Trump claims Iran president wants ceasefire; no response from Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran deed an lipid tanker disconnected the seashore of Qatar and Kuwait’s airdrome connected Wednesday, portion airstrikes battered Tehran adjacent arsenic U.S. President Donald Trump said helium was astir acceptable to upwind down the warfare and claimed that Iran's president wanted a ceasefire.

Iran had nary contiguous effect to Trump's assertion connected societal media that “Iran's New Regime President” was seeking a ceasefire, which Trump said would lone hap erstwhile the Strait of Hormuz was “open, free, clear.”

It wasn't instantly wide who Trump was referring to successful Iran, which inactive has the aforesaid president.

Trump, who is scheduled to code the federation aboriginal successful the day, said helium could locomotion distant from the warfare successful 2 to 3 weeks erstwhile helium felt assured Iran would not beryllium capable to physique a atomic limb — adjacent if Tehran does not hold to a ceasefire.

That raised the anticipation that the U.S. could retreat without immoderate warrant from Iran that it would halt bombing its Gulf Arab neighbors oregon merchandise its grip connected the important Strait of Hormuz. A 5th of the world’s traded lipid passes done the strait successful peacetime and Tehran’s stranglehold, on with its strikes connected vigor infrastructure successful the region, has caused lipid prices to skyrocket, with far-reaching consequences for the planetary economy. Even if the strait were to reopen quickly, immoderate effects similar higher nutrient prices could persist for months oregon longer.

It’s besides not wide what Israel, which began bombing Iran alongside the U.S. connected Feb. 28, would bash if the U.S. pulls retired without a deal. It besides leaves unfastened the question of what Iran mightiness bash with the highly enriched uranium inactive successful its stockpiles.

No signs of Iran relinquishing its grip connected the Strait of Hormuz

Trump’s comments offered different mixed awesome from the American person who has offered shifting objectives for the warfare and repeatedly said it could beryllium implicit soon portion besides threatening to widen the conflict. Thousands of further U.S. troops are presently heading to the Middle East, and speculation abounds astir the intent of their deployment.

Just days ago, Trump warned that the U.S. would onslaught Iran’s powerfulness plants if Tehran did not reopen the strait by April 6. He has besides threatened to onslaught Iran’s Kharg Island lipid export hub and perchance desalination plants.

But connected Tuesday, Trump said the U.S. “will not person thing to bash with” ensuring the information of ships passing done Hormuz.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled Tehran’s willingness to support fighting.

“You cannot talk to the radical of Iran successful the connection of threats and deadlines,” helium said. “We bash not acceptable immoderate deadline for defending ourselves.”

Trump has been nether increasing unit to extremity the warfare arsenic lipid prices person skyrocketed, pushing up the outgo of gasoline, nutrient and different goods. The spot terms of Brent crude, the planetary standard, was up much than 40% since the commencement of the war, trading astatine much than $103 a tube connected Wednesday.

It’s unclear wherever diplomatic efforts stand

The U.S. has presented Iran with a 15-point program aimed astatine bringing astir a ceasefire, including a request for the strait to beryllium reopened and for is atomic programme to beryllium rolled back.

Iran insists its atomic programme is peaceful. Its ain five-point effect includes retaining sovereignty implicit the strait.

In the interrogation with Al Jazeera, Araghchi acknowledged receiving nonstop messages from U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. He insisted, however, that determination were nary nonstop negotiations and said Iran has nary religion that talks with the U.S. could output immoderate results, saying “the spot level is astatine zero.”

He warned against immoderate U.S. effort to motorboat a crushed offensive, saying “we are waiting for them.”

Iran hits tanker disconnected Qatar's seashore and attacks different Gulf states

A cruise rocket slammed into an lipid tanker disconnected Qatar’s seashore Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said. The 21-member unit of the tanker, contracted by state-owned QatarEnergy, was evacuated and nary casualties were reported.

A fully-loaded Kuwaiti lipid tanker came nether onslaught disconnected Dubai the time before, 1 of much than 20 ships attacked by Iran during the war.

In the United Arab Emirates, a idiosyncratic was killed erstwhile helium was deed by debris from an intercepted drone successful Fujairah, 1 of the country’s 7 emirates.

Bahrain sounded 2 alerts for incoming missiles, portion Kuwait’s state-run KUNA quality bureau said a drone deed a substance vessel astatine Kuwait International Airport, sparking a ample fire.

Jordan’s subject said it intercepted a ballistic rocket and 2 drones fired from Iran successful the past 24 hours. No casualties were reported. Two drones were besides intercepted successful Saudi Arabia, and aerial raid sirens sounded successful Israel though determination were nary contiguous reports of harm oregon casualties.

An airstrike connected Tehran, meanwhile, appeared to person deed the erstwhile U.S. Embassy compound, which has been controlled by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard since American diplomats were held hostage determination successful 1979.

Witnesses said buildings extracurricular the monolithic compound had their windows blown retired and that it appears the onslaught happened wrong the walled facility.

Israel besides said it deed a works successful Iran producing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. Israel and the United States person alleged successful caller years that Iran was experimenting with utilizing fentanyl successful chemic weapons.

Iran acknowledged a onslaught Tuesday connected Tofigh Daru factory, but insisted it lone supplied “hospital drugs.” Hospitals usage fentanyl to dainty terrible symptom but it tin besides beryllium fatal.

Israel strikes Lebanon

In Lebanon, astatine slightest 5 radical were killed successful an Israeli onslaught connected a Beirut neighborhood.

Israel invaded confederate Lebanon aft the Iran-linked Hezbollah militant radical began launching missiles into bluish Israel days aft the outbreak of the war. Many Lebanese fearfulness different prolonged subject occupation.

More than 1,200 radical person been killed successful Lebanon and much than 1 cardinal displaced, according to authorities. Ten Israeli soldiers person besides died there.

In Iran, authorities accidental much than 1,900 radical person been killed, portion 19 person been reported dormant successful Israel. More than 2 twelve radical person died successful Gulf states and the occupied West Bank, portion 13 U.S. work members person been killed.

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Rising reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writers Giovanna Dell’Orto successful Miami and Samy Magdy successful Cairo contributed to this report.

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