EconoTicker

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused the rulers of the Islamic Republic of deliberately targeting innocent civilians, saying Tehran’s forces were firing from schools and hospitals as the war entered its eleventh day.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the CENTCOM commander, Hegseth said the Iranian leadership had become desperate and was behaving “like cowardly terrorists,” using civilian sites while continuing attacks. His remarks mark another sharp escalation in U.S. rhetoric against Tehran as the conflict intensifies.

Source: Remarks by Pete Hegseth at a joint press conference with the CENTCOM commander

The UAE Ministry of Defense said it intercepted 26 drones on Tuesday, while 9 other drones fell inside the country’s territory. The statement points to a significant aerial security incident and highlights the scale of the drone threat facing the UAE.

The announcement did not immediately provide further operational details, but the figures suggest Emirati air defenses were activated extensively to contain the incident and limit broader damage.

Source: UAE Ministry of Defense

Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic, publicly threatened Donald Trump in a post on X, escalating the rhetoric between Tehran and Washington.

In the message addressed to Trump, Larijani wrote that the Iranian people are not afraid of what he called empty threats, adding that others “greater than you” had also failed to eliminate the Iranian nation. He ended the post with a direct warning, telling Trump to “be careful not to be eliminated.”

The remark is likely to deepen already elevated tensions, as officials in the Islamic Republic increasingly use sharper language against the United States and its leadership.

Arab officials condemned the drone attack that targeted (or landed debris near) the UAE Consulate General in Erbil, in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. Reuters cited the Kurdistan Region’s counter-terrorism service as saying three drones were downed, with debris from one falling near the consulate and no casualties reported.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi described the incident as a “dangerous escalation,” voicing full solidarity with the UAE and rejecting attacks on diplomatic missions.

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty also condemned the targeting of the UAE consulate in Erbil, according to regional reporting on his contacts with UAE officials.

Source: Reuters; GCC-linked statement via WAM/Khaleej Times; Yeni Şafak (Arabic).

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking alongside Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, said Israel’s long-term objective is to remove what he called the existential threat from Iran, arguing this goal is “not conceivable” as long as the current system remains in place. Saar added that the “new Khamenei” is not less radical than the previous Khamenei, signaling Israel does not expect moderation from Tehran’s new leadership.

Wadephul said Germany would welcome a diplomatic solution if Iran were ready, but argued Tehran is not currently signaling readiness for that path. He stressed the need to preserve Iran’s territorial integrity, avoid any drift toward civil conflict, and protect civilian infrastructure.

Source: Joint Wadephul–Saar press conference (video); Reuters.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking alongside his German counterpart, said Israel is not seeking an endless war and will keep operations going until “the minute that we and our partners think is appropriate to stop.” He added Israel will consult with Washington when it judges the time is right, while declining to give a timeline for ending the war.

Source: Reuters (via Investing.com).

Pakistan’s navy has launched a maritime security operation—“Muhafiz-ul-Bahr” (Protector of the Seas)—to counter “multi-dimensional threats” to national shipping, as the Iran war raises risks around the Strait of Hormuz and nearby sea lanes. Under the operation, naval vessels are escorting Pakistan-linked merchant shipping to keep trade and energy cargoes moving.

The move comes after Islamabad raised petrol and diesel prices by about 20% (Rs55/litre), triggering panic buying and long lines at fuel stations. Pakistan imports most of its oil via the Strait of Hormuz from suppliers including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, leaving it exposed to disruption.

Source: Pakistan Navy/ISPR statement; Reuters.

U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine said the U.S. campaign has hit thousands of targets in the first days of the operation, including ballistic missile sites, as Washington widens the strike envelope and weighs additional maritime options tied to the Strait of Hormuz.

Separately, CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said B-2 bombers dropped dozens of “penetrator” munitions—described as 2,000-pound-class (about 900 kg) bombs—against deeply buried ballistic missile launchers, as part of the effort to degrade Iran’s missile capability.

Source: Reuters.

The UAE Ministry of Defence said Iran launched nine ballistic missiles toward the UAE on Tuesday. According to the ministry, eight were intercepted and destroyed, while one fell into the sea in the Persian Gulf.

The ministry also reported 35 UAVs were detected in the same wave, with 26 intercepted and nine falling within UAE territory.

Source: UAE Ministry of Defence (official statement); ARN News Centre.

Britain’s Defence Secretary John Healey said the Islamic Republic’s “evil” is not limited to the current war or strikes on civilian areas, calling Tehran “a source of evil” that has, in his words, murdered its own citizens and exported terror for years.

Healey warned Iran’s response is becoming increasingly indiscriminate and widespread, raising concerns that targets are not limited to military sites, as the UK frames its own regional posture as primarily defensive.

Source: The Guardian; The Straits Times (via Sky News remarks).

Israel’s emergency service said one of the critically wounded from an Iranian missile strike later died, raising fatalities from the March 9 attack to two, Israeli media reported.

Earlier, Reuters—citing Israeli responders—had put the cumulative death toll from Iranian missile fire since the start of the war at 11 after the first fatality at a construction site near Tel Aviv. Based on that prior tally, the additional death would take the overall death toll to 12.

Israeli reports said the missile involved cluster munitions, with multiple impact points in central Israel, including areas south of Tel Aviv.

Source: Reuters (via MarketScreener); The Jerusalem Post; The Times of Israel.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara’s “sincere warnings” to Iran have been ignored, adding that “wrong and provocative” steps that endanger the friendship between the two countries are continuing.

His remarks followed Turkey’s report that NATO air and missile defenses intercepted an Iran-launched ballistic missile assessed to be heading toward Turkish airspace, with no casualties reported.

Source: Anadolu Agency (AA); Reuters.