Iran and Houthis launch fresh attacks while Trump says war could be over in a few weeks

Video posted by Iran’s semi-official state media Mehr News shows the aftermath of an attack Tuesday on the Grand Hosseinieh of Zanjan, a major Shi’ite religious center and mosque located in the central Iranian city of Zanjan.

Footage shows significant damage to the structure of the mosque, with rubble and debris on the ground and plumes of smoke.

According to Iranian state broadcaster IRNA, parts of the complex were hit on Tuesday, destroying the administrative and cultural buildings, including the library and the assembly hall.

Picture geolocated by CNN shows thick black smoke near Sadr Expressway, Iran, on April 1, 2026.

Photos geolocated by CNN show fires near Mount Soffeh in Isfahan, on March 31, 2026.

Photos geolocated by CNN show thick black smoke in Tehran on Wednesday after a new round of airstrikes were reported in the Iranian capital.

Separate images geolocated by CNN show bright orange fires near Mount Soffeh in the central city of Isfahan, following an attack by US bombers on an ammunition depot in the city Tuesday.

Heat signatures from the fires were also recorded by NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) starting from around 1am local time on March 31. NASA tracks worldwide thermal activity, such as active wildfires. FIRMS timestamps do not represent the exact moment the fires began.

Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, on Wednesday.

As the war in the Gulf careens into its second month, dragging down the global economy with no off-ramp in sight, questions are deepening around what role China – a global heavyweight and diplomatic partner to Iran – is willing to play.

China’s potential role was in the spotlight this week after Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Beijing Tuesday for talks with its top diplomat Wang Yi – a meeting that comes as Islamabad has stepped up to position itself as a peace broker in the conflict.

In a statement on “restoring peace” released Tuesday, both countries called for an “immediate ceasefire,” peace talks “as soon as possible,” and a lasting, UN-backed peace.

“China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks,” the two sides said in their five-point initiative released after what Islamabad described as “hours of engagement” between Dar and Wang.

The initiative is Beijing’s most thoroughly articulated view to date on how the conflict should be resolved. It also calls for the securing of shipping lanes; an end to attacks on civilians and non-military targets; and safeguarding the sovereignty and security of both Iran and the Gulf states.

But that position, expressed in broad strokes, also raises questions about what concrete steps Beijing would take in a future peace process. How deeply it is willing to get involved in a conflict playing out in a volatile region where it’s balancing relationships with partners on both sides?

Read the full article here.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

Markets rebounded late Tuesday and early Wednesday after a series of optimistic comments from Washington about the war in the Middle East possibly ending in a matter of weeks — even as Tehran says it’s prepared for a much longer fight.

Here’s the latest:

An Israeli police officer gestures at the site of damage after Iran launched missiles towards Israel in Tel Aviv, Israel April 1, 2026.

At least 16 people, including a child, were wounded after Iranian air strikes hit Israel’s Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak on Wednesday, Israeli authorities said.

The child, a 10-year-old girl, is in serious condition with injuries to her limbs from shrapnel and is being transported to hospital, Israel’s emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA) said. The rest of the wounded have moderate or minor injuries, according to MDA.

The Israeli military was working to intercept a missile launched from Yemen toward its territory on Wednesday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

There have been no reports of injuries at this stage, said Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service.

Yemen is home to the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who entered the Middle East conflict on Saturday by firing missiles at Israel. While the Houthis have yet to claim responsibility for the Wednesday launch, they previously vowed to continue military operations in the coming days.

Iran is prepared for “at least six months” of war, the country’s foreign minister said in an interview Tuesday, as Trump insists the war could be done within two to three weeks.

“We do not set any deadlines for defending ourselves. We will defend our country and our people as far as necessary and by any means required,” Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera.

“It does not matter what timelines our enemies set for themselves. However, our recommendation is that they bring this war to a complete and permanent end before facing further damage,” he said, noting an end to the war must include peace throughout the entire region.

Araghchi said Tehran is not in direct negotiations with Washington, despite Trump’s claims the US is in “serious discussions” with a “new, and more reasonable regime” in Iran.

“Negotiation is when two countries engage in talks to reach an agreement, and such a thing does not exist between us and the United States,” Araghchi said.

However, Araghchi said he has received messages from Steve Witkoff, the US envoy to the Middle East, and that the US and Iranhave communicated indirectly through intermediaries.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News Tuesday night “there are messages being exchanged” with Iran and that there is “potential for a direct meeting at some point.”

Araghchi said Iran has not responded to the 15-point proposal by the US, contradicting Trump’s claims Sunday that Tehran had agreed to “most of” the list of demands the US conveyed to end the war. An Iranian spokesperson Monday lambasted the demands as “largely excessive, unrealistic and unreasonable.”

“The US president fundamentally needs to change his approach,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera. “One cannot speak to the Iranian people with the language of threats and deadlines.”

A currency trader reacts near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), right, and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday.

Asian stock benchmarks jumped on Wednesday, following US markets’ rally to their best trading day in nearly a year on comments from the Trump administration about potentially ending the war soon.

Japan’s benchmark index Nikkei 225 soared 4% at 10:57 am local time, while South Korea’s Kospi surged 6.4%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 1.9%.

Billions wiped out: Despite the brief rise on Wednesday, the war with Iran has rocked Asian markets with great volatility over the past month, as Asian countries rely heavily on oil and gas imports from Gulf states.

Since the war began the Nikkei 225 and Kospi have plunged around 10% and 14% since the war began, while Hang Seng has shed 5%.

President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday.

Iran is prepared for “at least six months” of war, the country’s foreign minister said in an interview Tuesday, as Trump insists the war could be done within two to three weeks.

“We do not set any deadlines for defending ourselves. We will defend our country and our people as far as necessary and by any means required,” Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera.

“It does not matter what timelines our enemies set for themselves. However, our recommendation is that they bring this war to a complete and permanent end before facing further damage,” he said, noting an end to the war must include peace throughout the entire region.

Araghchi said Tehran is not in direct negotiations with Washington, despite Trump’s claims the US is in “serious discussions” with a “new, and more reasonable regime” in Iran.

“Negotiation is when two countries engage in talks to reach an agreement, and such a thing does not exist between us and the United States,” Araghchi said.

However, Araghchi said he has received messages from Steve Witkoff, the US envoy to the Middle East, and that the US and Iran have communicated indirectly through intermediaries.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News Tuesday night “there are messages being exchanged” with Iran and that there is “potential for a direct meeting at some point.”

Araghchi said Iran has not responded to the 15-point proposal by the US, contradicting Trump’s claims Sunday that Tehran had agreed to “most of” the list of demands the US conveyed to end the war. An Iranian spokesperson Monday lambasted the demands as “largely excessive, unrealistic and unreasonable.”

“The US president fundamentally needs to change his approach,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera. “One cannot speak to the Iranian people with the language of threats and deadlines.”

Kuwait International Airport’s fuel depots were targeted by an Iranian drone attack, causing a “massive blaze,” the country’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation said Wednesday, according to state news agency KUNA.

The attack caused “significant damage” to the fuel tanks but no injuries were reported, KUNA reported.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said it was working to extinguish a fire at a company facility after an Iranian drone attack.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said tonight that the US is achieving its objectives in the Iran war earlier than planned, echoing President Donald Trump’s remarks earlier today that an end to the war would come within weeks.

Rubio said that the US had largely destroyed the Iranian navy and air force, and was well on its way to destroying a “significant” percentage of missile launchers and wiping out the country’s missile and drone factories.

“We’re well on our way. We are on or ahead of schedule on each of those four objectives and we can see the finish line. It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow but it’s coming,” Rubio told Sean Hannity on Fox News.

He continued: “We’re going to get to the point where our military will have achieved all of its objectives in this mission, and they are doing so with extraordinary efficiency.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press following a G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Le Bourget, outside Paris, on March 27.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said tonight that “messages are being exchanged” with Iran and teased the potential for a future meeting between US and Iranian leaders.

“There are messages being exchanged. There are talks going on. There is the potential for direct meeting at some point. We’re always going to be open for that,” Rubio told Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

The US top diplomat noted, however, that President Donald Trump will not allow “fake negotiations” to be used as a “delay tactic” by the Iranian leaders to buy more time and space.

Some context: American and regional sources have told CNN the Trump administration has been indirectly exchanging messages with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the latter being seen by officials as someone — potentially the only one — who could have influence with new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Meanwhile, Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that Iran is not currently in negotiations with the United States, though Iran has received messages from the Trump administration.

Locals take photos of two bulk carriers anchored at Muscat Anchorage in Muscat, Oman, on March 25.

US President Donald Trump may say the US could end its military campaign against Iran in the next two to three weeks, but it will take far longer for ships to pour back back through the Strait of Hormuz.

Global shares are rebounding on hopes the war is nearing an end. Even if fighting were to end and crude prices fall, it will take time for gas prices at the pump to unwind and shipping to stabilize through the strategic waterway.

Shipping insurance remains sky high after risk premiums have been baked in, and maritime workers are less willing to make the journey after bearing witness to a conflict that has taken the lives of seafarers.

“Seafarers are the backbone of the trade,” said Angad Banga, CEO of Hong Kong-based Caravel Group. His company oversees Fleet Management Ltd., the world’s second-largest ship management company.

“After something like this happens, there will be ripple effects and the seafarer challenge of convincing them to go will continue to cause challenges for the supply chain.”

The shipping industry transports 90% of all manufactured goods, making seafarers vital to global trade.

Iran’s selective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has impacted thousands of vessels operating in the Middle East. The waters are now exposed to mines and explosive drones, underscoring the risks facing commercial shipping in the area.

A tanker was reportedly hit by an “unknown projectile” 17 nautical miles north of Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, according to UK’s maritime authority.

The tanker was struck on its port side, causing damage to the hull above the water line, according to the report. The crew are safe and there is no environmental impact.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has received 26 reports of incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman since the war began on February 28.

A Kuwaiti tanker laden in with oil in Dubai waters was hit by what Kuwaitis said was an Iranian drone on Tuesday, igniting a fire which was later extinguished. No injuries or oil spills were reported.

President Donald Trump will deliver an address to the nation on Wednesday night regarding Iran, the White House press secretary said.

“Tomorrow night at 9PM ET, President Trump will give an Address to the Nation to provide an important update on Iran,” Karoline Leavitt posted on X.

Earlier today in the Oval Office, Trump said he foresees a conclusion to the war “within maybe two weeks,” emphasizing a potential deal could be reached.

Iranian photojournalist speaks to CNN from inside Iran amid internet blackout

00:34 • Source: CNN

Iranian photojournalist speaks to CNN from inside Iran amid internet blackout

00:34

Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery, speaking to CNN from inside Iran, described a country gripped with both fear and hope as the war enters its second month.

In a rare opportunity to hear directly from someone inside Iran witnessing what his happening in the country, Moaiery told CNN’s Jim Sciutto, that Iran now feels like a “dead city.”

“We do not know if we have water or electricity… the sounds of the bombs, the smokes are everywhere. People are really tired of this,” she said.

When asked if she sees a possibility for the Iranian people to rise up against their government, Moaiery said that is simply not realistic under current conditions. “No, it’s not possible at all. A lot of gunmen are in the streets with their guns and weapons… you cannot do anything against them… it’s complete nonsense.”

Moaiery also pushed back on the idea that the Iranian regime has been weakened. “Nothing has changed… I don’t know how Donald Trump says he can change the regime. I cannot really understand it.”

Despite this, Moaiery said many Iranians are supporting the war and are still holding onto hope that the regime wall fall.

But Moaiery herself expressed more skepticism than her fellow Iranians. “I don’t think so… I don’t see any evidence,” she said.

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as he speaks during the signing ceremony for an executive order on mail ballots, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

The United States could be done with its war with Iran within two to three weeks, President Donald Trump said today.

“We have had regime change. Now, regime change was not one of the things I had as a goal. I had one goal: they will have no nuclear weapon, and that goal has been attained. They will not have nuclear weapons. But we’re finishing the job, and I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer, to do the job. But we want to knock out every single they have,” Trump said from the Oval Office.

The president added that it’s possible the war will end sooner if a deal is reached.

“It’s possible that we’ll have a deal because they want to make a deal. They want to make a deal more than I want to make a deal. But in a fairly short period of time, we’ll be finished,” Trump said.

“Now we have a group of people that’s very — that are very different.
They’re much more reasonable,” he said, projecting optimism about talks.

Trump reiterated that the reopening the Strait of Hormuz should be other countries’ problem, saying it’ll be up to them to secure the critical waterway.

“If France or some other country wants to get oil or gas, you go up through the strait and — the Hormuz Strait — they’ll go right up there and they’ll be able to fend for themselves,” he said.

“What happens in the strait, we’re going to have nothing do with,” he added.

Iran has threatened to attack American tech firms if more of its leaders are killed, the semi-official outlet Fars reported.

“Since the main element in designing and tracking assassination targets is American ICT and AI companies, in response to these terrorist operations, from now on the main institutions effective in terrorist operations will be our legitimate targets,” Fars quoted Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as saying.

Apple, Microsoft, Google, Meta, IBM, HP, Intel, Tesla, Boeing and JP Morgan are among the 17 companies the IRGC threatened to target.

The IRGC called on the employees of American tech firms in the region to “immediately distance themselves from their workplaces” and for residents living near offices of those companies to move away to a safe place.

“Companies that actively participate in terrorist designs will be subject to reciprocal action in response to each assassination,” the IRGC said.

“These companies, starting from 20:00 on Wednesday, April 1 (Tehran time), should expect the destruction of their relevant units in return for each assassination in Iran,” the IRGC said, according to Fars.

A taxi driver fuels his vehicle at a gas station in the Queens borough of New York, on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that gas prices will quickly go down once the US completes its operation in Iran.

“All I have to do is leave Iran, and we’ll be doing that very soon, and they’ll be come tumbling down,” Trump told reporters when pressed about his plan for lowering gas prices.

The average US gas price has hit $4 a gallon, the highest since 2022.

The president also touched on today’s stock market rally, which came after The Wall Street Journal reported Trump told White House staff that he’d be open to ending the war with Iran even without reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump claimed stock prices rose for two reasons: “We have a safe country” and that there was regime change in Iran.

Some context: As CNN has reported, an end to the war doesn’t mean immediate savings at the pump.

“There’s an old expression — gas prices go up like a rocket and come down like a feather,” said Tom Kloza, an independent oil analyst and adviser to major oil company Gulf Oil.

US President Donald Trump had some choice words for European countries on Tuesday in his latest round of criticism for not stepping up more in the war with Iran, including that they need to “start learning how to fight for yourself.”

So far, European allies have been hesitant to get involved with the conflict:

Italy: In recent days, a US aircraft bound for the Middle East was prohibited from landing at a military base in Sicily, according to Italian media. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said Italy was “acting in full compliance with existing international agreements.” US forces have permission to use military bases in Italy for standard logistics flights, according to Italy’s ANSA news agency, which these were not.

Spain: Yesterday, defense minister Margarita Robles announced the country would not authorize the use of its military bases or airspace for any activity relating to the US-Israeli operation in Iran, calling it “profoundly illegal.”

France: Paris did not allow Israel’s aircraft laden with “munitions” to traverse French airspace. This became one of the factors for why Israel decided to halt defense purchases from France. Trump in a Truth Social post this morning complained about France having been “very unhelpful.”

United Kingdom: King Charles’ first state visit to the US will go ahead next month despite Trump repeatedly criticizing the UK for not stepping up more in the war with Iran. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscored his position yesterday: “This is not our war and we’re not going to get drawn into it.” The UK said today it is sending additional air defense systems to Persian Gulf nations to support the “collective defense of allies.”

CNN’s Antonia Mortensen, Sana Noor Haq, Aileen Graef, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Charlotte Reck, Eugenia Yosef, Max Saltman, Sharon Braithwaite and Billy Stockwell contributed reporting to this post.