Middle East War

[phkrause]

All 6 airmen on a US refueling plane that crashed in Iraq are dead, US military says

All six crew members of a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran are dead, the U.S. military said Friday, after their plane crashed in western Iraq. The crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircrafts in “friendly airspace” and the other plane landed safely, the U.S. military said. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

Live updates: US military sends 2,500 Marines and at least 1 more ship to the Middle East, AP source says Residents of Tehran tell AP of rising fear and isolation as bombs strike without warning Trump administration denounces CNN for airing messages from Iranian leaders Drivers wonder if they should go electric as the war spikes gas prices White House war promo videos marry action movies, sports and video games to real-life combat footage   Trump says US ‘obliterated’ military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-13-2026? ‘You are all worse than each other’: anti-regime Iranians turn on Trump After years of arrests, disappearances and mass killings of protesters, the hatred in Iran from some quarters for the hardline, oppressive governing regime had boiled into such a desperate rage that many believed Donald Trump’s promise that the US would “come to their rescue”. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/14/anti-regime-iranians-turn-on-trump-us? ps:What amazes me is that people still believe what this man says!!!!!

[phkrause]

AP Exclusive: Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan talks diplomatic efforts as regional war rages

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s powerful foreign minister said Saturday that there is no serious initiative to resume negotiations between the United States and Iran but that he believes Iran is open to back-channel talks.

https://apnews.com/article/turkey-foreign-minister-iran-5a1bf8a77a475e33adefb0c99c26547c?

[phkrause]

🚢 Trump: International armada will reopen strait

Lead stories of today's New York Times, this weekend's Financial Times.

President Trump said yesterday that the U.S. and several other countries will send warships to the Gulf to reopen commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. Why it matters: The attacks in the strait have brought commercial shipping to and from the Gulf to an almost complete halt, dramatically disrupting the region's oil exports and destabilizing global energy markets. U.S., Israeli and Western officials say the situation at the strait has been the key concern for the Trump administration in recent days. Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran's attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe." While claiming the U.S. has "destroyed 100% of Iran's Military capability," Trump acknowledged the Iranians are still sending drones, dropping mines and launching anti-ship missiles against vessels in the strait. "Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated," he added. The president later said on Truth Social that "the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!" Keep reading.

[phkrause]

Two weeks into war with Iran, Trump has been knocked back on his political heels In the two weeks since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump increasingly has been knocked on his political heels. He’s grown more agitated with news coverage and has failed to find a way to explain why he started the war — or how he will end it — that resonates with a public concerned by American deaths in the conflict, surging oil prices and dropping financial markets. Even some of his supporters are questioning his plan and his overall poll numbers are declining. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Gulf Arab states intercept new missiles and drones as Iran threatens to widen war As other Iran‑allied groups are engaging in the Mideast war, Yemen’s Houthis hold back Live updates: Trump urges US allies to send warships to Strait of Hormuz The US hit Iran’s Kharg Island, key to its economy and security. What to know about Iran’s islands Another 3 members of Iran’s women’s soccer team decide against staying in Australia as refugees

[phkrause]

Iran War Week 3

Israel launched a wave of new airstrikes against Iran and Lebanon yesterday, claiming more than 7,000 strikes since the war began late last month. The country says it plans to strike thousands of additional targets, anticipating at least three more weeks of hostilities. The updates come as the US military struck Kharg Island, vital to Iran's oil industry. The US and Iran said those strikes did not impact Iran's oil infrastructure. However, President Donald Trump threatened further action if Iran continued to block the Strait of Hormuz, which normally transports 20% of the world's oil (see more, w/video). Trump called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others to help secure ships' passage. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied Trump's claim that the country is interested in a ceasefire. He also said Russia and China were providing Iran with military cooperation. See updates here.

[phkrause]

Iran hits Gulf neighbors and keeps stranglehold on oil shipping as concerns rise of energy crisis Tehran has been regularly striking regional energy infrastructure with drones and missiles. It has also effectively stopped shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported, giving rise to growing fears of a global energy crisis and putting pressure on Washington as consumers are already feeling the pain at the pump. Read more.

What to know: Brent crude, the international standard, was at $104 in early trading, up nearly 45% since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. It has spiked as high as about $120 during the conflict.   Trump said he has made demands to about seven countries to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, but his appeals have brought no commitments. His party is increasingly concerned that rising prices for American consumers will hurt the Republicans in elections this fall.   As morning broke Monday, a drone hit a fuel tank near Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international passenger traffic, causing a large fire. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze and there were no injuries reported but the airport temporarily suspended all flights before resuming them a few hours later.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ When gas prices go up, changing the way you drive can stretch your fuel just a bit farther

[phkrause]

Iran launches barrage of missiles after Israel kills 2 of its top officials

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel killed two senior Iranian security officials in a major blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership as it faces its greatest test in decades, and Iran responded Wednesday with renewed missile and drone attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbors and Israel.

https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-17-2026-35d15d7cbcfa65fd7d180c28d38e7f31?

[phkrause]

📸 1,000 words

Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters A man stands on the roof of a car to look over a protective screen at RAF Fairford in southwest England, which is used by the U.S. Air Force. "The area has become popular with plane spotters since USAF bombers began arriving at the base earlier this month," the BBC reports. Officials have installed screens and blocked nearby roads in an attempt to stop people from filming activity on the base.

[phkrause]

👀 Trump, Israel could divide on endgame

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photos: Getty Images

President Trump and Bibi Netanyahu have spoken almost every day since the war began. Trump told Axios' Barak Ravid they're "working great together." But U.S. officials realize the two countries' endgames and risk tolerance may diverge as the 19-day-old war continues. Why it matters: Several U.S. officials described Trump as the most bullish person in the White House on going to war with Iran. He also appears more aligned with Netanyahu's maximalist objectives than many of his aides, Barak and Marc Caputo report. Officials in Washington, Tel Aviv and Tehran all know any split between the allies could define the outcome of the war. Three of President Trump's advisers tell Axios they believe he'll want to end major operations before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But Trump and Netanyahu currently appear closer than ever, and the Strait of Hormuz crisis makes it unlikely the U.S. will seek to pull back soon. 🖼️ The big picture: Senior U.S. officials say that while Trump would view regime change as a bonus, he intends to end the war when his core military objectives — decimating Iran's missile program, nuclear program, navy and proxy funding — are met. "Israel has other focuses and we know that," a White House official said. Another official said: "Israel is going to try to kill their new leader. They're much more interested in that than we are." Today's New York Post cover Some analysts questioned Israel's decision to assassinate Iran's security chief Ali Larijani yesterday, arguing he'd be more inclined than other senior Iranians to cut an eventual peace deal with the U.S. But Trump expressed satisfaction. Netanyahu has made it clear that more is coming. He even showed U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee a "punch card" of Iranian leaders Israel has assassinated, or intends to. Keep reading.

[phkrause]

Trump threatens to strike world’s largest gas field if Iran attacks Qatar again

https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-18-2026?

[phkrause]

Iran war

Iran launched fresh attacks on Israel today, vowing revenge for the deaths of two senior Iranian leaders on Tuesday. At least two people were killed in central Israel as the country said it was intercepting Iranian missiles at various places, including in Tel Aviv. In the predawn hours, CNN teams in the region witnessed flashes in the sky, including what appeared to be a cluster munition missile over Israel's capital. Multiple locations in Tel Aviv were struck by falling debris, with bomb disposal teams and emergency crews dispatched to the scene. Video showed debris on a residential street and a vehicle on fire.

WATCH: Deadly Iranian missile strike targets Tel Aviv   US eases Venezuela oil sanctions as Trump seeks to boost world oil supply during Iran war WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. companies will be allowed to do business with Venezuela’s state-owned oil and gas company after the Treasury Department eased sanctions, with some limitations, on Wednesday as the Trump administration looks for ways to boost global oil supplies during the Iran war. https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-venezuela-oil-supplies-prices-3a3ca446459b3ab0127c08ad0808cc15?

[phkrause]

Strikes hit world’s largest natural gas field in Iran, and Tehran retaliates with more attacks

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran broadened its strikes on major energy facilities in the Middle East, eliciting strong warnings Thursday from Gulf Arab states that called it a dangerous escalation that threatened to draw them into direct combat with Tehran.

https://apnews.com/article/iran-iraq-us-israel-trump-march-18-2026-d7ca062ba1bf99d1f8dc00c8073cf10f?

[phkrause]

🇮🇱 Israel kills Iranian minister, bombs gas facility

Iranians gather today during a funeral for several leaders killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes. Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images Israeli forces killed Iranian intelligence minister Esmail Khatib yesterday in an airstrike on Tehran, while the Israeli air force struck a natural gas processing facility in southwestern Iran, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. 🇮🇷 Khatib ran the ministry that surveilled and crushed protests and hunted dissidents abroad. He's one of several top Iranian officials assassinated by Israel since the war began. Iran retaliated by attacking its Persian Gulf neighbors and Israel, where two people were killed near Tel Aviv. (Keep reading.) ⛽️ The facility strike marks the first time Israel has attacked Iran's natural gas infrastructure — a key economic driver. An Israeli official said the strike was meant to warn Iran that more of its energy facilities could be targeted if it keeps disrupting oil shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Go deeper.

[phkrause]

Both sides in Iran war ratchet up attacks on energy facilities, as oil prices surge

Israel kept up its campaign of targeting Iran’s leaders on Wednesday, killing the country’s intelligence minister, and an Iranian offshore natural gas field was struck in a sign of the war’s mounting pressure – from both sides -- on the region’s economic lifeblood: energy. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

Gabbard deflects when asked on Capitol Hill about intelligence she’d offered Trump before Iran war Trump pays his respects in Delaware to 6 US service members killed in the Middle East Live updates: A rare statement from Iran’s supreme leader signals retaliation over Larijani’s killing US eases Venezuela oil sanctions as Trump seeks to boost world oil supply during Iran war WATCH: Which countries are allowed to cross the Strait Of Hormuz amid the Iran war? US drivers see gas prices jump to their highest level since 2023 as the Iran war drags on Jet fuel prices and airfares are rising. Travelers are still booking flights, US airlines say

[phkrause]

Pentagon seeks $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war, AP source says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is seeking $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war, a sizable amount that is certain to be met with questions from Congress, which would need to approve any new money.

https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-us-pentagon-972ec1bd956a2c3633e6ab7fff389791?

Hegseth wants billions more for Iran war

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed today that the Pentagon will ask Congress for more money to wage war in Iran, Axios' Dave Lawler reports.

• The Washington Post reported last night that the Pentagon asked the White House to request more than $200 billion. (Gift link.)
• Hegseth said that figure "could move," and that the Pentagon wants to boost weapons production to ensure adequate stockpiles.

🎙️ Hegseth, at a press conference this morning: "Obviously it takes money to kill bad guys, so we're going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition is refilled, and not just refilled, but above and beyond."

🤨 A request on that scale would likely face stiff opposition from many Democrats and some Republicans.

• The war in Iran is unpopular, and the Pentagon already has a $1 trillion budget.
• The cost of the war has reportedly run into the billions — but nowhere near $200 billion.

🪖 Hegseth's request could turn into a referendum on the war.

• Appearing on Fox Business, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) called the $200 billion figure "a little tall."
• "They do need to come to ... Capitol Hill and tell us what that money is going to be spent on." Go deeper.

🚢 Meanwhile: Six U.S. allies announced their support for a potential coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — but didn't commit to sending naval vessels or other resources.

• For now, it's largely a gesture to placate President Trump, who has railed against allies for declining to help secure the vital shipping corridor. More from Barak Ravid.

[phkrause]

Gulf Energy Strikes

Iran launched drones and missiles at energy infrastructure across the Gulf yesterday, targeting Qatar's liquefied natural gas complex and facilities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The strikes added further pressure to global energy markets, with Brent crude rising more than 60% since the Iran war began nearly three weeks ago. The attacks caused extensive damage to Qatar's Ras Laffan terminal, one of the world's largest LNG export hubs, which supplied roughly a fifth of global output before production was halted. The attacks were in retaliation for an earlier Israeli strike on the South Pars gas field, accounting for roughly 70% to 75% of Iran's natural gas production. See why Iranian drones are so deadly here (w/video), and catch up on the war here (w/graphics).  US President Donald Trump warned the US could target South Pars if Iran attacks Qatar again. Separately, the Pentagon seeks roughly $200B in additional funding from Congress to support operations tied to the war, on top of an annual defense budget currently exceeding $800B.

[phkrause]

Trump eyes seizing Iran's Kharg Island

Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran, in 2024. Photo: Orbital Horizon/Gallo Images via Getty

⚡ Latest from Axios' Barak Ravid: President Trump is considering occupying or blockading Iran's strategic Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a dramatic escalation in the 21-day war. Why it matters: President Trump can't end the war, at least on his terms, until he breaks Iran's chokehold on shipping through the strait, the Middle East's dominant oil hub. Global energy prices have been surging. 🔎 Behind the scenes: Three sources said an occupation of the island by ground troops is under serious consideration. Another option is to impose a naval blockade and prevent tankers from reaching the island. One source said Pentagon lawyers had even been consulted to provide opinions on the legality of such potential moves. A senior administration official told us Trump "wants Hormuz open. If he has to take Kharg Island to make it happen, that's going to happen. If he decides to have a coastal invasion, that's going to happen. But that decision hasn't been made." A second senior official said: "We've always had boots on the ground in conflicts under every president, including Trump. I know this is a fixation in the media, and I get the politics. But the president is going to do what's right." Today's New York Times, Washington Post lead headlines. Context: An operation to take over Kharg Island, which sits 15 miles offshore and processes 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, could put U.S. troops more directly in the line of fire. Such an operation would only be launched after the U.S. military further degrades Iran's military capacity around the Strait of Hormuz. "We need about a month to weaken the Iranians more with strikes, take the island and then get them by the balls and use it for negotiations," said a source with knowledge of White House thinking. That would require more troops. Three Marine units are on their way to the region. The White House and the Pentagon are considering sending even more troops soon, a U.S. official said. 🪖 Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a former Army infantry officer who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Trump had been "prudent" not to rule out a ground invasion, though Cotton wouldn't say whether he was in favor. Cotton contended that closing the strait was an act of desperation by Iran, but said Trump had "mountains of plans" for that contingency. Reality check: While Kharg Island is critical to Iran's oil industry, there's no guarantee that taking it would convince Tehran to make peace on Trump's terms. Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery told Axios it's more likely that after around two more weeks of attacks to degrade Iran's capabilities, the U.S. would send destroyers and aircraft into the strait to escort tankers, eliminating the need for an invasion.

[phkrause]

What Trump and Netanyahu’s split on the gas field attack means for the Iran war President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s diverging language on Israel’s decision to attack a critical Iranian gas field marks the most notable difference of opinion between the two leaders since the start of the 20-day war against Iran. Read more.

Why this matters: The attack by Israel on the South Pars gas field prompted Iran to retaliate against energy infrastructure in other Middle East countries. The Iranian strikes led to already elevated global energy prices further surging and spurred Gulf allies to call for Trump to rein in Netanyahu. The aftermath of the strike left Trump and Netanyahu facing questions on whether they’re entirely in sync in prosecuting the war that began as a closely coordinated joint attack on the longtime regional foe. The emergence of daylight — or at least the appearance of it — between the two leaders could shape the balance of the conflict and any eventual endgame.   Trump, during an Oval Office meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, told reporters that he neither agreed with nor approved of Israel’s attack on the world’s largest gas field, which is an energy lifeline for Iran. “I told him, ’Don’t do that,’” Trump said of Netanyahu’s decision to strike. “We get along great. It’s coordinated, but on occasion he’ll do something. And if I don’t like it — and so we’re not doing that anymore.”   Netanyahu said that Israel “acted alone” and that he’s agreed to Trump’s request that Israel hold off on any further attack on Iran’s giant gas field. The prime minister also sought to downplay any space between him and Trump. “Look, I don’t think any two leaders have been as coordinated as President Trump and I. He’s the leader. I’m his ally. America is the leader,” Netanyahu said.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ The targeting of key Gulf energy infrastructure raises the risk of long-term disruption   Energy fallout from Iran war signals a global wake-up call for renewable energy   WATCH: Trump cites Pearl Harbor to defend Iran war decision in front of Japan’s prime minister   Live updates: Iran retaliates against Gulf energy sites

[phkrause]

Live updates: US deploys thousands more troops to the war as Iran threatens world tourism sites

A U.S. official confirmed that three more warships and roughly 2,500 more Marines are bound for the Middle East, where the U.S. military says it has about 50,000 troops. On one of the holiest days on the Islamic calendar, Iran fired on Israel and energy sites in neighboring Gulf Arab states, insisting that it can still build missiles and issuing a new threat, to deny safety to its enemies in “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” worldwide. Israel, meanwhile, pounded Tehran with airstrikes. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

A look at who holds the reins of power in Iran since the country’s top leaders were killed Israel strikes Iran’s feared Basij from commanders down to street level, but its grip remains strong Ukraine is using its drone expertise to help 5 countries against Iran attacks, Zelenskyy says

[phkrause]

Israel deliberately targeting medical facilities in south Lebanon, say health workers

Lebanese healthcare workers and officials say Israeli bombings have deliberately targeted medical workers and facilities in south Lebanon, including through the use of double-tap strikes, in what they describe as a systematic effort to make the area unlivable.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/21/israel-targeting-medical-facilities-south-lebanon-health-workers?

‘It’s come at the wrong time’: how Iran war has floored the Gulf as a sports hub

The sight of Nasser al-Khelaifi grounded in Doha when Paris Saint Germain hosted Chelsea in the last-16 of the Champions League last week provided a symbolic illustration of the fragility of the Gulf’s sports project amid the conflict in the Middle East.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/21/iran-war-floored-gulf-states-sports-hub-economies?

How the Iran war has sent shocks rippling across the globe

From the Philippines cutting down to a four-day week to save electricity, to restaurants in India taking gas-intensive dishes off the menu, and rents being frozen in Spain, the economic fallout of the US-Israeli war on Iran has reverberated around the world.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/20/iran-war-shocks-across-globe-effects-key-takeaways?

[phkrause]

Iran's economic shock pile

Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios

The Iran war's economic consequences risk outlasting the war, Axios' Courtenay Brown reports. Why it matters: Any swift ceasefire or arrangement allowing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz won't undo supply shocks that could linger for months — and in some cases, years. 📈 The intrigue: Economists across Wall Street, plus the Fed, are penciling in higher forecasts for inflation this year. United CEO Scott Kirby said yesterday in a letter to employees: "[O]ur plans assume oil goes to $175/barrel and doesn't get back down to $100/barrel until the end of 2027. Honestly, I think there's a good chance it won't be that bad, but as you'll read below, there isn't much downside for us to preparing for that outcome." 🚢 What's happening: The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz has already upset the global flow of commodities. This week's damage to energy facilities in the Gulf could deepen that disruption. Attacks this week on Iran's South Pars gas field and Iran's retaliation wiped out 17% of the nation's natural gas export capacity, Qatar's top energy official, Saad al-Kaabi, told Reuters. The damage likely means less natural gas from the region in the long term — with nearly 13 million tons of liquefied natural gas sidelined annually for as long as five years, Kaabi said. Today's headlines in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian. After extensive shipping blockage and infrastructure destruction, the economic reverberations are vast: 🌾 Fertilizer. Natural gas is a key ingredient for fertilizer. About a third of the world's seaborne fertilizer supply — and almost half of the world's urea, a critical solid nitrogen fertilizer — is transported through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. farmers who didn't preorder fertilizer might not get enough in time for spring planting, the American Farm Bureau told AP. 🚜 Higher prices for diesel — which powers agriculture equipment — already risk aggravating food inflation. ⚙️ Helium. The damage to Qatar's natural gas facilities will also squeeze the production of an important byproduct: helium, a critical input for semiconductor manufacturers racing to keep up with AI-related demand.

[phkrause]

🇮🇷 Supreme mystery: Where's the ayatollah?

Thirteen days after being chosen to succeed his father as Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei still hasn't been spotted.

• The CIA, Mossad and other intelligence agencies around the world watched yesterday during Nowruz, the Persian New Year, to see if he'd follow his father's tradition and give an address, Axios' Barak Ravid reports.
• When the holiday passed with only a written statement, the mystery deepened around his physical condition, whereabouts and role in the war.

🔎 The intrigue: It's hardly surprising that the ayatollah remained in the shadows. Israel has made clear that Mojtaba is now at the top of its target list.

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the leader was "wounded and likely disfigured" in the strike that killed his father.

The U.S. and Israel have intelligence suggesting Mojtaba remains alive — for example, evidence of Iranian officials trying to schedule in-person meetings with him (unsuccessfully, due to security concerns).

• The mystery around Mojtaba has come up during several of President Trump's intelligence briefings. Trump's national security team is still working to assess who is actually in charge in Tehran, a U.S. official said.

Share this story.

A great Smart Brevity tweet. Bessent's post.

Trump said he's considering "winding down" the war with Iran without solving the crisis over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

• Why it matters: Trump has said for several days that the war could end soon, but this is the strongest signal yet that he's actively moving in that direction, Axios' Barak Ravid, Marc Caputo and Dave Lawler report.

If Trump walks away without reopening the strait, the U.S. would be leaving other countries to clean up a hugely consequential economic quagmire.

• Trump wrote on Truth Social: "We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran."

Keep reading.

[phkrause]

Trump team game-planning for future Iran talks

The site of a U.S.-Israeli airstrike in Tehran on Saturday. Photo: Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times War latest: President Trump posted last night that if Iran "doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" After three weeks of war, the Trump administration has begun initial discussions on what peace talks with Iran might look like, Axios' Barak Ravid and Marc Caputo report. Why it matters: President Trump said Friday that he's considering "winding down" the war, though U.S. officials said they expect two to three more weeks of fighting. In the meantime, Trump's advisers want to start laying groundwork for diplomacy. 🔎 Behind the scenes: Trump's envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are involved in the discussions around potential diplomacy, sources say. Any deal to end the war would need to include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, address Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and establish a long-term agreement on Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missiles and support for proxies in the region. There has been no direct contact between the U.S. and Iran in recent days, though Egypt, Qatar and the U.K. have all passed messages between the two, a U.S. official and two additional sources said. The Iranian demands include a ceasefire, guarantees that the war will not resume in the future, and compensation. What's next: The sources said Trump's advisers want to be prepared if talks with Iran take shape in the near future. The Witkoff and Kushner terms will be similar to the ones they presented in Geneva two days before the war started. Keep reading.

[phkrause]

US and Iran trade threats of expanding war after strikes near sites tied to nuclear programs Iran and its ally, the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group, stepped up pressure on Israel on Sunday, with intense attacks on the country’s north and south after the United States and Iran threatened to widen their targets in the war in the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump warned the United States will destroy Iran’s power plants if Tehran fails to fully open the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours. Iran’s parliament speaker said if the U.S. follows through on its threat, Tehran would retaliate against American and Israeli energy and wider infrastructure in the region. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Spiking gas prices tied to Iran war are set to eat up tax refunds touted by Trump Surprise, embarrassment, unease in Japan after Trump uses Pearl Harbor to defend Iran war What to know about Diego Garcia after Iran targets the remote island’s key US military base As Netanyahu prepares for elections, his foes in Iran and Lebanon could get a vote

[phkrause]

Iran Ultimatum

President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum Saturday, threatening strikes on Iran’s power plants unless the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened by this evening. Iranian officials said they would target critical sites in neighboring countries that host US bases in response.   The escalation comes as the Iranian military launched a pair of ballistic missiles at a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean (one failed, one was intercepted). The launch was the farthest ever attempted by Iran and revealed a theoretical strike distance of nearly 2,500 miles, potentially threatening European targets.  Meanwhile, new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a second public statement via state media on the war and state of the country. Khamenei has not been publicly seen or heard since he assumed power two weeks ago.  Separately, reports suggest US officials are considering occupying or blockading Kharg Island, which sits 15 miles off the Iranian coast and processes the bulk of its oil exports. See satellite photos of damage across the region here.   Trump says Iran is eager for a deal to end the war as he extends deadline to allow for diplomacy DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. was talking with an Iranian leader and claimed the Islamic Republic was eager for a deal to end the war. He also extended a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, saying it has an additional five days. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-23-2026-93c6b3234a5e8917aaf599bf85a03044?