Wednesday: As it happened
- The White House has denied that the US has requested an extension of the two-week ceasefire with Iran but said that the US does “feel good” about prospects of a deal
- A separate ceasefire in Lebanon is expected to come into effect, as Israel launched fresh attacks on the south of the country
- The US is continuing its naval blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz
- Iran offers proposal allowing ships to exit Oman side of Hormuz free of attack, source says
- Israeli military chief of staff ordered areas south of Lebanon’s Litani river to be turned into a Hizbullah “kill zone”
- US Senate Republicans block bid to rein in Trump’s Iran war powers
Key reads
- Sally Hayden in Beirut: Lebanon’s most vulnerable struggle to cope in overcrowded war shelters
- Keith Duggan: No rest for JD Vance as Trump gets cross with the pope again
- Iran has unleashed Gen Z tech warriors to ridicule the Trump administration
That is all for this evening’s coverage.
Follow along tomorrow for more.
Good night.
Iran and Pakistan are to discuss messages exchanged between Iran and the US since Sunday in Tehran tomorrow. – Reuters
Israeli security cabinet discusses possible Lebanon ceasefire
Israel’s security cabinet convened on Wednesday to discuss a possible Lebanon ceasefire, a senior Israeli official has told Reuters.
It comes more than six weeks into a war that has killed more than 2,000 Lebanese people, wounded over 7,000, and displaced over one million, creating a humanitarian disaster as Israel continues its bombardment and now plans to occupy huge swathes of the country’s south.
Binyamin Netanyahu’s government is under heavy pressure from Washington to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon, another senior Israeli official said.
While the security cabinet was meeting, however, Netanyahu released a video statement in which he said the Israeli military continued to strike at Hizbullah and was about to “overcome” the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil.
Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to continue reinforcing the so-called “security zone” – the area it plans to occupy – in southern Lebanon while at the same time negotiating a peace deal with the Lebanese government.
Israel and Lebanon held rare talks between government envoys in Washington on Tuesday. “These negotiations have not taken place for over 40 years. They are happening now because we are very strong, and countries are coming to us – not only Lebanon,” Netanyahu said. – The Guardian
Has Ireland introduced ‘the largest assistance package of any European country’?
Read Consumer Affairs Correspondent, Conor Pope’s fact check article here.
Qatar’s emir urges de-escalation in call with Trump
Qatar’s emir sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani spoke to Donald Trump on the phone on Wednesday about “rapidly escalating tensions in the region” and called for de-escalation, according to the emir’s office.
The two leaders discussed international maritime security and the stability of energy markets and global supply chains amid competing blockades of the critical Strait of Hormuz.
“His Highness also stressed the importance of intensifying international efforts to spare the region further escalation,” the Qatari statement said.
The emir also emphasised the need to use diplomatic means to preserve regional and global security and stability. – The Guardian
One-week ceasefire in Lebanon expected to take effect as US-Iran truce efforts continue
A one-week ceasefire in Lebanon is expected to come into effect following pressure from the US as Washington continues its effort to reach a framework agreement with Iran to end the Middle East war, writes Mark Weiss in Jerusalem.
The Hizbullah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen channel in Lebanon reported that the truce could begin as early as Thursday and is expected to last until the end of the ceasefire between Iran and the US on April 22nd.
The channel reported that the Lebanon truce is an Iranian demand. Tehran sees Washington as responsible for restraining Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly spoken in favour of continuing the attacks against Hizbullah.
Israel’s security cabinet was meeting on Wednesday night to discuss the possible Lebanon ceasefire and the efforts to end the Iran war.
To read the full article, click here.
White House offers no hint of Iran war cost as it seeks military funding surge
White House budget director Russell Vought said on Wednesday he could not estimate the cost of the Iran war, as he defended president Donald Trump’s request for a $1.5 trillion annual military budget against bipartisan criticism from US lawmakers who cited the Pentagon’s historic lack of financial accountability.
“We’re not ready to come to you with a request. We’re still working on it. We’re working through to figure out what’s needed,” Vought told a hearing of the House of Representatives Budget Committee.
“I don’t have a ballpark.” The cost of the war with Iran, which Trump began alongside Israel on February 28th, has remained an open question on Capitol Hill.
An initial $200 billion request for additional funding for the war met with stiff opposition in Congress last month.
Vought appeared before the panel to discuss Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2027, with its $500 billion increase in military spending and 10 per cent reduction for Non-defence programs.
The request is intended to reflect Republican priorities heading into the November midterm elections, in which Trump’s Republicans hope to retain control over the House of Representatives and the Senate but face growing public concern about the cost of living, energy prices and the US-Israeli war with Iran. – Reuters
How other countries are responding to surging oil prices?
The war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – through which about one fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas flows – has seen fuel costs rise sharply in the past month, writes Irish Times journalists Mark Paul, Jack Power, Naomi O’Leary, Denis Staunton and Derek Scally.
With the disruption expected to have a lasting impact on prices, governments around the world are scrambling to introduce measures to help cushion the impact on consumers and the wider economy. Irish Times correspondents report on the measures taken so far.
For the full article, click here.
US probes suspicious oil trades made before Trump Iran pivots, source says
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is investigating a series of oil futures trades that were placed shortly before major policy shifts by U.S. President Donald Trump related to the war in Iran, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
The CFTC probe is focused on trading of oil futures contracts on platforms belonging to CME Group and Intercontinental Exchange, with investigators examining at least two instances of oil trades made on March 23rd and April 7th, the source said.
The data requested from the exchanges include the so-called Tag 50 identifications of the entities behind the trades.
A spokesperson for the CFTC declined to comment on the matter.
ICE and CME did not immediately respond to requests for comment. – Reuters
The United Arab Emirates summoned the Iraqi charge d’affaires and handed him a formal protest note over what it described as attacks launched from Iraqi territory, a statement said on Wednesday. – Reuters
US Senate Republicans block bid to rein in Trump Iran war powers
A majority of the US Senate backed president Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran on Wednesday, voting to block a Democratic-led resolution aiming to stop the war until hostilities are authorised by Congress.
The Senate voted 52-47 not to advance the war powers resolution, underscoring his party’s continuing support for the Republican president’s war policy more than six weeks after the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on February 28th.
It was the fourth time that Democrats have forced votes on similar measures since the war began. All of them have failed in the face of opposition from every Republican except senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Paul was the only Republican vote in favour of the resolution in the latest vote. The only Democratic no came from Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman. Republican senator Jim Justice of West Virginia did not vote.
Democratic Party leaders have vowed to keep bringing up war powers resolution until the conflict ends or congress authorises continued fighting. – Reuters
Talks ongoing about US and Iran negotiations
Talks are ongoing about holding fresh face-to-face negotiations between the US and Iran, the White House 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.
Any future talks are again likely to be held in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, she said. – Guardian
US targets several vessels and entities under new Iran-related sanctions
The United States issued new Iran-related and counterterrorism sanctions on Wednesday, targeting three individuals, 17 entities, and nine vessels, according to a notice posted to the US Treasury Department’s website. – Reuters
‘We are prepared for any scenario,’ says Netanyahu
Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday the Israeli military continued to strike at Hizbullah and was about to overcome what he described as the militia’s stronghold of Bint Jbeil, as pressure mounted 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 while at the same time negotiating a peace deal with Beirut.
“These negotiations have not taken place for over 40 years. They are happening now because we are very strong, and countries are coming to us – not only Lebanon,” he said.
He said that in talks with Lebanon, Israel has two main objectives – dismantling of Hizbullah and a sustainable peace that is “achieved through strength.”
Netanyahu said Israeli forces were focused on Bint Jbeil, which he called the capital of Hizbullah in southern Lebanon.
“We are, in effect, about to eliminate this great stronghold of Hizbullah,” he said.
On Iran, Netanyahu said the US keeps Israel updated and the two countries are aligned on their goals to see enriched nuclear material removed from Iran, the cancellation of enrichment capabilities within Iran, and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“It is too early to say how this matter will end, or even how it will progress,” he said.
Should fighting resume, “we are prepared for any scenario,” he said. – Reuters
China ‘not supplying Iran’ with weapons
Asked if Donald Trump’s threats of a 50 per cent tariff on China are still on the table after the US president wrote a letter to Xi Jinping telling him not to supply weapons to Iran.
US president Donald Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Chinese president assured Trump “they are not supplying Iran” with weapons in this conflict.
The US blockade of Iran has been fully implemented and is being enforced against vessels of all nations, said Leavitt.
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent added that two Chinese banks received letters from the US treasury saying that if they can prove there is Iranian cash in their accounts the US is “willing to put on secondary sanctions” on those banks. He didn’t identify those banks.
Bessent also said the US has launched “Operation Economic Fury” (a riff on “Operation Epic Fury”, the Trump administration’s name for its war on Iran), with the aim of putting financial pressure on Iran.
He says Iran made the “fatal mistake” of bombing their neighbours in the Middle East, “who are now being more transparent” about the Iranian funds held in their banking systems.
The US has requested that those countries freeze the funds of the IRGC leadership, he said.
He added that countries are being cautioned against buying Iranian oil. If they have Iranian cash in their banks, the US will consider secondary sanctions, he said.
Bessent said the US government “will not be renewing the general licence on Russian oil” nor the one on Iranian oil.
Those waivers – which allowed purchase of some Iranian and Russian oil without facing US sanctions – were on “oil that was on the water prior to March 11th, so all that has been used”, he added.
Iran offers proposal allowing ships to exit Oman side of Hormuz free of attack, source says
Iran could consider allowing ships to sail freely through the Oman side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of proposals it has offered in negotiations with the United States if a deal is clinched to prevent renewed conflict, a source briefed by Tehran said.
The source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Iran could be willing to let ships use the other side of the narrow strait in Omani waters without any hindrance from Tehran.
The source did not say whether Iran would also agree to clear any mines it may have placed in that stretch of water or if 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. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. – Reuters
An Israeli military spokesman said Israel is monitoring ceasefire talks with Iran but “we are prepared to return to attack powerfully and quickly if necessary”. – Reuters
White House denies US has requested Iran ceasefire extension
Asked about the status of extending the Iran ceasefire, US president Donald Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “I saw some reporting – again, bad reporting – this morning that we had formally requested an extension of the ceasefire. That is not true.”
“At this moment, we remain very much engaged in these negotiations, in these talks. You heard from the vice-president directly and the president this week that these conversations are productive and ongoing, and that’s where we are right now,” she said while hosting a White House press briefing.
She added the US “feel good about the prospects of a deal” with Iran.
Asked if a potential second round of talks with Iran would be held in Islamabad again, Leavitt said negotiations “would very likely be in the same place as they were last time”.
She added that Pakistan is “the only mediator” in these discussions and praised their efforts. – Guardian
Bessent ‘optimistic’ US gas prices will fall before late September
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said, at a White House press briefing, it will come down to “how the negotiations go [with Iran]”.
The US kept its side of the ceasefire, he said, but the Strait of Hormuz has not been reopened.
“So, we will see, and I’m optimistic that during the summer we will see gas with a three right in front of it, sooner rather than later,” he said.
He said he’s been meeting with his Middle Eastern counterparts, who say that “once the strait is open they can start pumping again within one week”.
Pressed on whether gas prices dropping to $3 can be achieved by the summer, Bessent said, “I am optimistic that sometime between June 20th and September 20th, we can have $3 gas again.” – The Guardian
UAE to resume in-person schooling as Iran ceases attacks
The United Arab Emirates said in-person classes at schools can restart on April 20th, the latest step by authorities to bring life back to normal as a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran holds.
The Gulf state’s education ministry made the announcement on social media, saying it followed the “completion of necessary readiness and preparation plans” regarding safety and security.
The move will offer relief for families across the country of about 11 million people, most of who are foreigners.
Distance learning began on March 2nd and was extended until April 17th for all nurseries and public and private schools.
The UAE was targeted by a significant portion of Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks after the US-Israeli bombing campaign of the Islamic Republic began in late February.
Educational institutions were instructed to close and shift to online teaching. – Bloomberg
‘Large’ fire breaks out at Australian refinery
Emergency services are responding to a “large” fire at Viva Energy Group Ltd’s Geelong refinery in southern Australia, according to a police statement.
The blaze was reported at around 11pm local time, the police said. The plant in the state of Victoria can process 120,000 barrels a day of oil and is one of only two refineries still operating in the country, according to the firm’s website.
Australia’s petroleum product supplies have already come under severe pressure from the fallout of the Iran war.
Prices at the pump have surged and the government has been taking steps to reduce the impact for consumers.
Any further disruption to Australia’s fuel supplies is likely to put additional upward pressure on prices – although the immediate impact of the blaze is not yet clear. – Bloomberg
Trump posts image of himself with Jesus as administration’s pope criticism continues
US president Donald Trump posted an image of Jesus embracing him on Wednesday, as a war of words between his administration and the pope showed little sign of abating.
The image, reposted to Trump’s Truth Social account, shows Trump with his eyes closed, touching temple-to-temple with a similarly posed Jesus. Trump is standing behind a microphone, and behind him is an American flag.
The original post had a caption that included the words: “God might be playing his Trump card!”
Trump’s repost added the caption: “The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!!”
Earlier this week, Trump posted an image portraying him as a Jesus-like figure. The post prompted widespread criticism of the Republican president, and he later deleted it.
Trump has been feuding with Pope Leo, the first US-born leader of the Catholic Church and an outspoken critic of the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Trump reiterated his criticism of the religious leader on Tuesday night.
In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump urged that “someone please tell Pope Leo” about the killings of protesters by Iran and that “for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable.”
The pope said in response to Trump’s previous attacks that he had “no fear” of the Trump administration and would continue to speak out.
In a forceful speech on Monday in Algiers, he denounced “neocolonial” world powers who he said were violating international law, without singling out specific countries. – Reuters
Iran can go up to two months without oil exports before cutting output, analysts say
Iran can withstand a complete halt in oil exports of up to two months before being forced to curb production, analysts said, after the US began blocking shipping in and out of the country’s ports on April 13th.
The blockade could prevent roughly 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian crude from reaching its main buyer China.
Any Iranian production shutdowns would add to more than 12 million bpd of supply already disrupted by the regional war, tightening markets further and lifting oil prices.
With its exports blocked, Iran faces having to divert crude into onshore storage tanks. Once those tanks are filled, the OPEC member would be required to curb upstream output.
Consultancy FGE NextantECA estimates Iran has about 90 million barrels of available onshore crude storage capacity, out of total capacity of roughly 122 million barrels.
“Iran can sustain current production of around 3.5 million bpd for roughly two months without exports, extendable to around three months with a modest 500,000 bpd production cut,” FGE NextantECA said in a note.
Iranian domestic refineries process about 2 million bpd of oil, they added.
The relevant Iranian authorities were not immediately available for comment. – Reuters
US naval vessels on patrol in the Gulf of Oman
In a post on X, the US central command (Centcom) said US naval vessels are on patrol in the Gulf of Oman as Centcom continues to execute a US blockade on ships entering and departing Iranian ports.
“US forces are present, vigilant, and ready to ensure compliance,” it added.
ECB policymakers see little evidence for now for April hike, sources say
European Central Bank policymakers are wary about raising interest rates as soon as this month as they have yet to see firm evidence that an energy-induced inflation shock is becoming broad-based or entrenched, four sources told Reuters.
Such second-round inflation effects are still possible and policy tightening remains firmly on the table but concrete evidence is needed before policymakers pull the trigger, the sources, all familiar with policy discussions, said.
Inflation surged to 2.5 per cent in March from 1.9 per cent a month earlier as war in the Middle East pushed up energy prices and policymakers are now debating whether to raise rates to prevent longer-term inflation expectations from rising.
“Longer term inflation expectations have not increased, domestic inflation is slowing and the jump in petrol prices is hitting disposable incomes, which actually limits companies’ ability to raise prices,” one of the sources, who asked not to be named, said.
“I can’t tell you what we’re doing on April 30th but I can tell you that as of today, I don’t have evidence to support a hike,” the source added.
An ECB spokesperson declined to comment. – Reuters
Qatar warns ‘full-fledged’ Iran war impact about to hit global economy
The global economy is about to feel the full economic impact of the Iran war, Qatar’s finance minister said on Wednesday, but headed that his country’s finances would be able to ride out the problems for at least a year.
“A full-fledged impact is coming and it is not far away,” Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari said at an International Monetary Fund (IMF) discussion in Washington, describing the recent spike in global prices as just the “tip of the iceberg”.
“I think in one month, two months’ time you are going to see really a huge economic impact globally,” he said.
“Very soon you are going to have a problem of energy availability not just prices. So even if you can afford to pay you are not going to be able to source, which is a major, major problem.”
There was also the threat that the sharp reduction in global fertiliser production and supply from the region would see farming seasons missed around the world, triggering a food crisis too, he added. – Reuters
Hormuz ship traffic stays way down amid double blockade
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway that’s become a focal point for the global economy, stayed far below peacetime levels as an effective double blockade stifles vessel movements, reports Bloomberg.
The number of commercial ships observed sailing through the strait stood at 11 on Tuesday, ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show.
It averaged 16 a day over the weekend. Ships can switch off their digital transponders to hide their movements in danger zones, and the Wall Street Journal cited two US officials as saying more than 20 went through on Tuesday.
Quickly restoring traffic to normal is critical for global economy because it’s led to a more-than 400 million-barrel shortfall in oil shipments. That’s driven a 31 per cent increase in oil prices since the conflict started with European natural gas gaining by a similar amount.
While overall traffic has slowed sharply since the start of the war, Iran has continued to ship at close to pre-war levels, which has helped maintain global supplies and provided a financial lifeline for the Islamic Republic.
The US needs its blockade to inflict enough economic pain on Tehran to force it to accept US demands before Iran’s own effective closure of Hormuz upends the global economy. – Bloomberg
Israel’s military chief orders areas in Lebanon to become Hizbullah ‘kill zone’
Israel’s military chief of staff said he had ordered areas south of Lebanon’s Litani river to be turned into a Hizbullah “kill zone” as troops pressed a major offensive there.
“I have ordered that all of the area of south Lebanon up to the Litani [river] line be turned into a Hizbullah terrorist kill zone,” chief of staff Lieut Gen Eyal Zamir said on a visit to troops operating in the area.
Possible extension to ceasefire
Bloomberg reports that Iran and the United States weigh extending their ceasefire by two weeks.
Israel expects the ceasefire with Iran will be extended, reports Reuters.
UK chancellor tells Americans she does not know why they launched Iran war
Chancellor of the exchequer in the UK government, Rachel Reeves, has told an American audience she does not know why they went to war against Iran.
Speaking at a CNBC event in Washington, where she is attending an International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting, Reeves said: “There were diplomatic negotiations happening before this. So if the aim is to now to get diplomatic negotiations, well, they were already happening before the conflict started.”
“We’ve never been clear about what the goals of this conflict is, which is why the impacts in our economy, but also here in the US economy and around the world, and particularly for our allies in the Gulf, like Saudi and Qatar and the UAE, are so immense.”
Reeves said that it was important to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to reduce energy prices.
But, said, “it was open at the beginning of this conflict, and that’s what I mean about being clear about what the objectives of this conflict is. We are willing to play our part [keeping it open], but the strait of Hormuz was open.
“There was no tolling a few weeks ago. Yes, we want to get back there, but I’m not convinced that this conflict has made the world a safer place.”
Pakistan’s prime minister arrives in Saudi Arabia
Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday at the start of a four-day tour before a possible second round of US-Iran peace talks, his office said in a statement.
Sharif will also visit Qatar and Turkey on his trip, which comes after Washington and Tehran held their highest-level talks in decades in Islamabad last weekend.
The Pakistani leader will discuss the “regional situation” with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi de facto ruler, his office said.
Three paramedics killed in south Lebanon
Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes targeted paramedic teams in south Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least three of them.
“The Israeli enemy targeted paramedic teams in the town of Mayfadoun, Nabatiyeh District, three consecutive times,” the ministry said in a statement.
“This resulted in the martyrdom of three paramedics and the injury of six others, while one paramedic remains missing.”
What has happened so far on Wednesday?
US military says it stopped nine vessels from sailing out of Iranian ports
The US military said that it successfully stopped nine vessels from sailing out of Iranian ports during the first 48 hours of a naval blockade against the Islamic republic.
“Nine vessels have complied with direction from US forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area,” US central command (Centcom), which is responsible for American troops in the Middle East, said in a post on X.
“No vessels have made it past US forces,” Centcom said.
However, maritime tracking data appeared to contradict the US assertion.
Tracking data from Tuesday indicated at least three ships sailing from Iranian ports crossed the Strait of Hormuz, though some vessels taking the route later turned back. – The Guardian
IMF calls for countries to economise on energy supplies
The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that at least a dozen countries, including some in sub-Saharan Africa, will seek new lending programmes due to surging energy prices and supply chain disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East.
IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva has repeated her estimate that the war could trigger demand for $20 billion (€17 billion) to $40 billion (€33.9 billion) in lending that could include augmentation of existing programmes and new programmes.
Georgieva began her press conference in Washington DC by telling reporters that her hopes and prayers are for the Middle East ceasefire to lead to a durable peace.
She also warned countries against taking untargeted actions such as broad energy subsidies to offset the impact of higher prices, saying they would only “prolong the pain of high prices.”
She warned that there are shortages of oil and gas, naptha, helium and other products in Asia, and expressed concerns about the risk of higher food price inflation unless fertiliser delivery at reasonable prices resume soon.
The IMF is also encouraging countries to economise energy use, through measures such as free public transport.
Georgieva argues that the energy shock will incentivise measures to reduce demand. – The Guardian
Middle East war damage to energy assets may cost up to $58bn, research firm says
The Middle East conflict could saddle the region with as much as $58 billion (over €49 billion) in repair costs for energy-linked infrastructure, with oil and gas facilities alone accounting for up to $50 billion (€42.4 billion), according to a report by Rystad Energy.
The estimate marks a sharp increase from the research firm’s initial $25 billion (€21.2 billion) projection three weeks ago, reflecting a broader scope of damage before an April 8th ceasefire between the US and Iran.
“Repair work does not create new capacity. It redirects existing capacity and that redirection will be felt in project delays and into inflation far beyond the Middle East,” Rystad senior analyst Karan Satwani said.
“The $58 billion bill is the headline, but the knock-on effects on energy investment timelines globally may prove just as significant.” – Reuters
The United States and Iran made progress in talks on Tuesday and are moving closer to a framework agreement to end the war, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two US officials. – Reuters
Hizbullah lawmaker says Iranian, regional efforts could lead to Lebanon ceasefire ‘soon’
Diplomatic efforts by Iran and other regional countries could produce a ceasefire in Lebanon “soon,” senior Hizbullah lawmaker Ibrahim al-Moussawi told Reuters on Wednesday, saying Tehran had used its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage.
“The Iranians are exercising high pressure against the Americans and they have put their conditions that the Americans should include Lebanon in the ceasefire. If they don’t do it, they are going to continue their blockade of Hormuz. It’s the economic card,” Moussawi said.
“The Iranians have opened up to several regional and international parties to achieve this goal,” he said.
Moussawi declined to comment on whether the group would abide by such a ceasefire.
Lebanese officials says efforts under way for ceasefire in Lebanon
Two senior Lebanese officials told Reuters on Wednesday they had been briefed that efforts were under way for a ceasefire in Lebanon, but did not have details on when it would begin or how long it would last.
The officials both said it was likely the ceasefire’s duration would be linked to how long a truce between the United States and Iran holds.
One of the officials said the US had been pressuring Israel, including in talks in Washington on Tuesday, to work towards a ceasefire in Lebanon. – Reuters
According to state media, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has received a Pakistani delegation led by army chief Asim Munir.
Unifil says convoy transporting peacekeepers halted by Israel Defense Forces
In a post on X, Unifil said, “yesterday afternoon, a routine convoy transporting military and civilian peacekeepers, along with essential contractors, from Beirut to UNIFIL headquarters was halted by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel a few kilometres from its destination in Naqoura.”
It said the UN-marked vehicles were “eventually allowed to proceed.
“However, local contractors were required to return to Beirut under security arrangements, despite the convoy having been fully deconflicted in advance, including their presence.”
Unifil said this was not an isolated incident as “similar restrictions, through physical roadblocks or the reversal of prior clearances, have affected both peacekeepers and the essential personnel who support them.”
“These actions raise concerns regarding the timely delivery of critical supplies, including food, fuel and water to UNIFIL positions, particularly along the Blue Line.”
Unifil also said that while challenges have been managed this far, limitations on movement risk undermining the sustainment of operations.
Unifil called on the IDF to honour the “agreed arrangements and to uphold its obligations to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers, as well as the freedom of movement of all UNIFIL patrols and logistical convoys.”
Pakistan’s army chief ‘to narrow gaps between Iran and the US’
Pakistan’s army chief will soon arrive in Tehran “to narrow gaps between Iran and the US” in order to prevent the resumption of war, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Wednesday.
The Pakistani military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. – Reuters
Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet will convene on Wednesday at 8pm (5pm GMT) to discuss a possible ceasefire in Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said. – Reuters
Pope Leo says world needs message of peace
Pope Leo said on Wednesday that the world needs to hear a message of peace and coexistence after US president Donald Trump attacked him for a second time this week on social media.
Speaking on his flight from Algeria to Cameroon for the second leg of a whirlwind 10-day Africa tour, the first US pontiff urged respect for all people and said his travels so far had shown the importance of pursuing dialogue between different communities.
“Although we have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshipping, we have different ways of living, we can live together in peace,” said the pontiff, referring to his two days in mostly Muslim Algeria, where the Catholic Church is a small minority.
“To promote that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today.”
Trump, who attacked Leo as “terrible” on the eve of the pope’s tour, doubled down in a social media post late on Tuesday, despite widespread backlash from US Christians across the political spectrum. – Reuters
One-week ceasefire in Lebanon to begin tonight, according to pro-Hizbullah media
The pro-Hizbullah outlet al-Mayadeen, citing an Iranian official, has reported that a one-week ceasefire will take effect in Lebanon starting tonight.
The move comes after pressure from Iran, according to the official.
The truce will coincide with the final week of the temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran.
Israel’s Channel 12 news, however, reported that Israel has not yet decided on the issue, according to its sources.
A senior Israeli official claimed the idea of declaring a week-long ceasefire in Lebanon was raised by US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Channel 12 reported that the Israeli cabinet will convene tonight to discuss the matter, but noted that some ministers “are pressing for the exact opposite – to resume the attacks in Beirut and beyond the Litani [river]”. – The Guardian
Eleven finance ministers, including Harris, call for ‘swift and lasting’ end to war
Finance ministers from more than 10 countries, including Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, have called for a “swift and lasting” end to the US-Iran war.
In a joint statement issued by the UK Treasury, the ministers said the US-Israeli strikes and Iran’s retaliatory attacks have caused “unacceptable loss of life and significant disruption to the global economy and financial markets”.
While they welcomed the ceasefire, they said the impacts of the war on “growth, inflation and markets will persist” even if the conflict is resolved.
The statement said: “We call for a swift and lasting negotiated resolution to the conflict and a return to free and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, that mitigates impacts on growth, energy prices and living standards, in particular for the poorest and most vulnerable.”
The statement was signed by finance ministers from the UK, Australia, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Poland and New Zealand. – The Guardian
A Pakistani delegation on way to Iran
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has said that a high-ranking Pakistani delegation will visit Tehran today to follow up on talks with the US in Islamabad.
“During this visit, the views of both sides are likely to be discussed in detail,” Baghaei said.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry refused to comment on the delegation details and visit.
Pakistani sources said that senior intelligence and military officials are part of the delegation.
However, Pakistan’s military media wing has yet to comment on it. Baghaei also said that several messages with the US through Pakistan have been exchanged since the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran after the Islamabad talks.
“Since Sunday, when the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran, several messages have been exchanged through Pakistan,” Baghaei said in his press briefing. – Guardian
UN experts condemn Israeli strikes on Lebanon, UN rights body says
United Nations experts on Wednesday condemned Israel’s bombing in Lebanon earlier this month as “illegal aggression and indiscriminate bombing campaign”, the United Nations 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,” the experts were quoted as saying in a statement.
Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the conflict with Hizbullah broke out last month, killing more than 250 people on April 8th, 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 Binyamin Netanyahu has said Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire. – Reuters
Ryanair says jet-fuel suppliers guarantee shipments to mid-May
Ryanair Holdings Plc said jet-fuel suppliers are guaranteeing shipments until at least mid-May, though the situation remains “fluid” as the war in the Middle East plays out.
In addition, airlines are likely to pass on their higher fuel costs through more expensive fares for the summer season, Ryanair said on Wednesday in an emailed statement. The airline is Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier.
“If the Iran war finishes soon then supply will not be disrupted,” company spokeswoman Emer Igbokwe said.
“If the closure of the Hormuz Strait continues into May or June, then we cannot rule out risks to fuel supplies at some airports in Europe.”
Ryanair’s comments echo those of Virgin Atlantic Airways chief executive Corneel Koster, who said earlier this week he could see about six weeks of secure jet-fuel supplies.
Concerns around shortages are growing as airlines enter their peak summer travel season. Europe’s largest carriers have urged the European Union to introduce temporary measures to ease the impact of the disruption.
The bloc may face supply issues in the near future, a European Commission spokesperson said Tuesday. – Bloomberg
Trump says second round of talks could happen ‘over the next two days’
Hopes have risen for renewed talks between the United States and Iran, as the US military said its blockade of Iranian ports was in full effect and Tehran threatened to retaliate by striking targets across the region.
US president Donald Trump said on 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.
Regional officials said on Wednesday that the US and Iran gave an “in principle agreement” to extend the two-week ceasefire, which is due to expire on April 22nd, to allow for more diplomacy.
One of the officials, who is involved in the mediation efforts, said mediators were working on a compromise to the three main disputed points – Iran’s nuclear programme, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for Iran’s wartime damages.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said it is “highly probable” that talks will restart, citing a meeting he had with Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar. – AP
US has not formally agreed to ceasefire extension, says senior official
The United States has not formally agreed to the extension of its ceasefire with Iran, a senior official said on Wednesday.
“There is continued engagement between the US and Iran to reach a deal,” a senior US official told Reuters. – The Guardian
US and Iran seek further talks as Hormuz standoff intensifies
The US and Iran are closer to extending a ceasefire and restarting negotiations about a longer-term peace deal, the Associated Press (AP) reported, even as a standoff intensifies over the Strait of Hormuz.
The two sides have an “in principle agreement” to pursue further diplomacy after an inconclusive initial round of talks in Pakistan at the weekend, the AP said, citing regional officials it didn’t identify.
Mediators are pushing for a compromise on outstanding issues including Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program before the April 7th truce expires next week, the news agency said.
US president Donald Trump played down the prospect of renewed fighting on Tuesday, telling Fox Business that the near seven-week war is “close to over.”
Even so, tension remains high over Hormuz, with a US naval blockade cutting off Iranian oil flows in the strategic waterway, while Tehran keeps the strait closed off to other shipments.
Iran sees a prolonging of the US blockade as “a prelude to a breach of the ceasefire,” said Ali Abdollahi, the commander of Iran’s joint military headquarters, according to state TV.
Iran’s armed forces “will not permit any exports or imports to continue in the Gulf, the Sea of Oman or the Red Sea” if the blockade continues, he said. – Bloomberg
Northern Ireland MP calls on prime minister to act amid fuel protests
Speaking at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, DUP MP Gregory Campbell warned that more protests are being organised for next week and that action is needed “to ensure these protests don’t escalate out of control”.
The MP said: “Prime minister, there is severe hardship being experienced by businesses, consumers and families right across the United Kingdom.
“Not just normal cost-of-living costs, but fuel costs are exceptionally high and getting higher.
“There are protests being organised as we speak for next week.
“Prime minister, we need action delivered as quickly as possible in order to ensure that these protests don’t escalate out of control and people see that politics matters, governments listen and take action, rather than just offer words.”
Responding, Keir Starmer said: “I know that his constituents and all of those in Northern Ireland are concerned about the impact that the war in Iran is having on them.
“I was in Northern Ireland just a few weeks ago, where I spoke directly to party leaders and we announced what we doing in that regard on heating oil.
“Obviously, fuel duty is frozen until September. Energy bills have been reduced, and we have also made it clear that we wouldn’t tolerate profiteering or unfair practices, which was a particular concern raised with me when I was over in Northern Ireland.
“The most important thing we can do is to de-escalate the conflict and get the Strait of Hormuz open, and that’s why I’m co-hosting the summit on Friday, in order to make progress on both those fronts.” – PA
Trump says China is happy he is permanently opening Strait of Hormuz
US president Donald Trump said that China and the United States are working together and that Beijing is happy that he is opening the Strait of Hormuz.
“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,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
He added, “President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks. 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!!!” – The Guardian
Right to peaceful use of nuclear energy could not be ‘taken away under pressure or through war,’ says Iran’s foreign ministry
Iran’s foreign ministry has said that Tehran’s right to enrich uranium was “indisputable” although the level of enrichment is “negotiable”.
In a weekly press briefing, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy could not be “taken away under pressure or through war”.
“Regarding the level and type of enrichment, we have always stated that this issue is negotiable. We have emphasised that Iran should be able to continue enrichment in accordance with its needs,” he added. – The Guardian
Starmer says he is ‘not going to yield’ to pressure to join war
Britain’s prime minister Keir Starmer has said he is “not going to yield” to pressure from Donald Trump. His comments come after the US president threatened to change the terms of a trade deal with Britain after the refusal to get involved in the Iran war.
Trump suggested the terms of the UK-US trade agreement brokered last year “can always be changed” in an overnight interview with Sky News.
Relations between the British and US leaders have deteriorated after Starmer rejected the prospect of UK involvement in the Middle East conflict.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, Starmer told MPs: “My position on the Iran war has been clear from the start. We’re not going to get dragged into this war. It is not our war.
“A lot of pressure has been applied to me to take a different course, and that pressure included what happened last night.
“I’m not going to change my mind. I’m not going to yield.
“It is not in our national interest to join this war, and we will not do so. I know where I stand.” - PA
Rescued Iranian crew return home from Sri Lanka
More than 200 Iranian crew members from two warships who were rescued by Sri Lanka have been sent back to their homeland, an official has said.
Sri Lanka rescued 32 Iranian crew from the warship IRIS Dena on March 4th after it was hit by a torpedo from a US submarine.
The ship was returning from a naval exercise organised by India, amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Sri Lanka also rescued 208 crew from a second vessel, IRIS Booshehr on March 5th that had also requested assistance from Colombo after it ran into engine trouble.
“The crew of both ships were flown out about 11pm on a special flight on Tuesday night,” Srik Lankan deputy defence minister Aruna Jayasekera told Reuters.
Sri Lanka granted 30-day entry visas to the crew members and housed them in navy and air force camps before arrangements were made for their return to Iran.
A chartered plane arranged by Iran took back the bodies of 84 crew members from the Dena who were killed in the US attack. - Reuters
Erdogan says Turkey is working to extend ceasefire
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Ankara is working to extend a ceasefire between the US and Iran, ease tensions, and ensure the continuation of talks. He said Turkey is hopeful of negotiations despite stumbling blocks.
Turkey, a neighbour of Iran, has been in close touch with the US, Iran, and mediator Pakistan. It has repeatedly called for an end to the war that it says is unjustified. Speaking to members of parliament, Erdogan said Israel’s attacks in Lebanon were harming hopes for peace, and added the window of opportunity created by the ceasefire must be seized.
“Statements by the sides show that, while the negotiation table has not been toppled, they have reached a road bump on the nuclear issue,” he said, adding tensions were also flaring again over the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are conveying the necessary suggestions and carrying out initiatives to ease tensions, extend the ceasefire, and maintain talks. There can be no negotiating with clenched fists,” Erdogan added. - Reuters
Iran likely to host Pakistani delegation today
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson says it is highly probable that Iran will host a Pakistani delegation on Wednesday in a continuation of talks to end the conflict, Iranian state media reports. - Reuters
EU warns of prolonged energy shock if Iran war continues
The European Union warned member countries on Wednesday that if the Iran conflict continues, energy markets will face a prolonged supply shock that would force cuts to fuel consumption, EU diplomats told Reuters.
Global energy supplies are reeling from the war’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, usually a transit route for 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Europe has not yet faced supply shortages, but is grappling with soaring oil and gas prices and airports have warned the first jet fuel shortages could hit within weeks.
In a closed-door meeting with EU countries’ ambassadors on Wednesday, the European Commission said it was considering two main scenarios, diplomats with knowledge of the talks said.
In a scenario where the ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran holds, and the US blockade of the strait is lifted, oil and gas flows would recover in a few months and prices should decline, the Commission said. Diesel and jet fuel prices would ease later, by the end of summer, while the global market for LNG would remain tightened until 2030, due to damage to infrastructure in Qatar, it added.
But if tensions continue, energy markets would face a prolonged supply shock and extreme price spikes, with ripple effects across industries’ supply chains. Continued oil supply disruption would increasingly force “demand destruction” - meaning reduced fuel use, the Commission said.
In this scenario, Europe could struggle to fill its gas storage ahead of winter. Localised shortages of jet fuel are also possible, the Commission said, according to the diplomats. - Reuters
Iran is beating the land of tech bros in the social media wars
If Iran could manufacture destructive missiles at the speed with which it produces cutting memes, US Central Command would be coming out with its hands up by now, Patrick Wintour writes.
One of the more bizarre and unexpected aspects of the Iran-US war is that Iran, a country by reputation dominated by conservative clerics neuralgic about western culture and media, is dominating the social media war, unleashing its Gen Z tech warriors to engage western audiences with its sarcasm and ridicule of the Trump administration.
Iran’s social media performance, ranging from embassies’ social media feeds to the speaker of parliament, Mohammad Qalibaf, is all the more surprising since most Iranians are raging at more than four weeks of digital darkness, the longest government-induced internet blackout in the world.
Read the full article here.
Trump says Iran war will slow economic growth in US
US president Donald Trump has told Fox News that an end to the conflict in Iran could come very soon.
“If they’re going to have a nuclear weapon, we’ll be living with them for a little while. But I don’t know how much longer they can survive.”
During the interview, Trump said the war will slow economic growth in the US, saying: “There’s going to be a hit, but it’s going to recover.” He said gas prices are “coming down very soon and very big”.
He also said he wrote a letter to Chinese president Xi Jinping telling him not to supply weapons to Iran. Trump said he had heard and seen reports “all over the place” that Beijing was sending weapons to Tehran.
“I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that. And he wrote me a letter saying that essentially, he’s not doing that,” Trump said, adding that Xi is “somebody I get along with very well”. - Reuters
Iran threatens to target Gulf and Sea of Oman ships
Iran’s revolutionary guards say they will not allow imports and exports in the Gulf or Sea of Oman if the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues against Iran’s vessels.
The Sea of Oman is a gulf in the Indian Ocean that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz. - Reuters
US-sanctioned tanker turns back to Strait of Hormuz
A US-sanctioned tanker that sailed through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday has now pulled a U-turn and returned to the Gulf, shipping data shows.
Rich Starry, a Chinese ship placed under US sanctions for dealing with Iran, abruptly turned north last night and headed back towards the strait.
This indicates it failed to break through the US blockade on vessels calling at Iranian ports. Another sanctioned tanker, Elpis, has stopped near the place where Rich Starry turned around. - The Guardian
China welcomes ‘all efforts’ to end war
China said it welcomes “all efforts conducive to a ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities” following reports that a second round of negotiations could take place in Pakistan.
Speaking at a press briefing today, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, praised Pakistan for its “role in facilitating a temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran and playing a fair and balanced mediating role”. - The Guardian
Iran’s president says Tehran is ‘seeking dialogue, not war’
The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said his country is not seeking war but dialogue, as he warned any attempt by the US to impose its will or force Tehran to surrender “is doomed to failure”.
In comments carried by the official Islamic Republic News Agency, he said: “Iran is not seeking war or instability and has always emphasised dialogue and constructive engagement with various countries.
“However, any attempt to impose one’s will or force the country to surrender is doomed to failure, and the Iranian nation will never accept such an approach.” - The Guardian
‘He’s clearly not well’: Donald Trump’s erratic behaviour revives debate
US president Donald Trump’s erratic behaviour and extreme comments in recent days and weeks have turbocharged the crazy-like-a-fox-or-just-plain-crazy debate that has followed him on the national political stage for a decade, Peter Baker writes.
A series of disjointed, hard-to-follow and sometimes-profane statements capped by his “a whole civilization will die tonight” threat to wipe Iran off the map last week and his head-spinning attack on the “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy” pope on Sunday night have left many with the impression of a deranged autocrat mad with power.
The White House rejected such assessments, saying Trump is sharp and keeping his opponents on edge. But the president’s eruptions have raised questions about America’s leadership in a time of war.
Read the full article here.
Oil rises after report US is sending thousands more troops
The oil price has pushed higher, following a report that the US is sending “thousands” more troops to the Middle East.
Brent crude is now up 1.2 per cent at around $96 (€81.48) a barrel.
According to the Washington Post, the Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops to the region. The move is to put pressure Iran into agreeing a deal, but US officials have also said they are considering the possibility of additional strikes or ground operations if the ceasefire does not hold, they say.
The Washington Post reports: The forces moving into the region include about 6,000 troops aboard the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush and several warships escorting it, said current and former officials.
About 4,200 others with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and its embarked Marine Corps taskforce, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are expected to arrive near the end of the month. - The Guardian
Hizbullah warns of widening rift over Lebanon-Israel talks
Lebanon’s Hizbullah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said on Wednesday that a rift in Lebanon could widen over the government’s decision to negotiate with Israel, urging authorities to reconsider the move.
He added that the Iran-aligned group wants a comprehensive ceasefire, not a return to near-daily Israeli strikes and assassinations as seen after the November 2024 ceasefire deal. - Reuters
Lavrov says Iran has ‘inalienable right’ to enrich uranium
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said Iran has an “inalienable right” to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.
Whether Iran, in its negotiations with the US, chooses to “pause or insist on reserving this right”, Russia will “support any approach based on the principle of the universality of the right to enrichment”, Lavrov said at a press conference after an official visit to China, according to the Russian state-owned Tass news agency. - The Guardian
US to send thousands more troops to Middle East - report
The US is set to send thousands of more troops into the Middle East in coming days, as the Trump administration attempts to pressure Iran into a deal, the Washington Post said on Wednesday, citing US officials familiar with the matter. - Reuters
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European shares muted
European shares were muted on Wednesday following the previous day’s rally, as investors evaluated a range of corporate earnings reports while monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East.
The pan-European STOXX index edged up 0.06 per cent to 620.31 points as of 9.32am Irish time.
Major regional markets were also mixed, with Germany’s DAX up 0.1 per cent, while France’s CAC fell 0.6 per cent. - Reuters
Israeli military issues another evacuation order in Lebanon
The Israeli military has issued another order forcing people to flee their homes south of the Zahrani river in southern Lebanon.
“The air strikes are ongoing as the Israel Defense Forces operate with significant force in the area,” said Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic language spokesperson.
The UN said Israel has issued warnings and displacement orders covering some 14 per cent of Lebanon, including the whole region south of the Zahrani river, most of Beirut’s southern suburbs and parts of the Bekaa region. They affect more than 100 towns and villages and have caused the displacement of more than a million people. - The Guardian
Several people killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon
The Israeli military has continued its strikes on southern Lebanon, while Hizbullah said it launched rockets at several areas in northern Israel.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported five people were killed in an Israeli air strike that hit the southern Lebanese town of Ansariyah, while civil defence teams and paramedics recovered four bodies after an Israeli raid in the Qadmus area.
The news agency also reported two people were killed in drone strikes on two vehicles on the Tyre-Beirut coastal highway, near the towns of Saadiyat and Jiyeh south of the Lebanese capital. The strikes were reportedly the closest to Beirut in a week, after a series of Israel attacks on the Lebanese capital on April 8th killed more than 350 people. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Hizbullah group said it targeted several areas in northern Israel with rocket barrages this morning, including Metula, Kfar Giladi and Kiryat Shmona, according to reports by the Hizbullah-owned al-Manar TV.
The attacks come hours after Lebanon and Israel’s ambassadors to the US held their first direct talks in decades in Washington. They agreed to hold further direct negotiations, although Hizbullah has strongly rejected the talks. - The Guardian
Keir Starmer now faces open hostility from Jerusalem
Much focus has been placed on UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s plummeting relationship with US president Donald Trump, but his breach in relations with Israel is arguably deeper. It was on full show when he addressed the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, London Correspondent Mark Paul writes.
Starmer told MPs that Israel’s brutal bombing campaign in Lebanon “should stop now”.
“Israel’s strikes are wrong. They are having devastating humanitarian consequences and pushing Lebanon into a crisis,” he said, unusually forthright in diplomatic terms.
He was, in effect, only repeating what he had first said during his trip to the Gulf last week. But putting it on the official record of the UK parliament gave the admonishment extra weight. He also promised that he would argue for Lebanon to be included in the ongoing two-week ceasefire in the US-led war on Iran that Israel has already rejected.
Once upon a time, Starmer was a doyen of UK-Israeli relations but perhaps not any more.
Read the full analysis here.
Trump again suggests war is nearing end
The Sky News interview is one of several Trump has given in the past 24 hours, in which he has indicated the war with Iran may be nearing an end.
When asked by Sky whether a deal could happen before Britain’s King Charles visits the US at the end of the month, Trump said: “It’s possible. Very possible. They’re beaten up pretty bad.”
In an interview with Fox News, which is scheduled to air later this morning, the US president said the Iran war was “close to over, yeah, I mean I view it as very close to over”.
Speaking to the New York Post yesterday, Trump said another round of peace talks “could be happening over next two days”.
Trump has previously suggested that the war was ending. In his address to the nation on April 1st, Trump said the war was “nearing completion” and could end in “two or three weeks”. - The Guardian
Message from the Editor
Trump warns UK trade deal could ‘always be changed’
More from Donald Trump’s phone call with Sky News:
The US president said he had given the UK a “good trade deal” but warned that the deal could “always be changed”.
When asked his thoughts on the special relationship, Trump replied: “With who?”
After Sky clarified it meant with the UK, Trump replied: “It’s the relationship where: when we asked them for help, they were not there. When we needed them, they were not there. When we didn’t need them, they were not there. And they still aren’t there.”
He added: “It’s been better, but it’s sad. And we gave them a good trade deal, better than I had to, which can always be changed.” - The Guardian
Inflation in France rose faster than initially thought in the first month of the Iran war.
Consumer prices in the euro zone’s second-largest member rose by 2 per cent year-on-year in March, on an EU-harmonised basis, up from the first estimate of 1.9 per cent.
Statistics body Insee reports that energy prices rose sharply; they rose by 7.4 per cent year-on-year in March, up from ‑2.9 per cent in February.
The high inflation of petroleum products (+18.1 per cent after ‑2.2 per cent) was mostly due to the rise of diesel (+23.5 per cent after ‑1.4 per cent), petrol (+9.9 per cent after ‑3.8 per cent) and liquid fuel (+40.9 per cent after ‑0.4 per cent). - Reuters
FTSE shares up
Britain’s stock market has opened a little higher, with the FTSE 100 share index up 28 points or 0.27 per cent at 10,636 points. That’s still about 2.5 per cent, or 274 points, below its closing level just before the Iran war began. - Reuters
Japan’s Nikkei share average closed at a more than one-month high on Wednesday, as prospects of a new round of peace talks between the United States and Iran lifted investor sentiment and sent crude oil prices lower.
The Nikkei climbed 0.44 per cent to finish the session at 58,134.24, the highest since its record close on February 27th and nearly recouping all losses since the start of the US-Iran war the following day.
The Nikkei rose as much as 1.2 per cent earlier in the session. The broader Topix rose 0.4 per cent to 3,770.33. - Reuters
Poor relationship with Starmer will not overshadow royal visit, Trump insists
A breakdown in the political relationship between the US and Britain will not have an impact on the British king’s upcoming state visit to America, Donald Trump has insisted.
The US president hit out at British prime minister Keir Starmer for making “tragic” mistakes on winding down drilling in the North Sea and on migration, and suggested the terms of the UK-US trade deal brokered last year could be changed, in an interview with Sky News.
Charles and Camilla’s four-day trip to the US at the end of the month comes amid a worsening transatlantic relationship, after verbal attacks by Trump on Starmer and other Nato allies for not joining his war in Iran.
The historic visit between April 27th and 30th – Charles’s first visit to the US as monarch – will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US.
Speaking to Sky News only hours after Buckingham Palace released details of the US itinerary, Trump described Charles as a “great gentleman”.
“I’ve known him for a long time. He’s wonderful, wonderful person,” the US president added, according to the broadcaster.
Trump insisted his strained relationship with Starmer would “not at all” overshadow the royal visit. - PA
IAEA calls for ‘very detailed measures to verify Tehran’s nuclear activities’
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said any US-Iran agreement to end the war must include “very detailed” measures to verify Tehran’s nuclear activities.
“Iran has a very ambitious, wide nuclear programme so all of that will require the presence of IAEA inspectors,” said director general Rafael Grossi. “Otherwise, you will not have an agreement. You will have an illusion of an agreement.”
He added that any agreement on nuclear technology “requires very detailed verification mechanisms”.
Iran has not allowed the IAEA access to its nuclear facilities bombed by Israel and the US during a 12-day war in June, according to a confidential IAEA report circulated to member states and seen by the Associated Press.
The report stressed it “cannot verify whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities” or the “size of Iran’s uranium stockpile at the affected nuclear facilities”.
Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and has demanded recognition of its sovereign right to enrich uranium. - The Guardian
Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases
Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite that gave the Islamic republic a powerful new capability to target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent war, according to leaked Iranian military documents.
The records show the satellite, known as TEE-01B, was acquired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force in late 2024 after it was launched into space from China.
Time-stamped co-ordinate lists, satellite imagery and orbital analysis show that Iranian military commanders later tasked the satellite to monitor key US military sites.
Read the full story here.
Israeli and Lebanese officials hold rare direct talks
Israeli and Lebanese officials held rare direct talks in Washington on Tuesday.
The talks concluded on a productive note on Tuesday, according to the US State Department.
Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter said the two countries are “on the same side of the equation” in “liberating Lebanon” from the militant Hizbullah group.
Lebanese ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad called the meeting “constructive” but urged an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hizbullah militants. Since March, that war has displaced more than one million people in Lebanon.
Israel has said Lebanon is not included in the two-week ceasefire deal with Iran and has continued to strike the country.
Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Lebanon remains deeply divided over diplomatic engagement with Israel. - AP
South Korea has secured supplies of more than 270 million barrels of crude oil via routes unaffected by the US blockade of the strait of Hormuz, a senior official has said.
“I hereby report to the nation that visits to four countries have secured the import of 273m barrels of crude oil by the end of this year,” Kang Hoon-sik, chief of staff to the president, said.
The amount is sufficient for more than three months of South Korea’s oil needs, Kang said after he returned from a trip to Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. - The Guardian
Europe’s summer flights ‘at risk’
European holidaymakers may need to rethink their summer travel plans as airlines brace for possible flight groundings amid a mounting fuel supply crunch triggered by the Iran war.
Europe is more dependent on jet fuel imports than for any other transport fuel. The region consumed about 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) last year, of which roughly 500,000 bpd were imported, according to the International Energy Agency.
Around 75 per cent of those imports came from the Middle East. That dependence has left Europe acutely exposed to the Gulf supply shock.
Industry group Airports Council International Europe warned last week that the region could face a systemic jet fuel shortage within just three weeks. With supplies critically tight, airlines and oil importers face two unpalatable options: bid up prices to compete with Asia for scarce barrels, or cut consumption.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr warned on Tuesday that grounding aircraft “may be unavoidable” as shortages hit major airports. The German airline has drawn up contingency plans that include cutting capacity by up to 5 per cent, potentially grounding 20-40 older, less fuel-efficient planes earmarked for early retirement.
Spohr said Lufthansa, which hedges fuel up to 24 months ahead and was 85 per cent hedged as of December 31st, was well placed in the short term.
Not all carriers are so insulated. EasyJet has hedged the majority of its fuel needs for the coming months, but those positions begin to unwind by the end of summer, when the British budget carrier has warned ticket prices could rise.
Airlines for Europe has requested that the European Union introduce crisis-response measures, including: EU-level monitoring of jet fuel supplies, a temporary suspension of the bloc’s carbon market for aviation and scrapping certain aviation taxes. The industry group’s requests were outlined in a document seen by Reuters. - Reuters
US president Donald Trump hit out at Nato again in a post on Truth Social last night, saying the organisation “wasn’t there for us” and “won’t be” in the future.
Pakistani PM travels to Saudi Arabia
Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for an official visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, his office said, as Islamabad continues rounds of diplomacy aimed at facilitating US-Iran peace talks.
Saudi Arabia is one of Washington’s regional allies to have come under attack from Iran since the outbreak of the war in February.
Islamabad’s finance ministry announced on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia would provide Pakistan with $3bn (€2.5bn) to help bolster the country’s foreign reserves. Sharif will also travel to Qatar and Turkey.
In Turkey, Sharif is expected to participate in the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum and hold meetings with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other world leaders. - Reuters
Dollar at six-week low amid hopes of fresh Iran talks
The US dollar lingered near six-week lows on Wednesday, surrendering nearly all the gains it had made since the Iran war erupted as signs of another round of talks between Washington and Tehran lifted risk appetite.
Tehran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, since the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28th, a move that has sent oil prices surging and dampened investor sentiment.
Washington imposed a blockade on Iranian ports after the collapse of weekend negotiations but hopes grew as US president Donald Trump said on Tuesday talks to end the war could resume in Pakistan in the coming days.
The euro bought $1.1791, hovering near its highest since March 2nd. Sterling was steady at $1.35715. The dollar index, which measures the US currency against six units, was at 98.13, near its lowest in over six weeks.
Although talks in Islamabad last weekend failed to produce a breakthrough - raising doubts over the durability of a two-week ceasefire that still has a week to run - investors are clinging to hopes that diplomacy could yet deliver a resolution. - Reuters
Nissan’s vehicle sales in the Middle East have fallen to about half of pre-war levels due to a direct hit to car demand from the US-Israeli war against Iran, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. - Reuters
Russia ready to help China with energy, Lavrov says
Russia is ready to increase energy supplies to China and other countries affected by the Middle East crisis, Russian news agencies quoted foreign minister Sergey Lavrov as saying on Wednesday.
“Russia can, of course, make up for the resource shortfall facing both China and other countries that are interested in working with us on an equal and mutually beneficial basis,” Lavrov told a news conference in China.
Lavrov also stressed that Russia and China have all the necessary means to avoid reliance on what he described as US efforts to disrupt global energy markets through conflict in the Middle East. - Reuters
Vance says Iran will ‘thrive’ if it commits to not having a nuclear weapon
Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia, US vice-president JD Vance said Donald Trump “doesn’t want to make, like, a small deal. He wants to make the grand bargain”.
According to Vance, Trump was telling Iran: “If you guys commit to not having a nuclear weapon, we are going to make Iran thrive.”
Vance continued: “We’re going to make it economically prosperous, and we’re going to invite the Iranian people into the world economy in a way they haven’t been in my entire life.”
Vance – who took part in weekend negotiations with Iran in Pakistan - said there was a lot of mistrust between Washington and Tehran that cannot be resolved overnight, but that Iranian negotiators wanted to make a deal and that he felt “very good about where we are”.
Talks to end the Iran war could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, Trump said on Tuesday, after the collapse of weekend negotiations prompted Washington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports. The fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran still has a week to run. - The Guardian
Oil mixed as supply uncertainty outweighs hopes for US-Iran talks
Oil prices were mixed on Wednesday with Brent futures up and US futures down amid uncertainty over crude supply from the key Middle East producing region as the Strait of Hormuz remains mainly shut.
Brent crude futures were up 40 cents (33 cents), or 0.4 per cent, to $95.19 (€80.73) a barrel, paring earlier losses of as much as 0.9 per cent, after falling 4.6 per cent in the previous session. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 23 cents (19 cents), or 0.3 per cent, to $91.05 (€77.22).
Talks to end the war between the US and Israel and Iran could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, Donald Trump said on Tuesday, after the collapse of negotiations over the weekend prompted Washington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports. This has increased optimism talks could eventually settle the conflict and open up crude oil and fuel flows.
While the market is thinking the worst is over and factoring in further rounds of peace talks between the US and Iran in the coming days, there is more hope than actual developments at this point, said Suvro Sarkar, energy sector team lead at DBS Bank.
“Physical oil is still trading at significant premiums to these futures prices,” he said.
The war has mostly shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for crude and refined product flows out of the Gulf to global buyers, particularly in Asia and Europe.
Refiners are desperately seeking alternative crude supply, pushing the premiums they are willing to pay for oil from areas such as the US Gulf Coast and North Sea. A cargo of WTI Midland for delivery to Rotterdam traded at a record premium of $22.80 (€19.33) a barrel above benchmark European prices on Tuesday. - Reuters
US shuts down Iran’s maritime trade
The United States has said its military had halted trade going in and out of Iran by sea, even though Donald Trump said talks with Tehran on ending the war could resume this week.
Trump said negotiations between US and Iranian officials could resume in Pakistan in the next two days and vice-president JD Vance, who led weekend talks that ended without a breakthrough, said he felt positive about where things stood.
“I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,” Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, adding he did not think it would be necessary to extend a two-week ceasefire that ends on April 21st.
“It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild,” Trump said, according to a post by Karl on X. “They really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals.”
Officials from Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf also said negotiating teams from the US and Iran could return to Pakistan later this week, although one senior Iranian source said no date had been set.
Despite the optimistic note, more vessels were being turned back under the US blockade on Iranian ports, including a US-sanctioned and Chinese-owned tanker Rich Starry that was making its way back to the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after exiting the Gulf.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the US Central Command, said American forces had halted economic trade going in and out of Iran by sea; he said that trade fuels 90 per cent of Iran’s economy.
“In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea,” Cooper said in a post on X.
Earlier, the US military said it had intercepted eight Iran-linked oil tankers since the start of the blockade on Monday, according to the Wall Street Journal. - Reuters
Trump doubles down on criticism of pope
Donald Trump, whose war and immigration policies have been condemned by Pope Leo, has doubled down on his criticism of the Catholic leader.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday night, the US president urged that “someone please tell Pope Leo” about the killings of protesters by Iran and that “for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable”.
The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28th. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states with US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions.
Israel is widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with nuclear weapons.
While western countries have long believed that Iran wants a nuclear bomb - or at least the ability to make one very quickly - Tehran has always denied that, citing its membership of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Trump’s comments come after Pope Leo warned earlier in the day of the risk of democracies sliding into “majoritarian tyranny”.
The first US pope, Leo wrote in a letter issued by the Vatican about the use of power in democratic societies, and said democracies remained healthy only when they were rooted in moral values.
The pope has criticised Trump’s decision to launch the war against Iran, claiming God rejects the prayers of those who launch wars and have “hands full of blood”.
The pope termed Trump’s threat this month to destroy the Iranian civilisation as unacceptable and previously declined to join the US president’s “Board of Peace” initiative for Gaza.
Leo has also urged a “deep reflection” on the way migrants are treated in the US while Trump has pursued a hardline immigration policy.
On Sunday, Trump called the pope “weak” and “terrible” on crime and foreign policy issues. - Reuters
