Araghchi denies contact with Witkoff, says US attack 'killed' diplomacy

The number of American troops wounded in the war against Iran has risen to about 200 as the conflict enters its third week, the US military said Monday.

In a statement, US Central Command said the vast majority of those injured suffered minor wounds and roughly 180 service members have already returned to duty.

The updated tally underscores the growing toll on US forces as Iranian missile and drone attacks continue across the region in response to the US-Israeli campaign.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday he does not think the war on Iran will end this week but said it will be over soon.

"Won't be long, and we're gonna have a much safer world when it's wrapped up. It'll be wrapped up soon. We're gonna have a much safer world," he told reporters in the White House.

"I had an obligation to do this. I didn't want to."

"Light will triumph over darkness and good will triumph over evil," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a message on the Persian New Year, wishing Iranian people a happy Nowruz.

"This year, this holiday has special meaning."

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday the country would not surrender to “bullies” and would continue fighting until attacks on its territory stop.

"Speaking of ending the war is meaningless until we ensure there will be no more attacks in our land in the future," Pezeshkian said in a post on X following his phone call with his French counterpart.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will not surrender to bullies," he added.

Speaking after a meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Kallas said ministers discussed ways to protect maritime traffic but were reluctant to broaden the mandate of the EU naval operation known as ASPIDES.

“There was a clear wish to strengthen this operation,” she said, referring to the Red Sea mission, adding that it currently lacks sufficient naval assets.

However, when it came to extending the mission north toward the Strait of Hormuz, “there was no appetite from the member states to do that.”

Kallas said European governments are wary of becoming directly involved in the conflict. “As I said, nobody wants to go actively in this war."