Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Bermanjoins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Just after recording time today, US President Donald Trump announced that the administration is conducting negotiations with Iran to end the war and has paused his threat to bomb power stations if Iran doesn't open up the Strait of Hormuz. 

We discuss how the focus of the war is currently on the Strait of Hormuz, and is even garnering increased support from Arab Gulf states. We hear Berman's projections on the length of the war -- and who may or may not join in the conflict.

We then turn to increasing reports that the IDF is planning a much wider ground operation in southern Lebanon than the "targeted" operation that was launched last week. Is there an endgame?

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Iran warns it will hit Israeli, Gulf power plants if US targets Iranian electric stations

Trump’s shifting Strait of Hormuz strategies raise questions about US war preparation

How Trump’s Iran war goals and time frames have shifted over course of conflict

Israel blows up bridge allegedly used by Hezbollah to move troops into south Lebanon

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee produced and edited this episode.

IMAGE: A cargo ship carrying vehicles sails through the Arabian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz in the United Arab Emirates, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo) 

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/lazar-berman/">Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman </a>joins <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/">host Amanda Borschel-Dan</a> for today's episode.
Just after recording time today, US President Donald Trump announced that the administration is conducting negotiations with Iran to end the war and has paused his threat to bomb power stations if Iran doesn't open up the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;
We discuss how the focus of the war is currently on the Strait of Hormuz, and is even garnering increased support from Arab Gulf states. We hear Berman's projections on the length of the war -- and who may or may not join in the conflict.
We then turn to increasing reports that the IDF is planning a much wider ground operation in southern Lebanon than the "targeted" operation that was launched last week. Is there an endgame?
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-23-2026/">Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.</a>
For further reading:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-warns-it-will-hit-israeli-gulf-power-plants-if-us-targets-iranian-electric-stations/">Iran warns it will hit Israeli, Gulf power plants if US targets Iranian electric stations</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-shifting-strait-of-hormuz-strategies-raise-questions-about-us-war-preparation/">Trump&rsquo;s shifting Strait of Hormuz strategies raise questions about US war preparation</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-trumps-iran-war-goals-and-time-frames-have-shifted-over-course-of-conflict/">How Trump&rsquo;s Iran war goals and time frames have shifted over course of conflict</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-blows-up-bridge-allegedly-used-by-hezbollah-to-move-troops-into-south-lebanon/">Israel blows up bridge allegedly used by Hezbollah to move troops into south Lebanon</a>
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042"> Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89">YouTube,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee produced and edited this episode.
IMAGE: A cargo ship carrying vehicles sails through the Arabian Gulf toward the Strait of Hormuz in the United Arab Emirates, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo)&nbsp;

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what’s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what&rsquo;s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.