Iran-Israel war LIVE: Trump says Iran 'wants to make a deal', but Islamic Republic denies any talks

A large blast rang retired implicit Jerusalem aboriginal Tuesday arsenic the Israeli subject sent hunt and rescue teams to a damaged gathering pursuing 2 rounds of Iranian rocket fire. 

Israel’s subject announced the Iranian launches hours aft U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington had held talks with an unnamed Iranian authoritative - a study denied by Tehran. 

Minutes aft the 2nd rocket alert, AFP reporters successful Jerusalem heard a large explosion, but the subject said radical were present cleared to permission their shelters and medics reported nary casualties. 

Following the archetypal launch, the subject said it had sent “search and rescue forces to run astatine a country successful bluish Israel wherever reports of an interaction person been received.” 

-AFP

Israeli strikes deed Beirut’s confederate suburbs connected Monday, the archetypal onslaught connected the Hezbollah stronghold successful days, arsenic its subject said it had captured 2 members of the Iran-backed radical successful confederate Lebanon.

An earlier Israeli onslaught had deed the upscale, predominantly Christian country of Hazmieh adjacent Beirut, with Israel saying it targeted a subordinate of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ overseas operations arm.

AFPTV’s unrecorded broadcast showed a unreality of fume implicit the capital’s confederate suburbs, and Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported respective strikes connected the area.

The Israeli subject besides announced it was “striking Hezbollah infrastructure successful Beirut” aft having called connected residents to permission the confederate suburbs beforehand.

-AFP

President Donald Trump hailed connected Monday “very good” talks with an unidentified Iranian authoritative aft abruptly shelving plans for caller attacks, adjacent arsenic Washington’s state Israel vowed to support up strikes connected the Islamic republic.

The astonishment disclosure -- denied by Tehran, which accused Mr. Trump of manipulating vigor markets -- came up of a Monday nighttime deadline imposed by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane oregon spot the U.S. “obliterate” its powerfulness plants.

-AFP

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that helium spoke with Donald Trump, saying that the U.S. President believed U.S.-Israeli subject gains successful Iran could beryllium converted into a negotiated statement that protected Israel’s interests.

“President Trump believes determination is simply a accidental to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the U.S. subject successful bid to realise the war’s objectives successful an statement - an statement that volition safeguard our captious interests,” Mr. Netanyahu said successful a video statement.

“We volition support our captious interests nether immoderate circumstances,” helium said, adding: “At the aforesaid time, we proceed to onslaught some successful Iran and successful Lebanon.” 

-AFP

U.S. Vice President ‌J.D. Vance discussed efforts to ⁠open negotiations with Iran ‌during a telephone telephone ‌on ‌Monday ⁠with Israeli ⁠Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Axios reported, ‌citing a root acquainted with the ‌call.

The root said the brace ⁠also discussed the ‌components of a imaginable statement to extremity the ‌U.S.-Israeli warfare connected Iran, Axios reported. 

- Reuters

A malfunction successful the David’s Sling aerial interceptor strategy allowed 2 Iranian ballistic missiles to onslaught confederate Israel, wounding dozens of radical implicit the weekend, the subject confirmed Monday.

The towns of Dimona and Arad were deed connected Saturday evening, with the erstwhile wide believed to clasp Israel’s undeclared atomic arsenal.

Most of the wounded were injured by shrapnel oregon portion rushing to shelters, Israeli archetypal responders said.

Several buildings were besides damaged successful the strikes.

- AFP

The Israeli subject announced it struck a tract successful Tehran connected Monday belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and utilized for directing battalions of the Basij paramilitary force.

The deed came days aft Israel announced it had “eliminated” the quality main of the Basij successful a onslaught that had besides killed the force’s apical commander, Gholamreza Soleimani.

Israel has been targeting the Basij unit arsenic portion of efforts to effort to undermine the Iranian authorities’ grip connected power.

“As portion of a question of strikes that was completed a abbreviated portion agone successful the bosom of Tehran, the Israeli Air Force... struck the IRGC’s main information headquarters,” a subject connection said, referring to Iran’s almighty Revolutionary Guards.

-

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said helium spoke with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, and promised Islamabad’s assistance successful bringing bid to the region.

The brace person spoken respective times successful the past month, notably to speech Ramadan and Eid greetings but besides to reaffirm Pakistan’s anticipation for an extremity to the struggle with the United States and Israel.

Sharif said helium extended greetings to Pezeshkian for the Persian caller twelvemonth and they besides discussed “the sedate concern successful the Gulf portion and agreed connected the urgent request for de-escalation, dialog and diplomacy”.

In a station connected X, helium said Pakistan was besides committed to playing “a constructive relation successful advancing bid successful the region”.

- AFP

President Donald Trump ⁠on ‌Monday ‌said ‌preliminary ⁠conversations ⁠between the United States ‌and Iran had ‌been “very, precise good”, ⁠adding Tehran wanted ‌to settle.

- Reuters

Pakistan is positioning ‌itself arsenic the pb mediator ⁠trying to broker an ‌end to ‌the U.S.’s ‌and Israel’s ⁠war ⁠against Iran, the Financial Times ‌reported connected Monday.

Pakistani service main Asim Munir ‌spoke with U.S President Donald Trump ⁠on Sunday, the ‌newspaper reported, citing 2 radical briefed connected the ‌call.

Reuters could not instantly verify ⁠the report.

- Reuters

The United ‌States has requested a gathering ⁠with Iran’s parliament talker Mohammad Baqer ‌Qalibaf connected ‌Saturday, a ‌senior ⁠Iranian ⁠official told Reuters, without mentioning immoderate projected ‌venue.

The official, who asked not to ‌be identified owed to the sensitivity ⁠of the matter, said ‌the Supreme National Security Council had yet to ‌decide connected immoderate projected talks and ⁠Iran had ⁠yet to respond.

- Reuters

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied holding immoderate ⁠talks with the U.S. during the ‌past 24 days, ‌shortly ‌after ⁠President Donald ⁠Trump said the 2 sides had recovered “major ‌points of agreement” successful the past fewer ‌days.

In caller days, affable countries sent ⁠messages indicating that the U.S. ‌had requested talks to extremity the war, ‌but Iran had not responded, authorities quality bureau ⁠ IRNA quoted ⁠the Ministry spokesperson arsenic ‌saying.

- Reuters

Britain is sending short-range aerial defence systems to the Gulf to antagonistic Iranian rocket attacks, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

“We’re deploying abbreviated scope aerial defence systems to Bahrain astatine speed,” Mr. Starmer told a parliamentary committee, adding that Britain was “doing the aforesaid with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia”.

The UK is moving with manufacture to “distribute aerial defence missiles to Gulf partners” and has embedded airspace specialists there, Mr. Starmer said.

- AFP

Air France ‌has extended the suspension of ⁠its flights to and ‌from Dubai and Riyadh ‌until ‌March 31, ⁠and to ⁠and from Tel Aviv and Beirut ‌until April 4, it said connected ‌Monday.

“Due to the information discourse ⁠at the destination and ‌the closure of definite airspaces, the institution is ‌forced to widen the suspension of its ⁠flights”, the ⁠airline said. 

- Reuters

The main of UAE authorities vigor institution ADNOC connected Monday slammed Tehran’s actions to efficaciously blockade the Strait of Hormuz aft US-Israeli strikes -- a determination that squeezed supplies and caused a surge successful lipid prices.

“Weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz is not an enactment of aggression against 1 nation,” Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said successful virtual remarks to the CERAWeek league successful Houston.

“It’s economical coercion against each nation. And nary state should beryllium allowed to clasp Hormuz hostage,” helium added.

- AFP

President Donald Trump said Monday that “regime change” was efficaciously underway successful Iran, portion informing that if talks with Iranian figures contacted by the United States bash not win past bombing volition continue.

Trump made wide talks were not with Iran’s caller ultimate person Mojtaba Khamenei but with radical helium described arsenic “very reasonable,” portion truthful galore apical officials had already been killed successful the struggle that “there’s automatically a authorities change.”

If talks fail, helium told reporters, “we’ll conscionable support bombing our small hearts out.”

- AFP

President ‌Donald Trump connected Monday ⁠told reporters helium ‌wanted determination ‌to ‌be “as ⁠much ⁠oil successful the strategy arsenic ‌possible” erstwhile asked astir the ‌U.S. Treasury’s determination past ⁠week to easiness ‌sanctions connected Iranian lipid ‌stranded successful sea. 

- Reuters

President Donald Trump told reporters the United States has ⁠held talks with Iran and that the 2 ‌sides had “major points of agreement.”

Trump ‌said the conversations ‌that ⁠took spot ⁠on Sunday would to proceed connected Monday and that if the ‌negotiations continued productively, determination would beryllium a woody precise soon.

Trump ‌added that his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff ⁠and son-in-law Jared Kushner held the talks.

Earlier Trump ‌said helium had fixed orders to postpone immoderate subject strikes against Iranian powerfulness plants ‌for 5 days, hours up of a deadline that threatened further ⁠escalation successful the struggle ⁠now successful its 4th week. 

- Reuters

Hezbollah changeable 4 rockets astatine Kiryat Shmona (north Israel), 1 of which deed a autobus injuring 2 people

- Kallol Bhattacharjee

Wall Street stocks mostly roseate aboriginal Monday (March 23, 2026) aft U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington and Tehran had held “very good” talks connected the warfare successful the Middle East -- contempt Iran denying negotiations took place.

Oil prices -- which person spiked since February 28 erstwhile the United States and Israel launched strikes connected Iran -- were sharply down connected Monday (March 23, 2026).

Brent crude was trading down 9.8%, and its US-equivalent West Texas Intermediate had dropped 8.7% by astir 1315 GMT.

U.S. stocks meantime surged, with the broad-based S&P 500 up 1.4% to 6,596.00 astir 5 minutes into trading.

The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 1.6% to 21,982.16, portion the Dow Jones Industrial Average roseate 1.4% to 46,232.45.

- AFP

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday helium was “grateful” to US President Donald Trump for delaying antecedently threatened strikes connected Iranian powerfulness plants.

“I expressed my concerns to him regarding the announced attacks connected the powerfulness plants successful Iran,” Merz told a Berlin property league astir their telephone telephone the erstwhile day. “I americium grateful that helium said contiguous helium is postponing them for different 5 days.”

- AFP

U.S. President Donald Trump told AFP on Monday that “things are going precise well” with Iran, soon aft announcing talks with Tehran and a five-day intermission connected targeting the Islamic republic’s powerfulness plants.

“Things are going precise well,” Trump said successful little comments by telephone to AFP erstwhile asked astir Iran, pursuing an earlier Truth Social station connected the negotiations that instantly sent lipid prices tumbling.

- AFP

Iran wants to ‌make a woody severely ⁠and that could travel wrong ‌five days oregon ‌less, ‌U.S. President ⁠Donald Trump ⁠told Fox Business Network .

Mr. Trump ‌said the astir caller talks betwixt ‌U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared ⁠Kushner and their counterparts ‌took spot connected Sunday night, Trump said successful ‌a telephone interview, according to the big ⁠of the “ Mornings with ⁠Maria” program. 

- Reuters

Two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum state (LPG) ‌tankers connected Monday sailed done ⁠the Strait of Hormuz though wide ‌traffic done the captious waterway ‌remained blocked, ‌according ⁠to information and ⁠sources.

The Pine Gas tanker sailed done the Strait ‌with the Jag Vasant pursuing adjacent by, shiptracking information ‌on the MarineTraffic level showed.

The Pine Gas tanker ⁠broadcast a connection of “India vessel ‌and crew”, according to abstracted LSEG vessel tracking data.

- Reuters

Productive talks betwixt U.S. President Donald ‌Trump and Iran are invited ⁠as Britain wants de-escalation successful the Middle ‌East and the re-opening ‌of the Strait ‌of ⁠Hormuz, a ⁠spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said connected Monday.

Asked astir ‌Trump’s announcement that helium would postpone strikes against Iranian ‌power plants pursuing “very good” conversations with Tehran, Starmer’s ⁠spokesperson said: “Any reports of productive talks ‌are welcome.”

“We’ve ever said that swift solution to the warfare is ‌in planetary interests and the Strait of Hormuz specifically needs ⁠to beryllium reopened,” the ⁠spokesperson told reporters.

- Reuters

Iran’s Tasnim news ‌agency, citing an Iranian official, ⁠said that the strait ‌of Hormuz volition ‌not instrumentality ‌to ⁠pre-war conditions ⁠and vigor markets volition stay unsettled, adding ‌that nary negotiations with the ‌U.S. are nether way.

Tasnim said U.S. ⁠President Donald Trump backed ‌down from attacking captious Iranian infrastructure amid fiscal ‌market pressure, informing Tehran would proceed to ⁠defend itself ⁠until it achieves deterrence. 

- Reuters

Reacting to Donald Trump’s announcement postponing the strikes connected Iran, Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India said: “We are intimately monitoring the developments.”

- Saptaparno Ghosh

Oil prices tumbled connected Monday aft U.S. President Donald Trump said the US was postponing strikes connected Iranian powerfulness plants and vigor infrastructure aft “very good” talks with Iran.

International benchmark Brent North Sea crude plunged much than 14% to $96.00 per barrel.

The main U.S. lipid declaration West Texas Intermediate besides shed much than 14% to $84.37 per barrel.

- AFP

The warfare against Iran threatens to nonstop Asian economies into crisis, Singapore’s Foreign Minister said connected Monday (March 23, 2026), a stark informing successful a portion that is acutely exposed to the monolithic disruption of ‌West Asian vigor supplies.

“Right present the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is, successful a sense, an Asian crisis,” Vivian Balakrishnan told Reuters.

In remarks made implicit an hour-long interview, helium besides raised questions ⁠about the necessity and legality of the U.S.-Israeli warfare connected Iran that is present entering its 4th week, saying the “entire planetary system has been taken hostage” by a struggle that could usher successful a fiscal crisis.

- Reuters

Iraqi person Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said helium would accelerate the dismantling of a US-led planetary anti-jihadist coalition, successful an interrogation with an Italian paper published connected Monday (March 23, 2026) .

The Prime Minister’s comments travel arsenic the state finds itself unwillingly drawn into the struggle successful West Asia, which began with Israeli and U.S. strikes connected Iran connected February 28.

Pro-Iran equipped groups person claimed work for near-daily attacks connected U.S. interests successful Iraq and crossed the region, portion strikes person besides targeted these groups.

The extremity of the planetary anti-jihadist coalition’s ngo was initially planned for September 2026 successful Iraq, with the drawdown launching successful 2024.

- AFP

​

​

Russia connected Monday (March 23, 2026) called for “political and diplomatic” colony to the Middle East warfare aft US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“We judge that the concern should person transitioned to a governmental and diplomatic settlement,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists astatine a briefing.

“This is the lone happening that tin efficaciously lend to defusing the catastrophically tense concern that has present developed successful the region,” Mr. Peskov said.

- AFP

The Kremlin connected ‌Monday (March 23, 2026) formed arsenic ⁠false a Politico study that ‌Russia had ‌offered ‌to ⁠cut disconnected quality ⁠sharing with Iran successful speech ‌for the United States ending its ‌support for Ukraine.

“This study - we ⁠have seen it,” ‌Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “It belongs ‌to the class of untruthful, oregon ⁠rather, false.”

- Reuters

U.S.-Israeli ‌strikes adjacent the Bushehr ⁠nuclear powerfulness ‌plant successful ‌Iran ‌are ⁠extremely ⁠dangerous and Russia has shared ‌its concerns with the ‌United States, Kremlin spokesperson ⁠Dmitry Peskov said ‌on Monday (March 23, 2026).

Such strikes ‌could person irreparable consequences, Mr. Peskov said. 

- Reuters

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said connected ‌Monday (March 23, 2026) determination had been nary appraisal ⁠that mainland Britain was being targeted by Iran.

“We ‌carry retired assessments each the ‌time successful bid ‌to ⁠keep america safe, and ⁠there’s nary appraisal that we’re being targeted successful that way,” ‌Mr. Starmer told reporters.

He was asked if Britain could beryllium ‌targeted by Iran aft reports astatine the play that Iran ⁠had fired 2 ballistic missiles astatine the ‌U.S.-U.K. subject basal Diego Garcia successful the Indian Ocean.

Mr. Starmer besides said that immoderate effort to ‌reopen the Strait of Hormuz needed cautious information and a viable ⁠plan, and that his ⁠number 1 precedence was to ‌protect British interests and de-escalate.

- Reuters

The Israeli subject said connected Monday (March 23, 2026) that its ain artillery occurrence killed an Israeli civilian a time earlier adjacent the bluish borderline with Lebanon, wherever its forces are warring Hezbollah.

After opening an investigation, the subject said “the archetypal findings suggest that the Israeli civilian was killed by IDF artillery occurrence conducted to enactment IDF soldiers operating successful confederate Lebanon”, adding that “several terrible issues and operational errors took spot during the incident, including some the readying and execution of the fire”.

- AFP

Two much Indian-flagged LPG tankers person started their travel from the Persian Gulf and are expected to transverse the war-hit Strait of Hormuz earlier heading to Indian ports, vessel tracking information showed.

LPG tankers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, sailing adjacent to each other, connected Monday (March 23, 2026) afternoon, were adjacent the waters betwixt Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands -- perchance to marque their individuality wide to Iranian authorities earlier they transverse the Strait.

The 2 ships were among the 22 Indian flagged vessels that were stranded successful the Persian Gulf aft the warfare successful West Asia astir closed the Strait of Hormuz -- the constrictive waterway betwixt Iran and Oman that connects the lipid and gas-producing Gulf countries to the remainder of the world.

- PTI

Japan Petroleum Association President Shunichi Kito said connected Monday (March 23, 2026) that North America was 1 imaginable root ‌for alternate crude lipid supplies, with Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico cited arsenic imaginable options.

Oil ⁠buyers elsewhere, including from Japan, are looking for options to substitute for supplies connected tankers stuck successful the Gulf portion owed ‌to the U.S.-Israeli warfare connected Iran and the consequent closure of the Strait of ‌Hormuz.

Oil prices person spiked to much than $100 ‌per ⁠barrel arsenic the strait, a large way for ⁠global lipid and LNG supplies, remains closed. In addition, the Donald Trump medication has temporarily waived sanctions connected the acquisition of Russian and Iranian lipid that is ‌currently stranded astatine oversea to soften the proviso crisis.

- Reuters

Crude lipid prices roseate sharply by ₹359 to ₹9,617 per tube connected Monday (March 23, 2026), marking their 4th consecutive league of gains successful futures commercialized amid escalating geopolitical tensions successful West Asia and proviso concerns.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude lipid for the April declaration climbed ₹359, oregon astir 4%, to ₹9,617 per barrel.

The May-delivery accrued by ₹436, oregon astir 5%, to deed a beingness precocious of ₹9,407 per tube connected the commodities bourse.

Analysts said crude lipid prices rallied successful home and planetary markets arsenic investors assessed the interaction of rising tensions astir the Strait of Hormuz, a cardinal lipid transit route.

- PTI

The satellite faces an vigor situation worse than some 1970s lipid shocks combined if the West Asia warfare drags on, the caput of the International Energy Agency warned Monday (March 23, 2026), arsenic Israel launched caller strikes connected Tehran and threatened weeks much fighting.

As the warfare grinds into its 4th week, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iranian powerfulness plants if Iran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz wrong 48 hours -- mounting an effectual deadline of 23:44 GMT Monday (March 23, 2026).

Tehran has retaliated against US-Israeli assaults by throttling postulation successful the captious waterway, conduit for a 5th of planetary crude oil, hitting vigor sites and U.S. embassies crossed the Gulf arsenic good arsenic firing missiles and drones astatine Israel.

The Islamic republic issued a steadfast effect to the caller ultimatum, with almighty parliament talker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowing captious infrastructure crossed the portion volition beryllium “irreversibly destroyed” if Mr. Trump acts connected his threat.

- AFP

An onslaught connected Iran’s confederate seashore and islands volition pb to ‌Gulf routes being chopped with the laying of oversea ⁠mines, the country’s Defence Council said connected Monday (March 23, 2026) according to authorities media.

The ‌U.S. is considering plans to inhabit oregon ‌blockade Iran’s Kharg Island, the ‌country’s ⁠main lipid export ⁠hub, to unit Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to each shipping, according to Axios.

“Any ‌attempt to onslaught Iran’s coasts oregon islands volition origin each entree routes successful the ‌Gulf (...) to beryllium mined with assorted types of oversea mines, including floating mines ⁠that tin beryllium released from the coast,” the connection read.

“In ‌this case, the full Gulf volition practically beryllium successful a concern akin to the Strait of Hormuz for a agelong clip (...) One should ‌not hide the nonaccomplishment of much than 100 minesweepers successful the 1980s successful removing ⁠a fewer oversea mines.”

- Reuters

Indian equity markets are positioning for a volatile derivatives expiry connected Tuesday (March 23, 2026), arsenic concerns implicit an escalation successful the Iran struggle ‌worsen sentiment and assistance request for costly hedges against marketplace swings.

U.S. President Donald Trump has acceptable ⁠a Monday deadline of astir 23:45 GMT (05:15 IST, Tuesday) for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz oregon look imaginable strikes connected ‌its powerfulness infrastructure. Iran has warned it would respond by targeting vigor and h2o assets crossed the ‌Gulf.

At-the-money options connected the Nifty 50 maturing ‌on ⁠Tuesday (March 23, 2026) connote a determination of much than 2%, ⁠well supra emblematic levels seen earlier expiry days, signalling investors are preparing for outsized swings, brokerages said.

- Reuters

China connected Monday (March 23, 2026) urged each parties progressive ‌in the West Asian struggle ⁠affecting the Strait of Hormuz to extremity subject ‌operations to forestall a “vicious cycle” ‌and instrumentality ‌to ⁠negotiations.

“Should hostilities proceed ⁠to escalate and the concern deteriorate further, the full portion ‌will beryllium plunged into chaos,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson ‌Lin Jian said erstwhile responding to a question astir ⁠U.S. President Donald Trump pressuring Iran to ‌reopen the cardinal shipping waterway.

“The usage of unit volition lone pb to a ‌vicious cycle,” helium said adding that the warfare should not ⁠have begun successful ⁠the archetypal place.

- Reuters

Greek Prime ‌Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis volition denote ⁠on Monday (March 23, 2026) caller ‌aid to ‌support ‌consumers from ⁠rising ⁠energy prices stemming from the ‌Iran conflict, his bureau said. The authorities ‌this period imposed a ⁠three-month headdress connected ‌profit margins connected substance and dozens ‌of products connected supermarket shelves ⁠to avert profiteering. 

- Reuters

El Al Israel ‌Airlines said connected Monday (March 23, 2026) it ⁠was reviewing its continued operations aft ‌the Transportation Ministry ordered ‌a ‌reduction of ⁠traffic astatine ⁠Ben Gurion Airport adjacent Tel Aviv.

Israel’s ‌flag carrier, which has been operating repatriation flights ‌since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli ⁠led aerial warfare with Iran ‌on February 28, called connected authorities to unfastened ‌Ramon Airport adjacent the Red Sea metropolis of ⁠Eilat arsenic an ⁠alternative to Ben ‌Gurion.

- Reuters

Tokyo is “not reasoning about” calling connected Iran to fto Japanese tankers done the Strait of Hormuz, the Foreign Minister has said, aft Tehran said it was acceptable to help.

Asked astir whether the authorities would impulse Iran to fto Japanese ships transit Hormuz, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said connected Sunday (March 23, 2026) connected a Fuji Television programme that “for the clip being, we are not reasoning astir that”.

His remark came aft Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said successful a telephone interrogation with Kyodo News on Friday (March 20, 2026) that Tehran was prepared to guarantee harmless transition for Japan.

“They lone request to interaction america truthful we tin sermon however this transit tin instrumentality place,” Mr. Araghchi added.

- AFP

Russia ‌opposes immoderate blockade ⁠of the Strait of ‌Hormuz ‌but ‌says ⁠such ⁠issues indispensable beryllium viewed ‌in the discourse of ‌the broader planetary situation, ⁠Interfax reported ‌on Monday (March 23, 2026), citing the ‌Russian Foreign Ministry. 

- Reuters

South Korean shares dropped much than 6% connected Monday (March 23, 2026) to adjacent ‌at their lowest level successful 2 weeks, portion the won weakened to a 17-year low, arsenic heightened West Asian tensions dampened appetite ⁠for riskier assets.

The won was quoted 0.83% little astatine ‌1,517.3 per dollar connected the onshore colony platform, hitting its lowest level since March 2009.

- Reuters

Asian shares dipped Monday (March 23, 2026), arsenic lipid prices continued to ascent aft U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest comments dashed hopes for an aboriginal extremity to the warfare successful Iran.

South Korea’s Kospi dove 6.5% to 5,404.77. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 4.0% to 24,279.23, portion the Shanghai Composite declined 3.7% to 3,811.62.

Donald Trump implicit the play warned the U.S. volition “obliterate” Iran’s powerfulness plants if it doesn’t afloat unfastened the Strait of Hormuz wrong 48 hours, prompting Tehran to accidental it would respond to immoderate specified onslaught with attacks connected U.S. and Israeli vigor and infrastructure assets successful the region.

“Trump’s ultimatum and Iran’s retaliatory warnings constituent to a widening struggle that keeps vigor disruption and marketplace volatility elevated with nary wide off-ramp successful sight,” said Ng Jing Wen, expert astatine Mizuho Bank successful Singapore.

- AP

Read much here

After Iran threatened powerfulness plants crossed West Asia, quality outlets published a database of specified facilities, including the United Arab Emirates’ atomic powerfulness plant.

The study by the semiofficial Fars quality agency, adjacent to its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, appeared to beryllium an indirect menace to the sites, including desalination plants successful West Asia.

The database besides included the UAE’s Barakah atomic powerfulness plant, which has 4 reactors retired successful the occidental deserts of the state adjacent its borderline with Saudi Arabia.

The judiciary’s Mizan quality bureau besides published the list.

The menace by Tehran puts astatine hazard some electrical supplies and h2o successful the Gulf Arab states, peculiarly arsenic the godforsaken nations commingle their powerfulness stations with desalination plants important for supplying drinking water.

Donald Trump’s self-declared 48-hour deadline expires conscionable earlier midnight GMT Tuesday (March 24, 2026), further raising the stakes of the ongoing warfare with Iran that has disrupted planetary vigor supplies, sending earthy state and gasoline prices soaring. 

- AP

European and U.S. gasoline cargoes are heading to the Asia Pacific aft Asian prices surged connected tightening proviso ‌due to the U.S.-Israeli warfare with Iran, according to commercialized sources and shipping data. 

The warfare has disrupted crude and lipid merchandise shipments from West Asia to Asia, causing Asian refineries to chopped output and forcing substance distributors to question proviso from arsenic acold arsenic the United States and bargain much Russian fuel. 

The other shipping ‌costs volition exacerbate already soaring substance prices for consumers and businesses.

- Reuters

Iron ore miners are astatine hazard of incurring billions of dollars much successful substance costs if diesel prices proceed ‌to rise, a elder enforcement astatine Australia’s Fortescue said connected Monday (March 23, 2026).

The U.S.-Israeli warfare connected Iran ⁠has each but stopped shipments done the Strait of Hormuz, sending lipid and state prices higher and tightening the proviso of ‌diesel, a main transport substance for the mining sector.

“A 10-cent alteration successful the terms of ‌diesel impacts america by $70 million,” said Dino Otranto, ‌metals ⁠and operations main enforcement serviceman astatine planetary miner ⁠Fortescue, successful an interrogation connected Monday (March 23, 2026). “If you look astatine our competitors, the apical four, each 10-cent question has a fractional a cardinal U.S. dollar interaction connected ‌the outgo structure.”

- Reuters

The caput of the International Energy Agency said connected Monday (March 23, 2026) that the planetary system faces a “major, large threat” due to the fact that of the Iran war.

“No state volition beryllium immune to the effects of this situation if it continues to spell successful this direction,” Fatih Birol told Australia’s National Press Club successful Canberra connected Monday (March 23, 2026).

He said the situation successful West Asia has had a worse combined interaction than the 2 lipid shocks of the 1970s and the effect connected state markets of the Russia-Ukraine war.

His comments came arsenic Israel launched a caller question of attacks aboriginal Monday (March 23, 2026) against Tehran.

- AP

Read much here

Indian authorities bonds plummeted connected Monday (March 23, 2026), arsenic surging lipid prices and rising U.S. Treasury yields weighed connected ‌sentiment. The benchmark 6.48% 2035 enslaved output was astatine 6.8261% arsenic of 10:30 a.m. IST, ⁠up 9 ground points, and aft closing astatine 6.7369% connected Friday. Bond yields determination inversely to prices.

The marketplace is ‌already grappling with dense indebtedness proviso and uncertainty implicit the cardinal bank’s continued support. Indian ‌rupee plunged to a caller grounds debased ‌of ⁠93.94 against the dollar amid unit from ⁠oil and U.S. yields.

The benchmark Brent crude hovered adjacent $113 a tube aft Tehran said it would people its Gulf neighbour’s vigor and h2o infrastructure if ‌U.S. President Donald Trump follows done connected threats to onslaught Iran’s energy grid, intensifying the struggle successful the Middle East, present successful its 4th week.

- Reuters

As U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline connected Strait of Hormuz approaches, Iran threatens to onslaught West Asian electrical plants powering U.S. bases. -- AP

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty dropped sharply successful aboriginal commercialized connected Monday (March 23, 2026) arsenic West Asia struggle entered its 4th week driving crude lipid prices higher.

A monolithic bearish inclination successful planetary equity markets and relentless overseas money outflows besides made investors jittery.

The rupee continued its descent successful the aboriginal commercialized connected Monday (March 23, 2026), losing 41 paise to slump to a grounds debased of 93.94 against the US dollar arsenic the raging warfare successful West Asia kept planetary crude lipid prices elevated, and the greenback remained strong.

Sustained overseas money outflows and a clang astatine the home equity markets successful the greeting league further weakened the section unit, forex traders said.

A onslaught connected a broadcast presumption successful confederate Iran killed astatine slightest 1 person, authorities tv reported connected Monday (March 23, 2026).

“The 100-kilowatt AM transmitter of the Persian Gulf Radio and Television Centre was attacked by the American-Zionist violent army,” the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported.

“In this attack, which was against planetary laws, 1 of the centre’s information colleagues was martyred and different idiosyncratic was injured.” -- AFP

Although the Centre has allocated an further 20% of commercialized LPG to the States, taking the full allocation to 50%, the critically affected sectors successful Kerala are yet to person a proportional share, contempt prioritisation by some the Central and State governments.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that it carried retired the 75th question of rocket strikes of the ongoing retaliatory cognition True Promise 4, targeting Israeli subject positions and a cardinal United States subject installation successful Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Prince Sultan Air Base, according to a study by Press TV.

In an authoritative statement, the IRGC said the cognition was conducted “in honour of martyred commanders” and described it arsenic a effect to what it termed continued aggression by Israel and the United States. It added that the strikes were carried retired utilizing “advanced ballistic missiles” and were based connected “accurate reconnaissance” by its quality units.

The connection further claimed that the targets included “new subject deployments and hiding places of Israeli troops” crossed aggregate locations. It besides asserted that the Prince Sultan Air Base successful Saudi Arabia was struck arsenic it serves arsenic a “key hub for US aggressors’ deployments and aerial operations” against Iran.

Reiterating its stance, the IRGC warned that Israeli and US forces stay nether “constant surveillance” and cautioned that attempts to conceal subject assets successful civilian areas would not supply protection. It said that “no hiding spot oregon antiaircraft measurement volition shield the aggressors from accountability,” underscoring its intent to proceed operations. -- ANI

An Indian nationalist has sustained insignificant wounded successful Abu Dhabi aft the debris of a ballistic rocket fell successful the Al Shawamekh country pursuing palmy interception, authorities said connected Monday (March 23, 2026).

Emergency teams responded to the country aft aerial defence systems dealt with the incoming missile, with debris landing successful a residential area, authorities added.

“Relevant authorities successful Abu Dhabi person responded to an incidental involving debris falling successful the Al Shawamekh country pursuing the palmy interception of a ballistic rocket by aerial defence systems. The incidental resulted successful a insignificant wounded to an Indian national,” the Abu Dhabi media Office said successful a station connected X.

“The nationalist is reminded to get accusation from authoritative sources lone and debar spreading rumours oregon unverified information,” it added. -- PTI

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said it detected 2 incoming ballistic missiles connected Monday (March 23, 2026), arsenic the kingdom and its Gulf neighbours look Iranian strikes.

“Two ballistic missiles were launched towards the Riyadh region, 1 of which was intercepted and the different fell successful an uninhabited area,” the ministry posted connected societal media. -- AFP

Stocks tumbled connected Monday (March 23, 2026) and lipid prices roseate aft Donald Trump and Iranian leaders traded threats implicit the cardinal Strait of Hormuz, portion Israel said the Middle East warfare could past respective much weeks.

With the struggle present successful its 4th week and showing nary motion of ending, the caput of the International Energy Agency warned of the worst planetary vigor situation successful decades and said the satellite system was nether “major threat” from the crisis.

Meanwhile, observers person besides raised the imaginable of a surge successful ostentation that could unit cardinal banks to hike involvement rates, portion the choking disconnected of fertiliser shipments has besides fanned concerns astir planetary nutrient security.

The US president connected Saturday gave Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping oregon look the demolition of its vigor infrastructure. -- AFP

Israel’s subject said it launched a “wide-scale wave” of strikes connected the Iranian superior aboriginal Monday (March 23, 2026) morning.

“The IDF has begun a wide-scale question of strikes targeting Iranian panic authorities infrastructure successful Tehran,” the Israeli subject posted connected Telegram utilizing its authoritative acronym. -- AFP

Iranian quality agencies reported explosions successful superior Tehran aboriginal Monday (March 23, 2026) morning, with Fars saying airstrikes had occurred successful aggregate locations. 

“Explosion heard successful Tehran,” section media Mehr posted connected Telegram.

Fars reported that “airstrikes targeted areas of Tehran”, specifying 5 areas and that “terrible sounds of explosions person been reported”. -- AFP

‌The situation successful ⁠the West Asia ‌is “very ‌severe” ‌and ⁠worse ⁠than the 2 lipid ‌shocks of the 1970s ‌put together, International ⁠Energy Agency ‌boss Fatih Birol said ‌on Monday (March 23, 2026). -- Reuters

Energy manufacture leaders volition converge connected Texas this week for an yearly league dominated by lipid and state proviso disruptions from the warfare launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

More than 10,000 attendees are expected for CERAWeek, the outpouring gathering successful Houston that has taken connected unexpected value arsenic substance prices soar since the Mideast warfare began successful precocious February.

“It volition beryllium a CERAWeek for the ages,” said Mark Brownstein, elder vice president of vigor astatine the Environmental Defense Fund.

The attacks connected captious vigor facilities successful Iran, Qatar and different Gulf countries person exacerbated a planetary lipid and state proviso representation already upended by the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re looking astatine the biggest disruption successful satellite lipid successful history,” said Daniel Yergin, vice president of S&P Global and the seat of the conference. “Nothing similar this is connected this standard has occurred before.” -- AFP

Kataeb Hezbollah — an Iran-backed equipped radical successful Iraq — says it volition widen its five-day intermission connected attacking the US embassy successful Baghdad, announced.

Since the commencement of the warfare successful the Middle East, pro-Iran equipped groups person claimed work for near-daily attacks connected US interests successful Iraq and crossed the region, portion strikes person besides targeted these groups. -- AFP

At warfare with Iran, President Donald Trump is cycling done an progressively hopeless database of options arsenic helium searches for a solution to the situation successful the Strait of Hormuz.

He has jumped from calls to unafraid the waterway done diplomatic means to lifting sanctions and present escalating to a nonstop menace against civilian infrastructure successful the Islamic Republic.

Benchmark U.S. lipid declaration WTI was up Monday (March 23, 2026) aft U.S. President Donald Trump gave Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to unfastened the Strait of Hormuz oregon look decimation of its vigor infrastructure and Israel warned the warfare would proceed for respective much weeks.

At 0015 GMT, the terms of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was up 0.44 percent to $98.66 per barrel. It had climbed to conscionable implicit $100 a tube earlier Monday (March 23).

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi scale and Japan’s Nikkei sharply dropped successful aboriginal trade.

The Kospi was down 4.69% astatine 5,509.88 points. The Nikkei 225 was down 3.54% astatine 51,483.91 points.

The terms of North Sea Brent crude, the planetary marketplace benchmark, was down 0.02 astatine $112.17 per barrel.

On February 27, the time earlier the US-Israeli attacks began connected Iran, WTI had stood astatine $67.02 and Brent was astatine $72.48 per barrel. -- AFP

Saudi Aramco, ‌the world’s apical lipid ⁠exporter, has chopped crude ‌supply to Asian ‌buyers successful ‌April, ⁠two ⁠sources with cognition of the substance ‌said today, aft the warfare with Iran disrupted commercialized ⁠via the Strait of ‌Hormuz.

The shaper is supplying lone Arab ‌Light crude exported from the Yanbu larboard ⁠to word ⁠customers successful ‌April, the sources said. -- Reuters

At warfare with Iran, President Donald Trump is cycling done an progressively hopeless database of options arsenic helium searches for a solution to the situation successful the Strait of Hormuz.

He has jumped from calls to unafraid the waterway done diplomatic means to lifting sanctions and present escalating to a nonstop menace against civilian infrastructure successful the Islamic Republic.

Trump and his allies importune they were ever prepared for Iran to artifact the strait, yet the Republican president’s erratic strategy has fueled disapproval that helium is grasping for answers aft going to warfare without a wide exit plan. On Saturday came his latest attempt, via an ultimatum to Iran: Open the strait wrong 48 hours oregon the United States volition “obliterate” the country’s powerfulness plants.

Trump’s aides defended the menace arsenic a hard-edged maneuver to property Iran into submission. Opponents framed it arsenic the nonaccomplishment of a president who miscalculated what it would instrumentality to get retired of a geopolitical mire. -- AP

An Iran-backed equipped radical announced connected Monday (March 23, 2026) that it would proceed its five-day intermission connected attacking the U.S. embassy successful Baghdad.

Since the commencement of the warfare successful the Middle East, pro-Iran equipped groups person claimed work for near-daily attacks connected U.S. interests successful Iraq and crossed the region, portion strikes person besides targeted these groups.

On Thursday, Kataeb Hezbollah, designated a “terrorist organisation” by Washington, said it would halt attacking the Baghdad embassy nether definite conditions, including an extremity to attacks connected residential parts of Iraq and the confederate suburbs of Beirut.

The second country is simply a bastion of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which is besides Iran-backed and is astatine warfare with Israel.

“The deadline fixed to the embassy of American evil volition beryllium extended by an further 5 days,” Kataeb Hezbollah said successful a connection connected Monday (March 23, 2026). -- AFP

U.S. President Donald Trump and his apical officials person offered shifting objectives and reasons for the U.S.-Israeli warfare connected Iran, which critics accidental shows a deficiency of readying for the struggle and its aftermath.

The Iranian subject connected Sunday (March 22, 2026) threatened to wholly unopen down the strategical Strait of Hormuz and onslaught U.S. infrastructure, including vigor facilities successful ‌the Gulf, if U.S. President Donald Trump acts connected threats to people the country’s powerfulness plants.

Mr. Trump connected Saturday (March 21) ​threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s powerfulness plants​ if Tehran did not afloat reopen the Strait of Hormuz wrong 48 hours, suggesting a important escalation hardly a time aft helium talked astir “winding down” the war, present successful its 4th week.

​

​

The U.S. subject declared connected Saturday (March 21, 2026) it had taken retired an Iranian bunker lodging weapons threatening lipid and state shipments successful the Strait of Hormuz, arsenic thousands of Iranians marked Id al-Fitr with prayer.

The U.S. connection appeared designed to calm the concerns of vigor markets and of Washington’s sceptical planetary allies, much than 20 of whom issued a connection vowing to backmost efforts to re-open the cardinal oversea lane.