11 Latest Updates on the Middle East War: New US Sanctions - Khamenei's Call
The ongoing war in the Middle East is entering an increasingly complex phase, marked by a combination of military actions, diplomatic pressures, and economic manoeuvres from various involved parties.
The United States, Iran, and Israel continue to act with several latest developments that show both escalation and efforts to ease tensions.
Amid this situation, strategic decisions continue to be made, from arms sales to troop withdrawals and the imposition of new sanctions. In addition, the impact of the conflict is beginning to spread to the global economy, including oil prices and the distribution of humanitarian aid.
Here is a series of the latest developments in the war in the Middle East as reported by AFP on Sunday (3/5/2026).
US Approves Arms Sales to Qatar and Israel
The United States has stated that it has approved the sale of Patriot missiles worth US$4 billion to its Gulf ally, Qatar, as well as the sale of precision weaponry systems to Israel worth nearly US$1 billion.
Both sales are deemed to support the goals of “US foreign policy and national security”, according to the State Department in a series of notifications to Congress, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
US Withdraws Troops from Germany
The Pentagon stated that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of around 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year.
This announcement comes after President Donald Trump this week threatened to withdraw troops from the NATO ally amid a dispute with its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, regarding the US-Israel war against Iran.
Trump Says Hostilities in Iran Have “Ended”
Trump told senior US lawmakers that hostilities in Iran have ended, after facing pressure from Congress to seek authorisation for the conflict entering its third month.
“There has been no exchange of fire between US forces and Iran since 7 April 2026. The hostilities that began on 28 February 2026 have ended,” he wrote in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Acting Senate President Chuck Grassley.
Lebanon Says 13 Killed in Israeli Strikes
Lebanon’s Health Ministry stated that 13 people were killed on Friday due to Israeli strikes in the south of the country, including in a town that had previously received an evacuation order from the Israeli military despite a ceasefire.
The strike in Habboush, a location that received an evacuation warning, killed eight people and injured 21 others. Another strike in Zrariyeh killed four people and injured four others, according to the ministry.
The ministry also reported a strike in Ain Baal, near the coastal city of Tyre, which killed one person and injured seven others.
14 Iranian Soldiers Killed in Bomb Disposal Operation
As many as 14 soldiers were killed on Friday while carrying out a bomb disposal operation for unexploded ordnance in Zanjan province, northwest Iran, according to local media reports.
“Today, during one of these missions, 14 of these dedicated forces fell and two others were injured,” reported Fars News Agency, quoting the Revolutionary Guard.
Iran’s Leader Calls for “Economic War”
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, urged his people to wage an economic war and “disappoint” the country’s enemies, as the impact of the war with the US and Israel and years of sanctions takes hold.
In a written statement, Khamenei also called for “prioritising the consumption of domestically produced goods”, and said that “business owners affected should avoid, as much as possible, layoffs and separation of their workforce.”
Trump “Dissatisfied” with Iran’s Proposal
Trump said he is dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal for peace talks, which according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA was conveyed through Pakistani mediators.
“Right now, I’m not satisfied with what they’re offering,” he told reporters. “They’re asking for things I can’t agree to.”
Details of the proposal have not been published.
New US Sanctions
The US Treasury Department has imposed new sanctions on three Iranian foreign exchange companies in an effort to stem the flow of Tehran’s “financial lifelines”.
US Aircraft Carrier Leaves the Gulf
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has left the Middle East after participating in operations against Iran, said a US official.
Two other aircraft carriers, USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush, are among the 20 US ships still in the region.
Aid for Affected Refugees
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, stated that the war has caused a surge in shipping costs for aid to refugees in the Middle East and Africa.
Costs have increased by nearly 18% because shipments must be rerouted due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and port congestion, leading to delays in aid distribution.
Iran Open to Dialogue with US
Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, said Tehran is open to talks with the United States but will not accept what he called the “imposition” of policies under threat.
“The Islamic Republic has never shied away from negotiations… but we certainly do not accept imposition,” Ejei said in a video broadcast by the judiciary’s Mizan Online website.