Iran-US war latest: Tehran threatens to expand war beyond the Middle East if Trump attacks again

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have warned that the war will extend “beyond the region” if the US and Israel launch attacks on Iran again in a statement released on Wednesday.

Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Tuesday killed at least 19 people, including four women and three children, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said, the latest in near-daily attacks from both sides that have not stopped despite the fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the casualties or specific incidents, but said that between Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon, it had targeted more than 25 sites of Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

The Israel-Hezbollah latest fighting began on March 2 with the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group firing rockets at Israel, two days after the United States and Israel attacked Iran.

Since President Trump ordered an attack on Iran at the end of February, Democrats have repeatedly forced votes on war powers resolutions. These measures would require him to either gain congressional approval for the military engagement or withdraw troops. Republicans had previously managed to block such proposals.

However, a crucial shift occurred when Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, fresh from a primary election loss in which President Trump endorsed his opponent, switched his vote.

The UK had previously announced that it would block Russian oil refined in other nations in a bid to “further restrict the flow of funds to the Kremlin”.

But the government has now shifted its stance, announcing on Wednesday that it will permit the import of jet fuel and diesel refined in third countries amid surging fuel costs.

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:

As peace talks appear deadlocked, the United States Central Command has reiterated that a blockade of Iranian ports continues.

It claimed that 89 commercial vessels have been redirected as a result.

“CENTCOM forces continue total enforcement of the U.S. blockade against Iran, stopping the flow of commerce into and out of Iranian ports,” read a statement on X on Wednesday.

“89 commercial vessels have been redirected to ensure compliance.”

As peace talks appear deadlocked, the United States Central Command has reiterated that a blockade of Iranian ports continues.

It claimed that 89 commercial vessels have been redirected as a result.

“CENTCOM forces continue total enforcement of the U.S. blockade against Iran, stopping the flow of commerce into and out of Iranian ports,” read a statement on X on Wednesday.

“89 commercial vessels have been redirected to ensure compliance.”

As peace talks appear deadlocked, the United States Central Command has reiterated that a blockade of Iranian ports continues.

It claimed that 89 commercial vessels have been redirected as a result.

“CENTCOM forces continue total enforcement of the U.S. blockade against Iran, stopping the flow of commerce into and out of Iranian ports,” read a statement on X on Wednesday.

“89 commercial vessels have been redirected to ensure compliance.”

Every president addresses a crisis differently. While mired deep in the Vietnam War escalation, Lyndon B. Johnson spoke about America being “guardians at the gate” with a sense of reluctant obligation. After 9/11, George W Bush spoke of terrorists shaking the foundations of buildings but never “shaking the foundation of America.”

Both of those leaders used their rhetoric to justify doing very bad, wrong things, but they at least did the very bad, wrong things while pretending to have a sense of decorum. People hearing their speeches felt that they were taking a situation seriously and attempting to make sense of it.

South Korean president Lee Jae Myung has criticised Israel this morning after Tel Aviv intercepted Gaza-bound flotilla vessels carrying South Korean nationals and took them to Israel.

Lee told his cabinet today that Israel’s actions were “way out of line” and questioned whether South Korea could allow Tel Aviv to arrest Koreans without protest.

All 430 activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla were en route to Israel after their vessels were intercepted at sea, Tel Aviv said.

Fifty Global Sumud Flotilla vessels set sail from Turkey last week in their latest bid to breach Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian territory.

“Another PR flotilla has come to an end. All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives,” an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson said.

“This flotilla has once again proved to be nothing more than a PR stunt at the service of Hamas,” he added.