German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that Germany is pressing the United States and Israel to stop their war against Iran. Speaking in the national parliament, Merz said Germany is making every effort to persuade Washington and Tel Aviv to end the conflict. He added that Germany would be ready to join international efforts to stabilize the region once the fighting ends, but any such operation would require United Nations approval.

The report notes that Germany remains divided over the US-Israeli war against Iran. While Merz supports the conflict as a means to remove the current Iranian government, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and other senior officials have condemned the war as a “terrible mistake” and a violation of international law.

The statement underscores internal divisions within Germany’s leadership over the conflict and highlights Berlin’s attempt to balance diplomatic pressure with adherence to international legal frameworks.

Arsenio Dominguez, head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), stated that about 2,000 ships carrying 20,000 sailors are currently stranded in the Hormuz Strait. He described the situation as a major challenge for the global shipping industry. Dominguez warned that the longer the ships remain there, the greater the mental stress and fatigue among sailors, and the more limited the supply of essential provisions will become.

According to the IMO chief, insurance companies are refusing to bear the financial losses, with many canceling contracts or demanding significantly higher premiums. He noted that assistance from countries surrounding the strait has so far prevented a humanitarian crisis. The IMO is pressing for the creation of a humanitarian corridor to allow the stranded vessels to leave the area.

Dominguez also criticized U.S. President Trump’s plan to escort ships through the strait, calling it “unacceptable” because there is no guarantee that commercial vessels will not be targeted or that innocent sailors will remain unharmed.

Firefighters in Kuwait are working to extinguish a fire at Kuwait International Airport following a drone strike, according to Al Jazeera. Brigadier General Mohammed Al-Gharib, spokesperson for Kuwait’s General Fire Force, said the attack, described as ‘hostile,’ ignited a fuel tank at the airport. The army, National Guard, and oil sector teams are jointly assisting in controlling the blaze.

Al-Gharib stated at a press conference that debris from the drone explosions caused four separate fires in different areas, all of which are being addressed by emergency crews. He added that since the beginning of what he called ‘Iran’s aggression,’ Kuwait has recorded a total of 82 such incidents.

Authorities continue efforts to bring the situation under control, with multiple agencies coordinating the response to prevent further damage or escalation.

US President Donald Trump stated that Washington is engaged in 'productive' talks with Iran, though Iranian officials denied the claim, accusing the US of spreading false information to ease pressure from rising oil prices. Reports suggest that Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan have been facilitating secret contacts between American and Iranian officials, while experts remain doubtful about the possibility of a ceasefire.

Analysts believe Iran seeks not only a ceasefire but also a post-war environment that asserts its influence across the Middle East and the West while ensuring long-term economic and security guarantees. Despite US and Israeli claims that Iran’s missile capacity has been severely damaged, Iran has demonstrated continued strike capability. The country has also attacked Qatar’s main gas facility and launched missiles into southern Israel. Tehran now demands assurances against future attacks and new regulatory control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Experts warn that Iran is unlikely to relinquish control of the strategic waterway without major concessions, and any future peace deal could face resistance from the US and Gulf states.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Pakistan has conveyed a United States proposal for a ceasefire to Iran, and that discussions to end the ongoing war could take place in either Pakistan or Turkey. The official’s comments, reported on Wednesday, suggest that Tehran may be considering diplomatic options despite its previous refusal to engage with the Trump administration.

According to the source, Turkey has also assisted in the effort to halt the conflict and is being considered as a possible venue for the talks. Israeli cabinet members have been briefed on the proposals, which reportedly include the removal of Iran’s highly enriched uranium, halting enrichment activities, limiting its ballistic missile program, and ending funding to regional allies. Turkish ruling party official Harun Argaman confirmed that Ankara is facilitating message exchanges between Iran and the United States.

Al Jazeera’s Osama bin Javed reported that Pakistan presented the documents from the Trump administration to Iran and that Tehran’s response is now awaited.

Turkey and the United Kingdom have finalized a major defense agreement worth £8 billion (approximately $10.73 billion) for the purchase of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft. The deal, signed in London by British Defence Secretary John Healey and Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler, follows an earlier agreement between the two nations. Under the new arrangement, Turkish pilots and ground crews will receive specialized training in the UK as Turkey prepares to operate its first batch of British-built fighter jets.

The agreement also includes the supply of essential parts and training equipment from leading defense companies such as BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA, Rolls-Royce, and Martin-Baker. According to the British government, this marks Turkey’s formal entry into the next phase of the Eurofighter program. Officials stated that the move will enhance NATO’s air defense and combat capabilities across its eastern flank.

The training and support components are expected to play a key role in strengthening Turkey’s operational readiness and deepening defense cooperation between Ankara and London.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected any form of negotiations with Israel amid the ongoing conflict. In a televised speech broadcast by a Hezbollah-affiliated channel on March 25, 2026, Qassem said that engaging in talks during active fighting would amount to 'forced surrender.' He called for unity against Israel and affirmed that Hezbollah fighters are ready to continue the battle without limits.

Qassem also urged the Lebanese government to lift restrictions on the group’s military operations. His remarks come as tensions remain high between Hezbollah and Israel, with no indication of de-escalation. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera and reflects Hezbollah’s firm stance against negotiation during hostilities.

The call for lifting operational restrictions could further strain Lebanon’s internal political balance and complicate regional diplomatic efforts if the conflict continues.

Israel’s Ministry of Health reported that 204 people were injured in the past 24 hours as the country continues to face conflict involving Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The injured individuals have been taken to various hospitals for treatment, according to the ministry’s statement.

Since the beginning of the joint U.S.-Israel offensive against Iran, a total of 5,045 people have been treated in hospitals for injuries. Among them, 120 remain hospitalized, with 12 in serious condition. The report highlights the continuing toll of the conflict on civilians and the healthcare system.

The situation remains tense as regional dynamics evolve, with ongoing hostilities between Israel, Iran, and Hezbollah contributing to instability and humanitarian strain.

Former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger has stated that Iran is currently in a strategically advantageous position in its ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. In an interview with The Economist podcast published on March 25, 2026, Younger said the United States failed to properly assess the complexity of the war and lost the initiative to Iran about two weeks earlier.

He explained that Iran has shown greater resilience than expected, having taken early steps to disperse its military assets and decentralize decision-making on weapons use. These measures, according to Younger, have strengthened Iran’s defensive capacity even under heavy airstrikes.

Younger also noted that some remarks by former US President Donald Trump reinforced Iran’s perception of the conflict as a “civilizational” or “existential” struggle. The comments were reported by Middle East Eye.

The Israeli Defense Forces claimed on Tuesday that they carried out a large-scale attack on an underwater research center in the Iranian city of Isfahan. According to the Israeli statement, the facility is the country’s only site involved in submarine production and naval support operations. Iran has not yet issued any comment regarding the reported strike.

Earlier, BBC Verify reported that an airstrike in Isfahan had damaged a multistory building and nearby shops, though it remained unclear whether that incident was linked to the same attack mentioned by Israel. The report did not confirm the extent of the damage or any casualties.

The situation adds to regional tensions, but no immediate response or confirmation from Iranian authorities was available at the time of reporting.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, that more than 85,000 civilian structures in Iran have been damaged since the start of joint US-Israeli military operations at the end of February. According to the organization’s head, Pirhossein Kolivand, a total of 85,176 sites were affected, including 64,583 residential buildings and 19,690 commercial establishments.

Kolivand stated that Tehran suffered the most severe damage, with 282 medical centers and 600 educational institutions hit during the attacks. He asserted that these strikes should be considered war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched a joint military campaign against Iran, prompting retaliatory drone and missile strikes by Iran on Israeli and US bases in the Middle East.

The Red Crescent also reported that more than 1,340 people have been killed in Iran since the start of the joint military operation, highlighting the escalating humanitarian toll of the conflict.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that US troops may be deceived by what he described as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plot. In a post on social media platform X, Ghalibaf said Tehran is closely monitoring all US movements in the region, particularly troop deployments, and cautioned against testing Iran’s resolve to defend its territory.

According to the Associated Press, the United States is deploying more than 1,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, along with two Marine units, bringing the total presence to about 5,000 Marines and several thousand naval personnel. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran on February 28, Israel’s military has carried out over 15,000 bombings in Iran, four times more than during a 12-day conflict last June.

Katz, speaking alongside Israel’s army chief Yaal Zamir, added that Tel Aviv has approved new targets for attacks in Iran and Lebanon, signaling a potential escalation in the conflict.

A total of 775 international flights have been canceled from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka over the past 27 days due to airspace closures across several Middle Eastern countries. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh confirmed the cancellations in a statement on March 25, 2026, citing ongoing security concerns in the region that have led Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan to temporarily close or restrict their airspace.

According to official data, flight cancellations began on February 28 and continued through the end of March, with 30 to 40 flights canceled daily at the start of the period. Although the number has slightly decreased, more than 20 flights per day were still being canceled as of March 25. An additional 22 flights scheduled after midnight on March 26 were also canceled, including services by Kuwait Airways, Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Jazeera Airways.

Authorities advised passengers to check with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates, as uncertainty is expected to persist until Middle Eastern air routes fully reopen.

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry reported that 39 people were arrested in a raid in Tehran, where authorities seized a large cache of weapons, ammunition, and at least seven Starlink devices, according to Al Jazeera. The confiscated items included 49 homemade bombs, two Kalashnikov rifles, 16 pistols, 50 magazines, and more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition.

The arrests come as Iran continues to face a nationwide internet blackout, now lasting 26 days, according to monitoring group NetBlocks. The government has intensified surveillance and enforcement measures in response to ongoing internal unrest and security challenges.

The ministry’s actions reflect heightened domestic security operations amid persistent instability, with authorities maintaining strict control over communications and public activity.

A Thai oil tanker has safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s permission following diplomatic communication between Thailand and Iran, according to Bangchak Corporation. The company confirmed that the vessel passed through the strategic waterway without incident after both governments engaged in discussions to ensure safe passage.

Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangket told reporters that he had requested Iran’s assistance to guarantee the safety of Thai vessels using the strait. He added that Iran responded positively, promising to consider the request and asking for details about which ships would transit the route.

The Strait of Hormuz carries nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and gas. The route had been largely disrupted since February 28, when U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran led to a near shutdown of the passage. Reports now indicate that limited tanker movement has resumed under Iranian approval.