Iran accuses the United States of breaching a ceasefire after a commercial ship was seized in the Gulf of Oman, vowing retaliation, as Israel warns south Lebanon residents to avoid restricted areas.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that he believed a nuclear deal the U.S. is negotiating with Iran will be better than the international agreement agreed to in 2015 to curb Tehran's nuclear program.
"The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA, commonly referred to as “The Iran Nuclear Deal,” Trump wrote in a social media post after criticism from Democrats and some nuclear experts that he is rushing negotiations on a highly complex topic.
Pakistan is confident it can get Iran to attend talks with the United States, a senior Pakistani government official told Reuters on Monday.
"We have received a positive signal from Iran. Things are fluid but we are trying that they should be here when we start the talks tomorrow or a day after," the source said.
The source added Pakistan is actively engaged with Tehran and Washington as U.S. President Donald Trump's ceasefire deadline looms.
EU Council President António Costa said that the bloc is ready to support Middle East peace talks during a phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The two leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East, Sharif’s office said in a statement.
Sharif briefed Costa on the latest developments in Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach and peace efforts, while Costa expressed appreciation for Islamabad’s “constructive role in promoting dialogue and stability in the region.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Monday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.
Lavrov reiterated the need to uphold the ceasefire and stressed the importance of continued diplomatic efforts. The Iranian side confirmed its readiness to ensure the uninterrupted passage of Russian ships and cargo through the Strait of Hormuz.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for the United States and Iran to de-escalate amid increased tensions over the weekend over the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our position remains the same. We need to settle things through diplomacy. Everyone must calm down," Macron said during a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Macron also said that France was not specifically targeted in the strait after Iran fired shots on ships on Saturday.
Speaking to CNBC, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett described the UAE as “an incredibly valuable ally.”
He said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would seek to assist Abu Dhabi if needed, although a currency-swap line is unlikely.
“The UAE has been an incredibly valuable ally throughout this effort, and I’m sure the Treasury secretary will make every effort to help them out, should that be necessary,” Hassett said.
He added that such support would “probably” not be needed and noted that he had not discussed the matter directly with Bessent.
U.S. Central Command said on Monday that the U.S. military has directed 27 vessels to turn around or return to Iranian ports since the start of its blockade around the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the measures are part of ongoing enforcement operations aimed at restricting maritime traffic linked to Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Israel did not persuade him to attack Iran, rejecting reports suggesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu influenced the decision.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said his stance was driven by his long-held belief that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons, adding that the aftermath of 7 October reinforced that view.
He also said the “results in Iran will be amazing” and suggested that if Iran’s future leadership is “smart,” the country could achieve a “great and prosperous future,” including references to possible regime change.
The comments come as the United States prepares for further negotiations in Pakistan, while Iran’s participation remains uncertain.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the United States is making an effort to extend a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat cited him as saying on Monday.
Vice President JD Vance and a U.S. delegation are set to arrive in Pakistan within hours for talks on Iran, President Donald Trump told The New York Post in an interview on Monday.
He added that he would be willing to meet Iranian leaders himself if progress is made.
Germany and Brazil said in a joint declaration that they share a deep concern over conflicts in the Middle East, as well as the impact on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The two countries are strongly encouraging progress toward a substantive negotiated settlement on Iran, according to the declaration.
The second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place on Thursday (23 April) in Washington, several Israeli media outlets reported on Monday.
It will mark the first talks between the two countries since a 10-day ceasefire took effect on Thursday.
A senior Iranian official said that Tehran is positively reviewing its participation in potential peace talks with the United States but that no final decision has been made.
The Iranian official said positive efforts are underway by mediator Pakistan to end the U.S. blockade and to ensure Iran's participation in the peace talks.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad renewed its warning against traveling to Iraq, calling on Americans already in Iraq to "leave now."
“Do not travel to Iraq for any reason. Leave now if you are there," the embassy said in a security alert.
It warned that Iran-aligned militias in Iraq continue to plan further attacks targeting U.S. citizens and American-linked interests across the country, including in northern Iraq.
Israeli forces have carried out varying degrees of destruction in 39 villages in southern Lebanon since a ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah last week, a senior Hezbollah-allied politician said.
Ali Hassan Khalil, a top aide to Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, said the powerful explosions carried out by Israeli forces had destroyed civilian homes in the south and this amounted to "a clear war crime".
The Israeli military has said it is acting against Hezbollah infrastructure in the south.
China’s President Xi Jinping has called for the “normal passage” of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Xi said China supports an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in the Middle East and stressed that conflicts should be resolved through political and diplomatic means.
Lebanon has named former ambassador to the United States Simon Karam to head its delegation for negotiations with Israel.
President Joseph Aoun said on Monday that Karam would lead the Lebanese side in bilateral talks.
The Kremlin has said it hopes negotiations involving Iran will continue to avoid harm to the Gulf region and the global economy.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the situation as “fragile and unpredictable”, warning against any slide towards a military scenario.
He added that Russia is not acting as a mediator but stands ready to assist if asked, in support of a peaceful resolution.
U.S. President Donald Trump told Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir that he would consider his advice about the Strait of Hormuz blockade being a hurdle to peace talks with Iran when the two spoke by phone, a Pakistani security source said on Monday.
It comes after Iranian state media reported on Sunday that Tehran had rejected new peace talks with the U.S., partly due to Washington's ongoing blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran has said it cannot unilaterally restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, citing a “warlike situation” with the United States.
Foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani Baghaei pointed to alleged ceasefire violations and threats to Iranian ports and vessels as key obstacles.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said U.S. proposals have been “unserious” and its demands “unrealistic”.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that gaps over Iran’s nuclear programme remain unresolved as discussions continue ahead of the end of the current two-week ceasefire.
The source stated that Iran’s “defensive capabilities,” including its missile programme, are not negotiable with the United States.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that the continuation of the U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz is undermining Iran-U.S. peace talks.
Iran has stated there is no plan for a second round of negotiations with the United States for now, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei.
China has expressed concern over the U.S. interception of an Iranian cargo ship, its foreign ministry said, calling for restraint as tensions rise.
Beijing also said it would play a “constructive role” in efforts to ease the crisis, amid growing uncertainty over U.S.-Iran talks and the future of the ceasefire.
The global energy shock linked to the Iran conflict could last for months, Michel-Edouard Leclerc said, warning it may stretch into winter.
"We have up to six months at the very least, and perhaps going through to the coming winter, of an energy crisis," Michel-Edouard Leclerc, the company's executive chairman, told Europe 1 radio and CNews TV.
Oil prices rose again after the United States seized an Iranian cargo ship and Tehran vowed retaliation, adding to market uncertainty.
Masoud Pezeshkian said all diplomatic paths should be used to ease tensions with the United States, but stressed that “vigilance and distrust” remain essential.
Iran will ensure safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz under a new legal framework, its ambassador to Moscow said.
Kazem Jalali told Russian media that ships can continue to transit the waterway safely, despite ongoing tensions and recent attacks.
He added that U.S. and Israeli strikes had failed in their aims and said Iran remained “more united than before”.
U.S.Central Command said U.S. Marines launched by helicopter from the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) to board and seize the vessel M/V Touska in the Arabian Sea.
The Israeli military has called on residents not to return to several border villages in southern Lebanon until further notice, citing ongoing security risks.
The warning comes despite a fragile ceasefire, with Israeli forces still operating in parts of the area and restricting access to some communities.
Iran has executed two men accused of working with Israel’s Mossad and planning attacks inside the country, according to the judiciary’s Mizan news outlet.
The men, identified as Mohammad Masoum Shahi and Hamed Validi, were said to be part of a spy network and had received training abroad, including in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
They were convicted of charges including “enmity against God” and cooperation with hostile groups, with their death sentences upheld by the Supreme Court before being carried out, Mizan said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he held a “constructive conversation” with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the evolving regional situation.
Islamabad reiterated its commitment to supporting dialogue and regional stability amid the escalating crisis.
"The global economy cannot withstand further uncertainty," Abu Dhabi National Oil Company CEO, Sultan Al Jaber said, warning the vital shipping lane in the Strait of Hormuz must not operate under threat.
“Hormuz belongs to the world. It must be returned to the world, exactly as it was,” he wrote, as tensions escalate around the key oil transit route.
The United Arab Emirates has begun talks with the United States over a potential financial backstop as the war with Iran threatens deeper economic fallout, according to the The Wall Street Journal.
The report said Emirati officials are exploring options such as a dollar liquidity arrangement, though Reuters could not independently verify the discussions.
A ship belonging to France’s CMA CGM was among vessels fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz, the company confirmed, describing the incident as “warning shots” and saying the crew is safe.
President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating a ceasefire, adding that French and British vessels were targeted.
Iran has accused the United States of breaching a ceasefire after an alleged attack on an Iranian commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman.
State media, citing Khatam al-Anbiya, said the vessel was travelling from China to Iran when it came under fire.
“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond,” a spokesperson said, calling the incident “armed piracy.”
President Donald Trump's swift rejection of Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal sent oil...
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” a...
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Sp...
A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire in its landing gear tyres after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport...
Iran said on Sunday (10 May) that it had sent its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at launching peace talks to end the war, as signs of tentative ...
President Donald Trump's swift rejection of Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal sent oil prices surging higher on Monday amid concerns the 10-week-old conflict will drag on, keeping shipping through the Strait of Hormuz paralysed.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” amid talks over ending the war and securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A cargo vessel near Qatar was hit by a projectile as Kuwait reported hostile drones in its airspace.
Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.
A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire in its landing gear tyres after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday (11 May) morning, temporarily disrupting airport operations, officials said.
British paratroopers and military medics have been deployed to Tristan da Cunha after a suspected hantavirus case was confirmed, as first evacuation flights carrying passengers from the stricken MV Hondius cruise ship left Tenerife for Madrid and Paris.
Indonesian rescue teams have located two Singaporeans who went missing after Mount Dukono erupted on Friday (8 May) on the island of Halmahera, though authorities say it remains unclear whether they are alive.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Baku State University (BSU) and the international television channel AnewZ, marking a new stage of cooperation in journalism education and media development.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to carry on as leader on Friday (8 May) after his ruling Labour Party suffered heavy losses in local elections. Labour lost hundreds of councillors across the country, as some figures in the party said he should stand down.
China’s leading chipmakers are funnelling unprecedented sums into research and development as Beijing accelerates efforts to reduce reliance on foreign technology amid intensifying U.S. export restrictions.
President Donald Trump's swift rejection of Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal sent oil prices surging higher on Monday amid concerns the 10-week-old conflict will drag on, keeping shipping through the Strait of Hormuz paralysed.
U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” amid talks over ending the war and securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A cargo vessel near Qatar was hit by a projectile as Kuwait reported hostile drones in its airspace.
President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to a US war proposal “totally unacceptable” after Tehran sent its reply through mediator Pakistan, according to IRNA. Qatar’s al-Thani also warned Iran against using the Strait of Hormuz as “a pressure tool”.
Efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war appeared to stall as the two sides exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz. A reported CIA assessment suggested Tehran could withstand a U.S. naval blockade for months despite mounting sanctions and renewed Gulf attacks.
The U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz, though both sides signalled they did not want escalation. The clashes come as Washington awaits Tehran’s response to a proposed deal to end the war while leaving key disputes, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, unresolved for now.
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