PARIS: Iran claimed total control of the key energy transit Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the war’s fifth day, as Israel hit Iran with fresh strikes and advanced into Lebanon against Tehran-backed Hezbollah.
Here are the latest developments:
Khamenei funeral postponed
The funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that was due to take place on Wednesday evening has been postponed, state television announced, “in anticipation of unprecedented turnout”. A new date will be announced later, it said.
Iran ‘trying’ to appoint successor
Iran is “trying” to quickly appoint a successor to Khamenei as supreme leader, despite the ongoing US-Israeli bombardment, state TV reported.
“God willing, the leader will be appointed at the earliest opportunity. We are close, but the situation is a war situation,” said Ahmad Khatami, a member of the assembly responsible for selecting a new leader.
Guards claim control of Hormuz
The Revolutionary Guards said Iranian forces had “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for world oil and gas supplies, and any vessels seeking to pass risked damage from missiles or stray drones.
READ MORE: Hormuz shutdown could force Iraq, Kuwait to curb oil output within days, JP Morgan says
Trump said Tuesday the US Navy was ready to escort oil tankers through the crucial Gulf shipping route.
Israel enters Lebanon
The Israeli army entered the southern Lebanon town of Khiam, Lebanese state media reported on Wednesday, as part of a ground incursion against Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Israel’s expanded campaign of strikes in Lebanon killed at least 11 people, including in areas outside Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds, according to officials and state media.
READ MORE: Lebanon sucked deeper into war as Hezbollah, Israel trade blows
Hezbollah hits Israel
Hezbollah said it had targeted the headquarters of Israel Aerospace Industries, in central Israel, overnight with a drone attack and had also launched a missile at a drone control base.
READ MORE: Lebanon sucked deeper into war as Hezbollah, Israel trade blows
Drone targets Saudi oil
Saudi Arabia intercepted a drone attack targeting its massive Ras Tanura refinery, the defence ministry said, following an earlier hit on the complex this week.
UAE, Qatar intercept drones, missiles
The UAE’s ministry of defence said its air defences “successfully engaged today (March 4, 2025) with 3 ballistic missiles and detected 129 drones, of which 121 drones were intercepted while 8 fell on state territory”.
Qatar’s military said it was targeted “at dawn today, by 10 drones and 2 cruise missiles coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran,” with all of the projectiles intercepted by its forces.
Cosco halts Gulf shipping
Chinese shipping giant Cosco, which operates one of the world’s biggest oil tanker fleets, said it is suspending from Wednesday services to and from countries including the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.
More Israeli strikes in Tehran
The Israeli military said it had begun a fresh wave of strikes on Tehran, as an AFP journalist reported a fresh explosion in the northeast of the Iranian capital.
The army said it had struck “dozens” of targets, including security command centres in Tehran, and had shot down an Iranian fighter jet over the capital.
The military said it had struck overnight a facility “for the storage, production, and launch of ballistic missiles – including Ghadr missiles – in Isfahan in western Iran”.
Iran says ready for long haul
Iran has no intention of negotiating with the United States and can continue the war for “as long as we want”, Mohammad Mokhber, a senior aide to the late Ayatollah Khamenei, told state TV.
READ MORE: Qatar LNG, Saudi refinery, Israeli oil, gas fields down due to Mideast strikes
Iranian frigate sinks off Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka said an Iranian navy frigate with 180 crew sank just outside the island’s territorial waters after an explosion.
No information was immediately available on the cause.
Sri Lankan authorities said 32 “critically wounded” sailors had been rescued and “a few bodies” recovered after the sinking.
Spain PM hits back at Trump
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hit back at President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Madrid’s refusal to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran.
“No to war,” he said, a day after Trump threatened to sever all trade with Spain.
Stocks tumble
The Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock exchanges reopened sharply lower after a two-day trading suspension over Iran’s missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.
READ MORE: Stocks slide as Middle East conflict fans inflation fears
Stock markets across Asia were pummelled as panic-selling spread, with Seoul shares collapsing more than 12 percent. Oil rose.
Jordan withdraws diplomats
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that his country had evacuated all staff from its diplomatic mission in Tehran, with all staff now back in the country.