More than twenty days after the war unleashed by the US and Israel, Donald Trump said that Iran has agreed not to have nuclear weapons and "a 15-point agreement."

Tehran denies ("No talks") but after the American president had issued an ultimatum to Iran on Saturday evening, threatening to "strike and annihilate" Iranian power plants if the Islamic Republic "does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours", today he himself is the one to put the brakes on, speaking of "an agreement on fifteen points", of "very good talks", of "attacks postponed for five days".

Meanwhile, the shipping blockade in Hormuz remains in place, despite Iran's denials. Iran is considering imposing a $2 million tax on transiting vessels, while on other fronts, dozens of injuries have been reported in raids on Dimona and Arad, Israel. And in Lebanon, the IDF's announcement that it intends to intensify "targeted" land operations follows raids on bridges in the south, particularly one that destroyed a strategic junction between Tyre and Sidon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned that these attacks represent "a dangerous escalation" and "a prelude to a ground invasion."

HERE IS ALL THE NEWS ABOUT THE WAR IN IRAN

Live broadcast on March 23rd:

8:45 PM – Netanyahu calls an urgent coalition meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called coalition leaders "for an urgent discussion to be held within the next hour," Ynet reported, noting that the meeting's purpose was not disclosed, but participants presume it concerns negotiations between the US and Iran for a possible agreement.

8:25 PM – IDF: Pasdaran security headquarters in Tehran hit

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it struck the "main security headquarters" of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as part of a "wave of attacks that concluded recently in the heart of Tehran," the Guardian reported. "The headquarters was used by the IRGC to coordinate unit activities and conduct situation assessments. It was also responsible for commanding the Basij battalions," the IDF said in a statement.

8 p.m. – Netanyahu called Trump shortly before the attack and pushed to hit Khamenei

Less than 48 hours before the US-Israeli attack on Iran began, Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Donald Trump by phone about the rationale for launching the war, arguing that there had never been a better opportunity to kill Ali Khamenei and avenge Iran's previous attempts to assassinate Trump. Reuters reports this online, citing three people briefed on the call. At the time of the call, Trump had reportedly already approved the idea of a US military operation against Iran, but had not yet decided when or under what circumstances the United States would intervene. The three sources briefed on the call said they believe that it, coupled with intelligence indicating an increasingly narrow window of opportunity to eliminate the Iranian leader, was a catalyst for Trump's final decision to order the launch of Operation Epic Fury on February 27.

6:53 PM – IDF attacks in Lebanon, condemned by the Arab League

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon, targeting infrastructure and bridges. He considers them, he said in a statement, "a flagrant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, security, and stability, as well as a clear violation of international law."

6:10 PM – London summons Iranian ambassador over spying

Keir Starmer's British government has summoned Iran's ambassador to London to the Foreign Office to file a formal protest against "destabilizing activities" and espionage in the United Kingdom attributed to Tehran. The summons follows the recent arrest of an Iranian citizen accused of attempting to intrude with a woman into the Faslane naval base, where the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines are based.

5:45 PM – Trump: "We've eliminated everything that needed eliminating."

In Iran, "we have eliminated everything that needed to be eliminated," said US President Donald Trump, speaking from Memphis. "We have destroyed the Iranian regime; it no longer threatens us," Trump added, reiterating that the United States "has killed all of Iran's leaders" and that "good talks" have begun with Tehran.

5:12 PM – Iran: "Talks with the US? Fake news."

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf confirmed the Foreign Ministry's statement that Iran has not held talks with the United States. "There have been no negotiations with the United States, and fake news is being used to manipulate financial and oil markets and to escape the quagmire in which the United States and Israel are trapped," he wrote on X. Iran demands "full and severe punishment for the aggressors," the spokesman said in a second message.

4:02 PM – "Possible US-Iran meeting in Pakistan"

The countries mediating between the United States and Iran are trying to arrange a meeting this week in Islamabad between Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and other Tehran officials with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Axios reports, noting that Vice President J.D. Vance may also be present.

3:25 PM – Trump: "Regime change is underway in Iran."

Speaking to reporters before leaving for Memphis, Donald Trump claimed that regime change was underway in Iran. The president then reiterated that the United States and Israel "have eliminated the leadership" in Tehran.

3:10 PM – Trump: "A 15-point agreement: Iran has agreed not to have the nuke."

Donald Trump said Iran has agreed not to have nuclear weapons. Speaking to reporters before leaving for Memphis, the president also noted that an agreement with Tehran had been reached on 15 points, including nuclear weapons.

3:00 PM – Trump: "In Iran, we're talking to a senior figure, not the Supreme Leader."

The United States is talking to the "most important person" in Iran, but he's not the Supreme Leader. Donald Trump said so.

1:40 PM – Iranian media: "No talks with the US are underway."

Iran's Fars news agency, citing a source, claims there are no direct or indirect communications with the United States after Donald Trump spoke of "very positive" negotiations. Fars, quoted by Reuters online, also claimed that Trump backed down from the idea of targeting Iranian power plants after Iran threatened to target power plants across the Middle East.

12:30 PM – Trump: "The US is postponing its attacks on Iran after very good talks."

The United States postpones attacks on Iran after "very good and productive" talks over the past two days, Donald Trump stated in Truth. "Based on the tenor and tone of these thorough, detailed, and constructive talks, which will continue throughout the week" with Tehran, "I have instructed the War Department to postpone any military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a period of five days , subject to the successful outcome of ongoing meetings and discussions."

12:00 PM – The US aircraft carrier Gerald Ford arrives in Cyprus

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier that has participated in war operations in the Middle East, returned to a naval base in Crete today, according to an AFP photographer. The ship, which had refueled with food, fuel, and ammunition in Souda Bay in February, reported a fire in its laundry on March 12, injuring two crew members.

11:40 a.m. – US issues global alert to its citizens: Iran and associated groups could target you.

The U.S. State Department has issued a "global advisory" to U.S. citizens residing outside the United States, especially in the Middle East, urging them to take precautionary measures amid the ongoing war with Iran. "Groups supporting Iran may target other U.S. interests abroad or locations associated with the United States and/or U.S. citizens around the world."

11:15 a.m. – Kremlin: "Attacks on nuclear sites in Iran would have irreparable consequences."

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia believes any attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities could have irreparable consequences. "We consider attacks on nuclear facilities to be potentially extremely dangerous and capable of causing irreparable consequences. For this reason, the Russian side, taking a highly responsible stance on this issue, has repeatedly expressed its concerns," the Kremlin spokesman was quoted by Tass as saying.

9:50 a.m. – Tehran: "If our coasts are attacked, we will mine the entire Persian Gulf."

The Iranian Defense Council has threatened to lay sea mines to blockade the entire Persian Gulf if Iran's coasts or islands are attacked. " Any attempt by the enemy to attack Iran's coasts or islands will naturally result in the undermining of all access routes and lines of communication in the Persian Gulf and along the coasts with various types of naval mines, including floating mines, " the statement, carried by Fars, read. "In such a case, the entire Persian Gulf would find itself in a situation practically similar to that of the Strait of Hormuz for a long time," Tehran said.

8:00 AM - Israel: "Large-scale Israeli attack on Tehran infrastructure"

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched a large-scale attack on Iranian terrorist regime infrastructure in Tehran. Shortly beforehand, the IDF announced on Telegram that it had identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory. Defense systems have been activated to intercept the threat.

7 a.m. – Trump and Starmer call: "Reopening Hormuz is essential."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump spoke by telephone late yesterday evening, Sunday. A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The two leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East and, in particular, the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to resume global maritime traffic. They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is essential to ensuring the stability of the global energy market. They agreed to speak again soon."

(Unioneonline)

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