Speaking in a Pentagon press conference<\/a>, Hegseth warned the Iranian regime to \u201cchoose wisely\u201d. <\/p>\n “You, Iran, can choose a prosperous future, a golden bridge, and we hope that you do for the people of Iran,” he said. “But if Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy.”<\/p>\n It comes after China told Iran<\/a> earlier on Thursday that it must reopen the Strait of Hormuz<\/a>. <\/p>\n <\/a>Deal with Iran close, Trump says Trump told reporters on Thursday: “We’re going to see what happens, but I think we’re very close to making a deal with Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ll be the first to know, but I think we have, if that happens, oil goes way down, prices go way down, inflation goes way down, and you’re going to have much more importantly than even that, you won’t have nuclear holocaust.”<\/p>\n Daniel Haygarth16 April 2026 19:12<\/p>\n <\/a>Trump explains his feud with the Pope: ‘I have a right to disagree’<\/p>\n Asked why he is fighting with the Pope, Trump said that the pontiff \u201csaid Iran can have a nuclear weapon\u201d, which is not true.<\/p>\n The Pope has called for a world free from nuclear weapons. <\/p>\n The US president told reporters this evening: \u201cI have to do what’s right. The Pope has to understand that very simple. I have nothing against the Pope, his brothers, Maga all the way. I like his brother, Louis. I’m not fighting with him.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Pope made a statement. He says Iran can have a nuclear weapon. I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. And if the Pope looked at the 42,000 people that were killed over the last two or three months as a protester with no weapons, no nothing. I mean, you take a look at that, disagree with the. I have a right to disagree with the Pope.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree. I think that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they do the whole world would be a jeopardy the Middle East will be blown up, and the whole world will be at jeopardy. We’re very close to making a deal. That’ll be a great thing. The Pope has to understand. Iran has killed more than 42,000 people over the last few months.<\/p>\n \u201cThink of it. Protesters without guns without anything. They were totally unarmed protesters. The Pope has understand that this is the real world. It’s a nasty world. But as far as the Pope and saying what he wants, he can do that.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I know the Pope’s brother. He is a big, Maga person. He’s got Maga all over his house. His name is Louis. He’s actually a great guy. And I’m sure the Pope is a great guy, I haven’t met him but I disagree with the Pope, if the Pope would allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 19:10<\/p>\n <\/a>Trump says ‘Pope must understand’ about Iran<\/p>\n The president told reporters today: \u201cThe blockade is amazing, it’s holding up very strong, very powerfully, and I think we’re making a lot of progress in that, but the Pope has understand Iran, very simple, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, the world would be in great danger.”<\/p>\n “Iran wants to make a deal, and we’re dealing very nicely with them. We’ve got to have no nuclear weapons if we do, that’s a big factor, and they’re willing to do things today that they weren’t willing to do two months ago.”<\/p>\n Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 19:05<\/p>\n <\/a>Watch: UK economy grew faster than expected before Iran warUK economy grew faster than expected before Iran war<\/p>\n Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 18:28<\/p>\n <\/a>UK in \u2018worst-case scenario\u2019 planning for food shortages as a result of Iran war<\/p>\n The UK could see shortages<\/a> of key supermarket goods this summer if the Iran war<\/a> continues, a leaked government document has revealed.<\/p>\n Officials have put together contingency plans for a \u201creasonable worst-case scenario\u201d, highlighting that the closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz <\/a>shipping route could lead to carbon dioxide shortages.<\/p>\n The secret analysis \u2013 first reported by The Times<\/a> \u2013 was codenamed \u201cExercise Turnstone\u201d and was run by the government\u2019s emergency committee, Cobra.<\/p>\n Daniel Haygarth16 April 2026 18:05<\/p>\n <\/a>Recap: Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to ceasefire<\/p>\n Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, Donald Trump has announced, two days after the countries held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington.<\/p>\n The truce, that Mr Trump said was scheduled to begin on Thursday evening, follows more than a month of war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.<\/p>\n Lebanon has insisted on a ceasefire to stop the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah before engaging in more talks, while vowing to commit to disarming the group.<\/p>\n The president also invited the leaders of Israel and Lebanon to the White House for the countries’ first high-level talks since 1983.<\/p>\n “Both sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.<\/p>\n Lebanon and Israel signed an agreement in 1983 saying Lebanon would formally recognise Israel, and Israel would withdraw from Lebanon. The deal fell apart during Lebanon’s civil war and was formally rescinded a year later.<\/p>\n Trump said the pause in fighting followed “excellent” conversations with Lebanese president Joseph Aoun and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<\/p>\n He said he has directed vice president JD Vance and others to work with Israel and Lebanon to “achieve a Lasting peace”.<\/p>\n Daniel Haygarth16 April 2026 17:49<\/p>\n <\/a>Trump invites leaders of Israel and Lebanon to the White House<\/p>\n Adding to his earlier post on Truth Social, the president wrote: \u201cIn addition to the statement just issued, I will be inviting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, to the White House for the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, a very long time ago.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth sides want to see PEACE, and I believe that will happen, quickly! President DONALD J. TRUMP\u201d<\/p>\n Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 17:22<\/p>\n <\/a>Hezbollah lawmaker says Iran envoy briefed group on possible short-term ceasefire<\/p>\n Senior \u200bHezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said the group had \u2060been briefed on a possible short-term ceasefire to \u2060start \u200bon Thursday \u2060night by Iran’s ambassador \u2060to Beirut.<\/p>\n Fadlallah spoke \u200bto \u2060Reuters minutes \u200cbefore Donald Trump announced \u200cthat a ceasefire \u200cwould start at 5p.m. US \u2060eastern time (9pm GMT).<\/p>\n When asked whether Hezbollah would abide by a possible truce, Fadlallah \u200csaid everything \u200bdepended on Israel \u200chalting \u2060all forms of \u2060hostilities.<\/p>\n Dan Haygarth16 April 2026 17:14<\/p>\n![\"Us](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2026-04-16T181000Z_1602253313_RC2IQKARMRU7_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP.jpg\")
Us president Donald Trump (Reuters)<\/p>\n