U.S. military turns back ships amid hope for new peace talks
This version of Live Updates Trump Blockade Iran War Hormuz Israel Lebanon Talks Rcna331668 - World News | NBC News Clone was adapted by NBC News Clone to help readers digest key facts more efficiently.
In-person talks between the U.S. and Iran could resume as early as this week, two people familiar with the ongoing negotiations told NBC News.
Coverage of this live blog has ended. Follow live updates here.
What to know
- PEACE TALKS: In-person talks between the U.S. and Iran could resume as early as this week, two people familiar with the ongoing negotiations told NBC News. After weekend negotiations in Pakistan failed to reach a deal, Vice President JD Vance said it was up to Iran to “take the next step.”
- ECONOMIC FALLOUT: The global economy faces a “major test” from the outbreak of war in the Middle East, the International Monetary Fund said.
- IRAN BLOCKADE: The U.S. military turned back six ships in the first 24 hours of its Iranian port blockade, which is being enforced by more than 10,000 U.S. troops. See the updated ship traffic numbers here.
- ISRAEL-LEBANON TALKS: Israel and Lebanon agreed to continue discussions after the two countries held their first direct diplomatic talks in decades in Washington today. The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has vowed not to abide by any agreements.
- CHINA CRITICISM: Beijing issued its most forceful criticism yet of U.S. action, calling the blockade “dangerous and irresponsible.” President Xi Jinping said the world must not be allowed to “revert to the law of the jungle.”
- DEATH TOLL: Iran’s forensic chief said more than 3,000 people had been killed in the country since U.S.-Israeli strikes began Feb. 28. More than 2,100 people have been killed in Lebanon, 32 have been killed in Gulf states, and 23 have died in Israel. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed, and two more died of noncombat causes.
- INSIGHTS AND ANALYSIS: Get exclusive analysis and insight into the Middle East conflict by becoming an NBC News subscriber.
Trump says he’s ‘shocked’ after Italian PM called his comments about the pope ‘unacceptable’
Trump fired back after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called his comments about Pope Leo XIV “unacceptable.”
“I’m shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,” Trump told Italian publication Corriere della Sera in a six-minute phone call. He said she’s not the same person and he hasn’t spoken to her in a long time.
The back-and-forth is notable, given the two leaders’ prior close relationship.
Asked about Meloni calling his comments “unacceptable,” Trump said: “She’s unacceptable. She’s unacceptable because she doesn’t mind that Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if they had the chance.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni listening to Trump's address during a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt last year. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images file
He also reiterated his criticisms of the pope, saying Leo “doesn’t understand that Iran is a nuclear threat. He doesn’t understand it, he is not the guy that should be talking about war, because he has no idea what’s going on.”
Leo, who last week criticized Trump’s public threats to “wipe out” Iranian civilization, said he had “no fear” of the Trump administration and that he was only preaching the gospel.
Russia’s oil and fuel export revenues rebounded in March, IEA says
Russia’s revenues from crude oil and refined products rose in March, rebounding from February when they fell to their lowest level since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, as prices surged due to the Iran war, the International Energy Agency said.
The Paris-based IEA said Russia’s crude oil exports rose by 270,000 barrels per day last month from February to 4.6 million bpd, mostly driven by higher seaborne shipments as the Druzhba pipeline remained offline. Flows via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia across Ukrainian territory have remained shut following the attacks on the pipeline infrastructure at the end of January.
The IEA also said Russia’s oil and oil product export revenues nearly doubled, to $19 billion in March from $9.75 billion in February as global oil prices surged. It said that Russia’s crude production increased last month to 8.96 million bpd from 8.67 million bpd in February.
The agency also said that Russia may struggle to increase oil production above the levels seen in early first quarter in the near term given damage to port and energy infrastructure. Russian Baltic and Black Sea ports and refineries have been repeatedly damaged by Ukrainian drone strikes.
Vance urges young conservatives not to get disillusioned over Middle East policy
Acknowledging the unpopularity of the Iran war among young conservatives, Vance told a crowd at Turning Point USA today that the administration has done other things of which they do approve.
“I recognize that a lot of young voters don’t love the policy that we have in the Middle East. OK, I understand that,” he said.
Vance then said that the Trump administration “secured the border” and lowered housing prices and that “we’ve made America energy dominant.”
“I’m not saying you have to agree with me on every issue,” Vance said at the conservative event. “What I’m saying is don’t get disengaged because you disagree with the administration on one topic. Get more involved, make your voice heard even more.”
Earlier at the event, someone in the crowd shouted at Vance that the U.S. was allowing a “genocide” in Gaza.
Vance defended the administration.
"When we came in the humanitarian situation in Gaza was an absolute catastrophe," he said. "You know who’s the president who got a peace agreement in Gaza? Donald J. Trump."
Trump says in Fox Business interview Iran war 'very close to over'
Trump said in an interview with Fox Business that he views the Iran war as “very close to over,” although no agreement has been reached.
“I think it’s close to over. Yeah, I mean, I view it as very close to over,” Trump said in a clip released tonight before the interview airs, which is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
He added: "You know what? If I pulled up stakes right now, it would take them 20 years to rebuild that country. And we’re not finished. But we’ll see what happens. I think they want to make a deal very badly."
U.S. won't allow Iran to hold world economy hostage, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. says
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, said the U.S. will not allow Iran to hold the world economy hostage.
"Iran doesn’t get to choose the winners and losers on the global economy. The United States will do that until all ships are open," he said in an interview with Fox News this afternoon. "So, no ships come out, or all ships come out."
Waltz was referring to marine traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil flowed before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28.
Waltz added, "What President Trump has done has taken that leverage, taken Iran trying to hold the entire world’s economies hostage, has taken that off the table."
About negotiations with Iran, he emphasized that Iran's economy “is in free fall” and “time is not on their side.”
“We’ll see if they come back for a reasonable deal,” Waltz said.
Vance says Trump wants ‘grand bargain’ with Iran
Vance said today that Trump “wants to make the grand bargain” on Iran and is promising economic success to the isolated country.
“He doesn’t want to make like a small deal. He wants to make the grand bargain,” Vance said at a Turning Point USA event in Georgia today.
“In Pakistan, we made a ton of progress,” he said of negotiations this weekend that failed to produce a final agreement.
“But the reason why the deal is not yet done is because the president, he really wants a deal where Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon, Iran is not state-sponsoring terrorism — but also, the people of Iran can thrive and prosper and join the world economy,” Vance said.
Vance described the proposal as one that could normalize economic ties with Iran.
“He’s saying if you guys commit to not having a nuclear weapon, we are going to make Iran thrive, we’re going to make it economically prosperous, and we’re going to invite the Iranian people into the world economy,” Vance said.
“And that’s the kind of Trumpian grand bargain that the president has put on the table,” he said.
Vance also suggested the negotiations would continue.
“We’re going to keep on negotiating and try and make it happen, because it would be great for the world, it would be great for our country, it’d be great for everybody,” he said.
Vance also said the meeting in Islamabad was unique in allowing officials of such high positions in both the U.S. and Iranian governments to meet in person for the first time.
"We had never, the United States, had never had meetings at that level with the Iranian government in 49 years, like, it’s a meeting that had never before happened, not Democrat, not Republican," he said. "We had never had a meeting like that, where you have, you know, the person who’s effectively running the country in Iran sitting across from the vice president of the United States. That had never happened."
He added: "I know though the president of the United States told us to go out there and negotiate in good faith. That’s what we did. That’s what we’re going to keep on doing."
Canadian PM suspending gas tax due to Iran war, supply disruptions
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada will suspend its gas tax until Labor Day, citing disruptions in supply in the Middle East due to conflict.
The federal fuel excise tax gasoline and diesel will be suspended starting Monday, Carney’s office said.
“The global landscape is rapidly changing. In response, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control,” his office said in a statement.
Carney’s office said the move was “a responsible measure that will reduce operating costs for truckers and businesses” and save Canadians money.
Fuel prices have increased around the world because of disruptions caused by the war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Gas prices in Canada averaged $1.73 a liter today, or around $6.50 a gallon, according to the Canadian Automobile Association. Last year at this time, it averaged $1.30 a liter.
Iran’s foreign minister says Iran supports ‘resistance of the Lebanese people’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a call with the Turkish foreign minister today and “emphasized the firm support of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the legitimate resistance of the Lebanese people against the occupying aggressors,” according to a report by the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.
The remarks come as Israel and Lebanon’s U.S. ambassadors held talks attended by Rubio in Washington today. Part of the discussion was focused on disarming the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, the State Department said in a statement.
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 has retaliated with attacks across Lebanon that have killed more than 2,000 people.
Beirut residents wary about Israel negotiations
Beirut residents expressed doubt and distrust when they were asked about direct negotiations between the Lebanese government and Israel.
One resident pointed out that Hezbollah, which has been exchanging fire with Israel since last month, is not represented at the talks.
"When there's a negotiation of armed conflict, of any sort, it should be between the two people that are engaging in the armed conflict," he said.
Another resident said the talks feel a little bit like "groveling" to Israel and seem like "an act of weakness."
"They put us in this situation, and we're asking them to get us out of this situation," she said. "So, no, I'm not for it."
A third resident said he doesn't trust ceasefires with Israel.
"Maybe it would work to an extent, but always wary, always wary about this," he said. "Never trust them."
Lebanon and Israel agree to 'launch direct negotiations,' State Department says
Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold more talks after the U.S. ambassadors to both countries held a meeting today that was also attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“All sides agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue," State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
The U.S. is hopeful that future talks will lead to a peace deal, according to the statement.
“The United States expressed its hope that talks can exceed the scope of the 2024 agreement and bring about a comprehensive peace deal," Pigott said in the statement.
The U.S. noted during the talks that the two governments must reach an agreement to cease hostilities.
“The United States affirmed that any agreement to cease hostilities must be reached between the two governments, brokered by the United States, and not through any separate track," according to the statement.
Smoke from an Israeli strike rises today behind palm trees and a McDonald's "Golden Arches" sign in Al-Hosh, Lebanon, a suburb of Tyre. Kawnat Haju / AFP via Getty Images
The U.S. also expressed support for the government of Lebanon to be the dominant military force in the country, according to Pigott’s statement.
“The United States congratulated the two countries on this historic milestone and expressed its support for further talks, and for the Government of Lebanon’s plans to restore the monopoly of force and to end Iran’s overbearing influence,” Pigott said in the statement.
Israel said it was willing to work with the government of Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah, according to Pigott's statement.
"The State of Israel expressed its support for disarming all non-state terror groups and dismantle all terror infrastructure in Lebanon and expressed its commitment to working with the Government of Lebanon to achieve that goal to ensure security for the people of both countries," it said.
The Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, highlighted that point in talking to reporters after the meeting.
"We discovered today that we’re on the same side of the equation. That’s the most positive thing we could have come away with. We are both united in liberating Lebanon from an occupation power dominated by Iran called Hezbollah," Leiter said. "Lebanon is under their occupation, and we are suffering from their constant barrages of missiles and terror attacks trying to cross our border."
He added: "There will be a clearly delineated border between our countries and where the only reason we’ll need to cross each other’s territory will be in business suits to conduct business or in bathing suits to go on vacation. We made it very clear that the security of our civilians is not up for negotiation. That is understood by the government of Joseph Aoun."
Aoun is the president of Lebanon.
Lebanon highlighted its need for full state sovereignty and called for a ceasefire and “concrete measures” to allow it to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict, Pigott said.
Israel said it was committed to negotiations to resolve “all outstanding issues” and achieve peace, Pigott said.
U.S. warns China, UAE and others about Iranian banking
The Iranian government processed $9 billion in transactions during 2024 involving front companies through banks primarily in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, according to a copy of a letter NBC News has reviewed the U.S. Treasury sent today to several countries advising them of the illicit transactions.
A senior administration official not authorized to talk publicly said the letter was shared with the governments of China, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and Oman because intelligence reviewed by Treasury identified banks in their jurisdictions that allowed the banking activity.
"Despite the comprehensive sanctions that the United States has imposed on Iran, the regime continues to exploit the international financial system through front companies, shadow banking, deceptive practices, and permissive conduits," Treasury said in the letter.
“The Treasury Department encourages you to work with banks in your jurisdiction to identify any Iran-related financial activity, including through front companies and other evasive tactics, and immediately cease such activity in light of the significant illicit finance risks this activity poses," it added.
The letter advises the countries that the U.S. has advised the correspondent banks in the U.S. of the activity so they can be extra vigilant about the transactions.
Treasury said it can take enforcement action not only against the transactions but also against those involved.
"These include enforcement actions for sanctions violations that may involve a U.S. person; secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions for certain activities with Iran; and the ability to require enhanced due diligence and reporting on all transactions of a defined scope that are processed through the U.S. financial system," Treasury said in the letter.
It added, "Now is the time to finally disable Iran’s ability to support terrorism, threaten the region and global markets, and seek to continue its nuclear and ballistic missile program, which the U.N. has prohibited."
"My hope is for your swift action to identify and stop any illicit activity linked to Iran to avoid further action from Treasury," Treasury said at the end of the letter, which does not include a signature.
Trump administration won't extend authorization for sale of Iranian oil
The Trump administration said it does not plan to extend permission for the sale of Iranian oil past its current expiration date of Sunday.
“The short-term authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil already stranded at sea is set to expire in a few days and will not be renewed,” the Treasury Department said in a statement on X.
The waiver, which was announced in March, is expiring as the U.S. military blockades Iranian ports around the Strait of Hormuz.
The Treasury Department also warned banks today about moving funds in support of the Iranian regime.
“Financial institutions should be on notice that the department is leveraging the full range of available tools and authorities and is prepared to deploy secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions that continue to support Iran’s activities,” it said in the statement.
Humanitarian corridor needed in Strait of Hormuz, International Rescue Committee says
The International Rescue Committee is calling for urgently establishing a humanitarian corridor through the Strait of Hormuz to allow lifesaving aid to be delivered to vulnerable populations in Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and other countries.
"The constraint of fuel, fertilizer, liquified natural gas and cooking gas, as well as the shipping lanes that carry medicines and therapeutic foods into crisis zones is a rapidly unfolding food security time bomb," the organization warned.
It said it has hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of pharmaceutical supplies destined for Sudan that have been stuck in Dubai, while the blockade of the strait has led to surging fuel prices in Nigeria and Ethiopia.
“When vital shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, the impact is not abstract — it is measured in empty shelves, shuttered clinics, and lives at risk," IRC President and CEO David Miliband said. "Humanitarian aid should not be subject to the volatility of conflict. The establishment of a sustained humanitarian corridor is a straightforward and necessary step to ensure that life-saving supplies continue to flow."
All parties in Lebanon-Israel talks agree Hezbollah should be fully disarmed
The Lebanon-Israel talks had been planned for a month before the U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad were confirmed, according to a State Department official.
According to the official, the parties at today's talk agreed that Hezbollah should be fully disarmed and that Iran should not be allowed to dictate Lebanon's future anymore.
The State Department approved $58.8 million in new humanitarian programs to help provide lifesaving assistance to displaced Lebanese people, according to a department official. The funding will focus on food, water, shelter and the emergency response needs of the most conflict-affected populations.
U.S. military turned back 6 ships in first 24 hours of blockade
During the first 24 hours of its blockade of Iranian ports, the U.S. military warned six ships to stop and turn around because they were violating the terms of the blockade, and all six turned around, according to a U.S. official.
Five of the ships were carrying oil, and two were turned around in the first two hours of the blockade, the official said. No shots have been fired and no ships have been boarded at this point.
The U.S. also does not have any significant reports of Iranian military or Revolutionary Guard responses like firing drones or launching fast boats, the official said.
The U.S. military is using more than 100 fighter and surveillance aircraft and more than a dozen ships to enforce the blockade, which the official says is a blockade not of the Strait of Hormuz itself, but rather of Iranian ports and coastal areas.
The U.S. plan is to interdict ships as they enter the Gulf of Oman after they go through the Strait of Hormuz, rather than stop them from going through it, the official said. The U.S. has more than a dozen ships in the Gulf of Oman, and it does not make sense to put them in the Persian Gulf right now, the official said.
Instead, it can use surveillance aircraft, manned aircraft and sea-based surveillance systems like radars to identify ships that are leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas and communicate with them over radio to let them know they are violating the blockade and need to turn around after they transit the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. military directs the ships to go back to Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman, rather than back through the Strait of Hormuz, because thit has ey have more options and assets in the Gulf of Oman to enforce the blockade.
So far, no ships have refused, but if they do, the U.S. military has full authority to use force to stop them, the official said, including using fighter aircraft or ships to fire on them.
The official is not aware of whether the ships that have transited and continued along — like the Rich Starry — have paid a toll to the Iranians. The official reiterated that the Starry was not in violation of the U.S. terms of the blockade because it originated in the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S. military did not order it to turn around.
Trump says 'something could be happening' in Pakistan 'over the next two days'
Trump said in an interview with the New York Post that there could be an update on U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan within days.
“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there," Trump said, according to the Post. "It’s more likely. You know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job."
Field Marshal Asim Munir is Pakistan's army chief.
The Post reported that Trump initially told it that discussions were "happening" but that they were "a little bit slow." The Post indicated that the next round of negotiations would be likely to take place in Europe, but he called back later to advise that the reporter stay in Pakistan.
European leaders call for including Lebanon in de-escalation
Multiple European foreign affairs ministers called in a joint statement today for including Lebanon in a regional de-escalation.
The ministers — of Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom — lauded the talks between Lebanon and Israel and called on both parties to "urgently deescalate."
While they condemned Hezbollah attacks on Israel, the ministers also condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon and on humanitarian organization workers in the region.
"We express our full solidarity and our steadfast support for the Lebanese people and authorities," the joint statement read. "We stand ready to provide emergency assistance to the more than one million displaced persons in Lebanon, in coordination with the Lebanese government."
Over 10,000 U.S. troops executing Strait of Hormuz blockade
Over 10,000 U.S. airmen, sailors and Marines are executing the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command.
The troops are aided by dozens of aircraft and a dozen warships, CENTCOM said.
"During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade and 6 merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman," CENTCOM said.
Lebanese president hopes that talks with Israel mark 'beginning of end of suffering'
In conversation with chief of staff of the Italian armed forces Gen. Luciano Portolano, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he hopes today's talks with Israel are successful.
"I hope that the meeting in Washington this evening will mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and the people of the south in particular," Aoun said.
Rubio will be present at the meeting at the State Department, which kicked off at 11 a.m. ET.
Tracking ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been at a near-standstill for weeks amid the Iran war, sending prices of oil and other key goods soaring.
President Donald Trump made reopening the strait a condition of the ceasefire with Tehran, but with little change and no deal reached in peace talks, he announced a naval blockade of Iran.
NBC News is tracking the daily count of how many ships pass through the strait. Note that exact numbers may be higher; some ships manipulate their GPS trackers during transit.
Naval blockade appears to be in line with conventional naval warfare, analyst says
The U.S. Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz appears to be complying with rules of naval warfare, an analyst has said.
Unlike Trump's proclamation of the entire strait being shut, the Central Command's announcement of the blockade was much more constrained, applying only to vessels to and from Iranian ports.
"It looks like a lawful blockade," said Alexander Lott, a research professor at the Arctic University of Norway’s Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea. "The start of the blockade has been communicated to all interested parties, to the whole world."
CENTCOM also said the blockade will not apply to ships transiting to and from other ports.
Lott said in case of a vessel violating the blockade, like departing from an Iranian port, the U.S. Navy would order the vessel to stop, then attempt to board and seize it, if necessary. It is also permitted to use force if the vessel fails to comply with the orders.
However, whether or not the blockade is effective, meaning if the U.S. Navy is able to block the ships effectively, remains to be seen. Already, a few Iran ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz, but none so far leaving from or for an Iranian port since the blockade's announcement.
Lebanon-Israel talks on track for 11 a.m. ET
A person familiar with the matter told NBC News that today’s rare official talks between Israel and Lebanon ambassadors at the State Department are taking place as scheduled at 11 a.m. ET.
The two countries will be represented by their ambassadors to the U.S., Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Yechiel Leiter. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also expected to join the meeting.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivers remarks today alongside Michael Needham, left, counselor of the State Department, and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa. Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
Hezbollah has asked Lebanon’s government not to attend the meeting because of Israel’s continued airstrikes, despite the two-week ceasefire. Israel says Lebanon was not covered in the ceasefire, while Pakistan’s negotiator says it is.
Israel has been bombarding what it says are Iran-backed Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon. The United Nations and the International Rescue Committee say recent airstrikes have devastated central Beirut, displacing more than a million civilians.
Canada allocates $40 million in humanitarian aid for Lebanon
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand told Foreign Minister Youssef Raji today that Canada has allocated $40 million in humanitarian aid for Lebanon.
The money will be given to Lebanon through international humanitarian organizations, according to a readout from Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Anand also expressed her support for Lebanon's sovereignty and condemned Israeli attacks on the nation, the ministry said.
Earlier today, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to discuss the dire situation in the country, including the displacement of over a million people, which he said will have repercussions even after a ceasefire.
China calls U.S. blockade of Strait of Hormuz 'dangerous and irresponsible'
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian called the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz "dangerous and irresponsible," adding that it will only escalate tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
"We urge relevant parties to honor the ceasefire agreement, stick to the direction of peace talks and take concrete actions to de-escalate the situation so that normal traffic via the Strait will be able to resume as soon as possible," the spokesperson wrote on X.
IMF trims global growth forecast, says war poses 'major test' to economy
The International Monetary Fund says the global economy is facing a “major test” from the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
It’s projecting global growth will slow down to 3.1% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, if conflict remains limited in duration and scope.
But downside risks dominate its outlook shared earlier today, the IMF said.
“A longer or broader conflict, worsening geopolitical fragmentation, a reassessment of expectations surrounding artificial‑intelligence‑driven productivity or renewed trade tensions could significantly weaken growth and destabilize financial markets,” it added.
In-person talks could restart early this week
In-person talks between the U.S. and Iran could resume as early as this week, two people familiar with the ongoing negotiations have told NBC News.
Opening the Strait of Hormuz for a free flow of shipping is a major sticking point in the negotiations for any agreement, one of the people said. Iran’s nuclear capability is another, the second person said.
The U.S. asked Iran during the marathon talks over the weekend for a 20-year suspension of uranium enrichment. Iran agreed to 3-5 years, which Trump has said is not acceptable, the second person said. A third person familiar with the ongoing negotiations said the 20-year request by the U.S. was a minimum, and said there were other restrictions but did not specify.
According to the second person familiar with the ongoing negotiations, the U.S. has asked Iran to remove highly enriched uranium from the country, but Iran agreed to a "monitored process of down blending" — a process where highly enriched uranium is mixed with natural or less potent uranium to create a less potent material.
France’s Macron says he spoke with U.S., Iranian leaders and will host Hormuz conference Friday
French President Emmanuel Macron called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened unconditionally, without controls or tolls, as soon as possible.
In a post on X earlier today, Macron said he spoke with Trump and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian yesterday, calling for the resumption of peace talks, “for clarifying misunderstandings, and for avoiding new phases of escalation.”
He said France and the United Kingdom will host a conference in Paris on Friday to bring together “non-belligerent countries ready to contribute alongside us to a multilateral and purely defensive mission, aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the strait when security conditions permit.”
Italy suspends defense cooperation deal with Israel
Italy’s government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of a defense cooperation deal with Israel, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, citing the conflicts in the Middle East.
Meloni’s right-wing government has been one of Israel’s closest allies in Europe, but in recent weeks it has criticized Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Those affected have included Italian troops serving there under a U.N. mandate.
“In light of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel,” Meloni was quoted as saying in Verona, northern Italy, by Italian news agencies.
10 soldiers injured in ‘close-quarters encounter’ in southern Lebanon, Israeli army says
Ten soldiers were injured in what the Israeli army called a “close-quarters encounter” in southern Lebanon overnight.
In a statement on Telegram earlier today, the Israel Defense Forces said three of the soldiers were severely injured. The soldiers were evacuated to receive medical treatment in a hospital, it added.
It did not provide more details on the encounter.
Blockade warning by Chinese official is likely fake, experts say
Experts are questioning the authenticity of reported comments by the Chinese defense minister that have been portrayed as a warning to the U.S. over its blockade of Iranian ports.
Multiple posts on X and other platforms, whose origins are unclear, claimed to quote a statement from Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in which he says Chinese ships will continue to operate in the Strait of Hormuz. He is quoted as saying the strait is “open to us” because of China’s ties with Iran and that others should not “meddle in our affairs.”
The comments, which have been viewed millions of times online, have been reported by multiple news outlets and are being cited by some artificial intelligence services. But while China has been critical of the U.S. blockade, there are multiple indications that Dong’s comments are fake.
Dong’s purported comments were not carried by the most authoritative state news outlets, such as People’s Daily, CCTV or Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency. Experts also note that the comments do not use the typical language or style of Chinese officials.
In addition, “China has always been very diplomatic in dealing with other countries and is not in the habit of issuing explicit stern warnings, especially publicly,” Yang Liu, a reporter for Xinhua, said in a Substack post.
China is all the less likely to antagonize the U.S. weeks before a highly anticipated visit by Trump, who is set to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing next month.
The Chinese Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry did not address Dong’s purported statement and was not asked about it at a daily briefing in Beijing.
Liu urged news audiences to be on guard against faulty reports, considering the grave consequences they could have. “It’s crucial that we arm ourselves with the ability to identify and disperse bad information,” he said in a post on X.
France says Lebanon must be included in ceasefire agreement
France said today that Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire agreement, ahead of rare direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington.
Speaking on French radio, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that “the ceasefire must absolutely include Lebanon,” according to The Associated Press, adding that the country can under no circumstances be the “scapegoat” of Israel.
He called Israel’s strikes on Lebanon “intolerable,” saying they undermine the ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran and strengthen the militant group Hezbollah.
“Destroying Lebanon, targeting the Lebanese state, does not weaken Hezbollah — quite the opposite, it strengthens it,” Barrot said.
Red Cross delivers first emergency relief shipment to Iran amid truce
The International Committee of the Red Cross has said it was able to carry out its first shipment of humanitarian aid to Iran since the start of the war consuming the region.
The ICRC said in a news release today that it had dispatched 171 metric tons of essential relief items to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, with five truckloads of aid successfully delivered yesterday amid the current ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
ICRC
ICRC
It said the supplies, including blankets, jerrycans, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, hygiene packs, solar lamps, buckets and mattresses, were dispatched from a warehouse in Jordan, carrying enough aid to meet the needs of nearly 25,000 people. The first shipment of five trucks was handed over to the IRCS in Tehran for further distribution, with a remaining nine trucks to reach the Red Crescent later this week.
It said that while the current truce had provided "much-needed respite" for Iran's population and "enabled increased efforts to address urgent needs, the consequences of the conflict continue to weigh heavily on affected communities."
Photos: Portraits of victims displayed in Tehran
AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images
Images of victims reportedly killed in a U.S.-Israeli airstrike were placed among flowers at the site of the attack in Tehran yesterday. Iranians were photographed looking at the memorial outside the destroyed residential building.
'Two can play at that game': Vance accuses Iran of ‘economic terrorism’
Speaking to Fox News last night, Vice President JD Vance said Iran was engaging in “economic terrorism” by disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“What they have done is engage in this act of economic terrorism against the entire world,” Vance told Fox News’ Bret Baier. “They basically threaten any ship that’s moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Well, as the president of the United States showed, two can play at that game.”
Vance added that "if the Iranians are going to try to engage in economic terrorism, we’re going to abide by a simple principle that no Iranian ships are getting out either."
Italian PM Meloni backs Pope Leo after Trump criticism
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed support for Pope Leo XIV following Trump’s criticism of the head of the Catholic Church.
“I express my solidarity with Pope Leo, frankly I would not feel very comfortable in a society where religious leaders do what political leaders say,” Meloni was quoted as saying by Reuters today in Verona.
Pope Leo and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Vatican City in January. Vatican Pool / Getty Images file
Leo, who has been unusually direct in his criticism of the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran, told NBC News he had “no fear of the Trump administration” and vowed to continue his appeals for peace, which he said were rooted in the gospel.
Trump called the first American leader of the Catholic Church “WEAK on crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy.”
China says reports that it's providing weaponry to Iran are 'entirely fabricated'
China denied that it was providing Iran with air defense weaponry, and said it would take “countermeasures” if Trump used the allegation as a “pretext” to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods.
U.S. intelligence reporting suggests China is planning to provide new air defense weaponry to Iran in the coming weeks, a person with knowledge of the matter told NBC News. Other media outlets have also reported that China is preparing to send or has already sent the weapons to Tehran, leading Trump to threaten the additional tariff.
“China has consistently taken a prudent and responsible approach to the export of military products, and exercises strict control in accordance with its domestic export‑control laws and regulations as well as its international obligations,” foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said today at a regular briefing in Beijing.
“The relevant reports are entirely fabricated,” he said. “If the U.S. side insists on using this as a pretext to impose additional tariffs on China, China will resolutely take countermeasures.”
The reports come weeks before Trump is set to visit China for a meeting with leader Xi Jinping, a trip that has already been postponed by the Iran war. The two leaders are seeking to extend a fragile trade truce between the world’s two biggest economies.
After two vessels leave through the Strait of Hormuz, two tankers go the opposite way
After at least two U.S.-sanctioned ships appeared to have exited the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, two vessels appear to be headed the opposite way.
The Panama-flagged Peace Gulf departed from the Gulf of Oman on April 12 and is estimated to arrive at the United Arab Emirates' Hamriyah port today around 1 p.m. ET, according to MarineTraffic data. The second vessel, the Madagascar-flagged Murlikishan, which is sanctioned by the Treasury Department for Iran dealings, began transiting the waterway yesterday along a similar route.
Unlike the previously reported ships, Peace Gulf and Murlikishan have taken the Iranian-approved route north by Iran's Larak Island, where Iran is reportedly charging a toll for passage.
Peach Gulf has typically moved Naphtha since last year, which is used to make plastics and chemicals. MarineTraffic says the ship has moved sanctioned cargo since 2022. Murlikishan, too, has moved Naphtha.
Tear gas fired as factory workers protest rising costs in India
Indian police fired tear gas and said they used “minimum force” to disperse factory workers protesting for a fourth day over rising living costs due to the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.
Authorities reported incidents of vehicles being set on fire and stone-throwing in Noida, a suburb of the nation’s capital. Living costs have risen as the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran has curbed fuel supplies.
Vinay Mahoti, 30, from the eastern state of Bihar who works at a hosiery company in Noida, told Reuters that he initially protested inside his manufacturing unit but later joined workers from other companies who took to the streets.
“Duty hours should be fixed, overtime hours should be paid, and companies… should adhere to federal government guidelines,” he said, outlining his demands.
Global oil demand to plunge as prices stay high, IEA says
The International Energy Agency has sharply cut its forecasts for global oil supply and demand growth due to the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran, warning that both could decline from last year.
It said global oil demand is expected to fall by 80,000 barrels per day in 2026, with the Middle East and Asia-Pacific seeing the steepest drops in consumption.
“Demand destruction will spread as scarcity and higher prices persist,” the IEA said.
“Oil prices posted their largest-ever monthly gain in March in the wake of the most severe oil supply shock in history,” it added.
Another U.S.-sanctioned ship clears the Strait of Hormuz
Another U.S.-sanctioned ship, Elpis, passed through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, according to MarineTraffic data.
The Elpis, like the previously reported Rich Starry, is also sanctioned under the Treasury Department's 2018 package on dealings with Iran, along with its Malaysian owner.
Unlike the Chinese-owned Rich Starry, which left the UAE, Elpis departed the Iranian port of Bushehr the night of March 30 and had been anchored in Iranian waters for nearly two weeks before making a move through the waterway on April 13 around 6 a.m. ET.
It's also unclear if the U.S. Navy's blockade would include Elpis, since it had left an Iranian port before the announcement of the blockade.
German leader says he supports talks between Israel and Lebanon
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he supports direct peace talks between the Israeli and Lebanese governments, which are set to start today in Washington.
Merz called for an end to hostilities in southern Lebanon and said militant group Hezbollah must lay down its arms, the German chancellery said in a statement last night.
Merz reaffirmed his government’s strong support of a diplomatic understanding between the U.S. and Iran and its readiness to contribute to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz if the necessary conditions are met, his office said.
Merz also expressed deep concern about developments in the Palestinian territories and said there must be no de facto partial annexation of the West Bank.
China calls U.S. blockade ‘dangerous and irresponsible’
China described the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports as “dangerous and irresponsible” earlier today, warning it could heighten tensions.
“Such actions will only intensify contradictions, exacerbate tensions, undermine the already fragile ceasefire, and further jeopardize the security of navigation through the strait,” Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said.
“This is dangerous and irresponsible behavior,” he added.
China has consistently urged all sides to pursue dialogue and diplomacy and to restore normal navigation through the strait.
China's Xi says world should not return to the 'law of the jungle,' puts forward 'four proposals' for peace
The world should not be allowed to “revert to the law of the jungle,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping said today, in his most significant comments on the Middle East conflict since the U.S. and Israel began strikes on Iran more than six weeks ago.
Chineses President Xi Jinping in Beijing today. Haruna Furuhashi / Getty Images
“The international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter must be firmly upheld,” Xi said during a meeting in Beijing with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry readout.
During the meeting, Xi put forward “four proposals” for maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, including upholding the “principle of peaceful coexistence” among states and respecting national sovereignty.
He also called for safeguarding international rule of law, saying it “must not be selectively applied or disregarded, nor should the world be allowed to regress to the law of the jungle.” The fourth proposal was a coordinated approach to development and security, which Xi said are mutually dependent.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take part in Israel-Lebanon talks
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon will join the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the U.S. for talks tomorrow, a State Department official said.
The high-level talks between Israel and Lebanon are the first since 1993, the official said.
“This conversation will scope the ongoing dialogue about how to ensure the long-term security of Israel’s northern border and to support the Government of Lebanon’s determination to reclaim full sovereignty over its territory and political life,” the State Department official said. “Israel is at war with Hizballah, not Lebanon, so there is no reason the two neighbors should not be talking.”
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 has retaliated with attacks across Lebanon that have killed more than 2,000 people.
After the U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire last week, both the U.S. and Israel said the ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon, a point that Iranian officials say is a violation of their initial agreement with the U.S.
Vance says it’s up to Iran to ‘take the next step’
Vice President JD Vance said on Fox News last night that there were “some good conversations” with Iran in Pakistan this weekend, even though negotiations did not produce an agreement.
Asked whether there would be more talks between the U.S. and Iran, Vance said the question would be “best put to the Iranians, because the ball really is in their court.”
“There really is, I think, a grand deal to be had here, but it’s up to the Iranians, I think, to take the next step,” he said.
Vice President JD Vance, center, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday. Jacquelyn Martin / AP
Vance said the U.S. needed to get enriched uranium out of Iran.
“We must have the enriched material out of Iran. We must have their conclusive commitment to not develop a nuclear weapon,” he said. “And I think that if the Iranians are willing to meet us there, then this can be a very, very good deal for both countries. If they’re not willing to meet us there, that’s up to them.”
Vance said Iran showed some flexibility but “didn’t move far enough.”
U.S.-sanctioned Chinese tanker transits Strait of Hormuz
A Chinese tanker sanctioned by the U.S. transited the Strait of Hormuz this morning despite the American blockade, illustrating that the U.S. Navy’s action has not completely cut off traffic through the key waterway despite Trump's initial announcement.
A U.S.-sanctioned Chinese tanker passes through the Strait of Hormuz, displayed in a tracked map by Marine Traffic. Marine Traffic / via Reuters
MarineTraffic data showed that the Rich Starry, a medium-range chemical tanker, was the first vessel to pass through the waterway overnight after departing Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It listed China as its destination.
The tanker and its Chinese owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping, were sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2018 over dealings with Iran. At the time, the vessel was flagged in Hong Kong.
Its transit shows the limits of the U.S. action against vessels linked to the Iranian regime, amid the blockade of Iranian ports and coastline. Central Command clarified that the blockade does not apply to “vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”
According to International Maritime Organization data, the Rich Starry has falsely identified itself as a Malawi-flagged ship since July and, earlier in 2024, as a Guyana-flagged vessel. It was officially registered in Hong Kong in 2015, the same year it was built.
As it approached the Strait of Hormuz, the Rich Starry briefly made a U-turn alongside another tanker before resuming its transit through the waterway.
