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...
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on the European Union and neighbouring states to blame Israel and the U.S. over how the hostilities are impacting global markets and American assets in the region.
Araghchi, while speaking to EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas in a phone conversation, strongly criticised the “dishonest” approach of certain European countries towards aggression against Iran, state IRNA news agency reported on Thursday.
“He stated that any support or appeasement towards the blatant lawlessness of these two regimes would be tantamount to complicity in the crimes they have committed against the Iranian nation,” he was quoted as saying in a Foreign Ministry statement.
“If the EU and European countries are concerned about peace and security in the region, they should seek to exert pressure on the aggressors and stop their military aggression against the Iranian nation, instead of adopting irresponsible positions.” the statement added.
Araghchi also said that the disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is the result of the war imposed by the United States and Israel.
The European Council is set to meet on Thursday to discuss the impact of the Middle East conflict on global oil prices, as well as a loan to Ukraine, which has so far been blocked by Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán.
A delegation from China is also scheduled to meet European leaders in the coming week to discuss the Iranian war and blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.
Also in separate telephone calls with the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt and Pakistan, he said that the attack on Iranian infrastructure in South Pars gas field on Wednesday (18 March) was an act “aimed at escalating regional tension” stressing that Iran will spare no effort in defending national sovereignty and the security of its citizens.
“In these talks, he stated that the attack on Iran's infrastructure by the US and the Zionist regime is an act aimed at escalating tensions and destabilising the region,” he added, stressing the need for "vigilance and coordination among regional countries in response to these threats,” IRNA reported.
In New York, Iran’s Ambassador at the UN Headquarters Amir-Saeid Iravani slammed Israel-U.S. attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure and condemned the assassinations of senior Iranian officials, demanding accountability.
In a letter to the UN Secretary-General, the President of the Security Council, and the President of the General Assembly, Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations formally protested to the missile strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field, according to WANA news agency.
He described recent attacks on Iranian energy facilities as a “gross and serious violation of international law, including the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.”
In a separate letter, Iravani protested against the targeted assassinations of National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani, Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib, and their associates, attributing the attacks to Israel.
“If unchecked, such practices would extend beyond Iran, threatening leaders and governments worldwide,” read the letter.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
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.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
Netflix shares fell sharply on Friday after the streaming group issued a weaker-than-expected outlook and said chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings will step down from the board.
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.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has said his country could provide a “safe corridor” and “alternative route” for regional energy shipments, as supply disruptions continue to affect the wider Middle East.
An average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the war in Gaza, according to new figures released by UN Women.
China is seeking to strengthen and upgrade its cooperation with Turkmenistan, focusing on what officials describe as “high-quality development” across a range of sectors.
Kazakhstan plans to boost trade with Afghanistan from $500 million to $3 billion, backed by infrastructure and transit projects designed to strengthen regional connectivity and improve access to global markets.
A low-profile diplomatic visit to Tbilisi may prove more consequential than it first appears, as representatives of France, Germany and Poland meet figures across Georgia’s political spectrum, signalling that Brussels is watching closely ahead of a key EU foreign ministers’ meeting.
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