On a day when both Iran and the United States declared the Strait of Hormuz opened, hopes for an agreement rose. But statements from President Trump and Iranian leaders about negotiations were sometimes at odds.
Saudi Arabia and US discuss keeping Strait of Hormuz open, Saudi state news agency Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a phone call, discussed efforts to ensure the continued opening of the Strait of Hormuz and consolidate the ceasefire in Lebanon, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Friday.
Iran says its enriched uranium 'not going to be transferred' Iran's foreign ministry on Friday said the country's stockpile of enriched uranium would not be transferred "anywhere", denying an earlier claim by US President Donald Trump that the Islamic Republic had agreed to hand it over. "Iran's enriched uranium is not going to be transferred anywhere," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state TV. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform earlier Friday that "The USA will get all Nuclear 'Dust,' created by our great B2 Bombers," referring to nuclear material buried by US strikes last year.
Beirut [Lebanon], April 18 (ANI): Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has issued a strong 'Lebanon first' message, widely seen as an indirect criticism of Hezbollah, while reiterating that the state alone will determine national decisions and priorities, Al Jazeera reported. Aoun, without naming the group, appeared to suggest that Hezbollah was effectively fighting Iran's war on Lebanese territory.
Palestine Football Association president denied entry to Canada for Fifa event: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 04/17/2026 - 18:16 Two other Palestinian officials had their visas denied for the Fifa Congress on 30 April An aerial view of the retractable roof of the BC Place Stadium, as seen on 21 March 2026, where matches for the 2026 World Cup will be held in Vancouver, Canada, later this year (Elizabeth Ruiz Ruiz/Getty Images via AFP) Off The president of the Palestine Football Association (PFA), as well as two other officials from the organisation, have been denied visas to Canada for the annual Fifa Congress, which is being held in Vancouver on 30 April, The Guardian revealed on Friday. Canada is one of the hosts of this year's World Cup, alongside the US and Mexico. The PFA has now urged Fifa - football's governing body - to intervene on its behalf.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon, describing them as positive development. However, he stressed that it's necessary to remain vigilant. PARIS, April 17 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Iran's announcement of reopening Strait of Hormuz goes in right direction.
Washington DC [US], April 17 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has lashed out at NATO allies, labelling them a 'paper tiger' following Tehran's announcement to restore access to the Strait of Hormuz for commercial maritime traffic. The US President asserted that he was contacted by NATO member states offering assistance immediately after Iran declared the reopening of the strategic waterway.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) –The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy announced a new order regarding the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Significant differences remain between Iran-US, including on nuclear issues, senior Iranian official says Significant differences between Iran and the United States remain to reach a deal aimed at ending the war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday, adding that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is "conditional on US adherence to the terms of ceasefire". The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said "no agreement has been reached on the details of the nuclear issues," and serious negotiations are required to overcome differences. He said Tehran hoped a preliminary agreement could be reached in the coming days with Pakistan’s mediation efforts, with the possibility of extending the ceasefire to "create space for more talks on lifting sanctions on Iran and securing compensation for war damages".
Meanwhile, as new 10-day truce in Lebanon enters its first full day, Trump claims Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear programme Iran’s foreign minister has said that the strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, reinforcing hopes for an eventual end to the war in the Middle East and sending oil prices tumbling despite analysts’ warnings that there will be no immediate widespread resumption of passage through the vital waterway. In a barrage of social media posts, Donald Trump claimed on Friday that Iran had agreed never to close the strategic waterway again, hailing “A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD! ” Continue reading...
NEW YORK, 17th April, 2026 (WAM) -- Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, has welcomed the announcement today by Iran that the Strait of Hormuz is completely open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire. In a statement, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said that the Secretary-General considers this a step in the right direction.
Trump says 'no sticking points' remain in Iran talks US President Donald Trump told AFP on Friday there were "no sticking points" left for a peace deal with Iran, which he said was "very close" as Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial shipping. The positive signals from Washington came as a ceasefire went into effect in Lebanon, raising hopes that two of the main obstacles to a US-Iran agreement could have been cleared. "We're very close.
Washington, DC [US], April 17 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has welcomed the declaration from Tehran regarding the restoration of maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz. The reaction follows an earlier announcement on Friday by Iran's foreign minister, who stated that the Islamic Republic is now permitting the secure transit of vessels.
Lebanese prime minister vows full control of Beirut, restricting arms to state forces Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said his government will take full control of the Beirut Governorate, which includes the capital, and restrict arms to "the legitimate forces alone". In a post on X, Salam said the move was intended to “safeguard the safety, security, and property of citizens”. He said the decision is “irrevocable and will be strictly enforced”.
Media outlets affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued rare and sharply worded criticism of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Iran’s negotiating team after he announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on X.
US to recover uranium from Iran at a 'leisurely pace', Trump tells Reuters US President Donald Trump told Reuters on Friday that the US will work with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and bring it back to the United States. "We're going to get it together. We're going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery...
Green Party strategist reveals plan for local elections and slams 'sectarian' claims Submitted by Imran Mulla on Fri, 04/17/2026 - 16:00 Faaiz Hasan, an elections coordinator for the party, speaks to MEE about next month's polls The Green Party's local elections campaign launch earlier this month (Supplied) Off At the UK 's upcoming local elections to take place on 7 May, more than 5,000 seats in 136 councils are up for grabs. The Green Party is presenting an enormous challenge from the left to the Labour government, in what is shaping up to be the most crucial electoral contest since Keir Starmer became prime minister in July 2024. Led by Zack Polanski since last summer, the Greens have surged in the polls and in February defeated Labour and Reform in a historic by-election win in Greater Manchester's Gorton and Denton.
(260417) -- PARIS, April 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron (L) welcomes British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Elysee Palace, in Paris, France, April 17, 2026. French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Iran's announcement of reopening Strait of Hormuz goes in right direction.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An informed source close of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) clarified new dimensions of the Iran-US agreement on the Strait of Hormuz under the two-week ceasefire.
The US president again slammed the military bloc for not aiding Washington during the war on Iran US President Donald Trump has again lashed out against NATO, stressing that he does not need its help in the Strait of Hormuz, and saying that the military bloc was "useless when needed" during the war on Iran. DETAILS TO FOLLOW (RT.
