Trump says U.S. advantages from excessive oil costs; Iran, Israel proceed to change hearth

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (March 12, 2026) performed down the influence of rising oil costs on the American economic system and vowed to press forward with the warfare, saying he would cease Iran “from having nuclear weapons”, whilst U.S. and Israeli forces continued air strikes in Iran and Tehran retaliated with missile and drone assaults throughout the area.

Additionally learn: West Asia warfare updates on March 12, 2026

“The USA is the biggest Oil Producer within the World, by far, so when oil costs go up, we make some huge cash. However, of far larger curiosity and significance to me, as President, is stopping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Center East and, certainly, the World,” Mr. Trump wrote in a social media put up.

Mr. Trump had earlier mentioned to hit “Iran more durable 20 instances extra” if the move of oil by the Strait of Hormuz is blocked. He additionally threatened to assault Iran’s electrical energy grid. The Strait of Hormuz stays successfully closed.

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Nationwide Safety Council, responded to Mr. Trump on Wednesday (March 11, 2026), saying if Iran’s electrical energy grid is focused, “the entire area will go darkish”.

“Trump has mentioned “we are able to take aside Iran’s electrical capability inside one hour, however we’ve not achieved it. Nicely, in the event that they try this, the entire area will go darkish in lower than half an hour and darkness offers ample alternative to search out US servicemen working for security,” Mr. Larijani, one of many prime officers accountable for working the nation, wrote in a social media put up.

Iran on Thursday (March 12, 2026) fired 5 salvos of missiles at Israel, Israeli officers mentioned. Two tankers got here beneath assault close to Iraq within the Gulf waters, with Iraqi authorities saying not less than one crew member was killed and 38 others have been rescued. Drones additionally hit gasoline tanks at Oman’s Salalah port, the place operations have been subsequently suspended.

In the meantime, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) mentioned it struck an Iranian nuclear facility the place Tehran had constructed “essential capabilities within the improvement of nuclear weapons”. The power was used for “the event of superior explosives and for conducting delicate experiments as a part of the AMAD Mission,” mentioned the IDF.

The IRGC mentioned in an announcement that Thursday’s wave of operations focused Tel Aviv and “occupied al-Quds” (Jerusalem) in addition to the bases of “American terrorist troopers” within the area.

The operation was executed by firing greater than 10 heavy and formidable Khorramshahr missiles with multiple-warhead capabilities, Qadr missiles with multiple-warhead capabilities, Kheybar Shekan missiles with one-ton warheads, Hypersonic Fattah missiles with one-ton warheads, and loitering drones,” it added.

In a separate assertion, the IRGC mentioned it had struck a gathering level of American forces on Sheikh Zayed Street and in addition Ahmed al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait utilizing the Fattah hypersonic missile.

Iran’s Military spokesman Brigadier Basic Akraminia, mentioned the destruction of sections of the U.S. radar infrastructure has considerably improved operational situations for Iranian forces. “With the elimination of a part of the enemy’s radar amenities at delicate centres, persevering with the operations has turn out to be simpler and we now have higher entry to essential and delicate factors,” he was quoted as saying by the state media.