West Asia conflict

April 16, 2026 1:09 PM

Can Iran legally impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz?

Tehran has sought to tighten its grip over the Strait of Hormuz by charging tolls on vessels to ensure safe passage, in conjunction with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The following explains law governing toll collections and actions that countries opposed to tolls might take. WHAT IS THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ? The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway connecting the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, and located within Iran's and Oman's territorial waters. It is perhaps the world's most important en...

April 16, 2026 1:06 PM

Trump says Lebanese-Israeli leaders will speak

U.S. President Donald Trump said leaders of Lebanon and Israel will speak, saying he was "trying to get a little breathing room" between the countries, after more than six weeks of war between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. "It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice!" Trump wrote in a social media post published before midnight on Wednesday, Washington time. It did not say which Lebanese and Israeli leaders would spe...

April 16, 2026 9:40 AM

Trump issues several pipeline permits for US-Canada oil transportation

U.S. President Donald Trump issued several pipeline permits on Wednesday, including one for the construction of a new pipeline, to facilitate the transportation of crude oil and petroleum products between the U.S. and Canada, according to documents released by the White House. The permit authorizing construction was issued to the Bakken Pipeline Company for pipeline facilities at Burke County, North Dakota. Other permits were issued for the maintenance and operation of existing pipelines at bo...

April 16, 2026 10:01 AM

US warns that buyers of Iranian oil could be hit with sanctions

The United States on Wednesday threatened to sanction buyers of Iranian oil and said it believed China would pause such purchases as Washington enforces a maritime blockade on Iran. "We have told countries that if you are buying Iranian oil, that if Iranian money is sitting in your banks, we are now willing to apply secondary sanctions," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters at the White House. The U.S. maritime blockade on Iran began on Monday as the Iran war entered its sevent...

April 16, 2026 9:37 AM

US-sanctioned supertankers enter Gulf despite blockade

A second U.S.-sanctioned supertanker has entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, shipping data showed, despite a U.S. blockade on vessels visiting Iranian ports. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the blockade on Sunday after weekend peace talks in Islamabad between the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a deal. The U.S. Central Command said on X that 10 vessels have been turned around and no ships have broken through since the start of the blockade on Monday. Still, Iran's Fars News Agency ...

April 16, 2026 12:57 PM

Hopes for Middle East peace grow with Israel and Lebanon eyeing ceasefire

Optimism grew on Thursday that the war in the Middle East may be near an end, with a key Pakistani mediator in Tehran and the administration of President Donald Trump talking up hopes for a deal that would open the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Israel's cabinet met on Wednesday to discuss a possible ceasefire in neighbouring Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said, more than six weeks into its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Two senior Lebanese officials said they had been briefed that efforts were...

April 16, 2026 9:30 AM

White House offers no hint of Iran war cost as it seeks military funding surge

White House budget director Russell Vought said on Wednesday he could not estimate the cost of the Iran war, as he defended President Donald Trump's request for a massive $1.5 trillion annual military budget against bipartisan criticism from U.S. lawmakers who cited the Pentagon's historic lack of financial accountability. "We're not ready to come to you with a request. We're still working on it. We're working through to figure out what's needed," Vought told a hearing of the House of Represent...

April 16, 2026 10:10 AM

Trump posts image of himself with Jesus as administration’s pope criticism continues

U.S. President Donald Trump posted an image of Jesus embracing him on Wednesday, as a war of words between his administration and the pope showed little sign of abating. The image, reposted to Trump's Truth Social account, shows Trump with his eyes closed, touching temple-to-temple with a similarly posed Jesus. Trump is standing behind a microphone, and behind him is an American flag. The original post had a caption that included the words: "God might be playing his Trump card!" Trump's repost...

April 15, 2026 12:47 PM

US begins naval blockade of Iranian ports

The United States Navy has begun enforcing a full maritime blockade of Iranian ports, escalating tensions in West Asia after weekend peace talks in Pakistan collapsed without agreement. The operation took effect at 6 pm Dubai time, with U.S. Central Command stating that the restrictions apply to vessels entering or leaving Iranian coastal areas in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Officials said ships bound for non-Iranian destinations can still transit through the Strait of Hormuz, though...

April 15, 2026 12:34 PM

US signals Iran talks resumption as Israel, Lebanon hold first direct talks in decades

The United States has indicated that talks with Iran could resume within days, while Israel and Lebanon have launched their first direct negotiations in decades, signaling parallel diplomatic efforts to ease escalating tensions across West Asia. US President Donald Trump said negotiations between Washington and Tehran may restart in Pakistan within the next two days. In an interview Trump said, "Something could be happening over the next two days, and we're more inclined to go there." The comm...