Some of Trump’s advisers are privately urging him to plan an exit from the Iran War, worried that rising oil prices, declining public support, and potential political backlash could hurt him and Republicans.

They want him to frame the military operation as already successful and begin winding it down before it becomes a prolonged conflict.

Source: WSJ

Trump hoped that killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would either cause the regime to collapse or push more moderate officials to cooperate with the U.S.

Instead, his hard-line son Mojtaba Khamenei took power and vowed revenge, and no internal uprising has challenged the regime.

Source: WSJ

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

During the call, Fidan said violations of Turkish airspace are unacceptable and emphasized that Türkiye will continue to take all necessary measures.

Araghchi stated that the missiles heading toward Turkish airspace were not launched from Iran and said a comprehensive investigation will be conducted.

The US told European allies that any further easing of sanctions on Russian oil would likely be limited to shipments to India.

The move is expected to be temporary and narrowly scoped, with officials saying it shouldn’t significantly boost Russia’s oil revenues.

Source: Bloomberg

Netanyahu to the heads of local authorities last night:

I don’t know how long the campaign will continue. It’s not that I know and I’m not telling you.

Congo President’s 4 decade Rule Faces Succession Debate as Election Nears

Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso seeks another term in elections against 6 candidates after nearly 42 years in power, while analysts focus on potential succession as term limits suggest this may be his final mandate.

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The Pentagon spent about $5.6 billion on munitions in the first two days of U.S. strikes on Iran, according to officials.

The high cost is raising concerns in Congress that the military is rapidly using up limited stocks of advanced weapons.

The Trump administration is expected to request tens of billions in additional defense funding from Congress to continue the campaign.

Source: WaPo

NATO Deploys Patriot Missile System in Türkiye

Türkiye strengthens air and missile defenses by deploying a NATO-assigned Patriot system in Malatya amid ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions.

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U.S.-Made Tomahawk Fragments Found in Minab Strike

Iranian state media published images of mangled missile fragments from the Feb. 28 strikes in Minab, southern Iran, claiming they were from the attack that hit a naval base and an elementary school. Analysis by The New York Times indicates the debris bears serial numbers and markings consistent with a U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missile manufactured in 2014 or later.

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Iran's Larijani to Trump:

The Ashura-inspired Iranian people do not fear your empty threats.

Powers far greater than you have failed to wipe them out…

So beware that it may be you who disappears!

Australian sailors embedded on the U.S. submarine USS Charlotte were ordered to their sleeping quarters during the attack that sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean.

The move was meant to ensure the three Royal Australian Navy personnel did not participate in the offensive strike, which killed at least 87 people.

Source: The Nightly

Trump said it is possible that he could talk to Iran.

“We sort of don’t have to speak anymore, you know, if you really think about it, but it’s possible.”

Source: Fox News

South Korea says it opposes the U.S. moving Patriot missile defenses from the Korean Peninsula to the Middle East, but admits it cannot stop Washington from doing it.

President Lee Jae-myung said Seoul raised objections but acknowledged “we cannot impose our position on the United States — that is the reality.”

Reports say Patriot batteries and other assets may be shifted from U.S. bases in South Korea to the Middle East as U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran strain air-defense stockpiles.

China’s exports jumped 21.8% in the first two months of 2026, far above expectations, pushing its trade surplus to a record $213.6 billion early this year.

Source: FT

Trump on Mojtaba Khamenei:

I don’t believe he can live in peace.

Source: Fox News

Trump on Iran:

If we had waited three days, I believe we would have been attacked.

Source: Fox News

Planet Labs Delays Satellite Images of Middle East Amid Iran War

U.S. satellite imaging firm Planet Labs imposed temporary delays on high-resolution images of the Middle East during the U.S.–Israel war with Iran that escalated in late February 2026, sparking accusations of censorship while the company says the move protects security.

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BREAKING: Authorities in Abu Dhabi are responding to a fire that broke out at a facility in the Ruwais Industrial Complex following a drone attack.

Ruwais is one of the world’s largest integrated oil refining and petrochemical complexes and the biggest in the Middle East.

Israel is trying to inflict maximum damage in Iran before the window for further strikes closes, assuming Trump could end the war at any time.

Source: Reuters