USA Newspaper Headlines Today (March 10, 2026)
Fire breaks out at the Shahran oil depot after US and Israeli attacks in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2026
Oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel amid the fallout from the United States and Israel’s war on Iran.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose by more than 30 percent on Sunday, at one point topping $119 a barrel, as fears grew of prolonged disruption to global energy supplies.
The surge marked the first time oil rose above $100 per barrel since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Oil prices dropped back to about $110 per barrel after The Financial Times reported that the Group of Seven finance ministers would discuss the release of petroleum reserves in coordination with the International Energy Agency.
US President Donald Trump, who campaigned heavily on cost-of-living concerns before the 2024 election, brushed off the spike in prices.
“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!”
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright also downplayed the prospect of rising energy prices earlier on Sunday, telling the Face the Nation programme on CBS News that any increase in prices at the petrol pump would be “temporary”.
Crude oil prices have surged by about 50 percent since the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on February 28.
Iran has brought shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to an effective halt in retaliation, threatening about one-fifth of the global oil supply.
Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, three of the biggest producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), have cut production amid an accumulating backlog of barrels with nowhere to go due to the effective closure of the waterway.
Iran has been blamed for multiple attacks on energy facilities across the Gulf, including in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
On Saturday, Israel carried out air raids targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure for the first time since the start of the war.
The strikes hit four oil storage facilities and an oil products transfer centre in Tehran and the province of Alborz, according to Iranian state media.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday threatened to target energy facilities across the region in retaliation, warning that oil could soar to $200 a barrel if the US and Israel “continue this game”.
World Power Map – USA vs China vs Russia Alliances (2026)
Countries Mostly Aligned with the United States
The United States leads the largest global alliance system. Many countries cooperate with the U.S. through defense treaties, military bases, and economic partnerships.
Key allies:
United Kingdom
Canada
Germany
France
Japan
South Korea
Australia
Italy
Spain
Most of these countries are members of NATO, the largest military alliance in the world.
The U.S. also has strong security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.
Countries Close to China and Russia
The second major geopolitical bloc is led by China and Russia. These countries cooperate on militaryexercises, trade, and political influence.
Key partners:
Iran
North Korea
Belarus
Syria
Some cooperation with Pakistan and Central Asian states.
China also leads economic initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, expanding influence in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Neutral / Balanced Countries
Many countries try to balance relations between the U.S. and the China-Russia bloc.
Examples:
India
Saudi Arabia
Brazil
Türkiye
Indonesia
These nations often cooperate with both sides depending on trade, security, or political interests.
Simple Explanation of Global Power (2026)
USA Bloc: NATO + Western allies
China–Russia Bloc: Strategic partners challenging Western influence
Neutral / Global South: Countries balancing both sides
The world is increasingly becoming a multipolar system, where several powerful countries influence global politics instead of just one superpower.
USA–Iran Conflict Update
Tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise as military strikes and counter-attacks escalate in the Middle East. The situation has increased global security concerns and pushed oil prices higher in international markets.
Key points:
The U.S. and its allies continue military operations.
Iran has warned of retaliation.
Global energy markets are reacting to the crisis.
President Donald Trump Speaks on Iran Situation
U.S. President Donald Trump held a press conference addressing the Iran conflict. He said the United States wants stability but will maintain a strong stance against threats from Iran.
Leadership Change at Ohio State University
The president of Ohio State University, Ted Carter, has resigned after serving for about two years. Reports say the decision followed internal controversy related to personal conduct.
U.S. Trade and Economic Policy
The U.S. government has introduced temporary import duties to protect domestic industries and balance international trade. Officials say the move aims to support American manufacturing and jobs.
Summary of Today’s Top USA News
Rising tensions in the USA–Iran conflict
President Trump comments on the crisis
Leadership resignation at Ohio State University
New U.S. trade measures to support the economy
Iran ready for protracted war with US: Senior Iranian official to CNN
A top Iranian official has claimed that the Iranian government is ready for a long-term war with the United States. At the same time, he indicated that Iran wants to continue attacking Gulf countries so that they try to convince US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the conflict.
Kamal Kharazi, a foreign policy advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran, said this in an exclusive interview with US-based media outlet CNN in Tehran on Monday. He ruled out the possibility of resolving the crisis diplomatically at this time. He said that this war can only end through an economic crisis. Through this, he indicated that the Iranian government's position has become more rigid on the tenth day of the war.
Kamal Kharazi told CNN, "I see no more opportunity for diplomacy. Because Donald Trump has deceived others and is not keeping his promises. We have experienced this during the two rounds of negotiations. They have hit us while we were engaged in negotiations."
"This war is creating massive pressure on others - economic pressure. Inflation, the fuel crisis are creating massive economic pressure and this will continue. If the war continues, the pressure will increase. Then there will be no other option but to intervene.’ Kamal Kharazi, foreign affairs advisor to Iran’s supreme leader
The Iranian official added, “There is no room for negotiation until the economic pressure reaches a level where other countries are forced to intervene to ensure that the US and Israeli aggression against Iran stops.” His statement indicated that other countries in the world, including the Gulf Arab countries, will have to put pressure on the US to stop the war.
Kamal Kharazi said, “This war is creating massive pressure on others – economic pressure. Inflation, the energy crisis are creating massive economic pressure and this will continue. If the war continues, the level of pressure will increase. Then there will be no choice but for others to intervene.”
Since the US and Israel started the war, Iran has launched one attack after another in several countries in the Middle East. Tehran claims that it is targeting installations of US interests in the Gulf countries. However, residential buildings and various airports have also been repeatedly attacked.
The Iranian attacks have exposed the vulnerabilities of the global energy trade, including infrastructure weaknesses as well as other weaknesses, including transportation routes. The war has almost completely shut down shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Crude oil prices crossed $100 a barrel on Monday, causing major disruptions in the pockets of ordinary people and in stock markets.
The ongoing conflict has disrupted an estimated 20 percent of the world's oil supply, according to figures from the US-based consultancy Rapidan Energy Group. This is almost double the record set during the Suez Canal crisis of 1956-57.
Tehran claims that it is targeting US-owned facilities in the Gulf. However, residential buildings and various airports have also been repeatedly attacked.
The war has not only disrupted oil supplies from the region, but has also virtually wiped out the energy market's emergency spare capacity. This capability is usually useful in dealing with a major shock to the energy market. It measures how quickly additional oil production can be started when needed.
A spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that Tehran was using 60 percent of its military capabilities to attack US bases and “strategic interests” in the region.
Meanwhile, Iran has announced the name of its new supreme leader. Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli attack, has been elected as the new supreme leader. This is a clear indication that the conflict could escalate further.
This war is not only disrupting oil supplies from the Gulf region, but it has also virtually wiped out the emergency surplus production capacity of the energy market.
Asked whether Iran's military and supreme leadership would move forward with the same attitude in the coming days, Kharrazi said, "Yes, that's right."
Kharrazi also said, "It is the responsibility of the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran to lead the country's defense capabilities. Therefore, the new leader will fulfill that responsibility in the same way that the late Ayatollah Khamenei has been fulfilling that responsibility for so long."
Last week, Donald Trump said that the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as his father's successor was "unacceptable" to him.
In this regard, Kharrazi said, "It is not his (Trump's) business."
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