The White House has denied it requested an extended ceasefire in the Iran war as Tehran has warned it will completely block exports and imports across the Persian Gulf region, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea if the US does not lift its blockade.
"Iran will act with strength to defend its national sovereignty and its interests," Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran's joint military command, said, adding that the blockade was "a prelude to violating the ceasefire".
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that reports that the US has requested an extended ceasefire in the Iran war are wrong, but added that discussions about a second round of talks with the Iranians were ongoing and productive.
It came after Donald Trump had announced that he was “permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz” and claimed that Chinese president Xi Jinping would give him a “big, fat hug” when they met.
The US military earlier claimed it had “maritime superiority in the Middle East” since it began a blockade on Monday, in response to failed US-Iran talks in Islamabad over the weekend.
Read MoreTrump’s Iran war could trigger global recession, IMF warns
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Key Points
- Trump says he is permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz - and doing it for China
- Iran says it will use alternative ports to bypass US Strait of Hormuz blockade
- Trump says Iran war is ‘very close to being over’
- US blockade is "a prelude to violating the ceasefire", Iran says
- US has gained 'maritime superiority' in the Middle East
- Israel-Lebanon hold first direct talks in 30 years
Full story: Hundreds of Iranian sailors return from Sri Lanka weeks after US torpedo sinks warship
23:30 , Dan HaygarthMore than 200 Iranian sailors who were rescued by Sri Lanka from two sinking warships at the start of the war have been sent back to their home, a senior official has said.
Sri Lankan forces rescued 32 Iranian crew members from the warship Iris Dena on 4 March after it was struck by torpedo fired by a US submarine, while it was returning from a naval exercise organised by India. Another 208 were rescued from the Iris Booshehr on 5 March, after it requested assistance from Colombo when it ran into engine trouble.
The country’s deputy defence minister Aruna Jayasekera said the crews of both ships “were flown out about 11pm on a special flight on Tuesday night”.
Read more below:
Hundreds of Iranian sailors return from Sri Lanka weeks after US sinks warship
Watch: White House denies it requested Iran ceasefire extension
23:15 , Dan HaygarthEditorial: If President Trump can no longer be trusted on trade, Britain should look elsewhere for reliable partners
23:00 , Daniel HaygarthThe threat by Donald Trump to tear up the US-UK trade deal, signed less than a year ago, confirms two things about him.
First, that trade policy and tariffs have nothing much to do with structural imbalances in exports and imports and are more an arm of foreign and defence policy. He is displeased with the British response to his ill-starred war in Iran, so his mind turns towards punishment. As many other nations have discovered, the president can be insulting, capricious and vindictive to anyone, and that clearly includes Britain, fond as he is of King Charles. Mr Trump will reach for any weapon that suits his spiteful purposes, irrespective of whether it might prove counterproductive.
The second lesson, which follows, is that this is a man who cannot be trusted.
Read the full article below:
If Trump can no longer be trusted on trade, the UK must look elsewhere
Iranian cargo vessel tried to evade blockade but was turned around, US claims
22:20 , Dan HaygarthUS Central Command has said that an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade its blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz.
It says it was redirected and is heading back to Iran.
It also zero ships have broken through its blockade since it began on Monday
Yesterday, an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel tried to evade the U.S. blockade after leaving Bandar Abbas, exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and transiting along the Iranian coastline. The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) successfully redirected the vessel, which is… pic.twitter.com/EUnwhwYiDv
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 15, 2026
Recap: White House denies U.S. requested ceasefire, says new talks may happen in Pakistan
22:12 , Daniel HaygarthReports that the White House has requested a ceasefire in the Iran war are wrong, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday but added that discussions about a second round of talks with the Iranians were ongoing and productive.
Speaking at a White House press briefing, Leavitt said any fresh talks would likely be in Pakistan again as it has emerged as the "only mediator" in the effort to end the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
"These conversations are productive and ongoing, and that's where we are right now. I've also seen some reporting about the potentiality for in-person discussions.
“Again, those discussions are being had, but nothing is official until you hear it from us here at the White House, but we feel good about the prospects of a deal," Leavitt said.
Asked if her country had requested an extension of the ceasefire, she said: "I saw some reporting - again, bad reporting - this morning that we had formally requested an extension of the ceasefire. That is not true.”
Watch: US Central Command says naval blockade is being enforced in Gulf of Oman
22:05 , Daniel HaygarthUS targets Iran's oil transportation infrastructure with sanctions
21:45 , Dan HaygarthThe US Treasury Department has said it is targeting Iran's oil transportation infrastructure by imposing sanctions on more than two dozen individuals, companies, and vessels.
The sanctions target a network of Iranian oil shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the Treasury Department said in a statement. Hossein Shamkhani is the son of Ali Shamkhani, a key figure in Iran's security and nuclear policymaking who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on 28 February.
"Treasury is moving aggressively with Economic Fury by targeting regime elites like the Shamkhani family that attempt to profit at the expense of the Iranian people," treasury secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement.
The Treasury Department is also sanctioning Iranian national Seyed Naiemaei Badroddin Moosavi, who it alleges to be a financier to Hezbollah, and three companies linked to a money laundering scheme involving the sale of Iranian oil in exchange for Venezuelan gold.
Recap: Talks ongoing about fresh negotiations, White House says
21:30 , Daniel HaygarthTalks are ongoing about holding fresh face-to-face negotiations between the US and Iran, the White House has said.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said “discussions are being had” although nothing was yet confirmed.
She added: “But we feel good about the prospects of a deal.
“It’s obviously in the best interest of Iran to meet the president’s demands. I think he’s made his red lines in these negotiations very clear to the other side.”
Previous negotiations broke down over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, the US said.
Any future talks are again likely to be held in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, she said.
‘Strait of Vermouth’: Democrats roast two Trump cabinet members with one post after Bessent’s press briefing botch
21:15 , Dan Haygarth
Dems roast two Trump cabinet members with one post after Bessent’s briefing botch
Senate votes against restraining Trump on Iran
21:00 , Jane Dalton
Senate votes down restraining Trump on Iran after Fetterman crosses Democrats again
Economic pain is short-term, White House insists
20:45 , Jane DaltonA global economic shock caused by the Iran conflict has been dismissed by the White House as "short-term disruption".
The Trump administration insisted it would deliver the long-term benefit of preventing Tehran getting a nuclear weapon, which was "a good thing for people all over the world".
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said: "The message is the short-term volatility for long-term gain."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "This is short-term disruption for the long-term strategic goal of the United States to ensure that the world's leading state sponsor of terror cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.
"That's a good thing for the American people. That's a good thing for people all over the world.
"As soon as the operation and now the negotiations with Iran conclude and the Strait (of Hormuz) is reopened, we do expect gas prices to decrease."
She added: "Of course we have this short-term disruption, but again, it's for the long-term strategic goal of ensuring that these terrorists cannot possess a nuclear bomb."
US targets Iran's oil transportation infrastructure with sanctions
20:20 , Jane DaltonThe US Treasury says it is targeting Iran's oil transportation infrastructure by imposing sanctions on more than two dozen individuals, companies and vessels.
The sanctions target a network of Iranian oil shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, who is the son of Ali Shamkhani, a key figure in Iran's security and nuclear policymaking who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Tehran in February.
"Treasury is moving aggressively with Economic Fury by targeting regime elites like the Shamkhani family that attempt to profit at the expense of the Iranian people," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
The Treasury Department is also sanctioning Iranian national Seyed Naiemaei Badroddin Moosavi, who it alleges to be a financier to Hezbollah, and three companies linked to a money-laundering scheme involving the sale of Iranian oil in exchange for Venezuelan gold.
Iran 'offers proposal allowing ships to exit Oman side of Hormuz'
19:56 , ReutersIran could consider allowing ships to sail freely through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of proposals it has offered in negotiations with the United States, provided a deal is clinched to prevent renewed conflict, a source briefed by Tehran said.
The source said Iran could be willing to let ships use the other side of the narrow strait in Omani waters without any hindrance.
The source did not say whether Iran would also agree to clear any mines it may have placed in that stretch of water or whether all ships – even those linked to Israel – would be allowed to pass freely.
But the source added that the proposal hinged on whether Washington was prepared to meet Tehran's demands, a condition that was central to any potential breakthrough with the Strait of Hormuz.
A so-called two-way traffic-separation scheme, which was adopted in 1968 with agreement of countries in the region, created the current ship routing system that splits sailing corridors through Iranian and Omani waters.
Netanyahu: Israel military continues to strike Hezbollah
19:24 , Dan HaygarthIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that the military continues to strike at Hezbollah and was about to "overwhelm" Bint Jbeil, as pressure mounts for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
In a video statement, Netanyahu said he has instructed the military to continue reinforcing the security zone in southern Lebanon.
On Iran, Netanyahu said the US keeps Israel updated and the two countries are aligned. Should the ceasefire with Iran fail, "we are prepared for any scenario," he said.
Watch: Trump says Xi denied arming Iran after exchange of letters ahead of China meeting
19:15 , Dan HaygarthUS won't be renewing waivers for Iranian and Russian oil
19:02 , Dan HaygarthThe United States will not be renewing the general licenses that allowed purchase of some Iranian and Russian oil without facing US sanctions, treasury secretary Scott Bessent told reporters on Wednesday.
White House denies US requested ceasefire but says new talks may happen in Pakistan
18:54 , Dan HaygarthReports that the White House has requested a ceasefire in the Iran war are wrong, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday.
She said conversations for a second round of talks with the Iranians were productive and that those negotiations would likely be in Pakistan again.
Watch: Zelensky says countries must coordinate as Iran war drives up costs and risks in Europe
18:51 , Dan HaygarthFull story: Trump says Xi will ‘give him a big fat hug’ as he promises to ‘permanently reopen’ Strait of Hormuz
18:35 , Dan HaygarthDonald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz “permanently open” on Wednesday, following talks with his Chinese counterpart as pressure mounts on the US to end the war with Iran and restore global shipping.
The apparent climbdown came just hours after Trump said he was employing US forces to impose a blockade of Iranian ports in the region, a move the military said had completely halted trade going in and out of the country by sea.
Trump vowed to reopen the strait “for China” in an unusual concession to a trade rival. He promised “this situation will never happen again” and added that the Chinese leader would “give me a big, fat hug when I get there in a few weeks”.
Read more below:
Trump promises to ‘permanently reopen’ Strait of Hormuz
Israeli security cabinet to discuss possible Lebanon ceasefire, senior official says
18:20 , Dan HaygarthIsrael's security cabinet have convened to discuss a possible Lebanon ceasefire, a senior Israeli official said, Reuters reports.
It comes more than six weeks into a war with Hezbollah that spiralled out of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Donald Trump earlier said the war with Iran could end soon, telling the world to watch out for an "amazing two days", as the army chief of mediator Pakistan arrived in Tehran in a bid to prevent a renewed conflict.
Senior Hezbollah official Ibrahim al-Moussawi told Reuters that diplomatic efforts by Iran and other regional states could produce a ceasefire soon, saying Tehran had used its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.
Two other senior Lebanese officials said they had been briefed that efforts were underway for a ceasefire.
One of them said the U.S. had been pressuring Israel to work towards a ceasefire in Lebanon, including during rare talks between Israeli and Lebanese government envoys in Washington on Tuesday.
US says no vessels have made it past its naval forces during the first 48 hours of the blockade
18:04 , Dan HaygarthUS Central Command said in a statement on Wednesday that no vessels have made it past its naval forces during the first 48 hours of the blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports.
Central Command also said nine vessels have complied with direction from US forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or Iran's coastal area.
A Malta-flagged vessel is the first crude oil carrier to head west through the strait since the US blockade began, according to a global shipping tracking monitor.
The Malta-flagged VLCC Agios Fanourios I is expected to arrive on Thursday to Basra, Iraq, where ports are not under the blockade. Marine Traffic said the vessel attempted a transit after anchoring in the Gulf of Oman for nearly two days.
US blockade is "a prelude to violating the ceasefire", Iran says
17:44 , Dan HaygarthIranian state media today reported that the commander of the nation’s joint military command warned it would completely block exports and imports across the Persian Gulf region, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea if the United States does not lift its blockade on Iranian ports.
"Iran will act with strength to defend its national sovereignty and its interests," said Ali Abdollahi.
He added that the US blockade is "a prelude to violating the ceasefire".
Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz when Israel and the US launched strikes against it more than a month ago. The US on Monday began blockading ships trying to enter or leave Iranian ports and said it would not impede the freedom of navigation of other vessels in the Persian Gulf.
Reeves steps up criticism of Trump’s war against Iran during trip to Washington
17:27 , Dan Haygarth
The war against Iran was a “mistake” and has not made the world a safer place, Rachel Reeves said as she stepped up her criticism of the US-Israeli military action.
The UK’s chancellor, speaking at an event in Washington, said diplomatic talks to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon should have been allowed to continue.
She criticised Donald Trump’s decision to go to war, which has resulted in Iran retaliating with strikes against Gulf states and the closure of the vital oil and gas shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at a CNBC event in the US capital, Ms Reeves said: “The question is not whether you like or dislike the Iranian regime – I strongly dislike the Iranian regime – but how to achieve the change that you want to achieve.”
She said Iran does not currently have a nuclear weapon and the best way to prevent the Tehran regime from getting one is through diplomacy rather than conflict.
The chancellor added: “There was a diplomatic channel open, conversations, formal discussions were happening.
“I think it was a mistake to end those and to enter into conflict, because I’m not convinced that we are safer today than we were a few weeks ago.”
JD Vance warns Pope to ‘be careful when he talks about theology’ and draws heckles at low turnout TPUSA event
17:08 , Dan HaygarthJD Vance warned Pope Leo to “be careful” when opining on matters of theology, following a series of high-profile clashes between the leader of the Catholic Church and President Donald Trump over the past few days.
Read more:
JD Vance warns Pope to ‘be careful when he talks about theology’ and draws heckles
Sri Lanka repatriates 238 Iranian sailors after US attack
16:47 , Alex CroftSri Lanka has repatriated a total of 238 Iranian soldiers from two naval vessels that were attacked by US forces, Colombo said this morning.
The sailors were sent back "in a chartered aircraft" late last night, according to the Sri Lankan defence ministry.
Iran's naval ship 'Iris Dena' was attacked by the US on 4 March, killing 84 on board outside Sri Lanka's international waters. As many as 32 others were rescued by Sri Lanka.
Three days later, Iran's second ship, 'Iris Bushehr', was allowed into Sri Lankan waters after it reported an engine failure.
The group of 'Iris Dena' survivors was accommodated at the Sri Lankan Air Force facility near the southern port of Galle.
Trump’s blockade appears to be turning back tankers in the Strait of Hormuz – but Iran has a trick up its sleeve
16:31 , Alex CroftAfter high-stakes peace talks in Islamabad collapsed over the weekend, the future of a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran now appears to rest on a 100-mile waterway between the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.
The United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas east of the Strait of Hormuz, which came into effect at 3pm BST on Monday.
US Central Command warned that vessels will be subject to “interception, diversion and capture” regardless of their flag. More than 15 US warships are in place to support the operation, a senior official told The Wall Street Journal.
President Donald Trump threatened that ships sailing from Iranian ports would be subject to “the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea”, referring to the administration’s controversial attacks on boats off the coast of Venezuela.
Our foreign affairs reporter Maira Butt reports:
Trump’s blockade is turning round boats in Hormuz – but Iran has trick up its sleeve
Pakistani delegation arrives in Tehran
16:16 , Alex CroftPakistan's army chief Asim Munir and interior minister Mohsin Naqvi have reached Tehran as a part of Pakistan's ongoing mediation efforts between the US and Iran, Pakistan's military said in a statement on Wednesday.
They are expected to convey a message to Iran from the US ahead of a possible second round of talks between the countries.
Vessels prioritise exiting Strait of Hormuz as US blockade appears to deter voyages
15:52 , Alex CroftThe Independent’s Bryony Gooch reports:
As the United States continues its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a total of 16 vessels crossed through the waterway as of Tuesday.
Almost all voyages appear to be moving out of the Strait, indicating that vessels are prioritising exit rather than re-entry at the moment, according to Kpler.
Several of these vessels appeared to have halted or reduced movement after clearing the Strait, which could reflect the US blockade's deterrent effect.
Nearly every vessel in this group has a documented history of lifting Iranian-origin sanctioned cargo, which means operators may be reluctant to proceed further until there is greater clarity on enforcement risk, analysis suggests.
Watch: Trump threatens strained relations with ‘anybody that turned US down’ in Iran conflict
15:30 , Alex CroftPakistani delegation to deliver message from US to Iran
15:11 , Alex CroftA Pakistani delegation is on its way to bring a message from the US to Iran and plan for a second round of talks between the two countries, Iran's state media said on Wednesday.
We earlier reported remarks from the Iranian foreign ministry that a Pakistani delegation was expected to arrive in Iran on Wednesday to pass on such messages.
Iranian spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said exchanges of messages never stopped after the Tehran delegation returned home from Islamabad following the talks on Saturday.
'This is not self defence': UN experts condemn Israeli bombardment in Lebanon
14:49 , Alex CroftUN experts have condemned Israel's bombing in Lebanon earlier this month as "illegal aggression and indiscriminate bombing campaign", the UN Human Rights Council said.
"This is not self-defence. It is a blatant violation of the UN Charter, a deliberate destruction of prospects for peace, and an affront to multilateralism and the UN-based international order," experts in the council said in a statement.
Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the conflict with Hezbollah broke out last month, killing more than 300 people on April 8, as the Iran-aligned group resumed rocket attacks on northern Israel after a brief pause under a two-week US-Iran ceasefire.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire.
Trump shares opinion article in The Sun slamming Starmer
14:32 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has shared an opinion article which lashes out at British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer for his refusal to join the US war effort in Iran.
“If hot air was a weapon, Sir Keir Starmer would have re-armed Britain,” the piece, written by The Sun’s defence editor Jerome Starkey, is titled.
The piece says that despite Sir Keir’s “first-rate rhetoric”, he has “dodged and delayed the choices he promised to make” in regard to boosting defence spending and building up the UK’s armed forces.
“The tough choice is guns or butter, a choice between what to take from voters now to make the nation safer tomorrow,” it reads.
“At the moment, Starmer’s answer is nothing: Safety can wait, as welfare buys votes.
It adds: “If only words won wars. If only words deterred them. Unfortunately, they don’t.”
Pakistan 'not giving up' on peace efforts
14:12 , Alex CroftPakistan's finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said “our leadership is not giving up” on efforts to help the US and Iran end the conflict after weekend talks in Islamabad failed to secure a deal.
Diplomats worked through back channels yesterday to arrange a new round of talks between the US and Iran after Washington enacted its blockade of Iranian ports.
US president Donald Trump said a second round of talks could happen “over the next two days,” telling the New York Post the negotiations could be held again in Islamabad.
Watch: UN Secretary-General says it is 'probably likely' Iran peace talks will resume
13:54 , Alex CroftTrump launches new attack against Pope Leo over Iran: ‘Someone tell him they killed 42,000 protesters’
13:35 , Alex CroftDonald Trump took another swipe at Pope Leo and Nato overnight, amid a growing spat over the Iran war.
The US president launched into an outburst on his Truth Social platform late on Tuesday, after the Pope vowed to continue to “speak out loudly against war”.
Trump launched a furious attack on the pontiff since he condemned his threats that Iran’s “civilisation will die” as “unacceptable” earlier this month.
As the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, Leo has become an influential critic of Trump’s conflict with Iran, while Trump faced criticism from Catholic and political allies for sharing an AI image that appeared to depict him as Jesus.
James Reynolds writes:
Trump launches furious new rant against Pope Leo over Iran
Qatari and Iranian officials hold discuss de-escalation efforts in Middle East
13:16 , Alex CroftSheikh Mansour bin Zayed, vice president of the United Arab Emirates, has discussed de-escalation efforts in the Iran war with Tehran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
The rare phone call between the two countries, reported by UAE state news agency WAM, comes against the backdrop of the UAE having condemned Iran's attacks on Gulf states.
It described them as terrorist acts, while also calling for the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump says he is permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz - and doing it for China
13:12 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has claimed that he is “permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz” and that Chinese president Xi Jinping will give him a “big, fat hug” when they eventually meet.
The US military earlier claimed it has “maritime superiority in the Middle East” since it began a blockade on Monday, after US-Iran talks in Islamabad failed over the weekend.
Writing on Truth Social, the US president said: “China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also - And the World. This situation will never happen again.
“They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran. President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks.”
He added: “We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to - far better than anyone else!!!”
Chinese spy satellite helped Iran targeting US bases - report
12:57 , Alex CroftIran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite in late 2024 that it has helped it target US military bases across the Middle East, the Financial Times is reporting.
The TEE-01B satellite was purchased by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Aerospace Force after it was launched into space from China, the report said, citing leaked Iranian military documents.
The satellite was directed by Iranian military commanders to monitor major US military sites, the newspaper said. Images were taken in March before and after drone and missile strikes on those locations, the FT reported.
As part of the deal, the IRGC received access to commercial ground stations operated by Emposat, a Beijing-based provider of satellite control and data services with a network extending across Asia, Latin America and other regions, according to the report.
The Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday denied the report, calling it untrue.
"Recently, some forces have been keen on fabricating rumors and maliciously associating them to China," the ministry said in a statement to Reuters news agency. "China firmly opposes this kind of practice driven by ulterior motives.”
Analysis | This is what the historic Israel-Lebanon talks in the US actually achieved
12:21 , Alex CroftOur chief international correspondent Bel Trew writes:
That Lebanon and Israel held their first direct diplomatic talks in more than three decades sounded like a chink of light the world has been hoping for, ever since Donald Trump threw a grenade into one of the most volatile regions in the world.
A lot was riding on the meeting.
Iran has made it clear that if Israel continues bombing Lebanon, including its chief ally the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, it will not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz or adhere to a truce with the US recently brokered by Pakistan.
Israel, which has vowed to occupy swathes of Lebanese sovereign territory, has said it will not stop pounding Lebanon until it has destroyed and disarmed Hezbollah.
Meanwhile Donald Trump has started to blockade in Iran’s ongoing blockade on Strait - vowing that Iranian ships, ,and those leaving Iranian ports - would be “eliminated”, piling even more pressure on.
This is what the historic Israel-Lebanon talks in the US actually achieved
Hezbollah slams Lebanese government's decision to hold talks with Israel
12:10 , Alex CroftHezbollah has lashed out at the Lebanese government's decision to hold talks with Israel as "a national sin" that would widen divisions in Lebanon.
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Tuesday's US-mediated meeting between Lebanon's Washington ambassador and her Israeli counterpart did not reflect Lebanon's national identity or "the choices of its people".
The meeting hosted by US secretary of state Marco Rubio was the first such direct contact in decades between the two countries that have remained in a state of war since Israel was established in 1948.
Both sides said the talks were positive, though ahead of the meeting, Israel had ruled out any discussion of Lebanon's demand for a ceasefire in the war, which erupted on March 2 when Hezbollah opened fire in support of Tehran.
"Does the government not realize the danger of what it has undertaken? And does it understand that it has entered a wrong path that leads only to increasing the rift among the Lebanese?" Fadlallah said.
"It has obtained nothing from the enemy except praise without achieving any demand," he said in a televised statement.
Xi tells Trump he is not supplying Iran with weapons
12:02 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has said he asked Chinese president Xi Jinping in a letter not to supply Iran with weapons.
In response, Xi said “that, essentially, he’s not doing that”, the US president told Fox Business Network in an interview aired on Wednesday.
Watch: JD Vance explains deal is stalled because Trump won't accept a nuclear-armed Iran
11:39 , Alex CroftErdogan says Turkey working to extend US-Iran ceasefire
11:20 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing from Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan, who has said Ankara is working to extend the US-Iran ceasefire and ease tensions in the region.
Both countries must seize the window of opportunity provided by the talks, Erdogan told lawmakers in parliament.
Erdogan also took aim at Israel, whose continuing attacks on Lebanon he said were harming hopes for peace.
Iran says supertanker has crossed Strait of Hormuz despite US blockade
10:50 , Alex CroftAn Iranian sanctioned supertanker has crossed the Strait of Hormuz towards Iran's Imam Khomeini Port despite a US blockade, Iran's Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday.
Fars said the Crude Carrier was capable of carrying two million barrels of crude
But it is unclear if the tanker was returning with its cargo onboard or was empty.
We’re working to bring you confirmation of this.
Japan to provide £7.3 billion support for Asian countries to purchase crude oil
10:37 , Alex CroftJapan has said it will issue about $10 billion (£7.3 billion) worth of support to help Asian countries purchase energy resources such as crude oil, as Middle East tensions drive prices higher and disrupt supply chains.
The support, aimed at preventing knock-on effects on Japan's own supply chains, would be channelled mainly through state-backed financial institutions such as Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), Reuters is reporting.
Announcing the plan, prime minister Sanae Takaichi said the support would be equivalent to as much as 1.2 billion barrels of oil, or about one year's worth of crude oil imports by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Leaders of the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam attended the meeting, among others.
US to send thousands more troops into the Middle East - report
10:20 , Alex CroftThe US is set to send thousands of more troops into the Middle East in coming days, according to a report in the Washington Post which cited US officials.
The move comes as the Trump administration continues its attempts to ramp up pressure on Iran to make a deal.
It is unclear exactly how many troops would be sent, and the move is yet to be confirmed publicly by any US officials. We’re keeping an eye on this and will bring you any updates.
Can Pakistan bring US and Iran back to the negotiating table before ceasefire ends?
09:59 , Alex CroftPakistan is reportedly keen to host the second round of peace negotiations between the US and Iran to end the war in the Middle East, just days after the first such attempt failed to result in a breakthrough.
Both the US and Iran could return to Islamabad as early as the end of this week, a source aware of the talks says, adding that the date was yet to be decided as the conflict continued to simmer. The war, now in its seventh week, has jolted markets and rattled the global economy as shipping has been cut off and airstrikes have torn through military and civilian infrastructure across the region.
Iran and the US came “very close” to an agreement and were “80 per cent there” during last weekend's meeting in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, held four days after the announcement of a ceasefire, sources say. It was the first direct encounter between US and Iranian officials in more than a decade, and the most senior engagement since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Arpan Rai reports:
Can Pakistan bring US and Iran back to the negotiating table before ceasefire ends?
Trump targets Pope Leo again in a new rant
09:43 , Alex CroftUS president Donald Trump has escalated his war of words with Pope Leo XIV through his latest post on Truth Social.
In a midnight post, Trump wrote: "Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable.
"Thank you for your attention to this matter. AMERICA IS BACK!!!"
Trump has been routinely targeting the Pope after he criticised the US president's war on Iran. Pope Leo had earlier said that Trump’s warning that an “entire civilization will die tonight,” in reference to Iran, was “unacceptable".
The pope has also suggested that a “delusion of omnipotence” is fueling the war between the United States and Iran.
Since then, Trump has branded Pope Leo as "weak" on crime and "terrible" on foreign policy, before uploading an AI-generated image of himself dressed as Jesus. The US president later deleted the image and claimed it depicted him as a "doctor" and not as Jesus.
Iran says it will use alternative ports to bypass US Strait of Hormuz blockade
09:24 , Alex CroftIran’s semi-official news agency Mehr News is reporting that Tehran will begin to use alternative ports for its exports in order to bypass the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
It’s unclear exactly which ports this refers to - we’re working to bring you that information.
The US military has claimed it has “maritime superiority in the Middle East” since the blockade began on Monday, in response to a collapse in US-Iran ceasefire talks over the weekend.
The Strait of Hormuz is currently used for the overwhelming majority of Iran’s export trade, in particular oil, it’s most profitable export.
The Caspian Sea, to Iran’s north, accounts for under 5 per cent of Iran’s exports, according to some estimates. It’s possible that this could rise while the blockade is in place, but as it is a closed sea, trade opportunities are far more limited.
Watch: AOC says Trump is threatening to genocide Iran
09:03 , Alex CroftDemocrat congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Donald Trump’s most outspoken critics, has accused the US president of threatening to carry out genocide on Iran.
Here’s what AOC said:
Urgent task ahead is to avoid resumption of war, says China
08:55 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, which has warned that the international community must urgently ensure the war in Iran is not resumed.
The momentum of the hard-won ceasefire between Washington and Tehran must be maintained, it adds.
Beijing said the war should never have happened particularly in light of the cost it has had for the international community - especially, it added, given the least developed countries have paid a high price.
You're going to watch an amazing two days ahead, says Trump
08:25 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has predicted that there will be an “amazing two days ahead” as he suggests the war in Iran is nearing its end.
Speaking to ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, the US president said he did not think it would be necessary to extend a two-week ceasefire that ends on April 21, according to a post by Karl on X.
"It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild," Trump said.
"They really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals."
Watch: Trump says Iran was is 'very close to over'
08:03 , Maira ButtHopes rise for renewed talks as US military says Iran blockade is in force
07:38 , Maira ButtHopes rose for renewed talks between the United States and Iran on Wednesday, as the US military said its blockade of Iranian ports was in full effect and Tehran threatened to retaliate by strike targets across the war-weary region.
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a second round of talks could happen "over the next two days," telling the New York Post the negotiations could be held again in Islamabad as diplomats worked through back channels to arrange them.
UN secretary-general António Guterres concurred, saying it’s “highly probable” that talks will restart. He cited a meeting he had with Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar.
Hopes rise for renewed talks as US military says Iran blockade is in force
