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Trump considers 'winding down' war

Comment comes as more Marines head to region

By: Michale Loria
and Aisha Bagchi
USA Today

..... President Donald Trump said the United States is considering "winding down" the war with Iran even as the Pentagon sends thousands of additional Marines and an amphibious assault ship to the Middle East.
..... The mixed messaging from the White House comes as the conflict that launched on February 28 [2026 enters the fourth week. on the evening of March 20, [2026] Trump said the country is "very close to meeting our objectives," including "never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability."
..... But it remains unclear what exactly the White House needs to complete its mission and whether that will involve deploying more troops as Americans appear increasingly concerned at signs the war could expand.
..... Thousands have been killed in the war including 13 U.S. service members. Israel has also launched a campaign in Lebanon following strikes from inside that country by Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy group.
..... Millions of people between Lebanon and Iran have fled their homes, according to the United Nations.
..... Vital energy infrastructure in Iran and neighboring Gulf states has been attacked, sending oil prices up 50%.
..... Iran's move to close the Strait of Hormuz for many vessels has left the White House scrambling to come up with solutions to the burgeoning energy crisis. Average gas prices across the country topped $3.92 per gallon on March 20, [2026] up almost a full dollar compared with before the war, according to AAA. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said March 20 [2026] the United States would lift sanctions on 140 million barrels of Iranian oil to ease the shortage driving rising prices.
..... Energy price shocks are also fueling inflation, hitting consumers and businesses hard - a major political liability for Trump as he seeks to justify the war before the November [2026] election, in which Republicans could lose their majority in Congress. Trump has accused NATO allies, who had not been consulted about the war, of cowardice over their reluctance to help open the strait.
..... Leading U.S. allies form Europe, as well as Japan and Canada, have pledged to join "appropriate efforts" to ensure safe passage through the strait, but Germany and France have spelled out that fighting must stop first.
..... Iranian foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Kyodo news agency that Iran was ready to let Japaneses-related vessels pass through the strait, which carries around 90% of Japan's oil imports.

Iran reports attack on nuclear enrichment plant

..... Iranian gas supplies to Iraq reportedly resumed after flows were halted by any Israeli attack on Iran's main gas field, South Pars, on March 18. [2026]
..... As the fighting continued, Iranian media said U.S.-Israeli forces had attacked the Shahid Ahmadi-Rohan Natanz enrichment complex early on March 21. [2026] Technical experts found that no radioactive leaks had occurred and nearby residents were not at risk.
..... Israel said it was unaware of such a strike. The head of the international Atomic Energy Agency said it was investigating.
..... Russia called the attack "a blatant violation of international law.
..... Muslims celebrated Eid at-Fitr on March 20 [2026] to end the fasting month of Ramadan and Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Iran's new supreme leader Avatollah Moitaba Khamenei, marked the occasion with a message of defiance.
..... Khamenei - who did not appear at eid prayers and has not been seen in public since the initial Israel attack, which killed his father and predecessor, Aytollah Ali Khamenei - said in his statement that Iranians had responded with unity and resistance wand "dealt a disorienting blow to the enemy."

United plans to cut flights

..... United Airless CEO Scott Kirby announced the company will cut flights by about 5% as the company expects oil prices to remain high for the foreseeable future.
..... "The reality is jet fuel prices have more than doubled in the last three weeks," [03/20/2026] Kirby said in a statement. "That may sound scary, but the first piece of good news is that, for now at least , demand remains the strongest we're ever seen. the 10 biggest bonked revenue weeks in our history have been the last 10 weeks. But it may be challenge to continue passing through much of the increased fuel price if oil stays higher for longer."
..... Kirby said he expects oil prices to rise to $175 per barrel and won't return to 4100 per barrel until the end of 2027.
..... Most of the cuts would come to off-peak flights, Kirby said.

Iran war death toll

..... Iran: U.S.-based rights group HRANA said on March 19 [2026] that 3,186 people have been killed. It said 1,394 of those were civilians, including at least 210 children.
..... Lebanon: Around 1,021 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since March 2, [2026] according to Lebanese authorities. The World Health Organization and Lebanese health authorities said more than 100 of those killed were children.
..... Iraq: At least 60 people been killed, according to Iraqi authorities. Most of those were members of the Shiite Popular Mobilizations Forces.
..... Israel: fifteen civilians have been killed. The Israeli military said two of its solders were also killed in southern Lebanon. Four Palestinian women were killed in an Iranian missile attack in the occupied West Bank.
..... United States: thirteen service members have been killed.
..... United Arab Emirates: eight people have been killed in Iranian attacks, including two army soldiers, according to the UAE defense ministry.
..... Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman have each also torpedoed a small number of deaths.

..... Contributing: Dan Morrison, USA Today; Reuters

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