War returns to Iran with Israel, US strikes

Hezbollah has claimed a series of attacks on Israeli military positions and equipment in southern Lebanon, including a strike on a Merkava tank and multiple drone attacks, Al Jazeera reports.

In separate statements, the group said it targeted an Israeli position in Adaysah with a drone, as well as “technical equipment” at the newly established Balat site.

Hezbollah also claimed it carried out attacks targeting an Israeli military position near the Deir Siryan river and a Merkava tank in the town square of Taybeh.

US President Donald Trump says President Xi Jinping had offered China’s help to open the Strait of Hormuz and pledged not to send military equipment to aid Iran in its war against the US and Israel, AFP reports.

“He said he’s not going to give military equipment… he said that strongly,” Trump tells the ‘Hannity’ show on Fox News, after the two leaders met in Beijing.

“He’d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said ‘if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,’” Trump adds.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio insists the US does not need China’s help on Iran, while reiterating that President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have found “common ground” on the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reports.

“We’re not asking for China’s help. We don’t need their help,” Rubio tells NBC.

He has also warned Tehran against trying to use divisions in US politics to influence negotiations with Washington.

“What the president’s making clear is, if the Iranians think they are going to use our domestic politics to pressure him into a bad deal, that’s not going to happen.”

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it is paying close attention to the energy shock caused by the conflict in the Middle East and its implications for fertiliser shipments, Reuters reports.

History shows it took about six months for increases in fertiliser prices to translate into higher food prices, and in some cases reduced yields and food security issues, IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozack tells a briefing.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has hailed the country’s citizens for their national solidarity and unity, noting that it is key to overcoming a crisis.

“The people of Iran have shown that the way to overcome challenges is through national solidarity, and just as they stood together during the forty-day war, they will also pass through the era of reconstruction with empathy and unity,” he has said on X.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command (Centcom), has claimed that “Iranian-supported terror groups” attacked US troops and diplomats 350 times prior to the launch of Operation Epic Fury — the name of Washington’s military campaign in Iran.

“Today, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis are all cut off from Iran’s weapons supply and support,” he tells a congressional hearing.

“This result was not foreordained, nor was it brought by chance. It’s the culmination of months of careful planning, built upon decades of experience. These results also do not come without cost.”

Iran’s ability to threaten its neighbours and US interests in the region has been dramatically reduced, Reuters reports quoting the head of US Central Command.

“Iran has a significantly degraded threat, and they no longer threaten regional partners, or the United States, in ways that they were able to do before, across every domain,” Admiral Brad Cooper tells a Senate committee. “They’ve been significantly degraded.”

At least 200 children have been killed in Lebanon from ongoing Israeli attacks since March 2, Unicef says according to Al Jazeera.

Unicef said at least 59 children were killed or wounded in the war-battered country during the past week alone despite the “ceasefire” in effect since April 17.

“Children in Lebanon continue to be at the sharp end of ongoing violence, displacement, and exposure to traumatic events,” it said in a statement.

The overall casualty toll among children since March 2 has reached 200 killed and 806 injured — equivalent to nearly 14 children killed or wounded every day, it said.

Rising gas prices drove up US consumer spending in April even as overall consumption slowed, AFP reports citing official data.

Retail sales totaled $757.1 billion in the United States in April, up 0.5 per cent from the previous month and 4.9pc year-on-year.

That represents a sharp slowdown from March, when spending rose 1.6pc compared to February numbers. The data is nevertheless in line with market expectations.

The broad index of retail and food sales includes in-store purchases, dining out, gas purchases and more. It is not adjusted for inflation, which accelerated sharply over the period. This implies that, while Americans spent more, they did not necessarily purchase more goods and services by volume.

US consumers are facing soaring prices at the pump due to the repercussions of the war in the Middle East. Their spending at gas stations increased by nearly 21pc compared to last year, the data shows.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has had a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, in which the two top diplomats discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

“The two leaders reviewed the prevailing regional situation and exchanged views on ongoing efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability,” the FO says in a post on X.

“Foreign Secretary Cooper appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in encouraging peaceful engagement among the concerned parties.”

According to the FO, the discussion also covered the broader implications of the conflict on regional security and international trade.

“DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred path for addressing regional challenges,” it adds.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar have instructed “the initiation of a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times”, according to Al Jazeera.

The move comes after the newspaper recently published an op-ed alleging widespread sexual violence by Israeli prison guards and soldiers against Palestinian detainees.

In a statement, Israel’s foreign ministry called the piece “one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel in the modern press”.

The NYT investigation, published on Monday, is based on testimonies gathered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank from 14 men and women who said they’d been sexually assaulted by Israeli settlers or soldiers.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi has said the ceasefire between the US and Iran is “holding”.

Responding to a query, according to a transcript posted by FO, Andrabi said, “Yes, the peace process is intact, it’s holding on. We remain engaged. We remain hopeful.

“Injecting momentum into the peace process is primarily the prerogative of the two principal interlocutors. Pakistan, on its parts [sic], remain engaged,” he was quoted as saying.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the one-month blockade of Iranian ports has “been a resounding success” as it applies severe pressure on Iran’s government, Al Jazeera reports.

In an interview with US news channel CNBC, Bessent says the best way to deal with Iran’s leaders is to “squeeze them economically”.

“None of their ships are getting out, none are coming in, so they’re not able to store oil on the waters, so they’re going to start shutting down production,” he claims.

“We believe we’re at the point where soldiers aren’t getting paid,” Bessent continues. “They’re not able to replenish their weapons stocks from abroad. So I think that they are on their last legs.”

United States Central Command (Centcom) has said that Washington’s naval blockade of Iranian ports has redirected 70 vessels and disabled four others.

Israel and Lebanon have opened a new round of peace talks in Washington as their latest ceasefire is set to expire, AFP reports citing diplomats.

One diplomat privy to the two-day talks says that the two sides started discussions just after 9am (6pm PKT) at the US State Department.

Iraqi officials have approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) about securing financial assistance as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, Reuters reports citing a source close to the IMF.

Initial conversations took place last month during the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington, and discussions are ongoing about how much funding Iraq would need and how any loan would be structured, the source says.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that China is not in favour of militarising the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Chinese side said they are not in favour of militarising the Strait of Hormuz and they are not in favour of a tolling system, and that’s our position,” he has said in an interview.

The Israeli military’s latest attack in southern Lebanon’s Zrarieh has killed at least one person and injured two, Al Jazeera reports citing Lebanon’s National News Agency.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the United Arab Emirates of playing an active role in the US-Israeli war against his country, AFP reports.

“The UAE is an active partner in this aggression, and there is no doubt about it,” Araghchi has said in a Telegram post while attending a BRICS summit in India.

“I must say that the UAE was directly involved in the act of aggression against my country. When this aggression began, they even refused to condemn it,” Araghchi says. “It also became clear that they participated in these attacks and may have even acted directly against us.”

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said that a “coordinated negative information campaign” initiated from abroad with “malicious intent” has been observed for the past few days.

“The objective of this is to create deliberate confusion and misinformation, quoting unnamed sources and officials. This unprofessional intent to discredit Pakistan’s role for sustainable peace in the region speaks of the frustration of those who are weary of peace,” Tarar said on X.

“We understand quite clearly that behind such stories are certain elements, mainly the detractors of peace, who are unable to come to terms with Pakistan’s role for peace in the region as well as Pakistan’s continued and successful fight against foreign sponsored and abetted terrorism,” he said.

Tarar noted that credible domestic media sources and fact check forums have already called out the propaganda.

“The effort and role of Pakistani media and influencers to unmask this malicious campaign is most commendable.”

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur has met with Deputy PM Ishaq Dar to exchange views on bilateral relations and regional developments, the Foreign Office says.

“Assistant Secretary Kapur appreciated Pakistan’s role in regional mediation and noted the positive trajectory in bilateral relations,” the FO said on X.

Dar “appreciated President Trump’s vision for peace, the Iran–US ceasefire understanding, and the visit of US Vice President JD Vance” to Pakistan from April 11-12.

The deputy PM reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy.

An Indian-flagged vessel which was struck off the coast of Oman has sunk, according to Reuters.

The attack on the dhow — a vessel built of wood — while it was sailing to the United Arab Emirates from Somalia in the early hours of Wednesday, caused a fire on board and eventually led to its sinking, New Delhi says, adding that all 14 crew were rescued by the Omani coast guard and moved to Diba port.

India has not specified the nature of the attack or who was behind it, but British maritime risk management group Vanguard claims it involved an explosion believed to have been caused by a drone or missile strike.