BREAKING: Mideast War Escalates as U.S. Rushes $650M Arms to Israel, Russia Arms Iran Intel (March 7 Live Updates)

Updated March 7, 2026, 1:15 PM EST | Senior Editor Intelligence Brief

President Trump declared Iran "will be hit very hard" in a condemnation of Tehran's refusal to surrender unconditionally, hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced a partial de-escalation—suspending attacks on Gulf neighbors unless struck first, but branding U.S. demands as "a dream they should take to their grave." This critical shift comes as Russian intelligence actively maps U.S. military positions for Iranian targeting, confirmed by three senior officials including a U.S. national security source, following Putin’s direct intervention via emergency call with Pezeshkian.

The U.K. officially disclosed today it’s permitting U.S. defense operations from British bases—including Jordan, Qatar, and Cyprus—to counter Iranian missile threats, reversing earlier denials about Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford access after Britons faced "direct risk." Simultaneously, the State Department bypassed Congress to accelerate $650 million in critical munitions to Israel, citing "urgent self-defense needs," with Secretary Rubio invoking emergency powers for bomb shipments already en route despite congressional review requirements.

Grave new evidence confirms a U.S. munition likely struck Minab’s Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School, killing 170+ people including children, prompting Human Rights Watch to demand immediate war crime investigations. Iranian state media reports 940 civilian deaths from U.S.-Israeli strikes amid Pezeshkian’s warning that American sites in the Gulf remain "legitimate targets," while 6,000 stranded Americans await evacuation as regional airports stay shuttered. With Trump vowing "complete destruction" of Iranian targets and clerics advancing plans for a new supreme leader, diplomats acknowledge "zero pathways to ceasefire." Tracked via CBS News and NBC News verified field reports.