New York Times: Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz was “completely open” for all commercial ships, but uncertainty remained after President Trump declared the U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports would remain in place.
Iranian pushback: Iran’s top negotiator said the strait would close if the United States continued its blockade, adding to the uncertainty.
Negotiations: President Trump’s public comments raised hopes that negotiations with Iran were going well enough to sustain the cease-fire as they worked on a long-term peace deal. Read more ›
Trump Says Iran Will Suspend Nuclear Program as Hormuz Opens
President Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, fueling optimism that a deal to end their war is in reach after Tehran announced the Strait of Hormuz was open again.
In a Friday phone interview, Trump asserted that any moratorium on Iran’s nuclear activities would not expire, saying it would be “unlimited.”…
Trump says Iran has agreed to his demands. Iran says he’s lying.
President Donald Trump declared Friday that Iran has agreed to virtually all his demands to end its nuclear program forever and said that talks to finalize the deal, “probably” held this weekend, “should go very quickly.”…
Trump’s Efforts to Strong-Arm Iran Into Deal Spark Optimism—and Confusion
The president insisted that Iran had agreed to give up its enriched uranium, although the details of such a deal remained unclear…
Trump Extends Sanctions Exemption on Some Russian Oil as High Gas Prices Persist
The last-minute renewal of Russia’s sanctions exemption came as Iran announced earlier on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that once carried a fifth of the world’s oil, was completely open to all commercial ships.
President Trump celebrated the move on social media, claiming that “Hormuz Strait situation is over” and that Iran had agreed to never close the waterway again.
Iran made no such commitment…
Oil slumps as US and Iran declare Strait of Hormuz open to shipping
Oil tumbled after Iran said it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Donald Trump signalled Washington and Tehran were nearing a deal to end a war that has shaken global markets and economies.
The price fall came even as several ships that had attempted to transit the waterway reversed course late on Friday amid uncertainty about whether Iran would allow all vessels to cross safely…
Stocks Extend ‘Astonishing’ Rally as Middle East Tensions Ease Further
The stock market continued its record-setting rally on Friday, after Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz had reopened to commercial shipping, bolstering investors’ optimism that the conflict in the Middle East was nearing an end…
Trump Frames Iran War as All but Over in Optimistic Social Media Flurry
Iranian officials did not confirm most of Mr. Trump’s claims and disputed several of them. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator and the speaker of its Parliament, said on social media Friday evening that Mr. Trump made seven claims in one hour, all of which were false…
Oil Tankers Make Dash Toward Hormuz as Iran Says Strait Is Open
At least eight oil tankers raced toward the Strait of Hormuz in the hours after Iran’s foreign minister said the vital waterway was fully open to shipping…
Trump Is Urged to Move on Nuclear Site Thought to Be Beyond Reach of Bombs
But even after a U.S. bombing raid last June and more than five weeks of attacks on Iran since February, one suspected nuclear site remains untouched. Experts say the underground facility, known as Pickaxe Mountain, is buried so deep that it may lie beyond the reach of America’s most powerful bunker-buster bombs.
Experts do not believe the facility is yet complete. But they fear that in the future, Pickaxe Mountain could provide Iran a venue for producing nuclear weapons that is impervious to aerial attack…
Top Fed official warns Iran war could spark ‘lasting’ price shock
Christopher Waller says higher oil prices coupled with Donald Trump’s tariffs raise prospect of prolonged inflation…
Lebanon Cease-Fire Leaves Netanyahu in an Uncomfortable Spot
Most Israelis wanted the fight against Hezbollah to continue. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s critics say he is showing that he cannot, or will not, stand up to President Trump…
As Economic Pressures Mount, Will Iran or the U.S. Blink First?
“It seems that the United States wants the Iranian regime to taste its own medicine,” said Saudi political analyst Salman al-Ansari. “The blockade strips the only card that the Iranians have—the Strait of Hormuz—as it forces the Iranian regime to go to the negotiating table for positive and constructive discussions on letting go of their nuclear ambitions.”…
GOP senators urge Trump to find Iran exit plan as energy prices rise: ‘The clock is ticking’
Several GOP senators are warning the president could face growing pushback, including them not supporting military action against Iran after the conflict hits the 60-day mark at the end of the month, if he doesn’t articulate his plan. The White House could try to invoke a 30-day extension for national security reasons…
Republican Nerves Are Fraying Ahead of Midterm Elections
Republican officials are sounding the alarm and urging significant changes ahead of November’s midterm elections, worried that the war in Iran and Democratic enthusiasm could lead to a blowout. In some places, they fear it might already be too late…
Diplomatic cables show Iran war is damaging US on multiple fronts across the world
The cables, dated Wednesday, described the fallout of the war for America’s standing in three countries in different parts of the world: Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Indonesia.
U.S. diplomats at embassies in the countries’ capitals painted damning portraits of an America under siege in multiple media spheres by pro-Iranian actors that are exceptionally agile in the digital space….
‘We are not going back’: Iran war forces global energy shift
The question of what comes next has dominated the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington this week. Officials from the U.S. and other nations spoke vaguely of diversifying energy sources as a likely result of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and one-third of its fertilizer travels…
Thousands of Lebanese Try to Head Home After Israel-Lebanon Truce
Hezbollah politicians affirmed a “cautious commitment” to the 10-day cease-fire, which appeared to be holding on its first day. A truce could remove an obstacle in U.S.-Iran peace talks…
Poll: Trump still hasn’t sold Americans on Iran
A majority say the war is not in the national interest, and many lack confidence in the president’s goals — including some 2024 supporters…