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Trump says US ready to ‘finish up’ Iran at ‘appropriate moment’ after no deal reached in Pakistan talks — 9:09 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump says he is directing the US Navy to interdict ships that have paid a toll to Iran to transit the Strait of Hormuz — 9:04 a.m.
By the Associated Press
By the Associated Press
The U.S. president posted Sunday on social media that the blockade would stop vessels from entering or leaving the strait.
After U.S. officials ended peace talks with Iran in Pakistan, Trump sought to exert more strategic control over the waterway responsible for the transportation of 20% of global oil supplies — hoping to take away Iran’s key source of economic leverage in the war.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted.
The president added that he has “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.”
UAE oil giant rejects Iran’s right to close the Strait of Hormuz — 8:53 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The head of Abu Dhabi’s state oil company reinforced a broad consensus in Gulf Arab states on Sunday, saying Iran has no right to close the Strait of Hormuz after negotiations in Pakistan failed to secure an agreement to reopen it.
Sultan Al Jaber posted on X that “any attempt to do so is not a regional issue; it is the disruption of a global economic lifeline and a direct threat to the energy, food and health security of every nation.”
He called it a dangerous precedent.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, known as ADNOC, is among the oil exporters that has been hit hard by the war. It declared force majeure in March, telling buyers the company couldn’t fulfill its obligations. Oil and gas make up 15% of the United Arab Emirates’ gross domestic product.
Russia and Iran’s leaders discussed collapsed US talks with Iran — 8:45 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed the latest developments in the Middle East in a phone call Sunday, the Kremlin said.
Pezeshkian briefed Putin on the U.S.-Iran talks held in Pakistan and thanked Moscow for its position “aimed at de-escalating the situation,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
It also said Putin had “emphasized his readiness” to help bring about a diplomatic settlement to the hostilities and “establish a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”
Iranian diplomatic official denies that peace talks failed over Iran’s nuclear ambitions — 8:30 a.m.
By the Associated Press
In response to comments from U.S. officials that the talks in Islamabad collapsed over Iran’s refusal to commit to abandoning a path to a nuclear weapon, the official said: ‘’It is false. Iran’s position is clear. Iran is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, but it has the right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. This right is undeniable and must be recognized.’’
However, Iran is ready to limit its nuclear activities as part of confidence-building measures, the official said, including enrichment levels.
He did not elaborate on why exactly the talks failed and spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the closed-door discussions.
Iran expert says ‘three-track scramble’ likely to follow failed Islamabad talks — 8:19 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at International Crisis Group, argued that the failure of the US and Iran failure to reach a deal in Pakistan is unlikely to lead to an immediate resumption of war in the Middle East.
“The likelier scenario is not immediate war, but a volatile period of pressure, signaling, and last-minute attempts to prevent a wider conflagration,” he said.
A “three-track scramble” would likely follow the 21-hour talks, including more back-channel mediation efforts led by Pakistan, Vaez said.
He also expects more military maneuvers around the Strait of Hormuz, as well as additional efforts to keep in place the two-week pause in fighting.
Beirut’s Orthodox Christians mark somber Easter after last week’s Israeli airstrikes — 8:06 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Across the central Beirut neighborhoods attacked last week in Israel’s deadly bombardment of the city, Orthodox Christians in Lebanon found themselves grasping for solace in their faith and beloved Easter rituals.
Many worshippers said they were still reeling from Wednesday’s Israeli airstrikes, which hit areas of Beirut previously considered safe and killed more than 350 people while wounding over 1,100 others.
“What happened was a crime,” said Ghada Chabo Markossian from Easter services at her Syriac Orthodox church in Msaitbeh, one of several residential neighborhoods devastated in the attack.
“God willing, during this feast, the Lord will set right … these evil things that are happening.”
The priest attributed low attendance to a chilling fear that has grown more pervasive in the last few days of the Israel-Hezbollah war.
“Many members of the parish are afraid to come, due to the terror they experienced two or three days ago,” the Rev. Daniel Gawriya said.
Pope Leo XIV demands ceasefire in Lebanon and respect of international law — 6:45 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Leo said Sunday he was “closer than ever” to the people of Lebanon at the end of his noontime prayers, and called on all sides to stop fighting and seek peace.
“The principle of humanity, inscribed in the conscience of every person and recognized in international law, entails the moral obligation to protect the civilian population from the atrocious effects of war,” Leo said.
Though Israel’s strikes over Beirut have calmed in recent days, its attacks on southern Lebanon have intensified alongside a ground invasion it renewed after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel in the opening days of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
Leo wished Christians celebrating Orthodox Easter, and said he hoped especially that the international community doesn’t turn its back on the “beloved people of Ukraine.”
He noted that Wednesday marks the third anniversary of the “fratricidal war” in Sudan, and appealed for talks to end what he called an “inhuman tragedy.”
Tehran resident pleased with Pakistan talks — 6:25 a.m.
By the Associated Press
In response to the failed U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan, 43-year-old Tehran resident Mehdi Hosseini said it gave him hope that Iranian negotiators refused to “back down and surrender.”
“I think considering the advantage Iran seemed to have on the battlefield, there was a real concern that we might lose all those gains in the negotiations, God forbid,” Hosseini said.
Iranian official says key demands include war reparations and controlling Strait of Hormuz — 6:15 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Iran’s First Vice President Reza Aref said Tehran sought U.S. recognition of its control of transit through the Strait of Hormuz in the collapsed Islamabad talks.
Aref said that having “authority in the Strait of Hormuz” and pursuing compensation for the damage caused by U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran were “the rights of the (Iranian) people.”
“This is our firm commitment to a strong Iran,” he wrote on social media.
UK prime minister and Sultan of Oman say US and Iran should avoid escalation — 6:00 a.m.
By the Associated Press
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman spoke Sunday about the failed peace talks between the U.S. and Iran and said further escalation should be avoided, a spokesperson said.
“They discussed the peace talks held in Pakistan over the weekend and urged both sides to find a way through,” Sophie Clare said in a readout of the call from London. “It was vital there was a continuation of the ceasefire, and that all parties avoided any further escalation, the leaders agreed.”
Starmer, who just returned from the Middle East during meetings with allies, said international partners are continuing to work toward restoring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
He also pledged the U.K.’s commitment to protecting Oman.
Iran’s chief negotiator to Islamabad talks blames the US for failing to reach a deal — 5:19 a.m.
By the Associated Press
In a series of posts on X, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the Iranian delegation provided “forward-looking initiatives” during the 21-hour talks but the Americans could not gain Iran’s trust.
He said now is the time for the U.S. “to decide whether it can gain our trust or not.”
He didn’t elaborate. But Iranian state media reported earlier that major points of disagreement included Iran’s nuclear program and transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Turkish politicians condemn Israel’s criticism of Erdogan — 5:05 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip in a post on X in which he wrote: “Israel under my leadership will continue to fight Iran’s terror regime and its proxies, unlike Erdogan who accommodates them and massacred his own Kurdish citizens.”
In response, Omer Celik, spokesperson of the ruling Islamic-oriented Justice and Development Party, or AKP, said Sunday that Israel’s comments aimed to sabotage the peace talks in Pakistan, foment unrest among the Kurdish minority and pit Turkey against Iran.
Numan Kurtulmus, the speaker of Turkey’s parliament, called Netanyahu “the ringleader terrorist of the 21st century’s massacre and terror network.”
“The audacity of someone whose hands are stained with children’s blood — someone pursued by international law — to presume to lecture Turkey on morality is merely an indicator of his efforts to cover up his own crimes against humanity, and it holds no validity whatsoever,” Kurtulmus said.
Israeli strike kills 6 people in southern Lebanese town — 3:55 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The strike on Sunday morning hit a home of seven people in the Lebanese town of Maaroub, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.
The strike came without warning, and Israel did not immediately comment on it.
Israel’s government has said its strikes target operatives or infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah militant group.
Israeli strikes over Beirut have decreased in recent days, but its attacks on southern Lebanon have intensified alongside a ground invasion.
Iranian delegation leaves Islamabad — 2:30 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Iran’s state-run TV said the delegation left Pakistan’s capital after talks with the U.S. failed to reach a deal.
Saudi Arabia says East-Wast oil pipeline restored to full capacity — 2:20 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The East-West pipeline, used to send oil to the Red Sea for transport, was repaired after an attack, the Saudi Energy Ministry said in a statement Sunday. It said it has full capacity of about 7 million barrels a day.
The pumping station was attacked Thursday, affecting about 700,000 barrels of output through the pipeline, which has allowed Saudi Arabia to continue exporting a substantial portion of its oil.
Saudi Aramco operates the pipeline from the Aqaiq oil processing center near the Persian Gulf to the Yanbu port on the Red Sea, avoiding the Iranian chokepoint on the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. The ministry said the Manila oil field was also repaired, restoring a capacity of around 300,000 barrels a day. It said work was still underway at another field, Kurais, to restore a capacity of another 300,000 barrels a day.
Iran says talks broke down over ‘2 to 3 big issues’ — 2:00 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that negotiations with the U.S. fell apart over a “gap between our opinions over two or three important issues.”
“Ultimately the talks didn’t result in an agreement,” spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told Iran’s state TV. He did not detail what those issues were.
On some topics, Baghaei said U.S. and Iranian negotiators “actually reached mutual understanding.” The negotiators discussed the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei said, but did not mention discussion of nuclear weapons.
Pakistan calls on Iran, US to keep commitment to ceasefire — 12:05 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called on Iran and the United States to keep their commitment to maintain a ceasefire after the countries ended historic, face-to-face talks without an agreement.
“It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire,” Dar said.
Pakistan will continue to play a mediating role and try to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the U.S. in coming days, Dar said.
Vice President Vance leaves Pakistan after impasse in negotiations with Iran over ending war — 10:47 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Vance boarded his government plane at 7:08 a.m. local time in Islamabad, planning to depart Pakistan after he said that Iran declined to back down on developing a nuclear weapon. That’s according to a reporter traveling with Vance.
The war with Iran started at the end of February and the extensive talks ended after 21 hours.
The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 7 for negotiations.
