The United States has asked NATO allies to deploy Patriot batteries in the Middle East, Politico reports. According to the newspaper, Washington has expressed interest in using Patriot batteries to protect NATO installations in the Middle East, as well as to supply Ukraine.
The war with Iran has already increased EU spending on fossil fuel imports by €14 billion, the European Commissioner for Energy announced. He acknowledged that the conflict’s impact on the energy sector will not be short-lived. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded harshly to Donald Trump’s statements, stating: “23 years ago, the United States government dragged us into a war with Iraq. The goal was to destroy Saddam Hussein’s nuclear weapons and establish democracy. However, no nuclear weapons were found in Iraq. You can’t fool yourself twice.”
And while Trump continues his optimistic message with banal phrases like: “The war is about to end. We’re doing great.” “We won’t stay in Iran for long. We’re destroying them completely, it’s total destruction. But we still have work to do to eliminate their offensive capabilities, all their remaining offensive capabilities.” “On the Strait of Hormuz: I think it will open automatically, but my position is that I destroyed Iran. I’m out of power, so let the countries that use the Strait open it… because I imagine whoever controls the oil will be happy to open the Strait.”
And again, claiming that Iran “has asked for a ceasefire,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi once again reiterated to the international press that this is untrue.
Mohammad Marandi, an Iranian-American professor at the University of Tehran, said: “No one in Iran believes a word Trump says. Epstein’s coalition is preparing for escalation and invasion, and the markets will be closed for three days this weekend.” In an interview with Judging Freedom with Judge Andrew Napolitano, he stated: “I can say with absolute certainty that there are no negotiations underway. There have been no negotiations. The Iranians have no interest in a ceasefire.” “The president has not made any such proposal or request,” referring to a ceasefire. Marandi was head of the North American Studies program at the University of Tehran; he is currently a professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the same university.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, president of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, advised global market activists regarding Trump’s statements: “Do your research.” “Selective quotes, coupled with the induction of fear and false enthusiasm among market activists, are the basis for profiting from war. Do your own research before you act and don’t be fooled.”
Iran’s official SNN news agency reported: “Trump is negotiating with Iran’s new imaginary president, while Iranian President Pezeshkian attended a public meeting last night.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer backtracks on his foreign policy choices: “In an unstable world, our long-term national security interest requires close relationships with our allies in Europe.” The British Prime Minister called NATO “the most effective military alliance in the world” following Trump’s criticism. He reiterated that his country will not join the United States and Israel in the war against Iran: “This is not our war. We will not get involved in the conflict. This is not in our national interest.”
An Azerbaijani citizen accused of espionage and terrorism in Cyprus has filed an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights, alleging that classified information from a foreign intelligence agency, never disclosed to him nor verified by the court, was used to detain him. According to the mayor of the Cypriot town of Kourion, there is an increased risk of cancer associated with the placement of communications antennas at the British air base in Akrotiri, after Britain announced earlier this week that it would install 32 new antennas at the base.
On the night of March 31, President Benjamin Netanyahu said live on television: “We are working to transform Israel into a supernation in the region and the world.” A few hours later, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Iran began bombing Tel Aviv. Markets in Nablus went on strike to protest Israel’s new death penalty law for terrorists. Devlet Bahceli, president of the far-right and ultranationalist Turkish party MH: “If regime change is needed in our region, the regime that needs to be changed is Israel.”
Maariv: “Israel is pressuring Trump to conduct a short, decisive ground operation against Iran before starting negotiations. Israeli officials view Trump’s contradictory statements about ending or intensifying the war as a reflection of his indecision about how to proceed.
Israeli Army Chief of Staff General Eyal Zamir warned in a letter to the Knesset that he faces a serious personnel crisis, as his forces are engaged in a war on multiple fronts.
Israel plans to demolish all homes in Lebanese border villages to maintain “security control.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemns Israel’s actions in southern Lebanon, calling them a violation of their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Syrian President Al-Sharaa on the war with Iran: “We recommend negotiations, not military force, which only leads to great dangers… If Syria does not become a target, we will stay out of the conflict. We have already suffered enough from the war and paid a high price. Those who have survived war know the value of peace.
Warning from the Secretary General of the Battalions, Seyyed al-Shuhada, Iraq, to the family of the Emir of Kuwait, Al-Sabah, and to Jawlani/al Shara, Syria: “If they participate in any ground attack, we will also enter Kuwait and Syria by land.” “If American forces use Kuwaiti territory as a launching point for an attack against Iran, the axis of the resistance, within the framework of the unit on the ground, will consider such an action a violation of the region’s security borders. Furthermore, rumors are spreading of Jawlani’s intention to cross the border and enter Lebanese territory. If either of these two scenarios were to materialize, the axis of the resistance would inevitably move towards similar actions, with the aim of crossing the region’s borders.”
UAE authorities have announced a ban on entry and transit for Iranian citizens.
Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has increased over the past two days. Iran currently exports approximately 1.8 million barrels of oil per day, about 100,000 more than before the war, and sells it at nearly double the price: $110-120 per barrel compared to around $60 before the conflict.
The Revolutionary Guards say they will respond to any assassination by targeting a US-linked company. The statement advises employees to leave these workplaces and nearby residents within a 1km radius to move to safer areas. The list of companies includes Cisco, HP, Intel, Oracle, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Meta, IBM, Dell, Nvidia, JPMorgan Chase, Tesla, General Electric, Boeing, and others. The statement states that the threat went into effect at 8:00 PM Tehran time on April 1.
Forty-six people suspected of participating in the sale and distribution of Starlink satellite internet terminals in Iran have been arrested. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that the country’s authorities are ready to end the conflict with the United States and Israel, provided the Republic is no longer subjected to attacks. “We have the will to end this war, subject to the necessary conditions, particularly guarantees that the aggression will not be repeated,” Pezeshkian stated during a telephone conversation with European Council President António Costa.
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, wrote to Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem, pledging the Islamic Republic’s continued support for the resistance against the “American-Zionist enemy.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi, in an interview with the Russian press, stated: “So far, we have not responded to the US 15-point plan.”
Host: It’s been said that within the US government, there are also parties in Iran. Is there really another party, besides the known ones, that has contacts with the United States? Are there signs of disagreement or division in the Iranian political system?
Araghchi: “No, absolutely not! All exchanges are officially conducted through the Foreign Ministry or with its authorization. The security services also usually have contacts. But all this takes place within a specific framework, through the government and under the supervision of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. There is a single directorate for all these matters, and there is no talk of multiplicity or different decision-making centers. So far, we have not responded to the US plan of 15 articles. We have not presented any conditions to the other party. Those five articles were related to speculation by a media outlet. It is the media’s role to raise such issues and assess the situation. But so far, we have not provided any response to the US plan.”
Host: Can countries like Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey provide you with a guarantee?
Araghchi: “Of course, not just one or two countries, but experience has shown that even the Security Council’s guarantee is not enough. Some of our friends have proposed ideas in this regard, which we are evaluating to understand what guarantees could be effective if the war were to end one day on Iran’s terms. We don’t accept deadlines. For us, guaranteeing the security and rights of the Iranian people is fundamental. No one can impose a deadline on us. Artificial deadlines only complicate matters without any benefit. The president of the United States must radically change his approach. You can’t talk to the Iranian people with threats and deadlines. The Iranian people are great, independent, and possess a rich civilization and culture. We must address them with respect; otherwise, they will react on the ground.” “There are no negotiations between us and the United States, and we don’t accept a ceasefire.”
Host: Is Iran ready for six months of war?
Araghchi: “At least six months.” “The Americans will suffer a defeat in a ground war with very high losses.”
Host: What is your opinion on the threat of an attack on the islands or a ground attack?
Araghchi: “I already said we are waiting. I don’t think they dare do such a thing. They will suffer heavy losses. We defended ourselves strenuously and inflicted heavy losses and damage to their equipment and infrastructure; you saw what happened to the AWACS or the tankers. We know very well how to defend ourselves and are more experienced and better equipped in ground warfare. We are fully prepared to face any ground threat and have sufficient experience. From our point of view, the end of the war in Iran should affect the entire region, which means When we talk about ending the war, we mean ending the war in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. We seek peace throughout the region. For now, there is no plan for negotiations. We have set no deadlines for our defense, and we will defend our country and our people in every way and to the extent necessary. We don’t care what deadlines our enemies have set for themselves; Of course, our advice is that, before they suffer further damage, they end this war completely and definitively.”
And now a look at the military scenarios updated at 3:30 PM on April 1. US military casualties in a month-long war with Iran: 348 people. Fifteen people died, twelve were seriously injured, and six are in critical condition. Thirty-one people have returned to duty. The United States is sending the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush to the Middle East. This will create an unprecedented group of three American aircraft carriers in the area at the same time, Wall Street Journal.
Twelve A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft from the Michigan Air National Guard’s 107th Fighter Squadron were spotted today leaving Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for an unscheduled deployment to the Middle East. Supporting Operation Epic Wrath, the ongoing strike campaign, and a possible future invasion of Iran, the Nevada National Guard announced it has deployed troops from the 152nd Airlift Wing, based at Nevada Air National Guard Base in Reno, Nevada, to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Epic Wrath.
Questions remain about the scope and duration of the foreign military presence in Cyprus. Warships from at least six countries are operating in the southwest of the island, along with Greek F-16 fighter jets stationed at the Paphos air base.
In Israel, between 12:00 AM on April 1 and 3:30 PM, seven launches were reported between Hezbollah and Iran. The Islamic Resistance posted a video of a coordinated missile attack on the Krut area, located north of the occupied city of Haifa. The FIRMS website (a real-time fire monitoring system based on satellite data) recorded a fire at the Israeli Rafael Military Industries. Tel Aviv was hit by cluster munitions. A strike occurred in Bnei Brak. 14 people were injured, one seriously. People are trapped in the rubble of a building in Tel Aviv. A building in Kiryat Shmona was hit by a Hezbollah rocket.
Hezbollah targets Israeli forces stationed inside a house with rockets in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah responds to the IDF in the town of Khiam. An Indonesian peacekeeper’s HMMWV tactical vehicle in Lebanon was hit after Israeli bombing.
Hezbollah targets two troop carriers and a Hammer armored vehicle belonging to Israeli forces in the town of Al-Bayada. Israel bombed a building in Dahieh, Beirut.
Forty-eight Israeli soldiers have been injured in the last 24 hours in clashes with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. A family was killed by Israeli airstrikes in Houmeen al-Tahta, and an Israeli attack on Nagarieh in Sidon left four dead. Israeli airstrikes hit the Beqaa region beyond Beirut. Israel managed to kill the commander of the three regional units of southern Lebanon, Yusuf Ismail Hashem, on Khalde Road south of Beirut. This afternoon, Hezbollah struck an Israeli helicopter in the airspace of the city of Yaroun with two surface-to-air missiles, hitting the target.
In the early hours of the morning, Victoria Air Base in Baghdad was hit twice again. The Iranians attacked a British company Castrol plant in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan. The kidnapping of a journalist in Baghdad, Shelly Kittleson, a contributor to several European media outlets, including Il Foglio and ANSA, was announced.
The Kuwaiti Civil Aviation Authority: “Kuwait airport was attacked by drones.” Fuel depots of the Kuwaiti Aviation Fuel Supply Company (KAFCO) were again hit by Iran.
NPR reports that two E-3 Sentry early warning and air traffic control aircraft were damaged in the Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia. One of them, according to satellite imagery and social media, is completely destroyed.
Sirens sound at US bases in Bahrain. More than five explosions rocked the US base in Jufair. An explosion in an industrial area caused a large fire. The US military base on Sitra Island, also in Bahrain, was hit. Plumes of smoke rose from the Hamla area in western Bahrain.
Several explosions were reported in Qatar.
The United Arab Emirates plans to join the US military effort to force the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The Emirates suffered a heavy wave of Iranian attacks on April 1.
Along with Iran and Hezbollah: the Houthis claimed responsibility for the morning bombardment of southern Israel. Rockets were launched from Yemen toward the Negev region.
Iran’s Supreme Leader: “We must continue to exploit the leverage of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. If the war were to escalate, new fronts would open ‘where the enemy is particularly vulnerable.'” Kuwait Oil Corporation reports an Iranian attack on the Kuwaiti-flagged supertanker Al Salmi while it was anchored off the coast of Dubai in the Persian Gulf. At the time of the attack, the tanker was completely filled with oil, causing significant damage to the vessel, but there were no casualties. A fire is currently raging on the vessel, raising concerns about a possible oil spill in UAE waters. UKMTO reported on April 1 that an oil tanker was hit by a shell 17 nautical miles north of the coast of Doha, Qatar, sustaining damage to the hull above the waterline. The tanker, Aqua 1, leased to Qatar Energy, suffered damage to the hull above the waterline.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard responded to Trump: “The Strait of Hormuz is completely and permanently under the control of our naval forces. The Strait of Hormuz will not be opened by the ridiculous and theatrical demonstrations of the President of the United States in favor of the enemies of our nation.”
Turkey is negotiating with Iran to obtain permission for 11 Turkish ships to transit through the Strait of Hormuz; so far, only one Turkish vessel has been granted permission to pass, and this was because it had previously used an Iranian port.
Iran claims to have launched missiles on Eilat, Tel Aviv, and Bnei Brak.
Details of the US/Israeli attacks on Tehran: District 1, a point in the Nobonyad area; District 6, a point in the Mofatteh area; District 21, a residential area of Tehran.
The Iranian Hamza Sayyid al-Shuhada base in the northwestern operational areas, Urmia, has been put on alert and is ready for combat.
Antonio Albanese e Graziella Giangiulio
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