Middle East conflict live updates: Trump says Iran war ‘pretty much’ over after global oil prices soar
Watch: US military destroyer launches tomahawk missile at Iran
Nazahryth Bernard
The American military has released footage of its destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) firing a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) at Iran yesterday.
– Daily Telegraph
Sirens sound in Jerusalem after Israel military warns of missiles from Iran
Nazahryth Bernard
Sirens sounded in Jerusalem on Tuesday after Israel's military warned of incoming missiles from Iran, AFP journalists reported.
The warning came as the US-Israeli war against Iran entered its 11th day, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israel was "not done yet" with its military campaign.
– AFP
IDF to attack two major cities in Lebanon
Nazahryth Bernard
Israeli authorities have issued an urgent evacuation message to residents in the Lebanese cities of Tyre and Sidon ahead of air strikes.
A spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said: “The IDF will soon attack military infrastructure belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah.”
It has urged residents to vacate two 300m-radius circles across both cities where the bombing raid will target.
– Daily Telegraph
Israeli PM Netanyahu warns 'we are not done yet' in Iran
Nazahryth Bernard
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel's military offensive against Iran was "not done yet", saying the operation was degrading Iran's clerical leadership.
"Our aspiration is to bring the Iranian people to cast off the yoke of tyranny; ultimately, it depends on them. But there is no doubt that with the actions taken so far, we are breaking their bones -- and we are not done yet," Netanyahu said during a visit to the National Health Command Centre on Monday night, according to a statement published Tuesday.
– AFP
European gas prices drop 15% after Trump's war remarks
Nazahryth Bernard
European gas prices tumbled around 15% on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump signalled that the US-Israel war on Iran could end sooner than expected.
The Dutch TTF natural gas contract, considered the European benchmark, fell to around 48 euros, after rising sharply the day before.
"I think the war is very complete, pretty much," Trump said on Monday, which also helped ease oil prices.
– AFP
Iraq PM tells US Iraqi airspace must not be used against neighbours
Nazahryth Bernard
Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today that Iraq should not be used as a launch pad for attacks in the Middle East war.
Iraq neighbours Iran, against which the United States and Israel launched massive strikes on February 28, as well as the Gulf, which the Islamic Republic has hit with missile and drone attacks.
Within hours of the start of the war, fighter jets and missiles coming from every direction filled Iraq's airspace.
Sudani stressed in a phone call with Rubio "the importance of ensuring that Iraqi airspace, territory, and waters are not used for any military action targeting neighbouring countries or the region," the Prime Minister's media office said.
Sudani rejected "any attempt to drag the country into ongoing conflicts," as well as "violations of its airspace by any party."
– AFP
Iran war oil surge sees markets price in two RBNZ rate hikes this year
Nazahryth Bernard
Financial markets are pricing in two interest rate hikes from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand this year because of the Iran war pushing oil prices higher, after having priced in one increase before the crisis.
We will prevent Trump taking oil for US, insist Iranian forces
Nazahryth Bernard
Iranian forces have claimed they will not allow the export of oil from the region to allies of the United States and Israel as long as the war continues.
Ali Mohammad Naini, a Revolutionary Guards spokesman, said: “The Iranian armed forces... will not allow the export of a single litre of oil from the region to the hostile side and its partners until further notice.”
He said any change would take place based on the conditions of the conflict, according to a report from Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
– Daily Telegraph
Israel again orders evacuation of southern Lebanon as it continues air strikes
Nazahryth Bernard
Israel has ordered the urgent evacuation of southern Lebanon as it continues to hit the area with air strikes.
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Avichay Adraee says Israel is acting "forcefully" against Hezbollah south of the Litani River due to the group's activities in the region.
"We reiterate our urgent appeal for you to evacuate your homes immediately and head immediately north of the Litani River," he wrote on social media.
On Monday (local time), the IDF said it carried out a series of strikes in Lebanon against Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association (AQAH) targets, a financial association linked with Hezbollah, the BBC reported.
The Lebanese Health Ministry said yesterday that 486 people had been killed since Israel began its offensive earlier this month.
Hezbollah continues assault on Israel
Nazahryth Bernard
Hezbollah confirmed it fired rockets at a military site in northern Israel overnight after the Lebanese president accused the group of working to “collapse” the Lebanese state, writes the Telegraph's Paul Nuki, global health security editor, in Beirut.
The Iranian-backed group, which reignited its war with Israel in response to the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week, said it was responding to Israeli air strikes and ground incursions in the south of the country.
Its actions, and the continuing Israeli response, which included attacks by Israeli jets overnight, threaten to once again pull the country into a full-scale ground war.
On Monday (local time), Israel launched major attacks on the group’s stronghold in southern suburbs in the capital Beirut, with targets said to have focused on its banking infrastructure.
Entire buildings were collapsed in the now almost empty suburb, with huge plums of smoke visible across the city.
The Israeli army confirmed it has targeted about 30 sites of al-Qard al-Hassan, a Hezbollah linked financial association, over the past week.
Lebanese authorities said on Monday (local time) that at least 486 people have been killed and least 1313 wounded since the fighting started on March 2.
According to the government, more than 660,000 people have registered as displaced, with 120,000 sleeping at official shelters as of Monday (local time).
Stadiums as well as schools and university buildings are being used across Beirut and northern Lebanon to shelter displaced people and families.
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun has accused Hezbollah of working to “collapse” the state and called for “direct negotiations” with Israel to stop the fighting.
– Daily Telegraph
Nearly 200 injured in Israel due to war with Iran
Nazahryth Bernard
Israel’s Ministry of Health says 191 people have been admitted to hospital in the past 24 hours due to the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to the Times of Israel.
Those hospitalised included both soldiers and civilians, the Times of Israel reported, with at least one person in a critical condition and three others in a serious condition.
US-Israeli strikes in western Iran kill 5: Report
Nazahryth Bernard
The Iranian ISNA news agency is reporting that five people have been killed and several injured in an US and Israeli air strike that hit a residential building in the city of Arak, in western Iran, according to Al Jazeera.
Iran Guards say targeted US base in Iraq's Kurdistan region
Nazahryth Bernard
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they targeted a US base in Iraq's Kurdistan region as the war with the United States and Israel continues.
"The headquarters of the invading US army in Al-Harir Air Base in the Kurdistan region was targeted with five missiles," the Guards said in a statement on their Telegram channel.
– AFP
Trump says deadly school strike still under investigation
Nazahryth Bernard
Earlier today, President Donald Trump was asked if the US will accept any responsibility for a strike which hit a primary school near a military base in Minab, killing 168 people, 110 of whom were children.
The President responded by saying Tomahawk missiles, which are made in America and are the type that appears to have been used in the strike, are used by several countries, including Iran.
Later, it was put to Trump that he is the only person in the administration seemingly suggesting that another country could have acquired a US-produced missile and struck the school.
Neither Israel nor Iran are known to possess Tomahawks, experts previously told the BBC.
"I just don't know enough about it," Trump said, adding again that the deadly strike is under investigation, the BBC reported.
He added: "Whatever that report shows, I'm willing to live with that report."
US Embassy in Beirut tells citizens to ‘shelter in place’
Nazahryth Bernard
Americans in Lebanon “should be prepared to shelter in place” if they “choose to not take advantage of departure options available”, the US Embassy in Beirut has said in a security alert.
The embassy recommended US citizens find a “secure location within your residence or another safe building” and “have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items”.
Lebanon has said more than half a million people have been displaced by fighting between Israel and Hezbollah over the past week, with Israeli attacks killing at least 486 people, Al Jazeera reported.
Strike blamed on US kills four Iran-backed fighters in Iraq: armed group
Nazahryth Bernard
Four fighters from the Tehran-backed Kataeb Imam Ali group were killed on Tuesday in air strikes blamed on the US in northern Iraq, the armed faction announced.
The group said its fighters were killed in an "American aggression" on their position in the Debs district in Kirkuk province.
– AFP
Israeli strikes hit south and east Lebanon: state media
Nazahryth Bernard
Israeli strikes hit southern and eastern Lebanon overnight, state media reported on Tuesday, as Israel targets Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.
"Enemy warplanes launched strikes overnight on the towns of Almajadel, Shaqra, and Srifa," the National News Agency (NNA) reported, adding strikes had also taken place in the Bekaa Valley.
– AFP
Iran’s foreign minister says negotiations with US ‘no longer on the agenda’
Nazahryth Bernard
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says missile attacks will continue for as long as necessary and negotiations with the US are “no longer on the agenda”.
Speaking to PBS News, Araghchi said previous negotiation attempts with the US had been a “bitter experience”.
“I don’t think that question of talking with Americans or negotiation with Americans once again would be on the table,” he added.
– Daily Telegraph
UAE says intercepting missile, drone attack from Iran
Nazahryth Bernard
The United Arab Emirates said it was intercepting a drone and missile attack from Iran.
"UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran," the Defence Ministry posted on social media on Tuesday.
– AFP
Infant killed in US-Israeli strikes in Tehran: Report
Nazahryth Bernard
The Iranian Mehr news agency says the body of a 1-year-old girl has been recovered from the rubble of a residential building in Tehran after it was hit by US and Israeli missiles, Al Jazeera reports.
The agency reportedly posted a video on Telegram of emergency workers digging through debris to retrieve the infant’s body.
Uber drivers fear rising petrol prices will make job unsustainable
Nazahryth Bernard
With petrol prices rising across the country, some Uber drivers want the ride-share company to raise fares or even pay the cost of petrol entirely.
Five Iranian women's footballers granted asylum in Australia
Nazahryth Bernard
Australia has granted asylum to five players in Iran’s visiting women’s football team over fears they faced persecution if they returned home, the country’s Home Affairs Minister has confirmed.
“They are welcome to stay in Australia, and they are safe here, and should feel at home here,” Tony Burke told reporters.
Players refused to sing Iran’s national anthem during a tournament match in Australia last week, which was widely seen as an act of defiance against the Islamic Republic and players were branded as “traitors” on state television.
– Daily Telegraph
Kuwait intercepts six drones
Nazahryth Bernard
Kuwait’s National Guard says it has downed six drones in the north and south of the country, according to Al Jazeera.
The statement comes after the Kuwaiti Army said it destroyed two ballistic missiles and two drones in the country’s airspace on Monday (local time).
Iran responds to Trump: We determine the end of the war
Nazahryth Bernard
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has responded to President Donald Trump’s comments that the US is “getting very close to finishing” its operation in Iran.
According to Iranian state media, the Revolutionary Guards said: “We are the ones who will determine the end of the war.”
The Revolutionary Guards also said it would not allow the export of “one litre of oil” from the region if the US and Israel continue attacks.
The Revolutionary Guards said Trump’s comments about Iran were “nonsense” and warned that security in the region “will be for everyone or for no one”.
– Daily Telegraph
Asian markets rally after Trump comments
Nazahryth Bernard
Asian stock markets rallied on Tuesday after Donald Trump said his war on Iran would end earlier than thought.
Equities bounced back on Tuesday following a wild day of swings that saw oil rocket 30% to a peak above US$119 ($201) a barrel before plunging to as low as US$84.
Seoul was up more than 6% and Tokyo gained more than 3%. There were also healthy advances in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta.
That came after all three main indexes on Wall Street ended sharply higher, having reversed early heavy selling.
– Daily Telegraph
Saudi military intercepts two more drones
Vera Alves
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said that the country’s military has – a few minutes ago – intercepted two more drones towards the vast nation’s east, according to Al Jazeera.
It comes less than three hours after Saudi Arabia’s defences had intercepted two other drones near the Al-Kharj Governorate.
Hezbollah claims ambush on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon
Vera Alves
The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah says it launched a missile attack on the Givaa drone control base, east of the Israeli city of Safed, and fired rockets at the Yiftah barracks near the border in the early hours of this morning, Al Jazeera reports.
Hezbollah also reportedly said it carried out a drone attack on the Tziporit base east of Haifa on Monday morning (local time) and a missile attack on the Tel Hashomer base near Tel Aviv in the evening.
Trump threatens Iran with ‘death, fire and fury’ if oil flow blocked through Strait of Hormuz
Vera Alves
US President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran with unprecedented force if the flow of oil was hindered within the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far.
“Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again – death, fire and fury will reign upon them – but I hope and pray that does not happen.”
– Daily Telegraph
Israel strikes Iranian launcher after missile barrage
Vera Alves
Israel said that it had struck an Iranian missile launcher shortly after a barrage fired from the Islamic Republic triggered air raid warnings in several Israeli areas.
Late on Monday (local time), Israel's military said it identified a round of Iranian missile fire and was working "to intercept the threat".
The Iranian launches sparked air raid warnings in several parts of Israel, forcing people to head for shelter.
But the Magen David Adom emergency services said it received no reports of casualties following the latest round of Iranian fire.
The Israeli military then said it "had struck the missile launcher that launched missiles toward the State of Israel a short while ago".
Before the latest Iranian attack, Israel had announced what it called a "broad wave" of strikes on Tehran, the second such assault launched on Monday (local time).
– AFP
Iran Guards say 'will determine the end of the war'
Vera Alves
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday it would "determine the end of the war" in the Middle East after US President Donald Trump said the conflict would end "soon".
"It is we who will determine the end of the war," the Guards said in a statement.
"The equations and future status of the region are now in the hands of our armed forces; American forces will not end the war," the statement added.
– AFP
For Israel’s Netanyahu, Trump grants wishes, but his support carries risks
Vera Alves
For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli right, United States President Donald Trump has been something close to a prophetic fulfilment.
Vera Alves
One killed, others injured in Iranian attack in Bahrain: Ministry
Vera Alves
Bahrain's interior ministry said early on Tuesday that an Iranian attack on a residential area in the capital Manama had killed one person and injured others.
"Initial reports indicate one person died and others were injured in a blatant Iranian attack targeting a residential building in the capital," the ministry said.
– AFP
Middle East crisis shows why energy independence is a matter of national security – Ed Harvey
Vera Alves
As missiles fly in the Middle East and oil tankers sit idle, New Zealanders are rightly focused on the tragic human cost of another war. But they’re also bracing for impact closer to home as they reach for their wallets at the petrol station.
Trump says Iran school strike 'being investigated' by US
Vera Alves
The United States is investigating a deadly strike on a school in the opening days of the US-Israeli war on Iran, US President Donald Trump said today.
"That's being investigated right now," Trump said of the strike on an elementary school in the southern city of Minab, which Iran said killed more than 150 people.
"Whatever the report shows, I'm willing to live with that report," Trump said, adding he did not "know enough about" the strike while also suggesting Iran may have used a Tomahawk missile – a weapon it does not possess – to hit the school itself.
– AFP
Trump says will remove some oil sanctions amid Iran war
Vera Alves
US President Donald Trump says he will waive some sanctions on oil, due to market turmoil over his attack with Israel on Iran.
"We're also waiving certain oil-related sanctions to reduce prices," Trump told reporters after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and as he mentioned Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"We're going to take those sanctions off till this straightens out."
– AFP
Trump says US looking 'to keep oil prices down'
Vera Alves
Donald Trump said “we’re looking to keep the oil prices down”.
“It went artificially up because of this excursion into a very positive thing. I mean, this was an excursion that a lot of people wouldn't have done. I knew oil prices would go up if I did this, and they've gone up probably less than I thought they'd go up.
“But I don't think anybody thought we were going to be this quickly successful. This was a military success.”
The US President said he wants to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, even though it doesn’t impact the US.
“I want to keep it open. I want to keep it good. You know, it doesn't pertain to us so much as it does to China. We're really helping China here. And other countries because they get a lot of their energy from the straits. But hey, look, we have a good relationship with China. It's my honour to do it.”
Trump says Iran war is 'very complete' but also agrees it is just beginning
Vera Alves
After saying the war in Iran is “very complete”, Donald Trump was asked about his Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments that it is just beginning.
Trump said it was “a bit of both”, before saying “we’re going to go further”.
“It's the beginning of building a new country, but they certainly have no navy, they have no air force. They have no anti-aircraft equipment. It's all been blown up. They have no radar, they have no telecommunications, and they have no leadership. It's all gone. It's all gone.
“So, you know, you could look at that statement. We could call it a tremendous success. Now, as we leave here, I could call it, or we could go further, and we're going to go further.
“But the big risk on that war has been over for three days. We wiped them out in the first two days.”
'Well, I haven't seen it': Trump refuses to take responsibility for missile that hit girls' school in Iran
Vera Alves
Asked about an American missile strike and a Tomahawk missile that likely destroyed an Iranian girls’ school, reportedly killing 150 students, and if the US will accept any responsibility, Trump said: “Well, I haven't seen it.”
“I will say that the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around, is used by, you know, is sold and used by other countries, you know that.
“But whether it's Iran or somebody else, the fact that a Tomahawk is very generic. It's sold to other countries, but that's being investigated right now.”
Trump says Putin 'wants to be helpful' in the Middle East
Vera Alves
Donald Trump said he had “a very good call” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We had a lot of people on the line from our side, from his side. We were talking about Ukraine, which is just a never-ending fight. Look, there's tremendous hatred between President Putin and President Zelenskyy. They can't seem to get it together. But I think it was a positive call on that subject.”
He said Putin “wants to be helpful” with the conflict in the Middle East.
“And we obviously talked then about the Middle East. And he wants to be helpful. I said you could be more helpful by getting the Ukraine-Russia war over with. That would be more helpful. But we had a very good talk. He wants to be very constructive.”
Trump says Iran was 'going to attack' the US
Vera Alves
Donald Trump said he acted first against Iran, saying they “were going to attack us”.
“The situation was very quickly approaching the point of no return and the United States found it intolerable, in my opinion based on what Steve [Witkoff, Middle East envoy] and Jared [Kushner, senior advisor] and Pete [Hegseth, Secretary of War] and others were telling me, Marco [Rubio, Secretary of State] so involved, that I thought that they were going to attack us. I thought if we didn't do this at the time we did it, I think they had in mind to attack us.
“And if you notice, they did something which was very foolish, very stupid. They attacked their neighbours, and their neighbours were largely neutral or at least weren't going to be involved, and they got attacked. And it had the reverse effect. The neighbours came on to our side and started attacking them. And actually quite successfully.”
The US President said he has kept his promise to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
“On the very first day I came down the escalator in 2015, I said, quote, I will stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons. And all I'm doing is keeping my promise. Think of that. That was in 2015. I said it. It was a threat then and a much bigger threat now, but no longer a threat, not for a long time anyway.”
US says it struck more than 5000 targets in 10 days of Iran war
Vera Alves
The United States struck more than 5000 targets during the first 10 days of the Iran war, the US military said on Monday (local time).
Among the targets were more than 50 Iranian vessels, US Central Command – which is responsible for American forces in the region – said in a fact sheet.
Other targets included air defence systems, ballistic missile sites, missile and drone manufacturing and military communications, the military command said.
– AFP
Most of Iran's naval power sunk – Trump
Vera Alves
Donald Trump said most of Iran’s naval power has been “sunk” and over 5000 targets have been struck.
“It's on the bottom of the sea. It's almost 50 ships; we just notified it's 51 ships. I didn't know they had that many. Didn't last very long. And these are fighting vessels. They're meant to fight, but they're not meant to fight against us. We continue to target Iran's drone and missile capabilities," the US President said.
“Their drones are way down. Their drone manufacturing has been hit, starting today. We know all of the places they manufacture the drones and they're being hit one after another. Their missile capability is down to about 10%, maybe less. We're also hitting where they make missiles and where they deliver missiles.
“We've struck over 5000 targets to date, some of them very major targets. And we've left some of the most important targets for later in case we need to do it. If we hit them, it's going to take years for them to be rebuilt, having to do with electricity production and many other things.
“So we're not looking to do that if we don't have to, but they're the kind of things that are very easy to hit but very devastating if they are hit. We are waiting to see what happens.”
Trump speaks of 'tremendous success' in Iran
Vera Alves
Donald Trump has started speaking at a news conference, saying the US military and Israeli Defence Forces “continued Operation Epic Fury very successfully”.
“Over the past nine days, we've carried out some of the most powerful and complex military strikes and manoeuvres the world has ever seen.
“Now you add that up to all of the other things, Midnight Hammer getting rid of the nuclear threat from Iran, which was a big moment in history in my opinion, and the great success we've had in Venezuela and all other places, every place we've gone, we've had tremendous success.
“But while we're doing all of these things, we're achieving major strides toward completing our military objective. And some people could say they're pretty well complete. We've wiped every single force in Iran out very completely.”
Trump delayed for news conference
Vera Alves
Donald Trump appears to be late for a news conference scheduled for 10.30am (NZT), where he is expected to answer questions about the Iran conflict.
The US President has just wrapped up a speech to Republican lawmakers at a party policy conference at Doral, Florida.
Australia to deploy long-range reconnaissance plane to Gulf
Vera Alves
Australia will deploy a long-range military reconnaissance plane to the Gulf to protect civilians, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.
An E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and supporting Defence Force personnel will be sent for an initial period of four weeks to help "protect and secure the airspace above the Gulf", Albanese told a news conference.
Australia also plans to provide advanced, medium-range air-to-air missiles to the United Arab Emirates "in response to a request", the Prime Minister said.
– AFP
Trump says Iran war will be 'short-term excursion'
Vera Alves
President Donald Trump said on Monday (local time) that the war against Iran would be a "short-term excursion", while insisting that the United States and Israel "haven't won enough" against Tehran.
Trump's comments at a gathering of congressional Republicans at his golf club in Doral, Florida cast further uncertainty over his timeline after he said in a CBS News interview that the conflict was "very complete, pretty much".
"We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some people. And I think you'll see it's going to be a short-term excursion," Trump said in a speech.
The 79-year-old repeated his boasts about the destruction of the Iranian navy, air force and missile programme.
But Trump – whose earlier CBS comments indicating an end to the war was in sight had caused stocks to jump and oil prices to drop – added that the United States and Israel had more to do.
"We've already won in many ways, but we haven't won enough," Trump said, calling for "ultimate victory" against Iran.
Referring to the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian leaders, Trump added that the United States "will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated".
– AFP
Watch live: Trump holds press conference on Iran war
Vera Alves
Powerful explosion, jets heard overhead in Tehran: AFP journalists
Vera Alves
AFP journalists reported a powerful explosion in the Iranian capital just after midnight local time on Tuesday at the same time as aircraft were heard overhead.
Several journalists dispersed across the city reported the blast, which was felt from many kilometres away. It was not immediately clear what had been hit.
– AFP
Petrol prices sail past $3 as volatility continues, one cut-price station bumps up price 19c
Vera Alves
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media
Vera Alves
How war in the Middle East could sow higher food prices and hunger
Vera Alves
The longer the conflict in the Middle East continues, the greater the likelihood that people around the globe will pay more for food.
And those in the most vulnerable countries could face hunger.
Five Iran women footballers granted asylum, Australian Govt confirms
Vera Alves
Australia has granted asylum to five players in Iran's visiting women's football team over fears they faced persecution if they returned home, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Tuesday.
"They are welcome to stay in Australia, and they are safe here, and should feel at home here," Burke told reporters.
Players refused to sing Iran's national anthem during a tournament match in Australia last week, widely seen as an act of defiance against the Islamic Republic.
– AFP
Air New Zealand suspends guidance because of ‘unprecedented volatility’ in jet fuel price
Vera Alves
Air New Zealand says volatile jet fuel prices mean its previous guidance needs to be ditched.
Hezbollah says targeted Israeli base near Tel Aviv with missiles
Vera Alves
Hezbollah said on Monday (local time) that it had targeted the Israeli Home Front Command base in Ramla, near Tel Aviv, with "advanced missiles" as the war between the pro-Iranian group and Israel hit the one-week mark.
In a statement, the group said it had targeted the base with a "salvo of advanced missiles" in response to "the criminal Israeli aggression that has struck dozens of Lebanese cities and towns and the southern suburbs of Beirut".
– AFP
Petrol prices in NZ continue to rise
Vera Alves
Petrol prices soared across the country this morning as the volatility in international oil markets continued overnight.
The price of premium 95 petrol surpassed $3 a litre at dozens of locations in Auckland and other major centres.
At BP New Lynn in Auckland, 95 grade petrol rose 15 cents to $3.27.
Waitomo Epsom increased the price of its 95 grade petrol by 19c a litre to $2.75.
Unleaded 91 continued to rise, sailing past $3 a litre at two Auckland petrol stations.
Brent crude oil eclipse hit US$110 a barrel for the first time in three and a half years before dropping back under US$90.
Hipkins says Govt should not rule out cutting fuel excise tax
Vera Alves
Labour leader Chris Hipkins believes it's too early for the Government to rule out cuts to fuel excise tax at this stage after the Government drew a line in the sand on its position around spiralling fuel costs amid the Iran conflict.
With prices for 91 octane fuel tipping over $3 a litre across the country and the price of oil nearly double what it was at the start of the year, the Government has ruled out partially or wholly cutting fuel taxes in response to the increasing prices, although it has said there may be room to delay a further 18c in fuel tax hikes that were set to come into force next year.
Speaking on Ryan Bridge TODAY, Hipkins said the Government will have to reconsider its position if fuel prices increase even further and near $3.50-4 a litre.
"At the moment, those estimates are ... at the extreme scenario end, but we need to be prepared for any eventuality," he said.
"Who knows how long this is going to go for?"
Hipkins said the previous Labour Government cut the fuel tax when prices went past $3 a litre as they "knew that households were already struggling" with the cost of living.
"They were having to make impossible choices and we felt that was one of the things we could do to help," he said.
"We lowered public transport fares at the same time. That also helped households. Governments do have options."
Hipkins said while the affordability of fuel was different for each household, for some, having it over $3 could "be the difference between them being able to survive and not being able to make ends meet".
"If you don't do things to support households, you leave a hole in households' individual budgets and they're far less able to absorb that than the Government can," Hipkins said.
"I'm not saying that the Government should be rushing headlong into committing to do this right now. I think it's too soon for that, but I don't think they should be taking the option off the table."
Trump says Iran war 'pretty much' over: CBS
Vera Alves
US President Donald Trump said in a Monday (local time) interview with CBS that the US-Israeli war with Iran was "pretty much" over, without giving details of any solution to the conflict still raging in the Middle East.
"I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they've got no air force," Trump told CBS News by phone, repeating battle damage assessments that he has given in previous days.
Trump told the US broadcaster that the United States was "very far" ahead of his initially stated war time frame of four or five weeks.
– AFP
Food prices set to increase in NZ
Vera Alves
Federated Farmers Arable Group chairman David Birkett says food prices will increase "without a doubt".
He told Ryan Bridge TODAY that rising fuel and fertiliser costs will be felt in food prices.
"We know it's unfortunate because we know how challenging it is for the cost of living at the moment, but this will flow into food and at the end of the day all food needs to be transported and all that transport does use fuel.
"It's an ongoing challenge that we all have, and there will be an increase in food prices along the line."
Although there hasn't been an increase in the fertiliser price yet, "we know it will be coming", he said.
How much prices rise will depend on the conflict's length and "just how high those fuel and fertiliser prices do get".
Diesel prices more impacted than petrol: Waitomo CEO
Vera Alves
Waitomo chief executive Simon Parham said his company's petrol prices would not come down, despite Brent Crude oil prices closing lower than what they opened at yesterday.
"We price on a weekly basis, and the main benchmark for New Zealand is the Singapore Platts price and that actually closed $20 a barrel higher last night."
Prices had gone up 10-15c over the last week for petrol and 20c for diesel over the past week, Parham told Ryan Bridge TODAY.
"We are really seeing diesel being impacted more than petrol at this stage because of the crude that comes out of the Middle East."
For petrol consumers, the Singapore Platts price is the important one to keep an eye on rather than Brent Crude, he said.
91 petrol soars past $3 in multiple locations across NZ
Vera Alves
Petrol prices have shot past the $3 mark at multiple petrol stations across New Zealand.
In Fox Glacier, a litre of 91 costs $3.11, while it has just hit the $3 mark at Allied Milford Sound.
On Great Barrier Island, fuel prices have reportedly hit $3.94 per litre.
On Waiheke Island, a litre of 91 reportedly costs $3.62.
NZ more vulnerable than US as more dependent on Strait of Hormuz – Steven Joyce
Vera Alves
Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce says the Asian economies, including New Zealand's, are particularly vulnerable to the Middle East conflict as they are more dependent on the Strait of Hormuz.
"The US is to some degree insulated a little bit because it's now a net energy exporter."Joyce, who is the NZME board chair, told Ryan Bridge TODAY, high oil and fuel prices pose risks to several parts of the New Zealand economy.
"Our service sector, things like tourism, the cost of people coming to this country. It brings risks to the primary sector in terms of just the cost of production with fertiliser and oil."
How hard those impacts will be felt will depend on how long the conflict lasts, Joyce said.
Most of the time, New Zealand benefits from there being a globalised oil market and worldwide refineries, he told Bridge.
"I think in a wider economic sense, this is just one of the things that is sent to buffet us, and we just have to trim our sails and keep moving forward."
Nicola Willis doesn't want to have a 'kneejerk' reaction to oil prices
Vera Alves
New Zealand has a “healthy” fuel supply, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says, with around 50 days’ worth, based on onshore supplies plus fuel shipments that are close to arriving.
The country is also meeting its obligations with the International Energy Agency once stock reservation agreements with overseas suppliers are factored in, Willis told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking.
The Government yesterday declined to cut fuel taxes in response to increasing prices but has kept open the possibility of delaying a further 18c in fuel excise hike set to begin next year.
Willis said the Government was very conscious that pump prices affected every New Zealander including through the wider economy, but it didn’t want to have a “kneejerk” reaction.
“Any money that we throw at this problem right now is money that we have to borrow. And so we need to be prudent about New Zealand's fiscal position.”
The fact that G7 countries have not yet decided to release strategic oil reserves “tells us that they still think that there are options”, Willis said.
“The US Energy Secretary has noted that one tanker has transited the Strait [of Hormuz], that they are looking to restore flows within weeks, not months.
“All democracies around the world have an interest in fuel security and not seeing the price of oil continue to spike and so we do expect partners around the world will act sensibly in response to these issues.”
Vera Alves
NZ could offer refuge to Iranian women's football team - David Seymour
Vera Alves
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour says New Zealand may have the opportunity to play a role in offering the Iranian women's football team refuge in a similar capacity to the ~200 Afghan refugees who fled to Australia on the Norwegian cargo ship MV Tampa and were later granted asylum in New Zealand.
Fears the Iranian women's football team, who have been visiting Australia for the Women's Asian Cup, would face persecution upon their return home crystallised when players refused to sing their national anthem ahead of their game against South Korea last week, sparking criticism from within the theocratic regime and prompting calls – including from US President Donald Trump – for Australia to offer the visiting team protection.
Several sources have told media that five players are now safe with police, yet Trump has publicly called for Australia's Anthony Albanese to give the whole team asylum, noting that "the US will take them if you won't".
Speaking on RNZ's First Up, Seymour told host Melissa Chan-Green that while he doesn't think it's New Zealand's place to "start lobbying advice at" the Australian Government on what to do about the team, he believed both countries have the political will "to help people in that situation".
"Let's let the Australian Government work through that question according to law as they have to, but I think any person looking at it would come to a pretty obvious answer in their heart and their mind," he said.
Questioned on whether officials should provide the team with safety and aid, Seymour remarked that New Zealand had "done that in the past", referencing the Tampa affair of the early 2000s that highlighted the contrasting humanitarian responses of New Zealand and Australia.
While the John Howard-led Australian Government refused entry to the ship, sending most of the 433 refugees onboard to detention centres in Nauru, then Prime Minister Helen Clark accepted 150 of them into New Zealand, with another 77 brought from Nauru in subsequent years.
"There was a situation with the Tampa where the New Zealand Government did something that I guess would be analogous for some refugees or some asylum seekers, and perhaps the New Zealand Government will do something like that today," Seymour told RNZ's First Up.
Trump says Australia will grant asylum to Iran women footballers
Vera Alves
US President Donald Trump says that Australia had agreed to grant asylum to some of Iran’s visiting women’s football team, amid fears they could face retaliation back home for not singing the national anthem before a match.
White House adviser’s claim US could get ‘all of the oil’ out of Iran adds to troop speculation
Vera Alves
Trump is considering seizing an Iranian island to choke off the regime’s oil revenues, a US official has suggested.
Things will get 'really tough' if petrol and diesel hit $3-$3.50 per litre - Waitomo CEO
Vera Alves
There’s been a 15-20% increase in people filling up their vehicles in the past week, Waitomo CEO Simon Parham says.
But he told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking high fuel prices weren't good for business because that led to lower demand.
The industry set prices based on replacement costs, Parham said.
Waitomo bought fuel on a weekly basis, and washed the product through the system every 3-4 days.
“We're buying the more expensive product now. And I guess when you've got a short, sharp increase like this, there's no escaping the higher fuel prices.”
Parham believed things would get “really... tough” if petrol and diesel hit $3-$3.50 per litre, saying at that price point “economic activity will stop” and people would look at alternate transport options.
He welcomed the Commerce Commission being told to monitor fuel pricing.
“It's a good opportunity to look at the entire supply chain, the imports, wholesale, and even the retail pump price - because I think New Zealand is on the cusp of a very fragile economic recovery. So we don't need gold plated pricing through the supply chain.”
Iran’s shadowy new Supreme Leader will see US as an implacable enemy
Vera Alves
Donald Trump claims the remnants of the Iranian regime are looking for an olive branch.
The election of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader suggests otherwise.
Nato intercepts second Iran missile in Turkish airspace
Vera Alves
Nato said it shot down a second ballistic missile fired from Iran in Turkish airspace on Monday (local time), prompting a stern warning from Turkey to Tehran not to take "provocative steps".
It was the second such incident in the skies over Nato member Turkey in five days, leading the alliance to stress its readiness "to defend all allies against any threat".
Washington meanwhile urged all American citizens to leave southeastern Turkey, where US troops are stationed at several bases.
Since the US-Israeli attacks began, Iran has retaliated with strikes across the Middle East in a bid to hit American assets. But Turkey appears to have been spared, despite the presence of US troops, including at Incirlik airbase just outside the southern city of Adana.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after the missile incident the country would "take the necessary measures to defend our nation".
"Despite our sincere warnings, extremely wrong and provocative steps continue to be taken that will jeopardise Turkey's friendship," he said after a cabinet meeting.
"Persistence and stubbornness in wrongdoing should be avoided."
Turkey summoned the Iranian ambassador over the incident, foreign ministry sources said.
It did the same on March 4 after Nato forces also intercepted a Turkey-bound ballistic missile launched from Iran.
– AFP
'Enormous' swings in price of oil make forecasting difficult
Vera Alves
“Enormous” swings in the price of oil are making it very difficult to gauge the severity of the shock to markets from the Iran war, ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says.
Oil hit $120 per barrel yesterday but dropped back below $100 after the G7 nations signalled they could release strategic oil reserves.
Zollner told Newstalk ZB's Ryan Bridge Early Edition she agreed with Finance Minister Nicola Willis' assertion that the duration of the shock was just as important as its size.
Market volatility would continue, with “headlines all over the place”, and that uncertainty could lead to people spending less money.
But central banks would be keen not to do anything rash by rushing to raise interest rates, Zollner said.
For New Zealand’s Reserve Bank, “as long as inflation expectations remain well anchored then they can tolerate a bit of noise in the near term, rather than feel they need to deliberately head the recovery off in order to make sure inflation's back at 2% quickly”.
But if the shock was long and sustained “it will be more difficult to look through those inflationary impacts – and then it could get a bit ugly”.
G7 ‘not there yet’ on release of oil reserves - French minister
Kendall Russell
France's Finance Minister says the G7 was "not there yet" in terms of any release of strategic oil reserves as the world's leading industrialised nations held crisis talks on the economic fallout of the Middle East war.
Earlier on Monday (local time), French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven advanced economies, said the G7 would this week discuss a possible release of strategic oil reserves.
A possible meeting of G7 leaders on the energy issue could take place this week, Macron told journalists on his way to Cyprus.
However, speaking to reporters after chairing a video meeting of G7 finance ministers, French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said the group was "not there yet".
Read more below.
Australian fuel wholesalers ration stock as oil prices soar
Tom Dillane
Western Australian fuel wholesalers are starting to ration stock as oil prices soar – despite no constraints on supply.
Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen had warned panic buying was causing the shortage, while Western Australia Premier Roger Cook had confirmed there were no supply chain issues, Newstalk ZB Australia correspondent Donna Demaio told Ryan Bridge Early Edition.
At least two towns in Western Australia have banned drivers from buying fuel, reserving it only for emergency authorities, Demaio said.
“But can you imagine what's happening when the petrol pumps are shut? This is pushing motorists to the next one up the road.”
Reports were coming in of lengthy queues of up to 15 cars, and people were filling jerry cans, she said.
“We've heard from one petrol station owner who said he's had to put a 30-litre limit on fuel until he can get some more fuel in. He said it's like a scene from a movie at the moment.”
New Supreme Leader likely to continue father's 'hardline, hostile attitude' toward West – expert
Kendall Russell
Little is known about Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, but he's likely to continue his father's "hardline, hostile attitude" toward the US, Israel and the West more generally, one expert says.
Andrew England, the Financial Times' Middle East editor, told Newstalk ZB's Ryan Bridge that hostility would be compounded because Khamenei's father, mother, wife and sister have all been killed.
Khamenei has not given any statement since the war began, England said.
"We don't know where he is and we don't really know what the fate of him is. We don't know if he was in that compound, you know, if he's wounded, if he's fit and healthy."
US President Donald Trump had called Khamenei a "lightweight" and warned any new Iranian leader wouldn't last long without his approval, while the Israelis had suggested they would assassinate a new leader.
The choice of Khamenei was a sign of defiance from Iran, suggesting the regime would continue to fight – so he was likely to be a prime target, England said.
It was unclear how big Iran's arsenal was or how badly they had been damaged, England said. But "from the Islamic regime's perspective, endurance is a victory, survival is a victory. And as long as they can continue firing a missile here, a drone there, and survive this onslaught from the world's most powerful army, to them that will be victory".
Trump to hold press conference later this morning
Kendall Russell
US President Donald Trump has said he would hold a news conference, his first formal question-and-answer session with reporters since launching military operations against Iran.
Trump said on his Truth Social network that the news conference would take place at around 5.30pm (10.30am NZT) in the ballroom of his Doral golf club near Miami, where he spent the weekend, before returning to Washington.
– AFP
Recap: Conflict sees oil prices spiral above US$100 a barrel
Kendall Russell
The Iran war has sent oil prices spiralling above US$100 ($169) a barrel after Tehran under new leader Mojtaba Khamenei fired a new barrage of missiles at Israel and its crude-exporting Gulf neighbours.
On the first day in power for Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of slain leader Ali Khamenei, Iran renewed its missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Israel.
Another missile was fired at Nato member Turkey, the second such incident in five days, with the alliance’s air defences intercepting it before it could hit its target.
With the key shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz off Iran remaining closed to almost all oil tankers, the price of benchmark crude oil contracts spiralled 10% to their highest levels since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Read more below.
Trump joins chorus urging Australia to grant asylum to Iran women footballers
Kendall Russell
US President Donald Trump has joined a growing chorus of people calling for Australia to protect the visiting Iranian women's football team, whose players refused to sing the national anthem while playing there during the Middle East war.
The gesture ahead of the team's Asian Cup match against South Korea last week was widely seen as an act of defiance against the Islamic Republic just two days after the United States and Israel attacked it.
The son of Iran's late Shah, US-based Reza Pahlavi, warned on Monday that the refusal to sing the anthem could have "dire consequences" and urged Australia to offer the team protection.
Trump weighed in later, pressing Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to "give ASYLUM" to the team and adding: "The US will take them if you won't."
"Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman's Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed," the US leader said on his Truth Social network.
Pahlavi, who has not returned to Iran since before the 1979 Islamic revolution that ousted the monarchy, has billed himself as the man to lead a democratic transition to a secular Iran as the theocratic regime fights to survive.
"The members of the Iranian women's national football team are under significant pressure and ongoing threat from the Islamic Republic," he said on social media.
"I call on the Australian Government to ensure their safety and give them any and all needed support."
Politicians, human rights activists and even Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling have also called for the team to be offered official protection.
"Please, protect these young women," Rowling said in a post on social media.
– AFP
Read more below.
Iranian missile fragments hit Turkish construction site
Kendall Russell
Some fragments from the weaponry fell in open territory in the Gaziantep area, about 200km east of Adana, causing no injuries, Turkey's Defence Ministry said.
"At around 11.30am (0830 GMT), a fragment of ballistic munition fell onto an empty area above the TOKI housing estate in the Guneysehir district of Gaziantep," the governor's office said, adding there was no damage.
Images from the scene appeared to show the missile fragment lying on the ground at a building site.
"We were sitting at home when suddenly we heard a big bang. Since there's a construction site here, we thought the noise was coming from there. But when we came and looked, we saw the missile fragment," local resident Ramazan Akpinar told the DHA news agency.
He said it made a loud noise but there was "no explosion".
In a post on X, presidential communications chief Burhanettin Duran said Turkey would not hesitate to protect its airspace and border security.
"We once again strongly reiterate our warning to all parties, particularly Iran, to refrain from actions that could endanger regional security and put civilians at risk," he wrote.
On March 4, Nato troops intercepted a Turkey-bound ballistic missile launched from Iran, prompting the alliance to strengthen its "ballistic missile defence posture".
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the missile was spotted by Spanish troops manning a Patriot missile battery, who are based at Incirlik.
They had "detected and reported the missile attack", though they were not the ones that shot it down, she said.
– AFP's Burcin Gercek
Nato intercepts second Iran missile in Turkish airspace
Kendall Russell
Ankara says a second ballistic missile from Iran was shot down by Nato defence in Turkish airspace, as Washington urged all of its citizens to leave southeast Turkey over security concerns.
Nato confirmed the incident, the second in Turkish airspace in five days, and stressed its readiness "to defend all allies against any threat".
Since the US-Israeli attacks began on February 28, Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes across the Middle East in a bid to hit US assets.
So far, Turkey appears to have been spared, despite US troops being stationed at several of its bases, one of which is the Incirlik airbase, which lies just outside the southern city of Adana.
But on Monday (local time), the US embassy in Turkey said it had closed its consulate in Adana and advised non-essential staff to leave, with the State Department urging all US citizens to leave the southeast.
"On March 9, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency US government employees and US government employee family members to leave Consulate General Adana due to the safety risks," the embassy said on X.
It referenced a State Department travel advisory saying: "Americans in southeast Turkey are strongly encouraged to depart now."
Barely an hour later, Turkey's Defence Ministry confirmed another ballistic missile fired from Iran had been intercepted in Turkish airspace by Nato defence systems in the second such incident in five days.
"A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralised by Nato air and missile defence assets in the eastern Mediterranean," it said in a statement, which was also confirmed by the military alliance.
"Nato has again intercepted a missile heading to Türkiye. Nato stands firm in its readiness to defend all Allies against any threat," spokeswoman Allison Hart said on X, using Turkey's official name.
The Incirlik air base is an important Nato facility that has been used by US troops for decades, which is located just 10km outside Adana.
– AFP's Burcin Gercek
Are you a New Zealander in the Middle East?
Kendall Russell
Contact us via email: newsdesk@nzherald.co.nz