Iran war: Trump says Iran sent 10 boats of oil as a present to US

Tehran has warned that any potential US ground invasion would be met with fierce resistance, with an Iranian military source saying the prospect has energised fighters who are ready to turn the conflict into a “historical hell” for American forces.

The source added that a million fighters have been mobilised for the purpose and that even teenagers are signing up with IRGC.

The Israel military has said it has deployed another division into Lebanon, expanding its ongoing operations against Hezbollah, according to reports. The move is part of a broader escalation that has seen additional troops and intensified ground activity in southern Lebanon. 

In a separate development, one person was killed in Israel following rocket fire launched by Hezbollah, while another individual was reported to be seriously injured.

Donald Trump said that Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a “present”, describing it as a signal that Tehran is serious about negotiations to end the conflict.

Referring to earlier remarks about a “gift”, Trump said eight large oil tankers were permitted to transit the waterway earlier in the week, followed by two more vessels later.

A US envoy has confirmed that a 15 point ceasefire plan has been presented to Iran, signalling a “strong possibility” that a deal could be reached, according to Associated Press.

Donald Trump said that Iran is actively seeking a deal with the United States, asserting that it is Tehran, not Washington, pushing for negotiations.

He argued that recent developments have made Iran’s position more urgent, suggesting that the situation on the ground explains why its leadership now wants an agreement, even as it publicly maintains that talks are not taking place. Trump described Iranian officials as strategically capable negotiators despite criticising their military performance, adding that it remains uncertain whether the United States would be willing to reach a deal.

He also said that Iran had missed earlier opportunities to negotiate, pointing to several moments in the past when, in his view, an agreement could have been reached.

Donald Trump is set to chair a cabinet meeting on Thursday at the White House, according to Karoline Leavitt, who briefed reporters on Wednesday.

IndiGo on Thursday posted a travel advisory, announcing its flight schedule for March 27 amid the US, Israel-Iran conflict.

"As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, our teams are closely monitoring developments and working behind the scenes to keep operations as steady as possible. Flights scheduled for tomorrow are mentioned in the table below, subject to prevailing safety conditions and applicable regulations," it said in a post on X.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emphasised the shared suffering across the region, questioning what separates the grief experienced in Isfahan, Tabriz and Tehran from that felt in Erbil, Amman, Baghdad, Beirut, Sanaa, Doha and Riyadh. He suggested that, in the face of violence, distinctions of geography or identity lose meaning, as all communities endure similar pain regardless of their names or backgrounds.

He further stressed the importance of long-term coexistence, noting that once the current wave of conflict subsides and the sound of bombs and missiles fades, nations in the region will still have to live alongside one another. Erdogan said this reality should not be overlooked, expressing confidence that shared ties as neighbours will ultimately endure beyond the present crisis.

Egypt has reiterated its support for Lebanon amid rising tensions, with its foreign minister signalling readiness to help ease the situation.

He stated that Cairo is prepared to extend political and diplomatic assistance to de escalate the crisis, underscoring Egypt’s continued commitment to supporting Lebanon and contributing to regional stability.

Iran is reportedly reinforcing its military presence on Kharg Island amid concerns over a potential operation by the United States to take control of the strategic site, according to a report by CNN.

Citing sources familiar with US intelligence assessments, the report said Tehran has been preparing defensive measures on the island, including deploying additional personnel, setting up traps and strengthening its air defence systems. Kharg Island is a critical asset for Iran, handling roughly 90 per cent of the country’s crude oil exports.

Donald Trump on Thursday slammed Iranian negotiators, describing them as “very different” and “strange” in their approach to ongoing talks. He claimed that representatives from Iran are “begging” for a deal, arguing that their position has been weakened to the point where they have “zero chance of a comeback” after what he described as a military setback.

At the same time, Trump dismissed Tehran’s public stance that it is merely reviewing proposals, calling the claim inaccurate and urging Iranian officials to take negotiations more seriously.

He warned that time is limited, adding that failure to act soon could lead to consequences from which “there is no turning back”, signalling the potential for further escalation if talks do not progress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers tomorrow evening through video conferencing on the West Asia conflict to review preparedness and plans of states. Meeting to focus on ensuring synergy of efforts in the spirit of ‘Team India’.

Election-going states will not be a part of this meeting due to the model code of conduct. There will be a separate meeting for Chief Secretaries of the election-going states, which will be held through the Cabinet Secretariat.

Donald Trump has slammed NATO allies, saying they have done “absolutely nothing” to assist in the confrontation with Iran.

In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump described Iran as a “lunatic nation” and claimed it had been “militarily decimated”. He added that the United States “needs nothing from NATO”, while warning that partner nations should “never forget” the current situation.

His comments come amid ongoing tensions over the conflict and developments around the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump repeatedly expressing frustration at what he sees as a lack of support from allied countries for US led actions.

The US embassy in Iraq has issued a new security alert claiming that Iran-aligned armed groups have conducted widespread attacks on US citizens and targets linked with Washington throughout Iraq, including the Kurdish region in Iraq. The embassy called on US citizens to leave Iraq and not to go to the embassy in Baghdad or the consulate general in Erbil due to the ongoing risk of missiles, drones and rockets in Iraqi airspace. It advised those leaving to take overland routes to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye as the airspace remains closed.

An Israeli soldier was killed in fighting in south Lebanon on Thursday, the military said, after the army announced it was conducting ground operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah. "Staff sergeant Ori Greenberg, aged 21, from Petah Tikva, a soldier of the Reconnaissance unit, Golani Brigade, fell during combat in southern Lebanon," the military said.

In the United Arab Emirates, authorities in Abu Dhabi said two people had been killed and three others wounded by shrapnel from a ballistic missile interception.

Explosions were heard over Jerusalem as Israeli air defenses sought to intercept incoming Iranian fire.

An Israeli ambulance service said it was providing aid to two people hurt in a blast after the missile barrage north of Tel Aviv in Kfar Qasim.

Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry has just announced the interception and destruction of a drone in the Eastern Province.

The Israeli military said air defences were responding to "missiles launched from Iran" early Thursday, with sirens activated across central Israel, parts of Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. "Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," a military statement said, more than 14 hours after announcing a previous missile attack.

The Emirati Ministry of Defence says the country is again "responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran". "The sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones," the ministry added in a short statement on X.

The military says the soldier was wounded as "a result of mortar shell fired at forces in Lebanon" and that the person has been taken to hospital for medical treatment. The statement came hours after the Israeli military said another reserve soldier was "seriously wounded" as a result of rocket fire in Lebanon.

Russia's foreign ministry has accused the US and Israel of deliberately trying to spark a nuclear disaster after a second strike near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant. It's forced Moscow to evacuate more staff from the joint Iranian-Russian built site.

Amid the escalating conflict in West Asia, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said that Tehran permitted the passage of vessels for 'friendly nations,' including India, through the Strait of Hormuz. Apart from India, vessels from Russia, China, Pakistan, and Iraq have also been granted safe passage through the conflict-hit maritime chokepoint. READ

The IRNA news agency is reporting that the two teenage boys were killed in a US-Israeli attack on a residential area in the village of Kafri in the county of Shiraz on Wednesday evening. It identified the boys as Ilya and Amir Hossein Sharafi.

Amid negotiations talks with Iran, the White House has warned Tehran, saying that 'US President Donald Trump does not bluff, and he would unleash hell' after the Islamic Republic rejected his conditions for a ceasefire, adding that Washington is prepared to escalate its military operations if necessary. READ

Iran's decision to block the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing attacks involving the United States and Israel has created widespread panic across global markets. The move has intensified the energy crisis in several countries as this maritime route connects the oil-rich Persian Gulf to the rest of the world. Nearly 20 to 25 per cent of the world's oil and LNG supply, amounting to more than 20 to 21 million barrels each day, passes through this narrow passage. Amid the tensions, Iran is allowing only selected vessels belonging to countries with which it maintains friendly ties. Notably, India is among the nations permitted to transit through the route. READ

In a strong rebuttal, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his government has not engaged in talks to end the war, and has no plan on any negotiations". His remark came during an interview with the Iranian state TV on Wednesday. Amid intensified war in the West Asia, Iran dismissed an American plan to pause the war and launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, including an assault that sparked a huge fire at Kuwait International Airport. READ

US President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday that Iran was taking part in peace talks, suggesting Tehran's denials were because Iranian negotiators fear being killed by their own side. "They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly. But they're afraid to say it, because they figure they'll be killed by their own people," Trump told a dinner for Republican members of Congress.

US White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said that the reports of possible peace talks with Iran to be held in Pakistan are 'speculation'. Leavitt, while briefing the media, said that nothing is to be considered official unless it is announced by the White House. "I've seen that speculation. Nothing is official until it is announced by this White House. We aren't going to get ahead of ourselves," she said.

Israel's military on Thursday said its forces had carried out a wave of strikes across Iran, including in the central city of Isfahan. A brief military statement said Israeli forces "completed a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in several areas across Iran".

The United States has struck over two-thirds of Iran's munitions plants, the head of the American military's Central Command said. US Navy Adm. Brad Cooper made the comments in a video released early Thursday by Central Command. "Today, we have damaged or destroyed over two-thirds of Iran’s missile, drone and naval production facilities and shipyards — and we're not done yet," Cooper said. "We are on a path to completely eliminate Iran’s wider military manufacturing apparatus."