Day 17 of the war (evening): Iran has lost 90% of its strike capacity, but claims its most powerful weapons have not yet been deployed

The United States and Israel have reportedly eliminated 290 of 410 to 440 Iranian missile launchers, and the number of missile attacks has fallen by 90 percent — from 167 ballistic missiles and 541 drones in the first 24 hours of the war to four missiles and six drones on the fifteenth day. Nevertheless, Iranian Revolutionary Guards spokesman Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini claims that most of the arsenal remains intact and that only decade-old systems have been deployed so far. David Des Roches of the U.S. National Defense University points out that Iran maintains hidden missiles at undisclosed sites, and analyst Hamidreza Azizi of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs describes the situation as "a race against time" — decentralized mobile launchers make detection difficult despite American air superiority. Al Jazeera ↗

Iranian attacks on Gulf states continued on Sunday on multiple fronts. Dubai's civil aviation authority suspended all flights after a fuel tank was hit near the international airport and redirected traffic to Al Maktoum Airport. Emirates later resumed a limited flight schedule with several flights canceled. In Abu Dhabi, a missile struck a civilian vehicle in the Al Bahia district, killing a Palestinian resident. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense announced the interception of 37 drones in the morning hours and three further waves in the eastern part of the country. Kuwait International Airport suffered damage to radar equipment, although Iran denied involvement in that attack. Since the start of the conflict, Iran has fired more than 1,800 missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates — more than at any other country. Al Jazeera ↗

The price of Brent crude oil jumped to $106 per barrel on Sunday, marking a 40 percent increase since the start of the war. The International Energy Agency described the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz as "the largest disruption to global energy supplies in history." Shipping traffic through the strait has collapsed from 138 vessels per day to a maximum of five, and at least 16 commercial vessels have been attacked since the conflict began. Prices have fallen from a peak above $119, but without a resolution to the Hormuz blockade, markets have no reason for optimism. Al Jazeera ↗

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatened television stations with license revocation on Saturday over their war coverage. "Broadcasters spreading hoaxes and distorting the news now have a chance to correct course before their licenses come up for renewal," Carr wrote on X. President Trump accused the New York Times and Wall Street Journal on Truth Social of "actually wanting us to lose the war," adding that some media outlets "should be tried for treason." According to an NPR/PBS/Marist poll, 56 percent of Americans disagree with military action in Iran. Legal experts note that the FCC has not denied a license renewal in decades, and any such move would trigger a lengthy constitutional dispute under the First Amendment. NPR ↗

The war in Iran has entered its third week, but the U.S. Congress has yet to publicly review its legality. According to the Washington Post, Republicans continue to block Democrats' demands for public hearings with Trump administration officials on the war's objectives and legal basis. In early March, the Senate rejected, by a vote of 47 to 53, a resolution by Senator Tim Kaine that would have limited Trump's war powers — the only Republican voting for the restriction was Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. Senator Chris Murphy declared: "We should not proceed with legislation until they bring an authorization for use of military force to the Senate floor. This is about war and peace." Washington Post ↗

European Union foreign ministers on Sunday approved a new package of sanctions against Iranian officials and entities in response to ongoing human rights violations and the escalating conflict in the region. Al Jazeera ↗