US Iran war highlights: Saudi FM says two Riyadh refineries hit; Iran must review ‘misjudgements’

QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Ras Laffan Industrial City

US Iran war highlights: Two big explosions were heard in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, Associated Press reported. This came after residents in the Capital city received a “hostile threat” alert on their mobile phones. Follow here for live updates Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a warning after the killing of the country's security chief Ali Larijani, saying “criminals” will have to “pay soon for his blood.”

After Larijani's death, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz on Wednesday said Iranian intelligence minister Esmail Khatib had been killed in overnight strikes on Tehran, while warning that “surprises can be expected this day on all the fronts.”

Iran's security chief Ali Larijani was also killed in overnight Israeli strikes the previous day. Following this, Iran continued to pound central Israel and its Gulf neighbours . Apart from Larijani, his son Mortaza Larijani and Alireza Bayat, the deputy for national security, were also killed. On the Iranian officials' deaths, Trump said, "Their leaders are gone. It's an evil group."

Earlier today, natural gas facilities associated with Iran’s massive offshore South Pars natural gas field were attacked Wednesday, Iranian state media reported.

Following the strikes, Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a “firm and clear warning”, threatening the “the fuel, energy and gas infrastructures” of those who attacked the facilities.

Meanwhile, Israel's air force said it completed a wave of “wide-scale airstrikes” and hit “command centres” in Tehran.

On the other hand, the United States said late Tuesday that it hit Iranian missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz with "multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions". The US Central Command said that the Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites "posed a risk to international shipping in the strait".

India-flagged oil tanker reaches India

A second Indian-flagged LPG tanker, Nanda Devi, reached India early on Tuesday after sailing safely from the Strait of Hormuz warzone. The tanker reached Gujarat's Kandla port at around 2:30am on Tuesday morning, the government confirmed.

The first ship, Shivalik, had reached Gujarat's Mundra port on Monday.

The two ships were reportedly carrying about 97, 712 tonnes of LPG - equivalent to a day's requirement of cooking gas in India.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways also said that efforts were underway to ensure the safe passage of the remaining 22 Indian-flagged vessels, carrying 611 seafarers, which are still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. The ministry said the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) is closely monitoring operations in coordination with shipowners, agencies and Indian embassies.

Global crisis and oil prices

Oil prices surged as Iran confirmed the death of its security chief, Ali Larijani, as the US-Israel-Iran war further intensified and escalated the tensions across the Middle East region.

The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate traded near $96 per barrel, after surging almost 3 per cent on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Brent settled above $103, Bloomberg reported.

Trump's National Counterterrorism chief resigns

US President Donald Trump is facing an internal crisis, with backlash from within his country over the strikes and war against Iran. Latest in the series is the resignation of Joe Kent, the head of the US National Counterterrorism Centre, who advised Trump on "terror" threats. Kent said Iran "posed no imminent threat" to the US, asserting that Washington "started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby".

Trump reacted to Kent's resignation and called it a "good thing that he's out because he said that Iran was not a threat". He called Kent a "nice guy", who he said was "very weak on security".

Iranian leaders killed, Tehran strikes ‘100 Israeli targets’ | Latest developments

• After claiming that Iranian intelligence minister Esmail Khatib had been killed, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military had been “authorised” to kill any senior Iranian leader “for whom the intelligence and operational circle has been closed” without any additional approval.

• Iran said it had struck “100 Israeli targets” in Tel Aviv to avenge the death of Iran's security chief Ali Larijani. Tehran also attacked the Gulf countries, with explosions sounding in United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and interceptions reported in Saudi Arabia.

• Meanwhile, Israeli strikes reportedly hit central Beirut and the city's southern suburbs early on Wednesday, with the Lebanese media reporting that the raids came without warning. One strike hit an apartment in the central Zuqaq al-Blat neighbourhood. At least two people were killed and seven injured in the Israeli air strike on Deir ez-Zahrani.

• Iran has also targeted Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, where many oil fields are located, and the Al Minhad Air Base in UAE. UAE said it had been targeted by 12 missiles, and 27 drones on Wednesday.

Missile alerts sounded in Dubai, with Saudi downing a ballistic missile heading towards the Prince Sultan Air Base. Two drones targeting Riyadh's diplomatic quarter, wherein the US Embassy is locates, were also intercepted.

• Iran's intelligence ministry said it arrested over 100 alleged "monarchist cells" plotting against the Islamic Republic, as well as suspected spies and individuals accused of cooperating with an outlawed television channel.

• The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran informed the global nuclear watchdog that a projectile hit the premises of its Bushehr nuclear power plant on Tuesday evening.