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Saudi Aramco instructed buyers to only export Arab Light crude from the Red Sea port of Yanbu for April deliveries due to disruptions, so by limiting supply to Arab Light crude from Yanbu, Aramco is effectively reducing the variety and volume of oil available to customers in places such as Asia, where refineries are often configured for a broader mix of grades.
Sirens sounded around Bahrain in the early hours of the morning, followed by footage of what appeared to be cluster munitions calling during the strike on the Gulf Country, however its rare any damage reports are released due to Bahraini censorship.
US and Israeli leaders entered the war in Iran with the belief that the early strikes and covert operations would trigger a mass uprising against the Iranian government, but the scenario has so far failed to materialise, reported the WSJ, noting that three weeks into the war, intelligence assessments from the aggressors indicated the Iranian government remained weak but firmly in control, with fear of security forces limiting public protests.
Residents of the coastal western Iranian city of Bushehr woke to thick black smoke following Israeli strikes on the Iranian Air Force base in the city, as residents reported hearing six explosions from around the area where the base is located, while other images published showed a the shell of a building following an airstrike on Tehran’s Makran Street.
Israel also reportedly attempted an assassination in the Chizar neighbourhood of western Tehran, which is believed to have targeted vehicles, while the US struck an IRGC base in the mountains southeast of the central Iranian city of Yazd early yesterday morning.
Tasnim News reported that a radio transmission facility had been struck in Bandar Abbas, according to the Persian Gulf Broadcasting Centre, stating that a 1000-kilowatt AM transmitter had been struck, with one staff member killed and another injured during the incident, as the centre’s Director General described the attack as a violation of international law, adding that the broadcasting operations have continued despite the damage.
Saudi’s Ministry of Defence reported that two Iranian missiles were launched towards Riyadh, adding that one was intercepted while the other fell in an uninhabited area.
Iran launched an early morning missile attack towards northern Israel as the defence forces launched interceptor missiles, as published images showed the remains of a missile that landed in the Safed area.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte declining to confirm Iranian missiles had targeted the Diego Garcia base spoke volumes, stating that the world is ‘thoroughly exhausted’ with what was described as ‘false flag narratives,’ responding to NATO’s position that it could not verify the claim.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has asked Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to ensure safe passage of vessels still transiting the Strait of Hormuz, concerned of the impact on the global economy.
President Donald Trump said the US and Iran had held ‘very good and productive conversations’ over the past two days resolving hostilities in the Middle East, adding that the Department of War had been instructed to postpone military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, depending the outcome of the discussions.
CNBC reported afterwards that Trump’s discussions with the Iranian authorities had been ‘very intense’ and expressed hope that a substantive outcome could be reached, and speaking to CNBC’s Joe Kernen, he also said the situation unfolding in Iran could be described as ‘regime change.’
Many Iranian officials took to social media and Iranian TV to dispute Trump’s claims, going as far as creating a WhatsApp mocking that Trump had no replies in a conversation but had still agreed to extend a deadline.
Fox Business reported that Trump said talks involving Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and their Iranian counterparts were ongoing, stating that discussions took place ‘last night’ (March 23) suggesting a deal could be reached within five days, and said he is ‘not sure what the Iranian media are talking about.
Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan have been passing messages to the US and Iran over the past two days in an attempt to help de-escalate the tensions, Axios reported, stating that senior officials from three countries held separate talks with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, adding that the ‘mediation is ongoing and making progress… we hope to have answers soon.”
Axios’s story was later indirectly confirmed by the state-run Mizan News Agency’s statement, as it reported that mediation efforts had been continuing indirectly between Iran and the United States, although Mizan did deny any and all progress of these talks, stating Iran is not a party to them.
Mediators in the region were attempting to convene a meeting between the US and Iran representatives in Islamabad as early as the end of this week, adding that the proposed meeting would reportedly involve Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf and other Tehran officials, alongside US envoys Witkoff and Kushner, as well as the potential attendance of US Vice President JD Vance.
Israeli journalist and diplomatic correspondent Amichai Stein claimed the US was holding talks with Iranian parliament speaker Ghalibaf, according to a source cited by The Jerusalem Post.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told a committee of MPs that the UK was made aware of the talks taking place between the US and Iran, saying that the UK wants to see a de-escalation as swiftly as possible, adding that any negotiated agreement should put ‘tough conditions on Iran, particularly in relation to nuclear weapons.’
Al Jazeera claimed a letter between Iran and the US through Turkey and Egypt stated the US President had no authority to set deadlines for negotiations, while Washington refused to accept two basic conditions which included paying compensation and acknowledging the aggression, adding that the issue of closing the Strait and planting mines is still on the table in anticipation of any reckless American action.
Israeli officials told KAN News they were caught off guard by the speed of the US-Iran talks unravelling, because while Israel were aware of the ongoing contacts between the two, it did not anticipate Trump publicly announcing the negotiations, stating that Israeli assessments remained sceptical that a good agreement could be reached, although Arab stated are sai d
Following Trump’s announcement of the extension, the price of oil per barrel dropped from over $100 per barrel to around $88 per barrel, with multiple oil contracts purchased in the fifteen minutes prior to the announcement, leading multiple outlets to suspect insider trading.
Bloomberg reported that Trump decided to halt the strikes to avoid further spikes in prices, while Israeli officials report they will continue to operate against Iran but avoid striking energy infrastructure after the five day pause, and Saudi Arabia indicated they are prepared to strike Iran should their own energy or water plants become targets.
Israeli military officials declined to comment on Trump’s announcement of negotiations with Iran, describing it as a matter for the political echelon, adding that the IDF was operating in accordance with the directives of Israel’s political leadership and would continue to strike Iran according to its plans until instructed otherwise, and later the emergency cabinet in Israel held a closed meeting chaired by PM Netanyahu.
Netanyahu called Trump after the announcement of a delay in the energy attack, speaking about an opportunity to build on the significant achievements of the IDF and US Army, in order to achieve the objectives of the war through an agreement that safeguards their vital interests, so Israel would continue operations in Iran and Lebanon, maintaining pressure on the missile and nuclear programmes while striking Hezbollah hard, and will protect their vital interests in any situation.
Former US National Counterterrorism Center (CTU) Director Joe Kent said Trump was working to secure peace with Iran, adding that such a deal would be a ‘very good thing for the nation & our allies in the Gulf,’ noting that Israel would be opposed to the negotiations, but said ‘Trump is strong & can get them on board.’
Iran targeted Gulf regions yesterday including Abu Dhabi, which resulted in around seven explosions, while around 9 patriot interceptors had been launched from the Al Dhafra Air Base.
Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said ‘this war is not if Iran’s making,’ warning that it was already causing widespread economic problems and could worsen if it continues, adding that Oman was working intensively to establish safe passage arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Araghchi discussed the situation in the Persian Gulf yesterday, stressing the unacceptability of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which had recreated unacceptable risks for Russian personnel and could carry catastrophic environmental damage across the entire region, while both ministers expressed concerns over the potential expansion of the conflict, ‘provoked by Washington and Tel Aviv,’ into the Caspian Sea.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also spoke with Araghchi, where the Iranian FM detailed attacks on Iranian schools, hospitals and residential areas, reaffirming Iran’s determination to defend its sovereignty, noting that the insecurity of the Strait was a direct result of the aggression, and calling on regional and world countries to hold the perpetrators responsible, while Fidan stressed the need to reduce tensions and strengthen ties between Iran and regional countries.
USS Gerald R Ford arrived at Souda Bay on the island of Crete, Greece, as part of its deployment toward the Middle East, which has been operating in the region during the war with Iran and is expected to be replaced by the USS George H W Bush, which could leave the US with only one carrier in the theatre until the transition is complete, reported Reuters.
KAN News reported that the air defence system that failed to intercept the Iranian ballistic missiles that directly hit Arad and Dimona on March 22 was the ‘David’s Sling’ system.
Although Trump has deployed several thousand marines to the Middle East on the request of CENTCOMM, CBS reported there were no changes in the Administration to deploy any additional personnel, however Trump was still deliberating whether to position ground troops in the region, but the circumstances under which he could authorise such a decision is unknown.
Netanyahu called Trump less than 48 hours before the US and Israel renewed their conflict with Iran to discuss reasons to launch strikes, arguing that the meeting on Saturday morning between now deceased Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top security was the best chance they had of killing him, while framing it as a means to exact revenge on Iran for their previous plots to assassinate Trump.
Saraya Awliya al-Dam Military Spokesperson Abu Mahdi al-Jaafari claimed that US and NATO forces had completed their withdrawal from the Victoria base near Baghdad airport and were moving toward land or air toward Jordan, stating that should they return, they will get pelted with drones and not stones, as their eyes remained on the lookout and would resume action against the base should anyone return.
Ghalibaf took to X to say that Iran was fighting for humanity – the world was either with Gaza or against the colonial terror regime, or stands with the ‘Epstein class and child torturers,’ – but there was no middle ground.
Thousands of US Marines are set to arrive in the Middle East on Friday according to the Wall Street Journal, including 2,200 Marines from the 31st MEU aboard USS Tripoli and USS New Orleans, arriving the same day as Trump’s Iran deadline, falling under US Central Command, while another Marine Unit, the 11th MEU aboard the USS Boxer has also been ordered to deploy and is expected to arrive within the coming weeks.
Iran decided to limit attacks on Saudi Arabia out of concern that continued strikes could trigger a Saudi military response according to The Jerusalem Post, noting that Iran has also decided to avoid targeting Qatar, however, strikes against Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE ‘continue as normal.’
Trump said in the evening of March 23: “We want the nuclear dust, we’re going to want that, and I think we’re going to get it. We’ve agreed to that – yeah, we’re going to, we’ve agreed to that. We want no enrichment, and we also want the enriched Uranium. If this happens, it is a great start for Iran to build itself back.’
Erbil, Baghdad came under attack from drones as C-RAM air defences dealt with the incoming attack, however, later videos show that one intercepted drone impacted on a civilian home in the Grid Jutyar neighbourhood, resulting in damage.
Bahrain circulated a draft proposal to the UN Security Council on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, reported the Jerusalem Post, stating that the proposal called on Iran to immediately halt attacks and any and all efforts to disrupt freedom of navigation in the Strait, framed under Chapter VII of the UN Chapter, and would grant member states the ability to take action in the area.
