NewsLite

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has been weighing whether to use ground forces to seize Iran's strategic oil hub of Kharg Island, an operation analysts say could be achieved quickly, but leave US troops in great peril and prolong rather than shorten the war.

Kharg Island sits 16 miles (26 km) from Iran's coast in the northern end of the Gulf, about 300 miles (483 km) northwest of the Strait of Hormuz. It lies in waters deep enough to enable the docking of tankers that are too large to approach the Iranian mainland's shallow coastal waters.

The island handles 90 per cent of Iran's oil exports and seizing it would give the United States the ability to severely disrupt Iran's energy trade, placing enormous pressure on Tehran's economy. Iran is the third largest producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

US forces carried out strikes against Kharg in mid-March. Trump said they "totally obliterated" all military targets there and said they could next target oil infrastructure.

HONG KONG — China is willing to strengthen economic and trade co-operation with the United States, its Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said during a meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, China's Commerce Ministry said in a statement.

The discussion occurred during a World Trade Organisation meeting in Cameroon on Thursday (March 26), the ministry said.

Wang said economic and trade relations should be the engine of China-US relations and both sides should "properly handle the relationship between competition and co-operation."

Both countries should strengthen mutually beneficial co-operation, "avoid vicious competition" and jointly "look forward" to promote healthy, stable bilateral economic and trade relations.

NEW YORK — The US has deployed uncrewed drone speedboats for patrols as part of its operations against Iran, the Pentagon said, the first time Washington has confirmed using such vessels in an active conflict.

The deployment of the vessels — which can be used for surveillance or kamikaze strikes — has not been previously reported.

It comes despite a series of setbacks in the US Navy's years‑long effort to field a fleet of uncrewed surface vessels, Reuters reported last year.

Uncrewed vessels have risen to prominence in recent years after Ukraine used explosive‑laden speedboats to inflict significant damage on Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

VAUX-DE-CERNAY, France — France said its military chief held talks with around 35 countries on Thursday (March 26) as it sought partners and proposals for a mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once the US-Israeli war on Iran ends.

The United States' Western allies have said they will not take part in the ongoing conflict. But the behind-the-scenes activity underscores concern that, after the fighting, Iran could continue to threaten the waterway which carries about a fifth of global oil supplies.

Shipping there has already slowed to a ‌near halt after Iran struck vessels amid its conflict with the United States and Israel.

A French defence ministry statement did not name the foreign powers that held talks with Armed Forces Chief Fabien Mandon in a mass video conference, but said they came from all continents.

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (March 26) that Iran was letting 10 oil tankers transit the Strait of Hormuz as an apparent goodwill gesture in negotiations.

Trump made the comments at a Cabinet meeting in the White House, elaborating on what he had previously described as a "present" from Iran.

"They said, to show you the fact that we're real and solid and we're there, we're going to let you have eight boats of oil, eight boats, eight big boats of oil," Trump said.

"I guess they were right, and they were real, and I think they were Pakistani-flagged... It ended up being 10 boats."

US President Donald Trump said Thursday (March 27) he will delay a threatened strike on Iran's energy infrastructure and extend his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until April 6, saying talks to end the war are "going very well."

The move marks a pullback from Trump's earlier warning that the US would target Iran's energy plants if the crucial shipping lane remained closed. Iran has threatened to retaliate against regional infrastructure, including desalination facilities, if the US follows through.

A day after Tehran dismissed Trump's 15-point ceasefire plan, the president said Iran was "begging to make a deal" and urged its leaders to "get serious soon" about negotiations.

Trump's announcement on social media came after US stocks fell sharply and oil prices rose, as doubt took over again on Wall Street about a possible end to the war.

The US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral (ADM) Daryl Caudle is on a three-day visit to Singapore till Friday (March 27).

In a statement on Thursday night, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said ADM Caudle is making his introductory visit after becoming the 34th chief of naval operations in August 2025.

"The United States Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy interact regularly at all levels through high-level visits, professional exchanges, cross-attendance of courses and seminars, as well as port calls and exercises," Mindef said.

The ministry added that these mutually beneficial exchanges have enhanced professionalism, strengthened cooperation and forged strong camaraderie among personnel of both navies.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck off the eastern coast of Honshu in Japan on Thursday (March 27) night, said the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

The quake, which happened at about 10.18pm (Singapore time), was recorded at a depth of 10km.

This was followed by five aftershocks of between 4.3-magnitude and 4.9-magnitude.

According to the agency, some municipalities in Iwate and Hokkaido recorded a seismic intensity of 3 or 4 — out of a scale of 7.

DUBAI/TEL AVIV/WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced that he will pause attacks on Iran's energy plants for 10 days at Tehran's request and said talks with Iran were going "very well," although an Iranian official dismissed a US proposal for ending the conflict as "one-sided and unfair."

The war has killed thousands of people, spread to neighbouring nations and hit the global economy with soaring energy prices since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Feb 28, after talks about Tehran's nuclear programme failed to yield a deal.

On Thursday (March 26), Trump threatened during a cabinet meeting at the White House to increase pressure on Iran if it did not make a deal, before later posting on social media that he would pause attacks on Iranian energy plants for 10 days until April 6.

"Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the Fake News Media, and others, they are going very well," he added in his Truth Social post.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (March 26) met China's top legislator Zhao Leji after speaking at the annual Boao Forum for Asia held in Hainan, China.

Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on the same evening that the two leaders reaffirmed the strength and depth of Singapore-China relations and commended the progress made to further deepen bilateral ties under the All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership.

They also exchanged views on cross-straits developments, where PM Wong reiterated Singapore's consistent and longstanding "One China" policy.

"Prime Minister Wong reaffirmed Singapore and China's shared commitment to upholding rules-based multilateralism and free trade, including through platforms such as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), which China is chairing this year," MFA added.