(VOVWORLD) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that it had carried out a large-scale wave of airstrikes on Iran, targeting military bases and key infrastructure, including an Intelligence Command Center in Tehran. A senior military official said the ongoing conflict with Iran could last for at least a month.
 Scene of an attack on a residential building in Tehran, Iran, on March 16, 2026, amid the US–Israel conflict with Iran. (Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS) |
Iran’s retaliatory actions, including strikes against Gulf nations and a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, are disrupting oil production and exports throughout the region.
Reuters reported on Monday that oil production by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Iran fell 61% last week compared to the same period in February. Crude oil exports fell 71%, from 26.1 million barrels per day to just 7.5 million barrels.
Countries and international organizations on Monday called for restraint and renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said diplomatic dialogue with Iran can only proceed if Tehran halts its missile and drone attacks on Gulf nations.
The foreign ministers of Egypt and Oman called for closer coordination to contain tensions and reaffirmed the importance of diplomacy to prevent the conflict from spreading.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on all sides to end hostilities and swiftly resume negotiations. He emphasized the need to avoid attacks on civilian infrastructure and civilian casualties in Iran and Gulf countries. Russia expressed its readiness to support reconciliation efforts if requested by the parties involved.