Iran War Day 21 — Trump Considers "Winding Down," Elon Musk Found Guilty of Twitter Fraud, Nowruz Celebrated Under Bombs

Sh. Bidyut Bala | PrimeWorld Times

March 21, 2026

Saturday, March 21, 2026 marks three full weeks since the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Day 21 has arrived with a series of developments that could — finally — point toward the beginning of the end of the most devastating conflict the Middle East has seen in decades. Donald Trump has said the United States is considering "winding down" its military operations. Sanctions on Iranian oil have been partially lifted in a desperate attempt to cool surging energy prices. And in San Francisco, a jury has delivered a landmark verdict against Elon Musk — finding him liable for defrauding Twitter shareholders during his chaotic 2022 acquisition of the social media platform. Meanwhile, millions of Iranians have been trying to celebrate Nowruz — the Persian New Year — under bombs and surveillance, in one of the most heartbreaking scenes of this entire conflict. This is the world on Day 21.

Trump Considers "Winding Down" — But More Troops Are Still Being Sent

In the most significant shift in American war rhetoric since Operation Epic Fury began, Donald Trump said on Friday, March 20, that the United States was considering winding down its military operations in the Middle East. Trump says the US is considering "winding down" military efforts, as it also seeks to ease the energy crisis by lifting sanctions on Iranian oil stranded at sea.

Trump said Washington was nearing the completion of military objectives in Iran, and was considering winding down operations in the Middle East. Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz would need to be "guarded and policed" by nations that relied on it for oil, not the US, adding Washington would help if asked.

On the surface, this sounds like extraordinary news — a potential end to a conflict that has killed thousands, displaced millions, sent oil to $118 a barrel, and cost the United States $200 billion in three weeks. But the reality on the ground tells a more complicated and concerning story. Even as Trump spoke of winding down, the Pentagon was deploying additional troops and warships to the Middle East. The US is deploying more troops and warships to the Middle East  , suggesting that the military establishment does not share Trump's confidence that objectives have been achieved.

More US Marines are headed to the Middle East, even as President Trump said the administration is considering "winding down" military efforts in the region as the US-Israeli war with Iran reached the three-week mark. Israel launched more strikes in and around Tehran early Friday, as Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

The contradiction between Trump's "winding down" rhetoric and the continued deployment of additional military forces is one of the most important signals of this entire conflict. It suggests one of two things: either Trump is projecting confidence he does not actually have, trying to manage the political fallout from surging gas prices and collapsing approval ratings by signalling an imminent end to the war; or there is a genuine division between Trump's political instincts — which tell him to declare victory and exit — and his military advisers' assessment of what has actually been achieved on the ground.

For the families of soldiers currently being deployed to the Middle East — for the wives, husbands, parents, and children who are watching their loved ones leave for a war zone even as the president speaks of winding down — this contradiction is not an abstract political puzzle. It is a deeply personal source of anxiety and confusion.

Sanctions on Iranian Oil Lifted — A Desperate Measure

Perhaps the clearest sign of how severe the energy crisis triggered by this war has become is the Trump administration's decision to partially lift sanctions on Iranian oil — the very country it is at war with. A "narrowly tailored" license, which runs until April 19, covers Iranian crude oil and petroleum products already loaded on vessels as of March 20, including those on previously sanctioned ships. Related services such as crew management, insurance and docking are also permitted under the authorization.

This new lifting of sanctions applies to Iranian oil and oil products that are currently loaded on ships. It will last until April 19, 2026. The Trump administration has already lifted some US sanctions on Russian crude to make it easier for those barrels to make it to market.

The political symbolism of this move is almost impossible to overstate. The United States is fighting a war against Iran — spending $200 billion, killing thousands of people, sending oil to $118 a barrel — and simultaneously lifting sanctions on Iranian oil because it desperately needs more supply to bring those prices down. This is the geopolitical equivalent of starting a fire and then paying the fire department to put it out. It is a measure of how completely the energy consequences of this war have spiralled beyond the administration's control.

The Trump administration is running out of options to contain the skyrocketing price of oil and gas. Trump officials now privately estimate that the higher prices triggered by the war could linger for months, especially as fighting in the Middle East intensifies and passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains nearly impossible. Goldman Sachs has even suggested that higher oil prices could last all the way through 2027 — a timeline that, if accurate, would represent one of the most sustained energy price shocks in modern history.

UK Agrees to Let US Use Bases — But Most Allies Still Refuse

In a significant development for America's coalition-building efforts, the UK agreed to let the US use bases for strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz. Britain's decision to allow the use of its military bases — particularly Diego Garcia, the strategic British Indian Ocean Territory base — for American strikes against Iran is a significant act of alliance solidarity from America's closest partner.

However, the broader picture of allied support remains deeply unfavourable for Washington. Most of America's European allies — France, Germany, Italy — have refused to provide military support. Japan and Australia have declined to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz. Several largely European nations issued a joint statement condemning Iran's attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with countries saying they are ready to contribute to "appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait.

But contributing to safe passage is very different from actively participating in the military campaign against Iran.

The isolation of the United States on this conflict — with only Israel as a full military partner and only Britain among its traditional allies providing meaningful support — is a significant and lasting strategic consequence that will shape American foreign policy for years to come.

Kuwait Oil Refinery Attacked Again — The Energy Crisis Deepens

Even as Trump speaks of winding down, the attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure continue with undiminished intensity. Overnight, Iranian drones hit Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery again, sparking fires as crews worked to contain the blaze.

Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi is one of the largest oil refineries in the Middle East — a critical facility that processes crude oil for both domestic consumption and export. Its repeated targeting by Iranian drones is a deliberate strategy: by attacking not just Iranian facilities but the energy infrastructure of the Gulf states that are hosting American forces, Iran is maximising the economic pressure on America and its partners while demonstrating that the "protection" offered by the US military presence in the Gulf is insufficient.

About a third of all fertiliser shipped globally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Now shipping is almost stopped through the Strait and this could have repercussions for the global food supply.

The fertiliser disruption is one of the most overlooked but potentially most devastating long-term consequences of this war. India, which relies on imported fertilisers for a significant portion of its agricultural production, is particularly vulnerable to any sustained disruption of fertiliser supply chains through the Strait of Hormuz.

Elon Musk Found Liable for Twitter Fraud — A Landmark Verdict

In a story that might, in ordinary times, have dominated global headlines for days, a San Francisco federal jury delivered a landmark verdict against Elon Musk on Friday — finding him liable for defrauding Twitter shareholders during his chaotic 2022 acquisition of the social media platform. A federal jury found Elon Musk liable on claims he defrauded Twitter shareholders by trying to drive down the social media company's stock price so he could renegotiate or back out of a $44 billion takeover in 2022.

A federal jury in California found Elon Musk misled investors during his 2022 acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, ruling that his statements about the platform's fake account levels violated federal securities law. The jury in San Francisco found Musk's claims about bot accounts caused an artificial decline in Twitter's share price. Damages will be determined later.

The verdict is a landmark moment in American corporate and media history. Elon Musk — the world's richest person, the owner of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, and one of the most influential figures in global technology and politics — has been found by an American jury to have deliberately misled investors about the scale of fake accounts on Twitter's platform in order to drive down its stock price and gain leverage in his acquisition negotiations.

The implications are significant on multiple levels. For X — formerly Twitter — the verdict raises serious questions about the platform's governance, credibility, and future. For Tesla shareholders, a large damages award against Musk personally could affect his ability to maintain his ownership stakes in his various companies. And for the broader technology industry, the verdict is a signal that even the most powerful and wealthy individuals are not above the securities laws that govern fair dealing in financial markets.

Nowruz Under Bombs — The Persian New Year That Broke the World's Heart

Perhaps the most emotionally devastating story of Day 21 is the simplest: millions of Iranians trying to celebrate Nowruz — the Persian New Year, one of the oldest and most beautiful festivals in human civilisation — under conditions of active military bombardment, surveillance, and fear. Israel launched more strikes in and around Tehran early Friday, as Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

Tehran residents describe largely deserted streets roamed by paramilitary officials and vigilantes. They say security forces are banning gatherings for Nowruz, the Persian New Year, this week.

Nowruz — which means "New Day" in Persian — is a festival of extraordinary antiquity and cultural richness, celebrated for over 3,000 years across Iran, Afghanistan, the Kurdish regions, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia. It marks the spring equinox — the moment when day and night are equal in length — and celebrates themes of renewal, rebirth, and hope. Families gather around the haft-seen table, set with seven symbolic items. Children receive gifts. Homes are cleaned and prepared for the new year. It is one of the most joyful and deeply human celebrations on Earth.

This year, Nowruz fell on March 20, 2026 — Day 20 of the US-Israel war against Iran. Instead of family gatherings and festive tables, Tehran's streets were empty, patrolled by paramilitary forces banning gatherings. Instead of fireworks celebrating the new year, the city's sky was lit by missile strikes and the glow of burning oil refineries. For many in the Iranian diaspora, this year is different. As the war continues, many are trying to balance the joy of the holiday with grief.

The bombing of Nowruz — the festival of renewal and hope — is a wound that will not heal quickly. For Iranians everywhere, the image of their most beloved festival crushed beneath the weight of war will be a lasting source of grief, anger, and determination. Whatever political settlement eventually ends this conflict, the memory of Nowruz 2026 will shape Iranian national consciousness for generations.

India and the Fertiliser Crisis — An Overlooked Threat to Food Security

For India, one of the most important but least discussed consequences of the Iran war's disruption of the Strait of Hormuz is its impact on global fertiliser supply chains. India is one of the world's largest importers of fertilisers — particularly urea and potassium-based fertilisers that are critical for the productivity of Indian agriculture. A sustained disruption of fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — which carries approximately one third of all globally traded fertilisers — could reduce the availability and increase the cost of fertilisers for Indian farmers, threatening agricultural yields and food prices in the coming growing seasons.

The Indian government must urgently assess its fertiliser stockpile situation, explore alternative supply routes and sources, and be prepared to support farmers if fertiliser prices rise sharply. India's food security is one of the country's most fundamental strategic priorities — and the Iran war's disruption of fertiliser supply chains is a direct and serious threat to that security.

What This Day Means — Three Weeks That Changed the World

Three weeks ago, the world was different. Oil was $72 a barrel. The Strait of Hormuz was open to all traffic. Nowruz was being planned as a celebration. Twitter's ownership was a settled, if controversial, fact. And the words "Operation Epic Fury" did not exist.

Twenty-one days later: oil is at $112 and threatening to stay high through 2027. The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. Nowruz was celebrated under bombs and surveillance. Elon Musk has been found liable for securities fraud. And the world is holding its breath, hoping that Trump's "winding down" rhetoric represents a genuine turn toward peace rather than another false dawn in a conflict that has already cost more than anyone imagined.

PrimeWorld Times Analysis — The Meaning of "Winding Down"

Trump's suggestion that the United States is considering winding down its military operations in Iran is the most significant development of Day 21 — but it must be interpreted with extreme caution. In American military history, "winding down" has sometimes meant exactly what it says: the beginning of a genuine de-escalation leading to withdrawal. But it has also, on occasion, meant something very different — an escalation of bombing to achieve objectives before a political deadline forces withdrawal, a pattern sometimes called "fighting your way to the exit."

The deployment of additional Marines and warships to the Middle East, even as Trump speaks of winding down, suggests that the military is not yet done with its mission — whatever that mission ultimately turns out to be. Until Iran and America are at a negotiating table, until the Strait of Hormuz is open to free navigation, and until the bombs have genuinely stopped falling, "winding down" is a hope rather than a reality.

For India — for every nation affected by $112 oil, disrupted fertiliser supplies, threatened food security, and the 89 lakh Indian workers living in the Gulf war zone — that hope cannot arrive soon enough.

Tags: Iran War Day 21 Trump Winding Down, Iran Sanctions Lifted Oil Ships, Elon Musk Twitter Fraud Verdict, Kuwait Oil Refinery Drone Attack, Nowruz Tehran Under Bombs 2026, UK US Military Bases Iran Strikes, India Fertiliser Crisis Strait Hormuz, Goldman Sachs Oil 2027, Breaking News, World News