NATO intercepts Iranian missiles as US lifts Russian oil sanctions amid regional tensions.
Exchange of Fire and Incidents in the Gulf Region
Exchange of fire continues between Israeli-American and Iranian forces. Saudi Arabia reported that its air defense shot down nearly 50 drones on Friday morning. In Oman, two people died and several were injured when one of two drones shot down over the Suhar province fell in the Al Awahi industrial zone. The victims were migrant workers.
NATO’s air defense intercepted a third ballistic missile fired by Iran toward Turkey. “NATO remains vigilant and defends all allies firmly,” said NATO spokesperson Allison Hart.
Loud explosions were heard in central Tehran, emanating from near an annual anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian Al-Quds rally. According to Press TV, one person died.
Pentagon Targets Iranian Leadership
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced another record day of attacks on Iran. He stated that new Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei is injured, likely scarred, and desperate. “Yesterday he issued a statement, actually weak, without voice and without recording. His father is dead, he is scared, injured, running and has no legitimacy. This is a catastrophe for them,” he argued.
Meanwhile, German magazine “Der Spiegel” assessed that reports of US military successes in the war with Iran are met with skepticism in Berlin, and Germany is trying to guess the American strategy in this conflict. According to the newspaper, in the German government, “the demonstrative certainty of the US president’s victory meets growing doubts.”
Controversial Sanctions Relief on Russian Oil
Widely echoed in Europe is the decision of the US Treasury Department, which for the second time this week announced the exemption of Russian oil from existing sanctions. The issued license applies to cargo loaded onto tankers before March 12.
Kirill Dmitriev, a special representative of Russian leader Vladimir Putin for investments, stated that the US authorities’ partial lifting of sanctions on Russian oil will apply to 100 million barrels.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz assessed that the temporary exclusion of Russian oil from US sanctions is a mistake. Minister of Economy Katherina Reiche expressed a similar opinion, indicating that such a decision will only fuel Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
Strategic Error by US and Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz
The US lifting of sanctions on Russian oil is a consequence of Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz. According to CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter, both the Pentagon and the US National Security Council significantly underestimated Iran’s readiness to close this key transport route for oil and gas.
According to CNN, both US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright were involved in all stages of the planning of the war with Iran. However, Trump’s tendency to rely on a narrow circle of close advisors meant that expert voices from various departments and agencies on potential economic consequences were not considered in the event Iran responded to US and Israeli attacks by closing the Hormuz Strait.
Future of Shipping Routes and Nuclear Program
Despite the ongoing intense armed conflict in the Middle East, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi expressed the conviction that it is not excluded that talks between Iran and the US on Iran’s nuclear program and reaching a long-term solution could be resumed.
Meanwhile, “Wall Street Journal” reported that if the US makes a “strategic error,” Tehran could expand its naval warfare campaign to another strategic waterway—the Bab al-Mandeb strait, located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, part of the water boundary between Asia and Africa.
This “strategic error” – according to Tehran – is the escalation of the ongoing military campaign by the United States against Iran, including potential attacks on the country’s new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
