{"id":1850443,"date":"2026-03-27T04:44:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T01:44:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1850443"},"modified":"2026-03-27T04:44:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T01:44:23","slug":"us-sends-15-point-ceasefire-proposal-to-iran-via-pakistan-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1850443","title":{"rendered":"US sends 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran via Pakistan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76555545_6.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"s1sfzv1a sk6xmai\">\n<div class=\"content-area sa7l9jt s9mg977\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"sharing-icons-inline\" class=\"c75t7t0 hh5424a in-line closed\">\n<div class=\"copy-button-wrapper closed\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BDad<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"s4bcs45\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76555545_800.webp 50w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76555545_801.webp 129w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76555545_802.webp 352w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76555545_803.webp 575w\" media=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 575px)\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" \/><figcaption class=\"c1oedowi lofg86o m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Trump told a cabinet meeting Iran had allowed 10 oil tankers passage through the Strait of Hormuz to show it was serious about talks<small class=\"copyright c19ed66t ihwmx5 idu7i8u lxmvniw icns9en rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Image: Evelyn Hockstein\/REUTERS<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" id=\"live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"c1800ln sq3xutt atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section What you need to know<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"c2fyhwl ctymiyf content-block i1if36d6 i1ytahzz\">\n<h2 class=\"cp7bjxx h1du6kc5 lt5vbch pohyj9x s16w0xvi m1u0isv1 b1fzgn0z\">What you need to know<\/h2>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>The UN has called on the US to conclude its investigation into the deadly strike that hit a school in Iran<\/li>\n<li>German Foreign Minister Wadephul expects direct talks between US and Iran in Pakistan soon<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-president-donald-trump-russia-ukraine-israel-gaza-tariffs-trade-war\/t-19434433\">Trump<\/a> extends <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Hormuz<\/a> ultimatum as Wall Street suffers sharpest drop since start of war<\/li>\n<li>Pentagon reportedly considering deploying a further 10,000 US soldiers to the Middle East<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran\/t-18996175\">Iran<\/a> bans sports teams from attending games in &#8216;hostile&#8217;\u00a0countries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Here are the developments in the <\/em><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a><em>\u00a0on Friday, March 27, 2026:<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"s1ogwy7c ev9ivjh\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76564698\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76564698\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section China, Pakistan agree to support peace talks in Middle East<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">China, Pakistan agree to support peace talks in Middle East<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pakistan\/t-19069841\">Pakistani<\/a> Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/china\/t-18480887\">Chinese<\/a> counterpart, Wang Yi, have been discussing\u00a0the situation in the Middle East. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In a telephone call, the two ministers reaffirmed the need to restore peace and stability to the region, Dar wrote on X.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We agreed to support all efforts aimed at ensuring an immediate end to hostilities, the resumption of peace talks, the protection of non-combatants, the security of shipping lanes, and adherence to the UN Charter,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>According to a summary of the call released by the Chinese ministry,\u00a0Wang told Dar\u00a0that China supports Pakistan&#8217;s role as a mediator.<\/p>\n<p>Initiating peace talks in the Iran war &#8220;is no easy task,&#8221; but it \u200cwould \u2060be &#8220;conducive \u2060to restoring normal navigation through the Strait \u200bof Hormuz,&#8221; \u200bWang said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 US sends 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran via Pakistan\" class=\"headline\">US sends 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran via Pakistan<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76531043\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76531043\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76515221_605.webp\" data-duration=\"01:52\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260325_iranplan16c_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BFyU<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76564712\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76564712\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Read: Is another 1970s\u2011style oil crisis looming?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Read: Is another 1970s\u2011style oil crisis looming?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"no-link m1ho1h07 l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Insa Wrede<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76528748\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76528748_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A woman and a boy filling gas cans with fuel at a gas station in Germany on November 7, 1973\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">In the 1970s, the reduced supply of crude due to an oil embargo by Arab nations set off a sharp rise in fuel prices<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Bertram\/dpa\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Supply disruptions, high prices, nervous markets \u2014 the war in Iran brings back memories of the oil crises of the 1970s.<\/p>\n<p>Back then, many economies plunged into stagflation. How bad is the current crisis?<\/p>\n<p>Read the full report <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-is-another-1970sstyle-oil-crisis-looming\/a-76557017\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BFyi<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76562856\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76562856\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Israel says it will &#8216;escalate and expand&#8217; attacks on Iran<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Israel says it will &#8216;escalate and expand&#8217; attacks on Iran<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israeli attacks on Iran &#8220;will escalate and expand.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Israel Katz noted that he and Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/benjamin-netanyahu\/t-19234066\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> had &#8220;warned the Iranian regime to stop firing missiles\u00a0at the civilian population in Israel.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Despite the warnings, the firing continues \u2014 and therefore (Israeli military) attacks in Iran will escalate and expand to additional targets and areas that assist the regime in building and operating weapons against Israeli citizens,&#8221;\u00a0Katz said.<\/p>\n<p>He stressed that the Iranian regime &#8220;will pay heavy, increasing prices for this war crime.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Despite Israel&#8217;s robust missile defense system, some Iranian missiles have reached the country and struck multiple locations, killing and injuring numerous civilians.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Iranian strike hits residential neighborhood near Jerusalem\" class=\"headline\">Iranian strike hits residential neighborhood near Jerusalem<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76181655\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76181655\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76181842_605.webp\" data-duration=\"02:23\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260302_BEITSHEMESH02A_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BFUm<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76561566\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76561566\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Rubio arrives at G7 foreign ministers meeting in France<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Rubio arrives at G7 foreign ministers meeting in France<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>US\u00a0Secretary of State <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/marco-rubio\/t-73598020\">Marco Rubio<\/a> has arrived in France for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, accoding to the AFP news agency.<\/p>\n<p>Talks are expected to focus on the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>, as well as on\u00a0American strategy for the further conduct of the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>The ministers are also poised\u00a0to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, a critical Gulf waterway for transporting oil and gas, which Iran has effectively blocked. This has caused energy prices to spike and financial markets to become unstable.<\/p>\n<p>Before his flight to France, Rubio was asked by reporters about the reception he was expecting to get. He said that he was looking forward to gathering with his G7 counterparts and that &#8220;we&#8217;re going to have great meetings.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>However, Rubio stressed that he is going to prioritize the interests of the US.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not there to make them happy,&#8221;\u00a0he said. &#8220;I get along with all of them on a personal level, and we work with those governments very carefully, but the people I&#8217;m interested in making happy are the people of the United States. That&#8217;s who I work for. I don&#8217;t work for France or Germany or Japan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The lack of support in NATO countries to join the US-Israeli war has further strained relations between Washington and its allies. Trump on Thursday said he was &#8220;disappointed&#8221; in the alliance, saying it had done &#8220;absolutely nothing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>During a Cabinet meeting, Rubio said he believed &#8220;countries around the world, even those that are out there complaining about this a little bit, should actually be grateful that the United States has a president that&#8217;s willing to confront a threat like this.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>While G7 and NATO are not the same thing, Japan is the only G7 member not in the NATO alliance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Standoff in Iran: Is Trump pulling NATO into war?\" class=\"headline\">Standoff in Iran: Is Trump pulling NATO into war?<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76541893\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76541893\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76542857_605.webp\" data-duration=\"26:04\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/que\/que20260326_gesamtHD_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BF9y<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76560034\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76560034\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Iran Guards prohibit shipping to and from ports of US-Israeli allies<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Iran Guards prohibit shipping to and from ports of US-Israeli allies<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Iran&#8217;s\u00a0Revolutionary Guards\u00a0announced that shipping to and from ports of allies and supporters of its Israeli-US enemies is prohibited through any corridor or to any destination, according to Iranian state media.<\/p>\n<p>The Guards\u00a0added that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and that any transit through the waterway will be met with &#8220;harsh measures.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The movement of any vessel &#8216;to and from&#8217; ports of origin belonging to allies and supporters of the Zionist-American enemies, to any destination and through any corridor, is prohibited,&#8221; it said.<\/p>\n<p>According to media reports, three container ships of various nationalities were turned back from the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> on Friday after receiving warnings from the\u00a0Guards&#8217; naval forces.<\/p>\n<p>The strait has been closed since early in the war with much of the traffic passing through being throttled,\u00a0although some vessels from countries such as India have been allowed through.\u00a0It wasn&#8217;t clear how much the new announcement marks a change in Iran&#8217;s position.<\/p>\n<p>The Houthis, who have previously launched attacks against ships passing through the Red Sea in response to Israel&#8217;s war in Gaza, have said <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-houthi-restraint-driven-by-local-priorities\/a-76546651\">they are not currently planning to limit passage<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Shipping in limbo as Strait of Hormuz crisis deepens\" class=\"headline\">Shipping in limbo as Strait of Hormuz crisis deepens<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76292700\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76292700\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76303314_605.webp\" data-duration=\"02:45\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/vps\/webvideos\/ENG\/2026\/BUSI\/BUSIENG260311_QWIHapagLlyod_CMS_01SMW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BElG<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76558999\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76558999\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Bahrain says it has repelled hundreds of Iranian attacks<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Bahrain says it has repelled hundreds of Iranian attacks<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>The General Command of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bahrain\/t-18962343\">Bahrain<\/a> Defense Force announced that its air defense systems are continuing to fend off successive waves of &#8220;Iranian terrorist attacks&#8221; targeting the country.<\/p>\n<p>In a post on X, the military said it had shot down 362 drones and 154 missiles from Iran so far. It did not say how many strikes had not been shot down.<\/p>\n<p>Bahrain is the small island country, located in the Persian Gulf, which\u00a0has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian drone attacks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BEUZ<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76558122\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76558122\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Ukraine, Saudi Arabia sign defense cooperation agreement<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Ukraine, Saudi Arabia sign defense cooperation agreement<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Ukrainian President <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/volodymyr-zelenskyy\/t-65603134\">Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/a> said that Ukraine and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/saudi-arabia\/t-19155637\">Saudi Arabia<\/a> signed an agreement on defense cooperation that lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation, and investments.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia and to work together to strengthen the protection of lives,&#8221; the Ukrainian president wrote on X.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Saudi Arabia also has capabilities that are of interest to Ukraine, and this cooperation can be mutually beneficial,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Zelenskyy, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, said the agreement was signed ahead of his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.<\/p>\n<p>According to two senior officials who spoke to AFP, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia signed an air defense agreement.<\/p>\n<p>Since the beginning of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>, Tehran has repeatedly launched retaliatory strikes against Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Saudi state media announced that two drones had been intercepted in Riyadh and the eastern region.<\/p>\n<p>Ukraine, which has been facing drone and missile strikes from Russia for over four years, is hoping to leverage its expertise to secure deals for some of the more expensive equipment used by Gulf countries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 How the Iran war is hurting Ukraine's chances at peace\" class=\"headline\">How the Iran war is hurting Ukraine&#8217;s chances at peace<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76396363\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76396363\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76398882_605.webp\" data-duration=\"09:30\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260317_YT_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BEGQ<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76558097\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76558097\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section F1 Japanese GP will be last race for 5 weeks due to Iran war<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">F1 Japanese GP will be last race for 5 weeks due to Iran war<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"68332537\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/68332537_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"F1 champion Max Verstappen driving on the Bahrain International Circuit on February 21, 2024\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Several sporting events have already been impacted by the war<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Ricardo L. Amador\/IMAGO<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled for Sunday, is only the third race of the new <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/formula-1\/t-17343917\">Formula 1<\/a> season.<\/p>\n<p>However, it will be the last one for five weeks, as events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been canceled due to the\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The next <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/formula-1-in-2026-just-formula-e-on-steroids\/a-76144457\">Formula 1 race<\/a> will be on May 3 in Miami.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BEG1<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76557712\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76557712\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Iran Guards urge civilians to stay away from areas near US forces<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Iran Guards urge civilians to stay away from areas near US forces<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76533809\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76533809_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"An aerial view of Kuwait's International Airport with a large plume of black smoke billowing up\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">An Iranian strike on Kuwait International Airport hit a fuel tank, sending a large plume of black smoke into the sky<small class=\"copyright\">Image: European Space Agency\/AFP<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After nearly a month of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">war involving US and Israeli strikes on Iran<\/a> and Iranian counterstrikes on countries in the region, Iran&#8217;s Revolutionary Guards urged civilians to stay away from areas near US forces.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The cowardly American-Zionist forces&#8230; are attempting to use civilian locations and innocent people as human shields,&#8221; said the Guards in a statement on their Sepah News website.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We recommend that you urgently leave locations where American forces are stationed so that no harm comes to you,&#8221; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>Iranian strikes have repeatedly targeted civilian areas in the region, including residential areas and airports.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BE9o<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76557189\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76557189\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section UN calls on US to conclude its probe on deadly Iran school strike<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">UN calls on US to conclude its probe on deadly Iran school strike<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>The UN rights chief, Volker T\u00fcrk, said that the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-deaths-of-schoolgirls-further-stoke-public-fury\/a-63494532\">deadly bombing of an Iranian school<\/a> on February 28,\u00a0at the \u200bstart of US-Israeli strikes,\u00a0caused &#8220;visceral horror&#8221; and urged the United States to finish its investigation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Senior US\u00a0officials have \u200csaid the strike \u200cis under\u00a0investigation. \u200bI call for that process to be concluded \u200bas soon as possible, and for its findings \u2060to \u200bbe made public,&#8221; \u200bT\u00fcrk told the UN\u00a0\u200bHuman Rights \u200cCouncil in Geneva during the deabate focused on the strike.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There must be justice \u2060for \u200bthe terrible harm done,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>T\u00fcrk also said that &#8220;whatever differences countries have, we can all agree they will not be solved by killing schoolchildren&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>According to the preliminary findings of a US military investigation reported by <em>The New York Times<\/em>, a US Tomahawk cruise missile hit the school due to a targeting mistake.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Evidence points to US role in deadly Iran school attack\" class=\"headline\">Evidence points to US role in deadly Iran school attack<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76331098\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76331098\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76209722_605.webp\" data-duration=\"08:47\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260312_FSSchool_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BE1N<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76556398\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76556398\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section UAE wants to join the international force to reopen Hormuz \u2014 report<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">UAE wants to join the international force to reopen Hormuz \u2014 report<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>The <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/united-arab-emirates\/t-67582701\">United Arab Emirates<\/a> has informed the US\u00a0and other Western allies that it will participate in a multinational maritime task force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the <em>Financial Times<\/em> reported on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>According to three people familiar with the situation, the UAE has informed the United States and other Western nations of its intention to participate in the mission. Two of the <em>FT<\/em> sources\u00a0noted that Abu Dhabi will deploy its own naval forces to the operation.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>FT<\/em>\u00a0also reported that the UAE is trying to push dozens of countries to create a &#8220;Hormuz Security Force&#8221;\u00a0to defend the strait from Iranian attacks and escort shipping.<\/p>\n<p>Several US\u00a0allies have previously stated that they have no plans to send ships to open the Strait of Hormuz in the near future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BDoc<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76556370\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76556370\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section German FM says US, Iran plan to meet in Pakistan<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">German FM says US, Iran plan to meet in Pakistan<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76376063\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76376063_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul speaks to the media as he arrives for a Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, in Brussels on March 16, 2026\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Wadephul siad he is aware of indirect communication between Iran and the US [FILE: March 16, 2026]<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Nicolas Tucat\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>German Foreign Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/johann-wadephul\/t-72493606\">Johann Wadephul<\/a> said that the United States and Iran have held indirect negotiations and that representatives from both sides plan to meet shortly in Pakistan.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Based on my information, there have been indirect contacts, and preparations have been made to meet directly. That would be very soon in Pakistan, apparently,&#8221; he\u00a0told Deutschlandfunk radio.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And that is good news, after all, that these\u00a0talks can take place,&#8221; Wadephul added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to the German minister, US\u00a0Secretary of State Marco Rubio will &#8220;perhaps elaborate on this in more detail later today&#8221; at\u00a0the G7 foreign ministers meeting in\u00a0France.<\/p>\n<p>The foreign minister added that the US had not made any specific requests to Germany for help in the Iran war, but the Germany has offered support for after the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>Wadephul also reiterated Germany&#8217;s willingness to help secure shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz\u00a0once the war ends.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As we have always said: Once this war is over, Germany is, in principle, prepared to consider whether we can help secure shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,&#8221; the minister\u00a0said. &#8220;But we have to get there first.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BDoA<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76556346\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76556346\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Kuwait says its main port hit by drone attack, no casualties reported<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Kuwait says its main port hit by drone attack, no casualties reported<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/kuwait\/t-67603965\">Kuwait<\/a>&#8216;s main commercial port, Shuwaikh, was damaged in a drone attack, but authorities said there were no casualties.<\/p>\n<p>The port was targeted on Friday morning\u00a0&#8220;by enemy drones, preliminary reports revealed material damage but no human casualties,&#8221;\u00a0according to a statement from the Kuwait port authority on X.<\/p>\n<p>The authority\u00a0offered no other details.<\/p>\n<p>Kuwait has been multiple times by Iranian strikes, with one such incident sparking\u00a0a large fire at its international airport on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BDnm<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76556311\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76556311\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section How has US policy toward Iran evolved over the past 4 weeks?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">How has US policy toward Iran evolved over the past 4 weeks?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><strong>February 28:<\/strong> War starts, the US and Israel launch attacks across Iran. Within hours of the strkes, Iran announces closure of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 5:<\/strong> Oil price tops $100 for the first time.\u00a0US President Donald Trump says he wants a say in who will replace\u00a0Iran&#8217;s killed supreme leader,\u00a0Ali Khamenei, and rules out Khamenei&#8217;s son <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-khamenei-son-mojtaba-named-new-supreme-leader\/live-76263936\">Mojtaba who ends up being picked anyway<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 13:<\/strong> The US conducts a large-scale bombing raid on Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil export hub. The strikes hit over 90 Iranian military sites but left the oil and gas infrastructure intact.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 14:<\/strong> Initial reports that more US Marines are being deployed to the Middle East. These reports will continue later in March.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 21:<\/strong> Trump threatens to attack Iran&#8217;s energy facilities if they don&#8217;t\u00a0open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-tehran-vows-response-to-trumps-hormuz-threats\/live-76470940\">Tehran rejects the threat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 23:<\/strong> Trump walks back his threat and extends the deadline by five days. <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-trump-claims-us-has-held-talks-with-iran\/live-76478747\">He also speaks of &#8220;very good&#8221; talks<\/a> with an unidentified Iranian official, Iran denies any talks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 24:<\/strong> The US sends a 15-point peace plan to Iran via intermediaries in Pakistan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 25: <\/strong><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-tehran-sets-own-terms-to-end-war-rejects-us-plan\/live-76515461\">Iran says it is still not talking to the US<\/a>\u00a0and cannot trust them after being attacked twice in the past nine months during ongoing negotiations<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 26: <\/strong>Trump extends the deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz by 10 days. He says Iran is &#8220;begging&#8221; for a deal, and the talks are going well. The <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> reports the Pentagon is considering sending a further 10,000 troops to the region amid speculation over a ground invasion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BDnD<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76555911\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531#post-liveblog-post-76555911\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Israel strikes Beirut, Tehran \u2014 reports<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/27\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 27, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Israel strikes Beirut, Tehran \u2014 reports<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"separator lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> | <\/span><span class=\"extra-info lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> Editor<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76533903\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76533903_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A view of ruins as large number of buildings, structures, and vehicles were damaged in the region after the Israeli army launched attacks on the Dahieh area in southern Beirut, Lebanon, on March 25, 2026\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Beirut has repeatedly come under attack from Israeli forces<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Houssam Shbaro\/Anadolu Agency\/IMAGO<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Israel struck Beirut&#8217;s southern suburbs at dawn on Friday, according to media reports.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lebanon\/t-19131661\">Lebanon<\/a>&#8216;s official National News Agency, &#8220;enemy aircraft&#8221; raided Tahouitet al-Ghadir in the southern suburbs at dawn on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>AFP correspondents also heard several explosions in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/hezbollah\/t-41508807\">Hezbollah<\/a> stronghold, an area that Israel has repeatedly attacked since the outbreak of war this month.<\/p>\n<p>Although Israel had previously issued sweeping evacuation warnings for the area, it provided no specific warning in advance of Friday&#8217;s strike.<\/p>\n<p>The Israeli military Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adraee told residents of Sejoud village in southern Lebanon to evacuate just hours later.<\/p>\n<p>According to the AP news agency, Israel&#8217;s military announced early Friday that it had also conducted a series of strikes &#8220;in the heart of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/tehran\/t-40246359\">Tehran<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>There have been no reports of casualties or damage in the Iranian capital yet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BDgl<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"bp605kw center\">\n<div role=\"button\" data-tracking-name=\"show-more\" class=\"show-more-button s1va3u11 t1y9040i m7i2pic e3w9kkf b19vsmfu cx4rgdt ih9bob8 sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Show more posts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>The UN has called on the US to conclude its investigation into the deadly strike that hit a school in Iran<\/li>\n<li>German Foreign Minister Wadephul expects direct talks between US and Iran in Pakistan soon<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-president-donald-trump-russia-ukraine-israel-gaza-tariffs-trade-war\/t-19434433\">Trump<\/a> extends <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Hormuz<\/a> ultimatum as Wall Street suffers sharpest drop since start of war<\/li>\n<li>Pentagon reportedly considering deploying a further 10,000 US soldiers to the Middle East<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran\/t-18996175\">Iran<\/a> bans sports teams from attending games in &#8216;hostile&#8217;\u00a0countries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Here are the developments in the <\/em><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a><em>\u00a0on Friday, March 27, 2026:<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Here are the developments in the <\/em><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a><em>\u00a0on Friday, March 27, 2026:<\/em><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pakistan\/t-19069841\">Pakistani<\/a> Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/china\/t-18480887\">Chinese<\/a> counterpart, Wang Yi, have been discussing\u00a0the situation in the Middle East. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In a telephone call, the two ministers reaffirmed the need to restore peace and stability to the region, Dar wrote on X.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We agreed to support all efforts aimed at ensuring an immediate end to hostilities, the resumption of peace talks, the protection of non-combatants, the security of shipping lanes, and adherence to the UN Charter,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>According to a summary of the call released by the Chinese ministry,\u00a0Wang told Dar\u00a0that China supports Pakistan&#8217;s role as a mediator.<\/p>\n<p>Initiating peace talks in the Iran war &#8220;is no easy task,&#8221; but it \u200cwould \u2060be &#8220;conducive \u2060to restoring normal navigation through the Strait \u200bof Hormuz,&#8221; \u200bWang said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 US sends 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran via Pakistan\" class=\"headline\">US sends 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran via Pakistan<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76531043\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76531043\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76515221_605.webp\" data-duration=\"01:52\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260325_iranplan16c_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/pakistan\/t-19069841\">Pakistani<\/a> Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/china\/t-18480887\">Chinese<\/a> counterpart, Wang Yi, have been discussing\u00a0the situation in the Middle East. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In a telephone call, the two ministers reaffirmed the need to restore peace and stability to the region, Dar wrote on X.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We agreed to support all efforts aimed at ensuring an immediate end to hostilities, the resumption of peace talks, the protection of non-combatants, the security of shipping lanes, and adherence to the UN Charter,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>According to a summary of the call released by the Chinese ministry,\u00a0Wang told Dar\u00a0that China supports Pakistan&#8217;s role as a mediator.<\/p>\n<p>Initiating peace talks in the Iran war &#8220;is no easy task,&#8221; but it \u200cwould \u2060be &#8220;conducive \u2060to restoring normal navigation through the Strait \u200bof Hormuz,&#8221; \u200bWang said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76528748\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76528748_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A woman and a boy filling gas cans with fuel at a gas station in Germany on November 7, 1973\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">In the 1970s, the reduced supply of crude due to an oil embargo by Arab nations set off a sharp rise in fuel prices<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Bertram\/dpa\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Supply disruptions, high prices, nervous markets \u2014 the war in Iran brings back memories of the oil crises of the 1970s.<\/p>\n<p>Back then, many economies plunged into stagflation. How bad is the current crisis?<\/p>\n<p>Read the full report <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-is-another-1970sstyle-oil-crisis-looming\/a-76557017\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Supply disruptions, high prices, nervous markets \u2014 the war in Iran brings back memories of the oil crises of the 1970s.<\/p>\n<p>Back then, many economies plunged into stagflation. How bad is the current crisis?<\/p>\n<p>Read the full report <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-is-another-1970sstyle-oil-crisis-looming\/a-76557017\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israeli attacks on Iran &#8220;will escalate and expand.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Israel Katz noted that he and Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/benjamin-netanyahu\/t-19234066\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> had &#8220;warned the Iranian regime to stop firing missiles\u00a0at the civilian population in Israel.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Despite the warnings, the firing continues \u2014 and therefore (Israeli military) attacks in Iran will escalate and expand to additional targets and areas that assist the regime in building and operating weapons against Israeli citizens,&#8221;\u00a0Katz said.<\/p>\n<p>He stressed that the Iranian regime &#8220;will pay heavy, increasing prices for this war crime.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Despite Israel&#8217;s robust missile defense system, some Iranian missiles have reached the country and struck multiple locations, killing and injuring numerous civilians.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Iranian strike hits residential neighborhood near Jerusalem\" class=\"headline\">Iranian strike hits residential neighborhood near Jerusalem<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76181655\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76181655\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76181842_605.webp\" data-duration=\"02:23\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260302_BEITSHEMESH02A_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Israeli attacks on Iran &#8220;will escalate and expand.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Israel Katz noted that he and Prime Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/benjamin-netanyahu\/t-19234066\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> had &#8220;warned the Iranian regime to stop firing missiles\u00a0at the civilian population in Israel.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Despite the warnings, the firing continues \u2014 and therefore (Israeli military) attacks in Iran will escalate and expand to additional targets and areas that assist the regime in building and operating weapons against Israeli citizens,&#8221;\u00a0Katz said.<\/p>\n<p>He stressed that the Iranian regime &#8220;will pay heavy, increasing prices for this war crime.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Despite Israel&#8217;s robust missile defense system, some Iranian missiles have reached the country and struck multiple locations, killing and injuring numerous civilians.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>US\u00a0Secretary of State <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/marco-rubio\/t-73598020\">Marco Rubio<\/a> has arrived in France for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, accoding to the AFP news agency.<\/p>\n<p>Talks are expected to focus on the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>, as well as on\u00a0American strategy for the further conduct of the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>The ministers are also poised\u00a0to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, a critical Gulf waterway for transporting oil and gas, which Iran has effectively blocked. This has caused energy prices to spike and financial markets to become unstable.<\/p>\n<p>Before his flight to France, Rubio was asked by reporters about the reception he was expecting to get. He said that he was looking forward to gathering with his G7 counterparts and that &#8220;we&#8217;re going to have great meetings.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>However, Rubio stressed that he is going to prioritize the interests of the US.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not there to make them happy,&#8221;\u00a0he said. &#8220;I get along with all of them on a personal level, and we work with those governments very carefully, but the people I&#8217;m interested in making happy are the people of the United States. That&#8217;s who I work for. I don&#8217;t work for France or Germany or Japan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The lack of support in NATO countries to join the US-Israeli war has further strained relations between Washington and its allies. Trump on Thursday said he was &#8220;disappointed&#8221; in the alliance, saying it had done &#8220;absolutely nothing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>During a Cabinet meeting, Rubio said he believed &#8220;countries around the world, even those that are out there complaining about this a little bit, should actually be grateful that the United States has a president that&#8217;s willing to confront a threat like this.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>While G7 and NATO are not the same thing, Japan is the only G7 member not in the NATO alliance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Standoff in Iran: Is Trump pulling NATO into war?\" class=\"headline\">Standoff in Iran: Is Trump pulling NATO into war?<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76541893\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76541893\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76542857_605.webp\" data-duration=\"26:04\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/que\/que20260326_gesamtHD_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>US\u00a0Secretary of State <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/marco-rubio\/t-73598020\">Marco Rubio<\/a> has arrived in France for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, accoding to the AFP news agency.<\/p>\n<p>Talks are expected to focus on the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>, as well as on\u00a0American strategy for the further conduct of the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>The ministers are also poised\u00a0to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, a critical Gulf waterway for transporting oil and gas, which Iran has effectively blocked. This has caused energy prices to spike and financial markets to become unstable.<\/p>\n<p>Before his flight to France, Rubio was asked by reporters about the reception he was expecting to get. He said that he was looking forward to gathering with his G7 counterparts and that &#8220;we&#8217;re going to have great meetings.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>However, Rubio stressed that he is going to prioritize the interests of the US.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not there to make them happy,&#8221;\u00a0he said. &#8220;I get along with all of them on a personal level, and we work with those governments very carefully, but the people I&#8217;m interested in making happy are the people of the United States. That&#8217;s who I work for. I don&#8217;t work for France or Germany or Japan.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The lack of support in NATO countries to join the US-Israeli war has further strained relations between Washington and its allies. Trump on Thursday said he was &#8220;disappointed&#8221; in the alliance, saying it had done &#8220;absolutely nothing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>During a Cabinet meeting, Rubio said he believed &#8220;countries around the world, even those that are out there complaining about this a little bit, should actually be grateful that the United States has a president that&#8217;s willing to confront a threat like this.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>While G7 and NATO are not the same thing, Japan is the only G7 member not in the NATO alliance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Iran&#8217;s\u00a0Revolutionary Guards\u00a0announced that shipping to and from ports of allies and supporters of its Israeli-US enemies is prohibited through any corridor or to any destination, according to Iranian state media.<\/p>\n<p>The Guards\u00a0added that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and that any transit through the waterway will be met with &#8220;harsh measures.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The movement of any vessel &#8216;to and from&#8217; ports of origin belonging to allies and supporters of the Zionist-American enemies, to any destination and through any corridor, is prohibited,&#8221; it said.<\/p>\n<p>According to media reports, three container ships of various nationalities were turned back from the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> on Friday after receiving warnings from the\u00a0Guards&#8217; naval forces.<\/p>\n<p>The strait has been closed since early in the war with much of the traffic passing through being throttled,\u00a0although some vessels from countries such as India have been allowed through.\u00a0It wasn&#8217;t clear how much the new announcement marks a change in Iran&#8217;s position.<\/p>\n<p>The Houthis, who have previously launched attacks against ships passing through the Red Sea in response to Israel&#8217;s war in Gaza, have said <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-houthi-restraint-driven-by-local-priorities\/a-76546651\">they are not currently planning to limit passage<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Shipping in limbo as Strait of Hormuz crisis deepens\" class=\"headline\">Shipping in limbo as Strait of Hormuz crisis deepens<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76292700\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76292700\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76303314_605.webp\" data-duration=\"02:45\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/vps\/webvideos\/ENG\/2026\/BUSI\/BUSIENG260311_QWIHapagLlyod_CMS_01SMW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Iran&#8217;s\u00a0Revolutionary Guards\u00a0announced that shipping to and from ports of allies and supporters of its Israeli-US enemies is prohibited through any corridor or to any destination, according to Iranian state media.<\/p>\n<p>The Guards\u00a0added that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and that any transit through the waterway will be met with &#8220;harsh measures.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The movement of any vessel &#8216;to and from&#8217; ports of origin belonging to allies and supporters of the Zionist-American enemies, to any destination and through any corridor, is prohibited,&#8221; it said.<\/p>\n<p>According to media reports, three container ships of various nationalities were turned back from the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/strait-of-hormuz\/t-76193780\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> on Friday after receiving warnings from the\u00a0Guards&#8217; naval forces.<\/p>\n<p>The strait has been closed since early in the war with much of the traffic passing through being throttled,\u00a0although some vessels from countries such as India have been allowed through.\u00a0It wasn&#8217;t clear how much the new announcement marks a change in Iran&#8217;s position.<\/p>\n<p>The Houthis, who have previously launched attacks against ships passing through the Red Sea in response to Israel&#8217;s war in Gaza, have said <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-houthi-restraint-driven-by-local-priorities\/a-76546651\">they are not currently planning to limit passage<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>The General Command of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bahrain\/t-18962343\">Bahrain<\/a> Defense Force announced that its air defense systems are continuing to fend off successive waves of &#8220;Iranian terrorist attacks&#8221; targeting the country.<\/p>\n<p>In a post on X, the military said it had shot down 362 drones and 154 missiles from Iran so far. It did not say how many strikes had not been shot down.<\/p>\n<p>Bahrain is the small island country, located in the Persian Gulf, which\u00a0has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian drone attacks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The General Command of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bahrain\/t-18962343\">Bahrain<\/a> Defense Force announced that its air defense systems are continuing to fend off successive waves of &#8220;Iranian terrorist attacks&#8221; targeting the country.<\/p>\n<p>In a post on X, the military said it had shot down 362 drones and 154 missiles from Iran so far. It did not say how many strikes had not been shot down.<\/p>\n<p>Bahrain is the small island country, located in the Persian Gulf, which\u00a0has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian drone attacks.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Ukrainian President <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/volodymyr-zelenskyy\/t-65603134\">Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/a> said that Ukraine and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/saudi-arabia\/t-19155637\">Saudi Arabia<\/a> signed an agreement on defense cooperation that lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation, and investments.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia and to work together to strengthen the protection of lives,&#8221; the Ukrainian president wrote on X.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Saudi Arabia also has capabilities that are of interest to Ukraine, and this cooperation can be mutually beneficial,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Zelenskyy, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, said the agreement was signed ahead of his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.<\/p>\n<p>According to two senior officials who spoke to AFP, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia signed an air defense agreement.<\/p>\n<p>Since the beginning of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>, Tehran has repeatedly launched retaliatory strikes against Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Saudi state media announced that two drones had been intercepted in Riyadh and the eastern region.<\/p>\n<p>Ukraine, which has been facing drone and missile strikes from Russia for over four years, is hoping to leverage its expertise to secure deals for some of the more expensive equipment used by Gulf countries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 How the Iran war is hurting Ukraine's chances at peace\" class=\"headline\">How the Iran war is hurting Ukraine&#8217;s chances at peace<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76396363\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76396363\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76398882_605.webp\" data-duration=\"09:30\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260317_YT_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ukrainian President <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/volodymyr-zelenskyy\/t-65603134\">Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/a> said that Ukraine and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/saudi-arabia\/t-19155637\">Saudi Arabia<\/a> signed an agreement on defense cooperation that lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation, and investments.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia and to work together to strengthen the protection of lives,&#8221; the Ukrainian president wrote on X.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Saudi Arabia also has capabilities that are of interest to Ukraine, and this cooperation can be mutually beneficial,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Zelenskyy, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, said the agreement was signed ahead of his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.<\/p>\n<p>According to two senior officials who spoke to AFP, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia signed an air defense agreement.<\/p>\n<p>Since the beginning of the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>, Tehran has repeatedly launched retaliatory strikes against Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Saudi state media announced that two drones had been intercepted in Riyadh and the eastern region.<\/p>\n<p>Ukraine, which has been facing drone and missile strikes from Russia for over four years, is hoping to leverage its expertise to secure deals for some of the more expensive equipment used by Gulf countries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"68332537\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/68332537_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"F1 champion Max Verstappen driving on the Bahrain International Circuit on February 21, 2024\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Several sporting events have already been impacted by the war<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Ricardo L. Amador\/IMAGO<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled for Sunday, is only the third race of the new <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/formula-1\/t-17343917\">Formula 1<\/a> season.<\/p>\n<p>However, it will be the last one for five weeks, as events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been canceled due to the\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The next <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/formula-1-in-2026-just-formula-e-on-steroids\/a-76144457\">Formula 1 race<\/a> will be on May 3 in Miami.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled for Sunday, is only the third race of the new <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/formula-1\/t-17343917\">Formula 1<\/a> season.<\/p>\n<p>However, it will be the last one for five weeks, as events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been canceled due to the\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">US-Israel war with Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The next <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/formula-1-in-2026-just-formula-e-on-steroids\/a-76144457\">Formula 1 race<\/a> will be on May 3 in Miami.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76533809\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76533809_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"An aerial view of Kuwait's International Airport with a large plume of black smoke billowing up\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">An Iranian strike on Kuwait International Airport hit a fuel tank, sending a large plume of black smoke into the sky<small class=\"copyright\">Image: European Space Agency\/AFP<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After nearly a month of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">war involving US and Israeli strikes on Iran<\/a> and Iranian counterstrikes on countries in the region, Iran&#8217;s Revolutionary Guards urged civilians to stay away from areas near US forces.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The cowardly American-Zionist forces&#8230; are attempting to use civilian locations and innocent people as human shields,&#8221; said the Guards in a statement on their Sepah News website.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We recommend that you urgently leave locations where American forces are stationed so that no harm comes to you,&#8221; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>Iranian strikes have repeatedly targeted civilian areas in the region, including residential areas and airports.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>After nearly a month of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">war involving US and Israeli strikes on Iran<\/a> and Iranian counterstrikes on countries in the region, Iran&#8217;s Revolutionary Guards urged civilians to stay away from areas near US forces.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The cowardly American-Zionist forces&#8230; are attempting to use civilian locations and innocent people as human shields,&#8221; said the Guards in a statement on their Sepah News website.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We recommend that you urgently leave locations where American forces are stationed so that no harm comes to you,&#8221; the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>Iranian strikes have repeatedly targeted civilian areas in the region, including residential areas and airports.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>The UN rights chief, Volker T\u00fcrk, said that the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-deaths-of-schoolgirls-further-stoke-public-fury\/a-63494532\">deadly bombing of an Iranian school<\/a> on February 28,\u00a0at the \u200bstart of US-Israeli strikes,\u00a0caused &#8220;visceral horror&#8221; and urged the United States to finish its investigation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Senior US\u00a0officials have \u200csaid the strike \u200cis under\u00a0investigation. \u200bI call for that process to be concluded \u200bas soon as possible, and for its findings \u2060to \u200bbe made public,&#8221; \u200bT\u00fcrk told the UN\u00a0\u200bHuman Rights \u200cCouncil in Geneva during the deabate focused on the strike.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There must be justice \u2060for \u200bthe terrible harm done,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>T\u00fcrk also said that &#8220;whatever differences countries have, we can all agree they will not be solved by killing schoolchildren&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>According to the preliminary findings of a US military investigation reported by <em>The New York Times<\/em>, a US Tomahawk cruise missile hit the school due to a targeting mistake.<\/p>\n<div class=\"vjs-wrapper embed big\">\n<h2 aria-label=\"Embedded video \u2014 Evidence points to US role in deadly Iran school attack\" class=\"headline\">Evidence points to US role in deadly Iran school attack<\/h2>\n<p><video id=\"video-76331098\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" poster=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" data-id=\"76331098\" data-posterurl=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76209722_605.webp\" data-duration=\"08:47\"><source src=\"https:\/\/hlsvod.dw.com\/i\/dwtv_video\/flv\/je\/je20260312_FSSchool_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil\/master.m3u8\" type=\"application\/x-mpegURL\" \/><\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The UN rights chief, Volker T\u00fcrk, said that the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-deaths-of-schoolgirls-further-stoke-public-fury\/a-63494532\">deadly bombing of an Iranian school<\/a> on February 28,\u00a0at the \u200bstart of US-Israeli strikes,\u00a0caused &#8220;visceral horror&#8221; and urged the United States to finish its investigation.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Senior US\u00a0officials have \u200csaid the strike \u200cis under\u00a0investigation. \u200bI call for that process to be concluded \u200bas soon as possible, and for its findings \u2060to \u200bbe made public,&#8221; \u200bT\u00fcrk told the UN\u00a0\u200bHuman Rights \u200cCouncil in Geneva during the deabate focused on the strike.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There must be justice \u2060for \u200bthe terrible harm done,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>T\u00fcrk also said that &#8220;whatever differences countries have, we can all agree they will not be solved by killing schoolchildren&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>According to the preliminary findings of a US military investigation reported by <em>The New York Times<\/em>, a US Tomahawk cruise missile hit the school due to a targeting mistake.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vjs-no-js\">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href=\"https:\/\/videojs.com\/html5-video-support\/\" target=\"_blank\">supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>The <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/united-arab-emirates\/t-67582701\">United Arab Emirates<\/a> has informed the US\u00a0and other Western allies that it will participate in a multinational maritime task force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the <em>Financial Times<\/em> reported on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>According to three people familiar with the situation, the UAE has informed the United States and other Western nations of its intention to participate in the mission. Two of the <em>FT<\/em> sources\u00a0noted that Abu Dhabi will deploy its own naval forces to the operation.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>FT<\/em>\u00a0also reported that the UAE is trying to push dozens of countries to create a &#8220;Hormuz Security Force&#8221;\u00a0to defend the strait from Iranian attacks and escort shipping.<\/p>\n<p>Several US\u00a0allies have previously stated that they have no plans to send ships to open the Strait of Hormuz in the near future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/united-arab-emirates\/t-67582701\">United Arab Emirates<\/a> has informed the US\u00a0and other Western allies that it will participate in a multinational maritime task force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the <em>Financial Times<\/em> reported on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>According to three people familiar with the situation, the UAE has informed the United States and other Western nations of its intention to participate in the mission. Two of the <em>FT<\/em> sources\u00a0noted that Abu Dhabi will deploy its own naval forces to the operation.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>FT<\/em>\u00a0also reported that the UAE is trying to push dozens of countries to create a &#8220;Hormuz Security Force&#8221;\u00a0to defend the strait from Iranian attacks and escort shipping.<\/p>\n<p>Several US\u00a0allies have previously stated that they have no plans to send ships to open the Strait of Hormuz in the near future.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76376063\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76376063_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul speaks to the media as he arrives for a Foreign Affairs Council to discuss Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, in Brussels on March 16, 2026\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Wadephul siad he is aware of indirect communication between Iran and the US [FILE: March 16, 2026]<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Nicolas Tucat\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>German Foreign Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/johann-wadephul\/t-72493606\">Johann Wadephul<\/a> said that the United States and Iran have held indirect negotiations and that representatives from both sides plan to meet shortly in Pakistan.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Based on my information, there have been indirect contacts, and preparations have been made to meet directly. That would be very soon in Pakistan, apparently,&#8221; he\u00a0told Deutschlandfunk radio.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And that is good news, after all, that these\u00a0talks can take place,&#8221; Wadephul added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to the German minister, US\u00a0Secretary of State Marco Rubio will &#8220;perhaps elaborate on this in more detail later today&#8221; at\u00a0the G7 foreign ministers meeting in\u00a0France.<\/p>\n<p>The foreign minister added that the US had not made any specific requests to Germany for help in the Iran war, but the Germany has offered support for after the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>Wadephul also reiterated Germany&#8217;s willingness to help secure shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz\u00a0once the war ends.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As we have always said: Once this war is over, Germany is, in principle, prepared to consider whether we can help secure shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,&#8221; the minister\u00a0said. &#8220;But we have to get there first.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>German Foreign Minister <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/johann-wadephul\/t-72493606\">Johann Wadephul<\/a> said that the United States and Iran have held indirect negotiations and that representatives from both sides plan to meet shortly in Pakistan.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Based on my information, there have been indirect contacts, and preparations have been made to meet directly. That would be very soon in Pakistan, apparently,&#8221; he\u00a0told Deutschlandfunk radio.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And that is good news, after all, that these\u00a0talks can take place,&#8221; Wadephul added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>According to the German minister, US\u00a0Secretary of State Marco Rubio will &#8220;perhaps elaborate on this in more detail later today&#8221; at\u00a0the G7 foreign ministers meeting in\u00a0France.<\/p>\n<p>The foreign minister added that the US had not made any specific requests to Germany for help in the Iran war, but the Germany has offered support for after the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>Wadephul also reiterated Germany&#8217;s willingness to help secure shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz\u00a0once the war ends.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As we have always said: Once this war is over, Germany is, in principle, prepared to consider whether we can help secure shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,&#8221; the minister\u00a0said. &#8220;But we have to get there first.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/kuwait\/t-67603965\">Kuwait<\/a>&#8216;s main commercial port, Shuwaikh, was damaged in a drone attack, but authorities said there were no casualties.<\/p>\n<p>The port was targeted on Friday morning\u00a0&#8220;by enemy drones, preliminary reports revealed material damage but no human casualties,&#8221;\u00a0according to a statement from the Kuwait port authority on X.<\/p>\n<p>The authority\u00a0offered no other details.<\/p>\n<p>Kuwait has been multiple times by Iranian strikes, with one such incident sparking\u00a0a large fire at its international airport on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/kuwait\/t-67603965\">Kuwait<\/a>&#8216;s main commercial port, Shuwaikh, was damaged in a drone attack, but authorities said there were no casualties.<\/p>\n<p>The port was targeted on Friday morning\u00a0&#8220;by enemy drones, preliminary reports revealed material damage but no human casualties,&#8221;\u00a0according to a statement from the Kuwait port authority on X.<\/p>\n<p>The authority\u00a0offered no other details.<\/p>\n<p>Kuwait has been multiple times by Iranian strikes, with one such incident sparking\u00a0a large fire at its international airport on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><strong>February 28:<\/strong> War starts, the US and Israel launch attacks across Iran. Within hours of the strkes, Iran announces closure of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 5:<\/strong> Oil price tops $100 for the first time.\u00a0US President Donald Trump says he wants a say in who will replace\u00a0Iran&#8217;s killed supreme leader,\u00a0Ali Khamenei, and rules out Khamenei&#8217;s son <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-khamenei-son-mojtaba-named-new-supreme-leader\/live-76263936\">Mojtaba who ends up being picked anyway<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 13:<\/strong> The US conducts a large-scale bombing raid on Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil export hub. The strikes hit over 90 Iranian military sites but left the oil and gas infrastructure intact.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 14:<\/strong> Initial reports that more US Marines are being deployed to the Middle East. These reports will continue later in March.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 21:<\/strong> Trump threatens to attack Iran&#8217;s energy facilities if they don&#8217;t\u00a0open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-tehran-vows-response-to-trumps-hormuz-threats\/live-76470940\">Tehran rejects the threat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 23:<\/strong> Trump walks back his threat and extends the deadline by five days. <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-trump-claims-us-has-held-talks-with-iran\/live-76478747\">He also speaks of &#8220;very good&#8221; talks<\/a> with an unidentified Iranian official, Iran denies any talks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 24:<\/strong> The US sends a 15-point peace plan to Iran via intermediaries in Pakistan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 25: <\/strong><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-tehran-sets-own-terms-to-end-war-rejects-us-plan\/live-76515461\">Iran says it is still not talking to the US<\/a>\u00a0and cannot trust them after being attacked twice in the past nine months during ongoing negotiations<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 26: <\/strong>Trump extends the deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz by 10 days. He says Iran is &#8220;begging&#8221; for a deal, and the talks are going well. The <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> reports the Pentagon is considering sending a further 10,000 troops to the region amid speculation over a ground invasion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>February 28:<\/strong> War starts, the US and Israel launch attacks across Iran. Within hours of the strkes, Iran announces closure of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 5:<\/strong> Oil price tops $100 for the first time.\u00a0US President Donald Trump says he wants a say in who will replace\u00a0Iran&#8217;s killed supreme leader,\u00a0Ali Khamenei, and rules out Khamenei&#8217;s son <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-khamenei-son-mojtaba-named-new-supreme-leader\/live-76263936\">Mojtaba who ends up being picked anyway<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 13:<\/strong> The US conducts a large-scale bombing raid on Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil export hub. The strikes hit over 90 Iranian military sites but left the oil and gas infrastructure intact.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 14:<\/strong> Initial reports that more US Marines are being deployed to the Middle East. These reports will continue later in March.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 21:<\/strong> Trump threatens to attack Iran&#8217;s energy facilities if they don&#8217;t\u00a0open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-tehran-vows-response-to-trumps-hormuz-threats\/live-76470940\">Tehran rejects the threat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 23:<\/strong> Trump walks back his threat and extends the deadline by five days. <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-trump-claims-us-has-held-talks-with-iran\/live-76478747\">He also speaks of &#8220;very good&#8221; talks<\/a> with an unidentified Iranian official, Iran denies any talks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 24:<\/strong> The US sends a 15-point peace plan to Iran via intermediaries in Pakistan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 25: <\/strong><a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-tehran-sets-own-terms-to-end-war-rejects-us-plan\/live-76515461\">Iran says it is still not talking to the US<\/a>\u00a0and cannot trust them after being attacked twice in the past nine months during ongoing negotiations<\/p>\n<p><strong>March 26: <\/strong>Trump extends the deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz by 10 days. He says Iran is &#8220;begging&#8221; for a deal, and the talks are going well. The <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> reports the Pentagon is considering sending a further 10,000 troops to the region amid speculation over a ground invasion.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<figure class=\"placeholder-image master_landscape big\"><img data-format=\"MASTER_LANDSCAPE\" data-id=\"76533903\" data-url=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76533903_${formatId}.jpg\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" alt=\"A view of ruins as large number of buildings, structures, and vehicles were damaged in the region after the Israeli army launched attacks on the Dahieh area in southern Beirut, Lebanon, on March 25, 2026\"><figcaption class=\"img-caption\">Beirut has repeatedly come under attack from Israeli forces<small class=\"copyright\">Image: Houssam Shbaro\/Anadolu Agency\/IMAGO<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Israel struck Beirut&#8217;s southern suburbs at dawn on Friday, according to media reports.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lebanon\/t-19131661\">Lebanon<\/a>&#8216;s official National News Agency, &#8220;enemy aircraft&#8221; raided Tahouitet al-Ghadir in the southern suburbs at dawn on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>AFP correspondents also heard several explosions in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/hezbollah\/t-41508807\">Hezbollah<\/a> stronghold, an area that Israel has repeatedly attacked since the outbreak of war this month.<\/p>\n<p>Although Israel had previously issued sweeping evacuation warnings for the area, it provided no specific warning in advance of Friday&#8217;s strike.<\/p>\n<p>The Israeli military Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adraee told residents of Sejoud village in southern Lebanon to evacuate just hours later.<\/p>\n<p>According to the AP news agency, Israel&#8217;s military announced early Friday that it had also conducted a series of strikes &#8220;in the heart of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/tehran\/t-40246359\">Tehran<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>There have been no reports of casualties or damage in the Iranian capital yet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Israel struck Beirut&#8217;s southern suburbs at dawn on Friday, according to media reports.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lebanon\/t-19131661\">Lebanon<\/a>&#8216;s official National News Agency, &#8220;enemy aircraft&#8221; raided Tahouitet al-Ghadir in the southern suburbs at dawn on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>AFP correspondents also heard several explosions in the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/hezbollah\/t-41508807\">Hezbollah<\/a> stronghold, an area that Israel has repeatedly attacked since the outbreak of war this month.<\/p>\n<p>Although Israel had previously issued sweeping evacuation warnings for the area, it provided no specific warning in advance of Friday&#8217;s strike.<\/p>\n<p>The Israeli military Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adraee told residents of Sejoud village in southern Lebanon to evacuate just hours later.<\/p>\n<p>According to the AP news agency, Israel&#8217;s military announced early Friday that it had also conducted a series of strikes &#8220;in the heart of <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/tehran\/t-40246359\">Tehran<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>There have been no reports of casualties or damage in the Iranian capital yet.<\/p>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/iran-war-stocks-sink-as-trump-pushes-back-hormuz-deadline\/live-76555531&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76555545_6.jpg&#8221;] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5BDad Trump told a cabinet meeting Iran had allowed 10 oil tankers passage through the Strait of Hormuz to show it was serious about talksImage: Evelyn Hockstein\/REUTERS Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know The UN has called on the US to conclude its investigation into [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1850443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1850443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1850443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1850443\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1850443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1850443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1850443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}