Iranian foreign minister claims Trump launched war ‘because it is fun’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi claimed on Sunday, on “Face the Nation,” that President Donald Trump launched attacks against Iran “because it is fun,” accusing the United States of starting what he called an “illegal war” during an interview with CBS host Margaret Brennan.
“We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes,” Aragchi said. “There are people being killed only because President Trump wants to have fun… they are sinking ships and targeting different places because it is fun.”
The comments came as the war between the United States and Iran continues to escalate, with the Trump administration signaling the conflict could continue longer than initially anticipated.
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Trump told Fox News Radio that he will ultimately know when the conflict is nearing its end, saying he’ll recognize that moment “when I feel it in my bones.”
The White House did not respond for comment from Fox News Digital.
During the CBS interview, Brennan pressed the foreign minister about Iranian drone and missile attacks across the Gulf region and their impact on neighboring countries that host U.S. military forces.
Aragchi defended Iran’s actions, claiming Tehran is targeting only American military assets that host U.S. military forces.
“We are only targeting American assets, American installations, American military bases,” Aragchi said. “They are using their soil to attack us… they use the territory of UAE to attack us.”
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Brennan challenged him, noting reports that Iranian drones and missiles have struck civilian areas in neighboring countries. Aragchi denied that civilians were being targeted.
The foreign minister also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway by which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through. Aragchi said Iran has not formally closed the strait but acknowledged that some vessels have avoided the route because of security concerns tied to the conflict.
He also discussed Iran’s nuclear program, referencing roughly 440 kilograms of enriched uranium previously documented by international inspectors. He said the material is currently buried under rubble following strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
“They are under rubble,” Aragchi said, “Of course, you know there is the possibility to retrieve them, but under the supervision of the agency.”
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The foreign minister also acknowledged that Tehran previously offered to dilute its stockpile.
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Pope Leo urges war leaders to halt fighting after deadly strike on school sparks outrage
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire in the war involving Iran, delivering his strongest remarks yet on the conflict and urging leaders responsible for the fighting to halt violence after deadly strikes that hit schools and civilian areas.
The Associated Press reported the pope made the remarks at the end of his Sunday noon blessing at the Vatican, where he appealed to leaders involved in the conflict to halt the fighting and pursue dialogue instead of continued military escalation.
“On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict,” Leo said. “Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability, and peace that the people are waiting for.”
Leo did not cite the U.S. or Israel by name, though he appeared to reference an attack in the opening days of the war that struck a school in Iran and killed more than 165 people, many of them children.
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U.S. officials said the strike may have been based on outdated intelligence, and an investigation into the incident is underway.
The pope said he was particularly close to the families of victims killed in attacks that have struck schools, hospitals and residential areas during the conflict.
He also expressed concern about the impact of the fighting in Lebanon, where aid groups have warned the escalating conflict could trigger a humanitarian crisis.
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Christian communities in southern Lebanon are of particular concern to the Vatican, as they have long been seen as an important presence for Christians across a largely Muslim region.
For much of the two weeks since the conflict began, Leo has limited his public comments to broader appeals for peace and dialogue while avoiding direct references to the U.S. or Israel – a stance consistent with the Vatican’s longstanding tradition of diplomatic neutrality.
Some Catholic leaders, however, have taken a more direct stance on the conflict.
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Cardinal Robert McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, described the war as morally unjustifiable, while Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich criticized the White House for sharing social media posts about the war that included video game-style imagery.
Meanwhile, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin rejected Washington’s characterization of the fighting as a “preventive war,” but said the Holy See continues to keep lines of communication open with all sides.
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“The Holy See speaks with everyone,” Parolin said. “When necessary we speak also with the Americans, with the Israelis and show them what to us are the solutions.”
Iran arrests dozens accused of spying for Israel in new internal crackdown
Iranian authorities say they have arrested dozens of people accused of spying for Israel across several provinces, according to state media reports over the weekend.
Fars, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported Sunday the West Azerbaijan prosecutor’s office had arrested 20 individuals in the northwestern city of Urmia for allegedly providing Israel with information about military, police and security sites.
On Saturday, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence said it had arrested several “enemy operatives” across the country, including a 10-member group in Mazandaran province and another 10-member network in Khorasan Razavi province, according to Tasnim, a semi-official news agency.
Authorities said the suspects transferred the locations of military installations and economic infrastructure and shared coordinates of public places, academic institutions and research centers with Israel.
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In southern Khuzestan province, intelligence officials also reported arresting a three-person “terrorist team” accused of carrying out armed attacks against security forces and government facilities.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Israel has relied on tips from ordinary Iranians to identify targets for strikes inside Iran, citing a senior Israeli security official.
The newspaper said information about potential targets is sent through Israeli Persian-language social media accounts and is verified by Israeli authorities before strikes are carried out.
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In a separate development, Bahraini authorities said Sunday they arrested five people accused of passing sensitive information to the IRGC and helping recruit operatives for potential attacks inside the country.
According to a statement from Bahrain’s Police Media Center, the suspects allegedly collected and transmitted coordinates and images of sensitive locations, including hotels, to the IRGC.
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Officials said one suspect previously received training at IRGC camps in “trafficking persons and recruiting operatives to participate in implementing terrorist plots.”
The five detainees were referred to Bahrain’s Public Prosecution, while a sixth suspect identified in the case is believed to be a fugitive abroad.
US could take Iran’s main oil export hub ‘at a time of our choosing,’ Jack Keane says
Retired four-star Army Gen. Jack Keane said the United States could choose to seize Iran’s main oil export hub, warning the regime that its most critical economic lifeline remains vulnerable as U.S. forces continue dismantling Tehran’s military capabilities.
“We can take Kharg Island at a time of our choosing, and we choose not to take that now,” Keane told “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“Would we take it in the future? Those options are there for the president, likely towards the end of this? Because, if we take Kharg Island, either we occupy it or blockade it, there’s a number of things that we can do.”
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Keane said such a move would effectively put the Iranian regime in “checkmate,” given how heavily its economy depends on the island.
“Now we [would] own all of their major assets. It’s 50% of their budget, 60% of the revenue, 80, 90% of the distribution points for their oil,” he said.
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“So it is clearly a strategic asset, but we will do that at a time of our choosing.”
Keane’s remarks come as the U.S. and Israel continue their military campaign against Iran, targeting the regime’s offensive capabilities and threatening further action against its energy infrastructure.
The remarks also come after President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. had carried out a bombing raid on the island.
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“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The island has a loading capacity of about 7 million barrels per day, and roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports pass through it. Most of those exports are shipped to China and India, underscoring the island’s importance not only to Iran’s energy trade, but also to broader global oil markets.
Pentagon identifies 6 US airmen killed in refueling tanker crash in Iraq after midair collision
The Pentagon has identified six U.S. service members who were killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during a combat mission in support of Operation Epic Fury.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, took place in “friendly” airspace during an unspecified incident involving another aircraft. While the other plane landed safely, the KC-135 crashed. Military officials said the incident was not due to hostile or friendly fire and remains under investigation.
The airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, according to U.S. government and state officials.
Those killed were Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana Savino, 31; Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28.
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Maj. John ‘Alex’ Klinner
Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, 33, leaves behind three small children — 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, his brother-in-law, James Harrill, confirmed.
A graduate of Auburn University and an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, Klinner had recently moved with his family into a new home, according to his wife, Libby Klinner.
“It’s kind of heartbreaking to say: He was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot — like a lot,” Harrill said.
An outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, Klinner was also known for helping others. Harrill recalled that when he last saw him in January during a family wedding, Klinner helped shovel Harrill’s vehicle out of the snow.
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“Alex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him,” Harrill said. “He was literally one of the most kind, giving people.”
Libby Klinner said her heart is broken for their children, who will grow up not knowing their father.
“They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,” she wrote in a post. “They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.”
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Klinner was assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, though Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said he was stationed in Birmingham.
Capt. Ariana Savino
Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington, was also assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base.
Savino was among the crew members aboard the KC-135 refueling aircraft when it crashed in western Iraq.
Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt
Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, was the third member of the MacDill-based crew killed in the crash.
Pruitt served with the 6th Air Refueling Wing and was deployed as part of the mission when the aircraft went down.
Capt. Seth Koval
Capt. Seth Koval, 38, served as a KC-135R Stratotanker instructor pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron at the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio.
The Ohio National Guard said Koval was an aircraft commander with 19 years of service. While the Ohio National Guard listed his home in Stoutsville, Ohio, the U.S. government listed his hometown as Mooresville, Indiana.
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A graduate of Purdue University, Koval first enlisted in 2006 as a machinist with the Indiana National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing before transferring to the Ohio Air National Guard in 2017. He earned his commission in 2018 and completed instructor pilot upgrade in 2024. Over the course of his career, Koval logged 2,076 total flight hours, including 443 combat hours.
Capt. Curtis Angst
Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, served as a KC-135R pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron at the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio.
While the Ohio National Guard listed his home as Columbus, the U.S. government listed his hometown as Wilmington, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a degree in aerospace engineering, Angst initially enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in 2015 as a vehicle maintenance technician with the 123rd Air Control Squadron.
He earned his commission in 2021, completed undergraduate pilot training in 2023, and qualified as a KC-135R pilot in April 2024. During his career, Angst logged 880 total flight hours, including 67 combat hours.
Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons
Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, served as a KC-135R boom operator with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron. He was responsible for transferring fuel from the tanker to receiver aircraft during missions.
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Simmons entered the Air Force in 2017 and initially served in the security forces before transitioning to aviation in 2022. He became a mobility force aviator in 2023 and reached the rank of technical sergeant on May 1, 2023. During his career, Simmons logged 779 total flight hours, including 230.4 combat hours.
Simmons’ family told WCMH-TV in Columbus they were devastated by the loss.
“Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life,” they said.
Maj. Gen. Matthew S. Woodruff, Ohio adjutant general, said the state is mourning the loss of the three “remarkable” Ohio airmen.
“Today we mourn the loss of three remarkable Airmen whose service and commitment embodied the very best of our Ohio National Guard,” Woodruff said.
U.S. Central Command said the aircraft crashed during a combat mission over western Iraq in “friendly” territory. Military officials stated that the incident involved an unspecified interaction with another aircraft that landed safely and that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
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The KC-135 Stratotanker refuels other aircraft in midair, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. The aircraft can also be used to transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions.
The Congressional Research Service says the Air Force had 376 KC-135 aircraft last year, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. The aircraft has been in service for more than 60 years.
State Department urges Americans to leave Middle East as airspace closures disrupt travel
Phoenix, Ariz. – The U.S. State Department is urging Americans in the Middle East to leave the region immediately as escalating conflict and widespread airspace closures disrupt travel and evacuation efforts. However, attacks from Iran, closed embassies and shuttered airspace have created difficulties for Americans who find themselves trapped with few options.
Shanice Day was one of thousands of Americans who said they found themselves stranded in the Middle East after the conflict began. She and her best friend had traveled to Dubai to celebrate her 30th birthday.
“We did like a whole desert day,” Day said, “They started calling me their ‘habibi,’ and they let me play with the falcon.”
Once airspace closed, only a limited number of flights began leaving the region as safety allowed.
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Day only had a few days of vacation, before the U.S. and Israel struck Iran on Feb. 28. Even though the airstrikes began that Saturday morning, Day didn’t realize there was an issue until that afternoon. By the time Day realized what had happened, Iran was already sending missiles toward the Gulf.
“As soon as I open my phone, it says like ‘U.S., Israel strikes Iran.’ So, I told my friend that’s back at the hotel, and she’s at the beach at the moment. So, I’m actually like, ‘Hey, have you seen what’s going on?” Day recounted, “She explains that she sees like a missile, almost go across the sky.”
Iran responded to the American and Israeli attacks almost immediately, raining missile and drone strikes across the United Arab Emirates, even hitting Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest in the world. With their return flights canceled as the UAE closed its airspace, Day and her friend scrambled to find a way home while also trying to process the seriousness of the situation.
“We just kind of cried. That first 48 hours was so tough for us. Just having to break the news to our parents, because it was so early here. To hear my friend’s mom be so devastated, and then to hear my own mom’s voice crack like that. I would not wish this on anyone,” Day said.
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Emirati airspace would continue to open intermittently to limited flights, but every rebooked flight would eventually get canceled. Day and her friend eventually made it home to Houston, Texas, by first flying to Australia.
Unlike the UAE, which has long marked itself as a safe oasis for foreigners, travel to Israel has always brought the possibility of conflict.
Jenna Fonberg and Jetlyn Toledo landed at Ben Gurion Airport the day before Israel and the U.S. hit Iran. The friends had planned to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim with Fonberg’s older brother, Blake, who lives in Tel Aviv.
By the time Fonberg and Toledo landed in Israel, there were already talks of a conflict breaking out in the region.
“The thing about Israel is there’s always talk about war breaking out or always talk about conflict. So, if you cancel every single trip based on, I guess rumors of violence coming, you would essentially never come,” Toledo said.
The next day, the trio woke up to sirens telling them to get to the nearest bomb shelter. They said, over time, they made friends with the familiar faces who repeatedly showed up to the same shelters.
“There’s a lot of new faces today, because it’s kind of close to the beach, so a lot of people just walking on the boardwalk run in here,” Fonberg said while taking cover during a missile threat.
Blake said he lost his home to a strike during a 12-day conflict with Iran in 2025. He said this time, he’s focusing on staying positive.
“We have to stay positive. If we are not positive, we lose. And, I think I really tried to instill that into them [Fonberg and Toledo] day one. I was like, ‘Everything’s going to be fine,’” Blake said.
Throughout the sirens and strikes, the trio said they kept faith that both the U.S. and Israel’s militaries would keep them safe. They said it was most important to stay calm through it all.
Fonberg and Toledo looked at options to leave the country, but with Israeli airspace completely closed at the start of the conflict, they were left with few options. Instead of driving to another country with open airspace, they chose to wait to see if the skies would open in time for their scheduled flight on March 8.
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“I feel safer being by a bomb shelter and being able to run in if I need it. Rather than driving three hours, five hours to Jordan or Egypt and just covering my head if I hear a siren,” Fonberg said.
Israeli airspace slowly began opening on March 4. Fonberg and Toledo returned to the U.S. on their originally scheduled flights.
Ben Suster and his wife were at the end of their honeymoon in Israel when the U.S. and Israel struck Iran. Similar to Fonberg and Toledo, the newlyweds knew there was a possibility of conflict but felt safe in Israel. Suster and his wife landed in the country days before the strikes began.
“Our flight was for Saturday night. We woke up Saturday morning, and literally we had a minute of peace, and we thought, ‘Oh my goodness,’ like we made it through the night, like we’re in the clear and our flights should be good tonight,” Suster said.
The first sirens began moments later.
Without a bomb shelter inside their Airbnb, the couple made a home out of a nearby public shelter.
“Obviously, sitting in a gloomy garage was not how we expected to end our honeymoon,” Suster said.
They stayed in the garage full-time, before meeting up with friends in another shelter.
“We spent the entire day and night in this garage, making friends, you know, Israelis making the most of the situation,” Suster said.
After a few days, Suster and his wife left Tel Aviv to join their family in Geva Binyamin, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank near Jerusalem. The couple eventually evacuated with the nonprofit Grey Bull Rescue. For security reasons, Suster could not share details about the operation.
“We don’t even know what tomorrow’s going to look like. We were told what the final destination would be, but when that happens, how we’re getting there, not a clue,” Suster said.
Similar to Fonberg and Toledo, Suster said he felt safe and was sad to leave. He only left because they were on a time crunch, getting home to Florida in time for his sister’s wedding.
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According to the State Department, more than 32,000 Americans have returned to the United States since the U.S. strikes on Iran began on February 28.