Israel-US-Iran War LIVE: 'Closely Following Developments,' Says MEA On Trump's 5-Day Pause Announcement

The White House on Monday declined to comment on mediation efforts in the Iran crisis, stating that sensitive diplomatic discussions would not be conducted publicly, even as reports indicated growing back-channel activity.

“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the news media,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told IANS when asked about Pakistan’s role in easing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

“Had a detailed telecon this evening with US@SecRubio. Our discussions focused on the West Asia conflict and its impact on the international economy. We particularly spoke about energy security concerns. Agreed to remain in touch,” tweeted S Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister.

Trump said the US has eliminated all major targets in Iran, including its leadership.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say they have launched fresh strikes targeting sites in Israel and a US base in the region, Iranian media reports.

"No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped," Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X.

His remarks came on Monday, after US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran was keen to strike a deal and that American envoys were in contact with a “respected” Iranian leader.

Two additional Indian-flagged LPG tankers, carrying nearly a day’s supply of the country’s cooking gas, have safely passed through the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz. The vessels, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, are expected to arrive in India within the next two days.

According to ship-tracking data, the ships departed from the Persian Gulf on Monday morning and crossed the strait together.

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, stated that the two tankers are transporting a total of 92,612 tonnes of LPG.

Pakistan is positioning itself as a key mediator, aiming to broker an end to the US–Israel war against Iran, the FT reports.

The US is engaged in negotiations with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Qalibaf, an Israeli official said.

US President Donald Trump said that the United States did not initiate contact, claiming Iran reached out first seeking a deal. 

"I did not call; they (Iran) called; they wanted to make a deal. We are very willing to make a deal. It is going to be a good deal. There are going to be no more wars, nuclear weapons; they have agreed that they are not going to have nuclear weapons anymore," Trump said.

Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, citing the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, has denied US President Donald Trump’s claim that talks are taking place between Washington and Tehran. According to the ministry, Trump’s remarks are intended to buy time for US military plans and ease energy prices, the report said.

"The US President's statements are within the framework of efforts to reduce energy prices and gain time to implement his military plans," the ministry stated, as quoted by Mehr News Agency.

"There are initiatives by regional countries to de-escalate tensions, and our response to all of them is clear: We are not the party that started this war, and all these requests should be referred to Washington," it added.

A reporter from the US news outlet Axios has reported that representatives of Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan met with Steve Witkoff, a representative of the United States government, and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi separately. This information was reported by journalist Barak Ravid using an anonymous source from the United States who said that the purpose of the meetings was to discuss ways to end the conflict between Iran and the United States and resolve all outstanding issues.

Iran’s foreign ministry also confirmed that there were “initiatives” aimed at reducing tensions, according to the Mehr news agency, adding that Tehran wants Washington, which it holds responsible for starting the conflict, to be directly involved in the talks. The White House has not responded to queries regarding the details of the meetings, including participants or location.

India stated it is monitoring the developments closely after US President Donald Trump declared that he would postpone military attacks against Iran’s energy systems for five days. Ministry of External Affairs, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to a question related to the current situations stated that New Delhi is keeping a watch on the situation.

“Yes, we are closely following these developments as we do,” Jaiswal said.,

UK Prime Minister Starmer’s spokesperson says reports of productive talks between Trump and Iran are welcome.

Iran has rejected allegations that it is charging merchant shipping up to USD 2 million to allow transit through the war zone Strait of Hormuz as "unfounded” claims based on individual comments. 

The disagreement arose from comments made by Iranian MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi, quoted as a member of the MP's national security commission, “War has costs, and naturally we must take transit fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.”

The Israeli Ministry on Monday said that it is conducting strikes in the heart of Tehran. 

Oil prices dropped significantly by around 13 per cent on Monday after US President Trump's announcement that he will direct the military to postpone any US strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure and power plants for five days.

Brent crude futures fell by an estimated USD 17 or 15 per cent from the previous session, reaching a low of USD 96 per barrel at 1108 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also fell by around USD 13 or 13.5 per cent to settle at a low of USD 85.28 per barrel.

Reacting to Trump'a announcement, Iranian state media said that the US president backed down on his ultimatum. ,

Trump has backed down again!

I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS. pic.twitter.com/YwJH5xEpTZ, — Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) March 23, 2026

US-Iran War LIVE: In a significant development amid the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that both nations have held talks over the past two days, leading to an agreement to pause attacks on Iranian energy facilities for five days.

Iran War LIVE: Several explosions were heard in Iranian capita Tehran on Monday while the United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems have intercepted seven ballistic missiles and 16 drones launched by Iran.

Emirati defence ministry added that since the start of the US-Israel war against Iran on February 28, the UAE had faced 1,789 drones, 352 ballistic missiles and 15 cruise missiles.

Iran War LIVE: Iran's national defence council has threatened to lay sea mines in the entire Persian Gulf to close it if the Iranian coasts or islands are attacked, according to the Fars news agency.

"Any attempt by the enemy to attack Iranian coasts or islands will naturally, and in accordance with common military practice, cause all access routes and communication lines in the Persian Gulf and the coasts to be mined with various types of naval mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coasts," the statement read.

Iran War Live: The gas subsidiary of Abu Dhabi's state oil firm, ADNOC, said that it has made temporary adjustments to liquefied natural gas (LNG) production and export-traded liquids amid the ongoing shipping disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran War LIVE: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has refuted any assessment that mainland Britain was being targeted by Iran. While talking to the media, he said, "We carry out assessments all the time in order to keep us safe, and there's no assessment that we're being targeted in that way".

Russia has refuted reports claiming it had reached a consensus with the United States to cut off intelligence sharing with Iran in exchange for the United States ending its support for Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Kremlin Spokesperson, Dmitry Peshkov, said, "It belongs to the category of untruthful, or rather, false."

US-Iran War Live: Two India-flagged (LPG) tankers are heading to cross the Strait of Hormuz today, using a route through the Iranian waters. The tankers, named Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, were anchored in the Persian Gulf.

The prime minister says 3.75 lakh Indians returned home safely since the beginning of West Asia war. Nearly 1,000 Indian students returned home safely, including over 700 medical students. The government is alert, empathetic and eager to extend all help, says PM Modi.

PM Modi says India has 5.3 million metric tons of Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR), which is emergency stockpile of crude oil maintained by government to tackle supply disruption and stabilise market.

PM Modi said attacks in commercial shipping, and the disruption of Strait of Hormuz are not acceptable. He called for peace through dialogue.

As several Indians remain stranded in the Gulf region, affected by war, Prime Minister Modi assures the citizens in West Asia are being extended required assistance. "I spoke twice with most govt heads in the region," he says. 

PM Modi urges the political leaders to unite in sending India's message on West Asia crisis in one voice.

Prime Minister Modi says the conflict zone is an important route for India's trade with other nations. The region is also crucial as at least 1 crore Indians live and work in Gulf nations. He also highlights the significant number of Indian seafarers working on commercial ships in West Asia.

West Asia war has set unprecedented challenges for India too, says PM Modi as he voices concern over the ongoing conflict. These challenges posed have economic, national security and humanitarian aspects, he says.

PM Modi says the crisis in West Asia has created negative impact on world economy and the people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Lok Sabha on the issue of the Iran war, which has impacted India's oil and gas supplies. He expresses concern over the ongoing conflict saying at least 1 crore Indian live in the Gulf.

The parents of 20-year-old seafarer Fadusha Farhan T U, who belongs to Mananthavady, seek help after losing contact with their son for over a month following the outbreak of conflict in Iran. Another youth, Jerin Joseph from Idukki, who is also on the ship, has also not been reachable. - PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lok Sabha at 2 PM today on the West Asia conflict. The prime minister is expected to talk about the key aspects of the war and India's position on the matter.

As Iran vows to target energy facilities of nations hosting US military bases, the Gulf Arab countries face threats to both electricity and water supplies. These nations are under double threat as they commingle their power stations with desalination plants.

Iranian news outlets, including the Fars news agency, have published a list of power plants in Middle East, which are on Tehran's target. Among those under threat is UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant, which has four reactors in the western deserts near border with Saudi Arabia.

Iran has denied that it targeted the UK's military base on Diego Garcia. According to a senior official, cited by Al Jazeera, Tehran was not behind the reported attempt at missile strike.

Iran War Live Updates: Israeli forces have intercepted a "limited number of missiles" fired from Iran, with shrapnel landing near the northern city of Safed. According to Channel 12, there were no casualties or property damage from the strike, which triggered alarms throughout northern Israel, including the city of Haifa.
After hours of comparatively peaceful conditions in Israel, there was an attack.

Iran War Live Updates: The US military says it has targeted a turbine engine production site in north-central Iran’s Qom province used for drone and aircraft components linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

In a post on X, CENTCOM said “the Qom Turbine Engine Production Plant produced gas turbine engines for attack drones and aircraft components used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps”.,

The Qom Turbine Engine Production Plant produced gas turbine engines for attack drones and aircraft components used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The photo dated on March 6, 2026 shows the plant before U.S. airstrikes and the second photo shows the plant three days… pic.twitter.com/wCxiE7Qnka, — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 23, 2026

Iran War Live Updates: As the war with Iran continues, US President Donald Trump on Monday cited former US President Ronald Reagan’s Cold War approach, writing “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, TO PUT IT MILDLY!!!" in a post on Truth Social.

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Iran War Live Updates: More Asian stocks have tumbled as US President Donald Trump and Iranian leaders traded threats of strikes and counter-strikes risking a prolonged war and closure of the key Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil supplies transit.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is down by 3.3 percent at 24,435.74, while the Shanghai Composite decreased by 2.3 percent at 3,867.51.

Iran War Live Updates: Visuals show Columns of fire and smoke rising over the city of Karaj, west of the capital, Iran, following an air attack.,

ساعت ۵:۱۵ 'سمت پایگاه میثمی [#کرج] و #گرمدره رو چهار پنج بار زد'
ساعت ۵:۳۵ 'هنوز داره می‌سوزه.'
ویدیوهای دریافتی بامداد دوشنبه ۳ فروردین #Iran pic.twitter.com/ldsE3m3lRq, — Vahid Online (@Vahid) March 23, 2026

Iran War Live Updates: According to the Palestinian Wafa news agency, at least nine Palestinians were injured late on Sunday as Israeli settlers rampaged through towns and villages in the occupied West Bank for a second night in a row. Among the victims was a 45-year-old man who was shot in the foot during confrontation with the settlers in Deir al-Hatab just east of Nablus.

Iran War Live Updates: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said it detected two incoming ballistic missiles on Monday, as the kingdom and its Gulf neighbours face Iranian strikes. “Two ballistic missiles were launched towards the Riyadh region, one of which was intercepted and the other fell in an uninhabited area,” the ministry posted on social media.,

Iran War Live Updates: Accordinf to Fars News Agency, at least one child was killed  in the strike on the residential building.

A video clip posted by Fars shows frantic scenes as rescue workers and residents dig through the rubble to look for survivors. A woman told the agency that an elderly woman was living in one of the houses hit in the attack.

According to Fars, several people were wounded.

Iran War Live Updates: Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, he compared the current energy crisis to those of the 1970s and the impact of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“This crisis as things stand is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together,” Birol said.

“The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible…No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. So there is a need for global efforts,” he said.

Iran War Live: The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority says the country’s air defences are “currently responding to incoming missile threat from Iran” and is urging citizens to remain in a safe place.,

Iran War Live Updates: Explosions were reported in several parts of Iran's capital, Tehran on Monday morning, according to the state-run Mizan news agency. The Israeli military said it has launched a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure in the city, signalling a major escalation in its operations.

Iran War Live Updates: The United States is responding [to attacks on the US sites] first by activating their air defense system known as C-RAM. They’ve intercepted the latest drone attack on Victory Base and are also pounding with air strikes the Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

Israel-US-Iran War Live Updates: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared a video on X, saying that negotiations with the US have ended permanently. “The negotiations with the Americans are over forever… a bitter experience and betrayal after promises of no attack!", he added on X.,

🚨عاجـــــــــــــــل

أراغشي يغلق الباب نهائياً:

"انتهت المفاوضات مع الأمريكيين إلى الأبد... تجربة مريرة وخيانة بعد وعود بعدم شن هجوم!"

وزير الخارجية الإيراني عباس عراقجي 🇮🇷 :

لم يعد هناك مجال للحوار مع الأمريكيين. لقد خدعونا بوعود عدم الهجوم، وحتى بعد إحراز تقدم ملحوظ في… pic.twitter.com/XwdA8En67f, — Iran's latest (@Red_Bat_) March 23, 2026

Israel-US-Iran War Live Updates: Residents of Khoramabad, located west of Tehran, were searching through the debris of a destroyed building following an air attack on the area, Al Jazeera reported.,

'محل انفجار در #خرم‌آباد'
ویدیوهای دریافتی با شرح بالا و 'انتهای بلوار شصت‌متری، نرسیده به پل ۹ دی، کوچه‌های آبشار'
دوشنبه ۳ فروردین #Iran pic.twitter.com/LRHVj78d7A, — Vahid Online (@Vahid) March 22, 2026

Israel-US- Iran War Live Updates: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is calling Israel’s latest attacks on his country as a “collective punishment” on Lebanese civilians.

These attacks on critical infrastructure by Israeli forces are making the situation very difficult for both Lebanese government and the people, who are trying to escape the areas being bombarded.

There are already an estimated one million people who have been displaced, and attacks on infrastructure, including highways will make it extremely difficult for humanitarian aid effort to continue especially in the south of the country.

Israel-US-Iran War Live Updates: Chuck Schumer, the US Senate’s minority leader, has called for an end to the American military operation against Iran. “Enough is enough. End this war,” he said in a statement posted on X.

Schumer added that even some Republican senators have admitted they are unclear about the administration’s objectives in the Middle East.

Israel-US-Iran War Live Updates: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said the US and Israel would continue to act against Iran.
Netanyahu visited Arad, which was hit by Iran on Sunday.

The Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X, "Iran continues to prove why they are an enemy to civilization and the free world, while now posing a direct threat to European countries. Israel and the US will continue to act with great force against the Ayatollah terror regime."

Israel-US-Iran War Live Updates: The Abu Dhabi Media Office on Monday said that an Indian national suffered minor injuries from falling debris after the UAE's air defence systems successfully intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the country's capital.

The incident occurred in Abu Dhabi's Al Shawamekh area, it said.

In a post on X, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said, "Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national. The public is reminded to obtain information from official sources only and avoid spreading rumours or unverified information."