Donald Trump has claimed Iran plans to offer a deal to satisfy his demands, as Tehran rejects direct negotiations with the US.
“They're making an offer and we'll have to see”, the US president told Reuters Friday.
The US has been unwavering in its demand that Iran give up its enriched uranium and pledge to never obtain a nuclear weapon.
Iran has rejected claims from the US that the two sides were holding talks in Pakistan this weekend.
It comes after the White House said US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were headed to Islamabad on Saturday for a fresh round of negotiations.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed talks were taking place because Iran reached out to the US for an in-person meeting.
But in a post on X, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said that although Abbas Araghchi had arrived in Pakistan, “no meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US”, adding that “Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan”.
Trump would also not say who the US was negotiating with from the Iranian side, but claimed that “we're dealing with the people that are in charge now.”
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Key Points
- Trump claims Iran plans to offer deal to satisfy his demands
- Iran says no meeting is planned with the US
- Witkoff and Kushner headed to Pakistan on Saturday for talks 'requested by Iran'
- Iran is planning to make an offer that will satisfy the US, Trump says
- Argentina calls for renewed negotiations over Falkland Islands
Second round of Islamabad talks in limbo as Iran denies direct talks
04:30 , Shweta SharmaNo direct talks are planned between the United States and Iran, Tehran has said, contradicting earlier suggestions of a second round of negotiations.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei dismissed reports of an impending meeting, saying Tehran would instead convey its position through Pakistan as part of ongoing mediation efforts.
“We arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, for an official visit. FM Araghchi will be meeting with Pakistani high-level officials in concert with their ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war of aggression and the restitution of peace in our region,” he wrote on X.
“No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan.”
The clarification comes even as Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi began a regional tour of Islamabad, Muscat and Moscow, aimed at coordinating with partners and discussing the latest developments in the conflict.
Araqchi went straight into a meeting with Pakistani foreign Ministem Ishaq Dar at the Serena Hotel, where the first round of talks with the US was held, two government sources said.
Iranian delegation led by FM Araghchi lands in Islamabad
04:08 , Shweta SharmaThe Iranian delegation led by foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad on Friday, Pakistan’s foreign office said.
The foreign office spokesperson said Araghchi was received by foreign minister Ishaq Dar, chief of army staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior officials.
It comes as White House confirmed that Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad on Saturday morning for talks with Iran mediated by Pakistan.
US-Kuwaiti journalist leaves Kuwait after release from detention, US official says
03:52 , Shweta SharmaUS-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who was detained in Kuwait over online posts related to the Iran war, has been released and departed the Gulf nation.
A US State Department official said on Friday that Shihab-Eldin, 41, had left Kuwait.
"We can confirm that American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has safely departed Kuwait. While in detention, the State Department was in contact with Mr Shihab-Eldin and provided consular assistance," the State Department official said.
Last week, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said Shihab-Eldin had not been seen in public since 2 March, after being detained by Kuwaiti authorities during a crackdown by Gulf nations on people filming or posting footage from the conflict that started when the US and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February.
Shihab-Eldin had been visiting family in Kuwait and was arrested on 3 March, according to CPJ. The media watchdog said he was charged with spreading false information, harming national security and misusing his mobile phone.
A Kuwaiti court acquitted Shihab-Eldin on all charges following nearly two months of detention, CPJ said on Thursday, citing a statement from lawyers for Shihab-Eldin's sisters. CPJ said it welcomed the acquittal.
American journalist kidnapped in Iraq speaks out
03:30 , Rachel DobkinAmerican journalist Shelley Kittleson, who was kidnapped in Iraq in late March, has spoken out about her horrific experience.
Kittleson was released a week after she was taken from a street corner in Baghdad by members of a “foreign terrorist organization Kata’ib Hizballah,” as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio put it.
She told CNN her kidnappers told her, “‘We know that the American public is not at fault, but this is war and you’re in Iraq. You made a mistake to come here’”.
US military shares photo of destroyer enforcing blockade
03:00 , Rachel DobkinThe US military has shared a photo of a guided-missile destroyer enforcing its blockade on Iranian ports.
Guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) enforces the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports against an Iranian-flagged ship attempting to sail to a port in Iran, April 24. pic.twitter.com/XsGg65nXt2
Hegseth says Iran war is Trump’s ‘gift to the world’
02:30 , Andrew FeinbergUS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at American allies Friday for not committing naval forces to forcibly re-open the Strait of Hormuz after Iran shut down the key waterway in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks.
During a Pentagon briefing with Joint Chiefs of Staff chair General Dan Caine, Hegseth implied that European and Asian countries were not sufficiently grateful for the US-led war, which he called “a gift to the world” from President Donald Trump, citing the administration's purported goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“It's a bold and dangerous mission ... courtesy of a bold and historic president,”, Hegseth said.
Read on...
Hegseth says Iran war is Trump’s ‘gift to the world’
Trump claims Iran plans to offer deal to satisfy his demands
02:00 , Rachel DobkinDonald Trump has claimed Iran plans to offer a deal to satisfy his demands.
“They're making an offer and we'll have to see”, the US president told Reuters Friday.
The US has been unwavering in its demand that Iran give up its enriched uranium and pledge to never obtain a nuclear weapon.
Trump also wants oil tankers to be able to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran effectively closed the vital oil passageway after the US and Israel began launching strikes against Tehran on February 28.
White House shares hope Iran will agree to never obtain nuclear weapon
01:30 , Rachel DobkinWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has shared the Trump administration’s hope that Iran will agree to never obtain a nuclear weapon during this “diplomatic phase” of the war.
“Diplomacy, hopefully, continues, and we’ll get to a place where the president’s red lines will be met”, Leavitt told Fox News Friday. “Where Iran will turn over their enriched uranium and where they will firmly commit to never obtaining, possessing or moving towards creating and building a nuclear bomb”.
US military says it has redirected over 30 ships during blockade
01:00 , Rachel DobkinThe US military has said it redirected 34 ships so far during its ongoing blockade of Iranian ports.
The blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports continues. To date, U.S. forces have redirected 34 vessels. pic.twitter.com/lo7gPjvqsf
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 24, 2026
Netanyahu reveals he was treated for prostate cancer but held back publicising diagnosis due to Iran war
Saturday 25 April 2026 00:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBenjamin Netanyahu has revealed he underwent treatment for early-stage prostate cancer.
The Israeli prime minister, 76, said on Friday that an early-stage malignant tumour had been discovered during a routine checkup. He said "targeted treatment" had removed "the problem" and left no trace of it.
According to the medical report, Netanyahu was treated with radiation therapy for early-stage prostate cancer. It was unclear when the treatment occurred.
Netanyahu reveals he was treated for prostate cancer before Iran war
Lebanon resident: No words could capture shock of seeing Israeli soldier smash crucifix in my family’s garden
Saturday 25 April 2026 00:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainHoussam Naddaf said no words could capture the shock of seeing an Israeli soldier smash a crucifix in his family’s private garden in the southern Lebanese village of Debel — an image he recognized instantly as it spread online.
“I saw it on the internet like everyone else,” he said. Naddaf had not been able to go to the house in person to see the damage because of restrictions on movement imposed by Israeli forces in the area.
Israeli forces took control of the area as part of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, which began on March 2 when the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group fired a salvo of missiles over the border two days after the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran.
Israel then launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon and its forces have remained there despite the announcement of a truce last week.
Lebanon resident: No words could capture shock of seeing IDF soldier smash crucifix
Pictured: Children play in yard of a school used as a temporary shelter for displaced people in Beirut
Friday 24 April 2026 23:41 , Harriette Boucher
Wounded Lebanese journalist recounts hours of agony after Israeli strike killed colleague
Friday 24 April 2026 23:37 , Harriette BoucherZeinab Faraj, a Lebanese journalist who was wounded in an Israeli airstrike that killed her colleague Amal Khalil this week, described hours of agony as they waited for help to arrive, in an interview with The Associated Press
On Wednesday, the two were driving behind a relative of Faraj in the village of al-Tiri, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the border with Israel on Wednesday.
As they passed through the village, Khalil holding her phone out the window to film, an Israeli strike hit the car in front of them, Faraj said, speaking from the Beirut hospital where she is recovering.
The women pulled over and got out of the car, hunkering down on the side of the road as a drone remained in the sky overhead.
About an hour later, a second strike hit Khalil's car, next to them.
“Don't leave me alone”
Faraj managed to pull open the metal shutter of a shop behind them and the women took refuge inside.
“Amal was crawling, she was wounded — her nose and head and shoulder and leg," Faraj recalled, speaking with difficulty with her face swollen and bruised.
Faraj said Khalil had also suffered burn wounds after the targeted car next to them caught fire.
The journalists were able to speak with their families and colleagues. Faraj said Khalil had put on a brave face and tried to assure her family that they were fine.
After a while, Faraj began to drift off. “When I said I wanted to go to sleep, Amal came closer and hugged me and told me, 'Zeinab, don't leave me alone’,” she said. “I realised that Amal was not in good condition. The colour of her face had changed and I realised that she had some internal bleeding, too. “
She was half asleep when she heard the sound of a missile falling. A third strike hit the building where the two journalists were sheltering. Faraj was thrown out of the shop by the impact while Khalil was trapped inside.
“I was in and out of consciousness, and then I thought my dad had come to get me and I began calling to him, 'Baba, I'm here, come and help me’,” Faraj said.
A rescue team arrived and was able to pull Faraj out of the rubble and evacuate her as well as the bodies of the two people killed in the strike on the first car.
Lebanon's health ministry said in a statement that the Israeli military opened fire on the Red Cross ambulance that arrived to rescue Khalil, forcing it to turn back.
Israel's military said individuals in the village had violated the ceasefire, endangering its troops, and denied that it targets journalists or that it prevented rescue teams from reaching the area. It said the incident was under review.
Faraj had lost consciousness and said she was unaware that Khalil had not been rescued along with her until hours later.
Shortly before midnight, after the Lebanese army, civil defence and the Lebanese Red Cross received clearance and got to the scene, Khalil's body was pulled from the rubble.
Faraj believes that “if they had gotten to her a bit sooner, Amal would be here today.”
Drug prices rise by up to 30 per cent due to Iran war, pharmacists warn
Friday 24 April 2026 23:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe cost of essential medicines in England has risen by up to 30 per cent because of the war in Iran, pharmacists have warned.
Oil and gas prices continue to climb in what the International Energy Agency has dubbed the worst energy crisis in history due to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, where the US have implemented a blockade and Iran is attacking vessels.
In turn this has led to increased manufacturing and transport costs for suppliers, who are now paying 40 to 50 per cent for stock, the National Pharmacy Association told The Guardian.
Drug prices rise by up to 30 per cent due to Iran war, pharmacists warn
Fallout from Iran war is ‘major new threat to foreign aid’
Friday 24 April 2026 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East has become a major new threat to humanitarian aid efforts as Gulf nations that have grown to become major aid donors reprioritise, experts have warned.
Humanitarian groups are already reeling from sweeping cuts to foreign aid programmes from traditional aid donors like the US and UK, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) targeting just $23bn (£17bn) in humanitarian funding this year, which is significantly down on the $37bn raised in 2024.
But while Western countries have been signalling a retrenchment, Gulf states have become ever more significant donors over the past few years, with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait collectively providing some $6bn in humanitarian aid last year.
Fallout from Iran war is ‘major new threat to foreign aid’
Qatar emir and Trump discuss Washington-Tehran ceasefire
Friday 24 April 2026 22:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainQatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed developments in the Washington-Tehran ceasefire agreement in a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Qatari state news agency reported on Friday.
He added that Qatar would continue coordinating with partners to support mediation efforts led by Pakistan.
Iran says no meeting is planned with the US
Friday 24 April 2026 22:27 , Harriette BoucherNo meeting is set to take place between Washington and Tehran, Iran's foreign ministry has confirmed.
In a post on X, its spokesperson said: “No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the U.S. Iran's observations would be conveyed to Pakistan.”
This comes after the White House said Iran had requested an in-person meeting.
Donald Trump said that Iran planned to make an offer aimed at satisfying the US’s demands.
He would also not say who the US was negotiating with from the Iranian side, but claimed they “we're dealing with the people that are in charge now.”
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are due to land in Pakistan on Saturday.
Argentina calls for renewed negotiations over Falkland Islands
Friday 24 April 2026 22:15 , Harriette BoucherArgentina has expressed its willingness to resume bilateral negotiations with the United Kingdom over the two country’s sovereignty dispute of the Falkland Islands, which Argentina knows as the Malvinas and has long claimed sovereignty over.
Foreign minister Pablo Quirno said that sovereignty of the Falkland Islands rests with Britain, after an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing the US position on the Falklands as punishment for Britain's stance on the Iran war.
"The Argentine Republic once again expresses its willingness to resume bilateral negotiations with the United Kingdom that will allow for finding a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute and bring an end to the special and particular colonial situation in which they are immersed," Mr Quirno said in a post on social media.
Mixed signals from Washington and Tehran as reports claim Iran has rejected talks
Friday 24 April 2026 22:04 , Harriette BoucherIran is reportedly rejecting claims from the US that the two countries will be holding talks over the weekend.
State media has reported that Iran has made no request for talks and has rejected America’s requests for negotiations due to their excessive demands.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi touched down in Pakistan on Friday, where the US claims talks will take place this weekend.
But Iran state tv said he had no scheduled meeting with the US and that Pakistan could convey Iran’s concerns.
The reports contradict statements from the White House, which today announced it was sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks on Saturday.
The White House said the scheduled talks were the result of Iran’s request for an in-person meeting.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The Iranians want to talk. They want to talk in person. And so the president is, as I've said many, many times to all of you, always willing to give diplomacy a chance.”
Donald Trump said Iran was planning to make an offer that will satisfy the US.
He would not say who would be attending from the Iranian side.
Economists give dire prediction about inflation as no end in sight for Iran war
Friday 24 April 2026 22:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainEconomists have predicted U.S. inflation will be higher than previously expected as the Iran war continues with no end in sight, according to Bloomberg.
Bloomberg’s April survey of economists found that the personal consumption expenditures price index — an inflation indicator that measures the prices U.S. consumers pay for goods and services — is expected to rise 3.6 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
Bloomberg surveyed 90 economists between April 17 and 22.
Economists give dire prediction about inflation as no end in sight for Iran war
Kuwait says two drones from Iraq hit northern border posts, no casualties
Friday 24 April 2026 21:40 , Harriette BoucherKuwait's army said two drones launched from Iraq targeted two northern border posts on Friday, causing damage, but no casualties.
Iraq's prime minister ordered an investigative committee to examine the attack and identify those responsible, interior minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari said, adding that Iraq condemned the attack in a call with his Kuwaiti counterpart.
Russian, UAE foreign ministers seek resumption of talks to achieve Middle East agreement
Friday 24 April 2026 21:37 , Harriette BoucherRussian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and his counterpart from the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, called for the resumption of talks to secure a rapid, sustainable agreement to the Middle East crisis, the Russian foreign ministry said.
A statement said the ministers, in a telephone call, "expressed their shared view on the need to resume negotiations in order to promptly reach agreements on a long-term, sustainable resolution of the crisis, taking into account the legitimate interests of all countries in the region".
Iran to make offer aimed at satisfying US demands, Trump tells Reuters
Friday 24 April 2026 21:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainU.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters on Friday that Iran plans to make an offer aimed at satisfying U.S. demands, as talks were expected to resume in Pakistan.
"They're making an offer and we'll have to see," Trump said during a phone interview.
Trump said he did not know what the offer would be yet.
When asked who the U.S. was negotiating with, Trump said: "I don't want to say that, but we're dealing with the people that are in charge now."
Trump plans to send special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to talks with Araqchi in Islamabad, and the pair will depart on Saturday morning, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Friday.
Reuters reported earlier that Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was expected in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Friday to discuss proposals for restarting peace talks with the U.S.
Araghchi arrives in Pakistan for diplomatic tour
Friday 24 April 2026 21:15 , Harriette BoucherIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad, the Iranian embassy in Pakistan has said.
In a post on X, it said the minister had arrived “to review bilateral matters and consulate on regional developments”.
It comes as the US confirmed talks will take place in Pakistan over the weekend.
Earlier, the foreign minister said he was “embarking on timely tour of Islamabad, Muscat, and Moscow.
“Purpose of my visits is to closely coordinate with our partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments. Our neighbours are our priority,” he added.
Pete Hegseth shrugs off Pope’s criticism of Trump and Iran war: ‘We know what authority we have’
Friday 24 April 2026 20:55 , Harriette BoucherUS journalist Ariana Baio reports:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brushed off Pope Leo’s criticism of the Iran conflict Friday and dismissed any suggestion that the United States does not have the right justification for waging war in the Middle East.
At a Pentagon press briefing, marking the eighth week of a war initiated by the U.S. and Israel, Hegseth waved off Leo’s previous remarks, in which the Vatican leader had condemned using religious justification for the war and called for peace and dialogue.
“Pope’s gonna do his thing, that’s fine,” Hegseth said, in response to a question about the first American pope’s comments. “We know what our mission is, we know what authority we have, we’re very clear about that.”
Pete Hegseth shrugs off Pope’s criticism of Trump and Iran war
Friday 24 April 2026 20:35 , Harriette BoucherIran is planning to make an offer that will satisfy the US
Friday 24 April 2026 20:12 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump has said that Iran plans to make an offer aimed at satisfying the US’s demands.
In a phone interview with Reuters, the president said: “They're making an offer and we'll have to see.”
Mr Trump said he did not know what the offer would be yet.
He would also not say who the US was negotiating with from the Iranian side.
“I don't want to say that, but we're dealing with the people that are in charge now,” he said.
Iranian delegation arrives in Pakistan, sources say
Friday 24 April 2026 19:42 , Harriette BoucherAn Iranian delegation has arrived in Pakistan on Friday, two Pakistani government sources have said.
Their arrival comes a day before Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are due to touch down for talks with Iran.
Sources said earlier that Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi was due to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night.
Hegseth says Iran war is Trump's 'gift to the world'
Friday 24 April 2026 19:30 , Harriette Boucher'US will hear what Iran has to say in talks'
Friday 24 April 2026 18:56 , Harriette BoucherSteve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be heading to Pakistan to “hear the Iranians out”.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said the US “will hear what they have to say” over the weekend after seeing progress from the Iranian side.
“The Iranians want to talk. They want to talk in person. And so the president is, as I've said many, many times to all of you, always willing to give diplomacy a chance,” she told Fox News.
Witkoff and Kushner headed to Pakistan on Saturday for talks requested by Iran, White House says
Friday 24 April 2026 18:15 , Harriette BoucherThe White House has confirmed that special envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will head to Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with Iran.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Iran had reached out to ask for an in-person meeting.
She said JD Vance, who lead the failed first round of talks, will not be in attendance.
Him along with everyone else will be on standby, she added.
Pakistani sources have said Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night.
Pictured: IRGC speedboat approaches the cargo ship Epaminondas during seizure of one of two vessels accused of violations in the Strait of Hormuz
Friday 24 April 2026 18:05 , Harriette Boucher
Trump to send Witkoff and Kushner to Pakistan for talks but not Vance, sources say
Friday 24 April 2026 17:45 , Harriette BoucherDonald Trump is sending special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Pakistan soon for talks with Iran's foreign minister, US officials have said.
JD Vance, who was at the first round of talks, is not currently planning to attend but will be on standby to travel to Islamabad if negotiations progress, two administration officials told CNN.
Iranian parliamentary speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, who is viewed my White House officials as the head of the Iran delegation and Mr Vance’s counterpart, will also not be in attendance.
Pakistani sources have said Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night.
Netanyahu accuses Hezbollah of trying to sabotage peace
Friday 24 April 2026 17:25 , Harriette BoucherBenjamin Netanyahu has accused Hezbollah of trying to “sabotage” peace Israel and Lebanon.
In his first comments on yesterday’s ceasefire extension announcement, the Israeli prime minister said: “We have begun a process to achieve a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon, and it is clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage this.
“We are maintaining full freedom of action against any threat, including emerging threats.
“We struck yesterday and we struck today. We are determined to restore security to the residents of the north.”
Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Lebanon and Israel agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks.
US could challenge UK over Falklands for not backing Iran war
Friday 24 April 2026 17:15 , Harriette BoucherThird US aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East as Washington and Tehran clash over Strait of Hormuz
Friday 24 April 2026 17:00 , Alex CroftOur senior foreign affairs reporter James Reynolds writes:
A third US aircraft carrier arrived in the Middle East on Thursday as Washington and Tehran continue to vie for leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.
The USS George H.W. Bush, escorted by a strike group of warships, reached US Central Command’s area of responsibility in the Indian Ocean in a renewed show of force as the US continues its blockade of Iranian ports and vessels.
The arrival of the 1,092ft supercarrier, along with thousands of personnel and dozens of fighter jets, bolsters a growing US military presence in the region as uncertainty surrounds the prospect of peace talks to end the conflict with Iran, now approaching its ninth week.
The carrier was deployed to the region at the end of March, a week before the formal ceasefire was announced, to join the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln.
It was unclear what the role of the Bush would be, with Trump now committed to an indefinite ceasefire extension until a long-term peace deal can be brokered with Iran.
Kuwait says two drones launched from Iran target border posts
Friday 24 April 2026 16:30 , Alex CroftKuwait's army said two drones launched from Iraq targeted two northern border posts on Friday, causing damage.
It added there were no casualties.
We’re working to bring you more on the incident.
Watch: Hegseth says Iran war is Trump's 'gift to the world'
Friday 24 April 2026 16:01 , Alex CroftKuwait Airways to resume flights as airspace reopens
Friday 24 April 2026 15:39 , Alex CroftKuwait Airways will resume flights after authorities reopened its airspace on Thursday, the state news agency reported.
Kuwait closed its airspace when the Iran war began on February 28, and its international airport and surrounding areas have been struck several times.
The airline will operate from Terminal 4 to 17 destinations, while Jazeera Airways will also restart service to nine destinations from Terminal 5.
The civil aviation authority said the reopening was part of a phased plan to gradually restore air traffic ahead of full operations.
In response to the closure, Jazeera Airways last month had temporarily shifted operations to neighbouring Saudi Arabia, operating from Al Qaisumah and Dammam airports in the kingdom.
Swiss embassy to reopen Iran embassy
Friday 24 April 2026 15:20 , Alex CroftThe Swiss government has announced it will gradually reopen its embassy in Iran, sending a small team of diplomats this week.
The embassy was temporarily closed on March 11 on security concerns over the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Americans blame Trump for surging gas prices
Friday 24 April 2026 15:01 , Alex CroftA clear majority of Americans blame President Donald Trump for surging gasoline prices, which is weighing on his Republican Party ahead of November's congressional midterm elections, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
Some 77 per cent of registered voters in the poll, which concluded early this week, said Trump bears at least a fair amount of responsibility for the recent rise in gas prices, which was sparked by his decision to launch a war on Iran along with US ally Israel.
The view was widely shared across the political spectrum, with 55 per cent of Republican voters, 82 per cent of independents and 95 per cent of Democrats pinning blame on the president for the higher costs.
Some 58 per cent of voters, including one in five Republicans and two-thirds of independents, said they would be less likely to support candidates in the November 3 midterms who support Trump's approach to the conflict with Iran.
Iran responded to US-Israeli attacks on the country with strikes on US allies in the region, damaging oil export facilities and shutting down roughly a fifth of the global oil trade. US gasoline prices have risen to about $4 a gallon (£2.97), a dollar more than before the war started.
With Reuters.
Guyana says tanker seized by US ‘fraudulently flying Guyana flag'
Friday 24 April 2026 14:40 , Alex CroftThe South American nation of Guyana said on Thursday that a tanker seized by the US in Asia for allegedly carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil was “fraudulently flying the Guyana flag.”Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department made the announcement in a statement to journalists.
It noted the vessel had previously been named Phonix, which the US treasury noted when it previously sanctioned the vessel.
“This ship is not registered in Guyana; thus, the registration is false and fraudulent,” its statement said.“
While the name of the vessel has changed, the (International Maritime Organization) number remains recorded in the international database as PHONIX. There is no record of this vessel or name in Guyana’s registry.”
Iranian foreign minister to arrive in Islamabad for potential talks
Friday 24 April 2026 14:13 , Alex CroftIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night, Pakistani government source has said.
Peace talks with US are likely to take place, the source added.
Araghchi will arrive with a small team. The United States logistics and security team is already in Islamabad for the talks, the source added.
Israel orders residents to leave southern Lebanese town outside its 'security zone'
Friday 24 April 2026 13:50 , Alex CroftThe Israeli military has on Friday ordered residents to evacuate the southern Lebanese town of Deir Ames, north of its self-declared “security zone”.
The military says it is planning to carry out strikes there, a day after Israel and Lebanon extended a ceasefire by three weeks.
The military said Hezbollah was operating from the town, without providing evidence or specifying when, warning that militant activity launched from Deir Ames would prompt Israeli action.
Any attempts to lay mines by Iran is violation of ceasefire
Friday 24 April 2026 13:37 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing more from Hegseth, who is speaking in another press briefing at the Pentagon.
He says that any attempts to lay more mines by Iran would be a violation of the ceasefire.
He also brushes off Pope Leo's comments criticizing the war in Iran war, saying the Pope is "going to do his thing" and that was fine.
Hegseth orders Europe to 'stop talking and get in a boat' to help in Strait of Hormuz
Friday 24 April 2026 13:35 , Alex CroftPentagon chief Pete Hegseth has told Europe to “stop talking and get in a boat” to help open the Strait of Hormuz.
In a press briefing, the US defence secretary said the military’s blockade on Iran is going global, adding Tehran had a chance to make a "good deal" with Washington.
"Our blockade is growing and going global," Hegseth told reporters.
"No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world without the permission of the United States Navy," he said.
Thirty-four ships had been turned around from the Strait of Hormuz by the US Navy so far, he said.
US has ‘burned through’ billions of dollars’ worth of critical weapons supplies in the Iran war, report claims
Friday 24 April 2026 13:06 , Alex CroftThe United States has burned through billions of dollars’ worth of its critical weapons stockpile in the war with Iran, according to a report.
The conflict, which began on February 28, has seen the Pentagon using more than 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, each of which costs more than $4 million.
The military has also used up around 1,100 of its long-range stealth cruise missiles stockpiled for a war with China, according to congressional officials and internal Defense Department estimates obtained by the New York Times.
More than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles have been fired, too, which is around 10 times the amount currently bought by the U.S. Military each year.
Our US reporter Owen Scott writes:
US ‘burned through’ billions of dollars of weapons in Iran war, report
No 10 refuses to say whether UK is confident it could defend Falklands
Friday 24 April 2026 12:41 , Alex CroftThe Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Downing Street has refused to say whether the government is confident the UK could defend the Falkland Islands if its sovereignty over the territory was challenged.
It comes amid reports the US is considering reassessing its support for Britain's claim to the Islands.
Asked whether the government is is confident the UK could defend the territory, the prime minister's official spokesperson told reporters on Friday: "The question of the Falkland Islands and the UK's sovereignty, and the islanders' right to self determination is not in question. And you know, we've expressed our position clearly and consistently.”
Pressed on whether the UK is confident on its ability to defend the territory, the spokesperson insisted: “That's just not the situation we’re in. That's a hypothetical."
'How dare they!’: Ex-military chief brands Trump’s Falklands threat an ‘insult’
Friday 24 April 2026 12:22 , Alex CroftOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
A former military chief has hit out at reports that the US could review Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands as revenge for a lack of support in the Iran war, dubbing the threats an “insult”.
A leaked internal Pentagon email suggested a review of Washington’s position on Britain’s claim to the islands, as US officials outlined ways to punish Nato allies for their response to the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.
The confidential memo, which also considers suspending Spain from the alliance, expresses frustration over certain allies' reluctance or refusal to support Washington’s military action against Tehran.
Admiral Lord West of Spithead – the commanding officer of HMS Ardent, a ship which was sunk in the Falklands War – told The Independent the reports were an "insult to the autonomous, self-reliant and free people of the Falkland Islands”, adding: “How dare they?”
But he also dismissed the threats, saying that, militarily, losing US support for British sovereignty would have “no impact”.
"The recognition or otherwise by the US does not make the Islands less secure”, the former Royal Navy commander-in-chief added.
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