US Iran War Highlights: Vance says rise in petrol prices ‘temporary’, assures US to get out of Iran ‘soon’

According to a report by Al Jazeera, authorities in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, confirmed that air defence systems were activated following sounds heard across parts of the city.

In a statement, the Dubai Media Office said, “The sounds heard across parts of the city were the result of successful air defence interception operations.”

Iran has acknowledged Azerbaijan’s support after receiving humanitarian assistance during a difficult period. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi thanked both the government and people of Azerbaijan for their contribution.

In a statement shared on social media, Araghchi said he appreciated not only the aid itself but also the facilitation of assistance from other countries through Azerbaijan. He noted that such cooperation had helped ensure timely delivery of essential supplies.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has alleged that the United States and Israel deliberately targeted academic institutions during the ongoing conflict, claiming widespread damage to the country’s educational infrastructure.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said “many universities and research centres” had been struck, including the Isfahan University of Technology and the University of Science and Technology in Tehran.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has commended Pakistan for its role in mediating efforts aimed at halting what he described as US and Israeli aggression against Iran.

During a telephone conversation with Shehbaz Sharif, the Iranian president expressed appreciation for Islamabad’s diplomatic engagement. According to an official statement from the presidency, Pezeshkian “thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts to stop the aggression against the Islamic republic”.

Lebanon’s army has reported that an Israeli air raid has killed a corporal in the southern town of Kfar Tebnit. The incident marks the latest in a series of attacks affecting military personnel.

In an official statement, the army command confirmed the fatality, stating that the corporal was killed during the strike. No further details were immediately provided on the circumstances of the attack.

Police in Tel Aviv dispersed a large anti-war protest on Saturday, as demonstrators gathered to oppose the conflict involving Iran.

According to organisers, around 1,500 people had assembled in the city centre before officers moved in to break up the gathering. The protest was aimed at both the ongoing war and the current government’s policies.

Alon-Lee Green, co-director of the Jewish-Palestinian activist group Standing Together, alleged that force was used during the dispersal.

Pakistan's FM Ishaq Dar said Iran has agreed to let 20 Pakistan-flagged ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the move as a “harbinger of peace”.

Under the plan, two vessels will be permitted to cross the key maritime route each day, Dar said. “This positive announcement marks a meaningful step toward peace and will strengthen our collective efforts in that direction,” he added.

The development comes as Iran has already allowed several Pakistan-linked vessels to transit in recent weeks, amid Islamabad’s role in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran.

Qatar and Ukraine signed a defence agreement on Saturday that included cooperation on countering threats from missiles and drones, the Gulf state's government said, as Iran presses an aerial campaign against its neighbours, reported AFP.

The Israeli military on Saturday said that it carried out a strike on an industrial complex in Tehran used for the research and development of naval weapons.

"The IDF struck the headquarters of the Iranian terrorist regime's Marine Industries Organization," the military said, adding the strike was part of a wave of attacks conducted overnight from Friday to Saturday, as per AFP.

"This headquarters is responsible for the research, development, and production of a wide range of naval weaponry, including surface and sub-surface vessels, manned and unmanned equipment, as well as engines and weapons."

The United Arab Emirates on Saturday said its air defence systems successfully shot down multiple aerial threats launched from Iran, including 20 ballistic missiles and 37 unmanned drones, the defence ministry said.

According to an official statement shared by UAE Ministry of Defence, "The UAE air defences systems on 28th March 2026 engaged 20 ballistic missiles and 37 UAVs launched from Iran." The interception comes amid what authorities described as continued hostile actions targeting the country.

The Israeli military reported conducting extensive overnight airstrikes on Tehran, deploying over 50 fighter jets to strike weapons production sites, as per AP.

Officials said the primary targets were Iran’s naval weapons production facilities, though Tehran has not yet confirmed any damage to its naval or marine programs.

An Israeli attack on Saturday in southern Lebanon killed three journalists, according to their news channels and a Lebanese military source, while Israel claimed that one of the victims was a member of Hezbollah, as per AFP.

The strike occurred as Israel continued operations in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah said it had targeted Israeli forces entering border villages.

Lebanon became entangled in the Middle East conflict after the Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2 in retaliation for the US-Israeli killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The number of Americans wounded in the ongoing Iran conflict has surpassed 300, with over two dozen troops injured this week in attacks on a Saudi air base, according to AP.

On Friday, Iran launched six ballistic missiles and 29 drones at Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan air base, injuring at least 15 troops, including five seriously, according to two sources briefed on the matter. U.S. officials had initially reported that at least 10 personnel were injured, including two with serious injuries.

US on Saturday rejected Iran's claim of US personnel attacked in Dubai. “No U.S. personnel have been attacked in Dubai. The Iranian regime is manufacturing lies on social media to hide the reality that their military capabilities are undeniably overwhelmed and degraded,” US Central Command said.

Iran's IRGC earlier alleged it struck US "hideouts" in Dubai, causing over 500 casualties.

A US Navy ship carrying roughly 2,500 Marines has reached the Middle East, US Central Command announced on Saturday, as per AP.

The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, and personnel from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard, are normally based in Japan. They had been conducting exercises near Taiwan before being redirected to the Middle East nearly two weeks ago.

According to US Central Command, the Tripoli is bringing transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault capabilities, to the region.

The USS Boxer and two other ships, along with another Marine Expeditionary Unit, have been deployed from San Diego to reinforce the area.

The US Central Command on Saturday released the footage of its airstrikes on the Iranian naval vessels amid the West Asia conflict.

In a post on X, the US Central Command said, "For decades, Iranian naval vessels have threatened and harassed global shipping in regional waters, but those days are over."

US Vice President JD Vance discussed the war on Iran in an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson. He said that while the US has achieved most of its military objectives, President Donald Trump intends to continue the conflict “for a little while longer” to ensure Iran’s government is significantly weakened.

Vance stated, “The president’s going to keep at it for a little while longer to ensure that once we leave, we don’t have to do this again for a very, very long time. We need to neuter them [the Iranian government] for a very, very long time, and that’s the purpose.”

Acknowledging that petrol prices have risen due to the war, Vance added that the increase is “temporary”. “This is a very, very temporary reaction to what is ultimately going to be a short-term conflict.”

Qatar was targeted by a number of drones launched from Iran on Saturday, but all were intercepted, the Qatari Defence Ministry said, according to Reuters.

Iranian reports say that nuclear scientist Mohammad Reza Kiya was eliminated in a targeted operation in the town of Dastak in northern Iran.

Israel’s rescue service, Magen David Adom, reported that 11 people sustained minor injuries in an attack in Eshtaol, near Jerusalem. Some were hurt by the blast itself, while others were injured while running to shelters.

Medics said the injured included a 75-year-old man whose roof collapsed and a 47-year-old whose doorway was blown off.