Senate set for war powers vote as Iran fatwas call for global retaliation and oil prices surge

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, that American diplomatic facilities across the Middle East are under active attack by Iran, as the joint United States and Israel military operation against the Islamic Republic entered its fifth day and Iranian retaliatory strikes continued to expand in scope and geographic reach. Rubio confirmed that a drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the United States Consulate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, igniting a fire at the facility. The United States Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was struck by two drones, causing a limited fire with no reported injuries according to Saudi authorities. The United States Embassy in Kuwait was closed until further notice following ongoing regional tensions.

Rubio characterized the threat to American diplomatic facilities as direct, stating that American embassies and diplomatic facilities are under direct attack from a terroristic regime. He noted that a pre-conflict drawdown of diplomatic staff had so far kept American personnel safe. The targeting of American embassies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait City, Kuwait, by Iranian-linked forces represented a significant expansion of the conflict, as both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are host nations with long-standing security partnerships with the United States and are not direct parties to the military operation.

The Pentagon identified four of the six American troops killed in the opening hours of the conflict on Tuesday, March 3. The identified service members were Captain Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sergeant First Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sergeant First Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Specialist Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa. All four died Saturday, February 28, in Kuwait from an Iranian drone attack. All six United States service members who died were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, an Army Reserve unit based in Des Moines, Iowa, and were killed at Shuaiba port in Kuwait inside a command and control center struck by the drone, according to two defense officials.

What triggered the joint United States and Israel military operation against Iran codenamed Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion?

The joint military operation, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion by the Israel Defense Forces and Operation Epic Fury by the United States military, began on February 28, 2026, with coordinated strikes on Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah. The operation targeted key Iranian officials, military commanders, nuclear-related facilities, ballistic missile sites, maritime mining capabilities, air defenses, and command-and-control infrastructure across the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iranian state television confirmed on Sunday, March 1, that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed by airstrikes in Tehran on Saturday. Khamenei had led the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1989 as its highest political and religious authority and was the central figure in Iran’s military and nuclear strategy. Also killed were Ali Shamkhani, former head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and several other senior Iranian officials.

Secretary of State Rubio maintained that there was an imminent threat from Iran that justified the military offensive. Rubio stated the United States knew Israel was planning an initial strike on Iran and that the Trump administration chose to launch a preemptive attack to avoid higher American casualties. He argued that Iranian missile forces in the south and north had been pre-positioned to launch within an hour of any strike on the leadership compound and that waiting would have resulted in far greater loss of American life. This justification was disputed by Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, who stated after a classified briefing that he saw no intelligence suggesting Iran was on the verge of launching any preemptive strike against the United States of America.

President Donald Trump submitted a War Powers Resolution notification to Congress on March 2, a procedural requirement under the War Powers Resolution Act of 1973. Trump wrote in the letter to Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley that United States forces conducted precision strikes against numerous targets within Iran, including ballistic missile sites, maritime mining capabilities, air defenses, and command-and-control capabilities.

How is Iran responding to United States and Israel strikes through Operation True Promise IV and drone attacks on Gulf states and U.S. military bases?

Iran responded through its military arm, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which claimed responsibility for targeting 27 United States military bases in the Middle East region in a statement broadcast by Iranian state media. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an interview with Iranian state television that American military bases in the region are legitimate targets, arguing that while Iran cannot strike United States territory directly, it can reach United States bases across the region. An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps brigadier general announced on Iranian state television that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and that ships attempting to cross will be intercepted by the Iranian navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil transits through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United States Energy Information Administration, making the closure declaration a matter of acute concern to global energy markets.

Iran’s retaliatory operation was designated Operation True Promise IV, continuing the sequential naming of previous Iranian military responses against Israel and United States interests in the region. Ten people were killed and nearly 360 injured in Israel amid Iran’s retaliatory strikes, according to Israeli officials. Emergency responders were dispatched to dozens of scenes throughout Israel, according to Magen David Adom, Israel’s national rescue service. In Lebanon, Israel intensified its ongoing strike campaign against the Iranian-aligned Hezbollah militia, which re-engaged following the outbreak of the broader conflict.

Iranian clerics issued fatwas calling on Muslims worldwide to avenge the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a Critical Incident Note issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security. Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi declared that avenging Khamenei’s death is the religious duty of all Muslims in the world. Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani issued a second fatwa declaring avenging the blood of the martyred leader of the revolution to be obligatory for all Muslims. The Department of Homeland Security’s note stated that the Austin, Texas, shooting on Sunday probably preceded the fatwas and that the motive for that attack had not been confirmed, with authorities continuing to assess whether there was a terroristic motivation.

What is the status of American civilian evacuations from the Middle East and how is the State Department assisting United States citizens in the region?

The United States State Department urged Americans to leave 14 countries in the Middle East immediately due to serious safety risks. The listed countries were Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. More than 9,000 Americans had returned from the Middle East since the launch of joint operations against Iran, according to President Trump, with the majority departing on their own volition before formal State Department assistance commenced. Trump announced the government would identify the location of Americans registered with the State Department and provide travel options including charter flights free of charge.

Secretary of State Rubio said 1,500 additional Americans had requested State Department assistance. The State Department was attempting to facilitate departures through charter flights, military flights, and commercial options. Rubio acknowledged that airspace closures in the region had forced several inbound aircraft to turn back mid-flight. Americans seeking assistance were directed to contact the State Department at plus-one-202-501-4444 from abroad and plus-one-888-407-4747 from within the United States and Canada. More than one million people were caught in travel disruption as approximately 1,900 flights were canceled in and out of the Middle East on Tuesday, according to aviation data firm Cirium, with Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates among the most severely affected hubs, with knock-on disruptions extending to routes serving Paris, France, and Beijing, China.

How has the United States Congress responded to President Trump’s military strikes on Iran and what is the status of the Senate war powers resolution?

The United States Senate was scheduled to vote Wednesday, March 4, 2026, on a Democratic-led Iran war powers resolution. The resolution was co-led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York along with co-sponsors Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia and Senator Adam Schiff of California, and would direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran that have not been authorized by Congress. Because the resolution is privileged, it required only 51 votes to advance, with a second vote needed for final passage. Should the resolution pass, President Trump would be widely expected to veto it, and securing the two-thirds majority required to override a presidential veto was considered unlikely given the current composition of Congress.

Senator Kaine described the strikes as an illegal war and called on the Senate to vote immediately, arguing that the Constitution prohibits war without a congressional declaration. Senate Minority Leader Schumer stated that the administration’s classified briefing raised more questions than it answered and called on senators to choose between standing with Americans who oppose the conflict or standing with President Trump. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of Louisiana, following a classified briefing, described the operation as a defensive action and stated that the objective was to eliminate Iran’s short and mid-range missile capabilities and naval assets. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, said he plans to vote against the resolution, calling it an empty gesture. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Republican co-sponsor of the House version of the resolution, described the conflict as inconsistent with an America First posture. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, predicted overwhelming Republican support in Congress for the military action.

How have global oil markets and the Strait of Hormuz closure affected international energy supply and financial markets during the Iran conflict?

United States and global financial markets responded sharply to the outbreak of conflict. Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, rose to over $79 a barrel on Tuesday, following a six percent spike on Monday, March 2. United States West Texas Intermediate crude similarly surged approximately six percent on Monday before pulling back partially on Tuesday. The national average price of gasoline in the United States rose 12 cents per gallon on Monday, the largest single-day increase in four years, according to GasBuddy chief petroleum analyst Patrick de Haan. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 1,000 points on Tuesday morning, the worst trading session since April 2025, before trimming losses after President Trump indicated the United States Navy would escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary and would facilitate shipping insurance for Gulf carriers.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declaration that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, if enforced, would have significant consequences for global energy supply chains. Commercial ships were seen anchoring off the coast of the United Arab Emirates due to navigation disruptions in the strait as of March 2. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply transits.

What international reactions has the joint United States and Israel military operation on Iran received from China, the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations?

China stated it is highly concerned over the military strikes launched by the United States and Israel, calling for an immediate stop to the military action and for Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity to be respected. The European Union, speaking through High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on behalf of all 27 European Union member states, called for maximum restraint, protection of civilians, and full respect of international law, including the principles of the United Nations Charter and international humanitarian law. The International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors convened an emergency meeting on March 2 at the request of the Russian Federation, held at the Vienna International Centre. The United Nations Security Council convened a meeting on March 1 following the initial strikes. North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte described Iran as a threat and said Europe is broadly supportive of the United States action, though the alliance’s direct military involvement was not declared. The strikes received support from Ukraine, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Kosovo, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea, according to reporting cited by Wikipedia’s ongoing conflict entry for the 2026 Iran conflict.

Following Khamenei’s death, Iranian state media reported the formation of a temporary three-person leadership council comprising Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and a jurist from the Guardian Council to govern the Islamic Republic of Iran pending a new leadership structure.

What this means for Iran, the United States, Gulf states, and global energy markets

• The United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on February 28, 2026, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials, triggering an active retaliatory campaign by Iran designated Operation True Promise IV, which is targeting United States military bases, American diplomatic facilities, and population centers in Israel across the Middle East region.

• Six United States service members have been killed in the conflict, all at Shuaiba port in Kuwait, and the United States Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the United States Embassy in Kuwait have been closed following drone strikes, with a drone also striking the United States Consulate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to international shipping, threatening to disrupt a waterway through which approximately 20 percent of global oil supply transits, with immediate knock-on effects for global energy prices and financial markets.

• The United States Senate is scheduled to vote on March 4, 2026, on a war powers resolution that would direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from the conflict, though the resolution faces probable presidential veto and significant procedural and political obstacles.

• Iran has formed a temporary three-member leadership council following Khamenei’s death, with Iranian clerics issuing fatwas calling on Muslims worldwide to avenge the killing of the Supreme Leader, raising the threat level for American diplomatic and military personnel across the broader Middle East and beyond.