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What we covered
• Tanker full of oil struck: A fully loaded Kuwaiti tanker in Dubai waters was hit by a drone attack, triggering fears of an oil spill, as Trump again threatened to blow up Iran’s energy sources if the Hormuz Strait isn’t reopened fully. Meanwhile, least two people were killed in a US-Israeli strike on an orphanage in Iran, state media reported.
• Energy costs: Oil prices rose Monday, with US crude oil settling above $100 per barrel for the first time since July 2022. The average US gas price is now $3.99 according to AAA.
• “Confines of the law”: Asked about Trump’s threat, the White House press secretary said the US military will follow the law. Attacking civilian infrastructure could be a war crime, experts warn.
Kuwaiti oil tanker struck by Iranian drone off Dubai
Dubai authorities said Tuesday they had successfully put out the fire onboard a Kuwaiti crude carrier the Kuwaitis said was struck by an Iranian drone.
The Dubai government said no injuries were reported and that all 24 crew members were safe.
Earlier, the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) said the very large crude carrier “Al-Salmi” had been attacked by Iranian forces while anchored off Dubai, according to state news agency KUNA.
The tanker was fully loaded, the KPC said, warning of the possibility of an oil spill, according to KUNA.
The vessel was struck 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, according to the UK maritime authority (UKMTO), a British military-run monitoring agency which has responsibility for the region.
Dubai authorities said teams are assessing the extent of the damage and the situation.
Power outages in Tehran after blasts, explosions seen in Isfahan
The Iranian city of Isfahan appears to have come under heavy bombardment overnight into Tuesday, while there are reports of explosions and power outages in the capital Tehran.
A video posted on social media, and geolocated by CNN, shows a series of large explosions in Isfahan. The minarets of city’s Grand Mosalla mosque can be seen in the foreground of the footage.
In the last hour, state media also reported explosions in eastern and western parts of Tehran, with the state-affiliated Fars news agency saying there were power outages in the city, caused by shrapnel striking a substation.
Early Tuesday morning Israel’s military issued a warning to residents of Tehran saying it would strike the Vard Avar area “in the coming minutes.” The online warning was posted on X in the Farsi language, but it’s unlikely to have been seen by people in Tehran, as there has been an internet blackout in place in Iran since the war began.
Kuwaiti oil tanker hit by drone attack as Trump reiterates threat. Here's the latest
A Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai waters was struck by a drone attack, triggering fears of potential oil spills, as US President Donald Trump renewed his threat to blow up Iran’s oil facilities if it does not reopen the Hormuz strait. This comes after Trump pushed back his deadline twice in the past two weeks.
Washington claims talks with Tehran are still ongoing but has offered little detail on who they are communicating with, while Iran sends contradictory messages.
Here’s what to know on Day 32:
- Tanker full of oil struck: A fully loaded Kuwaiti tanker in Dubai waters was hit by a drone attack, triggering fears of an oil spill, as Trump again threatened to blow up Iran’s energy facilities if the Hormuz Strait isn’t reopened fully. Meanwhile, least two people were killed in a US-Israeli strike on an orphanage in Iran, state media reported.
- Washington comments: The White House press secretary said US talks with Iran were “going well,” and that Iranian officials now at the negotiating table appear more reasonable than the regime’s previous leader. She added that US troops are being sent to the Middle East to give Trump “maximum optionality” while officials pursue a diplomatic solution.
- Iran’s response: In a stark contrast in tone, an Iranian official earlier lambasted the US’ list of demands as “largely excessive, unrealistic, and unreasonable.”
- Strait of Hormuz: The White House heralded the movement of some tankers in the strait as a sign of diplomacy, shortly before Iran approved a plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the critical waterway.
- Energy costs: Oil prices rose Monday, with US crude oil settling above $100 per barrel for the first time since July 2022.
Pentagon to brief press on Iran war Tuesday
The Pentagon is set to hold a press briefing about the war in Iran on Tuesday morning – its first such briefing in nearly two weeks.
Tuesday’s briefing by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine is slated for 8 a.m. ET.
The pair last held a public briefing about the war effort on March 19. There have been six Pentagon briefings total since the strikes in Iran started on February 28.
During past wars in the Middle East, especially at the early stages, US military officials stuck to a regular briefing schedule and often provided daily updates.
The Trump administration has opted for fewer briefings and has stacked the briefing room with overtly partisan media personalities from right-wing and pro-Trump outlets.
Sabrina Singh, a deputy Pentagon press secretary during the Biden administration, said wartime briefings “updated the American people, provided transparency on decisions and ensured accountability.”
“It’s a loss not having them - the public is left with more questions than answers,” Singh, now a CNN global affairs commentator, said on X.
Three Thai sailors remain missing following search of vessel struck in Hormuz
Three Thai crew members remain missing following a search of their vessel which was struck by an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month, Thailand’s foreign ministry said Monday.
Thai-flagged Mayuree Natalee was transiting the strait on the morning of March 11 when its stern was hit by a drone, causing a fire in the engine room, according to Thai authorities.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the ship was fired upon after “disregarding warnings and insistently attempting to illegally pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” according to the state-affiliated news agency Fars.
Twenty crew members were rescued by the Omani navy and evacuated to the city of Khasab, but three remained missing at sea.
Thailand’s foreign ministry said it has been coordinating with Iran and Oman in the weeks since to search for the missing crew members.
The vessel’s owner Precious Shipping PLC hired a specialized search and rescue team who carried out a detailed inspection of the vessel which had been heavily damaged by fire, residual smoke and flooding, hindering search efforts, according to Panidone Pachinsawat, a spokesperson for the Thai foreign ministry.
“The company reported that the search team had exerted its best efforts, but was not able to locate the three crew members on board.”
At least sixteen vessels have been attacked in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman since the war began February 28, according to the UK’s maritime authority.
IMF warns Iran war is causing higher prices and slower global growth
The International Monetary Fund has sounded an economic alarm, saying the war in the Middle East is sparking higher prices and slower growth around the world.
In a blog post titled “How the War in the Middle East Is Affecting Energy, Trade, and Finance,” IMF economists wrote: “Although the war could shape the global economy in different ways, all roads lead to higher prices and slower growth… Much depends on how long the conflict lasts, how far it spreads, and how much damage it inflicts on infrastructure and supply chains.”
Due to Iran’s selective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the cost of energy is soaring as the world is losing as much as 20 million barrels of oil per day from Middle East producers.
The IMF noted how large energy importers in Asia and Europe are bearing the brunt of higher energy costs.
It also said countries in Asia and Africa that are heavily dependent on oil imports are struggling to access the supplies they need, “even at inflated prices.”
The fund also warned that higher food and fertilizer prices are already affecting some countries – with low-income economies at risk of food insecurity.
The IMF added it is supporting member countries with policy advice and financial assistance, and will release a fuller assessment in mid-April during IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington.
Attacking civilian infrastructure could be a war crime, experts say
Attacks on civilian infrastructure by any side of the conflict would likely constitute a war crime under international law, experts have told CNN.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to target Iranian power facilities and potentially desalination plants if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Launching a concerted attack on desalination plants would be “a provocative escalation,” said David Michel, senior fellow for water security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
If attacks on desalination plants are “the beginning of a military policy and not just mistakes or collateral damage, this is both illegal – a war crime – and a very concerning development, as (Gulf) countries have only a few weeks of water storage,” said Laurent Lambert, an associate professor of public policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, in Qatar.
Amnesty International has said that the potential for “vast, predictable and devastating civilian harm” caused by strikes on energy infrastructure means such attacks “carry a substantial risk of violating international humanitarian law.”
The White House said Monday the US military would always act in accordance with the law.
Two UN peacekeepers killed in south Lebanon; France calls for Security Council meeting
Two UN peacekeepers were killed in southern Lebanon on Monday, the latest casualties in a surge of violence that has prompted France to call for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said two other peacekeepers were injured, one of them severely, when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle near Bani Hayyan. The mission described it as the second fatal incident involving its personnel since the weekend.
The two slain peacekeepers were Indonesians, according to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who oversees UNIFIL as the UN undersecretary-general for peace operations.
In a separate statement issued Sunday, UNIFIL said a peacekeeper was killed Saturday night “when a projectile exploded in a UNIFIL position near Adchit Al Qusayr” in southern Lebanon. It said another peacekeeper was critically injured.
“No one should ever have to die serving the cause of peace,” UNIFIL said.
The mission said it has launched an investigation to determine what happened. The statement did not attribute blame to any party.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council following what he said were “extremely serious incidents suffered by the UNIFIL peacekeepers.”
“Such attacks … are unacceptable and unjustifiable,” Barrot posted on X.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it was reviewing the incidents to determine if the casualties were from IDF or Hezbollah activity.
Since March 1, 2026, fighting between the Israeli military and Iranian-backed Hezbollah has sharply escalated in southern Lebanon, amid an expanded Israeli ground operation and worsening humanitarian conditions.
This post has been updated with additional details. CNN’s Dana Karni contributed.
Lebanese soldier killed in southern Lebanon, as Israel escalates offensive
A Lebanese soldier was killed and five others were wounded Monday “as a result of a direct Israeli attack on an army checkpoint in Ameriyeh on the Qlileh–Tyre road,” the Lebanese army said in a statement. Among the wounded is an officer who sustained moderate injuries, according to the army.
“This attack comes in the context of Israel’s ongoing assault on Lebanon, which has resulted in martyrdom and injuries among both military personnel and civilians,” the statement added.
It also follows the killing of three Indonesian UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon since the weekend, according to Indonesian and UN officials, as Israeli forces hammered parts of the country overnight.
In response to the Lebanese soldier’s death, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops were operating in an area “from which launches were identified earlier in the day.”
“IDF troops fired at suspects identified in the area and hits were confirmed,” the IDF said, adding that the “suspects” were later determined to be soldiers of the Lebanese armed forces.
Rising death toll in Lebanon: At least 1,247 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since March 2, the country’s Health Ministry said in an update today. At least 124 children are among those killed, the ministry said yesterday.
This post has been updated with additional details. CNN’s Dana Karni, Billy Stockwell, Charbel Mallo and Catherine Nicholls contributed to this report.
Iranians are using this messaging app to track airstrikes and key updates
Thousands in Iran are using Telegram, an encrypted messaging app, to share critical information, such as where there were airstrikes, which areas lost power and the extent of the damage. CNN’s Leila Gharagozlou reports:
People in Iran are looking at accounts on Telegram to try to track airstrikes and stay safe. CNN’s Leila Gharagozlou reports.
What the White House is saying about US-Iran negotiations to end the war
If you’re just tuning in, the White House press secretary gave a slew of updates on the ongoing US-Iran negotiations. She was asked about President Donald Trump’s threat that he would “obliterate” Iran’s energy sources if a deal to end the war is not reached and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran will see “grave consequences” if it is unable to come to a deal with the US. Leavitt also said previous Iranian leaders were not as reasonable, noting they are now “no longer on planet Earth.”
Here’s a recap of the latest updates from the White House:
- Talks between the United States and Iran “are continuing and going well,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. What’s being said publicly is “much different than what’s being communicated to us privately,” she said.
- Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said earlier the US’ 15-point list for halting the conflict contains “largely excessive, unrealistic, and unreasonable demands.”
- Leavitt said the Iranian officials negotiating with the US appear more reasonable than the regime’s previous leaders, even as the White House has refused to specify who in Iran they are communicating with.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that “it’s not quite clear how decisions are being made inside of Iran” and it is unclear whether the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is in power.
- The limited number of oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz are a sign of diplomacy, Leavitt said.
- After Leavitt’s comments, a member of Iran’s parliamentary Security Commission said it approved a plan to regulate and impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Pressed on Trump’s threat to target Iranian power facilities and potentially desalination plants if the strait is not reopened, Leavitt said the US military would always act in accordance with the law.
- While officials are still pursuing a diplomatic solution, US troops are being sent to the Middle East to give Trump “maximum optionality” in the war, Leavitt said.
CNN’s Eyad Kourdi, Lauren Kent, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler, Adam Cancryn, Betsy Klein, Maureen Chowdhury and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed reporting to this post.
Israel targets “heart of Tehran” in fresh wave of strikes
The Israeli military has completed a wave of strikes across Iran’s capital, Tehran, targeting what it says is infrastructure of the Iranian regime.
Earlier today, the IDF said it had struck 170 targets belonging to the Iranian regime over the past 24 hours, including sites it said were linked to weapons research and production.
The IDF said the targets included facilities where drone engines are produced, as well as several key military headquarters in western Iran.
Tehran approves plan to impose tolls on use of Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s parliamentary Security Commission has approved a plan to regulate and impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, a commission member announced.
The commission’s plan is to enforce “Iran’s sovereign role and that of its armed forces,” Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said Monday.
The plan outlines several key elements aimed at reinforcing Iran’s control and oversight of the strait, including “security arrangements to safeguard the waterway, measures to ensure maritime navigation safety and financial regulations and rial-denominated tolls for vessels passing through and the prohibition of passage for vessels belonging to the United States and Israel,” according to IRIB.
The Strait of Hormuz is currently the central flashpoint in an ongoing conflict that began Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran.
Iran’s closure of the strait through threats and attacks on shipping has stranded roughly 15 million barrels of crude per day in the Persian Gulf, causing severe volatility in global oil markets.
Why Kharg Island is key to Iran’s oil exports
Kharg Island is a five-mile stretch of land off the Iranian coast that handles 90% of the country’s crude exports. If the United States were to seize the island, it wouldn’t mean getting all of Iran’s oil. CNN’s Paula Hancocks explains:
President Trump has told the Financial Times he is considering raised the prospect of seizing Kharg Island, a coral outcrop 25 km off Iran’s coast, which handles 90% of the country’s crude exports. But taking Kharg Island doesn’t necessarily mean getting all of Iran’s oil. CNN's Paula Hancocks explains.
Nuclear facilities under strict monitoring, pose no threat, Iran says
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said the safety of the country’s nuclear facilities remains under strict monitoring and control, adding that no damage reported so far poses a risk to public health.
The deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Reza Kardan, said specialized teams are prepared to respond immediately if any accident or damage occurs at nuclear sites, according to Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Monday.
“Immediately after any possible accident or damage is reported, if necessary, specialized radiation safety and technical assessment teams will take action and conduct the necessary investigations,” Kardan said, IRIB reported.
The official said that based on current assessments, the damage reported so far has not reached a level that would threaten public health.
“All safety, environmental monitoring, and emergency management systems are in an active and stable state,” Kardan added.
Projectiles have struck the area around the Bushehr nuclear power plant multiple times this month, Iranian authorities said. It is Iran’s only functioning nuclear power plant.
According to Reuters, as of late March 2026, approximately 300 Russian specialists remain at the Bushehr plant, following a series of evacuations. Russia’s Rosatom recently evacuated 163 staff members, with more departures planned, reducing the workforce to a minimum while maintaining essential operations.
US troops in Middle East give president “maximum optionality” in war, White House says
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said US troops are being sent to the Middle East to give President Donald Trump “maximum optionality” in the war with Iran, though officials are still pursuing a diplomatic solution.
Asked by a reporter during today’s White House press briefing whether the president is trying to “end or intensify” the conflict in the Middle East, given the number of US troops in the region, Leavitt replied: “The president is focused on achieving the objectives of Operation Epic Fury.”
“With respect to forces that are on the ground in the Middle East, it’s the job of the Pentagon to create maximum optionality for the commander in chief. It does not mean the president has made any additional decisions,” she said.
Pressed on the duality of the president saying he wants to talk to Iran and then sending US forces to the region, Leavitt said diplomacy is Trump’s “number one option and priority.”
She recalled the Trump administration’s prior attempts to strike a deal before the war, noting that those efforts failed with the previous regime.
She added, “If there’s ever a chance for a deal again, the president is open to listening, but it does not deter him from focusing on the military objectives that he set out 30 days ago and that our military is continuing to achieve day by day.”
White House says prayer for troops is not wrong after pope says God "rejects war"
The White House said Monday that it’s not wrong to call on the American people to pray for troops, after Pope Leo XIV said God does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.
The pope said in his homily during Palm Sunday Mass that Jesus “rejects war” and “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.’”
Leo’s remarks contrasted with those of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has quoted scriptures to suggest God supports the military action in Iran.
Leavitt, who acknowledged the Holy Week and said her team said a prayer before the press briefing, said she thinks US service members “appreciate they prayers and support from the commander in chief and from his Cabinet.”
White House pressed Israel to reopen religious sites ahead of Holy Week
The White House pressed Israel to reopen certain holy sites in the country over the weekend after authorities in Jerusalem initially prevented an Italian Catholic priest from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said today.
“We did express our concerns with Israel with respect to these holy sites being shut down,” she said during a press briefing, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was involved in making the appeal. “We want worshippers to be able to access these holy sites.”
Israel has since allowed Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa into the church. It cited safety concerns created by the war in Iran for closing the holy sites ahead of Easter.
“Safety is a top priority, but we understand that Israel is working on those security measures to reopen the sites throughout Holy Week,” Leavitt said.
After threat on power plants and water facilities, White House says US will follow law
The White House, pressed on President Donald Trump’s threat to target Iranian power facilities and potentially desalination plants if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, said the US military would always act in accordance with the law.
Targeting civilian sites like desalination plants could amount to violations of international law. But press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is looking to press Iran into making a deal.
“The president has made it quite clear to the Iranian regime at this moment in time…that their best move is to make a deal, or else the United States armed forces has capabilities beyond their wildest imagination, and the president is not afraid to use them,” she said.
“Of course, this administration and the United States armed forces will always act within the confines of the law, but with respect to achieving the full objectives of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump is going to move forward unabated, and he expects, expects the Iranian regime to make a deal with the administration,” she went on.
