Pakistan's successful mediation

In a brief telephone interview with broadcaster Nbc, US President Donald Trump refused to give an update on the status of the ongoing negotiations with Iran, but criticised Iran's call for people to act as human shields around power plants. "It is totally illegal," he said, "they are not allowed to do that.

Pakistan condemned the missile attacks launched by Iran against the energy infrastructure of Saudi Arabia, calling such attacks a threat to regional stability. Indeed, Saudi authorities reported that several projectiles were intercepted, although some debris fell near important industrial facilities, raising concerns about the security of energy infrastructure in the Gulf. In an official statement, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry expressed 'deep concern' over the escalation and reiterated its 'unwavering support' and solidarity with the Saudi people. Prime Minister Sharif, in a telephone conversation with Crown Prince bin Salman, reiterated Islamabad's strong support for Riyadh, emphasising that Pakistan would stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with the Kingdom during the crisis. These developments come in the context of a strategic mutual defence agreement signed by the two countries in September 2025, which stipulates that any aggression against either state will be considered an attack against both.

American journalist Shelly Kittleson was released by an Iraqi militia linked to Iran that had kidnapped her a week ago, in exchange for the release of some militant prisoners. The New York Times writes this. Quoting two Iraqi security officials and Kaitab Hezbollah itself, the Times stated that Kittleson was freed 'in appreciation of the patriotic stances' of the Iraqi prime minister. Kaitab Hezbollah stated that Kittleson must leave Iraq immediately. According to two Iraqi officials, Kittleson was released in exchange for the release of some Hezbollah prisoners.

In the last 24 hours there has been progress in negotiations between the United States and Iran, but it remainsunlikely that a ceasefire agreement will be reached within the deadline set by Donald Trump (8pm US time, 2am in Italia). This was reported to Axios by American and Israeli sources. According to a US official, the White House's approach has changed in the last few hours: from "can we find an agreement" to "can we find one by 8pm?". American sources also report that the counterproposal presented by Iran the previous day, 'while not what we wanted, was much better than we expected'. Since then, the same sources add, the mediators have been working with the Iranian side to revise and correct the document.

New warning from Washington to Tehran on the eve of the deadline set by Donald Trump. On a visit to Hungary, US Vice President JD Vance said that the US still has "tools" that it has so far chosen not to use against Iran.

The US president confirmed the timing of the ultimatum given to Iran, but also signalled its potential postponement.

During a phone interview with Bret Baier of Fox News, who asked him about the probability of a negotiated agreement between Washington and Tehran by 2am Italian time, Donald Trump would not give any percentage, but said that 8pm remains in effect as the deadline, according to the time in the US capital.

The Vice President of the United States, J. D. Vance, travelled to Hungary to support the election campaign of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The visit comes just days before the parliamentary elections, which will be held Sunday 12 April. The vote, according to some independent polls, could end the tenure of Orbán, who was first elected in 2010.

The head of Iran's judiciary urged the courts to speed up death sentences in cases related to the war against the US and Israel. "You must speed up the handing down of death sentences and confiscation of property," Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei said during a meeting with senior judicial officials. "It is necessary to continue issuing judicial verdicts against elements and agents of the aggressor enemy with greater speed" by enforcing espionage laws, he added. Since the beginning of the conflict on 28 February, triggered by the joint Israeli-US attack on Iran, seven people have been hanged after being convicted in cases related to January's violently repressed anti-government protests. Six people were executed for belonging to the outlawed opposition group Mojahedin of the Iranian People (Mek), and an Iranian-Swedish citizen was executed for spying for Israel. Human rights organisations have warned that dozens of other people risk being executed in connection with the January protests or because they are suspected of helping the country's enemies in the ongoing war.

Kataeb Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian militia integrated into the Iraqi army, announced that it would release the American journalist Shelly Kittleson, kidnapped on 31 March in Baghadad, near the Palestine Hotel. Kittleson, 49 years old, collaborates with various US and also Italian media.

"Nothing indicates" that the United States is carrying outretaliation against Spain. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said this in an interview with broadcaster LaSexta. The minister argued that"it would not make sense" to carry out reprisals "for a sovereign decision of a country that takes place in compliance with treaties", referring to Spain's decision to prohibit the US from using the shared bases in Rota and Moron to support military operations against Iran. Albares said that the bases operate in compliance with the agreements between Spain and the US and recalled that they remain under Spanish sovereignty. The minister pointed out that the government has no plans to review the Agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the United States of America on Cooperation in Defence that establishes the conditions of the US military presence in Spain and the use of the two bases.

Referring to the expiry of the ultimatum to Iran, Donald Trump stated on Truth that an entire civilisation could die tonight, saying he did not want it to happen, but considered the event likely.

Donald Trump is 'the only one' who knows 'what he will do' in Iran. The White House said so.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto addressed the House for a briefing on the war in Iran and the Persian Gulf.

"The strength of culture, logic and faith in one's just cause of a 'civilised' nation will undoubtedly prevail over the logic of brute force." This was stated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, responding on X to Trump's words that "an entire civilisation will die tonight" without agreement. "A nation that firmly believes in the rightness of its path will deploy all its resources and capabilities to safeguard its rights and legitimate interests," Baghaei assured.

The resolution that the UN Security Council is about to vote on "addresses the security of maritime navigation in the Persian Gulf, constituting a decisive and responsible response to the serious developments affecting one of the most vital waterways for international trade, the Strait of Hormuz". This was said by Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani ahead of the vote at the UN, stressing that Iran uses Hormuz as a "political and economic pawn"."Its international importance," he explained, "lies in the fact that it serves as a transit route for some 38% of the world's crude oil trade, 29% of liquefied petroleum gas, 19% of liquefied natural gas and 20% of refined petroleum products, including high-sulphur oil, which is an essential component in the production of fertilisers.

The bread between the BTp and Bund closed higher in a session affected by the rise in government bond yields on the euro curve after the ultimatum to Iran launched by US President Donald Trump. At the end of the session, the yield differential between the benchmark 10-year BTp and German peers stood at 91 points from 87 on Thursday. The yield on the benchmark ten-year BTp also rose sharply to 3.99% from 3.86% at Thursday's close, the last official session before the Easter break.

"Diplomatic channels and indirect talks with the US are not closed". This was reported in X Tehran Times, rectifying the news given earlier by the same newspaper. "Iran has closed all diplomatic and indirect channels of communication with the United States. All message exchanges have also been suspended," the newspaper had written.

Oil prices soar as Trump's ultimatum to Iran to cut off communication channels with the US approaches. The Texas Wti crude climbed 5% to $117 a barrel while the Brent crude advanced 1.58% to $111.

A humanitarian aid convoy organised by the Apostolic Nuncio in Lebanon, Paolo Borgia, destined for Christian villages in the south, had to turn back on Tuesday after being "hit by gunfire": a security source on the spot told Afp, without specifying the origin of the shots. The convoy was escorted by the French Unifil battalion and was heading towards the village of Debel. The shots fired caused "damage to vehicles" while no injuries were reported, the source added. The Lebanese Ani agency indicates that the convoy had to turn back "due to crossfire" between Israel and Hezbollah.

Iran has broken direct communications with the United States following Donald Trump's threat to destroy the Islamic Republic's entire civilisation, even as ceasefire talks with mediators continue. Middle East officials told the Wall Street Journal that the president's latest threat has temporarily complicated efforts to reach an agreement by the 8pm US time deadline, but has not disrupted the talks. One of the officials said Iran intended to send a signal of disapproval and defiance by cutting off communications. It is unclear whether direct talks will resume before the deadline.

Images and videos from Iranian state media show citizens protesting in front of power plants and bridges in the interior of the country. In a video released by the Fars News Agency, civilians are seen waving a large Iranian flag on the Pol Sefid, a bridge in Ahwaz, south-western Iran. Another image shows several citizens standing outside the Shahid Rajaee power plant near Tehran. In a third shot, a line of people is gathered near the Tabriz power plant in the north of the country. The demonstrations take place after Alireza Rahimi, an Iranian official, called on young people to form "human chains" around infrastructure that could be targeted by upcoming US and Israeli attacks, as threatened by US President Donald Trump.

The US Embassy in Bahrain has ordered all US government employees to remain in shelter ("shelter in place") and advised all US citizens in the country to do the same, due to the growing threat from Iran. "The US Embassy in Manama has ordered all US government employees to remain in shelter. We recommend that all Americans in Bahrain do the same until further notice," reads an alert. "As much as possible, stay in a safe building and away from windows. Make sure you have supplies of food, water, medicines and other essentials. Continue to check your e-mails for further information or any last-minute updates',

The attack against crucial infrastructure today in Saudi Arabia compromises the mediation effort of Pakistan, which is also trying, in these hours before Donald Trump's ultimatum expires, to revive the possibility of a diplomatic way out, explained a security source in Islamabad, quoted by CNN, according to whom his country "is very concerned about what will happen if the Saudis respond". "The entire civilian and military leadership in Pakistan is working hard to make a breakthrough possible but concerns have emerged after Saudi Arabia was struck that this could undermine the whole process," the source explained, explicitly quoting Chief of Staff Asim Munir. 'Efforts are underway to facilitate dialogue,' the source added. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry condemned the night's missile and drone attacks 'against energy sites in the eastern region of the country'.

Iran has broken off negotiations with the United States, informing Pakistan that it no longer intends to participate in ceasefire talks. The New York Times reported this, citing three senior Iranian officials and confirming what had already been anticipated by the Iranian newspaper The Tehran Times.

"We believe that even tonight the Iranian regime and Hezbollah will try to continue shooting at Israel. The IDF is ready for both defence and attack and we will act against any threat." This was said by Israeli army spokeswoman Effie Defrin in a message to the population ahead of the last day of Passover celebrations which begin tonight and are expected to see an increased intensity of missile launches as happened a week ago during the first day of the holiday.

"We cannot go along with hysterical ruptures or childish subordination, because the path we are moving along is that of the law, international treaties and the Constitution". This was said by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto at the Chamber of Deputies during the government's urgent briefing on the use of military bases on Italia's territory by the US armed forces, reiterating how 'since the entry into force of these agreements, no government of any colour, tendency or political ideal has ever proposed their revision or the desecration of some of them'.

"These treaties have always constituted the backbone of our security system, the archetype of a defence system that in the broader context of the Atlantic alliance has allowed us to live peacefully in prosperity," he added, "and represents the only credible deterrence and defence system today. Even some of the political forces that I sometimes hear criticised, clamouring for a review of the treaties, have always acted within the framework of those treaties, in scrupulous compliance with them, without ever denying the use of Italian bases to American forces, and perhaps even without the transparency that some in this recent affair have wanted to adopt'.

The White House denies considering the use of nuclear weapons in Iran.

The US is stepping up attacks in an attempt to force Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and reach a ceasefire agreement. The New York Times reports this, citing American and Israeli officials.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said the death toll ofpeople killed in over a month of war between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah has reached 1,530. According to a ministry statement, the death toll includes 102 women and 130 children, as well as 57 medical workers, and the wounded total 4,812.

"The implementation of the agreement on the use of American bases in Italia has always been characterised by absolute and consistent continuity for over 75 years. In these years, no government has ever questioned or merely ventilated the hypothesis of not implementing agreements, nor has it questioned their content or scope'. This was said by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto in the Government's urgent briefing on the use of military bases on Italia territory by the US Armed Forces. "Italia is not the only country to have made agreements with the US involving the use of bases,' Crosetto recalled. Respecting the agreements does not mean getting involved in a war that nobody wanted, but respecting the commitments. We are part of NATO, with capabilities and assets for which the allies give us full credit, but we know how to enforce our laws and the treaties that bind us'.

US forces conducted raids against 'military targets' on the strategic island of Kharg. This was reported on X by Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing an American source who said that the operations were not directed against oil infrastructure, but were new attacks against military targets previously targeted. Ravid's posts come after reports from Iran's Mehr news agency accused the US and Israel of carrying out "several attacks on Kharg Island", reporting "several explosions" in the area off Iran's west coast.

This was said by US President Donald Trump.

Arizona Dem MP Yassamin Ansari said she will file a motion of impeachment against Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. This was reported by Axios, according to which Ansari will seek Hegseth's dismissal for his handling of US operations in the Iran conflict. For the Iranian-American MP, the Defence Secretary has 'repeatedly violated his oath of office and his duty under the Constitution', authorising 'war crimes' and 'endangering the US military', which are considered 'valid grounds for impeachment and removal from office'. Ansari also called on the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove US President Donald Trump from office due to his 'delusional statements on war', stating that 'the government should use it' because 'the fate of American troops, the Iranian people and the very foundations of our global system are at stake'.

"The Guardians of the Revolution declare once again that if the US terrorist army crosses the red lines, our response will go beyond the region". This is according to the Iranian Pasdaran in a statement reported on Iranian TV in which a retaliation against infrastructure is threatened to "deprive the US and its allies of oil and gas in the region for years". "America's partners in the region should also know that until now we have exercised great restraint in the name of good neighbourliness and had reservations in choosing targets for retaliation, but all such reservations have been abandoned," the statement added.

Qatar has warned that the war in the Middle East is close to a threshold beyond which it will no longer be controllable, after US President Donald Trump set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "From 2023 we warn that an uncontrolled escalation will lead us into an uncontrollable situation and we are very close to that point. This is why we have urged all parties to find a solution to end this war before it is too late," said Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari.

The assailant killed in a shootout with Turkish police in front of the Israeli consulate in Istanbul was 'linked to a terrorist organisation'. This was announced by the Ministry of Interior, identifying the victim as 'Yunus E. S., linked to a terrorist organisation that instrumentalises religion'. The other two assailants, who were injured, are brothers and are currently being interrogated by the police, the ministry specified.

Another bridge, the highway bridge connecting the city of Tabriz to the city of Zanjan in north-western Iran, was hit today by an Israeli-American raid. This was reported by the Iranian media, emphasising that it was a civilian infrastructure. Earlier a raid had been reported against a railway bridge in Kashan.

The Iranian news agency Mehr, quoted by the Turkish Anadolu agency, reports explosions following attacks on the island of Kharg in the Persian Gulf, a crucial Iranian oil hub. It is not yet clear whether installations or other infrastructure were hit.

Further reading

So US forces could storm Kharg Island

26 March 2026

The European Union rejects the threats expressed by US President Donald Trump to attack critical civilian infrastructure, such as bridges and power plants, in Iran. This was stated by Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission, during the daily press briefing. "We have always said that diplomacy is the answer, and for our part we reject any threat of attack including on critical civilian infrastructure," she says, stressing that such attacks "risk affecting millions of people across the Middle East and beyond and could also lead to further dangerous escalation. The EU calls for utmost restraint, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and full respect of international law and international humanitarian law by all parties,' Hipper concludes.

"We persevere in asking for the gift of peace for the whole world". This was underlined by Pope Leo XIV, addressing the faithful and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Regina Coeli, on the occasion of Easter Monday, from the window of the Study of the Vatican Apostolic Palace. The Regina Coeli is the Marian prayer that replaces the Angelus during this liturgical season. The Pontiff thanked "those who, in these days, have sent me expressions of good wishes for Holy Easter. I am especially grateful for the prayers".

Shelly Kittleson, the American journalist kidnapped last week in Baghdad, is reportedly still alive and held captive by a local paramilitary group with links to Iran, Iraqi security officials told the Washington Post. Kittleson has not been heard from since 31 March, the day she was kidnapped, recalls the US newspaper, and her condition is unknown. US and Iraqi officials believe she is being held captive by Kataib Hezbollah in Jurf al-Sakhar, its stronghold about 60 kilometres south of Baghdad, possibly to prevent US air raids in the area, according to three people familiar with the situation. Kataib Hezbollah, considered the most powerful militia in Iraq, has not publicly claimed his abduction, provided evidence of his survival, or made any demands in return for his release. The Wp has received no comment from either the FBI or the State Department. US officials are urging their Iraqi counterparts to take action against the Shia militia, sources said. Shia politicians in the region are in contact with the group and are trying to obtain Kittleson's release. In the context of the war against Iran, US forces have launched air strikes on Jurf in recent weeks, killing militia members. After the kidnapping of Kittleson, the attacks reportedly ceased.

The Israeli Defence Forces bombed another bridge over the Litani river, which they claim was being used by Hezbollah to smuggle militants and weapons into South Lebanon. This is the seventh river crossing bombed by the army in the context of the ongoing fighting. "The Israel Defence Forces struck yesterday another strategic crossing used by Hezbollah terrorists to move from north to south of the Litani River and to transfer weapons, rockets and launchers to launch terrorist attacks against Israeli troops," reads an army statement.

According to the US-based human rights news agency Hrana, an NGO, almost 3,600 people have been killed in joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran since the start of hostilities, including at least 1,665 civilians.

Of these victims, at least 248 were children. The Guardian reported this.

According to information obtained by the Jerusalem Post from a source close to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian intelligence services have provided Iran with a detailed list of 55 critical energy infrastructure targets in Israel. The sites identified - it is explained - would be divided into three categories according to their strategic importance: critical production facilities whose destruction would cripple the national energy system; major urban and industrial energy centres; and local infrastructure. Since Israel is a sort of 'energy island' that does not import electricity from neighbouring countries, Russian intelligence has reportedly informed Iran that damage to even a few central components could trigger a total and prolonged energy collapse, resulting in mass blackouts and technical failures that would be difficult to repair.

Heavy explosions were recorded in Tehran and Qom, where according to American and Iranian intelligence sources Mojtaba Khamenei is reported to be hospitalised in serious condition. This was reported by Iranian media including the Mehr news agency.

The Israel Defence Forces claim to have hit one of the 'few' remaining plants in Iran that produced ballistic missile materials. The IDF explained that the plant near Shiraz 'was being used by the Iranian armed forces to produce nitric acid, a substance necessary for the manufacture of explosives and other materials used in ballistic missile development processes'.

The King Fahd Causeway, a key bridge connecting Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, has reopened after being closed for hours due to possible threats from Iran. The closure, which lasted several hours, followed a ballistic missile attack from Iran directed against Saudi Arabia, which may have caused damage to the country's energy infrastructure. The kingdom did not provide further details on the damage caused by the attack.

US President Donald Trump's belligerent statements on the destruction of Iranian infrastructure are a direct provocation to terrorism, Iran's representative to the United Nations Saeed Iravani said. "The deliberate attack on non-military centres, including essential infrastructure, constitutes a war crime and is a clear act of state terrorism." Iravani made this statement in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday evening. Iravani also criticised Trump's statements about sending weapons to Kurdish dissident groups, saying: 'This is a sign of the US attempt to instigate violence and internal unrest in the country'. In another passage of his letter, the Iranian envoy to the UN urged the UAE and Saudi Arabia not to allow the US to use their territory to attack Iran. "Iran has the right to legitimately defend itself," he added.

US President Donald Trump could 'extend' the ultimatum to Iran if he sees that 'a deal is getting closer' but 'only he and no one else' will eventually make that decision. This was stated by a US administration official to Axios. A second official, however, said he was 'sceptical' about a possible extension this time.

A petrochemical plant was hit in Saudi Arabia by an attack launched by Iran against a large industrial area in the eastern city of Jubail. This was reported by Afp citing local sources. "An attack triggered a fire at the SABIC plants in Jubail. The noise of the explosions was loud,' the source told Afp, referring to the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation.

According to the Lebanese national news agency NNA, two separate Israeli air strikes over southern Lebanon killed five people and injured several others. Two people died when their home in the town of Maarakeh was hit while in another airstrike that took place during the night over the town of Tayr Debba, three people were killed and two wounded

"This is not the first ultimatum set by the American president". This was ironically pointed out by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, interviewed by FranceInfo. Last night, Donald Trump gave Iran until this evening to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to free movement. This is 'a common good that must be preserved: we oppose any attack on civil infrastructure. It applies in the region, it also applies in Ukraine,' the minister added. "We oppose it because this is excluded from the rules of war and because it would open a new phase of escalation in Iran, in the region, and would drag the world into a damaging circle," Barrot stressed, "The risk is simply that the civilian population and the world economy would witness a regional fire without limits, which would cause serious damage."

The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) issued an unusual "urgent warning" to Iranians, asking them not to travel through the country by train until this evening. "Dear citizens, for your safety, we request that from this moment until 9pm Iranian time you refrain from using and travelling by train through Iran," an IDF spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Kamal Penhasi, said in a statement. "Your presence on trains and near railway lines puts your lives at risk," he added. Yesterday, Defence Minister Israel Katz had stated that the IDF had been instructed to "continue to strike with full force at the national infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime".

The US has struck more than 13,000 targets and sunk or damaged 155 ships since the attack on Iran began. This is according to the latest update provided by Centcom. The US Armed Forces Central Command stated that US forces have used 26 different types of aircraft, as well as four land-based missile systems and six sea-based weapon systems.

"Europe's options for Hormuz: few and risky". This is how the New York Times summarises the Western impasse over the Strait through which some 20% of the world's oil and gas passes, while the war in Iran continues to have global effects. The analysis opens with a proposal by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, presented at a videoconference meeting organised by the UK in recent days: the creation of a "humanitarian corridor" to ensure the safe passage of fertilisers and essential goods, in an attempt to prevent the conflict from producing famine in Africa. The plan, one of several proposals that also emerged outside Europe, was not approved and the meeting ended without a concrete agreement to reopen the strait, neither militarily nor on other fronts.

Pressure from the United States remains on the table. According to the American newspaper, European leaders are urged by President Donald Trump to commit military resources, end the blockade imposed by Iran, and contain an energy and economic crisis that is worsening by the hour. So far, however, Europe has not taken up the call to send warships and continues to discuss how to unblock Hormuz. The difficulty in finding a common line reflects both the slow pace of European diplomacy and the large number of countries involved, including those in the Gulf, who are interested in securing the strait once the war is over.Many states, including Italia and Germany, also insist that any initiative must come under the umbrella of the United Nations, a condition that risks slowing down action even further.

Overnight, Saudi Arabia was hit by attacks on a petrochemical complex in a large industrial area in the eastern city of Jubail. A source on the spot told Afp today, just hours after similar installations were hit in Iran. "An attack triggered a fire at the Sabic facilities in Jubail. The noise of the explosions was loud,' the source told Afp, referring to the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation. Jubail in eastern Saudi Arabia is home to one of the largest industrial cities in the world, where steel, petrol, petrochemicals, lubricating oils and chemical fertilisers are produced.

One of the seven Malaysian-owned merchant ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz has been given permission to transit and is now en route to its destination. This was stated by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry on 'X', explaining that the permission came after "high-level diplomatic meetings" and "constructive" talks with Iranian officials led by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

An Iranian official called on young people to form human chains at 2pm today around power plants ahead of Trump's threatened attacks. The news is reported by international media. "I invite all young people, athletes, artists, students, academics and professors," said Alireza Rahimi, identified by state TV as secretary of the Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, "around the power plants, our national heritage and our capital, regardless of any political opinion, as they belong to Iran's future and Iranian youth.

Further reading

Trump threatens power plants and bridges in Iran: 'Open the Straits, you bastards'. The response: 'Drag the US into hell'

05 April 2026

The King Fahd Causeway Bridge, an important artery connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, has been closed due to the threat of an attack by Iran. This was announced by the King Fahd Bridge Authority in a post on X. The statement said that vehicle traffic was 'suspended as a precautionary measure' following the Iranian attacks on the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The 25-kilometre-long bridge is the only road link between Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, and the Arabian Peninsula.

Pessimism is growing among negotiators about whether Iran will accept President Donald Trump's demand to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by the deadline set by the White House. The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing sources familiar with the talks. US officials reportedly believe that the gap between the US and Iran is still too wide to be bridged within the timeframe, fuelling fears of military escalation. Some sources quoted by the newspaper also claim that Trump was less confident about the possibility of reaching a diplomatic agreement. Several US officials believe that a possible attack order against Iranian energy infrastructure could come soon after the deadline set by the president.

Iranian Supreme Guide Mojtaba Khamenei is in a hospital in Qom, unconscious, and unable to govern Iran. This was written by the Times and relayed by the Israeli media citing an Israeli-American intelligence assessment and forwarded to the Gulf countries. "Mojtaba Khamenei is hospitalised in Qom in serious condition, unable to participate in any decision-making process of the regime," a note reads. This is the first time a report has publicly revealed Khamenei's whereabouts since the start of the war, when he was believed to have been injured in the 28 February attacks in which Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.