Trump pauses Iran strikes for two weeks to negotiate 10-point peace deal

Click here to follow the latest updates about the ceasefire agreement with Iran.

This is an excerpt from an opinion article by Steve Forbes.

The West has a bad habit of mistaking fanaticism for grievance and terror for "complexity." It is a perverse mindset that can lead to deadly outcomes.

Nowhere has that delusion been more dangerous than with Iran. For nearly half a century, polite opinion has insisted that the regime in Tehran can somehow be moderated, accommodated, or reasoned into good behavior. Nonsense. Iran’s rulers are not misunderstood pragmatists. They are revolutionary theocrats who have built their state on repression at home and terror abroad.

The nuclear threat alone should end the argument. In its February 2026 report, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had nearly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium that is but a small step from nuclear weapons-grade purity. That should have set off alarms in every capital of the free world. This is not fuel for peaceful commerce. Iran is the only non-nuclear-weapons state producing and stockpiling uranium at this level. That is not normal behavior. It is a giant warning siren.

Then there is delivery power. The Center for Strategic and International Studies points out that Iran possesses the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Mideast, including thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles. It has also poured resources into manufacturing drones by the thousands, both for direct use and for proxy warfare. Put plainly: a regime nearing nuclear-weapons capability is simultaneously building the means to intimidate neighbors, overwhelm defenses, and menace U.S. interests and allies across an already fragile region. This is not just an Israeli problem. It is a Middle East problem, a Europe problem and an American problem.

Nor does Tehran merely threaten from within its own borders. It exports mayhem. The U.S. State Department still identifies Iran as the leading state sponsor of terrorism. That support is not abstract. It runs through Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen — proxies armed, financed, trained and directed to spread chaos, attack civilians, threaten Israel, intimidate Arab governments and disrupt international commerce. Tehran’s rulers do not seek regional stability. They seek leverage through fear.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., urged U.S. service members to "refuse illegal orders" Tuesday after President Donald Trump threatened to wipe out Iran’s "civilization" in efforts to get the Strait of Hormuz reopened.

"The President’s mental faculties are collapsing and cannot be trusted," Ocasio-Cortez wrote in response to Trump’s Truth Social post. "To every individual in the President’s chain of command: You have a duty to refuse illegal orders. That includes carrying out this threat."

Ocasio-Cortez’s denunciation comes as a growing number of Democratic lawmakers on the party’s leftward flank have called for Trump to be impeached, though that effort will likely face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House. Some Democrats have also urged the cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment in an attempt to remove Trump from power — a highly unrealistic outcome.

House Democratic leadership notably stopped short of calling for Trump’s ouster in a statement issued Tuesday.

The Democratic leaders instead urged House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to immediately reconvene the House and vote on a war powers resolution to block Trump from further military action. The chamber is currently in a district work period until the week of April 13.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital's Adam Pack.

The A-10 Warthog has a new maritime role in targeting boats in the war in Iran that could extend the life of the aircraft, which the U.S. Air Force had been attempting to retire for years.

Despite the Air Force trying to phase out the A-10, Congress has resisted its efforts and blocked attempts to reduce the number of these aircraft.

A-10s have been used in the U.S. military campaign against Iran, as the Pentagon sees a need for an aircraft that can loiter and deliver accurate fire against small boats and coastal threats.

During a Pentagon briefing last month, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said that A-10 aircraft were "in the fight" and operating across the southern flank of the conflict, including targeting Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz.

"We continue to hunt and kill mine storage facilities and naval ammunition depots. We continue to hunt and kill afloat assets, including more than 120 vessels and 44 mine layers, and the pressure will continue," Caine said in the March 19 briefing.

"The A-10 Warthog is now in the fight across the southern flank and is hunting and killing fast attack watercraft in the Straits of Hormuz. In addition, AH-64 Apaches have joined the fight on the southern flank, and they continue to work on the southern side. And that includes some of our allies who are using Apaches to handle one-way attack drones," he continued.

The development follows escalating threats from President Donald Trump over Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which disrupted global energy shipments, before the two sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire just hours ahead of a U.S. deadline for strikes.

This is an excerpt from an article by Landon Mion.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Wednesday he welcomed the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran.

In a post on X, Starmer said the deal will “bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.”

“Together with our partners, we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.

President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran on Tuesday.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday praised the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran while urging both sides to secure a lasting deal.

“I welcome the two-week ceasefire agreed upon by the USA and Iran overnight,” Merz said in a statement.

He thanked Pakistan for assisting with the negotiations and said Germany would help broker any long-term peace deal.

“The goal now must be to negotiate a permanent end to the war,” Merz said. “We are in close contact with our partners regarding this matter.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., reacted Tuesday to the ceasefire announcement between the U.S. and Iran, calling for a congressional review of any long-term peace agreement.

“As I stated before, I prefer diplomacy if it leads to the right outcome regarding the Iranian terrorist regime,” Graham wrote in a post on X. “I appreciate the hard work of all involved in trying to find a diplomatic solution.”

“At this early stage, I am extremely cautious regarding what is fact vs. fiction or misrepresentation,” he continued. “That’s why a congressional review process like the one the Senate followed to test the Obama Iranian deal is a sound way forward. Fair and challenging questions with a full opportunity to explain, and a healthy dose of sunlight is generally the right formula to understand any matter.”

Graham added, “Simply put, kick the tires.”

President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran on Tuesday, writing on Truth Social that the U.S. had received a 10-point proposal from Iran for a sustained agreement, which he said was “a workable basis on which to negotiate.”

In an earlier post on X, Graham said he wanted all of Iran’s enriched uranium to be under U.S. control and removed from the country.

President Donald Trump said there will be “positive action” following the two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, predicting a “Golden Age of the Middle East.”

In a Truth Social post early Wednesday, Trump suggested Iran was ready to reach a peace agreement and said the U.S. would help manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

“A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote. “There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process.”

Trump said the U.S. will be “loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well.” He added, “I feel confident that it will.”

“Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!” Trump added.

Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent — who quit his government role last month over his opposition to the Iran war — warned Tuesday that Israel may try to “sabotage” the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.

“It's absolutely essential that we ensure that the Israelis do not sabotage this two-week ceasefire or eventually the lasting peace that we're trying to achieve with the Iranians,” Kent said in a video posted on X.

“We're on the cusp of being able to have the Strait of Hormuz reopened, to hopefully start to get the world energy supply and commerce back online. The last thing we need is the Israelis doing what they have done in past negotiations and targeting negotiators or taking a series of strikes that escalates the conflict.”

Kent added that “in order to ensure that we can restrain the Israelis, we actually have to start removing features of the military support that we give to them.”

“We have to take away enough from them that they simply cannot go on the offense, that they're using all their military capabilities that we provide for them, and that they have organically, for the defense of their country and not for offensive operations inside of Iran,” he said.

Kent said it was “absolutely critical” that the U.S. take this step, asserting that Israel has a “very bad track record adhering to these deals.”

Leaders across Asia and the Pacific welcomed a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

The Australian government said it “welcomes the agreement by the United States, Israel and Iran to a two-week ceasefire to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.”

“The Australian government has been calling for de-escalation and an end to the conflict for some time now,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a joint statement Wednesday.

“Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with its attacks on commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure and oil and gas facilities, is causing unprecedented energy supply shocks and impacting oil and fuel prices,” they continued.

The leaders emphasized that the conflict threatens the global economy and puts lives at risk, adding that they support diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“Australia wants to see the ceasefire upheld and a resolution to the conflict,” they said. “We continue to call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian life.”

The Australian government thanked other countries that supported negotiations and advanced “de-escalation efforts,” including Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, in New Zealand, Foreign Minister Winston Peters called the deal “encouraging news,” but said “significant” work remains to secure a lasting ceasefire.

Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Minoru Kihara, said his country “welcomes the announcement as a positive development.”

“We hope they reach an agreement,” he added.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group associated with Iran-backed armed factions, announced it would suspend its operations across the region for two weeks.

The group issued the statement early Wednesday, according to Reuters.

The announcement came after President Donald Trump agreed to a ceasefire with Iran earlier Tuesday and to suspend bombing and attacks in the country for two weeks.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on X Tuesday that the United States "achieved and exceeded our core military objectives in 38 days" during Operation Epic Fury.

"This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen," Leavitt wrote. "From the very beginning of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump estimated this would be a 4-6 week operation."

Leavitt's post, celebrating the military's "unbelievable capabilities," comes as President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran via Truth Social.

"Thanks to the unbelievable capabilities of our warriors, we have achieved and exceeded our core military objectives in 38 days," Leavitt added.

Leavitt foreshadowed a press briefing Wednesday morning with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine at the Pentagon, writing "more on that tomorrow morning."

The press secretary wrote that there is "an opening" for a "diplomatic solution" with Iran.

"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace," Leavitt wrote.

Before closing, Leavitt also touted Trump's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

"Never underestimate President Trump’s ability to successfully advance America’s interests and broker peace," Leavitt concluded.

The Nikkei Stock Average in Japan rose sharply following President Donald Trump's announcement that he would halt attacks on Iran for two weeks, raising more than 2,600 yen.

It now takes about 158 yen to buy one dollar, reflecting a weaker Japanese currency.

Markets worldwide are rallying in the wake of Trump announcing a ceasefire hours after threatening 'a whole civilization will die tonight' in reference to Iran.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to X on Tuesday to celebrate the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, recently kidnapped by terrorists in Iraq.

According to Rubio, she was taken by foreign terrorist organization Kata’ib Hizballah near Baghdad, Iraq.

The Secretary thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of War (DoW), and "U.S. personnel across multiple agencies." Rubio also touted the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council and "our Iraqi partners" in securing Kittleson's release.

"Under President Trump, the wrongful detention or kidnapping of U.S. nationals will not be tolerated," Rubio wrote. "We will continue to use every tool to bring Americans home and to hold accountable those responsible."

According to Rubio, Kittleson's safe evacuation is currently being staged from Iraq back to the United States.

"This resolution reflects the Trump Administration's steadfast commitment to the safety and security of American citizens, no matter where they are in the world," Rubio wrote.

Iran released a 10-point plan to secure an end to the conflict with the United States, including a demand for the lifting of all sanctions and for Washington to allow its uranium enrichment program, Times of Israel reported.

Iran, allegedly claiming victory against the United States in a statement published by state media with their 10-point plan, would demand “continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of enrichment, [and] lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions.”

The wishlist, reportedly presented through mediators in Pakistan, insists upon the United States military withdrawing from the Middle East as well as an end to attacks on Iran and its allies.

Their demands also include expanded Iranian control over the vital Strait of Hormuz, which sees about a fifth of the world's oil.

“It is to be noted that the adoption of such a resolution shall render all these agreements binding under international law and shall constitute a significant diplomatic victory for the Iranian nation,” Iran's Supreme National Security Council said in a statement reviewed by the Times of Israel.

The United States has not yet provided a response to the 10-point demands from Iran, including its appeal to continue its uranium enrichment program. The two nations are set to engage in diplomatic talks in Pakistan later this week.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif took to X on Tuesday night, announcing the ceasefire between the United States and Iran 'EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.'

Sharif also invited both countries to Islamabad in three days' time to continue negotiations.

"I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," Sharif wrote.

Sharif also touted the "remarkable wisdom and understanding" of both the United States and Iran in his post.

"Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability," Sharif wrote. "We earnestly hope, that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!"

The Prime Minister concluded his post by tagging leaders from the United States, including President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance, as well as those in Iran.

The new supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly incapable of running the country according to an intelligence assessment reviewed by The Times.

The diplomatic memo, understood to be comprised of both American and Israeli intelligence, claims Khamenei is incapacitated and receiving medical treatment in the holy city of Qom.

The Times also reported that Khamenei is both unconscious and being treated for a "severe" medical condition.

Qom is approximately 90 miles from Tehran and considered a sacred site to Muslims of the Shia sect.

Dow futures jumped more than 900 points in the hours following President Donald Trump's announcement that he would suspend his bombing campaign against Iran.

The surge came after Trump announced a “double-sided” ceasefire contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has agreed to open the waterway for a two-week period while both sides negotiate an agreement to end the conflict.

“I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.”

The White House said talks were ongoing regarding a potential in-person meeting between American and Iranian officials.

“There are discussions about in-person talks, but nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House," said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

American and Iranian heads of state have not met in person for decades, following the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

The CIA used a secretive tool called “Ghost Murmur” to find and rescue the second American airman shot down in Iran, according to reports.

The technology uses long-range quantum magnetometry to find the electromagnetic fingerprint of a human heartbeat, the New York Post reported.

Using artificial intelligence, it isolates the signature from background noise, two sources told the newspaper.

“It’s like hearing a voice in a stadium, except the stadium is a thousand square miles of desert,” a source briefed on the program told The Post. “In the right conditions, if your heart is beating, we will find you.”

Israel has agreed to suspend its bombing campaign in Iran as part of a last-minute deal reached between Tehran and President Donald Trump.

On Tuesday night, Trump announced a  “double-sided ceasefire” between the US and Iran.

Israel has also agreed to a ceasefire, Reuters reported, citing two White House officials.

President Donald Trump agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday and to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for two weeks.

The move came after talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who urged Trump to delay any further U.S. military action while both sides continued to negotiate.

“This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said he received a 10-point proposal from Iran, calling it a "workable basis on which to negotiate."

"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated," he wrote.

Seyed Araghchi, Iran's minister of foreign affairs, said ships transiting the Strait or Hormuz will have safe passage.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," he said in a statement.

U.S. strikes launched in February destroyed a facility used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy to build and maintain small boats, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday.

The Feb. 27 strikes targeted the Shahid Mahallati Naval Boatyard in Bushehr.

Satellite imagery shows the facility before and after the attack, with numerous buildings either destroyed or heavily damaged.

Iran-backed Houthi forces are raising the prospect of a second global shipping choke point in the Red Sea, threatening to deepen pressure on energy markets and global trade as the conflict with Iran intensifies.

The Houthis entered the conflict in early April with missile and drone strikes on Israel and have since warned they could target shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb — a narrow corridor linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden — raising concerns the war could expand beyond the Strait of Hormuz and further disrupt global trade.

Analysts warn that if Houthi forces begin targeting vessels again, it could open a second maritime front in a conflict that has already choked off traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, adding pressure to global energy markets and supply chains.

The Bab al-Mandeb is one of the world’s most critical shipping choke points, handling roughly 12% of global seaborne oil trade and serving as a key gateway for cargo moving between Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal.

The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, are an Iran-backed armed group that controls much of northern Yemen and has been fighting a yearslong civil war against the country’s internationally recognized government.

Houthi leaders, in coordination with Iran, have framed the potential escalation as part of their response to U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran and its allies, warning they could target shipping or restrict access to the Red Sea if the conflict intensifies.

Iranian official Aliakbar Velayati posted on X on Sunday: "Today, the unified command of the Resistance front views Bab al-Mandeb as it does Hormuz. If the White House dares to repeat its foolish mistakes, it will soon realize that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single move."

This is an excerpt from an article by Morgan Phillips.

Five explosions were heard in Baghdad on Tuesday, near an area where the U.S. embassy is located, according to reports.

The embassy and a U.S. diplomatic and logistics center at Baghdad’s airport have been repeatedly targeted by rockets and drones launched by pro-Iran armed groups, most of which have been intercepted by air defenses, The Times of Israel reported.

Communist China is reportedly providing military assistance to the embattled Iranian regime, according to a leading U.S. military think tank and other reporting. 

The Institute for the Study of War stated that China is providing military assistance to the Iranian regime’s missile program, basing its research on recent reporting.

According to the Institute, "China is helping Iran reconstitute the Iranian missile program amid US-Israeli efforts to degrade it."

According to the Institute for the Study of War, "Western media reported that China has sent multiple shipments of missile fuel precursor to Iran since the start of the war."

The institute said that, "China’s efforts to help Iran reconstitute could undermine the combined force efforts to degrade or destroy the supporting elements of the ballistic missile program."

Gordon Chang, an expert on China, told Fox News Digital that "China is an enemy combatant and is endangering our troops."

This is an excerpt from an article by Benjamin Weinthal.

Iran on Tuesday said its anti-American rhetoric is aimed at the United States government, not its people.

"'Down with the USA’ or ‘Death to the USA’ is not directed at American citizens, but at the policies of the U.S. government," the Iranian embassy in South Africa stated on X.

For decades, Iran has used anti-American slogans to rally its citizens and to protests U.S. policies and its support for Israel.

A key bridge linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia was closed Tuesday  as a precautionary measure.

The King Fahd Causeway was shut down amid threats from Iran of possible retaliation for the attack on their bridges and railway infrastructure, the Associated Press reported.

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday said that threats against Iran are "unacceptable," hours after President Donald Trump said "a whole civilization will die tonight" in a social media post.

"Today, as we all know, there was this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this truly is unacceptable," said the pope, who publicly criticized the war.

 "There are certainly issues here of international law, but even more than that, it is a moral question for the good of the (world's) people," he added.

Leo also called on people across the world to appeal to their lawmakers to ask them to help bring the conflict to an end.   

"People want peace," he said. "I would invite the citizens of all the countries involved to contact the authorities -- political leaders, congressmen -- to ask them to work for peace." 

President Donald Trump said his administration is in the midst of tough talks amid a deadline with Iran, in which he has threatened to target the country's energy infrastructure.

On Tuesday, Trump declined to say how he was feeling about the impasse.

“I can't tell you, because right now we're in heated negotiations," he told Fox News.

Iran has reportedly threatened to target energy facilities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Tehran will add Saudi Aramco oil facilities, as well as Yanbu and the UAE’s Fujairah pipeline, to its target list should President Donald Trump follow through with his threats to attack Iran's energy infrastructure, Iran International reported.

The threats from Iran were first reported by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency, citing a military source.

Residents of the Iranian city of Bushehr, home to the country's only nuclear power plant, have been issued iodine tablets as part of a crisis preparedness plan.

The distribution of the tablets apparently began prior to Iran's 12-day war in June 2025, a health deputy at Bushehr University of Medical Sciences told Iran International.

“Since the beginning of the plan, all comprehensive health centers have been distributing iodine tablets using prepared forms and guidelines, and they are now available to all residents,” the official said.

Authorities stated that the tablets are intended for use in the event of a radiological incident. The rollout initially prioritized areas immediately surrounding the nuclear plant before expanding to cover the entire city; the tablets are now available at all health centers across Bushehr.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged President Donald Trump to extend his deadline for Iran for two weeks, to allow diplomacy to run its course.

"Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future," Sharif wrote on X. "To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks."

Trump said he will be briefed about the request.

“I can say this - that I know him very well," he said of Sharif. "He's a highly respected man, all over."

Sharif also requested that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz for a two-week period as a gesture of goodwill.

"We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region," Sharif wrote.

President Donald Trump warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" as a deadline looms for Iran to agree to U.S. demands, escalating his rhetoric even as last-minute negotiations continue through intermediaries to avert sweeping military strikes.

Trump has set a Tuesday night deadline for Iran to accept terms that include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil artery, as U.S. officials — including Vice President JD Vance — continue back-channel talks through intermediaries such as Pakistan. 

But significant gaps remain, and the president's latest comments raise the risk the U.S. may move forward with strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, including power and transportation systems and beyond. 

Trump’s latest remarks mark a sharp escalation from earlier warnings focused on infrastructure. He also suggested Iran had undergone "complete and total regime change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail."

Mojtaba Khamenei was named Iran’s supreme leader after U.S. strikes killed his father, Ali Khamenei, though his current status and control remain unclear amid conflicting reports. 

And Iran has threatened to take action if Trump follows through on his threats. 

"Iran will not stand idle in the face of such egregious war crimes," said Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations. "It will exercise without hesitation its inherent right of self-defense, and will take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures."

This is an excerpt from an article by Morgan Phillips.

Shelly Kittleson, the American journalist who was kidnapped last week in Iraq, has been released, Fox News has learned.

Viral surveillance footage appeared to show Kittleson being forced into a car by two men at a busy intersection in Baghdad last Tuesday. The State Department previously said an individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah was believed to be involved in Kittleson’s capture. 

Kataib Hizballah issued a statement that Kittleson was set free in "appreciation of the patriotic positions" of Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who pushed for her release. The group said she would be set free "on the condition that she leaves the country immediately," according to Al-Monitor.

"This initiative will not be repeated in the future… we are in a state of war waged by the Zionist-American enemy against Islam and in such situations many considerations are disregarded," Kataib Hizballah security commander Abu Mujahid Al-Asaf added, according to The New York Times. 

Former Pentagon official Alex Plitsas, a friend of the journalist who has called himself her designated U.S. point of contact, posted on X that he isn't ready to celebrate.

"We are still awaiting Shelley to be transferred to US officials. We welcome the news of her pending release but will save celebratory statements until she is transferred. The video that was released provided proof of life. We will have more to say when she is in US hands," Plitsas wrote. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Brian Flood.

Iranians formed a human chain around a bridge after President Donald Trump threatened to target the country's infrastructure.

Video footage showed Iranians on the White Bridge in Ahvaz—located near the Iran-Iraq border—forming a human chain and unfurling a massive Iranian flag.

The Iranian regime has also been accused of recruiting children as young as 12 in a mobilization drive dubbed “Homeland Defending Combatants for Iran,” according to the New York Post.

Amnesty International stated it has confirmed photos showing children carrying weapons while standing alongside Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers at checkpoints and rallies.

U.S. forces launched one-way attack drones into Iran on Monday, authorities said.

“Today, hundreds of U.S. drones are fully integrated into offensive and defensive operations against Iran," said U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Adm. Brad Cooper. "These platforms operate in the air, at sea, under the sea, and on the ground in support of our military objectives."

CENTCOM stated that it made history one month ago when it began using low-cost aerial attack drones in combat for the first time.

Israel is bracing for a range of scenarios ahead of President Donald Trump's 8 p.m. EST deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

According to The Times of Israel, Israeli officials are preparing for outcomes ranging from a potential ceasefire or temporary framework agreement to a significant expansion of military strikes.

Officials stated that if a deal is not reached between Tehran and Washington, it could create an “extraordinary window of opportunity” to strike Iranian energy, electricity, and other national infrastructure sites that have not yet been targeted.

Iran has threatened to take action if President Donald Trump follows through on threats to use military force against civilian targets if Tehran fails to capitulate.

“Iran will not stand idle in the face of such egregious war crimes,” said Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations. “It will exercise without hesitation its inherent right of self-defense, and will take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures.”

Iravani said Iran has rejected a temporary ceasefire proposal, “particularly in light of the June experience, when hostilities resumed under false pretext. A ceasefire in this context serve only to the arm and prepare for the continuation of further crimes.”

Trump has set an 8 p.m. EST deadline for Iran to open the waterway, or else face the destruction of its power plants and bridges.

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday.

A UN envoy tasked with helping resolve the Strait of Hormuz crisis is “on his way to Tehran” to continue consultations with mediators, signaling renewed diplomatic activity despite ongoing tensions, Iravani said.

The White House responded to reports that Iran has cut off direct negotiations with the U.S. ahead of President Donald Trump's 8 p.m. ET deadline Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the supposed breakdown in talks, and the White House declined to confirm or deny the status of negotiations.

“The Iranian regime has until 8PM Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States. Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Journal.

The Journal reported that talks broke down after Trump threatened to destroy Iran's "whole civilization" Tuesday morning.

Iranian state media filmed dozens of civilians forming a human chain in front of one of the country's power plants on Tuesday.

Iranian officials had called on civilians to help protect energy infrastructure amid President Donald Trump's threats to begin targeting it.

Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. ET to agree to a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but no progress has been announced.

Few places on the planet matter more to the global economy than the Strait of Hormuz.

That’s why President Donald Trump has given Iran until Tuesday at 8 p.m. to allow all vessels through the key waterway — or face strikes on critical infrastructure.

Trump’s ultimatum raises the stakes in a narrow corridor that underpins the global energy supply, where even limited disruptions to shipping can jolt oil markets and push fuel costs higher worldwide.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world’s most critical energy choke points. It carries roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day, along with about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas.

The strait is also a key artery for refined fuels such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and the escalation is already sending energy prices sharply higher worldwide.

As of April 7, the national average for regular gasoline stood at $4.13 per gallon, according to AAA — up 89 cents from a month earlier. On the West Coast, drivers are seeing the highest costs, with prices reaching $5.93 per gallon in California and $5.39 in Washington. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Amanda Macias.

Israeli Defense Forces targeted eight bridges in Iran on Tuesday ahead of President Donald Trump's 8 p.m. deadline.

The IDF published a statement on the strikes on X urging observers to reject Iranian claims that Israel was targeting civilians.

"The Israeli army targeted eight bridge sections that the Iranian terrorist regime used for transporting weapons and military equipment," the IDF said in a statement translated from Persian by X.

"The armed forces of the Iranian terrorist regime used these bridges to transfer weapons and military equipment—equipment that these forces employ to advance and carry out terrorist actions against the State of Israel and other countries across the Middle East," the statement continued.

"We operate systematically and according to a methodical plan to strike all components of the oppressive and terroristic regime, and not the citizens of Iran. Don't let the regime's propaganda loudspeakers influence you!" the IDF added.

As President Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz looms, gas prices are continuing to climb nationwide as the conflict drives up crude oil costs.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical energy choke points. Trump gave Tehran until 8 p.m. ET to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and make a deal with the U.S. or face strikes on critical infrastructure.

The national average now stands at $4.13 per gallon, up about 89 cents from a month ago, according to AAA. Costs are climbing across nearly every region, with some states already well above the U.S. average.

Diesel has climbed to $5.64, up about $1.13 over the past month. As a key fuel for freight, shipping and public transportation, it is especially sensitive to supply disruptions.

Use the interactive map here to explore gas prices across the country.

Fox News' Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump issued a fresh ultimatum to Iran on Tuesday, demanding that all vessels be allowed to transit through the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on critical infrastructure. The warning comes after weeks of escalating threats and missed deadlines.

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. "We will find out tonight — one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world," he added, referencing his 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to agree to a ceasefire and reopen the strait.

Trump's warning sharply raises the stakes in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but vital artery for the global energy supply, where disruptions have sent oil and gas prices surging worldwide.

The latest threat builds on a pattern of deadlines Trump has imposed on Tehran over the strait. Here is a timeline of those demands:

March 21

In a Truth Social post, Trump declared that if Iran did not "FULLY OPEN" the strait within 48 hours, the United States would "obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!"

Ali Mousavi, Iran’s permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization, responded by saying that the Strait of Hormuz was "open to everyone" except Tehran's enemies. Meanwhile, other Iranian officials warned that attacks on energy infrastructure would amount to an attack on the Iranian people and would be met with retaliation.

March 23

Two days later, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that the U.S. had had "productive" conversations with Iran and that he had ordered the Pentagon to delay any strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.

Iranian officials publicly denied that any talks were taking place.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Amanda Macias.

This is an excerpt from an opinion article by Goli Ameri, who was born in Iran and served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and U.S. Representative to the UN General Assembly and UN Commission on Human Rights.

The strategy of the United States toward the Islamic Republic has crossed a threshold that marks the definitive end of a half-century of Western hesitation.

In a landmark White House news conference, the President — flanked by CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth — dismantled the long-standing policy of "managed stability" in favor of a strategy aimed at the regime’s structural collapse. By confirming the systematic dismantling of the clerical security apparatus, highlighted by the death of IRGC Intelligence Chief Majid Khademi in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike, and signaling an end to the regime’s unhindered control over strategic corridors like the Strait of Hormuz, the administration has moved past the failed diplomatic cycles of 1979 and 2009.

While mediators may continue to offer the 'off-ramp' of short-term ceasefires, history warns us that for the mullahs, such deals are never a bridge to peace. They are a tactical survival mechanism designed to shield a nuclear breakout. As this new era of clarity unfolds, the lesson remains: leaving any part of this clerical structure in power, even in a state of 'negotiated' weakness, is not a resolution — it is merely a stay of execution."

We must confront the reality that the regime precipitated this crisis as a calculated breakout strategy. According to March 2026 intelligence assessments, the leadership manufactured regional chaos to serve as a shield for their final sprint toward a bomb. The latest IAEA reports are chilling: the regime possesses over 450kg of 60% enriched uranium — enough for nine to eleven nuclear weapons — with a breakout time now measured in days. For a clerical elite that views a nuclear weapon as their only ticket to longevity, military strikes on infrastructure are only a temporary fix if the regime's core remains intact. If any part of this structure is left in power, they will find a way to rebuild the weapon.

Vice President JD Vance said that Iran has "two pathways" it can take regarding the conclusion of the war as President Donald Trump’s 12-hour deadline is looming Tuesday for the regime to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its power plants and bridges. 

Vance, speaking in Hungary, also said he is praying that the United States is on "God’s side" in its pursuit to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. 

"There are two pathways that this thing is ultimately going to end. First of all, the United States has largely accomplished its military objectives," Vance said. "There are still some things that we'd like to do, for example, on Iranian ability to manufacture weapons, that we'd like to do a little bit more work on militarily. But fundamentally, the military objectives of the United States have been completed." 

"I think there really are two pathways, and I'm oversimplifying this a little bit, but I think pathway one is where the Iranians decide they're going to be a normal country. They're not going to fund terrorism anymore. They're going to be part of the world system of commerce and exchange," Vance continued. "And that's going to mean much better things for them economically. It's going to mean better things for the peace and safety of the world. It's going to mean a lot of good things for a lot of people all over the planet. That's option A." 

"Option B is that the Iranians don't come to the table and they stay committed to terrorism, to terrorizing their neighbors, not just Israel but of course their Arab neighbors too. Then the economic situation in Iran is going to continue to be very, very bad. And frankly, it will probably get worse," the vice president said. 

"The president also has been very clear that while the Iranians are trying to exact as much economic cost through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States has the ability to extract much greater economic costs on Iran than Iran has an ability to extract costs on us or on our friends in the world," Vance also said. "So I hope that they're smart. The president has set a deadline for about 12 hours from now, and the United States, we're going to find out. But there's going to be a lot of negotiation between now and then, and I'm hopeful that it gets to a good resolution." 

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Greg Norman.

The U.S. State Department has instructed all Americans in Bahrain to shelter in place on Tuesday amid the war with Iran.

The U.S. Embassy in Bahrain's capital of Manama announced the recommendation in a Tuesday statement. The State Department has made similar announcements for Americans in countries throughout the Middle East as the war against Iran continues to escalate.

"The U.S. Embassy in Manama has directed all U.S. government employees to shelter in place. We recommend all Americans in Bahrain do the same until further notice. To the extent possible, remain in a secure structure, and stay away from windows," the embassy wrote in a statement.

"We are monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely and will keep you updated so you can make decisions about your safety. If you want to leave the Middle East, the U.S. government is ready to assist by providing you the latest information about the departure options available," the statement said.

"President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the Department of State have no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens," the statement continued.

President Donald Trump confirmed that the U.S. is ready to carry out heavy strikes against Iran if his 8 pm deadline is not met Tuesday.

Trump made the comments during a phone interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, promising that "8 p.m. is happening."

"I just got off the phone with the president and he called and I said, listen, if you were to put odds on it, what were the odds that this is going to end up being a negotiated deal? He said he wasn't going to put odds on it. But he said, 8 p.m. Is happening. That's what he said," Baier said, recounting his phone call with the president.

"He said, it is, if we get to that point, there is going to be an attack like they have not seen. Now he's sticking to that at this point. Now he said if negotiations move forward today and there is something concrete, that could change. But at this hour, he didn't want to put odds on it. But he said it is moving forward with the plans that we have. That's a huge deal," he added.

The pilot and weapons systems officer who were rescued from Iran after their F-15E was shot down have now been transferred to a U.S. military base in Germany, two U.S. officials told Fox News on Tuesday.

Both airmen are now in Landstuhl, the U.S. military’s premier medical facility in Germany near Ramstein Air Base.

The officials say the pair are being prepared for a medical flight to the U.S.

The pilot has no major injuries, but the WSO has injuries to his elbow and back as well as a concussion. He is expected to recover, however, the officials said.

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

Iranian authorities released two French citizens on Tuesday after holding them for nearly four years, French President Emmanuel Macron says.

Macron announced the release in a statement on X, naming the two citizens as Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris. The pair had been released from Iranian prison in November, but they had not been allowed to leave the country.

"Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris are free and on their way to French territory, after three and a half years of detention in Iran. This is a relief for all of us and obviously for their families," Macron wrote.

"Thank you to the Omani authorities for their mediation efforts, to the State services, and to the citizens who mobilized tirelessly and thus contributed to their return," he added.

Kohler and Paris were arrested by Iranian authorities in 2022 on espionage charges.

Iranian officials have called on their citizens to form human chains around power plants as President Donald Trump threatens to attack the sites Tuesday.

The regime urged “all young people, athletes, artists, students and university students and their professors” to protect the power plants.

“Power plants that are our national assets and capital,” Alireza Rahimi, identified by Iranian state television as the secretary of the Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, reportedly said in a video statement.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed Tuesday morning that more than 14 million Iranians had vowed to "sacrifice their lives" in defense of the country.

"More than 14 million proud Iranians have so far registered to sacrifice their lives to defend Iran. I too have been, am, and will remain devoted to giving my life for Iran,"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A gunfight with police outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, left one attacker dead, two others injured and two police officers sustaining minor injuries.

The armed attackers had ties to an activist group that "exploits religion," according to Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci on X.

"The identities of the terrorists have been identified," he wrote in a post translated by X. "It has been determined that the individuals, who arrived in Istanbul by a rental vehicle from Izmit, include one with ties to an organization that exploits religion; and it has also been established that one of the two terrorists, who are brothers, has a drug record."

U.S. ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack condemned the attack and praised Turkish authorities.

"The United States condemns in the strongest terms today’s attack on the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul," Barrack wrote on X. "Attacks on diplomatic missions are attacks on the international order — and an assault on the principles that bind nations together. We commend Türkiye and Turkish security forces for their swift and decisive response."

Police officers pulled out guns and took cover as shots rang out for at least 10 minutes near a permanent security checkpoint near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul. One person was seen covered in blood amid the glass towers in the heart of the city's main financial district.

Footage obtained by Reuters showed an apparent attacker, in a dark top and carrying a backpack, moving among parked white police and security buses and firing, with an automatic rifle and a handgun.

Two bodies lay on nearby streets and parking areas, near grassy areas.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Eric Mack.

Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth drew parallels between the rescue mission of an Air Force officer shot down in Iran on Good Friday and Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.

Hegseth spoke Monday during President Donald Trump's press conference centered on the Easter weekend rescue mission. He described how the airman "evaded capture for more than a day, scaling rugged ridges while hunted by the enemy."

"When he was finally able to activate his emergency transponder, his first message was simple and it was powerful. He sent a message: 'God is good,'" Hegseth said. "In that moment of isolation and danger, his faith and fighting spirit shone through."

Hegseth continued to describe the experience of the airman, suggesting that it was a spiritual experience for him.

"You see, shot down on a Friday —Good Friday — hidden in a cave — a crevice — all of Saturday and rescued on Sunday," Hegseth said. "Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday, a pilot reborn. All home and accounted for. A nation rejoicing. God is good."

Throughout the press conference, Trump also gave thanks to God for the success of the rescue mission, claiming multiple times that "God was watching us."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Elaine Mallon.

The ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Iran have been "positive" so far, but it remains unclear whether an agreement can be made in time to meet President Donald Trump's deadline, a senior U.S. official told Fox News on Tuesday.

“We are absolutely in touch with [Iran]. Absolutely. [The talks] have been positive. If we get lucky, we will have something by the end of the day," the official said.

Trump has given Iran until 8 pm ET to accept an agreement that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

If Iran does not meet the deadline, Trump has vowed to drastically escalate the conflict, targeting the nation's power plants and transportation infrastructure.

Fox News' Will Hemmer contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump gave a grim warning to Iran on Tuesday morning, saying "a whole civilization will die tonight" if a deal isn't made to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

"However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!" he added.

Trump gave the Iranian regime until 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday to agree to a ceasefire that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. carried out "dozens" of strikes against military targets on Iran's Kharg Island late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, a senior U.S. official told Fox News.

President Donald Trump first floated attacks on the Iranian stronghold last week as his threats over reopening the Strait of Hormuz kicked off.

"U.S. hit dozens of military targets on Kharg Island overnight,” the official told Fox on Tuesday.

There have been no reports that the U.S. has deployed troops to strike the island.

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

The Islamic Republic of Iran took the lives of two men convicted of trying to storm a military facility and access an armory in January, the Mizan news outlet of Iran's judiciary indicated on Sunday, according to Reuters.

An organization called Iran Human Rights said that the Iranian news agency reported that the two individuals, Mohammad Amin Biglari and Shahin Vahedparast Kolor, were hanged on April 5.

Biglari, a 19-year-old computer science student, Kolor, 30, were arrested with several other individuals on January 8 amid a crackdown against protesters in the nation's capital city of Tehran, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.

They faced charges that included "'enmity against God (moharebeh), corruption on earth, arson of public facilities, and assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security,'" the group indicated.

Another individual arrested January 8, 18-year-old Amirhossein Hatami, was hanged on April 2, Iran Human Rights noted, citing the Mizan News Agency.

Ali Fahim, a 23-year-old who was among those arrested on January 8, was executed on April 6, the Hengaw Organization noted on Monday, explaining that the Mizan news agency confirmed the killing.

"These executions are part of the Islamic Republic’s strategy of survival, waging war against its own people under the shadow of external conflict," Iran Human Rights Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam noted. "The international community must respond with urgency. The situation of prisoners and the regime’s systematic use of the death penalty as a political tool of repression must be made a central condition in any negotiations or engagement with the Islamic Republic."

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Alex Nitzberg.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., called President Donald Trump an "unhinged lunatic" in a Monday post on X, advocating for him to be ousted from office.

"This is not ok. Invoke the 25th amendment. Impeach. Remove. This unhinged lunatic must be removed from office," she asserted.

The left-wing lawmaker made the comments while sharing a screenshot of the president's controversial Easter Sunday Truth Social post threatening attacks against Iranian power plants and bridges.

"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F---in’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah," Trump wrote in the post, referring to the Strait of Hormuz. 

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., warned in a Monday post on X, "Threatening to target power plants and other non-military targets is not strength. If those words become orders to destroy civilian infrastructure with no valid military purpose, it’s hard to see how they would not violate the laws of armed conflict. America leads best with strength, discipline, and professionalism. Illegal orders to make civilians suffer would be a black mark on our military and our country."

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., declared in a Sunday post on X, "President Trump's profanity-laden Easter threat to attack Iran's civilian infrastructure—power plants and bridges—are the words of a frustrated and immoral madman. Many experts agree that such attacks would be war crimes under international law. To our military leaders, remember this: You are legally required to refuse orders to commit war crimes."

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., characterized Trump's comments as "the ravings of a dangerous and mentally unbalanced individual," asserting in a Sunday post on X, "Congress has got to act NOW. End this war."

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment early Tuesday morning.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Alex Nitzberg.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Trump administration that attacking civilian infrastructure in Iran is prohibited under international law, according to his spokesman.

"Even if specific civilian infrastructure were to qualify as a military objective," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Dujarric said an attack on these civilian targets would still be banned if it risks "excessive incidental civilian harm."

If U.S. President Donald Trump moves forward with his threats to strike power plants and bridges, Dujarric said a court would determine whether the attacks amount to war crimes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.