Iran war live: Three ships pass through Hormuz strait amid US, Iran blocks
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/4/14/iran-war-live-trump-claims-tehran-wants-a-deal-amid-us-blockade-of-hormuz
Iran war live: Three ships pass through Hormuz strait amid US, Iran blocks
Al Jazeera Live
- The US blockade of Iran’s ports is in effect, but US President Donald Trump says Iranian officials have called and “want to work a deal”.
- 55m ago(13:35 GMT)
What is happening in the occupied West Bank?
As the world’s attention remains largely focused on the diplomatic efforts to revive the US-Iran talks, the Israeli army and settlers continue to carry out attacks across the occupied West Bank.
Here are just some of the incidents reported today by Wafa news agency:
- Israeli settlers, under the protection of Israeli forces, stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and performed Talmudic rituals.
- Palestinians fended off an attempt by armed Israeli settlers to seize a house belonging to a resident in the town of Ash-Shuyukh, northeast of Hebron.
- Israeli forces stormed the city of Hebron and closed the city centre, and prevented Palestinian citizens and vehicles from passing.
- Two Palestinians were wounded after being attacked by Israeli forces near the village of Burqa, northwest of Nablus.
- The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that two men, aged 62 and 24, were beaten after Israeli forces opened fire on their vehicle
- Settlers cut water pipelines near the Ein al-Auja spring north of Jericho and, under the protection of Israeli forces, bulldozed agricultural lands south of Bethlehem.
A Palestinian schoolboy returns home after Israeli settlers recently erected razor wire to block the local route used by children to reach their school, forcing them to take a detour nearYatta, occupied West Bank [AFP] - 1h ago(13:30 GMT)
How much will US’s Hormuz blockade hurt Iran? Does Tehran have an escape?
The US naval blockade of Iran has come into effect as Trump’s administration tries to pressure Tehran into accepting its terms for an end to their war by trying to squeeze the Iranian economy.
The blockade began at 14:00 GMT on Monday. Iran’s armed forces have called it “an illegal act” that “amounts to piracy”.
Even though Iran has become accustomed to US sanctions and has continued to function during the war, a blockade like this could inflict significant damage to Iran’s economy, analysts said.
How much can this blockade hurt Iran? Read our explainer here.
- 1h ago(13:15 GMT)
How many ships passed the Strait of Hormuz? How many were attacked?
At least three tankers have entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, shipping data from LSEG and Kpler shows.
The Panama-flagged Peace Gulf is heading to Hamriyah port in the UAE, after transiting the new route between the islands of Larak and Hormuz in Iranian territorial waters that the IRGC has ordered all vessels to take.
Earlier, two US-sanctioned tankers passed through the strategic narrow waterway. As the three vessels transiting the strait were not heading to Iranian ports, they are not affected by the US blockade, which took effect on Monday.
Read our explainer here.
- 1h ago(13:05 GMT)
Pakistan urging calm and restraint amid potential second meeting
Even as that first round wrapped up without a deal, the technical teams and the subject-matter experts on the ground remained in place.
They continued to talk, exchanging notes and having conversations. It is a result of that, as well as the facilitation of the Pakistani government, that there has now been this invitation for a second meeting extended to both sides.
JD Vance did acknowledge that there had been progress, and the US president has confirmed that the other side wants to make a deal and that he has been approached.
So, given that, and also the economic urgency as a result of the blockade put in place by the US, the fact that they are frustrated Iran is generating revenue through the sale of oil since the start of the war, and the threat of Tehran retaliating, the Pakistanis have urged calm and restraint, and also further dialogue potentially to take place as soon as this Thursday.
- 1h ago(13:00 GMT)
Iran slams YouTube ban on pro-Iranian group’s Lego-style AI videos
Iran has condemned a ban imposed by YouTube on a pro-Iranian group that releases Lego-style artificial intelligence videos after posting one lampooning Trump and declaring “Iran won” last week.
Explosive Media said on X last week that YouTube suspended its account for “violent content”, while the group’s other online accounts appeared unaffected.
“Seriously! Are our LEGO-style animations actually violent?” Explosive Media asked in its post on Friday.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said the ban was a move to suppress “the truth” about the US-Israel war on Iran.
Read the full story here.
This illustration photo, created in Los Angeles, US, on April 9, 2026, shows a Lego-style AI-generated war-themed video playing on a smartphone [Chris Delmas/AFP] - 1h ago(12:45 GMT)
Israel’s foreign minister says Hezbollah the ‘problem’ between Lebanon and Israel
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar says Hezbollah is the “problem” between his country and Lebanon.
Saar claimed before talks between officials from both nations in Washington, DC, later today that Israel is seeking “peace and normalisation” with Lebanon.
“Israel and Lebanon don’t have any major disputes between them. The problem is Hezbollah,” Saar said at a news conference.
“The problem for Israel’s security is the problem for Lebanon’s sovereignty,” the minister said, adding that “the same problem” is Hezbollah.
More than 2,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli attacks since early March, and more than one million people have been displaced.
Today’s meeting – the first such talks since 1993 – will be mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and include the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the US.
- 2h ago(12:30 GMT)
Macron calls for avoiding ‘any further escalation’
The French president has urged Tehran and Washington to swiftly return to the negotiating table, calling for de-escalation in the Gulf and strict adherence to a regional ceasefire that includes Lebanon.
Macron said he spoke to both Pezeshkian and Trump on Monday and called for a “clearing-up of misunderstandings and the avoidance of any further escalation”.
The president stressed that it was vital the ceasefire be “strictly respected by all” and that it include Lebanon.
“It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without restrictions or tolls, as soon as possible,” he added.
“Under these conditions, negotiations should be able to resume quickly with the support of the key parties concerned.”
- 2h ago(12:15 GMT)
Eleven Israeli soldiers injured in southern Lebanon
Eleven Israeli soldiers have been injured in Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon in a drone attack on Monday night, Israeli media are reporting.
- 2h ago(12:00 GMT)
WATCH: Islamabad could host followup talks, officials say
Islamabad offered as venue for next round of US–Iran talks, officials say - 2h ago(11:57 GMT)
Israeli drone targets motorcycle in southern Lebanon
An Israeli drone has attacked a motorcycle in the town of Barish in southern Lebanon, our colleagues on the ground are reporting.
- 2h ago(11:45 GMT)
Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah continues amid US-sponsored diplomatic efforts
There’s been no letup in Israeli strikes.
Israel says the conflict with Hezbollah is continuing despite the opening of a US-sponsored diplomatic track.
Israel initially rejected Lebanon’s offer to negotiate. Even the Trump administration remained silent. The US-Iran ceasefire deal brought a shift in policy because Iran insisted Lebanon must be included. The US also agreed to re-engage with the authorities here after expressing frustration with their failure to disarm Hezbollah.
The group is on the front lines, engaging in direct confrontations with invading Israeli soldiers in recent weeks.
Israel is refusing to discuss a ceasefire, which is Lebanon’s condition before formal peace negotiations can begin. For now, negotiations are being conducted under fire.
- 2h ago(11:32 GMT)
Israeli attack targets police vehicle in central Gaza
Casualties are feared after an Israeli attack on a police vehicle on al-Nafaq Street in Gaza City.
Earlier today, a Palestinian was killed in an Israeli bombing in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya.
- 3h ago(11:30 GMT)
Tehran ready for talks but sees strength in surviving decades-long US threats: Analyst
Despite both sides signalling openness to negotiations, both remain far apart on substance, according to Hamid Reza Gholamzadeh, director of the Iranian think tank Diplohouse.
Iran says the “maximalist approach for the Americans” was a military option, “which was on the table for the past two decades, and now it has happened” – bolstering Tehran’s confidence, Gholamzadeh said.
“Iran says it survived and that makes it stronger at the table,” he told Al Jazeera from Tehran.
From Tehran’s view, having withstood the military threat that had loomed for two decades, it sees little reason to make concessions under pressure, the analyst said.
Meanwhile, Washington faces its own constraints, he said.
“Americans are not used to giving up something, and they don’t want to admit that they have failed in their military campaign.”
- 3h ago(11:15 GMT)
Diplomatic exchanges between Pakistan and Iran continue
Messages are still being exchanged between Iran and Pakistan, a diplomatic source has told Iran’s IRNA.
Iran is also waiting for more information regarding the next round of talks, it added.
- 3h ago(11:10 GMT)
Qatar rejects claims of agreement with Iran
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson has rejected assertions that Doha has any agreement with Tehran, noting that Iranian attacks on Qatar continued throughout the war and only halted with the ceasefire.
- 3h ago(11:05 GMT)
Qatar urges focus on ceasefire, condemns attacks on Lebanon
It is “still too early” to focus on a solution regarding the Strait of Hormuz, and attention should instead be directed towards stopping the fighting, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman al-Ansari says.
He stressed that historically there had been no problem in the Strait of Hormuz and argued the current debate should centre on “sustainable security” and the “safety of navigation”.
Al-Ansari noted that the war’s impact on energy prices is being felt worldwide, with additional consequences for exports, but said Qatar will ultimately emerge from the crisis.
Moreover, the spokesman condemned attacks on Lebanese sovereignty and voiced support for international efforts to reduce escalation.
Al-Ansari added that Doha remains in contact with all parties, including Lebanon, and that messages are still being exchanged between Iran and Pakistan after talks in Islamabad.
- 3h ago(11:00 GMT)
France, UK to cohost video conference on Hormuz shipping security
France and the UK will cohost a video conference on Friday for countries ready to contribute to a “purely defensive mission” to secure the Strait of Hormuz, the French president’s office said.
France’s Macron and the UK’s Starmer are to cochair the meeting to discuss a plan to “restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz when security conditions allow it”, it said.
France and the UK have been working in recent weeks to set up an operation to escort oil tankers and container ships to help ensure safe passage through the strait.
- 3h ago(10:48 GMT)
Qatar says security of Strait of Hormuz cannot be threatened by any party
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari is briefing the media.
He says:
- We are communicating with partners to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to stop the negative repercussions of its closure.
- The security of the strait cannot be threatened by any party, and there should be no conditions for its reopening.
- The resolution of the strait crisis must be regional, involving the coastal states and those that rely on it.
- We are awaiting confirmation of a new round of negotiations in Pakistan, and we support these diplomatic efforts.
- From the outset, Qatar has stressed the need for a lasting solution to consolidate the ceasefire in a way that benefits everyone.
- Intensive regional contacts are under way at the moment to help ensure the success of mediation efforts and de-escalation.
- 3h ago(10:45 GMT)
Europe can push US to adhere to international law, Pezeshkian tells Macron
Iran’s President Pezeshkian has told his French counterpart that a “lack of goodwill” and “maximalist positions” from the US prevented the finalisation of an agreement during talks in Islamabad last week, the IRNA news agency reported.
Threats, pressure and military action will only exacerbate the US’s “self-made problems” in the region, he was also quoted as saying.
“Diplomacy is the preferred path to resolving disputes,” Pezeshkian told Macron in their joint phone call, adding that Europe can play a constructive role in encouraging the US to adhere to international law.
- 3h ago(10:37 GMT)
China warns of countermeasures against US over tariff hikes threat
China has threatened “countermeasures” if the US “goes ahead with the tariff hikes on China”, which Beijing says follow false media reports claiming it provided military support to Iran.
“Media reports accusing China of providing military support to Iran are purely fabricated,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on X.
“If the US goes ahead with the tariff hikes on China on the basis of these accusations, China will respond with countermeasures.
“China always acts prudently and responsibly on the export of military products, and exercises strict control in accordance with China’s laws and regulations and due international obligations.”
- 3h ago(10:35 GMT)
Italy’s PM says suspending auto-renewal of defence agreement with Israel
“In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel,” Italy’ PM Giorgia Meloni said on the sidelines of an event in Verona, according to Italian news agency Ansa.
The agreement involves the exchange of military equipment and technology research, news agencies reported.
- 4h ago(10:30 GMT)
Optimism rises for more dialogue despite decades-long animosity and slow progress
The most important thing we have to take into consideration is the fact that the ceasefire is holding.
The other thing is that now the US and Iran are acknowledging that the lines of communication are open. Pakistan had said at the conclusion of the first round here in Islamabad that the lines of communication must remain open.
At this time, we can say that while there was no breakthrough in that first meeting, there was no breakdown either. Both sides have had this animosity for more than four decades. You cannot solve these differences and problems in 24 hours. So, this is a process, not an event. Many people in Islamabad thought that after the US said it failed to reach an agreement, that was the end of the road. But now there is a ray of hope, cautious optimism, that the second round is likely to continue.
Pakistan has enjoyed historical, religious, and fraternal relationships with the Iranians, and, at the same time, is in the good books of the Trump administration. Pakistan’s PM had nominated Trump for the Nobel Prize. Relations are definitely on an upward improvement trajectory, and that puts Pakistan in a very pivotal position.
- 4h ago(10:15 GMT)
Israel and Lebanon are holding talks. What do we know?
Israel and Lebanon are due to open formal talks in Washington, DC, today at the US State Department.
- Israel will be represented by its ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, who is a US-born far-right figure and a longtime settlement activist.
- Lebanon will be represented by its ambassador in Washington, DC, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, with the US ambassador to Lebanon, Michael Issa, also participating.
- The talks follow a precedent-breaking phone call between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors over the weekend, as the two countries have no formal diplomatic relations.
- The talks come amid intense international pressure on Israel to halt its invasion of Lebanon, which has killed more than 2,000 people and displaced over a million. Israeli forces continue their advance in southern Lebanon and have repeatedly hit the capital, Beirut.
- Israel says it will not negotiate a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which has publicly rejected Lebanon’s direct negotiations with Israel.
- 4h ago(10:00 GMT)
WATCH: Israeli drone kills man who appears wounded in southern Lebanon
Israeli drone kills man who appears wounded in southern Lebanon - 4h ago(09:50 GMT)
Priority of negotiations with Israel is a ceasefire: Lebanese official
A Lebanese official has spoken to Al Jazeera about the upcoming direct talks between Israel and Lebanon today.
Here is what they said:
- Our position on the negotiations is clear and is based on the priority of reaching a ceasefire.
- The official mandate of the Lebanese ambassador to Washington is limited to discussing a ceasefire with Israel.
- Today’s session is preliminary and serves as a starting point for the overall course of the negotiations.
- All other issues will be discussed with the participation of the three delegations once the negotiation process begins.
- The US secretary of state’s participation in the negotiations is a serious indication of US support.
- Contacts with the US side regarding the negotiations are positive and reflect an understanding of Lebanon’s position.
- 4h ago(09:45 GMT)
US aligning closer with Israel on issue of Iran’s nuclear enrichment: Analyst
Media reports suggest that Iran has countered Washington’s proposal for a 20-year halt on Iran’s uranium enrichment to five years, a suspension that would be a win for Tehran, says an analyst.
“Five years is not a lot of time – it would allow Iran to basically rebuild in short order,” Mohamad Elmasry, a professor of media studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera.
The US demand for a full halt to Iranian uranium enrichment marks a notable shift in policy, he added.
“The US has not historically had a no-enrichment policy,” Elmasry said, adding that Washington now appears to be aligning with Israel’s longstanding zero-enrichment position.
With US midterms approaching, Elmasry said Trump will be under pressure to frame any deal as a clear-cut victory for American voters.
- 4h ago(09:35 GMT)
Israeli bombing kills Palestinian in northern Gaza
A Palestinian has been killed in an Israeli bombing of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, Wafa news agency reports.
Gunfire from Israeli helicopters was also reported in southern Gaza.
- 5h ago(09:30 GMT)
Latest developments
- A Pakistani official has told Al Jazeera that the country is ready to host the process to bring peace for as many rounds as it takes.
- China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson says the US “increased military operations and took a targeted blockade action, which will only exacerbate tensions and undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement”.
- At least six people have been killed in Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon.
- Iran says its initial estimates of war losses amount to $270bn, though a government spokesperson cautioned the final cost is likely to be higher.
- 5h ago(09:20 GMT)
Third Iran-linked tanker enters Hormuz, bound for UAE’s Hamriyah port
A third Iran-linked tanker has entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz today, shipping data shows.
The Panama-flagged Peace Gulf is heading to Hamriyah port in the UAE, LSEG data showed.
Prior to this, two US-sanctioned tankers passed through the narrow waterway.
As the three vessels transiting the strait were not heading to Iranian ports, they are not affected by the US blockade.
Handy tanker Murlikishan is heading to Iraq to load fuel oil on April 16, Kpler data showed. The vessel, formerly known as MKA, has transported Russian and Iranian oil.
Another sanctioned tanker, Rich Starry, will be the first to make it through the strait and to exit the Gulf since the blockade began, data from LSEG and Kpler showed.
- 5h ago(09:15 GMT)
WATCH: China hosts Russia, UAE and Spain for meetings on blockade and war
China hosts Russia, UAE and Spain for meetings on Hormuz blockade and war on Iran - 5h ago(09:00 GMT)
Hezbollah strikes several Israeli positions
The Lebanese group says it has carried out a series of attacks on Israeli forces and locations.
Hezbollah said its fighters struck newly established Israeli artillery positions in the town of Biyyada with rocket barrages.
It said it also targeted a fire-control room near the Kfar Jaladi outpost with attack drones, followed by rockets targeting the Misgav Am settlement.
- 5h ago(08:50 GMT)
Russia’s oil revenue surges as sanctions relief eases during war on Iran
Russia’s revenue from oil exports almost doubled in March after Moscow received sanctions relief aimed at easing surging energy prices during the US-Israel war on Iran, according to the International Energy Agency.
The country earned $19bn last month as crude and oil product exports soared to 7.1 million barrels per day from just 320,000 in February, it said.
The US eased some restrictions on sales of Russian crude imposed over Russia’s war against Ukraine, allowing countries to buy oil that was already at sea until April 11.
- 5h ago(08:40 GMT)
What’s been happening in Palestine this week?
The ceasefire announcement between the US and Iran has led to the reopening of holy sites to worshippers in occupied East Jerusalem and the removal of some movement barriers in the occupied West Bank.
On Friday, more than 100,000 Muslim worshippers streamed into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for the first Friday prayers since the war.
But the reopening of the mosque was tempered by growing settler incursions, including when Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the compound under police protection, performing Jewish religious rituals.
Meanwhile, Israeli air raids and artillery fire continued across the Gaza Strip throughout the week.
Read more here on what’s been happening in Palestine this week.
A Muslim man prays outside the Dome of the Rock at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during Friday noon prayers in the Old City of Jerusalem [File: AFP] - 6h ago(08:30 GMT)
Philippines seeks US approval to buy more Russian oil amid fuel crisis
The Philippines says it is seeking US permission to buy more Russian crude as the import-dependent country scrambles to shore up scarce fuel supplies.
While there has been no US response, “we’re very positive in getting this other window,” said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.
“If it doesn’t come through, we have other options also.”
The country’s sole oil refinery secured nearly 2.5 million barrels last month after at least four million barrels in shipments were cancelled since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Washington last month eased some sanctions tied to Russia’s war on Ukraine to allow countries to buy Russian oil already at sea until April 11, in a move to stabilise energy markets after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
- 6h ago(08:20 GMT)
WATCH: Dozens arrested in New York as protesters urge senators to block Israel arms sales
- 6h ago(08:15 GMT)
Three people killed in southern Lebanon’s Sidon
Three people have been killed in an Israeli raid on Adloun, in the Sidon district in southern Lebanon, the National News Agency reports.
- 6h ago(08:10 GMT)
What is happening on day 46 of the US-Iran war?
Trump says there is still room for Iran to strike a deal, despite the US blockade of Iranian ports, as Israel intensifies its invasion of southern Lebanon.
Iran has, meanwhile, accused the US of “piracy” as thousands rally in Tehran against the move, which targets shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Associated Press news agency reported on Tuesday that diplomatic efforts to revive US-Iran talks are continuing, with Pakistan offering to host a second round of negotiations in Islamabad this week.
Here is what we know on the 46th day of this conflict.
US vice president says ‘ball is in Iran’s court’ on deal to end war - 6h ago(08:06 GMT)
Pakistan official says country committed to peace talks for as many rounds as it takes
A Pakistani official has told Al Jazeera that the country is ready to host the process to bring peace for as many rounds as it takes.
The official, who wished to remain anonymous, added that diplomatic contact continues between all sides.
- 6h ago(08:00 GMT)
China’s exports rise just 2.5 percent in March amid Iran war
China had a huge year for exports in 2025, resulting in a record $1.2 trillion surplus, and analysts had expected that strength to continue this year.
But it seems the Iran war has really dented China’s huge export machine. In March, China’s exports rose by just 2.5 percent, well short of the 8 percent forecast. That could be linked to shipping disruptions, especially in the Middle East.
There was one notable exception on the export side – Chinese exports of electric and hybrid vehicles doubled in March to a new record. That points to growing interest in renewable technology as oil prices surge, with more consumers turning to battery-powered vehicles.
Another interesting statistic from the economic data was that China’s energy imports dropped. Gas imports fell by 10.7 percent, most likely due to the Iran war, while crude oil imports declined by 2.8 percent – though less than what was expected.
That may be because China has managed to get some of its ships through the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks.
- 6h ago(07:50 GMT)
Three killed in Israeli attack on Lebanon’s west Bekaa
Three people from one family have been killed in an Israeli air raid on Sahmar in west Bekaa, Lebanon’s National News Agency is reporting.
Another person from the same family was wounded.
A series of air raids hit the town until the early morning hours, destroying more than 10 homes.
- 6h ago(07:50 GMT)
US blockade on Iranian ports hitting ‘where it hurts’
The US-declared blockade on Iranian ports may appear “counterintuitive” in further restricting sea transit, but could prove an effective economic strategy against Iran, according to Mohamad Elmasry, professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
“If it works, it would really be hitting Iran where it hurts economically,” Elmasry told Al Jazeera. “Iran would not be able to export oil, at least not at the same level… The Iranians also wouldn’t be able to get tolls.”
He added: “In some ways, this reinforces what Iran was doing with their blockade, which is making this very costly on everyone and on the global economy.”
- 6h ago(07:40 GMT)
Qatar, Saudi Arabia stress need to ‘consolidate’ US-Iran truce
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has spoken with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
According to a statement by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, they discussed the latest regional developments, including those related to the ongoing fragile truce between the US and Iran, “and the need to consolidate it in a way that contributes to enhancing security and stability”.
“Both sides affirmed, during the call, the need to strengthen coordination and intensify joint efforts to halt escalation in a manner that opens the way for addressing the roots of the crisis through peaceful means and dialogue, leading to reaching a final agreement that achieves lasting peace,” the ministry said.
- 6h ago(07:35 GMT)
China calls US blockade of Iran ports ‘dangerous and irresponsible’
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun says the US “increased military operations and took a targeted blockade action, which will only exacerbate tensions and undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement”.
Addressing a news conference, he said the US move “further jeopardises safety of passage through the Strait”, calling it “dangerous and irresponsible behaviour”.
- 7h ago(07:30 GMT)
US, Iran need ‘face-saving’ way to exit war
Mohamad Elmasry, professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, says both the US and Iran appear to want an “off-ramp to the war”, but need a “face-saving” way to exit.
“This war has been very, very costly for the parties involved and even beyond,” Elmasry told Al Jazeera. “I continue to think that Iran has more leverage than it did at the start of the war, but I have no doubt they would love to make sure there’s an end to hostilities.
“Trump also needs an off-ramp,” Elmasry continued, adding the war has been both “politically disastrous” for the US president and economically damaging for the country.
However, both the US and Iran “need to be able to exit the war while also claiming some kind of a victory, and that’s the difficult part”, he said.
- 7h ago(07:25 GMT)
Israeli air raids hit several towns in southern Lebanon
Israeli forces have struck the towns of Aytit and Qalaouiyeh, as well as the area surrounding the town of Kfar Tebnit, our colleagues on the ground report.
Details are awaited.
- 7h ago(07:20 GMT)
WATCH: UN urges ‘all parties’ to respect navigation in Strait of Hormuz
Stephane Dujarric says UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling on “all parties” to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as the US military’s blockade of Iranian maritime traffic remains in force.
The move follows failed US-Iran talks in Islamabad.
Watch below:
UN urges ‘all parties’ to respect navigation in Strait of Hormuz - 7h ago(07:10 GMT)
Iran puts preliminary war losses at $270bn, vows to seek reparations
Iran has said its initial estimates of its war losses amount to $270bn, though a spokeswoman for the government cautioned the figure is preliminary, and the final cost is likely to be higher.
Fatemeh Mohajerani gave the estimate in an interview with Russia’s RIA Novosti agency, the Iranian Tasnim news agency said.
“One of the issues that our negotiating team is pursuing and was also pursued in the Islamabad talks is the issue of war reparations. Damages usually have to be examined in several layers. Iran’s losses from US and Israeli attacks are currently estimated at around $270bn,” she said.
- 7h ago(07:00 GMT)
One Chinese vessel passes through Hormuz, another stopped in Gulf of Oman
The Rich Starry, a US sanctioned and Chinese flagged vessel, has passed the Strait of Hormuz and is now close to the Gulf of Oman. It’s not yet clear if this ship will be stopped by the US blockade.
This complicates everything for commercial vessels that have been stranded in the Gulf.
They now have to get permission from Iran to pass through as well as the US.
Just last night, we saw another Chinese vessel, the Elpis, carrying Iranian oil that was stopped in the Gulf of Oman for about six hours. Now it’s not clear if that’s on orders from the US, but we’re going to have to wait and see, in the coming hours, what happened to it.
There’s a real risk of escalation here, because if Iranian vessels are stopped, if Iranian oil is stopped, Iran could perhaps stop other vessels from the Gulf coming and entering the strait. We’ve seen a consistent call from Gulf countries that the Hormuz is international waters. They want the free flow of energy. Nobody wants this to escalate and for a resumption of hostilities to occur.
And we also have to remember that Iran has their allies in Yemen, the Houthis.
So there is a risk that, if this escalates, the Bab al-Mandeb will also be closed. That’s 12 percent of international commercial shipping, which means more than a third of international shipping, in total, could perhaps be closed.
I think we’ll see a lot of diplomacy to come up with a solution that brings long-term stability to this region.
- 7h ago(06:58 GMT)
Two people killed in Israeli attack on Lebanon’s Nabatieh
Two people have been killed and one injured in an Israeli raid on a house in the Arab Salim neighbourhood in south Lebanon’s Nabatieh area, the official NNA agency reported.
The house was destroyed in the attack, the agency said.
Earlier, the NNA reported that two others were killed in Nabatieh after an Israeli air attack hit a car there.
- 7h ago(06:50 GMT)
Iranian minister describes ‘favourable’ oil sales in March and April
Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has said Iran’s oil sales since the start of the war have been “favourable”.
In comments carried by the Fars news agency, Paknejad said a portion of the resources should be used to help rebuild the industry damaged by the war.
The minister said last month that the selling price of Iranian crude oil had increased significantly.
- 7h ago(06:45 GMT)
One killed, three wounded in Israeli attack on Lebanon’s Shabriha
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) is reporting another deadly attack in southern Lebanon, this time in the town of Shabriha near Tyre.
The air attack killed at least one person and wounded three, NNA said.
Another attack hit a building in the town of Ansariyah, added NNA, without mentioning casualties.
- 7h ago(06:40 GMT)
‘Many sticking points’ remain amid speculation about next round of US-Iran talks
We’ve heard officials in Tehran saying that the Iranians and Americans continue to communicate, not only during the ongoing ceasefire, but also prior to that, when the two sides were engaged in war.
They had said then that mediated communications were going on.
And after the first round of talks in Islamabad, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came out to say that contacts with Islamabad continue.
There are speculations about the possibility of another round of talks, even though this is not confirmed. They’re saying the Iranians are working on the proposals they have received and that there is a plan. However, whether it will be successful or not remains to be seen.
Firstly, we know that there are many sticking points, including the Strait of Hormuz, the ceasefire across the region, and in Lebanon in particular, and when it comes to Iran’s nuclear dossier and the stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
There’s also a broader context of different controversies that include sanctions relief, frozen assets, ballistic missiles and Iran’s regional alliances. Added to this are two other important factors. One, the cloud of mistrust over the possibility of a successful diplomatic settlement. And two, the rhetoric of war and military confrontation that we hear from all sides.
- 8h ago(06:30 GMT)
China’s Xi urges respect for Gulf ‘sovereignty, security’
Chinese President Xi Jinping has shared a four-point proposal to bolster peace and stability in the Middle East, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
Xi shared the proposal during a meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed, Xinhua reported. It highlights the principles of “peaceful coexistence”, “national sovereignty”, and “international rule of law”, as well as the need for security and development coordination, according to the agency.
“The sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Gulf countries in the Middle East should be sincerely respected,” Xi said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
China’s President Xi Jinping attends a meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, April 14 [Haruna Furuhashi/Pool via Reuters] - 8h ago(06:20 GMT)
WATCH: Lebanon’s hospitals overwhelmed as burn victims surge after Israeli attacks
Lebanon’s Health Ministry says more than 2,000 people have been killed and more than 6,000 injured by Israeli attacks since the beginning of March.
The attacks have caused a surge in patients with burn injuries.
Lebanon’s public health services lack the specialised medical care to treat them.
Watch our video report below:
Lebanon’s hospitals overwhelmed as burn victims surge after Israeli strikes - 8h ago(06:10 GMT)
China presenting itself as ‘reliable, stable’ partner as states grow disenchanted with US
It’s been a very busy week for China’s President Xi Jinping and his Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
This morning, Xi met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, and then met with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Tonight, we’re expecting Vietnam’s leader, To Lam, to arrive in China for a four-day meeting.
And of course, Wang Yi is meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He also had a phone call with the Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar yesterday.
I think what this really speaks to is that many people around the world have been surprised that China has not played a more active role in the Iran war, given it has such strong ties with Tehran, including as Iran’s largest trading partner and buyer of crude oil.
But what China has been doing, besides calling for restraint and more negotiation, is taking advantage of this moment to really look at states that may be a little disenchanted with the US or looking to diversify from reliance on Washington.
China has presented itself as the opposite of Washington – a reliable, stable and predictable partner. For many states, that message really appeals.
- 8h ago(06:00 GMT)
Australia says ‘deeply invested’ in an open Strait of Hormuz
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has said Canberra supports freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and is working with its partners, including France and the UK, on the matter.
He made the comments on the ABC broadcaster when asked if Australia supports the US blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
“We need to see freedom of navigation, obviously, through the Strait of Hormuz,” Marles told ABC. “We’re deeply invested in having an open Strait of Hormuz and the global fuel supply chain return to normality.”
But he said Australia would only contribute to efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire becomes permanent.
“And right now, that is very uncertain, and we really need to see what plays out throughout the remainder of the ceasefire, and as to what the circumstances are in the Strait of Hormuz which would allow some effort to begin.”
A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province [Reuters] - 8h ago(05:55 GMT)
Sirens sound in Israel’s Upper Galilee region
Sirens have sounded in Metula, Kfar Giladi and Misgav Am areas in the Upper Galilee following the detection of a drone infiltration from Lebanon, according to the Israeli military’s Home Front Command.
We’ll bring you more on this as soon as we have.
- 8h ago(05:50 GMT)
Iran, Oman foreign ministers discuss ceasefire, talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held a phone call with his Omani counterpart Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi on the latest developments regarding the ongoing “ceasefire and negotiations” between Iran and the US, according to the Mehr news agency.
“Araghchi emphasised the Islamic Republic of Iran’s commitment to preserving regional peace and stability with the cooperation and participation of all countries in the region and away from destructive US interventions,” Mehr said.
For his part, Albusaidi expressed hope that peace and stability “would return to the region as soon as possible”, it added.
The war between the US and Iran began despite several rounds of talks between Washington and Tehran. Oman, the mediator, said the war started although a deal was “within reach”.
- 8h ago(05:45 GMT)
Two killed in Israeli drone attack near Lebanon’s Nabatieh
An Israeli drone attack has hit a car travelling near southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh, killing at least two people, the National News Agency reports.
The attack was the latest in a series of Israeli raids that have caused casualties this morning.
- 8h ago(05:40 GMT)
Casualties after Israel launches more air raids on south Lebanon
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) says several new Israeli air raids have hit southern parts of the country.
One targeted an old municipality building in the town of Aadloun, causing injuries, while another hit a house in the town of Deir Intar, it said.
We’ll bring you more when we have it.
The attacks come on the same day Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors are due to meet in Washington, DC, the highest-level meeting between the two states in years.
- 9h ago(05:30 GMT)
Iranians say security must be ‘for all or for none’ in Strait of Hormuz
A few hours after the blockade, and more than a week into the two-week ceasefire agreed by the Americans and the Iranians, we are in a situation of no peace, no war, or better to say, a fragile ceasefire.
And the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is obviously critically important.
The Iranians have laid out their stance when it comes to the strait. Firstly, they said they are decisive in ensuring the security of the strait, and secondly, that vessels affiliated with their adversaries will not be given a chance to go through this strategically significant chokepoint.
They’ve also said they are working on mechanisms to assert control over the strait. Part of that is the plan to impose tariffs and transit fees on ships intending to go through the strait. The IRGC has also announced a new pathway for ships intending to go through, and these are closer to the coast of Iran, meaning that Tehran is trying to implement more control and authority over the strait.
And last but not least, the Iranian side says there will be security for all or for none. This means that if threats are directed towards the ships and vessels, or geostrategic points of the country, they will retaliate with a tit-for-tat strategy.
- 9h ago(05:20 GMT)
US-sanctioned tankers pass Strait of Hormuz despite blockade
The Reuters news agency is reporting that a Chinese tanker sanctioned by Washington has passed through the Strait of Hormuz despite a US blockade on the waterway.
The agency cited data from the LSEG, MarineTraffic and Kpler firms.
It identified the tanker as Rich Starry and said it was the first to make it through the strait and to exit the Gulf since the blockade began. The tanker and its owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd, were previously sanctioned by the US for dealing with Iran.
The tanker loaded its cargo at its last port of call in Hamriyah in the UAE.
Reuters also reported that another US-sanctioned tanker, Murlikishan, is heading into the strait today and is expected to load crude oil in Iraq on April 16. The vessel, formerly known as MKA, has transported Russian and Iranian oil, it reported.
- 9h ago(05:10 GMT)
WATCH: US vice president says ‘ball is in Iran’s court’ on deal to end war
US Vice President JD Vance says the US would be happy to treat heavily-sanctioned Iran “like a normal country” if it doesn’t pursue nuclear weapons.
The US, which has more than 5,000 nuclear warheads, says it stopped bombing Iran anticipating the Hormuz Strait would reopen.
Watch below:
US vice president says ‘ball is in Iran’s court’ on deal to end war - 9h ago(05:05 GMT)
Casualties in Lebanon’s Bafliyeh after Israeli air attack
An Israeli air raid on the southern Lebanese town of Bafliyeh has damaged numerous homes and caused injuries, according to the National News Agency (NNA).
Civil defence crews are currently sifting through rubble in the area, looking for people who are missing, said NNA.
- 9h ago(05:00 GMT)
If you’re just joining us
Let’s bring you up to speed:
- Diplomatic efforts to revive US-Iran talks are continuing, with Pakistan offering to host a second round of negotiations in Islamabad this week, according to the AP.
- Israel’s military says one soldier has been killed and three have been wounded during battle in southern Lebanon.
- Israeli forces continue to bomb southern and eastern Lebanon, with an air raid on the Tebnin government hospital that caused casualties.
- Lebanon’s and Israel’s envoys are due to meet in Washington, DC, at 11am local time (15:00 GMT) in what the Lebanese government has described as a “preliminary meeting”. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will join the talks.
- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says oil prices could keep rising until “we get meaningful ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz”.
- 9h ago(04:50 GMT)
Israel ‘more concerned’ about Iran’s ballistic missiles than US
Former US Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Jeffrey Feltman has told Al Jazeera that Israel is far more focused on Iran’s ballistic missile programme than the US, creating a growing “divergence” in their perspectives on the war.
“The US and Israel went into this war together, but increasingly, you’re seeing a divergence, where the Israelis are much, much more concerned about [Iran’s] ballistic missile programme than we are,” Feltman said.
“And now, I would suspect our Gulf allies are much more concerned about their ballistic missile programme, given that the security blanket they thought was there has been penetrated repeatedly.”
- 9h ago(04:40 GMT)
Nearly 100 people arrested at New York protest against arms sales to Israel
Police in New York City have arrested about 90 protesters in Manhattan as they stopped traffic to protest against the war on Iran and the US’s arms sales to Israel.
Jewish Voice for Peace, the group leading the protest, said those taken into custody included whistleblower Chelsea Manning, actor Hari Nef and New York City Council Member Alexa Aviles.
According to The Associated Press news agency, the crowd of hundreds initially attempted to stage a sit-in inside the Manhattan offices of Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, whom they accused of abetting Israel’s intensifying attacks in Lebanon and the US-Israel war on Iran.
After security blocked the demonstrators from entering the building, they stopped traffic outside, chanting “Fund people, not bombs!” as they were arrested and loaded onto three buses.
Anti-war protesters arrested in New York urging end to Israel weapon sales - 10h ago(04:30 GMT)
UK’s Starmer trying to build a global coalition on Strait of Hormuz
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s twin challenge is to keep the UK out of this war, but also to avoid antagonising Donald Trump any more than he already has. And in that, he has failed.
The US president has repeatedly criticised Starmer, essentially calling him a weakling, saying that he doesn’t measure up to the previous residents of No 10 Downing Street, like Winston Churchill.
But Starmer is focused on trying to build an international coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once the fighting has finished.
He told parliament earlier that he will convene a summit of leaders this week, along with President Emmanuel Macron of France, to ensure freedom of navigation in that strait. The summit is to bring dozens of countries together and will be focused on bringing “pressure to bear for a negotiated end to the conflict and for the strait to be opened”. Secondly, it will also allow for “military planning to provide assurance to shipping as soon as a stable environment could be established”.
Now, next door to where the prime minister lives at number 10 Downing Street, is number 11, where the chancellor lives.
Like many finance ministers around the world, Rachel Reeves has her work cut out. Oil is back above $100 a barrel. Stock markets are weakening, government bonds are weakening, and it’s easy to see why. With the talks failing and Trump’s blockade, we’re now looking at a prolonged energy shock with inflation and low growth.
A UK think tank called the Resolution Foundation has said that the average UK household is going to be 480 pounds worse off – that is about $680 – because of this war.
UK’s Starmer says summit to address Strait of Hormuz this week - 10h ago(04:20 GMT)
US energy secretary expects oil prices to keep rising
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said oil prices could reach their highest point in the weeks to come due to continuing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’re going to see energy prices high – and maybe even rising – until we get meaningful ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,” Wright said at the Semafor World Economy conference in Washington, DC. “That’ll probably hit the peak oil price at that time. That’s probably sometime in the next few weeks.”
Wright said prices would go back down once the US-Iran conflict ends and “energy starts flowing again”, but acknowledged it would take time, likely beyond September.
A gas station in downtown Los Angeles, California, displays higher-than-usual gas prices, March 31 [Mike Blake/Reuters] - 10h ago(04:10 GMT)
Photos: Dozens arrested at New York protest against US arms sales to Israel
Dozens of protesters with Jewish Voice for Peace were arrested at a demonstration urging Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to block the sale of US bombs to Israel in New York City, US [Andres Kudacki/AP] 
Chelsea Manning, a former US intelligence analyst and whistleblower, was among those detained [Andres Kudacki/AP] 
[Andres Kudacki/ AP] - 10h ago(04:00 GMT)
Israeli bombardment damages hospital in southern Lebanon
Footage verified by Al Jazeera shows extensive damage in and around southern Lebanon’s Tebnin Governmental Hospital following Israeli attacks.
The footage shows dirt and broken glass scattered across the facility’s corridors, and equipment overturned in some hospital rooms. Outside, cars appear to be damaged due to falling debris.
The National News Agency (NNA) reported that the attack on the hospital resulted in casualties.
As we’ve reported, Israeli attacks in Lebanon, many concentrated in the south, have killed more than 2,000 people since March 2.
Translation: Scenes from Tebnine Hospital.
- 10h ago(03:50 GMT)
Gaza flotilla participant says everyday people ‘will disrupt Israel’s genocide’
Gaza flotilla participant Violet Coco has told Al Jazeera that six months into the so-called “ceasefire” in the Palestinian territory, residents there are “still experiencing a humanitarian crisis”.
“The borders are still heavily controlled by Israel, and food and medicine is still heavily controlled,” said Coco, who is one of 15 Australians to participate in the largest ever flotilla attempting to break Israel’s siege.
“Our aim is to support the Palestinian people in their right to self-determination, dignity and freedom of movement,” the 35-year-old activist said.
Coco added that while Australia’s government remains “complicit in genocide”, “ordinary people will rise up in coordinated acts of civil resistance that will disrupt Israel’s genocide and illegal siege of the Palestinian people”.
Coco is due to leave Melbourne today for an undisclosed location, where she will spend five days with other flotilla participants taking part in “non-violence training to make sure that we can be as non-escalatory as possible if we encounter the [Israeli military]”.
Gabrielle de Vietri, a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, praised the Australians taking part in the flotilla, saying they “are acting with incredible humanity and courage, two things that Australia’s Labor government has completely failed to show”.
Violet Coco, right, and Gabrielle de Vietri, member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, speaking near Parliament House in Melbourne on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 [Lyndal Rowlands/Al Jazeera] - 10h ago(03:40 GMT)
WATCH: Israeli drone kills man who appears wounded in southern Lebanon
Invading Israeli forces in southern Lebanon have killed a man using a first-person view (FPV) drone in the besieged town of Bint Jbeil.
He appears to have been wounded before the attack, which would violate the Geneva Convention.
Israel says it “eliminated” a Hezbollah fighter.
Watch below:
Israeli drone kills man who appears wounded in southern Lebanon - 11h ago(03:30 GMT)
Lebanon minister says meeting with Israeli envoy aimed at ending attacks
Lebanon’s Culture Minister Ghassan Salame says the upcoming talks between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington, DC, are a “preliminary meeting” aimed at halting Israel’s attacks on the country.
“We are talking about a preparatory meeting on ambassador level in order to produce a pause in military activity if not a ceasefire,” he told Al Jazeera.
Salame said the two sides would only be able to discuss potential peace negotiations “with some kind of serenity” when the Israeli bombardment stops. He said Lebanon had already received “some kind of commitment that there should be a de-escalation” in the Beirut area, although “guarantees is probably too big a word”.
He acknowledged that Lebanon doesn’t have much leverage heading into the talks, but said the government “is trying to do is reassert the state authority”.
On the question of disarming Hezbollah, Salame said such a process “takes time” and cannot be accomplished in a matter of hours or days.
- 11h ago(03:25 GMT)
Israeli military says one soldier killed in southern Lebanon
The Israeli military says the soldier was killed during combat in southern Lebanon.
It said three other Israeli troops were also wounded during the battle.
- 11h ago(03:20 GMT)
South Korea’s president warns of prolonged energy disruption
Lee Jae Myung has warned that high oil prices and supply-chain strains were likely to persist for some time amid the rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
“For the time being, difficulties in global energy and raw materials supply chains and high oil prices will continue,” Lee told a cabinet meeting, according to Reuters.
“I ask that we pursue the development of alternative supply chains, medium- to long-term industrial restructuring, and the transition to a post-plastic economy as top-priority national strategic projects,” he said.
According to Reuters, Lee’s government is prioritising support for the passage of seven South Korea-bound oil tankers stuck in the Gulf area.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun also told the meeting that the ministry had sent officials to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Algeria and Libya in a bid to secure energy supplies, in addition to presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon Sik travelling to countries such as Kazakhstan since last week.
- 11h ago(03:10 GMT)
Pakistan offers to host a second round of US-Iran talks
The Associated Press news agency is reporting that Pakistan has proposed hosting a second round of negotiations between the US and Iran in Islamabad in the coming days, before the end of the ceasefire.
The agency cited two Pakistani officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The officials said the proposal will depend on whether the parties request a different location.
- 11h ago(03:00 GMT)
Is the US blockade in Strait of Hormuz legal under international law?
We’ve spoken to Douglas Guilfoyle, a specialist in international law and maritime security, on the legality of the US blockade.
Guilfoyle, a professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia, said international law acknowledges maritime blockades as a potential tool of economic warfare, but “adds a number of important limitations”.
“One is that neutral trade that doesn’t connect with Iran should be allowed through,” he told Al Jazeera. “Another important limitation is, for the blockade to be legal, it must be effective; it must be applied against all vessels,” he said. “We’ve only heard so far of one vessel successfully making it through the blockade. So that sounds like an effective blockade.”
Guilfoyle went on to say that any blockade must not result in adverse impacts on civilians.
“The critical point is that it does not have the consequence of starving the civilian population or denying them access to, say, vital food and medicine,” he said. “That’s obviously being the criticism of Israel’s blockade, for example, of Gaza.”
- 11h ago(02:50 GMT)
Lebanese divided over upcoming talks with Israel
While some Lebanese people have expressed hope that the coming talks could bring an end to the deadly conflict, others were sceptical of Israel’s intentions.
“What matters to us is to reach a stage where we can raise our children and live in peace,” 49-year-old Saad, who suffered a minor injury from a recent Israeli air strike in Beirut, told the AFP news agency. “If there is a comprehensive solution for peace, we are for it, on the condition that no one encroaches on the other.”
Kamal Ayad, 49, said Lebanese are weary of war and open to talks that are in the country’s interests. “We are in favour of [negotiations] if they serve Lebanon’s interest; if they will resolve matters, end the war, and let us live in peace,” he told AFP.
Others, like 57-year-old Mohammad Al-Khatib, questioned whether Israel would respect any agreement.
“You don’t hold negotiations under bombardment, shelling and humiliation. Where is the justice?” he asked, according to AFP. “They [the Israelis] have never stuck to peace in their lives. Their ambition is expansion and control over Lebanon.”
Demonstrators, including Hezbollah supporters, hold placards during a protest against upcoming direct negotiations between Israel and the Lebanese government, in Beirut, Lebanon, April 10 [Adnan Abidi/Reuters] - 11h ago(02:40 GMT)
Israel-Lebanon talks to start at 11am in Washington, DC; Rubio to join
Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter are due to meet in Washington, DC, at 11am local time (15:00 GMT) to begin rare direct talks, according to a schedule published by the US State Department.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will join the “working-level” talks with the two ambassadors, the State Department said.
The discussion is expected to focus on securing a ceasefire in Lebanon – where Israel has unleashed devastating air attacks and a ground invasion – as well as the disarmament of Hezbollah and a broader peace arrangement.
Hezbollah has rejected the planned negotiations, calling them “futile” and urging the Lebanese government to focus on confronting Israeli “aggression”.
- 12h ago(02:30 GMT)
Trump claims Iran wants to talk, as reports emerge of nuclear moratorium proposal
We heard from the US president a short while ago, saying that Iran badly wanted to talk, something that his vice president, JD Vance, who headed the negotiations in Islamabad on the weekend, has also been speaking about on Fox News.
Vance said there is a grand deal to be had and said progress has been made.
There have also been media reports here that the US proposed to Iran a moratorium on uranium enrichment for 20 years, and then Iran came back with a counterproposal on Monday, saying not 20 years, but five years, and that was rejected.
But that, at least, is a negotiating proposal and a counterproposal between the two sides.
Until very recently, it seemed as if there had just been maximalist demands from the United States, and a complete refusal to meet them from Iran.
So it does seem that during this ceasefire, that still has about nine days to run, and even as things escalate with this blockade, there are still attempts to talk to each other, and perhaps find an end to this.
- 12h ago(02:20 GMT)
WATCH: Hezbollah rejects Lebanon’s direct negotiations with Israel
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has urged Lebanon to cancel a planned Washington, DC, meeting with Israeli representatives, dismissing direct negotiations as futile, as the Iran-backed group remains at war with Israel.
Watch below:
- 12h ago(02:10 GMT)
Diplomatic efforts to revive US-Iran talks continue
There’s a very strong possibility that there are going to be meetings at the expert level and that mediations are going on, especially from countries like Pakistan, Turkiye, and Egypt.
And there are other mediators, also, that are in the middle of this process.
What we understood is that there are issues that could have been solved during the Islamabad talks, and there was a framework that they almost announced.
But later on, it seems that the United States made a decision to leave.
But now, given the fact that many interventions are going on and there is actually a will from both the United States and Iran not to resume the war… maybe [the sides can] end this phase and end this episode.
- 12h ago(02:00 GMT)
US and Iran ‘could be headed for a second round of talks’
Even though talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad have ended without a deal, engagement between the two sides is continuing, according to the Reuters and Associated Press news agencies.
The two sides could “be headed for a second round of talks” as soon as Thursday, the AP reported, citing US officials and diplomats.
Here’s what to know:
- Since the Islamabad meeting, the US has remained in contact with mediators, with Pakistan exchanging messages between Tehran and Washington, Reuters reported, citing a Middle East-based diplomat and a source involved in the talks.
- A US official, referring to Trump’s comments that Iran had called and would like to work out a deal, told Reuters there was continued engagement between the US and Iran, as well as forward motion on trying to get to an agreement.
- AP, citing two US officials and a person familiar with the matter, reported that the two sides are weighing new in-person negotiations in a bid to reach a deal aimed at ending their six-week war before the ceasefire expires next week.
- It reported that a diplomat from one of the mediating countries said that Islamabad was once again being discussed as the host location. But the US officials said Geneva was also a possibility, and that while the venue and timing had not been decided, the talks could happen on Thursday.
US Vice President JD Vance is greeted by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 11 [Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via Reuters] - 12h ago(01:50 GMT)
How would a US blockade of Iranian ports work?
It’s being reported that the United States has more than 15 warships that are in the area around the Strait of Hormuz. Now, if a vessel that’s Iranian or linked to Iran goes through, then the plan is that they would stop that vessel.
What’s being reported is that if an Iranian vessel or Iranian-linked vessel decided that it would resist, then there would be something that’s called a contested boarding in which specialised units of Marines or Navy Seals would board that ship.
This is something that we’ve seen on the other side of the world, in South America, especially with the blockade that happened with Venezuela. It tends to be a complicated sort of operation, but it’s one that the US has been able to do on tankers recently.
Interestingly, something else that has been reported is that, shortly after the blockade was first announced, an Iranian-linked vessel that was either in the Strait of Hormuz or was about to go from the strait, did manage to get through successfully and defy the blockade.
That’s the only one that we know of so far.
Since then, it seems that the blockade has been effective.
- 12h ago(01:40 GMT)
Democrats to force vote on resolution to curb Trump’s Iran war powers
Senator Chuck Schumer says the Democrats will again force a vote in the US Senate to “stop the war in Iran and rein in an out-of-control Trump”.
The minority leader said the move would mark the fourth such vote since the US-Israel war on Iran began.
“For the 4th time, Republicans will have the chance to end this war,” he wrote in a post on X.
Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives have tried and repeatedly failed in recent months to pass war powers resolutions to force Trump to obtain authorisation from Congress before launching military operations.
The US Constitution says that Congress, not the president, can declare war.
But Trump’s fellow Republicans in Congress, who hold slim majorities in both the Senate and House, have blocked the Democratic moves to pass the war powers resolutions.
Schumer dubbed Trump’s Operation Epic Fury as “Operation Epic Fail”. He said the operation has only resulted in chaos in the Strait of Hormuz and the highest gasoline prices in years in the US.
The Iranian government is “still standing” and its nuclear ambitions remain “exactly the same”, he wrote.
- 13h ago(01:30 GMT)
More about Russia’s offer to take Iran’s enriched uranium
The Kremlin has reiterated its readiness to help Iran hand over its highly enriched uranium to Russia, which is capable of accommodating it.
For many years, Russia has been one of the key countries participating in the negotiation process on Iran’s nuclear programme.
It has repeatedly offered to export excess enriched uranium from Iran, process it and return it in the form of nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants.
Still, Iran hasn’t accepted the offer.
- 13h ago(01:20 GMT)
Iranians denounce Trump’s Strait of Hormuz blockade
Iranians rallying in Tehran have dismissed Trump’s “empty” threats to block Iran’s energy exports via the Strait of Hormuz.
“He said he would strike our power plants and our infrastructure, and even take one of our islands, but none of it happened,” Zahra, a 32-year-old beauty salon owner, told the Reuters news agency. These latest threats are “just empty promises”, she added.
Another protester, Milad, told Reuters that Trump’s threats demonstrate the US’s “desperation and helplessness in confronting Iran’s capabilities”.
Another protester, who did not want to be named, said: “Even if your threats are carried out, we know that our country’s armed forces will fully respond to them.”
- 13h ago(01:10 GMT)
‘It’s a matter of who blinks first, the Americans or the Iranians’
We’re currently dealing with two rhetorics: the Iranian rhetoric that stresses defending itself against the US and Israel, and the American rhetoric that it will not accept that Tehran blackmails the world.
But the issue right now is that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, regardless of who is closing the strait, whether it’s the Iranian blockade or the American blockade. The strait is closed, and this will have serious implications for the global economy.
Now, this plays into Iran’s hands because this is what they wanted from the beginning when they started launching rockets and drones towards the Gulf countries and the oil facilities, and later on, closing the strait. However, there is a big question [regarding] how much Iran can stay without selling oil the way it used to.
But we do know that Iran, which has been under pressure [and] under sanctions in recent years, has created several and different ways to sell its oil in a way that it could not be discovered.
We also know that most of the Iranian oil is sold outside the Strait of Hormuz, so now it’s a matter of who blinks first, the Americans or the Iranians.
- 13h ago(01:00 GMT)
Russia renews offer to receive Iran’s enriched uranium
The Kremlin has repeated an offer to accept Iran’s enriched uranium as part of a potential agreement with the US.
In comments carried by Russia’s state-owned RIA Novosti news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the proposal “was voiced by President [Vladimir] Putin in contacts with both the United States and regional states”.
“The offer still stands, but has not been acted upon,” he said.
Peskov stressed that Russia was ready to provide any support to help de-escalate the crisis.
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