US-Israel-Iran War Highlights: White House denies US requested ceasefire, says fresh talks may happen in Pak again

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington could impose secondary sanctions on countries that continue purchasing Iranian oil, signalling a tougher stance aimed at cutting off Tehran’s energy revenues. 
 

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington will not renew licences that allowed the purchase of Russian and Iranian oil, signalling a tighter stance on energy flows linked to both countries.

The White House has denied reports that it requested a ceasefire in the Iran war, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling such claims incorrect. She said discussions with Iran have been “productive” and indicated that a second round of negotiations is likely to take place in Pakistan, as efforts continue to revive talks despite the earlier deadlock.
 

Lebanon has gone to the United Nations Security Council after a wave of deadly Israeli airstrikes carried out across the country on April 8, the foreign ministry said.

In its complaint, Lebanon said more than 100 strikes hit multiple locations, including densely populated residential areas in Beirut during peak hours and without advance warning. At least 303 people were killed, including 30 children and 71 women, and about 1,150 others were wounded.

“These attacks constitute a blatant violation of the principles of international law,” the Lebanese foreign ministry said.

The US and Iran are weighing a two-week extension of their ceasefire, set to expire April 21, to allow more time for negotiations on a broader peace agreement, Bloomberg reported citing insiders.

Mediators are working to arrange another round of direct talks aimed at resolving the most contentious issues, the source said. Key sticking points include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme.

Iran can withstand a complete halt in oil exports of up to two months before being forced to curb production, analysts said, after the US began blocking shipping in and out of the country's ports on April 13.

The blockade could prevent roughly 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian crude from reaching its main buyer China.

Any Iranian production shutdowns would add to more than 12 million bpd of supply already disrupted by the regional war, tightening markets further and lifting oil prices.

With its exports blocked, Iran faces having to divert crude into onshore storage tanks. Once those tanks are filled, the OPEC member would be required to curb upstream output.

Consultancy FGE NextantECA estimates Iran has about 90 million barrels of available onshore crude storage capacity, out of total capacity of roughly 122 million barrels.

"Iran can sustain current production of around 3.5 million bpd for roughly two months without exports, extendable to around three months with a modest 500,000 bpd production cut," FGE NextantECA said in a note.

(Reuters)

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves described the US-Israel war with Iran as a “mistake”, saying she is “not convinced” the conflict has made the world safer. Speaking at a CNBC event in Washington, Reeves stressed that the focus should be on achieving change through the right means, not just opposition to the Iranian regime. “The question is not whether you like or dislike the Iranian regime – I strongly dislike the Iranian regime – but how to achieve the change that you want to achieve,” she said, adding that diplomatic channels had been open before the conflict. “It was a mistake” to end those discussions and enter into war, she said, warning that the situation may now be more dangerous than a few weeks ago.

US Central Command said no vessels have entered or exited Iranian ports in the 48 hours since Washington began enforcing its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. It added that nine ships complied with US orders and turned back. The statement contradicts earlier claims by Iran’s Fars News Agency, which reported that a sanctioned supertanker had passed through the strait towards Imam Khomeini Port.

Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said plans have been approved to continue attacks in both Iran and Lebanon, underlining that operations are far from over. He claimed Israeli forces, alongside the United States, had struck Iran “hard”, weakening its defences, and stressed that Tehran must not gain any ground on its nuclear programme or in the Strait of Hormuz. Zamir added that strikes in southern Lebanon are ongoing, with forces “capturing and clearing key areas” and removing threats near northern settlements.

The United States is in discussions with Iran over a possible second round of negotiations, but no date has been fixed so far, according to BBC. Officials indicated that talks remain under consideration even as uncertainty persists. US President Donald Trump is also understood to be content keeping the naval blockade in place for now, using it as leverage until Washington sees clearer signs that Tehran is serious about reaching a deal.
 

At least 2,167 people have been killed in Lebanon since March 2 in Israeli attacks across the country, according to the health ministry. The ministry added that 7,061 others have been wounded as the ongoing strikes continue to take a heavy toll.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has welcomed a Pakistani delegation led by army chief Asim Munir. Pakistan's interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, is also part of the Pakistani delegation that landed in Tehran. Earlier in the day, Iranian state TV reported that the high-ranking Pakistani delegation would bring a new message from US and was due to discuss a second round of talks.

US Central Command said that no vessels managed to pass through its naval blockade of Iranian ports in the first 48 hours, claiming full control over maritime movement. In a post on X, CENTCOM added that nine ships complied with US directions and turned back towards Iranian ports or nearby coastal areas.

Hezbollah spokesperson and MP Ibrahim Mousawi said a ceasefire in Lebanon could take place soon, pointing to ongoing efforts involving Iran and regional players. Two unnamed senior Lebanese officials also told Reuters that discussions are underway, though details on timing and duration remain unclear. They added that any ceasefire in Lebanon is likely to be tied to how long the US-Iran truce holds.

At least eight Palestinians were killed and 29 others wounded in Israeli attacks across Gaza over the past 24 hours, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, despite an ongoing ceasefire. The ministry said the overall death toll since the war began on October 7, 2023, has reached 72,344, with 172,242 injured, adding that many victims remain trapped under rubble and have yet to be counted.
 

Finance ministers from several countries have called for a "swift and lasting" end to the US-Iran war, warning of serious risks to the global economy. Meeting ahead of IMF talks in Washington, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves and counterparts from multiple nations stressed the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and secure. They said disruptions could hit growth, energy prices and living standards, especially for the most vulnerable, adding that prolonged conflict would threaten supply chains, energy security and financial stability, with economic impacts likely to continue even after a resolution.
 

A Pakistani delegation involved in mediating talks to end the war has arrived in Tehran, led by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, according to official statements. The visit is aimed at advancing discussions between Iran and the United States and coordinating the next phase of negotiations.
 

Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, will soon arrive in Tehran to narrow gaps between Iran and the US in order to prevent the resumption of war, a senior Iranian official told news agency Reuters.

Israel’s security cabinet is set to convene at 8 PM (1700 GMT) to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire in Lebanon, a senior Israeli official told Reuters. The meeting comes amid ongoing tensions and efforts to explore a potential pause in hostilities.