Arab countries put pressure on the US to end the war
Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are trying to put pressure on Washington to stop the war with Iran, according to an American source speaking to the Lebanese channel Al-Mayadeen.
The desire to halt the war is intensifying amid turmoil in financial markets and damage to oil exports, which are causing serious losses for Arab countries.
The above information follows a report by the Associated Press, which says officials from Persian Gulf countries are expressing dissatisfaction with the way the United States and Donald Trump handled the war, especially after the attack on Iran on Saturday. They complain that they were not informed in time about the military strikes and therefore did not have enough time to prepare for the storm of Iranian drones and missiles bombarding their territories in retaliation from Tehran.
In the same reports, the officials noted that the public reactions of Gulf Arab countries have been limited, however public figures with close ties to their governments are openly criticizing the US, arguing that Benjamin Netanyahu dragged President Trump into a pointless war.
06/03/2026 18:14
Trump on CNN: I have no problem with Iran having a religious leader again, gasoline prices will fall quickly
Open to the possibility of a religious leader in Iran, “depending on who it is,” said Donald Trump in an interview with CNN, as he said he “works with many religious leaders and they are fantastic.”
When asked whether he insists that Iran should be a democratic country, Trump answered no. “No, I say there should be a leader who will be fair and impartial. To do a good job. To treat the United States and Israel well, and to treat the other countries of the Middle East well — they are all our partners,” he said.
“And I became very friendly with all these countries. That’s why they are all fighting for us. Before I got involved, we weren’t even talking with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. You know, Biden shut them out. Biden and Obama shut out Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, he shut them all out. They were all going to go to China, and I got involved and in a very short time they became my friends,” Trump said.
And while the American president praised the US operation against Iran — saying it is “12, maybe 15 with 10 being the best” — he implied he was not worried about the rise in gasoline prices. “It’s okay. It will be short-term. It will drop very quickly,” he stressed, dismissing the fact that prices have increased significantly and saying he has “already found a solution” for the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have destroyed their navy, because, you know, when you destroy the navy, they can’t do what they wanted to do. The navy is almost — we just reached 25. Can you imagine? The big ones — 25 ships have been destroyed,” he said.
The alert level in Qatar has been raised
The authorities in Qatar issued a new alert for an “increased” level of security threat, calling on residents to “remain indoors.”
06/03/2026 16:23
Drone hit in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s state television reports that a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after being hit by a drone.
06/03/2026 16:23
Merz: The prolongation of the war does not benefit Europe
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that prolonging the war will pose a risk to the stability of the region and Europe’s security.
According to Merz, a prolonged conflict threatens the security of Israel and its partners in the region.
He added that the continuation of the war does not serve their interests, warning of risks that could threaten Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to Merz, instability in Iran could threaten Europe’s energy security and trigger uncontrolled waves of migration.
Lebanon Prime Minister: The country is plunging into the abyss over a conflict we did not choose
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Friday that the country “is dragging itself ever deeper into the abyss” and has become involved in a conflict that “we did not seek and did not choose.”
Although he did not mention Hezbollah by name, it is a fact that it attacked Israel earlier this week and the Israeli army responded by bombing Lebanon.
Salam warned of an imminent humanitarian disaster, as hundreds of thousands of people are leaving Beirut and southern Lebanon under Israeli evacuation orders.
06/03/2026 14:36
Britain sends air cover to Bahrain
As announced, Starmer is offering air defense cover in Bahrain.
06/03/2026 14:24
Son of Israeli Finance Minister injured in operation on Lebanon border
The son of Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, was slightly injured during a military operation on the Lebanon border, according to the Religious Zionism party.
06/03/2026 14:17
Washington Post: Russia cooperates with Iran, secretly providing information on US military installations
Information for targeting US military forces in the Middle East is being provided by Russia to Iran, according to three officials cited by the Washington Post, in a development that—if true—reveals the involvement of one of Washington’s biggest adversaries in the war, even indirectly.
06/03/2026 14:11
Two flights per hour, 50 passengers each: Israel gradually opens airspace from Sunday
Israel is preparing to gradually reopen its airspace for outgoing flights, starting Sunday at 8 a.m.
Under the operational framework, departures of up to two narrow-body aircraft per hour will be allowed, with no more than 50 passengers per flight.
For now, outgoing flights will be operated by Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, Arkia, and Air Haifa.
Additionally, 15% of all seats on outgoing flights will be reserved for humanitarian, diplomatic, tourism, or security reasons.
Israeli citizens wishing to travel on these flights must sign a form declaring that they will not return to the country for at least 30 days from the date of their flight.
In the coming days, Israel will seek to expand the range of outgoing flights and seats, depending on developments in the security sector.
06/03/2026 14:06
Iran: We hit a US tanker in Kuwait, it is engulfed in flames
According to Iranian state television, the Revolutionary Guards attacked a US tanker near the Kuwaiti coast. “It is now engulfed in flames,” said a Guards spokesperson.
——————————————–
The son of Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, was lightly injured during a military operation along the Lebanese border, according to the Religious Zionism party. The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the region and ongoing Israeli operations near Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that Russia is secretly sharing intelligence with Iran regarding U.S. military installations in the Middle East. According to three officials cited by the newspaper, this covert support, if confirmed, indicates indirect involvement by one of Washington’s biggest adversaries in the ongoing conflict.
In civil aviation news, Israel is preparing to gradually reopen its airspace for outbound flights starting Sunday at 8 a.m. Operations will initially allow up to two narrow-body aircraft per hour, carrying no more than 50 passengers each. The available seats will prioritize humanitarian, diplomatic, tourism, or security needs, and travelers must commit to remaining abroad for at least 30 days.
The Iranian government has accused the United States and Israel of bombing an elementary school in Tehran. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei shared a video on X showing classrooms with broken windows and extensive debris, though he did not mention any casualties. The attack reportedly took place at a school in Niloufar Square, raising tensions amid ongoing regional conflicts.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz addressed operations in Lebanon, assuring residents in northern Israel that they have nothing to fear. Katz stated that the Israeli military has expanded its presence and secured key positions, emphasizing that their mission is to protect local communities from immediate threats while continuing operations against Hezbollah. Katz added that forces are advancing to safeguard settlements from tank fire and pledged to defeat Hezbollah “one way or another.”
Amid escalating violence, the United Kingdom signaled that its Royal Air Force fighter jets are legally authorized to strike Iranian missile facilities targeting British interests in the Middle East. Deputy Prime Minister David Lamming emphasized that Britain possesses satellite and intelligence capabilities to identify Iranian targets accurately and ensure any military operations comply with international law. He noted that the UK has also permitted the United States to use British bases for defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites, highlighting growing tensions and NATO collaboration in the region.
Azerbaijan Withdraws Diplomatic Mission from Iran Amid Rising Tensions
Azerbaijan has recalled its diplomats from Iran for their own safety, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov announced. This move follows a recent attack in the Nakhchivan region, in which four Iranian drones struck Azerbaijani territory, injuring four people, according to authorities in Baku.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have indicated plans to deploy new long-range missiles in the coming days. A source told the Fars news agency that previous attacks on American and Israeli targets mostly used older missiles from the 1990s. The source added that Iran’s missile production lines remain active, and advanced, less-utilized long-range missiles could be employed in upcoming operations. Current observations suggest Iran has largely refrained from deploying its newest missile systems, using primarily weapons produced between 2012 and 2014.
The conflict is also impacting regional energy and defense arrangements. The Kremlin reported a surge in demand for Russian oil and gas due to the war in Iran, with buyers like India and China acting in their national interests. Greece has responded to NATO requests by deploying a Patriot missile battery and F-16 fighters to northern Greece to protect Bulgaria. Additionally, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has arranged a special Emirates flight to repatriate Greek citizens from the United Arab Emirates amid ongoing regional instability.
Around 52 French ships are currently trapped in the Gulf, with an additional 8 vessels stranded in the Red Sea, French Foreign Minister Philippe Tabarot announced today. The ships are part of ongoing efforts by Paris to seek international support for forming a coalition of countries to ensure maritime security in the region. Tabarot emphasized that authorities are in constant contact with the crews, noting that some of the vessels have French sailors on board.
The situation highlights the growing tensions in the Gulf and Red Sea areas, where international shipping faces increased risks. As global attention focuses on the safety of maritime routes, France is coordinating closely with its allies to safeguard navigation, while monitoring the ongoing developments and keeping crews informed amid the heightened uncertainty.
Four Arrested in Britain for Espionage on Behalf of Iran
The Metropolitan Police in Britain arrested four men over ties to Iran, following an investigation into espionage within the framework of counter-terrorism.
The four were detained today on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, which, according to the police, is linked to Iran.
06/03/2026 10:16
Warning of “Possible Missile Threats” Sent to Dubai Residents’ Phones
Residents of Dubai received a warning on Friday morning from the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior on their mobile phones, advising them to seek shelter due to potential missile threats.
“Due to the current situation and possible missile threats, immediately seek shelter in the nearest secure building and stay away from windows, doors, and open spaces,” the warning stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that a ground invasion of Iran would be “a waste of time,” arguing that the country has already lost everything it could lose. In an interview with NBC News, he also sent a direct message to Iran’s military forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the army and the police, warning them to “surrender or you will die.” At the same time, the conflict in the region continues to escalate, with reports that Iran carried out attacks against several Gulf countries on Thursday night while tensions across the Middle East remain extremely high.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces announced that they bombed ten multi-storey buildings belonging to Hezbollah in Beirut during overnight operations. Israeli forces also launched heavy bombardments on Tehran, with residents describing them as the most powerful strikes so far. In parallel, the United States Central Command reported that U.S. forces struck an Iranian ship transporting drones, saying the vessel was left burning after the attack, as military activity intensifies across the region.
Intense Israeli airstrikes struck the Iranian capital overnight, with residents of Tehran describing the bombardment as the most powerful since the conflict began. According to reports, Israeli forces targeted what they described as infrastructure linked to Iran’s military and security apparatus. Explosions were reported across several districts of the city, while parallel strikes were also carried out in southern Lebanon, further widening the geographical scope of the confrontation.
At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran’s military and security forces, calling on members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the army, and the police to surrender their weapons. Speaking from the White House, Trump said those who laid down their arms would receive immunity and protection, while those who continued to resist would face “certain death.” He also stated that there was no specific timetable for ending the war, emphasizing that the United States intended to ensure that Iran could not acquire nuclear weapons or maintain ballistic missile capabilities.
Military developments in the region continued to escalate. The United States confirmed that it had struck an Iranian vessel carrying drones, with the U.S. Central Command reporting that the ship was now on fire. Meanwhile, Iran launched a wave of missile and drone attacks against several Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Explosions were reported in Abu Dhabi and near key energy infrastructure, while Saudi air defenses intercepted multiple drones east of Riyadh.
The conflict is also beginning to affect global markets and regional stability. Oil prices climbed sharply, with U.S. crude trading above $80 per barrel and Brent approaching $85 amid fears of supply disruptions. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, nearly 200 children have been killed across the Middle East since the escalation began, highlighting the growing humanitarian toll of a conflict that now threatens to engulf a wider region.
Ask me anything
Explore related questions
