The war in the Middle East intensified Thursday as Israel struck Iranian infrastructure in Isfahan and Iran fired missiles into central Israel, causing damage and injuries. Israel also faced rocket attacks from Lebanon, and an Israeli soldier in Lebanon was killed.
President Trump, speaking at a Republican fundraising event Wednesday night, said Iran “so badly” wanted a deal with the U.S., even after Tehran rejected a 15-point U.S. proposal to end the war. Iran has said it will not negotiate with the U.S. on Washington’s terms and has outlined its own conditions. Germany’s defense minister called the conflict “a catastrophe for the world’s economies” and criticized the U.S. for having “no exit strategy.”
Here are updates for day 27 of the Iran war.
Iran, Hezbollah and Israel trade strikes
NPR’s Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv spoke with Israeli military officials who said Israel intends to continue fighting and is preparing for weeks more of operations in Iran. A person briefed on the campaign said the Israeli military will intensify targeting in Iran over the next 48 hours, focusing on arms factories in case a ceasefire is declared.
The Israel Defense Forces said on X it had completed “a wave of extensive strikes in Isfahan…targeting infrastructure.” Air sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and the IDF reported rescue crews were responding to a central Israel strike. The IDF also named 21-year-old Sergeant Ori Greenberg as a soldier killed on the ground in Lebanon.
Israel says airstrikes in southern Lebanon continue ahead of what officials describe as a likely prolonged ground operation aimed at Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group keeps firing rockets into northern Israel; Israeli officials say a civilian woman was killed earlier this week. Israeli leaders have said they plan to take Lebanese territory up to the Litani River, 10–20 miles north of the border. Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli soldiers in that area with a drone.
Trump repeats negotiation claims
At the Republican event, Trump asserted Iran wanted to negotiate but feared domestic backlash. “We’re winning so big. 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,” he said. “They’re also afraid they’ll be killed by us. There’s never been a head of a country that wanted that job less than being the head of Iran.”
The U.S. proposal would require Iran to end its nuclear program, cease support for proxy militias, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and limit its missile program in exchange for sanctions relief. Iran rejected it. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran wants an end to the war “on our own terms,” listing five demands: an end to aggression, guarantees preventing renewed war, clear determination, payment of war damages and compensation, a comprehensive end across all fronts including resistance groups, and recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials say they are not negotiating directly with the U.S., only exchanging messages through regional intermediaries. Pakistan has emerged as a potential mediator; an Islamabad official, speaking on background, told NPR that Pakistan’s interior minister met secretly with Iran’s ambassador.
Will U.S. forces seize Kharg Island?
The Pentagon plans to deploy up to 3,000 paratroopers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. NPR reports this comes as President Trump considers seizing Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil processing facility. Analysts warn such an operation would be risky for U.S. forces. The U.S. military says it has struck more than 10,000 targets in its air campaign on Iran.
German minister slams U.S.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, speaking in Australia, gave a blunt assessment: “To make it crystal clear, this war is a catastrophe for the world’s economies.” He criticized the U.S. for acting without consultation, lacking a strategy or clear objectives, and having no exit plan. Pistorius noted the changing tone toward Europe—from urging higher defense spending and regional focus before the war to now accusing allies of cowardice for not helping reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He said Germany would not join the war but could help secure the waterway once a ceasefire is in place.
Oil prices higher amid Strait standoff
Iranian state-affiliated agencies Tasnim and Fars reported that Iran’s parliament is moving to formalize fees for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. About one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the Strait, which Iran has effectively blocked since the war began. Iranian lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi said parliament seeks to codify Iran’s sovereignty and oversight of the Strait and create revenue via fees.
Brent crude edged around $100 a barrel in Asian trade, and Asian and European markets opened lower.
UAE’s stable reputation at risk
Alerts sounded in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. Abu Dhabi officials said falling debris after a missile interception killed two people. Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting a drone in the Eastern Province; Kuwait and Bahrain also reported attacks. Airlines serving the region continue to cancel flights; Oman Air announced cancellations to regional destinations and parts of Europe through April 15.
Contributors
Daniel Estrin in Tel Aviv, Lauren Frayer in Beirut, Emily Feng in Van, Turkey, Diaa Hadid in Mumbai, Jackie Northam, and Kate Bartlett contributed to this report.