Trump postpones strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure amid 'constructive' talks to end war

The U.S is deploying 3,000 paratroopers to the Middle East, according to reports.

The deployment and arrival of U.S. forces are “proceeding as planned,” according to a source familiar with the details who spoke to the Jerusalem Post Monday night.

The deployment also includes approximately 2,500 Marines, nearly 2,000 sailors, three amphibious ships and the 3,000 paratroopers, the outlet reported, citing a source familiar with the details.

On March 19, President Donald Trump was asked about putting troops on the ground.

“No, I’m not putting troops anywhere,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on March 19 when asked about deploying troops on the ground.

“If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you,” he added.

At the time, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also said in a statement: “It’s the job of the Pentagon to make preparations in order to give the Commander in Chief maximum optionality, it does not mean the President has made a decision, and as the President said in the Oval Office yesterday, he is not planning to send ground troops anywhere at this time.”

Bahrain has circulated a draft of a new U.N. Security Council resolution that targets Iran to council members, focusing on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports.

The draft, seen by The Jerusalem Post, also condemns attacks on tankers in the critical waterway.

“We are determining that Iran’s actions near and around the Strait of Hormuz, including its recurring threats and attacks on commercial and merchant vessels, and actions impeding the freedom of navigation, constitute a threat to international peace and security,” the draft states.

It also demands that Iran stop all attacks against commercial vessels, as well as any attempts to prevent lawful transit passage or freedom of navigation in and around the Strait.

The draft proposal authorizes member states, acting independently or through multinational maritime partnerships, to use “all necessary means” in and around the Strait of Hormuz — including within the territorial waters of coastal states — to ensure free passage and counter attempts to block or disrupt navigation.

It also stipulates that any actions taken must be reported quarterly to the U.N. Security Council.

The draft also expresses readiness to impose further measures, including sanctions, against those who undermine freedom of navigation.

As an initial draft text is expected to undergo revisions, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Hezbollah is continuing to launch missiles that are striking Lebanese territory and harming civilians, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Monday, as the Iran-backed militant group escalates attacks across the region.

In a post shared on X, the Israeli military reported that two missiles launched overnight had landed inside Lebanon.

“Two missiles launched last night by the Iranian terrorist regime toward Israel fell in Lebanese territory. Hezbollah has decided to join the Iranian terror regime in its attacks against Israel, putting the lives of Lebanese civilians and the entire State of Lebanon at risk,” the post said.

“The Iranian terror regime doesn’t just coordinate with Hezbollah—it funds it,” the IDF warned.

“Hezbollah is the regime’s most powerful proxy, operating on its behalf. Despite this, the Iranian terror regime has directly endangered civilians in Lebanon.

“The message is clear: Iran and Hezbollah are not protecting Lebanon—they are systematically harming it and its civilians,” it said.

U.S. military officials reported that more than 9,000 strikes have been carried out against Iran since the war began, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

Operation Epic Fury, which started Feb. 28, has also resulted in the destruction or damage of more than 140 Iranian naval vessels , CENTCOM said. In total, more than 9,000 combat flights have been conducted as part of the campaign.

“CENTCOM forces are striking targets to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus, prioritizing locations that pose an imminent threat,” the command said Monday.

According to the report, targeted assets include Iranian Navy ships and submarines, air defense systems, anti-ship missile sites, military communication infrastructure and facilities involved in ballistic missile and drone manufacturing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke with President Donald Trump about a potential agreement to end the war with Iran, but emphasized that military operations are ongoing.

“Earlier today, I spoke with our friend, President Trump,” Netanyahu said in a recorded video released by his office.

Netanyahu said Trump believes there is a chance to build on the two nations' military gains.

“President Trump believes there is an opportunity to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the U.S. military to realize the war’s objectives through an agreement—an agreement that will safeguard our vital interests,” he said.

At the same time, Netanyahu made clear that Israel’s campaign is continuing. “We continue to strike in both Iran and Lebanon,” he said.

“We are grinding down the missile and nuclear programs to dust and continuing to strike Hezbollah hard,” Netanyahu added.

He also pointed to recent targeted operations. “Just a few days ago, we eliminated two more nuclear scientists, and there is more to come,” he said. “We will safeguard our vital interests in any situation.”

HMS Dragon, a British warship, arrived in Cyprus three weeks after an Iranian drone strike hit a base on the island, marking a significant step in bolstering regional defenses.

“HMS Dragon has now arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean and will begin operational integration into Cyprus’s defenses alongside allies,” the U.K. Ministry of Defence said.

The warship brings key capabilities, including the Sea Viper air defense system, which can launch eight missiles in under 10 seconds.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that HMS Dragon will be integrated into Cyprus’s defense network as part of a broader effort to strengthen air and missile defenses in the region.

In parallel, the ministry announced the deployment of the Rapid Sentry ground-based air defense missile system to Kuwait.

In a post shared on X, officials said Royal Air Force Typhoon and F-35 jets continued defensive missions overnight, operating over Cyprus, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain.

“A UK ground-based counter-drone unit, operating in a high-threat area, successfully downed two Iranian drones overnight,” the ministry said.

“We are working with industry to distribute air defense missiles to Gulf partners,” the statement added.

The U.K. also confirmed plans to deploy Rapid Sentry systems to Kuwait and Lightweight Multiple Launchers to Bahrain, alongside associated training programs.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it is continuing to carry out precision-guided strikes on Iranian military targets, as part of efforts to degrade Tehran’s combat capabilities.

In a post shared on X on Monday, CENTCOM said: “U.S. forces continue to aggressively strike Iranian military targets with precision munitions.”

The update came as President Donald Trump said Monday he would postpone any strikes on Iran’s power plants for five days.

He also said there had been “productive conversations” with Tehran aimed at ending the war. 

Counterterrorism police are leading an investigation after four Jewish community ambulances were set on fire outside a synagogue in London early Monday in what authorities are treating as an antisemitic hate crime.

The attack took place around 1:45 a.m. in the Golders Green neighborhood, where Hatzola ambulances, a volunteer emergency service run by the Jewish community, were deliberately set ablaze in a synagogue parking lot, according to a statement by Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams of the Metropolitan Police.

"This arson attack is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime. This is a devastating incident for our Jewish communities," Williams said.

He added that while the incident has not yet been formally declared terrorism, "the investigation is now being led by Counterterrorism Policing… and all lines of enquiry remain open."

A video circulating online purports to show Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya, an Iran-linked group that has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on Jewish sites in Belgium and the Netherlands, taking credit for the London attack, according to the Jewish Chronicle.

Authorities are examining a potential link to a newly emerged group with suspected ties to Iran.

"We are aware of an online claim from a group taking responsibility for this attack," Williams said.

"Establishing the authenticity and accuracy of this claim will be a priority… but it is not something we can confirm at this point."

Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital that the attack reflects years of policy failures in confronting Iranian activity on British soil.

This is an excerpt from a report by Efrat Lachter.

Iran’s ambassador to the U.K. was summoned to Britain’s Foreign Office Monday to discuss the charging of an Iranian national and a British-Iranian dual national, under the National Security Act.

The intervention came as the pair were accused of carrying out hostile surveillance on the Jewish community.

“Today, upon instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Kingdom was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office,” the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement.

“His Excellency Seyed Ali Mousavi was summoned by the Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer.”

The summons, the office said, followed the “recent charging of two individuals, one Iranian national and one British-Iranian dual national, under the National Security Act, on suspicion of providing assistance to a foreign intelligence service.”

“National security remains our top priority, and we take threats posed by Iran and those who do its bidding extremely seriously,” the official said.

“This government will take all measures necessary to protect the British people, including exposing Iran’s reckless and destabilizing actions at home and abroad.”

Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, and Alireza Farasati, 22, are accused of engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between July and August 2025.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that his government has "irrefutable evidence" that Russia is providing intelligence to the Iranian regime.

“First, we have irrefutable evidence that the Russians continue to provide intelligence to the Iranian regime,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, citing a report by Oleh Ivashchenko, Ukraine's chief of defense intelligence.

“Russia is using its own signals intelligence and electronic intelligence capabilities, as well as part of the data obtained through cooperation with partners in the Middle East,” he added.

“Second, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine regularly provides assessments of the situation on the frontline, as well as internal Russian information regarding activity on the battlefield,” Zelenskyy said before describing how Russian command “constantly seeks to exaggerate the achievements of Russian forces on the frontline and subsequently use such inflated data from the headquarters of the Russian occupation contingent grouping in the negotiation process.”

The Ukrainian leader’s third point was that Ukraine had “clear information” that Russia is planning further deployment of ground-based control stations for long-range UAVs in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, as well as four stations in Belarus.

“We will respond accordingly. I have instructed Oleh Ivashchenko to inform partners and media representatives about the data that we can make public.” Zelenskyy said.

President Donald Trump’s decision to delay a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping as the U.S.' conflict with Iran unfolds is raising a new question in Washington: whether pressure on global oil flows is factoring into U.S. leverage with Beijing. 

The summit originally had been planned for March 31 to April 2, but Trump said on March 16 that he had asked China to delay it by "a month or so," explaining, "We got a war going on. I think it’s important that I be here." 

The following day, Trump said the meeting would instead take place in "about five or six weeks," adding, "We’re working with China — they were fine with it."

"The president has some things here at home in May that he has to attend to," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters March 16, adding that the two sides would set a date "as soon as we can."

At the same time, U.S. strikes on Iran — and earlier pressure on Venezuela — have been affecting countries central to China’s energy supply, disrupting shipping and raising costs without fully cutting off flows. 

China remains the largest buyer of Iranian oil, and shipments are still moving despite the conflict. But increased risk, higher prices and logistical disruptions are squeezing one of Beijing’s most important energy lifelines — raising the prospect of Washington gaining leverage by driving up the cost and risk of the oil China depends on.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Morgan Phillips.

The U.S. Embassy in Oman issued a shelter in place order for American citizens in the country on Monday, including the capital of Muscat.

"U.S. Embassy Muscat has issued a shelter in place for the country of Oman, including Muscat, due to ongoing activity. Find a secure location within your residence or another safe building," the Embassy wrote.

"Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items. In case of an attack, stay away from any debris, and monitor news outlets for official guidance. Maintain communication with family and friends to inform them of your status," the statement continued.

President Donald Trump said the war against Iran will make Earth a "more secure planet" Monday as his administration says it is preparing for talks with the regime.

"We are having really good discussions," Trump said. "They started last night. They want peace. They've agreed they will not have a nuclear weapons, etc etc."

Trump once again confirmed the U.S. would hold off on attacking Iran's energy infrastructure for the next five days.

"At the end of this period I think it could very well end up being a very good deal," Trump said adding that not having to "annihilate" Iran would be a "good thing, not a bad thing."

Israeli Defense Forces offered new details on a wave of strikes it conducted against Iran overnight, using "dozens" of Israeli Air Force fighter jets.

The IDF said it primarily targeted bases belonging to the Iranian Quds Force and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"The IDF struck several Iranian terror regime headquarters as part of a wide-scale wave of strikes in Tehran overnight," the IDF said in a statement.

The strikes targeted an IRGC aerial defense headquarters, a separate IRGC ground headquarters, a Quds Force intelligence headquarters, a naval cruise missile manufacturing site as well as other assorted manufacturing sites, the IDF said.

Israeli Defense Forces say they carried out strikes in the "heart of Tehran" on Monday as President Donald Trump announced "constructive" talks with Iranian leaders.

The IDF says its strikes hit "terror regime targets," but did not offer further details.

Trump on Monday postponed U.S. strikes on Iranian power plants and other energy infrastructure after announcing "very good and productive" talks with Iran's leaders.

Ret. Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Spalding joined Fox News to discuss Iran's advanced missile capabilities on Monday, highlighting recent launches toward a U.S.-U.K. base and potential threats to NATO capitals.

Spalding says Iran has the capability to pose a "global threat" even while under assault by the U.S. and Israel.

President Donald Trump 's administration will speak with Iran's leadership later Monday after the two sides found "major points of agreement," the president says.

Trump made the comments while speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One on Monday. He did not name the Iranian officials engaged in talks, but said he had not spoken with Mojtaba Khamenei, who was formally installed as Iran's supreme leader earlier this month.

"We're gonna get together today," Trump said, saying the meeting will be by phone. He predicted that the war could end in the next 5-day period if the exchange "goes well."

He said either Iran will agree to a deal or "otherwise we'll just keep bombing our little hearts out."

Trump first announced talks with Iran earlier Monday morning, only to be met with a denial from Iranian state media.

Trump dismissed that denial while speaking to reporters, saying some Iranian officials are in confusion thanks to the destabilization of the nation's communication infrastructure.

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Global financial markets are ready to burst upward once the war in Iran concludes, Fox Business' Charles Payne predicted Monday.

Payne made the statement during a Sunday morning appearance on Fox News.

"The stock market sort of wants to exhale, it wants this to be over with," Payne said. "I consider the stock market right now to be sort of a coiled spring. It's suppressed by sort of artificial things like this."

"But until it's resolved, you know, it's a major dark cloud," he added.

President Donald Trump responded to Iranian state media denying reports that Tehran was engaged in talks with the U.S. on Monday.

Trump spoke with Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo on Monday morning, just after announcing "constructive" talks with Tehran. Bartiromo pressed Trump to explain why Iranian media denied that such talks were taking place.

"I just spoke with President Trump and he told me that Iran wants to make a deal badly," Bartiromo said. "He said that the talks have been ongoing. I said, how much longer will this conflict go on? He said...five days to halt or postpone strikes on the electrical infrastructure. It could happen sooner, he said. But I have put down five days."

"I asked him what his reaction is to Iranian state television, saying that there are no talks, and he said he's not sure what they are referring to because the most recent talks happened, in fact, last night with Steve Wycoff and Jared Kushner and their counterparts," she continued.

"When I asked about the Iranian TV saying that no talks have happened, he said it's hard to get any information there because of the U.S. is blowing up so much of their infrastructure. So again, he wasn't sure what Iran State TV was talking about, because the most recent talks, he said, happened last night with Steve Wycoff and Jared Kushner," she added.

Iranian state media denied engaging in talks with the U.S. on Monday after President Donald Trump postponed U.S. strikes on Iranian power plants.

Trump stated in a Truth Social post that the U.S. had engaged in "very good" and "constructive" negotiations with Iranian leaders on Monday.

Iranian media, citing an unnamed security official, denied that any such talks were taking place.

Prior to Trump’s announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged talking by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Turkey has been an intermediary before in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Fox News' Eric Mack contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. and Iran have had "very good and productive conversations" with Iran that could lead to a "complete and total resolution of our hostilities."

Trump made the announcement via his Truth Social account on Monday morning, writing in all capital letters.

"I am pleased to report that the United States of America and the country of Iran have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East. Based on the tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump wrote.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., condemned President Donald Trump's plan to deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to U.S. airports on Sunday.

Schumer made the comments while speaking on the Senate floor Sunday, saying Trump's decision is "impulsive" and could make the situation at airports worse.

"Today, Donald Trump and [Tom] Homan are saying they will deploy ICE agents to airports starting on Monday. This is really disturbing. ICE agents who are untrained and have caused problems everywhere they've gone lurking at our airports. That's asking for trouble, and it will certainly make the chaos at the airports even worse," Schumer said.

"No one has any faith in ICE agents. They haven't received training. They don't know what it is to be a TSA person and do what you need to do," he continued. "And the real problem here is they have no plan for using these ICE agents. Trump says, send them there. They send them there. And Homan says they're still drawing up plans with less than a day's notice. What is this? We know what it is. It's another impulsive action by Donald Trump."

"Some idea pops into his head and he announces it. And then the people working for him, a few of whom do have some degree of talent and ability. Not many underlings. They have to rush to try and implement what they know is an idiotic plan," he said.

The ICE deployment is Trump's latest move in the battle with Democrats over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. 

Schumer also used his time on the Senate floor Sunday to criticize Trump's actions in Iran. 

Iran's death toll in the ongoing war in the Middle East has surpassed 1,500, its health ministry claims, as the conflict that began late last month now moves past three weeks.

More than 1,000 people were killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, where more than 1 million were also displaced, according to the country's authorities.

In Israel, 15 people were killed by Iranian strikes. More than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states have been killed in strikes.

A total of 13 U.S. military members were also killed in the war.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Missiles were inbound over Tel Aviv during a live Fox News report Sunday, as air raid sirens blared across the city and Israeli air defenses scrambled to intercept incoming threats from Iran.

“We should start hearing the sirens in about two minutes now,” Fox News correspondent Mike Tobin said from Tel Aviv moments before alarms began sounding. “Everything from the north to the south of Tel Aviv is under watch right now.”

Seconds later, sirens wailed across the city as Tobin described missiles approaching from the east, prompting residents to rush into bomb shelters.

“That’s the sound of the sirens going off — that means the missiles are inbound,” he said.Tobin reported that Iran has increasingly used cluster-style warheads designed to break apart mid-air, releasing smaller explosives that can still reach the ground even after interception.

“What I’m talking about is a warhead that’s made up of dozens of little bombs,” he said. “When that’s intercepted by the air defenses, it’ll break up into dozens of bomblets, and the bomblets still get through.”

As interceptions lit up the sky, Tobin described seeing multiple streaks of light over Tel Aviv, followed by explosions as fragments fell toward the ground.

“We’ve got dozens of bomblets coming down over Tel Aviv,” he said. “Those bomblets themselves are still quite dangerous.”

Despite Israel’s multi-layered air defense systems — including Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow — Tobin noted that some projectiles have still managed to get through.

“You’re shooting missiles out of the sky, which is a very difficult thing to do,” he said.

Fox News' Greg Wehner contributed to this report.