Middle East Impact

In 47-52 procedural vote, a resolution to curtail Trump's powers was defeated, though a separate House vote is expected.

Iran grants interim leadership council expanded powers after Khamenei killing Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council has approved transferring key leadership powers to the country’s interim three-member leadership council, including authority over senior military and security appointments and decisions on war or peace, spokesperson Mohsen Dehnavi said on X. The temporary leadership council was formed after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on 28 February. It currently includes President Masoud Pezeshkian, judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and a cleric representing the Guardian Council, until a permanent leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts. Under Article 111 of Iran’s constitution, such powers require the approval of three-quarters of the Expediency Council, which Dehnavi said was secured to prevent a leadership or command vacuum during the emergency.

France to provide armoured vehicles, operational support to Lebanese army French President Emmanuel Macron said France will support the Lebanese army and called on Israel “not to expand the war to Lebanon”. Macron announced on X that France would provide armoured transport vehicles along with operational and logistical support to the Lebanese army, and pledged his “full support” to the Lebanese government. He also said France would send several tonnes of medicines and aid for tens of thousands of civilians displaced from southern Lebanon, though details of the assistance were not specified. “Everything must be done to prevent this country, so close to France, from once again being drawn into war,” Macron wrote. “The Lebanese have a right to peace and security – like everyone in the Middle East.” The announcement comes after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asked Macron to intervene over Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign.

Kuwait’s army says facing new missile attacks Kuwait’s army said its air defences are responding to missile and drone attacks in the country’s airspace. “The armed forces note that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of the air defenses intercepting the missile attacks and drones,” its general staff said in a statement on X.

Iran sees no reason to negotiate with US, foreign minister says In an interview with NBC, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is “not asking for a ceasefire” and sees no reason to negotiate with the US. “When we negotiated with them twice, every time they attacked us in the middle of negotiations,” he said. Araghchi also said Iran has not closed the Strait of Hormuz, adding that ships and tankers have chosen not to pass through the waterway. “We have no intention to close it right now, but as the war continues, we will consider every scenario,” he said. In a separate post on X, Araghchi addressed US President Donald Trump directly, saying Washington’s plan for “a clean rapid military victory” had failed. He added that the opportunity for a “unique deal” was lost during the latest negotiations, concluding: “‘Israel First’ always means ‘America Last’.”