Trump, on Wednesday, said that Iran wanted to make a deal “so badly” but was “afraid to say it”.

“Nobody’s ever seen anything like we’re doing in the Middle East with Iran, and they are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly, but they’re afraid to say it because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people. They’re also afraid they’ll be killed by us,” he said at a fundraising dinner for the House GOP campaign arm in Washington.

Iran received a 15-point proposal from the US to reach a ceasefire in the war, two Pakistani officials reportedly said on March 25. The Pakistani officials described the proposal broadly as touching on sanctions relief, civilian nuclear cooperation, a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program, monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency, missile limits and access for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The Trump administration reportedly offered the plan to Iran as the US appears to seek an end to the war, even while more troops head to the Middle East. The plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries from the government of Pakistan, which has offered to host renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran, a person briefed on the plan’s contours but who was not authorised to speak publicly told The Associated Press

Iran hit by Israeli strikes, 12 dead: Twelve people were killed and 28 injured in southern Tehran in a fresh air raid by Israel today. Israeli bombers also hit Lebanon and Gaza. On the other side, a fuel tank at the Kuwait International Airport burst into flames after being hit by a drone. The Kuwaiti Army has said that it is responding to repeated drone strikes against it.

Oil prices dip: Oil prices registered a slight drop on Wednesday, the May futures of benchmark Brent going down just under $98 per barrel. It registered a peak of over $101 per barrel on Tuesday, up nearly 40 per cent since the war began. WTI crude futures were trading at just over $87 per barrel.

Meanwhile, Iran has informed the International Maritime Organisation that vessels deemed “non-hostile” can transit the Strait of Hormuz safely, even as tanker traffic through the narrow corridor has largely stalled since last month’s US-Israeli military offensive. In a letter shared with IMO member states on Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said non-hostile ships are those that neither take part in nor assist hostile actions against Iran and are not affiliated with the United States or Israel.

The US has agreed “in principle” to talks in Pakistan, according to three Pakistani officials, though mediators are still working to convince Iran.

What are Trump’s five war objectives? | Operation Epic Fury — full explainer

Modi speaks to Trump; Indian LPG carriers cross Hormuz

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to President Trump on Tuesday, discussing the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, US envoy to India Sergio Gor confirmed. Separately, two Indian LPG carriers, Jag Vasant and Pine Gas, successfully transited the Strait carrying 92,612 MT of LPG, with 60 Indian seafarers onboard, heading to India to bolster domestic energy supplies.

Strait of Hormuz explained | Indians in Gulf

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The Indian Express Global Desk remains committed to rigorous verification. Follow our live blog below for real-time tracking of Operation Epic Fury, regional airspace status, and diplomatic efforts to contain the escalation.