President Trump on Thursday again delayed a deadline for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying he would give Tehran 10 more days, until the new deadline of April 6 at 8 p.m., before potentially ordering strikes on Iran’s power plants.
The extension, which is the second in less than a week, came as Mr. Trump claimed the United States was making progress in talks to end the war, though Iran has publicly denied negotiations were underway and continued missile attacks across the region.
Here is what else happened:
Iran: Explosions shook Tehran on Thursday evening, with residents describing intense bombardment. Mr. Trump said that Iran was negotiating despite its public denials, while Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump’s special envoy, said there were “strong signs” the war would end because Iran was “looking for an off-ramp.” Pakistan confirmed it had relayed a 15-point U.S. peace proposal to Iranian officials.
Israel: Israel said it had killed Alireza Tangsiri, an Iranian naval commander who played a pivotal role in shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. Iran did not immediately comment on the claim. The Israeli military reported detecting repeated waves of attacks since midnight as Iran launched missiles throughout the day. At least seven people were injured in central Israel, and rescue teams responded to an impact site in the city of Kafr Qassem. The Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid issued stern criticism of the country’s military strategy, saying it was facing a staff shortage and fighting on too many fronts.
Lebanon: Israel deepened its campaign against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia in Lebanon, saying it had expanded its ground operation in the south of the country and deployed a third division there. An Israeli soldier was killed in southern Lebanon, and Lebanese health officials said more than 1,110 people had been killed in the country since the conflict escalated, including 121 children.
Persian Gulf: Iran’s attacks on Gulf States widened the war’s reach. The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 11 drones on Thursday, but debris from one interception killed two people in Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted at least 36 drones aimed at its Eastern Province, while Kuwait and Bahrain reported attacks or fallout. Kuwait also said it had uncovered a terrorist plot linked to Hezbollah.
Strait of Hormuz: The waterway remained a central economic flashpoint. Mr. Trump said Iran had allowed 10 boats through as a gesture during the talks, but he had warned that if Tehran did not fully reopen the route, the United States could escalate further. NATO’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, said European countries needed time to organize themselves to secure the strait because they had not been warned in advance about the war.
United States: Mr. Trump and his advisers sent mixed signals about whether diplomacy was gaining traction. He said Iran was negotiating because it had been “obliterated,” while Mr. Witkoff said the United States was still trying to convince Tehran that it had no good alternative to a deal.
Markets: Stocks on Wall Street posted their steepest one-day drop at close since the start of the war. The S&P 500 fell 1.7 percent, putting it on track for its fifth straight week of losses, which is its longest losing streak in four years. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development warned that the war could push U.S. inflation above 4 percent this year. Japan began releasing oil from its national reserves to help shield consumers from the shock of energy prices, and German lawmakers passed legislation to prevent gas station owners from raising prices more than once a day.
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