Iran-US-Israel War Live Updates: Trump says Iran ‘wants a deal badly’, dismisses Tehran’s no-talks claim

We are wrapping up the blog for now. We will continue to track developments closely and bring you the latest updates as they emerge.

Chevron Corporation has warned that California could be heading toward an energy crisis amid disruptions linked to the Iran conflict, cautioning that it may exit oil refining operations in the state unless authorities ease taxes and regulatory pressures.

The company said the risks are heightened as California, the most populous state in the country, relies heavily on imports for its fuel needs, sourcing roughly 20% of its refined fuels from Asia, leaving it particularly vulnerable to global supply shocks. (Bloomberg)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday evening to discuss the ongoing conflict in West Asia, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.

During the conversation, Starmer reaffirmed the UK’s support for Saudi Arabia amid the US-Israeli war involving Iran, and briefed the crown prince on the deployment of additional British defensive military assets.

Condemning Tehran’s actions, Starmer said Iran’s continued attacks, including those targeting critical national infrastructure, were “appalling.”

He also noted that, following a UK-led joint statement last week, London is now working with international partners on a viable plan to ensure the uninterrupted flow of goods through key maritime routes.

A US official has told Al Jazeera that around 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are expected to be deployed to West Asia.

The deployment would involve three battalions, though the official clarified that no formal order has been issued so far.

The 82nd Airborne Division is designed for rapid response and can be deployed within 18 hours of receiving orders, the official added.

Pope Pope Leo XIV has renewed his call for a ceasefire, urging all sides in the conflict to prioritise dialogue amid a deepening humanitarian crisis, as reported by Al Jazeera.

“I want to renew my appeal for a ceasefire, to work for peace, not with arms but with dialogue,” he told journalists while departing Castel Gandolfo for the Vatican.

Warning of escalating violence, the pope noted that “hate is on the rise” and that more than a million people have been displaced, with many casualties reported. He also called on authorities to make genuine efforts toward negotiations.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it has been informed by Iran that another projectile struck the premises of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on Tuesday.

According to Iranian authorities, the plant itself was not damaged, no staff were injured, and operations remain normal.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for maximum restraint, warning against actions that could pose risks to nuclear safety during the ongoing conflict.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that Iran has agreed it will never develop a nuclear weapon, as he confirmed that negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end hostilities are ongoing.

“Iran has agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, calling it a significant breakthrough even as discussions continue.

#WATCH | On what made him pursue the ceasefire amidst the ongoing West Asia conflict, US President Donald Trump says, ” The fact that they are talking to us and they are talking sense. It all starts with: they cannot have a nuclear weapon. They said, what are the top 10? I said,… pic.twitter.com/IYxA3W3b21

— ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2026

He added that talks are currently in progress. “We’re in negotiations right now,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, without providing further details or confirming whether US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would take part in discussions this week.

The Israeli military has said its operations in Iran and Lebanon remain unchanged despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, Al Jazeera reported.

Military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said the army is continuing to act “according to an unchanged plan,” regardless of any potential agreement. He added that Israeli forces will persist in intensifying strikes to “deepen the damage and remove existential threats,” confirming that operations are ongoing in both Iran and Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera.

Iran has informed members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that “non-hostile vessels” may pass through the Strait of Hormuz, provided they coordinate with Iranian authorities, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing a letter.

The development comes as the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran has severely disrupted shipments through the vital waterway, which handles roughly a fifth of global oil and LNG flows.

According to the letter, Iran’s foreign ministry said it had taken “necessary and proportionate measures” to prevent adversaries from using the strait for hostile operations. Tehran also warned that vessels linked to the US, Israel, or other parties involved in the conflict would not qualify for “innocent” or non-hostile passage, the Financial Times added.

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday declared Iran’s ambassador to Beirut persona non grata, directing him to leave the country by the end of the week. The move marks the clearest indication yet of worsening ties between the two nations and is likely to heighten internal tensions in Lebanon over Tehran’s influence and its backing of Hezbollah, reported AP.

It follows a series of steps by Beirut against Iran since the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted on March 2, during which Israeli strikes killed several members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran had offered a significant energy-related concession to the United States, calling it a positive development but stopping short of providing details.

He suggested the move could be linked to the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil transit route that Washington has sought to keep open. “They gave us a present, and it arrived today—it was a very big present, worth a tremendous amount of money,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. (Reuters)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sharply criticised the ongoing Iran conflict, saying that while the war is being driven by Israel, its consequences are being borne globally. He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the conflict for political survival, adding that “the whole world is paying the price,” with billions affected by the fallout.

Turkish President Erdogan on Iran:

Although the war is Israel’s war, the whole world is paying the price.

The war is Netanyahu’s war for political survival, but 8 billion people are suffering the consequences. pic.twitter.com/2Of9axXEVs

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 24, 2026

The White House described the possibility of talks with Iran as a “fluid situation”, saying any diplomatic engagements would only be confirmed once formally announced.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that the US would not negotiate through the media when asked about the possibility of Washington participating in talks in Pakistan.

“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press,” Leavitt said.

“This is a fluid situation, and speculation about meetings should not be deemed as final until they are formally announced by the White House,” she added.

Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran is aware of developments in the “paper oil market”, including firms hired to influence oil futures, and criticised what he called a broader “jawboning campaign”.

We are aware of what is happening in the paper oil market, including the firms hired to influence oil futures. We also see the broader jawboning campaign.

But let’s see if they can turn that into “actual fuel” at the pump —or maybe even print gas molecules!

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) March 24, 2026

US envoy to India Sergio Gor said President Donald Trump values Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “incredible understanding” of the region amid the ongoing Iran crisis, adding Washington welcomes mediation efforts and is in talks with Iranian representatives to find a solution. Talking to CNN-NEWS18, Gor also stressed that Iran cannot hold international waters hostage, underlining growing diplomatic urgency as tensions escalate.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of national energy emergency to address the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict, citing an “imminent danger of a critically low energy supply.”

The declaration, initially set to last for a year, places Marcos at the head of a contingency committee tasked with monitoring and ensuring the availability and orderly distribution of fuel, food, medicines, agricultural products and other essential goods.

Israel’s military said it identified additional missile launches from Iran for the ninth time within hours, with the latest projectiles aimed at southern Israel near the country’s main nuclear research centre, where two missiles had struck on Saturday.

Israeli embassy in Netherland said, “We strongly condemn the planned terrorist attack against the Jewish school in Heemstede. Explosives were found in the possession of suspects. This is a chilling reminder that Jewish communities remain a direct target of terrorism.”

It added, “The swift action of the Dutch authorities is commendable. However, the accumulation of antisemitic incidents in recent weeks, including in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, demonstrate the urgent need for more decisive action. We call on the Dutch government to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities. Antisemitism and terror must be confronted with zero tolerance.”

Lebanon has ordered Mohammad Reza Sheibani to leave the country by Sunday, withdrawing approval of his position as ambassador, AFP reported.

The Lebanese foreign ministry also called back its ambassador to Iran, citing Tehran’s violation of diplomatic norms.

The moves follows accusations that Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is directing Hezbollah’s operations in the war with Israel.