Iran Israel War Live Updates: Iran rejects talks with US; Israel strikes presidential office in Tehran

March 3, 2026, 19:59:17 (IST)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday said several European allies have expressed support for the US campaign against Iran.

Speaking to AFP, Rutte said he had spoken with multiple leaders over the weekend and earlier this week. “I feel widespread support in Europe,” he said.

He added that many of his NATO colleagues had applauded efforts aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, and even welcomed the prospect of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei being removed from power.

March 3, 2026, 19:53:21 (IST)

Israeli air strikes across Lebanon on Monday and Tuesday have killed 40 people and injured 246 others, a spokesperson for Lebanon’s health ministry said, according to Reuters.

The spokesperson added that the earlier death toll of 52 announced on Monday was due to a technical error by the ministry.

March 3, 2026, 19:33:53 (IST)

Israeli authorities are using container vessels to bring back dozens of essential medical personnel stranded overseas amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, cargo operator ZIM Shipping said.

A company official told Reuters that its ships are operating between Limassol and the Israeli port city of Haifa as part of a coordinated effort involving the Transportation Ministry, major Israeli hospitals and the shipping firm.

March 3, 2026, 19:31:03 (IST)

Iran has fired ballistic missiles towards Israel, with several projectiles heading in the direction of Tel Aviv as part of its ongoing retaliatory strikes against Israeli targets, according to media reports.

Sirens and defence alerts have been triggered across parts of Israel as authorities activate interception systems in response to the incoming threat.

March 3, 2026, 19:18:02 (IST)

The UAE’s defence ministry spokesperson said the country is prepared to confront all threats, regardless of their source or nature, amid the ongoing conflict.

In a post on X, the ministry said it “will not hesitate or be lenient in taking the necessary deterrent measures” to safeguard the nation’s security and stability.

March 3, 2026, 19:03:49 (IST)

US President Donald Trump said Iran’s leadership has signalled it wants to enter talks, but declared it was now “too late” for negotiations after what he described as successful strikes on Iranian military and leadership targets.

“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” Trump said, adding that Tehran “should have done it sooner” and that many of the previous Iranian officials involved in talks “are gone” following recent attacks.

March 3, 2026, 18:57:28 (IST)

Italy has summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest a drone attack on a UK military base in Cyprus, the Italian foreign ministry told AFP on Tuesday.

A British Royal Air Force base in Cyprus — which, like Italy, is a member of the European Union — was targeted early Monday by Iranian-made drones, with one reportedly striking the runway.

A Cypriot government source said the drones were launched from nearby Lebanon and were likely operated by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The escalation comes as the Middle East remains gripped by conflict triggered by US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran over the weekend, followed by retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran against countries in the region hosting US bases.

March 3, 2026, 18:39:39 (IST)

The United States Embassy in Saudi Arabia has warned of a “threat of imminent missile and UAV (drone) attacks over Dhahran” in a post on X.

“Do not come to the US Consulate. Take cover immediately,” the embassy said, urging American citizens in Dhahran to shelter in place, review their security plans and remain alert for further potential attacks. It added that consulate personnel are also sheltering in place.

The warning follows reports that the US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by two suspected Iranian drones, with two additional drones hitting at or near the embassy compound.

Dhahran is located in eastern Saudi Arabia, relatively close to Iran.

March 3, 2026, 18:19:52 (IST)

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country continues to function despite the ongoing conflict.

“We are in direct contact with the governors. The situation is exceptional, but the country has not come to a halt. Ongoing activities are continuing across the country. By delegating the necessary authorities to the provinces, decision-making is carried out swiftly and in proportion to local conditions. National unity is our primary asset,” he said in a post on X.

March 3, 2026, 18:11:34 (IST)

IndiGo on Tuesday operated four repatriation flights to Jeddah and is scheduled to run another flight to Muscat later in the day to bring back passengers stranded due to the Middle East conflict.

The airline said it also plans to operate repatriation services to cities in the United Arab Emirates on March 4, subject to the local situation and necessary approvals.

After suspending flights to the Middle East and Europe amid the ongoing crisis, IndiGo said it will gradually reinstate select services to Muscat, Jeddah, Madinah and Athens.

In total, the carrier plans to operate 26 flights to and from these four destinations.

March 3, 2026, 18:08:58 (IST)

The Israeli military said it carried out strikes on Hezbollah command centres and arms depots in Beirut, Reuters reported.

The development comes as a Lebanese army source told AFP that Israeli ground forces advanced into a border area inside Lebanese territory on Tuesday. The move followed instructions from Israel’s defence minister to troops to “take control of additional strategic positions in Lebanon.”

March 3, 2026, 18:02:23 (IST)

Three people were killed and 68 others injured in Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates, the country’s defence ministry said, according to Al Jazeera.

The ministry stated that a total of 186 missiles were launched towards the UAE. Of these, 172 were intercepted, while 13 fell into the sea. One missile struck land, it added.

March 3, 2026, 17:54:57 (IST)

March 3, 2026, 17:52:06 (IST)

The United Nations human rights chief has called for a “prompt, impartial and thorough investigation” into what Iran says was an airstrike on a girls’ school in the southern city of Minab.

Volker Turk said he was “deeply shocked” by the impact of the hostilities on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, followed by retaliatory attacks by Tehran and its regional allies.

Referring to the reported strike on the school, rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said “the onus is on the forces that carried out the attack to investigate it”. She urged that the findings be made public and that accountability and redress be ensured for victims.

The rights office said it was not making any assessment about responsibility.

A spokesperson for United States Central Command, Capt Tim Hawkins, said he was “aware of reports” that a girls’ school had been struck and that officials were reviewing them. An Israeli military spokesperson said he was not aware of any Israeli or American strikes in the area.

March 3, 2026, 17:44:01 (IST)

Iran has announced a ban on the export of all food and agricultural products until further notice, officials said, as tensions with the United States and Israel continue to escalate.

The decision to halt these exports comes amid widening military engagements and economic strain linked to the ongoing conflict. The move is expected to affect regional food supply chains and could have broader impacts on trade in agricultural commodities

March 3, 2026, 17:35:42 (IST)

A fresh wave of airstrikes hit the southern suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday afternoon, targeting an area known as a stronghold of Hezbollah, without prior warning. The Israeli military said it had struck “several Hezbollah terrorists” in the operation.

National News Agency reported that “a new series of intense Israeli air raids” hit the suburb, causing extensive damage to buildings. Live footage broadcast by Agence France-Presse showed thick plumes of smoke rising from the area.

March 3, 2026, 17:34:47 (IST)

The United States has closed two embassies in the Middle East and reduced its consular operations in several other countries as regional strikes continue, CNN reports.

The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia was closed after the facility was reportedly hit by two suspected Iranian drones.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Kuwait has suspended operations “until further notice”. The State Department had earlier ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel from Kuwait. On Monday, video verified by international media showed smoke rising near the embassy compound.

The State Department has also urged American citizens to immediately leave 14 countries in the region, citing “serious safety risks”.

In addition, non-emergency US government staff and their families have been asked to depart from:

Jordan

Bahrain

Qatar

Iraq

United Arab Emirates

March 3, 2026, 17:32:52 (IST)

Reporters on the ground said air raid sirens were sounding across Kuwait City on Tuesday.

The development comes shortly after Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry condemned “in the strongest terms” an attack on the US Embassy in the country.

March 3, 2026, 17:20:59 (IST)

A fire erupted at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) on Tuesday morning after debris fell following the interception of an Iranian drone, according to a statement from the Fujairah Media Office.

The statement said no injuries were reported and added that the blaze was quickly brought under control. Authorities confirmed that normal operations in the area have since resumed, CNN reported.

March 3, 2026, 17:19:27 (IST)

March 3, 2026, 17:12:52 (IST)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with two key Gulf leaders on Tuesday afternoon, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

He held a telephone conversation with Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman, and also spoke with Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait.

During both discussions, the Prime Minister conveyed concern over the recent attacks in the respective countries and reviewed the welfare and safety of the Indian community residing there, according to the PMO.

March 3, 2026, 16:52:23 (IST)

Israeli forces targeted Iran’s presidential office in strikes carried out on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said in a post on X.

“The Iranian regime’s leaders