March 12 (Reuters) - Global air travel remains severely disrupted after the war in Iran forced the closure of key Middle Eastern hubs including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, stranding tens of thousands of passengers.

Demand for private charter flights out of the Middle East has surged since the beginning of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, with those who can afford it paying astronomical prices to leave the region.

Mojtaba Khamenei has called for the Strait of Hormuz to “remain closed”, in his first public statement since he was appointed Iran’s supreme leader. Western officials believe Khamenei has been injured during the war with the US and Israel, according to people familiar with intelligence reports.

Palantir CEO Alex Karp sat down exclusively with CNBC to discuss the Iran war and how AI is being used in wartime.

As conversations around the Iran war continue to play out online, people are arguing for the term Middle East to be retired.

Cheap Iranian drone attacks are pushing the Pentagon to expand layered air defenses in the Middle East, including interceptor drones and emerging laser systems.

SEOUL, March 10 (Reuters) - South Korea cannot ⁠stop ⁠U.S. forces in Korea ⁠from redeploying some weapons, President Lee Jae Myung said ​on Tuesday, after reports that some U.S. Patriot missile defence systems were ‌being sent to the conflict ‌in the Middle East.

Iran has threatened to set oil and gas infrastructure in the Middle East “on fire” if its energy sites are attacked. Follow live updates.