Pedro Sanchez doubled down on Madrid’s opposition to the conflict despite Trump’s threat to cut off trade with Spain | Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has strongly condemned the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, despite the threat by US President Donald Trump to cut off all trade with Madrid for refusing to allow Washington to use its bases. In a televised address on Wednesday, Sanchez declared Spain’s position in four words:

■ Spain rebukes Germany over solidarity snub (RT)
✅ How Germany became Israel’s enabler-in-chief (Tarik Cyril Amar)

In Iran, the U.S. and Israel are employing tactics used in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the “War on Terror” and Trump’s recent attacks on alleged drug boats in the Carribean. | As groups of families and others gathered Sunday evening at cafes around Niloofar Square—a middle-class area in eastern Tehran—after breaking their fast for Ramadan, a series of explosions struck the area, leveling several buildings and killing over 20 people, according to witnesses at the scene and later reports from local news sources. ■ Witnesses who spoke to Drop Site said two explosions hit the area—a smaller strike in the vicinity, followed by a larger one that devastated much of the neighborhood, a tactic known as a “double tap” strike that is used to inflict maximum casualties. ■ Videos of the immediate aftermath of the attack showed several individuals dead and wounded as well as massive destruction on the street outside. In Cafe Ahla, next to the square, blood and debris soaked the floors. Several patrons who had been sitting there when the attack struck could be seen dead on the floor or with their mutilated bodies still sprawled across their seats.

✅ If Westerners Could Wrap Their Minds Around What War Really Is (Caitlin Johnstone)
■ Mass funeral for children killed in school strike; Israel weighs “buffer zone” in Lebanon; Gaza food and fuel supplies dwindle (Dropsite News)

■ US defenses overwhelmed by Iran’s drone and missile barrages: WSJ (Press TV)

The IRGC says it now controls the Strait of Hormuz as tanker traffic plunges and the US considers escort missions and insurance measures to keep oil shipments moving. | Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday that it has taken full control of the Strait of Hormuz, deepening uncertainty around one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes as regional tensions continue to escalate. ● Speaking to Fars News Agency, the IRGC Navy's Political Advisor, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, said that "the Strait of Hormuz is currently under the full control of the naval forces of the Revolutionary Guard." ● The announcement comes days after oil and gas markets were shaken by disruptions to maritime traffic following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory operations across the region.

■ FACTBOX: What is known about tankers’ situation after closure of the Strait of Hormuz (TASS)
✅ What China stands to lose – and gain – from the Iran war (Ladislav Zemánek)

✅ U.S. Suffers Worst Day of Air Losses in Decades as Iran Conflict Spirals (Simplicius) (Mar 03, 2026)

US troops being told war on Iran is 'God's divine plan' | Over 200 US service members have complained that commanders invoked apocalyptic scripture to justify the war on Iran, a marker of War Secretary Pete Hegseth's Christian nationalist agenda to reshape the Pentagon. ● US military commanders have been using extremist Christian rhetoric about biblical "end times" and the imminent return of Jesus Christ to justify the US aggression on Iran to troops under their command, according to a surge of complaints filed with a military watchdog group.

■ US and Israel step up attacks as war with Iran engulfs region (Al Jazeera)
✅ War On Iran – Regional Participation – U.S. Blames Israel (Moon of Alabama)

■ Israel Plans to Create Buffer Zone in Syria - Reports (10/16/24)
■ STOLEN WATER: Israel emerging from water crisis (09/26/12)

AWIP: Israel hogging Gaza water sources (10/29/10)
✅ Jason Godesky: Israel’s Water Wars (02/21/10)
✅ Mitchell Prothero & Peter Beaumont: Israel Will Go to War over Water (11/10/09)