(2026-04-20). Vance has not yet left for Iran talks in Pakistan, source says. al-monitor.com WASHINGTON, April 20 (Reuters) Vice President JD Vance is still in the United States and has not yet departed for Pakistan, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as prospects for a second round of negotiations with Iran remain unclear.President Donald Trump has said he would send a U.S. delegation to Pakistan for additional talks before a ceasefire is set to expire in the coming days. Iran is considering attending the peace talks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, but no decision had been made.
(2026-04-20). 87 Intl. lawyers denounce US-Israeli war on Iran, Lebanon. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — A number of 87 international lawyers have issued a joint statement, calling the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran and Lebanon 'a gross violation of international law and a clear instance of the crime of aggression.'
(2026-04-20). Iranian army: U.S. violated truce by firing at ship, drones attacked U.S. ships. haaretz.com
(2026-04-20). Catholics finally splitting with Trump over Iran war and Israel. responsiblestatecraft.org In 2024, President Donald Trump handily beat Vice President Kamala Harris with Catholic voters by a 12-point margin.Almost a year-and-a-half into Trump's second term, he began attacking Pope Leo XIV, personally and aggressively. Then he shared an image depicting himself as Jesus Christ, days after his defense secretary called for war in the name of Jesus Christ. Between Trump's second inauguration in January 2025 and today, tensions have steadily grown between the president and the Catholic strain of his coalition. This relationship started ripping apart during Israel's brutal war against Gaza and is now shat…
(2026-04-20). Mojtaba's 'mosquito boats' turn into Trump's nightmare in Hormuz Strait as US blockade 'flops' | Iran. hindustantimes.com Even as Donald Trump claimed Iran's navy was "obliterated," analysts warn a new threat is emerging in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's IRGC has deployed a "mosquito fleet" of small, fast attack boats, drones, and coastal missiles that are cheap, agile, and hard to detect. These units have already disrupted shipping lanes, slowing global trade and raising insurance costs. Experts say Iran does not need to fully block Hormuz to exert pressure—just make it dangerous enough. With one-fifth of global oil flowing through the strait, even minor disruptions carry massive global consequences.
(2026-04-20). Trump: New deal with Iran will be better than old one. al-monitor.com WASHINGTON, April 20 (Reuters) President Donald Trump said on Monday he believed a nuclear deal the U.S. is currently negotiating with Iran will be better than a 2015 international agreement to curb Tehran's nuclear program."The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA, commonly referred to as 'The Iran Nuclear Deal'," Trump wrote in a social media post after concerns expressed by Democrats and some nuclear experts that he is rushing negotiations on a highly complex topic.
(2026-04-20). Iran war escalates as Houthis threaten to sever Saudi oil exports. scmp.com Yemen's Tehran-aligned Houthi movement has threatened to besiege a second key Middle East waterway as Iran launched drone attacks against US Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend after a diplomatic effort to end the war appeared to collapse. | A closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, would effectively sever Saudi Arabia's only remaining oil export route.
(2026-04-20). Trump threatens to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges after IRGC closes the Strait of Hormuz. wsws.org In Truth Social posts Saturday night and Sunday morning, Trump wrote that unless Iran accepts his terms, "the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran."
(2026-04-20). Iran pulling Hormuz to maximum in US standoff. al-monitor.com Iran is banking on the Strait of Hormuz as its main card in any peace negotiations with the United States, but using the waterway as leverage is not without risk for the Islamic republic.Iran had for decades talked up the threat of blocking the strait, which is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies.With the US and Israel launching a surprise war on Iran on February 28 and killing supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran finally made good on those threats and brought the vital waterway to a standstill.
(2026-04-20). Tit-for-tat blockades once again cripple traffic in Hormuz. al-monitor.com Traffic once again seized up in the Strait of Hormuz as both Tehran and Washington imposed separate blockades, with Iranian vessels continuing to test the US shutdown, tracking data showed Monday.Iran announced on Friday that it would reopen the strategic waterway, but the United States did not reciprocate for vessels going to and from Iranian ports.Dozens of commercial vessels passed through the strait before Iran reclosed the passage on Saturday, later warning that any approaching ship would be treated as a target.
(2026-04-20). International Law Is Being Used to Restrain Iran, Enable US and Israel. truthout.org While many Western countries have condemned Iran's restrictions on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as a breach of international law, reaction has been relatively muted about the "clearly unlawful" war that the United States and Israel launched against Iran, says law professor Maryam Jamshidi. "This says a lot about the ways in which international law is being deployed in this moment as a way… |
(2026-04-20). Oil prices jump about 5% over US action. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Oil prices jumped about 5% in Monday after the US Navy action in continued its naval bolckade against Iran and closure of Strait of Hormuz.
(2026-04-20). Analysis-Gulf worries US-Iran talks may cement grip on Hormuz. al-monitor.com By Samia NakhoulDUBAI, April 20 (Reuters)- A warning by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has crystallised fears among Gulf states that reopening the Strait of Hormuz may be the most Iran-U.S. talks can achieve, falling short of the broader de-escalation they regard as vital.Officials and analysts expect the next round of negotiations, due in Islamabad, will focus increasingly not on Iran's missiles or regional proxies but on uranium enrichment limits and how to handle Iran's leverage over the Strait, the world's most critical oil shipping route.
(2026-04-20). Iran vows retaliation for 'maritime piracy' after US seizes ship. newarab.com
Tehran said the incident amounted to "maritime piracy" after US forces opened fire on the ship, disabled it, and boarded it. | Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces, said Washington had "violated the ceasefire and committed an act of maritime piracy after opening…
(2026-04-20). World weighs fate of Mideast ceasefire after US seizes Iranian cargo ship. tribune.com.pk
Concerns grew on Monday that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran might not hold after the US said it had seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to run its blockade and Iran vowed to retaliate. | Efforts to build a more lasting peace in the region likewise appeared to be on shaky ground, as Iran said it would not participate in a second round of negotiations that the US had hoped to kick off before the ceasefire expires on Tuesday. | The US has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has lifted and then reimposed its own blockade on marine traffic passing thro…
(2026-04-20). Iran Warns of Imminent Response to US Piracy. english.almanar.com.lb The spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters warned that the latest act of "piracy" by US military forces against an Iranian trade vessel will soon be met with retaliation. "The aggressive United States, by violating the ceasefire and engaging in maritime banditry, attacked one of Iran's commercial ships in the waters of the Sea …
(2026-04-20). Iran to soon respond to US military's armed piracy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — The spokesman of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced that Iran will soon retaliate for the US military's armed piracy in the Sea of Oman.
(2026-04-20). Iran, Russia FMs hold phone call. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephone conversation on Monday.
(2026-04-20). Mass protests by workers in northern India against price hikes due to US-Israeli war against Iran. wsws.org Tens of thousands of unorganized workers are demanding substantial wage increases to keep up with spiking rent, utilities and food costs.
(2026-04-20). 2 spies convicted of cooperation with Mossad hanged in Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Two men convicted of spying for the Israeli Mossad spy agency were executed in Iran after the Supreme Court upheld their sentences following the completion of all legal procedures.
(2026-04-20). Iran stands resolute in face of enemies' brutality, barbarism. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) —Hailing the bravery of Iranian nurses and physicians in rescuing newborns and patients during the US-Israeli attack on a hospital in Tehran, a foreign ministry official said Iran has stood resolute in face of enemy's brutality.
(2026-04-20). Pope Leo vs US President Donald Trump. ummid.com Pope Leo's sharp criticism of war, sectarian manipulation and the political misuse of religion has cast fresh attention on the narratives shaping the US-Israel confrontation with Iran.
(2026-04-20). Iran executes 2 over Israel spy links, opposition rejects claim. newarab.com
Iran executed two men convicted of cooperating with Mizan said the two, identified as Mohammad Masoum Shahi and Hamed Validi, were accused of belonging to a spy network linked to Mossad and had received training abroad, including in Iraq's Kurdi…
(2026-04-20). Over 3,300 Iranians martyred in US-Israel attack. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Iran's forensic authority says at least 3,375 people, including hundreds of children, have been martyred during the recent 40 days of unprovoked war of aggression waged by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran.
(2026-04-20). Liberals need to reconsider loyalty to the American Alliance. onlineopinion.com.au The honour, respect, and support for the American Alliance has been greatly dissipated by Donald Trump's tariffs, the Iran war, and unconditional support for Israel.
(2026-04-20). Ervand Abrahamian: Iran Under Fire. newleftreview.org One of modern Iran's leading historians provides a critical anatomy of the power structures of the Islamic Republic, on the eve of war—and a scathing denunciation of the long-incubated American-Israeli assault on the country, calculated to bring about Syria-style disintegration and civil war.
(2026-04-20). Iran's Remarkable Resilience Against US-Israeli Joint Aggression. ummid.com As tensions intensify between Iran, Israel, and the United States, one thing has become increasingly clear: Iran has managed not only to respond to sustained pressure but to endure it far longer than many analysts had anticipated.
(2026-04-20). Parents of Iranian Children Killed by US Bombing Issue Letter Thanking Pope Leo. truthout.org Parents of children killed in the US bombing of an elementary school in southern Iran released a letter on Sunday applauding Pope Leo XIV for speaking out against war and urging him to "continue to be the voice of the voiceless children." "We write this letter to you with trembling hands and a heart full of pain, from amidst the ashes and ruins of the schools of the city of Minab… |
(2026-04-20). Top Biden Official Supports Trump Iran Attack, Says Biden May Have Done The Same. truthout.org A top official from the Biden administration has said that he is supportive of President Donald Trump's attack on Iran from June of last year and suggested that Joe Biden may have done the same if he had been elected to a second term in office. Amos Hochstein, senior energy adviser to Biden within the State Department, said that the Biden administration had modeled similar scenarios to last… |
(2026-04-20). Tax the Corporations Cashing in on War. juancole.com By | ( This dynamic has been on full display since President Trump's attack on Iran. | Trump's invasion of one of the world's most oil…
(2026-04-20). Makan Nasiri: Lost at School. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Among the children massacred by a US missile attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, was a 7-year-old boy named Makan Nasiri.
(2026-04-20). Iran delays response to US attack on ship for family safety. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has said that the country's response to a US naval attack on Iranian container vessel "Touska" in the Gulf of Oman has been put off to ensure safety of crew's families.
(2026-04-20). 3 arrested after arson attack on London-based Iran International. CPJ Staff
(2026-04-20). US indulges in maritime terrorism, attacks Iranian commercial vessel in violation of ceasefire. coastaldigest.com
(2026-04-20). Gulf diplomacy intensifies amid Iran-US ceasefire talks. newarab.com
Diplomatic visits and movements across the Gulf last week reaffirmed the indirect role played by Gulf countries, particularly This is seen as paving the way for a broader agreement at a later stage, with Gulf participation to ensure…
(2026-04-20). Pakistan: How a regional warmonger came to host US-Iran peace talks. links.org.au
Farooq Sulehria — Pakistan may seek to play the role of peacemaker globally but regionally it acts as a warmonger.
(2026-04-20). Iran talks in doubt as Tehran vows to boycott Islamabad meeting. newarab.com
Iran will not send a delegation to a Speaking at a press conference on Monday morning, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Bagahei said there were no plans "for now" for another round of talks with the US. | Bagahei said Tehran had submitted a 10-point proposal as a basis for discussi…
(2026-04-20). Offices, schools move online as Red Zone sealed ahead of US-Iran talks. tribune.com.pk
All public and private offices and schools within the Red Zone have been instructed to move online, and all government operations in the capital have been shifted to remote working as authorities seal off entry to the Red Zone from Monday, ahead of the expected next round of US-Iran talks in the federal capital. | Pakistan took centre stage when it brokered a 14-day ceasefire between the US and Iran, followed by high-stakes talks in Islamabad attended by senior delegations from the two countries. Although the talks did not yield the desired results, the ceasefire remains intact, with confidence-building measur…
(2026-04-20). Iran-U.S. peace talks hang in the balance. ecns.cn Iran and the United States have separately hinted at some progress in their latest negotiations through intermediaries following short-lived diplomatic progress over the weekend.Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.
(2026-04-20). US-Iran ceasefire: Iran rejects second round of negotiations accuses US of 'excessive demands, blame games'. ptcnews.tv US-Iran ceasefire: In a significant blow to the diplomatic efforts, Iran will skip the second round of negotiations with the US in Pakistan, state media reported. | The development came hours after US President Donald Trump said American negotiators would be in Islamabad on Monday, kindling hopes of a breakthrough before the ceasefire expires on April 22. | The hope to bring a breakthrough as ceasefire nears its expiration, faded away after Tehran confirmed its absence from the talks, blaming Washington's "excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions", and an on…
(2026-04-20). Iran says not attending talks, US team 'en route' to Pakistan. newarab.com
Iranian officials say that they have yet to make a decision yet on participating in talks with the US in "We have no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday. | Meanwhile,
(2026-04-20). Pakistan confident Iran will attend US talks, senior Pakistani government source says. al-monitor.com April 20 (Reuters) Pakistan is confident it can get Iran to attend talks with the United States, a senior Pakistani government official told Reuters on Monday. "We have received a positive signal from Iran. Things are fluid but we are trying that they should be here when we start the talks tomorrow or a day after," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The source added Pakistan is actively engaged with Tehran and Washington as U.S. President Donald Trump's ceasefire deadline looms.
(2026-04-20). Trump blockade of Iran hampering efforts to resume talks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Pakistan's army chief has told US President Donald Trump that continued US naval blockade of Iranian ports is hampering Islamabad's efforts to mediate a second round of negotiations between Iran and the United States.
(2026-04-20). Iran has no plans for next round of talks with US. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman says that Tehran has no plans for another round of negotiations with the US as of yet.
(2026-04-20). US Seizes Iranian Vessel: Question Mark over Islamabad Talks. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — The engine room of the Iranian Panamax-sized container ship Touska, on its way from China to Bandar Abbas in Iran, was fired on by a U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Spruance, on Sunday. Thereafter marines boarded the vessel by helicopter and took control of it. | pic.twitter.com/mFxI5RzYCS | — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) Iran's pro-government Tasnim news agency
(2026-04-20). Iran-US: European stocks slide as oil jumps on Hormuz tensions. newarab.com
European stocks fell on Monday as oil prices surged over Investors were on edge approaching the end of the US-Iran ceasefire, with Iran insisting it has no plan to attend a new round of negotiations with the United States. | "The market mood is very different at the start of the week compared to Friday," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at trading group XTB. | Crude ha…
(2026-04-20). After 'ceasefire', Iran's streets and strategy await next stage. newarab.com
A week after the 8 April ceasefire took hold, Iran has entered a phase that is not quite peace and not quite continued war. Developments on the ground, official messaging, and regional dynamics are moving in parallel but rarely in alignment. The truce itself is At the regional level, the ceasefire has been read elsewhere as part of a broader de-escalation framework. Inside Iran, it is being read differently. Many see it as part of…
(2026-04-20). Woman arrested in US for trafficking arms to Sudan for Iran. newarab.com
(2026-04-20). Failed diplomacy and America's strategic retrenchment in Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Donald Trump's failed diplomacy and empty threats against Iran changed nothing. America's Iran misadventure exposed the growing gap between hegemonic ambition and strategic reality.
(2026-04-20). A war that was supposed to be short, but changed the balance. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — The war was meant to be brief. But power has layers—and Iran's strategic depth turned a quick strike into a slow shift of the balance.
(2026-04-20). 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.
(2026-04-20). Could UAE tap US currency swap line as Iran war strains Gulf economies? al-monitor.com The Gulf country apparently wanted reassurances from Washington in case its economy is severely damaged by the Iran war.
(2026-04-20). Iran, Pakistan FMs discuss ceasefire, region in call. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghhci and his Pakistani counterpart Muhammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation late on Sunday to discuss the latest developments in the region and issues concerning the ceasefire.
(2026-04-20). This week in history: April 20-26. wsws.org Peru and CIA shoot down missionary aircraft; Socialist Party wins election in Portugal; Mass strikes in Spain against Franco dictatorship; Reza Khan crowned Shah of Iran.
(2026-04-20). Iran's lesson for China, record-breaking Hong Kong Sevens: 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. Lesson for China? Iran's low-cost 358 missile takes out million-dollar US assets | 2. Hong Kong Sevens: Blitzboks win first title, Black Ferns go unbeaten again | 3. The rupture: how Europe fell out of love with America…
(2026-04-20). As Fuel Protests Sweep Ireland, the Left Points to Imperialism as the Culprit. truthout.org As of April 16, the International Energy Agency reported that Europe has around six weeks left of jet fuel amid the ongoing war on Iran. This comes on the heels of a seven-day long blockade of major roadways by a decentralized coalition of farmers, truckers, agricultural contractors, and others in protest of skyrocketing fuel prices in Ireland. The country grinded to a halt as protesters also… |
(2026-04-20). Pezeshkian calls for unity among Muslim nations to foil plots. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged unity and amity among Muslim states to thwart the foreign conspiracies, emphasizing the unity among Islamic countries is the most important way to counter plots.
(2026-04-20). Front pages of Iran's English dailies on April 20. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Here are the front pages of Iran's English dailies on Monday, April 20.
(2026-04-20). Ghalibaf warns global oil traders on 'house of cards' pricing. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned the global oil market participants against relying on unreliable "vibe-trading digital oil,", urging them to focus instead on real physical oil transactions.
(2026-04-20). Australia: IYSSE speakouts opposing war against Iran draw support from university students. wsws.org "There needs to be a building of class consciousness among people, not just in Australia, but across the globe."
(2026-04-20). Iran, Pakistan FMs discuss regional developments, ceasefire. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 19 (MNA) — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghhci and his Pakistani counterpart Muhammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation late on Sunday to discuss the latest developments in the region and issues concerning the ceasefire.
(2026-04-20). Presser of Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei attended the press conference, held at the venue of the ministry on Monday, and answered questions raised by reporters on important issues, esp. recent regional developments.
(2026-04-20). Seized Iranian ship likely carrying equipment deemed dual-use by US, sources say. al-monitor.com By Jonathan SaulLONDON, April 20 (Reuters) The Iranian-flagged container ship Touska, which was boarded and seized by U.S. forces on Sunday, is likely to have what Washington deems dual-use items that could be used by the military onboard, maritime security sources said on Monday.
(2026-04-20). Restoring capabilities: Iran's Trump card in war of attrition. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — The war of attrition doesn't ask who strikes first. It asks who rebuilds fastest. Iran's answer is changing the balance before a possible next round of confrontation begins.
(2026-04-20). Tehran hosts a gathering of girls "Devoted to Iran" en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Concurrent with the birth anniversary of Hazrat Masoumeh (SA), a grand gathering of girls dubbed "Girls Devoted to Iran" was held at Shahid Keshvar Doost Street of Tehran late on Sunday.
(2026-04-20). Leader thanks Sunni scholars in Hormozgan for unity. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has expressed appreciation for Sunni scholars and clerics in Iran's southern Hormozgan Province, commending their unity and declaration of allegiance.
(2026-04-20). US naval blockade violates ceasefire, UN charter. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistan's PM that the US naval blockade of Iran is a clear ceasefire violation and contradicts the UN Charter.
(2026-04-20). Estados Unidos incautó un buque iraní en el Mar de Omán. cubadebate.cu Fuerzas estadounidenses incautaron este domingo un buque de carga iraní en el golfo de Omán, en medio de bloqueo del estrecho de Ormuz por Washington. El cuartel general militar Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya confirmó este ataque reivindicado por el ejército de EE.UU. en un comunicado difundido por la agencia de noticias Tasnim.
(2026-04-20). Xi says normal passage through Strait of Hormuz should be maintained. ecns.cn Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday said normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz should be maintained.
(2026-04-20). Confused closures and opaque openings: continuing dramas in the Hormuz Strait. onlineopinion.com.au The Strait of Hormuz isn't reopened, it's contested, armed and volatile. Trump's claims lasted barely a news cycle.
(2026-04-20). The world desperately needs to decarbonize shipping. Can nations find a consensus? grist.org The shipping industry has been facing an acute crisis. For the first time in modern history, both of the Middle East's critical waterways — the Strait of Hormuz and
(2026-04-20). Signs of panic in UK over Hormuz blockade, as govt summons banks. newarab.com
(2026-04-20). North Korea tests-fires short-range ballistic missiles. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — North Korea announced Monday that it had test-fired five short-range Hwasongpho-11 Ra surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missiles following reports by South Korea and Japan of launches toward the East Sea.
(2026-04-20). UAE warns of shift to yuan amid dollar shortages. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) — The United Arab Emirates has warned that it will conduct financial transactions in yuan if the Federal Reserve does not establish a currency swap line with the Emirati central bank.