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

US Iran war LIVE updates: The ministry of defence in Saudi Arabia has said air defences in the country are dealing with a ballistic missile threat.

This comes after two big explosions were heard in Saudi's Capital Riyadh, and residents received a “hostile threat” alert on their mobile phones.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Two big explosions were heard in Saudi Arabia's Capital city of Riyadh, Associated Press reported.

This was after residents in the Capital received a “hostile threat” alert on their mobile phones.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday warned those who attacked facilities linked to the South Pars natural gas field.

“This is a firm and clear warning to the criminals who attacked part of Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructures in the south of the country,” IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters said, according to Iran's Mehr news agency.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Following the strikes at facilities linked to Iran’s massive offshore South Pars natural gas field, the Iranian oil ministry said some infrastructure had been damaged.

The ministry said that no injuries had were known in the incident, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday confirmed the killing of intelligence minister Esmail Khatib in US-Israeli strikes.

“The cowardly assassination of my dear colleagues Esmail Khatib, Ali Larijani, and Aziz Nasirzadeh, alongside some of their family members and accompanying team, has left us in deep mourning,” Pezeshkian said in a post on X. He condoled the deaths of the two cabinet members of Iran.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide on Wednesday said the conflict in Middle East will set global trade and economy back by years

The aide further said that the conflict has no justification or objective reason, Reuters reported.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari on Wednesday called on all parties in Middle East hostilities to “exercise restraint”. Ansari highlighted the necessity of avoiding the targeting of vital facilities.

“We reiterate, as we have repeatedly emphasized, the necessity of avoiding the targeting of vital facilities. We call on all parties to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, & work toward de-escalation in a manner that preserves the security & stability of the region,” Ansari said in a post on X. The official further said, “Targeting energy infrastructure constitutes a threat to global energy security, as well as to the peoples of the region & its environment.”

US Iran war LIVE updates: Fresh blasts were heard over Tel Aviv on Wednesday, AFP reported citing its correspondent.

The explosions came after Israel said it had detected missiles from Iran.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson on Wednesday called on all parties in the West Asian conflict to cease hostilities immediately.

Russia further said that the solution to the problem of restoring shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz was at the negotiating table.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iran's Revolutionary Guards have issued evacuation threats to people near oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE, Al Jazeera cited the Iranian state media as reporting.

“Immediately leave these areas and move to a safe distance without any delay,” the IRGC has said.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Germany Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday said that the war in Middle East was to everyone's detriment, and also to that of the US, Reuters news agency reported.

Merz said there was no convincing concept yet on how democratic change can be brought to Iran, adding that Germany was not consulted on the matter.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Qatar's foreign ministry has blamed Israel for the attack on facilities linked to the offshore South Pars gas field. Qatar called the strikes “irresponsible and dangerous.”

The South Pars/ North Dome gas field is the world's largest natural gas field, the ownership of which is shared by Qatar and Iran.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Akasa Air on Wednesday said it had restores flight operations to and from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and continues to operater flights to and from Jeddah.

“Following our ongoing safety assessment and a review of the prevailing situation in the Middle East, Akasa Air continues to progressively restore select services in the region,” the airline said.

It further stated that flight operations to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha and Kuwait remain suspended till March 21.

“Akasa Air has extended its cancellation/rescheduling charges waiver policy for passengers booked to or from these cities until March 31, 2026. Passengers may opt for a full refund, credited to the original source of payment within 7 days, or reschedule their travel at no additional cost,” the airline said.

US Iran war LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday said he was “wonder(ing)” what would happen if US decides to “finish off what is left of” Iran.

“I wonder what would happen if we “finished off” what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called “Straight?” That would get some of our non-responsive “Allies” in gear, and fast!!!” the US President said in a post on Truth Social.

“Remember, for all of those absolute “fools” out there, Iran is considered, by everyone, to be the NUMBER ONE STATE SPONSOR OF TERROR,” Trump said.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Swedish foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard on Wednesday said a citizen of Sweden had been executed in Iran.

“The death penalty is an inhumane, cruel and irreversible punishment. Sweden, together with the rest of the EU, condemns its application in all circumstances,” the minister said in a statement, Reuters news agency reported.

US Iran war LIVE updates: The ministry of defence of the United Arab Emirates said it had been targeted by 13 missiles and 27 drones on Wednesday.

It said that since the start of the Iranian attacks, it has dealth with 327 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,699 drones.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iran on Wednesday held a funeral ceremony for top security official Ali Larijani and Basij forces chief Gholamreza Soleimani, who were killed in US-Israeli air strikes.

Officials and mourners gathered during the ceremony, according to Press TV.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iranian state media on Wednesday reported that facilities associated with Iran’s massive offshore South Pars natural gas field were attacked on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

The Iranian state television and state-run IRNA news agency said the attacks had targeted facilities at Asaluyeh in Iran’s southern Bushehr province.

US Iran war LIVE updates: The Israeli military said it plans to strike bridges and crossings over the Litani River in southern Lebanon on Wednesday to disrupt what it said were Hezbollah arms smuggling routes.

“To prevent the transfer of reinforcements and weapons, the IDF intends to attack crossings on the Litani River starting from this afternoon,” AFP cited the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee as saying.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Israel defence minister Israel Katz said Iran’s intelligence minister Esmail Khatib was killed in overnight strikes in Tehran. Katz said senior officials in Khatib's ministry were also “eliminated throughout the operation.”

In a post on X, the Israeli military said dozens of "senior commanders" had also been killed.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Israeli defence minister Israel Katz on Wednesday said the country's military had been authorised to killed any senior Iranian official without need for additional approval.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorised the IDF to eliminate any senior Iranian official for whom the intelligence and operational circle has been closed, without the need for additional approval,” AFP cited Katz as saying. Katz further said that the Israeli military would “continue to thwart” Iranian leaders and “hunt them down.”

US Iran war LIVE updates: Israeli defense minister Israel Katz on Wednesday claimed Iranian intelligence minister Esmail Khatib had been killed in overnight strikes, while also warning of more “surprises” today.

Katz said “significant surprises are expected throughout this day on all the fronts”, without elaborating further, the Associated Press reported.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Iran has 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, AFP reported.

A statement by the country's intelligence ministry , as cited by Fars news agency, said forces had “identified and arrested 111 monarchist cells across 26 provinces before they could take action on the last Wednesday of the year.”

US Iran war LIVE updates: Israel continued to strike Lebanon's Capital Beirut on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 12 people, AFP news agency reported.

Meanwhile, residents of Lebanon's ancient city of Tyre fled their homes after Israeli warnings. Lebanon was drawn into the war after Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israel in response to the killing of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israel strikes.

US Iran war LIVE updates: Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Wednesday said the country would continue to mediate to bring an end to the conflict in Middle East.

Yi said that the war should never have happened and had to reason to continue, according to the Chinese foreign ministry statement.

Yi made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with the UAE presidential special envoy to China, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Reuters news agency reported.