Trump says US has ‘total control’ over the Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON, April 23: Talks between the United States and Iran are in a continued stalemate. Despite an active ceasefire, diplomatic progress has remained deadlocked which has, in turn, impacted global energy markets and international mediation efforts. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has blamed US and Israeli “aggression” for instability in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

On Thursday, John Phelan stepped down as US Navy secretary with immediate effect, the Pentagon confirmed. He was reportedly ousted for clashing with senior officials about the war on Iran. Hung Cao will serve as acting Navy secretary.

The primary point of friction is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. The US maintains a naval blockade in the area; Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the blockade remains in place.

Trump has said the truce will continue indefinitely as Washington awaits a new proposal from Tehran. US vice president JD Vance also cancelled a planned visit to Pakistan, which has been mediating between the two sides.

In Washington, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump has not set a deadline for the ceasefire extension. She added that the president alone will decide when the truce ends.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran wants “dialogue and agreement” but argued that “breach of commitments, blockade and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiations.”

Senior Iranian officials say peace talks have stalled because of the US naval blockade on their ports. At the same time, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed it captured two foreign ships in the Strait of Hormuz and shot at a third for breaking maritime rules.

Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday met US ambassador Natalie Baker to discuss the regional situation and efforts to hold a second round of Iran-US talks in Islamabad, Al Jazeera reported.

India hits back at Trump's 'hellhole' post

NEW DELHI, April 23: The ministry of external affairs on Thursday responded to US President Donald Trump's repost of comments from a right-wing commentator who called India a “hellhole”, saying that the remarks were “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste”.

The ministry said that the remarks don't reflect “the reality of the India-US relationship.”

“We have seen the comments, as also the subsequent statement issued by the US Embassy in response. The remarks are obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste. They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests,” the MEA statement read.

The statement comes after Trump on Thursday posted a transcript of a conservative political talk show hosted by Michael Savage, which referred to India, China, and other nations as "hellholes"—places from where people come to Washington in their ninth month of pregnancy and instantly become US citizens.

The host, whose ideology aligns with that of the US president, was arguing against US birthright citizenship, which guarantees automatic citizenship for almost anyone born within US territory, regardless of parentage. Savage argued that these issues should not be decided in courts, adding that “it is not really about law.” Instead, he said they should be decided by public opinion. He also criticised the US Constitution, saying it cannot be changed because it is “written in stone.”

“A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet. You don't have to go too far to see that. English is not spoken here anymore. There’s almost no loyalty to this country among the immigrant class coming in today, which was not always the case,” Savage said.

Donald Trump issued a clarification on his “hellhole” comment on India, with a statement through the US Embassy in New Delhi on Thursday.

"The President has said, ‘India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top’,” a US Embassy spokesperson said.

When asked about the repost in his weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shied away from directly responding to it and just said that they have "seen some reports".

“We have seen some reports. That's where I leave it,” Jaiswal said while responding to a question on Trump's repost.

Second round of US-Iran peace in 3 days, Trump shares ‘good news’

WASHINGTON, April 22: US President Donald Trump and sources from Pakistan, who is mediating the peace talks between the United States and Iran, hinted that the second round of such talks can happen later this week, reported New York Post.

This “good news” comes after talks were scheduled for earlier this week but fell apart as Iran refused to confirm if it would participate in the talks or not.

Pakistani sources told the Post that there is a possibility that a fresh round of talks can happen within the next “36 to 72 hours", citing optimistic mediation efforts with Iran. When Trump was asked about the same, he said, “It’s possible! President DJT" in a text message, the report said.

This new timeline of expected talks comes a day after Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran, which was set to finish on Tuesday midnight. He said that would extend the ceasefire on the request of Pakistan until Iran comes up with a “unified proposal".

“I have … directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other,” Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social on Tuesday.

After the US President's announcement, a Pakistani source said that Islamabad continued to engage with Iran and that “36 to 72 hours" timeline is based on those efforts.

“The cease-fire is holding despite heightened rhetoric, indicating positive intent on both sides,” the report cited the source as saying.

“No military escalation from either side. Pakistan remains the key mediator,” the source added.

However, a US source told a news agency that Trump is willing to give Iran another three to five days of ceasefire and added that it is not going to be an “open-ended” ceasefire.

Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire

WASHINGTON, April 22: President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was extending a ceasefire with Iran to give more time for negotiations, but would maintain a US naval blockade of the country's ports.

Trump posted on social media that he would "extend the Ceasefire" until Iran came up with a proposal to end the conflict. However, he "directed our Military to continue the Blockade."

Trump's ceasefire extension came hours before it was believed to be set to expire. It also came as the White House said Vice President JD Vance would not be going to Pakistan for what had been expected to be a second round of peace talks. The US president cast the breakdown in more talks as resulting from Iranian infighting, adding that Pakistan's leaders had asked him to extend the truce.

JD Vance's Pak visit put on hold over Iran's failure to respond to US's negotiating position: Report

WASHINGTON, April 21: US Vice President JD Vance's scheduled visit to Pakistan has reportedly been put on hold with just hours left the two-week ceasefire with Iran to end. According to New York Times, the VP's visit has been deferred for now because of Iran's failure to respond to the US's negotiating position ahead of talks.

A US official told the publication that while the talks aren't cancelled, the “diplomatic process is in effect paused” due to Tehran's lack of response.

While US President Donald Trump had long confirmed that a team of Vance and his special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would be visiting Islamabad, Iran had not committed to participating in the fresh round.

US 'Ready To Go' On War Path. Iran Prepares Fresh Targets, 'Surprises'

WASHINGTON, April 21: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the American military is "raring to go" to war with Iran if negotiations are not successful. He said that he did not want to extend a ceasefire because the US was in a great negotiating position and that they would get a great deal.

"I expect to be bombing because I think that's a better attitude to go in with. But we're ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go," Trump said.

He said that the US military have a lot of ammo and that they have restocked.

"We're loaded up," Trump told CNBC. "We have so much ammo, so much of everything... we've used this to restock, and they probably have done a little bit of restocking.

"We're ready to go. The military is raring to go."

A day earlier, Trump told PBS that if the ceasefire with Iran expires on Tuesday, "then lots of bombs start going off."

"I mean, they're supposed to be there. We agreed to be there, although they say we didn't. But no, it was set up. And we'll see whether or not it's there. If they're not there, that's fine too," he added.

Meanwhile, Iran has also said that it is prepared to go to war with "new surprises" if the possibility arises.

"Iran is fully prepared for the possibility of a new war and has prepared new surprises for a potential new round of combat," Tasnim News Agency reported.

The semi-official news agency stated that since the last two weeks, Iran has taken the possibility of the resumption of war seriously, and new target lists have been prepared.

"Accordingly, some military movements and new target lists have been prepared for this purpose," the report added.

Sources told the agency that Iran is ready to create "another hell" for the US and Israelis if another war begins.

While both the US and Iran have expressed hope of negotiating an end to the war, they have continued to escalate a standoff in and around the Hormuz Strait, the critical water passage that has emerged as a central issue in peace talks.

The current two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is scheduled to expire on Wednesday at 5:30 am IST.

Iran Says 'No Plans For Negotiation' After US Seizes Its Cargo Ship

TEHRAN/ WASHINGTON, April 20: Iran insisted it has no plan to attend a new round of negotiations with the United States on Monday, as uncertainty grows over a push to stop the Middle East war from resuming.

US President Donald Trump said he was sending negotiators to Pakistan for talks on ending the war that engulfed the region and rattled global markets, while repeating threats to attack Iran's energy infrastructure if it did not make a deal.

After initial talks ended without a deal in Islamabad earlier this month, both sides have traded accusations of ceasefire violations, including the US seizure of an Iranian cargo ship early Monday that Trump said was trying to evade a US blockade of the country's ports.

"We have no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.

"While claiming diplomacy and readiness for negotiations, the US is carrying out behaviours that do not in any way indicate seriousness in pursuing a diplomatic process," he added, calling the US blockade and cargo ship seizure "clear violations of the ceasefire".

Iran says the US blockade and attack breached the two-week truce set to end overnight Tuesday and threatened to retaliate, while Trump says Tehran has breached the ceasefire in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, which it has all but shut.

The counter-claims have thrown into fresh doubt the bid to end the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran the morning of February 28, killing the country's supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

"We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it," Trump said in a social media post.

Oil prices jumped sharply on Monday over fears hostilities could resume in the weeks-long war, after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again over the weekend following its brief reopening on Friday in recognition of a ceasefire in Lebanon.

In spite of the uncertainty surrounding the talks in Pakistan, security has been visibly stepped up in the capital, Islamabad.

Authorities announced road closures and traffic restrictions across the city, as well as in neighbouring Rawalpindi.

The US president said his negotiators, whom he did not name, would arrive in Islamabad on Monday evening.

A White House official said Vice President JD Vance would lead the delegation after Trump said he would not, citing security concerns. He would be joined by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, the official said.

Trump has been under pressure to find an off-ramp since Tehran moved to choke off the Strait of Hormuz.

But the cargo ship attack and naval blockade to cut off Iran's oil revenues drew renewed threats from Tehran instead of immediately bringing them back to the negotiating table.

On Sunday, Trump announced that a massive Iranian-flagged cargo ship "tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them," adding a US destroyer blew "a hole in the engineroom" before US Marines seized the vessel.

Vance to go to Pakistan for Iran talks

WASHINGTON, April 19: US Vice President JD Vance will lead a delegation for a second round talks with Iran in Pakistan, the White House has said.

This was after President Donald Trump said "no" at first on Sunday in at least two interviews. The White House later told another news channel that Vance “will attend” the talks in Pakistan along with Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Trump had denied that the Veep would attend the latest round of talks, citing security concerns. Later, a White House official was quoted as saying by CNN: “Things changed.”

The back-and-forth came amid reports that Trump himself might be going now or later; and the US Secret Service did not want the two of them at the same place at the same time — thus the reference to “security concern”. Trump earlier in the week said he “might be going” to Pakistan if a deal were to be struck. Hence, if Trump were to ultimately decide to travel, it’s likely Vance would need to return to the US first.

The first round of talks in Islamabad, held last weekend, yielded no results and Vance — generally considered much less excited than Trump about American “interventions” such as the Iran war — was trolled for likening Iran's demands on uranium-enrichment to his wife’s “right to skydive”.

The new negotiations will come over a week after Round 1 ended without a deal to end the conflict.

Trump's two special envoys will indeed be going: his fellow businessmen-friend Steve Witkoff, and daughter Ivanka trump's husband Jared Kushner.

They were also part of Vance-led talks earlier this month where the US insisted that Iran give up its rights to enrich nuclear fuel. Iran has said the uranium is for nuclear-power sovereignty, and not for a bomb.

As for Round 2, Iran did not immediately confirm the talks but its chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, said in an interview aired on state television late Saturday that “there will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy", while acknowledging a wide gap remained between the sides.

Pakistani authorities have begun tightening security in Islamabad. A regional official involved in the efforts was quoted as saying that mediators were “finalising preparations”, and US advance security teams were “already on the ground”.

The two-week ceasefire agreed by the US and Iran on April 8 ends on April 22.

After the first round of talks led by Vance went on for 21 hours but failed to reach a deal, Pakistan had re-launched its diplomatic efforts for another round of talks in Islamabad.

Since April 15, PM Shehbaz Sharif visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, while military boss Field Marshal Asim Munir spent three days in Iran.

A standoff over the Strait of Hormuz — a key waterway that remains a sticking point — escalated on Saturday as Iran fired on ships attempting to cross the channel, while US also pushed ahead with its own blockade of the Iranian ports. Trump slammed the Iranian forces and said they had violated the truce.

"We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR NICE GUY," the US President wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

'No More Mr Nice Guy, Time For Iran Killing Machine To End': Trump's Latest Threat

WASHINGTON, April 19: US President Donald Trump has issued yet another threat today as Iran continued its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US naval blockade of the Islamic nation's ports.

This time, Trump said there will be "no more Mr Nice Guy" if Iran doesn't take the "very fair and reasonable deal".

US and Iranian officials are scheduled to meet in Pakistan again tomorrow.

"Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz - A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn't nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan - They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

"Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it. They're helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing. In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be 'the tough guy!'

"We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they don't take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT'S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!" Trump said in a long post on the platform owned by him.

The strategic Strait of Hormuz remained closed today with Iran's parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in Pakistan that failed to reach a deal, Iran said it will not allow the crucial maritime trade chokepoint to re-open until the US ends a blockade of Iranian ports.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, said in a televised address on Saturday night that there had been "progress" with Washington "but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain". "We are still far from the final discussion," said Ghalibaf, one of Tehran's negotiators in the talks aimed at ending the war launched by Israel and the US against the Islamic republic.

A two-week ceasefire is set to end on Wednesday unless it is renewed.

On Friday, Tehran had declared the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas usually transits, open after a temporary ceasefire was agreed to halt Israel's war with Iran's ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.

That prompted elation in global markets and sent oil prices plunging, but Tehran reversed course after Trump insisted the US blockade of Iranian ports would continue until a final deal was struck.

"If America does not lift the blockade, traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be limited," Ghalibaf said.

8 children dead in mass shooting in Louisiana, gunman killed

LOUISIANA, April 19: Eight children between the ages of 1 and 14 were killed on Sunday in Louisiana in a mass shooting which authorities say is a suspected domestic incident.

The gunman, who had allegedly opened fire in different homes early Sunday, was later killed in a chase, with officers firing at the suspect, according to a Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon.

The suspect had allegedly stolen a car while attempting to leave the scene of the crimes, and was followed by the police. According to Bordelon, a total of 10 people were shot at in the in domestic-related shootings. Two adult women suffered gunshots to their heads but survived, while a young boy sustained injuries after jumping from a roof during the chaos.

While police has not shared any information about the shooter, Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon told NBC that some of the children killed “were his descendants.”

‘Unlike anything most of us have seen’: Shreveport police on crime scene
Shreveport police spokesperson Bordelon said the scene was “unlike anything” the personnel had seen. “This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” said Bordelon. Officials said they were gathering details at the crime scenes, which extended across three locations.

An investigation has been launched into the incident, with Shreveport police also involving the Louisiana State Police detectives in the probe. No clear motive for the crime has been established yet.

Trump says ceasefire may end if no deal reached as Wednesday deadline nears

WASHINGTON, April 18: US President Donald Trump has said the ceasefire may end if no long-term deal is reached by Wednesday, the deadline for the two-week pause to Middle East fighting. Trump also said the US blockade of Iranian ports will 'remain' if no deal is reached.

"Maybe I won't extend it, but the blockade (on Iranian ports) is going to remain," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on his way back to Washington from Phoenix, Arizona. "So you have a blockade, and unfortunately we have to start dropping bombs again."

Almost a week after the Islamabad talks between the United States and Iran collapsed without a deal, the two sides will sit for negotiations in Pakistan's capital city once again on Monday, CNN reported, citing Iranian sources. There is no update from the American side on next round of talks, though Trump on Thursday had said that the US and Iran were ‘close to a deal’ and that the Iran war should end ‘pretty soon’.

Direct talks between the US and Iran last weekend were inconclusive, as the two nations could not agree about Iran’s nuclear program and other points.

US renews waiver that allowed India to buy Russian oil, two days after saying it won’t

WASHINGTON, April 18: In an apparent reversal of course, Washington announced that it will issue a fresh 30-day general license allowing countries around the world, including India, to purchase energy from Russia without attracting US sanctions.

This comes just two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that America would not be renewing two earlier 30-day licenses from March, which allowed the purchase of previously sanctioned Russian and Iranian energy respectively.

According to an order released by the US Treasury late on Friday local time, a new general license will replace the earlier license allowing energy purchases from Russia. However, the purchase of Iranian energy will no longer be permitted. Track US-Iran war live updates.

The terms of the new sanctions waiver allow the purchase of Russian crude oil and petroleum products that were loaded onto vessels on or before April 17 and will be authorised until just after midnight Eastern Standard Time on May 16.

'Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again,' claims Trump

WASHINGTON, April 17: US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World.”

Iran on Friday said it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but Trump said the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the US.

Trump in a post on Truth Social saud, US Navy's blockade would continue until “UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE.”

Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday said that the Strait of Hormuz is declared "completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire."

In a post on X, Araghchi wrote, “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire.”

With anticipation surrounding the possible next round of talks between the Washington and Tehran, Trump has said that the war in Iran is going "swimmingly" and that it "should be ending pretty soon." He said this while speaking at an event in Las Vegas, Navada.

Trump also said the next meeting between the US and Iran may take place over the weekend, adding to optimism that the Iran war could be nearing an end. Trump said Iran had offered not to possess nuclear weapons for more than 20 years. Tehran's nuclear ambitions were a sticking point at talks in Islamabad last weekend.

"We're going to see what happens. But I think we're very close to making a deal with Iran," he told reporters outside the White House. Reports had said that while the US proposed a 20 year pause to Iran's nuclear programme at Islamabad talks, while Iran had counterproposed a pause of five years.

US-Iran war began on February 28 with a US -Israeli attack and thousands have been killed since then. Oil prices have also surged, creating a major political headache for the US president.

Trump Announces Lebanon-Israel Cease-Fire

WASHINGTON, April 16: President Trump announced on Thursday that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon have agreed to begin a 10-day cease-fire at 5 p.m. Eastern time. It’s a development that could remove a major hurdle to the broader peace talks with Iran, as long as the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah and Israel both agree to abide by a truce.

Those are significant uncertainties. The Lebanese prime minister said on social media that the country “welcomed” the announcement. But Hezbollah did not immediately comment on Trump’s claim. Previously, Hezbollah has criticized the U.S.-brokered talks between the Lebanese government and Israel.

The Israeli government did not immediately comment on Trump’s claim.

The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has threatened to upend the cease-fire between the United States and Iran, which is set to expire next week. Iran has repeatedly insisted that the truce be extended to Lebanon, a proposal that the United States and Israel have rejected.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that he had spoken to the leaders of both countries and directed his top aides to work with Israel and Lebanon to “achieve a Lasting PEACE.” Trump also announced that he will be inviting both the Israeli prime minister and Lebanese president to the White House for peace talks.

U.S. forces ready to restart combat if Iran doesn't agree to a deal, says Hegseth

WASHINGTON, April 16: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday threatened U.S. attacks on Iran’s power plants and other energy sites if its leaders did not agree to a peace deal.

Speaking at a news conference at the Pentagon, Hegseth repeatedly urged Iran’s leaders to “choose wisely” and said an American naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue “as long as it takes.”

The Trump administration has alternated between assuring Americans that a peace deal was within reach and threatening Iran’s leadership if it does not comply, as the war’s economic toll has put President Trump under increasing political pressure at home.

“If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power, and energy,” Hegseth said. Under international law, intentionally targeting Iran’s civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime.

Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the news conference that U.S. Navy forces in the Pacific could be ordered to intercept ships trying to resupply Iran, which would broaden the naval blockade beyond the Middle East.

Iran threatened on Wednesday to halt all trade in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea in response to the blockade. It was unclear how much control Iran could exert over shipping in the region. Its battered armed forces can still use mines and fast boats to harass ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Its allies in Yemen, the Houthi militia, have also shown they can attack shipping in the Red Sea.

Analysts say the U.S. blockade will squeeze Iran’s economy but might not be enough to force concessions from its government or lessen the global energy crunch.

Pakistan said Thursday that it expected to host a second round of peace negotiations between the United States and Iran but declined to give a date, as senior Pakistani mediators visited Tehran in an effort to shore up the U.S.-Iran cease-fire.

Trump Says Iran War Could End 'Very Soon'

WASHINGTON, April 15: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday told Fox Business that the war in Iran could end soon and that gas prices will "go down tremendously" once the conflict is settled.

"I think it can be over very soon. If they're smart, it will end soon," he said in an interview on "Mornings With Maria Bartiromo."

Trump announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports on Sunday after the collapse of 21-hour high-level peace talks in Islamabad between the US and Iran.

The US military is now planning to track down any Iranian ship crossing the Strait and physically board it, if necessary.

The US Central Command, in a statement, said a blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as US forces maintain maritime superiority in the Middle East.

"An estimated 90 per cent of Iran's economy is fuelled by international trade by sea. In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea."

US To Send More Troops To Middle East As Iran Ceasefire Nears End: Report

WASHINGTON, April 15: The United States will be sending additional troops to the Middle East in the days ahead even as negotiations between Washington and Tehran could resume this weekend.

According to a report by The Washington Post, 6,000 troops aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush with warships and about 4,200 Navy and Marine personnel aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, along with its embarked Marine task force, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are expected to arrive in the region by the end of the month.

With the current two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran scheduled to expire on April 22, the new troops will join the estimated 50,000 personnel that the Pentagon has said are involved in operations countering Iran.

Mistrust can't be solved overnight: JD Vance ahead of fresh US-Iran peace talks

WASHINGTON, April 15: US Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday that deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran remains the biggest challenge in efforts to turn a fragile ceasefire into a broader peace agreement, even as both sides appear willing to continue negotiations.

“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,” according to Vance’s statement during a Turning Point USA event.

His remarks underscored the central diplomatic hurdle after weekend talks in Pakistan failed to produce a breakthrough despite more than 21 hours of negotiations. Still, Vance said Iranian negotiators wanted to make a deal and added that he felt “very good about where we are,” signalling that the door to diplomacy remains open.

The statement comes as President Donald Trump said talks to end the Iran war could resume in Pakistan within the next two days, keeping Islamabad at the centre of high-stakes backchannel diplomacy.

Pakistan hosted the previous round of direct US-Iran engagement, where Vance led the American delegation in the highest-level face-to-face talks between the two sides in decades. Although the negotiations collapsed without a deal, both sides stopped short of abandoning the process altogether.

Diplomatic sources suggest the ceasefire, which still has roughly a week remaining, has created a narrow window for negotiators to test whether confidence-building steps can evolve into a larger political settlement.

A major sticking point in the Pakistan talks was Iran’s nuclear programme, where Washington proposed a 20-year uranium enrichment moratorium while Tehran countered with a five-year freeze.

The near-compromise briefly raised hopes of an interim deal, but the gap over the duration of restrictions, verification measures, and long-term guarantees ultimately proved too wide.

Vance’s comments on mistrust reflect this deeper issue, neither side is yet convinced the other is ready to commit to durable concessions beyond the immediate ceasefire period.

US-Iran talks to end conflict may resume by Thursday; Geneva and Islamabad venue options: Report

WASHINGTON, April 14: President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that Iran talks could resume in Pakistan over the next two days. In an interview with the New York Post, Trump said: “You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we're more inclined to go there.”

Two US officials said that discussions were still underway about a new round of talks. A diplomat from one of the mediating countries said that Tehran and Washington had agreed to it.

The talks could happen Thursday, according to the US officials. The location, timing and composition of the delegations had not been decided, although Islamabad and Geneva are being considered as host cities, they said.

Trump dials Modi amid West Asia war stalemate; need to reopen Hormuz discussed

WASHINGTON, April 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump held a 40-minute phone conversation on Tuesday, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said. This is the third phone call between the two leaders this year, and the second since conflict broke out in West Asia after the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28.

They spoke on February 2 to announce progress in a trade deal, and then on March 24 to discuss situation in West Asia; plus a third time now.

The war is currently in a stalemate after talks held in Pakistan capital Islamabad produced no result last weekend. Both sides are since sticking to their guns as a precarious truce, set for until April 22, holds for now.

US ambassador also said that during the phone call, Trump briefed PM Modi on the situation in West Asia, including the US blockade of Iranian ports. He also said that some big-ticket deals are expected between the US and India, including in energy.

Modi also took to X and revealed that in his call with Trump, they reviewed the progress of achieving bilateral cooperation in various sectors. “We are committed to further strengthening our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in all areas,” PM wrote.

Modi also said that they discussed the situation in West Asia and “stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.”

Earlier, in the first phone call since the conflict, Modi backed the restoration of peace in West Asia at the earliest and talked about ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open and secure. Posting about his conversation, PM had said he had received a call from Trump and had a “useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia”.

“India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world.”

Earlier this year, Modi and Trump spoke on the phone on February 2, when the two sides announced progress towards concluding a bilateral trade deal aimed at addressing the issue of US tariffs on Indian exports.

US says no ships passed through Hormuz since blockade began

WASHINGTON, April 14: No ships have made it past a US naval blockade of Iran's ports and coastal areas, and six merchant ships have followed orders to turn back, the US CENTCOM said on Tuesday.

The US military has said that the block which started on Monday, would only apply to ships going to or from Iran, including all Iranian ports on the Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

“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,” it said in a post on X.

Trump says Iranian ships will be ‘eliminated’ as US naval blockade begins

WASHINGTON, April 13: Iran has suggested that the United States’ blockade on Iranian ports will only hurt the interntional economy after President Donald Trump ordered a naval siege against the country.

Trump had warned Iranian military ships from approaching the blockade zone.

“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,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

“Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED.”

The blockade, which Trump announced on Sunday after US and Iranian negotiators failed to reach a deal after a round of talks in Pakistan, came into effect on Monday at 10am in Washington, DC (14:00 GMT).

The US move risks setting the stage for a major escalation that could fray the fragile ceasefire between the two countries.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre announced earlier that it had been notified that the US blockade will apply “without distinction” to ships engaging with Iranian ports and oil terminals.

“The restrictions encompass the entirety of the Iranian coastline, including the ports and energy infrastructure,” UKMTO, which is affiliated with the British Royal Navy, said in an advisory.

Although the two-week truce stipulated that Iran would open the Strait of Hormuz, vessel traffic has not increased in the strategic waterway since the ceasefire was announced last week.

Iranian officials have accused the US of violating the truce by allowing Israel to continue to bomb Lebanon. Pakistan, which mediated the ceasefire, had said that all regional fronts – including Lebanon – were part of the deal.

While Trump’s move to blockade Iran’s ports could hamper the already ailing Iranian economy, is unlikely to loosen the Iranian grip on Hormuz or bring down energy prices.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker who was part of Tehran’s negotiating team in Islamabad, warned on Sunday that the US siege in the Gulf will only raise gasoline prices for Americans.

Iran has vowed to defend its territorial waters, saying that the naval siege amounts to “piracy”.

US-Iran talks fail after marathon talks in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, April 12: The United States and Iran have failed to reach a deal after high-stakes talks in the Pakistani capital, with Vice President JD Vance saying Tehran refused to accept Washington’s terms after 21 hours of talks in Islamabad.

“The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” Vice President JD Vance, the head of the US delegation, told reporters shortly before he left Islamabad after the highest-level meeting between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Vance said Iran chose “not to accept our terms”, adding that the US needs to see a “fundamental commitment” from Tehran to not develop nuclear weapons.

“… We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,” Vance said.

President Donald Trump sent JD Vance showed the US was taking these talks seriously.

“The fact that Vance left doesn’t necessarily mean that the talks are over,” he said, adding that the main sticking points seem to be the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran continues to control, and the gaps on the nuclear issue.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that no one had expected that talks with the US would reach an agreement in one session.

“Naturally, from the beginning, we should not have expected to reach an agreement in a single session. No one had such an expectation,” ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

Trump announces Strait of Hormuz blockade after US-Iran peace talks end

WASHINGTON, April 12: President Donald Trump says the United States Navy will begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz “immediately” after peace talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan ended without an agreement.

Trump, in a social media post on Sunday, accused Iran of “extortion” and said the US Navy would hunt down and interdict ships in international waters that have paid Iran a toll to traverse the strait.

“So, there you have it, the meeting went well, most points were agreed to, but the only point that really mattered, NUCLEAR, was not,” Trump said. “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.”

Iran has essentially taken control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for the global energy market, since the US and Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28.

Traffic through the narrow strait has slowed to a trickle, nearly paralysing about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments and sending shockwaves through the global economy.

Iran has denied US claims that two of its warships recently passed through the strait for mine-clearing operations, warning that any military vessels seeking to do so would receive a “strong response”.

Trump called Iran’s control over the waterway “world extortion” in his social media post and added that any Iranian forces who fire at US forces or “peaceful vessels” would be “BLOWN TO HELL”.

He added that the blockade would involve unspecified “other countries” and he would not allow Iran to benefit from the closure of the strait.

Iran has continued to send its own ships through the strait since the war began and has allowed a handful of vessels from other countries to pass through. Iranian officials have also discussed setting up a toll system after the fighting ends whereby users would pay a fee to Iran for traversing the strait.

“I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran,” Trump said on Sunday. “No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”

Trump threatens China with 50% tariff for sending weapons to Iran

WASHINGTON, April 12: US President Donald Trump on Sunday re-deployed his legion of threats against Iran after peace talks in Islamabad failed — and went straight at China too. He was responding to reports that US intelligence has found China to be preparing a shipment of weapons to Iran amid a fragile two-week ceasefire that began last Wednesday.

"I doubt they would do that... but if we catch them doing that, they get a 50% tariff, which is a staggering amount." Trump, who's set to visit China next month, told Fox News.

He's made that threat to all such countries, but China in particular as he was pointedly responding to a question about a CNN report from Saturday. That report said China is preparing to deliver new air defence systems to Iran within the next few weeks. It cited three unnamed sources “familiar with recent US intelligence assessments”.

While responding to that, Trump also offered to sell crude oil to China, both from home and from Venezuela, a country the US quasi-runs after “seizing”, or effectively abducting, President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year.

"China can send their ships to us… to Venezuela... we have a lot of overcapacity, and we'll probably sell [oil] for even less money [than Iran]," he said.

Most of Trump's tariffs, which he used against countries ranging from India, Brazil and China to even allies like Canada, have already been struck down as bad in law by the US Supreme Court.

He has been using and further finding new ways to bypass the US Congress to impose these levies for geopolitical leverage.

On China, before the Supreme Court's ruling against his emergency law-based tariffs in February 2026, the levy had climbed to 125%. It later settled at 30% as both sides started talking. After the SC order, Trump scrambled to replace the earlier tariffs with temporary ones under a separate trade law. Hence the rate on China at present is 10-15%.

Beijing has claimed it helped broker the ceasefire agreement that paused the war between Iran and the US earlier this week. Plus, Trump is even set to visit China early next month for talks with President Xi Jinping.

US intelligence apprehends that Iran may be using the ceasefire as an opportunity to replenish certain weapons systems with the help of key foreign partners. Two sources told CNN there are indications that Beijing is working to route the shipments through third countries to mask their true origin.

The systems Beijing is preparing to transfer are shoulder-fired anti-air missile systems known as MANPADs, the sources said. These have been a threat to low-flying US military aircraft throughout the course of the six-week war.

Trump was asked by CNN on Saturday about this, and whether he'd spoken to Xi about the issue. “If China does that, China will have big problems, OK?” he said as he left the White House for Florida.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington reportedly said, “China has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict; the information in question is untrue.”

“As a responsible major country, China consistently fulfills its international obligations. We urge the U.S. side to refrain from making baseless allegations, maliciously drawing connections, and engaging in sensationalism; we hope that relevant parties will do more to help de-escalate tensions,” it added.

Trump had indicated during a press conference last Monday that the F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iran last week was hit by a “handheld shoulder missile, [a] heat-seeking missile”. Tehran had said it had used a “new” air defense system. It’s unclear whether that system was Chinese.

2 US Warships Cross Strait Of Hormuz In First Such Transit Since Iran War Began

WASHINGTON, April 11: Two US warships have reportedly passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the first such transit since the war with Iran began, as President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States had started "clearing out" the strategic waterway.

The US Navy guided-missile destroyers passed through the strait with no issues reported, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing three US officials.

The operation was not coordinated with authorities in Tehran, US media outlet Axios said.

"We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said on his Truth Social platform, calling it "a favor" to countries such as China, Japan and France that "don't have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves."

He insisted that Iran is "LOSING BIG!" in the conflict, while acknowledging that Iranian mines in the strategic strait -- through which a fifth of the world's crude passes -- still pose a threat.

"The only thing they have going is the threat that a ship may 'bunk' into one of their sea mines," Trump wrote.

The key shipping lane off the coast of Iran has been virtually blocked by Tehran since the United States and Israel started bombing Iran on February 28, though reopening the strait was ostensibly a condition of the shaky ceasefire put in place earlier this week.

‘World’s most powerful reset': Trump's cryptic post ahead of US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan

WASHINGTON, April 10: United States President Donald Trump on Friday dropped a cryptic post on his Truth Social platform hours ahead of his deputy's meeting with Iranian delegation in Pakistan.

'World's most powerful reset,' Trump's social media post read even as Vice President JD Vance departed for Islamabad.

Talks between the US and Iran on a resolution to the conflict are expected to start on Saturday in Islamabad, with the White House saying Vice President JD Vance would lead the US delegation.

Trump has declared a victory while announcing a ceasefire on Wednesday and reiterated that the US aims were met in the 5-week conflict.

“Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!” Trump said on Truth Social post on Thursday. “You’ll see Oil start flowing, with or without the help of Iran and, to me, it makes no difference, either way.”

Before departing for Islamabad, Vice President JD Vance warned Iran not to "play" Washington even as he hoped peace talks set to start in Pakistan would have a "positive" outcome.

The US team is led by Vice President JD Vance and is expected to include White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

On the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and the new secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohmamad Baqer Zolqadr are said to participate in the talks.

"We're going to try to have a positive negotiation," Vance told reporters at the Joint Base Andrews outside Washington.

"If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive," he added.

Trump Warns Iran Against Collecting Tolls in the Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON, April 10: President Trump said Iran is “doing a very poor job” of letting oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz and warned the country against collecting tolls from ships traveling through the strategic waterway. An Iranian lawmaker said earlier that Tehran was charging some ships $2 million. About 20% of the world’s oil is transported through the strait.

Trump’s latest comments add tension to the shaky cease-fire with Iran, which was announced earlier this week. He previously threatened to resume attacks if a deal was not made. Iran and the U.S. have a meeting scheduled for Saturday in Islamabad, although Iranian officials are saying publicly their attendance is contingent on the situation in Lebanon.

Israel said it will begin direct negotiations with Lebanon, with an eye toward a truce, but will also continue military operations against Lebanon-based, Iran-aligned Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied the U.S.-Iran cease-fire covers that conflict, while Iran insists it does. The U.S. agrees with Israel in this threat to the cease-fire accord.

Trump says American ships will remain around Iran

WASHINGTON, April 9: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that American military ships and aircraft will continue to remain in and around Iran, warning that Washington will resume “shooting” if Tehran does not fully comply with the agreement reached between the two sides.

"All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry ... will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that Israel has proposed limiting its strikes in Lebanon for the duration of the ongoing US-Iran negotiations.

Iran-backed Hezbollah said on Thursday it had launched rockets towards Israel in response to what it called a violation of the US-Iran truce.

Israel launched its deadliest strikes on Lebanon since the conflict with Hezbollah began last month, killing more than 250 people on Wednesday, as the Iran-backed group resumed rocket fire on northern Israel following a brief pause under the two-week US-Iran ceasefire.

The escalation has placed the fragile US-Iran truce under strain, with Tehran warning of a strong response and closing the Strait of Hormuz shortly after signalling it would reopen it.

Trump sets ultimatum for Europe, seeks military commitments from allies in Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON, April 9: United States President Donald Trump has stepped up pressure on his European allies to commit military forces in the Strait of Hormuz, ahead of talks with Iran on Friday.

According to two diplomats, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has informed European leaders that the US President is expecting concrete commitments for Hormuz regarding the deployment of warships or other military capabilities from Europe in the next few days.

This was followed by Trump's post on Truth Social, wherein he stated that NATO would not “understand anything” without pressure upon them.

“None of these people, including our own, very disappointing, NATO, understood anything unless they have pressure placed upon them!!!” Trump said on Truth Social.

Trump considering pulling out troops from NATO countries opposing war

WASHINGTON, April 9: The White House is considering the withdrawal of US troops out of North Atlantic Treaty Organization member countries who were allegedly unhelpful to the US during Iran war.

These troops would then be sent to countries who were more supporting as a form of punitive measure for some members of the alliance, the Wall Street Journal reported.

However, this is an improvement from Trump's earlier threat of withdrawing US from the NATO alliance entirely. The new plan has been circulated and has gained support from senior members of the Trump administration in recent weeks.

The US President has, over the past few weeks, slammed NATO, saying he was “disappointed” in the alliance, with countries have refused to help America in the conflict. Trump threatened that he would “remember” which nations had refused help, while also saying that US no longer needed it.

Trump announces two-week ceasefire with Iran

WASHINGTON, April 8: The US military has paused its strikes on Iran after President Donald Trump announced he has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Tehran in a last-minute offramp, allowing him to delay his threat to obliterate Iran's power grid and bridges.

Trump said the proposal, extended by Pakistan, would include opening the Strait of Hormuz -- through which a fifth of the world's energy supplies pass in peacetime-- while Washington and Tehran tried to negotiate a peace deal.

Tehran also said it has accepted the proposal, with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi saying that if the US and Israel halt their attacks, Iran will also suspend its "defensive operation" for two weeks.

Araghchi-- a veteran of past nuclear negotiations with the United States-- said that the Iranian military will coordinate the passage of vessels through the critical waterway during the two-week ceasefire but insisted that "Iran's Armed Forces" would retain control of the passage.

Tehran also claimed victory in the war that started after US-Israeli strikes on February 28 and said it forced the United States to accept its 10-point plan, including lifting sanctions and accepting its nuclear enrichment. In a statement, Iran's Supreme National Security Council said the ceasefire plan would require "continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of enrichment, and lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions".

Other key demands in the blueprint, offered through mediators in Pakistan, include US military withdrawal from the Middle East, an end to attacks on Iran and its allies, the release of frozen Iranian assets and a UN Security Council resolution making any deal binding.

"It is to be noted that the adoption of such a resolution shall render all these agreements binding under international law and shall constitute a significant diplomatic victory for the Iranian nation," the country's Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.

Crucially, the plan also calls for expanded Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for around a fifth of the world's oil that has been effectively blocked to maritime traffic since the start of the five-week conflict.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that he has received a "workable" 10-point ceasefire proposal from Iran. He said the reason for agreeing to the proposal is that the US has already met and exceeded all military objectives and is very far along with a "definitive agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added.

Trump said that Iran has agreed to almost all the various points of past contention, and this extension will allow time for a permanent agreement to be finalised.

"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalised and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this long-term problem close to resolution," he said.

Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again, White House says ‘unacceptable’

TEHRAN, April 8: Iran's state media is reporting that Tehran has again closed the Strait of Hormuz owing to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, which it has considered as ceasefire violations.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that closure of Strait of Hormuz “is completely unacceptable”.

The United States called on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz “immediately, quickly, and safely”.

“I will reiterate the president's expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately quickly and safely,” Leavitt said.

Trump says talks on Iran will be behind closed doors

WASHINGTON, April 8: US President Donald Trump said the peace talks on the Iran conflict would be held behind closed doors even as he flagged reports around the truce as “Fake News”.

“Numerous Agreements, Lists, and Letters are being sent out by people that have absolutely nothing to do with the U.S.A. / Iran Negotiation, in many cases, they are total Fraudsters, Charlatans, and WORSE. They will be rapidly exposed after our Federal Investigation is completed. There is only one group of meaningful “POINTS” that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations,” Trump said on Truth Social.

US official says ceasefire plan published by Iran not the one America agreed to

WASHINGTON, April 8: A US official on Wednesday said a 10-point ceasefire plan published by Iran is not the same set of conditions America agreed to for halting the conflict.

“The document being reported by media outlets is not the working framework,” according to the senior official as saying on the condition of anonymity. “We're not going to negotiate in public out of respect for the process,” the official added.

Trump Says 'Whole Civilisation Will Die Tonight'

WASHINGTON, April 7: US President Donald Trump has issued a big warning to Iran and said that the "whole civilisation will die tonight". In a post on Truth Social, he said that, although he does not want it to happen, "it probably will".

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," he wrote.

He said that tonight will be "one of the most important moments" in world history, as 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death will "finally end."

However, his statement kept the possibility of an off-ramp open, saying that "maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen".

According to the Wall Street Journal, US and regional mediators have been pushing for a 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the Iran war, but officials said little progress has been made. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance has asserted that the US has achieved its war objectives in Iran, leaving the next move to Tehran.

The Islamic Republic replied to Trump, saying, "You and your allies will suffer an unforgettable hit from the ancient civilisation of Iran".

US, Iran in talks for 45-day ceasefire

WASHINGTON, April 6: The United States, Iran and a group of regional mediators are reportedly in talks over the terms of a possible 45-day ceasefire that could pave the way for ending the war in the West Asia.

Talks are being conducted through mediators from Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey, along with backchannel exchanges between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, Axios reported, citing four sources with knowledge of the diplomatic efforts.

The report further said that the chances of reaching a deal in the next 48 hours are low. However, this is being seen as a “last-ditch” effort to prevent an escalation of the war.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to extend his self-imposed deadline for Iran by 24 hours to make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating infrastructure attacks.

In a cryptic post on Truth Social, Trump gave the new deadline — Tuesday, 8 PM ET.

"Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!" he said in the post.

This came hours after he had posted, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

The new deadline, 0000 GMT or 5:30 AM (IST) Wednesday, would mean another day for Tehran to attempt to placate the mercurial US leader or risk him following through on a threat to destroy the country's power plants and bridges, the threat of which the Islamic Republic has called a “war crime”.

Trump says Tuesday deadline to make a deal with Iran is final

WASHINGTON, April 6: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday the Tuesday deadline he has set for Iranto make a ​deal is final and unlikely to be extended, calling Iran's peace proposal significant but ‌not good enough.

Trump has warned U.S. forces will unleash broad attacks on Iranian infrastructure if his Tuesday night deadline for a deal is not met.

"They made a proposal, and it's a significant ​proposal. It's a significant step. It's not good enough," Trump told reporters ​during an Easter egg event for children on the White House ⁠South Lawn.

Critics have said Trump would be committing war crimes if the U.S. attacked ​civilian power plants, a point that Trump dismissed on Monday.

"I'm not worried about it. ​You know what's a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon," Trump said.

Trump said the five-week conflict could end quickly if Iran does "what they have to do."

"They have to do certain things. They ​know that, they've been negotiating I think in good faith," he said.

Trump, who ​had extended his initial deadline, gave no indication he would do so again.

"Highly unlikely. They've had plenty ‌of ⁠time. In fact, they asked for seven days. I said, I'm going to give you 10. But at the end of 10, all hell's going to break out if you don't get there," he said.

Trump's senior aides have been negotiating with Iran ​indirectly through Pakistan, attempting ​to get a ⁠deal in which Iran will forswear nuclear weapons and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the oil transit waterway. Iran said it ​wanted a permanent end to the war, not just a temporary ​ceasefire.

Trump said ⁠it appeared the latest team representing the Iranian government is "not as radicalized" as others who have been killed in airstrikes.

"We think they're actually smarter," he said.

Trump said if it ⁠were ​up to him, the United States would take control ​of Iran's oil, but he said the American people would probably not understand such a move.

'Open the f-ing strait': Trump's 'living in hell' warning 24 hours before April 6 deadline

WASHINGTON, April 5: A day before his April 6 deadline to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump went all out with cuss words against Iran, saying “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day”, and reverting to his original warning of attacks on energy infrastructure.

In an expletive-laden social media post, the US President wrote: “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell." He said Monday would also be “Bridge Day”, speaking of what the US-Israeli forces would target.

He warned the Islamic Republic regime that “you will be living in hell”, and ended his note with a Muslim signature: “Praise be to Allah”.

In a separate post, Trump said he would hold a news conference on Monday in the Oval Office, after the US military rescued two pilots after Iran downed American aircraft in its airspace.

Trump Says 'Good Chance' Of Deal With Iran On Monday

WASHINGTON, April 5: US President Donald Trump said Sunday he believes there is a "good chance" of making a deal with Iran on Monday, ahead of his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face heavy bombing.

"I think there is a good chance tomorrow, they are negotiating now," the president told a Fox News journalist.

"If they don't make a deal and fast, I'm considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil," he added.

US F-15 jet crew member rescued from Iran

WASHINGTON, April 5: “Seriously wounded" and "really brave” is how US President Donald Trump described the American airman rescued from Iran on Sunday, two days after an F-15E fighter jet of the US military was shot down in the ongoing war.

“He is a highly respected Colonel,” Trump further wrote in what was his second post on the matter.

The F-15E is a two-seater plane, and the pilot had already been rescued.

It was the weapons officer who was rescued on Sunday.

Trump in his post said the officer was rescued “from deep inside the mountains of Iran”. He claimed the Iranian forces was “looking hard, in big numbers, and getting close”.

“This type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to 'man and equipment.' It just doesn’t happen!” Trump further claimed.

He also gave a slight insight into how the pilot was rescued on Friday.

“The second raid [to rescue the weapons officer] came after the first one, where we rescued the pilot in broad daylight, also unusual, spending seven hours over Iran,” he wrote, and announced he would hold a press conference on Monday. He described the rescue ops as an “amazing show of bravery and talent by all”.

It was not clear where the pilot was now, but the weapons officer — whom Trump identified only as "a highly respected Colonel" in his first post on Sunday — has been flown to Kuwait for medical treatment where the US has a military base.

"He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine," Trump wrote earlier in the day, while his second post said the injuries are serious.

His exact identity has not been disclosed by US authorities, nor has any information been released about the pilot who was rescued first, on Friday, shortly after the aircraft was downed.

US special forces conducted the rescue mission for the colonel using "a specialized commando unit with a high volume of air cover", according to three US officials who spoke to Axios.

At least two US transport aircraft malfunctioned at a staging base inside Iran during the operation; commanders flew in three replacement aircraft, extracted all personnel, and destroyed the disabled planes on the ground to prevent them from falling into enemy hands, as per US officials.

The Navy SEAL Team Six — the unit that conducted Operation Neptune Spear, killing al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in 2011 — carried out the extraction, supported by US Air Force special warfare personnel and multiple layers of combat air cover.

When the F-15E was struck, the colonel ejected and landed in mountainous terrain in southwestern Iran. Following standard SERE — Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape — training, his first move was to distance himself from the wreckage, which enemy forces would target first.

He then climbed a ridgeline rising to 7,000 feet, taking cover in a mountain crevice. A senior American military official told the New York Times that the terrain made this “one of the most challenging rescues in US special operations history”.

The colonel had a handgun, survival rations, a beacon, and a secure communications device, and used the beacon sparingly, knowing Iranian forces could track the same signal.

Before the Pentagon moved in, the US spy agency CIA ran a parallel deception operation, "spreading word inside Iran that US forces had already found him and were moving him on the ground for exfiltration," a senior Trump administration official told CBS News. While Iranian forces scrambled in confusion, the CIA used what a senior official described to Axios as "unique capabilities" to locate the colonel inside his mountain crevice.

His exact coordinates were then passed to the Pentagon and the White House.

"This was the ultimate needle in a haystack," the official told Axios, "but in this case it was a brave American soul inside a mountain crevice, invisible but for CIA's capabilities."

Iran's IRGC spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari dismissed American triumphalism.

"Trump tries to justify the bitter defeat of his feeble army by creating confusion for public opinion," he said, according to reports.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards also claimed to have shot down two C-130 transport aircraft involved in the operation, as well as striking two Black Hawk helicopters in the initial hours of the search — claims the US has not confirmed.

‘We sent guns to Iranian protestors, I think Kurds took them’: Trump's claim on Iran's anti-regime demonstrations

WASHINGTON, April 5: President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that the US provided guns to the anti-regime protestors in Iran, adding that the “Kurds took the guns”.

We sent them a lot of guns. We sent them through the Kurds. And I think the Kurds kept them," Trump told Fox News over a telephonic interview.

"We sent guns to the protesters, a lot of them. And I think the Kurds took the guns," he added.

The US President was referring to the Kurd community, a roughly 30-million community among the largest stateless ethnic groups in the world living in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. They speak their own language, with several dialects, and most are Sunni Muslims. Several of the Kurdish militant groups have been designated terrorist organisations in Iran.

Trump also claimed that the Iranian regime “slaughtered” 45,000 people during the anti-regime protests. There has been no official figure from Iran on the casualties during the demonstrations, with some activists claiming it to be 7,000 while other reports suggesting as high as 30,000.

During the ongoing war against Iran, Trump had expressed hope over a possible Kurdish offensive against Iran even as the US, along with Israel, continued its attack against the country.

“I think it’s wonderful that they want to do that, I’d be all for it,” the US president said on the prospects of a Kurdish rebellion in Iran.

However, days later, Trump said that he did not want the Kurds to launch an offensive against Iran.

Last month, Qubad Talabani, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, while speaking to Channel 4 ruled out any possibility on the involvement in US-Iran war, saying “It's not our war.”

“We have been in too many wars…They (US) have not asked us for any assistance related to pushing or allowing Iranian opposition groups to enter Iran from Kurdistan,” Talabani said.

There are roughly 9 million Kurds in Iran. While, several of Kurdish rebels groups have been designated terrorist organisations by Tehran, many have largely refrained from armed activity in recent years under political pressure mostly from their Iraqi hosts.

However, since the Middle East war, Tehran has repeatedly struck Kurdish militants' positions in Iraq, accusing them of serving Western or Israeli interests.

Trump says Iran has 48 hours to make deal or U.S. will unleash 'Hell'

WASHINGTON, April 4: US President Donald Trump warned Iran that it has a mere 48 hours before facing severe consequences. He reminded the Islamic Republic that it had 10 days to either "make a deal" or "open up the Hormuz Strait" on March 26. However, with just two days remaining, he said, "time is running out".

"Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!", he wrote on Truth Social.

On March 26, Trump claimed that he had pushed back his deadline for Tehran to strike a deal with Washington or face more attacks at Iran's request, even though the Islamic Republic has dismissed a US proposal to end the conflict as "one-sided and unfair."

Trump said Iran had sought a seven-day pause on American strikes targeting its energy infrastructure, but he decided to extend the window to 10 days, pushing the deadline to April 6.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said officials in Tehran had approached his administration, requesting more time as part of the ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two sides, amid war in the Middle East. "They said to me very nicely, through my people, 'Could we have more time?' Because we're talking about tomorrow night, which is pretty quick, and if they don't do what they have to do, I will knock out their power plants," Trump said.

"They asked for seven, and I said, 'I'm going to give you 10,' because they gave me ships,' he added.

U.S. fighter jet shot down in Iran: One crew member rescued, search for other ongoing

WASHINGTON, April 3: One of two crew members of a U.S. fighter jet that was shot down over Iran was located and rescued by U.S. special forces, and the search for the second is ongoing, an Israeli official and a second source with knowledge of the situation told Axios.

Iran is also hunting for the crew and has asked civilians in the area to join the search, offering a reward if they're found.

Israel is helping the U.S. with intelligence in order to locate the other crew member, the Israeli official said.

The two crew members of the F-15 fighter jet ejected safely after being struck by Iranian fire, the sources said.

U.S. special forces located one of the crew members and rescued him, alive, on Iranian territory.

An Israeli official said Israel cancelled planned strikes in Iran so as not to hamper the search and rescue efforts.

Iranian media was first to report that a jet had been shot down. State TV told Iranians that anyone who located the U.S. troops would be rewarded by the government.

This is the first time since the beginning of the war that a U.S. jet was downed by enemy fire.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios "the President has been briefed."

Pak-Led Ceasefire Efforts Collapse As Iran Rejects 'Unacceptable' US Demands: Report

NEW YORK, April 3: Regional mediation efforts to broker a ceasefire between the United States and Iran have reached a dead end, mediators said on Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The push, led by Pakistan, has failed to yield a breakthrough, with Tehran formally notifying mediators that it is unwilling to send officials to Islamabad for talks in the coming days.

Iran has also stressed that it finds Washington's demands unacceptable, effectively closing off the current framework for negotiations.

The breakdown has left diplomatic efforts in limbo, prompting Turkey and Egypt to look beyond Islamabad for solutions. The two countries are now exploring alternative venues to host the talks, with Qatar and Istanbul emerging as the leading candidates to salvage what remains of the ceasefire push.

The United States and Iran have been in talks about a possible deal that would trade a ceasefire in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by Axios.

The report also mentioned that Trump spoke about a possible ceasefire with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over a call on Wednesday.

In a post on Truth Social the same day, Trump claimed that Iran's president wants a ceasefire and said that it would only happen when the Strait of Hormuz is "open, free, and clear."

"We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are bombarding Iran to the point of destruction, or as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!", Trump wrote.

However, a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry labelled the claim "false and baseless."

Trump Says 'Will Bring Iran Back To Stone Ages'; To Hit 'Extremely Hard'

WASHINGTON, April 2: US President Donald Trump has claimed victory over the US-Israeli war against Iran, claiming US military action has destroyed Tehran's military prowess and will 'finish the job' very soon, as 'core strategic objectives are nearing completion'.

Addressing the nation about his plans in the Middle East, the commander-in-chief said US forces will hit Iran 'extremely hard' for the next two to three weeks and again threatened Iranian power plants.

Trump also urged other nations, including US allies, to show 'courage' and 'take care' of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway under Iran's chokehold.

The US president said it had been "just one month since the United States military began Operation Epic Fury targeting the world's number one state sponsor of terror, Iran", claiming rapid battlefield gains.

"Tonight, Iran's navy is gone, their air force is in ruins, their leaders, most of them... are now dead. Their command and control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is being decimated as we speak, their ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed, and their weapons, factories, and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces," he said.

"Our enemies are losing--and America, as it has been for five years under my presidency, is winning, and now, winning bigger than ever before."

Trump said US objectives were to "systematically dismantle the regime's ability to threaten America or project power outside of their borders".

"Tonight I am pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion," he said, declaring the US is "nearing completion" of its various military objectives and vows to "finish the job very fast". Trump also vowed to not let Middle East allies, including Israel, "get hurt" in the war or fail.

He warned of further escalation if negotiations fail.

"Over the next two to three weeks, we are going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong," he said, adding that US forces would meet all their battlefield goals "very, very shortly." He also said that the US could target Iran's electric infrastructure if no agreement is reached.

Trump stated that regime change in Iran was not the stated goal of the war and suggested leadership shifts had already taken place. "Regime change was not our goal... but regime change has occurred because of all of their original leaders' deaths," he said.

The US president explained the war against Iran was "necessary for the safety of America" and the world. Listing several attacks carried out by Iran or its proxies over the years, Trump called the Islamic regime running the country "thuggish and murderous", also pointing to a recent crackdown on protest in the country which killed thousands of citizens.

He said leaders like that cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

"From the very first day I announced my campaign, I have vowed that I would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. This fanatical regime has been chanting "Death to America" for 47 years -- and it should have been handled long before I arrived in office," he said.

He also talked about the so-called steps he's taken against Iran, such as the killing of Qasem Soleimani and his termination of Barack Obama's Iran nuclear deal. "Essentially, I did what no other president was willing to do -- they made mistakes, and I am correcting them."

"My first preference was always the path of diplomacy. Yet, the regime continued their relentless quest for nuclear weapons and rejected every attempt at an agreement,' he claimed.

Referring to earlier US strikes, he said, “We totally obliterated those nuclear sites,” citing “Operation Midnight Hammer,” and claimed Iran had attempted to rebuild its programme elsewhere.

He said Tehran was fast developing longer-range missiles and was "right at the doorstep" of developing a nuclear weapon.

A nuclear Iran was an 'intolerable threat', he added.

Trump blamed Iran for recent increases in global oil prices, saying they were caused by "deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers." He urged countries dependent on Middle Eastern oil to secure shipping routes and reduce reliance on the region.

He also praised regional allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain, saying they had been "great" partners in the campaign.

Trump also highlighted US economic resilience, saying the country was the "number one producer of oil and gas on the planet" and could absorb disruptions linked to the conflict.

Trump Reiterates Short Iran Exit Timeline, Says Could Return For 'Spot Hits'

WASHINGTON, April 1: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US will be "out of Iran pretty quickly" and could return for "spot hits" if needed. He also reiterated that he is "absolutely" considering an attempt to withdraw the US from NATO.

Answering when the US would consider the Iran war over, Trump said "I can't tell you exactly .... we're going to be out pretty quickly."

Trump said that US action in the region has ensured that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. "They won't have a nuclear weapon because they are ​incapable of that now, and then ​I'll ⁠leave, and I'll take everybody with me, and if we have to we'll ⁠come ​back to do spot hits," ​Trump said.

The Republican leader's comments come hours before his address to Americans on the state of war.

Earlier in the day, Trump said that Iran's president, whom he called "much less radicalised" and "far more intelligent" than his predecessors, wants a ceasefire. He claimed that a ceasefire would only happen when the Strait of Hormuz is "open, free, clear".

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and said that the waterway lied within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman and was subject to strategic use.

"Only for the ships of those who are at war with us, this strait is closed. That is normal during war – we cannot let our enemies use our territorial waters for commerce," he told Press TV.

He said that a few countries had negotiated with Iran on the use of the Hormuz Strait, and other ships have decided not to use it because of high insurance prices and security concerns.

Speaking earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signalled Tehran's willingness to keep fighting. “You cannot speak to the people of Iran in the language of threats and deadlines,” he said. “We do not set any deadline for defending ourselves.”

Trump ‘considering pulling out of NATO’ after setback from allies in Iran war: Report

WASHINGTON, April 1: The United States' war against Iran has exposed several fractures in the US over domestic support to an overseas war and also put to test allies and their allegiances in the ongoing conflict, now in its second month.

After a series of rebukes from European allies over support to US and its operations in the Middle East, Trump has now professed a 'dangerous idea', one that has more global ramifications than US-Europe relations: a possible exit from NATO, a military bloc that was once formed by US as its founding member.

In an interview with The Telegraph, US President Trump said he is strongly considering pulling the US out of the military bloc after it failed to join the war against Iran.

The recent remark comes after Trump's several outbursts against NATO countries, saying NATO nations have done "absolutely nothing" to help with Iran and that he needs "no help from NATO".

The US President labelled the alliance a “paper tiger” even as he said that walking out of the treaty was now “beyond reconsideration”.

When asked if he would reconsider the US’s membership of NATO after the Iran War, he said, “Oh yes, I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”

Trump's anguish with NATO countries stem from a range of setbacks from his allies in the West, especially amid developments after February 28.

When Trump called European nations and their warships to join US efforts in ending US blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, not even one country replied in the affirmative.

Over the weeks, Switzerland denied airspace to US warplanes fighting against Iran, while Spain condemned the US war in Iran, in strongest word in a series of statements and public remarks. Italy has also denied permission to US aircraft seeking to land at bases in Sicily.

France has allowed the use of its bases for support functions like refuelling, but refused to permit operations linked to offensive strikes.

In light of these developments, Trump's remark is a fresh evidence of Europe drifting away from the US, a trend that started with disagreements over aid to Ukraine against Russia and latest with the war in Iran.