US and Israeli strikes against Iran - 28 February 2026, Media, Maps & Timelines *NO DISCUSSION*

[Dotta]

"Are we facing a 'global catastrophe'? ​

UN issues alarm regarding the Strait of Hormuz.​

Key information:

• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) predicts that rising food prices may continue for several years.
• The organization warns of a rapid collapse in fertilizer and energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, which remains blocked.
• Poorer countries, especially those in Africa that are dependent on imports, are most vulnerable.

Before the US and Israeli attack on Iran on February 28,
between 20 and 45 percent of key agricultural and food inputs, including fertilizers,
as well as about one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas,
were transported through the Strait of Hormuz."

Grozi nam "globalna katastrofa"? ONZ alarmuje ws. cieśniny Ormuz

ONZ ocenia, że przez blokadę cieśniny Ormuz "w najbliższych dniach będziemy świadkami prawdziwego załamania dostaw" nawozów i energii, co przełoży się na wyższe ceny żywności i zmniejszenie plonów. ONZ wskazuje...

wiadomosci.wp.pl

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2044332660194005102

 

[SouthAussie]

The Chancellor of the UK, Rachel Reeves, has said she is “very frustrated and angry” the US went to war with Iran without an exit plan.

“This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want. I feel very frustrated and angry that the US went into this war without a clear exit plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve.

“And as a result the Strait of Hormuz is now blocked.”

“We’re not getting involved in the US blockade, we don’t think that is the right approach. All the way through this conflict we have said de-escalate, de-escalate.”

Later today, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves will hold talks with the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington.

https://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/usiran-war-live-updates/live-coverage/a1426e6e479e007a63fb387c3398e3f7

 

[SouthAussie]

China’s President Xi Jinping has met with Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov in Beijing, Chinese state media reported.

Lavrov said Russia could “without a doubt” make up for China’s energy shortages as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is choked by the war, Russian state media reported.

https://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/usiran-war-live-updates/live-coverage/a1426e6e479e007a63fb387c3398e3f7

 

[Dotta]

"Exchange of grotesque posts. ​

Iran photoshopped infamous Trump photo.​

The Iranian Embassy in Tajikistan
has edited Donald Trump's infamous post,
in which the US president portrayed himself as Messiah who heals with the touch of his hand.
In the new version, he is relegated to hell."

Wymiana groteskowych postów. Iran przerobił niesławne zdjęcie Trumpa

Ambasada Iranu w Tadżykistanie zmodyfikowała niesławny post Donalda Trumpa, w którym prezydent USA przedstawił się jako mesjasz leczący dotykiem ręki. W nowej wersji zostaje on zepchnięty do piekła.

wiadomosci.wp.pl

 

[imstilla.grandma]

• U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that China has agreed not to provide weapons to Iran as reports circulate that Beijing has considered transferring arms. China’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly denied in recent days that the country is providing any form of military support to Iran.
• In an interview that aired Wednesday, Trump said the war in Iran was “very close to over”. Trump has declared a U.S. victory in Iran repeatedly since mere days after the war started — even as the reality on the ground has been far more complicated.
• Live updates: Trump claims China has agreed not to provide weapons to Iran

“We’ve beaten them militarily, totally,” Trump told Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” in a prerecorded interview. “I think it’s close to over, I view it as very close to over. ... If I pulled up stakes right now it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country, and we’re not finished.”

“We’ll see what happens, I think they want to make a deal very badly,” he added.

The president’s latest comments come amid growing market optimism that a diplomatic solution to the U.S.-Iran war can be found, despite the failure of peace talks last weekend.

Trump downplayed global market turbulence sparked by the war and said oil prices, which have soared due to supply disruptions, would soon fall.

He again defended U.S. military operations against Iran, saying, “We have to stop them from ever having a nuclear weapon.”

Trump predicted that when the war was over, the “stock market is going to boom, it’s already booming.”

Iran war 'very close to over,' Trump says — and the stock market 'is going to boom'

The U.S. has beaten Iran "militarily" and that the war is "very close to over," Trump said, claiming a peace deal likely.

www.cnbc.com

 

[otto]

"The United States Government is sending 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East. The Pentagon aims to increase pressure on Iran to reach an agreement, but is also keeping open the possibility of additional attacks or a ground operation.

There are currently already about 50,000 American troops in the region.

Since Monday, the US Government has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key sea strait for oil transport. Iran calls the blockade piracy and warns: "Not a single port in the region will be safe."

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/liveblog/vs-stuurt-10000-extra-militairen-naar-middenoosten-trump-oo~1775452674051/

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2044418438408376770

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2044452738201797105

 

[Dotta]

"Exchange of grotesque posts. ​

Iran photoshopped infamous Trump photo.​

View attachment 659439

The Iranian Embassy in Tajikistan
has edited Donald Trump's infamous post,
in which the US president portrayed himself as Messiah who heals with the touch of his hand.
In the new version, he is relegated to hell."

Wymiana groteskowych postów. Iran przerobił niesławne zdjęcie Trumpa

Ambasada Iranu w Tadżykistanie zmodyfikowała niesławny post Donalda Trumpa, w którym prezydent USA przedstawił się jako mesjasz leczący dotykiem ręki. W nowej wersji zostaje on zepchnięty do piekła.

wiadomosci.wp.pl

https://twitter.com/x/status/2044436648776069489

 

[Yellowbelly]

The chairman of the American Catholic bishops' Committee on Doctrine issues a statement concerning just war theory and the Pope's teaching thereon.

US Bishop’s chairman on Doctrine clarifies Just War Theory - Vatican News

Bishop James Massa issues a statement in response to public comments regarding the Church’s teaching on war and peace

www.vaticannews.va

 

[SouthAussie]

The Israeli military has destroyed a bridge in southern Lebanon, state-run National News Agency (NNA) says.

"Enemy aircraft completely destroyed Al-Qasimia Bridge with successive air strikes," the agency posted on social media.

It was the last remaining bridge linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, in Qasmiyeh, news agency Reuters reported.

Live: Trump rules out extending ceasefire as Australia secures additional diesel

US President Donald Trump says a long-term peace deal with Iran is "preferable" and to expect an "amazing two days" ahead. Follow live.

www.abc.net.au

 

[SouthAussie]

Japan announces $10b plan to assist countries with fuel crisis​

Japan has one of the world's largest crude oil reserves, with about 400 million barrels stored to secure its domestic supply.

Live: Trump rules out extending ceasefire as Australia secures additional diesel

US President Donald Trump says a long-term peace deal with Iran is "preferable" and to expect an "amazing two days" ahead. Follow live.

www.abc.net.au

 

[imstilla.grandma]

We are reloading with more power than ever before, and better intelligence," Hegseth said at a Pentagon news briefing. "We are locked and loaded on your critical dual-use infrastructure, ⁠on your remaining power generation, and on your energy industry. We'd rather not have to do it."

The U.S. ⁠military has widened its blockade to include cargoes deemed contraband, and any vessels suspected of trying to reach Iranian territory will be "subject to belligerent right to visit and search," the U.S. Navy said in an advisory on Thursday.

"These vessels, regardless of ⁠location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure," the Navy said in an updated advisory.

Contraband items listed included weapons, weapons systems, ammunition, nuclear materials, crude and refined oil products as well as iron, steel and aluminum.

US military: 'locked and loaded' to strike Iran's power plants, energy industry if ordered

The U.S. naval blockade of Iran is just an example of "polite" behavior during ‌the ongoing ceasefire and U.S. forces are ready to strike Iran's power plants and energy industry if ordered, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on Thursday.

www.reuters.com

 

[Yellowbelly]

The latest from His Holiness on the present conflicts -

Speaking in Cameroon, the Pope criticised leaders who "turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found".

"The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild," he said on Thursday.

Pope criticises 'tyrants' who spend billions on wars, days after Trump spat

The comments follow a high-profile spat with US President Donald Trump, who called the Pope weak on crime.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[otto]

"Iran is “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome of the negotiations with the United States to end the war. This was stated by the Iranian ambassador to the UN. He also said that there is a chance of a “significant result”.

"Despite our deep distrust of the United States – stemming from their repeated violations of diplomacy – we nevertheless entered into the negotiations in good faith and remain cautiously optimistic," declared Amir Saeid Iravani during a meeting of the UN General Assembly.

"We are of the opinion that, since the United States adopts a rational and constructive attitude and refrains from demands that are contrary to international law, the negotiations can lead to a meaningful result," he added.

Under the mediation of Pakistan, negotiations are still ongoing to organize a second round of negotiations and bring the war to a lasting end, after the first round failed in Islamabad last weekend."

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/liveblog/libanon-en-israel-beginnen-vanaf-23-uur-aan-staakthetvuren-ze~1775452674051/

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2044858115250659562

 

[SouthAussie]

Donald Trump has said that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10 day ceasefire beginning on Thursday, local time.

The US president said he envisages peace “will happen quickly” and it will be his “10th war solved”.

https://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/usiran-war-fuel-crisis-live-updates/live-coverage/0dba40c1601f1db6bc3074cede7df543

 

[SouthAussie]

“This war has caused a lot of material damage, loss of life, not to speak of the isolation chamber it has created for the United States,” said Christopher Hill, a five-time U.S. ambassador who served under Democratic and Republican presidents.

“Given the fact that some key aspects of the negotiations revolve around issues well known and painstakingly discussed and addressed over ten years ago in the JCPOA process, it is difficult to justify or even explain what has happened in the past month.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/16/trump-badly-wants-to-end-the-iran-war-but-the-off-ramp-remains-elusive-00877748

 

[SouthAussie]

President Xi Jinping is wrapping up what’s been an unusually busy week of diplomacy in Beijing, showcasing the fervent interest of world leaders to develop ties with China while the US is embroiled in a conflict with Iran.

The roster has ranged from a US NATO ally — Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez — to a Middle East representative - Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed. The meetings were followed by a visit from the leader of neighboring Vietnam — To Lam, the nation’s president and Communist Party chief, who recently secured a fresh five-year term.

Xi has been positioning his nation as a source of stability and bulwark of respect for international rules, against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb Iran "back to the Stone Ages.”

Trump, by contrast, has spent the week deepening his isolation on the global stage by openly lambasting one-time close allies

Xi welcomes slew of world leaders as Trump fights with allies

Xi has held at least five high-profile tête-à-têtes, despite the lack of any formal gathering in China's capital this week.

www.japantimes.co.jp