Iran’s new supreme leader has reportedly released his first written message, demanding that the United States and Israel pay “reparations” for attacks on Iran, and warning that the key Strait of Hormuz shipping route will remain closed to add pressure as the conflict spreads into the ocean.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that the war was causing “the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market”. Countries around the world have agreed to release emergency oil reserves to absorb the shock.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump continues to make contradictory statements about when the war will end.
Here’s what you need to know on day 13.
Supreme Leader’s written message: Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday released what is believed to be the first message as Iran’s new supreme leader, calling for unity among Iranians and warning that the vital Strait of Hormuz would remain closed as a “means of pressure”. He also argued that the United States and Israel should pay “reparations” for their actions. He has yet to appear in public, appear in a video, or issue an audio statement.
US Assets: A US refueling plane carrying at least five crew members crashes in western Iraq, but the military says the crash was not caused by “hostile or friendly fire.” The military did not say whether any U.S. military personnel were injured or killed.
Attacks targeting oil: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned that attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure and ports will “ignite” oil and gas in the region. Bahrain says the Iranian attack targeted fuel tanks in the country’s north, and Greenpeace has mapped 85 large tankers trapped in the Persian Gulf. The group said an attack on these vessels could result in an oil spill. He called the situation an “ecological time bomb.”
Attacks near the Strait: A container ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates was hit by an “unknown projectile” early Thursday, a day after three ships were hit by projectiles near the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately one-fifth of the world’s crude oil shipments are transported through this strait. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations said his country would not close the strait, hours after the new supreme leader reportedly said the waterway would remain closed.
Hezbollah and Israel: Defense Minister Israel Katz has directed the military to prepare for expanded operations in Lebanon as Israel continues its attacks on the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah’s strongholds. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah, saying otherwise Israel would do it “in our own way.” He did not specify whether this would be done “on the ground or in some other way.” At least 687 people, including 98 children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since March 2, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
Iranian attacks continue: Israeli military drone strikes targeted Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards and Basij checkpoints, killing at least 10 “security personnel,” Iranian state media reported on Thursday.
Tensions in Iraq: Six French soldiers were injured in a drone attack targeting a coalition-based base in Erbil, northern Iraq, the governor said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but in a subsequent statement, the Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Ashab al-Khaf threatened to target French interests in Iraq and the wider region.
Millions displaced: Up to 3.2 million people have been displaced inside Iran since the conflict between Israel and the United States began on February 28, according to the United Nations. UNHCR said in a statement that most of them have fled Tehran and other urban areas to seek safety in the north and rural areas of the country. And in Lebanon, the United Nations has announced that more than 800,000 people have already been evacuated.
Gulf States: Kuwait’s international airport was damaged in a drone attack on Thursday morning, the country’s civil aviation authority announced. Other Persian Gulf states intercepted a new wave of Iranian drones and missiles early Thursday. Among them was Dubai, a global business hub, where a drone fell on a building near the upscale neighborhood of Creek Harbour.
What are the other major headlines?
Oil supply disruption: Flows of crude oil and petroleum products through the crucial Strait of Hormuz have slowed to a “tumble,” the IEA said in its monthly oil report, warning of unprecedented disruption to global oil supplies. It announced that these supplies would fall by 8 million barrels per day this month.
Oil prices: Stocks fell and global oil prices settled at $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022 as markets continued to be disrupted by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
School strike: The U.S. military mistakenly attacked an Iranian elementary school, likely due to outdated information about a nearby naval base, according to sources briefed on the preliminary findings of an ongoing military investigation. According to Iranian state media, at least 168 children and 14 teachers were killed in the attack.
