President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran had made what he described as a valuable offer to reach a deal with the United States, even as Iranian officials have denied that any such negotiations are taking place. He did not provide details about the nature of the proposal but described it as “a very significant prize” connected to the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump stated, “We’ve won this. This war has been won.”
At the same time, analysts and former U.S. officials indicate that Iran also views itself as gaining the upper hand through its strategy of asymmetric warfare. Trump’s remarks about a potential agreement came as thousands of U.S. Marines, along with the commander and certain staff members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, were being deployed to the Middle East.
NPR has confirmed that Israel’s military intends to continue its campaign against Iran for several more weeks in pursuit of its objectives. Meanwhile, both the United States and Israel carried out additional strikes on Tuesday. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reported that a gas supply line feeding a power station in the country’s southwest had been hit. The International Atomic Energy Agency said another projectile struck Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant. Iran responded by launching multiple missile barrages, including one that struck Tel Aviv.
@Globewire24 (Globe Wire 24) “Trump Says “The war in Iran has been won.” US President Trump Says “We’ve won this. This war has been won. The only one that likes to keep it going is the fake news. #Israel#US#Trump#IranWar#IranIsrael#Israël#IRGC#Iran#IranIsraelWar#Gulf#MiddleEast “
Mar 24, 2026 https://x.com/Globewire24/status/2036620007606817071?s=20
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Pakistan Signals Willingness to Host Talks as Backchannel Efforts Continue
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Tuesday on social media that his country “stands ready” to help facilitate talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the conflict. His post included tags directed at President Trump, a U.S. envoy, and Iran’s foreign minister.
Neither Washington nor Tehran publicly responded to Pakistan’s offer. Pakistan maintains relationships with the Trump administration, Iran, and countries in the Gulf region. Earlier, an Israeli official told NPR that preparations were underway for possible talks in Pakistan later in the week. The official spoke anonymously due to a lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.
President Trump has suggested that the conflict could move toward a diplomatic resolution, describing negotiations in positive terms both on social media and in remarks to reporters. After previously threatening to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants, he later posted on Truth Social that he had ordered a five-day delay on targeting the country’s energy infrastructure while discussions continue.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has rejected claims that negotiations are underway. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described the reports as “fake news [that] is intended to manipulate financial and oil markets and to escape the quagmire in which America and Israel are trapped.” However, while Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei denied direct negotiations, he acknowledged that the ministry was responding to requests conveyed through intermediaries from friendly nations.
Countries including Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey have been relaying messages between the parties and contributing to de-escalation efforts. Qamar Cheema, executive director of the Islamabad-based Sanober Institute, said Pakistan has been working to facilitate dialogue since Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar traveled to Saudi Arabia with other regional counterparts the previous week.
Cheema, who is regarded as having close ties to Pakistan’s government and military, stated that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff “has a direct connection” to Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, adding, “They have a good working relation.” President Trump has also previously spoken favorably about Munir, referring to him as a “great general” and “a great guy” in February. Pakistan’s prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
Continued Strikes Across Israel, Iran, and Lebanon
The Israeli military reported that Iran launched at least eight missile attacks against Israel on Tuesday, with impacts recorded at multiple locations. Israeli health officials said at least six people were injured in Tel Aviv.
Israeli police estimated that a missile carried a warhead weighing approximately 220 pounds of explosives and noted that it was not intercepted by Israel’s defense systems. Earlier that day, an explosion in northern Israel injured at least one person, while additional blasts were reported in the south.
Since the start of the conflict on Feb. 28, Iranian strikes have resulted in approximately 15 deaths in Israel and four Palestinian fatalities in the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
In Lebanon, the country’s Health Ministry reported that an Israeli airstrike southeast of Beirut killed at least two people. The attack was one of several explosions heard overnight across the capital. Israel’s military said it was targeting Hezbollah militants backed by Iran.
Lebanese officials report that Israeli strikes in March have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced over 1 million due to evacuation warnings. The strike near Beirut occurred without prior warning from Israel’s military, and footage showed flames and smoke rising from a residential building.
Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said the military may apply the same “model” of destruction used in the Gaza Strip to Lebanon, where large residential areas have been destroyed. He also stated that efforts to demolish homes in border villages were being accelerated, citing rocket fire from Hezbollah.
Human Rights Watch said in a recent report that forcible displacement and deliberate targeting of civilians constitute war crimes. The escalation in Lebanon followed Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel in early March, which were described as support for Iran and came after months of continued Israeli strikes despite a ceasefire.
Lebanon Orders Iranian Ambassador to Leave Amid Rising Tensions
Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry announced that it had revoked the accreditation of Iran’s ambassador and ordered him to leave the country by Sunday. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, remains a significant political force in Lebanon, but the Lebanese government has sought international assistance in efforts to disarm the group. Relations between Beirut and Tehran have since deteriorated.
The previous conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in 2024 resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction costing billions of dollars. In the current situation, some Lebanese citizens have criticized Hezbollah, blaming the group for drawing the country into another conflict after launching rockets at Israel in support of Iran, which prompted Israeli retaliation.
Ongoing Conflict and Uncertain Diplomatic Path
The situation continues to develop across multiple fronts, with military activity persisting alongside indirect diplomatic efforts. While public statements from both sides remain at odds regarding negotiations, intermediaries continue to facilitate communication. At the same time, ongoing strikes and regional involvement underscore the complexity of the conflict and the uncertainty surrounding any potential resolution.
