Iran's foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most vital oil shipping route, is 'completely open' for commercial vessels; Trump said a U.S. blockade remains and that Iran has agreed 'never' to close the Strait of Hormuz again
PARIS, April 17 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday that more than a dozen countries were ready to contribute assets to a defensive mission aimed at restoring the freedom of navigation of the Strait of Hormuz. France and Britain chaired a meeting in
By Tarek Amara TUNIS, April 17 (Reuters) - Tunisian comedian and actor Lotfi Abdelli said on Friday a court in Tunisia had sentenced him in absentia to 18 months in prison over a play he performed years ago, and described the ruling as politically motivated and aimed at
WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States has banned Israel from further bombing in Lebanon, using an atypically harsher tone than usual with the longtime U.S. ally Israel. "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer.
STOCKHOLM, April 17 (Reuters) - Leaders of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark on Friday welcomed Iran's announcement on opening the Strait of Hormuz, and said they supported diplomatic efforts to find lasting solutions to the conflict. Iran said earlier on Friday the strait
In cars and on motorbikes, people trickled back into Beirut's southern suburbs Friday, passing bombed-out buildings to check on homes and loved ones after a ceasefire began between Israel and Hezbollah. "We'd been on the street going from place to place because there was no
WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the naval blockade on Iran will "remain in full force" until a deal with Tehran is struck. "The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business and full passage, but the naval blockade
The latest developments in the Middle East war: - Trump says blockade on - President Donald Trump said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a peace deal with Tehran. "The naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran,
President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed Iran's announcement that the crucial Strait of Hormuz will reopen to shipping, but said a US blockade of Iranian ports would continue until a peace deal is signed. "THANK YOU!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, saying that Iran
Oil prices plunged more than 10 percent on Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely open" for the rest of the ceasefire with the United States, and stock markets surged. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that "passage for all commercial
Israel's defense minister said the country remains 'in the midst' of its war with Hezbollah, while Lebanese President Aoun urged an Israeli withdrawal from the south and the return of captured Lebanese detainees
By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. is urging G20 members and the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to take coordinated action to ensure fertilizer access amid disruptions in food trade supply chains caused by the war in the Middle East, two
Turkey on Friday hosts a high‑stakes diplomatic forum bringing together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as Islamabad steps up efforts to help end the Middle East war. "I believe the window of opportunity opened by the ceasefire should be used in the
Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will remain secure for the duration of the Israel-Lebanon truce.
MOSCOW, April 17 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday that European countries were becoming more involved in the war in Ukraine, referencing a warning from Russia's Defence Ministry about drone production sites across the continent and in Britain. The Defence Ministry on
Three Iranian oil tankers carrying a total of five million barrels of crude have become the first such loaded vessels to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz since a US blockade came into force, the tracking firm Kpler told AFP on Friday. The Deep Sea, Sonia I and Diona,
By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, April 17 (Reuters) - An average of at least 47 women and girls were killed each day during the war in Gaza, according to figures published by U.N. Women on Friday, and the agency warned that deaths have continued six months into a fragile
By Saad Sayeed and Mubasher Bukhari ISLAMABAD, April 17 (Reuters) - Pakistan's air force escorted Iranian negotiators home from inconclusive peace talks with the U.S. last weekend, launching a major operation after the Iranians said Israel might seek to kill them, three
Europe had not fallen below 29 days of jet fuel cover since 2020, but some countries are now under 20. Airlines are cutting flights, raising fees and trimming routes as officials warn shortages could disrupt peak summer travel if supplies through the Strait of Hormuz remain
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, April 17 (Reuters) - Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a U.S.-backed ceasefire in fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, a deal meant to enable broader U.S.-Iran negotiations but one that will see Israeli forces maintain positions deep inside
By Joshua McElwee YAOUNDE, April 17 (Reuters) - Pope Leo has debuted a new, forceful speaking style on his four-nation Africa tour this week, issuing sharp denunciations of war and inequality that have sparked repeated attacks on the pontiff from U.S. President Donald Trump.
In an interview with Turkish Anadolu News, President Ahmad al-Sharaa said Syria is seeking Israeli withdrawal from positions in southern Syria, where previous U.S.-mediated talks have explored restoring parts of a 1974 border framework
Thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians took to the road on Friday, hoping a 10-day ceasefire with Israel would allow them to return to their homes in southern Beirut and the country's war-torn south. Roads heading south from the capital were clogged with traffic, despite
Thousands of displaced Lebanese civilians took to the road on Friday, hoping that a 10-day ceasefire with Israel would allow them to return to their homes in southern Beirut and the country's war-torn south. Minutes before the ceasefire came into effect at midnight, a series of
Israelis express anger that the prime minister's maneuvering to stay out of jail has allowed the US to once again "hijack" foreign policy and national security decision-making.
By Lili Bayer and Feras Dalatey BRUSSELS/DAMASCUS, April 17 - The European Union plans to deepen its engagement with Syria by relaunching formal political contacts and paving the way for closer economic and security ties, according to a document seen by Reuters, marking the
Alongside hundreds of others forced to flee south Lebanon, Amani Atrash and her family waited eagerly on Friday morning for bulldozers to reopen the Qasmiyeh bridge, which Israel bombed just hours before a ceasefire began. Her family was among the tens of thousands of people
By Laila Bassam and Thomas Suen BEIRUT/QASMIYEH, Lebanon, April 17 (Reuters) - People uprooted by the war in Lebanon began returning home on Friday, checking whether their houses were still standing, though some did not plan to stay for fear a 10-day ceasefire in the conflict
ANTALYA, Turkey, April 17 (Reuters) - U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said on Friday he expected Washington and Ankara to soon solve the issue of U.S. sanctions over Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defences. "I think you are going to see the S-400 situation
DOUALA, April 17 (Reuters) - Thousands of people were gathering early on Friday in Douala, Cameroon's largest city and economic hub, for a Mass with Pope Leo that will likely be the biggest event of the pontiff's four-nation Africa tour. The Vatican is expecting about 600,000
As the Israel–Lebanon cease-fire took effect, celebrations broke out in Beirut with gunfire into the air. At the same time, displaced residents began returning to southern Lebanon, despite warnings from both the IDF and the Lebanese Army not to return yet
A 10-day ceasefire deal struck between Lebanon and Israel took effect on Friday, sending displaced residents streaming south towards their homes, even as the Lebanese army warned of "a number of violations" in the area. Shortly after the truce went into effect at midnight local
By Humeyra Pamuk, Ariba Shahid and Asif Shahzad WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD, April 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump expressed confidence that an agreement could soon be reached to end the Iran war and urged the Tehran-aligned Hezbollah group to hold its fire as a 10-day
SYDNEY, April 17 (Reuters) - An Australian court ordered bail with travel restrictions on Friday for the country's most decorated soldier, following his arrest on accusations of war crimes while deployed in Afghanistan more than a decade ago. Police arrested and charged Ben
By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko left the United States on Thursday buoyed by what she called positive talks with top U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, saying she found him to be supportive of
The Israeli prime minister told the security cabinet that the U.S.-facilitated cease-fire is an effort to align on the major issue – Iran. But Netanyahu can't convince the Israeli public that the war's goals were achieved, with Hezbollah not disarmed and the Iranian regime
The cease-fire could bolster the authority of the Lebanese government, jumpstart diplomacy with Israel and strip Iran of a significant bargaining chip in negotiations with the U.S. But it's vital that Israeli recognize the limitations on Beirut's ability to disarm Hezbollah
By John Irish PARIS, April 17 (Reuters) - France and Britain will chair a meeting on Friday of around 40 countries aimed at signalling to the United States that some of its closest allies are ready to play a role in restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once
By Mei Mei Chu, Greg Torode and Antoni Slodkowski BEIJING/HONG KONG, April 17 (Reuters) - China is accelerating its efforts to end the Iran war, walking a diplomatic tightrope as it prepares for a summit next month with U.S. President Donald Trump while trying not to alienate
French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday chair a meeting of allies to consider sending a multinational force to ensure security and free-flowing trade in the Strait of Hormuz once the current conflict between Iran and the US and Israel ends.
IMF economists warned Thursday that the war in Iran could have “very, certainly severe” consequences far outside the region – especially for energy-importing countries. Countries in East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are among the countries most affected now -- and who could
By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - Lebanese Finance Minister Yassine Jaber on Thursday said his government had good meetings this week with the International Monetary Fund and remained committed to working toward a lending program. Current events, including
By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - The Trump administration said on Thursday it was attempting to deport an Iranian academic and media commentator, who it alleged had lied on his visa application, prompting criticism from a Muslim advocacy group which cast his
A tail named Sinwar tried to wag its owner, Iran, and a tail named Netanyahu tried to wag its owner, the U.S. But Sinwar was left alone to face Israel, while the Americans launched Operation Epic Fury. Neither tail has managed to topple the other dog's regime
WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - Finance chiefs of the Group of Seven nations on Thursday said it was urgent to limit the cost to the global economy of an enduring Middle East war and "reaffirmed the pressing need to move toward a lasting peace." The war was among three key
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told reporters Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz needs to reopen "but not at any price," adding that G7 leaders stand ready to mitigate the war's economic fallout. Finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven
By Gram Slattery and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON, April 16 (Reuters) - U.S. officials have informed some European counterparts that some previously contracted weapons deliveries are likely to be delayed as the Iran war continues to draw on weapons stocks, three sources familiar