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Xiaomi 17 Ultra hands-on: Incredible cameras, but maybe hard to get

China’s biggest phone makers continue to relentlessly forge ahead with high-spec phones that you may never see in the US. With the Xiaomi 17 Ultra this year, the company has continued its pattern from previous iterations by focusing on powerful camera sensors, huge batteries and… being selective about global availability.

Xiaomi’s 17 series is launching across multiple European territories months after its Asia debut, but at the time of writing, no word yet on US availability. Another logistical point of interest? When we last checked out Xiaomi’s devices, it was the 15 series, and the company has decided to skip 16 and leap straight to 17, conveniently matching Apple’s latest number.

Storied camera brand Leica has been involved with Xiaomi’s phones for a few years and its newest flagship doesn’t disappoint in that regard, because this is another Xiaomi device dedicated to photography.

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

The 17 Ultra has a huge 1-inch 50-megapixel main camera sensor with a f/1.67 lens, and a telephoto setup with a 200MP 1/1.4-inch sensor and going up to 4.3x optical zoom. Xiaomi claims it’s capable of up to 17x “optical-level zoom,” but quality doesn’t measure up to, say, the Oppo Find X9, with its dedicated telescopic lens add-on. There’s also a 50MP ultrawide camera to round things out.

The main camera is very impressive, delivering plenty of detail and performing incredibly well in low light, seemingly before any computational photography kicks in. A new Light Fusion 1050L sensor features LOFIC HDR technology, delivering stronger control over highlights and more detail in darker areas of your shots. I’ve been impressed by the balanced color tone and contrast, without having to edit or add one of the (many) Leica camera filters.

If anything, the slightly heavy-handed algorithms can sometimes ruin parts of a shot. For instance, by scrambling lettering or capturing blurry, AI-mutated faces where computational photography takes a swing (and a miss) at people in the distance.

Mat Smith for Engadget

The telephoto camera alone is also technically interesting in a few ways. It offers continual optical zoom across the 75-100mm range without in-sensor cropping. This means the lenses physically move to deliver lossless zoom across a range of distances, without jarring leaps between camera sensors and crops. This doesn’t run across the full gamut, but it does roughly cover the 3-4x optical zoom range, which is often used in portrait photography.

The APO (apochromatic) lens design on the telephoto is more immediately useful and effective. An APO lens significantly reduces chromatic aberration by focusing three wavelengths of light (red, green and blue) onto the same focal plane. This lens design means it can correct color fringing and improve image sharpness.

At full optical zoom, this light fitting at Soho Theatre Walthamstow doesn’t bloom or fringe to the extent that most smartphone zooms suffer from. (Mat Smith for Engadget)

At higher zoom levels, fringing and lighting bloom often hamper telephoto photos on smartphones, and Xiaomi’s solution has some appeal. I noticed less fringing than on other zoom-capable Android phones from Samsung, Oppo and Google. It also supports macro photography, but is hindered this time by a minimum focal distance of 30cm (11.8 inches). Most smartphone cameras’ macro modes let you get much closer.

The 17 Ultra can capture up to 8K video (at 30 fps), 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps, and 4K 120 fps Log video, ensuring you can make the most of that huge 1-inch sensor in video, too. That said, it seems to struggle with stabilization at times, while its low-light performance doesn’t match its prowess in still photography, lagging behind flagship phones from Apple, Google and Samsung.

There’s also a special Leica edition of the 17 Ultra, which is largely the same, specification-wise, but with a manual zoom ring around the camera unit. It’s a cool gimmick, but felt oddly loose on a few devices I’ve handled.

Xiaomi made a few design changes to its Ultra line this year, with a new, entirely flat display, and flattened edges that look like a certain family of devices. In fairness, it’s not the only company using imitation as flattery. There’s also IP68 protection against dust and water.

While cameras may be the highlight, this is a flagship device by any specification metric. With a 6.9-inch display, this expansive OLED display has variable refresh rates (1-120Hz) and peaks at 3,500 nits of brightness.

At that size, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is in the territory of devices like the iPhone 17 Pro Max and S26 Ultra. A phone this size isn’t for everyone, but it is the thinnest Ultra phone from Xiaomi to date, with a profile measuring 8.29mm. Xiaomi has also reduced the camera unit’s diameter and raised it on the device, making it easier to use and helping keep fingers out of your shots.

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the huge 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, with support for Xiaomi’s 90W HyperCharge (if you have the right charger) and 50W wireless HyperCharge (which also requires Xiaomi’s own dock) speeds. Other phone makers: Please put a battery this huge in your flagship.

At MWC 2026, the company announced the global launch and rollout of the device across Europe, including the UK where the Ultra will start priced at £1,299 (roughly $1,750). We’re still waiting to confirm US availability and pricing.

While the specs are powerful, “launching” a flagship device that’s already been in the wild for a few months — even if elsewhere in the world — reduces the spectacle.

February 28, 2026
Leica’s Leitzphone by Xiaomi has a huge 1-inch camera sensor and a stylish new design

Alongside a global launch for Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra (read about that right here), the company announced a further deepening of its relationship with Leica. The CEO of Leica, Matthias Harsch, took to the stage to announce a new Leitzphone, which appears to be an even deeper collaboration than 17 Ultra by Leica, which is a different phone. Confused? That’s fair.

Design-wise, Leica has shifted back to a single tone body color, which looks more “Leica” to this camera dilettante’s eyes. And if you’re thinking you’ve heard of the Leitzphone before, you probably have: it was a series of phones made by Sharp that launched in Japan in 2021. They all had a 1-inch camera sensor, as does Xiaomi’s first Leitzphone. It also has a mechanical, physical ring dial around the camera unit to control settings like zoom, exposure and shutter speed.

The camera interface is also designed by Leica. It’s designed to be as intuitive as possible, with an Essential mode in the camera app that strips away all those modes and labels, showcasing whatever you’re looking to shoot. You can switch between a monochrome shooting mode and a more familiar punchy, contrasty Leica filter. And that’s it.

Aside from that there’s no major standout interface or UI changes that I could spot while trying out the Leitzphone briefly at Xiaomi’s MWC keynote. However, if you’re intrigued by the functionality — or the cameras — check out our hands-on coverage and sample photos of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. The cameras are good.

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

All three iterations (the regular Xiaomi 17 Ultra , the “by Leica” edition and the Leitzphone) have a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and a 6.9-inch 120Hz display that can reach up to 3,500 nits of peak brightness. While cameras are naturally the focus, it’s a flagship device by pretty much any metric. It also has a 6,000mAh battery for extended vacation photo shoots.

Barring some Leica-tinged wallpapers and design accents, it’s a lot like the 17 Ultra by Leica, just with different messaging. This is Leica’s phone, made by Xiaomi, but does a rose by any other name still have great low-light photography? Maybe increased Leica branding will be enough to coax its camera fans into making this their next smartphone, perhaps.

Image by Mat Smith for Engadget

After years of collaboration (and cute little badges), this may be the first pure “Leica phone” manufactured by Xiaomi but sold directly by both companies. It’s priced at €1,999 (roughly $2,362), but it’s not known yet whether this phone will launch in the US. Welcome to MWC, everyone.

February 28, 2026
Following the US Attacks on Iran, the Entire World is Tracking Financial Markets Through Cryptocurrencies – What is the Latest Situation with Gold and…

Increased geopolitical risk in global markets following US and Israeli military operations against Iran led to sharp fluctuations in cryptocurrency markets over the weekend.

During hours when traditional markets were closed, investors turned to tokenized commodities like oil and gold via Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange offering 24/7 trading.

On the platform, oil contracts rose approximately 6.2% to $70.6 per barrel. Gold increased by over 5% to $5.464 per ounce, while silver surged more than 8% to $97.5. These price movements are seen as an early indication of a potential reaction in commodities when trading resumes in traditional markets on Monday.

Rising geopolitical tensions triggered a “risk-off” trend in crypto assets. Bitcoin fell by as much as 3.8% during weekend trading, reaching $63,038, before stabilizing around $64,000. Ethereum, meanwhile, dropped by as much as 4.5%, falling to $1,836. According to CoinGecko data, approximately $128 billion was wiped from the total value of the digital asset market immediately following these developments.

On the tokenized commodities side, silver contracts saw the highest trading volume. Volume exceeded $400 million in the last 24 hours, while gold contracts accounted for approximately $140 million in transactions. Contracts linked to US stock indices on the platform declined by 1% to 2%.

Following US and Israeli forces’ strikes across Iran today, Iran reportedly launched missile attacks against targets in Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain within hours, and issued new threats against US-linked bases in Iraq.

LVRG Research Director Nick Ruck stated that escalating tensions have created a widespread risk-aversion wave, adding, “While crypto assets are falling sharply due to their high beta characteristics, tokenized commodities on platforms like Hyperliquid are seeing safe-haven demand. This demonstrates the increasingly strong role of crypto as a space where macro expectations are priced in 24/7 while traditional markets are closed.”

*This is not investment advice.

February 28, 2026
Crypto community fear of Iran choking oil supply and crashing markets may be overblown

As tensions flare once again between Iran, Israel, and the U.S., social media, especially on crypto social media X (or Crypto Twitter), fears that Tehran could shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil chokepoint. Such a move, many worry, could send oil prices and global inflation soaring and roil financial markets, including bitcoin.

However, those concerns may be exaggerated, according to some observers.

Early Saturday, Israel and the U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran, aiming to dismantle the nation’s nuclear facilities and missile capabilities after failed negotiations. Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at Israel and the U.S. bases in the region, escalating fears of a full-blown military conflict.

This sparked jitters in the crypto market, the only venue open for investors to express fear and risk, while traditional markets stay closed over the weekend.

Bitcoin BTC$64,892.86, the leading cryptocurrency by market value, dropped to $63,000 from around $65,600 before rebounding to $65,000. Oil-linked futures on Hyperliquid surged more than 5%.

Hormuz fears

The Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint (21 miles wide at its narrowest point) between Iran to the north and Oman to the south, and facilitated about 20 million barrels of oil shipments each day in 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Naturally, amid simmering tensions, crypto accounts on X are worried that Iran may close the Strait of Hormuz, choking off oil supplies.

“If a direct conflict between the United States and Iran has begun, this isn’t just geopolitics. It’s a global economic event. If the Strait of Hormuz is threatened, oil could spike toward $120–$150,” an X handle called @Crypto_Diet said.

This could lead to an inflation shock, market sell-offs, a dollar surge, and depreciation in emerging-market currencies, the post added.

Several more accounts have posted similar views, with some savvy geopolitical experts sharing these concerns.

“Oil prices had already climbed to six-month highs ahead of the strikes. Iran is a founding OPEC member and the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil passes, is now directly implicated,” Geopolitical Strategist Velina Tchakarova said.

On top of that, some news outlets are already reporting that several oil majors, including trading houses, have suspended oil and fuel shipments through the strait.

Outright closure unlikely

Some observers, however, argued that an outright closure of the strait is not in Iran’s best interests and may be geographically impossible.

According to Daniel Lacalle, a PhD economist, fund manager, and chief economist at Tressis, Iran currently produces 3.3 million barrels per day of oil, but exports just half of that, which almost entirely goes to its ally China.

“It would shoot itself in the foot,” Lacalle said, downplaying fears of an eventual Iranian shutdown of the strait.

He added that OPEC members could quickly offset any potential disruption to oil supplies from Iran, while stressing that the United States, by itself, is the world’s largest oil producer.

In other words, any spike in oil prices could be measured and temporary.

The other aspect to consider is Geography. While the strait is split roughly in the middle between Iran and Oman, the shipping lanes are predominantly in Omani waters. It’s because water on the Iranian side is said to be shallower, while on the Omani side, it is deeper and better suited for the movement of large oil tankers.

So, technically, ships could pass through Oman’s yard, which means Iran’s closure of its territory may not have a big impact on supplies.

“Most waterways are in Oman, not Iran,” Energy Market Expert Dr. Anas Alhajji said on X.

“Hormuz strait has never been blocked despite all wars – It cannot be blocked. Too wide. Well protected,” he added.

All things considered, the odds of Iran shutting the strait and choking off oil supplies are low. That said, an all-out war can still trigger widespread risk aversion, potentially driving bitcoin below the widely watched $60,000 support level.

Meanwhile, bitcoin’s price chart also signals a potential for deepening of the bear market ahead amid the Middle East crisis.

February 28, 2026
Box Office: ‘Scream 7’ Scaring Up Record $60 Million-Plus U.S. Opening for a Victorious Paramount

The good news continues for the new regime at Paramount continues as Scream 7 blows past all expectations at the domestic box office, where the Spyglass Media pic is on course to open to $60 million or more, a franchise-best and the year’s biggest launch to date. It even has shot at $65 million, which would be the best opening in months.

Friday’s haul of $28.8 million includes $7.8 million in Thursday previews, which began just as David Ellison’s Paramount-Skydance learned the path has been cleared for the company to buy Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal that has left Hollywood rocked to its core after Netflix stepped away.

Despite a franchise-low critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, Scream 7 scored a franchise-best $7.8 million in previews, surpassing previous record-holder Scream VI ($5.7 million) and proving once again why many genres titles are generally review-proof.

Co-financed by Spyglass Media and Paramount, the film is playing in 3,540 theaters in North America. Overseas, it is rolling out in 52 markets, including Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom, with seven additional markets to follow. (The series does best in English-speaking markets.)

Heading into the weekend, Paramount forecasted a $40 million launch for the the slasher pic, which would have still marked the best three-day launch of the year to date. Tracking was more bullish, with the National Research Group projecting $45 million. As of now, Scream VI, which launched to $44.4 million in March 2023, is the record-holder for the series’ top opener, not adjusted for inflation.

The big wild card was audience scores. As long as they aren’t as bad as the reviews, the pic shouldn’t be murdered by poor word of mouth, although studios generally like to see an audience score of 80 percent and above. As of Saturday morning, the Rotten Tomatoes audience score was a good-enough 78 percent.

Globally, Scream 7 is targeting now targeting a launch north of $80 million. While Paramount’s new studio heads Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein inherited the project, they, along with newly installed marketing head Josh Goldstine successfully carried it over the finish line in tandem with Spyglass.

The pic sees Neve Campbell return to the iconic series in the role of Sidney after sitting out Scream VI because of a salary dispute after appearing in every film up to that point.

Kevin Williamson, who wrote the script for the original Scream, Scream 2 and Scream 4, directs the seventh installment. The story follows Sidney as she returns to a small town with her daughter (Isabel May), who soon cross paths with a new Ghostface killer. The girl is named Tatum, the same name of Rose McGowan’s character in the 1996’s Scream who was murdered.

A trailer released in October focused on Ghostface targeting Sidney and Tatum, with Sidney teaching her daughter the rules of surviving the brutal killer. Another ad played during the Super Bowl, underscoring how important the franchise is to David Ellison and his new regime at Paramount. In addition to Campbell, original star Courteney Cox returns as reporter Gale Weathers.

Spyglass fully produced the movie, with Paramount co-financing half of the net $45 million budget.

Scream 7 has a secret weapon in its arsenal — it will be the first installment to play in Imax. It is also playing across all other premium formats.

While Campbell’s return marks a highly anticipated moment for fans, two stars of the revival films Scream (2022) and Scream VI will not be back. Melissa Barrera was fired from Scream 7 because of her social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war. Jenna Ortega had already left the film voluntarily before the firing, though it was not made public until after. Christopher Landon, who was set to direct the horror sequel, also exited amid intense fan backlash after Barrera’s firing, despite not being the one to fire the actress.

Other franchise stars returning include David Arquette as Dewey Riley, completing the legacy trio alongside Sidney and Gale. Matthew Lillard, one of the original co-Ghostface killers, is coming back as Stu Macher, as well as Scott Foley, Scream 3‘s Ghostface Roman Bridger — Sidney’s half-brother. Siblings Chad and Mindy, played by Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown are also in Scream 7.

The other big victor of the weekend is Neon and Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley doc, which looks to come in fourth place with a dazzling $7 million start to $8 million start.

More to come.

Feb. 25, 7:20 a.m.: Updated with revised estimates.

This story was originally published February 27 at 8:59 a.m.

February 28, 2026
‘Bridgerton’ Stars Luke Thompson, Yerin Ha on Delivering “Something Real” With Sex Scenes: “We’re Not Thirst Trap Puppets”

[This story contains major spoilers from Bridgerton season four, Part 2.]

Benedict (Luke Thompson) and Sophie (Yerin Ha) may have finally found their happily ever after in Bridgerton season four, but it wasn’t without plenty of hurdles and setbacks that come with any fairytale story.

In Part 2 alone, while also trying to figure out how to make their relationship work within society — as Sophie is a maid and Benedict is a nobleman — Sophie is also dealing with Araminta’s (Katie Leung) vendetta against her, trying to throw her in prison forever, and Benedict is contemplating leaving his family and society so he can be with his one true love.

But thanks to Lady Violet Bridgerton’s (Ruth Gemmell) masterful plan, Benedict and Sophie make it down the aisle legally (if you caught that post-credits scene) by the end, along with a few highly anticipated spicy scenes along the way.

Thompson tells The Hollywood Reporter that it was important for them to “deliver something real” for Benedict and Sophie’s intimate scenes, “because we’re not thirst trap puppets.” Below, Thompson and Ha break down Part 2, including the chaos with Araminta (Katie Leung), filming those spicy scenes and their thoughts on the new Lady Whistledown mystery.

***

This season centers on a love story between two people who wouldn’t be accepted by society’s views. What did you love most about bringing this type of love story to the show in a Cinderella-esque way?

LUKE THOMPSON I love how the tensions of what can and can’t happen, both because of internal and external blocks, really undoes Benedict. From my point of view, it was really nice to watch a character like that get completely torn to pieces a little bit. I think that’s fun. It’s a nice thing to experience from an actor’s point of view.

YERIN HA And how much your character can change you internally, and make you really face your internal obstacles and actually have to deal with them. That was really fun to play.

Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson in season four.

Netflix

Benedict was really going through it in Part 2, between trying to decide if he’s going to leave his family and move to the countryside with Sophie or figure out another way. What was your reaction when you first read that Benedict was willing to lose his family for love? Did you agree?

THOMPSON It’s not really about agreeing with it or not. Symbolically, you always have to hold onto your family a little less tightly if you’re going to begin a family with someone else. That’s what’s quite poignant about that relationship, that meeting someone is your little doorway out of the family unit. And it’s particularly poignant with a family united by grief, by losing the dad. Everyone’s held onto each other a little bit more closely, and Benedict particularly. Everyone’s reacted to that differently, but Benedict’s response seems to have been to become some sort of glue to the family and keeping them very close. That’s the journey, isn’t it? You have to learn to let go a little bit if you’re going to change and start a story with someone else.

It was also really intense when Araminta had Sophie arrested and thrown in a jail cell, and almost put on trial. What was it like filming those more intense scenes in Part 2?

HA We’ve never seen a Bridgeton jail before. I was like, “How dark are we going?” I really did have to lean on the directors, and when you are working with a great script and a great cast member like Katie, who really does make you feel immense fear, I think you’re just able to play on the day,. It’s fun to play those scenes and explore that part of Sophie, and to go deep into that narrative that we’ve never really seen Bridgeton tackle before.

There are also more intimate scenes in Part 2, including the bathtub scene from the book. How did you work with the intimacy coordinator to bring those scenes to life?

HA A lot of choreography. There were so many logistical things we had to contend with and problem-solve, from slippery, oily water to a long bathtub for a 5-foot-2 girl to twisting and turning away (laughs). It was genuinely like choreography. And actually, when you have those logistical things that you have to overcome, it’s kind of more fun.

THOMPSON Seven hours in a bathtub … it’s not for the faint-hearted (laughs).

HA [You become] a prune.

THOMPSON With those scenes, the thing to really hold at bay, for me anyway, is that sort of pressure of, Oh, it’s this kind of scene and we need to deliver this kind of thing so that people need to be excited or whatever. I think that’s not really your job. Your job is to just live the scene. Lizzy [Talbot], the intimacy coordinator, enables you to do that. She puts you straight in the scene rather than standing there thinking, Are people going to enjoy this? You can’t really control that, so you have to keep that side of things at bay because we’re not thirst trap puppets. We try and deliver something real, the story of it.

Luke Thompson and Yerin Ha in season four.

Netflix

In the end, Sophie and Benedict thankfully end up together, but even if Araminta didn’t agree to Violet’s plan, do you think the Queen would have potentially let Benedict marry a maid?

THOMPSON I like the narrative beat that there is a little fudge on the truth because it’s nice in the same way that Benedict, through being with Sophie, has found his weight, his seriousness and being in touch with reality. I think it’s nice that Sophie retains this little secret, this little bit of fantasy with that fudge on the truth at the end. The symmetry of that. But it wouldn’t be a good ending, wouldn’t it?

HA I like to think for the happy ending sake that she would still say yes.

Also, there’s a new mystery Lady Whistledown. Who do each of you think it is?

HA No clue. It really could be anyone.

THOMPSON It could be anyone. All bets are off. I don’t have any inkling at all. I think they’ve written it specifically for that, because we only get a little taste of this new voice until we get further on into the next season.

Though season five won’t be focused on Benedict and Sophie, what do you hope for your characters next season, post-wedding?

THOMPSON I don’t know. We’ll see. That’s beyond my pay grade. It’d be nice to see them have kids, and just be a part of the family as well. They’re actually both characters who have nice hotlines to all of the characters in the show, so I hope they still communicate with the siblings.

HA Or feel like they can lean on either one of us.

***

All episodes of Bridgerton season four are currently streaming on Netflix. Check out all of The Hollywood Reporter‘s season four coverage here.

February 28, 2026
World reacts to US, Israel attack on Iran, Tehran retaliation

The outbreak of conflict between Israel and the United States against Iran, triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes across Iran, has drawn frantic calls for calm as deep consternation spreads across globe.

Criticism has mounted against Washington for taking part in the attacks while still engaged in nuclear negotiations with Tehran. Anger has also surfaced in Gulf states caught up in the conflict, as Iran launches retaliatory missile strikes against US military assets hosted on their soil.

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Here is a breakdown of how countries and institutions are responding:

United States

President Donald Trump announced that the US was engaged in a “major combat operation” aimed at “eliminating threats from the Iranian regime” on Saturday morning, as missiles hit numerous areas in Tehran and across the country. Trump pledged to raze Iran’s missile industry and destroy its navy, while urging the Iranian people to overthrow the government.

Israel

A senior Israeli defence official told the Reuters news agency the joint US-Israeli attacks had been planned for months, with a specific date set weeks ago. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the attacks aimed to remove an “existential threat” posed by Iran. He said the attacks would “create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands”.

Iran

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Israel and the US of violating the United Nations charter with their attacks and pledged a harsh response, as the country waged retaliatory attacks on Israel as well as in several Gulf states that host US military assets, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait. “All American and Israeli assets and interests in the Middle East have become a legitimate target,” a senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera. “There are no red lines after this aggression.”

European Union

European ⁠Commission President ⁠Ursula von der Leyen and European Council ⁠President Antonio Costa called the conflict “greatly concerning” and urged all parties “to exercise maximum restraint, to protect civilians, ‌and to fully respect international law”.

Red Cross

Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, called on countries to respect the rules of war and urged them to find the political will to prevent “further death and destruction”. She warned that “a dangerous chain reaction” of military escalation was under way across the Middle East, “with potentially devastating consequences for civilians”.

Oman

The main mediator in ongoing US-Iran negotiations, Oman expressed dismay at the outbreak of violence. Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the conflict would not serve US interests, nor the interests of global peace, and urged Washington “not to get sucked in” further.

The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on “all parties to immediately cease military operations” and for “the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to impose a ceasefire”.

Germany, France, the UK

In a joint statement, the prime ministers of the three countries said they “condemn Iranian attacks on countries in the region in the strongest terms” and remain committed “to regional stability and to the protection of civilian ⁠life.” They also said they ‌want a resumption of US-Iran negotiations.

Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron ⁠called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, ⁠saying the conflict carries “serious consequences” for international peace and security. “The current escalation is dangerous for everyone. It must stop,” he said.

Qatar

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned Iran for firing missiles at Qatari territory, which is home to the Al Udeid Air Base that hosts US troops. The ministry called the attacks a flagrant violation of Qatar’s national sovereignty and a direct assault on its security. It added that Qatar reserves the right to respond, as per international law.

United Arab Emirates

The Ministry of Defence condemned in the “strongest terms” Iran’s attacks on its territory, several of which it said its air defences intercepted. It called the attack “a dangerous escalation and a cowardly act that threatens the security and safety of civilians”, stressing that the UAE has the “full right” to respond.

Bahrain

Bahrain confirmed that an Iranian missile attack targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet that it hosts, and called the attack “treacherous”.

Kuwait

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the Iranian attack on its soil as a “flagrant violation” of international law and said it had the right to respond. It warned that any additional escalation would only deepen regional instability.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia condemned in the “strongest terms” the Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states and warned of “dire consequences”.

Turkiye

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on “all parties” to end the spiral of violence, which it stressed started with US-Israeli attacks on Iran. “The events that began with Israel and the US attacking Iran, and continued with Iran targeting third countries, are of a nature that risks the future of our region and global stability,” said the ministry.

Pakistan

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar “strongly condemned the unwarranted attacks against Iran and called for an immediate halt to escalation through urgent resumption of diplomacy to achieve a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis”.

Russia

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, accused the US of having used its nuclear talks with Iran as a cover-up before military operations. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the international community to swiftly deliver an objective assessment of what it called irresponsible ⁠actions that risk ⁠further destabilising the region.

China

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged “an immediate halt to military actions” and appealed for “the resumption of dialogue and negotiations” to maintain regional peace and stability. It stressed that “Iran’s national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected.”

India

The Ministry of External Affairs called on all parties to “exercise restraint” and “avoid escalation”. It said “dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued” and that “sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states must be respected.” The statement came several days after the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Israel and hailed their “vital” partnership.

Ukraine

The ⁠Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Iran of being responsible for the chain of events leading to the conflict, including its crackdown on protests earlier this year. “The cause of the current ⁠events is precisely ⁠the violence and impunity of the Iranian regime, ⁠in particular the killings and ⁠repression of ⁠peaceful protesters, which have become particularly widespread in recent ‌months,” said the Foreign Ministry.

Norway

Foreign Minister Espen Barth said the initial attack on Iran by Israel breached standards of international law. “The attack is ⁠described by Israel as a preventive strike, but ⁠it is not in line with international law,” said Barth. “Preventive attacks require an immediately imminent threat.”

Belgium

Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said the Iranian people “must not pay the price for their government’s choices. We deeply regret that diplomatic efforts could not lead earlier to a negotiated solution.”

February 28, 2026
The fantasy of an easy victory in the war on Iran

Earlier today, the United States and Israel launched an attack against Iran, hitting targets across the country. In their televised speeches, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that they are after regime change, not military pressure to secure a deal.

The attack and Iran’s swift response underscore just how precarious the diplomacy has become. The outbreak of war followed mediators’ announcement of a significant “breakthrough” in negotiations, with talks set to resume next week. Clearly, diplomacy was never meant to succeed and was merely used to mask war plans.

From the timing of the attack, it is apparent that Washington and Tel Aviv had already made up their minds weeks ago. Israeli media reported that the operation had been coordinated with Washington to come ahead of the Purim holiday, which commemorates the biblical story of the Jewish people being saved from mass killing in ancient Persia.

While both Trump and Netanyahu are clearly after a “victory” declaration, whether they can actually achieve it is unclear.

Targeting the Iranian leadership

Israel and the US have claimed to have focused on taking out civilian and military leadership and military installations. Perhaps the hope is that they can bring the war to a quick end.

Israel claimed that it had achieved “very high success” in eliminating Iran’s leadership, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian among those targeted. Photos have already emerged of a major strike on Khamenei’s secure compound. Israeli media have reported the killing of General Mohammad Pakpour, a commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to the supreme leader, and Amir Nasirzadeh, Iran’s defence minister.

Israel is clearly trying to reassure its citizens that it has the capability of reaching deep into Iran’s top layer of leaders.

But there has been no confirmation of leadership deaths so far from Tehran. Iranian media have claimed that Khamenei and Pezeshkian are safe and has reported instead on an air strike on a girls’ school in the city of Minab, with a death toll of at least 60.

Unlike the 12-day war last June, when Iran’s retaliation was slow and measured, this time around, the Iranian armed forces retaliated almost immediately. Ballistic missiles were fired at US bases in Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Israeli cities like Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Eilat.

The speed of Iran’s retaliation indicates that it had anticipated these attacks and had its retaliation plans ready. The question now is whether Iran can outlast US resolve, which faces both domestic and international pressure.

Domestic dangers

Trump launched the war on Iran amid little enthusiasm among Americans for another foreign conflict. A recent poll by YouGov and The Economist suggests that just 27 percent of the US public supports the US using military force against Iran. Another survey conducted by the University of Maryland registered even lower approval: 21 percent.

The war has significant domestic political ramifications for Trump. As the operation progresses, if Iran fails to surrender, the US president will be caught between getting bogged down in a protracted conflict by escalating, and being seen as weak if he backs down.

As the midterm elections approach, the war will become a litmus test for Trump’s presidency. If the conflict does not go as the president has envisioned, it could reflect poorly on the Republican Party in the polls. If the GOP loses control of Congress to the Democrats, it would prevent Trump from pursuing his political agenda. Democrats gaining control of Congress could pile more impeachment pressure on Trump.

What is victory?

No analyst thinks this war will be short. Unlike the 12-day war, which resulted in a ceasefire, this conflict already looks broader and deeper. Iran’s readiness to retaliate across the region suggests it is willing to wage a long war rather than compromise.

One problem Washington and Tel Aviv are facing is how to keep the pressure on Tehran without creating uncontrollable instability in the region. The other problem they have is that they put regime change as their ultimate goal.

In his speech announcing the attack on Iran, the US president appeared to suggest that the US army would stick to an aerial campaign and would not deploy troops on the ground. He appeared to put the responsibility for toppling the Iranian government in the hands of the Iranian people, saying “the hour of your freedom is at hand” and calling on them to rebel.

This call comes two months after Iran witnessed unprecedented mass protests across the country. The Iranian authorities, however, launched a brutal campaign of repression, killing thousands. At the moment, a similar wave of mass protests seems unlikely. That legacy of repression weighs heavily on society, and Iran appears resilient.

Meanwhile, leadership “decapitation strikes” by the US and Israel will likely continue, but even if successful, they would not produce regime change.

Eventually, Trump’s generals may advise that prolonged conflict is unsustainable, echoing the lessons of the 12-day war. For Trump, an unwinnable war would invite a familiar exit strategy: Declaring victory on Truth Social and shifting the narrative.

The challenge then would be how to negotiate a ceasefire. Having been misled twice by the smokescreen of negotiations, Tehran could use this double betrayal to harden its position. If the regime survives, it could exploit US desperation for renewed talks to extract concessions. In that sense, diplomacy’s collapse today may set the stage for Iran to negotiate from a position of strength tomorrow.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

February 28, 2026
‘We Have to Survive’ Boarded by Taskovski Films Ahead of Premiere at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (EXCLUSIVE)

Taskovski Films has come on board as the sales agent for “We Have to Survive,” which has its world premiere at the Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival, which runs March 5-15.

The film, written and directed by Tomáš Krupa, reveals the challenges of a changing world, and the quiet strength of those living through it, illustrated with a number of character-driven stories.

The film travels from the fragile Outer Banks of the U.S., where the ocean slowly reclaims the land, to the vast Mongolian desert, where a family plants trees against the wind, and on to the underground town of Coober Pedy in Australia, where people build their lives beneath the burning earth, and the icy shores of Greenland, where ancient fishing traditions have new beginnings.

Irena Taskovski, head of acquisitions at Taskovski Films, says: “ ‘We Have to Survive’ brings us face to face with lives already reshaped by a changing climate. But it is not just the scale of the crisis, but the human dignity, and care that emerge within it. These stories remind us that climate change is not distant, it is lived, shared, and deeply human. At a time when the future can feel uncertain, Tomáš Krupa’s film offers something essential: a sense of connection, responsibility, and a reminder that we are all under the same sky.”

The film is produced by Krupa for Hailstone. The co-producers are Christian Popp (Yuzu Productions), Peter Drössler (Golden Girls Film), and Arash T. Riahi (Golden Girls Film). Cinematography is by Martin Čech and Ondřej Szollos.

Krupa was the recipient of the Sun in a Net National Film Award, the IGRIC Film and TV National Award, and the Slovak Film Critics’ Award for his feature documentary “The Good Death” (2018).

In 2013, he founded his production company, Hailstone, which focuses on creative documentaries and art-house feature films.

His profile was recognized internationally when he was selected for the Emerging Producers 2020 program, presented at Ji.hlava Intl. Documentary Festival. Most recently, he co-produced the Austrian-Slovak historical drama “Perla,” which won Best Austrian Film at Viennale in 2025.

February 28, 2026
Peace ‘within reach’ as Iran agrees no nuclear material stockpile: Oman FM

Oman’s Foreign Minister says most recent indirect talks between US, Iran ‘really advanced, substantially’ and diplomacy must be allowed do its work.

Iran agreed during indirect talks with the United States never to stockpile enriched uranium, said Oman’s top diplomat, who described the development as a major breakthrough.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi also said on Friday that he believed all issues in a deal between Iran and the US could be resolved “amicably and comprehensively” within a few months.

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“A peace deal is within our reach … if we just allow diplomacy the space it needs to get there,” Al Busaidi said in an interview with CBS News in Washington, DC, after Oman brokered the third round of indirect talks between the US and Iran in Geneva on Thursday.

“If the ultimate objective is to ensure forever that Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, I think we have cracked that problem through these negotiations by agreeing [on] a very important breakthrough that has never been achieved any time before,” Al Busaidi said.

“The single most important achievement, I believe, is the agreement that Iran will never ever have nuclear material that will create a bomb,” he said.

“Now we are talking about zero stockpiling, and that is very, very important because if you cannot stockpile material that is enriched, then there is no way that you can actually create a bomb,” he added.

There would also be “full and comprehensive verification by the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency]”, he said, referring to the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

Oman’s top diplomat also said Iran would degrade its current stockpiles of nuclear material to “the lowest level possible” so that it is “converted into fuel, and that fuel will be irreversible”.

“This is something completely new. It really makes the enrichment argument less relevant, because now we are talking about zero stockpiling,” Al Busaidi said.

Regarding recent US demands regarding Iran’s missile programme, Al Busaidi said: “I believe Iran is open to discuss everything”.

Asked if he thought enough ground was covered in the most recent talks in Geneva to hold off a US attack on Iran, the minister said, “I hope so.”

“We have really advanced substantially, and I think, obviously, there remains various details to be ironed out, and this is why we need a little bit more time to really try and accomplish the ultimate goal of having a comprehensive package of the deal,” he said.

“But the big picture is that a deal is in our hands,” he added.

The foreign minister’s comment followed after he met earlier on Friday with US Vice President JD Vance and as US President Donald Trump continued to sabre-rattle while at the same time declaring he favoured a diplomatic solution with Tehran.

Trump said on Friday that he was not happy with the recent talks that concluded in Geneva.

“We’re not exactly happy with the way they’re negotiating,” Trump told reporters in Washington, adding that Iran “should make a deal”.

“They’d be smart if they made a deal,” he said.

Trump later said that he would prefer it if the US did not have to use military force, “but sometimes you have to do it”.

The US and Iranian sides are expected to meet again on Monday in Vienna, Austria, for more indirect negotiations.

February 28, 2026