Trump's 5-day pause kicks off as Iran downplays claims of 'very good' talks

A senior State Department official on Tuesday did not rule out a resumption of full-scale underground nuclear tests, noting that the U.S. is still weighing how to implement President Donald Trump's order to resume U.S. nuclear weapons tests.

"We've made no decision specifically on how or what any testing program would look like," Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno testified to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

DiNanno said the U.S. believes Russia and China have secretly conducted explosive nuclear underground tests, although Moscow and Beijing denied these allegations.

China's last official underground test was in 1996 and Russia's was in 1990.

"The Chinese and Russian programs are underground. They are at yields that I can't talk too much about in this open hearing," DiNanno said, adding that "the Chinese underground testing program would be in the hundreds of tons."

"This creates intolerable disadvantage to the United States not testing," he continued.

Trump issued the order to resume tests in October just before meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in what some experts viewed as an unsuccessful attempt to pressure Beijing to drop its refusal to open talks on its growing nuclear arsenal.

This comes amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, aimed at destroying its nuclear weapons program and pushing regime change.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday renewed his push for a ceasefire in the war on Iran, but stressed that peace should be sought without the use of gunfire.

"I want to renew the appeal for a ceasefire, to work for peace but not with weapons — rather through dialogue, truly seeking a solution for everyone," Leo told reporters.

"Now, hatred and violence are increasing, getting worse and worse. There are more than a million people displaced, and many have died," he continued.

The pontiff added: "We want to pray for peace, but we also invite all authorities to truly work through dialogue to resolve the problems."

Since the war began late last month, Leo has repeatedly called for peace and for an end to the conflict.

The pope's latest comments come after reports that the Trump administration is planning to deploy thousands of soldiers to the Middle East as part of the escalating campaign against Iran.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began last month, 290 U.S. troops have been wounded, according to Capt. Tim Hawkins of U.S. Central Command.

This total adds 90 since the last update given on March 16. Last week, 20 service members were too injured to return to their posts.

Among the 290 service members wounded thus far, 255 have returned to duty, Hawkins said.

Of the 35 still wounded and out of action, 10 remain seriously wounded, he added.

A total of 13 U.S. service members have been killed in the war.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Iraqi government on Wednesday approved its militias and other members of its security forces to act in self-defense if attacked, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran nears four weeks.

State-sanctioned, mainly Shiite militias, known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, have developed into a powerful political faction within Iraq and have been targeted after Shiite militias attacked Iraqi locations associated with the U.S., according to reports.

The decision to approve acts of self-defense appears to be an effort to secure the uneasy coalition government now in control in Iraq as it balances competing forces within the Middle Eastern nation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The White House is pushing back on a CNN report that said Iranian officials told the Trump administration that they would rather talk with Vice President JD Vance instead of special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law.

"This story is utterly false," a White House official told Fox News. "This obvious op sourced entirely to 'regional sources' is clearly a coordinated foreign propaganda campaign meant to undermine the president."

According to CNN, which cited two regional sources, Iranian representatives notified the Trump administration that they do not want to re-enter negotiations with Witkoff and Kushner and would prefer to speak with Vance.

The message, which the outlet reported was passed through back channels to the U.S. government, suggests Iran believes discussions with Witkoff and Kushner would not be productive given the lack of trust after the breakdown of negotiations ahead of the U.S.-Israeli strikes that began late last month.

Vance, however, is viewed as more sympathetic in wanting to end the war, the sources told CNN.

"The perception is that Vance would be intent on wrapping up the conflict," one of the sources told the outlet.

Fox News' Patrick Ward contributed to this report.

Iran could be weeks away from conditions for an uprising, according to an interview reported by Iran International, and as the U.S. and Israel may soon view the Islamic Republic as weak enough to encourage mass protests.

“It’s a matter of weeks until the US and Israel will assess that this regime is weak enough,” said Brigadier General (res.) Amir Avivi, CEO of the Israel Defense and Security Forum.

“And then there will be a call to the Iranian people to go to the streets and take over the country.”

Avivi also suggested such a scenario would involve external backing. “And when they will do that… there will be Israeli drones and American capabilities defending them from the air — and any attempt to hit the Iranian people will be met by an attack.”

Avivi said weakening the regime’s internal security forces is key.

“It’s about destroying the command and control of the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij forces. Eliminating their motivation to fight.”

“We see defection in many units. Some units you have 90 percent defection.”

He also dismissed the idea of reform from within the system. “I met this week with a very, very prominent diplomat who asked me… whether maybe Larijani will be the solution.”

“The guy is not moderate at all — not at all.”

“None of these leaders in this vicious regime can be rulers the day after. Iran needs completely different leadership," Avivi said.

Pointing to mounting economic pressure, he said: “There is a siege on Iran… How long can a country continue with no import, no export? The currency is broken… it’s obvious where this is going.”

“I foresee a change of regime. This regime is not going to stay,” Avivi added.

The United States and Israel have granted temporary immunity to two senior Iranian officials amid ongoing negotiations with Tehran, according to reports.

The officials named by Channel 14 News Israel are Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

The immunity is said to be valid for at least five days, covering the duration of the current round of talks.

Neither U.S., Israeli nor Iranian authorities have officially confirmed the arrangement.

“Non-hostile” vessels are allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran told the United Nations’ maritime organization Tuesday.

“Non-hostile vessels, including those belonging to or associated with other States, may—provided that they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations—benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities,” it said in a post shared on X.

The Senate defeated legislation Tuesday that would have blocked President Donald Trump from continuing the war against Iran without congressional authorization.

The third attempt to limit Trump's military power since the conflict began was unsuccessful, with the 53-47 vote the latest effort by Democrats to give Congress a say in the war.

It was also part of an effort by some Democratic senators to continue forcing votes on war powers resolutions until top Trump officials publicly testify about the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky was the only Republican to support the resolution. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. was the only Democrat to oppose it.

After 25 days of war with Iran, President Donald Trump announced what he described as “productive conversations” with Tehran, alongside a temporary halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.

The move raises questions about whether the conflict is nearing a negotiated turning point or drifting toward an outcome that leaves Iran’s core capabilities intact, The Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday.

Israeli lawmaker Ram Ben Barak of Yesh Atid, a former deputy Mossad chief, told the outlet that the outcome will depend on the terms of any agreement.

“If the war ends with enriched uranium still in Iranian hands and their missile program not limited and supervised, then everything we did was for nothing,” he said, adding that while wars must end in agreements, “the agreement has to reflect what we achieved … and not give the Iranians something for nothing.”

Prof. Eytan Gilboa, an expert on U.S.-Israel relations, said Gulf states have pushed to avoid escalation, particularly around energy infrastructure, and suggested Trump may be seeking to reduce risks without appearing to retreat.

He noted that referring to “conversations” rather than “negotiations” signals a lower level of commitment and leaves room for maneuver.

While Jonathan Sayeh of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies warned that ending the conflict without a clear exit strategy could be damaging, saying an abrupt halt would risk prospects of regime change.

“If you were to end this war too abruptly, it would definitely risk any prospects of regime change,” he told the outlet.

Sayeh also addressed reports that factions within Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have expressed resistance to the diplomatic track.

“It is inherently a paradox to assume there are pragmatic IRGC members,” he said. “The end goals are the same for them. It’s just the mechanism they use to get there.”

“Diplomatically engaging the regime, does it prolong the war? I mean, yes, it does,” he said. “Yes, it drags out the process longer than it has to.”

The U.S. has sent Iran a sweeping 15-point plan in a bid to end the war and bring about an end to its nuclear program, according to reports.

The plan, officials told The Wall Street Journal, centers on previous Trump administration demands of Tehran.

The document has been sent through intermediaries and demands Iran dismantle its three key nuclear sites and end enrichment, as well as its ballistic missile work.

The plan also sets out ending support for proxies and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the officials, the return benefits for Iran would include having nuclear-related sanctions lifted. The U.S. would also monitor the country’s civilian nuclear program.

News of the report came after Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Tuesday that Iran would “like to make a deal.”

“They’ve agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon,” he said.

Canada’s foreign ministry has criticized Israel’s plans to occupy territory in southern Lebanon, specifically the areas spanning between the Lebanon-Israel border and the Litani River.

The comments came after Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Israel hopes to occupy the area to secure a "defensive buffer."

At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz described how Israeli forces would "control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani."

“Canada strongly condemns Israel’s plans to occupy territory in southern Lebanon,” the Canadian foreign office said on X.

“Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must not be violated. Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel must cease, and they must disarm,” it said

France’s president Emmanuel Macron said he spoke with Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian Tuesday and urged an end to attacks in the region and to engage in “good faith negotiations.”

“I reiterated the absolute necessity of putting an end to the unacceptable attacks against the countries of the region, of preserving energy and civilian infrastructure, and of restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Macron said in a post shared on X.

“I called on Iran to engage in good faith in negotiations, in order to open a path toward de-escalation and to provide a framework that allows for addressing the expectations of the international community regarding Iran's nuclear and ballistic programs, as well as its regional destabilization activities,” he said.

Finally, Macron also said that he urged Iran to “allow the return to France of our compatriots Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris at the earliest possible time.”

A bipartisan group of former senior U.S. officials — including former military leaders, diplomats, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — has issued a letter backing regime change in Iran and endorsing an opposition roadmap for the country’s future.

The letter, signed by about 30 key individuals calls on Western governments to support Iran’s democratic opposition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

“With the Tehran regime discredited and weakened, not since 1979 have the Iranian people been in such a position of strength to take it back.” the letter states.

“Democracy should never have been stolen from the citizens of Iran in 1953 and again in 1979.

“The West must now back the democratic movement, and support Iran’s long-suffering citizens as they fight to regain their own country. America has a stake in their success, and we reiterate here our unwavering support for the cause of a Free Iran.”

Supporters of the NCRI say the effort reflects growing momentum among Iranians protesting what they describe as “totalitarian rule under the ayatollahs,” and argue the current government is “deceitful and hostile to allied interests.”

The bipartisan group also endorsed the provisional government announced by the NCRI, which is based on Maryam Rajavi's Ten-point Plan, and is committed to holding free and fair elections within six months of the regime overthrow to elect a constituent assembly which will draft the new republic 's constitution.

The plan calls for an end to clerical rule, democratic governance, and a new constitution guaranteeing freedoms of speech, religion, and assembly, equality under the law, separation of religion and state, and a non-nuclear Iran.

Among the signatories are Gingrich, former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Marc Ginsberg, Ret. Gen. James L. Jones 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps and former Rep. Ted Poe.

Multiple casualties and significant damage from Iranian missile strikes were reported across central Israel on Thursday, including in the Tel Aviv area.

Magen David Adom (MDA) said it had evacuated at least 19 people following the latest strike in the area.

In a separate incident, 12 people — including six children and two elderly women — were taken to local hospitals in Bnei Brak after sustaining shrapnel injuries from a barrage of cluster munitions, according to the Jerusalem Post.

MDA said all but one of the injured were in mild condition and suffering from shrapnel or blast-related injuries.

Among those rescued was a 94-year-old woman who was evacuated from her top-floor apartment.

Meanwhile, Soroka Medical Center reported that 20 people were admitted to its emergency department following a separate Iranian missile barrage in the south.

A rocket attack by Hezbollah on Galilee in northern Israel Tuesday killed a woman, according to The Times of Israel.

The terrorist proxy group had launched a barrage of around 30 rockets toward the area, as well as firing drones amid increased fighting and Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon.

The woman, in her 30s, was critically injured by the rocket impact near the Mahanayim Junction, and the Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service said its medics declared her death at the scene, the outlet said.

Hezbollah had also fired drones that triggered sirens throughout the north, as it continued to mount near-constant attacks amid intensifying fighting.

Two others were also hurt by shrapnel before Iran fired a ballistic missile salvo that triggered alerts across northern Israel.

Since it started its attacks March 2, Hezbollah has been firing about 150 rockets per day, the IDF said.

Israel hopes to occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River in order to secure a "defensive buffer," Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday, the Jerusalem Post reported.

At a meeting with the military chief of staff, Katz described how Israeli forces would "control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani."

The Litani is a river that meets the Mediterranean about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Israel's border.

In response, Hezbollah said it would fight to stop the IDF from occupying the area and called the move an "existential threat" to the Lebanese state.

Senior Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said any Israeli occupation south of the Litani would be met with resistance.

"We have no choice but to confront this aggression and cling to the land," he said, according to Reuters.

A projectile struck the grounds of a key nuclear plant in Iran on Tuesday as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called for “maximum restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks during conflict.”

In a post shared on X, the IAEA said it had been informed by Iran that the projectile hit the premises of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

“According to Iran, there was no damage to the NPP itself nor injuries to staff, and the condition of the plant is normal,” the IAEA said.

“DG @rafaelmgrossi reiterates call for maximum restraint to avoid nuclear safety risks during conflict,” the agency added, noting Director General Rafael Grossi.

"Nobody knows who to talk to," President Donald Trump said Tuesday at the White House, describing what he portrayed as both chaos and opportunity inside Iran’s leadership.

"But we're actually talking to the right people, and they want to make a deal so badly."

His remarks come as the U.S. claims it is engaged in talks with a "top" Iranian figure, even as Tehran publicly denies negotiations are taking place.

The question now is not just whether talks are happening, but whether anyone in Tehran has the authority to deliver.

With strikes on senior Iranian leadership and growing internal fractures, Iran appears to be operating less like a centralized theocracy and more like a wartime system run by overlapping power centers, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at its core.

Here’s who matters now.

The IRGC: The real power behind the state

Across intelligence assessments and recent reporting, one conclusion is consistent: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has emerged as the dominant force in Iran’s political system.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the current moment is accelerating a long-standing trend.

"No doubt both the 12-Day war and this current conflict have trimmed the commanding heights of the Islamic Republic's political and military leadership," he said. "But it has also expedited the trend lines inherent in Iranian politics, which is the dominance of the security forces and the ascendance of the IRGC."

The command room: Supreme National Security Council

If the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the power in Iran, the Supreme National Security Council appears to be the mechanism through which that power is exercised.

The Supreme National Security Council is Iran’s top forum for coordinating military and foreign policy, bringing together senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders and government officials under the authority of the supreme leader. It was established after the 1979 revolution and has played a central role in managing major crises, from nuclear negotiations to wartime operations.

Mojtabā Khamenei: The supreme leader in name

Formally, Iran’s system centers on Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. But his actual grip on power remains uncertain.

Ghalibaf: The man at the center of Trump’s claim

Trump’s statement that he is speaking to a "top person" has focused attention on one name in particular: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Araqchi: The diplomat carrying messages

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi remains one of the most visible figures internationally.

If talks were to take place, Araqchi likely would be part of the Iranian delegation alongside Ghalibaf, Reuters reported.

The wider power circle: generals, clerics and enforcers

Beyond the headline figures, a broader group of officials who continue to shape Iran’s direction can be identified.

These include Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Ahmad Vahidi, Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani, naval commander Alireza Tangsiri, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and senior clerical and political figures such as Saeed Jalili and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi.

This is an excerpt from a report by Efrat Lachter.

Iran has agreed to never have nuclear weapons, President Donald Trump said Thursday, signaling that Tehran has met a key U.S. demand to help end the war.

The conflict has raised global concerns over nuclear proliferation, as Iran’s nuclear program has been a central issue for the president.

“They’ve agreed,” he said. “They will never have a nuclear weapon. They’ve agreed to that.” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

The U.S. and a group of regional Middle Eastern mediators are considering holding peace talks this week aimed at ending the war in Iran, but are awaiting Tehran’s response.

According to two sources who spoke with Axios, officials are discussing the possibility of convening high-level negotiations with Iran as early as Thursday.

The U.S. has also shared a 15-point proposal with Israel to bring the conflict to an end and said Iran has already agreed to several of the key elements of the plan, the outlet said.

The United Kingdom is weighing sending a Royal Navy ship or leasing a commercial vessel to act as a “mothership” for uncrewed systems to hunt and destroy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports.

The Times of London said the plan would be part of a multinational force including France, the U.S., and other countries.

Another phase could involve uncrewed boats and Type 45 destroyers working with allied vessels to provide protection for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

“We have world-leading capabilities in terms of autonomous mine hunting and also the development of a hybrid Navy concept to help secure the strait,” an official told the outlet. 

U.S. forces have destroyed more than 9,000 military targets inside Iran, significantly degrading the Iranian regime’s combat capabilities, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday.

"U.S. forces have destroyed more than 9,000 military targets inside Iran, significantly removing the Iranian regime's combat capability," CENTCOM said in a post shared on X.

The ongoing strikes are part of a broader effort to reduce Iran’s ability to conduct offensive operations.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared success against Iran, asserting that the country’s military infrastructure and leadership have been dismantled, as reports indicate ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran.

“We're having, by the way, a tremendous success, as you know, and Iran, no navy left. They have no air force left. They have no anti-aircraft equipment left, no radar left, no leaders left. The leaders are all gone,” Trump said.

Trump also indicated that communication channels remain unclear but insisted progress is being made behind the scenes.

“Nobody knows who to talk to. But we're actually talking to the right people, and they want to make a deal so badly. You have no idea how badly they want to make a deal. And we'll see what happens,” he said.

The president also took time to praise Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and senior military officials for their role in what he described as a successful effort.

“The job he is doing is really incredible. You and the general and all of the other generals and colonels and captains and majors and everybody else,” Trump told reporters at The Oval Office.

Trump also said Iranian leadership had sent a "significant" gift that was worth a “tremendous amount of money,” before stating that the gift was connected to the Strait of Hormuz.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said Tuesday that it is continuing targeted ground operations in southern Lebanon.

In a post shared on X, the IDF said its troops conducted operations against Hezbollah, eliminating eight militants and dismantling an underground shaft.

“Dozens of weapons were found in the shaft, including anti-tank rockets, Kalashnikov rifles, machine guns and grenades,” the IDF said.

The IDF also reported the killing of Muhammad Ali Kourani, described as a Quds Force operative who was allegedly advancing planned attacks under the direction of Iranian intelligence officials from within Lebanon.

“As long as Iranian intelligence elements continue to operate and advance terror attacks from within Lebanese territory, the IDF will continue to thwart Iranian terrorist activity in Lebanon,” the IDF said in its statement on X.

Seven Olympians from multiple countries, including three gold medalists, have condemned the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its response to the execution of Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi. 

After Mohammadi was reportedly hanged in public last week, the IOC released a statement that said, "It is very difficult to comment on situations of individuals during a conflict or unrest in a country without the IOC being able to verify the often contradicting information...

"The IOC, as a civil, non-governmental organization, has neither the remit nor the ability to change the laws or political system of a sovereign country."

Now, the seven Olympians are sharing their objections to the IOC not condemning Iran for the execution. 

The IOC told Fox News Digital it stood by its original statement.  

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Jackson Thompson

Palestinians gather around the wreckage of an Iranian missile that landed in the West Bank village of Kifl Haris on Tuesday.

The missile was part of a wave of Iranian ordnance launched against Israel overnight Tuesday as Tehran continues to suffer daily bombardments by the U.S. and Israel.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Former counterterrorism official Joe Kent sparred with conservative radio host and Fox News personality Mark Levin on his syndicated radio show Monday, denying leak allegations, breaking with the Trump administration over Iran, and claiming Israel "forced President Trump into this war."  

"I never leaked any classified information," Kent said, as Levin pressed him on reports that he was under investigation by the FBI for leaking. 

Three sources familiar with the matter have told Fox News the FBI probe into Kent predated his resignation. 

Kent also disputed the administration’s case for the conflict with Iran, saying "there was no imminent threat coming from Iran against Americans."

Kent resigned March 17 as director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), issuing a public letter claiming the U.S. entered the conflict due to "pressure from Israel" — a position he has since defended in multiple media appearances.

Kent maintained that U.S. intelligence did not support the administration’s justification for military action in Iran, asserting "we had no intelligence that said that Iran was working to develop a nuclear weapon," a claim that runs counter to assessments publicly cited by top administration officials.

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

The U.K. Defense Ministry says its forces eliminated more than a dozen "Kamikaze" drones operating in the Middle East on Tuesday.

British troops eliminated the 14 drones in a single night, the ministry said. The U.K. has also deployed additional air defense systems to Cyprus, while Royal Air Force Typhoons and F-35s carried out defensive missions over Cyprus, Japan and Qatar.

"Force protection measures in the region continue to be at the highest levels," the Ministry wrote," Ensuring U.K. personnel are as safe as possible."

"We are also working closely in coordination with allies," the statement added.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg revealed a "boots on the ground" strategy to forcibly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and keep it open permanently.

The former commander of the Army's 82nd Airborne argued that troops need to be deployed to take key Iranian islands to break Iran’s control over the oil supply. Kellogg singled out Kharg Island, a vital hub in the Persian Gulf, as a key location for Iran’s oil exports.

"I'm a big believer in putting boots on the ground, not necessarily into Iran. But taking Kharg Island and also taking the Strait of Hormuz," Kellogg said Tuesday on "Fox & Friends."

He argued that taking Kharg Island would strip Tehran of its "economic lifeline" and ensure it could no longer hold the global economy hostage. He compared the strategy to tactics used by the Roman legions, noting air and sea power alone can take the military only so far.

"Over time, over history, the only way you solve a solution is to put boots on the ground and control the environment," said Kellogg, who served last year as President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine.

"You can do certain things from the air, you can do things from sea, but there's time you have to occupy land."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Madison Colombo.

The Pentagon has ordered the 82nd Airborne Division's command element to deploy to the Middle East as President Donald Trump's administration weighs deploying the division, Fox News has learned.

Leading the command element is Division Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier. There has been speculation that the US may use ground forces to possibly take Iran's Kharg Island or for other missions inside Iran.

The command element's deployment would be a first step needed to plan for such a contingency.

Fox News Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

Energy titans at the CERAWeek conference in Houston are sounding the alarm, warning that the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran is causing long-term damage to the global economy.

Despite the White House’s energy chief aiming to ease concerns, the executives of oil giants like TotalEnergies, Chevron, Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC and Vitol Americas expressed concern about prolonged Iran-linked volatility.

"The consequence is not only high energy prices. It will damage other supply chains," TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne said, according to Reuters.

"This is raising the cost of living for those who can least afford it and slowing economic growth everywhere. From factories to farms to families around the world, the human cost is mounting by the day," ADNOC CEO Sultan Al Jaber said.

"It will take time to come out of this," Chevron CEO Mike Wirth said at the conference on Monday, while Vitol Americas’ Ben Marshall cautioned about "severe" demand destruction if global benchmark Brent crude eventually hits $120 a barrel.

The U.S. standard for oil prices, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, was trading at roughly $91.74 per barrel just before the market opened Tuesday, up about 4% from its previous close. WTI reached a 52-week high of $113.41 per barrel late last week, according to market data.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Kristen Altus.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., avoided answering whether he believed Iranian officials over President Donald Trump regarding war discussions on CNN Monday.

Van Hollen was asked by CNN's Kasie Hunt on her show "The Arena with Kasie Hunt" who he believed was telling the truth regarding discussions to potentially end the war. Trump reported that the U.S. had "very good" talks with Tehran, but Iranian state media has denied any talks took place.

Though Van Hollen did not specify whether he believed Iranian officials, he emphasized that Trump was "lying" about the war.

"Unfortunately, we‘ve learned that Donald Trump has been lying to the American people from the start, and he keeps lying to the American people, which is never a good thing," Van Hollen said.

"Do you believe the Iranian officials over the President of the United States?" Hunt asked.

"I believe that based on all the information that’s available and Donald Trump‘s track record of lying, including the big lie, which he told the American people during the campaign that he was going to keep us out of war in the Middle East. He broke that promise," Van Hollen answered.

He added, "He lied about Iran being an imminent threat to the United States. And Israel launched this strike. He lied about Iran being on the precipice of getting a nuclear weapon. We know that because Tulsi Gabbard just testified just the opposite recently. And yes, we know he‘s lying when he says that the Iranians are talking with us, and they‘re about to give Donald Trump everything he wants. Yes, that‘s a lie."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Lindsay Kornick.

President Donald Trump called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to discuss the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Modi announced the phone call on Tuesday, saying the conversation was a "useful exchange."

"Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability," Modi wrote in a statement on X.

Iran launched 17 drones and five ballistic missiles at the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, according to the UAE's Ministry of Defense.

The launches come amid rising tensions between Iran and its Arab neighbors, which have so far not engaged in attacks on Iranian territory.

Jet fuel prices in the U.S. have more than doubled in a matter of weeks as Middle East tensions squeeze supply, fueling concerns airlines could run short of fuel.

Prices jumped from about $2.17 to $4.56 per gallon by March 20, according to the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index. Airlines warn inventories could run dry within weeks, raising the risk of higher airfares and flight cancellations.

Airlines are already adjusting. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the carrier will cut about 5% of planned flights in the near term as fuel costs surge, warning that if prices persist, jet fuel alone could add $11 billion in annual expenses.

United is also scaling back service during off-peak periods and suspending select international routes, including Israel and Dubai due to the conflict.

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said on Tuesday the jet fuel spike added as much as $400 million in costs in March alone. Speaking at a J.P. Morgan industrial conference, Bastian said airlines are moving quickly to pass those higher costs on through fare increases.

American Airlines expects fuel to add about $400 million to its first-quarter expenses. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Amanda Macias.

U.S. Central Command released footage of warplanes taking off from the USS Abraham Lincoln as it continues to support Operation Epic Fury on Tuesday.

"Flight operations aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) continue in support of Operation Epic Fury, as the aircraft carrier sails across regional seas," CENTCOM wrote in a statement on X.

The video showed an F-35 and other warplanes catapulting off the flight deck to carry out missions in the region.

The Philippines has declared a national state of emergency in response to the war in Iran and subsequent energy shortages.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr announced the move on Tuesday, saying the conflict poses an "imminent danger" to the nation's energy supplies.

“The declaration of a state of national energy emergency will enable the government ... to implement responsive and coordinated measures under existing laws to address the risks posed by disruptions in the global energy supply and the domestic economy,” he said.

The Philippines is one of many Asian countries that rely heavily on oil flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has closed amid the war with the U.S. and Israel.

Iran has named a former Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander as the new secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council this week.

The new official, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, reached the rank of brigadier general in the IRGC before serving as the secretary of Iran's Expediency Council.

The previous security secretary, Ali Larijani, was killed in an airstrike last week.

President Donald Trump has touted the speed with which the U.S. and Israel eliminated Iran's top leadership at the outset of the conflict.

He gloated to a crowd in Memphis, Tennessee, on Tuesday that Iran's top leaders have been eliminated many times over in the weeks since the conflict began.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry ordered Tehran’s diplomatic representative in Lebanon to leave by this coming Sunday, declaring him persona non grata this week.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Denise Rahme said the Iranian Embassy will still have a charge d’affaires to head its diplomatic mission.

The removal of the ambassador marks a culmination in the deterioration of Lebanon’s relations with Iran since the last Israel-Hezbollah war in 2024.

Iran's neighbors in the region have grown increasingly frustrated with Tehran, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE condemning Iranian missile strikes on their territory.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country has been fighting a war against Russia for years, said Kyiv has evidence that Moscow is supplying Iran with intelligence support.

"Report by Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Oleh Ivashchenko. First, we have irrefutable evidence that the Russians continue to provide intelligence to the Iranian regime. 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," part of a post on Zelenskyy's X account notes.

"There is growing evidence that the Russians continue to provide the Iranian regime with intelligence support," Zelenskyy noted in part of another post. "By helping the Iranian regime stay afloat and strike more accurately, Russia is effectively prolonging the war. There must be a response."

The U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran over three weeks ago.

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated in a Monday Truth Social post that the U.S. is engaging in talks with Iran.

In the all-caps post on Monday morning, the president said in the last two days the U.S. and Iran had engaged in discussions about resolving the conflict. He said the talks would continue during the week and that he had ordered the War Department to postpone attacks against energy infrastructure in Iran for five days.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Alex Nitzberg.

President Donald Trump paused planned U.S. strikes on Iran just hours before a self-imposed deadline, citing diplomatic progress that Tehran immediately denied, even as U.S. forces continued moving into position, a split signal that leaves the next move uncertain.

The move creates a narrow five-day window in which the administration is signaling diplomacy while preserving the ability to strike, raising the stakes for whether talks materialize — or whether the delay simply sets up near-term escalation.

The abrupt shift follows a weekend ultimatum in which Trump warned the U.S. would begin targeting Iran’s power infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened, a threat that rattled global oil markets and heightened fears of imminent conflict.

By Monday morning, however, Trump announced a five-day delay, pointing to what he described as "very good and productive conversations" tied to a broader framework that includes nuclear disarmament.

The rapid shift from ultimatum to pause in less than 48 hours resets the clock, opening a five-day window for diplomacy before a decision on strikes.

The whiplash shift, from strike threat to sudden pause, adds to the uncertainty around Washington’s next move.

The White House and the Iranian mission to the United Nations could not immediately be reached for comment.

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

Direct talks between the United States and Iran on ending the war could be held in Islamabad as early as this week, Reuters reported on Monday.

Until now, intermediaries including Egypt, Pakistan, and several Gulf states have been relaying messages between Washington and Tehran, a European official also told the news agency.

Iranian media also reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the war’s impact on regional and global security during a phone call earlier Monday.

President Donald Trump teased that talks began as early as Sunday night.