9:04 GMT+1
Smoke seen rising from US embassy compound in Kuwait
Fire and smoke rose from inside the US embassy compound in Kuwait City and an alarm wailed after an Iranian attack.
The embassy did not announce it had been hit, but issued a security alert urging people to stay away. There were no immediate reports on damage or casualties.
“There is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait. Do not come to the embassy,” the statement said.
“US Embassy personnel are sheltering in place,” it added.
Kuwait’s interior ministry said it intercepted an unspecified number of drones targeting the small, oil-rich country at dawn.
Iran’s continued and unprecedented bombardment of the Gulf has hit military bases but also civilian infrastructure including residential buildings, hotels, airports and sea ports.
8:49 GMT+1
Top Iranian security official says Iran ‘will not negotiate with the United States’
Iran “will not negotiate with the United States”, Ali Larijani, the powerful head of Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council said.
In a post on X, Larijani denied media reports that Iranian officials had sought to initiate talks with the Trump administration following US-Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend, which came after Tehran and Washington held nuclear negotiations.
8:40 GMT+1
At least 31 people killed in Lebanon as Israel vows to expand strikes
Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed at least 31 people on Monday, authorities said, following rocket fire from Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Israel’s military vowed to intensify its attacks on the country and make Hezbollah pay a “heavy price” after launching several strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and south Lebanon, areas where Hezbollah holds sway.
The escalation came as Lebanese authorities, who have been trying to spare the country from any repercussions of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, said Hezbollah’s rocket fire gave Israel “excuses” to ramp up its attacks.
Hezbollah’s attack on Israel overnight was the first time the Lebanese movement claimed responsibility for an operation against Israel since a November 2024 ceasefire sought to end over a year of hostilities between the two.
Lebanon’s government said it was holding an emergency meeting after Hezbollah’s attack on Israel triggered the Israeli airstrikes.
01/03/2026 – 21:56 GMT+1
EU Foreign Ministers call for protections of civilians, respect for international law
The Foreign Ministers of the European Union said they are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of EU citizens in the Middle East and warned that further escalation could threaten the region.
The ministers participated in a video call with High Representative Kaja Kallas and released a joint statement after the three-hour-long conversation.
An unknown number of European nationals are struck in Iran and in the wider region. Thousands of flights have been cancelled in major hubs, like Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
“The EU and its member states are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of EU citizens in the region, including by activating the EU Civil Protection Mechanism if necessary” the EU’s joint statement said.
The ministers also warned that the events in Iran should not lead to escalation, which could bring unpredictable consequences for the economy. The EU called to avoid disruption at the Strait of Hormuz, a major sea corridor for seaborne oil. The joint statement did not endorse US-Israeli aspirations for regime change in Iran.
“The EU reiterates its solidarity with the Iranian people and strongly supports their fundamental aspirations for a future where their universal human rights and fundamental freedoms are fully respected,” the statement said.
On Sunday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for regime change in Iran.
“A credible transition in Iran is urgently needed,” Ursula von der Leyen said in a social media post.
Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his Federal Government shares the “relief” of many Iranians that the “mullah regime” may be coming to an end.
8:05 GMT+1
Von der Leyen calls for a ‘credible transition’ in Iran
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for regime change in Iran, in a social media post published on X.
“The risk of further escalation is real. This is why a credible transition in Iran is urgently needed,” von der Leyen said.
She added that this transition of power would pave the way for a lasting solution.
Von der Leyen also said this would reflect and support the democratic aspirations of the brave people in Iran.
It’s the first statement from the EU’s executive that supports regime change in Iran. Earlier, the US and Israel signalled that the military raids on Iran could pave the way to bring down the existing regime.
The Iranian theocracy oppressed civilians and violated human rights, with a religious Supreme Leader overseeing all aspects of life. The supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an airstrike on Saturday.
Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that his Federal Government shares the “relief” of many Iranians that the “mullah regime” may be coming to an end.
01/03/2026 – 20:30 GMT+1
Trump speaks with leaders of Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X that Trump had spoken to the leaders of all three countries, but didn’t provide further details.
Trump has spoken to leaders throughout the region since the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
01/03/2026 – 20:21 GMT+1
EU Commission activated consular cooperation network
The European Commission activated the EU’s Local Consular Cooperation networks, a Commission spokesperson told Euronews.
The network, which operates through EU delegations, is aimed at facilitating Member States coordination in the provision of consular assistance.
EU member states discussed offering consular help for thousands of European nationals in the war zone and in the wider region.
Currently, thousands of flights have been cancelled in the Middle East.
01/03/2026 – 20:12 GMT+1
Israeli military says it’s increasing attacks on Iranian government targets in Tehran
The Israeli military says it is increasing its attacks on Iranian government targets in Tehran.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said at a briefing that 100 fighter jets simultaneously struck government targets in the Iranian capital on Sunday.
He said the targets included buildings belonging to Iran’s air force, its missile command and its internal security force, which violently quashed anti-government protests in January.
“Our message to the Iranian regime is clear,” he said. “No one is immune.”
Defrin also said Israel has activated an additional 100,000 reservists to fortify Israel’s borders. He said there was a special focus on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which so far has stayed on the sidelines of the latest war.
“We are keeping a close eye on Hezbollah,” he said.
01/03/2026 – 19:56 GMT+1
Trump says US has destroyed 9 Iranian naval ships and ‘largely destroyed’ Iran’s naval headquarters
US President Donald Trump says that nine ships in the Iranian navy have been sunk.
Trump said on social media that nine ships in the Iranian navy had been “destroyed” and sunk, “some of them relatively large and important.”
Trump said the rest of Iran’s fleet of military vessels “will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also!”
The president said that in a separate attack that Iran’s naval headquarters was “largely destroyed.”
01/03/2026 – 19:55 GMT+1
The extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council has finished, statement to follow
The extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council has concluded, and a statement will follow soon. For the moment, it is not clear whether the ministers reached a joint position on Iran.
Earlier, diplomats told Euronews that Spain and Slovenia had reservations. The reasons behind their opposition were not clear.
Both countries were among the most vocal critics of Israel within the EU during the war in Gaza, and both recognised Palestine as a state in 2024.
Ministers were discussing the situation in Iran and in the wider region via video call since 17,00. The meeting was called by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.
The ministers also discussed the situation of EU nationals in Iran and in the region and considered options for repatriating them.
01/03/2026 – 19:45 GMT+1
Iran’s ‘potential new leadership’ suggests they’re open to US talks and Trump is ‘eventually’ willing
A senior White House official says that “new potential leadership” in Iran has suggested they are open for talks with the United States after U.S. and Israeli forces launched a major attack on Iran, killing its supreme leader and other high-ranking officials.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations, said President Donald Trump says he is “eventually” willing to talk, but for now the military operation “continues unabated.”
The official did not say who the potential new Iranian leaders are or how they made their alleged willingness to talk known.
Trump told The Atlantic in an interview on Sunday that he planned to speak with Iran’s new leadership.
“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” he said, declining comment on the timing.
01/03/2026 – 19:11 GMT+1
Chancellor Merz set to talk to Trump on Tuesday
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington to have talks with President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Merz announced this on his social media account.
The German Chancellor added he is in close contact with his European partners, with Israel and the wider region.
“This is not the moment to lecture our allies, but to stand together in unity,” Friedrich Merz said.
01/03/2026 – 18:46 GMT+1
CIA tracked the movements of senior Iranian leaders for months
The CIA had been tracking the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for months.
That’s according to a person familiar with the operation who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity.
The intelligence was shared with Israeli officials, and the timing of this weekend’s strikes was adjusted in part because of that information, the person said. The New York Times earlier reported about the CIA’s efforts ahead of the Israeli-U.S. strikes.
01/03/2026 – 18:41 GMT+1
Diplomats hope for unity at the EU foreign affairs meeting
A diplomat familiar with the discussions underway between the EU’s 27 member states told Euronews that there is hope to reach a joint statement.
The source said that there are no operational decisions foreseen, and member states need to coordinate on the repatriation of EU citizens.
Earlier, another EU source told Euronews that the ministers will aim to release a joint statement, but said that member states had not revealed their positions yet ahead of the meeting.
Ministers are also discussing questions related to the energy market. Iran exports a significant amount of crude oil and also controls a main shipping route at the Strait of Hormuz.
01/03/2026 – 18:25 GMT+1
France confirms attack against its military base in the Emirates
French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrine confirmed that a French military base in the United Arab Emirates was hit in an Iranian drone attack targeting the port of Abu Dhabi.
“The damage is limited and only material. No injuries have been reported” the minister said in a post on social media, adding that French forces are maintaining maximum vigilance.
Iran launched counterstrikes against American and Israeli targets in the region after Israel and the US launched strikes over Iran, killing its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
France opened the military base in 2009, after reaching an agreement with the authorities of the Emirates.
01/03/2026 – 18:02 GMT+1
11 missing in the strike on synagogue in central Israel
Israeli police say they are still searching for 11 people following an Iranian missile strike in central Israel.
The missile slammed into a synagogue in the town of Beit Shemesh on Sunday, and police confirmed nine deaths and 45 injured.
It’s the deadliest attack on Israel since it launched attacks on Iran jointly with the U.S. on Saturday.
01/03/2026 – 17:48 GMT+1
France postpones a conference on Lebanon
France is postponing an international conference meant to bolster Lebanon’s security because of the widening conflict in the Middle East.
”Conditions are not met’’ to hold the conference as scheduled in Paris on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said. It said Macron spoke Sunday with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and they jointly decided to delay it until April.
The conference is meant to strengthen international financial and technical support for the Lebanese army.
Macron is holding an emergency security meeting later Sunday about U.S-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks.
01/03/2026 – 17:47 GMT+1
Russia and China criticize US-Israeli strikes
Top diplomats from Russia and China slammed Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran as a gross violation of international law.
Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi “condemned the massive military strikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iranian territory, carried out despite Tehran’s openness to dialogue,” according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The ministers said they would coordinate actions at the U.N. Security Council, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other bodies. They did not specify steps that Moscow and Beijing plan to take.
01/03/2026 – 17:44 GMT+1
Cyprus was not a target for Iranian missiles – minister
The Foreign Minister of Cyprus, Nikos Christodulides, denied reports that Iran targeted the island with rockets.
Earlier, UK Defence Secretary John Haley said that two missiles were fired from Iran towards Cyprus. Haley said this shows how indiscriminate Iranian missile attacks are.
Christodulides, in his response on social media, said he called UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who confirmed that Cyprus was not a target.
01/03/2026 – 21:56 GMT+1
EU foreign ministers hold emergency talks on Iran war, energy and stranded nationals
The foreign ministers of all 27 EU member states have convened an extraordinary meeting via video call to discuss the war in Iran.
The emergency session of the Foreign Affairs Council was opened by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, with the participation of all member states.
Ministers are expected to address the political dimensions of the latest developments in the Middle East and to seek a common EU position, Euronews has learned. The regional implications of the conflict, with a particular focus on energy markets, are also on the agenda.
Earlier, ambassadors held a preparatory meeting at COREPER level, where member states expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and raised concerns over respect for international law. Ambassadors also voiced support for the broader region and called for de-escalation.
Consular matters are also expected to feature prominently in the discussions, as thousands of European nationals remain stranded in Iran and across the region amid widespread flight cancellations at major regional airports.
On that front, the EU convened a Working Party on Consular Affairs meeting earlier on Sunday, where member state representatives exchanged information and coordinated their response regarding the situation of European citizens on the ground in Iran and the wider region.
All EU member states are urging their citizens to avoid travel to the region and to seek shelter where necessary.
01/03/2026 – 16:18 GMT+1
Who was Ali Khamenei and how did he come to power in Iran?
Identified as a pragmatic hardliner, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had a place in the upper echelons of Iran since the early 1980s.
All of that came to an end early on Saturday when he, along with dozens of other senior leaders, were killed in joint US-Israeli air strikes on Tehran.
Omid Lahabi takes a look at his slow rise and sudden fall in the article below.
01/03/2026 – 16:01 GMT+1
Three US military members killed in Iran operation, Pentagon says
Three members of the US military have been “killed in action” and five “seriously wounded” in the operation against Iran, the Pentagon said on Sunday, without providing further detail.
These were the first casualties of any kind among US personnel to be announced since the United States launched massive bombardments against Iran and killed its supreme leader on Saturday.
01/03/2026 – 15:57 GMT+1
US says it stuck Iranian warship at southern port
The US military says it struck an Iranian warship at a port on the Gulf of Oman.
Central Command said in a statement on X that US forces attacked an Iranian Jamaran-class corvette.
“The ship is currently sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Oman” at the southern port of Chahbahar, the statement said.
There was no immediate comment from Iran.
01/03/2026 – 15:52 GMT+1
Italy’s foreign minister says Iran’s hard-line position provoked attacks
Italy blamed Iran for provoking the US and Israeli attack, saying its hardening position about its nuclear and long-range missile aspirations had “posed a threat to everyone.”
“The obvious issue was the atomic bomb and the increase in the production of long-range missiles that posed a threat to everyone,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Sunday.
“This is the key element. Without any clear sign that Iran intended to take a step back, it’s obvious that the situation degenerated.”
Tajani strongly condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes as “senseless” and said they had only served to further isolate Tehran.
He said those countries hit by Iran had the right to respond. “I hope the situation doesn’t worsen but I sensed a strong irritation of all the ministers and leaders of countries hit by Iran about the Tehran regime.”
01/03/2026 – 15:45 GMT+1
