out deploying troops to Iran, distancing the UK from direct involvement in the conflict.

“This is not our war, and we’re not going to get drawn into it,” he said.

Trump threatens to obliterate Iran's Kharg island if no deal reached 'shortly'

Published March 30, 2026 | 12:00 GMT

US President Donald Trump threatened Monday to destroy Iran's oil export hub of Kharg Island, oil wells and power plants if it does not agree soon to a deal to end the war.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social network that the United States is in "serious discussions" with "a more reasonable regime" in Tehran.

"Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately 'Open for Business,' we will conclude our lovely 'stay' in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet 'touched,'" Trump said.

UN peacekeepers injured in 'incident' in south Lebanon: UNIFIL spokesperson

Published March 30, 2026 | 11: 50 GMT

UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon were wounded in an "incident" near the Lebanese-Israeli border, a spokesperson for the force said Monday, without specifying the nature of the incident.

"There has been an incident involving peacekeepers near Bani Hayyan, and we have injuries," Kandice Ardiel told AFP, a day after an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed by a projectile of unknown origin that struck a UN position.

Iran military says Israel behind attack on Kuwait desalination plant

Published March 30, 2026 | 11:35 GMT

Iran's military said Monday that Israel was behind an attack on a desalination plant in Kuwait.

"The brutal aggression by the Israeli regime against Kuwait's desalination plant, carried out in recent hours under the pretext of accusing the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a sign of the vileness and depravity of the Zionist occupiers," said the military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya in a statement carried by state TV.

Iran says not seeking nuclear weapons but non-proliferation treaty under review

Published March 30, 2026 | 11:25 GMT

Iran said on Monday it was not seeking nuclear weapons but the issue of whether to remain part of the non-proliferation treaty was under review in parliament.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has never sought and does not seek nuclear weapons," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.

"Regarding membership in this treaty, regardless of our clear position on the prohibition of all weapons of mass destruction, this is genuinely a debate taking place within public opinion and at the parliamentary level."

Lebanese army says soldier killed in Israeli strike on checkpoint

Published March 30, 2026 | 10:11 GMT

An Israeli strike has killed a Lebanese soldier at a checkpoint in the country's southern Tyre region, Lebanon's military said Monday.

"An Israeli attack targeted an army checkpoint" near Tyre, "resulting in the death of one soldier and injuries to others", the military said.

A military source told AFP the attack was the first direct targeting of a Lebanese army position since the start of the war.

Iran says ambassador to Lebanon to remain despite expulsion order

Published March 30, 2026 | 10:11 GMT

Iran on Monday said its ambassador to Lebanon would remain in the country despite being declared a persona non grata and ordered to leave.

"Our ambassador ... will continue his work as Iran's ambassador in Beirut and remains present there," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing, adding that the embassy in Beirut remains "operational".

American University in Armenia halts in-person teaching over Iran threat

Published March 30, 2026 | 10:11 GMT

The American University of Armenia said on Monday it was moving all classes online over Iranian threats to target US universities in West Asia.

Several US universities have campuses scattered throughout the Middle East, including Texas A&M University in Qatar and New York University in the United Arab Emirates.

Iran threatened to target US universities in the Middle East after saying US-Israeli strikes had destroyed two Iranian universities.

"Due to the threat made by Iran to target American universities in West Asia and the Middle East, all AUA classes on Monday, March 30, will be held fully online," the university said in a statement.

The American University of Armenia said it had received no direct threats and stressed there was no cause for alarm, calling the move "a precautionary measure".

Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a statement, carried by Iranian media on Sunday, saying: "If the US government wants its universities in the region to be free from retaliation... it must condemn the bombing of the universities in an official statement by 12 noon on Monday, March 30, Tehran time."

They advised "all employees, professors and students of American universities in the region and residents of their surrounding areas" to stay one kilometre (mile) away from campuses.

Israel military says striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut

Published March 30, 2026 | 08:15 GMT

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes in Lebanon's capital Beirut on Monday targeting Hezbollah.

"The IDF has begun striking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in Beirut," the military said in a brief statement.

Iran confirms killing of Guards navy commander Alireza Tangsiri

Published March 30, 2026 | 08:15 GMT

Iran confirmed on Monday that Revolutionary Guards commander Alireza Tangsiri had been killed, days after Israel said it targeted him in an air strike.

A statement carried by the Guards' Sepah News website said Tangsiri "succumbed to severe injuries" from the attack.

Israel army says struck missile production sites in Tehran

Published March 30, 2026 | 08:15 GMT

Israel's military said Monday it had struck dozens of weapons production sites including a long-range surface-to-air missiles manufacturing line in Iran's capital Tehran.

"During waves of airstrikes over the past two days in Tehran, approximately 40 weapons production and research facilities were struck," the military said.

The targets, it said, included "a facility used for assembling long-range surface-to-air missiles", a site assembling components for "anti-tank missiles and small anti-aircraft missiles", and a facility that produced and researched "ballistic missile engines."

Iran energy ministry says power grid 'stable' after attacks

Published March 30, 2026 | 08:00 GMT

Iran has restored electricity in parts of the capital and nearby areas after strikes damaged power grids and briefly disrupted supply, the deputy energy minister said on Monday.

"Following last night's enemy attack, the power grid in the provinces of Alborz and Tehran sustained damage and was affected," said Mostafa Rajabi-Mashhadi in an interview with state television.

"The power network across Iran's national electricity grid is stable; in Tehran and Alborz the problems have also been resolved," he added.

Strike hits Beirut's southern suburbs after Israeli warning: AFPTV

Published March 30, 2026 | 08:00 GMT

A strike hit Beirut's southern suburbs on Monday, AFPTV footage showed, after Israel issued a warning for people in the Hezbollah stronghold to leave.

The strike is the first since Friday in the area, which is now largely deserted since Israel began frequent attacks against Hezbollah in early March.

AFPTV's live broadcast showed plumes of smoke rising from the southern suburbs.

UN force in southern Lebanon says peacekeeper killed

Published March 30, 2026 | 05:50 GMT

The UN force in Lebanon said Monday that one of their peacekeepers was killed when a projectile hit one of their positions, where Israeli forces are fighting Hezbollah as part of efforts to establish a buffer zone.

"A peacekeeper was tragically killed last night when a projectile exploded in a UNIFIL position near Adchit al Qusayr," said a statement. "Another was critically injured."

The town of Adchit al Qusayr lies near Lebanon's southern border with Israel, where Israeli forces have been battling Hezbollah fighters for nearly a month.

Indonesia confirmed that one of its peacekeepers was killed and three others were wounded due to "indirect artillery fire".

The UNIFIL statement said they did not know the origin of the projectile but had launched an investigation. "No one should ever lose their life serving the cause of peace," it added.

UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the killing in a post on X. "This is just one of a number of recent incidents that have jeopardised the safety and security of peacekeepers," he said.

Lebanese state news agency NNA reported earlier that the position hit belonged to the Indonesian battalion serving with UNIFIL.

Israel military says responding to missiles launched from Iran

Published March 30, 2026 | 05:50 GMT

The Israeli military said its air defenses were responding to "missiles launched from Iran" on Monday.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel," the military statement said.

"Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," it added, urging people to take shelter until further notice.

Israel strikes Tehran military infrastructures

Published March 30, 2026 | 03:30 GMT

The Israeli army said on Monday morning that it was striking Iranian military infrastructure across the Islamic Republic's capital.

The Israeli forces are "currently striking Iranian terror regime military infrastructure across Tehran," it said on Telegram.

Iran water plant damaged: IAEA

Published March 30, 2026 | 03:22 GMT

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Sunday that Iran’s heavy water production plant in Khondab was no longer operational after an Israeli military strike.

The Israeli military said Friday it carried out a strike against a heavy water plant in Arak, central Iran, describing the site as a “key plutonium production site for nuclear weapons.”

On Sunday, IAEA said based on an independent analysis of satellite imagery the heavy water production plant at Khondab, which Iran reported had been attacked on 27 March, had “sustained severe damaged (sic) and is no longer operational.”

It added the “installation contains no declared nuclear material.”

Saudi Arabia intercepted ballistic missiles

Published March 30, 2026 | 00:36 GMT

Saudi Arabia's defense ministry said its forces detected and intercepted five ballistic missiles aimed at the Kingdom's Eastern Province.

The brief statement posted on X did not specify where the missiles originated.