President Donald Trump has met with his national security team this morning to discuss a proposal with Iran to mutually reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at the White House press briefing following the dinner shooting, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The proposal was being discussed.”
Answering questions at a briefing, Ms Leavitt did not offer an opinion of the proposal, in which the Strait of Hormuz would be opened and Iran's nuclear program discussed at a later date. But she said Trump's bottom line demands remain the same.
"I wouldn't say they're considering it. I would just say that there was a discussion this morning that I don't want to get ahead of, and you'll hear directly from the president, I'm sure, on this topic," she said.
“The president’s red lines with respect to Iran have been made very clear, not just to the American public, but to them as well,” she added.
It comes after Vladimir Putin pledged to support Iran in its peace talks with the US after meeting Tehran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in St Petersburg.
“We will do everything that serves your interests and the interests of all the peoples of the region to ensure that peace is achieved as quickly as possible,” Putin told Araghchi, according to Russian state media.
Key Points
- Putin pledges to support Iran peace talks during meeting with foreign minister
- US is being 'humiliated by Iranian leadership', says Merz
- Tehran offers to reopen Hormuz and end war before nuclear talks, Axios reports
- Trump says Iran can call US if it wants to negotiate an end to war
- Iranian foreign minister says Tehran 'yet to see' if US serious about peace talks
- Trump met with national security team to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz
Watch: Trump says Iran can call US to negotiate an end to the war after cancelling Witkoff and Kushner visit
19:30 , Rebecca WhittakerEurope should reassess its reliance on the Middle East for fuel, says Wizz Air's CEO
19:00 , Rebecca WhittakerWizz Air's CEO Jozsef Varadi said the budget airline is looking at a larger summer schedule this year, despite concerns over jet fuel supply and costs tied to the Iran war.
"We are much stronger on summer bookings this year than last year," Jozsef Varadi said.
He also does not think the European budget airline will run out of jet fuel, amid concerns over shortages if the Iran war continues for a longer period.
However, he does think prices could remain high even for months after the war ends.
It comes after airlines including easyJet and TUI announced drops in forward bookings and issued profit warnings in recent weeks.
Mr Varadi said Europe should reassess its reliance on the Middle East for fuel, especially as the crisis could lead to broader capacity cuts across the industry intensifying in the autumn.
"If you look at the very nature how Europe is accessing jet fuel, I mean, we are far over-dependent on the Middle East. I mean, that's kind of crazy," he said.
Watch: Trump has met with team over Iran proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz
18:52 , Rebecca WhittakerNATO is considering holding less annual summits
18:30 , Rebecca WhittakerNATO is considering not holding six annual summits, according to reporting by Reuters.
The move could avoid a potentially tense encounter with US President Donald Trump in his final year in office.
Trump's administration has engaged repeatedly in scathing criticism of many of the defence alliance's 31 other members, most recently berating some for not providing more assistance to US military operations against Iran.
The frequency of NATO summits has varied over the alliance's 77-year history but its leaders have met every summer since 2021 and will gather this year in the Turkish capital Ankara on July 7 and 8.
But a senior European official and five diplomats, all from NATO member countries, told Reuters that some want to hold less summits.
Trump met with national security team to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz
18:30 , Rebecca WhittakerUS President Donald Trump met with his national security team this morning to discuss a proposal with Iran to mutually reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at the White House press briefing Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “The proposal was being discussed.”
“The president’s red lines with respect to Iran have been made very clear, not just to the American public, but to them as well,” she added.
Watch: White House press briefing after WHCD shooting and ahead of King's visit
18:06 , Rebecca WhittakerWatch: ‘Entire nation is being humiliated’ by Iran says German chancellor in swipe at Trump
18:00 , Alex CroftMacron to talk with Iranian authorities again
17:29 , Alex CroftFrench president Emmanuel Macron has said he will talk to Iranian authorities after his two-day trip to Andorra and would insist for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
"We have established a coalition whose purpose is precisely to ensure security, to secure and stabilise, to demonstrate that the international community supports an opening (of the Strait of Hormuz), and so I hope that we will be able to convince the stakeholders in the coming days," he told reporters in Andorra.
Sam Kiley | Trump's attacks on Nato over Iran only benefits Putin
17:05 , Alex CroftThe Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Russian support to Iran is real. Moscow has transferred or agreed to transfer advanced air‑defence systems, including variants of the S‑300 long-range surface-to-air missile systems to Tehran. Its excerpts have provided advice on improved accuracy of missiles and how to evade American defences. Russia has also been working with Iran on space launch and satellite technology.
The two nations also collaborate on developing live battlefield surveillance technology, which could be used to kill Americans.
Rather than try to stop this, Trump has turned on America’s Nato allies who have not joined his attacks on Iran alongside Israel, because it is an illegal war of aggression and choice – not an act of self-defence. His administration, which believes it owns the alliance of 31 other member states, is considering expelling Spain and suggested that the Falklands won’t get Nato protection.
Spain cannot be expelled by the US. The only attack on a Nato member by a foreign state has been by Argentina when it invaded the Falklands in 1982. The US gave almost no help to the UK then, and London did not invoke the mutual defence agreement between Nato members.
The US did that on 9/11 – and Nato members came to Washington’s aid.
The only beneficiary of divisions inside Nato is Putin. The US will suffer long-term as a consequence of it. Yet Trump has delivered just that.
Bahrain revokes citizenship of 69 people for 'expressing support for Iranian attacks'
16:46 , Alex CroftBahrain revoked the citizenship of 69 people and their families for "expressing support for Iranian attacks", the interior ministry said on Monday.
Bahrain has been among Gulf countries that were subject to attacks by Iran in retaliation for US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran that began on February 28.
CEO of Wizz Air says company will not run out of jet fuel
16:28 , Alex CroftCEO of Wizz Air Jozsef Varadi has said he does not think the European budget airline will run out of jet fuel, amid concerns over shortages if the Iran war continues for a longer period.
Mr Varadi told reporters that at the $1,500 metric ton level for jet fuel, the price was so high that tankers were incentivised to head to the U.S. to collect it.
This made up for any shortfalls from the Middle East, a major source of jet fuel for European carriers.
Iran looking into Trump's request for further negotiations, says Araghchi
16:20 , Alex CroftIran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran was looking into US president Donald Trump's request for negotiations, according to a post on the minister's Telegram account.
He told reporters in Russia that Trump requested negotiations because the US has not achieved any of its objectives.
Trump scrapped a visit to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for talks on ending the conflict, and said Iran could telephone if it wanted to negotiate.
Iran caused more extensive damage to US bases than publicly acknowledged, says NBC
16:10 , Alex CroftIranian attacks on US military bases caused far more extensive damage than has been publicly acknowledged, a new report by NBC has suggested.
Three US officials familiar with the damage told the publication that it was extensive and wide-reaching.
Facilities affected by Iranian retaliatory strikes include the headquarters of the US navy in Bahrain, the centre for the navy’s operations in the region, which suffered serious damage while some parts of the building sustained destruction that was likely more repairable.
Bases had been largely cleared of troops leaving them vulnerable to attack.
The American Enterprise Institute found that multiple hangars and warehouses at the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait was also hit. The AEI said that Iran hit more than 100 targets across 11 Gulf countries, with estimated damage at around $5bn.
Two air defence systems were also damaged in the region.
Watch: Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after conflict ends, minister warns
15:49 , Alex CroftIn pictures: Iranian foreign minister meets Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg
15:28 , Alex Croft
Putin pledges to support Iran in talks with US
15:11 , Alex CroftAs we’ve been reporting, Russian president Vladimir Putin today held talks with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in St Petersburg on Monday.
The Russian president told Mr Araghchi that he hoped the Iranian people would weather what he described as a "difficult period" and that peace would soon prevail.
Russia has offered to mediate to try to help restore calm to the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which Moscow has condemned. It has also repeatedly offered to store Iran's enriched uranium as a way of defusing tensions, an offer the US has not taken up.
“For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests and the interests of all the peoples of the region to ensure that peace is achieved as quickly as possible,” Putin told Araghchi, according to Russian state media.
"Last week I received a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader. I would like to ask you to convey my most sincere thanks for this and to confirm that Russia, like Iran, intends to continue our strategic relationship," Putin added.
Watch: Iranian foreign minister meets Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg
14:54 , Alex CroftSanctioned $500m superyacht crosses blockaded Strait of Hormuz
14:41 , James ReynoldsA superyacht linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov boldly sailed through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, shipping data showed.
Nord - a 142-meter yacht worth over $500 million - left a Dubai marina at around 2pm GMT on Friday, crossed the strait on Saturday morning, and arrived in Muscat early on Sunday, according to data on the MarineTraffic platform.
It is not clear how the multi-deck pleasure vessel gained permission to use the route. Russia and Iran are longstanding allies and have become closer in recent years.
One of the largest yachts in the world, Nord has 20 staterooms, a swimming pool, a helipad and a submarine, according to industry publisher Superyacht Times.
Strait of Hormuz traffic showing early signs of recovery but analysts say crisis far from over
14:30 , Alex CroftShipping through the Strait of Hormuz is showing early signs of recovery, with 19 vessels crossing on Saturday after days of disruption, but analysts say the traffic hasn’t translated into any real increase in oil and gas actually flowing through the crucial waterway.
The strait, which once carried a fifth of the world's oil and gas, has been effectively closed since the US-Israeli war with Iran began on 28 February, with just three ships crossing a day at its lowest point, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward.
Saturday’s figure marked what Windward called a “sharp rebound” following several days of suppressed movement, although it remains a fraction of the 129 daily transits recorded before the conflict began.
Stuti Mishra reports:
Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic showing ‘early signs of recovery’
Comment: Trump’s indifference to Iran and Russia’s military collaboration is staggering
14:27 , James ReynoldsTrump appears unbothered as Russia embraces Iran in a very public relationship that should enrage the US president, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
Trump’s indifference to Iran and Russia’s military collaboration is staggering
Bahrain revokes citizenship of 69 over 'support for Iranian attacks'
14:23 , James ReynoldsBahrain revoked the citizenship of 69 people and their families for "expressing support for Iranian attacks", the interior ministry said on Monday.
Bahrain has been among Gulf countries that were subject to attacks by Iran in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran that began on February 28.
Israel strikes Lebanon's eastern Beqaa Valley
14:12 , Alex CroftThe Israeli military has carried out an attack on Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley, it said in a statement.
“The IDF has begun to strike Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the Beqaa Valley and in additional areas across southern Lebanon,” it said in a statement.
Security sources told Reuters news agency that strikes had hit near the town of Nabi Chit, near Lebanon's eastern border with Syria.
On Sunday, Israeli strikes killed 14 people and wounded 37 in the south on Sunday, according to the health ministry, making it the deadliest day of the ceasefire.
Fighting ramps up in Lebanon amid ceasefire breach accusations
13:53 , Alex CroftIn Lebanon, Israeli strikes killed 14 people and wounded 37 in the south on Sunday, according to the health ministry, as fighting with Hezbollah intensifies.
This made marked the deadliest day since a US-brokered ceasefire was agreed in mid-April.
Iran says it will not hold talks on the wider conflict unless a ceasefire also holds in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March in pursuit of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, which fired across the border in support of Tehran.
Israel and Hezbollah blame each other for violating the truce, which was agreed between Israel and the Lebanese government in Washington and extended last week.
Israeli forces have ordered hundreds of thousands of people out of their villages and have been bulldozing homes where they say Hezbollah fighters operated.
The military warned residents on Sunday to leave seven more towns beyond the occupied buffer zone.
Watch: Octopus Energy boss outlines what to expect of energy bill costs amid Strait of Hormuz closure
13:34 , Alex CroftLeading Iranian diplomat warns Tehran has cards to play
13:15 , Alex CroftIran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has been leading its delegation in peace talks, has warned that Tehran has plenty more cards to play in its war versus the US.
In a cryptic post on X, Mr Ghalibaf wrote: “They brag about the cards. Let's see: Supply Cards= Demand Cards.
“Strait of Hormuz (partly played)+Bab el-Mandab (unplayed)+Pipelines(unplayed)= Inv Release (played)+Demand Destruction (partly played)+More Price Adj (to come).”
He appears to be warning that Iran may yet call on Yemen’s Houthis to close Bab el-Mandab, a maritime strait between Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula through which around 12 per cent of global oil shipments pass.
Strait of Hormuz activity remains muted as seven ships cross
12:57 , Alex CroftAt least seven ships - mainly dry bulk vessels - crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, in line with muted activity in recent days, shipping data showed on Monday.
It comes as talks between Iran and the United States continue to stall, despite one report in Axios suggesting Iran is prepared to reopen the waterway.
The vessels included ships leaving from Iraqi ports and one dry bulk vessel from an Iranian port, according to ship tracking data from Kpler and separate satellite analysis from data analytics specialists SynMax.
Shipping traffic passing through the crucial waterway at the entrance to the Gulf during an uneasy ceasefire between Washington and Tehran represents a fraction of the average 140 daily passages before the Iran war began on February 28.
In pictures: Vessels sit in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman
12:40 , Alex Croft
US is being 'humiliated by Iranian leadership', says Merz
12:15 , Alex CroftWe’re hearing from German chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been scathing in his criticism of the US approach to its war in Iran.
“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards,” he said, adding that he does not see what exit strategy the US has for the war.
Speaking to students in Marsberg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Mr Merz said the Iranians are "obviously negotiating very skillfully" and "clearly stronger than one thought”.
He urged that the conflict be ended as quickly as possible due to its direct impact on Germany's economy.
Russia next on Araghchi's diplomatic tour as he says US may not be serious about peace
12:04 , Alex CroftAs we’ve been reporting, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is in St Petersburg where he is due to meet Vladimir Putin.
He had previously been meeting with mediators from Oman and Pakistan as Tehran looks to push forward a peace deal.
On Saturday, Araghchi said the talks were “fruitful”, but that Iran is “yet to see” whether the US is serious about peace.
“Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value,” he wrote in a post on X on Saturday.
“Shared Iran's position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy.”
On Sunday, Omani foreign minister Badr Albusaidi said he held a “good discussion” with Araghchi.
The pair talked about "shared responsibility to the international community and the urgent humanitarian need to free the seafarers held for far too long", he said.
Starmer to hold emergency Cobra meeting on Iran war economic crisis
11:44 , Alex CroftOur political correspondent Athena Stavrou reports:
Sir Keir Starmer will chair another Cobra meeting this week to discuss the ongoing economic impact of the Iran war, which he warned could continue “for some time”.
The prime minister will convene the emergency committee with representatives from the Bank of England to discuss the war’s economic consequences in the shadow of rising oil prices.
The meeting comes as oil prices hit a near three-week high on Monday, as the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded as peace talks between the US and Iran stall.
Speaking in Lancashire on Monday, the prime minister said he had called the meeting on Tuesday “so you can be sure we will stand by working people in this crisis”.
However, he told the Usdaw union’s conference: “I have to level with you about Iran.
“The truth is the economic consequences could still be with us for some time. You don’t need to be a politician to know that, you can see it on every petrol forecourt across the country.”
You can read Athena’s full report here.
Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after conflict ends, UK minister warns
11:14 , Alex CroftOur political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Price hikes as a result of the Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after the conflict ends, a government minister has warned.
The chief secretary to the prime minister, Darren Jones, warned people will see higher energy, food and flight prices “as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East” and said there will be a “long tail from this”.
He told the BBC that consumers are more likely to see prices go up rather than gaps on supermarket shelves as a consequence of the conflict.
“Quite frankly, that's probably going to come online, not just in the next few weeks, but the next few months. There's going to be a long tail from this”, he said.
Pressed on how long people will see economic disruption, Mr Jones said: "I think our best guess is eight-plus months from the point of resolution that you'll see economic impacts coming through the system.”
Too early to drop sanctions on Iran, says von der Leyen
10:55 , Alex CroftWe’ve just heard from the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who has been discussing EU sanctions on Iran.
"We think the dropping of sanctions would be too early," she tells a meeting of the German conservative CDU and its CSU Bavarian sister party in Berlin.
Ms von der Leyen adds that the sanctions were in place due to Iran's suppression of its own population.
"We first have to see a change, a fundamental change in Iran for the dropping of sanctions," she said.
Starmer to hold emergency talks with Bank of England on Iran impact
10:38 , Alex CroftUK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer will hold talks with representatives form the Bank of England to discuss the impact of the war in Iran.
Representatives from the bank will join a meeting of the government’s emergency response committee on Tuesday, Sir Keir said.
"Tomorrow I'm chairing a meeting of Cobra on the impact (of the war), bringing in people from the Bank of England, so that you can be sure we will stand by working people in this crisis," Sir Keir said on Monday in a speech to trade union members.
Iran bans steel exports after industry targeted in US-Israeli attacks
10:20 , Alex CroftIran has banned the export of steel slabs and sheets until May 30, state media reported on Monday.
The country's steel industry has been targeted in strikes carried out by the US and Israel until a temporary ceasefire came into place earlier this month.
Etemad newspaper reported that the country’s steel industry lost around 10 million tons of annual production capacity during the attacks, amounting to around 25 to 30 per cent of the country’s total steel production capacity.
Watch: Trump says Iran can call US to negotiate an end to the war after cancelling Witkoff and Kushner visit
10:06 , Alex CroftSpain urges consumers to buy airline tickets ASAP
09:52 , Alex CroftSpain has urged consumers to buy airline tickets as soon as possible in order to avoid risking higher fairs caused by rising oil prices due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
The country welcomed a record 97 million tourists last year - a rise of 3.5 per cent since 2024.
Industry and tourism minister Jordi Hereu said Spain could maintain a similar pace of growth this year, but higher fuel costs have thrown this into doubt.
"What we're recommending is that people buy their tickets now because it's true that (airlines) are currently using kerosene that was purchased some time ago, and therefore there's an element of price fluctuations involved," Hereu said.
Oil prices rise to near-three week highs as US-Iran peace talks falter
09:40 , Alex CroftOil prices have hit a near three-week high as hopes of progress on peace talks between the US and Iran were dashed once again, after President Donald Trump cancelled plans to send a negotiating team to Pakistan.
The cost of benchmark Brent crude continued its ascent, rising 2% to just under 108 US dollars a barrel in early morning trading on Monday, rising back up to levels seen before the first round of peace talks began in early April.
Ceasefire talks appeared increasingly fragile, as Mr Trump declared over the weekend that envoys from Washington would no longer be travelling to Islamabad in Pakistan because of a lack of progress with Iran.
Mr Trump told Fox News on Sunday: “If they want, we can talk but we’re not sending people.”
Why a century-old naval disaster means Trump can’t take the Strait of Hormuz by force
09:09 , Alex CroftAs Donald Trump and Iran insist on keeping the Strait of Hormuz firmly closed while a shaky ceasefire persists, John W S Clark looks back at a similar stand-off more than a century ago, which did not end well.
Why has nothing been done to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
The answer is simple – as his advisers will have told Donald Trump before he attacked Iran, it is almost impossible to clear a passage through a minefield when the shoreline is held by the enemy, without being prepared to take significant casualties. And this, it seems, the US is not prepared to do.
It is one thing to bomb a less technologically sophisticated enemy from the air, but quite another to get involved in a real fight at sea level with an opponent who has been planning this form of asymmetric warfare for a very long time.
History gives a stark lesson on why America needs to tread warily – a page from the First World War.
Why a century-old naval disaster means Trump can’t take the Strait of Hormuz by force
Expert View: Breakdown in Iran talks sends oil shooting higher again
08:56 , Alex CroftSusannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, tells PA Media that the breakdown in Iran talks has sent oil prices shooting up again.
“The rug has been pulled by the Trump administration, sending plans for talks over Iran skidding once again, and oil prices shooting higher,” she said.
“The President said negotiators would be wasting their time heading to Pakistan and the lack of progress has hit sentiment at the start of the week.
“Some hopes of a resolution are being kept alive, with reports that Iran has put another proposal on the table which aimed at de-escalating the conflict and potentially seeing the key Strait of Hormuz reopen.
“But details are scant about the offer and patience on both sides is clearly frayed. So, Brent crude, the benchmark is climbing higher and reached $108 a barrel in morning trade,” she added.
“Fears of a severe energy crunch are climbing with the International Energy Agency warning that the world is facing the largest energy supply shock on record.”
Watch: Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after conflict ends, minister warns
08:26 , Alex CroftRecap: Deal on ice as Araghchi heads to Russia
08:11 , James ReynoldsHopes of a deal to end the war were dashed over the weekend as Donald Trump scrapped a visit by his envoys to Pakistan to meet with Iranian negotiators.
The US president said the expense and travel of the meeting were too great to justify the trip in light of what he cast as an inadequate Iranian offer.
Axios reported on Sunday that Tehran had presented Washington with a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to end the war. The White House did not respond to request for comment on the report.
Without a clear outcome, Iran’s foreign minister flew to Russia to meet Putin after holding talks in Oman on Sunday and briefly stopping back in Islamabad.
With the Strait still closed, crude oil was selling for $96/barrel this morning, up 1.84% from yesterday. The recent low was on 17 April, at $82/b.
In the paused war between Israel and Hezbollah, 14 people were killed and 37 were wounded on Sunday in southern Lebanon. Alarms sounded in northern Israel on Monday.
Iran and Oman agree expert-level talks on Hormuz as Araqchi heads to Russia
07:10 , Stuti MishraIran and Oman have agreed to continue expert-level consultations to ensure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz and protect shared interests in the waterway, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday.
Mr Araqchi made the announcement as he arrived in Saint Petersburg for talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin, the final leg of a regional tour that also took him to Pakistan and Oman. He said consultations in Pakistan had reviewed conditions under which Iran-US talks could resume, stressing Tehran would seek to secure its rights and national interests following weeks of conflict.
On X earlier he wrote: "Important discussions on bilateral matters and regional developments. As only Hormuz littoral states, our focus included ways to ensure safe transit that is to benefit of all dear neighbours and the world. Our neighbours are our priority."
Appreciative of my gracious hosts in Oman.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 26, 2026
Important discussions on bilateral matters and regional developments. As only Hormuz littoral states, our focus included ways to ensure safe transit that is to benefit of all dear neighbors and the world.
Our neighbors are our priority pic.twitter.com/QffTsjCWgW
UK government secures beer and jet fuel supplies as Iran war threatens summer disruption
06:50 , Stuti MishraThe British government is scrambling to secure supplies of carbon dioxide for food producers and breweries, and is drawing up contingency plans for potential jet fuel shortages this summer, as the Iran war's economic impact deepens.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said he was working to ensure an adequate supply of beer during the World Cup. "If there is a problem with jet fuel on holidays and carbon dioxide on beer, the summer might be pretty depressing for people, but we're doing everything we can to make sure that it's not the case," he told the BBC.
Airports will make it easier for airlines to cancel flights without losing their allocated slots if fuel shortages bite, and laws requiring airlines to operate part-full flights are to be temporarily relaxed. Leaked government plans have suggested there could be shortages of certain foods on supermarket shelves if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed into summer.
UK price rises from Iran war could last eight months after conflict ends, minister warns
06:23 , Stuti MishraBritish households could face higher prices for energy, food and flights for up to eight months after the Iran war ends, a minister has warned.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would continue to drive up prices well beyond any resolution. "I think our best guess is eight-plus months from the point of resolution that you'll see economic impacts coming through the system," he said.
"You're going to see prices go up a bit as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East," Mr Jones added. "That's probably going to come online not just in the next few weeks, but the next few months. There's going to be a long tail from this."
The government has urged drivers to keep filling up their cars as usual and not to change travel plans amid fears over jet fuel shortages. Further efforts to end the conflict have stalled after Mr Trump told his envoys not to travel to Pakistan for talks this weekend.
Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months, minister warns
Iran and Oman agree to continue Hormuz talks at expert level, Araqchi says
06:01 , Stuti MishraIran and Oman have agreed to continue consultations on the Strait of Hormuz through expert-level talks, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said.
It comes after talks between the US and Iran stalled, with Donald Trump saying Tehran "can call us" if they want to talk.
With US representatives absent, Mr Araqchi held talks with Omani officials in Muscat yesterday, after leaving Islamabad where the talks were supposed to be held and before travelling to Saint Petersburg to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Iran has separately put a new proposal to the US through Pakistani mediators to reopen the strait and end the war, with nuclear talks postponed to a later stage.
Iran proposes reopening Strait of Hormuz and ending war before nuclear talks, Axios reports
05:21 , Stuti MishraIran has given the US a new proposal through Pakistani mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage, Axios reported, citing a US official and two sources with knowledge of the matter.
The proposal would bypass the thorniest issue in negotiations - Iran's enriched uranium stockpile - en route to a faster deal.
As part of it, the ceasefire would be extended for a long period or the parties would agree on a permanent end to the war, with nuclear talks beginning only after the strait was reopened and the US blockade lifted. The White House has received the proposal but it is unclear whether the US is willing to explore it.
"These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press," White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told Axios.
"The United States holds the cards and will only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon."
The proposal came after US president Donald Trump scrapped a visit to Islamabad by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over the weekend, saying the Iranian position made the trip pointless.
Mr Trump told Fox News on Sunday he wanted to continue the naval blockade, hoping it would force Tehran to cave "over the next few weeks."
Iran's foreign minister arrives in Saint Petersburg for talks with Putin as peace efforts stall
04:37 , Stuti MishraIranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has arrived in Saint Petersburg for talks with president Vladimir Putin, Iran's IRNA news agency reported, after shuttling between mediators Pakistan and Oman yesterday as peace efforts showed little sign of progress.
Iran's envoy in Russia, Kazem Jalali, said in a post on X that Mr Araqchi's visit was part of a "diplomatic jihad to advance the country's interests amid external threats," adding that "Iran and Russia are present in a united front" against Western dominance.
The trip comes after US president Donald Trump on Saturday scrapped a visit to Islamabad by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, saying Iran had "offered a lot, but not enough."
Mr Trump told Fox News yesterday that Iran could call if it wanted to negotiate. "If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone," he said.Iran has demanded Washington lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports before negotiations can begin.
A ceasefire has paused full-scale fighting but no agreement has been reached on ending the war, now in its ninth week.
Oil hits three-week high as stalled US-Iran talks keep Strait of Hormuz shut
04:08 , Stuti MishraOil prices climbed around 2 per cent on Monday to touch a three-week high of $107.97 a barrel as stalled US-Iran peace talks prolonged the disruption to Middle East energy exports, with barely any ships carrying oil and gas transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Goldman Sachs lifted its year-end Brent forecast sharply from $80 to $90 a barrel, warning that even that rests on normalisation of Gulf exports by the end of June. "Non-linear price increases are likely if inventories drop to critically low levels, which we have not seen in the last few decades," the bank said. LNG prices for June delivery into northeast Asia were nearly 61 per cent above pre-war levels last week.
US president Donald Trump cancelled a trip to Islamabad by US envoys over the weekend, though investors took some comfort from an Axios report saying Iran wants to make a deal on opening the strait first and postpone nuclear talks until later.
A ceasefire has frozen most fighting in the war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran two months ago, but markets remain focused on the shuttered strait. Major central banks are expected to hold rates steady this week, though aggressive bets on future hikes in Britain and Europe could be tested if policymakers strike a cautious tone.
Government ramps up planning for possible supply shortages from Iran war
03:00 , Rebecca WhittakerThe UK government is escalating its planning to counteract potential shortages stemming from the Iran conflict.
Oil prices have soared since the US-Israel war on Iran began, driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a key shipping lane that once handled a fifth of global oil and gas.
The Prime Minister will chair another meeting of the Cabinet committee, established to manage the fallout, this Tuesday, following last week's Middle East Response Committee session.
Read more here:
Government ramps up planning for possible supply shortages from Iran war
Recap: Iran can call US if it wants to negotiate an end to war, Trump says
02:00 , Rebecca WhittakerDonald Trump has said Iran can reach out to the United States if it wants to negotiate an end to the war.
"If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines," Trump said in an interview on Fox News.
It comes after he canceled a trip by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday, which was a setback to peace talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi departed Islamabad after speaking only to Pakistani officials, but has since returned to Pakistan despite the absence of US counterparts.
Watch: Trump rules out use of nuclear weapons on Iran
01:00 , Rebecca WhittakerPrice hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after conflict ends, minister warns
Monday 27 April 2026 00:00 , Rebecca WhittakerPrice hikes as a result of the Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after the conflict ends, a government minister has warned.
The chief secretary to the prime minister, Darren Jones, warned people will see higher energy, food and flight prices “as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East” and said there will be a “long tail from this”.
Read more here:
Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months, minister warns
Pictured: A motorcade believed to be carrying Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Sunday 26 April 2026 23:00 , Rebecca Whittaker
Iranian foreign minister says Tehran 'yet to see' if US serious about peace talks
Sunday 26 April 2026 22:00 , Maira ButtIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has hailed talks with Pakistani officials as “fruitful” but said he is “yet to see” if the US is equally serious about negotiations.
“Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value,” he wrote in a post on X on Saturday.
“Shared Iran's position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy.”
Vance and Trump allies invoke ‘just war theory’ to legitimize Iran action. Experts say it ‘fails every single criteria’
Sunday 26 April 2026 21:32 , Rebecca Whittaker‘Trump's threat to end civilization is one of the most blatant violations of proportionality in the history of modern warfare,’ one expert tells Brendan Rascius
Read more here:
Trump allies invoke ‘just war’ to legitimize Iran. Experts say it ‘fails’ to hold up
Iran caused more extensive damage to US bases than publicly acknowledged, says NBC
Sunday 26 April 2026 21:00 , Maira ButtIranian attacks on US military bases caused far more extensive damage than has been publicly acknowledged, a new report by NBC has suggested.
Three US officials familiar with the damage told the publication that it was extensive and wide-reaching.
Facilities affected by Iranian retaliatory strikes include the headquarters of the US navy in Bahrain, the centre for the navy’s operations in the region, which suffered serious damage while some parts of the building sustained destruction that was likely more repairable.
Bases had been largely cleared of troops leaving them vulnerable to attack.
The American Enterprise Institute found that multiple hangars and warehouses at the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait was also hit. The AEI said that Iran hit more than 100 targets across 11 Gulf countries, with estimated damage at around $5bn.
Two air defence systems were also damaged in the region.
Watch: Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi hit with red liquid while walking down street
Sunday 26 April 2026 20:30 , Rebecca WhittakerUS intercepts sanctioned merchant vessel in Arabian Sea, Central Command says
Sunday 26 April 2026 20:00 , Maira ButtThe US Central Command said it intercepted a merchant vessel attempting to breach the blockade of Iran, in what it described as part of ongoing efforts to curb illicit energy shipments.
The ship, identified as Sevan, was among a 19-vessel “shadow fleet” allegedly transporting Iranian oil and gas products to foreign markets, according to the US military.
Central Command said the vessel was intercepted in the Arabian Sea by a US Navy helicopter operating from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney. The ship is now “complying with US military direction to turn back to Iran under escort,” it added.
Officials said the so-called shadow fleet has been sanctioned by the US Treasury for moving billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian energy exports – including propane and butane – to overseas buyers.
Since the blockade began, the US military says it has redirected 37 vessels attempting similar routes.
Recap: UK's Starmer and Trump discuss 'urgent need' to restore shipping in Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 26 April 2026 19:30 , Rebecca WhittakerUK prime minister Keir Starmer and US president Donald Trump discussed an urgent need to get shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz during a call on Sunday, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.
“The leaders discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally,” read the statement.
“The prime minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with President (Emmanuel) Macron to restore freedom of navigation.”
Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months, minister warns
Sunday 26 April 2026 19:00 , Maira ButtPrice hikes as a result of the Iran war will be felt for at least eight months after the conflict ends, a government minister has warned.
Chief Secretary to the prime minister, Darren Jones, warned people will see higher energy, food and flight prices “as a consequence of what Donald Trump has done in the Middle East” and said there will be a “long tail from this”.
The government has stepped up planning for how to offset potential shortages sparked by the conflict, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane crucial for the supply of a fifth of global oil and gas, which sent oil prices soaring.
The prime minister will chair another meeting of the Cabinet committee set up to deal with the fallout on Tuesday, after the so-called Middle East Response Committee met last week.
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Price hikes due to Iran war will be felt for at least eight months, minister warns
The war in Iran is in a ‘limbo’ phase. Here’s why it could leave the world facing chaos
Sunday 26 April 2026 18:31 , Maira ButtDonald Trump announced late on Tuesday that the US would “hold our attack” on Iran until a deal is made in an astonishing climbdown, after dismissing calls for a ceasefire extension and threatening to blitz civilian infrastructure.
The US president has insisted that he is under “no time pressure” to reach a peace agreement and will prioritise a “good deal for the American people”, but a significant gulf remains between both sides on key issues.
The American navy continues to blockade Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a painful countermeasure to Iran’s closure of the route that analysts assess to be costing Tehran as much as $435m per day.
Even so, experts say Iran has shown far more tolerance to this kind of pressure than outsiders would like to admit, and Trump will still be influenced by domestic political pressure over rising energy prices.
James C Reynolds reports:
The war in Iran has entered a ‘limbo’ phase. It could leave the world facing chaos
Israel has issued an evacuation order for southern Lebanon
Sunday 26 April 2026 18:08 , Rebecca WhittakerIsrael has issued an evacuation order for southern Lebanon after one of its soldiers was killed, warning residents to leave seven towns beyond the "buffer zone" it occupied before a ceasefire that has failed to fully halt hostilities.
A spokesperson for the Israeli military said in a statement on X that Lebanese armed group Hezbollah was violating the ceasefire and that Israel would act against it, telling people to head north and west away from the towns.
The towns are north of the Litani River and the zone in southern Lebanon occupied by Israeli troops, who have continued military operations despite the ceasefire. The military said that it struck Hezbollah fighters, rocket launchers and a weapons depot.
"From our perspective, what obliges us is the security of Israel, the security of our soldiers, the security of our communities," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
"We act vigorously according to the rules we agreed upon with the United States, and also, by the way, with Lebanon."
Watch: Elizabeth Warren says Republicans can't look Democrats in the eye because of Iran war
Sunday 26 April 2026 18:00 , Maira ButtGovernment ramps up planning for possible supply shortages from Iran war
Sunday 26 April 2026 17:30 , Maira ButtThe UK government is escalating its planning to counteract potential shortages stemming from the Iran conflict.
Oil prices have soared since the US-Israel war on Iran began, driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a key shipping lane that once handled a fifth of global oil and gas.
The Prime Minister will chair another meeting of the Cabinet committee, established to manage the fallout, this Tuesday, following last week's Middle East Response Committee session.
A separate contingency group of ministers, led by Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones, also meets twice weekly.
Government ramps up planning for possible supply shortages from Iran war
In pictures: Araghchi visits Muscat, Oman before returning to Islamabad
Sunday 26 April 2026 17:01 , Maira Butt
Iran can call US if it wants to negotiate an end to war, Trump says
Sunday 26 April 2026 16:58 , Rebecca WhittakerDonald Trump has said Iran can reach out to the United States if it wants to negotiate an end to the war.
"If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines," Trump said in an interview on Fox News.
It comes after he canceled a trip by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday, which was a setback to peace talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi departed Islamabad after speaking only to Pakistani officials, but has since returned to Pakistan despite the absence of US counterparts.
Vance and Trump allies invoke ‘just war theory’ to legitimize Iran action. Experts say it ‘fails every single criteria’
Sunday 26 April 2026 16:30 , Maira ButtTop Republicans have invoked a centuries-old moral doctrine to defend the ongoing war against Iran.
Last week, Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson — first and second in the presidential line of succession — explicitly cited “just war” theory while speaking about the Middle East conflict.
They wielded the theory as a cudgel to castigate Pope Leo, whose staunch opposition to the weeks-long war has ignited a high-profile clash between the Vatican and the White House.
But, the Republican leaders’ application of the doctrine — which dates back over a thousand years — is fundamentally flawed, according to experts in theology, philosophy and military strategy.
Trump allies invoke ‘just war’ to legitimize Iran. Experts say it ‘fails’ to hold up
Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 2,500 people, says health ministry
Sunday 26 April 2026 16:00 , Maira ButtMore than 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, the country’s health ministry confirmed on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continued as Hezbollah said it would not rely on “failed diplomacy” to resolve the conflict.
Israel has issued an evacuation order for more seven towns outside its occupation of southern Lebanon, which it has dubbed a “buffer zone”.
UK's Starmer and Trump discuss 'urgent need' to restore shipping in Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 26 April 2026 15:30 , Maira ButtUK prime minister Keir Starmer and US president Donald Trump discussed an urgent need to get shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz during a call on Sunday, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.
“The leaders discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally,” read the statement.
“The prime minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with President (Emmanuel) Macron to restore freedom of navigation.”
Pakistan races to save negotiations between US and Iran after Trump keeps envoys home
Sunday 26 April 2026 15:00 , Maira ButtAttempts at ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran fell flat after Tehran’s top diplomat left Pakistan and President Donald Trump's envoys stayed away after he told them not to travel to Islamabad.
The US president indicated the ball was now in Iran’s court.
“If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!” Trump said on social media.
The negotiations were meant to follow historic face-to-face talks earlier this month between the U.S., led by Vice President JD Vance, and Iran, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
But Iranian officials have questioned how they can trust the U.S. after its forces started blockading Iranian ports in response to Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan races to save negotiations between US and Iran after Trump keeps envoys home
Breaking: Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi arrives in Islamabad
Sunday 26 April 2026 14:41 , Maira ButtIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Islamabad on Sunday, according to the country’s state media.
The arrival will spark hopes for a revival of negotiations after Tehran denied direct talks and President Donald Trump cancelled a visit for envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday.
Iran's Araghchi returning to Islamabad after talks in Muscat
Sunday 26 April 2026 14:30 , Maira ButtIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is reportedly on his way back to Islamabad, Pakistan after meeting with Oman’s sultan Haitham bin Tariq on Sunday.
The development was reported by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Iran caused more extensive damage to US bases than publicly acknowledged, says NBC
Sunday 26 April 2026 14:00 , Maira ButtIranian attacks on US military bases caused far more extensive damage than has been publicly acknowledged, a new report by NBC has suggested.
Three US officials familiar with the damage told the publication that it was extensive and wide-reaching.
Facilities affected by Iranian retaliatory strikes include the headquarters of the US navy in Bahrain, the centre for the navy’s operations in the region, which suffered serious damage while some parts of the building sustained destruction that was likely more repairable.
Bases had been largely cleared of troops leaving them vulnerable to attack.
The American Enterprise Institute found that multiple hangars and warehouses at the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait was also hit. The AEI said that Iran hit more than 100 targets across 11 Gulf countries, with estimated damage at around $5bn.
Two air defence systems were also damaged in the region.
Iranian foreign minister says Tehran 'yet to see' if US serious about peace talks
Sunday 26 April 2026 13:30 , Maira ButtIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has hailed talks with Pakistani officials as “fruitful” but said he is “yet to see” if the US is equally serious about negotiations.
“Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Shared Iran's position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy.”
