The US president earlier urged Tehran to “make a deal before it is too late”
Published 1 Apr, 2026 17:31
| Updated 3 Apr, 2026 10:20© IRGC
Welcome to RT’s live coverage of the US-Israeli war against Iran and the wider regional escalation, marked by ongoing missile and drone exchanges.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to step up strikes on Iran, saying Iranian power plants could be targeted next. The announcement came just hours after US forces hit the country’s tallest highway bridge linking Tehran and Karaj, rendering it inoperable.
“Our Military… hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Bridges next, then Electric Power Plants! New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done fast!”
Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari responded, warning of immediate retaliation if Washington follows through.
“If the US proceeds with its threats regarding Iran’s power plants, immediate retaliatory actions will be taken,” he said in a video address, adding that Israeli energy and IT infrastructure – as well as regional companies with American shareholders – would face “complete and utter annihilation.”
The video featured footage of the Stargate UAE project, a major AI infrastructure hub under construction in Abu Dhabi, part of a US-backed initiative led by OpenAI. Zolfaghari said Iran would “do whatever it takes” to defend its interests, suggesting these projects could become targets.
Earlier, Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed “in the long term” to US and Israeli ships. Trump urged Tehran to “make a deal before it is too late.” Iranian officials have denied they are seeking a ceasefire or engaging in talks.
Latest developments:
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said strikes on civilian infrastructure, including bridges, would not force Iran to surrender, calling them a sign of “defeat and moral collapse.”
- WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned US-Israeli strikes on Iranian health facilities, citing over 20 verified attacks since March 1 and at least nine deaths.
- US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has fired Army Chief of Staff General Randy George.
- The IRGC claims it shot down a second US F-35 over central Iran.
- The UN Security Council is set to vote on Saturday on a proposal authorizing “all necessary means” to secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz, effectively allowing the use of force against perceived threats to shipping.
Follow our live coverage below for continuous updates. You can also read our previous updates here.
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03 April 2026
10:47 GMT
US Senator Chris Murphy has suggested generals are being fired because they are pushing back against the Trump administration’s war plans.
“It’s likely that experienced generals are telling Hegseth his Iran war plans are unworkable, disastrous, and deadly,” Murphy said.
READ MORE:
Hegseth fires top US Army officer in ‘race and gender’ row – NYTHis remarks come amid a sweeping shake-up of US military leadership, with several top officers removed without clear explanation.
It's likely that experienced generals are telling Hegseth his Iran war plans are unworkable, disastrous, and deadly.Also, Hegseth is firing a ton of experienced generals right now. https://t.co/I2iKshfjNX
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 3, 2026
- 10:24 GMT
Videos circulating on X purport to show an Iranian missile strike on northern Israel.
Israeli media reports shrapnel falling in at least seven locations across Haifa and Kiryat Ata, damaging buildings and vehicles. Reports also say cluster munitions struck Kiryat Ata and nearby areas in the latest wave.
The affected area is part of the Krayot cluster near Haifa, home to key industrial sites including oil refineries.
#Israel: Several people were injured after debris from an Iranian missile barrage fell in the areas of Haifa and Kiryat Ata. pic.twitter.com/ViIzsWXjfD
— Wolverine Update (@W0lverineupdate) April 3, 2026
⚡️ 🌍Cars burning, buildings damaged as Iranian strike hits Israel's Kiryat Ata — injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/hCygoCUdHr
— Ayatollah Alireza Arafi (@Realarafi) April 3, 2026
🇮🇷🇮🇱 Iranian cluster bombs hit Kiryat Ata, and surrounding areas in the latest wave of attacks.It's part of the "Krayot" cluster near Haifa, a region containing sensitive industrial sites, including oil refineries. pic.twitter.com/f49zlPEifshttps://t.co/QKrQld4OJz
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 3, 2026
- 09:42 GMT
Rows of oil tankers are queuing near the Strait of Hormuz awaiting Iranian permission to pass, according to US filmmaker and journalist Ahmad Saadaldin.
Saadaldin said ships are being allowed through only if they comply with Iranian rules, adding some are paying for passage. He described the situation as at odds with Trump’s claims that the strait can be easily reopened and that Iran has been largely neutralized.
“What I saw was completely contradictory to what Donald Trump claims… What I saw were rows and rows of oil tankers waiting for permission from Iran to cross,” he said in a video posted on social media after visiting the area.
Saadaldin, founder of media outlet Propaganda & Co, said he traveled to Iran to document what he called a “historical war” and to show solidarity with civilians.
- 09:31 GMT
RT’s Tehran bureau chief, Hami Hamedi, says the war has inflicted massive civilian damage across Iran, citing Red Crescent data showing more than 117,000 civilian sites hit as of April 2.
This includes over 93,000 residential units outside Tehran and more than 46,000 residential and commercial properties in the capital, as well as over 300 medical centers and more than 760 schools.
“The most significant” recent strike, he added, was on the home of senior official Kamal Kharrazi, who was severely injured and his wife was killed. Hamedi said Kharrazi had reportedly been in talks with Pakistani officials to arrange contact with the US, adding this “shows that despite the negotiations… there is still no trust, and attacks on individuals continue.”
“This is one of the issues that is diminishing Iran’s trust in America day by day,” he added.
© RT
- 09:29 GMT
The Israeli military has claimed to have killed in Lebanon around 1,000 Hezbollah fighters and struck more than 3,500 targets allegedly linked to the group over the past month.
The IDF says those killed include senior commanders and hundreds of Radwan Force operatives, with strikes targeting infrastructure, weapons depots, launch sites, and command centers.
It also claims to have hit financial assets tied to the Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution Al-Qard al-Hasan and five key bridges allegedly used to move weapons and fighters – part of what it frames as an effort to cripple Hezbollah’s funding and logistics.
© IDF
- 09:14 GMT
The EU should brace for a prolonged energy shock from the US–Israeli war on Iran, with officials weighing fuel rationing and tapping emergency reserves, the bloc’s energy commissioner has warned.
“This will be a long crisis… Energy prices will be higher for a very long time,” Dan Jorgensen told the Financial Times.
He predicted that prices on some critical products are likely to worsen in the coming weeks. While the EU is not yet facing a supply crisis, it is preparing for “structural, long-lasting effects.”
Global energy prices have surged over the past month, with oil hitting multi-year highs. Brent crude has jumped roughly 50-60%, from the mid-$60s to around $110-115 per barrel. European gas prices have also spiked, with TTF roughly doubling from about €30/MWh pre-war to €60 at points. The surge is driven by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint for around 20% of global oil and LNG flows – along with ongoing strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure, disrupting supply.
- 08:48 GMT
Iran should “declare victory” and strike a deal to end the war on its own terms, former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has argued in an article for Foreign Affairs.
https://t.co/Kyp6TAUY04https://t.co/SGQwtCMgyd
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) April 3, 2026
“Iran did not start its war with the United States and Israel. But more than a month in, the Islamic Republic is clearly winning it,” Zarif wrote. US and Israeli forces have spent weeks bombing Iran “in hopes of toppling the country’s government,” but Iran has held the line and successfully defended its interests,” he added. According to Zarif, Washington and its allies are stuck “in a quagmire without an exit strategy,” while Iran has achieved what he called “a historic feat of resistance.”
Zarif outlined a path to end the war, suggesting Tehran could limit its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for full sanctions relief. He also floated a mutual non-aggression pact with the US and renewed economic ties.
Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. © Getty Images / Halil Sagirkaya /Anadolu
- 08:32 GMT
The IDF says its troops have killed armed Hezbollah fighters who approached their position in southern Lebanon, claiming they had posed an immediate threat and were struck in a rapid air response. Soldiers also reported seizing dozens of weapons, including rifles, RPGs, and ammunition.
The military said it will continue operations against Hezbollah, accusing the group of acting under Iran’s backing.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes across Lebanon have hit multiple civilian areas, with casualties steadily rising. More than 1,000 people have been killed since early March, including children, according to Lebanese authorities and rights groups.
- 07:16 GMT
French President Emmanuel Macron has rebuked Donald Trump over what he characterized as inconsistent messaging on NATO and the Iran war, saying serious leadership requires clarity.
“When you want to be serious, you don’t go around saying the opposite every day of what you just said the day before… perhaps you shouldn’t talk every day,” Macron said during a visit to South Korea, warning that there is “too much talk” from Trump and “it’s all over the place.”
He noted that the war is costing lives and hitting economies: “We all need stability, calm, a return to peace – this isn’t a show.”
The remarks come following mixed signals from Washington over the past week regarding the war, criticism of its European allies, and suggestions that the US could leave NATO.
French President Emmanuel Macron. © Getty Images / Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto
- 07:07 GMT
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has condemned US-Israeli strikes on Iranian health facilities, saying the agency has verified more than 20 attacks since March 1, with at least nine deaths.
“The conflict in Iran, and the region, is impacting the delivery of health services and the safety of health workers, patients, and civilians,” he wrote on X, urging de-escalation. “Peace is the best medicine.”
Multiple attacks on health have been reported in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in recent days amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.The Pasteur Institute in Iran sustained significant damage and was rendered unable to continue delivering health services.The Institute… pic.twitter.com/RHILHhy5Yv
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 2, 2026
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01 April 2026
17:32 GMT
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Future of NATO uncertain – HegsethFinnish political adviser Olli Kotro has warned that NATO could “fall apart” if the US leaves, describing the military alliance as already in decline. Speaking to RT, he said divisions over the Iran war show US and EU interests “don’t align at all,” calling the situation “the beginning of the end” for the bloc.
President Donald Trump has signaled he is seriously considering withdrawing the US from NATO, telling the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday the option is “beyond reconsideration.”
- 17:42 GMT
READ MORE:
Most powerful energy crisis in human history is looming – Putin envoyKremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev has listed European countries he says are “most exposed” to a Gulf energy shock, citing their reliance on imports and supply vulnerabilities. In a post on X, Dmitriev named Italy, the UK, Germany, Poland, Belgium, and Romania, pointing to factors such as declining domestic output, high demand, and transit risks.
Most exposed EU/UK to a Gulf energy shock:🇮🇹 Italy – import-heavy gas🇬🇧 UK – declining North Sea + imports🇩🇪 Germany – high demand, import-reliant🇵🇱 Poland – shifting from coal to gas🇧🇪 Belgium – transit hub risk🇷🇴 Romania – tied to regional supply
— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) April 1, 2026
- 17:59 GMT
In a separate post, Dmitriev wrote that Germany has “destroyed itself” by decoupling from Russian energy, pointing to weakening growth forecasts cited by market analysts.
Germany destroyed itself by decoupling from Russian energy. https://t.co/hmztlJKXKD
— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) April 1, 2026
Germany’s industrial sector has struggled in recent years, with the EU’s decision to phase out Russian energy following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022 weighing heavily on long-term competitiveness. The pressure intensified after the US-Israeli attack on Iran sent global energy prices soaring.
READ MORE:
EU shelves Russian oil ban as Iran war rattles energy markets - 18:15 GMT
Former Miss California and conservative activist Carrie Prejean Boller has told RT’s Sanchez Effect that she was asked to resign from a US religious freedom body after speaking out on Gaza, arguing that criticism of Israel should not be equated with anti-Semitism and warning that “loyalty to a particular theology” must not define acceptable speech.
She also criticized President Donald Trump, saying she no longer recognizes him and accused him of breaking promises to keep the US out of foreign wars. Americans are now seeing “boots on the ground” despite earlier pledges, she claimed.
- 18:20 GMT
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said Washington’s investment in NATO is aimed at advancing American global interests. In a post on X, Pompeo described NATO as a “key instrument” in securing US superpower status, while adding that allies should still be expected to “pull their weight.”
NATO has been a key instrument in securing America's superpower status. We have every right to insist that our NATO allies pull their weight, but should always remember the principal reason we've invested so heavily in the alliance to begin with: advancing our own interests.
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) April 1, 2026
- 18:43 GMT
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will soon release an open letter addressing the American people, his spokesman Mehdi Tabatabai has stated on X.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that Tehran wants a ceasefire, which Iran’s Foreign Ministry has dismissed as “false.”
- 18:50 GMT
RT has obtained a copy of an open letter by Pezeshkian addressed to the American people, in which he insists that Tehran “never initiated a war” in modern history and frames its military posture as “legitimate self-defense.”
In the letter, Pezeshkian questions the rationale behind US military action, accusing Washington of fueling conflict and “manufacturing” threats, while warning that continued strikes risk long-term instability and damage to America’s global standing.
RT team reminds you that Western countries have imposed more than 110 sanctions on us, freezing accounts, surveilling staff, and introducing other restrictions. If you don’t see this publication containing the letter, then EU/the US sanctions is the case.
- 19:22 GMT
Political scientist Aaron Good has dismissed Trump’s threats to “obliterate” Iran’s infrastructure as “bluster and bravado,” arguing Washington lacks any viable military option.
Speaking to RT, he warned such strikes could backfire, saying destroying Iran’s oil sector “would just drive up the price of oil,” while Tehran retains the capacity to retaliate across the region.
- 19:33 GMT
The US State Department is offering a reward of up to $3 million for information on attacks targeting its diplomatic facilities in Iraq, according to its Rewards for Justice program.
In a post on X, the initiative called for tips on Iranian-aligned militia groups behind attacks in Iraq, which have intensified since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Help us stop terrorist attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and elsewhere. If you have information on Iranian-aligned terrorist militia groups or others responsible for these attacks, send us your tips today. pic.twitter.com/zULrJkM8Qg
— Rewards for Justice (@RFJ_USA) April 1, 2026
- 19:33 GMT
Trump has told Reuters he doesn’t care about enriched uranium in Iran that could potentially be used to build nuclear weapons. In the same interview, however, he claimed that one of his primary goals of the war was to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
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Moreover, the objective of preventing a nuclear weapon has been achieved, Trump told Reuters on Wednesday.
According to media reports, Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium that could potentially be used to build nuclear weapons is believed to be buried under the rubble of a mountain facility that was hit during strikes last June. Trump previously said the US would move to take the uranium if it reaches a deal with Iran.
But he said Wednesday that the uranium is “so far underground, I don’t care about that.”
“We’ll always be watching it by satellite,” he added.
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