President Donald Trump said Iran is willing to reach a deal to end the war, but the United States wants better conditions.indicating that there will be no truce in a conflict that has almost completely paralyzed maritime transport in the strategic Strait of Hormuz and has disrupted energy markets.
Besides, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the Islamic Republic is open to “any regional initiative that leads to a just solution to the war.”“, according to an interview published Sunday by the UK-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news website.
He added that no specific proposal has yet been presented.
“Iran wants to reach an agreement, and I don’t want to do it because the terms are not good enough yet”Trump told NBC on Saturday, saying a “very strong” deal would have to include Tehran’s commitment to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
The President did not give more details about the negotiations and it is unclear who, if anyone, is transmitting messages between the United States and Iran.
Trump also urged other countries to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, through which approximately one fifth of world oil exports transit. He expressed hope that China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom would participate.
Oil loading operations continued at Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal. on March 2, 2026, two days after the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury.
The Islamic Republic’s retaliatory attacks against Israel and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf continued overnight Sundayafter the United States attacked military facilities on Kharg Island, where important Iranian oil export centers are located.
The United Arab Emirates announced on Sunday the interception of missiles and drones coming from Iran, and explained to residents that the explosions heard in some areas of Dubai corresponded to the shooting down of these projectiles. The United Arab Emirates claims to have intercepted 1,600 drones and more than 300 missiles launched by Iran since the start of the conflict.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi told MS NOW that “it is obvious” that the missiles that hit Kharg Island came from the United Arab Emirates.
Anwar Gargash, senior foreign policy advisor to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, said the country “You have the right to self-defense against this imposed terrorist aggression, but you continue to prioritize reason.”
Oil loading operations at Fujairah, a key port in the United Arab Emirates, resumed on Sunday after a drone attack and fire forced a halt to exports the previous day, according to sources familiar with the situation. These sources asked to remain anonymous, as they are not authorized to comment on the matter.
Fujairah is located just outside the Strait of Hormuz and is a major distribution center for crude oil and fuels. It has become more relevant to both the UAE and global markets as it is one of the few Gulf export ports that avoids the strait. Loading had been suspended as a precaution while the damage was assessed.
Abu Dhabi authorities They also reported that they managed to control a fire that broke out at the Ruwais Industrial Complex after a drone attack on March 10.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia reported intercepting at least 10 drones near the capital, Riyadh, and in the kingdom’s eastern region. Bahrain activated sirens and urged residents to stay in safe areas.
Iran announced the launch of a new wave of missile attacks against Israel, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz describing the war as a phase of victory. He also stated that the war, which has already been going on for three weeks, will last “as long as necessary.”
Domestic pressure on Trump increases as the war creates chaos in the Middle East and global oil prices soar to around $100 a barrel due to Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has downplayed concerns about rising gasoline prices in the United States, saying they will drop once the fighting ends.
The conflict has left around 3,750 dead throughout the region since it began on February 28 with the bombing of Iran by the United States and Israel, according to figures provided by governments and non-governmental organizations.
The US-based Human Rights Activists news agency reported that more than 3,000 people died in Iran in the last two weeks.. Dozens of people died in the Gulf countries and in Israel, while the United States lost 11 soldiers.
Israel and the United States continued attacking Iran on Saturday, with Washington urging Americans to leave Iraq immediately, citing the “significant threat posed by Iran-aligned terrorist militia groups.” This came after the Associated Press reported that a missile hit a helipad inside the US embassy compound in Baghdad.
In announcing the attack on Kharg Island, Trump claimed that the military facilities there had been “razed,” and added that he chose not to attack the oil infrastructure “out of a matter of decency.” He threatened to do so if Iran “interfered in any way with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Trump claimed that although the Iranian army was already “completely destroyed”, Tehran found it “easy” continue threatening ships with drones, mines and short-range missiles. He added that the United States will “mercilessly bomb” the Iranian coast to counter that threat.
Araghchi claimed that the strait was only closed to American and allied ships. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations, there have been 16 attacks on shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the war began.
“We welcome any regional initiative that leads to a just solution to the war”Al-Araby Al-Jadeed told Al-Araby, in a rare sign of a possible change of stance by Iran, where authorities had previously stated that they could prolong the conflict for months. “The end of the war is conditional on guarantees that it will not be repeated and on the payment of compensation.”
The Lebanese government has stated that around 700 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on the country, within the framework of a parallel war that the Jewish State is waging against Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran.
France has drawn up a plan to end the war in Lebanon that would require the Lebanese government to recognize Israel, as reported by Axios, citing three people familiar with the matter. He added that Lebanon accepted the proposal as a starting point, while Israel and the United States are analyzing it.
Jordan, which also hosts U.S. troops and aircraft, reported Saturday that it intercepted 79 ballistic missiles and drones last week.. Air defenses failed to stop six more projectiles. Nine people were injured during that period, according to the Jordanian military.
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have been forced to reduce crude oil production due to the de facto closure of the Hormuz field, while Qatar has suspended liquefied natural gas operations. Qatar is one of the three main global suppliers of this fuel.
