Iran, gas stop from Qatar by force majeure, including Italia. USA, consensus for Trump plummets to 36%

Donald Trump's approval rate fell to its lowest level in a week since he returned to the White House, mainly due to soaring petrol prices and widespread disapproval of the war against Iran. This is according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted over four days and concluded yesterday. The survey found that only 36% of Americans approve of Trump's actions, down from 40% in the same poll the week before. He also failed on economic management, approved by only 29%, a figure worse than Joe Biden's.

The three thousand soldiers that the Pentagon intends to send to the Middle East are the paratroopers of the 82nd Division. This is reported by the American media. The deployment order is expected to be signed in a few hours.

"Iran gave us a gift and the gift arrived today. It wasan important gift, worth a large sum of money. It made me realise that we are negotiating with the right people. It was a gift legato to oil and gas'. This was stated by US President Donald Trump, without adding further details.

"This war is already won. Only fake news wants to make it appear to be still going on," Trump continued.

The US president is convinced that the various leaders in Iran 'have difficulty communicating with each other'. This was said Donald Trump during the ceremony dedicated to the swearing-in of Markwayne Mullin as Secretary of Homeland Security.

"Can you say one thing that is going well" in Iran, the US leader asked, adding, "If you read the newspapers you think there is a head-to-head but we are roaming free on Tehran, we do what we want. As you know, today we would have had the privilege of hitting an electric generation plant, one of the biggest in the world, a shot in the right place destroys it, but we avoided it because we are negotiating'. Asked whether he would send Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to negotiate directly with Iran, he said: 'We are negotiating. They are doing it together Marco [Rubio, the Secretary of State], JD [Vance, the Vice President]. On the other [Iranian] side, I tell you: they want to make a deal. Who wouldn't if you were there'.

"We are already negotiating. They're taking care of it along with Marco Rubio and Jd Vance." This was stated by US President Donald Trump, responding to a question on whether he planned to send Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to conduct direct negotiations with the Iranians.

The ongoing one in Iran is not a war, but a military operation, Trump clarified, drawing a distinction between the two expressions. "They call it a war, but for me it's a military operation," the president said, speaking in the Oval Office. Previously, Trump had also used the term 'excursion'.

In Iran "we are talking with the right people" and "they want to make a deal". This was said by President Donald Trump speaking in the Oval Office at the swearing-in of Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of Homeland Security.

The Israeli army claimed to have hit the main Iranian explosives production facility. According to the IDF, Iran "developed and produced explosive materials for various types of weapons" within the facility. "This site had already been targeted during Operation Rising Lion. In recent months, activities by the Iranian regime to restore its production capabilities within the site have been identified."

President Donald Trump's approval rate among US citizens has dropped to 36%, the historic low of his second term, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

It is mainly the cost of living that weighs in: the White House's economic management is promoted by only a quarter of the respondents, while only 35% approve of the war operations launched against Iran.

The survey was conducted online among a sample of 1,272 people, with a margin of error of about three percentage points.

In questa illustrazione scattata il 23 marzo 2026 si vedono bandiere statunitensi e iraniane e barili di petrolio stampati in 3D. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustrazione

The US has shared with Israel its 15-point plan to end the Iran war and explained that Tehran has agreed to many points. This was reported by Axios citing sources, according to which Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu fears that Donald Trump may strikea deal with results well below Israel's goals and including significant concessions. Another source reported that Israeli leaders are sceptical that Iran has actually offered the concessions that the US has claimed.

On the eve of the war, Mossad director David Barnea warned the Israeli government that the regime change in Iran would probably take one year. This was reported by the Jerusalem Post, explaining that in his prediction, the Israeli intelligence chief had considered various scenarios and time periods, such as several months, but a year turned out to be the most likely estimate.

The US and a group of regional mediators are discussing the possibility of holding high-level peace talks with Iran. Axios writes that they could be organised as early as Thursday. Tehran's response is still awaited.

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr 'is Mojtaba Khamenei's man' and his appointment as head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council 'proves that Mojtaba is in control': this is the comment on X by Vali Nasr, the Iranian-American political scientist, professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS in Washington.

Zolghadr's appointment, he added, 'also confirms that the only thing Israel achieved with the beheading (of the Iranian leadership, ed.) was to transfer power in Tehran to the most intransigent faction of the Guardians of the Revolution' from which he comes.

FOTO D'ARCHIVIO - Il vice comandante della Guardia Rivoluzionaria iraniana, il generale di brigata Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, in questa foto senza data. Nel marzo 2026 l'Iran ha nominato Zolghadr nuovo segretario del Consiglio Supremo di Sicurezza Nazionale, in sostituzione del defunto Ali Larijani. (Foto AP, d'archivio)

Statements by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

A woman in her thirties was killed by the impact of a rocket near the Mahanayim crossroads in northern Israel, according to rescuers.

Magen David Adom, the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross, stated that its doctors noted the death of the woman at the scene and gave aid to two other people slightly injured by the shrapnel.

The Pentagon plans to deploy 3,000 soldiers from the army's elite division to the Middle East in support of operations in Iran. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal, according to which the written order for the deployment is expected within hours. The deployment of the 82nd division, the sources explain, opens up the possibility for Donald Trump to pursue several strategic options.

The commander of Iran's regular military forces, General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi, asserts that Tehran will continue to respond to the war launched by Israel and the United States "until complete victory", although he does not specify what this amounts to. The general speaks of the US as an 'empty' country that has been 'unmasked before the world', with Donald Trump now trying 'to run away from the war' he started.

The official opening of the Franciscan Jubilee in the Holy Land took place in Jerusalem. The service, we read on the website of the Custody of the Holy Land, was held "in a recollected form" at the Church of St Saviour in Jerusalem "in the presence of a limited number of friars". A security necessity dictated by the context of the war.

The celebration was attended by some significant presences of the local Church and of the Franciscan Family: the new Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Giorgio Lingua, who has just arrived in the Holy Land; the Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, friar minor, who shared a meditation with those present. Also present was a small delegation from the Capuchin Friars Minor of the Jerusalem fraternity and Brother Francesco Ravaioli, Conventual Friar Minor, the only representative of the Conventual community, currently engaged in a pastoral experience in the diocese of Jerusalem.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the conflict involving Israel, the US and Iran is an 'illegal war' by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and that the whole world is paying the price. "The last 25 days have shown that although this is Israel's war, the world is paying the price. It isNetanyahu's war for power, but 8 billion people are suffering the consequences," Erdogan said, Anadolu reports, hoping that the conflict could end soon through a negotiation process, "before there is damage to the global economy, which will take years to repair". In a televised address after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, the Turkish leader added that "Israel's intransigent, maximalist and radical position must not be allowed to sabotage diplomatic solutions".

The statement by the president of the Jewish community of Rome.

"No prospects are visible to date for ending the large-scale armed conflict in the Middle East," Russian National Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said on the sidelines of his meeting with Vietnamese Premier Pham Minh Chinh. "Years-long efforts to resolve the situation with Iran's nuclear programme have been reduced to zero. There are no signs that Washington and Tel Aviv intend to end their military adventure. On the contrary, we hear statements from the belligerents about their readiness to proseuire hostilities until they have achieved their goals. But no one, including themselves, can say what they are'.

Hezbollah condemned the Lebanese authorities' unprecedented decision to expel Iran's ambassador, and called on them to withdraw it immediately. "Hezbollah calls on the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs to withdraw immediately this decision that has dangerous consequences," the pro-Iranian group said in a statement. Beirut, which accuses Iran's Revolutionary Guards of directing Hezbollah's operations against Israel, declared the ambassador persona non grata and gave him until Sunday to leave the country.

The Indian giant Reliance Industries has purchased5 million barrels of Iranian crude oil, just days after the US temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil already at sea. This was reported by the Reuters news agency citing three sources familiar with the matter, according to which the cargo was purchased from the National Iranian Oil Company.

The deal marks India's first purchase of Iranian oil since May 2019, when New Delhi halted imports from Iran following the reimposition of US sanctions after Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal.

US President Donald Trump relaunched on Truth Social the message posted on X by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Islamabad is 'ready' to host talks to end US and Israeli operations against Iran. If Washington and Tehran want, Sharif explained, Pakistan 'is ready, and honoured, to be the venue to facilitate meaningful and decisive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict'.

The office of the Vice President of the United States, Jd Vance, denied the news, reported in some Hebrew-language media, that the number two in the Trump administration had in recent days had a tense conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reprimanding him for his handling of settler violence in the West Bank. "This news is completely false. The vice president's discussions over the past few days with the prime minister were exclusively about Operation Epic Fury. The topic mentioned in the article was not even discussed,' Vance's spokeswoman Taylor Van Kirk said on X. The Israel Hayom piece, denied by the spokeswoman, was one of several articles in the Jewish media in recent days that had speculated frustration in Washington over the almost daily settler attacks, which have so far gone largely unpunished.

An Iranian source told CNN that there have been "contacts" between the US and Tehran and that Iran is willing to listen to "sustainable" proposals to end the war. "In recent days there have been contacts between the US and Iran, initiated by Washington, but nothing that has reached the level of actual negotiations," the source said. "Messages have been received through various intermediaries to probe the possibility of reaching an agreement to end the war," he added. "The proposals currently under consideration do not simply aim to achieve a ceasefire, but to reach a concrete agreement to end the conflict between the US and Iran," the source said again, without going into details.

"The container ship Selen was rejected by the Revolutionary Guardians Navy due to non-compliance with legal protocols and lack of permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz," the commander of the Pasdaran Navy, Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, wrote on X.

The UK is considering sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz to counter the threat of naval mines from Iran. This was reported by British defence officials to The Times, according to which the plan is to deploy either a Royal Navy military unit or a chartered commercial vessel to be used to carry drones designed to search for and destroy the ordnance. The operation would be part of a multinational mission involving France, the US and other unspecified countries.

An attack by the Israeli Navy in Beirut on Monday killed a member of the Quds Force, the extra-territorial arm of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This was announced by the army of the Jewish state.

The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) claimed that Muhammad Ali Kourani was 'carrying out terrorist attacks directed by Iranian intelligence officials'.

At least 1,072 people have been killed and another 2,966 injured since the beginning of the Israeli offensive in Lebanon on 2 March. This was reported by the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

"In four days, Israel bombed eight water infrastructures in the Bekaa Valley. More than a million displaced people are without water and essential goods'. This is denounced by Oxfam, whose humanitarian response continues despite the attacks. "In some areas of Lebanon, as has already happened in Gaza, Israeli forces are using thirst as a weapon of war. In recent weeks we are in fact witnessing the destruction of basic water and sanitation infrastructure, including that which was being restored after the 2024 offensive. The military plan replicates what was applied during the genocide committed in the Strip,' says the humanitarian organisation. 'This strategy, which aims to deprive the population of essential goods such as water, is prohibited by the Geneva Conventions and constitutes a war crime,' says Paolo Pezzati, our spokesperson for humanitarian crises. "In just four days, Israel bombed at least eight water infrastructures on which more than 7,000 people depended, in the Bekaa Valley alone.

"Today we witness the awakening of the peoples of many countries of the world. The peoples of Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and Arab countries are loudly expressing their dignity towards America, Israel and their crimes. The hearts of the free peoples of the world are not on the side of the Zionists. Stability in the region is only possible with the support and respect of the will of nations'. Thus on X the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

A trader has made almost a million dollars since 2024 by placing bets on the Polymarket platform on Iran. According to Cnn's analysis, the trader accurately predicted the conflict between Israel and Iran in October 2024, US attacks on Iranian nuclear power in 2025, and joint attacks by Tel Aviv and Washington against Iran in February. The accuracy of his bets highlights the risk of possible insider trading on platforms like Polymarket, which allow users to bet on everything from sports to elections.

The President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, criticised speculative manoeuvres in the oil markets, stressing that media campaigns and attempts to influence futures contracts do not produce real fuel. "We are aware of what is happening in the paper oil market, including companies hired to influence futures. Let's see if they can turn it into real fuel at the pump - or perhaps print petrol molecules,' Ghalibaf wrote in an English-language post on social media, in a clearly ironic tone.

A teenager was killed and one person injured during an Israeli operation in southern Lebanon. This was announced by the Lebanese Ministry of Health. The Israeli National News Agency, citing the Health Emergency Operations Centre, said that Israeli forces entered the town of Halta, in the Hasbaya district, at dawn and kidnapped a resident. According to the statement, the operation was conducted under intense enemy fire, resulting in the death of a 15-year-old boy and the wounding of another person.

British involvement in operations that Keir Starmer's government insists on describing as 'defensive' to protect Gulf allies affected by Iran's response to Israeli and US attacks is intensifying. This is confirmed by data released today in London according to which the Raf shot down last night 14 Iranian drones launched again against the western base in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, the highest number in four weeks. This activity testifies to the fact that hostilities with Tehran do not seem to be slowing down for the time being, despite the glimmers of negotiation evoked in recent hours by US President Donald Trump. According to the Kingdom's Ministry of Defence, the shooting down of the drones aimed at Erbil involved the air defence system called Rapid Sentry. While Downing Street, for its part, confirmed yesterday's report in Parliament by Minister John Healey on a total tally of around 900 flight hours ensured by the British air defence forces since the beginning of the war to protect "the Middle Eastern Arab partners", as well as Cyprus where the Raf base in Akrotiri is based.

The Iranian army claims to have conducted drone attacks against infrastructure atIsrael's Ben Gurion Airport and in the Haifa area. Al Jazeera reports that the army claimed to have attacked aircraft being refuelled at the airport since the early hours of the morning using drones, and added that it also targeted military and aerospace industrial sites near the airport, as well as in Haifa.

The Japanese government denied statements by US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz that Tokyo had committed to sending Navy Self-Defence Force (MSDF) units to the Middle East in the context of the Iran conflict. "Japan has not made any specific commitments," said Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi during a press conference. Waltz had spoken a few hours earlier on a television programme stating that Washington's partners, including Japan, will offer support for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively blocked by Iran. "We just got a commitment from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to deploy units of her navy," Waltz had said after last Thursday's summit of the conservative leader and US President Donald Trump. The Japanese denials - also confirmed on Monday by Cabinet Chief Minoru Kihara - highlight a divergence of interpretations among allies on the Trump administration's actual expectations of Tokyo. Last Sunday, even Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi had clarified that a possible deployment of the MDF for demining operations in the strait could be considered "only in the event of a complete ceasefire in the conflict", recalling that in 1991 Japanese units were actually deployed for demining in the Persian Gulf after the armistice of the Gulf War. The Japanese Navy's demining capabilities are considered among the most advanced in the world.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, has put pressure on Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran. The New York Times reported this, pointing out that, in bin Salman's view, the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Tehran represents a 'historic opportunity' to reshape the Middle East. According to the newspaper's sources, during a series of talks over the past week, bin Salman hinted to the US president that a desirable scenario would be the destruction of the Iranian government. The Saudi prince, the sources familiar with the discussions added, argued that Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf region that can only be eliminated by removing the current government.

Ships stranded in the Persian Gulf are beginning to agree to pay an Iranian-imposed informal toll to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Among them, a Chinese-owned container ship became the first with direct links to mainland China to pay to transit along a 'safe corridor' near Larak Island. Its transit was handled by a Chinese shipping broker, who also handled the payment to the Iranian authorities, according to sources close to the file. The system remains handled on a case-by-case basis, while some governments, including India, are reportedly negotiating more structured agreements with Tehran. According to other sources, quoted by Bloomberg, the peddling requests would reach up to around $2 million per ship and have so far been made "in a completely random manner", confirming that they have already been accepted by some vessels, although the mechanism of the payments is unclear. For Gulf producers, 'even an informal toll is unacceptable', the sources say, as it raises issues of sovereignty and a risky precedent.

The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, had a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. This was reported by press sources.

Iran's negotiating position has stiffened markedly since the start of the war, with the Revolutionary Guards exerting increasing influence over decision-making, and will demand significant concessions from the US if mediation efforts lead to serious negotiations, three high-level sources in Tehran tell Reuters. In any talks with the United States, Iran would not only demand an end to the war, but also concessions that are likely to represent red lines for US President Donald Trump: guarantees against future military action, reimbursement for wartime losses and formal control of the Strait of Hormuz, the sources said. Iran would also refuse to negotiate any limitations on its ballistic missile programme, the sources said, an issue that had been a red line for Tehran during ongoing talks when the US and Israel launched their attack last month.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of national energy emergency to deal with the impact of the war in the Middle East, which his administration says poses 'an imminent danger of a drastic reduction in energy supply'. According to the declaration, which is initially expected to last one year, Marcos will head an emergency committee charged with monitoring and ensuring the availability and orderly distribution of fuel, food, medicine, agricultural products and other necessities. The authorities have been ordered to intervene against hoarding, speculation and manipulation of oil supplies. The Department for Migrant Workers, meanwhile, was asked to prepare for a possible rescue and evacuation of Filipinos to the Middle East. Over 2 million Filipinos live and work in the Middle East, including about 31,000 in Israel and 1,000 in Iran, but most have chosen to remain in the region.

Bahrain's Ministry of Defence said that an Emirati soldier was killed in the country in an Iranian attack. The man was killed while responding to Iranian attacks along with Bahraini forces. Several members of Bahraini and Emirati forces were reportedly injured.

A total of 82,417 civilian sites have been damaged across Iran since the beginning of the Israeli-American attacks on 28 February. This was said today by the president of the Iranian Red Crescent, pointing out on the organisation's X account that these included281 hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.

A series of meetings between intermediaries paved the way for Donald Trump's breakthrough on Iran. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal, according to which the foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan met before dawn on Thursday in Riyadh for talks aimed at finding a diplomatic way out of the war. The Egyptian intelligence services, the newspaper reports, managed to open a channel with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and put forward a proposal to suspend hostilities for five days in order to build confidence for a ceasefire. Two days after the ultimatum issued to Iran, Trump changed his line, embracing diplomacy with Tehran and suspending the threatened attacks. A breakthrough, according to sources consulted by the WSJ, which came after a series of closed-door talks through Middle Eastern mediators that gave hope that an agreement to resolve the conflict was possible. It is also a decision that reflects a growing desire on the part of Trump and some of his advisers to end the war.

Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, subscribes to X's Premium service with his English-language account despite the fact that Elon Musk's social network has a policy against sanctioned individuals (the son of former leader Ali Khamenei has been sanctioned by the US Treasury since 2019). It is unclear how the group controlled by the world's richest man implements its internal rules, according to which 'you cannot purchase X Premium if you are a person with whom X is not authorised to deal under US law and any other applicable economic sanctions and trade compliance law'.

The blue tick reserved for subscribers to the Premium and Premium+ version of X is present on that account but was removed from the one in Farsi after an analysis of various Iranian officials and agencies conducted by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), a research hub that monitors the influence of technology platforms on politics and beyond. On 12 February, TTP had released a report claiming that 'because X requires a paid subscription to obtain premium service, it is likely to have received revenue from these Iranian individuals and groups. A potential violation of US economic sanctions'.

Indian PM Narendra Modi reportedly "received a phone call from President Trump", with whom he "had a useful exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East". "India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace as soon as possible," he wrote on X. "Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, safe and accessible is critical for the entire world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts for peace and stability,' he added.

The French Foreign Minister called on Israel "to refrain" from conducting operations to seize the area south of Lebanon, while welcoming the country's "courageous decision" to expel Iran's ambassador in Beirut.

"We urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from such ground operations that would have serious humanitarian consequences and aggravate the already dramatic situation in the country," Jean-Noel Barrot said during an interview with France Presse.

Four people were injured after an intercepted missile fragment hit a mobile home in a Bedouin community in the Negev desert in south Israel. This was reported by emergency services quoted by the Times of Israel, who said that a man in his 40s was in moderate condition, while three other people, including two infants and a woman in her 40s, suffered minor injuries.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared that Islamabad is willing to host negotiations to end the war between the US, Israel and Iran, after growing speculation that the country could act as a mediator. "Pakistan welcomes and fully supports the ongoing efforts to pursue dialogue aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, in the interest of peace and stability in the region and beyond," it wrote on X. "Subject to the consent of the US and Iran, Pakistan is ready and honoured to host the talks."

Iran fears that the talks to end the conflict could be a trap and aim to kill Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal citing sources, according to which Donald Trump's announcement to suspend attacks on energy infrastructure is only an attempt to bring down oil prices before resuming the raids.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari stated that "the war must end through diplomatic means", adding that "the parties must sit down at the negotiating table as soon as possible". Regarding reports of the start of talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan, the Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasised that 'there are no efforts by Qatar to mediate between the parties'.

In light of the unstable situation in the Middle East, Ita Airways has extended the suspension of flights to and from Dubai and Tel Aviv (including flight AZ809 on 1 May) until 30 April. The airline has also suspended flights to and from Riyadh until 31 March. Ita Airways announced this on its website. Passengers, the Italian airline explains, can request re-routing on an alternative flight or a ticket refund.

The war in the Middle East has extended the security system of the Gulf countries beyond the breaking point. "The most important result of this war is the collapse of the security system in the Gulf region," admitted Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari. "The Gulf countries, working closely and in parallel for their own security, need a post-war reassessment of what a regional security framework entails," he added.

The cost of insuring ships in the Persian Gulf is rising sharply, to levels not seen in decades due to the risk of Iranian attacks. Insurers are charging premiums of between 5% and 10% of the ship's value to cover the risk of war, many times higher than the standard peacetime rate of 0.25%, says Philip Smaje, head of transport and logistics at broker Aon, according to the 'Wall Street Journal'. The rates are higher for vessels tied to the US or Israel, he added. 'It's the highest war risk rating I've seen in 25 years,' points out David Smith, head of marine at broker McGill and Partners. Insurance remains diponible in the London market for any ship willing to take on the risk of the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively blocked by Iran. 'The reason ships are not moving is not a lack of insurance,' points out Neil Roberts, head of maritime and aviation at Lloyd's Market Association, which represents insurers in the market. 'It's a matter of risk to the safety of the crew and the ship'. President Trump's plan to sell insurance to ships in the Gulf, which could help ease premiums, has yet to be implemented. Officials are scrambling to determine which ships and cargoes will be covered, and under what conditions. 'What would really bring premiums down is a successful reopening of the Straits,' argues McGill's Smith.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier criticised the war waged by the US and Israel against Iran, calling it 'in my opinion contrary to international law'. "Our foreign policy does not become more convincing by not defining violations of international law as such," Steinmeier said on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the reopening of the Foreign Ministry in Berlin. "This war is illegal under international law, there is no doubt about that," added Steinmeier for whom "there is no doubt in any case that the justification of an imminent attack on the United States does not hold water". This war is "a politically disastrous mistake and - what frustrates me most - an avoidable and unnecessary war, if its goal was really to stop Iran on its path to developing the atomic bomb," the president further said. "We have never been further away from Iran acquiring nuclear weapons than after the conclusion of the agreement on 14 July 2015," the federal president continued. "However, in the second year of his first term, President Trump withdrew from this agreement. And in his second term, he is now waging war," he added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet his G7 counterparts in France on Friday to discuss the war in Iran, the State Department announced. Rubio, on his first trip abroad since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, will attend the G7 foreign ministers' talks in Cernay-la-Ville, near Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris. Rubio will talk with his counterparts about the "war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and threats to peace and stability around the world," said department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

Iran's military command spokesman, Major General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of the Khatam-al Anbiya central headquarters, said the armed forces will fight "until complete victory". "The powerful Iranian armed forces are proud, victorious and steadfast in the defence of Iran's integrity, and this path will continue until complete victory is achieved," his words reported by Iranian state television. The general did not specify what a 'complete victory' would mean, but it seemed likely that the Iranian military was trying to warn against making concessions in any negotiations with the US.

Israel announces that it will take 'control' of the so-called 'security zone' up to the Litani river in Lebanon, some 30 km from the border. This is reported by the Guardian, which quotes the Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz. "All five bridges over the Litani have been blown up, and the IDF will control the rest of the bridges and the security zone up to the Litani," Katz had earlier said, warning that "hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents" will not be allowed to return south of the river "until security is guaranteed" in northern Israel.

The successor to Ali Lairjani, who was killed a week ago in an Israeli attack, has been appointed. This was reported by the Mehr news agency, according to which the new secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council is Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, until now secretary of the Council for Discernment, whose appointment was approved by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei,

- Israel will control a 'security zone' extended as far as the Litani river and hundreds of thousands of residents of southern Lebanon will not return 'until security is guaranteed in northern Israel'. Assuring this during an assessment of the military situation was Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, assuring that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) "will continue to operate in Lebanon with full force against Hezbollah". All five bridges "used by Hezbollah" on the Litani river were blown up and "the IDF will control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani," he added. Katz had announced on Sunday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered the IDF to 'immediately destroy all bridges over the Litani River to prevent the passage of Hezbollah militants and weapons to the south'. Katz then accused the Lebanese government, which had 'pledged to disarm Hezbollah' of 'doing nothing'. The houses in southern Lebanon serve as 'terrorist outposts', he added, comparing them to Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza. The IDF is gaining a "frontline of defence" inside Lebanese territory and destroying "terrorist infrastructure", the minister concluded, quoted by 'Haaretz' and the Times of Israel.

Iranian police have arrested 466 people accused of online activities aimed at undermining national security. This was reported by Sky News citing Iranian media. The arrests represent one of the largest security operations since the beginning of the war between Israel and the US. Iranian media have reported over 1,000 arrests in the past month, linked to individuals accused of filming sensitive locations, sharing anti-government content online or 'collaborating with the enemy'. According to a police statement, the arrests came as a result of intelligence and technical monitoring activities carried out in recent days, according to which the individuals were linked to 'enemy' networks seeking to create internal instability.

Donald Trump seems determined to reach an agreement with Iran aimed at ending hostilities in the Middle East but Israeli officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said they thought it unlikely that Iran would accept US demands in any new round of negotiations, which broke down on ;;28 February with the start of the Israeli-American war against Iran. Reuters writes this on its website. The US demands are likely to include restrictions on Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Russia is totally opposed to an extension of the escalation zone of the Iranian conflict to the Caspian Sea region, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today. Russia "would react extremely negatively," Peskov told reporters when asked how Russia would react to the escalation of the conflict in the Caspian region.

Overnight, the Israeli Air Force destroyed a multi-storey building and struck other facilities in Beirut used by Hezbollah as command centres. This was reported by the IDF, explaining that the raids in the Lebanese capital targeted Hezbollah headquarters, including one belonging to the elite Radwan force and another of the organisation's intelligence division. Another night attack in the southern Lebanese city of at-Tiri targeted a Hezbollah command centre that had been set up inside a studio of the Al-Nour radio station. The Israeli army claims that the headquarters was hit while Hezbollah operatives were on site.

- The US military leadership is considering the possible deployment of a combat brigade of the 82nd Army Airborne Division, along with some elements of the division's headquarters, to support US operations against Iran and especially to take control of Kharg Island, according to defence sources. The New York Times writes this today.

The same sources describe the movements as prudent planning, emphasising that so far no orders have been given by either the Pentagon or the US Central Command.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are inching closer to direct involvement in the conflict with Iran after repeated attacks against energy infrastructure and urban centres in the Gulf. The Wall Street Journal reports this, citing Riyadh's decision to allow US forces the use of its bases, a sign of a change of posture from the initial line of non-participation. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is now reportedly determined to re-establish deterrence and close to a decision to join military operations, prompting speculation that a Saudi entry into the conflict is imminent. "Saudi Arabia's patience in the face of Iranian attacks is not unlimited," said Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan. In parallel, the Emirates are also increasing pressure on Tehran economically, targeting Iranian assets and interests and considering possible military involvement, while privately opposing a ceasefire that would leave part of Iran's military capability intact.

Iran claims that US-Israeli attacks yesterday targeted energy-related facilities in the Iranian province of Isfahan and the southwestern city of Khorramshahr 'just hours' after Trump's announcement to postpone the energy raids for five days. This was reported by the Iranian media, quoted by Anadolu. In Isfahan, a natural gas administration building and a gas pressure reduction station were hit, the Fars news agency reported. In Khorramshahr, a gas pipeline belonging to a power plant was targeted. No injuries were reported.

The Peshmerga ministry of the autonomous region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq confirms a toll of six dead and 30 wounded, blaming Iran for six ballistic missile attacks in Soran, Erbil province. This was reported in an update by the Kurdish broadcaster Rudaw.

"We cannot ignore the fact that, for the first time ever, the US has unleashed a war in the Middle East, in our neighbourhood, without providing any prior information to its European allies or NATO. And, in fact, they are carrying out this action without caring about the repercussions on the global economy, on the European economy and on our security'. European Council President Antonio Costa told SciencesPo School of International Affairs. 'We are paying the consequences, we are suffering a strong economic shock caused by this war,' he added.

A joint attack attributed to the US and Israel hit gas infrastructure in the Iranian cities of Isfahan and Khorramshahr. This was reported by the Iranian Fars news agency, according to which a gas administration building and a decompression station were targeted in Isfahan, with damage to nearby structures and homes. In Khorramshahr, the attack reportedly involved a gas pipeline connected to a power plant; the local governor reported that a device fell outside the plant without causing casualties. The attacks, if confirmed, would contradict US President Donald Trump's declaration of a suspension of operations against energy infrastructure.

Explosions were heard in Baghdad. This was reported by al-Jazeera journalists in the Iraqi capital.

After the Iranian missile attack, with at least one missile with a 100-kilogram warhead causing at least six injuries and extensive damage in the heart of Tel Aviv, Israeli forces are striking missile launchers and infrastructure in western Iran. Israeli media report this.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a phone call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte today to discuss the ongoing military escalation in the region, its implications for regional and international security, and the repercussions on international shipping and the global economy. The continued Iranian attacks against the Emirates and other countries in the region, including attacks against civilians, civilian infrastructure and vital facilities, were also addressed in the conversation.

The raid in western Iraq against the Popular Mobilisation Forces not only killed a commander in charge of the Anbar province, but also caused the death of 14 other fighters. This was announced by the same group that brings together several pro-Iranian militias, attributing the responsibility for the attack to the United States.

Six people were slightly injured after the impact of a ballistic missile launched from Iran against Tel Aviv. This was reported by the Israeli emergency services. According to the police, the missile had a warhead with one hundred kilos of explosives and caused damage to several edifices and cars.

Donald Trump claims that Iran is 'serious' about peace talks, but Iranian officials deny that negotiations are taking place.

The Trump administration 'discreetly' assesses Iran's Speaker of Parliament as a potential partner and even future US-backed leader after a deal. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, 64, has repeatedly threatened the US and its allies with retaliation, but is considered, at least by some within the White House, a viable partner, capable of leading Iran and negotiating with the US in the next phase of the conflict. Two Trump administration officials tell Politico. "He is a promising candidate. But we have to evaluate them carefully and we can't rush it," one official said, pointing out that no decision has been made yet.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday it had shot down at least 19 drones in the kingdom's oil-rich Eastern Province.

- The price of Brent oil climbed back above $100 a barrel, in the aftermath of a more than 10% slump following Donald Trump's decision to postpone new attacks on Iran, after describing the talks with Tehran as 'excellent'. Brent crude rose 2.9% to $102.84, while West Texas Intermediate jumped 3.5% to $91.20.

Iran launched another wave of missiles against Israel this morning, state television announced, after previous attacks had hit a building in the north of the Jewish state and a loud explosion was heard in Jerusalem. "Iran launches a new wave of missiles against the occupied territories," the state broadcaster of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Irib) wrote on Telegram. Shortly afterwards it added that "Iranian missiles passed through several Israeli missile defences". Israel's emergency services released a video of a damaged building in the north of the country, claiming that there were no casualties. The Israeli army issued several communiqués this morning stating that it had detected incoming Iranian missiles and was working to intercept them.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had a telephone conversation with his German colleague Johann Wadephul to discuss diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East. "The sides exchanged views on contacts aimed at ending the war," a source said. In the conversation, the two ministers reviewed diplomatic initiatives and ongoing contacts to achieve a cessation of fighting in the Middle East.

Iran said it had taken measures to allow ships not belonging to or linked to the US and Israel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This was announced by the office of President Masoud Pezeshkian, referring to a phone call he had yesterday with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

"In any case, Iran has taken measures to ensure the safe navigation and transit of ships through this waterway and will arrange the necessary coordination for the passage of ships that do not belong to the aggressors, are not affiliated with them and are not participating in the aggression," Pezeshkian said.

The death toll of the new Israeli raid south of Beirut is two. This was announced by the Lebanese Ministry of Health, according to which 'the raid by the Israeli enemy on the town of Bshamoun, in the district of Aley, caused, in a preliminary assessment, the martyrdom of two citizens and the wounding of five others'. Bshamoun is located outside the traditional strongholds of Hezbollah

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are moving closer to a possible direct involvement in the conflict against Iran after attacks on their energy infrastructure. The Wall Street Journal reported this.

The newspaper writes that the two countries tightened their stance after repeated Iranian attacks, which allegedly hit their respective economies hard.