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Iran fired two ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the attempted strike and condemned Tehran’s “reckless attacks”.
Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles toward the base but that they did not hit it, in what has been described by Iranian media as a “significant step”.
Donald Trump has said he is considering “winding down” the war with Iran, as he told countries that use the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane that they must “guard and police” it themselves.
The US president wrote on Truth Social on Friday evening: “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”.
However, reports have emerged that the Pentagon have drawn up plans for putting boots on the ground, which would involve US troops seizing Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House earlier on Friday, Mr Trump rejected calls for a ceasefire and proclaimed victory over Iran.
On Truth Social he also said the Strait of Hormuz, crucial to the globe’s oil supply, “will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other nations who use it”.
Teachers, athletes and students arrested in new Iran crackdown during US-Israel war
While the fate of many detainees arrested during the nationwide protests in January – which many consider to have been a “national uprising” – remains unclear, reports received by Independent Persian indicate that a new wave of arrests has begun across various cities in Iran. Informed sources say that since the start of US and Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic on 28 February, the scale of arrests has expanded, with thousands detained on security-related charges.
Ahmadreza Radan, the Islamic Republic’s police chief, announced last Sunday that 500 people had been arrested on charges of “sending information to the enemy and anti-Iranian media”. He described the detainees as “spies” and claimed that half of the cases were “serious”. Without presenting any concrete evidence, Radan added that those arrested had “provided intelligence on targeting sites, maintained contact with subversive groups, and attempted to disrupt public order”.
The Ministry of Intelligence also announced on Monday the arrest and prosecution of 39 more individuals on the pretext of “recording images of the aftermath of airstrikes and sending them to Persian-language media outlets abroad”.
Read the full article here:
Holly Evans21 March 2026 10:59
Iran informs IAEA of attack on Natanz nuclear site, watchdog says
Iran has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that the Natanz nuclear enrichment site was attacked on Saturday, the agency said in a post on X.
No increase in off-site radiation levels was reported, the United Nations nuclear watchdog said, adding that it is looking into the report.
Holly Evans21 March 2026 10:46
Ministry of Defence condemns Iran’s attempted attack on Diego Garcia
The UK has condemned Iran’s “reckless attacks” after it targeted the Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:“Iran’s reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies.
“RAF jets and other UK military assets are continuing to defend our people and personnel in the region.
“This government has given permission to the US to use British bases for specific and limited defensive operations.”
Holly Evans21 March 2026 10:28
Iranian man and Romanian woman charged with submarine base incident
An Iranian man and a Romanian woman have been charged after two people tried to enter the naval base which is the home of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
A 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were charged following the incident at HM Naval Base Clyde, which is known as Faslane.
A statement from Police Scotland said: “Around 5pm on Thursday, March 19, 2026 we were made aware of two people attempting to enter HM Naval Base Clyde.
“A 34-year-old Iranian man and a 31-year-old Romanian woman have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
“They are due to appear at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Monday, March 23.
“Inquiries are ongoing.”
Faslane is home to the core of the UK’s submarine fleet and the Trident nuclear deterrent.
The Royal Navy has previously said that two people unsuccessfully tried to enter the base.
Holly Evans21 March 2026 10:15
Watch: What Americans and Brits think about Trump’s Iran war?Divided opinion: What Americans and Brits think about Trump’s Iran war
Holly Evans21 March 2026 10:11
Officer killed in drone strike near Iraqi intelligence headquarters in Baghdad
An officer was killed after a drone launched by “outlaw groups” struck near the Iraqi intelligence headquarters on Baghdad on Saturday, the National Intelligence Service said in a statement.
Earlier, Saad Maan, the head of the country’s Security Media Cell, was quoted by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) as saying that “at 10:15am [07:15GMT] today, a drone crashed at the headquarters of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service in the Mansour district.”
Holly Evans21 March 2026 09:58
How hard will the Middle East conflict hit flight prices? Airline bosses weigh in
Two Irishmen and an Englishman go to Brussels.
That isn’t the start of a joke: it’s what happened on Thursday this week, at the annual Airlines for Europe summit in the Belgian capital.
The Irishmen each have decades of experience in aviation: Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (Iata), and former boss of British Airways, has been in the industry for 47 years.
Michael O’Leary transformed a small and failing Irish airline called Ryanair into Europe’s biggest budget carrier, and has spent 32 years as CEO.
Read the full article from our travel correspondent Simon Calder here:
Holly Evans21 March 2026 09:46
Watch: Trump’s ex-counterterrorism chief says he ‘did nothing wrong’ in response to FBI probeTrump’s ex-counterterrorism chief says he ‘did nothing wrong’ in response to FBI probe
Holly Evans21 March 2026 09:29
Natanz enrichment facility targeted in US-Israeli attack, Iranian media reports
The U.S. and Israel reportedly launched an attack on the Natanz uranium-enrichment facility on Saturday morning, Iran’s Tasnim news agency claimed.
No radioactive leaks occurred and residents near the site were not at risk, Tasnim added.
Holly Evans21 March 2026 09:25
Four killed as Israeli forces clash with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) says it has clashed with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, killing four people.
An IDF spokesperson, Avichai Adraee, said that there were no Israeli casualties.
On Friday night, forces spotted several Hezbollah operatives with one person killed, while Israeli Air Force aircraft targeted other members who opened fire.
Three more people were killed with tank fire.
The Air Force also carried out strikes against Hezbollah headquarters in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
Holly Evans21 March 2026 09:13