War breaking news. Iran, Trump: 'New attacks if there is no agreement'. Italian ship stranded in Hormuz

The death of Kamal Kharrazi is "an honour for the academic and political community of the Islamic Republic" and at the same time "a shame that demonstrates the baseness of the arrogant American-Zionist powers". This was stated by Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, in a message released after the news of the former foreign minister's killing. In the text, Khamenei described Kharrazi as a leading figure in the fields of science, culture and foreign policy, also recalling his role at the head of the Strategic Council for International Relations.

US embassy staff in Baghdad "were the target of multiple drone attacks by an Iraqi terrorist militia near the Iraqi capital's International Airport" on Wednesday. A US State Department official told CNN today that they are "all safe". Since the beginning of the US-Israeli-led war against Iran, there have been dozens of attacks against US personnel and facilities in Iraq, perpetrated by groups allied with Tehran. Wednesday's incident, however, is the first since the ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran.

Intensive international efforts could lead to a ceasefire declaration between Israel and Lebanon tomorrow. This was reported by Al Arabiya's Al-Hadath channel, stating that 'the declaration of a ceasefire would be a goodwill gesture ahead of Tuesday's talks' in Washington.

A senior official in the Lebanese president's office told the BBC today that Lebanon will only participate in direct negotiations with Israel if a ceasefire is reached first.

Israel claimed to have dropped over 18,000 bombs on Iran since the beginning of the war. In a post on X, the Israeli army (IDF) claimed to have conducted "more than a thousand offensive air sorties" against Iranian targets since 28 February, pointing out that dozens of fighter jets would take part in each attack.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has underlined Spain's rejection of involvement in a potential NATO mission to secure the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, after Secretary General Mark Rutte suggested a possible role for the alliance. Rutte "has neither informed nor consulted" the allies about an involvement in Hormuz, Albares told reporters in the Senate, according to Iberian media reports. "The Middle East is not within Nato's range" and the alliance "will not participate in this war", the minister argued.

After almost a month and a half of waiting, the 21 crew members of the car carrier 'Grande Torino', belonging to the Grimaldi shipping group, which has been stranded in the Persian Gulf since 28 February, the start of the conflict in Iran, are in good condition. The unit docked yesterday in Abu Dhabi to replenish its supplies of food, water and medicine, after weeks spent at anchor waiting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Today the 'Grande Torino' put to sea again but will have to remain in the waters of the basin like the 800 or so ships around the world stuck in the same conditions. From Grimaldi's headquarters in Naples, contacts with the ship - launched in 2018, almost 200 metres long, with a tonnage of 65,255 tonnes and a capacity to transport up to 7,600 cars or other rolling cargo spread over its four garage decks - are constant. The three Italian officers and 18 seafarers of Filipino nationality are provided with real-time updates on the evolution of the situation. The climate is not one of emergency but of waiting: the estimate of the economic consequences for the company has not yet been worked out in the hope that the situation will be resolved soon.

The 'Grande Torino' had loaded new cars in Japan and China and entered the Persian Gulf to make deliveries to several countries in the area. After completing disembarkation at a port in Kuwait, the unit was to continue its journey to other European ports to deliver the rest of its cargo.

Further reading

Closing Hormuz or taxing ships for passage is not legal

09 April 2026

The Third Sector Forum is "deeply concerned" by the consequences of the US and Israeli attack on Iran: the escalation throughout the Middle East and, in particular in these hours, the horror taking place in Lebanon, the huge number of dead and displaced people and the fallout in our country. In a document entitled 'We can only win with peace and law', the Third Sector Forum 'strongly condemns' the spread of the 'world war in pieces' and the collapse of international agreements and rules, and launches an appeal to the Italia government and Europe to play a positive role in returning to the rule of law and putting peace and people first.

"We are first of all close to the victims, regardless of their side, their families and communities. In these contexts of humanitarian crisis,' the document reads, 'there is a great commitment on the part of the third sector and NGOs to save and welcome those who flee, a commitment that is often forgotten, if not mocked or attacked. This is our non-violent advocacy, our non-violent defence that provocatively crosses all borders, even mental ones, and builds bridges, first and foremost human ones'.

The Lebanese presidency office reported that 13 members of the security forces were killed in attacks carried out today by Israeli forces in Nabatiyeh, in the south of the country. President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks, stressing that 'targeting state institutions and its security apparatus will not prevent Lebanon from defending its right to protect its territory and preserve its sovereignty', according to the statement released by the bureau.

The US-Iranian talks in Pakistan will last "probably two or three days". Abdul Majeed Hakim Ilahi, the Iranian Supreme Leader's representative in India, told the Russian news agency Tass. After the talks, the delegations will return "to their respective countries for discussions with their officials," he added. At the same time, Ilahi believes that a two-week ceasefire may not be enough to achieve lasting results in the negotiations. If agreement is reached in the talks in Islamabad, the diplomat said, the ceasefire period will have to be extended. "The ceasefire must be extended. Because there are many things that need to be agreed on with the US. And if they come to some kind of common ground, they can further extend the ceasefire and continue the talks. I think two weeks is not enough,' Ilahi concluded.

The World Health Organisation warns that humanitarian needs across the Middle East remain 'immense' despite the truce announced by Trump this week.

In its report published today on the Middle East conflict, the organisation describes a 'rapidly evolving emergency' in the region, where the two-week ceasefire opens a critical window for humanitarian response.

Further reading

WHO, Lebanese hospitals at risk of running out of medical supplies

08 April 2026

"Two of the measures agreed between the parties have yet to be implemented: the ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iranian assets frozen before the start of negotiations. According to plan, both conditions will have to be fulfilled before the start of the negotiations." Tehran's Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf wrote this on X, referring to the talks with the US expected in Pakistan.

According to US and Israeli sources with knowledge of the conversation, thephone call on Thursday between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which took place shortly before Israel announced its intention to initiate direct ceasefire talks with Lebanon, was reportedly very 'tense'.

According to the Israeli source quoted by CNN, Netanyahu understood that if he did not call for direct talks with Lebanon, Trump could simply declare a cease-fire.

Intense pressure and a threat by Tehran to withdraw from talks with the US in Islamabad have forced Israel to halt its military strikes against Beirut. This was reported by a senior security source to PressTV. According to the source, following the IDF's massive raids against Lebanon, Iran placed the cessation of attacks as an impossible precondition for its participation in negotiations with the US on a temporary ceasefire. "The unity of the resistance front was non-negotiable for Iran," the source told PressTV, adding that the Iranian delegation's trip to Islamabad had been postponed several times, particularly due to Israeli attacks on Lebanon. "Should the regime violate this agreement and resume bombing Beirut, negotiations would be broken off immediately," the source said.

The Lebanese Hezbollah group fired several rockets at the town of Safed in northern Israel, where rescue workers reported damage to a car park. The Times of Israel reported this, pointing out that at the moment no casualties have been reported.

The Gulf countries are preparing to redesign their security architecture after the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, between the search for new partners and the awareness that in the long term the threat from Tehran will remain. The conflict, writes the Guardian in an analysis, has in fact shown that the American military presence, a pillar of security in the Gulf - despite its demonstrated ability to intercept most of the missiles and drones launched by Tehran - has at the same time proved to be a factor of vulnerability, exposing the monarchies of the region to Iranian retaliation. The node of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital hub for global energy trade, also remains central. Tehran intends to maintain the control acquired during the conflict over the maritime passage, a prospect deemed unacceptable by the Gulf monarchies and destined to weigh in the forthcoming talks negotiated with the United States in Pakistan. Politically, the region appears divided on the strategy to be adopted with Tehran. United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are pushing for the hard line, while other countries are aiming at reopening channels of dialogue and detente. A first signal came from the contact between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with talks between their respective foreign ministers to discuss a reduction in tensions.

"Iran does not want a ceasefire that allows an aggressor to rearm and strike again, and we stress that any agreement must include guarantees to prevent a resumption of hostilities." So says Iran's Viceminister of Foreign Affairs, Takht-Ravanchi, as reported by the Mehr news agency. "Iran supports diplomacy and dialogue, but rejects talks based on misinformation or any process that could pave the way for renewed aggression," the deputy minister continued.

The head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, Ibrahim Azizi, said that under a parliamentary proposal, transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz would be paid in rials, Iran's national currency. This was reported by Al Jazeera citing a post on X from the Iranian Consulate General in Mumbai. Some analysts have told Al Jazeera that Iran and China are actively seeking to threaten the global dominance of the US dollar. According to several sources cited by the Qatari broadcaster, under the de facto tolling regime introduced by the Iranian authorities during the blockade of the strait following the Israeli-US attacks, commercial ships were charged transit fees in Chinese yuan. It is unclear how many ships made payments in yuan during the blockade, but as of 25 March - according to Lloyd's List reports this week - at least two had done so.

"Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack it. Spain defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the Israel Defence Forces (Isf), the soldiers of the most moral army in the world. Therefore, I have orderedthe removal of the Spanish representatives from the coordination centre in Kiryat Gat, after Spain has repeatedly chosen to take sides against Israel".

This was stated in a video message by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after the Foreign Ministry announced that representatives from Madrid will not be allowed access to the US-led centre in charge of monitoring the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. "Whoever attacks the State of Israel instead of terrorist regimes, whoever does so, will not be our partner in the future of the region," the premier said, "I am not willing to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to movediplomatic war on us without immediately paying the price'. The Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez has been among the biggest critics of both Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip and the US war against Iran.

At least 19 people were killed and 15 wounded in themassive air raids conducted today by Israeli forces in Nabatieyh and nearby locations in southern Lebanon. This was reported by the Lebanese daily L'Orient Le Jour, pointing out that the victims included 11 members of various Lebanese security agencies and eight civilians.

Two violent attacks, each using several missiles, targeted Nabatiyeh, destroying part of the Seraglio and several offices. Damage also affected the building housing army intelligence, State Security and mukhtars (local officials). The Internal Security Forces and the state-owned telecommunications company Ogero were also hit, according to the newspaper correspondent. Four other attacks were launched on the outskirts of the city: two of them hit targets in Kfar Joz, near a compound occupied by the Internal Security Forces, while the other two targeted the towns of Zebdine and Kfar Remmane. The eight civilians were killed in these three locations, according to L'Orient Le Jour.

The US intends to demand from Iran the release of American detainees as part of the negotiations in Islamabad. The Washington Post reports this, citing sources.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked not to testify for the next two weeks in the trial against him for corruption and fraud, citing 'security reasons'. Netanyahu, through his lawyers, cited 'security reasons related to the dramatic events that took place throughout the Middle East' as the reason for the postponement request. This was reported by the Ynet website.

The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reports heavyair raids that hit large parts of the southern city of Nabatiyeh, including a state security headquarters.

The attacks reportedly destroyed several buildings and caused the death of at least eight members of the state security forces, in what the agency called a 'horrific massacre'.

The Israeli army claims to have killed more than 1,400 Hezbollah affiliates since the start of hostilities in Lebanon on 2 March. These would include, according to the Israel Defence Forces, hundreds of members of the Radwan Force, the elite unit of the Shia political-military group.

The IDF also claims to have destroyed some 4,300 Hezbollah "terrorist infrastructure" and seized more than 1,000 weapons during ground operations in southern Lebanon. In the last 24 hours, the Israeli Air Force also struck 120 Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon "to eliminate threats" to Israeli forces.

Canada lobbies for the admission of the Gcap (Global combat air programme) - as an 'observer' - in an attempt to distance itself from Trump's United States.

Gcap is an international programme founded in 2022 by the UK, Japan and Italia to help reduce their dependence on the US for F-35 fighter jets.

Iran claims, through its ambassador in Tashkent, Mohammad Ali Eskandari, that it has "maintained strong relations with the Gulf countries despite the collateral damage - as the diplomat calls Iranian missile and drone raids against neighbouring countries since day one of the war, ed. "It is therefore not surprising that the populations of these countries welcome our response raids against American bases in their countries," he added, without specifying that energy or industrial sites in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were also hit. The Gulf countries, he added, have paid the US huge sums to ensure their security "yet the world can now see how the US protects its allies".

Israel 'failed on the battlefield' and on Wednesday launched bombings throughout Lebanon 'to cover up its failure'. This is what Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem claimed today in a message read out by the Al Manar broadcaster.

"The Israeli enemy failed on the battlefield against the brave resistance fighters and was unable to carry out the ground invasion it had repeatedly announced," said Qassem, according to whom "mobilising 100,000 Israeli soldiers will not help the occupation, on the contrary they will turn into corpses".

The world is experiencing the worst energy crisis in history. This was stated by the president of the IEA - the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, in an interview with Spiegel. Asked whether in the light of the truce in Iran the situation will improve, he replied: 'I wish I could say yes, but prices will remain high and volatile for some time yet. We are experiencing the most acute energy crisis in world history. The disruptions in the production and supply of oil, natural gas and products such as fuels are more severe than in the three previous energy crises combined,' he added, referring to the oil crisis of the 1970s and the gas crisis of 2022. Birol points out that there is currently a 'shortage of other crucial products from the Gulf States, particularly fertilisers. And this could risk a global food crisis," he added. "The fate of the world economy depends precisely on the Strait of Hormuz."

JD Vance expressed optimism about the talks with Iran as he departed for Pakistan. Speaking to reporters before boarding the plane, the US Vice President said he expected a 'positive' outcome.

Lebanon will participate in direct negotiations with Israel next week only if, and only if, a ceasefire is first reached. This was confirmed to the BBC by a senior official from the Lebanese presidency office. The date and time of the meeting have not yet been set.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem declared today that"the resistance will go on until our last breath", calling on the Lebanese authorities to "stop making free concessions" in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Shia party.

In a message read out by the presenter of the Al Manar broadcaster, Qassem said: 'Together, as a state, army, people and resistance, we will protect our country, restore its sovereignty and drive out the occupier. Their threats and weapons do not intimidate us, because we are the people of this land and we have the faith, the will and the ability to prevent them from achieving their goals'.

Ukrainian military helped Gulf countries repel Iranian drones during the war with Iran, Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky announced. "Yes, we destroyed Iranian Shahed drones. And not just in one country. For me, this is a success,' he said, after announcing in recent weeks the long-term and cooperative agreements reached with a number of countries in the region - Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates - to share the expertise gained by Kiev in these years of war with Russia to counter 'made in Iran' drones. Ukrainian soldiers have been deployed in the countries involved in the new conflict not only to define the technical specifications of the agreements but also to be operational immediately. To explain to local forces how to operate the systems to intercept the drones. Agreements similar to those already defined with three Gulf countries are being discussed with Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, Zelensky anticipated.

- "You are signs of hope in a world marked by absurd and inhuman violence, which, motivated by greed and hatred, spreads with ferocity in the very lands that have seen the rise of salvation", "desecrated by the blasphemy of war and the brutality of business, with no regard for people's lives, considered at best a collateral effect of their own interests. But no interest can be worth the life of the weakest", "help us to proclaim clearly that God does not bless any conflict" that "those who are Christians never take the side of those who yesterday wielded the sword and today throw bombs". Thus the Pope to the bishops of Baghdad.

The 10-point plan proposed by Iran has been agreed upon as a basis for negotiations, Deputy Foreign Minister Majdi Takht Ravanchi said on the eve of tomorrow's talks in Islamabad between the US and Iran. Iran International reports. "We have always welcomed diplomacy, but not talks based on false information aimed at deception," he said, adding that Tehran does not support a ceasefire that would allow the adversary to rearm and resume attacks.

"They were not there when we needed them and they will not be there when we need them again. They were tested and they failed." Donald Trump's De Profundis on the Atlantic Alliance and the relationship with the Europeans before his meeting with Nato's Secretary General, Dutch Mark Rutte, "a dear friend", could not have been more succinct, cutting and without appeal.

It was he, Teflon-Mark, a 14-year prime minister with invincible skills as a political mediator, who had invented last June at the Hague summit the 5% formula to save NATO from the violent blows of a hostile American presidency. He had succeeded by convincing the Europeans, under the first bombings by the United States and Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities, to increase the contribution to the alliance's military expenditure from 2 to 5% of GDP.

European airports risk a 'systemic' shortage of aviation fuel if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened within three weeks. This is the warning of Aci Europe, the association of European hubs, which in a letter seen by the Financial Times warns that aviation fuel reserves are running low and "the impact of military activities on demand" for oil is further straining supplies. The association warned European transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas of the airport sector's "growing concerns about aviation fuel availability, as well as the need for proactive EU monitoring and action," the FT reads. "If passage through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume in a meaningful and stable manner within the next three weeks, systemic aviation fuel shortages are likely to become a reality for the EU," the missive adds. "There is currently no European-wide mapping, assessment or monitoring of aviation fuel production and availability," but "a supply crisis," it stresses, "would severely compromise airport operations and aviation connectivity, with the risk of serious economic repercussions for affected communities and Europe in the event of a systemic aviation fuel shortage.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed 'military options' to make the Strait of Hormuz navigable again during a phone call last night with US President Donald Trump. 'We are putting together a coalition of countries, working on a political and diplomatic plan, but also assessing the military capabilities and logistics for the actual transit of ships through the Strait,' said Starmer, who is on a visit to Qatar.

The director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, warns of the risk of diesel and paraffin shortages in Europe in the coming weeks. 'If the situation does not improve, diesel and paraffin could soon be in short supply in Europe. Not immediately, but in the coming weeks,' he said in an interview with Der Spiegel. Before the Iran war, Europe imported most of these fuels from refineries in the Middle East, but 'many fuel depots have emptied in recent weeks'. Without a quick recovery of global production, 'in May the situation could become critical for some European countries'. Faced with rising prices and fears of shortages, Birol advocates speed limits: 'Germany should consider a speed limit on motorways. Already a reduction of 10 km/h can reduce national oil consumption by up to 6 per cent'. He also suggested free or cheaper public transport as an incentive to switch from cars to public transport. The energy crisis linked to the war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is not near an end: 'At least 80 energy infrastructures in the Middle East have been damaged. Even with a lasting truce, it will take time to return to pre-war production levels. And he warned: 'If the truce fails and Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, the energy crisis will immediately return to critical levels'.

In the last few days, following the suspension by the Iranian government of the possibility for merchant ships (at least for those sailing to ports in western states) to cross the Strait of Hormuz, there have been persistent reports about the hypotheses put forward by the same government to make this crossing subject to the payment of some kind of toll. It is worth verifying what the rules of international maritime law in force establish in this regard.

Simultaneous Israeli air raids on different areas of Lebanon on Wednesday killed at least 33 children and injured 153, Unicef announced in a statement, denouncing a 'devastating and inhuman cost' to the country's children.

"This latest bloodshed adds to the already devastating toll of 600 children killed or injured in Lebanon since 2 March," said the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef). "Across the country, more than one million people have been displaced, including some 390,000 children, often for the second, third or even fourth time," it added.

A difficult negotiation. Uphill. The United States and Iran will start the talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, from very different positions, although President Donald Trump has said that the proposals put forward by Tehran form a 'basis' for negotiations. However, the two sides remain firm on opposing demands to end the war: the 10-point Iranian plan shows little overlap with the 15-point US plan. The differences to be bridged are therefore wide. And there is no shortage of knots.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam will travel to Washington in the coming days, after Israel demanded direct negotiations with Lebanon, a Lebanese government source told CNN today.

The news comes as the fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, which is in place for the time being, is being put to the test, particularly on the question of whether attacks in Lebanon are included in the truce.

The ceasefire in the Middle East must ''imperatively cover Lebanon'': this was the message reiterated by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, interviewed by the daily La Croix. In the interview, the head of diplomacy in Paris states that the 8 April truce ''is temporary, fragile. Everything remains to be done for peace and stability to be restored in the region'. After 40 days of war in the Middle East, Barrot evokes the conditions for stabilising the Middle East, in a context in which Israel continues to bomb Lebanon despite the ceasefire of the day before yesterday. According to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, Barrot had a telephone conversation with his counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar today. During the conversation, the French diplomatic chief reportedly ''congratulated Pakistan for its role in securing the ceasefire agreement and expressed his support for Pakistan's continued efforts (...) for lasting peace and stability in the region''. The two ministers also agreed on the call for a total ceasefire in Lebanon.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian military experts have shot down Iranian drones in several Middle Eastern countries. Kiev sent dozens of anti-drone experts to at least four Middle Eastern countries after US and Israeli attacks on Iran triggered a wave of retaliatory drone strikes. "We have shown some countries how to work with interceptor missiles. Did we destroy them? Yes, we did. Did we do it in one country? No, in several,' Zelensky told reporters, as reported by Ukrainian media.

The Pakistani Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Noël Barrot, 'expressed concern over the serious ceasefire violations in Lebanon and stressed the importance of full implementation and respect for the ceasefire' during a telephone conversation. This was announced by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry on X. Barrot, the post reads, 'congratulated Pakistan for its role in reaching the initial ceasefire agreement and expressed his support for Pakistan's continued efforts towards a diplomatic path towards lasting peace and stability in the region'.

Iran will not participate in negotiations in Pakistan without a ceasefire "on all fronts", including Lebanon. This was stated by Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, setting a condition for the Middle East peace talks with the US in Islamabad. "The Pakistani government has invited both sides to Islamabad to hold these talks, which are currently under review and planning," Baghaei was quoted as saying by the state-run Tasnim news agency. "However, the holding of these talks is undoubtedly contingent on obtaining assurances that the United States will meet its ceasefire obligations on all fronts." he added. "The US is committed to ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and any action or position contrary to this commitment would constitute a breach of US commitments," he stressed.

"More than 3,000 people have been killed in enemy attacks" in Iran during the war. This is the estimate given by a senior Iranian health official, head of the Legal Medicine Organisation, Abbas Masjedi, quoted by the state daily Iran Daily. Masjedi did not provide details on the breakdown between civilian and military casualties. The Iranian government has not provided any definitive casualty figures for the war.

It is the world's most important physical market, with global trade in the order of $2 trillion, it is the lifeblood of the global economy, it is the leading source of energy with 35 per cent of global demand, its prices are driving inflation and, as of a few days ago, oil is going through the most serious crisis in its long history.

Israeli Defence Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated that Israeli forces continue their combat operations in southern Lebanon and that they are "not in a ceasefire" with Hezbollah but "in a state of war". During a visit near Bint Jbeil, Israeli media report, in southern Lebanon, Zamir said: 'The IDF is in a state of war, we are not in a ceasefire, we continue fighting here in this sector, which is our main combat sector. In Iran, on the other hand, we are in a ceasefire and can return to fight there at any time'

According to reports in the Wall Street Journal, an Iranian delegation has arrived in Islamabad ahead of ceasefire negotiations with the US, which are scheduled to start tomorrow. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf lead the delegation, according to the same source. The semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that the news of the arrival of Iranian officials in Islamabad to negotiate with the US 'is completely false'. Other Iranian state media also reported similar denials.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi died yesterday from injuries sustained in the US-Israeli missile attacks on 1 April, according to Iranian and Israeli media reports. Kharazi, 81, was head of the Strategic Council for International Relations, part of the Foreign Ministry. The long-serving diplomat, who was 'injured in a terrorist attack perpetrated by the American-Zionist enemy a few days ago, died a martyr's death this evening', the Mehr and Isna agencies reported on Telegram, which was also picked up by the Times of Israel. His wife was killed in the attack on their home in Tehran, according to media reports at the time. Kharazi was Iran's envoy to the United Nations in New York and later Foreign Minister from 1997 to 2005, under the reformist presidency of Mohammad Khatami. Share.

Further reading

Djibouti, the 'sentinel' of Bāb el-Mandeb risks becoming a new front for Iran

10 April 2026

Direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon will begin next week and the first meeting will be held at the State Department in Washington. Axios reports this, citing an Israeli source, according to which the US will be led by US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa. Israel, on the other hand, will be represented by its ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, while Lebanon by its ambassador to Washington Nada Hamadeh-Moawad.

"There are reports that Iran is imposing tolls on oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. They better not be doing this, and if they are doing this, they better stop now!" This is what US President Donald Trump writes, in a post on Truth.

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif deleted a post on X in which he had called Israel 'a curse on humanity'. The post, published yesterday evening, sparked protests in Jerusalem, which said it questioned Pakistan's ability to mediate between the US and Iran.

In the now deleted post, Asif wrote that 'while peace talks are taking place in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first in Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, and the bloodshed continues unabated. I hope and pray that those who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European Jews burn in hell'.

US President Donald Trump attacked Iran again in a post on Truth Social, writing that Tehran "is doing a terrible job, some would even say embarrassing, in blocking the passage of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. This is not the deal we have!"

Further reading

Oil, US exports at record high with war in the Gulf

10 April 2026

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif deleted a post on X in which he had called Israel 'a curse on humanity'. The post, published yesterday evening, sparked protests in Jerusalem, which said it questioned Pakistan's ability to mediate between the US and Iran.

In the now deleted post, Asif wrote that 'while peace talks are taking place in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon. Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first in Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, and the bloodshed continues unabated. I hope and pray that those who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European Jews will burn in hell'.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon, aimed at disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the two neighbouring countries. Israel and Lebanon have technically been in a state of war since Israel's founding in 1948. Thursday's announcement offers a potential boost to ceasefire efforts in the region. There was no immediate reaction from the Lebanese authorities. The fragile ceasefire in the war with Iran has been strained by Israeli bombardment of Beirut and Tehran's continued control over the Strait of Hormuz. Netanyahu made the announcement amid disagreement over whether a pause in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah should be included in the ceasefire agreement.

President Donald Trump has instructed Vice President James David Vance to find a solution to the war that started six weeks ago. JD Vance has long been sceptical of foreign military interventions and has spoken out against sending troops into conflicts indefinitely. Vance will leave today to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

Allies and opponents of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, expect the military campaign against the Iranian regime, widely supported by public opinion in the country, to play a major role in the upcoming elections, which are scheduled to take place within a maximum of six months. The Financial Times writes this. However, the first poll after the ceasefire, says the British newspaper, provided "a bleak picture" for Netanyahu, whose coalition has lagged behind the opposition in the polls for over two years: 63% of Israelis said they were dissatisfied with the results of the war. Less than half said they were satisfied with Netanyahu's performance, which has also drawn harsh criticism from his political opponents. "Netanyahu is fighting for his future," said one diplomat. "And in its current state," he added, "the ceasefire does not benefit him. He has not yet achieved anything he can present' to the Israeli public.

Air raid sirens were activated overnight in several communities in northern Israel, near the Lebanese border, due to suspected drone infiltration from Lebanon. This was reported by The Times of Israel.