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Live. Iran threatens to destroy regional infrastructure as Israel warns war to last 'weeks'

A cargo ship carrying vehicles sails through the Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz in the United Arab Emirates, 22 March 2026
A cargo ship carrying vehicles sails through the Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz in the United Arab Emirates, 22 March 2026 Copyright  AP Photo
Copyright AP Photo
By Aleksandar Brezar
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Tehran said it would mine the entire Persian Gulf in case its islands and coast were to be attacked, as markets continue to be impacted by the Iran war, now in its third week. Follow our live blog.

Iran warned Monday it will strike electrical plants and desalination facilities across the Middle East if US President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to bomb power stations in the Islamic Republic.

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The threat from Tehran puts at risk both electricity supplies and water in the Gulf states, particularly as the desert nations co-locate their power stations with desalination plants crucial for supplying drinking water.

Meanwhile, Tehran has also threatened it would deploy mines across the entire Persian Gulf in case of “any enemy attempt to attack Iranian coasts or islands," an escalation which would further complicate the cargo ship traffic, already jeopardised by the Strait of Hormuz blockade.

Follow Euronews' live blog as our colleagues from the region and around the world bring you the latest developments in the ongoing Iran war.

Tehran leaders ‘in deep bunkers,’ US Central Command chief says

The chief of the US military’s Central Command said top leaders of Iran’s military are “in deep bunkers” while their frontline troops remain exposed to incoming American and Israeli airstrikes.

US Navy Admiral Brad Cooper gave an interview to the Persian-language satellite network Iran International, aired early Monday.

Iran International has been a preoccupation of Iran’s theocracy, with authorities repeatedly saying they’ve arrested people who allegedly gave footage to the network.

“I’d like everyone to note is I’ve watched this over the last week, this extraordinary contrast between the comfort and protection that you’re seeing with the senior generals in the Islamic Republic, at least those that are still alive, who are up in deep bunkers and facilities in and around Tehran,” Cooper said.

“And contrast that with the soldiers who are down on the ground who are unprotected. The generals are protected. The soldiers are not protected.”

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Greek PM announces measures to alleviate price hikes due to Iran war

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday announced a raft of additional measures to mitigate the energy costs of the Iran war.

In a televised address, Mitsotakis said the government had earmarked €300 million in relief for households and farmers in April and May.

The subsidies are targeted at reducing the cost of diesel fuel, petrol and fertiliser. Part of the initiative aims to curb price hikes in ferry fares to the islands, Mitsotakis said.

Oil prices rose on Monday after the US and Israel warned at the weekend that the war -- which has disrupted oil deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz -- would continue for several more weeks.

Greece had already announced a first batch of measures on 11 March, capping profit margins on gasoline and foodstuffs for three months.

Mitsotakis on Monday said the government was keeping additional funds on tap.

"Since no one knows how long this war will last, we are obviously keeping reserves in case the global economic situation deteriorates significantly," the conservative leader said.

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Tehran threatens to mine entire Gulf in case of coastal strikes

Iran on Monday threatened to deploy "naval mines" in the Gulf if the US was to attack any of its coasts or islands.

"Any attempt by the enemy to attack Iranian coasts or islands will naturally, and in accordance with established military practice, lead to all access routes and communication lines in the Persian Gulf and coastal areas being mined with various types of naval mines, including drifting mines deployable from the coasts," said the Tehran regime's defence council in a statement carried by state media.

The defence council -- which operates under the Supreme National Security Council -- was formed after Iran's 12-day conflict with Israel in June 2025.

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Oil up, stocks down on Monday

Stocks tumbled Monday and oil prices jumped after US President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders traded threats over the key Strait of Hormuz, while Israel said the war could last several more weeks.

With the war now in its fourth week and showing no sign of ending, the head of the International Energy Agency warned of the worst global energy crisis in decades and said the world economy was under "major threat" from it.

The escalation hammered stock markets, with Seoul and Tokyo -- which had been the standout performers before the war started -- taking the brunt of the selling, shedding 6.5% and 3.5%, respectively.

Hong Kong and Shanghai shed more than 3%, while Singapore, Taipei, Mumbai, Bangkok and Manila all lost between 2% and 3%.

London, Paris and Frankfurt opened sharply lower.

Meanwhile, oil prices jumped more than 2% with Brent above $114 and West Texas Intermediate topping $101.

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Gulf countries under Iranian attack again

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reported coming under fresh attacks on Monday morning, with explosions and sirens sounding over the Gulf.

The Saudi Ministry of Defence said it had detected two incoming ballistic missiles targeting the capital on Monday, "one of which was intercepted and the other fell in an uninhabited area".

The UAE defence ministry said it was "currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran", explaining "the sounds heard are the result of the air defence systems intercepting missiles and drones".

Hours earlier, Abu Dhabi authorities reported one person had been wounded by falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile.

Sirens were also sounding in Bahrain, with residents instructed to seek shelter.

"Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the interior ministry posted on social media.

While Tehran said it was only targeting US assets in the region, its drones and missiles have struck civilian infrastructure, including landmarks, airports, ports and oil facilities around the Gulf.

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Israel says 'weeks of fighting' ahead

In a statement on Sunday evening, IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Israel is facing "weeks of fighting" ahead in the ongoing Iran war, now in its third week.

"With each passing day, we are weakening the terror regime more and more. We will not allow the terror regime and its proxies to pose a threat to the State of Israel."

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Additional sources • AP, AFP

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