US Military To Blockade Iranian Ports Starting April 13
The US military said it will begin a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports as of 10 a.m. Eastern time (5:30 p.m. in Iran) on April 13 in a dramatic move following the failure of US-Iranian peace talks hours earlier.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal, citing officials and others familiar with the matter, reported that US President Donald Trump and his advisers are considering resuming limited military strikes against Iran in addition to the naval actions as a means to break stalemate in peace talks.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for all American forces in the Middle East, on April 12 said the blockade will be enforced "impartially" against vessels of all nations entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas on the "Arabian Gulf" -- also known as the Persian Gulf -- and the Gulf of Oman.
However, the command added that it will not impede the navigation of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
CENTCOM said additional information will be provided to commercial shippers through formal notices prior to the start of the blockade.
"All mariners are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact US naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches," it said.
The statement appears different from remarks made earlier in the day by Trump, who had indicated a more widescale blockage.
Trump said the US Navy would “immediately” begin stopping "any and all" ships from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz after US-Iranian peace talks broke off in Islamabad in the early morning hours of April 12.
"I have also instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas," he wrote on social media.
CENTCOM did not provide specifics of the blockade, such has how many US ships would be used to enforce it, but the statement indicated it would only apply to ships coming to and from Iran.
Iran has effectively halted all shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a move that has sent global energy prices skyrocketing. Tehran said it would start collecting tolls from ships seeking to pass the waterway.
UPDATE: Trump told reporters late on April 12 that the cease-fire in Iran is "holding well," and he confirmed that a blockade will go into effect at 10 a.m. Eastern time on April 13. He didn't specify the details of the blockade mission.
“At 10 a.m. tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect — that'll be 10 a.m. tomorrow," he said.
He also said Tehran likely will return to negotiations because “I think Iran is in very bad shape. I think they’re pretty desperate. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”
However, he added, “I don’t care if they come back or not. If they don’t come back, I’m fine.”
Israel, Lebanon Agree To 10-Day Cease-Fire, Says Trump
US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day cease-fire starting on April 16. He made the statement after speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said: "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. EST."
He made no mention of Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, which is both a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, although the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.
A regional proxy group for Iran, Tehran has repeatedly said that a cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel was a requirement for its own peace negotiations with the United States, which are ongoing.
Merz: Germany Ready To Help Secure Strait Of Hormuz After Peace Deal
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany is prepared in principle to contribute to securing maritime routes in the region around the Strait of Hormuz, but only under clear legal and political conditions, including a formal international mandate -- preferably from the United Nations -- and approval by the German Bundestag.
He told reporters on April 16 that such conditions are "still far from being met," emphasizing that any potential mission remains hypothetical at this stage.
Discussions involving European partners are expected in Paris, where possible frameworks for maritime security cooperation may be reviewed. German officials have also indicated any multinational effort could, in theory, include coordination with US forces, though no operational plan has been confirmed.
The Strait of Hormuz -- one of the world's most crucial energy shipping routes -- remains highly sensitive due to ongoing regional tensions. Before the current crisis, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments transited the waterway.
A government source said Germany could potentially contribute naval capabilities such as mine countermeasure vessels or maritime surveillance assets. German access to logistical support facilities in the region, including including the east African country of Djibouti, has also been discussed in the context of broader NATO and EU maritime operations.
Merz did not confirm specific military contributions when asked about media reports suggesting Germany might provide mine-clearing expertise and surveillance capabilities. The German Defense Ministry has also not publicly confirmed such plans.
He stressed that any deployment would require at minimum a stabilized security environment and a ceasefire framework before consideration of operational involvement.
Qalibaf: Cease-Fire In Lebanon Just As Important As Truce In Iran
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran's parliamentary speaker, spoke by phone with his Lebanese counterpart, Nabih Berri, on April 16, according to Iranian media, and said he was "continuously following the situation in Lebanon and establishing a cease-fire in the country."
He considered this issue "very important" for Iran and said, "For us, a cease-fire in Lebanon is as important as a cease-fire in Iran."
Qalibaf headed the Iranian delegation negotiating with the United States in the Islamabad talks last weekend and yesterday met with Asim Munir, the commander of the Pakistani Army, who traveled to Iran as a mediator.
Berri, for his part, said he also considered any relationship with Israel to be against the interests of the Lebanese people. The speaker of the Lebanese parliament is an ally of Hezbollah and close to the Iranian government.
Hezbollah is both a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, although the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.
The telephone conversation between the two took place at the same time as US efforts to continue negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli officials and establish a cease-fire in the country.
Iran has made a cease-fire in Lebanon one of its conditions for any agreement with the United States. However, Israel's prime minister announced on April 15 that the country's military would continue its attacks on Hezbollah.
Iran Thinks It's Winning. That View Is Guiding Its War And Diplomacy.
- By Frud Bezhan
The United States and Israel's bombing campaign has devastated Iran's military, decapitated much of its leadership, and destroyed critical infrastructure.
Yet Tehran still believes it is winning the weekslong confrontation. That Iran's theocracy has survived at all has been touted in the Islamic republic as a victory. The country has also obtained a new and powerful card: control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Since the war began on February 28, Iran has effectively closed one of the world's key arteries for global oil and gas supplies, a move that has rattled energy markets, upended the global economy, and handed Tehran new leverage.
Iran's perception of victory has shaped the country's conduct in the conflict, where it has refused to capitulate despite suffering enormous material losses. The Islamic republic's confidence has extended to the negotiating table, where it is aiming to end the war on its own terms.
To read the full report, click here.
US Widens Naval Blockade of Iran, WSJ Reports
The United States has widened its naval blockade of Iran by authorizing inspections and possible seizures of sanctioned vessels and ships suspected of carrying contraband, The Wall Street Journal reports.
“In addition to enforcing the blockade, all Iranian vessels, vessels with active OFAC sanctions, and vessels suspected of carrying contraband, are subject to belligerent right to visit and search,” the US Naval Forces Central Command said, using an acronym for the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The central command notice said that these vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure.
The move marks a further escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign against Tehran during the current conflict and could increase risks to commercial shipping and energy markets already unsettled by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
US officials also said no ship had violated the blockade in its first 48 hours.
Amid Iran War Talks, China Tests Its Clout In Pakistan-Taliban Conflict
As US President Donald Trump says the war in Iran could be over "very soon" and Pakistani mediators in Tehran to meet with officials, another nearby conflict has been drawing Beijing's attention.
Since late February, fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan has intensified, with Islamabad declaring an "open war" with its neighbor. Strikes have killed hundreds and displaced hundreds of thousands, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Afghanistan. The conflict has alarmed the international community and perturbed China, which is a partner to both countries and sensitive to violence along its western borders.
Against that backdrop, Beijing has stepped in to play a diplomatic role, announcing on April 8 that it hosted weeklong talks in Urumqi in western China in hopes of brokering a cease-fire. At stake is not just tempering hostilities but a broader test of China's ability to manage instability on its periphery, where it has deep economic and political ties.
While all sides have publicly backed dialogue, deep disagreements over militant groups and cross-border attacks threaten to derail any meaningful de-escalation. Delegations from all three sides were quick to tout the value of the talks. China's Foreign Ministry called them "frank and pragmatic," while the Taliban called them "useful" and said they took place "in a constructive atmosphere."
But even as the talks were under way, Afghanistan accused Pakistan of carrying out shelling across its border, raising questions about whether China can end the conflict and how much diplomatic capital it is willing to attach to the discussions as it also navigates the war in Iran.
"The Taliban and Pakistani diplomats know how to come up with word formulas that make China look good and even limited border easement measures," Michael Semple, an Afghanistan expert at Queen's University Belfast, told RFE/RL. "But agreement on the issue of Taliban support for the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is likely to prove elusive for now."
Read more here.
Iranian Police Say More Than 3,500 Thieves Arrested Since Start Of War
The head of the Iranian police's criminal investigation department said security forces have arrested more than 3,500 thieves since the start of the war, adding that 71 were “brought down by direct gunfire.”
Mohammad Qanbari told state television on April 16 that the arrests came despite a roughly 25 percent decline in theft during the recent war.
He gave no further details on those shot, but referred to an order by police chief Ahmadreza Radan, who said last year that “because of wartime conditions, an order to open fire in dealing with thieves has also been issued.”
Qanbari added that more than 5,000 vehicles had recently been recovered from arrested suspects.
Iran Says Some Progress Made In US Talks Under Pakistan Mediation, But Differences Remain
Iran and the United States have made limited progress toward a possible agreement under Pakistan’s mediation, but major differences remain more than halfway through a two-week cease-fire, a senior Iranian official said on April 16.
“The trip of the Pakistani army chief [Asim Munir] to Tehran was effective in reducing differences in some areas, but fundamental disagreements still remain in the nuclear field.... More hopes have been created for extending the cease-fire and holding a second round of talks,” the official said, according to Reuters.
He added that "the fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium and the duration of Iran’s nuclear restrictions are among the highly disputed issues for which no solution has yet been found.”
Munir visited Tehran on April 15 after Pakistan hosted initial peace talks last weekend that failed to produce a permanent settlement to the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said no date has yet been set for a second round of talks.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Qatar on April 16 for talks on Pakistan's "ongoing efforts for regional and global peace” before continuing to Turkey.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Lebanon 'Not Aware' Of Trump-Promised Peace Talks With Israel
Talks between several countries around the Middle East are heating up amid a diplomatic push to clinch peace deals around the region.
US President Donald Trump said the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will hold talks on April 16 -- the first such negotiations since 1993 -- as they seek a cease-fire to end more than six weeks of war with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Hezbollah is both a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. It is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, although the European Union has only blacklisted its armed wing.
Separately, Gila Gamliel, a member of Israel's security cabinet, told Israel's Army Radio that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. But AFP and Reuters quoted unnamed Lebanese sources as saying Beirut was "not aware" of any talks and had "no information" about upcoming contact with Israel's leadership.
Amid the Lebanon impasse, Iran and the United States are reportedly looking to arrange a second round of peace talks as a fragile, Pakistani-brokered two-week cease-fire that paused 40 days of fighting expires on April 22.
Attention also turns to Paris on April 16, where a separate but linked crisis will dominate. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair a videoconference of around 40 nations aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
To read the full report, click here.
Iranian Activists Warn Of Unemployment, Mass Layoffs Caused By War
Amid growing concern over rising unemployment -- particularly job losses and worker layoffs caused by the war -- labor and political activists have called for urgent measures to prevent the problem spreading across the country.
Speaking to the semiofficial labor-focused ILNA news agency, reformist political activist Jalil Sazgarnejad warned that damage to production and industrial infrastructure could trigger business closures or reduced activity, leading to widespread unemployment in Iran.
He said damage to major industrial units such as factories, refineries, and power plants would naturally affect many smaller downstream businesses.
"In such a situation, the first step taken by some enterprises is workforce reduction, the result of which will be higher unemployment and social problems for many families,” he said.
The former lawmaker called on the government, civil society institutions, and the private sector to implement support and compensation measures to manage the economic and social consequences of the conflict.
According to the semiofficial ISNA news agency, the head of the union representing contract and temporary workers also said the war could lead to layoffs and disruption to employment, adding that the government should provide timely support to economic and production enterprises and protect workers.
Fathollah Bayat said some businesses were struggling to obtain raw materials because wartime conditions had made imports -- especially those requiring foreign currency -- extremely difficult.
"This will certainly affect production, employment, and workforce retention," he said. Therefore, the government and authorities must help and remain engaged."
ILNA reported that the war, direct strikes on some production and service units, and the broader economic crisis had led to a “significant increase in the unemployed population, workforce reductions in various sectors, stagnation in businesses, and consequently a multifold rise in applicants for unemployment insurance in different provinces.”
The report identified Tehran Province, Khuzestan Province, and Bushehr Province as the “main economic victims of the war.”
In addition, Iran’s Internet shutdown -- now lasting more than 47 days -- has effectively destroyed many online businesses in the country.