No evidence of 'great progress' in US-Iran talkspublished at 14:50 BST

14:50 BST

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

Wars are unpredictable but there is still no proof of the “great progress” President Trump says the US is making in what is, so far, only indirect messaging with Tehran.

Iran has not formally replied to the 15-point plan shared with them by Pakistan. But leaked copies underscore it is tantamount to a surrender document.

Distrust runs very deep after the last two rounds of mainly indirect diplomacy, in February, and June last year, were shattered by US-Israeli air strikes.

Iran is making it clear it no longer wants to work through that channel, led by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, which it now sees as subterfuge.

That's why there's a lot of talk about US Vice-president JD Vance stepping in.

Official sources in the region say there is still no agreement to hold talks - no movement in closing very wide gaps. Trump’s description of a "new and more reasonable" regime is also belied by a system now militarised and dominated by hardliners who replaced assassinated clerics and commanders.

As the US moves toward possible escalation, that is Iran's main emphasis too.

Image source, EPA

Spain's government says its airspace is closed to US planes involved in attacks on Iran.

Defence Minister Margarita Robles tells reporters the government refused to "authorise either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war".

The ban on the use of military bases was announced in early March, prompting an angry reaction at the time from US President Donald Trump, who threatened trade retaliation against Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described the US and Israeli attack on Iran as reckless and illegal.

Hundreds of US Special Forces personnel - including elite Navy Seals and Army Rangers - are now in the Middle East, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News.

Thousands of US marines and paratroopers are also in the region, CBS reports.

Sources tell CBS the deployments are intended to give Donald Trump alternative options in Iran, including operations that could involve opening the Strait of Hormuz, taking oil from Kharg Island or seizing Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.

US Central Command (Centcom) declined to comment on this development.

On Saturday, Centcom said 3,500 sailors and marines had arrived aboard USS Tripoli in the Middle East.

Image source, Reuters

In an interview with Fox News on Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the global oil market is well supplied "and we want to get back to the normal".

"The market is in deficit 10 to 12 million barrels a day, and we're making up for that deficit."

He says there will be freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, "whether it is through US escorts or a multinational escort".

You can see the situation in the Strait of Hormuz in our previous post.

Hormuz ship transits continue at sluggish pacepublished at 14:07 BST

14:07 BST

Image source, MarineTraffic

By Joshua Cheetham

Just three ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz today, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler.

Before the US-Israel war with Iran began, almost 140 commercial ships passed through the strait each day, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre.

All three ships broadcast they had "Chinese owner and crew" according to their publicly-available position broadcasts - showing some vessels are signalling their links to China in an attempt to pass safely.

Two of the vessels seen on tracking sites today are container ships owned by China Shipping Container Lines. The third is a bulk carrier owned by Pole Star Shipping Line.

The government in Tehran has effectively closed the narrow Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war Iran, leading to spiking oil prices and concerns over the supply of some commodities.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to allow some ships to sail through the strait. But it’s unclear which ships these are, who owns them, or where their cargoes are heading.

Diesel prices in the UK have reached their highest level since December 2022, while petrol has also hit a 28-month high.

Average petrol prices are now 152 pence a litre, with diesel at 181.2 pence.

RAC policy chief Simon Williams tells the BBC it now costs £10.55 more to fill up a typical petrol family car than it did at the start of the Iran conflict. For diesel cars, owners are paying £21.35 more.

The war in Iran and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed global fuel costs up sharply - with some countries bringing in measures to cut usage. Sri Lanka has introduced fuel rationing, while two Australian states have made public transport free to encourage people not to drive.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has struck the Iranian Imam Hossein University in recent days.

In an update, the IDF says the university contained Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) infrastructure, and that research and development for weaponry was carried out there.

This comes after earlier strikes on the campus - on 7 March, the IDF gave a similar update saying it had struck the university.

The university is in Tehran and is affiliated with the IRGC.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

It’s still very difficult to reach people inside Iran because of the government-imposed internet outage. Some manage to connect using Starlink satellites and other methods - but using or even possessing Starlink can lead to up to two years in prison in Iran.

I’ve been asking some of them what they think about Donald Trump talking about the possibility of seizing Kharg Island.

A man in his 30s who has visited the island before tells me: “Obviously I will not be happy, but I want to see what the Islamic Republic will do.

"They have been saying for years that they have a powerful navy, and I am sceptical.

"I think the US wants to put economic pressure on the regime by doing this.”

A woman in her 20s who wants the war to end says: “I am very worried and anxious about it. The most important thing is that it is part of Iran’s soil. I think it is going to put a lot of pressure on ordinary people if it happens.”

• BBC Persian is the Persian language service of BBC News, used by 24 million people around the world - the majority in Iran - despite being blocked and routinely jammed by Iranian authorities

Image source, Getty Images

US

US President Donald Trump says Washington is in "serious discussions" with a "new and more reasonable [Iranian] regime" to bring an end to military operations in Iran.

But he also warns that if a deal is not reached soon, the US will target electricity-generating plants, oil wells and Kharg Island.

Iran

Four days after Israeli forces said they had targeted Iran's naval commander Alireza Tangsiri, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed that Tangsiri was killed.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called Tangsiri "courageous". His funeral will be held tomorrow morning, according to Iranian state media.

Lebanon

Israel has launched air strikes in south Beirut, saying it was targeting Hezbollah's infrastructure. Pictures show destroyed buildings and debris, as rescue workers search for people in the affected area.

Israel

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier was killed while fighting in southern Lebanon on Sunday, the Israeli military says.

Iran launched missiles at northern Israel. The Israeli fire service says an industrial building and a fuel tanker in Haifa were hit by debris from an intercepted missile aimed at the Bazan oil refinery.

Image source, EPA

As we've reported, Donald Trump now says that "if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately 'Open for Business'", the US will be "blowing up and completely obliterating" assets including electricity and oil plants.

This isn't the first time he's posted something similar - the US president has been updating his deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz in various Truth Social posts. Here's a timeline:

21 March: Trump said he would "hit and obliterate [Iran's] various power plants, starting with the biggest ones first" if Iran didn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

23 March: He then said the two countries had had "very good and productive conversations". He said he would "postpone any and all military strikes against power plants and energy infrastructure" for five days.

26 March: Trump said he would extend this pause to 10 days, in response to what he called a request from the Iranian government, bringing the deadline to 6 April.

Today, he says the US is in "serious discussions" with a new Iranian regime which he says could "end our military operations in Iran". But if a deal is not "shortly reached", Trump says, the US will "conclude our lovely 'stay'".

The UAE says it has intercepted 11 missiles and 27 drones in the past 24 hours, according to its Ministry of Defence.

The ministry says it has engaged 1,941 drones and 440 missiles since the war began.

In a statement on social media, it adds that 178 people have been injured in attacks so far, with eight fatalities.

Meanwhile, Bahrain's Defence Force says it has intercepted eight missiles and seven drones in the past 24 hours - bringing its total to 182 missiles and 398 drones.

Since the start of the war, Iran has been targeting neighbouring countries where the US has a presence, in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Image source, Getty Images

We've just brought you the latest comments from Donald Trump, who says the US is in "serious discussions" with a "new and more reasonable" Iranian regime.

Earlier today, a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said the points conveyed regarding US demands from Iran to end the war have been “excessive and unreasonable”.

According to the report of his remarks by Iranian outlets, Esmail Baghaei says that Tehran has had “no direct negotiations with the US” and also that what has been discussed so far has been “messages through intermediaries about the US’s intention to negotiate”.

He says that Pakistan's meetings are within a framework “they themselves have established”, and Iran has “not participated”.

Baghaei has also accused the US of “constantly” shifting its position. “I do not know how many in the United States take the claim of American diplomacy seriously,” Baghaei said.

Image source, Reuters

Donald Trump says the US is in "serious discussions" with a new Iranian regime which the president says could "end our military operations in Iran".

In a post on Truth Social, Trump writes: "The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran.

"Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately 'Open for Business,' we will conclude our lovely 'stay' in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet 'touched'.

"This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year 'Reign of Terror'."

Kharg Island – is it a bluff?published at 12:20 BST

12:20 BST

Frank Gardner
Security correspondent

There has been so much noise made about a possible US ground assault on this island of Iran’s in the northern Gulf that you have to wonder if it’s all part of a cunning deception plan.

There is no doubting its strategic value to Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). They rely on it for 90% of their oil revenues and although Iran claims it has other means of getting its oil to its customers, losing control of Kharg would be a definite blow.

But, there are other islands in the Gulf that could also be in America’s sights.

These include tiny Larak Island, just offshore from the key port of Bandar Abbas, which sits right on the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran is currently making all tanker traffic pass by this island for checking and reportedly being forced to pay $2m per vessel.

Then there is Qeshm, a vast island where Iran is suspected of housing underground missile and drone sites.

And there are three islands, Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, whose ownership is disputed between Iran and the UAE but all are occupied by Iran.

Taken together, Iran’s Gulf islands form a protective shield that can threaten shipping and giving it a geographical advantage.

Image source, Reuters

We can now bring you more on the fire at an oil refinery in the Israeli city of Haifa.

Israel's Fire and Rescue Service says an industrial building and a fuel tanker were hit by debris from an intercepted missile at the Bazan oil refinery on Monday.

In a statement earlier this morning, the fire service said no casualties were reported and firefighters were working to prevent the fire from spreading to additional areas while also searching for trapped individuals, Reuters reports.

It's not known where the missiles were fired from but Israel has been under regular attack from Iran and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon since the war began.

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

The businesses invited to meet the prime minister at Downing Street this afternoon displays the breadth of the economic impact of the war with Iran: energy companies including Shell and BP, the Lloyds insurance market, banking companies including Goldman Sachs and HSBC.

This is not an emergency meeting. Do not expect new government policy to emerge afterwards.

Instead it is an opportunity for the government to hear from these businesses about how they are affected, and for the businesses to hear the government’s perspective.

A senior naval officer will brief those present on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

We are told that Starmer will reiterate his view that de-escalation is the best way forward. As he knows, that is not something that those around the table this afternoon can influence.

It feels highly likely, perhaps inevitable, that at some point in the coming weeks and months the government will begin to take measures to alleviate the cost of living here in the UK.

Last week Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, outlined the principles she would apply to any bailout for household energy bills: a targeted scheme rather than a universal one like the Conservative package of 2022.

Additionally, Starmer has suggested that the government is reviewing the planned increase in fuel duty this autumn. It’s hard to find anybody who thinks that will now proceed as planned.

But the government is still for now taking its time and waiting to see how the conflict develops before getting into any more detail.

Image source, PA Media

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted UK troops will not be on the ground in Iran.

Asked by reporters this morning if he was considering deploying British troops to war in the Middle East, Starmer says: "This is not our war and we're not going to get drawn into it."

The PM went on to defend his stance throughout the conflict, saying the UK is taking "defensive action" to defend "British lives, British interests and, of course, our allies in the region".

Starmer says the UK will continue to defend its interests and work to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, but adds: "We are not going to get dragged into this war."

Archie Mitchell
Business reporter

Investors appear to be waiting to see which way President Trump will take the conflict in Iran, with European stock markets flat on Monday morning and Brent crude oil hanging around $115 per barrel.

That is a jump from the closing price of Brent crude on Friday, but still below a peak on 18 March of $119.50.

London’s FTSE 100 was up slightly on Monday morning, by 0.5%, while France’s CAC 40 was flat and Germany’s DAX index was 0.2% lower.

Stocks in Asia had suffered sharp drops on Monday morning after Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen joined the conflict by striking Israel over the weekend.

These are some of the latest images coming to us from Beirut following Israeli strikes.

Earlier this morning, the Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah's infrastructure in the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs.

Lebanese health officials say more than 1,100 people have been killed since the escalation began.

On Saturday, the BBC spoke to the mum of an 11-year-old boy who was killed in an Israeli air strike.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Iran's state broadcaster says Iranian missiles have hit an industrial area in northern Israel.

Footage aired on Israeli television and on Iranian social media appears to show smoke rising from an oil refinery in Haifa, which has been targeted previously in the conflict.

The Israel Fire Service says a fuel tanker at the refinery was hit by debris from an intercepted missile, Reuters reports.