Israel strikes Tehran, Iran launches wave of attacks against Israel and American bases
Donald Trump says negotiations between the United States and Iran have progressed
Iran dismisses as “fake news” reports of negotiations with the United States
Israel hit the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday, according to Israeli and Iranian military media, while President Donald Trump said the United States was making progress in efforts to negotiate an end to the war, with reports of a 15-point plan sent to Tehran.
The Israeli defense forces announced on Telegram that they had launched a wave of strikes targeting infrastructure in Tehran. Iran’s semi-official news agency SNN said the strikes hit a residential neighborhood in the city and rescuers were searching through the rubble.
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia reported on Wednesday repelling new drone attacks, without specifying the origin. Drones targeted a fuel reservoir at the Kuwait International Airport, causing a fire but no casualties, according to the Kuwaiti civil aviation authority.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they launched a new wave of attacks on sites in Israel, including Tel Aviv and Kiryat Shmona, as well as American bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain, as reported by Iranian state media.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump stated that the United States was engaged in “negotiations” to end the war, which has already claimed thousands of lives and caused the worst energy shock in history, leading to fuel shortages globally and shaking markets.
Stocks rose and oil prices fell on Wednesday following reports that the U.S. sought a one-month ceasefire and sent a 15-point plan to Iran for discussion, raising hopes for a resumption of Persian Gulf oil exports. Trump told reporters at the White House that the U.S. was in talks with “the right people” in Iran to end hostilities, adding that the Iranians were keen on reaching an agreement.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf dismissed the reports as “fake news” on Monday.
A 15-POINT PLAN SENT TO IRAN
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Washington had sent a 15-point plan to Iran to end the war in the Middle East. Israel’s Channel 12, citing three sources, said the U.S. sought a one-month ceasefire to discuss the 15-point plan.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed that the U.S. had sent a plan to Iran but did not provide further details.
Israeli media said the plan included dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, halting support for proxy groups like Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28 after declaring insufficient progress in talks to end Iran’s nuclear program, despite Oman mediator stating significant progress had been made.
Since then, Iran has attacked countries hosting American bases, targeted Gulf energy infrastructure, and closed the Strait of Hormuz through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas normally pass.
Iran informed the United Nations Security Council and the International Maritime Organization that “non-hostile ships” could transit the Strait of Hormuz by coordinating with Iranian authorities, according to a note seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
The actual closure of this waterway, through which 20% of global oil and gas normally transits, caused the worst energy shock in history, leading to a spike in fuel prices and disrupting global aviation.
PAKISTAN OFFERS TO HOST U.S.-IRAN TALKS
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on a Tuesday he was willing to host talks between the United States and Iran to end the war, a day after Donald Trump postponed his threats to bomb Iranian power plants following what he called “productive discussions.”
Pakistan has longstanding ties with neighboring Iran and has cultivated relations with Donald Trump.
Despite reports of negotiations, the Pentagon is expected to send thousands of troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, as per two Reuters sources, adding to the extensive U.S. military buildup.
These forces will supplement the 50,000 U.S. troops already in the region and reinforce a significant U.S. military presence there, raising concerns of a prolonged conflict.
