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US and Iran hold talks seen as crucial to prevent conflict
US and Iranian officials have met in Geneva for a third round of indirect talks seen as crucial to averting conflict, with President Donald Trump threatening to strike Iran if a nuclear deal is not reached.
The discussions come amid the largest US military build-up in the Middle East since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and with Iran vowing to respond to an attack with force.
Thursday’s talks were adjourned after three hours. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who is acting as the mediator, said negotiators had exchanged “creative and positive ideas” and would return after taking a break. “We hope to make more progress,” he added.
But the chances of an agreement remain unclear.
While Trump has said he prefers to solve the crisis through diplomacy, he has also said he is considering a limited strike on Iran to pressure its leaders to accept a deal.
The president, however, has done little to explain what he is demanding in the negotiations and why there could be the need to take military action now, eight months after the US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities during a war between Israel and Iran.
Iran has rejected the US demand to stop the enrichment of uranium in its territory, but there have been indications that it is prepared to offer some concessions about its nuclear programme.
As in the previous two rounds of discussions earlier this month, the Iranian delegation is being led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the US is represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
In recent weeks, the US has sent thousands of troops and what Trump has described as an “armada” to the region, including two aircraft carriers along with other warships, as well as fighter jets and refuelling aircraft.
Trump first threatened to bomb Iran last month as security forces brutally repressed anti-government protests, killing thousands of people. But since then, his focus has turned to Iran’s nuclear programme, which has been at the centre of a long-running dispute with the West.
For decades, the US and Israel have accused Iran of trying to secretly develop a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its programme is only for peaceful purposes, though the country is the only non-nuclear-armed state to have enriched uranium at near weapons-grade level.
In his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday, Trump briefly and vaguely talked about the tensions with Iran, without clearly laying out the case for strikes.
He said Iran was working to build missiles that would “soon” be capable of reaching the US, without giving details. He also accused the country of trying to “start all over again” with a nuclear weapons programme following last year’s strikes, and said he could not allow the “world’s number one sponsor of terror… to have a nuclear weapon”.
The US struck three nuclear sites in Iran last June, as it joined Israel in its bombing campaign. At the time, Trump said the facilities had been “obliterated”.
Iran says its enrichment activity stopped after the attacks, although it has not allowed the International Atomic Energy Agency’s inspectors to access the damaged sites.
“They want to make a deal,” Trump said, “but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon’.”
Hours before the speech, however, the Iranian foreign minister posted on social media that Iran would “under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon”. Araghchi also said there was an “historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests”.
Reacting to Trump’s address, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman accused the US of repeating “big lies” regarding its nuclear programme, ballistic missiles and the number of protesters killed in the crackdown.
Iran’s proposals have not been made public, but the discussions in Geneva could include the creation of a regional consortium for uranium enrichment, which has been raised in previous negotiations, as well as ideas about what to do with Iran’s roughly 400kg (880lb) stockpile of highly enriched uranium and verification and monitoring mechanisms.
In return, Iran expects the lifting of sanctions that have crippled its economy. Opponents of the regime say any relief would give the clerical rulers a lifeline.
But it remains unclear which conditions Trump could find acceptable for a deal. Iran has already rejected discussing limits to the country’s ballistic missile programme and ending its support for proxies in the region – an alliance Tehran calls the “Axis of Resistance” that includes Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, militias in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Reports in US media, quoting unnamed administration officials, have suggested that Trump was considering an initial strike in the coming days on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards or nuclear sites to pressure the country’s leaders. If negotiations failed, according to the reports, the president might go as far as ordering a campaign with the aim of toppling the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is also said to have warned that strikes against Iran could be risky, potentially drawing the US into a prolonged conflict, although Trump has insisted that Gen Dan Caine believes it would be “easily won”.
Iran, meanwhile, has threatened to respond to any attack by striking American military assets in the Middle East and Israel.
US-allied countries in the region are concerned that an attack on Iran could lead to a wider conflict, and have warned that air power alone will not be able to change the country’s leadership.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has warned against a deal that does not include Iran’s ballistic missiles and its proxies. Netanyahu has long described Iran as a key threat for Israel, and a source of instability in the region.
Analysts believe that the prime minister, who visited the White House earlier this month, may be pushing for a campaign with the goal of toppling the Iranian regime.
The US has the world’s second-largest nuclear arsenal. Israel is also believed to have nuclear weapons, although it neither confirms nor denies this.
Ahead of the State of the Union, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a classified briefing to the so-called “gang of eight”, composed of the leaders of both parties in the Senate and House of Representatives and the chairs and ranking members of the intelligence committees of both chambers.
Following the briefing, Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, gave a brief statement, saying: “This is serious, and the administration has to make its case to the American people.”
[BBC]
Iranian strikes on military bases used by the US in the Middle East caused about $800m (£600m) in damage in the first two weeks of the war, a new analysis shows.
Much of the damage was caused in initial retaliatory strikes by Iran in the week after the US and Israel launched the war, according to a report by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) and an analysis by the BBC.
The full extent of the damage caused by Iranian strikes on US assets in the region is not clear.
But the $800m in estimated damages to US military infrastructure – a figure that’s higher than has been previously reported – offers a picture of the steep costs to the US as the conflict drags on.
“The damage to US bases in the region has been underreported,” said Mark Cancian, a CSIS senior adviser and co-author of the think tank study. “Although that appears to be extensive, the full amount won’t be known until more information is available.”
In response to a request for comment, the US Department of Defense referred the BBC to US Central Command, which is leading the war. Officials there declined to comment.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes targeted US air-defence and satellite-communication systems, among other assets, in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries across the Middle East.
A significant portion of damage was caused by a strike on a US radar for a Thaad missile defence system at an air base in Jordan.
The AN/TPY-2 radar system costs approximately $485m according to a CSIS review of defence department budget documents. The air-defence systems are used for the long-range interception of ballistic missiles.
Strikes by Iran caused an additional $310m in estimated damages to buildings, facilities and other infrastructure on US bases and military bases used by American forces in the region.
Iran also has struck at least three air bases more than once, according to an analysis of satellite imagery by BBC Verify. The repeat strikes underscore Iran’s efforts to target specific US assets. Russia has reportedly shared intelligence with Tehran on American military forces in the region.
Satellite imagery shows the three air bases – Ali Al-Salim base in Kuwait, Al-Udeid in Qatar and Prince Sultan in Saudi Arabia – with fresh damage appearing during different phases of the conflict.
The US has also lost 13 military service members since President Donald Trump joined Israel in launching the attacks on Iran on 28 February.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) estimates the overall death toll has reached nearly 3,200, including 1,400 civilians.
Trump has said the US is on track to achieve his goals of destroying Iran’s nuclear program, degrading its conventional military power, and ending the regime’s support for proxy groups in the region.
“We’re doing extremely well in Iran,” Trump said at a White House event on Friday.
But the war has rattled the global economy with the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and uncertainty over the duration of the conflict and whether Trump will deploy ground troops.
[BBC]
[BBC]
Analysis of satellite imagery has been hampered by restrictions imposed by major US-based providers on the release of the imagery.
But it is possible to discern certain patterns in Iran’s retaliatory action against US military interests in the region.
Radar and satellite systems have been a focus from the start, when Iranian strikes hit a US naval base in Bahrain. They function as the eyes and ears of modern military operations.
Satellite imagery most notably showed the destruction of two radomes – protective enclosures for such sensitive equipment. It is highly probable the systems themselves were damaged, although it is not possible to gauge the extent.
Radar sites were hit at Camp Arifjan, a US military facility in Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base, where US aircraft are located. Imagery of the latter shows smoke rising from a radar component for a Thaad air-defence system.
More extensive damage to Thaad systems is evident at US bases in the UAE and Jordan. It’s unclear what the cost of that damage was. The degradation of these systems reportedly led the US to redeploy Thaad components from South Korea to the Middle East.
The damage from Iran’s retaliatory strikes account for a fraction of the overall costs to the US for the war.
Defense Department officials reportedly briefed members of Congress that the first six days of the war cost $11.3bn. The first 12 days cost 16.5bn, according to CSIS.
The Pentagon is asking for another $200bn in funding for the war. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the figure “could move.”
“It takes money to kill bad guys,” Hegseth said.
[BBC]
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Heat Index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-central, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts
Warm Weather Advisory Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 20 March 2026, valid for 21 March 2026
The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-central, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
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Sophie Devine made Eden Park her own little playground as she brought up her 22nd T20I half-century and carried New Zealand to a 2-1 series lead over South Africa with two games to go. She had also picked up a couple of wickets earlier in the day and backed up her words when she said South Africa’s 149 for 7 was a little bit under par.
New Zealand have never chased more than 150 at home. The small boundaries in Auckland were a friend in that regard, particularly with Annerie Dercksen and Ayanda Hlubi occasionally straying down leg. South Africa tightened up though and the wickets of Amelia Kerr and Brooke Halliday in the 10th over left the chase in a tense situation. New Zealand needed 82 off 60 with six wickets in hand. Devine was 13 off 10.
A pull shot off Chloe Tryon to start the 11th over signalled the shift in momentum. The square boundaries are bigger than the straight ones at Eden Park and yet Devine kept finding them. She collected 46 runs at a strike rate of 219 on the leg side. At the time the fifth-wicket partnership had hit 50, Maddy Green had made only 12 off 15. It was all Devine from the other end and it was all Devine till the end. Her superpowers now include winning the game without touching the ball. Dercksen missed the cut strip as she tried to hide it away from the batter’s reach.
Those five no-balls bringing an end to proceedings highlighted how wayward South Africa’s attack was compared to New Zealand’s. Jess Kerr’s early swing dominated the powerplay. Devine and Suzie Bates taking pace off kept control through the middle and barring another Kayla Reyneke onslaught, it was one-way traffic.
South Africa had to wait 23 balls for the first boundary off the bat on Friday. Dercksen made it worth the wait with a neat little flick off her legs that travelled all the way for six over deep midwicket. Dercksen arrived with the score on 9 for 2 in the third over and put the pressure back on New Zealand. While she was at the crease, she was responsible for more then half the boundaries (4 out of 7) her team scored. Thanks to that, Laura Wolvaardt could drop anchor and go at her preferred pace, though 37 off 39 wasn’t a good look for the captain, who later admitted they were well short of a competitive total.
A pitch with 10mm of grass offered enough for the seamers and even someone with their eye in was found out when Devine went into the pitch. The little legcutter – a response to being hit for six the previous ball – found Dercksen in two minds, whether to attack or defend, and took down her off stump. South Africa lost 59 for 5 between the eighth and the 18th overs, going 38 balls without a boundary.
Bates continued to find more success with the ball. She took a wicket in her first over and took responsibility in the death as well. New Zealand held their line and length really well, refusing access to the straight boundary and routinely cramping the batters up, guiding them to hit the areas – midwicket and square leg – that they had covered in the field.
Then Mair missed her length and was clubbed down the ground for six. It highlighted how a bowler had to be perfect against a batter of such power. Reyneke is immense when she can free her arms and go down the ground. She grew up playing in boys’ teams. She came into this series with a 75 off 63 for Western Province, who were 93 for 6 and still ended up winning the Pro50 game thanks to their 20-year-old phenom. She captained South Africa in the Under-19 World Cup when they went to the final last year. She’s marked for big things.
Reyneke’s presence forced Jess Kerr to go wide in the final over – too wide. The umpire penalising her made the bowler shift her line and that little bit was enough for Reyneke to smash two sixes and a four, all down the ground, and hoist South Africa to 149 for 7. She wasn’t given a lot to get under but as soon as she was given one, she smashed it out of the park. The margin for error was breathtakingly small.
Brief scores:
New Zealand Women 152 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Isabella Gaze 17, Amelia Kerr 30, Sophie Devine 59*, Maddie Green 34*; Annerie Dercksen 1-17, Ayanda Hilubi 1-31, Nonkululeko Mlaba 1-30 ) beat South Africa Women 149 for 7 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 37, Annerie Dercksen 27, Kayla Reyneke 34*; Jess Kerr 1-30, Rosemary Mair 1-32, Sophie Devine 2-21, Suzie Bates 2-10) by six wickets
(Cricinfo)
Showers may occur at several places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Northwestern and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts after 1.00 pm.
Iranian strikes on bases used by US caused $800m in damage, new analysis shows
President maintains Lanka has been even-handed in dealing with Iran and US
Heat Index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-central, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts
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