TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s insistence on its principled position that an end to the Israeli aggression on Lebanon is a major condition for any progress in negotiations with the American side has paid off.
EU welcomes Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, urges respect for sovereignty European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon announced by US President Donald Trump. "I welcome the announced 10 day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by President Trump. This is a relief, as this conflict has already claimed far too many lives," von der Leyen wrote on X.
Washington has reportedly approached General Motors and Ford as it seeks to expand military output amid ongoing conflicts The Pentagon has approached major US car manufacturers General Motors and Ford about producing weapons and military equipment, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing sources.
Republicans block bid to halt Trump’s Iran war in House vote Republicans in the US House of Representatives have blocked a Democratic-led resolution aimed at halting Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran unless approved by Congress. The measure failed by a razor-thin 214–213 vote in the Republican-controlled chamber on Thursday, underscoring deep divisions over the war. The vote comes a day after a similar effort was stopped in the Senate, as Democrats push to assert congressional authority over military action.
Washington DC [US], April 16 (ANI): The United States on Thursday categorically said that its naval blockade in West Asia applies to Iranian ports and coastline and is not a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks were made by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, while speaking to the media.
Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, Trump says US President Donald Trump claimed that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire set to begin on Thursday, following calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. "These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P. M.
Trump says Israel agrees to 10-day Lebanon ceasefire Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 16:47 The US president announces that the truce will go into effect at 10pm Off Israel has agreed to a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon starting on Thursday at 10pm, US President Donald Trump said after speaking to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "These two Leaders have agreed that in order to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P. M.
(260416) -- ISLAMABAD, April 16, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A policeman checks a passing car at a checkpoint in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 16, 2026. Large-scale combing search operations have been launched in different areas of Pakistan's federal capital Islamabad, with patrol units and special squads patrolling the city, according to local police on Thursday.
Late night hosts discussed Trump’s AI images, the closure of 7-Eleven stores and JD Vance’s advice to the Pope On Wednesday night, late night hosts discussed Donald Trump ’s fondness for religious AI images, a new way to protest ICE and Maga’s reaction to the Pope condemning the Iran war. Continue reading...
US military fully withdraws from Syria after 10 years Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 15:28 American troops and equipment reportedly exited via Jordan as Damascus moves to take over the last US-held base A US soldier rests on a tank as troops patrol oil fields near Syria's northeastern border with Turkey on 3 September 2024 (Delil Souleiman/AFP) Off The last remaining US troops in Syria left their base in Hasakah on Thursday, ending a 10-year presence in the country aimed at fighting the Islamic State group, Syrian officials told Middle East Eye. Following the withdrawal of US forces, the Syrian military entered the last base previously under American control, known as Qasrak, which included an airstrip. A Syrian official told MEE that the withdrawal had been completed.
Washington, DC [US], April 16 (ANI): The United States is 'reloading with more power than before,' Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned during a Pentagon briefing on Thursday, asserting that the maritime blockade against Iran will be maintained 'for as long as it takes. ' Secretary Hegseth cautioned that American forces are prepared to restart military strikes should Tehran decline a potential peace agreement.
Washington, DC [US], April 16 (ANI): US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has issued a stern warning to Iranian leadership, stating that the blockade of Iranian ports and sustained economic pressure will persist unless Iran 'chooses wisely' a deal for the 'betterment' of their people and the world.
Lebanon's Aoun rejects call with Netanyahu as Israel severs last bridge to the south Submitted by Heba Nasser on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 11:44 Israeli media, meanwhile, say army preparing for ceasefire with Lebanon starting Thursday evening Lebanese soldiers and first responders inspect the site of Israeli strikes on the Qasmiyeh bridge over the Litani River in southern Lebanon, on 16 April 2026 (Kawnat Haju/AFP) Off Lebanon ’s President Joseph Aoun will not speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the near future, a senior Lebanese official told Middle East Eye, after reports of a planned phone call between the two leaders. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Beirut had informed Washington of Aoun’s position ahead of a call between the president and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday. The development comes two days after the US hosted the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon in Washington, in the first such talks between the two countries since 1993.
US defense secretary said Iran’s energy infrastructure is ‘not destroyed yet’ at presser where he also lambasted the media Iran’s energy infrastructure is “not destroyed yet” and the US is “locked and loaded” to finish the job, Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, said on Thursday as he called many of the press corps gathered the moral equivalent of the Pharisees who conspired to destroy Jesus Christ. Hegseth’s comments from the Pentagon podium came as a naval blockade of Iranian ports began this week and he called on Tehran to accept a nuclear deal or face consequences for its remaining infrastructure, power generation and energy industry. Continue reading...
Pontiff denounces world leaders that invoke religion to justify US-Israel war on Iran, after US bishops offer him support Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Pope Leo XIV has said that the world is being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants” who spend billions on war, in comments that will be seen as another sharp escalation in his almost week-long feud with the White House over the US-Israel war on Iran. The first American-born pontiff did not mention Donald Trump by name, but used his speech in Cameroon on Thursday to denounce world leaders that invoke religion to justify violence against other nations. Continue reading...
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Iranian Army official stressed that the country’s Armed Forces are fully prepared to confront any new hostile action, highlighting expanded deployments and major advances in drone capabilities.
US to blockade Iran ports 'as long as it takes': Hegseth The United States will blockade Iranian ports for "as long as it takes," US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday, threatening renewed strikes if Tehran does not make a deal. "If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy," Hegseth told a news conference at the Pentagon.
Amid reports of high-level talks later today between Israel and Lebanon, intense Israeli military strikes continued in southern Lebanese territory, including around the Hezbollah stronghold of Bint Jbeil. Hezbollah rocket fire continued into northern Israel also. In other developments, the US military announced on Wednesday that it had prevented 10 ships from navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, in line with its blockade of Iranian ports.
Sri Lanka had been refusing to send back the Iranian Navy personnel, including survivors from a warship that the United States torpedoed, during active hostilities.
House Democrats have filed six articles of impeachment against the US secretary of war accusing him of abuse of power, war crimes, and other wrongdoing A US lawmaker has introduced six articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over actions tied to the war on Iran.
