US-Iran ceasefire: Two days to new US-Iran talks in Pakistan? Trump seems to think so

Day 45: US, Iran discuss 'another round' of direct talks

Day 44: US to begin 'blockade' of Iranian ports on Monday

Day 43: 3-way talks with the US and Iran begin in Pakistan

Day 42: Trump says Iran has 'no cards' as Vance heads for talks

Day 41: Kuwait condemns drone attacks, US warns vs Hormuz toll

Day 40: Trump agrees to suspend attack on Iran by two weeks

Day 39: UAE, Qatar on alert as Trump's deadline nears

Day 38: Iran and US receive draft proposal for war ceasefire

Day 37: Second F-15E crew member rescued in Iran

Day 36: Trump warns Iran: 48 hours or all hell will reign down

Day 35: Trump seeks $1.5t defence budget as war intensifies

Day 34: UN chief warns world on 'edge of a wider war'

Day 33: Trump says US to hit Iran 'extremely hard'

Day 32: Debris hits several homes in Dubai, 4 injured

Day 31: Trump threatens to obliterate Iran's Kharg island

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has discussed regional developments during telephone conversations with several foreign ministers of brotherly and friendly nations, following the unprovoked and terrorist Iranian missile attacks against the UAE and a number of countries in the region.

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Bahrain, received Admiral Charles Bradford "Brad" Cooper II, the Commander of the US Central Command, and an accompanying delegation.

King Hamad commended the key and active role played by the United States of America alongside allied countries in strengthening regional and global security and stability.

Diplomatic channels between the US and Iran have not completely shut down, and there remains a possibility of further direct negotiations, even as the situation in the Gulf grows more tense, officials said. US media reports indicate leaders on both sides have left the door open to a potential second round of in-person talks after recent face-to-face discussions in Islamabad failed to produce an deal.

Mediators are also urging both sides to keep talking, even as US President Donald Trump has taken an increasingly hard line, including the announcement of the US Navy would begin a naval blockade of Iran’s ports and the strategic Strait of Hormuz, aiming to stop Iranian oil exports and pressure Tehran. Trump warned that any Iranian “fast-attack” or other naval vessels that approach or threaten the blockade could be “eliminated,” drawing parallels to US operations against drug-smuggling boats at sea.

Oil futures cut gains WTI crude oil futures were up less than 2% at nearly $98 per barrel early on Tuesday in Asia, cutting gains of up to 9% from the Monday session as investors hoped that a deal would eventually be reached between the US and Iran.

Failure of the Iran-US talks to strike a deal prompted Washington to announce a blockade targeting Iranian oil shipments. Trump later stated that Iran had "reached out" and is now seeking to resume negotiations. A report from OPEC+ showed the group's output declined 7.9 million barrels per day in March due to the closure of the Strait.

Saudi Arabia said it has restored full pumping capacity through its East-West pipeline to the Red Sea, along with output from the Manifa field, Trading Economics reported.

Brent, the North Sea crude oil benchmark, pared earlier gains made on Monday, dropping to $98.09 as of 7.19 am (Tokyo).

The United States and Iran are in active discussions about holding another round of face-to-face negotiations aimed at securing a longer-term ceasefire and preventing renewed conflict after recent talks in Pakistan ended without a deal, Bloomberg reported, citing "people familiar with the matter".

The White House was not responsive to queries about whether new talks were being weighed.

“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,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with FOX News Channel’s “Special Report” that negotiations “did make some progress” in the Islamabad talks on the US insistence on the removal of nuclear material from Iran as well as a mechanism to ensure uranium cannot be enriched in the future.

“They moved in our direction,” Vance said in the interview. He said he thought Iranian negotiators were “unable to cut a deal” and needed to get approval from others in Tehran.

Vance also said that US negotiators made clear that Trump “would be very happy if Iran was treated like a normal country, if it had a normal economy,” but he did not go into details about what he meant.

“There really is, I think, a grand deal to be had here. But, it’s up to the Iranians, I think, to take the next step,” Vance said.

Pakistan has proposed hosting a second round of talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad in the coming days, before the end of the ceasefire, two Pakistani officials said.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter with the press, said the proposal would depend on whether the parties request a different location.

One of the officials said that, despite ending without an agreement, the first talks were part of an ongoing diplomatic process rather than a one-off effort.

Iran has slammed a US blockade around its ports as a "grave violation" of its sovereignty, as Washington and Tehran's belligerent rhetoric rattled a fragile truce. The US Navy's blockade of Iran started at 6pm Gulf Standard Time on Monday, 10am EST.

Israel’s military says a reserve soldier was killed and three others wounded in fighting in southern Lebanon.

The military said late Monday that the reservist killed was a firefighting vehicle driver.

The death brought the number of Israeli soldiers killed in the current war in Lebanon to 13.

Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran over the future of the ongoing ceasefire, saying the consequences of failing to reach a deal would be severe while reiterating that Tehran will not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

Answering questions on what would happen if no agreement is reached by the end of the ceasefire, Trump said, "I don't want to comment on that, but it won't be pleasant for them. Right now, there is no fighting. Right now, we have a blockade. They are doing no business... So now Iran is doing absolutely no business. And we are going to keep it that way very easily. Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their radar is gone, and their leaders are gone. It's a lot."

He further underscored Washington's position on Iran's nuclear ambitions, stating, "Iran will not have a nuclear weapon... If they don't agree, there is no deal... There will never be a deal. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, and we are going to get the dust back; either we will get it back from them, or we will take it."

China’s exports grew 2.5% in March from a year ago, significantly slowing from the previous two months as uncertainties rose from the Iran war and its impact on energy prices and global demand.

The March export data released by China’s customs agency Tuesday missed analysts’ estimates and was sharply down from the 21.8% export growth recorded for January and February.

Technology-related exports including a jump in shipments of semiconductors from China on the global artificial intelligence boom have powered its robust exports in early 2026, but economists say impacts from the prolonged Iran war could affect overall global demand for Chinese exports this year.

Iran has reportedly proposed suspending uranium enrichment for up to five years, a move rejected by the United States, which is said to have pushed for a 20-year freeze, according to The New York Times, citing senior Iranian and US officials.

The report added that both sides exchanged proposals during recent talks in Pakistan aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activity, but remain far apart on reaching an agreement.

However, BBC reporting suggests discussions are continuing, with indications that a potential path toward a peace deal could still exist, including the possibility of a second round of face-to-face talks. There has been no official confirmation of the reported proposal.

US-sanctioned tankers have continued to pass through the Strait of Hormuz despite a reported US blockade, shipping data shows.

A Chinese-owned tanker, Rich Starry, crossed the chokepoint on Tuesday, becoming the first vessel to transit the strait since the blockade began, according to LSEG, MarineTraffic and Kpler data.

The vessel, previously sanctioned by the US for dealings with Iran, was carrying around 250,000 barrels of methanol loaded from the UAE, the data indicated. Another sanctioned tanker, Murlikishan, was also seen heading into the strait, with reports suggesting it is expected to load fuel oil in Iraq later this month.

China's President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday that his country would play a "constructive role" in promoting peace talks in the Middle East, Chinese state media reported, after a first round of discussions between the United States and Iran ended without agreement.

"Xi Jinping stressed China's principled stance of promoting peace and urging talks, and reiterated it will continue to play a constructive role on this," state news agency Xinhua said.

China said on Tuesday that a US blockade around Iranian ports was "dangerous and irresponsible", after US President Donald 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," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference, adding "this is dangerous and irresponsible behaviour".

China vowed Tuesday to impose "countermeasures" after US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on its goods entering the United States if Beijing provided military assistance to Iran during the Middle East war.

"If the US insists on using this as an excuse to impose additional tariffs on China, China will definitely take resolute countermeasures," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference, adding that reports China was providing weapons to Iran "are completely fabricated".

Iran has called for compensation from five Arab countries, accusing them of enabling "US-Israeli aggression" by allowing their territories to be used for attacks against the country, the Iranian state media, Press TV, reported.

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Security Council President Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative Amir-Saeid Iravani rejected compensation demands made by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Jordan.

In a submission to the UN, Iran’s envoy rejected similar compensation claims from the five Arab states and argued they cannot invoke Article 51 of the UN Charter on self-defence, insisting Tehran is the victim of aggression.

Iran further alleged that some “unlawful attacks” on civilian targets inside its territory were carried out directly by those states, and called for them to stop any actions it considers internationally wrongful.

Separately, Tehran strongly condemned what it described as an “illegal” US naval blockade, calling it a violation of sovereignty and international law, and warned it reserves the right to respond to protect its national interests.

Iran has urged the UN Security Council to intervene, condemn the blockade and prevent further escalation, warning it could destabilise an already tense region.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed de-escalation efforts in the region with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

During a Monday phone call, both assessed the situation in the region following the US-Iran talks in Islamabad.

The foreign minister urged the international community, along with the EU, to play a role in advancing diplomacy and political solutions.

French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot reaffirmed Tuesday that Lebanon must be included in the initial ceasefire agreement.

“The ceasefire must absolutely include Lebanon, which under no circumstances can be the scapegoat of the Israeli government,” Barrot said on French radio RFI.

Israel’s strikes on Lebanon are “intolerable,” he said, because they undermine the ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran and because it strengthens militant group Hezbollah.

“Destroying Lebanon, targeting the Lebanese state, does not weaken Hezbollah — quite the opposite, it strengthens it,” Barrot said.

Ship-tracking data shows four Iran-linked vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz despite a US naval blockade coming into effect, according to BBC. The ships include a mix of sanctioned tankers and cargo vessels, some of which had previously called at Iranian ports or departed from China and Iran-bound routes.

One vessel, Christianna, crossed after visiting an Iranian port, while US-sanctioned tankers Rich Starry and Murlikishan also transited the strait, alongside Elpis, which sailed from Iran’s Bushehr port. Analysts say some vessels may be using GPS spoofing to disguise their positions.

The US military has said it is blocking all maritime traffic linked to Iranian ports but maintains freedom of navigation for non-Iranian routes through the strategic waterway.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair a conference Friday in Paris, bringing together non-belligerent nations willing to participate in a mission in the Strait of Hormuz “when security conditions allow.”

Other participants will take part via videoconference, Macron’s office said. European and other partners are ready to contribute to a “purely defensive mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.

France and Britain have been working in recent weeks to set up an operation to escort oil tankers and container ships to help ensure safe passage through the strait.

Baghdad's oil ministry said it has "understandings" with the United States and Iran to reduce the impact of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Iraqi oil exports.

The ministry did not elaborate or say when these reported understandings were reached.

But Iran announced earlier this month that it would allow Iraqi shipping to transit the key waterway.

Iraqi oil ministry spokesperson Saheb Bazoun told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) "there are understandings with the American and Iranian sides to circumvent the blockade imposed on the Strait of Hormuz, and with all parties to guarantee exports".

A founding member of the OPEC oil cartel, Iraq normally exports the majority of its crude through the strait, but like other exporters in the oil-rich region, it has been left scrambling for alternative routes.

Bazoun told INA that Iraq was continuing to use secondary export routes, including a pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan and via Syria's Baniyas port.

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said his country is seeking "peace and normalisation" with Lebanon, ahead of talks between officials from both nations in Washington on Tuesday.

"We want to reach peace and normalisation with the state of Lebanon... Israel and Lebanon don't have any major disputes between them. The problem is Hezbollah," Saar said at a press conference.

Italy has suspended its defence agreement with Israel, which involves the exchange of military equipment and technology research, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and diplomatic sources said Tuesday.

"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 Italian news agencies ANSA and AGI.

An Italian diplomatic source confirmed to AFP that the agreement had been suspended, saying: "It would have been politically difficult to keep it going."

Approved by Israel in 2006, the agreement is reviewed every five years.

The European Commission said Tuesday it fears Europe could face jet fuel supply issues "in the near future" with no end in sight to the Iran war roiling global energy markets.

"There is no evidence for fuel shortages in the European Union at present, but supply issues could occur in the near future in particular for jet fuels," said spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen.

"That remains our primary concern," she told reporters.

Oman Air took to its social media to announce that it's returning with services to Dubai. It's X post reads: "We're flying you back to Dubai via daily flights starting from 18 April 2026. Book now!"

At least two ships sailing from Iranian ports crossed the Hormuz Strait on Monday despite a US military blockade, maritime tracking data indicated Tuesday.

They were among at least four Iran-linked vessels that used the route after Washington's blockade came into effect at 1400 GMT on Monday, according to maritime data provider Kpler.

The Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Christianna crossed after unloading 74,000 tonnes of corn at the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, passing Iran's Larak Island in the strait around 1600 GMT on Monday, Kpler data showed.

A second ship, the Comoros-flagged tanker Elpis, was near Larak Island around 1100 GMT and cleared the strait about 1600 GMT.

It was loaded with 31,000 tonnes of methanol, having left the Iranian port of Bushehr on March 31, Kpler data showed.

US Central Command had said the blockade would target "vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas".

A Chinese tanker, the Rich Starry, also crossed the strait overnight from Monday to Tuesday via the Iranian-approved vetting route south of Larak Island.

Kpler said that vessel was carrying 31,500 tonnes of methanol and was bound for Sohar in Oman, according to data from its transponder.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday he had urged US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Massoud 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," the French president wrote on X, after speaking to both of them on Monday.

"It is essential, in particular, that the ceasefire be strictly respected by all parties and that it include Lebanon," Macron said.

Israel said it was open to peace with Lebanon ahead of the first direct talks in decades between the neighbours Tuesday, but that Hezbollah remained the "problem" blocking an agreement on ending fighting.

The United States is pressing for a halt to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, fearing it could derail the two-week ceasefire in Washington's war with Iran, despite talks with Tehran in Pakistan failing to achieve a breakthrough.

Washington said "the ball is in the Iranian court" on ending the region-wide war, after a US naval blockade on Iranian ports began in the Strait of Hormuz, which had already been effectively closed by Tehran.

Economic growth across the eurozone will slow to an estimated 1.1 percent this year as higher energy prices weigh on manufacturing, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday.

In its first update to forecasts since the Mideast war erupted, the IMF said eurozone exporters are also exposed to the euro's strength against the dollar and other currencies, which makes their products more expensive on global markets.

The forecasts assume that the US and Israeli war against Iran "will last for a few more weeks and a recovery will then gradually take hold" and oil exports normalise, the fund said.

The international Red Cross movement said Tuesday 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 said.

IFRC spokesman Tommaso Della Longa told reporters in Geneva that 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".

Foreign ministers from 17 countries, including the UK, Tuesday urged Israel and Lebanon to "seize this opportunity" ahead of talks between the two nations in Washington.

Britain's foreign ministry posted the ministers' joint statement saying "direct negotiations can pave the way to bring lasting security for Lebanon and Israel as well as the region".

US President Donald Trump criticised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a political ally, in an interview published on Tuesday for her unwillingness to help in the Iran war.

"I'm shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong," he told Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

The main US oil contract fell 5 per cent Tuesday on hopes of a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East war.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 6.2 per cent to $92.94 for May delivery, while the main international benchmark Brent North Sea crude slipped 3.77 per cent to $95.61 a barrel.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday suspended the fuel tax in response to the Iran war in his first act after securing a majority government.

Carney said that with fuel prices increasing sharply, he is suspending the federal fuel excise tax from next Monday until Labor Day. He called it a "responsible, temporary measure" that also will reduce costs for truckers and businesses.

Indian PM Narendra Modi tweeted post a call with the US President Donald Trump. He said: "Received a call from my friend President Donald Trump. We reviewed the substantial progress achieved in our bilateral cooperation in various sectors. We are committed to further strengthening our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in all areas. We also discussed the situation in West Asia and stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington on Tuesday for the first direct peace talks between the countries in decades.

Rubio is mediating the talks between Israeli envoy Yechiel Leiter and Lebanon's Nada Hamadeh Moawad, which began around 1500 GMT.

But pro-Iran Hezbollah - which is battling Israeli forces in southern Lebanon - called for the talks to be scrapped before they even began.

Lebanon's president expressed hope that direct talks on Tuesday in Washington with Israel would lead to an end of his country's suffering after war erupted again between Israel and Hezbollah last month.

"I hope that the meeting in Washington... will mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and those in the south in particular," President Joseph Aoun said in a statement, adding that "stability will not return to the south if Israel continues to occupy its lands".

"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, without the partnership of any other party," Aoun added.

The United States and Israel may have obstructed the path towards a future Iran-built nuclear bomb by severely damaging the Islamic republic's nuclear and ballistic capabilities in recent attacks.

But they have not succeeded in seizing its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, key to any future negotiations between Washington and Tehran, experts and diplomatic sources told AFP.

One of US President Donald Trump's justifications for the war he launched was an accusation - denied by Tehran - that Iran was developing an atomic bomb. Trump has repeatedly vowed to never allow the country to possess a nuclear weapon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, has stated that the previous war waged against Iran, a 12-day conflict in June 2025, as well as the current one "wiped out" Iran's nuclear programme.

Iran’s government said on Tuesday that an initial assessment of war-related damages has reached $270 billion, stressing that the figure remains preliminary and subject to revision, according to local media.

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said that the estimate is not final, noting that “damages are typically assessed across multiple levels.”

She added that the issue of war reparations is being pursued through diplomatic channels, saying: “One of the files our negotiating team is working on, and which was also discussed in the talks in Islamabad , is the issue of war compensation.”

United States Central Command said on Tuesday that more than 10,000 US military personnel, over 12 warships, and dozens of aircraft are taking part in the maritime blockade of Iran that began yesterday to tighten control over vessels entering and leaving Iranian ports.

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt will meet Turkey's top diplomat this week in Turkey for talks on regional matters, a ministry source told AFP on Tuesday.

"This is the third meeting of the four countries to discuss regional affairs, not specifically Hormuz," said the source, who wished to remain anonymous. The top diplomats are due to hold talks on the margins of an annual diplomacy forum in southern Turkey that opens on Friday.

Kuwait Directorate General of Civil Aviation denied reports claiming the resumption of operations at Terminal 5 designated for Jazeera Airways.

The directorate said the information circulating on the matter is inaccurate and was not issued by official entities in Kuwait, stressing that any decisions related to terminal operations or the resumption of flights are announced through approved official channels.

Washington's top diplomat urged Israel and Lebanon to seize a "historic opportunity" for peace as direct talks between the two opened on Tuesday despite objections from Hezbollah, which announced fresh attacks on Israel just as negotiations got underway.

The United States is pressing for a halt to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, fearing it could derail the two-week ceasefire in Washington's war with Iran after talks with Tehran in Pakistan failed to achieve a breakthrough.

Washington said "the ball is in the Iranian court" on ending the region-wide war, after a US naval blockade on Iranian ports began in the Strait of Hormuz, which had already been effectively closed by Tehran.

Following the latest updates issued by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, private early childhood centres in Dubai are set for a gradual return to on-site learning, beginning with those located in government premises and commercial buildings, from Thursday, April 16 onwards, subject to KHDA approval and in line with comprehensive safety regulations and procedures to ensure a safe and supportive environment for children, KHDA announced on Tuesday evening.

“The safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and the wider community remain the highest priority. We also encourage everyone to rely on official national sources for information and to avoid circulating unverified news,” the authority added.

The UN secretary-general on Tuesday called for the resumption of "serious negotiations" to end the war in the Middle East, saying the crisis has "no military solution."

Antonio Guterres also told journalists at United Nations headquarters in New York that international freedom of navigation must be respected "by all parties" in the Strait of Hormuz.

"There is no military solution to this crisis. Peace agreements require persistent engagement and political will. Serious negotiations must resume," he said.

Guterres said the ceasefire between the United States and Iran "must be preserved" - referring to the two-week truce agreed last Wednesday after mediation by Pakistan.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a new round of direct talks with Iran could be held in Pakistan within the next two days.

In remarks to the New York Post, Trump said discussions with Iran are already underway but are progressing "somewhat slowly," adding that holding the next round in Pakistan is the most likely option

He praised the role of Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir in facilitating dialogue between the two sides, describing him as "a great person" and indicating that returning to Pakistan for further talks is highly probable

Trump also denied media reports claiming that the United States had requested Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment programs for at least 20 years during last week's talks in Pakistan

He reiterated that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons, stressing that he does not accept any arrangement that would limit enrichment restrictions to a fixed period such as 20 years.

Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter hailed the "wonderful exhange" during direct peace talks with Lebanon in Washington on Tuesday, saying the two countries were "on the same side."

"We enjoyed it together. We had a wonderful exchange of over two hours," Leiter told reporters following the talks.

"We discovered today that we're on the same side," he said, adding: "We are both united in liberating Lebanon from (an) occupation power dominated by Iran called Hezbollah."

The US Treasury Department said Tuesday it does not plan to renew a temporary easing of sanctions on some Iranian oil, set to expire in a matter of days.

"The short-term authorisation permitting the sale of Iranian oil already stranded at sea is set to expire in a few days and will not be renewed," the Treasury Department said in a statement.

Thirty-two Iranian sailors rescued by Sri Lanka after their frigate was torpedoed by a US submarine last month have departed on a flight home, local media reported Tuesday.

The sailors from the IRIS Dena flew out of the island on Tuesday night, two local television networks reported. Sri Lankan defense authorities were not immediately available for comment.

The IRIS Dena was attacked just south of Sri Lanka on March 4, killing 104 sailors, many of them cadets, in the early days of the US and Israeli war against Iran, Iranian authorities say.

The bodies of 84 were recovered and have been repatriated.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold direct negotiations after "productive discussions" between the two sides in Washington, the United States said on Tuesday.

"The participants held productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon," State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement, adding: "All sides agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue."

The United States military said on Tuesday it had successfully prevented six vessels from leaving Iranian ports during the first 24 hours of a naval blockade imposed on Iran. The United States Central Command (Centcom), which oversees US forces in the Middle East, said more than 10,000 American troops, over 10 warships and dozens of aircraft were involved in the operation.

In a post on the X platform, it added that “during the first 24 hours, no vessel was able to breach the US blockade, and six commercial ships complied with instructions from US forces and returned to Iranian ports on the Gulf of Oman”. It said the blockade was being enforced “without discrimination on vessels of all nationalities entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.”

Administrative and teaching staff in private schools and nurseries in Sharjah will commence in-person attendance from Wednesday, April 15, the Sharjah Private Education Authority announced on Tuesday night.

This is pursuant to the decision of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council and to ensure readiness and provide training on emergency and crisis protocols, SPEA said on social media.

Maritime analysts cautioned that ship signals in the area have recently been "disrupted or manipulated", complicating precise tracking.

AFP reported that marine tracking data reviewed Tuesday shows at least three ships departing Iranian ports transited the Strait of Hormuz, despite the US announcement of a "naval blockade" which took effect at 1400 GMT Monday.

The US military insists that its blockade remained in place, and insists no no vessels had breached its cordon. In a statement posted Tuesday, US Central Command said no ships had made it past US forces and that six merchant vessels were ordered to turn back and re-enter Iranian ports on the Gulf of Oman outside the strait during the first 24 hours of enforcement.

The US State Department stressed any cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon must be brokered by governments, not armed groups. This came following “productive discussions” between the two sides hosted by Washington. Negotiators from Israel and Lebanon — the highest-level engagement between the two sides since 1993 — agreed to begin direct talks at a mutually-agreed time and place. The talks came as fierce fighting has displaced civilians and raised regional tensions. The role of Iran-backed Hezbollah continues to be a central sticking point.

A drone struck an Iranian Kurdish group on Tuesday, killing a woman in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, a party official 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.

Commander Mohammed Hakimi from the exiled Komala party blamed the attack on "Iran and its affiliated militias".

During the Middle East war, Iran has repeatedly struck positions belonging to Iranian Kurdish exiled groups in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

A drone hit the Komala party's Camp Sordash late in the afternoon, Hakimi told AFP.

"Three Iranian Kurdish refugees were wounded, including a woman who is in a critical condition," Hakimi said.

Oil prices fell as traders bet that renewed ceasefire hopes could ease Middle East tensions and reduce the risk of disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint.

The retreat in crude reflected a sharp unwind in the war risk premium, with Brent and WTI both under pressure as investors priced in less chance of a wider regional conflict. Oilprice.com’s latest chart showed WTI crude at $91.25/barrel and Brent at $94.79/barrel (as of 8.47am Tokyo), both down from the previous session, underscoring how quickly sentiment can shift when diplomacy appears to gain traction. Wall Street’s major indexes rose on Tuesday (April 14); European and Asian markets, led by Nikkei, also advanced early on April 15, 2026.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said a “small bit of economic pain” is worth it if it helps secure the world in the long run, as the International Monetary Fund warned the Iran war could push the global economy toward recession.

Bessent argued the conflict is aimed at removing the threat of Iranian nuclear strikes on Western capitals. His remarks highlight the administration’s view that strategic security concerns outweigh the short-term economic cost.

“I wonder what the hit to global GDP would be if a nuclear weapon hit London... I am saying that I am less concerned about short-term forecasts, for long-term security,” he told the BBC.

Bessent said the biggest risk is one people do not realise they are taking. “The biggest risk you can take is one you don't know you were taking. Now we know for a fact that, as the Iranians shot at Diego Garcia, they do have mid-range intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach London, and we know that they want a nuclear programme,” he said.

His comments came as senior US officials said Iran had uranium enriched to 60% at the start of the war, though Iran does not have nuclear weapons. The UK government has said there is “no assessment” that Iran is trying to target Europe with missiles.

The IMF has warned that the war’s disruption to oil markets, shipping and investor confidence could slow global growth and, in a worse-case scenario, tip the world into recession. Trump also warned the oil prices may remain "elevated" until the November US midterm elections.

We are closing coverage for now. Follow our live updates for the latest developments here.