Despite Iranian denials, Trump says Iran is negotiating secretly and is afraid to make it public.

US President Donald Trump insisted on Thursday that Iran is participating in peace talks despite its denials, asserting that Iranian negotiators are afraid to announce it for fear of internal reactions.

“They are negotiating, by the way, and they very much want to make a deal,” Trump said during a dinner for Republican members of Congress. “But they are afraid to say so, because they think if they do, they will be killed by their own people.”

In this context, the American newspaper “The Wall Street Journal” stated that Trump is seeking to end the war with Iran in the coming weeks, and that he has informed his aides of his desire to put a quick end to the conflict.

The newspaper quoted a US official as saying that some of Trump’s close associates are “pushing for escalation and regime change in Iran,” while the president has expressed willingness to send troops into Iran, but is hesitant because of the risks of escalation.

The source added that there are “fears of increased casualties in the event of a US ground intervention in Iran,” noting that losses on the US side amounted to “about 300 wounded and 13 dead since the start of the last war with Iran.”

The newspaper explained that Trump “discussed securing US access to a portion of Iranian oil as part of any agreement to end the war.”

Trump said on Wednesday that Iran’s leaders are negotiating with the United States but denying it to their people, adding: “I ended 8 wars, and now we are winning our war on Iran,” and asserting that the Iranian negotiators “are afraid of being killed by their own people.”

Trump stressed that “the Iranians are negotiating with us and are eager to make a deal,” adding: “We have destroyed everything in Iran. We want to see the United States succeed in its military operations in Iran.”

In contrast, the US government threatened on Wednesday to intensify attacks on Iran if no agreement is reached, with White House spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt saying that “there is no need for more death and destruction.”

Levitt added: “If Iran does not accept the reality of the current moment, and if it does not realize that it has been militarily defeated and will remain so, then President Trump will ensure that it is struck with even greater force than it has ever experienced before.”

She indicated that the leadership in Tehran has an opportunity to cooperate with Trump, which requires abandoning its nuclear program and ceasing to threaten the United States and its allies.

In this context, the White House announced that the United States and Iran remain engaged in peace talks, despite reports in Iranian media that Tehran has rejected Washington’s proposal to end the war.

In response to those reports, Levitt said that “talks are ongoing and productive, as President Trump has declared,” stressing that “President Trump does not threaten in vain, and he is prepared to open the gates of hell, and Iran should not miscalculate again.”

She explained that there are “elements of truth” in the media reports about a 15-point American plan that includes demands directed at Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday that his government does not intend to hold any negotiations with the United States to end the war, adding in an interview with state television that exchanging messages through intermediaries “does not mean negotiating with the United States.”

Araghchi noted that the highest authorities are “reviewing the proposals submitted,” stressing that Iran does not intend to hold talks with the United States.

Shafaq.com

United States: Do not travel to Iraq. Leave immediately if you are there.

The US Embassy in Baghdad issued a new security warning on Thursday, urging its citizens not to travel to Iraq and to leave immediately, citing escalating security threats and attacks targeting Americans and US-related interests.

The embassy said in an “alert” issued today: “Do not travel to Iraq for any reason. Leave immediately if you are there,” stressing that what it described as “Iranian-backed militias have launched widespread attacks on American citizens and US-related targets throughout Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region.”

She added that the US mission in Iraq remains open despite the order to leave, to assist American citizens inside the country, while warning against going to the embassy in Baghdad or the consulate general in Erbil because of the ongoing risks from missiles and drones.

The embassy noted that Iran and its affiliated groups “pose a significant threat to public safety in Iraq,” explaining that these groups have targeted diplomatic facilities, companies, energy infrastructure, and sites believed to be linked to the United States, in addition to commercial airports and hotels frequented by foreigners, with a warning of the possibility of Americans being kidnapped.

She noted that the airspace is closed and there are no commercial flights from Iraq, while land routes to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey remain open with long delays expected, urging American citizens to leave through these ports of entry.

She explained that routine consular services, including visa services, are suspended, urging her citizens to leave immediately, avoid gatherings and demonstrations, comply with the instructions of local authorities, maintain supplies of food, water and medicine, and follow updates from the U.S. State Department.

Shafaq.com

The Iraqi judiciary settles the controversy surrounding the “million signatures”: No decision to dissolve parliament.

Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council on Thursday refuted rumors circulating on social media about it issuing a decision regarding the dissolution of parliament or preparations for early elections.

The Council’s media center stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the news regarding the issuance of a decision to dissolve the House of Representatives, or to hold elections, or to begin collecting one million signatures to pave the way for early elections, is completely false information.

He explained that the publications on which these rumors were based were issued by a “fake website” impersonating the judiciary, and do not express its official positions.

In conclusion, the judiciary urged all media outlets to exercise caution before publishing such “misleading information” and to rely exclusively on reporting news from official sources.

This wave of rumors comes at a time when Iraq is experiencing a state of “political deadlock,” as the forces and parties that won the parliamentary elections held in late 2015 have not been able to complete the constitutional requirements, including electing a new president of the republic and assigning a prime minister to form the next government. The steps achieved so far have been limited to electing the parliament’s leadership only.

Observers warn of the repercussions of this continued delay on the political, economic and service levels in the country, especially in light of the rapidly escalating security and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East region, which necessitate the existence of a fully empowered government to manage the current crises.

Shafaq.com

Iraq earned nearly $7 billion from oil sales in February.

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced on Thursday that the financial revenues generated from crude oil exports for the month of February amounted to approximately $7 billion, according to the final statistics issued by the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company (SOMO).

The company stated in an official statistic received by Shafaq News Agency that the quantity of crude oil exports (including condensates) amounted to 99 million, 872 thousand and 220 barrels, achieving total revenues of $6 billion, 814 million and 585 thousand dollars.

Detailed data showed that the largest share of exports came from fields in central and southern Iraq, amounting to 93,349,480 barrels.

The statistics also indicated that the quantities exported from the Kurdistan Region through the Turkish port of Ceyhan amounted to 5 million, 551 thousand and 610 barrels, while exports from the Qayyarah field amounted to about 971 thousand and 130 barrels.

Shafaq.com

Iraq faces its most serious financial test in decades; the collapse of oil exports threatens employee salaries.

The Iraqi economy is facing an unprecedented crisis after a sharp decline in oil exports as a result of regional tensions and the closure of vital shipping lanes, causing revenues to drop by up to 90%, in a direct blow to the main artery of the economy on which the country depends almost entirely.

According to economic data, Iraq’s exports have plummeted from about 4 million barrels per day to levels not exceeding 1.3 million barrels, which has put the general budget under severe pressure and raised widespread concerns about the government’s ability to secure employee salaries and meet its financial obligations in the coming months.

In this context, MP Mohammed Al-Bayati confirmed in a statement to Al-Maalouma that Iraq has effectively lost between 85 and 90% of its financial revenues due to the repercussions of the war in the region, noting that current exports through the Ceyhan port cover only 7 to 10% of the state’s financial needs.

He added that the current crisis represents a serious warning that requires urgent action towards diversifying sources of income and not relying solely on oil, as well as the need to find alternative export outlets that ensure the stability of revenues and mitigate the severity of external shocks.

For their part, economic experts warned that the continued decline in exports in this manner could lead to serious repercussions that go beyond the economic aspect to affect political and social stability, stressing that the solution lies in moving from a rentier economy to a diversified economy capable of withstanding crises.

They pointed out that the government’s options remain limited, most notably resorting to the central bank’s reserves or taking drastic financial measures, at a time when the situation demands swift action to secure liquidity and prevent the collapse of the state’s financial obligations.

Almaalomah.me

Details of the Baghdad airport explosions: US munitions and equipment burned in preparation for a rapid withdrawal.

A security source reported on Tuesday that the explosions heard in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport were the result of controlled detonations supervised by Iraqi forces.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that the site of the explosions is located near the diplomatic support headquarters inside the airport, explaining that the operation involved the destruction of ammunition containers containing heavy, medium and light weapons.

He added that initial information indicates that the number of US forces present at the site has become limited, after part of them withdrew during the past few days, without any official confirmation yet regarding a complete withdrawal of the remaining forces after the completion of the base evacuation operations.

According to the source, what is being circulated about the detonation of damaged equipment is “inaccurate,” noting that the operation also includes the destruction of a number of vehicles and equipment belonging to the forces, which will be taken out of service.

According to the source, in the event of a complete withdrawal of US forces, this will only involve the transfer of personal belongings, with the disposal of the rest of the equipment inside the base.

The sounds of explosions continue to be heard from the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport, causing panic among nearby residents, amid reports that they will continue into the evening.

The Security Media Cell had confirmed earlier today that the sounds of explosions heard in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, were the result of controlled detonations.

In a statement issued by the Security Media Cell of the Joint Operations Command and received by Shafaq News Agency, Lieutenant General Saad Maan said, “The sounds heard near Baghdad International Airport were the result of controlled explosions carried out by the relevant authorities, and were not the result of any hostile act.”

Shafaq.com

US-Iranian moves to end the war… and a meeting expected in Pakistan

Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Tuesday that the United States has set the beginning of April as a possible date to end the war with Iran, at a time when talks between the two sides are expected to be held in Pakistan in the coming days.

The newspaper quoted an unnamed Israeli source as saying that “the Americans have set April 9 as the date for ending the war,” noting that “the coming period may witness the continuation of military operations in parallel with an intensification of the negotiation track.”

The source added that “talks between Iran and the Americans will be held later this week in Pakistan,” noting that “Washington has not informed Israel of the details of the contacts it is conducting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.”

The newspaper pointed to Israeli assessments indicating that “the United States is conducting indirect negotiations with Qalibaf, following statements by US President Donald Trump regarding contacts with Iran to end the war.”

For its part, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted an informed source as saying that “Trump’s statements were surprising,” stressing that “it is too early to know whether these talks will lead to an end to the war.”

For its part, Channel 15 reported that there were “advanced contacts to hold a meeting between American and Iranian officials in the capital, Islamabad, this week, amid Iranian denials of this.”

On Monday, Trump announced via the Truth Social platform that his country had held “very good and productive” talks with Iran over the past two days, with the aim of reaching “complete and final solutions” to the conflict in the Middle East.

Shafaq.com

Israeli newspaper: Mojtaba Khamenei agreed to negotiate and end the war on Iranian terms

On Tuesday, the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot revealed the contents of a “secret” message exchanged between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoy Steve Wittkopf.

The newspaper said the message included that Tehran had obtained the “approval and blessing” of Mojtaba Khamenei to end the war quickly, if Iranian conditions were met.

The newspaper also reported that Araqchi secretly informed Witkov of Mojtaba Khamenei’s agreement to negotiate, according to sources cited by the newspaper, noting that these contacts took place away from Israel.

The sources added that Mojtaba Khamenei agreed to negotiate with America and reach an agreement, and also agreed to end the war quickly according to Iran’s conditions.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel remained outside these contacts, at a time when large gaps still exist between the parties.

Conflicting indications continue regarding unannounced contacts between Washington and Tehran, as international reports spoke of back-channel talks led by US envoy Steve Wittkopf with Iranian officials through regional intermediaries, amid US talk of “key points of agreement” that could pave the way for ending the war, while Tehran denied conducting any direct negotiations.

Meanwhile, the tit-for-tat military operations continue, with Iran launching new waves of missiles, while Washington postponed planned strikes to allow room for the diplomatic track, while major disagreements remain over the terms for ending the war and the role of the new Iranian leadership in making the final decision.

Shafaq.com

Iran appoints Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr as Secretary of the National Security Council, succeeding Larijani.

The Iranian presidency announced on Tuesday the appointment of Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr as secretary of the National Security Council.

The Iranian presidency stated that the decision stipulates assigning Zulqadr the duties of the Secretary-General of the Council, succeeding Ali Larijani, who was assassinated in an Israeli bombing.

It should be noted that Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced on March 17 the assassination of the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, Ali Larijani, and the commander of the Basij militia in Iran, Gholam Reza Soleimani, in raids on the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr was a former commander in the Revolutionary Guard, deputy chief of staff of the armed forces for Basij affairs, deputy for strategic affairs in the judiciary from 2012 to 2020, deputy for social protection and crime prevention in the judiciary from 2010 to 2012, advisor to the head of the judiciary, and secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council.

In the Revolutionary Guard, he served as an assistant and deputy commander-in-chief. In Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government, he was appointed as an assistant to the Interior Minister for security affairs during Mostafa Pourmohammadi’s tenure, with the permission of Ali Khamenei. However, Ahmadinejad dismissed him in 2007. Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr is considered one of the fiercest opponents of the reformists in Iran.

Shafaq.com

Yawar: False intelligence leads to targeting the Peshmerga

Military expert Jabbar Yawar confirmed on Tuesday that the targeting of Peshmerga forces in Soran district comes within the context of previous Iranian threats that preceded the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel, while stressing at the same time that it is based on false intelligence information.

Yawar told Shafaq News Agency that “Iran had announced before the outbreak of the war that it would target all areas where there is an American presence or interests, and it has already begun to implement this during the war, up to the present days.”

Yawar explained that “the presence of US forces in the Kurdistan Region dates back to August 2014, within the framework of an international agreement with the Iraqi government to fight ISIS,” indicating that “this presence was not by agreement with the regional government, but rather within the arrangements of the international coalition with Baghdad, which included the deployment of US forces and forces of other nationalities in several Iraqi regions.”

Yawar added that “the presence was not limited to field forces, but also included bases for American aircraft, and all of this was done in accordance with an agreement with the Iraqi government exclusively.”

According to him, after the strategic agreement between Iraq and the United States ended in 2025, a new agreement was signed stipulating that these forces would remain in the Kurdistan Region until the end of 2026, stressing that “this presence is not at the request of the region nor at its direction, but rather as a result of commitments and agreements with Baghdad.”

Regarding the attack that targeted Peshmerga forces this morning in the Soran administration, Yawar explained that “this targeting is part of the steps that Iran announced previously, which include targeting sites where it is believed that there are American interests, whether in Iraq, the Gulf states, Jordan and other areas.”

He added that “some of these attacks are carried out by groups known as (the resistance), which operate under Iranian direction, and have already carried out attacks in the Kurdistan Region within this context.”

Yawar explained that “the targeting of Peshmerga sites is often done under the pretext of the presence of American or coalition forces inside those headquarters,” noting that “this information reaches the implementing parties through spy elements, even though those sites only contain Peshmerga forces, and in some cases former advisors.”

He pointed out that “the attack that occurred today is not the first, as a site that included French advisors was targeted two weeks ago, who have no connection to the ongoing war between Iran, the United States and Israel,” stressing that “the targeted headquarters do not contain American forces or parties working against Iran at the present stage.”

In a related context, Yawar stressed that “the ongoing war in the region has had significant effects on the entire Middle East, especially after the events of February 28,” explaining that “its repercussions have extended to include wide areas, and its effects may reach Cyprus and Turkey.”

He pointed out that “the Kurdistan Region was also affected by these developments, although this was not the result of internal will, but rather came about by force as a result of the size and impact of the conflict in the region,” stressing that “the regional repercussions of the war have become a reality that imposes itself on various countries and regions.”

Earlier today, the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs in the Kurdistan Region announced that 36 of its members were killed as a result of a ballistic missile attack that targeted military headquarters north of Erbil Governorate.

Shafaq.com