Iran escalated tensions after one of its top officials was killed in an airstrike, launching attacks on its Persian Gulf neighbours and Israel. Using advanced missiles to evade air defence systems, the strikes killed two people near Tel Aviv, signaling that the Middle East conflict is far from easing.

Israel, meanwhile, intensified its operations in Lebanon, carrying out strikes targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah positions. Multiple residential buildings in Beirut were hit, with at least a dozen people reported dead.

In Iran, a projectile struck the Bushehr nuclear power plant complex the previous night. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there were no injuries or damage. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi urged “maximum restraint” to avoid the risk of a nuclear accident.

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, Tehran has targeted energy infrastructure in Gulf Arab countries and military bases, aiming to drive up oil prices and increase pressure on Washington.

Iran has also tightened its grip over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route that carries nearly a fifth of the world’s oil raising fears of a global energy crisis.

Iran’s judiciary has reported that an attack struck southern Iran, killing and wounding both civilians and judicial staff, state-linked media said on Wednesday.

Separately, the deputy security chief of Lorestan province said four people have been killed and eight wounded by a US-Israeli attack on rural areas in the Chegeni region.

Ali Larijani, Iran's top national security official and de facto leader, was the latest senior Iranian figure to be targeted on Wednesday since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran on Feb 28.

However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran’s political system remains strong and the assassination of its leaders will not set the country back.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said an Iranian projectile caused minor damage to buildings at the Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, including Australian medical and accommodation facilities.

He said: “This morning at the Al Minhad base that Australia has in the UAE, there was an Iranian projectile that hit near that base,” Albanese said.

“No Australian personnel were injured and everyone is absolutely safe at this point in time.

“There was minor damage to an accommodation block and a medical facility due to a small fire that was created as a result of that projectile hitting on a road leading up to that base.”

Iraq has resumed limited oil exports of around 250,000 barrels per day through Turkey’s Ceyhan port, after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz hit its shipments.

The move comes as Iran’s closure of the strait has affected a major share of global oil flows. Iraq, which relies heavily on crude exports for revenue, had earlier seen a sharp drop in output as most of its oil is shipped via the southern Basra route through Hormuz.

Officials said exports have restarted from northern Kirkuk fields through the Kurdistan region pipeline, following an agreement with regional authorities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Talk to Al Jazeera that the United States is responsible for the war engulfing the region.

He denied targeting civilians, defended Iran’s retaliation, and warned that the US military presence across the Gulf makes escalation unavoidable.

Araghchi also signalled possible new rules for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while rejecting a ceasefire in favour of a permanent end to the war.

Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Authorities said the man had provided images and information about sensitive locations in Iran. The report added that he was recruited online while in Sweden after sharing his details on a travel-related platform, and was later contacted by a Persian-speaking Mossad officer.

He was arrested by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in June in Savojbolagh during the 12-day conflict with Israel. Officials said the execution was carried out after the sentence was approved by the Supreme Court.

Israeli forces carried out fresh strikes in Lebanon, targeting the town of Sahmar in the eastern Bekaa Valley for the second time this morning. The attack followed two earlier raids on Yahmar, also in the Bekaa Valley.

Overnight, multiple strikes were also reported in central Beirut and southern Lebanon. Lebanese authorities said at least six people were killed in Beirut and 11 others in the south.

Israel has issued fresh forced displacement orders for villages in southern Lebanon, asking residents to leave immediately and move north of the Zahrani River.

The Israeli military said it plans to carry out attacks in areas including Khirbet Selm, Beit Yahoun, Sarafand and Deir Qanoun En Nahr. The latest order pushes the evacuation zone further north than before, extending beyond the Litani River.

According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, Israel’s evacuation orders now cover around 14% of Lebanon’s territory, highlighting the scale of displacement in the ongoing conflict.

Top US intelligence officials are set to testify before Congress in a series of high-stakes hearings, where they are expected to face tough questions on the Iran war and security threats within the United States.

The hearings come amid scrutiny of a US strike in Iran that reportedly hit an elementary school, killing more than 165 people, with reports suggesting outdated intelligence may have been used. Lawmakers are also likely to question agencies on their ability to prevent attacks at home, following recent incidents in Michigan and Virginia.

US farmers are facing rising fertilizer costs as the Iran war begins to disrupt global supplies. Prices have increased sharply since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering a slowdown in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a key route for nearly 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas.

The disruption is affecting both fuel and fertilizer production. Higher fuel costs are pushing up manufacturing expenses, while reduced shipping has slowed exports of nitrogen fertilizers from the Persian Gulf and limited access to key raw materials.

The impact is significant for the United States. Around 15% of its fertilizer imports come from the Middle East, while the region supplies about half of the world’s urea and nearly 30% of ammonia, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

A loud explosion was reported in central Beirut after Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on a building in the Bachoura area, according to media reports. The attack came moments after the Israeli military issued a forced evacuation warning for the neighbourhood.

The strike adds to earlier attacks in central Beirut, where at least six people were killed and 24 others wounded in Israeli strikes on residential buildings in the Zuqaq al-Blat and Al-Basta areas.

Explosions were reported in central Israel’s Gush Dan region after Iran launched a fresh round of missile attacks, according to local media. Broadcaster Channel 12 said the Israeli military had issued alerts warning of incoming fire, with air defence systems intercepting at least one missile.

However, fragments from a cluster-style warhead appear to have struck parts of the area. In the city of Holon, reports suggest multiple vehicles were damaged, with some catching fire following the impact. There are no immediate details on casualties.

China has indicated it will not assist Washington in reopening the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, despite a direct request from US President Donald Trump, even as oil shipments through the chokepoint remain severely disrupted. At the same time, Trump’s long-anticipated visit to Beijing — expected to be a key moment in stabilising US-China ties — has been postponed.

For Beijing, the moment presents a complex opportunity. While publicly calling for de-escalation and positioning itself as a stabilising force, China has avoided direct involvement, even as it expands diplomatic outreach across the Middle East and delivers humanitarian aid to Iran. The longer the conflict continues, experts warn, the greater the risk that the United States could become overstretched — shifting military assets away from Asia and fuelling concerns among its regional allies about commitment and capacity.

At least six people were killed and 24 others injured after Israeli airstrikes hit central Beirut early Wednesday, according to authorities in Lebanon, marking another deadly escalation in the widening regional conflict.

Lebanon’s health ministry described the toll as preliminary, adding that human remains were recovered from the strike sites and would require DNA testing for identification. The attacks targeted residential areas in the heart of Beirut, far from the southern suburbs that have seen repeated bombardment in recent days, raising concerns about the expanding scope of Israeli operations.

The strikes come amid intensifying hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, particularly Hezbollah. Civilian areas have increasingly been caught in the crossfire, with mounting casualties and widespread damage reported across the capital.

Ahead of the strikes, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for residents in the southern city ofTyre, including nearby Palestinian refugee camps. Military spokespersonAvichay Adraeeurged civilians to leave immediately, stating that the army intended to target locations it claimed were linked to Hezbollah operations.

Iran’s top diplomat has sought to project stability after the killing of senior security official Ali Larijani, insisting that the country’s political system remains intact despite mounting losses in the ongoing conflict.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Abbas Araghchi said the assassination of key figures would not weaken the foundations of the Islamic Republic.

“I do not know why the Americans and the Israelis still have not understood this point,” Araghchi said, referring to both United States and Israel. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has a strong political structure with established political, economic, and social institutions.”

He emphasised that while individual leaders play important roles, the system itself is designed to endure beyond any single figure. “The presence or absence of a single individual does not affect this structure,” he said, adding that Iran’s governance model is built on deeply rooted institutions rather than personalities.

Araghchi acknowledged that figures like Larijani held influence, but maintained that their loss would not derail the state’s functioning or strategic direction. “Individuals are influential, and each person plays their role — some better, some worse — but what matters is that the political system in Iran is a very solid structure,” he added.

Senior political figures in Iran have reacted sharply to the confirmed killing of top security official Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, framing their deaths as a rallying point for the country amid the escalating war.

Former presidential candidate Saeed Jalili described the killings as part of a “glorious line of sacrifice” tied to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution. According to Iranian media, Jalili said the deaths would strengthen national resolve and push Iran further along what he called a path toward defeating its adversaries. His remarks reflect a broader effort within Iran’s political establishment to project unity and defiance despite mounting military and leadership losses.

Veteran adviser Ali Akbar Velayati also condemned the killings, calling Larijani a “revolutionary” figure and accusing the United States and Israel of “criminal” actions. He warned that both countries had miscalculated the consequences of targeting senior Iranian leadership, signalling the likelihood of continued retaliation.

Meanwhile, the conflict’s spillover into Iraq intensified, with an attack reported on the Imam Ali base in the northeastern city of Kirkuk. Verified footage showed flames rising from the site following the strike. The base houses members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces(PMF), a state-linked umbrella group of largely Shia militias, several of which are aligned with Iran.

Explosions were reported across Baghdad early Wednesday as a drone and rocket attack targeted the United States Embassy, marking another escalation in the widening regional conflict. Iraqi officials confirmed that the heavily fortified diplomatic compound came under direct attack, with at least one drone striking inside the premises.

According to security sources, multiple blasts were heard overnight, with air defence systems attempting to intercept incoming projectiles over the embassy zone. An AFP journalist on the ground reported hearing successive explosions, while witnesses described seeing flashes in the sky consistent with interception attempts.

Despite the initial blasts, some parts of the city appeared momentarily calm, with daily life continuing in nearby areas, it was reported.

A fire was later spotted along the edge of the embassy grounds, which officials said was caused by a drone impact. Hours after the first wave, another explosion was heard, with a security official confirming that a drone had directly hit the embassy compound.

A fresh missile barrage launched by Iran killed two people near Israel’s commercial hub Tel Aviv early Wednesday, as the conflict between Israel and Tehran continues to intensify. The attack triggered widespread air raid sirens across central Israel and caused damage to civilian infrastructure, including the temporary suspension of national rail services.

According to Israel’s emergency service, two people were found dead in Ramat Gan, where buildings were heavily damaged. Visuals from the site showed streets covered in debris, shattered glass, and emergency teams conducting search and rescue operations. In nearby Bnei Brak, one person was reported to have sustained minor injuries from shrapnel.

Authorities said multiple impact sites were recorded across the Tel Aviv region, with bomb disposal teams deployed to handle unexploded ordnance. The missile strike also disrupted transportation, after shrapnel hit infrastructure at Tel Aviv’s main railway station. Israel’s national railway company confirmed that services across the country were temporarily suspended as a precaution, although no casualties were reported at the station.

The war between United States, Israel and Iran escalated sharply on Wednesday, with Washington launching some of its heaviest strikes yet on Iranian missile infrastructure near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The move came as Tehran intensified missile attacks across the region and vowed to avenge the killing of its top security leadership.

According to US Central Command, multiple 5,000-pound bunker-buster bombs were used to hit hardened missile sites along Iran’s southern coast, targeting positions seen as a direct threat to international shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, has been largely disrupted by Iran, raising alarm over global energy markets and trade flows.

The strikes follow Israel’s targeted killing of senior Iranian figures, including Ali Larijani and Gholam Reza Soleimani. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has vowed retaliation, describing Larijani’s death as a catalyst for a “national awakening.” Funeral processions for both leaders are expected to take place amid heightened tensions.