U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
A quick summary of how the conflict in the Middle East unfolded today:
The spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, in a statement, said that Russia condemns the drone attack on the residence of Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (IKRG).
Zaharova stated in the statement that, "We condemn the attack on Barzani's residence. The aim of those who carried out the attack is to expand the unprecedented military-political crisis triggered by the unprovoked aggression of the US and Israel against Iran."
Zakharova further stressed that Russia favors an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to a political and diplomatic solution.
The White House says members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet are expected to travel to China ahead of his scheduled visit on 14-15 May, laying the groundwork for diplomatic and economic discussions.
The White House says President Donald Trump is interested in calling on Arab countries to help pay for the costs of the U.S. war in Iran, according to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
France has requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting following the killing of an Indonesian UN peacekeeper in Lebanon, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Monday.
Barrot condemned the attack near UN positions as “unacceptable and unjustifiable” and called for a full investigation.
The Indonesian peacekeeper is the first from UNIFIL to be killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which began on 2 March.
Israel’s parliament has passed a law making the death penalty the default sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of deadly attacks, fulfilling a key pledge by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right allies.
The U.S. has expressed concern to Israel over the closure of holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Monday.
The White House says its projected four-to-six-week timeline for the Iran conflict remains unchanged, signaling confidence that U.S. military objectives can still be achieved within that window despite ongoing fighting.
The White House says negotiations with Iran are ongoing and making progress, despite conflicting public rhetoric from Tehran.
"Despite all of the public posturing you hear from the regime and false reporting, talks are continuing and going well. What is said publicly is, of course, much different than what's being communicated to us privately," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The Israeli military has ordered residents of six villages in Lebanon’s western Beqaa Valley to evacuate, warning of potential strikes targeting Hezbollah positions.
Civilians were urged to move north immediately as tensions escalate along the Israel-Lebanon front.
Thousands of U.S. Army soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division have begun arriving in the Middle East, two U.S. officials told Reuters, as President Donald Trump weighs next steps in tensions with Iran.
The troops, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, join Marines, sailors, and Special Operations forces already in the region. The deployment includes a brigade combat team, support units, and elements of division headquarters.
No decision has been made to send forces into Iran, but the buildup increases U.S. capacity for potential operations, one official said.
Two UNIFIL peacekeepers were killed Monday when an explosion of “unknown origin” destroyed their vehicle near Bani Haiyyan.
A third is severely wounded, and another injured.
Dubai has approved an economic support package worth 1 billion dirhams ($272.26 million) to assist the business sector, the Dubai Crown Prince announced on X on Monday.
The measures will be implemented from 1 April for a duration of three to six months.
The Lebanese army reported on Monday that one soldier was killed and five others wounded following an Israeli attack on an army checkpoint in southern Lebanon.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Monday that a container vessel experienced an incident 22 nautical miles northeast of Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura.
According to the vessel’s company security officer (CSO), two unknown projectiles splashed in the water near the ship, each occurring within roughly an hour of the other.
UKMTO confirmed that all crew members are safe, and no damage has been reported. The origin and type of the projectiles remain unclear. The incident highlights ongoing security risks in the Gulf, a vital route for global shipping.
The Türkiye Ministry of National Defense (MSB) announced that NATO air and missile defense elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean had neutralized a ballistic missile fired from Iran that was entering Turkish airspace.
The written statement issued by the Ministry of National Defense included the following:
"A ballistic missile, determined to have been fired from Iran and which entered Turkish airspace, was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense elements deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean. Necessary measures are being taken resolutely and without hesitation against all threats directed at our country's territory and airspace, and all developments in the region are being carefully monitored with our national security as a priority."
Türkiye has been attacked repeatedly by Iran in retaliation for joint U.S-Israel attacks. Iran has responded by targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the region.
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Iranians, including a woman and a young child, are seen waving the flag of the country in Tehran.
The country has been in a widening conflict since a joint U.S.-Israel attack on 28 March, which resulted in the death of the Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with attacks on Israel and other U.S. assets in the region.
Today, the President of the U.S. Donald Trump said his country is in talks with the new Iranian regime, but said the U.S. will obliterate electrical and oil infrastructures if no deal is achieved, especially regarding Iran's closure of the Hormuz Strait, which has put a strain on global economies.
Iraqis affiliated with the pro-Iranian al-Hashd al-Shaabi group (Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces) express their support for Iran in downtown Tehran.
The Al-Hashd al-Shaabi is a collection of mostly Shiite Iraqi paramilitary groups. They were formed in 2014 to fight ISIS and they have, over time, become a formal part of Iraq's security apparatus.
AnewZ is given an exclusive look inside an exhibition being prepared in Tehran. Organisers say they are recreating the aftermath of a school bombing in Minab, Hormozgan province, in which 168 people were killed, including more than 100 children.
The United Nations has called on Washington to conclude its inquiry and release the findings.
Pictures of Iranian Navy servicemen said to have been killed by the U.S. have been displayed in a Tehran metro station.
One week ago, the Iranian Health Minister, Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi, accused the United States and Israel of killing at least 210 children since the start of the U.S.-Israeli joint strikes on Iran, which began last month.
Pictures of children allegedly killed by U.S.-Israeli airstrikes also lined the walls of a metro station in Tehran.
AnewZ, Truth Social
The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has said that the U.S. is in talks with the "New and more reasonable regime" to end military operations in Iran.
He wrote this on his Truth Social account and said that "Great Progress" has been made, but also said that if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately opened, the U.S. will completely obliterate Iran's electric, oil, and possibly all desalination plants.
He further said that it will be retribution for U.S. soldiers and others "butchered" by the old regime.
European Council President Antonio Costa said he held a “good call” with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the ongoing war in Iran and the recent consultations between the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye in Islamabad.
Costa expressed the EU’s grave concern over the prolonged conflict and its growing global impact. Pakistan has said it plans to host “meaningful talks” in the coming days aimed at ending the month-long Iran war.
Iran’s parliament is reviewing a potential exit from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), according to foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, though he stressed that Tehran has not and will not pursue nuclear weapons.
Lawmakers raised the possibility after last June’s 12-day conflict, when Israel and the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear facilities.
Baghaei questioned the value of remaining in a treaty that, in Iran’s view, allows powerful states to attack its nuclear sites while restricting Tehran’s rights.
However, he said the country will continue to respect the NPT as long as it remains a member.
Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. military planes involved in attacks on Iran, in a move that goes beyond its previous denial of access to jointly-operated bases, Defence Minister Margarita Robles said.
The closure requires U.S. aircraft to reroute around Spanish territory, though exceptions apply in emergencies.
Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo emphasised the decision reflects Spain’s refusal to participate in what it calls a unilateral war “against international law.”
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has repeatedly criticised the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, while President Donald Trump has threatened to cut trade ties with Madrid over the restrictions.
Iran said it received messages via intermediaries indicating the U.S. is willing to negotiate, but rejected the proposals as “unrealistic, illogical and excessive,” according to foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.
Speaking on Monday, Baghaei emphasised that Iran remains under military aggression and is focused on self-defense.
His remarks came a day after the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye met in Islamabad for preliminary talks, largely aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping amid the ongoing conflict.
Iran’s foreign ministry said its ambassador will continue working in Beirut despite being ordered to leave by Lebanese authorities, escalating a diplomatic standoff.
Lebanon last week declared ambassador-designate Mohammad Reza Shibani persona non grata and set a 29 March deadline for his departure.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Monday called on U.S. President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war in the region, saying Washington holds the key to de-escalation.
Speaking at the opening of the Egypes energy conference, Sisi said “nobody can stop the war… but you,” underscoring growing regional pressure on the U.S. to contain the conflict.
Energy ministers from the European Union will meet on Tuesday to coordinate a response to the sharp disruption in global oil and gas markets caused by the Iran war.
European gas prices have surged more than 70% since late February, driven in part by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on regional energy infrastructure.
Officials are urging a coordinated approach to avoid market instability, with a focus on filling gas storage ahead of winter and stabilizing fuel supplies, particularly diesel and jet fuel, which are tightening globally.
Debris from an intercepted missile struck an industrial building and a fuel tanker at Israel’s oil refineries in Haifa, according to the country’s Fire and Rescue Service.
The impact caused a fire and thick smoke at the site, with emergency crews working to contain the blaze and search for any trapped individuals. It remains unclear whether the missile originated from Iran or Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen said production facilities were not damaged and fuel supplies would not be affected.
Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in attacks on Iran, a step beyond its previous denial of use of jointly-operated military bases, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Monday.
The closure of its airspace, which forces military planes to bypass NATO member Spain en route to their targets in the Middle East, does not include emergency situations, El Pais added.
The Spanish Ministry of Defence did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
"This decision is part of the decision already made by the Spanish government not to participate in or contribute to a war which was initiated unilaterally and against international law," Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said during an interview.
European Union countries' energy ministers will on Tuesday (31 March) hold talks on how to coordinate their response to the disruption to global energy markets triggered by the Iran war, an internal EU briefing document on the meeting showed.
"Ministers are invited to share their assessment of recent energy markets development, identify areas where stronger coordination at EU level would be needed, indicate which concrete measures could be put in place to address the tightening of the oil and gas markets in a coordinated manner," said the document.
Israel’s Finance Ministry said the outlook depends on how long fighting continues across multiple fronts, such as in Iran and southern Lebanon. Growth is forecast at 5.3% to 6.1% in 2027, the ministry said.
Iraq's Defence Ministry said that the Mohamad Alaa air base, located beside Baghdad International Airport, was hit by rockets in the early hours of Monday, destroying an aircraft but causing no casualties.
The Syrian army said drone attacks targeted several of its bases near the Iraqi border, adding that most of the drones were shot down and that it is assessing response options, state news agency SANA reported.
Israel’s military reported multiple waves of missile attacks from Iran on Monday, along with the interception of two drones launched from Yemen. This marks the second such attack from the Houthi-controlled country since the U.S.-Israeli war began.
Israeli forces said the Air Force was conducting strikes on Tehran targeting military infrastructure.
Israeli pesticides maker ADAMA reported that debris from an Iranian missile intercepted on Sunday (29 March) damaged a finished goods warehouse and production equipment at its Ne’ot Hovav chemicals plant in southern Israel.
The company, part of the Chinese-owned Syngenta Group, said no injuries occurred.
Operations at the plant are currently halted, and ADAMA is assessing the impact on production, finances, and the timeline for safely restoring full operations.
South Korea’s Industry Ministry confirmed that a local company has imported Russian naphtha, marking the first such purchase since the start of the Iran war, according to a parliamentary briefing.
The ministry, together with the foreign ministry, said it is working to secure additional supplies.
Naphtha, a refined oil product, is primarily used as feedstock in petrochemical production, and the move reflects efforts to mitigate disruptions in energy and industrial supply chains amid rising global tensions.
Israel’s Ministry of Defence announced a $48 million order for “tens of thousands” of 155mm artillery shells from domestic defence company Elbit Systems.
The ministry said the purchase is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign munitions and expand domestic production, though it did not provide a delivery timeline.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that he wants “more certainty” from U.S. President Donald Trump about the objectives of the ongoing war in Iran.
PM Albanese urged clearer goals and a focus on de‑escalation.
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry reported that five drones were intercepted and destroyed over the past few hours, according to a ministry spokesperson.
No casualties or damage were reported, and authorities said the situation is under control.
Iran’s judiciary executed two men convicted of links to the opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), and who were accused of planning armed attacks in Tehran using improvised launcher devices, its official news outlet reported.
No details were provided about when the men were arrested or tried.
The executions highlight Tehran’s ongoing crackdown on armed opposition elements even as the country remains engaged in broader regional tensions and internal security concerns.
The Kuwait National Guard (KNG) said it intercepted five drones in areas under its responsibility.
KNG Spokesperson Brigadier General Jadaan Fadhel urged the public to follow safety instructions from authorities as vigilance remains high amid regional tensions.
Iran’s deputy energy minister, Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi, said the country’s national electricity grid remains stable following last night’s U.S.-Israeli strikes, with power fully restored in Tehran, Alborz Province, and the city of Karaj.
According to Mashhadi, outages caused by shrapnel hitting a high-voltage tower in Alborz and the Dooshan Tapeh substation were “quickly resolved through an electricity grid manoeuvre.”
Several transmission substations were affected, but authorities said the situation is under control. Mashhadi did not specify the main target of the strikes.
Vietnam’s Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical is negotiating to buy crude oil from Russian partners while also seeking supplies from Africa, the U.S., and Southeast Asia.
The move follows a 30-day U.S. waiver lifting sanctions on Russian oil, aimed at easing the global supply crunch.
Other Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia, have begun buying previously restricted Russian oil after shortages worsened following the Strait of Hormuz closures.
China and India remain the largest consumers of Russian crude.
New Zealand’s Finance Minister Nicola Willis said inflation could rise a lot this year if the U.S. and Israel keep attacking Iran.
Treasury officials warn that a longer conflict could disrupt global supply chains, keeping prices higher than the central bank’s 1–3% target.
Energy costs are also rising, and the government may import Russian oil that has been refined elsewhere to help lower prices.
A strike in southern Lebanon hit a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) position near Adchit Al Qusayr, killing one Indonesian peacekeeper and wounding three others with “indirect artillery fire,” the Indonesian foreign ministry confirmed.
All four peacekeepers were Indonesian nationals serving with UNIFIL. Jakarta has condemned the attack, called for a transparent investigation, and stressed that the safety of UN peacekeepers must be fully respected under international law.
UNIFIL, deployed to monitor the ceasefire line with Israel, has seen its personnel caught up in crossfire amid intensified hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.
Authorities in Australia have moved to blunt the economic fallout from surging global energy prices, announcing a temporary halving of fuel taxes and the removal of a diesel levy for heavy vehicles.
The measures, expected to cost billions over three months, come alongside state-level steps including free public transport in Tasmania and fare waivers in Victoria.
U.S. President Donald Trump said “many long sought after targets” in Iran had been “taken out and destroyed” by American forces, in a brief post on Truth Social that offered no operational details.
The remarks come amid an intensifying U.S.-led campaign, with officials indicating thousands of targets have already been struck across the country as part of ongoing military operations.
Trump praised the U.S. military as “the finest and most lethal in the world,” signalling a potentially significant escalation in the scope of strikes as the conflict enters a critical phase.
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The family of the late Virginia Giuffre have urged King Charles III to meet survivors of sexual abuse during his upcoming state visit to the United...
India has purchased crude oil from Iran for the first time in seven years, as supply disruptions in the Middle East threaten global energy markets....
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The family of the late Virginia Giuffre have urged King Charles III to meet survivors of sexual abuse during his upcoming state visit to the United States.
India has purchased crude oil from Iran for the first time in seven years, as supply disruptions in the Middle East threaten global energy markets.
British police have arrested a fourth person in connection with an arson attack on ambulances belonging to a Jewish community charity. The arrest took place at a London court on Saturday, where three other suspects were already appearing.
Senegal has taken steps to curb government spending by banning non-essential foreign travel for ministers, as rising global oil prices place increasing pressure on the country’s finances.
One U.S. crew member has been rescued after two American warplanes were downed over Iran and the Gulf, as the search continues for a missing pilot, while President Donald Trump has given Tehran 48 hours to agree to a deal to end the war.
The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote next week on a Bahraini resolution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and protect commercial shipping, diplomats said on Friday, amid opposition from China to any authorisation of force.
One crew member from a U.S. warplane shot down over Iran has been rescued, U.S. officials said, as a search continues for a second crew member.
Iran has strongly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb the country “back to the Stone Age”, calling his remarks an example of “war crimes and genocide.”
France and South Korea have agreed to strengthen defence ties and energy security cooperation following a two-day visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Seoul.
The U.N. Security Council is expected to vote next week on a Bahraini resolution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and protect commercial shipping, diplomats said on Friday, amid opposition from China to any authorisation of force.
One U.S. crew member has been rescued after two American warplanes were downed over Iran and the Gulf, as the search continues for a missing pilot, while President Donald Trump has given Tehran 48 hours to agree to a deal to end the war.
Iran has strongly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb the country “back to the Stone Age”, calling his remarks an example of “war crimes and genocide.”
International law experts from across the U.S., including Harvard, Yale and Stanford, have signed an open letter saying the strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes. America and Israel began airstrikes on 28 February on Iran's capital, Tehran.
The global commodities market is facing a severe structural supply shock after a series of coordinated military strikes in the Middle East devastated critical industrial infrastructure, threatening the manufacturing base of Western economies.
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