A weeks-long ground operation consisting of targeted strikes, not a full-scale invasion. The Pentagon is fine-tuning plans for the next phase of the war in Iran should Donald Trump decide to escalate. Iran has declared itself ready to confront the Americans on the ground and has challenged them: "We are waiting for them, we will set them on fire," threatens the powerful head of Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
For now, the commander-in-chief appears to favor the diplomatic option and has set his new ultimatum for April 6 before striking Iranian power plants. Consultations between negotiators from Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia have begun in Islamabad, focusing primarily on proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran reportedly requested control of in its response to the United States' 15-point peace plan. According to reports collected by Reuters, Egypt is considering the possibility of imposing tariffs in the Strait similar to those on the Suez Canal.
Türkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, for their part, could form a consortium to manage the passage of oil flows through Hormuz, a proposal that has reportedly been discussed with the US and Iran.
Live broadcast on March 30, 2026
1:50 PM – Trump: "Great progress with Iran, but without a deal, we will destroy Kharg."
"The United States is in serious discussions with the new, more reasonable Iranian regime to end its military operations. Great progress has been made, but if for any reason an agreement is not reached and the Strait of Hormuz is not opened immediately, we will end our stay in Iran by completely destroying their power plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island (possibly including their desalination plants)." This is what Donald Trump said on his social media account.
1:40 PM – Tehran: "We are considering withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."
The question of a possible withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is being raised in Iran. Foreign Minister Esmail Baghai made the announcement following a month of tensions with Israel and the United States. "The Islamic Republic has never sought and does not intend to acquire nuclear weapons," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai reiterated during his weekly press conference. However, "despite our clear position on the prohibition of all weapons of mass destruction, accession to this treaty is generating heated debate among the public and in parliament," he added.
1:20 PM – Starmer to Trump: "We won't get dragged into war against Iran."
"This is not our war, and we will not be dragged into it." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated this, reiterating his position on the conflict in the Middle East and the pressure, combined with strong criticism, from US President Donald Trump regarding London's belated and limited support for US military operations. "My position and that of this government will not change, regardless of the pressure on us," Sir Keir added, speaking at an event in the West Midlands dedicated to the launch of Labour's election campaign ahead of the May 7 local elections, in which the prime minister risks a heavy defeat, with possible direct repercussions for his leadership crisis.
1:00 PM – Tehran: "Is Beirut kicking out our ambassador? He'll stay there."
Iran has said its ambassador to Lebanon will remain in the country despite being declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country . "Our ambassador will continue to carry out his duties as Iranian ambassador to Beirut and will remain present there," Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a weekly press conference, adding that the embassy in Beirut remains "operational."
11:50 a.m. – Iran: "US proposals are unreasonable, no direct contact with Washington."
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei called the US proposals, which are structured into 15 points, "excessive and unreasonable." According to the London-based Iranian dissident broadcaster Iran International, Baghaei said there had been no direct contact with the United States, and messages received from Washington had come through intermediaries, including Pakistan. The official added that Iran's position on the issues under discussion was clear and that Tehran remained focused on its own framework.
9:55 a.m. – Madrid: "Airspace closed to avoid contributing to the illegal war in Iran."
Spain has not only denied the use of the Rota and Moron military bases, but has also closed its airspace to aircraft involved in the military operation against Iran, signaling its clear distancing from the intervention of the United States and Israel. The ban applies not only to aircraft directly involved in the bombing, but also to support aircraft, such as air-to-air refueling tankers, including those deployed in third countries, according to military and government sources reported today by El Pais.
8 a.m. – Trump: "Good negotiations with Iran today, we're negotiating directly and indirectly."
"We are negotiating directly and indirectly with Iran," Donald Trump said aboard Air Force One, according to Bloomberg. "Today," he added, "we had good negotiations with Iran." The US president wants to take Iran's oil and could seize the export hub on Kharg Island. In an interview with the Financial Times, he explained that his "preference would be to take the oil," comparing the potential move to what happened in Venezuela after the United States intended to control the oil industry "indefinitely." " We could take Kharg or we could not take it. We have a lot of options ," he added, specifying that, in his opinion, the United States could do so "very easily. I don't think they have any defenses."
7 a.m. – WSJ: "Trump is considering a military mission to recover uranium from Iran."
Donald Trump is considering a military operation to recover more than 450 kilograms of uranium from Iran. A complex mission that would require American forces to operate inside the country for days or longer, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources who say the president has not yet decided. Trump is aware of the risks such an operation entails but remains open to the idea. The president and some of his allies have privately said that it would be possible to seize the uranium with a targeted operation that would not prolong the war, which is expected to be over by mid-April.
(Unioneonline)
