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The United States said Tuesday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to begin direct negotiations aimed at halting the escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah — a rare diplomatic opening unfolding as the fragile U.S.–Iran ceasefire shows signs of strain. The talks, held in Washington with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, mark the highest‑level contact between the two sides in decades, though Hezbollah’s absence underscores how difficult any deal will be to enforce.

What To Know:

• Israel and Lebanon agreed to launch direct talks in Washington despite having no diplomatic ties.
• Hezbollah is not participating, raising doubts about whether any agreement can stop the fighting.
• Lebanon’s government has no direct authority over Hezbollah, complicating enforcement of any deal.
• The Israel–Hezbollah conflict is one of three major obstacles in the U.S.–Israeli war against Iran, alongside Iran’s nuclear program and control of the Strait of Hormuz.
• The status of the U.S. Navy blockade on Iranian ports remains unclear; several vessels have still transited the strait.
• President Trump said new U.S.–Iran talks could resume in Pakistan in the coming days.
• Oil markets steadied, with Brent crude below $100, and U.S. stocks rose on hopes of renewed diplomacy.
• The IMF warns the war’s disruption to oil markets could slow global growth and fuel inflation.
• The IEA says reopening the Strait of Hormuz is the single most important factor in easing global energy pressure.
• Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon caused significant damage near a hospital in Tibnin as ground operations expand.
• Civilian deaths continue to climb: at least 1,701 killed in Iran, 2,124 in Lebanon, and dozens more across the region; 13 U.S. service members have died.

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Apr 14, 2026 at 08:01 PM EDT

Former Israeli adviser says Israel pursuing ‘zero-sum’ strategy with no diplomatic plan

Former Israeli government adviser Daniel Levy warned that Israel is once again approaching the Lebanon front with a “zero‑sum” mindset, telling Al Jazeera that the country has a military strategy but “no political, diplomatic follow‑up” to match it.

Speaking via videolink from London, Levy said Israel’s posture amounts to an ultimatum for Lebanon: “We will bomb Lebanon, or you bomb it yourself… and that’s not an offer that anyone can take.”

He suggested the escalation may function as a “sideshow” to the broader U.S.–Iran de‑escalation effort, arguing that Washington sees the Israel‑Lebanon front as the potential weak point in any emerging calm. The goal, he said, may be to reduce tensions there to a level Iran would tolerate while U.S.–Iran diplomacy continues.

Levy concluded that the current dynamic is not aimed at restoring Lebanese sovereignty or producing a balanced agreement. Instead, he said, it reflects an attempt by Israel to impose “humiliating terms” on the Lebanese government.

Apr 14, 2026 at 07:48 PM EDT

Kuwaiti-American journalist detained after posting jet crash video, rights groups say

Journalist Ahmed Shihab‑Eldin, known for his work with VICE, HuffPost, and Al Jazeera, has been detained in Kuwait for roughly six weeks after posting video of a U.S. Air Force fighter jet crash west of Kuwait City, according to friends and press‑freedom organizations who went public with his case on Tuesday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said authorities have charged him with spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone — accusations the group described as vague and routinely used to silence independent reporting in the Gulf.

His detention comes amid a broader crackdown across Kuwait and neighboring states since the start of the Iran war, with governments arresting people who share footage of missile strikes or other sensitive military activity. The Gulf Centre for Human Rights warned earlier this month that the conflict is being used “as a pretext to stifle free speech” and target journalists, bloggers, and activists through arbitrary detentions and cybercrime laws.

Shihab‑Eldin, a Kuwaiti‑American, had been visiting family in early March when he was reportedly taken into custody. His supporters say they hope public attention will pressure authorities to release him.

Apr 14, 2026 at 07:35 PM EDT

Western nations urge Israel and Lebanon to use ceasefire window for progress

Nearly two dozen European and Western countries, including France and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement on Tuesday backing the U.S.-hosted talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington. The governments urged both sides “to seize the opportunity presented by the U.S.–Iran ceasefire,” framing the negotiations as a rare opening to reduce regional tensions.

The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Tehran, has emerged as one of the biggest obstacles to President Donald Trump’s ceasefire arrangement with Iran. Despite the two‑week truce, Israel has intensified its bombardment of Lebanon, insisting the agreement does not cover Lebanese territory — a claim Iran and Hezbollah reject.

Apr 14, 2026 at 07:22 PM EDT

Khanna pushes gasoline export ban as Iran war drives record fuel spikes

Amid the steepest fuel price surge in U.S. history, Rep. Ro Khanna is introducing legislation that would ban gasoline exports during major price spikes, arguing that keeping more supply at home could ease pressure on American consumers.

Khanna told The Guardian the country needs “a new energy policy” that isn’t vulnerable to the profit motives of large oil companies. His proposal would halt U.S. gasoline exports whenever the national average price exceeds $3.12 per gallon — a threshold now far surpassed as crude oil trades above $100 per barrel due to the U.S.–Israeli war in Iran, according to the International Energy Agency.

The U.S., now the world’s largest exporter of motor gasoline, began shipping more fuel abroad in the 2010s. Khanna acknowledged his bill faces long odds in Congress but said it highlights how the Iran conflict is hitting Americans’ wallets while boosting oil company profits. Analysts at Rystad Energy estimate domestic producers could gain $63 billion in additional profit from the war‑driven price shock.

Khanna has also teamed up with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on a proposed windfall tax targeting major fossil fuel companies when profits soar, with revenue returned to taxpayers to offset high pump prices. He previously pushed similar measures during the 2022 energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Beyond emergency relief, Khanna urged lawmakers to accelerate investment in renewable energy, arguing that solar, wind, geothermal and battery storage would shield the U.S. from geopolitical oil disruptions. He warned that China — a dominant supplier of clean‑tech manufacturing — stands to gain if the U.S. doubles down on fossil fuels during the crisis.

“Americans don’t want another costly war,” Khanna said. “They want good jobs at home and peace abroad. Gas prices are going up and companies are driving up costs — we should be focused on competing with China and investing in American manufacturing, not spending $1 billion a day on this war.”

Apr 14, 2026 at 07:09 PM EDT

Canada temporarily suspends gas tax as fuel prices rise amid Iran war

Canada moved Tuesday to ease pressure on consumers facing sharply higher fuel costs linked to the U.S.–Israeli war in Iran, with Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax through early September.

The measure comes as Canadians grapple with mounting cost‑of‑living concerns driven in part by surging global oil prices. While the spike has strained household budgets, it has simultaneously boosted revenues for the country’s oil and gas sector, which has benefited from elevated market demand.

Apr 14, 2026 at 06:56 PM EDT

Hezbollah announces new strikes on Israeli forces along the border

Lebanon’s Hezbollah said Tuesday it carried out several additional attacks on Israeli forces and military positions near the border, marking another day of sustained cross‑border fire.

The group claimed it launched rockets at a gathering of Israeli soldiers and vehicles south of Khiam, and separately said it targeted Israeli military infrastructure in Karmiel with a rocket barrage. In another statement, Hezbollah reported shelling Israeli troops and vehicles in Qouzah.

The militia also said it fired on an Israeli military drone — which it identified as a Hermes 450 — over the skies of Tyre.

Apr 14, 2026 at 06:43 PM EDT

WATCH: Finnish PM warns Iran still holds leverage despite Trump’s blockade

Apr 14, 2026 at 06:30 PM EDT

More ships transit Strait of Hormuz as blockade enters first full day

Several additional vessels moved through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to multiple ship‑tracking platforms, marking new activity during the first full day of the U.S.‑declared maritime blockade on traffic to and from Iranian ports.

U.S. Central Command has stressed that the blockade applies only to ships entering or departing Iran’s ports and coastal areas. Vessels traveling to or from other destinations are still permitted to pass. CENTCOM said earlier that no ships bound for Iranian ports crossed the blockade line in the first 24 hours.

Data from Kpler shows at least nine commercial vessels have transited the strait since Monday. Among them were the Rich Starry and Elpis, both tankers previously sanctioned by the United States for Iran‑related activity. Additional tracking from MarineTraffic indicated crossings by the Christianna, a Liberia‑flagged bulk carrier, and the Murlikishan, a Marshall Islands‑owned tanker also under U.S. sanctions.

MarineTraffic data also listed an oil tanker owned by a Chinese company and an LPG carrier among the latest vessels to pass through. CNN noted it could not independently verify each journey, as maritime signals can be affected by gaps or spoofing.

Before the conflict, more than 100 ships typically crossed the strait daily. Current traffic is less than 10% of that volume

Apr 14, 2026 at 06:17 PM EDT

Poll shows views on gas prices closely track opinions on Iran war, not actual costs

A new YouGov/Economist poll finds that Americans who believe gas prices are rising sharply are far less likely to support the war with Iran — but the data suggests the relationship isn’t driven by real‑world price changes. Instead, political identity and views on the war appear to shape how people perceive gas prices.

According to the survey, 55% of Americans say gas prices are rising “a lot,” while 30% say they are rising “a little” and 8% believe they are falling. But those assessments vary sharply by party: 68% of Democrats and 56% of Independents say prices are rising steeply, compared with 43% of Republicans. Among Republicans who identify as MAGA, only 36% say prices are rising a lot.

The divide is even wider when filtered by views on the Iran war. Three‑quarters (75%) of Americans who strongly oppose the war say gas prices are rising sharply, compared with just 31% of strong supporters.

Researchers compared these perceptions with AAA state‑level gas price data from late February to early April. Every state saw double‑digit percentage increases — between $0.89 and $1.48 per gallon — yet there was no meaningful correlation between actual price changes and what respondents believed was happening locally. Americans in states with the smallest increases were nearly as likely to say prices were rising “a lot” as those in states with the largest jumps.

The analysis found that political alignment — especially support or opposition to the Iran war — was a far stronger predictor of how people described gas prices than the real price movement in their state. Even when controlling for actual price changes, support for the war remained the dominant factor shaping perceptions.

Apr 14, 2026 at 06:04 PM EDT

EU Council President criticizes U.S. blockade, says ‘blockade is never the answer’

European Council President António Costa voiced sharp concern Tuesday over the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, telling CNN that such measures risk deepening the crisis rather than easing it. “A blockade is never the answer,” he said, arguing that “blockades don’t solve other blockades.”

Costa pointed instead to the French‑ and British‑led effort to assemble a defensive coalition for the Strait of Hormuz, calling it the most constructive path available. He stressed that any response must adhere strictly to international law.

When asked about last week’s failed attempt to secure a UN Security Council mandate — blocked by China and Russia — Costa said progress was still possible. While a UN mandate would be ideal, he said, countries could still act “in a different framework,” not as participants in the war but as contributors to a peace‑focused solution.

Costa added that he is “crossing his fingers” for movement in the Israel–Lebanon talks underway in Washington.

Apr 14, 2026 at 05:51 PM EDT

Tajani defends Meloni after Trump clash, says Italy speaks ‘with loyalty and frankness’

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani publicly backed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday after President Donald Trump criticized her remarks defending Pope Leo XIV. In a statement posted to social media, Tajani said Italy remains a committed ally of the United States but stressed that true Western unity depends on “mutual loyalty, respect, and frankness.”

Tajani said Italians are “accustomed to saying what we think,” adding that Meloni has always been regarded as courageous precisely because she does not shy away from expressing her views. On the pope, he said, Meloni voiced what “all Italian citizens think.”

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Apr 14, 2026 at 05:38 PM EDT

Trump escalates clash with Pope Leo XIV and Meloni over Iran nuclear dispute

President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday, telling Italy’s Corriere della Sera that the pontiff “doesn’t understand” the nuclear threat posed by Iran and “shouldn’t be talking about war” because “he has no idea what’s happening.”

Trump also lashed out at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had called his earlier remarks about the pope “unacceptable.” In the interview, Trump accused Meloni of downplaying the danger of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, claiming she “doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon” and warning that such a threat could endanger Italy.

The president, who has previously praised Meloni, said he was “shocked” by her response and suggested Italy has not provided sufficient support in the U.S.‑led war with Iran or efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Meloni defended her stance later in the day, saying that strong alliances require honesty. “When you’re friends and have allies, especially if they’re strategic, you also have to have the courage to say when you disagree,” she said, arguing that open disagreement ultimately benefits Europe, the United States and the broader West.

Apr 14, 2026 at 05:25 PM EDT

Lagarde reaffirms ECB’s 2% inflation goal as IMF warns of global slowdown

As the International Monetary Fund cautions that the world faces weaker growth and rising inflation, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde reiterated that the ECB remains firmly committed to bringing eurozone inflation back to 2 percent.

Speaking with Bloomberg during the IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, Lagarde said the bank would stay focused on its mandate even as Europe absorbs another shock from higher energy prices linked to the Iran war.

Financial markets are increasingly betting that the ECB may move toward additional rate hikes, reflecting expectations that elevated energy costs will keep inflation pressures stubborn. The eurozone has already seen renewed price strain in recent months, prompting traders to reassess the path of monetary policy.

Apr 14, 2026 at 05:12 PM EDT

Top Republican leader warns Donald Trump needs Iran exit plan

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Trump administration needs a plan for “how to wind this down,” as the South Dakota Republican raised concerns about the trajectory of the war in Iran in remarks to Punchbowl News.

The Republican leader’s comments referred to the war’s mounting economic and political consequences, with further disruption of the Strait of Hormuz threatening to worsen economic pain already being felt stateside. Trump’s war with Iran, which started six weeks ago, has become a flashpoint within the GOP, with several high-profile Republicans breaking with the president over his handling of the conflict.

Newsweek reached out to the White House and Thune via email for comment.

Read the full story here.

Apr 14, 2026 at 04:59 PM EDT

Analyst says U.S. Navy blockade appears to meet legal standards, but effectiveness unclear

A U.S. blockade targeting ships entering and leaving Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz appears to comply with international naval warfare rules, according to legal analyst Alexander Lott of the Norwegian Center for the Law of the Sea.

Per NBC News, Lott noted that, unlike President Donald Trump’s earlier declaration suggesting the entire strait would be shut down, U.S. Central Command’s formal announcement narrowly applies the blockade only to vessels bound for or departing from Iranian ports. “It looks like a lawful blockade,” he said, adding that the United States has properly notified the international community of its actions.

CENTCOM has also emphasized that the blockade does not apply to ships transiting the strait en route to non‑Iranian destinations, preserving freedom of navigation for neutral traffic.

Under international law, Lott said, the U.S. Navy could order any vessel violating the blockade to stop and may board or seize it if necessary, including the use of force if a ship refuses to comply.

Whether the blockade is effective, however, remains an open question. While a few Iran‑linked vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the announcement, none have departed from or headed toward Iranian ports — the only movements the blockade is designed to restrict.

Apr 14, 2026 at 04:46 PM EDT

Hezbollah fires rockets as Israeli strikes reported minutes before Washington talks

Moments before Lebanese and Israeli diplomats convened in Washington, DC, cross‑border fire escalated sharply, with Hezbollah announcing new rocket attacks on northern Israel and Lebanese media reporting fresh Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.

The Iran‑backed group said it targeted the towns of Karmiel, Kiryat Shmona and Manara in two separate statements. The Israeli military told CNNHezbollah, Israel Trade Fire Minutes Before Washington Talks Begin

Moments before Lebanese and Israeli diplomats sat down for rare talks in Washington, DC, cross‑border attacks escalated on both sides of the frontier.

Hezbollah said it launched rockets at the northern Israeli towns of Karmiel, Kiryat Shmona and Manara, issuing two statements claiming responsibility. The Israel Defense Forces told CNN it detected 15 rocket and drone launches from Lebanon, while Israel’s Fire and Rescue Service reported several fires in open areas sparked by intercepted projectiles.

At the same time, Lebanon’s state‑run National News Agency reported new Israeli shelling, airstrikes and drone attacks on vehicles and towns in southern Lebanon. CNN has requested comment from the Israeli military on the latest strikes.

Apr 14, 2026 at 04:33 PM EDT

Israel warns of increased rocket fire as delegations head to Washington

As Israeli and Lebanese officials prepared to meet in Washington on Tuesday, the Israeli military said it expects a rise in rocket launches from Lebanon and urged residents in northern Israel to remain alert.

The warning comes as Hezbollah, the Iran‑backed militia, continues its near‑daily attacks. The group has been firing rockets and drones into Israel since early March, when it entered the conflict in support of Iran. Israeli officials said Hezbollah carried out additional launches earlier on Tuesday, underscoring the volatility surrounding the diplomatic talks.

Apr 14, 2026 at 04:20 PM EDT

U.S. forces report full compliance in first day of Iran port blockade

Over 10,000 U.S. sailors, Marines and airmen, backed by over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, are now enforcing the American blockade on ships entering and leaving Iranian ports, the Pentagon said. In the first 24 hours of the operation, no vessels crossed the U.S. cordon, and six merchant ships were directed to turn back toward Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman.

U.S. officials said the blockade is being applied impartially to vessels of all nationalities attempting to access Iranian coastal areas, including ports along both the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. At the same time, U.S. forces emphasized they are continuing to support freedom of navigation for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non‑Iranian destinations.

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Apr 14, 2026 at 04:07 PM EDT

Rep. Jason Crow warns Iran blockade could boost Russia, calls strategy ‘a mess’

Diplomats say the next round of negotiations to end the war could take place in either Islamabad or Istanbul, though Iranian officials have not confirmed their preferred venue. According to sources familiar with the discussions, several of the remaining disputes are considered “bridgeable,” raising the possibility that talks could restart before the ceasefire expires.

One of the central questions is the length of restrictions on uranium enrichment. Public reporting indicates the United States is seeking a 20‑year limit, while Iran has floated a five‑year cap. Negotiators believe there is room for compromise somewhere within that range.

Another major sticking point is the future management of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Iran’s new supreme leader has signaled that the strait will not return to its previous status, suggesting Tehran wants a more formal role in regulating passage.

The fate of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium also remains unresolved. U.S. officials say more than 450 kilograms of material is buried at a damaged nuclear site and must be removed. Iranian officials have suggested it could instead be diluted to below 3 percent enrichment, a level unsuitable for weapons.

Apr 14, 2026 at 03:53 PM EDT

Rep. Jason Crow warns Iran blockade could boost Russia, calls strategy ‘a mess’

On CNN News Central, anchor Kate Bolduan spoke with Rep. Jason Crow (D‑CO) about the stalled diplomatic push to end the war in Iran and the Biden administration’s decision to impose a blockade on Iranian ports. Crow, a member of the House Armed Services and Intelligence Committees and a former Army Ranger, argued that the current approach lacks coherence and risks strengthening U.S. adversaries.

Crow said the blockade could unintentionally hand an economic advantage to Russia, noting that higher global energy prices would allow Moscow to sell more oil. He pointed to rising U.S. fuel costs and questioned what the blockade is expected to achieve for Americans.

He also criticized what he described as a pattern of short‑term, reactive decisions rather than a long‑term strategy. Crow said the United States has spent nearly $100 billion on the conflict, with American casualties mounting, only to end up “back to where we were ten years ago” when a previous nuclear agreement provided verifiable limits on Iran’s enrichment program.

Crow reiterated that any durable solution must include a permanent, enforceable agreement preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Apr 14, 2026 at 03:40 PM EDT

European and Australian foreign ministers call for Lebanon ceasefire ahead of Washington talks

Foreign ministers from 17 European countries and Australia issued a joint statement on Tuesday urging a ceasefire in Lebanon as Lebanese and Israeli diplomats prepare to meet in Washington. The officials called for Lebanon to be fully included in regional de‑escalation efforts and pressed “all parties to work toward a lasting political solution.”

The statement — signed by ministers from Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom — warned that the conflict in Lebanon threatens the fragile ceasefire reached last week between Israel, the United States and Iran.

The ministers said direct negotiations could help secure long‑term stability for both Lebanon and Israel and pledged support for the process. They condemned Hezbollah attacks on Israel as well as the “massive Israeli strikes” on Lebanon on April 8, which Lebanese authorities say killed more than 350 people. They also denounced recent attacks on U.N. peacekeepers.

The group expressed solidarity with the Lebanese government and people, saying they stand ready to provide emergency assistance to the more than one million displaced by the fighting.

Apr 14, 2026 at 03:27 PM EDT

U.S. and Iran weigh return to Islamabad as blockade raises stakes

Negotiators from the United States and Iran could return to Islamabad later this week to resume talks aimed at ending the war, sources told Reuters, signaling that diplomacy may not be over despite the collapse of weekend negotiations and Washington’s decision to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.

The possibility of renewed engagement helped steady global markets, pushing oil prices back below $100 on Tuesday after days of volatility. The previous round of talks — the highest‑level meeting between the two countries since 1979 — ended without progress, raising doubts about the durability of a two‑week ceasefire that still has one week remaining.

A source involved in the discussions said both sides have been asked to keep Friday through Sunday open for a potential return to Pakistan. U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran had reached out on Monday and expressed interest in a deal, while reiterating that Washington would not accept any agreement allowing Tehran to retain enriched nuclear material.

The diplomatic uncertainty comes as both sides escalate pressure at sea. Since the war began on February 28, Iran has restricted nearly all shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing passage only under its control and for a fee. In response, the U.S. military began blocking traffic in and out of Iranian ports on Monday, though there have been no reports of direct enforcement actions so far. Shipping data showed at least three Iran‑linked tankers crossing the strait without heading to or from Iranian ports.

The standoff has deepened concerns about global energy security. The International Monetary Fund cut its growth outlook on Tuesday, warning that prolonged conflict and oil prices above $100 could push the world economy to the brink of recession. The International Energy Agency also sharply reduced its forecasts, now expecting both global oil supply and demand to fall from 2025 levels.

U.S. allies including Britain and France said they would not participate in the blockade but are prepared to help safeguard the strait once an agreement is in place. China, Iran’s largest oil customer, condemned the U.S. action as “dangerous and irresponsible.”

Nuclear demands remain a central obstacle. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led the American delegation, said Iran showed some movement but did not meet Washington’s requirements for removing enriched material and establishing verification measures. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar echoed that stance, saying Israel would “never allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.”

The conflict’s regional dimensions continue to complicate mediation efforts. Israel has intensified strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, arguing those operations fall outside the ceasefire with Iran. Israeli and Lebanese representatives were set to meet in Washington on Tuesday in a rare encounter expected to include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Despite heated rhetoric, the ceasefire has largely held during its first week. Iranian officials have warned that any threat to their ports would endanger all ports in the Gulf and Gulf of Oman, while Trump has said Iran’s navy has been “completely obliterated,” leaving only a small number of fast‑attack vessels.

U.S. Central Command said the blockade applies only to ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and will not interfere with neutral vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to non‑Iranian destinations.

Apr 14, 2026 at 03:14 PM EDT

Conservative influencer says supporting ‘America First’ doesn’t require backing Iran strategy

As debate intensifies over U.S. involvement in the war with Iran, conservative commentator Tony Delgado, CEO of Latino Wall Street and a figure with more than one million followers, is urging supporters of the America First movement to separate loyalty to the country from agreement with the administration’s approach.

Delgado said that questioning the strategy behind the conflict should not be equated with opposing national interests. “Disagreeing with the president doesn’t mean you don’t support the country or want the America First agenda to win,” he wrote, adding that it is possible to share the desired outcome while still pushing for “better judgment and more accountability” from leaders when decisions carry serious consequences.

Apr 14, 2026 at 03:01 PM EDT

U.S. wholesale prices jump as Iran war drives energy costs higher

U.S. wholesale prices rose sharply in March as the war in Iran pushed energy costs higher, adding new pressure to an already strained inflation outlook. The Labor Department said Tuesday that its producer price index increased 0.5% from February and 4% from a year earlier — the fastest annual rise in more than three years. Energy prices surged 8.5% month‑to‑month.

Stripping out food and energy, core producer prices rose a modest 0.1% from February and 3.8% over the past year, coming in slightly below economists’ expectations.

The spike complicates the work of the Federal Reserve, which has faced intense political pressure to cut interest rates even as some policymakers argue that rising energy costs warrant caution — or even further tightening.

Food prices offered a rare point of relief, falling 0.3% in March after a sharp increase the month before. Economists note that wholesale prices often foreshadow consumer inflation, and several components feed directly into the Fed’s preferred gauge, the PCE index.

The inflation data arrived alongside a stark new forecast from the International Energy Agency, which now expects global oil demand to decline this year — the first annual drop since the pandemic. The agency cited attacks on energy infrastructure and the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, projecting a steep 1.5 million‑barrel‑per‑day drop in demand this quarter.

While the largest reductions in oil use have so far come from the Middle East and Asia Pacific, the IEA warned that demand destruction is likely to spread as high prices and supply disruptions continue.

Apr 14, 2026 at 02:48 PM EDT

WATCH: Israel says Hezbollah remains key issue before Lebanon peace talks

Apr 14, 2026 at 02:35 PM EDT

Analysts see Iran pushing for permanent Hormuz tolls as global costs debated

Analysts say Iran may seek formal authority to charge ships for transiting the Strait of Hormuz as part of any eventual agreement to end the Middle East war, a move that could reshape one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors. Tehran has already begun collecting fees from some vessels in recent weeks, with at least one ship paying $2 million, according to data cited by Lloyd’s List.

The prospect of a long‑term tolling system has raised questions about who would ultimately bear the financial burden. Asked about the issue on Tuesday, IMF chief economist Pierre‑Olivier Gourinchas said that in a market where energy supply is highly inelastic, consumers would likely absorb most of the added costs.

Economists at Capital Economics reached a similar conclusion last week, noting that while producers and consumers would probably share the burden, the overall impact on global prices would be limited given the relatively small sums involved.

Apr 14, 2026 at 02:22 PM EDT

Foreign ministers urge Israel and Lebanon to ‘seize this opportunity’ ahead of Washington talks

Foreign ministers from 17 countries issued a joint appeal on Tuesday calling on Israel and Lebanon to make the most of a rare diplomatic opening as the two sides prepare for talks in Washington.

In a statement posted by Britain’s Foreign Office and cited by AFP, the ministers said that direct negotiations “can pave the way to bring lasting security for Lebanon and Israel as well as the region.”

The message comes as international efforts intensify to secure a ceasefire amid ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon and growing concern over regional escalation. The Washington discussions are part of a broader push by Western and Arab governments to stabilize the border and prevent the conflict from widening.

Apr 14, 2026 at 02:09 PM EDT

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves blasts Trump’s Iran strategy as ‘folly’ ahead of IMF talks

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran, arguing that Washington entered the conflict without a clear strategy or exit plan. Speaking to the Mirror ahead of her trip to Washington for the IMF spring meetings, Reeves said the war has driven up oil prices and now threatens a fresh wave of inflation across Western economies.

Her remarks came after a turbulent stretch in which U.S.–Iran peace talks in Islamabad collapsed without a deal and the United States formally began enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments.

“This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want,” Reeves said. “I feel very frustrated and angry that the US went into this war without a clear exit plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve. And as a result the Strait of Hormuz is now blocked.”

Reeves added that while no one supports Iran’s leadership, launching a conflict without defined objectives “is a folly” that is now hurting families in the UK, the U.S. and beyond. She also defended Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to keep Britain out of the fighting, a stance he reiterated in Parliament on Monday.

Her comments mark the strongest public criticism yet from a senior UK official. They come as the IMF warns that the UK will face the sharpest economic impact of any G7 nation from the Iran war, cutting its 2026 growth forecast from 1.3% to 0.8%.

Reeves has pledged support for low‑income households if energy bills spike this summer and faces pressure to cancel a planned fuel‑duty increase in September. Starmer, meanwhile, has convened a ministerial committee to assess the war’s impact on the UK, including disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The prime minister will travel to Paris this week for an international summit on safeguarding shipping in the strait, where leaders are expected to discuss de‑mining operations, rescue plans for stranded vessels and long‑term efforts to restore safe passage. Many participants will join virtually, and the United States is not expected to attend.

Apr 14, 2026 at 01:56 PM EDT

Canada pledges $40 million in new humanitarian aid for Lebanon

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand informed her Lebanese counterpart Youssef Raji on Tuesday that Canada will provide $40 million in humanitarian assistance to support Lebanon’s growing crisis, according to a statement from Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The funds will be delivered through international humanitarian organizations, the ministry said. Anand also voiced Canada’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and condemned recent Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory.

The announcement came as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with the UNHCR to discuss the worsening humanitarian emergency, including the displacement of more than one million people. Aoun warned that the scale of displacement will have long‑term consequences for the country even after a ceasefire is reached.

Apr 14, 2026 at 01:43 PM EDT

Lapid slams Italy’s suspension of defense pact as failure of Netanyahu government

Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Italy’s move to halt the automatic renewal of a long‑standing defense cooperation agreement with Israel, calling it “yet another embarrassing failure” of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.

Lapid noted that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a right‑wing leader typically aligned with Israel on security issues, had still chosen to pause the agreement. In a post on X, he said Meloni “understands the need to fight terrorism,” arguing that the decision reflected Israel’s inability to maintain support even among its traditional allies.

The defense pact, first approved in 2006, renews every five years and covers cooperation in defense industries, military training, research and development, and information technology. Meloni’s government has been one of Israel’s closest partners in Europe, but it has recently voiced sharper criticism of Israeli strikes in Lebanon, where Italian troops serve under a U.N. mandate.

Apr 14, 2026 at 01:30 PM EDT

Israel and Lebanon launch highest-level talks in decades as Hezbollah dominates agenda

Israel and Lebanon opened their most senior direct negotiations in more than 40 years on Tuesday in Washington, with the future of Hezbollah emerging as the central issue shaping the talks.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the two countries have “no major disputes” outside of Hezbollah’s military presence, framing the discussions as an opportunity to explore cooperation on dismantling the group and moving toward what he described as a new phase of peace and normalization.

Lebanon, however, enters the talks with limited leverage. While its government has formally banned Hezbollah’s armed activity, the Lebanese army lacks the capability to forcibly disarm the group. Israeli officials have long questioned whether Beirut has the political will or capacity to confront Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and has been a dominant force in Lebanese politics for decades.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said over the weekend that Israel’s goal is an “historic and sustainable peace agreement” that could endure for generations.

A Lebanese official told CNN that Beirut will push for a ceasefire as a prerequisite for broader negotiations. Those talks would center on an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament. Israeli forces have advanced several miles into southern Lebanon over the past month in an effort to disrupt Hezbollah’s rocket‑launching positions.

Lebanon expects the process to be “long” and “complicated,” the official said. Hezbollah, for its part, dismissed the talks entirely, with senior figure Wafiq Safa telling the Associated Press the negotiations were of no interest to the group.

The last formal bilateral meeting between Israel and Lebanon took place in 1983. The two sides have been adversaries for decades, fighting multiple conflicts since the 1980s. Hezbollah joined the war the day after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and resumed rocket and drone strikes in March after Israeli airstrikes on Iran.

Apr 14, 2026 at 01:17 PM EDT

Stocks rise in New York as oil prices slip on renewed peace hopes

Stocks opened higher in New York on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 climbing about half a percent in early trading as investors responded to fresh signs of diplomatic movement in the Iran conflict. Oil prices moved lower, continuing the recent pattern of markets shifting in opposite directions as traders weighed the possibility of further talks on a durable peace deal.

The S&P 500 has now regained its prewar level and sits roughly 1 percent below the record it reached in January.

Apr 14, 2026 at 01:04 PM EDT

China calls U.S. blockade ‘dangerous and irresponsible,’ urges return to diplomacy

China sharply criticized the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, warning that the move risks further inflaming tensions between Washington and Iran. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called the blockade “dangerous and irresponsible,” saying it threatens regional stability at a moment when a fragile ceasefire is still in place.

In a statement posted on X, Lin urged all parties to uphold the truce, recommit to negotiations and take “concrete actions” to de‑escalate the crisis so that normal maritime traffic through the strait can resume as soon as possible.

Apr 14, 2026 at 12:51 PM EDT

First aid convoys reach Iran via Turkey as agencies test new humanitarian route

International aid groups said Tuesday they have delivered the first emergency medical supplies to Iran since the war began, using an overland corridor from Turkey after conflict‑related restrictions blocked access to stockpiles in Dubai.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said a convoy carrying trauma kits, tents, blankets and hygiene items crossed into Iran on Sunday. The shipment is expected to take at least two days to reach Tehran.

“It was a way to try a new route to bring humanitarian aid inside Iran, and we’re very hopeful that we will be able to scale up,” federation spokesperson Tommaso Della Longa told reporters.

Apr 14, 2026 at 12:38 PM EDT

Ten Israeli soldiers injured in close-range clash in southern Lebanon

Ten Israeli soldiers were wounded overnight during what the military described as a “close‑quarters encounter” in southern Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday.

In a brief statement posted on Telegram, the IDF said three of the soldiers were severely injured, while the others sustained lighter wounds. All were evacuated to a hospital for treatment, according to the military.

The IDF did not release additional details about the circumstances of the clash

Apr 14, 2026 at 12:25 PM EDT

U.S. blockade aims to halt up to 2% of global oil supply from reaching markets

Iran normally exports around 2 million barrels per day of crude oil and related fuels such as diesel through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global energy flows. Despite the ongoing war, analysts say Iran has managed to keep most of those shipments moving, though estimates differ on exactly how much is still getting out.

That volume matters. By enforcing its blockade, the United States is attempting to stop as much as 2 percent of the world’s oil and petroleum products from reaching international markets — a significant share in an already strained energy environment.

Apr 14, 2026 at 12:12 PM EDT

Iran downplays impact of U.S. blockade, citing extensive land and sea borders

Iran will not be crippled by the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said, arguing that the country’s extensive network of land and maritime borders provides alternative routes for essential trade.

Momeni said Iran’s more than 8,000km (5,000 miles)

Apr 14, 2026 at 12:03 PM EDT

Lebanese President expresses hope Washington talks will ease South’s suffering

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he is hopeful that today’s direct talks with Israel in Washington will mark a turning point for his country, especially for communities along the southern border that have endured months of violence.

Speaking during a meeting with Italian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Luciano Portolano, Aoun said he wants the negotiations to “mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and the people of the south in particular.”

The talks, hosted at the U.S. State Department, began at 11 a.m. ET with Secretary of State Marco Rubio present.

Apr 14, 2026 at 11:59 AM EDT

How Iran’s ‘defeated’ military can still challenge US naval blockade

With President Donald Trump ordering the U.S. Navy to blockade Iran after failed peace talks, the Islamic Republic's battered armed forces still have some cards to play that could raise the costs of war for the White House.

Trump has repeatedly declared Iran's military "defeated" since launching a joint campaign with Israel in late February. Yet Iran continued to launch missile and drone strikes against both Israel and nearby Arab countries hosting U.S. military bases.

Hostilities largely paused when the U.S. leader declared a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday to allow for negotiations. But those talks ended over the weekend without a deal, leading Trump to attempt to break Iran's stronghold over the vital Strait of Hormuz energy trade chokepoint by sending warships to prevent any vessels from entering Iranian ports.

And while the remnants of Iran's already outmatched forces pale in comparison to U.S. military might, the operation carries sufficient risks to likely keep U.S. ships at a distance as Tehran has long prepared for a close-quarters confrontation.

"The U.S. boardings won’t take place in or near the Strait precisely because Iran has spent decades designing and building its asymmetric naval system precisely to overwhelm enemy naval forces," Arran Kennedy, maritime security analyst at the consultancy Control Risks, told Newsweek.

"That threat is why the U.S. Navy had, until Saturday, hitherto been unwilling to expose assets worth billions of dollars and hundreds of sailors to Iranian weaponry and will remain reluctant to do so," he said.

Read more here and become a member of Newsweek.

Apr 14, 2026 at 11:53 AM EDT

Iranian drones downed over Iraqi Kurdistan in apparent ceasefire violation

Several Iranian attack drones entered northern Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdistan Region on Tuesday, according to regional security forces, marking what appears to be a breach of the ongoing ceasefire.

Iraqi Kurdistan’s counterterrorism forces said they intercepted and shot down two bomb‑laden drones over Erbil. A separate strike hit a camp used by Komala, an Iranian Kurdish opposition group based in exile in the region, Komala official Mohamad Hakimi said. Three of the group’s fighters were injured in the attack.

Apr 14, 2026 at 11:46 AM EDT

Iran signals openness to new talks as public hopes clash with deep mistrust

Iranian officials say they are willing to take part in additional rounds of negotiations, with the country’s foreign minister holding a series of calls with regional and international counterparts in recent days to keep diplomatic channels open.

But diplomats familiar with the process say two or three core issues remain unresolved — and a heavy layer of mistrust continues to hang over the talks.

Inside Iran, public sentiment is mixed. Many people express a faint hope that negotiations could eventually lead to lasting peace and ease the constant threat of conflict. Others are skeptical that any agreement can hold, given the long history of failed diplomacy. Still, there is cautious optimism that sustained dialogue could, over time, open a path toward lifting sanctions that have weighed on the economy for years.

The impact of the 40‑day war has shaped much of that outlook. Tens of thousands of homes, schools and other civilian sites were damaged or destroyed, placing enormous strain on ordinary Iranians.

Apr 14, 2026 at 11:44 AM EDT

Israel–Lebanon talks open in Washington as Rubio urges path toward ‘permanent’ progress

High‑stakes direct talks between Israel and Lebanon opened Tuesday at the U.S. State Department, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing cautious optimism that the delegations could begin shaping a framework for long‑term stability.

Rubio appeared alongside senior U.S. officials — including U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, and State Department counselor Mike Needham — as well as Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter for a brief photo opportunity. The diplomats did not take questions, but Rubio offered short remarks during a second session with both sides seated at the table.

“All of the complexities of this matter are not going to be resolved in the next six hours,” Rubio said, “but we can begin to move forward and create the framework for something very positive, something very permanent, so the people of Lebanon can have the kind of future they deserve, and so that the people of Israel can live without fear.” He emphasized that the effort would be “a process, not an event.”

Apr 14, 2026 at 11:40 AM EDT

Trump hints Pakistan could host renewed U.S.–Iran talks within days

President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that diplomatic movement between the United States and Iran could resume in Pakistan within the next two days, signaling that Islamabad remains the leading venue for the next round of negotiations.

Speaking to a New York Post reporter stationed in Islamabad, Trump said, “something could be happening” soon and urged the reporter to stay put. He praised Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir, calling him “fantastic” and crediting him for helping keep the talks alive.

While Geneva has also been floated as a possible location, Trump appeared to dismiss that option, questioning why discussions should shift to “some country that has nothing to do with it.”

Apr 14, 2026 at 11:33 AM EDT

Italy halts automatic renewal of defense pact with Israel amid regional tensions

Italy’s government has suspended the automatic renewal of its defense cooperation agreement with Israel, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, citing the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.

Meloni’s right‑wing government has been one of Israel’s strongest allies in Europe, but in recent weeks it has voiced sharper criticism of Israeli military operations in Lebanon, where more than 2,000 people have been killed and Italian troops serving under a U.N. mandate have also been affected.

“In light of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel,” Meloni said during an appearance in Verona, according to Italian news agencies.

Apr 14, 2026 at 11:20 AM EDT

WATCH: Trump hints at Cuba as next move after Iran

Apr 14, 2026 at 11:06 AM EDT

Israel FM says Hezbollah blocking progress with Lebanon ahead of rare talks

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Tuesday that Hezbollah remains the central obstacle to any improvement in relations between Israel and Lebanon, hours before officials from both countries meet in Washington for their first such talks in more than three decades.

Speaking at a news conference, Saar said Israel seeks “peace and normalisation” with Lebanon and argued that the two nations have “no major disputes” outside of Hezbollah’s influence. He framed the armed group as both a threat to Israel’s security and a challenge to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

More than 2,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in Israeli strikes since early March, and over one million have been displaced, according to local authorities and humanitarian groups.

Tuesday’s meeting — the first since 1993 — will be mediated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and include the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington.

Apr 14, 2026 at 10:53 AM EDT

Mossad chief signals regime change in Iran remains Israel’s long-term goal

Israel’s spy chief David Barnea said the war had dealt a major blow to Iran’s leadership but made clear that Israel’s objectives extend beyond the initial military campaign, the New York Times reported. In his first public comments since the conflict began, the Mossad director suggested that replacing Iran’s ruling system remains part of Israel’s strategic aims.

Barnea appeared to respond to domestic criticism that Iran’s power structure has endured despite weeks of strikes. Speaking at a ceremony marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, he said Israel had planned for a prolonged effort that would continue after the attacks on Tehran.

“We planned — and prepared — for our campaign to continue and to achieve results also in the period following the strikes on Tehran,” he said, implying that covert or indirect efforts to weaken the regime are ongoing.

Apr 14, 2026 at 10:52 AM EDT

Italy suspends defense pact with Israel as criticism of Lebanon strikes grows

Italy has suspended a long‑standing defense cooperation agreement with Israel, a significant shift for one of Israel’s closest European partners as international criticism mounts over Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the decision during an event in Verona, saying the government would halt the automatic renewal of the pact “given the current situation we are experiencing.” The memorandum, originally signed in 2003 under former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and implemented in 2006, was designed to deepen cooperation on defense industries, military training, research and development, and information technology. It renewed automatically every five years.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs downplayed the move, saying the memorandum “never had any real substance” and insisting the suspension would not affect Israel’s security.

Meloni’s right‑wing government had maintained strong ties with Israel throughout the war in Gaza, but relations have cooled as Italy has become increasingly vocal about Israeli strikes in Lebanon. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, more than 2,000 people have been killed in the recent escalation.

Apr 14, 2026 at 10:40 AM EDT

Iran criticizes YouTube after ban on pro-Iran group’s Lego-style AI videos

Iran has condemned YouTube for suspending the account of Explosive Media, a pro‑Iranian group known for producing Lego‑style videos generated with artificial intelligence. The ban came shortly after the group posted a video mocking President Donald Trump and declaring that “Iran won.”

Explosive Media said on X that YouTube removed its channel for “violent content,” though its other social media accounts remained active. The group pushed back on the platform’s justification, writing, “Seriously! Are our LEGO‑style animations actually violent?”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson denounced the suspension, framing it as an attempt to silence “the truth” about what Tehran describes as the U.S.–Israel war on Iran.

Apr 14, 2026 at 10:27 AM EDT

Pakistan Pushes for renewed U.S.–Iran talks as technical teams keep dialogue alive

Despite the first round of U.S.–Iran negotiations ending without an agreement, technical teams and subject‑matter experts remained on the ground and continued exchanging notes, according to officials familiar with the process. Their ongoing work — combined with Pakistan’s behind‑the‑scenes facilitation — has now led to a fresh invitation for both sides to return to the table.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that some progress had been made, while the U.S. president has said the other side has signaled interest in pursuing a deal and has approached Washington about next steps.

The push for renewed talks comes amid mounting economic pressure. The U.S. blockade targeting Iranian ports has heightened urgency, with Washington frustrated that Iran has continued generating revenue from oil sales since the start of the war. At the same time, concerns persist that Tehran could retaliate if tensions escalate further.

Apr 14, 2026 at 10:14 AM EDT

Uncertainty surrounds U.S. blockade as ships continue moving through Strait of Hormuz

Questions mounted Tuesday over the status and enforcement of the U.S. military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, after ship‑tracking data showed multiple vessels — including some departing from Iran — transiting the waterway despite Washington’s restrictions.

The blockade, which took effect Monday afternoon local time, is intended to halt all maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports as the United States seeks to choke off Tehran’s oil revenue following the collapse of negotiations to end the war. A two‑week truce between the two sides remains in place until April 21.

But data from the trade analytics firm Kpler showed that several ships passed through the strait both before and after the 10 a.m. Eastern deadline set by the Trump administration. Some had recently left Iranian ports, carried Iranian products, or were previously sanctioned by the U.S. government. It was unclear whether those vessels fell within a grace period, received permission to transit, or managed to bypass the blockade.

Among them was Christianna, a Liberia‑flagged cargo ship that exited the Persian Gulf on Monday night after departing Bandar Imam Khomeini. Kpler said it was not carrying cargo. Another vessel, Elpis, a methanol carrier formerly sanctioned under the name Chamtang, moved through the strait around the time the blockade began after being at the Iranian port of Bushehr.

Additional tracking from Bloomberg and Vesselfinder showed continued vessel activity. The tanker Murlikishan, previously sanctioned for transporting Russian and Iranian oil under a different name, entered the Persian Gulf early Tuesday after leaving Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. The Panama‑flagged bulk carrier Manali also exited the gulf Tuesday morning, with no indication it had recently docked in Iran or been subject to sanctions.

Some ships appeared to hesitate as the blockade approached. Hours before the deadline, the China‑linked bulk carrier Guan Yuan Fu Xing made a sharp turn away from the strait and remained in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday. The tanker Rich Starry, also linked to China and blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury in 2023, initially turned back as well before reversing course and ultimately passing through the strait.

Apr 14, 2026 at 10:01 AM EDT

Iran faces major export disruptions as U.S. port blockade takes hold

Iran is likely to face steep challenges exporting its goods after the United States moved to block access to Iranian ports, a step that threatens to ripple across several major trading partners.

Countries such as China, Turkey, India and Pakistan — which collectively purchased billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian products in 2023, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) — are expected to feel the strain as supply chains tighten and shipments stall.

Iran’s leading exports in 2024 included ethylene polymers, iron ore, acyclic alcohol derivatives, and petroleum gas, the OEC reported. Disruptions in these sectors could hit manufacturers and energy markets across Asia in particular.

The impact will also extend into the Caucasus. Azerbaijan and Armenia were among Iran’s significant buyers last year, and both could face shortages or higher prices if the blockade persists.

Apr 14, 2026 at 09:48 AM EDT

IMF cuts global growth outlook as Iran war raises risk of deep slowdown

The International Monetary Fund has trimmed its global growth forecast for 2026, warning that the economic fallout from the U.S.‑Iran war could become far more severe if the conflict drags on and energy prices surge.

In its latest World Economic Outlook released Tuesday, the fund said the war has once again put the global economy “at risk of being thrown off course.” The IMF now expects worldwide growth of 3.1% next year — a 0.2‑point downgrade from its January projection — assuming the conflict remains relatively contained.

But the report outlines two darker scenarios. In the most extreme case, where oil and natural gas prices jump 100–200% from January levels and stay elevated into 2027, global growth would fall to 2%. That would be perilously close to what the IMF considers a global recession, a threshold crossed only four times since 1980.

The fund noted that before the war erupted, the world economy had been outperforming expectations and was on track for an upward revision. A partial offset to the downgrade came from lower U.S. tariff rates compared with last year.

“The global outlook has abruptly darkened following the outbreak of war in the Middle East,” IMF chief economist Pierre‑Olivier Gourinchas wrote, warning that the conflict still carries the potential to trigger an unprecedented energy crisis.

Apr 14, 2026 at 09:34 AM EDT

Bessent urges caution on rate cuts as Iran war clouds outlook

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that the Federal Reserve should hold off on lowering interest rates while the U.S. war with Iran continues to inject uncertainty into the economic outlook.

In an interview with Semafor, Bessent said the central bank is right to stay patient. “Do I think rates should be lowered? Eventually. I think now that we have to wait and see,” he said, adding that amid the conflict, the Fed is “doing the right thing by sitting and watching.”

His remarks come as President Donald Trump continues pressing for rate cuts. The Fed reduced rates three times late last year but has not moved since, with officials signaling that maintaining current levels is the safest course for now.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping corridor, has pushed up commodity prices and complicated arguments for easing policy. Cutting rates too soon, Bessent acknowledged, risks fueling inflation at a moment when supply pressures remain elevated.

Bessent was also asked whether he still expects the U.S. economy to grow more than 4 percent this year. “Obviously, we’re going to have some make-up to do,” he said, noting the drag created by the conflict and its economic spillovers.

Apr 14, 2026 at 09:21 AM EDT

U.S. and Iran could restart direct talks amid standoff over nuclear terms: Report

In‑person negotiations between the United States and Iran may resume as early as this week, according to two individuals familiar with the ongoing diplomatic efforts who spoke to NBC News. The potential restart follows a weekend of intensive discussions aimed at easing tensions and outlining the framework for a broader agreement.

One major obstacle remains the status of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. A source close to the talks said the U.S. is pressing Iran to guarantee unrestricted maritime passage, a condition Washington views as essential for any deal.

Iran’s nuclear program is another central point of contention. According to a second source, U.S. negotiators requested a 20‑year halt to uranium enrichment. Iranian officials countered with a proposal for a suspension lasting only three to five years — a timeline the U.S. has previously indicated would not meet its requirements.

The same source said the U.S. also urged Iran to remove its stockpile of highly enriched uranium from the country. Tehran instead offered a monitored “down‑blending” process, which would dilute the material by mixing it with natural or low‑enriched uranium to reduce its potency.

Apr 14, 2026 at 08:53 AM EDT

“Potential blockade breaker” detected in Strait of Hormuz

A Comoros-flagged vessel has appeared in the Strait of Hormuz according to the marine intelligence platform Windward which said it was a “new potential blockade breaker.”

In a post on X, Windward said that the bulk carrier had appeared after being “dark”— referring to having its communications turned off to hide its exact location.

It said its last traceable port call was Bandar Imam Khomeini in Iran and its recent history includes transporting grain from Russia-occupied Ukrainian ports to Iran and Syria.

“Despite the current blockade, this vessel is back on the grid and navigating this high-stakes corridor,”the post said.

Tuesday was the first full day of the U.S. imposed blockade of Iranian ports in a bid by the Trump administration to break Tehran’s stranglehold of the strait.

News agencies reported at least three ships, including a U.S. sanctioned Chinese vessel, had transited the strait towards the Gulf of Oman but as they were not heading to Iranian ports, they were not covered by the blockade.

Apr 14, 2026 at 08:36 AM EDT

Mossad chief says mission in Iran not over until regime change

The director of Mossad has said that the mission of Israel’s intelligence agency in Iran "has yet to be completed.”

Mossad Director David Barnea said Tuesday that the agency had operated in the heart of Tehran during the U.S.-Israeli campaign against the Islamic Republic but the mission will only end “only when this radical regime is replaced.”

“We didn’t think that this mission would be completed immediately with the end of the battles,” he said at a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, according to the Times of Israel, adding “but we planned intensively for our campaign to continue and achieve results even in the period after the strikes in Tehran.”

Apr 14, 2026 at 08:15 AM EDT

China slams U.S. blockade as “dangerous”

China has called the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports that started Monday "dangerous and irresponsible" and called for an immediate ceasefire and for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters on Tuesday that the move by the U.S. would only "inflame tensions, escalate the situation and undermine an already fragile ceasefire.”

"We urge all parties to abide by the ceasefire arrangement, focus on the broader direction of dialogue and negotiations, take concrete actions to de-escalate the regional situation and restore normal navigation in the strait,” said Jiakun.

Apr 14, 2026 at 07:50 AM EDT

Italy’s PM Meloni denounces Trump’s criticism of Pope

The Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has said that President Donald Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV was “unacceptable.”

Trump had posted on Truth Social that the pontiff was “weak on crime” following the leader of the Catholic Church speaking out against war, although he did not mention the U.S. president or the Iran conflict by name.

Trump’s post that the pope was “terrible for foreign policy," and later refusal to apologize for his comments was rebuked by Meloni who said “the pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and to condemn all forms of war."

"I find President Trump's words about the Holy Father unacceptable," Meloni added.

Meloni announced on Tuesday that she was suspending Italy's defense agreement with Israel. Israel's foreign ministry downplayed this announcement, saying that the security relationship between the countries was "never substantive."

...

Apr 14, 2026 at 07:15 AM EDT

Chinese tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz

More on those vessels which have reportedly crossed the Strait of Hormuz and the Chinese tanker Rich Starry has become the first oil-carrying ship to do so on the first full day of the U.S. blockade of Iran.

The vessel with a Chinese crew is a U.S. sanctioned tanker which was sailing southwest in the Gulf of Oman, according to MarineTraffic. It had left Sharjah Anchorage in the Persian Gulf off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

Data shows that it sticking to a corridor designated by Iran for ships to go through amid reports that vessels must pay a toll to transit.

Panama-flagged Peace Gulf, a medium-range ‌tanker, is heading to Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates, according to data. The vessel usually carries Iranian naphtha, a petrochemical feedstock, to other non-Iranian ports in the Middle East for export to Asia.

Meanwhile, the tanker Murlikishan is heading to Iraq to load ⁠fuel oil on Thursday, according to data cited by Reuters. The vessel has transported Russian and Iranian oil.

Read more: First Chinese Tanker Makes It Out of Strait of Hormuz

Apr 14, 2026 at 06:45 AM EDT

France and UK to host summit on reopening Strait of Hormuz

France’s President Emmanuel Macron and U.K Prime Minister Keir Starmer will chair a video conference in Paris on Friday to discuss an international mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK government said on Tuesday that the meeting would push for a “coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping once the conflict ends.”

Macron has previously described a “strictly defensive mission, separate from the warring parties to the conflict” which could be deployed as circumstances permit.

It comes as other countries have called for peace negotiations to end the war and for the reopening of the critical waterway effectively blocked by Iran.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday it was important to try to “stabilize the situation and reopen the Strait, which is fundamental for us, not only for fuel supplies but also for fertilizers.”

Apr 14, 2026 at 06:10 AM EDT

UK finance minister “angry” over Trump’s lack of war plan

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she was “frustrated and angry” at U.S. actions in Iran.

Reeves, who oversees the U.K. government’s purse strings, told the British newspaper The Mirror that the Iran war was one “we did not start” and “did not want.”

“I feel very frustrated and angry that the U.S. went into this war without a clear exit plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve," she told the outlet.

"As a result the Strait of Hormuz is now blocked," the Chancellor added in comments which follow Prime Minister **Keir Starmer’**s insistence that the U.K. would keep out of the war started by President Donald Trump who has accused Starmer of not doing enough to help his effort.

Reeves said that British families and businesses would feel the financial impact of the conflict and that when she presented the government’s spring statement in March outlining the country’s economic situation, UK interest rates were projected to fall.

“To start a conflict without being clear what the objectives are and not being clear about how you are going to get out of it, I do think that is a folly and it is one that is affecting families here in the UK but also families in the U.S. and around the world,” Reeves said.

...

Apr 14, 2026 at 05:42 AM EDT

Global oil demand projected to decline amid Iran tensions

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has cut its forecast for global oil demand and supply amid growing concerns about the Strait of Hormuz and disruption in the Middle East.

The Paris-based watchdog said oil demand is projected to decline by 80,000 barrels per day this year, reversing its prediction last month of a rise of 640,000 barrels per day.

The IEA also expects oil supply to fall by 1.5 million barrels per day this year, compared to an increase of 1.1 million projected in March.

However, speculation about negotiations over the Middle East conflict has nudged oil prices lower and increased optimism, according to Susannah Streeter, chief market strategist, Wealth Club.

“Investors appear willing to take on more risk and deploy capital amid expectations that the crisis will calm,” Streeter said in a statement to Newsweek on Tuesday.

“After strong gains on Wall Street and positive sentiment across Asian markets, the FTSE 100 has opened higher, although caution remains,” Streeter added.

Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors are scheduled to meet in Washington, which Streeter said was a key development given Tehran’s insistence that any ceasefire must include a cessation of all strikes.

“While the door appears open to a deal, particularly given political pressure in the US, there remains a significant gap between the positions of both sides.

“As a result, the squeeze on energy supplies is likely to remain a disruptive force, and markets may stay jittery.”

Apr 14, 2026 at 05:10 AM EDT

Iran’s president urges Europe to push U.S. towards deal

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for Europe to play a more active role in pushing the United States toward an agreement with Tehran.

In comments reported by Iranian state media, Pezeshkian told France’s President Emmanuel Macron in a call that Iran was ready to continue talks within international rules and that Europe should encourage Washington to follow.

"Excessive demands and a lack of political will among senior U.S. officials have prevented a deal from being finalized,” Pezeshkian said, “approaches based on threats, pressure and military action are not effective.”

On Tuesday, Reuters reported that U.S. and Iranian officials will return to Islamabad later this week to resume peace talks.

...

Apr 14, 2026 at 04:37 AM EDT

Iran-linked tankers pass through Strait of Hormuz: report

Three vessels linked to Iran have passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the first day of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, Reuters has reported.

Citing shipping data, the news agency said that the vessels were not on their way to Iranian ports and so not covered by the blockade which came into effect on Monday.

The agency said one tanker was the Panama-flagged Peace Gulf, a medium-range tanker that was heading to Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates.

Another was the U.S.-sanctioned Murlikishan, that was en route to Iraq to load fuel oil. The third, according to the agency was the Rich Starry, a US sanctioned and Chinese flagged vessel, which would be the first to pass the strait of Hormuz and is close to the Gulf of Oman.

It is carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol, which it loaded in Hamriyah.

Apr 14, 2026 at 03:39 AM EDT

Hezbollah won’t abide by any deal from Lebanon-Israel talks

Talks are expected to take place between officials from Lebanon and Israel, although the militant group Hezbollah has said it would not abide by any outcome from the negotiations.

The first negotiations in decades between Lebanon and Israel envoys are slated to take place on Tuesday. But Wafiq Safa, from Hezbollah’s political council said regarding their outcomes, “we are not interested in or concerned with them at all,” the Associated Press reported.

Separately, the leader of Hezbollah, Naim Kassem, has urged Lebanon to pull out of the talks with Israel.

It comes as Reuters reported that US and Iranian negotiation teams would return to Islamabad later this week to resume peace talks.

Apr 14, 2026 at 03:13 AM EDT

Vance accuses Iran of “economic terrorism”, teases progress in talks

U.S Vice President JD Vance suggested there had been progress in talks with Tehran, citing how there had been “a lot of progress” as he accused Tehran of “economic terrorism” with its continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance’s comments to Fox News followed the expiry of a deadline on Monday set by President Donald Trump after which the U.S. would impose a blockade around Iranian ports which Tehran has denounced as a “grave violation of its sovereignty.”

Vance touted progress on the U.S. insistence that nuclear material is removed from Iran and on a path to ensure uranium cannot be enriched in the future.

“They moved in our direction,” Vance told Fox News, adding that Iranian negotiators were “unable to cut a deal” and that “the ball is in Iran's court.”

The U.S. blockade of ships using Iranian ports in the Gulf started on Monday, which US Central Command said would apply to any ships entering or departing Iranian ports or coastal areas.

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