War breaking news. Vance and Ghalibaf at US-Iran negotiations. Trump: we have total control of Hormuz

Donald Trump calls on Tehran to release eight Iranian women about to be executed by hanging. In a post on Truth, the tycoon addresses "Iranian leaders, who will soon be in talks with my representatives: 'I would greatly appreciate the release of these women. I am sure they will respect that you have done so.

Please don't hurt them! It would be a great start to our negotiations!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter,' added Trump, who attached a photo of a post with portraits of the eight young women and an appeal to save them.

"Italia consumes twice as much gas as Spain. And what is the result? Well, during the first month of the war, the difference in the price of electricity between our two countries was over 100 euro'.

This was said by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaking at the 'WindEurope 2026' event, referring to the energy crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East and the Iberian government's decision to focus on renewables.

Four Palestinians, two of them underage students, were killed today in the West Bank. This was reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. This morning 16-year-old Muhammad Majdi al-Ja'bari, who was run over by a settler's vehicle in Hebron on his way to school on his bicycle, died. The vehicle belonged, according to Wafa, to the security escort of an Israeli government minister living in a settlement in the Hebron area. The accident occurred on Route 60, the bypass road leading to the settlement of Kiryat Arba, at the Beit Einun junction, near Hebron. The boy died instantly. Two Palestinians, one of them a student, were later killed and others wounded this afternoon by gunshots fired by Israeli settlers in the village of al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah: the Ministry of Health confirmed the killing of 14-year-old sstudent Aws Hamdi Al-Naasan and 32-year-old Marzouq Abu Naim, while three others were wounded by live bullets, during a settler attack on the al-Mughayyir boys' school.

Today, 49-year-old Raja Fadl Bitawi, who died in Jenin from wounds suffered two years ago after being shot by the Israeli army, also died.

"The blockade is an extraordinary success. We have total control of the Strait of Hormuz, just to clarify for all the fake news out there." US President Donald Trump told Cnbc's 'Squawk Box'.

The war against Iran 'is not a war we wanted and it is not a war we will participate in. If there were a UN mission, it would be a different kettle of fish'. Thus Matteo Salvini speaking about the future of the Strait of Hormuz. One thing, the Carroccio leader reasoned, is 'an international mission that involves everyone, then of course there we are. It's one thing for someone to go in random order. No one in government thinks of going in random order. So I, Crosetto and Meloni think absolutely the same way'.

"We hit their Navy, their Air Force, their leaders. We took their leaders, frankly that complicates things in a way, but their leaders are much more rational." This was said by Donald Trump, in his interview with Cnbc, adding that "this is regime change, no matter what you want to call it, it wasn't what I said I was going to do I did it indirectly".

Further reading

War on Iran: the illusion of regime change and the lesson of Gaza

28 February 2026

"With Iran we want a good deal, I'm not being rushed." This was said by Donald Trump in an interview with Cncb, reiterating that the US had 'completely won the war. If we left now, it would take Tehran 20 years to rebuild'. The president then criticised the media and said: 'I would have won in Vietnam and Iraq quickly. Look at Venezuela'.

Authorities in the Pakistani twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have restored bus terminal operations at selected locations, although heightened security measures remain in place ahead of possible talks between Iran and the United States. Officials disclosed that services at Chungi Bus Terminal No. 26, located between Rawalpindi and Islamabad along the Peshawar Road, as well as at other stations along the same road, have resumed after a temporary suspension. The deputy commissioners of both cities announced the easing of restrictions, allowing intercity travellers to use the reopened terminals. These facilities are widely used by users travelling to and from different cities in the country. The latest measures were taken even against a background of heightened vigilance in Pakistan's federal capital and surrounding areas due to possible diplomatic activities.

'We are ready to bomb' Iran again in the event of a failure to reach an agreement with the US. This was said by US President Donald Trump in a telephone interview with CNBC during which he extolled 'the best military in the world, everybody knows that'. According to the president, Iran is trying to move its missiles during the ceasefire.

Further reading

For the Maga 'war is treason'. Why Trump risks losing at home

03 March 2026

"Iran has no choice but to make a deal". Donald Trump said this in a telephone interview with Cbnc news. "I was sure they would send a delegation to Pakistan, they have no other choice," he added.

Further reading

US and Iran forced to peace by domestic causes

18 April 2026

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto today expressed his preference for a peacekeeping mission to protect free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz even if a UN Security Council resolution is blocked by the veto of some countries. In a statement, the minister said that he wanted 'a UN resolution for a peacekeeping mission to guarantee free navigation in Hormuz', claiming that 'the vast majority of the world's nations want it' and that 'the UN itself would be delighted to build it'.

The Pakistan-led mediators have received confirmation that the main negotiators, US Vice-President J.D. Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, will arrive in Islamabad in the early hours of Wednesday (when in Italia it may still be Tuesday, ed.) to lead their respective teams in the talks: this is what the Ap writes on its website citing two officials from the region. Neither the US nor Iran has publicly confirmed the date of the talks, and Iranian state television has denied the presence of any officials in the Pakistani capital.

They were born in the Iraqi chaos more than twenty years ago. They returned to 'prominence' in the escalation in the Middle East, when during American and Israeli military operations against Iran they set off explosive-filled drones 'directed' against Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. It is the Iraqi militias that have in fact allowed Iran to have more 'options' to 'respond', as they say in Tehran. And as uncertainty continues to reign over the second round of talks in Islamabad between the United States and Iran, amidst a fragile truce, the US embassy in Baghdad has issued a new alert about the risk of attacks. In the Iraqi capital, which is in at least a difficult position between the US and the Islamic Republic, the repercussions of November's parliamentary elections are still fresh and the 26 April deadline to define the country's future is approaching.

Here on Saturday was - "surprisingly", according to sources on the Iraqi website Shafaq News - the commander of the Quds Force of the Guardians of the Revolution, Esmail Qaani, for talks "with leaders of Iraqi political and armed factions". The Quds Force, the Israeli media continue to point out, is the number one supporter of the Shia militias. "Iraqi terrorist militias allied with Iran continue to plan attacks against US citizens and US-linked targets throughout Iraq, including the region of Iraqi Kurdistan," is the content of the warning posted yesterday on the website of the US embassy in Baghdad, urging American citizens to "not attempt to reach" the headquarters and consulate general in Erbil "due to significant security risks." According to the warning, "certain elements associated with the Iraqi government continue to actively provide political, financial, and operational cover to these terrorist militias" linked to Tehran.

Further reading

On the new Iraq the shadow of Tehran-controlled militias

16 November 2025

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, accompanied by Under-Secretary Maria Tripodi, is in Luxembourg this afternoon to attend the meeting of the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). Today's discussion focuses first and foremost on the war of aggression against Ukraine, with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha participating remotely. Here, the 27 will discuss how to continue to exert pressure on the Russian Federation through the adoption of the 20th sanctions package and how to support Kyiv in its efforts to rebuild and stabilise Ukraine. The ministers will also address the repercussions of the Russian attack on the UNESCO site in Lviv, also in relation to the initiatives of the Venice Biennale 2026. The agenda will continue with a session on the Middle East and a discussion with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The focus will be on the prospects for the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon and Gaza, and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Minister Tajani will reiterate Italia's readiness to contribute to multilateral initiatives for security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Italy's support for the reform path initiated by the Lebanese government and its commitment, together with its international partners, to avoid a security vacuum in the south of the country once Unifil has been concluded. The ministers will then address the ongoing developments in the South Caucasus, with particular attention to the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the internal situation in Georgia. Finally, the conflict in Sudan will be addressed, to discuss the follow-up to the Berlin conference on 15 April.

It will be a two-sided informal European Council for Giorgia Meloni, the one scheduled in Cyprus on 23 and 24 April. On the one hand it should certify the prime minister's yes to greater European interventionism in the Strait of Hormuz and in Lebanon, for the post-Unifil period: an almost obligatory reaction in the face of Donald Trump's disengagement (and impasse) in Iran. On the other hand, however, it is expected to take a snapshot of the differences between the Twenty-Seven on the measures against the high energy prices proposed by the EU Commission, with Italy disappointed and in the forefront in demanding the general suspension of the Stability Pact and the temporary halt to the Ets on thermoelectric power.

"There are very important negotiations going on that we support, both those concerning the Islamabad negotiations and those concerning, another issue that is very important to us, the direct Israel-Lebanon negotiations. And so we see on the basis of what will come out of these negotiations what are the priorities we must give ourselves". So said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on the sidelines of her visit to the Salone del Mobile, when asked if the excise tax cut will be extended beyond 1 May.

Only 12 ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours. This was revealed by Marine Traffic underlining how limited transit through the strait still is. Four of the 12 vessels were flying the Iranian flag and most of them used the Iranian-approved route off Bandar Abbas. According to Marine Traffic's data, there are still 12 vessels anchored or sailing in the area.

"Iran has violated the ceasefire so many times!". This was the message posted on Truth today by US President Donald Trump. The two-week ceasefire, announced on 8 April after 40 days of conflict, ends today.

The US has asked the allies to discontinue the ritual of the annual NATO summit and switch to one every two years. Several allied diplomatic sources confided this. The proposal was apparently received with some favour by Secretary General Mark Rutte but very negatively by other countries. At the moment, therefore, a sort of compromise has been reached, shifting the summit planned for 2027 in Albania to the autumn and not the summer, as is traditional. An allied official points out that the frequency of summits 'has changed over time' and that NATO, in any case, 'works 7 days a week'.

Iran's national airline Iran Air is preparing to resume operations tomorrow with its first flight after a 50-day stoppage due to the war with the United States and Israel. This was reported by the Tasnim news agency, pointing out that it is a first step towards a gradual normalisation of air traffic in the Islamic Republic. According to the Iranian media, the first plane will take off at 10 a.m. from Mehrabad Airport in Tehran, bound for Mashad in north-eastern Iran. The return flight will leave two and a half hours later. The news comes after weeks of airspace blockades and major disruptions for civil transport. The return to flights will take place gradually, with an initial phase dedicated to domestic routes and then the resumption of international connections.

The flare-up in agri-food price lists is no longer a fear, it is a reality. The outpost of price increases are vegetables: tomatoes in heated greenhouses, but also fennels, green asparagus and cauliflowers, recorded increases of more than +30% on the previous month on Monday 20 April. In detail, fennel was up 56%, white cauliflower up 46%, green asparagus up 28% and cherry tomatoes up 27%. This is what emerges from the analysis of wholesale prices of agri-food products, surveyed by the Chambers of Commerce, Wholesale Markets and National Single Commissions and analysed by the Italian Telematic Commodities Exchange (Bmti).

"The regime of the Iranian ayatollahs has planned another Holocaust. It tried to destroy us with nuclear weapons and thousands of ballistic missiles. Had we not acted against this existential threat, with determination and boldness, the names of sites like Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan could have been added to those of the Nazi death camps: Auschwitz, Majdanek and Treblinka'. This was said by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhyau on the occasion of Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks. He added: "But this did not happen. Together with our closest ally, the United States, we preemptively dismantled the Iranian regime's machine of destruction and removed an immediate existential threat. This is the essence of this campaign: to ensure that the vital thread of the Jewish people is never interrupted'. The main memorial ceremony, which took place at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, attended in addition to the premier by President Isaac Herzog, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Supreme Court Chief Justice Isaac Amit, was met with criticism and protest. During a speech by Minister Ofir Sofer at the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery in Tel Aviv, two protesters held up signs reading 'government of death'. Clashes broke out after some people tried to snatch the placards from them. Another slogan read: 'I refuse to listen to words of comfort from a government of criminals'. During a ceremony at the military cemetery in Dimona, southern Israel, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was challenged by the crowd. Last week, over 100 bereaved families asked parliamentarians and ministers not to attend Memorial Day ceremonies at military cemeteries. In a letter sent to all coalition members, they urged them to 'sanctify life, not the ethics of sacrifice'.

Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, reportedly gave his approval for the Iranian delegation to reach Islamabad and participate in negotiations with the US. Axios writes this, explaining that the go-ahead would come "on Monday evening". According to Axios, the White House spent the entire day on Monday waiting for a signal from the Islamic Republic about its intentions for the negotiations.

"This Furniture Fair opens at a very complicated time internationally with two wars if not three and trade complications. What is hoped for today is a resumption of dialogue between the Israelis and Lebanese in Washington and between the Americans and Iranians in Islamabad, so that the ceasefire can turn into an end to the war". So said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking at the opening of the 64th edition of the Milan Furniture Fair at the Fiera di Milano in Rho.

The outlook for emerging markets is not the best given the severe shock related to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, which disrupted energy flows, heightened geopolitical tensions and drove up prices. This is why now more than ever long-term investors need to look at the good fundamentals of these markets. According to a good number of analysts who follow European markets and some parts of Asia, geopolitical and/or monetary shocks will affect corporate profitability over the next 12 months. Europe seems particularly vulnerable: most expect a moderately negative impact, but a considerable number of them expect a clearly negative outcome. On the Asia Pacific region (excluding China and Japan), negative impact forecasts prevail over positive ones. On China, finally, the attitude is cautious: 54% expect a moderately or significantly negative impact on profitability.

"We consider" the suspension of the EU-Israel agreement "inappropriate". German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said this on arrival at the Foreign Council in Luxembourg, responding to reporters. "However, it is necessary to discuss the crucial issues with Israel. We have expressed our criticism of the reintroduction of the death penalty" and "we have a very clear position on settler violence, I expect the Israeli government to address it more clearly and firmly," he stressed. "Our position is also clear on respect for international law: there must be no annexation in the West Bank," he added.

The effects of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf are hitting the Panama Canal, just at the other end of the world, where flows of oil, natural gas, fertilisers and chemicals travelling from the US seek an alternative outlet to reach Asian ports.

Some forty ships, most of them bound for Chinese ports, queue up to more than four hours to cover the 82 kilometres of the isthmus, while expensive auctions to win priority passage drive up ordinary costs.

"Today we are gambling our credibility. Spain, together with Slovenia and Ireland, has called for discussion on suspending the agreement with Israel. We must speak with one voice. We must tell Israel clearly that it must change, it cannot relate to its neighbours only with war. It is time to send a strong message'. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said this in Luxembourg. 'If others put other measures on the table, why not. What we cannot accept is to do nothing,' he added about other possible options besides suspending the agreement

An Iranian oil tanker re-entered Iran through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the blockade imposed by the US, and is expected to reach the island of Kharg tomorrow. This was reported by the Tasnim agency, the Pasdaran-affiliated agency. The tanker had left Iran for the Riau archipelago in Indonesia at the end of March, where it unloaded two million barrels of crude oil.

Iran executed by hanging a man named Amirali Mirjafari for 'armed activities' and for 'leading some protesters' during the January uprising in Iran, the judiciary said in a statement today. "Mirjafari has been charged with 'operations on behalf of Israel, the hostile US government and groups hostile to the country's security', for setting fire to the Gholhak mosque during the protests and for leading protesters through 'enemy-affiliated' social media," the statement added, pointing out, "he confessed to his activities, including attacking police forces, throwing objects at phone boxes and buses, and setting fire to a motorbike." According to the Irna news agency, meanwhile, 22 other people were sentenced to prison terms of up to 10 years in two provinces for 'collaboration with the enemy'.

"Iran's armed forces, with their superiority, will not allow the lying and deluded US president to exploit the situation and create false narratives about the war situation, especially regarding the control of the Strait of Hormuz," Khatamolanbia Command Commander Ali Abdollahi was quoted as saying today by Tasnim news agency, stressing, "We will respond appropriately to any violation of the commitment (of the ongoing ceasefire with the US)." "Iran is ready to give a decisive, resolute and immediate response to the enemy's threats and actions," he added in a statement issued on the anniversary of the founding of the Revolutionary Guards, two months after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"We are not in a dangerous situation but there is a possibility of a shortage of jet fuel" which "could affect every citizen. So we have to be aware and ready'. This was said by the Cypriot Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeades, on arrival at the EU Council in Brussels where he will chair an informal videoconference of transport ministers convened to discuss the energy crisis. "Europe could face a short-term fuel supply problem and a medium- and long-term demand problem," added the minister, who is representing the EU presidency.

US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that Iran will negotiate, adding that otherwise it will 'face unprecedented problems'.

"Well, they will negotiate, and if they don't, they will face problems they've never seen before," he said in a phone-in to the conservative radio programme 'The John Fredericks Show'.

The recovery of uranium in Iran will be ''long and difficult''. US President Donald Trump wrote this on the social 'Truth' reiterating that the US attacks destroyed nuclear sites in Iran. "Operation Midnight Hammer was a complete and total destruction of nuclear material sites in Iran. Therefore, recovering it will be a long and difficult process," he wrote.

Further reading

Balikatan manoeuvres raising tension in the Pacific

21 April 2026

US Vice President JD Vance will fly to Pakistan today for talks with Iran, shortly before the ceasefire ends. Axios reports this, citing three US sources. Vance is expected to be accompanied by US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner

The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the seizure of the Iranian merchant ship Touska by US forces and called in a statement for 'the immediate release of the Iranian ship, its sailors, crew and their families'.

"Trump, by imposing the blockade and violating the ceasefire, wants to turn this negotiating table into a table of surrender or justify a new wave of war provocations. We do not accept negotiations in the shadow of the threat and over the past two weeks we have been preparing to reveal new cards on the battlefield'. This was written on X by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and negotiator, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf.