Data reveals limited shipping traffic through Hormuz Shipping data revealed on Monday that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited, with seven ships crossing in the last 24 hours amid stalled talks between Iran and the US. Ship tracking data from Kpler and separate satellite analysis from data analytics specialists SynMax, showed that the vessels included ships leaving Iraqi ports and one dry bulk vessel. The crossings represent a fraction of the average 140 daily passages before the war began on 28 February.
Israel bombs southern Lebanese town of Taybeh Israeli forces have bombed the southern Lebanese town of Taybeh, Al Jazeera Arabic is reporting. Earlier today, Israeli attacks on the country killed two people, bringing the overall death toll since the ceasefire on 16 April to 38.
UK: Starmer to hold meeting about economic impacts of Iran war UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced he is set to hold a meeting on Tuesday about the impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran. He told trade unionists on Monday that the meeting will involve Cobra (Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) and Bank of England representatives. “I have to level with you about Iran, because the truth is, the economic consequences could still be with us for some time," Starmer said.
Israeli fire kills Palestinian child, wounds another Israeli attacks have killed a Palestinian child and wounded another person in northern Gaza's Beit Lahia, Wafa news agency is reporting, citing local sources. According to the sources, Israeli fire killed 15-year-old Ayham al-Omari and wounded another civilian.
She opposed US-Israeli bombs on Iran. The monarchists lost it | Ariana Jasmine Submitted by Mohamed Hashem on Mon, 04/27/2026 - 11:33 "I don't feel safe with my own people. " Ariana Jasmine is one of the biggest Iranian-American political content creators, whose videos on Iran's history, the US-Israeli war on the country, and US politics have been widely shared online.
Too early to drop sanctions against Iran, says EU's von der Leyen European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that it was too early to drop sanctions imposed on Iran. "We think the dropping of sanctions would be too early," she said in Berlin at a meeting of the conservative CDU and its CSU Bavarian sister party, adding 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," von der Leyen added.
Israel sent air defence system and troops to UAE during Iran war, report says Submitted by Mera Aladam on Mon, 04/27/2026 - 08:14 Axios says the move marks the first time Israel has sent an Iron Dome battery to another country UAE's Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan (R) receiving Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Abu Dhabi on 6 April 2025 (WAM via AFP) Off Israel supplied the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with an Iron Dome air defence system, along with troops to operate it, during the war on Iran , Axios reported on Sunday, citing several officials. According to the US news outlet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to send an Iron Dome battery, complete with interceptors and several dozen soldiers trained to operate it, early in the conflict. The move, which followed a call between Netanyahu and Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed, marks the first time Israel has sent an Iron Dome battery to another country, Israeli officials told the site.
Hezbollah chief 'enemy reached a dead end' Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem has said that Israel's attacks on Lebanon, launched with the intention of ending the group, have "reached a dead end". He further called on the Lebanese government to stop direct negotiations with Israel and "void its decision in March that criminalises the resistance and its public base". He said that the Lebanese authorities' prioritising of negotiations with Israel "puts the interest of Lebanon above all consideration without succumbing to Israeli and foreign dictates".
UAE 'aggressively' lobbying US to designate Yemen's Islah as a terror group, sources say Submitted by Faisal Edroos on Mon, 04/27/2026 - 11:00 Abu Dhabi has been pressuring Washington to label Islah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, a move that could likely inflame tensions with Saudi Arabia Supporters of Yemen's Islah political party attend a meeting in the southwestern Yemeni city of Taiz on 30 September 2023 (Courtesy) Off The United Arab Emirates is "aggressively" lobbying the Trump administration to designate Yemen 's Islah party as a terror organisation, a move that is likely to inflame tensions with Saudi Arabia which serves as a principal backer of the group. US, Saudi and Yemeni sources told Middle East Eye that Abu Dhabi had spent the last four months pressuring Washington to label Islah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, after telling the Trump administration that the January designations of three Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated groups did not go far enough. Earlier this year, Washington designated the Muslim Brotherhood's Egyptian, Jordanian and Lebanese branches as terror organisations, a move that elicited a laconic statement from Abu Dhabi.
Oil prices jump as US-Iran talks stall Oil prices jumped almost three percent on Monday as peace talks between the US and Iran stalled and shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remained limited, keeping global oil supplies tight. The Brent crude benchmark rose $3, or about 2. 9 percent, to $108.
Why Israel and the US were so deadly wrong about regime change in Iran Submitted by Hamid Dabashi on Tue, 04/21/2026 - 13:38 Israel fooled Trump into war on Iran using the same network of native informants and think tank operatives that paved the way for the quagmire in Iraq A demonstrator holds a banner depicting US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest against the US-Israel war on Iran in Rome, Italy, 14 March 2026 (Filippo Monteforte/AFP) On Back in June 2018, when yet another Israeli - US - Saudi euphoria about "regime change in Iran " was in the air, I published a short essay in which I argued that the idea of regime change in Iran was delusional. Even earlier, in 2010, I published a book, Iran, the Green Movement and the USA , in which I identified the endemic struggles of Iranians against the draconian measures of their ruling government as a "civil rights movement" seeking civil liberties - and not a revolutionary uprising to which additional help could be provided by Israeli or American genocidal Zionists seeking distraction from their crimes against humanity in Palestine . In a recent interview with LBC News in the UK , soon after the ceasefire negotiated in Islamabad between the US and Iran, I was reminded of that essay and that book, now more than a decade and a half old, and cited them to the host interviewing me.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Tensions across the Middle East remain elevated as military exchanges continue in Lebanon, while diplomacy intensifies between Iran, Russia and regional actors. Oil markets remain volatile and shipping risks persist, with no clear breakthrough yet in efforts to de-escalate the conflict. Here are the latest updates: Araghchi arrives in Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin on war and diplomacy Proposal via Pakistan aims to end blockade and reopen Strait of Hormuz, Axios reports White House says US will not negotiate “through the media” amid stalled talks UK maritime agency warns of ongoing threat to shipping in Gulf waters Iran moves 4.
Israeli officials question impact of Netanyahu’s Hezbollah directive Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom, citing military officials, reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement ordering a forceful response against Hezbollah in Lebanon was intended as a “show of force” to ease internal pressure and shift responsibility onto the army. Officials said there had been no substantive change in military instructions following the statement. According to the report, the Israeli army continued operations in southern Lebanon in line with existing directives from the political leadership.
Putin-Araghchi meeting planned amid ongoing tensions Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has left Pakistan for Russia at the head of a diplomatic delegation, as Iran continues consultations over negotiations. The Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Araqchi during his visit to Moscow on Monday. Araghchi’s visit follows a second stop in Islamabad within 24 hours after travelling from Muscat.
White House: US will not negotiate through the media Axios, citing White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, reported that the United States will not conduct negotiations with Iran through public channels. “These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the media,” Leavitt said. The spokesperson added that Washington remains the decision-maker in any agreement and “will only make an agreement that is in the interest of our people first”, while reiterating that the US “will never allow Iran to possess a nuclear weapon”.
Video: Student shuts down Israeli soldier event at Rutgers University An event at Rutgers University featuring an Israeli soldier was disrupted when a Jewish student stood up and openly condemned Israel’s genocide in Gaza, citing the mass killing of Palestinians, including journalists, healthcare workers and children. The student condemned attempts to justify the genocide and challenged the speaker directly in front of the audience. The confrontation unfolded amid growing opposition on campus to hosting Israeli military figures and potential war criminals, with boycott calls already circulating.
Araghchi: Pakistan played important role, US approach stalled progress Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Pakistan has played an important role in mediating talks with the United States, Tasnim News Agency reported. “As for Pakistan, this country plays an important role in mediating Iran-US talks in recent times, and it was necessary to talk about the latest developments,” he said, adding that “wrong approaches and extravagances of the US made the previous rounds of negotiations unable to reach their goals despite the progress”. Araghchi said, “We had good consultations with our friends in Pakistan, which Alhamdulillah was a very successful trip.
Sirens sound in Galilee after drone infiltration from Lebanon The Israeli military said sirens were activated across parts of northern Israel after a suspected hostile aircraft entered the area from Lebanon. Alerts were reported in multiple locations, including Maalot-Tarshiha and surrounding areas in the Galilee. The military said the incident is under investigation, while the Israeli Home Front Command reported continuous sirens in several areas following the drone infiltration.
Israel destroys power and water systems in Christian town in south Lebanon Israeli forces bulldozed solar panels in the predominantly Christian town of Debel in southern Lebanon, cutting electricity that powers homes and the town’s water supply and leaving civilians without essential services. The destruction also extended to homes, roads and olive groves, further crippling daily life in the area. Debel, a majority Maronite Christian community, has already been repeatedly targeted.
