As US President Donald Trump announced that he is halting the military strikes on Iran for five days, reports surfaced about the conditions for ceasefire that Tehran has put forward. Trump said that Washington and Tehran will speak through the week, without revealing the name of representatives who are speaking on behalf of the Iranian government. However, a report suggested that Iran's conditions for the ceasefire includes a gurantee that America will never strike Iran again as well as closure of all the US bases in the Gulf nations. This comes Trump claimed to have reached a 15 points of agreement with Iran according to which the Iranians have agreed to not have a nuclear weapon, CNN reported.<h2>What are the Iranian demands and promises?</h2>Israel's Channel 12 reported that Iran demanded the following from the US and promised allowing IAEA inspection:&nbsp;<ul><li>Security guarantee that it will never attack Iran again&nbsp;</li><li>Establishment of a new maritime order placing the Strait of Hormuz under Iran's control in the future&nbsp;</li><li>Closure of all US military bases across West Asia</li><li>Financial compensation proportional to the damage Iran sustained during the war</li><li>Willingness to halt ballistic missile development for five years, reduce uranium enrichment</li><li>Participation in discussions on adjusting its stockpile of 60 per cent highly enriched uranium</li><li>Allowing International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect its centrifuges&nbsp;</li><li>Agreeing to halt funding for proxy forces across West Asia</li></ul>Earlier on March 12, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian after speaking to leaders of Russia and Pakistan, said that the war will only end after three conditions will be met - namely - recognition of Islamic Republic's legitimate rights, payment of reparations and firm international guarantees against future aggression. The statement by Pezeshkian was first as several Iranian diplomats including foreign minister Abbas Araghchi ruled out any possibility of talks with the Americans, saying that Iran was betrayed as the attack came in the middle of nuclear negotiations with the US.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mohammad-bagher-ghalibaf-tehran-mayor-police-chief-and-presidential-hopeful-trump-top-person-negotiator-from-iran-irgc-commander-parliament-speaker-1774328837061">Who is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf? Iran speaker who might be Trump's 'top person'</a><h2>What Trump announced on Monday?</h2>Trump on Monday (Mar 23) abruptly announced a five-day halt on planned military strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure and power plants and hailed "very good" talks with an unidentified Iranian official. In a surprise disclosure, Trump said that Iran and the US had “constructive talks” that would continue through the week, adding that he has instructed the Department of War to postpone the military strikes on the country. This came ahead of a Monday night deadline imposed by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane or see the US "obliterate" its power plants.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/mojtaba-khamenei-advisor-says-war-will-continue-despite-trump-netanyahu-5-day-halt-how-iran-has-reacted-so-far-1774322779656">Khamenei's advisor says ‘war will continue’ despite Trump's '5-day halt' announcement — How Iran has reacted so far</a> Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Iran reportedly set conditions in talks with Donald Trump via a mediator, seeking control of the Strait of Hormuz and closure of US bases. Tehran also signalled openness to nuclear limits, while Israel warned against rushing negotiations.

As US President Donald Trump announced that he is halting the military strikes on Iran for five days, reports surfaced about the conditions for ceasefire that Tehran has put forward. Trump said that Washington and Tehran will speak through the week, without revealing the name of representatives who are speaking on behalf of the Iranian government. However, a report suggested that Iran's conditions for the ceasefire includes a gurantee that America will never strike Iran again as well as closure of all the US bases in the Gulf nations. This comes Trump claimed to have reached a 15 points of agreement with Iran according to which the Iranians have agreed to not have a nuclear weapon, CNN reported. What are the Iranian demands and promises? Israel's Channel 12 reported that Iran demanded the following from the US and promised allowing IAEA inspection: Security guarantee that it will never attack Iran again Establishment of a new maritime order placing the Strait of Hormuz under Iran's control in the future Closure of all US military bases across West Asia Financial compensation proportional to the damage Iran sustained during the war Willingness to halt ballistic missile development for five years, reduce uranium enrichment Participation in discussions on adjusting its stockpile of 60 per cent highly enriched uranium Allowing International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect its centrifuges Agreeing to halt funding for proxy forces across West Asia Earlier on March 12, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian after speaking to leaders of Russia and Pakistan, said that the war will only end after three conditions will be met - namely - recognition of Islamic Republic's legitimate rights, payment of reparations and firm international guarantees against future aggression. The statement by Pezeshkian was first as several Iranian diplomats including foreign minister Abbas Araghchi ruled out any possibility of talks with the Americans, saying that Iran was betrayed as the attack came in the middle of nuclear negotiations with the US. Also Read: Who is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf? Iran speaker who might be Trump's 'top person' What Trump announced on Monday? Trump on Monday (Mar 23) abruptly announced a five-day halt on planned military strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure and power plants and hailed "very good" talks with an unidentified Iranian official. In a surprise disclosure, Trump said that Iran and the US had “constructive talks” that would continue through the week, adding that he has instructed the Department of War to postpone the military strikes on the country. This came ahead of a Monday night deadline imposed by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane or see the US "obliterate" its power plants. Also Read: Khamenei's advisor says ‘war will continue’ despite Trump's '5-day halt' announcement — How Iran has reacted so far Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Iran reportedly set conditions in talks with Donald Trump via a mediator, seeking control of the Strait of Hormuz and closure of US bases. Tehran also signalled openness to nuclear limits, while Israel warned against rushing negotiations.

Iran sets THESE conditions to end war after Trump's 5-day halt: From closure of US bases to Hormuz control - Full list

US President Donald Trump appeared to shift responsibility for escalating the Iran conflict, suggesting that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been among the earliest voices pushing for military action against Iran’s nuclear programme. The war traces back to the 28 February joint Israel–US airstrikes on Iranian targets, a move that significantly escalated tensions in the region and triggered sustained retaliation from Iran.<h2>How Trump appeared to put the spotlight on Hegseth</h2>Speaking at a roundtable on public safety with the Tennessee Safe Task Force in Memphis on Monday (Mar 23), Donald Trump singled out Hegseth as an early advocate of military intervention.“Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up and you said let’s do it because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, in comments that have drawn attention across US political and defence circles.Trump added that he had consulted Hegseth and other officials while discussing Iran as a “purveyor of terror”, framing the decision-making process as collaborative, though critics noted the emphasis placed on Hegseth’s role.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fact-check-did-families-of-killed-us-soldiers-tell-hegesth-to-finish-the-job-1773988660027">Fact Check: Did families of killed US soldiers tell Hegseth to ‘finish the job’?</a><h2>Political timing: Midterm elections and public opinion</h2>The remarks come at a sensitive political moment. Donald Trump is campaigning ahead of the US midterm elections, where control of Congress remains critical for the Republican Party.The prolonged conflict with Iran has gradually lost public support in the United States, amid concerns over unclear strategic objectives, rising costs, and American casualties. Analysts suggest Trump’s comments may reflect an effort to recalibrate political accountability as scrutiny intensifies.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-we-will-finish-this-pete-hegseth-vows-us-will-stay-until-mission-complete-1773921940223">'We will finish this': Pete Hegseth vows US will stay until mission complete</a>&nbsp;<h2>Hegseth: The face of Operation Epic Fury</h2>Since US involvement deepened, Pete Hegseth has been the public face of military operations, often defending the campaign, “Operation Epic Fury”.“We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump we’re finishing it,” Hegseth said in earlier statements, emphasising a decisive military approach.However, his messaging has evolved. Initial rhetoric hinted at regime change in Iran, but he later clarified that the conflict was not intended to be a “regime-change war”, instead stressing that it would not become an endless war.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-it-takes-money-to-kill-bad-guys-pentagon-defends-200-billion-for-iran-war-as-hegseth-says-number-could-move-1773926561828">'It takes money to kill bad guys': Pentagon defends $200 billion for Iran war as Hegseth says number 'could move'</a><h2>Shifting narratives amid a complex conflict</h2>Observers noted that Donald Trump’s latest remarks could signal a shift in narrative as the war grows more complicated. Iranian retaliation and resilience have reduced expectations of a quick victory for the US, increasing both military and political pressure on the Trump administration.Notably, during the roundtable discussion, Pete Hegseth did not publicly respond or challenge Trump’s characterisation. He has consistently maintained that ultimate authority rests with the president, stating that Trump “controls the throttle” on all major decisions.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-pete-hegseth-says-us-not-concerned-by-russia-iran-intelligence-reports-wion-1772933387905/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-pete-hegseth-says-us-not-concerned-by-russia-iran-intelligence-reports-wion-1772933387905/embed</a><h2>Pause in strikes and diplomatic signals</h2>Trump’s comments came shortly after he announced a five-day pause in planned strikes on Iranian infrastructure. The move is widely interpreted as an attempt to manage growing domestic frustration and open space for potential negotiations.Known for his deal-making approach, Donald Trump may be seeking to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, even as the conflict continues to unfold.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. &nbsp;

Donald Trump appeared to suggests that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for Iran strikes, as US pauses attacks amid political pressure, and growing scrutiny over the prolonged Iran conflict.

US President Donald Trump appeared to shift responsibility for escalating the Iran conflict, suggesting that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had been among the earliest voices pushing for military action against Iran’s nuclear programme. The war traces back to the 28 February joint Israel–US airstrikes on Iranian targets, a move that significantly escalated tensions in the region and triggered sustained retaliation from Iran. How Trump appeared to put the spotlight on Hegseth Speaking at a roundtable on public safety with the Tennessee Safe Task Force in Memphis on Monday (Mar 23), Donald Trump singled out Hegseth as an early advocate of military intervention. “Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up and you said let’s do it because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, in comments that have drawn attention across US political and defence circles. Trump added that he had consulted Hegseth and other officials while discussing Iran as a “purveyor of terror”, framing the decision-making process as collaborative, though critics noted the emphasis placed on Hegseth’s role. Also read: Fact Check: Did families of killed US soldiers tell Hegseth to ‘finish the job’? Political timing: Midterm elections and public opinion The remarks come at a sensitive political moment. Donald Trump is campaigning ahead of the US midterm elections, where control of Congress remains critical for the Republican Party. The prolonged conflict with Iran has gradually lost public support in the United States, amid concerns over unclear strategic objectives, rising costs, and American casualties. Analysts suggest Trump’s comments may reflect an effort to recalibrate political accountability as scrutiny intensifies. Also read: 'We will finish this': Pete Hegseth vows US will stay until mission complete Hegseth: The face of Operation Epic Fury Since US involvement deepened, Pete Hegseth has been the public face of military operations, often defending the campaign, “Operation Epic Fury”. “We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump we’re finishing it,” Hegseth said in earlier statements, emphasising a decisive military approach. However, his messaging has evolved. Initial rhetoric hinted at regime change in Iran, but he later clarified that the conflict was not intended to be a “regime-change war”, instead stressing that it would not become an endless war. Also read: 'It takes money to kill bad guys': Pentagon defends $200 billion for Iran war as Hegseth says number 'could move' Shifting narratives amid a complex conflict Observers noted that Donald Trump’s latest remarks could signal a shift in narrative as the war grows more complicated. Iranian retaliation and resilience have reduced expectations of a quick victory for the US, increasing both military and political pressure on the Trump administration. Notably, during the roundtable discussion, Pete Hegseth did not publicly respond or challenge Trump’s characterisation. He has consistently maintained that ultimate authority rests with the president, stating that Trump “controls the throttle” on all major decisions. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-pete-hegseth-says-us-not-concerned-by-russia-iran-intelligence-reports-wion-1772933387905/embed Pause in strikes and diplomatic signals Trump’s comments came shortly after he announced a five-day pause in planned strikes on Iranian infrastructure. The move is widely interpreted as an attempt to manage growing domestic frustration and open space for potential negotiations. Known for his deal-making approach, Donald Trump may be seeking to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, even as the conflict continues to unfold. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Donald Trump appeared to suggests that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for Iran strikes, as US pauses attacks amid political pressure, and growing scrutiny over the prolonged Iran conflict.

Did Donald Trump just blame Pete Hegseth for Iran war? With defence secretary seated nearby, US president says...

Iran rejected Trump’s claim of talks despite a 5-day halt on US strikes, insisting the war will continue until sanctions are lifted and damages compensated. Tehran ruled out negotiations, while Netanyahu backed the move, keeping uncertainty over a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.

Iran rejected Trump’s claim of talks despite a 5-day halt on US strikes, insisting the war will continue until sanctions are lifted and damages compensated. Tehran ruled out negotiations, while Netanyahu backed the move, keeping uncertainty over a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.

Khamenei's advisor says ‘war will continue’ despite Trump's '5-day halt' announcement — How Iran has reacted so far

In his first response after the truce announced by US President Donald Trump in the ongoing war with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening (Mar 23) said that it would protect Jerusalem’s “vital interests.” In a video statement, Netanyahu said that he spoke with Israel's “friend” Trump in a phone call on Monday, and that the two discussed the president’s desire to end the fighting with Iran through a deal. Netanyahu claimed in his statement that he was told by Trump that the POTUS "believes that there is a chance to leverage the massive achievements of the IDF and the US military in order to achieve the goals of the war through an agreement — an agreement that protects vital interests."&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-urges-political-diplomatic-solution-as-trump-s-48-hour-hormuz-deadline-nears-1774263280134">Russia urges political, diplomatic solution as Trump’s 48-hour deadline nears</a>&nbsp;Netanyahu also said that Israel will continue to strike both Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah. “We are crushing the missile program and the nuclear program, and continuing to strike Hezbollah hard. Only days ago, we eliminated two more nuclear scientists, and our arm is still outstretched," Netanyahu said. Reports indicate that he was continuously in touch with the Trump administration before the US president announced the truce. He knew about contacts between Washington and Tehran. According to Channel 12 Israel first learned of the potential negotiations on Thursday (Mar 19). The Israeli PM reportedly spoke to US Vice President JD Vance on Monday (Mar 23) regarding the efforts to renew talks with Iran. Trump had earlier said that the decision to end the war with Iran will be taken “mutually” with Netanyahu.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-will-keep-bombing-our-little-hearts-out-if-trump-on-ending-iran-war-or-not-1774273998926">'Will keep bombing our little hearts out if...': Trump on ending Iran war, or not</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Earlier today I spoke with our friend President Trump. President Trump believes there is an opportunity to leverage the tremendous achievements we have reached alongside the US military to realize the goals of the war through an agreement that will safeguard our vital interests. <a href="https://t.co/15Z7fRvvQX">pic.twitter.com/15Z7fRvvQX</a>&mdash; Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraeliPM/status/2036160778709938402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What Trump announced on Monday?</h2>Trump on Monday (Mar 23) abruptly announced a five-day halt on planned military strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure and power plants and hailed "very good" talks with an unidentified Iranian official. In a surprise disclosure, Trump said that Iran and the US had “constructive talks” that would continue through the week, adding that he has instructed the Department of War to postpone the military strikes on the country. This came ahead of a Monday night deadline imposed by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane or see the US "obliterate" its power plants.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260324/image-1774318722761.png"></figure><h3>How Iran reacted?</h3>Tehran unequivocally denied the claims made by Trump. Ibrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s National Security Commission, dismissed Trump’s remarks as ‘lies’ and ‘nonsense’, asserting that there is ‘no logic to negotiating under these conditions’. Rezaei added that Iran views the current US posture as coercive, arguing that “the enemy understands only the language of force and missiles.” Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed reports of negotiations as “fake news” and accused him of manipulating energy markets. Tehran portrayed the US decision as a sign of weakness rather than goodwill. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei said, “Messages from the US, sent via friendly countries to seek talks and end the war, were received and answered in line with Iran’s principles. We warn that any attack on Iran’s critical infrastructure, especially energy facilities, would trigger a swift and decisive response from its armed forces. We dismiss claims of any negotiations with Washington over the past 24 days, and Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz and the terms for ending the war remain unchanged.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

Netanyahu said any deal to end the US-Israel-Iran war must protect Israel’s “vital interests” as Trump claimed talks with Tehran are underway. While Israel continues strikes in Iran and Lebanon, Iran denied negotiations, highlighting ongoing tensions despite diplomatic signals.

In his first response after the truce announced by US President Donald Trump in the ongoing war with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening (Mar 23) said that it would protect Jerusalem’s “vital interests.” In a video statement, Netanyahu said that he spoke with Israel's “friend” Trump in a phone call on Monday, and that the two discussed the president’s desire to end the fighting with Iran through a deal. Netanyahu claimed in his statement that he was told by Trump that the POTUS "believes that there is a chance to leverage the massive achievements of the IDF and the US military in order to achieve the goals of the war through an agreement — an agreement that protects vital interests." Also read: Russia urges political, diplomatic solution as Trump’s 48-hour deadline nears Netanyahu also said that Israel will continue to strike both Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah. “We are crushing the missile program and the nuclear program, and continuing to strike Hezbollah hard. Only days ago, we eliminated two more nuclear scientists, and our arm is still outstretched," Netanyahu said. Reports indicate that he was continuously in touch with the Trump administration before the US president announced the truce. He knew about contacts between Washington and Tehran. According to Channel 12 Israel first learned of the potential negotiations on Thursday (Mar 19). The Israeli PM reportedly spoke to US Vice President JD Vance on Monday (Mar 23) regarding the efforts to renew talks with Iran. Trump had earlier said that the decision to end the war with Iran will be taken “mutually” with Netanyahu. Also Read: 'Will keep bombing our little hearts out if...': Trump on ending Iran war, or not

Netanyahu said any deal to end the US-Israel-Iran war must protect Israel’s “vital interests” as Trump claimed talks with Tehran are underway. While Israel continues strikes in Iran and Lebanon, Iran denied negotiations, highlighting ongoing tensions despite diplomatic signals.

'We are still active...': Netanyahu issues first response after Trump announces 5-day halt on Iran strikes

Panetta on Trump Iran strategy: Leon Panetta, the former CIA director and US defence secretary, has squarely blamed Donald Trump for the escalating Iran crisis, outlining seven key reasons why the current US–Iran conflict has spiralled into a geopolitical and energy emergency. However, Panetta’s own record in prolonging US foreign wars, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, is worth mentioning if one is talking about accountability in American national security. Here is a clear breakdown of Panetta’s claims—followed by an evidence-based look at his past role in US military interventions. Seeing this, one would wonder why Panetta suddenly developed a conscience.<h2>7 reasons why Panetta blames Trump for the Iran crisis</h2>Underestimating the Strait of Hormuz risk Panetta, in remarks published in The Guardian, argued that Trump failed to anticipate Iran’s most predictable strategic move: disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway is critical to global energy security, with roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply passing through it. According to Panetta, the risk of its closure has long been central to US national security planning.Overreliance on short-war assumptions Panetta claims Trump’s Iran war strategy relied on the assumption of a quick military victory.Instead, the conflict is dragging on, exposing the absence of a clear US exit strategy.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/iran-issues-first-respond-to-trump-s-will-obliterate-power-plants-threat-strait-of-hormuz-1774143212657">'Any violation by enemy...': Iran issues first response to Trump's 'will obliterate power plants' threat</a>&nbsp;Decapitation strikes backfired The killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the first day of the current war was intended to destabilise Iran’s leadership. However, Panetta argued, it had the opposite effect, leading to the rise of the leader's son Mojtaba Khamenei, who is more hardline and ideologically rigid.Iran gained leverage over global oil markets By restricting access to the Strait of Hormuz, Iran effectively weaponised energy supply chains, in Penetta's view. This has triggered volatility in global oil prices, raising concerns about inflation, fuel costs, and the risk of a wider economic slowdown.Limited strategic options for the US Panetta describes Trump’s position as between “a rock and a hard place”, with two main options:Escalate military operations to reopen the strait, or withdraw and risk strategic failure. Both scenarios carry high geopolitical and economic risks, in his view.Strained alliances weakened US leverage Panetta highlighted Trump's tensions with NATO and other allies during the planning phase of the Iran strikes. Now, as the crisis deepens, the US faces reduced international support—underscoring the importance of multilateral cooperation in modern conflict, according to the former CIA chief.Trump's inconsistent messaging undermined credibilityPanetta criticised Trump’s communication strategy, citing mixed signals on war aims and controversial public messaging, which included meme-inspired videos on official handles. He argued that failure to acknowledge civilian casualties and policy missteps weakened US credibility in global diplomacy.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-64-of-us-voters-oppose-war-in-west-asia-wion-1774205103898/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-64-of-us-voters-oppose-war-in-west-asia-wion-1774205103898/embed</a><h2>Perspective: Panetta’s own record on foreign wars is nothing to sing home about&nbsp;</h2>While Panetta’s analysis of Trump reflected mainstream national security concerns, his own role in shaping US foreign policy during the post-9/11 era, which contributed to extending its ‘endless war’ needs some analyisis.<h3>Panetta's leadership during prolonged wars</h3>Panetta served as CIA director (2009–2011) and US defence secretary (2011–2013) under president Barack Obama, a period marked by extension of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan that were started by his predecessor George W Bush. These wars evolved into long-term military engagements with significant human and financial costs.<h3>Expansion of drone warfare</h3>As CIA director, Panetta oversaw a major expansion of drone strikes, particularly in Pakistan, with multiple civilian casualties. At the time, he described drones as one of the “most effective” tools against al-Qaeda terror group, but critics argued that such operations contributed to deaths and antagonism towards the US, and prolonged instability in the region.<h3>Support for Libya intervention</h3>Panetta backed the disastrous 2011 NATO-led intervention in Libya, which led to the fall of the Muammar Gaddafi dictatorship but also led to years of political instability and conflict.<h3>Advocacy of interventionist policy</h3>Panetta has consistently supported a “forward defence” strategy—arguing for sustained US military presence abroad, contraty to what he is currently saying about Trump and Iran. He has criticised isolationist tendencies in US politics and warned against reducing America’s global military role, calling it ‘Vietnam syndrome’.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-blog-us-israel-iran-attack-live-updates-attack-india-russia-china-netanyahu-trump-khamenei-hezbollah-idf-saudi-gulf-qatar-strait-of-hormuz-update-1774240031195">US-Iran-Israel war LIVE: America issues worldwide travel alert; Gulf countries targeted again</a><h2>Continuity with current strategies</h2>The tatics Panetta previously endorsed—such as drone strikes and special operations—are similar to approaches reportedly under consideration in the current Iran conflict, incuding Trump's reported plans to deploy Marines to secure Strait of Hormuz and/ or Iranian nuclear fuel.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. &nbsp;

Leon Panetta, ex-CIA chief and former US defence secretary under Obama, blamed Donald Trump for the Iran crisis, citing strategic missteps and risks to oil market and global economy. But his own record in US wars raises questions about credibility and accountability. A sudden conscience?

Panetta on Trump Iran strategy: Leon Panetta, the former CIA director and US defence secretary, has squarely blamed Donald Trump for the escalating Iran crisis, outlining seven key reasons why the current US–Iran conflict has spiralled into a geopolitical and energy emergency. However, Panetta’s own record in prolonging US foreign wars, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, is worth mentioning if one is talking about accountability in American national security. Here is a clear breakdown of Panetta’s claims—followed by an evidence-based look at his past role in US military interventions. Seeing this, one would wonder why Panetta suddenly developed a conscience. 7 reasons why Panetta blames Trump for the Iran crisis Underestimating the Strait of Hormuz risk Panetta, in remarks published in The Guardian, argued that Trump failed to anticipate Iran’s most predictable strategic move: disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway is critical to global energy security, with roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply passing through it. According to Panetta, the risk of its closure has long been central to US national security planning. Overreliance on short-war assumptions Panetta claims Trump’s Iran war strategy relied on the assumption of a quick military victory. Instead, the conflict is dragging on, exposing the absence of a clear US exit strategy. Also read: 'Any violation by enemy...': Iran issues first response to Trump's 'will obliterate power plants' threat Decapitation strikes backfired The killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the first day of the current war was intended to destabilise Iran’s leadership. However, Panetta argued, it had the opposite effect, leading to the rise of the leader's son Mojtaba Khamenei, who is more hardline and ideologically rigid. Iran gained leverage over global oil markets By restricting access to the Strait of Hormuz, Iran effectively weaponised energy supply chains, in Penetta's view. This has triggered volatility in global oil prices, raising concerns about inflation, fuel costs, and the risk of a wider economic slowdown. Limited strategic options for the US Panetta describes Trump’s position as between “a rock and a hard place”, with two main options: Escalate military operations to reopen the strait, or withdraw and risk strategic failure. Both scenarios carry high geopolitical and economic risks, in his view. Strained alliances weakened US leverage Panetta highlighted Trump's tensions with NATO and other allies during the planning phase of the Iran strikes. Now, as the crisis deepens, the US faces reduced international support—underscoring the importance of multilateral cooperation in modern conflict, according to the former CIA chief. Trump's inconsistent messaging undermined credibility Panetta criticised Trump’s communication strategy, citing mixed signals on war aims and controversial public messaging, which included meme-inspired videos on official handles. He argued that failure to acknowledge civilian casualties and policy missteps weakened US credibility in global diplomacy. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-64-of-us-voters-oppose-war-in-west-asia-wion-1774205103898/embed Perspective: Panetta’s own record on foreign wars is nothing to sing home about While Panetta’s analysis of Trump reflected mainstream national security concerns, his own role in shaping US foreign policy during the post-9/11 era, which contributed to extending its ‘endless war’ needs some analyisis. Panetta's leadership during prolonged wars Panetta served as CIA director (2009–2011) and US defence secretary (2011–2013) under president Barack Obama, a period marked by extension of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan that were started by his predecessor George W Bush. These wars evolved into long-term military engagements with significant human and financial costs. Expansion of drone warfare As CIA director, Panetta oversaw a major expansion of drone strikes, particularly in Pakistan, with multiple civilian casualties. At the time, he described drones as one of the “most effective” tools against al-Qaeda terror group, but critics argued that such operations contributed to deaths and antagonism towards the US, and prolonged instability in the region. Support for Libya intervention Panetta backed the disastrous 2011 NATO-led intervention in Libya, which led to the fall of the Muammar Gaddafi dictatorship but also led to years of political instability and conflict. Advocacy of interventionist policy Panetta has consistently supported a “forward defence” strategy—arguing for sustained US military presence abroad, contraty to what he is currently saying about Trump and Iran. He has criticised isolationist tendencies in US politics and warned against reducing America’s global military role, calling it ‘Vietnam syndrome’. Also read: US-Iran-Israel war LIVE: America issues worldwide travel alert; Gulf countries targeted again Continuity with current strategies The tatics Panetta previously endorsed—such as drone strikes and special operations—are similar to approaches reportedly under consideration in the current Iran conflict, incuding Trump's reported plans to deploy Marines to secure Strait of Hormuz and/ or Iranian nuclear fuel. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Leon Panetta, ex-CIA chief and former US defence secretary under Obama, blamed Donald Trump for the Iran crisis, citing strategic missteps and risks to oil market and global economy. But his own record in US wars raises questions about credibility and accountability. A sudden conscience?

Trump and Iran crisis: Ex-CIA chief Leon Panetta lists 7 reasons why US president is responsible— but what about his own foreign wars record?

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities on Monday (Mar 22) said that an Indian national suffered minor injuries from falling debris after the UAE's air defence systems successfully intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the country's capital Abu Dhabi. The incident occurred in Abu Dhabi's Al Shawamekh area. India has yet not issued any statement on the incident. This comes as war in Iran that began on Feb 28 after the US and Israel pre-emptively attacked the country, entered Day 24. The UAE on Sunday had said its air defence systems intercepted multiple Iranian aerial threats, including 25 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 4 ballistic missiles. The Ministry of Defence of UAE has said that 1,773 UAVs, 15 cruise missiles, and 345 ballistic missiles have been recorded to be intercepted since the start of the escalation.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260323/image-1774245069216.png"></figure>&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/trump-issues-new-warning-of-total-decimation-if-iran-ignores-48-hour-strait-of-hormuz-ultimatum-1774220783475">'You’ll find out...': Trump issues new warning of ‘total decimation’ if Iran ignores 48-hour Strait of Hormuz ultimatum</a>&nbsp;The Abu Dhabi Media Office on X said, "Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national. The public is reminded to obtain information from official sources only and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information."&nbsp;Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-blog-us-israel-iran-attack-live-updates-attack-india-russia-china-netanyahu-trump-khamenei-hezbollah-idf-saudi-gulf-qatar-strait-of-hormuz-update-1774240031195/amp">US-Iran-Israel war: IEA chief warns energy crisis worse than 1970s oil shocks amid West Asia conflict</a>&nbsp;According to Gulf News report, a total of 161 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe. The injured included nationals of the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, Sweden and Tunisia.

An Indian national was slightly injured in Abu Dhabi after debris from an intercepted missile fell in Al Shawamekh. UAE said its air defence systems shot down multiple Iranian threats, including drones and missiles, as regional tensions from the ongoing war continue to escalate.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities on Monday (Mar 22) said that an Indian national suffered minor injuries from falling debris after the UAE's air defence systems successfully intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the country's capital Abu Dhabi. The incident occurred in Abu Dhabi's Al Shawamekh area. India has yet not issued any statement on the incident. This comes as war in Iran that began on Feb 28 after the US and Israel pre-emptively attacked the country, entered Day 24. The UAE on Sunday had said its air defence systems intercepted multiple Iranian aerial threats, including 25 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 4 ballistic missiles. The Ministry of Defence of UAE has said that 1,773 UAVs, 15 cruise missiles, and 345 ballistic missiles have been recorded to be intercepted since the start of the escalation. Also Read: 'You’ll find out...': Trump issues new warning of ‘total decimation’ if Iran ignores 48-hour Strait of Hormuz ultimatum The Abu Dhabi Media Office on X said, "Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national. The public is reminded to obtain information from official sources only and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information." Also Read: US-Iran-Israel war: IEA chief warns energy crisis worse than 1970s oil shocks amid West Asia conflict According to Gulf News report, a total of 161 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe. The injured included nationals of the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, Sweden and Tunisia.

An Indian national was slightly injured in Abu Dhabi after debris from an intercepted missile fell in Al Shawamekh. UAE said its air defence systems shot down multiple Iranian threats, including drones and missiles, as regional tensions from the ongoing war continue to escalate.

Indian national injured in UAE after ballistic missile debris falls in Al Shawamekh; no statement from MEA yet

As Israel ramped up its attack on Hezbollah, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Sunday (Mar 22) that members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are commanding Hezbollah's operations. He blamed IRGC for dragging Lebanon in the ongoing war with Israel. He said that IRGC members “entered the country illegally” and are managing Hezbollah's military operation in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israel's military said that it will expand its ground operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah after attacking the Qasmiyeh Bridge, a key crossing linking Lebanon’s south to the rest of the country. President Joseph Aoun warned that the attack is a “prelude to ground invasion.”&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/trump-issues-new-warning-of-total-decimation-if-iran-ignores-48-hour-strait-of-hormuz-ultimatum-1774220783475"> 'You’ll find out...': Trump issues new warning of ‘total decimation’ if Iran ignores 48-hour Strait of Hormuz ultimatum</a><h3>What Lebanese PM and President said?</h3>In an interview with the Al Hadath network, Salam said, “It was declared that this war was in retaliation for the assassination of Khamenei, so this means this war was imposed upon us.” Salam referred to the IRGC announcing joint operations with Hezbollah against Israel as proof of their commanding of the war in Lebanon. Referring to the incident in which an Iran-made drone hit a British base in Cyprus earlier this month, Salam said “that was the Revolutionary Guard, which is present and, unfortunately, is managing the military operation in Lebanon. These people have forged passports and entered the country illegally.” Notably, the Lebanese government has banned all activities by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the country. Beirut also imposed a ban on Hezbollah military activities and called on the group to hand over its weapons to the state.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-shoots-down-enemy-f-15-jet-near-hormuz-centcom-says-1774228558482">Iran shoots down 'enemy' F-15 jet near Hormuz? CENTCOM says...</a>&nbsp;Lebanese President Aoun, however, warned the bridge attacks "represent a dangerous escalation and flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, and are considered a prelude to a ground invasion." He added that the Israeli attacks on the bridge were “an attempt to sever the geographical connection between the southern Litani region and the rest of Lebanese territory.” He said they fell “within suspicious schemes to establish a buffer zone along the Israeli border, solidify the reality of the occupation and seek Israeli expansion within Lebanese territory.”<h3>Israel plans expanded ground offensive in Lebanon</h3>His statement comes after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the military "to immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity, in order to prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving south". The Litani River runs around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. Earlier this week, Israel attacked two bridges spanning the Litani, also alleging they were being used by Hezbollah.&nbsp;Amid war with Iran, Israel is also targeting Hezbollah and Israeli Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement," The operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation has only begun... This is a prolonged operation. We are now preparing to advance the targeted ground operations and strikes according to an organised plan." In a separate statement Sunday, military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that the expansion of the ground operation would begin within the coming week. “In the coming week, we will begin to deepen our hold and strengthen the protection of our citizens in northern Israel. We will expand our control on the ground and broaden our maneuvering in order to prevent direct fire on our communities,” he added.&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)&nbsp;

Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam accused the IRGC of directing Hezbollah operations as Israel ramps up strikes and plans a ground offensive. President Joseph Aoun warned bridge attacks signal a possible invasion, raising fears of wider escalation in the Israel-Lebanon conflict.

As Israel ramped up its attack on Hezbollah, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Sunday (Mar 22) that members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are commanding Hezbollah's operations. He blamed IRGC for dragging Lebanon in the ongoing war with Israel. He said that IRGC members “entered the country illegally” and are managing Hezbollah's military operation in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Israel's military said that it will expand its ground operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah after attacking the Qasmiyeh Bridge, a key crossing linking Lebanon’s south to the rest of the country. President Joseph Aoun warned that the attack is a “prelude to ground invasion.” Also Read: 'You’ll find out...': Trump issues new warning of ‘total decimation’ if Iran ignores 48-hour Strait of Hormuz ultimatum What Lebanese PM and President said? In an interview with the Al Hadath network, Salam said, “It was declared that this war was in retaliation for the assassination of Khamenei, so this means this war was imposed upon us.” Salam referred to the IRGC announcing joint operations with Hezbollah against Israel as proof of their commanding of the war in Lebanon. Referring to the incident in which an Iran-made drone hit a British base in Cyprus earlier this month, Salam said “that was the Revolutionary Guard, which is present and, unfortunately, is managing the military operation in Lebanon. These people have forged passports and entered the country illegally.” Notably, the Lebanese government has banned all activities by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the country. Beirut also imposed a ban on Hezbollah military activities and called on the group to hand over its weapons to the state. Also Read: Iran shoots down 'enemy' F-15 jet near Hormuz? CENTCOM says... Lebanese President Aoun, however, warned the bridge attacks "represent a dangerous escalation and flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, and are considered a prelude to a ground invasion." He added that the Israeli attacks on the bridge were “an attempt to sever the geographical connection between the southern Litani region and the rest of Lebanese territory.” He said they fell “within suspicious schemes to establish a buffer zone along the Israeli border, solidify the reality of the occupation and seek Israeli expansion within Lebanese territory.” Israel plans expanded ground offensive in Lebanon His statement comes after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the military "to immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity, in order to prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving south". The Litani River runs around 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. Earlier this week, Israel attacked two bridges spanning the Litani, also alleging they were being used by Hezbollah. Amid war with Iran, Israel is also targeting Hezbollah and Israeli Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement," The operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation has only begun... This is a prolonged operation. We are now preparing to advance the targeted ground operations and strikes according to an organised plan." In a separate statement Sunday, military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that the expansion of the ground operation would begin within the coming week. “In the coming week, we will begin to deepen our hold and strengthen the protection of our citizens in northern Israel. We will expand our control on the ground and broaden our maneuvering in order to prevent direct fire on our communities,” he added. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam accused the IRGC of directing Hezbollah operations as Israel ramps up strikes and plans a ground offensive. President Joseph Aoun warned bridge attacks signal a possible invasion, raising fears of wider escalation in the Israel-Lebanon conflict.

'IRGC is managing...': Lebanon blames Iran as Israel plans ground offensive against Hezbollah

US Central Command on Sunday (Mar 22) has rejected Iran's claims that it shot down a US F-15 fighter jet amid escalating war that has now entered Day 24. In a post on X, the CENTCOM said that the US has so far flown more than 8,000 combat flights and no US fighter jet has been shot down by Iran. This comes after Iran claimed that it intercepted and targeted a US F-15 fighter jet near Hormuz Island after it allegedly violated Iranian airspace&nbsp;This also comes almost three days after Iran claimed that it has shot down a fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet over central Iran. Turkey based news agency Anadolu also said that a spokesman of CENTCOM has no comments when asked about the same hours before the X post on Sunday. On March 1, three US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down in a “friendly fire” incident involving a Kuwaiti F/A-18. All six crew members were ejected safely and were recovered.&nbsp;"US forces have flown more than 8,000 combat flights during Operation Epic Fury. No US fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran," CENTCOM said in a post on X. While it clearly mentioned that the news about F-15 is false, it did not mention F-35 in its post, instead issued a generic statement that “no US fighter aircraft was shot down.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260323/image-1774229431330.png"></figure>&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/trump-issues-new-warning-of-total-decimation-if-iran-ignores-48-hour-strait-of-hormuz-ultimatum-1774220783475"> 'You’ll find out...': Trump issues new warning of ‘total decimation’ if Iran ignores 48-hour Strait of Hormuz ultimatum</a><h2>What Iran said about F-15 and F-35?</h2>According to a post on X by the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai, an “enemy F-15 fighter jet” entered Iranian airspace, prompting a response from the country’s air defence systems. The incident occurred hours earlier over Iran’s southern coastal region near the strategic Hormuz Island.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Hours ago, an enemy F-15 fighter jet violating Iranian airspace over the southern coasts near Hormuz Island was intercepted and targeted by the Army’s air defense system using a surface-to-air missile.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirDefense?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirDefense</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hormuz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hormuz</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreakingNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/aZxUzcE3rz">pic.twitter.com/aZxUzcE3rz</a>&mdash; Consulate General of the I.R. Iran in Mumbai (@IRANinMumbai) <a href="https://twitter.com/IRANinMumbai/status/2035649924877222141?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Public Relations said that “a US F-35 fighter jet was struck and seriously damaged” over central Iran. “The F-35 strategic fighter of the US army was hit and seriously damaged in the central sky of Iran at 2:50 AM today by the IRGC’s advanced modern aerospace defense system. The fate of this fighter is unknown and is under investigation, and the possibility of its crash is high. After the successful hunting of more than 125 US-Israeli aggressor drones by Iran’s defense systems, this successful interception shows effective and targeted changes in the country’s integrated defense systems," the statement read. The following video also circulated on pages affiliated to the Iranian regime.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">IRGC Announcement Regarding the Targeting of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/F35?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#F35</a> Fighter of the US Army Islamic Revolutionary Guards Public Relations: 🔹The F-35 strategic fighter of the US army was hit and seriously damaged in the central sky of Iran at 2:50 AM today by the IRGC’s advanced modern… <a href="https://t.co/8QUGOnMR4R">pic.twitter.com/8QUGOnMR4R</a>&mdash; Iran Consulate - Hyderabad (@IraninHyderabad) <a href="https://twitter.com/IraninHyderabad/status/2034663255613079695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What CENTCOM said on Thursday?</h2>Earlier on Thursday, Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, said that the fifth-generation stealth jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it encountered trouble and had to land. Hawkins confirmed the aircraft landed safely and that an investigation is underway. “We are aware of reports that a US F-35 aircraft conducted an emergency landing at a regional US airbase after flying a combat mission over Iran. The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition. This incident is under investigation,” Hawkins said in a statement. &nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.&nbsp;

US Central Command denied Iran’s claims of shooting down F-15 and F-35 jets, stating no US aircraft has been lost despite 8,000+ combat flights. Iran had alleged an F-15 airspace violation near Hormuz and a separate F-35 hit, underscoring rising tensions and misinformation in the war.

US Central Command on Sunday (Mar 22) has rejected Iran's claims that it shot down a US F-15 fighter jet amid escalating war that has now entered Day 24. In a post on X, the CENTCOM said that the US has so far flown more than 8,000 combat flights and no US fighter jet has been shot down by Iran. This comes after Iran claimed that it intercepted and targeted a US F-15 fighter jet near Hormuz Island after it allegedly violated Iranian airspace This also comes almost three days after Iran claimed that it has shot down a fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet over central Iran. Turkey based news agency Anadolu also said that a spokesman of CENTCOM has no comments when asked about the same hours before the X post on Sunday. On March 1, three US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were shot down in a “friendly fire” incident involving a Kuwaiti F/A-18. All six crew members were ejected safely and were recovered. "US forces have flown more than 8,000 combat flights during Operation Epic Fury. No US fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran," CENTCOM said in a post on X. While it clearly mentioned that the news about F-15 is false, it did not mention F-35 in its post, instead issued a generic statement that “no US fighter aircraft was shot down.” Also Read: 'You’ll find out...': Trump issues new warning of ‘total decimation’ if Iran ignores 48-hour Strait of Hormuz ultimatum What Iran said about F-15 and F-35? According to a post on X by the Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai, an “enemy F-15 fighter jet” entered Iranian airspace, prompting a response from the country’s air defence systems. The incident occurred hours earlier over Iran’s southern coastal region near the strategic Hormuz Island.

US Central Command denied Iran’s claims of shooting down F-15 and F-35 jets, stating no US aircraft has been lost despite 8,000+ combat flights. Iran had alleged an F-15 airspace violation near Hormuz and a separate F-35 hit, underscoring rising tensions and misinformation in the war.

Iran shoots down 'enemy' F-15 jet near Hormuz? CENTCOM says...

Days after US President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment over the non-cooperation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member nations in securing the Strait of Hormuz, the group's chief Mark Rutte on Sunday (Mar 22) has said that the countries will eventually “always come together.” The statement by NATO chief Rutte came as Trump shared a video on his Truth Social network on Sunday of a TV comedy skit showing a terrified British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hoping to dodge a phone call with the American leader. Trump did not write any comment with the shared video, but it hints at his anger that he has expressed about Britain's delay in allowing the US to use UK bases for attacking Iran. In what seems like an attempt to ease Trump's frustration, Rutte said that 22 countries, including the UK have stepped forward to address security in the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-is-dimona-israel-s-nuclear-site-hit-by-iran-called-little-india-1774151212071">Why is Dimona — Israel's nuclear site hit by Iran — called ‘Little India’?</a><h2>What NATO chief said?</h2>NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Sunday (Mar 23) said that he understands US President Trump's frustration, but explained that European countries needed a couple of weeks to eventually come together to help the US in fight against Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz. "I understand the president’s frustration that it takes some time, but again, I also ask for some understanding, because nations had to prepare for this, not knowing and for good reasons about the initial attack on Iran, but now coming together to make sure that we can be able to secure the Strait of Hormuz,” Rutte said in an interview with CBS News. He added that NATO will “always come together” and it is “only logical that European countries needed a couple of weeks” to rally around plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they were not given notice before the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran.&nbsp;To ease Trump's anger against the UK PM, he also noted that Starmer is “at the forefront” of the effort to provide support to the US over Hormuz.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said that American allies are beginning to “come around” on providing support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "We are seeing our allies come around as they should, but at the same time, the president is not going to stand for this regime, as it has threatened and tried for five decades to hold the world’s energy supplies hostage under its genocidal intent,” Waltz told CBS News.<h2>What is the video that Trump shared?</h2>The video that Trump shared on Truth Social is of a skit, aired on the premiere of the new British version of Saturday Night Live -- adapted from the long-running US show. It shows Starmer, played by George Fouracres, panicking inside 10 Downing Street at the prospect of a call with Trump. Starmer turns to a fake David Lammy, his deputy prime minister, and says, “What if Donald shouts at me?” When Trump picks up the phone, Starmer immediately hangs up, asking why it is so difficult to talk to “that scary, scary, wonderful president.” "Sir, just be honest and tell him we can't send any more ships to the Strait of Hormuz," Lammy says in the video. "I just want to keep him happy, Lammy. You don't understand him like I do -- I can change him," Starmer says.&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/trump-issues-new-warning-of-total-decimation-if-iran-ignores-48-hour-strait-of-hormuz-ultimatum-1774220783475"> 'You’ll find out...': Trump issues new warning of ‘total decimation’ if Iran ignores 48-hour Strait of Hormuz ultimatum</a><h2>What Trump said about Starmer?</h2>Earlier this month, when Starmer initially declined to let US warplanes use UK bases to strike Iran., an angry Trump said, "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with…I'm disappointed with Keir." He added that he likes the UK PM but Starmer is doing a “big mistake.” "I like him, I think he's a nice man, but I'm disappointed." Trump also expressed frustration over Starmer's initial refusal to allow US access to the Diego Garcia base for offensive strikes on Iran, calling the decision "shocking" and “terrible.” In an interview with The Sun, Trump noted that the "special relationship" was "obviously not what it was," adding that Starmer had not been helpful and he “never thought I'd see that from the UK.” It must be noted that the UK allowed the US to use British bases to strike Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. But Trump said that it is a “very late response.”<h2>What we know about Trump's call for help regarding Strait of Hormuz?</h2>US President Trump urged several countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz amid an effective Iranian blockade. On March 14, 2024, Trump publicly urged countries heavily reliant oil—specifically China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK—to send warships to help police the strait. Trump has labeled NATO allies "cowards" and a "paper tiger" for their reluctance to join. He warned that the alliance faces a "very bad future" if members do not assist in reopening the vital waterway. Germany, Greece, Japan and Australia have ruled out military involvement, while UK and France said they have discussed the importance of reopening the strait but have not committed to sending warships.&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Amid Trump’s criticism of allies over Hormuz, NATO chief Mark Rutte said nations will “come together” to secure the route. Trump shared a skit mocking UK PM Keir Starmer, reflecting frustration over delays, as allies begin backing US efforts in the escalating Iran conflict.

Days after US President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment over the non-cooperation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member nations in securing the Strait of Hormuz, the group's chief Mark Rutte on Sunday (Mar 22) has said that the countries will eventually “always come together.” The statement by NATO chief Rutte came as Trump shared a video on his Truth Social network on Sunday of a TV comedy skit showing a terrified British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hoping to dodge a phone call with the American leader. Trump did not write any comment with the shared video, but it hints at his anger that he has expressed about Britain's delay in allowing the US to use UK bases for attacking Iran. In what seems like an attempt to ease Trump's frustration, Rutte said that 22 countries, including the UK have stepped forward to address security in the Strait of Hormuz. Also Read: Why is Dimona — Israel's nuclear site hit by Iran — called ‘Little India’? What NATO chief said? NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Sunday (Mar 23) said that he understands US President Trump's frustration, but explained that European countries needed a couple of weeks to eventually come together to help the US in fight against Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz. "I understand the president’s frustration that it takes some time, but again, I also ask for some understanding, because nations had to prepare for this, not knowing and for good reasons about the initial attack on Iran, but now coming together to make sure that we can be able to secure the Strait of Hormuz,” Rutte said in an interview with CBS News. He added that NATO will “always come together” and it is “only logical that European countries needed a couple of weeks” to rally around plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as they were not given notice before the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran. To ease Trump's anger against the UK PM, he also noted that Starmer is “at the forefront” of the effort to provide support to the US over Hormuz. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said that American allies are beginning to “come around” on providing support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "We are seeing our allies come around as they should, but at the same time, the president is not going to stand for this regime, as it has threatened and tried for five decades to hold the world’s energy supplies hostage under its genocidal intent,” Waltz told CBS News. What is the video that Trump shared? The video that Trump shared on Truth Social is of a skit, aired on the premiere of the new British version of Saturday Night Live -- adapted from the long-running US show. It shows Starmer, played by George Fouracres, panicking inside 10 Downing Street at the prospect of a call with Trump. Starmer turns to a fake David Lammy, his deputy prime minister, and says, “What if Donald shouts at me?” When Trump picks up the phone, Starmer immediately hangs up, asking why it is so difficult to talk to “that scary, scary, wonderful president.” "Sir, just be honest and tell him we can't send any more ships to the Strait of Hormuz," Lammy says in the video. "I just want to keep him happy, Lammy. You don't understand him like I do -- I can change him," Starmer says. Also Read: 'You’ll find out...': Trump issues new warning of ‘total decimation’ if Iran ignores 48-hour Strait of Hormuz ultimatum What Trump said about Starmer? Earlier this month, when Starmer initially declined to let US warplanes use UK bases to strike Iran., an angry Trump said, "This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with…I'm disappointed with Keir." He added that he likes the UK PM but Starmer is doing a “big mistake.” "I like him, I think he's a nice man, but I'm disappointed." Trump also expressed frustration over Starmer's initial refusal to allow US access to the Diego Garcia base for offensive strikes on Iran, calling the decision "shocking" and “terrible.” In an interview with The Sun, Trump noted that the "special relationship" was "obviously not what it was," adding that Starmer had not been helpful and he “never thought I'd see that from the UK.” It must be noted that the UK allowed the US to use British bases to strike Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. But Trump said that it is a “very late response.” What we know about Trump's call for help regarding Strait of Hormuz? US President Trump urged several countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz amid an effective Iranian blockade. On March 14, 2024, Trump publicly urged countries heavily reliant oil—specifically China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK—to send warships to help police the strait. Trump has labeled NATO allies "cowards" and a "paper tiger" for their reluctance to join. He warned that the alliance faces a "very bad future" if members do not assist in reopening the vital waterway. Germany, Greece, Japan and Australia have ruled out military involvement, while UK and France said they have discussed the importance of reopening the strait but have not committed to sending warships. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Amid Trump’s criticism of allies over Hormuz, NATO chief Mark Rutte said nations will “come together” to secure the route. Trump shared a skit mocking UK PM Keir Starmer, reflecting frustration over delays, as allies begin backing US efforts in the escalating Iran conflict.

'Will always come together': NATO chief's big statement as Trump mocks UK's Starmer amid Hormuz tension

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday (Mar 23) said that the Strait of Hormuz is open, but ships fear passage due to the war initiated by the US and Israel against Tehran. The response by Araghchi comes within 24 hours of US President Donald Trump issuing an ultimatum to Iran about the reopening of Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X, Araghchi wrote, “Strait of Hormuz is not closed. Ships hesitate because insurers fear the war of choice you initiated—not Iran.” He added that the vessels “belonging to the aggressor parties cannot be considered as normal and non-hostile passage, and will be dealt with in accordance with the legal framework arising from the conflict, as well as the decisions and measures of the competent Iranian authorities.” He also slammed the US president and said that his country would not be “swayed by more threats” even after Trump's<a href="https://thehill.com/people/donald-trump/"> </a>threat to “hit” and “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. ”Freedom of Navigation cannot exist without Freedom of Trade. Respect both—or expect neither.” he said

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">- Strait of Hormuz is not closed. Ships hesitate because insurers fear the war of choice you initiated—not Iran - No insurer—and no Iranian—will be swayed by more threats. Try respect - Freedom of Navigation cannot exist without Freedom of Trade. Respect both—or expect neither&mdash; Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) <a href="https://twitter.com/araghchi/status/2035790102904082766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-is-dimona-israel-s-nuclear-site-hit-by-iran-called-little-india-1774151212071">Why is Dimona — Israel's nuclear site hit by Iran — called ‘Little India’?</a><h2>What was Trump's 48-hour ultimatum?</h2>US President Donald Trump on Saturday (Mar 21) gave Iran 48-hour ultimatum demanding that it fully reopen. He warned that failure to do so will result in obliteration of Iranian power plants as America will hit them immediately. On Sunday (Mar 22), Trump said that the result of the ultimatum will be “very good", reiterating that it would lead to Iran’s "total decimation" if Tehran did not comply with his ultimatum.<h2>Four statements by Iran so far</h2>Iran seems to be completely rattled after Trump's ultimatum. It has issued several response after Trump's Truth Social post. In its first response, the Iranian military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said on Sunday (Mar 22) that if Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure is "violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted." Later, it also said that if the United States' threats regarding Iran's power plants are carried out... the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt." Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that if power plants are hit then, infrastructure as well as energy and oil infrastructure across the entire region will be considered legitimate targets and will be "irreversibly destroyed." Moreover, Iranian President Pezeshkian also issued a statement saying that threats against Iran will strengthen their unity.<h2>What we know about Strait of Hormuz?</h2>The Strait of Hormuz—a critical route for global energy shipments—has become increasingly volatile, as Iran is targeting vessels passing through without its consent and the US calls on allies to help secure the passage. After the US and Israel launched pre-emptive attack on the Islamic Republic on Feb 28, Iran has declared that any vessel passing through the Hormuz Strait would require Iran's prior approval, with Iranian Revolutionary Guard stating that it would "not allow a single drop of oil to leave the region to the US" through the strait.&nbsp;Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/trump-issues-new-warning-of-total-decimation-if-iran-ignores-48-hour-strait-of-hormuz-ultimatum-1774220783475"> 'You’ll find out...': Trump issues new warning of ‘total decimation’ if Iran ignores 48-hour Strait of Hormuz ultimatum</a><h2>What we know about Trump's call for help regarding Strait of Hormuz?</h2>US President Trump urged several countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz amid an effective Iranian blockade. On March 14, 2024, Trump publicly urged countries heavily reliant oil—specifically China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK—to send warships to help police the strait. Trump has labeled NATO allies "cowards" and a "paper tiger" for their reluctance to join. He warned that the alliance faces a "very bad future" if members do not assist in reopening the vital waterway. Germany, Greece, Japan and Australia have ruled out military involvement, while UK and France said they have discussed the importance of reopening the strait but have not committed to sending warships.&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)&nbsp;

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz remains open but shipping is disrupted due to war fears after Trump’s ultimatum. Tehran warned of retaliation if attacked, including closing the strait. Rising tensions threaten global oil supply and deepen the US-Iran conflict.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday (Mar 23) said that the Strait of Hormuz is open, but ships fear passage due to the war initiated by the US and Israel against Tehran. The response by Araghchi comes within 24 hours of US President Donald Trump issuing an ultimatum to Iran about the reopening of Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X, Araghchi wrote, “Strait of Hormuz is not closed. Ships hesitate because insurers fear the war of choice you initiated—not Iran.” He added that the vessels “belonging to the aggressor parties cannot be considered as normal and non-hostile passage, and will be dealt with in accordance with the legal framework arising from the conflict, as well as the decisions and measures of the competent Iranian authorities.” He also slammed the US president and said that his country would not be “swayed by more threats” even after Trump's threat to “hit” and “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. ”Freedom of Navigation cannot exist without Freedom of Trade. Respect both—or expect neither.” he said

Iran said the Strait of Hormuz remains open but shipping is disrupted due to war fears after Trump’s ultimatum. Tehran warned of retaliation if attacked, including closing the strait. Rising tensions threaten global oil supply and deepen the US-Iran conflict.

'It is not closed': Iran issues 5 statements after Trump’s ‘will obliterate power plants’ threat over Hormuz — Catastrophic war escalation soon?

Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of strikes on power plants. Iran responded with threats to shut the strait and target regional infrastructure. As tensions rise, global oil supply fears and war escalation concerns intensify.

Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of strikes on power plants. Iran responded with threats to shut the strait and target regional infrastructure. As tensions rise, global oil supply fears and war escalation concerns intensify.

'You’ll find out...': Trump issues new warning of ‘total decimation’ if Iran ignores 48-hour Strait of Hormuz ultimatum

Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi on Sunday (March 22) voiced concern over US-Israel strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran, asserting that “Iran is not the Islamic Republic” and stressing that “civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran”.&nbsp;Pahlavi distinguished the regime’s infrastructure and civilian assets, arguing that while state-controlled systems are used for repression, civilian infrastructure serves the people and will be essential for rebuilding the country in the future.&nbsp;"Iran’s civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran. The Islamic Republic’s infrastructure is the machinery of repression and terror used to keep that future from becoming reality," Pahlavi wrote in a post on X.&nbsp;He emphasised that “Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled”.Pahlavi, who has often projected himself as a potential leader for a political transition in Iran, called on US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure.&nbsp;"I ask President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to continue targeting the regime and its apparatus of repression, while sparing the civilian infrastructure Iranians will need to rebuild our country," he added.&nbsp;Expressing confidence, Pahlavi said, “With the support of the US and Israel, and above all the sacrifice of Iranian patriots, the hour of Iran’s freedom is at hand”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-we-will-completely-close-the-strait-of-hormuz-iran-responds-to-trump-s-48-hour-ultimatum-1774196432013">‘We will completely close the Strait of Hormuz’: Iran responds to Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum</a>&nbsp;His remarks come amid growing concerns over damage to critical infrastructure following Israel’s March 18 strike on the South Pars gas field near Asaluyeh, considered the heart of Iran’s energy economy. However, the White House has sought to distance itself from Israel’s specific strike on South Pars.&nbsp;Meanwhile, President Trump has escalated his rhetoric, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened by late Monday.&nbsp;Pahlavi has lived in exile in the United States since the 1979 Islamic Revolution toppled his pro-Western father, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Pahlavi's remarks come amid growing concerns over damage to critical infrastructure following Israel’s March 18 strike on the South Pars gas field near Asaluyeh, considered the heart of Iran’s energy economy.

Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi on Sunday (March 22) voiced concern over US-Israel strikes targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran, asserting that “Iran is not the Islamic Republic” and stressing that “civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran”. Pahlavi distinguished the regime’s infrastructure and civilian assets, arguing that while state-controlled systems are used for repression, civilian infrastructure serves the people and will be essential for rebuilding the country in the future. "Iran’s civilian infrastructure belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran. The Islamic Republic’s infrastructure is the machinery of repression and terror used to keep that future from becoming reality," Pahlavi wrote in a post on X. He emphasised that “Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled”. Pahlavi, who has often projected himself as a potential leader for a political transition in Iran, called on US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure. "I ask President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to continue targeting the regime and its apparatus of repression, while sparing the civilian infrastructure Iranians will need to rebuild our country," he added. Expressing confidence, Pahlavi said, “With the support of the US and Israel, and above all the sacrifice of Iranian patriots, the hour of Iran’s freedom is at hand”. Also Read: ‘We will completely close the Strait of Hormuz’: Iran responds to Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum His remarks come amid growing concerns over damage to critical infrastructure following Israel’s March 18 strike on the South Pars gas field near Asaluyeh, considered the heart of Iran’s energy economy. However, the White House has sought to distance itself from Israel’s specific strike on South Pars. Meanwhile, President Trump has escalated his rhetoric, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened by late Monday. Pahlavi has lived in exile in the United States since the 1979 Islamic Revolution toppled his pro-Western father, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Pahlavi's remarks come amid growing concerns over damage to critical infrastructure following Israel’s March 18 strike on the South Pars gas field near Asaluyeh, considered the heart of Iran’s energy economy.

Pahlavi calls on Trump, Netanyahu to avoid hitting Iran’s civilian infrastructure

After the US President threatened Tehran and gave a deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday (March 22) cautioned that Iran would irreversibly destroy vital infrastructure across the Gulf region if the US and Israel attacked it.&nbsp;"Immediately after power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, vital infrastructure as well as energy and oil infrastructure across the entire region will be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed," Ghalibaf said in a post on X.&nbsp;He warned that oil prices would then "rise for a long time".&nbsp;This statement follows US President Donald Trump’s latest 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, issued on Saturday, warning that the United States will "obliterate" Iran's power plants, starting with the largest first, if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-assam-police-commandos-injured-in-ulfa-i-attack-in-tinsukia-1774176025610">Four Assam police commandos injured in ULFA(I) attack in Tinsukia</a>&nbsp;Based on the timing of the post, the 48-hour window is set to expire around late Monday night, as global oil prices surge due to the effective closure of the waterway during the US-Israel-Iran conflict.&nbsp;"If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.&nbsp;The US President came under intense domestic and international pressure from rising energy prices, with crude oil reaching above $100 since the start of the war on February 28. Confusing messaging from Trump also led to more volatility, as he kept the US stance on Hormuz unclear. Earlier, he demanded multilateral naval support from European allies to force open the vital waterway. After being snubbed by partners, he said that Washington is not concerned about it, as it does not depend on the strait for its energy requirements.&nbsp;The war, triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes targeting top Iranian leadership in an apparent attempt to spark regime change, and key strategic and military locations, entered its third week.&nbsp;Despite the US and Israel killing its top leadership and targeting key infrastructure, Iran remains defiant. It has adopted a tit-for-tat strategy by attacking oil and energy facilities across Gulf nations and surprised the US by targeting the Diego Garcia military base, which is around 4,000 km away from Iran. This showcased Tehran's missile capabilities, which the US had claimed were significantly reduced in its strikes.&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. )

This statement follows US President Donald Trump’s latest 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, issued on Saturday, warning that the United States will "obliterate" Iran's power plants, starting with the largest first, if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened.

After the US President threatened Tehran and gave a deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday (March 22) cautioned that Iran would irreversibly destroy vital infrastructure across the Gulf region if the US and Israel attacked it. "Immediately after power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, vital infrastructure as well as energy and oil infrastructure across the entire region will be considered legitimate targets and will be irreversibly destroyed," Ghalibaf said in a post on X. He warned that oil prices would then "rise for a long time". This statement follows US President Donald Trump’s latest 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, issued on Saturday, warning that the United States will "obliterate" Iran's power plants, starting with the largest first, if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened. Also Read: Four Assam police commandos injured in ULFA(I) attack in Tinsukia Based on the timing of the post, the 48-hour window is set to expire around late Monday night, as global oil prices surge due to the effective closure of the waterway during the US-Israel-Iran conflict. "If Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. The US President came under intense domestic and international pressure from rising energy prices, with crude oil reaching above $100 since the start of the war on February 28. Confusing messaging from Trump also led to more volatility, as he kept the US stance on Hormuz unclear. Earlier, he demanded multilateral naval support from European allies to force open the vital waterway. After being snubbed by partners, he said that Washington is not concerned about it, as it does not depend on the strait for its energy requirements. The war, triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes targeting top Iranian leadership in an apparent attempt to spark regime change, and key strategic and military locations, entered its third week. Despite the US and Israel killing its top leadership and targeting key infrastructure, Iran remains defiant. It has adopted a tit-for-tat strategy by attacking oil and energy facilities across Gulf nations and surprised the US by targeting the Diego Garcia military base, which is around 4,000 km away from Iran. This showcased Tehran's missile capabilities, which the US had claimed were significantly reduced in its strikes. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. )

This statement follows US President Donald Trump’s latest 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, issued on Saturday, warning that the United States will "obliterate" Iran's power plants, starting with the largest first, if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened.

Iran vows to 'irreversibly destroy' Gulf energy sites if US hits power plants

With roughly 2,500 troops per Expeditionary Unit, US Marines can deploy shipboard security teams and capture coastal missile batteries to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, securing 20 per cent of the global oil trade.

With roughly 2,500 troops per Expeditionary Unit, US Marines can deploy shipboard security teams and capture coastal missile batteries to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, securing 20 per cent of the global oil trade.

‘Securing the chokepoint’: What US Marines can do to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Navies counter Iran's sea-skimming anti-ship missiles using a layered defence. Airborne radar detects threats early, while electronic jamming, decoys, and kinetic interceptors like the SM-6 and CIWS destroy the weapons before impact.

Navies counter Iran's sea-skimming anti-ship missiles using a layered defence. Airborne radar detects threats early, while electronic jamming, decoys, and kinetic interceptors like the SM-6 and CIWS destroy the weapons before impact.

How can all Iranian anti‑ship missiles be stopped?

The Israeli Defence Force has warned that all the major European cities, including London, Paris and Berlin, are within Iran's range. This alert came following the attempted Iranian strike on the joint UK-US military base in Diego Garcia, located in the Indian Ocean, on March 21. The strike reportedly missed but sparked a fear among the European strategists and analysts that Iran might have more military might than previously anticipated. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper used this threat to justify the expansion of UK operations and “offensive action against ballistic missile threats”.<h2>A warning from Iran to the UK?</h2>Iranian Foreign Minister on Saturday warned the UK against getting involved in America's war of choice, “The vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-US war of choice on Iran. Ignoring his own People, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defence," wrote Abbas Araghchi in a social media post. &nbsp;US officials believe the missiles used were likely from the Khorramshahr-4 class, an intermediate-range ballistic missile that analysts had previously assessed to have a potential range exceeding 4,000 kilometres. &nbsp;US intelligence earlier claimed that Khorramshahr-4 had a range of 2000 kilometres. The recent launch is also believed to carry a warhead exceeding one tonne or up to 80 cluster munitions. Iran publicly capped its ballistic missile range at 2,000 km. It is unclear whether Iran hid its missile capabilities or the Western intelligence simply failed to keep up the pace.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/oil-price-shocks-history-iran-conflict-2026-1773922846511">Oil price shocks: When was the crude oil price highest in history?</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">So not only has Iran brazenly lied about its ballistic missile range capacity, but this means it can probably hit the UK with them - and we have zero, I repeat ZERO, defence against these missiles. Very worrying. <a href="https://t.co/oeVlpbRcdN">https://t.co/oeVlpbRcdN</a>&mdash; Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/2035391201377989023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Can the UK defend against Iranian missiles?</h2>British celebrity journalist Piers Morgan accused Iran of lying about its ballistic missile capabilities and suggested that the UK has "zero defence against missiles" In a ballistic attack scenario, the UK is believed to rely on American SM-3 defence systems stationed across Eastern Europe, or the Patriot missiles used by the Germans, to intercept rockets. The two missiles that were launched towards Diego Garcia, one of them was shot down by the US warship’s SM-3 interceptor, and the other was lost in flight. Diego Garcia base is about 3,800 kilometres; London is about 4,435 kilometres; Paris is approximately 4,195 kilometres; and Berlin is approximately 3,500 kilometres.&nbsp;Foreign Affairs analyst, Nawaf Al-Thani, added, “Iran may have demonstrated reach far beyond what much of the world believed it possessed. Paris comes into range. London moves much closer to the edge of vulnerability depending on launch point and payload.”

Iran’s alleged long-range missile test raises fears across Europe after a failed strike on Diego Garcia. Can London, Paris, and Berlin defend?

The Israeli Defence Force has warned that all the major European cities, including London, Paris and Berlin, are within Iran's range. This alert came following the attempted Iranian strike on the joint UK-US military base in Diego Garcia, located in the Indian Ocean, on March 21. The strike reportedly missed but sparked a fear among the European strategists and analysts that Iran might have more military might than previously anticipated. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper used this threat to justify the expansion of UK operations and “offensive action against ballistic missile threats”. A warning from Iran to the UK? Iranian Foreign Minister on Saturday warned the UK against getting involved in America's war of choice, “The vast majority of the British People do not want any part in the Israel-US war of choice on Iran. Ignoring his own People, Mr Starmer is putting British lives in danger by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defence," wrote Abbas Araghchi in a social media post. US officials believe the missiles used were likely from the Khorramshahr-4 class, an intermediate-range ballistic missile that analysts had previously assessed to have a potential range exceeding 4,000 kilometres. US intelligence earlier claimed that Khorramshahr-4 had a range of 2000 kilometres. The recent launch is also believed to carry a warhead exceeding one tonne or up to 80 cluster munitions. Iran publicly capped its ballistic missile range at 2,000 km. It is unclear whether Iran hid its missile capabilities or the Western intelligence simply failed to keep up the pace. Also Read: Oil price shocks: When was the crude oil price highest in history?

Iran’s alleged long-range missile test raises fears across Europe after a failed strike on Diego Garcia. Can London, Paris, and Berlin defend?

Iran missile range expands after Diego Garcia strike: Are London, Paris and Berlin at risk?

The US Navy’s new SEWIP Block 3 system provides a 360-degree electronic shield, allowing destroyers to instantly jam and redirect multiple Iranian anti-ship missiles without firing a single kinetic weapon.

The US Navy’s new SEWIP Block 3 system provides a 360-degree electronic shield, allowing destroyers to instantly jam and redirect multiple Iranian anti-ship missiles without firing a single kinetic weapon.

‘Unprecedented capability’: How the US Navy’s electronic attack system tricks Iranian anti-ship missiles mid-air

The USS Abraham Lincoln uses distance, electronic warfare, and escort destroyers to dodge Iranian drone swarms. By operating in the Arabian Sea, the US Navy protects its carrier while maintaining full strike capabilities.


The USS Abraham Lincoln uses distance, electronic warfare, and escort destroyers to dodge Iranian drone swarms. By operating in the Arabian Sea, the US Navy protects its carrier while maintaining full strike capabilities.

‘Out of Range’: How the USS Abraham Lincoln is dodging Iran's cheap drone swarms

US forces have struck over 8,000 military targets in Iran during Operation Epic Fury. CENTCOM reports that the strikes grounded Iran's tactical fighters, destroyed 130 vessels, and secured the Strait of Hormuz from coastal missile threats.


US forces have struck over 8,000 military targets in Iran during Operation Epic Fury. CENTCOM reports that the strikes grounded Iran's tactical fighters, destroyed 130 vessels, and secured the Strait of Hormuz from coastal missile threats.

‘8,000 targets hit’: How US carrier strike groups have crippled Iran’s tactical airpower

The Indian government has increased gas allocation to states and Union Territories to 50 per cent of pre-crisis levels, with an additional 20 per cent supply to be implemented from March 23, according to a communication from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. In a letter to all State and UT Chief Secretaries, Petroleum Secretary Dr Neeraj Mittal said that the enhanced allocation aims to support key sectors, particularly those linked to food supply and public welfare. Offering further respite to commercial establishments running short of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has decided to allocate States an additional 20 per cent &nbsp;of their average monthly requirement of commercial LPG. In simple terms, the government is releasing more cooking gas for businesses (like restaurants and hotels) because the supply shortage is easing up. With more gas available, eateries can operate normally without worrying as much about running out or relying on expensive alternatives. To get this extra gas, businesses are being told they eventually need to switch to piped gas (PNG) instead of relying only on cylinders.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-war-us-lpg-cargo-ship-arrives-in-mangaluru-16-714-tonnes-unloaded-1774149308361">Iran War: US LPG Cargo Ship Arrives In Mangaluru, 16,714 Tonnes Unloaded</a>&nbsp;In a notice on Saturday (March 22), Mittal said, “The supply of LPG continues to be a concern in view of prevailing geopolitical situation. Despite this war situation, Government has given highest priority to Domestic LPG and PNG, along with high priority to hospitals and educational institutions.” The war in West Asia has triggered fears of LPG shortage and disrupted global energy supply chains. “I wish to now inform you that w.e.f 23.3.26 till further notification, another 20% is being allotted to the State, which would take the overall allocation to 50% of the pre-crisis level. The additional allocation of 20% shall be given on priority to the following sectors: restaurants, dhabas, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing/dairy, subsidised canteens/outlets run by state governments or local bodies for food, community kitchens, 5kg FTL for migrant labourers, along with measures to ensure no diversion. The additional quantum is to be allocated on priority basis to restaurants, dhabas, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing units and dairies, subsidised canteens and outlets run privately or by State governments, and community kitchens, as well as 5 kg free trade LPG for migrant labourers,” the notice added. The Ministry also directed placing measures to ensure there are no diversions.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-lpg-situation-is-concerning-government-urges-commercial-consumers-to-switch-to-png-1773742826361">'LPG situation is concerning': Government urges commercial consumers to switch to PNG</a><h3>Push towards PNG to ease pressure</h3>The Union government has recently begun encouraging a transition to PNG, seeking to alleviate some pressure from LPG supplies mired in the Persian Gulf amidst escalating tensions in West Asia. India imports 60 per cent of its overall LPG requirements, of which 90 per cent is routed through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, on March 18, the government had pledged to allocate an extra 10 per cent of commercial LPG requirements to States and Union Territories provided they help with the transition to PNG. City gas distributors have also offered to incentivise the move by waiving security deposits and registration charges, or even promising ₹500-worth of free gas to consumers. According to government data from Friday, the domestic production of LPG by refineries has risen about 40 per cent compared to their production levels before the crisis, ever since supply maintenance orders mandated that refineries use propane, butene and other relevant streams to produce cooking gas, instead of petrochemicals.&nbsp;Meanwhile, a total of two Indian-flagged LPG ships have successfully entered India from the conflict zone since the start of the war. These vessels, owned by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), were part of a larger group of ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after regional tensions escalated on February 28, 2026.&nbsp;

India has raised LPG allocation to 50% of pre-crisis levels, adding 20% supply from March 23 to ease shortages amid the West Asia war. The government is also pushing a shift to PNG as Strait of Hormuz disruptions impact imports.

The Indian government has increased gas allocation to states and Union Territories to 50 per cent of pre-crisis levels, with an additional 20 per cent supply to be implemented from March 23, according to a communication from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. In a letter to all State and UT Chief Secretaries, Petroleum Secretary Dr Neeraj Mittal said that the enhanced allocation aims to support key sectors, particularly those linked to food supply and public welfare. Offering further respite to commercial establishments running short of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has decided to allocate States an additional 20 per cent of their average monthly requirement of commercial LPG. In simple terms, the government is releasing more cooking gas for businesses (like restaurants and hotels) because the supply shortage is easing up. With more gas available, eateries can operate normally without worrying as much about running out or relying on expensive alternatives. To get this extra gas, businesses are being told they eventually need to switch to piped gas (PNG) instead of relying only on cylinders. Also Read: Iran War: US LPG Cargo Ship Arrives In Mangaluru, 16,714 Tonnes Unloaded In a notice on Saturday (March 22), Mittal said, “The supply of LPG continues to be a concern in view of prevailing geopolitical situation. Despite this war situation, Government has given highest priority to Domestic LPG and PNG, along with high priority to hospitals and educational institutions.” The war in West Asia has triggered fears of LPG shortage and disrupted global energy supply chains. “I wish to now inform you that w.e.f 23.3.26 till further notification, another 20% is being allotted to the State, which would take the overall allocation to 50% of the pre-crisis level. The additional allocation of 20% shall be given on priority to the following sectors: restaurants, dhabas, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing/dairy, subsidised canteens/outlets run by state governments or local bodies for food, community kitchens, 5kg FTL for migrant labourers, along with measures to ensure no diversion. The additional quantum is to be allocated on priority basis to restaurants, dhabas, hotels, industrial canteens, food processing units and dairies, subsidised canteens and outlets run privately or by State governments, and community kitchens, as well as 5 kg free trade LPG for migrant labourers,” the notice added. The Ministry also directed placing measures to ensure there are no diversions. Also Read: 'LPG situation is concerning': Government urges commercial consumers to switch to PNG Push towards PNG to ease pressure The Union government has recently begun encouraging a transition to PNG, seeking to alleviate some pressure from LPG supplies mired in the Persian Gulf amidst escalating tensions in West Asia. India imports 60 per cent of its overall LPG requirements, of which 90 per cent is routed through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, on March 18, the government had pledged to allocate an extra 10 per cent of commercial LPG requirements to States and Union Territories provided they help with the transition to PNG. City gas distributors have also offered to incentivise the move by waiving security deposits and registration charges, or even promising ₹500-worth of free gas to consumers. According to government data from Friday, the domestic production of LPG by refineries has risen about 40 per cent compared to their production levels before the crisis, ever since supply maintenance orders mandated that refineries use propane, butene and other relevant streams to produce cooking gas, instead of petrochemicals. Meanwhile, a total of two Indian-flagged LPG ships have successfully entered India from the conflict zone since the start of the war. These vessels, owned by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), were part of a larger group of ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz after regional tensions escalated on February 28, 2026.

India has raised LPG allocation to 50% of pre-crisis levels, adding 20% supply from March 23 to ease shortages amid the West Asia war. The government is also pushing a shift to PNG as Strait of Hormuz disruptions impact imports.

India’s big relief amid LPG crisis fears: Commercial LPG allocation raised to 50% — What it means

Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of strikes on Iran. Tehran threatened regional infrastructure, while Dimona was hit in retaliation, escalating the conflict.

Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of strikes on Iran. Tehran threatened regional infrastructure, while Dimona was hit in retaliation, escalating the conflict.

'Any violation by enemy...': Iran issues first response to Trump's 'will obliterate power plants' threat

As the war in West Asia entered Day 23, US President Donald Trump issued yet another a stark warning to Iran on Saturday (Mar 21). In a Truth Social post, the POTUS gave Iran 48-hour ultimatum demanding that it fully reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. In a strongly worded statement, Trump warned that failure to comply would trigger US strikes on Iran’s power infrastructure, signalling a potential widening of the war with major global energy and security implications. In another post, Trump ruled out any possibility of negotiation with the Iranians and lashed out at the media coverage of his administration’s Iran policy. He claimed that while the United States had decisively crippled the Islamic Republic's military and leadership “weeks ahead of schedule", the media continues to claim that his goals had not been met.&nbsp;"If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. In another post, he claimed, “The United States has blown Iran off of the map…Their leadership is gone, their navy and air force are dead, they have absolutely no defense, and they want to make a deal. I don’t! We are weeks ahead of schedule.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260322/image-1774138467356.png"></figure>Trump's threat of striking Iran energy sites comes after he distanced the US from South Pars Gas Field attack by Israel and declared that Benjamin Netanyahu-led nation will not attack the site again. He lashed out at Iran on Mar 18 and said, “Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility” He then said that US would blow up South Pars Gas Field if “Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar - In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before. I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so.”&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of strikes on power plants if it fails. He also ruled out talks and claimed the US had already crippled Iran’s military, despite media scepticism.

As the war in West Asia entered Day 23, US President Donald Trump issued yet another a stark warning to Iran on Saturday (Mar 21). In a Truth Social post, the POTUS gave Iran 48-hour ultimatum demanding that it fully reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. In a strongly worded statement, Trump warned that failure to comply would trigger US strikes on Iran’s power infrastructure, signalling a potential widening of the war with major global energy and security implications. In another post, Trump ruled out any possibility of negotiation with the Iranians and lashed out at the media coverage of his administration’s Iran policy. He claimed that while the United States had decisively crippled the Islamic Republic's military and leadership “weeks ahead of schedule", the media continues to claim that his goals had not been met. "If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. In another post, he claimed, “The United States has blown Iran off of the map…Their leadership is gone, their navy and air force are dead, they have absolutely no defense, and they want to make a deal. I don’t! We are weeks ahead of schedule.” Trump's threat of striking Iran energy sites comes after he distanced the US from South Pars Gas Field attack by Israel and declared that Benjamin Netanyahu-led nation will not attack the site again. He lashed out at Iran on Mar 18 and said, “Unfortunately, Iran did not know this, or any of the pertinent facts pertaining to the South Pars attack, and unjustifiably and unfairly attacked a portion of Qatar’s LNG Gas facility” He then said that US would blow up South Pars Gas Field if “Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar - In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before. I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so.” (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of strikes on power plants if it fails. He also ruled out talks and claimed the US had already crippled Iran’s military, despite media scepticism.

'If Strait of Hormuz is...': Trump issues BIG threat to Iran after saying US has blown the country 'off the map', rules out negotiation

The 2003 Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction claims and the current Iran nuclear weapon justification share a clear parallel in pattern: A US president and administration publicly citing an active threat as the rationale for military action, despite US intelligence assessments saying otherwise. History is repeating in several ways. Here is how:<h2>Iraq 2003: The "smoking gun" that wasn't</h2>In the run-up to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, the George W Bush administration claimed that the country possessed active chemical or biological weapons stockpiles, a reviving nuclear programme, and mobile production labs, with links to terrorism. The most famous public presentation was Colin Powell's February 5, 2003, UN Security Council briefing. The then Secretary of State displayed photos, diagrams, and defector testimony as a "smoking gun" proving that Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein was hiding WMDs and reconstituting banned programmes. Words and phrases like 'aluminium tubes for centrifuges' and 'yellowcake uranium' were thrown in for good measure. President Bush warned of "mushroom clouds" and an imminent threat.Soon, the US invaded Iraq, starting a war that resulted in the removal of the Hussein regime, his trial and hanging.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-warns-iran-of-military-actions-after-attack-on-oil-facilities-12-arab-nations-issue-statement-1773895488630">Saudi Arabia warns Iran of 'military actions' after attack on oil facilities, 12 Arab nations issue statement: Is the war expanding?</a><h2>Post-invasion reality of Iraq: Where were the WMDs?</h2>Several reviews after the invasion, including the Iraq Survey Group report of 2004, found no WMD stockpiles or active programmes. Iraq's WMD capabilities had been dismantled after the 1991 Gulf War. It emerged that intelligence had been cherry-picked, exaggerated, and unreliable sources like dissidents and exiles overtly relied upon.It was releaved that even some internal US assessments and IAEA findings that had raised doubts about going into war with Iraq were sidelined.US official inquiries later said the Bush administration misled the public and the US Congress on the urgency of the invasion and the existence of the threat.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-drone-seen-over-us-army-base-housing-rubio-hegseth-raises-security-alarm-wion-1773912557332/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-drone-seen-over-us-army-base-housing-rubio-hegseth-raises-security-alarm-wion-1773912557332/embed</a><h2>What the US intelligence assessment said about Iran nuclear weapon threat&nbsp;</h2>In an eerie repeat of the 2003 events, the current US intelligence assessment is that Iran did not resume uranium enrichment activities—which are required for building a nuclear bomb—since the US and Israeli strikes during the 12-Day war of June 2025. In Operation Midnight Hammer, the US air strikes that ended that war, &nbsp;Iran's nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan were razed, with President Donald Trump and his aides claiming to have "obliterated" the enrichment programme.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chernobyl-in-the-gulf-us-israel-missile-hits-iran-s-bushehr-nuclear-plant-is-the-world-at-risk-of-regional-scale-radiological-disaster-russia-1773875738801">Chernobyl in the Gulf: US-Israel missile hits Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant. World at risk of 'regional-scale radiological disaster'?</a>&nbsp;On Wednesday (Mar 18), in sworn testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said, “As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated. There has been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability.” The intel assessment said that entrances to underground facilities were "buried and shuttered with cement".Gabbard confirmed no rebuild efforts occurred in the intervening months from Iran, directly undercutting one of President Trump's central public justifications for the ongoing war.This is what she said in her written testimony, but in oral remarks, Gabbard softened or omitted the "no efforts/no rebuild" language. This prompted Democratic senators to accuse her of avoiding direct contradiction of the president.<h2>Boots on the ground in Iran?&nbsp;</h2>In spite of this divergence of assessment within the administration, there is a likelihood that the US would go for an invasion of Iran, similar to what it did against Iraq in 2003. Trump is reportedly mulling sending over a thousand specialist marines to Iran, as the decapitation strikes appear to have failed in bringing Iran to its knees.A section of the US administration appears to think that a ground invasion is required to ensure Strait of Hormuz security, create buffer zones, and secure any remnant nuclear material.Similar to Iran, the 2003 Iraq war had started with air strikes before becoming a US-led ground invasion and occupation.<h2>Building the narrative: Iran and the bomb</h2>The US Operation Epic Fury launched on February 28 against Iran came after days of Israeli and American claims that Tehran was very close to building a nuclear bomb. Trump repeatedly claimed Iran was "starting it all over", attempting to rebuild its nuclear programme, and posed an imminent threat. Clearly, public rhetoric is outshining the government's own intelligence.<h2>Iran war turns murkier with counterterror centre chief's resignation, blaming Israel</h2>In his letter of resignation as National Counterterrorism Center director this week, Joe Kent explicitly said Iran did not pose any imminent threat to the US. He wrote that Israel is misleading the US into the war, the same way he alleged it had done for Iraq.Kent, who said he could not support the ongoing conflict in good conscience, is facing investigations for allegedly leaking classified material.This is similar to how critics of the Iraq war alleged external influences, including from unreliable exiles and faulty intelligence from allies. The narrative was carefully built in spite of internal doubts.

Iran war situation is increasingly turning similar to the Iraq invasion runup: US intelligence says Iran halted nuclear activity after 2025 strikes, contradicting Trump's war rhetoric. Flawed WMD claims were used in 2003 to justify the invasion of Iraq

The 2003 Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction claims and the current Iran nuclear weapon justification share a clear parallel in pattern: A US president and administration publicly citing an active threat as the rationale for military action, despite US intelligence assessments saying otherwise. History is repeating in several ways. Here is how: Iraq 2003: The "smoking gun" that wasn't In the run-up to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, the George W Bush administration claimed that the country possessed active chemical or biological weapons stockpiles, a reviving nuclear programme, and mobile production labs, with links to terrorism. The most famous public presentation was Colin Powell's February 5, 2003, UN Security Council briefing. The then Secretary of State displayed photos, diagrams, and defector testimony as a "smoking gun" proving that Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein was hiding WMDs and reconstituting banned programmes. Words and phrases like 'aluminium tubes for centrifuges' and 'yellowcake uranium' were thrown in for good measure. President Bush warned of "mushroom clouds" and an imminent threat. Soon, the US invaded Iraq, starting a war that resulted in the removal of the Hussein regime, his trial and hanging. Also read: Saudi Arabia warns Iran of 'military actions' after attack on oil facilities, 12 Arab nations issue statement: Is the war expanding? Post-invasion reality of Iraq: Where were the WMDs? Several reviews after the invasion, including the Iraq Survey Group report of 2004, found no WMD stockpiles or active programmes. Iraq's WMD capabilities had been dismantled after the 1991 Gulf War. It emerged that intelligence had been cherry-picked, exaggerated, and unreliable sources like dissidents and exiles overtly relied upon. It was releaved that even some internal US assessments and IAEA findings that had raised doubts about going into war with Iraq were sidelined. US official inquiries later said the Bush administration misled the public and the US Congress on the urgency of the invasion and the existence of the threat. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-drone-seen-over-us-army-base-housing-rubio-hegseth-raises-security-alarm-wion-1773912557332/embed What the US intelligence assessment said about Iran nuclear weapon threat In an eerie repeat of the 2003 events, the current US intelligence assessment is that Iran did not resume uranium enrichment activities—which are required for building a nuclear bomb—since the US and Israeli strikes during the 12-Day war of June 2025. In Operation Midnight Hammer, the US air strikes that ended that war, Iran's nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan were razed, with President Donald Trump and his aides claiming to have "obliterated" the enrichment programme. Also read: Chernobyl in the Gulf: US-Israel missile hits Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant. World at risk of 'regional-scale radiological disaster'? On Wednesday (Mar 18), in sworn testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said, “As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated. There has been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability.” The intel assessment said that entrances to underground facilities were "buried and shuttered with cement". Gabbard confirmed no rebuild efforts occurred in the intervening months from Iran, directly undercutting one of President Trump's central public justifications for the ongoing war. This is what she said in her written testimony, but in oral remarks, Gabbard softened or omitted the "no efforts/no rebuild" language. This prompted Democratic senators to accuse her of avoiding direct contradiction of the president. Boots on the ground in Iran? In spite of this divergence of assessment within the administration, there is a likelihood that the US would go for an invasion of Iran, similar to what it did against Iraq in 2003. Trump is reportedly mulling sending over a thousand specialist marines to Iran, as the decapitation strikes appear to have failed in bringing Iran to its knees. A section of the US administration appears to think that a ground invasion is required to ensure Strait of Hormuz security, create buffer zones, and secure any remnant nuclear material. Similar to Iran, the 2003 Iraq war had started with air strikes before becoming a US-led ground invasion and occupation. Building the narrative: Iran and the bomb The US Operation Epic Fury launched on February 28 against Iran came after days of Israeli and American claims that Tehran was very close to building a nuclear bomb. Trump repeatedly claimed Iran was "starting it all over", attempting to rebuild its nuclear programme, and posed an imminent threat. Clearly, public rhetoric is outshining the government's own intelligence. Iran war turns murkier with counterterror centre chief's resignation, blaming Israel In his letter of resignation as National Counterterrorism Center director this week, Joe Kent explicitly said Iran did not pose any imminent threat to the US. He wrote that Israel is misleading the US into the war, the same way he alleged it had done for Iraq. Kent, who said he could not support the ongoing conflict in good conscience, is facing investigations for allegedly leaking classified material. This is similar to how critics of the Iraq war alleged external influences, including from unreliable exiles and faulty intelligence from allies. The narrative was carefully built in spite of internal doubts.

Iran war situation is increasingly turning similar to the Iraq invasion runup: US intelligence says Iran halted nuclear activity after 2025 strikes, contradicting Trump's war rhetoric. Flawed WMD claims were used in 2003 to justify the invasion of Iraq

No smoking gun? How US intel assessment of no Iran nuclear weapon threat is eerily similar to the run-up to Iraq invasion of 2003

A day after the death of Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, Iran's state media claimed 3200 casualties in the US military within the first week of the Iran-US war. Press TV reported on Tuesday, citing a senior security official of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Force, that in the Iranian retaliation, at least 200 were killed and 3000 others were injured. &nbsp;Both sides have been claiming that they have dealt major damage to the other side, and both sides are claiming that they have reduced the offensive capabilities and missiles of the other side.&nbsp;The Iranian official told Press TV that the US lost 150 missiles and 23 patriot air defence systems, and 37 aircraft and helicopters were destroyed. The official also claimed that 43 per cent of all of Iran's stockpile has been wiped out. Notably, US President Donald Trump has also claimed that Iran's air force and navy were destroyed and it was dealt a major blow that would require Iran a decade to build. He suggested that Iran doesn't have any air defence.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/laura-loomer-joe-kent-row-iran-war-trump-tulsi-gabbard-1773813080372">Joe Kent's old tweet about Pro-Israel activist Laura Loomer goes viral as she calls for Tulsi Gabbard's resignation</a><h2>Iran's intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib killed? Iran strikes 200 targets in Israel</h2>Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has claimed that Iran's Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was also killed in the overnight strikes that resulted in the assassination of the Basij force Gen Gholam Reza Soleimani and Iran's security chief Ali Larijani. Further, Israel Katz suggested that significant surprises are expected on all fronts. In revenge for the killing of Ali Larijani, Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it targeted at least "100 Israeli targets”. The US also dropped 5,000-pound buster bombs along the coastline of the Strait of Hormuz a day after getting snubbed by its allies on the coalition for the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran reportedly retaliated with cluster warheads in &nbsp;Khorramshahr 4 and Qadr missiles across Israel. Iran also targeted Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, where there are multiple oil fields across, and it also attacked Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. It said that it will continue to attack the US bases in the Gulf countries to exert pressure on the US. &nbsp;

A day after Ali Larijani’s death, Iran claims 3,200 US military casualties while Israel says intelligence minister Esmail Khatib was killed. Missile strikes intensify across the Middle East.

A day after the death of Iran's security chief Ali Larijani, Iran's state media claimed 3200 casualties in the US military within the first week of the Iran-US war. Press TV reported on Tuesday, citing a senior security official of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Force, that in the Iranian retaliation, at least 200 were killed and 3000 others were injured. Both sides have been claiming that they have dealt major damage to the other side, and both sides are claiming that they have reduced the offensive capabilities and missiles of the other side. The Iranian official told Press TV that the US lost 150 missiles and 23 patriot air defence systems, and 37 aircraft and helicopters were destroyed. The official also claimed that 43 per cent of all of Iran's stockpile has been wiped out. Notably, US President Donald Trump has also claimed that Iran's air force and navy were destroyed and it was dealt a major blow that would require Iran a decade to build. He suggested that Iran doesn't have any air defence. Also Read: Joe Kent's old tweet about Pro-Israel activist Laura Loomer goes viral as she calls for Tulsi Gabbard's resignation Iran's intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib killed? Iran strikes 200 targets in Israel Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has claimed that Iran's Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was also killed in the overnight strikes that resulted in the assassination of the Basij force Gen Gholam Reza Soleimani and Iran's security chief Ali Larijani. Further, Israel Katz suggested that significant surprises are expected on all fronts. In revenge for the killing of Ali Larijani, Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it targeted at least "100 Israeli targets”. The US also dropped 5,000-pound buster bombs along the coastline of the Strait of Hormuz a day after getting snubbed by its allies on the coalition for the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran reportedly retaliated with cluster warheads in Khorramshahr 4 and Qadr missiles across Israel. Iran also targeted Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, where there are multiple oil fields across, and it also attacked Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. It said that it will continue to attack the US bases in the Gulf countries to exert pressure on the US.

A day after Ali Larijani’s death, Iran claims 3,200 US military casualties while Israel says intelligence minister Esmail Khatib was killed. Missile strikes intensify across the Middle East.

Iran-US war: Tehran claims 3,200 US casualties; Israel says intelligence chief Esmail Khatib killed

This entire CIA controversy is playing out against the backdrop of a massive ideological divorce between Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson. Carlson has aggressively opposed Trump's "Operation Epic Fury," calling the US-Israeli strikes on Iran "absolutely disgusting and evil." 

This entire CIA controversy is playing out against the backdrop of a massive ideological divorce between Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson. Carlson has aggressively opposed Trump's "Operation Epic Fury," calling the US-Israeli strikes on Iran "absolutely disgusting and evil."&nbsp;&nbsp;

'Meetings in Iran': Why Tucker Carlson claims CIA is investigating him and why Washington is denying it

A leaderless Iran is a highly unpredictable, dangerous Iran. With the central command structure in question, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are skyrocketing. Global markets are terrified of what an autonomous, rogue IRGC faction might do without a Supreme Leader to rein them in. 

A leaderless Iran is a highly unpredictable, dangerous Iran. With the central command structure in question, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are skyrocketing. Global markets are terrified of what an autonomous, rogue IRGC faction might do without a Supreme Leader to rein them in.&nbsp;

'The Invisible Ayatollah': Trump deepens Mojtaba Khamenei's disappearance mystery, says he is dead or disfigured

Following catastrophic rumours of a lost limb and a secret Russian medical evacuation, Iranian State Media has once again failed to produce their leader, opting instead to release yet another faceless statement.



Following catastrophic rumours of a lost limb and a secret Russian medical evacuation, Iranian State Media has once again failed to produce their leader, opting instead to release yet another faceless statement.&nbsp;

'Zero proof of life': Mystery of missing Mojtaba Khamenei deepens as state media releases another faceless statement amid 'coma rumours'

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu shared a new video wishing Iranians on Nowruz, amid ongoing rumours about his death after alleged Iranian strikes. Despite official denials and verified appearances, speculation continues online, fuelled by AI claims, misinformation, and wartime narratives.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu shared a new video wishing Iranians on Nowruz, amid ongoing rumours about his death after alleged Iranian strikes. Despite official denials and verified appearances, speculation continues online, fuelled by AI claims, misinformation, and wartime narratives.

'Is this fake too?' Netanyahu sends message to 'brave people of Iran' in new video amid AI and death rumours

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Mar 16) said that the US did not attack Iran for oil, adding that he wants a secure Strait of Hormuz because of other countries. Speaking at a press conference, the POTUS said that he wants to save other countries as they get their oil from the Strait of Hormuz. This comes after Trump reached out to allies and several other nations to help the US in securing the strategic passage.&nbsp;“We don't need oil. We have all the oil we need for ourselves. Its one of the great asset that we have. We have doubled, more than double, what anybody else, in terms of oil production than any other country...so we don't need it. But, we did it because we have some good allies there...you can almost say we didn't, it happened. We have some great Middle Eastern countries there, Israel there, so we did it for a lot of reason but it always remains there that we did it. We never asked for reimbursement and we were really there to save other countries, not us.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/israeli-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-5-finger-cafe-video-to-quash-death-rumours-sparks-new-ai-claims-coffee-shop-shares-pics-1773634898670">Netanyahu’s '5 finger' cafe video to quash death rumours sparks new AI claims</a>&nbsp;Speaking about the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said that several major economies benefit from US actions because they rely on energy routes that pass through the passage. “China should be thanking us. Japan should be thanking us. South Korea as well. All these countries get 90 per cent of their energy through the Straits," Trump said while expressing disappointment with US allies, particularly members of NATO for not helping the country in securing the Hormuz. “Problem with NATO is we are always there for them, but they are never there for you," he added. An agitated Trump, holding a model of a Northrop Grumman B‑2 Spirit bomber, further added, &nbsp;the US doesn’t “need anybody” to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Before a meeting of the Kennedy Center board on Monday afternoon, Trump said “numerous countries have told me they’re on the way” to secure the strait, but declined to provide details, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would let everyone know.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/-something-will-happen-cuba-next-after-iran-war-trump-s-statement-sparks-speculations-1773632770257">'Something will happen...': Cuba next after Iran war? Trump's statement sparks speculations</a><h2>Trump's Strait of Hormuz request</h2>Trump had asked several countries including China, Japan and South Korea to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, that is world's strategic chokepoint for oil and energy passage. Despite Trump’s demands, no country has publicly committed to sending naval vessels to help protect shipping through the strait. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced in the Parliament that she has not “made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching ​escort ships. We are continuing to examine...what can be done ⁠within the legal framework.” Australia's transport minister said that the country won't be sending a navy ship to the Strait of Hormuz. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters he did not see a role for NATO in the matter. The EU’s foreign minister Kaja Kallas said that “for the time being, there was no appetite in changing the mandate of the operation.” In a separate press conference on Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his country will not be drawn into a “wider war." The US president told The Financial Times on Sunday that it would be "very bad for the future of NATO" if the allies refused to help.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

Trump said the US did not attack Iran for oil, stressing the need to secure the Strait of Hormuz for allies dependent on the route. He urged countries like China and Japan to contribute, but key partners have not committed, raising questions over global cooperation.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Mar 16) said that the US did not attack Iran for oil, adding that he wants a secure Strait of Hormuz because of other countries. Speaking at a press conference, the POTUS said that he wants to save other countries as they get their oil from the Strait of Hormuz. This comes after Trump reached out to allies and several other nations to help the US in securing the strategic passage. “We don't need oil. We have all the oil we need for ourselves. Its one of the great asset that we have. We have doubled, more than double, what anybody else, in terms of oil production than any other country...so we don't need it. But, we did it because we have some good allies there...you can almost say we didn't, it happened. We have some great Middle Eastern countries there, Israel there, so we did it for a lot of reason but it always remains there that we did it. We never asked for reimbursement and we were really there to save other countries, not us.” Also Read: Netanyahu’s '5 finger' cafe video to quash death rumours sparks new AI claims Speaking about the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said that several major economies benefit from US actions because they rely on energy routes that pass through the passage. “China should be thanking us. Japan should be thanking us. South Korea as well. All these countries get 90 per cent of their energy through the Straits," Trump said while expressing disappointment with US allies, particularly members of NATO for not helping the country in securing the Hormuz. “Problem with NATO is we are always there for them, but they are never there for you," he added. An agitated Trump, holding a model of a Northrop Grumman B‑2 Spirit bomber, further added, the US doesn’t “need anybody” to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Before a meeting of the Kennedy Center board on Monday afternoon, Trump said “numerous countries have told me they’re on the way” to secure the strait, but declined to provide details, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would let everyone know. Also Read: 'Something will happen...': Cuba next after Iran war? Trump's statement sparks speculations Trump's Strait of Hormuz request Trump had asked several countries including China, Japan and South Korea to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, that is world's strategic chokepoint for oil and energy passage. Despite Trump’s demands, no country has publicly committed to sending naval vessels to help protect shipping through the strait. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced in the Parliament that she has not “made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine...what can be done ⁠within the legal framework.” Australia's transport minister said that the country won't be sending a navy ship to the Strait of Hormuz. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters he did not see a role for NATO in the matter. The EU’s foreign minister Kaja Kallas said that “for the time being, there was no appetite in changing the mandate of the operation.” In a separate press conference on Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his country will not be drawn into a “wider war." The US president told The Financial Times on Sunday that it would be "very bad for the future of NATO" if the allies refused to help. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

Trump said the US did not attack Iran for oil, stressing the need to secure the Strait of Hormuz for allies dependent on the route. He urged countries like China and Japan to contribute, but key partners have not committed, raising questions over global cooperation.

'We don't need oil': On Day 18 of war, Trump says he attacked Iran to...

The "Fog of War" surrounding Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is finally lifting, and the reality exposes a deeply vulnerable regime.



The "Fog of War" surrounding Iran's newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is finally lifting, and the reality exposes a deeply vulnerable regime.&nbsp;

'Lost one leg': Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei secretly flown to Russia for surgery, says report

A drone-related incident triggered a fire near Dubai International Airport on Monday (Mar 16), according to city authorities, amid raging war in West Asia and Iran's intensified attacks targeting the Gulf nations. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that there had been no reports of injuries. It posted on X, "A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks. Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control." &nbsp;On Wednesday, the city media office said two falling drones wounded four people near the airport.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">JUST IN: Iranian Drones Struck Fuel Tanks At Dubai Airport <a href="https://t.co/lBNgqHnbJ3">pic.twitter.com/lBNgqHnbJ3</a>&mdash; 123 (@Mo61378Moazam) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mo61378Moazam/status/2033355192603996279?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After the drone incident, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport - previously one of the world's busiest. The step was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff. “Travellers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates regarding their flights. Further updates will be announced through official channels as soon as they become available,” it said in a post on X.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-never-asked-for-ceasefire-iran-denies-reaching-out-to-us-for-deal-to-end-war-amid-trump-s-claims-1773615354776">'Never asked for ceasefire': Iran denies reaching out to US for deal to end war amid Trump's claims</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">WATCH: Large fire near Dubai International Airport after Iranian drone strike <a href="https://t.co/FDNa04tHqF">pic.twitter.com/FDNa04tHqF</a>&mdash; Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidReport2025/status/2033336199528755565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-waiting-until-trump-breaks-silence-on-his-china-visit-amid-iran-war-wants-xi-jinping-s-support-for-securing-hormuz-1773618652226">Trump breaks silence on his China visit amid Iran war</a>&nbsp;Iran has been accused of firing over 1,800 missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates, more than any other country targeted by Tehran in the conflict, upending travel plans in the financial hub despite its air defence intercepting a vast majority of the projectiles. However, Tehran has maintained that it is only attacking American bases and infrastructure and not civilian locations of the neighbouring countries including the UAE. The Emirates' defence ministry has reported six deaths since the war began, including four civilians and two military personnel, who died in a helicopter crash blamed on a technical malfunction.&nbsp;The attack comes hours after United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call and affirmed that continued Iranian attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council countries represent a dangerous escalation threatening regional security and stability, Reuters reported citing Saudi state media. The President of the UAE also received a phone call from Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq, during which the two leaders discussed the latest regional developments and their serious impact on security and stability. They also addressed the ongoing Iranian attacks targeting the UAE and several other countries in the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

A drone incident sparked a fire near Dubai International Airport as Iran continues missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates amid the regional conflict. Authorities said emergency crews controlled the blaze and no injuries were reported.

A drone-related incident triggered a fire near Dubai International Airport on Monday (Mar 16), according to city authorities, amid raging war in West Asia and Iran's intensified attacks targeting the Gulf nations. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that there had been no reports of injuries. It posted on X, "A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks. Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control." On Wednesday, the city media office said two falling drones wounded four people near the airport.

A drone incident sparked a fire near Dubai International Airport as Iran continues missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates amid the regional conflict. Authorities said emergency crews controlled the blaze and no injuries were reported.

Massive fire near Dubai airport after drone strike, fuel tank hit; flight operations suspended - VIDEO

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