(2026-04-14). US, Iran leave door open to dialogue after tense Islamabad talks. newarab.com 
After a sleepless and at times tense night in The weekend meeting to resolve the
(2026-04-14). Double defeat for Vance as failed Iran talks and Orban's exit bruise US vice-president. scmp.com J.D. Vance had two jobs last week: get an Iran deal and keep Hungary's Viktor Orban in power. Neither happened for the US vice-president. | The 41-year-old Vance looked exhausted as he left Pakistan on Sunday after 21 hours that failed to produce an agreement with Tehran to end a war he had never wanted to begin with. | At a terse press conference in Islamabad, Vance delivered the "bad news" and took just three questions before getting on a plane for the long flight back home.
(2026-04-14). IRGC's plan to break Trump's naval blockade scares US military after 1 month of 'failed' ops? | Hormuz. hindustantimes.com U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 12 that the U.S. Navy would move to lock down the Strait of Hormuz after negotiations with Iran failed to produce a lasting agreement. Trump also declared that U.S. forces would intercept, on global seas, any ship that continued to pay transit tolls or fees to Iran, signalling a bid to choke off Tehran's maritime revenue. Later, the U.S. military announced that a naval blockade on Iran would formally begin from 10 a.m. Eastern Time on April 13, setting a precise start time for the operation. American commanders stated that they would seek to blockade all maritime traffic…
(2026-04-14). Lebanon wants partnership. Israel wants it to be a tool against Iran and Hezbollah. haaretz.com Iranian intervention in the war in Lebanon has highlighted the dangers facing Beirut, ahead of negotiations that will test its sovereignty and determine the future of the country. But as long as Israel remains focused on continued fighting, the most that can be hoped for is tactical achievements — not strategic gains…
(2026-04-14). How Many People Have the US and Israel Killed in Iran? juancole.com ( The world must use this pause in the war to push for a permanent ceasefire and peace agreement, but we must also start to assess the true human cost of the war—something the US is always reluctant to do in its wa…
(2026-04-14). Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz: The next phase in the Iran war. wsws.org The blockade is an act of war and an act of international piracy. The World Socialist Web Site condemns this criminal action, directed against Iran and against the working class of the entire world.
(2026-04-14). Pakistan betrays Trump? Debuts new trade Corridor as US plans to choke Iran ports with blockade. hindustantimes.com Amid rising tensions and a proposed U.S. naval blockade targeting Iran, Pakistan has unveiled a new trade corridor linking Gwadar to Central Asia via Iranian territory. The move, positioned as an economic boost, comes even as Islamabad plays mediator between Tehran and Washington—raising questions about a strategic balancing act. With shipments already moving toward Uzbekistan, the corridor signals deeper regional connectivity while potentially undercutting U.S. pressure tactics in the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
(2026-04-14). Double blockade on Strait of Hormuz may again set Gulf ablaze. haaretz.com Despite Trump's latest move, all outcomes remain on the table – from agreement between the U.S. and Iran to a major regional war ‚ñ The search for a victory image in Lebanon could trip up the IDF ‚ñ And as he strengthens his grip on the security establishment through appointments, Netanyahu descends again into cheapen the Holocaust…
(2026-04-14). Will Trump's Blockade of Hormuz spark Conflict with China? juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — For the Trump administration to announce a blockade on shipping from the Strait of Hormuz is very much like the person sitting on a tall tree branch and sawing on the part of the branch between the tree and that individual. | If the point is to reopen the Gulf to shipping, US Navy threats to civilian commercial vessels are not going to help. Ships have to be worried now about both the Iranian and the US, both of them notoriously trigger-happy. | If the US Navy establishes some sort of protocol with the tankers such that it will allow vessels to transit that do not berth at Iran…
(2026-04-14). After 'Hitler taunt', Turkey launches all-out strike on Netanyahu: 'Ankara is their new enemy…'. hindustantimes.com Tensions between Turkey and Israel are rapidly escalating as Ankara issues sharp warnings against Benjamin Netanyahu amid the broader Iran conflict. Hakan Fidan accused Israel of seeking a "new enemy" after Iran, hinting that Turkey could be next in line. The rhetoric marks a serious strain within the wider Western alliance framework, with a NATO member openly criticising Israel's actions and cautioning against further regional escalation.
(2026-04-14). Israeli reservist killed in combat in southern Lebanon, IDF says. haaretz.com
(2026-04-14). Bangladesh's Energy Crisis worsens as US-Israeli War on Iran Drags on. juancole.com
(2026-04-14). The Iran war, oil and the crisis of American imperialism. wsws.org The US war on Iran will be remembered as a turning point in the decline of American imperialism, exposing in concentrated form Washington's diminishing ability to impose its will on the Persian Gulf and the global capitalist system.
(2026-04-14). Trump And Netanyahu: twin autocrats leading the war on Iran. onlineopinion.com.au Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu—mirror images of arrogance and deceit—have subverted democratic norms in pursuit of personal power.
(2026-04-14). New York rally by Sanders, Mamdani and union officials covers up US war drive against Iran. wsws.org Beneath rhetoric about "union density," Sunday's New York rally served to police opposition to war, inequality and dictatorship within the framework of the Democratic Party.
(2026-04-14). Iran war to boost Ukraine inflation, central bank chief says. newarab.com 
Higher oil prices caused by the National Bank of
(2026-04-13). Trump Orders Naval Blockade of Iran After Failed Talks, Iran Threatens Retaliation in Gulf. democracynow.org 
Ship traffic has been halted again in the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump ordered the U.S. military to begin a naval blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas starting Monday at 10 a.m. ET. Iran denounced Trump's move as an illegal act amounting to "piracy" and has threatened to strike Gulf ports in retaliation. Trump ordered the blockade after the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a deal to end the war following 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, Pakistan. Global oil prices jumped after Trump announced the blockade. | Ervand Abrahamian, professor emeritus of history at the Graduate Center…
(2026-04-13). Pakistan reportedly used decoy fighter jets to avoid Israel attacking Iranian negotiators. thecanary.co 
Pakistan have reportedly used fighter jets and intelligence to thwart an alleged plan by Israel to shoot down the jet carrying Iran's highly-qualified negotiators attending talks with Donald Trump's relatives and golf buddies. Israel's plans to kill Iran's top surviving team in order to thwart talks were already known, but supposedly shelved under pressure from […] | By
(2026-04-13). Iran accuses US of derailing Islamabad talks after near agreement. tribune.com.pk 
Iran accused the United States early Monday of derailing talks in Islamabad after the two sides had come close to reaching an agreement. "We engaged with the US in good faith to end the war," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement. | He said the parties had been "just inches away" from an "Islamabad MoU" before encountering "maximalism, shifting goalposts and a blockade" from the US side. "Good will begets good will. Enmity begets enmity," Araghchi added. | In intensive talks at highest level in 47 years, Iran engaged with U.S in good faith to end war. | But when just inches away from "Isl…
(2026-04-13). US-Iran: The Elusive Peace Deal. ummid.com As expected, the United States and Iran failed to reach a peace deal after high-stakes talks in the Pakistani capital, with American Vice President JD Vance saying Tehran refused to accept Washington's terms after 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, and Iran citing lack of American commitment to the talks.
(2026-04-13). U.S., Iran fail to reach a deal after talks in Pakistan. ecns.cn The United States and Iran have failed to reach any agreement after 21 hours of talks that concluded on Sunday in Pakistan, putting a fragile two-week ceasefire at grave risk as the six-week-old conflict, which has killed thousands and sent global oil prices soaring, hangs in the balance.
(2026-04-13). US moves to block Iranian ports as Tehran threatens retaliatory strikes on Gulf hubs. scmp.com The United States on Monday moved to implement a blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical shipping corridors, after US-Iran peace talks failed over the weekend, but questions persist over how fully the measures can be enforced and what they will mean in practice. | Despite concerns of escalation, Pakistan, which has acted as mediator in the peace negotiations, continued efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict, including a phone call with China's Foreign…
(2026-04-13). US, Iran Talks: Islamabad is Stage, Failure is Script. ummid.com What unfolds in Islamabad is not diplomacy by design, but necessity by failure – an American search for an exit from a war it could not win, and an Iranian willingness to talk only on terms that secure its position, not pause its vulnerability.
(2026-04-13). US-EU tensions erupt over Iran war as France holds back-channel talks with China. wsws.org Trump's denunciations of the Macron government reveal the irreconcilable conflicts between the major imperialist powers underlying US imperialism's war of aggression against Iran.
(2026-04-13). Trump says he's 'fine' if Iran skips talks after negotiations fail, says ceasefire holding well. tribune.com.pk 
US President Donald Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington DC that he is "fine" if Iran doesn't return to negotiations | "I don't care if they come back or not. If they don't come back, I'm fine," Trump said, a day after the US-Iran peace talks in Pakistan failed to reach a deal. He added that the ceasefire between the US and Iran is "holding well". | .@POTUS on negotiations with Iran: "I don't care if they come back or not. If they don't come back, I'm fine." pic.twitter.com/iQEV428A6F | — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 13, 2026 | Trump said ‚Å he believed Ira…
(2026-04-13). Oil tankers steer clear of Hormuz ahead of US blockade. tribune.com.pk 
Oil tankers are steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz ahead of a US blockade later on Monday following failed peace talks between the US and Iran over the weekend, shipping data showed. | US President Donald Trump said on Sunday the US Navy would start blockading the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes after marathon talks with Iran failed to reach a deal to end the war, jeopardising a fragile two-week ceasefire. | US Central Command said US forces would begin implementing the blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian po…
(2026-04-13). Trump announces complete blockade of Strait of Hormuz. ummid.com U.S. President Donald Trump Sunday April 12, 2026 announced complete blockade of Strait of Hormuz, hours after Pakistan mediated talks between Iran and the United States collapsed.
(2026-04-13). China, the Iran war and the chemical suddenly stoking global supply fears. scmp.com China's reported decision to halt sulphuric acid exports, together with the failure of peace talks between the United States and Iran over the weekend, risks driving prices higher and disrupting global mining and fertiliser supply chains that have few readily available alternatives. | Beijing had indicated it would halt shipments of sulphuric acid from May, according to reports from Acuity Commodities and Bloomberg, though no official announcement has been made. Economists said food security sat…
(2026-04-13). US begins blockade of Iranian ports amid fragile ceasefire, Tehran threatens retaliation. scmp.com The United States began a naval blockade on Iranian ports on Monday after US-Iran peace talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz failed over the weekend, but questions persist over how fully the measures can be enforced and what they will mean in practice. | Despite concerns of escalation, Pakistan, which has acted as mediator in the peace negotiations, continued efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict, including a phone call with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi to support the fragile ceasefire and…
(2026-04-13). Hezbollah leader asks Lebanon to cancel meeting in US with Israel. scmp.com Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem urged Lebanon to cancel a planned meeting with Israel in Washington on Tuesday, reiterating his group's rejection of direct negotiations with its foe. | Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than a million since the Iran-backed group Hezbollah drew the country into the Middle East war.
(2026-04-13). Hezbollah leader asks Lebanon to cancel meeting with Israel in Washington. scmp.com Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Monday urged Lebanon to cancel a planned meeting with Israel in Washington the following day, reiterating his group's rejection of direct negotiations with its foe. | "We reject negotiations with the usurping Israeli entity … We call for a historic and heroic stance by cancelling this negotiating meeting," Qassem, whose Iran-backed group has been at war with Israel since March 2, said in a televised address.
(2026-04-13). Iran executed at least 1,639 in 2025, more hangings feared: NGOs. newarab.com 
Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025 and now risks hanging more in the wake of the war against the US and Israel, two NGOs said Monday, urging the West to put capital punishment "at the heart" of any negotiations with Tehran. | The number of executions represented an increase of 68 percent on the 975 people Iran put to death in 2024, and also included 48 women, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) said in their joint annual report. | If the Islamic republic "survives the current crisis, there is a serious risk that executions will be…
(2026-04-13). New Zealand protests against war on Iran, Lebanon and Gaza. wsws.org Thousands of people joined protests to denounce New Zealand's alliance with the US and government silence on US and Israeli war crimes. The organisers, however, promoted illusions in Labour and the Greens.
(2026-04-13). YouTube bans Iran Lego channel that linked Trump to Epstein. thecanary.co 
Iran has proven to be incredibly resilient in their ability to defend themselves against the US and Israel's war. Their resistance hasn't been limited to the battlefield either. Surprising many, Iran has deployed wartime propaganda that's even proving popular with their supposed enemies. This is no mean feat. And out of all the propaganda they've […] | By
(2026-04-13). US Announces Blockade on Iran (and China): How Why This Risks Global Escalation. thealtworld.com The US has announced a blockade of all maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz originating from Iran or having agreed with Iran for passage; | This is the full implementation of Washington's initial objective for waging war with Iran, an oil blockade of not only China but also much of the multipolar world; | The US' primary geopolitical objective is global hegemony and the only way it can achieve this objective is by dragging the rest of the rising multipolar world down relative to US power and wealth; | The primary means to do this is by targeting the life blood of modern civilization which is energy;…
(2026-04-13). How the Strait of Hormuz became Iran's most powerful weapon. newarab.com 
(2026-04-13). US deploys warships to Strait of Hormuz, announces Iran blockade. wsws.org U.S. Central Command announced Sunday that American warships will begin blockading all maritime traffic entering or exiting Iranian ports on Monday at 10: 00 a.m. Eastern Time.
(2026-04-13). Romania approves US military surge for war against Iran amid deepening domestic crisis. wsws.org Romania is playing an increasingly central role in the war offensives of US imperialism in the Middle East and of NATO against Russia in Ukraine.
(2026-04-13). SEP/IYSSE public meeting in Sri Lanka:‚ÄÜStop the US—Israel War Against Iran! wsws.org The meeting in Hatton on April 26 will discuss the real aims of US imperialism, the complicity of Sri Lanka's ruling elite in the widening war, and the socialist strategy that must be adopted to fight against war.
(2026-04-13). US-Iran Wobbly Ceasefire Wobbles Down. ummid.com With no side caring for the other side's core demands the proposed two-week ceasefire in the Israel—US war against Iran, which started just a day before, appears to be on the verge of collapse.
(2026-04-13). EconoScope | U.S.-Israeli war on Iran costs $2 billion per day, driving up global costs. ecns.cn The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is hitting ordinary Americans in their wallets, with rising gasoline prices, more expensive food, higher mortgage rates, and a surge in fertilizer costs.
(2026-04-13). Reports Say the US and Israel May Restart Bombing Campaign in Iran. news.antiwar.com The US and Israel may restart the bombing campaign against Iran just days into a two-week ceasefire, according to US and Israeli media reports. The Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump is considering launching "limited" strikes against Iran as part of a pressure campaign that includes a blockade on Iranian ports, though any "limited" …
(2026-04-13). Israel estimates Iran war cost $11.5B, defense officials seek billions more. haaretz.com Even as the Finance Ministry says reserves can cover costs if fighting doesn't expand, the Defense Ministry pegs the Iran campaign higher and is expected to push for roughly $9B more, including for Lebanon operations…
(2026-04-13). THE WAR THEY STARTED—AND LOST: HOW THE U.S. AND ISRAEL TRIGGERED A CRISIS THEY CAN'T CONTROL. scheerpost.com Based on reporting and analysis from Consortium News — "The World This Week: Will the War End?" (April 11, 2026) On April 11, independent outlet Consortium News aired a stark assessment of the war on Iran—one that cuts through official narratives and exposes a far more dangerous reality. Hosted by Joe Lauria and featuring Pulitzer …
(2026-04-13). Israeli MK mocks Trump over Iran war handling, then deletes posts. haaretz.com MK Tzvika Foghel addressed the U.S. president on X in Hebrew: 'Donald, you've [turned out to be] a duck,' a remark he deleted several hours later.
(2026-04-13). Trump Says Jesus Photo Shows Him as Red Cross Doctor — a Group Bombed in His War. truthout.org After Donald Trump faced a deluge of criticism for posting an AI-generated photo that appeared to depict him as Jesus Christ, the U.S. president backtracked on Monday, dubiously claimed that the photo actually showed him as a doctor with the Red Cross — a humanitarian group that has been relentlessly attacked amid Trump's war on Iran. On Sunday night, Trump posted a tirade against Pope Leo… |
(2026-04-13). Pope Leo Continues to Criticize War After Trump Attacks Him in Social Media Rant. truthout.org Pope Leo XIV on Monday said he would not back off his criticism of President Donald Trump's war of choice in Iran after the president targeted him with an unhinged late-night social media rant. In a Sunday Truth Social post, Trump accused Pope Leo of being "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," even though dealing with crime and running U.S. foreign policy are not part of the pope'… |
(2026-04-13). Trump's Extreme Use of Military Is Stirring a Crisis of Conscience Among Troops. truthout.org As President Donald Trump increasingly uses the U.S. military to carry out his agenda through brute force, organizations that provide counseling services for U.S. servicemembers are reporting growing numbers of calls. These calls have further spiked in response to Trump's war on Iran, one of the most unpopular in U.S. history. The United States has carried out the war through intense attacks… |
(2026-04-13). U.S. forces to begin blockading ships entering or exiting Iranian ports on Monday. ecns.cn U.S. forces will begin implementing a blockade of "all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports" on Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Sunday.
(2026-04-13). Hormuz oil crisis hits China; a family of dentists: 5 weekend reads you missed. scmp.com We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. | 1. 'Cancelling orders' in China: Hormuz oil crisis hits transport and manufacturing | 2. 'A big deal': military drills show Tokyo's growing focus on deterring China | 3. UAE pulls US$3.5 billion from Pakistan after Iran war mediation…
(2026-04-13). US blockade of Iran will be major military endeavor, experts say. tribune.com.pk 
(2026-04-13). Tell Congress: Tax dollars for healthcare not warfare. peoplesworld.org 
Tax dollars for healthcare not warfare Call, write, and visit your U.S. Representative and Senators to demand that Congress immediately pass an emergency War Powers Resolution to end the illegal and deadly war on Iran. Congress has the power and must refuse the White House budget request to fund wars and ICE violence while slashing …
(2026-04-13). Iran, Parthia and Proxy Wars. juancole.com Orono, Maine (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) — Two millennia ago a man who gained a fortune in real estate speculation had a major role to play in the Roman Republic. Marcus Lucinius Crassus, who began his public career as a military commander under Sulla and after Sulla became Roman dictator and property was confiscated Crassus became wealthy. He was appointed a governor of Syria. and became convinced that, like Caesar, he too could gain military glory. He decided on the conquest of Parthia and with the assistance of his son, Publius Crassus, who joined him in Syria with 1000 Gallic cavalry, he cros…
(2026-04-13). Iran agrees for ceasefire with US, opening of Hormuz Strait. ummid.com In an important move towards deescalation in the Middle East, Iran and United States Tuesday April 07, 2026 agreed for ceasefire and opening of Hormuz Strait.
(2026-04-13). Susan Watkins: Trump Abroad. newleftreview.org In which direction is America heading, amid the strategic cacophony of Trump's second term—counter-revolution in the Caribbean, onslaught on Iran, somersaults on China? Analysis of the political logics at stake as the US ratchets up from covert to overt assassinations; from wars of attrition to wars of overthrow.
(2026-04-13). The New York Times, the Democratic Party and the preparation of Phase 2 of the war against Iran. wsws.org The Times, speaking for the Democratic Party, proceeds from a premise it considers too self-evident to require argument: that the failure to achieve the war's objectives would constitute a strategic catastrophe of the first order.
(2026-04-13). Chinese FM refutes reports claiming China plans to provide weapons to Iran. ecns.cn China refuted media reports that it is planning to supply weapons to Iran, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
(2026-04-13). Advertencia de Teherán: Ningún puerto en los golfos estará seguro si se amenaza el territorio iraní. cubadebate.cu El portavoz del Cuartel General Central de Khatam al-Anbiya, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, declaró que ningún puerto en el golfo Pérsico y el mar de Omán estará a salvo si los de su país se ven amenazados. "El ejercicio de la soberanía de la República Islámica de Irán en nuestras aguas territoriales es un derecho natural del pueblo iraní", agregó.
(2026-04-13). Headlines for April 13, 2026. democracynow.org President Trump Announces Naval Blockade of Strait of Hormuz, Israeli Strike Kills Infant Girl During Her Father's Funeral in Lebanon, At Least Seven Palestinians Killed in Israeli Strikes in Gaza, Police Arrest Over 500 Palestine Action Activists in London, President Trump Slams Pope Leo as Too Liberal and "Weak on Crime", Trump Admin Fires Immigration Judges Who Dismissed Cases Against Ràºmeysa àñztàºrk and Mohsen Mahdawi, Hungarian Far-Right Prime Minister Viktor Orbán Concedes Defeat in Parliamentary Election, Amnesty International: Nigerian Airstrikes Kill Over 100 Civilian…
(2026-04-13). What I would do if I was Mojtaba Khamenei a Kenyan perspective. asiapacificreport.nz COMMENTARY: By Bonface Chisutia On the night of February 28, the Israel-US airstrike killed his father, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his wife, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law. According to a recent report from Reuters, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei suffered life threatening injuries and apparently lost his leg and has a disfigured face. The report said…