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Middle East
Trump weighs Iran proposal amid stalled talks
United States President Donald Trump met with senior national security officials on Monday to discuss a new proposal from Iran aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, as the war remains locked in a stalemate and regional energy supplies stay constrained. The proposal would postpone negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions for a later date, Axios reported earlier Monday. According to reports, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the discussions were underway during a press briefing. “I will confirm the president has met with his national security team this morning,” Leavitt said at a press briefing Monday afternoon when asked about the reports. “The meeting may be ongoing,” Leavitt said, “but the proposal was being discussed.” “I don’t want to get ahead of the president or his national security team. What I will reiterate is that the president’s red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear, not just to the American public, but also to them as well.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed scepticism about Tehran’s intentions, suggesting the proposal may be an attempt to delay substantive concessions. "We can't let them get away with it," Rubio said in an interview wi
Middle East
Israel striking Hezbollah in Lebanon despite ceasefire
Israel has said it will attack Hezbollah targets “vigorously”, as it continues to strike Lebanon despite the two countries’ ceasefire. Israeli strikes killed 14 people in Lebanon yesterday, per the Lebanese health ministry. Israel’s military has told residents of seven villages north of the zone it occupies in southern Lebanon to evacuate. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that he had ordered Israel’s military “to vigorously attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon”, without further details. “It must be understood that Hezbollah’s violations are, in practice, dismantling the ceasefire,” Netanyahu also said during a cabinet meeting yesterday. According to Israel’s military, it struck loaded rocket launchers belonging to Hezbollah on Friday night. Hezbollah has called its attacks a “legitimate response to the enemy’s persistent violations of the ceasefire”, saying Israel had done so more than 500 times. Lebanon and Israel agreed to a 10-day ceasefire on 16 April, with the U.S. later saying this would be extended by three weeks. Israel has continued to occupy an area south of the Litani River in Lebanon during the ceasefire, and has told Lebanese residents in this zone to evacuate. The terms of the
Middle East
Starmer and Trump discuss reopening Strait of Hormuz
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again through the Strait of Hormuz during a call with United States President Donald Trump. A spokesperson said the reopening of the strait was discussed due to the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living in the United Kingdom and globally. “The Prime Minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with President Macron to restore freedom of navigation, following the military planning conference at Northwood this week,” a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement. This follows the UK continually refusing to get involved in Trump’s war, calling it a “war of choice” alongside other NATO members. Recently, Starmer said the UK wouldn’t help Trump with his blockade of Iran and hosted other nations in an International Summit on the Strait of Hormuz alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. UK finance minister Rachel Reeves also slammed Trump’s war on Iran for its impacts on the global economy and living standards around the world. While the war is set to have the most dire consequences on less wealthy countries, the International Monetary Fund predicted that the UK would have the biggest econom
Middle East
Trump cancels talks in Pakistan, urges Iran to call
United States President Donald Trump said Iran could initiate negotiations by phone as diplomatic efforts to end the two-month conflict showed signs of stalling, even as Tehran continued regional outreach through Pakistan. Trump on Saturday confirmed he had cancelled plans to send U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner to Islamabad after Iran’s chief negotiator departed the Pakistani capital following discussions with local officials only. The trip had been intended to facilitate further engagement with Iranian representatives. He noted in a post on Truth Social: “Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their ‘leadership.’ Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefly returned to Islamabad on Sunday as Pakistan’s political and military leadership sought to restart ceasefire negotiations between Tehran and Washington. His visit followed confusion over a planned second round of talks after he had left the capital late Saturday, only to return before travelling onward to Moscow,
Middle East
Trump threatens mine-laying vessels in Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump has ordered the United States Navy “to shoot and kill any boat” laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, marking a sharp escalation in tensions with Iran over the critical global oil shipping route. Trump said the directive would be enforced without delay. “There is to be no hesitation,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social. The president also confirmed that U.S. minesweeping operations in the strait would be intensified significantly. He said he had instructed naval forces to continue clearing the waterway “at a tripled up level”. In a further show of force, Trump asserted that the United States had full control over the strait, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints. “No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is ‘Sealed up Tight,’ until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!” he wrote in a separate post. The move underscores a deepening confrontation between Washington and Tehran over access to the Strait, which typically accounts for roughly 20% of global oil shipments. Traffic through the passage has dropped sharply since the outbreak of war in late February. Trump has been pressing Iran to fully reopen the waterway as pa

Middle East
Iran seizes ships as Hormuz tensions escalate
Iran’s navy said it had seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, escalating tensions in the region after the United States extended a unilateral ceasefire. The Revolutionary Guard Navy stated that the vessels were detained for alleged maritime violations and transferred to Iranian waters, according to reports from Iran International. The development followed warnings from United Kingdom maritime authorities that multiple ships had come under attack in the strategically critical waterway. Reports also indicated that a third vessel had been targeted by military forces, adding to concerns over the safety of shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy supplies. Oil markets reacted to the developments, with international benchmark Brent crude futures for June delivery settling 3.5% higher to $101.91 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures also gained 3.7% to $92.96 per barrel. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre reported that a vessel had been fired upon approximately eight nautical miles off Iran’s coast. The crew were confirmed safe, and the ship sustained no damage, though the agency warned of high levels of activi
Middle East
Trump extends Iran ceasefire as talks delayed
United States President Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire with Iran, citing divisions within Tehran’s leadership. The two-week ceasefire, which had been due to expire on Wednesday, will now remain in place until Iran’s leaders present a unified proposal to end the conflict with the United States and Israel, Trump said. “Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other,” the president added. The announcement marked a shift in tone from earlier in the day, when Trump told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that he did not wish to extend the ceasefire, stating, “I don’t want to do that”, when asked about prolonging the truce. The decision comes as diplo
Middle East
Iran considering attending peace talks with US
Iran is reportedly considering attending a new round of peace talks with the United States this week, as the U.S. blockade continues and President Donald Trump escalates threats against Iran. The U.S. will send a delegation to Pakistan for potential peace negotiations this week. Iran had previously said it would not participate, but is now considering doing so due to Pakistan’s efforts to halt the blockade, Reuters reported. The countries’ two-week ceasefire expires this week. Trump told PBS News that if the ceasefire ends without a deal, “lots of bombs start going off”. Trump said preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons was the U.S.’ main goal for the talks. “No nuclear weapons. Very simple.” Iran is “positively reviewing” attending the talks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, but has not made a final decision. An Iranian delegation is making plans to travel to Islamabad for potential negotiations, the New York Times also reported. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reportedly said that U.S. violations of the ceasefire are an obstacle to further negotiations. The U.S. seized a sanctioned Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, meanwhile, claiming that it had tried t
Middle East
US to host Israel-Lebanon peace talks on Thursday
The United States will host direct peace talks between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, while Israel continues to occupy parts of southern Lebanon. The two countries agreed to a 10-day ceasefire last week. Israel invaded Lebanon in March following attacks by Iranian ally Hezbollah amid the Iran war. “The United States welcomes the productive engagement that began on April 14,” the U.S. State Department said. “We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments.” These talks will take place at the State Department, the U.S. has said. Delegations from Israel, Lebanon, and the U.S. will participate. Hezbollah has criticised the peace talks and has said it will continue to oppose the Israeli occupation through military resistance. Israel has claimed it will continue occupying parts of Lebanon that lie within 10 kilometres of its southern border. Israel’s military has told residents to leave more than 70 villages in the area. Both Lebanon and Hezbollah have called this a violation of the ceasefire deal, as the agreement says Israel will not continue offensive military operations against Lebanese targets in Lebanon’s territory. According to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the tal