Donald Trump has threatened to “end our lovely stay in Iran” by “obliterating” Kharg Island and other energy facilities if a deal to end the war is not reached.
In a post on Truth Social, the US president claimed that Washington was holding “serious discussions” with Tehran on how to bring the conflict to a resolution after making “great progress” in talks.
“If the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet ‘touched’,” he wrote.
Tehran continues to deny that any direct talks are taking place and earlier branded US proposals to end the war “unrealistic, illogical and excessive”.
Thousands of US troops have arrived in the region after Trump threatened an invasion of the strategic Kharg island in the Persian Gulf, which holds 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had received messages from intermediaries expressing Washington’s willingness to negotiate, but said the proposals were asking too much.
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U.S.-Iran war in numbers: Thousands dead, billions spent, and the global economy in crisis
Russian spy satellites used to photograph Chagos military base for Iran, Zelensky claims
Kharg Island: Why Trump wants to seize tiny oil hub in Persian Gulf in risky operation
Key Points
- Trump says US could seize Iran's Kharg Island 'easily'
- Oil heads for record monthly jump at $115 a barrel
- Iran warns Trump leading US troops into 'swamp of death'
- Yemen's Houthis say they launched second attack on Israel in less than 24 hours
- Pentagon considering plans for ground operations in Iran, according to reports
- Ship carrying thousands of Marines arrives in Middle East
What has Spain said about the Middle East crisis?
13:15 , James ReynoldsSpain has faced recurrent criticism from Donald Trump since his return to office last January over its low military spending relative to other Nato members.
Trump threatened to impose a full trade embargo on Spain on 3 March over its refusal to allow the US to use the jointly run bases at Morón and Rotafor to strike Iran.
Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister, stood his ground, restating in a 10-minute speech his opposition to war and what he called the “breakdown of international law”.
He said: “The question is not if we are on the side of the ayatollahs - nobody is. The question is whether we are in favour of peace and international legality.”
Sánchez also warned that Iran could follow the path of the war in Iraq, which he said had failed to achieve its goals and made life worse for ordinary people.
France’s Emmanuel Macron and the EU’s António Costa expressed their solidarity with Spain’s decision.
On 30 March, Spain extended its airbase ban by closing its airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran.
Defence minister Margarita Robles said: “We don’t authorise either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran.”
The closure will force military planes to go around Spain en route to their targets. It does not include emergency situations, reported Spanish outlet El País.
In pictures: Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs as Israeli strikes continue
13:00 , James Reynolds British troops will not join any ground invasion of Iran, Starmer says
12:45 , Maira ButtSir Keir Starmer has ruled out putting British troops on the ground in Iran, as he insisted the UK will not be “dragged in” to Donald Trump’s escalating war in the region.
The US sparked fears over the weekend that it is preparing launch ground operations in Iran, as fighting between Tehran and Washington continues into its second month.
The prime minister has faced criticism from both allies and enemies over his approach to the conflict, but doubled down on his position on Monday when asked if British troops could be sent to the Middle East.
“This is not our war and we’re not going to get drawn into it,” he said, adding the UK will continue to take defensive action and work to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
British troops will not join any ground invasion of Iran, Starmer says
Watch: Israel expands invasion of southern Lebanon
12:30 , James ReynoldsRecap: Trump says talks progressing as Israel widens invasion of Lebanon
12:00 , James ReynoldsGood afternoon,
Over the weekend, Donald Trump said that the US and Iran have been meeting directly and indirectly, appraising the new leaders of the country as being “very reasonable”.
With Iran’s top leadership decimated in four weeks of war, Trump said on Sunday he thought the US had already accomplished regime change in the country.
Pakistan, acting as an intermediary between the US and Iran, said it was preparing to host “meaningful talks” in the coming days aimed at ending the war.
US eyes possible Kharg invasion
Trump’s comments came even as more US troops arrived in the region, giving Trump the option of launching a ground offensive.
In an interview with Financial Times published on Sunday, Trump said he wanted to "take the oil in Iran" and could seize the export hub of Kharg Island. Taking control of Kharg would require ground troops.
Iran’s parliament speaker accused the US of trying to negotiate while also planning an invasion, and said Iran was ready to respond if needed.
Netanyahu greenlights wider invasion in Lebanon
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said meanwhile on Sunday that he had ordered the military to expand its operations in southern Lebanon, blaming Hezbollah rocket fire.
Israel said last week it was enlarging a ‘buffer zone’ up to the Litani River.
Houthis enter the fray
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis joined the conflict on Saturday, launching their first attacks on Israel and raising the prospect they could target and thus block a second key shipping route, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Israeli authorities said on Sunday that they had intercepted two drones launched from Yemen.
Supreme leader still out of frame
Iran’s new supreme leader thanked the Iraqi people and religious leadership for their support of Iran, according to Iran’s state media. But it was unclear how the message was conveyed.
Mojtaba Khamenei still has not been seen since his appointment as the third supreme leader of Iran in early March.
11:37 , James ReynoldsMadrid has closed its airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran, a step beyond its previous denial of use of jointly-operated military bases, Spain’s defence minister said on Monday.
"We don't authorize either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran," Margarita Robles told reporters in Madrid.
Spanish newspaper El Pais had first reported the news on Monday, citing military sources.
The closure of the airspace forces military planes to bypass NATO member Spain en route to their targets in the Middle East, but it does not include emergency situations, El Pais added.
Which key Iranian figures have been killed?
11:30 , James ReynoldsStrikes on Iran have killed several senior political and military figures, hitting the Islamic Republic's core leadership.
Among them are:
- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of Iran, killed in an airstrike on his compound on 28 February.
- Ali Larijani, secretary of the supreme national security council, killed in an air strike in the Paris area on 17 March.
- Mohammad Pakpour, commander-in-chief of the IRGC, killed in Tehran on 28 February.
- Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran’s defence minister, killed in Tehran on 28 February.
- Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, killed in Tehran on 28 February.
- Esmail Khatib, Iran’s intelligence minister, killed in a strike on 18 March.
- Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, leading the force central to internal security, killed in strikes on 17 March.
US proposals to end war 'unrealistic and illogical' says Iran
11:19 , James ReynoldsIran branded US proposals to end the war “unrealistic, illogical and excessive” on Monday, as US troops arrived in the region and Donald Trump threatened an island invasion.
Foreign ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had received messages from intermediaries expressing Washington’s willingness to negotiate, but said the proposals were asking too much.
Baghaei’s press conference came a day after the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met in Islamabad for first talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.
"Our position is clear. We are under military aggression. Therefore, all our efforts and strength are focused on defending ourselves," Baghaei said.
Iran vows to set US troops on fire if Trump launches ground invasion
11:00 , James ReynoldsIran says it is ready and waiting for US troops to launch a ground invasion and threatened to “set fire” to Donald Trump’s forces if they enter the Islamic Republic’s territory.
Speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Tehran is “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire”, in a published message broadcast on Iranian state media, including the official IRNA news agency, on Sunday.
It follows reports over the weekend that the Pentagon is awaiting President Trump’s approval for ground operations in Iran, according to the Washington Post.
Read the full story:
Iran vows to set US troops on fire if Trump launches ground invasion
Iran executes opposition group members convicted of plotting armed attacks in Tehran
10:40 , James ReynoldsIran executed two men convicted of links to opposition group People's Mojahedin Organisation of Iran and plotting armed attacks in Tehran using improvised launcher devices, its judiciary news outlet said on Monday.
In a statement, the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, the political arm of the PMOI, confirmed the executions and said the "barbaric" act was part of a broader effort to quell resistance within Iran.
Both men had been arrested in early 2024 and had been held at Evin prison in Tehran where they were “subjected to savage torture”, according to the statement shared with The Independent.
It said a number of PMOI members and other political prisoners remained on death row and called for action to be taken to save their lives.
Trump said he'd 'do a number on Kharg Island' in 1988
10:30 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump told the Guardian way back in 1988 that he would “do a number on Kharg Island”, as US-Iranian relations fell to a new low.
Trump said in the interview that he was not yet eyeing the role of president. He nonetheless aired strong opinions on how to tackle the world’s problems.
“I’d be harsh on Iran,” he said. “They’ve been beating us psychologically, making us look a bunch of fools. One bullet shot at one of our men or ships and I’d do a number on Kharg Island. I’d go in and take it.”
“Iran can’t even beat Iraq, yet they push the United States around. It’d be good for the world to take them on,” he continued, as noted by the BBC.
Recap: Trump says talks progressing as Israel widens invasion of Lebanon
10:09 , James ReynoldsGood morning.
Over the weekend, Donald Trump said that the US and Iran have been meeting directly and indirectly, appraising the new leaders of the country as being “very reasonable”.
With Iran’s top leadership decimated in four weeks of war, Trump said on Sunday he thought the US had already accomplished regime change in the country.
Pakistan, acting as an intermediary between the US and Iran, said it was preparing to host “meaningful talks” in the coming days aimed at ending the war.
US eyes possible Kharg invasion
Trump’s comments came even as more US troops arrived in the region, giving Trump the option of launching a ground offensive.
In an interview with Financial Times published on Sunday, Trump said he wanted to "take the oil in Iran" and could seize the export hub of Kharg Island. Taking control of Kharg would require ground troops.
Iran’s parliament speaker accused the US of trying to negotiate while also planning an invasion, and said Iran was ready to respond if needed.
Netanyahu greenlights wider invasion in Lebanon
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said meanwhile on Sunday that he had ordered the military to expand its operations in southern Lebanon, blaming Hezbollah rocket fire.
Israel said last week it was enlarging a ‘buffer zone’ up to the Litani River.
Houthis enter the fray
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis joined the conflict on Saturday, launching their first attacks on Israel and raising the prospect they could target and thus block a second key shipping route, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Israeli authorities said on Sunday that they had intercepted two drones launched from Yemen.
Supreme leader still out of frame
Iran’s new supreme leader thanked the Iraqi people and religious leadership for their support of Iran, according to Iran’s state media. But it was unclear how the message was conveyed.
Mojtaba Khamenei still has not been seen since his appointment as the third supreme leader of Iran in early March.
Force of 3,500 Marines and sailors arrive in Middle East
10:00 , James ReynoldsThousands of U.S. servicemembers have deployed to the Middle East as the war with Iran enters its second month, underscoring the scale of the American military buildup in the region.
On Friday, roughly 3,500 Marines and sailors aboard the USS Tripoli — an amphibious assault ship — entered the U.S. Central Command’s “area of responsibility,” the military command announced on Saturday. CENTCOM oversees U.S. operations in the Middle East.
The vessel also carries transport aircraft, tactical assets as well as strike fighter jets. Photos posted by CENTCOM show soldiers wearing helmets, goggles and combat fatigues.
Read the full story:
Force of 3,500 Marines and sailors arrive in Middle East
Iran confirms death of Navy commander Alireza Tangsiri
09:58 , James ReynoldsIran has confirmed the death of Navy chief Alireza Tangsiri, days after Israel claimed to have assassinated him.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed the death on Monday in comments carried by state media.
He died of wounds sustained after being targeted in an airstrike in Bandar Abbas, according to the Israeli military and Iranian media.
A native of Bushehr, he rose through the ranks to lead the IRGC Navy in 2018 and oversaw what Iran calls the "smart control" of the Strait of Hormuz, restricting passage through the vital global oil route.
In full: Why Trump wants to seize tiny oil hub in Persian Gulf in risky operation
09:41 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump has sent thousands of US soldiers to the Middle East, signalling that a ground invasion of a small island in the Persian Gulf remains on the table even as he touts success in supposed talks to end the war.
The president told the Financial Times that he wants to “take the oil in Iran” and might still use American troops to seize the tiny Kharg Island, the country’s main oil exporting terminal.
Kharg Island handles some 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports, and taking it would give the US the ability to disrupt Iran’s energy trade and place enormous pressure on the economy.
Kharg Island: Why Trump wants to seize tiny oil hub in Persian Gulf
Starmer to meet energy bosses as oil prices soar to $115/b
09:30 , James ReynoldsSir Keir Starmer is set to meet energy bosses in Downing Street on Monday, after the price of brent crude oil soared to $115 a barrel.
The prime minister is set to meet senior executives from the energy, shipping and financial services, including representatives from BP, Shell, Goldman Sachs and Lloyd’s of London, to discuss the impact of the Iran war.
Discussion is expected to focus on Tehran’s ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted a vital shipping route for the oil and gas industry along with supplies of other products such as fertiliser.
Follow our UK politics blog here:
Starmer to meet energy bosses after oil prices soars to $115 a barrel
Missiles launched from Iran towards northern Israel: report
09:21 , James ReynoldsIsrael is facing a new barrage of missile fire from Iran, according to Israeli reporter Amit Segal, writing on Telegram.
IDF admits 'several failures' of soldiers towards CNN reporters
09:17 , James ReynoldsIsrael’s chief of the general staff has concluded an inquiry into the conduct of IDF soldiers towards journalists during the evacuation of an illegal outpost in the West Bank, finding “several failures”, including deviation from orders and inappropriate communication with members of the press.
Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Monday suspended all operational activities of a reserve battalion involved in the detention and assault of a CNN team in the West Bank last week.
CNN was covering the aftermath of a violent assault by settlers in the Palestinian village of Tayasir when reporters were detained. One of the soldiers placed a photographer in a chokehold, bringing him to the ground and damaging his camera, according to the website.
Reservists who served in the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion will be withdrawn and reassigned to training until further notice, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Lt. Gen. Zamir said: “This is a grave ethical incident that is out of line with IDF norms and values. We all swore the soldier’s oath upon enlistment—weapons are to be used solely for the purpose of carrying out the mission, and never for revenge. We will not accept such incidents within the ranks of the IDF.”
Who are the Houthis? How rebel group could disrupt global trade amid Strait of Hormuz chaos
09:00 , James ReynoldsThe Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group known for its attacks on shipping, have joined the Iran war just as it enters its fifth week.
Their involvement escalates a rapidly worsening conflict that has already placed global oil supplies in a chokehold amid the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and reports of an impending ground invasion by US troops.
Backed by Iran, the Houthis had stayed out of the conflict until they launched attacks on Israel on Saturday.
Who are the Houthis? How rebel group could disrupt global trade and Strait of Hormuz
Where is Kharg Island?
08:19 , James ReynoldsWatch: Zelensky visits Jordan as Kyiv looks to shore up Middle east defence ties
08:00 , James ReynoldsWill Trump invade Kharg Island?
07:53 , James ReynoldsTrump told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday that he wanted to "take the oil in Iran" and could seize the export hub of Kharg Island.
Taking control of Kharg would require ground troops, which the US has rushed to the region in recent days. But most Americans are still opposed to the war and a new escalation, which would likely weigh on Trump’s already low approval ratings ahead of November midterm elections for Congress.
Officials have told Reuters the administration is weighing whether to send ground forces to the island.
Why launch a ground invasion?
The island handles 90% of Iran's oil exports, and seizing it would give the United States the ability to disrupt Iran's energy trade, placing enormous pressure on Tehran's economy.
Trump would also hope that taking Kharg Island would force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide him with potential leverage in future negotiations, analysts say.
How could the US go in?
Two contingents of Marines could arrive in the region around the end of the month, and sources say the Pentagon is planning to send thousands of airborne troops as well to give Trump more options if he were to order a ground assault.
A former commander of the U.S. Central Command, Joseph Votel, told TWZ.com last week that while only 800 to 1,000 troops would be needed on Kharg Island, they would require logistical backup that would need protection as well.
How would Iran respond?
Tehran has already sent extra surface to air missiles to the island and has laid traps including anti-personnel and anti-armour mines in the waters surrounding it, CNN reported, citing people familiar with US intelligence.
US troops landing on the island would also be exposed to missile and drone attacks.
Tehran could opt to lay more mines to target shipping, including floating mines deployed from the coast, which would make the region even more hazardous for shipping, which has already been significantly disrupted by the conflict.
Israel bolsters artillery stockpiles as Lebanon war widens
07:45 , James ReynoldsIsrael's ministry of defence on Monday said that it had placed a $48 million order for "tens of thousands" of 155mm artillery shells from Israeli defence company Elbit Systems.
The order was part of a broader ministry strategy to reduce Israel's reliance on foreign munitions and expand domestic production, the ministry said in a statement.
It did not say when the munitions would be delivered.
Trump considering military action to seize Iran's uranium - report
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump is reportedly considering a military operation to remove nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran.
President Trump is still weighing the risk of the operation and has yet to pass the order, US officials familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.
Trump and key allies have privately agreed a targeted operation could seize the uranium without significantly prolonging the war, the report said.
However, former US military officers and experts warned any attempt to extract the uranium would be highly complex and carry significant risks.
Iran dismisses Pakistan talks
06:42 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, dismissed the talks in Pakistan as a cover after some 2,500 US Marines trained in amphibious landings arrived in the Middle East.
He said Iranian forces were “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” according to state media.
Protest in Washington DC in support of Iranians' 'fight for freedom'
06:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarTrump calls Iran's current leaders 'very reasonable'
06:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarPresident Donald Trump said the US and Iran have been meeting "directly and indirectly" and that Iran's new leaders have been "very reasonable", as more US troops arrived in the region and Tehran warned it will not accept humiliation.
Mr Trump's remarks came after Pakistan, which is acting as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington, said it was preparing to host "meaningful talks" in the coming days aimed at ending the month-long Iran war.
"I think we'll make a deal with them, I'm pretty sure, but it's possible we won't," Mr Trump told reporters last evening as he traveled aboard Air Force One to Washington.
Mr Trump said he thought the US had already accomplished regime change in Tehran after strikes killed the country's supreme leader and other top officials, but said twice that their replacements seemed "reasonable".
New Zealand warns inflation will go 'much higher' if Iran war drags on
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarNew Zealand's finance minister said this morning that inflation was likely to rise "much higher" this year and stay outside the central bank's target range if the conflict in the Middle East drags on.
Finance minister Nicola Willis said the latest treasury department modelling had inflation peaking higher than previously expected based on a scenario with "a longer conflict with deeper disruption to supply chains".
"They think inflation will go much higher this year, and it will stay out of our target band," Ms Willis told reporters.
Data released in January showed fourth-quarter inflation of 3.1 per cent breached the central bank's target band of 1 per cent to 3 per cent. With energy prices rising, markets are increasingly pricing in a near-term policy tightening.
Trump claims US ‘destroyed’ sought-after targets across Iran
05:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump this morning claimed his troops have destroyed multiple targets in Iran as the war drags on.
“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,” Trump wrote in a brief post.
Iran vows to set US troops on fire if Trump launches ground invasion
05:16 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran says it is ready and waiting for US troops to launch a ground invasion and threatened to “set fire” to Donald Trump’s forces if they enter the Islamic Republic’s territory.
Speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Tehran is “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire”, in a published message broadcast on Iranian state media, including the official IRNA news agency, on Sunday.
It follows overnight reports that the Pentagon is awaiting President Trump’s approval for ground operations in Iran, according to the Washington Post.
More here.
Iran vows to set US troops on fire if Trump launches ground invasion
Trump says US could take Iran's Kharg Island 'easily'
04:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump has raised the idea of American forces seizing Iran’s Kharg Island, its main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf.
“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” Mr Trump told the Financial Times.
“It would also mean we had to be there (on Kharg Island) for a while.”
Asked about Iranian defences there, he said, “I don’t think they have any defence. We could take it very easily.”
The US already launched airstrikes once it said targeted military positions on the island.
Iran has threatened to launch its own ground invasion of Gulf Arab countries and new attacks if US troops land on its territory.
Mr Trump said that Iran’s parliament speaker authorised the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Oil heads for record monthly jump at $115 a barrel
04:36 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices extended gains this morning, with Brent headed for a record monthly rise, after Yemeni Houthis launched their first attacks on Israel over the weekend, widening the U.S.-Israel war with Iran in the Middle East.
Brent crude futures jumped $3.09, or 2.74 per cent, to $115.66 a barrel by after settling 4.2 per cent higher on Friday.
US West Texas Intermediate was at $102.56 a barrel, up $2.92, or 2.93 per cent, following a 5.5 per cent gain in the previous session.
Brent has soared 59 per cent this month, the steepest monthly jump, exceeding gains seen during the 1990 Gulf War, after the Iran conflict effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies.
Israel launches new wave of attack on Tehran
04:23 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Israeli military this morning said it was attacking the infrastructure of the Iranian leaders “throughout Tehran”.
Trump says Tulsi Gabbard 'softer' than him on Iran nuclear issue
04:17 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump has hinted at differences among his top aides on their approach to Iran, saying that his intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard was "softer" than him on curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Mr Trump, who also suggested that a deal could be near to contain Tehran's nuclear ambitions, said "yeah, sure," when asked by a reporter whether he retained confidence in Ms Gabbard, the US director of national intelligence.
"She's a little bit different in her thought process than me," Mr Trump said aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington after a weekend at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
"But that doesn't make somebody not available to serve. I would say that I'm very strong on the fact that I don't want Iran to have a nuclear weapon because if they had a nuclear weapon, they'd use it immediately. I think she's probably a little bit softer on that issue, but that's okay."
Mr Trump seldom acknowledges debate among top officials over the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iran, which is entering its second month. Vice President JD Vance has staked out a cautious approach on conflict and some other top Republicans have privately worried about the conflict's domestic economic and political costs.
The Republican president's administration has given conflicting messages about the state of Iran's nuclear program.
Trump ducks question about Iran invasion
02:15 , Graig GraziosiPresident Donald Trump refused to directly answer a question about whether or not he’ll send U.S. troops into Iran as part of his ongoing war with the nation.
During an Air Force One briefing with reporters on Sunday night, Trump was asked if he was still considering “boots on the ground.”
He said he’s got “lots of alternatives” and proceeded to discuss the large U.S. naval presence in the region and the destruction of Iran’s navy and government. He did not confirm either way if he would send U.S. troops into Iran.
He was also asked if new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was still alive.
“Maybe but nobody's heard about him. He he may be alive, but he's obviously very seriously in trouble. He's seriously wounded,” Trump said.
Up to 70 Britons detained in UAE over Iran attack footage, group warns
02:00 , Bryony Gooch Up to 70 Britons detained in UAE over Iran attack footage, campaign group warns
Trump tells reporters we've 'had regime change' in Iran, and that he believes Tehran will 'make a deal'
01:50 , Graig GraziosiOn Sunday night President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One that negotiations are underway with Iran, and claimed that the country allowed 20 “big” boats carrying oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
He claimed that the U.S. was doing “extremely well” in its negotiations with Iran, but noted that circumstances could sour.
“But you never know with Iran, because we negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up,” he said.
He also claimed that “we’ve had regime change” in Iran, insisting both the “first” and the “second” regimes have been destroyed.
“The next regime is mostly dead, and the third regime, we're dealing with different people than anybody's dealt with before. It's a whole different group of people. So I would consider that regime change,” he said, adding that the so-called “third group” was “very reasonable.”
Trump said that he thinks “we’ll make a deal” with Iran, but immediately hedged his bets and said “but it’s possible we won’t.”
Reeves to warn G7 against unilateral trade moves during Iran war
01:00 , Bryony GoochChancellor Rachel Reeves will urge her G7 counterparts on Monday not to pursue unilateral measures such as new trade barriers while the Iran war continues, saying such steps could further threaten energy security.
During a meeting with G7 finance ministers, energy ministers and central bank governors, Reeves will say the G7 "should act together, not in ways that shift pressure onto partners or weaken collective resilience", a statement released by her ministry said.
The Group of Seven (G7) wealthy nations includes the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, along with the European Union.
Reeves is expected to say that protectionism and new trade barriers could disrupt supply chains and drive up costs, and that cooperation is vital to keep energy and goods flowing and to bring down bills over time.
Watch: Netanyahu orders expansion of security buffer zone in southern Lebanon
Monday 30 March 2026 00:00 , Bryony GoochWho are the Houthis? Rebel group could further disrupt global trade
Sunday 29 March 2026 23:00 , Bryony Gooch Who are the Houthis? How rebel group could disrupt global trade and Strait of Hormuz
Watch: Iran warns Trump leading US army into 'swamp of death' as more Marines arrive in Middle East
Sunday 29 March 2026 22:30 , Bryony GoochSpeaker of Iranian parliament tells traders 'do the opposite' of pre-market indicators
Sunday 29 March 2026 22:00 , Bryony GoochThe speaker for Iran’s parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf issued a “heads up” to traders ahead of the market reopening on Monday, suggesting they “do the opposite” of what the pre-market news indicated.
Posting on X, the senior Iranian politician said: “Heads-up: Pre-market so-called ‘news’ or ‘Truth’ is often just a setup for profit-taking.
“Basically, it’s a reverse indicator. Do the opposite: If they pump it, short it. If they dump it, go long. See something tomorrow? You know the drill.”
It comes as oil prices have skyrocketed since the US-Israeli war against Iran began as the Islamic Republic retains control over the Strait of Hormuz.
When the market closed on Monday, Brent Crude prices were at $112.57 (£84.87) per barrel.
Heads-up: Pre-market so-called “news” or “Truth” is often just a setup for profit-taking. Basically, it’s a reverse indicator.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) March 29, 2026
Do the opposite: If they pump it, short it. If they dump it, go long.
See something tomorrow? You know the drill.
Iran's heavy water production plant no longer operational, IAEA says
Sunday 29 March 2026 21:30 , Bryony GoochThe International Atomic Energy Agency said on Sunday that Iran's heavy water production plant at Khondab, which the country reported had been attacked on 27 March, has suffered severe damage and is no longer operational. The installation contains no declared nuclear material, the UN nuclear watchdog added in a social media post on X.
India denies Elon Musk joined Modi-Trump call on Iran crisis
Sunday 29 March 2026 21:00 , Bryony Gooch India denies Elon Musk joined Modi-Trump call on Iran crisis
WHO says another health worker is killed in southern Lebanon
Sunday 29 March 2026 20:00 , Bryony GoochThe World Health Organization said on Sunday that another health worker was killed in southern Lebanon due to Israel's expanding military operations in the region.
A paramedic was killed in a strike on an ambulance in Bint Jbeil, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in an X post, adding that a medical warehouse in the same city was destroyed in an attack.
Power restored to most areas of Tehran and Karaj, says Iranian state media
Sunday 29 March 2026 19:55 , Bryony GoochPower has been restored to most areas of Tehran and Karaj, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.
Electricity was cut in parts of the Iranian capital and in Alborz province, state media said on Sunday, after attacks on energy infrastructure.
Tehran experiencing a power cut after attacks on power infrastructure
Sunday 29 March 2026 19:43 , Bryony GoochParts of Tehran are experiencing a power cut after attacks on the infrastructure.
Electricity was cut in parts of the Iranian capital and in Alborz province , Iran's state media cited the country's ministry of energy as saying on Sunday.
Shrapnel hit a part of the electricity grid in Alborz province, causing power to be cut in several areas of Tehran and the city of Karaj.
Electricity in parts of Tehran will be restored in a few hours, according it the Tasnim news agency, citing the deputy energy minister.
Pope Leo condemns Trump in thinly veiled Palm Sunday message
Sunday 29 March 2026 19:30 , Bryony Gooch Pope Leo condemns Trump over Iran war in thinly veiled Palm Sunday message
Watch: RFK Jr. says Trump is 'an empath' since he talks about war casualties
Sunday 29 March 2026 19:10 , Bryony GoochIsraeli military says no negligence in probe into accidental killing of farmer near Lebanon border
Sunday 29 March 2026 18:50 , Bryony GoochThe Israeli military said on Sunday no negligence was found nor any ethical failure on the part of officers involved in the accidental killing of Israeli farmer Ofer Moskovitz near the Lebanese frontier earlier this month.
Mr Moskovitz, 60, an avocado farmer from Misgav Am, became the first Israeli civilian killed in the border conflict, which is unfolding alongside the war in Iran.
Mr Moskovitz had expressed concerns about the border fighting to Reuters just last week.
Pakistan says Islamabad will soon host talks between the US and Iran
Sunday 29 March 2026 18:40 , Bryony GoochPakistan's foreign minister says Islamabad will soon host talks between the US and Iran, according to AP.
Pakistan, which like Turkey borders Iran, has leveraged its close ties to both Tehran and Washington to emerge as a key diplomatic channel in the conflict. Ankara and Cairo have also played a role.
