Iran war live: Trump unveils Lebanon truce as US blockades Iran for deal
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/4/16/iran-war-live-pakistan-in-push-for-new-round-of-us-iran-peace-negotiations
Iran war live: Trump unveils Lebanon truce as US blockades Iran for deal
Al Jazeera Live
- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has threatened Iran, saying US forces are ready to restart combat if Tehran does not agree to a deal to end their war.
- 2h ago(14:30 GMT)
Lebanon’s negotiations with Israel a ‘grave error’: Hezbollah official
The Lebanese government’s decision to hold direct negotiations with Israel was a “grave error”, Hussein Hajj Hassan has told AFP news agency.
Hassan said negotiations “serve no interest for the country” and urged authorities to halt “this series of useless concessions”.
- 2h ago(14:20 GMT)
US frames Iran blockade as ‘Economic Fury’ in new pressure phase
A few things stood out to me from this press briefing with Hegseth, Caine and Cooper.
This next phase of the war in Iran has become a strategy of sustained pressure by the US, both economically and militarily. All of this is built around what is being referred to as Operation Economic Fury. That is the term military leaders are trying to coin regarding this ongoing blockade.
Caine said any ships that try to breach this blockade would face the possibility of encountering US force.
But the briefing also left plenty of unanswered questions over exactly who is going to be in control. Essentially, what we are seeing is a story of two blockades: Ships Iran allows in could face US action, while ships the US allows in could face action by Iran. So there are still plenty of unanswered questions.
We also heard criticism from Hegseth, once again, of US allies who have not done enough, who have not done their part to secure the Strait of Hormuz and protect shipping through the waterway.
- 2h ago(14:15 GMT)
Israeli air strike kills two in south Lebanon town
Two people have been killed in an air strike on the southern town of Deir Qanoun Ras al-Ain, in the Tyre district, Lebanon’s National News Agency is reporting.
- 2h ago(14:15 GMT)
Israeli strikes kill three people in Gaza
We reported earlier that two brothers were killed in an Israeli bombing in northern Gaza in another breach of the “ceasefire” agreed in October last year.
The Palestinian Wafa news agency said an Israeli drone strike near Abu Tamam School in Beit Lahia killed the two siblings.
In Gaza City, another Palestinian died from wounds sustained after Israeli forces bombed a vehicle on Tunnel Street.
In central Gaza, Israeli army vehicles stationed east of the Maghazi refugee camp opened fire towards Salah al-Din Street, wounding four people.
Rescue teams also recovered the body of Ismail al-Haddad nearly two years after he went missing west of Khan Younis.
- 2h ago(14:10 GMT)
Photos: Tehran streets filled with portraits of children killed in US-Israeli strike on Minab
Cars drive past portraits of children killed in a deadly US-Israeli air strike on a children’s school in the southern city of Minab. The strike, which occurred on the first day of the war, killed at least 165 people, mostly children. The portraits are displayed at Tajrish Square in Tehran [AFP] 
[AFP] 
[AFP] - 2h ago(14:00 GMT)
Possibility of ceasefire in Lebanon from tonight: Israeli media
Israeli media outlet Haaretz is reporting that the army has received orders to prepare for a ceasefire in Lebanon starting tonight.
- 3h ago(13:50 GMT)
‘Iran has to come’ to the US for the World Cup, FIFA’s Infantino says
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is confident Iran will play in the World Cup despite the country’s sports minister stating that it cannot participate amid the war, along with Trump issuing threats for the Iranian players’ “life and safety”.
Infantino reasserted his views on Iran’s participation on Wednesday, saying the team will travel to the US “for sure”.
While the US-Israel war on Iran is currently in the midst of a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire, officials in Iran have repeatedly requested a relocation of their team’s games from the US to Mexico – two of the three host nations of the World Cup, along with Canada.
However, FIFA and Infantino ruled out a relocation, citing logistical impediments and promising safety for the Iranian players and staff.
Read more here.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino says Iran’s football team want to participate in the World Cup [Kent Nishimura/AFP] - 3h ago(13:40 GMT)
Lebanese president speaks to Rubio about ceasefire deal
We know that the Lebanon’s President Aoun spoke to the US Secretary of State Rubio in the last hour and they talked about the hope that they can get a ceasefire.
There were low-level talks this week and there was hope these could escalate to a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese leaders for the first time in 34 years.
The US is trying to pressure the Israelis to stop the attacks but Netanyahu has said that is not going to happen.
Certainly Trump had confidence that both sides would meet on Thursday, but the Israelis and the Lebanese have not confirmed that this meeting will take place.
- 3h ago(13:30 GMT)
Photos: Destroyed bridge in Qasmiyeh near Tyre after Israeli air strike
Lebanese soldiers and civilians cross a bomb crater created by the Israeli air attack that destroyed Qasmiyeh Bridge near the coastal city of Tyre in Lebanon [Mohammed Zaatari/AP Photo] 
[Mohammed Zaatari/AP Photo] 
[Mohammed Zaatari/AP] - 3h ago(13:20 GMT)
Destruction of Qasmiyeh Bridge to exacerbate Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis
The Qasmiyeh Bridge has now basically been cut in half by the latest Israeli strike.
The bridge connects southern and northern Lebanon and crosses over the Litani River.
This is going to exacerbate the already growing humanitarian crisis. Over one million people are internally displaced in Lebanon, and about 100,000 to 150,000 civilians are still south of this river, according to the UN. They are now essentially cut off from the rest of the country. UNIFIL troops are here now on the scene.
The UN has also been in the line of fire over the last six weeks. Several of their soldiers were killed in different incidents and they have been harassed by Israeli troops that are inside Lebanese territory.
Israel continues to strike places like this bridge, on which UN troops, civilians, the Lebanese army and humanitarian aid operations depend to deliver humanitarian aid. It will now be extremely difficult for aid to reach these areas in southern Lebanon.
Israel says it’s destroying this kind of critical infrastructure throughout Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from moving fighters and weapons around the country, but civilians are ending up paying a high price for these losses.
- 3h ago(13:10 GMT)
‘There must be a ceasefire’ in Lebanon: British Middle East minister
British Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer has called for a ceasefire in Lebanon and welcomed direct talks between Israel and Lebanon.
“This is not a conflict of Lebanon’s making. … There must be a ceasefire. … We welcome the talks that have started,” Falconer said.
“The strikes in Lebanon have had a terrible effect on civilians,” he said.
“Hezbollah must stop firing” and must be disarmed, he said, adding: “It must be the Lebanese government that monopolises the use of force in Lebanon.”
Falconer did not mention Israeli attacks, which have killed more than 2,100 people and displaced more than one million in Lebanon since the escalation of hostilities early last month.
On Tuesday, Israel and Lebanon agreed to begin direct negotiations after a meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the US.
- 3h ago(13:05 GMT)
US and Israel reaffirm close military coordination: US admiral
During a joint press conference with Hegseth and Caine, US Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper said that he met Israel’s Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir to ensure the two sides remain closely aligned on their war on Iran, adding that they do.
- 3h ago(12:59 GMT)
More from Caine
- The blockade is of Iranian ports, not of the Strait of Hormuz.
- More than 10,000 Marines, sailors and airmen are executing the US blockade.
- Seven ships were of interest to the US command at the start of the blockade.
- Any ship that tries to go through the blockade will be dealt with accordingly, including attempted boarding and warning shots.
- 3h ago(12:53 GMT)
China pledges no weapon transfers to Iran, Hegseth says
China has assured the US it will not send weapons to Iran during the ceasefire, the US defence secretary says.
- 4h ago(12:50 GMT)
US invites global support for easing Hormuz crisis: Hegseth
In his continuing remarks to the media, Hegseth says the US would “welcome other countries coming in to help” with the Strait of Hormuz.
- 4h ago(12:47 GMT)
Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei is injured: Hegseth
US defence secretary says Iran’s supreme leader is believed to be wounded.
- 4h ago(12:40 GMT)
US to target ships aiding Iran in territorial, international waters
During a joint news conference with Hegseth, top US General Dan Caine said that the US will pursue any vessel attempting to provide support to Iran, including dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil, adding that enforcement will occur in Iranian territorial seas as well as in and around international waters.
He added that:
- The blockade applies to all ships heading into or from Iran’s ports
- We will use force if they do not comply with this blockade
- Thirteen ships have turned around
- The US military has not boarded any ships
- 4h ago(12:32 GMT)
Here’s more from Hegseth:
- The US is reloading with more power than before.
- The energy industry not destroyed yet.
- The US blockade is shutting down exports.
- 4h ago(12:30 GMT)
US military widens blockade on Iran to include contraband shipments
The US has widened its shipping blockade on Iran to include cargo considered to be contraband and says any vessels suspected of trying to reach Iranian territory will be “subject to belligerent right to visit and search”, according to a US Navy advisory.
“These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure,” the navy said in an updated advisory after a blockade was imposed on Monday.
Contraband items include weapons, weapons systems, ammunition, nuclear materials, crude and refined oil products, iron, steel and aluminium.
- 4h ago(12:24 GMT)
‘We are watching you’: Hegseth tells Iran
The US defence secretary is claiming that the US knows what military assets Iran is moving out.
“We are watching you,” he said.
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