President Donald Trump stated Friday (March 20, 2026) that america was contemplating “winding down” navy operations in opposition to Iran however was not looking for a ceasefire with the Islamic republic.
Iran’s new supreme chief Mojtaba Khamenei in the meantime claimed in a message to mark the primary day of the Persian New 12 months to have delivered a “dizzying blow” to enemies within the three-week-old West Asia struggle.
Iran-Israel struggle updates on March 20, 2026
Contemporary blasts hit Tehran on Friday (March 20, 2026) and Israel accused Iran of attacking holy websites in Jerusalem after a strike left a crater within the Previous Metropolis close to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
On Wall Avenue, shares ended sharply decrease after oil costs shot up on fears that prolonged provide disruptions might result in a worldwide financial downturn.
All three main indices had been firmly within the crimson, with the broad-based S&P 500 down 1.5% and the value of Brent crude, the worldwide benchmark, rising 3.3 p.c to $112.19 per barrel.
Turkey lashed out at Israel in the meantime for putting Syrian military camps in southern Syria, calling it a “harmful escalation” and urging the worldwide group to intervene.
Syria has thus far averted being dragged into the regional struggle that started on February 28 when Israel and america started putting Iran, which has hit again by firing ballistic missiles and drones at nations throughout the area.
Lebanon has additionally been focused by Israeli airstrikes in opposition to Iranian ally Hezbollah which have left greater than 1,000 individuals useless in keeping with the Lebanese well being ministry.
‘We have now received’
Mr. Trump, in a publish on Fact Social, stated america was “getting very near assembly our aims as we think about winding down our nice Navy efforts within the Center East”.
The social media publish was the strongest indication but from the US president that he could also be ready to quickly finish hostilities.
It got here shortly after Mr. Trump instructed reporters on the White Home that he was not in search of a truce.
“I feel we now have received,” Mr. Trump stated. “I do not wish to do a ceasefire. You understand you do not do a ceasefire once you’re actually obliterating the opposite aspect.”
In his publish, Mr. Trump stated different nations should take accountability for securing the Strait of Hormuz delivery lane, which has successfully been blockaded by Iran and which sees a fifth of world crude oil and liquefied pure fuel move via it in peacetime.
“The Hormuz Strait should be guarded and policed, as essential, by different Nations who use it — The US doesn’t!” he stated. “If requested, we’ll assist these International locations of their Hormuz efforts, however it should not be essential as soon as Iran’s menace is eradicated.”
Mr. Trump additionally stated america needs to speak to Iran however “there’s no person to speak to” due to the killing of Iran’s former supreme chief and different prime officers.
Iran’s new supreme chief has not appeared in public since being named to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei.
In a written assertion to mark Nowruz, the Persian New 12 months, Mojtaba Khamenei stated Iranians have “dealt him [the enemy] a dizzying blow in order that he now begins uttering contradictory phrases and nonsense”.
“For the time being, because of the explicit unity that has been created between you our compatriots — regardless of all of the variations in non secular, mental, cultural and political origins — the enemy has been defeated,” Mr. Khamenei stated.
The assertion of defiance got here as Iranians marked a muted Nowruz punctuated by the sound of loud blasts in japanese and northern Tehran.
Customers had been out in power shopping for new garments and items, though pavements had been much less packed than normal for this time of 12 months, with many individuals having fled north.
Gulf nations focused
Mr. Trump has repeatedly stated he doesn’t plan to ship U.S. floor troops into fight with Iran, however The Wall Avenue Journal reported on Friday (March 20, 2026) that a further 2,200-2,500 U.S. Marines had been headed to the area.
Mr. Trump wouldn’t verify a report by the Axios information outlet that he was contemplating an occupation or blockade of Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub to strain Tehran to reopen the strait.
“I could have a plan or I could not,” Mr. Trump stated when requested by an AFP reporter.
U.S. forces hit Kharg with strikes that Mr. Trump stated had “completely obliterated” all navy targets on the island, however Washington has thus far averted hitting its oil infrastructure.
In Jerusalem, the Israeli navy blamed “Iranian missile fragments” for a blast that hit the Previous Metropolis. It was not instantly clear if the missile had been intercepted or what its meant goal was.
Iranian assaults continued in the meantime on vitality infrastructure within the Gulf.
On Friday (March 20, 2026), drone assaults hit Kuwait’s large Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, inflicting a fireplace that was later introduced beneath management, a day after a direct hit on Qatar’s important Ras Laffan pure fuel facility.
The assault induced “intensive harm” that Qatar’s state vitality firm stated might value $20 billion a 12 months in misplaced income and take 5 years to restore.
That might result in excessive vitality costs worldwide that outlast the battle, growing inflation and reducing financial development.
Printed – March 21, 2026 04:38 am IST