What we know on Day 27 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran: Trump frustrated with Tehran and IRGC navy chief dead

Talks between the United States and Iran are ongoing — though both sides are describing things very differently.

US President Donald Trump kept changing tack on Thursday, initially saying Tehran was "begging" for a deal behind closed doors, before telling reporters at a briefing in the White House, "I don't care" whether they reach one.

However, Iranian Foreign MinisterAbbas Araghchihas refused to characterize the countries' dialogue as a negotiation, instead calling it an "exchange of messages" and describing US overtures for talks as "an admission of defeat."

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Meanwhile, Israel said it killed the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy, a key figure behind the near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

And the realities of war are hitting home in the US — with high public dissatisfaction, a new postal surcharge and bipartisan skepticism in Congress. The fallout from the global energy crisis is prompting some Asian countries to take emergency steps.

Here's what to know on Day 27.

What are the main headlines?

• State of possible talks: The White House said talks with Iran are proceeding apace, even after Tehran did not immediately accept a 15-point plan to end the war. The US is working to arrange a meeting in Pakistan to discuss an off-ramp, two administration officials told CNN.

• Trump tells Iran to "get serious soon": The US president shared his frustration on Thursday over Tehran's approach to negotiations, warning that time was running out for a deal. "They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won't be pretty," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

• Iran's response: Earlier, Foreign Minister Araghchi acknowledged that messages had been exchanged with the US through mediators, but he said that Washington's shift in tone — having previously demanded Tehran's "unconditional surrender" — amounted to an acknowledgment of failure.

• Key Iranian commander killed: The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy, Alireza Tangsiri, was killed in an Israeli operation, Israel's defense minister said. Tangsiri was a key figure behind the almost complete blockade of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

• Two killed in Abu Dhabi: Falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile killed two people in Abu Dhabi, the city's authorities said Thursday. Three other people were injured when the debris fell on Sweihan Street, a main road on the east side of the city.

• Global economy roils: Inflation is expected to rise in major economies such as the United States, India, China and Britain because of the war in Iran, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development forecast. Economic growth in Europe and Britain is also predicted to stall.

What's happening on the ground?

• Protecting key island: Iran has been laying traps and moving military personnel and air defenses to Kharg Island in preparation for a possible US operation to take control of the island, according to people familiar with US intelligence reporting. Any ground warfare will be far more "dangerous and costly for the enemy," an Iranian army commander cautioned on Thursday.

• Another possible strait: An Iranian military source has warned that Tehran could open additional strategic fronts if the US and Israel undertake military actions against Iranian islands or attempt to pressure the country through naval operations. That could include the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The strait is a vital chokepoint for global trade, particularly oil and natural gas shipments.

• Strikes continue: Attacks are still taking place, with Israel's military saying early Thursday it carried out a wave of strikes across several areas in Iran. There were reports of fragments and debris falling in two Israeli cities, too. And Persian Gulf nations continue fending off attacks, with the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait both reporting interceptions Thursday morning.

What's happening in the US?

• Bipartisan complaints: Members of the House Armed Services Committee said they were unsatisfied with a briefing by Trump administration officials on the war, its objectives and timeline — the latest sign of growing angst even among members of Trump's own party. The frustration arose as lawmakers are bracing for a supplemental request to fund the war effort and restock munitions used so far.

• Public opinion: A new set of polls released Wednesday shows high public dissatisfaction with the war. Some 59% of Americans think the US made the wrong decision in using military force in Iran, and 61% disapprove of Trump's handling of the conflict, according to a new Pew Research survey.

• Timeline: The White House said Wednesday that the US timeline for the war is still four to six weeks and that it's "too soon to say" if the administration is satisfied with new Iranian leadership.

What's happening in the energy markets?

• Markets spooked: Oil prices rose and stock markets fell Thursday, reflecting investors' anxieties over the length of this war, even as the US signals its willingness to talk. Brent crude climbed to almost $106 a barrel. Markets in Asia and Europe fell. Gas prices in the US fell slightly — by a fraction of a penny — for the first time since the war began.

• Emergency measures in Asia: In the face of a deepening energy crisis, several countries are taking emergency steps. South Korea asked its citizens to reduce their electricity use and for gas stations to cooperate with the government's oil price cap. There was panic buying in Thailand after the government said it would reduce its subsidy on oil prices. And the Philippines' energy market regulator said it had suspended the country's wholesale electricity spot market until further notice.

• USPS fee: The US Postal Service will charge an 8% fuel surcharge on packages for the first time, adding to the costs for American consumers and businesses as a result of the war. The surcharge is temporary and will apply only to packages, not letters. Consumers and businesses will start seeing the fee on April 26.

• India's cooking crisis: India is urging households to use more piped natural gas (PNG) in an attempt to allay the energy fallout from the war, which could transform cooking habits for tens of millions of people. Indian households rely heavily on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders as their primary cooking fuel, but much of this is imported from the Middle East. The country's PNG supply doesn't rely so much on imports.

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byDaniel Coleman

in

March 26, 2026

What we know on Day 27 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran: Trump frustrated with Tehran and IRGC navy chief dead

Talks between the United States and Iran are ongoing — though both sides are describing things very differently. ...

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Pakistan resumes military operations against Afghanistan

By Asif Shahzad

An Afghan family travels with their belongings in a vehicle as they leave for their country at the Chaman border crossing

ISLAMABAD, March 26 (Reuters) - Pakistan's military resumed operations against Afghanistan after a temporary pause, Pakistan's foreign ministry said on Thursday, dashing hopes of a ‌permanent ceasefire.

Pakistan and Afghanistan's worst fighting in years erupted last month, claiming heavy ‌human losses on both sides.

Kabul said more than 400 people were killed in a Pakistani air strike on ​a drug rehabilitation centre in the Afghan capital last week before the neighbours suspended fighting.

Pakistan rejected the Taliban's statements about the strike, saying it had "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure".

A pause in hostilities was announced for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Fitr, which Islamabad says was ‌also requested by Turkey, Qatar ⁠and Saudi Arabia.

"The pause has concluded midnight between, I think, 23rd and 24th March," said Tahir Andrabi, the spokesperson at a weekly foreign ministry ⁠briefing in Islamabad.

He said the operations would continue until the objectives are achieved, and until the Afghan Taliban administration reviewed what he called its misplaced priority of supporting terrorist infrastructure.

Islamabad accuses the ​Afghan Taliban ​of harbouring and supporting Islamist militants who carry ​out attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies ‌it, saying the militancy is Pakistan's domestic problem.

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BORDER CROSSING TEMPORARILY REOPENED

Trade at the main border crossings between the two neighbours has been suspended since the Pakistani military launched its first air strikes in October.

Torkham border crossing in northwest Pakistan was temporarily opened on Thursday for hundreds of Afghan refugees to go back home, officials said.

"We have been stranded here for ‌at least a month and a half," Zabi Ullah, ​an Afghan refugee who was waiting for the border ​to open, told Reuters TV. "There are ​also sick relatives with us."

Pakistan has hosted over two million Afghan refugees ‌sheltering from successive cycles of war in ​Afghanistan over the decades.

Islamabad ​wants all Afghan nationals to leave -- except for those who have valid visas -- saying they had been involved in militant attacks and other crimes.

Pakistan's repatriation drive is part ​of a campaign called the ‌Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan launched in late 2023.

The United Nations calls sending the ​refugees back a violation of international obligations.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad, writing by ​Sakshi Dayal; Editing by YP Rajesh, William Maclean)

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 26, 2026

Pakistan resumes military operations against Afghanistan

By Asif Shahzad An Afghan family travels with their belongings in a vehicle as they leave for their country at...

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More than 1,000 US soldiers preparing to deploy to the Middle East to be available for Iran operations

More than 1,000 US soldiers with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division are expecting to deploy in coming days to the Middle East, according to two sources familiar with the matter, adding to thegrowing military firepower in the regionas the Trump administration says it is in talks with Iran to end the conflict.

The contingent includes Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier, commander of the 82ndAirborne Division, and division staff, as well as a battalion of the 1stBrigade Combat Team which is currently acting as the division's Immediate Response Force (IRF), the sources said. The initial elements of the division staff and battalion are expected to begin deploying within a week, one of the sources familiar said; other elements within the brigade are also expecting to deploy at a later date, though those expectations could change as the situation develops.

US officials approved written deployment orders late Tuesday, the second source familiar with the matter told CNN on Wednesday. The source said those orders covered deploying more than 1,000 soldiers.

The brigade will be the "ready unit" in the Middle East, prepared to be called upon if needed, the source said. The 82nd Airborne Divisionmade a similar movement in 2020after the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.

The IRF is a brigade that is ready to move with limited notice, acting as a rapid response force able to deploy within hours when called upon. The designation of the IRF rotates between teams in the Army brigade.

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President Donald Trump said Monday that the US and Iran had reached15 points of agreementin conversations to end the conflict, and that Iran would "very much" like to make a deal. Iran previously denied there was any dialogue happening with the US, but on Tuesday, an Iranian source told CNN that there was "outreach" between the two countries and that Iran was willing to listen to "sustainable" proposals to end the war.

Still, amid the talks, thousands more US forces are coming to the region in addition to the 82nd Airborne.

Two Marine Expeditionary Units and Amphibious Ready Groups have also recently deployed to the region, bringing significant firepower and military options. CNN reported last week that the 11th MEU and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group were having their scheduled deployments accelerated and rerouted from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, where the 31st MEU and Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group were also deploying.

The ARG-MEUs come with roughly 4,500 Marines and sailors each and bring a range of capabilities outside of on-the-ground support, including substantial aviation and logistics components.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 26, 2026

More than 1,000 US soldiers preparing to deploy to the Middle East to be available for Iran operations

More than 1,000 US soldiers with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division are expecting to deploy in coming days to the Midd...

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Epstein files shed new light on what prison officials were doing the night he died

In the years since disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein wasfound deadfrom what was ruled a suicide in his prison cell on August 10, 2019, conspiracy theories have abounded about whether the convicted sex offender actually killed himself.

That speculation is likely to get new life now that Tova Noel, one of the prison guards on duty the night of Epstein's death, has been asked to testify before the House Oversight Committee. Her testimony had been scheduled for Thursday but has been postponed due to scheduling issues.

Noel, an Army veteran who started working in the Special Housing Unit of New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center in early July 2019 – the same week Epstein was arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges and incarcerated there – was supposed to be making checks on Epstein every 30 minutes that night along with her colleague, Michael Thomas.

The DOJ's recent release of millions of documents relating to Epstein has shed new light into his final hours and what prison guards were doing at the time. But they've done little to dispel conspiracy theories about the nature of Epstein's death.

Security cameras positioned near Epstein's cell that night in the Special Housing Unit failed to record, the result of a long-term problem with the facility's camerasdetailedin a 2023 DOJ report. Noel and Thomas were also accused of sleeping on the job at the time of Epstein's death.

The materials released in the files have only raised more questions, including new details about cash deposits Noel made in the months surrounding Epstein's death. The files also show Noel Googled "latest on Epstein in jail" less than an hour before his body was found in his jail cell at around 6:30 a.m.

The files also include allegations from an inmate who reported that prison officials were shredding documents relating to Epstein in the days after his death.

In 2019, both Noel and Thomaswere chargedwith conspiracy and falsifying records indicating they had checked on Epstein every 30 minutes as required that night.

Both were fired, but the federal criminal charges were later dropped under the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement that required community service and cooperation with a Justice Department inspector general review of the circumstances surrounding Epstein's death.

CNN has reached out to attorneys for both Noel and Thomas for comment.

According to that inspector general report released by the DOJ in 2023, half of the security cameras in the prison weren't functional. As a result, there was a significant lack of video footage for the FBI and OIG to review in their investigations — a detail that has fueled speculation that Epstein, who was in close contact with many influential people, including royalty, politicians and celebrities, could have been killed by someone wanting to keep him quiet.

It was announced in 2021 that the Metropolitan Correctional Center would be temporarily closed to address issues that long plagued the facility, including lax security and crumbling infrastructure. It remains closed today.

'No interest' in killing himself

Epstein was placed on suicide watch after prison officials determined he tried to kill himself on July 23, 2019. But what actually occurred was unclear, as Epstein then accused his cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer facing murder charges, of trying to kill him. Epstein then recanted that story; in the days after, he told a prison psychologist that Tartaglione had not threatened to harm him and that he had no recollection of the incident, according toa document labeled "Post Suicide Watch Report."

Areport from the incidentincluded in the released files said Epstein was found "lying in the fetal position on the floor with a homemade fashioned noose around his neck."

Epstein stated, "I have no interest in killing myself" on July 24, the day after his reported suicide attempt, according to thepsychologist report.

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He reiterated that during an examination again the next day. "I am too vested in my case to fight it, I have a life and I want to go back to living my life," he told the psychologist, the report said.

Searching Epstein online

Records indicate that Epstein was found unresponsive in his cell at 6:30 a.m. on August 10 after an apparent suicide by hanging. But less than an hour earlier, Noel had searched on Google, "latest on epstein in jail,"according to a 66-page forensic examinationof the Bureau of Prisons desktop computers of Noel and Thomas. The search was highlighted by investigators. Noel had also searched for furniture and "law enforcement discounts," according to the examination.

When she wasquestioned by the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General in 2021, Noel repeatedly said she did not recall googling Epstein, adding it "wouldn't be accurate."

Epstein was also found to have extra clothing and linen in his cell and apparently hung himself with strips of orange cloth. In the sworn statement to the DOJ, Noel, who was working a double shift that day, said she last saw Epstein alive "somewhere around after 10" and that she "never gave out linen" to inmates because that's done the shift before. Each inmate should have had just one set, she said, exchanging the old for the new whenever there would be a change.

She also told investigators she was not aware that cameras weren't working while she was on duty the night of Epstein's death and had no way of monitoring a camera feed while on shift.

Noel said she and other guards counted giving out toilet paper and food or picking up trays as doing a round of checks on inmates, but the strict 30-minute checks they were supposed to do didn't occur.

"I've never worked in the Special Housing Unit and actually done rounds every 30 minutes," she told investigators.

Flagged for cash deposits

One of the documents included in the DOJ's Epstein files says that on November 22, 2019, JP Morgan Chaseprovided a Suspicious Activity Report(SAR) to the FBI regarding 12 cash deposits made by Noel occurring between April 2018, more than a year before Epstein's incarceration, and July 2019. The largest amount was $5,000 on July 30, 2019,according to bank recordsthat federal investigators subpoenaed from JP Morgan Chase.

She was not asked about the cash deposits during her 2021 interview with DOJ officials, according to the transcript. The bank records also revealed she was leasing a new Land Rover Range Rover valued at more than $60,000.

Claims of document shredding

On August 19, 2019, less than two weeks after Epstein was found dead in his prison cell, an employee of the Metropolitan Correctional Centeremailedthe FBI that an inmate had told them members of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' After Action Team that were investigating Epstein's apparent suicide "were shredding boxes of paperwork" days earlier.

"He stated that he even was told to help them shred paperwork too," theemail said. "I believe that this conduct maybe inappropriate for a investigative team to be shredding paperwork related to the investigation and you may want to investigate why BOP employees were destroying records."

During aninterview with investigators weeks later in August 2019, the prison employee said he saw the inmate at the prison's rear gate with "approximately three large bags of shredded paper," but the employee did not personally see any shredding take place.

He "thought that there were more shredded documents than usual during this incident," according to the FBI memo of the interview.

In response to the prison employee's initial email about the shredded documents, investigatorscommented to each other, "Can we take a look at the dumpster ASAP to see if the paper is still in there? Possible they didn't dump it yet."

There's no indication that the dumpster was searched.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 26, 2026

Epstein files shed new light on what prison officials were doing the night he died

In the years since disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein wasfound deadfrom what was ruled a suicide in his prison cell on A...

Read More

Army extends maximum recruitment age to 42, allowing older recruits to join

The U.S. Army is expanding its recruiting pool, raising the maximum enlistment age from 35 years old to 42, according to new service regulations reviewed by ABC News.

The move isn't without precedent. The service lifted the cap to 42 years old in 2006, during the height of the Iraq War, before lowering it back to 35 a decade later.

Bringing the limit back up puts the Army more in line with the Air Force and Navy regulations, which both cap enlistment at 41. The Marine Corps caps recruits at 28 years old, though older applicants can potentially enlist with special permission.

People with autism navigate roadblocks to serving in the military

Two sources familiar with the decision told ABC News the change has been in the works for months and is not tied to the ongoing war with Iran. Instead, it reflects a longer-term effort by the Army to widen the recruiting pipeline amid persistent shortfalls.

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The average age of recruits is going up marginally, going from 21 years old in 2010 to nearly 23 years old last year, service data reviewed by ABC News shows.

Additionally, the Army will now allow enlistments of individuals with only one marijuana-related conviction.

Military officials say recruiting off to strong start in 2025, building on recent trends

The biggest hurdle with recruiting is an increasingly shrinking pool of eligible candidates, according to the Pentagon.

The Pentagon has estimated that only about 23% of young Americans ( between the ages of 17 and 24 years old) are eligible to serve. Much of this is due to academic performance on the military's SAT-style entrance test, obesity and criminal records.

byDaniel Coleman

in

March 26, 2026

Army extends maximum recruitment age to 42, allowing older recruits to join

The U.S. Army is expanding its recruiting pool, raising the maximum enlistment age from 35 years old to 42, according to ...

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