Washington/Tehran, March 3 The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran intensified on Tuesday, with US President Donald Trump declaring that Tehran’s request for negotiations had come “too late” as military operations continue across the region.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Iran’s leadership and key military assets were “gone,” and warned that a “big wave” of strikes was yet to come. “We haven’t even started hitting them hard,” he said in a separate interview, signaling further escalation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the strikes were intended to neutralize threats posed by Iran and to protect American forces in the region. He described the action as pre-emptive, citing intelligence that retaliation against US assets was imminent.
Iran continued retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US military bases across the Middle East. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had carried out a new wave of strikes against US targets in the region.
In Lebanon, Israeli strikes hit Hezbollah-linked areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs, triggering large-scale displacement. Schools in parts of Beirut remained closed as thousands sought shelter.
The conflict has also spilled into the Gulf. Drone attacks targeted energy facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman, disrupting oil and gas operations and sending global energy prices sharply higher. Iran has warned against transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies.
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh suspended services after a reported drone incident, while several countries, including India, issued advisories urging their citizens in the region to remain cautious.
Iranian state media reported rising casualties following U.S. and Israeli strikes, including damage in Fars province and at the Natanz uranium-enrichment facility, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which said no radiological impact was detected.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an investigation into a strike on a girls’ school in the city of Minab that reportedly killed dozens.
In Washington, the conflict has triggered sharp political divisions. Republicans largely back the administration’s actions, citing national security concerns, while Democrats argue the strikes lack congressional authorization and risk broader war.
European officials, meanwhile, have voiced concern about being sidelined diplomatically as the crisis unfolds. The European Central Bank warned that prolonged disruption to Middle East energy supplies could trigger inflationary pressures and economic slowdown in the eurozone.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he does not expect the war to last “years,” but regional tensions continue to mount, with missile interceptions reported in Israel and Gulf states.
As both sides signal readiness for further action, global markets and governments remain on edge, bracing for the potential expansion of a conflict that is increasingly reshaping the Middle East security landscape.. .