{"id":51116,"date":"2026-04-15T05:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T05:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=51116"},"modified":"2026-04-15T05:08:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T05:08:00","slug":"middle-east-crisis-live-us-claims-blockade-has-completely-halted-economic-trade-into-iran-as-trump-hints-at-return-to-talks-in-pakistan-us-israel-war-on-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=51116","title":{"rendered":"Middle East crisis live: US claims blockade has \u2018completely halted economic trade\u2019 into Iran, as Trump hints at return to talks in Pakistan | 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;69df17f78f08a36a162891c6&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Donald Trump has made further hints that talks with &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Iran&lt;\/a&gt; could resume in Pakistan, telling an ABC reporter that he did not think it would be necessary to extend the two-week ceasefire that ends on 21 April.&lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;c47ed6ad-d7af-4972-b4d4-5d22c88b5aa2&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;\u201cI think you\u2019re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,\u201d Trump told reporter Jonathan Karl.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;6cf2f437-da12-4468-9b9d-6ea9f25ea837&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild \u2026They really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;c585c4a9-6ca5-4156-8030-48391b040758&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The signs of diplomatic engagement helped calm oil markets, pressing benchmark prices down for a second day on Wednesday. Asian stocks rose while the safe-haven dollar stabilised after falling for a seventh straight session overnight.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d3516f12-88b2-41b6-8add-afe7ea4245a8&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1776228793000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;00.53\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1776229599000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;01.06\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1776229599000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;01.06\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;01.06&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Trump: 'I think you\u2019re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead'&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Wed 15 Apr 2026 01.06 EDT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Wed 15 Apr 2026 00.53 EDT&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;69ded3a78f0838846e62578a&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Welcome to the Guardian\u2019s continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.&lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;95e8c97e-c46d-4c25-8f3c-2cada45e2a5d&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The US military has said American forces have completely halted economic trade going in and out of &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\\&quot; data-component=\\&quot;auto-linked-tag\\&quot;&gt;Iran&lt;\/a&gt; by sea through a blockade.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;e9e13de6-345d-4c26-a67b-ea4b8d56eb77&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;After talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan ended without a breakthrough, Donald Trump &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;declared a naval blockade&lt;\/a&gt; on ships using Iranian ports in the Gulf in an effort to increase pressure on the country\u2019s economy, and as a counter to Iran\u2019s near-total closure of the strait of Hormuz to ships using other Gulf ports.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;84b64061-3cfa-4e0e-ba2a-f5f325c9bb54&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The blockade has created further uncertainty for shippers, oil companies and war risk insurers.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;93662f1a-0d64-4da7-b5db-35b948ea53a1&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;On Wednesday morning, US central command (Centcom) said US forces had \u201cachieved maritime superiority in the Middle East\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;56a37073-4eb2-4ee3-ae00-2118dc036df5&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;blockquote class=\\&quot;quoted\\&quot;&gt;\\n &lt;p&gt;An estimated 90% of Iran\u2019s economy is fueled by international trade by sea. In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;\\n&lt;\/blockquote&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;0cdcdc6d-919c-4fa5-a7b9-4ff55bfc4ff1&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;&lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\\&quot;&gt;Donald Trump&lt;\/a&gt; has said that talks with Iran could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, according to an interview with the New York Post. &lt;\/strong&gt;\u201cSomething could be happening over the next two days, and we\u2019re more inclined to go there,\u201d Trump was quoted as saying.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington on Tuesday were a \u201chistoric opportunity\u201d. &lt;\/strong&gt;He said that while every complexity would not be resolved immediately, he hoped the parties would begin to move forward.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lebanon\u2019s president expressed hope that direct talks would lead to an end to his country\u2019s \u201csuffering\u201d after war erupted again between Israel and Hezbollah last month. &lt;\/strong&gt;\u201cI hope that the meeting in Washington... will mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and those in the south in particular,\u201d president Joseph Aoun said in a statement, adding that \u201cstability will not return to the south if Israel continues to occupy its lands\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Lebanon\u2019s top envoy to the US said the high-level diplomatic engagement between her country and Israel was \u201cconstructive,\u201d but urged an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants that has displaced thousands of Lebanese. &lt;\/strong&gt;After participating in Tuesday\u2019s talks with Rubio and Israel\u2019s ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad said she had \u201cunderscored the need to preserve our territorial integrity and state sovereignty\u201d.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The US will not renew a 30-day waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil at sea that expires this week officials told Reuters&lt;\/strong&gt;, as the US imposes a blockade on shipments from Iranian ports.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;UK prime minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron will co-host a summit in Paris on Friday focused on efforts to reopen the strait of Hormuz,&lt;\/strong&gt; Downing Street said. A spokesperson said: \u201cThe summit will advance work towards a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping once the conflict ends.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Trump criticised Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, a political ally, in an interview published on Tuesday for her unwillingness to help in the Iran war. &lt;\/strong&gt;\u201cI\u2019m shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,\u201d he told Italian daily Corriere della Sera.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt will meet Turkey\u2019s top diplomat this week &lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;for talks on regional matters, a ministry source told AFP on Tuesday. &lt;\/strong&gt;\u201cThis is the third meeting of the four countries to discuss regional affairs, not specifically Hormuz,\u201d said the source, who wished to remain anonymous.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hezbollah said it targeted 13 northern Israeli towns with rockets shortly after the start of Lebanese-Israeli talks in Washington. &lt;\/strong&gt;In a statement, the group said it targeted Kiryat Shmona, Metula and 11 other towns \u201cwith simultaneous rocket salvos\u201d at 6.15pm.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n &lt;li&gt;\\n  &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;US treasury secretary Scott Bessent has said the underlying US economy remains strong and that growth could still exceed 3% or 3.5% this year despite the impact of the US-Israel war on Iran. &lt;\/strong&gt;Earlier on Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) &lt;a href=\\&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2026\/apr\/14\/iran-war-global-recession-imf-uk-growth-forecasts-oil-prices\\&quot;&gt;cut its growth forecasts for 2026&lt;\/a&gt; based on the impact of the war and said any further escalation in the conflict could trigger a global recession. Bessent however cast cuts in global growth forecasts and higher inflation projections by the IMF and World Bank as an overreaction.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;\\n&lt;\/ul&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d63088ab-a35b-46a2-9d16-79ac1e3648b3&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1776228793000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;00.53\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1776228789000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;00.53\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1776228793000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;00.53\u00a0EDT&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;00.53&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Summary&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Wed 15 Apr 2026 01.06 EDT&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Wed 15 Apr 2026 00.53 EDT&quot;}],&quot;filterKeyEvents&quot;:false,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;key-events-carousel-mobile&quot;,&quot;renderingTarget&quot;:&quot;Web&quot;,&quot;serverTime&quot;:1776229660000}\"><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-69df17f78f08a36a162891c6\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Trump: &#8216;I think you\u2019re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead&#8217;<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Donald Trump has made further hints that talks with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Iran<\/a> could resume in Pakistan, telling an ABC reporter that he did not think it would be necessary to extend the two-week ceasefire that ends on 21 April.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cI think you\u2019re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,\u201d Trump told reporter Jonathan Karl.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><title>double quotation mark<\/title><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild \u2026They really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The signs of diplomatic engagement helped calm oil markets, pressing benchmark prices down for a second day on Wednesday. Asian stocks rose while the safe-haven dollar stabilised after falling for a seventh straight session overnight.<\/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\/15\/iran-war-live-news-us-naval-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-pakistan-peace-talks-middle-east-crisis-latest&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-69df17f78f08a36a162891c6&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-69df17f78f08a36a162891c6&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Middle East crisis live: US claims blockade has \u2018completely halted economic trade\u2019 into Iran, as Trump hints at return to talks in Pakistan&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: US claims blockade has \u2018completely halted economic trade\u2019 into Iran, as Trump hints at return to talks in Pakistan&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/apr\/15\/iran-war-live-news-us-naval-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-pakistan-peace-talks-middle-east-crisis-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69df17f78f08a36a162891c6#block-69df17f78f08a36a162891c6\" 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-69ded3a78f0838846e62578a\" class=\"block dcr-1os4bxs\">\n<header class=\"dcr-88va8u\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1wl2b6o\">Summary<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Welcome to the Guardian\u2019s continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The US military has said American forces have completely halted economic trade going in and out of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/iran\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Iran<\/a> by sea through a blockade.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">After talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan ended without a breakthrough, Donald Trump <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\">declared a naval blockade<\/a> on ships using Iranian ports in the Gulf in an effort to increase pressure on the country\u2019s economy, and as a counter to Iran\u2019s near-total closure of the strait of Hormuz to ships using other Gulf ports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The blockade has created further uncertainty for shippers, oil companies and war risk insurers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">On Wednesday morning, US central command (Centcom) said US forces had \u201cachieved maritime superiority in the Middle East\u201d.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-154zxly\">\n<p><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 14\" style=\"fill:var(--block-quote-fill)\" class=\"dcr-scql1j\"><title>double quotation mark<\/title><path d=\"M5.255 0h4.75c-.572 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941H0C.792 9.104 2.44 4.53 5.255 0Zm11.061 0H21c-.506 4.53-1.077 8.972-1.297 13.941h-8.686c.902-4.837 2.485-9.411 5.3-13.941Z\"\/><\/svg>An estimated 90% of Iran\u2019s economy is fueled by international trade by sea. In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, U.S. forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<ul class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a> has said that talks with Iran could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, according to an interview with the New York Post. <\/strong>\u201cSomething could be happening over the next two days, and we\u2019re more inclined to go there,\u201d Trump was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>US secretary of state Marco Rubio said Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington on Tuesday were a \u201chistoric opportunity\u201d. <\/strong>He said that while every complexity would not be resolved immediately, he hoped the parties would begin to move forward.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Lebanon\u2019s president expressed hope that direct talks would lead to an end to his country\u2019s \u201csuffering\u201d after war erupted again between Israel and Hezbollah last month. <\/strong>\u201cI hope that the meeting in Washington&#8230; will mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and those in the south in particular,\u201d president Joseph Aoun said in a statement, adding that \u201cstability will not return to the south if Israel continues to occupy its lands\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Lebanon\u2019s top envoy to the US said the high-level diplomatic engagement between her country and Israel was \u201cconstructive,\u201d but urged an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants that has displaced thousands of Lebanese. <\/strong>After participating in Tuesday\u2019s talks with Rubio and Israel\u2019s ambassador to the US, Nada Hamadeh Moawad said she had \u201cunderscored the need to preserve our territorial integrity and state sovereignty\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>The US will not renew a 30-day waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil at sea that expires this week officials told Reuters<\/strong>, as the US imposes a blockade on shipments from Iranian ports.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>UK prime minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron will co-host a summit in Paris on Friday focused on efforts to reopen the strait of Hormuz,<\/strong> Downing Street said. A spokesperson said: \u201cThe summit will advance work towards a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping once the conflict ends.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Trump criticised Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, a political ally, in an interview published on Tuesday for her unwillingness to help in the Iran war. <\/strong>\u201cI\u2019m shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,\u201d he told Italian daily Corriere della Sera.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt will meet Turkey\u2019s top diplomat this week <\/strong><strong>for talks on regional matters, a ministry source told AFP on Tuesday. <\/strong>\u201cThis is the third meeting of the four countries to discuss regional affairs, not specifically Hormuz,\u201d said the source, who wished to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>Hezbollah said it targeted 13 northern Israeli towns with rockets shortly after the start of Lebanese-Israeli talks in Washington. <\/strong>In a statement, the group said it targeted Kiryat Shmona, Metula and 11 other towns \u201cwith simultaneous rocket salvos\u201d at 6.15pm.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><strong>US treasury secretary Scott Bessent has said the underlying US economy remains strong and that growth could still exceed 3% or 3.5% this year despite the impact of the US-Israel war on Iran. <\/strong>Earlier on Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2026\/apr\/14\/iran-war-global-recession-imf-uk-growth-forecasts-oil-prices\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">cut its growth forecasts for 2026<\/a> based on the impact of the war and said any further escalation in the conflict could trigger a global recession. Bessent however cast cuts in global growth forecasts and higher inflation projections by the IMF and World Bank as an overreaction.<\/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\/15\/iran-war-live-news-us-naval-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-pakistan-peace-talks-middle-east-crisis-latest&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-69ded3a78f0838846e62578a&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-69ded3a78f0838846e62578a&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;Middle East crisis live: US claims blockade has \u2018completely halted economic trade\u2019 into Iran, as Trump hints at return to talks in Pakistan&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: US claims blockade has \u2018completely halted economic trade\u2019 into Iran, as Trump hints at return to talks in Pakistan&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/apr\/15\/iran-war-live-news-us-naval-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-pakistan-peace-talks-middle-east-crisis-latest?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-69ded3a78f0838846e62578a#block-69ded3a78f0838846e62578a\" 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\/15\/iran-war-live-news-us-naval-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-pakistan-peace-talks-middle-east-crisis-latest\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Trump: &#8216;I think you\u2019re going to be watching an amazing two days&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":51117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51116","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\/51116","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=51116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51116\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/51117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=51116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=51116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=51116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}