Iran has outlined strict conditions for any ceasefire as the US-Israeli military campaign escalates, while US President Donald Trump appears to have stepped back from his vow to resume strikes on the Islamic Republic’s power facilities when a five-day pause expires on Friday.
Indirect talks between the US and Iran are being mediated by Pakistan, Türkiye, and Egypt, the foreign ministers of the three countries have confirmed, stating they have been passing messages between Washington and Tehran.
Egypt’s Ishaq Dar dismissed the “unnecessary speculation” in the media regarding the peace talks and said that negotiations “are taking place” through intermediaries and that Washington’s 15-point proposal was delivered to Tehran in exactly this manner.
Iranian media have also reported that Iran has already formally replied to the US proposal and is currently awaiting a response. Although Tehran has not released any official statements regarding Washington’s plan, Iranian officials have reportedly dismissed it, demanding concessions from the US.
One senior Iranian official described the proposal to Reuters as “one-sided and unfair.”
“In brief, the proposal suggests that Iran would relinquish its ability to defend itself in exchange for a vague plan to lift sanctions,” the official said, stressing that the plan lacks the minimum requirements for success.
Tehran has denied holding direct talks with Washington while US President Donald Trump has claimed that the Iranian leadership is desperate to reach a deal but fears retribution from its own people if it publicly admits it.
Here are the latest developments:
Oil prices have surged amid conflicting reports of US-Iranian negotiations, with Brent crude jumping over 4.5% to $107 a barrel
Trump has reportedly told aides that the Iran war could end in the coming weeks
The US is reportedly preparing for a “final blow” in Iran that could include the use of ground troops and the seizing of several Iranian islands near the Strait of Hormuz
Israel claims to have killed Iranian naval Chief Alireza Tangsiri, stating he was directly responsible for the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz
Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates. You can also read our previous updates here.
26 March 2026
Russia is not seeking to benefit economically from the world crises, Lavrov has said. Moscow “has never taken any actions to take something away from the others,” he said, adding that it also “never rejoices” when wars unleashed by other nations drive up the prices of Russian export goods.
Russian companies Lukoil and Rosneft have de-facto faced “forcible takeover” attempts targeting their foreign assets subjected to US and EU sanctions, he said, adding that it is not Moscow that takes actions on the world stage to “derive unlawful benefits.”
Western sanctions are “absolutely illegitimate” and simply “do not exist” for Russia and its “good-faith partners,” Lavrov said, adding that Moscow will “always fulfill its obligations” and engage in economic cooperation with those nations that are interested in it.
Russia does have close relations with Iran, but this does not mean it shares intelligence with Tehran, Sergey Lavrov has said, denying claims that Moscow is helping Tehran in the conflict.
“We cannot agree with [these] accusations,” the minister said, adding that the locations of the US bases in the Middle East are “publicly available information” and “everyone in the region knows their coordinates.”
Earlier on Thursday, EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas claimed that Russia was helping Iran with intelligence to “kill Americans.”
Iran is Russia’s “ally and a strategic partner” but Moscow is primarily focused on defending international law in the ongoing conflict between Washington, West Jerusalem and Tehran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told France TV.
“We advocate securing the interests of both Iran and all countries in the region, including our strategic partners” among the Gulf states, he said, adding that America’s allies in the region are also suffering because of the conflict.
Trump is “in a desperate situation” and is “going to make a desperate play” in Iran, Professor Jiang Xueqin has warned on RT’s ‘Sanchez Effect.’ Jiang, an academic and host of the YouTube show ‘Predictive History’, argued that a limited US ground operation to seize Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf would either end in a temporary success or become “the final resting place” of the invading troops.
He said the US “doesn’t have good military options” because Iran is “holding the global economy hostage” through its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, predicting that any escalation could trigger major turmoil in world markets and accelerate what he described as the downfall of the “American empire.”
Israel’s Air Force (IAF) says it has conducted a long‑range mission “deep into Iran,” firing more than 70 munitions at what it described as an IRGC base “used to coordinate terror attacks against Israel.” In a post on X, the IAF said its fighter jets struck the site and returned to base without providing details on casualties or damage.
Lebanon will file a complaint with the UN Security Council over Israel’s attacks on its territory, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has reportedly said, calling the actions “extremely dangerous” and a threat to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The announcement comes as Israel continues its military operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon launched in early March after the Lebanese‑based militants carried out waves of strikes against Israel in retaliation for the US-Israeli killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said this week that parts of the region will be occupied, a move expected to involve the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Pezeshkian has thanked Russia for its support, saying messages from President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people are a “source of encouragement” in these “historic days.” In a post on X, published in Russian, he said Iran’s resistance has transformed regional relations and that “from now on, the security of West Asia will be ensured by the countries of the region.”
Moscow has condemned the US‑Israeli bombing campaign against Iran as a “premeditated and unprovoked act of aggression.” In a call with Pezeshkian in early March, Putin described the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a “cynical violation” of morality and international law.
Israeli forces have carried out artillery shelling using phosphorus munitions against several towns in southern Lebanon, state‑run National News Agency has claimed. The strikes reportedly hit areas facing Israeli troop movements, including Deir Seryan, Qantara, Yohmor al‑Shaqif, Zawtar, Froun, Ghandoorieh and Borj Qalaouiye, with no immediate information on casualties or damage.
International law prohibits the use of incendiary weapons such as white phosphorus against civilians or in populated areas.
Any lasting ceasefire would require an end to “aggression and terror,” concrete guarantees against a repeat of war, full compensation for damages, and respect for Iran’s legal authority in the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard international maritime security, according to Kazem Jalali, Iran’s ambassador to Russia.
In a post on X, Jalali said Iran would continue to exercise its “inherent right” to self-defense until the source of threats is completely removed, adding that a stable truce depends on meeting these conditions.
Asked by reporters whether his Friday deadline still stands for Iran to accept a US proposal or face strikes on its power plants, Trump said, “I don’t know yet.” He previously threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power network if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but later announced a five-day delay in strikes, citing “very good and productive” talks. Iranian officials have accused Trump of trying to push energy prices down and buy time.
The IDF says it has carried out a “series of strikes” against sites allegedly linked to the IRGC and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and around the Syrian city of Homs. In a post on X, the military said the targets included “military infrastructure” and operational facilities belonging to the groups.
Asked whether the US is considering taking control of Iran’s oil, Trump replied that he “wouldn’t talk about it,” but added that “it’s an option,” suggesting Washington has not ruled out moves against the country’s energy sector.
Trump has claimed that Iran sent him “eight big boats of oil” as a “present,” saying Tehran later “apologized for something they said and sent two more boats.” Addressing US envoy Steve Witkoff, who he has tasked with talks on Iran, Trump joked: “I hope I haven’t screwed up your negotiation.”
The Iranian military spokesman has urged Gulf states to expel US forces from their bases, warning that otherwise, “we will cause more damage.”
Tehran “does not want the blood of Muslims to be spilled for no reason,” he said.
There are “strong signs” Iran could be convinced to make a peace deal, US envoy Steve Witkoff has told a cabinet meeting.
”We will see where things lead, and if we can convince Iran that this is the inflection point with no good alternatives for them, other than more death and destruction,” Witkoff said, pinning the blame on Iran for “stalling talks” and rejecting US negotiation requests.
Trump claims Iran is “begging to make a deal” to stop the war. Speaking at the White House, the US President said that he is unsure if he is willing to agree to a ceasefire, stating that “we are absolutely obliterating Iran.”
“They’re defeated, they’re not making a comeback. They now have a chance to make a deal, but that’s up to them,” Trump said, adding that Iran’s leaders “are not fools, they’re very smart in a certain way and they’re great negotiators.”
Iran’s Press TV has released footage claiming to show Iranian air defenses striking an American F-18 fighter jet.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps previously claimed to have struck a F/A-18 fighter jet over Chabahar using “new advanced air defense systems.”
US Central Command has denied the reports, stating that “no US fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the US of double standards and of using international law as a “tool of convenience.”
“The US backed Israel's Gaza blockade, cutting aid under ‘security’ claims, yet condemns Iran for defending itself in Strait of Hormuz,” Araghchi wrote on X. “Double standard: Israel’s crimes are OK while Iran’s defense against aggressors is condemned.”
Oil prices have surged amid conflicting information regarding US-Iranian negotiations. Brent crude jumped by over 4.5% to $107 per barrel, while WTI crude advanced 4% to nearly $94.
The Egyptian and Pakistani foreign ministers have said there is indirect contact between Washington and Tehran, although Iran has insisted no talks with the US are being held.
Tehran has formally replied to Washington’s 15-point proposal through intermediaries overnight and is now awaiting a response, the Tasnim News Agency has reported, citing an informed source.
“The most severe energy crisis in the history of mankind is approaching,” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special economic envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, has warned. Neither the EU nor the UK are prepared for it, he said, especially after having “shot themselves in the foot by refusing Russian energy supplies.”
A US ground incursion into Iran will be “more dangerous, more costly, and will entail irreparable consequences,” Iranian Army Ground Forces Commander Ali Jahanshahi has warned, stressing that “every inch of Iranian territory is guarded by the vigilance and readiness of our fighters.”
Jahanshahi stressed that Iran continuously monitors all enemy actions and is “ready for any scenario, anytime, anywhere.”
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has confirmed that Cairo is engaged in US-Iran mediation efforts. He stated that along with Türkiye and Pakistan, Egypt is helping to pass messages between Washington and Tehran.
Abdelatty, who is on an official visit to Beirut, also insisted that Israel withdraw its forces from Lebanon, adding that Cairo is in talks with the US, France, and Israel in an effort to stop the ground incursion.
Gulf countries must be involved in any Iran war talks and agreements in a way that “contributes to strengthening their security and stability,” Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem AlBudaiwi said in a televised speech.
He added that the Gulf states have the right to self-defense, but have not replied or retaliated to the recent Iranian strikes, and would prefer diplomacy. Albudaiwi reiterated the commitment by GCC countries not to take part in the military operation or allow their territories to be used for attacks against Iran.
US-Iran indirect talks are “taking place through messages being relayed by Pakistan,” the country’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, has said in a post on X. He claimed that Washington’s 15-point proposal was delivered to Tehran in precisely this context and is now being “deliberated upon by Iran.”
The Pentagon is preparing for a “final blow” in Iran that could include the use of ground troops and a massive bombing campaign, Axios reported on Thursday, citing two US officials and two other sources.
The military options, according to the outlet, include:
- Invading Kharg Island - Iran’s main oil export hub
- Invading the island of Larak, which hosts Iranian bunkers and attack aircraft that help Tehran control the Strait of Hormuz
- Seizing the island of Abu Musa and two smaller islands near the western entrance to the strait
- Blocking or seizing ships that are exporting Iranian oil on the eastern side of the strait
Israel claims to have killed Iranian naval chief Alireza Tangsiri along with other “senior officers of the naval command” in an overnight strike. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tangsiri was directly responsible for the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has not commented on the claims.
At least 1,937 Iranians, including 240 women and 212 children, have been killed in US-Israeli strikes, Deputy Health Minister Ali Jafarian has told Al Jazeera. He added that over 24,800 people have been injured so far.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has rejected reports that Russia is supplying Tehran with drones. “There are a lot of bogus stories in the media… Don’t pay attention to them,” he told reporters.
Trump has rebuked “different and strange” Iranian diplomats over their approach to the conflict settlement.
“They are ‘begging’ us to make a deal, which they should be doing since they have been militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback, and yet they publicly state that they are only ‘looking at our proposal,’” he wrote on Truth Social.
The president went on to urge Tehran to “get serious soon, before it is too late.”
Trump has told aides that he hopes to end the Iran war in the coming weeks, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources. Trump reportedly believes that the conflict is “distracting from his other priorities,” such as the midterm elections and voting legislation.
He has, however, reportedly floated the idea to his advisers that the US should gain access to a portion of Iran’s oil reserves as part of a peace deal.
Many Americans are forced to cut expenses on essentials, including meals, due to skyrocketing gas prices, CNN reported, citing letters from hundreds of readers.
As of Thursday, the average US gas price is almost $4 a gallon, up from $3 before the conflict.
The Economist has released a comprehensive humanitarian analysis of the Iran war, estimating that at least 22 million people in the Middle East live within 1km of strikes carried out by the belligerents.
The Pentagon is considering rerouting weapons shipments meant for Ukraine to the Middle East as the Iran war takes a toll on the most critical US military stocks, the Washington Post has reported, citing sources.
The diversion could particularly impact in-demand air defense interceptors, which have been one of Kiev’s key instruments in countering Russian drone and missile raids.
Israel has received 8,000 tons of weapons, munitions, and military equipment since the start of the Iran war, the Defense Ministry has said.
Iranian media outlets have shared footage of a funeral procession in Tabriz, where US-Israel strikes have killed at least 20 people.
The IRGC has released a clip claiming to show Iranian missile strikes on regional targets.
Two people were killed and three injured in Abu Dhabi after debris from a suspected Iranian missile intercepted in mid-air fell on the streets, according to local officials.
The US and Gulf states used up 800 Patriot interceptors in the first five days of the war with Iran, European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius has said, adding that this number roughly amounts to a yearly production base in America.
”Arithmetic speaks very clearly,” Kubilius said.
The IDF has released footage of what it claims was a strike on a Hezbollah command center in Lebanon.
A US “ground operation in Iran is planned and could potentially be underway soon,” WSJ journalist Alex Ward has reported, citing senior congressional Republicans, including the chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
Ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz are now only going through a corridor controlled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and are required to have specific clearance codes and an Iranian escort service, Lloyd’s List has reported, adding that Tehran has imposed a de-facto “toll booth regime.”
The outlet said vessel operators secure clearance through approved intermediaries by submitting full documentation, including ship identification number, ownership chain, cargo manifest, destination, and a full crew list.
While many ships have not paid fees directly, some have, with payments being made in Chinese yuan, the report says.
The Iranian parliament has drafted a bill to collect tolls for passing the Strait of Hormuz, the Fars news agency has reported. Citing a senior MP, the outlet said the document is set to be finalized next week.
“Iran must collect fees to ensure the security of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This is completely natural; just as in other corridors, when goods pass through a country, duties are paid, the Strait of Hormuz is also a corridor; we ensure its security, and it is natural for ships and tankers to pay its duties,” the report says.
Iranian first responders are working around the clock to retrieve those trapped under building debris in the Lorestan province in the western part of the country, according to the Red Crescent Society.
Six people have been injured in Israel in the latest Iranian missile attack, including five in the city of Kafr Qasim, not far from Tel Aviv, according to local authorities.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has pushed back against France’s call for Tehran to de-escalate, recalling that it did not start the war.
”Why don’t you call out the aggressors?! This is akin to urging the French Resistance during World War II to de-escalate in the face of the Nazi invasion of France,” Baqaei said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that while no talks with the US are underway, “messages [are] being conveyed through our friendly countries.” He insisted, however, that Iran stating its position or issuing warnings “is not called negotiation or dialogue.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said the US and Iran appear to be willing to negotiate, “offering a glimmer of hope for peace.”
“Continuing this war will only lead to more casualties and unnecessary losses, causing the situation to spill over further,” he told Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, according to the readout of their call.
Abdelatty earlier stated that Cairo is ready to host talks on Iran and supports de-escalation.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected calls for negotiations with Israel while Israeli forces are occupying Lebanese land and carrying out daily attacks.
“When negotiations with the Israeli enemy are proposed under fire, this is an imposition of surrender,” Qassem said, dismissing an initiative by the Lebanese president to begin direct talks with Israel. He also urged the government to reverse its ban on the party’s military activities, framing the move as a path to “national unity.”
The remarks come as the IDF presses deeper into southern Lebanon, with Israeli officials announcing that troops will occupy territory up to the Litani River.
The United Arab Emirates’ air defenses are “responding to an incoming missile and drone attack from Iran,” the country’s defense ministry said in a post on X, without providing further details on the scale of the attack or whether any strikes had reached their targets.
Hezbollah fighters have launched more than 80 attacks on Israeli positions in the past 24 hours – the largest daily number in the current war – and said it launched more missiles early Thursday, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to establish an “expanded buffer zone” in southern Lebanon.
“We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in Lebanon… The issue of dismantling Hezbollah is now before us. This is connected to the overall campaign against Iran, which is still in full swing despite media reports,” Netanyahu claimed on earlier on Wednesday.
The ground invasion, which escalated earlier this month following renewed cross-border fighting, has seen Israeli forces destroy homes, bomb bridges over the Litani River, and carry out large-scale airstrikes that have killed at least 1,000 and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said that troops will occupy territory up to the Litani River, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has gone further, calling for the river to become Israel’s new border.
Iran has been laying anti-personnel and anti-armor mines and deploying additional shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile systems (MANPADs) to Kharg Island in anticipation of a potential US ground operation to seize the strategic oil hub, according to a CNN report citing multiple sources familiar with US intelligence.
The tiny island in the northeastern Persian Gulf handles roughly 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports, making it an economic lifeline for Tehran. The Trump administration has reportedly considered using elite airborne troops to capture the island as leverage to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to American and Israeli shipping.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has prayed for “overwhelming violence” against the “oppressor” during his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran.
“Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy,” he told civilian employees and uniformed military personnel.
“Almighty God, who trains our hands for war and our fingers for battle... Snap the rod of the oppressor, frustrate the wicked plans, and break the teeth of the ungodly. By the blast of your anger, let the evil perish,” he added, citing other biblical references.
The Pentagon has failed to provide US lawmakers with sufficient answers about the overall strategy for Operation Epic Fury and refused to answer even general questions about reported reinforcements being sent to the Middle East.
“We just wanted them to tell us what’s the plan, and we didn’t get any answers,” House Armed Services Chair Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said after a classified briefing. “We want to know more about what’s going on, what the options are, and why they’re being considered. And we’re just not getting enough answers.”
The rebuke comes as the Pentagon reportedly prepares to deploy thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, fueling concerns about a potential ground war. Rogers warned that continued secrecy could erode congressional support for the nearly month-old conflict.
Trump administration officials are quietly assessing how the US economy would cope with oil prices reaching as high as $200 a barrel, according to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the internal deliberations.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has allegedly voiced concerns and has been relaying worries to the White House about potential volatility in oil and gasoline markets for weeks. However, the analysis is a standard precaution and does not reflect any specific forecast, the sources insisted, speaking on condition of anonymity.
White House spokesman Kush Desai rejected the report as “false,” maintaining that while the administration routinely reviews a range of economic scenarios, officials are not actively studying the prospect of $200-per-barrel oil.
Brent oil futures were trading just below $99 on Thursday morning. The price remains elevated despite President Trump’s insistence that the US has already “won” the war and is waiting for Tehran to admit defeat and sign a deal.
The US Central Command has shared several pictures from the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying the aircraft carrier is continuing “flight operations against military targets in Iran while sailing in regional waters.” The Iranian military claimed earlier in the day that it had fired cruise missiles at the carrier, forcing it to “reposition” itself.
The IDF says it has completed a “wide-scale wave of strikes” across several areas of Iran, promising to share further details “soon.”
President Donald Trump has explained why he avoids using the word “war” to describe the conflict with Iran, calling it a “military operation” instead.
“I won’t use the word ‘war’ because they say if you use the word ‘war,’ that’s maybe not a good thing to do,” Trump told a Republican fundraising dinner. “They don’t like the word ‘war’ because you’re supposed to get approval. So, I’ll use the word ‘military operation,’ which is really what it is.”
The US and Israel launched strikes on Tehran late last month. Democrats and even some Republicans argue the president needs congressional approval, but the Senate repeatedly rejected efforts to rein in his authority.
The US Postal Service said it will impose an 8% surcharge on select postage prices, beginning April 26 through January 17, 2027, to account for surging fuel costs caused by the Iran war.
“This temporary price adjustment will provide needed flexibility for the Postal Service by helping to ensure that the actual costs of doing business are covered, as required by Congress,” USPS said in the announcement. The price increase applies to Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select services. It does not affect the price of first-class stamps or any other products or services.
The White House has posted a cryptic 4-second video on both its official X and Instagram accounts, in which an unidentified female individual can be heard saying, “It’s launching soon, right?”
Germany does not want to get “sucked into” the US-Israeli war against Iran, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters following a meeting with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles.
“To make it crystal clear, this war is a catastrophe for the world’s economies,” Pistorius said. “From the beginning on, we have not been consulted before. Nobody asked us before. It’s not our war and therefore we don’t want to get sucked into that war.”
Even though Berlin insists it is not a party to the war, the US airbase in Ramstein plays a key role in the coordination of drone and missile strikes against Iran. President Trump personally praised German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for providing a “pleasant environment” for American forces, unlike other European NATO partners.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to drastically intensify its attacks against Iran within the next 48 hours to destroy as much of the country’s industrial capabilities as possible before Washington potentially moves toward a ceasefire, according to the New York Times.
The directive reportedly came following briefings from senior commanders on Tuesday, after Netanyahu’s government obtained a copy of a US-drafted 15-point plan to end the war and concluded it did not adequately address Iran’s nuclear program or ballistic missile capabilities.
After the plan was leaked by the Israeli media, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt urged caution, saying that the administration had never confirmed it. “There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual,” she said.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reiterated that no negotiations with Washington are underway. He also dismissed all international guarantees, promises, and third-country efforts to mediate an end to the US-Israeli aggression, calling them “not 100 percent reliable.”
Instead, he pointed to what he called the “inherent guarantee” created by Iran’s own reprisals.
“Through the inherent guarantee that we created ourselves, no one will dare again to go to war with the Iranian people,” the official said, highlighting that Iran’s Armed Forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have launched at least 81 waves of counterstrikes against sensitive American and Israeli targets throughout the region.
“At present, our policy is to continue resistance, and no negotiations have taken place,” Araghchi said in a televised interview on Wednesday. The top diplomat acknowledged that regional diplomatic contacts have taken place, but stressed that Tehran’s position has remained unchanged.
Bahrain says a fire broke out at an unnamed “facility in Muharraq Governorate” following “Iranian aggression,” but it was quickly extinguished by civil defense units, with no injuries reported.
Iran’s joint military command has claimed that US forces have abandoned most of their military bases in the region, and urged the residents of friendly neighboring states to report their hiding locations.
“All US bases in the Middle East have been destroyed, and we are now searching for commanders and soldiers,” said Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates operations between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the regular armed forces.
“If people in the Middle East know where they are hiding, report it. To prevent your country from being harmed, remove them from your territory,” he added.
President Trump has claimed that officials in Tehran are negotiating with Washington behind the scenes but do not want to admit it publicly – out of fear of being killed as traitors by their own people, or of being assassinated by the US if those talks go the wrong way.
“They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly, but they’re afraid to say it because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people,” Trump said at a fundraiser for Republicans in Washington DC.
“They’re also afraid they’ll be killed by us,” he said, before joking that no one wanted to lead Iran. “There’s never been a head of a country that wanted that job less than being the head of Iran. We listen to some of the things they say. They say, ‘I don’t want it!’ We’d like to make you the next Supreme Leader. ‘No thank you, I don’t want it!’”
25 March 2026
Tehran is “waiting” for the American troops to come and die for Israel, according to Mohsen Rezaee, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, an advisory board of Iran’s supreme leader.
“When they haven’t gotten any results from their air force, which is their strong point, what do they expect from ground action? Do American soldiers want to die for Israel? We’re waiting,” he wrote in a post on X.
Rezaee, a retired major general and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), previously said that for the ongoing conflict to conclude, the US must withdraw its military forces from the Persian Gulf. He also said that Tehran would seek full restitution for the damage done and ironclad security guarantees from Washington.
The United States and Israel have temporarily removed Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf from their hit list of top Iranian officials, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal. However, the officials may end up back on the kill list after “four or five days” if Washington’s push for negotiations fails.
Israeli air strikes across southern Lebanon have killed at least five people and wounded 19 others, with attacks targeting the towns of Harouf, Qounine, Toulene, and Deir Amas, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The strikes come as Israel continues to threaten a ground invasion and annexation of southern Lebanon.
Iran’s Lamerd International Airport in southwestern Fars province has been targeted in a US-Israeli raid, according to a report by the IRNA news agency.
The White House warned to Tehran that President Donald Trump is prepared to “unleash hell” if Iran does not agree to his terms of the deal to end the war.
“If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
“President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell,” Leavitt added. “Iran should not miscalculate again.”
The warning comes as the administration simultaneously pursues a reported 15-point proposal to end the conflict, with US officials describing the diplomatic push as an effort to find an “offramp” from the war. Tehran has repeatedly denied that any talks with Washington are taking place.
Iran has issued a warning to an unnamed regional country, alleging that Tehran’s enemies – backed by a local state – are preparing to occupy one of its islands.
“The enemies of Iran, with the backing of a regional country, are preparing to occupy one of the Iranian islands,” Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X, without specifying which island or which country. “If they step out of line, all the vital infrastructure of that regional country will, without restriction, become the target of relentless attacks.”
The warning comes amid growing speculation that US forces could target Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub in the northern Persian Gulf, which processes 90% of the country’s oil exports. US bombers struck military facilities on the island last week but stopped short of targeting its oil infrastructure.
Concerns over a potential ground operation have intensified following reports that the Pentagon is preparing to deploy 2,000 additional troops from an airborne assault unit to the region.
US Central Command released its fifth update on Operation Epic Fury with Commander Adm. Brad Cooper claiming the four-week campaign remains “on plan or ahead of plan” in achieving what he described as “very clear military objectives.”
Cooper announced that US forces have struck more than 10,000 Iranian targets, destroyed 92% of the Iranian Navy’s largest vessels, and damaged over two-thirds of Iran’s missile, drone, and naval production facilities. Drone and missile launch rates, he said, are down by more than 90%.
“We are on a path to completely eliminate Iran’s wider military manufacturing apparatus,” Cooper said, adding that US forces maintain air superiority over Iranian skies with more than 10,000 combat flights flown.