President Trump says the US could withdraw from the Iran war within two to three weeks without a deal. Iranian FM Araghchi said he does not believe in dialogue.
Published April 1, 2026
US President Donald Trump has said Iran does not need a deal to end the war, adding that the conflict could be over in two to three weeks, but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he did not trust talks with the US.
Iranian media and officials said U.S. and Israeli attacks continued across the country, including on pharmaceutical companies and steel factories in Isfahan and Farokshahr.
Israeli attacks continue in Lebanon, with Israel’s Defense Minister Katz saying homes in the south will be demolished and hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese will not be allowed to return.
in iran
Continued attacks: According to Iranian state media and the Red Crescent, US and Israeli airstrikes continue across the country, targeting industrial and civilian facilities, including steel mills, pharmaceutical facilities, port infrastructure, meteorological facilities, and residential complexes. Iranian media reported explosions in cities including Ahvaz, Shiraz, Isfahan, Qarazi, Kermanshah and Bandar Abbas. Iranian officials said the US-Israeli military bombed Tehran’s Tofi Dar Pharmaceutical Raw Materials Department, destroying the research and development department and dealing a “blow to the national medical supply chain.” Ahmad Nafisi, a senior official in Iran’s Hormozgan province, said on Wednesday that enemy warplanes bombed the Shahid Haqqani passenger pier in the city of Bandar Abbas. He condemned the “criminal” attack on civilian infrastructure, saying no one was killed or injured. Seawater desalination plant damaged: Iranian media reported that a seawater desalination plant on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz was destroyed in a strike and is currently shut down. Iran’s diplomatic stance: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that messages had been exchanged with Washington and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, but there were no negotiations and that the Iranian government had “zero” confidence in the US. ‘It’s not that easy’ for Trump to leave the war: Analyst Trita Parsi said it was unlikely that the war would end soon or that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen soon, adding that Iran would likely continue to control and attack the waterway and that it would be ‘not that easy’ for Trump to leave the conflict. More than 2,000 Iranians were killed and thousands of civilian facilities, including hospitals, schools, universities, and pharmaceutical factories, were attacked by Israel and the United States. Targeting civilian facilities is considered a war crime.
war diplomacy
NATO allies withdraw support: Spain, France, and Italy are restricting U.S. military operations, closing airspace, denying access to bases, and restricting logistics support. China seeks ceasefire: China and Pakistan have proposed a five-point plan, including a ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as Beijing steps up diplomatic efforts. Regional diplomacy: Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks about the Iran war amid efforts to restore stability in the Middle East. International designation: Argentina, under pro-Trump President Javier Milei, has officially designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist” organization. Vatican urges détente: Pope Leo Mr. Leo rarely appeals directly to national leaders, but in recent weeks he has stepped up his criticism of the Iran war.
on the bay
Kuwait under threat: Iranian drone attacks have repeatedly targeted Kuwait’s airports, the airspace has been closed since February 28, and Saudi Arabia is providing buses to the airports in Dammam and Qaisma. Air raid sirens in Bahrain: Warning sirens sounded multiple times and authorities urged residents to remain calm and move to nearby safety. Saudi Arabia intercepts drones: The Ministry of Defense says it has destroyed two more drones in a wave of missile and drone attacks since the war began. ‘Unknown projectile’ hits tanker off the coast of Qatar: A vessel was damaged north of Doha, but all crew members were safe and there was no environmental impact, Britain’s Maritime Trade Affairs Agency said.
in the US
US war timetable: President Trump said the war could be over in “two to three weeks” and no deal was needed, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US was “negotiating bombs” and warned the next few days would be decisive. Economic Impact: The war and its uncertainties have led to high oil prices and instability in global energy markets. U.S. Sen. Chris Coons said the war has increased the cost of groceries, utilities and mortgages for American households.
in israel
Attacks inside Israel: Iran and Hezbollah continue to carry out coordinated attacks targeting key infrastructure and northern cities, causing power outages, as the state of emergency continues and Israelis prepare for the Passover holiday. Channel 12 broadcaster announced on Wednesday that a drone had entered the sky over the city of Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel. The intrusion triggered an alert in the Safad area and a search for the drone continued. Channel 12 also reported that “loud explosions” and “multiple crash sites” were reported in central Israel after the Iranian missile launch. The attack, which triggered alarm in the areas of Gashdan, Sharon and Samaria (Occupied West Bank), has ended, it said. It added that there were no reports of casualties. According to Channel 12, Israeli forces intercepted a missile fired from Yemen toward southern Israel, but no casualties were reported from the incident. The Israeli military claims that “more than 800 air force attack flights were carried out inside Iran, and approximately 16,000 rounds of ammunition were dropped.” Israel’s war stance: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran’s regional allies no longer pose an “existential threat” but that Israel intends to continue its war and attack on Lebanon. Israel, ‘the elephant in the room’: Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Val said that while Iran may see the US withdrawal as a victory, Israel’s ongoing war in Lebanon and Tehran’s support for its allies could prolong the conflict.
in Lebanon and Iraq
REGIONAL THREAT: Iraqi militant group Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada has warned that the conflict will escalate into “all-out war” if US forces use Kuwaiti territory to launch a ground invasion of Iran. Israeli operations in Lebanon: Israel is pursuing a ground invasion and heavy artillery bombardment, has ordered mass evacuations and has plans for “safe zones,” with officials saying some areas could be occupied after the war. Rising casualties and displacement: Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,200 people and displaced 1.2 million people in Lebanon since March 2.
