Iran US War News: IRGC claims they “successfully targeted” US F-18 fighter jet. However, US Central Command rejected the reports.
Iran US War Live Updates: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran is participating in peace talks, but he is afraid to say so because Tehran believes he will be killed by its own people. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said that if the Islamic Republic “fails to accept the reality of the present moment, Trump will hit Iran harder than ever.”
“Well, they’re negotiating and they want to make a deal. But they’re afraid to say it, because they think they’ll get killed by their own people,” Trump said. “They are also afraid that they will be killed by us,” he said.
The US president also reiterated that Iran is being “destroyed” in the conflict, which is now in its fourth week.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is reviewing a US proposal sent through Pakistan the previous day to end the ongoing war in the Middle East. However, he said Iran has no intention of negotiating an end to the growing regional conflict.
Exchanging messages through intermediaries “does not mean dialogue with the United States,” Araghchi said on state TV. “He put forward views in his messages which were conveyed to top officials, and if necessary, a position will be announced by him,” he said.
Araghchi’s comments come after reports that Iran has rejected the Trump administration’s ceasefire proposal and presented its own demands to end the war.
Iran says it targeted America’s F-18 fighter jet
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed on Wednesday that they “successfully targeted” a US F-18 fighter jet. Iran’s state media, Press TV, released a video purporting to be evidence of the IRGC’s claims.
However, this claim was rejected by US Central Command, which stated that no fighter aircraft were shot down by Iran.
Central Command said in a post on
Peace talks in Pakistan ‘speculation’: White House
The White House on Thursday dismissed reports of possible peace talks between Iran and the US in Pakistan, with Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt calling them “speculation.”
He said, “I’ve seen that speculation. Nothing is official until it’s announced by the White House. We can’t get ahead of ourselves.”
White House explains JD Vance’s role
Earlier on Wednesday, there were reports that Iranian representatives had indicated to the US that they would prefer to hold talks with Vice President JD Vance rather than Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Leavitt was asked about the change in status now that Vance had become an active participant in the Iran war. He replied that the Vice President has always had active participation.
He said, “Nothing has changed. The Vice President has always been a key member of the national security team and the President’s right-hand man. He played a key role in the 12-day war talks and ceasefire in Gaza. Any reports suggesting otherwise are false.”
Rumors about Iran’s Mohammad Ghalibaf
Multiple reports have suggested that Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is the Trump administration’s negotiator in the ongoing ‘talks’.
Meanwhile, Ghalibaf warned that the enemy was planning a possible invasion of an Iranian island with the support of an unidentified regional country.
“Based on some intelligence reports, Iran’s enemies are preparing to capture one of the Iranian islands with the support of one of the regional states,” he said in a post on X.
oil prices today
Oil prices rose on Thursday as uncertainty over US-Iran peace talks and resulting optimism kept investors cautious.
West Texas Intermediate rose to $91 a barrel after falling 2 percent on Wednesday, while Brent crude closed above $102 a barrel.
Fee for crossing the Strait of Hormuz
Maritime trackers reported some ships were still transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s largest oil chokepoint guarded by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, each day, with most tankers transiting the Gulf.
News agency AFP, citing shipping journal Lloyd’s List, reported that a handful of ships crossing the strait daily were reportedly using a new route approved by Iran, which was being called the “Tehran Toll Booth”.
At least one of the investigated vessels reportedly paid $2 million to use the narrow waterway around Larak Island, off the coast of Iran.
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“Well, they’re negotiating and they want to make a deal. But they’re afraid to say it, because they think they’ll get killed by their own people,” Trump said. “They are also afraid that they will be killed by us,” he said.
The US president also reiterated that Iran is being “destroyed” in the conflict, which is now in its fourth week.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is reviewing a US proposal sent through Pakistan the previous day to end the ongoing war in the Middle East. However, he said Iran has no intention of negotiating an end to the growing regional conflict.
Exchanging messages through intermediaries “does not mean dialogue with the United States,” Araghchi said on state TV. “He put forward views in his messages which were conveyed to top officials, and if necessary, a position will be announced by him,” he said.
Araghchi’s comments come after reports that Iran has rejected the Trump administration’s ceasefire proposal and presented its own demands to end the war.
Iran says it targeted America’s F-18 fighter jet
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed on Wednesday that they “successfully targeted” a US F-18 fighter jet. Iran’s state media, Press TV, released a video purporting to be evidence of the IRGC’s claims.
However, this claim was rejected by US Central Command, which stated that no fighter aircraft were shot down by Iran.
Central Command said in a post on
Peace talks in Pakistan ‘speculation’: White House
The White House on Thursday dismissed reports of possible peace talks between Iran and the US in Pakistan, with Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt calling them “speculation.”
He said, “I’ve seen that speculation. Nothing is official until it’s announced by the White House. We can’t get ahead of ourselves.”
White House explains JD Vance’s role
Earlier on Wednesday, there were reports that Iranian representatives had indicated to the US that they would prefer to hold talks with Vice President JD Vance rather than Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Leavitt was asked about the change in status now that Vance had become an active participant in the Iran war. He replied that the Vice President has always had active participation.
He said, “Nothing has changed. The Vice President has always been a key member of the national security team and the President’s right-hand man. He played a key role in the 12-day war talks and ceasefire in Gaza. Any reports suggesting otherwise are false.”
Rumors about Iran’s Mohammad Ghalibaf
Multiple reports have suggested that Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is the Trump administration’s negotiator in the ongoing ‘talks’.
Meanwhile, Ghalibaf warned that the enemy was planning a possible invasion of an Iranian island with the support of an unidentified regional country.
“Based on some intelligence reports, Iran’s enemies are preparing to capture one of the Iranian islands with the support of one of the regional states,” he said in a post on X.
oil prices today
Oil prices rose on Thursday as uncertainty over US-Iran peace talks and resulting optimism kept investors cautious.
West Texas Intermediate rose to $91 a barrel after falling 2 percent on Wednesday, while Brent crude closed above $102 a barrel.
Fee for crossing the Strait of Hormuz
Maritime trackers reported some ships were still transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s largest oil chokepoint guarded by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, each day, with most tankers transiting the Gulf.
News agency AFP, citing shipping journal Lloyd’s List, reported that a handful of ships crossing the strait daily were reportedly using a new route approved by Iran, which was being called the “Tehran Toll Booth”.
At least one of the investigated vessels reportedly paid $2 million to use the narrow waterway around Larak Island, off the coast of Iran.
Follow all updates here:
March 26, 2026 7:06:02 am First
Iran US war live updates: What role does JD Vance play in peace talks?
Iran US War Live Updates: There were reports on Wednesday that Iranian representatives told the US they preferred to negotiate with Vice President JD Vance rather than Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Leavitt was asked about the change in status now that Vance had become an active participant in the Iran war. He replied that the Vice President has always had active participation.
He said, “Nothing has changed. The Vice President has always been a key member of the national security team and the President’s right-hand man. He played a key role in the 12-day war talks and ceasefire in Gaza. Any reports suggesting otherwise are false.”
March 26, 2026 6:55:56 am First
Iran US war live updates: What are oil prices today?
Iran US War Live Updates: Oil prices rose on Thursday as uncertainty over US-Iran peace talks and resulting optimism kept investors cautious.
Brent crude closed above $102 a barrel on Wednesday, while West Texas Intermediate rose 2 percent to $91 a barrel.
March 26, 2026 6:55:44 am First
Iran US war live updates: Trump says Tehran ‘afraid’ to accept deal’s willingness
Iran US war live updates: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran was participating in peace talks but was afraid to say it because Tehran believes it will be killed by its own people.
“Well, they’re negotiating and they want to make a deal. But they’re afraid to say it, because they think they’ll get killed by their own people,” Trump said. “They are also afraid that they will be killed by us,” he said.
March 26, 2026 6:55:33 am First
Iran US War Live Updates: Will peace talks be held in Pakistan? White House gave clarification
Iran US War Live Updates: The White House on Thursday dismissed reports of possible peace talks between Iran and the US in Pakistan, with Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt terming them “speculation”.
He said, “I’ve seen that speculation. Nothing is official until it’s announced by the White House. We can’t get ahead of ourselves.”
March 26, 2026 6:50:16 am First
Iran US war live updates: Tehran says it is reviewing Trump’s peace proposal
Iran US war live updates: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Tehran is reviewing the US proposal to end the ongoing war. However, he clarified that Iran has no intention of negotiating to reduce the growing conflict in the Middle East.
Exchanging messages through intermediaries “does not mean dialogue with the United States,” Araghchi said on state TV. “He put forward views in his messages which were conveyed to top officials, and if necessary, a position will be announced by him,” he said.
