US-Iran War News Updates: Trump Weighs Easing Jones Act Requirements Over Oil Price

This live blog is now closed, thank you for tuning in, for more updates, research and analysis do visit NDTV Profit. 

Highlights:

• Mojtaba Khamenei Named Iran's New Supreme Leader

•  Brent, WTI Crude Oil Prices Surge Above $106

• Iran Launches Retaliatory Strikes Against US And Israel

• Crude Pressure Sees Investors Lose Rs 13.31 Lakh Crore

• G7 To Consider Releasing 400 Million Barrels Of Oil From Reserves

• Death Toll In Iran Crosses 1,200

• Lebanon Postpones Legislative Elections By Two Years

• UNICEF Reports 83 Children Killed In Lebanon Over Past Week

• US Attack Goals Include Destroying Iran's Ability To Launch Missiles And Targeting Navy Forces

• US Embassy Updates Travel Advisory For Southeast Turkiye To 'Do Not Travel'

• IndiGo To Operate 38 Flights Between India and 12 Destinations Across Middle East, Europe On March 9

• Trump Confirms Asylum For Iran Women's Soccer Team In Australia

• Trump Weighs Easing Jones Act Requirements Over Oil Price

US President Donald Trump is considering easing the requirements un the Jones Act rising oil prices after Iran has put curbs on US and Israeli traffic along the Strait of Hormuz according to RTRS. The Jones Act requires goods transported by water between U.S. ports to be carried on ships that are flagged and built in the US, and owned or crewed by U.S. citizens.

He also mulled export curbs and tax waivers to push down oil prices.

Trump is set to review options to curb oil prices as soon as Monday.

US President Donald Trump reported that Australian president Anthony Albanese was "on it" with regards to providing asylum to Iran's women's soccer team after they declined to sing the country's national anthem out of protest at a match last week.

"Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way. Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return," Trump said in a Truth Social post.

"In any event, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with officials on energy markets as per Bloomberg. Putin stated that the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed and that global gas prices are growing faster than oil prices.

IndiGo will operate 38 flights between India and 12 destinations across the Middle East and Europe on March, 9 2026 as per a statement from the company.

The firm said that it is carefully rebuilding its network in the Middle East and Europe. The company operated more than 165 such flights ever since, flying over 22,000 customers.

The airline is restarting scheduled flights, in a staggered manner, these are flight to and from select destinations in the Middle East from March 3.

The Israeli Air Force intercepted several launches from Lebanon according to the Israeli Defence Forces and several additional launches fell in an open area. Additionally, a report was received regarding an impact in central Israel. 

Search and Rescue forces are operating in the locations where reports of fallen projectiles were received. 
 

"Nine days into Operation Epic Mistake, oil prices have doubled while all commodities are skyrocketing. We know the U.S. is plotting against our oil and nuclear sites in hopes of containing huge inflationary shock. Iran is fully prepared. And we, too, have many surprises in store," Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote in an 'X' post.

9 days into Operation Epic Mistake, oil prices have doubled while all commodities are skyrocketing. We know the U.S. is plotting against our oil and nuclear sites in hopes of containing huge inflationary shock. Iran is fully prepared.

And we, too, have many surprises in store. pic.twitter.com/UNQu0fVZE2

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 9, 2026

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun made a post on social media calling for a "complete ceasefire" with Israel. This ceasefire would include cessation of all Israeli land, air and sea attacks on Lebanon according to Aoun.

The head of state further said that Lebanon's armed forces would immediately take control of the areas of recent tension, confiscate all weapons therein, and disarm Hezbollah and dismantle its weapons depots and storage facilities.

He urged Israel to engage in direct negotiations under international auspices in order to come to an agreement.

The US Embassy has raised the travel advisory for southeast Turkey to 'Level - 4: Do Not Travel' according to a post from its 'X' handle. The overall travel advisory for the country remains at 'Level - 2:  Exercise Increased Caution.'

Southeast Türkiye: The Travel Advisory for Southeast Türkiye has been raised to Level 4 - Do Not Travel. The Travel Advisory for Türkiye remains at Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution.

There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators for Türkiye. However, the area… pic.twitter.com/TUYmDEbFN2

— U.S. Embassy Türkiye (@USEmbTurkiye) March 9, 2026

US President Donald Trump offered asylum to Iran's women's soccer team after reports surfaced of five of them taking refuge in a safehouse in Australia after the team was eliminated from the Asia Cup.

Trump stated that the US would offer them asylum if Australia did not do so.

Concerns for their safety were raised after the team did not sing the Iranian national anthem ahead of their first match with South Korea in the week prior, as a sign of protest against the Iranian government.

The Australian government has not made a final decision as to whether or not to grant the team asylum.

US's Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the goals of the attack on Iran are to destroy its ability to launch missiles, eliminate factories producing projectiles, and target the country’s navy.

Qatar's Doha Defence Ministry reported intercepting 17 ballistic missiles and six unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Iran according to the department's 'X' handle.

تعلن وزارة الدفاع القطرية عن تعرض دولة قطر حتى عصر اليوم الاثنين، لهجوم بعدد (17) صاروخاً باليستياً وعدد (6) طائرات مسيّرة من الجمهورية الإسلامية الإيرانية، حيث نجحت قواتنا المسلحة، بفضل الله، في التصدي لعدد (17) صاروخاً باليستياً وعدد (6) طائرات مسيّرة دون تسجيل أي خسائر.

حفظ… pic.twitter.com/ysTxMaG7rF

— وزارة الدفاع - دولة قطر (@MOD_Qatar) March 9, 2026

Israeli Defence Forces reported dismantling dozens of rocket launchers and intercepting dozens of unmanned arial vehicles from Hezbollah militants in Lebanon for the past few days.

Al Jazeera reported three injured in Iran Isfahan as a result of the Israeli Defence Forces' latest wave of strikes against Iran.

Turkiye has claimed that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defences have neutralised a ballistic munition fired from Iran.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed to have struck Kuwait's  al-Adiri airbase with drones and cruise missiles and to have destroyed its fuel and gas tanks, US helicopter ramps, logistics as well as support facilities.

The United Arab Emirates has intercepted 12 out of 15 missiles; with the others falling into the sea. It also intercepted 17 out of 18 drones with one falling inside the country, as per Bloomberg.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed to have intercepted and downed drones in Tehran and the Bushehr province.

IsraelI Defence Forces reported starting a wave of strikes in Iran including Tehran, Isfahan and South iran.

The United Nations Children's Fund reported 83 children killed and 254 injured in Lebanon since March 2 due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah which are backed by Iran.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reported that the country has asked the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting with regards to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah which are backed by Iran.

The death toll from the conflict has come close to 400 people.

"We are continuing our exchanges with the Lebanese and Israeli authorities to prevent the country from descending into chaos, secure a ceasefire, and continue the essential process of Hezbollah’s disarmament," Barrot said.

Lebanon's Health Ministry reported two deaths resulting from Israeli airstrikes with the victims being paramedics, six were injured in a seperate air strike by Israel as per National News Agency.

The ministry alleged that Israel had deliberately and systematically targeted ambulance teams

Lebanon's parliament postponed parliamentary elections (initially scheduled for May) by two years amid Israel's war with the Hezbollah militant group backed by Iran.

Russia's president Vladimir Putin congratulated Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khameini, the son of Ali Khameini who was assasinated in missile strikes by US and Israel forces.

"I am confident that you will honorably continue your father's work and rally the Iranian people in the face of severe challenges," Putin said in a statment cited by Russian state-controlled news outlet RT's India branch.

"I would like to reaffirm our unwavering support for Tehran and our solidarity with our Iranian friends," he added.

Iran alleged that European countries, including France are responsible for creating the conditions that lead to the the US and Israel launching strikes against Iran and starting the war as per an 'X' post by Al Jazeera.

Iran accuses European countries, including France, of helping create the conditions that led to US and Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic and triggered a war. pic.twitter.com/Drm6XPiWSx

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) March 9, 2026

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokerperson Esmaeil Baghaei alleged that the US seeks to splinter Iran and assume control of its oil resources in his address.

Their design is clear, their enterprise is quite obvious – they aim at partitioning our country to take illegal possession of our oil riches,” he said in a statement cited by Al Jazeera.

“Their objective is to violate our sovereignty, defeat our people and undermine our humanity," he added.

Magen David Adom is Israel's national emergency service reported one dead and two injured from an attack in Yehud, Israel.

The RBI's Monetary Policy Report (Oct 2025) states that a 10% increase in crude oil prices could lead to a 30 basis point rise in inflation, assuming full pass-through to domestic prices. However, the medium-term impact depends on factors like exchange rate movements, global demand and supply, monetary policy, and general inflation levels.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that India's inflation is near the lower bound, so the impact of global crude price rises isn't expected to be substantial. The government has taken measures to control inflation, including fiscal and trade policies.
 

On the impact of rising global crude oil prices, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the parliament said, "The price of both global crude oil and the Indian basket has been on a declining trajectory for the past one year, till the geo-political clashes commenced in West Asia on Feb 28, 2026. Between the end of February and uptil March 2, 2026 the crude oil FOB Price (Indian Basket) rose from $ 69.01/barrel to $ 80.16/barrel."

"Given that India's inflation is near the lower bound, the impact on inflation is not estimated to be substantial at this point," said the FM.

Oil prices spiked near $120 per barrel before falling back later in the day. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, surged to $119.50 per barrel early in the day but later was trading at $107.80 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate spiked at $119.48 per barrel but fell back to $103 per barrel.

Surging oil prices triggered by the war with Iran are rippling across African economies, threatening higher fuel costs, rising inflation and renewed pressure on currencies across the continent.

Africa imports most of the petroleum products it consumes, leaving many economies highly vulnerable to supply disruptions tied to tensions in the Middle East, a region central to global oil flows.
 

(Source: PTI)

The US-Iran war has killed at least 1,255 people in Iran, reported NDTV.
 

The human rights group Human Rights Watch said in a report that the Israeli military 'unlawfully' hit a village in southern Lebanon with shells containing white phosphorus which is considered to be a controversial incendiary munition.

Through geolocating and verifying seven images, Human Rights Watch said Israel fired white phosphorus using artillery at residential areas in the southern Lebanese village of Yohmor. It happened hours after the Israeli military warned the residents of the village and dozens of others in southern Lebanon to evacuate.

Human rights advocates say the use of white phosphorus is illegal under international law when the white-hot chemical substance is fired into populated areas. It can set buildings on fire and burn human flesh down to the bone. Survivors are at risk of infections and organ or respiratory failure, even if their burns are small.

(Source: PTI)
 

After Qatar and Bahrain, Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran's actions. Describing the attack as 'heinous', Saudi Arabia warns that Iran would be the greatest loser if attacks continue.

#BREAKING | Saudi Arabia downs 4 Iranian drones

NDTV's @tejshreethought reports pic.twitter.com/0us0hhJMAS

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 9, 2026

Iran has launched a massive missile strike on Israel, marking its first attack under the new leadership of Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father Ali Khamenei as the country's Supreme Leader.

#BREAKING | Iran rains missiles on Israel, first Iranian attack after the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader

NDTV's @VishalV054 reports pic.twitter.com/A5gmFpElNo

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 9, 2026

Bahrain's state oil company declared force majeure on Monday for its shipments after an Iranian attack set its refinery ablaze. The state-run Bahrain News Agency carried the announcement of the force majeure, a legal manoeuvre that releases a company from its contractual obligations because of extraordinary circumstances.

It said the company's operations "have been affected by the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and the recent attack on its refinery complex." It insisted that local demand could still be met.

(Source: PTI)

S Jaishankar said that India has also maintained diplomatic contact with the US and Iran, and he himself spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Feb 28 and March 5.

"While attempts have been made, contacts with Iran at the leadership level are obviously difficult at this time. I have, however, spoken to (Iranian) Foreign Minister Araqi on February 28 and March 5, 2026. We will continue these high-level conversations in the coming days," he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs has also set up a dedicated control room to monitor the situation and respond to requests from Indian nationals, while the Directorate General of Shipping has created a quick response team to assist Indian seafarers.

Jaishankar said the Indian government has remained in close contact with regional leaders, with Prime Minister Modi speaking to the leaders of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and Israel, all of whom assured the safety of the Indian community.

Jaishankar said the government had issued a series of travel advisories since January, urging Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran and advising those already there to remain in contact with the Indian embassy and follow safety precautions.

He said Indian diplomatic missions have assisted citizens with relocation and evacuation efforts, including helping some Indian nationals travel to neighbouring countries such as Armenia for onward return to India.

According to the minister, nearly 67,000 Indian nationals have returned from the region so far as the government facilitated additional commercial flights and other travel arrangements amid partial airspace openings.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the Cabinet Committee on Security met on March 1 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reviewed the situation, including implications for regional security, economic activity and the safety of the large Indian community in the Gulf.

He noted that nearly one crore Indians live and work in Gulf countries, while few thousand are in Iran for study or employment, making regional stability critical for India. The Gulf is also central to India's energy security and trade, accounting for nearly $ 200 billion in commerce, he said.

The minister said attacks on merchant shipping have affected Indian seafarers, with casualties reported and one Indian mariner still missing.
 

Iran's recent retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf states have sparked a diplomatic backlash, with Gulf nations condemning the attacks as "reckless" and "dangerous acts of aggression".

Iran Faces Diplomatic Backlash From Gulf Nations Amid Rising Tensions pic.twitter.com/IUAN85yK40

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 9, 2026

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi signed the Condolence Book and offered condolences to Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Israeli and US attacks.

#WATCH | Delhi: BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi signed the Condolence Book and offered condolences to Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in Israeli and US attacks. pic.twitter.com/3B9vLolOH0

— ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2026

Iran is launching missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of its retaliatory strikes amid escalating tensions with the US and Israel.

The Ministry of Defense confirmed that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions. UAE government said that their air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran and asserted that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones.
 

G7 countries consider joint release of up to 400 million barrels of oil from reserves as prices surge, reports Brics News.

On the spike in energy prices following the conflict that broke out when the US and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran reiterated by attacking US bases in the neighbouring regions as well as Israel,  External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the government remains committed to ensuring energy security that fully takes into account availability, costs, and risks of energy markets.

"For us, the interest of Indian consumers has and will always be in the overriding priority. Where required, Indian diplomacy has supported the endeavours of our energy enterprises in this volatile situation," he said.
 

On the conflict situation in West Asia, Minister of External Affairs of India S Jaishankar said," The Indian Embassy has facilitated the relocation of several Indian students in Tehran to places outside. Indian nationals in Iran on business were facilitated to cross over to Armenia to return to India. Our Embassy in Tehran remains fully operational and on high alert. We are committed to supporting the Indian community at this time..."

On the situation in Middle East, Minister of External Affairs of India S Jaishankar says," This ongoing conflict is of particular concern to India. We are a neighbouring region, and have obvious stakes that Middle East remains stable. There are one crore Indians who live and work in the Gulf nations. In Iran, too, there are a few thousand Indians for study or employment. The region is key to our energy security and includes many important suppliers of oil and gas....Serious supply chain disruptions and a climate of instability are serious issues."

"The conflict has continued to intensify, and the security situation in the region has deteriorated significantly. The conflict has spread to other countries with mounting destruction. Normal life and activities in are visibly affected," he said ikn Rajya Sabha.
 

On Middle East crisis,Minister of External Affairs of India S Jaishankar spoke in Parliament saying Indian government has expressed its 'deep concern'.

"Developments in West Asia deep cause for concern for all of us. We continue to believe dialogue and discussion should be used to resolve all issues," says Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha.  

Jaishankar added that the PM is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East.

Bangladesh announces closure of all universities as part of emergency measures to conserve fuel amid a worsening energy crisis linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that it is is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and as per the current status, Indian carriers are planning 50 flights for March 9, 2026.

• Passenger movement data for March 7, 2026 shows that a total of 51 inbound flights operated by Indian carriers arrived in India from the region carrying 8,175 passengers.
• Passenger movement data for March 8, 2026 shows Indian carriers - Air India. Air India Express, Indigo, Spicejet and Akasa planning 49 inbound flights from airports in the region such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat and Jeddah subject to operational feasibility and prevailing conditions.

Oman Air said that they have committed to supporting its passengers during this challenging time. The airline carrier said that they have operated nearly 80 additional flights over the past week, which helped secure the return of more than 97,000 passengers to their homes.

"Despite the temporary impact on a limited number of our regional destinations due to the closure of some airspaces, the vast majority of our international network—which spans Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa—is operating according to its usual schedule," the airline wrote.

يؤكد الطيران العُماني التزامه التام بدعم المسافرين خلال هذه الفترة الاستثنائية؛ حيث سيّر الناقل خلال الأسبوع الماضي ما يقارب من 80 رحلة إضافية، ساهمت في تأمين عودة أكثر من 97,000 مسافر إلى ديارهم.

وعلى الرغم من التأثر المؤقت لعدد محدود من وجهاتنا الإقليمية نتيجة إغلاق بعض… pic.twitter.com/oN38BX6qpa

— Oman Air (@omanair) March 9, 2026

Bahrain activates alarm siren. The government has urged citizens and residents to remain calm, head to the nearest safe location, and follow updates through official channels.
 

The UAE's air defenses are engaging with incoming missile and drone threats originating from Iran. The Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in scattered areas across the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions.

UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.

MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones.
 

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns Iran's recent attacks on the Kingdom, GCC states, and other countries. 

In a post on X, the Ministry wrote, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs renews the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's categorical condemnation of the reprehensible Iranian aggressions against the Kingdom, the Gulf Cooperation Council states, a number of Arab and Islamic countries, and friendly nations, which cannot be accepted or justified under any circumstances. The Kingdom affirms its full right to take all measures that ensure the protection of its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents, and to deter aggression." [sic]

#بيان | تجدد وزارة الخارجية إدانة المملكة العربية السعودية القاطعة للاعتداءات الإيرانية الآثمة ضد المملكة ودول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية وعددٍ من الدول العربية والإسلامية والصديقة، والتي لا يمكن قبولها أو تبريرها بأي حال. وتؤكد المملكة احتفاظها بحقها الكامل في اتخاذ جميع… pic.twitter.com/jC1H4Jh8lP

— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) March 9, 2026

Iran's military, led by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army, has launched retaliatory strikes against the US and Israel as part of "Operation True Promise 4". This follows Tehran's claims of unprovoked aggression by a US-Israeli coalition against Iran. The IRGC has reportedly targeted Israeli military infrastructure in Haifa and US personnel locations using solid-fuel missiles and drones.

The operation involves integrated drone and missile strikes, with the IRGC claiming to have used newly developed solid-fuel missile technology. Iran's actions are in response to what it sees as US-Israeli aggression, with reports of strikes on Iranian military fuel depots in Tehran by Israel.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi congratulated Iran's new Supreme Leader in a post on X.

"Congratulations on the worthy selection of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, coinciding with the first blessed night of Qadr...," he wrote.

"We pledge that, in defense of the rights of the great Iranian nation, the advancement of national interests and security, and the realisation of the lofty goals of the Islamic Revolution, we shall not falter for a moment," Araghchi added.

پیام تبریک به مناسبت انتخاب شایسته حضرت آیه‌الله سید مجتبی حسینی خامنه‌ای به‌عنوان سومین رهبر معظم انقلاب اسلامی، همزمان با اولین شب پر برکت قدر...
عهد می بندیم برای دفاع از حقوق ملت بزرگ ایران، پیشبرد منافع و امنیت ملی، و تحقق اهداف عالیه انقلاب اسلامی لحظه ای از پا ننشینیم. pic.twitter.com/SPxAYbYieu

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 9, 2026

In a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump wrote, "Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!President DJT." [sic]

The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia informed that there has been no Indian fatality in the unfortunate incident at Al Kharj on Sunday evening and that the embassy is in touch with the concerned Saudi authorities regarding this issue.

Counsellor (CW) Shri Y. Sabir visited Al Kharj on Sunday night and met the injured Indian national involved in the incident. He is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital in Al Kharj.

Fresh missile alerts were heard in Tel Aviv on March 9, 2026, amid day 10 of the Israel-Iran conflict, reported NDTV.

#BREAKING | Fresh missile alert sounded in Israel's Tel Aviv

NDTV's @AdityaRajKaul reports pic.twitter.com/LetxoJbRLR

— NDTV (@ndtv) March 9, 2026

Iran's football team lost its last group match at the Women's Asian Cup on Sunday and had to contemplate returning home to a country embroiled in war.

The Iranian women's squad arrived in Australia for the continental championship last month, before the war that began with the US-Israel February 28 strikes on Iran. Teams ousted during the group stage usually leave within days but organisers have not announced details for the departure of the Iran delegation.

Australia's national news agency quoted Iran's head coach Marziyeh Jafari saying the squad "want to come back to Iran as soon as we can".

Bahrain accused Iran of indiscriminately attacking civilian targets and damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online.

Desalination plants supply water to millions of residents in the region and thousands of stranded travellers, raising new fears of catastrophic risks in parched desert nations.

The strike came after Iran said a US airstrike damaged a desalination plant there. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strike on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had cut into the water supply to 30 villages.

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian regarding security of Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris and their return to France, who are currently inside the French embassy. He also emphasised an immediate cessation of Iran's attacks against countries in the region.

"Iran must also ensure freedom of navigation by ending the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz," wrote Macron in a post on X

با رئیس‌جمهور ایران، مسعود پزشکیان، صحبت کردم.

به او گفتم که امنیت سیسیل کوهلر و ژاک پاریس و بازگشت آنان به فرانسه، که در حال حاضر در داخل سفارت فرانسه هستند، همچنان برای ما در اولویت مطلق قرار دارد.

همچنین بر ضرورت توقف فوری حملات ایران علیه کشورهای منطقه تأکید کردم.…

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 8, 2026

Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a statement expressing support. Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, speaking to state TV, praised the Assembly of Experts for "courageously" convening even as airstrikes continued in Tehran. He said the younger Khamenei had been trained by his father and "can handle this situation".

The selection of Khamenei faces the likelihood of US criticism. "Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me," US President Donald Trump has said. "We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump told ABC News on Sunday he wants a say in who comes to power once the war is over; a new leader "is not going to last long" without his approval.
 

56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei now stands at the heart of Iran's theocracy and will have final say over all matters of state. He will serve as commander-in-chief of the military and powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He also has authority over a stockpile of highly-enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear weapon, if he chooses to decree it.

Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late supreme leader, has been named his successor. His appointment came after signs of a rift among Iranian officials as the country awaited a decision by the Assembly of Experts, a group of clerics that selects the supreme leader.

State TV read a statement from the assembly, saying he was selected based on "strong" votes and urging the nation to unite behind him. The station broadcast scenes of people celebrating in parts of Tehran.