World news – War Watch

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Middle East crisis live: Trump considering ‘winding down’ war as US eases sanctions on Iranian oil; Israel launches retaliatory strikes
ByAdam Fulton March 21, 2026

Move to allow shipments already at sea comes amid a supply crisis and after US president says he does not ‘want to do a ceasefire’; IDF says it is attacking regime targets in Tehran after missiles fired at Israel from IranUS to send three more warships…

Read More Middle East crisis live: Trump considering ‘winding down’ war as US eases sanctions on Iranian oil; Israel launches retaliatory strikes
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Hezbollah | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lebanon | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Strait of Hormuz | Trump administration | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran and Beirut – as it happened
By March 21, 2026March 21, 2026

This blog is now closed – our live coverage of the US-Israel war on Iran continues in a new blog hereKuwait’s state oil firm KPC said its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was hit by multiple drone attacks early on Friday, causing a fire in some units, with no i…

Read More Israel launches fresh strikes on Tehran and Beirut – as it happened
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Business | Commodities | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Oil | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Trump administration | US foreign policy | US news | US politics | World news

US lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea in bid to ease supply pressures
ByGuardian staff and agencies March 21, 2026

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent says move will bring 140m barrels to market but insists Tehran will not benefitThe Trump administration has issued a 30-day sanctions waiver for the purchase of Iranian oil at sea to ease energy supply pressures since t…

Read More US lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea in bid to ease supply pressures
Art and design | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Culture | Donald Trump | Europe | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Photography | US news | World news

The week around the world in 20 pictures
ByJim Powell March 20, 2026

Crisis in the Middle East, a sandstorm in Gaza, a blackout in Havana and the Oscars – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Continue reading…

Read More The week around the world in 20 pictures
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | US foreign policy | US military | US news | World news

Ella Baron on Trump and interrupted shipping – cartoon
ByElla Baron March 20, 2026

Continue reading…

Read More Ella Baron on Trump and interrupted shipping – cartoon
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Dubai | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Oman | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Saudi Arabia | United Arab Emirates | US foreign policy | US news | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

‘Not our war’: Gulf states weigh up options as existential threat from Iran conflict grows
ByHannah Ellis-Petersen in Dubai March 20, 2026

Arab states have so far only acted defensively, but there is growing fear war is entering new, more dangerous phaseMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe boom reverberated so loudly over Dubai marina that the windows of the surrounding skyscrapers and ex…

Read More ‘Not our war’: Gulf states weigh up options as existential threat from Iran conflict grows
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kurds | Lebanon | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Photography | Protest | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

Moments amid the chaos of war in the Middle East – in pictures
ByGuardian staff March 20, 2026

Since the conflict broke out in the middle east at the end of February, everyday life has been upended for thousands of ordinary people in the region. Amidst the devastation and threat to life, people find moments to grieve, children play, protesters s…

Read More Moments amid the chaos of war in the Middle East – in pictures
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Business | Commodities | Donald Trump | Energy industry | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Oil | Oil and gas companies | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | US news | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

US preparing to send three more warships and thousands more troops to Middle East
ByPeter Beaumont Senior international correspondent March 20, 2026March 20, 2026

Move comes as Donald Trump calls Nato allies ‘cowards’ for not wanting to ‘help open’ strait of HormuzMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe US is reportedly preparing to send three more warships and thousands more troops to the Middle East, as Donald Tr…

Read More US preparing to send three more warships and thousands more troops to Middle East
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Pete Hegseth | Petrol prices | US military | US news | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

Father of killed US military member disputes Hegseth’s claim he said to ‘finish’ the job in Iran
ByRichard Luscombe March 20, 2026

Defense secretary had said relatives of service members killed in refueling tanker crash told him ‘do not stop until the job is done’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe father of a US military member killed …

Read More Father of killed US military member disputes Hegseth’s claim he said to ‘finish’ the job in Iran
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestine | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | US foreign policy | US news | US-Israel war on Iran | World news

The war in Iran is ripping up the Gulf’s plan for stability | Sanam Vakil
BySanam Vakil March 20, 2026

As missiles fall from the sky and energy infrastructure is targeted, the limitations of relying on the US for protection are becoming all too obviousFor more than two weeks, missiles and drones have been crossing the skies of the Gulf, as a war many in…

Read More The war in Iran is ripping up the Gulf’s plan for stability | Sanam Vakil