US Energy Secretary Chris Wright predicts the Iran conflict will conclude in weeks, despite Iran's foreign minister denying ceasefire requests and vowing to 'fight as long as it takes.' The war, now in its third week, sees Israel launching wide-scale strikes, a US-Italian base hit by a drone, and global concerns over soaring oil prices and a mounting humanitarian crisis, with the WHO allocating $2 million in emergency funds.
Chris Wright says he thinks Iran conflict 'will end in next few weeks' Your support helps us to tell the story SUPPORT NOW From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. Read more Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has denied claims that Iran requested negotiations or a ceasefire and says the country will “fight as long as it takes”. ”We never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation,” he told CBS News on Sunday. “We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes. And this is what we have done so far, and we continue to do that until President [Donald] Trump comes to the point that this is an illegal war with no victory.” President Trump had claimed Iran requested a ceasefire but said he was not ready to make a deal with the country because “the terms aren’t good enough yet”. The US leader told NBC that American forces had “totally demolished” military targets on Iran’s critical Kharg Island but suggested he might continue bombing it “just for fun”. It comes as Israel launched “wide-scale” strikes on Iran overnight as the raging war between the countries entered its third week. Residents of several neighbourhoods in southern Lebanon and Beirut were also ordered to evacuate by Israel on Sunday ahead of the latest wave. 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KEY POINTS Israel launches 'wide-scale' attacks on Iran, says military Recap: Fighting intensifies as war enters third week Trump says US may continue bombing oil facilities at Kharg Island 'just for fun' Iran says it will 'fight as long as it takes' and denies asking Trump for ceasefire New supreme leader is in 'good health', says Iran UK must build own nuclear missiles, says Lib Dem leader WHO releases $2 million in emergency funds to Lebanon, Iraq and Syria The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released $2 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) to support the health response in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria amidst the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The conflict has triggered a large-scale population movement, the WHO said last week, estimating that more than 100,000 people in Iran have relocated, and up to 700,000 people in Lebanon have been internally displaced. $1 million has been allocated to Lebanon to strengthen the WHO's emergency coordination through the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, scale up trauma care, reinforce disease surveillance, and procure and distribute essential medicines and medical supplies, the agency said in a statement. Iraq and Syria have each been allocated $500,000 to support emergency coordination and mass-casualty management, procure and distribute essential medicines and supplies, provide health services for displaced populations, and strengthen disease surveillance and community outreach, it added. "At a time when health services are already facing significant challenges, support is essential to sustain frontline health workers and maintain critical care services," Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean said. Rescuers are seen at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburb Haret Hreik on March 15, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images) Nicole Wootton-Cane15 March 2026 17:45 Germany sceptical about expanding EU Operation Aspides in Strait of Hormuz German foreign minister Johann Wadephul has said he is sceptical about a potential widening of European Union's Aspides naval mission to the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to Germany’s ARD broadcaster, Mr Wadephul said that the mission to help commercial shipments pass through the Red Sea was "not effective". "And that is why I am very sceptical that extending Aspides to the Strait of Hormuz would provide greater security," he added. German foreign minister Johann Wadephul (PA) (PA Wire) Nicole Wootton-Cane15 March 2026 17:38 US-Italian base in Kuwait struck by drone, authorities say A US-Italian military base in Kuwait was struck by a drone on Sunday, according to Italian authorities. In a post on X, the Italian chief of defence staff, General Luciano Portolano, wrote: “This morning, the Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait, which hosts American and Italian capabilities and personnel, was the target of a drone attack that struck a shelter, inside which a remotely piloted aircraft from the Italian Task Force Air was housed and was destroyed. “I immediately contacted Colonel Mangini to check on the conditions of the Italian personnel present at the base. At the time of the attack, all personnel were safe and were not involved. I promptly informed Defense Minister Crosetto of the incident, with whom I am in constant contact for ongoing updates on the situation of all our overseas contingents.” Nicole Wootton-Cane15 March 2026 17:30 US energy secretary dodges questions over soaring oil prices Donald Trump’s energy secretary has warned that the Iran war could likely last for several more weeks and deflected a question about whether it was possible that oil prices could hit $200 a barrel. Chris Wright appeared on several programs on Sunday as he presented the Trump administration’s domestic response to a war in Iran that despite the president’s proclamations seems far from over just yet. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Wright was questioned by moderator Kristen Welker about a prediction from Iranian officials that oil would soon reach $200 per barrel. You can read what he had to say below: US energy chief has dire prediction about gas prices under Trump Trump’s war will end in ‘weeks’ but oil prices will be ‘elevated’ until it concludes, Chris Wright warns Nicole Wootton-Cane15 March 2026 17:20 Charity 'appalled' by death of humanitarian worker in Iran The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has said it is “appalled” by the death of a humanitarian worker in Iran. Hamidreza Jahanbakhsh, a staff member of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) from Isfahan Province, was killed during a search and rescue operation in Tiran-o-Korun, Isfahan Province, on 8 March, it said. “Hamidreza Jahanbakhsh lost his life while carrying out his humanitarian duty to assist people affected by the ongoing hostilities,” the organisation said. “The IFRC expresses its sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, and all IRCS colleagues. “Since the outbreak of the conflict, several other IRCS staff and volunteers have also sustained injuries while carrying out their duties.The Red Crescent emblem is a symbol of protection, humanity, neutrality, and hope. Yet too often, our volunteers and staff are killed while performing life-saving work. This is unacceptable. “We stand in solidarity with the Iranian Red Crescent Society and all humanitarian workers providing life-saving assistance in difficult and often dangerous conditions.” Nicole Wootton-Cane15 March 2026 17:15 US hits back at Iran's claims it is attacking Gulf regions The US has hit back at Iran’s foreign minister’s claims it is striking Gulf nations with one-way missiles and blaming the attacks on Iran. In a post on X, Centcom said: “The Iranian regime’s foreign minister claims that the United States is using one-way attack drones to attack Gulf countries and shifting the blame to Iran. LIE.” Nicole Wootton-Cane15 March 2026 17:00 Netanyahu shares video to dispel rumours of his death Benjamin Netanyahu has posted a video of himself online in an apparent bid to dispel rumours of his death. The Israeli president has not been seen since roughly the start of the war in Iran. But on Sunday he shared the video showing himself buying a coffee. “They say I'm what? Watch,” he wrote alongside it. Nicole Wootton-Cane15 March 2026 16:45 Araghchi says Iran 'open to talk' to countries about Strait of Hormuz Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi also said in his comments today that the country is open to having discussions with others about the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently disrupting oil markets. “We are open to countries who want to talk to us about the safe passage of their vessels,” he told NBC. Negotiations between Iran and India had seen the safe passage of the country’s vessel through the vital waterway. “I cannot mention any country in particular, but we have been approached by a number of countries who wants to have a safe passage for their vessels. And this is up to our military to decide, and they have already decided to let, you know, a group of vessels belongs to different countries to pass in a safe and secure.” Maira Butt15 March 2026 16:30 Three arrests made amid Al Quds Day demonstration and counter-protest in London Three arrests have been made amid a protest and counter-protest for Al Quds Day, police said. Al Quds Day demonstrators chanted “from the river to the sea” and held pictures of the late leader of Iran at a static protest in London on Sunday. The Metropolitan Police said they were “aware of chanting made by a speaker at the Al Quds protest and will be investigating”. Scotland Yard had braced for a “difficult public order” environment, with at least 1,000 officers drafted in to manage the crowd. In a post on X, the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers have made three arrests, one for showing support for a proscribed organisation, one for dangerous driving and a third for threatening and abusive behaviour.” The force added: “We are aware of chanting made by a speaker at the Al Quds protest and will be investigating. “We recognise the concern footage and chanting like this causes, particularly with London’s Jewish communities. “When this language had been used previously we sought advice from the CPS who determined that there would be insufficient evidence to take a case forward.” Nicole Wootton-Cane15 March 2026 16:20 Oil from emergency reserves will start flowing soon, says IEA Over 400 million barrels of oil from the emergency reserves of the International Energy Agency are to flow into global markets soon, the agency said in a statement on Sunday. Governments have committed to make available 271.7 million barrels of oil from government stocks, 116.6 million barrels from obligated industry stocks and 23.6 million barrels from other sources, the statement said. It added that 72 per cent of planned releases are in the form of crude oil and 28 per cent are oil products. Stocks from Asia Oceania countries will be available immediately and stocks from Europe and the Americas will be available at the end of March. (PA) Maira Butt15 March 2026 16:10 Newer 1 / 6 Older
