US-Israel-Iran War Highlights: White House touts limited Hormuz passage, insists peace talks continue

The White House said the US may look to Arab countries to help share the cost of the ongoing war, as Washington weighs broader regional involvement.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could pick up, with around 20 tankers expected to transit the key waterway in the coming days.

At the same time, the White House made it clear that the US does not support any move by Iran to impose tolls or restrictions on ships passing through the strait, a critical global energy route.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said it will judge Iran by its actions, stressing that any messages conveyed privately will be put to the test.

Officials indicated that while back-channel communication continues, Washington remains cautious and will verify whether Tehran follows through on what it says behind closed doors.

Lebanon has asked Ukraine’s embassy in Beirut to hand over a man suspected of links to Israel’s Mossad, according to security sources cited by AFP. The request relates to a Syrian-Palestinian national who also holds Ukrainian citizenship and is believed to have taken refuge inside the embassy.

A Hezbollah source said the man had previously been detained after parking a motorbike on a key road leading to Beirut airport in the southern suburbs, an area where the group maintains tight security.
 

The White House has said there is a clear gap between Iran’s public stance and what is being conveyed privately to Washington, even as contacts continue.

"Despite all of the public posturing you hear from the regime and false reporting, talks are continuing and going well. What is said publicly is, of course, much different than what's being communicated to us privately," said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The Israeli military has issued evacuation warnings to residents of six villages in Lebanon’s western Beqaa, signalling possible new strikes in the area.

Spain has said a “new red line” has been crossed after a UN peacekeeper was killed in Lebanon, condemning the incident as a serious escalation.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez denounced the killing of an Indonesian member of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, who died in an explosion on Sunday.

“Spain strongly condemns these events. It demands that the origin of the projectile be clarified. And it calls on the Israeli government to halt the hostilities,” Sanchez said. He added that attacks on UN peacekeeping missions are “an unjustifiable aggression against the entire international community”.
 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will have to wait and see whether the figures it is engaging with in Iran ultimately come to power, as uncertainty surrounds ongoing contacts.

Speaking after remarks by Donald Trump about talks with a “more reasonable” Iranian leadership, Rubio said the US must also prepare for the “probability” that negotiations could fail. He declined to disclose who Washington is speaking to, saying revealing details “would probably get them in trouble with some other groups inside of Iran”.

“But at the end of the day we have to see if these people end up being the ones in charge,” he added.

The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said two of its members were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday after an explosion of "unknown origin" destroyed their vehicle. It said a third peacekeeper was severely wounded and another was also injured in the incident, which took place near the Bani Haiyyan municipality.

Iran and France have held talks over the US-Israel war, with both sides discussing its wider security and economic impact on the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barro in a telephone call.

According to a statement, Barro stressed France’s opposition to what he described as an “imposed war” on Iran and attacks on civilian targets. He also voiced concern over the escalating situation and called for stronger political and diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and restore regional stability.
 

Lebanon says Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,240 people since March 2, according to the country’s health ministry.

The ministry reported at least 1,247 deaths and 3,680 injuries since the start of Israel’s ground offensive in southern Lebanon and accompanying air strikes. It added that more than 1.2 million civilians have been displaced from their homes as the conflict continues.
 

Dubai has announced an economic support package worth 1 billion dirhams ($272 million) to help businesses cope with the impact of the ongoing Iran war.

The measures, set to take effect from April 1 for a period of three to six months, aim to improve economic flexibility and support companies and households facing current challenges. Dubai’s crown prince said the package is designed to strengthen preparedness and help the emirate’s economy navigate uncertain conditions.

India and the Netherlands have discussed the situation in West Asia, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressing the need for an early return to peace and stability amid the ongoing Iran-linked tensions. PM Modi said he spoke with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, where both leaders exchanged views on the regional situation, including the conflict involving Iran.

The Pakistan Army has officially activated a specialised counter-drone unit following a series of sophisticated aerial incursions by militant groups. 

India Today got exclusive information from top intelligence sources that the activation of the counter-drone unit is a response to a "paradigm shift" in militant tactics. Terrorist organisations are believed to be targeting refineries and storage depots to "decapitate" the country’s mobility. Any successful strike on a major hub, such as those operated by Pakistan State Oil (PSO), could trigger a total national shutdown.

(With inputs from Manjeet Negi)

Nine students and a teacher were killed in an attack in Isfahan that Iranian authorities have blamed on US-Israeli strikes, according to Iranian media. The incident comes as Israel has stepped up attacks on Iranian universities, claiming some campuses are being used for military-linked activities.

Danish shipping giant Maersk said Oman’s Salalah port will reopen on Tuesday after a drone strike over the weekend caused limited damage. Authorities in Oman said one worker was injured in the incident, which targeted the key port facility operated by Maersk’s subsidiary, APM Terminals.

The company said the impact was “limited” and that port operations will gradually return to full capacity, though some constraints remain. Maersk added that additional safety and preventive measures have been put in place following the strike.
 

Over 6,000 people have been taken to hospitals in Israel since the start of the war with Iran, according to the country’s health ministry. The ministry said 121 patients are currently receiving treatment, including one in critical condition and 16 in serious condition.

In the past 24 hours alone, 232 casualties have arrived at hospitals across the country, it added.

Turkey’s defence ministry said a ballistic munition launched from Iran was neutralised by Nato air and missile defence systems in the eastern Mediterranean after it entered Turkish airspace.

The ministry said all necessary measures are being taken “decisively and without hesitation” against any threat to the country’s territory and airspace.

The G7 has urged countries to avoid imposing “unjustified” export restrictions on hydrocarbons and related products, warning against moves that could disrupt global energy supplies.

In a joint statement, the group said it stands ready to take “all necessary measures” in coordination with partners to safeguard the stability and security of energy markets. It also stressed that G7 central banks remain firmly committed to maintaining price stability, adding that monetary policy decisions will continue to be guided by incoming data.

The bloc said members will keep sharing information and coordinating closely with each other and international partners, and remain prepared to meet again if the situation worsens.
 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the Strait of Hormuz will reopen “one way or another” once military operations in Iran conclude. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Rubio said the waterway would either reopen with Iran’s consent or through an international coalition that includes the United States.

He added that Washington’s objectives in Iran are clear and could be achieved “within weeks, not months”. Rubio also warned that if Iran attempts to shut the Strait after the operation ends, it would face “severe consequences”.