Iran has initiated the process of drafting a new law to collect tolls from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from state-run Fars News Agency and Tasnim News Agency. The chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s Civil Affairs Committee stated that a draft law has already been prepared and will soon be finalized by the legislative team.

He explained that under this plan, Iran would charge fees to ensure the security of vessels navigating the strait, describing it as a normal practice similar to tariffs imposed on other trade corridors. The official emphasized that since Iran guarantees the safety of ships and oil tankers in the area, collecting tolls is justified.

The report also noted that among Iran’s five conditions for ending the ongoing conflict, one includes international recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has appointed Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new head of its Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) following the death of Ali Larijani in an Israeli airstrike. The appointment was made on Tuesday, placing Zolghadr in one of the country’s most sensitive political and security positions amid heightened regional tensions and internal challenges.

Zolghadr, a former top commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), previously served as secretary of the policy advisory council since 2023. As a first-generation IRGC member who fought in the Iran-Iraq war, he held senior leadership roles for over a decade. His selection is seen as an effort to fill the vacuum left by Larijani, a veteran political and security figure. The SNSC post is closely linked to the office of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, requiring both strategic and security expertise.

Iran’s hardliners view Zolghadr as better suited than Larijani to handle the current wartime pressures. With continued U.S. and Israeli attacks and growing domestic instability, Zolghadr faces the dual challenge of maintaining internal security and managing any potential negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with the United States.

Iran has claimed responsibility for a series of missile attacks targeting Israeli cities and US military bases across the Middle East. In a statement released on the 26th day of the ongoing war, Iran’s military listed operations that allegedly struck Israel’s satellite stations and several US bases, including Jordan’s Al Azraq, Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa, and Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem and Arifjan bases. The statement also claimed that missiles hit more than 70 locations in Israel, including Haifa and Dimona, and that a US F-18 aircraft was struck in Chabahar.

According to the same statement, US forces in Erbil, Iraq, were also targeted, and the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier was forced to change position after a missile strike. However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied Iran’s claims, stating that none of its aircraft had been hit. The report was sourced from Al Jazeera.

The developments mark a significant escalation in the regional conflict, with both sides issuing conflicting accounts of the attacks and their impact.

Iran has rejected a United States proposal for a ceasefire in the Middle East and declared that it has no plans to hold talks with Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on state television that his government has not participated in any discussions to end the conflict and will not do so, describing any talk of negotiations as an admission of defeat.

According to an Associated Press report, Iran dismissed the US ceasefire proposal and instead presented its own conditions for ending the war. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that discussions between the two countries are ongoing and productive, despite Iranian officials denying any such engagement. Leavitt also warned that if talks fail, President Donald Trump would ensure a stronger response against Iran.

The report added that NATO has not provided assistance on the Iran issue, while analysts warned that a prolonged conflict could increase energy shortages and instability across Asia.

Iranian military adviser and former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohsen Rezaei said that Iran is waiting for US troops in the region. He made the statement on Wednesday in a post on social media platform X, questioning the effectiveness of the US Air Force and suggesting that American soldiers should reconsider fighting for Israel.

The comment comes after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli attack on February 28, the day the Middle East war began. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has since become the new Supreme Leader and appointed Rezaei as his military adviser. Meanwhile, the United States is preparing to deploy more than 1,000 additional troops to the Middle East, signaling possible ground operations if needed.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that “very good” discussions are ongoing with Tehran to end the war, though NATO has not provided assistance on the Iran issue.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington is holding 'productive' talks with Iran, though Iranian officials denied the claim, calling it misinformation aimed at easing pressure from rising oil prices. Two senior diplomats told Al Jazeera that Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan have been mediating secret contacts between American and Iranian officials. Experts remain doubtful about the possibility of a ceasefire, noting that Iran seeks not only to end the war but also to secure long-term economic and security guarantees.

Analysts said Iran’s leadership is likely to adopt a tougher stance in any negotiations, despite U.S. and Israeli claims that Iran’s military capacity has been severely damaged. Iran has demonstrated continued missile capability, including strikes on Israeli targets and an attack on Qatar’s main gas facility. Tehran now demands assurances against future attacks and a new regulatory framework for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds of ships remain stalled.

Experts warned that Iran is unlikely to relinquish control of the Strait without major concessions, as it views the conflict as having yielded economic leverage. The uncertainty over Iran’s leadership following recent attacks adds complexity to any potential peace talks.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that 290 American soldiers have been injured in the ongoing war against Iran, according to CBS News. A CENTCOM spokesperson said that since the beginning of the conflict, 255 of the injured troops have returned to duty, while 10 remain in serious condition. The status of the remaining 25 soldiers has not been disclosed.

The United States launched its military operation named “Epic Fury” against Iran on February 28, in coordination with Israel, which began its own campaign called “Lion Roar.” In response, Tehran carried out counterattacks on Israeli and US military bases across several Middle Eastern countries, escalating the conflict throughout the region.

Over nearly four weeks of fighting, the US military has reported 13 fatalities among its personnel. Several American military bases and installations in the Middle East have been damaged by Iranian strikes, and multiple US aircraft and warplanes have been destroyed, according to BBC reports cited in the source.

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.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei has described U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim about possible diplomatic talks with Iran as ‘unreliable’. In an interview with India Today published on March 25, 2026, Baghaei stated that several countries have approached Iran with mediation proposals, but Tehran remains firm on defending itself.

Baghaei questioned Washington’s sincerity in seeking a peaceful resolution, pointing to what he described as continuous bombings and missile strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran. He argued that such actions undermine any credibility in U.S. claims of diplomacy or mediation.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions and uncertainty surrounding potential ceasefire efforts between Iran and the United States, with reports of mediation attempts involving Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt.

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.

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.