What we know on day 22 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran
What we know on day 22 of the US and Israel’s war with Iran
Laura Sharman, CNNSat, March 21, 2026 at 4:49 AM UTC
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US President Donald Trump during the Commander in Chief Trophy Presentation to the 2024 Navy Midshipmen football team at the White House on March 20, 2026. - Gripas Yuri/Abaca/SIPA
As the US-Israel war with Iran enters its fourth week, the Trump administration granted a temporary license for Iran to sell around 140 million barrels of crude oil to calm jittery markets.
President Donald Trump said the US is considering “winding down” its military efforts, although a senior Iranian source told CNN that Tehran doesn’t believe the claim.
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In the Middle East, US embassies remain under threat while some Gulf states continue to intercept missiles and drones. Iran unsuccessfully targeted a joint US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean with ballistic missiles, a source told CNN.
What are the main headlines? -
Sanctions removed: The Trump administration granted a temporary license on Friday night allowing Iran to sell 140 million barrels of oil sitting on tankers - enough to satisfy global demand for roughly a day and a half, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
Military efforts: Trump said the US is considering “winding down” military efforts in the Middle East in a social media post Friday, though a senior Iranian source told CNN there has been no “reduction in military activity” in the region. Earlier that day, Trump told reporters that he believes the US has “won” its war with Iran. But thousands more US Marines and sailors are heading towards the Middle East.
Strait of Hormuz: Bahrain has become the first regional country to signal willingness to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, joining EU nations, Japan and Canada, its state media reported Friday. Meanwhile, US officials are furiously trying to avert a potential monthslong closure of the strait, administration and intelligence officials told CNN.
What’s happening on the ground?
Destroyed houses and buildings in southern Lebanon are seen across the border from the Upper Galilee in northern Israel on March 20, 2026. - Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images -
Indian Ocean: Iran launched intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK military base, Friday morning local time, according to a US official. The missiles were fired at the facility – a key airfield for the US’ heavy bomber fleet in the Indian Ocean, and around 2,370 miles from Iran’s coast - but neither of them struck the base, the official said.
In Iraq: Iran claimed it targeted the United States Embassy’s logistics base in Baghdad three times on Friday, according to state broadcaster IRIB. The embassy has faced multiple rocket and drone attacks since the war began.
UAE warned: Tehran has issued a warning to the United Arab Emirates that it will strike the port city Ras al-Khaimah if Iranian islands in the Gulf continue to come under attack.
More from the Gulf: Countries including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continued to intercept missile and drone strikes overnight into Saturday, according to local defense officials.
Israel and Lebanon: The Israeli military said early Saturday that Iran launched more missiles towards its territory. It also reported striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut overnight.
Zachary Cohen and Elise Hammond contributed to this report.
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Source: “AOL Breaking”
