US-Iran War Day 4 Updates: Trump Claims Forcing Israel's Hand To Strike Iran

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US President Donald Trump stated that he had foresaw oil prices dropping after the conflict between Iran and Israel and USA Forces in a media interaction.

"I have never had more compliments on something I did. So if we have a high oil prices for a little while, but as soon as this ends these prices are gonna drop I believe even lower than before," Trump said.

He also said that despite the assasination of the Ayatollah it was likely that someone " as bad" may come to power.

"I guess the worst case is we do this and then somebody takes over who is as bad as the previous person. That could happen." he said.

He also called the Iranian government "crazy" and claimed that if Iran had nuclear weapons that the country would use them.

"They're crazy. Just like the people to my right during the State of the Union. I looked at them and said, 'You're crazy.' These people are crazy and if they had a nuclear weapon they would have used it," he said.

US President Donald Trump expressed displeasure with Spain regarding its stance on Iran in a media interaction.

"Spain has been terrible. I told Scott (Bessent) to cut off all dealings with Spain. They said we can't use their bases. We could use their bases if we want. We could just fly in and use it. Nobody is gonna tell us not to use it." Trump said.

He expressed similar sentiments regarding the UK.

 "I'm not happy with the UK ... this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with", he said.

US President Donald Trump claimed in a press interaction that he "forced Israel's hand" to strike Iran, stating that he believed that Iran would strike first.

"No... Based on the way the negotiation was going, I think [Iran] was going to attack first, and I didn't want that to happen — so if anything, I might've forced Israel's hand," Trump said.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation further said in its statement that Indian carriers are planning 58 flights on March 4. With 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express.

Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also undertaking limited operations. The Ministry said that it is in continuous touch with airlines and is closely monitoring airfares to ensure that there is no undue surge in ticket prices.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation reported in a statement that there have been 1,221 flights by Indian carriers till date due to the situation in the Middle East.  Upto 388 flights by foreign carriers have been cancelled due to the ongoing situation.

Indian carriers have undertaken calibrated adjustments to schedules. The aviation body also said that Long-haul and ultra long-haul ops are progressively being resumed.

Indian airlines are using alternative routings to avoid restricted airspace.

Air India Express reported in a media statement that it will continue to operate scheduled flights to and from Muscat on March 4.

The airline will also operate regular services to and from Muscat, Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai and Tiruchirappalli.

Air India Express will also operate additional flights to Delhi, Kochi, and Mumbai.

Air India is set to deploy widebody aircraft with higher capacity to Jeddah and Dubai on March 4 according to a social media post from the airline. Air India will send a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 350 seats from Mumbai to Jeddah on Tuesday evening.

"This will be followed by a Boeing 787-9 with around 300 seats scheduled to depart Delhi for Dubai later tonight and another Boeing 787-8 aircraft with over 250 seats operating from Mumbai to Dubai in the early hours of March 4," the post said.

Earlier in the evening Air India deployed a Boeing 777 from Mumbai to Jeddah.

All the flights are expected to operate at full capacity on their return sectors on 4 March, arriving at Mumbai and Delhi

The Israeli Air Force reported that it has started a wave of "extensive strikes" against the infrastructure of the "Iranian regime" in Tehran and said more details were to follow as per its official 'X' social media handle.

"Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said “Too Late!” US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social. He also linked an op-ed published by The Washnigton Post that claimed that the US's actions were not starting a forever war with Iran but ending it.

The Israeli Defence Forces have hit several members of the Shia Islamist Lebanese paramilitary outfit Hezbollah in Lebanon's capital Beirut.

Explosions were heard in Iran's capital Tehran according to Tasnim News Agency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks via call with the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and the Crown Prince of Kuwait H. H. Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.

During both discussions, PM Modi expressed concern at the attacks in the respective countries and discussed the welfare and security of the Indian community residing there, as per PTI reports.

Flight operations by IndiGo are expected to be resumed to the following destinations in-
line with prevailing airspace conditions and necessary approvals
 
* Middle East: Muscat, Jeddah, Madinah
* Europe: Athens
Totaling 13 return flights which makes up 26 sectors.

More repatriation flights to stations in the UAE are being worked upon for March 4.

 IndiGo is expected to run more scheduled flights and seat capacity from March 4 onwards. It will also be reinstating select flights as part of a carefully planned restoration of its schedule.

IndiGo has begun its repatriation efforts aligned with the relevant authorities in India and the respective governments as per a statement cited by NDTV.

Four such flights are now enroute to Jeddah. One is expected to be operated to and from
Muscat, later in the day.

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reported having a conversation via telephone with the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kalla regarding the "ongoing conflict in Iran and the Gulf", he reported in an 'X' post.

India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said that the safety of the one crore Indian citizens is the Centre's utmost priority amid the conflict between Iran's forces and Israel and US forces.

"There are almost one crore Indian citizens who live and work in the Gulf region. Their safety and well-being is of utmost priority," they said in an official statement.

They also reiterated India's opposition to attacks on civillian merchant ships.

"India is also firmly opposed to attacks on merchant shipping. Already, some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing as a result of such attacks in the last few days," they said. 

UAE's Fujairah Port reported a major fire resulting from falling drone debris. No injuries were reported from the incident.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson reported that the country shot down Iranian jets for entering Qatari airspace despite their warnings. The planes were headed for the capital city of Doha as per their statement.

The spokesperson identified Iranian targets as not just their military but the entireity of the country’s territory.

Emirates flight EK 569 between Bengaluru to Dubai has returned due to airspace closure in Dubai.  The revised take off time is now 7:35 p.m. according to a Kempegowda International Bengaluru Airport spokesperson.

"All Etihad’s scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until UAE time on Thursday March 5," Etihad Airways said in an 'X' post.

"Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals," it added.

"All scheduled Emirates flights to and from Dubai remain suspended until 2359hrs UAE time on 4 March, due to airspace closures across the region," Emirates said in an 'X' post.

"Emirates continues to operate a limited number of passenger repatriation and freighter flights on 3 and 4 March," it added.

Iran launched  a fresh volley of missiles on  US bases in region according Fars News Agency in Iran, Iran  has targeted US bases and interests in Qatar, Bahrain and Oman as per the report.

India on Tuesday advised its nationals in Iran to exercise utmost caution and stay indoors as well  as getting as far away possible from the security situation in the Persian Gulf nation which has deteriorated in light of fresh military strikes by the US and Israel.

"In view of the developing situation, all Indian nationals in Iran are advised to exercise utmost caution, avoid unnecessary movements and remain indoors as far as possible," the Indian embassy in Tehran said in a fresh advisory.

"Indians may also continue to monitor the news, maintain situational awareness and await any further guidance from the Embassy of India," it added.

About 9,000 Indians, including students, are learnt to be stuck in Iran.

Source: PTI 

The Defense Army attacked the Iranian leadership complex, which constitutes one of the regime's most important and central headquarters.

The Air Force launched an attack last night targeting command and security buildings within the leadership complex affiliated with the Iranian terrorism regime in the heart of Tehran.

During the assault on the complex, dozens of types of ammunition were dropped on the Presidential Office, the Supreme National Security Council building, the complex hosting the Supreme Forum in the regime responsible for making security decisions, the Iranian Army Officers Training Institute, and additional vital infrastructure, IDF Spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in an 'X' post.

At least 787 persons, including civilians, have been killed in the strikes carried out by the United States and Israel since Saturday, Iran's state-run media reported, citing the data shared by the Iranian Red Crescent.

As limited flight operations resume at DXB and DWC, here are answers to some common questions we’re receiving 👇

1️⃣ Should I travel to the airport if my airline has not confirmed my flight?
💬 No. If your airline has not confirmed your flight is operating, please do not travel…

— DXB (@DXB) March 3, 2026

In view of the prevalent situation, all Indian nationals staying in Saudi Arabia are being asked to stay "vigilant", and adhere to the guidelines issued by the Kingdom, the Indian Embassy said.

Important Advisory dated 3rd March 2026 pic.twitter.com/RqKnzKlVV0

— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) March 3, 2026

India holds about 100 million barrels of commercial crude oil stocks - in storage tanks, underground strategic reserves and on ships voyaging towards the country - which could cover roughly 40-45 days of its requirement if flows through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, news agency PTI reported, citing data sourced from Kpler.

“China urges all parties to immediately cease military operations, avoid escalating tensions and safeguard the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” China Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has posted an image showing graves being prepared for victims of an airstrike in Minab, southern Iran. In the airstrike, 160 girls studying in an elementary school were killed.

These are graves being dug for more than 160 innocent young girls who were killed in the US-Israeli bombing of a primary school. Their bodies were torn to shreds.

This is how "rescue" promised by Mr. Trump looks in reality.

From Gaza to Minab, innocents murdered in cold blood. pic.twitter.com/cRdJ3BELOn

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 2, 2026

Military conflict in the Middle East region is expected to hit the export of electronics from India as well as increase the production cost in the country, electronic industry associations said, according to a PTI report.

India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), whose members include Apple, Vivo, Oppo, Lava, Dixon, etc, said India's electronics exports are closely integrated with global supply chains, and shipments move primarily through air freight. Read more

Analysts and key oil market observers predict that oil prices could hit the magic three-digit figure in the wake of the ongoing conflict.

“At this point, it seems we are looking at a full-scale military conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which would be unprecedented and the trajectory impossible to assess,” said Vandana Hari, CEO of energy research firm Vanda Insights, told CNBC International.

Read more

Gold rose for a fifth day, as the escalating war in the Middle East upended global energy markets and drove investors to safer assets.

Bullion climbed as much as 1.1% to top $5,380 an ounce, adding to a gain of more than 3% over the previous four sessions as conflict reverberated across the region. Read more

Indian shipowners have written to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, seeking the government's intervention to secure the flow of Indian vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran-Israel war.

The Indian National Shipowners' Association (INSA), in its letter to the shipping ministry, said 27 Indian-flagged vessels are currently stuck in the region. This puts shipping assets worth over Rs 10,000 crore at risk, INSA underlined in its letter, as seen by NDTV Profit. Read full report

India is weighing higher Russian crude purchases as part of an emergency energy plan after Hormuz Strait disruptions rattled global oil flows, with officials reviewing export curbs and alternative shipping routes, NDTV Profit learnt from sources. Read full report

The Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Gibraltar are the choke points that link Asia, Europe, Africa and the Atlantic. Each is narrow, heavily trafficked and strategically exposed, but the Strait of Hormuz is the most critical.

Here's a look at how these chokepoints will impact the Israel-Iran conflict

Iran's state-run news agencies on Tuesday reported that the country has launched a "massive attack" on the US military based in Bahrain.

IndiGo on Tuesday said it has cancelled 43 flights to and from the Middle East, that were scheduled to depart today. The decision comes amid the airspace closures in various parts of the Gulf, due to the escalating war between Iran and the US-Israel combine.

Iranian drones struck Australian military facilities in the United Arab Emirates, ABC News reported Richard Marles, the country's defence minister as saying. There were no casualties, he added.

At least 96 persons, including 85 civilians, were killed in the US-Israeli strikes in Iran on Monday, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry, in a statement, said it shot down eight Iranian drones on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

"Clearly the United States would not deliberately target a school. Our objectives are missiles, both the ability to manufacture them and the ability to launch them, and the one-way attractor. That would be our focus... We would have no interest in targeting civilian infrastructure. The Iranians are, on the other hand, targeting civilian infrastructure... They are deliberately targeting civilians because they are a terroristic regime. They sponsor terrorism, and they participate in terrorism," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

"Our mission and our focus is the destruction of their ballistic missile capabilities and their ability to manufacture them, as well as the threat posed by their Navy to global shipping... We hope that the Iranian people can overthrow this government and establish a new future for that country... But the objective of this mission is the destruction of their ballistic missile capabilities and of their naval capabilities... We would love to see this regime be replaced... The objective of this mission is to make sure they don't have these weapons that can threaten us and our allies in the region," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

The US asked Americans currently in 14 Middle East countries to "depart" at the earliest, indicating that the tensions with Iran is likely to result into a regional war.

The @SecRubio @StateDept urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks. Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at 1-202-501-4444 (from… pic.twitter.com/vdplAik2Sq

— Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar (@AsstSecStateCA) March 2, 2026