Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military command said the vessel was en route from China when it came under attack, warning that Iranian forces would respond. A spokesperson described the incident as “armed piracy” and said retaliation would follow.U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier that a U.S.

Navy destroyer intercepted the ship, identified as the MV Touska, after it failed to comply with repeated warnings while attempting to breach a U.S.-imposed maritime blockade on Iranian ports.Trump said the vessel was disabled after the USS Spruance fired on its engine room and that U.S. Marines had taken control of the ship.

He added that the Touska was subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions due to a history of alleged illegal activity.The U.S. Central Command said the destroyer issued warnings over a six-hour period before using force to stop the vessel, marking the first such interception since the blockade began last week.

It added that U.S. forces have turned back at least 25 commercial vessels attempting to navigate the restricted waters.The confrontation comes amid heightened instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments, which has remained largely closed since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran seven weeks ago.

Iran briefly reopened the strait on Friday following a ceasefire in Lebanon but shut it again within 24 hours, citing continued U.S. naval restrictions. The uncertainty has disrupted maritime traffic, with vessel tracking data showing tankers reversing course in recent days.Energy analysts warned that the renewed tensions could drive volatility in oil markets after a brief easing late last week.

Amrita Sen, founder of Energy Aspects, said developments over the weekend underscored the fragility of the situation and the risk of further escalation.

The incident adds pressure on diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region, with markets and governments closely monitoring the standoff for signs of either de-escalation or further conflict.

The Israel Defense Forces said it had identified incoming missiles and was responding to the threat, confirming that defensive systems were operating to intercept them.

The exchange followed Israeli strikes described as a “wave” of air attacks on Iran, marking a further escalation in hostilities between the two countries.

No immediate details were provided on damage or casualties from the missile launches or interceptions.

The latest developments come amid intensifying cross-border attacks as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to expand, raising concerns over broader regional escalation.

The semiofficial Fars news agency and Nour News said the strike targeted a residential area, though the intended objective remained unclear. Neither Israel nor the United States immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which followed escalating threats from Washington over Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Separate airstrikes also hit Iran’s capital, Tehran, before dawn, with explosions reported across the city and the sound of fighter jets heard intermittently for hours. Iranian authorities did not immediately provide details on the targets or casualties from those strikes.

Iranian media said Sharif University of Technology in Tehran was among the sites hit, with damage reported to campus buildings and a nearby natural gas distribution facility. The university has previously faced international sanctions over alleged links to Iran’s ballistic missile program, though it was unclear what specific facilities were targeted.

In the city of Qom, south of the capital, an airstrike on a residential area killed at least five people, according to the state-run IRAN newspaper. Authorities did not specify the intended target of that strike.

Iran’s science minister said more than 30 universities across the country have been hit since the conflict began in late February, underscoring the widening scope of the bombardment. Iran has not released updated nationwide casualty figures in recent days.

The latest strikes come amid sustained attacks on military and infrastructure sites, with Iranian security forces reportedly using alternative locations as bases after repeated strikes on established facilities.

The conflict has also forced the closure of schools nationwide, with classes moved online, and disrupted key infrastructure, including energy distribution networks.

The Israeli military said the strikes targeted what it described as militant infrastructure, including weapons depots, launch sites and command centers, adding that around 1,000 fighters had been killed during the campaign.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that at least 1,345 people have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded since the fighting began, including civilians and 53 healthcare workers. The ministry said the casualties included men, women and children, though Hezbollah has not publicly disclosed its own losses.

The conflict expanded to Lebanon on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel, which it said were in response to earlier U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel has since carried out extensive airstrikes and initiated a ground offensive, significantly intensifying the conflict along its northern front.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Hezbollah’s leadership, including chief Naim Qassem, would face severe consequences for continued attacks, particularly during the Jewish holiday of Passover.

He said Israeli forces aim to push Hezbollah fighters away from southern Lebanon, maintain security control over the Litani area and dismantle the group’s military capabilities.

The escalation has heightened concerns of a broader regional conflict, as cross-border exchanges continue and civilian casualties rise.

Indonesia’s U.N. representative, Umar Hadi, made the request during an emergency Security Council meeting on Tuesday, urging an independent inquiry rather than relying on explanations provided by Israel.

The call comes after two separate incidents over the weekend in southern Lebanon that killed Indonesian troops serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).The Indonesian foreign ministry said earlier this week that ongoing Israeli military operations in the region had placed U.N. peacekeepers at significant risk.

The deaths occurred during a period of intensified violence that also saw Lebanese journalists and medical personnel killed in Israeli strikes.One of the victims, Farizal Rhomadhon, 28, died in an attack on Sunday.

Local media reported that he is survived by his wife and child. In his hometown in Yogyakarta, relatives gathered to mourn, with family members saying his body had yet to be returned to Indonesia.

Indonesia’s initial response to the deaths drew criticism domestically, particularly on social media, where users questioned the lack of clarity regarding the cause of the incident. Authorities had initially described the event as resulting from “indirect artillery fire.”

Preliminary findings cited by U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix indicated that a roadside explosion struck a convoy carrying two Indonesian peacekeepers on Monday.

The Israeli military said its internal review found no evidence that its forces had placed explosive devices in the area or conducted operations there at the time.

Indonesia is among the largest contributors to U.N. peacekeeping missions, with more than 2,700 personnel deployed as of 2024. The country has also pledged troops for a potential U.N.-mandated multinational stabilization force in Gaza.

Aoun said in a statement that the attack constituted a “blatant crime” and breached international humanitarian law, emphasizing that journalists are civilians performing professional duties and are entitled to protection under the laws of war.

The statement was released by the Lebanese presidency shortly after reports of the strike emerged.A Lebanese military source told AFP that three journalists were killed when their vehicle was targeted in the Jezzine area of southern Lebanon.

The victims included a correspondent affiliated with Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television and another journalist from Al-Mayadeen, a broadcaster seen as close to the Iran-backed group.

Al-Manar confirmed the death of its correspondent, identified as Al Shouaib, while Al-Mayadeen said its journalist, Fatima Fatouni, and her brother, who was working as a cameraman, were also killed in the strike.

The incident adds to mounting concerns over the safety of media personnel operating in conflict zones, particularly in areas experiencing intensified cross-border exchanges between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters.

Aoun’s statement framed the strike as part of a pattern of violations, asserting that it undermines established international norms governing armed conflict. No immediate response from Israeli authorities was included in the available information.

The strike occurred amid heightened tensions in Lebanon’s south region as spillover from the broader Iran-linked confrontation continues to draw in multiple actors across the Middle East.

Warning leaflets reportedly dropped in parts of Beirut and ongoing strikes in southern areas reflect an expanding operational environment, raising the risk to both civilians and media workers covering developments on the ground.

Araqchi made the remarks during separate phone calls with his counterparts in Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan, where he stressed the need for a unified regional approach to counter rising tensions.

He said the recent actions by Washington and Tel Aviv were aimed at escalating instability and undermining regional security.

In the reported conversations, Araqchi emphasised that cooperation among neighbouring states was essential to prevent further deterioration in the security environment. Iranian state media cited him as warning that unchecked escalation could have broader implications for regional stability.

The outreach reflects Tehran’s effort to consolidate diplomatic backing among key regional actors at a time of heightened geopolitical strain.

Araqchi said that recent U.S. and Israeli actions had targeted Iranian infrastructure, characterising them as deliberate attempts to provoke confrontation. He did not specify the nature or extent of the damage in the statements carried by state media.There has been no immediate response from U.S. or Israeli officials to the claims.

Iran would continue to defend its sovereignty and security with all available means, Araqchi said, according to the report, signalling Tehran’s readiness to respond to what it views as external threats.

The remarks come amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, where rivalries involving Iran, the United States and Israel have periodically intensified, raising concerns about broader regional fallout.