Morning Briefing: March 24, 2026

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday, including US President Donald Trump announcing a 5-day postponement of all strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure; a US-Israeli offensive targeting energy infrastructure in Iran; and the death toll in a Colombian military plane crash rising to 66.

TOP STORIES

• Trump pauses strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure for 5 days after ‘productive’ talks

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he has ordered a 5-day postponement of all strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing “very good and productive” talks with Tehran over the past two days.

“I am pleased to report that the United States of America and the country of Iran have had, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social.

He added that based on the “tenor and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, witch [sic] will continue throughout the week," he has instructed the Department of Defense to postpone all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days.

• US-Israeli offensive targets energy infrastructure in Iran's Isfahan, Khorramshahr

US-Israeli strikes on Monday reportedly targeted energy-related facilities in Iran’s Isfahan province and the southwestern city of Khorramshahr, Iranian media reported.

In Isfahan, a natural gas administration building and a gas pressure reduction station were damaged, with parts of the facilities and nearby homes sustaining damage, Fars News Agency reported.

In Khorramshahr, a natural gas pipeline belonging to a power plant was targeted.

Officials in Khorramshahr said that one missile hit an area outside a natural gas pipeline station and that there were no casualties.

While no information was provided on power outages in Isfahan, it was reported that power supply remained uninterrupted in Khorramshahr thanks to ongoing efforts.

• Death toll in Colombian military plane crash rises to 66

At least 66 people were killed Monday when a Colombian military plane carrying 125 people crashed in the south of the country, according to local media.

The Hercules C-130 plane with 114 army personnel and 11 crew on board crashed just after taking off from Puerto Leguizamo, Putumayo.

President Gustavo Petro said earlier that the cause of the incident is unknown.

While authorities mobilize to respond to the accident and determine the cause of the crash, the Defense Ministry has activated all protocols to assist victims and their families.

"I express my most sincere condolences to the families of those affected and, out of respect for their grief, I urge avoiding speculation until official information is available," Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

​​​​NEWS IN BRIEF

• A US delegation is arriving in Pakistan "in a day or two" for possible talks to end the Iran war, sources in Islamabad's Foreign Ministry confirmed to Anadolu late Monday.
• Kuwait said early Tuesday that seven overhead power transmission lines have gone out of service in several areas of the country due to damage caused by falling shrapnel resulting from air defense systems' interception operations.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening summoned leaders of coalition parties for an urgent meeting, amid reports it is linked to US contacts regarding a potential agreement with Iran, Israeli media reported.
• Israeli attacks since March 2 have displaced over 1.16 million people, a top Lebanese official said Monday.
• Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on Monday said that no negotiations have taken place with the US, dismissing reports of talks as “fake news” aimed at manipulating financial and oil markets.
• President Donald Trump said Monday that if the US reaches a deal with Iran, the US will take the country’s enriched uranium.
• The US denied Monday that an American F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Kuwait, describing the claims as part of an Iranian "disinformation campaign."
• Iran said Monday it maintains “firm control” over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that regional security does not require foreign intervention.
• Israel’s Health Ministry said that 60 people were injured in Iranian attacks on Monday, pushing the number of injuries to over 4,700 people since late last month.
• The Israeli army carried out three airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Monday evening.
• The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 1,039 since the start of Israel’s expanded offensive on March 2, the Health Ministry said Monday.
• The US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrived Monday at Crete’s Naval Support Activity Souda Bay for "maintenance and repairs following operations in the Red Sea," the US Navy said on Monday.
• An Israeli force advanced on Monday into southern Syria’s Quneitra province, in the latest violation of the Arab country’s sovereignty.
• The US has set April 9 as a potential date to end the ongoing war on Iran, amid expectations of upcoming talks between the two sides, Israeli media reported Monday.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned attacks by Israeli occupiers against Palestinians and their property in the West Bank.
• The British prime minister on Monday welcomed reports of talks between the US and Iran, saying the top priority has to be a "swift resolution" of the Mideast conflict.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Gold rebounds to $4,400 as Trump signals pause in attacks on Iran's power plants

The price of gold rebounded to $4,400, after decreasing to $4,100 earlier on Monday as US President Donald Trump signaled a pause in strikes targeting Iran's power plants.

The price of gold is at around $4,410 per ounce as of 1150GMT, still down 2.3% from Friday's close.

Trump, on Monday, said he has ordered a five-day postponement of all strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, citing “very good and productive” talks with Tehran over the past two days.

• US bond yields down after Trump signals to halt attacks on Iran's power plants

The US bond yields, hitting around 10-month highs earlier on Monday, fell after US President Donald Trump signals to pause in strikes targeting Iran's power plants.

The two-year bond yield was at 3.87% as of 1140GMT, after hitting 4.01%, and the five-year at 3.98%, decreasing from 4.1%.

The 10-year rate also fell to 4.34% from 4.44%.