Iran war, latest news - Iran blocks Hormuz after Israel raids Lebanon. Macron: truce must include it

US President Donald Trump's idea of a joint toll plan for the Strait of Hormuz will be discussed with Iran. This was stated by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt during a press briefing. Earlier, Abc News had reported that Trump was considering a joint venture with Iran to impose tolls on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. "It's an idea that the president has proposed, as you know, and it will be discussed in the next couple of weeks," Leavitt said, adding, however, that Trump's immediate priority is to reopen the Strait without any restrictions.

Three of the ten points proposed by Tehran for a ceasefire agreement with the US and described by Donald Trump as "a good basis for negotiation" have been "openly and clearly violated": this was emphasised in a note by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Ghalibaf, the Ayatollahs' chief negotiator, warning that "in this situation a bilateral truce and talks are unreasonable". In the note, Ghalibaf points the finger, among other things, at the 'violation' of the point that 'included Lebanon' in the truce.

Israeli police announced that Jerusalem's holy sites, closed due to security measures taken during the war with Iran, will reopen on Thursday. "Following the updated guidelines of the Internal Front Command, as of tomorrow morning, Thursday 9 April 2026, the holy sites in the city of Jerusalem will reopen to visitors and for prayer," the police announced.

The UAE believes that Iran must pay reparations for the damage caused by the attacks in the Persian Gulf, while asking Washington for clarification on the terms of the truce. The UAE 'seeks further clarification on the provisions of the agreement to ensure Iran's full commitment to an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the region and the full and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,' the UAE Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Iranian attacks 'require a firm stance, in particular to ensure that Iran is held accountable and fully liable for compensation for damages,' it added.

The total number of victims of the latest Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 254 dead and 1,165 injured. This was announced by the General Directorate of Civil Defence of Lebanon in a statement released on social media, based on data available at its centres on Lebanese territory. In particular, 92 dead and 742 injured were reported in Beirut alone and 61 dead and 200 injured in the southern suburbs of the capital.

"Nato allies have been tested and have failed". Donald Trump said this in a note read out by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. The US president will meet today with Alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte. "It will be a frank and honest conversation," the official said.

"The terms of the ceasefire between Iran and the US are clear and explicit: the US must choose, ceasefire or continue the war through Israel. They cannot have it both ways." This was written in a post on X by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to whom "the world sees the massacres in Lebanon: the ball is in the US court, and the world is watching to see if they will act on their commitments".

The new closure of the Strait of Hormuz is 'completely unacceptable'. This was said by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, calling for the Strait to be 'reopened immediately'.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a press conference that there are still goals for Israel to achieve and that it will be able to achieve them either through an agreement or by resuming the conflict. "Until this moment, and I would like to emphasise this, we still have some goals to achieve and we will achieve them, either through an agreement and consensus or by resuming the war, because we are ready to do so whenever necessary: we are ready to pull the trigger. Our finger is on the trigger," the Israeli leader remarked.

Further reading

Iran, if Netanyahu dictates the line to Trump on war

03 March 2026

Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, "expresses her firm condemnation of what happened today in southern Lebanon where an Italian convoy belonging to Unifil, and clearly identifiable as such, was subjected to warning shots by the Israeli army". This was announced by Palazzo Chigi, pointing out that "the Italian military are present in Lebanon on the basis of a mandate received from the United Nations Security Council and are acting in the interest of peacekeeping. It is therefore completely unacceptable for personnel acting under the UN flag to be put at risk by irresponsible actions such as those of today, which are in blatant violation of UN Resolution 1701.

Il presidente del consiglio Giorgia Meloni alla camera dei deputati, durante la replica dopo la discussione generale, Roma, 17 dicembre 2025. ANSA/MASSIMO PERCOSSI

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Wednesday that "nothing is over yet" after the ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran, judging their positions to still be far apart. "I don't see how it is possible to bring the positions of the US and Iran closer," he told Israeli TV Channel 11.

Further reading

Iran, why eliminating the leaders may not be enough for Israel

18 March 2026

The security of the Strait of Hormuz depends on a complete cessation of aggression against Iran, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. "The insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf is a direct consequence of US and Israeli military aggression. Ensuring the security of this vital waterway depends on a complete cessation of attacks,' he concluded.

"Any ship that tries" to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without the Pasdaran's permission will be "hit and destroyed". This is the message the Revolutionary Guardians Navy is circulating to warn boats in the area and after making it known that the Strait is closed in reaction to ceasefire violations by Israel. "Attention all vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. This is the naval station of the Navy of the Guardians of the Revolution,' the message read. 'Transit through the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and you need permission from the Pasdaran before sailing through the strait. Any vessel attempting to travel by sea will be targeted and destroyed'.

The UN 'strongly condemns the Israeli attacks across Lebanon' that have claimed numerous lives. This was said by deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "The UN strongly condemns the loss of civilian lives," he added, urging the parties to seize "the opportunity of the US-Iran ceasefire" to prevent further deaths.

NEW DELHI - Remaining doubts about the price that New Delhi will have to pay for the Israeli-American aggression against Iran have been dispelled by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI): the Monetary Policy Committee has decided on the second consecutive pause in its policy of lowering interest rates, while the central bank's economists - in making their first forecasts on growth and inflation since the outbreak of the war - have downgraded the former and raised the latter.

According to estimates by the RBI, GDP growth in the fiscal year that began on 1 April will slow to 6.9% compared to the +7.6% estimated for the 2025-26 financial year. In detail, the central bank expects 6.8% in the next three months, 6.7% between July and September, 7% in the third quarter and 7.2% in the first three months of 2027.

Iran warns: Tehran's participation in Friday's talks in Islamabad depends on a cease-fire in Lebanon. The Wall Street Journal reports this, also pointing out that it might revoke the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

"There is still a lot of work to be done" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This was stated by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after his arrival in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a mission to the Gulf countries. The Prime Minister added that he felt "a real sense of relief" after the truce agreement in the conflict with Iran was reached overnight but stressed that it was "still early" to talk about a final solution.

In an exclusive interview with Pbs, US President Donald Trump confirmed that Lebanon "was not included in the agreement" for the truce established with Iran "because of Hezbollah". Asked about his position on the Israeli attacks on Beirut, Trump said they were "part of the deal, everybody knows that", calling them "a separate skirmish that we'll deal with". "It's all good," he concluded.

Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, Axios reported, citing White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

"Very soon" there will be in-person talks between American and Iranian officials in Pakistan following the agreement reached on a two-week ceasefire. This was stated by US PresidentDonald Trump during a telephone interview with the New York Post, pointing out that Vice President JD Vance will not attend for security reasons."Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, JD... maybe JD, I don't know,'' will be there. "There's a security issue, Trump said.

"The transit of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted following Israeli attacks on Lebanon". This was reported by the Iranian Fras news agency in a post on X.

"I ask the United Nations to intervene with the Israeli authorities as a matter of urgency to clarify what happened, to take all the necessary measures to guarantee the safety of the Italian contingent and all the Unifil personnel, and to firmly reiterate respect for the mandate and the protection due to the blue helmets". Thus on X the Defence Minister Guido Crosetto regarding the shots fired at a Unifil vehicle. "Italia will continue to support the peace mission, but demands full respect for Unifil's role and the protection of its soldiers," he added. "Episodes like this are intolerable and must not be repeated.

The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had a telephone conversation with the head of the Pakistani Army,Asim Munir, who is mediating a truce with the United States, to discuss "ceasefire violations" by Israel "in Iran and Lebanon". This was announced by the Tehran Foreign Ministry.

"Following Israel's violation of the ceasefire in Lebanon and against Hezbollah,Iran is preparing to conduct operations against military positions in Israel." This was stated by an Iranian security source quoted by the Fars news agency. The source added that "there is a growing belief in Tehran that the continued attacks, despite the agreement, are asign of the inability of the US to control Netanyahu or that Israel has been given freedom of action by the US Central Command."

Following the ceasefire between the US and Iran, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump this afternoon. This was reported by the Bild, which cites German government sources.

Read also: Germany: the state 'brake' and the spending illusion

"Unfortunately, the appeal launched by the Prime Minister of Italy and other international leaders has not had a positive response as far as Lebanon is concerned. I will read you a piece of news that has just reached me: There has been the most violent Israeli bombardment since the resumption of the war, there is talk of 150 planes engaged over the whole of Lebanon. In Beirut, Sidon and Tyre in particular, there are dozens of civilian victims. An Italian Unifil column bringing elements to Beirut for repatriation was blocked at the IDF: Israeli warning shots damaged one of our vehicles. Unfortunately no one was injured, but the column had to return and as soon as I leave this room I will ask the Foreign Ministry to request immediate information from the Israeli ambassador in Italia about what happened and what led to the damage to an Italian military vehicle". This was said by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani responding during Question Time in the Chamber of Deputies to a question from Fdi on initiatives to avert greater involvement of Lebanon in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia's east-west oil pipeline was hit in an Iranian attackdespite the ceasefire agreed between the parties and a damage assessment is currently underway. This was reported by an industry source quoted by Reuters, according to the Times of Israel. Other sites were also affected, the same source added.The pipeline represents the only outlet for Saudi crude oil exports after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz.

"Hundreds of Hezbollah operatives were targeted in surprise attacks on headquarters across Lebanon, in the biggest concentrated strike Hezbollah has suffered since Operation Pager" in September 2024. This was claimed by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, speaking of today's raids in Lebanon, and adding: the leader of the pro-Iranian group Naim Qassem had been warned that "Hezbollah would pay a very high price for attacking Israel on behalf of Iran, and that its turn will also come."

Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva Ali Bahreini said that Israel must respect the ceasefire in Lebanon and that any further attack would complicate the situation and have consequences. This was reported by the Lebanese daily L'Orient Le Jour.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Hezbollah is seeking a ceasefire and stated that Israeli raids have killed more than 200 militants in Lebanon in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to over 1,400 since the clashes began. Katz said Israel is ready to respond forcefully if Iran launches attacks and continues to strike targets throughout Lebanon, including the Litani area.

The leader of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, was included in the list of targets of Israeli raids conducted by the dozens simultaneously on Lebanon in recent hours. This was reported by the Israeli TV Channel 12, according to which "it is possible that he was not at the targeted location, an 'emergency headquarters' of the party".

Israeli attacks have left more than 300 dead and wounded in Beirut and its southern suburb Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold. This was reported to Al Arabi by the head of the Lebanese Red Cross, as reported by Haaretz. Many people are still trapped under rubble, while hospitals in the area are under heavy pressure. The Lebanese ministry speaks of dozens dead and hundreds injured.

"It is we who control their destiny and not vice versa, that is why they sat at the negotiation table". And now, after the agreement of a two-week ceasefire, "there is a chance for real peace and a real agreement''. This was stated by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth during a joint press conference with Chief of Staff Dan Caine after the agreement of a two-week ceasefire reached between the US and Iran. Speaking about Iran's shooting down of a US fighter jet with two pilots on board, Hegseth said Iran "got lucky once in 40 days", the duration of the conflict.

A senior Iranian official involved in talks with the United States said: 'We may reopen the Strait of Hormuz in a limited and controlled manner' tomorrow or Friday. This was written Ynet News, citing Reuters. The official added that 'if we reach an understanding on a framework for talks, the Strait could be opened under Iranian control. The ceasefire is fragile, we prefer a long-term peace but we do not fear a return to war'.

The creation of a 'joint venture' with Iran to secure the Strait of Hormuz was speculated by US President Donald Trump in the aftermath of the announcement of a two-week ceasefire. "We are thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It's a way to secure it, even from many other actors," Trump said in an interview with Abc News, responding to a question about the possibility that Tehran could impose tolls on ships in transit. "It's a beautiful thing," he added. Trump also reiterated that he will not allow Iran to maintain uranium enrichment capabilities. "There will be no enrichment," he assured, finally indicating that US forces will remain in the region with the goal of enforcing any future agreements.

They must not enter, ever. This time it would be the end. At night, teams of young men drive around the perimeter of the village, skirting the tobacco fields. Others patrol the narrow streets of the centre on foot. They know what they must do: prevent Hezbollah from infiltrating and hiding their weapons.

So far, the patrols have been effective. Only very few times have the militiamen of the Party of God tried. And when they did, they were repulsed. Father Toni, the village parish priest, still remembers well that day, when two Hezbollah men appeared on the ridge of the hill to plant two rocket launchers. He was warned by the volunteers, "our angels", as he calls them. He rushed in person to drive them out of the village. "I put my body in front. I had to defend my community, my children. We chased them several times. The hills are clear. Don't launch rockets from here."

"We urge all parties to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon". This is what we read in one of the passages of the declaration signed by the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the French President Emanuel Macron, the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa.

A massive wave of Israeli attacks hit Beirut in the space of a few minutes, simultaneously hitting several neighbourhoods of the Lebanese capital, from the centre to the waterfront to the southern suburbs. This was reported by local sources and eyewitnesses. The explosions affected densely populated areas, causing panic among residents. Several accounts speak of 'apocalyptic scenes', with buildings damaged or destroyed and columns of smoke visible in several parts of the city. Medical sources report numerous dead bodies in the streets and a high number of injured, with hospitals under pressure.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, "has made history. No other president has shown his resolve. This was said by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, pointing out that Operation Epic Fury has 'decimated' Iran. "In 38 days we dismantled" Iran, "rendering it incapable of defending its people. We achieved all our objectives," Hegseth added. Iran "begged" for a ceasefire, he added. "The US has achieved a key military victory": Iran's missile programme has been destroyed, he said, and the ceasefire means Iran "will never have a nuclear weapon".

"Our governments will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz". This was stated in a joint note by leaders Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Friederich Merz, Keir Starmer, Mette Frederiksen, Jens Jetten, Pedro Sanchez and European Commission President von der Leyen, European Council President Costa and Canadian Prime Minister Carney.

"We welcome the two-week ceasefire agreed today between the US and Iran. We thank Pakistan and all partners involved for facilitating this important agreement. The goal must now be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the war in the coming days. This can only be achieved by diplomatic means'. This was stated by leaders Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni, Friederich Merz, Keir Starmer, Mette Frederiksen, Jens Jetten, Pedro Sanchez and European Commission President von der Leyen, European Council President Costa and Canadian Prime Minister Carney.

- The Israeli Armed Forces claimed to have completed the largest wave of air strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon since the beginning of the fighting, hitting 100 targets in 10 minutes. According to IDF reports, targets hit in Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon included the headquarters and intelligence offices used by the terrorist organisation to plan attacks against Israeli troops and civilians. The infrastructure of Hezbollah's missile and naval units was also targeted, as well as the resources of the elite Radwan force.

There will be 'no uranium enrichment' in Iran and the US will 'work' with Tehran to extract the 'nuclear dust' buried 'deep' in the wake of the US and Israeli attacks on the plants last June. Donald Trump wrote this in a post on Truth social: "There will be no uranium enrichment and the US, in cooperation with Iran, will dig up and remove all the nuclear 'dust' (from the B-2 bombers) buried deep. This is, and has been, under close satellite surveillance (Space Force!). Nothing has been touched since the date of the attack'.

Iran will require shipping companies to pay cryptocurrency tolls for tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz in an attempt to maintain control over the passage during the two-week ceasefire.

This was reported by the British newspaper Financial Times, quoting Hamid Hosseini, spokesman for the Union of Iranian Exporters of Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals.

"Any country supplying military weapons to Iran will be charged a 50% tariff on all goods sold to the United States of America, effective immediately. There will be no exceptions or exemptions! President DJT'. US President Donald Trump writes this on social Truth.

"We are, and will continue to discuss with Iran a reduction of tariffs and sanctions. Many of the 15 points have already been agreed. Thank you for your attention." US President Donald Trump writes this on Truth.

Further reading

Iran truce: here are the unresolved points of the agreement

08 April 2026

Donald Trump announces the two-week truce with Iran and then immediately gets angry. The US president says yes to the agreement that freezes the war and reopens the Strait of Hormuz: for the White House, as spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt says, it is a success for the US. CNN and the New York Times, however, give wide coverage to a note from the Supreme National Security Council, the main collegial body responsible for protecting Iran's national security interests. "The enemy, in its unjust, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat. Our hands remain on the trigger and, at the slightest mistake on the part of the enemy, we will respond with full force. We congratulate the Iranian people on this victory and reiterate that, until the final details of the victory itself are worked out, officials and people must remain united and determined," the content of the statement celebrating the truce as a victory achieved by Tehran against a defeated enemy on the ground. For Trump it is a total affront. The US president is quick to share the note of the Iranian foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who uses more nuanced tones and acknowledges the US president's role in the dialogue. "The alleged statement circulated by Cnn World News is a fraud, as Cnn well knows. The false statement was linked to a fake news site (of Nigeria) and, of course, was immediately picked up by Cnn and spread as a 'legitimate' headline," Trump writes in a fiery post. "Iran's official statement was just released and published on Truth," he says highlighting Araghchi's note. "Authorities are trying to determine whether a crime was committed with the publication of the false statement by Cnn World, or whether an unscrupulous individual was involved. Cnn has been ordered to immediately withdraw this statement and apologise for its, as usual, bad 'information'. The results of the investigation will be announced shortly,' Trump added.

"The war in Ukraine persists and today I do not see a European consensus on a possible resumption of gas supplies from Russia. And then replacing one dependency with another was never the solution". This was said by the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, during a hearing in Parliament in response to a question on the possible use of Russian gas to cover shortfalls from Gulf suppliers.

"I have no mandate," Sejournè continued, "to talk about whether or not there should be any derogations from the stability pact, but the basic message that I can convey here and that I have been able to convey to the Italian press is that the European Commission does not let its companies, its industry, sink, we have always shown that there is a margin of flexibility that can be given in the event of systemic crises.

Further reading

Alternate plates, agile working, speed limits: antidotes to high energy prices

08 April 2026

Germany is in continuous contact with European and international partners to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz and evaluate possible joint initiatives. This was reported by German government spokesman Sebastian Hille at a press conference. According to the spokesman, the talks involve "all relevant partners", in particular the EU countries, the E3+ format and the United States, as well as other interested actors in the region. "Contacts will continue in the coming weeks in search of a shared solution," he added. The Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasised that the crisis has "global consequences, with possible repercussions on energy supplies, aviation fuels and fertilisers". Among the countries most affected, the spokesman recalled, are several Asian economies, with which the German government has already begun consultations, including India. Particular attention is being paid to the Gulf States, which are 'directly involved and dependent on the freedom of navigation in the Strait'. The German foreign minister 'maintains daily contact with all the countries concerned and there is an intensive exchange of information on how we can work together to ensure the reopening of this maritime route for Europe, for the neighbouring countries and ultimately for the rest of the world'.

Further reading

Truce in Iran boosts construction stocks. Buzzi flies in Milan

08 April 2026

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor)- The truce between the United States and Iran is giving wings to European airline stocks after the sharp falls in recent weeks with the conflict that had pushed oil prices sky-high and closed several airspaces, significantly reducing the companies' range of action. Thus in Frankfurt tonic Deutsche Lufthansa; same script for Air France-Klm in Paris, for Easyjet in London while in Milan for Aeroporto Guglielmo Marconi Di Bologna . Ryanair also traded higher in the pre-market on Wall Street, up 9.32 per cent. On the Istanbul stock exchange, purchases were also made on Turkish Airlines.

The announcement of the truce and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz brought asignificant reduction in oil prices with Brent and Wti well below USD 100 per barrel.

Oman's Minister of Transport, Said al-Maawali, stated that the country will not charge tariffs for transit through the Strait of Hormuz. "Oman's position regarding the strait is clear: it has signed all the relevant international agreements on maritime transport, and according to these agreements, no tariffs can be imposed." According to the minister, many countries have not signed these agreements, including Iran, thus creating a 'legal vacuum'. The Foreign Ministry is currently engaged in discussions on the issue and 'hopes for a positive outcome'.

MarineTraffic reports the first crossings of the Strait of Ormuz after the US-Iran ceasefire agreement.

The spotlight is on oil tankers in the Gulf, waiting for the ceasefire and the concomitant commitment to unblock transit in the Strait of Hormuz to lead to concrete results. According to the Financial Times, 175 million barrels of crude oil and refined products are piled up in the area. According to analysts, the question will now be whether convoys will actually be able to transit the strait, given that a resumption of traffic towards normality will take time.

The spotlight is on oil tankers in the Gulf, waiting for the ceasefire and the concomitant commitment to unblock transit in the Strait of Hormuz to lead to concrete results. According to the Financial Times, 175 million barrels of crude oil and refined products are piled up in the area. According to analysts, the question will now be whether convoys will actually be able to transit the strait, given that a resumption of traffic towards normality will take time.

Further reading

From Iranian nuclear power to Trump's war, EU in the pincer

07 April 2026

- A new "urgent warning" comes from the Israeli Forces (Idf) for seven areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Hezbollah's traditional stronghold, after confirmation that "targeted ground operations continue in Lebanon" against the movement, historically supported by Iran, while "in compliance with directives at the political level" fire has been "halted in operations against Iran". In a post on X, IDF spokesperson Avychay Adraee addresses "in particular" the inhabitants of seven areas - Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, Laylaki, Hadath, Bourj el-Brajneh, Tahouitat el-Ghadir and Shiyyah - 'urged' to move away from the areas indicated.

Further reading

Luxury rises on hopes of flow recovery in the Gulf. Cucinelli ok in Milan

08 April 2026

"Some 15 countries are currently mobilised and participating in the planning, under the leadership of France, to enable the implementation of this strictly defensive mission in coordination with Iran to facilitate the resumption of traffic." So said French President Emmanuel Macron speaking about the plans for the Strait of Hormuz during a meeting with his advisers and members of his government. Reuters reports on the site.

"I welcome the announcement of an immediate two-week truce". This was said by the Pope at the general audience speaking of the understanding reached between the US and Iran.

The UN's maritime agency (Imo) welcomes the announcement by the US and Iran of a ceasefire and is now calling for an international collective mechanism to 'ensure the safety of shipping' trade in the Strait of Hormuz: a vital passage for global transit of oil, gas and other products that has been closed to around 90% of ordinary ship traffic from Tehran over the past 40 days of war in response to attacks by the US and Israel. This was stated in a statement released in London, the organisation's headquarters.

The US and Israeli approach of an 'unprovoked attack' against Iran suffered a 'crushing defeat'. This was said by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. In an interview with Radio Sputnik reported by Tass, the spokeswoman emphasised that Russia "from the very beginning said that this aggression had to be stopped immediately", that "there is no military solution" in the Middle East and that instead it is necessary to pursue a "political and diplomatic solution" based on a negotiation process.

Following the announcement of the US-Iran ceasefire, the Israeli army announced that it has ceased operations against Iran, while operations in Lebanon will continue. "As per directives from the political leadership, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have ceased fire in the operation against Iran and are fully prepared to respond defensively to any violation," a statement read, "At the same time, in Lebanon, the IDF continues to conduct targeted ground operations against the terrorist organisation Hezbollah. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the ceasefire agreement "does not include Lebanon", while Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who mediated between the United States and Iran, clarified that the agreement applies "everywhere, including Lebanon".

According to the Iranian news agency Isna, it will be the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who will lead the Iranian delegation in the talks in Islamabad with the United States, which start next Friday. According to Axios, the US delegation is likely to be led by US Vice President JD Vance. A senior US official told Axios that Vance has established a good relationship with Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, who led the negotiations that led to the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.

British PM Keir Starmer will be in the Gulf today to meet with regional leaders and discuss diplomatic efforts in support of the ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran. The Downing Street tenant's visit, the Guardian points out, comes just hours after a two-week ceasefire agreement was reached last night, nullifying US President Donald Trump's ultimatum that Iran would have to surrender or face widespread destruction. "I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world," Starmer said, "Together with our partners, we must do all we can to support and maintain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz."

The United States in Iran achieved 'everything we wanted to achieve militarily' and it was 'a total victory from that point of view and from every other point of view'. This was said by US President Donald Trump, speaking to British broadcaster Sky News, according to the same broadcaster. Trump added that he believes the agreement 'is good', but added that if it is not, the US will go back to war. In that case 'we will go back immediately, very easily', he said.

"We expect that in the coming days and weeks the ceasefire will be fully respected throughout the region and that negotiations will take place," said French President, Emmanuel Macron, welcoming the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US as "a very positive development". Macron also said he hoped the ceasefire would include Lebanon.

The US stated that the newly concluded two-week ceasefire agreement must also include Lebanon.

Ukraine now urges the US, after the ceasefire with Iran, to turn its attention back to the war in Ukraine. "We welcome the agreement between President Trump and the Iranian regime to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and cease fire, as well as Pakistan's mediation efforts. American resolve is working. We believe that the time has come for sufficient resolve to force Moscow to cease fire and end the war against Ukraine," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on X.

The Israeli army conducted several raids in southern Lebanon, according to the National Information Agency (NIA), after issuing a new evacuation order for the Tyre region. Hezbollah, for its part, has not claimed any attacks against Israel since last night, while a two-week ceasefire went into effect between the US and Iran. Israel claimed that the truce did not cover Lebanon.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is travelling to the Gulf today to meet with regional leaders and to 'discuss diplomatic efforts in support of the ceasefire'. This was announced by Downing Street.

It will take months for aviation fuel supplies and prices to normalise, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains open, the director general of the International Air Transport Association (Iata) said today. "It will still take months to return to necessary supply levels, given the disruptions to refining capacity in the Middle East," Willie Walsh told reporters. "I don't think it will happen in a few weeks."

The price of gas collapsed in Amsterdam after the agreement between the US and Iran for a two-week truce in the conflict conditional on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Thus, in addition to the collapse in the price of crude oil, which fell well below the $100 per barrel mark, the price of gas also plummeted, dropping 16.66% to below €45 per megawatt hour (€44.37) in Amsterdam.

In Israel, the leader of the opposition, Yair Lapid, attacks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week truce with Iran, more than a month having passed since Israel and the US broke the news of the start of military operations against the Islamic Republic. For Lapid, 'there has never been such a political disaster in our history' and 'Israel was not even at the table when decisions were being made that affect the heart of our national security'. And on X, he pressed: "The military did whatever was asked of them, the population showed extraordinary resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, strategically, and did not achieve any of the goals he set for himself." "It will take years," he charged, "to repair the damage on the political and strategic level caused by Netanyahu.

"The German government welcomes the two-week ceasefire agreed last night between the United States and Iran. It thanks Pakistan for the mediation that led to this important agreement. The goal now must be to negotiate a lasting end to the war in the coming days. This can only be achieved through diplomacy'. This was stated by the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, in a note. "Such negotiations serve to protect the Iranian civilian population and security in the region; they can avert a serious global energy crisis. The German government supports these diplomatic efforts and is in close contact with the United States and other partners," Merz further said.

The pro-Iranian militias of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced a two-week halt to actions on Iraqi soil and in the Middle East after the truce between the US and Iran. "The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announces the suspension of its operations in Iraq and the region for a fortnight," they announced in a message circulated on social media.

US President Donald Trump told Afp that he believes China helped bring Iran to the negotiating table to conclude a two-week ceasefire agreement. "That's what I hear," Trump replied during a telephone interview, when asked about Beijing's possible involvement in persuading Tehran, its ally, to negotiate a truce.

US President Donald Trump told Afp that the US had achieved a 'total and complete victory' by concluding a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran. "A total and complete victory. 100 per cent. There's no doubt about it," President Trump said in a brief interview after the agreement was announced.

Two phone calls for Donald Trump shortly before the announcement of the two-week truce, more than a month after the start of US and Israeli military operations against Iran and after Pakistan came in as mediator. Writing about this is the New York Times, which cites two American officials according to whom the tycoon heard from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Asim Munir, a powerful number one in the Pakistani Army. Munir is known to be 'Trump's favourite field marshal'. And Trump, according to the newspaper, heard him and Netanyahu after 5pm Washintgton time. "Based on conversations I had with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, in which I was asked to suspend the deployment of destructive forces into Iran scheduled for this evening, and provided that the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to the full, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend bombing and strikes against Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump had written on Truth in the night.

Missile warning sirens went off in Bahrain, just hours after the US and Iran announced they had reached a two-week ceasefire, according to Ap reports. Bahrain's Interior Ministry issued the alert. The ceasefire agreement did not immediately specify when the fighting would cease. After the announcement, Iran fired missiles at the Gulf Arab states and Israel.

"This could be the Golden Age of the Middle East". US President Donald Trump wrote this in a post on his social Truth following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreed by Washington and Iran, which includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Today EU High Representative Kaja Kallas is in Saudi Arabia, where she will meet, among others, the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Al Budaiwi. "This is a dangerous time for the region: the Gulf is involved in a conflict it did not choose, Iran has launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles against its neighbours," notes an EU official. "Kallas will discuss ways to end the fighting and possible diplomatic ways out, diplomacy works best face to face."

After the ceasefire announcement pro-government demonstrators took to the streets in the Iranian capital Tehran shouting 'Death to America, death to Israel, death to those who compromise'. At one point the organisers tried to calm the protesters down, but they continued chanting slogans. They also burned US and Israeli flags in the street. This shows the persistent anger of the radicals, who had prepared for what many believed would be an apocalyptic battle with the US.

The two-week ceasefire plan agreed upon by Iran and the US allows Iran and Oman to charge a toll on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by a regional official who was directly involved in the negotiations, according to whom Tehran will use the funds collected for reconstruction. At the moment, it is not clear what Oman will use the revenue for. The Strait lies in the territorial waters of both Oman and Iran. The world had always regarded the passage as an international waterway and had never previously paid tolls.

US President Donald Trump has declared that the US will be directly involved in restoring maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

The ceasefire agreement that Iran and the US have agreed upon also includes Lebanon. This was reported by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on X. 'With utmost humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, together with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere,' Sharif wrote in a post on X, pointing out that the ceasefire has 'immediate effect'. The Pakistani premier also confirmed that he had invited the delegations to Islamabad for Friday to negotiate a final agreement: 'I warmly welcome this wise gesture and express my deepest gratitude to the leaders of both countries, inviting their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10 April 2026 to further negotiate a final agreement to resolve all disputes,' the post further read. "Both sides have shown remarkable wisdom and understanding and have continued to engage constructively to promote the cause of peace and stability. We sincerely hope that the 'Islamabad Talks' will succeed in achieving sustainable peace and we look forward to sharing more good news in the coming days!" it concludes.

Overnight, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it known that he supports and recognises the two-week truce agreement, but also emphasises that this does not include Lebanon. In addition, Netanyahu's office stated that the US has communicated to Israel its commitment to shared goals in the upcoming negotiations.

NEW YORK - A two-week ceasefire agreement in extremis to prevent a devastating escalation of the war against Iran. Donald Trump announced the agreement an hour and 28 minutes before the expiry of his ultimatum, at 8pm US time, with which he had threatened the destruction of an entire civilisation if Tehran did not come to terms. The markets' reaction to the ceasefire announcement was swift, with oil down 15 per cent.

Trump indicated that he had suspended a new offensive on the condition of an immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. And he cited the ten-point Iranian plan as a "working basis on which to negotiate": according to rumours it includes a permanent end to hostilities, guarantees of no future attacks by the US and Israel, an end to sanctions against Tehran and its allies, control of the Strait of Hormuz, tolls paid to Iran for the passage of ships with which to finance a reconstruction of the country and shared with Oman. Tehran said it also included uranium enrichment in the ten points.