Iran

Fresh uncertainty gripped the Gulf as the Strait of Hormuz remained shut in the escalating standoff between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker making clear that, despite signs of progress, any final peace agreement was still a long way off. With mediation efforts continuing after high-level talks in Pakistan ended without a breakthrough, Tehran said the vital maritime chokepoint would stay closed unless Washington lifts its blockade of Iranian ports. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the…

Live updates: Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz Middle East

Saturday April 18, 2026 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” to commercial shipping and will stay that way for the duration of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, as United States President Donald Trump declared that a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran was “very close”. “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,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas…

After a brief signal from Tehran that the Strait of Hormuz was open again, at least eight oil and gas tankers moved through the vital waterway, according to maritime tracking data, offering a fleeting glimpse of relief before Iran appeared to tighten control once more. Data from tracking firm Kpler showed that one crude oil tanker, four liquified petroleum gas carriers, two oil and chemical tankers and one vessel classified as an "oil products" ship crossed the strait following the Iranian announcement yesterday afternoon.…

Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on a temporary basis after a ceasefire deal in Lebanon, fueling hopes that diplomacy could gain traction, while warning that the vital shipping lane could be shut again if the recent US Navy blockade of Iranian ports continued. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a social media post that the strait, one of the world’s most sensitive arteries for energy shipments, would remain open to all commercial traffic for the duration of the US-brokered 10-day truce. The ceasefire was struck on…

Friday April 17, 2026 Tehran is floating a plan to settle Hormuz transit payments in its own currency, a move Iranian officials say could bolster the rial and unlock as much as $15 billion a year in revenue. / Reuters A proposed bill to formalise Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz is being framed in Tehran as more than a territorial assertion: it is also intended to give the rial a stronger foothold in regional financial dealings, according to Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency. Ahmad Naderi, a member of…

A ten-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel has taken effect, while President Donald Trump said the next round of US-Iran talks could happen as soon as this weekend, fueling hopes that the war with Iran may be approaching its end. Mr Trump said Iran had proposed not possessing nuclear weapons for more than 20 years. Tehran's nuclear ambitions remained a central obstacle during talks in Islamabad last weekend. "We're going to see what happens. But I think we're very close to making a deal with Iran," he told reporters…

Thursday April 16, 2026 A tense standoff at one of the world’s most vital shipping corridors escalated sharply after weekend peace talks in Islamabad between the United States and Iran ended without an agreement, prompting Washington to announce a blockade. A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province on April 12, 2026. / Reuters Tehran quickly responded with its own threat, warning that if the US naval blockade persists, Iran could move to choke trade routes through the Red Sea as well as the…

By Maziar MotamediWednesday April 15, 2026 Photographs displayed in Tajrish Square place particular focus on the eyes of children who lost their lives in the Minab attack, as part of the 'Eyes of Minab' exhibition organised to commemorate the victims, in Tehran, on April 14, 2026 Iran is pressing its case for compensation for the destruction wrought by the United States and Israel, even as it maintains a defiant stance and regional actors scramble to broker a way out of the conflict. Tehran’s envoy to the United Nations…

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran escalated its standoff with Washington on Wednesday, warning that it could sever commercial shipping through the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman if the United States keeps up its naval blockade of Iranian ports. In a statement carried on Iranian state television, the head of Iran’s military central command said the U.S. campaign to stop Iranian commercial vessels and oil tankers could unravel the fragile ceasefire now in place. Ali Abdollahi, a senior figure in the Iranian military command,…