President Trump's administration has issued a stark warning to Iran, threatening to 'unleash hell' and 'hit harder than they have ever been hit before' if Tehran fails to come to the negotiation table and abandon its nuclear ambitions. The US has deployed ground troops to the Middle East following Iran's rejection of a 'maximalist' US peace plan, while the White House claims significant military successes in 'Operation Epic Fury' and hints at ongoing, though unconfirmed, peace talks. Iran, meanwhile, warns of opening new fronts if provoked.
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It comes after the United States has confirmed the deployment of ground troops to the Middle East after Iran sent back the ‘excessive’ demands of Donald Trump’s peace plan. The Pentagon confirmed to The Independent on Wednesday that some elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, some division enablers and the 1st Brigade Combat Team will be deploying to the region. The confirmation came as Iranian officials said they had received a proposal to end the war from the US and deemed it ‘maximalist’ and unacceptable. RECOMMENDED Inside the 82nd Airborne: The US Army division set to deploy in the Middle East British Army so depleted it could only ‘seize a small market town on a good day’ Families of fallen soldiers and veterans blast Trump’s meme use saying it trivializes their sacrifice What we know about Trump’s 15-point plan to end the Iran war KEY POINTS Trump offers Tehran 15-point ceasefire plan Oil drops to $97 a barrel Iran says US is negotiating with itself Trump says Iran has agreed to never get nuclear weapons Pakistan could host Iran ceasefire talks next week Pentagon orders 2,000 soldiers to help in Iran war: report Leavitt refuses to confirm 15 point plan allegedly rejected by Iran Responding to questions about a 15 point plan to end the war allegedly rejected by the US, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said they never confirmed the 15 point plan. She said: “Talks continue. They are productive, as the President said on Monday, and they continue to be. However, I saw a 15 point plan that was floated in the media. I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources, the White House never confirmed that full plan. “There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual. “So I am not going to negotiate on behalf of the President here at the podium. What I will tell you is these talks are ongoing. “We're not going to get into the nitty gritty details that have been exchanged between the United States and Iran at this time.” Bryony Gooch25 March 2026 17:59 Leavitt: Trump will 'unleash hell' on Iran if they don't negotiate White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said President Trump will “unleash hell” on Iran if they are unwilling to talk. She said: “President Trump is willing to listen. As President Trump announced on Monday, the United States has been engaged over the last three days in productive conversations which led the President to temporarily instruct the Department of War to postpone planned strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure. She said that Iran would have to abandon nuclear ambitions and “ cease actively threatening America” and allies. “The President's preference is always peace,” she added. “There does not need to be any more death and destruction. But if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been before. “President Trump does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell. Iran should not miscalculate again. Their last miscalculation cost them their senior leadership, their navy, their air force and their air defense system. “Any violence beyond this point will be because the Iranian regime refused to understand they have already been defeated and refused to come to a deal here.” Bryony Gooch25 March 2026 17:52 Leavitt: US close to meeting objectives of Operation Epic Fury on time Press secretary Karoline Leavitt has claimed that the US military is close to meeting the core objectives of Operation Epic Fury, in line with the estimation it would take four to six weeks to achieve. She says: “For all of these reasons, we are very close to meeting the core objectives of Operation Epic Fury and this military mission continues unabated. “From the outset, President Trump and the Department of War estimated it would take approximately four to six weeks to achieve this critical mission. “25 days in, the greatest military the world has ever known is ahead of schedule and performing exceptionally day by day, the Iranian regime is being crippled, and their ability to threaten the United States and our allies is being significantly weakened. “Their ambitions of building a nuclear weapon have also been crushed to an even greater degree than they were in Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025.” Bryony Gooch25 March 2026 17:48 Leavitt: US military continues to 'decimate' Iran forces White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the US military continues to “decimate” Iran’s “offensive and defensive capabilities” three weeks into the war. She says: “It's abundantly clear that operation epic fury has been a resounding military triumph. “More than 9,000 enemy targets have been struck to date compared to the start of the operation, Iran's ballistic missile attacks and drone attacks are down by roughly 90 per cent. The United States is also annihilating the Iranian regime's navy. We have destroyed more than 140 of their naval vessels, including almost 50 mine layers. This is the largest elimination of a navy over a three week period since World War Two.” The Independent has not been able to independently verify Ms Leavitt’s statements. Bryony Gooch25 March 2026 17:46 Trump trip to China announced after delays due to Iran War White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has announced the long-awaited date President Donald Trump will go to China. It is believed the visit was delayed after President Trump’s concentration changed to Iran at the end of February. Ms Leavitt said: “Also, I'm pleased to announce that President Trump's meeting and long awaited meeting with President Xi in China will now take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15th. “First Lady Melania and President Trump will also host President Xi and Madame pain for a reciprocal visit in Washington, DC at a later date to be announced this year.” Bryony Gooch25 March 2026 17:44 Press briefing with Karoline Leavitt We’re waiting on White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to begin a conference as thousands of US troops head to Iran. We’ll bring you the latest lines. Bryony Gooch25 March 2026 17:38 Iran could take action in Bab al-Mandab Strait if provoked, Tasnim news agency says Iran could open a new front in the Bab al-Mandab Strait if attacks are carried out on Iranian territory or its islands, Iran's semi-official Tasnim cited an unnamed Iranian military source as saying on Wednesday. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has previously launched attacks in the region where the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait is located. Bryony Gooch25 March 2026 17:30 ADNOC CEO tells US vice president that free passage through Strait of Hormuz only solution to stabilising markets Abu Dhabi state oil company ADNOC's Group CEO Sultan Al Jaber told US vice president JD Vance on Wednesday that free passage through the Strait of Hormuz was the only durable solution to stabilising global markets. The US-Israeli war against Iran has all but halted shipments of about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas through the strait, causing oil supply disruption. Bryony Gooch25 March 2026 17:15 Iran oil insider trader concern after hundreds of millions are wagered minutes before Trump’s ‘peace talks’ post Concern after traders bet millions on oil minutes before Trump’s peace talks’ post Surge in global betting on energy markets seen on Monday morning 15 minutes prior to President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post announcing ‘productive’ talks with Iran Bryony Gooch25 March 2026 17:00 Israel to expand buffer zone in Lebanon Israel will expand its buffer zone in Lebanon to “distance the threat of Hezbollah” from its settlements. A statement on X read: “We are expanding this security strip in order to distance the threat of Hezbollah from our settlements and our territory. We're simply creating a larger buffer zone. “Now, the issue of dismantling Hezbollah is right before our eyes. This matter is also tied to the overall campaign against Iran, which is still in full swing, contrary to what the media reports.” Bryony Gooch25 March 2026 16:42 Newer 1 / 7 Older
