BIG: Iran has reinforced Kharg Island with troops, air defenses, and mines, preparing for a potential US ground operation.

US officials warn of high risks, including heavy casualties, due to layered defenses and recent deployments of Iranian MANPADs and anti-armor mines.

Source: CNN

Russia sought to blackmail the United States by offering to stop sharing military intelligence with Iran if Washington cut off Ukraine from its intelligence, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“I have reports from our intelligence services showing that Russia is doing this and saying: 'I will not pass on intelligence to Iran if America stops passing intelligence to Ukraine.' Isn't that blackmail? Absolutely,” Zelensky told Reuters.

Source: Reuters

The U.S. has offered security guarantees for a peace deal in Ukraine on the condition that Kyiv cedes the Donbas region to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Reuters.

"The Americans are prepared to finalise these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from Donbas," Zelensky said.

Source: Reuters

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Japan will send combat troops to the Philippines for the 2026 Balikatan exercises, marking the first such deployment since World War II.

The troops will join forces from the United States and Australia in joint defensive drills.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

This is neither Iran’s war nor America’s war; rather, Israel has pushed the U.S. toward it.

The U.S. prioritizes Israel’s security, and its bases in the region are meant to protect Tel Aviv; Washington is willing to sacrifice everything for Israel’s security.

Israel’s goal is to achieve the “Greater Israel project,” which includes territories of some countries in the region.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:

At present, our policy is to continue resistance, and no negotiations have taken place.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will visit Berlin this Monday. His earlier trip, originally scheduled for January, was canceled. He will meet with Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Source: BILD

German Chancellor Merz says he will no longer supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine, breaking his earlier promise:

I said this at a time and in a context that you naturally know, but at that time I assumed there were enough operational Taurus cruise missiles in the Bundeswehr’s stocks that we could deliver to Ukraine.

Today, Ukraine itself has long-range weapons in its depots, some built with our help, which are much more effective than the relatively small number of Taurus missiles we could have delivered. Ukraine is better armed today than ever before.

However, Ukraine has significant funding difficulties, and that is why at the moment we are not solving a problem with additional weapons. The weapons are there, but we need to mobilize money for Ukraine so these weapons can continue to be produced.

WATCH: Iranian IRGC‑affiliated media claims this video shows Iran striking a U.S. F/A‑18 fighter jet.

Another angle of IRGC targeting U.S. F/A‑18 fighter jet today.

Senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaee:

Do American soldiers really want to die for Israel?

We’re waiting.

CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper:

We have struck more than 10,000 military targets.

We’ve destroyed 92% of Iran’s largest naval vessels. They have lost the ability to meaningfully project naval power.

U.S. forces maintain air superiority over Iran’s skies.

We’ve removed the regime’s ability to rebuild.

We’ve destroyed over two-thirds of Iran’s military production facilities. We are on a path to completely eliminate Iran’s military manufacturing apparatus.

📸 Major fire at Russia’s Ust-Luga port after Ukrainian strikes.

Netanyahu urged Trump last week to call on Iranians to protest their government. Trump rejected the idea as too dangerous.

“Why the hell should we tell people to take to the streets when they'll just get mowed down,” Trump told Netanyahu, according to a U.S. official.

Source: Axios

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Iran has told mediators that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire with the U.S. and Israel.

Source: Reuters

Bandar Abbas coast at midnight, March 26.

The lights visible offshore are reportedly not from the city, but from ships waiting near the Strait of Hormuz after being unable to obtain clearance to transit the waterway.

INTERESTING: A surveillance drone, reportedly flown by infiltrator elements and disguised as a natural bird — such as an eagle — has been spotted in Iran.

Western intelligence says Russia is close to completing phased deliveries of drones, medicine, and food to Iran, following secret talks after US and Israeli strikes on Tehran.

This would be Moscow’s first known lethal support to Iran since the war began.

Source: FT

Sara Netanyahu:

My children have suffered shaming and violence simply because they are the children of the Prime Minister.