Summary

Fresh Iran talks could begin this week as US continues blockade on ports The U.S. and Iran could begin a fresh round of peace talks as soon as Thursday this week after President Donald Trump's administration imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Chinese-owned vessel passes through Strait of Hormuz, flouting US blockade The Chinese-owned oil and chemical tanker Rich Starry successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday despite a U.S. blockade, The Rich Starry was the first vessel to cross the strait since the U.S. imposed its blockade on Monday. The ship was initially turned back on Monday but was successful on its second attempt to cross. US and Iran have 'all the ingredients of a deal,' senior official says The U.S. and Iran have "all the ingredients of a deal" but have yet to come to a final agreement, a senior U.S. official told Fox News' Bill Hemmer on Tuesday. "A lot is happening today and tomorrow. We have all the ingredients of a deal, but it's not all there yet," the official told Hemmer. The official added that President Donald Trump's blockade on Iranian ports has Tehran "really fearful" and more open to making a deal. Concern grows that Iran's Houthi allies could cut off gateway to Red Sea Regional concern is growing that Iran will instruct its Houthi allies in Yemen to target sea traffic in Bab el-Mandeb, the gateway to the Red Sea. Fox News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst reported on the potential move on Tuesday, noting that it would further restrict the global oil trade. France's Macron urges Trump not to escalate in Iran, calls for Hormuz opening 'without restrictions' French President Emmanuel Macron urged the U.S. and Iran to restart peace negotiations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz "without restrictions" on Tuesday. Macron said in a post on X that he spoke with both President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday. "I urged the resumption of the negotiations suspended in Islamabad, the clearing up of misunderstandings, and the avoidance of any further escalation," Macron said. "It is essential, in particular, that the ceasefire be strictly respected by all parties and that it include Lebanon." "It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without restrictions or tolls, as soon as possible," he continued. "Under these conditions, negotiations should be able to resume quickly, with the support of the key parties concerned." Pakistani general says Iran diplomacy still alive, despite US blockade, failed talks The United States began enforcing a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic Monday, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf just hours after high-level talks in Pakistan between Washington and Tehran collapsed without a deal. The move, announced by President Donald Trump, came after negotiations in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, despite what participants described as rare direct engagement between the two sides. But Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mohammed Saeed, former chief of general staff of the Pakistan Army, said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that the talks came far closer to success than their outcome suggests — and argued that diplomacy is still within reach. "Both sides are saying they were very close … even inches away from a solution," he said based on his own knowledge and reports. Saeed retired in 2023 but remained part of the core team handling operational planning, internal security coordination, and sensitive periods of political tension. "They talked to each other in a very friendly manner. There was, from both sides, an expression of accommodation and understanding from each other. So, what you can briefly say is that the engagement has sufficient potential to resume." Speaking at the White House Monday, Trump defended the blockade, saying, "Right now, there’s no fighting. Right now, we have a blockade … Iran is doing absolutely no business, and we’re going to keep it that way very easily." He added that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly degraded, saying its "Navy has gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone, their radar is gone and their leaders are gone." This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Efrat Lachter. Trump says Iran’s navy ‘obliterated’ as US enforces Hormuz blockade — but key threat remains President Donald Trump said that Iran’s navy is "completely obliterated," but the small, fast attack vessels the U.S. did not prioritize remain among the most dangerous threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said 158 Iranian vessels were destroyed in U.S.–Israeli strikes and warned that any remaining boats approaching U.S. forces would be "immediately eliminated" as the military moves to enforce a blockade of the strait. But defense analysts say those smaller vessels — along with mines, drones and coastal missile systems — form the backbone of Iran’s strategy in the narrow waterway, allowing Tehran to disrupt traffic without fully shutting it down. Recent reporting indicates more than 60% of Iran’s fast attack fleet — operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — remains intact despite weeks of strikes that officials say sank more than 150 larger vessels. Those smaller, fast-moving boats — along with mines, drones and coastal missile systems — form the backbone of Iran’s asymmetric strategy, giving Tehran enough capability to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz without fully shutting it down. Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply moves through the strait, and analysts say Iran does not need to block it outright to have a global impact. This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Morgan Phillips. Iran secures UN role with backing from UK, France, Canada, Australia as US stands alone Western democracies, including the UK, France, Canada and Australia, are facing backlash after allowing Iran and other authoritarian regimes to secure seats on influential United Nations (U.N.) bodies, with the United States standing alone in opposition. The controversy stems from decisions by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a 54-member body that plays a central role in shaping U.N. policy and staffing key committees. Critics warn the outcome could allow governments accused of human rights abuses to influence global policy and control which civil society groups are granted access to the United Nations. ECOSOC nominated the Islamic Republic of Iran to the U.N.’s Committee for Program and Coordination Wednesday, a body that helps shape policy on human rights, women’s rights, disarmament and counterterrorism. The nomination is widely expected to be finalized, as the United Nations General Assembly typically approves such recommendations without a vote. At the same session, ECOSOC elected China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia and Sudan to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, which oversees accreditation and access for thousands of NGOs operating within the U.N. system. The United States was the only member state to formally break from consensus. In remarks delivered April 8, U.S. Representative to ECOSOC Ambassador Dan Negrea said the U.S. "disassociates from consensus" on both decisions, calling several of the countries involved unfit for such roles. "The regime threatens its neighbors and has, for decades, infringed on the Iranian people’s ability to exercise their basic human rights," Negrea said, adding that "we believe Iran is unfit to serve" on the committee. This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Efrat Lachter. NYT columnist 'torn' about rooting for Iranian regime's downfall since it would give a win to Trump New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman said he's "torn" about efforts to remove the Iranian regime over concerns it would politically benefit President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "I find myself, Michael, in a situation where I really want to see Iran defeated militarily," Friedman told CNN host Michael Smerconish on Saturday. "Because this regime is a terrible regime for its people in the region." "And nothing would improve the region more than the replacement of this regime with the regime in Iran that was focused on enabling its people to realize their full potential and integrating peacefully with other countries and stop occupying Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. So, I'm all for that," Friedman continued. Friedman then turned to what he calls the "problem" of a successful regime change in Tehran. "The problem is I really don‘t want to see Bibi Netanyahu or Donald Trump politically strengthened by this war because they are two awful human beings," the Times columnist said. "They are both engaged in anti-democratic projects in their own countries. They‘re both alleged crooks. They are terrible, terrible people doing terrible things to America‘s standing in the world and Israel's standing in the world." "And so I really find myself torn. I want to see Iran militarily defeated, but I do not want to see these two terrible people strengthened," he added. The "torn" feelings from the New York Times columnist sparked a lot of attention among critics. "What kind of sick hate must @tomfriedman have that he roots for USA to lose to a terrorist regime who has killed thousands of Americans?" Trump's Israel Ambassador Mike Huckabee reacted. This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Joseph Wulfsohn. Macron under fire over Iran, Hezbollah policy as Trump admin hosts Israel-Lebanon talks France’s President Emmanuel Macron is facing renewed criticism for his lack of support for President Donald Trump’s war against Iran and demands to include Lebanon in the current ceasefire as historic talks between Israel and Lebanon are set to begin Tuesday. The historic meeting brokered by President Trump between Lebanon, a former French mandate, and Israel will take place at the ambassador level as hopes for an agreement evolve — most noticeably without French involvement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to host both nations' ambassadors. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel’s government requested that France be excluded from the talks. An Israeli official told the paper that "France’s conduct over the past year – including initiatives aimed at limiting Israel’s ability to fight in Iran, and a complete lack of willingness to take concrete steps to help Lebanon disarm Hezbollah – has led Israel to view France as an unfair mediator." On Monday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Monday called on the Lebanese government to cancel the Tuesday meeting in Washington, while describing the talks as pointless. In a televised speech, Qassem said the armed group will continue to confront Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Hezbollah violated a ceasefire to enter the war on its patron, Iran’s side, in March when it launched rockets into Israel after the U.S.-Israel joint attack on the Islamic Republic began, still Macron has demanded Israel stop attacking Hezbollah's terror infrastructure in Lebanon. Israeli Brig. General (Res.) Yosef Kuperwasser told Fox News Digital that Macron was "working against the best interests of the Lebanese state and government. This is a very problematic direction." He accused Macron of "taking the side of Hezbollah and normalizing Hezbollah because he is focused on "narrow interests." The former head of research for the Israel Defense Forces’ Military Intelligence Directorate, Kuperwasser, added that the "Americans want us to engage with the Lebanese along with the military [in Lebanon]. Our expectations are very similar. We want to see Lebanon do something about Hezbollah, something real, not just issue statements and pledges. We believe we have helped them by weakening Hezbollah militarily since they decided to launch missiles on March 2. If there is a breakthrough, Lebanon has a lot to gain," but said it has to "disarm Hezbollah." The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment. This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Benjamin Weinthal. Fresh Iran-US talks could happen Thursday before ceasefire expires: report A second round of face-to-face negotiations between Iran and the United States is being discussed, The Associated Press reported Monday. The fresh talks could also take place as early as Thursday, according to the report. Citing officials familiar with the matter, the report said the talks would aim to secure a deal to end the six-week war before the ceasefire expires April 21. A diplomat from one of the mediating countries said Tehran and Washington have agreed in principle to hold the talks. It is unclear whether the same level of delegation would attend, according to the diplomat and U.S. officials. Islamabad, Pakistan, is also being considered again as a potential host, while Geneva is also under discussion, officials said. Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this report. Live Coverage begins here