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Trump says delay of ‘a month or so’ requested while key official insists move is not to pressure Beijing to help unblock strait of Hormuz; Iraqi officials say drones and rockets attacked embassy European countries reject Trump’s call for help to reopen strait of Hormuz How have you been affected by the latest Middle East events? Are fuel price increases making you cut back? More now on Iraq: the reported drone and rocket attack targeting the US embassy in Baghdad early on Tuesday came as a strike killed four people at a house reportedly hosting Iranian advisors, security officials said, pulling Iraq deeper into the Middle East war. The strikes came hours after air defences thwarted a rocket attack at the embassy and a drone caused a fire at a luxury hotel frequented by foreign diplomats in Baghdad’s fortified green zone, Agence France-Presse reported. Continue reading...

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Drone intercepted in Kuwait; loud booms reported in Doha Kuwait’s National Guard on Tuesday said its forces shot down a drone as part of “ongoing efforts to enhance security, protect vital sites and confront any potential threats.” In Qatar, authorities issued a public safety alert after loud “booms” were reported in the capital, Doha. Residents were urged to remain indoors and avoid windows, glass facades and exposed areas until the threat had passed.

Report: IRGC's Basij force base hit as explosions rock Tehran Several explosions were reported across Tehran, including a massive blast in the Andarzgoo neighbourhood near the city’s downtown, according to the Voice of America’s Persian-language service. VOA Persian also reported an attack on a "base for the IRGC paramilitary Basij force in the Kamraniyeh neighbourhood" early Tuesday. Earlier, an Al Jazeera correspondent in Tehran said multiple explosions were heard across the Iranian capital.

As War With Iran Hurts Oil Prices, U.S. Turns to Iranian Boats for Help  The New York Times

By Jonathan Landay, Phil Stewart and Erin Banco WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump was warned that attacking Iran could trigger retaliation against U.S. Gulf allies despite his claims on Monday that Tehran's reaction came as a surprise, said a U.S. official and two sources familiar with U.S. intelligence reports. Pre-war intelligence assessments did not say that Iran’s response was "a guarantee, but it certainly was on the list of potential outcomes," said one source, who like the other two requested anonymity to discuss the issue.

TAIPEI, March 17 (Reuters) - Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo on Tuesday said he believed the U.S.' internal review process for the sale of a second package of arms to the island is proceeding on schedule. A major U.S. arms package for Taiwan worth about $14 billion that includes advanced interceptor missiles is ready for President Donald Trump's approval and could be signed after his upcoming trip to China, Reuters reported last week, citing sources briefed on the discussion.

BAGHDAD, March 17 (Reuters) - Rockets and at least five drones were launched at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad early on Tuesday from areas around the city, Iraqi security sources said, describing the attack as the most intense since the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. A Reuters witness saw at least three drones heading in the direction of the embassy. The C-RAM air defence system shot down two of them while a third struck inside the embassy compound, from which fire and smoke could be seen rising, the witness said.

A spokesperson for Iran's Central Headquarters said wars are decided on the battlefield, not social media.

South Korea warns of 'worst-case scenario' on energy South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned that the worst-case energy scenario must be considered if the Middle East conflict continues, calling for diplomatic efforts to secure stable alternative energy sources. Speaking in a televised address, Lee said South Korea may consider limiting energy exports if necessary and urged the country to accelerate the development of renewable energy. His remarks came as Seoul also declined to commit naval forces to the Strait of Hormuz despite US calls for allied support.

KABUL, March 17 (Reuters) - At least 400 people were killed and 250 injured in an air strike by Pakistan on a drug users rehabilitation hospital in the Afghan capital of Kabul, the deputy spokesman of the Afghan Taliban government said on Tuesday. Pakistan rejected the claim as false and misleading and said it "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure" on Monday night. (Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar; Writing by YP Rajesh; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

Oil gains over 2% as market weighs Iran war supply risks  Reuters

Police deploy explosives' clearance teams to three sites following suspected suicide attacks in the northeastern city.

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By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - A Palestinian woman was released on bond from a Texas immigration detention center on Monday after a judge's order, the last pro-Palestinian activist held under the Trump administration's crackdown on protests against Israel's war in Gaza. Leqaa Kordia, 33, who was raised in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, left the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, after more than a year there and was returning to her family in New Jersey, her legal team said.

Footage shows the aftermath of deadly blasts in Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria.

Explosions rock northern Tehran following reported air strikes Several large explosions were heard in northern Tehran near the Saadabad Palace complex, Al Jazeera reported.  Witnesses said the blasts occurred close to the former royal palace, though the exact cause was not immediately clear. Earlier reports indicated strikes in Karaj, Shahriar and areas toward Shiraz following a major attack in central Tehran on Monday.

Seoul says Hormuz naval deployment needs careful deliberation South Korea said US President Donald Trump’s request for Seoul to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz requires “very careful” deliberation and no decision has been made on any deployment. “This is an issue that should be decided after sufficient discussions between South Korea and the US and with adequate time for deliberation,” presidential secretary Lee Kyu-yeon said, adding that the government intends to handle the matter “very carefully.”

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Trump seeks to delay China summit due to Iran war  BBC