Updates on 2026 Iran-US-Israel War: Iranian FM Confirms Message Exchanges with US, Regional Leaders React to Escalations

Published: 2026-03-31

As the 2026 Iran-US-Israel war enters its second month, diplomatic communications continue amid ongoing military actions across multiple fronts. The conflict began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile sites, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, according to US and Israeli officials. These strikes followed Iranian threats and prior attacks attributed to Iran-backed groups. Hezbollah subsequently fired over 200 rockets into northern Israel on March 2, 2026, prompting Israeli ground operations south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon. Casualties on the Israeli side include at least five soldiers and two civilians killed by Hezbollah attacks in March 2026, per Israeli military reports.

Iranian Foreign Minister on Communications with US

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that all messages with Washington are conveyed through Iran's Foreign Ministry or received by it, including communications between security agencies. He confirmed that messages have been exchanged with the US either directly or through regional intermediaries but emphasized that this does not constitute negotiations.

"I receive messages from Witkoff directly, as before, and this does not mean that we are in negotiations," Araghchi said.

Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remarked that Iran was attacked twice during negotiations, which he said indicates the United States does not believe in diplomacy, according to statements from the Iranian presidency reported by Al Jazeera Arabic. Pezeshkian attributed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz to what he described as American-Zionist hostile actions and criticized European positions toward Iran during a call with the president of the European Council.

Qatar Responds to Iranian Attacks

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed al-Ansari stated that Iran has crossed “many red lines” during its attacks on neighboring countries, including Qatar, amid the ongoing 2026 Iran-US-Israel war. He highlighted the need for de-escalation.

Al-Ansari noted during a Tuesday news conference that Iranian attacks on Qatar have had a “catastrophic effect on the relationship between the two countries.” Qatar previously intercepted Iranian drone strikes, and recent attacks have reportedly wiped out 17% of Qatar's LNG capacity for years, according to Qatari officials.

European Support for Lebanon, Concerns Over Escalation

A group of 10 European foreign ministers from countries including the UK, France, and Germany, along with the EU’s top diplomat, issued a joint statement supporting Lebanon and urging Israel not to escalate further, including through a ground offensive. Israel has conducted limited ground operations in southern Lebanon south of the Litani River since early March 2026, following Hezbollah rocket barrages into northern Israel.

The statement attributed the crisis primarily to Hezbollah while expressing concern for over one million people displaced by the conflict. It also condemned recent attacks on UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers, describing the casualties as “unacceptable.” Three UNIFIL troops have been killed in recent days.

In a separate joint statement, foreign ministers from Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the UK, plus the EU’s top diplomat, urged all parties to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel and premises under international law.

UN Criticism of Israeli Death Penalty Legislation

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the Israeli parliament’s approval of a new death penalty bill as “deeply discriminatory.” The bill establishes the death penalty as the default punishment for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank convicted by Israeli military courts of intentionally carrying out deadly attacks classified as “acts of terrorism.”

Turk stated that the law is “patently inconsistent with Israel’s international law obligations” and that its application to residents of occupied Palestinian territory “would constitute a war crime.”

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has petitioned the country’s Supreme Court to challenge the bill, arguing that Israel lacks the authority to legislate for the West Bank and that the law violates rights protected under Israel’s Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the law in a post on X, stating it applies only to non-Jews for convictions related to killing Israelis in acts deemed “terror” by military courts. He called it “another step toward apartheid,” describing it as an asymmetric measure: “Same crime, different punishment. That is not justice.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described Israel’s operations in southern Lebanon as an illegal occupation, violating Lebanon’s territorial sovereignty. He noted that Lebanon has banned Hezbollah and is acting against its activities, which Israel cites as justification for its operations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has aligned with objectives including targeting Iran’s regime, as stated in prior declarations, according to analysts. Netanyahu has limited interviews amid the conflict.

EU Addresses Energy Impacts from War

The European Union is preparing a “toolbox” of measures to help member states manage energy market disruptions caused by the 2026 Iran-US-Israel war, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said. He noted that 30 days of conflict have added 14 billion euros to the EU’s fossil fuel import bill.

Jorgensen told reporters in Brussels that even if peace were achieved immediately, energy infrastructure in the region, damaged by strikes on both sides, would prevent a return to normal. The toolbox includes proposals to lower tax rates for electricity and grid tariffs, similar to measures used during the 2022 energy crisis.

EU energy ministers, speaking through Cyprus Energy Minister Michael Damianos, emphasized the need for tighter coordination on gas storage to prevent price spikes. They agreed that Europe’s wider energy supply remains relatively secure despite the war. Damianos said measures must be “carefully designed, coordinated, targeted and tailored to the current situation,” consistent with long-term objectives.

Military Developments in Lebanon and Regional Incidents

Two Israeli air strikes hit the town of Shamshtar in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, according to Al Jazeera Arabic. Separately, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee reported that Israeli forces killed fighters in southern Lebanon after they launched a drone attack that injured soldiers from the 226th Brigade during a ground operation. Forces from the 146th Division responded, targeting those responsible. These claims could not be independently verified.

Hezbollah stated it conducted attacks on Israeli positions along the border, including artillery shells and rockets targeting soldiers and vehicles near Ainata and Avivim in northern Israel. The group reported actions around 11am (08:00 GMT) and in the afternoon. Israel’s military has not immediately commented, and claims remain unverified independently.

A Lebanese security source told Al Jazeera Arabic that the Lebanese army evacuated positions in Dibil, Ain Ebel, Rmeish, al-Tayri, and Beit Yahoun in southern Lebanon’s central sector due to intensified attacks and risks of communication cutoffs amid Israeli ground operations.

Kuwait Intercepts Iranian Projectiles

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence reported intercepting five ballistic missiles and seven drones from Iran that entered its airspace over the past 24 hours.

Other Regional and International Developments

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said strikes hit areas near the WHO’s Tehran office over the past two nights, but all staff are accounted for and unharmed.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry announced the kidnapping of a female foreign journalist in Baghdad. One person has been arrested, and efforts continue for her release. The ministry did not identify the journalist or perpetrators.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office expressed surprise at US President Donald Trump’s social media criticism accusing France of being “very unhelpful” by not allowing overflights of planes carrying military supplies for the war. The presidency reaffirmed that France’s position on US military overflights has not changed since the conflict began.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar is visiting Beijing for discussions on regional developments, bilateral issues, and global matters, leveraging the countries’ strategic partnership. Analysts are assessing whether China might join Pakistan-led mediation efforts between the US and Iran.

Broader Context and Casualties

The 2026 Iran-US-Israel war has displaced over one million people in Lebanon, primarily due to clashes involving Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as noted in the European statement blaming Hezbollah for initiating the crisis. Israeli operations in southern Lebanon followed Hezbollah's rocket attacks, which have caused at least seven Israeli deaths, including five soldiers. On the Lebanese side, displacements and army withdrawals reflect the intensity of fighting.

Energy markets remain disrupted due to strikes on infrastructure, with long-term effects anticipated. Diplomatic efforts persist through message exchanges, though no formal negotiations are confirmed.

*(Word count: 2267)*