Iran has launched a strategic diplomatic move amid Middle East tensions by offering Japan a special proposal allowing Japanese-flagged vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without security risks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed direct talks with his Japanese counterpart, describing the offer as part of Tehran’s effort to attract Tokyo and prevent it from joining U.S.-led military coalitions. Analysts view this as a calculated attempt by Iran to assert control over the vital waterway and reassure nations that avoid conflict with it.

At the same time, the U.S. Treasury has temporarily relaxed sanctions on Iranian oil, granting a 30-day “safe passage” for shipments loaded before March 20. This has prompted Indian refineries to prepare for renewed imports, with reports indicating that around 170 million barrels of Iranian oil have gained legal clearance for sale. Much of this oil remains stored in tankers near Chinese waters.

Traders in Singapore warn that logistical and financial hurdles, including banking reluctance and insurance issues, could delay deliveries beyond the April 19 deadline, complicating the short-term benefits of the sanction relief.

US forces carried out another strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, officials confirmed on Friday. The attack, conducted on Thursday, left two people dead and one survivor rescued from the water. According to the US Southern Command (Southcom), the targeted vessel was traveling along a known drug-trafficking route. The rescued individuals were later handed over to Costa Rica’s Coast Guard.

Southcom did not initially disclose casualty figures but said the US Coast Guard was assisting in locating three people in distress. The latest incident brings the reported death toll from similar US operations since early September to around 160. The Trump administration has described these missions as part of its campaign against so-called “narco-terrorists” in Latin America.

However, international law experts and human rights groups have questioned the legality of the strikes, arguing they may constitute extrajudicial killings targeting civilians who pose no immediate threat to the United States. The operations have intensified debate over Washington’s military actions in the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended Nowruz greetings to Iran’s leaders, emphasizing that Moscow will remain a “close friend and reliable partner” to Tehran. The Kremlin released the message on Saturday, noting Putin’s wishes for the Iranian people to face current challenges with courage. He addressed his greetings to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Despite Putin’s assurances, some Iranian sources reportedly question the extent of Russia’s actual support, arguing that Tehran has not received the expected assistance during what they describe as the country’s most severe crisis since the 1979 revolution. Russia, meanwhile, blames U.S. and Israeli attacks for destabilizing the Middle East and affecting global energy markets, condemning the assault on Iran’s supreme leader as a “cruel act.”

According to Politico, Moscow allegedly proposed to Washington that if the U.S. stopped sharing intelligence on Russia with Ukraine, Russia would halt intelligence exchanges with Iran. The U.S. reportedly rejected the offer, which the Kremlin later dismissed as false.

A drone attack targeted Iraq’s national intelligence headquarters in central Baghdad on Saturday, killing one intelligence officer and injuring another, according to the country’s security media unit. The injured person was taken to a hospital for treatment. The attack was confirmed by General Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s security media unit, who said it occurred in the heart of the capital.

Separately, AFP reported that another drone strike hit a communications building in Baghdad housing an office of a security agency that cooperates with the US-led coalition in counter-extremism operations. Iraq’s National Intelligence Service stated that the attack near its headquarters was carried out by an “unlawful group.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far, and authorities have launched an investigation to determine who was behind them.

Rohingya refugees living in camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar observed Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday, March 21, 2026, amid mixed emotions of faith and grief. While children showed brief moments of joy after morning prayers, many adults were seen mourning lost relatives and recalling the violence that forced them from Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The memories of persecution and the hardships of refugee life overshadowed the festive spirit.

During the Eid congregation, several imams and worshippers broke down in tears, praying for justice and expressing gratitude to the government and people of Bangladesh for sheltering them. They also sought divine help for a safe and dignified return to Myanmar. Camp resident Yunus Arman said celebrating Eid in exile felt empty compared to the traditions of their homeland.

According to the commander of the 8 Armed Police Battalion, security was tightened across the camps to ensure peaceful Eid prayers. Over 1.1 million Rohingya now live in 32 camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf, following the 2017 exodus from Myanmar.

A drone attack struck the Mansour residential district of Baghdad, Iraq’s capital, according to security sources cited on March 21, 2026. One of the drones reportedly targeted a building belonging to an Iraqi intelligence agency. Another source told AFP that the building housed a security agency coordinating operations with U.S. advisers in Iraq.

A separate drone that was filming the operation lost control and crashed into a private sports club popular among Iraq’s elite and foreign diplomats. The incident has heightened concerns about security conditions in the capital.

Following the attack, renewed anxiety has emerged over Baghdad’s overall security situation, though no further details about casualties or responsibility were provided in the report.

Iran’s military on Saturday warned the United Arab Emirates not to allow any attacks from its territory targeting two disputed islands near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to a statement released through Tasnim News Agency, the operational command of Khatam al-Anbiya said that if aggression against Iran’s Abu Musa and Greater Tunb islands originates from UAE soil, Iran’s armed forces would launch strong strikes on Ras al-Khaimah in the UAE.

The Abu Musa and Greater Tunb islands have long been a source of dispute between Iran and the UAE. The islands are currently under Iranian control, but the UAE continues to claim ownership. Located near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, the area is a vital route through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply is transported.

The warning comes amid regional conflict that began on February 28 with a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, which has since spread across the Middle East. Iran has accused Gulf states of allowing U.S. forces to operate from their territories and has carried out missile and drone strikes against what it describes as U.S. interests in those countries.

Russia has reported that Ukraine launched more than 280 drone attacks overnight, describing it as one of the largest assaults since the war began. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, a total of 283 drones were shot down. Regional officials said about 90 drones were intercepted over the southern Rostov region, while Moscow’s mayor confirmed that 27 drones targeting the capital were neutralized. In the Saratov region, several houses were damaged and at least two people were injured, local authorities said.

The report noted that since 2022, Ukraine has been striking targets inside Russia in response to continuous Russian attacks, claiming its operations focus on military and energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian and U.S. representatives will meet in the United States on Saturday to revive momentum toward ending the war.

Zelensky added that Ukraine seeks a clearer understanding from Washington regarding the next stage of trilateral talks involving Russia, which had been delayed due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

An Air India flight bound for Vancouver, Canada, was forced to return to Delhi after nearly eight hours in the air when it was discovered that the aircraft lacked the necessary authorization to operate in Canadian airspace. The AI-185 flight departed Delhi at 11:34 a.m. local time on Friday and turned back near Kunming, China, after realizing the issue. The Boeing 777-200LR aircraft landed safely in Delhi after a total flight time of seven hours and fifty-four minutes.

According to the airline, the incident occurred because only its Boeing 777-300ER fleet currently holds permission to operate on the Canada route. Air India described the return as a “standard operating procedure” decision taken for operational reasons. All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and the airline apologized for the inconvenience.

The airline’s ground team in Delhi arranged hotel accommodations and assistance for passengers before re-departing the same flight the following morning. The incident is expected to have significant financial implications due to high fuel consumption during the nearly nine-hour flight.

Iran has fired two ballistic missiles targeting the joint US-British military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing US officials. The incident occurred recently and was reported on Friday. Both missiles failed to hit their targets, falling short of the base located about 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) from Iran. The attack suggests Tehran may now possess longer-range missile capabilities. AFP reported that the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

One missile reportedly malfunctioned mid-flight, while the other was intercepted by a defensive missile launched from a US warship. It remains unclear whether the second missile was destroyed. Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Archipelago, is one of two bases the United Kingdom has allowed the United States to use for defensive operations against Iran. The base hosts US bombers and other military assets and has been a key hub for operations in Asia, including past missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The report also noted that Britain recently returned control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius but retained a lease for the Diego Garcia base. Former US President Donald Trump criticized that decision.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Japan’s Kyodo News that Iran is ready to assist Japan-linked ships in transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, discussions between the two sides have already begun, and Iran is considering a temporary relaxation of the blockade.

A Japanese government official told Kyodo that direct talks with Iran are the most effective way to ease the blockade but emphasized the need for caution to avoid provoking the United States. The official also noted that even if Japanese vessels are allowed passage, it would not resolve the ongoing energy crisis. Another Japanese Foreign Ministry official said Araghchi’s statement should be carefully evaluated to understand its true intent.

The development highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts between Tokyo and Tehran to manage maritime access and regional tensions while balancing relations with Washington.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the 70th phase of its retaliatory operations, claiming to have struck more than 55 locations linked to US and Israeli interests. According to a statement published by Iran’s English-language outlet Press TV, the latest attacks caused powerful explosions, flashes of fire, and rising smoke columns in targeted areas.

Several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Israel, reported activating their air defense systems early Saturday to intercept incoming drones and missiles. The report also stated that Iran launched at least two medium-range ballistic missiles toward the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean.

The overall situation across the Gulf and the wider Middle East has become increasingly tense following these developments, signaling a further escalation of regional hostilities.

Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for 55 separate attacks on Israeli forces in a single day, describing it as the highest number of assaults against Israel in its history. According to the group, the operations targeted Israeli positions both inside Lebanon and across the border in northern Israel, intensifying regional tensions.

Reports indicate significant clashes across multiple fronts in Lebanon. In the southern and western Koura areas, Hezbollah said it attacked Israeli troops attempting to cross the border. Fierce fighting also continued near Khiam and Taybeh on the eastern front. By evening, at least one person was reported killed in an airstrike.

The situation in Lebanon has grown increasingly volatile, with the impact reaching the capital, Beirut. Two attacks in the city’s southern suburbs highlighted how the conflict’s escalation is spreading beyond border zones.

CBS News has reported that US military officials are preparing detailed plans for a possible deployment of ground troops in Iran. Multiple sources cited by the report said high-level discussions are underway regarding the potential move. Senior Pentagon officials have reportedly issued specific instructions to develop such plans, including how to handle the detention of Iranian soldiers if US troops are deployed.

The report comes shortly after President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the United States was considering gradually reducing its military operations in Iran. However, he clarified that he was not seeking a ceasefire. Trump also told reporters that he had no current plans to send ground troops anywhere, adding that if he did, he would not disclose it publicly.

The US Department of Defense did not respond to requests for comment, and the United States Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, declined to speculate on any potential troop deployment.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized NATO and several allied nations, accusing them of failing to provide adequate support during an ongoing war. Speaking outside the White House, Trump said the United Kingdom was slow to grant U.S. forces access to its military bases. He also alleged that Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea were not contributing enough, particularly in sending naval forces to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

According to the report, Trump aims to build a large-scale military operation while U.S. forces remain engaged elsewhere. However, he did not inform allied nations in advance about the U.S. decision to join the war alongside Israel, which created surprise and limited cooperation. In response, Trump has publicly criticized and pressured allies to increase their involvement.

The report notes that the United Kingdom eventually allowed U.S. forces to use its bases, but this did not satisfy Trump. Overall, relations between the U.S. and its allies appear strained amid the ongoing conflict.