Scene of Iranian missile attack in Israel on Sunday
The US government has asked its citizens to exercise increased caution as the war in Iran intensifies.The administration has raised fears that its citizens worldwide maybe targeted as a response of US-Israel attack of Iran 23 days ago.
“The Department of State advises Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution. Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest US embassy or consulate,” a security alert dated Sunday March, 22 says.
The alert warns of periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions with US diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, being targeted.
“Groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or locations associated with the US and/or Americans throughout the world.”
The advisory was issued even as US President Donald Trump and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to intensify attacks inside Iran, with Trump specifically giving Tehran an ultimatum.
Trump warned the US could “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours.
Iran’s military responded by declaring it is ready to close the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely and attack regional infrastructure if US carries out a threat to bomb its power plants.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al Anbiya central headquarters, has issued a new statement taunting Trump as his deadline for the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz draws near.
“Hey Trump, YOU’RE FIRED! You’re familiar with this sentence. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Zolfaghari said in a video clip in English.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reported coming under fresh attacks on Monday morning, with explosions and sirens sounding over the oil-rich Gulf.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence reported that a drone was intercepted while the UAE earlier, responded to incoming missile threats from Iran, with citizens told to remain in a safe place.
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) too reported in its latest update that Iran has fired missiles towards Israel adding that air defence systems are intercepting the strikes.
Another wave of Iranian strikes, including cluster munitions, was shot down over Tel Aviv overnight.
Israel's military has launched an early morning "wide scale" airstrike on sites across Iran's capital Tehran.
Blasts were reported across the city by Iranian state media, including IRGC-aligned Fars news agency.
"Terrible sounds of explosions have been reported," Fars wrote. The IDF says it is targeting "terrorist infrastructure" in Tehran.
The Middle East war could spark an energy crisis worse than the combined shocks of the 1970s and comparable to the initial impacts of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
"Many of us remember the two consecutive oil crises in the 1970s... at that time, in each of the crises, the world has lost about five million barrels per day, both of them together, 10 million barrels per day," Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency said in Australia.
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