Iran news and live updates: Pete Hegseth declares America ‘didn’t start this war but we’re finishing it’
RECAP: US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has spoken to the media, saying Iran’s regime was ‘gifted death from America and death from Israel’.
THE NIGHTLY: Read the recap of today’s events below.
Key events
02 Mar 2026 - 08:20 PM
Two drones intercepted over British air base in Cyprus
02 Mar 2026 - 07:53 PM
Hezbollah’s military activity ‘illegal’: Lebanese government
02 Mar 2026 - 07:47 PM
15 injured as Iran strikes southern Israel
02 Mar 2026 - 07:45 PM
Ship traffic through Gulf of Hormuz plummets
02 Mar 2026 - 07:38 PM
Iran to appoint a new Supreme Leader ‘quickly’: Cleric
02 Mar 2026 - 07:31 PM
Iran bombs Qatari power plant, prompting swift backlash
02 Mar 2026 - 07:15 PM
US confirms fighter jets shot down by Kuwaiti ‘friendly fire’
02 Mar 2026 - 07:10 PM
IDF bombs Tehran, targets regime leaders
02 Mar 2026 - 06:22 PM
France ‘ready’ to defend Gulf countries
02 Mar 2026 - 06:14 PM
Albanese reiterates firm position against Iranian regime
02 Mar 2026 - 06:07 PM
Iran claims it targeted US fighter aircraft which crashed over Kuwait
02 Mar 2026 - 05:50 PM
US-Israeli strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facility, ambassador says
02 Mar 2026 - 05:44 PM
Beirut attacked by warplanes as part of Israeli offensive
02 Mar 2026 - 05:37 PM
Oil and natural gas prices spike as markets open
02 Mar 2026 - 05:32 PM
Israeli President pictured at Tel Aviv strike site
02 Mar 2026 - 05:26 PM
Senior Hezbollah member hit, Israel says
02 Mar 2026 - 04:54 PM
Saudi oil refinery attacked
02 Mar 2026 - 04:44 PM
Major Iranian city hit by strikes, agency reports
02 Mar 2026 - 04:34 PM
Lebanon offensive could be ‘prolonged’: Israel
02 Mar 2026 - 04:26 PM
Millions of Iranians without internet
02 Mar 2026 - 04:08 PM
Iranians killed in strikes on residential area, agency says
02 Mar 2026 - 04:05 PM
‘Several’ US warplanes crash in Kuwait
02 Mar 2026 - 04:01 PM
Read The Nightly now
02 Mar 2026 - 03:45 PM
‘Huge amount’ of proof to justify strikes on Iran, Israeli President says
02 Mar 2026 - 03:12 PM
Iranian missiles hit Dubai base where Aussies are stationed
02 Mar 2026 - 02:36 PM
Israeli ‘offensive campaign’ on Lebanon to last several days
02 Mar 2026 - 02:12 PM
At least 31 killed in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon
02 Mar 2026 - 01:37 PM
Explosions reported in Jerusalem, Gulf cities after Iranian missile alert
02 Mar 2026 - 01:36 PM
Israel to escalate strikes on Lebanon amid Hezbollah attacks
02 Mar 2026 - 01:28 PM
‘We will not negotiate with US’: Iran security official
02 Mar 2026 - 01:02 PM
Eye-watering price Aussies could soon fork out for petrol
02 Mar 2026 - 12:21 PM
‘Strikes continue’: Unites States Central Command releases footage
02 Mar 2026 - 11:26 AM
Suspected drone strike sparks response at UK Cyprus base
02 Mar 2026 - 10:52 AM
Chris Minns condemns Sydney mosque for mourning Ayatollah
02 Mar 2026 - 10:08 AM
Australians warned to brace for global travel disruption amid Middle East conflict
02 Mar 2026 - 09:28 AM
Explosions heard in Tel Aviv as Israeli strikes hit Beirut
02 Mar 2026 - 09:19 AM
Israel retaliates after Hezbollah rocket fire from Lebanon
02 Mar 2026 - 08:55 AM
The Aussie stocks being hit hardest by the Iran war amid rising oil prices
02 Mar 2026 - 07:55 AM
Foreign Minister says she hasn’t been in contact with US State Secretary
02 Mar 2026 - 06:23 AM
UK authorises the use of British military bases in the Middle East
Oil and natural gas prices spike as markets open
Global oil and natural gas prices have surged overnight as the Middle East conflict continued into Monday.
Futures contracts for Brent crude spiked 9 per cent, and WTI 8 per cent, and the price of Dutch natural gas climbed a whopping 23 per cent as global supply is threatened.
20 per cent of the world’s natural gas trade is transported through the Strait of Hormuz, which is partially controlled by Iran.
OPEC is reporting it will increase daily oil output by 206,000 barrels per day amid the conflict.
Israeli President pictured at Tel Aviv strike site
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has been photographed visiting a site in Tel Aviv which was struck overnight.
Senior Hezbollah member hit, Israel says
A high-ranking Hezbollah member has been “precisely struck”, according to the Israel Defense Force.
The IDF says more details will be shared shortly.
‘No indication’ of damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities, says watchdog
The International Atomic Energy Agency says no Iranian nuclear facilities, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and Tehran Research Reactor, have been damaged by US-Israeli strikes.
IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi says the UN nuclear watchdog has attempted to contact the Iranian nuclear regulatory authorities, but to no avail due to communications interruptions caused by the conflict.
“No elevation of radiation levels above the usual background levels has been detected in countries bordering Iran,” Mr Grossi added.
More than 550 people killed in Iran so far, society says
The US-Israeli air strikes have killed “at least” 555 people in Iran since the conflict began, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
The Society says 131 cities have been targeted.
Saudi oil refinery attacked
A Saudi Arabian oil refinery has been attacked by drones, according to the Saudi Defence Ministry and state-run press agency.
The Ras Tanura refinery, located in the country’s east, was targeted by aircraft which were shot down on Monday morning.
Thick black smoke was reported near the refinery, which is believed to process over 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
The refinery has been shut down temporarily.
Major Iranian city hit by strikes, agency reports
The central Iranian city of Yazd has been hit by strikes in six locations early on on Monday morning, according to the Iranian state-run news agency.
The city is thought to be home to over 600,000 people.
Lebanon offensive could be ‘prolonged’: Israel
Israel’s military offensive into Lebanon could involve “many prolonged days” of conflict, according to the country’s military chief of staff.
Military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Deffrin says “all options” are on the table for a possible ground operation into Lebanon.
“Hezbollah will pay a very heavy price for this,” Defrin said.
At least 31 people were killed in Lebanon by Israeli strikes following Hezbollah attacks.
Millions of Iranians without internet
Millions of Iranians have been without internet for over 48 hours since the conflict began, cybersecurity watchdog NetBlocks is reporting, although there is still some online activity.
The Iranian regime has previously used internet blackouts as a tactic to suppress anti-government protests earlier in the year.
Iranians killed in strikes on residential area, agency says
Three people have been killed in the western Iranian city of Sanandaj in the early hours of Monday morning, according to Iran’s state-run news agency.
Two residential areas were hit by the strikes, according to the agency, who did not provide further information.
