Tehran opens to talks with US, then slows down. Trump: 'Iranian ship seized'

"At no stage in the current or previous negotiations was the transfer of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium to the United States or any other country discussed." This was stated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, as reported by Iran International. "Just as our soil is sacred and important to us, enriched uranium is also important to us," he added.

In the Netherlands, the national plan for the energy crisis fuelled by the crisis in the Middle East was triggered. This is the first time it has been activated since its introduction after the shock of the war in Ukraine. Phase one - Dutch media report - has no immediate effect, but marks an increase in alertness, with the strengthening of supply monitoring and coordination with the most energy-intensive sectors, such as transport and agriculture. As the situation worsens, stronger measures are planned, including reduced speed limits on motorways and car-free Sundays. Premier Rob Jetten is expected to announce aid to curb the effects of high energy prices soon, including possible tax breaks for motorists.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that Iran has not yet decided whether to participate in the new round of talks with the US.

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security Committee, opens up in an interview with Al Jazeera to Iranian presence at the talks in Islamabad but under certain conditions. Iran, he says, has decided to continue talks with the US, but this "does not mean negotiating at any cost" or accepting "any approach taken by the other side". Iran has set red lines, and these "must be respected", he said. Asked whether Iran will send a delegation to Islamabad, Aziz said it depends on whether Tehran receives "positive signals"

Iranian President Pezeshkian attempts to ease tensions after the weekend escalation between the US and Iran. "War is in nobody's interest and, while resisting threats, every rational and diplomatic path should be taken to reduce tensions," he said, according to state news agency Irna. The Iranian president added, however, that 'distrust of the enemy and vigilance in interactions are an undeniable necessity'.

Further reading

The possible split between the political wing of the regime and the military wing in Iran

08 March 2026

The head of Iranian forensic medicine says that at least 3,375 people have been killed in the country's war against Israel and the United States. The figure was provided by Abbas Masjedi, head of the Iranian Forensic Medicine Organisation. Masjedi, quoted by the judiciary-linked Mizan news agency and other media, said that only four of the victims remain unidentified. His statements did not specify the breakdown of the victims between civilians and security forces, merely indicating that 2,875 were men and 496 women. Masjedi specified that 383 of the deceased were children aged 18 and under. The figures provided by Masjedi raised doubts as to whether they included members of the security forces, particularly in light of the intensity of the bombings that targeted military bases and arsenals in the country.

"American terrorists a few hours ago attacked an Iranian container ship named Touska, which was headed to Iran from China in the Gulf of Oman. After the American attack, Iranian forces in turn attacked some American military ships with drones. Iran will respond to any action by the Americans with due retaliation'. This was written by the Iranian Tasnim agency.

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei suffered a minor leg injury during Israeli-American air raids against his residential compound, according to a senior Iranian official. Iran International writes. Azim Ebrahimpour stated that Mojtaba Khamenei was inside the complex at the time of the attack and was slightly injured by the shockwave of a missile. He also stated that reports of other injuries were false and that speculation about his state of health was intended to be divisive.

La gente passa davanti ai manifesti del nuovo leader supremo iraniano, Mojtaba Khamenei, affissi lungo una strada di Isfahan, in Iran, il 24 marzo 2026. REUTERS/Alaa Al Marjani

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned financial market participants against being influenced by the 'bureaucracy of US officials' ahead of the reopening of the oil market. "Trading oil digitally by following the vibrations is like hedging against fluctuations in government bonds during the Strait of Hormuz crisis," he said on his X account, adding, "Both are a house of cards, which only works on paper." "Difference: oil at least has a benchmark Brent contract. Government bonds? Vibrations to no end. Eucrbrdt Gp index," added the head of Iran's negotiating team in Islamabad talks with the US.

"There is a push by the international community to secure Hormuz and ensure that free and peaceful navigation of goods can resume at full speed. Italia, which has one of the best navies in the world, could think about mine-hunting assets. For 20 days I have been telling the head of Defence and the Navy to be ready with two ships. But to send them we need the end of hostilities, because nobody wants to enter a war'. Thus Guido Crosetto,Minister of Defence, in an interview with Il Corriere della Sera. As for the fact that it will take years for the flow of oil and gas to return to what it was before the conflict, the minister explained: 'But no, once you have guaranteed security, the ships move. The flows could resume immediately, almost as fast as before. For the damaged liquid gas plant in Qatar, on the other hand, it could take up to three years. The question is when it will be possible to send the ships. The international community will only be able to enter Hormuz after the truce, so as not to be in a war zone. And the Italia government will go through the parliamentary vote, which for us is a due, obligatory, fundamental step'. In the meantime, the opposition is asking for a clear UN mandate: 'The first country to ask for UN intervention, months ago and on my explicit declaration, was Italia and not only for the war in Iran. I'm glad that the opposition is getting there too. I hope there will be a UN aegis, but I will not be formalised if there will be 42 nations with a mandate and a multilateral peacekeeping force. And I don't think that when faced with an international mission, Parliament can make any distinctions'.

Whether or not Iran sends a delegation to Islamabad will depend on whether Tehran receives positive signals. This is what Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, said when speaking to Al-Jazeera about the prospects of talks with the US. The MP, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that Iran has decided to continue talks with the US, but that this "does not mean negotiating at any cost" and accepting any "approach taken by the other side". Asked whether Iran would send a delegation to Pakistan, Aziz said: 'We have never feared the principle of negotiation. Perhaps today or tomorrow, after further evaluation, we will consider it likely, assuming a positive signal comes from the US negotiating delegation and the messages it has received from Iran'. Iran has set red lines and these 'must be respected', he concluded.

Il personale di sicurezza monta la guardia mentre il Pakistan si prepara ad ospitare un secondo ciclo di colloqui di pace tra Stati Uniti e Iran a Islamabad, in Pakistan, il 19 aprile 2026. Islamabad era sottoposta a rigide misure di sicurezza, con le principali strade chiuse al traffico e i trasporti pubblici sospesi, mentre il Pakistan si preparava ad ospitare un possibile secondo ciclo di colloqui di pace tra Stati Uniti e Iran. EPA/SOHAIL SHAHZAD

The US Central Command, Centcom, shared footage showing marines lowering themselves with ropes onto the Iranian-flagged ship Touska and taking control of the vessel. "US Marines descended from the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli by helicopter and crossed the Arabian Sea to board and seize the M/V Touska,'' reads the Centcom's 'X' account as the naval blockade decided by US President Donald Trump continues.

Iran promises to 'respond soon' to the US seizure of a cargo ship that was attempting to force a blockade in the Gulf of Oman. "The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon react and take retaliatory measures against this act of armed piracy and against the US military," Tehran's General Staff spokesman writes on Telegram, accusing the US of 'violating the ceasefire'.

US President Donald Trump said that the US has seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. This is the first interception since a naval blockade began last week. Trump claims the ship ignored warnings and was stopped by a US Navy destroyer.

As the effects of the war in the Middle East continue to disrupt oil markets, the latest monthly report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on oil markets shows how the severe supply shock is now weighing on global demand. According to the Report, global oil supply fell by 10% in March, to 97 million barrels per day, due to attacks on energy infrastructure in the Middle East and the collapse of maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

To mitigate the immediate impact of these supply disruptions, consumers and refiners drew on oil stocks. However, where stocks are not sufficient to completely fill the gap, demand has taken a hit. In particular, petrochemical producers in Asia reduced production rates due to the depletion of raw materials. Households and businesses using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were also affected, while flight cancellations in the Middle East and parts of Asia and Europe led to a sharp drop in aviation fuel consumption. As a result, the IEA report predicts that global oil demand will contract by 80,000 barrels per day this year.

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Oil, IEA tries to curb rally: ready for new stock releases

16 March 2026