Here's the latest
• Energy costs: The average US gas price hit $4 a gallon today, the highest since 2022. Average prices at the pump are now higher than at any point during President Donald Trump’s two terms. Oil prices also rose slightly while Asian markets were trading lower.
• Latest strikes: A fully loaded Kuwaiti tanker in Dubai waters was hit by an Iranian drone attack. Explosions have been heard across Tehran, as Israel’s military said it conducted multiple waves of strikes on targets in the Iranian capital. Cars were in flames in central Israel due to missile fragments falling.
• US troops: As speculation mounts over a possible US ground operation in Iran, the USS Tripoli, believed to be carrying around 1,800 Marines, is in the Indian Ocean, said US Central Command.
US gas prices hit $4 per gallon for first time since 2022
The average price Americans are paying for gas hit $4 per gallon Tuesday, the highest level since 2022, according to AAA.
Average prices at the pump are now higher than at any point during President Donald Trump’s two terms.
Gas prices have surged since the start of the war in the Middle East, rising by about $1 per gallon over the past month.
Deadly attacks on several Iranian cities
Iran has faced another night of heavy bombardment, with buildings damaged and the death toll rising as the US and Israel continue strikes on the country.
Here is what’s happening across Iran:
Tehran: Explosions were heard across Tehran, as Israel’s military said it conducted multiple waves of strikes on targets in the Iranian capital. A video from the Iranian Red Crescent showed a building with its walls blown out, as an excavator cleared the rubble on the ground. The humanitarian group said the building was in a residential area.
Mahallat: Eleven people were killed, including three children and two mothers, during a missile attack in the city of Mahallat, south of Tehran, the semi-official news agency Mehr News reported, citing a local official.
Zanjan: Three people were killed and 12 were wounded Tuesday morning in the northern Iranian city of Zanjan during a strike on the administrative building of the Hosseinieh Azam Zanjan Mosque, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. The golden dome of the mosque suffered some damage from shrapnel, state media said, adding that a guesthouse, library and some nearby shops were also impacted.
Isfahan: Massive explosions were seen in a social media video CNN geolocated to Isfahan, Iran’s third largest city, which has been repeatedly targeted in recent weeks.
Cars burn after missile fragments fall in central Israel
Several cars have caught fire after being struck by missile fragments that fell in central Israel after a new barrage was fired by Iran.
There were reports of debris falling at various sites in the Tel Aviv district, a police spokesperson said, adding that there were no casualties “at this stage.”
“Search and rescue forces… are on their way to sites in central Israel where reports of impact have been received,” said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Emergency responders were seen at an impact site on Tel Aviv’s beach promenade.
The damage appeared to be from a cluster munition, an IDF spokesperson told CNN. Iran had earlier claimed to have fired a new wave of missiles towards Israel.
Funeral procession held following death of IRGC navy commander killed by Israel
Video from Iranian state media claims to show the funeral procession for the late Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy commander Alireza Tangsiri on Tuesday.
Iranian media reported Tangsiri’s death on Monday, four days after Israel said it had killed him.
Tangsiri had been increasingly vocal and visible since Israel and the United States launched their campaign against Iran and was a key figure behind Tehran’s near-total closure of the key Straits of Hormuz waterway.
The video shows a casket, draped in Iranian national colours, being transported in a trailer covered with a red and green canopy, flowers, and an image of Tangsiri. Crowds are seen lining the street carrying Iranian flags, watching the procession as it passes.
US warship carrying Marines in Indian Ocean, CENTCOM says
As speculation increases over a possible US ground operation against Iran, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, believed to be carrying around 1,800 Marines, is in the Indian Ocean, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a social media post Monday.
A photo showed the 45,000-ton warship steaming in the Indian Ocean on Sunday, according to the CENTCOM post. It did not indicate how far the ship is from Iran.
The Tripoli is carrying troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), based in Okinawa, according to photos from March 26 posted on a Defense Department website. The photos show Marines participating in a “ship defense exercise.”
The Tripoli can carry about 1,850 Marines, along with its crew of 1,200 sailors, according to a Navy fact sheet. The amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans, part of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), can carry an additional 700 Marines.
US President Donald Trump has suggested US forces could seize Iran’s Kharg Island, through which 90% of Tehran’s oil exports flow. Iran has threatened wipe out any US troops attempting to land on its territory as well as ramp up attacks on global oil supplies.
Along with the 31st MEU Marines aboard the Tripoli, the 11th MEU with as many as 2,200 Marines has reportedly been ordered to the Middle East.
The US Naval Institute’s Fleet Tracker released Monday showed the Boxer ARG at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a three- to four-week trip from the Persian Gulf. Defense Department photos showed Boxer units training at sea on March 28.
Along with the Marines, about 1,000 troops from the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division have reportedly been ordered to the Middle East.
Kuwaiti tanker laden with oil hit by drone attack as Trump reiterates threat. Here's the latest
A Kuwaiti oil tanker was struck by what Kuwaitis said was an Iranian drone attack, as US President Donald Trump renewed his threat to blow up Iran’s oil facilities if it does not reopen the Hormuz strait. No oil leakage or injuries were reported following the strike on the tanker full of oil in Dubai waters, city authorities said.
Meanwhile, Washington claims talks with Tehran are still ongoing but has offered little detail on who they are communicating with, while Iran sends contradictory messages.
Here’s what to know on Day 32:
- Tanker struck: A fully loaded Kuwaiti tanker in Dubai waters was hit by what Kuwaits said was an Iranian drone attack, as Trump again threatened to blow up Iran’s energy sources if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened fully. Trump reiterated his threat to “obliterate” Iran’s electric plants and oil wells if it does not agree to a deal to end the war. When asked about this threat, the White House press secretary said the US military will always follow the law. Attacking civilian infrastructure could be a war crime, experts warn.
- Washington comments: The White House press secretary said US talks with Iran were “going well,” and that Iranian officials now at the negotiating table appear more reasonable than the regime’s previous leader. She added that US troops are being sent to the Middle East to give Trump “maximum optionality” while officials pursue a diplomatic solution.
- Iran’s response: In a stark contrast in tone, an Iranian official earlier lambasted the US’ list of demands as “largely excessive, unrealistic, and unreasonable.”
- Strait of Hormuz: The White House heralded the movement of some tankers in the strait as a sign of diplomacy, shortly before Iran approved a plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the critical waterway.
- Energy costs: On Tuesday, oil prices rose slightly while Asian markets were trading lower. WTI Crude, the US benchmark, settled above $100 per barrel on Monday for the first time since July 2022.
No oil spill reported after fully laden Kuwaiti tanker struck off Dubai
No oil leakage or injuries have been reported following the strike on a Kuwaiti tanker full of oil in Dubai waters, city authorities said Tuesday.
Earlier, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation warned of the possibility of an oil spill after the large crude carrier “Al-Salmi” was attacked by Iranian forces while anchored off Dubai, according to Kuwaiti state news agency KUNA.
The vessel was struck 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, according to UK’s maritime authority (UKMTO).
The strike ignited a fire aboard the vessel, which Dubai authorities later extinguished. The incident has now been contained, authorities said.
Why the country attempting to broker US-Iran peace talks risks being drawn into the conflict
Islamabad, Pakistan — In the month since the US and Israel began their aerial bombing campaign of Iran, thousands of people have been killed across at least nine countries in a rapidly escalating conflict that is costing economies billions of dollars a day. The world is facing a global energy crisis.
But the scale of this war could get much, much worse.
Iran has fired salvos of drones and missiles at Saudi Arabia, as well as fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
Yet, so far, none of these countries have retaliated against Tehran.
Four soldiers killed in combat in Lebanon, Israeli military says
Israel’s military said Tuesday that four additional soldiers were killed and two were wounded during combat in southern Lebanon.
Ten Israeli soldiers have now been killed during Israel’s latest offensive targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon, which began just after the start of the war with Iran.
Earlier this month, Israeli forces occupied areas south of the Litani River and told Lebanese residents to leave the land as part of a broader assault after Iran-backed Hezbollah fired projectiles into Israel. Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed 1,238 people since March 2, the Lebanese health ministry said Sunday.
Power outages in Tehran after blasts, explosions seen in Isfahan
The Iranian city of Isfahan appeared to have come under heavy bombardment overnight into Tuesday, while there were reports of explosions and initial power outages in the capital Tehran.
A video posted on social media, and geolocated by CNN, shows a series of large explosions in Isfahan. The minarets of city’s Grand Mosalla mosque can be seen in the foreground of the footage.
State media also reported explosions in eastern and western parts of Tehran, with the state-affiliated Fars news agency saying there were initial power outages in the city, caused by shrapnel striking a substation. The news agency later reported that power was restored.
Early Tuesday morning Israel’s military issued a warning to residents of Tehran saying it would strike the Vard Avar area “in the coming minutes.” The online warning was posted on X in the Farsi language, but it’s unlikely to have been seen by people in Tehran, as there was an internet blackout in place in Iran since the war began.
Asian stocks fall as oil prices rise
Oil prices rose slightly on Tuesday, a day after US crude futures settled above $100 per barrel for the first time since July 2022. Meanwhile, major Asian stocks are trading lower during the Tuesday morning session, as investor concerns over a protracted conflict and an energy crisis linger.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, edged up 0.23% to $113.04 per barrel at 12:02 am ET Tuesday. WTI, the US benchmark, was up 0.04% to $102.92.
Japan’s benchmark index Nikkei 225 slid 1% as of 11:56 am local time Tuesday, while South Korea’s Kospi fell 3.1%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index shed 0.5%.
Korean Air to enter "emergency management mode" over fuel costs
Korean Air will switch to “emergency management mode” from April as fuel prices soar amid the US-Israel war with Iran, the airliner’s Vice Chairman Woo Kee-hong said in an internal memo on Tuesday.
Woo said fuel costs typically account for about 30% of an airline’s total expenses but if the current high oil prices persist, the percentage could more than double, according to part of the memo provided to CNN by Korean Air.
The airlines within the Hanjin Group, including Korean Air, will enter emergency management mode from April, he added.
Woo said that the company’s pursuing all possible measures to reduce costs, and closely monitoring aviation fuel supplies to determine whether it’s necessary to adjust flight schedules.
“Under the emergency management system, the company is setting internal targets to reduce costs that are not essential for aircraft operations,” the airline explained in a separate statement, without providing further details.
Kuwaiti oil tanker struck by Iranian drone in Dubai waters
Dubai authorities said Tuesday they had successfully put out the fire onboard a Kuwaiti crude carrier the Kuwaitis said was struck by an Iranian drone.
The Dubai government said no injuries were reported and that all 24 crew members were safe.
Earlier, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said the very large crude carrier “Al-Salmi” had been attacked by Iranian forces while anchored off Dubai, according to state news agency KUNA.
The tanker was fully loaded, the KPC said, warning of the possibility of an oil spill, according to KUNA.
The vessel was struck 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, according to the UK maritime authority (UKMTO), a British military-run monitoring agency which has responsibility for the region.
Dubai authorities said teams are assessing the extent of the damage and the situation.
Jet fuel prices have doubled since war began, report shows
Global jet fuel prices have more than doubled since the war in the Persian Gulf began, International Air Transport Association (IATA) data shows, forcing airlines to increase fuel surcharges or cut services.
IATA’s Jet Fuel Price Monitor for the week ending March 27 shows worldwide average jet fuel prices now sit 104% above where they were last month, now selling at an average of $4.65 a gallon worldwide.
Asia and Oceana have seen the biggest increase, with the jet fuel price up 134% over the same period, to almost $5 per gallon.
North America has shown the smallest increase, up about 88% over the past month.
A smaller twin-engine commercial jet, such as an Airbus 320 or Boeing 737, burns around 750 to 900 gallons of fuel per hour, with long-haul jets like the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350 burning 1,500 to 2,200 gallons per hour, according to American bulk fuel distributor Premier Petroleum.
Airlines, which see about 30% of their costs devoted to fuel, are being hit harder than other oil consumers as the price of Brent crude is only up about 60% since the war began.
The “crack spread” –– the difference between the price of crude and refined jet fuel –– has increased 231% in the past month and 287% in the past year, the IATA report says.
Airlines have been responding by increasing prices, through surcharges, and by reviewing flight routes.
Iran approves plan to charge tolls for Hormuz strait passage
Iran’s parliamentary Security Commission has approved a plan to regulate and impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, a commission member announced.
The commission’s plan is to enforce “Iran’s sovereign role and that of its armed forces,” Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said Monday.
The plan outlines several key elements aimed at reinforcing Iran’s control and oversight of the strait, including “security arrangements to safeguard the waterway, measures to ensure maritime navigation safety and financial regulations and rial-denominated tolls for vessels passing through and the prohibition of passage for vessels belonging to the United States and Israel,” according to IRIB.
The Strait of Hormuz is currently the central flashpoint in an ongoing conflict that began Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran.
Iran’s closure of the strait through threats and attacks on shipping has stranded roughly 15 million barrels of crude per day in the Persian Gulf, causing severe volatility in global oil markets.
Iranians are using Telegram to track airstrikes
Thousands of people in Iran are using Telegram, an encrypted messaging app, to try share critical information, like locations of airstrikes, what areas lost power and the extent of the damage. CNN’s Leila Gharagozlou reports:
People in Iran are looking at accounts on Telegram to try to track airstrikes and stay safe. CNN’s Leila Gharagozlou reports.
Why Kharg Island is important to Iran’s oil exports
Kharg Island is a five-mile stretch of land off the Iranian coast that handles 90% of the country’s crude exports. If the United States were to seize the island, it wouldn’t mean getting all of Iran’s oil. CNN’s Paula Hancocks explains:
President Trump has told the Financial Times he is considering raised the prospect of seizing Kharg Island, a coral outcrop 25 km off Iran’s coast, which handles 90% of the country’s crude exports. But taking Kharg Island doesn’t necessarily mean getting all of Iran’s oil. CNN's Paula Hancocks explains.
IMF warns conflict in Middle East is causing higher prices and slower global growth
The International Monetary Fund has sounded an economic alarm, saying the war in the Middle East is sparking higher prices and slower growth around the world.
In a blog post titled “How the War in the Middle East Is Affecting Energy, Trade, and Finance,” IMF economists wrote: “Although the war could shape the global economy in different ways, all roads lead to higher prices and slower growth… Much depends on how long the conflict lasts, how far it spreads, and how much damage it inflicts on infrastructure and supply chains.”
Due to Iran’s selective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the cost of energy is soaring as the world is losing as much as 20 million barrels of oil per day from Middle East producers.
The IMF noted how large energy importers in Asia and Europe are bearing the brunt of higher energy costs.
It also said countries in Asia and Africa that are heavily dependent on oil imports are struggling to access the supplies they need, “even at inflated prices.”
The fund also warned that higher food and fertilizer prices are already affecting some countries – with low-income economies at risk of food insecurity.
The IMF added it is supporting member countries with policy advice and financial assistance, and will release a fuller assessment in mid-April during IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington.
Experts say attacking civilian infrastructure could be a war crime
Attacks on civilian infrastructure by any side of the conflict would likely constitute a war crime under international law, experts have told CNN.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to target Iranian power facilities and potentially desalination plants if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Launching a concerted attack on desalination plants would be “a provocative escalation,” said David Michel, senior fellow for water security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
If attacks on desalination plants are “the beginning of a military policy and not just mistakes or collateral damage, this is both illegal – a war crime – and a very concerning development, as (Gulf) countries have only a few weeks of water storage,” said Laurent Lambert, an associate professor of public policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, in Qatar.
Amnesty International has said that the potential for “vast, predictable and devastating civilian harm” caused by strikes on energy infrastructure means such attacks “carry a substantial risk of violating international humanitarian law.”
The White House said Monday the US military would always act in accordance with the law.
