Glimmers of peace in the Gulf? US President Donald Trump has surprisingly announced a 15-point agreement being finalized with Iran, which is reportedly willing to give up its nuclear weapons. Tehran has denied this ("Fake news"), but negotiations to reach a ceasefire are reportedly underway. Washington, however, is not reportedly negotiating with the entourage of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei , but rather—officials tell Politico—it is evaluating Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf as a potential partner and even a future US-backed leader after an agreement ( THE WAR: ALL THE NEWS ).

According to the Washington Post, many in the Trump administration still believe it is "unlikely" to achieve objectives such as "overthrowing the Iranian theocratic regime and permanently removing nuclear weapons from reach." Meanwhile, the attacks with airstrikes, missiles, and drones continue unabated.

News for Tuesday, March 24, 2026

10:30 PM – Channel 12: "The US is aiming for a month-long truce for a 15-point agreement."

US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with the approval of President Donald Trump, are working on a mechanism to declare a month-long ceasefire during which the parties will discuss the 15-point agreement proposed by Washington, very similar to what occurred in Gaza and Lebanon. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported this, citing three sources familiar with the details.

8:50 PM – Trump's approval rating drops to 36%, the lowest of his second term.

Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen in a week to its lowest level since returning to the White House, primarily due to soaring gasoline prices and widespread disapproval of the war against Iran. This is according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted over four days and concluded yesterday. The survey found that only 36% of Americans approve of Trump's performance, down from 40% in the same poll the previous week. He also failed to approve of his economic performance, with only 29% approving, a worse result than Joe Biden's.

7:50 PM – Trump: "We won the war."

" You know, I don't like to say this, but we won. The war was won. Anyone who says otherwise is just talking fake news ," Donald Trump said at the White House. "We're dealing with a group of people who, in my opinion, have proven themselves worthy, and the gift they gave us was very significant, and they promised to do it, and they did, and they're the only ones who could have done it," he said, explaining that the gift was tied to the "flow through the Strait" of Hormuz.

7:10 PM – Axios: "US awaits Iran's response on possible meeting"

The United States and mediators are considering a high-level peace meeting with Iran on Thursday but are awaiting a response from Tehran. Axios reports, citing sources, that the US and a group of regional mediators are discussing the possibility of holding high-level peace talks with Iran, which could be held as early as Thursday.

7:00 PM – IDF: "An Iranian-launched ballistic missile has fallen in Beirut."

"Based on data available to the IDF, along with launches carried out earlier today toward the State of Israel, a ballistic missile fired by the Iranian terrorist regime has fallen in Beirut," the Israeli military wrote in a statement, confirming a report by the Guardian.

6:20 PM – The Pentagon plans to deploy another 3,000 troops to the Middle East.

The Pentagon plans to deploy 3,000 soldiers from the Army's elite division to the Middle East to support operations in Iran. The Wall Street Journal reports that a written order for the deployment is expected within hours. The deployment of the 82nd Division, sources explain, opens up the possibility for Donald Trump to pursue several strategic options.

6:00 PM – Tehran intercepts first missile over Lebanon

For the first time, an Iranian missile has been intercepted in Lebanese airspace, according to three senior Lebanese security sources cited by the Guardian, two of whom blamed a foreign naval vessel for the interception. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that shrapnel from the intercepted missile fell on several towns north of Beirut, causing minor injuries.

5:15 PM – UK considers sending ship to clear Strait of Hormuz of mines

The United Kingdom is considering sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz to counter the threat of naval mines from Iran. British defense officials told The Times that the plan calls for the deployment of a Royal Navy vessel or a chartered commercial vessel to carry drones designed to search for and destroy them. The operation would be part of a multinational mission involving France, the United States, and other unspecified countries.

4:30 PM – CNN: "Iran willing to listen if there's a sustainable plan."

There have been "contacts" between the United States and Iran, and Tehran is willing to listen to "sustainable" proposals to end the war. CNN reports this, citing an Iranian source, who said Washington initiated the contacts. "Messages were received through intermediaries to explore the possibility of reaching an agreement to end the war," the source told CNN, emphasizing that Iran is not requesting meetings or talks but is willing to listen if there is a sustainable plan. Any proposal, he added, must include the lifting of all sanctions imposed on Iran.

3:45 PM – Hormuz: Chinese container ship becomes first vessel to pay Iranian toll

Ships stranded in the Persian Gulf are beginning to agree to pay an informal toll imposed by Iran to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Among them, a Chinese-owned container ship became the first with direct ties to mainland China to pay to transit a "safe corridor" near Larak Island. Its transit was handled by a Chinese shipping intermediary, who also handled the payment to Iranian authorities, according to sources familiar with the matter. The system remains managed on a case-by-case basis, while some governments, including India, are reportedly negotiating more structured agreements with Tehran. Other sources cited by Bloomberg say the toll demands are estimated to be up to $2 million per ship and have so far been made "completely randomly." They confirm that they have already been accepted by some vessels, although the payment mechanism is unclear. For Gulf producers, "even an informal toll is unacceptable," sources say, as it raises sovereignty issues and sets a risky precedent.

3:30 PM – Iran to demand significant concessions from US in case of negotiations

Iran's negotiating position has hardened significantly since the war began, with the Revolutionary Guards exerting increasing influence over decision-making. It will demand significant concessions from the United States if mediation efforts lead to serious negotiations, three senior sources in Tehran told Reuters, as reported on its website. In any talks with the United States, Iran would not only demand an end to the war, but also concessions that likely represent red lines for US President Donald Trump: guarantees against future military action, compensation for wartime losses, and formal control of the Strait of Hormuz, the sources said. Iran would also refuse to negotiate any limitations on its ballistic missile program, the sources said, an issue that had been a red line for Tehran during ongoing talks when the United States and Israel launched their attack last month.

3:00 PM – Qatar Energy declares force majeure on LNG contracts, including for Italy.

Following Iran's missile attacks, QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on some of its long-term contracts for the supply of liquefied natural gas to Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China. The move was first announced as a possibility a few days ago by the group's CEO, Saad al-Kaabi. The energy company invoked force majeure following the attacks on two of its main infrastructure facilities, which halted liquefied natural gas production, while Iran continues its raids in the Gulf. The clause protects QatarEnergy from penalties and any contractual breaches towards customers due to the production disruption.

2:15 PM – "Bin Salman pressuring Trump to continue the war."

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is pressuring the United States to push through the war in Iran and overthrow the regime, according to the New York Times. According to the newspaper, MBS has been insisting for days to President Donald Trump that the US-Israeli military campaign represents a "historic opportunity" to reshape the Middle East. In a series of discussions, Prince Mohammed explained that Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf, which can only be eliminated by getting rid of the government. This is in line with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But while the prevailing view in Israel is that a failed regime and an Iran in chaos would already be a victory because Tehran would cease threatening Israel, Saudi Arabia sees this scenario as a grave and direct threat to its security. If the conflict drags on, Iran could decide to increasingly target Saudi oil installations, and the United States would find itself mired in an endless war. Officially, Riyadh denied the allegations. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always supported a peaceful resolution to this conflict, even before it began," the Saudi government assured in a statement reported by the New York Times.

1:25 PM - Qatar: "We are not involved in negotiations to end the war."

Qatar is not involved in mediating any negotiations between the United States and Iran, a spokesperson for the country's Foreign Ministry said this morning. The Gulf state has often acted as a mediator in the Middle East, most recently helping to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for 2024. However, in response to a question from NBC News during a press conference in Doha, Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said his country was not playing any role in the negotiations. "Qatar is not involved in these talks. Our position on any negotiations, should they occur, is consistent with our fundamental principle that all conflicts must be concluded at the negotiating table, and we support all such efforts," he said. "I am not aware of the details of the ongoing negotiations, but we are ready to provide our assistance, of course, should Qatar play a role. Right now, however, our priority is to support these efforts and stop the attacks against our country."

12:50 PM – Tehran Military Command: "We will fight until complete victory."

A spokesman for the Iranian military command declared that the country's armed forces will fight "until complete victory," Al Jazeera reports. "Iran's mighty armed forces are proud, victorious, and steadfast in defending Iran's integrity, and this path will continue until complete victory," said Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Command.

12:15 PM – Israel: "We are taking control of the security zone in southern Lebanon."

Israel has announced it will assume "control" of the so-called "security zone" up to the Litani River in Lebanon, about 30 kilometers from the border. The Guardian reports, quoting Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. "All five bridges over the Litani have been blown up, and the IDF will control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani," Katz had previously said, warning that "hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents" will not be able to return south of the river "until security is guaranteed" in northern Israel.

12:05 PM – Iran appoints Larijani's replacement

Iran has appointed Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA, citing the president's office. Al Jazeera reports. Zolghadr replaces the late Ali Larijani, who was assassinated last week.

11:30 AM – Trump wants Iran deal, Israel unlikely

Donald Trump appears determined to reach a deal with Iran aimed at ending hostilities in the Middle East, but Israeli officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said they believe Iran is unlikely to accept US demands in a possible new round of negotiations, which were interrupted on February 28 with the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran. Reuters reports this on its website. US demands are likely to include limitations on Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

10:00 a.m. – "Iran still has a thousand missiles."

According to an Israeli think tank, Iran began the war with around 2,500 ballistic missiles and now has around 1,000 remaining. The Israeli research center Alma said that after the 12-Day War in June last year, Iran had around 1,500 missiles remaining. Over the next eight months, it was able to produce another 1,000, suggesting that Tehran could act quickly to replenish its stockpile.

9:45 a.m. – WSJ: "Gulf countries could join U.S. against Iran."

US allies in the Persian Gulf are edging ever closer to joining the fight against Iran, hardening their positions following the ongoing attacks that have devastated their economies and threaten to give Tehran long-term leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, the WSJ reports. They are not yet going so far as to openly deploy their military forces in the conflict, a threshold Gulf rulers had hoped not to cross, though pressure is mounting as Iran threatens to exert greater influence over the energy-rich region.

9:15 AM – IDF raid on Lebanon, Beirut also hit

Israel targeted seven areas in Beirut's southern suburbs overnight, Lebanese state media reported today. "Enemy warplanes launched seven raids overnight on the southern suburbs, targeting several locations," the National News Agency reported. The Israeli military has repeatedly bombed southern Beirut in recent weeks, also carrying out deadly attacks in other areas of the capital and across Lebanon.

8:30 a.m. – Israel bombs Tehran

Following the Iranian missile attack, which involved at least one missile with a 100-kilogram warhead that injured at least six people and caused extensive damage in the heart of Tel Aviv, Israeli forces are targeting missile launchers and infrastructure in western Iran, Israeli media reported.

8 a.m. – US raid against pro-Iran militias in Iraq: 15 dead

A raid attributed to US forces in western Iraq has killed 15 militants from the former paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, officials said.

also as the Popular Mobilization Forces, pro-Iranian, on the front lines in the fight against ISIS and now integrated into the Baghdad army.

7:30 a.m. – Iranian missile hits Tel Aviv: 10 injured

Injuries after an Iranian missile attack in Tel Aviv. Haaretz reports, specifying that, according to emergency services, those involved suffered minor injuries at one of the impact sites. A building and the adjacent street were severely damaged in central Tel Aviv, where several cars caught fire.

6:50 AM – Iran fires more missiles at Israel

Iran has launched another wave of missiles at Israel, according to

announced on state television, after previous attacks had hit a building in the north of the Jewish state and a loud explosion had been heard in Jerusalem.

WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST: ALL THE NEWS

(Unioneonline)

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