NOTE: Nobody reads this blog. But . . .
Links to EIGHTEEN reports: from the Cradle, Middle East Eye, Agence France-Presse, Common Dreams, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials as highlighted. (Scroll down for IRAN 3-24-26, and up or down for LEBANON and CUBA.) — MCM
* Among the news organizations with frequent war updates, photos and occasionally maps are Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, and Middle East Monitor: HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. AP and El País reports in Spanish are HERE and HERE. *
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U.S. drafts 15-point ceasefire plan for Iran war as Tehran says Washington ‘negotiating with itself.’ From the Cradle. U.S. President Donald Trump’s government has proposed a 15-point ceasefire plan to end the war with Iran, including the same U.S. demands that Tehran has repeatedly rejected Hebrew and western media outlets reported late on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .
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NEWER UK to host talks on mission to reopen Hormuz, says official. From Middle East Eye. Britain and France will chair military talks this week involving around 30 nations to form a coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a UK defence official has told AFP. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for AFP report in English and French, and HERE and HERE for headlines of others.
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FROM MARCH 24 Trump to send 3,000 more troops to Mideast as Saudi Crown Prince pushes Iran ground invasion, by Brett Wilkins | Common Dreams The Pentagon is preparing to deploy around 3,000 troops to the Middle East as thousands of Marines also head to the region amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, stoking fears of a possible ground invasion that is reportedly being pushed by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for March 24 report from AP. Click HERE and HERE for two reports today from NPR.
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Unknown traders placed over half a billion in bets minutes before Trump claimed ‘productive’ talks with Iran: report. From the Cradle. Traders placed more than $500 million in oil bets minutes before U.S. President Donald Trump claimed talks were happening with Iran and that he was postponing his planned strikes on the Islamic Republic’s power infrastructure, according to the Financial Times. READ MORE . . .
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U.S. eyes swift Middle East return of minesweepers held up in Singapore, official says. From Reuters. The U.S. Navy hopes to expedite the return to the Persian Gulf of two ships refitted for minesweeping now undergoing maintenance in Singapore, a senior US official said today, as concerns mount over Iranian threats to mine the Strait of Hormuz. READ MORE . . .
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Iran grants Thai tanker safe Hormuz passage free of charge. From the Cradle. Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow facilitated the safe passage of an oil tanker through Hormuz after coordinating with Tehran, Reuters reported today, adding that no fees were charged, despite disruptions caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MARCH 24 Iran begins to charge select vessels up to $2m for Hormuz transit. From the Cradle. Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi revealed on Sunday that Tehran has begun charging transit fees of up to $2 million for some vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz, describing the move as a shift toward a new “sovereign regime” over the strategic waterway. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MARCH 24 Saudi Arabia, UAE ‘inching toward’ joining U.S.-Israeli war on Iran: report. From the Cradle. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf governments are considering joining the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran directly, hoping they can establish “deterrence” and “punish” Tehran after its heavy retaliatory strikes on Washington’s military bases in regional states, sources told the Wall Street Journal on Monday. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MARCH 24 Airstrikes hit Iran as it attacks Israel and Gulf states, while diplomatic efforts gather pace, by Jon Gambrell, David Rising and Samy Magdy | AP DUBAI — With thousands more U.S. Marines on their way to the Gulf, both sides firing barrages and Iran denying any negotiations are taking place, the war’s tempo remained high on Tuesday, a day after Trump delayed his self-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s chokehold on that crucial waterway has snarled international shipping, sent fuel prices skyrocketing, and . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE to read same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others. Click HERE and HERE for two reports from Reuters.
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FROM MARCH 24 Trump declares victory and claims Iran offers a ‘prize’ in talks Iran denies having. From NPR. President Trump said on Tuesday Iran made a valuable offer to reach a deal with the United States, in negotiations that Iranian officials have so far denied are taking place. He would not specify . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM MARCH 24 Iran tells UN: ‘Non-hostile’ ships can transit Strait of Hormuz. From Reuters. UNITED NATIONS — Iran has told the United Nations Security Council and the International Maritime Organisation that “non-hostile vessels” may transit the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate with Iranian authorities, according to a note seen by Reuters on Tuesday. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MARCH 24 Food delivery drivers are being squeezed by higher gas prices. Reported by Bill Chappell | NPR The effects of the war in Iran are far-reaching, extending to drivers for DoorDash and Uber Eats. They’re paying more for gas — and being squeezed by competition. DoorDash is rolling out some relief. Click HERE to listen and, later, read; and HERE for link to another Iran war-related report Tuesday from NPR’s “All Things Considered” program.
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