Donald Trump warned that he’s not prepared to hunt a deal to finish the conflict with Iran, as U.S. ally Israel launched a brand new wave of strikes on Sunday (March 15, 2026) and Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to seek out and kill the Israeli chief.
Editorial | Strategic blunder: On the U.S., the Iran conflict
The U.S. President, in an interview with NBC Information, mentioned he thought Tehran was eager to return to the desk however that Washington would struggle on for higher phrases and would possibly bomb targets on Iran’s oil hub Kharg Island as soon as, once more, “only for enjoyable”.
Greater than two weeks into the U.S.-Israeli conflict towards the Islamic republic, neither facet is moderating its rhetoric regardless of a mounting loss of life toll and financial injury from hovering oil costs brought on by the efficient closure of the Strait of Hormuz sea lane.
“Iran needs to make a deal, and I don’t need to make it as a result of the phrases aren’t adequate but,” Mr. Trump instructed NBC Information, warning that U.S. forces would step up strikes on the Iranian coast north of the strait to clear a path for oil shipments to renew.
Iran’s new Supreme Chief, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has — in a written assertion — vowed to maintain Hormuz closed. However Mr. Trump dismissed this and instructed his foe won’t even be in management, saying: “I don’t know if he’s even alive. Up to now, no one has been in a position to present him.”
Iran mentioned on Saturday (March 14, 2026) that “there is no such thing as a drawback with the brand new Supreme Chief”, despite the fact that he has but to seem in public.
The Israeli army, in the meantime, introduced a wave of strikes towards targets in Western Iran, after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards branded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a prison and vowed that they might pursue and kill him.
Tehran cafes reopen
America has urged its residents to depart Iraq, the place pro-Iranian teams have launched assaults on the U.S. embassy and bases internet hosting western army items,
Regardless of the hardline discuss from all sides, the residents of Tehran have been in a position to go about their work week in probably the most regular ambiance for the reason that begin of the conflict on February 28, when U.S.-Israeli strikes killed the earlier Supreme Chief, Mojtaba’s father Ali Khamenei.
Site visitors was busier than final week, and a few cafes and eating places had reopened.
One resident whizzed down the road on an electrical hoverboard, and greater than a 3rd of stalls within the Tajrish bazaar, a preferred purchasing hub within the north of the capital, had reopened, 5 days earlier than Nowruz, the Persian New Yr.
Some buyers queued at ATMs to withdraw money. On-line operations at Financial institution Melli, one of many nation’s largest, had been paralysed in current days.
Additional on, passengers have been ready at bus stops, which had been largely abandoned for the reason that starting of the conflict.
Mr. Trump has instructed a global naval operation may escort oil tankers via the Strait of Hormuz, lessening strain on the oil worth and securing provides for nations whose economies are most uncovered to the battle.
“Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the U.Okay., and others, which can be affected by this synthetic constraint, will ship Ships to the world,” Mr. Trump mentioned in a social media put up on Saturday (March 14, 2026).
Requested about this, the U.Okay. Ministry of Defence was non-committal. “As we have mentioned beforehand, we’re at present discussing with our allies and companions a spread of choices to make sure the safety of transport within the area,” it mentioned.
South Korea mentioned it was “carefully monitoring President Trump’s remarks on social media”.
Missile barrage
The coverage chief of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling get together, Takayuki Kobayashi, mentioned the bar for sending Japanese navy ships to the area underneath present legal guidelines was “extraordinarily excessive”.
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia mentioned individually on Sunday (March 15, 2026) they’d intercepted renewed barrages of projectiles after an AFP journalist heard warning sirens in Manama.
Late Saturday (March 14, 2026), authorities in Dubai additionally mentioned air defences had made additional interceptions after Iran’s army warned the UAE civilians to keep away from port areas.
U.S. forces struck Iran’s Kharg Island on Friday (March 13, 2026) — from which practically all of Iran’s oil exports circulation — however each side confirmed that the strikes solely took out army defences and left the oil export terminals intact.
Greater than 1,200 individuals have been killed by U.S. and Israeli strikes, in keeping with Iranian Well being Ministry figures that might not be independently verified.
The U.N. refugee company says as much as 3.2 million individuals have been displaced in Iran, most of them fleeing the capital and different cities to hunt security.
The Pentagon says greater than 15,000 targets in Iran have been hit by U.S. and Israeli forces.
U.S. media reported that the Pentagon has dispatched the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and round 2,500 Marines to the area.
Revealed – March 15, 2026 04:21 pm IST
