{"id":50020,"date":"2026-04-14T01:34:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T01:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=50020"},"modified":"2026-04-14T01:34:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T01:34:19","slug":"middle-east-crisis-live-hezbollah-urges-lebanon-to-pull-out-of-talks-with-israel-blockade-of-strait-of-hormuz-begins-us-israel-war-on-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=50020","title":{"rendered":"Middle East crisis live: Hezbollah urges Lebanon to pull out of talks with Israel; blockade of strait of Hormuz begins | US-Israel war on Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"liveblog-body\"><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><gu-island name=\"KeyEventsCarousel\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;keyEvents&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;69dd85cb8f0823a7954dad3a&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Lebanese militant group &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/hezbollah\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Hezbollah&lt;\/a&gt; will not abide by any agreements that may result from direct Lebanon-Israel talks in the US&lt;\/strong&gt;, negotiations it firmly opposes, a senior Hezbollah official has said.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;6675592c-3399-4579-80c8-51fc5de60515&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Wafiq Safa&lt;\/strong&gt;, a high-ranking member of Hezbollah\u2019s political council, spoke on the eve of talks expected in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;4abadd06-3821-4088-a619-9621f89ee063&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;It will be the first time in decades that envoys from &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/lebanon\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Lebanon&lt;\/a&gt; and Israel, which do not have diplomatic relations, meet face-to-face in direct talks.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d4d3f2af-bddd-444e-99af-eb8342e9d281&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;\u201cAs for the outcomes of this negotiation between Lebanon and the Israeli enemy, we are not interested in or concerned with them at all,\u201d Safa told the Associated Press.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;40782f7c-60b2-497e-be58-07b8ace09f27&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Separately, the leader of Hezbollah urged Lebanon to pull out of the talks with Israel. &lt;strong&gt;Naim Kassem&lt;\/strong&gt; spoke in a televised address on the eve of the scheduled meeting.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;17b61c8b-aac3-4a97-bc0b-feaf2e894610&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The latest round of fighting was sparked by Hezbollah firing rockets into northern Israel on 2 March, after the US and Israel attacked &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Iran&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;5b342d24-c2a6-4454-aaa5-31d8b8d52a58&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;At least 2,055 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the health ,inistry says, among them 252 women, 165 children and 87 medical workers, while 6,588 others were wounded. More than 1 million people have been displaced.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;9074068a-665e-4997-9696-34e5665f3b1a&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Lebanon\u2019s government \u2013 which says it is committed to disarming Hezbollah \u2013 had called for direct talks early on in the war. Last week, Israel announced its approval of talks.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;83955bd6-3312-405a-995b-1a19635f18b2&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1776130190000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;21.29\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1776130359000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;21.32\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1776130360000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;21.32\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;21.32&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Hezbollah says it will not abide by agreements from Lebanon-Israel talks&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Mon 13 Apr 2026 21.32 EDT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Mon 13 Apr 2026 21.29 EDT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;69dd7f608f08aa81602c89df&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Welcome to the Guardian\u2019s continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;78667fac-d952-4daf-ba5d-ef1520179a02&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/apr\/13\/deadline-passes-for-us-blockade-on-ships-using-iranian-ports-to-begin\\&quot;&gt;US blockade of ships using Iranian ports&lt;\/a&gt; in the Gulf began&lt;strong&gt; &lt;\/strong&gt;on Monday, turning the six-week-old conflict between the US-Israeli coalition and &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\\&quot;&gt;Iran&lt;\/a&gt; into a test of economic endurance.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;a0228df0-9cb0-47a8-932a-c388a8fe0350&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;US Central Command (Centcom) made no formal announcement of the start of the blockade but had said it would take effect at 5.30pm Iranian time on Monday, and would apply to any ships entering or departing Iranian ports or coastal areas. Ships using non-Iranian ports would not be impeded.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f6f81a31-8dbf-4358-956f-25d304aa0644&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Donald Trump claimed that 34 ships had passed on Sunday through the strait of Hormuz, the gateway to the Gulf, but gave no supporting evidence. Speaking to reporters at the White House, the president also claimed: \u201cWe\u2019ve been called by the other side,\u201d who he said would \u201clike to make a deal very badly\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;5674d48f-dfc4-42a0-a400-9b904c4bc2ca&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;ul&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Trump said the blockade would be on all Iranian ports along the strait from Monday onward&lt;\/strong&gt;. About 20% of the global oil and gas supply moved through this waterway before the war. Seafarers as well as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received advisories indicating Trump\u2019s blockade would apply to all ship traffic, regardless of the vessel\u2019s flag.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Trump claimed that Iran wanted to reach a deal.&lt;\/strong&gt; He insisted the US would not agree to any deal that would permit Iran to have a nuclear weapon. \u201cWe can\u2019t let a country blackmail or extort the world,\u201d he said at a last-minute press conference at the White House on Monday.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;After receiving a McDonald\u2019s delivery at the beginning of the presser, Trump invoked bellicose language in discussing Iran.&lt;\/strong&gt; \u201cIran will not have a nuclear weapon, and we\u2019re going to get the dust back. We\u2019ll get it back, either we\u2019ll get it back from them, or we\u2019ll take it,\u201d he said. At one point, when questioned about some sort of prior ultimatum regarding Iran, Trump said: \u201cI don\u2019t want to comment on that but it won\u2019t be pleasant.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Talks are expected in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US&lt;\/strong&gt;. It will be the first time in decades that envoys from Lebanon and Israel, which do not have diplomatic relations, will meet face-to-face in direct talks. Lebanese officials are looking to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;There were reports indicating that US officials were continuing talks with Tehran.&lt;\/strong&gt; One official told CNN: \u201cThere is continued engagement between the US and Iran and forward motion on trying to get an agreement.\u201d Meanwhile, some administration officials were having internal talks about how a second sit-down with Iranian officials might look, should the opportunity arise, CNN reported.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Trump blasted Pope Leo XIV on social media in response to the pontiff\u2019s call for an end to the war.&lt;\/strong&gt; The president claimed the pope was trying to appease the \u201cradical left\u201d. The pope said he had \u201cno intention to debate\u201d Trump over Iran but would continue to advocate for peace. US vice-president JD Vance urged the Vatican to \u201cstick to matters of morality\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n&lt;\/ul&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;6a867c3b-c07f-4395-a4ef-83ad34dbd1d8&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1776130190000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;21.29\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1776130161000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;21.29\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1776130190000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;21.29\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;21.29&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Summary&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Mon 13 Apr 2026 21.32 EDT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Mon 13 Apr 2026 21.29 EDT&quot;}],&quot;filterKeyEvents&quot;:false,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;key-events-carousel-mobile&quot;,&quot;renderingTarget&quot;:&quot;Web&quot;,&quot;serverTime&quot;:1776130459189}\"><span id=\"key-events-carousel-mobile\"\/><span class=\"dcr-90inr0\"><\/p>\n<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/gu-island><gu-island name=\"FilterKeyEventsToggle\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;filterKeyEvents&quot;:false,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;filter-toggle-mobile&quot;}\"><span id=\"filter-toggle-mobile\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-alru3r\"><label id=\"filter-toggle-mobile-switch_description\" data-component=\"filter-key-events\" data-link-name=\"filter-key-events-on\" class=\"dcr-rrspei\"><button id=\"filter-toggle-mobile-switch\" role=\"switch\" aria-checked=\"false\" aria-labelledby=\"filter-toggle-mobile-switch_description\" class=\"dcr-dh5oqp\"\/>Show key events only<\/p>\n<p><span>Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/label><\/div>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"block-69dd85cb8f0823a7954dad3a\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Hezbollah says it will not abide by agreements from Lebanon-Israel talks<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>The Lebanese militant group <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/hezbollah\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Hezbollah<\/a> will not abide by any agreements that may result from direct Lebanon-Israel talks in the US<\/strong>, negotiations it firmly opposes, a senior Hezbollah official has said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Wafiq Safa<\/strong>, a high-ranking member of Hezbollah\u2019s political council, spoke on the eve of talks expected in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It will be the first time in decades that envoys from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/lebanon\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Lebanon<\/a> and Israel, which do not have diplomatic relations, meet face-to-face in direct talks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cAs for the outcomes of this negotiation between Lebanon and the Israeli enemy, we are not interested in or concerned with them at all,\u201d Safa told the Associated Press.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Separately, the leader of Hezbollah urged Lebanon to pull out of the talks with Israel. <strong>Naim Kassem<\/strong> spoke in a televised address on the eve of the scheduled meeting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The latest round of fighting was sparked by Hezbollah firing rockets into northern Israel on 2 March, after the US and Israel attacked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">At least 2,055 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the health ,inistry says, among them 252 women, 165 children and 87 medical workers, while 6,588 others were wounded. More than 1 million people have been displaced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Lebanon\u2019s government \u2013 which says it is committed to disarming Hezbollah \u2013 had called for direct talks early on in the war. Last week, Israel announced its approval of talks.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;world\/live\/2026\/apr\/14\/middle-east-crisis-live-hezbollah-urges-lebanon-to-pull-out-of-talks-with-israel-blockade-of-strait-of-hormuz-begins&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-69dd85cb8f0823a7954dad3a&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-69dd85cb8f0823a7954dad3a&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Middle East crisis live: Hezbollah urges Lebanon to pull out of talks with Israel; blockade of strait of Hormuz begins&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: Hezbollah urges Lebanon to pull out of talks with Israel; blockade of strait of Hormuz begins&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/apr\/14\/middle-east-crisis-live-hezbollah-urges-lebanon-to-pull-out-of-talks-with-israel-blockade-of-strait-of-hormuz-begins?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69dd85cb8f0823a7954dad3a#block-69dd85cb8f0823a7954dad3a\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-jko40v\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-69dd7f608f08aa81602c89df\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Summary<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Welcome to the Guardian\u2019s continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/apr\/13\/deadline-passes-for-us-blockade-on-ships-using-iranian-ports-to-begin\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">US blockade of ships using Iranian ports<\/a> in the Gulf began<strong> <\/strong>on Monday, turning the six-week-old conflict between the US-Israeli coalition and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Iran<\/a> into a test of economic endurance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">US Central Command (Centcom) made no formal announcement of the start of the blockade but had said it would take effect at 5.30pm Iranian time on Monday, and would apply to any ships entering or departing Iranian ports or coastal areas. Ships using non-Iranian ports would not be impeded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Donald Trump claimed that 34 ships had passed on Sunday through the strait of Hormuz, the gateway to the Gulf, but gave no supporting evidence. Speaking to reporters at the White House, the president also claimed: \u201cWe\u2019ve been called by the other side,\u201d who he said would \u201clike to make a deal very badly\u201d.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Trump said the blockade would be on all Iranian ports along the strait from Monday onward<\/strong>. About 20% of the global oil and gas supply moved through this waterway before the war. Seafarers as well as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received advisories indicating Trump\u2019s blockade would apply to all ship traffic, regardless of the vessel\u2019s flag.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Trump claimed that Iran wanted to reach a deal.<\/strong> He insisted the US would not agree to any deal that would permit Iran to have a nuclear weapon. \u201cWe can\u2019t let a country blackmail or extort the world,\u201d he said at a last-minute press conference at the White House on Monday.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>After receiving a McDonald\u2019s delivery at the beginning of the presser, Trump invoked bellicose language in discussing Iran.<\/strong> \u201cIran will not have a nuclear weapon, and we\u2019re going to get the dust back. We\u2019ll get it back, either we\u2019ll get it back from them, or we\u2019ll take it,\u201d he said. At one point, when questioned about some sort of prior ultimatum regarding Iran, Trump said: \u201cI don\u2019t want to comment on that but it won\u2019t be pleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Talks are expected in Washington between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the US<\/strong>. It will be the first time in decades that envoys from Lebanon and Israel, which do not have diplomatic relations, will meet face-to-face in direct talks. Lebanese officials are looking to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>There were reports indicating that US officials were continuing talks with Tehran.<\/strong> One official told CNN: \u201cThere is continued engagement between the US and Iran and forward motion on trying to get an agreement.\u201d Meanwhile, some administration officials were having internal talks about how a second sit-down with Iranian officials might look, should the opportunity arise, CNN reported.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Trump blasted Pope Leo XIV on social media in response to the pontiff\u2019s call for an end to the war.<\/strong> The president claimed the pope was trying to appease the \u201cradical left\u201d. The pope said he had \u201cno intention to debate\u201d Trump over Iran but would continue to advocate for peace. US vice-president JD Vance urged the Vatican to \u201cstick to matters of morality\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<footer class=\"dcr-3i7iba\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;world\/live\/2026\/apr\/14\/middle-east-crisis-live-hezbollah-urges-lebanon-to-pull-out-of-talks-with-israel-blockade-of-strait-of-hormuz-begins&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-69dd7f608f08aa81602c89df&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-69dd7f608f08aa81602c89df&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Middle East crisis live: Hezbollah urges Lebanon to pull out of talks with Israel; blockade of strait of Hormuz begins&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:0},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Middle East crisis live: Hezbollah urges Lebanon to pull out of talks with Israel; blockade of strait of Hormuz begins&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/apr\/14\/middle-east-crisis-live-hezbollah-urges-lebanon-to-pull-out-of-talks-with-israel-blockade-of-strait-of-hormuz-begins?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69dd7f608f08aa81602c89df#block-69dd7f608f08aa81602c89df\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/apr\/14\/middle-east-crisis-live-hezbollah-urges-lebanon-to-pull-out-of-talks-with-israel-blockade-of-strait-of-hormuz-begins\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Hezbollah says it will not abide by agreements from Lebanon-Israel talks The&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":50021,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=50020"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50020\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/50021"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=50020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=50020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=50020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}