12.05am
April 15
Trump is looking for a ‘grand bargain’ with Iran
JD Vance said President Trump is looking to make a “grand bargain” with Iran.
He explained that the president “doesn’t want to make, like, a small deal. He wants to make the grand bargain”.
Vance claimed that Trump is telling Iran: “If you guys commit to not having a nuclear weapon, we are going to make Iran thrive.”
He said of the Islamic republic: “We’re going to make it economically prosperous, and we’re going to invite the Iranian people into the world economy in a way they haven’t been in my entire life.”
The vice-president also acknowledged that some young voters “don’t love” the Trump administration’s Middle East policy, but urged them not to “disengage” with politics entirely as a result.
“I’m not saying you have to agree with me on every issue,” he told the crowd in Georgia. “What I’m saying is, don’t get disengaged because you disagree with the administration on one issue.”
11.40pm
April 14
JD Vance: There’s a lot of mistrust
JD Vance, the vice-president, said on Tuesday that Iranian negotiators want to make a deal despite mistrust on both sides.
“There is a lot of, of course, mistrust between Iran and the United States of America. You are not going to solve that problem overnight,” Vance said during a Turning Point USA event.
Adding that Iran hopes to reach a deal, he said: “I feel very good about where we are.”
Vance’s remarks come days after he returned from Islamabad after 21 hours of talks that ended without an agreement.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Trump told the New York Post that another round of peace talks “could be happening over next two days”.
11.05pm
April 14
US economy remains resilient despite war
Two US banks said the economy remained resilient despite the war in the Middle East.
Jamie Dimon, the CEO and chairman of JPMorgan Chase, said that while businesses were still healthy, an “increasingly complex set of risks”, such as volatility in energy prices, could threaten that status.
“While we cannot predict how these risks and uncertainties will ultimately play out, they are significant,” he said.
Michael Santomassimo, the chief financial officer of Wells Fargo, said that consumers were probably spending between 25 and 30 per cent more on petrol than they did before the war.
However, he added: “Overall spend continues to be quite resilient and quite strong. We’re not seeing the overall spend level trends change really with any significance.”
10.44pm
April 14
Are ships passing through the Strait?
There’s some confusion over how many ships, if any, have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the US blockade began on Monday.
On Tuesday, the US Central Command boasted that “no ships [had] made it past”. However, two US officials told The Wall Street Journal that more than 20 commercial ships had moved through the waterway in the past 24 hours.
Rich Starry, a US-sanctioned tanker, also passed through the strait, Reuters reported.
The vessel, owned by a Chinese company, is believed to be carrying 250,000 barrels of methanol. Rich Starry was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2023 for helping Tehran to evade sanctions.
China has criticised the US blockade as a “dangerous and irresponsible act”.
10.24pm
April 14
‘More than 20 ships pass through Strait of Hormuz’
More than 20 commercial ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The US Central Command, which oversees America’s military action, said no ships have made it past the US blockade.
It said six merchant ships followed orders to turn back.
10.09pm
April 14
Hezbollah targets northern Israel with rockets
Hezbollah said it had fired rockets at 13 towns in northern Israel shortly after the start of Lebanese-Israeli talks in Washington on Tuesday.
Israel had said before the preliminary talks that the meeting would involve no discussion of a ceasefire with Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon, but rather focus on diplomatic negotiations with its northern neighbour.
Both Israel and Lebanon described the meeting as productive.
10.00pm
April 14
Journalist detained in Kuwait since March 2
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has contributed to The New York Times, PBS and Al Jazeera EnglishTristan Fewings/Getty Images for Doha Film Festival
An American-Kuwaiti journalist has been detained for weeks and charged in Kuwait, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Tuesday.
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has not posted online or been seen in Kuwait since March 2, the press freedom watchdog said.
“It is understood that authorities have charged him with spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone — vague and overly broad accusations that are routinely used to silence independent journalists,” it said in a statement.
Hundreds of people have been arrested across the Gulf as states seek to limit the spread of footage showing the effects of Iran’s attacks, including any damage or interceptions.
Shihab-Eldin posted last month a video showing a US fighter jet crash near a US air base in Kuwait, according to the CPJ. He has also commented on videos and images related to the war.
The CPJ said it emailed the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington but received no immediate comment.
“We call on Kuwait to release Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and drop all charges against him,” said the CPJ’s regional director Sara Qudah.
9.55pm
April 14
Talks with US and Israel were productive, says Lebanese ambassador
Lebanon’s ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, described talks with the US and Israel on Tuesday as “productive”.
She said Lebanon’s “full sovereignty over all Lebanese lands” had been emphasised during the meeting and called for action to alleviate the human suffering caused by ongoing fighting.
Lebanon also called for a ceasefire and for the return of displaced civilians to their homes.
Israel also said the talks were constructive. A date for further talks is yet to be announced.
9.53pm
April 14
Iranian Kurdish group hit by drone, 1 killed
A drone struck an Iranian-Kurdish group on Tuesday, killing a woman in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region, an official from the group told AFP.
It was the first such attack against Iranian Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan since a fragile ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran took effect in the region last week.
The party blamed the drone attack on Iran. During the war, Iran has repeatedly struck positions belonging to exiled Iranian Kurdish groups in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region.
“Three Iranian Kurdish refugees were wounded, including a woman who is in a critical condition,” Mohammed Hakimi, commander of the exiled Komala party, said.
He later told AFP that the woman, who was a fighter with the party, had succumbed to her wounds.
9.35pm
April 14
Why China could be pulled into war
President Trump’s capacity for brinkmanship is, all at once, exhausting, terrifying and baffling. It is easy to see how his attempt to block the blockaders of the Strait of Hormuz could be described to him by Oval Office flatterers as an act of strategic genius (Roger Boyes writes).
But it has transformed a reasoned, if bloody, attempt to de-fang the destabilising Iranian regime into a possible precursor to a wider power conflict between the United States and China. It’s almost as if he has given up entirely on the Nobel peace prize committee and Pope Leo XIV in one fell swoop.
The conventional wisdom that Trump is confronting has two ingredients. Firstly, that Iran has the resilience to sit out the war with America and will end up ahead. Secondly, that countries historically blessed with control over maritime chokepoints are destined to be geopolitical masters.
9.08pm
April 14
Less than a quarter of Americans think Iran war ‘worth the cost’
Only 24 per cent of the American public think the Iran war has been worth the costs and benefits as it approaches its second month.
The recent poll by Reuters and Ipsos also found that just 35 per cent of Americans approved of the military strikes against Iran.
This number has remained steady across Americans — including both Republicans and Democrats — surveyed in the last month.
The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran.
9.02pm
April 14
How the war is affecting the UK economy
The IMF earlier issued a gloomy outlook which found that Britain had suffered the sharpest cut to growth forecasts of the largest global economies.
It said the spike in energy prices caused by the war would help push UK inflation towards 4 per cent — double the Bank of England’s inflation target — and contribute to higher costs for households.
The conflict hit oil and gas supplies as Iran tightened its grip on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, giving rise to a US blockade of the country’s ports amid a fragile ceasefire.
As Sir Keir Starmer leads an effort to ensure free navigation of the critical Gulf waterway, President Trump described the UK as “absolutely crazy” for not boosting oil extraction in the North Sea and urged the country to “drill, baby, drill”.
8.27pm
April 14
US blockade to receive 3,500 more sailors and marines
The US Central Command, responsible for overseeing American military operations, shared a glimpse into what the US blockade on the Strait of Hormuz involved on Tuesday.
It posted on X a photograph of an F-35B stealth fighter jet preparing to join the USS Tripoli warship in the Arabian Sea.
About 3,500 sailors and marines will join the mission to “blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports”, Central Command said.
It added that the blockade was being enforced “impartially” against vessels from all nations.
USS Tripoli conducted night flight operations while sailing in the Arabian SeaNot known, clear with picture desk
8.20pm
April 14
US Treasury ‘will not renew easing of sanctions on Iranian oil’
The US Treasury Department said on Tuesday that it does not plan to renew a temporary easing of sanctions on some Iranian oil, set to expire in a matter of days.
In a statement posted to X the department said: “The short-term authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil already stranded at sea is set to expire in a few days and will not be renewed.
“Financial institutions should be on notice that the department is leveraging the full range of available tools and authorities and is prepared to deploy secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions that continue to support Iran’s activities.”
8.16pm
April 14
Europe plans to free up shipping in Strait of Hormuz
European countries are working on a plan to free up shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The coalition of nations have begun drafting a framework which could involve sending mine-clearing and military vessels into the vital waterway.
Such a plan would only come after the Iran conflict has ended and could exclude the United States.
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said on Tuesday that the plan was for a defensive mission which doesn’t involve “belligerent” parties, such as the US, Israel and Iran.
Diplomats who were familiar with the plan said European vessels would not be under American command.
8.08pm
April 14
War has caused major supply shock, says Bank of England head
Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England Omar Havana/Bloomber/Getty Images
War in the Middle East has caused “a major supply shock”, the governor of the Bank of England has said, but he remained tight-lipped on what it could mean for interest rates.
Although Andrew Bailey acknowledged the Iran conflict had caused a “large” jolt to the global economy, he said the UK was much better placed to deal with it because of its resilient banking system formed after the 2007-09 financial crisis.
Speaking before the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund, Bailey said: “It’s a major supply shock … there’s no question that the best way to deal with supply shocks is at the source of the shock.
“The source of the shock is not monetary policy. It’s obviously what’s going on in the Gulf and in the Strait of Hormuz.”
He said the effect on the world’s economy had implications for policy and financial stability, including inflation.
7.52pm
April 14
Talks ‘represent crushing victory over Hezbollah’
The meeting between Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday represented “a crushing victory over Hezbollah”, the Israeli ambassador to Washington said, but did not confirm a Lebanese request for a ceasefire in the country.
Yechiel Leiter added: “We talked about possibilities, a long-term vision, about how Lebanon can prosper and what the border could look like when crossed in a swimsuit to vacation on the beaches of both countries.” However the neighbours have no formal diplomatic relations due to decades of conflict.
He added that a joint statement would be coming out and they were working on a “complete” peace treaty.
Lebanon’s government had previously called for a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group but Israel has yet to commit to this.
7.46pm
April 14
Israeli ambassador: We are on same side of equation as Lebanon
Israel and Lebanon are “on the same side of the equation”, the Israeli ambassador to the US has said.
After talks between the countries in Washington today, Yechiel Leiter said: “We discovered today that we’re on the same side of the equation, and that’s the most positive thing we could have come away with.”
Leiter told Sky News that the parties at the talks discussed a “clearly delineated border” between Israel and Lebanon.
“We made it very clear that the security of our civilians is not up for negotiation. That is understood by the government of [Lebanon’s President] Joseph Aoun,” Leiter said.
“This was a victory for sanity, for responsibility and for peace.”
7.22pm
April 14
Explainer: Why is Trump blocking the Strait of Hormuz?
President Trump has started a high-stakes blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and threatened to attack the Iranian navy.
At least 16 American warships led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln are in the region to enforce the blockade on Iranian ports inside and outside the strait, on vessels carrying Iranian exports and on any shipping that has paid fees to Iran to transit.
A US defence official told the Associated Press that no US warships are in the Gulf — the body of water that forms most of Iran’s coastline.
So, if Iran has already shut the strait, why does Trump want to blockade it?
6.53pm
April 14
Starmer: UK and Netherlands face war on two fronts
Sir Keir Starmer has said there is a “war on two fronts” as he met British and Dutch business leaders with the Dutch prime minister, Rob Jetten.
Discussing the situation in the Middle East, Starmer said it was “a moment to make the strategic relationship count” between the UK and the Netherlands as they faced “a war on two fronts” in Iran and Ukraine.
Starmer said it was “vital” that the Strait of Hormuz was reopened, adding: “Shipping, energy, insurance and finance have made it clear, very clear to me that they are not going to be putting their vessels through the strait until it is safe to do so.”
Businesses attending the meeting included SSE, Octopus Energy, Rolls-Royce, Energy UK, VPI Power, Gasunie and Royal Vopak.
6.41pm
April 14
Israel-Lebanon talks end
The meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington have ended after roughly two hours at the State Department.
The US brokered the direct talks between Israeli ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanese ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad.
6.30pm
April 14
Hezbollah militants questioned by IDF
The Israeli military said on Tuesday that three Hezbollah militants were brought to Israel for questioning after surrendering during close-quarters combat in southern Lebanon.
“Yesterday, IDF soldiers engaged in close-range combat with a Hezbollah terrorist cell in Bint Jbeil,” the military said.
“At the end of the combat, three terrorists laid down their weapons and surrendered to the soldiers. Later the terrorists were transferred for questioning by the IDF,” it added, confirming to AFP that they had been brought to Israel.
According to the military, Israeli troops have now fully surrounded the town of Bint Jbeil, a notable advance in their ground offensive in southern Lebanon.
6.18pm
April 14
Navy not enforcing full blockade, says US official
American officials have been briefing journalists in an apparent attempt to clarify how the US Navy was enacting its blockade.
A US official told CNN that the Navy was not enforcing a full blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — only a blockade of ships entering and exiting Iranian ports along the entire Iranian coastline.
American warships were not escorting ships through the strait, but were said to be communicating to merchant vessels that had not entered or exited Iranian ports that it was safe to pass and encouraging them to do so.
The official added that the US also sent destroyers through the Strait of Hormuz last weekend to demonstrate that a safe path through the waterway exists.
6.05pm
April 14
UN: Iran-US negotiations highly probable to resume soon
António Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general, has said it is “highly probable” that Iran and the US will resume negotiations soon.
He told reporters in New York: “There is no military solution to this crisis. Peace agreements require persistent engagement and political will.
“Serious negotiations must resume. The ceasefire must be preserved and extended as necessary.”
He added that “international navigational rights and freedoms — including in the Strait of Hormuz — must be respected by all parties.”
Speaking as Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors met in Washington, Guterres added: “I believe nobody expects the Israel-Lebanon talks today will solve all the problems, but it is very important if these talks create conditions for change in the way these actors have been developing their activities.”
Both Hezbollah and Israel had “worked to destablise the government in Lebanon” through their conflicts with each other, he said.
“It is time for Lebanon and Israel to work together instead of Lebanon being the victim of the negative conjugation of Hezbollah and Israel,” Gutteres added.
6.02pm
April 14
Lebanese president hopes for ‘beginning of the end’ of suffering
President Aoun of Lebanon said he hoped the talks marked the “beginning of the end” of the suffering of the Lebanese people, and those in the south of the country “in particular”.
In a statement Aoun, who has not travelled to the US, said: “The only solution lies in the Lebanese Army re-deploying up to the internationally recognised border, and so being solely responsible for the security of the area and the safety of its residents.”
5.54pm
April 14
Families of British embassy staff evacuated from Tel Aviv
The families of British staff working for the foreign office in Tel Aviv have been evacuated “as a precautionary measure”, the government has announced.
The FCDO’s official travel advice page for Israel said: “We have taken the precautionary measure temporarily to withdraw dependants of UK staff from Tel Aviv. Our Embassy continues to operate as normal.”
The government currently advises against all travel to Israel and says British citizens there should register their presence to receive updates.
“The situation could escalate quickly and poses significant risks. Regional tensions may cause international borders [air and land] to close,” it added.
“There is a risk of rocket and drone attacks throughout Israel. There is a risk of shrapnel from intercepted missiles falling across Israel and Palestine, and possible disruption at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.”
5.04pm
April 14
US to seize ships linked to Iran
Ships linked to Iran will be seized by the US military as part of its blockade of Iranian ports, according to reports by the Wall Street Journal, who cited two US officials. The ships will then be taken to a holding area in the Arabian sea or Indian Ocean.
4.48pm
April 14
Rubio: Israel-Lebanon talks are historic opportunity
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, has said talks between Israel and Lebanon taking place in Washington were a “historic opportunity”, and while every complexity would not be resolved in coming hours, he hoped the parties would begin to move forward.
He was speaking before the talks began in the US State Department.
4.46pm
April 14
US and Iran may talk in Pakistan again, says Trump
President Trump has said fresh talks between the US and Iran could take place in Pakistan later this week.
“Something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” he told the New York Daily Post. “It’s more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job”, in an apparent reference to army chief of Pakistan, Asim Munir.
“He’s fantastic, and therefore it’s more likely that we go back there,” Trump added. “Why should we go to some country that has nothing to do with it?”
4.23pm
April 14
No ships have passed blockade of Iran, says US military
US Central Command said no ships had made it past the American blockade of Iranian ports in the first 24 hours.
In a post on X it said that six merchant vessels were forced to turn round and re-enter port.
“More than 10,000 U.S. Sailors, Marines, and Airmen along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports,” the post from Central Command said.
“During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and 6 merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.”
However, at least two ships using Iranian ports passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday despite the blockade, according to data from the maritime tracking firm Kpler.
More than 10,000 U.S. Sailors, Marines, and Airmen along with over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports. During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and 6 merchant vessels… pic.twitter.com/dpWAAknzQp
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 14, 2026
4.15pm
April 14
Israel-Lebanon talks begin
Talks between Israel and Lebanon at the US State Department have started.
The talks are being hosted by the US secretary of state Marco Rubio. He lined up with the delegates from both countries for a photo opportunity before the talks began.
4.14pm
April 14
UK must prepare for war, says ex-head of Royal Navy
Military and defence industries should be put on a war footing, the former head of the Royal Navy has said after a defence minister told the House of Lords that society needed to be prepared for war.
The crossbench peer Lord West of Spithead, who served as security minister in Gordon Brown’s government, told peers the UK had more work to do to be equipped to deal with threats.
West said: “I’m delighted the minister has highlighted what is being done now, but I have this feeling we have a long way to catch up. We’re nowhere near that position, and we are, I believe in a state where we perhaps ought to put our military and certainly our defence on some sort of war footing, to be able to catch up and be able to do the things we need to do.”
3.58pm
April 14
Eric Trump to join president on China trip
President Trump’s son, Eric, and his wife, Lara, will accompany the president on his May trip to China.
“Eric and Lara Trump are proud to accompany the president on his state visit,” said a spokeswoman for the 42-year-old son of the American leader, reported Reuters. “Eric is deeply proud of his father and the accomplishments of this term, and is attending in a personal capacity as a supportive son.
“He does not have business ventures in China nor plans on doing business in China. He will not be participating in private meetings, but will instead stand alongside the president to mark this historic occasion.”
3.45pm
April 14
Trump tells UK to ‘drill, baby drill’ in North Sea
The US president has again attacked Britain over its energy policies.
In a fresh post on Truth Social he called on the UK to “drill, baby drill” in the North Sea because of the energy crisis, triggered by the US war in Iran.
He wrote: “Europe is desperate for Energy, and yet the United Kingdom refuses to open North Sea Oil, one of the greatest fields in the World. Tragic!!!
“Aberdeen should be booming. Norway sells its North Sea Oil to the UK at double the price. They are making a fortune.
“UK which is better situated on the North Sea for purposes of energy than Norway, should, DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! It is absolutely crazy that they don’t… AND, NO MORE WINDMILLS!”
3.42pm
April 14
Pope Leo: Democracies risk majoritarian tyranny
Pope Leo has warned of the risk of democracies sliding into “majoritarian tyranny”, in a letter issued by the Vatican after President Trump attacked the pontiff on social media.
Writing to participants of a Vatican meeting about the use of power in democratic societies, the pope said democracies remained healthy only when they were rooted in moral values.
“Lacking this foundation, [democracy] risks becoming either a majoritarian tyranny or a mask for the dominance of economic and technological elites,” the letter said.
He did not directly mention any countries. Trump criticised Leo as “terrible” earlier this week.
The pope also wrote the Catholic Church taught that power could not be seen as an end in itself “but as a means ordered toward the common good”.
“This implies that the legitimacy of authority depends not on the accumulation of economic or technological strength, but on the wisdom and virtue with which it is exercised,” said Leo.
3.18pm
April 14
Israel: Security unaffected by Italy defence suspension
Israel has said Italy’s decision to suspend a defence agreement between the two countries would not have any impact on its security.
“We have no security agreement with Italy. We have a memorandum of understanding from many years ago that has never contained any substantive content. This will not affect Israel’s security,” the foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein told AFP.
Meanwhile, the Israeli leader of the opposition Yair Lapid said Rome’s decision was an “embarrassing failure” for Netanyahu’s government.
“Meloni is not a left-wing-progressive European leader, she is in the right-wing-conservative camp and understands the need to fight terrorism,” Lapid said. “The government has failed to advance Israel’s interests even with people who are supposed to be our friends and natural allies.”
3.02pm
April 14
UK to be hardest hit in G7 by war, says IMF
Growth in the UK economy is set to be most affected by the Middle East war among the group of seven rich nations as the economy faces stagflation, new forecasts from the International Monetary Fund show.
The surge in energy prices, caused by the conflict, will also propel inflation to double the Bank of England’s target, the fund said in its economic outlook on Tuesday.
Britain relies heavily on imported gas to heat its homes and fuel its businesses, the price of which has surged since the outbreak of the war. The IMF expects spending to slide in response to higher energy costs, causing the UK economy to suffer a sharper downturn relative to its peers.
2.56pm
April 14
Global growth drifts towards ‘adverse scenario’
The world may be already drifting towards the International Monetary Fund’s “adverse scenario” forecast of weaker 2.5 per cent global growth in 2026 even though on Tuesday it released a more benign reference forecast of 3.1 per cent growth, the IMF’s chief economist said.
Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told a news conference that every day that passes with more disruption in energy supplies and prices means that the more adverse scenario becomes more likely. He added that the world was now likely “in-between” the reference forecast and the adverse scenario.
2.54pm
April 14
Trump described Meloni as a friend last month
Previously President Trump and Giorgia Meloni were thought to have a close relationship, one of the best between a European leader and the White House.
Last month he told the same newspaper, the Corriere della Sera, that the Italian prime minister was “a great leader”.
“I love Italy, I think she is a great leader,” Trump said in a telephone interview, describing Meloni as a friend who “always tries to help”.
President Trump and Giorgia Meloni met at the White House last AprilWin McNamee/Getty Images
2.52pm
April 14
Nato ‘destroying itself from within’, says Trump
President Trump again attacked fellow countries in Nato and said Europe was “destroying itself from within” because of immigration and energy policies.
“They pay the highest energy costs in the world and aren’t even prepared to fight for the Strait of Hormuz, where they get it. They’re depending on Donald Trump to keep it open,” he added.
Asked about any offers to use Italian minesweepers, Trump said: “I asked them to send whatever they want, but they don’t want to because Nato is a paper tiger.”
2.44pm
April 14
Trump criticises the Pope — again
Trump also attacked Pope Leo again for his stance on the Iran war.
He told the Italian newspaper that the Pope does not understand that Iran poses a nuclear threat. “He doesn’t understand and shouldn’t be talking about war, because he has no idea what’s going on,” he said. “He doesn’t understand that 42,000 protesters were killed in Iran last month.”
2.44pm
April 14
‘I’m shocked by her’ — Trump hits out at Meloni
President Trump has lashed out at Giorgia Meloni for Italy’s refusal to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper, the US president said: “I’m shocked by her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong.”
Trump said Italy and Europe did not want to get involved in the war. “She’s no longer the same person,” said Trump. “Italy will never be the same country again. Immigration is killing Italy and all of Europe.”
2.31pm
April 14
Red Cross delivers first aid shipment to Iran since war began
The international Red Cross movement said that a shipment of life-saving medical supplies and other aid has crossed the border into Iran, its first since the start of the war.
The shipment of medical supplies and other aid entered the country on Sunday, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said.
The truck convoy, which set off from the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Friday, marked “one of the first cross-border shipments of medical supplies” by any organisation since the conflict began with a barrage of Israeli and US strikes on Iran on February 28, the IFRC spokesman Tommaso Della Longa told reporters in Geneva.
He said the IFRC had sent trauma kits “designed to provide immediate, life-saving care”.
“The operation is critical as humanitarian supply chains into Iran have been severely disrupted in recent weeks due to the conflict, making it increasingly difficult and more costly for essential medical and relief items to reach those in need,” he said.
Della Longa said the IFRC aimed to bring in more trauma kits “in the next three weeks”.
1.48pm
April 14
Macron calls for US and Iran to resume talks
President Macron has urged President Trump and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, to resume stalled talks towards ending the Iran war.
“I urged the resumption of the negotiations suspended in Islamabad, the clearing up of misunderstandings, and the avoidance of any further escalation,” Macron wrote on X. “It is essential, in particular, that the ceasefire be strictly respected by all parties and that it include Lebanon.”
“It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without restrictions or tolls, as soon as possible,” he added.
1.45pm
April 14
Lebanon-Israel meeting ‘may last just 10 minutes’
Lebanon’s ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, is set to meet the Israeli ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, in Washington today for talks on ending the conflict in Lebanon.
The meeting may last “no more than ten minutes” and is seen as a prelude to further talks that could be held in Cyprus, according to reports.
President Aoun of Lebanon has given the country’s ambassador “clear instructions” to demand a ceasefire, according to a source cited by the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awshat.
1.42pm
April 14
Analysis: Vessels cross Hormuz amid grey areas in US blockade
For the vessels that have sailed through the Strait of Hormuz today, the differing definitions of the US blockade leaves holes and grey areas (Richard Spencer writes).
The Elpis, the first vessel known to have transited the strait since Monday afternoon, sailed from an Iranian port with oil presumably to be sold ultimately to Chinese refineries. However, it left port before the blockade began.
The Rich Starry, a Chinese-owned vessel, sailed through the strait early on Tuesday into the Gulf of Oman. But it had picked up a cargo of methanol from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and was heading in the first instance to Oman.
Other vessels have now transited but most seem to be sailing to or from other Gulf ports including the UAE and Oman: Murlikishan, an oil tanker, headed into the Gulf to a port in Iraq; Manali, a bulk carrier, sailed out from Sharjah in the UAE; Peace Gulf, an oil tanker, was headed from Fujairah, in the UAE but outside the strait, to Sharjah. The Christianna, a bulk carrier, also sailed through the strait from an Iranian port, the Imam Khomeini, but had been at sea for several days before the start of the blockade.
1.39pm
April 14
Analysis: Ambiguities over Trump’s ‘blockade’
The fact that several ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz today might seem to flout the idea of America’s “blockade” (Richard Spencer writes). But — as so often — President Trump’s grandiose description of the blockade is somewhat different from the practicalities on the ground.
In announcing it on Sunday, he declared: “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.”
He added that the blockade would particularly apply to any vessel that had paid a fee for transit to Iran. “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” he said.
But the social media post in which he made the threat has since been deleted and US Central Command, the military command centre for Middle East operations, gave more limited terms. It said that as of 10am ET it would “begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports”. It added: “Centcom forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”
1.30pm
April 14
Ships cross Hormuz ‘after using Iranian ports’
At least two ships using Iranian ports passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday despite the blockade, according to data from the maritime tracking firm Kpler.
The Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Christianna transited the strategic strait after unloading corn at the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, passing Iran’s Larak Island at about 4pm GMT on Monday, Kpler said. The US blockade came into effect two hours earlier.
A second ship, the Comoros-flagged tanker Elpis, was near Larak Island at about 11am GMT and cleared the strait about 4pm GMT, the data showed.
1.24pm
April 14
Iran ‘considers pausing shipments through Hormuz’
Iran is considering a short-term pause to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz that would breach a US blockade to avoid inflaming tensions and scuppering a fresh round of peace talks, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.
A pause would underscore the tightrope Tehran is walking as it seeks to project resolve without provoking confrontation that may foreclose a diplomatic opening. For now, restraint is the preferred course, the sources said.
12.49pm
April 14
Israel seeks ‘peace and normalisation’ with Lebanon
Israeli and Lebanese envoys will meet in Washington as Israel continues its war on Hezbollah, a diplomatic milestone overshadowed by conflicting agendas.
Israel has ruled out a ceasefire and demanded that Lebanon disarm the Iran-backed group.
The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, said his country was seeking “peace and normalisation” with Lebanon. “Israel and Lebanon don’t have any major disputes between them. The problem is Hezbollah,” he added.
12.15pm
April 14
Warning over future jet fuel shortage in the EU
There is no shortage of jet fuel in the European Union at the moment, but supply problems could occur and the situation remains a top concern, the European Commission said.
European airlines have urged the EU to step in with emergency measures to tackle repercussions from the Iran war, including widespread airspace closures and mounting concerns over jet fuel shortages, a document seen by Reuters showed.
“There is no evidence for fuel shortage in the European Union at present, but supply issues could occur in the near future,” a spokesperson for the commission told reporters in Brussels.
“Crude oil supplies to the European refineries remain stable, with no need for additional stock releases at the present. However, that remains our primary concern.”
12.00pm
April 14
Why does Trump want to blockade the Strait of Hormuz?
The US navy has begun a blockade of Iran-linked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after the failure of US-Iran peace talks at the weekend.
At least 16 American warships led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln are in the region to enforce the blockade on Iranian ports inside and outside the strait, on vessels carrying Iranian exports and on any shipping that has paid fees to Iran to transit. A US defence official told the Associated Press that no US warships are in the Persian Gulf — the body of water that forms most of Iran’s coastline.
Here we answer some of the key questions regarding the blockade, from how it will be enforced to how Iran might react.
11.22am
April 14
Starmer and Macron to host summit on Hormuz
President Macron and Sir Keir Starmer will jointly host a video conference on Friday to be attended by leaders of “non-belligerent nations” willing to take part in securing the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities end, the Élysée Palace has announced.
The video summit, whose other participants have not yet been announced, follows the initiative by London and Paris to lead a multinational mission to restore freedom of navigation through the strait.
The international operation would be “purely defensive” and would be “aimed at restoring freedom of navigation … when conditions of security permit”, the French presidency said.
About 30 countries have indicated readiness to take part in what Macron and Starmer say will be an operation independent of the warring parties. Britain and France have incurred President Trump’s anger with their failure to support his offensive against Iran or join his naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The Franco-British naval mission would mainly clear mines and send warships to provide defensive escort for tankers and container ships sailing through the Strait.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The summit will advance work towards a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping once the conflict ends.”
11.17am
April 14
Global oil demand to fall in 2026, says IEA
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has made sharp downward revisions to its forecast for global oil demand and supply due to disruption caused by the Middle East conflict.
The agency now expects global oil demand to contract by 80,000 barrels a day in 2026, according to its April oil report, which is 730,000 barrels a day less than in last month’s report.
It also expects global oil supply to fall by 1.5 million barrels a day this year, compared with an increase of 1.1 million projected last month — the sharpest decrease since Covid-19 slashed fuel consumption.
The IEA said the disruption had already hit consumption in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, especially for naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas and jet fuel, and warned that weaker demand could spread further if high prices and shortages persist.
11.11am
April 14
Italy suspends defence agreement with Israel
The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said she was suspending Italy’s defence agreement with Israel, which involves the exchange of military equipment and technology research, news agencies reported.
“In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel,” Meloni said on the sidelines of an event in Verona, according to the Italian news agency Ansa.
Approved by Israel in 2006, the agreement is reviewed every five years. It calls for co-operation across defence industries, education and training of military personnel, research and development and information technology, among others.
Tensions between the two countries have risen over the past week after the Italian government accused Israeli forces of firing warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.
Italy summoned Israel’s ambassador in protest against the incident, which damaged at least one vehicle but caused no injuries.
On Monday, Israel summoned Italy’s ambassador after comments by the Italian foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, condemning “unacceptable attacks” on Lebanese civilians by Israeli forces.
11.09am
April 14
Spanish PM accuses Israel of violating international law
Pedro Sánchez during a press conference in Beijing on TuesdayNDRES MARTINEZ CASARES/EPA
The Spanish prime minister has said that international law is being violated “fundamentally by one country: the government of Israel”.
Speaking on an official trip to China, Pedro Sánchez said his country wanted to avoid impunity for those who commit crimes in places such as Gaza, where he says a “genocide” has been committed.
“International law is being violated today, fundamentally by one country: the government of Israel,” he said. “There is also an absolutely illegal response from the Iranian regime regarding a war that we have described from the very beginning as a mistake and an illegality.
“Those of us who raise our voice against governments violating international law are being threatened.”
11.04am
April 14
Russia refuses to comment on Trump’s AI ‘Jesus’ post
truth social
The Kremlin declined to comment on Tuesday about President Trump’s social media post of an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure.
In the image, Trump holds a glowing orb in one hand and uses his other hand to touch a sick man on the forehead. The Statue of Liberty, fireworks, a fighter jet and eagles are in the background.
“I really would prefer not to comment on this at all, so I will leave this without comment,” the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters.
10.49am
April 14
Rubio to chair Lebanon-Israel talks
The Washington talks between Lebanon and Israel later today will be chaired by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio.
They will be the first direct talks between the two countries since 1993. The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States will attend.
Expectations of any significant advances are low, however, with Hezbollah’s leader, Naim Qassem, calling for the talks to be scrapped before they even begin, describing them as “futile”.
Israel’s government ruled out discussing any ceasefire with Hezbollah, insisting instead on the disarmament of the group that it accuses of keeping up rocket fire against civilians in the north of the country.
President Aoun of Lebanon has said that he hopes a truce deal can be agreed and full-blown negotiations launched between the two countries, which have technically been at war for decades.
10.42am
April 14
Meloni ‘expresses solidarity’ with Pope Leo
The Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, offered support to Pope Leo on Tuesday, after the pontiff was sharply criticised by President Trump.
“I express my solidarity with Pope Leo, frankly I would not feel very comfortable in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders say,” Meloni said.
The Italian leader, who is seen as close to Trump, was speaking to reporters in Verona on the sidelines of a wine industry conference.
Pope Leo XIV and Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of ItalyVatican Media/Francesco Sforza/Reuters
10.40am
April 14
Trump ‘showed a complete misunderstanding of Christianity’
President Trump posting an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus was “bizarre”, an English cardinal has said.
Timothy Radcliffe, who was part of the conclave that elected Pope Leo, said he did not think the image was blasphemous as that would “imply an attack on Christianity, which President Trump I don’t think intended”, but told the BBC’s Newsnight that it did “show a complete misunderstanding of what Christianity is about”.
“It’s an extraordinary statement”
Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, who was among the conclave that elected Pope Leo, rejects Donald Trump’s claim the American pontiff was chosen as “the best way to deal” with the US president.#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/8WRReVrerg
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) April 13, 2026
“That anybody could think that they have the right to claim to be Jesus now, in that way, to take his place, is quite frankly absurd,” he added.
After Trump claimed the image actually showed him as a doctor, Radcliffe said: “I find it very strange. I’ve met many doctors in my life and none of them have glowed quite like that.”
Radcliffe said the Pope had “a duty to speak out against anybody who promotes war in this way”.
10.37am
April 14
Reeves to urge co-ordinated action at IMF meetings
Rachel Reeves said families and businesses across Britain were bearing the cost of instability “they did not cause” as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.
The chancellor made the comments before the International Monetary Fund’s spring meetings in Washington, where she is set to urge co-ordinated action to tackle the global economic shock caused by the war.
The IMF is due to publish its world economic outlook later, with updated growth and inflation forecasts around the globe.
Reeves said: “Families and businesses across Britain are bearing the cost of instability they did not cause. These are not costs I wanted, but they are costs we will have to respond to. The Iran conflict must be a line in the sand on how we deal with global crisis and instability. I will go to America with a clear message: global leaders must take co-ordinated economic action and supercharge the path to energy security to protect ourselves in the future.”
10.18am
April 14
PM sets up new committee to respond to Iran fallout
Sir Keir Starmer will lead a new cabinet committee to deal with the fallout from the Iran conflict.
The group, the Middle East response committee, has its first meeting today focused on efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the shipping route vital for global oil and gas supplies.
The prime minister established the committee to deal with the domestic and international impacts of the war, which has driven up energy prices, caused stock market turmoil and exposed deep divisions between the US and its traditional European allies.
Steven Swinford: Committee suggests the government believes the Strait of Hormuz won’t open any time soon
10.00am
April 14
India rocked by protests as rising costs bite
Police officers patrolled a workers’ protest in Noida for higher wages as living costs soaredAnushree Fadnavis/Reuters
India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh has raised the minimum wage after days of protests in an industrial hub, government sources said, becoming the second state to do so in less than a week amid rising costs fanned by the Iran war.
Protesters in Noida — a suburb of Delhi that houses industrial units including that of the South Korean technology giant Samsung — torched vehicles and threw stones on Monday as they demanded higher pay. About 40,000 workers were part of the protest, according to police.
The wage rise ordered this week will be applicable retrospectively from April 1, and will increase the pay of unskilled workers in Noida to roughly $147 (£108) a month from the present salary of about $121 (£90), government sources said.
9.56am
April 14
UK national security is in peril, warns ex-Nato chief
Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade training in Wiltshire last monthFinnbarr Webster/Getty Images
Sir Keir Starmer has been accused by the author of Britain’s strategic defence review of displaying a “corrosive complacency” towards military spending that is putting the country in “peril”.
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, a former Nato secretary-general and defence secretary under Tony Blair, said that there was a gap between the prime minister’s rhetoric and action on defence, adding that Starmer was “not willing to make the necessary investment”.
He will also use a speech on Tuesday evening to accuse “non-military experts in the Treasury” of “vandalism”, saying: “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.”
9.54am
April 14
Watch: Will the Iran war be Trump’s political downfall?
9.46am
April 14
BP predicts ‘exceptional’ quarter for oil trading
BP expects first-quarter oil trading to be “exceptional” after the surge in crude prices due to the Middle East conflict and Iran’s closure of the key Strait of Hormuz.
The FTSE 100 oil company said in a first-quarter trading update that it expected net debt to increase to between $25 billion and $27 billion, primarily driven by a significant rise in working capital due to market volatility.
Brent crude soared close to $120 a barrel after US-Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February. BP said that Brent crude averaged $81.13 a barrel during the first three months of the year, up from $63.73 a barrel in the fourth quarter of 2025.
9.27am
April 14
Watch: 100 arrested at New York protest over arms sales to Israel
9.24am
April 14
Russia cashes in on energy crisis
Russia nearly doubled its earnings from oil exports in March as Moscow was granted sanctions relief by the US in an attempt to offset soaring energy prices during the war in the Middle East, the International Energy Agency has said.
The country earned $19 billion last month as crude and oil product exports soared to 7.1 million barrels per day, from just 320 thousand barrels a day in February.
The United States eased some restrictions on sales of Russian crude imposed over its war against Ukraine, allowing countries to purchase oil that was already at sea until April 11.
9.07am
April 14
South Korean president in row with Israel
President Lee of South KoreaChung Sung-Jun/EPA
Few countries are more vulnerable to the disruption of international oil supplies than South Korea, which gets 70 per cent of its crude oil and 30 per cent of its natural gas from the Middle East and has 26 tankers stuck by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The frustration and anxiety has boiled over in an unexpected outburst by the South Korean president, Lee Jae-myung, who posted on X notorious footage from 2024 of an Israeli soldier kicking the corpse of a Palestinian fighter off a rooftop.
Lee wrote that the act was “no different” from “forced comfort women”, the Koreans sexually enslaved by Japan in the Second World War and “Jewish massacres”.
After an indignant response from Israel, Lee wrote that it is “disappointing that you don’t even once reflect on the criticisms from people around the world who are suffering and struggling due to relentless anti-human rights and actions in violation of international law”.
8.54am
April 14
US blockade dangerous and irresponsible, says China
China has said that the US blockade around Iranian ports is “dangerous and irresponsible”, after President Trump threatened to sink any boats that sought to leave or dock there.
“The US increased military operations and took a targeted blockade action, which will only exacerbate tensions and undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement and further jeopardise safety of passage through the Strait,” the China foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference. “This is dangerous and irresponsible behaviour,” he added.
8.47am
April 14
WFH to help with fuel shortages, says former BP boss
Britons should work from home to buffer the effects of fuel shortages from the Iran war, said Nick Butler, a former adviser to Gordon Brown and the former vice-president for strategy and policy at BP.
Butler told Time Radio he believes “the real crisis will arrive in late April and early May,” and said countries would need to discourage travel by plane and car in response.
“Some countries, I think in particularly in Asia where the crisis has hit earliest, are being encouraged to work at home. And I think you have to test now whether there’s a willingness,” he said.
When asked whether the government should encourage people to work from home, Butler said “that would be a perfectly sensible measure”.
8.28am
April 14
US-Iran talks ‘could resume in Pakistan this week’
Reuters is reporting that negotiating teams from the US and Iran could return to Islamabad this week, after the highest-level talks between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution ended in the Pakistani capital without a breakthrough.
It said four sources had confirmed that fresh talks in Pakistan could go ahead. There were no further details. The talks over the weekend included high-level representatives from both countries, including the American vice-president, JD Vance, and the Iranian parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran still holds, and is set to expire on April 22.
8.16am
April 14
Oil prices fall on hopes of further peace talks
Stock markets rose and the oil price fell as hopes of further talks to end the Middle East war outweighed supply fears, despite the start of the US naval blockade of Iran’s port.
President Trump said Iran had called and wanted “to work a deal” in a sign of continued diplomatic efforts to revive US-Iran talks that collapsed over the weekend.
Brent crude slid 1.2 per cent to $98.18 a barrel, and markets in Asia were higher with Japan’s Nikkei gaining 2.3 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi up 2.7 per cent and China’s SSE Composite edging up 0.2 per cent. The FTSE 100 is forecast to open flat.
8.07am
April 14
Chinese-linked tanker ‘following vessel challenging US blockade’
The Rich Starry’s journey, according to tracking from Marine TrafficMarine Traffic
A Chinese-linked tanker appeared to be following the Elpis, the first vessel to challenge the US blockade, on Tuesday. The Rich Starry announced it had a Chinese owner and crew, setting up a major dilemma for President Trump as he tries to enforce the blockade.
He will not want to anger President Xi directly: he is due to visit Beijing next-month for a high-profile and delayed summit.
The Rich Starry was most recently at anchor in the United Arab Emirates and was listed as heading to Sohar in Oman. Its owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd, is also under US sanctions.
8.05am
April 14
Oil tanker challenges US blockade
A Comoros-flagged oil tanker named the Elpis sailing out of Iran has become the first vessel to challenge the new US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Elpis sailed through the strait on Monday evening after leaving the Iranian port of Bushehr. It then apparently stopped in the Gulf of Oman.
The Elpis, a “grey fleet” oil tanker
According to shipping tracker websites, it was at least partially loaded with oil, though its final destination was as yet unknown.
The Elpis is part of a so-called grey fleet of tankers that carries oil under threat of sanctions in as low-profile a way as possible. It is owned by a firm called Chartchemical, but is operated by a Malaysian company, IMS, which was sanctioned by the US government last year for allegedly carrying Iranian oil.
Malaysian firms have operated as key middlemen in the trade between Iran and China, arranging transhipments of oil in international waters to Chinese vessels which take it to smaller refineries known as “teapots”. The main state refineries use non-sanctioned oil to escape secondary US sanctions.
7.57am
April 14
How far can Trump push Iran — and global trade?
Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminalFATEMEH BAHRAMI/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES
As the deadline for President Trump’s trade blockade of some traffic through the Strait of Hormuz passed on Monday afternoon, there was debate about whether the policy was now in place and, if so, what it meant for global trade — and whether the severity of the crisis was being reflected in global markets.
The US military’s Central Command said the blockade would be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations” entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
“The blockade will not impede neutral transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations,” Central Command said in a note to seafarers on Monday that was first reported by Reuters, the news agency.
7.41am
April 14
Beirut on edge as Israel and Lebanon set for talks in US
In Beirut, the atmosphere is tense before planned direct talks in Washington between Israel and Lebanon today.
Government soldiers have set up makeshift checkpoints between Christian and Muslim areas of the city as they seek to guard against the possibility of sectarian violence.
The leader of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, criticised the talks last night: “These negotiations are futile and require Lebanese consensus”.
Aside from a direct confrontation with the militant group, which would mean civil war, the levers that the Lebanese state can pull to disarm Hezbollah are limited.
6.39am
April 14
Iran offers five-year pause on nuclear activity — US wants 20
During the negotiations in Pakistan, the US and Iran traded proposals for a suspension of the Iranian nuclear programme, according to The New York Times.
Iranian and US officials are reported to be split on the length of a deal, with Tehran offering to suspend uranium enrichment for up to five years and the Trump administration insisting on 20 years, two senior Iranian officials and one US official told the paper.
JD Vance left Islamabad early on Sunday, describing the two countries as worlds apart, especially on the assurances that Iran could never build a nuclear weapon.
“The simple question is, do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon — not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long term?” Vance said. “We haven’t seen that yet. We hope that we will.”
6.31am
April 14
Hezbollah leader calls for Lebanon to cancel Israel talks
The leader of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, urged Lebanon to cancel a planned meeting with Israel in Washington later today.
“We reject negotiations with the usurping Israeli entity,” said Qassem, whose group has been at war with Israel since March 2, in a televised address yesterday. “We call for a historic and heroic stance by cancelling this negotiating meeting.”
Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon and its ground forces have displaced more than a million since Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel.
The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US are scheduled to meet in Washington today.
Lebanon has stressed that it wants to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war but Israel has dismissed the prospect.
5.43am
April 14
Israeli bombardment damages hospital in southern Lebanon
Video shared online shows Israeli attacks seemingly causing extensive damage to southern Lebanon’s Tebnin Governmental Hospital.
Broken glass, debris and overturned equipment can be seen inside the hospital. Damage to vehicles can also be seen outside.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the attack on the hospital resulted in casualties.
As of Monday, Lebanon’s health ministry said the death toll since March 2 was 2,089, with 6,762 others injured.
4.59am
April 14
Israeli soldier killed in Lebanon
Israel’s military said one of its soldiers had been killed in Lebanon.
This is the first Israeli combatant killed since a US-Iran temporary truce came into force, which Israel insisted did not include Lebanon, where it is fighting Hezbollah forces.
“Sergeant Major (Res.) Ayal Uriel Bianco, aged 30, from Katzrin, a firefighting vehicle driver in the 188th Brigade, fell during combat in southern Lebanon,” the Israeli military said in a statement on Tuesday.
3.55am
April 14
Marco Rubio joining talks on Tuesday
Israel and Lebanon will meet in Washington for peace talks on Tuesday, with the secretary of state Marco Rubio taking part, the state department confirmed.
Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, and Nada Hamadeh, the Lebanese ambassador to the US, will also be in attendance.
Israel said earlier on Monday that discussions of a ceasefire with Hezbollah, the militant group based in Lebanon, would not be on the table.
Naim Qassem, the leader of Hezbollah, said the group “absolutely rejects” the meeting, describing them as “submission, surrender, and stripping Lebanon of its strength”.
3.22am
April 14
Pakistan offers to host more talks
Pakistan has offered to host a second round of talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad in the next few days, two Pakistani officials told the Associated Press.
The proposal comes before the ceasefire is set to expire on April 22. JD Vance, the vice-president, engaged in 21-hour peace negotiations over the weekend, which ended without a deal.
Earlier on Monday, Trump said that “we’ve been called by the other side”, but the White House has not confirmed that the US has agreed to future talks.
3.10am
April 14
Almost a third of Britons cutting back on food and heating
The conflict in the Middle East has prompted prices to rise across the globe and UK mortgage rates to increase, putting pressure on households’ costs.
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of people are concerned about their finances over the coming months and three in ten (31 per cent) have been cutting back on essentials such as food and heating, a survey has found.
A quarter (25 per cent) of people have used savings to cover everyday costs and one in six (16 per cent) have borrowed from family or friends.
Censuswide surveyed 2,000 people across the UK in April.
2.59am
April 14
Oil prices at more than $100 a barrel
Oil prices have soared to more than $100 a barrel after peace talks between the US and Iran collapsed.
Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, dropped from $102 to $98 on Monday, while US-traded fell by 2.2 per cent to $96.94 per barrel.
On Monday, President Trump suggested that Iran still wanted to reach an agreement.
“We’ve been called by the other side and they would like to make a deal very badly,” Trump told reporters.
“We’ve been called this morning by the right people, the appropriate people, and they want to work a deal.”
2.29am
April 14
War sending food and energy costs soaring, global agencies warn
The leaders of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group issued a joint statement warning of the global ripple effects of the Iran-US war — particularly on food, jobs and energy.
“The impact of the war is substantial, global, and highly asymmetric, disproportionately affecting energy importers, in particular low-income countries.
“The shock has led to higher oil, gas and fertiliser prices, triggering concerns about food security and job losses as well. Some oil and gas producers in the Middle East have also seen a dramatic loss of export revenue,” the agencies wrote.
They also predicted fuel and fertiliser prices would remain high for a “prolonged period” due to damage to key infrastructure as well as reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
2.03am
April 14
Analysis: Trump’s Jesus post hurts him
President Trump’s post of an AI image depicting himself as Jesus coincided with polling showing that Catholic voters are souring on him.
Trump said on Monday that he had posted the image online because he thought it showed him as a doctor healing people, but much damage had already been done.
Even on the president’s own Truth Social site where his posts are usually boosted by fervent supporters, there were clear signs of dissent, including angry comments from some users.
“Mr President, with all due respect. TAKE THIS DOWN. You are not Jesus,” replied one user describing themselves as “Bible-believing, God-fearing, Jesus-following, country-loving, American patriot, ultra-Maga”. The writer added: “If it’s a staffer, fire them and offer an apology to Christians for this mockery.”
Read in full: Trump’s row with Pope Leo could cost him dearly among Catholic voters
1.50am
April 14
‘US-Iran talks being considered’
Tehran and Washington are considering a second round of in-person negotiations, two US officials and a person familiar with the developments told the Associated Press.
Earlier on Monday, Trump told reporters that “we’ve been called by the other side” and “they want to work a deal”.
When pressed on whether future talks were in the works, the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told AP: “President Trump, vice-president Vance and the negotiating team have made the US red lines very clear.
“The Iranians’ desperation for a deal will only increase with President Trump’s highly effective naval blockade now in effect.”
1.25am
April 14
More than 100 detained at New York protest
Police detained about 100 people taking part in a rally on Monday by a Jewish organization that promotes Palestinian rights, an AFP correspondent saw, with Chelsea Manning among those held.
Gathering under the banner of the group Jewish Voice for Peace, the detainees were part of a group of about 200 protesters who blocked a major avenue in Manhattan for just under an hour to protest US military support for Israel.
They had gathered near the offices of the Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and his colleague Kirsten Gillibrand, whom they accuse of voting against a measure aimed at blocking US arms sales to Israel.
Manning is the army intelligence analyst who leaked documents to WikiLeaks, and had her 35-year sentence commuted by President Barack Obama in 2017. She now campaigns for pro-Palestinian causes.
12.50am
April 14
Vance: We made our red lines clear
The vice-president said Washington had made its red lines clear in talks with Iran and that the “ball is in the Iranian court” to push through peace negotiations.
“We actually made very clear what our red lines were,” he said.
“There are two things in particular where the president of the United States really said we have no flexibility,” Vance added. They were US control of Iran’s enriched uranium, and checks in place to ensure it does not develop a nuclear weapon.
12.29am
April 14
Will the Iran war be Trump’s political downfall?
Throughout President Trump’s election campaign, he suggested to his “America-first” base that he would avoid engaging in unpopular foreign wars. In his inaugural address, he said he would measure success “not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end — and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into”.
To date, Americans have been largely unimpressed with his handling of foreign policy and a YouGov poll in January suggested that many felt Trump should spend more time on the economy.
As the impact of the war begins to bite for American consumers, is Trump’s political credibility under threat among his supporters?
12.14am
April 14
Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists arrested in New York
Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were reportedly detained in New York on Monday.
Jewish Voice for Peace, an organisation that promotes Palestinian rights, blocked a major Manhattan street for about an hour.
They were protesting against US military support for Israel, with about 200 members joining the rally in total.
Police detained about 50 of them, according to the news agency Agence France-Presse.
They gathered near the offices of the Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and his colleague Kirsten Gillibrand, whom they accuse of voting against a measure aimed at blocking US arms sales to Israel.
12.05am
April 14
US ‘needs a plan for how to wind this down’
John Thune, the Senate majority leader, said on Monday that the Trump administration’s tactics in Iran have been “effective and successful” but called for a plan to end the conflict.
“They do need a plan for how to wind this down, how to get an outcome that actually leads to a safer, more secure Middle East and, by extension, a stronger national security position for the United States,” Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said.
Regarding Trump’s blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, the senator said that “penalising those who do business with the Iranians may get people’s attention”.
11.46pm
April 13
Oil prices to hit peak level in coming weeks
Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, warned that oil prices would hit their peak in the “next few weeks” until traffic in the Strait of Hormuz returns to normal levels.
“We’re going to see energy prices high — and maybe even rising — until we get meaningful ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,” Wright said. “That’ll probably hit the peak oil price at that time. That’s probably sometime in the next few weeks.”
The US initiated a blockade of the vital waterway after its peace talks with Iran collapsed.
11.35pm
April 13
Vance: Pope should stick to matters of morality
Vance addressed the ongoing row between President Trump and the Pope in his interview on Monday evening.
The Pope has lambasted the administration’s war in Iran. In a Truth Social post, Trump responded: “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy”, and argued that if he “wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican”.
Trump also posted a picture of himself as Jesus, which he has since removed following widespread backlash.
“I think the president was posting a joke and I think he took it down because a lot of people didn’t understand his humour,” the vice-president said.
“We’re going to have disagreements from time to time,” he said of the Vatican, calling it a “good thing” that the Pope is arguing for what he believes in. He claimed that any back-and-forth with the religious leader “isn’t particularly newsworthy” and noted that the White House “respects” the Vatican.
He said sometimes it would be best for the Pope to stick to matters of morality and the president stick to US and foreign policy.
“I certainly think that in some cases, it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality … and let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy.”
11.22pm
April 13
Trump doubles down on Leo criticism
President Trump outside the Oval Office on MondayBrendan Smialowski/AFP
President Trump has double downed on his criticism of Pope Leo. Speaking to the press at the Oval Office, Trump said he would not apologise for his comments on the first American pope, calling him “very weak”.
He also reiterated to the press that he liked the pope’s brother, Louis, more — claiming he’s a massive Maga supporter.
11.25pm
April 13
Blockade ‘breaches international law’
The head of the UN maritime agency has said no country had a legal right to block shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a trade passage paralysed by the US-Iran war.
The International Maritime Organisation’s secretary-general, Arsenio Dominguez, addressed a news conference as access to the strait remained blocked six weeks after the war broke out with US and Israeli strikes against Iran.
“In accordance to international law, no countries have the right to prohibit the right of innocent passage or the freedom of navigation through international straits that are used for international transit,” Dominguez said.
Iranian authorities have been allowing a trickle of vetted vessels to pass the strait through a route close to their coast and in some cases have reportedly levied a payment to let vessels through.
“This principle of introducing a toll on an international strait for international navigation is against the international law of the sea and the customary law,” Dominguez said. “It will create a very dangerous precedent.”
The US vow to blockade Iranian ports meanwhile “doesn’t make it any easier”, he added.
11.20pm
April 13
Trump: Iranian ships near blockade will be immediately eliminated
President Trump said that Iranian ships coming close to the blockade “will be immediately eliminated”.
In his latest Truth Social post, the US president said they would be targeted “using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea. It is quick and brutal”.
“Iran’s Navy is laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated – 158 ships. What we have not hit are their small number of, what they call, ‘fast attack ships,’ because we did not consider them much of a threat,” he wrote.
“Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea. It is quick and brutal. P.S. 98.2% of Drugs coming into the U.S. by Ocean or Sea have STOPPED!”
11.20pm
April 13
Vance on Iran’s nuclear weapon threat
Vance said he supports President Trump’s efforts to prevent Iranians from developing nuclear weapons.
“If they are willing to engage in economic terrorism, what would it mean if they had a nuclear weapon in Tehran?” he told Bret Baier in a Monday night interview on Fox News.
Vance also voiced support for Viktor Orban, who recently lost a landmark electino, calling him “a very great guy” who’s been “a great partner” to him, President Trump and the US.
11.20pm
April 13
JD Vance: Iran tried to move the goalposts
Speaking on Fox News, Vance said the president hopes that Iran could become a “normal country”, but that requires the nation to commit to having no nuclear weapons.
“In order for Iran to be a normal country economically, it’s going to have to be a normal country from the perspective of not having a nuclear weapon,” he said.
The Iranians “tried to move the goalposts” when it came to opening the Strait of Hormuz, Vance said.
11.20pm
April 13
‘Two can play that game’
Vance said that the US have an advantage over Iran militarily and economically.
“We have a lot of cards, we have the leverage, and we’ll see what the Iranians do with that,” he said.
He accused the regime of engaging in “economic terrorism” as the blockade goes into effect. “Two can play that game,” the vice-president added.
Vance suggested that the US and Iran had “made progress” following his 21-hour-long peace talks that ended with no agreement.