The U.S. and Iran could resume peace talks over the next couple of days, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Washington yesterday. Fuel prices have dropped below $100 a barrel. U.S. blockade on Iranian ports completes first day.
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Republicans in the U.S. Senate have moved to block a Democratic effort to rein in Donald Trump’s military action against Iran, with an early vote tally of 51–47 against the war powers resolution as voting continued on Wednesday.
The United Arab Emirates has summoned Iraq’s chargé d’affaires and issued a formal protest over attacks it says were launched from Iraq, according to an official statement on Wednesday.
Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is prepared for all scenarios amid the possibility that fighting with Iran could resume, underscoring the fragile nature of the current pause in hostilities.
Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces are continuing strikes against Hezbollah and are close to overwhelming the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil.
The Kremlin says Washington has turned down a proposal for Russia to take custody of Iran’s enriched uranium, a plan Moscow argues could have helped ease tensions and support negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured Donald Trump that Beijing is not providing weapons to Iran, the White House said on Wednesday, following an exchange of letters between the two leaders amid rising tensions.
The White House has rejected reports it requested a ceasefire in the Iran war.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said talks with Tehran remain “productive” and a second round of negotiations is likely to take place in Pakistan.
Scott Bessent said on Wednesday he expects U.S. petrol prices to drop to the $3 range this summer, as he continues talks with Middle Eastern counterparts to address the Iran-driven oil crisis.
Kuwaiti authorities have detained Ahmed Shihab Eldin, a dual U.S. and Kuwaiti journalist who has not been seen for six weeks, the Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, said.
CPJ said the 41-year-old has not posted online or appeared in public since 2 March, and faces charges including spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone.
CPJ called for his release, saying, “Journalism is not a crime,” and U.N. official Francesca Albanese also urged Kuwait to free him.
The case comes amid wider Gulf crackdowns on filming and sharing war-related footage, with Qatar saying 313 people were arrested over such activity and Abu Dhabi police saying 375 people were arrested, with cases referred to prosecutors.
In the first 48 hours of the U.S. blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports, no vessels have passed U.S. forces, according to U.S. Central Command in a post on X. It added that nine vessels followed instructions from U.S. forces to turn around and head back towards an Iranian port or coastal area.
The United States and Iran made progress in talks on Tuesday and are moving closer to a framework agreement to end the war, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two U.S. officials.
The report said negotiators have advanced discussions toward a structured deal that could lay the groundwork for ending hostilities and extending the current ceasefire, with continued mediation efforts from regional partners.
However, officials stressed that while momentum has improved, a final agreement has not yet been reached and key issues remain unresolved, including broader implementation terms and security guarantees.
Israel’s security cabinet, chaired by Benjamin Netanyahu, will meet on Wednesday evening to discuss a possible ceasefire in Lebanon, according to a senior Israeli official.
The meeting comes as two senior Lebanese officials told Reuters that diplomatic efforts toward a truce are under way, though details on timing and duration remain unclear.
One official said the length of any ceasefire could be tied to how long the U.S.-Iran truce holds, while noting that Washington has been pressuring Israel to move toward de-escalation.
Separately, Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim al-Moussawi said Iran and regional actors could help secure a ceasefire “soon”.
He claimed Tehran is using leverage linked to the Strait of Hormuz to push for Lebanon’s inclusion in broader truce arrangements, though he did not confirm whether Hezbollah would comply.
Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir has arrived in Tehran alongside Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi as part of Pakistan’s ongoing mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, according to a statement from Pakistan’s military on Wednesday.
Iranian state media said a Pakistani delegation is carrying a message from Washington and working to arrange a second round of talks.
A senior Iranian source also told Reuters the visit aims to help narrow gaps between the two sides and prevent a resumption of war.
United Nations Human Rights Council said on Wednesday that UN experts have condemned Israel’s bombing campaign in Lebanon earlier this month as “illegal aggression” and indiscriminate.
In a statement, the experts said the strikes were not self-defence but a violation of the UN Charter and a blow to prospects for peace and multilateral order.
The comments refer to Israel’s heaviest strikes since fighting with Hezbollah escalated last month, which killed more than 250 people on 8 April.
Benjamin Netanyahu has said Lebanon was not covered by the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities.
The first crude tanker to head west through the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports took effect has entered the Gulf, in a sign that tanker movements may be resuming, cautiously, through one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, Anadolu Reports.
The report cited that MarineTraffic said on X that the Malta-flagged very large crude carrier Agios Fanourios I changed its AIS status from “At Anchor” to “Underway using Engine” at 21:28 GMT on 14 April, after waiting in the Gulf of Oman for nearly two days. The vessel crossed the Strait at 01:51 GMT and entered the Persian Gulf at 02:36 GMT and is due to reach Basrah, Iraq, on Thursday.
The transit comes amid sharply reduced traffic and heightened uncertainty, even though the blockade targets Iranian ports while still allowing passage to and from non-Iranian ports, and shipping remains well below normal levels in a waterway that typically carries about one-fifth of global oil and gas flows.
Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States and China are working together and that Beijing is “very happy” with his decision to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, claiming China has agreed not to send weapons to Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the move would benefit both China and the wider world and insisted the situation “will never happen again.”
Separately, in an interview with Fox Business Network, Trump said the U.S. could destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants within an hour if it chose to escalate militarily.
Despite the rhetoric, a senior U.S. official told Reuters that there has been no formal agreement to extend the ceasefire with Iran, though engagement between the two sides continues in search of a deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping in a letter not to supply Iran with weapons, adding that Xi responded by saying China is not doing so.
Speaking in an interview with Fox Business Network, the U.S. president said the exchange was part of broader efforts to prevent external military support for Tehran amid the ongoing war.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed de-escalation efforts in the Iran war during a phone call with Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, UAE state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday.
The rare contact between the two sides comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the UAE having previously condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf states as “terrorist acts” while also calling for the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said on Wednesday it has arrested 35 people across six provinces, including individuals it described as “Mossad-linked,” arms smugglers, and members of separatist groups, according to state media carried by IRNA.
The ministry said the detainees were part of coordinated operations targeting internal security threats, as Iran continues a wider crackdown on alleged espionage and militant networks.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday that Türkiye is working to extend the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, ease regional tensions, and ensure the continuation of diplomatic talks, expressing cautious optimism despite ongoing challenges.
Speaking to lawmakers in parliament, the Turkish president said Israel’s strikes on Lebanon are undermining prospects for peace and warned that the current window of opportunity created by the ceasefire must be seized.
Iran’s state-run Fars News Agency said on Wednesday that an Iranian sanctioned supertanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker proceeded toward the country’s Imam Khomeini port despite the ongoing U.S. blockade of Iranian maritime traffic.
The report said the Very Large Crude Carrier, capable of carrying around two million barrels of crude oil, entered Iranian waters after transiting the strategic waterway, though it remained unclear whether it was carrying cargo or sailing empty.
Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah lawmaker in Lebanon’s parliament, said on Wednesday that a rift inside Lebanon could widen over the government’s decision to enter negotiations with Israel, urging authorities to reconsider the move.
He warned that the process risks deepening internal divisions, reiterating that Hezbollah rejects any return to near-daily Israeli strikes and targeted assassinations as seen after the November 2024 ceasefire arrangement.
Fadlallah added that the Iran-aligned group is seeking a comprehensive ceasefire framework rather than continued military escalation along the Lebanon-Israel front.
President Donald Trump's administration is set to deploy thousands of additional troops to the Middle East in the coming days as part of efforts to increase pressure on Iran, according to a report by the Washington Post citing U.S. officials.
The Israeli military said on Wednesday it has issued an evacuation warning for residents south of the Zahrani River in southern Lebanon, as operations in the area intensify.
Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X that airstrikes are ongoing and that forces are operating with significant strength, warning civilians that remaining south of the river could endanger their lives and those of their families.
NetBlocks said on Wednesday that Iran’s near-total internet blackout has entered its 47th day, with more than 1,100 hours without international connectivity for the general public. The restrictions were initially imposed following renewed protests in early January and intensified after the start of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran at the end of February.
The prolonged disruption has had a severe impact on jobs and businesses across the country, further compounding the domestic fallout from the ongoing conflict.
Masoud Pezeshkian has posted on social media platform X that six countries have "historic roots" that positioned them in criticising Israel's actions in the war.
The essence of civilizations reveals itself at critical historical junctures. The positions taken by Spain, China, Russia, Türkiye, Italy, and Egypt against the warmongering and crimes of the Zionist regime stem from their deep cultural and historical roots. — Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) April 14, 2026
More than 200 Iranian crew members from two warships have been sent back to their homeland, a top official said on Wednesday. They were rescued by Sri Lanka authorities.
Sri Lanka Also rescued 32 Iranian crew from the warship IRIS Dena in March after it was hit by a torpedo from a U.S. submarine.
Regular flights between Tashkent and Tel Aviv have resumed after a temproary suspension over March, Uzbekistan Airways has announced. They will run three times a week and from May, an extra flight on Sunday via Samarkand will be introduced.
"The end of the ceasefire should not lead to an extension of the ceasefire; either Iran's rights, including our control over the Strait of Hormuz, must be recognised, or they must return to war", a spokesperson of Iranian Parliament's National Security Commission has said.
"Hezbollah terrorists and military infrastructure" have been targeted in the last few days, Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) have said.
The strikes come as the talks between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats were held yesterday in Washington DC, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joining. The talks didn't get immediate peace, but both sides are set to continue talking.
The World Bank says it could mobilise billions for countries effected by the impact of the Middle East conflict, started two months ago. The bank's President Ajay Banga said it could make $80 billion to $100 billion in funding available over the next 15 months for countries hit hard by the war.
It would include more immediate $20-25 billion in crisis response in the coming months and allowing countries to withdraw 10% of funds early.
The U.S. has achieved "maritime superiority in the Middle East" and has blocked all economic trade in and out of Iran by sea in the first 36 hours of the American blockade of Iranian ports, according to CENTCOM.
Statement from Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander: pic.twitter.com/dJxKJcEcmO — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 15, 2026
"Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and the United Kingdom remain deeply concerned by the worsening humanitarian situation and displacement crisis in Lebanon," the countries said in a joint statement without directly mentioning U.S. ally Israel or Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
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A Chinese spy satellite has been used by Iran in order to strike at U.S. military bases across the Gulf states/Middle East, reported by the Financial Times.
Iran has said that countries that allow U.S. to operate from American bases inside of them are targets for Tehran's retaliation.
""It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild", Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl on Tuesday, referring to the ceasefire with Iran which is in it's second week.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump says NATO isn't there for America. He has heavily criticised other nations, particularly the UK, for not joining him on the strikes against Iran in February. France and the UK have provided and continue to provide 'defensive' assistance in the conflict.
In Trump's first term, he was threatening to leave NATO and has continued those threats into his unconsecutive second term. A U.S. law makes unilateral withdrawal without a Congressional approval very difficult.
It's "highly probable" talks will continue, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told reporters at the UN. Guterres said he met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday and praised Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate dialogue.
It comes as U.S. President Donald Trump signalled negotiations will start again in the coming days.
Read more: Cautious progress as Iran and U.S. consider resuming Pakistan peace talks
At least eight ships, including three Iran-linked tankers have sailed through the Strait.
The U.S. blockade on Iranian ports began on Monday after direct talks at the weekend in Pakistan between Tehran and Washington failed to reach an agreement.
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Oil prices fell in choppy trading on Monday as investors awaited clarity on talks between the U.S. and Iran and remained cautious about sustained supply losses caused by shipping disruptions.
The escalation of conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran since 28 February 2026 has moved beyond a regional security crisis to become a systemic shock to the global economy and our pockets.
The foreign ministers of the G7 group of nations on Friday called for an immediate stop to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Iran war.
Both the United States and Iran are giving conflicting messages about trying to end the conflict in the Middle East as the rest of the world battle with the consequences of the war. Welcome to AnewZ's coverage of the tensions in the Middle East.
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The U.S. and Iran could resume peace talks over the next couple of days, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Washington yesterday. Fuel prices have dropped below $100 a barrel. U.S. blockade on Iranian ports completes first day.
Azerbaijan and Russia have announced a formal settlement over the 2024 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Embraer 190 near Aktau, confirming that all outstanding issues, including compensation, have been resolved.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there was a "good chance" of a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel happening soon, after he announced a 10-day ceasefire between the two countries.
Türkiye is reeling after a second school shooting in as many days, after a 14-year-old student killed nine people - eight pupils and one teacher - and wounded 13 others at a middle school in the south-eastern province of Kahramanmaraş on Wednesday, officials said.
Commander of Pakistan’s Army Field Marshal Asim Munir is visiting Tehran for high-level talks as Islamabad steps up mediation efforts to host renewed de-escalation talks between Iran and the U.S.
A second U.S.-sanctioned supertanker has entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, shipping data showed, despite a U.S. blockade on vessels visiting Iranian ports.
Optimism grew on Thursday that the war in the Middle East may be near an end, with a key Pakistani mediator in Tehran and the administration of President Donald Trump talking up hopes for a deal that would open the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there was a "good chance" of a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel happening soon, after he announced a 10-day ceasefire between the two countries.
The two-week ceasefire between Iran, the U.S. and Israel entered its second and last week with Tehran stepping up diplomacy at home and abroad ahead of the pending renewed talks with Washington expected later this week.
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