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Israeli analysts are expressing a sense of disappointment and confusion following US President Donald Trump's assertion that negotiations with Iran to de-escalate the conflict are ongoing. This comes as a surprise, given Trump's previous threats to launch strikes against Iran's energy infrastructure and Tehran's denials of any negotiations taking place.The situation has left many in Israel questioning the country's role in the conflict, particularly as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had framed the war as an existential threat to Israel, with the US joining forces to combat Iran. Netanyahu has boasted of convincing the US to support Israel's stance against Iran.In a video statement, Netanyahu mentioned that Trump believed it was possible to leverage the military achievements of both the US and Israel to secure an agreement that would safeguard their vital interests. He emphasized that Israel continues to attack Iran and Lebanon, methodically dismantling Iran's missile and nuclear programs and targeting Hezbollah.Despite Netanyahu's assertions, many Israelis are aware that the war was initially presented as an effort to overthrow the Iranian government and eliminate the threat from the country. With the Islamic Republic still standing and Iran launching deadly attacks on Israel, the prospect of a negotiated end to the conflict is unsettling.Former Israeli ambassador Alon Pinkas suggested that if Trump has pushed for negotiations over Netanyahu's objections, it may indicate that the US president has realized Netanyahu may have misled him about the feasibility and speed of a victory and the viability of regime change in Iran.Political scientist Ori Goldberg described Trump's move as a defeat for Netanyahu, essentially ditching Israel. He noted that this development undermines Israel's status as a serious player that the US or other states would want to engage with.The situation highlights the complex dynamics between Israel, the US, and Iran, with analysts suggesting that even if Israel has been sidelined in current negotiations, it has still achieved significant gains in its fight against Iran. Israeli political analyst Nimrod Flashenberg noted that Israel's primary goal may have been to downgrade Iran's military capabilities, which it has accomplished in a way that ensures long-term US commitment to maintaining this status.

Ella Baron, a renowned cartoonist, has created a thought-provoking cartoon for The Guardian, focusing on Donald Trump's peace negotiations with Iran. The cartoon, published on March 24, 2026, offers a visual commentary on the complex dynamics between the United States, Israel, and Iran.The illustration is part of The Guardian's series of opinion cartoons, which provide a unique perspective on current events. This particular cartoon by Ella Baron delves into the delicate balance of power in the Middle East and the challenges of achieving peace in the region.The cartoonist's work often sparks important discussions and reflections on US foreign policy and its implications for global relations. By visually representing the intricacies of international diplomacy, Ella Baron's cartoons encourage readers to think critically about the Middle East and North Africa conflict.

Pakistan's military leadership has been playing a crucial role in attempting to broker negotiations between the US and Iran. The country's army chief, Asim Munir, recently had a call with US President Donald Trump to discuss the conflict. Diplomatic sources indicate that the US and Iran could meet for negotiations in Islamabad as early as this week to discuss an end to the war, which began almost a month ago. While Islamabad has yet to be officially confirmed as the venue, sources suggest that Tehran prefers Islamabad. Pakistani sources mention that US Vice-President JD Vance is being considered as a probable chief negotiator from the US side, rather than Trump's Middle East envoy Witkoff or Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Vance is viewed as a sceptic of the US decision to bomb Iran and has largely kept quiet on the conflict. After the phone call between Trump and Munir, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday. According to an official readout of the call, they agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy. Sources suggest that Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is likely to lead any talks from the Iranian side. However, Ghalibaf has dismissed reports of talks between the two sides as 'fake news'. An Iranian diplomatic source confirmed that talks are expected this week but expressed 'zero trust' in Washington. They stated that Iran would not accept Witkoff and Kushner as negotiators for any discussions. Negotiations between the US and Iran were ongoing when the US began its bombing campaign. The Iranian regime views these negotiations as an attempt by the Trump administration to deceive Iran into thinking it wanted a diplomatic solution while planning to attack. On Monday, Trump indicated that he would be willing to halt US strikes, claiming that 'strong talks' were being held between Iranian officials and Witkoff and Kushner. Trump told reporters that they had 'very, very strong talks' and that they had 'major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement'. The US president has given a five-day deadline to an ultimatum he gave over the weekend, threatening to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure if they did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route currently being blockaded by Iran's military. Trump's announcement of talks helped boost markets, bringing oil prices sharply down to below $100 (£75) a barrel, the lowest in days.

The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has sparked concerns about the motivations behind Donald Trump's continued military actions. Kenneth Roth, a Guardian US columnist and former executive director of Human Rights Watch, draws a striking parallel between Trump's approach and that of Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War. Nixon's quest for 'peace with honor' in Vietnam led to years of devastation, resulting in over 20,000 American soldiers killed and a significantly higher toll among Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian civilians. Similarly, Trump's conflict with Iran appears to be driven by a desire to assert dominance and protect his political reputation, rather than a clear military objective. The article questions the rationale behind Trump's continued bombing of Iran, citing claims that Iran's ballistic missile capacity has been functionally destroyed and its nuclear program 'obliterated.' With 7,000 Iranian protesters killed in January, the Trump administration's call for regime change seems unlikely to succeed. The current fixation on Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 20% of the world's oil and gas, has led to soaring petroleum prices. Trump's threat to destroy Iran's electrical infrastructure by the end of the week, unless Tehran agrees to allow the strait to reopen, raises concerns about war crimes and humanitarian consequences. Roth suggests that a de facto ceasefire, where Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu stop bombing, could be a more fruitful path to deescalation. However, Trump's desire for 'unconditional surrender' and the Iranian regime's insistence on lifting sanctions and affirming its right to nuclear enrichment complicate negotiations. The article concludes that Trump's pursuit of 'honor' and 'victory' in the conflict may come at a significant cost to the people of Iran, the global economy, and the United States itself, echoing the lessons of the Vietnam War.

The Middle East remains embroiled in a cycle of violence, with Iranian barrages targeting Israel, Gulf Arab states, and northern Iraq on Tuesday. This escalation comes a day after US President Donald Trump claimed that the US was in 'very good' talks with Iran to end the war in the region soon.Despite Trump's optimistic remarks, multiple official sources in Tehran have denied any talks are underway. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated, 'No negotiations have been held with the US … fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets.' The Iranian government remains wary of US offers of negotiation, citing past experiences where talks were followed by attacks, such as the surprise attack that killed the supreme leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials.Potential intermediaries, including Pakistan, Oman, Egypt, and others, have confirmed tentative efforts to establish channels of communication between Washington and Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been engaging in discussions with his counterparts in several countries, including Azerbaijan, Egypt, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.The diplomatic activity follows a significant escalation of threats between the US and Iran over the weekend, with both sides trading warnings of potential strikes. On Monday, Trump delayed a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for shipping or face targeted airstrikes on its power stations. This brief reprieve drove down oil prices and boosted stocks, with the deadline now set to expire on Friday.Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will continue to strike Iran and Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Islamist militant movement. The Israeli prime minister warned, 'There's more to come.'The conflict has already had significant economic impacts, with oil prices rising to $104 (£77) a barrel, up more than 40% since Israel and the US started the war on 28 February. Analysts warn of durable and deep disruption to the supply of oil and gas from the region, even if hostilities end rapidly, with severe economic consequences worldwide.

An Iranian missile has struck central Tel Aviv, causing widespread damage to buildings and vehicles, and injuring at least six people. The attack has led to a significant escalation of tensions in the region, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to continue striking Tehran and Lebanon.“There’s more to come,” Netanyahu said in remarks that appeared to corroborate those of three Israeli officials who told Reuters they thought it was improbable that Iran would accept US demands in any new round of negotiations. This development has dimmed hopes of de-escalation after US President Donald Trump played up the chances of a deal to end the conflict.In a statement released on Tuesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would launch heavy missile and drone attacks at Israeli troops in northern Israel and the area near Gaza “without restraint” unless Israel ceased attacks in Lebanon and Palestine. The threat has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region.Police said an Iranian munition carrying a substantial explosive payload struck the central city, causing widespread damage to buildings and vehicles. At least six people were lightly injured. Several buildings were damaged across Tel Aviv, with emergency services reporting casualties at one of the impact sites. One building and the adjacent road were heavily affected, with cars set ablaze.Israel’s health ministry reports 4,829 injured people have been brought to hospitals since the onset of the war. Of those people, 111 remain in hospital and 12 are in a serious condition. The strikes were the latest in a cycle of retaliation after Israeli operations announced on Monday.About 40 minutes after Trump said he would delay action against Iran’s power infrastructure, Israel said on X that it had “just begun another wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran”. The Israel Defense Forces said energy facilities would be spared, suggesting that Israel may be aligning with Washington in suspending attacks on Iranian power plants and related sites.The US-based Human Rights Activists’ News Agency said in the previous 24 hours it had recorded at least 206 attacks across 15 provinces in Iran, resulting in at least four casualties (killed and injured, both civilian and military). At least six people were killed in strikes on homes in the city of Tabriz, according to Iran’s Fars news agency.Since US-Israeli bombs started falling on Iran, estimates of total deaths (military and civilian) in the country have exceeded 1,500, with some rights groups reporting figures as high as 3,230 as of 21 March. The escalation has also spilled beyond Israel, with Iranian strikes extending into Gulf states.

President Trump's assertion of 'very good' talks with Iran has raised eyebrows, especially after Tehran denied any negotiations were underway. The sudden detente comes as US markets prepare for another volatile trading day, with oil and energy markets closely watching developments.Trump, standing beside Air Force One, attempted to sell the unexpected diplomatic shift, but provided few details. He hinted at a potential deal involving Iran's nuclear program and control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil supplies.The reported interlocutor, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament, has denied any talks with the US, suggesting that Trump is trying to mitigate financial damage from Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Ghalibaf accused Trump of using 'fake news' to manipulate markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.Despite skepticism, international leaders, including Keir Starmer and Benjamin Netanyahu, have cautiously welcomed the talks. Netanyahu emphasized that any deal must safeguard Israel's interests, while also continuing to strike targets in Iran and Lebanon.The negotiations may be another attempt by Trump to buy time, particularly for oil and energy markets. The Pentagon is still positioning military assets, and a potential strike or occupation of Iran's islands or coastline remains a contingency plan if diplomatic efforts fail.

US President Donald Trump has requested a delay in his highly anticipated trip to China, initially scheduled for March 31-April 2, by about a month. The decision comes amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, which has resulted in significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East. “We've requested that we delay it a month or so,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. “There's no tricks to it either. It's very simple. We've got a war going on. I think it's important that I be here.” The delay underscores how the Iran war has upended Trump's foreign policy agenda and risks magnifying tensions between Washington and Beijing. The war has joined trade and Taiwan as among the spectrum of issues separating the world's two biggest economies. Trump's request has been largely rebuffed so far, with China not directly responding to his request to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran says is closed to US and Israeli-linked vessels. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway through which one-fifth of the world's oil usually transits. US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said earlier on Monday that Trump may need to delay the trip due to coordinating the war effort, not because of China's unresponsiveness to Trump's request or because of any trade disagreements. “The president wants to remain in DC to coordinate the war effort. Traveling abroad at a time like this may not be optimal,” Bessent said. In related trade negotiations, the Chinese showed openness to potential additional purchases of US agricultural goods, including poultry, beef, and non-soya bean row crops, during talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris.

The Trump administration has formally opposed Anthropic's legal challenge, arguing that the Pentagon's decision to blacklist the AI firm was both lawful and necessary for national security. In a court filing submitted on Tuesday, the Justice Department contended that Anthropic’s refusal to remove guardrails preventing its technology from being used in autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance constituted conduct rather than protected speech.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic, the creator of the Claude AI assistant, a "national security supply chain risk" on March 3. This move effectively excludes the company from a limited set of military contracts. The administration’s legal team asserts that the dispute is rooted in contract negotiations and national security imperatives, not retaliation. They argue that no constitutional rights were violated because the government did not restrict the company's expressive activities.However, legal experts suggest Anthropic may have a strong case regarding potential overreach. The company is currently challenging the Pentagon's decision in California federal court. The implications of this conflict extend beyond the courtroom; Anthropic executives have warned that the blacklisting could cause billions of dollars in losses this year and severely damage the company's reputation.In a statement, Anthropic emphasized its commitment to national security while acknowledging the necessity of the lawsuit to protect its business interests and partners. The company is also pursuing a separate legal challenge in a Washington, DC, appeals court regarding a broader supply chain risk designation.