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LESSON for FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2026 – “WAR and PIECES!”

SATURDAY, SUNDAY and PREVIOUSLY

FORTY DAYS and FORTY NIGHTS

What a difference a month makes!

Saturday, February twenty eighth at two in the morning (but half past ten, Tehran time), “a barrage dealing death from above struck Iran all the way home; its people, it’s terrorists and the home of the master of all depraved and deviant – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – during a strategy session. Also killed were perhaps forty of Khamenei’s most important underthings in what was the first of many strikes all through the week.”

So we began our Lesson of March 6^th, six days after “Epic Fury”, the attack that brought America (and numerous other places) into full-fledged war again – following “Midnight Hammer”, the first American strike of the Trump 2.0 administration against the Iranian nuclear bomb factories of Fodrow and other nuclear facilities in June of 2025, burying equipment, scientists and hundreds of pounds of enriched uranium under a pile of rubble where it remains to this day. (See “Epic Fury” stories at http://donjonesindex.com/dji.260306.htm)

Iran retaliated through its surrogates... ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and other Jihadist terror cells ranging in size and influence from a few religious zealots to well organized, trained and armed Islamic militias. A sort point in the present possibility of negotiations, as a matter of fact, has been the Israeli campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Since “Epic Fury”, moreover, Iran itself... as also its surrogates... has attacked shipping in the narrow Straits of Hormuz between Iran on the one side and, on the other, Saudi Arabia and several small Gulf states – most of which are spectacularly wealth (from, of course, oil revenues) and have developed a profile and infrastructure in the major metropolitan areas... Doha, Qatar; the United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi; Kuwait City and in the Saudi kingdom itself... comparable or even more splendid than in America.

There were even plans afoot... before the most recent outbreak of hostilities... of planting a Disneyland in the sands of Yas Island, near Abu Dhabi.

Our March 6^th Lesson (“Iran All the Way Home” – with a tip of the turban to the doo wop era Impalas) described how, after the Supreme Leader Mohammed Khameini was dispatched off to Paradise, a power struggle sprung up – the principles being the dictator’s son, Ali Khameini, a shadow from out of the past, Ahmad, son of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and an even older spook – Reza Junior, grandson of deposed tyrant Shah Reza Pahlavi.

“In the aftermath of the Fodrow bombing campaign,” further DJI Lessons reported, Iranian authorities “arrested thousands of people they suspected of being spies—including activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens. United Nations experts estimated that more than 1,000 people were executed between June and September alone.”

The media... mass, topical and partisan, jumped into the roiling waters of war. After the U.N. reimposed nuclear-related sanctions on the country, “Iran was facing an economic downturn, rampant inflation and a collapse in its currency.” Protests broke out and, as Trump ratcheted up his threats against Iran’s leadership in January, we cited Time Magazine’s math on the death toll from the crackdown on protests in the country as rose dramatically. An internet blackout across the country prevented effective communication with the outside world, but some estimates have the death toll reaching into the tens of thousands.

On Jan. 13, Trump appeared to indicate the U.S. would intervene militarily in the country” to support protesters. "Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY."

“During his State of the Union address,” the following Tuesday night, Trump accused Iran of restarting “sinister ambitions” related to nuclear weaponry and appeared to indicate that the U.S. would consider taking military action if Tehran did not abandon said ambitions. He claimed Iran was working to “build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.”

Khamenei had also threatened on Feb. 17 in a social media post that Iran may attack U.S. ships. “More dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea,” he wrote.

The threat was his last.

Throughout March and until this week, the three little wannabee dictators slapped and pushed at one another while Iranians not out in the streets gambled on the outcome. It was the heavy hand of the American President Trump that finally pushed the son onto the throne of Ancient Babylon – despite the fact, slowly leaking out from present day reports, that he had been seriously injured... saved by Iranian medics, although gravely injured, perhaps even comatose... the outcome being chaos at the top in Teheran.

MONDAY, April 6^th

DAY 38: NO BAD BUNNIES HERE...

USA Today’s Karissa Waddick, covering the White House Easter Egg Roll, reported that Trump talked “bomb threats and bunnies” to children in sundresses and bow ties “prancing on the White House lawn while the President, “(s)tanding next to first lady Melania Trump and a costumed Easter Bunny on the White House's South Lawn,” dismissed concerns that bombing Iran’s power plants and bridges “would constitute a war crime,” doubling down on his “expletive-filled social media threat to bomb the country’s critical infrastructure Tuesday if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"I'm not worried about it," Trump said, while “children used wooden spoons to push eggs – dyed red, white and blue in honor of the country’s birthday – down the grassy slope” at 1600 Pennsylvania.

"You know what's a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon. Allowing a sick country with demented leadership to have a nuclear weapons, that's a war crime," spaketh The Donald in the first of the week’s CNN daily timelines -Attachment “A”, below.

The American President preceded military action with, as has been his wont, a further torrent of threats aimed against the enemy regime.

"Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again. I mean complete demolition by 12 o'clock, and it will happen over a period of four hours if we wanted to — we don't want that to happen," Trump told reporters during a White House press conference covered by the walking dead National Public Radio. (ATTACHMENT ONE)

As has been his predilection, President Trump veered between peaceful promises of a win-win deal for all or, should talks fail (or be can kicked into a future beyond Spring), apocalypse and obliteration.

When Trump launched the war with Iran more than a month ago, NPR recalled, “he gave a rough deadline of six weeks of conflict. Now, six weeks in, the president's timeline on the war and his plan for the U.S. to pull out of Iran are even more muddied. During his briefing room appearance Monday, he suggested for the first time that the U.S. might get involved in rebuilding Iran if he decides on more intensive strikes.

"We may even get involved with helping them rebuild their nation," Trump said, though he did not specify how the U.S. would support those efforts. As peace and/or cease fire negotiations either dragged along (according to the Americans) or did not exist at all (the Iranians) two major knuckledusters arose to the top of the bodypile.

HORMUZ

“Trump has flip-flopped on his messaging for days,” NPR related. “He has demanded that Iran open the strait. He has told allies of the U.S. that it's up to them to open it. And on Easter Sunday, he issued a profanity-laced social media post demanding that Iran open it.

"We have to have a deal that's acceptable to Me,” he arrogated, and... after the Iranians ventured that part of any deal must include their right to charge tolls on tankers going through the Straits, added that a key component of any deal would be, the want “free traffic of oil and everything,"

Or not. Pivoting again, he told media assembled for a Monday press conference following the rescue of a U.S. Colonel whose plane was shot down by Iranian forces in western Iran last Friday, that... well... maybe We, (meaning He) should charge, collect and keep the tolls... just as he’d baited his cowardly NATO allies that they should just march into Iran, collect its oil and sell it themselves.

After Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe described the thrilling and successful mission to rescue the downed airman the President took the podium and threatened a “surge” on strikes unless the straits were opened by Tuesday evening.

"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran," Trump said on social media over the weekend. "Open the F***in' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH!"

LEBANON

In Monday’s installment of CNN’s daily series of short takeaways covering the forty days and forty nights of war, through Thursday (below - Attachment “A”), a large and variegated team of reporters and opinionators brought into the focus that other issue that would bedevil American negotiators (and spit forth from the tongues of Iranian devils) as the week progressed.

Among the Monday takeaways was a report by CNN’s Max Saltman and Dana Karni that Israel is “ordering the residents of dozens of villages in southern Lebanon to leave their homes “immediately” and flee north of the Zahrani River,” as a vengeful Bibi Netanyahu escalated his campaign of rage and retaliation against the civilian populations of Beirut and other Lebanese cities within whom were hiding the Hezbollah terrorists accused of instigating the terror attacks against Jews in the West Bank.

Israeli lawmakers’ demands were, Saltman and Karni wrote, “nearly identical” to plans outlined by Defense Minister Israel Katz last month. Katz said that the Israeli military intends to destroy Lebanese villages and “maintain security control over the Litani area,” barring the 600,000 Lebanese who fled north from returning to their homes “until the safety and security of northern Israeli residents is ensured.”

The destruction will be “in accordance with the Rafah and Khan Younis model in Gaza, in order to remove the threat to Israeli communities,” Katz said, referring to two Palestinian cities that Israel bombed heavily during the war in Gaza.

By 6:13 PM EDT, CNN had posted dozens of short takes, covering issues ranging from Hormuz to Lebanon to Israel and... in reverse order, as customary with such live reportings and transcripts, beginning (or ending) with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei’s urgings that Americans should hold their government responsible for what he described as an “aggressive war” against Iran.

Some of the other combatants interviewed by CNN included Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and, from up there, out there... God.

DEATH of a CIVILIZATION...

As Monday, Day 38 took its leave, the US and Iran agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire, allegedly finding an off-ramp to avoid potential widespread strikes across Iran on Tuesday and, it was hoped, reopen the Straits of Hormuz, following President Trump’s apocalyptic threats and, perhaps more significantly, more than 90 strikes on Iran's oil export hub at Kharg Island.

FROM TRUTH SOCIAL

By @realDonaldTrump

A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!

Apr 07, 2026, 8:06 AM

The bombing of Lebanon by Iranian proxy Hezbollah continued but, separately, an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq reportedly released US hostage Shelly Kittleson. See footage of the kidnapping last week here.

And while American and Israel continued to strike at Iran and Lebanon... killing, perhaps, a few more regime rats or Hezbollah horribles, but also hundreds at an Iranian elementary school and thousands of Lebanese children, the President, Melania and a (presumably) Good Bunny entertained American children in suits and pastel dresses as they frolicked in front of him during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. (USA Today, April 6, ATTACHMENT TWO)

From the White House's South Lawn, the President said the White House had more than 40,000 eggs at the 2026 Easter Egg Roll, 10,000 more than the year prior (perhaps due to the subsidence of the bird flu) and then rejected concerns that bombing Iran’s power plants and bridges would constitute a war crime and stood by his expletive-filled social media threat to bomb the country’s critical infrastructure Tuesday if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

TUESDAY, April 7th

DAY 38: DEAL?...or No Deal?

“The US and Iran agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire yesterday afternoon, finding an off-ramp to avoid potential widespread strikes across Iran. The agreement was mediated by Pakistan, with officials pointing to the possibility of a longer-term pause in fighting,” said 1440. (ATTACHMENT THREE)

In the hours leading up to the cutoff, President Donald Trump levied threats against Iran online, including that a "whole civilization [would] die" if Iranian officials failed to strike a deal (read the post on Truth Social below). The post came after the US carried out more than 90 strikes on Iran's oil export hub at Kharg Island—a strategic outcropping surrounded by deep waters needed for supertankers and capable of exporting 7 million barrels of oil per day.

See the post below...

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

See, also, a video of joint US-Iran exercises from 1964, when the countries were allies.)

And there was (a little) good news - separately, an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq reportedly released US hostage Shelly Kittleson – giving her orders, as in the old Western movies, to be boot-scootin’ out of town by sundown... which she did. See footage of the kidnapping last week here.

The President’s announcement of a two week cease fire, as reported by the Telegraph U.K. (ATTACHMENT FOUR) occurred with just “minutes to spare” before Donald Trump’s threat to wipe out Iranian civilization.

Israel and Iran both agreed to the truce, meaning that Tehran will reopen the strait immediately, as long as both countries halt their attacks. The Telegraph reported that the ceasefire “doesn’t cover Lebanon,” Israel clarified, but not to the subsequent satisfaction of the Iranians.

For his part, the gold-obsessed US president hailed a new “Golden Age of the Middle East”, calling the truce a “big day for world peace”.

Markets rallied following the announcement, with oil prices plunging nearly 17 per cent and stocks surging.

Crucially, the Telegraph reported, “Iran is still thought to retain its enriched uranium, and has not ruled out producing any more.” For this reason, “the (Iranian) regime appears to have been left with a stronger hand than it had in the past,” knowing, now, that “it can push up oil prices by choking off the flow of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz,” and, so, “tighten the screws” on the US president again.

Remaining at issue were the rival peace plans... the 15-pointer proposed by Trump and Iran’s 10-point counter offer (as reported in “The National News” of Abu Dhabi – ATTACHMENT FIVE).

Correspondant Thomas Watkins quoted Trump as saying: ““Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran,” but added that the Iran Plan contains several apparent non-starters for the US, as the President, himself, called the proposal significant but “not good enough”.

No official version of the proposal has been made available, but a summary released by Iran's Supreme National Security Council to the National News includes demands for the following:

· Strait of Hormuz to be reopened "under the co-ordination of the armed forces of Iran"

· Establishment of a "secure transit protocol" in the Strait of Hormuz

· The war against "all components" of Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance to end

· US forces to withdraw from "all bases and points of deployment within the region"

· Full payment of compensation to Iran

· Lifting of all primary sanctions

· Lifting of all secondary sanctions

· Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions

· Termination of all IAEA resolutions on Iran's nuclear programme

· Release of all frozen Iranian assets and properties abroad

“It was not immediately clear if the US had agreed to any of those demands, even in principle, or whether the list is entirely accurate,” Mr. Watkins added.

WEDNESDAY, April 8th

DAY 39: QOMA QAMELEON

Lack of clarity extends to the Iranian regime after a “diplomatic memo” revealed that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is incapacitated and receiving medical treatment in the Shi'ite holy city of Qom, according to The Times on Tuesday.

“The memo allegedly states that Khamenei is unconscious and in severe condition, rendering him unable to participate in regime decision-making,” the Jerusalem Post wrote, based on the memo, on Tuesday morning. (April 7, ATTACHMENT SIX)

The memo also said “preparations were underway in Qom for a large mausoleum for Ali Khamenei and possibly other family members.”

A few hours later, the New York Post reported that Iranian children were forming “human chains” around power plants and on bridges as a response to the Trump threats.

Government officials have called on students, artists, and athletes to form the human shields from 2 p.m. local time — and video showed hordes of Iranians complying within hours, including on several bridges, waving the country’s red, white and green flag and unfurling a massive version across at least one span.

What the Post (April 7, ATTACHMENT SEVEN) called the “bloodthirsty regime” has been accused of recruiting children as young as 12 in a drive dubbed “Homeland Defending Combatants for Iran.”

Amnesty International said it had confirmed photos showing children wielding weapons such as AK-pattern assault rifles and standing alongside Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military personnel at checkpoints and during rallies.

And, compiling short takes, takeaways and musings, CNN walked Don Jones and family through Day Thirty Nine of the war – a two-track anthology of happenstances... flag burnings in Tehran, bouncy stock markets, ignored preachings from Leo XIV, human chains and shields, Omani tolls, Trumpish trolls and threats to shut down CNN, plus at least one good thing: the release of kidnapped journalist Shelly Kittleson... that stretched through Tuesday and on to 1:41 AM Wednesday... when President Trump issued his ceasefire proposal. (ATTACHMENT “B”).

Beginning nearly a full day earlier, Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-Tx) became “one of the few congressional Republicans to push back against the president’s rhetoric, which has put Washington on edge,” CNN reported.

“(L)et me be clear: I do not support the destruction of a ‘whole civilization.’ That is not who we are, and it is not consistent with the principles that have long guided America,” Moran wrote.

CNN’s Day 38 actually ended on Day 39 at 1:41 AM as a potential solution arose regarding Hormuz, but no peace in Lebanon. Pakistan’s prime minister invited delegations from both Iran and the US to Islamabad for talks on Friday.

Faced with further issues as, for example, determining responsibility for war crimes, Team Trump, nonetheless, continued upholding the President’s assertions that we were winning.

Calling his Commander in Chief a “president of peace”, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military “had a target set locked and loaded of infrastructure, bridges, and power plants” had Iran not agreed to a ceasefire deal by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

“Remember, this is a terror regime, a military regime, use all of these things for dual-use to fund their military, their terror campaign,” Hegseth said. He also said the U.S. military will be “hanging around” in the Middle East. (Time. ATTACHMENT EIGHT)

Israel said it supported the cease-fire, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it does not apply to Lebanon, contradicting an earlier statement by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Lebanon was drawn into the conflict after the Iran-aligned paramilitary Hezbollah began launching rockets towards Israeli military compounds, unleashing an Israeli bombing campaign that has killed more than 1,500 people and injured thousands of others in Beirut and Southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Israel has reportedly also been planning an extensive ground invasion of Lebanon.”

The decision to walk back his threat underscored a familiar pattern in TACO Trump’s presidency: issuing maximalist threats, only to recalibrate as the risks of carrying them out come into sharper focus.

The liberal Guardian U.K. was even less optimistic than Time on America’s chances going into the future.

The announcement of a two-week ceasefire has allowed Donald Trump to hail the reopening of the Hormuz strait as a victorious dawn of a new golden age, but it is Iran that enters peace talks with the stronger hand, according to GUK’s Julian Borger (April 8, 05:35 EDT, ATTACHMENT NINE)

“The Tehran regime goes to the negotiations planned for Friday in Pakistan bloodied but intact. It still holds a stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU) – the original crux of the conflict with the US, Israel and allies – and it now claims at least part-control of the strait, having demonstrated its power to close the narrow waterway and hold the world to ransom.

Trump won instant gratification on oil prices, the stock market and rescue of the downed airmen. He got to remain the central player in the drama, having terrified the world with his threat that “a whole civilisation will die” before claiming a few hours later to have dramatically reversed course and to be “far along” along the road to an enduring Middle East peace.

The uncertainty over the future of the strait suggests that the hundreds of ships trapped in the Gulf by the conflict will seek to leave, but far fewer will enter through Hormuz given the level of uncertainty for fear of being trapped. Shippers will also be anxious that paying tolls to Iran will violate US sanctions.

Accused by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy of diverting some of its drones to Iran (in exchange for oil, reasonably enough), Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Sputnik Radio that America had “suffered a crushing defeat” in that, while the Iranian people no longer resisted after the massacres of months ago, the soft, whiny Americans were begging their government to just walk away and let the mullahs resume trafficking to the United States so that Don and Dawn Jones could resume filling up their SUV’s to drive to the mall and buy Easter Peeps. (Newsweek, ATTACHMENT TEN)

Glad Vlad Putin has recouped enormous profits from Russia’s own oil, collecting nearly $7 billion in fossil fuel revenues from our ostensible NATO and EU allies since the blockade of Hormuz. This may have influenced President Trump’d decision to announce that a two-week ceasefire deal has been agreed, one provision that, if honored, includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the United States in Pakistan beginning (today).”

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran,” Trump began a windy post on Truth Social (see Attachment) which ended by his contention that Iran’s ten point proposal was “workable”.

Trump’s Iran threat “rattled” GOP as some Republicans even broke ranks, Fox reported. (ATTACHMENT ELEVEN “A”)

Following the defection of MAGA sock monkeys like MTG and Tucker Carlson, Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, wrote on social media Tuesday afternoon: "(L)et me be clear: I do not support the destruction of a ‘whole civilization. That is not who we are, and it is not consistent with the principles that have long guided America.

"I have and will continue to support a strong national defense — one that is focused, disciplined, and firmly rooted in protecting the safety and security of the American people," the Texas Republican added. "But, how we protect the lives of the innocent is just as important as how we engage the enemy."

And Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who has bucked Trump on Venezuela but largely toed the party line on Iran, called for the saber-rattling to end.

She charged that his threat "cannot be excused away as an attempt to gain leverage in negotiations with Iran."

"This type of rhetoric is an affront to the ideals our nation has sought to uphold and promote around the world for nearly 250 years," Murkowski said on X. "It undermines our long-standing role as a global beacon of freedom and directly endangers Americans both abroad and at home."

Others, like Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., a close ally of the president’s, hoped that Trump’s threat was "bluster."

"I do not want to see that we are not at war with the Iranian people. We are trying to liberate them," Johnson said.

"The United States does not destroy civilizations. Nor do we threaten to do so as some sort of negotiating tactic," Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif., who recently left the Republican Party ahead of a potentially bruising re-election bid, wrote on social media.

Congressional Democrats predictably erupted against Trump’s threat Tuesday, with many lawmakers calling for the president’s impeachment or removal via the 25th Amendment. Some Democrats, including Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., have said those proposals are "unrealistic" in the face of widespread GOP opposition.

ILHAN OMAR CALLS TRUMP AN 'UNHINGED LUNATIC,' URGES BOOTING HIM OUT OF OFFICE

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a member of the progressive cadre of lawmakers known as "The Squad,” called for Trump's ouster. (Fox, ATTACHMENT ELEVEN “B”)

"Sickeningly evil. Donald Trump must be impeached. When will it be enough for my Republican colleagues to grow spines and remove him from office?" she wrote in a Tuesday post on X.

Well, at least one did... although MTG won’t be a colleague much longer. Declaring on X that the president had "gone insane," she posted that: "Everyone in his administration that claims to be a Christian needs to fall on their knees and beg forgiveness from God and stop worshipping the President and intervene in Trump’s madness. I know all of you and him and he has gone insane, and all of you are complicit," she asserted in part of the lengthy post. "This is not making America great again, this is evil."

After Trump posted an obscene Easter Sunday rant on Truth Social (See Attachment) Omar answered: "This is not ok. Invoke the 25th amendment. Impeach. Remove. This unhinged lunatic must be removed from office."

The House and Senate are not scheduled to return to Washington until the week of April 13.

Al Jazeera said (ATTACHMENT TWELVE) that the loser in the dual Mideast wars was Israel. Despite triumphant boasts from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jazzie Simon Speakman Cordall opined that Israel “appears weakened in the eyes of its opponents and critics. Its arch-nemesis, Iran, is still standing; Israel’s defensive stock of missiles is depleted and its prime minister is facing a political backlash.”

Responding to Netanyahu’s announcement, Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, who had strongly supported his country’s attack on regional nemesis Iran, called the ceasefire one of the greatest “political disasters in all of our history”, adding that it would take years to repair the damage inflicted upon the country through the prime minister’s “arrogance”.

Bibi, Al Jazz reported, has been taking incoming from both the left – Ofer Cassif of the left-wing Hadash party saying “Netanyahu has no interest in talking to the people of Israelm,” while far-right settlers have apparently added Lebanon to their list of targets for takeover and ethnic cleansing.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli ambassador and consul general in New York, told Al Jazeera that Iran “upended the strategic asymmetry by both attacking the Arab Gulf states and, crucially, shutting the Strait of Hormuz with almost no pushback from China. Israel is increasingly perceived as a destabilising force and, arguably, strained the US relationship since all promises Netanyahu made to Trump unravelled,” he said, referring to reported assurances of swift regime change in Iran that Israel made.

Cassif was more succinct: “It’s crazy.”

All US ships, aircraft, weapons, military personnel will remain “in place, in and around, Iran” until a full agreement is reached, US President Donald Trump said in a midnight post to Truth Social that ended the CNN live files for Wednesday, DAY 40 of the war. (ATTACHMENT “C”) The day began with Iran and the US both claiming victory… “(t)he enemy, in its unfair, unlawful, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat,” declaring Iran’s Supreme National Security Council while President Trump posted that “…subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!” on Truth Social.

The Jerusalem Post (Wednesday, 20:56, ATTACHMENT THIRTEEN) assessed several aspects of the Iranian Ten Point Plan (Above, Attachment Five), notably the demand for “cessation of combat on all fronts of the war, including Israel’s ongoing confrontation with Lebanese terrorist organization, Hezbollah.”

Trump has explicitly denied Lebanon's inclusion in the ceasefire agreement, the JP reported, while Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped negotiate the ceasefire, initially announced that Lebanon would be included.

According to a Reuters report, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Sharif that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an "essential condition" for the agreement to be successful.

This and other contradictory statements may be resolved over the weekend as Team Trump’s Jared and Witkoff will be joined by Veep Vance in more negotiations with the Iranians in bad, old Islamabad, Pakistan.

(The meetings might be especially interesting to American political tabloidsters assessing J. D.’s potential Presidential race in 2028.)

Another controversial proposal... implied but not stated in the Israeli plan... was that Iran was “demanding the right to collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz as a precondition for reopening the waterway vital to world oil supplies,” PBS reported, (Wednesday ATTACHMENT FOURTEEN) either to replace and rehabilitate structures destroyed by the Americans and Israelis or to manufacture more missiles, drones and (their Holy Grail) nuclear bombs to resume the war at a later date.

PBS noted that collecting tolls in the strait would violate a basic and enduring principle of international maritime trade: freedom of peaceful navigation... an ancient idea “that was codified by the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea, which took effect in 1994.”

Opening the strait would save the global economy from supply constraints that have pushed energy and fertilizer prices sharply higher since the war began on Feb. 28, PBS allowed. But agreeing to Iranian toll-collecting “would cement the Islamic Republic's control over the strait through which 20% of the world's oil is shipped — and enrich the military against whom the war was launched.”

The White House said, on Wednesday, that President Trump is opposed to tolls, and analysts say the Gulf's oil producers are, too. Consumers... PBS noted China... were paying exorbitant extortion fees to and submitting to inspections from “intermediaries of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps,” long before the war.

THE LAW OF THE SEA TREATY GUARANTEES PASSAGE TO PEACEFUL SHIPS

Freedom of navigation in the world's seas has been a fundamental right for hundreds of years, founded on "the idea that the sea doesn't belong to anyone," said Philippe Delebecque, a professor and maritime law expert at Paris' Sorbonne University.

"Freedom of navigation has always been recognized, including specifically in straits," he said. The concern is if the Strait of Hormuz could be closed, then why not the Strait of Gibraltar between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, or the Strait of Malacca off Indonesia?

He called that scenario "the end of an international society." However...

NEITHER IRAN OR THE U.S. HAVE RATIFIED THE LAW OF THE SEA TREATY

While 172 countries have ratified the U.N. convention, Iran and the United States are among those that have not.

"Not having ratified the convention doesn't give (Iran) total freedom of action in the Strait of Hormuz," said Julien Raynaut, who heads the French Association of Maritime Law, a trade group. "It remains subject to international law and notably this customary right of passage."

An Iranian tollbooth could lead China to conclude that it could restrict movement in the Taiwan Strait, Raynaut said.

Other anonymous PBS “experts” have warned that allowing Iran and Oman to start charging for passage through the strait would set a dangerous precedent.

An Iranian tollbooth could lead China to conclude that it could restrict movement in the Taiwan Strait, Raynaut said.

Other persons with points to point out contend that opening the straints would, by lowering oil prices, eliminate a multibillion-dollar geopolitical windfall for Russia, whose oil is suddenly in greater demand despite sanctions. “Westerners” and, in particular, defenders of democracy, counter that any tolls “... would likely benefit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for Iran's ballistic missile program, suppresses domestic political opposition, and is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union.

Finally, on Wednesday, Time sounded out U.S. lawmakers, human rights organizations, and experts on international law who have sounded their own alarms that resumption of attacks on Iranian civilians and civilian instructure would amount to war crimes. (ATTACHMENT FIFTEEN)

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday morning. “We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World.”

HEGSETH SAYS IRAN ACCEPTED CEASEFIRE "UNDER OVERWHELMING PRESSURE"

The previous day, Trump said the U.S. would bring Iran “back to the stone ages” while speaking at a press conference. But on TACO Tuesday evening, the President agreed to extend his deadline and suspend the “bombing and attack on Iran”—for two weeks. He stressed that the cease-fire was “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.”

TIME spoke with four legal experts prior to the Tuesday evening post about whether Trump’s threatened strikes would constitute war crimes, how such determinations are made under international law, and who could be held responsible.

Oona Hathaway, a professor at Yale Law School who served in the U.S. State Department and the Department of Defense, and Tom Dannenbaum, a Stanford University Law School professor of nuclear security, were among the co-authors of an open letter from international law experts raising concerns about war crimes in the Iran conflict. Harold Koh, a Yale Law professor who served for nearly four years as the Legal Advisor of the Department of State was one of more than 100 experts who signed the letter.

New York University Law School professor Ryan Goodman, who served as special counsel for the Defense Department, did not sign and in the transcript of their interview (see Attachment) resorted to elliptical legal terminology to discriminate between strikes on infrastructure with mixed military-civilian use might be justified, while strikes on peaceful nuclear facilities, civilian-only power plants or water desalination targets for optics (or just for “fun”) might well be considered war crimes.

Answering the question as to who would determine what are or are not war crimes, Professor Koh listed the Red Cross and the International Criminal Court. While he raised the example of the Nuremberg Trials, Professor Hathaway said that the chances of President Trump being subjected to criminal prosecution were “pretty slim.”

More generally, she concluded, “I think we should be concerned about what this does to the protections for civilians in future wars, not just in this war. Once you erode these legal principles, once the United States, which has historically played a critical role as a leader in the international and global legal order, is throwing these rules out the window and deciding that they don't apply it will license many other states to feel that they too can ignore these rules. And so the United States is setting an example by which the world is measuring itself.”

THURSDAY, April 9th

DAY FORTY: SO WHO’S LOSING?

CNN’s live files wrapped the week moments after midnight (ATTACHMENT “D”) with the following takes on the collapsing ceasefire,

• Key sticking point: The deadly Israeli military offensive targeting Tehran-backed Hezbollah has emerged as a critical point of contention surrounding the tenuous US-Iran ceasefire.

• Lebanon talks: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel wants direct negotiations with Lebanon on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations, but said there is no ceasefire currently in place. Lebanese officials say Beirut has not received a formal invitation for talks, with one of them insisting there will be “no negotiations under fire.”

• Strait of Hormuz: US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against charging tolls to oil tankers in the key shipping lane. Abu Dhabi’s oil chief said the strait is “not open” as few vessels make it through the waterway.

• High-stakes meetings: A US delegation is preparing for talks in Pakistan this weekend on a potential long-term deal with Iran. A two-week pause in hostilities appears to be largely holding.

A16X20 X20 FROM BBC

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE TWO-WEEK CEASEFIRE BETWEEN THE US AND IRAN

By Kelly Ng, Khashayar Joneidi, C Persian, Washington, and Daniel De Simone

Here's what we know so far about the deal.

What have the US and Iran said?

Trump said he had agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks" if Tehran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and other exports from the Gulf.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he agreed to the provisional ceasefire because "we have already met and exceeded all military objectives".

This comes after he earlier warned the US could take Iran out "in one night" and that a "whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again" - threats that drew condemnation from UN Secretary General António Guterres and Pope Leo XIV.

According to Sharif, the ceasefire will also take effect in Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting the Iranian-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Israel has backed the deal but says it "does not include Lebanon", renewing strikes on Wednesday in the Tyre and Nabatieh areas in the south of the country. Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt later also said that Lebanon was not included in the deal.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) promised a "regret-inducing response" if strikes on Lebanon continue.

WHAT HAS ISRAEL SAID?

Sirens sounded in Israel shortly after Trump's announcement, with the Israel Defense Forces saying they were intercepting missiles launched from Iran.

Several loud booms were heard in Jerusalem late on Tuesday night.

A few hours after the ceasefire was confirmed, Netanyahu said: "Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region."

The statement added that the "ceasefire does not include Lebanon", where Israel has ground troops.

The leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the EU welcomed the ceasefire and in a joint statement urged a "swift and lasting end" to the war.

"We call upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon," they said.

Tangle (yesterday, ATTACHMENT SEVENTEEN) called the ceasefire “tenuous” and “cracking” after a bipolar President Trump at once endorsed the cease fire but, also threatened to bring back its extermination of the civilization.

Tangle editor Isaac Saul (who, like the DJI, searches out views from multipartisan sourcs) called the right wing media “mixed” and, from the National Review “uncertain” while the American Spectator opined that Trump had confounded his critics. He called the leftists “cynical” as they reiterated the wages of a “war of choice” or, as in The Nation, mired in tactics of “World War II and the Cold War” (aka “a web of delusions”) while enemies like Russia, Iran and China have kept up with the times.

Saul’s own “my take” on the American and Iranian plans is that neither is viable... “the U.S. has demanded the Strait of Hormuz be opened and Iran has demanded attacks in Lebanon stop. Yet neither of those things has happened, either.” Despite the military strikes, the ultimate pressure of power has been economic.

“Somehow, impressively, Iran and the U.S. are both losing this war,” Saul editorializes. “But that seems to be what war often is — a violent circle of sacrifice and downsides, justified by the people pushing it, and tolerated by the rest of us.”

Time’s Brian Bennett consulted three experts (April 9, ATTACHMENT EIGHTEEN) upon the health and welfare of the cease fire... each declaring that the war had worsened the world at large without any possibility of a quick and cleansing (maybe) regime change, as occurred in Venezuela.

Iran’s new demands that vessels notify its military before sailing through the Strait of Hormuz “...is something the Iranians did not have before the war started,” said Daniel Fried, a fellow at the Atlantic Council and a former U.S. ambassador.

Former Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, replied that President Trump just doesn’t care about the prospect of the tolling of shipping violating international law – given his own contempt of Congress.

And Brandan Buck, a former intelligence officer with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency who is now a foreign policy expert at the Cato Institute advanced the point that the truly sticky issue is whether Trump can “restrain” Israeli PM Bibi on Lebanon

TODAY 4/9

DAY FORTY ONE: AND... WHO’S WINNING?

A19+ GET

IN the NEWS: APRIL 3rd, 2026 to APRIL 9th, 2026

Friday, April 3, 2026

Dow: Closed for Good Friday

It’s Good Friday. Christians acknowledge... can’t really say “celebrate” the crucifixion of Jesus... Penteteuchkals as live by at least the first five books of the Old Testament (being the various stripes of Christians, Jews and Muslims) remain at was with one another. Sometimes the slaughters are internal (there are few doctrinal differences... although considerable ideological enmities... between Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox faiths or, slightly more between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims – no longer even conjoined in hatred of the Jews.

On the other hand, the DEI crew of the Artemis Starship performed their Translunar Injection Burn to slingshot the capsule “Integrity” around the moon and back and opined that, from Space, the Earth looks united. Then again, the weightless capsule crew are so crowded that astronaut Christina Koch has to sleep upside down, the TV-rocket scientists say, “like a bat”... so they have to get along.

Back on Earth, two American fighter jets are shot down by Iranians after President Trump insists that we have already won the war... one pilot is rescued, but the other is in hiding as rival patrols of American and Iranian searchers search the mountains. Double-dealing Donnie threatens to destroy civilian infrastructure necessities (power, water, schools, hospitals) but also says that Europe should take over Hormuz and, in particular, Kharg Island while the U.S.A. moves on to new adventures – like conquering Cuba.

The good news for Good Friday is that the loathsome Fed reports that jobs are up and inflation down in advance of Chairman Powell’s purge. Still means he has to go.

Saturday, April 4, 2026

Dow: Closed

It’s National Love Our Children Day (too late for Jeffy, whose EpFiles are blamed for Bondi’s bombardment).

Iranian and American troopers escalate their search and rescue endeavors to find the missing crewman of the demolished fighter jets and copters. TV General Douglas Lute says the U.S.A. has dominion on land and in the air but Iranians, under the sea, continue to lay mines to blow up infidel tanker and is reportedly expressing its love for its own children by drafting 12 year olds into its armies.

Back on the homefront, the Shutdown 3.0 is now down to ICEmen – their masks, their body cameras and their warrants... and the dealers are ready to deal. After Congress has its vacation, however, extending the shrinking Shutdown to April 14^th. TSAgents are receiving paychecks – and just in time to buy the kiddies Easter Baskets.

Justice Samuel Alito gets sick at CPAC and worried Republicans are asking whether he’ll get worse and do the right thing – retire and let Trump report a successor while he’s still in office or even before November, just in case midterm defeats make confirmation more complicated.

And the eagles have landed – Jackson and Shadow of Big Bear Lake, CA hatch two eggs and the chicks are healthy and peepin’.

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Dow: Closed (Easter Sunday)

It’s Easter Sunday. Pope Leo celebrates his first Easter Mass while President Trump counts down to the end of his deadline and issus a “profanity filled” EO promising to attack civilians and blow up the whole country... meaning he’ll blow up the support of the majority of the people who want regime change.

On go the Talk Shows: On ABC, Commander John Hiltz applauds the rescue of the last F-15 crewman out from under the noses of the Revolutionary Guard, Jerusalem correspondent Britt Clennett reports that attacks on Iranian nuclear energy facilities draw impotent protests from the Atomic Energy Commission while Israeli bombings in Lebanon that kill children draw impotent protests from the U.N.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffies denounces President Trump’s “reckless war of choice” and promises to oppose adding $200B more for the war, Djonald UnFriended’s intent to dissolve NATO, boots on the ground to reopen Hormuz and domestic schme to intimidate voters into avoiding November midterms.

Countering, Rep. Mike Turner (R-Oh) blames the war on President Obama, who wanted to “sit back and watch” as Iran built nuclear bombs to supply to Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS and the like. Calling the regime “a diminishing state” in its “last throes”, he opposes boots on the ground to open Hormuz.

The ABC roundtable tackles Iran,

Chris Chistie (ex RNC) says Trump chose Bondi for compliance over competenct and says Blanche, his personal lawyer, is both. Donna Brazile (ex DNC predicts the oil price increases will be reflected in food and other supply chain commodities. ABC’s Rachel Scott says Blanche will have his 210 days of “acting” but confirmation will be perilous, especially as midterms approach. RNC’s Doug Heye, as to predictions of other cabinet and agency firings, says anybody who doesn’t believe in the stolen 2020 election must look for new jobs.

On “Face the Nation” Gen. Frank McKenzie says that, despite the shootdown of two jets and more choppers, the US saving its crewman was a “hard lesson” for Iran, and “a sign of disaffection.” Their only salvation are the mines beneath Hormuz, Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md) admits war will cause inflation but Congress can prevent “gouging” and cites five “buckets” of decisions on: 1) things that are unfixable, 2) things that need fixing; 3) things that need different approaches to fixing; 4) things that should be broken, and 5) things to leave alone.

Monday, April 6, 2026

Dow: 46,669.88

Harlem Globetrotters turn 100. Day 37 of the War with Iran

Trump holds press conference. Gen. Cain tells of pilot rescue. T. says the media lie – he HAS a plan (but won’t reveal it due to leakers). Blames 7 former Presidents; Barack Hussein Obama chose Iran over Israel, the Bush Boys were responsible for ISIS. Iran must surrender 8PM Tues. or be sent back to the stone age.

Dems call bombing Iranian infrastructure a war crime, and it will turn the people back to the regime and against the USA. MTG calls Trump “insane”. Gas prices keep rising and join with after-effects of shutdown to make air travel less reliable and more expensive.

Pope Leo gives Easter message of hope and Artemis astronaut Victor Glover gives another message of hope as Integrity heads towards the moon.

Trump and the DHS will cut off visas for hi-tech immigrants which angers corporations who want the cheap labor.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Dow: 46,584.48

At the brink of obliteration, either Trump or Iran surrenders to a ceasefire deal involving projected reopening of Hormuz. Dipsomats will meet and discuss details in Pakistan later.

Earlier, Djonald Unhinged issued a torrent of “obscenity filled” EO’s as, for example, if the deal was not cut by 8PM, “a whole civilization would die tonight”, never to return. Iran, for its part, transported thousands of civilians to stand on target bridges as human shields. Critics from Tucker Carlson to Pope Leo denounced the President’s threats. “What a critical day!’ TV guy George Staph exclaimed before the drama fizzled – for now.

Far out of reach from civilizational death, the four astronauts of Artemis rounded the moon and took lots of exquisite photos, including a solar eclipse, an Earthrise and a jar of Nutella floating through the capsule. A huge darkside crater was named Carroll after Commander Weisman’s deceased wife as Apollo 13’s Jim Lovell advised them to “enjoy the view,”

Back on Earth, spring is spreading eastwards from sweltering California but ICE Follies are percolating as the migrant hunters snatch up an alien bride and a three year old reportedly abused at a child detention center. So far, a reported forty plus aliens have died in prison.

And in Trump’s Cabinet of Curiosities, replacements for Kristi Noem (DHS) and Pam Bondi (DoJ) struggle to deal with their new jobs, while FEMA chief Gregg Phillips claimed to have teleported himself to a Waffle House in Rome, GA (MTG’s stomping ground).

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Dow: 47,909.92

+1,325.46 (2.85%)today

TACO talk as civilization’s end is postponed for two weeks by Iranian case fire deal. The deal is signed by Prime Minister Sharif; bipartisan critics call Trup “unhinged” before the deal to open Hormuz and questions fly as to whether Iran will be able to find and keep its enhanced uranium and make bombs. Oil prices falling, but not at the pump as gas companies gouge. Nonetheless, stocks rise.

Mixed electoral results find MAGA’s Clay Fuller taking MTG’s former Congressional seat, but liberal wins key Wisconsin judgeship race. Acting AyGee Todd Blanche declares a War on Fraud.

In the courts, Ketamine Queen Jasveen Sangha gets 25 years for Matthew Perry OD. Testimony of Hooker children prompt police in the Bahamas to detain Dad for Mom’s alleged surfing accident. Louisiana fisherman faces ten years for lying about where he caught a 12 lb. bass. Gilgo Beach killer convicted on 8 counts, Hawaiian doc convicted of attrmpted manslaughter, Diddy challenges his prison sentence for pimping and Tiger Wood escapes America to enter foreign rehab.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Dow: 48,185.80

Hormuz remains clogged as Iran blames America for Israeli strikes on Lebanon. Only three ships are allowed to excape and President Trump maintains that Iran will not be able to charge them tolls. (He, however, might.)

An unexpected message from Melania who, without forewarning her busy husband, holds a press conference to deny that they were brought together by dead pedo Epstein and that all their photos together and her affectionate emails to girlfriend GMax (including a promise that she’d be “going down”) were entirely innocent.

Anthropic AI issues a warning on their own new Mythos app, saying that it can be used by terrorists to wreak episodes of mass destruction, or by disgruntled domestics or can even run wild on its own the way machines do in the movies. They admit that the app still has “thousands of bugs”.

Artemis’ Orion capsule to splashdown tomorrow evening, 8 PM. Heat shield will hopefully deploy to protect four astronauts from 5000° re-entry temperatures as miraculous photos are sent down to Earth.

THE DON JONES INDEX

CHART of CATEGORIES w/VALUE ADDED to EQUAL BASELINE of 15,000

(REFLECTING… approximately… DOW JONES INDEX of June 27, 2013)

Gains in indices as improved are noted in GREEN. Negative/harmful indices in RED as are their designation. (Note – some of the indices where the total went up created a realm where their value went down... and vice versa.) See a further explanation of categories HERE

ECONOMIC INDICES		(60%)
CATEGORY	VALUE	BASE	RESULTS by PERCENTAGE			SCORE		OUR SOURCES and COMMENTS
INCOME	(24%)	6/17/13 revised 1/1/22	LAST	CHANGE	NEXT	LAST WEEK	THIS WEEK	THE WEEK’S CLOSING STATS...
Wages (hrly. Per cap)	9%	1350 points	4/3/26	+0.40%	4/26	1,893.61	1,893.61	https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/average-hourly-earnings 37.32
Median Inc. (yearly)	4%	600	4/3/26	+0.044%	4/17/26	1,127.61	1,128.11	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 51,857 892 915
Unempl. (BLS – in mi)	4%	600	4/3/26	-2.33%	4/26	542.60	542.60	http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000/ 4.4 4.3
Official (DC – in mi)	2%	300	4/3/26	-4.20%	4/17/26	196.31	204.56	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 7,642 983 661
Unofficl. (DC – in mi)	2%	300	4/3/26	+0.091%	4/17/26	240.19	239.07	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 14,281 301 314
Workforce Participation Number Percent	2%	300	4/3/26	-0.004% -0.015%	4/17/26	295.84	295.79	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ In 162,741 731 724 Out 105,038 083 118 Total: 267,787 814 842 60.773 763 753
WP % (ycharts)*	1%	150	4/3/26	+0.162%	4/26	149.98	150.22	https://ycharts.com/indicators/labor_force_participation_rate 62.00 61.9
OUTGO	(15%)
Total Inflation	7%	1050	4/3/26	+0.3%	4/26	920.05	920.05	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.3
Food	2%	300	4/3/26	+0.4%	4/26	259.19	259.19	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.4
Gasoline	2%	300	4/3/26	+0.8%	4/26	262.47	262.47	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.8
Medical Costs	2%	300	4/3/26	+0.6%	4/26	270.91	270.91	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.6
Shelter	2%	300	4/3/26	+0.2%	4/26	239.10	239.10	http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm +0.2
WEALTH
Dow Jones Index	2%	300	4/3/26	+3.61%	4/17/26	358.37	371.32	https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/index/ 46,504.87 8,185.80
Home (Sales) (Valuation)	1% 1%	150 150	4/3/26	-5.98% -1.58%	4/17/26	133.12 260.67	133.12 260.67	`https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics` Sales (M): 4.09 Valuations (K): 398.0
Millionaires (New Category)	1%	150	4/3/26	+0.06%	4/17/26	136.83	136.91	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 24,122 136 150
Paupers (New Category)	1%	150	4/3/26	+0.025%	4/17/26	135.21	135.18	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 36,794 808 817

GOVERNMENT	(10%)
Revenue (trilns.)	2%	300	4/3/26	+0.11%	4/17/26	472.66	473.18	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 5,411 419 425
Expenditures (tr.)	2%	300	4/3/26	+0.04%	4/17/26	292.21	292.09	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 7,100 104 107
National Debt tr.)	3%	450	4/3/26	+0.061%	4/17/26	347.17	346.96	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 39,039 075 099
Aggregate Debt (tr.)	3%	450	4/3/26	+0.073%	4/17/26	371.03	370.76	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 107,181 302 380

TRADE	(5%)
Foreign Debt (tr.)	2%	300	4/3/26	-0.11%	4/17/26	254.62	254.35	http://www.usdebtclock.org/ 9,425 440 450
Exports (in billions)	1%	150	4/3/26	+4.20%	4/26	188.01	195.91	https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 302.1 314.8
Imports (in billions))	1%	150	4/3/26	-4.17%	4/26	144.67	138.64	https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 356.6 372.1
Trade Surplus/Deficit (blns.)	1%	150	4/3/26	+4.89%	4/26	260.20	247.48	https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 54.5 57.3

ACTS of MAN	(12%)
World Affairs	3%	450	4/3/26	+0.1%	4/17/26	469.61	470.08	Pope Leo carries a cross through the Vatican and gives Easter Message. British pastor arrested for drowning during baptism. Kim Jong Un’s daughter drives a tank. China bans drones in Beijing.
War and terrorism	2%	300	4/3/26	+0.2%	4/17/26	283.45	284.02	Israel kills Revolutionary Guard leader. As domestic fear grows, DHS brings back shoe inspections for air flight. ISIS inspired gunman kills hero cadet who stopped his rampage at Old Dominion U. Constipated Canadian arsonist burns down toilet paper warehouse.
Politics	3%	450	4/3/26	nc	4/17/26	455.18	455.18	Former BFF MTG calls for Trump impeachment. Melania Trump denies Epstein links. Mixed special election mood – Dems win in Mich., Repubs in Ga.
Economics	3%	450	4/3/26	+0.2%	4/17/26	427.91	428.77	Burger King adds 60K jobs. Midterm polls bounce round more violently than the stock market. Despite higher gas prices, more Americans are buying bigger cars and trucks. Inflation strikes Easter with chocolate prices up (but real eggs down) but experts predict relief by Halloween. Producers and writers cut Hollywood deal to avert strike.
Crime	1%	150	4/3/26	nc	4/17/26	204.17	204.17	Good children suffer, bad boys kill and animals watch – school shooter guns down the Principal in Oklahoma, gumment appeals release of five year old alien boy in Minnesota, parents arrested for letting toddler crawl into the wolf cage of Hershey Park, PA. Maniac stabs dogwalker to death in Florida. Rapper Pooh Sheisty robs and kidnaps rival Gucci Mane, but is arrested.
ACTS of GOD	(6%)
Environment/Weather	3%	450	4/3/26	+0.1%	4/17/26	279.14	279.42	Record heat in D.C. strikes 85° as wildfires return to California and in between, as usual, stormy weather. Names released for 2026 hurricane season... Arthur begins, Wilfred ends. Mexican miner survives 14 days after being trapped by flooding.
Disasters	3%	450	4/3/26	-0.1%	4/17/26	464.94	464.46	Drunk driver rams Louisiana parade – 15 injured but no fatalities. Three killed by fallng trees in German easter egg hunt. Bad luck boat persons include American Lynette Hooker – missing after falling overboard in the Bahamas and cruise ship passengers who run aground on Tom Hanks’ Castaway Island off Fiji (no fatalities). Unsweet Easter surprise: hiker stung by 100 bees (but survives).
LIFESTYLE/JUSTICE INDEX		(15%)
Science, Tech, Education	4%	600	4/3/26	+0.2%	4/17/26	619.83	621.07	Artemis crew rounds the dark side of the moon. Anthropic says its new app Mythos can be dangerous if used by terrorists as they work to elimate “thousands of bugs”. AI helps tax scammers steal 430% more over 6 years. Old weight loss Mounjaro and new Foundaya replace weight loss injections with pills.
Equality (econ/social)	4%	600	4/3/26	+0.2%	4/17/26	667.68	669.02	The black, female and Canadian astronauts (along with one of the usual white guys) now share the record of flying Artemis to the furthest distance from Earth. Savannah Guthrie returns to “Today” (mother still missing) while 18,000 attend first women’s professional hockey match at Madison Square Garden.
Health	4%	600	4/3/26	+0.1%	4/17/26	413.81	414.22	RFK Junior finds a winner, even democratic Socialist support removing microplastics from food and drinking water. Recalls include dinosaur shaped Walmart chicken nuggets (lead), three million bottles of unsanitary eyedrops, raw milk cheese (e coli),
Freedom and Justice	3%	450	4/3/26	-0.2%	4/17/26	480.16	479.20	Forty five deaths and “dozens” of safety and humanitarian violations reported at ICE detention centers where inmates die of toothaches. (ICE says the sick and the dead are “faking it”.) In civil courts, judge dismisses most Lively claims against Baldoni,
CULTURAL and MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS			(6%)
Cultural incidents	3%	450	4/3/26	+0.2%	4/17/26	587.81	588.99	In NCAA finals, UCLA beats S. Car. (women) and Michigan topples UConn (men). Auburn wins NIT. Dallas NBA’s Cooper Flagg becomes first rookie to score 50 points. Seahawks’ Superbowler Sam Darnold gets another ring (his wedding) and MLB season begins. On Broadway, Megan Thee Stallion returns to “Moulin Rouge” after dehydration meltdown. In music, “The Cockroaches” (aka Rolling Stones) onstage tomorrow in England (but Kanye is kicked out of the Kingdom and his Festival cancelled). “Super Mario” cartoon wins at box office; three aging Charlie’s Angels reunite for 50^th anniversary (Malcolm in the Middle is only 20.). RIP: MLB’s Davy Lopes, Everest climber Jim Whitaker, surfing dog Sugar at 16; RIP – not – Michael J. Fox
Miscellaneous incidents	4%	450	4/3/26	nc	4/17/26	551.75	551.75	New York promotes “Museum of the Dog”. Coyote attacks 4 year old in L.A.; boy saved, animal killed. “Fractional” drinks like seaweed juice are trending. Chevy will bring back the Camaro.

The Don Jones Index for the week of April 3^rd through April 9^th, 2026 was UP 15.36 points

The Don Jones Index is sponsored by the Coalition for a New Consensus: retired Congressman and Independent Presidential candidate Jack “Catfish” Parnell, Chairman; Brian Doohan, Administrator. The CNC denies, emphatically, allegations that the organization, as well as any of its officers (including former Congressman Parnell, environmentalist/America-Firster Austin Tillerman and cosmetics CEO Rayna Finch) and references to Parnell’s works, “Entropy and Renaissance” and “The Coming Kill-Off” are fictitious or, at best, mere pawns in the web-serial “Black Helicopters” – and promise swift, effective legal action againth parties promulgating this and/or other such slanders.

Comments, complaints, donations (especially SUPERPAC donations) always welcome at feedme@generisis.com or: speak@donjonesindex.com.

ATTACHMENT ONE – FROM NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR)

Trump reiterates threats to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges

By Deepa Shivaram Updated April 6, 2026 4:44 PM ET

President Trump repeated his threats against Iran's civilian infrastructure Monday, promising destruction if a deal to end the war is not reached by Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET.

Negotiations, he said, must include an open Strait of Hormuz.

When Trump launched the war with Iran more than a month ago, he gave a rough deadline of six weeks of conflict. Now, six weeks in, the president's timeline on the war and his plan for the U.S. to pull out of Iran are even more muddied. During his briefing room appearance Monday, he suggested for the first time that the U.S. might get involved in rebuilding Iran if he decides on more intensive strikes.

"We may even get involved with helping them rebuild their nation," Trump said, though he did not specify how the U.S. would support those efforts.

Iran rejects a U.S. ceasefire plan as Trump again threatens to bomb its infrastructure

Also unclear is how Trump wants to handle the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has flip-flopped on his messaging for days. He has demanded that Iran open the strait. He has told allies of the U.S. that it's up to them to open it. And on Easter Sunday, he issued a profanity-laced social media post demanding that Iran open it.

"We have to have a deal that's acceptable to me, and part of that deal is going to be, we want free traffic of oil and everything," he said Monday.

Minutes before, he said he would want the U.S. to charge tolls in the strait.

Asked about his mixed messages about the status of the war and whether it was winding down or ramping up amid his latest threats, he said: "I don't know. I can't tell. It depends what they do. This is a critical period. They have a period of, well, till tomorrow, at 8 o'clock."

Trump said he can't discuss a potential ceasefire — which was presented by mediating countries to both the U.S. and Iran on Sunday — but added that the U.S. has "an active, willing participant on the other side" of negotiations.

The president was also asked whether he was concerned that the potential U.S. strikes on civilian infrastructure such as bridges and power plants would amount to war crimes under international law. But Trump said he wasn't worried.

"I hope I don't have to do it," he said.

Trump and other administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, led off the press conference by describing the mission to rescue a downed U.S. airman whose plane was shot down by Iranian forces in western Iran last Friday.

Trump called his decision to authorize the rescue as "risky" and "hard."

"But in the U.S. military, we leave no American behind," he said. The president claimed Iran "got lucky" when it downed the U.S. fighter jet.

The news conference comes days after Trump formally addressed the nation from the White House and said the conflict would end "shortly." During that address, he criticized other countries without specifics and said it was up to others to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the route through which 20% of the world's oil is transported.

Iran's blockade of the strait during the war has led to a jump in gas prices globally, hitting an average of $4 per gallon last week in the United States.

The president has also been threatening a surge in strikes on Iran on Tuesday, unless the strait is reopened by Tuesday evening.

The post came as a trio of countries, including Pakistan, sought to mediate negotiations. They submitted a 45-day ceasefire proposal to the U.S. and Iran on Sunday. On Monday, Trump called the proposal "a significant step."

For weeks, Trump has been moving the goal posts on the administration's goals with Iran, including whether the U.S. will remove Iran's uranium stockpiles. Trump has also suggested that the U.S. could end the war but strike Iran again later if the country aims to build up nuclear defenses.

Polling shows that Americans oppose the war in Iran. Even among Republican supporters of the president, his approval rating has dipped. A CNN poll released last week showed that Republicans who strongly approve of Trump's job performance dropped to 43%, compared with 52% in January.

High costs, including gas prices, remain a top-of-mind concern for voters heading into the midterm elections in about seven months. On Monday, Trump said the high prices might last into the summer.

"We're never going to let them have a nuclear weapon," Trump said of Iran. "If we have to pay a little extra for fuel for a couple of months ... we'll do that."

ATTACHMENT TWO – FROM USA TODAY

At White House Easter Egg Roll, Trump talks bomb threats and bunnies

Children in sundresses and bow ties pranced on the White House lawn as President Donald Trump addressed his threats to bomb Iranian power plants.

Karissa Waddick Updated April 6, 2026, 3:55 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump doubled down on threats to bomb Iranian power plants as children in suits and pastel dresses frolicked in front of him during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

Standing next to first lady Melania Trump and a costumed Easter Bunny on the White House's South Lawn, Trump rejected concerns that bombing Iran’s power plants and bridges would constitute a war crime and stood by his expletive-filled social media threat to bomb the country’s critical infrastructure Tuesday if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"I'm not worried about it," Trump told a reporter at the event Monday, April 6. "You know what's a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon. Allowing a sick country with demented leadership to have a nuclear weapons, that's a war crime."

Earlier in the morning, he described Easter Monday as a day to celebrate "Jesus" and "religion."

Behind the president, the United States Marine Band, dressed in red regalia, performed patriotic songs including "God Bless America." White and green flowers dangled from the White House South Portico. A plaid red, white and blue wrapping covered the building's columns.

This year’s event was themed around the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Little girls in flowing sundresses and little boys sporting colorful bow ties pranced along the South Lawn surrounded by white picket fences. The children used wooden spoons to push eggs – dyed red, white and blue in honor of the country’s birthday – down the grassy slope.

Asked about her Easter message to children in war-torn regions, the first lady said she was hoping for future peace. Trump said children were a focus of the war in Iran, which began Feb. 28 when the United States launched airstrikes against Iran’s military infrastructure.

One of the sites bombed that day was an Iranian elementary school. The strike killed 175 people, most of them children.

"We’re fighting for children that are now in a war zone," Trump said. "We’re fighting for them, we’re fighting for their future."

The president and first lady blew whistles to commence some of the egg races. "Are you ready?" Trump asked the children, smiling. "I wish I could do my hair like that," he quipped to one little girl.

Chants of "four more years" broke out among spectators milling along the South Lawn. Booths toward the back of the lawn gave children opportunities to send messages to American troops, blow bubbles and listen to administration officials read picture books.

The White House Easter Egg Roll dates back to the 1870s, when President Rutherford B. Hayes opened the grounds to children on Easter Monday to children wishing to roll eggs. The tradition has endured for more than a century.

FROM EGG SHORTAGE TO HIGH GAS PRICES

Ditching his quintessential red tie for a stripped pastel blue one, Trump during the Easter festivities celebrated the reduction in egg prices over the last year. He said the White House had more than 40,000 eggs at the 2026 Easter Egg Roll, 10,000 more than the year prior.

Retail egg prices hit highs in 2025 as farmers and egg suppliers were impacted by the bird flu crisis. Those prices have dropped significantly over the last year.

(See the President, Melania and Good Bunny here)

This year, the president has a different cost crisis on his hands. Amid the war in Iran, the price of gasoline has skyrocketed across the country. Trump said if it were up to him, he’d seize Iran’s oil, though he acknowledged that Americans want the war to end swiftly.

Recent polls have shown a majority of Americans do not support the war in Iran. A Reuters/Ipsos survey published April 1 found 60% of Americans disapproved of United States military strikes on Iran.

"Unfortunately, the American people would like to see us come home. If it were up to me I'd take the oil, I'd keep the oil and would make plenty of money," Trump said.

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

Israel and Iran have both agreed to the truce, TUK’s Benedict Smith confirmed, meaning that “Tehran will reopen the strait immediately, as long as both countries halt their attacks.” The ceasefire doesn’t cover Lebanon, Israel has clarified to TUK, amidst other media, which disinclusion now threatens to sink the treaty entirely even as ace American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Trump son-in-law Jared – plus designated hitter: Veep J. D. Vance.

Trump, indulging himself in his favorit metallic metaphor, hailed a new “Golden Age of the Middle East”, calling the truce a “big day for world peace”.

Markets rallied following the announcement, with oil prices plunging nearly 17 per cent and stocks surging.

Although Tehran has agreed to reopen the strait, the agreement does little to address the reasons why the US went to war in the first place.

Crucially, Iran is still thought to retain its enriched uranium, and has not ruled out producing any more.

Trump started bombing Tehran seemingly with the intention of stopping the world being held hostage by a nuclear-armed “terrorist state”. However, not only does Iran seem to be in the same position after almost six weeks of war.
Peace talks are going ahead on Friday, but the regime appears to have been left with a stronger hand than it had in the past.

Now it knows it can push up oil prices by choking off the flow of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. If it chooses, it can tighten the screws on the US president again.

• How the 11th hour US-Iran ceasefire unfolded

• Trump will never be able to wipe out Iranian civilisation

• David Blair: Iran’s stubborn rulers defied Saddam Hussein. They won’t yield to Trump

ATTACHMENT THREE – FROM 1440

A Tentative Deal

The US and Iran agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire yesterday afternoon, finding an off-ramp to avoid potential widespread strikes across Iran. The agreement was mediated by Pakistan, with officials pointing to the possibility of a longer-term pause in fighting.

In the hours leading up to the cutoff, President Donald Trump levied threats against Iran online, including that a "whole civilization [would] die" if Iranian officials failed to strike a deal (read the original post on Truth Social). The post came after the US carried out more than 90 strikes on Iran's oil export hub at Kharg Island—a strategic outcropping surrounded by deep waters needed for supertankers and capable of exporting 7 million barrels of oil per day. See a video of joint US-Iran exercises from 1964, when the countries were allies.

Separately, an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq reportedly released US hostage Shelly Kittleson. See footage of the kidnapping last week here.

See the post below...

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

ATTACHMENT FOUR – FROM TELEGRAPH U.K.

Donald Trump announces 11th-hour Iran ceasefire

By Benedict Smith

There were just minutes to spare before Donald Trump’s threat to wipe out Iranian civilisation when he accepted a ceasefire deal mediated by Pakistan.

Taking to Truth Social last night, Trump wrote: “Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!”

Israel and Iran have both agreed to the truce, meaning that Tehran will reopen the strait immediately, as long as both countries halt their attacks. The ceasefire doesn’t cover Lebanon, Israel has clarified.

The US president hailed a new “Golden Age of the Middle East”, calling the truce a “big day for world peace”.

Markets rallied following the announcement, with oil prices plunging nearly 17 per cent and stocks surging.

Although Tehran has agreed to reopen the strait, the agreement does little to address the reasons why the US went to war in the first place.

Crucially, Iran is still thought to retain its enriched uranium, and has not ruled out producing any more.

Trump started bombing Tehran seemingly with the intention of stopping the world being held hostage by a nuclear-armed “terrorist state”. However, it seems to be in the same position after almost six weeks of war.

Peace talks are going ahead on Friday, but the regime appears to have been left with a stronger hand than it had in the past.

Now it knows it can push up oil prices by choking off the flow of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. If it chooses, it can tighten the screws on the US president again.

ATTACHMENT FIVE – FROM THE NATIONAL (ABU DHABI)

What is in Iran's 10-point peace plan?

Iranian proposal appears to include demands for reparations for war damages

By Thomas Watkins April 07, 2026

US President Donald Trump has announced he will delay for two weeks the bombing of Iran's bridges and power plants, provided the Strait of Hormuz is immediately and safely reopened.

In a social media post, he said he was holding off after receiving a 10-point proposal from Iran, which the US believes constitutes a "workable basis on which to negotiate".

US and Tehran agree to conditional ceasefire after Trump threatened to destroy Iran's civilisation

Mr Trump said: “Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the agreement to be finalised and consummated.”

But that 10-point plan, as presented by Iran, contains several apparent non-starters for the US. On Monday, Mr Trump called the proposal significant but “not good enough”.

No official version of the proposal has been made available, but a summary released by Iran's Supreme National Security Council includes demands for the following:

· Strait of Hormuz to be reopened "under the co-ordination of the armed forces of Iran"

· Establishment of a "secure transit protocol" in the Strait of Hormuz

· The war against "all components" of Iran's so-called Axis of Resistance to end

· US forces to withdraw from "all bases and points of deployment within the region"

· Full payment of compensation to Iran

· Lifting of all primary sanctions

· Lifting of all secondary sanctions

· Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions

· Termination of all IAEA resolutions on Iran's nuclear programme

· Release of all frozen Iranian assets and properties abroad

It was not immediately clear if the US had agreed to any of those demands, even in principle, or whether the list is entirely accurate.

Alternative versions have been circulated by Iranian embassies, Iranian state media and various international media outlets. Talks are set to begin on Friday in Islamabad.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the 10-point proposal, and a 15-point proposal put forward by the US, would form the "basis" of discussions.

Mr Trump has for years attacked former president Barack Obama for sending hundreds of millions of dollars in unfrozen Iranian cash to Tehran as part of the 2015 nuclear deal, so the idea that he would agree to sending reparation money to Iran appears far-fetched.

Similarly, the departure of US forces from the Middle East bases would appear to be at odds with decades of US foreign policy.

Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran programme at the Middle East Institute, said that, while there are significant gaps between the US and Iranian positions, there is potential for agreement, especially on a permanent ceasefire.

"They're talking in a way that you at least have the ability to agree on a basic framework that you then have to build on," he told The National.

He added that he was relieved by the breakthrough after a troubling day. "You have a window here to prevent disaster – and we were very close to it. I mean, the idea of what Trump was talking about would have been disastrous for the whole region," he said.

TUESDAY 4/7

ATTACHMENT SIX – FROM JERUSALEM POST

Mojtaba Khamenei unconscious in Qom, not actually running Iran - report

A diplomatic memo cited by The Times says Iran’s supreme leader is in severe condition and unable to take part in decision-making, deepening uncertainty over who is running the country.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF APRIL 7, 2026 08:23Updated: APRIL 7, 2026 09:46

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is incapacitated and receiving medical treatment in the Shi'ite holy city of Qom, according to The Times on Tuesday, citing a diplomatic memo said to be based on American and Israeli intelligence.

The memo allegedly states that Khamenei is unconscious and in severe condition, rendering him unable to participate in regime decision-making, though the claims have not been independently verified.

According to the report, the memo was shared with Gulf allies and appears to be the first document that reports Khamenei's location, which had not previously been made public.

The reported condition of Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father after Ali Khamenei’s death in Israeli and US strikes on February 28, is likely to deepen uncertainty over who is effectively running Iran during the war. Although Iranian officials have insisted that he remains in charge, his absence from public view since the conflict began has fueled speculation that power may rest elsewhere within the regime.

Khamenei has reportedly been incapable of running the Islamic regime for several weeks. Any prolonged inability to govern would likely intensify questions about whether the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now holds de facto control.

The report also said that two statements attributed to Khamenei have been broadcast on Iranian state television since the war began, but no audio or video of him speaking directly has been released. That absence has added to unverified claims from opposition-linked sources that he remains in critical condition.

The same memo, according to The Times, said preparations were underway in Qom for a large mausoleum for Ali Khamenei and possibly other family members. If correct, that would differ from earlier Iranian reports on Ali Khamenei’s burial plans, while mourning ceremonies were expected in Tehran.

DELAY IN ALI KHAMENEI'S CEREMONY POKES HOLES IN IRAN'S ILLUSION OF CONTROLLED GOVERNANCE

The delay in a state funeral has also raised questions. Iranian authorities previously said the ceremony was postponed because of expectations of an exceptionally large turnout, but the continued uncertainty has drawn scrutiny because Shi’ite custom traditionally favors burial soon after death.

Qom has already played a central role in the post-Khamenei succession story. In early March, Israeli strikes in Qom hit the building where the 88-member Assembly of Experts was reportedly meeting to choose a successor to Ali Khamenei, underscoring the city’s central role in both the clerical succession process and the regime’s power structure.

ATTACHMENT SEVEN – FROM NY POST

Iran’s youth form human chains around power plants after Trump warns of ‘complete demolition’

By Chris Bradford Published April 7, 2026 Updated April 7, 2026, 12:36 p.m. ET

860 Comments

IRANIAN ADULTS AND CHILDREN FORM HUMAN CHAINS AROUND POWER PLANTS AFTER TRUMP'S THREATS

Iran called on its youth Tuesday to form human chains around its power plants — after President Trump threatened to decimate the Islamic Republic’s energy infrastructure if Tehran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“Power plants that are our national assets and capital, regardless of any taste or political viewpoint, belong to the future of Iran and to the Iranian youth,” Alireza Rahimi, secretary of the Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, said in a video aired on state TV.

US issues Iran an ultimatum over enriched uranium stockpile: ‘Any means necessary’

Pete Hegseth scolds reporter who interrupted him at Pentagon press briefing on Iran cease-fire: ‘Why are you so rude?’

Iran blocks ships in the Strait of Hormuz with Lebanon cease-fire demand and $2M toll

“We hope that with the participation of young people across the country, this human chain will be formed around the power plants, and it will be a sign of the youth’s commitment to protecting the country’s infrastructure and building a bright future,” Rahimi said.

The bloodthirsty regime is already accused of recruiting children as young as 12 in a drive dubbed “Homeland Defending Combatants for Iran.”

The gathering on the bridge comes after Alireza Rahimi, Iran’s secretary of the Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, called on young citizens to form human chains around power plants and other “national assets.”

The desperate calls come after Trump promised to obliterate Tehran’s energy infrastructure if a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reached by 8 p.m.

“We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again,” he told reporters Monday.

“I mean complete demolition by 12 o’clock.”

Trump reiterated his threat to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age, but said he didn’t want to target the country’s infrastructure.

The order was in response to President Trump’s threats to take out Iran’s bridges and power plants if the country doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

“Do I want to destroy their infrastructure? No,” he said.

“It will take them 100 years to rebuild right now, if we left today, it would take them 20 years to rebuild their country, and it would never be as good as it was.”

Trump seemed downplay any claims that targeting power plants would amount to a war crime.

Iran has been accused of recruiting children as young as 12 in an effort to defend the country.

“You know what’s a war crime? Allowing a sick country with demented leadership to have a nuclear weapon,” he said.

With the clock ticking, Iran reportedly put forward a 10-point cease-fire plan, which one US official described as “maximalist,” Axios reported.

Trump branded it a “significant step” but said it was “not good enough,” the New York Times reported.

Tehran has threatened to retaliate if the US targets its energy infrastructure.

“The rulers of Arab countries should in order to prevent the region from going dark, make Trump understand that the Persian Gulf is not a place of gambling,” Aliakbar Velayati, a senior adviser to the ayatollah, wrote on X.

WEDNESDAY 4/8

ATTACHMENT EIGHT – FROM TIME

Hegseth Says Trump is “A President of Peace” After He Threatens to Wipe Out Iran

by Nik Popli and Philip Wang Published: Apr 7, 2026 6:57 PM ET Updated: Apr 8, 2026 12:50 AM ET

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that President Trump is “a president of peace,” a day after Trump threatened to wipe out Iran’s civilization.

During the press briefing, Hegseth said the U.S. military “had a target set locked and loaded of infrastructure, bridges, and power plants” had Iran not agreed to a ceasefire deal by 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Hitting civilian infrastructure is a war crime according to the Geneva Conventions.

Would Trump’s Threatened Attacks on Iran’s Infrastructure Be a War Crime?

“Remember, this is a terror regime, a military regime, use all of these things for dual-use to fund their military, their terror campaign,” Hegseth said.

“Not a single thing we’ve done has put more American troops in harm's way. We’ve only set our troops up for Iranian military capabilities.”

Hegseth also said the U.S. military will be “hanging around” in the Middle East and prepared to restart the military operations “at a moment's notice” to ensure Iran’s compliance with the deal, including the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The abrupt pivot from annihilation to ceasefire came just two hours before an 8 p.m. deadline on Tuesday Trump imposed for Iran to meet a set of demands centered on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would suspend its attacks on Iran for two weeks if the Iranian leaders agreed “to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” a framework that Pakistani officials proposed. He also added that the U.S. will be working with Iran to “dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear ‘Dust,’” which refers to the highly enriched uranium.

IRAN AGREES TO A CEASEFIRE AND TALKS

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement that it had accepted the two-week ceasefire and would participate in talks with the U.S., though it noted the pause did not amount to a permanent end to the war.

“If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations,” the statement said. “For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

In a late Tuesday post on Truth Social, Trump said the U.S. “will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.”

“Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well,” Trump said. “I feel confident that it will.”

The ceasefire marked a sudden de-escalation after a day of extraordinary threats in which Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran did not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Since the early weeks of the war, Iran has effectively choked off traffic through the passage, triggering a global energy shock that has sent fuel prices soaring and rattled financial markets.

Trump had previously suggested the United States could rapidly destroy Iran’s bridges, power plants, and other infrastructure—a campaign that military and legal experts warned could devastate civilian life in a nation of roughly 85 million people and risk violating international law.

Sharif said he had invited U.S. and Iranian delegations to begin talks on a more definitive end to the war in Islamabad on Friday. Iran has presented an initial proposal that includes the withdrawal of American military forces from the region, lifting of economic sanctions on Iran, war reparations, and Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz.

WHY DID TRUMP PULL BACK?

The decision to walk back his threat underscored a familiar pattern in Trump’s presidency: issuing maximalist threats, only to recalibrate as the risks of carrying them out come into sharper focus. It also reflected the competing pressures bearing down on a White House that has spent weeks edging closer to a wider war while searching for a way out of it.

TIME previously reported that Trump has grown increasingly eager to find his TACO Bell on an off-ramp. Polling has shown declining public support for the war, while rising fuel prices and market volatility have alarmed Republican lawmakers ahead of the midterm elections. At the same time, the President has been reluctant to end the conflict without being able to claim a decisive victory.

By Tuesday evening, that off-ramp appeared to materialize in part through mediation by Pakistani officials. Trump said that he made his decision after speaking with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Gen. Asim Munir, who urged him to delay military action and proposed the two-week ceasefire framework that became the basis of the agreement.

“Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture,” Sharif wrote in a message on social media just hours before the ceasefire was announced.

MOST SIGNIFICANT PAUSE SINCE CONFLICT BEGAN

The ceasefire marks the most significant pause in a war that began on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched a sweeping campaign against Iran’s military leadership, nuclear program and strategic infrastructure. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks across the region, including strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab states, while using its control over the Strait of Hormuz to disrupt global shipping and drive up economic pressure.

While Trump has at various points declared the U.S. already “won” the war, he has also argued that the conflict cannot end until the Strait is reopened.

The conflict appeared to be edging closer to a dangerous new phase as U.S. and Israeli forces carried out additional strikes on Iranian targets Tuesday, including military infrastructure on Kharg Island, while Iran fired missiles toward regional adversaries.

In Tehran and other cities, some residents formed human chains around bridges and power plants in symbolic acts of protection.

Iran had previously rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal advanced by regional mediators, insisting that any agreement must ultimately lead to a permanent end to hostilities, rather than a temporary pause.

The two week ceasefire buys time for what Trump described in his post as a “definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE,” though the contours of such a deal remain unclear. Trump said that Iran had presented a “workable” 10-point proposal and that “almost all” major points of contention had been resolved in principle, suggesting that negotiators were close to a breakthrough.

ATTACHMENT NINE – FROM GUK

Ceasefire wins Trump instant gratification but Iran can enter talks with stronger hand

US is in weaker position than before war as Tehran has shown capacity to inflict pain on Trump administration

By Julian Borger Wed 8 Apr 2026 05.35 EDT

The Tehran regime goes to the negotiations planned for Friday in Pakistan bloodied but intact. It still holds a stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU) – the original crux of the conflict with the US, Israel and allies – and it now claims at least part-control of the strait, having demonstrated its power to close the narrow waterway and hold the world to ransom.

Trump won instant gratification. He got to remain the central player in the drama, having terrified the world with his threat that “a whole civilisation will die” before claiming a few hours later to have dramatically reversed course and to be “far along” along the road to an enduring Middle East peace.

With the president’s words the oil price went down and global stocks showed signs of rallying, demonstrating he still had the power at least to move short-term markets.

However, the actual ceasefire terms remain hazy with varying interpretations in circulation. Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said the ceasefire covered “everywhere including Lebanon”, but his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, quickly contradicted him, vowing Israel’s campaign over its northern border would go on.

Villages in southern Lebanon were struck by Israeli missiles on Wednesday as the IDF vowed to continue its military operations.

Trump said the ceasefire was contingent on the “complete, immediate and safe opening of the strait of Hormuz”. Tehran agreed that shipping would now proceed through the waterway, but with the caveat that passage would be under the control of the Iranian armed forces.

Reports from the region suggested that Tehran planned to implement its earlier proposal to share control of the strait with Oman and split the proceeds from tolls, set at $2m (£1.5m) a ship. That would represent a significant departure from the prewar status quo, in which the strait was a free waterway, cementing Tehran’s role as gatekeeper and providing it with an entirely new source of income.

Trump made ever more grotesque threats in the five weeks of war, culminating in his genocidal warning that he would bring about the end of Iranian civilisation, in the clear hope of blustering Tehran into last-minute concessions.

That does not seem to have worked. When it came to the wire it was Iran’s 10-point plan, not his own 15-pointer, that Trump referred to when welcoming the ceasefire on Tuesday evening, calling it “a workable basis on which to negotiate”.

On waking early on Wednesday morning, the president appears to have been made aware that Iran’s 10 points include the lifting of all sanctions, the payment of war reparations and the acceptance of Iran’s right to enrich uranium, all conditions that have up to now been beyond Washington’s red lines.

In his first posts of the day, Trump sought to reframe the ceasefire on more favourable terms. It was based on his 15-point plan, he implied in a Truth Social post, and many of those “have already been agreed to”. Most important, he said, there would be “no enrichment of uranium” and the US would work with Iran to dig up Iran’s HEU stockpile, which he referred to as “Nuclear ‘Dust’”.

For its part, the Tehran government included the right to enrich in the Farsi version of the ceasefire terms, but not in the English translation, suggesting it was put there for domestic consumption as the regime boasted victory.

There seems little doubt that Iran will make that right a red line at talks over a long-term settlement, as it has in all its negotiations with the west, and its possession of 440kg of HEU (enough in theory to make a dozen nuclear warheads) will be a powerful bargaining chip.

What has conflict in Iran revealed about UK’s geopolitical standing and military readiness?

In negotiations that were ended by the US-Israeli attack on Iran on 28 February, Tehran was apparently ready to surrender that stockpile. That is just one way in which the US has emerged from the war in a weaker position than it was at the last round talks in Geneva, two days before the conflict was unleashed.

The Tehran delegation will arrive in Islamabad having shown the world and the Iranian people that the regime can survive the worst its enemies could throw at it, despite severe losses including the death of the supreme leader. Iranian forces remained in the fight at the time the ceasefire was declared, defying claims they had been obliterated, with missiles still being fired at Israel and other US allies.

The negotiations will also begin under the shadow of a new status quo, with Iran as co-custodian and beneficiary of the strait of Hormuz. The US delegation may bang its fists and threaten to walk away over Iran’s conditions, but it will be in the knowledge that its adversary has the proven capacity to inflict exquisite pain on the Trump administration through its power over the petrol pump.

ATTACHMENT TEN – FROM NEWSWEEK

Russia Responds to Trump’s Iran Ceasefire: ‘Crushing Defeat’

By Toby Meyjes Apr 08, 2026 at 07:10 AM EDT

Russia has said the U.S.-Israeli ceasefire with Iran was a "crushing defeat" for a "one-track, aggressive, unprovoked attack."

The U.S., Israel and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday night after President Donald Trump had threatened to destroy Iranian civilization if it failed to meet an 8 p.m. ET deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Sputnik Radio on Wednesday, quoted by RIA news agency: "All the statements that were made about…being more aggressive, being more offensive, writing more on social media and ‘victory’—it's just around the corner. Once again, this position has suffered a crushing defeat. So has the approach of such a one-track, aggressive, unprovoked attack."

WHY IT MATTERS

Moscow, an ally of Tehran, has consistently positioned itself as a diplomatic counterweight to Washington during the conflict and had been calling for "an immediate cessation of hostilities" in the Persian Gulf as the deadline loomed.

Earlier Tuesday, along with China, Russia had vetoed a measure at the United Nations Security Council to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, arguing it would have given the U.S. and Israel "carte blanche for continued aggression."

The war has seen Russia's oil profits soar. In the early weeks of the conflict, a report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air estimated Moscow had raked in nearly $7 billion in fossil fuel revenues since U.S.-Israeli strikes had led to the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

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Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said Russia had "started supporting the Iranian regime with drones," although it was not clear whether the Ukrainian leader was referring to drone supplies or technology sharing.

According to Al Jazeera, Zakharova said Moscow had been calling "to immediately stop this aggression" since the start of the conflict and that there was "no military solution."

She also called for the immediate start of "a real political and diplomatic settlement" that was "based on the negotiation process with a real consideration of positions."

Her comments came just hours after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire deal had been agreed that included reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the United States in Pakistan beginning Friday.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Donald Trump, announcing the ceasefire on his Truth Social Platform: "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution."

ATTACHMENT ELEVEN “A” – FROM FOX

Trump’s Iran threat rattles GOP as some Republicans break ranks

President Trump delays planned Iran strikes with two-week ceasefire if it opens Strait of Hormuz

By Alex Miller and Adam Pack Published April 8, 2026 5:30am EDT

Trump says US bomb campaign against Iran is suspended

President Donald Trump announces the United States' bombing campaign on Iran will be suspended.

President Donald Trump's support for his war with Iran began to publicly fray within his own party, as some in the GOP bucked the president’s threat Tuesday morning.

Trump has for several days suggested he would order the military to destroy much of Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including energy sites and bridges, if the country does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump planted that flag again Tuesday morning, declaring that a "whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran does not act before his 8 p.m. Eastern deadline. While the threat was reversed shortly before the deadline in a Truth Social post revealing a two-week ceasefire after talks with Pakistani leaders, Trump's strategy is unpredictable.

"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated," Trump wrote. "On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution."

Ex-Trump Ally Marjorie Taylor Greene Joins Left-Wing Calls For The 25th Amendment As Iran Deadline Nears See below!

ATTACHMENT ELEVEN “B” – ALSO FROM FOX

Ex-Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene joins left-wing calls for the 25th amendment as Iran deadline nears

President Donald Trump has threatened that 'a whole civilization will die tonight'

By Alex Nitzberg Fox News Published April 7, 2026 12:35pm EDT

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office via the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

"25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness," Greene wrote on X.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

Greene's post featured a screenshot of Trump's Tuesday Truth Social post in which he ominously warned that Iran's "civilization will die tonight."

FORMER REP MTG VENTS THAT SHE'S 'SO BEYOND DONE,' CHARACTERIZING TRUMP'S ADDRESS AS 'WAR WAR WAR'

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump declared in the Truth Social post.

"However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!" he added.

Greene, a once-fierce Trump ally, had a bitter falling out with the president last year and has become a vociferous critic of the commander in chief.

Some sitting Democratic lawmakers have also called for the president to be booted from office.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a member of the progressive cadre of lawmakers known as "The Squad," is one of those calling for Trump's ouster.

"Sickeningly evil. Donald Trump must be impeached. When will it be enough for my Republican colleagues to grow spines and remove him from office?" she wrote in a Tuesday post on X.

ILHAN OMAR CALLS TRUMP AN 'UNHINGED LUNATIC,' URGES BOOTING HIM OUT OF OFFICE

Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wisc., declared in a Tuesday post on X, "25th Amendment RIGHT NOW! Trump is too unhinged, dangerous, and deranged to have the nuclear codes!"

Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., who last year introduced impeachment articles against Trump, declared in a Tuesday post on X, "Trump just threatened to slaughter 100 million people. It's clear he's unfit to be president, the 25th amendment must be invoked. If Vance, Rubio & the others continue to be spineless cowards, Congress must do everything possible to stop Trump & this war."

In a Truth Social post issued on Easter Sunday, the president warned, "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F[---]kin’ Strait, you crazy b------, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah."

Omar responded to the president's comments, declaring in a Monday post on X, "This is not ok. Invoke the 25th amendment. Impeach. Remove. This unhinged lunatic must be removed from office."

TRUMP WARNS 'WHOLE CIVILIZATION WILL DIE TONIGHT,' AS IRANIAN OFFICIAL URGES HUMAN CHAINS AROUND POWER PLANTS

Greene declared in a Sunday post on X that the president had "gone insane."

"Everyone in his administration that claims to be a Christian needs to fall on their knees and beg forgiveness from God and stop worshipping the President and intervene in Trump’s madness. I know all of you and him and he has gone insane, and all of you are complicit," she asserted in part of the lengthy post. "This is not making America great again, this is evil."

ATTACHMENT TWELVE – FROM AL JAZEERA

Defeat from the jaws of victory: Israel reacts to Trump’s Iran ceasefire

Israel’s confrontation with its regional nemesis leaves Iran standing and strategically stronger, analysts say.

By Simon Speakman Cordall Published On 8 Apr 2026

As Israel contemplates a two-week ceasefire announced by United States President Donald Trump in the war on Iran on Tuesday night, it appears weakened in the eyes of its opponents and critics. Its arch-nemesis, Iran, is still standing; Israel’s defensive stock of missiles is depleted and its prime minister is facing a political backlash.

Following news of the Pakistan-brokered truce, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement in English, saying that the PM supports the US decision and claiming that “Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran’s Arab neighbours and the world.”

Photos: Tehran celebrates as Iran, US agree to two-week ceasefire

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Lebanon excluded from ceasefire as Israeli strikes continue

But there was a caveat. While mediator Pakistan had announced that Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon would also cease, Netanyahu added that he does not regard the ceasefire as extending to Israel’s war on Lebanon, which, for now at least, the US appears willing to allow to continue, subject to its peace negotiations with Iran.

Responding to Netanyahu’s announcement, Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, who had strongly supported his country’s attack on regional nemesis Iran, called the ceasefire one of the greatest “political disasters in all of our history”. Israel had not even been involved in negotiations, he said, adding that, despite its military successes, the prime minister had “failed politically, failed strategically, and didn’t meet a single one of the goals that he himself set”, adding that it would take years to repair the damage inflicted upon the country through the prime minister’s “arrogance”.

Others were swift to join in the bashing. “I wasn’t surprised that the announcement was in English,” Ofer Cassif of the left-wing Hadash party said. “Netanyahu has no interest in talking to the people of Israel. He rarely does and almost never enters the [television or radio] studio,” he said of the prime minister, who waited two weeks to spell out his war aims to the Israeli public in a televised address after the start of the war on Iran.

“He knows, probably correctly, that those who support him will do so anyway, and those who oppose him will continue to do so, so when he speaks, it’s to the international media and to reassure his base,” Cassif said.

NETANYAHU’S WAR AIMS

Those war aims, as stated by Netanyahu, of preventing “Iran from developing nuclear weapons” and of creating ” the conditions for the Iranian people so they can remove the cruel regime of tyranny”, were merely the latest iteration of Israel’s longstanding strategic goals. Indeed, Netanyahu has been claiming Iran’s potential to develop a nuclear weapon was imminent since the 1990s.

But, despite significant military successes over the past 40 days of attacks on Iran, neither of those goals has been achieved.

“The Israelis are deeply disappointed with the ceasefire as none of the original aims of the war have been achieved,” Ahron Bregman, a senior teaching fellow at the Department for War Studies at King’s College London, who has recently returned from Israel, said. “The Iranian regime is still in place, its ballistic missile programme could be rebuilt very quickly, and it’s still got 440kg of enriched uranium at 60 percent purity, enough for 10 bombs.”

In fact, according to many observers, despite significant military defeats, including the loss of control over its airspace, the assassination of much of its leadership – including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war, as well as many of Iran’s key military figures – Iran has, counterintuitively, emerged stronger as a result, analysts say.

“Israel and the US had many tactical gains. They won militarily, but, strategically, Iran is the clear victor,” Bregman said.

WHITE HOUSE SAYS IRAN’S 10-POINT PEACE PLAN ‘THROWN IN THE GARBAGE’

Netanyahu: A ‘ceasefire with Iran will not include Hezbollah’

Lebanese father mourns family lost in deadly Israeli strike in Tyre

Analyst says Israel believes Beirut strikes are a ‘monumental favour’

A STRATEGIC BLUNDER?

Key among its victories was not just the Iranian government’s survival in the face of relentless Israeli and US military strikes, but also its decision to close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s key energy arteries and, according to current negotiations, one where safe passage for international shipping is now entirely under the control of Iran and its neighbour Oman.

Iran has been struggling under increased US sanctions after Trump, with Netanyahu’s encouragement, unilaterally withdrew from an international deal to limit its nuclear programme in return for reduced economic sanctions in 2018. However, many observers now expect Iran to continue with newly imposed levies on ships for safe passage through the Strait. Also supporting the Iranian economy are Trump’s promises, posted on Truth Social on Wednesday, of future sanctions and tariff relief as part of the ceasefire arrangement.

“Iran’s decision to block the Hormuz pushed Trump off balance, and he never recovered,” Bregman said. “Future historians will regard this Iranian decision as the turning point in the war.”

According to some observers, Israel’s conduct during the war has also served to strengthen the Iranian government. Some centres of opposition, such as Tehran’s Sharif University, which had been a focal point of antigovernment protests in January, have been destroyed in Israeli attacks. Donald Trump’s 11th-hour threat to wipe out Iranian civilisation also allowed the Iranian government to beam out rallying images of citizens forming human chains around critical infrastructure.

“Please understand, I despise the Iranian regime; it’s murderous,” Cassif told Al Jazeera on Wednesday. “But we [Hadash] had warned from second number one that we didn’t have the right, or the ability, to change it. Instead, we’ve strengthened the support for that regime at the expense of the opposition,” he said of reports of the surge in support for the Iranian government in the face of US and Israeli attacks.

Israel and the US had, he said, “given operational control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran, which had never been an issue before, and, with the first aggressions coming while negotiations were under way, signalled to the entire world that they can’t trust the US and Israel”.

‘ISRAEL HAS ACHIEVED NOTHING TANGIBLE’

Then there is Israel’s assault on southern and eastern Lebanon, where it claims it is targeting Hezbollah strongholds. Whether it will continue with these attacks remains to be seen.

For now, Israel is not expected to attend peace talks in Pakistan on Friday. But that is where, according to Bregman, its freedom to continue attacks on Lebanon may be determined by the US and Hezbollah’s allies in Tehran.

“Assuming the ceasefire holds beyond the two-week period, Israel achieved almost nothing tangible,” Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli ambassador and consul general in New York, told Al Jazeera of its war on Iran. “Iran upended the strategic asymmetry by both attacking the Arab Gulf states and, crucially, shutting the Strait of Hormuz with almost no pushback from China. Israel is increasingly perceived as a destabilising force and, arguably, strained the US relationship since all promises Netanyahu made to Trump unravelled,” he said, referring to reported assurances of swift regime change in Iran that Israel made.

Cassif was more succinct: “It’s crazy.”

ATTACHMENT THIRTEEN – FROM JERUSALEM POST

What is in Iran's 10-point ceasefire agreement plan?

The terms of the Iranian-released plan, according to a New York Times report citing a US official, do not match those seen by the president.

By GOLDIE KATZ and SAM HALPERN APRIL 8, 2026 20:37 Updated: APRIL 8, 2026 20:56

Iran’s 10-point proposal, which led to the announcement of a temporary two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, was released by Iranian state media outlet Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

The ceasefire deal was announced on Tuesday, shortly before a deadline outlined by US President Donald Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was set to expire.

In his announcement of the deal, Trump stated that the Iranian proposal provided a "workable basis on which to negotiate," in which “almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to.”

WHAT WAS IN IRAN'S CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT DRAFT?

The first of Iran’s points, according to IRNA, was the US committing to a stance of non-aggression towards the Iranian regime. The second demanded continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. The third term called for the US to accept Iran’s enrichment of uranium.

The fourth and fifth points of the plan call for the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions on Iran. The sixth and seventh points demanded the termination of all United Nations Security Council and International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors resolutions against the Iranian regime.

A man holds a photo of Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, while the flags of the US and Israel are burnt, as people gather after a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war was announced, in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026.

Iran’s eighth listed point called for all war damages in Iran to be paid for. The ninth called for the withdrawal of all US military forces in the region, and the tenth demanded the cessation of combat on all fronts of the war, including Israel’s ongoing confrontation with Lebanese terrorist organization, Hezbollah.

Trump has explicitly denied Lebanon's inclusion in the ceasefire agreement, while Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped negotiate the ceasefire, initially announced that Lebanon would be included.

According to a Reuters report, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Sharif that a ceasefire in Lebanon is an "essential condition" for the agreement to be successful.

NEGOTIATIONS OF PLAN TO TAKE PLACE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, TRUMP STATES

The terms of the Iranian-released plan, according to a New York Times report citing a US official, do not match those seen by the president.

Trump took to social media to decry the versions of the deal released by media outlets, claiming in a post on Truth Social that “there is only one group of meaningful 'POINTS' that are acceptable to the United States.”

He asserted that all discussions on the points will take place behind closed doors during the upcoming negotiations, which are set to begin on Friday in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Trump additionally threatened legal action against those spreading incorrect versions of the place, claiming that those who do so “will be rapidly exposed after our Federal Investigation is completed.”

ATTACHMENT FOURTEEN – FROM PBS

Iran's proposal to collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz violates trade norms

World Apr 8, 2026 3:53 PM EDT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — To end the war with the United States and Israel, Iran is demanding the right to collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz as a precondition for reopening the waterway vital to world oil supplies.

Yet collecting tolls in the strait would violate a basic and enduring principle of international maritime trade: freedom of peaceful navigation. It's an ancient idea that was codified by the United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea, which took effect in 1994.

Bottom of Form

Opening the strait would save the global economy from supply constraints that have pushed energy and fertilizer prices sharply higher since the war began on Feb. 28. But agreeing to Iranian toll-collecting would cement the Islamic Republic's control over the strait through which 20% of the world's oil is shipped — and enrich the military against whom the war was launched.

How Trump went from threatening Iran's annihilation to agreeing to a two-week ceasefire in a day

U.S. President Donald Trump has made reopening the strait a priority. But the White House said Wednesday he is opposed to tolls, and analysts say the Gulf's oil producers are, too.

Analysts say they have seen no change in traffic through the strait since the ceasefire was announced, despite claims to the contrary from the White House.

Here are things to know about Iran's proposal and the international law with which it collides.

IRAN HAD ALREADY BEGUN CHARGING VESSELS PASSING THROUGH THE STRAIT

After the U.S. and Israel launched the war, Iran immediately exercised leverage by blocking the strait with attacks — and threats of attacks — on ships, making passage too risky. The disruption caused immediate shortages in some Asian countries highly dependent on the region's energy, sent gasoline prices higher in the U.S. and Europe, and threatened global economic growth.

Iran then began vetting vessels in a murky scheme dubbed the "tollbooth" by shipping analysts.

The ships were told to divert from the middle of the strait in Iranian and Omani territorial waters and instead detour around Iran's Larak Island. After delivering detailed information on crew and cargo to intermediaries of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, some vessels were allowed to proceed — and at least two reportedly paid the equivalent of $2 million in Chinese yuan.

The Law of the Sea Treaty guarantees passage to peaceful ships

Iran's 10-point proposal for ending the war includes a provision allowing it and Oman to charge ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

But the Law of the Sea Treaty's Article 17 guarantees a right of "innocent passage" for ships that do not threaten the coastal states. So allowing Iran and Oman to start charging for passage through the strait would set a dangerous precedent, experts said.

He called that scenario "the end of an international society."

NEITHER IRAN OR THE U.S. HAVE RATIFIED THE LAW OF THE SEA TREATY

While 172 countries have ratified the U.N. convention, Iran and the United States are among those that have not.

An Iranian tollbooth could lead China to conclude that it could restrict movement in the Taiwan Strait, Raynaut said.

Oman and Iran may face diplomatic pushback to adhere to the convention, said Constantinos Yiallourides, a senior research fellow at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law.

Free passage "is in the interest of everyone," he said. "We all want to get the best products at the best prices."

THE GLOBAL ECONOMY NEEDS THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ REOPENED

Some economists say that, from a strictly financial standpoint, the world would barely notice the additional costs from any tolling in the Strait of Hormuz.

For example, a $2 million toll on a large tanker carrying 2 million barrels of oil amounts to $1-per-barrel increase on that ship's oil.

"The burden does not fall on global consumers, but overwhelmingly on the Gulf states that supply the oil that transits the strait," wrote the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. It said the world economy would instantly benefit from the reopening the strait — returning 20% of the world's oil to the market and sending prices lower.

Plus, by lowering oil prices, it would eliminate a multibillion-dollar geopolitical windfall for Russia, whose oil is suddenly in greater demand despite sanctions.

The international price of oil has jumped from around $72 per barrel before the war to as high as $118 on March 31. On Monday, Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded at $94.55, down sharply after news of the two-week ceasefire.

THE GULF'S OIL PRODUCERS ARE LEERY OF IRANIAN CONTROL OF THE STRAIT

Saudi Arabia, the biggest Gulf producer, welcomed the ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran but called for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open "without any restrictions."

Gulf countries have had to shut down some 12 million barrels per day in crude production because there's no viable way around the strait for much of their oil. The two pipelines that bypass it aren't big enough to make up for all of the lost oil, and building new pipelines would take years.

Given the downsides of the tollbooth proposal, the Gulf states would only agree to it if all other options looked much worse, Bruegel said.

A major objection in the West is that the toll would likely benefit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for Iran's ballistic missile program, suppresses domestic political opposition, and is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union.

Leicester reported from Paris. Michael Biesecker in Washington contributed to this report.

ATTACHMENT FIFTEEN – FROM TIME

Would Trump’s Threatened Attacks on Iran’s Infrastructure Be a War Crime?

By Connor Greene Apr 8, 2026 12:08 PM ET

President Donald Trump escalated his threats to target civilian sites in Iran if the country does not re-open the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, causing U.S. lawmakers, human rights organizations, and experts on international law to sound alarms that such attacks would amount to war crimes.

Trump vowed over the weekend to bomb civilian power plants and bridges if Iran did not open the strait, a strategic chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments that the country has effectively blocked amid the ongoing war, by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday.

He brushed off concerns about committing war crimes on Monday, saying when asked about the matter during a press conference that he was “not at all” worried about it, and continued to ratchet up his threats as his deadline approached.

HEGSETH SAYS IRAN ACCEPTED CEASEFIRE "UNDER OVERWHELMING PRESSURE"

The previous day, Trump said the U.S. would bring Iran “back to the stone ages” while speaking at a press conference.

On Tuesday evening, the President agreed to extend his deadline and suspend the “bombing and attack on Iran”—for two weeks. He stressed that the cease-fire was “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.”

Oona Hathaway is a professor at Yale Law School who served in the U.S. State Department and the Department of Defense. Harold Koh is a Yale Law professor who served for nearly four years as the Legal Advisor of the Department of State. New York University Law School professor Ryan Goodman served as special counsel for the Defense Department. Tom Dannenbaum is a Stanford University Law School professor of nuclear security.

Hathaway and Dannenbaum were among the co-authors of an open letter from international law experts raising concerns about war crimes in the Iran conflict. Koh was one of more than 100 experts who signed the letter.

The following interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity.

Q: Trump has threatened to bomb Iranian infrastructure, including power plants, desalination plants, bridges. Can you explain what constitutes a war crime, and where those targets fall in that definition?

Hathaway: So war crime is a serious violation of international humanitarian law … That law is captured in the Geneva Conventions in 1949 … and the threat to destroy civilian infrastructure and to destroy “a whole civilization” clearly violate those rules, because it is not connected to any lawful military objective. It doesn't meet the basic principle of international humanitarian law, which is that states that are engaging in use of force have to distinguish between combatants and civilians and can only lawfully target military objectives. So it's clear that if he actually makes good on his threat, that he will be ordering war crimes, and that U.S. military forces will be carrying out war crimes.

Koh: There are some things that are permitted by the laws of war, including killing combatants of the other side. But it doesn't extend to targeting civilians, torturing people and other kinds of acts. What's being proposed here is attacks on essential civilian infrastructure.

Dannenbaum: Everything that is not military by nature, [which] would include things like tanks, munitions, military bases and fortifications … is presumptively civilian. In other words, there's not a distinction between civilian infrastructure and other things. There's a distinction between civilian objects and military objectives. And everything starts as a civilian object, until, by its nature, purpose, location or use, it makes an effective contribution to military action, such that its destruction or neutralization would yield a definite military advantage.

[Trump’s threats] seem to indicate targeting on the basis of the objects' contribution to the viability of a modern society. That would be a standard for targeting that is completely unrelated to any question of effective contribution to military action—the standard required by law …

Whatever uncertainties may exist regarding any specific strike, at the macro level, we can see the way that this campaign is being articulated from the top. That articulation is in direct contradiction with the principles and requirements of international humanitarian law.

Q: Could the Trump Administration legally justify bombing civilian infrastructure?

Koh: Not if it's carried out to the scope of what Trump is saying and what [Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth is saying. Those are threats that are themselves in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Goodman: The best argument that they could make is that power stations are not off limits. They are sometimes placed on no-strike lists, but that is a policy determination, that is not a legal determination, and especially if it is civilian infrastructure that … does have some part of its use for military purposes. If it's generating electricity and the electricity is going to a military site, for example, then this object becomes dual use. It's got a civilian characteristic, but it also has a military characteristic, and it makes it a legitimate target, because there is a military purpose to the target, and so it becomes targetable, would be the argument.

And now one just has to engage in a proper proportionality analysis to ensure that the expected loss of civilian life and suffering of the civilian population is not in excess compared to the military benefit gained from destroying that target. That's their best argument.

The problem for them is, at least what the President has articulated is going after every power station in the country. And the reason that he's given for it—it seems to have no nexus to a military purpose in the first place.

I can't fathom how the catastrophic implications for the civilian population would not be in excess of whatever that military advantage is, including that the President, at the same time, is telling us that Iran is militarily defeated already.

Q: Where do nuclear power plants fall in the mix?

Dannenbaum: With respect to nuclear power plants in particular, the law applies a heightened set of protections against targeting. The way that the law characterizes this class of specially protected objects is "works or installations containing dangerous forces.” The core examples are nuclear power plants, dams, dikes. The reason is that destroying those things would potentially cause a release of dangerous forces with severe losses for the civilian population. Directing attacks against such objects is presumptively unlawful.

Even when the object in question qualifies as a military objective, it can only be targeted if the collateral harm would be proportionate. For that, the question is balancing the military advantage with the expected civilian harm.

Koh: If they say that what they're doing is an attack with a military purpose, like hitting a reactor that has underground nuclear material, they still have to make sure that those bombs are not going to release the radioactive material, because the catastrophic consequences could affect and harm the health and safety of millions of civilians across several countries.

Q: Trump said that “a whole civilization will die tonight.” Is there any international law that prohibits this kind of language?

Goodman: There is actually a very clear provision of the laws of war that apply to the threat itself … The provision states that it's prohibited to threaten violence against the civilian population and to spread terror among the civilian population through that threat of violence, and this is exactly the scenario that that provision has in mind.

So when the Secretary of Defense basically said that enemy forces would have no quarter—in other words, that U.S. forces would kill even people who had surrendered or were no longer in the fight. The war crime is not simply ordering one's troops to do that. It is making the statement, because the laws of war try to prohibit those kinds of statements from being made by military leaders. [Editor’s note: Hegseth pledged during a press briefing in mid-March that “We will keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies.”]

Hathaway: So speech can in some instances constitute violations of international humanitarian law. But what really matters, first and foremost, is action.

Q: Under international law, is the U.S. responsible for the actions of Israel, say, if it had knowledge of an attack that was a war crime?

Koh: If they intentionally aid and abet those attacks through the sharing of intelligence, then they are co-conspirators in the war crime.

Q: What is the international body that makes these interpretations?

Koh: There are two different bodies you want to talk about. There's the International Committee of The Red Cross in Geneva, which has monitored the functioning of the Geneva Conventions for centuries, and it's won three Nobel Peace Prizes, which is more than any other entity … They have delegates who are both lawyers and non-lawyers, and these people are extraordinarily knowledgeable and extraordinarily creative. They go to scenes of these kinds of war zones and monitor whether the rules of the Geneva Conventions are being followed at unbelievable risk to themselves.

Then, ex-post, afterwards, evidence of the war crimes can be gathered by international prosecutors as well as domestic prosecutors, and used for either a prosecution at the International Criminal Court or, as in the case in Ukraine, there's a public prosecutor that's gathering evidence on hundreds of cases and bringing these cases against named individuals of the Russian military.

Q: Who would be held responsible for war crimes? Trump, soldiers?

Koh: This goes back to the Nuremberg Trials. Before Nuremberg, everybody had an out. If you were the leader, Hitler, you would say, “I didn't know what my ground forces were doing.” And then if you were the person carrying out the order killing civilians, you would say, “I was just following orders.” And everybody got off. After Nuremberg, it was flipped so that everybody's responsible. You can't take just following orders as a defense, and someone who gives an order with knowledge that it’s going to be carried out a particular way has command responsibility.

I think this creates a huge issue for the soldiers on the ground and the targeters. They have orders, completely irresponsible orders, and wildly overbroad statements that clearly, if implemented, would exceed the scope of the law. And the question is, can they somehow narrow that to something that could be defended? What do you do? You're going to be prosecuted for just following orders if you commit a war crime. And Trump might be immune, but under domestic law, they're not. So this puts incredible pressure on people who didn't want to be there in the first place.

Q: How could Trump be punished?

Hathaway: There have been instances in the past where leaders of countries who seemed, at the time, completely unlikely to ever be held to account––Augusto Pinochet comes to mind––were eventually tried and subjected to justice. So that is possible.

Honestly, I'm not holding my breath. I think that the chances of the President being subjected to criminal prosecution is pretty slim. What I'm concerned about right now is stopping him from doing worse than what he has already done. I think Congress absolutely has got to step in here … We've got three more years of this ahead of us and for the President to be able to carry out these illegal strikes here and be allowed to get away with it suggests that he might be permitted to do the same in other places.

Q: Do you think the U.S. or Israel has committed war crimes in the Iran war thus far?

Koh: You have to prove these things with both facts on the ground and with proof of intent.

There are certainly causes of great concern. The letter that we signed said there are causes for concern, particularly with regard to, say, the killing of 175 children at the Minab School. The bombs, the tomahawks, were clearly from the United States. It could have been a mistake, or it could have been deliberate targeting, or could have been somewhere in between…

When lots of civilians die, the chances are high that war crimes have occurred, but they still have to be proven on an incident-by-incident basis

Q: If a war crime is committed against Iran, is it then justified under international law to carry out similar military action?

Hathaway: The short answer is, Iran is legally obligated not to resort to the same tactics that President Trump is threatening. That said, what the President is doing is going to erode those legal protections. It's going to create the impression that maybe these rules don't apply anymore. It's going to be seen by some as licensing similar kinds of action, and I would not say that we should be terribly surprised if we see retaliatory strikes on electrical plants in the region, or on data centers or on other forms of civilian infrastructure in the area.

And more generally, I think we should be concerned about what this does to the protections for civilians in future wars, not just in this war. Once you erode these legal principles, once the United States, which has historically played a critical role as a leader in the international and global legal order, is throwing these rules out the window and deciding that they don't apply it will license many other states to feel that they too can ignore these rules. And so the United States is setting an example by which the world is measuring itself.

THURSDAY 4/9

ATTACHMENT SIXTEEN – FROM BBC

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE TWO-WEEK CEASEFIRE BETWEEN THE US AND IRAN

By Kelly Ng, Khashayar Joneidi, C Persian, Washington, and Daniel De Simone

The provisional truce comes more than a month after the US and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran

Iran and the US have agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire, during which shipping traffic will be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz.

This comes more than a month after the US and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran, and hours after US President Donald Trump threatened "a whole civilisation will die tonight" if Iran did not reopen the Strait.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been mediating negotiations, said early on Wednesday that the ceasefire was effective immediately.

Here's what we know so far about the deal.

What have the US and Iran said?

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he agreed to the provisional ceasefire because "we have already met and exceeded all military objectives".

Later on Wednesday, Trump said that the US will be working closely with Iran and "talking tariff and sanctions relief".

On his Truth Social platform he added in a separate post that "a country supplying military weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions."

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US military would be making sure Iran complies with the ceasefire and comes to the table for a deal.

Troops will "stay put, stay ready, stay vigilant" and be "ready to re-start at a moment's notice", he added.

Iran has agreed to allow vessels through the Hormuz Strait for two weeks, with their passage coordinated by the Iranian military.

The country has also issued a 10-point plan, which includes, among other things, the complete cessation of war in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen; "full commitment" to lifting sanctions on Iran; the release of Iranian funds and frozen assets held by the US; and a "full payment of compensation for reconstruction costs" to Iran.

It also says, "Iran fully commits to not seeking possession of any nuclear weapons".

"Iran's victory in the field would also be consolidated in political negotiations," Tehran's Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.

According to Sharif, the ceasefire will also take effect in Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting the Iranian-backed armed group Hezbollah.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) promised a "regret-inducing response" if strikes on Lebanon continue.

What has Israel said?

Sirens sounded in Israel shortly after Trump's announcement, with the Israel Defense Forces saying they were intercepting missiles launched from Iran.

Several loud booms were heard in Jerusalem late on Tuesday night.

The statement added that the "ceasefire does not include Lebanon", where Israel has ground troops.

It is unclear how involved Netanyahu was in Trump's decision-making but at a news conference later on Wednesday, the Israeli leader said the ceasefire came into effect "in full coordination with Israel".

He added: "We have more goals to complete - and we will achieve them either by an agreement or by renewing the fighting. We are prepared to return to fighting at any moment necessary. Our finger is on the trigger."

What is next?

Pakistan, which has been mediating the negotiations, has invited the delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday "to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes".

Leavitt acknowledged ongoing discussions about in-person talks, but said "nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House".

She later announced that the US Vice President JD Vance would attend the talks, along with the president's enovy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Whatever form they take, negotiations are going to be very difficult.

Strikes appeared to be continuing after the ceasefire, as Kuwait on Wednesday morning reported Iranian attacks which damaged power and desalination plants as well as oil facilities.

"Kuwait air defences have been engaging an intense wave of hostile Iranian attacks, dealing with 28 drones targeting the State of Kuwait," the country's military said in a statement on X.

The US and Iran appear to have contradicting positions on what this ceasefire entails. And Iran and the US have held two rounds of talks in the past year. Both times saw military tensions escalate in the middle of negotiations.

The leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the EU welcomed the ceasefire and in a joint statement urged a "swift and lasting end" to the war.

"We call upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon," they said.

ATTACHMENT SEVENTEEN – FROM TANGLE

A TENUOUS CEASEFIRE IN IRAN Will it hold?

By Isaac Saul • 9 Apr 2026

On Tuesday evening, President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. 48 hours later, the deal has already shown signs of cracking.

Quick hits.

1. President Donald Trump and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte met on Wednesday to discuss the Iran war. After the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social, “NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN.” (The meeting)

2. President Trump said he will impose 50% tariffs on any country that supplies military weapons to Iran. (The threat)

3. The Justice Department’s civil rights division is reportedly investigating Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide who served in the first Trump administration. In 2022, Hutchinson testified before the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riots, and the Justice Department investigation appears to center on allegations that she lied in her testimony. (The report)

4. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee announced that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will no longer appear before the committee to answer questions about the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying that the original subpoena did not apply now that she is no longer attorney general. (The update)

5. An accused serial killer pleaded guilty to the murders of eight women over 17 years in Long Island’s Gilgo Beach area. He is expected to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in June. (The plea)

Today’s topic.

The two-week ceasefire in Iran. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, conditional on the Strait of Hormuz fully reopening to commercial shipping. President Trump announced the deal less than two hours before his 8:00 PM ET deadline for Iran to lift its restrictions on the strait or face strikes on civilian infrastructure. Trump also said that the U.S. received a 10-point peace plan from Iran he believed to be “a workable basis on which to negotiate.”

After issuing his ultimatum on Sunday, Trump posted on Tuesday, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” if Iran missed the deadline. However, in the hours before 8:00 PM, discussions between the sides mediated by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir produced a deal that evening.

In a statement, the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran said Iran will “cease their defensive operations” provided the U.S. halts its strikes. Furthermore, it said passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible “via coordination with Iran’s armed forces and due consideration of technical limitations.” A small number of ships passed through the waterway on Wednesday, though the strait remains a substantial bottleneck. Additionally, Iran has reportedly begun charging ships $1 million or more for safe passage, and it has not indicated whether it will drop this toll as part of the ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel supports the ceasefire but that it did not apply to Lebanon, and the Israeli military has continued heavy strikes over the past day. A series of attacks in central Beirut on Wednesday killed 182 and wounded 890, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

On Wednesday, Iran reportedly shut down the strait again in response to Israeli strikes, insisting that Lebanon is included in the ceasefire (the United States disputes this). On Thursday, however, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his government is solely responsible for negotiating an end to the strikes

Broadly, the state of the ceasefire remains uncertain, with Iran accusing the United States of violating the terms of the agreement. Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif urged restraint so that “diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict.”

Though he initially expressed optimism about a deal to permanently end the war, President Trump posted on Wednesday night that U.S. military assets will remain in place “until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with.” Future negotiations are expected to center on a 10-point peace plan circulated by Iran, as well as a 15-point U.S. plan that has not been publicly released. Iran’s plan includes several provisions that have previously been sticking points in negotiations with the United States, such as continued enrichment of uranium and removal of sanctions. Additionally, it calls for compensation for damages sustained during the war and a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region.

Today, we’ll share views from the right and left on the ceasefire. Then, Executive Editor Isaac Saul gives his take.

What the right is saying.

• The right is mixed on the ceasefire, with many seeing opportunities and risks.

• Some argue Trump’s threats produced a desirable outcome.

• Others worry America’s strategic and moral standing has been degraded.

National Review’s editors explored “an uncertain cease-fire.”

“There were several problems in the strategic conception of the U.S.-Israel campaign. One was that regime change, the only event that would have brought a decisive end to the war, was unlikely to be achieved from the air. It’s possible that, after the pounding it has taken over the last several weeks, the Iranian regime will be considerably more vulnerable to a popular revolt in coming months… The fact remains, though, that the regime still has the guns and protesters in the street do not,” the editors said. “Another is that it was too hard to go and snatch Iran’s highly enriched uranium in a military operation.”

“The Trump administration was correct to consider it intolerable that Iran might develop such a robust missile and drone force that it could deter military action to stop it from developing a nuclear weapon. We have presumably set back its missile and nuclear programs for years, as well as kneecapping its regional power,” the editors wrote. “The war has therefore enhanced our national security, but we shouldn’t look past the strategic costs — global economic distress, more turmoil in the Western alliance, depleted weapons stocks, benefits to the Russian oil economy, and the message that’s been sent to China.”

In The American Spectator, Francis P. Sempa said “Trump confounds critics again.”

“President Donald Trump has once again confounded his many critics by agreeing to a two-week ceasefire in the war against Iran, after threatening to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age and end a civilization,” Sempa wrote. “Those same critics warned us last June that Trump’s authorization to attack Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities would lead to a quagmire and another ‘endless war’ in the Middle East that Trump had campaigned against. Trump confounded the critics then by stopping the war after 12 days once the objective was accomplished.”

“The major dilemma is the Strait of Hormuz, the closure of which is wreaking havoc on the world’s energy markets. Trump’s ceasefire agreement is designed to resolve that dilemma. If the diplomatic route fails… the U.S. has three options: walk away and declare victory, which would leave Iran in control of the Strait; continue the air campaign, which might bring Iran’s leaders back to the negotiating table; and escalation,” Sempa said. “Iran’s threat to the region has been scaled-back. Any solution — military or negotiated — is likely to be temporary — that is the way international relations usually work.”

In The Federalist, John Daniel Davidson wrote “Trump’s hyperbolic annihilationist rhetoric comes with a moral cost.”

“Did Trump really call off some devastating (possibly nuclear) strike because of a deal that only came through 90 minutes before the White House deadline? Maybe. Was the deal already in the bag before Trump made his hyperbolic threat that ‘a whole civilization will die tonight?’ Possibly,” Davidson said. “What does seem clear amid the fog of war, however, is that Trump’s maximalist, annihilationist rhetoric — talk of destroying Iranian ‘civilization,’ ‘never to be brought back again,’ taking out ‘the entire country,’ bombing it ‘into the stone age,’ targeting critical civilian infrastructure like power plants — has already gravely damaged the United States.

“Why? Because America should only wage just wars, and waging a just war means being subject to certain restraints. Just war precludes immoral means — like the mass killing of civilians — to achieve victory. Even threatening such means, as Trump has done, damages the moral conscience of a people as much as it degrades the moral standing of a nation,” Davidson wrote. “Whatever happens, we cannot lose sight of the moral dimension here. In both word and deed, if we do not hold ourselves to a high moral standard then we risk, in a very real sense, becoming the villains in an unjust war.”

What the left is saying.

• The left is cynical towards the ceasefire, saying it highlights the pointless nature of Trump’s war.

• Some suggest Iran will emerge stronger from this conflict.

• Others contend the illusion of U.S. military dominance has been shattered.

The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board wrote “[the] ceasefire leaves America with little to show for Trump’s war of choice.”

“Whatever peace agreement ultimately emerges will be far from Trump’s ordered ‘unconditional surrender,’ let alone his goal of ‘regime change.’ Instead, the ill-considered conflict that upended the world economy and fractured U.S. alliances leaves Iran’s brutal and repressive government battered but unbowed,” the board said. “The might of the U.S. military remains unquestionable, as does the bravery and dedication of the men and women in uniform. But the war — spearheaded by fools and promising disaster from its inception — has delivered a different defeat: America’s standing in the world has been demolished and the president’s vacuous, unpredictable nature reaffirmed.”

“Tuesday’s ceasefire was declared a victory by both sides. But what did the U.S. gain after spending $45 billion and counting? What do the deaths of more than 1,500 civilians, including 244 children, and 13 U.S. service members resolve?” the board wrote. “Iran’s nuclear ambitions linger, its hold over the Strait of Hormuz has tightened, the damage to its conventional weapons programs is unclear, its regional proxies remain entrenched, and there’s a new generation of ruthless hard-liners in Tehran.”

In MS NOW, Anthony L. Fisher said “Trump’s war may also make [Iran] an even wealthier and more influential regional power.”

“In his zeal to project the U.S.’ ‘strength,’… Trump’s actions on Tuesday have signaled something else entirely: a weak and unstable leader who has done irreparable damage to America’s reputation and the global order,” Fisher wrote. “Among the most befuddling developments: Why did Trump declare Iran’s ‘10 point proposal’ (brokered through Pakistani mediators) ‘not good enough’ on Monday, but suddenly a ‘workable basis on which to negotiate’ on Tuesday? And how can Trump claim to have fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz when Iran still controls it?”

“By essentially shutting down the Strait of Hormuz at the relatively low cost of blowing up a few oil tankers, Trump’s likely illegal war has arguably gifted the Iranian regime unprecedented clout as a regional power,” Fisher said. “So while… Americans can breathe a sigh of relief that unspeakable war crimes aren’t being committed against Iranian citizens in our name, we should not lose sight of the big picture: Our commander-in-chief has given us another reason to doubt his leadership, his mental acuity and his basic decency. Trump’s war has killed many civilians, upended the post-World War II international order and potentially made the Iranian regime a lot richer.”

In The Nation, James K. Galbraith argued “US military power is obsolete.”

“If the ceasefire holds, the vicious attack launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, 2026, will have exposed, for all to see, the obsolescence of US military power. That power consisted mostly of surface ships and bases, both of them impossible to protect from missiles and drones. The entire model, built up in World War II and the Cold War, is finished,” Galbraith wrote. “Acknowledgment of this reality around the world will have vast effects. It may hasten settlement of the other major conflict and tension zones: Ukraine on terms agreed with Russia, and Taiwan on terms agreed with the PRC.”

“Two weeks of uncertainty lie ahead. Forces within the United States and in Israel could destroy the tentative settlement, resume the war, and deepen the damage. They will certainly try. Israel is still savagely bombing Beirut, inviting retaliation from Tehran,” Galbraith said. “Within the United States, a reckoning is overdue. At least since Clinton’s attack on Serbia in 1999, the US has been trapped in a web of delusions about its own power. In Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, and the South China Sea, the US has come up against forces it could not (in the end) defeat. None of these have, so far, dented the psychological carapace of the American elite. Iran’s 10 points should, finally, force reality down their throats.”

My take.

Reminder: “My take” is a section where we give ourselves space to share a personal opinion. If you have feedback, criticism or compliments, don't unsubscribe. Write in by replying to this email, or leave a comment.

• When you sort through the confusion, the messaging over the ceasefire differs greatly from the reality.

• Iran’s 10-point plan is no basis for negotiations — I don’t even think we really have a ceasefire.

• Trump has painted himself into a corner, and there’s no end to this war in sight.

Executive Editor Isaac Saul: A lot has happened since we wrote about Iran 48 hours ago:

On Tuesday morning, as we were writing the newsletter, Trump threatened to wipe out an entire civilization. In Iran, residents began planning for life without gas and power. European leaders, Wall Street traders, and reporters scrambled to understand the sincerity of the threat. Iranian officials pulled out of negotiations, telling Egypt that they would no longer talk to the U.S. Military lawyers identified a small list of infrastructure targets feasibly tied to the Iranian military.

In the late morning, Fox News host Bret Baier said he spoke to the president and that Trump assured him “8 PM is happening” if progress in negotiations wasn’t achieved. The president, remarkably, went about his day; he held meetings with tech investors, Justice Department officials, and even phoned into a rally in Budapest, where Vice President JD Vance was campaigning for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

In the afternoon, criticism began to pour in, even from Trump’s allies: Perhaps most notably, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Trump to “clearly distinguish” between the regime and “millions of ordinary citizens.” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) called the potential attacks on civilian targets a “huge mistake.” By mid-afternoon, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly urged Trump (reportedly in coordination with the White House) to extend his deadline, Iran to reopen the Strait, and for a two-week ceasefire to snap into effect. This seems to be when everything shifted.

At 6:32 PM ET, citing conversations with Sharif, Trump declared on Truth Social that the strikes were off. He said the U.S. received a “10 point proposal from Iran” that would be a “workable basis on which to negotiate.” Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called it an “agreed framework.”

What happened next is an area of serious contention, but this is the best I can discern:

Iran circulated its 10-point plan, which would require all manner of major concessions from the U.S. Among other things, it demands the U.S. cease all military aggression, grants Iran control of the Strait of Hormuz, allows Iran to enrich uranium, lifts sanctions, requires war reparations to Iran, and calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel was (and is) hammering Hezbollah and civilian centers in Beirut.

The administration didn’t deny this was the 10-point plan Trump was referencing, even while it circulated through the media and drew criticism for being so lopsided in Iran’s favor. Eventually, U.S. officials came out to say they had forced concessions on the Iranian plan, and their revisions were the actual basis for negotiations. Also, Trump administration officials said, the U.S. had put together a different 15-point plan for ending the war.

That’s three plans — Iran’s 10-point plan, the U.S. revisions to that plan, and a separate 15-point plan that the U.S. has — all of which are purportedly the basis for the ceasefire. As of this writing, only the Iranian 10-point plan is public.

At the same time, those terms didn’t seem to be conditions for the immediate ceasefire. Instead, the U.S. has demanded the Strait of Hormuz be opened and Iran has demanded attacks in Lebanon stop. Yet neither of those things has happened, either.

U.S. attacks in Iran ceased, but Iran began lobbing missiles and drones at Israel and surrounding Gulf countries shortly after Trump’s announcement, claiming that Israel violated the terms of its ceasefire by continuing strikes in Lebanon (#10 in Iran’s proposal: “Cease-fires on all fronts, including against Hezbollah in Lebanon”). Vance said this was a “legitimate misunderstanding,” adding that “the Iranians thought the cease-fire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t,” which strikes me as an almost unbelievable miscommunication and a remarkable diplomatic failure.

As for the Strait of Hormuz, despite Vance and U.S. officials insisting it is now open, nothing seems to have changed. If anything, Iran has tightened its grip. In the past 24 hours, just six ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz, less than the pre-ceasefire average. Even publicly, Iran is saying it will limit passage to just a dozen ships a day, and those ships will pay a steep toll for passage. Before the war started, over a hundred ships a day were passing through the Strait of Hormuz freely.

So, to sum up: There is a 10-point plan that nobody has agreed to and a 15-point plan that the public has not seen and a fundamental understanding that the Strait of Hormuz will open and the attacks in the region will stop, though the strait is closed and the attacks haven’t stopped. Seemingly the only thing that has changed is that the U.S. is not currently pummeling Iran while trying to set up future negotiations. Maybe this constitutes a ceasefire, but talks to end the war have purportedly been happening this whole time, so I’m not sure how meaningful all this is.

For the media’s part, I’m also not entirely sure what we’re supposed to do. When the president announces a ceasefire and what’s left of Iran’s leaders say they have an agreement, we have to report that. We also have to report the on-the-ground reality, and in this case, the delta between the ceasefire terms as described and what is happening on the ground is egregious.

As for the only 10-point plan we actually have access to, I can’t imagine how it’s even a “workable basis on which to negotiate.” Nearly every point in the plan looks like a nonstarter for the U.S., at least in the context of previous negotiations. If Iran were to get even three of the 10 points implemented in a ceasefire — any three, really — it’d constitute a major improvement from their position a few months ago.

That certainly doesn’t mean Iran is somehow “winning” the war, which is an even more ridiculous claim than saying the U.S. has achieved a major victory. General Dan Caine’s assessment is that we’ve destroyed 80% of Iran’s air defense systems, 90% of its Navy, 90% of its weapons factories and 80% of its nuclear industrial base, among other things. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, as are most of his senior counterparts. Iran is obviously weakened, and their capacity for terrorism, nuclear proliferation, or attacking its neighbors is considerably degraded.

Yet, at the same time, Iran has proven it can exert serious economic leverage on a global scale by controlling this single waterway. They’ve shown that they can tolerate an unspeakable amount of damage to their own leadership and their civilian population. They’ve weathered the most threatening, straightforward promises of mass destruction imaginable from a U.S. president and watched as almost none of them have come to pass. And now they are negotiating from what they clearly understand is a position of strength, given that they are demanding concessions they’d never have even swung for in these negotiations just a few short months ago.

Trump, for his part, seems to be improvising in real time. He suggested that Iran and the U.S. could enter a joint venture and control the Strait of Hormuz together, which is a rather shocking proposal when you pause to think about it for even a moment. “The terrorist regime we said we needed to wipe off the face of the earth on Monday will, on Wednesday, become our business partner for the future, and our ships will pay tolls that line their pockets!” That’s to say nothing of the precedent it sets for other nations to begin restricting free passage in international waters, a problem that doesn’t currently exist in large part due to American influence in our global trade system.

Some will take away from this episode that Trump’s “madman act” worked, that Iran blinked, and that “the media still doesn’t understand Trump after all these years.” Trump says big scary thing. Big scary thing doesn’t happen. Supposed deal is agreed to. Cue the takes about Trump the negotiator and a businessman, while the hysterical media are all rubes for pearl-clutching over meaningless words.

The reality I see, though, is far more unsettling. I don’t think the Mad King act is really an act at all; I think the president feels trapped and is finding his way out on the fly, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The evidence is right before us. To quote Sohrab Ahmari, the Iranian-American conservative commentator who endorsed Trump as recently as 2022:

The objectives were ever-shifting: changing the regime and putting Iran’s destiny in the hands of its people; degrading military capacity; stopping a nuclear program that had already been “obliterated” in the course of the earlier 12-Day War; reopening the Strait of Hormuz; not reopening the Strait of Hormuz, because we don’t need it anyway; you better “fucking open it, you crazy bastards,” otherwise America will “wipe out a whole civilization”; OK, how about we both run it in a joint venture?

Worse yet, I think he is still trapped and still feeling the walls as he walks through the darkness, guessing on his next moves. I think this war is not over, Iran’s control over this economic lever has not been removed, and we have not found our way out. If you can even call this situation a ceasefire at all, I’m skeptical it will survive the time between me writing this sentence and it being published. I think Trump’s threats were genuine, and the fact they didn’t come to fruition was more happenstance, military bureaucracy, and good fortune than any semblance of a plan or an off-ramp. The “deal” Trump is negotiating is far worse than the one we had, if there is even a shared reality on what the deal is (and I’m not sure there is). And in this case, the media’s purported “hysteria” over the threats to wipe out an entire civilization was not just warranted but perhaps understated; that we’ve moved on so quickly, that it only took a few headlines about a ceasefire deal nobody seems to understand, is perhaps the most worrisome thing of all.

Somehow, impressively, Iran and the U.S. are both losing this war. But that seems to be what war often is — a violent circle of sacrifice and downsides, justified by the people pushing it, and tolerated by the rest of us.

Take the survey: How long do you expect the war with Iran to last? Let us know.

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Your questions, answered.

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The road not taken.

In this section, we offer a peek behind the curtains at Tangle’s editorial process, highlighting at least one story from the week that we almost covered as a main topic — and an explanation for why we ultimately chose not to.

As we entered Easter weekend, we were watching a number of stories, especially Attorney General Pam Bondi’s dismissal and escalating violence in the Lebanon theater of the Iran War. We ultimately chose to focus on Trump’s deadline in Iran instead of Lebanon on Tuesday, as the level of the president’s threats had immediate and grave implications. Then, after choosing the White House’s budget plan as our main topic on Wednesday, we felt we had missed the window to discuss Bondi’s dismissal today. Were it not for the rapid development in Trump’s messaging over the weekend, both Lebanon and Bondi would likely have been main topics this week.

Numbers.

• 6. The number of ships that crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, according to a Reuters estimate.

• 95. The number of ships that crossed the strait on February 27, the day before the war in Iran began, according to IMF Portwatch.

• 130. The average number of ships that crossed the strait each day before the war began, according to The New York Times.

The extras.

• One year ago today we wrote about the Supreme Court’s deportation ruling.

• The most clicked link in our most recent newsletter was Managing Editor Ari Weitzman’s interview with former EPA Administrator Christine Whitman.

• Nothing to do with politics: A look into the world of obsolete media.

• Our last survey: 2,759 readers responded to our survey on Trump’s 2027 budget with 90% opposing the plan and expressing concern over funding it. “National defense is the primary role of the federal government. However, the party of fiscal restraint continues to increase the national deficit and debt,” one respondent said. “We’ll only have peace when we pay more for it than we do for war,” said another.

Have a nice day.

ATTACHMENT EIGHTEEN – FROM TIME

Can the Iran Ceasefire Last? We Asked 3 Experts About the Road Ahead

By Brian Bennett Apr 9, 2026 1:51 PM ET

President Trump is celebrating a two-week ceasefire with Iran in a loose agreement brokered by Pakistani officials, and further diplomatic talks are slated to begin in Islamabad later this week. But already there are signs the ceasefire is fragile, as ground-level Iranian units continued to launch attacks, Israel stepped up attacks against Iranian proxies in Lebanon, and it is unclear if Iran has fully opened shipping lanes running through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have said the U.S.’s 38-day bombardment of Iran achieved its military objectives by debilitating Iran’s navy and ballistic missile industry and damaging its nuclear program. But Iran’s fissile material is still in the country and Iran has not agreed to give up its nuclear ambitions. Iran has also not agreed to stop supporting militant proxies in the region.

Hegseth Says Iran Accepted Ceasefire "Under Overwhelming Pressure"

And most notably, Iran gained valuable leverage in the conflict by threatening merchant oil vessels moving out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, effectively bottling up 20 percent of the world’s oil supply and driving up oil prices.

Iran is now demanding that vessels notify its military before sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. “That is something the Iranians did not have before the war started,” said Daniel Fried, a fellow at the Atlantic Council and a former U.S. ambassador who ran the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs during the Bush administration and sanctions policy under the Obama administration. “So we are already starting out from behind. That's a problem.  If your principal objective is to restore the status quo, you're not winning.”

There are many questions about what comes next. We asked three experts—Fried, the former diplomat; former Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, a fellow at Foundation for Defense of Democracies; and Brandan Buck, a former intelligence officer with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency who is now a foreign policy expert at the Cato Institute—to assess the ceasefire and describe where they see things going from here.

Their answers have been condensed and edited for clarity.

Is this a durable ceasefire?

Fried: I don't know, because this war was not going the way [Trump] expected. And Iran may want to cease fire because they've been badly hurt. They don't feel as if they're in a weak position. So from their perspective, it may be advantageous to agree to the ceasefire and then negotiate from a very advantageous starting point—which is their 10 points—what seems to be a U.S. acquiescence to some sort of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. 

Again, this is changeable. So everything I said is written in pencil, right? But this does not look great. And this is certainly nothing like what Trump promised the nation as recently as last Wednesday.

Montgomery: It's highly likely that there'll be a lot of contentious moments in the follow on discussions on the ceasefire. One of the things we tend to do pretty well is work over an adversary's [communications] systems. So we need to wait 24, 48 hours—and then you have to see if things are coordinated across regions. But isolated things for the next 24, 48 hours would be excusable under the circumstances.

Buck: A ceasefire between who?  I think it could be durable between the United States and Iran, but as far as a larger region, it's not looking that way thus far. I think we forget that Iran devolved its command-and-control authority down to the lowest levels throughout the course of this war. If this thing is going to hold, it's probably going to take some time and order for those orders to filter down to the various levels in Iran.

And then again, Israel is its own state. It has its own interests. Will the president be able to restrain Israel in Lebanon? I think that's gonna be a far bigger risk politically than trying to restrain them on Iran.

It gave Trump an off-ramp for his own escalation—to reset the narrative from the really chilling ultimatum that he gave yesterday. But I think fundamentally, the asks of the two parties are still pretty far apart. You know, last night, there were reports that the president was going to negotiate along the lines that Iran put forward, but then now some things have come out, so that's been denied. So it's still not clear under what conditions these three sides are going to negotiate, and therefore how this ceasefire will be put into place—so I think as time goes on, it's understandable to be even more pessimistic.

What are the most likely pitfalls going forward?

Fried: Will the ceasefire hold? Will the Strait of Hormouz open? And then, if it does, will it open because the Iranians permit it, and that becomes the new baseline? Will there be any meaningful controls on Iran's nuclear program or ballistic missile program? Will the United States remove sanctions on Iran, and if so, in return for what? If we remove the sanctions imposed because of Iranian support for terrorism, will that support end? I have questions about all of that.

Montgomery: The idea that somehow that Iran had the right to toll shipping going through the Strait—that principle, we should be opposed to it based on international law. However, we have a President who doesn't care about that. He's actually commented that he doesn't care about that. That worries me. I think there's going to be a problem between the United States and its Arab partners. Trump doesn't want to give up the peace over something like that, something he doesn't care about. This is a guy’s a real estate builder, right? There’ s a fee for everything, legal or not.

Buck: Iran's not going to surrender its ability to establish deterrence, especially if that deterrence got them to this point in which the U.S. might stop. Say whatever you will about the regime, and its human rights records and its internal characteristics, states are not going to willfully give up their ability to resist outside coercion.

Where does this leave the Strait of Hormuz?

Fried: It depends on what we accept, right? Iranian control, really? Does that mean fees that the Europeans pay? They’re not gonna be happy about that. It gives Iran leverage and they could arguably come out in a marginally better place which would be an indictment of the administration’s policy.

Montgomery: This is why you had to ensure that it was opened by the U.S. military at least for a short period of time, so that we could say, look, we’ve opened it before, we’ll open it again, if you get in our way. So for now, we have to negotiate the right answer as opposed to impose it. And that’s going to be much harder than Trump understands.

Buck: It’s looking like some kind of toll regime is arising. That's gonna be embarrassing for the United States strategically, and that's gonna be a tough pill to swallow. But economically, if the oil starts flowing and the prices start dropping, that is probably something they can just sort of narrativize away, oddly enough.

The United States since World War II has sold itself as being the guarantor of maritime security and trade. This is one of the central arguments for American hegemony after World War II. So, if this war ends and the United States acquiesces to some sort of toll regime on the part of Iran, even if it is somewhat legitimized—that's a fundamentally different situation than when we went into the war. And so I think critics, both in the United States, and the West, and outside can say—not unreasonably—that one of the central arguments for American naval power, or geopolitical power in the postwar world has been undermined.

LIVE FEEDS and TAKEAWAYS

ATTACHMENT “A” – FROM

CNN

Trump says ‘entire country’ of Iran could be taken out if no deal is reached by tomorrow

The US president doubled down on his threat to destroy every Iranian bridge and power plant in wide-ranging news conference.

By various reporters Updated 6:13 PM EDT, Mon April 6, 2026Hear Trump's first on-camera

Here's the latest

• Trump’s deadline looms: US President Donald Trump said Iran could be “taken out in one night,” which “might” be Tuesday — a deadline he set for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He wouldn’t say whether the war is winding down, calling it a “critical period” that depends on Iran’s actions.

• Attacks on infrastructure: Trump reiterated threats to hit Iran’s bridges and power plants, claiming the Iranian people would be “willing to suffer” if it eventually secured their freedom. Tehran warned the consequences of such attacks will stretch beyond the region.

• Rejected ceasefire proposal: Trump earlier today called a proposal drafted by countries working to implement 45-day ceasefire a “significant step” but “not good enough.” Iran rejected the proposal and called for a permanent end to the war, according to Iranian state-run media.

Iranian official says "shut up" isn’t the right response to Trump

By Mohammed Tawfeeq 6:00 PM

Saeed Jalili, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, says dismissing US President Donald Trump is not the best approach, arguing instead that Trump’s remarks reveal the nature of the United States.

“‘Shut up’ is not the appropriate response to Trump’s ramblings; let him speak more,” Jalili wrote in a post on X.

“Nothing is more effective in laying bare the true nature of the United States than Trump’s outbursts,” he added.

Trump said in a press conference Monday that Iran could be “taken out” in one night, which “might” be Tuesday evening.

13 min ago

Iran urges Americans to hold US government accountable for "crimes"

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei urged Americans on Monday to hold their government responsible for what he described as an “aggressive war” against Iran.

“The American people must know that what their government is doing against Iran in West Asia is a great injustice and an unfair, aggressive war,” Baghaei told the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA).

“The American people must hold their government accountable for the actions and crimes carried out in their name,” Baghaei added, according to ISNA.

49 min ago

Four Iranian army officers killed during US rescue mission, Tehran says

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Iran says four Iranian army officers were killed during the US rescue operation south of Isfahan on Sunday.

The Iranian army’s public relations office said in a statement Monday that the four officers were killed early Sunday during an attack by “several (US) offensive aircraft” in Isfahan province.

The army said the officers engaged in “direct combat” with “enemy fighter jets, helicopters, armed drones and support aircraft.”

The statement also said a shoulder-fired missile struck a US aircraft, after which the unit was targeted by other aircraft, resulting in the deaths of the four officers.

Iran’s army identified the slain officers along with their military ranks: a brigadier general, a colonel, a lieutenant colonel and a 1st lieutenant.

1 hr 24 min ago

Israel approves updated list of energy and infrastructure targets in Iran as contingency plan

By Tal Shalev in Tel Aviv

Israel has approved an updated target list of energy and infrastructure sites in Iran in preparation for a contingency scenario in which US diplomatic talks fail, two Israeli sources told CNN.

“Israel is awaiting Trump’s decision on the next steps, but we have additional plans for the upcoming weeks pending an American green light,” one of the sources, an Israeli security official, said.

Israel is highly skeptical a deal is achievable, the other Israeli source said. He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has conveyed his concerns about possible ceasefire agreements in recent discussions with US President Donald Trump, stressing that Israel believes any ceasefire must require Iran to hand over all of its enriched uranium and commit to a complete halt of its enrichment activities.

Netanyahu and Trump talked on the phone Sunday evening following the rescue of the two American pilots shot down over Iran. The Israeli source who was briefed on the conversation said the two leaders discussed diplomatic prospects as well as further military coordination between Israel and the US in Iran.

1 hr 35 min ago

Iran says alleged US-Israeli strike hit Iran’s nuclear fuel cycle

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization has condemned an alleged US-Israeli strike on a yellowcake production facility in central Iran, calling it a violation of protections for peaceful nuclear sites.

The plant, also known as the Shahid Rezayee Nejad facility, is a critical component of Iran’s nuclear fuel cycle and is located in Ardakan, Yazd Province.

The organization said Monday in a post on X that the strike was “a clear violation of the immunity of peaceful nuclear facilities” and a direct attack on Iran’s “reactor fuel supply chain,” as well as the development of nuclear medicine.

“Iran’s nuclear technology is in the service of peace and the health of humanity,” the statement said, adding that the country’s nuclear path “will never be stopped by dropping heavy bombs.”

The organization did not say when the strike happened or whether it damaged the facility, which processes uranium ore.

CNN has reached out to the US and Israel for comment.

Iran in late March also reported that US-Israeli strikes hit the same yellowcake facility. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed damage to the plant but found no increase in radiation levels outside the facility.

1 hr 44 min ago

Hundreds of children and women killed in US-Israeli strikes, Iran claims

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Iran’s Ministry of Health claimed Monday that hundreds of women and children have been killed in US-Israeli strikes across the country since the war started.

The ministry said 220 children under the age of 18 were killed and 1,959 others were injured. It said 18 of the dead were under 5 years old and that 70 of those injured were under the age of 2.

At least 254 women were killed and 4,830 were injured, the ministry added.

The Health Ministry also reported broader impacts on Iran’s medical system, including “481 people hospitalized, 28,918 treated as outpatients and discharged, 1,220 surgeries performed, 41 ambulances damaged and 25 health care providers killed and 118 injured.”

The ministry did not provide details on how the casualties occurred or where the incidents took place. The figures could not be independently verified by CNN.

2 hr 11 min ago

Key takeaways from Trump’s news conference on the Iran war

By Maureen Chowdhury

President Donald Trump held a news conference at the White House about the war a short while ago where he said that Iran could be “taken out in one night.”

Trump also said the US has a plan under which every bridge and power plant in Iran could be destroyed by midnight tomorrow.

Despite this, the president wouldn’t say whether the war is ramping up or winding down. Trump said that Iran is an “active, willing participant” in negotiations.

The president was joined by administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

If you’re just joining us, here are top headlines from the news conference:

· Trump recounted some of the harrowing ordeal faced by the service member the US military rescued from inside Iran. He and Hegseth invoked God while praising the successful missions that rescued two US airmen following the downing of a fighter jet in Iran last week.

· Trump said his administration is searching for the “leaker” behind initial reports that an Air Force officer was missing in Iran following the downing of his fighter jet. He also threatened jailtime for the reporter who “did the story.”

· Locating and rescuing the service member hiding in Iran after his jet was downed was a “daunting challenge,” Ratcliffe said.

· Caine said that the US operation to rescue the downed American airman was successful because of the crew member’s “absolute commitment to surviving.”

· Trump said not all his military advisers supported an operation to rescue the crew of a downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran.

· Reopening the Strait of Hormuz must be part of a proposal to end the war with Iran, Trump said. The president later added that the US — rather than Iran — should impose a toll on ships passing through the critical waterway.

· Trump repeatedly railed against US allies who he claims “didn’t help us” with the war in Iran, calling them out by name. He also suggested that the US’ widening rift with NATO began when he first suggested taking over Greenland.

· Trump offered some insight into how he thinks about controlling oil in both Iran and Venezuela, as he’s said he would like to seize Iran oil.

CNN’s Samantha Waldenberg, Kevin Liptak, Adam Cancryn, Elise Hammond, Aditi Sangal and Morgan Leason contributed to this report.

2 hr 17 min ago

Senior Iranian security source claims Trump has “lost control” of war management

By Frederik Pleitgen and Mohammed Tawfeeq

A senior Iranian security source, responding to remarks Monday by US President Donald Trump, said Iran has dealt Trump a strategic defeat and that his escalating rhetoric toward Iranians reflects a loss of control over the conflict.

“Trump’s military failure, in coordination with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu in southern Isfahan, was a strategic failure, and the increase in his insults and offensive language toward the Iranian people shows that he has lost control over managing the war,” the source said.

Without providing details of a letter that Iran said it delivered via Pakistan, the source said Tehran has made its position “clear” that the Strait of Hormuz “will not return to its previous condition unless the war is permanently stopped.”

The official added that even after a complete halt to attacks on Iran, the strait would be reopened only under a protocol tied to how fully the other side meets its commitments.

“Iran has no trust in Trump or his representatives and has raised additional guarantees,” according to the source.

“Iran wants the war to end — but not in the way or on the timeline that Trump is seeking,” the source added.

2 hr 52 min ago

Iran warns that US AI center in Abu Dhabi is "within range of Iranian missiles"

By CNN staff

Iran threatened to strike an artificial intelligence center in the United Arab Emirates after an airstrike targeted Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology on Monday morning, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.

The strike damaged the university’s computing center and GPU facility, which provides infrastructure to the country’s AI capabilities, according to Tasnim, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The outlet highlighted that the US’s “Stargate” AI center in Abu Dhabi, which is being developed with OpenAI, Oracle and Nvidia, is “within range of Iranian missiles.”

“Iran has identified this as a strategic target and considers itself entitled to respond reciprocally under its legal rights,” the news agency said.

The threat follows a warning from Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi, the commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters in Tehran, who cautioned that the “gates of hell will be opened upon you” if Iran’s infrastructure continues to face attacks.

3 hr 23 min ago

Trump calls out countries who he says "didn't help" with war

By Morgan Leason

President Donald Trump repeatedly railed against US allies who he claims “didn’t help us” with the war in Iran, calling them out by name.

“Japan didn’t help us, Australia didn’t help us, South Korea didn’t help us, and then you get to NATO — NATO didn’t help us,” Trump said at a White House news conference.

Trump added of US assistance to the nations: “We’ve got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea; we have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un.”

Trump then commended some Persian Gulf nations, admitting that their involvement is related to their proximity to the conflict: “Saudi Arabia has been excellent, Qatar has been excellent, UAE has been excellent, Bahrain, Kuwait.”

3 hr 20 min ago

Trump dismisses question on his mental well-being after expletive-laden social media post

By Riane Lumer

President Donald Trump today dismissed critics who have suggested the president should have his mental health examined following his profanity-laced social media post on Easter Sunday threatening to demolish Iran’s power plants and infrastructure.

Asked about the criticism of his social media post, in which he called the Iranians “crazy bastards,” Trump told the reporter mid-question, “I don’t care about critics.” Pressed that some are calling for an evaluation of his mental health, Trump shrugged off the question.

“I haven’t heard that,” the president said in a press conference, before suggesting that there should be “more people” like him.

“But if that’s the case, you’re gonna have to have more people like me, because our country was being ripped off on trade or everything for many years until I came along,” Trump told reporters. “So if that’s the case, you’re gonna have to have more people.”

3 hr 30 min ago

Qatar condemns Iranian strikes, urges diplomatic solution

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Qatar has condemned Iran’s continued targeting of the emirate and other states in the region and urged a diplomatic solution to end the war in Middle East.

This came during a phone between Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a Qatari Foreign Ministry statement on Monday.

Al Thani expressed to Araghchi “Qatar’s condemnation of the ongoing Iranian targeting of Qatar and the countries of the region.”

He affirmed that “this escalation toward countries that have distanced themselves from the war constitutes a reckless endangerment of the region’s security and a disregard for its stability.”

Al Thani also denounced attacks on civilian infrastructure and national assets by all parties to the conflict as “unacceptable and condemnable” under any circumstances. He urged them to respect international law and spare civilians from the consequences of the fighting.

“A comprehensive and lasting diplomatic solution remains the sole option for resolving the crisis, thereby ensuring security and stability and sparing the region from further tension and escalation,” Al Thani added in the statement.

3 hr 21 min ago

Israel orders dozens of Lebanese villages to flee north

By Max Saltman and Dana Karni

Israel is ordering the residents of dozens of villages in southern Lebanon to leave their homes “immediately” and flee north of the Zahrani River.

“Hezbollah activities are forcing the (IDF) to take strong action against them in those areas,” IDF Arabic language spokesman Avichay Adraee wrote in a post on X, adding that the Israeli military “does not intend to harm” villagers.

The order comes as Israeli politicians have floated increasingly far-reaching plans to destroy Lebanese villages along the border with Israel and expel their inhabitants. An Israeli military official told CNN last week that the IDF is considering a plan to destroy civilian infrastructure within 2 to 3 kilometers of the Israeli border to create a buffer between Lebanon and northern Israel.

Lawmakers from Israel’s far-right decried those plans as insufficient over the weekend, demanding that the military consider the wholesale expulsion of Lebanese civilians south of the Litani River and create a “new security border.”

The order issued Monday appears to go further. All of the villages listed are north of the Litani.

Nonetheless, the lawmakers’ demands were nearly identical to plans outlined by Defense Minister Israel Katz last month. Katz said that the Israeli military intends to destroy Lebanese villages and “maintain security control over the Litani area,” barring the 600,000 Lebanese who fled north from returning to their homes “until the safety and security of northern Israeli residents is ensured.”

Asked whether the order on Monday is related to Katz’s comments, the IDF declined to comment.

3 hr 33 min ago

Trump: Plan is ready to destroy every Iranian bridge and power plant by midnight tomorrow

By Aditi Sangal

President Donald Trump said the US has a plan under which every bridge and power plant in Iran could be destroyed by midnight tomorrow.

“I mean complete demolition by 12 o’clock. And it will happen over a period of four hours if we wanted to. We don’t want that to happen,” Trump said.

Remember: Trump over the weekend appeared to set a new deadline for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time,” he wrote, after issuing a profane message renewing threats to bomb key Iranian infrastructure, including power plants, if Tehran does not comply.

Targeting critical civilian infrastructure could be considered a war crime. Trump has declared and then modified deadlines for the opening of the strait multiple times.

3 hr 31 min ago

Trump on his desire for US obtaining Iranian oil: "To the winner belong the spoils"

By Dalia Abdelwahab

Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

President Donald Trump offered some insight into how he thinks about controlling oil in both Iran and Venezuela, as he’s said he would like to seize Iran oil: “To the winner belong the spoils.”

“If I had my choice, yeah, because I’m a businessman first,” Trump told reporters at a press conference on the US-Iran war this afternoon, when asked to clarify his comments from earlier in the day regarding his views about seizing Iranian oil — which he acknowledged could be politically risky.

“With Venezuela, as you know, the war was over in about 45 minutes,” Trump said, referring to the US operation in January to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. “And we have great people running Venezuela, very good people. I mean, the relationship is good, and we are a partner with Venezuela, and we’ve taken hundreds of millions of barrels, hundreds of millions.”

Venezuela’s interim leadership has indicated a willingness to sell oil to the United States and partner with the US more closely.

Although Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire for a reprisal of the situation in similarly oil-rich Iran, he said earlier today that he doesn’t know whether Americans support such a move.

3 hr 34 min ago

Trump says Greenland dispute sparked rift between US and NATO

By Adam Cancryn

President Donald Trump on Monday suggested that the US’ widening rift with NATO began when he first suggested taking over Greenland.

“It all began with, if you want to know the truth, Greenland,” he said during a press conference. “We want Greenland. They don’t want to give it to us. And I said, ‘bye, bye.’”

Trump’s remarks came ahead of a planned White House visit later this week from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The president has railed against various NATO members for refusing to aid the US’ war with Iran, including decisions by a handful of nations to close their airspace or military bases to the US military.

“NATO is a paper tiger,” Trump said, shrugging off the prospect of the US giving away its status as the alliance’s de facto leader. “We didn’t need them, obviously, because they haven’t helped at all.”

3 hr 36 min ago

Trump says "free traffic of oil" must be part of any potential Iran deal

By Elise Hammond

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz must be part of a proposal to end the war with Iran, President Donald Trump said.

“We have to have a deal that’s acceptable to me, and part of that deal is going to be we want free traffic of oil and everything,” he said at a news conference at the White House today.

The president also conceded that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is “different” from his other objectives as negotiators work to end the war with Iran.

Trump said earlier that a proposal put forth by other countries for a 45-day ceasefire was “not good enough.” The ceasefire plan is viewed as a last-ditch effort to stave off the massive strikes on Iranian power plants and other infrastructure that Trump has threatened if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.

Asked by CNN’s Kristen Holmes whether he would accept a deal that did not include opening the strait or whether that is now a priority, Trump said, “I would say it’s a very big priority.”

The president also said he is not sure whether Tehran has the ability to drop mines in the Strait of Hormuz anymore.

“They don’t have any mine-droppers anymore,” he said. “I’m not even sure they have any mines there, by the way. … I think there might be none because they’re very good bullsh*t artists.”

3 hr 45 min ago

Trump says US should impose tolls on Strait of Hormuz instead of Iran

By Kevin Liptak

President Donald Trump says the United States — rather than Iran — should impose a toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

“What about us charging tolls?” he said. “I’d rather do that than let them have them.”

Iran has asserted its control over the critical waterway by issuing a new toll system for tankers looking to pass through. The country approved a plan last month to impose tolls on ships passing through the strait and enforce “Iran’s sovereign role.”

Trump said he believed the US should issue tolls because of its military success in the current conflict.

“Why shouldn’t we? We’re the winner,” he said. “We won. OK? They are militarily defeated.”

3 hr 50 min ago

"I can’t tell you”: Trump won’t say whether war is winding down

By Maureen Chowdhury

President Donald Trump wouldn’t say Monday whether the war with Iran is winding down.

Pressed about whether he’s winding down or escalating the war, Trump said, “I can’t tell you — depends what they do. This is a critical period.”

The president then addressed his Tuesday deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “They have a period of —well, ‘til tomorrow at 8:00. I gave them an extension.”

He said his initial deadline for Monday “was inappropriate the day after Easter. I want to be a nice person.”

“Now we’ll see what happens. I can tell you they’re negotiating. We think in good faith. We’re going to find out,” Trump said.

4 hr ago

Trump says Iran is "active, willing participant" in negotiations to end war

By Samantha Waldenberg

President Donald Trump said during a press conference Monday that Iran is an “active, willing participant” in negotiations to potentially end the war.

“I can’t talk about ceasefire, but I can tell you that we have an active, willing participant on the other side. They would like to be able to make a deal. I can’t say any more than that,” the president said.

Trump also told reporters that talks with intermediaries to end the conflict are “going well.”

“Essentially they have till 8 p.m. tomorrow night, eastern time, but we are dealing with them. I think it’s going well. Mr. Witkoff is here and JD is involved in the dealing. Mr. Witkoff is sitting right here and I think it’s going fine, but we’ll have to see,” he said.

The president has previously confirmed that Vice President JD Vance, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are speaking with intermediary countries about the Iran war.

CNN reported earlier Monday that Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey have all been acting as mediators between the US and Iran but that indirect talks stalled last week and work toward an in-person meeting had appeared to end.

4 hr 3 min ago 1410

Trump says Iranian people "willing to suffer" for eventual freedom

By Alayna Treene

President Donald Trump said Monday the Iranian people would be “willing to suffer” from his threatened attacks on civilian energy and infrastructure if it eventually secured their freedom.

Asked specifically if attacking those sites inside Iran would be punishing the civilian population, Trump replied: “It’s suffering. They would be willing to suffer that in order to have freedom.”

The president also argued that the Iranian people want the US military to continue its bombing campaign.

“We’ve had numerous intercepts, ‘Please keep bombing.’ Bombs that are dropping near their homes, ‘Please keep bombing. Do it.’ And these are people that are living where the bombs are exploding. And when we leave and we’re not hitting those areas, they’re saying, ‘Please come back, come back, come back.’”

Trump’s comments come amid criticism that his vow to “blow up” Iranian energy plants, bridges and desalinization plants would constitute war crimes. Trump has given Tehran until 8 p.m. ET Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or he’ll move forward with such attacks.

“All I can tell you is they want freedom. They have lived in a world that you know nothing about. It’s a violent, horrible world,” Trump said.

3 hr 58 min ago

How many troops did it take to rescue airman? US military wants to "keep that a secret"

By Adam Cancryn

As President Donald Trump described the risky mission to rescue the downed airman hiding in Iran, he turned to his top general for help: How many troops did the US end up sending for the operation?

“Uh,” Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said hesitantly, “I’d love to keep that a secret.”

Trump acquiesced, smiling and crediting Caine for a “pretty good” answer. But he couldn’t resist offering an approximation, telling reporters that “hundreds of people” were part of the rescue effort.

“Hundreds of people could have been killed,” Trump said. “So we had people that were within the military that said this is not wise, and I understood that. But I decided to do it.”

4 hr 7 min ago

Trump says not all of his military advisers were supportive of rescue mission

By Kevin Liptak

President Donald Trump said not all his military advisers supported an operation to rescue the crew of a downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran.

“Not everybody was on board,” Trump said during a Monday press conference, adding there were certain “military people, very professional, that preferred not doing it.”

He said the potential human cost of the operation led to the misgivings among some military advisers.

“There were people within the military that said it’s unwise,” he said, adding later: “Hundreds of people could have been killed.”

Trump said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine were supportive of the mission.

Ultimately, Trump said he understood the dangers of the operation.

“I was told that this is a very dangerous mission. I understood. They didn’t say, it’s a foolish mission. They said, ‘You know, we’re going to be sacrificing hundreds of people do this,’” Trump recounted.

4 hr 10 min ago

A-10 shot down by Iran was part of rescue mission for F-15 fighter crew

By Haley Britzky

The American A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft that was shot down by Iran on Friday was part of rescue operations for the two crew members from a downed F-15E Strike Eagle fighter, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said during a press conference Monday.

The pilot of the A-10, a single-seater aircraft, safely ejected and was rescued outside of Iran after flying the plane away from Iranian territory, CNN previously reported.

The A-10 was one of the aircraft primarily responsible for communicating with the downed pilot of the F-15, who was rescued first on Friday. The second crew member from the fighter, a weapons systems officer, was rescued as part of separate operations Sunday.

The A-10 was hit by enemy fire during the mission while laying down suppressive fire to keep Iranian forces away from the pilot as the American rescue force closed in, Caine said.

“During this engagement, one of the Sandy aircraft, the one primarily responsible for communicating with the downed pilot, was hit by enemy fire,” Caine said. “This pilot continued to fight, continued the mission, and then upon exit, flew his aircraft into another country and determined that the airplane was not landable. … The pilot then made the decision to eject over friendly territory, and was quickly and safely recovered and is doing fine.”

The “Sandy” aircraft, Caine said, have only one job: “Get to the survivor, bring the rescue force forward, and put themselves between that survivor on the ground and the enemy.”

“The A-10 force and the rescue force did a fantastic job rescuing Dude44A,” Caine said, referencing the call sign of the downed pilot.

4 hr 15 min ago

Joint Chiefs chair says rescue operation depended on US airman's "commitment to surviving"

By Aditi Sangal

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said that the US operation to rescue the downed American airman was successful because of the crew member’s “absolute commitment to surviving.”

“The single most important contributor to a successful rescue operation is the spirit of attack inside the heart of that downed aviator. Their will to survive, their will to evade, their will to recover, is everything. In this case, the back seater’s absolute commitment to surviving made much of our efforts possible,” Caine said during the news conference on the Iran war.

4 hr 21 min ago

Trump and Hegseth invoke God while describing rescue of US airmen downed in Iran

By Maureen Chowdhury

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invoked God while praising the successful missions that rescued two US airmen whose fighter jet was downed over Iran last week.

“God was watching us — amazing,” Trump said during a news conference at the White House, adding that it happened around “Easter territory.”

“When you go into these areas, you don’t come out like we came out. God was watching us, I tell you,” the president said.

Hegseth, describing the plight of the airman rescued after more than a day hiding in Iran, said, “When he was finally able to activate his emergency transponder, his first message was simple and it was powerful. He sent a message: ‘God is good.’ In that moment of isolation and danger, his faith and fighting spirit shone through.”

“You see, shot down on a Friday. Good Friday, hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday and rescued on Sunday. Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday. A pilot reborn, all home and accounted for, a nation rejoicing,” Hegseth said, likely alluding to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The remarks come after Pope Leo XIV’s first Easter Sunday message, in which he urged those with the power to unleash wars to choose peace.

Speaking from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo said: “Let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil.”

4 hr 10 min ago

Finding downed airman was like "hunting for a single grain of sand," CIA director says

By Elise Hammond

Locating and rescuing the service member hiding in Iran after his jet was downed was a “daunting challenge,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Monday.

It was “comparable to hunting for a single grain of sand in the middle of a desert,” he told reporters at the White House.

“This was also a race against the clock, as it was critical that we locate the downed aviator as quickly as possible, while at the same time keeping our enemies misdirected,” Ratcliffe said, adding that the CIA “executed a deception campaign” to confuse Iran over the missing airman.

The CIA director said his agency found and confirmed the service member was alive on Saturday morning using “human and technical assets.” The agency relayed that information to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who told President Donald Trump, setting the rescue mission in motion, Ratcliffe said.

“Because it is the unique tradition of US Armed Forces that we leave no man or woman behind, this was a no-fail mission,” he said.

The service member was “concealed in a mountain crevice, still invisible to the enemy, but not to the CIA,” Ratcliffe said.

4 hr 26 min ago

Trump vows search for "leaker" who disclosed officer was missing, threatens to jail reporters

By Adam Cancryn

President Donald Trump said Monday that his administration is searching for the “leaker” behind initial reports that an Air Force officer was missing in Iran following the downing of his fighter jet last week.

Trump also threatened jailtime for the reporter who “did the story” on the missing officer if that reporter refuses to give up their source.

“It became a much more difficult operation because a leaker leaked,” Trump said during a press conference detailing the two separate rescues of crew members whose plane was shot down over Iran. “We’re looking very hard to find that leaker.”

The president later added: “The person that did the story will go to jail if he doesn’t say.”

Trump criticized the revelations of a second missing crew member for complicating the US military’s efforts to rescue him, arguing that it alerted the Iranians and prompted their efforts to try to find him first.

“We’re going to go to the media company that released it, and we’re going to say national security, give it up or go to jail,” Trump said. “We have to find that leaker because that’s a sick person.”

4 hr 49 min ago

Trump recounts harrowing ordeal downed airman faced before being rescued

By Kevin Liptak

President Donald Trump recounted some of the harrowing ordeal faced by the service member the US military rescued from inside Iran over the weekend after his F-15E fighter jet was shot down.

Trump said the weapons systems officer scaled steep terrain with his “face bleeding rather profusely” after ejecting from his plane.

“The officer followed his training and climbed into the treacherous mountain terrain and started climbing toward a higher altitude, something they were trained to do in order to evade capture,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

The officer treated his own wounds and contacted American forces to transit his location, Trump said.

The massive mobilization of US forces to conduct the rescue involved 155 aircraft, including four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refueling tankers, 13 rescue aircraft and more, Trump said.

It also included a subterfuge operation meant to confuse the Iranians over the downed officer’s whereabouts.

“We wanted them to look in different areas. So we were scattered all over,” Trump said.

4 hr 49 min ago

Countries across Middle East report being targeted by strikes today

By Catherine Nicholls

Several people have reportedly been killed in attacks across the Middle East today, according to regional authorities, as the conflict continues despite discussions on a ceasefire proposal.

In Iran today, at least 13 people were killed in an attack on two residential buildings in Baharestan County, a densely populated area southwest of Tehran, Baharestan’s governor said, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency.

In eastern Tehran, four people were killed and seven injured in an early-morning attack on residential areas there, Mehr News reported.

Israel also struck Iran’s South Pars petrochemical complex in the southwestern energy hub of Asaluyeh, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said today.

“Numerous aerial assets, including aircraft and helicopters, as well as additional military infrastructure at three airports across Tehran,” were also struck, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

At least 10 people were killed and dozens were wounded in overnight attacks on Lebanon, according to state media reports. Israel’s military said it struck “launchers and weapons storage facilities concealed within structures and civilian infrastructure” in the country.

Israel’s military said it intercepted missiles launched toward it from Iran in the early hours of this morning. Missiles were also seen in the sky above Jerusalem.

In the United Arab Emirates, a Ghanian national was wounded by falling debris from an intercepted projectile in Abu Dhabi today, according to the city’s government media office

Other countries including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also said they intercepted missiles fired toward them today.

CNN’s Abeer Salman, Lex Harvey, Ally Barnard, Zulfaqar Samra, Isaac Yee, Jessie Yeung, Tal Shalev and Dana Karni contributed to this report.

4 hr 35 min ago

Israel kills senior Iranian security official

By Tim Lister, Eugenia Yosef and Mohammed Tawfeeq

Another senior security official in Iran has been killed, according to both Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, head of Intelligence for the IRGC, was assassinated early Monday, according to a statement from the IRGC.

The IRGC described him as a “highly esteemed commander” who had devoted “nearly half a century of loyal and courageous service to the Revolution.”

Israel has targeted dozens of senior officials in the IRGC, the Iranian military and the Basij paramilitary group since the conflict began at the end of February.

Katz said the Israeli military killed Khadami, who he said was one of those “directly responsible” for the deaths of Israeli civilians “and one of the three most senior figures” in the IRGC.

“Iran’s leaders are living with a sense of persecution. We will continue to hunt them down one by one,” Katz said.

He added that Israeli strikes have severely damaged Iran’s steel infrastructure and the petrochemical industry — “and today, and every day, there will be more to come.”

A message issued in the name of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, hailed the “martyrdom” of the Iranian commander.

The message described Khademi as an IRGC major general who spent decades in carrying out “extensive and silent jihad in the security, intelligence and defensive arenas of the country.”

4 hr 59 min ago

Trump says Iran could be "taken out" in one night, and that night "might" be Tuesday

By Samantha Waldenberg

President Donald Trump said in a press conference Monday that Iran could be “taken out” in one night and said that night “might” be Tuesday evening.

“The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” the president said.

Trump has warned repeatedly that the US could strike power plants, bridges and other infrastructure in Iran if Tehran fails to make a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil thoroughfare. Over the weekend, he said Iran had until Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET to make a deal.

CNN’s Riane Lumer contributed to this report.

5 hr 3 min ago

Happening now: Trump holds news conference on Iran war

By Maureen Chowdhury

US President Donald Trump is holding a news conference on the Iran war.

He is flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in a packed White House press briefing room

This comes after Trump earlier called a proposal drafted by several countries working to implement a 45-day ceasefire a “significant step” but “not good enough.”

Iran also rejected the proposal and called for a permanent end to the war, according to Iranian state-run media.

We’ll bring you updates as we get them.

5 hr 9 min ago

Tehran seeks to punish Iranians abroad accused of backing US-Israeli strikes

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Iranian media outlets are calling on the public to identify Iranians abroad celebrating US-Israeli strikes on Iran, as cases have been opened against dozens of expatriates accused of cooperating with what Iran calls a “hostile enemy.”

Fars News Agency, an outlet affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), posted a message calling on the public to “identify Persian-speaking traitors.” It urged viewers who recognize people in a video “dancing and celebrating the bombing of Iran” to report them through a judiciary-linked website.

Fars said the effort is being carried out “with the planning of the Judiciary” and is aimed at identifying individuals for asset confiscation. It also published the appeal alongside a video it said showed hundreds of Iranians abroad dancing and chanting in celebration of the strikes.

Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency reported Sunday that Iran’s judiciary has opened 100 legal cases against Iranian nationals living abroad, citing public tips and follow-up by intelligence agencies.

“These cases are being pursued with the aim of issuing indictments, conducting legal proceedings, and seizing assets,” Mehr reported.

5 hr 20 min ago

At least 130 children killed in strikes on Lebanon in past 5 weeks, Health Ministry says

By Catherine Nicholls00

At least 130 children have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since March 2, according to an update shared by the Lebanese Health Ministry today.

Israel began attacks on what it says are Hezbollah targets in the country exactly five weeks ago. In that time, at least 57 health workers and 101 women have also been killed, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Thousands of people have been killed since the current conflict in the Middle East began, according to a CNN tally of death tolls released by regional authorities. Fighting that began with the US-Israeli strikes on Iran has spread to involve proxy groups backed by Tehran, including Hezbollah, which operates in southern Lebanon.

Here’s what the authorities have said about the number of people reportedly killed in the region since the war began on February 28. CNN is not able to independently verify these numbers.

· Iran: More than 2,000 people have been killed in Iran since joint US-Israeli strikes on the country began, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said Thursday. Iran’s Health Ministry said today that at least 216 children are among those killed, including 17 children under 5 years old.

· Lebanon: At least 1,497 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since March 2, the country’s Health Ministry said today. At least 130 children are among the dead, the ministry said.

· Iraq: At least 107 people have been killed across Iraq since the war began, authorities have said. In the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, at least 13 people have been killed, according to the regional government.

· Israel: At least 23 civilians have been killed inside Israel since the conflict began, not including those who died indirectly because of strikes. At least 11 Israeli soldiers have also been killed in southern Lebanon, according to the military.

· US: Thirteen US service members have been killed since the war with Iran began, according to the US Central Command.

Deaths due to the conflict have also been reported in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, the occupied West Bank, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia since February 28, according to local authorities.

CNN’s Charbel Mallo, Issy Ronald, Aqeel Najim, Nechirvan Mando, Dana Karni, Eyad Kourdi and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.

5 hr 6 min ago

Trump says ceasefire proposal is "not good enough" as Tehran rebuffs temporary truce

By Maureen Chowdhury

US President Donald Trump called a proposal for a 45-day ceasefire with Iran a “significant step” but said it is “not good enough.”

Trump said he’s the only person who can determine if there’s a ceasefire in the Iran war.

Iran has rejected the proposal, saying a pause in fighting would allow adversaries to prepare for the continuation of the conflict. According to Iranian state-run media, Tehran’s 10-clause response calls for a permanent end to the war “in line with Iran’s considerations.”

Meanwhile, Trump doubled down on threats against Iran as his Tuesday deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz looms.

We’re tracking the latest developments as they unfold. Catch up on this morning’s top headlines:

· Trump said earlier that Vice President JD Vance “could be” involved in an in-person meeting to negotiate an end to the war. The US president also confirmed that Vance, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are speaking with intermediary countries about the conflict.

· Israel struck Iran’s South Pars petrochemical complex in the southwestern energy hub of Asaluyeh, Defense Minister Israel Katz said.

· Attacks on Iran’s infrastructure will have consequences that stretch beyond Iran and the region, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his French counterpart. Separately, European Council President António Costa warned that the targeting of energy facilities would be “illegal and unacceptable.”

· The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that ongoing military activity near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant could cause a “severe radiological accident” with potential consequences beyond the country’s borders.

· Threats against civilian infrastructure cannot “become the new norm in warfare,” the Red Cross said today, becoming the latest organization calling for de-escalation.

· The United Arab Emirates insists that any ceasefire in Iran must address Persian Gulf Arab states’ security concerns and avoid “a much more dangerous environment in the region,” a top official said.

· Trump provided an update on the status of the two US airmen who were downed in Iran and said, “They’re doing well.”

· Israel also said it killed a prominent Iranian commander, Asghar Bagheri, in a Tehran strike. The statement on Bagheri followed the killing of another senior security official, Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, head of intelligence for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

· Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels will uphold a ceasefire with the US as long as Washington “adheres to its commitment to halt its aggression” against them, a senior official said.

· Meanwhile, the average price of a gallon of US regular gas edged up another cent, reaching $4.12 in the latest reading from AAA.

CNN’s Aileen Graef, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Dalia Abdelwahab, Nadeen Ebrahim, Becky Anderson, Billy Stockwell, Chris Isidore, Tim Lister and Tal Shalev contributed to this report.

5 hr 41 min ago

Iran rejects ceasefire in response to proposal for ending war, according to state media

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Iran has submitted its response to a ceasefire proposal put forward by several countries and conveyed through Pakistan, according to Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Iran’s 10-clause response calls for what it described as a permanent end to the war “in line with Iran’s considerations,” IRNA said.

Tehran’s other demands include “ending regional hostilities, establishing a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction, and the lifting of sanctions,” IRNA added.

Countries working to end the war in Iran have drafted a proposal calling for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as US President Donald Trump threatens to dramatically escalate the conflict, a person familiar with the proposal said.

The plan was sent to the United States and Iran late on Sunday and is viewed as a last-ditch effort to stave off Trump’s threat of massive strikes on Iran’s power plants, bridges and other infrastructure.

5 hr 4 min ago

Trump “not worried” about war crimes as he threatens critical infrastructure

By Riane Lumer

President Donald Trump said Monday he is “not worried” when pressed on whether US strikes on power plants and other critical infrastructure in Iran could constitute a war crime.

“I’m not worried about it,” Trump told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

He added: “You know the war crime? The war crime is allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump has warned repeatedly that the US could strike power plants, bridges, and other infrastructure in Iran if Tehran fails to make a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil thoroughfare. Over the weekend, he said Iran had until Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET to make a deal.

5 hr 3 min ago

Trump says Americans would be wary of the US taking Iranian oil

By Aileen Graef

President Donald Trump restated his wish to “take the oil” in Iran but said he doesn’t know “that the American public wants that.”

“If I had my wish … I would just like to take the oil. But I don’t know that the American public wants that. They want us to go in, do what we have to do, and get out,” he told reporters Monday at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

Trump’s concession seems to recognize there is little appetite for the extended engagement in Iran that would be necessary to extract oil and other resources.

Some context: CNN polling shows just one-third of the public believes Trump has a clear plan to handle the situation in Iran. Americans’ already broad disapproval of US military action in Iran has grown since the start of the war, the poll found. Just 34% of Americans now say they approve at least somewhat of the US decision to take military action in Iran, down seven points from a CNN poll conducted just after the start of the war.

CNN’s Ariel Edwards-Levy contributed to this post.

6 hr 4 min ago

Trump says he's “only one” who will decide on a US-Iran ceasefire

By Dalia Abdelwahab

President Donald Trump said Monday he’s the only person who’s going to determine there’s a ceasefire in the Iran war.

“The only one that’s going to set a ceasefire is me,” Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

Earlier Monday, Trump called a proposal calling for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which intermediary countries sent to the US and Iran late Sunday, a “significant step” but “not good enough.”

6 hr 11 min ago

Vance "could be" involved with in-person meeting on Iran war, Trump says

By Lauren Chadwick

President Donald Trump said today the vice president “could be” involved in an in-person meeting to negotiate an end to the Iran war when reporters asked about the possibility.

The president confirmed that Vice President JD Vance, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are speaking with intermediary countries about the Iran war.

“They’re all unified and they’re all talking together,” Trump told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

CNN reported earlier on Monday that Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey have all been acting as mediators between the US and Iran but that indirect talks stalled last week and work toward an in-person meeting had appeared to end.

CNN’s Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.

6 hr 19 min ago

Trump says he used foul language in Easter social media post "only to make my point"

By Aileen Graef

President Donald Trump said he used foul language in his Truth Social post threatening Iran on Easter Sunday “only to make my point.”

Trump posted that morning, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

A reporter asked at today’s White House Easter Egg Roll why he had used the vulgar language, and Trump responded: “Only to make my point, I think you’ve heard it before.”

6 hr 24 min ago

Trump reiterates threats to strike Iran bridges and power plants, teasing a "worse" option

By Riane Lumer

President Donald Trump doubled down on his threats against Iran today, saying he had even “worse” options than his previous threats to bomb the nation’s power plants and bridges if Tehran does not make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“They’ll have no bridges, they’ll have no power plants, they’ll have no anything. I won’t go further because there are other things that are worse than those two,” Trump told reporters on the South Lawn during the White House Easter Egg Roll.

The president has set a deadline of Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET for Iran to agree to a deal.

A last-ditch plan calling for a temporary 45-day ceasefire was sent to the US and Iran late Sunday as an effort to stave off massive strikes on Iranian plants and other infrastructure.

Trump’s latest threat to Iran was in a profanity-laced post on Truth Social on Sunday. “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP” the president wrote.

Trump plans to host a press conference at the White House at 1 p.m. ET today.

6 hr 26 min ago

Netanyahu brags about South Pars petrochemical plant strike in new video

By Dana Karni and Max Saltman

In a new video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bragged about his country’s new strike on a petrochemical complex in Iran and touted his close relationship with the White House.

“Today we destroyed the largest petrochemical plant in Iran,” Netanyahu claimed, standing in front of a large map of the Middle East. “This means we are systematically dismantling the Revolutionary Guards’ money machine.”

Earlier Monday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the Jam and Damavand facilities – which account for around 85% of Iranian petrochemical exports – were rendered inoperable.

Netanyahu also referenced his conversation with US President Donald Trump yesterday, saying that Trump “spoke about (Israel) in superlatives.”

5 hr 42 min ago

Both US airmen downed in Iran are “doing well,” Trump says

By Dalia Abdelwahab

President Donald Trump said Monday that the two airmen whose fighter jet was downed over Iran are “recovering very well.”

“He’s doing really well,” Trump said of the airman who spent more than a day hiding in Iran before being rescued in a high-stakes operation. The other crew member was rescued shortly after the crash.

“They are both recovering very well. They were both injured, and they’re doing well,” Trump told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

The airmen’s F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was downed on Friday, marking the first time a US aircraft has been shot down over Iran during the conflict.

The comments marked Trump’s first public remarks on the rescue, which he is set to address further in a briefing to reporters at 1 p.m. ET.

6 hr 34 min ago

Trump says the Iranian people "will fight back” if they can get weapons

By Lauren Chadwick

President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the Iranian people “will fight back” against the country’s regime if they can get weapons.

“The Iranian people will fight back as soon as they know they’re not going to be shot and as soon as they can get weapons,” Trump said.

The US president, who spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the White House Easter Egg Roll, added that in his view, if the Iranian people had weapons, “Iran would give up in two seconds because they wouldn’t be able to take it.”

Trump said that the Iranian people “want to hear bombs because they want to be free.”

“We’re fighting for them. We’re fighting for their future, and I will tell you, it was given to me loud and clear — the time the Iranian people are the most unhappy … is when those bombs stop,” he said.

The president reiterated that he hoped the conflict would be over quickly, saying he wants to “finish it up.” It comes as Trump traded threats with the Iranian regime over the weekend and gave another ultimatum for the country to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Before the start of the Iran war, Trump had threatened the country’s regime as it carried out a deadly crackdown on protesters.

6 hr 39 min ago

Trump calls ceasefire proposal "significant step" but "not good enough"

By Aileen Graef

President Donald Trump called a proposal for a 45-day ceasefire with Iran a “significant step” but said it is “not good enough.”

“They made a proposal, and it’s a significant proposal. It’s a significant step. It’s not good enough, but it’s a very significant step,” Trump told reporters about the draft put forward by countries working to end the war.

“They’ve made — they’re negotiating now, and they’ve made a very significant step. We’ll see what happens,” he added.

Trump’s comments came at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, where he also repeated that Iran leadership is now “much more reasonable.”

“The first regime was taken out, the second regime was taken out. Now the third group of people that we’re dealing with is not as radicalized, and we think they’re actually much smarter,” he said.

The ceasefire plan was sent to the United States and Iran late on Sunday and is viewed as a last-ditch effort to stave off the massive strikes on Iranian power plants and other infrastructure that Trump has threatened if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.

6 hr 39 min ago

Israeli strike kills official from anti-Hezbollah party in Lebanon

By Eyad Kourdi, Duarte Mendonca and Catherine Nicholls01:03

An official from the Lebanese Forces Party, one of Hezbollah’s main political rivals, was killed in an Israeli strike yesterday, according to reporting from Reuters and Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).

Pierre Moawad and his wife were killed by the strike, which targeted an apartment in the hills of Ain Saadeh, east of Beirut, NNA reported.

Footage taken by Reuters showed destruction to the apartment building, with rubble lying on the ground below it.

The Lebanese Forces (LF) is a major Christian political party in Lebanon and holds the most seats of any party in the country’s parliament.

The LF has also repeatedly called for Hezbollah to give up its weapons.

8 hr 5 min ago

Iranian embassies on social media mock Trump's expletive-laden message

Iranian embassies around the world have responded with ridicule to US President Donald Trump’s expletive-laden message demanding that Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

CNN’s international correspondent Paula Hancocks reports:

8 hr 16 min ago 0957

How diplomacy between the US and Iran has progressed during the war

By Catherine Nicholls

Countries working to end the Iran war have drafted a proposal calling for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a person familiar told CNN today, as US President Donald Trump threatens to dramatically escalate the conflict.

Indirect nuclear talks were taking place between the US and Iran before the war began, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying shortly after the conflict broke out that Trump “ultimately ordered (the) bombing of the negotiating table.”

In the days following this, both Trump and Iranian officials rejected the idea of negotiating an end to the conflict, though towards the end of last month, it seemed that the US president had a change of heart.

Here’s how things have progressed since then:

What Trump and the US has said

After rejecting and downplaying prospects of a ceasefire with Iran for weeks, on March 23, Trump said in a Truth Social post that the US and Iran had held “very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.”

Trump said Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were involved in talks, but did not identify the person they were communicating with on the Iranian side.

After several non-committal public comments made by Iran, Trump expressed frustration with Tehran’s approach on March 26, warning the country to “get serious soon, before it is too late.” Since then, Trump has made several more threats, including that Iran would be “living in Hell” if it doesn’t open the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday.

What Iran has said

Speaking today, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire, saying it would allow the US and Israel to pause and prepare for the continuation of the war.

“We are calling for an end to the war and for preventing its recurrence,” Baghaei was cited as saying by Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Iran has frequently rejected the notion that is in talks with the US, despite Trump’s claims.

Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, asked on March 24: “Can anyone believe (the US’) claims of diplomacy or mediation are credible when they started this war and continue attacking us?”

Araghchi said the next day that the US had sent multiple messages to Tehran through what he described as “friendly countries,” but he stressed that the communications did not amount to negotiations.

How Pakistan and other countries have been involved

On March 23, when Trump first said that the US and Iran were discussing an end to the war, a Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson told CNN that Islamabad was “already ready to host talks.”

Two days later, two senior Trump administration officials told CNN that officials were working to arrange a meeting in Pakistan to discuss an off-ramp to the war.

Pakistan also delivered a 15-point plan proposed by Washington to Iran that addressed issues like Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and its ballistic missile program.

Other countries, including Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have also been working to facilitate an end to the war.

CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Aileen Graef, Nadeen Ebrahim, Billy Stockwell, Adam Pourahmadi, Betsy Klein, Donald Judd, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Todd Symons, Sophia Saifi, Azaz Syed, Sana Noor Haq, Ivan Watson and Sophie Tanno contributed to this reporting.

ATTACHMENT “B” – FROM CNN

Day 39 of Middle East conflict — US, Israel, Iran agree to ceasefire before Trump’s deadline

Updated 1:41 AM EDT, Wed April 8, 2026

See Trump’s social media post agreeing to two week ceasefire

03:20

Our live coverage has ended

• Follow the latest updates on the war with Iran here.

15 hr 56 min ago

What we know so far

By CNN staff

• New strikes after ceasefire announcement: Missile attacks were reported across the Gulf region and Israel shortly after President Donald Trump announced he’d agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran. An official says that the US military has paused strikes on Iran.

• Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s military will coordinate passage of vessels through the critical Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire, Iran’s foreign minister said. Trump said reopening the strait was a key condition of the ceasefire deal.

• What happens next? Pakistan’s prime minister has invited delegations from both Iran and the US to Islamabad for talks on Friday. Earlier Tuesday, Pakistan proposed the two-week ceasefire to allow for diplomacy.

• Lebanon not included: Israel said it would suspend strikes against Iran but claimed Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

16 hr 11 min ago

Trump says US will help with “traffic buildup” through Strait of Hormuz

By Logan Schiciano

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the US will be “helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,” just hours after announcing a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran contingent on the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the critical waterway.

“There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social just after midnight. “Iran can start the reconstruction process. We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will.”

Trump did not offer specific details about how the US would help in the strait. CNN has reached out to the White House for additional information.

Trump also celebrated: “A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!”

Background: Earlier, Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week period “will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil typically travels, has largely stalled since the start of the war.

Trump has previously floated the possibility of joint US-Iranian control of the strait, telling CNN last month, “It’ll be jointly controlled. Me and the Ayatollah, whoever the Ayatollah is, whoever the next Ayatollah is.”

16 hr 18 min ago

Iran's uranium will be "perfectly taken care of," Trump says

By Lex Harvey

US President Donald Trump said Iran’s uranium will be “perfectly taken care of” in an interview with AFP news agency Tuesday following the ceasefire announcement.

Some context: Iran’s large stockpile of highly enriched uranium – a core component needed to build a nuclear weapon – has been a major concern during the war. US officials told the Wall Street Journal last month Trump was weighing a military operation to extract the uranium, though no decision had been made.

“That will be perfectly taken care of or I wouldn’t have settled,” Trump told AFP Tuesday, without giving more details.

17 hr 5 min ago

Trump claims "total and complete victory" following Iran ceasefire deal

By Lex Harvey

President Donald Trump pauses as he finishes speaking about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump pauses as he finishes speaking about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington on Wednesday. Alex Brandon/Pool/Getty Images/File

President Donald Trump said the US had won a “total and complete victory” after striking a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran.

“Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it,” he said in an interview with AFP news agency Tuesday.

Trump would not say whether he planned to fulfill his prior threats to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure if Tehran reneged on the agreement.

“You’re going to have to see,” Trump told AFP.

17 hr 29 min ago

Trump says he believes China helped get Iran to negotiate ceasefire

By Yong Xiong and Ross Adkin

President Donald Trump said he believes China helped get Iran to negotiate a ceasefire, AFP news agency reported.

“I hear yes,” Trump said in a telephone call when asked by AFP if Beijing had been involved in pushing Tehran – a key ally – to negotiate on a truce.

Asked for comment on reports Beijing had nudged Iran towards the ceasefire, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington told CNN that since the conflict began China had “been working to help bring about a ceasefire and end to the conflict.”

“China welcomes all efforts conducive to peace,” Liu Pengyu told CNN.

“We hope relevant parties will seize the opportunity for peace, bridge differences through dialogue and put an early end to the conflict.”

CNN has reached out to China’s foreign affairs ministry for comment.

Beijing previously played a key part in brokering a rapprochement between Iran and longtime rival Saudi Arabia in 2023. And Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s alternative vision for international security includes Beijing as a mediator.

Simone McCarthy contributed reporting.

17 hr 29 min ago

US, Israeli flags set on fire in Tehran as Iranians express skepticism over ceasefire

By Manveena Suri and Jessie Yeung

Iranians gathered in the streets of Tehran in the pre-dawn darkness on Wednesday after the ceasefire was announced –– though several voiced skepticism about the agreement.

Videos from the scene show some people burning American and Israeli flags, an action often seen at pro-regime rallies in Iran. Others waved the Iranian flag and held photos of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and his slain father, former leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

WANA/Reuters

“America has shown itself a hundred times till now, we have gone to the negotiation table twice when it attacked us, said one woman at the scene, according to Reuters. She added that the US could use this ceasefire to “re-power itself.”

“Is the nature of America going to change? I have no idea why they have accepted … like always, they want to buy time for Israel,” she said.

Another woman questioned why Iran should declare a ceasefire, and why it should reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

In recent weeks, senior Iranian regime figures have repeatedly voiced their reluctance to trust the US in negotiations in public statements, pointing out that Iran had been attacked while it was negotiating with Washington when the war began – and when the 12-day conflict broke out last year.

17 hr 7 min ago

Ceasefire deal does not include Lebanon, Israel says

By Lex Harvey and Lauren Izso

Lebanese army soldiers gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle in Saida, Lebanon, on Wednesday, April 8.

Lebanese army soldiers gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle in Saida, Lebanon, on Wednesday, April 8. Mahmoud Zayyat/AFP/Getty Images

Lebanon is not part of the two-week ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

“Israel supports President Trump’s decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region,” said a statement from Netanyahu’s office Wednesday.

“The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon,” it added.

Israel’s position is contrary to a statement from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped broker the deal between the US and Iran, that said the agreement included Lebanon. US President Donald Trump made no mention of Lebanon in his statement. CNN has sought clarification from the White House.

The statement from Netanyahu’s office is the first comment from Israel’s leader since the ceasefire was announced.

Some context: Alongside its war on Iran with the US, Israel has been conducting a major military campaign in southern Lebanon since early March, targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. At least 1,530 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2, Lebanon’s health ministry said Tuesday, including 130 children.

18 hr 4 min ago

Iran and Oman to charge ships passing through Strait of Hormuz during ceasefire, state media says

By Jessie Yeung

Iran and Oman plan to charge transit fees for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

The funds will be earmarked for reconstruction, Tasnim reported.

CNN has asked Oman’s foreign ministry for comment.

The strait has been effectively closed since the war began, with maritime tracking data showing that only about 5% of the pre-war volume of shipping is getting through. Some tankers have been able to pass through; for instance, Pakistan and India have negotiated with Iran for guaranteed passage of some of their flagged vessels.

Iran has reportedly been charging up to $2 million per vessel for passage trough Hormuz. It’s unclear if any ship operators have paid the fee.

18 hr 6 min ago

White House deems two-week ceasefire "a victory for the United States"

By Kit Maher

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the two-week ceasefire “a victory for the United States,” as she touted the US military’s efforts in the war with Iran.

“We have achieved and exceeded our core military objectives in 38 days,” she said on social media. “The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace. Additionally, President Trump got the Strait of Hormuz reopened.”

“Never underestimate President Trump’s ability to successfully advance America’s interests and broker peace,” Leavitt added.

17 hr ago

Iran has issued multiple statements on the ceasefire. Here's what they say

By Jerome Taylor

Iranian officials have released multiple statements in both Farsi and English following the breakthrough announcement of a two week ceasefire with the United States.

Here’s what they say:

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi released a statement on X that declared: “If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.”

Araghchi said that the country’s military will coordinate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire. He also said Iran was considering the 15-point proposal of the United States and said that Washington had accepted “the general framework” of Iran’s own 10-point proposal “as a basis for negotiations.”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the country’s top security body, released a more fiery statement that confirmed the ceasefire but also portrayed the agreement as a victory.

“We convey glad tidings to the great nation of Iran that nearly all of the war’s objectives have been achieved, and your valiant sons have driven the enemy into a state of historic helplessness and enduring defeat,” the statement read.

The statement was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on by multiple Iranian state media outlets.

The security council statement said talks between the US and Iran would take place in Islamabad and laid out key parts of Tehran’s 10-point plan. It included regulating passage through the Strait of Hormuz; terminating attacks on Iran and its regional proxy forces, the withdrawal of US forces from the region, compensation to Iran, the lifting of international sanctions and unfreezing of assets as well as and a binding UN resolution to secure any ultimate peace deal.

“Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force,” the council warned.

Versions of the security council’s statement that were widely distributed by Iranian state media in both Farsi and in English also included that the US has agreed in principle to accept Iran’s right to nuclear enrichment.

For context: Iran’s Supreme National Security Council is the primary body tasked with overseeing Iran’s national security interests and protecting its Islamic revolution. It is stacked with senior figures from the country’s security, military, and clerical establishment.

17 hr 2 min ago

Asian markets surge on news of ceasefire

By John Liu in Hong Kong

A postwoman walks past screens displaying Japan's Nikkei share average exchange rate between Japanese yen, U.S. dollar and Dow Jones Industrial Average in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday.

A postwoman walks past screens displaying Japan's Nikkei share average exchange rate between Japanese yen, U.S. dollar and Dow Jones Industrial Average in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday. Issei Kato/Reuters

Equity markets in Asia, the first to open since the announcement of the two-week ceasefire, jumped on Wednesday morning, while oil prices plummeted, as investors wait to see if Iran will lift its effective blockade in the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Japan’s benchmark index Nikkei 225 surged 4.9% as of 10:41 am local time, while South Korea’s Kospi gained 5.7%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 2.8%.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures plunged more than 13% after hours to less than $98 a barrel - a significant drop, but still well above the $67.02 settled on February 27, before the war began. Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, declined 12.78% to $95.31.

But analysts warned that uncertainty remained over the extent of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil traffic usually travels. Questions are also swirling over whether proposed US-Iran talks will lead to a durable end to the war.

18 hr 17 min ago

Trump derides Iran statement claiming victory and outlining 10-point plan as a “fraud”

By Matthew Chance and Jerome Taylor

President Donald Trump tonight derided a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council that claimed victory in the ceasefire deal as a “FRAUD,” attacking CNN for reporting on it.

The statement, which said Iran achieved a great victory and forced the United States to accept its 10-point plan as a basis for negotiations, was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on multiple Iranian state media outlets.

“The alleged Statement put out by CNN World News is a FRAUD, as CNN well knows,” Trump wrote. “The false Statement was linked to a Fake News site (from Nigeria) and, of course, immediately picked up by CNN, and blared out as a ‘legitimate’ headline.”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council is the primary body tasked with overseeing Iran’s national security interests and protecting its Islamic revolution. It is stacked with senior figures from the country’s security, military, and clerical establishment. Until recently it was headed by Ali Larijani, a top security official who was assassinated last month by Israel and was a key architect of the country’s military and diplomatic strategy since the start of the conflict with the US and Israel.

Trump pointed instead to another, shorter statement from Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, which did not claim victory and confirmed passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be safe for the next two weeks.

16 hr 33 min ago

Top House Democrat says two-week ceasefire is "insufficient"

By Aleena Fayaz

Top House Democrat says two-week ceasefire is "insufficient"

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday night renewed his call for Congress to come back into session and vote to end the war with Iran, telling CNN the two-week ceasefire deal is “insufficient.”

“We need a permanent end to Donald Trump’s reckless war of choice, which is why House Democrats have demanded that Speaker Mike Johnson immediately reconvene the House back into session so we can move a war powers resolution that will end this conflict permanently,” Jeffries said on “Anderson Cooper 360.”

Earlier today, ahead of the original 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to make a deal and open the Strait of Hormuz, House Democratic leaders issued a joint statement calling on their Republican colleagues to return to session and vote to end the US war with Iran.

Jeffries said tonight that if a vote doesn’t happen this week, House Democratic leadership plans to present a war powers resolution “as soon as it becomes available to us to do so.”

19 hr 25 min ago

Rubio announces release of kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson

By Rashard Rose

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today that kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson has been released by a pro-Iran militia in Iraq.

“The U.S. Department of State extends its appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of War, U.S. personnel across multiple agencies, and the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council and our Iraqi partners, for their assistance in securing her release,” Rubio said in a statement on X.

CNN previously reported that Kittleson had been released, according to a senior Iraqi government official.

“We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq,” Rubio wrote.

Kittleson, a reporter specializing in the Middle East, had been taken captive by Kataib Hezbollah last month.

19 hr 26 min ago

Pakistan helped broker the US-Iran ceasefire. Here’s why it could be a good venue for any peace talks

By Sophia Saifi

Pakistan has emerged as a major mediator between the US and Iran in recent weeks – with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presenting the ceasefire plan to US President Donald Trump late Tuesday, which both countries have now agreed to.

Afterward, Sharif invited delegations from the US and Iran to Islamabad for further talks on Friday. US sources also told CNN that the Trump administration is preparing for potential in-person negotiations, likely in Islamabad.

There are several reasons why Pakistan would be an ideal venue for a meeting. It shares a long border and cultural and religious ties with Iran, and is home to the largest population of Shia Muslims outside of Iran.

Unlike Islamic countries in the Gulf, it does not host any US military bases, and has not been targeted by Iranian missiles and drones. Iran has also allowed some of its ships to pass through its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Islamabad has also re-emerged as an important US partner during Trump’s second term, thanks partly to the huge trove of rare earths and critical minerals it claims to be sitting on, which has sparked interest in Washington.

Trump’s also struck up a close rapport with the head of its powerful military, Asim Munir, whom he has met multiple times and refers to as his “favorite field marshal.”

Pakistan also has its own incentives for de-escalation, given its dependence on Middle Eastern energy supplies.

Several other nations, including Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have acted as mediators between the warring countries.

19 hr 26 min ago

Graham says Congress would need to approve the proposal to end Iran war

By Kit Maher

Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to reporter on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 30.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s fiercest advocates for military action in Iran, said that Congress will have to approve any proposal to end the war.

“As to an Iranian ten point proposal to end the war, I look forward to reviewing it at the appropriate time and its submission to Congress for a vote, like we did with the Obama JCPOA,” Graham posted on X, referring to the United States’ 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran.

“I want to reaffirm that from my point of view, every ounce of the approximately 900 lbs. of highly enriched uranium has to be controlled by the U.S. and removed from Iran to prevent them in the future from having a dirty bomb or returning to the enrichment business,” Graham added.

The White House has not detailed what the 10-point plan consists of, but press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a “workable basis to negotiate.”

“We must remember that the Strait of Hormuz was attacked by Iran after the start of the war, destroying freedom of navigation. Going forward, it is imperative Iran is not rewarded for this hostile act against the world,” Graham said.

Later, the South Carolina Republican posted that he prefers “diplomacy if it leads to the right outcome regarding the Iranian terrorist regime.”

“At this early stage, I am extremely cautious regarding what is fact vs. fiction or misrepresentation. That’s why a congressional review process like the one the Senate followed to test the Obama Iranian deal is a sound way forward,” he said.

This post has been updated with additional comments from Graham.

19 hr 48 min ago

Israel still carrying out strikes in Iran, military spokesperson tells CNN

By Jeremy Diamond

Israel is still carrying out strikes in Iran, an Israeli military spokesperson has told CNN.

Israel is part of the ceasefire and has agreed to also suspend its bombing campaign while negotiations continue, a senior White House official earlier told CNN.

18 hr 47 min ago

Missile attacks reported across Gulf and Israel after ceasefire announced

By Lex Harvey, Lauren Izso and Todd Symons

Israel's military said it had identified several rounds of missiles launched from Iran and was working to intercept the threats. Reuters

Sirens are sounding across the Gulf and in Israel as several countries report incoming missiles early Wednesday after President Donald Trump said the US had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

Both Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates said they were working to intercept incoming drone and missile threats in posts to X from their respective militaries.

In Abu Dhabi, authorities said they were responding to a fire at the Habshan gas processing facility.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said it had successfully intercepted a missile attack.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said sirens were sounding and encouraged residents to seek safety, while Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued an early warning of potential danger in the central governorate of Al-Kharj.

Israel’s military said it had identified several rounds of missiles launched from Iran and was working to intercept the threats. Emergency teams were responding to several impact sites in central Israel, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA).

Some context: Trump announced the ceasefire around 6:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, though he did not specify when it was to take effect.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued an order for all military branches to stop firing, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported at around 8:30p.m. ET. During the war, Iran has boasted of a decentralized defense strategy, meaning its various regional military commanders work with a level of autonomy off predetermined target lists. This model means it could take time for the order to reach to individual military units.

20 hr 11 min ago

Iran's state media says order has been given for all military units to stop firing

By Lex Harvey

Iran’s supreme leader has instructed all military units to stop firing, according to a statement read out on state-run news channel IRIB about two hours after President Donald Trump said the US and Iran had reached a ceasefire deal.

“This is not the end of the war but all military branches should follow the Supreme Leader order and cease their fire,” said the statement

20 hr 28 min ago

Pakistani leader hails Iran ceasefire agreement, invites US and Iran for further talks

By Sophia Saifi

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attends a conference in Kuala Lumpur on October 6, 2025.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire and invited the leadership of the US and Iran to come to his country for further talks to “settle all disputes.”

“I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries,” Sharif said in a statement on X.

Sharif invited delegations from both Iran and the US to engage in further negotiations “to settle all disputes” in Islamabad on Friday, April 10.

“We earnestly hope that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!” he said.

Pakistan has positioned itself as a peace broker in the conflict, leveraging its stable ties with Tehran and Washington. It shares a long border and cultural and religious ties with Iran and is home to the largest population of Shia Muslims outside of that country.

20 hr 43 min ago

Iran ceasefire includes Lebanon, Pakistani prime minister says

By Sophia Saifi

The ceasefire that the US and Iran reached includes Lebanon, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who presented the plan to US President Donald Trump, said.

“With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY,” Sharif said in a statement.

15 hr 13 min ago

Iran claims victory, says it forced US to accept 10-point plan

By Michael Rios

Iran says it has achieved a great victory and forced the United States to accept in principle its 10-point plan, according to a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council reported by Iranian state media.

As part of the plan, the US has in principle agreed to lift all primary and secondary sanctions against Iran and to withdraw US combat forces from all bases in the region, the council said according to state media.

The council also said the US has recognized its continued control over the Strait of Hormuz. The council said controlled passage through the waterway would be carried out “in coordination with Iran’s armed forces,” according to the statement reported by state media.

Iranian officials have released multiple statements following the breakthrough announcement of a two-week ceasefire with the United States. An English version of the statement was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and versions of the statement were reported on by multiple Iranian state media outlets.

The Farsi version of the statement that has been widely distributed by Iranian state media includes the US acceptance of nuclear enrichment.

CNN is reaching out to US officials for comment.

“The enemy, in its unfair, unlawful, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat,” the council statement reported by state media read.

“Our hands remain on the trigger, and at the slightest mistake by the enemy, a full-force response will be delivered,” it warned, according to the statement obtained by CNN.

This post has been updated.

20 hr 40 min ago

US military has paused strikes inside Iran, US official says

By Zachary Cohen

The US military has paused strikes inside Iran, according to a US official.

The US has struck more than 13,000 targets in Iran since the war began, according to US Central Command.

President Donald Trump said tonight he’d agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran on the condition that Iran agree to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that during the two weeks, the country’s military will coordinate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

21 hr 10 min ago

Trump admin preparing for in-person Iran talks likely involving Vance, US officials say

By Alayna Treene and Kristen Holmes

The Trump administration is preparing for potential in-person negotiations between US and Iranian officials in the coming days, as the two sides work towards a long-term deal to end the war between Washington and Tehran, US officials tell CNN.

“There are discussions about in person talks, but nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN.

The meeting would likely take place in Islamabad with Pakistani mediators in attendance, the officials said. They added it’s increasingly possible due to the two-week ceasefire announced by the US and Iran this evening.

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner and Vice President JD Vance are expected to attend, the officials said. Vance is currently visiting Hungary, and sources indicated a stop could be added to his trip if the timing was right.

21 hr 19 min ago

Israeli officials have concerns about US-Iran ceasefire agreement, source says

By Jeremy Diamond

Israeli officials are concerned about the temporary ceasefire agreement the US has reached with Iran, an Israeli source familiar with the matter said.

The source said Israel will abide by the ceasefire, following US President Donald Trump’s lead.

But Israel is doing so reluctantly: Israel still has more targets on its list and more goals it would like to achieve through military action in Iran, the source said.

When asked by CNN in mid-March, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to answer whether Israel would cease its attacks on Iran if Trump reached a ceasefire. But he acknowledged that Trump is “the leader” and that he is “his ally.”

“Ultimately, President Trump makes his own decisions and do I respect them? Yes, I do,” Netanyahu told CNN during a March 18 news conference.

18 hr 59 min ago

Iran's military will coordinate passage through Strait of Hormuz during ceasefire, Iran says

By Jennifer Hansler and Mitchell McCluskey

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council released a statement outlining that Iran’s 10-point plan “emphasizes fundamental matters” like the “regulated passage through the Strait of Hormuz under the coordination of the Armed Forces of Iran.”

This would grant Iran a “unique economic and geopolitical standing,” the statement said.

The statement was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on multiple Iranian state media outlets.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that during the two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz “will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

Aragachi also expressed gratitude to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir for urging Trump to implement a ceasefire.

21 hr 20 min ago

How US stock and crude oil futures reacted to Trump's ceasefire announcement

By Ramishah Maruf and Samantha Delouya

Crude oil storage tanks are seen, Tuesday, March 17, in Baltimore.

US stock futures jumped after President Donald Trump announced he agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

Dow futures were up 1.53%, S&P 500 futures increased 1.58% and Nasdaq futures rose 1.68% in after-hours trading.

At the same time, Crude oil futures fell. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell more than 10% after hours.

22 hr 6 min ago

Israel has also agreed to temporary ceasefire, White House official says

By Alayna Treene

Israel is part of the two-week ceasefire President Donald Trump announced just an hour and a half before his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face escalated military attacks on civilian infrastructure, a senior White House official tells CNN.

Israel has agreed to also suspend its bombing campaign while negotiations continue, the official said.

21 hr 34 min ago

Trump agrees to two-week ceasefire with Iran, subject to Strait of Hormuz opening

By Kit Maher

U.S. President Donald Trump attends a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 6, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

See Trump’s social media post agreeing to two week ceasefire

President Donald Trump said he’d agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, less than two hours before his 8 p.m. deadline to destroy a “whole civilization.”

Trump said the ceasefire agreement was made on the condition that Iran agree to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz.

“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East,” Trump wrote.

“We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution,” he added.

The White House called a lid at 6:44 p.m., meaning officials don’t anticipate that the press will see Trump for the remainder of the evening.

22 hr 50 min ago

Pakistani foreign minister holds late night calls with regional stakeholders

By Sophia Saifi and Max Saltman

It’s just after 3 a.m. in Islamabad, and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is up late calling regional stakeholders in a rush of diplomacy as US President Donald Trump’s 8 p.m. deadline approaches.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has issued statements on calls between Dar and the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Morocco about the “evolving regional situation.”

Pakistan has served as a mediator between the US and Iran in recent weeks. In an earlier post on X, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pleaded for a two-week ceasefire to “allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war.”

He has also asked Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks, proposing that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz during that two-week period.

A regional source earlier told CNN that “some good news is expected from both sides soon,” adding that a deal is expected to be closed tonight.

For his part, Trump told Fox News that Sharif is a “respected man” and would soon be fully briefed on his proposal, adding that negotiations are “heated” but did not elaborating further.

22 hr 59 min ago

Destroyed synagogue in Tehran shows how Iran war has put religious centers at risk

By CNN staff

US-Israeli strikes destroyed a synagogue in Tehran earlier today, according to Iranian state media. Israel’s military seemingly took responsibility for the strike, expressing regret for the “collateral damage” to the synagogue.

CNN’s Bijan Hosseini explains some of Iran’s deep-rooted Jewish history and how spiritual centers may be at risk of collateral damage of the war:

Synagogue in Tehran destroyed by US-Israeli ...

22 hr 13 min ago

Iran petrochemical complex attacked, state media say

By Michael Rios

Airstrikes have targeted a petrochemical complex and industrial unit in Iran, local media said.

The attack on the Amirkabir Petrochemical facility in the city of Mahshahr caused a fire, according to Fars News Agency.

Meanwhile, an attack on an industrial unit near the city of Arak left two people injured, the semi-official Mehr News Agency said, citing the deputy governor of Markazi province.

State media had previously reported that a major aluminum plant in Arak had been struck, but the deputy governor reportedly denied that.

23 hr 33 min ago

"America is great because America is good": GOP lawmaker pushes back on Trump's threat

Sarah Ferris

By Sarah Ferris

Rep. Nathaniel Moran walks down the House steps of the Capitol in September 2024.

Republican Rep. Nathaniel Moran of Texas spoke out against President Donald Trump’s threat Tuesday that he could destroy “a whole civilization” in the US war with Iran.

Moran, a self-described Reagan Republican who once attended West Point, is a rank-and-file member who does not sit on committees overseeing the war. Yet he became one of the few congressional Republicans to push back against the president’s rhetoric, which has put Washington on edge.

In a lengthy statement, Moran said that he has supported the president but urged caution in “how we use” America’s military might.

“Our nation has always conducted military operations for just causes and through just and moral means. This must continue in the future; otherwise we forfeit our legitimacy to lead the world. So, let me be clear: I do not support the destruction of a ‘whole civilization.’ That is not who we are, and it is not consistent with the principles that have long guided America,” Moran wrote.

“I have and will continue to support a strong national defense—one that is focused, disciplined, and firmly rooted in protecting the safety and security of the American people. But, how we protect the lives of the innocent is just as important as how we engage the enemy. America is great because America is good,” he continued.

GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski also argued today that Trump’s threat “cannot be excused away as an attempt to gain leverage in negotiations with Iran,” as she called on the US president and Iranian leaders to de-escalate “before it is too late.”

“This type of rhetoric is an affront to the ideals our nation has sought to uphold and promote around the world for nearly 250 years. It undermines our long-standing role as a global beacon of freedom and directly endangers Americans both abroad and at home,” she wrote on X.

4:42 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

American journalist held in Iraq released from captivity, Iraqi official says

By Max Saltman, Eyad Kourdi and Kylie Atwood

American journalist Shelly Kittleson poses for a picture in Baghdad on March 31.

A senior Iraqi official tells CNN that the Iraqi government has received American journalist Shelly Kittleson after she was released from captivity by a pro-Iranian militia today.

The government is processing her travel arrangements, the official added.

Kataib Hezbollah, a pro-Iran militia in Iraq, said earlier Tuesday that it decided to release Kittleson, who was kidnapped in Baghdad last month, “on the condition that she leave the country immediately,” the group’s security chief, Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, said in a Telegram post.

“This initiative will not be repeated again in the coming days,” the post concludes. “We are in a state of war waged by the Zionist-American enemy against Islam, and in such circumstances many considerations fall away.”

Kittleson, a reporter specializing in the Middle East, was abducted in Baghdad late last month. According to a source familiar with the matter, the US government had warned her shortly before her disappearance of a Kataib Hezbollah plot to kidnap or kill her. The warning came while she was already reporting in Iraq.

22 hr 26 min ago

Physical oil hits an all-time high

By Matt Egan

The global oil market had a mostly ho-hum day — with one gigantic exception.

Brent futures, the international benchmark, settled at $109.27 a barrel on Tuesday, down 0.5%. (Brent futures after settling have plunged 6% in recent trading as traders hoped chatter of a ceasefire in the Iran war would lead to continued negotiations.)

But those future contracts are for delivery of oil at a later date. What if you want a barrel of oil right now? It’s never been more expensive to buy one.

Dated Brent, the world’s most-closely watched price of physical cargoes of crude in the North Sea, climbed to $144.42 per barrel on Tuesday, according to data provider Platts.

That’s the highest price ever recorded for so-called “wet” barrels since tracking started in July 1987. Platts said today’s milestone reflects “historic market volatility and supply disruptions,” underscoring the severe supply disruptions sparked by the war in the Middle East.

The prior record for Dated Brent was set in July 2008 when energy prices skyrocketed prior to the great financial crisis.

Unlike oil futures, which represent where traders expect prices will be at a given point in time, Dated Brent is the price in the real world paid to move crude right now.

What this means: The wide gap between real-world prices and oil futures is among the flashing red lights indicating oil is in short supply as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed. And it also suggests financial players in the futures market are betting a deescalation in the war with Iran could be on the way.

Last week, Dated Brent climbed to as high as $141.26 a barrel, the highest level since 2008.

4:40 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

"Good news" expected soon, source says, after Pakistan asks Trump to extend Iran deadline

By Michael Rios and Nic Robertson

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attends a conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in October.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked warring parties to observe a two-week ceasefire to “allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war” in a post on X.

He has also asked US President Donald Trump to extend his deadline on Iran by two weeks and for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz during that two-week period.

A regional source said “some good news is expected from both sides soon” and that discussions were steered directly by Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. The source added that a deal is expected to be closed tonight.

The White House said Tuesday that Trump has been made aware of Sharif’s proposed ceasefire and that “a response will come.”

Trump said that the United States is in “heated negotiations” over the Iran war, declining to elaborate on the talks.

More context: Pakistan, along with Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, has been acting as a mediator between the warring countries.

“Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future,” Sharif said in his post, in which he tagged US and Iranian officials and negotiators.

4:14 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Trump says "we're in heated negotiations" over Iran war

By Kit Maher

President Donald Trump said that the United States is in “heated negotiations” over the Iran war, declining to elaborate on the talks.

“I can’t tell you, because right now we’re in heated negotiations,” Trump told Fox News in a brief phone interview when asked how he’s feeling about talks.

Trump said that he was about to be fully briefed on Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s proposed two-week ceasefire — to which the White House told CNN earlier Tuesday “a response will come.”

“I can say this — that I know him very well. He’s a highly respected man, all over,” Trump told Fox.

4:07 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Gulf countries work to intercept missiles and drones

By Michael Rios

Several Gulf countries say they have been working to intercept missile and drone attacks in the past hour.

The UAE said loud sounds heard across the country were the result of ongoing operations against the threats. Qatar said it had successfully intercepted a missile attack targeting its territory. Bahrain activated sirens, warning civilians to seek shelter.

3:56 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Trump aware of Pakistani proposal and “a response will come," White House says

By Alayna Treene

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on March 7.

The White House said Tuesday that President Donald Trump has been made aware of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s proposed two-week ceasefire to allow for diplomatic negotiations between the US and Iran to continue, adding that “a response will come.”

“The President has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN in a statement.

Sharif, who has been a crucial player in mediating talks between Washington and Tehran, proposed on Tuesday that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as a sign of goodwill, and that all parties “observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.”

Sharif also offered an optimistic assessment of the status of negotions, saying diplomatic efforts were “progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future.”

3:22 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Pope Leo says threats against Iran are “truly unacceptable”

By Christopher Lamb, Sharon Braithwaite and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Pope Leo says threats against people of Iran are 'truly unacceptable'

Pope Leo XIV has said that threats against the people of Iran are “truly unacceptable,” hours after US President Donald Trump posted that “a whole civilization will die tonight” on social media as his imposed deadline draws closer.

“There are certainly issues of international law here, but much more. It’s a moral issue, for the good of the people entirely,” Leo said outside Castel Gandolfo, a papal retreat about an hour’s drive southeast from central Rome.

The pontiff reiterated his Easter message from this past Sunday, calling on people “to search always for peace and not violence, to reject war, especially a war which many people have said is an unjust war which is continuing to escalate and which is not resolving anything.”

He asked people to remember the “victims of this continued warfare,” including children, the elderly and the sick.

Leo, who has become an outspoken critic of the Iran war, also said attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law.

“It is also a sign of the hatred, the division, the destruction, that the human being is capable of, and we all want to work for peace,” he said, before urging citizens in all countries to contact their political leaders and representatives to ask them to end the deepening conflict.

The pontiff previously told CNN he hoped Trump was looking for an off ramp to end the war with Iran and called on leaders of the world to return to the table for dialogue.

2:58 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

US officials still hope negotiations can produce a deal and avert attack

By Alayna Treene

Administration officials are still hopeful that negotiations through intermediaries can produce some level of agreement between the US and Iran that would lead President Donald Trump to delay his vow to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges by 8 p.m. tonight, or at least reduce the severity of the attack, sources familiar with the matter said.

The status of the talks, though, was not immediately clear as of about 2:30 p.m. The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran had cut off direct diplomacy, and the New York Times reported Iran had stopped even indirect talks. Sources told CNN that the US was still eager for a diplomatic solution, and that the situation remained fluid.

Two of the sources described Trump’s escalatory rhetoric — including his warning this morning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not acquiesce to his demands — as designed to put maximum pressure on the regime to heed his calls. However, Trump is prepared to make good on his threats for ratcheted up military operations should negotiations remain at a standoff, the sources said.

White House officials have maintained that only Trump knows how he will proceed.

“The Iranian regime has until 8PM Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States. Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to CNN.

2:57 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iranian civilization is a piece of international civilization, Iranian-American says

By Rebekah Riess

Roozbeh Farahanipour, a former Iranian opposition leader, who is now CEO of the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, celebrated the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei back in February, but is facing President Donald Trump’s threats against Iran that “a whole civilization will die tonight” with fear.

“Everybody is worried, everybody is scared,” Farahanipour tells CNN.

When Khamenei was killed, Farahanipour had called for Trump to “declare victory and deescalate the war and leave the region.” Now, he says “people that have an IQ over 60, they realize the operation is not about the freedom of Iranian people.”

Trump’s escalated threats against Iran would not only hurt the Iranian people, but hurt “the international civilization,” Farahanipour tells CNN. Iran’s civilization, one of the first civilizations built on earth, with it’s libraries, universities, and books, he says, does not belong to the Iranian regime, but to the Iranian people and the Iranian international community.

Iranian-Americans still in support of the war, Farahanipour added, should have their own children and grandchildren, who are now American citizens, join the US military to fight in Iran, “instead of asking other people’s kids to go die for their own missions in the future of Iran.”

2:52 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Targeting Iran’s infrastructure could have a significant impact on civilians

By CNN staff

Iran has one of the largest power and electricity systems in the Middle East and they are key to Iran’s population of roughly 92 million getting access to electricity, power and portable water. President Donald Trump’s threat to target Iran’s bridges and power plants would greatly impact on civilians. CNN’s Leila Gharagozlou reports:

2:57 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

What we know about Iran's key energy sites

By Elise Hammond

President Donald Trump is threatening to hit Iranian energy infrastructure if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has a wide network of natural gas power plants across the country and one nuclear power reactor - the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The site of the nuclear plant has been targeted several times, with projectiles damaging nearby buildings.

No damage to the technical facility has been reported yet, but UN nuclear officials have called for restraint and warned of a nuclear accident.

The US has already struck military sites on Kharg Island though it did not target oil facilities, a US and a White House official said.

The island, which is about a third of the size of Manhattan, is described by US officials as the “nexus for all the Iranian oil supply.”

CNN’s Catherine Nicholls and Billy Stockwell contributed reporting to this post.

3:06 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

China and Russia veto UN resolution aimed at reopening Strait of Hormuz

By Michael Rios, Dana Karni and Zeena Saifi

UN Security Council fails to approve resolution aimed at protecting shipping in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian allies China and Russia have vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The Bahrain-sponsored draft resolution “strongly encourages” countries to coordinate defensive measures that would ensure safe passage through the waterway, including by escorting commercial vessels. The text was a watered-down version of the original draft, which could have authorized countries to use force to ensure safe transit through the strait.

Eleven countries voted in favor of the resolution, two abstained and two opposed it.

US Ambassador Michael Waltz condemned China and Russia for voting against it, accusing them of siding with “a regime that seeks to intimidate the Gulf into submission.”

Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said the resolution would “generate a dangerous precedent” for international law and efforts at peace.

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani expressed regret after the veto, saying the council “failed to discharge its responsibility in the face of an unlawful act.”

Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said: “Even if the resolution did not pass, the broad majority that supported it reflects the commitment of most countries in the world to ensure freedom of navigation and to stand up to attempts to threaten international trade routes.”

Iranian Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani called the resolution “one-sided” and pushed back against US President Donald Trump threatening Iranian infrastructure if it didn’t reopen the strait.

“Iran will not stand idle in the face of such egregious war crimes. It will exercise, without the situation, its inherent right of self defense, and will take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures,” he said.

2:41 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

GOP Sen. McConnell voices support for Trump’s war with Iran

By Ellis Kim

Sen. Mitch McConnell is seen on Capitol Hill in November.

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell voiced support Tuesday for President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, backing the administration amid growing anxiety from lawmakers about the conflict.

“I support what the president is trying to do,” McConnell said at a press conference in Erlanger, Kentucky.

He explained: “They’ve been at war with us for 47 years. They’ve killed Americans. They killed Israel. They’ve killed throughout the Middle East our Sunni Arab allies, like Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia. They were bad guys.”

The former Senate majority leader went on to say, “I certainly don’t think turning the other cheek and trying to do another deal with Iran makes any sense. The critics have said, ‘Well, what happens next?’ I tell you, no matter how this ends, they’ve been significantly diminished. Their ability to hurt others, significantly diminished. So even if the next regime is pretty much like the last one, they got to start all over and rebuild all of this threat.”

Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, are out in force, expressing concern over the president’s next steps in Iran after Trump threatened that “a whole civilization will die tonight” ahead of his imposed 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

2:34 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Kuwait urges civilians to stay home early Wednesday morning

Lauren Said-Moorhouse

By Michael Rios, Eyad Kourdi and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Kuwait’s interior ministry has urged citizens and residents to stay home from midnight to 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday as a precautionary measure.

“This measure aims to maintain safety, support security operations, and ensure stability,” a statement from the ministry read.

The ministry said the decision was made “in light of the current conditions facing the country and the region.”

It comes after US President Donald Trump set deadline for Iran to make a deal, saying the country will face dire consequences if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. ET Tuesday (3 a.m. AST Wednesday).

2:53 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Pakistan’s foreign minister says recent strikes on Iran and Saudi Arabia derailed talks

By Sophia Saifi and Max Saltman

Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar attends a meeting in Moscow in November.

Pakistan's foreign minister Ishaq Dar attends a meeting in Moscow in November. Ramil Sitdikov/Reuters/FILE

Pakistan’s foreign minister told lawmakers today that he was “very hopeful” for the prospect of US-Iranian peace talks but recent dangerous developments have dealt a serious blow to peace efforts.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar claimed in a speech before Pakistan’s Senate that the US and Iran were “close to sitting at the negotiating table” when Israel launched strikes on Iran, leading Iran to strike energy facilities in Saudi Arabia.

CNN has reached out to the US State Department for comment on the claim.

“The Iranian regime has until 8PM Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States,” said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. “Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do.”

Saudi authorities have not said much about the strike, what was struck or if it experienced any casualties.

A Pakistani security source told CNN earlier that Pakistan’s leadership is trying to protect the possibility of a diplomatic settlement to the war despite the strikes, which they said had diminished the chances for a breakthrough.

“The entire Pakistani civil-military leadership is working hard to make a breakthrough happen,” the source told CNN. Those trying to defuse the situation include military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who is close to US President Donald Trump.

“But there are now concerns after Saudi Arabia was targeted that this could compromise the entire process,” the source said.

2:19 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Israeli military acknowledges strike damaged Tehran synagogue

Lauren Said-Moorhouse

By Dana Karni and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Emergency crews work at the site of an Israeli strike on a residential building that also destroyed the adjacent Rafi Niya synagogue in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday.

Emergency crews work at the site of an Israeli strike on a residential building that also destroyed the adjacent Rafi Niya synagogue in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Israel’s military has expressed its regret after a Tehran synagogue was damaged by a missile strike earlier Tuesday.

The Israel Defense Forces said it had received reports indicating a nearby synagogue had been affected.

“The IDF regrets the collateral damage to the synagogue and emphasizes that the strike was targeted at a senior military target within the regime’s armed forces, not at any place of worship,” the military said in a statement to CNN.

The military said that it had targeted a senior commander in the Khatam al-Anbiya emergency headquarters, which is used by Iran’s armed forces. The IDF said that it had taken steps to mitigate harm to civilians prior to the strike.

The damage to the synagogue came on the eve of the end of Passover, the Jewish festival celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery in 1200s BC.

Earlier Tuesday, CNN geolocated images and video footage published by Iranian outlets which showed extensive damage to the Rafi Niya synagogue, with books containing Hebrew scripture lying amid the rubble.

A member of Iranian Red Crescent holds a damaged Tora at the site of the strike on Rafi Niya synagogue in Tehran on Tuesday.

The synagogue is “one of the religious centers of Tehran’s Jews dating back to the Pahlavi II era,” Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reported, saying it was “completely destroyed in an airstrike.”

Before the 1979 revolution, there were some 60,000 Jews in Iran, according to Adyan Iran, a website that documents religious minorities in the country and which is linked to the activist outlet IranWire. That number has since dropped to just under 10,000, according to the latest census in 2016.

CNN’s Billy Stockwell, Oliver Sherwood and Nadeen Ebrahim contributed to this post.

2:40 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

These are the latest developments around the war in Iran ahead of Trump's deadline

By Maureen Chowdhury

US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy a “whole civilization” ahead of his Iran deadline of 8 p.m. ET to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is a “sign of ignorance” that won’t help potential dialogue, an Iranian government spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, told the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that there will be “more news later today” when asked by CNN if he expects Iran to come to the negotiating table as Trump’s deadline looms.

Iranian damage assessments of Kharg Island after US bombing last night found most of the oil transport hub’s infrastructure intact, according to a report from Iranian state-affiliated media, citing local sources.

Israel’s military is on standby and ready to launch strikes on Iran ahead of Trump’s deadline, an Israeli security source tells CNN.

Israeli strikes hit railways and bridges in Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Dubai Humanitarian, the largest aid hub in the world, said it’s facing strain due to the impact of the war. Its supplies out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can usually reach two-thirds of the global population within hours, but output has dropped sharply, with the number of countries supplied falling from 25 in January to just nine in March.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk has denounced the “tirade of incendiary rhetoric” being used by all parties in relation to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Israel has issued an “urgent warning” and said that “Hezbollah activity is endangering vessels” off the coast of Lebanon between the cities of Tyre and Ras Naqoura.

The US Embassy in Manama, Bahrain, is directing all US government employees in the Gulf nation to shelter in place and recommends all other Americans in Bahrain to “do the same.”

‘Whole civilization will die’: Trump threatens Iran as ...

01:40

CNN’s Max Saltman, Michael Rios and Dana Karni, Michelle Velez, Sharon Braithwaite, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Tal Shalev and Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.

1:45 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

More than a dozen Democrats have made calls to remove Trump. Here's what they're saying

By Nina Giraldo

President Donald Trump attends a press conference at the White House on Monday.

President Donald Trump threatened this morning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” as his imposed 8 p.m. ET deadline approaches for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

In the wake of his threat, more than a dozen Democrats in Congress have called to invoke the 25th Amendment.

The vice president and a majority of the president’s Cabinet can invoke the amendment to seize power from the president if they feel he is unfit for office. Congress could also appoint its own body to review the president’s fitness instead of the Cabinet.

Here’s what else the Democratic lawmakers who called to remove Trump are saying today:

Rep. Yassamin Ansari said Trump’s rhetoric “has crossed every line,” and she is introducing articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Rep. Ilhan Omar called Trump an “unhinged lunatic” who must be removed from office.

Rep. Shri Thanedar said Trump “threatened to slaughter 100 million people” and Congress “must do everything possible to stop Trump & this war.”

Rep Mark Pocan called Trump “too unhinged, dangerous, and deranged to have the nuclear codes!” The White House has sought to tamp down speculation the administration might use a nuclear weapon in Iran.

Rep. Sarah McBride said the president’s “genocidal” threat is among his most “dangerous and appalling.” “Threats of war crimes and disregard for human life must be met with accountability under the law,” McBride said.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury said it’s “time to invoke the 25th” but “we need our Republican colleagues to do the right thing.”

CNN’s Aileen Graef and Betsy Klein contributed to this report.

1:40 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Humanitarian leaders warn civilian infrastructure attacks “must not become the new norm”

By Elise Hammond

Humanitarian organizations and world leaders are denouncing escalating rhetoric and threats to target civilian infrastructure as US President Donald Trump’s Iran deadline creeps closer.

Trump said “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz by tonight. The US president also threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants.

“Deliberate threats, whether in rhetoric or in action, against essential civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities must not become the new norm in warfare,” Mirjana Spoljaric, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said in a statement. “Any war fought without limits is incompatible with the law. It is indefensible, inhumane and devastating for entire populations.”

ICRC teams are seeing the destruction of roads, bridges, homes, school and hospitals across the Middle East, Spolijaric said, adding that it is the law for “civilians and civilian objects” to be spared in military operations.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said threats to annihilate a whole civilization is “sickening” and called on other countries to help deescalate the war.

“Carrying through on such threats amounts to the most serious international crimes,” he said. “Threats that spread fear and terror among civilians are unacceptable and must cease immediately.”

Meantime, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a public appearance today that he expects the countries involved in the war to “respect international law,” which means not targeting civilians on the ground.

CNN’s Jeremy Diamond contributed reporting to this post.

1:48 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iranian media reports little damage on Kharg Island after US strikes

By Max Saltman

Iran’s sei-official Mehr News Agency reported that maritime infrastructure on the island, which handles around 90% of Iran’s oil exports, suffered little damage during US bombing and continues to operate as normal.

On Tuesday, NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) detected numerous hotspots on Kharg’s southern tip and western coast. None of the heat anomalies, however, were indicative of damage – FIRMS also detects natural gas flares from the island’s oil facilities.

Earlier, a US official told CNN that the strikes last night were aimed at military targets rather than the island’s extensive oil facilities. The US previously hit Kharg Island last month, with US Central Command stating that those strikes targeted mine and missile storage sites, among other military facilities.

This post has been updated with a clarification on the nature of the data from FIRMS.

1:30 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Fully restoring energy flows through Strait of Hormuz will take months, US officials warn

By Matt Egan

CNN

Energy prices are expected to stay high for much of this year because it will likely take months to fully restore the flow of oil derailed by the war in the Middle East and by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Energy Department’s statistical arm warned on Tuesday.

The EIA sharply raised its oil, gasoline and diesel price forecasts for 2026 and 2027. The agency now expects gas prices to peak at $4.30 a gallon this month.

Fuel prices will likely “continue to rise” until the strait reopens and oil production returns, according to forecasts released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The war has caused Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain to collectively shut in an estimated 7.5 million barrels per day of crude oil production in March, according to the EIA.

This historic supply disruption is expected to get worse before it gets better, rising to 9.1 million barrels per day this month.

The EIA assumes in its outlook that the war does not last past April and that traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz “gradually resumes.”

However, the EIA cautions that Middle East oil production shut-ins will not return “close” to pre-conflict levels until late 2026.

“Just as we had never before seen the strait close, we’ve never seen it reopen. What exactly that looks like remains to be seen. Full restoration of flows will take months,” Tristan Abbey, the EIA’s administrator, said in a statement.

1:37 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

House Democrats are courting Republicans to join them on Iran war powers resolution

By Annie Grayer

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol on March 27.

House Democrats are actively courting Republicans to join a war powers resolution to curb President Donald Trump’s war authority in Iran, a source familiar with the conversations told CNN.

The bipartisan support could be crucial to such an effort, given the tight margins in the House.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and others in House Democratic leadership on Tuesday called on their Republican colleagues to bring the House back into session and vote to end the US war with Iran.

“Donald Trump is completely unhinged. His statement threatening to eradicate an entire civilization shocks the conscience and requires a decisive congressional response. The House must come back into session immediately and vote to end this reckless war of choice in the Middle East before Donald Trump plunges our country into World War III,” the House Democratic leaders said.

Earlier, the president threatened ahead of an 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to make a deal and open the Strait of Hormuz that a “whole civilization will die tonight.”

1:01 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iran’s government spokesperson says Trump’s threats won’t open the “door to dialogue”

By Max Saltman

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian civilization is a “sign of ignorance” that won’t help potential dialogue.

“Maintaining the peace and security of the people is the government’s top priority, and threats will not disturb public calm,” Mohajerani told IRNA in an interview Tuesday. “The door to dialogue opens with respect; the narrow path of threats, pettiness, and humiliation is not a way in.”

“Threatening a ‘civilization’ is, more than anything, a sign of ignorance of the history of a nation that has repeatedly overcome crises and continues to stand,” Mohajerani added.

Earlier Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted that there will be “more news later today” when asked by CNN if he expects Iran to come to the negotiating table.

12:51 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

At least 20 people reportedly killed in Iran today

By Catherine Nicholls

Iranian railway bridge destroyed in Israeli strike

In a social media post earlier today, US President Donald Trump warned that a “whole civilization will die tonight,” adding “maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?”

At least 20 people have reportedly been killed in Iran already today, according to the country’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, including two children who were killed in an attack on Iran’s Alborz Province, and another two people who were killed after an attack on a railway bridge in the city of Kashan. According to Mehr, both attacks were carried out by Israel and the US.

More civilians were also killed in strikes on residential areas in the city of Pardis, Mehr News reported, including “several innocent children.”

CNN has been keeping a tally of death tolls released by regional authorities since the Iran war began, though Iranian authorities have not been releasing these figures regularly.

In an update from Thursday, the Iranian Red Crescent Society said that more than 2,000 people have been killed in Iran since joint US-Israeli strikes on the country began on February 28. At least 216 children are among those killed, Iran’s health ministry said yesterday.

Here’s what other regional authorities have said about the number of people reportedly killed in the Middle East since the war began. CNN is not able to independently verify these numbers.

Lebanon: At least 1,530 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon since March 2, the country’s health ministry said today. At least 130 children are among the dead, the ministry said.

Iraq: At least 110 people have been killed across Iraq since the war began, authorities have said. In the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, at least 15 people were killed, including two people in a strike on a residential building this morning, according to the regional government.

Israel: At least 23 civilians have been killed inside Israel since the conflict began, not including those who died indirectly because of strikes. At least 11 Israeli soldiers have also been killed in southern Lebanon, according to the country’s military.

US: Thirteen US service members have been killed since the war with Iran began, according to the US Central Command.

CNN’s Issy Ronald, Eyad Kourdi, Aqeel Najim, Nechirvan Mando, Dana Karni and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.

2:15 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Critical global aid hub under strain from Iran conflict disruption

By Michelle Velez

Workers handle aid for Gaza, sent by Dubai Humanitarian in coordination with Word Health Organization, upon arrival in Arish, Egypt, in January 2025.

Workers handle aid for Gaza, sent by Dubai Humanitarian in coordination with Word Health Organization, upon arrival in Arish, Egypt, in January 2025. Amr Alfiky/Reuters/FILE

The war with Iran is choking global supply chains, slowing — and in some cases halting — life-saving aid. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, restricted regional airspace, and attacks on infrastructure are compounding delays, making it increasingly difficult to move aid out of the United Arab Emirates, one of the world’s key humanitarian hubs.

Dubai Humanitarian is the largest aid hub in the world and sits at the center of that effort. From there, supplies can reach two-thirds of the global population within hours. But output has dropped sharply, with the number of countries supplied falling from 25 in January to just nine in March.

Dubai Humanitarian City CEO Giuseppe Saba told CNN that sharply rising costs are becoming unsustainable. “The war risks insurance, the increases of the fuel,” he said, adding that aid groups facing funding cuts “cannot cope” with the surge in expenses.

The World Health Organization (WHO) relies on the hub as a primary base for emergency medical supplies. Robert Blanchard, who leads WHO’s global emergency logistics hub, described the situation as a “perfect storm.”

“We also have the increasing fuel surcharges that are going to impact the organization. It’s also disruptions to airspace and shipping lanes,” he told CNN. “It’s going to cost more, and take longer to deliver those supplies, and we are operating under severe financial constraints.”

Inside the warehouse, shipments bound for Cuba have been waiting since the conflict started, alongside supplies for Sudan, Chad and Yemen. “Stockouts are imminent,” Blanchard warned.

12:43 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

At least 16 ships have been attacked near Iran since the start of the war

By Maureen Chowdhury

President Donald Trump escalated his threats against Iran today and said that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless Tehran meets his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s threats and attacks on vessels in the Gulf have raised the risk of transit enough to stop almost all traffic through the narrow waterway, which is the main route for about 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas, plus fertilizers that help grow crops the world relies on.

More than a dozen vessels in the Persian Gulf, close to the Strait of Hormuz, have been attacked since the start of the war.

CNN’s Lauren Kent and Annette Choi contributed to this report.

12:29 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Israel issues first maritime warning to vessels off Lebanese coast

By Charbel Mallo, Eyad Kourdi and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Israel has issued an “urgent warning” to vessels off the coast of Lebanon between the cities of Tyre and Ras Naqoura.

“Hezbollah activity is endangering vessels in the maritime area between Tyre and Ras Naqoura, forcing the IDF to operate against it in the maritime domain,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said.

All vessels in the area have been warned to “immediately head north of the Tyre area” for their safety, Adraee added.

12:32 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure is a war crime, says UN rights chief

By Sharon Braithwaite and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

UN human rights chief Volker Türk is seen at the United Nations offices in Geneva, Switzerland, in September.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk has denounced the “tirade of incendiary rhetoric” being used by all parties in relation to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Türk criticized the rhetoric, including the latest threats to annihilate a whole civilisation and to target civilian infrastructure, calling it “sickening.”

“Threats that spread fear and terror among civilians are unacceptable and must cease immediately,” he said. “Under international law, deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime.”

Türk ended his remarks by calling on the international community to take steps to de-escalate the situation and help protect civilian lives.

12:22 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Are we facing an oil shortage? The oil market indicates yes

By Nina Giraldo

Oil market indicates there is an oil shortage since Iran war began, CNN's David Goldman reports

The average price of a gallon of US regular gas reached $4.14 today in the latest reading from AAA, meaning prices are now up 39% since the start of the war in Iran.

“Imagine that you are on a desert island, and there’s only one bottle of water left,” CNN’s David Goldman told Pamela Brown today. “You would pay anything for that. That’s what’s going on in the market right now.”

Jet fuel is also 94% higher since the war started in February, which points to higher airfares for consumers, Goldman reports.

CNN’s Chris Isidore contributed to this report.

12:51 p.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Israeli military on standby as Trump’s Iran deadline looms

By Tal Shalev and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

The Israeli military is on standby and ready to launch strikes on Iran ahead of US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, an Israeli security source tells CNN.

Trump previously threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants and other civilian infrastructure, saying the country will face dire consequences if it does not open the crucial waterway by 8 p.m. ET Tuesday.

The Israeli security source said plans have been prepared for a combined US-Israeli operation with full military coordination pending a green light from Trump.

“We know there is a possibility that in the coming hours the president could last-minute extend the ultimatum - or just give the order to the planes to take off,” the source added.

A separate Israeli source familiar with preparations for a contingency scenario if US diplomacy fails told CNN that the main targets are Iran’s national infrastructure, specifically targets that were set aside in advance for the end of the campaign.

The Israeli source said that Israel will focus on energy and electricity facilities while the US focuses on oil targets.

On Monday, Israel approved an updated target list of energy and infrastructure sites in Iran in the event US diplomatic talks failed, two Israeli sources told CNN.

Separately, Israeli Army Chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Tuesday that “we are approaching a strategic junction in the joint operation against Iran.”

“Thus far, we have achieved significant accomplishments, including in relation to the objectives we set at the outset of the operation. We will continue to act with determination and deepen the degradation of the regime,” Zamir said at a situation assessment.

CNN’s Dana Karni contributed reporting to this post.

11:26 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

A look at how Trump has threatened Iran since he first gave a deadline to end the war

By Catherine Nicholls

US President Donald Trump, flanked by Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, attends a cabinet meeting at the White House on March 26.

US President Donald Trump, flanked by Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, attends a cabinet meeting at the White House on March 26. Will Oliver/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump set a new deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and agree an end to the war, saying that if Tehran hadn’t done this by today, the country would be “living in Hell.”

A short while ago, Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” ahead of his 8 p.m. ET deadline for an agreement.

Here’s a recap of Trump’s threats to Iran since he first gave the country a deadline to end the war:

Trump’s initial threat was on March 21, when he said the US would “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. The next day, Iran’s representative to the UN maritime agency said the strait remained open to all except Iran’s “enemies.”

On March 23, shortly before Trump’s deadline was set to expire, the president said the US and Iran had held “productive conversations” over the previous two days and that he would hold off on striking energy sites for five days.

On March 26, Trump added an extra ten days to the deadline, saying Iran had asked for more time, making his new cut-off date yesterday, April 6.

On March 30, Trump said the US would end its war in the region by “blowing up and completely obliterating” power plants and oil wells in Iran if it did not agree to a deal.

On April 1, Trump said Tehran had asked the US for a ceasefire, adding he would only consider this after Iran had reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Until then, he added, “we are blasting Iran into oblivion” and “back to the Stone Ages!!!” A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry denied Trump’s claim that it had asked for a ceasefire.

On April 4, Trump told Iran’s leaders that “time is running out” to reopen the waterway. “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” he wrote on social media.

The next day, on April 5, the president told Iran to “open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH!” Trump also said that “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!”

Yesterday, on April 6, Trump said he had even “worse” options than his previous threats to bomb Iran’s power plants and bridges if it does not make a deal. Trump also said that “the entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night.”

CNN’s Betsy Klein, Kit Maher, Alejandra Jaramillo, Kevin Liptak, Samantha Waldenberg, Aileen Graef, Sophie Tanno, Adam Pourahmadi, Julia Benbrook and Riane Lumer contributed to this reporting.

11:37 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Netanyahu says Israel is targeting railways and bridges in Iran today

Lauren Said-Moorhouse

By Dana Karni and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Emergency crews work at the site of an airstrike on a residential building that also destroyed the adjacent synagogue in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday.

Emergency crews work at the site of an airstrike on a residential building that also destroyed the adjacent synagogue in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Israeli strikes hit railways and bridges in Iran on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

“Yesterday, our pilots destroyed transport aircraft and dozens of helicopters at an Iranian Air Force base. Today, they attacked the railways and bridges used by the Revolutionary Guards,” Netanyahu said in a video message released by the Prime Minister’s Office.

“They use them to transfer raw materials for weapons, weapons themselves, and the operatives who attack us, the United States, and the countries of the region — those same operatives who also oppress the Iranian people,” he continued.

Netanyahu said that the strikes were “not intended to target the Iranian people.”

The Israeli military said Tuesday it had struck eight Iranian bridges, which it said were being used to transport weapons and military equipment. </p>

Iranian railway bridge destroyed in Israeli strike

00:03

The Israeli military said later Tuesday that it had struck eight Iranian bridges being used to transport weapons and military equipment. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the crossings were in several areas, including Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, Kashan, and Qom. The military added that steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.

Strikes have also been reported on multiple railway lines across Iran Tuesday. Two people were killed after an attack on a railway bridge in the city of Kashan, the semi-official Mehr News reported. The attacks followed an earlier warning from the IDF telling Iranians not to use trains and stay away from the country’s railways for 12 hours.

Netanyahu’s video message comes hours before US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face US attacks on civilian infrastructure.

10:57 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

US Embassy in Bahrain recommends Americans shelter in place

Max Saltman

By Max Saltman

The US Embassy in Manama, Bahrain is directing all US government employees in the Gulf nation to shelter in place, and recommends all other Americans in Bahrain to “do the same.”

“To the extent possible, remain in a secure structure, and stay away from windows. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items,” the US State Department’s consular affairs office said in a post on X.

The office added that the embassy has “suspended all routine consular services.”

Iranian strikes have hit Bahrain numerous times over the course of the war with Iran. The small island nation, situated off the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf and connected to Saudi Arabia by a causeway, is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

10:55 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

White House seeks to tamp down speculation about potential use of nuclear weapons in Iran

Betsy Klein

By Betsy Klein

US Vice President JD Vance speaks at a press conference in Budapest, Hungary, earlier today.

US Vice President JD Vance speaks at a press conference in Budapest, Hungary, earlier today. Bernadett Szabo/Reuters

The White House sought to tamp down speculation that the administration could use a nuclear weapon in Iran, rejecting a post on social media that alleged Vice President JD Vance had implied it might do so.

“We’ve got tools in our toolkit that we so far haven’t decided to use. The president of the United States can decide to use them. And he will decide to use them if the Iranians don’t change their course of conduct,” Vance told reporters in Hungary earlier Monday.

That comment — along with President Donald Trump’s Truth Social warning that a “whole civilization will die tonight” — prompted some online speculation that Vance was referring to the use of nuclear weapons.

The White House’s Rapid Response X account responded to a post from an account run by Democratic operatives that said Vance “implies Trump might use nuclear weapons,” by writing, “Literally nothing @VP said here ‘implies’ this, you absolute buffoons.”

But the online chatter — which has also popped up among some corners of the right — underscores anxiety ahead of Trump’s 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to make a deal or risk major attacks on its critical infrastructure.

CNN has reached out to the White House for more clarity about both Vance’s and Trump’s comments.

11:02 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Rubio teases "more news later today" when asked about Iran negotiations

By Jennifer Hansler

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio answers questions from the media at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio answers questions from the media at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio teased that there will be “more news later today on that” when asked by CNN if he expects Iran to come to the negotiating table.

He did not elaborate further on the potential for a breakthrough in negotiations. His comments, made ahead of a meeting with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, come after President Donald Trump threatened Iran, saying “a whole civilization will die tonight.”

Rubio did not answer CNN’s shouted question about whether the US operation would constitute a war crime.

10:40 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Human chain forms around power plant in Tabriz, Iranian media shows

By CNN staff

Human chain forms in Tabriz, Iran

A chain of people has formed around a thermal power plant in Tabriz, Iran, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency.

This comes a day after Iran’s deputy minister of youth and sports called on young people to form a “human chain” around the country’s power plants, following President Donald Trump’s threat to bomb Iran’s public infrastructure if it doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

11:43 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iran war could "spiral out of control," Qatari official says

By Nadeen Ebrahim and Sarah Tamimi

Iran war could 'spiral out of control,' Qatari official warns

00:34

Qatar warned on Tuesday that the region is close to a point where the situation could “spiral out of control.”

Asked by CNN’s Matthew Chance if Qatar believes the war could be diffused before the looming US deadline, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said: “We’ve been urging all parties to find a resolution out of this war before it spirals out of control.”

US President Donald Trump has warned that a “whole civilization will die tonight” as his Tuesday 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to make a deal and open the Strait of Hormuz approaches.

The spokesperson added that any agreement with Iran should come in consensus with all regional actors and “cannot exclude” any regional partner.

Doha seeks an agreement that reflects “a new regional security framework,” but one that also includes “international guarantees” that respect international law, al-Ansari said.

The official added that Qatar is not currently engaged in mediation efforts between the United States and Iran.

The spokesperson said the Strait of Hormuz is not subject to one country’s territorial control and should not be used by one state.

10:30 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

French nationals allowed to leave Iran after being detained for more than three years

Joseph Ataman

By Joseph Ataman and Catherine Nicholls

Portraits of Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, French nationals arrested in May 2022 and since imprisoned in Iran, are hung in front of the National Assembly in Paris, France, on May 23.

Portraits of Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, French nationals arrested in May 2022 and since imprisoned in Iran, are hung in front of the National Assembly in Paris, France, on May 23. Amaury Cornu/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty Images

Two French nationals who were held in Iranian detention for more than three years have been allowed to leave the country today, following a deal that was struck between Tehran and Paris, according to French authorities and Iranian state media.

Cécile Kohler and her partner Jacques Paris were arrested in May 2022 while visiting Iran and charged with spying for France and Israel. They were released from prison last November, but were only allowed to leave the country today.

The French foreign ministry told CNN that the foreign ministers of France and Iran spoke on Sunday.

In a post on X, French President Emmanuel Macron thanked Omani authorities for helping to mediate the pair’s release, writing: “This is a relief for all of us and, of course, for their families.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said he held a phone call with Kohler and Paris today, writing on X that “they expressed to me their emotion and their joy at soon reuniting with their country and their loved ones.”

Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that the release of the couple was carried out in exchange for France’s release of Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian student living in the French city of Lyon, who was arrested last year over anti-Israel social media posts.

The deal also required France to withdraw its complaint against Iran at the International Court of Justice related to the detention of Kohler and Paris, IRNA said.

10:15 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Pakistan trying to keep diplomacy alive after strikes on Saudi Arabia, says source

By Sophia Saifi and Tim Lister

Flames rise from the direction of an industrial complex, after Saudi Arabia's defense ministry said that air defences intercepted and destroyed ballistic missiles launched towards Jubail, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s leadership is trying to keep alive the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough in the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, according to a Pakistani security source.

But the source added that an attack early Tuesday on vital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia may have diminished the chances of a breakthrough.

“The entire Pakistani civil-military leadership is working hard to make a breakthrough happen,” the source told CNN, including the powerful military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has a close relationship with US President Donald Trump.

“But there are now concerns after Saudi Arabia was targeted that this could compromise the entire process,” the source said.

Pakistan was “very concerned about what will happen if Saudis retaliate. Efforts are underway to facilitate dialogue,” the source added.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned the overnight attacks by Iranian missiles and drones “against energy facilities in the Eastern Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

“Pakistan mourns the loss of life resulting from these attacks and strongly deplores the damage inflicted on vital infrastructure.”

The Saudi authorities have said little about what was struck and whether there had been any casualties. Early Tuesday, the Saudi Defense Ministry said that 18 drones had been intercepted without giving further details.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defense treaty in September.

10:00 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Trump says "whole civilization will die tonight," as Iran targeted by strikes — the latest

By Catherine Nicholls

US President Donald Trump issued a stark threat to Iran, saying that “a whole civilization will die tonight” as his imposed 8 p.m. ET deadline nears for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and make a deal to end the war.

If you’re just joining us, here are the very latest developments:

What has been happening on the ground?

The US struck military targets on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island overnight, according to a US and a White House official. The strikes did not target oil facilities, according to the US official.

Attacks have been carried out on civilian infrastructure across Iran, including railway lines and roads, according to Iranian media. An Israeli source told CNN the strikes are targeting transportation routes in the country.

Strikes by the US and Israel severely damaged a synagogue in central Tehran today, Iranian media reported.

What have Trump and his administration said today?

In his post on Truth Social, Trump said that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” though added: “now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?”

Vice President JD Vance said there is “going to be a lot of negotiation” before Trump’s deadline comes into effect.

Vance also acknowledged the recent US strikes on Kharg Island but said they did not mark “a change in strategy” ahead of Trump’s deadline.

What else has been happening?

The price of US oil has now doubled in 2026, a spike that escalated after the US struck the military targets on Kharg Island.

One assailant has been killed and two injured in an attack near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, with two police officers also sustaining minor injuries, according to the governor of Istanbul.

CNN’s Aileen Graef, Tal Shalev, Billy Stockwell, Oliver Sherwood, Nadeen Ebrahim, Jim Sciutto, Alayna Treene, Matt Egan and Tim Lister contributed to this reporting.

10:02 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

New draft UN resolution on Hormuz drops language on the use of force, source says

By Becky Anderson

A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway between Iran and Oman that links the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea.

A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway between Iran and Oman that links the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025/Getty Images/File

A new draft of a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at protecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has dropped language around the possible use of force in the hope that it won’t be vetoed, according to a Gulf source familiar with the matter.

Language in the previous draft authorized the use of “all defensive means necessary” to secure passage through the strait. It also authorized naval action in the waterway, which has been effectively closed since the start of the war US-Israeli war on Iran.

The initial draft has reportedly faced resistance from China and Russia, two of the five permanent members of the Security Council.

The new draft, which was amended several times, instead encourages countries to “coordinate efforts, defensive in nature, commensurate to the circumstances,” to ensure security of navigation through the strait, the source said.

The latest draft also reaffirms rights and freedoms related to passage through the strait, demands that Iran immediately cease all attacks against commercial vessels, requests that the UN secretary-general report on any further attacks by Iran and expresses concern over the spillover of threats to maritime navigation in the Strait of Bab Al Mandab in the Red Sea, which has come under attack by the Iran-allied Houthi group in the past.

The vote was initially expected to take place on Friday. It was then rescheduled for Saturday until it was further postponed to this week. It is now expected to take place Tuesday at 11:00 am ET, the source said.

10:33 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Vance says "there's going to be a lot of negotiation" ahead of Trump's deadline

By Aileen Graef

Vance says "there's going to be a lot of negotiation" ahead of Trump's deadline

Vice President JD Vance said there is “going to be a lot of negotiation” before President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face US attacks on civilian infrastructure.

“The president has set a deadline for about 12 hours from now in the United States, we’re going to find out,” Vance said on whether Iran would come to an acceptable deal, adding, “but there’s going to be a lot of negotiation between now and then, and I’m hopeful that it gets to a good resolution.”

Around the same time as Vance’s remarks at a press conference in Budapest, the president posted on his Truth Social platform, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

Trump has previously threatened to blow Iran “back to the Stone Age,” saying he would attack all power plants and bridges in the country, and has dismissed concerns about the potential war crimes that would entail.

Vance added at the press conference that if the Iranians don’t come to the table, the economic situation “is going to continue to be very, very bad, and frankly, it will probably get worse.”

He later said there are more options in the United States’ toolkit should Iran not meet the president’s demands.

“So they’ve got to know, we’ve got tools in our toolkit that we so far haven’t decided to use. The president of the United States can decide to use them, and he will decide to use them if the Iranians don’t change their course of conduct,” he said.

9:46 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Vance says he doesn't think the strikes on Kharg Island represent a change in strategy

By Aileen Graef

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the recent US strikes on Kharg Island but said they did not mark “a change in strategy” ahead of President Donald Trump’s Tuesday night deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance acknowledged the US strikes, saying he spoke with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine beforehand.

“My understanding, having talked to Pete [Hegseth] and General Caine about this is, is that we were going to strike some military targets on Kharg Island. I believe we have done so,” he said during a press conference in Budapest on Tuesday.

Vance said he did not think the strikes marked a change in strategy nor changed the 8 p.m. ET deadline imposed by the president on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

8:57 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Israel, US condemn attack near consulate in Istanbul

By Tim Lister

Police officers stand guard near the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday

Israel and the United States have condemned the attack near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul today, in which one gunman was killed and two injured during a shoot-out with police.

“We strongly condemn the terrorist attack on the Israeli consulate in Istanbul today,” the Israeli foreign ministry said. “We appreciate the Turkish security forces’ swift action in thwarting this attack.”

“Israeli missions around the world have been subjected to countless threats and terrorist attacks. Terror will not deter us,” it added.

US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said his government condemns the attack “in the strongest terms.”

“Attacks on diplomatic missions are attacks on the international order — and an assault on the principles that bind nations together,” Barrack said on X, commending Turkish security forces for their “decisive response.”

8:36 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Trump threatens Iran ahead of deadline: "A whole civilization will die tonight"

By Aileen Graef

US President Donald Trump speaks about the conflict in Iran on Monday.

President Donald Trump issued a stark threat to Iran, saying “a whole civilization will die tonight” as the US president’s imposed deadline approaches for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”

Trump previously threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants and other civilian infrastructure, saying the country will face dire consequences if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. Trump has previously set multiple deadlines that have subsequently shifted.

The president and the White House have dismissed concerns that targeting such infrastructure would likely constitute a war crime.

8:44 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Airstrikes reported on Iranian railway lines as infrastructure attacked across country

By Catherine Nicholls

Strikes have been reported on multiple railway lines across Iran today, following a warning from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for Iranians to not use trains and to stay away from the country’s railways for 12 hours.

Infrastructure across the country has been attacked by the US and Israel in recent hours, according to Iranian state media reports.

Two people were killed after an attack on a railway bridge in the city of Kashan, the semi-official Mehr News Agency reported.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported an airstrike on a railway line in Karaj, posting video of workers treating an injured person at the scene.

Ground transport bridges in western Qom Province were targeted by projectiles, the deputy provincial governor said, according to the state-run news organization Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

A section of the Tabriz–Tehran freeway was struck by projectiles, IRIB also reported, citing East Azerbaijan Province’s general directorate of crisis management.

A road in the city of Ahvaz was struck by the US and Israel, Khuzestan Province’s deputy for security and law enforcement said, according to IRIB.

Another freeway between Tabriz and Zanjan was closed because of the ongoing attacks, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

The Qareh Chaman–Mianeh road has been closed in both directions because of projectile impacts, IRNA also said.

Other civilian facilities, including residential and commercial areas, have also been targeted in the attacks, according to Iranian outlets.

8:38 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Israel targeting transport routes across Iran, source says

By Tal Shalev

Israeli strikes across Iran are targeting all transportation routes – railways, bridges, and major highways – according to an Israeli source.

Israel sees Iran using these routes to mobilize trucks carrying ammunition, missiles, and missile launchers, the source told CNN.

In a statement Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) asked Iranian citizens to refrain from train travel throughout Iran.

8:32 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

US strikes military targets on Kharg Island, White House and US official say

By Jim Sciutto and Alayna Treene

A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island on February 25.

A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island on February 25. 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Reuters/File

The US struck military targets on Kharg Island overnight, according to a US and a White House official.

The strikes did not target oil facilities, according to the US official.

The US previously targeted Kharg Island on March 13. US Central Command said at the time that 90 targets had been hit, including “naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites.”

8:30 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

US oil surges above $116 — more than doubling this year — after US strikes on Kharg Island

By Matt Egan

The price of US oil has now doubled in 2026, a stunning spike that escalated after the United States on Tuesday struck military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island.

US crude climbed another 3% to about $116 a barrel in recent trading. At one point, oil traded as high as $116.56.

Oil futures were trading flat to slightly lower Tuesday morning but then Iranian media reported explosions on Kharg Island, where nearly all of the country’s oil is exported from.

A US official told CNN’s Jim Sciutto that the United States has struck military targets on the strategic island. The strikes did not target oil facilities, the official added.

When the year started, US oil futures were trading at just $57 a barrel. They have now spiked by about 102% on the year, a rare move that underscores the historic supply crisis set off by the war with Iran.

8:13 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

What to know about tiny Kharg Island, key to Iran's economy

By Helen Regan and Laura Sharman

A general view of the Port of Kharg Island Oil Terminal on March 12, 2017.

As Iranian media reports on explosions on Iran’s Kharg Island, here’s why it’s so strategic:

Kharg Island is roughly a third of the size of Manhattan but is central to Iran’s economy, handling roughly 90% of the country’s crude exports. It’s located at the very northern end of the Persian Gulf, away from the Strait of Hormuz but critically near Iranian oil facilities.

Almost every day, millions of barrels of crude oil gush from Iran’s major fields — including Ahvaz, Marun and Gachsaran — through pipelines to the island, known among Iranians as the “Forbidden Island” due to tight military controls.

Its long jetties, jutting into waters deep enough to accommodate oil supertankers, make the island a critical site for oil distribution.

Storage capacity on Kharg is estimated at roughly 30 million barrels and, according to global trade analyst Kpler, about 18 million barrels of crude are currently stored there, Reuters reported.

Last month, Trump announced that the US military conducted what he called “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East,” wiping out military assets on Kharg Island. A US military official told CNN the strikes were “large-scale” but avoided hitting the island’s oil infrastructure.

CNN previously reported that the Trump administration was weighing using US troops to seize the tiny island as leverage over the Iranians to coerce them to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran had been laying traps and moving additional military personnel and air defenses to the island in recent weeks in preparation for a possible US operation to take control of the island, according to multiple people familiar with US intelligence reporting on the issue.

7:42 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Strikes take place across the Middle East with dozens of deaths reported, authorities say

By Catherine Nicholls

Bystanders watch from a distance as rescue teams and first responders work at the site of a strike in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday.

Bystanders watch from a distance as rescue teams and first responders work at the site of a strike in Tehran, Iran, on Tuesday. Francisco Seco/AP

Attacks across the Middle East are still taking place, with dozens of deaths reported, as US President Donald Trump set a Tuesday deadline for Iran to make a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Here’s what we know about the latest strikes across the region:

Iran: At least 18 civilians, including two children, were killed in a Israeli-US attack on Iran’s Alborz Province, the semi-official Mehr News Agency reported. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said that a residential area in Tehran was targeted by an airstrike early today, while two people were also killed after an attack on a railway bridge in the city of Kashan, Mehr News reported.

Lebanon: Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes across the country this morning, in which at least eight people were killed, it said.

Israel: Missiles were fired towards northern Israel this morning, according to the country’s emergency service. Rescue teams also responded to several sites in the Sharon plain and central Israel following what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said was an Iranian cluster munitions attack.

Iraq: A Peshmerga fighter and his wife were killed in a strike on their home in Iraqi Kurdistan late last night, the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs said in a statement today. The Peshmerga – a Kurdish term meaning “those who face death” – are the internal security forces of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Saudi Arabia: Seven ballistic missiles launched toward eastern Saudi Arabia were intercepted overnight, with debris falling in the vicinity of energy facilities, a spokesperson for the country’s defense ministry said according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Another 18 drones were also intercepted and destroyed this morning, SPA reported.

Bahrain: Bahrain Defence Force systems intercepted and destroyed nine drones in the last day, the state-run Bahrain News Agency reported.

United Arab Emirates: In posts on social media today, the UAE’s defense ministry said it was “actively engaging” with missiles and drone threats.

CNN’s Nechirvan Mando, Eugenia Yosef, Lex Harvey and Jessie Yeung contributed to this reporting.

7:26 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

US gas prices now average $4.14 a gallon

By Chris Isidore

The average price of a gallon of US regular gas edged up another 2 cents Tuesday, reaching $4.14 in the latest reading from AAA. That increase means prices are now up 39% since the start of the war in Iran.

Last week, the average price crossed the $4 a gallon mark for the first time since 2022. Prices have increased all but three days since March 1, and those three declines were by an almost imperceptible fraction of a penny that left prices unchanged each day when rounded to the nearest cent.

President Donald Trump has vowed attacks on Iran’s power plants and bridges if Iran does not move to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 pm ET Tuesday. That is a vital channel that has been closed to about about 20% of the world’s oil supply since the start of the war. Oil futures were only slightly higher in early trading Tuesday as traders were waiting to see if Trump backs off on this latest deadline as he has earlier in this war – reversals that caused sharp drops in oil prices.

While relatively little Middle Eastern oil makes its way to America, which is the world’s largest oil producer, the strait’s closure has roiled global commodity markets, which determine the price of oil and gas here and elsewhere. Even if the strait reopens and oil futures fall, it could take weeks for pump prices to start to decline.

7:32 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Explosions reported on strategic Kharg Island, according to Iranian news agency

By Tim Lister

This satellite image shows Iran's Kharg Island on March 11.

Explosions have been reported on Iran’s Kharg Island, from which almost all the country’s oil is exported, according to the semi-official Iranian news agency Mehr.

Mehr reported “several explosions” but provided no further details.

US President Donald Trump has on several occasions threatened to bomb the island or to seize it.

On March 30, Trump said in a social media post that the US could destroy “Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island.”

6:55 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Why Iran is holding out on efforts to end the war

Analysis by Nic Robertson

Nothing in Iran’s recent history indicates it’s on the verge of breaking to US President Donald Trump’s will.

Trump’s 8 p.m ET Tuesday (3.30 a.m. Wednesday Iran time) deadline is drawing closer, but Tehran’s rulers, whoever they may be, are steeped in the psychology of suffering for long-term gain.

Even before this war began on February 28, Iran calculated it could weather a brief war with Washington as long as it could set end-of-conflict terms by hijacking the Strait of Hormuz and forcing Trump to the negotiating table.

That it has exceeded that aspiration of driving Trump towards a pain point on the price of oil and can even monetize the vital maritime lanes through extortion buys the gambit even more time.

Tehran likely looks at the recent history of conflict – be it NATO in Kosovo in 1999, where months of strategic strikes failed to cripple Serbian troop movements, or the wars in Iraq of 1991 and 2003, or Israel’s air strikes in Lebanon in 2006, where the main bridge to Syria was blown up, or even in the most recent Israeli strikes on Lebanon’s bridges – they are at worst a nuisance, not an overnight game-changer.

Not withstanding another TACO moment by the US commander-in-chief, who has already delayed his deadline to smash Iran several times, Iran again looks set to test its own resilience, against what some in Trump’s administration have previously described as the “iron laws of the world,” where strong nations rule by force.

9:48 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

US-Israeli strikes damage synagogue in Tehran, Iranian media says

By Billy Stockwell, Oliver Sherwood and Nadeen Ebrahim

US-Israeli strikes damage synagogue in Tehran, Iranian media says

00:11

Strikes by the United States and Israel severely damaged a synagogue in central Tehran on Tuesday, Iranian media reported.

The building was identified as the Rafi Niya synagogue, with Iranian outlets publishing images and video footage, geolocated by CNN, showing a heavily damaged structure and books containing Hebrew scripture lying amid the rubble.

CNN has reached out to the Israeli military for comment.

The synagogue is “one of the religious centers of Tehran’s Jews dating back to the Pahlavi II era,” Iran’s Students News Agency (ISNA) reported, saying it was “completely destroyed in an airstrike.”

ISNA also reported that “the centuries-old Torahs were likely heavily damaged, and their fate is currently unknown.”

An Iranian Jewish community leader, Rabbi Younes Hamami Lalehzar, visited the site of the attack, the semi-official Mehr News Agency reported, adding that he said the synagogue was 80 years old.

A statement purported to be from Iran’s Jewish community condemned the attack, and declared “our historical unity with the Supreme Leader” of Iran, according to Mehr News.

Before the 1979 revolution, there were some 60,000 Jews in Iran, according to Adyan Iran – a website that documents religious minorities in the country and which is linked to the activist outlet IranWire. That number has since dropped to just under 10,000, according to the latest census in 2016.

6:30 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Railway activity suspended in Iranian city following Israel threats

By Nadeen Ebrahim

All railway activity from and to Mashhad station has been suspended, the semi-official news agency Fars reported, after Israel issued an “urgent warning” to Iranians to not use trains and to stay away from railway lines for the next 12 hours.

“Following an unethical warning by the Zionist regime regarding a potential attack on the country’s railway system, and as a precautionary measure, all train departures from Mashhad railway station have been suspended until further notice,” the governor of the major northeastern city was cited as saying by Fars.

In a statement Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) asked Iranian citizens to refrain from train travel throughout Iran.

“Your presence on trains and near railway lines endangers your life,” the IDF said.

6:27 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

One attacker killed in gun battle near Israeli consulate in Istanbul

By Tim Lister and Tal Shalev

Emergency responders work at the scene after gunfire was heard near the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday.

Emergency responders work at the scene after gunfire was heard near the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on Tuesday. Murad Sezer/Reuters

One assailant has been killed and two injured in an attack near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, with two police officers also sustaining minor injuries, according to Davut Gul, the governor of Istanbul.

Turkish special forces were seen in the area immediately after a period of sustained gunfire.

The consulate was not staffed at the time of the incident, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said.

Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek posted on X that an investigation had begun into gunfire “in the vicinity of the Israeli consulate located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul.”

The consulate is on the 7th floor of a building in the district.

Gunfire was heard near the building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbul.

Israeli authorities have reported an unprecedented surge in attempts to carry out attacks against Israelis and Jews abroad since the outset of the Iran conflict.

The Israeli National Security Council (NSC) issued a heightened travel warning ahead of the Passover holiday, citing a significant rise in threats from Iran and its proxies against Israelis and Jewish sites worldwide.

“We are experiencing a record number of attempts to harm Israelis and Jews around the world. Even the oldest veterans don’t recall such a scale,” an Israeli counter-terrorism official told CNN late last month.

6:12 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

More than 14 million Iranians ready to die to defend Islamic Republic, president says

By Nadeen Ebrahim

A group of young Iranians perform under a portrait of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a pro-government rally in downtown Tehran on Monday.

A group of young Iranians perform under a portrait of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a pro-government rally in downtown Tehran on Monday. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

More than 14 million Iranians have said they are ready to give their lives to defend the country in the war against the United States and Israel, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on X.

“Over 14 million proud Iranians have, up to this moment, declared their readiness to sacrifice their lives in defense of Iran,” he wrote. “I, too, have been, am, and will remain devoted to sacrificing my life for Iran.”

The call to citizens is part of the “Janfada (Sacrificing Life) for Iran” campaign, which began at the start of the Iran war last month and is aimed at garnering national unity.

Iran is gearing up for a possible large-scale attack by the US after President Donald Trump gave Tehran until Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

6:03 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Several casualties in shooting near Israeli consulate in Istanbul

By Tim Lister

A shooting outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul has resulted in several casualties, according to CNN affiliate CNN Turk.

Police said three people had been “neutralized” and two police officers were injured in the incident, according to CNN Turk

Video from the scene, in a busy commercial district of Istanbul, showed police crouching behind a bus amid sustained gunfire.

No Israeli diplomatic personnel were believed to be in the consulate.

5:52 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Rescue teams respond to strikes in Iran and Israel, as Trump's deadline nears

By Catherine Nicholls

Trump warns Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face dire consequences

03:13

A Tuesday 8 p.m. ET deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran to agree an end to the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is fast approaching.

As Trump’s deadline nears, here are some of the developments that have taken place in the Middle East so far today:

Iran’s deputy minister of youth and sports called on young people to form a “human chain” around the country’s power plants, following Trump’s threats that the US will bomb Iran’s public infrastructure if it doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said Trump’s threats to blow up the country are “baseless” and vowed to continue fighting.

A video posted by the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) shows rescue workers searching through the rubble of collapsed and damaged buildings in a residential area in Tehran. The IRCS said the area was targeted by an airstrike early today.

Rescue teams are responding to several sites in the Sharon plain and central Israel following what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said was an Iranian cluster munitions attack.

CNN’s Lex Harvey, Satish Cheney, Ally Barnard and Eugenia Yosef contributed to this reporting.

5:41 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iranian police release video claiming to show forces firing at US aircraft

By CNN staff

Video released by Iranian police and reviewed by Reuters claimed to show Iranian forces firing at a US aircraft over the Esfahan province on April 5.

Iranian police release video claiming to show forces ...

00:30

4:37 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Oil prices rise ahead of Trump's Strait of Hormuz deadline

By Hanna Ziady

A television station broadcasts a news conference with US President Donald Trump on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday.

Oil prices are rising today, as investors grapple with threats from US President Donald Trump to intensify attacks against Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Tuesday night.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, pared gains notched earlier in the day to trade 0.3% higher, above $110 a barrel. WTI, the US benchmark, followed a similar pattern, trading at $113 a barrel.

Trump on Sunday threatened to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened by 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. The warning marked a change from previous signs that Trump was willing to end the war without restoring shipping through the strait.

Tehran, however, remains defiant and an Iranian minister has urged young people to form human chains at power plants.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has been attempting to mediate ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States, meeting with leaders from other countries in the region to that end.

Stock markets reflected these mixed signals, as investors weighed Trump’s ultimatum against a possible negotiated outcome to wind down the war. Most major markets in Asia notched small gains, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng finished slightly lower. Europe’s leading indexes traded higher in morning hours, while US futures pointed to a weaker open.

With little support for the war among his voter base, Trump will likely try to exit the conflict while still “claiming victory,” said Mohit Kumar, chief European economist at Jefferies. A near-term escalation in the fighting is “very likely,” but one directed at gaining an “upper hand in negotiations rather than with a view of a prolonged conflict,” he added in a note.

4:21 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Can Iran be “taken out” in one night? A look at some numbers

Analysis by Brad Lendon, CNN senior global military affairs reporter

US sailors signal to an F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 213, on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford for a mission supporting Operation Epic Fury on March 19.

US President Donald Trump’s assertion that the entire country of Iran could be “taken out” in one night doesn’t align with US and Israeli capabilities, one military analyst says.

I asked Peter Layton, a fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute, and a former Royal Australian Air Force officer, what the US and Israel could possibly muster in to take out hundreds of Iranian power plants and possibly hundreds of thousands of bridges in 24 hours.

Intrigued, Layton crunched some numbers for a hypothetical (stress, hypothetical) mission.

He found a flight of six B-2 stealth bombers could carry a total of 96 2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) in a single mission. Assuming they could pull off two flights in a day, that’s 192 bombs, if they all hit the targets.

Add a joint US-Israeli force of 40 F-15s, each carrying six 2,000-pound JDAMs, and that could bring another 240 bombs to bear.

That brings us to 332 bombs for an exponentially larger number of targets.

And even if every bomb hits its target, it might not do the job, Layton said.

“They would inflict some (stress some) damage on each target but unlikely to drop medium to large bridges (depends on many factors). Power plants are generally huge targets so need very careful planning for one hit to make significant damage. They are also “hardened”; lots of reinforced concrete as part of their basic structure,” he said.

But he’s not discounting the damage that could be done.

“If you get in, you can damage the generators and there is never any spare generators lying around,” Layton said of the power plants.

Of course, the US could add B-1 bombers (24 JDAMs each) or B-52s to the mix (around 20 JDAMs each). But still the US ability to “take out” all of Iran in one night is doubtful at best.

3:59 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

US F-15 fighter was brought down by shoulder-fired missile, Trump says

By Brad Lendon

A view of wreckage and remains of the downed F-15 fighter jet is seen in Iran on April 5.

The US Air Force F-15E fighter shot down over Iran over the weekend was brought down by a shoulder-fired heat-seeking missile, US President Donald Trump said at the White House on Monday.

“This one was a shoulder, handheld shoulder missile, heat-seeking missile. … you got to get lucky, but they shot it, and it got sucked in right by the engine,” Trump said.

The shootdown, the first US F-15 ever brought down by hostile fire, led to the dramatic rescue of both the pilot and weapons system officer from deep within Iranian territory.

But those rescues were far from smooth, with the US also losing an A-10 attack jet, two MC-130J Hercules special mission craft and at least one helicopter during the operations.

That’s hundreds of millions of dollars of aircraft lost – directly and indirectly – to a missile with a cost in just the tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the model.

The missiles are known as Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS).

Iran has a range of them in its arsenal, including Soviet-era Strela missiles, Russian Igla missiles and locally produced Misagh missiles among others, according to the “Military Balance 2025,” from the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

It is not known what the exact missile that brought down the US jet.

But the handheld weapons present a problem to lower-flying aircraft because they are hard to target for adversaries.

“They are easy to transport and conceal. Some of the most commonly proliferated MANPADS can easily fit into the trunk of an automobile,” a US State Department fact sheet says.

A MANPAD launch tube is 4 to 6.5 feet long, about 3 inches in diameter and weighs from 28 to 55 pounds, it says.

3:44 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iran's ambassador says Pakistan's efforts to end war approaching "critical, sensitive stage"

By Sophia Saifi and Lex Harvey

Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan said Islamabad’s “positive and productive” efforts to end the war are “approaching a critical, sensitive stage.”

“Stay Tuned for more,” Reza Amiri Moghadam said in a post to X Tuesday.

CNN has reached out to Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry for comment.

Pakistan has positioned itself as a peace broker in the conflict, holding meetings with other leaders in the region and offering to host talks between Iran and the US, leveraging its stable ties to both countries. Egypt has also been a key interlocutor.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Monday night, according to a Tuesday statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry.

“Both leaders underscored the need for de-escalation and dialogue; and agreed to stay closely engaged as the situation evolves,” the statement read.

3:45 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

IDF says rescuers responding to sites hit by Iranian cluster munitions

By Eugenia Yosef and Lex Harvey

IDF says rescuers are responding to sites hit by Iranian cluster munitions in central Israel Magen David Adom

Rescue teams are responding to several sites in the Sharon plain and central Israel following what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said was an Iranian cluster munitions attack.

Earlier, the IDF said missiles had been launched from Iran to Israel.

IDF says rescuers responding to sites hit by Iranian cluster munitions in central Israel Magen David Adom

Iran has increasingly used cluster munitions to evade Israeli air defenses. Cluster munitions are weapons that release dozens or hundreds of smaller explosives across a wide area.

They are prohibited by an international treaty because they can cause indiscriminate harm.

2:22 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

What we know about Trump's threat, Israel's warning and Iran's response

By Jessie Yeung

U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

The clock is ticking down to US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Iran to strike a deal and open the Strait of Hormuz – or be heavily bombed and face “hell.”

Here’s what to know:

Trump’s threat: Trump set 8 p.m. ET Tuesday (Wednesday 3:30 a.m Tehran time) as the deadline for a deal, after issuing a profane message on Sunday renewing threats to bomb key Iranian infrastructure if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking on Monday, Trump said the US has a plan under which every bridge and power plant in Iran could be destroyed by midnight Tuesday. He has previously threatened to hit Iran’s oil wells and water desalination plants.

Tehran’s response: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has responded with defiance so far, calling Trump’s threats “baseless” on Tuesday. “If attacks on non-civilian targets are repeated, our retaliatory response will be carried out far more forcefully and on a much wider scale,” warned Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.

Israel’s warning: On Tuesday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned Iranians not to use trains and to stay away from railway lines for 12 hours. Going near those locations “endangers your life,” it warned.

War crime: It’s considered a war crime to target civilian infrastructure critical to a population’s survival. Infrastructure might be considered a valid target if it has a dual use for Iran’s military – but Trump has threatened to blow up all of Iran’s power plants, not just some. Several countries have privately reached out to the Trump administration to warn against such attacks; publicly, the Trump administration has shrugged off these concerns.

Read our full catch-up here.

1:42 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

"Urgent warning": IDF tells Iranians to stay away from trains and railways

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued an “urgent warning” to Iranians to not use trains and to stay away from railway lines for the next 12 hours.

“Dear Citizens, for the sake of your security, we kindly request that from this moment until 21:00 Iran time, you refrain from using and traveling by train throughout Iran,” said the statement from the IDF.

“Your presence on trains and near railway lines endangers your life.”

The IDF issued the warning in its Farsi account on X, which, like the rest of Western internet, is blocked across Iran.

The warning provided by Israel ends six and a half hours before US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Tehran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, set for 8 p.m. ET Tuesday.

Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s civil infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, if it does not comply.

Targeting critical civilian infrastructure could be considered a war crime. Trump has declared and then modified deadlines for the opening of the strait multiple times.

2:06 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Asian allies of US left to scramble for deals to save their economies

By John Liu

As President Donald Trump’s war against Iran sparked a historic global energy crisis, some key military allies of the United States have appealed directly to Tehran for help as they try to steady their economies.

Instead of counting on Trump’s efforts to reopen the critical crude oil shipping channel in the Strait of Hormuz, Japan and the Philippines –– nations heavily reliant on oil and gas supply from the Middle East –– have sought to strike agreements with Iran, while South Korea is seeing assistance from other regional players.

Oil and gas passing through the Strait of Hormuz accounts for 20% of the world’s consumption, according to the International Energy Agency, and the vast majority goes to Asia.

In a national address last week, Trump played down the United States’ reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, while suggesting that other countries that rely on oil transported through the strait to “take the lead” and “take care of that passage.”

A handful of Japan-linked ships have passed through the strait in recent days, said public broadcaster NHK. And Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday that work was underway to arrange talks with Iran’s president.

South Korea is also working on measures to ensure the safe passage of 26 South Korean-flagged vessels currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. Seoul said on Tuesday that it was dispatching a special envoy to Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia to secure alternative crude oil and naphtha supplies amid disruptions.

Last week, the Philippines’ foreign secretary secured assurances from the Iranian Foreign Ministry to allow “the safe, unhindered, and expeditious passage” through the strait for Philippine-flagged vessels, energy sources, and all Filipino seafarers.

Other Asian nations including India and Pakistan have also secured deals with Iran for the safe passage of some vessels.

12:47 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iranian minister calls on young people to form human chains around power plantsBy Lex Harvey

Iran’s deputy minister of youth and sports called on young people to form a “human chain” around the country’s power plants, following threats by President Donald Trump that the US will bomb Iran’s public infrastructure if it doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“I invite all youth, cultural and artistic figures,athletes, and champions to the national campaign “Iranian Youth’s Human Chain for a Bright Tomorrow,”” Alireza Rahimi wrote on X.

“Tomorrow, Tuesday at 14:00, beside power plants across the country, with every belief and taste, we will stand hand in hand to say: Attacking public infrastructure is a war crime.”

Over the weekend, Trump said Iran had until Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET to make a deal.

Some context: Iranian authorities have a record of violating international humanitarian law by recruiting child soldiers, particularly during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war in which tens of thousand of children were killed.

Late last month, the country’s revolutionary guards issued a call for citizen “volunteers” as young as 12 to help support the war effort, including participating in patrols, according to human rights group Amnesty International.

12:34 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Assassination of top commanders will not deter Iran's forces, supreme leader says

By Aida Karimi, Lex Harvey, Tim Lister and Eugenia Yosef

Brigadier General Majid Khademi, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization, speaks during an interview in Tehran.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said Iran’s forces are not be deterred by the assassinations of commanders, following the killing of the revolutionary guards’ top spy, Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, early Monday.

Khademi “spent decades in quiet and devoted service in the fields of security, intelligence and defense,” Khamenei said on Monday.

“Nonetheless, the unbroken ranks of the combatants and fighters on the path of truth in Islamic Iran, along with the self-sacrificing Armed Forces, form such a towering, deeply rooted front that terrorism and crime cannot even crack their resolve for jihadi ideals,” he said.

Khamenei’s comments came in a written statement. He has not been seen in public since he succeeded his father, Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated at the start of the war.

Israel has targeted dozens of senior political and military officials in Iran since the conflict began at the end of February.

Khademi’s assassination was confirmed by both Tehran and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said he was “directly responsible” for the deaths of Israeli civilians “and one of the three most senior figures” in the revolutionary guards (IRGC)

Also on Monday, Israel’s military said its air force had “eliminated” Asghar Bagheri, Commander of the IRGC Quds Force’s Special Operations Unit since 2019. Tehran has not commented on the claim.

12:34 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iran's IRGC says "delusional" Trump threats are "baseless"

By Satish Cheney

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said US President Donald Trump’s threats to blow up the country are “baseless” and vowed to continue fighting.

Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said “the rude rhetoric, arrogance and baseless threats of the delusional US president, arising from the deadlock he faces and aimed at justifying the repeated defeats of the US military” will not stop Iran from fighting.

“If attacks on non-civilian targets are repeated, our retaliatory response will be carried out far more forcefully and on a much wider scale,” he warned in a statement carried by state media on Tuesday.

Trump has repeatedly warned that the US could strike power plants, bridges and other infrastructure in Iran if Tehran fails to make a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil thoroughfare.

In a press conference on Monday, he said that Iran could be “taken out” in one night and said that “might” happen Tuesday evening. He had previously said Iran had until Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET to make a deal.

12:34 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Rescuers on scene after attack on residential area in Tehran: Iranian Red Crescent

Lex Harvey

By Lex Harvey and Ally Barnard

A video posted by the Iranian Red Crescent shows rescue workers responding to a residential area which the organization says was targeted by an airstrike early Tuesday (April 7, 2026). Iranian Red Crescent Society/Telegram

A video posted by the Iranian Red Crescent shows rescue workers in a residential area in Tehran which the organization says was targeted by an airstrike early Tuesday. Rescuers were searching through rubble of collapsed and damaged buildings. The Red Crescent did not disclose the exact location of the strike.

Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces said it conducted a wave of air strikes targeting Tehran and other parts of Iran.

12:34 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iran official says "shut up" isn’t the right response to Trump

Mohammed Tawfeeq

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

“‘Shut up’ is not the appropriate response to Trump’s ramblings; let him speak more,” Jalili wrote in a post on X.

“Nothing is more effective in laying bare the true nature of the United States than Trump’s outbursts,” he added.

Trump said in a press conference Monday that Iran could be “taken out” in one night, which “might” be Tuesday evening.

3:52 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iran urges Americans to hold US government accountable for "crimes"

Mohammed Tawfeeq

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei speaks during an interview in Tehran, Iran, on Monday.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei speaks during an interview in Tehran, Iran, on Monday. Majid-Asgaripour/Wana News Agency/Reuters

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei urged Americans on Monday to hold their government responsible for what he described as an “aggressive war” against Iran.

“The American people must hold their government accountable for the actions and crimes carried out in their name,” Baghaei added, according to ISNA.

12:35 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Iran says alleged US-Israeli strike hit country's nuclear fuel cycle

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

The plant, also known as the Shahid Rezayee Nejad facility, is a critical component of Iran’s nuclear fuel cycle and is located in Ardakan, Yazd Province.

The organization did not say when the strike happened or whether it damaged the facility, which processes uranium ore.

CNN has reached out to the US and Israel for comment.

12:35 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Main takeaways from Trump’s news conference on the Iran war

By Maureen Chowdhury

President Donald Trump said Monday at a White House news conference about the war that Iran could be “taken out in one night.”

Trump also said the US has a plan under which every bridge and power plant in Iran could be destroyed by midnight tomorrow.

Despite this, the president wouldn’t say whether the war is ramping up or winding down. Trump said that Iran is an “active, willing participant” in negotiations.

The president was joined by administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

If you’re just joining us, here are top headlines from the news conference:

Trump recounted some of the harrowing ordeal faced by the service member the US military rescued from inside Iran. He and Hegseth invoked God while praising the successful missions that rescued two US airmen following the downing of a fighter jet in Iran last week.

Trump said his administration is searching for the “leaker” behind initial reports that an Air Force officer was missing in Iran following the downing of his fighter jet. He also threatened jail time for the reporter who “did the story.”

Locating and rescuing the service member hiding in Iran after his jet was downed was a “daunting challenge,” Ratcliffe said.

Caine said that the US operation to rescue the downed American airman was successful because of the crew member’s “absolute commitment to surviving.”

Trump said not all his military advisers supported an operation to rescue the crew of a downed F-15E fighter jet in Iran.

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz must be part of a proposal to end the war with Iran, Trump said. The president later added that the US — rather than Iran — should impose a toll on ships passing through the critical waterway.

Trump repeatedly railed against US allies who he claims “didn’t help us” with the war in Iran, calling them out by name. He also suggested that the US’ widening rift with NATO began when he first suggested taking over Greenland.

Trump offered some insight into how he thinks about controlling oil in both Iran and Venezuela, as he’s said he would like to seize Iranian oil.

CNN’s Samantha Waldenberg, Kevin Liptak, Adam Cancryn, Elise Hammond, Aditi Sangal and Morgan Leason contributed to this report.

12:35 a.m. EDT, April 7, 2026

Qatar condemns Iranian strikes and urges diplomatic solution

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks in Doha, Qatar, on March 1.

Qatar has condemned Iran’s continued targeting of the emirate and other states in the region and urged a diplomatic solution to end the war in Middle East.

WEDNESDAY 4/8

WHO WON?

A8X06 mixed X06 FROM TIME

Hegseth Says Trump is “A President of Peace” After He Threatens to Wipe Out Iran

by Nik Popli and Philip Wang Published: Apr 7, 2026 6:57 PM ET Updated: Apr 8, 2026 12:50 AM ET

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday that President Trump is “a president of peace,” a day after Trump threatened to wipe out Iran’s civilization.

Would Trump’s Threatened Attacks on Iran’s Infrastructure Be a War Crime?

“Remember, this is a terror regime, a military regime, use all of these things for dual-use to fund their military, their terror campaign,” Hegseth said.

“Not a single thing we’ve done has put more American troops in harm's way. We’ve only set our troops up for Iranian military capabilities.”

Hegseth also said the U.S. military will be “hanging around” in the Middle East and prepared to restart the military operations “at a moment's notice” to ensure Iran’s compliance with the deal, including the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The abrupt pivot from annihilation to ceasefire came just two hours before an 8 p.m. deadline on Tuesday Trump imposed for Iran to meet a set of demands centered on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

IRAN AGREES TO A CEASEFIRE AND TALKS

“If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations,” the statement said. “For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

In a late Tuesday post on Truth Social, Trump said the U.S. “will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The ceasefire marked a sudden de-escalation after a day of extraordinary threats in which Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran did not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Since the early weeks of the war, Iran has effectively choked off traffic through the passage, triggering a global energy shock that has sent fuel prices soaring and rattled financial markets.

Israel said it supported the cease-fire, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it does not apply to Lebanon, contradicting an earlier statement by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Lebanon was drawn into the conflict after the Iran-aligned paramilitary Hezbollah began launching rockets towards Israeli military compounds, unleashing an Israeli bombing campaign that has killed more than 1,500 people and injured thousands of others in Beirut and Southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Israel has reportedly also been planning an extensive ground invasion of Lebanon.

WHY DID TRUMP PULL BACK?

TIME previously reported that Trump has grown increasingly eager to find an off-ramp. Polling has shown declining public support for the war, while rising fuel prices and market volatility have alarmed Republican lawmakers ahead of the midterm elections. At the same time, the President has been reluctant to end the conflict without being able to claim a decisive victory.

MOST SIGNIFICANT PAUSE SINCE CONFLICT BEGAN

While Trump has at various points declared the U.S. already “won” the war, he has also argued that the conflict cannot end until the Strait is reopened.

In Tehran and other cities, some residents formed human chains around bridges and power plants in symbolic acts of protection.

ATTACHMENT “C” – FROM CNN

DAY 40 OF MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT — ISRAEL ATTACKS LEBANON, IRAN SAYS SHIPPING STOPPED IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ

UPDATED 3:34 AM EDT, THU APRIL 9, 2026

Our live coverage has ended

• Follow the latest updates on the war with Iran here.

Allcatch up

133 Posts

12:10 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

What we know so far

By CNN staff

• Fragile ceasefire tested: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz stopped following what it said was an Israeli ceasefire violation in Lebanon. The White House previously said the ceasefire would continue if the strait stays open.

• Strikes in Lebanon: The Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire between the US and Iran does not include operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. At least 182 were killed and hundreds wounded, according to the Lebanese health ministry, after Israel said it carried out the largest coordinated strike on Lebanon since the war began.

• Talks in Pakistan: Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will go to Islamabad, Pakistan, for Iran talks beginning Saturday. However, the speaker of Iran’s parliament alleged today that parts of Iran’s proposal were violated before the talks even begin.

12:04 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

US military to remain "in place" until full agreement is reached with Iran, Trump says

By Lex Harvey

All US ships, aircraft, weapons, military personnel will remain “in place, in and around, Iran” until a full agreement is reached, US President Donald Trump said in a post to Truth Social late Wednesday.

“If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the “Shootin’ Starts,” bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” Trump wrote.

Iran must have “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE,” Trump added.

Negotiations between the US and Iran are set to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday.

Trump finished his post by writing: “In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest. AMERICA IS BACK”

11:29 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran FM held talks with Saudi counterpart, Tehran says

By Lex Harvey

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had a phone call with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Tehran’s foreign ministry said on Telegram early Thursday.

The ministers “discussed bilateral relations and regional developments,” Tehran said, without specifying when the call took place.

Saudi Arabian state media said bin Farhan received calls from the foreign ministers of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Turkey in a statement Wednesday evening local time, which did not mention Iran.

Some context: Saudi Arabia and Iran are regional powerhouses that have competed for political and economic clout for decades. Underlying that competition are deep divisions among the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam, practiced by the majority of people in Saudi Arabia and Iran respectively.

Iran and Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic relations in 2023 after a seven-year freeze following Riyadh’s execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. However, Iran has struck targets in Saudi Arabia, including oil refineries, repeatedly throughout the war.

CNN has reached out to the Saudi foreign affairs ministry for comment.

Read more

3:34 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Satellite imagery shows smoke and fire at critical Saudi oil processing facility hours after ceasefire announced

By Isaac Yee

This satellite imagery shows large plumes of thick black smoke rising at Saudi Aramco’s vital Abqaiq processing facility following earlier reports of an Iranian drone attack on Wednesday.

European Space Agency/Copernicus

New satellite imagery provided by the European Space Agency shows large plumes of thick black smoke rising from Saudi Aramco’s vital Abqaiq processing facility following earlier reports of an Iranian attack on Wednesday.

The image was taken on April 8 at around 10:00 a.m. local time (03:00 a.m. ET) just hours after President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.

Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq facility is the world’s largest crude stabilization plant and provides around 5% of global oil supplies, according to the company. The facility processes sour crude oil and processes it into sweet crude oil before it gets transported to both Saudi Arabia’s east and west coast via the East-West Pipeline.

The pipeline is one of two out of the region that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, where the war in Iran has caused significant trade disruption. Transporting crude across the country connecting Abqaiq, an oil field near the eastern gulf coast, with the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the pipeline has become a crucial part of the nation’s oil export trade since the effective shuttering of Hormuz.

Saudi Aramco declined to comment when contacted by CNN.

This post has been updated with additional information

Read more

10:44 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Asian markets temper the early optimism that greeted Iran ceasefire

By Stephanie Yang

Equity markets in Asia are giving up some of their gains made after news of a ceasefire in Iran, as profound uncertainty remains over the future of the agreement and whether ships will be allowed to freely transit the Strait of Hormuz.

On Thursday, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index opened down 0.6% while China’s Shanghai Composite index declined 0.6% as of 10:15 am local time. South Korea’s Kospi also fell 1.11%, while Japan’s benchmark index Nikkei 225 was trading 0.6% down.

Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 2.6% to $96.89 a barrel and Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, rose 2.1% to $96.75 a barrel.

Thursday’s moves are a slight reversal from the initial market reaction to the two-week ceasefire that US and Iran announced this week. On Wednesday, US crude prices plunged 16.4%, while the Dow had its best day in a year. The two nations are expected to continue negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, starting Saturday.

However, the fragile peace has already encountered some snags. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard said shipping through the Strait of Hormuz had stopped following Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which it considered a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

Historic crisis: The US and Israel’s war against Iran — and the effective closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz — has caused the biggest oil supply shock on record, choking off roughly 12 million to 15 million barrels of crude oil a day.

Analysts have warned that it will take months for the disruption caused by more than a month of fighting to subside. Meanwhile any further conflict could continue to have an inflationary effect on oil prices, if it leads to physical scarcity, high insurance premiums or additional fees to ensure safe passage of vessels.

Read more

10:08 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Shipping execs cautious on Strait of Hormuz transits amid fragile US-Iran ceasefire

By Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong

A view of sea vessels near the Strait of Hormuz following the two-week temporary ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran on the condition that the strait be reopened, seen from Oman on Wednesday.

Shadi J. H. Alassar/Anadolu/Getty Images

The shipping industry is trying to glean more details on how vessels can safely transit the critical Strait of Hormuz during the two-week US-Iran ceasefire.

“It’s too early to tell,” said Mandarin Shipping Chairman Tim Huxley after the ceasefire was announced. “For sure, some ships will now exit the area but it’s still tense.”

Roberto Giannetta, Chairman of the Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association, is wary of strait crossings because of a lack of security certainty.

“If I were a shipowner or operator stuck in the Persian Gulf, I would wait a few days to see how the US, Israel, and Iran respond to this planned ceasefire. If it looks likely to be sticking, I may try moving my vessels out in the second week, or in a cluster or convoy together with other ships,” he said.

Insurance for the sector remains high. Underwriters see the truce as a positive development overall, but one that carries a number of risks including a lack of clarity over which Iranian authority is in charge of approving the transits, and which ships will cross first in a narrow window of time.

“This is very much a watch and wait situation,” said Simon Kaye, Global Director of Reinsurance for NorthStandard, which provides liability insurance for much of the world’s shipping fleet.

“It can’t be a complete rush to the exits. Each ship needs to get special dispensation to transit the strait. As a result of that, will there be preference for Gulf states, US ships, or anyone else who back-channeled through Tehran?”

“And getting the ships out during a two week period will be very difficult indeed,” Kaye added.

Only three vessels were tracked crossing the strait on Wednesday, according to Lloyd’s List.

According to Marine Traffic data, hundreds of vessels remain trapped in the region including 426 tankers, 34 LPG carriers and 19 LNG ships.

“I do see it as a ‘potential’ good opportunity to get ships OUT of the Persian Gulf,” Giannetta added about the two-week ceasefire deal.

“I’m not so sure that shipping lines will be queuing up to send ships back in.”

Read more

11:37 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel in first attack since ceasefire

By Lex Harvey and Tori B. Powell

Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy militia in Lebanon, said early Thursday it fired rockets at northern Israel in response to Israeli ceasefire violations, in its first attack since the deal was reached, Reuters news agency reported.

Israel’s military hammered Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting more than 100 sites in just 10 minutes in its largest coordinated strikes since the war began, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

At least 182 people were killed in the strikes and nearly 900 wounded, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire between the US and Iran does not include operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz stopped following what it said was an Israeli ceasefire violation in Lebanon.

9:25 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Thailand confirms three sailors missing after Hormuz attack last month are dead

By Chris Lau and Kocha Olarn

The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz, on March 11.

Royal Thai Navy/Reuters

Three crew members of a Thai-flagged vessel that came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz last month have been confirmed dead, the country’s foreign minister said.

The 180-meter-long bulk carrier, Mayuree Naree, was struck on March 11 with 23 crewmen aboard while traveling through the waterway, triggering a rescue mission by the Oman authorities that saved 20 of the crew.

“Unfortunately, the three remaining crew members we found eventually, they lost their lives in the incident,” Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said in a press conference on Wednesday.

He said he would visit Oman later this month to thank authorities for their rescue efforts and to seek assistance from authorities, who have been in touch with Tehran, in securing safe passage for nine Thai ships still stranded in the strait.

CNN has spoken to a surviving member and the wife of one of the missing sailors.

A Thai crew member of the bulk carrier Mayuree Naree arrives at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on March 16, 2026.

Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP/Getty Images

Sommai Butdee, 58, looks at her mobile phone with her friend, as they wait for news of Sommai's nephew, Panupong Muentan, one of three Thai crew members who are confirmed dead.

Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters

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8:06 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

NATO chief says he understands Trump’s “disappointment” with allies over Iran

By Michael Rios

NATO chief says he understands Trump’s “disappointment” with allies over Iran

00:39

US President Donald Trump is “clearly disappointed” with many NATO allies for not supporting the US and Israel’s war on Iran to the extent he wanted, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said after meeting with Trump on Wednesday.

Rutte, who described the meeting as a frank and open discussion between “two good friends,” told CNN’s Jake Tapper that he understood the president’s disappointment. But he said he pointed out to Trump that many European nations helped in other ways, including by providing logistics, overflights, basing and other support.

The president, however, continued to lash out at NATO allies following the meeting.

“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.“REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!”

Asked ahead of the meeting if the US was still considering withdrawing from NATO, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump would likely discuss the matter with Rutte.

Rutte declined to answer whether the president said he would attempt a withdrawal.

“Well, as I said, there is a disappointment, clearly, but at the same time, he was also listening (carefully) to my arguments of what is happening,” Rutte said when pressed on the matter.

Rutte insisted that much of Europe supports the president when it comes to taking out Iran’s capacity to “export chaos.”

In a statement released earlier today, the leaders of a host of European countries welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States and said “our governments will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

This post has been updated with additional details.

Read more

11:39 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

The latest on Israel's massive strikes across Lebanon and the tenuous US-Iran ceasefire

By Tori B. Powell

Civil defence workers gather near wreckage of a building that was demolished in an Israeli air strike in Beirut, on Wednesday.

Marwan Naamani/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

In the span of 10 minutes, Israel targeted more than 100 sites across Lebanon on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces said, describing it as the largest coordinated strikes on the country since the war began.

The strike sites were located in Beirut, Beqaa and southern Lebanon, it added, claiming they were linked to Hezbollah. At least 182 people were killed in the strikes and nearly 900 injured, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The strikes hit “peaceful, unarmed civilians,” Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said. CNN reported damages to residential buildings and local businesses

The Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire between the US and Iran does not include operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz stopped following what it said was an Israeli ceasefire violation in Lebanon.

Here are the key headlines from the Middle East and on the US-Iran ceasefire:

The White House on the ceasefire details:

· Vice President JD Vance, who will lead the US negotiation team in Pakistan on Saturday, said Israel may “check themselves a little bit” with strikes on Lebanon during the ceasefire.

· Vance restated that if Iran does not follow through on promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the ceasefire will end.

· The vice president also said there were three different 10-point proposals, which have contributed to confusion about what’s forming the basis of negotiations.

· You can also recap White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s comments on the ceasefire.

Analysis: Has anything changed after the Iran ...

01:02

From Iran:

· Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, alleged that three clauses of Iran’s 10-point proposal — described as an agreed framework for negotiations — have been violated before talks with the US have even started.

· Meanwhile, an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq threatened renewed action against Israel, also accusing it of violating pledges and targeting civilians in Lebanon.

On gas prices:

· Oil prices fell sharply today after the ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect, spurring hopes that oil tankers would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

· It will “take some time” before changes to traffic in the Strait of Hormuz are felt by US consumers at the pump, said Tom Kloza, chief energy adviser for major American oil company Gulf Oil.

· Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, announced he is suspending the state’s 7% use tax on fuel, which comes to 17.2 cents per gallon in April.

CNN’s Michael Rios, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Dana Karni, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Kit Maher, Riane Lumer, Adam Cancryn, Donald Judd and Tal Shalev contributed reporting.

Read more

6:29 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Macron condemns "indiscriminate" Israeli strikes in Lebanon

By Michael Rios

French President Emmanuel Macron walks to greet two French nationals freed by Iran after more than three years in detention, in Paris, on Wednesday.

Tom Nicholson/Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he described today as “indiscriminate” strikes by Israel in Lebanon.

He said he spoke with the Lebanese president and prime minister today and expressed France’s full solidarity in the face of the deadly attacks, which Israel said targeted more than 100 command centers and military sites of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The strikes “pose a direct threat to the sustainability of the ceasefire that has just been reached,” Macron said in a post on X, adding: “Lebanon must be fully covered by it.”

He said he relayed a similar message earlier today to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump.

“I told both of them that their decision to accept a ceasefire was the best possible one,” he said. “I expressed my hope that the ceasefire will be fully respected by each of the belligerents, across all areas of confrontation, including in Lebanon. This is a necessary condition for the ceasefire to be credible and lasting.”

Trump said earlier that NATO allies “were tested and failed” when he launched a war with Iran and they did not come to the United States’ aid, according to a statement relayed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Read more

6:05 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Only a "trickle" of oil is leaving Strait of Hormuz right now, Gulf Oil adviser says

By Elise Hammond

Carlos Ferre puts fuel in his vehicle at a gas station on April 6, in Miami.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The chief energy adviser for major American oil company Gulf Oil said any changes to traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will “take some time” to be felt by US consumers at the pump.

Tom Kloza said he is currently “not seeing the evidence of more crude oil departing” the strait, even though the reopening of the critical waterway was reportedly a condition of the two-week ceasefire that was agreed upon Tuesday night.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed sharply and then stopped following what it said was an Israeli ceasefire violation in Lebanon.

“I would emphasize these are really baby steps right now. There’s no indication that the strait is going to reopen, and it seems like a flimsy ceasefire, to say what’s obvious,” Kloza told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

He said there is just “a trickle” leaving the region and that, because of fragility of the deal, the people who send oil through the Strait of Hormuz “would be very reluctant to do so” right now.

“It looks as though we’re weeks away from any restoration of even 50% or 70% of the Strait of Hormuz traffic that we depend on,” Kloza said.

Hear what else Kloza said about the situation in the Middle East:

Is more oil actually moving through the Strait of Hormuz?

00:44

Read more

5:57 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Indiana suspends gas use tax for 30 days amid high prices

By Tami Luhby

Traffic flowing on I465 in Indianapolis on March 17.

Michael Conroy/AP

Drivers in Indiana will get a bit of a break at the pump for the next month.

Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, announced Wednesday that he is suspending the state’s 7% use tax on fuel, which comes to 17.2 cents per gallon in April. The move could save Indiana drivers a total of about $50 million, Braun said at a press conference.

“I am declaring a gas tax holiday to give Hoosiers relief from the pain at the pump from high gas prices,” he said in a statement declaring the suspension.

The month-long holiday goes into effect immediately but may not be reflected at gas stations until later this week or next week, Braun said. The governor will review whether the suspension – which does not affect the state’s 36 cents per gallon gas tax – needs to be extended at the end of the 30 days.

A gallon of regular gas cost an average of $4.14 cents in Indiana on Wednesday, up from $3.47 a month ago, according to AAA. The price of gas has skyrocketed since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran in late February.

Georgia’s GOP Gov. Brian Kemp in March suspended the state’s 33.3 cents per gallon gas tax for two months.

Read more

5:35 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran says Strait of Hormuz traffic halted after alleged ceasefire violation

By Mohammed Tawfeeq and Yong Xiong

Boats are seen off the coast of Musandam governorate, overlooking the strait of Hormuz, in Oman on Wednesday.

Reuters

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed Thursday that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed sharply and then stopped following what it said was an Israeli ceasefire violation in Lebanon.

According to MarineTraffic vessel-tracking data, no ships are currently shown transiting the Strait of Hormuz. That follows an earlier report that traffic had begun to resume after a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran took effect Tuesday.

Tehran’s accusation against Israel came as the White House maintained that Lebanon is not part of the fragile ceasefire deal between the US and Iran. Israel today launched its largest strikes on Lebanon, inflicting heavy casualties, Lebanese authorities said.

The IRGC said one of the plan’s key provisions is Iran’s continued “smart management” of the Strait of Hormuz. It claimed that US President Donald Trump accepted that the strait would remain “under Iran’s control.”

According to the statement, two oil tankers it said were confirmed to be Iranian-owned transited the strait early in the day, and a tanker from China’s fleet also passed safely.

The IRGC said additional tanker traffic did not follow and that “all ship traffic” through the strait was halted minutes after Israel launched what it described as a large-scale attack on Lebanon. The Iranians said that attack violated the ceasefire agreement.

The IRGC also said one vessel that was scheduled to transit at 10 p.m. changed course near the strait and turned back.

Read more

4:36 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Lebanon says Israeli strikes today have killed 182 people and injured 890 others

By Tamara Qiblawi, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

A man looks at destroyed cars as a building burns after an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Wednesday.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Wednesday that Israeli strikes across multiple parts of the country, including the capital, Beirut, have killed at least 182 people, according to an updated death toll.

An additional 890 people were wounded in today’s attacks, according to the ministry.

The ministry described the figures as preliminary and said the toll reflects information available so far.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a statement today that Thursday will be a national day of mourning for victims of Israeli attacks that he said hit “hundreds of peaceful, unarmed civilians.”

Salam “is continuing contacts with Arab and international officials in an effort to … halt the violence,” the statement added.

This evening, the Israel Defense Forces launched a fresh strike on Beirut after earlier completing what it called the largest coordinated strike in Lebanon since the war began.

CNN’s team on the ground in Beirut witnessed multiple airstrikes on the Lebanese capital on Wednesday.

Smoke rises following several Israeli airstrikes in Beirut on Wednesday.

Hassan Ammar/AP

For context: Prior to today’s update, at least 1,739 people had been killed and 5,873 wounded since the war began, according to figures from the health ministry on Tuesday.

This post has been updated with additional information.

Read more

4:37 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

As ceasefire talks progressed, Netanyahu didn't know which path Trump would pick, sources say

By Tal Shalev

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference in Jerusalem on March 19.

Ronen Zvulun/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

As the United States and Iran engaged in ceasefire talks on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knew that the negotiations were advancing, but he remained uncertain what his ally, US President Donald Trump, would decide, Israeli sources told CNN.

On the ground, Israel was preparing for a last-minute extension of Trump’s deadline. But at the same time, the army was standing by for a further escalation, three Israeli sources said.

Two of these sources said plans were in place for a combined US-Israeli operation against Iran’s national infrastructure, with targets identified.

“It is all one man’s decision,” a senior Israeli official told CNN two hours before Trump’s deadline was due to expire. It was unclear which path Trump would pick, but the official said there were “many surrounding Trump pushing to end this.” The source noted that Vice President JD Vance – on a visit to Hungary to support the reelection campaign of MAGA ally Victor Orban – played a “substantial” role.

Netanyahu was ultimately informed of Trump’s decision shortly before it was made public.

In a speech on Wednesday, Netanyahu said the ceasefire came into effect “in full coordination with Israel” and that his country was not caught by surprise.

For the past few weeks, Netanyahu knew that negotiations might lead to a temporary ceasefire, but was highly skeptical that a deal was achievable, even as talks progressed on Tuesday, an Israeli source said.

The source said Netanyahu conveyed his concerns in recent discussions with Trump, stressing Israel’s demands that Iran’s capabilities to enrich uranium and develop ballistic missiles be eliminated, as well as curbing the activity of its proxies in the region.

An Israeli source familiar with the talks said Israel worked overnight with the US to ensure it wouldn’t accept the Iranian demand to have Lebanon part of the ceasefire agreement.

Read more

4:48 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Vance says there have been three different 10-point proposals

By Donald Judd

Vance says there have been three different 10-point proposals

00:38

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday there have been three different 10-point proposals, which has contributed to confusion about what’s forming the basis of negotiations.

“The first 10-point proposal was something that was submitted, and we think, frankly, was probably written by ChatGPT, that was submitted to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that immediately went in the garbage and was rejected,” Vance told reporters as he was leaving Hungary.

“There was a second 10-point proposal that was much more reasonable that was based on some back and forth between us, between the Pakistanis and between the Iranians. That is the 10-point proposal that the president was referencing in his Truth yesterday,” Vance added.

He criticized a third 10-point proposal that he said he’s seen on social media as “even more maximalist” than the first.

That initial proposal was put forward by “little more than a random yahoo in Iran,” Vance said, as he lashed out at the media for its coverage of it. But that statement — which said Iran achieved a great victory and forced the United States to accept its 10-point plan as a basis for negotiations — was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on by multiple Iranian state media outlets.

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4:07 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Oil prices drop below $95 per barrel as fragile US-Iran ceasefire takes effect

By John Towfighi

A bird rests on a street light near the Chevron El Segundo refinery, in El Segundo, California, on Wednesday. California imports approximately 75 percent of its crude oil, nearly one-third of it from the Middle East.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Oil prices fell sharply Wednesday after a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect, spurring hopes that oil tankers would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

West Texas Intermediate, the US crude oil benchmark, tumbled 16.41% to settle at $94.41 per barrel. Still, crude is well above the $67 per barrel level it settled at on February 27, before the war began.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, dropped 13.29% to settle at $94.75 per barrel, its lowest settle price since March 11 — but also still well above its $73 per barrel level on February 27.

Both WTI and Brent posted their biggest single-day declines since April 2020. US oil prices fell as much as 19% earlier to $91.03 per barrel before paring some losses as uncertainty swirls about the state of the ceasefire and whether more oil tankers will actually be able to pass through the critical strait.

Oil prices “settle” each day around 2:30 p.m. ET but continue to trade nearly 24 hours during the week.

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4:12 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Vance dismisses Iranian claim that US violated ceasefire, says talks progressing

By Adam Cancryn

US Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media before boarding Air Force Two in Budapest, Hungary, on Wednesday.

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday criticized the speaker of Iran’s parliament for claiming that the US had violated the ceasefire deal, saying Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s complaints “didn’t make sense.”

“I actually wonder how good he is at understanding English, because there are things that he said that, frankly, didn’t make sense in the context of the negotiations that we’ve had,” Vance told reporters outside Air Force Two, as he was leaving Hungary to return to the US.

Hours before, Ghalibaf posted a statement on X that claimed the US had broken the countries’ Tuesday night agreement by failing to halt strikes on Lebanon, violating Iranian airspace and denying Iran’s right to uranium enrichment.

While Vance allowed that “ceasefires are always messy,” he insisted that the US was abiding by the ceasefire and that negotiations were still progressing along.

He also rejected Iran’s claim that Lebanon was protected by the ceasefire and that Iran could continue with enrichment, arguing that the US never agreed to the point on Lebanon and one of President Donald Trump’s primary demands is for the regime to give up its enriched uranium.

A woman who survived an Israeli airstrike is rescued by a firefighter from a destroyed building in central Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

Emilio Morenatti/AP

“We don’t really concern ourselves with what they claim they have the right to do,” Vance said. “We concern ourselves with what they actually do.”

Vance also sought to strike a positive note on the state of the talks, casting Ghalibaf’s statement as a sign that “there’s a lot of points of agreement” outside of his specific complaints.

“He said that there are a few points of disagreement,” Vance said. “Well, that must mean that there’s a lot of points of agreement because there’s a 15-point plan floating around. There’s a 10-point plan floating around.”

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5:34 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Vance reiterates that ceasefire won't last if the strait doesn't reopen

By Riane Lumer

Vance reiterates that ceasefire won't last if the strait doesn't reopen

00:14

Vice President JD Vance restated today that if Iran does not follow through on promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the ceasefire will end.

“The president is very, very clear the deal is a ceasefire, a negotiation. That’s what we give, and what they give is that straits are going to be reopened. If we don’t see that happening, the president is not going to abide by our terms, if the Iranians are not abiding by their terms,” Vance told reporters outside of Air Force Two as he left Hungary.

The comments echo those made by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier in the day.

Vance added that the agreement is in a “good spot,” but vowed the Iranian regime will face “serious consequences” if they break their terms of the agreement.

“Fundamentally, we’re in a good spot. They’re reopening the straits. We have a ceasefire. And frankly, if they break their end of the bargain, then they’re going to see some serious consequences,” Vance said

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3:41 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Carnage and destruction in Lebanon are "horrific," UN rights chief says

By Lauren Said-Moorhouse

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk speaks at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on February 23, 2026.

Valentin Flauraud/AP/File

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned the Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, saying such carnage defies belief.

“The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific,” the UN rights chief said.

“Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief. It places enormous pressure on a fragile peace, which is so desperately needed by civilians,” he continued.

Throughout the day, Israel, the United States and Pakistan — which helped mediate with Iran — have said different things about whether Lebanon was included in the temporary ceasefire.

Pakistan’s position is that Lebanon was included, but Israel and the White House said that was not the case.

The Israeli military earlier said it carried out 100 strikes against Hezbollah command centers and military sites, in what it described as the largest coordinated strike in Lebanon since the start of this conflict.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said this evening that the attacks across the country have killed at least 112 people and wounded hundreds more. The strikes, which came with no warning, have left residents in the Lebanese capital in a state of fear.

Rescue team works at a damaged building in the Barbour neighborhood of Beirut on Wednesday after an Israeli strike.

Nael Chahine/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images

Before today’s attacks, at least 1,530 people had been killed and 4,812 wounded in Lebanon since the start of the war, according to Health Ministry figures on Tuesday.

Türk reiterated that international humanitarian law protects civilians and civilian infrastructure.

“Each and every attack must comply with international humanitarian law fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions to protect civilians,” Türk said. “These principles are non-negotiable, and must always be respected, whatever the circumstances of armed conflict.”

He added: “There must be prompt and independent investigations into all alleged violations, and those responsible brought to justice.”

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3:53 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Vance says Israel may "check themselves a little bit in Lebanon"

By Kit Maher

A screengrab shows Vice President JD Vance speaking with reporters in front of Air Force Two.

Pool

Vice President JD Vance said that the Israelis may “check themselves a little bit” with ongoing strikes on Lebanon amid the two-week ceasefire, adding that he will receive a full report on Air Force Two on his way back to the United States from Hungary.

Vance told reporters if Israel cools off on Lebanon, it’s not because that’s a condition of the ceasefire, but rather due to Israel’s good faith toward the United States and wanting negotiations with Iran to be “successful.”

“Look, if Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart in a conflict where they were getting hammered over Lebanon -— which has nothing to do with them — and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire, that’s ultimately their choice,” Vance said.

Vance said he believes “a legitimate misunderstanding” occurred with Iran, who he said mistakenly understood that Lebanon would be included in the ceasefire.

“I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t. We never made that promise. We never indicated that was going to be the case,” Vance said. “What we said is that the ceasefire would be focused on Iran, and the ceasefire would be focused on America’s allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states.”

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3:20 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iraqi militia threatens to punish Israel following strikes in Lebanon

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Lebanese soldiers at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut on Wednesday.

Yara Nardi/Reuters

An Iranian-backed militia in Iraq has threatened renewed action against Israel, accusing it of violating pledges and targeting civilians in Lebanon.

This threat came after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday and followed Israel’s deadly strikes on Lebanon today that killed at least 112 people, according to Lebanese authorities.

The head of the group, Akram al-Kaabi, condemned Israel’s “recklessness,” alleging it routinely breaks agreements and acts with “treachery, lies and deceit.”

“In view of the continuing Zionist enemy’s recklessness and its violation of pledges and covenants and its targeting of our people in Lebanon … the Resistance Front will return to discipline it with force,” al-Kaabi said in a statement today.

The statement added that Israel would “regret this treachery,” claiming that “times have changed, and circumstances have shifted.”

Al-Kaabi’s militia, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, is part of a network of Iranian-aligned armed groups in Iraq that describe themselves as the “Islamic Resistance.” The statement did not specify what actions the group might take or provide details on timing.

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3:03 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Jerusalem holy sites to reopen tomorrow

By Dana Karni and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

The old city of Jerusalem, with al-Aqsa Mosque and its Dome of the Rock, on Wednesday.

Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images

Holy sites in Jerusalem will reopen to visitors and worshippers on Thursday morning, Israeli police say.

“Hundreds of police officers, Border Police forces, and volunteers will be deployed throughout the city, along major routes, in the Old City, and at holy sites, in order to enable safe access for all worshippers and visitors while upholding a safe environment for the freedom of worship, maintaining public order, and ensuring public safety,” according to a statement from the Police Spokesperson’s Unit.

Authorities expect it to be busy and have asked the public to remain patient, listen to police instructions and report any concerns.

The announcement was made shortly after Israel said it was loosening wartime restrictions, paving the way for schools and workplaces to reopen.

Israeli authorities had restricted access to religious sites in East Jerusalem amid the war with Iran, including al-Aqsa Mosque, the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Last month, there was widespread backlash when two senior leaders of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem were initially blocked from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to mark the start of Holy Week on Palm Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly reversed the security precaution and granted them access. Arrangements were made between church leaders and officials for the rest of the Easter week.

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3:41 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran's Ghalibaf says three clauses of 10-point proposal violated before talks begin

By Michael Rios and Mohammed Tawfeeq

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf in Tehran on February 1.

Hamed Malekpour/Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency/West Asia News Agency/Reuters/FILE

The speaker of the Iranian parliament is alleging that three clauses of Iran’s 10-point proposal – described as an agreed framework for negotiations – have been violated before talks with the US have even started.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed that Iran’s call for a ceasefire in Lebanon has been ignored, that a drone entered its airspace in violation of a clause prohibiting such a move, and that Iran’s right to enrichment has not been recognized.

“In such situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable,” he said.

CNN has reached out to the White House for comment.

The US has not conducted military strikes against Iran since the ceasefire started, a US official told CNN.

The White House has previously said that Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire and that the enrichment of uranium in Iran must end.

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2:55 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

What you need to know about the Iran ceasefire after the White House press briefing

By Nina Giraldo

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, on Wednesday.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt took questions from reporters as the US and Iran’s fragile ceasefire is being tested today. Both countries have portrayed the agreement as a victory, but since then, Israel declared the largest coordinated strike in Lebanon and Iran responded by halting oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, semi-official news agency Fars reported.

The briefing took place as Iran’s foreign minister said the terms of the ceasefire are “clear and explicit,” arguing that Washington must choose between upholding a ceasefire or pursuing what he described as “continued war via Israel.”

Here’s what Leavitt told reporters today:

· Leavitt defended President Donald Trump’s threat to wipe out an entire civilization, telling reporters his “very tough rhetoric and his tough negotiating style is what has led to the result that you are all witnessing today.”

· Lebanon is not part of the two-week ceasefire deal between the US and Iran as Israeli strikes pounded the country’s capital today, Leavitt reiterated.

· Iran has assured the White House it is allowing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, despite reports of Tehran once again closing the waterway.

· Trump has “floated” the idea the US should earn revenue from the Strait of Hormuz, which will be discussed over the next two weeks.

· Iran’s highly enriched uranium is at the top of Trump’s priority list as negotiations with Tehran enter their next phase, the White House said.

· Trump is sending Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to negotiate with Iran in Pakistan this weekend, according to Leavitt.

· Trump said NATO allies “were tested and failed” when they did not come to the United States’ aid during the war.

CNN’s Eugenia Yosef, Lauren Kent, Nechirvan Mando, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Donald Judd, Riane Lumer, Christian Sierra, Aditi Sangal, Kit Maher and Izzy Lippolis contributed to this report.

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4:14 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Rubble and destruction seen across Lebanon following barrage of Israeli airstrikes

By CNN staff

Israel’s military said it carried out the largest coordinated strike in Lebanon since the war began.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed to strike 100 Hezbollah command centers and military sites. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said the attacks killed at least 112 and wounded hundreds more.

Here are snapshots of areas impacted by blasts:

Rescuers work amid rubble at the site of an Israeli strike in Tyre, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

Adnan Abidi/Reuters

A fireball rises from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in the area of Abbasiyeh, on the outskirts of of Tyre, on Wednesday.

Kawnat Haju/AFP via Getty Images

A woman is assisted at the site of an airstrike on an apartment building in Beirut on Wednesday.

Bilal Hussein/AP

Firefighters try to put out flames at the apartment building in Beirut.

Bilal Hussein/AP

Smoke rises from an airstrike at the Corniche al-Mazraa neighborhood in Beirut on Wednesday.

Ibrahim Amro/AFP via Getty Images

Smoke rises from the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

Firefighters, volunteers and first responders work at the site of an airstrike in Beirut.

Hassan Ammar/AP

Rescuers search for victims in a destroyed building in Beirut on Wednesday.

Emilio Morenatti/AP

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2:25 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran's enriched uranium high on Trump's "priority list," White House says

By Izzy Lippolis

The Natanz nuclear complex in Iran, pictured on March 7.

Vantor/AP

Iran’s highly enriched uranium is at the top of President Donald Trump’s priority list as negotiations with Tehran enter their next phase, the White House said.

“This is on the top of the priority list for the president and his negotiating team as they head into these next round of discussions,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday, saying Iran’s enriched uranium is a “red line” Trump is not backing away from.

“This is a red line that the president is not going to back away from, and he’s committed to ensuring that takes place. We hope it will be through diplomacy,” she added.

Trump said earlier Wednesday that the US would work with Iran to “dig up and remove” the uranium.

“There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear ‘Dust,’” he wrote on Truth Social.

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2:20 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

"What kind of life is this?" Fear grips Beirut residents amid Israeli strikes

By Nada Bashir, Charbel Mallo and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

A woman who survived an Israeli airstrike cries as she is rescued by a firefighter from a destroyed building in central Beirut on Wednesday.

Emilio Morenatti/AP

The sudden Israeli attacks in Beirut on Wednesday have caused widespread panic among many in the Lebanese capital.

In the space of 10 minutes, a CNN team saw four strikes in the early afternoon, resulting in huge plumes of black smoke and an immediate response by ambulances and emergency services.

At one blast site, in the Mazraa neighborhood, the shell of a blackened building and pile of rubble were all that remained. Residential buildings and local businesses were damaged, while scorched and burned-out vehicles sat in a parking lot nearby. First responders worked to recover bodies from the debris.

This was an area that would have been bustling with people visiting shops in the early afternoon.

“We were sitting drinking coffee, like normal, and then we heard a very loud noise,” said Rasha, a resident who witnessed another strike near her home in the Manara area of Beirut. “Three blasts at the same time. And then we saw the smoke, but we couldn’t tell where it was coming from. All the glass smashed.”

Later, around 7 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET), another strike hit the Tallet el-Khayat area, causing a multistory building to partially collapse. A CNN journalist on the scene saw first responders rescuing at least three people from the debris.

Throughout the day, amid the cacophony of emergency response sirens, the buzz of drones could be heard overheard, sparking fear among the residents below.

First responders and residents stand amid rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's Corniche al-Mazraa neighbourhood on Wednesday.

Ibrahim Amro/AFP/Getty Images

The Israel Defense Forces have generally issued evacuation warnings for past strikes, but areas outside previous evacuation zones were hit on Wednesday. The Israeli military says its targets consisted of Hezbollah command and control centers and military systems.

After a day of heavy explosions in multiple areas of the capital, a nervousness hung over its residents tonight.

Rasha added: “What kind of life is this? You don’t know what will happen in the next hour. The last thing we could imagine is that this kind of attack could occur in the heart of Beirut.”

A man walks at the site of an Israeli strike, in Al-Mazraa in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

Yara Nardi/Reuters

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3:05 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Israel has more objectives to achieve, Netanyahu says after ceasefire

By Tal Shalev, Dana Karni and Michael Rios

Netanyahu: We have more goals to complete

00:40

Israel has more objectives to complete against Iran and intends to achieve them either through agreement or renewed fighting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech Wednesday.

“We are prepared to return to combat at any moment required. Our finger is on the trigger,” he warned after the US and Iran agreed in principle to a two-week ceasefire, which Israel is also a part of.

Netanyahu said the ceasefire came into effect “in full coordination with Israel” and that his country was not caught by surprise.

The prime minister insisted that the pause in fighting does not mark the end of its campaign against Iran.

“This is preparation on the way to achieving all of our objectives. Iran is entering these negotiations beaten, weaker than ever,” he said, claiming that Israel had crushed Iran’s military industry and that it would remove enriched uranium from the country – either by making an agreement or by renewed fighting.

He reiterated that the ceasefire does not include operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon: “We are continuing to strike forcefully. Hezbollah suffered the most severe strike today since the beeper operation,” he said referring to a September 2024 Israeli attack on thousand of Hezbollah-held pagers.

Netanyahu was speaking ahead of a security cabinet meeting he is set to convene to discuss the ceasefire.

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2:10 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

White House reiterates that Israeli strikes on Lebanon are not part of temporary ceasefire

By Riane Lumer

Rescuers search for victims in a destroyed building that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

Emilio Morenatti/AP

The White House reiterated that Lebanon is not part of the fragile two-week ceasefire deal between the US and Iran as Israel launched its largest strikes on the country.

“Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire. That has been relayed to all parties involved in the ceasefire. As you know, Prime Minister Netanyahu put out a statement last night in support of the ceasefire, in support of the United States’ efforts, and he’s also assured the president they’ll continue to be a helpful partner throughout the course of the next two weeks,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at Wednesday’s briefing.

Asked if the president would like to see Lebanon included in a future deal, Leavitt suggested conversations would be ongoing between Trump and Netanyahu.

“This will continue to be discussed, I am sure, between the president and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the United States and Israel and all of the parties involved,” Leavitt said, adding, “But at this point in time, they’re not included in the ceasefire deal.”

Earlier Wednesday, Trump described Israeli strikes on Lebanon as a “separate skirmish” with Hezbollah that was “not included” in the two-week ceasefire deal.

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2:06 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Israel eases wartime restrictions after US-Iran ceasefire agreement

By Jeremy Diamond

Israel is loosening restrictions implemented during wartime after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, paving the way for schools and workplaces to reopen.

Most of Israel will return to “full activity level without restrictions,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement Wednesday, removing restrictions on the size of gatherings and where civilians can work and go to school.

However, the restrictions will remain in place in parts of northern Israel that are most vulnerable to Hezbollah fire. Israel insists that Lebanon is not subject to the ceasefire agreement with Iran.

The updated guidelines are set to take effect Thursday.

The IDF noted that it “continues to monitor the developments.”

2:16 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump may discuss withdrawing NATO membership with alliance's chief, White House says

By Christian Sierra

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, as he meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Anna Rose Layden/Reuters

President Donald Trump said today that NATO allies “were tested and failed” when he launched a war with Iran and they did not come to the United States’ aid, according to a statement relayed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

“And I would add, it’s quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks, when it’s the American people who have been funding their defense,” Trump added, according to a statement Leavitt read at a press briefing today.

Trump is set to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office this afternoon. Leavitt said the president looks forward to having a “very frank and candid conversation” with Rutte.

When asked if the US was still considering withdrawing from NATO, Leavitt said “it’s something the president has discussed and I think it’s something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours with Secretary General Rutte.”

Congress would have to approve a withdrawal from NATO, which appears unlikely.

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3:23 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

White House defends Trump's threat to wipe out "whole civilization"

By Donald Judd

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Donald Trump’s threat to wipe out an entire civilization in the war with Iran, telling reporters that his “very tough rhetoric and his tough negotiating style is what has led to the result that you are all witnessing today.”

White House: ‘A whole civilization will die’ was ...

01:04

On Tuesday, Trump said in an early morning Truth Social post “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” if Iran did not come to the negotiating table and reopen the Strait of Hormuz ahead of an evening deadline.

“Well, I understand the questions about the president’s rhetoric, but what the president cares most about is results, and in fact, his very tough rhetoric and his tough negotiating style is what has led to the result that you are all witnessing today,” Leavitt said Wednesday.

In a follow-up exchange, the press secretary said the world “should take his word very seriously in understanding that the president is always most interested in results.” She that Trump “absolutely has the moral high ground over the Iranian terrorist regime,” despite criticism of his comments.

Pressed on Trump’s warning to wipe out an entire civilization, Leavitt said it “was a very, very strong threat from the president of the United States that led the Iranian regime to cave to their knees and ask for a ceasefire and agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.”

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1:58 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

US and China had top-level talks in recent days amid Iran negotiations, White House says

By Elise Hammond

Chinese leader Xi Jinping in The Great Hall of People in Beijing, China, on September 4, 2025.

Lintao Zhang/Getty Images/File

High-level talks took place between the US and China as Iran ceasefire negotiations played out in recent days, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“There were conversations that took place between top levels of our government and China’s government,” she said when asked what role China played in striking a deal to pause fighting.

Leavitt said US president Donald Trump has “great respect” for his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, and a “great working relationship” with the country. Trump is expected to travel to China soon, after it was postponed because of the war.

Additionally, Leavitt said Vice President JD Vance has also been involved in “all these discussions” and will lead talks in Islamabad this weekend.

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2:23 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Vance, Witkoff and Kushner participating in Iran talks in Pakistan this weekend

By Kit Maher

Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.

Getty Images

President Donald Trump is sending a negotiating team led by Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad, Pakistan, this weekend to engage with the Iranians.

Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are also involved with the negotiations.

“I can announce that the president is dispatching his negotiating team led by the Vice President of United States, JD, Vance, special envoy Witkoff and Mr. Kushner to Islamabad for talks this weekend,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in the White House briefing room.

Leavitt said that the first round of talks will take place on Saturday morning local time.

“Vance has played a very significant and a key role in this since the very beginning,” Leavitt later added. “Of course, he’s the president’s right hand man. He is the vice president of the United States. He’s been involved in all of these discussions.”

Leavitt also nodded to China’s role in securing a ceasefire agreement: “With respect to China, there were conversations that took place between top levels of our government and China’s government.”

Asked about security risks of the vice president traveling to Pakistan, Leavitt said the White House fully trusts the United States Secret Service “to do their job to keep the vice president and the president’s negotiating team safe.”

What we know about Pakistan’s role in the ceasefire agreement:

What Pakistan's role is in ceasefire agreement

01:00

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2:01 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Netanyahu “supports the president,” White House says on Israel’s stance on the ceasefire

By Maureen Chowdhury

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured in Jerusalem on March 19.

Ronen Zvulun/Pool/AFP/Getty Images/File

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports President Donald Trump, when asked if the Israeli leader backs the ceasefire deal.

Asked about Netanyahu’s position on the deal given Israel’s increased attacks in Lebanon during today’s press briefing, Leavitt said that Trump spoke with Netanyahu privately last night and “relayed exactly what he said to the world publicly: that he supports the president and Israel remains a key ally and partner to the United States.”

Remember: The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out the largest coordinated strike on the country since the war began today. Trump described the continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon as “not included” in the two-week ceasefire deal.

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1:55 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

US earning revenue from Strait of Hormuz will be discussed over next 2 weeks, White House says

By Aditi Sangal

Boats are off the coast of Musandam governorate in Oman, overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, on Wednesday.

Reuters

President Donald Trump has “floated” the idea that the US should earn revenue from the Strait of Hormuz, and it will be discussed over the next two weeks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“It’s something that will continue to be discussed over the course of the next two weeks. But the immediate priority of the president is the reopening of the Strait without any limitations, whether in the form of tolls or otherwise,” she told reporters during the White House press briefing on Wednesday.

2:39 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

White House says Iran has privately committed to keeping Strait of Hormuz open

By Adam Cancryn

White House says Iran has privately committed to keeping Strait of Hormuz open

00:28

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Iran has assured the White House that it is allowing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, despite reports of Tehran once again closing the waterway.

“This is a case of what they’re saying publicly is different,” she said during a press briefing, though she acknowledged that it may “take time” for ships to begin crossing the waterway again. “Privately, we have seen an uptick of traffic in the strait today.”

Leavitt added that President Donald Trump’s willingness to negotiate with Iran is contingent on the Strait of Hormuz remaining open “with no limitations or delays” and that any closure would be “completely unacceptable” to him. Leavitt later clarified that the US would consider Iran charging tolls to cross the strait as a limitation.

“So long as the Strait of Hormuz remains open with no limitations or delays, these extraordinarily sensitive and complex negotiations will take place behind closed doors over the course of the next two weeks,” she said.

Iran has effectively shuttered the strait throughout the last month of the war, choking off oil shipments from the Persian Gulf and triggering a global energy crisis.

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2:06 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

White House says Iran put forth two proposals: one "unserious," one "workable"

By Betsy Klein

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, on Wednesday.

Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

The White House sought to offer clarity on what the US and Iran have already agreed to, suggesting that after a first plan was deemed “unserious,” a second proposal was viewed as a “workable” starting point for intense negotiations set to begin this weekend.

The 10-point plan that the Iranians had initially pitched was “fundamentally unserious, unacceptable, and completely discarded,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Then, in the hours before President Donald Trump’s 8 p.m. ET deadline, Iran “put forward a more reasonable and entirely different and condensed plan,” she said.

Trump and his team, she said, viewed the alternative plan as a “workable basis on which to negotiate” and that it could be aligned with the administration’s 15-point proposal, suggesting there is a disconnect between Iran’s public proclamations and what it is telling Trump’s team privately.

Negotiators will work to merge those frameworks into an agreement over closed-door talks starting in Islamabad Saturday.

“The president’s red lines, namely, the end of uranium enrichment in Iran have not changed,” Leavitt said.

Read more

1:43 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Bahrain reopening airspace as ceasefire takes effect

By Mitchell McCluskey

Bahrain will reopen its airspace, the Persian Gulf kingdom’s Transportation Ministry announced Wednesday, as the ceasefire between the US and Iran takes effect.

Bahrain closed its airspace on February 28 as Iran carried out retaliatory attacks following US-Israeli airstrikes, including an Israeli missile attack that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The temporary closure was a “precautionary measure in light of recent developments in the region,” the ministry’s civil aviation affairs department said, Bahrain’s state news agency reported.

With the airspace reopened, the aviation department said it would remain committed to maintaining “the highest safety and security standards, in continuous coordination with the relevant authorities, to safeguard the safety of aviation and travelers.”

1:47 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran’s Araghchi says US must choose between truce and “continued war via Israel”

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi delivers a speech in Geneva on February 17.

Valentin Flauraud/AFP/Getty Images/File

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said today the terms of the two-week Iran–US ceasefire are “clear and explicit,” arguing that Washington must choose between upholding a ceasefire or pursuing what he described as “continued war via Israel.”

“The Iran–U.S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose — ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both,” Araghchi said in a post on X.

He also referenced the situation in Lebanon, writing: “The world sees the massacres in Lebanon.”

“The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments,” Araghchi added.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned it will respond if “aggressions” against Lebanon do not immediately cease, the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported earlier today.

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1:29 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Happening now: White House press briefing

By Maureen Chowdhury

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt arrives for a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, on Wednesday.

Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Today’s White House press briefing is currently underway.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is expected to take questions amid a fragile ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.

President Donald Trump and Iran have portrayed the deal as a victory for their nations.

We’ll bring you updates as we get them.

1:24 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Schumer says Senate Democrats will force Iran war powers vote next week

By Morgan Rimmer

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference in New York, on Wednesday.

Spectrum News NY1

Senate Democrats will force a vote next week in an effort to rein in President Donald Trump’s Iran war powers, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced.

Democrats have forced such a vote three times this year, without success.

“Congress must reassert its authority, especially at this dangerous moment. No president, Democrat or Republican, should take this country to war alone, not now, not ever,” Schumer said Wednesday outside his New York City office.

Schumer said he “publicly and privately told the White House just what we’ve said here” during the tense hours between the president’s threat that “a whole civilization will die tonight” and the ceasefire announcement. But he did not speak with Trump directly, Schumer said, and was told the president was “unavailable.”

The Democratic leader ripped the last-minute ceasefire as “fragile” and “not a plan.”

“The only viable solution is a lasting diplomatic one. A two-week ceasefire, especially one as fragile as this, is not a strategy. It’s not a diplomatic solution. It’s not a plan,” Schumer said.

He emphasized that he doesn’t believe the administration is giving Congress a “satisfactory answer” on its endgame.

“From day one, this war has never had a satisfactory answer to what is the goal? What do we want to achieve? What is the timetable? How much will it cost in both lives and treasure? He has never had an answer. In fact, his answer varies from day to day to day,” Schumer said, calling Trump’s actions “worse than erratic, it’s dangerous.”

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1:15 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Devastation and panic in Beirut as Israeli strikes pound Lebanese capital, videos show

By Billy Stockwell, Tamara Qiblawi and Allegra Goodwin

Devastation and panic in central Beirut as Israeli strikes pound the Lebanese capital, videos show

01:46

Videos verified by CNN showed scenes of chaos and devastation in the heart of the Lebanese capital of Beirut today following what Israel said was the largest wave of strikes across the country since the latest conflict began.

In the footage, sirens and alarms echo through the streets as large plumes of smoke rise over various parts of the city including several from strikes in municipal Beirut, one of which hit close to the seaside promenade.

A video filmed in west Beirut shows dozens of people standing among piles of rubble as grayish-brown smoke fills the air. Emergency services were pictured on site.

In another video, filmed from the window of a nearby building, a fire is still burning in the street below. As the camera pans to the left, a large column of smoke can be seen rising in the distance.

Today’s deadly attacks included some of the most extensive Israeli strikes in central Beirut in decades, hitting residential neighborhoods where the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah is not known to have a strong presence. The Israeli military says its targets consisted of Hezbollah command and control centers and military systems.

At least 112 people were killed and 837 wounded today in the strikes, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

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1:08 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Ceasefire being tested as strikes in Mideast continue. Catch up on where the agreement stands

By Nina Giraldo

US and Iranian leaders have portrayed a last-minute ceasefire agreement as a victory for both their countries. Nonetheless, sirens sounded across the Persian Gulf and in Israel as several countries reported incoming missiles early Wednesday. The Israel Defense Forces also declared the largest coordinated strike in Lebanon since the war began.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key mediator between US-Iran negotiations in recent weeks, says ceasefire violations “undermine the spirit of peace process.” Sharif invited delegations from Iran and the US to Islamabad for talks on Friday.

Some Iranians spoke to CNN about their mixed feelings on the ceasefire:

Iranians speak to CNN about US-Iran ceasefire

02:21

Here’s how the ceasefire has been playing out in the meantime:

· In Lebanon: Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said Israeli strikes on Lebanon are not included in the two-week ceasefire deal. The position is contrary to an earlier statement from Sharif that the agreement did include the country. Iran is mulling its response to what it sees as Israeli ceasefire violations against Lebanon, according to a state-affiliated news agency.

· Strikes across the region: Italy’s defense minister expressed his “outraged protest” after the Israeli military fired “warning shots” near an Italian convoy in southern Lebanon. Separately, a key oil pipeline used by Saudi Arabia to transport crude to the Red Sea in circumvention of the Strait of Hormuz has been attacked, news outlets reported.

· Updates on the Strait of Hormuz: Iran halted oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after Israel attacked Lebanon, semi-official news agency Fars reported.

· 10-point proposal: A 10-point proposal released by Iran to reporters was different from the proposal from yesterday’s ceasefire negotiations that Trump received and deemed a “workable basis on which to negotiate,” a White House official told CNN.

CNN’s Lex Harvey, Lauren Izso, Todd Symons, Eugenia Yosef, Lauren Kent, Sophia Saifi, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Nadeen Ebrahim, Zeena Saifi, Sharon Braithwaite, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Sophie Tanno, Sarah El Sirgany, Nechirvan Mando and Dana Bash contributed to this report.

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12:55 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Tehran warns of “regret-inducing” response if Israeli attacks on Lebanon do not stop

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Smoke rises following several Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

Hassan Ammar/AP

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned it will respond if “aggressions” against Lebanon do not immediately cease, state broadcaster IRIB reported on Wednesday.

The IRGC statement accused Israel of launching a “brutal massacre” in Beirut only hours after a ceasefire agreement.

The IRGC went on to warned the US and Israel if attacks on “dear Lebanon” do not stop, the IRGC would “act upon our duty” and deliver what it called a “regret-inducing response” to “evil aggressors in the region.”

Hezbollah said in a statement earlier on Wednesday that the “blood of the martyrs and the wounded will not be in vain,” saying the latest Israeli strikes reinforced what it called its “natural and legal right” to resist and respond to Israeli attacks. The group said the incident would increase its determination to continue confronting Israel and defending Lebanon’s security.

Lebanon’s health ministry said Wednesday that Israeli strikes across multiple parts of the country, including the capital Beirut, have killed at least 112 people and wounded 837 others, according to an updated preliminary toll.

Earlier today, the IDF carried out what it described as its largest wave of attacks across Lebanon since start of this conflict, claiming to strike 100 Hezbollah command centers and military sites.

Read more

12:36 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Israel launches fresh strike in Beirut

By Dana Karni, Tamara Qiblawi and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

The Israeli military says that it has launched a fresh strike in Beirut on Wednesday evening.

The Israel Defense Forces said in an initial update that it had targeted a Hezbollah commander in the Lebanese capital a short while ago.

The attack took place in the Tallet el Khayyat area in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

Video posted to social media shortly after the latest strike appears to show extensive damage to a multi-storey building, with crushed vehicles and debris littering the street below. In a separate video, large plumes of grey smoke and dust can been seen rising from the site.

Earlier today, the IDF carried out what it described as its largest wave of attacks across Lebanon since start of this conflict, claiming to strike 100 Hezbollah command centres and military sites.

12:21 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Pakistani ambassador calls US-Iran ceasefire "a triumph of diplomacy and dialogue"

By Duarte Mendonca

"A triumph of diplomacy and dialogue," says Pakistani ambassador about US-Iran ceasefire

02:55

The Pakistani ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, spoke to CNN’s Becky Anderson a short while ago about the latest developments in the ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran.

Watch some of what was said in the video above.

12:50 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran-issued peace plan differed from one Trump called a basis to negotiate, official says

By Dana Bash

When President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran yesterday, he said the US had received a 10-point peace proposal that he believed was a “workable basis on which to negotiate.”

But when Iran later released a 10-point proposal to reporters, it was different from the one to which Trump was referring, a White House official told CNN today.

The extent and nature of the differences was not immediately clear. The White House official did not elaborate.

Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration over what Iran was saying publicly about the ceasefire deal. Last night, he derided a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council that claimed victory in the deal as a “FRAUD” and attacked CNN for reporting on it. Today, he suggested on Truth Social that some of the agreements circulating publicly were not being discussed behind closed doors.

“Numerous Agreements, Lists, and Letters are being sent out by people that have absolutely nothing to do with the U.S.A. / Iran Negotiation, in many cases, they are total Fraudsters, Charlatans, and WORSE,” he wrote, adding, “There is only one group of meaningful ‘POINTS’ that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations. These are the POINTS that are the basis on which we agreed to a CEASEFIRE. It is something that is reasonable, and can easily be dispensed with.”

The Supreme National Security Council statement that first drew Trump’s ire was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on by multiple Iranian state media outlets. It laid out key parts of Tehran’s 10-point plan. Those included regulating passage through the Strait of Hormuz, terminating attacks on Iran and its regional proxy forces, the withdrawal of US forces from the region, compensation to Iran, the lifting of international sanctions and unfreezing of assets, and a binding UN resolution to secure any ultimate peace deal.

Some versions of the council’s statement that were widely distributed by Iranian state media in both Farsi and in English also included a claim by Iran of a right to nuclear enrichment.

Read more

12:18 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Israel defends continued operations in Lebanon

By Dana Karni and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Video shows cars charred in aftermath of Beirut airstrikes

02:00

Israel’s foreign ministry has defended its continued strikes on targets in Lebanon and slammed the Lebanese government for failing to disarm Hezbollah.

“Lebanon’s president and prime minister have no shame in attacking Israel for doing what they should have done: striking Hezbollah,” the ministry said in a post on X.

It added that after thousands of attacks on Israel, the Lebanese leadership has offered “no apology - and rather come with demands.”

The ministry’s statement continued, “They did not disarm Hezbollah. They did not and do not prevent it from firing on Israel. They lied when they claimed they had demilitarized the area up to the Litani. Now we must do it instead of them.”

Israel on Wednesday launched a barrage of strikes against Lebanon, including some of the most extensive attacks on Beirut in decades.

The Israel Defense Forces said it targeted more than 100 command centres and military sites of Iran-back militant group Hezbollah. Since the latest round of fighting began, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets at Israel, sometimes more than 500 in a single day.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is mediating discussions between Iran and the US, said earlier today that the ceasefire included Lebanon, though Israel said this was not the case.

Trump later Wednesday described the continued strikes as a “separate skirmish” with Hezbollah that was “not included” in the two-week ceasefire deal.

For context: At least 1,530 people in Lebanon have been killed and 4,812 wounded since the war began, according to figures from the country’s Health Ministry released Tuesday before the Israel’s latest attacks.

Read more

12:04 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Unlike previous ceasefires, this agreement does not appear to be formal, written document

By Catherine Nicholls

When US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between his country and Iran yesterday, he did so by posting to Truth Social, stating that “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.”

Just over an hour later, he reposted a statement written by Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, which said that “if attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.”

Truces are usually underpinned by documents laying out the terms, though CNN has not seen any version of a ceasefire text that has been signed by both sides.

Both Trump and Araghchi have mentioned a 10-point proposal, which the US leader described as “a workable basis on which to negotiate.” The White House has not detailed what these 10 points consist of, though Iran’s Supreme National Security Council laid out key parts of the plan.

Iran’s embassy in India posted a breakdown of the 10 points on its verified X account, which included the “cessation of war on all fronts, including against the heroic Islamic Resistance of Lebanon.”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who presented the ceasefire plan to Trump, also said early today that the ceasefire included Lebanon, though Israel said that this was not the case.

A short while ago, Trump described continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon as a “separate skirmish” with Hezbollah that was “not included” in the two-week ceasefire deal.

Read more

11:45 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump casts doubt on Vance attending peace talks, citing security concerns

By Aileen Graef and Kristen Holmes

President Donald Trump said today that the direct peace talks with Iran will happen “very soon” but was unsure if Vice President JD Vance will attend.

“We’ll have Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, JD — maybe JD, I don’t know. There’s a question of safety, security,” Trump said of the planned talks in Islamabad.

A source familiar with the planning told CNN that officials were no longer making preparations for the vice president to attend the in-person talks this week. Given the precarious nature of the ongoing negotiations, that decision could still change, the source noted.

The US, Iran and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday while they pursue a long-term deal to end the war.

11:59 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Italy protests after IDF fires warning shots near UN convoy in southern Lebanon

By Sharon Braithwaite and Mohammed Tawfeeq

Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto attends a press conference at the Ministry of Defense in Berlin, Germany, on November 11, 2025.

Fabian Sommer/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

Italy’s defense minister has expressed his “outraged protest” after Israeli military fired “warning shots” near an Italian convoy from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon.

“A logistical convoy of the Italian contingent, moving from Shama (in southern Lebanon) towards Beirut, was subjected to warning shots fired by the IDF about two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the departure base,” Guido Crosetto said in a statement issued by Italy’s Ministry of Defense.

“Following the incident, the column immediately halted its movement and returned to base,” Crosetto said, adding, “there are no injuries, but until when?”

“It is unacceptable that Italian service members engaged under the United Nations flag, with duties exclusively of guaranteeing peace and stability, are exposed to risk situations by the Israeli army,” Crosetto said.

Crosetto urged the United Nations to intervene “with the utmost urgency” with Israeli authorities to clarify what happened and to adopt measures to guarantee the safety of the Italian contingent and all UNIFIL personnel.

CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment.

A UNIFIL official told CNN on Wednesday that three Indonesian peacekeepers have been killed since February 28. The official added that several other UNIFIL personnel were wounded, including an Indonesian peacekeeper who remains in critical condition.

UNIFIL operates in southern Lebanon under UN Security Council resolutions intended to support stability and de-escalation along the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated boundary between Lebanon and Israel.

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11:49 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump says Israeli strikes on Lebanon are "not included" in temporary ceasefire

By Kit Maher

Airstrike in southern Lebanon kills at least eight

01:03

President Donald Trump today described continued Israeli strikes on Lebanon as a “separate skirmish” with Hezbollah that was “not included” in the two-week ceasefire deal.

“Yeah, they were not included in the deal,” Trump told PBS News Hour in a phone call this morning. “Because of Hezbollah. They were not included in the deal. That’ll get taken care of too. It’s alright.”

A senior White House official told CNN Tuesday that Israel agreed to suspend its bombing campaign as negotiations continue, but Trump appeared to accept that Israel would continue striking Lebanon in the meantime.

Read more

11:10 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

What the scene looks like at a blast site in central Beirut

By CNN staff

Israel launched a barrage of attacks on Lebanon today that included some of the most extensive strikes in the heart of Beirut in decades.

The Israel Defense Forces said it targeted more than 100 command centers and military sites of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. CNN’s Nada Bashir reports from a blast site in Beirut.

CNN visits blast site in central Beirut

00:47

11:08 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Netanyahu to convene security cabinet meeting later today

By Tal Shalev

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a security cabinet meeting later today, according to an Israeli official.

The meeting will take place at 2:30 p.m. ET to discuss Iran ceasefire developments, the source said.

11:03 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran is “working on its response” to Israel's attacks on Lebanon

By Zeena Saifi

First responders rush to the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre on Wednesday.

Kawnat Haju/AFP/Getty Images

Iran is mulling its response to what it sees as Israeli ceasefire violations against Lebanon, according to an unidentified security source speaking to Fars News Agency, an outlet affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

“Iran is in the process of working on its response to carry out deterrent operations against Israeli military positions in the occupied territories,” the source was cited as saying.

The source said the continuation of attacks indicates that either the “US cannot control” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or that it “has granted freedom of action to the Zionist regime.”

Another source speaking to the state-affiliated Tasnim news agency said Iran’s armed forces are “identifying targets” to respond to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon on Wednesday, threatening to withdraw from the ceasefire agreement if they continued.

“If the US cannot control its watchdog in the region, Iran will exceptionally assist it in this matter! And that, by force.”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said earlier that Lebanon was included in the ceasefire between Israel, the United States and Iran, but the Israeli military said attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon would continue.

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11:10 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Pakistan PM urges restraint after reports of ceasefire violations

By Sophia Saifi and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, on September 2, 2025.

Maxim Shemtov/AFP/Getty Images

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says ceasefire violations “have been reported at a few places across the conflict zone” which “undermine the spirit of peace process.”

“I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict,” he said in a post on X on Wednesday.

Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between the US and Iran in recent weeks. Sharif has invited delegations from Iran and the US to Islamabad for talks on Friday. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Vice President JD Vance are expected to attend.

Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said the ceasefire overnight was the result of “an intense diplomatic effort.”

He would not be drawn on the discussion points for Friday’s talks, saying that he believes “success of this process would lie in secrecy.”

Sheikh speaking to CNN’s Connect the World with Becky Anderson on Wednesday said “the conflicting parties, need to be afforded enough space void of any pressures, outside exogenous pressures.”

He added, “It is ultimately for them to reach decisions and strike whatever agreement they want to strike. Pakistan is just a facilitator, and we are trying to do it in all earnest and in all faithfulness.”

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12:07 p.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran halts Strait of Hormuz oil traffic after Israel's Lebanon attacks, Iranian media says

By Nechirvan Mando

Iran is halting oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after Israel attacked Lebanon, semi-official news agency Fars reported.

Israel today has carried out what it called the largest strikes on the country since the start of the war.

Fars said two oil tankers were allowed to cross the strait since the ceasefire came into effect.

10:47 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Key Saudi oil pipeline bypassing Strait of Hormuz attacked, according to reports

By Sophie Tanno and Sarah El Sirgany

A key oil pipeline used by Saudi Arabia to transport crude to the Red Sea in circumvention of the Strait of Hormuz has been attacked, three separate news outlets reported Wednesday.

A pumping station located along the 1,200 kilometer East-West pipeline was targeted at around 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday afternoon, two sources told the Financial Times. One of the sources told the newspaper that the pipeline was attacked by a drone.

An industry source told Reuters that the flow of oil through the pipeline, which is owned and operated by Aramco, is expected to be affected by the attack, although the extent of the damage was still being assessed.

Bloomberg also reported the pipeline had been hit by a drone attack, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Saudi officials didn’t immediately respond to a CNN request for comment. The Saudi defense ministry said it had intercepted nine drones earlier Wednesday, but did not specify where.

CNN has reached out to Aramco for comment.

Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline is one of two out of the region that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, where the war in Iran has caused significant trade disruption. Transporting crude across the country connecting Abqaiq, an oil field near the eastern gulf coast, with the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the pipeline has become a crucial part of the nation’s oil export trade since the effective shuttering of Hormuz.

The pipeline has been operating at full capacity, rerouting around 7 million barrels per day to Saudi’s Yanbu port, Reuters reported.

CNN reported last month on the increased traffic moving through Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports amid disruption to the Strait of Hormuz.

CNN’s Nic Robertson gained exclusive access to the country’s Jeddah port, where Saudi authorities said they expected to see an increase in cargo traffic of around 50% moving through the port to reach Gulf nations.

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10:40 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

US' Arab allies welcome pause but wary of agreement that fails to rein in Iran

By Mostafa Salem

US-allied Gulf Arab nations have welcomed a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, but will be concerned about any agreement that leaves Tehran’s newly asserted capabilities intact.

It remains unclear what Tehran and Washington will discuss if upcoming talks are launched, but nearly every Arab country that welcomed the ceasefire stressed on the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, and for a comprehensive settlement to the conflict.

Over the past six weeks, Iran has exerted control over the vital Strait of Hormuz, disrupting the export of the region’s main resources. Tehran also launched thousands of drones and ballistic missiles on all their neighbors, disrupting tourism, schooling and employment.

Until this conflict, Iran had never overtly fired on its Arab neighbors – and had never effectively shut the strait. The ease at which the Islamic Republic broke both taboos and still survived could galvanize Tehran to reactivate similar tactics in the future, creating uncertainty in a region that thrives on stability.

And this morning, Iran signaled the ease at which it could resort to that tactic.

Despite the ceasefire, Iran launched projectiles on the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait in what it says was a retaliation for its oil facilities getting targeted.

One senior Gulf Arab official, the UAE’s presidential diplomatic adviser, Anwar Gargash said his country will now move forward in a “complex regional landscape.”

Read more

10:38 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

European leaders react to news of US-Iran ceasefire

By Catherine Nicholls

European Council President Antonio Costa speaks to the media at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium, on March 19.

Omar Havana/AP

In a statement released earlier today, the leaders of a host of European countries welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States, after more than five weeks of conflict.

Some also offered their assistance in ending the war. We’ve rounded up their reactions below:

· António Costa, the president of the European Council, thanked Pakistan and other countries who helped achieve the ceasefire, writing that “the EU stands ready to support ongoing efforts.”

· Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that “a ceasefire is the right decision that leads to ending the war,” highlighting that his country has “always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia here in Europe against our state and our people.”

· Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has been a critic of the conflict since it began, wrote that “ceasefires are always good news,” but added: “this current sense of relief shouldn’t make us forget the chaos, destruction and loss of life. The Spanish government will not applaud those that set the world on fire just because they appear carrying a bucket of water.”

· Ireland’s Foreign Minister Helen McEntee said she welcomed the ceasefire “after what was a dangerous and unprecedented escalation across the Middle East in recent days.” The ceasefire “must be comprehensive and include Lebanon,” she said, calling on Hezbollah and Israel to “cease attacks and military operations.”

· French President Emmanuel Macron called the ceasefire announcement a “very good thing” in a post on X, saying that his country had the same objectives since the start of the conflict, which included protecting French nationals and interests, and working towards de-escalation in the region.

· Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that an end to the conflict would be a good thing for the Middle East, but also for Italy. “Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, and it is good that the US does not bomb the civilian population,” he said in a post on X.

· British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the ceasefire “will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world,” adding: “Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.”

· Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said that it is “vital that all parties uphold the truce and use the time to work towards a sustainable solution to the conflict,” and “crucial” that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

CNN’s Jack Guy and Sharon Braithwaite contributed to this reporting.

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10:09 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Lebanon’s fate hangs in the balance amid conflicting statements on Iran ceasefire

By Nadeen Ebrahim and Sarah Tamimi

Residents are seen as emergency teams work at the scene where smoke rises from targeted locations following simultaneous Israeli attacks across Lebanon, in Beirut on Wednesday.

Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Iran-backed Hezbollah group is today at the target of Israel’s largest coordinated strike on Lebanon since the war began, despite a ceasefire being agreed with Iran.

Experts say this may be Israel’s last-ditch attempt to further weaken the US-designated terrorist organization before US President Donald Trump reins in Israel’s attacks.

“What we are witnessing in Beirut today might be the grand finale of Israel going after every Hezbollah target across Lebanon and across Beirut, not just the southern suburbs,” Firas Maksad, managing director for the Middle East and North Africa practice at Eurasia Group, told CNN.

Analysts note that without Trump’s pressure, Israel may not halt its campaign in Lebanon.

“The core point is that without Trump’s intervention, without Trump’s pressure on Netanyahu, I doubt it very much whether Benjamin Netanyahu will stop his war on Lebanon,” Fawaz Gerges, professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics said.

Over the past 24 hours, officials involved in negotiations gave contradicting statements about Lebanon’s involvement in the ceasefire, which was announced overnight.

Pakistan, which brokered the ceasefire deal, said Lebanon was part of the agreement. However, Israel on Wednesday launched its largest campaign against the country and issued mass evacuation orders.

“The key challenge facing Israel in Lebanon is will President Trump exert pressure on his Israeli counterpart to stop the attacks,” Gerges told CNN.

Read more

10:07 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran emerges from the war with an unprecedented strategic advantage

Analysis by Abbas Al Lawati

The Iranian regime was at the weakest point in its history on the eve of the US-Israeli war in late February, with most of its leverage wiped out by adversaries over the preceding two years. Six weeks later, it emerged battered but with strategic gains not seen even during the era of the powerful Western-allied shah.

The two-week ceasefire announced by Iran and the United States may leave Tehran in effective control of the world’s most important maritime chokepoint. When US President Donald Trump ordered Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, he didn’t demand that it relinquish that position. Instead, he amplified a letter from Iran’s foreign minister affirming Tehran’s authority over the waterway.

Previously, Iran’s status as a nuclear-threshold state and its network of regional proxy groups allowed it to project power. Now, Hormuz has effectively replaced both as its biggest source of leverage – even as its reopening is hailed by Trump as a major achievement, despite the fact that shipping had flowed freely through the strait before the war, without any state asserting control over it.

Continued control over the strait and Iran’s potential charging of tolls for passage would mark a dramatic break from the international maritime order, giving Tehran effective veto power over what passes through – from food imports to oil and gas exports from its Arab neighbors.

During the era of Iran’s shah, or monarch, the Gulf Arab states saw Tehran as a bully – the so-called “policeman of the Gulf.” An end to the war that leaves Iran in control of the Strait of Hormuz risks turning that perception into a reality.

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9:46 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Lebanon's health minister says "hundreds dead and wounded" after Israel's attacks

By Tamara Qiblawi, Allegra Goodwin and Lauren Kent

Emergency responders work at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

Yara Nardi/Reuters

Hundreds of people have been killed and wounded in Israel’s strikes on Lebanon today, Lebanon’s health minister said, according to the country’s National News Agency.

Health minister Rakan Nassereddine said there are “hundreds dead and wounded” following Wednesday’s attacks, NNA reported.

The attacks included some of the most extensive Israeli strikes in the heart of Beirut in decades. Airstrikes targeted at least three areas in municipal Beirut, including a strike that hit close to the central seaside promenade, according to CNN’s analysis of video.

Municipal Beirut, which is predominantly Sunni and Christian, is infrequently targeted by Israel.

Another video showed a half-destroyed building in west Beirut with thick plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky. Ambulances have been sounding out sirens nearly nonstop since the attacks began, according to CNN reporters on the ground.

For context: At least 1,530 people have been killed and 4,812 wounded since the war began, according to the latest figures from Lebanon’s Health Ministry, which were released Tuesday before the latest widespread strikes carried out by Israel.

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9:55 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Track the latest shipping movements in the Strait of Hormuz

By CNN staff

President Donald Trump has suggested the US may be involved in securing the Strait of Hormuz in a “joint venture” with Iran, after the two countries struck a ceasefire.

The deal includes an agreement to reopen the vital waterway after it was effectively closed during the conflict. Shipping experts have cautioned against expectation of an immediate return to normal vessel movements.

You can track them in our graphic below.

Uncertainty remains over the details of how to coordinate passage with Iranian authorities, according to Richard Meade, Editor-in-Chief of maritime publication Lloyd’s List

“Shippers don’t have the details from Iran and they believe the system that was in place at midnight has not changed despite the announcement of the ceasefire,” Meade told CNN.

10:53 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

French nationals released from Iranian prison speak of "daily horrors" in jail

By Jack Guy

Jacques Paris, left, and Cecile Kohler, French nationals who were freed by Iran after three and a half years in detention, walk at the Elysee Palace as they are hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday.

Tom Nicholson/Pool/AP

Two French nationals who spent more than three years in an Iranian prison returned home on Wednesday, recounting the “daily horrors” that they endured.

Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris were welcomed home by President Emmanuel Macron, and footage shows the pair in seemingly good spirits as they meet him.

But speaking to journalists, Kohler said that the pair had “lived daily horrors” at the infamous Evin prison in Tehran, and thanked everyone who had helped to secure their release.

Kohler and Paris were accused of spying for France and Israel and sentenced to lengthy prison terms last October.

Paris said that the pair were held as “hostages.”

“We were kept in extremely difficult conditions,” he said, adding that they were arguably “inhumane.”

Paris added that the pair were held in the interrogation center at the prison, where “conditions are much harsher.”

“You have no rights,” he said. “We only had occasional, brief contact with our families.”

Paris also recounted how they were blindfolded whenever they left their cells.

“That should give you some idea of the conditions imposed on us,” he added.

“Obviously one of their aims was to break us,” said Paris. “Today we can tell you that this is a new start for us. We are not broken.”

The return of Kohler and Paris may lead to renewed pressure on Iran to release other detained foreign nationals, including British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who were sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying.

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11:42 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Caine says he believes Strait of Hormuz is open as Hegseth frames war as victory

By Catherine Nicholls

Pentagon says US forces will 'stay ready'

00:40

We’ve been bringing you reporting from a news conference held at the Pentagon a short while ago.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine discussed the US’ two-week ceasefire with Iran, which was announced by President Donald Trump yesterday.

If you’re just joining us, here’s what was said during that news conference:

· When asked about Trump’s threat that “a whole civilization will die” if a deal wasn’t reached, and if the president had been prepared to let that happen, Hegseth said: “We had a target set, locked and loaded, of infrastructure, bridges, power plants.”

· Caine said he believes the Strait of Hormuz, the key oil transportation corridor that was central to the US negotiations, is open today.

· Any nuclear material Iran “should not have” will be removed under the terms of the ceasefire announced yesterday, Hegseth said — though Iran has not mentioned that term in its own official communications.

· Hegseth also said that the US had won the war with Iran and had largely destroyed its military, though CNN has reported that US intelligence assessed that Iran maintains significant missile-launching capability.

· US forces remain ready “if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations,” Caine said, adding, “we hope that that is not the case.”

CNN’s Kaanita Iyer, Michael Williams and Aileen Graef contributed to this reporting.

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9:12 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

CNN reports from Lebanon, as Israel launches largest strikes since start of war

By Evan John

Nada Bashir reports from Beirut as Israel launches largest strikes across Lebanon since start of war

02:16

CNN’s Nada Bashir is in Beirut, where a barrage of airstrikes has hit multiple locations across the city.

Israel said today that it completed the largest coordinated strike in Lebanon since the war began, as we’ve been reporting, targeting what it said were Hezbollah sites and command centers.

Watch our report above.

8:57 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

US gas prices edge up despite ceasefire announcement

By Chris Isidore

Average prices edged up 2 cents to $4.16 for a gallon of regular gas in the latest reading from AAA today, even with oil futures plunging after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the war in Iran and plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic.

But while oil futures plunged on the ceasefire news, it could take a while for retail gas prices to get back anywhere near pre-war levels. Oil futures are up between 30% to 40% from where they were before the war.

Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could help trapped Persian Gulf oil flow back into global markets, as about 20% of the world’s oil supply usually transits through the strait. While relatively little of that oil is destined for the United States — which is the world’s largest oil producer — the effective closing of the strait during the war has riled global commodity markets, which are key to US prices for gas and oil.

It also will take time for all the previous wholesale gas price increases to work their way through the system to consumers. History shows that gas prices generally come down much more slowly than they go up.

Retail gas prices have risen all but three days since the start of the war, and those declines were all by fractions of a cent. Overall prices are up $1.18 a gallon, or 40%, since the start of the war.

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9:29 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Is the Strait of Hormuz currently open? Caine and Hegseth indicate yes

By Michael Williams

Defense Secretary Hegseth indicates "strait is open"

00:15

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said he believes the Strait of Hormuz, the key oil transportation corridor that was central to the US negotiations to end the war with Iran, is open the day after Iran agreed to a ceasefire plan.

Asked directly whether the strait was open during a Pentagon briefing this morning, Caine said: “I believe so, based on the diplomatic negotiations.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said separately during the briefing that “what has been agreed to, what’s been stated, is the strait is open.”

“Our military is watching, sure, their military is watching, but commerce will flow,” Hegseth said.

CNN reported earlier this morning that at least two vessels have safely transited through the strait since the ceasefire began, according to the latest data from MarineTraffic.

The ship-tracking platform also said, however, that hundreds of vessels remain in the region.

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9:03 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Regional dynamics in the Middle East risk being sidelined in negotiations, analysts say

By Lauren Kent

Regional dynamics in the Middle East are fragile and should not be forgotten in the forthcoming negotiations between Iran and the United States, analysts caution. It comes as Israel has said its strikes in Lebanon are not included in the ceasefire, and as Iran has retained leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.

“Regional dynamics risk being sidelined. Iran has pushed for the ceasefire to extend to Lebanon, viewing the conflict there as part of the same confrontation,” said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East program at think tank Chatham House. “Gulf states, meanwhile, are seeking assurances that they will not remain exposed to repeated pressure on their infrastructure and shipping routes, while Israel remains deeply skeptical of any arrangement that leaves Iran’s missile, nuclear and regional capabilities intact.”

“These are difficult issues that will not be easily resolved in a matter of weeks,” she cautioned.

“If the talks in Islamabad focus too narrowly on American and Iranian priorities, they may succeed in stabilizing the immediate crisis while leaving the broader regional order fragile and exposed to revived escalation,” Vakil added.

Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow on Middle East security at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the general mood in the Gulf today is one of cautious optimism – but mired in uncertainty.

“While right now, we’re talking about a bilateral series of talks between the United States and Iran mediated by Pakistan, I think we mustn’t overlook the very strong position of the Gulf states and that they want to be involved in these negotiations,” Ozcelik said, given the Strait of Hormuz issue. “They have suffered since the war kicked off.”

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8:53 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Hegseth says US was prepared to carry out Trump's threat to end "whole civilization"

By Kaanita Iyer

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared that the US had planned to hit several targets in Iran, including bridges and power plants, if the ceasefire deal had not been reached Tuesday.

When asked during a news briefing about President Donald Trump’s threat from yesterday morning that “a whole civilization will die” if a deal wasn’t reached and if the president was had been prepared to do that, Hegseth said: “We had a target set, locked and loaded, of infrastructure, bridges, power plants.”

“They knew exactly the scope of what we were capable of,” Hegseth said of Iran.

Hegseth added that Trump’s warning is what brought Iran to the negotiating table and ultimately led to a two-week ceasefire.

“(Trump) ultimately said, ‘We can take it all from you. Your ability to export energy will be taken away and the United States military has the ability to strike those things with impunity.’ That type of threat is what brought them to the place where they effectively said, ‘Hey, OK, we want to cut this deal,’” Hegseth told reporters.

8:37 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Hegseth says any nuclear material Iran "should not have" will be removed under ceasefire terms

By Michael Williams

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a Pentagon briefing this morning that any nuclear material Iran “should not have” will be removed under the terms of the ceasefire announced yesterday — though Iran has not mentioned that term in its own official communications.

“Under the terms, any nuclear material they … should not have, will be removed,” Hegseth said.

“The president has been clear from the beginning — there will be no Iranian nuclear weapons. Period, full stop. Other presidents said it. President Trump did it,” he added.

Hegseth’s comments came after President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social this morning that the US would work with Iran to “dig up and remove” its stockpiles of uranium targeted during American air strikes.

Hegseth said, regarding the uranium, that Iran will “give it to us voluntarily.”

“We’ll get it, we’ll take it, we’ll take it out. Or if we have to do something else ourselves, like we did Midnight Hammer or something like that, we reserve that opportunity,” he said, referring to the bombing raid against nuclear facilities in Iran last June.

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8:35 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

US defense secretary frames Iran war as victory but acknowledges Iran "can still shoot"

By Kaanita Iyer

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon Wednesday.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a news briefing Wednesday that the US had won the war with Iran and had largely destroyed its military, though US intelligence has assessed that Iran maintains significant missile launching capability. Hegesth’s comments came after a ceasefire deal was announced Tuesday night.

“Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield,” Hegseth said. He added: “By any measure, Epic Fury decimated Iran’s military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come.”

However, CNN reported last week that according to sources, US intelligence has recently determined that roughly half of Iran’s missile launchers are still intact and thousands of one-way attack drones remain in Iran’s arsenal.

Hegseth acknowledged but played down Iran’s remaining capability at today’s briefing, saying, “What little they have left, buried in bunkers, is all they will have.”

“They can still shoot, we know that,” Hegseth added. “Their command and control is so decimated they can’t really talk and coordinate so they still may shoot here and there but that would be very, very unwise.”

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8:42 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Joint Chiefs chairman says US forces remain ready to resume combat operations

By Aileen Graef

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said US forces remain ready “if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations” as fragile two-week ceasefire holds.

“Let us be clear. A ceasefire is a pause, and the joint force remains ready if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations with the same speed and precision as we’ve demonstrated over the last 38 days. And we hope that that is not the case,” he said at Pentagon news conference this morning.

Caine also marked the loss of service members “thus far” in the conflict.

“I want to start this morning by honoring the 13 members of our American joint force who were killed in action thus far during this operation, their sacrifice and that of their families is deeply important to us, and we were grateful,” he said.

A short time later, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite calling the war in Iran a “historic and overwhelming victory,” said US forces for now will “stay put, stay ready, stay vigilant.”

“We’re going to make sure Iran complies with this ceasefire and then ultimately comes to the table and makes a deal. So we’ll stay put, stay ready, stay vigilant; as the chairman laid out, our troops are prepared to defend, prepared to go on offense, prepared to restart at a moment’s notice with whatever target package would be needed in order to ensure that Iran complies,” he said.

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8:35 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Happening now: Pentagon holds a briefing

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, speaks alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine are holding a news conference at the Pentagon.

We’ll bring you any updates as we get them. You can also watch the livestream at the top of this page.

8:46 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Relief for Iranians — but some warn the war has strengthened the regime

By Leila Gharagozlou

The announcement of a two-week ceasefire for now means an end to the relentless US and Israeli strikes that have killed hundreds of Iranians. But any sense of relief is for many tempered with the thought that this brief, brutal war may have only strengthened a regime the two powers wanted to topple.

Soon after the war began, US President Donald Trump told Iranians: “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.” He called on the Revolutionary Guards, tasked with keeping Iran’s clerical rulers in power, to lay down their arms.

Instead, the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei merely brought in a stronger and younger Revolutionary Guards — something that has given some Iranians concern.

“This war has given the government the win of all wins, they are stronger than ever and I think they’ll be taking back those freedoms that we fought so hard for over the last few years,” one woman in Tehran, who opposed the war, told CNN.

The sentiment is one shared by many Iranians, especially as executions and arrests of protestors who took to the streets earlier in the year in unprecedented demonstrations, continue in the background, a stark reminder of the brutality of the government towards its own people.

For other Iranians, some who had looked to the US and Israel for help and salvation, the ceasefire feels like a betrayal.

“You know they’ll be harsher with us now, and I feel that maybe we would have changed how we protested in January if we had known that things weren’t going to change and we’d be left with no way forward,” said a 45-year-old man in Tehran.

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8:12 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump suggests securing Strait of Hormuz in "joint venture" with Iran

By Aileen Graef

President Donald Trump suggested the United States may be involved in securing the Strait of Hormuz in a “joint venture” with Iran.

“We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture,” Trump told ABC News’ Jonathan Karl when asked about Tehran charging tolls for passage in the strait. “It’s a way of securing it – also securing it from lots of other people.”

It is unclear if Iran would be open to this plan as talks are expected to continue during the two-week ceasefire.

Earlier this week, Trump said he would rather the US instead of Iran impose a toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

7:53 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump says US will work with Iran to "dig up and remove" enriched uranium

By Aileen Graef

President Donald Trump said the US will work with Iran to dig up and remove buried uranium in the country in a social media post that came as a fragile new two-week ceasefire began.

“The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change! There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear ‘Dust,’” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

Trump also said sanctions relief for Iran will be discussed and that many aspects of a 15-point plan had been agreed. The president and Tehran had previously said a 10-point plan put forth by the Iranians would serve as the basis for the talks.

“We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran. Many of the 15 points have already been been agreed to,” the president wrote.

In a second social media post this morning, Trump warned any country that supplies weapons to Iran would face tariffs.

“A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions!” he said.

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9:41 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Israeli military says it carried out largest strikes across Lebanon since start of war

By Eugenia Yosef and Lauren Kent

Multiple airstrikes hit Beirut

00:53

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said today that it completed the largest coordinated strike in Lebanon since the war began, claiming it targeted more than 100 command centers and military sites of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

CNN’s team on the ground in Beirut just witnessed multiple airstrikes on the Lebanese capital.

“The IDF completed a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah command centers and military sites in Beirut, Beqaa, and southern Lebanon,” the Israeli military said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the strikes were conducted “within 10 minutes and across multiple areas simultaneously.”

“Most of the infrastructure that was struck was located within the heart of the civilian population, as part of Hezbollah’s cynical exploitation of Lebanese civilians as human shields in order to safeguard its operations,” the statement said, without providing evidence for that claim.

It added that “the IDF continues to operate decisively against Hezbollah and will not allow harm to be done to the civilians of the State of Israel,” which comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said earlier that the ceasefire with Iran did not include Lebanon.

CNN has reviewed video of several of the strikes to verify their locations. Airstrikes targeted at least three areas in central Beirut, including a strike that hit close to the central seaside promenade.

For context: At least 1,530 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 130 children, and thousands more have been wounded since the Israeli bombardment began, Lebanon’s health ministry said in its latest update.

This post has been updated with additional developments. CNN’s Allegra Goodwin and Billy Stockwell contributed reporting.

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10:06 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Two key US allies in the Gulf reported Iranian strikes despite ceasefire

By Mostafa Salem

Two US-allied Arab countries say they were targeted by Iran this morning with drones and missiles despite Iran agreeing a ceasfire.

Iranian drones fired on Kuwait caused “significant material damage” to oil facilities, power stations, and water desalination plants, Kuwait’s army said. In the United Arab Emirates, the defense ministry said air defenses were “engaging with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran.”

Fire breaks out at Iran’s Lavan oil refinery after attacks

00:07

State media in Iran said the attack was in response to strikes on its energy infrastructure, citing a statement from the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company saying oil refinery facilities on Lavan Island were “subjected to a cowardly attack by enemies.”

It’s unclear who the statement was referring to but waves of US and Israeli strikes have targeted vital Iranian infrastructure.

In the past hour, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, who are thought to have been largely operating autonomously during the conflict, said it would honor the truce but warned the US their “finger was on the trigger”.

8:22 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Countries in Middle East welcome ceasefire, express hopes for full end to conflict

By Catherine Nicholls and Ibrahim Dahman

U.S. and Iran agree to two-week ceasefire

04:54

Countries in the Middle East are responding to the news that Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire following more than five weeks of fighting that has spilled across the region.

· Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the announcement of a US-Iran ceasefire. Lebanon’s presidency, posting on X, said “violence is not an effective means of resolving problems between nations,” emphasizing Lebanon’s “continued efforts to ensure that regional peace encompasses Lebanon in a stable and lasting manner, in accordance with the principles agreed upon by the Lebanese people.”

· Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi wrote on X that the news “has undoubtedly brought great relief to millions of peace-loving people around the world,” adding that he prays “this positive development will be crowned with a permanent agreement to end the war in the region.”

· The Palestinian Presidency welcomed the news, calling it a “positive and important step towards achieving stability,” state news agency WAFA said. President Mahmoud Abbas called for the ceasefire to “include the Palestinian territories, which, whether in Gaza, the West Bank, or East Jerusalem, are subjected to ongoing attacks by colonists and occupation forces.” He also called for an end to “hostilities against Lebanon.”

· Qatar’s foreign ministry said that it “welcomes” the ceasefire announcement, stressing “the need to build on it urgently to prevent the spread of tension in the region.”

· Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry also welcomed the news, writing on X that it “commends the productive efforts” of the Pakistani mediators in achieving the ceasefire.

· Oman’s foreign minister said that “for now, the world has stepped back from disaster,” but added “there’s no room for complacency” going forward.

· Jordan’s foreign ministry “stressed the importance of opening the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring freedom of international navigation without restrictions,” while also welcoming the ceasefire.

· Kuwait’s foreign ministry commended the role of Pakistan in achieving the ceasefire, and expressed “hope that this announcement will lead to a comprehensive and sustainable settlement that enhances security and stability in the region.” It also highlighted “the necessity of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

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7:57 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump to meet NATO chief as Iran war widens rifts in alliance

Analysis by Clare Sebastian

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte gives a press conference in Brussels, Belgium on March 26.

Nicolas Tucat/AFP/Getty Images

NATO is keeping expectations muted ahead of Secretary General Mark Rutte’s “long-planned” visit to the White House later on Wednesday, as Trump’s war with Iran widens rifts in the alliance.

“The Secretary General will seek to build on the success of the NATO Summit in The Hague, unlock further cooperation among the defense industry on both sides of the Atlantic, and discuss current security dynamics including in the context of Iran as well as Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine” a NATO official told CNN.

The official made no mention of the fact that Trump and, for the first time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both questioned in the past week whether the US should stay in the alliance, given the reluctance from some members to provide support for its war in Iran, or that Trump labelled NATO a “paper tiger” just two days ago.

In fact the mention of “the success” of last June’s NATO summit, can be read as yet another signal we are likely to see a continuation of Rutte’s policy of friendliness and flattery towards the US President, occasionally bordering on obsequiousness. That was the summit where Rutte famously called Trump “Daddy”, part of a charm offensive that, along with a new pledge to spend 5% of GDP on defense, was seen to have prevented a public rift in the alliance, at least temporarily.

“Daddy” may feel like a step too far in the wake of Trump’s threats to wipe out a civilization this week. But Rutte will likely try to heed growing calls to bring down the emotional temperature of the alliance. “We must keep a cool head, there is no NATO without the USA” wrote Poland’s defense minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz on X last week. And after a recent call with Trump discussing NATO, the message from Finland’s President was: “Problems are there to be solved, pragmatically”.

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7:23 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say they will stick to the ceasefire but warn they have “finger on the trigger”

By Mostafa Salem

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said they will heed the temporary ceasefire, but warned that they are ready to return to war if the “enemy makes another miscalculation.”

In a statement praising its fighters, the IRGC said that the “foolish enemy” understands that “attacking the infrastructure of the Iranian people will have severe consequences.”

The group stated it has “extensive experience” gained from two wars with Israel and the United States, and called on US allies in the region to end their cooperation with Washington.

The IRGC also released a video statement showing missiles being fired last night, just before the ceasefire took effect.

7:09 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

US-Iran ceasefire leaves confused Israelis scrambling for clarity

By Tal Shalev

While much of the world welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, Israel stayed silent for hours despite being included in the truce, leaving Israelis scrambling through foreign reports to understand what had unfolded.

Trump’s truce announcement landed in the middle of the night, when many Israelis had been anticipating further escalation following his ultimatum to Tehran.

As Iranian, Pakistani, and US sources detailed the terms, no official Israeli statement came out for four hours. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office finally responded, it did so only in English, expressing support for Trump’s “decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks,” noting the truce did not include Lebanon, which Israel has been bombing for weeks.

A Hebrew statement, attributed to a “senior political source,” followed only in the morning, clarifying that the US had coordinated the ceasefire with Israel.

The Lebanon carve-out appears to be the deal’s main point of confusion. While Pakistan stated Lebanon was included, Netanyahu said the ceasefire applied to Iran only. Israel’s military said it is continuing to strike Hezbollah in Lebanon.

With the ongoing Jewish Passover holiday being observed by most Israeli ministers, official reactions are not expected until the holiday ends Wednesday evening. The sole public response from a coalition politician came from Zvika Fogel, a lawmaker from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s far-right party, who posted on X: “Donald, you came out a lame duck.” He later deleted the post.

The opposition moved quickly to fill the communication vacuum with sharp rebukes of Netanyahu and his strategy. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called it “the worst diplomatic disaster in our history.” Yair Golan, leader of the left-wing Democrat party, accused Netanyahu of failing to translate military gains into strategic outcomes, saying Iran “exits this war stronger”.

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7:06 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Shipping backlog unlikely to clear during two-week ceasefire, experts say

By Jack Guy and Eleni Giokos

Ships at anchor in Muscat, Oman, unable to pass the Strait of Hormuz, on March 7.

Benoit Tessier/Reuters

Despite the two-week ceasefire including an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, shipping experts have moved to dampen expectations of an immediate return to normal vessel movements.

While shipping companies are preparing their vessels to move and take advantage of the opportunity to exit the strait, uncertainty remains over the details of how to coordinate passage with Iranian authorities, according to Richard Meade, Editor-in-Chief of maritime publication Lloyd’s List.

“Shippers don’t have the details from Iran and they believe the system that was in place at midnight has not changed despite the announcement of the ceasefire,” Meade told CNN on Wednesday, referring to Iran’s vetting of ships that transit the waterway.

Shippers are subjected to intense screening, which includes ownership, management, insurance, financing and charter history to check for any affiliation to US and Israel”

Richard Meade

As a result, it will likely take considerably longer than the two-week ceasefire period to clear the backlog of ships, according to Ana Subasic, trade risk analyst at global trade intelligence firm Kpler.

“For now, the backlog at the Strait of Hormuz is around 1000 ships, with roughly 80% still stranded inside the Persian Gulf,” she told CNN on Wednesday, adding that it would have taken 7-9 days for this many ships to transit the strait before the conflict.

However the fact that transits will remain subject to Iranian military coordination and approval means that only around 10-15 ships are likely to pass through the strait each day, she added.

“At that base case pace, only around 150 to 210 ships would be able to transit during the two-week ceasefire, leaving the bulk of the backlog still in place when the deal expires,” said Subasic.

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7:03 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iranian president confirms Tehran's participation in Islamabad ceasefire talks, Pakistan's prime ministry says

By Sophia Saifi and Nadeen Ebrahim

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed that his country will take part in ceasefire talks with the United States in Islamabad on Friday, according to a statement from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office on Wednesday.

In a 45-minute phone call, Pezeshkian “confirmed that Iran would be participating in the negotiations in Islamabad,” the statement said.

7:18 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Two vessels have transited Strait of Hormuz since ceasefire, but hundreds remain trapped

By Lauren Kent, Robert North and Jack Guy

Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth is tracked through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.

Marine Traffic

At least two vessels have safely transited through the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire was announced between Iran, the United States and Israel, according to the latest data from MarineTraffic.

That is a drop in the ocean of the massive backlog of vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf, though. MarineTraffic said on Wednesday that hundreds of vessels remain in the region, including 426 tankers, 34 liquefied petroleum gas carriers and 19 liquefied natural gas vessels.

On Wednesday at 8:44 a.m. UTC, a Greek-owned bulk carrier, called NJ Earth, crossed the strait, its tracking data showed. About two hours before that, the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, the Daytona Beach, made it through to the Gulf of Oman, according to MarineTraffic.

Both vessels appeared to have taken the route that passes by Iran’s Larak Island, which Lloyd’s List Intelligence has previously reported is a checkpoint used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to control access to the strait.

Oil prices plummeted after the ceasefire was announced, but shipping experts have expressed uncertainty about a quick resumption of movement through the key chokepoint, through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply typically passes. About 130 vessels passed through the waterway each day before the war began, according to UN Trade and Development.

“How this transition will be managed is yet to be seen, but the ceasefire should come with a dose of reality because there is unlikely to be a rapid return to normality,” Peter Sand, chief analyst at the freight analysis firm Xeneta, told CNN. “The limited timeframe and fragile ceasefire raises the risk for any carrier returning ships into the Gulf that they could become trapped once again if there is another deterioration in the security situation.”

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7:07 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Here's what's on the White House and Pentagon schedules today

By Kaanita Iyer

President Donald Trump arrives at a news conference at the White House on Monday.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/File

President Donald Trump has several meetings on his schedule today while the Pentagon is set to hold a news briefing on the Iran war.

Here’s what’s on the schedule today:

· 8 am ET: Pentagon news briefing

· 11:30 am ET: Trump meets with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins

· 1 pm ET: Press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a briefing

· 2 pm ET: Trump sits down for an interview

· 3:30 pm ET: Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

· 5 pm ET: Trump attends a Freedom250 reception

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7:22 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran’s "general principles" were accepted in ceasefire deal, president says

By Mostafa Salem

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks in Tehran, Iran, on January 31.

Aboutaleb Nadri/Iran's Presidential website/WANA/Reuters

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said the general principles “desired” by Iran were accepted in the ceasefire deal with the United States.

He added that the ceasefire was the result of the sacrifice of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war, and the Iranian people’s resistance.

“From today on, we will continue to stand together. Whether in diplomacy, in defence, in the streets or in providing services,” he wrote on X

6:23 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

US and Iran claim victory after ceasefire reached, as strikes reported across region

By Catherine Nicholls

U.S. and Iran agree to two-week ceasefire

04:54

We’ve been bringing you the latest on the two-week ceasefire deal agreed upon by Iran and US President Donald Trump last night, amid more than five weeks of conflict that spilled across the Middle East.

If you’re just joining us, here’s what you need to know about the latest developments:

Ceasefire

· Roughly 90 minutes before an 8 p.m. ET deadline Trump set for Iran to agree to end the war, the US president announced a “double sided ceasefire” between the countries.

· Iran’s supreme leader instructed all military units to stop firing, according to a statement read out on state-run news channel IRIB about two hours after Trump shared the news about the ceasefire.

· Oil prices plummeted after Trump’s announcement, while US stock futures jumped.

On the ground

· In the hours following the ceasefire announcement, sirens sounded across the Gulf and in Israel, as several countries reported incoming missiles.

· An Israeli military spokesperson also told CNN that Israel was still carrying out strikes in Iran in the early hours of this morning.

· Iranians gathered in the streets of Tehran after the ceasefire was announced, with some burning American and Israeli flags, an action often seen at pro-regime rallies in Iran.

Strait of Hormuz

· In his announcement, Trump said that the ceasefire included Iran’s agreement to carry out a “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.”

· Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that Iran and Oman plan to charge transit fees for vessels passing through the strait during the ceasefire, with the funds earmarked for reconstruction.

· Trump said the US will be “helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,” without sharing any details on how this will work.

· Shipping data showed little movement in the waterway more than six hours after the ceasefire was announced, with one analyst warning vessels and insurers would need to see further positive signs before resuming traffic through the vital waterway.

Lebanon

· Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who presented the ceasefire plan to Trump, said early today that the ceasefire included Lebanon, though Israel said that this was not the case.

· The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said today that it has stropped strikes in Iran but will continue ground operations against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

· A large blast was seen in the coastal Lebanese city of Tyre, according to footage from Reuters news agency, shortly after Israel’s military issued an “urgent” evacuation warning to residents.

· An airstrike in the Sidon area of southern Lebanon early today killed eight people and wounded 22 others, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

CNN’s Kit Maher, Lex Harvey, Ramishah Maruf, Samantha Delouya, Lauren Izso, Todd Symons, Jeremy Diamond, Manveena Suri, Jessie Yeung, Logan Schiciano, Isaac Yee, Sophia Saifi, Eugenia Yosef, Lauren Kent, Kloe Zheng and Charbel Mallo contributed to this reporting.

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6:05 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Ghalibaf to lead Iranian delegation during Friday's ceasefire talks, local media says

By Nadeen Ebrahim

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf attends a press conference in the Iranian Parliament building in Tehran on December 2, 2025.

Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Iranian negotiating team in Friday’s talks with the United States will be led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported Wednesday.

The state-affiliated news agency Tasnim, however, said that the head of the Iranian delegation has yet to be picked.

US officials told CNN earlier that the meeting would likely take place in Islamabad with Pakistani mediators in attendance. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Vice President JD Vance are expected to attend.

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7:27 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Vance calls ceasefire with Iran a "fragile truce" as it takes effect

By Kevin Liptak in Budapest, Hungary

Vance calls Iran ceasefire "fragile truce"

00:47

Vice President JD Vance, who helped in the final hours of negotiation that resulted in a ceasefire with Iran, called the agreement a “fragile truce” that had taught him a lot about the Iranian system.

Speaking in Budapest, Vance said the response from Iran had varied depending on the group within the government. He said the foreign minister had responded favorably to the plan, but that others had been “lying” about what had been accomplished by the United States militarily and the contours of the ceasefire.

“This is why I say this is a fragile truce,” he said. “You have people who clearly want to come to the negotiating table and work with us to find a good deal and then you have people who are lying about even the fragile truce that we’ve already struck.”

“If the Iranians are willing in good faith to work with us, I think we can make an agreement,” Vance went on. “If they’re going to lie, if they’re going to cheat, if they’re … going to try to prevent even the fragile truce that we’ve set up from taking place, that they’re not going to be happy.”

He said President Donald Trump had asked his team to hold off on using certain military, diplomatic and economic tools to apply pressure on Iran for now.

But he said those options remained on the table if Iran fails to negotiate positively toward a permanent end to the war.

“He’s told us to come to negotiating table,” he said of Trump. “But if the Iranians don’t do the exact same thing, they’re going to find out that the president of the United States is not one to mess around. He’s impatient. He’s impatient to make progress.”

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5:54 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Israeli military issues more evacuation warnings for residents in Lebanon

By Charbel Mallo, Eugenia Yosef and Lauren Kent

Smoke rises from an explosion in the Abbasiyeh neighbourhood following an Israeli strike in Tyre, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The Israeli military just issued more “urgent” evacuation warnings for residents in Lebanon today, including in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which are considered a Hezbollah stronghold.

The IDF’s Arabic language spokesman Avichay Adraee issued an evacuation warning for seven different neighborhoods in the southern suburbs of Beirut. He also warned residents of a building in the city of Tyre – the second one today.

It comes after earlier warnings for residents of Tyre, where a large blast was seen shortly after, according to footage from Reuters news agency. Also on Wednesday morning, an airstrike in the Sidon area of southern Lebanon killed eight people and wounded 22 others, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

For context: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreement between the US, Israel and Iran that was announced Tuesday. Israel’s position runs counter to a statement from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped broker the deal between the US and Iran, that said the agreement included Lebanon.

At least 1,530 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 130 children, and thousands more have been wounded since the war began, the country’s health ministry said in its latest update.

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6:08 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Oil prices plunge on ceasefire news but "significant hurdles" remain

By Hanna Ziady

A trader works in front of a board displaying Germany's DAX index in Frankfurt on Wednesday.

Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

Oil prices are tumbling and stocks surging today, after US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, spurring hopes that more oil tankers would soon be able to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

WTI, the US crude benchmark, dropped 16% to just below $95 a barrel – still well above the $67 level where it traded before the war began. Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, slipped 13.5% to $94 a barrel.

Despite the sharp moves, uncertainty surrounds the ceasefire, in particular about how quickly transits will resume through the strait, through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply normally passes.

“The market has been eager to get good news but it remains to be seen if the Strait of Hormuz opens fully,” Bob McNally, founder and president of Rapidan Energy Group, told CNN.

News of the ceasefire has also sparked a relief rally in stock markets around the world. South Korea’s Kospi led gains in Asia to close 6.87% higher. Japan’s Nikkei and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 5.39% and 3.09% respectively.

In Europe, Germany’s Dax jumped 4.5% in morning trade, with indexes in Paris and London also posting healthy increases. US futures pointed to a sharply stronger open.

“For markets, the most critical issue remains the status of the Strait of Hormuz,” chief economist at Capital Economics Neil Shearing wrote in a note. “There are significant hurdles to overcome before the ceasefire agreement between the US, Israel and Iran can translate into a lasting end to the war,” he added.

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7:16 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Pope Leo welcomes Iran ceasefire with "satisfaction"

By Sophie Tanno

Pope Leo welcomes Iran ceasefire with "satisfaction"

00:36

Pope Leo XIV today welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war with “satisfaction.”

The pontiff, who has been an outspoken critic of the war, also hailed the pause in fighting as a sign of “hope.”

“Only through a return to negotiations can the war be brought to an end. I urge that this period of delicate diplomatic work be accompanied by prayer, in the hope that openness to dialogue may become the means to resolve other situations of conflict around the world,” he said at an address at the Vatican on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

It comes after Leo on Tuesday said that threats against the people of Iran are “truly unacceptable,” hours after US President Donald Trump had warned Tehran that a “whole civilization will die tonight.”

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5:05 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Why is JD Vance in Hungary?

By Christian Edwards

US Vice President J.D. Vance, right, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attend an election campaign rally in Budapest, Hungary, on Tuesday.

Janos Kummer/Getty Images

While his boss spent Tuesday contemplating whether to wipe out “a whole civilization,” US Vice President JD Vance had taken time out of the Trump administration’s busy wartime schedule to visit Hungary.

That’s because Viktor Orbán - Hungary’s longtime prime minister, and a darling of the MAGA movement - is in electoral trouble.

After 16 years in power, Orbán faces his stiffest electoral challenge yet. While Orbán has run mostly on foreign policy, pledging to defend Hungary from the vague, alleged threats posed by Brussels and Kyiv, his opponent, Péter Magyar, has run on kitchen-table issues – corruption, health care and people’s wallets.

Vance’s visit to Budapest, just days before Hungary’s election, marked an extraordinary departure from democratic norms.

After decrying what he claimed was an egregious attempt by the European Union to interfere in Hungary’s election, without providing evidence, he then urged Hungarians to “go to the polls in the weekend, (and) stand with Viktor Orbán, because he stands with you.”

His endorsement – echoed by US President Donald Trump – is a measure of the deep ties Orbán has forged between the Hungarian and American right.

Whether Vance’s trip can buoy Orbán’s election campaign is not yet clear. Tisza, the opposition party led by Magyar, has held a double-digit lead over Orbán’s Fidesz party in most polls for more than a year.

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5:31 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Israel has halted strikes on Iran but will continue attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon

By Eugenia Yosef and Lauren Kent

First responders carry a body recovered from the rubble into an ambulance at the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on Wednesday.

Kawnat Haju/AFP/Getty Images

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that it has halted strikes in Iran but will continue ground operations against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF has ceased fire in the operation against Iran, and is highly prepared to respond defensively against any violation,” the IDF said in a statement.

The Israeli military also said it conducted a wide-scale wave of strikes on Iran overnight into Wednesday, “in order to significantly degrade and neutralize its launching capabilities” before the ceasefire.

“Simultaneously, in Lebanon, the IDF is continuing to conduct targeted ground operations against the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” the IDF statement added.

Earlier on Wednesday: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Office said that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran. A large blast was seen in the coastal Lebanese city of Tyre on Wednesday morning, according to footage from Reuters news agency, shortly after Israel’s military issued an “urgent” evacuation warning to residents.

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3:21 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Blast seen in Lebanese city of Tyre after Israel issues evacuation order

By Eugenia Yosef, Lex Harvey, Manveena Suri and Kloe Zheng

Reuters

A large blast was seen in the coastal Lebanese city of Tyre, according to footage from Reuters news agency, shortly after Israel’s military issued an “urgent” evacuation warning to residents.

‏”To ensure your safety, evacuate your homes at once and move to the north of the Zahrani River,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic spokesperson said in a post to Telegram. The IDF said it was targeting Hezbollah in the area.

Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Office said earlier.

6:41 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

World "stepped back from disaster," Oman says, as nations hail ceasefire

By Rhea Mogul

Iranians react after a ceasefire announcement at the Enqelab square, in Tehran, on Wednesday.

Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

International reaction to the US and Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire is trickling in.

· Oman Foreign Minster Badr Albusaidi, a key interlocutor, said “the world has stepped back from disaster. But there’s no room for complacency,” on X. He added that Oman will support the next phase of “serious negotiations.”

· Iraq’s foreign ministry said it “values this development as one that could contribute to reducing tensions, enhancing opportunities for de-escalation, and reinforcing security and stability in the region.”

· European leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the ceasefire agreement. Starmer said: “Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.”

· Egypt called the ceasefire “a positive step toward de-escalation and the containment of regional tensions.”

· Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the announcement was “positive news,” telling Sky News Australia that he hopes it “leads to a permanent de-escalation and end to the conflict.” Albanese also criticized Trump’s earlier rhetoric, saying “the potential of damage to civilian infrastructure in Iran was an extraordinary statement to make.”

· Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara said: “What is most important now is that the situation genuinely de-escalates, including ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”

· The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on “all parties to comply with their obligations” and “abide by the terms” of the deal, according to a statement from his spokesperson.

CNN’s Angus Watson, Todd Symons, Aqeel Najim and Ibrahim Dahman contributed reporting

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3:30 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

If Iran's plan is to charge Hormuz tolls, what happens to the US Navy's 5th Fleet?

By Brad Lendon

Two of Iran’s demands coming out of the ceasefire deal that were published in statements from the Supreme National Security Council and in state media raise questions about the continued US Navy presence in the Middle East.

One, Tehran wants to levy tolls on ships going through the Strait of Hormuz; and two, it apparently wants US combat forces out of the region.

A key question is, would tolls apply warships?

The US Navy’s 5th Fleet, US Naval Forces Central Command, is headquartered in Bahrain, inside the Persian Gulf.

The 5^th Fleet is responsible for 2.5 million square miles of water area, including the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

Besides the Strait of Hormuz, 5th Fleet also oversees the key maritime chokepoints of the Suez Canal at the north end of the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the south end.

“If toll is to be paid, clearly that undermines US military access to the (Persian) Gulf,” said Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“Unless Trump is intending for CENTCOM to completely overhaul its posture in the Middle East Gulf region, I don’t see how this toll system can hold,” Koh said.

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4:58 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

The US and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire. Here’s the latest

By Jessie Yeung

Pro-government demonstrators chant slogans as they hold Iranian flags and a poster of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei after a ceasefire announcement in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday.

Vahid Salemi/AP

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, with countries around the world welcoming the news.

The ceasefire is a starting point for further negotiations, and it remains to be seen what final terms may be included in any proposal to definitively end the war.

Here’s the latest:

· Trump’s announcement: Trump said he agreed to the ceasefire on the condition that Iran agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had put forward a 10-point proposal, which Trump views as “a workable basis on which to negotiate,” while a final agreement will be drawn up in the next two weeks. He called the ceasefire a “total and complete victory” and said the US would be “helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.”

· Israel’s agreement: Israel said it is part of the ceasefire and will also stop bombing Iran. But it claimed Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire –– contradicting Pakistan’s prime minister, who had presented the ceasefire proposal to Trump.

· Tehran’s response: Iran’s foreign minister said the country would cease its operations if attacks against Iran stop, and that Iran’s military will coordinate safe passage through the strait. The ceasefire is being presented as a victory in Iran, with the Iran’s Supreme National Security Council saying it had forced the US to accept its 10-point plan as the basis for talks.

· Iran’s plan: The 10-point proposal included regulating passage through the Strait of Hormuz; the end of attacks on Iran and its proxies; the withdrawal of US forces from the region; compensation to Iran; the lifting of international sanctions and unfreezing of assets; and a binding UN resolution to secure any ultimate peace deal, according to the national security council’s statement, which was reported by Iranian state media and obtained by CNN from Iranian officials. Versions of the statement that were widely distributed by Iranian state media also included that the US has agreed in principle to accept Iran’s right to nuclear enrichment.

· Trump’s 15-point plan: While the US has accepted Iran’s plan as a starting point, Tehran is also still considering Washington’s 15-point proposal. These demands are believed to include: Iran committing to no nuclear weapons, handing over its highly enriched uranium, limits on Tehran’s defense capabilities, an end to regional proxy groups and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

· Talks in Pakistan: The Trump administration is preparing for potential in-person negotiations, likely in Islamabad on Friday –– where Pakistan’s prime minister has invited both sides to send delegations.

· Lebanon strikes: An airstrike killed eight people in southern Lebanon early Wednesday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Israel’s military also issued an “urgent” evacuation warning to residents of the coastal Lebanese city of Tyre on Wednesday, specifically in the Shabraha neighborhood of Al-Abassiya.

Read more about the ceasefire here.

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2:53 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

No quick relief on jet fuel supply or prices, air transport group chief says

By Brad Lendon

Jet fuel supplies are likely to remain tight for months even if Iran opens up the Strait of Hormuz quickly, the director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Wednesday, according to a Reuters report.

Crude oil prices fell sharply on the announcement of the US-Iran ceasefire deal, which includes a plan to allow oil tankers through the strait, but neither the price drop or the opening of the waterway through which 20% of the world’s oil supply flows, will mean immediate relief for the aviation industry, IATA chief Willie Wilson told reporters in Singapore.

That’s because refineries need to get back up to speed, Walsh said.

“If (the strait) were to reopen and remain open, I think it will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be given the disruption to the refining capacity in the Middle East, which is a critical part of the global supply of refined products, and not just jet fuel for other products as well,” Walsh said.

Since the US and Israel went to war with Iran in late February, the world has confronted a historic oil crisis and jet fuel prices have doubled. Airlines have responded by raising fuel surcharges added to tickets and in some cases cancelling or scaling back services.

Economies in Asia, including key US allies, have been hit particularly hard by the oil crisis because they are especially dependent on energy imports from the Middle East.

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1:57 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Hours after US-Iran ceasefire announced, shipping data shows little movement in Strait of Hormuz

By Isaac Yee

Marine traffic data showed little movement in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday morning following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.

MarineTraffic

Shipping data shows little movement in the Strait of Hormuz more than six hours after the US and Iran announced a ceasefire, with one analyst warning vessels and insurers would need to see further positive signs before resuming traffic through the vital waterway.

“The ceasefire is a necessary first step, but it does not mean commercial shipping immediately normalizes through the international traffic lanes in the Strait,” said Charlie Brown, Senior Advisor of Dark Fleet Tracking at United Against Nuclear Iran and a former US Navy officer.

“Shipowners are still waiting for authoritative guidance from naval security channels, flag states, and, critically, marine war-risk insurers before sending vessels back into the strait,” Brown added.

“The real signal to watch is the ‘first movers’ –– the earliest vessels willing to test the route. If those transits are completed safely, confidence will build quickly and the broader watch-and-wait cohort will follow.”

Iran has attacked at least 19 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, since the start of the war. The almost six week blockage of the waterway has choked crude supplies to the rest of the world and tanked global markets.

On Wednesday morning, Iran’s foreign minister said “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces.” Iran and Oman will charge ships to pass through the strait during the ceasefire period, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency has said.

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6:15 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Airstrike in southern Lebanon kills eight

By Charbel Mallo, Lex Harvey and Manveena Suri

CNN

An airstrike in the Sidon area of southern Lebanon early Wednesday killed eight people and wounded 22 others, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

A drone hit a car which was parked along a seaside promenade in Sidon in front of two crowded cafes, torching the car and destroying the cafes, according to Lebanon’s state-owned National News Agency (NNA).

Another strike, on Lebanon’s Hiram Hospital, caused extensive damage to the building, including patient rooms and the hospital entrance, NNA reported.

Hezbollah said it launched 52 attacks on Israeli army positions in Lebanon and Israel yesterday, with two additional attacks reported since midnight.

Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreement between the US, Israel and Iran which was announced Tuesday, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Israel’s position is contrary to a statement from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped broker the deal between the US and Iran, that said the agreement included Lebanon.

At least 1,530 people have been killed, including 130 children, and thousands more have been wounded in Lebanon since the war began, the country’s health ministry said Tuesday.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the timing of attacks that Hezbollah said it had launched on Israeli army positions.

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5:25 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Pro-Iran militia in Iraq to halt attacks during ceasefire

By Lex Harvey

A group of Iranian proxy militias in Iraq have said they will suspend their military operations in the region for two weeks, the length of the ceasefire agreement between the US, Israel and Iran.

The Iraqi resistance group, which represents a number of pro-Iranian factions behind a series of attacks on US-linked targets in Iraq during the war, announced the pause on their Telegram channel Wednesday morning.

Supporters of the Iraqi armed militias celebrated the US-Iran deal in the capital Baghdad on Wednesday, raising flags of the resistance on their cars in Tahrir Square.

Iran has cultivated a network of proxy militia groups in Iraq over many years. In recent weeks, the groups have targeted US diplomats and facilities in Iraq, including the embassy in Baghdad which was struck by several drones.

Militia group Kataib Hezbollah kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Iraq last month. She has since been released, US and Iraqi officials said Tuesday.

1:36 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran's uranium will be "perfectly taken care of," says Trump

By Lex Harvey

US President Donald Trump said Iran’s uranium will be “perfectly taken care of” in an interview with AFP news agency Tuesday following the ceasefire announcement.

Some context: Iran’s large stockpile of highly enriched uranium – a core component needed to build a nuclear weapon – has been a major concern during the war. US officials told the Wall Street Journal last month Trump was weighing a military operation to extract the uranium, though no decision had been made.

“That will be perfectly taken care of or I wouldn’t have settled,” Trump told AFP Tuesday, without giving more details.

12:42 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump says US will help with “traffic buildup” through Hormuz strait

By Logan Schiciano

Trump also celebrated: “A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!”

Background: Earlier, Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week period “will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil typically travels, has largely stalled since the start of the war.

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12:13 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump claims "total and complete victory" following ceasefire deal

By Lex Harvey

President Donald Trump pauses as he finishes speaking about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington on Wednesday.

Alex Brandon/Pool/Getty Images/File

President Donald Trump said the US had won a “total and complete victory” after striking a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran.

“Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it,” he said in an interview with AFP news agency Tuesday.

Trump would not say whether he planned to fulfill his prior threats to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure if Tehran reneged on the agreement.

“You’re going to have to see,” Trump told AFP.

12:13 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump believes China helped get Iran to negotiate ceasefire

By Yong Xiong and Ross Adkin

President Donald Trump said he believes China helped get Iran to negotiate a ceasefire, AFP news agency reported.

“I hear yes,” Trump said in a telephone call when asked by AFP if Beijing had been involved in pushing Tehran – a key ally – to negotiate on a truce.

“China welcomes all efforts conducive to peace,” Liu Pengyu told CNN.

“We hope relevant parties will seize the opportunity for peace, bridge differences through dialogue and put an early end to the conflict.”

CNN has reached out to China’s foreign affairs ministry for comment.

Simone McCarthy contributed reporting

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12:13 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Israel says ceasefire deal does not include Lebanon

By Lex Harvey and Lauren Izso

Lebanon is not part of the two-week ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

“The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon,” it added.

The statement from Netanyahu’s office are the first comments from Israel’s leader since the ceasefire was announced.

Some context: Alongside its war on Iran with the US, Israel has been conducting a major military campaign in southern Lebanon in early March, targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. At least 1,530 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2, Lebanon’s health ministry said Tuesday, including 130 children.

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1:18 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran has issued multiple statements regarding the ceasefire. Here's what they say

By Jerome Taylor

Iranian officials have released multiple statements in both Farsi and English following the breakthrough announcement of a two week ceasefire with the United States.

Here’s what they say:

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi released a statement on X that declared: “If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the country’s top security body, released a more fiery statement that confirmed the ceasefire but also portrayed the agreement as a victory.

The statement was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on by multiple Iranian state media outlets.

The security council statement said talks between the US and Iran would take place in Islamabad and laid out key parts of the Tehran’s 10-point plan. It included regulating passage through the Strait of Hormuz; terminating attacks on Iran and its regional proxy forces, the withdrawal of US forces from the region, compensation to Iran, the lifting of international sanctions and unfreezing of assets as well as and a binding UN resolution to secure any ultimate peace deal.

“Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force,” the council warned.

Iran’s embassy in India also posted a breakdown of the 10 points on its verified X account that included “acceptance of enrichment”. CNN has reached out to Iran’s foreign ministry for comment.

For context: Iran’s Supreme National Security Council is the primary body tasked with overseeing Iran’s national security interests and protecting its Islamic revolution. It is stacked with senior figures from the country’s security, military, and clerical establishment.

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12:13 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran and Oman to charge ships passing through Hormuz strait during ceasefire, state media reports

By Jessie Yeung

Iran and Oman plan to charge transit fees for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

The funds will be earmarked for reconstruction, Tasnim reported.

CNN has asked Oman’s foreign ministry for comment.

Iran has reportedly been charging up to $2 million per vessel for passage trough Hormuz. It’s unclear if any ship operators have paid the fee.

12:12 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

White House calls two-week ceasefire "a victory for the United States"

By Kit Maher

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions during a news briefing in Washington, DC. on March 25.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/File

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the two-week ceasefire “a victory for the United States,” as she touted the US military’s efforts in the war with Iran.

“Never underestimate President Trump’s ability to successfully advance America’s interests and broker peace,” Leavitt added.

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1:11 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

US, Israeli flags burned in Tehran as Iranians express skepticism over ceasefire

By Manveena Suri and Jessie Yeung

Reuters

Iranians gathered in the streets of Tehran in the pre-dawn darkness on Wednesday after the ceasefire was announced –– though several voiced skepticism about the agreement.

Iranians skeptical about ceasefire agreement

00:33

“Is the nature of America going to change? I have no idea why they have accepted … like always, they want to buy time for Israel,” she said.

Another woman questioned why Iran should declare a ceasefire, and why it should reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

WANA/Reuters

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12:12 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump derides Iran statement claiming victory and outlining 10-point plan as a “fraud”

By Matthew Chance and Jerome Taylor

President Donald Trump tonight derided a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council that claimed victory in the ceasefire deal as a “FRAUD,” attacking CNN for reporting on it.

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12:12 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Asian markets surge on ceasefire news

By John Liu in Hong Kong

A postwoman walks past screens displaying Japan's Nikkei share average exchange rate between Japanese yen, U.S. dollar and Dow Jones Industrial Average in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday.

Issei Kato/Reuters

Japan’s benchmark index Nikkei 225 surged 4.9% as of 10:41 am local time, while South Korea’s Kospi gained 5.7%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 2.8%.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures plunged more than 13% after hours to less than $98 a barrel - a significant drop, but still well above the $67.02 settled on February 27, before the war began. Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, declined 12.78% to $95.31.

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12:12 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Graham says Congress would need to approve the proposal to end war

By Kit Maher

Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to reporter on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 30.

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters/File

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s fiercest advocates for military action in Iran, said that Congress will have to approve any proposal to end the war.

The White House has not detailed what the 10-point plan consists of, but press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a “workable basis to negotiate.”

Later, the South Carolina Republican posted that he prefers “diplomacy if it leads to the right outcome regarding the Iranian terrorist regime.”

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12:12 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iranian state media says order has been issued for all military units to stop firing

By Lex Harvey

“This is not the end of the war but all military branches should follow the Supreme Leader order and cease their fire,” said the statement

1:18 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Missile attacks reported across the Gulf and Israel after ceasefire announced

By Lex Harvey, Lauren Izso and Todd Symons

Israel's military said it had identified several rounds of missiles launched from Iran and was working to intercept the threats. Reuters

Both Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates said they were working to intercept incoming drone and missile threats in posts to X from their respective militaries.

In Abu Dhabi, authorities said they were responding to a fire at the Habshan gas processing facility.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said it had successfully intercepted a missile attack.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said sirens were sounding and encouraged residents to seek safety, while Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued an early warning of potential danger in the central governorate of Al-Kharj.

Israel’s military said it had identified several rounds of missiles launched from Iran and was working to intercept the threats. Emergency teams were responding to several impact sites in central Israel, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA).

Reuters

Some context: Trump announced the ceasefire around 6:30 p.m. ET Tuesday, though he did not specify when it was to take effect.

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12:12 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Israel still carrying out strikes in Iran, military spokesperson tells CNN

By Jeremy Diamond

Israel was still carrying out strikes in Iran Tuesday night, an Israeli military spokesperson told CNN.

Israel is part of the ceasefire and has agreed to also suspend its bombing campaign while negotiations continue, a senior White House official earlier told CNN.

12:12 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Pakistan helped broker the ceasefire. Here’s why it could be a good venue for any peace talks

Analysis by Sophia Saifi

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attends a conference in Kuala Lumpur on October 6, 2025.

Hasnoor Hussain/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Trump’s also struck up a close rapport with the head of its powerful military, Asim Munir, whom he has met multiple times and refers to as his “favorite field marshal.”

Pakistan also has its own incentives for de-escalation, given its dependence on Middle Eastern energy supplies.

Several other nations, including Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have acted as mediators between the warring countries.

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12:11 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran ceasefire includes Lebanon, Pakistani prime minister says

By Sophia Saifi

The ceasefire that the US and Iran reached includes Lebanon, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who presented the plan to US President Donald Trump, said.

12:11 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Pakistani PM hails Iran ceasefire agreement, invites US and Iran for further talks

By Sophia Saifi

“I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries,” Sharif said in a statement on X.

Sharif invited delegations from both Iran and the US to engage in further negotiations “to settle all disputes” in Islamabad on Friday, April 10.

“We earnestly hope that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!” he said.

12:11 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

US officials say Trump admin preparing for in-person Iran talks likely involving Vance

By Alayna Treene and Kristen Holmes

“There are discussions about in person talks, but nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN.

12:11 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Israel has also agreed to temporary ceasefire, White House official says

By Alayna Treene

Israel has agreed to also suspend its bombing campaign while negotiations continue, the official said.

The ceasefire also includes Lebanon, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who presented the plan to US President Donald Trump, said in a statement.

CNN’s Sophia Saifi contributed reporting.

12:25 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffriessays two-week ceasefire is "insufficient"

By Aleena Fayaz

Top House Democrat says two-week ceasefire is "insufficient"

00:27

Jeffries said tonight that if a vote doesn’t happen this week, House Democratic leadership plans to present a war powers resolution “as soon as it becomes available to us to do so.”

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10:49 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran says it forced US to accept 10-point plan

By Michael Rios

CNN is reaching out to US officials for comment.

“Our hands remain on the trigger, and at the slightest mistake by the enemy, a full-force response will be delivered,” it warned, according to the statement obtained by CNN.

For context: Iran’s Supreme National Security Council is the primary body tasked with overseeing Iran’s national security interests and protecting its Islamic revolution. It is stacked with senior figures from the country’s security, military, and clerical establishment.

This post has been updated.

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12:11 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Marco Rubio announces release of kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson

By Rashard Rose

Shelly Kittleson is seen in this image posted to her Instagram account.

from Shelly Kittleson/Instagram

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today that kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson has been released by a pro-Iran militia in Iraq.

CNN previously reported that Kittleson had been released, according to a senior Iraqi government official.

“We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq,” Rubio wrote.

Kittleson, a reporter specializing in the Middle East, had been taken captive by Kataib Hezbollah last month.

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12:18 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Iran says its military will coordinate passage through Strait of Hormuz during ceasefire

By Jennifer Hansler and Mitchell McCluskey

This would grant Iran a “unique economic and geopolitical standing,” the statement said.

The statement was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on multiple Iranian state media outlets.

Aragachi also expressed gratitude to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir for urging Trump to implement a ceasefire.

12:18 a.m. EDT, April 8, 2026

Trump agrees to two-week ceasefire with Iran, subject to Strait of Hormuz opening

By Kit Maher

See Trump’s social media post agreeing to two week ceasefire

03:20

President Donald Trump said he’d agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, less than two hours before his 8 p.m. deadline to destroy a “whole civilization.”

Trump said the ceasefire agreement was made on the condition that Iran agree to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz.

The White House called a lid at 6:44 p.m., meaning officials don’t anticipate that the press will see Trump for the remainder of the evening.

ATTACHMENT “D” – FROM CNN

TODAY — Netanyahu says there’s no ceasefire in Lebanon as Israel pursues talks

Updated 12:41 AM EDT, Fri April 10, 2026

New strikes on Lebanon as US-Iran ceasefire under stress

02:06

Our live coverage has ended

• Follow the latest updates on the war with Iran here.

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12:33 a.m. EDT, April 10, 2026

What we know so far

By CNN staff

• Key sticking point: The deadly Israeli military offensive targeting Tehran-backed Hezbollah has emerged as a critical point of contention surrounding the tenuous US-Iran ceasefire.

• Lebanon talks: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel wants direct negotiations with Lebanon on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations, but said there is no ceasefire currently in place. Lebanese officials say Beirut has not received a formal invitation for talks, with one of them insisting there will be “no negotiations under fire.”

• Strait of Hormuz: US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against charging tolls to oil tankers in the key shipping lane. Abu Dhabi’s oil chief said the strait is “not open” as few vessels make it through the waterway.

• High-stakes meetings: A US delegation is preparing for talks in Pakistan this weekend on a potential long-term deal with Iran. A two-week pause in hostilities appears to be largely holding.

11:11 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

South Korea to send special envoy to Iran as its ships remain stuck in Strait of Hormuz

By Yoonjung Seo

South Korea will send a special envoy to Iran to discuss the safe passage of its vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, following a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, the foreign ministry said on Friday. The country is a key US ally that plays a central role in the Indo-Pacific security strategy and it hosts about 28,000 US troops stationed against North Korean threats.

The ministry appointed Chung Byung-ha, its representative for polar cooperation and former ambassador to Kuwait, as special envoy following a phone call a day earlier between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. The special envoy plans to travel to Tehran in the coming days, according to the ministry.

During the visit, Seoul hopes to “exchange views with Iran on the situation in the Middle East and discuss the safety of our nationals, vessels and crew, as well as issues related to the passage of all ships,” the ministry said in a statement.

South Korea currently has 26 vessels, including oil tankers, unable to travel through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping company executives and analysts have said uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire is still making the transit too risky.

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10:55 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Oil and stocks climb ahead of US-Iran high-stakes talks in Pakistan

By Stephanie Yang

A man prepares to fill up his car at a petrol station in Seoul on March 9.

Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images

Both Asian equities and oil prices rose on Friday ahead of highly anticipated talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad , which could determine whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens to much-needed crude cargo.

As of 10:15 am local time, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index increased 1.1% while China’s Shanghai Composite index gained 1%. Japan’s benchmark index Nikkei 225 gained 1.5% and South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.8%.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 0.7% at $98.55 a barrel, while Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, rose 0.4% to $96.30 a barrel.

On Tuesday, oil prices had plummeted and global stocks rose after Trump announced a ceasefire.

Market moves have since tapered off as investors await more details and potential movement of ships in the strait. Despite the truce, few vessels have transited through the strait, and disagreements on whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire agreement threaten to upend the uneasy two-week pause.

“As of this moment, the ceasefire looks like it may be fleeting but the direction of travel is positive,” analysts at J.P. Morgan said in a note Thursday. However, the bank estimated that, even with a truce, it would take four months for the global oil market to fully recover, as “multiple uncertainties are likely to persist in the near to medium term.”

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9:49 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Strait of Hormuz access "restricted, conditioned and controlled," says Abu Dhabi's oil chief

By Laura Sharman

An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, December 10, 2023.

Nicolas Economou/Reuters/File

The head of Abu Dhabi’s state-owned oil company said the Strait of Hormuz is “not open.”

Sultan Al Jaber, who runs the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), said passage through the waterway is subject to “conditions and political leverage” by Iran. “The Strait was not built, engineered, financed or constructed by any state,” he continued.

“This moment requires clarity. So let’s be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open. Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled,” he said Thursday on Linkedin.

Al Jaber, who is also the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology, said energy security and global economic stability hinge on the Strait of Hormuz being reopened “fully, unconditionally, and without restriction.”

“The weaponization of this vital waterway, in any form, cannot stand. This would set a dangerous precedent for the world – undermining the principle of freedom of navigation that underpins global trade and, ultimately, the stability of the global economy,” he added.

Iran has said that passage through the vital waterway “will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.”

Prior to the war, it was a free and open international waterway.

Shipping company executives and analysts have told CNN uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire is still making transit through the strait too risky right now. Shipping experts also said Iran is still in charge of the strait – and those authorities haven’t laid out a plan for safe passage yet.

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8:58 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Here are the latest developments on conflict in the Middle East

By Tori B. Powell

We have been reporting on the developments in the Middle East after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel wants direct negotiations with Lebanon on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations. You can read details on his announcement and Lebanon’s response here.

Here are the other latest developments:

In the United States:

• US President Donald Trump warned Iran’s leadership not to charge tankers to traverse the Strait of Hormuz. He also complained about the stalled traffic in the waterway, saying Tehran is “doing a very poor job.” Shipping executive analysts tell CNN companies are hesitant to trust a ceasefire that’s already been shaky, especially without direction on which ships can go when.

CNN

• We’re also learning that Trump, during a meeting Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, pushed for urgent concrete measures from NATO members to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, two European diplomats familiar with the matter told CNN. NATO was not informed of the US an Israel’s plan to go to war and its chief Mark Rutte said allies are providing “massive amount of support” to Trump on Iran

• The president, separately, blasted right-wing pundits who’ve criticized the war with Iran in a lengthy social media post, slamming Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Alex Jones and Candace Owens as “stupid people” and “NUT JOBS.”

• Meanwhile, a US official summoned Iraq’s ambassador to the United States to condemn attacks by Iranian-backed militias against US diplomatic facilities and personnel in Iraq.

In the Middle East:

• Kamal Kharazi, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, has died after being injured in what Tehran said was a US-Israeli strike that targeted his home earlier this month.

• World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged Israel to rescind its evacuation notice for two hospitals in an area of Beirut, saying it was “operationally unfeasible.”

• Kuwait’s National Guard said one of its sites was targeted by “hostile drones” on Thursday, causing material damage but no injuries.

CNN’s Donald Judd, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Jennifer Hansler, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Michael Rios contributed reporting to this post.

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7:57 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Talks contingent on US adhering to ceasefire in Lebanon, Iran spokesperson says

By Michael Rios

Holding talks to end the war is contingent on the United States adhering to its ceasefire commitments, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.

Those commitments, he claimed, include a ceasefire in Lebanon, which the US and Israel insist was not part of the deal.

Baghaei condemned Israel’s large-scale strikes in Lebanon, which the Lebanese Health Ministry says killed more than 300 people on Wednesday. Israel said it targeted more than 100 Hezbollah command centers and military sites.

“Halting the war in Lebanon is an inseparable part of the proposed ceasefire understanding put forward by Pakistan, and as the prime minister of that country explicitly announced, the United States has committed to stopping the war on all fronts, including Lebanon,” Baghaei said.

6:33 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iowa farmers hit hard by Iran war and tariffs

By CNN staff

Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with President Donald Trump’s tariffs, is squeezing farmers as fertilizer and diesel prices rise.

CNN’s Jeff Zeleny spoke with two Iowa farmers who shared their concerns as a new planting season begins:

Iowa farmers hit hard by Iran war and tariffs

01:45

For context: The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, ordinarily carries about a fifth of global oil and natural gas supplies and a third of the world’s urea fertilizer exports.

The waterway may be officially reopening for business since the US-Iran ceasefire, but shipping company executives and analysts told CNN that uncertainty surrounding the agreement is still making transit too risky right now. Only a few ships have made the journey in recent days.

CNN’s Hanna Ziady, Vanessa Yurkevich, Chris Isidore and Matt Egan contributed to this report.

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6:26 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

We’re learning more about Israel seeking talks with Lebanon. Here’s what to know this hour

By Maureen Chowdhury

First responders search under the rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike in the village of Habbouch, southern Lebanon on Friday.

Abbas Fakih/AFP/Getty Images

After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel wants direct negotiations with Lebanon on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations, he said there is no ceasefire in place as he pursues the talks. A Lebanese official said there would be “no negotiations under fire.”

Lebanese officials also told CNN their government has not heard about a potential meeting between Israel and Beirut in Washington, DC, next week after an Israeli official and a US official said negotiations between Israel and Lebanon were expected to begin at the US State Department.

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry and the presidential palace had not been officially notified of Netanyahu’s invitation to open talks, a Lebanese official said.

Israel’s attacks across Lebanon have emerged as a critical point of contention surrounding the tenuous US-Iran ceasefire.

Here’s other key news to know:

· Israel said it carried out new strikes against Hezbollah launch sites in Lebanon.

· President Donald Trump told NBC News in an interview that he asked Netanyahu to be “a little more low-key” in operations in Lebanon as the US seeks to negotiate an agreement to end war with Iran.

· We also learned that Netanyahu’s decision to seek direct negotiations with Lebanon came at Trump’s request, sources told CNN.

· The death toll from Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon on Wednesday increased to at least 303 people, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

· Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said that Iran will bring management of the Strait of Hormuz “into a new phase” and that Tehran remains determined to “take revenge” for his slain father and all those killed in the war, according to a new statement attributed to him.

· Only three tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday (local time,) according to data from MarineTraffic. Two laden tankers exited, one coming from the UAE, one Iranian flagged tanker coming from near Kharg Island. One empty tanker entered the Persian Gulf.

· Kuwait’s National Guard said one of its sites was targeted by “hostile drones”, causing material damage but no injuries. It’s unclear where the drones originated.

CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, Kevin Liptak, Tal Shalev, Tamara Qiblawi, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Charbel Mallo, Adam Pourahmadi, Mitchell McCluskey, Michael Rios, Dana Karni, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.

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6:17 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Trump pushed for commitments on Strait of Hormuz during Rutte meeting, diplomats say

By Jennifer Hansler

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivers remarks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute on Thursday in Washington, DC.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

President Donald Trump, during a meeting Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, pushed for urgent concrete measures from NATO members to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, two European diplomats familiar with the matter told CNN.

One of the diplomats said Trump pressed for those commitments within a matter of days. The other noted that the issue is urgent not only for the US, but also for Europe.

That diplomat said it was useful to have a “friend” like Rutte explain to Trump that the NATO allies were “totally surprised” by the US-Israeli war against Iran — with some of them having to evacuate their citizens from the region — and to make clear to the president that NATO countries are working as a coalition to help support opening the strait.

“What we are seeing under the leadership of (British Prime Minister) Keir Starmer and these 34 countries working closely with the US is, of course, a shared commitment and agreement that we cannot accept the strait to be closed. It has to be opening up. And when it is opened up, we have to keep it open,” Rutte emphasized in remarks in Washington on Thursday.

Still, in social media posts after his Wednesday meeting with Rutte, Trump continued to lash out at NATO. “NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN,” he wrote that evening.

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7:07 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iran supreme leader's adviser dies of injuries sustained in earlier strike

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

'No room for diplomacy,' Iranian senior official tells CNN

05:48

Kamal Kharazi, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, has died after being injured in what Tehran said was a US-Israeli strike that targeted his home earlier this month.

Kharazi, “who had previously been injured following an attack by the American-Zionist enemy, was martyred a few hours ago,” Iranian official media announced Thursday.

Kharazi’s wife was killed in the strike, while he was critically injured and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, Iranian officials said last week.

CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen interviewed Kharazi in Tehran in March in an exclusive conversation conducted with the permission of the Iranian government, as required under local regulations.

In that interview, Kharazi told CNN he believed that Iran could sustain the conflict for an extended period and said he did not see room for diplomacy. He predicted that the war would end only through the economic pain it inflicts.

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6:03 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Drones target Kuwait during ceasefire

By Mohammed Tawfeeq and Michael Rios

Kuwait’s National Guard said one of its sites was targeted by “hostile drones” on Thursday, causing material damage but no injuries.

The country’s Foreign Ministry blamed Iran and its proxies for the attacks, which it said undermined the efforts that led to the ceasefire.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it has not carried out any launches toward any country during the ceasefire, according to a statement published on state media.

Kuwait’s military said earlier that it was responding to drone attacks that targeted “some vital facilities.”

“The competent authorities in the Guard immediately began taking the necessary security and field measures to deal with the incident,” National Guard spokesperson Judaan Fadel said.

The attacks occurred after the US-Iran ceasefire took effect on Wednesday. Persian Gulf Arab nations had last reported missile interceptions that afternoon.

Before the attacks, Kuwait said earlier Thursday that it had not reported any military movement in the past 24 hours and that the situation in the country was stable.

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7:16 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Trump warns Iran not to charge tankers tolls to traverse Strait of Hormuz

By Donald Judd

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran’s leadership today following reports the country was considering charging tankers to traverse the Strait of Hormuz.

“There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait — They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Despite a ceasefire announcement Tuesday night that Trump said included the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE” reopening of the strait, oil tanker traffic through the critical waterway has still been nearly nonexistent due to a lack of clear guidance from Iran.

In a subsequent post, Trump complained about the stalled traffic in the strait, writing, “Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!”

CNN reported earlier this week that a Tehran official included Iranian sovereignty over the strait in Iran’s list of demands to end the war, sparking concern over the continued economic fallout over a global energy crisis.

The Iranian parliament’s Security Commission approved a plan to impose tolls on ships passing through the strait and enforce “Iran’s sovereign role,” a commission member was cited as saying by the state broadcaster on Monday.

Read more

5:25 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Despite ceasefire, few ships have gone through the Strait of Hormuz

By Vanessa Yurkevich, Chris Isidore and Matt Egan

The Strait of Hormuz may be officially reopening for business, but shipping executives and analysts say uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire is still making transit too risky right now. Explicit approval and safety assurances from Iran, clear guidance on how and when to transit and a long-term view of the strait’s future are all missing so far, shippers told CNN.

The strait’s future has real impacts on everyday Americans: Average gas prices are up 40%, about $1.18, per gallon since the start of the war, according to AAA. Getting gas prices back to the pre-war $3 a gallon level is still a long way off, even if oil begins to flow freely again.

5:16 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iraqi ambassador summoned by US State Department over attacks on diplomatic facilities

By Jennifer Hansler

A top US State Department official summoned Iraq’s ambassador to the United States on Thursday “to express the U.S. government’s strong condemnation” of attacks by Iranian-backed militias against US diplomatic facilities and personnel in Iraq.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, in the meeting with Iraqi Ambassador Nizar Khirullah, acknowledged “the efforts of Iraqi Security Forces to respond to these terrorist attacks,” according to a State Department readout. But he also “emphasized the Iraqi government’s failure to prevent these attacks while some elements associated with the Iraqi government continue to actively provide political, financial, and operational cover for the militias adversely impacts the U.S.-Iraq relationship.”

Landau denounced “the egregious terrorist attacks,” including “the April 8 ambush of U.S. diplomats in Baghdad,” according to the readout. “These attacks come after hundreds in recent weeks against U.S. citizens, diplomatic facilities, and commercial interests, as well as Iraq’s neighbors and Iraqi institutions and civilians, including in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.”

“The Deputy Secretary stressed the United States will not tolerate attacks on U.S. interests and expects the Iraqi government to immediately take all measures to dismantle the Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq,” it said.

The US Embassy in Baghdad said in a security alert Wednesday that “Iran-aligned Iraqi terrorist militias conducted several drone attacks near the Diplomatic Support Center and Baghdad International Airport” on that day. It warned US citizens against air travel “within Iraq due to the ongoing risks of missiles, drones, and mortars in Iraqi airspace.”

The State Department is offering a reward of up to $3 million for information on attacks on its diplomatic facilities in Iraq.

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4:55 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iran’s Ghalibaf warns “time is running out,” says Lebanon is covered by ceasefire

By Mohammed Tawfeeq

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Tehran on June 15, 2024.

Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images/File

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned Thursday that “time is running out” and said Lebanon is “an inseparable part of the ceasefire.”

On Tuesday, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire intended to halt more than a month of intensified conflict and prevent further escalation.

However, the US, Israel and Iran could not agree on the terms on which the ceasefire was forged, after a huge Israeli assault in Lebanon prompted Tehran to claim a violation.

“Lebanon and the entire Resistance Axis, as Iran’s allies, form an inseparable part of the ceasefire,” Ghalibaf said Thursday in a post on X. He did not elaborate on his warning at the top of his post that “time is running out,” but the rest of it referred to recognizing that Lebanon is part of the deal.

Ghalibaf warned that ceasefire violations would carry “explicit costs and STRONG responses,” urging: “Extinguish the fire immediately.”

Iranian officials have repeatedly said Lebanon is covered by the ceasefire deal, and they have accused Israel of trying to sabotage it amid ongoing strikes across Lebanon. But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that “Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire.”

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4:56 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Trump slams conservative pundits critical of the US-Iran war in lengthy social media post

By Donald Judd

President Donald Trump during a news conference in on Monday in Washington, DC.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

President Donald Trump blasted right-wing pundits who’ve criticized the war in Iran in a lengthy social media post today, slamming Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Alex Jones and Candace Owens as “stupid people” and “NUT JOBS.”

“I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon — Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs,” Trump wrote in the 482-word Truth Social post. “They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!”

The president lobbed personal insults at the individual pundits, writing Carlson — who departed Fox News in 2023 shortly after the network settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems — “couldn’t even finish College, he was a broken man when he got fired from Fox, and he’s never been the same.”

He also lambasted Kelly for tough questions during a 2015 Republican primary debate and Owens for spreading conspiracy theories suggesting French first lady Brigitte Macron is secretly a man.

Carlson, Kelly, Owens and Jones have supported Trump in the past, with Kelly and Carlson even campaigning for him in 2024 — but all four have been vocally critical of the administration’s war with Iran.

“These so-called ‘pundits’ are LOSERS, and they always will be!” Trump wrote Thursday. “MAGA is about WINNING and STRENGTH in not allowing Iran to have Nuclear Weapons.”

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4:17 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

WHO chief calls on Israel to rescind Beirut evacuation order

By Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on September 25, 2025, in New York City.

JP Yim/Getty Images/File

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said today it was “operationally unfeasible” to evacuate two hospitals in an area of Beirut facing an Israeli evacuation order, and he urged Israel to rescind it.

Tedros said the evacuation order for Beirut’s Jnah area includes the Rafik Hariri University Hospital and al-Zahraa Hospital.

“At this time, no alternative medical facilities are available to receive approximately 450 patients from the two hospitals (including 40 patients in the ICU), rendering their evacuation operationally unfeasible,” the WHO chief said in a social media post.

He added that both facilities were “operating at full capacity” and were treating people injured in Israeli strikes on Wednesday.

Tedros said the evacuation zone also includes a Health Ministry complex where five shelters are accommodating more than 5,000 people.

“I urge Israel to reverse this order and ensure the protection of all health facilities, health workers, patients and civilians,” he continued.

Earlier today, the Israel Defense Forces issued a broad evacuation order for multiple neighborhoods in southern Beirut, including some areas that had not previously been targeted.

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3:58 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Israel launches fresh strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon

By Dana Karni, Charbel Mallo and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

First responders look for survivors at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Choukine on Thursday.

Abbas Fakih/AFP/Getty Images

Israel launched fresh strikes against Hezbollah launch sites in Lebanon on Thursday evening, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Separately, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported multiple airstrikes on locations in southern Lebanon in the last hour.

Prior to the strikes, the IDF issued a warning to Israeli residents that additional areas “may come under (Hezbollah) fire in the coming hours.”

The fresh strikes come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed his government to “open direct negotiations” with Lebanon, but stated there would be no ceasefire with Hezbollah in the country even as he pushes for talks to commence.

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2:58 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Lebanese officials say they haven’t been invited to talks with Israel in Washington

By Tamara Qiblawi, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, Charbel Mallo and Mohammed Tawfeeq

Two Lebanese officials said their government has not heard about a potential meeting in Washington, DC, next week, after an Israeli official and a US official said negotiations between Israel and Lebanon were expected to begin at the US State Department.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he had instructed his government to “open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible” in light of “repeated requests” from the country.

However, one of Lebanese officials said Thursday there would be “no negotiations under fire.” The officials said Lebanon’s foreign ministry and the presidential palace had not been officially notified of that invitation to open talks, nor have they heard anything about a potential meeting next week.

Later Thursday, Netanyahu stated there would be no ceasefire in Lebanon even as he pushes for talks to commence.

If the talks do take place next week, Israel would be represented by its ambassadors to the US Yechiel Leiter and the US would be represented by its ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, the Israeli and US officials said.

Netanyahu said the negotiations will focus on the disarmament of Hezbollah the establishment of “peaceful relations” between the two countries.

The talks come as Israel has heavily bombarded Lebanon, including its capital of Beirut, in a deadly military assault.

Big picture: The ongoing military action has threatened to derail the tenuous US-Iran ceasefire. The US said the ceasefire did not include Lebanon, despite understandings from Iran and Pakistan that it did.

On the first day of that ceasefire, Israel conducted its biggest wave of strikes on Lebanon since the war began, killing at least 303 people and injuring 1150, Lebanon’s health ministry said Thursday.

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4:02 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Netanyahu rejects ceasefire in Lebanon as he orders cabinet to begin direct talks with Beirut

By Dana Karni, Tal Shalev and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Netanyahu: There is no ceasefire in Lebanon

00:37

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again said there is no ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon after he instructed his cabinet to begin direct negotiations.

“I want to tell you: there is no ceasefire in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, and we will not stop until we restore your security,” Netanyahu said in a video message released on Thursday evening.

The prime minster said he has asked for direct talks with the Lebanese government aimed at disarming Hezbollah and securing “a historic, sustainable peace agreement.”

He added: “I have already brought four peace agreements with Arab states. I intend to bring more.”

Israel is planning to scale down its attacks on Lebanon as negotiations take place, two Israeli sources told CNN on Thursday. It remains to be seen what a reduction in strikes would actually look like in practice.

Earlier, a Lebanese official told CNN there would be “no negotiations under fire” in response to Israel’s plan to start direct talks.

The Israeli military on Thursday continued striking Lebanon and issued fresh evacuation orders for parts of southern Beirut.

On Wednesday, Israel launched its biggest wave of strikes in Lebanon since the war began. More than 300 people were killed and 1,150 were injured in the attacks across the country, according to the latest update from the Lebanese Health Ministry. Israel had said it was targeting 100 Hezbollah command centres and military strikes.

This post has been updated with additional information.

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3:15 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iran's supreme leader says Iran determined to "take revenge" for slain father

By Adam Pourahmadi and Michael Rios

Crowds gather in Tehran paying tribute to late Ayatollah Khamenei

01:02

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran remains determined to “take revenge” for his slain father and all those killed in the war, according to a new statement attributed to him after the announcement of a ceasefire.

Khamenei was also quoted as saying that Iran will bring management of the Strait of Hormuz “into a new phase.”

He urged Iran’s southern neighbors — the Arab states along the Persian Gulf — to be suspicious of “false promises of devils,” adding that his country is still waiting for “an appropriate response” from them so it could show them its goodwill and brotherhood.

He added that Iran did not seek war but would not relinquish its rights, “and in this regard we consider the entire Resistance Front as one unified whole.”

“We will certainly demand compensation for each and every damage inflicted, and the blood price of the martyrs and the compensation for the wounded of this war,” the statement attributed to Khamenei said.

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3:52 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Trump says he asked Netanyahu to be “more low-key” on Lebanon amid fragile ceasefire

By Donald Judd

Video shows damage in Beirut's southern suburbs

01:00

President Donald Trump told NBC News in an interview Thursday that he asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be “a little more low-key” in operations in Lebanon as the US seeks to negotiate an agreement to end war with Iran.

“I spoke with Bibi and he’s going to low-key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key,” Trump said, adding that he believes the Israelis are “scaling back” operations in Lebanon.

CNN reported earlier Thursday that the president asked Netanyahu to scale back Israeli attacks in Lebanon and enter negotiations with the Lebanese government about disarming Hezbollah during the Wednesday call.

Trump’s comments come as a US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, prepares to travel to Pakistan for Saturday talks to end the war. Iran is at odds with the US and Israel over whether the ceasefire applies to Israel’s military offensive targeting the Iranian-backed paramilitary group at its northern border.

Despite the disagreements, Trump told NBC he was “very optimistic” about a peace deal out of this weekend’s talks in Islamabad, telling the outlet that Iran’s leaders seemed open to peace in private discussions.

“They’re much more reasonable,” he told NBC. “They’re agreeing to all the things that they have to agree to. Remember, they’ve been conquered. They have no military.”

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1:55 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

At least 303 people in Lebanon killed in Israeli strikes on Wednesday, Health Ministry says

By Charbel Mallo and Michael Rios

A Lebanese soldier stands guard next to vehicles destroyed in a Wednesday airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday.

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

At least 303 people were killed and 1,150 wounded in Israel’s airstrikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Emergency crews are still trying to recover bodies under the rubble of collapsed buildings in several places.

Israel said it targeted more than 100 Hezbollah command centers and military sites on Wednesday in the biggest wave of strikes in Lebanon since the war began.

The number of people reported killed in Lebanon since the beginning of the escalation on March 2 has risen to 1,888, with 6,092 wounded.

Lebanon: Hundreds killed and wounded in Israeli attacks Wednesday

01:42

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1:06 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Israel-Lebanon talks and an uneasy ceasefire. Here's a rundown of the headlines

By Elise Hammond

Burnt cars are seen at the site of an Israeli strike carried out the day prior in Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday.

Raghed Waked/Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will start direct negotiations with Lebanon on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the two countries.

Israel’s deadly offensive against Hezbollah has been a contentious point in the uneasy Iran war ceasefire. Tehran insists Lebanon is part of the deal, but the US and Israel claim it’s not.

If you’re just reading in, here are some of the top headlines from Washington and the Middle East to get you started. Click the links to read more.

· US President Donald Trump asked Netanyahu to scale back Israeli attacks in Lebanon and enter into the negotiations, a US official and a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

· Netanyahu has instructed his cabinet to begin these talks with Lebanon “as soon as possible.”

· Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam instructed the country’s security forces to clear the capital of non-state arms, a move likely directed at Hezbollah.

· The diplomatic news came as international backlash mounts over Israel’s massive strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, which killed 182 people and wounded 890 others.

· Meanwhile, American officials are preparing for high-stakes negotiations in Pakistan this weekend, people familiar with the matter said.

· Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps published a map showing what it said were “alternative routes for transit” through the Strait of Hormuz.

· US oil futures raced back to $100 a barrel today as the ceasefire with Iran has yet to result in a full reopening of the strait.

· House Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to force Republicans to take up a measure reining in Trump’s military authority.

· The conflict in the Middle East has led to a sharp reversal in the International Monetary Fund’s outlook for the global economy, its managing director said.

CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, Kevin Liptak, Tal Shalev, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Sarah Ferris, Dana Karni, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Ivana Kottasová, Kevin Liptak, Lex Harvey, Olesya Dmitracova and Matt Egan contributed reporting.

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12:59 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iranian and Russian foreign ministers discuss ceasefire, Strait of Hormuz

By Adam Pourahmadi and Mitchell McCluskey

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in June 2025.

Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Thursday, in which the two officials discussed Iran’s ceasefire agreement with the US and the current state of the Strait of Hormuz.

In the call, Araghchi “emphasized the United States’ responsibility to uphold its commitment to end the war in all areas, including Lebanon,” according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi said safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible “provided that the United States adheres to its commitments.”

Araghchi expressed appreciation to Lavrov for Russia’s veto at the UN Security Council of what he called an “unreasonable and one-sided resolution” proposed by the United States to reopen the strait.

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8:31 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

“No negotiations under fire,” Lebanese official says in response to Israel's plan of direct talks

By Tamara Qiblawi, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Charbel Mallo

A Lebanese official told CNN there would be “no negotiations under fire” in response to Israel’s plan to start “direct negotiations” with an aim of ending hostilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier Thursday that he has ordered his cabinet to begin negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible.” However an Israeli source told CNN there is “no ceasefire” and that the “talks will be held under fire.” In a separate video message, Netanyahu reiterated there will be no ceasefire with Lebanon as he orders these talks.

Lebanon says it will not negotiate with Israel ...

01:20

Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry and the presidential palace had not been officially notified of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s invitation to begin direct negotiations, the Lebanese official added.

An official from the Lebanese presidency also told CNN that they have not been officially notified about the negotiations. They said Lebanon’s stance is to advocate for negotiations similar to those suggested by Pakistan, which involve a ceasefire for a two weeks period followed by the start of discussions within 72 hours from the announcement of ceasefire.

The office of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told CNN earlier today it had “no comment” when asked about Netanyahu’s remarks. CNN has reached out to Lebanon’s presidency for further comment.

Heavy machinery operates at the site of a previous day's strike on Beirut, Lebanon, on Thursday.

Raghed Waked/Reuters

Israel has massively stepped up attacks in Lebanon since the US and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday.

On the first day of the US-Iran ceasefire on Wednesday, Israel conducted its biggest wave of strikes on Lebanon since the war began, killing at least 303 people and injuring 1,150, the country’s Health Ministry said Thursday.

At least 1,888 people have been killed and 6,092 wounded since the beginning of the escalation in March, the ministry added.

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12:43 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Trump asked Netanyahu to seek direct negotiations with Lebanon, sources tell CNN

By Jeremy Diamond, Kevin Liptak and Tal Shalev

President Donald Trump attends a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, on April 6.

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to seek direct negotiations with Lebanon came at President Donald Trump’s request, a US official and a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

During a conversation Wednesday, Trump asked Netanyahu to scale back Israeli attacks in Lebanon and enter negotiations with the Lebanese government about disarming Hezbollah, the sources said.

It’s not clear if Netanyahu agreed to scale back strikes in Lebanon. An Israeli official told CNN there is “no ceasefire at the moment,” adding that “talks will be held under fire.”

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that “the Israelis have actually offered to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon.” But the Israeli military on Thursday continued striking Lebanon and issued fresh evacuation orders for parts of southern Beirut.

Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter is set to represent Israel in forthcoming negotiations with Lebanon, according to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the matter.

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12:39 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

NATO chief says allies providing “massive amount of support” to Trump on Iran

By Lauren Said-Moorhouse

NATO chief says allies providing “massive amount of support” to Trump on Iran

00:23

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday that the alliance is not “whistling past the graveyard” and members are doing everything US Donald Trump has requested, but he acknowledged that some allies were initially “a bit slow” to support the United States with its war with Iran.

“In fairness, they were also a bit surprised. To maintain the element of surprise for the initial strikes, President Trump opted not to ⁠inform allies ahead of time,” Rutte said in a speech in Washington.

“But what I see, when I look across Europe today, is allies providing a massive amount of support,” he continued. “Nearly without exception, allies are doing everything the United States is asking. They have heard and are responding to President Trump’s requests.”

Rutte also said that NATO would be willing to play a role in a possible Strait of Hormuz mission if it is able to do so and praised the United Kingdom for “leading a coalition of countries” to ensure free passage through the critical waterway.

“If NATO can help, obviously then there is no reason not to be helpful,” he said.

Rutte spoke a day after visiting Trump at the White House. The NATO chief told CNN’s Jake Tapper shortly after their meeting that he understood the president’s disappointment and that the two shared a frank and open discussion between “two good friends.” However, Trump continued to lash out at NATO allies following the meeting in a post on his Truth Social platform.

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12:21 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Netanyahu says Israel will begin direct talks with Lebanon focused on disarming Hezbollah

By Dana Karni and Mohammed Tawfeeq

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , pictured on March 19.

Ronen Zvulun/Pool/AFP/Getty Images/File

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed his cabinet to begin “direct negotiations” with Lebanon “as soon as possible,” saying the talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the two countries.

“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, yesterday I instructed the cabinet to begin direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

Netanyahu said the negotiations would center on “disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.” Israel “welcomes today’s call by the Prime Minister of Lebanon to demilitarize Beirut,” he added.

The office of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told CNN it had “no comment” when asked about Netanyahu’s remarks.

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12:44 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

German chancellor says ceasefire is "a ray of hope” for peace but still fragile

By Sebastian Shukla

Germany resumes contacts with Tehran, says German Chancellor Merz

00:31

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said “we have a first ray of hope” for peace, but the “last 24 hours have shown how fragile the ceasefire is.”

Speaking in Berlin, Merz gave a detailed update on the conversations and discussions that he had been having with various partners, including multiple calls with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Merz noted that Israeli attacks on Lebanon “could bring the peace process as a whole crashing down,” adding “that must not be allowed to happen.”

Merz added that his government was in direct contact with US negotiators heading to Islamabad, Pakistan, for negotiations. He also noted that Germany has unfrozen direct contact with the Iranian government, saying the goal was to “make our own contribution to the success of the negotiations ahead.”

On Germany’s commitment to securing the Strait of Hormuz, the chancellor reiterated the long-held German position, that it is willing to commit to supporting safe passage, provided “there is a mandate and viable framework” for doing so.

The chancellor also directly addressed the NATO relationship with Trump. Merz described the alliance as having gone through a “transatlantic stress test.” He called for “cool heads” to prevail and reiterated that he does not want to see a split in the alliance.

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12:32 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

GOP ignores Democrats' push to rein in Trump's war powers in procedural mid-recess session

By Sarah Ferris

GOP ignores Democrats' push to rein in Trump's war powers in procedural mid-recess session

00:56

House Democrats on Thursday unsuccessfully attempted to force Republicans to take up a measure reining in President Donald Trump’s military authority in the ongoing war with Iran.

In a brief, procedural pro forma session during the House’s two-week recess, New Jersey GOP Rep. Chris Smith did not recognize Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland as he sought to introduce the war powers measure.

As Smith began to formally adjourn the House and end the session, he ignored Ivey’s increasingly loud demand to be recognized on the floor. Behind Ivey, a group of a half-dozen Democrats also raised their voices and pressed Smith to acknowledge their push.

“Shame!” Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania shouted after Smith banged the gavel.

Ivey said in his final audible remarks before leaving the floor: “The Congress needs to consider this. … The time has come.”

Republicans are not bound by chamber rules to recognize Democrats in a pro forma session. But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had announced a day earlier that Ivey would attempt to force the measure after Trump threatened to end a “whole civilization,” and then brokered a last-minute, two-week ceasefire that has largely held so far.

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11:36 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Here's what Iran says is the only safe way through the Strait of Hormuz

By Ivana Kottasová

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has published a map showing what it said were “alternative routes for transit” through the Strait of Hormuz.

The IGRC Navy warned that the main traffic zone of the Strait of Hormuz which was used by vessels before the war was not safe due to “the possibility of the presence of various types of anti-ship mines.”

The force said any vessels intending to transit through the Strait must coordinate with it and follow the routes shown on the map – two narrow channels closely following the Iranian coast.

The map was published before the IRGC claimed shipping through the strait had halted following Israel’s attack on Lebanon yesterday, which Tehran has said was a ceasefire violation.

This map was released by IRGC Navy and published by Iran's state and semi-official media. The circular area marked in the middle of the strait denotes the possible presence of mines.

IRGC Navy

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11:47 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

The US and Iran's demands for a deal remain very different

By Issy Ronald

Even though this ceasefire agreement is more a series of overlapping social media posts than a formal, written document, it’s still possible to discern certain demands the US and Iran insist on being met – and how far apart the two sides still seem to be.

· Strait of Hormuz: The critical waterway has become Tehran’s main point of leverage, one which it seems reluctant to relinquish. One set of demands outlined by Iran’s security council envisioned Tehran regulating passage through the strait, while semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that Iran and Oman plan to charge fees for vessels transiting it during the ceasefire. By contrast, President Donald Trump has said the US may be involved in securing the strait in a “joint venture” with Iran and even floated the possibility of the US imposing its own toll.

· Uranium: It’s believed the US’ plans involve Iran handing over its enriched uranium, which it would need to make a nuclear weapon, and Trump has said the US will work with Iran to dig up and remove it. But Iran’s nuclear agency chief said today that demands to restrict Iran’s enrichment program “are merely aspirations that will not materialize.”

· Non-aggression: The statement released by Iran’s security council called for an end to attacks on the country and its regional proxy forces as well as the withdrawal of US forces from the region. Meanwhile, the US are seeking limits on Tehran’s defensive capabilities and an end to its support of regional proxy groups, including Hezbollah.

· Lebanon: Iran’s top leaders have stressed that Lebanon must be included in a ceasefire deal, threatening today that any truce violations “carry explicit costs and STRONG responses.” But Trump said Wednesday that Lebanon was not included, allowing Israel to continue pummeling the country with deadly strikes.

· Sanctions and Reparations: One area where there does seem to be overlap between the two sides’ demands is on sanctions relief. Trump has said the US will discuss sanctions relief with Iran. But Iran’s security council has also called for financial compensation to be paid to Iran, as well as the complete lifting of international sanctions.

11:23 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Lebanon’s prime minister instructs security forces to clear Beirut of non-state weapons

By CNN Staff

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam leads a cabinet meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 26.

Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has instructed the country’s security forces to clear the capital of non-state arms, in a move likely directed at the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The statement, carried in a post on X from the Lebanese presidency, comes a day after Israel launched its deadliest attack on the Lebanese capital in decades. Scores were reported killed, including women and children, in strikes which pounded busy neighborhoods without warning.

The attacks on Beirut were part of what the Israeli military described as its largest wave of strikes across Lebanon since the start of its campaign in Lebanon, bombing over 100 targets – which it said were Hezbollah sites – in the span of 10 minutes.

Israel has made disarming Hezbollah a “top priority” of its war against the group, which escalated in the aftermath of joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Hezbollah, which is a powerful political and military force in Lebanon, has long resisted such moves.

Salam’s comments signal a ramping up of government efforts to disband the group’s militant wing, and may be an attempt to clear the capital from Israel’s line of fire after the devastating strikes on Wednesday.

The Lebanese government had previously banned Hezbollah’s armed activities. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun accused the group of dragging the country into Iran’s war with the US and Israel, after it launched its first attack on Israel in over a year.

But Hezbollah’s militancy has continued unabated. For over a month, it has engaging in heavy exchanges of fire with Israel, including firing at Israeli towns and cities, and is fighting an Israeli ground offensive in south Lebanon.

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11:14 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Seafarer stranded near the Strait of Hormuz tells of dwindling food supplies

By Magdalena Sofia Vitores Moreno and Sophie Tanno

A seafarer stranded near the Strait of Hormuz has told CNN that he and others are struggling with dwindling food supplies, as traffic through the key waterway remains slow despite a temporary ceasefire.

Hundreds of vessels are still stuck in the Persian Gulf with thousands of crew on board.

“There’s no bombing over the last two days but now we are facing struggles for food,” the Indian seafarer, whose vessel is moored at Iran’s Khorramshahr Port, said Thursday.

“We are really struggling to eat and drink.”

“I understand there is a ceasefire but some guys at Lavan Island are saying there were bombings there,” he said. “Here such bombings are not happening for the last two days but a lot of bombing was happening before.”

Iranian state media reported an attack Wednesday on oil refinery facilities on Iran’s Lavan Island, the day the ceasefire was announced, but since then attacks on Iran and across the region have largely halted.

Despite this, only a handful of vessels have been allowed to pass through the chokepoint since the ceasefire announcement.

Another seafarer stranded at Iran’s Lavan Port contacted the Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI), a major trade union representing Indian seafarers and sailors, pleading for assistance on Thursday. “Help me sir,” they wrote in WhatsApp messages seen by CNN.

The union’s secretary general told CNN that hundreds of Indian seafarers remained at risk.

“Despite the announced ceasefire, fresh explosions have taken place, rendering communication extremely difficult. The so-called ceasefire appears to have no meaning on the ground, as the lives of hundreds of Indian seafarers remain in grave danger,” Manoj Kumar Yadav said.

CNN’s Pallabi Munsi contributed reporting.

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11:24 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

US preps for talks despite warnings that Israeli strikes on Lebanon could undermine truce

By Kevin Liptak

US Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media before boarding Air Force Two to return to the US from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport in Hungary on Wednesday.

Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Getty Images

American officials are moving quickly to prepare for high-stakes negotiations in Pakistan, even as Israel’s assault on Lebanon throws the fragile ceasefire into question, people familiar with the matter said.

There appeared little chance the Trump administration, eager to further cement the truce President Donald Trump has been eagerly touting, would choose to withdraw from the talks.

Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the American delegation to Islamabad, was back in Washington on Thursday after an overnight flight home from Hungary.

He claimed before he departed Budapest that disagreements over Lebanon were a simple “misunderstanding” of the ceasefire’s terms that shouldn’t cause the talks to fall apart.

If Iran chooses to withdraw, “that would be dumb but that’s their choice,” Vance said.

Yet Iran and international mediators are all warning that Israel’s continued bombardment of its neighbor could scuttle the efforts.

In a phone call with US envoy Steve Witkoff Thursday morning, Egypt’s foreign minister cautioned that “the Israeli aggression on Lebanon undermines all regional and international efforts to achieve” regional calm, according to a statement from his office.

Pakistan, which has taken a lead in mediating the ceasefire and says Lebanon is included in it, has worked behind the scenes to smooth over the disagreement, people familiar with the matter said.

But as of Thursday, it was unclear whether Israel’s offer “to check themselves a little bit,” as Vance claimed Wednesday, was in place.

The Israel Defense Forces issued a broad evacuation order for several neighborhoods in southern Beirut, including some areas that had not been previously targeted. Such warnings have often previously been followed by Israeli strikes.

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10:45 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

White House discussed Pakistani prime minister’s ceasefire proposal prior to public plea

By Alayna Treene and Kristen Holmes

When Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday proposed a two-week ceasefire via social media, just hours before President Donald Trump’s 8 p.m. deadline for Iran, it appeared to be a desperate, 11th-hour plea to the leaders of Washington and Tehran.

However, Sharif’s calls for a two-week extension of Trump’s deadline, the reopening of the strait and a suspension of the countries’ military operations wasn’t exactly news to the White House, sources familiar with the talks told CNN. The White House had largely signed off on specific elements of Sharif’s post before he went public, the sources said.

Top Trump administration officials had been communicating with the Pakistanis throughout the day and had clarified what the US and Trump specifically needed to agree to a ceasefire, according to those sources. The diplomatic channels included conversations with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s foreign envoy, and Vice President JD Vance.

Sharif tagged leading officials from the US and Iran, including Trump, in his Tuesday afternoon post.

The New York Times first reported that the White House had been made aware of Sharif’s statement before it was posted.

Online speculation about the White House’s role in the post ramped up because it originally appeared online with the words “*Draft - Pakistan’s PM Message on X*” attached.

A White House official acknowledged prior communication about the post, but denied the White House was involved in writing it.

“The Pakistani PM let the President’s team know he was putting out this statement. But the White House did not draft it, nor did President Trump even see it, until it was released,” a White House official told CNN.

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10:26 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Beirut resident vows to remain living in neighborhood damaged by Israeli strikes

'I'm here in Beirut by choice,' says resident of neighborhood affected by Israeli strike

01:02

Ali Hijazi was among the Beirut residents assessing damage from Israeli strikes on their neighborhood.

He became emotional while discussing the destruction around him, but he remains steadfast to stay in Lebanon’s capital city.

“I’m here in Beirut by choice, and I will remain living in Beirut,” the 40-year-old told Reuters.

10:25 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Tanzania's president cuts motorcade size to conserve fuel amid oil crisis

By Nimi Princewill

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Michael Jamson/AFP/Getty Images

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan is cutting back on her motorcade, instructing officials accompanying her to travel in shared buses to conserve fuel amid rising oil prices in the East African nation.

Hassan has faced criticism for her large convoy, which reportedly included dozens of vehicles.

“We are starting to reduce fuel consumption, and I am beginning with my office,” she said on Wednesday, according to quotes translated from Swahili by local media outlet The Citizen Tanzania.

“Whenever I travel, senior officials follow behind me in their own cars. From now on, wherever I go, I will have them all travel together in one bus,” Hassan stated, noting that security measures for her motorcade – including a police escort and an additional backup vehicle – will be maintained.

The decision comes as petrol prices in Tanzania have surged by over 30%, a trend felt across many African nations as they grapple with the ripple effects of the Middle Eastern conflict, which has disrupted trade routes and driven up living costs.

Hassan’s decision to trim her motorcade coincides with a two-week ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran, which has led to limited shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for approximately 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas.

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10:25 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Global criticism mounts over Israel's attacks in Lebanon

By Lex Harvey

Smoke rises following an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, as seen from Baabda, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

International backlash is mounting over Israel’s massive strikes across Lebanon Wednesday, which killed 182 people and wounded 890 others, and threatened to upend the uneasy ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran.

Pakistan, which condemned the attack, has maintained that Lebanon is included in the ceasefire deal it helped broker between the US, Israel and Iran. However, the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said the truce does not apply to operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron condemned what he described as “indiscriminate” strikes by Israel on Lebanon, which he said “pose a direct threat to the sustainability of the ceasefire.”

The United Arab Emirates reaffirmed its “solidarity” with the Lebanese government and support of “Lebanon’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.” The country also expressed covern over “continued escalation” and the repercussions for “regional security and stability.”

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Israel’s attacks on Lebanon were “deeply damaging” and Britain wants to “see Lebanon included in the ceasefire” in an interview with Times Radio on Thursday, according to Reuters.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “contempt for life and international law is intolerable.” He also called for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he called Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun to express solidarity for the “unjustified and unacceptable attacks.” Tajani said he summoned the Israeli ambassador, adding: “We want to avoid there being a second Gaza.”

The Italian embassy in Beirut said “hitting densely populated areas and sowing death among civilians” is a violation of “every principle of international humanitarian law.”

Khadija, who was wounded in an Israeli strike on Beirut that killed her father is escorted by her uncle Kheir Hamiyeh, and her mother, at Rafik Hariri University Hospital, in Beirut on Thursday.

Emilie Madi/Reuters

Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the “heinous” strikes and called on the international community to compel Israel to “halt their brutal massacres.”

Turkey’s foreign ministry denounced the strikes “in the strongest terms” and accused Netanyahu’s government of undermining “international efforts aimed at establishing peace and stability.”

Criticism has also poured in from the United Nations and NGOs.

The United Nations Secretary General António Guterres “unequivocally” condemned the strikes and called for an end to the hostilities, which he said “pose a grave risk to the ceasefire,” in a statement from a spokesperson Wednesday.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it was “outraged” by the death and destruction in densely populated areas across Lebanon.

Mohammed Tawfeeq, Diego Mendoza, Michael Rios, Mostafa Salem and Noemi Cassanelli contributed reporting.

This post has been updated with more reaction.

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10:01 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iran war means global economic growth will be lower than forecast before, says IMF chief

By Olesya Dmitracova

Fire breaks out at the Shahran oil depot after an airstrike in Tehran, Iran, on March 8, 2026.

Hassan Ghaedi/Anadolu/Getty Images

The conflict in the Middle East has led to a sharp reversal in the International Monetary Fund’s outlook for the global economy, its managing director said today.

“Had it not been for this shock, we would have been upgrading global growth.
But now, even our most hopeful scenario involves a growth downgrade,” Kristalina Georgieva said in prepared remarks. “Why? Because of infrastructure damage, supply disruptions, losses of confidence, and other scarring effects.”

The IMF is due to publish an updated World Economic Outlook report next week. In its previous report, released in January, it forecast global growth of 3.3% this year and 3.2% in 2027.

Speaking of the economic impact of the war, Georgieva said that, even in the best case, “there will be no neat and clean return” to the previous status quo. She gave the example of ship passages through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait on the Red Sea, saying they had not fully recovered from attacks by Houthi militants, which started in late 2023. “They remain stuck at about half their 2023 level,” she noted.

“We don’t truly know what the future holds for transits through the Strait of Hormuz… What we do know is that (economic) growth will be slower – even if the new peace is durable,” Georgieva added, referring to the ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

She also said the war’s existing “ripple effects” would last for some time, pointing to diesel and jet fuel shortages, and hunger for at least another 45 million people, with the problem potentially worsening over time because of high fertilizer prices.

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9:44 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Oil surges back to $100 as traffic remains slow through Strait of Hormuz

By Matt Egan

US oil futures raced back to $100 a barrel today as the ceasefire with Iran has yet to result in a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

West Texas Intermediate, the US benchmark for crude oil, surged 5.5% to $99.61 a barrel in recent trading.

Oil traded as high as $100.29 a barrel Thursday morning, returning to triple-digit territory for the first time since the ceasefire was announced.

The jump comes a day after US oil futures crashed by 16%, or $18.54, on Wednesday. It was the biggest one-day dollar decline since futures trading launched in March 1983 and the biggest percentage drop since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

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10:37 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

The ceasefire holding depends on these 4 flashpoints

By Issy Ronald

In the day since US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, Israel launched its deadliest attack against Lebanon, killing hundreds of people and testing the fragile truce to its limits.

The attacks laid bare a key, and potentially crucial, difference between the two sides’ understanding of the ceasefire: While Iran says Lebanon forms an “inseparable part” of the agreement, Israel and the US insist it does not.

So where does that leave the ceasefire, and the US’ demands for Iran to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz?

· Lebanon: Several fresh strikes hit Lebanon this morning, one of which killed more than 10 people including women and children, the country’s National News Agency reported. The IDF also issued an evacuation for huge swathes of Beirut’s southern suburbs today, another indication that its operations remain deadly. That came after least 182 people were yesterday killed in Israeli strikes which drew international condemnation, particularly as Pakistan, which has acted as a mediator, originally stated Lebanon was part of the deal. US Vice President JD Vance claimed there had been a “legitimate misunderstanding” regarding Lebanon’s inclusion in the ceasefire. Nonetheless, Iran halted oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in response to those strikes, semi-official news agency Fars reported yesterday. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf today doubled down on that posture, saying that “ceasefire violations carry explicit costs and STRONG responses.”

· Strait of Hormuz: Only very few vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire began, according to ship tracking data, contrary to Trump’s initial insistence the truce was contingent on the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the crucial chokepoint. Yesterday, Vance reiterated that if Iran doesn’t reopen the waterway, the ceasefire will end.

· Gulf states and Iran: Meanwhile, the ceasefire appears to have come into effect in the Gulf region and Iran. For the first time since this war began, no Gulf countries have reported overnight attacks aside from Bahrain, which said it had intercepted seven drones in the last 24 hours, not necessarily overnight. The UAE even said explicitly it had not been targeted overnight.

· Talks: Still, preparations are underway for talks in Islamabad this weekend. Vance, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff are expected to attend.

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9:37 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Hassett predicts economic growth despite "temporary distraction" of Iran war

By Aileen Graef

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett speaks during a video interview outside the White House on Monday.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said today he is expecting robust economic growth in the United States despite the “temporary distraction” of the war in Iran.

Hassett said in an interview with Fox Business that despite the economic impact the war has had, he is still predicting economic growth up to 5%. He said deregulation and tax cuts would help achieve economic growth.

“I began the year with the guess that we’d probably be in the four to five range for economic growth because of all this. And I’ll stick by those numbers. I think this is a temporary distraction that will very, very quickly go away,” Hassett said.

The latest reading of US gross domestic product, released Thursday morning, showed that the economy grew at an annualized rate of just 0.5% in the October-through-December period.

When asked about the US negotiations to end the war with Iran, Hassett added, “I can’t get ahead of the negotiations, but the original set of demands that the Iranians had were just silly.”

For context: Vice President JD Vance said yesterday there have been some three different 10-point proposals to end the war, which has contributed to confusion about what’s forming the basis of negotiations. Vance said the first plan was rejected but another plan was more reasonable.

“We are working forward with the Iranians on something that could be a really great deal, and we’ve got the best people in the business there negotiating,” Hassett told Fox Business.

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9:28 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Israeli military issues broad evacuation order for southern Beirut

By Sophie Tanno and Tamara Qiblawi

In the past hour, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a broad evacuation order for several neighborhoods in southern Beirut, Lebanon, including some areas that had not been previously targeted.

Such warnings have often previously been followed by Israeli strikes.

It comes after Israel carried out its largest strikes on the country since the war started on Wednesday, in attacks which killed at least 182 people and injured an additional 890 people.

Israel insists the two-week ceasefire with Iran does not include its war against Hezbollah, something Tehran and key mediator Pakistan dispute.

We’ll bring you more on this as we get it.

11:37 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Top Iranian officials insist Lebanon is part of the ceasefire agreement

By Mostafa Salem

People inspect the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut on Thursday.

Marwan Naamani/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf reiterated that they see Lebanon as part of the ceasefire agreement reached between Tehran and Washington amid uncertainty over the truce.

Positioned as a potential lead negotiator for Iran in upcoming talks with the US, Ghalibaf said in a post on X that Lebanon and Hezbollah are Iran’s allies and “form an inseparable part of the ceasefire.”

He added that the ceasefire declaration posted by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of Lebanon as part of the agreement.

“There is no room for denial and backtracking,” Ghalibaf said, adding that “ceasefire violations carry explicit costs and STRONG responses.
Extinguish the fire immediately.”

Pezeshkian echoed Ghalibaf’s warning that the continuation of Israeli “aggressions” against Lebanon “will render negotiations meaningless.”

“The repeated aggression by the Zionist entity against Lebanon is a flagrant violation of the initial ceasefire agreement and a dangerous indicator of deceit and lack of commitment to potential accords,” Pezeshkian said.

Ceasefire doubts: The comments come a day after huge Israeli strikes on Lebanon’s capital Beirut left hundreds killed or wounded and triggered widespread condemnation.

Israel and the US deny that Lebanon is part of the truce that ended weeks of fighting with Iran and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said the military would “continue to strike Hezbollah wherever necessary.”

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10:41 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Handful of vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz amid fragile ceasefire

By Ivana Kottasová and Mostafa Salem

Shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.

Marine Traffic

Only a handful of vessels, including a tanker and several dry bulk carriers, have been allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since the announcement of a ceasefire between the US and Iran late on Tuesday.

The ship tracking service MarineTraffic said that two vessels, one Greek-flagged and one that is sailing under the flag of Liberia, passed through on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, shipping analysts at Lloyd’s List said later on Wednesday that three vessels had passed through – “all with current or past links to Iran” – and added that a further three were either positioned to cross or heading for the Iran-approved detour around Larak Island.

Reuters reported on Thursday that six vessels sailed through over the past 24 hours, citing shipping data.

However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed on Thursday that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz stopped following Israel’s attack on Lebanon Wednesday, which Iran said was a ceasefire violation.

Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology, urged Iran to open the Strait “fully, unconditionally and without restriction.”

“Energy security and global economic stability depend on it,” he added.

He said in a statement on LinkedIn that an “estimated 230 vessels sit loaded with oil and ready to sail.”

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11:46 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

“Unfair” to accuse Europe of not doing enough in war, EU foreign affairs chief tells CNN

By Tala Alrajjal in Abu Dhabi

EU foreign affairs chief tells CNN it's ‘unfair’ to accuse Europe of not doing enough on Mi

01:36

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas has told CNN that the criticisms by the Trump administration and some Gulf officials that Europe has not done enough to support them throughout the war with Iran are “unfair.”

She argued Europe did not create the situation in the region, and yet still it is doing “a lot,” including providing air defenses, protecting the Red Sea and supporting the Lebanese government.

Kallas pointed out that Gulf nations largely failed to come to Europe’s side when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, saying it cannot be a “one-way street.”

“I feel that this is really unfair. Of course we can all do more, but then the question is, we also have our security theater in Europe. We have Russia’s war,” she told CNN’s Becky Anderson. “We haven’t seen really the Gulf countries helping us there, whereas it can’t be only one-way street. … So if we would be in it together like our adversaries clearly are, then we would be much stronger.”

Kallas also said that based on her conversations with Pakistani officials, the brokered ceasefire agreement should include Lebanon and called for Israel’s heavy bombardment there to stop.

“The response has been too heavy handed. I mean the civilians killed. This is really not acceptable. So if it is not covering yet, then it should be covered now,” she said. “It is clear the ceasefire is fragile, and we have to do everything that it holds so that actually the parties can sit down and negotiate.”

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7:28 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iran-linked hackers claim breach of former Israeli military chief’s phone

By Tal Shalev

Herzi Halevi, Chief of General Staff of the Israeli army, at the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) headquarters in Lod, Israel, on March 9, 2023.

Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP/Getty Images

Hackers believed to be linked to the Iranian government claim to have breached devices and accounts of former Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, publishing dozens of photos and identification documents they say prove the intrusion.

In a statement posted on its website, the hacker group “Handala” said it had extracted “more than 19,000 confidential images and videos from the most secret meetings” of Helevi, who served as the IDF chief of staff between 2023 and 2025.

“All your top-secret facilities, crisis rooms, maps, and even the tiniest details of your command centers have long been like an open book to us,” the statement said.

Dozens of examples of photos and videos were posted on Handala’s social accounts, showing Halevi during tours of military bases, high-level meetings and personal settings with his family. The leak also appears to include photos of the ID cards of Halevi and his wife, as well as images of him engaged in physical activities. An Israeli source familiar with the matter confirmed the authenticity of the photos to CNN, while Halevi’s representative declined to comment.

Handala is the hacking group behind the breach into FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal emails last month. It claims to have also targeted several senior Israeli figures such as former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz, and Tzachi Braverman, former chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – all of whom had access to classified materials.

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7:10 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

US gas prices inch up despite earlier plunge in oil prices

By Chris Isidore

The average price of gasoline in the United States edged up ever so slightly to $4.17 for a gallon of regular gas, according to Thursday’s reading from AAA, despite a plunge in oil prices Wednesday caused by the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the war in Iran and plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil tanker traffic.

WTI, the US crude benchmark, tumbled 16.4% Wednesday, while Brent crude, the global benchmark, slid 13.3%. But it could take a while for retail gas prices to get back to anywhere near pre-war levels. And on Thursday, oil prices rose, paring some of their losses, with vessel traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz still negligible.

Analysts say that, while retail gas prices could soon start to fall by one or two cents a day, it is likely to take one or two weeks for the national average to get back below $4 a gallon, and likely months to get below $3 where it stood before the war.

The latest increase in the average gas price amounted only to 0.2 cents but it was enough to raise the average price to $4.17 when rounded to the nearest penny. Since the start of the war, prices are up by $1.18 a gallon, or 40%.

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7:26 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Region remains on edge amid fragile ceasefire. Here's the latest

By Issy Ronald

The Middle East remains tense two days after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, with Israeli strikes on Lebanon straining the fragile truce.

If you’re just joining us, here’s a look at what’s happening across the Middle East:

· In Lebanon: Israeli strikes bombarded Lebanon yesterday, killing at least 182 people and wounding 890 more, sparking a massive international backlash. In one of those airstrikes, Israel said today it had killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, the personal secretary and nephew of Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem in an airstrike near Beirut.

· In Iran: Large crowds of Iranians gathered in the streets of Tehran today to mark the 40th day since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated in US-Israeli strikes.

· US military: All US ships, aircraft, weapons and military personnel will remain “in place” until a full agreement with Iran is reached, Trump said in a social media post. If an agreement isn’t reached, “then the ‘Shootin’ Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” he wrote.

· Strait of Hormuz: Vessel traffic through the critical chokepoint remained negligible Thursday morning, according to MarineTraffic data. Trump said the strait would be “OPEN & SAFE” late Wednesday but earlier yesterday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed traffic had stopped following Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon, which Tehran said violated the ceasefire.

· The markets: Oil prices rose slightly today as most vessels remain anchored in the Persian Gulf. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, climbed 3.1% to $97.80 a barrel while WTI, the US benchmark, increased by a similar margin to $97.5 a barrel.

· In the Gulf: The intensity of attacks on Persian Gulf states seems to have abated for now. Aside from Bahrain’s defense force saying it intercepted seven drones in the last 24 hours, other countries have not reported attacks overnight for the first time since the start of the war. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates, which has borne the brunt of Iran’s attacks, stopped short of welcoming the ceasefire, saying it is “seeking further clarification” to ensure Tehran’s “full commitment” as well as the “unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.”

· In Israel: Sirens sounded in northern Israel today as Hezbollah said it fired “rocket barrages” targeting several towns near the border in response to yesterday’s strikes. The IDF said there have been dozens of launches from Lebanon since midnight.

CNN’s Sophie Tanno, Olesya Dmitracova, Tal Shalev, Eugenia Yosef, Mostafa Salem, Isaac Yee, Lex Harvey, Ibrahim Dahman and Laura Sherman contributed reporting.

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6:42 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

US military to remain "in place" until full agreement is reached with Iran, Trump says

By Lex Harvey

US Navy sailors taxi an F/A-18F Super Hornet on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury from an undisclosed location on March 17.

U.S. Navy/Reuters

“If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the “Shootin’ Starts,” bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” Trump wrote.

Iran must have “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE,” Trump added.

Negotiations between the US and Iran are set to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday.

Trump finished his post by writing: “In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest. AMERICA IS BACK”

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9:02 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iranians mark 40 days since killing of supreme leader

By Sophie Tanno

Iranians mark 40 days since killing of supreme leader

00:51

Iranians have been taking to the streets of Tehran today to mark the 40th day since the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In Shia Islam, the 40th day following a death signifies the maturation of the deceased person’s soul and marks the end of the mourning period.

Images show large crowds of mourners gathered in Iran’s capital, waving Iranian flags and holding pictures of the late supreme leader, with a banner bearing a portrait of Khamenei also on display.

A woman in the crowd holds a picture of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Majid Asgaripour/Wana News Agency/Reuters

Khamenei, who ruled the country for almost four decades, was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been named as his successor, but has not appeared in public. Several purported statements in the new leader’s name have been read out on state television.

No burial ceremony for the late supreme leader has yet been held in Iran, CNN understands.

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6:59 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Oil prices rise, lifted by still-slow traffic through vital Strait of Hormuz

By Olesya Dmitracova

Oil prices are higher today as vessel traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz remains negligible more than a day after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 3.1% on the day to $97.7 a barrel. WTI, the US benchmark, climbed by a similar margin to $97.5 a barrel.

“Day 1 of the ceasefire wasn’t a success on many fronts,” said Neil Crosby, head of oil research at Sparta, a market intelligence and analytics platform for oil traders. “Traffic on the strait didn’t change, and why should it? Owners won’t try anything on safety grounds, with the IRGC continuing to make threatening statements,” he added, referring to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Large clusters of ships were still anchored in the Persian Gulf as of Thursday morning local time, MarineTraffic data showed.

Since the ceasefire was announced, only a small number of ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz. Before the Iran war, traffic stood at 138 vessels per day, according to the World Trade Organization.

Crosby said that, given how much of global oil supply is “at stake,” governments around the world will be “forced increasingly to step in” to ration the use of oil products or manage the situation in other ways.

CNN’s Isaac Yee contributed reporting.

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5:56 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

UAE stops short of welcoming ceasefire, after bearing brunt of Iran's attacks

By Mostafa Salem

Smoke billows from Zayed port after an Iranian attack in Abu Dhabi on March 1.

Abdelhadi Ramahi/Reuters

The United Arab Emirates is “seeking further clarification” on the ceasefire with Iran to ensure Tehran’s “full commitment” to the truce and “unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” according to a foreign ministry statement on Wednesday.

The UAE also wants Iran to be held accountable for the damage it caused the country during the war, the statement said.

Unlike some of its Gulf Arab neighbors, Abu Dhabi stopped short of welcoming the temporary pause in fighting between Iran and the United States.

The UAE also called for a “comprehensive and sustained approach that addresses Iran’s full range of threats,” including its nuclear and missile programs, support for proxies and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Anwar Gargash, advisor to the UAE president, said observers shouldn’t be “surprised” by the UAE’s position and the foreign ministry statement.

“The era of courtesies has passed, and frankness has become a necessity,” he said on X. “Our collective stance must be firm and clear towards the features of the upcoming phase, in a way that enhances stability and security in the region.”

The UAE bore the brunt of Iran’s attacks during the war, with nearly half of all projectiles targeting the country and the vast majority intercepted by its air defenses. Even after the ceasefire was reached on Wednesday, Tehran fired missiles and drones at UAE cities. Iranian media described the attacks as a response to earlier strikes on Iran’s refineries.

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5:59 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Spain, a strident critic of US military action, reopens its embassy in Tehran

By Issy Ronald and Magdalena Sofia Vitores Moreno

Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares, second left, attends the Spanish Congress in Madrid on Thursday.

César Vallejo Rodríguez/Europa Press/AP

Spain is reopening its embassy in Tehran while “there’s a window for peace,” Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Spanish lawmakers Thursday, amid the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Since the conflict began, Spain has emerged as a strident critic of US military action in Iran, forbidding Washington from using Spanish military bases for its offensive and taking a stronger stance than other European allies.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has labeled the US-Israeli strikes on Iran as “reckless and illegal,” adding that his country would “not be complicit in something that is bad for the world.”

Madrid’s decision to send its ambassador back to Iran drew immediate criticism from Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who accused it of being “hand in hand” with a “terror regime.”

CNN’s Eugenia Yosef contributed reporting

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5:53 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Israel says it killed Hezbollah chief's personal secretary in Beirut strike on Wednesday

By Tal Shalev and Eugenia Yosef

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike that targeted an area in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

Dylan Collins/AFP/Getty Images

Israel killed Ali Yusuf Harshi, the personal secretary and nephew of Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem, in an airstrike near Beirut on Wednesday, its military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described Harshi in a statement as “a close associate and personal adviser to Naim Qassem and played a central role in managing and securing his office.”

The announcement came after a day of massive Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which Israel said was its largest coordinated strike since the war began.

According to the IDF, more than 100 command centers and military sites of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah were struck simultaneously across the country. Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 182 people were killed and 890 were wounded in the attacks.

Overnight, Israeli forces continued operations in southern Lebanon. The IDF said it hit two key crossings over the Litani River, which it claims are used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons, rockets and launchers, along with weapons storage facilities, launchers, and command centers in the area.

Netanyahu added Thursday that the IDF will “continue to strike Hezbollah wherever necessary, until we restore full security to the residents of the north,” even as international backlash against the ferocity of Israel’s attacks in Lebanon mounts.

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3:11 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

What's the status of the ceasefire and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz? It's murky

By Jessie Yeung

There is more confusion over the already shaky ceasefire, with Iran accusing Israel of breaking it by launching a massive attack on Lebanon. But Israel and the US insist Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement with Iran.

Here’s the latest:

· Israel attacks Lebanon: Israel Wednesday launched its largest strikes on Lebanon since the war began. Lebanese authorities say the attacks have killed at least 182 people and wounded 890 more. Israel said its strikes targeted the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, while Lebanon’s prime minister said it hit unarmed civilians. Iran claims this was a violation of the ceasefire. Pakistan, which mediated talks and presented the two-week ceasefire proposal to US President Donald Trump, has said Lebanon is included in the ceasefire. But Israel and the US are saying otherwise.

· Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Thursday that shipping through the critical waterway slowed sharply and then stopped, following Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon. Marine tracking data showed no ships were transiting the strait early Thursday, after an earlier report that traffic had begun to resume after the ceasefire came into effect. US Vice President JD Vance restated that if Iran does not follow through on promises to reopen the strait, the ceasefire will end.

· The ceasefire terms: Adding to the confusion about the terms of the agreement, Vance said there have been three different 10-point proposals. There is Iran’s initial proposal, which US negotiators immediately rejected; a second draft, which Trump accepted; and a third, “maximalist” version circulating on social media, he said.

· Trump’s comments: All US ships, aircraft, weapons, military personnel will remain “in place, in and around, Iran” until a full agreement is reached, Trump said in a Truth Social post late Wednesday. Iran must have “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS and, the Strait of Hormuz WILL BE OPEN & SAFE,” Trump added. Earlier this week, he said he would rather the US instead of Iran impose a toll on ships passing through the strait, before later suggesting the US may be involved in securing the waterway in a “joint venture” with Iran. Prior to the war, the strait was an international waterway where no tolls were charged.

· Talks in Pakistan: Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will go to Islamabad, Pakistan, for negotiations with Iran beginning Saturday. However, the speaker of Iran’s parliament alleged that parts of Iran’s proposal were violated before the talks even begin.

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8:41 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

How Pakistan became an unlikely bridge between Washington and Tehran

Analysis by Rhea Mogul and Sophia Saifi in Islamabad

High security in Islamabad

00:45

The streets of Islamabad have been emptied by a sudden two-day public holiday, declared to enforce a strict security lockdown in the Pakistani capital.

Behind the barricades, diplomatic activity is operating at a fever pitch as the world holds its breath for this weekend’s make-or-break ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran.

Pakistan, a nation more frequently making international headlines over rising militant activity and its shaky economy, is hosting the first direct talks between Washington and Tehran, working to end a weeks-long war that has left thousands dead and sent shockwaves across the globe.

It is a stunning pivot for a country historically viewed through the lens of deep security concerns. The breakthrough underscores just how much Islamabad’s relationship with the White House has evolved since President Donald Trump’s first term, when he accused Pakistan of giving Washington “nothing but lies and deceit.”

Vice President JD Vance along with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to attend this weekend’s talks, with Vance the most senior US official to visit Pakistan since 2011.

Analysts attribute this transformation to a combination of geographic necessity, deft diplomacy, and shifting regional alliances. Together, these factors have transformed Pakistan into an indispensable mediator, elevating the country’s profile on the global stage.

Read the full analysis here:

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2:53 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

More than 24 hours into ceasefire, strait traffic still negligible, data shows

By Isaac Yee

Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains negligible more than a day after President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.

As of Thursday morning local time, MarineTraffic data showed large clusters of ships still anchored in the Persian Gulf.

According to data from the tracker a day earlier, over 400 tankers, 34 LPG tankers and 19 LNG vessels remain in the region.

Trump said the strait would be “OPEN & SAFE” in a Truth Social post late Wednesday. Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that shipping through the waterway had stopped following Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon, which Tehran said was a violation of the ceasefire.

Since the ceasefire was announced, a small number of ships have transited the strait, including the Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth and Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Daytona Beach.

Prior to the war, an average of 107 cargo-carrying vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz each day, according to Lloyd’s List.

Experts have warned that it will likely take some time before more ships make the transit in larger numbers.

“This is very much a watch and wait situation,” said Simon Kaye, global director of reinsurance for NorthStandard, which provides liability insurance for much of the world’s shipping fleet.

“It can’t be a complete rush to the exits. Each ship needs to get special dispensation to transit the strait,” he said.

“As a result of that, will there be preference for Gulf states, US ships, or anyone else who back-channeled through Tehran?”

Kristie Lu Stout contributed reporting

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2:03 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

No reports from Gulf states of overnight strikes, a first since conflict began

By Laura Sharman

It’s dawn in the Gulf where there have been no reports of drone or missile attacks overnight for the first time since the US and Israel’s attack on Iran sparked widespread retaliatory strikes that have upended the region.

Over the past six weeks, ministry officials in the Gulf states have actively reported attacks from Iran on social media, with near-daily strikes linked to significant US military presence in the region.

The US-Iran ceasefire took several hours to take effect on Wednesday, according to several Gulf nations reporting missile interceptions until that afternoon.

But in recent hours those public channels have now gone unusually quiet - an indication that, at least for now, Iran’s dispersed forces appear to have stopped firing missiles and drones.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior issued its latest report on X Wednesday morning local time, stating that several houses in the Sitra area were damaged by shrapnel from an intercepted Iranian drone.

The United Arab Emirates has reported no missile or drone attacks since Wednesday afternoon, when its defense ministry said it had intercepted 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones from Iran.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense also noted a period of calm, with no missile or drone attacks reported on X in the past 15 hours.

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense reported no incidents in the last 14 hours, when it said on X that its armed forces intercepted seven ballistic missiles and several drones from Iran.

Defense officials in Kuwait reported no missile or drone incidents in the past 14 hours, following the detection of four ballistic missiles and 42 drones in the previous 24-hour period, according to state news agency KUNA.

Oman’s Ministry of Defense reported no airstrikes in the past 24 hours.

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2:17 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iranian delegation to arrive in Pakistan Thursday for talks, Iran ambassador says

By Lex Harvey

The Iranian delegation will arrive in Islamabad Thursday night for talks with the US, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan wrote in a post on X.

“Despite skepticism of Iranian public opinion due to repeated ceasefire violations by Israeli regime to sabotage the diplomatic initiative, invited by Hon. PM Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian delegation arrives tonight in Islamabad for serious talks based on 10 points proposed by Iran,” Reza Amiri Moghadam said.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker who some media reports say is expected to lead Tehran’s delegation, said on Wednesday that negotiations would be “unreasonable” after accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire by striking Lebanon.

Pakistan and Iran have claimed the truce between the US, Israel and Iran includes Lebanon, while the US and Israel said the ceasefire does not apply to operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The negotiations, led on the US side by Vice President JD Vance, are set to begin Saturday, according to the White House.

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1:32 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

In Pictures: Rubble and destruction seen across Lebanon following barrage of Israeli airstrikes

CNN staff

At least 182 people were killed in the strikes and nearly 900 wounded, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

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1:12 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Pakistan, key broker of US-Iran talks, condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon

By Lex Harvey and Sophia Saifi

Pakistan condemned Israel’s latest round of strikes on Lebanon and called on the international community to “take urgent and concrete steps” to stop further attacks in a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thursday.

“The Israeli actions undermine international efforts to establish peace and stability in the region and constitute a blatant violation of international law and fundamental humanitarian principles,” the statement said.

Israel said it carried out its largest coordinated strike on Lebanon since the war began Wednesday, killing at least 182 and wounding hundreds more, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

Some context: Pakistan has maintained that Lebanon is included in the ceasefire deal it helped broker between the US, Israel and Iran. However, the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have said the truce does not apply to operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran has warned that the ceasefire could collapse if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire.

Pakistan is set to host talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad this weekend, with the world closely watching for whether progress will be made or conflict restarts.

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1:18 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

World "hostage" to ceasefire success, Australia's Treasurer warns

By Angus Watson

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, on November 22, 2024.

Lukas Coch/AAP Image/AP

The world remains “hostage” to the faltering ceasefire between Iran and the United States, Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned Thursday, telling journalists the “hefty” price of the war would continue to be paid by consumers.

“We need to see this ceasefire stick, and we need to see the Strait of Hormuz properly open. There’s a lot of uncertainty about both of those things, and clearly the economic recovery can’t begin until the war properly ends,” Chalmers said.

“Like the rest of the world, the Australian economy, the Australian people, are hostage to developments in the Middle East.”

Australia relies largely on its Asian neighbors for the import of petroleum and diesel.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will fly to Singapore on Friday for a meeting with counterpart Lawrence Wong in the hope of shoring up supply from a crucial fuel exporter.

Even a permanent end to the current conflict “doesn’t mean that Straits of Hormuz reopened and that it’s back to business as usual,” Albanese said of Australia’s need to secure additional fuel supplies.

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12:43 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Satellite imagery shows smoke and fire at critical Saudi oil processing facility hours after ceasefire announced

By Isaac Yee

New satellite imagery shows large plumes of thick black smoke rising at Saudi Aramco’s vital Abqaiq processing facility following earlier reports of an Iranian drone attack on Wednesday.

European Space Agency/Copernicus

The image was taken on April 8 at around 10:00 a.m. local time (03:00 a.m. ET) just hours after President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.

Aramco declined to comment when contacted by CNN.

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12:32 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Beijing stays tight-lipped on role in ceasefire

By Simone McCarthy

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning holds a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

Kyodo News/Getty Images

Beijing has been tight-lipped about its involvement in the ceasefire agreement reached between Iran and the United States this week, though the White House confirmed “top-level” talks between American and Chinese officials as negotiations were ongoing.

In a regular briefing Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning replied in broad terms to multiple questions about Beijing’s role, telling reporters China has “worked actively to help bring about an end to the conflict” since fighting began.

“As a responsible major country, China will continue playing a constructive role and making positive contributions to restoring peace and tranquility in the Gulf and Middle East region,” Mao said.

Hours later at a White House briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed high-level talks took place between the US and China as Iran ceasefire negotiations played out in recent days.

US President Donald Trump had earlier said he believed China played a role in getting Iran to negotiate a ceasefire, when asked during an interview with news agency AFP.

Beijing’s careful handling of messaging around its diplomacy is not out of step with its typical approach, especially at a sensitive time for an apparently fragile ceasefire.

Even still, China has been keen to cast itself as a voice for peace throughout the conflict – part of a broader effort from leader Xi Jinping to increase China’s sway in global security issues and showcase its alternative leadership to the US.

China’s foreign ministry over the past day has circulated a graphic illustrating top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi’s 26 “phone calls for peace” with counterparts in the region and around the world since the conflict began.

Beijing has been widely seen as a potential player in the peace process given its diplomatic and economic ties with Tehran and close ties with Pakistan, which is expected to host peace talks. China elevated those optics last week during a meeting between Wang and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Beijing, where the two sides released a joint five-point initiative for restoring peace.

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2:02 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Relief and anti-Tehran feeling among US-based Iranians

By Monica Haider

With a fragile ceasefire in place, US-based Iranians who spoke to CNN voiced relief that strikes had ended, but continuing antipathy toward the government in Tehran.

Los Angeles resident Aeen Aflaatuni, who was born in Iran in 1991 and left at the age of 3, told CNN he’s “very conflicted” about the ceasefire, but happy that there weren’t further attacks on Iranian infrastructure.

“That part of me is happy – we’re not having a lot of the infrastructure destroyed. But part of me is also disappointed because I was hoping that this would lead to the overthrow of the regime and it hasn’t, or at least it doesn’t appear to be,” he said.

And if the regime remains intact, Aflaatuni worries the government later “takes out its anger on the people.” He said his grandfather was a colonel in the military during the reign of Iran’s last shah, who was deposed in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Aflaatuni’s cousin, Vala Biashad, voiced similar views, but hoped the government could be removed without military intervention.

“We should let people to overthrow the government,” Biashad told CNN.

Biashad left Iran as a teenager in 2011 and now lives in San Francisco. Some of his memories of life in Iran include being taught anti-American chants in school and experiencing physical brutality at the hands of the morality police.

As this ceasefire takes hold, he hopes there’s no deal between the US and Iran.

“It doesn’t help the Iranian people,” he said. “It only helps the IRGC.”

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12:25 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Belgian foreign minister says he was only a few hundred meters away when "massive" Israeli strike hit Beirut

By Laura Sharman

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot during a visit to Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday.

Virginie Lefour/Belga Mag/AFP/Getty Images

Belgium’s foreign minister slammed a “massive” Israeli airstrike on Beirut, which he said hit just hundreds of meters from where he was during an official visit.

Maxime Prévot was visiting the Belgian embassy in the Lebanese capital on Wednesday when missiles struck “just a few hundred metres” away, he said on X.

Prévot said he was preparing to commend Lebanon for its offer to negotiate towards a ceasefire with Israel, when “Israel launched, with no previous warning, one of the most massive strikes since the beginning of the hostilities.”

“This must stop. The ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran must include Lebanon,” he added.

Meanwhile the UN secretary-general condemned ongoing military activity in Lebanon following the US-Iran ceasefire, and repeated his call “to all parties to immediately cease hostilities,” a spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.

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12:21 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

The Iran war is constricting US jet fuel imports from South Korea, one of the world's top refiners

By Yoonjung Seo and Stephanie Yang

The historic oil crisis is putting a squeeze on jet fuel in South Korea, prompting the country to prioritize domestic supply and impacting exports to other nations including the US, according to refining industry sources.

South Korea is a major global supplier of jet fuel, with its four largest refiners — SK Energy, GS Caltex, S-OIL, and HD Hyundai Oilbank — exporting roughly 86 million barrels of jet fuel last year. According to the US Energy Information Administration, nearly 69% of US jet fuel imports came from South Korea in 2025.

Now the crude shortage caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the US and Israel bombed Iran is threatening that source of fuel imports.

Two industry sources, who did not want to be named discussing company operations, said some of South Korea’s largest refiners are now focused on ensuring stability in the local market, while paring back operating rates for exports.

“Export volumes are being constrained by uncertainty in global crude supply,” one of the sources said.

South Korean refiners typically export about 60% of their output. But jet fuel is produced in the early stages of the refining process, meaning it is among the most immediately impacted by the energy crisis in Asia.

Still, the government has urged refiners to increase operating rates. Vice Minister Yang Ki-wook of the industry ministry said restrictions on petroleum product exports must be approached cautiously, and said in a press briefing this week that the country was not considering export restrictions.

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2:43 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Pentagon's impressive war numbers leave questions

Analysis by Brad Lendon, CNN senior global military affairs reporter

The post-ceasefire press conference Wednesday from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine was full of superlatives and large numbers about the Pentagon’s performance in 40 days of combat against Iran.

But it should be noted that context was lacking in some in of what they had to say.

“The numbers are striking. The questions they raise are more interesting,” Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, wrote on X.

Caine said 450 ballistic missile and 800 drone storage facilities were struck. “All of these systems are gone,” the general said.

But he didn’t give an estimate of how many missiles or drones were in those facilities. Nor did he mention whether what was in them could have been moved to an unknown number of remaining facilities.

“Hard to evaluate without the denominator. How many did Iran have to begin with?” Grieco wrote.

“The more useful number is surviving missiles and drones. Unless I missed it, that is exactly what they’re not providing,” she wrote.

Last week CNN reported roughly half of Iran’s missile launchers were still intact and thousands of one-way attack drones remained in its arsenal, according to three sources familiar with recent US intelligence assessments.

Caine also said 50% of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small attack boats were destroyed. Pre-war estimates put the number of those boats from the high hundreds to low thousands.

Small boats can carry damaging explosives (see the attack that killed 17 US sailors on the destroyer USS Cole in a Yemen port in 2000). And they can be devastating in a chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz.

So though Hegseth proclaimed a “decisive military victory” on Wednesday, Iran still has weapons that can do substantial damage and, in the defense secretary’s words “can still shoot.”

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12:33 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Who might Iran send to talks with the US?

By Lex Harvey and Ross Adkin

Iran hasn’t yet announced who will be representing the country during talks this weekend with the US, led by Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Many of the regime’s top-ranking officials have been killed by US-Israeli strikes, including those who played a key role in previous negotiations as well as the country’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Here are three officials who could represent Tehran in the talks in Pakistan:

Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaks during a media conference in Tehran, Iran, on December 2, 2025.

Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament and former Tehran mayor, has emerged as a key interlocutor with the Trump administration throughout the war, and some Iranian media reports have suggested he could be heading this round of talks for Iran.

A regime insider with a reputation for suppressing dissent, Ghalibaf joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a teenager and has devoted his life to the Islamic Republic. He once bragged about beating protestors with “wooden sticks.”

Ghalibaf has the “credentials that matter in Tehran — IRGC pedigree, establishment ties, and a pragmatic instinct for regime preservation,” Ali Vaez, Director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, told CNN. But he is allied with the regime, not the US, Vaez said.

“If he rises further, Iran is more likely to become more militarized than moderate.”

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrives at the government palace in Beirut on January 9.

Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images

Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign affairs minister since 2024, is a career diplomat who has become one of the main international voices for Tehran, traveling around the world to negotiate on its behalf. He lived in the UK for three years in the 1990s, where he obtained a PhD in political thought. His supervisor told the Times of London that Aragchi had been “at ease in this country” and got on well with other students.

He is known for being tough yet pragmatic in his extensive engagements with the West, including during the discussions that led to the Iran nuclear deal in 2015. Despite his overtures with the US, Araghchi is a staunch defender of the regime and publicly backed the violent crackdown against protesters earlier this year.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is Tehran’s second-highest ranking official and head of government, though his office’s power has eroded in recent years in a nation where the clerical and military elite hold the true reins of power. A former surgeon, Pezeshkian has advocated for modest political and social reforms in Iran but has maintained loyal to the regime.

Earlier this month he penned an open letter to the American people asking whether the war truly served their interests.

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12:06 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Asian markets temper the early optimism that greeted Iran ceasefire

By Stephanie Yang

Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 2.6% to $96.89 a barrel and Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, rose 2.1% to $96.75 a barrel.

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4:54 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026

Iran FM held talks with Saudi counterpart, both countries say

By Lex Harvey

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had a phone call with his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the foreign ministries of both nations said early Thursday.

The ministers “discussed bilateral relations and regional developments,” Tehran said on Telegram, without specifying when the call took place.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry later released a similar statement, saying the ministers “reviewed the latest developments and discussed ways to reduce tensions to restore security and stability in the region.”

Saudi Arabian state media said Prince Faisal bin Farhan also received calls from the foreign ministers of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Turkey in a statement Wednesday evening local time, which did not mention Iran.

CNN has reached out to the Saudi foreign affairs ministry for comment.

CNN’s Issy Ronald contributed reporting to this post.

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12:07 a.m. EDT, April 9, 2026