Iran Threatens Gulf Neighbors Directly for the First Time
The Iran war took a dangerous new turn this weekend as Tehran openly threatened to strike three major ports in the United Arab Emirates — including Jebel Ali, the busiest port in the entire Middle East — marking the first time Iran has directly threatened a neighboring country’s non-U.S. assets since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28.
Iran’s joint military command issued evacuation warnings for Jebel Ali port in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah port on the Gulf of Oman, claiming the United States had used “ports, docks and hideouts” in the UAE to launch devastating strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal.
Hours after the warning, debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck an oil facility at Fujairah port, sparking a fire. By Sunday morning, the UAE reported a new missile attack — confirming fears that Iran is now expanding its target list beyond U.S. military assets to include civilian and economic infrastructure across the Gulf.
Iran’s Foreign Minister: US Attacked From ‘Very Close to Dubai’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made explosive claims in an interview, stating that the U.S. launched its Kharg Island strikes from two locations inside the UAE — Ras Al-Khaimah and a position “very close to Dubai.” He warned that Iran “will try to be careful not to attack any populated area” but made clear that UAE territory was now considered fair game.
U.S. Central Command declined to respond to Iran’s claims. A diplomatic adviser to the UAE’s president, Anwar Gargash, issued a measured response on social media, saying the country “has the right to defend itself” but “still prioritizes reason and logic, and continues exercising restraint.”
The threat to UAE ports represents a dramatic escalation. Dubai’s Jebel Ali is one of the world’s largest container ports and a critical hub for global trade. Any sustained attack could send shockwaves through already-strained global supply chains and push oil prices — already surging — to crisis levels.
Israel Launches New Wave of Airstrikes as IDF Plans 3+ More Weeks
As Iran escalated threats against its Gulf neighbors, Israel launched a massive new wave of airstrikes on western Iran on Sunday, March 15. The Israeli military confirmed that its fighter jets have now conducted more than 7,000 individual strikes since the war began just over two weeks ago.
Israeli strikes have systematically targeted fire control systems, air defense networks, and weapons production facilities across western Iran in what the IDF describes as an effort to permanently degrade Iran’s ability to strike Israeli territory.
Perhaps most significantly, the IDF announced Sunday that it has operational plans for at least three more weeks of sustained operations against Iran, stating there is “no stopwatch or timetable” for ending the campaign. This signals that the combined U.S.-Israeli air campaign is far from over — and that the war’s devastation will continue to mount.
Operation Epic Fury by the Numbers: Week 3
As the war enters its third week, the scale of Operation Epic Fury is staggering:
- Iranian missile volume down 90% since the start of the war, according to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
- One-way attack drone volume down 95%, indicating massive degradation of Iran’s offensive capabilities
- 13 U.S. service members killed in action, including losses from the KC-135 refueling aircraft crash in Iraq on March 12
- Over 7,000 Israeli airstrikes conducted across Iran
- 1,444+ reported dead in Iran, with the real number likely far higher
- 800+ killed in Lebanon as the conflict expanded into a renewed Lebanon war with Hezbollah
- 850,000+ displaced in Lebanon as Israeli strikes intensified
- Estimated cost of $3.7 billion for just the first 100 hours of Epic Fury, per CSIS analysis
The Pentagon confirmed that U.S. forces destroyed naval mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz on March 10, as Iran attempted to block the critical waterway through which one-fifth of the world’s oil normally transits.
Trump Rejects Peace Talks, Demands Allied Warships
President Trump made clear Sunday that he is not ready to negotiate an end to the conflict, rejecting any deal with Iran “on current terms.” The president doubled down on his call for allied nations — including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom — to send warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
Britain responded by saying it was discussing “a range of options” with allies to secure shipping lanes. Iran’s foreign minister dismissed Trump’s appeal as “begging” and urged Middle Eastern countries to “expel foreign aggressors.”
Iran’s parliamentary speaker warned that any strikes on the country’s oil infrastructure would “provoke a new level of retaliation” — a direct reference to Trump’s threat on Friday to “wipe out” oil facilities on Kharg Island if Iran continued blocking the strait.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued a chilling threat, vowing to hunt down those responsible for the campaign against the Islamic Republic — a statement U.S. officials are taking seriously given earlier FBI warnings about potential Iranian activity on American soil.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Across the Region
The International Organization for Migration reported Sunday that deteriorating conditions in Iranian cities are “driving increasingly complex mobility patterns,” with the destruction of homes and basic services pushing many Iranians toward northern provinces they believe may be safer.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was struck by a missile for the second time since the war began, with smoke rising from the compound on Saturday. The U.S. has ordered all American citizens to leave Iraq as the conflict threatens to destabilize the entire region.
Global anti-war protests have swept major cities worldwide, while airlines including Air India have curtailed Middle East services due to the escalating danger.
What Comes Next
With the IDF planning at least three more weeks of operations, Trump refusing to negotiate, and Iran now openly threatening Gulf neighbors’ civilian infrastructure, the war shows no signs of de-escalation.
The key flashpoints to watch:
- Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s continued attempts to block the waterway versus U.S. mine-clearing operations and Trump’s push for allied naval presence
- UAE escalation: Whether Iran follows through on threats against Dubai and Abu Dhabi ports, which could trigger direct Emirati military involvement
- Oil prices: Already surging, any sustained disruption to Gulf shipping or attacks on oil infrastructure could trigger a global economic crisis
- Lebanon front: Hezbollah’s resumed attacks on Israel risk opening a full second front that would stretch military resources
- Domestic pressure: Growing U.S. casualties and the staggering cost of operations may intensify political debate at home
As Operation Epic Fury enters its third week, one thing is clear: this conflict is expanding, not contracting. The question is no longer whether the war will end soon — it’s how far it will spread before it does.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.