Israel–US Offensive Targets Iran’s Energy Network as Trump Demands ‘Unconditional Surrender’

The military campaign against Iran by Israel and the United States intensified significantly on Saturday as strikes expanded to include critical elements of Iran’s energy sector. Israeli attacks reportedly struck fuel storage facilities and oil refining sites in the Iranian capital Tehran for the first time since the conflict began, sparking massive fires that raged through parts of the city and filled the skyline with thick plumes of dark smoke.

Amid the escalating hostilities, US President Donald Trump claimed that the combined military actions of Washington and Tel Aviv had severely weakened the Iranian establishment.

He called on Tehran to accept what he described as “unconditional surrender,” although he did not elaborate on the exact terms or conditions of such a demand.

Speaking to reporters aboard the presidential aircraft Air Force One, Trump described surrender as the stage “when they simply give up or when they can no longer continue fighting, and there’s no one left to say they’re done.”

His remarks came shortly after he travelled to Dover Air Force Base in the state of Delaware to attend the solemn transfer ceremony honouring six American service personnel who were killed during the early phase of the ongoing conflict. Trump acknowledged that fatalities are an inevitable aspect of armed conflict.

“We’re far ahead in this war. Their entire hostile system has been shattered. The fighting may continue for some time, but I’m extremely proud of our forces,” he said, reiterating that casualties are “part of war.”

Trump also addressed speculation about the possible involvement of Kurdish fighters in the conflict. He said Washington does not want Kurdish factions entering the battlefield against Iran, despite maintaining friendly ties with them.

“We have good relations with the Kurds, but we don’t want to complicate the situation further by bringing additional forces into the war,” the US president said.

The current hostilities erupted on February 28 and dealt a devastating blow to Iran’s leadership when an attack reportedly killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Reports also indicated that several senior government and military officials lost their lives in the same strike, along with members of Khamenei’s family.

Despite these setbacks, officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have insisted that Iran retains the capability to sustain the conflict for an extended period.

IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini stated that Iran’s armed forces possess sufficient resources and operational strength to continue the war at its current intensity for at least six months.

“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have the capacity to maintain a high-tempo conflict for half a year under the present operational conditions,” Naini was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an apology to neighbouring Gulf countries following recent attacks launched from Iranian territory that affected parts of the region.

However, he clarified that such actions would cease unless assaults against Iran were launched from those countries.

“I believe it is necessary to apologise to neighbouring states that were struck,” Pezeshkian said, adding that Iran has no intention of invading its regional neighbours.

Later, officials from the president’s office clarified that his remarks meant Iran would refrain from targeting regional states provided they do not assist the United States in military operations against Iran.

Despite the conciliatory tone of the apology, tensions across the region remain high.

Several countries reported intercepting incoming projectiles and responding to attempted strikes over the weekend, indicating that the conflict continues to spill beyond Iran’s borders.

Middle East War Intensifies: Tehran in Flames, Missiles Across the Gulf as Iran–Israel–US Conflict Escalates

The war involving Iran, Israel and the United States has entered a dangerous new phase on Sunday, with heavy bombardment, expanding targets and retaliatory missile attacks spreading across the Middle East.

What began as coordinated airstrikes on February 28 has now turned into a full-scale regional conflict affecting multiple countries and strategic infrastructure.

Tehran: A Capital Under Smoke and Fire

The most dramatic scenes are unfolding in the Iranian capital Tehran, where Israeli airstrikes have targeted oil depots, fuel storage facilities and refining infrastructure.

Massive explosions ignited towering flames that lit up the skyline, while thick black smoke spread across large parts of the city.

Residents describe the air as nearly unbreathable as toxic clouds from burning petroleum sites drift over residential neighbourhoods.

Authorities have warned people to remain indoors after reports of hazardous fumes and chemical particles triggered by the fires.

Fuel distribution in the capital has already been rationed as authorities attempt to control shortages caused by the destruction of key storage facilities.

Across the city, emergency sirens, burning oil tanks and the constant roar of aircraft have created an atmosphere resembling a war zone, with frightened civilians watching columns of smoke rise from the industrial districts.

Expanded Targets: Energy, Airports and Military Bases

Overnight strikes reportedly hit several energy installations in and around Tehran, while explosions were also reported in other Iranian provinces. Israeli attacks have also targeted military assets, including an airport in Isfahan, where fighter jets were reportedly destroyed.

The targeting of energy infrastructure marks a significant escalation in the conflict, as oil facilities are central to Iran’s economy and global energy markets. The strikes have also raised fears that the war could threaten shipping routes through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Iran Strikes Back Across the Gulf

Iran has retaliated with waves of missile and drone attacks across the region. Several Gulf countries hosting American military bases have reported intercepting incoming projectiles.

Air defence systems in Saudi Arabia reportedly intercepted missiles and drones, while falling debris caused casualties in some areas.

In the United Arab Emirates, authorities reported multiple drone and missile launches since the war began, causing injuries and structural damage in some locations.

Meanwhile, Kuwait and Bahrain also reported attempted strikes targeting military facilities and installations associated with American forces.

Lebanon and the Northern Front

The conflict is also spilling into Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have targeted Iranian-linked commanders and infrastructure. Military activity along Israel’s northern frontier has intensified amid fears that Hezbollah could become fully involved in the conflict.

Troops, armoured vehicles and artillery units have been deployed along the border region, transforming quiet rural communities into heavily fortified military zones.

The Human Cost and Regional Fear

The fighting has already claimed thousands of lives across Iran and neighbouring regions while causing large-scale destruction to homes, factories and transport infrastructure. Entire neighbourhoods near targeted locations have been evacuated, while hospitals struggle to treat the wounded amid frequent air-raid warnings.

Airspace restrictions, disruptions to shipping routes and repeated missile alerts have turned much of the Middle East into one of the most volatile conflict zones in the world.

A War With Global Consequences

The ongoing confrontation threatens to reshape the geopolitical balance of the region. Analysts warn that if the conflict expands further — particularly if critical energy routes such as the Strait of Hormuz are affected — global oil supplies and international security could face severe disruption.

For now, the skies above Tehran glow with burning oil depots, missile trails streak across the Gulf, and military aircraft from several nations dominate the airspace — a stark reminder that the Middle East has entered one of its most dangerous moments in decades.

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