\u201cBased on my information there have been indirect contacts, and preparations have been made to meet directly. That would be very soon in Pakistan, apparently,\u201d Johann Wadephul told Deutschlandfunk radio on Friday, cited by Reuters.<\/p>\n
The report could not be independently confirmed.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.54 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Diary of Iranian president\u2019s son reflects hopes and fears of ordinary citizens<\/p>\n An Iranian keeping a diary expressing his doubts about the war\u2019s outcome, even shedding a tear over its impact on his grandmother, might not seem extraordinary but for the fact the diarist is the son of the president.<\/p>\n Apart from fierce loyalty to his father, Masoud Pezeshkian, the former heart surgeon elected to the presidency in 2024 who he says he has not seen since the war started, Yousef Pezeshkian\u2019s daily reflections on social media chart how the war effort is going, its impact on ordinary Iranians and how he believes the fight could be made more effective.<\/p>\n The 45-year-old assistant professor in physics reveals no official state secrets, says he has none, and questions the value of knowing some information 48 hours before others. He instead hears what is happening from television or social media.<\/p>\n Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Read Patrick Wintour\u2019s piece here.<\/p>\n Patrick Wintour is diplomatic editor for the Guardian<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Europeans to press Rubio over Russian support for Iran at G7 meeting<\/p>\n Back to G7 now, and Reuters is reporting that the UK are \u201cdeeply concerned\u201d about Russia-Iran links.<\/p>\n European powers accused Russia of helping Iran target U.S. forces in the Middle East war and said they would raise the issue in today\u2019s meeting in France.<\/p>\n The ministers are also expected to discuss the strait of Hormuz, the critical Gulf waterway for the transport of oil and gas which Iran has effectively blocked, spiking energy prices and roiling financial markets.<\/p>\n Two western security sources and a regional official close to Tehran told Reuters that Moscow has been providing satellite imagery to Tehran and also helped Iran upgrade its drones to emulate the equivalent versions used by Russia against Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re deeply concerned about the links between Russia and Iran that have been longstanding in terms of shared capabilities – for example, drones provided to Russia by Iran that have been involved in the conflict in Ukraine,\u201d British foreign minister Yvette Cooper said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have also seen support from Russia provided to Iran in the Middle East conflict,\u201d Cooper told reporters at the meeting in Vaux-de-Cernay abbey near Paris. \u201cAs G7 countries, we have a shared interest in coming together to discuss these issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Marco Rubio and Yvette Cooper on the second day of the G7 meeting. Photograph: St\u00e9phanie Lecocq\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.00 EDT<\/p>\n Shipping to and from ports of US-Israeli allies still prohibited, says IRGC<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Friday that shipping \u201cto and from ports of allies and supporters of the Israeli-American enemies\u201d is prohibited through any corridor or to any destination, Iranian state media reported.<\/p>\n The IRGC added that the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> is closed and any transit through the waterway will face \u201charsh measures\u201d, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n Three container ships of various nationalities were turned back from the Strait of Hormuz after warnings from the IRGC revolutionary guards\u2019 navy, media also reported.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US-Israeli strikes damage more than 100 museums and historic buildings, says Iran<\/p>\n Israeli strikes have caused damage to 120 museums and historic buildings, says Iran<\/p>\n US and Israeli strikes on Iran<\/a> have damaged at least 120 museums and cultural and historic sites across the country since the start of the war, the head of Tehran city council\u2019s cultural heritage committee said in a report from AFP.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least 120 museums, historical buildings and cultural sites across various provinces were directly targeted and sustained serious structural damage,\u201d said Ahmad Alavi.<\/p>\n He was quoted by state TV as naming UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace along with other sites damaged in the war, including Saadabad Palace, the Marble Palace and Teymourtash house, also known as the War Museum.<\/p>\n Debris at the historical monument Golestan Palace after it was damaged in an Israeli and U.S. strike, in Tehran. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour\/ReutersThe Qajar-era Golestan Palace is UNESCO-listed. Photograph: APShare<\/a>Marco Rubio in France for G7 after Trump insults allies<\/p>\n Marco Rubio is in France meeting his G7 foreign minister counterparts today after President Donald Trump attacked NATO countries over a reluctance or refusal to take part in the Iran war, a conflict that some of America\u2019s closest allies have met with deep skepticism<\/a>.<\/p>\n On his arrival at the meeting venue at a historic 12-century abbey in Vaux-de-Cerney outside of Paris, Rubio posed for a group photo with his fellow foreign ministers but none of them spoke, according to AP.<\/p>\n Rubio left Washington for the G7 meeting just hours after Trump complained bitterly about NATO countries not stepping up to help<\/a> the U.S. and Israel in the Iran war.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are very disappointed with NATO because NATO has done absolutely nothing,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n EU Rep Kaja Kallas, Germany\u2019s Johann Wadephul, Britain\u2019s Yvette Cooper, Marco Rubio, France\u2019s Jean-Noel Barrot, alongside dignitaries from Canada, Italy and Japan. Photograph: Alain Jocard\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.28 EDT<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s black rain is latest grim example of weather in war zones<\/p>\n Black rain fell in Iran earlier this month, a grim phenomenon seen previously in other war zones.<\/p>\n Strikes on oil facilities burned thousands of tons of stored fuel. Unlike the clean controlled combustion inside an engine, uncontrolled burning leaves many particles of unburned fuel, producing a pall of toxic smoke over affected areas.<\/p>\n The particulate matter rises on the hot updraft from the fire and effectively seeds rainclouds, with the particles forming nuclei for raindrops. The resulting dirty rainfall helps clean the air, but potentially harmful pollutants may end up in drinking water.<\/p>\n Similar black rain occurred after oil wells in Kuwait were set ablaze during the 1991 Gulf war.<\/p>\n David Hambling is a journalist, specialising mainly in science, technology and strange phenomena.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.09 EDT<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia urging US to keep up Iran attacks, intelligence source confirms Saudi Arabia has urged the US to ramp up attacks on Iran<\/a>, a Saudi intelligence source has confirmed, while it is weighing a decision on whether to join the fight directly.<\/p>\n The Saudi source confirmed reporting in the New York Times<\/a>, which said the kingdom\u2019s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has urged Donald Trump not to cut short his war against Iran, and that the US-Israeli campaign represented a \u201chistoric opportunity\u201d to remake the Middle East.<\/p>\n The intelligence source said Riyadh was not just calling for the military campaign to be continued, but to be intensified. Trump appeared to confirm the report about the crown prince\u2019s role, telling journalists on Tuesday: \u201cYeah, he\u2019s a warrior. He\u2019s fighting with us.\u201d<\/p>\n There are no reports of active Saudi military involvement in the nearly four-week-old war so far, but a Saudi political analyst said the kingdom was likely to take that step if current peace efforts led by Pakistan failed.<\/p>\n Donald Trump meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in November 2025. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein\/Reuters<\/p>\n Julian Borger is the Guardian\u2019s senior international correspondent and Aram Roston is senior political enterprise reporter for the Guardian US.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US troops using Persian Gulf citizens as human shields, says Iranian foreign minister<\/p>\n Local people in Persian Gulf states are being used as human shields during the US-Israeli war on Iran, the Iranian foreign minister has said, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.<\/p>\n double quotation markFrom outset of this war, US soldiers fled military bases in GCC to hide in hotels and offices. They use GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] citizens as human shield.<\/p>\n Hotels in US deny bookings to officers who may endanger customers. GCC hotels should do same.\u201d<\/p>\n Abbas Araghchi said in a post<\/a> on his X account on Thursday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.19 EDT<\/p>\n Pakistan\u2019s emerging role as broker in US-Iran peace talks<\/p>\n Pakistan\u2019s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said on Tuesday<\/a> his country is ready to \u201cfacilitate meaningful and conclusive talks\u201d to end the war in the Middle East amid attempts to push Islamabad as a possible venue for negotiations between the US and Iran.<\/p>\n The White House confirmed that Pakistan\u2019s army chief, Asim Munir, had a call with Donald Trump<\/a> last weekend to discuss the conflict.<\/p>\n Qatar, Turkey and Egypt have been touted as potential venues for talks, but reportedly Tehran\u2019s preference is Islamabad.<\/p>\n Field marshal general Asim Munir. Photograph: AP<\/p>\n Read more about Pakistan and the role of JD Vance in Hannah Ellis-Peterson and Shah Meer Baloch\u2019s report<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.53 EDT<\/p>\n Israeli military says it carried out ‘wide-scale’ strikes on Tehran<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s military said it carried out strikes on targets in Tehran early on Friday, according to AFP.<\/p>\n A brief military statement said Israeli forces \u201ccompleted a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran\u201d.<\/p>\n The military said in a separate statement that it had also struck \u201cballistic missiles and aerial defense systems production sites across Iran\u201d.<\/p>\n It reported hitting missile launchers and storage sites in western Iran, as well as missile production sites in the capital.<\/p>\n Donald Trump has in recent days repeatedly claimed progress in talks with Iran, even as Tehran denied any formal negotiations were taking place.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.35 EDT<\/p>\n Interim summary<\/p>\n In case you\u2019re just tuning in to today\u2019s live coverage of the US-Israel war on Iran<\/a>, here\u2019s a snapshot of the latest. It\u2019s 10.30am in Tehran, 9am in Tel Aviv and Beirut and 3am in Washington DC.<\/p>\n Donald Trump said he would extend \u2013 again \u2013 his pause on his threat to attack Iran\u2019s energy infrastructure for 10 days until 6 April, claiming that the request came from Tehran and that talks were going \u201cvery well\u201d. The US president threatened last Saturday he would destroy Iranian power plants if Tehran did not reopen the strait of Hormuz. Then, on Monday, he postponed his threat for five days (until Friday), citing \u201cvery good and productive conversations\u201d with Iran on ending the war \u2013 which Tehran dismissed as \u201cfake news\u201d designed to \u201cmanipulate\u201d the oil markets. Now, he\u2019s pushing that deadline back again<\/a>.<\/p>\n The price of Brent crude oil dropped after Trump\u2019s latest announcement, but stock markets fell sharply in the US and Europe on Thursday and followed suit in Asia on Friday as investors worried about the war dragging on.<\/p>\n The Pentagon is looking at sending up to 10,000 additional ground troops to the Middle East to give Trump more military options even as he weighs peace talks with Tehran, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting defence department officials.<\/p>\n Lebanese media said an Israeli strike hit Beirut\u2019s southern suburbs early on Friday. Several explosions were heard from the Hezbollah stronghold and smoke was later billowing from the area. Israel has previously issued sweeping evacuation warnings for the area but provided no specific warning in advance of Friday\u2019s strike, AFP said. It was unclear if there were any casualties.<\/p>\n An Israeli self-propelled howitzer artillery gun fires towards southern Lebanon from a position in the upper Galilee in northern Israel on Thursday. Photograph: AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Yemen\u2019s Houthis said there was \u201cno cause for concern\u201d, Lloyd\u2019s List reported, amid fears that if Trump follows through on threats to seize Iran\u2019s Kharg Island, Tehran may ask them to attack shipping in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n A Thai-flagged cargo ship that was hit by unknown projectiles in the strait of Hormuz earlier this month has run aground off Iran\u2019s Qeshm Island, Iran\u2019s semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Friday.<\/p>\n India has slashed taxes on diesel and petrol, the government announced, amid the war\u2019s continued disruption of global energy supplies.<\/p>\n The United Arab Emirates has told allies that it would participate in a multinational maritime task force intended to reopen the strait of Hormuz as it lobbies to form a coalition to ensure shipping can pass through the vital waterway, the Financial Times reported.<\/p>\n The Israel<\/a> Defence Forces\u2019 chief of staff has warned that the military will \u201ccollapse in on itself\u201d as it faces increasing demands and a growing manpower shortage while fighting on multiple fronts, according to Israeli media reports.<\/p>\n Vietnam\u2019s trade ministry says it has temporarily waived an environmental tax on fuel to cut soaring prices by more than a quarter.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.21 EDT<\/p>\n Kuwait\u2019s Shuwaikh port has been hit by drones that caused material damage, the Gulf state\u2019s ports authority said on Friday, cited by Reuters.<\/p>\n No injuries were reported, it said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>US and Iran plan to meet soon in Pakistan, says German minister<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s foreign minister is saying the US and Iran<\/a> have had indirect negotiations and that representatives from both sides plan to meet shortly in Pakistan.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on my information there have been indirect contacts, and preparations have been made to meet directly. That would be very soon in Pakistan, apparently,\u201d Johann Wadephul told Deutschlandfunk radio on Friday, cited by Reuters.<\/p>\n The report could not be independently confirmed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.54 EDT<\/p>\n Here are some of the latest images coming in from the Middle East as the US-Israel war on Iran<\/a> continues in its fourth week.<\/p>\n A car amid the ruins of a residential building near the centre of Beirut \u2013 near an area linked to Hezbollah \u2013 after repeated Israeli military strikes. Photograph: Frederic Munsch\/SIPA\/ShutterstockA video grab from what Iran\u2019s state broadcaster said was a phase of the 82nd wave of missiles launches against Israel and US bases in the UAE and Kuwait. Photograph: IRIB TV\/AFP\/Getty ImagesDamage in Arad, southern Israel, after Iranian missile strikes. Photograph: Ilan Rosenberg\/ReutersPro-government supporters chant slogans and wave Iranian flags during a rally in Tehran, Iran. Photograph: Vahid Salemi\/APMourners of an Israeli soldier killed in combat in southern Lebanon at his funeral in Jerusalem. Photograph: Oren Ben Hakoon\/ReutersRelatives grieve for an Iraqi soldier, who was killed in a strike at a military clinic in western Iraq\u2019s Anbar province, during a procession in Najaf, Iraq. Photograph: Anmar Khalil\/APBurnt-out cars in Kiryat Ono, Israel, after an Iranian missile barrage. Photograph: Oren Ben Hakoon\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.26 EDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"US and Iran plan to meet soon in Pakistan, says German minister Germany\u2019s foreign minister is saying the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":498080,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[49,50,51,47,52,48],"class_list":{"0":"post-498079","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-top-news","11":"tag-top-stories","12":"tag-topnews","13":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/498079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=498079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/498079\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/498080"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=498079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=498079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=498079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Patrick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774606749_122_Patrick-Wintour,-R.png\")
Patrick Wintour<\/p>\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/David-Hambling.jpg\")
David Hambling<\/p>\n![\"Black](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Black_clouds_fill_skies_after_strikes_on_oil_facilities_in_Iran___video_loop--81b9376f-e672-42c8-a6a.jpeg\")
Black clouds fill skies in Iran \u2013\u00a0video loopBlack soot from black rain after a strike on fuel tanks. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour\/Reuters<\/p>\n![\"Julian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Julian_Borger.png\")
Julian Borger<\/p>\n