Hegseth says Tuesday will be the ‘most intense day of strikes’ inside Iran

Iran fired drones towards Saudi Arabia and Kuwait early Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump sent contradictory signals about how long the war could last, fueling uncertainty that’s causing markets to swing.

The Saudi Defense Ministry said it has destroyed drones over the kingdom’s oil-rich eastern region, while in Kuwait, the National Guard said it shot some down in the country’s northern and southern areas.

Iran’s latest attacks on neighboring Gulf States come as Trump late Monday told Republican lawmakers that the war was likely to be a “short excursion,” but hours later threatened in a post on social media that the U.S. would dramatically increase attacks if Iran tried to close the Strait of Hormuz.

In an apparent response to Trump’s remarks published in Iranian state media, a spokesperson for the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Ali Mohammad Naini, said “Iran will determine when the war ends.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday morning that “today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran.” Shortly before the statement, made to reporters from the Pentagon, he said “the last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest amount of missiles they have fired yet.”

Trump sends contradictory messages

The president on Monday told Republican lawmakers that the war was likely to be a “short excursion,” but hours later posted on social media that “If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far.”

US market seesaws on uncertainty of war

The U.S. stock market careened through a manic Monday, going from a steep early loss to a solid gain as worries turned into hope that the war with Iran may not last that long. Oil prices whipped from nearly $120 per barrel, the highest since 2022, back toward $90.

The death toll continues to rise

The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, at least 397 in Lebanon, and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries.

Iranian official says athlete’s forced withdrawal from paralympics is heartbreaking

Cross-country skier Aboulfazl Khatibi had to withdraw from the Winter Paralympics because of he couldn’t travel safely to Italy due to the Iran war.

“The recent events have been very painful for many people, and it is especially heartbreaking for athletes who have dedicated years of hard work and preparation to represent their country,” Hamid Alisamimi, the chief executive of Iran’s National Paralympic Committee, said in a statement to The Associated Press.

“Aboulfazl Khatibi Mianaei, like many others, has faced deep disappointment at being unable to participate in the Paralympics after such long and determined preparation. At the same time, he believes that sport should always remain a bridge between nations and a symbol of peace.”

Pakistan’s navy escorting commercial shipping and energy suppliers

A merchant vessel escorted by Pakistan Navy warships docked overnight in the southern port city of Karachi and another was expected to enter Pakistan’s territorial waters in the Arabian Sea later Tuesday in the nation’s maritime security operation.

About 90% of Pakistan’s trade moves by sea, making maritime routes vital for the country’s economy and energy imports from Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries. Pakistan’s military said its navy launched Operation “Muhafiz-ul-Bahr” or Maritime Guardian in response to potential disruptions to key sea lanes.

Iran is firing off fewer ballistic missiles, drones since U.S. campaign began

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says the number of ballistic missiles fired off by Iran continues to go down since the first day of the U.S. military’s campaign against Iran.

Speaking at a Pentagon news briefing, Caine said missile attacks have fallen 90% and one-way attack drones have decreased 83% since the war began.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the numbers show U.S. strikes are making progress by wearing down Iran’s defenses and its ability to strike its neighbors and U.S. forces.

“That is strong evidence of degradation,” Hegseth said of the numbers.

Egypt raises fuel prices

Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly says his government had to raise fuel prices to make sure local production continues and the economy remains stable.

Egypt hiked fuel prices by up to 17% as the war in the Middle East has sent prices of oil soaring.

The prime minister said during a Cabinet meeting that the government faced a choice between maintaining current fuel prices — a move that he said would have imposed heavy costs on the state — or raising them to shield industrial and business operations from the repercussions of the war.

Israel reports new missile salvo from Iran

Israel’s military says Iran has launched a missile attack targeting it Tuesday afternoon.

UAE’s industrial city of Ruwais attacked

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates says firefighters are battling a blaze in Ruwais after an Iranian drone strike.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office, which speaks for the capital, says there have been no injuries reported.

Ruwais is about 175 kilometers (110 miles) southwest of the capital city of Abu Dhabi in its desert reaches near the border with Saudi Arabia. It’s home to petrochemical plants.

Qatar intercepts missile attack

Qatar’s Defense Ministry reported that it intercepted an incoming missile.

Qatar has warned the public to go inside Tuesday afternoon out of concern of an incoming Iranian attack.

Also, the United Arab Emirates says its air defenses had been activated to intercept incoming fire from Iran.

Iranian security official threatens Trump

Ali Larijani wrote a message on X Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran “TWENTY TIMES HARDER” if Tehran stopped oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Larijani wrote: “The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn’t fear your empty threats. Even those bigger than you couldn’t eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.”

Iran has been accused of plotting attempts to kill Trump in the past.