This is Beirut

U.S. Intercepts 42nd Vessel as Iran Port Blockade Disrupts Oil Flows

This is Beirut, 09:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Late Wednesday, the U.S. military said it had intercepted another commercial vessel attempting to breach a blockade on Iranian ports, marking what officials described as a significant operational milestone. In a statement posted on X, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had successfully redirected the 42nd ship accused of ...

Trump Warns Iran Better 'Get Smart Soon' and Accept Nuclear Deal

This is Beirut, 29/04 15:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump Tehran Washington

President Donald Trump warned Tehran on Wednesday that it should "get smart soon" and capitulate to Washington's demands for tight controls on its nuclear programme, as a US naval blockade turned the screws on Iran's economy. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth was due to testify before Congress later in the day, but US press reports ...

U.S. Warns Banks Over Sanctions Risks Linked to Chinese 'Teapot' Refineries

This is Beirut, 28/04 21:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Banks Donald Trump Tehran United States Washington

The United States has issued a fresh warning to global financial institutions over the risks of engaging with independent Chinese oil refineries—known as “teapot” refineries—amid their continued role in processing Iranian crude. In an alert published Tuesday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said these refineries, largely ...

Oil Rises Over 1% as U.S.–Iran Talks Stall

This is Beirut, 27/04 10:10 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Oil prices rose more than 1% on Monday as stalled U.S.-Iran talks and ongoing disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz tightened global supply, according to Reuters. Last week, Brent and West Texas Intermediate gained nearly 17% and 13%. This marked the biggest weekly gains since the start of the war. Tensions in the Gulf have ...

U.S. Weighs New Military Plan in Strait of Hormuz

This is Beirut, 24/04 10:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Gulf Tehran United States USA Washington

Senior U.S. military officials are developing new operational plans targeting Iran’s strategic capabilities in and around the Strait of Hormuz, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN. The proposed options focus on a more aggressive and geographically concentrated military approach, particularly emphasizing ...

U.S. Offers $10 Million Reward for Leader of Iraqi Armed Group

This is Beirut, 24/04 09:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA Hezbollah Israel Middle East Tehran

The US State Department is offering up to $10 million for information on the leader of the Tehran-backed Iraqi armed group Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), which Washington designates as a terrorist organization. US officials said in a social media post Thursday they were seeking information on KSS leader Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, also known ...

Maritime Incidents Underscore Fragility of Trump-Extended Iran Ceasefire

This is Beirut, 22/04 13:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanon Gulf Middle East Tehran

A series of maritime incidents occurred on Wednesday in and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, at the heart of the standoff between United States and Iran, highlighting the fragility of the truce unilaterally extended by Donald Trump with Iran. Just hours after the U.S. president announced the extension of the ceasefire, which has been in ...

Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire While Maintaining Blockade

This is Beirut, 21/04 23:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ceasefire Tehran United States

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would hold off on new strikes against Iran at the request of Pakistani officials, effectively extending the ceasefire as diplomatic efforts continue. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the United States agreed to delay further attacks on Iran following a request from Pakistan’s ...

Iran Executes Two Men Over Links to Israeli Intelligence

This is Beirut, 20/04 09:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel Tehran United States

Iran executed two men on Monday who had been convicted of links to Israeli intelligence services, the judiciary announced, marking the latest in a series of executions since the start of the war with Israel and the United States. “The death sentences of Mohammad Masoom-shahi and Hamed Validi were carried out at dawn,” the judiciary’s news ...

Iran Says Its Enriched Uranium 'Not Going to be Transferred'

This is Beirut, 18/04 03:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Tehran United States Washington

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 ...

Trump Hails Tehran's Move to Open Strait of Hormuz, Blockade on Iranian Ports to Continue

This is Beirut, 17/04 16:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Donald Trump Tehran Washington

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed Iran’s announcement that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would remain open to maritime traffic for the duration of a ceasefire, signaling a potential easing of tensions in one of the world’s most critical corridors. “THANK YOU!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding ...

Trump Signals Imminent Iran Deal Amid Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

This is Beirut, 17/04 11:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Tehran

United States President Donald Trump said he was confident that an agreement to end the conflict involving Iran could be reached soon, as a 10-day truce between Lebanon and Israel came into effect. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump urged Iran-backed Hezbollah to maintain the ceasefire, expressing optimism about ongoing ...

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