Live updates: Iran declares Strait of Hormuz 'completely open'; Trump says U.S. blockade 'will remain in full force' until peace deal

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney said today that he spoke with the leaders of France and the U.K. about the severe disruptions to trade and maritime traffic cause by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz

“We welcome the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and the announcement that Iran will be reopening the Strait,” he said on X.

“Canada stands in full solidarity with Gulf partners who have faced recent retaliatory attacks and economic pressure, and welcomes France and the UK’s efforts to advance coordinated diplomatic and planning initiatives to restore safe and reliable passage through this essential corridor,” Carney said.

Recent Sentinel-2 satellite imagery captured active fires raging at two of Iran’s oil refineries days after multiple crude oil storage tanks were damaged at each site.

Imagery taken on Wednesday showed large smoke plumes rising from two damaged crude oil tanks after the Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported unknown blasts at the site eight days ago. According to data from Tanker Trackers, a maritime research firm, one of the tanks seen burning had the capacity to hold about one million barrels of oil — enough to power all U.S. auto traffic for 3.9 hours.

Sentinel-2 image of the Sirri Island Oil Refinery fire on April 15, 2026.  Courtesy Copernicus, Sentinel-2, EO browser

At the Lavan oil refinery 95 miles away from Sirri Island, crude oil was seen seeping from multiple tanks and into the Persian Gulf after the Iranian oil ministry’s news outlet Shana reported that they were hit in an “enemy” airstrike on April 8. The damage caused a massive oil spill seen from space in satellite imagery taken on April 10.

Due to cloudy conditions affecting recent satellite imagery it’s unclear if there is still an active fire at this site.

The spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said today that compensation for war damages was one of Iran's top priorities in any negotiations with the U.S.

Trump today touted the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement but said whatever happens that is not part of an agreement with Iran.

“Our deal with Iran is not in any way tied to Lebanon but we will make Lebanon great again,” Trump said at a speech in Arizona today.

“It’s about time we did so. The world has forgotten them, and they’re good people who have lived like hell for a long period of time,” Trump said.

Trump said also said that “hopefully the situation with Hezbollah will get straightened out quickly.”

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire.

The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in early March in solidarity with Iran after the U.S. and Israel attacked the Islamic Republic on Feb. 28. And Israel retaliated with attacks across Lebanon that killed more than 2,000 people. 23 people have been killed in Israel since the war with Iran started.

Hassan Abu Khalil says he left his home in Tyre, Lebanon to meet some friends shortly before the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel came into effect on Thursday. He then heard the Israeli strike which destroyed the building and left 13 members of his family buried under the rubble.

‘No one is left’: Pre-ceasefire missile strike kills Lebanese man’s entire family

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Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that if the U.S. navy continues to blockade marine traffic from Iranian ports then the Strait of Hormuz will close.

"If the blockade continues, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," Ghalibaf wrote in a post on X.

He added, "Transit in the Strait of Hormuz will take place based on a 'designated route' and with 'authorization from Iran.'"

In the post, Ghalibaf said Trump "made 7 claims in one hour, all 7 of which are false."

He did not note what exactly these seven claims are but did criticize the use of social media to determine the status of the strait.

"Whether the strait is open or closed, and the rules governing it, are determined in the field, not by social media," he said in the post.

Trump again attacked NATO at a speech to a friendly crowd at Turning Point Action in Arizona today over its refusal to join in the war launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.

The crowd booed when Trump mentioned the U.S.-European alliance, and Trump said that NATO was "absolutely useless when we needed them.”

He compared them to someone who Trump claimed tried to make a campaign donation after he’d won the presidency.

“And I said ‘listen, just so you understand: Campaign contributions after I won don’t count, they don’t,’” Trump said. “And NATO, after we won, that doesn’t count either, it’s the same thing.”

Trump also repeated his claim that the Iran war was only “an excursion.”

“This was just a military excursion,” Trump said “This isn’t the biggie. This isn’t the big time.”

The International Rescue Committee warned today that although the Strait of Hormuz has been reopened to commercial vessels, disruption from its closure "will not be quickly reversed."

"Weeks of airspace and shipping route closures have already created significant backlogs that are likely to take weeks, if not months, to clear," said IRC Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Kelly Razzouk. "Ongoing uncertainty and the risk of renewed constraints on the free flow of goods mean the situation remains fragile."

Humanitarian organizations will be forced to "rebudget" as a result of rising costs associated with transport and rerouting, Razzouk said, adding that delays will also slow down delivery to those in need.

Trump told reporters today that the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports "ends as soon as the agreement gets signed" with the Iranian delegation.

"We're having a big day. We'll see how it all turns out, but it should be good. We've had some very good discussions," the president said on the tarmac after landing in Phoenix this afternoon.

Asked about reports that Iranian officials say there are still "significant differences" between the two nations, Trump said, "Well, there could be, let's see what happens."

"If there are, we'll have to straighten it out. But I don't think there's too many significant differences," the president continued.

U.S. crude closed down by 11.45% today to $83.85 per barrel, its lowest level since March 10, after Iran said it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial ships.

Today was the second-largest one-day drop for oil since the war began, though U.S. oil is still up 25% since Feb. 28. It’s also still up 45% since the start of the year.

But the last two weeks could spell some relief, especially at the gas pump, for consumers. U.S. crude oil has fallen 24.8% in its largest two-week percentage drop since April 2020.

Stocks also rallied on the news, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both closed at record highs, their third straight record closes in a row.

For both of them, and the Dow, it’s also the third straight week of gains. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 4.5%, the Nasdaq rose nearly 7%, and the Dow rose more than 3%.

Read more about today's market action here.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said today that Iran's enriched uranium will not be leaving the country.

"Iran’s enriched uranium will under no circumstances be transferred anywhere," he told state TV.

He added, "Transferring uranium to the United States has not been an option. Just as Iran’s soil is sacred, enriched uranium is the same."

Trump told CBS News today that Iranian officials had "agreed to everything," including the removal of enriched uranium.

“Our people, together with the Iranians, are going to work together to go get it. And then we’ll take it to the United States,” Trump said.

Baghaei told state TV that the lifting of sanctions and compensation for war damages were of "particular importance" to Iran.

"There is no ambiguity regarding any part of the negotiations," Baghaei said. "We have clearly stated our positions."

The first cruise ship has transited the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran, according to ship tracking service MarineTraffic.

The Malta-flagged Celestyal Discovery is the first passenger vessel to transit the strait since the conflict started in February, per the tracking service. It has been docked for around 47 days in Dubai, where it left yesterday. It is headed toward Muscat, Oman.

The ship had no passengers on it.

Funerals held for Lebanese aid workers killed in Israeli strikes prior to ceasefire

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Funerals were held for paramedics killed in what officials and aid groups said were Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon prior to the ceasefire. According to paramedic groups, three consecutive Israeli strikes targeted the Lebanese rescue workers, killing four and injuring six others.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun addressed the public today as the ceasefire with Israel went into effect.

Aoun said his government has reclaimed power within the country and that negotiations with Israel are not a sign of weakness, adding that "we are no longer anyone's pawn."

"We are no longer anyone's battleground. And we never will be again," Aoun said. "Rather, we have returned to being a nation that alone possesses its own decision-making power, holds it high, and embodies it in word and deed, solely for the sake of its people and the well-being of its children."

Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia group, launched rockets at Israel from Lebanon last month in response to the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. Israel's subsequent strikes in Lebanon have killed over 2,200 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Iran has threatened to "take the necessary measures" if the U.S. does not lift its blockade of Iranian ports. Trump earlier said that the blockade would continue until a full peace agreement is reached, despite Iran agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to state media, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said: “If the other side chooses to break its commitments, which it appears it intends to do, and if the naval blockade continues, the Islamic Republic of Iran will in response take the necessary measures, and there is no doubt about this.”

There had been "contradictory positions" put out by the U.S., he said.

Iran has reopened the strait to commercial vessels for the duration of its ceasefire. The opening and the "transit of commercial vessels with coordination from Iran" was a key part of the temporary agreement reached last week, Baghaei said, with Iran's commitments being put into effect following the ceasefire in Lebanon.

In a post on X, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called Iran's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire "a step in the right direction."

Guterres said he hopes that the move and the ceasefire "will contribute to creating confidence between the parties and strengthen the ongoing dialogue facilitated by Pakistan."

Lebanon's humanitarian and medical needs "remain overwhelming" following the ceasefire there, according to Doctors Without Borders.

Many people in southern Lebanon have lost their homes, jobs and loved ones, with over a million being forcibly displaced, the organization said, adding that it's calling for "an urgent scale-up of humanitarian aid and unhindered access to aid for people in need across the country."

While some are attempting to return home following the implementation of the ceasefire, the organization warns that "uncertainty remains high."

"Many do not know if they will find their homes standing or destroyed," the organization said. "Although a pause to attacks may bring some relief, people’s humanitarian needs remain urgent and immense. This includes the psychological impact of months of trauma caused by killings, displacement, and a lack of access to basic necessities."

Iranian people should be skeptical of the enemy’s smiles, especially Trump’s, the Friday prayers imam in Tehran said.

In comments carried by the semiofficial Tasnim news agency, Ahmad Khatami said no one will dare to attack Iran anymore because that will not lead anywhere, and the people of Iran will not agree to negotiate with humiliation. 

Two of the world’s largest shipping companies welcomed Iran's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is now open for commercial vessels, but they warned that questions remain.

“Since the outbreak of the conflict, we have followed the guidance of our security partners in the region, and the recommendation so far has been to avoid transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” shipping giant Maersk said. “Any decision to transit the strait will be based on risk assessments and close monitoring of the security situation.”

The shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd said “there are still some open questions,” but that its “crisis committee is in session and will try to resolve all open items” in the next 24 to 36 hours.

“If all open issues are cleared (i.e. insurance coverage, clear orders of Iranian government/military about the exact sea corridor to be used and the sequence of ships leaving) we would prefer to pass the strait as soon as possible,” the company’s statement said.

In a statement issued today, senior Iranian military official Ali Abdollahi said that the U.S. and Israel "have no option but to bow and submit" before Iran, according to state news agency IRNA, continuing fiery rhetoric despite a ceasefire.

The U.S. and Iran have yet to reach a full peace deal, but Iran has reopened the Strait of Hormuz following its ceasefire agreement, and a separate deal reached between Lebanon and Israel.

Trump has said negotiations between the U.S. and Iran "should go very quickly."

Navy vessels are still prohibited from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a senior Iranian military official, state news agency IRIB reported.

Iran recently reopened the strait for commercial vessels only for the remainder of the ceasefire with the U.S.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said "Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again."

"It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!" he wrote.

Trump did not clarify what agreement he is referring to.

Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz for the remainder of the ceasefire with the U.S. and Israel, with Araghchi adding that the move was made following the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.

A girl holds an image of the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburbs, today. Bilal Hussein / AP

Displaced residents travel back to the southern Lebanese town of Marwanieh with their belongings strapped to the roof of their car. Mahmoud Zayyat / AFP - Getty Images

A passenger waves a Hezbollah flag as they pass destruction in Beirut today. Elif Ozturk / Anadolu via Getty Images

Heavy southbound traffic as displaced people return to their homes today in Sidon. Houssam Shbaro / Anadolu via Getty Images

Holding pictures of fallen leaders and waving Hezbollah flags, people celebrated as thousands of displaced Lebanese returned following the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israel has been "prohibited" from attacking Lebanon by the U.S., Trump said in his latest Truth Social post, a day after announcing a ceasefire between the two countries.

He wrote: "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!"

A 10-day ceasefire is in place between Lebanon and Israel, which appears to be holding as residents of south Lebanon are returning to their homes.

Separately, Trump said "no money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form," under the peace deal being discussed by the U.S. and Iran.

NATO will not collapse despite threats from Trump over Iran, the Estonian defense minister said, and that his country has no doubts the U.S. would come to the defense of its NATO ally if Russia attacked.

“Yes, I trust the U.S. and, yes, I trust all our allies,” Hanno Pevkur said, speaking on a visit to Vilnius yesterday.

“It is our duty and the responsibility to keep NATO together, because we all will only benefit from this,” Pevkur said. “And when we lose that unity, then it’s not only about Europe, it’s also about the U.S., who will lose a very big ally. So this is why I, to be honest, I don’t believe that NATO will collapse.”

Earlier this month, Trump said he was strongly considering pulling the U.S. out of the alliance over members’ reluctance to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have welcomed the expected reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The leaders convened a summit in Paris intended to address the Hormuz crisis today, attended in person or virtually by representatives from 49 countries, when the separate announcement came from Iran.

Macron said that the announcement moves in the “right direction” despite the U.S. plans for a continued “targeted blockade,” telling a joint press conference that work would be accelerated for a neutral mission “to support and secure” merchant ships in the Gulf, with a planning meeting set to take place in London next week.

From left, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Paris today. Jeanne Accorsini / AFP - Getty Images

Macron said that independent countries agreed on the need for “free passage conditions that existed before the war,” warning against “all restrictions and any convention regime" that would de facto privatize the strait, as well as opposing "any toll system.”

Starmer said: “We welcome the announcement that was made during our meeting, but we need to make sure that it is both lasting and a workable proposal.”

The British leader said that a "strictly peaceful and defensive" joint mission would reassure shipping and support mine clearance, inviting "all nations with an interest in the free flow of global trade" to join. "More than a dozen" countries have already offered to contribute, he said.

The price of oil plunged sharply and U.S. stock indexes opened at new all-time highs after the Iranian foreign minister said that the Strait of Hormuz was open for commercial vessels.

U.S. crude oil plunged 10% to nearly $85 per barrel, while international Brent crude also slid more than 8% to around $90 per barrel.

Heating oil futures, which are a proxy for jet fuel, plummeted 13%. Wholesale RBOB gas futures also fell 7%.

At the opening bell, the S&P 500 rose 0.6% and the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1%. Both set new all-time highs in early trading as a result.

Read the full story here.

Despite Iran announcing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. blockade remains in full force, Trump has said in a Truth Social post.

"THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE," he said.

Trump said that negotiations for a peace deal "SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED."

The president has posted to Truth Social thanking Iran after it declared the Strait of Hormuz completely open to commercial shipping via a coordinated route during the ceasefire.

"IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!" Trump said in the post.

Trump had made reopening the crucial trade route a condition for the ceasefire, though he later imposed a blockade of Iranian ports after Tehran didn't reopen the strait and the two sides fell short of a peace deal.

The Strait of Hormuz is completely open for commercial ships for the remainder of the ceasefire, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said.

"In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," Araghchi said in a post on X.

The U.S. has been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports since talks with Iran collapsed in Pakistan this weekend. And the leaders of Britain and France are holding a virtual summit to discuss ways to restore shipping through the key waterway given the threat of mines.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called direct negotiations with Israel “delicate and crucial” as he called for unity amid the 10-day ceasefire.

Addressing lawmakers earlier today, Aoun said the world’s eyes were on Lebanon and the state’s position was to solidify the ceasefire, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces, secure the release of prisoners and resolve outstanding border disputes.

A ceasefire is the gateway to proceeding with negotiations, Aoun said, adding that the Lebanese army will play a fundamental role after the Israeli withdrawal. 

A displaced man waves in Qasmiyeh, near Tyre in southern Lebanon, as he returns with his family to their village following the ceasefire. Mohammed Zaatari / AP

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U.S. Central Command released video it says shows a warship enforcing its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by ordering a merchant vessel to divert in the Gulf of Oman.

Israel's defense minister has said that the country's invasion and assault on Lebanon "have not yet been completed."

“The IDF holds and will continue to hold all the areas it has cleared and captured. The ground maneuver into Lebanon and the strikes against Hezbollah across Lebanon have achieved many accomplishments, but they have not yet been completed," Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement this morning.

"The objective we defined — disarming Hezbollah through military or diplomatic means — was and remains the campaign’s goal, to which we are committed. A significant diplomatic lever has now also been created, with the direct involvement of the President of the United States and a commitment to this objective, alongside pressure on the Lebanese government,” Katz said.

Officers in "protective clothing" are among those responding to an "ongoing incident" near the Israeli Embassy in London, police said this morning.

"Counter Terrorism Policing London are aware of a video shared online overnight in which a group claim to have targeted the nearby Embassy of Israel with drones carrying dangerous substances," police said.

"While we can confirm that the Embassy has not been attacked, we are carrying out urgent enquiries to determine the authenticity of the video and to identify any potential link between it and the items discarded in Kensington Gardens," police added.

"We do not believe there to be any increased public safety risk at this stage, but we would urge people to avoid the area while officers carry out their work."

Large portraits of children killed in a deadly strike on a school in the southern city of Minab at the start of the war in Iran were displayed in Tehran’s Tajrish Square yesterday.

AFP via Getty Images

AFP via Getty Images

An American munition was likely responsible for the strike, according to preliminary U.S. findings.

AFP via Getty Images

France, Belgium and the Netherlands have the capacity to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz and secure safe passage, French Defense Minister Catherin Vautrin told the French TV station TFI today.

“There are capabilities ⁠to provide fully supported escort ​services — that is to say, in ​no way offensive, of course — for ships to ensure safe passage through the strait; ​that is what will be ​debated today in Paris,” she said, according to Reuters.

Her comments came ahead of a meeting of 40 countries to discuss restoring freedom of navigation in the waterway.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Paris where he and French President Emmanuel Macron will chair a virtual summit today of some 40 nations, which does not include the U.S. or Israel, on how to ensure the security of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz once the Iran war ends.

The objective of the initiative is to reopen the crucial trade route and keep it safe for shipping, returning the situation as much as possible to how it was before the U.S. and Israel began strikes on Iran more than seven weeks ago, senior French diplomatic and military officials told reporters at a briefing yesterday.

A multinational coalition of the willing will contribute military assets to support these objectives, including for demining if necessary. The initiative will not include offensive military operations, and France and its allies will not support U.S. military operations.

The countries taking part in the meeting today believe that there must be an end to the war as soon as possible followed by a durable peace, the officials said. Iran must agree not to attack vessels and the U.S. must agree not to block the strait.

It could take around two years for energy output to reach where it was before the war, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said this morning.

“That will vary ​from country to country. In Iraq, for example, ⁠it will take much longer than in Saudi Arabia.” Birol said in an interview published today with the Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung, according to Reuters. "​However, we estimate it will take approximately two years ​overall to reach prewar levels again."

Though the IEA was not releasing more emergency oil reserves for now, "it's definitely under consideration," he said.

"If the Strait of Hormuz ​is not reopened, we must prepare for ​significantly higher ⁠energy prices," he added.

South Korea said one of its vessels has transported crude oil through the Red Sea for the first time since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed amid the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.

The ship was loaded with crude oil at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port and safely exited the Red Sea along an alternative route to reach South Korea, according to the country’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

The ministry did not say when the vessel is expected to arrive or whether additional ships will use the route.

President Lee Jae Myung called it a “valuable achievement,” adding that the government is mobilizing all available resources to respond to disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East.

“We will continue to devote our utmost efforts to safeguarding the lives of our people,” he added in a statement posted on X. 

The Lebanese army said it was working to restore the key Qasmiyeh-Tyre Bridge as civilians rushed to return to their homes south of the bridge as the ceasefire with Israel came into effect.

People watch restoration work to Qasmieh Bridge Friday. Ibrahim Amro / AFP via Getty Images

The bridge, which officials said was destroyed yesterday during an Israeli attack, runs along the Litani River and is a critical connection between southern Lebanon and the rest of the country.

"A military unit has been stationed in the vicinity of the bridge," the army said on X.

Israeli troops still remain in southern Lebanon.

Displaced residents travel back to their homes past the ongoing restoration work to Qasmieh Bridge. Ibrahim Amro / AFP via Getty Images

Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, said the “brilliance” of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire was that it halted “senseless killing.”

“The brilliance of what happened yesterday is that it stopped senseless killing and President Trump and Secretary Rubio stepping in strongly with Israel and saying we need a timeout,” Barrack said at a diplomatic conference in Turkey. 

He cautioned, however, that the ceasefire remains fragile.

“This is just the beginning of the road and those ceasefires are so delicate because everybody’s been equally untrustworthy,” he said. 

“Everybody is in atrophy over this idiotic war. So, will the ceasefire stick? What will we do? It’s baby steps.”

00:35

Crowds celebrated in the streets of southern Lebanon after the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon went into effect. Despite the ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel hadn’t agreed to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon, a key Hezbollah demand.

Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said its fighters' fingers would remain “on the trigger” in case Israel violates the 10-day ceasefire agreement.

“The hands of these fighters will remain on the trigger, vigilant against the enemy’s treachery and betrayal,” the group said in a statement. 

“We will remain committed until the last breath,” it added. 

French president Emmanuel Macron said he supports the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon but warned it could already be “undermined” by ongoing military operations.

“I give all my support to the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel as announced by President Trump yesterday,” Macron wrote in a post on X. “I also express my concern that it could already be undermined by the continuation of military operations.”

Macron also called for the protection of civilians in both countries, adding that Israel “must respect” Lebanon’s sovereignty and “stop the war.”

British police said this morning they have charged three people in an arson attack at a Persian-language media organization in northwest London.

Police said that officers on patrol in the Wembley area of north London on Wednesday night responded to reports of a burning container thrown toward a building. The unspecified container landed in a car park, where the fire went out. There were no reports of any damage or injuries.

The three suspects were arrested after the black SUV they were riding in crashed while being pursued by police.

Oisin McGuinness, 21, Nathan Dunn, 19, and a 16-year-old boy were all charged with arson with intent to endanger life, London’s Metropolitan Police Service said in a statement. McGuinness was also charged with dangerous driving. All three are British nationals.

The incident followed warnings that the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran had heightened ethnic and religious tensions in Britain. Persian is the primary language of Iran.

Police are also investigating an attempted arson at a synagogue in northwest London earlier Wednesday and an attack last month that destroyed four ambulances owned by a Jewish charity in north London.

News agency images from Sidon in southern Lebanon early this morning show displaced people in cars packed with their belongings beginning their journeys home, as a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel takes effect.

Aziz Taher / Reuters

Aziz Taher / Reuters

A local government official in Beirut’s southern suburb of Haret Hreik said Israel struck the neighborhood 62 times over the past six weeks.

Haret Hreik Deputy Mayor Sadek Slim said 26 buildings were completely destroyed.

Damaged buildings following Israeli airstrikes in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Beirut's southern suburbs, in late March.  AFP via Getty Images

“We’ve been able to clear up the rubble of the partially damaged buildings, but for those totally destroyed we will need special equipment,” Slim said in a news briefing under a bridge on a busy intersection.

The area is gridlocked with traffic with people returning to check on their homes and Hezbollah supporters zooming around on scooters and waving the militant group’s flag.

Trump said that the U.S. economy is "blowing away" the "best economy in the history of our country" despite what he called "our little diversion" to Iran during a Tax Day event in Las Vegas. Trump added that the U.S. will "have victory very shortly" in the war with Iran. 

01:34

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, praising what he described as “bold and sagacious” diplomatic efforts by President Donald Trump and expressing hope for lasting peace.

“I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, facilitated through bold and sagacious diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump, and express the hope that it will pave the way for sustainable peace,” Sharif wrote in a post on X. 

“Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, and will continue to support all efforts aimed at lasting peace in the region,” he added. 

Pakistan, a South Asian nation of more than 200 million people, played a key mediating role between Iran and the U.S. during their recent ceasefire efforts, though talks toward a broader peace deal collapsed in Islamabad, the country’s capital, last weekend.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, praising the U.S. for helping secure the agreement.

In a statement posted on X, Guterres said he hoped the 10-day ceasefire agreement would “pave the way for negotiations towards a long-term solution to the conflict” and “contribute to ongoing efforts” to bring peace to the Middle East.

“I urge everyone to fully respect the ceasefire and to comply with international law at all times,” he added. 

The ceasefire follows a trilateral meeting Tuesday between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the U.S. that marked the first diplomatic talks in decades between the two countries.