Iran war live: Hormuz Strait shut down again over US ‘piracy’, says Tehran
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/4/18/iran-war-live-tehran-says-president-trump-made-false-claims-amid-talks?update=4502544
Iran war live: Hormuz Strait shut down again over US ‘piracy’, says Tehran
Al Jazeera Live
- US President Donald Trump says the naval blockade will “remain in full force” until “our transaction with Iran is 100% complete”, and accused Iran of blackmailing the US.
- 4m ago(17:40 GMT)
Iran says 69 people tied to Israel and monarchist groups arrested
Iranian authorities say they have arrested dozens of people accused of links to foreign intelligence networks in the northern province of Mazandaran, according to a semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Tasnim’s report said intelligence units identified the suspects during operations across the province and accused them of gathering information on sensitive sites and carrying out sabotage activities.
Authorities claimed they seized firearms, bladed weapons and telecommunications equipment during the arrests. They also reported confiscating 20 satellite internet receivers allegedly used to transmit data to foreign intelligence services.
Iranian security forces said the group had maintained contact with hostile actors during the 12-day war last year and continued sharing information until their arrest.
- 14m ago(17:30 GMT)
Lebanese Foreign Ministry promises to bring perpetrators of attack on UN mission to justice
Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry has condemned an attack on United Nations peacekeepers that killed a French soldier and wounded three others.
In a statement issued after today’s attack, the ministry said that it would open an investigation, identify “the perpetrators”, and hold them accountable.
It condemned “the repeated violations and breaches to which UNIFIL forces are subjected by the Israeli army and elements of Hezbollah”.
UNIFIL peacekeepers and French officials have both said the attack was likely carried out by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. But Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the attack, referring to the allegations as “baseless”.
- 24m ago(17:20 GMT)
Iran’s supreme leader praises army, says US and Israel exposed
Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, has issued a message to mark Army Day, congratulating military personnel, their families and the nation, according to the Tasnim news agency.
Khamenei said the victory of the Islamic revolution marked the end of a period of weakness imposed on the army by its enemies, and he praised recent acts of bravery in defending the country.
He also said the Iranian army “stood up to the sinister plans of America, the survivors of the Pahlavi tyranny, and the separatists who wanted a divided Iran”.
Khamenei added that Iran’s resistance to Israeli and US attacks had exposed their “weakness and humiliation to the world”.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei [File: Hamed Jafarnejad/ISNA/West Asia News Agency via Reuters] - 34m ago(17:10 GMT)
Iran plans to sue over US-Israeli strikes on Isfahan ancient sites
Iran’s Isfahan province has announced that a legal team is preparing a case concerning damage caused to Isfahan’s historical sites by US and Israeli strikes.
Mehdi Jamalinejad, governor of the province, shared the news at an event for the International Day for Monuments and Sites, where he emphasised the need to preserve historical buildings and ancient sites.
“Unfortunately, during the war and the enemy’s attacks on this historic city, approximately 203 points within the Grand Bazaar and 28 historical monuments were damaged and require restoration,” he said.
Jamalinejad explained that legal proceedings are under way, noting that “we hope to achieve favourable results”.
- 44m ago(17:00 GMT)
Trump seeking an off-ramp, but are US and Iran talking?
US President Donald Trump is trying to send an optimistic message. It’s clear he is looking for an off-ramp, a way out of this. It’s deeply unpopular at home. Gas prices have spiked; the cost of goods has spiked.
So, we saw, in the last 24 hours, the president taking to social media, basically saying Iran has agreed to every single demand that the US wants and got nothing in return. We’ve seen the response from Iran, now closing the Strait of Hormuz again.
The president says the [US] blockade is going to continue, and they have said they’ve turned 13 ships around. It’s very hard to confirm any of this information.
As for the talks … the president has said he’s going to give an update tonight, that [it’s] going very well. He has been saying repeatedly that the war will end in days. And again, he said: “We’re still talking.” But there’s been no information on who’s talking to whom, exactly what’s on the table, and what the next steps are.
So are they talking? There’s literally no way to know.
- 54m ago(16:50 GMT)
Lebanon reopens key roads in south in bid to reconnect country
Lebanon has stepped up emergency repairs across its war-damaged south, reopening key routes and clearing debris as part of a nationwide recovery drive following a ceasefire with Israel.
According to the state-run National News Agency, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport said its teams are working “around the clock” for a second consecutive day under the “Reconnect Lebanon” campaign, focusing on restoring access between towns and ensuring the flow of traffic and essential services.
Crews partially reopened the international highway near Burj Rahhal after carrying out urgent repairs to a damaged bridge. Despite ongoing work, traffic resumed in both directions as residents pushed to travel along the vital route linking southern districts.
Engineers, working alongside the Litani River Authority, diverted the river’s flow to fix sections of the bridge, allowing vehicles to pass. The route remains a key access point to Tyre and Bint Jbeil.
Authorities also restored movement along the coastal road at the al-Qasimiya Bridge after completing road-filling operations, while joint teams with the Lebanese army reopened the Khardali road connecting Nabatieh to Marjayoun.
Since March 2, Israeli attacks have routinely targeted key roads and bridges connecting South Lebanon to the remainder of the country, in what amounted to an attempt to isolate it.
- 1h ago(16:40 GMT)
Trump says Iran cannot ‘blackmail’ the US
President Donald Trump has warned Tehran that it cannot blackmail Washington by shutting the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran said today that it was tightening its control over the waterway once again in response to the US blockade of Iranian ports, which began on April 14. Tehran says the blockade violates the terms of the ceasefire.
Trump explained that the US was having “very good conversations” with Iran, but he noted that Tehran wanted to close the important oil corridor again and that it could not blackmail the US with such a move.
Some merchant vessels in the region reportedly received radio messages from the Iranian navy today, warning them that no ships were being allowed through the strait.
The move adds to the confusion over whether the Strait of Hormuz is open and safe for passage.
Trump, meanwhile, said he expects more clarity by the end of the day.
- 1h ago(16:30 GMT)
US military reportedly preparing to board Iran-linked ships in coming days
The United States military is preparing in the coming days to board Iran‑linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters, according to a report published Saturday by The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US officials.
Al Jazeera could not immediately verify the report.
The development came as the Iranian military said it was tightening control over the vital waterway, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits, warning mariners the vital energy route was again closed, a day after it had declared it open.
The US blockaded Iran’s ports in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf in response to Iran’s throttling of traffic through the strait after US-Iran talks in Pakistan failed to reach a breakthrough.
Iran says Hormuz Strait shut down again over US ‘piracy’ - 1h ago(16:20 GMT)
WATCH: Ons Jabeur discusses Gaza, gender, and her plans for a tennis comeback
Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur opens up about challenges on the court, athletes speaking out, and having her first child.
Watch this episode of Centre Stage here:
Ons Jabeur on Gaza, gender and planning her comeback to tennis - 1h ago(16:10 GMT)
Jordan condemns attack on UNIFIL forces in Lebanon
Jordan has condemned a deadly attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, expressing solidarity with France after a soldier was killed.
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the incident targeted the French contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, leaving one soldier dead and several wounded, according to the state news agency Petra.
Ministry spokesperson Fuad Al-Majali said Amman stands with Paris following the attack.
He expressed “the Kingdom’s sympathy and full solidarity with the government and people of the friendly French Republic in this painful tragedy”, offering “sincere condolences and sympathy to the soldier’s family”, and wishing “a speedy recovery to the injured”.
- 1h ago(16:00 GMT)
US and Iran talks are ‘back to square one’
What we are seeing in the Strait of Hormuz is a demonstration of the deadlock in the talks. Over the past few days, a lot of optimism was shared. A lot of … wishful thinking was being shared by the Americans and by the Iranians.
When we started hearing President Trump’s positions yesterday and what the Iranians were thinking, it became clear once again that the gap is too big to be bridged, and the only place right now where there is direct engagement between the US and Iran is the Strait of Hormuz. So whatever is happening in Pakistan, Tehran or Washington will be demonstrated in how the limitations are going to be loosened or tightened in the strait.
Iranians have responded to Trump’s points on the enrichment of uranium, that it’s going to be zero forever, and that the highly enriched uranium will be handed over to the United States, by saying uranium is just like the land, it’s like the soil, it’s sacred. So it’s not going to be removed.
And we have still more issues that were not even mentioned. Iran’s ballistic missiles programme, Iran’s regional role. So how are these going to be solved?
Now, what was said before is that there’s a framework. The United States and Iran will agree on a framework, they will go to Pakistan, they will put together a timeline … they will arrive at kind of a consensus before going to the negotiations. There will be a kind of an announcement of the ceasing of hostilities.
Now we’re back to square one.
- 1h ago(15:50 GMT)
India summons Iranian envoy after ships fired on in Strait of Hormuz
Earlier, we reported that vessels were forced to turn around in the Strait of Hormuz, including an Indian-flagged supertanker, after coming under fire from Iran.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, the official spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said India had summoned the Iranian ambassador for a meeting with the country’s foreign secretary.
“During the meeting, [the] Foreign Secretary conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.
India also “noted the importance” it attaches to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners and “recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India”.
New Delhi urged Tehran to “resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait”.
Iran on Saturday reversed an initial move to reopen the waterway, opening fire on a vessel attempting to pass as the United States maintained its blockade of Iranian ports.
- 2h ago(15:40 GMT)
Hezbollah denies involvement in attack on UN peacekeepers
Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has denied any connection with this morning’s attack on United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.
“We deny any connection to us with the incident that occurred with UNIFIL forces in the Ghandouriyeh area in Bint Jbeil,” said the group in a statement. “We call for exercising caution in issuing judgements regarding the incident pending the investigations of the Lebanese Army.”
UNIFIL, the UN’s peacekeeping force in Lebanon, condemned what it described as a “deliberate attack on peacekeepers” who had been clearing explosive ordnance. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that a French soldier was killed and three others were left injured in the attack.
- 2h ago(15:30 GMT)
Gaza genocide death toll rises to 72,549, Health Ministry says
The death toll in Gaza is climbing as Israeli attacks continue to kill Palestinians and more bodies are found under the rubble.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said the number of Palestinians killed has reached 72,549, with 172,274 wounded since the start of the Israeli genocide on October 7, 2023.
Wafa reported that health authorities received eight bodies over the past 24 hours, including seven newly killed and one recovered from rubble, along with 24 wounded.
Since the “ceasefire” was announced on October 11, at least 773 Palestinians have been killed and 2,171 wounded by Israel. Rescue teams have also recovered 761 bodies from beneath destroyed buildings.
Many victims remain trapped under debris or lie in streets beyond the reach of emergency crews, as ongoing attacks and destruction hamper rescue efforts.
Authorities added that 196 additional victims were recently added to the overall toll after verification by the Martyrs Approval Committee, underscoring the continued difficulty in documenting the full scale of casualties.
- 2h ago(15:20 GMT)
Israeli artillery strikes central sector of southern Lebanon
Israeli artillery has targeted the central sector of southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire, Al Jazeera’s correspondent reports.
A preliminary assessment by Lebanese authorities conducted before the truce found that nearly 40,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged by Israeli attacks.
Beirut’s southern suburbs were among the worst-hit areas, followed by districts across southern Lebanon.
- 2h ago(15:10 GMT)
WATCH: Hormuz – spin in the Strait
A fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran holds – but the information war intensifies. At the centre: the Strait of Hormuz, where competing US and Iranian narratives have collided.
During any truce, even when the bombs stop falling, the information war goes on. Moments like this test journalism because the job is not just to report on the messaging coming from all sides – but to decode and debunk it if necessary.
Watch this episode of The Listening Post here:
Hormuz: Spin in the Strait | The Listening Post - 2h ago(15:00 GMT)
Iran reviews ‘new US proposals’ but says no compromise in talks
Iran says it’s assessing new proposals from the United States while signalling a hard line in ongoing talks.
In a statement, the Supreme National Security Council said “new proposals have been put forward by the Americans” in recent days, adding Tehran is still reviewing them and has not issued a response.
The council noted the Pakistani army chief had been in Tehran acting as an intermediary in the discussions.
Despite the diplomatic channel, Iran stressed its position remains firm. It said its negotiating team “will not make even the slightest compromise, retreat or leniency, and will defend with all its strength the interests of the Iranian nation”.
- 2h ago(14:50 GMT)
Pope Leo downplays feud with Trump during Africa tour
Pope Leo has sought to cool tensions with Donald Trump, saying media coverage of his remarks during his Africa tour has been misrepresented.
Speaking to reporters in English on a flight to Angola, the pontiff addressed controversy surrounding comments he made earlier in Cameroon, where he warned the world is being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants”.
The pope insisted the remarks were not directed at Trump. He said reporting of his statements “has not been accurate in all its aspects”, pushing back against suggestions of a direct clash with the US president.
Clarifying the timeline, Leo added the speech in question “was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting”.
The exchange comes as the pope continues a 10-day tour across Africa, where he has focused heavily on themes of peace, justice and global instability.
- 3h ago(14:40 GMT)
Israeli gov’t sees Trump ceasefire announcement as ‘slap in face’
Two things are happening: This ceasefire that was announced by Donald Trump was seen as a slap on the face to the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his coalition government, which were talking about occupying Lebanese territory all the way to the Litani River.
And then you had that social media post from the US president basically telling Israel that enough was enough with the air strikes. However, nobody – not the US, not Secretary of State Rubio – has asked Israel to withdraw from the territory that it already occupies. So that is the only wiggle room that the current Israeli government has to justify to its public, which is furious with the government, that it’s still doing something to make good on its promise to provide security.
The Israeli government was so overconfident. Just a few days ago, it was talking about forcing the Lebanese government not just to disarm Hezbollah by force, but to kick them out of the parliament, which they won elections to have membership in, to kick them out of the government as well.
And in the meantime, all of this demolition, equating the Shia-majority villages with Hezbollah infrastructure, all of that is done to appease the right-wing base in Israel, and to tell them they’re doing whatever they can to keep them safe, including that absolute decimation of the villages, turning them all to rubble, and not allowing the Lebanese residents to go back to their homes and rebuild.
The Israeli government sees Trump’s ceasefire announcement as a “slap in the face”.
- 3h ago(14:30 GMT)
UK MPs urge sanctions on Israel over West Bank annexation plans
Seventy-five UK lawmakers have backed an urgent parliamentary motion calling for punitive action against Israel over moves to annex land in the occupied West Bank.
The motion, tabled by Richard Burgon, condemns Israel’s decision to formalise the theft of Palestinian land by registering it as “state land”, describing the step as illegal and aimed at expanding control over occupied territory.
The lawmakers pointed to the July 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, which found Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territory unlawful and called for it to end without delay.
The motion urges the UK government to align its policy with international law by halting any support that helps sustain the occupation. It also calls for restrictions on economic activity linked to settlements, arguing that trade and investment tied to them reinforce Israel’s control on the ground.
Lawmakers are pushing for a series of concrete measures, including a ban on goods and services produced in settlements built on occupied land, as well as targeted sanctions such as travel bans and asset freezes on individuals and entities accused of entrenching the occupation.
An Israeli settler burns a Palestinian flag during a Palestinian protest against a Jewish settlement outpost in Salfit, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank [Raneen Sawafta/Reuters] - 3h ago(14:20 GMT)
Ceasefire on paper, chaos on the ground: UNIFIL gets caught in the middle
The killing of a UN peacekeeper in southern Lebanon has made an already fragile ceasefire more uncertain, raising urgent questions about who controls the ground and whether an agreement can hold.
Speaking to Al Jazeera from Paris, geopolitical analyst Joe Macaron described the situation as volatile and unclear, warning that even the basic functioning of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is now in doubt.
“You don’t know how (UNIFIL’s) going to operate in this new environment,” he said, pointing to a vacuum of authority.
Geopolitical tensions compound the uncertainty.
“The Israelis don’t want the French to be involved in any process,” Macaron noted, adding that recent diplomatic statements didn’t mention what UNIFIL should do at all.
On the ground, the picture is even murkier.
“We don’t know who’s in control of the southwest … Lebanese military is not present, and Hezbollah, they are holding their territories for now,” he said, referring to it as a “chaotic fluid” situation.
“At the heart of the issue lies a ceasefire that exists more in theory than in practice. While world powers stress Lebanon’s territorial integrity … they didn’t talk about withdrawal.”
That lack of clarity, he argued, reflects diplomacy that was rushed.
“This is what happens when you rush talks like this and put out a statement that does not give enough clarity,” he added, referring to it as “amateurish”.
- 3h ago(14:10 GMT)
Tankers pass Hormuz Strait in brief Iran reopening
At least eight oil and gas tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz after Iran briefly declared the crucial trade route open during a ceasefire in the Middle East war, maritime tracking data shows.
One crude oil tanker, four liquefied petroleum gas carriers, two oil and chemical tankers and one classified as an “oil products” vessel crossed the strait early Saturday, data from tracking firm Kpler indicated.
Tracking platform MarineTraffic showed several other crude oil tankers in the strait near Iran’s Larak Island, a checkpoint for vessels seeking to exit the Gulf under Iranian forces’ blockade of the passage in the war.
Iranian forces’ closure of the strait has trapped hundreds of ships in the Gulf and driven up the costs of shipping goods, with captains avoiding the region for fear of attacks or mines.
- 3h ago(14:00 GMT)
Witness recounts deadly Israeli strikes on medics in south Lebanon
The first two ambulances were destroyed, their tyres blown and windows shattered. Six of their eight crew members were covered in blood and lying in the road or the back of one vehicle.
A paramedic in one of the driver’s seats, blood pulsing from his abdomen, was cradling a colleague in his lap, pleading with him to stay conscious.
“I felt sick. I couldn’t believe my eyes,” medic Mohammed Jaber, 43, told The Associated Press.
Jaber said he and the others hurried to load the most critically injured into their working ambulances. As team leader Mahdi Abu Zaid ran to close the doors, they, too, were attacked.
The three strikes, which killed four paramedics and wounded six, are the latest example of Israel’s willingness to attack Lebanon’s health sector.
“They should be targeting fighters, where the fighting is happening, at the border,” said Jaber. “Why target medics and civilians? So that life becomes unbearable and people tell Hezbollah to give up?”
Ambulance crew in south Lebanon describes Israel’s ‘triple-tap’ attack - 3h ago(13:50 GMT)
‘Iran believes it has the upper hand’
Iranian professor Mostafa Khoshcheshm says President Trump’s contradictory statements last night convinced Tehran it would not find “a trustworthy partner for any kind of deal”, and as long as the US acts this way, “Iran will continue the war”.
On the broader mood in Tehran, Khoshcheshm said the Iranian armed forces are “completely ready”, and millions of people taking to the streets every night are demanding continuation of “resistance”.
“Iran believes it has the upper hand and that this must be established in any future confrontation,” he told Al Jazeera.
- 4h ago(13:40 GMT)
World a ‘long way’ from regaining confidence in Strait of Hormuz
A “significant distinction” exists between Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and the US’s blockade of Iranian ports, an analyst says.
“It is not the US blockade on Iranian ports that is impacting the majority of shipping going through that strait. It is the attacks the Iranian navy and IRGC have undertaken on civilian ships,” Jennier Parker, an adjunct fellow in naval studies at the University of New South Wales, told Al Jazeera.
“So I think there is a significant distinction there. I think when we try to compare the two or say they’re duelling blockades … what that does is kind of hide what actually needs to be done to solve this problem.”
She continued: “To solve the problem in the Strait of Hormuz, there either needs to be an agreement for Iran to stop attacking vessels, or a forcible military intervention that stops them from attacking vessels, and then general reassurance across the strait that it is clear of mines and that if the IRGC start trying to attack merchant ships, they will be defended.
“We are a long way from all of that.”
- 4h ago(13:30 GMT)
What Lebanese returnees are finding on the road home
Thousands of people are still making their way towards the south. The “yellow line” marks the border-adjacent areas like Shebaa and villages very close to the Blue Line that Israeli troops are not allowing anyone to reach.
But for now, people continue to return. You can hear them asking each other: “Is this village reachable? Can we get to this place?” The information coming out of the south is very limited and people are not sure.
Thousands and thousands have been crossing the Qasmiyeh Bridge over the last couple of days as the ceasefire has been holding, at least partially. The bridge was hit by Israel just before the ceasefire went into effect. The military and the Lebanese civil defence have filled the crater created by the missile strikes with dirt in a major operation to get traffic moving. Yesterday, it was only moving one way: Into the south. Now it is moving in both directions.
But this is just the beginning of these people’s journeys. They are going to face many challenges. One is the new tactical yellow line that Israel has set up about 3km (2 miles) into Lebanese territory. Israel has also issued its own evacuation warning, telling Lebanese citizens not to return south of the Zahrani River.
According to the United Nations, not everybody will be able to reach their homes just yet. They are looking at longer-term displacement, because there are still many dangers in the south: Unexploded ordnance, destroyed buildings that could cause injury to people digging through the rubble of their homes, and continued military activity.
- 4h ago(13:20 GMT)
Iran may be driving Hormuz chaos or showing internal disconnect
Jennifer Parker, an adjunct fellow in naval studies at the University of New South Wales, says the reality is the Strait of Hormuz was neither fully open nor closed, with its status further complicated by mixed messaging from Iran.
“It was never closed, but it’s clearly not entirely open,” Parker told Al Jazeera. “What has happened over the last seven weeks is that ships are deterred from going through because they don’t think it’s safe. That is because Iran has attacked over 30 ships.
“You will not see the normal number of ships going through that strait until there is confidence it is safe to do so,” she added.
The latest questions over whether the strait is open have been “complicated” by statements from Iranian authorities, said Parker, noting a recent announcement by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that it was open to civilian vessels – before a later message from the IRGC that Iran is reimposing restrictions.
She said there is one of two things at play: “One, Iran is trying to … put chaos across the strait to stop ships from going through. Or two, there is a disconnect the political elite and military elite in Iran.”
- 4h ago(13:10 GMT)
Hezbollah accuses Lebanese president of thanking ‘a murderer’
Mahmoud Qamati, Hezbollah’s deputy chairman of the political council, has criticised the Lebanese president for thanking Israel while failing to acknowledge Iran’s role in securing the ceasefire.
“We thank Iran for being able to impose a ceasefire through the levers of international pressure,” Qamati said. “Instead of preserving its cards the government is moving step by step towards humiliation and the destruction of sovereignty.”
He added: “The president thanked the murderer and the criminal, but did not thank Iran for saving us. The hand of the Lebanese resistance will remain on the trigger. The bowl of patience has overflowed and strategic patience has ended.”
- 4h ago(13:00 GMT)
‘Completely chaotic’: Gunfire, confusion and thousands of stranded vessels
If you look at the live tracker right now, all vessels are moving back to the west of the Strait of Hormuz. This comes just a day after Iran said it was open to all commercial vessels, but that does not appear to be the case.
Even yesterday when that announcement came, we saw about a dozen vessels trying to approach Larak Island, where the IRGC is believed to be monitoring passage. They all turned back.
Today, we did see about 10 vessels pass through the strait into the Gulf of Oman. Five of those are believed to be sanctioned vessels, so we still have to wait and see whether the US naval blockade will stop them. But this is completely chaotic and confusing for international shipping. Thousands of vessels are believed to be stranded, and the vast majority do not want to risk anything.
Those that did pass went through the Iranian-designated pathway through the strait.
For Gulf countries, this is unacceptable. The Gulf has consistently said it wants free passage and that Iran has no right to stop or impede the flow.
Strait of Hormuz open for remainder of truce, Iran says - 4h ago(12:50 GMT)
‘We cannot wake up every day to a president threatening the world’
Brazil’s president has called on the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to change course over the failure to stop conflict in the Middle East.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also appeared to criticise Donald Trump, who regularly posts threatening messages on social media directed at Iran.
“We cannot wake up every morning and go to bed every night with a tweet from a president threatening the world and declaring wars,” he told an international summit of progressive leaders in Barcelona.
US President Donald Trump, left, and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva [AFP] - 5h ago(12:40 GMT)
Israel army says ‘yellow line’ established in Lebanon – same as Gaza
The Israeli military says it established a “yellow line” demarcation in southern Lebanon, similar to the one separating its forces from territory still held by Hamas in Gaza
It claimed it has already struck suspected Hezbollah fighters approaching its troops along the line.
“Over the past 24 hours, [army] forces operating south of the Yellow Line in southern Lebanon identified terrorists who violated the ceasefire understandings and approached the forces from north of the Yellow Line in a manner that posed an immediate threat,” the military said, referring to such a line for the first time since a ceasefire came into effect.
“Immediately after identification and in order to eliminate the threat … forces attacked the terrorists in several areas in southern Lebanon,” it said, noting the army is authorised to take action against threats despite the ceasefire.
Since a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza on October 10, the Palestinian territory has been split by a “yellow line”, the de facto boundary dividing Gaza into two zones: one under Israeli military control and one under Hamas control.
- 5h ago(12:30 GMT)
‘Resumption of war more probable than any kind of negotiation’
Iran’s reimposition of restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz is a direct consequence of ceasefire violations by the United States, an analyst says.
“The strait was to be opened on the basis of the ceasefire terms. The US blockade is itself a violation of the ceasefire terms,” Professor Mostafa Khoshcheshm told Al Jazeera from Tehran.
“The Americans have also been bringing more troops and equipment – another violation.”
After Iran made a limited attempt to open the strait last night, he said, “Trump rushed to the media making false statements,” leading Tehran to conclude it should close the strait again.
On the prospects for diplomacy, Khoshcheshm was blunt. “It is truly difficult now, more than ever. Trump changes his positions and his words on an hourly basis.”
He pointed to Trump’s abandonment of the Paris Climate Accord, NATO commitments, and multiple international agreements as evidence that he is “not someone you can negotiate with. He doesn’t show any kind of respect for the UN or the UN Security Council.
“I see a resumption of war as more probable than any kind of negotiation.”
- 5h ago(12:25 GMT)
French UN peacekeeper killed, 3 wounded in Lebanon attack
A French soldier was killed and three others wounded in an attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, says President Emmanuel Macron.
He posted on X that “everything points to Hezbollah being responsible for this attack”, and he urged Lebanese authorities to arrest the perpetrators.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, denounced the attack on members of the French contingent of the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL and ordered an immediate investigation.
A UNIFIL vehicle and Lebanese soldier in Qlayaa in southern Lebanon [Karamallah Daher/Reuters] - 5h ago(12:20 GMT)
Gunboat diplomacy grips the besieged Strait of Hormuz
The duelling blockades in the Strait of Hormuz lurched into uncharted waters as the United States pressed ahead with its campaign to choke off Iranian ports and Tehran reversed an initial move to reopen the waterway, firing on a ship attempting to pass.
TankerTrackers.com reported vessels were forced to turn around in the strait, including an Indian-flagged supertanker, after they were fired on by Iran.
Confusion over the critical chokepoint threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries towards renewed conflict, even as mediators expressed confidence a new deal was within reach.
Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s Parliament National Security Committee, announced the Strait of Hormuz has returned to “strict military control”, with IRGC Navy authorisation now required for all commercial transits.
- 5h ago(12:10 GMT)
Israel acknowledges post-ceasefire strikes on Lebanon
Israel’s military says its forces have carried out numerous strikes, including artillery fire and air strikes, in southern Lebanon since the ceasefire came into effect.
In a statement, the Israeli military said it waged the attacks in response to fighters approaching areas where Israeli soldiers are still stationed in southern Lebanon, claiming they pose “an imminent threat”.
“Actions taken in self-defence and to remove immediate threats are not restricted by the ceasefire,” the military said.
As we reported earlier, Israeli artillery attacks today have hit the southern Lebanese towns of Beit Leif, Qantara, and Touline, while Israel’s military has continued razing homes across several areas.
- 5h ago(12:00 GMT)
Iranian navy broadcasts message declaring Strait of Hormuz shut again
Merchant vessels have received a radio message from the Iranian navy declaring the Strait of Hormuz shut again, with no ships allowed to pass through, shipping sources say.
The message marks a rapid reversal following Iran’s earlier announcement that the strait would be open to commercial vessels, and comes amid deepening confusion over the waterway’s status that has left international shipping companies scrambling for clarity.
A rocket is fired during a military exercise by members of Iran’s IRGC [Sepah News via AFP] - 5h ago(11:55 GMT)
US military says it continues to enforce blockade on Iranian ports, coastal areas
US Central Command (CENTCOM) says the US is continuing to enforce its declared “maritime blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas”.
CENTCOM added that the combat ship USS Canberra is patrolling the Arabian Sea as part of the blockade, during which 23 ships have complied with US orders to turn back.
As we’ve been reporting, Iran’s IRGC has claimed the continuing US blockade of its ports is a breach of the ceasefire understanding, and Iran is reimposing its restrictions on transit in the Strait of Hormuz as a result.
- 5h ago(11:50 GMT)
Iran’s supreme leader vows continued resistance
Iran’s supreme leader has marked Army Day by vowing continued resistance against what he called “the two armies at the forefront of infidelity and arrogance”.
In a message via Telegram, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said the Iranian army “has exposed their weakness and humiliation to the world,” and “its drones strike the American and Zionist criminals like lightning”.
“Its brave navy is ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats,” he warned.
Khamenei framed the latest war as a continuation of Iran’s revolutionary tradition, connecting the 1979 Islamic Revolution through two previous “imposed wars” to the present conflict. He said the army “has stood in its rightful place” since the revolution, describing it as “truly the son of the nation” that “comes from the hearts of the people”.
He paid tribute to his predecessor and assassinated father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing him as one who “made the most effort since the first decade of the revolution to preserve the army” and enhance its capabilities.
Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen in public since taking over from his father following his killing at the start of the war in February.
He closed his message with condolences to the families of those killed in what he described as “the war imposed by the United States and the Zionist regime against the great nation of Iran”.
Iranians rally nationwide to honour late leader Ali Khamenei - 6h ago(11:40 GMT)
Iran reverses course on Strait of Hormuz reopening citing US ‘breaches of trust’
We now have a new statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters:
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, following previous agreements met in the negotiations conducted in good faith, agreed to managed passage of a limited number of oil and commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Unfortunately, the Americans, with their repeated breaches of trust that are part of their history, continue their acts of piracy and maritime theft under the pretext of a so-called blockade.
“This strategic waterway is under strict management and control by the armed forces. As long as the United States does not end the complete freedom of movement for vessels from Iran to their destinations and back, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain under strict control and will remain as it was before.”
All of this is indicative of the leverage Iran is trying to use as a pressure point, as economic pressure, and in the regional security context.
- 6h ago(11:30 GMT)
‘Both sides now have to think twice before pulling the trigger’
We are seeing a divergence of positions here at the Antalya forum. The United States is insisting that Iran has agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without any conditions, while the US blockade remains in place.
That position has now been directly contradicted by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, who was speaking on a panel here just moments ago.
“That is not the term we agreed on,” he said. He acknowledged the strait is open, but said vessels still need to go through designated areas through full coordination with the Iranian armed forces. He said that what US President Trump announced is simply not accurate.
That said, Khatibzadeh was clear that war is not the solution and Iran is serious and determined to resolve these issues at the negotiating table. But he issued a firm warning to the US and Israel: If there is a return to conflict, Iran’s response will not be limited – it will be “a full-force response”.
So, as things stand, the positions on the Strait of Hormuz remain far apart. Other politicians here today have also said it will be difficult to bridge that gap. However, a positive sign, according to the Iranian delegation, is that negotiations are still ongoing, and both sides are aware that a return to full-scale conflict will come at an enormous cost. That awareness is becoming a deterrent factor.
Both sides, as one delegate put it, now have to think twice before pulling the trigger.
- 6h ago(11:20 GMT)
Egypt and Pakistan ‘pushing very hard’ for US-Iran peace deal
Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, says Egypt and Pakistan are working “very hard” as mediators to bring about “a final agreement between the United States and Iran”.
“We hope to do so in the coming days,” Abdelatty said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkiye, noting that “not only us in the region but the whole world is suffering from the continuation of this war”.
“We are pushing very hard in order to move forward,” he added.
- 6h ago(11:10 GMT)
Hormuz uncertainty passes risk onto ship captains, insurers
Michael Shoebridge, director of Strategic Analysis Australia, says the ever-changing restrictions on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz create a dangerous environment for the vessels themselves.
“This really passes all of that risk and all of that danger onto the ship captains, the shipping companies, and the insurers. The insurers will see this as an unacceptable risk,” Shoebridge told Al Jazeera.
“It’s true there’s no military solution, but the military standoff has to end to allow any traffic to move through.”
- 6h ago(11:05 GMT)
Maritime agency reports Hormuz tanker shooting by gunboats
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency says it has received a report of a tanker being fired at by “two gunboats linked” to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
The tanker captain said the gunboats opened fire without issuing a radio challenge, UKMTO said in its advisory note, adding the vessel and its crew were reported to be safe.
- 6h ago(11:00 GMT)
First flights cross Iranian skies in weeks as 6 airports reopen
Just days before the two-week ceasefire is set to expire, there are some positive indications alongside the complex situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The eastern airspace of the country has been reopened, and flight radar information indicates at least two flights across Iranian skies in the past few hours – another important sign.
In addition to the two airports already mentioned, four others have also been said to be reopened, making it six in total.
The area adjacent to Mehrabad airport witnessed heavy bombardment during the 40 days of war by US and Israeli strikes, so the fact that it is still operational is a significant development in itself, given the infrastructural damage that was sustained.
We have also heard from local sources that airlines are preparing to operate domestic and international flights. But we have to keep in mind that we are dealing with a brittle situation, and we are watching closely to see whether more flights will follow.
An explosion erupts following strikes near the Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran [AFP] - 6h ago(10:50 GMT)
Iraq says all oil exports will resume within days
Iraq’s Oil Ministry says it will resume exports from all oilfields in the next few days.
“We have been in contact with tankers and major companies to contract for oil exports, and the door is open to all companies,” ministry spokesperson Sahib Bazoun told the Iraqi News Agency.
“Within a few days, we will resume oil exports and all fields are ready.”
He added that accelerating the export process “attracts stability, generates state revenues, supports domestic oil production, and meets the local market’s need for liquid and dry gas to keep power stations running”.
In a separate development, Iraq’s Transport Ministry announced that a giant tanker has arrived in the port of Basra to load two million barrels of oil – the first Iraqi shipment since the announcement of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
- 6h ago(10:45 GMT)
No date for more US talks until ‘framework’ agreed: Iran
Answering a question on a potential new round of talks with the US, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said that they cannot happen until the two sides agree on a shared framework.
“Until we agree on the framework, we cannot set the date,” said Khatibzadeh.
He emphasised that whatever Iran agrees to in negotiations must preserve its rights under international law.
“Iran will not accept to be an exception from international law” or “abandon its rights”, he said.
- 7h ago(10:40 GMT)
‘Iran has not agreed to second round of negotiations’
Tehran has not yet agreed to a second round of negotiations with Washington, an unnamed Iranian source told Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
Iran believes the US put forward excessive demands during their exchange of messages, and has made dropping those demands one of its conditions for continuing negotiations, the source added.
Tehran has conveyed its conditions to Washington through a Pakistani intermediary.
“We informed the American side of our non-agreement to a second round through the Pakistani intermediary,” the source said.
Tehran has also made clear it does not want to waste time in drawn-out negotiations that yield no results.
Iran rejects Trump claim on deal to surrender nuclear material stockpiles - 7h ago(10:38 GMT)
US blockade on Iranian ports ‘will never be valid’, says Iran’s deputy foreign minister
Continuing his remarks in Antalya, Iran’s deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Iran will never accept a US blockade on its ports or any other “orders” from Washington.
“There will never be any blockade in the future. The era of colonialism must come to an end,” he said, adding the US “cannot dictate orders to other nations”.
- 7h ago(10:35 GMT)
Israeli artillery shells towns in southern Lebanon
Israeli artillery has shelled the towns of Beit Leif, Qantara and Touline in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera’s correspondent on the ground reports.
Israeli bulldozers are also continuing demolition operations and razing homes across several areas in southern Lebanon.
A ceasefire was announced days after Lebanon and Israel held their first direct talks in decades in Washington.
Israel continues to occupy areas of southern Lebanon despite the truce, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying troops would not withdraw during the ceasefire.
- 7h ago(10:25 GMT)
Any US ‘breaches’ to be met with ‘appropriate response’: IRGC
The IRGC’s navy command has reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its prior restricted status.
“As long as the movement of vessels from Iran and to Iran is under threat, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain as it was previously,” the navy command posted on X and shared by Iranian media.
“Any breach of commitments by the United States will receive an appropriate response,” it added.
- 7h ago(10:25 GMT)
Trump ‘talks too much’, says Iran’s deputy foreign minister
Iran’s deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh spoke to the media on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Turkiye.
Asked about President Trump’s recent comments suggesting the US would “start dropping bombs again” if no deal is reached with Iran by Wednesday, Khatibzadeh said the US president “talks too much”.
“He said contradictory things within the same statement,” said the Iranian official. “I don’t know exactly what he meant.”
Khatibzadeh said Iran believes “war cannot lead to any positive outcome”, but it’s ready to keep defending itself if under attack. “We will fight until the last Iranian soldier.”
- 7h ago(10:20 GMT)
Turkiye yet to discuss extending gas pipeline contract with Iran
Turkiye’s energy minister says a natural gas pipeline contract with Iran is set to expire within months, and negotiations about an extension have not begun.
Speaking to reporters at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Alparslan Bayraktar said Turkiye is looking to diversify supplies of liquefied natural gas, including from Russia.
- 7h ago(10:10 GMT)
If US and Iran can’t implement ceasefire, reaching a deal ‘hard to believe’
The shifting status of the Strait of Hormuz jeopardises potential US-Iran negotiations, said Michael Shoebridge, director of the Strategic Analysis Australia think-tank.
“Seeing those first tankers come through the strait I think was received very well across the world. But seeing Iran close the strait again because America hasn’t lifted its blockade of Iranian shipping is a real setback,” Shoebridge told Al Jazeera. “The problem here I think is President Trump has overplayed things because he wants desperately to portray himself as winning.”
He added: “We’ve heard from Trump that an agreement is very, very close. But that would be very hard to believe if they can’t even get to the starting point, which is seeing the ceasefire terms come into place.
“America may have to shift its position again here,” Shoebridge noted.
- 7h ago(10:00 GMT)
Strait of Hormuz: ‘Uncertainty is the name of the game’
The Revolutionary Guard says ships that passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past hour did so as a gesture of “goodwill” despite the US blockade. We can interpret it as an olive branch of sorts, but we have to keep in mind the intricate nature of the situation.
Iran started by giving a green light to some vessels not affiliated with their “adversaries”. It is also talking about a new mechanism of control.
As we saw in the map the IRGC recently published, there is a danger zone in the southern waters close to Oman and a safe zone, the pathway close to Iranian coastlines. That is a sign of Iran’s intention to exercise more and more control and authority over the strait. This is a playing card it’s not going to give up easily.
The toll plan is also important in that regard. Regardless of the goodwill gesture, Iran is talking about war reparations, and one of the venues through which those reparations could be obtained is the Strait of Hormuz and the tolls it is planning to impose.
On the broader negotiation picture, the sticking points are many. Iran is looking for a comprehensive end to the war across the region, security assurances, sanctions relief, the unfreezing of frozen assets, regional relations – and on top of all of that – the nuclear dossier and Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
But right now, uncertainty is the name of the game. The fragile situation makes it hard to talk about the possibility of successful negotiations down the road.
Cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz in March [File: Reuters] - 7h ago(09:50 GMT)
Turkiye hosts meeting of foreign ministers
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have held their third consultative meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
They exchanged views on evolving regional dynamics, reaffirming the role of dialogue and diplomacy in promoting peace and stability. They expressed a shared commitment to deepening coordination and expanding collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
Pakistan has been the primary mediator between the US and Iran, hosting peace talks in Islamabad last week. Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt have all been closely involved in regional diplomatic efforts, with their foreign ministers meeting regularly since the war began on February 28.
- 8h ago(09:40 GMT)
UK urges Iran to fully reopen Strait of Hormuz
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has called on Iran to allow global shipping to resume fully through the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are at a critical diplomatic moment with a ceasefire now in place, but we don’t yet have normal passage through the strait,” Cooper was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkiye.
She said the ceasefire needs to develop into a lasting peace, adding that restoring shipping through the waterway is urgent for the global economy.
- 8h ago(09:30 GMT)
US blockade on Iranian ports may be a ‘miscalculation’
The IRGC’s latest message about the Strait of Hormuz shows that Iran intends to keep leveraging control of the waterway as a “threat” while the US continues to blockade Iranian ports, said Mohamed Elmasry, media studies professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
“The situation is fluid and dynamic. We’re not getting total clarity,” Elmasry told Al Jazeera.
“In some ways, this is not surprising given what was said and done yesterday from the US. It was a confusing set of messages.
“I think already we’re seeing that this was perhaps a miscalculation by the US to maintain its blockade on Iranian ports. Iran is interpreting this as a violation of whatever arrangement that was worked out,” he added.
“These negotiations that Trump is talking about and playing up in very positive terms … there’s a real chance that could all blow into thin air if the US overplays its hand.”
- 8h ago(09:20 GMT)
Ships sail cautiously through Strait of Hormuz as confusion persists
For a lot of these tankers and vessels this is a race against time. Many have been stuck or stranded in the Strait of Hormuz for weeks. In the last couple of hours, we have seen several vessels crossing through. Various flagged vessels from Angola, Panama and Vietnam.
We are seeing a lot of chatter from marine monitors noting that most of these ships are sanctioned vessels, and they are identifying a pattern there. Whether or not they will be stopped by the US naval blockade, which we believe is positioned near the Gulf of Oman, remains to be seen. Most, if not all, of the vessels have gone through the designated pathway announced by the Revolutionary Guard, because commercial companies are afraid of sea mines.
We have also seen, for the first time since this war began, a cruise ship pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The Maltese-flagged cruise ship Celestial Discovery had been stranded in Dubai for 47 days. It has just passed through the strait, believed to be empty, and is said to be making a stopover in Muscat before continuing its journey.
But there is deep confusion within the commercial shipping industry. Nobody knows whether the strait is truly open or not. The Iranians said it was open, and we saw more than a dozen vessels yesterday make their way toward the strait only to turn back around just hours later. Companies are very confused, and many are simply not taking the risk.
- 8h ago(09:10 GMT)
Six Iranian airports reopen: Iranian airline official
Following earlier reports that Iran has reopened part of its airspace in the east of the country, six Iranian airports have also reopened, says the Association of Iranian Airlines.
They include Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, as well as in Mashhad, Birjand, Gorgan and Zahedan.
Airlines are getting ready to restart both domestic and international flights, Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted the secretary of the association as saying.
- 8h ago(09:00 GMT)
Iran sets conditions for Strait of Hormuz passage
A statement has come from Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s National Security Committee, laying out the current situation as Iran sees it in the strait.
“The time has come to comply with a new maritime regime for the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
Under this new system, only commercial vessels with authorisation from the IRGC Navy are permitted to navigate through designated routes after paying the required tolls. He ended with a warning: “If the US attempts to create any disturbance for Iranian ships this situation can be easily changed.”
The military headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya added until the United States ends restrictions on the full freedom of passage of Iranian vessels, “the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain tightly controlled and unchanged”.
We are hearing mixed messages from the Iranian side. They are not happy with the American blockade, and they are talking about tolls and transit charges on the strait. This is not something new, we heard it from the new supreme leader, who spoke about a new regime governing the Strait of Hormuz.
From several perspectives, Iran is trying to use this strategically important chokepoint for its benefit in the regional security context, in the energy market, and as perhaps the most important bargaining chip in Iran’s diplomatic calculus going into any further negotiations.
- 8h ago(08:50 GMT)
‘Rebuilding houses is one thing – rebuilding people is more difficult’
Tens of thousands of families returning to southern Lebanon are finding their entire villages and towns completely destroyed, according to Cyril Bassil, communications coordinator for Care International in Lebanon.
“Fathers, mothers, elderly people, young children are returning to find not just their homes but their entire villages and towns completely destroyed,” Bassil told Al Jazeera from Beirut.
“Some of them are telling us they would rather sleep in front of their destroyed houses just to be there. But ultimately, they have access to nothing. They need water, hot meals, sanitary items.”
Care International teams have been distributing hot meals, water, mattresses, and blankets in southern Lebanon since the start of the escalation. But more than 700,000 people remain displaced in Beirut, many of them sleeping in cars, on public beaches and on the pavement.
“Right now it is raining in Lebanon and still very cold,” Bassil said. “Imagine all of these children and their families sleeping under the rain.” He added that many people he speaks to during distributions are “so traumatised and exhausted from the air strikes and the constant fear that they are not capable of formulating complete sentences”.
On the long-term impact, Bassil was stark. Lebanon has been in crisis since 2019, compounded by the 2020 Beirut port explosion, the 2024 war, and now this. “It is one thing to aim at rebuilding houses but rebuilding people is more difficult. Rebuilding their souls, rebuilding their sense of safety.”
Israel's offensive in Lebanon damages 40,000 homes; 1.2 million displaced
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