live U.S. - Iran peace talks at logjam as other world leaders get involved - Wednesday 25 March

Attacks on the Gulf

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia said they had repelled fresh drone attacks, without stating where they originated. Drones targeted a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, causing a fire but no casualties, Kuwait's Civil Aviation Authority said.

Qatar energy company halts energy supplies to Europe and Asia

QatarEnergy said on Tuesday it had determined that it needed to declare force majeure on some of its affected long-term LNG supply contracts, with counterparties including customers in Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, force majeure is an unexpected event such as a war, crime, or an earthquake which prevents someone from doing something that is written in a legal agreement.

Iran rejects any peace talks with the U.S.

An Iranian military spokesman, according to state media, says the United States is negotiating with itself, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran wants to make a deal to end the war in the Middle East.

• Read more: Israel strikes Tehran as Trump says U.S. negotiating to end war

Gulf airspace closure extended

The airspace of Bahrain and Kuwait will remain closed until 16:00 GMT. This means that the travel ban, which was imposed due to the military operation in the Middle East, will come into effect for the 26th consecutive day.

Transit of aircraft to third countries is also prohibited in the airspace of these countries. Bahrain allows special flights from Manama airport to neighboring Saudi Arabia along the shortest corridor.

• Bahrain pushes UN-backed action for Hormuz shipping as France tables rival text

Oil prices drop again but impact is felt wider

As much as 20 million barrels of oil per day from Middle East producers is being lost to the world due to Iran's effective closure of the shipping chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz.

United Airlines on Tuesday said it may have to raise ticket prices by up to 20%.

Asian countries are having to go down to four day working weeks, reduce car usage and in the case of the Philippines, declare a national energy emergency.

The acute energy supply shock now hitting Asia, the region most heavily reliant on Middle East supplies, will spread to Europe in April, oil executives and energy ministers said this week at the annual CERAWeek conference in Houston, U.S.

• Pakistan announces school closures due to rising fuel costs
• Why the Strait of Hormuz is vital for global energy and trade
• Strait of Hormuz in the Shadow of War

U.S. said to be seeking month-long ceasefire

Israel's Channel ​2 said the U.S. was seeking a month-long ceasefire to discuss the plan, which includes the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, ceasing support for proxy groups, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices set to remain high

Iran's top joint military command spokesperson says previous energy and oil prices will not return until regional stability is guaranteed by Iran's armed forces.

Southern Cyprus confronts UK on air base security

Southern Cyprus has asked the UK to negotiate new security arrangements for Britain's military bases on the island following Iranian drone attacks earlier this month, the Telegraph reported on Tuesday.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

15-point peace plan sent to Iran - multiple reports

It has been reported U.S. has sent a peace plan, similar to the one Washington drafted for the Israel-Gaza conflict, has been sent to Tehran to help bring about a constructive end to the war. The New York Times, citing two officials, also said this had happened.

Channel 12 News reports the 15 points are:

• Iran dismantling its nuclear capabilities;
• Iran committing to not pursuing further nuclear weapons;
• Iran not enriching any more nuclear material;
• All enriched material will be delivered to Saba on a schedule to be determined by the US, Israel and Iran;
• The Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow nuclear facilities will be decommissioned;
• The Atomic Energy Agency will get access to all nuclear information with regard to Iran's programme;
• Iran will abandon its proxy model;
• Iran will stop its actual funding and arming of proxies in the region;
• The Strait of Hormuz will remain open, as a free maritime zone and unblocked in the future;
• Iran will limit the number and range of its missiles;
• Any further use of its missiles will be for Iranian self-defence only;
• All sanctions on Iran will be lifted;
• Iran will be assisted in developing a civil nuclear project in Bushehr;
• The snapback threat against Iran will be removed,
• The US and Israel will assist Iran in promoting and developing a civil nuclear project in Bushehr (electricity generation).

These are not confirmed yet, but based on sources.

• Read more: Israel strikes Tehran as Trump says U.S. negotiating to end war

Canada condemns Israel's plan to stretch its border into Lebanon

Reacting to a report that Israel wants to take over Lebanese territory, Canada's Foreign Ministry posted the following on social media platform X:

Canada reiterates its solidarity with the government of Lebanon and its people. We urge all parties to protect civilians, refrain from attacks on infrastructure, health workers, and peacekeepers, and act in accordance with international law. — Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) March 24, 2026

UK, France, Vatican City and Türkiye all call for de-escalation

Overnight, leaders from different countries and religions have called for de-escalation and peace as the U.S. and Iran give conflicting accounts of peace talks.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman overnight and said partners are working on a viable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and asked him to put an end to attacks against countries in the region and called on the country to engage in good faith negotiations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that his country will continue working with all its resources to establish peace in the Iran war.

Pope Leo expressed concern on Tuesday about a rising tenor of animosity in the expanding Iran war, repeating calls for a ceasefire.