Iran rejects Trump's ultimatum and launches new strikes as F-15 fighter jet crashes over Kuwait and explosions rock Dubai, Doha and Cyprus - live updates

Iran rejects Trump's ultimatum and launches new strikes as F-15 fighter jet crashes over Kuwait and explosions rock Dubai, Doha and Cyprus - live updates
By: dailymail Posted On: March 02, 2026 View: 137


Iran has rejected an ultimatum by Donald Trump and insisted it will never surrender as Tehran launches new strikes on Israel and Gulf states across the Middle East.

Last night Trump demanded Iranian leaders give up the fight after missiles rained down on Israel , Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE with American military bases targeted in the region.

But just hours later Iran's national security official Ali Larijani confirmed the country will not negotiate with the US before Tehran launched a wave of new attacks on Israel and the Gulf states.

Several warplanes have crashed in Kuwait after Iran confirmed an attack on the US Ali Al Salem air base and explosions have been heard in the Qatari capital Doha and Dubai while an RAF base in Cyprus was struck by a drone.

Meanwhile Israel launched strikes on Lebanon's capital Beirut after the militant group Hezbollah fired missiles across the border early on Monday.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least 31 people were killed in the strikes, which follow the US and Israel pounding targets across Iran on Sunday as part of an intensifying military campaign which followed the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Follow the latest updates of the US-Israel war with Iran 

Iran rejects Trump ultimatum and vows no surrender as Tehran launches new attacks

Iran has vowed it will never surrender as it rejected an ultimatum from Donald Trump to lay down its weapons.

Trump told Iran's leaders to give up the fight which has exploded across the Middle East, with missiles raining down on Israel, Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, and on American military bases in the region

But Iranian national security official Ali Larijani confirmed the country will not negotiate with the US.

His post on X referenced a Wall Street Journal report, citing US and Arab officials, said he had made a fresh attempt to resume nuclear talks with Washington.

Here's what you need to know as the US-Israeli war with Iran enters its third day:

Stick with us as we bring you the latest developments

Trump warns fighting could go on for 'next four weeks'

Donald Trump said the US-Israeli war with Iran could go on for the next four weeks after Iranian leaders dismissed his ultimatum to lay down weapons.

Yesterday, the President told the Daily Mail: 'It's always been a four-week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It's always been about a four-week process so - as strong as it is, it's a big country, it'll take four weeks - or less.'

Trump revealed that the US and Israel's attacks have taken out so many Iranian leaders that the succession line may lead to a surprise new leader.

'The attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates,' Trump told ABC. 'It's not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead. Second or third place is dead.'

The Ayatollah's death was confirmed on Saturday night.

Saudi Arabia intercepts drones in oil refinery attack

Saudi Arabia has said it has intercepted two drones that were launched during an attempted attack on an oil refinery in Ras Tanura.

A statement from the country's ministry of defense said the missiles were destroyed this morning with a 'limited fire' breaking out as a result of falling debris.

No injuries have been reported.

Authorities say 555 people killed in Iran since start of war

A total of 555 people have been killed across Iran in US and Israeli strikes that began two days ago, the Iranian Red Crescent said Monday.

'Following the Zionist-American terrorist attacks carried out in various regions of our country, 131 cities have been affected to date and, regrettably, 555 of our compatriots have been killed,' the humanitarian group said in a post on Telegram.

Iran confirms attack on US air base in Kuwait

Smoke rises from Kuwait City where the US embassy is based

Smoke rises from a reported Iranian strike in the area where the US Embassy is located in Kuwait City on March 2, 2026. Black smoke was seen rising from the US embassy in Kuwait City on March 2 after the latest volley of Iranian strikes, an AFP correspondent saw. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)

Iran's army has confirmed it targeted the American Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait as well as vessels in the Indian ocean in retaliation of US and Israeli strikes.

'Missile units of the army's ground and naval forces operating from various locations targeted the US Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait as well as enemy vessels in the northern Indian Ocean over the past hours,' the army said in a statement.

It added that '15 cruise missiles' were used in the attacks.

Several American warplanes crashed in Kuwait earlier today but their crew survived, Kuwait's defence ministry said

'Several US warplanes crashed this morning. Confirming that all crew members survived,' a defence ministry spokesman said in a statement, adding that the cause was under investigation.

'Authorities immediately initiated search and rescue operations, evacuating the crews and transporting them to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. He noted that their condition is stable,' the statement added.

UK confirms 300,000 citizens in Gulf countries targeted by Iran

epa12777934 British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper addresses delegates at a plenary meeting at Lancaster House in London, Britain, 26 February 2026. Britain's foreign secretary hosts her counterparts from the â¿¿Central Asian 5,' from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.  EPA/NEIL HALL / POOL

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said today there are around 300,000 British citizens in Gulf countries targeted by Iran, who have targeted hotels with their attack drones.

And 94,000 of those have already registered with the Foreign Office as Sir Keir Starmer and his ministers are understood to be drawing up contingency plans to evacuate them over land from the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar to Saudi Arabia.

British nationals are being told to register their location but stay put, for now.

Ms Cooper said:

We are setting up the support systems because as well as the 94,000 people who have been in touch when we set up the "register your presence" system, there's an estimated 300,000 British citizens in Gulf countries that have now been targeted by Iran, including countries where now airspace is closed as a result of those attacks.
That is, of course, extremely stressful for people who include holidaymakers and transit passengers at airports, people who have gone there for business trips, as well as those who live in the region as well.
So we're saying to people, the most important thing at the moment is to follow the local advice, which in most places is around sheltering in place, and we are sending out rapid deployment teams to the region to work with the travel industry, to work with local governments as well, to make sure that citizens can get support. Of course, we want people to get safely home as swiftly as possible.

How global shipping could be impacted by US-Israel war with Iran

Oil tankers operating in the Strait of Hormuz

FILE - Fishermen work in front of oil tankers south of the Strait of Hormuz Jan. 19, 2012, offshore the town of Ras Al Khaimah in United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)

The US-Israeli military operation against Iran and Tehran's retaliation are disrupting global maritime traffic, including oil tanker transports.

The grounding of ships around the Gulf and the paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical narrow waterway bordered by Iran and Oman, represent a significant upheaval for a wide range of sectors beyond hydrocarbons.

Here is how shipping could be impacted:

  • Fertilisers

About 33 percent of the world's fertilizers, including sulfur and ammonia, transit through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the trade analysis firm Kpler.

Loaded onto cargo ships in Qatar, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, these fertilizers have diverse destinations ranging from India and China to Brazil and African countries.

The conflict in the Middle East also threatens a major polymer export hub in the United Arab Emirates, according to an analysis published Monday by the consulting firm Argus Media.

The firm said the region produces up to 23 million tons of polyethylene - one of the most widely used plastics in the world - annually, representing 15 percent of global production.

The shipping conditions also disrupt the arrival of cargo to the Middle East, a region that relies in part on food imports.

Many transports pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

During a June 2015 US military operation in Iran, for example, entire shipments of rice destined for the region were blocked in India.

US embassy in Bahrain warn 'terrorist groups' are plotting attacks on American citizens

The US embassy in Bahrain has issued a chilling warning that 'terrorist groups' are planning to attack American citizens in the Gulf state.

In a statement, officials have warned Americans in the country to avoid hotels in Manama as they could be targeted.

It reads: 'Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Bahrain. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning'.

Breaking:'Several' US warplanes crash in Kuwait but crews survive, officials say

Several US warplanes have crashed in Kuwait but their crews have survived, according to officials.

Video shared on social media showed one US fighter jet crashing in Kuwait, with the plane on fire and an ejected pilot parachuting to the ground.

The crash today happened within 6.2miles of the US Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait, as the Kuwait Defence Ministry confirmed that several US warplanes crashed but their crew have survived.

The jet caught on video had twin engines consistent with an F-15E or F/A-18 fighter jet.

Map: All strikes by US/Israel and Iran as conflict enters third day

Here is our latest map showing all strikes carried out by US/Israel and Iran as the conflict continues to explode over the Middle East.

Explosions have been heard across the Gulf states and Cyprus with the violence fast spreading across the region.

Dubai is rocked by further explosions as trapped Brits await evacuation

Explosions have been reported across the UAE since the war broke out

Loud explosions were heard across the Gulf cities of Dubai, Doha and Manama on Monday as Tehran pressed into a third day of strikes against Gulf neighbours in response to US-Israeli strikes.

Blasts were also heard in Jerusalem, with the IDF saying defence systems were operating to intercept missiles.

This comes as Brits trapped in the UAE's most populous city are awaiting evacuation, after 94,000 British citizens vacationing in the hotspot registered their contact details with the foreign office.

A host of celebrities who have moved to Dubai have shared terrified updates after getting caught up in the air attacks.

Branding it the 'scariest, worst nights of our lives', many spoke of how scared they were hearing the constant bangs overhead, while sheltering in their homes as the strikes rage on across the UAE.

UK draws up overland rescue plan for 94,000 Britons trapped in Gulf states

Officials are planning to evacuate hundreds of thousands of Britons as fires raged across the Gulf last night.

After the US air strikes on Tehran, and Iran's suicide-drone revenge attacks on tourist hot-spots including Dubai, 94,000 British citizens have registered their contact details with the Foreign Office - many of them holiday-makers visiting the region or transiting through it.

It came as Keir Starmer agreed to a US request to use British military bases to hit Iranian missile sites.

The Prime Minister said: 'Our partners in the Gulf have asked us to do more to defend them, and it's my duty to protect British lives. This is in line with international law and we are publishing a summary of our legal advice.'

Sir Keir added: 'We all remember the mistakes of Iraq and we have learned those lessons. We were not involved in the initial strikes on Iran and we will not join offensive action now. But Iran is pursuing a scorched-earth strategy so we are supporting the collective self-defence of our allies and our people in the region.'

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