…UAE’s Ruwais oil refinery hit by drone as US casualty figure rises to 7 dead, 140 injured
Iran has issued a stark warning to United States President Donald Trump to “be careful not to be eliminated,” dramatically escalating a war of words that threatens to further inflame the conflict in the Middle East.
The threat from Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, came in direct response to Trump’s assertion that the Iranian government’s new Supreme Leader could not “live in peace.” Trump had earlier told Iran to brace for “death, fire and fury” over its closure of the Strait of Hormuz and specifically threatened Mojtaba Khamenei, the newly appointed leader.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that the new Supreme Leader would be unable to “live in peace,” adding that he was “not happy with the appointment” and warning that he would have the final say over Iran’s leadership.
Larijani swiftly dismissed Trump’s comments, projecting defiance in the face of American pressure.
“Iran is not afraid of your empty threats,” Larijani said. “Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation. Take care of yourself not to be eliminated!”
The threat from Larijani arrives just days after an Iranian operative was convicted for an assassination attempt against Trump during the 2024 presidential race.
Trump’s campaign had previously been warned by national security officials that Iran was targeting him and had multiple kill teams operating inside the United States. Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national trained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was found guilty of the assassination plot on Saturday.
US Casualty Figures Rise
As the rhetorical battle intensifies, the human cost of the conflict continues to mount. The Pentagon announced that American casualties now stand at seven dead and 140 injured overall from Iranian strikes. Of the injured, 108 have returned to duty, according to chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
“Eight service members remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care,” Parnell said in a statement.
On Monday, the Pentagon identified the seventh fallen service member as Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky. Pennington was seriously injured on March 1 when Iran struck a Saudi military base where American troops were stationed. He died from his injuries on Saturday night as military health officials were preparing to transfer him to a US military hospital in Germany for more advanced care.
At the weekend, Trump witnessed the return of the bodies of the first six Americans killed in the war at a solemn ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Those six Army Reservists were killed in an Iranian drone strike on Sunday at the Shuaiba port in Kuwait.
Hegseth: War Won’t Be Endless
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described Tuesday as the “most intense” day of strikes inside Iran, asserting that the country “stands alone, and Iran is badly losing.” He noted that in the last 24 hours, Iran had fired the lowest number of missiles since the start of the war.
During a Tuesday morning update on the operation, Hegseth outlined US goals: destroying Iran’s missile stockpiles, launchers, and defence industrial base; destroying Iran’s navy; and permanently denying the country nuclear weapons.
Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Dan Caine, reported that Iranian ballistic missile attacks had decreased by “90 per cent from where they started, and one-way attack drones have decreased 83 per cent since the beginning of the operation.”
While declining to give a specific timeline for the conflict’s end, Hegseth assured reporters that this would not become another protracted Middle East war.
“This is not 2003,” he said. “This is not endless nation-building under those types of quagmires we saw under Bush or Obama. It’s not even close. Our generation of soldiers will not let that happen again, and nor will this president who very clearly ran against those kinds of never-ending, nebulous scoped missions.”
Strait of Hormuz Tensions and UAE Strike
Trump separately warned Iran over any possible use of mines along the strategic Strait of Hormuz, stating there would be severe military consequences, though he noted the US had no reports of mining occurring. He claimed the US had “hit and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats and/or ships,” without offering more details.
The warning came as the conflict continues to disrupt regional energy infrastructure. Abu Dhabi state oil giant ADNOC shut its Ruwais refinery following a drone strike that caused a fire at a facility within the complex, a source with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.
The Ruwais complex is a critical hub for the emirate’s downstream operations, capable of refining up to 922,000 barrels of oil a day and housing significant chemical, fertilizer and industrial gas plants. The refinery was shut as a precautionary measure, though all other operations at the complex are continuing normally, the source said.
The attack marks the latest disruption to energy infrastructure since Tehran launched strikes on several neighbours in response to the US-Israeli assault on Iran. The ongoing hostilities have forced several countries to cut production as shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz—which carries roughly a fifth of global oil flows—has ground to a near halt.
On the ground in Iran, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. At least 1,230 people have been killed across the country since the start of the US-Israeli attacks, according to the Iranian Red Crescent humanitarian organisation. Residents in Tehran described being left “in total darkness” following heavy overnight strikes.
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