The conflict between the Iranian regime, the United States, and Israel has entered its 25th day on March 24, 2026, amid a complex web of escalating regional attacks and contradictory diplomatic maneuvers.

Following US President Donald Trump’s decision yesterday to delay planned strikes on the regime’s energy infrastructure by five days citing indirect negotiations—a claim Tehran formally denied—the situation remains highly volatile. While yesterday saw intense airstrikes across Tehran and a continuous barrage of regime projectiles targeting Gulf states, today brought new developments.

Pakistan has stepped forward to offer mediation between Washington and Tehran, even as the Pentagon prepares further troop deployments to the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Iranian regime’s regional network suffered new blows today, including a deadly strike on proxy forces in Iraq, the expulsion of its appointed ambassador from Lebanon, and drone-related disruptions in Bahrain. Inside Iran, strikes on military infrastructure continue, prompting a reshuffle in the regime’s top security apparatus following the elimination of key figures.

Roundup of today’s key events

Pakistan’s Prime Minister offered to host talks between the US and the Iranian regime, while President Trump claimed Tehran offered a “very significant prize” related to oil and gas.

Several intense explosions were heard in Bahrain, leading to Amazon Web Services (AWS) disruptions and calls for citizens to seek shelter.

An airstrike on a Hashd al-Shaabi (PMF) base in western Iraq killed six proxy fighters, including the Anbar province operations commander.

Lebanon declared the Iranian regime’s appointed ambassador “persona non grata” and ordered him to leave the country by March 29.

Former IRGC commander Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr was appointed as the regime’s new Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, replacing the dead Ali Larijani.

Airstrikes targeted the Sa-Iran (Iran Electronics Industries) optics building in Isfahan.

The US State Department formally launched the “Bureau of Emerging Threats” to counter cyberattacks and AI risks from the Iranian regime and other adversaries.

Pakistan offers to facilitate U.S.-Iran war talks as Trump, Tehran give mixed signals

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said his country would host talks between the U.S. and Iran’s regime in pursuit of a “comprehensive settlement” of the ongoing war.

“Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honoured to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict,” he said.

The post tagged the social media profiles of President Donald Trump, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Trump, on his Truth Social platform, shared a screenshot of Sharif’s post later Tuesday morning.

At the same time as the diplomatic efforts appear to be evolving, the Pentagon is reportedly readying plans to deploy about 3,000 soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

Regional fallout: Explosions in Bahrain and proxy commander killed in Iraq

The conflict’s regional spillover intensified on Monday, March 23, as several severe explosions were reported in Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The Bahraini Ministry of Interior urged citizens via social media to move to shelters or safe locations for their security.

Amid the attacks, Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported service disruptions in Bahrain due to drone activity. An AWS spokesperson confirmed they are prioritizing personnel safety and advising customers to migrate applications to alternate regions. This follows previous AWS facility strikes in the UAE and Bahrain earlier this month, driven by the Iranian regime’s ongoing missile and drone campaign against neighboring countries.

In a parallel blow to the Iranian regime’s regional proxy network, an airstrike on a Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) base in western Iraq on Monday left at least six proxy fighters dead and 15 wounded. Among the dead was the group’s operations commander for Anbar province. The strike targeted a command headquarters while the forces were reportedly “on duty.” Hashd al-Shaabi, a coalition of predominantly Shiite militias affiliated with the Iranian regime, has been a key tool for Tehran’s regional influence and has carried out numerous attacks on US bases in Iraq since the war began. Analysts view this strike as a significant degradation of the regime’s destabilizing proxy network.

Lebanon expels Iranian regime ambassador

In a major diplomatic rebuke, Lebanon has declared the Iranian regime’s appointed ambassador, Mohammad-Reza Sheibani, “persona non grata” and set a deadline for his departure. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday, March 24, that it had withdrawn its approval of Sheibani ‘s credentials. The regime’s chargé d’affaires in Beirut, Toufiq Samadi Khoshkho, was summoned and informed that Shibani must leave Lebanese soil by March 29 at the latest.

Furthermore, Lebanon has recalled its own ambassador to Iran, Ahmad Sweidan, back to Beirut for consultations. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry cited “violations of norms and principles governing diplomatic relations by Tehran” as the reason for the expulsion. Sheibani previously served as the regime’s ambassador to Lebanon and Syria, as well as Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle Eastern Affairs.

Military targets hit in Isfahan and security leadership reshuffle

Inside Iran, military infrastructure remains under heavy fire. Video footage published on Tuesday, March 24, showed the aftermath of an airstrike on the Sa-Iran (Iran Electronics Industries) optics building located on Kaveh Boulevard in Isfahan, heavily damaging the facility.

Amid the ongoing decimation of the regime’s military and security leadership, regime president Masoud Pezeshkian has appointed former IRGC senior commander Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as the new Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Mehdi Tabatabai, Deputy for Communications at Pezeshkian’s office. Zolghadr replaces Ali Larijani, who was killed in an Israeli strike on his residence in Tehran on March 17. Zolghadr, an original member of the IRGC with a long history of suppression during the Iran-Iraq war and within the judiciary, previously served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC and currently holds a position in the Expediency Discernment Council.

US launches bureau to counter cyber threats

As the physical war rages, the United States is ramping up its cyber defenses against the Iranian regime. On Monday, March 23, the US State Department formally launched the “Bureau of Emerging Threats.” The new entity is tasked with anticipating and responding to dangers posed by the weaponization of advanced technology, including artificial intelligence and cyberattacks, primarily focusing on the Iranian regime and other adversaries like China and Russia.

Led by senior official Anny Vu, the bureau consists of five divisions, including the Office of Cybersecurity and the Office of Critical Infrastructure Security. The move comes as American cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike reported a surge in activity from pro-regime actors since the military conflict began in late February. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is already investigating a major breach of the American medical technologies company Stryker, believed to be the work of hackers affiliated with the Iranian regime.

© Eurasia Review