War in Iran: American and Israeli strikes on an Iranian port; the Pentagon prepares for operations on the ground

15h43 – Israel Claims to Have Hit Key Ballistic Missile Production Site in Tehran

The Israeli army announced on Sunday that it had struck in Tehran one of the two sites used by the Ministry of Defense to produce components for ballistic missiles, on the 30th day of the Middle East war triggered by an Israeli-American offensive against the Islamic Republic.

During Saturday night, the Israeli Air Force struck a central site used by the Iranian Ministry of Defense to produce essential components for ballistic missiles, according to a military statement. “This site is one of the only two in Iran where components were developed for the assembly and activation of missiles that could be launched at the state of Israel,” added the army.

It also said it had struck in Tehran “dozens of other weapon production sites”, including ballistic missile engine production sites owned by the Ministry of Defense or even “a key site” used by the Iranian army for the development of air defense systems.

14h26 – Bahrain Bans Night Navigation in Its Territorial Waters in Face of Iranian Aggression

The Interior Ministry of Bahrain announced on Sunday the ban on night navigation in face “of blatant Iranian aggression,” referring to the strikes that have been targeting this small archipelago in the Arabian Peninsula and its Gulf neighbors for over a month.

The navigation ban, which takes effect “today and until further notice,” extends from 6:00 PM to 4:00 AM local time, the ministry specified in a statement.

13h55 – Iran Threatens to Target USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier if It Approaches Firing Range

The chief of the Iranian army’s navy, Shahram Irani, stated on Sunday that the USS Abraham Lincoln would be targeted if it approached the firing range.

“As soon as the naval group of the USS Abraham Lincoln reaches the firing range, we will avenge the blood of the martyrs of the Dena ship by launching various types of sea-to-sea missiles,” he threatened, as cited by the state television, referring to the Iranian frigate sunk by the United States on March 4.

11h00 – Iranian Parliament Speaker Claims Washington is Planning a Ground Attack

The Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated on Sunday that the United States was planning a ground offensive while publicly engaging in diplomatic efforts to end the war.

“The enemy is publicly sending negotiation and dialogue messages while secretly planning a ground offensive,” affirmed Mr. Ghalibaf in a statement relayed by the official news agency Irna.

09h15 – Iran Claims Attacks on Major Industrial Sites in the Gulf

Iran claimed on Sunday attacks on two of the world’s largest aluminum smelters in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, raising concerns of major disruptions to the global economy after a month of war in the Middle East.

The Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks that damaged Aluminum Bahrain (Alba) and Emirates Global Aluminium (Ega) factories on Saturday. Alba’s smelter, one of the world’s largest, had already announced on March 15 the closure of 19% of its production capacity to cope with supply disruptions caused by Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, Ega announced that its Al Taweelah plant in Abu Dhabi, one of its two sites in the UAE, had suffered “significant damage” during an attack that left six injured.

08h46 – Iran Condemns Israel for the Death of Three Lebanese Journalists

The Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, condemned on Sunday the Israeli strike that killed three Lebanese journalists, including a prominent correspondent from Hezbollah’s Al-Manar channel.

These deaths represent a “targeted assassination” and a “flagrant violation of international law,” stated Mr. Araghchi on his official Telegram channel.