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President Donald Trump used a White House news conference on Monday to intensify pressure on Iran, threatening sweeping strikes on infrastructure if Tehran does not agree by Tuesday night to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as he simultaneously suggested that diplomacy remains possible. He paired the warning with new, dramatic details about the U.S. mission that rescued a downed American airman inside Iran.
What to Know:
- Trump warned that the U.S. military is prepared to destroy bridges and power plants across Iran if the strait remains closed past his deadline.
- He said such strikes could render key infrastructure unusable “for 100 years.”
- Trump described the rescue of a missing American airman as a massive operation involving 155 aircraft and extensive deception to mislead Iranian forces.
- He said the downed F‑15E was hit by a single shoulder‑fired missile.
- Iran recently submitted a 10‑point proposal through Pakistan, but U.S. officials have rejected key conditions.
- Trump said any agreement must ensure “free traffic of oil and everything else” through the Strait of Hormuz.
- He claimed Iran appears willing to negotiate but insisted the deal must meet U.S. requirements.
- Analysts warn that Trump’s repeated extensions of the deadline could weaken the credibility of his threats.
- Iran vowed forceful retaliation if the U.S. targets civilian infrastructure, calling such strikes violations of international law.
- Overnight airstrikes hit Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, prompting widespread anger among Iranians.
- Two rescued U.S. airmen are now receiving treatment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
- Regional tensions escalated further as Israel struck an Iranian petrochemical site and killed a senior IRGC intelligence official.
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Apr 06, 2026 at 08:20 PM EDT
Iran says it will allow select shipping through Hormuz for security fees
An Iranian official told Al Jazeera that Tehran has begun granting passage permits to ships from several “friendly nations” through the Strait of Hormuz, in exchange for what it calls security fees. The official said the payments are part of a broader decision by top state bodies to collect war‑related compensation through controlled maritime access.
According to the account, vessels from India, Pakistan, Turkey, and France have already received approval to transit the waterway, which Iran has heavily restricted during the conflict.
The official also warned that Iran would respond forcefully to any further attacks on facilities in Mahshahr, a key hub for petrochemical production, and would seek compensation for the damage.
Apr 06, 2026 at 08:07 PM EDT
Iran’s 38-day internet blackout becomes longest since Arab Spring, monitors say
Iran’s nationwide internet shutdown has entered its 38th day, making it the longest country‑wide blackout since the Arab Spring, according to digital rights monitors. Authorities cut access on February 28, hours after the first U.S.–Israel strikes, following an earlier January shutdown during nationwide protests.
The severity of the blackout has left many Iranians with only fragmentary knowledge of the war unfolding around them. “People inside Iran often are not aware of the full scale of the destruction,” said Amir Rashidi, director of the Miaan Group, noting that most citizens are limited to state television and a single satellite channel — both tightly controlled.
Doug Madory of Kentik said the outage is the most extensive national‑level disruption since Libya’s six‑month blackout in 2011. Sudan’s 37‑day shutdown in 2019 now ranks just behind Iran’s.
With the global internet blocked, most Iranians can only access the National Information Network (NIN), a government‑run domestic system offering state‑approved search engines, streaming platforms and messaging apps. Miaan Group’s research found “severe censorship” across these services. On Gerdoo, Iran’s Google‑like search engine, queries for “war” or “ceasefire” return no results; another platform shows only content celebrating Iranian “victory.”
Rashidi said the system is designed to shape public opinion through “heavy censorship and control.” Workarounds exist, but they are costly. VPN access or special SIM cards are sold on the black market for $6 to $24 per gigabyte, turning connectivity into what Miaan calls a “luxury commodity.” Some Iranians have resorted to crossing into Turkey just to get online.
Despite the economic and social toll, analysts say the blackout is unlikely to end soon. Many NIN services remain unreliable or nonfunctional, yet the government continues to promote the domestic network as its long‑term replacement for the global internet.
“There is no clear prospect of internet connectivity being restored,” Miaan Group warned.
Apr 06, 2026 at 07:54 PM EDT
Latin American currencies rise as ceasefire hopes lift global risk appetite
Most major Latin American currencies strengthened on Monday as traders returned from the long holiday weekend to reports of progress on a potential ceasefire between the United States and Iran, briefly boosting global risk sentiment. Stocks across the region were mixed.
A framework to halt hostilities — drafted by Pakistan and shared with both Washington and Tehran — circulated overnight, according to a source who spoke with Reuters. But optimism faded after Iran’s state‑run IRNA reported that Tehran had rejected a temporary ceasefire and instead demanded a permanent end to the war.
President Donald Trump is expected to address the proposal at a 1 p.m. ET press conference, with the White House saying his Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remains firm.
“Geopolitical tensions around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz are driving energy supply disruptions, market volatility and urgent diplomatic efforts,” said Bob Savage of BNY, noting that ceasefire talks offer “limited near‑term clarity.”
With markets reopening after Good Friday, regional currencies advanced against a weaker dollar. The Mexican peso led gains, rising 0.4% to a 10‑day high, while Brazil’s real edged up 0.1%. Peru’s sol climbed 0.8% ahead of a local rate decision expected later this week.
The conflict has triggered sharp repricing of global interest‑rate expectations, leaving Latin American central banks navigating heightened uncertainty. Minutes released last week showed Chile’s policymakers even considered raising rates in March due to geopolitical risks, while Brazil and Mexico have recently eased policy.
A Reuters poll suggests the region’s top currencies may weaken in April as policymakers brace for potential economic fallout from the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran.
Equity markets were mixed, with MSCI’s Latin America index up 0.1%. In corporate news, Braskem Idesa, a joint venture between Brazil’s Braskem and Mexico’s Grupo Idesa, is reportedly preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S.
Investors are now watching inflation data due this week in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States
Apr 06, 2026 at 07:41 PM EDT
Pope Leo rebukes signature Donald Trump phrase
Pope Leo XIV condemned "fake news" on Easter Monday amid his call for global peace while seemingly taking aim at President Donald Trump.
The pope appeared to reference Trump, 79, directly in a post on X early Monday to his nearly 18 million followers.
"Often, the proclamation of truth is obscured by what we today call 'fake news'—lies, insinuations, and unfounded accusations," Leo wrote. "Yet, in the face of such obstacles, the truth does not remain hidden; rather, it comes forth to meet us, living and radiant, illuminating even the deepest darkness."
The pointed post came just a day after Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff by calling on nations in global conflicts to seek peace through dialogue rather than warfare.
"Let us allow our hearts to be transformed by his immense love for us!" Leo said Sunday. "Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!"
Leo did not directly mention the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran or Russia's ongoing campaign in Ukraine, but quoted his predecessor, Pope Francis, who reminded worshippers last Easter of the "great thirst for death, for killing, we witness each day."
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Apr 06, 2026 at 07:28 PM EDT
WATCH: Everything we know about the US operation rescuing missing airman in Iran
Apr 06, 2026 at 07:15 PM EDT
Trump repeats desire to ‘take the oil’ in Iran but admits public opposition
President Donald Trump on Monday again floated his long‑stated desire to “take the oil” in Iran, but acknowledged that most Americans do not support the kind of prolonged military engagement such a plan would require.
“If I had my wish … I would just like to take the oil,” Trump told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll. “But I don’t know that the American public wants that. They want us to go in, do what we have to do, and get out.”
The remark appeared to reflect a rare concession to domestic political reality. Extracting Iranian oil would demand a sustained U.S. presence on the ground — something polling shows Americans overwhelmingly oppose.
A new CNN survey found that only one‑third of the public believes Trump has a clear plan for handling the war. Support for U.S. military action in Iran has fallen sharply since the conflict began, with just 34% now approving at least somewhat of the decision to go to war — a seven‑point drop from early polling.
Trump on Monday also described a 45‑day ceasefire proposal, delivered by intermediary nations to both Washington and Tehran, as a “significant step” but still “not good enough,” keeping pressure on Iran ahead of his Tuesday deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Apr 06, 2026 at 07:02 PM EDT
Analysts warn Turkey is emerging as a growing strategic adversary
A new analysis from Sinan Ciddi and Natalie Ecanow argues that as Iran absorbs heavy blows from U.S. and Israeli forces, attention is shifting to whether Turkey is positioning itself to become the region’s next destabilizing power. Their conclusion: Turkey is not Iran — but it is increasingly acting like an adversary to its Western partners.
The authors contend that Ankara’s behavior can no longer be dismissed as that of a “complicated ally.” Instead, they say President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government has adopted a pattern of undermining U.S., NATO, and regional security interests while leveraging its position inside Western institutions to advance its own ambitions.
Recent actions underscore that shift. On March 9, Turkey deployed six U.S.-made F‑16s to the Turkish‑occupied north of Cyprus, a move analysts say escalated tensions and potentially violated U.S. law. Ankara has also deepened ties with Hamas, granting residency and support to senior figures and allowing the group to operate from Turkish territory — behavior the authors argue goes far beyond rhetorical solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
The report highlights Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S‑400 missile system, its obstruction of Finland and Sweden’s NATO accession, and its permissive environment for Russian financial flows during the war in Ukraine as evidence of a broader strategic drift. These actions, they argue, show a NATO member simultaneously seeking Western defense benefits while enabling adversaries of the alliance.
Ciddi and Ecanow stress that Turkey is not “the new Iran” in a literal sense — it lacks a nuclear program and Tehran’s ideological posture — but warn that Ankara’s revisionist behavior, expanding military footprint, and willingness to challenge borders in the eastern Mediterranean make it a rising regional power with increasingly adversarial aims.
The greater danger, they write, is treating Turkey as a normal ally when it no longer behaves like one. Ignoring Ankara’s trajectory, they argue, risks allowing a NATO member to erode the very security structures it claims to be part of.
Apr 06, 2026 at 06:49 PM EDT
U.S. continues strikes in Iran after rescue of downed F-15E aircrew
U.S. Central Command said Monday that American forces are pressing ahead with strikes inside Iran after successfully rescuing two aircrew members whose F‑15E was shot down during a combat mission last week. The jet was hit on April 2, prompting separate search‑and‑rescue operations that recovered both service members on April 4.
CENTCOM said the aircrew were safely extracted from Iranian territory in missions carried out under hostile conditions.
The command added that U.S. operations are continuing with the goal of dismantling Iran’s ability to project military power beyond its borders.
Apr 06, 2026 at 06:36 PM EDT
Israeli forces intensify raids across Gaza and the West Bank
As Israeli forces continue their campaign in Iran and Lebanon, troops and settlers carried out a new wave of violent raids across Gaza and the occupied West Bank, according to reports from the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
In Gaza, Israeli fire hit several vehicles in Khan Younis and struck an electric bicycle in Gaza City, killing at least two people, including a child. In the West Bank, troops raided Hebron, deploying sound bombs and tear gas that left dozens suffering from breathing difficulties.
Forces also stormed homes in Marda, near Salfit, where one resident was beaten during searches. In Bir al‑Basha, near Jenin, soldiers shielded Israeli settlers as they entered the town and later moved toward a roundabout on the Jenin–Nablus road.
Settler attacks surged as well. In Al‑Auja, residents were assaulted and five families were forced from their homes. In Qusra, settlers set a vehicle ablaze, while in Al‑Lubban ash‑Sharqiya, south of Nablus, they torched a home and multiple cars.
Apr 06, 2026 at 06:23 PM EDT
Red Cross warns against normalizing attacks on civilian infrastructure
The International Committee of the Red Cross urged all parties in the Iran war to pull back from escalating threats against civilian infrastructure, saying such tactics must not “become the new norm in warfare.” The statement from ICRC president Mirjana Spoljaric comes as President Donald Trump threatens to strike Iranian power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
Without naming Trump, Spoljaric said deliberate threats or attacks on essential services and nuclear facilities are “indefensible, inhumane and devastating for entire populations.” She warned that any conflict fought without limits violates international law.
Iran has issued its own warnings. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said strikes on Iran’s infrastructure would have consequences far beyond the region, potentially destabilizing global energy markets. Tehran has also targeted energy sites in Gulf states hosting U.S. forces.
Earlier Monday, European Council President António Costa echoed the concerns, calling attacks on civilian infrastructure — including energy facilities — “illegal and unacceptable.”
Apr 06, 2026 at 06:10 PM EDT
IAEA warns strikes near Bushehr plant risk ‘severe radiological accident’
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), issued an urgent warning Monday after new satellite imagery showed multiple strikes landing dangerously close to Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.
According to the agency, one impact point was roughly 250 feet from the operating facility, which houses significant quantities of nuclear fuel. Grossi said the proximity of the attacks “could cause a severe radiological accident with harmful consequences for people and the environment in Iran and beyond.”
The IAEA called for an immediate halt to all military activity near the site, stressing that nuclear facilities must never be targeted or placed at risk. “A nuclear facility and surrounding areas should never be struck,” Grossi said, adding that the situation represents “a very real danger.”
Apr 06, 2026 at 05:57 PM EDT
Qatar says it intercepted drones launched from Iran
Qatar’s Defence Ministry said Monday that the country came under attack from “a number of drones launched from Iran,” marking the latest spillover from the widening regional conflict.
In a brief statement, the ministry said Qatari air‑defense units “successfully intercepted and neutralized all incoming drones,” preventing any damage or casualties. It did not specify how many drones were involved or where the interceptions occurred.
Apr 06, 2026 at 05:43 PM EDT
South Korea says North Korea keeping distance from Iran amid war
North Korea appears to be pulling back from Iran diplomatically and militarily despite its early criticism of U.S. and Israeli strikes, South Korean lawmakers said Monday after a briefing with the country’s National Intelligence Service. According to the NIS assessment, Pyongyang has not supplied weapons to Iran nor issued public messages of support since the conflict escalated.
At the start of the war, North Korea’s foreign ministry condemned the U.S.‑Israeli campaign as an “illegal act of aggression,” but officials in Seoul say that rhetoric has not translated into material backing.
Pyongyang and Tehran have long been aligned on several geopolitical fronts. Both supported Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and have faced accusations of providing Russia with military equipment. But South Korean intelligence officials now believe North Korea is avoiding deeper entanglement in the Iran conflict, wary of provoking Washington or jeopardizing its own strategic priorities.
Apr 06, 2026 at 05:30 PM EDT
‘Extraordinary’: Former NATO commander amazed by Trump’s Iran airman rescue
A former NATO commander praised President Donald Trump's efforts to rescue an injured U.S. airman in Iran over the weekend, calling it "incredible".
In an appearance on CNN, Admiral James Stavridis said the rescue of the officer stranded in a remote mountain range for more than a day, after his F-15E fighter jet crashed on Friday, was the result of American intelligence agencies "firing on all cylinders."
"We've talked a lot on air, and we should, about how complicated and difficult and challenging it is to bring all these diverse elements together, but we train for all that. I am really taken with two things here, number one, the CIA role has been quite extraordinary," Stavridis said, adding on the rescue, "It's an amazing piece of work."
CIA officials alerted the Pentagon after finding the lost airman, with the president immediately greenlighting a rescue mission. Trump said the F-15E pilot was pulled from Iran in "broad daylight," with U.S. planes spending seven hours in Iranian airspace.
"This is a full colonel, so this is somebody who is 45-plus years old, probably went to SERE school a long time ago, who climbed 7,000 feet, used his transponder, does it all on a broken ankle—I can't wait to see this guy," the admiral told Wolf Blitzer. "It's an amazing story."
Apr 06, 2026 at 05:17 PM EDT
Rep. Adam Smith blasts Trump’s Iran strategy, calls threats ‘immoral’ and ‘strategically stupid’
Appearing on CNN News Central on Monday, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, delivered one of the sharpest congressional critiques yet of President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran war and his escalating threats against civilian infrastructure.
Smith said Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were “isolating” the United States and “gutting” its global credibility through inflammatory rhetoric and social‑media posts. “Please shut up,” he said, arguing that their behavior undermines America’s claim to moral leadership.
He called Trump’s wartime leadership “utterly disastrous,” saying the president has alienated allies, shifted goals repeatedly, and issued threats that are both “immoral” and “strategically stupid.” Smith warned that threatening to bomb power plants and bridges would only harden Iran’s leadership and convince ordinary Iranians that the U.S. is at war with them, not their government.
Smith also rejected arguments from some Trump advisers that civilian infrastructure could be considered legitimate military targets, calling that logic “insane” and a dangerous distortion of wartime norms. He said such reasoning shows a disregard for civilian casualties and risks dragging the U.S. into a broader moral and strategic failure.
While acknowledging that a ceasefire remains possible, Smith said the two sides remain far apart and that Trump’s shifting deadlines and threats have only added confusion at a critical moment in the conflict.
Apr 06, 2026 at 05:04 PM EDT
Former CIA operative warns U.S. against assuming quick regime change in Iran
A former CIA operative with decades of experience in the Middle East is cautioning U.S. policymakers against believing that military pressure alone can topple the Iranian government, arguing that regime change in Iran is far more difficult than Washington assumes.
In an analysis published Monday, the former officer wrote that the United States and Israel have inflicted significant damage on Iran’s military and security networks, killing senior commanders at a pace rarely seen in modern conflict. Those blows, he said, have shaken the regime’s sense of invulnerability — but not its foundations.
The Islamic Republic, he argued, remains what it has long been: repressive at home and destabilizing abroad, yet resilient in the face of external pressure. Military gains, he warned, should not be mistaken for political transformation.
The central challenge for Washington and its regional partners, he wrote, is how to leverage battlefield successes without falling into the “familiar illusion” that coercion alone can produce a new government in Tehran. After 26 years in covert operations, including leadership roles in major programs, he said there is “no silver bullet” — and certainly not in covert action.
The commentary arrives as the war enters its sixth week and U.S. officials debate whether intensified strikes could weaken the regime enough to force internal collapse. The former operative’s message is blunt: military pressure can reshape the battlefield, but not the political reality inside Iran.
Apr 06, 2026 at 04:51 PM EDT
EU’s Costa warns against escalation, says only diplomacy can end war
European Council President António Costa said Monday that five weeks of war in the Middle East have made one reality unmistakable: only diplomacy can address the conflict’s underlying causes. In a statement posted on X, Costa condemned any targeting of civilian infrastructure — “namely energy facilities” — calling such actions illegal and unacceptable whether in Ukraine or the current conflict involving Iran.
Costa warned that the Iranian civilian population would bear the greatest suffering if the military campaign widens, noting that civilians are already the primary victims of their own government. He said he delivered the same message directly to President Masoud Pezeshkian in a recent call.
The European Union, he added, is urging Iran to halt attacks on regional states and restore full freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint whose closure has rattled global energy markets.
“Escalation will not achieve a ceasefire and peace,” Costa wrote, arguing that only negotiations — including those led by regional mediators — can produce a sustainable settlement.
Apr 06, 2026 at 04:38 PM EDT
Analyst warns fuel prices won’t ease until Hormuz reopens
Global fuel prices are unlikely to fall even if the United States and Iran agree to a ceasefire, a leading energy analyst said Monday, underscoring how deeply the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has destabilized oil markets.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said talk of a ceasefire has created “premature expectations” of relief at the pump. The real hinge point, he argued, is whether the world’s most important oil chokepoint can safely reopen. Roughly a fifth of global crude flows through the narrow waterway, and its shutdown has forced insurers to pull back and tankers to reroute around Africa.
Gas prices have surged worldwide since Iran sealed the strait, with U.S. averages climbing above $4.11 per gallon and some parts of California hitting $10. De Haan cautioned that markets respond to physical supply, not diplomatic optimism. “A cease-fire itself would do little or nothing to impact oil prices directly,” he wrote, noting that confidence and verification would be required before tankers resume normal transit.
The comments came as mediators from Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey circulated a draft proposal calling for a 45‑day ceasefire and the reopening of Hormuz. Neither Tehran nor Washington has formally responded. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has continued to threaten strikes on Iranian infrastructure if the strait is not reopened by his Tuesday deadline.
Energy analysts say even if a deal is reached, the recovery will be slow. Tanker traffic would gradually resume, and pump prices would lag any initial dip in crude. With insurers still wary and shipping routes disrupted, the global market is expected to remain tight for weeks.
Apr 06, 2026 at 04:25 PM EDT
Iran seeks region-wide peace framework, rejects temporary ceasefire
Iran is signaling that any path to ending the war must address the broader landscape of regional conflicts, according to analysts familiar with Tehran’s position. Officials say Iran wants a comprehensive peace plan that encompasses all active flashpoints in the Middle East, not a narrow agreement focused solely on its own confrontation with the United States.
Central to Iran’s proposal is a safe‑passage protocol for the Strait of Hormuz, a measure Tehran argues would stabilize global shipping and reduce the risk of escalation. Iranian officials have also reiterated that, based on past experience with Washington, they will not accept a temporary ceasefire, insisting instead on a durable settlement that reshapes the regional security environment.
Apr 06, 2026 at 04:12 PM EDT
Clashes erupt in al-Maghazi as Israeli airstrikes hit camp’s eastern edge
Armed clashes broke out in the Al‑Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza as resistance fighters and local residents confronted what they described as a group of collaborators attempting to enter the camp’s eastern sector, according to reports circulating on public Telegram channels.
At least 10 people were killed and several others wounded during the confrontation, the reports said. As the fighting unfolded on the ground, Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes in the surrounding area, which local sources claimed were intended to provide cover for the group attempting to advance.
Apr 06, 2026 at 03:59 PM EDT
Houthis say they joined Iran and Hezbollah in coordinated strike on Eilat
Yemen’s Houthi movement said Monday it participated in a coordinated attack with Iran and Hezbollah targeting the southern Israeli city of Eilat, marking one of the clearest public claims yet of joint operations among the three groups.
In a statement broadcast by the Houthi‑affiliated Al‑Masirah channel, the group said the strike aimed at “several vital military sites” in and around the city. The announcement followed earlier comments from the Israel Defense Forces, which reported that drones launched from Yemen had been intercepted or had attempted to reach Eilat.
Apr 06, 2026 at 03:46 PM EDT
WATCH: UK highlights alarming figures on Strait of Hormuz
Apr 06, 2026 at 03:33 PM EDT
Kuwait reports injuries after shrapnel Falls in northern residential area
A spokesperson for Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence said injuries were reported Monday in a residential district in the north of the country after falling shrapnel struck the area amid ongoing regional attacks. Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al‑Otaibi did not specify how many people were hurt.
Al‑Otaibi said Kuwaiti air‑defense units had responded to an intense barrage over the past 24 hours, intercepting 14 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 46 drones that entered the country’s airspace.
Apr 06, 2026 at 03:20 PM EDT
Iran claims strike on U.S. amphibious assault ship in Indian Ocean
Iranian state media reported Monday that military forces struck a U.S. amphibious assault ship and helicopter carrier, citing a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to the IRGC, the vessel — identified as LHA‑7 — was forced to “retreat deep” into the southern Indian Ocean following the attack.
The claim was broadcast by the Iranian network IRIB, which framed the strike as part of Iran’s expanding response to U.S. operations in the region.
Washington has not confirmed the incident. U.S. officials have issued no public comment on the IRGC’s assertion, leaving the status of the ship and the circumstances of the alleged encounter unclear.
Apr 06, 2026 at 03:07 PM EDT
Iran accuses IAEA of inaction after repeated strikes on Bushehr plant
The head of Iran’s atomic energy agency has accused the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog of failing to respond forcefully to repeated attacks on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, calling the U.S.–Israeli strikes a “blatant war crime.”
In a letter to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Atomic Energy Organization chief Mohammad Eslami said the facility — Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant — has been targeted four times, most recently on April 4. The latest strike killed a security staff member and injured several others, he wrote.
Eslami warned that continued attacks on an active reactor risk the “widespread release of radioactive materials,” with consequences he described as “irreparable” for civilians, the environment and neighboring countries.
He also criticized the IAEA for what he called insufficient action, arguing that expressions of “deep concern” fall short of the strong condemnation needed to deter further strikes. The watchdog’s muted response, he said, could embolden those carrying out the attacks.
Apr 06, 2026 at 02:54 PM EDT
Iran and Israel trade new strikes as debris falls across central Israel
Iran and Israel exchanged fresh fire Monday afternoon, extending a cycle of strikes that has now spanned multiple fronts. In central Israel, falling debris from an Iranian missile barrage damaged buildings in at least four cities, according to the country’s Fire and Rescue Authority.
In Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, officials said the top floor of a three‑story building collapsed after being hit by debris. Despite the structural damage, no fatalities were reported.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said it launched a new wave of airstrikes across Iran, including in Tehran, though it offered no additional details about the targets or extent of the operation.
Apr 06, 2026 at 02:41 PM EDT
Trump escalates rhetoric on Iran as questions grow over legality of threats
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As the third week of the war in Iran ended, President Donald Trump issued one of his most extreme warnings yet: unless Tehran fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the United States would begin destroying Iranian civilian power plants. He ultimately backed off, but the threat signaled a willingness to target infrastructure that legal experts say is protected under international law.
Six weeks into the conflict, Trump has not softened his tone. Over Easter weekend, he repeatedly vowed to strike Iranian power plants and bridges, telling multiple outlets — including the Wall Street Journal, ABC News and Fox News — that he was prepared to “blow up the whole country” and even seize Iran’s oil. In one expletive‑filled social media post, he demanded Iranian leaders “open the Fuckin’ Strait” and appeared to set a Tuesday evening deadline for action.
The White House has struggled to reconcile Trump’s rhetoric with international humanitarian law. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the administration would “always act within the confines of the law,” even as she emphasized that Trump would “move forward unabated” to achieve the objectives of Operation Epic Fury — a formulation that left legal analysts uneasy.
International statutes — including the Geneva Conventions, Hague Conventions, Nuremberg Principles, and the U.N. Charter — prohibit deliberate attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure and the pillaging of natural resources. Trump’s threats to destroy power plants and “take over the oil” have raised alarms among historians, former officials and legal scholars who note that no modern American president has spoken so openly about actions that could constitute war crimes.
The intensifying rhetoric has also revived questions about the role of the U.S. armed forces. If ordered to carry out unlawful strikes, would senior commanders resign? Would individual service members refuse illegal orders? Those concerns resurfaced after a group of Democratic military and intelligence veterans released a video months ago urging troops to reject unlawful commands — a message that prompted an aggressive response from the administration.
Apr 06, 2026 at 02:28 PM EDT
Israeli strikes kill eight in Lebanon as assault intensifies
At least eight people were killed in Lebanon after a series of intense Israeli strikes overnight and into Monday morning, the country’s Health Ministry said, marking another deadly escalation in the widening conflict.
Five people — including a 15‑year‑old girl — died in the Al‑Janah area south of Beirut, where 52 others were wounded, among them eight children, according to the ministry. A separate strike in the hills of Ain Saadeh, east of the capital, killed three people and injured three more.
Israel says its operations are aimed at the Iran‑backed militant group Hezbollah, but its aerial campaign and ground invasion of southern Lebanon have now killed more than 1,400 people and displaced over 1 million, Lebanese officials report.
Apr 06, 2026 at 02:15 PM EDT
Global farms brace for fertilizer shock as Iran war ripples outward
Far from the front lines of the Iran war, the potato fields of eastern England are beginning to feel its impact. The region’s rolling farmland — long a muse for poets and painters — now faces the same mounting pressures confronting growers worldwide as the conflict disrupts critical agricultural supplies.
While the oil shock has dominated headlines, farmers and analysts warn of an emerging crisis with equally far‑reaching consequences: a looming global fertilizer shortage. The American‑Israeli assault on Iran has rattled supply chains for key components used in fertilizer production, raising fears of reduced crop yields and potential food shortages.
Agricultural experts say the shock waves are already spreading across Europe, Asia and Africa, where farmers depend heavily on nitrogen‑ and phosphate‑based fertilizers tied to Middle Eastern production and shipping routes.
Apr 06, 2026 at 02:12 PM EDT
Trump accuses Obama of favoring Iran as nuclear deal debate reemerges
President Donald Trump on Monday revived his long‑standing criticism of the 2015 nuclear agreement, claiming that Barack Obama “chose Iran over Israel” when his administration negotiated the accord. Trump acknowledged the deal’s expiration date, calling it a “short‑term” arrangement that would have lapsed by 2030.
While the agreement had significant limitations, it also forced Iran to ship out roughly 97 percent of its nuclear material, a far larger reduction than Trump has secured during the current conflict.
Apr 06, 2026 at 02:10 PM EDT
Caine credits airman’s ‘will to survive’ for success of Iran rescue
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday that the dramatic rescue of a downed American airman in Iran succeeded in large part because of the officer’s determination to stay alive under extreme conditions.
Caine told reporters that no amount of aircraft or planning can substitute for the mindset of the person on the ground. “The single most important contributor to a successful rescue operation is the spirit of attack inside the heart of that downed aviator,” he said, emphasizing the airman’s refusal to give up despite injury and hostile terrain.
According to Caine, the weapons officer’s “absolute commitment to surviving” — his ability to evade Iranian forces, treat his own wounds and signal his location — enabled U.S. teams to reach him. That resolve, he said, “made much of our efforts possible” during one of the most complex missions of the war.
Apr 06, 2026 at 02:03 PM EDT
Trump repeats nuclear warning despite shifting position on uranium stockpile
President Donald Trump on Monday again declared that the United States “can’t let Iran get a nuclear weapon,” even as his stance on how to handle Tehran’s enriched uranium has shifted repeatedly in recent days.
The comment came less than a week after Trump suggested he was willing to leave roughly 970 pounds of near–bomb‑grade uranium inside fortified tunnels in Iran, arguing that U.S. satellite surveillance could monitor the material closely enough to prevent misuse. That position marked a departure from his earlier insistence that the stockpile must be removed entirely.
Apr 06, 2026 at 02:02 PM EDT
Pakistan urges ‘urgent de-escalation’ as it continues mediation efforts
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called for “urgent de‑escalation” on Monday, reaffirming Islamabad’s role as a key intermediary between Tehran and Washington even as efforts to broker a breakthrough remain stalled.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Dar told his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, that Islamabad remains committed to “supporting all initiatives aimed at de‑escalation and the achievement of lasting peace and stability.” The two officials spoke by phone as regional tensions continue to rise.
Apr 06, 2026 at 01:53 PM EDT
U.S. says downed a-10 was shielding rescue teams in Iran
The U.S. Air Force A‑10 Warthog that crashed on Friday was supporting the mission to recover the pilot of the fighter jet shot down hours earlier inside Iran, according to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Caine said the aircraft was flying what the military calls a “sandy” mission — an operation in which an attack plane positions itself between rescue teams and hostile forces to draw fire away from the extraction.
The A‑10, built for low‑altitude close‑air support, absorbed multiple hits from Iranian fire as it maneuvered over the battlefield. Despite the damage, the pilot managed to steer the aircraft out of Iranian airspace before ejecting over friendly territory, Caine said.
Apr 06, 2026 at 01:42 PM EDT
Iran’s supreme leader issues rare statement after killing of intelligence chief
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei released a rare public message on Monday, offering condolences after the death of Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, the intelligence chief of the Revolutionary Guard, who was killed in an Israeli strike.
In a written post on social media, Khamenei said Khademi had joined a “steadfast line of warriors and fighters” who sacrificed their lives for the Islamic Republic. The strike is the latest in a series of attacks that have killed dozens of senior Iranian officials — including Khamenei’s father, the former supreme leader.
Apr 06, 2026 at 01:41 PM EDT
Hegseth draws Easter parallel in describing airman’s rescue
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth framed the rescue of a downed U.S. airman in Iran through a religious lens on Monday, comparing the three‑day search to the Christian Triduum, the period from Good Friday to Easter Sunday.
Hegseth said the airman’s ordeal echoed that sequence: shot down on a Friday, hidden and unreachable throughout Saturday, and recovered at sunrise on Easter Sunday. “Shot down on a Friday — Good Friday,” he said. “Hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday. And rescued on Sunday, flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday.”
Apr 06, 2026 at 01:37 PM EDT
CIA says intelligence network key to tracking downed airman
Bringing C.I.A. Director John Ratcliffe to the podium during Monday’s briefing underscored how central the agency was to locating the U.S. airman shot down over Iran last week. Ratcliffe said intelligence teams relied on a mix of on‑the‑ground sources and advanced surveillance tools to confirm the officer was alive, isolated, and still evading Iranian forces.
He described a layered operation in which the agency mapped the airman’s movements and monitored Iranian search efforts in real time. Ratcliffe also acknowledged that the C.I.A. directed the deception campaign that misled Iranian units during the hunt, allowing U.S. rescue teams to move in without drawing enemy forces to the actual location.
“The officer remained unseen by those looking for him — but not by us,” Ratcliffe said.
Apr 06, 2026 at 01:36 PM EDT
Iran signals it will prolong war as long as leaders decide
Iran’s military said Monday that the country is prepared to continue the war indefinitely, tying the duration of the conflict directly to decisions made by its political leadership. Army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia told the ISNA news agency that Iran would fight “as long as the political authorities see fit,” framing the campaign as essential to securing long‑term stability.
Akraminia warned that Iran intends to make its adversaries “regret” their actions, saying the country must emerge from the conflict with a level of security that prevents future wars.
Apr 06, 2026 at 01:28 PM EDT
Trump says Iran rescue involved ‘subterfuge’ to mislead forces on the ground
Trump continued his detailed account of the weekend search for the downed Air Force officer whose F‑15 was shot down over Iran, describing the mission as a carefully orchestrated effort to misdirect Iranian forces.
“A lot of it was subterfuge,” Trump said, explaining that U.S. teams deliberately created confusion about the airman’s location. “We wanted them to look in different areas.”
He said the military identified seven separate sites to draw Iranian units away from the real search zone.
Apr 06, 2026 at 01:19 PM EDT
Trump says U.S. could ‘take out’ Iran in one night as deadline nears
Trump escalated his rhetoric Monday, telling reporters that Iran could be “taken out” in a single night — and suggested that night “might” be Tuesday, the deadline he set for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face intensified U.S. strikes.
“The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump said during his afternoon press conference, framing the threat as part of his pressure campaign to force Iran into a deal.
For weeks, Trump has warned that the U.S. is prepared to hit Iranian power plants, bridges and other infrastructure if Tehran refuses to comply. Over the weekend, he gave Iran until 8 p.m. ET Tuesday to reach an agreement or risk a major escalation.
Apr 06, 2026 at 01:16 PM EDT
Trump says U.S. rescue shows military dominance: ‘Nobody has what we have’
Trump framed the dramatic rescue of two U.S. airmen as proof of unmatched American military power. He described the seven‑hour daytime operation over Iran as a showcase of U.S. capabilities, noting that one helicopter returned riddled with bullets but without a single injury.
Trump said the downed F‑15 crew landed miles apart, with one airman badly injured and surrounded by IRGC and Basij forces. Despite the danger, he said, U.S. teams pushed forward because “we don’t leave Americans behind.”
The president cast the mission as a turning point in the conflict, saying the U.S. is performing “at a level nobody’s ever seen before.” He again suggested that Iran could face overwhelming strikes if it does not comply with his demands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Apr 06, 2026 at 01:15 PM EDT
Trump hails ‘historic’ rescue mission, warns Iran of escalation
President Donald Trump opened his Monday press conference by celebrating what he called one of the “most complex and harrowing” rescue operations in modern U.S. military history, praising American forces for retrieving two downed airmen deep inside Iran during Operation Epic Fury.
Trump said the mission required 21 aircraft flying at low altitude under heavy fire, calling the extraction “very historic” and crediting both skill and “a little luck.” He said the U.S. military “leaves no American behind,” even when the risks are extreme.
The president also repeated his claim that U.S. forces could “take out the entire country in one night,” suggesting that further action could come as early as Tuesday if Iran does not meet his demands.
Apr 06, 2026 at 01:00 PM EDT
Trump set to speak on Iran as deadline looms
The White House is preparing for President Donald Trump to take the podium shortly for a high‑stakes news conference on the escalating crisis with Iran.
The press conference comes amid intensifying threats, new regional attacks, and a fast‑approaching deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Apr 06, 2026 at 12:57 PM EDT
Mediators push 45-day ceasefire plan as Trump threatens escalation
Countries attempting to halt the Iran war have drafted a proposal for a 45‑day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a source familiar with the effort told CNN, as President Donald Trump warns of sweeping new strikes if the waterway remains closed.
The plan surfaces after months of failed diplomacy. Before the conflict erupted, Washington and Tehran were engaged in indirect nuclear talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi later said Trump “ordered the bombing of the negotiating table,” and both governments publicly dismissed the idea of negotiations in the early weeks of the war.
By late March, however, Trump signaled a shift. On March 23, he claimed on Truth Social that the U.S. and Iran had held “very good and productive conversations” about ending hostilities. He said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were involved, though he did not identify the Iranian interlocutor.
The optimism quickly faded. After several ambiguous statements from Tehran, Trump warned Iran on March 26 to “get serious soon,” later threatening the country would be “living in Hell” if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday.
Iran has repeatedly rejected the idea of a temporary truce. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Monday that a short pause would simply allow the U.S. and Israel to regroup, insisting Iran seeks a full end to the war, not a brief halt.
Despite Tehran’s denials, Araghchi acknowledged that the U.S. has sent messages through “friendly countries,” though he stressed these exchanges do not constitute negotiations.
Pakistan, which has been central to mediation efforts, said on March 23 it was ready to host talks. Two days later, senior U.S. officials confirmed they were working to arrange a meeting in Islamabad. Pakistan also delivered a 15‑point U.S. proposal to Iran addressing nuclear and missile issues.
Other regional powers — including Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia — have also been working to broker an off‑ramp, though none have yet secured a breakthrough.
Apr 06, 2026 at 12:44 PM EDT
Oil and stocks edge higher as investors weigh diplomacy against Trump’s warnings
Oil and equity markets opened cautiously on Monday as investors tried to balance faint signs of possible negotiations with President Donald Trump’s escalating rhetoric toward Iran. The S&P 500 ticked up 0.1 percent at the start of trading in New York, reflecting a tentative willingness to take on risk despite the geopolitical overhang.
Energy markets showed a similar, muted response. Brent crude, the international benchmark, inched about 0.1 percent higher to roughly $109 a barrel, a modest move that underscored traders’ uncertainty over whether diplomacy or confrontation will define the week.
Apr 06, 2026 at 12:31 PM EDT
Rescuers recover four bodies after Iranian missile strike in Haifa
Israeli emergency crews on Monday recovered the final body from the wreckage of a residential building in Haifa, 18 hours after an Iranian missile tore into the Vardiya neighborhood on the slopes of Mount Carmel. The strike partially collapsed the terraced apartment block, trapping residents under concrete and debris.
The Israel Defense Forces said air defenses attempted to intercept the missile Sunday evening, but at least part of it struck the building. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had targeted an oil refinery in Haifa, without acknowledging the residential impact.
Erez Geller, who oversees operations for Magen David Adom in the Haifa region, said the scene resembled an earthquake zone. He noted that the missile’s warhead failed to detonate, preventing a far deadlier outcome. Rescuers pulled an elderly man alive from the rubble and treated a baby for minor injuries.
The four people killed — an older couple, their adult son and his partner — were among the few residents who had not taken shelter during the attack. Their bodies were recovered over the course of the night and early morning.
The strike was the second‑deadliest in Israel since the war with Iran began more than five weeks ago. Israeli authorities say at least 23 civilians have been killed by missile and rocket fire from Iran and Lebanon since late February.
Apr 06, 2026 at 12:18 PM EDT
Trump says he alone will decide on Iran ceasefire
President Donald Trump said Monday that he is the sole authority who will determine whether the month‑old war with Iran pauses, declaring that no ceasefire will happen without his approval.
“The only one that’s going to set a ceasefire is me,” Trump told reporters during the White House Easter Egg Roll, underscoring his insistence on personal control over the conflict’s trajectory.
Apr 06, 2026 at 12:05 PM EDT
Trump doubles down on Iran threats: What to know about his latest comments in the White House
President Donald Trump sharpened his rhetoric against Iran on Monday, reiterating threats to hit bridges, power plants and other civilian infrastructure if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his Tuesday deadline. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump dismissed concerns that such strikes would constitute war crimes, framing them instead as necessary pressure.
Trump also said that, if he had his way, he would “take” Iran’s oil reserves and “make plenty of money,” a remark that immediately drew scrutiny from legal and foreign‑policy experts. He brushed off polls showing most Americans oppose the war, calling anti‑war voters “foolish” and insisting his core supporters back his approach.
The president further claimed his administration had sent guns to anti‑government protesters inside Iran, though he offered no details and did not identify which group he said had kept the weapons.
Trump described Iran’s latest response to a U.S. proposal to end the war as “significant” but “not good enough,” signaling that the deadline he set for reopening Hormuz remains firm. His formal news conference is expected later today, where he is likely to face renewed questions about the legality and strategic value of his threats as the conflict enters a volatile new phase.
Apr 06, 2026 at 11:54 AM EDT
Trump defends foul-languaged Iran threat, says language was meant to ‘make my point’
President Donald Trump on Monday defended the profanity‑laced warning he issued to Iran on Easter Sunday, saying he used the language deliberately to underscore the seriousness of his threat to strike Iranian infrastructure.
In his Truth Social post, Trump vowed that “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day” in Iran if the country does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, adding a string of expletives aimed at Iranian leaders. The message drew widespread attention for its tone and timing.
Asked at the White House Easter Egg Roll why he chose such language, Trump replied: “Only to make my point. I think you’ve heard it before.”
Apr 06, 2026 at 11:52 AM EDT
Iran says strikes on power grid amount to war crimes
The head of Iran’s state‑owned electricity company Tavanir, Mohammad Elhadad, said Monday that the country’s power network exists solely to serve civilians and that any attack on it should be considered a war crime. His remarks were published by Iran’s official news agency IRNA as strikes on energy infrastructure continue to mount.
Elhadad said Tavanir’s teams are working “around the clock” to safeguard the grid and prevent outages as U.S. and Israeli operations target key industrial and energy sites across the country. He argued that hitting electrical facilities has no military justification and directly harms the population that depends on them.
Apr 06, 2026 at 11:39 AM EDT
Strike on South Pars narrows U.S. options as Trump’s deadline nears
The attack on Iran’s South Pars energy hub has injected new volatility into an already precarious standoff, reducing diplomatic off‑ramps for Washington and raising fears of rapid retaliation ahead of President Donald Trump’s self‑imposed Tuesday evening deadline. The strike has heightened uncertainty around whether the United States will move forward with the sweeping attacks on Iranian infrastructure that Trump has repeatedly threatened.
White House officials continue to insist the administration is pursuing what they describe as a dual‑track approach — maintaining military pressure while keeping channels for negotiation open. Behind the scenes, intermediaries have been working to revive indirect talks involving Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, though those efforts have struggled to gain traction.
Apr 06, 2026 at 11:26 AM EDT
Israel helped U.S. rescue downed airman inside Iran, Huckabee says
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Monday that Israeli military and intelligence services played a key role in the American rescue of a U.S. airman whose aircraft was shot down over Iran. In a post on X, Huckabee said he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convey Washington’s gratitude “on behalf of the American people” for what he described as unprecedented cooperation.
Huckabee said U.S. special operations forces carried out a “brilliant” mission to extract the airman and that both the Israel Defense Forces and the Mossad were “helpful partners” throughout the operation.
Apr 06, 2026 at 11:25 AM EDT
Trump threatens to destroy Iranian infrastructure, says he’d prefer to ‘take the oil’
President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric again on Monday, telling reporters that Iran’s refusal to yield in the ongoing war would result in the destruction of its core infrastructure. “We are obliterating their country, and they just don’t want to say ‘uncle.’ But they will,” he said.
Trump warned that if Iran continues to resist, it will be left with “no bridges, no power plants, no anything,” adding that there were “other things that are worse than those two” that he would not detail. He then pivoted to what he described as his preferred outcome: “If I had my choice, what would I like to do? Take the oil.”
The president also acknowledged the tension between his instincts and public sentiment, saying, “Unfortunately, the American people would like to see us come home.”
Apr 06, 2026 at 11:19 AM EDT
Trump dismisses opposition to Iran war, says critics are ‘foolish’
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, President Donald Trump brushed aside public opposition to the war in Iran, characterizing Americans who object to the conflict as “foolish.”
Pressed on what message he had for those who oppose the administration’s approach, Trump said the war centers on a single objective: preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. “Because the war is about one thing – Iran can not have a nuclear weapon,” he told reporters.
Apr 06, 2026 at 11:17 AM EDT
Iran submits 10-clause war proposal to Pakistan, rejects ceasefire
Iran has delivered a formal proposal to Pakistan aimed at ending the war, according to a Monday report from state news agency IRNA. The document, described as a 10‑clause plan, calls for a “permanent end to the war in line with Iran’s considerations” while explicitly rejecting a temporary ceasefire.
The proposal outlines several core demands, including a safe‑passage protocol for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of sanctions imposed on Iran. IRNA said the plan was submitted after major developments over the weekend — a reference to Iran’s downing of a U.S. fighter jet and the subsequent American operation that retrieved two airmen from Iranian territory.
Pakistan has served as the primary intermediary between Tehran and Washington, though previous rounds of indirect talks have produced little movement. Iran’s latest submission signals that it is willing to negotiate terms for ending the conflict, but only under conditions that reshape the strategic landscape in its favor.
Apr 06, 2026 at 11:13 AM EDT
Markets whipsaw as investors weigh threats of escalation against cease-fire hopes
Financial markets swung sharply on Monday as investors tried to assess competing signals: President Donald Trump’s warnings of expanded strikes on Iran’s infrastructure and emerging reports of progress in cease‑fire diplomacy.
Oil prices initially climbed when trading resumed after the long holiday weekend, reflecting fears of a deeper regional disruption. But the rally faded, with Brent crude slipping back below $110 a barrel as traders digested signs that mediators were pushing new proposals to halt the fighting.
Asian equities posted modest gains, and futures tied to the S&P 500 were slightly higher ahead of the opening bell in New York, suggesting cautious optimism despite the geopolitical uncertainty. Markets across Europe remained closed for a public holiday, muting global trading volumes.
Apr 06, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT
Mediators float 45-day ceasefire plan as Trump threatens major escalation
Countries attempting to halt the war in Iran have drafted a proposal for a 45‑day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a person familiar with the effort. The plan, delivered to both Washington and Tehran late Sunday, is being described as a last attempt to prevent the large‑scale strikes on Iranian power plants and infrastructure that President Donald Trump has threatened if the waterway remains closed.
A White House official said Trump has not approved the proposal, calling it “one of many ideas,” and emphasized that U.S. military operations inside Iran are continuing. The president is expected to address the conflict at a 1 p.m. ET news conference.
The initiative comes after indirect talks mediated by Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey collapsed last week, ending hopes for an in‑person meeting between the two sides. The new proposal was sent to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, with mediators hoping the 45‑day pause could create space for negotiations toward a permanent settlement.
Iran has already signaled resistance to any temporary halt in fighting, arguing that a short truce would simply allow its adversaries to regroup.
Mediators are pushing to secure agreement before Trump’s Tuesday 8 p.m. ET deadline. Axios first reported the existence of the emerging plan.
Apr 06, 2026 at 10:48 AM EDT
Iran submits formal response to U.S. war proposal, rejects ceasefire
Iran has delivered its long‑awaited response to the U.S. proposal to end the war, submitting a detailed ten‑paragraph document to Pakistan after two weeks of internal deliberations, according to reports circulated on a public IRNA Telegram channel.
The response, reviewed at the highest levels of Iran’s political system, rejects a ceasefire and instead calls for a permanent end to the conflict that incorporates Iran’s strategic and security demands. According to IRNA’s foreign policy correspondent, Tehran’s conditions include a halt to all regional hostilities, a formal safe‑passage protocol for the Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction commitments, and the lifting of sanctions.
The report frames the timing of the submission as significant, coming after what Iranian officials described as the “disastrous failure” of a recent U.S. heliborne operation in western and central Iran. The update also claims that President Donald Trump, by extending yet another deadline for Iranian compliance, has stepped back from earlier threats.
Apr 06, 2026 at 10:47 AM EDT
Iran urges BRICS to condemn U.S. and Israel as bloc remains split
Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, said Tehran expects the BRICS coalition to denounce what he called “unlawful and criminal actions” by the United States and Israel as the war continues to escalate. His remarks, made in an interview with Indian outlet ANI, reflect Iran’s push for stronger diplomatic backing from the Global South.
India, which currently chairs BRICS, has not issued any collective statement on the conflict. The bloc — which now includes Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the UAE and Iran — has struggled to find a unified position. While China and Russia have sharply criticized Washington and Jerusalem, the UAE has condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf states, including strikes that have hit Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Other members, including India and Egypt, are attempting to balance ties with both Washington and Tehran. India’s longstanding security partnership with Israel further complicates any consensus.
Apr 06, 2026 at 10:34 AM EDT
Two paramedics killed in Israeli strike on southern Lebanon, Ministry says
Two paramedics were killed and a third critically injured after an Israeli strike hit the southern Lebanese town of Haris on Sunday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The ministry said the victims were part of an emergency team responding to earlier bombardments when their vehicle was struck.
In a statement carried by the National News Agency, the ministry accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law by failing to protect medical personnel operating in conflict zones. Officials said they intend to pursue legal action in international courts over what they described as repeated attacks on Lebanese health workers.
Apr 06, 2026 at 10:21 AM EDT
Here are the latest Iran leadership losses
Iran suffered another major loss within its security establishment after Major General Seyed Majid Khademi, one of the country’s top intelligence officials, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran overnight Monday. Israel’s defense minister announced the operation, calling Khademi one of the three most senior figures within the Revolutionary Guards.
Khademi’s death adds to a growing list of high‑ranking Iranian officials killed since the war began, including former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and national security heavyweight Ali Larijani, who had effectively been overseeing Iran’s government in recent months.
Iran’s state broadcaster confirmed Khademi’s killing, which follows the mid‑March strike that killed Esmaeil Khatib, the country’s intelligence minister. Many of the officials targeted in recent weeks had been in their posts only briefly, as Israel intensifies its campaign against Iran’s military, intelligence and nuclear leadership.
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Apr 06, 2026 at 10:08 AM EDT
Israeli strike near Beirut kills Lebanese Forces official and two others
An Israeli airstrike east of Beirut on Sunday killed a senior member of the Lebanese Forces, a Christian political party opposed to Hezbollah, raising new concerns about civilian casualties as the conflict widens. The party said Pierre Mouawad, one of its local officials, died in the blast along with his wife.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported a third fatality — an unidentified individual — in the predominantly Christian town of Ain Saadeh, where the strike occurred.
The Israel Defense Forces said it had targeted what it described as a “terror site” but acknowledged it was reviewing the circumstances of the attack. Asked specifically about Mouawad’s death, IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said he “was definitely not a target.”
Apr 06, 2026 at 09:55 AM EDT
Iran confirms strikes on petrochemical sites in Pars Energy Zone
Iran’s National Petrochemical Company said Monday that several facilities in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in southern Iran were hit in the latest round of U.S.–Israeli attacks, according to a statement carried by state media outlet IRNA. The company said emergency crews moved quickly to contain the situation, with firefighting and rescue teams deployed “immediately” to manage the incident.
Officials reported no casualties and said operations at the affected units were continuing under controlled conditions.
The confirmation came hours after Israel’s defense minister claimed responsibility for a strike on a major petrochemical plant in nearby Asaluyeh, part of a broader campaign targeting Iran’s energy and industrial infrastructure as the regional conflict intensifies.
Apr 06, 2026 at 09:42 AM EDT
IDF recovers four bodies after Iranian missile strike
The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that rescue teams recovered the bodies of four people killed when an Iranian missile struck a residential area, leaving victims trapped beneath collapsed debris. According to the IDF, members of the National Rescue Unit, the Home Front Command’s Search and Rescue Brigade and local emergency crews worked for hours to reach those buried under the rubble.
Apr 06, 2026 at 09:38 AM EDT
CENTCOM says Iranian military capabilities continuing to erode
U.S. Central Command said Monday that Iran’s military strength is steadily weakening as American forces continue to hit targets across the country. In a brief statement on X, CENTCOM said Iranian capabilities “continue to decline” under sustained U.S. strikes aimed at missile sites, command nodes and other military infrastructure.
Apr 06, 2026 at 09:34 AM EDT
Qatar warns against strikes on vital infrastructure as Gulf tensions rise
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has cautioned that the widening U.S.–Israeli war against Iran is putting essential civilian infrastructure at risk, urging an end to attacks on facilities tied to water, food and energy supplies.
His warning came during a phone call Monday with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, according to a statement from the Qatari foreign ministry. Doha framed the remarks as part of its broader push to halt what it described as Iran’s “unjustified aggressions” against Qatar and neighboring states.
The exchange follows escalating threats across the region. President Donald Trump has said the United States may target Iran’s energy and water systems, while Tehran has vowed reciprocal strikes. On Sunday, Iran hit two water desalination plants in Kuwait, raising fears of a broader campaign against civilian infrastructure in the Gulf.
Qatar, which has repeatedly called for de‑escalation since the conflict began, is warning that attacks on lifeline facilities risk deepening the humanitarian and economic fallout already spreading across the region.
Apr 06, 2026 at 09:30 AM EDT
Rights groups warn strikes on Iran’s energy sites are creating a public health emergency
Two leading human rights organizations are warning that U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure are triggering serious and predictable health and environmental consequences for civilians. In a joint statement released Tuesday, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) said attacks on refineries, gas processing plants and fuel depots are exposing communities to toxic pollution and overwhelming an already strained medical system.
The groups cited testimony from Iranian doctors who reported surges in patients suffering from acute breathing problems, persistent coughing and low oxygen levels following recent strikes. Hospitals in Tehran and other cities have also faced shortages of essential medications and an influx of patients normally treated at smaller clinics damaged in the conflict.
Environmental toxicologists consulted by PHR warned that large‑scale oil fires release hazardous mixtures of particulates, chemicals and heavy metals capable of traveling long distances and contaminating air, water and soil. Early reports of thick smoke and “black rain” in affected regions, they said, are consistent with exposure to dangerous combustion byproducts.
HRA documented civilian casualties in at least one attack on an oil depot in Alborz Province, underscoring the immediate risks alongside the longer‑term health impacts, which can include chronic respiratory disease and reduced lung function.
The statement also notes that Iran’s retaliatory strikes on energy facilities in neighboring Gulf states carry similar dangers for civilian populations. Both organizations argue that international law prohibits attacks on energy infrastructure when the resulting harm to civilians is disproportionate and foreseeable.
PHR and HRA urged all parties — including Israel, the United States and Iran — to halt strikes on energy sites and to take urgent steps to protect public health, including improving air‑quality monitoring, expanding access to protective equipment and ensuring medical facilities have the resources needed to respond.
Apr 06, 2026 at 09:26 AM EDT
IAEA chief discusses Gulf Nuclear safety after strikes near Bushehr
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said he held a timely discussion with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al‑Ahmad Al‑Sabah, on the growing nuclear‑safety concerns in the Gulf following recent strikes near Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.
Apr 06, 2026 at 09:22 AM EDT
Iran condemns strike on top university as Araghchi vows retaliation
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi accused the United States and Israel of targeting one of the country’s leading academic institutions, saying the bombing of what he described as “the MIT of Iran” marked a new escalation in the war. In a post on X, Araghchi said the attack followed earlier strikes on other universities, framing the campaign as an assault on Iran’s scientific and intellectual foundations.
Apr 06, 2026 at 09:18 AM EDT
Jamie Dimon warns Iran war could trigger long economic shock
Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, is cautioning that the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel could unleash deeper and longer‑lasting economic fallout than markets are currently pricing in. In his annual letter to shareholders released Monday, Dimon said the conflict risks sustained spikes in oil and commodity prices, renewed pressure on global supply chains and a return to higher‑than‑expected inflation and interest rates.
Dimon described the geopolitical landscape as one of the most serious threats facing the global economy, arguing that investors should abandon any belief that the world has returned to stability. He pointed to simultaneous crises — from the war in Ukraine to widening hostilities in the Middle East — as evidence that geopolitical risk is now a permanent feature of the global financial environment.
“The illusion of safety is gone,” Dimon wrote, warning that policymakers and businesses must prepare for a more volatile era defined by conflict, disrupted trade routes and unpredictable energy markets.
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