live Iran reopens Hormuz Strait, demands end to U.S. naval blockade- Saturday 18 April
Iran temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday (17 April) following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, ra...
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged the world on Sunday to step in and help halt the ongoing war between Israel and Lebanon, warning that diplomacy is the only way to end the conflict and ease civilian suffering.
Speaking during an Easter address in Bkirki, Aoun said Lebanon is in “continuous contact with various countries” in an effort to reduce the human cost of the war.
“We call on friendly countries to intervene to stop this madness practiced by Israel,” he added.
The president revealed that Lebanon has put forward an initiative beginning with a ceasefire, intended to pave the way for negotiations, but said there has been no response so far.
Aoun condemned Israel’s attacks on civilians and stressed that neither the Lebanese government nor its people desire a resumption of hostilities. He said the country is focused on three priorities: maintaining domestic peace, supporting displaced people within Lebanon, and strengthening diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“Israel is trying to turn Lebanon into a second Gaza Strip, and my duty is to prevent this from happening,” he said.
The president also stressed that negotiation should not be seen as surrender and that diplomacy is not a concession. “Wars eventually end through dialogue,” he said.
Aoun warned that civil peace in Lebanon remains a “red line”, adding that security forces and the army are ready to confront any attempts to stir internal unrest.
He praised residents who have opened their homes to displaced families and thanked international partners and aid organisations for their support.
The Ministry of Public Health reported that since 2 March, 1,461 people have been killed and 4,430 wounded, while more than 1.2 million have been displaced as fighting escalates.
The violence flared on 2 March, when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel for the first time since a ceasefire began on 27 November 2024, prompting intensified Israeli air strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon.
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Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Supreme Leader in air strikes, triggering the Middle East conflict, at the end of February. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, however, remains in force.
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U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli and Lebanese leaders have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that includes Hezbollah, raising cautious hopes of a pause in hostilities after weeks of escalating tensions.
Iran temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday (17 April) following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, raising optimism about peace talks, but Tehran warned that it could close the crucial waterway again if the recent U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ports continued.
Global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has shown signs of partial recovery after Iran announced it was open to commercial vessels during a limited ceasefire, though uncertainty remains over security conditions and compliance rules.
The Strait of Hormuz has reopened, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday (17 April), although Washington warned its naval blockade on Iran would remain until a peace deal is reached.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Supreme Leader in air strikes, triggering the Middle East conflict, at the end of February. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, however, remains in force.
Iran has cautiously welcomed the ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon stressing that it is an integral part of Tehran’s set of its conditions for an end to the ongoing conflict with Washington.
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