8m agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 6:14pm
UK Chancellor describes Trump’s Iran war as a ‘mistake’
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has described US President Donald Trump’s war on Iran as a “mistake” which will damage living standards around the world.
“I’m not convinced that we are safer today than we were a few weeks ago.” Reeves said.
Britain’s Chancellor Rachel Reeves. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Speaking at an event in Washington, the comments came just before her meeting with the IMF and World Bank, to lobby for their support in easing household costs globally.
The chancellor told the conference the conflict had de-stabilised the global economy, and ordinary people were footing the bill.
“First and foremost, in my mind are families and businesses in the UK are having to deal with higher prices and higher borrowing costs today,” she said.
The IMF warned on Tuesday that further escalations of the conflict could spark a global recession.
12m agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 6:10pm
US sanction waivers for Russian, Iranian oil not renewed
Staying with this White House press conference, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is now talking with reporters.
He says the United States will not be renewing the general licenses that allowed purchase of some Iranian and Russian oil without facing US sanctions.
Waivers were issued in the days after the outbreak of the Iran war to increase oil supplies.
Mr Bessent doesn’t say how many billions of dollars the Iranians made from those waivers, but adds that many of the tankers were bound for China but redirected to American allies.
12m agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 6:09pm
Blockade enforced against ‘all nations’ departing Iran, White House says
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is speaking now.
She is asked about the US Navy’s blockade of Iran, and moves to clarify what she says has been “misreporting” about how it is operating.
She says the US Navy is assisting vessels from non-Iranian ports to safely enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz.
And Ms Leavitt adds the US Navy is also preventing any ships or tankers belonging to any nationality from leaving Iran’s ports.
16m agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 6:05pm
Australia joins requests for support from IMF and World Bank
Australia has joined 10 other countries calling for support from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, to aid nations impacted by disruptions from the conflict in the Middle East.
Britain and Japan were among the group of finance ministers requesting help amid growing fears for energy security.
Australia’s finance minister Katy Gallagher joined 10 other countries requesting support. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
“Renewed hostilities, a widening of the conflict or continued disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would pose serious additional risks to global energy security, supply chains, and economic and financial stability,” the ministers said in a joint statement issued by the UK government.
The ministers are requesting “a coordinated emergency support offer for countries in need, tailored to country circumstances and drawing on the full range and flexibility of their toolkits.”
25m agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 5:57pm
US stops nine ships in first 48 hours of blockade
The US military says it’s stopped nine vessels from sailing out of Iranian ports during the first 48 hours of its blockade.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), which is responsible for American troops in the Middle East, said “no vessels have made it past US forces”.
But, maritime tracking data appears to contradict that.
Tracking data from Tuesday indicated at least three ships sailed from Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz, although some vessels later turned back.
Reporting with AFP
32m agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 5:49pm
Israel orders Hezbollah ‘kill zone’
Israel’s military chief of staff said he had ordered areas south of Lebanon’s Litani River to be turned into a Hezbollah “kill zone” as troops pressed a major offensive there.
“I have ordered that all of the area of south Lebanon up to the Litani (River) line be turned into a Hezbollah terrorist kill zone,” chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on a visit to troops operating in the area.
“We are advancing and striking Hezbollah and they are retreating.”
He said troops had killed “more than 1,700” militants since the operation began on March 2, describing Hezbollah as “weakened and isolated in Lebanon”.
56m agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 5:26pm
Pope sends message of peace ‘world needs to hear’
Pope Leo says the world needs to hear a message of peace and coexistence, as he embarked on a 10-day tour of Africa.
It comes after US President Donald Trump attacked the Pontiff for a second time on social media.
Trump labelled the Pope as “terrible” earlier in the week, then doubling down in a post referencing the Iran war.
The Pope made his comments requesting peace, during a flight to Cameroon.
The trip is part of a 10-day tour of the continent, which began in Algeria, a predominantly Muslim country.
“Although we have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshipping, we have different ways of living, we can live together in peace,” said the Pontiff.
“To promote that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today.”
1h agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 5:15pm
Three paramedics killed in Lebanon by Israeli strikes
Lebanese authorities say at least three paramedics have been killed during Israeli strikes on the country’s south.
The medics were killed in three separate attacks, in quick succession, while trying to rescue wounded people from an initial Israeli strike.
Israeli army armored personnel carriers operate in southern Lebanon (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Lebanon’s health ministry said 91 of its healthcare workers have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The Israeli army have since announced they have attacked 200 Hezbollah targets in 24 hours.
Israel has not targeted the Lebanese capital since a litany of attacks across the country on April 8 which killed more than 350 people.
1h agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 5:10pm
Pakistan representatives in Iran, Saudi Arabia
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has touched down in Saudi Arabia to begin a four-day tour of the Middle East to discuss the “regional situation”.
He’ll also visit Qatar and then Turkiye where he’ll participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Sharif is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar – one of the mediators during the US-Iran talks – and other senior officials on his visits, his office said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, right, welcomes Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir upon his arrival in Tehran. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
It comes as Pakistan’s army chief arrived in Tehran in a bid to arrange a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran after almost seven weeks of war.
The Pakistani military said the delegation included Field Marshal Asim Munir, the country’s interior minister and other senior security officials.
1h agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 5:04pm
Iran threatens to block trade in Red Sea
Iran’s military has warned it will block trade through the Red Sea, along with the Gulf and Sea of Oman, if the US naval blockade on Iranian ports continues.
More than 10,000 US troops are involved in the blockade of Iranian ports which began at midnight Tuesday AEST.
In a statement aired by Iranian state television, the head of the military’s central command centre said if the US continued with its blockade and “creates insecurity for Iran’s commercial vessels and oil tankers”, it will also constitute “a prelude” to violating the ceasefire.
1h agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 4:54pm
Trump says deal with Iran ‘is preferable’
Donald Trump has told America’s ABC News he is not considering extending the ceasefire with Iran which is due to end next Wednesday.
“It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild,” Trump told the reporter.
“I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead.”
Late last night, the US President also went on the Fox Business Network.
To recap, Trump said he viewed the US-Israel war with Iran as “very close to over”.
(Fox Business Network.)
But he seized the opportunity to again criticise NATO and other nations who “turned down” assisting the US with “this Iran situation”.
In the interview with Fox anchor Maria Bartiromo, who asked if the US still had the same relationship with Italy and its prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, who backed Pope Leo over Trump earlier this week.
“No,” Trump replied, when asked directly about Meloni.
“She’s been negative,” he added.
“Anybody that turned us down for helping with this Iran situation, we do not have the same relationship.”
Trump also revealed he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping not to supply Iran with weapons, and that Xi had responded “that, essentially, he’s not doing that”.
1h agoWed 15 Apr 2026 at 4:29pm
Iran war coverage Thursday, April 16
Good morning and welcome to today’s live coverage of the conflict in the Middle East.
We’ll be here with you all day covering the latest developments as they happen.
