\u201cWe have objectives. Those objectives are clear. We have allies pursuing objectives as well,\u201d he added. He explained earlier in the press conference that the US\u2019s objectives were to destroy Iran\u2019s missiles, launchers, defence industrial base and navy, and for Tehran to never obtain nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n
On the South Pars gasfield attack, he said: \u201cIran has weaponised energy for decades. Israel<\/a> clearly sent a warning.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.06 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n We\u2019ve just heard from Pete Hegseth. He reiterated the claim from Donald Trump<\/a> that the US president knew nothing about the attack on Iran\u2019s South Pars gasfield.<\/p>\n However, Reuters is reporting that Israel<\/a> says its attack on the gas facilities was coordinated with the United States.<\/p>\n It cited three Israeli officials.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> A reporting team came under fire in southern Lebanon<\/a> on Thursday, when an Israeli airstrike struck within metres of their position as they were filming. RT correspondent Steve Sweeney and his cameraman, Ali Rida, were wounded in the blast, according to their account.<\/p>\n The two said an Israeli aircraft launched a missile towards their filming location near the Al-Qasmiya Bridge, an area situated close to a local military installation. Rida alleged the strike was deliberate, insisting the crew had been clearly identifiable as media, wearing uniforms marked with press insignia.<\/p>\n Footage captured by Rida\u2019s camera appears to show the moment the missile landed, detonating less than ten metres behind Sweeney as he instinctively drops to the ground in an attempt to shield himself.<\/p>\n Both men remained conscious after the strike and were taken to a nearby hospital, where they are receiving treatment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump administration has ‘lost control of its own foreign policy’, says Oman<\/p>\n A negotiated deal between the United States and Iran to avert war \u201cappeared really possible\u201d, Oman\u2019s foreign minister who mediated talks between the two sides has said. He mediated a second round of indirect negotiations that resumed in Oman on 6 February, with the final round held in Geneva on 26 February.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a shock but not a surprise when on February 28th \u2013 just a few hours after the latest and most substantive talks \u2013 Israel and America again launched an unlawful military strike against the peace that had briefly appeared really possible,\u201d Albusaidi wrote.<\/p>\n The details of what was on the table in Geneva is of major significance, experts say, because Trump justified the war by saying Iran posed an \u201cimminent\u201d threat with its nuclear programme.<\/p>\n Albusaidi blamed \u201cIsrael\u2019s leadership\u201d for persuading Trump that \u201can unconditional surrender would swiftly follow the initial assault and the assassination of the supreme leader\u201d Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening salvo of the war.<\/p>\n \u201cThe American administration\u2019s greatest miscalculation, of course, was allowing itself to be drawn into this war in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAmerica\u2019s friends have a responsibility to tell the truth,\u201d he continued, adding that one of the messages \u201cinvolves indicating the extent to which America has lost control of its own foreign policy\u201d.<\/p>\n The Guardian revealed this week <\/a>that Britain\u2019s national security adviser Jonathan Powell attended the final round of US-Iran talks in Geneva and viewed Iran\u2019s proposals as \u201csignificant enough to prevent a rush to war\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.16 EDT<\/p>\n US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration<\/a> may \u201cunsanction\u201d Iranian oil that is already being shipped, as he tried to allay concerns over the rising price of oil amid the war.<\/p>\n \u201cIn essence, we will be using the Iranian barrels against the Iranians to keep the price down for the next 10 or 14 days as we continue this campaign,\u201d he told Fox Business.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Hegseth reiterates claim that Trump ‘knew nothing’ about attack on gasfield<\/p>\n When asked by a reporter whether he felt Israel was pursuing its own objectives, in relation to the attack on Iran\u2019s South Pars gasfield<\/a> which Donald Trump said the US \u201cknew nothing\u201d about, Hegseth said: \u201cWe hold the cards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have objectives. Those objectives are clear. We have allies pursuing objectives as well,\u201d he added. He explained earlier in the press conference that the US\u2019s objectives were to destroy Iran\u2019s missiles, launchers, defence industrial base and navy, and for Tehran to never obtain nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n On the South Pars gasfield attack, he said: \u201cIran has weaponised energy for decades. Israel<\/a> clearly sent a warning.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.06 EDT<\/p>\n Caine admits Iran retains ‘some capability’ to attack US assets<\/p>\n Answering a reporter\u2019s question on Iran\u2019s missile capabilities, considering the country has managed to strike numerous states in the Gulf, Gen Dan Caine, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff, said Tehran retains \u201csome capability\u201d to attack American assets.<\/p>\n \u201cThey came into this fight with a lot of weapons.,\u201d he said, adding that the US was continuing to be \u201cas aggressive and assertive\u201d in striking Iran.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.47 EDT<\/p>\n Hegseth says US ‘on track’ but declines to say when war will end<\/p>\n Hegseth declined to say when or how the war with Iran<\/a> could end, other than saying the US was \u201cvery much on track\u201d.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markIt will be at the president\u2019s choosing ultimately, where we say, hey, we\u2019ve achieved what we need to on behalf of the American people to ensure our security. So no, no time set on that. But we\u2019re very much on track.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.47 EDT<\/p>\n When asked by a reporter which countries were being the most cooperative with the US, Hegseth said Israel<\/a> \u201cfrom day one has been an incredible and capable partner, willing and able\u201d.<\/p>\n He said the Gulf states have \u201cstepped up incredibly\u201d, adding: \u201cWe\u2019re proud to be defending with them, standing with them, you name it. UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and others.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hegseth ended his prepared speech with an overtly religious plea for Americans to pray for US troops \u201con bended knee with your family, in your schools, in your churches, in the name of Jesus Christ\u201d.<\/p>\n![\"Lorenzo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Lorenzo_Tondo.jpg\")
Lorenzo Tondo<\/p>\n
Writing in The Economist<\/a>, Badr Albusaidi abandoned the usual reserve of diplomatic language to call the war a \u201ccatastrophe\u201d and said Donald Trump\u2019s administration had \u201clost control of its own foreign policy\u201d.<\/p>\n