ISTANBUL
Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday, including US President Donald Trump saying the war with Iran could be a “short-term excursion," a US-Israeli attack on residential blocks in Iran’s capital killing around 40 people, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan telling Iran that the violation of Türkiye's airspace ‘cannot be excused for any reason.'
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US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran could be a “short-term excursion” while adding that US-Israeli joint attacks will continue until Iran is “totally and decisively defeated.”
“We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil, and I think you'll see it's going to be a short term excursion,” Trump said at a Republican conference in Florida.
“If we didn't do that, they would have had a nuclear weapon within two weeks,” he added.
Trump claimed that US and Israeli forces are “crushing” Iran and that Iran’s drone and missile capabilities are being “utterly demolished.”
“The Navy is gone. It's all lying at the bottom of the ocean -- 46 ships,” he said, adding that Iranian leaders had been repeatedly targeted during the campaign.
The US and Israel bombed residential blocks in Iran’s capital, killing around 40 people, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
The strikes targeted an area near Resalat Square in Tehran, Tasnim reported.
Regional escalation has intensified since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,200 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian authorities.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss recent regional developments, including the interception of another missile heading to Türkiye.
Erdogan told Pezeshkian that the violation of Türkiye's airspace "cannot be excused for any reason whatsoever” and that “Türkiye will continue to take all necessary measures against this," Türkiye's Communications Directorate said in a statement.
The call came after the Turkish National Defense Ministry said Monday that a ballistic missile fired from Iran that entered Turkish airspace was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense assets deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Türkiye is "negatively affected" by conflicts in which it is not a party, Erdogan also told his Iranian counterpart.
NEWS IN BRIEF
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Bahrain's Bapco Energies announced a state of force majeure on its group’s operations affected by the ongoing Iranian attacks.
A recent attack targeted one of Bapco Refining's refinery units, an affiliate of the group.
All local market needs are secured under pre-established contingency plans, ensuring the continuity of supplies and the fulfillment of local demand without disruption, the company said, according to the Bahrain News Agency.
Oil prices have surpassed the $100-per barrel mark for the first time since 2022 amid growing concerns over disruptions to global energy supplies and escalating tensions in the Middle East due to the Iran war.
Brent crude futures surged above $100 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude blew past the same threshold, driven by rising risks surrounding energy supplies.
The latest surge in prices comes amid escalating military tensions in the Middle East.
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