US-Iran War Highlights: Iran says it will treat every US threat as real despite Trump's pause on military action

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed recent US military strikes had "severely degraded" Iran's conventional military capabilities, though he acknowledged that Tehran still retains missiles and drones capable of causing damage.

"They still have missiles and they still have drones, and they can still do damage," Rubio said. However, he argued that Iran had lost the conventional military shield it previously relied on to deter adversaries.

According to Rubio, that shift has changed the balance of power and placed Washington in a stronger negotiating position.

"And that's changed the whole dynamic. It's the only reason why they are now willing and in some cases, seem eager, to do a deal on denuclearisation, to do a deal on the straits. Because we are now approaching them from a position of strength, not from a position of weakness," he said.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: "I don't think the Iranian regime has ever faced a President like Trump, which is somebody that actually takes action," Rubio said. "They got used to, for 20-30 years—not just the U.S., but the broader world—allowing them to get away with things like lying, breaking deals."

Israel has conveyed "serious security concerns" to the White House over the proposed US-backed Hamas disarmament deal.

Israeli officials say intelligence suggests Hamas is trying to rebuild its military rather than genuinely disarm.

Israel says it will not withdraw troops from Gaza until Hamas fully surrenders its weapons.

Israeli PM's office spokesperson Doron Spielman said disarmament must involve physically handing over all weapons.

Trump-backed ceasefire plan calls for Hamas to surrender weapons, dismantle tunnels, Israeli troop withdrawals, deployment of an international force, and reconstruction of Gaza.

Iranian lawmaker Hassan Ghashghavi said mediators are trying to revive the 14-point Islamabad agreement that briefly halted the Iran-US war in June.

Ghashghavi said the Strait of Hormuz remains the key issue, adding there is an ongoing "exchange of views" over the waterway.

He said mediators are actively working to restart negotiations but did not provide further details.

The memorandum was negotiated in Islamabad with the involvement of Qatar and Pakistan.

The agreement covered arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, resumption of US-Iran diplomacy, and efforts to end hostilities involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran Acting Defence Minister Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Ibn al-Reza said Tehran will treat every threat from its "adversaries" as real and use it to strengthen military preparedness and deterrence.

Ibn al-Reza said recent US statements are part of "psychological operations and computational warfare," but stressed Iran would not ignore them.

"From our point of view, every threat is a real and significant threat," the Iranian minister said.

He added that Iran would use external threats to enhance its readiness, deterrence and overall military capabilities, saying, "We are neither surprised nor passive."

The remarks came after US President Donald Trump said he had cancelled a planned strike on Iran, provided a deal could be reached quickly.

Israel, which joined the United States in launching military operations against Iran earlier this year but was not part of the initial US-Iran ceasefire framework in June, is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Zev Elkin, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, said there appeared to be "some kind of vector toward an agreement between Iran and Oman," referring to talks held last month aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

"We'll all wait to see if this vector really does become a full agreement, and whether it will be implemented and where it's all leading," Elkin told Army Radio.

Iranian officials have not confirmed Trump's assertion that negotiations are nearing a breakthrough, while the semi-official Fars news agency described his announcement as a "repeated retreat from threats."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned against any "adventurous actions by the US military," saying Iran was "fully prepared" to respond "decisively."

Several Lebanese soldiers suffered minor injuries after an Israeli strike targeted a civilian vehicle being escorted by an army vehicle in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon. The incident was reported by Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA).

Iran's police chief Ahmadreza Radan said an unexpected incident prevented him from attending the February 28 Defence Council meeting targeted in the opening US-Israeli strikes. Radan said he sent General Gholamreza Rezaeian in his place, but Rezaeian was later killed in the attack along with several other senior Iranian officials.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has called for the implementation of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, including guarantees for freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. During separate calls with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Al Thani stressed the need for diplomacy, regional coordination and a comprehensive agreement to ease tensions and ensure long-term stability.

Iranian state and semi-official media ridiculed US President Donald Trump after he announced he was suspending planned strikes on Iran to allow time for a deal.

Outlets rejected Trump's claim that Tehran had sought the pause, with Fars News declaring, "Trump the fool has run out of steam!" while Mehr described the decision as a retreat from "hollow threats."

Tasnim also cited reports of US air defence missile shortages, claiming they influenced Trump's decision to hold off on further attacks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to respond after US President Donald Trump announced he was pausing planned strikes on Iran, saying Israel backed the decision. The move is seen as a setback for Netanyahu, who has pushed for stronger US military action against Iran and is also wary of renewed American efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

Iran's Bank Saderat has frozen some customer accounts and suspended certain services following recent banking disruptions. The lender said the measures are temporary and intended to protect customers' funds and personal information until the issues are resolved.

An Iranian lawmaker has warned that the United States could target the country's infrastructure and attempt to incite truck drivers. He also proposed creating a joint parliamentary body to strengthen oversight of the transport sector.

• Iran’s acting Defence Minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, has stated that Tehran treats all threats as credible, even when they appear to be part of psychological warfare. His remarks came after US President Donald Trump warned Iran of unprecedented military force before later indicating that planned strikes could be suspended if Tehran swiftly reached an agreement.
• According to the Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Trump held discussions on the evolving regional situation and its wider regional and international implications.
• Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has urged the government to authorise the establishment of three new settlements along the northern perimeter of the Gaza Strip.
• Three children were among at least nine Palestinians reportedly killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn, according to sources at hospitals in the enclave cited by Al Jazeera Arabic.

Iran's government has called for reforms at state broadcaster IRIB after criticism over its coverage of top officials' remarks. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said IRIB should return to its core role of promoting national unity, while adding that the government would continue using other media platforms to communicate with the public.

Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has sharply increased spot crude purchases, with spot volumes rising from 50% to 84%, to offset disruptions in Middle Eastern supplies. The state-run refiner has also stepped up imports from West Africa and Latin America while continuing to rely heavily on Russian crude amid supply concerns linked to the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

US President Donald Trump said he has put a planned strike on Iran on hold to allow time for a deal on Tehran's nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the attack would remain suspended if an agreement is reached quickly, adding that Israel supports the move.

Loud explosions were reported in southern Lebanon's Kunin and Haddatha towns as Israeli military operations continued despite the ceasefire. Israeli forces also reportedly dropped a stun grenade in al-Mansouri, while an Israeli drone was seen flying over southern Beirut.