Here's the latest
• Bolstering US firepower: Around 1,000 US soldiers with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are expected to deploy in coming days to the Middle East, sources told CNN, adding to the growing military firepower in the region as the Trump administration touts talks with Iran to end the conflict.
• Emergency and reserves: Japan said it will begin releasing 30 days’ worth of oil from its state-owned reserves on Thursday while the Philippines, another US ally, declared a state of national emergency due to the energy crisis.
• Negotiations: US President Donald Trump said Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are leading negotiations with Iran, expressing optimism that a deal is in sight. An Iranian source told CNN that Tehran is willing to listen to “sustainable” proposals to end the war.
• Strait of Hormuz toll: Iran will “absolutely” keep charging a fee for safe passage through the critical waterway, a senior Iranian official told India Today.
Japan to release state oil reserves as Hormuz strait remains all but closed
As Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, Japan’s government will begin releasing 30 days’ worth of oil from its state-owned reserves on Thursday.
This is part of a broader plan to release up to 45 days’ worth in total—its largest ever—alongside additional releases from private-sector stockpiles, to minimize disruptions in the world’s fourth largest economy.
Japan holds one of the world’s largest oil stockpiles with roughly 254 days of consumption across government and private reserves. But it still imports over 90% of its crude oil from the Middle East, leaving Japan exposed to during the US and Israel’s war with Iran.
While the government has avoided strict energy-saving mandates so far, it has warned against panic buying of toilet paper amid supply concerns. And as fuel prices hit record highs of 190 yen ($1.20) to the liter, Japan has rolled out subsidies for fuel products to cap gasoline price at around 170 yen ($1.07) per liter.
Japan is better prepared than many of its neighbours when it comes to an energy crunch. And it has the 1970s oil shocks to thank for that.
The global economy was hit by stagflation in the 1970s, triggered by the Oil Crisis of 1973. Following the Yom Kippur War, Arab oil producers cut supply and raised prices. Crude oil prices roughly quadrupled within months, sending shockwaves through import-dependent economies like Japan.
The impact was severe. Japan relied on imports for nearly all its oil, and its postwar economic boom abruptly stalled. Panic buying spread and in 1974, Japan’s economy contracted for the first time since World War II, marking the start of slower growth.
A second shock, the 1979 Oil Crisis, drove prices up again. But by then, Japan had begun adapting—investing in energy efficiency, diversifying energy sources and building strategic reserves.
Iran's military taunts US leadership by asking if its negotiating with itself
Iran’s military has suggested the United States might be negotiating with itself as the White House touts talks with Tehran to end the war.
Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari taunted the US leadership in a hyperbolic message broadcast on state television on Wednesday, saying the “era of your promises is over.”
“Has the level of your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?” asked Zolfaqari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the unified command of Iran’s armed forces.
US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism a deal was in sight and said that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were “in negotiations right now.” But Tehran has yet to confirm talks, saying only that messaged had passed via intermediaries.
“The strategic power you once boasted about has turned into a strategic defeat.” Zolfaqari said, adding that energy and oil prices would not return to how they were before until US leaders “erased” the idea of attacking Iran from their minds. Oil prices have eased this week after Trump raised the prospect of talks, but remain much higher than they were ahead of the war.
Trump said on Monday that Tehran had been given a list of 15 US conditions for peace, including that it abandoned any plans to build nuclear weapons.
Here's what to know about the 82nd Airborne
CNN has reported that around 1,000 US soldiers with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are expecting to deploy to the Middle East in the coming days, even as President Trump expresses optimism over talks with Iran.
Here’s what to know about the 82nd, the US Army’s only division that can deploy anywhere in the world in 18 hours from its base in North Carolina, maintaining what is called an Immediate Response Force (IRF) capability.
That capability was tested in 2021 when elements of the division were sent to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, to assist in evacuations as the US government shut down operations in the country.
The division has three combat teams of about 4,000 troops each, an aviation brigade with attack, transport and cargo helicopters, an artillery unit, a logistics brigade, and its headquarters battalion.
The 82nd Infantry Division was formed during and fought in World War I but was demobilized when the war ended.
The military brought it back shortly after the beginning of World War II, and in August 1942 it became the Army’s first airborne division and fought in some of the most important campaigns of the war, including the invasion of Normandy in 1944.
Since World War II, the 82nd Airborne has seen combat in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as operations against ISIS around the Middle East.
Pro-Iranian militia releases footage showing drone attack on US facility in Baghdad
A pro-Iranian militia in Iraq has posted a minute-long video showing drones flying over a US installation at Baghdad’s international airport.
In the clip, geolocated by CNN, a drone is seen flying low over the compound that houses the US Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center before approaching a radar system and striking it, causing an explosion. A radar system can be seen at the same location of the strike in satellite imagery reviewed by CNN.
Moments later, a second drone flies across the base and approaches a Black Hawk helicopter. The video cuts before it is clear whether the helicopter was hit.
The video was dated March 23, though CNN cannot verify exactly when it was recorded.
CNN has asked US Central Command for comment on the video.
The attack is the latest in a series of strikes on US facilities in Baghdad. Pro-Iranian militias have launched multiple attacks on US targets in the Iraqi capital, including the US Embassy, which was struck by several drones.
Earlier this month, a separate militia posted footage filmed from a drone weaving through the US Embassy compound in Baghdad.
Iran will "absolutely" keep charging a fee for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, official says
Iran will “absolutely” keep charging countries and vessels a fee for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian official said, referring to the vital waterway that Iran has effectively closed to global shipping.
“A series of measures is in place for passage through the Strait of Hormuz due to the war situation imposed on Iran,” said Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, in an interview with India Today on Tuesday night.
His comments came after Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the UN Security Council and the International Maritime Organization saying that “non-hostile vessels” may transit the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Iranian authorities, Reuters reported.
Traffic through the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil output normally flows, has been severely curtailed since the start of the conflict three weeks ago. CNN previously reported that Tehran was considering allowing some vessels to pass through the strait, provided the cargo was traded in Chinese yuan.
At least two vessels transiting the strait are understood to have paid in exchange for safe passage, according to a report from Lloyd’s List Intelligence, which added that one fee was reportedly $2 million. CNN cannot independently verify the report.
“The United States itself has weaponised its currency against the entire world economy for decades — sanctioning countries, pressuring states across the Global South,” Baghaei told India Today.
Earlier, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the head of a state-owned energy giant ADNOC in the United Arab Emirates said the effective closure of the strait is “economic terrorism against every nation.”
Iran skeptical of US intentions as Trump touts peace talks
US President Donald Trump has been touting talks with Iran to find a way to end the war, but Tehran remains skeptical of Washington’s intentions.
US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected to lead any US negotiations with Iran, with Pakistan –– which has a close cultural relationship with Iran –– suggested as a venue. But Tehran has yet to agree to talks and, so far, messages have only been passed between intermediaries.
An Iranian source told CNN that Tehran is willing to listen to “sustainable” proposals to end the war.
Baghaei told India today that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was “responsible for Iran’s foreign diplomacy, and he is fulfilling that role.”
There had been reports that the US may have been looking to negotiate with Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, which Tehran was quick to dismiss.
“The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Ghalibaf, is a high-profile politician who functions within the mandates and authorities given under the constitution. The division of labour among our authorities is clear-cut and transparent,” said Baghaei in the India Today interview.
Kim Jong Un says Iran war justifies North Korea's decision to keep its nuclear weapons
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has said that the US’ war with Iran proves his country made the right decision to keep its nuclear weapons.
In a speech to North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly on Tuesday, Kim accused Washington of “acts of state sponsored terrorism and aggression.”
“The present situation clearly proves” that North Korea was justified in rejecting what he described as US pressure and “sweet talk” to give up its nuclear arsenal, Kim said.
He added that North Korea’s nuclear status is now “irreversible.”
Trump has previously claimed Iran posed an “imminent” threat to the US, months after declaring the US had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
For North Korea’s leadership, the Iran conflict reinforces a long-held belief that countries without nuclear weapons are exposed to US military power, while those with them can deter it.
The timing is significant. Trump has recently signaled he is open to restarting talks with Kim, reviving a diplomatic track that collapsed in 2019.
Earlier this month, South Korea’s prime minister traveled to Washington for an unscheduled Oval Office meeting with Trump. According to officials, the conversation focused on whether diplomacy with North Korea could resume, how to coordinate strategy, and how to respond to Pyongyang’s weapons development.
Kim’s latest remarks suggest any future meeting would look very different from past summits that focused on denuclearization. He has indicated he is willing to engage with Trump again, but only if the US accepts North Korea as a nuclear power and abandons what Pyongyang calls its “hostile policy.”
North Korea has recently showcased a series of high-profile weapons tests, including cruise missile launches from a new warship and barrages of what state media describes as nuclear-capable rockets.
China’s top diplomat urges Iran toward peace talks
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged his Iranian counterpart to “initiate peace talks as soon as possible” during a Tuesday call that Beijing said was held at the request of Tehran.
US President Donald Trump has said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others are leading negotiations with Iran. An Iranian source told CNN Tuesday that Tehran is willing to listen to “sustainable” proposals to end the war.
During his call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, China’s Wang said negotiation was “in the interests of the Iranian nation and its people and also echoes the general wish of the international community.”
China has for weeks called for an end to the fighting and decried the US and Israeli attack on Iran. It’s also urged “all parties” to back a ceasefire and condemned “all indiscriminate attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets,” while stopping short of explicitly condemning Iran’s military retaliation.
Wang’s language may also suggest China’s growing frustration with the heightened economic costs of the conflict, which have shocked global fuel markets and upended shipping and travel.
China has long been a key economic and diplomatic partner for Tehran, but the Iranian government’s tactics during the conflict – closing the Strait of Hormuz and attacking Gulf countries – have complicated Beijing’s diplomacy, while also raising the economic stakes for the world’s largest importer of oil.
Araghchi told Wang that Iran is “committed to achieving a comprehensive ceasefire rather than merely a temporary truce,” according to the Chinese side.
Trump says Vance and Rubio are in talks with Iran to end war. Catch up on the latest
US President Donald Trump indicated Tuesday that a deal on ending the war could be in sight while an Iranian source told CNN that Tehran is willing to listen to “sustainable” proposals.
The move comes as the Trump administration weighs its options, with sources telling CNN that about 1,000 US soldiers with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are expected to deploy to the Middle East in the coming days.
Catch up on other headlines here:
- On negotiations: Iranian representatives have let the Trump administration know it does not want to re-enter negotiations with special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and would prefer to engage with Vice President JD Vance, two regional sources said. Trump said today that Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others are leading the negotiations, expressing optimism that a deal is in sight.
- State of emergency: Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency Tuesday, warning that there was an “imminent danger” to the “availability and stability of the country’s energy supply.” Meanwhile, South Korea could limit the export of its domestically-produced naphtha, an essential material for petrochemical products, over supply concerns, an official said.
- More attacks: Drones hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, causing a fire at the site, the country’s civil aviation authority said early Wednesday. At least nine people, including six children, were wounded after an Iranian missile launch struck a city in central Israel, emergency officials reported Tuesday. An air strike hit a residential area in Iran’s capital Tehran, the Red Crescent said, with video showing damaged buildings and piles of rubble.
- Rejected resolution: Republicans again rejected a resolution aimed at requiring Trump to seek congressional approval for future US military action against Iran.
- Israel expands mobilization: Israel is set to approve a major increase in the number of reserve soldiers it can mobilize – setting a new limit of 400,000, up from 280,000. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military will continue to operate in Lebanon against Hezbollah, with a specific focus on controlling the Litani River and its remaining bridges. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Israel’s targeting of infrastructure along the Litani River “aims to isolate villages and towns… from the rest of Lebanon.”
- Human cost: Nearly 350 children have been killed in the conflict, according to a CNN tally of regional figures. More than 200 children have been killed in Iran, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), and more than 100 have been killed in Lebanon, the country’s health ministry says.
- Iran security chief: Iran appointed Mohammad Bagher Zolqadr, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) veteran, to lead its national security after Ali Larijani was killed in an Israeli strike last week. Analysts say Zolghadr’s elevation signals the new supreme leader is tightening his grip on power.
Rescue workers help people following strikes in Tehran, Iranian Red Crescent says
An air strike hit a residential area in Iran’s capital Tehran, the Red Crescent said, with video from the aid agency showing damaged buildings and piles of rubble as rescuers work in the area.
“The entire upper floor has collapsed,” one of the rescuers can be heard saying in a video posted to Telegram early Wednesday.
In one of the videos, a dog can be seen sniffing through the debris with a worker looking on.
“Right now, as you can see, this residential neighborhood has been hit,” one of the workers says in a video. “Behind me, what you’re seeing is the result of Israeli and US airstrikes that struck this home.”
Panel debates Trump's claim that US has won in Iran
President Donald Trump has again claimed that the US has already won the war with Iran. That’s despite also saying both sides are currently negotiating a deal as sources tell CNN that a thousand soldiers are preparing to deploy to the region. The NewsNight panel debates
Iran's speaker of parliament has been talked about as a potential interlocutor with US. Learn more about him
The speaker of the Iranian parliament has been talked of as a potential interlocutor with the Trump administration.
CNN’s Fred Pleitgen has more on Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
President Trump claims the US is speaking to Iran, but one of Iran’s highest-ranking surviving officials, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has denied any negotiations have taken place. Ghalibaf is emerging as one of the strongmen in the country and is known for being a political hardliner and well-respected by the IRGC.
Philippines declares state of national emergency over energy supplies
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency on Tuesday, warning that there was an “imminent danger” to the “availability and stability of the country’s energy supply.”
The declaration, which will be in place for one year, was made in response to the war in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which had disrupted energy markets, disrupted supply chains and driven up oil prices, “posing a threat to the country’s energy security.”
Marcos said a committee had been formed to ensure the availability and distribution of fuel, food, medicines, agricultural products and other basic goods.
Measures include enforcing energy conservation measures, introducing fuel subsidies and other initiatives to reduce transport costs, taking action against hoarding, profiteering and manipulation of the supply of petroleum products.
Marcos also said the government was rolling out 5,000 pesos ($83) to motorcycle taxi drivers and transport workers to help with rising fuel costs. Welfare programs have also been announced for farmers, fishermen, and other workers.
At least 16 attacks reported on vessels near Iran since the war started, UK maritime agency says
More than a dozen vessels have been attacked near Iran since the war started four weeks ago.
According to UK Maritime Trade Operations, there have been at least 16 reported attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf and near the Strait of Hormuz since February 28.
CNN reports from southern Lebanon where civilians are fleeing the war
CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh reports from southern Lebanon, where some villages are being entirely emptied as civilians seek safety from Israel strikes aimed at Hezbollah targets.
US Senate Republicans again reject effort to rein in Trump over Iran war
Republicans on Tuesday again rejected a resolution aimed at requiring President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for future US military action against Iran.
The Senate voted 47 to 53 to put down the measure, with GOP Sen. Rand Paul joining with Democrats in voting to advance it, and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voting with Republicans to block it.
This is the third time since the current conflict between the US and Iran started that Democrats have forced an unsuccessful vote over Iran war powers.
Democrats have pledged to keep forcing votes until Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth publicly testify about Iran on Capitol Hill. To date, the GOP-led Congress has not held any open oversight hearings on the conflict, although there have been classified sessions for members.
Iran has expressed a preference for negotiating with Vance, sources say
Iranian representatives have let the Trump administration know they do not want to re-enter negotiations with special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and would prefer to engage with Vice President JD Vance, two regional sources said.
Vance — in contrast to Witkoff, Kushner and even Secretary of State Marco Rubio — is viewed as more sympathetic to wanting to end the war, the sources said.
“The perception is that Vance would be intent on wrapping up the conflict,” one of the sources said.
Though regional players also recognize that it could be risky for Vance to enter into negotiations as it won’t be easy to negotiate an end to the conflict.
Witkoff, in particular remains heavily involved in the portfolio from the US side and the sources said that the Iranians will likely have no option but to engage with whoever the Trump administration sends to negotiate.
“Who the administration decides to send, the Iranians will have to deal with, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have a preference,” the second source said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN that it’s Trump’s call who negotiates for the US. “As the President stated today, Vice President Vance, Secretary Rubio, Special Envoy Witkoff, and Mr. Kushner will all be involved,” Leavitt said.
For now, the likelihood of a meeting between the US and Iran taking place later this week in Islamabad remains a possibility — but even those advocating for it to take place are skeptical that it will actually happen, sources said.
