Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
British finance minister Rachel Reeves said that the government needs to make targeted interventions to shield the economy from the impact of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran without a lasting effect on interest rates.
"The Chancellor was clear that the government needs to be responsive and responsible - learning the lessons of the previous government's response to the 2022 energy crisis," Downing Street said in a statement.
Bahrain demanded “serious and constructive dialogue” to resolve tensions with Iran, while reiterating the “categorical rejection” of forced Palestinian displacement and a halt to Israeli settlement expansion.
Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told a United Nations Security Council meeting that stability in the Middle East depends on a firm rejection of forced displacement and any attempts to alter demographic composition.
He also stressed the need to prevent illegal measures and provocative actions that could undermine peace in the region.
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have rejected any fees on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz, and called for a secure and free navigation in the waterway, the bloc's secretary-general said on Tuesday.
In a consultative meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah, the Gulf leaders rejected Iran's closure of strait, describing the move as “illegal,” Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said.
The leaders also ordered swift steps for building a joint oil and gas pipeline, along with an early warning system to counter ballistic missiles, Albudaiwi added
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has branded an Israeli attack which killed three members of Lebanese Civil Defence, a "war crime."
"It constitutes a flagrant violation of the principles and rules of international humanitarian law," he said, a translation of an Arabic statement he posted on X reads.
He added that the Lebanese government would use "international forums" to get Israel to abide by a ceasefire it agreed with Lebanon earlier in April.
The attack on the village of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon during a rescue operation also injured two Lebanese soldiers, the country's army said earlier.
U.S. President Donald Trump has hit back at Germany's Chancellor Freidrich Merz, after he said Iran's leadership was humiliating the U.S. by getting American officials to travel to Pakistan, only to leave without any progress.
In a post on social media website Truth Social, Trump said the German Chancellor didn't understand what Trump was doing in the Middle East conflict.
"He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! If Iran had a Nuclear Weapon, the whole World would be held hostage. I am doing something with Iran, right now, that other Nations, or Presidents, should have done long ago," Trump said.
Speaking at an event on Monday, (27 April), Merz said: "An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible."
Three members of Lebanon's Civil Defence Agency have been confirmed killed following an Israeli strike on the village of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon during a rescue operation.
Earlier, Lebanon's Civil Defence Agency has said that three of its members were trapped under rubble.
Lebanon's army said two Lebanese soldiers were wounded in the incident.
The U.S. government on Tuesday said it was imposing sanctions on 35 entities and individuals for their role in Iran's shadow banking architecture, accusing them of facilitating the movement of tens of billions of dollars tied to sanctions evasion and Iran's sponsorship of terrorism.
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control also warned any firm making "toll" payments to the Iranian government or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for passage through the Strait of Hormuz would face significant sanctions.
The Treasury Department said the sanctions announced on Tuesday were aimed at networks that allowed Iran’s armed forces, including the IRGC, to access the international financial system to receive payment for illicit oil sales, purchase sensitive components for missiles and other weapons systems, and transfer money to Iran’s proxies.
“Iran’s shadow banking system serves as a critical financial lifeline for its armed forces, enabling activities that disrupt global trade and fuel violence across the Middle East,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
"Illicit funds funneled through this network support the regime’s ongoing terrorist operations, posing a direct threat to U.S. personnel, regional allies, and the global economy," he said, adding any institution that facilitated or engaged with these networks was at risk of "severe consequences.”
Lebanon's Civil Defence Agency has said that three of its members are trapped under rubble following an Israeli strike during a rescue operation in southern Lebanon.
Earlier, the Lebanese Army said that an Israeli strike on Lebanese troops during a rescue operation in the village of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon wounded two Lebanese soldiers.
Iraqi security forces opened fire at a drone flying over Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, security sources said on Tuesday, adding that it was likely being used for surveillance.
The drone managed to escape after coming under fire, the sources said, with no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
The Green Zone houses government buildings and foreign missions, including the U.S. Embassy, which has come under rocket and drone attacks in recent weeks following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
An Israeli strike on Lebanese troops and rescuers during a rescue operation in the village of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon wounded two Lebanese soldiers, the Lebanese Army said on Tuesday.
U.S. Marines boarded a commercial vessel in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, U.S. Central Command said in a post on X, after suspecting that it was attempting to travel to Iran.
U.S. forces released the ship known as M/V Blue Star III after confirming that it would not stop at an Iranian port.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was "very certain" that the cherished bond between the United States and the United Kingdom would continue long into the future, as he greeted King Charles at the White House.
UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Hamish Falconer said on Tuesday that the Iranian ambassador had been summoned after what Britain described as “unacceptable and inflammatory” social media comments by the Iranian embassy.
According to a Foreign Office statement, Falconer made clear that the embassy must stop any communications that could be interpreted as encouraging violence in the UK or abroad.
An Iranian army spokesperson said on Tuesday that Tehran does not consider the war to be over and still regards the current situation as an active conflict, according to Iranian state media.
The spokesperson added that the armed forces had updated their “bank of objectives and equipment”.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran had told the United States it was in a “state of collapse” and wanted Washington to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as quickly as possible.
Trump made the claim in a social media post, though he did not specify how the message had been conveyed or provide further details.
Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Mojtaba Demirchilou said the strikes on Iran have had severe negative consequences for the country’s tourism sector.
Speaking to AnewZ, the ambassador said more than 140 historical monuments and buildings, along with five museums, were damaged in the attacks.
He added that the destruction was not only a national loss for Iran, but also a loss for humanity.
Iran’s top security body has approved a temporary scheme allowing businesses wider access to the global internet with fewer restrictions, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Authorities maintained a blackout since the start of the war with the United States and Israel.
Most Iranians have faced severe limits on worldwide web access for around 60 days, according to NetBlocks, with many relying on costly VPN services.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Israeli President Isaac Herzog on an official visit to Astana on 27 April, held amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Tokayev noted that a formal accession ceremony to the Abraham Accords could potentially take place in Astana in the near future.
He also highlighted Kazakhstan’s push to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation, noting that 2026 has been designated the country’s Year of Digitalisation and AI.
Iran’s Interior Ministry said in a post on X that the Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni met with Iran’s ambassador to Afghanistan, where both sides discussed a range of bilateral issues, including cooperation, security, and broader ties between the neighbouring countries.
The two officials also stressed the importance of continued engagement and coordination, signalling ongoing efforts to maintain dialogue on regional stability and border-related security matters.
Iran’s health ministry said that 50 hospitals and 50 emergency service stations were damaged in around 240 attacks on health and treatment facilities during 40 days of war involving U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi said around 40,000 wounded people received free medical treatment during the conflict.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei also denounced comments by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the timing of potential sanctions relief for Iran, calling them “hypocritical and shameful.”
He said EU sanctions “have never had anything to do with human rights” and were designed to undermine the rights of the Iranian people, accusing Europe of double standards and political posturing on the international stage.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei strongly condemned a U.S. order to seize Iranian oil tankers, describing it as “looting” and “piracy” and accusing Washington of attempting to legitimise “armed robbery on the high seas.”
In a post on X, he said the United States must be held accountable for what he called a “brazenly lawless” act that undermines international law, maritime security, and global free trade.
The Strait of Hormuz traffic at 0756 GMT.
Key:
Green (Cargo), Red (Tankers), Blue (Passenger), Yellow (High-Speed Craft), Orange (Fishing), Purple (Leisure), Grey/Other (Other vessel types like tugs, pilot vessels, or search and rescue craft, or, when muted, can indicate an inactive AIS signal).
Iran is ready to share its defensive weapons capabilities with "independent countries, especially members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)", said Reza Talaei-Nik, Iran's Deputy Defence Minister, according to Iranian state media.
He was speaking at a gathering of counterparts from the SCO in the Kyrgyzstan capital, Bishkek.
SCO member states include; Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.
Most of Iran's citizens, except those in "whitelisted" or privileged groups, have been without a stable or reliable internet connection for 60 days.
🗓️ Exactly two months ago on 28 February, #Iran was thrown into digital darkness as authorities cut off access to the global internet.
Metrics show the blackout is now entering its 60th day after 1416 hours despite regime efforts to introduce tiered access for privileged groups. pic.twitter.com/y7mYeqeatz — NetBlocks (@netblocks) April 28, 2026
A report by Anadolu says Israeli air strikes continued in southern Lebanon on Wednesday despite an ongoing ceasefire, citing the National News Agency (NNA).
NNA said Israeli warplanes carried out three strikes on the town of East Zawtar in the Nabatiyeh region, while Israeli forces also opened heavy fire on the al‑Mahniyya area in the Bint Jbeil district.
Reports said Israeli jets were flying at low altitude over Tyre and the surrounding areas, and a drone was spotted over Beirut and the southern suburb of Dahiyeh.
The latest attacks come despite a temporary ceasefire that began on 17 April and was later extended by three weeks, according to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Israel has continued operations in southern Lebanon since launching major strikes on 2 March, a campaign that Lebanon says has displaced more than one million people, with Hezbollah also continuing to respond to Israeli attacks.
Doing business with Iranian airlines under U.S. sanctions exposes foreign companies and governments to the risk of penalties, Washington has warned, urging countries to ensure firms in their jurisdictions do not support sanctioned aircraft.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States would strictly enforce its sanctions regime under what Washington describes as a policy of maximum pressure.
“Under Economic Fury, the Treasury Department will impose maximum pressure on Iran and will not hesitate to act against any third parties that facilitate or conduct business with Iranian entities,” Bessent said, warning that violators could face U.S. sanctions themselves.
The U.S. says prohibited services include the provision of jet fuel, catering, landing fees and aircraft maintenance.
The United States and Iran confronted each other at the United Nations on Monday as a major conference reviewing the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty got underway in New York, with Washington condemning Tehran’s nuclear record and its selection as one of the meeting’s vice presidents.
Christopher Yeaw, assistant secretary for the U.S. Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, said Iran’s role undermined the treaty’s credibility, accusing it of violating its non‑proliferation commitments and failing to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog.
Reza Najafi, who serves as Tehran's ambassador to the IAEA, dismissed the criticism as politically motivated, arguing that the United States lacked moral authority on nuclear issues.
The exchange unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing fighting involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel, with nuclear questions at the centre of tensions.
While Washington insists Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons, Tehran says its nuclear programme is peaceful and has proposed postponing nuclear talks until an end to the conflict and related regional disputes.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that recent developments had underscored the depth of Iran’s strategic partnership with Russia, after talks with President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Monday.
Araghchi welcomed Russia’s backing for diplomatic efforts and praised the strength of ties between the two countries.
Russia has offered to help mediate to ease tensions in the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which Moscow has strongly criticised. It has also proposed storing Iran’s enriched uranium as part of efforts to defuse the crisis, an idea that has been rejected by the United States.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme.
The comments suggest major disagreements persist, with Washington insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
Answering questions at a briefing on Monday, Leavitt did not offer an opinion on the proposal, in which the Strait of Hormuz would be opened and Iran's nuclear programme would be discussed at a later date. But she said Trump's bottom-line demands remain the same.
Trump wants the Strait of Hormuz oil transit waterway to be open and for Iran to hand over its enriched uranium.
"I wouldn't say they're considering it. I would just say that there was a discussion this morning that I don't want to get ahead of, and you'll hear directly from the President, I'm sure, on this topic," she said.
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Profits for worldwide energy company TotalEnergies have risen 41% in three months, as global energy supplies are disrupted after two months of war and oil prices have increased by 3%.
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, has asserted Tehran’s right to respond after accusing the U.S. of “state-sponsored piracy” following the seizure of two oil tankers.
Efforts to end the Iran conflict were at an impasse on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump unhappy with the latest proposal from Tehran, which he said had informed the U.S. it was in a "state of collapse" and figuring out its leadership situation.
Türkiye is expanding its diplomatic mediation efforts in Iran- U.S. talks amid rising regional tensions, as Ankara continues to position itself as a key facilitator in broader Middle East stability efforts.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday Iran could telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to their two-month war. Tehran said the U.S. should remove obstacles to a deal, including its blockade of Iran's ports. Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in St Petersburg for talks.
Tensions between the United States and Iran remain high after a U.S. official said President Donald Trump was unhappy with a proposal from Tehran that does not deal with its nuclear programme. Washington is insisting that any talks must address Iran’s nuclear activities.
Speaking during a White House state dinner for the British monarch’s state visit to Washington on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. has "militarily defeated" Tehran and that King Charles III did not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. However, Charles did not mention the Iran war.
The death toll from a train collision near Indonesia’s capital Jakarta rose to 14 women on Tuesday (28 April), with 84 people injured, after rescuers completed efforts to free passengers trapped in the wreckage, the state rail operator said.
Mexican special forces arrested Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero”, a senior commander of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation in the western state of Nayarit, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said on Monday (27 April).
Profits for worldwide energy company TotalEnergies have risen 41% in three months, as global energy supplies are disrupted after two months of war and oil prices have increased by 3%.
Efforts to end the Iran conflict were at an impasse on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump unhappy with the latest proposal from Tehran, which he said had informed the U.S. it was in a "state of collapse" and figuring out its leadership situation.
Speaking during a White House state dinner for the British monarch’s state visit to Washington on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. has "militarily defeated" Tehran and that King Charles III did not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. However, Charles did not mention the Iran war.
Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border are intensifying as Israeli strikes push deeper into the Bekaa Valley, fuelling fears of wider escalation despite a fragile U.S.- and UN-brokered ceasefire.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Russia on Monday for a diplomatic visit to shore up support after two months of conflict. He met Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks described by Moscow as “useful”.
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