Main Points
- US president Donald Trump said talks with Iran on the 10-point two-week ceasefire plan will be held behind closed doors
- Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping lane through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies are transported, over Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon
- Israel insisted that its fighting in Lebanon, which it says is targeting Iran-backed Hizbullah, must be considered separate from the war on Iran
- Several states in the Gulf region accused Iran of breaking the ceasefire and Iran has previously stated that Lebanon must be included in any truce
- The United Nations criticised Israel for Wednesday’s attacks on Lebanon which the authority said resulted in ‘significant civilian casualties’
Best Reads
- Sally Hayden: Israel launches fresh wave of air strikes across Lebanon amid dashed hopes of a ceasefire
- Mark Weiss: Netanyahu faces domestic backlash as Iran conflict enters new phase
- Keith Duggan: In Trump’s America, everyday conversations now would have been unimaginable three years ago
That concludes today’s live coverage of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Stay with us on irishtimes.com on Thursday for the latest breaking news and analysis on the situation in the Gulf.
UN condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon as death toll climbs
The United Nations has condemned a massive wave of Israeli strikes across Lebanon, saying reports that hundreds of people, including civilians had been killed and injured were “appalling” just hours after the Iran ceasefire.
“The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific,” UN human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement.
“Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief. It places enormous pressure on a fragile peace, which is so desperately needed by civilians,” he said.
Turk’s statement said a UN human rights team at the site of one of the strikes in the capital described a scene of devastation, and seeing several dead bodies amid the rubble.
Israel said it had targeted more than 100 Hizbullah command centres, with military sites targeted in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s civil defence authorities said the death toll from Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday had risen to 254. – Reuters
US never promised ceasefire in Lebanon, says Vance
There’s a serious disconnect between what Tehran and Washington are saying today regarding whether or not Lebanon was included in the two-week ceasefire deal reached last night.
Iran seems to think it was; Washington insists it wasn’t.
US vice president JD Vance has now told reporters in Budapest that the US never promised to include Lebanon in the ceasefire, and that Iran may have been under that impression due to a “misunderstanding”.
“I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. I think the Iranians thought the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t. We never made that promise, we never indicated that was gonna be the case,” he said.
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that three key clauses of the ceasefire deal, including one regarding the ceasefire including Lebanon, had been violated.
Asked about that, Vance insulted Ghalibaf as he questioned whether he had misunderstood elements of the deal. He told reporters: “If he’s frustrated about three issues, that actually means that there’s a lot of agreement.
“I actually wonder how good he is at understanding English, because there are things that he said that, frankly, didn’t make sense in the context of the negotiations.”
Peace talks still scheduled as missile attacks continue
The White House has said it continues to plan for direct negotiations with Iran, as continued fighting in the Middle East threatens to derail the fragile ceasefire in the six-week conflict.
US vice president JD Vance is still set to lead the US delegation to Islamabad, that would also include special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with the first round of talks taking place Saturday morning local time.
However, sporadic fighting is continuing throughout the region, including in Lebanon, where US president Trump said the fighting was not covered by the ceasefire. Iranian officials cast that as violating the terms of the less than day-old ceasefire.
“The Iran–U. S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose – ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both,” Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post.
In a subsequent post, Iranian parliament speaker Muhammad-Bagher Ghalibaf cited the fighting in Lebanon, as well as claims of a drone entering Iranian airspace and the “denial of Iran’s right to enrichment,” saying that in such circumstances, a “bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable.”
Further underscoring the fragility of the truce, the Strait of Hormuz remained largely blocked. Trump has said that reopening the strait is a condition for halting the fighting. Leavitt reiterated Wednesday that Trump expected the strait to be “reopened immediately.”
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that passage of oil tankers through the strait were halted after Israeli strikes. Leavitt countered that assertion, saying the US had seen an “uptick of traffic in the strait today” and would be “helpful in any way we can” to police the waterway. – Bloomberg
Several Gulf states have accused Iran of blatant breaches of the ceasefire, with the UAE claiming its defences have intercepted multiple missile attacks since the ceasefire began.
In a post on X, the UAE said: “The Ministry of Defense announces that the blatant Iranian attacks since the ceasefire took effect have reached 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones, and the air defences have successfully dealt with them.”
Kuwait’s defence ministry also said its air defence systems responded to “intense hostile Iranian attacks,” including attacks from 28 drones, that were dealt with.
“Kuwaiti armed forces intercepted a large number of drones, some of that targeted vital oil installations and power stations in the south of the country,” the ministry said in a statement.
In Bahrain, the ministry of interior also reported what it said were Iranian attacks, claiming two people were injured.
“Two citizens sustained minor injuries and a number of houses were damaged in the Sitra area as a result of shrapnel falling from the interception of an Iranian drone,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Qatari ministry of defence said the state was targeted by seven ballistic missiles and several drones that it said were launched from Iran, but that were “successfully intercepted”.
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry also claimed in a post on X that nine drones had been intercepted.
Leavitt asks for ‘little bit of patience’ with ceasefire
The White House press secretary is asked about reports of some firings in the Middle East.
Leavitt says this is a fragile truce and she would caution “a little bit of patience”. But, she says, “of course” the US wants to see the ceasefire implemented as soon as possible.
Asked what her interpretation was of Trump’s threat on Tuesday that civilisation in Iran would end, she says: “I think it was a very very strong threat from the president of the United States that led the Iranian regime to cave to their knees and ask for a ceasefire and agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.”
The threat “led to results” and “was not an empty threat”. She says the Pentagon had a target list it was ready to hit if the Iranians did not agree to a ceasefire by 8pm last night.
The press conference has now ended.
Iran has indicated it will turn over enriched uranium – Leavitt
How to deal with enriched uranium in Iran is “on top of the priority list for the president and his negotiating team” in this next round of discussions, says Leavitt.
“That is a red line that the president is not going to back away from. He is committed to ensuring that takes place.”
She says the US hopes this takes place through diplomacy.
Asked if Iran has given any indication it will turn over its enriched uranium, she says: “They have.”
The United Nations has criticised Israel for Wednesday’s attacks on Lebanon that the authority said resulted in “significant civilian casualties”.
The attacks hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.
“The United Nations strongly condemns the strikes by Israel across Lebanon that resulted in significant civilian casualties,” said Farhan Haq, a spokesman for UN secretary general António Guterres.
“We continue to call on all sides to avail themselves of diplomatic channels, cease hostilities” and use the new US-Iran ceasefire as an opportunity to prevent further loss of life,” he added.
‘Insulting’ to suggest US president does not have moral authority, says press secretary
Leavitt is asked about Trump’s rhetoric threatening to destroy Iran’s civilisation, rather than its government.
“The US has been a moral leader for most of its history by fighting wars against other governments not against civilisations,” says UK Independent reporter Andrew Feinberg, asking how the president can claim America has the moral high ground given this rhetoric.
Leavitt says the president has essentially taken out the military of a “rogue Islamic regime” that has chanted death to America for 47 years.
She says Trump “absolutely has the moral high ground over the Iranian terrorist regime and for you to even suggest otherwise is frankly insulting”. She refuses to take a follow-up question from Feinberg.
Information Iran gives to media is ‘much different’ to what it tells Trump – Leavitt
At a White House press conference, press secretary Karoline Leavitt is asked what is the US’s response to reports Iran has now closed the strait of Hormuz.
“We have seen an uptick in traffic today,” she says, reiterating the president’s expectation that the route is reopened. She says he is monitoring the situation.
On reports about a 10-point plan published by Iranian media, she says: “The idea that president Trump would ever accept an Iranian wish list is absurd.”
Leavitt says what Iran feeds to the media is “much different” to what it says privately to the US president.
She says Trump will only accept a deal that “puts America first”.
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon today despite the ceasefire, Iranian state media reports, with Iran’s authorities said to be treating the strait as still closed.
The hours-old two-week conditional ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran had a provision for the temporary reopening of the crucial maritime channel.
Tehran said on Wednesday it would offer safe passage in co-ordination with its armed forces, though its coast guard said any ship trying to transit without permission would be “targeted and destroyed”. – The Guardian
US-Iran talks will be behind closed doors, says Trump
US president Donald Trump has hit out on social media at “Fraudsters” and “Charlatans” sharing purported agreements, lists and letters that have “absolutely nothing to do with the U.S.A. / Iran Negotiation”.
“There is only one group of meaningful ‘POINTS’ that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations. These are the POINTS that are the basis on which we agreed to a CEASEFIRE,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Some photos from Lebanon, as Israel carries out what it says are the largest co-ordinated strike in the current war:
The New York Times reports that Iran’s 10-point plan to end the war. But a White House official said the points do not match what Donald Trump was referring to.
Citing Iran’s IRNA news agency, the New York Times says Iran’s demands include:
- An American guarantee of non-aggression with Iran
- Iran maintains control of the Strait of Hormuz
- Ending the regional war on all fronts, including against Iran’s ally, Hizbullah, in Lebanon
- Withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and positions in the region
- Reparations to Iran for war damages
- Acceptance of Iran’s right to nuclear enrichment
- Lifting all primary sanctions on Iran
- Lifting all secondary sanctions on Iran
- Termination of all resolutions against Iran by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency
- Termination of all United Nations Security Council Resolutions against Iran
Lebanon not part of ceasefire deal, says Trump
Lebanon is not part of the two-week ceasefire deal, US president Donald Trump has told the media.
Speaking on the phone with PBS News Hour’s Liz Landers, Trump is reported to have said the Israel-Lebanon conflict is a “separate skirmish”, adding: “Yeah, they [Lebanon] were not included in the deal.
He added: “Because of Hizbullah. They were not included in the deal. That’ll get taken care of too. It’s alright.” – The Guardian
What has happened so far today?
Tehran reportedly considering strikes against Israel
Following on from the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, Saudi Arabia said this afternoon it has intercepted nine drones over the past hours.
Iran’s revolutionary guards said its forces have shot down a Hermes 900 drone over southern Iran. The country’s FARS news agency said Tehran is considering strikes against Israel “amid its violation of temporary ceasefire in Lebanon”.
Israel has said the country insisted on separating the war with Iran with the fighting in Lebanon. Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning, hours after the ceasefire was announced in the US-Israeli war with Iran. – Reuters
UN envoy in Iran to support ‘durable’ end to conflict
United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres’s personal envoy has arrived in Iran as part of a regional tour aimed at backing “a comprehensive and durable resolution” to the Iran war, the United Nations has said.
Jean Arnault will hear Iranian perspectives “on the way forward” and reiterate Guterres’s commitment to support a peaceful settlement, a spokesperson said in a statement.
Arnault called on all leaders to “choose the path of peaceful resolution and the protection of civilians,” the spokesperson added. – Reuters
European leaders call for ‘lasting’ peace to avert severe energy crisis
A group of mostly European leaders have called for negotiations to agree a “lasting” end to the war in Iran in the coming days, to lock in the current two-week ceasefire, Europe Correspondent Jack Power reports.
A permanent truce would hopefully “avert a severe global energy crisis”, the group of world leaders said.
The statement was backed by French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK prime minister Keir Starmer, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez, a vocal critic of Washington’s decision to attack Iran, plus Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney and others.
“We welcome the two-week ceasefire concluded between the United States and Iran today.
“We thank Pakistan and all partners involved for facilitating this important agreement,” the statement said.
“The goal must now be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the war within the coming days. This can only be achieved through diplomatic means,” the leaders said.
The statement was also signed by the leaders of Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, plus European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa.
The leaders said they were in “close contact” with the Trump administration to foster diplomatic efforts.
“We call upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon. Our Governments will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said.
Lebanon claims Israel’s latest strikes are new ‘massacre’
Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz has said the country insisted on separating the war with Iran with the fighting in Lebanon to change the reality there and remove threats. He said hundreds of Hizbullah militants were targeted in strikes.
Lebanon’s presidency said Israel committed a new “massacre” with its latest strikes.
Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning, hours after the ceasefire was announced in the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Israel’s military called it the largest co-ordinated strike in the current war, striking more than 100 Hizbullah targets within 10 minutes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley on Wednesday.
Black smoke towered over several parts of the seaside capital. Booms interrupted the honking of traffic on what had been a blue-sky afternoon and ambulances raced toward open flames.
At least one apartment building was struck as emergency responders searched charred vehicles.
It was not immediately clear how many people were killed or wounded, but several strikes were in busy commercial locations, causing panic in the streets. – Associated Press/ Reuters
Hegseth responds to question about Trump’s ‘whole civilisation will die’ post
Hegseth is asked about Donald Trump’s threat on Tuesday that a “whole civilisation will die” and whether this would have been carried out if a ceasefire agreement was not reached.
“We had a target set, locked and loaded of infrastructure, bridges ... We had a lot of legitimate targets,” he says.
“Iran ultimately understood their ability ... to fuel their terrorist regime was in our hands.”
“That type of threat is what brought them to the place where they effectively said: ‘Okay, we want to cut this deal.’”
The news conference has ended.
Ceasefire can take time to hold, and remote Iranian shooters should be informed of agreement, says Hegseth
There have been reports that Iran has continued striking US allies this morning.
Hegseth says any shooting is being “monitored in real time”.
“Iran would be wise to find a way to get the carrier pigeon to their troops out in remote locations to know not to shoot ... It takes some time for ceasefires to take hold. We are watching it; we are prepared ... We hope and believe it will hold.”
Iranian regime ‘has been changed’ and knows it cannot have nuclear weapons, says Hegseth
Hegseth is asked about Trump’s social media post saying there has been a regime change in Iran and that enriched uranium there will be dug up and removed.
The defence secretary says the “new Iranian regime” knows it will never have a nuclear weapon or the capability to get a path to one.
“Right now it is buried and we are watching it. We know exactly what they have, and they know that,” he says, adding the material will either be handed over voluntarily or the US will go in and take it.
He says the “new regime” is a “new group of people” who have a “new calculus of what it means to negotiate with us”.
“This new regime – the regime has been changed – has a different interaction with the US.”
Other countries must ‘step up’ to ensure Hormuz Strait stays open, says Hegseth
Hegseth is asked what Trump meant by the US will be hanging around.
“Yeah, we will be hanging around. We are not going anywhere. We are going to make sure Iran complies with this ceasefire and then ultimately comes to the table and makes a deal,” he says. American troops remain ready to go on offence or defence “at a moment’s notice”.
Asked what role the US military is playing in helping ships through the Strait of Hormuz, he says the ceasefire agreement requires Iran to allow vessels through.
“We have done an incredible job, militarily, inside the Strait of Hormuz ... We barely get any of our energy out of the Strait, just a tiny fraction. It is time for the rest of the world to step up and ensure that stays open.”
US mourns 13 service members killed in conflict, says joint chief of staff
Also addressing media at The Pentagon, US joint chief of staff air force general Dan Caine says the US will continue to mourn the loss of 13 service members who died during this conflict.
He says the government deeply appreciates the support of the American people.
The US has struck more than 13,000 targets during this operation, he says. About 80 per cent of Iran’s air defence systems have been destroyed, while 150 ships are at the bottom of the ocean. Some 90 per cent of their weapons factories have been struck, he says.
“We have devastated Iran’s command and control and logistics networks ... Perhaps most importantly we have destroyed Iran’s defence industrial base.”
More than 50,000 American war fighters made sacrifices during deployment as part of this operation.
He says the US has created the conditions for peace but remains ready to re-engage if needed.
Hegseth praises Israel for being an ally and says the rest of the world should “take some notes”.
“God deserves all the glory,” he adds.
Iranians came to negotiating table once ‘humiliated’ – Hegseth
“This new regime was out of options and out of time, so they cut a deal,” Hegseth says, adding that they know they can never have nuclear.
The president has been clear from the beginning: there will be no Iranian nuclear missiles, he says.
Hegseth says Iran “got lucky” one time within 40 days when they downed a US jet, but both pilots were rescued.
He says Iranians came to the table after they were “humiliated” and “demoralised”, with the US controlling their fate.
“Now we have a chance at real peace and a real deal,” he says, adding: “As everybody knows, nobody makes a better deal than president Trump.”
US could have ‘crippled’ Iran’s economy but Trump chose mercy
Every US objective has been achieved on schedule, he says, claiming Iran’s navy has been “sunk” and its air force destroyed.
He said Iran was “obsessed” with “blowing ammo into fantasy land”. Contrast that with last night’s wave of “more than 800 strikes”, which he says destroyed its military base.
“They can no longer build missiles, build rockets ... their factories have been raised to the ground, set back in historic fashion.”
Trump could have “crippled” Iran’s economy “in minutes” but he chose “mercy”, says Hegseth.
Iran no longer a threat to free world – Hegseth
“Iran has been a threat to the United States and the free world for 47 years ... no longer. Not on our watch,” says Pete Hegseth, adding that president Donald Trump “made history” by taking action.
“No other president has shown the courage and resolve of this commander in chief ... Iran begged for this cease fire and we all know it,” he tells the press gathered at The Pentagon.
“Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield,” he said, adding that this was a victory with a “capital V”.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth is due to address the media at The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, shortly.
The Israeli military said on Wednesday it has carried out the largest strikes against Lebanon’s Hizbullah since this war began, striking the militant group’s infrastructure within the heart of civilian areas across the country. – Reuters
US and Iran will dig up nuclear material, says Trump
US president Donald Trump has this afternoon said the US will “work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!”
“There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear ‘Dust.’,” he wrote on social media platform Truth Social after noon on Wednesday.
“It is now, and has been, under very exacting Satellite Surveillance (Space Force!). Nothing has been touched from the date of attack. We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran. Many of the 15 points have already been been agreed to,” he wrote.
In a follow up post, Trump said a country supplying military weapons to Iran “will be immediately tariffed” at 50 per cent on “any and all goods” sold to the US.
European Commission wants Israel to end Lebanon operation
The European Commission has called on Israel to end its operations in Lebanon.
Hizbullah, the Lebanon-based militant group, said nobody will commit to the ceasefire if Irael does not adhere to it.
Israel has said its military operations in the country will continue despite the US ceasefire announcement overnight. Israeli forces carried out strikes and told civilians in the south of the country to leave targeted areas.
The office of the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said Donald Trump’s two-week pause “does not include Lebanon” amid reports of continued artillery and drone strikes. This directly contradicted statements made by Iran and Pakistan, which has been mediating in the conflict. – Agencies
Shippers seek clarity on passage through Hormuz Strait
Shippers looking to revive the passage of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz were seeking clarity on the logistics, while refiners inquired about new crude loadings on Wednesday, in response to a ceasefire deal.
Most stranded oil and gas tankers remained inside the Gulf, LSEG shipping data showed, hours after president Donald Trump announced the two-week ceasefire and said the US would help with the traffic build-up.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said that if attacks against it stop, Tehran would cease counter-attacks and provide safe passage in co-ordination with its armed forces “and with due consideration of technical limitations”.
Ship tracker Kpler said some 187 laden tankers carrying 172 million barrels of crude oil and refined products were afloat inside the strait as of Tuesday.
With more than 1,000 ocean-going vessels trapped within the gulf, it would likely take more than two weeks to clear the backlog even under normal conditions, said Daejin Lee, global head of research at freight logistics firm Fertmax FZCO.
“A 14-day window is simply too short to restore the level of confidence needed to fully unwind the embedded uncertainty premium – particularly for Arabian Gulf loading routes,” he said.
Lee said details remained unclear, including what actions ships and charterers must take to gain passage.
Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at shipping association Bimco, said the industry was awaiting technical details from the US and Iran. – Reuters
Germany’s finance ministry welcomed the ceasefire agreement but is still looking at measures for targeted relief from high energy prices due to the volatility of the situation.
“We certainly welcome the ceasefire agreement, but we also recognise that there is no reason to sound the all-clear,” said a government spokesperson at a press conference.
“Therefore we continue to monitor the situation very closely and are still examining measures for targeted relief, especially for commuters from small businesses and families.” – Reuters
Kuwait’s army has said its air defences were intercepting a wave of Iranian drones launched since 5am. The army said some drones targeted vital oil facilities, power stations and water desalination plants, causing major infrastructure damage.
Kuwait has called on Iran and its allied groups to halt hostilities and stressed the need to protect freedom of navigation in the Hormuz Strait. It has welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire announcement. – Reuters
Donald Trump is due to welcome Nato chief Mark Rutte to the White House on Wednesday, as the war with Iran has pushed US relations with other members of the military alliance to a crisis point.
The Republican president has threatened to withdraw from the 32-member transatlantic alliance and denounced Washington’s European allies in recent weeks for what he said was inadequate support for the US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran.
Rutte, known in Europe as a “Trump whisperer,” has cultivated a warm relationship with Trump despite the tensions and referred to him last year as a “daddy” handling a schoolyard brawl between Israel and Iran. Another European diplomat described Rutte’s approach to Trump as deferential but effective.
When the two men meet, Rutte is likely to express a shared interest in restoring normal maritime trade after hostilities caused energy prices to spike globally, the first two diplomats said. He is also expected to attempt to sway the US leader away from public criticism of the alliance, while touting steps European countries are taking to increase defence spending.
A Nato official said Rutte would seek to increase defence-industry co-operation and to discuss the wars in Iran and Ukraine. But it is unclear whether Nato, a defensive alliance focused on North America and Europe, would play an extensive role in the Middle East. – Reuters
Russia welcomes US-Iran ceasefire and want talks on Ukraine
The Kremlin has welcomed a two-week ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran, and said Russia hopes the US will now have the time and scope to resume three-way peace talks on Ukraine.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We received the news of a truce with satisfaction. We welcome the decision not to proceed further down the path of armed escalation.”
Asked about whether the Iran ceasefire may facilitate fresh talks on Ukraine, Peskov said: “We hope that, in the foreseeable future, (the US) will have more time and greater opportunity to meet in a trilateral format,” referring to talks held between Russia, Ukraine and the US.
Russia had previously said that Ukraine peace talks had been paused after the outbreak of hostilities in Iran.
Negotiations began last year in Istanbul and three-way talks with the US were held at the start of this year in Abu Dhabi and Geneva.
But progress has been slow, in large part because of an impasse over territory. Russia demands that Ukraine give up the remainder of its Donbas region but Kyiv refuses to surrender land that Moscow’s forces have failed to capture in more than four years of war. – Reuters
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US vice president welcomes ‘fragile’ truce and says Iranians must negotiate in good faith
US vice president JD Vance has said Donald Trump set out to decimate the Iranian military and this “has been achieved”. He issued an ultimatum yesterday and offered to engage in a ceasefire, which is “exactly” what has been achieved.
“That is the basis of this fragile truce that we have that is now eight to 12 hours old,” he told an event in Budapest in support of the re-election of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán.
“As the president told me last night the Iranians are better negotiators than they are fighters,” he said. The US has “extraordinary” diplomatic and economic leverage but Trump has said not to use these at this time, Vance said.
The US president is “impatient to make progress” and “not one to mess around”, he said, adding: “If they [Iran] negotiate in good faith I think we will be able to find a deal, but that is a big if.”
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said the ceasefire was the “fruit of the blood of our great martyred leader Khamenei and the achievement of the presence of all the people on the scene”. In a translated post on social media, he said: “From today onward, we will also remain together.”
The three crewmen on the Thai-flagged vessel that was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz last month have died, foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Thailand said 20 crew members were rescued by the Omani navy after the attack, which caused an explosion in the stern of the ship and a fire in the engine room. – Reuters
What is in Iran’s 10-point ceasefire plan?
The US, Israel and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday barely an hour before Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire, with Tehran agreeing to temporarily reopen the strait of Hormuz.
As Trump announced he was suspending his plans to escalate attacks across Iran, the US president said he had received a 10-point proposal from Iran which was a “workable basis on which to negotiate”.
The list of 10 points, published by Iranian state media, include a number of conditions the US has rejected in the past.
The plan requires:
- The lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions on Iran
- Continued Iranian control over the strait of Hormuz
- US military withdrawal from the Middle East
- An end to attacks on Iran and its allies
- The release of frozen Iranian assets
- A UN security council resolution making any deal binding
In the version released in Farsi, Iran also included the phrase “acceptance of enrichment” for its nuclear program. But for reasons that remain unclear, that phrase was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats to journalists.
Trump initially said Iran proposed a “workable” 10-point plan that could help end the armed conflict. But when the version in Farsi emerged that indicated Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium, Trump called it fraudulent without elaborating. – Guardian/AP
Zelenskiy welcomes Iran de-escalation
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday he welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran, adding that Kyiv was ready to “respond in kind” if Moscow ceased strikes.
“Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia here in Europe against our state and our people, and we support the ceasefire in the Middle East and the Gulf that paves the way for diplomatic efforts,” he wrote on X.
“It is obvious to everyone that a ceasefire can create the right preconditions for agreements,” he added.
Ukraine had previously praised US “decisiveness” in attacking Iran, which is a close ally of Russia and has supplied thousands of drones that have been used to hit Ukraine.
Kyiv has repeatedly called for Moscow to agree to a full ceasefire in its four-year war so that the two sides can negotiate a peace deal. Russia says it wants comprehensive terms for peace to be agreed before it stops fighting.
Ukraine has also sent more than 200 specialists to the Middle East to help counter Iran’s drone attacks.
“Ukrainian expert military teams will continue to work in the region to help further develop security capabilities,” Zelenskiy said. – Reuters
Resuming normal shipping could take six to eight weeks if Middle East stabilises
Global shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has voiced cautious optimism on the prospect of resuming shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after a two-week ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran, but said resuming normal traffic throughout its network would take at least six to eight weeks.
Speaking in a call to customers, chief executive Rolf Habben Jansen echoed guarded remarks by peer container shipping group Maersk, saying that more security assurances were needed.
“Even if a ceasefire has now been agreed overnight, I would say that it’s fair to say that the conflict in the Middle East is still severely disrupting shipping, but also supply chains,” the Hapag CEO said, adding that the situation was “fluid”.
He estimated additional costs from the Middle East crisis at $50 million (almost €43 million) to $60 million (€51.3 million) a week and warned that the German company would have to pass on some of that to its customers. That was up from $40-$50 million stated previously.
He added that about 1,000 ships were still stuck in the region, six of which from his company with a combined capacity of about 25,000 standard containers. – Reuters
European bonds surge after energy prices sink
German and UK bonds surged after energy prices sank following a ceasefire between the US and Iran, prompting traders to slash bets on rate hikes this year.
Yields on 10-year bonds and gilts tumbled to a three-week low after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week truce, which includes Tehran allowing ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Traders aggressively pared wagers on interest-rate rises and now see the European Central Bank delivering two quarter-point increases and the Bank of England just one increase this year.
Markets had been pricing stable or falling rates in Europe this year before the war upended the outlook for inflation. European bonds were particularly hard hit by the conflict because of the continent’s reliance on energy imports, which leaves it highly vulnerable to soaring oil and gas prices.
Inflation expectations fell sharply alongside oil and gas prices Wednesday, spurring the bid in bonds. – Bloomberg
Qatar has welcomed the ceasefire announcement between Iran and the United States, the country’s foreign ministry said. – Reuters
Explosions reported on Iran’s Sirri Island
Several explosions were reported at Iran’s Sirri Island on Wednesday morning, semi-official Mehr news agency is reporting. The source of the explosions is unknown. – Reuters
Pope Leo on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war with “great satisfaction”.
The pope, who has emerged as an outspoken critic of the conflict in recent weeks, had said on Tuesday that Trump’s threats against the population of Iran were “unacceptable”. – Reuters
UK-US relationship ‘damaged’ by war
Donald Trump “does not respect Keir Starmer” and the UK-US relationship is “damaged”, a former foreign secretary has warned.
James Cleverly said “you can’t talk out of both sides of your mouth at the same time”, as he accused the British prime minister of being “indecisive”.
Starmer is travelling to the Gulf on Wednesday, where he is expected to discuss a pause in fighting between the US and Iran, and efforts open the Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes permanently.
Cleverly, who is the Conservative shadow local government secretary, told GB News: “It’s quite clear now that president Trump does not respect Keir Starmer at all.
“I mean, Keir Starmer was sycophantic initially, waving around that offer of a state visit almost immediately ...
“He was shown to be indecisive, as I say, sycophantic, desperately trying to win favour with the US president when he went to America, then came back to the UK to try to sound tough at the dispatch box.
“And the thing is, you can’t talk out of both sides of your mouth at the same time. The US has seen that. His personal relationship with the president of the US, I think, is now beyond repair.
“But worse than that, the UK system, the wider diplomatic and defence and intelligence system, has always had a very strong relationship with the United States of America.
“And I worry that that system-to-system relationship has been damaged.” – PA
Iran ‘could emerge in a much stronger geopolitical position’
Donald Trump claims he agreed a ceasefire with Iran because the United States had already achieved its military objectives. But Tehran is setting the terms for negotiations.
Contrary to Trump’s claims, Iran could emerge from this conflict in a much stronger geopolitical position than it was, China Correspondent Denis Staunton writes.
Read his full analysis in the Global Briefing here.
Trump believes China got Iran to negotiate
US president Donald Trump told AFP he believes China got Iran to negotiate a ceasefire in the war against Israel and the United States.
The Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday it welcomed the ceasefire, adding that China had made its own efforts towards realising lasting peace in the Middle East.
“China has consistently advocated for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, as well as the resolution of disputes through political and diplomatic channels,” ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.
She did not detail what China’s efforts were when asked at a news briefing. – Reuters
Lebanon’s Hizbullah halted fire on northern Israel and on Israeli troops in Lebanon in the early hours of Wednesday as part of the US-Iran ceasefire announced earlier, three Lebanese sources close to the group told Reuters.
Israel has continued its strikes on southern Lebanon and issued a new evacuation order for Tyre in the south, indicating it would strike there soon, after Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu said the two-week ceasefire would not include Lebanon.
Iran-backed Hizbullah is expected to issue a statement outlining its formal position on the ceasefire and on Netanyahu’s assertion that Lebanon is not included, the three Lebanese sources said. – Reuters
McEntee says Lebanon must be included in ceasefire
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has welcomed the ceasefire, saying it marked “a potentially important turning point after what was a dangerous and unprecedented escalation across the Middle East in recent days”.
McEntee said Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire, asking Hizbullah and Israel “to cease attacks and military operations”.
She also said the Strait of Hormuz “must open and remain safe to pass”.
McEntee said the upcoming negotiations between the US and Iran offer “a critical opportunity to reduce tensions and will bring relief to millions affected by conflict”.
“The protection of civilians must remain paramount, and all parties must uphold their obligations under international law,” her statement said.
“I urge all parties to de-escalate and engage in negotiations towards a durable ceasefire and a lasting, peaceful resolution.”
McEntee thanked Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt for their role in the negotiations.
Sánchez says Spain ‘will not applaud those who set the world on fire’
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, who has been perhaps the most outspoken western critic of Trump’s war in Iran, has issued a blunt reaction to the ceasefire announcement on X.
He said his administration “will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket”.
“Ceasefires are always good news – especially if they lead to a just and lasting peace. But this momentary relief cannot make us forget the chaos, the destruction, and the lives lost. The Spanish government will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket. What’s needed now are diplomacy, international legality, and PEACE.” – The Guardian
More than 15 countries planning to facilitate Strait of Hormuz access, Macron says
French president Emmanuel Macron said about 15 countries were planning to facilitate the resumption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply usually flows, after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced.
“About 15 countries are currently mobilised and are participating in the planning, under France’s leadership, to enable the implementation of this strictly defensive mission in co-ordination with Iran to facilitate the resumption of traffic,” Macron said on Wednesday, speaking at the start of his meeting on defence with advisers and members of his cabinet.
Macron said he welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the US, but added the situation in Lebanon remained critical and called for Lebanon to be included in the deal. France maintains close ties with Lebanon, a former protectorate.
“Our wish in this context is to be assured that the ceasefire fully includes Lebanon,” Macron said. – Reuters
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European stock markets jump
The FTSE 100 index has risen to the highest level since early March. The UK’s benchmark index rose as high as 10,655.92 this morning and is now trading 2.4 per cent higher at 10,603, up 253 points. This is the highest since March 3rd, the fourth day of the war.
Stock markets in the rest of Europe have jumped even more. Germany’s Dax soared 5.2 per cent to 24,118, up 1,194 points. France’s CAC jumped 4.45 per cent to 8,260, up 352 points. Italy’s FTSE MIB has gained 3.5 per cent to 47,016, up 1,601 points. Spain’s Ibex climbed 3.5 per cent, or 608 points to 18,053.
Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said the ceasefire gives Donald Trump “a clear off-ramp and lowers the immediate risk of further escalation”. – Reuters
Israel says it has ceased strikes in Iran, will continue to hit Lebanon
The Israeli military said on Wednesday it has ceased fire in the campaign against Iran in accordance with directives from the political echelon, after the US announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran.
Israel said the ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon and it will continue operations against Hizbullah there. – Reuters
Stock markets in the Gulf region jumped on Wednesday in line with global equities.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei was up about 5.4 per cent while South Korea’s KOSPI gained 6.8 per cent, triggering a brief halt in trading. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 1 per cent.
Dubai’s main market spiked as much as 8.5 per cent, its highest intraday gain in more than 11 years, with the heavyweight real estate and financial sectors outperforming.
At 8.30am Irish time the Dubai index was trading 6.4 per cent higher, led by a 9.8 per cent jump in blue-chip developer Emaar Properties and an 11.3 per cent rise in top lender Emirates NBD Bank.
Abu Dhabi’s benchmark index climbed as much as 4.9 per cent in early trade, its biggest jump in six years, boosted by gains in the financial, real estate, logistics and energy sectors.
The Abu Dhabi index was up 3.2 per cent with the largest lender, First Abu Dhabi Bank, rising 8.3 per cent and real estate giant Aldar Properties jumping 8.8 per cent. – Reuters
Von der Leyen welcomes ceasefire
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran, saying it would ease tensions.
“I welcome the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed last night. It brings much needed de-escalation”, she said, adding it was crucial negotiations continue for an enduring solution. – Reuters
Wall Street futures jump amid ceasefire relief
US stock index futures jumped on Wednesday as investors breathed a sigh of relief after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, sending crude prices lower on expectations that energy supplies from the Middle East could resume.
The announcement late on Tuesday came hours before Trump’s deadline, after which he said the US would inflict devastating attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure if Tehran did not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The rally was visible across global asset classes. Equity indexes in major Asian and European markets shot up between 4 to 5 per cent, while crude prices rolled 16 per cent to near $90 (about €77) a barrel, and the dollar, which had seen safe-haven interest over the past month, fell 1 per cent against the Japanese yen.
Investors have been navigating the ebb and flow of the conflict that has extended to over a month, as Trump suggested an earlier end to the war several times, while on the flipside, Iran has denied all reports of negotiations.
The worry is that the prolonged conflict and soaring energy costs could weigh on economic growth and complicate the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy path. March was the benchmark S&P 500’s biggest monthly fall in a year. – Reuters
Fuel depots blocked in Galway and Limerick
There is a risk that fuel supplies at forecourts could be impacted as fuel depots in Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick, have been blocked by protesters, Kevin McPartland, chief executive of Fuels for Ireland, said.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, McPartland described the situation as “very concerning”.
He said he felt sympathy for protesters – many of whom have been impacted by a huge increase in fuel costs – but encouraged them to not block fuel deliveries to forecourts.
Significant traffic delays have been reported in Dublin city and several other locations across the country as protests against rising fuel costs enter a second day. You can read the latest updates in our live story here.
FTSE 100 index jumps while energy companies slide
The FTSE 100 index has jumped 273 points, or 2.6 per cent, to 10,624 in early trading.
There are only three fallers: oil companies BP and Shell, down by 8.3 per cent and 7.3 per cent respectively, and British Gas owner Centrica, down 3.5 per cent. – The Guardian
‘De-escalation is a much more positive economic scenario than ongoing war’ – Tánaiste
Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris has welcomed the ceasefire announcement, saying it came “following hours of what were extraordinarily worrying and unacceptable threats that are well outside international norms”.
“A temporary ceasefire, with an agreement to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, offers a window of opportunity that should be fully utilised to put in place a sustainable and enduring end to the conflict,” Harris said in a statement.
“These developments, from an economic point of view, are positive considering the almost unimaginable alternative. In recent hours we have seen a positive reaction in terms of oil prices though it is extremely early days and this remains a very volatile situation.”
Government leaders and Ministers will meet at Government Buildings today to “consider key issues like energy security, supply and key sectoral updates as well as getting an up to date assessment of what overnight developments mean”, he said.
“The events of the last few hours show the fact that a step by step approach to this fast evolving situation is the only sensible policy path to pursue.”
Harris said de-escalation is “a much more positive economic scenario than ongoing war and further damage to energy infrastructure”.
Delays on M50 and several other roads
Transport Infrastructure Ireland has confirmed traffic delays on several routes including the M50, M18, N3/M3, N4/M4 and the N7.
TII are sharing the latest road updates here.
Luas services impacted by protests in Dublin
Luas Green Line services are currently not operating between St Stephen’s Green and Dominick. Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St Stephen’s Green and Brides Glen only.
Red Line services are operating normally. Read the latest Luas updates here.
Slow-moving convoys around the country
Significant traffic delays have been reported in several locations across the country as slow-moving convoys take part in a second day of protests against rising fuel costs.
People have been advised to allow extra time for journeys.
‘Very significant disruption’ to traffic in Dublin city
There is “very significant disruption” to traffic in Dublin city centre as fuel protesters have blocked O’Connell Bridge on both the north and south sides.
Blake Boland, spokesman for Dublin Bus, said: “Essentially anything that is trying to come across the city is trapped.”
He told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland that several routes were impacted, including the E and F spine routes, the 1, 11 and 19 among others. Several diversions are in place.
The latest Dublin Bus updates can be read here.
Israel’s military issued repeated urgent warnings to residents of the city of Tyre on Wednesday to evacuate their homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani river, saying it will strike the area.
This comes after Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that the US-Iran ceasefire announced earlier on Wednesday does not include Lebanon. – Reuters
Ceasefire ‘will bring moment of relief to region and world’, says Starmer
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has joined a chorus of world leaders welcoming the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and the US.
“I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world,” he said. “Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.”
Starmer is travelling to the Middle East today to meet Gulf leaders to “discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire”, No 10 said. – The Guardian
Oil prices plummet after ceasefire announced
Oil prices plunged by almost 15 per cent after Donald Trump held off on his threat to bomb Iran into the stone ages on Tuesday night, and Iran’s foreign minister said passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be allowed for the next two weeks under the management of its military.
Tuesday’s news was immediately embraced by markets, but the outcome of the US-Iran talks is far from certain, and how the strait will be reopened and managed beyond the two-week grace period is yet to be determined.
Brent crude oil, the international standard, dropped 14.4 per cent to $93.48 (€80), and futures for US crude oil sank 14.7 per cent to $96.27 (€82.40) a barrel. The prices remain well above where it was at the start of the war.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 5 per cent in early trading, Australia’s S+P/ASX 200 jumped 2.6 per cent and South Korea’s Kospi soared 5.9 per cent. Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng surged 2.6 per cent, while the Shanghai Composite nudged higher by 1.7 per cent.
In the bond market, Treasury yields eased on word of a potential ceasefire. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.24 per cent from 4.30 per cent earlier Tuesday. Gold prices rose more than 2 per cent to $4,812 (€4,118.85) per ounce.
Cryptocurrencies also rallied, with bitcoin advancing 2.9 per cent to $71,327 (€61,047), and ether climbing 5.6 per cent to $2,234 (€1,912). – The Guardian
Trump claims ceasefire is a victory for US
Trump told news agency AFP the ceasefire was a “total and complete victory”.
“Total and complete victory. 100 per cent. No question about it,” Trump said when asked if he was claiming victory with the ceasefire. He later said on Truth Social: “A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!”
Iran could start the reconstruction process and the US would help in traffic build-up in the Strait of Hormuz, he added.
The war, now in its sixth week, has claimed more than 5,000 lives in nearly a dozen countries, including more than 1,600 civilians in Iran, according to tallies from government sources and human rights groups. – Reuters
Israel claims ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon
Israel supported the decision to suspend strikes on Iran for the two-week period, prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
The ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon, it added, in an apparent contradiction to comments from Pakistan’s Sharif who said earlier the agreement included a cessation of Israel’s campaign in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported continued Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon, including artillery shelling and a dawn air strike on a building near a hospital that killed four people. It also reported attacks on several other towns and on a medical point that caused injuries.
It was not immediately clear how soon the ceasefire elsewhere would take full effect. Israeli media said it would begin once Iran reopened the strait and that Israel expected Iranian attacks to continue in the interim.
More than an hour after Trump’s announcement, the Israeli military said it had identified missiles launched from Iran, and explosions from intercepted missiles could be heard in Tel Aviv. Gulf countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also issued near-simultaneous alerts and activated air defences.
Israeli media said its military was striking back at launch sites in Iran.
Iraq’s Islamic Resistance also said it would suspend operations in Iraq and across the region for two weeks. – Reuters
Ceasefire broadly welcomed by US politicians
US political leaders and many Americans breathed a sigh of relief last night, after Donald Trump announced a provisional ceasefire deal following threats to destroy Iran’s “whole civilisation”.
“I’m glad Trump backed off and is desperately searching for any sort of exit ramp from his ridiculous bluster,” Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, said on Tuesday night.
Several Republicans cheered the president’s decision.
“Excellent news,” Senator Rick Scott of Florida said. “This is a strong first step toward holding Iran accountable and what happens when you have a leader who puts peace through strength over chaos and weak appeasement policies.”
Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the chamber’s loudest and most aggressive Iran hawks, said on Tuesday evening he shared the hope that “we can end the reign of terror of the Iranian regime through diplomacy”. – The Guardian
Ceasefire conditional on Strait of Hormuz reopening
Trump said the deal was subject to Iran pausing its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the strait, which typically handles about one-fifth of global oil shipments.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said in a statement Tehran would cease counter-attacks and provide safe passage through the waterway, if attacks against it stop. – Reuters
Trump agrees to Iran ceasefire
US president Donald Trump has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran last night, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.
Trump’s announcement represented an abrupt turnaround from his extraordinary warning earlier in the day, when he said “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if his demands were not met. Pakistan’s military chief field marshal Asim Munir and prime minister Shehbaz Sharif helped mediate the ceasefire.
Sharif said in a post on X he had invited Iranian and US delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday. – Reuters
