Iran

The Hill - A senior Iranian official disputed Trump’s claim that there are negotiations between the two countries, arguing Trump has “backed down” due to pressure from the markets and allies.

“Trump backed down from attacking critical infrastructure as Iran’s military threats became credible. Financial market pressure and the threat of bonds within the U.S. and the West have increased, and this has been another important factor in this retreat,” the senior official told Iran’s Fars News Agency in translated remarks.

Trump then clarified: The president said he has not been in contact with Iran’s supreme leader, arguing his top envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner have been speaking with their Iranian diplomatic counterparts.

Newsweek -    The U.S. Department of State has issued a worldwide alert on March 22, 2026, urging Americans across the globe to exercise increased caution as geopolitical tensions continue to ripple far beyond the Middle East. The advisory, posted early Sunday, warns that U.S. diplomatic facilities and American interests abroad could face elevated risks in the coming weeks.

While this advisory does not cite a specific imminent threat, it highlights growing concern that groups supportive of Iran may widen the scope of their targets. These groups could focus on locations associated broadly with the United States, including American businesses, cultural centers, or areas frequented by U.S. travelers.

NPR - President Trump says he’s postponed military strikes against Iranian power plants, after he threatened on Saturday to “obliterate” them if Iran didn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours. On social media this morning, Trump said the U.S. had “very good and productive conversations” over the past two days, and that he would postpone strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, “subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.”

Iran’s Defense Council said Monday that the only way for “non-belligerent” countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz is through coordination with Iran, and warned that any attack on Iran’s coasts or islands would trigger mine-laying across the Gulf sea lanes. As the war enters its fourth week and attacks escalate, some Iranians tell NPR’s Emily Feng that the internet blackout is really scary because they cannot receive warnings about where the next strikes will be.