New posts 12:00 Trump Says Peace Talks Could Resume Soon As US Military Chokes Iran's Maritime Trade By RFE/RL's Radio Farda A US sailor observes flight operations during Operation Epic Fury. The US military is enforcing a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to cut off ships from using Iranian ports.
New posts 22:29 Trump Would Welcome End Of Hostilities In Lebanon, US Official Says By Alex Raufoglu WASHINGTON -- The United States has not requested a Lebanon cease-fire, but President Donald Trump would welcome an end to the war in which Israel is targeting Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, a senior US administration official said on April 15.
New Delhi [India], April 15 (ANI): The Indian stock markets opened sharply higher on Wednesday, tracking a strong rally in global markets as hopes of a pause in the West Asia conflict pulled crude oil prices lower and lifted investor mood. Benchmark indices jumped at the open, with sentiment getting a big boost from signs of progress in US-Iran talks.
Sri Lanka repatriates 238 stranded Iranian sailors Sri Lanka has repatriated 238 Iranian sailors stranded in the South Asian country after one of their warships was torpedoed by a US submarine, a minister told AFP on Wednesday. Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara said 32 sailors rescued from the IRIS Dena - a frigate attacked on 4 March just off Sri Lanka - and another 206 from the IRIS Bushehr left on Tuesday. "A few sailors from the IRIS Bushehr are staying back to operate the vessel, but 206 joined those rescued from the IRIS Dena and returned home last night in a chartered aircraft," Jayasekara said.
US military claims maritime superiority after Iran blockade enforcement The US Central Command said it has achieved “maritime superiority” in the Middle East, adding that its blockade of Iranian ports was “fully implemented” within 36 hours of its launch, according to a statement late Monday. The command quoted its chief, Adm. Brad Cooper, as saying US forces had halted all sea trade going in and out of Iran.
Washington DC [US], April 15 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that the conflict with Iran is 'close to over', despite a stalemate in negotiations with Tehran to achieve a complete solution to the hostilities in West Asia.
Israel strikes 76 areas in Lebanon, 21 killed Israeli air and artillery attacks struck 76 cities, towns and areas across Lebanon on Tuesday, killing 21 people and injuring 29, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said. The strikes began at dawn and affected multiple regions of the country, officials said. The death toll in Lebanon has crossed 2,089 since the escalation began on 2 March 2026, as the new developments add to growing concerns about the impact of the Israeli war on civilians in Lebanon.
China rejects US criticism, urges 'end to military operations' in Middle East China has pushed back against criticism from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with a spokesperson at the Chinese embassy blaming global fuel shortages on instability in the Middle East. Liu Pengyu, speaking to Reuters, said “the tense situation in the Middle East” was driving disruptions and called for an immediate halt to military operations. “The pressing task is to put an end to military operations at once and prevent the turmoil in the Middle East from further impacting the global economy,” Liu said.
Florida [US], April 15 (ANI): As tensions rise in West Asia, the US Central Command said more than 10,000 Sailors, Marines, and Airmen, supported by over a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, are carrying out a mission to blockade ships entering and leaving Iranian ports.
US Centcom says blockade enforced on ships of all nations US Central Command (Centcom) said a US-led blockade on Iranian ports is being enforced “impartially” against vessels of all nations entering or leaving coastal areas of Iran. Centcom said US Navy guided-missile destroyers are among the assets carrying out the operation. “A typical destroyer has a crew of more than 300 Sailors that are highly trained in conducting offensive and defensive maritime operations,” Centcom said in a statement.
UK, Canada, others call for 'urgent end to hostilities' in Lebanon Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and several other countries have called for an “urgent end to hostilities in Lebanon”, warning of a worsening humanitarian and displacement crisis. In a joint statement, the countries said civilians and infrastructure must be protected and welcomed a ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran, while stressing that violence in Lebanon must also stop. “Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected from the effects of hostilities.
US president says war on Iran 'very close to over' US President Donald Trump said the war on Iran could be nearing its end, telling Fox News that he sees the conflict as “very close to over”. “I think it’s close to over, yeah,” Trump said in a clip aired by the broadcaster. “We’ll see what happens.
(260415) -- TEHRAN, April 15, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on April 14, 2026 shows a vehicle and buildings destroyed in U. S. and Israeli strikes in Tehran, Iran.
WASHINGTON, D. C. : Rising energy costs linked to the Iran war pushed U.
The gathering ended with encouraging words, even as Israel continued to refuse to halt its military campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The prime minister said that his government was also investing in ways to boost oil and gas production.
Hezbollah says it launched drones at Israeli military in occupied Golan Heights Hezbollah said that it launched a drone attack on Israeli military sites in the occupied Golan Heights late on Tuesday. The group said it targeted an artillery position in Za-oura and battalion command headquarters in Odem, using a “squadron of drones”, according to a statement they released. This comes as Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the US agreed their first direct talks held in Washington on Tuesday were “productive” and indicated that more discussions would follow.
Ceasefire not included: Lebanon begins historic 'exploratory' talks with Israel Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Tue, 04/14/2026 - 17:14 This comes as the Lebanese government shows little to no leverage over Hezbollah, which was not represented Left to right: US State Department Counsellor Michael Needham; US ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz; US Secretary of State Marco Rubio; US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa; Lebanese ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad; and Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter meet at the State Department in Washington, DC, on 14 April 2026 (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Off The Trump administration on Tuesday hosted Lebanon and Israel's top diplomats in Washington for the first direct talks between the two sides in more than three decades. But a ceasefire was not on the agenda, and the main subject of concern, Hezbollah, had no representation, leaving Lebanese officials with little to no authority coming into the meeting. "I know some of you were shouting questions about a ceasefire," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters.
Israel is openly considering a new settlement land grab in Lebanon, showing de-escalation is not even an option Israel's war in Lebanon has entered a stage in which claims of supposedly precise strikes on military infrastructure can no longer be taken seriously.
BBC foreign correspondent Nick Beake visits Metula, an Israeli town surrounded on three sides by Lebanon.
