Middle East conflict: 'Our position on Strait of Hormuz has neither changed now will change,' says Iran

EAM S Jaishankar on Monday held a telephonic conversation with his US counterpart Marco Rubio to hold a discussion on the ongoing conflic in the Middle East.  

Rejecting claims by US President Donald Trump that Washington and Tehran had engaged in “very good” and “positive” discussions over the past two days, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated on Monday that such reports are fabricated. He alleged that this misinformation is being circulated to influence oil and financial markets. 

Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers, carrying roughly a day's supply of the country's cooking gas, have safely navigated through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz and are expected to reach Indian shores over the next two days. LPG tankers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, sailing close to each other, started from the Persian Gulf on Monday morning before crossing the strait, ship tracking data showed.

Iranian state television on Monday offered Tehran's first reaction to US President Donald Trump's decision to extend a deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz by five days. Iranian state television said in a graphic on screen: "US president backs down following Iran's firm warning."

US President Donald Trump says Iran wants "to make a deal"and claims US envoys have been holding talks with a "respected" Iranian leader. Trump told reporters Monday his Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner conducted talks Sunday into the evening. He said talks would continue today. Trump did not name any official or officials representing Tehran.Trump said the US has not talked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

US President Donald Trump claimed that the Iranian side contacted him to broker a truce in the Middle East, as Tehran wanted to make a deal. This came shortly after Iran stated that they had never contacted the US to end hostilities, following Trump’s declaration that he had been in contact with Iran for the past two days and that the discussions were productive, aimed at finding a permanent solution to end hostilities.

Iran's State TV IRIB on Monday reported that the Islamic Republic’s position on the Strait of Hormuz has not changed and will not change in future. Tehran has repeatedly said that the key strategic route remain closed for the enemies of Iran. 

Iran’s semi‑official Fars news agency said there has been no direct or indirect contact with US President Donald Trump despite the latter’s recent claim that constructive talks were under way with Tehran. The Iranian source also asserted that Trump “backed down” after warnings that Iran would target power plants in the region if strikes proceeded. 

Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said Israel was working to bring Iran to places it has never been before. He said they will understand that they are below, and we are above.

 Oman on Monday said it was working to secure safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz amid ardent attacks by Iran in the region. 

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he had a very productive discussion with Iran seeking a complete resolution of hostilities. He also instructed the Department of War to stop attacking Tehran’s energy infrastructure.   

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in India has dismissed claims that Iran received a sum of $2 million from vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the embassy said such allegations are unfounded and clarified that the remarks circulating on the issue reflect personal opinions, not the official position of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Monday called on Iran to guarantee the safety of ships still operating in the Strait of Hormuz, expressing concern over rising risks to maritime security as the conflict intensifies. He also warned that the ongoing war involving Iran could have serious repercussions for the global economy, particularly by disrupting energy supplies and trade flows through the critical waterway. 

The Strait of Hormuz remains open to friendly countries, the Iranian envoy to Sri Lanka said on Monday, stressing that Tehran is ready to supply oil or other essential goods to the island nation if the need arises.

Speaking on the West Asia crisis in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India's effort is to encourage all parties to swiftly pursue a peaceful resolution. He said the government has diversified import channels to ensure uninterrupted supply of fuel and gas amid disruptions.   

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Lok Sabha that India currently holds 53 lakh metric tonnes of strategic petroleum reserves and is sourcing energy from 41 countries. He said the government has diversified import channels to ensure uninterrupted supply during global volatility. His remarks come amid rising concerns over potential disruptions in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions escalate in West Asia.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al Anbiya Headquarters, has issued a sharp statement targeting Donald Trump as tensions continue to rise. In a video message, Zolfaghari mocked Trump by saying, “Hey Trump, YOU’RE FIRED!”, using the phrase in English as the deadline over the Strait of Hormuz approaches.

Fresh explosions and air defence activity have been reported in Tehran, with loud blasts heard in central, eastern and western parts of the city. Similar reports have emerged from several other areas as the air campaign by the United States and Israel continues. In Bandar Abbas, a radio station was hit, leaving one person dead. Residential areas in Khorramabad and Urmia were also targeted, resulting in civilian casualties. Explosions were also reported in Isfahan, Karaj and Ahvaz, where a hospital is said to have been affected. The overall impact has been severe. According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, more than 80,000 civilian buildings have been damaged, including hospitals, schools and relief centres. The death toll has already crossed 1,500 and is expected to rise as strikes continue.

Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), has said that Iran is increasingly attacking civilian locations as its military strength weakens. In an interview with a UK-based channel, he said these actions reflect “desperation,” claiming that Iran has deliberately targeted civilian sites more than 300 times in recent weeks. He also noted a visible drop in the scale of attacks, adding that earlier strikes involved dozens of drones and missiles, but now appear limited to one or two at a time.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it targeted a turbine engine production facility in Qom province, north-central Iran. According to CENTCOM, the site produced gas turbine engines for attack drones and components for aircraft linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. In a post on X, CENTCOM shared before-and-after images of the facility. A photo from March 6, 2026, showed the plant intact, while a second image taken three days later showed extensive damage following the air strikes. 

Columns of fire and thick smoke were seen rising over the city of Karaj, located west of Tehran, after an air attack hit the area. Visuals and reports suggest that the strike caused major explosions, with flames shooting into the sky and dark smoke spreading across the region. 

As the war between the United States and Iran continues into its fourth week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has strongly backed President Donald Trump, saying his actions are making the world safer. Speaking in a television interview, Bessent said earlier global stability was only an “illusion of security.” He argued that if Iran had been given more time, it could have strengthened its missile systems and moved closer to building nuclear weapons. Read the full story here. 

Footage verified by Al Jazeera shows the aftermath of an air attack in the city of Khorramabad, located west of Tehran. The videos capture residents looking through the rubble of a destroyed building, trying to find survivors and assess the damage. People can be seen using mobile torches and flashlights as the area appears to be in complete darkness.

Hours after he gave a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz amid rising global crude rates, US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a "death of Iran" remark and claimed that the "greatest enemy" of the United States is now the radical left. Read the full story here. 

Amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, both the United States and Iran issued threats to target critical infrastructure which has intensified fears of a wider regional fallout. Iran warned that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global energy shipments, would be "completely closed" if the US acted on President Donald Trump's ultimatum to strike Iranian power plants. Trump has reportedly given a 48-hour deadline for Iran to reopen the strait. Read the full story here. 

The US and Israel have reportedly attacked a transmission facility of Iran’s state radio network in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. According to reports, the strike targeted a 100-kilowatt AM transmitter operated by Iran’s national broadcaster. The attack led to the death of one person and left another injured, as per local media reports.