Despite the openness of six nations to "engage" to allow navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, albeit non-military, Donald Trump returns to attacking his NATO allies and London takes action: Keir Starmer's government authorizes the United States to use British bases to protect the Strait of Hormuz .
On the same day that the Alliance decided to suspend its mission in Iraq due to the impact of the war in the Middle East, the American president, already "disappointed" by the more or less general distancing from the war against Iran, was unhappy with the tepid declarations of intent from the European Council (which condemned Iranian attacks on energy and oil infrastructure and merchant ships in the Gulf, but also called for clear legal grounds for potential involvement in the conflict). And the expressed willingness of Rome, Berlin, Paris, London, The Hague, and Tokyo to "contribute to the efforts necessary to ensure the safety of navigation in the Straits," albeit under UN auspices, was to no avail. "Cowards, we will remember this," thundered the Republican on his Truth page. For Trump, NATO would be just "a paper tiger" without the United States.
To resolve the Hormuz crisis by pressuring Iran to reopen the Strait, the Trump administration is reportedly considering the possibility of occupying or blockading the Iranian island of Kharg.
From Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Europeans against supporting the US and Israel: "Such actions will only aggravate the situation," he said during a telephone conversation with his British counterpart, Yvette Cooper, while the Iranian military directly threatened Washington and Tel Aviv: "The world's tourist centers are no longer safe for our enemies." The Iranian military's reaction was triggered by the killing of Pasdaran spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini during US and Israeli attacks.
The news of March 20
9:30 PM – Trump rules out a ceasefire
Donald Trump ruled out the possibility of reaching a ceasefire with Iran, asserting that Washington controls the war, now in its third week. "I don't want a ceasefire. You know you don't have a ceasefire when you're literally annihilating the other side," Trump told reporters at the White House.
8:30 PM – Iran: "By voting yes to the US, Starmer is endangering British lives."
"The vast majority of British citizens want no part in the war waged by Israel and the United States against Iran. By ignoring his own people, Mr. Starmer is endangering British lives by allowing UK bases to be used for aggression against Iran. Iran will exercise its right to self-defense," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in X.
8:00 PM – Crosetto: "Are NATO allies cowards? They're not. In fact, we're helping."
"I read that Trump called all NATO allies cowards. I don't understand why, though. I don't see any cowardice on anyone's part. In fact, I think the attitude of many NATO allies is one that helps the Americans even in a difficult time—not for the Americans, but for the difficulty of getting out of a complex situation like Hormuz." This was Defense Minister Guido Crosetto's comment on Dieci Minuti, commenting on US President Donald Trump's statements.
7:20 PM – London authorizes the US to use its bases to protect Hormuz
The British government has given the United States the green light to use its military bases to launch strikes against Iranian targets threatening the Strait of Hormuz. Previously, the bases had been authorized only for defensive operations aimed at preventing missile launches against British interests or lives. However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's cabinet decided in a meeting today to expand the scope of air operations. According to a Downing Street statement, Starmer's approval appears to be the result of an understanding between the Labour prime minister and President Donald Trump. A spokeswoman clarified that British forces will not, however, be directly involved in attacks against Iran. At the same time, the call for "de-escalation and a rapid resolution to the war" was reiterated.
6:30 PM – Piantedosi convenes the anti-terrorism committee at the Ministry of the Interior.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi will chair the Committee for Strategic Counterterrorism Analysis (CASA) tomorrow at the Ministry of the Interior. The meeting, attended by police and intelligence leaders, is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
4:50 PM – Trump: "Iran will need 10 years to rebuild after the attacks."
It will take Iran 10 years to rebuild after the US and Israeli attacks. Donald Trump said this in an interview with Ms. "I think if we leave now, it would take them 10 years to rebuild. But I don't think that's an acceptable situation. If we stay longer, they'll never rebuild," Trump emphasized.
4:40 PM – Khamenei denies the raids on Türkiye and Oman: "It's an Israeli plan."
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, denied that the Islamic Republic attacked Turkey and Oman, claiming it was an Israeli "plan." "I would like to remind you that the attacks against Turkey and Oman—both countries that have good relations with us—against certain points in these countries were in no way carried out by the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic or other forces of the resistance front," Khamenei said.
3:10 PM – Trump attacks NATO allies: "Cowards."
Donald Trump attacks NATO allies. "Without the US," the Alliance "is a paper tiger. They don't want to join the fight to stop a nuclear Iran. Now that the battle has been won militarily, with very little risk to them, they complain about the high oil prices they have to pay but won't help open the Strait of Hormuz. Cowards, we will remember them." This is what Donald Trump said on his social media account, Truth.
3:00 PM – Tehran: "Tourist destinations around the world are no longer safe for enemy forces."
"We are keeping cowardly enemy officials and commanders under surveillance. Iranian officials and authorities live with the people, among the people, and for the people, and are not like Israeli and American officials, who hide in basements and shelters. From now on, tourist and recreational centers around the world will no longer be safe for enemies," General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for the Iranian armed forces, said in a post on X by the ISNA news agency in Farsi.
2:15 PM – NATO mission temporarily withdraws from Iraq
The NATO mission in Iraq has temporarily withdrawn from the country, two Iraqi security officials told AFP, citing the impact of the war in the Middle East. "There are no disagreements" with the Iraqi government, the official said on condition of anonymity. "This is a temporary withdrawal. They are concerned about the situation," he added. "We can confirm that we are reshaping our deployment within the NATO mission in Iraq. The safety of our personnel is paramount," Alliance spokesman Alisson Hart said, without giving further details.
1:50 PM – 1,100 international ships blocked in the Gulf, two of which are Italian
There are approximately 1,100 international ships from countries not involved in the conflict currently blocked in the Persian Gulf area, but only two are traceable to Italian shipowners, one belonging to the Grimaldi fleet and the other to a Neapolitan shipowner.
12:40 PM – "They were spreading false news about the war": Over 100 arrests in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi police announced the arrest of more than 100 people for filming and spreading "misleading information" about the war, as Gulf states tighten scrutiny on publications related to the Iranian attacks. The arrests involve "109 individuals of various nationalities who filmed locations and incidents and spread misleading information on social media during the ongoing events," according to a statement published on X.
11:50 a.m. – Tehran: "At least 16 ships on fire after US-Israeli attacks."
At least 16 merchant ships caught fire in the Iranian port of Bandar Lengeh in the southern Persian Gulf after being hit during US and Israeli strikes today, according to port governor Foad Moradzadeh.
9:46 a.m. – Erdogan: "May God destroy Israel."
"May He, 'the Dominator' (Al-Kahrar), crush and destroy Israel," said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, using one of the names used in Islam to describe God: Kahrar, which can be translated as "the Dominator" or "he who subdues." As Anadolu reports, the Turkish leader made these remarks after Friday prayers at a mosque in Rize, the Black Sea town where his family is originally from. "May God protect us and preserve us as soon as possible from the Zionist calamity," Erdogan added in his speech.
9:20 a.m. – Pasdaran: "Our spokesman killed in US-Israeli attacks."
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said US and Israeli strikes killed their spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini. Naini "was martyred in the cowardly and criminal terrorist attack carried out by the US-Zionist side at dawn," the Guards said in a statement on their Sepah News website.
9:14 a.m. – Khamenei calls for creating insecurity for enemies
"The Ministry of Intelligence must continue on its path, creating insecurity for its enemies and security for Iranian citizens." This is according to a message attributed to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, in which he expressed his condolences to President Masoud Pezeshkian "for the martyrdom of Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib." The message, published on Mehr News, Iran's semi-official state-owned news agency, describes Khatib as "a tireless war veteran" who "has devoted great efforts to the cause of the Islamic Revolution."
9:10 a.m. – Erdogan: "Israel has killed thousands of people, and it will pay the price."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of killing thousands of people, adding that the Jewish state will pay the price. "This Zionist Israel has killed hundreds and thousands of people," the Turkish leader said last night during a ceremony marking the end of Ramadan, following prayers at a mosque in Rize, on the Black Sea coast. "I have no doubt it will pay the price," Erdogan added, as reported by Anadolu, emphasizing that "the Middle East is heated right now."
9:00 a.m. – Tajani: "We must reach an Iran-US agreement on Hormuz."
"We must tell Iran to stop attacking countries like the Gulf, which are our friends, our allies, and which have nothing to do with the attacks carried out by Israel and the United States. Both sides must understand that we must take a step forward," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Mattino5. Iran, he added, "must end its nuclear era—that is, the atomic bomb can no longer be part of the project—and must stop attacking countries that have nothing to do with the war, including Turkey, which is a NATO member, and Cyprus, which is a European Union member. The attempt to create chaos in the region is unacceptable on the part of an authoritarian regime. Yesterday, several terrorists from an Iranian cell were arrested in the Gulf, so this must be said. And I believe the Americans must understand that at a certain point, Iran must be forced to reach an agreement and find a solution for Hormuz."
8.45 am – IDF, raid in Syria
"In response to yesterday's events in which Druze civilians were attacked, the IDF struck a command center and weapons facilities at military compounds belonging to the Syrian regime in southern Syria," the IDF wrote on X. "The Israel Defense Forces will not tolerate any harm to the Druze population in Syria and will continue to operate to defend them," the post adds. "The Israel Defense Forces continues to monitor developments in southern Syria and will act in accordance with directives from political authorities."
8:20 a.m. - Sri Lanka: "We have rejected the US request to deploy two jets to the island."
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in early March that his country denied the United States permission to base two of its warplanes at an airfield in the south of the island. "They wanted to bring two warplanes armed with eight anti-ship missiles from a base in Djibouti to Mattala International Airport from March 4 to 8, and we said no," Dissanayake said.
8:05 AM – Heavy explosions in several Iranian cities overnight
Heavy explosions were reported in several Iranian cities overnight, Iran International reports. Initial reports indicate the explosions occurred in Bandar Lengeh and Isfahan, while in Yazd, authorities reported that two military sites on the outskirts of the city were targeted in the early hours of the morning. Explosions were also heard in Bardsir and Baft counties in Kerman province, and in Arak.
8:00 AM – Pasdaran: "We have no shortages in our missile stockpiles."
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said missile production continues despite the ongoing conflict, adding that there are no shortages in stockpiles. Iran International reports this. "Our missile industry earned top marks in 2025, and there is no reason to worry about this," said Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini, adding that production continues under wartime conditions and warning of "surprises" and more complex operations in the future.
7:20 AM - Lebanon: Israeli air raids in the south at dawn, many injured
Israel carried out airstrikes against cities in southern Lebanon, causing numerous injuries, state media reported Friday. "Enemy Israeli fighter jets struck at dawn, targeting the cities of Bafliyeh and Hanine in the districts of Tyre and Bint Jbeil," the official NNA news agency reported, adding that Israeli forces struck five other cities in the south of the country.
7:00 AM – Kuwait: Fire breaks out at a refinery after drone strikes
A fire broke out today at a refinery owned by Kuwait's national oil company following drone strikes, according to the country's official news agency. "The Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, owned by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC), was targeted early this morning by several hostile drone strikes that caused fires in some of its units," leading to the shutdown of several of them, according to the KNPC, following an attack on the same facility the previous day that had already caused a fire.
(Unioneonline)
