Article By Kurt Zindulka and Oliver JJ Lane
The military operation against Iran entered its fifth day on Wednesday. Iran is attempting to choose a new supreme leader, while the U.S. and Israel continue strikes, including on Tehran and Lebanon.
****
**Wednesday’s live updates below. All updates in Eastern time**
3:30 PM: Trump touts war effort against Iran
During a White House round table event on Wednesday, President Trump said that the military operation against the Islamist regime in Iran has been very successful, saying: “Somebody said on a scale of 10 where would you rate it, I said: ’15’.”
“We are in a very strong position now, and their leadership is just rapidly going. Everyone who seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead,” Trump said.
“It’s an amazing thing that’s taking place before your eyes because for 47 years we were pushed around… and you see the tremendous progress that’s being made, you see their missiles being wiped out rapidly, their launchers are being wiped out,” he continued.
“It was a nation that was out of control, and they would have used it on us if we let them, if we waited any longer… When crazy people have nuclear weapons, bad things happen.”
2:50 PM: Another major shipping firm shuts down Gulf operations
Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd container shipping company, one of the largest such firms in the world, said on Wednesday that it will suspend all bookings to and from the Persian Gulf “until further notice”. It comes amid concern that Iran will strike cargo ships amid the conflict with the United States and Israel. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. is prepared to send the Navy to protect energy tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed.
Trump Orders Navy Escorts Through Strait of Hormuz, Unlocks Federal War-Risk Insurance for Tankershttps://t.co/2sYrhFR1oO
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) March 3, 2026
2:45 PM: Putin suggests cutting off the taps to Europe
Amid a potential energy crisis brewing in the Middle East over the Iran conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested on Wednesday halting all energy shipments to Europe, ahead of planned sanctions from Brussels.
“They’re still planning, as you just said, to impose restrictions on the purchase of Russian gas, including liquefied gas, in a month, on the 24th—the last day—and on the 25th. And a year later, in 2027, further restrictions, up to and including a complete ban. Now other markets are opening up. And perhaps it’s more advantageous for us to stop supplying the European market right now. To enter the markets that are opening up and gain a foothold there,” Putin said per state media.
2:40 PM: Spain denies it has agreed to cooperate with U.S. on Iran
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed on Wednesday that Madrid had capitulated to allow the United States to use its military bases for the operation in Iran following public pressure from President Donald Trump, who threatened a full trade embargo against the NATO ally.
“Spain has agreed to cooperate militarily in the last few hours,” Leavitt said from the briefing room.
However, El País reported that Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has “categorically denied” that Spain will cooperate militarily with the United States on Iran.
1:55 PM: Iranian regime thanks Spain
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed socialist-run Spain on Wednesday for Madrid’s “responsible conduct in opposing the Zionist-American coalition’s flagrant human rights violations and military aggression against countries, including Iran.”
Pezeshkian said that Spain’s conduct “shows that ethics and awakened consciences still exist in the West,” adding: “I commend Spanish officials for their stances.”
The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was an early opponent of the military operation against the Islamist regime in Iran and has refused to allow the United States to use military bases in its country to launch strikes. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested the White House may impose a trade embargo on the NATO ally.
Spain’s Socialist PM Sánchez Hits Back at Trump, Embraces Neutrality, Declaring ‘No to War’https://t.co/EA5l9CFDlG
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) March 4, 2026
1:45 PM: Power blackouts across Iraq
According to the local Shafaq News Agency, most provinces across Iraq “experienced a complete power outage on Wednesday evening”. The broadcaster reported that Basra Electricity Control Center claimed the outage was a result of a “technical malfunction that affected the network”.
1:35 PM: Zelensky to dispatch Ukraine troops to Gulf
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Ukrainian military drone experts will “operate on-site” in the Gulf to help defend against the Iranian Shahed attack drones, which have been used by Russia against Ukraine for years in the Eastern European conflict.
“Our military possesses the necessary capabilities. Ukrainian experts will operate on-site, and teams are already coordinating these efforts. And we are ready to help protect lives, defend civilians, and support real efforts to stabilize the situation and, in particular, restore safe navigation in the region,” Zelensky said.
“We expect the European Union, European countries, and the G7 to take active measures both in dismantling the Iranian regime’s terrorist capabilities and in protecting lives in the region and global stability. We will continue to coordinate with our partners,” he added.
12:05 PM: U.S. hit over 20 Iranian naval vessels
According to the U.S. Central Command, the Navy has “struck or sunk to the bottom of the ocean” over 20 ships belonging to the Iranian Navy. This includes a Soleimani-class warship, which U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described as the “prize” of the Iranian regime.
U.S. forces have struck or sunk to the bottom of the ocean more than 20 ships from the Iranian regime. Last night, CENTCOM added a Soleimani-class warship to the list. pic.twitter.com/KgW8cS726P
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 4, 2026
11:55 AM: Over 17,500 Americans have come home from Mid East
Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said that over 17,500 American citizens have returned to the U.S. from the Middle East since the start of Operation Epic Fury in Iran on Saturday, including over 8,500 Americans on Tuesday alone. The State Department has urged U.S. citizens to evacuate from over a dozen countries in the region.
The 24/7 State Department task force has helped nearly 6,500 U.S. citizens return home in recent days, Johnson said.
🚨 Americans in the Middle East who need consular assistance can call the U.S. Department of State 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444. pic.twitter.com/j1Q0tvQLbp
— Department of State (@StateDept) March 4, 2026
11:50 AM: The Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday that it has bombed a major military complex in Tehran that served as the “headquarters for the entire Iranian security apparatus”. According to the IDF, the complex housed bases for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Quds Force, the Basij paramilitary, the Internal Security Special Forces, Cyber Commands, and the Internal Security Assistance and Protest Suppression Unit.
Be the first to comment