Trump says US blockade could last for months, warns Iran to ‘get smart soon’
The president spoke to oil executives about extending his naval blockade, amid reports that he had rejected Iran’s Hormuz proposal
· Agence France-Presse
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Newest first · UTC+11:00Trump orders aides to prepare for extended blockade on Iran — as Tehran’s economy collapses
President Trump has instructed his aides to prepare for an extension of America’s naval blockade of Iran to squeeze Tehran’s already struggling economy, officials said.
· Ronny Reyes
World Bank warns of 16% rise in commodity pricing over Hormuz closure
Energy prices are anticipated to surge 24% in 2026, the largest jump since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as a result of the Iran conflict, the World Bank predicted in the latest Commodity Markets Outlook published on Tuesday.
· DANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
'Truly feels like limbo': Indefinite ceasefire leaves Iranians in uncertainty | The National
Live updates: Follow the latest news on Iran war
· Lizzie Porter
IAEA chief says Iran’s enriched uranium likely remains at Isfahan
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said much of Iran’s highly enriched uranium was stored at Isfahan during US and Israeli strikes in June 2025 and is believed to still be there.
· Middleeasteye
Trump says Iran ‘choking like a stuffed pig’ on Strait of Hormuz blockade
WASHINGTON — President Trump claimed Wednesday that Iran was “choking like a stuffed pig” due to the US blockade of the Islamic Republic’s ports, which he indicated would remain until Tehran agreed to give up its pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
· Steven Nelson
Brent edges closer to $120 amid US-Iran standoff | The National
Oil prices were up by 7 per cent on Wednesday, with Brent approaching $120 a barrel on supply concerns amid the standoff between the US and Iran.
· Alvin R Cabral
Trump to Iran: 'Get smart' and sign deal
DUBAI/WASHINGTON, D.C. — United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Iran to ‘get smart soon’ and sign a deal, following days of deadlock in efforts to end their war and a media report saying the US would extend its blockade of Iran’s ports.
· Reuters
Sun Tzu's advice for Donald Trump
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut — Rumor has it that last year, United States President Donald Trump delayed his so-called Liberation Day tariff announcement by a day, to April 2, because he didn’t want his unconstitutional trade “emergency” to come across as an April Fools’ Day hoax. This year, Trump defied the calendar with…
· Stephen S. Roach
Iran's IRGC seize wartime power, blunting supreme leader's role
DUBAI — Two months into a war with the United States and Israel, Iran no longer has a single, undisputed clerical arbiter at the pinnacle of power — an abrupt break with the past that may be hardening Tehran’s stance as it weighs renewed talks with Washington.
· Reuters
Iran’s currency falls to new low as US blockade, sanctions impact trade
Tehran, Iran – Iran’s national currency has plunged to new lows as authorities mobilise to dampen the impact of the naval blockade enforced by the United States.
· Maziar Motamedi
60 days later: the US-Israeli war on Iran so far
Sixty days into the US-Israeli war on Iran, peace talks are stalled and the world is bracing for yet more economic pain. RT asks how we got here, and who – if anyone – is really winning in the Persian Gulf?
· RT
Pentagon official: Iran war has cost $25B
The figure is the most specific price tag the administration has provided on the U.S. military conflict.
· Connor O'Brien, Leo Shane III
Trump eyeing Iran blockade lasting 'months if needed' — White House official
WASHINGTON — The United States could extend its naval blockade of Iran for months more, oil executives were told in a meeting with President Donald Trump, a White House official said Wednesday.
· Agence France-Presse
US war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, says Pentagon official
The US war on Iran has cost $25 billion so far, a senior Pentagon official said on Wednesday, providing the first official estimate of war costs.
· Middleeasteye
How do Israel, China view their dispute over Iran - analysis
One of the most crucial issues hovering over the recent Israel-US-Iran war and the future of the standoff between these countries has little to do with them, but rather with another major power: China.
· YONAH JEREMY BOB
US Sanctions 35 Individuals, Entities To Dismantle Iran's Shadow Banking
Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
· Tyler Durden
US defense secretary defends budget in first hearing since Iran war
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced lawmakers for the first time since the war on Iran began, defending the administration’s proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget.
· Middleeasteye
Hegseth blasts ‘reckless, feckless and defeatist’ Iran war critics in Congress
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth unloaded a preemptive attack on congressional critics of the Iran war.
· Steven Nelson
Behind Tehran’s calm, Iran faces deepening economic collapse
On the surface, the streets of Tehran appear to have returned to normal. Cafés are open, and traffic jams in the capital have resumed their usual pace. However, beneath this routine lies a nation on the brink of financial collapse, one that even the most brutal crackdowns may not contain.
· AMICHAI STEIN
Max Pressure: U.S. Prepares For Extended Hormuz Blockade As Treasury Warns Sanction Risks Linked To China's "Teapot" Refineries
The U.S. is intensifying pressure on Iran and China across two fronts.
· Tyler Durden
German finance minister doesn’t rule out emergency borrowing as ‘Trump’s irresponsible war’ bites
Germany will borrow like never before over the next four years — and may have to raise yet more money to cope with the strains of U.S. President Donald Trump’s “irresponsible war” in Iran, center-left Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Wednesday.
· Geoffrey Smith
UAE seeks support over 'catastrophic' threats to marine environment | The National
The UAE has warned of “potentially catastrophic” threats to the Gulf’s marine environment, and called on governments to condemn Iran’s attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
· Lemma Shehadi
Australia’s battery boom has doubled in a year – and is rewiring the energy grid
A boom in battery installations across Australia is outstripping the most optimistic industry forecasts, smoothing out volatile electricity price swings and making the grid more resilient to the threat of global shocks as the Iran war pushes up the cost of energy in other countries.
· Mike Foley, Nick Toscano
JetBlue Plans 30-40% "Fuel Recapture" Fare Hikes, Capacity Cuts To Cover Rising Costs
Thanks to the war in Iran, JetBlue Airlines is passing the cost along to us - announcing during Q1 earnings on Tuesday that while the airline had strong revenue performance, prices are going up due to rising fuel costs.
· Tyler Durden
Cyber proxy wars escalate as hackers shift to infrastructure targets
State proxy hacktivism, like Iran’s Handala group, was on the rise in 2025, with strong indications that in 2026, there will be attacks focused on damaging actual infrastructure rather than only hacking official state websites, a new report by KELA Group warned on Wednesday.
· TOBIAS HOLCMAN
Trump mulling extended Iran blockade as approval rating falls – media
US President Donald Trump has ordered a plan to prolong the blockade of Iranian ports in a bid to pressure Tehran towards a more favorable peace deal, despite his approval rating hitting record lows, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing sources.
· RT
Democrats threaten to sue Trump over Iran war – Time
Democrats in Congress are discussing a potential lawsuit against US President Donald Trump over the war on Iran, Time Magazine has reported, citing multiple sources.
· RT
Hegseth comparecerá ante el Congreso por primera vez desde el inicio de la guerra con Irán
El secretario de Defensa estadounidense Pete Hegseth y el jefe del Estado Mayor Conjunto, el general Dan Caine en conferencia de prensa en el Pentágono en Washington, el 16 de abril del 2026. (AP foto/Kevin Wolf)
· Ben Finley
Trump calls on Iran to 'get smart soon' amid impasse in negotiations
WASHINGTON, April 29 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran to "get smart soon," as peace talks remained at an impasse amid growing concerns over the economic fallout of the U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic.
· Song Sang-ho
Trump’s Clash With Merz Shows It’s Hard to Stay Friends With the President
Throughout the war in Iran, Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, did all he could to keep President Trump happy. This week, Mr. Merz appeared to lose patience.
· Jim Tankersley
Cubans back 'My signature for the Homeland' campaign
People ride in a shared taxi in front of a sign opposing the U.S. blockade on Cuba, in Havana, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
· Danica Coto
Iran's rial drops to record low
Iran's currency dropped to a record low of 1,810,000 rials to the US dollar on Wednesday, the Iranian Student News Agency (Isna) said.
· Middleeasteye
Germany’s Merz tries to downplay row with Trump
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sought to cool tensions Wednesday with U.S. President Donald Trump, insisting their relationship remains strong despite a sharp public spat over the Iran war.
· Milena Wälde
Jefa de la UE: Europa debe mejorar uso de energía limpia para protegerse de crisis como la de Irán
La presidenta de la Comisión Europea Ursula von der Leyen en conferencia de prensa tras una cumbre de la UE en Nicosia, Chipre, el 24 de abril del 2026. (AP foto/Petros Karadjias)
· Lorne Cook
Consequences of Iran war ‘may echo for months or years to come,’ EU chief warns – Europe live
On the Middle East, von der Leyen says that the EU “want the ceasefires in Iran and Lebanon to hold,” with urgent need to “re-establish peace and stability through diplomatic means.”
· Jakub Krupa, Rorycarroll, Lisaocarroll, Jennifer Rankin
Futures Flat Ahead Of Fed, Mag 7 Earnings Avalanche
S&P futures are flat with Nasdaq outperforming ahead of a huge day for tech. Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft, representing nearly 20% of S&P market cap, report after the close, with traders focused on capex. The group has a combined options implied move of more than $750 billion of market cap in either directio…
· Tyler Durden
Brent Nears Iran War Highs After Trump Orders "Extended Blockade", Threatens "No More Mr. Nice Guy"
Trump warns Iran to "get their act together" and to "get smart" - and for the second time writes "no more Mr. Nice Guy".
· Tyler Durden
‘No more Mr Nice Guy’: Trump warns Iran to ‘get smart’ over stalled talks
United States President Donald Trump has warned Iran must “get smart soon” following a proposal from Iran that would postpone a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme.
· Al Jazeera Staff
‘Might over right’ imperils international justice, Wang Yi tells UN’s Baerbock
UN General Assembly president meets Chinese foreign minister in Beijing amid Iran war tensions and global energy crisis
· Cao Jiaxuan
‘Might over right’ imperils international justice, Wang Yi tells UN’s Baerbock
UN General Assembly president meets Chinese foreign minister in Beijing amid Iran war tensions and global energy crisis
· Cao Jiaxuan
How US and Iran are playing a crypto cat-and-mouse game over sanctions
Just 12 hours before the United States and Israel began attacking Iran in late February, Firouz, a crypto user in Tehran, decided to act. “I was feeling all week the war would start soon,” he said.
· Virginia Pietromarchi
Israeli defence minister sanctions Gaza aid flotilla
Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, signed an order to impose sanctions against the fundraising campaign of the Global Sumud Flotilla sailing toward the Gaza Strip to break the Israeli blockade and deliver continuous humanitarian aid.
· Middleeasteye
King Charles visits New York after Trump says UK monarch ‘agrees with me’ on Iran – US politics live
Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog.
· Tom Ambrose, Jose Olivares, Davidsmith
Oil price jumps to $115 after reports of 'extended' Iran blockade
Oil prices have climbed sharply following reports that the US is preparing for an 'extended' blockade of Iran.
· Naomi Rainey
Goldman's State Of U.S. Consumer Outlook Gets More Grim
Goldman consumer analysts Kate McShane and Bonnie Herzog cut their 2026 discretionary cash-inflow growth forecast for the second time this year, citing a worsening squeeze on U.S. households as slower disposable income growth collides with higher fuel prices at the pump. The revision points to a softening among cash…
· Tyler Durden
Live updates: Hegseth to face Congress for first time since Iran war began
Watch live as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces questioning from lawmakers for the first time since the Trump administration launched the war against Iran.
Rial iraní cae a mínimo histórico mientras se mantiene la frágil tregua con EEUU e Israel
Una densa nube de humo sale de un almacén de combustible alcanzado por un ataque de Estados Unidos e Israel, en Teherán, Irán, el 8 de marzo de 2026. (AP Foto/Vahid Salemi, archivo)
· Amir Vahdat
Tehran's downfall: The ayatollah regime will end by October 2028 - opinion
Two years ago, The Jerusalem Post reported that enormous billboards could be seen across Israel, showing an hourglass set against the flag of the Islamic Republic, along with a promise that the end of the ayatollah regime in Iran is near. It was marked by a mysterious date: October 28, 2028.
· MIKE EVANS
Iran's highly enriched uranium likely at Isfahan: UN nuclear chief
Rafael Grossi speaks during an event at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
· Edith M Lederer