Intelligence feed

Events

Showing 761–780 of 1559 events tracked across the Iran conflict

2026-03-20

20 events

Iraq declares force majeure on foreign oilfields — Hormuz disruption; exports reach zero by Day 23

Iraq declared force majeure on all oilfields developed by foreign oil companies after Strait of Hormuz disruptions halted crude exports via Basra. Iraq's 3.4 million barrels per day southern export capacity is effectively offline. By Day 23 (March 22), Iraq's Oil Ministry declared a state of emergency as crude inventories reached maximum capacity and exports reached zero, with the country unable to ship oil through Hormuz. International oil companies instructed to reduce production. Argus Media confirmed the near-complete halt in transit. Iraq loses approximately $300-400 million per day in oil revenues.

Basra, Iraq (Southern Iraq oilfields)

HIGHMILITARY·18:00 UTCVERIFIED

USS Tripoli group with 2,000+ Marines departing Japan — expected in Gulf soon

In addition to the USS Boxer MEU departing San Diego, the USS Tripoli group carrying more than 2,000 Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit is transiting from Japan and expected to arrive in the Gulf soon, two US officials confirmed to NPR. CENTCOM would not comment on the deployment or its mission. The Tripoli arrival would substantially augment the US amphibious force posture in the region.

Western Pacific / Persian Gulf transit

STANDARDINTELLIGENCE·18:00 UTCVERIFIED

FBI/DOJ seize 4 Handala Hack Team domains; Iran-linked unit restores site within hours

The FBI and Department of Justice seized four internet domains used by Handala Hack Team, an Iranian MOIS-linked hacking unit that claimed a March 11 destructive malware attack on US medical device maker Stryker. Within hours, Handala restored its website on a new domain, calling the seizures "desperate attempts to silence" it. Experts noted Iranian cyber actors routinely survive domain takedowns and rebuilds are trivial.

United States / Iran (cyber)

HIGHPOLITICAL·17:30 UTCVERIFIED

Trump calls NATO 'cowards' for refusing to help open Hormuz; says war on Iran militarily won

US President Trump posted on social media calling NATO allies 'cowards' for not wanting to help open the Strait of Hormuz, while declaring that the fight against a nuclear-armed Iran is 'Militarily WON.' Trump: 'Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn't want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran. Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices.'

Washington DC, United States

CRITICALMILITARY·17:30 UTCVERIFIED

UK authorizes US to use British military bases for strikes on Iranian missile sites attacking Hormuz shipping

The British government formally authorized the United States to use UK military bases to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. A Downing Street statement confirmed: 'The agreement for the US to use UK bases in the collective self-defence of the region includes US defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.' British ministers met to discuss the Iran war and Hormuz blockade earlier today.

Downing Street, London; RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus

HIGHHUMANITARIAN·16:30 UTC

British couple detained in Iran used as 'human shields' at Evin prison near strike zones, family says

The family of British nationals Lindsay and Craig Foreman — sentenced to 10 years in Iran for alleged espionage — say the couple is being used as 'effective human shields' during the US-Israel war. A blast near Evin prison in Tehran blew out window panels in Craig's ward and caused plaster to fall on inmates. Their son described the couple living 'under a drone of drones — the constant, maddening buzz of 600 machines in the sky,' sharing cells with rats and cockroaches on metal bunks.

Evin Prison, Tehran, Iran

CRITICALMILITARY·16:00 UTCVERIFIED

Trump weighing Kharg Island occupation or blockade to force Iran to reopen Hormuz — Axios/4 officials

The White House officially stated the US military 'can take out Kharg Island at any time if the President gives the order,' after Axios reported Trump was weighing an occupation or blockade. White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly added: 'President Trump knew full well that Iran would try to stop freedom of navigation and free flow of energy, and he has already taken action to destroy over 40 minelaying vessels.' The Trump administration's rationale: a Kharg Island takeover would 'catch Iran by the balls' and lead to capitulation. No final decision made, but the public posture is now explicit.

Kharg Island, Iran (Persian Gulf)

HIGHMILITARY·15:00 UTCVERIFIED

NATO fully evacuates Iraq mission — all personnel relocated to Europe, mission continues from Naples

NATO's Iraq mission has completed the relocation of all its personnel from the Middle East to Europe, SACEUR Gen. Alexus Grynkewich announced. NATO Mission Iraq will now operate from Joint Force Command Naples. The advisory mission — which trains Iraqi security forces and is not combat-involved — follows Poland's earlier withdrawal. The complete NATO personnel exit from Iraq reflects the alliance's assessment that the Iran war has made Iraq untenable for Western military presence.

Iraq / JFC Naples, Italy

HIGHPOLITICAL·14:45 UTCVERIFIED

Mojtaba Khamenei issues Nowruz statement — denies Iran attacked Turkey or Oman, marks Persian New Year

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written statement marking the Persian New Year (Nowruz) — the second significant public statement of his tenure. He specifically denied that Iran has attacked Turkey or Oman. The denials suggest Iran has received diplomatic complaints or accusations from those countries about Iranian strikes or stray missile impacts, and Mojtaba is managing relationships with Turkey and Oman — both of which have served as potential back-channel intermediaries.

Tehran, Iran

HIGHMILITARY·14:30 UTCVERIFIED

IRGC Quds Force chief Qaani breaks silence with first statement since war — praises 'resistance front'

IRGC Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani issued his first written statement since the war's outbreak, praising Tehran's 'resistance front' regional allies for 'fighting the US and Israel.' Qaani had been silent since Israel killed Supreme Leader Khamenei on February 28 — likely maintaining operational silence to avoid targeting. His emergence on Day 21 signals the Quds Force proxy network remains active and is being rallied.

Tehran, Iran

CRITICALMILITARY·14:00 UTCVERIFIED

Iranian missile debris strikes Jerusalem Old City Jewish Quarter — 400m from Western Wall and Al-Aqsa

A fragment from an intercepted Iranian ballistic missile struck a parking lot in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City — approximately 400 meters from the Western Wall and the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the Temple Mount. The IDF confirmed the missile was intercepted and debris fell, causing property damage. No casualties reported. Footage captured the moment of impact. The strike places Iranian missile debris within the most religiously sensitive site in the world, shared by Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

Jewish Quarter, Old City Jerusalem, Israel

HIGHMILITARY·14:00 UTCVERIFIED

US deploys thousands more Marines to Middle East — USS Boxer MEU departs West Coast 3 weeks early

The United States military is deploying thousands of additional Marines and Sailors to the Middle East, three US officials told Reuters. USS Boxer (LHD-4), an amphibious assault ship, along with a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU, ~2,200 Marines) are departing the US West Coast approximately 3 weeks ahead of their scheduled deployment — a significant force reinforcement signal amid the Iran war.

Pacific Ocean / Middle East (USS Boxer, West Coast departure)

HIGHECONOMIC·14:00 UTCVERIFIED

Dubai property market crashes — 37-49% transaction volume drop, 12-15% price cuts as war shatters safe-haven status

Dubai's real estate market is showing significant early signs of collapse: transaction volumes fell 37% year-on-year and 49% month-on-month in the first 12 days of March, Goldman Sachs estimated. Properties near the Burj Khalifa are being offered at 12% discounts; Palm Jumeirah flats at 15% below asking. Iran's strikes on the UAE, Gulf attacks, and the ongoing war have shattered Dubai's image as a safe haven for global wealth.

Dubai, UAE

HIGHECONOMIC·13:30 UTCVERIFIED

Fed Governor Waller changes rate-cut stance due to Iran war — Hormuz closure makes inflation primary concern

US Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller — who had backed interest rate cuts over labor market concerns since 2025 — said he reversed his stance on the pace of rate cuts due to the Iran war and Hormuz closure. 'This is looking like it's going to be a much more protracted conflict, and oil prices are going to stay high for a longer time,' Waller told CNBC. He backs the Fed's decision to hold rates steady but says he is not yet in favor of rate hikes.

Washington D.C., USA

HIGHMILITARY·13:30 UTCVERIFIED

Poland evacuates military contingent from Iraq citing deteriorating Middle East security

Poland has evacuated its military contingent from Iraq due to the 'deteriorating security situation in the Middle East region,' Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz announced. Following 'an analysis of operational conditions and potential threats,' Poland decided to relocate its forces. Poland joins other NATO partners reconsidering regional military presence as the Iran war escalates.

Iraq

HIGHECONOMIC·13:00 UTCVERIFIED

Hormuz crude tanker transit halted — zero crude voyages in 24 hours; Indian LNG tankers anchored

No crude oil tankers have transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, shipping data shows. Two Indian-flagged LNG tankers are anchored in Gulf waters and preparing to test the passage in coming days after pausing voyages. One sanctioned empty crude tanker was tracked returning toward Iranian waters. The de facto crude halt is a direct consequence of Iranian threats against Hormuz shipping and has driven crude prices to multi-year highs.

Strait of Hormuz

CRITICALINTELLIGENCE·12:30 UTCVERIFIED

Iran threatens Israeli and US officials globally: 'Tourist attractions, resorts, entertainment centers will not be safe for you'

A statement attributed to the Iranian military threatened American and Israeli military personnel and officials directly, warning that Iran had information on them and that 'tourist attractions, resorts, and entertainment centers around the world will not be safe for you.' The threat signals Iran is considering targeted assassinations and attacks against officials at civilian venues globally — a significant expansion of the conflict's potential reach beyond the Middle East.

Tehran, Iran (global threat)

CRITICALDIPLOMATIC·12:00 UTCVERIFIED

Trump rebukes Netanyahu over South Pars gas field strike; Israel agrees to halt Iranian energy site attacks

US President Trump publicly rebuked Israeli PM Netanyahu over Israel's strike on Iran's South Pars gas field, which triggered Iranian retaliatory strikes on Gulf energy assets and sent oil markets surging. Trump told reporters: "I told him don't do that" and said Netanyahu "won't do that again." Netanyahu subsequently agreed Israel would halt strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure. The episode reveals a significant US-Israel strategic divergence on targeting — the US wants to avoid further oil price shocks.

Washington DC / Jerusalem

STANDARDDIPLOMATIC·12:00 UTCVERIFIED

France FM Barrot meets Israel FM Sa'ar in Jerusalem — warns against Lebanon ground op, urges Hezbollah designation

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met Israeli FM Gideon Sa'ar in Jerusalem on Day 21, outlining France's reservations about a possible Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon. Sa'ar told Barrot that Israel 'will act decisively against all those who seek its elimination' and called on France and the EU to designate all of Hezbollah — not just its military wing — as a terrorist organization. Barrot said there is 'no obvious short-term way out' of the escalation.

Jerusalem, Israel

HIGHMILITARY·11:30 UTCVERIFIED

Ukraine deploys anti-drone military units to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan

Ukraine has deployed 228 drone defense specialists to five Middle Eastern countries — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan — to protect critical and civilian infrastructure against Iranian drone attacks. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy confirmed the precise 228-specialist figure and said Kyiv is working to sign "serious agreements" with Middle Eastern leaders. Ukraine also announced that Ukrainian-US working groups would discuss a wide-ranging drone deal at a Washington meeting this weekend. NSDC secretary Umerov had announced the deployments after visiting all five countries.

UAE; Saudi Arabia; Qatar; Kuwait; Jordan