‘We have many surprises in store,’ says Iranian FM in a warning to US

TEHRAN: As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has mocked US ‘Operation Epic Fury,” warning President Donald Trump that Tehran still has “many surprises” in store.

“Nine days into Operation Epic Mistake, oil prices have doubled while all commodities are skyrocketing. We know the US is plotting against our oil and nuclear sites in hopes of containing huge inflationary shock,” he wrote in a post on X. “Iran is fully prepared. And we, too, have many surprises in store,” he added.

NATO intercepts second Iran missile in Turkish airspace: Ankara

Ankara on Monday said a second ballistic missile from Iran was shot down by NATO defence in Turkish airspace, as Washington urged all of its citizens to leave southeast Turkey over security concerns.

NATO confirmed the incident, the second in Turkish airspace in five days, and stressed its readiness "to defend all allies against any threat".

Since the US-Israeli attacks began on February 28, Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes across the Middle East in a bid to hit US assets.

So far, Turkey appears to have been spared, despite US troops being stationed at several of its bases, one of which is the Incirlik airbase which lies just outside the southern city of Adana.

Barely an hour later, Turkey's defence ministry confirmed another ballistic missile fired from Iran had been intercepted in Turkish airspace by NATO defence systems in the second such incident in five days.

"A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralised by NATO air and missile defence assets in the eastern Mediterranean," it said in a statement, which was also confirmed by the military alliance.

"NATO has again intercepted a missile heading to Turkiye. NATO stands firm in its readiness to defend all Allies against any threat," spokeswoman Allison Hart said on X, using Turkey's official name.

Incirlik air base is an important NATO facility that has been used by US troops for decades which is located just 10 kilometres outside Adana.

Some fragments from the weaponry fell in open territory in the Gaziantep area, about 200 kilometres east of Adana, causing no injuries, the ministry added.

"At around 11:30am (0830 GMT), a fragment of ballistic munition fell onto an empty area above the TOKI housing estate in the Guneysehir district of Gaziantep," the governor's office said, adding there was no damage.

Images from the scene appeared to show the missile fragment lying on the ground at a building site.

In a post on X, presidential communications chief Burhanettin Duran said Turkey would not hesitate to protect its airspace and border security. "We once again strongly reiterate our warning to all parties, particularly Iran, to refrain from actions that could endanger regional security and put civilians at risk," he wrote.

On March 4, NATO troops intercepted a Turkey-bound ballistic missile launched from Iran, prompting the alliance to strengthen its "ballistic missile defence posture".

Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said the missile was spotted by Spanish troops manning a Patriot missile battery, who are based at Incirlik.

They had "detected and reported the missile attack," though they were not the ones that shot it down, she said.

EU warns long Mideast war risks 'inflationary shock' to world economy

A long war in the Middle East could unleash a "substantial inflationary shock on the global and European economy", top European Union (EU) official Valdis Dombrovskis said on Monday.

"In a more benign scenario where the conflict is contained within a couple of weeks, one can expect that it would not have major effect on the global and European economy," the EU economy commissioner told reporters.

But he said if it became "more protracted" with continued maritime disruption and attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, it could result in an "inflationary shock" with higher energy prices.

Meanwhile, EU chiefs said the Union was ready to bolster its maritime operations in the Middle East to protect shipping routes after holding talks with regional leaders.

The EU has been discussing reinforcing its naval mission in the Red Sea after US-Israeli attacks on Iran triggered a broader regional war, causing maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to all but halt.

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen "expressed their openness to further tailor and enhance these operations in order to better respond to the situation", a statement read.

Putin offers 'unwavering support' to new Iran supreme leader

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday pledged "unwavering support" to Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed after his father and predecessor was killed in US-Israeli strikes.

"I would like to reaffirm our unwavering support for Tehran and solidarity with our Iranian friends," Putin said in a message to Khamenei, adding that "Russia has been and will remain a reliable partner" to Iran.

"At a time when Iran is confronting armed aggression, your tenure in this high position will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication," the Russian leader said.

Iran warns attacks on neighbours may be ‘staged’ to sow discord

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei denied that the country had initiated any offensive action against Turkiye, Cyprus, or Azerbaijan, saying "no offensives were initiated from Iranian territory" towards these countries.

He suggested some incidents may have been "staged," warning that "the enemy may stage certain attacks to drive a wedge between us and other countries."

The spokesperson emphasised Iran was "adamant to maintain good and friendly relations" but reserved the right to defend itself if other countries’ territories were used to launch attacks. "Our act of defence cannot be interpreted as an act of hostility towards any of these countries," he said.

Baghaei said ceasefire mediation efforts were "irrelevant" as long as military confrontations continued. "At this particular point, speaking of any matter other than defending our homeland is irrelevant," he added. "We did not initiate or start this war. It is not a war of choice. It is a war of necessity that was imposed on us."

He accused the US of "torpedo[ing]" diplomatic talks before its latest strikes and said US-Israeli actions put all international laws at risk, aiming to fragment Iran and seize its "oil riches."

Iranian Guards carry out offensive against US base in Kuwait

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corpse claims to have carried out an offensive against a US helicopter base in Kuwait with drones and cruise missiles, destroying several targets.

“An offensive operation was carried out against the US, striking the “Al-Udayri Helicopter Base” (Camp Buehring) in Kuwait with various drones and cruise missiles,” IRGC Navy said in a statement posted on its X handle for Operation True Promise launched in response to America’s Epic Fury.

Calling it a “highly significant operation,” the IRGC Navy said it foiled operational plans as it triggered panicked evacuation from the base.

“In this attack, 11 highly important targets at the base were hit by several missiles and drones,” it added. “Among the destroyed targets were the base’s fuel tanks, gas tanks, the American helicopters’ ramp, logistics and support facilities, and the base’s infrastructure installations.”

Iran security chief says Strait of Hormuz unsafe as long as war goes on

Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani says that security in the strategic Strait of Hormuz cannot be restored as long as the war with the United States and Israel continues, AFP reports.

“It is unlikely that any security can be achieved in the Strait of Hormuz amid the fires ignited by the United States and Israel in the region,” said Larijani in a post on X, after France said it and its allies were preparing a “defensive” mission to reopen the waterway.

UAE ‘will not partake in any attacks’ on Iran: ambassador

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decried that it is being targeted “in a very unwarranted manner” in the Middle East war, stressing it will “not partake in any attacks against Iran”, reports AFP.

“We’ve been very clear before and leading up to the current events we are witnessing in the region that as the UAE, we will not partake in any attacks against Iran from our territory, and that we will not be involved in such a conflict,” the UAE ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Jamal Al Musharakh told reporters.