US gas hits $4 as Trump tells other nations to ‘go get your own oil’
• Energy costs: The average US gas price hit $4 a gallon, the highest since 2022. The war in Iran has essentially shut down oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Trump decries allies: US President Donald Trump demanded the UK and other countries in need of jet fuel go to Hormuz and “just TAKE IT.” The UK announced it is sending additional air defense systems to Persian Gulf nations to support the “collective defense of allies.”
• Speculation over boots on ground: The USS Tripoli, believed to be carrying Marines, is in the Indian Ocean, US Central Command said as speculation mounts over a possible US ground operation in Iran. Addressing the possibility, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US aims “to be unpredictable” in the war.
• Fresh strikes hit Iranian cities: A desalination plant on Qeshm Island was taken out of service following an airstrike, semi-official state media reported.
Iranian state media reported Tuesday that Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country is ready to stop fighting, provided it knows it won’t be attacked again.
“We have never sought tension or war at any stage, and we have the necessary resolve to end this war if the required conditions are met, especially the necessary guarantees to prevent a recurrence of aggression,” Pezeshkian said, according to Press TV.
Press TV reported Pezeshkian’s remarks in an article about the Iranian president’s conversation with European Council President António Costa.
Reports of comments along those lines sent stocks higher around midday today after an earlier rebound from comments by Trump administration officials on ending the war.
Costa’s readout of the call made no mention of the purported comments by Pezeshkian. CNN has reached out to Costa’s office for comment.
Press TV reported that Pezeshkian criticized the European Union during the call for not being vociferous enough in its criticism of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
“The EU should calibrate its policies and stances based on international law and in line with the rules of constructive and professional interaction with other parties,” Pezeshkian said.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that Iran is not currently in negotiations with the United States, though Iran has received messages from the Trump administration.
Talks between the United States and Iran “are continuing and going well,” according press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this week. While President Donald Trump asserted that the US and Israel are winning and Iran wants to make deal, he and his administration increasingly believe that they can’t promise to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a prerequisite to declaring “mission accomplished,” sources tell CNN.
As the conflict passes the month mark, CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh explains why it is more likely to end in some sort of compromise, not unconditional surrender by Iran.
Amid the White House showing signs it wants an end to the war with Iran, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh breaks down why the conflict might be resolved with a compromise rather than unconditional surrender.
CNN’s Alayna Treene, Kevin Liptak and Jennifer Hansler contributed reporting to this post.
Kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson had been warned of threats, including abduction, from an Iranian proxy in recent weeks, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Kittleson was abducted in Baghdad on Tuesday.
“An individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities,” Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said in a post on X. The post did not name Kittleson.
Kataib Hezbollah is an Iranian-backed militia group that has repeatedly targeted Americans.
According to one source familiar with the warning, the US government recently warned Kittleson of a Kataib Hezbollah plot to kidnap or kill her. The warning came while she was already reporting in Iraq.
Another source said that US and Iraqi officials had been tracking threats by an Iranian proxy against Kittleson, including threats to abduct or kill her, and had warned her to leave multiple times in recent weeks.
“The State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them and we will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible,” Johnson said on Tuesday, without elaborating on the threats.
The US Embassy in Iraq has repeatedly warned US citizens to leave the country since the conflict with Iran began in late February, cautioning that Iran-backed militias could attempt to kidnap Americans.
Al-Monitor, a US-based news organization, confirmed the kidnapping of American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad, Iraq, earlier today and called for her “safe and immediate release.”
Al-Monitor said it was “deeply alarmed” by the abduction of Kittleson, who works as a contributor for the news outlet.
“We call for her safe and immediate release. We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work,” the statement added.
Iraq’s Ministry of Interior said in an earlier statement that a female foreign journalist was kidnapped in central Baghdad by unknown individuals Tuesday evening and that security forces have launched an operation to track down those responsible and secure her release.
Two interior ministry officials told CNN, on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case, that the kidnapped journalist was Kittleson**.**
A US official told CNN that they are tracking Kittleson’s kidnapping and is working with Iraq to try to secure her release.
A State Department official said that they “are (closely) tracking these reports,” but declined to comment further “due to privacy and other considerations.” “The Trump Administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” the State Department official said.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was “deeply concerned” by reports of Kittleson’s abduction and urged Iraqi authorities to do everything in their power to locate her and “hold those responsible to account.”
Kittleson is a journalist specializing in the Middle East and Afghanistan, with work published in international, US and Italian outlets, according to Al-Monitor.
CNN’s Dalia Abdelwahab contributed reporting.
Pope Leo XIV told CNN today that he hopes US President Donald Trump “is looking for an off-ramp” to end the war with Iran.
“I’m told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war,” the pontiff said. “Hopefully he’s looking for an off-ramp. Hopefully, he’s looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that’s being created and that’s increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere.”
“I would certainly continue to give this call to all leaders of the world and say, come back to the table to dialogue,” Pope Leo continued. “Let’s look for solutions to problems. Let’s look for ways to reduce the amount of violence that we’re promoting. That peace, especially at Easter, might reign in our hearts.”
Since he became Bishop of Rome in May, Pope Leo has often spoken out against war, urging dialogue and reconciliation.
Two days ago, on Palm Sunday, the pope told a crowd of worshippers that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.”
The White House, in response to a question about the pope’s Palm Sunday remarks, said that there isn’t anything “wrong” with praying for US troops.
“In fact, I think it’s a very noble thing to do,” said spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. “And if you talk to many service members, they will tell you they appreciate the prayers and support.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned European leaders that any intervention in the war would have “dangerous consequences,” according to an Iranian readout of a phone call with António Costa, the president of the European Council.
In the call, Pezeshkian criticized what he described as a “negative and biased” European Union stance toward US and Israeli military action against Iran, saying the attacks were a serious violation of international law and principles Europe claims to defend.
European nations have until now distanced themselves from the war, refusing to take part in offensive actions, though some are providing defense support to Gulf states. US President Donald Trump took to social media this morning to once again criticize them for not stepping up more.
Pezeshkian also said Iran had entered negotiations with the United States “in good faith,” but was attacked again during the talks — which he argued showed Washington had no genuine commitment to diplomacy.
He warned that “any further foreign intervention” in the conflict “under any pretext” would have dangerous consequences, the Iranian account said.
Costa said in a post on X Tuesday that he urged for “de-escalation and restraint,” during the phone call with Pezeshkian.
“There must be space for diplomacy,” he said, while “addressing the broader security concerns posed by Iran,” Costa added.
The US State Department warned US citizens in Saudi Arabia that it is “tracking reports of threats against locations where American citizens gather,” noting that “hotels and other gathering points including U.S. businesses and U.S. educational institutions may be potential targets.”
Tuesday’s security alert reiterated that US government employees have been instructed to shelter in place and advised US citizens to do the same.
Previous security alerts had warned of “threats against locations where American citizens gather,” including hotels, but Tuesday’s was more specific in also listing businesses and educational institutions as potential targets.
Iran has retaliated for US and Israeli military action by targeting US facilities. The US State Department ordered non-emergency personnel to depart from Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
US President Donald Trump had some choice words for European countries today in his latest round of criticism for not stepping up more in the war with Iran, including that they need to “start learning how to fight for yourself.”
So far, European allies have been hesitant to get involved with the conflict:
Italy: In recent days, a US aircraft bound for the Middle East was prohibited from landing at a military base in Sicily, according to Italian media. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said Italy was “acting in full compliance with existing international agreements.” US forces have permission to use military bases in Italy for standard logistics flights, according to Italy’s ANSA news agency, which these were not.
Spain: Yesterday, defense minister Margarita Robles announced the country would not authorize the use of its military bases or airspace for any activity relating to the US-Israeli operation in Iran, calling it “profoundly illegal.”
France: Paris did not allow Israel’s aircraft laden with “munitions” to traverse French airspace. This became one of the factors for why Israel decided to halt defense purchases from France. Trump in a Truth Social post this morning complained about France having been “very unhelpful.”
United Kingdom: King Charles’ first state visit to the US will go ahead next month despite Trump repeatedly criticizing the UK for not stepping up more in the war with Iran. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscored his position yesterday: “This is not our war and we’re not going to get drawn into it.” The UK said today it is sending additional air defense systems to Persian Gulf nations to support the “collective defense of allies.”
CNN’s Antonia Mortensen, Sana Noor Haq, Aileen Graef, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Charlotte Reck, Eugenia Yosef, Max Saltman, Sharon Braithwaite and Billy Stockwell contributed reporting to this post.
Iran holds about 12% of the world’s proven oil reserves, and it is located near key global shipping routes. CNN’s Leila Gharagozlou provides the context how the fight for Iran’s oil reserves has a century-long history.
CNN’s Leila Gharagozlou explains the more than 100-year history of Iran’s oil reserves
US stocks spent much of today rebounding on reports and comments from the Trump administration about potentially ending the war soon.
Separately, reports that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a statement that Tehran is ready to end the war, in exchange for security guarantees, sent stocks even higher around midday. CNN could not immediately confirm those reports.
The S&P 500 gained 2.5%. The Dow gained 850 points, or 1.9%. And the Nasdaq, which had entered correction last week, rebounded sharply — gaining 3.3%.
Oil futures also fell somewhat. Brent futures for May delivery dropped 2.7% to $104.50 a barrel, and US oil declined 1.6% to just over $101 a barrel.
The rebound comes after The Wall Street Journal today reported that President Donald Trump told White House staff that he’d be open to ending the war with Iran even without reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Those comments were more or less confirmed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a news conference this morning.
Although markets were higher, the cautious move in oil prices and relatively muted decline in Treasury yields suggest investors remain somewhat skeptical about an immediate end to the war.
Iraq’s Ministry of Interior said a female foreign journalist was kidnapped in central Baghdad by unknown individuals Tuesday evening and that security forces have launched an operation to track down those responsible and secure her release.
Two interior ministry officials told CNN, on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case, that the journalist holds a US passport.
CNN reached out to the Department of State for comment. A US official told CNN they are tracking the kidnapping of an American journalist but did not provide further details.
The ministry said specialized forces began pursuing the perpetrators using “precise inteligence information,” leading to a vehicle being surrounded; it overturned as suspects fled, allowing Iraqi forces to arrest one suspect.
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to locate remaining suspects, free the journalist and take legal action, with investigations continuing and more details to follow.
The US Embassy in Iraq has repeatedly warned US citizens to leave the country since the conflict with Iran began in late February, cautioning that Iran-backed militias could attempt to kidnap Americans. “Do not travel to Iraq for any reason. Depart immediately if you are there,” the embassy said in its latest statement over the weekend.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed the “peaceful settlement” of the US and Israel’s war with Iran in a call with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Kremlin said today.
During a telephone call, the Kremlin said both leaders “expressed serious concern over the continuing deterioration of the military and political situation in the Middle East.”
“They emphasized the importance of bringing hostilities to an end as soon as possible and the activation of political and diplomatic efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict,” the Kremlin statement said.
The Kremlin added that Russia “traditionally maintains friendly and mutually beneficial relations” with all states in the region.
CNN reported earlier this month how Russia is providing Iran with intelligence about the locations and movements of American troops, ships and aircraft, according to multiple people familiar with US intelligence reporting.
Qatar has warned any escalation of the war in the Middle East could “further destabilize the region” including a possible US ground invasion of Iran.
Speaking in Doha today, Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari was asked by CNN’s Matthew Chance about reports of a possible US ground invasion. He said he wouldn’t comment on the “operational strategies” of other countries, but “any kind of escalation that goes beyond the current parameters of the conflict threatens to further destabilize the region.”
Gulf states, al-Ansari said, have so far taken a “unified position” in calling on all parties to de-escalate and end the conflict.
The United Kingdom has said it is sending additional air defense systems to Persian Gulf nations to support the “collective defense of allies.”
“Vital air defenses from the UK are being deployed to the Middle East to further support Gulf partners from Iran’s aggressive missiles and drone attacks which continue across the region,” the country’s ministry of defense said today.
During a visit to the region, British Defence Secretary John Healey announced his decision to deploy the “Sky Sabre” air defense system to Saudi Arabia and extend the deployment of UK Typhoon jets in Qatar.
He also said a short-range air defense system is now in Bahrain while a ground-based air defense missile system has arrived in Kuwait.
“My message to Gulf partners is: Britain’s best will help you defend your skies,” Healey said. “We will stand by our long-term partners in the Middle East and continue to push for a swift resolution to this conflict.”
Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced today that it will halt all “defense procurement” from France, which it said had carried out actions “that have harmed Israel’s security.”
Israel “has decided to reduce all defense procurement from France to zero, replacing it with domestic Israeli procurement or purchases from allied countries,” the ministry’s spokesperson said in a press release.
The release cites France’s recognition of a Palestinian state in September as one of the motivating factors, along with news reports that France did not allow Israeli aircraft laden with “munitions” to traverse French airspace.
US President Donald Trump complained about the latter reports in a Truth Social post this morning, claiming that France has been “very unhelpful” over the course of the war with Iran.
CNN has reached out to the French Armed Forces Ministry for comment.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which tracks arms shipments, reported earlier this month that France is a world leader in the weapons industry, accounting for roughly a tenth of global arms exports from 2021 to 2025.
Israel’s top suppliers in the same period were the United States, Germany and Italy – with US products making up over half of Israel’s foreign weapons imports, according to SIPRI.
CNN’s Joseph Ataman contributed.
US President Donald Trump once again criticized European countries for not stepping up more in the war with Iran, saying they would need “to start learning how to fight” for themselves.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine also held a press briefing earlier at the Pentagon for the first time in 12 days. You can take a look at what was said during that in our catch up here.
Here’s what else we’ve been reporting on in the last few hours:
- Authorities in Italy prohibited a US aircraft bound for the Middle East from landing at a military base in Sicily, according to Italian media.
- The White House continued to dismiss spiking oil prices as average gas prices across the US hit $4.02 a gallon for the first time since 2022, arguing prices will “plummet” once the war with Iran is over.
- Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that reports of missiles launched toward Turkey were “completely baseless” and warned of “false-flag operations” in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart today.
- US-Israeli bombing on Iran struck a factory producing cancer medication and a psychiatric hospital in recent days, according to state-backed outlets.
- China and Pakistan called for an “immediate ceasefire” and peace talks to resolve the war with Iran following high-level talks in Beijing.
- Russia commented on the whereabouts of Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, saying he is in Iran.
- Trump also touted the upcoming visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, despite calls for the trip to be delayed over objections to the Iran war.
CNN’s Aileen Graef, Antonia Mortensen, Sana Noor Haq, Alayna Treene, Lauren Kent, Adam Pourahmadi, Issy Ronald, Simone McCarthy, Sophia Saifi, Anna Chernova and Ivana Kottasová contributed to this reporting.
The UN’s humanitarian chief urged the United Nations Security Council to prtoect Lebanese civilians as Israel continues its bombardment to target Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In an address delivered via video from Beirut today, Tom Fletcher told Security Council members that “the situation on both sides of the Blue Line demands not only the council’s closest attention, but also your collective action to avert an even worse crisis.”
“Hundreds of thousands of civilians remain in harm’s way,” he added, citing the destruction of Lebanese villages by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as well as Hezbollah’s strikes on Israel.
Fletcher, the former British ambassador to Lebanon, emphasized the suffering of Lebanese people, whose access to healthcare, clean water and education is rapidly depleting, he said.
The diplomat also said that the IDF’s targeting of bridges along Lebanon’s Litani River has destroyed vital infrastructure connecting the south to the rest of the country.
“Entire communities are becoming increasingly isolated,” he said.
“They want safety. They want dignity. They want this to stop,” Fletcher said of the Lebanese people. “How will you protect civilians?” he asked the UN council president.
“How should we prepare collectively, as the international community, for a new addition to the list of occupied territories?” he added, before asking how the UN security council should prepare for “the potential terror of a fresh round of internal targeting and political strife.”
As tensions choke shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a familiar idea is resurfacing: register oil tankers under another country’s flag to secure passage and keep crude flowing.
One proposal under discussion is whether tankers could transit the strait under the Pakistani flag, potentially allowing them to pass with some form of protection or acceptance from Iran.
It’s a tactic with precedent.
The last time tankers were reflagged in the Persian Gulf came during the latter stages of the Iran-Iraq War, in what became known as the “Tanker War.” By the mid-1980s, both sides were targeting oil shipments to cripple each other’s economies. Iraq struck Iranian exports, while Iran retaliated by hitting vessels, many linked to Kuwait.
By 1986, Kuwait sought outside protection. The United States stepped in, launching Operation Earnest Will in 1987, a program to reflag Kuwaiti tankers as American vessels, allowing them to sail under US naval protection.
Under the operation, US warships escorted convoys through the Gulf, while allied navies cleared mines, patrolled shipping lanes, and monitored traffic. The US also extended protection to some neutral vessels on a case-by-case basis.
Now, a similar model is being floated again, but with key differences.
During the Tanker War, Iran sought to pressure its adversaries without triggering a full-scale confrontation with the United States. Today, Tehran sees itself already locked in a direct and existential conflict with Washington.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called attacks on peacekeepers “grave violations” of international law after two Indonesian UN peacekeepers were killed in Lebanon on Monday.
“I strongly condemn Monday’s incident that led to the killing of two Indonesian @UNIFIL_ peacekeepers in South Lebanon. A third peacekeeper was severely injured & a fourth was also hurt,” Guterres posted on X.
The UN chief conveyed his “deepest condolences” to the peacekeepers’ families, friends and colleagues.
“This is the second fatal incident in 24 hours – following the killing of a peacekeeper in a separate incident on Sunday,” Guterres said. “No one should ever have to die serving the cause of peace.”
Russia has finally commented on the whereabouts of Iran’s new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, saying he was in Iran.
Asked about Khamenei’s whereabouts amid rumours that the Iranian leader might have been evacuated to Moscow, Russia’s ambassador to Iran Alexey Dedov said: “As the Iranian leadership has repeatedly stated, the new leader is in Iran, but for obvious reasons, he is refraining from public appearances.”
The Kremlin had previously declined to comment on Khamenei’s whereabouts.
More than three weeks after his appointment as Iran’s supreme leader, Khamenei has still not been seen or heard in public.
A source with knowledge of the situation told CNN earlier this month that Khamenei was injured in the attack that killed his father and Iran’s top military commanders. The source said had suffered a fractured foot, a bruised left eye and minor lacerations to his face.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously said Khamenei was “likely disfigured” without providing any evidence.
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• Energy costs: The average US gas price hit $4 a gallon, the highest since 2022. The war in Iran has essentially shut down oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Trump decries allies: US President Donald Trump demanded the UK and other countries in need of jet fuel go to Hormuz and “just TAKE IT.” The UK announced it is sending additional air defense systems to Persian Gulf nations to support the “collective defense of allies.”
• Speculation over boots on ground: The USS Tripoli, believed to be carrying Marines, is in the Indian Ocean, US Central Command said as speculation mounts over a possible US ground operation in Iran. Addressing the possibility, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US aims “to be unpredictable” in the war.
• Fresh strikes hit Iranian cities: A desalination plant on Qeshm Island was taken out of service following an airstrike, semi-official state media reported.