Iran war: Hegseth vows 'most intense day' of US strikes

The US defense secretary Pete Hegseth says Tuesday will see the most intense strikes on Iran since the war began. We are joined by our reporters for the latest from Iran, Israel and Lebanon. We hear from people in Iran and speak in conversation with American veterans who served in previous wars in the Middle East. Our North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher joins with perspective on how difficult politically the war is for President Trump ahead of the US midterms elections.

The world's biggest oil producer has warned of catastrophic consequences if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked to shipping for an extended period. We speak to our North America Business Correspondent Michelle Fleury.

Presenter: James Reynolds
(Photo: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine hold a briefing amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., US, 2 March 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz)