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Netanyahu says Trump pursuing Iran deal that protects Israel’s interests
Benjamin Netanyahu said Donald Trump was pursuing talks with Iran in an effort to “leverage the great achievements” secured by their militaries into a deal that achieves all the goals of the war and “protects [Israel’s] vital interests”. The Israeli prime minister said he had spoken with Trump earlier on Monday and that the president “believes that there is a chance” to secure such an agreement with the Islamic republic. “At the same time, we continue to attack both Iran and Lebanon, and we are striking [Iran’s] missile programme and nuclear programme,” Netanyahu said in a recorded statement. “We will safeguard our vital interests in any situation,” he said. Financial Times, March 24

Bahrain proposes UN resolution for protection of ships in Strait of Hormuz
Bahrain has put forward a draft UN Security Council resolution that would authorise countries to use “all necessary means” to protect commercial shipping ‌in and around the Strait of Hormuz, according to a text seen by Reuters. Diplomats said other Gulf Arab states and the United States backed the proposal, but added that it was unlikely to get through the council, where Russia and China have veto power. The Bahraini text would authorise ‌countries, acting alone or through ‌voluntary multinational naval coalitions, to protect vessels passing through the Gulf. The Telegraph, March 24

EU 'greatly concerned' by reports Hungary leaked negotiation details to Russia
The European Union executive said on Monday reports that the Hungarian foreign minister had passed sensitive information about European Union negotiations to Russia were "greatly concerning". On Saturday, the Washington Post newspaper quoted serving or former European security officials as saying Peter Szijjarto regularly called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, during breaks in EU meetings to give "direct reports on what was discussed" and suggest possible courses of action. Szijjarto has described the report as "fake news" and "senseless conspiracy theories". But Hungary's minister for European affairs, Janos Boka, said "it is perfectly normal for the Hungarian foreign minister to speak by telephone with his Russian counterpart". "What is less understandable is that his EU counterparts don't do the same," Boka said on his Facebook page. France 24, March 23

UK: police investigating possible Iran link to attack on Jewish charity ambulances
A group with possible links to the Iranian state is being investigated in relation to an arson attack on Jewish charity-owned ambulances, the head of the Metropolitan Police has said. Four Hatzola ambulances were set ablaze in Golders Green, London, in the early hours of Monday, leading to several explosions caused by gas canisters onboard the vehicles. Speaking at an event on Monday evening, Sir Mark Rowley said the "rapid growth" of Iranian state threats in recent years was grave but that it was still "too early" to attribute the attack to Tehran. Police believe three suspects were involved in the attack, which is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime, not a terror incident. Sir Mark said police were "pursuing all lines of enquiry", including "an online claim of responsibility by an Islamist group who have claimed other attacks across Europe and have potential Iranian state links". Speaking at an annual dinner of the Community Security Trust, a charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK, the Met Police chief said the Jewish community had in recent years been "increasingly targeted by individuals, groups and hostile states". BBC news, March 24

EU and Australia clinch trade and security pacts
The EU and Australia have signed long-awaited trade and security deals as they seek mutual support to cope with pressure from China and the US. The trade agreement will boost the EU’s access to Australia’s critical minerals, while the defence and security pact will enable Australian companies to participate in the bloc’s €150bn rearmament programme. Both the EU and Australia have been hit with tariffs by US President Donald Trump, and fear their longstanding ally is reducing its commitment to defend them militarily. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen travelled to Australia to seal the trade deal with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after eight years of negotiations. “What I have seen, with growing unpredictability and uncertainty worldwide, is that countries are longing for stability and predictability. And this is what the [EU] is offering,” she said at a press conference in Canberra. Financial Times, March 24

Britain ‘urgently’ needs to produce more oil and gas from North Sea
The UK “urgently” needs to produce more domestic oil and gas from the North Sea to safeguard Britain’s energy security, the industry body has argued. Offshore Energies UK believes that output could be ramped up within months, with fresh drilling in existing fields capable of increasing domestic supply without the longer lead times associated with new developments. Enrique Cornejo, the group’s energy policy director, said some developments, such as infill drilling to lift output in existing areas, could potentially come into operation within months under a supportive fiscal and regulatory regime. “Really, we’re not talking about decades, precisely because significant parts of those projects already have infrastructure in place,” he said. “What we need is investment to unlock that production.” The body’s annual report on the UK’s offshore energy system said that Britain will continue to need significant volumes of oil and gas for decades to come, even with use of renewables. The Times, March 24

Iran links opening of Strait of Hormuz to lifting of sanctions
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on freedom of trade for all countries, as the Islamic republic seeks the lifting of sanctions as part of any deal to end the conflict. Iran is subject to a wide range of international sanctions which have badly damaged its economy. “The Strait of Hormuz is not closed. Ships hesitate because insurers fear the war of choice you initiated - not Iran,” Araghchi said in a post on X. “Freedom of Navigation cannot exist without Freedom of Trade. Respect both - or expect neither.” Meanwhile, Araghchi wrote to UN secretary-general António Guterres and called for Israel’s nuclear programme to be included in the international Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and for its attacks on other countries’ nuclear sites to stop. Financial Times, March 23

Hopes fade for end to war as Trump gives Iran 48 hours to open Strait
Hopes for a rapid end to the war in the Gulf receded on Sunday as Washington and Tehran traded threats to intensify bombing against civilian targets, including power stations, water plants and other critical services. President Trump, who on Friday talked of “winding down” the war, issued an ultimatum giving Iran 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz. “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. The “biggest one” appeared to be a reference to the Bushehr nuclear power plant on Iran’s Gulf coast. A building 350 metres away from the plant was struck last week, drawing a reprimand from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN watchdog. The Times, March 22

Israeli settlers target Palestinian villages in occupied West Bank, attacking people and properties
Extremist Jewish settlers have carried out a spate of attacks on Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank, setting fire to homes, vehicles and agricultural fields. The violence began after a teenage settler - 18-year-old Yehuda Sherman - was killed on Saturday, after reportedly being hit by a vehicle driven by a Palestinian while on his quad bike. Police said they were investigating whether the hit was deliberate or accidental. In response, WhatsApp groups used by settlers called for a "revenge campaign" over his death. More than 20 settler attacks were reported overnight, according to a defence official cited by Israeli media. Settler violence has surged since the US and Israel attacked Iran, with six Palestinians killed by settlers since 1 March, according to the United Nations. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that its troops and border police units were dispatched to several Palestinian villages on Saturday night, after receiving reports of Israeli civilians "committing acts of arson against structures and property, as well as engaging in disturbances in the area". BBC news, March 23

French far right wins towns, loses in cities as mayoral vote kicks off race to succeed Macron
The far-right National Rally’s hopes of winning its largest cities yet were dashed on Sunday as its candidates suffered defeat in municipal runoffs in the cities of Toulon and Nîmes, a week after leading the first-round vote in both. Le Pen's party also fell short in France's second-largest city Marseille, this time by a considerable margin, despite its candidate polling neck-and-neck with the incumbent Socialist mayor last week. There was some consolation, however, in the Riviera city of Nice, where veteran politician Eric Ciotti defeated the longtime centre-right mayor, thereby putting a Le Pen ally - though not a member of the National Rally - in charge of France’s fifth-largest city. The eurosceptic, anti-immigrant party has traditionally underperformed in municipal polls, particularly in large urban areas where voters remain hostile to the Le Pen brand. It was hoping for breakthrough wins to bolster its credibility ahead of the 2027 presidential bout, when France elects a successor to President Emmanuel Macron. France 24, March 22

Keir Starmer to bring forward EU rules legislation in King’s Speech
Sir Keir Starmer is to bring forward legislation in May’s King’s Speech allowing ministers to import a wave of EU laws to Britain as the prime minister seeks to reconnect with Europe’s single market. Chancellor Rachel Reeves last week set out plans to align with EU rules in certain sectors in the “national interest” and the new bill will create a framework for a swift transfer to the statute book in the UK of laws made in Brussels, reversing a central tenet of Brexit. The bill has not yet been given a formal title, but officials briefed on the plan confirmed it will be in the King’s Speech at the start of a new parliamentary session in May. In the first instance the bill would allow Britain to adopt EU regulations to clear the way for an EU-UK food and agriculture trade deal, which both sides hope to conclude at a summit around the time of the tenth anniversary of the Brexit vote. The UK has identified 76 EU directives and regulations as being “in scope”, covering areas from food hygiene and organic pet food to marmalade. Financial Times, March 23