This live blog follows updates for Day 23 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 22, go here.

• The United States and Israel intensify strikes on Iran and allied forces
• Iran threatens to close Hormuz and target regional infrastructure in response
• Israel expands ground operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, signaling prolonged conflict
• Missile and drone attacks spread across the region, hitting multiple countries
• Tensions escalate as both sides warn of extended fighting and severe consequences

Netanyahu says spoke with Trump, vows to protect Israel's interests

Published March 23, 2026 | 19:57 GMT

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he spoke with Donald Trump, saying that the US president believed US-Israeli military gains in Iran could be converted into a negotiated agreement that protected Israel's interests.

"President Trump believes there is a chance to leverage the tremendous achievements of the IDF and the US military in order to realise the war's objectives in an agreement — an agreement that will safeguard our vital interests," Netanyahu said in a video statement.

"We will protect our vital interests under any circumstances," he said, adding: "At the same time, we continue to strike both in Iran and in Lebanon."

Trump announces 'very good' Iran talks, shelving power plant strikes

Published March 23, 2026 | 18:23 GMT

President Donald Trump announced "very good" talks on Monday with an unidentified Iranian official after abruptly shelving plans to attack the Islamic republic's power plants.

Explosions, sirens ring out in Bahrain: AFP journalist

Published March 23, 2026 | 17:25 GMT

Several strong explosions and air alert sirens rang out on Monday in Bahrain, according to an AFP journalist, the first to be heard in the Gulf since US President Donald Trump said talks to end the war with Iran were underway.

"Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," Bahrain's interior ministry said on social media.

Iran foreign ministry says got messages from 'friendly countries' about US request for talks 

Published March 23, 2026 | 17:03 GMT

Iran's foreign ministry said that it had received messages through "friendly countries" about a request from the United States for talks, but denied any such negotiations had taken place since the start of the war.

"Over the past few days, messages were received through some friendly countries indicating a US request for negotiations aimed at ending the war," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, according to the official IRNA news agency.

US energy chief calls oil market disruptions 'temporary'

Published March 23, 2026 | 16:08 GMT

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Monday that oil market disruptions are "temporary," as costs surge on the back of war in the Middle East, squeezing consumers.

Asked how markets have been reacting to supply disruptions, Wright said "markets do what markets do," adding that prices have surged to "send signals to everyone that can produce more -- please produce more."

Wright told the annual CERAWeek conference in Houston that "prices have not risen high enough yet to drive meaningful demand destruction."

He stressed that Washington has taken "pragmatic solutions" to ease sanctions on oil that is already being shipped, allowing them to enter the market.

"But these are mitigants of a situation that's temporary," he stressed.

UAE oil giant chief says targeting Hormuz is 'economic terrorism'

Published March 23, 2026 | 15:44 GMT

The chief of the UAE state energy company ADNOC slammed Tehran's actions to effectively blockade the Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli strikes - a move that squeezed supplies and caused a surge in oil prices.

"Weaponizing the Strait of Hormuz is not an act of aggression against one nation," Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said in virtual remarks to the CERAWeek conference in Houston.

"It's economic terrorism against every nation. And no country should be allowed to hold Hormuz hostage," he added.

Iranian media says no negotiations with US after Trump announcement

Published March 23, 2026 | 12:38 GMT

Iranian media said on Monday there were no negotiations between Tehran and Washington after US President Donald Trump announced talks towards ending the war.

"There are no talks between Tehran and Washington," said Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency, citing Iran's foreign ministry, adding that Trump's statements were part of a push "to reduce energy prices".

Trump says postponing Iran power plant strikes after 'very good' talks

Published March 23, 2026 | 11:20 GMT

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he had ordered a halt to his threatened strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure after "very good and productive talks" with Tehran, and that negotiations are set to continue this week.

The United States and Iran "have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East," Trump wrote, in all capitals, early Monday on his Truth Social platform.

"Based on the tenor and tone" of the talks, "which will continue throughout the week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings," he added.

Russia calls for 'political and diplomatic' settlement after Trump's Iran ultimatum

Published March 23, 2026 | 10:51 GMT

Russia on Monday called for "political and diplomatic" settlement to the Middle East war after US President Donald Trump's ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"We believe that the situation should have transitioned to a political and diplomatic settlement," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists at a briefing.

"This is the only thing that can effectively contribute to defusing the catastrophically tense situation that has now developed in the region," Peskov said.

Iran threatens to deploy 'naval mines' in Gulf if US, Israel attack its coasts, islands

Published March 23, 2026 | 09:47 GMT

Iran on Monday threatened to deploy "naval mines" in the Gulf if the United States and Israel were to attack any of its coasts or islands.

"Any attempt by the enemy to attack Iranian coasts or islands will naturally, and in accordance with established military practice, lead to all access routes and communication lines in the Persian Gulf and coastal areas being mined with various types of naval mines, including drifting mines deployable from the coasts," said the country's defence council in a statement carried by state media.

Israel army confirms own artillery fire killed civilian on northern border Sunday

Published March 23, 2026 | 09:20 GMT

The Israeli military on Monday said its own artillery fire killed an Israeli civilian a day earlier near the northern border with Lebanon, where its forces are fighting Hezbollah.

After opening an investigation, the military said, "the initial findings suggest that the Israeli civilian was killed by IDF artillery fire conducted to support IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon".

"Several severe issues and operational errors took place during the incident, including both the planning and execution of the fire," it added.

European stocks slide further at open on Mideast war

Published March 23, 2026 | 08:34 GMT

European stock markets extended heavy losses at the start of trading on Monday following sharp falls for Asian equities as oil prices jumped on the escalating Middle East war.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 1.4 percent, Paris lost 1.7 percent and Frankfurt tumbled 2.0 percent. 

China warns of 'uncontrollable situation' in Mideast after Trump threats

Published March 23, 2026 | 08:00 GMT

China warned on Monday that further attacks on the Middle East risk creating an "uncontrollable situation" in the war-torn region, after US President Donald Trump threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants.

"If the war expands further and the situation deteriorates again, the entire region could be plunged into an uncontrollable situation," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news conference, when asked about Trump's threats.

Japan 'not thinking about' discussing Hormuz passage with Iran

Published March 23, 2026 | 07:40 GMT

Tokyo is "not thinking about" calling on Iran to let Japanese tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, the foreign minister has said, after Tehran said it was ready to help.

Japan depends on crude oil imports from the Middle East, most of which transits the strait, located in the Gulf.

Iran has effectively closed the strait in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, sending countries reliant on the shipping lane scrambling for alternative routes and tapping reserves.

Asked about whether the government would urge Iran to let Japanese ships transit Hormuz, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Sunday on a Fuji Television programme that "for the time being, we are not thinking about that".

His comment came after Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in a telephone interview with Kyodo News Friday that Tehran was prepared to ensure safe passage for Japan.

"They only need to contact us so we can discuss how this transit can take place," Araghchi added.

Iran military spokesman taunts US president

Published March 23, 2026 | 06:37 GMT

Iran’s Khatam al Anbiya central headquarters spkesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari, issued a new statement taunting Trump as the US president’s deadline for the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz draws near.

“Hey Trump, YOU’RE FIRED! You’re familiar with this sentence. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Zolfaghari said in a video clip in English.

Israel's army say intercepting missiles from Iran

Published March 23, 2026 | 05:35 GMT

Israel's military said on Monday morning it was working to intercept missiles fired from Iran, and urged people to take cover.

"A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel," Israel's military posted on Telegram, using the official acronym for the country's armed forces. "Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat."

Iran media says one dead in attack on broadcaster in coastal region

Published March 23, 2026 | 04:37 GMT

A strike on a broadcast station in southern Iran killed at least one person, state television reported on Monday.

"The 100-kilowatt AM transmitter of the Persian Gulf Radio and Television Centre was attacked by the American-Zionist terrorist army," the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting reported.

"In this attack, which was against international laws, one of the centre's security colleagues was martyred and another person was injured."

Gulf countries targeted in fresh attacks

Published March 23, 2026 | 03:45 GMT

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reported coming under fresh attacks on Monday morning, with explosions and sirens sounding over the oil-rich Gulf.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense said it had detected two incoming ballistic missiles targeting the capital on Monday, "one of which was intercepted and the other fell in an uninhabited area".

The UAE defence ministry said it was "currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran", explaining "the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones".

Hours earlier, Abu Dhabi authorities reported an Indian national had been wounded by falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile.

And sirens were sounding in Bahrain, with residents instructed to seek shelter.

Israel army says launched 'wide-scale wave of strikes' in Tehran

Published March 23, 2026 | 02:35 GMT

Israel's military said it launched a "wide-scale wave" of strikes on the Iranian capital early Monday morning.

"The IDF has begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure in Tehran," the Israeli military posted on Telegram using its official acronym.

Blasts heard in Tehran: Iran media reports

Published March 23, 2026 | 01:47 GMT

Iranian news agencies reported explosions in capital Tehran early Monday morning, with Fars saying airstrikes had occurred in multiple locations.

"Explosion heard in Tehran," local media Mehr posted on Telegram.

Fars reported that "airstrikes targeted areas of Tehran", specifying five areas and that "terrible sounds of explosions have been reported".

IEA chief says at least 40 energy assets 'severely' damaged in Mideast war

Published March 23, 2026 | 01:04 GMT

The head of the International Energy Agency said Monday that at least forty energy assets had been "severely or very severely" damaged in the Middle East due to the war in the region.

"At least forty... energy assets in the region are severely or very severely damaged across nine countries," Fatih Birol told the National Press Club in Australia's capital.

Global economy under 'major threat' from Strait of Hormuz crisis: IEA chief

Published March 23, 2026 | 00:24 GMT

The global economy is under "major threat" from the energy crisis caused by the war in the Middle East, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said Monday, warning that "no country will be immune" to its effects.

"The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible," Birol told the National Press Club in Australia's capital.

"No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. So there is a need for global efforts," he said.

WTI crude oil prices up following Trump ultimatum on Iran

Published March 23, 2026 | 00:15 GMT

Benchmark US oil contract WTI was up Monday after US President Donald Trump gave Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz or face decimation of its energy infrastructure and Israel warned the war would continue for several more weeks.

At 0015 GMT, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was up 0.44% to $98.66 per barrel. It had climbed to just over $100 a barrel earlier Monday.

Iran awaits Trump threat to blow up power plants

Published March 23, 2026 | 00:12 GMT

Iran faces a deadline by President Donald Trump to open up the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face a major US assault on power plants, as Israel warned of weeks more of war.

Trump on Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if it did not, within 48 hours, end its partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway into the Gulf through which one-fifth of the world's oil flows.

The deadline, based on the time of his social media posting, would be 23:44 GMT, early morning Tuesday in Iran and Monday evening in Washington.

Iran's military command responded defiantly, saying that if Trump goes ahead, it would strike Israel's "power plants, energy and information and communications technology infrastructure," along with power plants in regional countries hosting US bases and companies with American shareholders.

"If the United States' threats regarding Iran's power plants are carried out... the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed, and it will not be reopened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt," a process that could take years, the operational command warned.