Israel carried out additional strikes in and around Tehran early Friday, coinciding with Nowruz, the Persian New Year, as the conflict with Iran entered its fourth week.
The latest escalation followed Israel’s midweek bombing of the South Pars gas field, an attack that jolted energy markets and broadened the war’s impact across the Gulf. Iran responded with strikes on several gas and oil installations, including Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy complex. U.S. President Donald Trump said he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid further strikes on energy infrastructure to prevent wider disruption; Netanyahu acknowledged the request, said Israel acted alone in the South Pars attack, and agreed to “hold off on future attacks” at Trump’s urging.
Overnight, Iranian drones again struck Kuwait’s Mina Al‑Ahmadi refinery, igniting fires at multiple operating units. Firefighters worked to contain the blazes and authorities reported no injuries. Officials in the United Arab Emirates said air defenses intercepted missiles and drones launched from Iran, causing explosions that rang out over Dubai as worshippers observed Eid.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei — who has not made public appearances since succeeding his father following the Feb. 28 strike that killed the elder Khamenei — issued a rare statement saying Iran’s foes “must have their security taken away.” The remark followed Israeli strikes this week that killed several senior Iranian figures, including Iran’s intelligence chief Esmail Khatib, Ali Larijani, Gholamreza Soleimani of the Basij militia, and early Friday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ top spokesperson, Ali Mohammed Naini, whom Israel said it had eliminated.
Key developments:
– Trump and Netanyahu over energy strikes: At the White House, Trump said he pressed Netanyahu after the South Pars attack and urged Israel to avoid targeting energy facilities. Netanyahu said Israel would comply with that request.
– Dispute over Iran’s capabilities: Netanyahu asserted at a press briefing that Iran “has no ability to enrich uranium” and “no ability to produce ballistic missiles,” framing Israeli strikes as aimed at industries that support such programs. Those claims contrast with remarks from International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi, who told NPR that while military strikes have heavily damaged sites, some material and enrichment capacity likely remain.
– Domestic Israeli politics: Opposition leader Yair Lapid questioned Netanyahu’s assessments and stressed concern about what Iran might be able to accomplish once fighting subsides.
– Kuwait refinery struck again: Mina Al‑Ahmadi, Kuwait’s largest refinery, was hit by drones for a second time, causing fires at multiple units and underscoring the widening energy front.
– Iran’s leadership response: Mojtaba Khamenei’s statement called for stripping security from both internal and external enemies in reaction to the recent killings of senior officials.
– Israel reports additional killings: The Israeli military said it killed IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammed Naini early Friday, making him the fourth senior Iranian official killed by Israel in a matter of days.
– International calls for restraint: European Union leaders meeting in Brussels urged “de‑escalation and maximum restraint,” pressed for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and called for a moratorium on strikes targeting energy and water infrastructure amid rising prices. A joint statement from France, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada condemned Iran’s recent attacks on commercial vessels and its attempts to block the Strait, urging an end to mine‑laying and missile and drone assaults.
The situation remains fluid as both sides continue strikes and counterstrikes. Energy infrastructure and regional shipping lanes have become central fronts in the expanding confrontation, raising concerns about further spillover and global market disruptions.