Iran-US war latest: Trump announces Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extension after ruling out nuclear strike on Tehran

Trump rules out use of nuclear weapons on Iran

Donald Trump has announced that the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire has been extended after ruling out using a nuclear weapon on Tehran.

“We had a great meeting with very high officials of Lebanon and very high officials of Israel”, the US president said from the Oval Office on Thursday. “They’ve agreed to an additional three weeks of no firing”.

Also on Thursday, Trump dismissed the idea that he could use a nuclear weapon against Iran, branding the question “stupid”.

Asked by reporters about the possibility, he said: “We've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it.

“No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody”.

Trump ‌said Tehran might have loaded up their weaponry "a little bit" during its ceasefire with Washington, but ⁠that the US military could knock that out in about one day.

The president has ordered the US Navy to “shoot and kill any boat” that is dropping mines in the Strait of Hormuz, casting doubt over the fragile ceasefire.

“Our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!”

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Trump orders US Navy to ‘shoot and kill’ Iranian mine boats in Hormuz

Donald Trump has ordered the US Navy to “shoot to kill” Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran continues to tighten its grip on the channel with the capture of commercial vessels.

The president posted on Truth Social that the military had been told to shoot “any boat, small boats though they may be ... that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz”, as the military said it had boarded another tanker, Majestic X, in the Indian Ocean.

He said he had ordered US minesweepers to continue de-mining the area “at a tripled up level”, but made no mention of the other means Iran has used to disrupt shipping along the route, with speedboats, missiles and drones.

More here.

Trump tells US Navy to ‘shoot to kill’ Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz

Iranians are ‘having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is’, says presidentAlisha Rahaman Sarkar24 April 2026 06:40

US envoy compares Hezbollah to a kid throwing rocks

Mike Huckabee, the US envoy to Israel, who was on hand for the White House talks, said the "people of Lebanon, the people of Israel are neighbours and they want to get along".

"They can get along,” he said.

“But it’s like neighbours who have a rough little kid living in the neighbourhood who keeps throwing rocks at everybody’s window.

"And if the kid will quit throwing rocks, the neighbours can get along and start actually working together."

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar24 April 2026 06:20

Aftermath of an israeli airstrike where 30 people died in Tyre, Lebanon

Neighbours on a motorbike checking the aftermath of an israeli airstrike on April 23, 2026 in Tyre, Lebanon (Getty Images)

Aftermath of an israeli airstrike where 30 people died is seen on April 23, 2026 in Tyre, Lebanon (Getty Images)

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar24 April 2026 06:07

US puts $10m bounty on Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada leader

The US has placed a $10m bounty on the leader of an Iranian-backed Shia militia in Iraq.

The US state department’s Rewards for Justice program issued a notice it sought the leader of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada.

It said Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji led the group, whose members “killed Iraqi civilians and attacked US diplomatic facilities in Iraq".

It also said Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada attacked US military bases and personnel in Iraq and Syria.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar24 April 2026 06:00

Guyana says tanker seized by US ‘fraudulently flying Guyana flag’

The South American nation of Guyana said on Thursday that a tanker seized by the US in Asia for allegedly carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil was “fraudulently flying the Guyana flag.”Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department made the announcement in a statement to journalists.

It noted the vessel had previously been named Phonix, which the US treasury noted when it previously sanctioned the vessel.

“This ship is not registered in Guyana; thus, the registration is false and fraudulent,” its statement said.“

While the name of the vessel has changed, the (International Maritime Organization) number remains recorded in the international database as PHONIX. There is no record of this vessel or name in Guyana’s registry.”

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar24 April 2026 05:40

Oil prices near $110 a barrel

Oil prices rose this morning over fears of renewed military escalation in the Middle East after Iran released footage of commandos boarding a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures rose $1.23, or 1.17 per cent, to $106.3 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate futures were up $1.07, or 1.12 per cent, at $96.92.

Both benchmark contracts settled up more than 3 per cent yesterday and jumped $5 a barrel after reports that air defences were engaging targets over Tehran and of a power struggle between Iran's hardliners and moderates.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar24 April 2026 05:33

Trump says Iran needs to stop financing Hezbollah

Donald Trump has reiterated that the US continues to demand that Iran stop its backing of proxy groups in the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, as part of any deal between Washington and Tehran to end the US war on Iran.

“Yeah, they’ll have to cut that,” Trump said to a reporter’s question about aiding the militant group. “That’s a must.”Lebanon and Israel extended their ceasefire for three weeks after a high-level meeting at the White House, Trump said last night.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar24 April 2026 05:20

Italy dismisses Trump's suggestion of replacing Iran at World Cup

Italy has dismissed Donald Trump's suggestion of replacing Iran at the upcoming World Cup.

Paolo Zampolli, the US special envoy for global partnerships, had suggested the swap to President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, according to the Financial Times.

Italian sports minister Andrea Abodi said it would not be appropriate for the "Azzurri" to replace the Iranian team.

He said, "first of all, it’s not possible. Secondly, it’s not a good idea".

Italy’s finance minister Giancarlo Giorgetti called the suggested swap “shameful".

Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup, and the team is preparing to play in the US despite the war in the Middle East.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar24 April 2026 05:00

Lebanon thanks Trump for hosting ceasefire talks

Lebanon and Israel extended their ceasefire for three weeks after a high-level meeting at the White House, Trump said last night.

Lebanese ambassador to the US Nada Moawa, who went into the ⁠meeting seeking an extension of the ceasefire, thanked Donald Trump for hosting the talks.

"I think with your help, with your support, we can make Lebanon great again," she said.

"The Meeting went ⁠very well! The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned armed group that is fighting Israel, was not present at the talks. It says it has "the right to resist" occupying forces.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar24 April 2026 04:45

US burns through weapons stockpile in Iran war: report

The US has burned through its weapons stockpile during its war against Iran, according to a new report.

Around 1,100 long-range stealth cruise missiles, 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles, 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles and 1,000 Precision Strike and ATACMS ground-based missiles have been used in the war, The New York Times reported, citing internal US Defense Department estimates and congressional officials.

Rachel Dobkin24 April 2026 04:30 Newer Older

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