Donald Trump has extended by 10 days a pause on threatened strikes against Iran’s energy facilities, saying the move came at Tehran’s request as talks to end the war were “going very well.”
The US president had given Tehran a deadline of Friday to enter negotiations to end the war or face the “total destruction” of its energy facilities.
But in a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said the deadline would now be extended until 6 April, giving both sides more time to negotiate. “Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well,” Mr Trump posted.
Tehran has denied any direct talks are happening.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon was considering sending another 10,000 troops to the Middle East. The potential deployment would probably include infantry and armored vehicles, according to the WSJ. Thousands of US troops have reportedly already been dispatched to the region.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering capturing Iran’s main oil hub, Kharg Island, to pressure the country to open the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil.
Kuwait’s main port damaged in Iran attack
Kuwait this morning said its Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait City came under attack and sustained “material damage”.
It said no one was hurt in the attack but offered no other details.
Meanwhile, Bahrain sounded its missile alert siren over an incoming Iranian attack. Qatar, which had not seen a major attack in days, also sounded its alerts this morning.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 March 2026 07:00
UAE willing to join international force to reopen Strait of Hormuz – report
The United Arab Emirates has told Washington and other western allies that it would participate in a multinational maritime task force intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 March 2026 07:00
India cuts excise duties on petrol, diesel as global oil prices surge
India has slashed excise duties on petrol and diesel to protect consumers and rein in a potential spike in inflation, while imposing windfall taxes on aviation fuel and diesel exports, amid volatile global oil markets as a result of the Iran war.
Economists said the tax cuts will hit government finances. Global oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel after the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a conduit for 40 per cent of India’s crude oil imports, since the US and Israel first struck Iran on 28 February.
India’s finance ministry reduced the special excise duty on petrol to Rs3 ($0.0318) per litre from Rs13 earlier. It also cut the duty on diesel to zero from Rs10 per litre.
The government did not say how much the duty cuts would cost. The move comes ahead of elections next month in four Indian states and one federal territory with Indian voters known to be extremely sensitive to higher prices.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 March 2026 06:46
Iran forbids sports teams from travel to ‘hostile’ countries
Iran has reportedly banned its sports teams from traveling to countries it considers “hostile” amid the ongoing war with US and Israel.
The announcement comes ahead of Traktor Sazi FC’s scheduled football game in Saudi Arabia, Iranian state TV reported.
“The presence of national and club teams in countries that are considered hostile and are unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice,” the ministry said.
It singled out the Traktor game against Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai, set to be played in Saudi Arabia in April.
However, the ban announced by Iran’s sports ministry did not mention the World Cup, scheduled to be held from 11 June in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 March 2026 06:45
Thai cargo ship ‘runs aground’ after Iran attack
A Thai-flagged cargo ship that came under attack from Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and was abandoned by its crew has run aground, Iranian media reported.
The Mayuree Naree came under attack on 11 March, with three of its mariners going missing and still not found.
The semiofficial Tasnim and Fars news agencies, believed to be close to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reported that the cargo ship ran aground near the village of Ramchah on Qeshm Island.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 March 2026 06:30
Aftermath of Israel attack on Lebanon
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 March 2026 06:15
Watch: Trump says US could divert weapons from Kyiv to Middle East
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 March 2026 06:02
Iran could hit London with a missile, US defence secretary claims
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has claimed that Iran possesses the capability to strike London with missiles, underscoring what he described as the global threat posed by Tehran.
His remarks, made during a White House cabinet meeting, followed an incident last Friday where two missiles were fired at the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean which lies approximately 4,000km from Iran.
While the UK Government confirmed both missiles fell short of their intended target, the event has intensified concerns regarding the potential threat to Britain itself from Iran.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 March 2026 06:00
Israel launches fresh bout of airstrikes on Iran
Israel’s military said this morning that it had conducted a wave of strikes “in the heart of Tehran” while smoke was seen billowing in the Beirut skyline.
The attack comes even as US president Donald Trump delayed his threat to obliterate Iran’s energy plants over its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr Trump yesterday extended his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until 6 April, saying talks to end the war are “going very well.” Iran continues to publicly insist it is not negotiating with the White House.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 March 2026 05:51
UN to hold closed-door meeting today
The UN security council has scheduled a closed consultation on Iran this morning.
Russia asked for the meeting on US-Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure in the country, two UN diplomats told AP.
The US, which holds the security council presidency, scheduled the meeting.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar27 March 2026 05:45
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