President Donald Trump previously vowed to wipe out Tehran’s key oil port unless the Strait of Hormuz remains open
President Donald Trump has bragged about the “most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East” amid reports of new reinforcements moving into the region as the US-Israeli attack on Iran enters its third week.
The US has “totally obliterated” military infrastructure on Iran’s Kharg Island, but “for reasons of decency” has not yet targeted oil facilities at the “crown jewel” port, which handles 90% of the country’s oil exports, Trump said on Friday.
“However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” the US president stated.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth claimed that some 15,000 US strikes over the past two weeks have completely degraded Tehran’s ability to build new missiles and drones.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon is reportedly deploying an amphibious assault-ready expeditionary unit, which typically consists of some 5,000 marines and sailors, fueling growing fears of a potential ground invasion.
Here are the latest developments as RT continues to bring you up to date:
The US Treasury temporarily lifted its sanctions on Russian oil shipments in order to reduce the burden on global energy markets. Several countries have already lined up to negotiate deals with Moscow, while G7 members slammed the move, insisting on continued pressure on Russia.
The US and Israel conducted airstrikes on Tehran during a massive government-organized Quds Day march in support of Palestine, attended by top Iranian officials.
Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani has mocked the US bounty for information on Iranian leaders' whereabouts, stating that they have always been “and still are among the people,” unlike top US politicians who prefer “Epstein’s island.”
US CENTCOM has announced that all six crew members of the US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker have been confirmed dead after the aircraft went down in “friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury” over western Iraq.
Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates. You can also read our previous updates here.
14 March 2026
02:57 GMT
At least 15 large explosions rocked Kharg Island following US airstrikes earlier in the day, with thick smoke seen rising from Iran’s key oil hub, Press TV reports. Neither Tehran nor Washington has yet confirmed the scope of the damage, after President Trump insisted he ordered the Department of War to target only “military infrastructure” but spare oil facilities for now.
02:23 GMT
President Trump has reiterated his claim that the US military campaign against Iran is “way ahead of schedule” but refused to offer any specific timeline for ending the war.
“I mean, I have my own idea, but what good does it do?” he told reporters before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews , before adding that the war will go on for “as long as it’s necessary.”
Asked to explain what kind of “unconditional surrender” he expected from Tehran, Trump told journalists it would meann “very simply that we are in a position of dominance that nobody has ever seen before."
01:56 GMT
Tehran has threatened to turn all US-linked oil infrastructure across the Middle East into a “pile of ashes” if its own facilities come under attack.
“All the oil and energy infrastructure belonging to oil companies across the region that have American shares or cooperate with the United States will be destroyed and turned into a pile of ashes,” a spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya said in a statement appearing to directly respond to President Donald Trump’s claims about a US bombing raid on Iran’s Kharg Island.
Trump previously claimed he spared Iran’s main oil hub, which handles approximately 90% of the country’s oil exports, during the “most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East.” But he threatened to “immediately reconsider this decision” if Iran or anyone else were to block the flow of oil through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
00:52 GMT
Saudi Arabia’s air defenses have intercepted at least 7 drones that breached the country’s airspace over the past two hours, according to the Defence Ministry.
00:34 GMT
The IDF has once again urged Israelis to seek shelter after detecting more missile launches from Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps previously shared a video of its forces launching heavy ballistic missiles “at specified targets in the occupied territories,” referring to Israel.
00:23 GMT
Five more US Air Force refueling planes were “damaged but not fully destroyed” in an Iranian missile attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing two unnamed US officials. The attack, not yet acknowledged by the Pentagon, allegedly happened in recent days, and the aircraft are reportedly being repaired.
The Department of War previously confirmed that six US airmen were killed in an unexplained crash of a KC-135 Stratotanker in “friendly airspace” over western Iraq, while another refueler was damaged but managed to land safely in Tel Aviv. Officials insist the loss of the aircraft was not the result of “hostile or friendly fire.”
13 March 2026
23:45 GMT
The Pentagon has yet to unveil which targets were hit or which assets were used in the bombing raid on Iran’s Kharg Island. However, earlier on Friday, CENTCOM shared a video of B-2 stealth bombers taking off to eliminate the Iranian “threat” and the country’s “ability to rebuild in the future.”
23:23 GMT
The US has conducted a bombing raid on Iran’s “crown jewel,” Kharg Island, which handles 90% of the country’s oil exports, President Donald Trump announced in a new post on Truth Social.
“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump wrote.
The US president claimed that he has chosen not to wipe out Iran’s oil infrastructure on the island “for reasons of decency” – as Brent futures spiked above $103 on Friday. Washington has been struggling to cushion the global economic impact of the war by releasing crude oil from strategic reserves and even temporarily lifting sanctions on Russia.
“However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” he stated.
READ MORE: How Russia’s crisis diplomacy lifted sanctions and infuriated Zelensky
23:06 GMT
The Nepalese consulate in Beirut has condemned the Israeli attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) outpost hosting a Nepalese battalion, calling it a serious breach of international law.
“The Nepalese soldiers participating in UNIFIL have served for many years with a spirit of commitment and discipline to promote peace and stability in southern Lebanon,” the consulate said. It is unclear if anyone was injured or killed.
23:00 GMT
At least 13 civilians, including children, were killed by Israeli attacks across Lebanon on Friday evening, according to local health officials.
The death toll over the past two weeks has risen to more than 773 people, including over 100 children, and nearly 2,000 injured.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said one of the strikes hit an emergency point operated by the Islamic Health Authority and the Islamic Risala Scouts, killing two rescuers and wounding at least five others. The state-run National News Agency said another six people, including a young girl, were killed when Israeli warplanes struck a house in the city of Nabatieh. Three more people were killed in the border city of Bint Jbeil , while two children were killed in the coastal town of Ghazieh.
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