Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for an immediate halt to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov made the appeal during a phone conversation on Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as reported by Al Jazeera. The ministry stated that Lavrov emphasized the need to stop hostilities quickly and pursue political and diplomatic solutions.

Lavrov also described attacks targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure as unacceptable. Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned a U.S.-Israeli strike near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, calling it extremely dangerous. The Russian Foreign Ministry further noted that both Lavrov and Araghchi expressed concern that the conflict could expand to the Caspian Sea region.

The statements reflect Moscow’s growing alarm over escalating tensions and its call for restraint and dialogue to prevent regional destabilization.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the ‘serious situation’ in the Gulf region with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, assuring Iran of Pakistan’s cooperation to help resolve the crisis, according to Al Jazeera. In a message on social media, Sharif said he spoke with Pezeshkian by phone about regional tensions and pledged Pakistan’s support to calm the situation.

Sharif stated that both leaders agreed on the urgent need for dialogue and diplomacy to reduce tensions. The two have spoken several times over the past month, exchanging greetings for Ramadan and Eid while also discussing ways to end ongoing conflicts. Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran and faces its own tensions with Afghanistan, has maintained a cautious diplomatic stance.

The Gulf region’s instability poses a major concern for Pakistan due to potential disruptions in oil and gas supplies. The country also strengthened its long-standing military ties with Saudi Arabia last year through a mutual defense agreement.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has accused Israel of effectively receiving a “license” to persecute Palestinians. Presenting a new report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, she said evidence of ongoing “ethnic killing” in the occupied Palestinian territories has been documented. The report details what she described as Israel’s “widespread and systematic persecution” and the creation of a “painful environment” for Palestinians.

Albanese further alleged that various governments indirectly encourage Israel’s actions, claiming that most governments and their ministers have effectively allowed Israel to continue such practices. The report states that between October 2023 and January 2026, Israeli forces arrested more than 18,500 Palestinians, including children. During the same period, at least 100 people reportedly died in Israeli custody, and around 4,000 were allegedly disappeared.

The report also claims that thousands of Palestinians are being detained without charges and kept in inhumane conditions, underscoring what the envoy described as a pattern of systemic abuse.

Israel has claimed responsibility for a new round of large-scale airstrikes targeting several military bases and weapons facilities inside Iran. According to a statement posted by the Israeli military on Telegram, the attacks struck the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) air defense and ground force headquarters, a Quds Force base and intelligence center, a missile production site under Iran’s defense ministry, and other production and research facilities.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, noted that the network could not independently verify Israel’s claims. The statement did not include details about casualties, damage assessments, or Iran’s response to the alleged attacks.

The situation remains unclear as independent confirmation of the strikes and their impact has not yet been established.

Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating terrorism as the temporary ceasefire with Afghanistan neared its end on Monday midnight. The truce, announced last Wednesday for Eid-ul-Fitr, was intended to halt border clashes between the two countries. According to AFP, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated on Pakistan Day that Islamabad’s stance on the ongoing conflict with Afghanistan remains unchanged.

Dar emphasized that Pakistan’s recent actions inside Afghanistan were aimed at eradicating terrorist threats. Meanwhile, Afghan Taliban authorities and a medical source reported that a mortar shell fired from Pakistan killed one person in Kunar province on Sunday. Tensions between the two neighbors have escalated in recent months, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harboring militants responsible for cross-border attacks, a claim the Taliban denies.

The current round of conflict began in February after earlier mediation efforts by Gulf states and China failed. The ceasefire followed a deadly Pakistani strike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, which Afghan officials said killed more than 400 people.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that global oil prices would fall sharply if a peace agreement is reached to end the ongoing war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Since the conflict began, oil prices have risen significantly due to heightened tensions and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy transport. Trump said there is a good chance of reaching a deal but emphasized that nothing is guaranteed.

According to Trump, the two countries are discussing 15 points aimed at ending the war, with Iran’s abandonment of nuclear weapons listed as the top three priorities. He also expressed his desire to see major changes in Iran’s governing system. The remarks come amid stalled maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz caused by Iranian threats, which have contributed to the surge in oil prices.

The report, citing BBC Bangla, did not specify when or where the negotiations are taking place or how close the parties are to an agreement.

The United Kingdom has welcomed what it called productive talks between the United States and Iran, expressing hope that the dialogue could ease tensions in the Middle East and lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the position on Monday, emphasizing London’s interest in regional stability.

Earlier, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media that he had ordered a halt to planned strikes on Iranian power plants following what he described as highly productive discussions with Tehran. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied that any such talks had taken place, suggesting that Trump’s announcement was aimed at influencing global oil prices and delaying military action.

The British government reiterated that a swift resolution to the conflict was in the global interest, particularly to restore normal maritime operations through the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan have taken on a mediating role to ease ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran. According to a U.S. source, the three countries have been exchanging messages between the two sides over the past two days. Their foreign ministers have held separate meetings with White House representative Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, signaling intensified diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

The source added that the mediation process is progressing with signs of positive development. The discussions aim to end the conflict and address long-standing unresolved issues. Further progress is expected soon, according to the same source.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry stated that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized during the meetings the importance of limiting the scope of the ongoing conflict and preventing its further escalation.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a five-day suspension of all planned military strikes on Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure. The declaration came Monday via his social media platform Truth Social, where he said recent discussions between the United States and Iran had been positive and productive. Trump stated that he instructed the Defense Department to halt operations temporarily, adding that the decision would depend on the progress of ongoing talks.

Tehran disputed Trump’s claim of any direct or indirect communication. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, an unnamed source said no such talks occurred and that Trump’s decision followed Iran’s warning against targeting its power facilities. Independent verification of these claims was not possible, and U.S. officials did not immediately comment.

Earlier, Trump had threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened within 48 hours. Iran responded with a counter-threat to strike regional energy installations and close the strait entirely, a key route for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Iran has instructed that countries considered 'non-hostile' must coordinate with Tehran when navigating the Strait of Hormuz. The directive was issued on Monday by Iran’s Supreme Defense Council, a high-level national security body, which described coordination as the 'only way' for such nations to ensure safe passage through the strategic waterway.

According to a statement published by Iranian media, the council warned that if any hostile force attempts to attack Iran’s coasts or islands, mines would be placed at all coastal entry points. The statement further cautioned that any aggression would effectively block not only the Strait of Hormuz but the entire Persian Gulf, with responsibility falling on the aggressors.

The announcement underscores Tehran’s continued emphasis on controlling access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route, as part of its broader defense posture in response to perceived threats.

US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he had held productive discussions with Iran over the past two days to stop all hostilities. He also said he had suspended plans to attack Iranian power plants for the next five days. However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Mehr News Agency that no talks had taken place between the two countries. He accused Trump of making the statement to buy time and influence energy prices, adding that the US would eventually carry out its military plans.

Araghchi further stated that regional countries were taking initiatives to reduce tensions but should engage directly with the United States, as Washington had started the conflict. Iranian media outlets reported that Trump’s decision came after Iran’s threats of retaliation forced him to back down. Earlier, Trump had given Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power facilities, but he later withdrew the threat while claiming ongoing talks.

The report cited Al Jazeera as its source and noted that Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan were attempting mediation in the Iran-US crisis.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it carried out 76 missile and drone strikes targeting United States and Israeli military bases. According to an official IRGC statement released on March 23, 2026, the attacks were part of what it described as a continued effort to destroy enemy military infrastructure.

The statement specified that the strikes targeted US bases named Al-Dhafra, Victoria, the Fifth Fleet, and King Sultan, using drones and both liquid-fueled ‘Qiam’ and solid-fueled ‘Zolfaghar’ missiles. It also said that Israeli military infrastructure was hit in several cities, including Ashkelon, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Gush Dan, with heavy missiles and guided solid-fuel weapons such as ‘Kheibar-Shekan’ and ‘Qiam’.

The IRGC described the operation as effective but did not provide details on damage or casualties. No independent confirmation of the attacks was mentioned in the report.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the government has no credible information suggesting Iran is targeting the United Kingdom. He made the remarks after questions arose about whether Britain was within range of Iranian missiles following a reported missile launch toward Diego Garcia island.

Starmer emphasized that the government continuously conducts full security assessments and currently has no evaluation indicating that the UK is being targeted. He also stressed the importance of protecting British interests and lives without becoming involved in war, calling for efforts to reduce tensions.

His comments came a day after Israel’s military claimed that Iran possesses missiles capable of reaching London, Paris, or Berlin. Iran has not yet issued any official response regarding the reported failed missile launch from its southern coast toward the Diego Garcia military base.

US President Donald Trump has announced a five-day suspension of all planned military strikes on Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure. He made the announcement on his social media platform Truth Social, just hours before the deadline of a previous ultimatum to Iran expired. Trump said the decision followed two days of significant discussions between the United States and Iran aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East, describing the talks as positive and productive.

According to the report, Trump instructed the Defense Department to temporarily halt the attacks, noting that future actions would depend on the success of ongoing negotiations. The move comes after heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG supply passes. Following a US strike on Iran on February 28, the strait was partially closed, causing a sharp rise in global oil prices.

Trump’s administration has been working to restore normal maritime traffic in the area. Earlier, he had given Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the strait or face strikes on its power facilities, prompting Tehran to threaten countermeasures if attacked.

Lebanon-based armed group Hezbollah claimed on Sunday, March 22, that it carried out 63 attacks against Israeli forces in a single day. The group announced the operations early Monday through its Telegram channel, stating that rockets, drones, and artillery shells were used to target Israeli troops inside Israel and in southern Lebanon. According to Al Jazeera, the scale of the attacks was described as unprecedented.

In response to continued threats from Hezbollah, Israel has launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon. Since March 2, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have reportedly killed 1,029 people and injured 2,786 others. The ongoing hostilities have displaced over one million people, worsening humanitarian conditions across the region.

The intensifying cross-border violence has pushed regional security into a severe crisis, raising concerns about further escalation if the current pattern of attacks and counterattacks continues.