Iran news and live updates: Iran’s presidential offices hit as Hezbollah to fight ‘open war’ with Israel

Prices of oil and natural gas have risen again on Tuesday, amid fears supply could be threatened worldwide as the war rages on.

Brent futures climbed 6 per cent to $82 a barrel as US markets opened, as did WTI, which also climbed 6 per cent to $75.6.

The IDF say they have hit Hezbollah’s “centers of gravity” in Beirut, after warning residents to evacuate due to proximity to “weapons storage facilities” and command centres of the group.

The assets were “operating under civilian cover”, the IDF has claimed.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society is reporting at least 787 people have died in Iran since the US-Israeli strikes on Saturday.

US news agency HRANA is reporting the number “stands at 742”, which includes 176 children.

The BBC is reporting “numerous” Israeli munitions have struck the Presidential Office and Supreme National Security Council, which is the Iranian regime’s main leadership compound.

“Additional key regime infrastructure” were also struck according to an IDF statement on Telegram.

Although former Ayatollah Ali Khamanei was regularly located at the compound, it is not the same location where the former Supreme Leader was killed by US and Israeli strikes on Saturday.

Local media are reporting one person has been injured in Galilee Panhandle after a missile launched from Lebanon struck a home.

Air raid sirens across central Israel began ringing out at about 11am local time following a 10 hour retaliation reprieve.

It is understood that there have been no other injuries in the latest set of strikes

Hezbollah has claimed that it targeted three Israeli military bases in response to strikes in Lebanon’s south.

On Telegram, the militant group said it hit the Nafah base, and the Meron and Ramat David air bases.

Israeli officials are yet to comment on the claims, but earlier on Tuesday defence minister Israel Katz confirmed that the IDF will advance its ground troops further into Lebanon.

The Defence Force has begun preparing for possible evacuation flights from the Middle East, but the Government is stressing that commercial travel is still the best way for Australians stranded by the Iran conflict to return home.

The Nightly understands Brisbane-based military personnel have again been placed on alert for potential overseas deployments as part of any future government repatriation efforts.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has stressed to Australians trying to leave the Middle East region to focus on getting a commercial ticket first because it would be quicker than waiting for possible military evacuations.

“It is likely, in terms of volume, to be quicker, getting Australians home, if we can get commercial flights, if the airspace becomes available but we are working on a range of contingencies,” Senator Wong told reporters in Canberra.

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Australians stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been warned that posting unverified conflict footage could lead to $77,000 in fines and even imprisonment, as the region continues to face a barrage of missiles coming from Iran.

The UAE Public Prosecution released a statement warning anyone who post or repost footage from “unknown sources” will face legal accountability including Dh200,000 ($A77,700) fine and imprisonment of not less than one year.

“Information is a responsibility, and spreading rumours is a crime,” the UAE Public Prosecution shared in a statement on X on March 2.

“The Public Prosecution warns against publishing or circulating rumours and information from unknown sources through social media platforms.”

This warning follows a shocking clip posted to social media of guests at a restaurant frantically running for cover and fleeing in terror after hearing a loud explosion.

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The Nightly understands Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with the President of the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday evening about the Middle East war.

Mr Albanese had a phone call with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan about the volatile situation, as Australians remain stranded in the Persian Gulf.

They discussed the importance of resuming commercial flights, and Mr Albanese emphasised calls for Iran to cease its attacks on the UAE and other countries in the region.

The PM also thanked the UAE leader for the country’s hospitality toward stranded Australians.

In a seperate discussion, Mr Albanese spoke with his New Zealand counterpart Prime Minister Christopher Luxon about the importance of resuming flights.

Thought the British armed forces were not involved in the intial US-Israeli strikes against Iran, UK authorities say the country will remain involved in the conflict in a strictly “defensive” capacity.

Darren Jones, the chief secretary of Keir Starmer, says the UK’s involvement is a result of British citizens being “at risk”.

“We were not involved in the initial American and Israeli strikes in Iran, but now that British citizens are at risk... it is right that we do everything we can to reduce that risk and to defend British citizens,” he told the BBC.

This comes after Mr Starmer accepted the US’ request to use British bases in an effort to stop Iranian missiles.

In UK parliament yesterday, Mr Starmer stressed that the allowance did not amount to the UK joining the offensive.