Trump extended the ultimatum to Iran amid an increased military presence. What the media is writing

US President Donald Trump has extended an ultimatum to Iran demanding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz until April 6. At the same time, the Pentagon is considering the possibility of sending another 10,000 troops to the Middle East, and the countries of the region themselves are preparing to enter into conflict with Tehran. It also became known about the first cases of the use of unmanned boats and land mines by the United States. How the world's media react to the development of the conflict is in the Izvestia digest.

Financial Times: Trump extends deadline for talks with Iran after Wall Street sell-off

Trump extended the deadline for concluding a peace agreement with Iran by ten days after the Wall Street stock market experienced its worst day since the beginning of the conflict due to growing concern about the Middle East crisis. The US president wrote on his Truth Social platform that, at Tehran's request, he was "suspending the destruction of energy facilities" until April 6, saying negotiations to end the war were "ongoing" and "going very well."

This decision was made against the background of the fact that the Pentagon ordered thousands of additional troops to be sent to the Middle East. They could potentially be involved in ground operations in Iran. Trump's decision to give Tehran additional time for negotiations suggests that he may not be ready to take such a risk. The Wall Street S&P 500 index fell 1.7% to a six-month low. The Nasdaq Composite index, focused on technology companies, declined 2.4%, down more than 10% from its peak at the end of October.

The Times of Israel: Saudi Arabia and the UAE are nearing joining the fighting

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are getting closer to actively participating in the fight against Iran, as the war in the Middle East threatens their economies. Their role in the conflict is becoming more active after Riyadh allowed American troops to use the airbase on its territory. The source said that Saudi Arabia's entry into the war is "only a matter of time."

Now, despite initial resistance to the use of force, the Gulf states are putting pressure on the United States to continue attacking the regime in order to ensure that after this war, Iran's military might will be weakened enough so that it no longer poses a threat to them. The countries have not yet carried out any attacks of their own, as the leaders of the Persian Gulf countries remain deeply afraid of igniting a larger and uncontrollable conflict.

Axios: Pentagon may send 10,000 more troops to the Middle East

According to a senior representative of the US Department of Defense, the White House and the Pentagon are considering the possibility of sending at least 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East in the coming days. This is another signal that serious preparations are underway for a US ground operation in Iran. A large-scale increase in the number of ground forces is being considered against the background of President Trump's statements that the United States is negotiating a deal with Iran to end the war.

The Pentagon is developing military options for a "final strike" on Iran, which may include the use of ground forces and massive bombing. Trump has not yet made a decision on whether any of these scenarios will be considered, but sources say he is ready to escalate if negotiations with Iran do not bring tangible results in the near future. Additional reinforcements are expected to arrive in the Middle East in the coming days and weeks, including several fighter squadrons and thousands of troops.

Reuters: The United States is deploying unmanned boats in the conflict with Iran

The United States has deployed unmanned speedboats to patrol as part of operations against Iran. This is the first time that Washington has confirmed the use of such vessels in an active conflict. The deployment of these vessels, which can be used for surveillance or kamikaze attacks, has not been previously reported. This is despite a number of setbacks in the U.S. Navy's years-long efforts to build a fleet of unmanned surface ships.

The United States has been trying for years to build a fleet of autonomous unmanned surface and underwater vessels as a cheaper and faster alternative to guided ships and submarines, especially to counter China's growing naval power in the Pacific Ocean. However, these efforts fell behind schedule and were plagued by technical problems, cost concerns, and a number of failed trials. In the past, the GARC, an angular speedboat about five meters long, has faced numerous problems related to its performance and safety, including one incident when it collided with another boat at high speed during military tests.

Words to the wind: negotiations with Tehran may be a cover for a US ground invasion

Despite Trump's stories of victories, Washington has not achieved its stated goals in Iran.

The Washington Post: The United States has scattered mines in Iran

The photos posted on social media show, according to experts, American landmines scattered across a residential area in southern Iran. Apparently, this is the first time such weapons have been used by American troops in more than two decades. The photos show BLU-91/B anti-tank mines that are dropped from an aircraft as part of the Gator mine dispersal system.

The Iranian news agency reported that at least one person was killed and several injured as a result of exposure to "explosives similar to cans," and warned people to stay away from "any deformed, damaged or unusual metal cans." According to experts, the last known US use of scattered anti-tank mines in a conflict occurred during the Gulf War in 1991. According to the Pentagon, the last known use of American antipersonnel mines occurred in Afghanistan in 2002, when special forces troops used them while waiting to be evacuated by helicopter.