Iran US War News Highlights: UN Chief Guterres appoints envoy to lead mediation
Iran US War News Highlights: US issued a stern warning to Iran that if the nation does not accept that it has been ‘defeated militarily,' then Trump will hit ‘harder’. The White House said that ‘President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell’.
Iran US War News Highlights: Australia’s Home Affairs Ministry said on Wednesday that it would temporarily prevent certain Iranian visitor visa holders currently outside the country from traveling to Australia, according to a report by Reuters.
War status: March 25
- Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said, “Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?” he said, as reported by AP. “Our first and last word has been the same from day one, and it will stay that way: Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you,” Zolfaghari said. “Not now, not ever.”
- Australia's home affairs ministry said on Wednesday it would temporarily restrict some Iranian visitor visa holders who are outside Australia from travelling to the country, saying the move was to protect the integrity of its immigration system.
- Brent crude oil, the global market benchmark, was down 6.3 percent at $97.90 per barrel at around 0200 GMT. Benchmark US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, was down 5.2 percent at $87.52, AFP reported.
- Iran has said "non-hostile vessels" can transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement released to the International Maritime Organization.
- Iran says a projectile struck the area of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. No casualties or technical damage were reported at the facility from the incident Tuesday night, which Iran’s atomic agency blamed on Israel and the United States. The International Atomic Energy Agency posted on X that it “has been informed by Iran that another projectile hit the premises of the Bushehr.
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Iran US War News LIVE: UN Chief Guterres appoints envoy to lead mediation
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed veteran French diplomat Jean Arnault as his personal envoy to lead UN efforts on the Middle East conflict and its consequences.
Guterres stated that, more than three weeks after Israel and the US launched attacks on Iran, “the war is out of control.”
Guterres stressed that “diplomacy must prevail” and requires “sincere dialogue.”
Guterres said Arnault will carry out mediation efforts on the ground, complementing previous attempts from New York, supporting peace initiatives.
Arnault will be in contact with all involved parties to facilitate dialogue. (AP)
Iran US War News LIVE: Gulf nations and Jordan denounce Iran’s direct and proxy attacks
Five Gulf nations and Jordan condemned Iranian attacks, whether carried out directly or through proxies and armed factions in the region.
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan issued the joint statement.
The statement urged Iraq to prevent militias from launching attacks from its territory.
Iran US War News LIVE: US Defense Secretary prays for military success, mercy-free action
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began.
He prayed:
“Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation.”
-Called for unbreakable unity among troops.
-Requested “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”
Iran US War News LIVE: Iran says reviewing US proposal but no direct talks
While denying negotiations, Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran is reviewing a US proposal aimed at ending the Gulf conflict.
The foreign minister clarified that communications via intermediaries should not be mistaken for formal dialogue.
“The exchange of messages through mediators does not mean negotiations with the U.S.,” he said.
“They put forward ideas in their messages that were conveyed to top authorities, and if necessary, a position will be announced by them.”
Iran US War News LIVE: Iran insists no negotiations with US
Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has not held any talks with the United States, contradicting claims from Washington about ongoing engagement.
“No negotiations have happened with the enemy until now, and we do not plan on any negotiations,” Araghchi said in an interview with Iranian state television on Wednesday.
US-Iran War News LIVE: ‘Not support troops on the ground…’ says Republican
“Just walked out of a House Armed Services briefing on Iran. Let me repeat: I will not support troops on the ground in Iran, even more so after this briefing,” Republican Nancy Mace posted on X
Iran US War News LIVE: US pegs Iran operations timeline at 4–6 weeks
The White House indicated that military operations—referred to as “Operation Epic Fury”—are expected to last between four to six weeks.
“We've always estimated approximately four to six weeks… so you could do the math on that,” Leavitt said.
US-Iran War News LIVE: No clarity on interlocutor
According to US and Israeli media reports, Washington’s proposal includes demands for Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and dismantle its ballistic missile programme.
However, Leavitt declined to confirm specifics or identify US interlocutors in Tehran.
Reports suggest that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf may be acting as a key intermediary, though this remains unconfirmed.
US-Iran War News LIVE: ‘US failed in its war goals…’ says Iranian FM Araghchi
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that the ‘US has failed in its war goals including quick victory and change of regime,' as per a news alert by Reuters.
US-Iran War News LIVE: ‘Talks continue…’ says Leavitt
During the press briefing on Wednesday, Leavitt also said that talks with Iran are underway. “Talks continue. They are productive, as the President said on Monday, and they continue to be,” the White House press secretary reportedly said.
Iran is still reviewing the US proposal to end the war, despite an initial response that was negative, a senior Iranian official told Reuters
US-Iran War News LIVE: US issues stern warning to Iran
US has issued a stern warning to Iran saying President Donald Trump would hit them harder if Tehran fails to accept that they have been "defeated militarily", White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
"President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again," Leavitt told reporters in a press briefing, reported Reuters.
US-Iran War News LIVE: Trump to travel to China in May, after delay due to Iran war
US President Donald Trump will travel to China in May for a rescheduled summit with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, the White House announced on Wednesday.
Trump's visit has been scheduled for 14 and 15 May, after it was postponed due to the ongoing Iran war, AP reported.
US-Iran War News LIVE: Pakistan not a mediator, only postman, courier, says Former Union Minister MJ Akbar
Amid efforts by Pakistan to pitch itself as a mediator in the war between Israel-US and Iran, former Union Minister MJ Akbar has said that Islamabad "is not a mediator, only a postman, only a courier" and that Americans are comfortable with Pakistan "because it has always been a loyal American voice".
US-Iran War News LIVE: IEA Chief Fatih Birol to brief European Union's finance ministers on war impact on Friday
The International Energy Agency (IEA) chief Fatih Birol is likely to brief the European Union's finance ministers in meeting on Friday, Bloomberg reported.
Birol will brief the virtual gathering, which has been convened hastily to assess the impact of the conflict on energy markets and the economy, and how to better coordinate relief measures, the report said, citing a senior EU official
US-Iran War News LIVE: Gulf states and Jordan urge Iraq to stop attacks launched from its territory
On Wednesday, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan released a joint statement, calling on Iraq to take necessary actions to stop attacks launched against neighbouring countries.
US-Iran War News LIVE: UN needs more funds to help people displaced by war, in the Middle East, says refugee chief
The United Nations' refugee chief, on Wednesday, urged donors to provide more funds to manage the humanitarian fallout from the widening war in the Middle East, saying his agency had so far received less than 10% of the money it needs.
US-Iran War News LIVE: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu orders military to intensify strikes
Netanyahu has ordered the military to intensify strikes as much as possible aimed at destroying Iran's arms industry over the next 48 hours, amid concerns that Trump could announce peace talks at any moment, the New York Times reported.
US-Iran War News LIVE: If enemy launches ground or naval action, Tehran could open new front, says report
An Iranian military source warns that if the enemy launches ground or naval action against Iran, Tehran could open new fronts, including a potential threat to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Tasnim news agency reported.
The source said Iran is fully prepared to escalate and cautioned the US that trying to solve Hormuz could end up creating another maritime crisis at Bab el-Mandeb.
US-Iran War News LIVE: Egypt says it is ready to host any meetings related to US-Israeli war on Iran
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has said that Cairo is ready to host any meetings related to the US-Israel war on Iran as long as it serves de-escalation. Abdelatty also said at a news conference that Egypt supported US President Donald Trump’s initiative to negotiate with Iran. In recent times, Egypt has emerged as a key negotiator in the region.