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President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House. (Photo: AP)Iran-US-Israel War News Live Updates: French President Emmanuel Macron on April 2 said that it is “unrealistic” to open the Strait of Hormuz by force after President Donald Trump challenged the US allies to work towards reopening it.
Earlier, Trump claimed the US is nearing completion of its core strategic objectives in Iran, stating that Iran’s navy is “gone”, air force is “in ruins”, and leaders are “mostly dead”. Trump expects the war to end within two to three weeks, saying the US will “hit them extremely hard” during this period. He defended his decision to go to war, citing “swift, decisive, overwhelming victories” by US forces.
Iran, Israel, US War News Live Updates: Read Latest News Here
Trump on exiting Nato: In an exclusive interview to The Telegraph, US President Donald Trump said he is strongly considering pulling the United States out of Nato after it failed to join his war on Iran. He reiterated the alliance as a “paper tiger” and said removing America from the defence treaty was now “beyond reconsideration”. The Middle East stands at a critical, volatile crossroads this morning as conflicting signals from Washington meet defiant rhetoric from Tehran. In a dramatic shift in tone, US President Donald Trump has suggested that an American military withdrawal could be just two to three weeks away, even without a formal deal from Iran. However, this “exit strategy” comes with a devastating caveat: a warning that the US may cripple Iranian infrastructure before departing.
While Secretary of State Marco Rubio strikes a more diplomatic chord, suggesting a resolution is “close,” the situation on the ground tells a far more dangerous story.
Is the US preparing for a strategic retreat, or is this the “calm” before a final, devastating kinetic strike? The Indian Express Global Desk bringing you live updates, expert analysis, and reports from Jerusalem, Tehran, and Washington.
After the Wall Street was largely flat overnight, some of Asia’s major stock markets saw a strong start to the day. The Nikkei 225 rose more than 1% Friday morning, while South Korea’s KOSPI climbed more than 2%. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index bucked the rally, dropping about 0.7%.
The benchmark S&P 500 closed 0.11 percent higher than the previous session.
Hezbollah said its fighters detonated an explosive device targeting Israeli forces in the Deir Hanna area of al-Bayyadha in southern Lebanon. The group also claimed rocket attacks on gatherings of Israeli troops in the Malkia and Dishon settlements.
-Al Jazeera
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that they had targeted an Amazon cloud computing centre in Bahrain in retaliation for attacks on Iran, according to a statement carried by state media. (Reuters)
Stocks slumped and oil prices soared Thursday after President Donald Trump vowed the US will continue to attack Iran and failed to offer a clear timetable for ending the conflict in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 fell 1.1%, with three out of every four stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 545 points, or 1.2%, as of 9:52 am Eastern. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.6%. Major indexes throughout Europe and Asia also fell.
- AP
Russia will ask the United States and Israel to ensure a ceasefire while it evacuates more Russian staff from the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, RIA news agency reported on Thursday.
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday said that India will attend the talks in the United Kingdom on the Strait of Hormuz and that foreign secretary would attend the meeting.
"We are in touch with Iran and other countries there to see how best we can get unimpeded transit and safe transit for our ships, which are carrying products including LPG, LNG and other products," Jaiswal said.
#watch | Delhi: MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "The UK side has invited several countries, which also include India, for talks on the Strait of Hormuz. From our side, the Foreign Secretary is attending the meeting this evening..."
— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2026
He further says, "We are in touch with… pic.twitter.com/1rKIZmK2Ge
Iran's parliament speaker claimed on Thursday that 7 million Iranians stood ready to fight any US ground invasion of the Islamic Republic.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who has been discussed as a possible negotiating partner with the US, has offered a series of online posts challenging America since the war's start.
- AP
Germany and China both want to restore the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and agree that individual states must not control sea lanes or levy tolls for passage, the foreign ministry in Berlin said on social media platform X on Thursday.
China can exert its influence on Iran to bring about a negotiated solution and an end to hostilities against the Gulf states, added the ministry
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday it would be unrealistic to launch a military operation to force open the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S. President Donald Trump challenged U.S. allies to work towards reopening it.
Thousands of people have been killed across the Middle East since February 28, when the U.S. and Israel struck Iran, triggering Iranian attacks on Israel, U.S. bases and the Gulf states, and Tehran effectively closing the waterway that carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
"Some people defend the idea of freeing the Strait of Hormuz by force via a military operation, a position sometimes expressed by the United States, although it has varied," Macron told reporters during a trip to South Korea. — Reuters
Pakistan has rolled out oil subsidies worth 129 billion rupees ($462.53 million) to its citizens in the last three weeks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday.
Pakistan would have to implement conservation and austerity measures to combat the effect of the Iran war, he added. ($1 = 278.9000 Pakistani rupees) — Reuters
Iran fired more missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states Thursday, demonstrating Tehran’s continued ability to attack even as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the threat from the country was nearly eliminated and predicted the war would end soon.Iran’s strikes on its neighbors along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world’s energy supplies with effects far beyond the Middle East. That has proved to be Iran’s greatest strategic advantage in the war. — AP
Amid the escalating West Asia conflict, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma urged India on Thursday to take the lead in mobilising the Global South and strategic-partner countries to collectively work towards the restoration of peace and order in the region.
In a statement, the former Union minister also called for national unity and said a mature response guided by national interests is the need of the hour. — PTI
Eyewitness video shows giant smoke plumes rising towards the sky after reports of an attack at a military installation in Iran’s Isfahan province
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsEyewitness video shows giant smoke plumes rising towards the sky after reports of an attack at a military installation in Iran’s Isfahan province https://t.co/CXNv1pqe8A pic.twitter.com/qW5AyPFw71
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 2, 2026
Iran’s Army chief warned Thursday that should the US military land in the Islamic Republic, “not a single person” will survive among the invaders. Major General Amir Hatami made the comment in a piece aired by Iranian state television.
“The shadow of war must be lifted from our country, and there must be security for everyone, because it is not possible for places to be safe and our people to be unsafe,” he said.
(AP)
Israel’s Channel 12 broadcaster has published an image of a small cloud of smoke rising from a settlement in the Galilee region after a barrage of rockets fired from Lebanon.
The outlet said more than 30 rockets were launched into the region over a few minutes.
The attack marked the second such assault in the Galilee region in the past hour.
Iraqi oil fields once alive with the buzz of workers are nearly deserted. Ports that pulsed with the churn of cargo have fallen still, the din of commerce replaced by the soft rhythm of waves.
A month after the war in Iran started, workers at ports and oil fields in the province of Basra, where almost all of Iraq's crude is produced and exported, have grown accustomed to rockets streaking across the sky, aimed at US air bases and other strategic facilities.
The war, which began with US-Israeli strikes, is dealing a heavy blow to Iraq's economy. Iraq relies on oil revenues for roughly 90% of its budget, and most of its oil is exported through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf where Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic during the conflict.
The Saudi defence ministry says its air defences have intercepted and destroyed four drones in recent hours.
The Israeli military has issued two statements moments ago, warning of missiles launched from Iranian territory towards Israel.
The Channel 12 broadcaster is reporting that the incoming attacks have triggered alarms across northern Israel and that one of the missiles carried a fragmenting warhead.
The US defence secretary has shared a post on X that simply reads, “Back to the Stone Age”, after Trump used the same words to threaten Iran.
They said #iran needed to be “Great Again.”
— Consulate General of the I.R. Iran in Mumbai (@IRANinMumbai) April 2, 2026
Now suddenly the goalpost is… the Stone Age?
Funny thing... civilizations that go back to empires like the Achaemenids don’t really do “again.”
They just are. pic.twitter.com/WGhVayRYeJ
Donald Trump’s assertion that he’s destroyed Iran’s missile capabilities is being met with skepticism as Iran launches missiles at Israel, triggering air raid sirens. Despite Trump’s claims of “decimating” Iran’s military, the country continues to retaliate, with reports of explosions and sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
#trump: "I have completely destroyed #iran’s missile capabilities."
— Consulate General of the I.R. Iran in Mumbai (@IRANinMumbai) April 2, 2026
Air raid sirens currently blaring across #israel: Must be a meteor shower from Mars!#marsmissiles#trumplogic pic.twitter.com/qj16GGDUyR
Richard Schmierer, former US Ambassador to Oman, says that US Americans understand that while they may not get much oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, energy costs have still gone “through the roof.”
“So even if President Trump wants to say that whether the Strait is open or closed is indifferent to us, the American people realise that’s not the case.”
Schmierer also said that if “some kind of a ceasefire” can be reached than “I do think we will get to the point where something can be arranged to allow shipping again through the Strait.”
But he added, “the wild card might be Israel, because Israel has indicated that it has other goals that it is still seeking… even if the US declares that its goals are met.”
The Ministry of Interior has told people to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place” as sirens blare warning of an incoming attack.
Separately, the ministry also said that traffic flows had resumed along the Khalifa Bin Salman Highway following an earlier incident involving falling debris.
President Donald Trump is due to address the US public with "an important update on Iran" in about an hour. Ahead of his speech.
Oil prices fell more than $1 early on Thursday as markets awaited an address to the nation by President Donald Trump that could signal a US pullback from the war in Iran.
Brent crude futures fell $1.16, or 1.15%, to $100 per barrel by 1204 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures slipped $1.41, or 1.41%, to $98.71 per barrel. Both benchmarks settled lower in the previous session.
Trump told Reuters on Wednesday, hours ahead of the planned speech at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT on Thursday), that the U.S. will end the war on Iran "fairly soon".
Iran's embassy in the UK is praising British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not joining the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, calling it a welcome stance against "illegal aggression". The embassy hopes the UK will maintain this position and not allow the US to use its territory for attacks on Iran. This comes after Starmer brushed off Trump's threat to withdraw support for the UK over its refusal to participate in the conflict.
We welcome the #uk’s stance of not joining the illegal aggression of the United States and the Israeli regime. We hope this decision will be fully upheld and implemented, and that, like other European countries, the UK will not allow the United States to use its territory to… https://t.co/lJwPPq6mZu
— Iran (I.R.of) Embassy in UK (@Iran_in_UK) April 1, 2026
Iraqi armed group Saraya Awliya al-Dam claims responsibility for a series of strikes on US military facilities in the region.
In a statement released on its Telegram channel, the group says it has carried out six attacks targeting US bases within the past 24 hours.
The group further claimed that its fighters are currently “striking the American occupation strongholds in Erbil,” though it offered no additional details to support the statement
Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte will visit Washington DC next week.
Rutte will be visiting US President Donald Trump at the White House during his stay, a White House official confirmed to the BBC's US media partner, CBS,
A spokesperson for the Western military alliance has told the Reuters news agency that it is a "long-planned visit".
The White House has announced that President Donald Trump will address the nation tonight on Operation Epic Fury, a military campaign aimed at dismantling Iran's ability to threaten the US and its allies. The operation's objectives include destroying Iran's ballistic missile arsenal, annihilating its navy, and severing its support for proxies. Trump's cabinet members and top officials are backing the mission, praising his leadership.
A new poll has suggested that a majority of Iranian Americans reject the US-Israeli war on their homeland.
More than 66 percent of respondents to the survey, commissioned by the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), said they opposed the war while 32.7 percent said they support it.
The findings mark a shift from an earlier NIAC poll at the start of the war that found Iranian American respondents nearly evenly split.
“Trump’s decisions and resulting carnage have soured Iranian Americans on the war, including those who may previously have supported it,” NIAC said in a statement.
“When asked why they now oppose the war, respondents cited civilian deaths and injuries and destabilization of the country as leading reasons for their position.”
🚨 A new poll shows Iranian American community opinion has shifted firmly against the war – 66.1% of Iranian Americans now oppose war on Iran.
— NIAC (@NIACouncil) April 1, 2026
Zogby Analytics conducted this polling commissioned by NIAC from March 24-27.
One month into this war, here’s how Iranian Americans see…
The Israeli military says more missiles have been launched from Iran towards Israel’s territory.
In a statement, the military said air defence systems are operating to intercept the attack.
Head of Center for Public Diplomacy and Spokesperson of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmaeil Baqaei in a tweet on Wednesday said, "This is not an isolated act of cruelty—it is part of a systematic and brutal pattern of illegal warfare against Iran."
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThis is not an isolated act of cruelty—it is part of a systematic and brutal pattern of illegal warfare against Iran.
— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 1, 2026
In the past 33 days, aggressors have deliberately targeted over 600 schools and educational centers, including the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in #minab and the…
State-controlled media corporation Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting in social media post said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, "The war will continue until the aggressor is punished and full compensation is paid to Iran."
State-controlled media corporation Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting in social media post said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no ceasefire proposal has been made by Iran. It added, the five-point plan allegedly proposed by Iran is media speculation.
US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone on Wednesday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Reuters reported quoting and Axios report. The leaders discussed the war with Iran and Trump briefed Salman on the talks over a possible ceasefire, the report added.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday spoke to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer "about our meetings in the Middle East and the Gulf, as well as the agreements we reached to strengthen the protection of lives.
The US and Iran are discussing a potential deal involving a ceasefire in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the Axios reported.
The Bahrain Ministry of Interior in a tweet said, "The alarm siren has been activated. We ask citizens and residents to remain calm, head to the nearest safe place, and follow updates through official channels."
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThe siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.
— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) April 1, 2026
The Israeli Air Force on Wednesday said it has begun, "a short time ago, a wave of extensive strikes targeting dozens of infrastructures of the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran. In parallel, the Air Force is operating to intercept threats from all sectors".
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsחיל-האוויר החל לפני זמן קצר בגל תקיפות נרחב לעבר עשרות תשתיות של משטר הטרור האיראני בלב טהרן.
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) April 1, 2026
במקביל, חיל-האוויר פועל ליירוט איומים מכלל הגזרות.
"At a time when the global order is marked by increasing fragmentation and friction, the seas are no longer secondary theatres where continental conflicts spill over. Instead, they are becoming the first arena where strategic intent is signalled and contested, often with disproportionate consequences," said Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on the West Asia conflict. — PTI
The U.S. Navy fighter on Wednesday posted a photo and said jets are preparing for a combat flight during Operation Epic Fury. "To date, U.S. forces have flown over 12,000 combat flights directly supporting Operation Epic Fury," it added.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsU.S. Navy fighter jets prepare for a combat flight during Operation Epic Fury. To date, U.S. forces have flown over 12,000 combat flights directly supporting Operation Epic Fury. pic.twitter.com/QKmUN2I8Ny
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 1, 2026
Kuwaiti firefighters on Wednesday extinguished a fire that broke out earlier in the day in fuel tanks at Kuwait airport following an Iranian drone attack, the government said. There were no casualties, and only material damage was reported. — Reuters
US Vice-President J D Vance has been talking to "intermediaries" about the Iran conflict as recently as Tuesday, the Reuters reported quoting a source. Vance reportedly delivered a stern message that US President Donald Trump is impatient and also warned of growing pressure on Iranian infrastructure unless Iranians make a deal.
The Bahrain Defence Force releases video clip showing how the nation has been defending its territory against Iranian aggression.
Watch the video here:
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsقوة دفاع البحرين تستعرض بالأرقام نجاحات حماة الوطن في الذود عن سماء ومياه و أراضي مملكة البحرين ضد العدوان الإيراني الآثمhttps://t.co/dbIuhxUyBO pic.twitter.com/U4kEIydbCY
— قوة دفاع البحرين (@BDF_Bahrain) April 1, 2026
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson says US President Donald Trump's statements about Iran requesting a ceasefire are false and baseless, the Reuters reported quoting Iranian state TV.
Iran would welcome Russia as a mediator to help resolve the conflict with the United States and Israel, a report by Reuters said Russia's state-run TASS news agency cited Iran's envoy to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, as saying.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — Iranian “shaheds” and missiles are essentially the same threat we face in Europe when defending against Russian “shaheds” and missiles. The blockade of normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is essentially the same kind of challenge we faced in Ukraine in 2022, when Russia attempted to block our ports and access to the sea – only on a far more dangerous scale. No nation should be left alone in the face of terrorist attacks. I thank everyone who is not wasting time, who is coordinating efforts and developing formats to reliably guarantee shared security! Only dedicated cooperation will make it possible to protect lives and restore stability.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — As of today, we are already engaged in substantive cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. We are continuing our work with Jordan. We are also in contact with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq. Rustem Umerov reported today on planned engagements beyond the Middle East, specifically with Türkiye and several other countries with significant potential. The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine continues political-level contacts with partners who are under attack by the Iranian regime. In Ukraine, we are grateful to everyone in the world who is working in this way – uniting efforts to protect people and critical infrastructure. Our military expertise is already delivering results. Our interceptors are already delivering results. We already have several long-term arrangements on cooperation and mutual strengthening, and we are preparing new decisions.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — We continue working with the countries of the Middle East and the Gulf. The situation in this region has global significance, and this is reflected in global markets, in the cost of living in every country without exception, as well as in technological challenges that cannot be left without a proper response. War makes weapons more dangerous. Our goal is greater shared security.
The Ministry of Interior of Bahrain said, "We maintained our position of not being drawn into a war in which we are not a party." In a separate tweet, it said, the Arab Interior Ministers Council "strongly condemned the cowardly Iranian attacks and considered them a flagrant violation of international law." It added, "The Minister of Interior stated in the meeting of the Arab Interior Ministers' Council: Bahrain remains steadfast and resolute in defending its sovereignty, its citizens, and the residents on its land, thanks to the wisdom and leadership of His Majesty the Great King."
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWe maintained our position of not being drawn into a war in which we are not a party.
— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) April 1, 2026
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsفيما أدان المجلس بشدة الاعتداءات الإيرانية الجبانة واعتبرها انتهاكا صارخا للقانون الدولي معالي وزير الداخلية في اجتماع مجلس وزراء الداخلية العرب: البحرين ثابتة راسخة في دفاعها عن سيادتها وعن مواطنيها والمقيمين على أرضها بفضل حكمة وقيادة جلالة الملك المعظمhttps://t.co/jt0zWpai2q
— Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) April 1, 2026
Iran's Revolutionary Guards say they attacked an oil tanker, Aqua One, in the Gulf. The tanker, leased to QatarEnergy, was hit in Qatari waters. — Reuters
The United States will be "out of Iran pretty quickly" and could return for "spot hits" if needed, President Donald Trump told Reuters on Wednesday, hours before he was scheduled to make a primetime address to the nation.
Trump also said he would state in the speech that he is considering withdrawing the U.S. from the NATO alliance.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the Iranian president has "asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!".
French President Emmanuel Macron says he agrees with Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the importance of restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Reuters reported.
Iran’s supreme leader vowed Wednesday his nation will continue to support anti-Israeli forces in the Mideast.
The message from Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, like others since he was named Iran’s new supreme leader, came in a statement read on air by a state television anchor.
“I firmly declare that the consistent policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in continuing the path of the late Imam and martyred leader, is based on continuing to support the resistance against the Zionist-American enemy,” Khamenei said in the comments from a letter to the Lebanese group Hezbollah. — AP
The UAE air defences on (1st April 2026) engaged 5 Ballistic missiles and 35 UAV's launched from Iran. Since the start of the blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have engaged 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles and 2,012 UAVs.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsUAE air defences engaged 5 Ballistic missiles and 35 UAV's.
— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) April 1, 2026
The UAE air defences on (1st April 2026) engaged 5 Ballistic missiles and 35 UAV's launched from Iran.
Since the start of the blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have engaged 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise… pic.twitter.com/oIyw1fnVs3
U.S. crude fell below $100 a barrel and Wall Street pointed toward gains Wednesday after U.S. markets soared to their best day in almost a year on renewed hopes that the Iran war could soon end.Futures for the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.8% before the opening bell, while Nasdaq futures jumped 1%.The renewed optimism over a possible de-escalation of the Iran war, which is in its fifth week, came after U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the United States will be done attacking Iran probably in two to three weeks, and that the U.S. “will not have anything to do with” what happens next in the Strait of Hormuz. Benchmark U.S. crude dropped about 2% to $98.83 a barrel. — AP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday evening will review with a group of senior cabinet ministers the situation arising due to the West Asia conflict and the availability of critical needs including food, energy and fuel security of common people.
The meeting is expected to be held after the prime minister returns from Assam, where he has gone for campaigning in the assembly election there, this evening, official sources said. — PTI
India's crude oil inventories remain adequate, with the government securing sufficient supplies for the next two months, said Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, on Wednesday during an inter-ministerial briefing amid the ongoing West Asia crisis. — ANI
Iran on Wednesday said its Security Council has approved safe passage to Bangladesh's six fuel-carrying ships waiting to cross the Strait of Hormuz amid continued war in West Asia.
As petroleum reserves continue to dwindle in Bangladesh, heavily dependent on imported fuel, five LNG shipments from Qatar and one crude oil cargo from Saudi Arabia, carrying nearly 5 lakh tonnes of LNG and around 79,000 tonnes of crude oil are waiting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. — PTI
Prime Minister of United Kingdom Keir Starmer on Wednesday said that the Iran war is "not our war".
Watch his full media address here:
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsWatch my press conference live. https://t.co/ZXx4qGaDBI
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 1, 2026
Iran hit an oil tanker off the coast of Qatar and Kuwait’s airport on Wednesday while airstrikes battered Tehran — an unrelenting tempo hours after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was nearly ready to wind down the war.Trump, who is scheduled to address the nation later in the day, said he could walk away from the war in two to three weeks once he felt confident Iran would not be able to build a nuclear weapon — even if Tehran does not agree to a ceasefire.That raised the possibility that the U.S. could withdraw without any guarantee from Iran that it would stop bombing its Gulf Arab neighbors or release its grip on the crucial Strait of Hormuz. — AP
Mounting friction between President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration and Iran’s military establishment has led to what insiders describe as a “complete political stalemate”. And now, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has taken de facto control over key areas of governance, according to sources cited by Iran International.
Read full report here
U.S. President Donald Trump said the military could end its Iran offensive in two to three weeks and will shift responsibility for the Strait of Hormuz to countries that rely on it for oil and shipping as the White House announced a prime-time presidential address Wednesday evening on the war.Trump expressed frustration Tuesday with allies who have been unwilling to do more to support the U.S. war effort, telling them to “go get your own oil.” — AP
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used a rare national address to urge Australians to use public transport due to fuel supply uncertainties created by the Iran war. Albanese said in a statement broadcast Wednesday by major television and radio networks that “the months ahead may not be easy.”
“You should go about your business and your life as normal. Enjoy your Easter,” Albanese said.
“And over the coming weeks, if you can switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work, do so,” he added.
Australia slashed fuel taxes from Wednesday in a bid to curb price rises at the pump. The government maintains that Australia has all the fuel it needs, but panic buying and distribution problems have created regional shortages.
(AP)
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsMy Address to the Nation. pic.twitter.com/Iaqts9Rd4X
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 1, 2026
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signalled Tehran’s willingness to keep fighting no matter what Trump may threaten.
Trump’s April 6 deadline for the Strait of Hormuz to open still stands, otherwise he threatened to hit power plants.
“You cannot speak to the people of Iran in the language of threats and deadlines,” Araghchi said.
Asked if the United States would launch a ground war in Iran, Araghchi dismissed the idea.
(AP)
Iran hit a tanker off the coast of Qatar and Kuwait International Airport early Wednesday as Tehran remained unrelenting in its attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbours, while acknowledging for the first time that Washington had been in direct contact about a possible ceasefire.
Israel sounded warnings of incoming fire from both Yemen and Iran, while launching its own attacks in Lebanon that killed at least five people.
(AP)
Iran is bracing for a prolonged conflict that could stretch for "at least six months", its foreign minister said on Tuesday, pushing back against US President Donald Trump's assertion that the war may end within weeks.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would continue to defend itself without being bound by any external timelines. "We do not set deadlines for our self-defence. We will protect our country and our people for as long as necessary and by all required means," he said.
He added that Iran is not concerned with the timelines set by its adversaries, but urged them to bring the conflict to a definitive and lasting end to avoid further escalation. Any resolution, he noted, must ensure stability across the wider region.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js🔸Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi's interview with Al Jazeera: 4/5
— Iran in Japan/ 駐日イラン大使館 (@IraninJapan) April 1, 2026
🔹Host: What is your opinion regarding the threat of attacking the islands or a ground invasion?
🔹Dr. Araghchi: I answered this question once before and said we are waiting. I do not think they have the courage… pic.twitter.com/KYspfJLtPm
Araghchi also rejected claims of direct negotiations with Washington, contradicting Trump's remarks about ongoing "serious discussions" with what he described as a more moderate leadership in Iran. "Negotiations imply direct engagement to reach an agreement, and that is not taking place between Iran and the United States," he said.
Israel says it carried out more attacks against Iran. Al Jazeera reported explosions in cities, including Tehran, Ahvaz, Shiraz, Isfahan, Karaj, Kermanshah, and Bandar Abbas.
During a Cabinet meeting last week, US President Donald Trump invited Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice-President JD Vance to brief officials on the ongoing war in Iran. Rubio, who is widely seen as a hardliner on foreign policy, strongly backed the military campaign, describing it as "a favour" not just for the United States but for the broader global community, reported news agency AP.
Vance, by contrast, struck a more measured tone. Long associated with a cautious approach to overseas military involvement, he said Washington now has "options" that were unavailable a year ago. He stressed the importance of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, before shifting his remarks to extend Easter greetings to American troops.
CEO & secretary general of PHDCCI Ranjeet Mehta says India has managed the diplomacy in West Asia "very well" amid the war. He said: "If the situation continues for a long time, it will definitely have far-reaching consequences for our energy security..." "Commercial LPG gas has been cut down... In many cities, many restaurants have been shut down. They do not have dining and all facilities, and they're only supplying online orders. When a restaurant shuts down for some time, then of course, people also lose jobs," he added.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js#watch | Delhi: On India’s diplomatic handling of Strait of Hormuz crisis, Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, says, "...I think India has managed it very well with dialogue and diplomacy. Our energy sources are passing through the Strait of Hormuz. But if the… pic.twitter.com/bnDzc0Y3OE
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2026
Asian markets rallied strongly on Wednesday, tracking a sharp overnight surge on Wall Street amid growing expectations that the ongoing Iran conflict could wind down soon.
In early trade, South Korea’s Kospi jumped 6.4% to 5,374.82, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 4% to 53,128.33. Sentiment in Japan also received a boost from fresh central bank data showing improved confidence among large manufacturers despite concerns linked to the conflict.
Elsewhere in the region, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 1.9% to 25,262.92, and China’s Shanghai Composite gained 1.4% to 3,944.35. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.7%, while Taiwan’s Taiex added 4.3%.
Investor confidence was lifted after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that American military operations against Iran could conclude within two to three weeks. He also signaled that Washington may step back from developments in the Strait of Hormuz once its campaign ends.
The United States has rejected claims that its forces carried out strikes on civilian locations in Iran's Lamerd on February 28, saying the reports are inaccurate.
In a statement, US Central Command said it had reviewed allegations carried by several media outlets accusing American forces of hitting a sports hall and nearby residential area during the opening day of Operation Epic Fury. The command said it found no evidence to support those claims.
According to the statement, US forces did not conduct any strikes in Lamerd or within a 30-mile radius of the city at any point during the operation's first day.
CENTCOM also addressed video footage circulated alongside the reports, which purportedly showed evidence of US involvement. It said the weapon seen in the footage was not a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), noting that a PrSM measures around 13 feet in length. The munition in the video appeared significantly larger—roughly twice that size—aligning more closely with the profile of an Iranian Hoveyzeh cruise missile.
Despite Trump's assertion on a deal with Iran, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington is in contact with Tehran and suggested that a resolution to the conflict may be approaching. Rubio confirmed to Fox News that discussions are underway and indicated that a direct meeting between the two sides remains a possibility. He stressed that the US remains open to engagement but warned against what he described as "fake negotiations" aimed at delaying progress.
While declining to set a specific timeline, Rubio said there are signs the conflict could be nearing its conclusion, adding that "the finish line" is now visible.
He also took aim at NATO, suggesting Washington may need to reassess whether the alliance continues to serve US interests as effectively as it has in the past.
US President Donald Trump said Washington could halt its military campaign against Iran within a matter of weeks, signalling that a negotiated deal with Tehran is not essential for ending the conflict. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Trump indicated a possible timeline for withdrawal, saying the United States would be "leaving very soon," potentially within two to three weeks, reported BBC.
When asked whether diplomacy was a prerequisite to stopping hostilities, Trump dismissed the idea. He said Iran was not required to strike any agreement with him for the war to come to an end. He asserted that the US's primary objective of ending Iran's nuclear capabilities had been achieved. This, however, does not align with Israel's objectives of eliminating the Iranian regime.
Earlier, Trump took aim at European allies, posting on Truth Social that countries such as the United Kingdom, facing jet fuel shortages due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, should "build up some delayed courage" and go there to "just take it."
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Pakistan and China have outline a five-point peace initiative. The statement signed by Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar outlined the following points for the initiative:
I. Immediate Cessation of Hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.
II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the U.N., and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and international law.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned it would begin targeting US-linked companies operating across the region from April 1, in response to recent strikes on Tehran, according to state media reports.
A total of 18 firms have been named in the warning, including major global players such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla and Boeing, Reuters reported.
In its statement, the IRGC said these companies would face retaliatory action, adding that their regional operations could be hit for every “terror act” carried out inside Iran. The group specified that the threats would take effect from 8 PM Tehran time on Wednesday, April 1.
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