Iran's president says immediate cessation of US-Israeli aggression needed to end war

Calls on BRICS bloc of major emerging ​economies to play independent role in halting aggression ‌against ⁠Iran

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on ​Saturday that there needs to be ‌an "immediate cessation" of what he described as US-Israeli aggression to end the war and wider regional conflict, ​Iran's embassy in India said in ​a post on X on Saturday.

Pezeshkian spoke with ⁠India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi by ​phone earlier in the day.

Pezeshkian told Modi ​that there should be guarantees to prevent a recurrence of such "aggression" in the future. He also called ​on the BRICS bloc of major emerging ​economies to play an independent role in halting aggression ‌against ⁠Iran.

The Iranian president proposed a regional security framework comprising West Asian countries to ensure peace without foreign interference, according to the ​country's embassy ​in India.

Telephone Conversation between President Pezeshkian and the Prime Minister of India

Dr. Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, held a telephone conversation on Saturday, 21 March 2026, with Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, during which they discussed… pic.twitter.com/FFjzPnpe81

— Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) March 21, 2026

In ⁠a separate post on X earlier today, Modi said ​he condemned attacks on critical infrastructure ​in ⁠the Middle East in the discussion with Pezeshkian.

The Indian premier further reiterated the importance ⁠of ​safeguarding freedom of navigation ​and ensuring shipping lanes remain open and secure.

Russia condemns attack on Iran's Natanz facility

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned a US‑Israel attack on Iran’s Natanz enrichment facility, while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) urged military restraint to avoid a nuclear incident in the region.

"This is a blatant violation of international law," the ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

The IAEA said on X that Iran had informed it of the attack on the Natanz nuclear site. No increase in radiation levels was reported, and the IAEA said it was ‘looking into the report.

Director General of the IAEA Rafael Mariano Grossi reiterated a call for military restraint to avoid a nuclear incident.

The IAEA has been informed by Iran that the Natanz nuclear site was attacked today. No increase in off-site radiation levels reported. IAEA is looking into the report.
IAEA Director General @rafaelmgrossi reiterates call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear… pic.twitter.com/jDCWYbOwao

— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) March 21, 2026

According to Iran's Tasnim News agency, “no leakage of radioactive materials were reported in this complex, and no danger threatened the residents of the areas surrounding this site.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran ‘will escalate significantly’ this week: Katz

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that ​​​this week, the intensity of the US-Israeli strikes in Iran “will significantly escalate”, during an assessment with military officials, according to Al Jazeera.

According to the Times of Israel newspaper, Katz said that Israel is “determined to continue leading the offensive against the Iranian terror regime, to decapitate its commanders and thwart its strategic capabilities, until every security threat to the State of Israel and to US interests in the region is removed”.

“We will not stop until all war objectives are achieved,” he was quoted as saying.

Iran says it disrupted military flights with drones

Tehran says it “seriously disrupted” flights and Israeli military aircraft refuelling with drone strikes on fuel tanks, refuelling jets at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

According to Al Jazeera, the military released a statement saying attacks by Iran’s army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on military targets also forced Israel to evacuate some army personnel.

Attacks “will continue with force” until the threat to Iran is “eliminated”, it said.

Ben Gurion Airport, a few kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv, houses special units of the Israeli military and sits next to maintenance and repair facilities for Israeli fighter jets.

In a statement by the Israeli military, they said that, " during an operational activity by the Israeli Air Force in Iranian airspace, the launch of a surface-to-air missile toward an Israeli aircraft was identified”. According to Al Jazeera, no damage was reported.

Iran FM says war was ‘imposed’ and rejects ceasefire in Kyodo interview

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel was “imposed” on Iran, insisting that Tehran is acting in self-defence and will not accept a ceasefire under current conditions.

In an interview with Kyodo News, Araghchi described the conflict as “an illegal, unjustified, and unprovoked act of aggression”, saying Iran had been engaged in negotiations with the US when the attacks began.

Key Points from Iranian FM Araghchi's Interview with Kyodo News:

🔹Question: Do you have a message for the int. community regarding this unjust war against Iran?

🔹Answer: Our message is that this war is not our war. This is a war that has been imposed on us. We were… pic.twitter.com/XnSCU0h12T

— Embassy of the I.R. of Iran, Tokyo / 駐日イラン大使館 (@IraninJapan) March 21, 2026

“Our message is that this war is not our war. This is a war that has been imposed on us,” he said. “What we are doing is purely self-defence. We will continue to defend ourselves, however necessary and for as long as necessary.”

He called on the international community to take a unified stance against what he described as aggression by the United States and Israel, urging global pressure to bring hostilities to an end.

Addressing Japan’s potential role, Araghchi said Japan had traditionally maintained balanced relations with Iran and could play a constructive role in resolving the crisis. He noted he had spoken twice with Japan’s foreign minister during the conflict and expressed hope that Tokyo could help end the war.

“We hope that Japan can play a constructive role in ending this aggression and ensuring that this unjust war is completely ended,” he said.

Araghchi also made clear that Iran does not support a ceasefire framework, warning against a repeat of previous arrangements.

“We do not accept a ceasefire because we do not want the scenario of last year to be repeated,” he said. “The war must be completely and permanently ended, and there must be guarantees that this situation will not be repeated.”

He added that Iran expects compensation for damage caused during the conflict.

On mediation efforts, Araghchi acknowledged that several countries were attempting to broker a solution, but said the US did not appear ready to halt its actions.

“Some countries are trying to play a positive and constructive role. We welcome any initiative that can completely end this war,” he said. “But right now… the US does not seem ready to stop its aggression.”

He reiterated that Iran’s position remains unchanged, stressing that “the only acceptable solution… is a complete end to the war.”

Iran fires at US-UK military base

Iran fired two ballistic missiles ​at the US-UK ‌military base Diego Garcia in the ​Indian Ocean, the ​semi-official Mehr news agency ⁠reported on ​Saturday.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Iran had launched two intermediate-range ​ballistic missiles toward ​the base, but that ‌they ⁠did not hit it.

Mehr said targeting the base was ​a "significant ​step ... ⁠that shows that the range ​of Iran's ​missiles ⁠is beyond what the enemy previously ⁠imagined".

The White House, the British ​embassy in Washington, ​and ⁠the Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to ⁠Reuters requests for comment.

The Israeli military struck Iran and Beirut on Saturday, as more than 2,000 people have been killed since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, while Americans appear increasingly concerned at signs the war could expand further as it enters its fourth week.

Israel said it was attacking Hezbollah on Saturday in the Lebanese capital as it steps up airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed militia in the deadliest spillover from the war on Iran since Hezbollah ​fired on Israel in support of Tehran on March 2.

Israel also launched new attacks on Iran on Saturday, including on the capital Tehran, its military said.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States was considering “winding down” military operations against Iran but was not seeking a ceasefire with the Islamic Republic.

He claimed that Operation Epic Fury could wind down in “four to six weeks,” with no comment on US ground troop involvement, as the White House remains opaque on timelines and objectives, according to Al Jazeera.

According to Al Jazeera, he said that he does not “want to do a ceasefire” with Iran. “You know you don’t do a ceasefire when you’re literally obliterating the other side,” Trump tells reporters.

Iran coastal city attacked

A residential house has been struck in US-Israeli attack on Iran’s coastal city of Ramsar, killing a couple and their child, on the Caspian Sea in Mazandaran province, according to Mehdi Younesi Rostami, the governor, Al Jazeera reports.

“Targeting defenceless citizens reflects the peak of helplessness and helplessness of the perpetrators of this attack,” he said. “Such violent acts will not only not weaken the will of the Iranian nation, but will also increase national solidarity and cohesion.”

UAE says it has intercepted three missiles, 8 drones

The United Arab Emirates has intercepted three ballistic missiles and eight drones "launched from Iran" on Saturday, according to the country’s defence ministry.

According to Al Jazeera, In a statement, authorities said air defence systems had responded to the incoming threats as part of ongoing efforts to counter what they described as continued Iranian attacks.

The ministry added that since the start of the escalation, UAE defences have intercepted a total of 341 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,748 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Officials said the attacks have resulted in casualties, including the deaths of two members of the armed forces while on duty.

A further six civilians of multiple nationalities — including Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Palestinian — were also killed, the statement said.

Read: Another Pakistani killed in UAE after missile debris falls during interception

In total, 160 people have been injured, with wounds described as ranging from minor to severe.

Drones target US base in Iraq amid NATO pullback

Iraqi security sources report a drone attack in the residential area of Baghdad in the Mansour neighbourhood, with one drone targeting an Iraqi intelligence building, as per Al Jazeera.

A separate unnamed source told AFP that the targeted building houses an Iraqi security agency that works with US advisers in Iraq.

As a result of this attack, an officer ⁠has been killed, according to a statement issued by ⁠the ⁠National Intelligence Service.

Al Jazeera reports that at least four drones have targeted a major US military installation in Iraq, according to reports from the capital, Baghdad.

Explosions were heard overnight near Victory Base, with one drone reportedly striking the rear of a gate and causing a fire. Another is believed to have hit داخل the base, while a further device may have involved a rocket-propelled grenade, suggesting a potential escalation in tactics.

There have been no immediate reports of casualties.

Al Jazeera said that sources indicate the drones were launched from areas within and around Baghdad, including Abu Ghraib and Dora, raising concerns about how such attacks are being coordinated within proximity to the city.

At the same time, US forces have carried out strikes against the Popular Mobilisation Forces.

The developments come as NATO allies scale back their presence in Iraq. Several countries are withdrawing personnel amid concerns that the situation is evolving into a wider regional conflict—one they did not initiate and are reluctant to be drawn into.

Funeral held for IRGC spokesman killed in reported US-Israeli strike

The remains of Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini, the IRGC spokesperson, have been brought to the holy city of Qom for more tributes, according to The Tehran Times newspaper.

His remains will eventually be brought further south to the city of Kashan for the final rites and burial, the newspaper reported in a post on X.

Thousands of mourners attended his funeral prayers, according to Al Jazeera.

The funeral took place in the capital, Tehran, according to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA). The ceremony coincided with national observances marking Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz.

According to Al Jazeera, Iranian officials said the 68-year-old was killed in overnight strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. The officials' statement has not been independently verified.

Another wave of Iranian missiles launched towards Israel

Israel’s military has issued another missile attack warning – at least the fourth since early Saturday morning – calling on the public to move to shelters and remain there until the threat has passed, Al Jazeera reports.

The Israeli military says rescue and recovery personnel are on their way to a scene in the centre of the country, “where reports of impacts have been received”.

The statement published on X follows the missile attack warning, at least the fourth since early Saturday morning, and calls for the public to move to shelters.

The military said air defence systems are operating to intercept the missiles, which were launched from Iran a short while ago.

At least two people have been killed by shelling in a residential area in the village of Dastak in Kiashahr, in northern Iran, according to the governor of Gilan province, as reported by Al Jazeera.

According to Drop Site News, a spokesman of the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum dismissed the US decision to temporarily lift sanctions on Iranian oil at sea as a psychological trick.

“At present, Iran essentially has no crude oil left floating on water or surplus for supply in other international markets, and the statement by the US Treasury Secretary is merely aimed at giving hope to buyers and psychologically controlling the market.”

The price of Brent Crude has risen from about $70 to $113 since the war began.

Germany, France ready to help on Hormuz

Vital energy infrastructure in Iran and neighbouring Gulf states has also been attacked, and oil prices have jumped 50% since ⁠the war began, threatening global economic shock.

In the US, United Airlines said it would cut its scheduled flights by 5% in the second and third quarters, planning for prolonged higher oil prices.

The Strait of ​Hormuz, conduit for around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, has been effectively closed to most shipping since the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran.

Trump on ​Friday called US allies "cowards" for declining to help open the strait while fighting continued.

Several allies, who were not consulted before the war, have pledged to join "appropriate efforts" to ensure safe passage through the strait, but Germany and France have said fighting must stop first. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would speak to Trump this weekend.

Iran is ready to let Japanese-related vessels pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Kyodo News reported on Saturday, citing Iranian Foreign ​Minister Abbas Araghchi. Japan gets around 90% of its oil shipments via the Strait.

The Trump White House, in an effort to increase supply and lower prices, said it would waive sanctions for 30 ​days to allow the sale of 140 million barrels of Iranian oil stranded on tankers by the war. The administration had previously eased sanctions on a similar amount of sanctioned Russian oil.

The Israeli military said ‌before its Saturday ⁠attacks it had issued evacuation warnings for seven neighbourhoods in the southern suburbs of Beirut, however, some of the evacuations were issued merely an hour before Israeli bombardment.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, and over 1 million displaced in the Israeli attacks.

US increasing military deployment

The US military is deploying thousands more Marines to the Middle East, officials told Reuters on Friday, as President Donald Trump accused ​NATO allies of cowardice over their reluctance to send forces to help open the Strait of Hormuz.

The narrow waterway, conduit for around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, has been effectively closed ‌to most shipping since the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran almost three weeks ago.

Read more: Instability in Hormuz and our economic challenges

Vital energy infrastructure in both Iran and neighbouring Gulf states has also been attacked, and oil prices have jumped about 50% since the start of the war on February 28, threatening a global economic shock.

In an effort to increase supply and lower prices, the Trump administration said it would waive sanctions on Iran to allow the sale of 140 million barrels of oil that have been stranded on tankers since the war began. The administration had previously eased sanctions on a similar amount of ​Russian oil as well.

More than 2,000 people have been killed, mostly in Iran and Lebanon and many of them civilians, while Americans appear increasingly concerned at signs the war could expand further after local US oil prices increased.

Also read: Israel launches ground assault against Hezbollah

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll showed almost two-thirds of Americans believe Trump will order ​troops into a large-scale ground war, with only 7% supporting such a move.

Stacked bar chart about sending ground troops to Iran

On Friday, Israel’s military said it carried out two large waves of air strikes on Tehran and central ⁠Iran, targeting weapons production facilities and sites storing ballistic missile launchers and components. Israel faced multiple waves of missile attacks from Iran, according to the Israeli military, triggering air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where explosions from interceptions were heard.

Fragments ​from an Iranian missile struck Jerusalem on Friday, landing just outside the Old City, which is sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims, police said, releasing a photograph of the debris. There were no reports of injuries or casualties.

Kuwait's state oil firm said its Mina Al-Ahmadi ​refinery had suffered multiple drone attacks that set some units alight, the latest energy facility hit by Iran in recent days.

Three US officials told Reuters that 2,500 Marines, along with the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship, and accompanying warships, would deploy to the region, although they did not say what their role would be.

Two officials said there had been no decision on whether to send troops into Iran itself. Sources have earlier told Reuters that possible targets could include Iran's coast or Kharg Island oil export hub.

Trump said the United States was close to reaching its goals ​in the war, which include degrading Iran's military and preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon, and may wind down its military effort.

Also read: How many countries have pushed back on Trump’s Hormuz ship demand?

The UK government authorised the US to ‌use its bases ⁠in Britain to strike Iranian missile sites that are targeting ships in the Strait.

Most of Iran’s major energy facilities, as well as major assets in nearby countries, have been targeted.

Khamenei's health in question

As Muslims around the region tried to celebrate Eidul Fitr, which ends the fasting month of Ramazan, and Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year, new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a message of defiance.

Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since the Israeli attack that killed his father and predecessor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the war's first day, said Iranians had responded with unity and resistance and "dealt a disorienting blow to the enemy".

A US intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the statement raises questions about Khamenei's condition, as his father traditionally marked the New Year with a video address. The official said Khamenei's extended absence raises questions about his condition and ​who is running the country.

US and Israeli officials say Iran ​can still hit back, even though weeks of bombing ⁠have severely weakened the government and depleted its stock of missiles and drones.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had attacked Haifa and Tel Aviv with multi-warhead missiles and used drones to attack weapons stocks at US bases, including Sheikh Isa air base in Bahrain. No comment was immediately available from US forces.

The semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim said intelligence minister Esmail Ahmadi was killed, the ​latest of dozens of leading figures assassinated by Israel.

"We have nobody to talk to," Trump said. "And you know what? We like it that way."