Iran hits Qatar gas site in retaliation for Israeli energy strikes

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EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday that there is a need to find an exit from the war involving Iran and avoid further escalation.

“We need an exit from the Iran war, not an escalation,” Kallas told reporters ahead of a European Council summit in Brussels.

She added that ending the conflict was as important as finding a solution to the war in Ukraine.

Lebanon’s foreign minister said the government is moving to end Iranian influence in the country, during an emergency meeting in Riyadh, according to Lebanese media on Thursday.

Youssef Raggi said Iran’s actions pose a threat to states that have pursued de-escalation, warning of the risks of continued escalation.

“The government is proceeding with efforts to free Lebanon from Iranian influence,” he said, adding that authorities would continue taking decisions to protect sovereignty.

An adviser to Iran’s leadership said the country should use the war to reshape its position in the Strait of Hormuz, according to state media on Thursday.

Mohammad Mokhber said the situation offers “one of the most important opportunities” to redefine Iran’s role in the strategic waterway.

“After the imposed war, by defining a new regime for the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will move from being under sanctions to a powerful position in the region and the world,” he said.

He added that Western powers had previously “restricted” Iran but said the outcome of the war could shift that balance.

Iran’s nationwide internet blackout has entered its 20th day, leaving the general public without international connectivity for more than 456 hours, NetBlocks said.

"The incident is now the longest recorded shutdown in Iran's history, surpassing the blackout imposed during protests in January," the internet monitoring group said.

Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said on Thursday a drone fell at the SAMREF refinery, adding that an assessment of the damage was underway.

A projectile that landed near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant likely came from the north rather than the Persian Gulf, David Albright, a former UN nuclear inspector and founder of the Institute for Science and International Security, said on Thursday, citing satellite imagery.

High-resolution images taken on March 18 show an impact around 350 meters from the reactor, with a debris pattern suggesting an incoming projectile from the north, he said.

“This adds Iran to the suspect list, along with Israel and the United States, although an Iranian projectile would certainly have been inadvertent,” Albright said in a post on X.

He echoed calls by International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi to avoid strikes near nuclear facilities and urged that communication channels with Russia remain open to reduce risks.

Exiled Queen Farah Pahlavi said on Thursday that this year’s Nowruz coincides with a “great awakening” to reclaim freedom and national dignity in Iran, following the state killings during recent unrest.

“This year’s Nowruz coincides with a great awakening to reclaim freedom and national pride… after the largest street killings by a regressive regime that took thousands of young Iranians from their families,” she said in a message on X.

Pahlavi expressed sympathy for families of those killed, saying she shares “the grief of the survivors” and wished them patience and peace.

She said she hopes Iranians can focus on rebuilding the country and restoring its standing, adding she wishes to see “a free and proud Iran” soon.

Israel said on Thursday its air force struck an Iranian MI-17 helicopter at Sanandaj airport in western Iran.

The Israeli military said the strike targeted an aircraft linked to the Revolutionary Guards as part of efforts to degrade Iran’s air capabilities.

Explosions, air activity and security measures were reported in several parts of Iran from late Wednesday into early Thursday, according to eyewitness accounts sent to Iran International.

The southwestern city of Ahvaz, the main city in Khuzestan province, saw fighter jet activity at 5:53 a.m. followed by an explosion around 6:30 a.m. in the Golestan area.

In northern Iran, a strong blast was heard at 5:16 a.m. in Sari, the capital of Mazandaran province. The port city of Bandar Anzali was also hit by what was described as two drone attacks followed by heavy bombardment targeting naval units of the IRGC and the army. Reports said fuel storage sites were damaged and several warships were destroyed.

In central Iran, a police station in Shahin Shahr, near Isfahan, was reported hit on Wednesday evening. Separately, in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, Basij forces were reported to have set up nighttime checkpoints in an area at the city’s entrance, with armed patrols causing traffic and fear.