Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in a new peace proposal to the US which would see a permanent end to the war, according to a report in Axios.
The deal, which has been conveyed to Washington via Pakistani mediators, would see nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage, according to a US official and two other sources.
The Trump administration is yet to respond to the proposal, with officials expected to discuss next steps on Monday in a Situation Room meeting with the President.
Tehran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, has arrived in Russia where he is set to discuss the Middle East situation with Vladimir Putin, according to Iran’s IRNA news agency.
Araghchi met with Pakistani and Omani delegations over the weekend as mediators search for a long-term truce.
Talks so far have showed little sign of progress, and Araghchi’s visit to Saint Petersburg will aim to display unity between Washington’s adversaries.
No agreement can be found on the Strait of Hormuz, which remains closed. Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose by almost 2 per cent to $107.26 (£79.25) a barrel.
Read MoreDon’t panic about inflation! I lived in a country which hit 193%
The Strait of Hormuz fiasco is sparking a global food crisis
Top travel firms vow not to apply ‘war’ surcharges to summer holidays
Key Points
- Tehran offers to reopen Hormuz and end war before nuclear talks, Axios reports
- Trump says Iran can call US if it wants to negotiate an end to war
- Iranian foreign minister says Tehran 'yet to see' if US serious about peace talks
- Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for eight months after conflict ends, minister warns
- Iran's foreign minister arrives in Saint Petersburg for talks with Putin
- Oil hits three-week high as stalled US-Iran talks keep Strait of Hormuz shut
Starmer to hold emergency Cobra meeting on Iran war economic crisis
11:44 , Alex CroftOur political correspondent Athena Stavrou reports:
Sir Keir Starmer will chair another Cobra meeting this week to discuss the ongoing economic impact of the Iran war, which he warned could continue “for some time”.
The prime minister will convene the emergency committee with representatives from the Bank of England to discuss the war’s economic consequences in the shadow of rising oil prices.
The meeting comes as oil prices hit a near three-week high on Monday, as the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded as peace talks between the US and Iran stall.
Speaking in Lancashire on Monday, the prime minister said he had called the meeting on Tuesday “so you can be sure we will stand by working people in this crisis”.
However, he told the Usdaw union’s conference: “I have to level with you about Iran.
“The truth is the economic consequences could still be with us for some time. You don’t need to be a politician to know that, you can see it on every petrol forecourt across the country.”
You can read Athena’s full report here.
Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after conflict ends, UK minister warns
11:14 , Alex CroftOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Price hikes as a result of the Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after the conflict ends, a government minister has warned.
The chief secretary to the prime minister, Darren Jones, warned people will see higher energy, food and flight prices “as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East” and said there will be a “long tail from this”.
He told the BBC that consumers are more likely to see prices go up rather than gaps on supermarket shelves as a consequence of the conflict.
“Quite frankly, that's probably going to come online, not just in the next few weeks, but the next few months. There's going to be a long tail from this”, he said.
Pressed on how long people will see economic disruption, Mr Jones said: "I think our best guess is eight-plus months from the point of resolution that you'll see economic impacts coming through the system.”
Too early to drop sanctions on Iran, says von der Leyen
10:55 , Alex CroftWe’ve just heard from the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who has been discussing EU sanctions on Iran.
"We think the dropping of sanctions would be too early," she tells a meeting of the German conservative CDU and its CSU Bavarian sister party in Berlin.
Ms von der Leyen adds that the sanctions were in place due to Iran's suppression of its own population.
"We first have to see a change, a fundamental change in Iran for the dropping of sanctions," she said.
Starmer to hold emergency talks with Bank of England on Iran impact
10:38 , Alex CroftUK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer will hold talks with representatives form the Bank of England to discuss the impact of the war in Iran.
Representatives from the bank will join a meeting of the government’s emergency response committee on Tuesday, Sir Keir said.
"Tomorrow I'm chairing a meeting of Cobra on the impact (of the war), bringing in people from the Bank of England, so that you can be sure we will stand by working people in this crisis," Sir Keir said on Monday in a speech to trade union members.
Iran bans steel exports after industry targeted in US-Israeli attacks
10:20 , Alex CroftIran has banned the export of steel slabs and sheets until May 30, state media reported on Monday.
The country's steel industry has been targeted in strikes carried out by the US and Israel until a temporary ceasefire came into place earlier this month.
Etemad newspaper reported that the country’s steel industry lost around 10 million tons of annual production capacity during the attacks, amounting to around 25 to 30 per cent of the country’s total steel production capacity.
Watch: Trump says Iran can call US to negotiate an end to the war after cancelling Witkoff and Kushner visit
10:06 , Alex CroftSpain urges consumers to buy airline tickets ASAP
09:52 , Alex CroftSpain has urged consumers to buy airline tickets as soon as possible in order to avoid risking higher fairs caused by rising oil prices due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
The country welcomed a record 97 million tourists last year - a rise of 3.5 per cent since 2024.
Industry and tourism minister Jordi Hereu said Spain could maintain a similar pace of growth this year, but higher fuel costs have thrown this into doubt.
"What we're recommending is that people buy their tickets now because it's true that (airlines) are currently using kerosene that was purchased some time ago, and therefore there's an element of price fluctuations involved," Hereu said.
Oil prices rise to near-three week highs as US-Iran peace talks falter
09:40 , Alex CroftOil prices have hit a near three-week high as hopes of progress on peace talks between the US and Iran were dashed once again, after President Donald Trump cancelled plans to send a negotiating team to Pakistan.
The cost of benchmark Brent crude continued its ascent, rising 2% to just under 108 US dollars a barrel in early morning trading on Monday, rising back up to levels seen before the first round of peace talks began in early April.
Ceasefire talks appeared increasingly fragile, as Mr Trump declared over the weekend that envoys from Washington would no longer be travelling to Islamabad in Pakistan because of a lack of progress with Iran.
Mr Trump told Fox News on Sunday: “If they want, we can talk but we’re not sending people.”
Why a century-old naval disaster means Trump can’t take the Strait of Hormuz by force
09:09 , Alex CroftAs Donald Trump and Iran insist on keeping the Strait of Hormuz firmly closed while a shaky ceasefire persists, John W S Clark looks back at a similar stand-off more than a century ago, which did not end well.
Why has nothing been done to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
The answer is simple – as his advisers will have told Donald Trump before he attacked Iran, it is almost impossible to clear a passage through a minefield when the shoreline is held by the enemy, without being prepared to take significant casualties. And this, it seems, the US is not prepared to do.
It is one thing to bomb a less technologically sophisticated enemy from the air, but quite another to get involved in a real fight at sea level with an opponent who has been planning this form of asymmetric warfare for a very long time.
History gives a stark lesson on why America needs to tread warily – a page from the First World War.
Why a century-old naval disaster means Trump can’t take the Strait of Hormuz by force
Expert View: Breakdown in Iran talks sends oil shooting higher again
08:56 , Alex CroftSusannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, tells PA Media that the breakdown in Iran talks has sent oil prices shooting up again.
“The rug has been pulled by the Trump administration, sending plans for talks over Iran skidding once again, and oil prices shooting higher,” she said.
“The President said negotiators would be wasting their time heading to Pakistan and the lack of progress has hit sentiment at the start of the week.
“Some hopes of a resolution are being kept alive, with reports that Iran has put another proposal on the table which aimed at de-escalating the conflict and potentially seeing the key Strait of Hormuz reopen.
“But details are scant about the offer and patience on both sides is clearly frayed. So, Brent crude, the benchmark is climbing higher and reached $108 a barrel in morning trade,” she added.
“Fears of a severe energy crunch are climbing with the International Energy Agency warning that the world is facing the largest energy supply shock on record.”
Watch: Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after conflict ends, minister warns
08:26 , Alex CroftRecap: Deal on ice as Araghchi heads to Russia
08:11 , James ReynoldsHopes of a deal to end the war were dashed over the weekend as Donald Trump scrapped a visit by his envoys to Pakistan to meet with Iranian negotiators.
The US president said the expense and travel of the meeting were too great to justify the trip in light of what he cast as an inadequate Iranian offer.
Axios reported on Sunday that Tehran had presented Washington with a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to end the war. The White House did not respond to request for comment on the report.
Without a clear outcome, Iran’s foreign minister flew to Russia to meet Putin after holding talks in Oman on Sunday and briefly stopping back in Islamabad.
With the Strait still closed, crude oil was selling for $96/barrel this morning, up 1.84% from yesterday. The recent low was on 17 April, at $82/b.
In the paused war between Israel and Hezbollah, 14 people were killed and 37 were wounded on Sunday in southern Lebanon. Alarms sounded in northern Israel on Monday.
Iran and Oman agree expert-level talks on Hormuz as Araqchi heads to Russia
07:10 , Stuti MishraIran and Oman have agreed to continue expert-level consultations to ensure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz and protect shared interests in the waterway, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday.
Mr Araqchi made the announcement as he arrived in Saint Petersburg for talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin, the final leg of a regional tour that also took him to Pakistan and Oman. He said consultations in Pakistan had reviewed conditions under which Iran-US talks could resume, stressing Tehran would seek to secure its rights and national interests following weeks of conflict.
On X earlier he wrote: "Important discussions on bilateral matters and regional developments. As only Hormuz littoral states, our focus included ways to ensure safe transit that is to benefit of all dear neighbours and the world. Our neighbours are our priority."
Appreciative of my gracious hosts in Oman.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 26, 2026
Important discussions on bilateral matters and regional developments. As only Hormuz littoral states, our focus included ways to ensure safe transit that is to benefit of all dear neighbors and the world.
Our neighbors are our priority pic.twitter.com/QffTsjCWgW
UK government secures beer and jet fuel supplies as Iran war threatens summer disruption
06:50 , Stuti MishraThe British government is scrambling to secure supplies of carbon dioxide for food producers and breweries, and is drawing up contingency plans for potential jet fuel shortages this summer, as the Iran war's economic impact deepens.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said he was working to ensure an adequate supply of beer during the World Cup. "If there is a problem with jet fuel on holidays and carbon dioxide on beer, the summer might be pretty depressing for people, but we're doing everything we can to make sure that it's not the case," he told the BBC.
Airports will make it easier for airlines to cancel flights without losing their allocated slots if fuel shortages bite, and laws requiring airlines to operate part-full flights are to be temporarily relaxed. Leaked government plans have suggested there could be shortages of certain foods on supermarket shelves if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed into summer.
UK price rises from Iran war could last eight months after conflict ends, minister warns
06:23 , Stuti MishraBritish households could face higher prices for energy, food and flights for up to eight months after the Iran war ends, a minister has warned.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would continue to drive up prices well beyond any resolution. "I think our best guess is eight-plus months from the point of resolution that you'll see economic impacts coming through the system," he said.
"You're going to see prices go up a bit as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East," Mr Jones added. "That's probably going to come online not just in the next few weeks, but the next few months. There's going to be a long tail from this."
The government has urged drivers to keep filling up their cars as usual and not to change travel plans amid fears over jet fuel shortages. Further efforts to end the conflict have stalled after Mr Trump told his envoys not to travel to Pakistan for talks this weekend.
Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months, minister warns
Iran and Oman agree to continue Hormuz talks at expert level, Araqchi says
06:01 , Stuti MishraIran and Oman have agreed to continue consultations on the Strait of Hormuz through expert-level talks, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said.
It comes after talks between the US and Iran stalled, with Donald Trump saying Tehran "can call us" if they want to talk.
With US representatives absent, Mr Araqchi held talks with Omani officials in Muscat yesterday, after leaving Islamabad where the talks were supposed to be held and before travelling to Saint Petersburg to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Iran has separately put a new proposal to the US through Pakistani mediators to reopen the strait and end the war, with nuclear talks postponed to a later stage.
Iran proposes reopening Strait of Hormuz and ending war before nuclear talks, Axios reports
05:21 , Stuti MishraIran has given the US a new proposal through Pakistani mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage, Axios reported, citing a US official and two sources with knowledge of the matter.
The proposal would bypass the thorniest issue in negotiations - Iran's enriched uranium stockpile - en route to a faster deal.
As part of it, the ceasefire would be extended for a long period or the parties would agree on a permanent end to the war, with nuclear talks beginning only after the strait was reopened and the US blockade lifted. The White House has received the proposal but it is unclear whether the US is willing to explore it.
"These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press," White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told Axios.
"The United States holds the cards and will only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon."
The proposal came after US president Donald Trump scrapped a visit to Islamabad by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over the weekend, saying the Iranian position made the trip pointless.
Mr Trump told Fox News on Sunday he wanted to continue the naval blockade, hoping it would force Tehran to cave "over the next few weeks."
Iran's foreign minister arrives in Saint Petersburg for talks with Putin as peace efforts stall
04:37 , Stuti MishraIranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has arrived in Saint Petersburg for talks with president Vladimir Putin, Iran's IRNA news agency reported, after shuttling between mediators Pakistan and Oman yesterday as peace efforts showed little sign of progress.
Iran's envoy in Russia, Kazem Jalali, said in a post on X that Mr Araqchi's visit was part of a "diplomatic jihad to advance the country's interests amid external threats," adding that "Iran and Russia are present in a united front" against Western dominance.
The trip comes after US president Donald Trump on Saturday scrapped a visit to Islamabad by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, saying Iran had "offered a lot, but not enough."
Mr Trump told Fox News yesterday that Iran could call if it wanted to negotiate. "If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone," he said.Iran has demanded Washington lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports before negotiations can begin.
A ceasefire has paused full-scale fighting but no agreement has been reached on ending the war, now in its ninth week.
Oil hits three-week high as stalled US-Iran talks keep Strait of Hormuz shut
04:08 , Stuti MishraOil prices climbed around 2 per cent on Monday to touch a three-week high of $107.97 a barrel as stalled US-Iran peace talks prolonged the disruption to Middle East energy exports, with barely any ships carrying oil and gas transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Goldman Sachs lifted its year-end Brent forecast sharply from $80 to $90 a barrel, warning that even that rests on normalisation of Gulf exports by the end of June. "Non-linear price increases are likely if inventories drop to critically low levels, which we have not seen in the last few decades," the bank said. LNG prices for June delivery into northeast Asia were nearly 61 per cent above pre-war levels last week.
US president Donald Trump cancelled a trip to Islamabad by US envoys over the weekend, though investors took some comfort from an Axios report saying Iran wants to make a deal on opening the strait first and postpone nuclear talks until later.
A ceasefire has frozen most fighting in the war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran two months ago, but markets remain focused on the shuttered strait. Major central banks are expected to hold rates steady this week, though aggressive bets on future hikes in Britain and Europe could be tested if policymakers strike a cautious tone.
Government ramps up planning for possible supply shortages from Iran war
03:00 , Rebecca WhittakerThe UK government is escalating its planning to counteract potential shortages stemming from the Iran conflict.
Oil prices have soared since the US-Israel war on Iran began, driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a key shipping lane that once handled a fifth of global oil and gas.
The Prime Minister will chair another meeting of the Cabinet committee, established to manage the fallout, this Tuesday, following last week's Middle East Response Committee session.
Read more here:
Government ramps up planning for possible supply shortages from Iran war
Recap: Iran can call US if it wants to negotiate an end to war, Trump says
02:00 , Rebecca WhittakerDonald Trump has said Iran can reach out to the United States if it wants to negotiate an end to the war.
"If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines," Trump said in an interview on Fox News.
It comes after he canceled a trip by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday, which was a setback to peace talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi departed Islamabad after speaking only to Pakistani officials, but has since returned to Pakistan despite the absence of US counterparts.
Watch: Trump rules out use of nuclear weapons on Iran
01:00 , Rebecca WhittakerPrice hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after conflict ends, minister warns
Monday 27 April 2026 00:00 , Rebecca WhittakerPrice hikes as a result of the Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after the conflict ends, a government minister has warned.
The chief secretary to the prime minister, Darren Jones, warned people will see higher energy, food and flight prices “as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East” and said there will be a “long tail from this”.
Read more here:
Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months, minister warns
Pictured: A motorcade believed to be carrying Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Sunday 26 April 2026 23:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Iranian foreign minister says Tehran 'yet to see' if US serious about peace talks
Sunday 26 April 2026 22:00 , Maira ButtIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has hailed talks with Pakistani officials as “fruitful” but said he is “yet to see” if the US is equally serious about negotiations.
“Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value,” he wrote in a post on X on Saturday.
“Shared Iran's position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy.”
Vance and Trump allies invoke ‘just war theory’ to legitimize Iran action. Experts say it ‘fails every single criteria’
Sunday 26 April 2026 21:32 , Rebecca Whittaker‘Trump's threat to end civilization is one of the most blatant violations of proportionality in the history of modern warfare,’ one expert tells Brendan Rascius
Read more here:
Trump allies invoke ‘just war’ to legitimize Iran. Experts say it ‘fails’ to hold up
Iran caused more extensive damage to US bases than publicly acknowledged, says NBC
Sunday 26 April 2026 21:00 , Maira ButtIranian attacks on US military bases caused far more extensive damage than has been publicly acknowledged, a new report by NBC has suggested.
Three US officials familiar with the damage told the publication that it was extensive and wide-reaching.
Facilities affected by Iranian retaliatory strikes include the headquarters of the US navy in Bahrain, the centre for the navy’s operations in the region, which suffered serious damage while some parts of the building sustained destruction that was likely more repairable.
Bases had been largely cleared of troops leaving them vulnerable to attack.
The American Enterprise Institute found that multiple hangars and warehouses at the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait was also hit. The AEI said that Iran hit more than 100 targets across 11 Gulf countries, with estimated damage at around $5bn.
Two air defence systems were also damaged in the region.
Watch: Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi hit with red liquid while walking down street
Sunday 26 April 2026 20:30 , Rebecca WhittakerUS intercepts sanctioned merchant vessel in Arabian Sea, Central Command says
Sunday 26 April 2026 20:00 , Maira ButtThe US Central Command said it intercepted a merchant vessel attempting to breach the blockade of Iran, in what it described as part of ongoing efforts to curb illicit energy shipments.
The ship, identified as Sevan, was among a 19-vessel “shadow fleet” allegedly transporting Iranian oil and gas products to foreign markets, according to the US military.
Central Command said the vessel was intercepted in the Arabian Sea by a US Navy helicopter operating from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney. The ship is now “complying with US military direction to turn back to Iran under escort,” it added.
Officials said the so-called shadow fleet has been sanctioned by the US Treasury for moving billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian energy exports – including propane and butane – to overseas buyers.
Since the blockade began, the US military says it has redirected 37 vessels attempting similar routes.
Recap: UK's Starmer and Trump discuss 'urgent need' to restore shipping in Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 26 April 2026 19:30 , Rebecca WhittakerUK prime minister Keir Starmer and US president Donald Trump discussed an urgent need to get shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz during a call on Sunday, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.
“The leaders discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally,” read the statement.
“The prime minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with President (Emmanuel) Macron to restore freedom of navigation.”
Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months, minister warns
Sunday 26 April 2026 19:00 , Maira ButtPrice hikes as a result of the Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after the conflict ends, a government minister has warned.
Chief Secretary to the prime minister, Darren Jones, warned people will see higher energy, food and flight prices “as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East” and said there will be a “long tail from this”.
The government has stepped up planning for how to offset potential shortages sparked by the conflict, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane crucial for the supply of a fifth of global oil and gas, which sent oil prices soaring.
The prime minister will chair another meeting of the Cabinet committee set up to deal with the fallout on Tuesday, after the so-called Middle East Response Committee met last week.
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months, minister warns
The war in Iran is in a ‘limbo’ phase. Here’s why it could leave the world facing chaos
Sunday 26 April 2026 18:31 , Maira ButtDonald Trump announced late on Tuesday that the US would “hold our attack” on Iran until a deal is made in an astonishing climbdown, after dismissing calls for a ceasefire extension and threatening to blitz civilian infrastructure.
The US president has insisted that he is under “no time pressure” to reach a peace agreement and will prioritise a “good deal for the American people”, but a significant gulf remains between both sides on key issues.
The American navy continues to blockade Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a painful countermeasure to Iran’s closure of the route that analysts assess to be costing Tehran as much as $435m per day.
Even so, experts say Iran has shown far more tolerance to this kind of pressure than outsiders would like to admit, and Trump will still be influenced by domestic political pressure over rising energy prices.
James C Reynolds reports:
The war in Iran has entered a ‘limbo’ phase. It could leave the world facing chaos
Israel has issued an evacuation order for southern Lebanon
Sunday 26 April 2026 18:08 , Rebecca WhittakerIsrael has issued an evacuation order for southern Lebanon after one of its soldiers was killed, warning residents to leave seven towns beyond the "buffer zone" it occupied before a ceasefire that has failed to fully halt hostilities.
A spokesperson for the Israeli military said in a statement on X that Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was violating the ceasefire and that Israel would act against it, telling people to head north and west away from the towns.
The towns are north of the Litani River and the zone in southern Lebanon occupied by Israeli troops, who have continued military operations despite the ceasefire. The military said that it struck Hezbollah fighters, rocket launchers and a weapons depot.
"From our perspective, what obliges us is the security of Israel, the security of our soldiers, the security of our communities," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
"We act vigorously according to the rules we agreed upon with the United States, and also, by the way, with Lebanon."
Watch: Elizabeth Warren says Republicans can't look Democrats in the eye because of Iran war
Sunday 26 April 2026 18:00 , Maira ButtGovernment ramps up planning for possible supply shortages from Iran war
Sunday 26 April 2026 17:30 , Maira ButtThe UK government is escalating its planning to counteract potential shortages stemming from the Iran conflict.
Oil prices have soared since the US-Israel war on Iran began, driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a key shipping lane that once handled a fifth of global oil and gas.
The Prime Minister will chair another meeting of the Cabinet committee, established to manage the fallout, this Tuesday, following last week's Middle East Response Committee session.
A separate contingency group of ministers, led by Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones, also meets twice weekly.
Government ramps up planning for possible supply shortages from Iran war
In pictures: Araghchi visits Muscat, Oman before returning to Islamabad
Sunday 26 April 2026 17:01 , Maira Butt
Iran can call US if it wants to negotiate an end to war, Trump says
Sunday 26 April 2026 16:58 , Rebecca WhittakerDonald Trump has said Iran can reach out to the United States if it wants to negotiate an end to the war.
"If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines," Trump said in an interview on Fox News.
It comes after he canceled a trip by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday, which was a setback to peace talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi departed Islamabad after speaking only to Pakistani officials, but has since returned to Pakistan despite the absence of US counterparts.
Vance and Trump allies invoke ‘just war theory’ to legitimize Iran action. Experts say it ‘fails every single criteria’
Sunday 26 April 2026 16:30 , Maira ButtTop Republicans have invoked a centuries-old moral doctrine to defend the ongoing war against Iran.
Last week, Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson — first and second in the presidential line of succession — explicitly cited “just war” theory while speaking about the Middle East conflict.
They wielded the theory as a cudgel to castigate Pope Leo, whose staunch opposition to the weeks-long war has ignited a high-profile clash between the Vatican and the White House.
But, the Republican leaders’ application of the doctrine — which dates back over a thousand years — is fundamentally flawed, according to experts in theology, philosophy and military strategy.
Trump allies invoke ‘just war’ to legitimize Iran. Experts say it ‘fails’ to hold up
Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 2,500 people, says health ministry
Sunday 26 April 2026 16:00 , Maira ButtMore than 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, the country’s health ministry confirmed on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continued as Hezbollah said it would not rely on “failed diplomacy” to resolve the conflict.
Israel has issued an evacuation order for more seven towns outside its occupation of southern Lebanon, which it has dubbed a “buffer zone”.
UK's Starmer and Trump discuss 'urgent need' to restore shipping in Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 26 April 2026 15:30 , Maira ButtUK prime minister Keir Starmer and US president Donald Trump discussed an urgent need to get shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz during a call on Sunday, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.
“The leaders discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally,” read the statement.
“The prime minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with President (Emmanuel) Macron to restore freedom of navigation.”
Pakistan races to save negotiations between US and Iran after Trump keeps envoys home
Sunday 26 April 2026 15:00 , Maira ButtAttempts at ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran fell flat after Tehran’s top diplomat left Pakistan and President Donald Trump's envoys stayed away after he told them not to travel to Islamabad.
The US president indicated the ball was now in Iran’s court.
“If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!” Trump said on social media.
The negotiations were meant to follow historic face-to-face talks earlier this month between the U.S., led by Vice President JD Vance, and Iran, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
But Iranian officials have questioned how they can trust the U.S. after its forces started blockading Iranian ports in response to Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan races to save negotiations between US and Iran after Trump keeps envoys home
Breaking: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in Islamabad
Sunday 26 April 2026 14:41 , Maira ButtIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad on Sunday, according to the country’s state media.
The arrival will spark hopes for a revival of negotiations after Tehran denied direct talks and President Donald Trump cancelled a visit for envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday.
Iran's Araghchi returning to Islamabad after talks in Muscat
Sunday 26 April 2026 14:30 , Maira ButtIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is reportedly on his way back to Islamabad, Pakistan after meeting with Oman’s sultan Haitham bin Tariq on Sunday.
The development was reported by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Iran caused more extensive damage to US bases than publicly acknowledged, says NBC
Sunday 26 April 2026 14:00 , Maira ButtIranian attacks on US military bases caused far more extensive damage than has been publicly acknowledged, a new report by NBC has suggested.
Three US officials familiar with the damage told the publication that it was extensive and wide-reaching.
Facilities affected by Iranian retaliatory strikes include the headquarters of the US navy in Bahrain, the centre for the navy’s operations in the region, which suffered serious damage while some parts of the building sustained destruction that was likely more repairable.
Bases had been largely cleared of troops leaving them vulnerable to attack.
The American Enterprise Institute found that multiple hangars and warehouses at the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait was also hit. The AEI said that Iran hit more than 100 targets across 11 Gulf countries, with estimated damage at around $5bn.
Two air defence systems were also damaged in the region.
Iranian foreign minister says Tehran 'yet to see' if US serious about peace talks
Sunday 26 April 2026 13:30 , Maira ButtIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has hailed talks with Pakistani officials as “fruitful” but said he is “yet to see” if the US is equally serious about negotiations.
“Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Shared Iran's position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy.”
