US and Israel's joint military operation in Iran has been paused as per Donald Trump's claims. In a social media post he wrote, “I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.” He also pointed at “detailed, and constructive conversations”, while Tehran denies any such dialogue.The Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, said no direct or indirect talks have taken place in the last 24 hours, and the parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, reiterated.
What began as a joint military strike in Iran on February 28 has spread across the region far and beyond. Following the attack which killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran conducted airstrikes on American bases in West Asia.
The ripple effect: Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Lebanon have also been targets of drones and missiles. The Strait of Hormuz has been blocked, and that has led to a situation even back home in India. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in its briefing, said the LPG situation in the country is “a concern" though no official shortage has been mentioned. New Delhi has used a diversified set of channels to procure crude.
The latest: Iran confirmed on Monday that Revolutionary Guards commander Alireza Tangsiri had been killed, days after Israel said it targeted him in an air strike.
A statement carried by the Guards' Sepah News website said Tangsiri "succumbed to severe injuries" from the attack.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US talks with Iran were continuing and progressing well, with public statements from Tehran differing to what Iranian officials were telling the US in private.
“Despite all of the public posturing you hear from the regime and false reporting, talks are continuing and going well. What is said publicly is, of course, much different than what’s being communicated to us privately,” said Leavitt.
Karoline Leavitt on Monday said the US has destroyed more than 150 Iranian naval vessels. She also claimed that talks with Iran are continuing and going well.
Germany’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.7% in March, its highest level since January 2024, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said on Monday.
Energy prices surged 7.2% year-on-year in March, marking their first increase since December 2023, according to preliminary data from Destatis.
NATO said Monday its forces had intercepted an Iranian missile heading towards Turkey, confirming an earlier announcement by the Turkish defence ministry.
"On Monday, 30 March, NATO again successfully intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile heading to" Turkey, alliance spokeswoman Allison Hart said.
Germany's Chancellor Merz says the effect of the Iran War on Germany and Europe will be as serious as the COVID-19 pandemic if it expands
Iran's military on Monday claimed that Israel was behind an attack on a desalination plant in Kuwait. "The brutal aggression by the Israeli regime against Kuwait's desalination plant, carried out in recent hours under the pretext of accusing the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a sign of the vileness and depravity of the Zionist occupiers," said the military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya in a statement carried by state TV.
A Mahan Airlines (Iran Airlines) aircraft at Iran's Mashhad International Airport was hit by US strikes. The plane was scheduled to fly to Delhi to collect humanitarian aid later this week.
The border between Iran and northern Iraq's Kurdish region has long been porous, alive with family ties, trade and smuggling. Now families are cut off from loved ones, and traders hesitate to cross. Iranian forces have built up their presence to prevent incursions by Iranian Kurdish militant groups.
Syria's military said a large-scale drone attack targeted its bases near the border with Iraq on Monday, the latest such incident since the outbreak of the Middle East war.
In a statement, the army reported "a large-scale attack by a number of drones targeting several army bases near the Iraqi border at dawn today", adding that most of the drones were intercepted.
"We are studying our options and will respond appropriately to neutralise any threat and prevent any aggression against Syrian territory."
US President Donald Trump on Sunday night aboard Air Force One said that, the Iran has allowed almost 20 cargo ships of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, starting on Monday, March 30. He called this a “tribute” and a “sign of respect” to the US. He also implied that Tehran's decision was a sign that the negotiations are underway and the war was coming to an end. However, it was not clear where these 20 ships were headed. China and India are the major buyers of Iranian oil. The ship could also belong to the Gulf nations.
“As you know, they agreed to send eight boats two days ago, and they added another two. So, that’s 10 boats. So, today they gave us as a tribute…I don’t know, I can’t describe it exactly…I think out of a sign of respect, 20 boats of oil, big, big boats of oil going through the Hormuz Strait. That’s taking place starting tomorrow morning over the next couple of days. I would only say that we are doing extremely well in negotiations,” said Trump to the reporters aboard Air Force One.
US President Donald Trump, in his Truth Social post, claimed that March 30 was the “big day” for Iran. In his Truth Social Post Trump claimed that the US has already taken out "many long-sought-after targets". This post comes after Trump's claim that Iran has already achieved its objective of regime change in Iran.
“Big day in Iran. Many long-sought-after targets have been taken out and destroyed by our GREAT MILITARY, the finest and most lethal in the World. God bless you all!” wrote Trump in his latest Truth Social Post.
Trump had earlier suggested that a deal with Iran is close and claimed that they have already changed the earlier group of leaders. “It's a whole different group of people. So I would consider that regime change,” said US President Donald Trump while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.
Spain on Monday (Mar 30) summoned Israel's top envoy to Madrid in protest over Israeli police blocking the Latin Patriarch from Christianity's holiest site in Jerusalem, the foreign minister said.
"This cannot happen again, Catholic worship must be able to be celebrated normally," Jose Manuel Albares told RAC1 radio after Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was prevented from holding Palm Sunday mass at the Holy Sepulchre church.
Israel has said the cardinal will regain access to the site, and had cited security concerns for the measure as the country bans gatherings in synagogues, churches and mosques during the ongoing war with Iran.
Iran confirmed on Monday (Mar 30) that Revolutionary Guards commander Alireza Tangsiri had been killed, days after Israel said it targeted him in an air strike.
A statement carried by the Guards' Sepah News website said Tangsiri "succumbed to severe injuries" from the attack.

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