The U.S. and Iran have "all the ingredients of a deal" but have yet to come to a final agreement, a senior U.S. official told Fox News' Bill Hemmer on Tuesday.
"A lot is happening today and tomorrow. We have all the ingredients of a deal, but it's not all there yet," the official told Hemmer.
The official added that President Donald Trump's blockade on Iranian ports has Tehran "really fearful" and more open to making a deal.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Tuesday that American forces are enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports, marking an increase in U.S. military activity in the region.
“An F-35B stealth fighter jet is prepared for flight aboard the USS Tripoli (LHA 7) as the amphibious assault ship sails in the Arabian Sea,” CENTCOM said in a post shared on X.
“Tripoli and its 3,500 sailors and embarked Marines are executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports. The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations,” CENTCOM added.
The U.S. Navy currently has at least 18 ships in the Middle East, according to ship-tracking data and Navy sources. The blockade operation began April 13.
Internal disagreements within Iran’s negotiating team prompted the suspension of U.S. talks in Islamabad and their return to Tehran April 11, according to sources cited by Iran International.
The decision to leave also followed an order from a top security official after tensions escalated, the outlet said Tuesday.
Sources said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi showed flexibility in discussions with the United States, particularly on potentially reducing financial and military support for the so-called Axis of Resistance, including Hezbollah.
This stance triggered a strong backlash from Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
Zolghadr also reportedly submitted a critical report to senior leadership and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, accusing the delegation of straying beyond its mandate and engaging in unauthorized discussions.
The report intensified anger at the highest levels of Iran’s leadership, but after consultations involving senior officials, including Supreme Leader Adviser Hossein Taeb, authorities ordered the delegation to return to Tehran.
President Massoud Pezeshkian, the sources said, has also grown frustrated with the political deadlock and diminishing authority within the government.
{{#rendered}}Seventeen countries called for Lebanon to be included in broader regional de-escalation efforts, according to a joint statement issued Tuesday by their foreign ministers.
The statement was released by the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The nations' ministers emphasized the need to incorporate Lebanon into ongoing diplomatic efforts and urged all parties to pursue a sustainable political resolution.
"The continuation of the war in Lebanon puts at risk the current regional de-escalation, which we have welcomed and must be fully respected by all parties," the foreign ministers said in a statement.
The ministers also expressed support for "the initiative by President Aoun to open direct talks with Israel," noting that the effort is being facilitated by the United States.
At the same time, they called on "all parties to urgently de-escalate and seize the opportunity offered by the ceasefire between the United States and Iran."
The statement praised recent actions by the Lebanese government, including measures "to ban Hezbollah’s military activities."
The ministers highlighted "its decision to reinforce the full imposition of state authority over Beirut and to have the sole monopoly on weapons, and we encourage full and swift implementation."
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres spoke at the United Nations on Tuesday about the situation in the Middle East, expressing cautious optimism that diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war could soon restart.
His remarks come amid signals from President Donald Trump that negotiations may be back on track.
Trump also said on Tuesday that Iran talks “could be happening over the next two days” in Pakistan’s capital, according to an interview with the New York Post.
When asked what the U.N. knew about talks resuming, Guterres told reporters: "The indication we have is that it is highly probable that these talks will restart."
"My message is that diplomacy must prevail. And diplomacy requires sincere dialogue," he added.
Guterres also said he met with the deputy prime minister of Pakistan and praised Pakistan’s efforts to support peace initiatives in the region.
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has criticized President Donald Trump over the economic fallout from the Iran war, calling it a “folly” to proceed without a clear exit plan.
Speaking to the Mirror ahead of a trip to Washington, D.C., for the IMF and World Bank’s spring meetings, Reeves said she was “angry” about the conflict.
"This is a war that we did not start. It was a war that we did not want. I feel very frustrated and angry that the US went into this war without a clear exit plan, without a clear idea of what they were trying to achieve," Reeves told the outlet.
"And as a result, the Strait of Hormuz is now blocked," the Chancellor said.
"We are hosting a conference this week with President Macron of France on how to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz," Reeves explained.
Reeves added that “no sensible person is a supporter of the Iranian regime,” but warned that entering a conflict without clear objectives risks global consequences, describing it as “a folly” and one that is affecting families in the UK, the US and around the world.
Her comments come as the UK’s economic growth forecast has been cut as a result of the Iran conflict.
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump is set to meet with U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue Tuesday, as the administration prepares for a high-stakes summit between the U.S. president and Chinese President Xi Jinping in May.
The talks are expected to focus on both escalating tensions in the Middle East and the broader U.S.–China relationship, as Washington weighs its approach to Beijing ahead of the summit.
The meeting comes just after the U.S. launched a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, where China remains the largest buyer of Iranian crude amid the conflict between the U.S., Iran and Israel.
The blockade risks pulling China more directly into the conflict. Any effort to enforce it against shipments bound for China could trigger a confrontation between the world’s two largest economies.
"This will only aggravate confrontation, escalate tension, undermine the already fragile ceasefire and further jeopardize safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said of the blockade Tuesday in a daily press conference. "It is a dangerous and irresponsible move."
The meeting also comes amid reports that China supplied Iran with weapons, which Chinese officials dismissed as "completely made up." Trump has threatened China with 50% tariffs if the reports are accurate.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Morgan Phillips.
Tensions between Israel and Turkey are escalating sharply, with a war of words between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaching new heights and placing President Donald Trump in an increasingly delicate position between the two sides as tension escalates.
The latest flare-up underscores a broader geopolitical clash about Iran, Gaza and regional influence, even as Washington attempts to maintain cooperation with both sides.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel of deliberately seeking a new adversary following its confrontation with Iran, saying the Israeli government is attempting to portray Ankara as its next enemy.
"After Iran, Israel cannot live without an enemy," Fidan said in a televised interview with the state-run Anadolu news agency. "We see that not only Netanyahu’s administration but also some figures in the opposition — though not all — are seeking to declare Turkey the new enemy," he said.
The rhetoric reflects a sharp deterioration in relations that have been strained since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack and the war in Gaza, but have now escalated into direct confrontation between the two leaders.
Netanyahu, in remarks posted on X Saturday, accused Erdoğan of siding with Iran and its proxies, writing that Israel "will continue to fight Iran’s terror regime… unlike Erdogan who accommodates them and massacred his own Kurdish citizens."
Erdoğan has intensified his criticism of Israel’s military campaign, accusing its leadership of war crimes and backing international legal action against Israeli officials.
In one of the most incendiary exchanges, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming, "Netanyahu, who has been described as the Hitler of our time due to the crimes he has committed, is a well-known figure with a clear track record. An arrest warrant has been issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Under Netanyahu’s administration, Israel is facing proceedings before the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide."
This is an excerpt from an article By Fox News' Efrat Lachter.
President Donald Trump says peace talks with Iran could take place over the next two days on Tuesday.
Trump made the statement in a phone interview with the New York Post, complimenting Pakistani Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir on making progress with Iran.
“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” Trump said of Islamabad. “It’s more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job.”
“He’s fantastic, and therefore it’s more likely that we go back there,” he said “Why should we go to some country that has nothing to do with it?”
{{#rendered}}Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with ambassadors from Israel and Lebanon at the White House on Tuesday in an effort to create a "permanent and lasting peace" between the two countries.
Israel's campaign against Hezbollah has strained tensions with Lebanon, and Rubio emphasized that the Lebanese people are victims of the Iran-backed terrorist group just as Israelis are.
Iran has demanded that Israel's attacks on Hezbollah stop amid ceasefire with the U.S., though U.S. officials said a ceasefire in Lebanon was not part of the initial agreement.
U.S. Central Command says it successfully blocked all vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas in the first 24 hours of President Donald Trump's blockade.
CENTCOM says the blockade is being enforced "impartially against vessels of all nations" entering an exiting Iranian ports. It added that six merchant vessels complied with U.S. directions to turn around,
More than 10,000 U.S. servicemembers are participating in the blockade, including over 100 aircraft and 18 warships.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the price hikes seen since the Iran war are "transient" and he predicted that inflation will fall quickly once the conflict ends.
Bessent made the statement Tuesday as the U.S. enforces a blockade on Iranian ports.
"There is nothing more transient than what we are seeing now. So, you know, the conflict will end, prices will come down, and then headline inflation will come down. And with that, gasoline prices will come down. We've seen them edging back down in the past ten days," Bessent said.
Bessent went on to say that the U.S. will not allow passage for any countries or companies that pay Iran's fee for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
{{#rendered}}China slammed the ongoing U.S. military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday as a "dangerous and irresponsible move."
The remark from Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun came after the U.S. began enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in key waterway at 10 a.m. ET on Monday. President Donald Trump ordered the blockade after peace talks with Tehran collapsed this weekend.
"With the temporary ceasefire agreement still in place, the United States ramped up military deployment and resorted to a targeted blockade. This will only aggravate confrontation, escalate tension, undermine the already fragile ceasefire and further jeopardize safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," Guo said. "It is a dangerous and irresponsible move."
"China believes that only a complete ceasefire can fundamentally create conditions for easing the situation. We urge relevant parties to honor the ceasefire agreement, stick to the direction of peace talks and take concrete actions to deescalate the situation so that normal traffic via the Strait will be able to resume as soon as possible," he added.
The White House did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world’s most critical energy choke points. It carries roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day, along with about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Greg Norman.
This is an excerpt from an opinion article by Fox News Contributor Hugh Hewitt.
From the moment the talks between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran commenced in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday, only one of three results could follow: Munich, 1938 with the U.S. appeasing Iran; Reykjavík, 1986 with diplomatic deadlock; or Appomattox, 1865 with the exhausted and broken Iranians surrendering to the reality of hard power.
Turns out it was Reykjavík 2.0 with Vice President JD Vance instead of President Reagan exiting the meetings looking stone-faced and irritated as he announced an end to the talks and the departure of the United States delegation.
A blockade of all shipping from all Iranian ports commenced Monday at 10 AM pursuant to President Trump’s order to the U.S. Navy. The Navy has already commenced mine-clearing operations in the international waters in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday — during the talks. Quite a signal, that.
President Trump has indicated that renewed strikes on the teetering Islamic Republic of Iran are possible as well. Israel continues to pummel Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon.
It was a very bad weekend for terrorists in the Middle East as well as for the mother ship regime that supports them all in Tehran. The ayatollahs and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that prop them up are down to their fifth-string "generals," and the impotent "elected officials" of Iran who have never had other than the power the IRGC allocated to them.
The Iranian regime has survived on terror and bluster for 47 years. Now, it’s on the edge of collapse because of Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Regional concern is growing that Iran will instruct its Houthi allies in Yemen to target sea traffic in Bab el-Mandeb, the gateway to the Red Sea.
Fox News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst reported on the potential move on Tuesday, noting that it would further restrict the global oil trade.
{{#rendered}}French President Emmanuel Macron urged the U.S. and Iran to restart peace negotiations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz "without restrictions" on Tuesday.
Macron said in a post on X that he spoke with both President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday.
"I urged the resumption of the negotiations suspended in Islamabad, the clearing up of misunderstandings, and the avoidance of any further escalation," Macron said. "It is essential, in particular, that the ceasefire be strictly respected by all parties and that it include Lebanon."
"It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without restrictions or tolls, as soon as possible," he continued. "Under these conditions, negotiations should be able to resume quickly, with the support of the key parties concerned."
The United States began enforcing a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic Monday, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf just hours after high-level talks in Pakistan between Washington and Tehran collapsed without a deal.
The move, announced by President Donald Trump, came after negotiations in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, despite what participants described as rare direct engagement between the two sides.
But Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mohammed Saeed, former chief of general staff of the Pakistan Army, said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that the talks came far closer to success than their outcome suggests — and argued that diplomacy is still within reach.
"Both sides are saying they were very close … even inches away from a solution," he said based on his own knowledge and reports. Saeed retired in 2023 but remained part of the core team handling operational planning, internal security coordination, and sensitive periods of political tension.
"They talked to each other in a very friendly manner. There was, from both sides, an expression of accommodation and understanding from each other. So, what you can briefly say is that the engagement has sufficient potential to resume."
Speaking at the White House Monday, Trump defended the blockade, saying, "Right now, there’s no fighting. Right now, we have a blockade … Iran is doing absolutely no business, and we’re going to keep it that way very easily."
He added that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly degraded, saying its "Navy has gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone, their radar is gone and their leaders are gone."
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Efrat Lachter.
President Donald Trump said that Iran’s navy is "completely obliterated," but the small, fast attack vessels the U.S. did not prioritize remain among the most dangerous threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said 158 Iranian vessels were destroyed in U.S.–Israeli strikes and warned that any remaining boats approaching U.S. forces would be "immediately eliminated" as the military moves to enforce a blockade of the strait.
But defense analysts say those smaller vessels — along with mines, drones and coastal missile systems — form the backbone of Iran’s strategy in the narrow waterway, allowing Tehran to disrupt traffic without fully shutting it down.
Recent reporting indicates more than 60% of Iran’s fast attack fleet — operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — remains intact despite weeks of strikes that officials say sank more than 150 larger vessels.
Those smaller, fast-moving boats — along with mines, drones and coastal missile systems — form the backbone of Iran’s asymmetric strategy, giving Tehran enough capability to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz without fully shutting it down.
Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply moves through the strait, and analysts say Iran does not need to block it outright to have a global impact.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Morgan Phillips.
{{#rendered}}Western democracies, including the UK, France, Canada and Australia, are facing backlash after allowing Iran and other authoritarian regimes to secure seats on influential United Nations (U.N.) bodies, with the United States standing alone in opposition.
The controversy stems from decisions by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a 54-member body that plays a central role in shaping U.N. policy and staffing key committees.
Critics warn the outcome could allow governments accused of human rights abuses to influence global policy and control which civil society groups are granted access to the United Nations.
ECOSOC nominated the Islamic Republic of Iran to the U.N.’s Committee for Program and Coordination Wednesday, a body that helps shape policy on human rights, women’s rights, disarmament and counterterrorism.
The nomination is widely expected to be finalized, as the United Nations General Assembly typically approves such recommendations without a vote.
At the same session, ECOSOC elected China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia and Sudan to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, which oversees accreditation and access for thousands of NGOs operating within the U.N. system.
The United States was the only member state to formally break from consensus.
In remarks delivered April 8, U.S. Representative to ECOSOC Ambassador Dan Negrea said the U.S. "disassociates from consensus" on both decisions, calling several of the countries involved unfit for such roles.
"The regime threatens its neighbors and has, for decades, infringed on the Iranian people’s ability to exercise their basic human rights," Negrea said, adding that "we believe Iran is unfit to serve" on the committee.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Efrat Lachter.
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman said he's "torn" about efforts to remove the Iranian regime over concerns it would politically benefit President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I find myself, Michael, in a situation where I really want to see Iran defeated militarily," Friedman told CNN host Michael Smerconish on Saturday. "Because this regime is a terrible regime for its people in the region."
"And nothing would improve the region more than the replacement of this regime with the regime in Iran that was focused on enabling its people to realize their full potential and integrating peacefully with other countries and stop occupying Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. So, I'm all for that," Friedman continued.
Friedman then turned to what he calls the "problem" of a successful regime change in Tehran.
"The problem is I really don‘t want to see Bibi Netanyahu or Donald Trump politically strengthened by this war because they are two awful human beings," the Times columnist said. "They are both engaged in anti-democratic projects in their own countries. They‘re both alleged crooks. They are terrible, terrible people doing terrible things to America‘s standing in the world and Israel's standing in the world."
"And so I really find myself torn. I want to see Iran militarily defeated, but I do not want to see these two terrible people strengthened," he added.
The "torn" feelings from the New York Times columnist sparked a lot of attention among critics.
"What kind of sick hate must @tomfriedman have that he roots for USA to lose to a terrorist regime who has killed thousands of Americans?" Trump's Israel Ambassador Mike Huckabee reacted.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Joseph Wulfsohn.
The Chinese-owned oil and chemical tanker Rich Starry successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday amid a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
The Rich Starry was the first vessel to cross the strait since the U.S. imposed its blockade on Monday. The ship was initially turned back on Monday but was successful on its second attempt to cross.
The U.S. blockade only applies to vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports, and the Rich Starry was transiting the strait from the United Arab Emirates and was therefore allowed to pass.
{{#rendered}}France’s President Emmanuel Macron is facing renewed criticism for his lack of support for President Donald Trump’s war against Iran and demands to include Lebanon in the current ceasefire as historic talks between Israel and Lebanon are set to begin Tuesday.
The historic meeting brokered by President Trump between Lebanon, a former French mandate, and Israel will take place at the ambassador level as hopes for an agreement evolve — most noticeably without French involvement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to host both nations' ambassadors.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel’s government requested that France be excluded from the talks. An Israeli official told the paper that "France’s conduct over the past year – including initiatives aimed at limiting Israel’s ability to fight in Iran, and a complete lack of willingness to take concrete steps to help Lebanon disarm Hezbollah – has led Israel to view France as an unfair mediator."
On Monday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Monday called on the Lebanese government to cancel the Tuesday meeting in Washington, while describing the talks as pointless. In a televised speech, Qassem said the armed group will continue to confront Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
Hezbollah violated a ceasefire to enter the war on its patron, Iran’s side, in March when it launched rockets into Israel after the U.S.-Israel joint attack on the Islamic Republic began, still Macron has demanded Israel stop attacking Hezbollah's terror infrastructure in Lebanon.
Israeli Brig. General (Res.) Yosef Kuperwasser told Fox News Digital that Macron was "working against the best interests of the Lebanese state and government. This is a very problematic direction." He accused Macron of "taking the side of Hezbollah and normalizing Hezbollah because he is focused on "narrow interests."
The former head of research for the Israel Defense Forces’ Military Intelligence Directorate, Kuperwasser, added that the "Americans want us to engage with the Lebanese along with the military [in Lebanon]. Our expectations are very similar. We want to see Lebanon do something about Hezbollah, something real, not just issue statements and pledges. We believe we have helped them by weakening Hezbollah militarily since they decided to launch missiles on March 2. If there is a breakthrough, Lebanon has a lot to gain," but said it has to "disarm Hezbollah."
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Benjamin Weinthal.
A second round of face-to-face negotiations between Iran and the United States is being discussed, The Associated Press reported Monday.
The fresh talks could also take place as early as Thursday, according to the report.
Citing officials familiar with the matter, the report said the talks would aim to secure a deal to end the six-week war before the ceasefire expires April 21.
A diplomat from one of the mediating countries said Tehran and Washington have agreed in principle to hold the talks.
It is unclear whether the same level of delegation would attend, according to the diplomat and U.S. officials.
Islamabad, Pakistan, is also being considered again as a potential host, while Geneva is also under discussion, officials said.
Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this report.
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