War in Iran/Middle East/Gulf and beyond
(Reuters/Al Arabiya) Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, the Israeli military said, after US President Donald Trump postponed a threat to bomb the Islamic Republic’s power grid because of what he described as productive talks with Iranian officials. The missiles triggered air raid sirens in parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv where blasts from interceptions were heard. In one attack, homes in northern Israel were damaged by falling debris following an interception. No deaths were reported. – Iran sends waves of missiles into Israel after dismissing Trump’s talk of negotiations
(Herb Scribner – Axios) President Trump teased Monday that he’s moving closer a deal with Iran to end the war — but he stopped short of saying who the U.S. is negotiating with. Since Israel’s assassinations of top Iranian leaders at the start of the war, there’s been uncertainty about who is running the country day to day and which officials might actually be empowered to cut a deal with the U.S. Breaking it down: Among those killed are Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Ali Larijani, who was seen as the de facto civilian leader after Khamenei’s death. Khamenei’s son Mojtaba officially succeeded his father, but he has remained in the shadows. The U.S. also does not see Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led both sets rounds of nuclear talks prior to the war, as a key decision-maker, U.S. officials tell Axios. The White House has been trying to assess who is making decisions and establish lines of communication. Trump further complicated the leadership picture Monday when he said regime change may come soon. Meanwhile, Israel continues to target Iranian leaders including Mojtaba Khamenei
Driving the news: Sources told Axios that mediators were trying to set up a call, and potentially an in-person meeting, between Trump’s envoys and the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Ghalibaf denied that any negotiations had taken place.
A source familiar with the diplomacy said involving Ghalibaf would be significant because of his seniority within the regime. – Trump teases US-Iran peace deal. Which Iranian leaders are alive?
(Ben Geman, Chuck McCutcheon – Axios) Former Defense Secretary James Mattis offered a sobering take Monday on the Strait of Hormuz, criticizing the Trump administration for what he saw as a failure to think strategically about Iran. The CERAWeek conference here has been clouded by uncertainty over the future of a conflict that’s bringing historic supply disruptions — and upending industry planning in the process. “We’re in a tough spot, ladies and gentlemen, and I can’t identify a lot of good options,” the retired Marine general told attendees at the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference. If President Trump declares victory and pulls back the U.S. military, Iran “would now say we own the Strait,” said Mattis, who served in the president’s first term before resigning in 2019 after the commander-in-chief reportedly rebuffed his advice on Syria. – Mattis delivers harsh Iran assessment: “We’re in a tough spot”
(UN News) Since the start of the Middle East conflict with Israeli and US strikes on Iran on 28 February, concerns have been growing over rising oil and commodity prices. At the centre of it lies the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints – which carries around a quarter of global seaborne oil, along with significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilisers, according to a recent UN report. To better understand the implications of this disruption, and the findings of the report published on 10 March, UN News spoke to Frida Youssef, Chief of Section for Economic Affairs at UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). – Dire fertiliser shortage a lurking threat due to Hormuz crisis | UN News
(UN News) Since the outbreak of war on 28 February, several unique sites of cultural significance have been damaged in Iran, Israel and Lebanon, alongside immense suffering, displacement and death. In Iran, these sites include Golestan Palace, Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan, Masjed-e Jame mosque (also in Isfahan) and buildings located near Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley. – War in the Middle East: Cultural treasures damaged, with more at risk | UN News
Racial Discrimination
(UN News) Nearly 70 years after South African police fired upon peaceful demonstrators in Sharpeville protesting apartheid-era laws, killing 69, the UN renewed the commitment to work for justice and equality on Monday, marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The crowd gathered outside Sharpeville police station on 21 March 1960 “came armed not with weapons, but with conviction – not to divide society, but to claim their dignity within it,” General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock recalled in her opening remarks. But the annual commemoration is about much more than one notorious incident, she said, as racism clearly persists in every corner of the world. –UN calls for solidarity and political will to stamp out racial discrimination | UN News
Russia/Ukraine
(UN News) More than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, “the violence is worse than ever” and far from abating, the head of UN political and peacebuilding affairs said on Monday in a briefing to the Security Council. Rosemary DiCarlo described the conflict as “nearly 1,500 days of death, destruction and despair” and reiterated the UN’s long-standing call for a ceasefire. Since the war began, 15,364 civilians have been killed, including 775 children, and more than 42,000 others injured, though actual numbers are likely to be higher. “The suffering and destruction caused by the war in Ukraine can never be justified. The longer the war exists, the deadlier it becomes, with growing risks to regional and international security,” she said. – Ukraine violence ‘worse than ever’, Security Council hears | UN News
US
(Rebecca Falconer – Axios) The Department of Defense announced a new media policy on Monday, three days after a federal judge ruled Trump administration restrictions on Pentagon journalists were a First Amendment violation. The Pentagon said in a memorandum announcing the changes that it’s complying with the ruling in the New York Times lawsuit case, but press groups accused the administration of placing fresh restrictions on journalists with the new policy. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced three new changes to the press policy in a statement saying the Defense Department “disagrees with the decision and is pursuing an appeal.” – Pentagon revises press policy after judge blocks media access restrictions
(Rebecca Falconer – Axios) Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) was confirmed to succeed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a 54-45 vote mostly along party lines on Monday evening. The vote comes as Homeland Security is at the center of funding impasse that has caused hours-long lines at airports nationwide with Democrats demanding new curbs on ICE before they’ll agree to more funding. – Senate confirms Mullin as DHS secretary
