West Asian War Daily Bulletin – March 25, 2026 | Day 26 of Operation Epic Fury

Iran signals oil tankers from non-hostile countries may transit the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt offer to mediate between the US, Israel, and Iran. US Congress fails for the fourth time this month to pass a bill limiting Trump’s military actions in Iran.

March 25, 2026

Iran
West Asia

Authors

Today’s Key Developments

This space provides a daily brief tracking key developments in the West Asian conflict.

Geopolitics

Strait of Hormuz

  • Tehran signalled that oil tankers from non-hostile countries would be permitted through the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan

  • Pakistan, along with Turkey and Egypt, offered to mediate between the US, Israel, and Iran, with Islamabad volunteering to host peace talks.

China

  • Following a phone call between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi — who reached out to Beijing seeking continued support — Wang’s message was unambiguous: all regional disputes must be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, not through force. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “Talks are always better than fighting.”
  • Tehran expressed its expectation that China would continue to play a positive role, signalling that Iran views Beijing as a credible interlocutor rather than a bystander.

The United States

  • US President Trump reportedly floated a peace plan for Iran this week.
  • The US Congress failed to pass its fourth bill this month attempting to limit Trump’s military actions in Iran. Senator Chris Murphy’s Senate Joint Resolution would have required President Trump to seek either an official declaration of war or a specific Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to engage militarily against Iran.
  • Senators opposing the bill cited the threat to US troops already active in the region if such a constraint were abruptly imposed. Members across both chambers have expressed interest in alternative bills that would limit presidential powers while allowing forces a 30-day window to wind down operations, and requiring the administration to clearly state its objectives and timeline to Congress.

This bulletin is prepared by the Takshashila West Asia Desk. For queries, contact research@takshashila.org.in.