U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a national address on the ongoing war against Iran, according to White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt. In a post on the microblogging platform X, Levitt said Trump will speak to the nation at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday to share important information about Iran.

Earlier, Trump told reporters at the White House Oval Office that U.S. attacks in Iran would conclude within two to three weeks and suggested a possible agreement with Iranian authorities. However, the conflict has continued beyond that timeframe, with the situation becoming increasingly complex.

The war began after a joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran on February 28, which prompted retaliatory attacks from Tehran. The upcoming address is expected to clarify Washington’s current stance and next steps in the conflict.

Yemeni Houthi rebels have launched a missile attack targeting Israel, marking their third such strike during the ongoing Middle East conflict. The group claimed the operation was conducted jointly with Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, according to a video statement by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sari. The statement said drones and ballistic missiles were fired at what were described as Israel’s sensitive and important military targets.

The Houthis’ announcement underscores their continued involvement in the regional conflict and their alignment with Iran and Hezbollah. The statement framed the attack as part of a broader joint effort among allied groups opposing Israel. No details were provided about the extent of the damage or Israel’s response.

The report, citing BSS, did not include independent confirmation of the attack or any official reaction from Israel. The incident adds to escalating tensions across the region amid multiple ongoing military confrontations.

Iran’s Security Council has granted permission for six Bangladeshi ships, previously stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, to pass through the waterway. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, Iran’s ambassador to Bangladesh, during a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in Dhaka. He said that both Iran and Bangladesh are working together to facilitate the return of the vessels.

The ambassador expressed hope that Iran and Bangladesh would continue to support each other. He also noted that Bangladesh had expressed concern over the ongoing war situation and emphasized the need to condemn it. According to Jahanabadi, Bangladesh’s foreign minister has sent a letter to his Iranian counterpart thanking Iran for assisting in the repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals.

The development comes amid heightened regional tensions, and the cooperation between the two countries signals ongoing diplomatic engagement to ensure the safety of Bangladeshi maritime interests.

Iran has launched a series of missile attacks across Israel, injuring at least 14 people in the central city of Bnei Brak. According to Israel’s Channel 12, the injured, including an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy, were taken to hospital after a ballistic missile struck a two-story apartment building. Fires also broke out in Holon and Petah Tikva following separate strikes.

The Israeli military reported detecting another wave of missiles launched from Iran toward the country, marking the third such attack within just over an hour. Israeli media outlet Wynet said several missiles landed in open areas. The attacks have caused widespread alarm across Israel’s central, northern, and southern regions.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, indicates that the ongoing missile strikes have heightened tension and fear nationwide as Israel continues to face repeated assaults from Iran.

A US female journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad, Iraq, according to the United States. The journalist, identified by media outlets as Shelly Kittleson, was reportedly abducted by a suspected Iran-backed Iraqi armed group. The US State Department said it is working urgently to secure her release. Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson wrote on social media platform X that an individual linked to the Iran-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah has been detained by Iraqi authorities in connection with the kidnapping.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry confirmed that security forces arrested one suspect and seized a vehicle used in the abduction. However, the ministry did not disclose the identities of either the victim or the perpetrators. Kittleson, a freelance contributor for Al-Monitor, Foreign Policy, Politico, and the BBC, is based in Rome but frequently travels across the Middle East to report from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq.

Authorities in both countries continue to coordinate efforts to locate and rescue the journalist, though no timeline for her release has been provided.

Kuwait International Airport experienced another drone attack on April 1, 2026, which Kuwaiti authorities attributed to Iran. The strike caused a massive fire at the airport’s fuel depot, leading to extensive damage to fuel tanks. According to the country’s Civil Aviation Authority, no casualties were reported. On the same day, Bahrain also reported a drone attack on a company facility, which its Interior Ministry said was caused by Iranian drones.

Abdullah Al-Rajhi, spokesperson for Kuwait’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, stated that the attack specifically targeted the airport’s fuel tanks, resulting in a large blaze at the site. CNN cited Kuwaiti officials confirming that the fire was severe but under control. The incident marks a renewed escalation in drone-related hostilities in the Gulf region.

Authorities in both Kuwait and Bahrain were working to contain the fires and assess the extent of the damage. Further details on the motive or potential response from the affected countries were not immediately available.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington is beginning to see the 'final line' of the ongoing Iran war, which has entered its fifth week. Speaking on Fox News on Tuesday, Rubio said the end is approaching, though not immediately. When asked about the possibility of negotiations with Iran, he noted that direct talks could occur at some point but emphasized that former President Trump would not allow discussions to be used as a delaying tactic.

Rubio rejected claims that the United States lacks a clear strategy on Iran, asserting that the objectives are well-defined. He said the US has already destroyed Iran’s air force and largely neutralized its navy. He added that the US is targeting factories producing missiles and drones, as well as missile launchers, to prevent further attacks. Rubio also mentioned that after the war, the US would need to reconsider its relationship with NATO.

The remarks were reported by The Guardian and reflect Washington’s current stance on the conflict’s trajectory and its strategic goals.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed his country’s willingness to end the ongoing war with the United States and Israel, provided certain conditions are fulfilled. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Pezeshkian made the statement during a telephone conversation with European Council President Antonio Costa on Tuesday. He emphasized that Iran seeks no escalation or conflict and that the cessation of aggressive attacks by opposing forces is essential for restoring normalcy.

Pezeshkian stated that Iran’s readiness to end the war depends on guarantees preventing future aggression. He reiterated that Iran did not initiate the hostilities and views halting enemy offensives as the only path to stability. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump hinted that the ongoing Iran war could soon conclude and remarked that the Strait of Hormuz would automatically reopen once U.S. forces withdraw.

The exchange of statements suggests a possible diplomatic opening, though the specific conditions Iran requires and the timeline for any resolution remain unclear.

Israel will not take part in any potential US ground operation in Iran, according to reports from Israeli media. Channel 12 stated on Sunday that if the United States launches a ground assault, Israeli forces will not participate on the ground. This stance indicates that Tel Aviv intends to leave full responsibility for such an operation to US forces.

The report comes as discussions and criticism grow in Washington over possible US ground action in Iran. The Pentagon is reportedly preparing several options, including limited operations, though the White House has not confirmed whether President Donald Trump has approved any such move. Iran has publicly warned that any US incursion would face fierce resistance, while military analysts have cautioned that a ground war could repeat the strategic mistakes of Vietnam.

The Channel 12 report has sparked strong reactions in the United States. Supporters of the “America First” policy argue that Washington is being pushed toward an expensive ground conflict while Israel avoids sending its troops into Iran.

US President Donald Trump stated that Iran will require 15 to 20 years to rebuild following intense attacks by the United States and Israel. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday local time, Trump said that the US aimed to destroy everything Iran possessed and that the country had been pushed back significantly. He claimed that Iran now lacked a navy, military, air force, telecommunications system, air defense, and leadership.

Trump added that negotiations with Iran would be welcome but insisted it made no difference whether Iran agreed to talks or not. His remarks came amid reports of continued hostilities in the region, including Israeli strikes and missile attacks linked to the ongoing conflict.

The comments, reported by Al Jazeera, reflect the US administration’s stance following the escalation of military actions against Iran and its allies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the ongoing instability in the Middle East. According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry released on Wednesday, both leaders called for an end to the war in the region.

The statement said the two leaders expressed deep concern over the deteriorating military and political situation, particularly the civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. They emphasized the need to stop the conflict as soon as possible and highlighted the importance of diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis while respecting the legitimate interests of Middle Eastern countries.

Their joint appeal reflects growing international concern over the escalating violence and humanitarian impact across the region, as reported by Al Jazeera.

At least eight people, including a pregnant woman and her husband, were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. The attacks targeted the towns of Jebchit and Kafra in the Nabatieh region, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA). The couple died in Jebchit, while two others were killed in a separate strike in Kafra.

Al Jazeera reported that within an hour, the death toll from Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon had risen to eight. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on these specific attacks but stated that its operations were continuing against Hezbollah’s military targets.

The escalation highlights ongoing hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border, with both sides reporting casualties in recent weeks. Further developments depend on military and diplomatic responses from the parties involved.

Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church, has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to urgently seek a way out of the ongoing Iran war. Speaking to journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome on Tuesday, the Pope urged Trump to reduce violence and find an effective path toward ending the conflict. Pope Leo XIV is the first U.S.-born pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church.

The Pope’s appeal is being viewed as a significant intervention amid the escalating regional conflict. He noted that he had learned of President Trump’s recent expression of willingness to end the war and voiced hope that the U.S. leader would pursue a concrete solution to de-escalate hostilities.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, come as international concern grows over the humanitarian and economic toll of the Iran war, with observers emphasizing the importance of diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed his country’s stance on the ongoing Middle East conflict, stating in an interview with Al Jazeera that Iran seeks a permanent end to the war rather than a temporary ceasefire. He emphasized that Iran’s goal is not just immediate peace but lasting security across the entire region.

Araghchi also revealed that Tehran has not yet responded to proposals from the United States and has not made any counteroffers or set conditions. Although Iran received a message from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Araghchi clarified that Tehran does not consider it part of any formal negotiation process.

Addressing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said the waterway remains open but will be closed to those fighting against Iran. He further warned that Tehran is prepared for ground combat if necessary, underscoring Iran’s readiness amid the regional tensions.

A total of 175 Bangladeshi nationals detained in two Libyan detention centers are being repatriated to Bangladesh with the support of the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). According to a Facebook post by the embassy, the group is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka at 5 a.m. on Wednesday via a Buraq Air flight. Among them, 113 were held at the Tajoura Detention Center in Tripoli and 62 at the Ganfuda Center in Benghazi, with 14 reported to be physically ill.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Libya, Major General Md Habib Ullah, supervised the repatriation process at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport and bid farewell to those departing from Tajoura. He expressed gratitude to Libyan authorities and the IOM for their cooperation and hoped for continued collaboration. During the process, the migrants shared experiences of hardship, including captivity, extortion, physical abuse, and lack of food, water, and medical care.

The ambassador urged the returnees to rebuild their lives and to share their experiences to discourage others from taking dangerous migration routes, emphasizing the long-term social and national harm caused by irregular migration.