US Iran War News LIVE: Hardline Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei warned that if U.S. forces invade, Iran would capture American soldiers as hostages and attack U.S. naval ships enforcing a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments, as reported by AFP.
US Iran War News LIVE: What happened in the last few hours?
- Battleships in the US armada “can definitely be exposed to our missiles and we can destroy them,” Rezaei, a former commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards who was named as a military adviser by Khamenei last month, told state TV, as reported by AFP.
- United States officials issued new sanctions against Iran, targeting more than two dozen people involved in oil transport, along with companies and ships that operate within the network of petroleum shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
- The US military’s Middle East command CENTCOM said it had stopped 10 vessels from sailing out of Iranian ports during the first 48 hours of a naval blockade against the Islamic Republic. But ship tracking data indicated at least three ships sailing from Iranian ports crossed the Strait of Hormuz, though some vessels taking the route later turned back.
- Oil prices slipped in early Thursday trading as optimism over easing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Brent crude futures fell 44 cents (0.5%) to $94.49 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 70 cents (0.8%) to $90.59 a barrel, as reported by Reuters.
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Key Events
16 Apr 2026, 06:31 AM IST
16 Apr 2026, 06:28 AM IST
16 Apr 2026, 11:00:35 AM IST
US Iran War News LIVE: Reopening of Hormuz an international demand, says Chinese foreign minister
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was a unanimous demand from the international community.
Wang Yi told Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a phone call that Iran’s sovereignty, security, and legitimate rights should be respected as a littoral state of the Strait of Hormuz, but freedom of navigation and safety through the strait should be ensured.
“Working to resume normal passage of the strait is a unanimous call from the international community,” Wang was quoted as saying in a government statement late Wednesday.
16 Apr 2026, 10:58:02 AM IST
US Iran War News LIVE: Oil steadies
Oil steadied on signs the US and Iran may extend a ceasefire and restart talks to end the war that’s rocked energy markets. Brent was stable above $95 a barrel after ending Wednesday barely changed, while West Texas Intermediate was near $92.
16 Apr 2026, 10:06:37 AM IST
US Iran War News LIVE: Iran and Pakistan to meet today to discuss messages exchanged with US, reports Iran Media
Iranian officials and Pakistan’s Army chief Asim Munir will hold talks in Islamabad on April 16 to discuss the messages that have been exchanged between Iran and the US since negotiations in Islamabad fell apart on April 12, according to the Iranian state media Tasnim news agency.
It is not clear whether Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi will meet Munir or some other official.
16 Apr 2026, 09:27:44 AM IST
US Iran War News LIVE: Trump slams Meloni over lack of support
After chastising Pope Leo XIV, Trump turned his ire on Meloni, long one of his closest European allies, for calling his papal broadside “unacceptable” and not backing the US-Israel war on Iran.
“I thought she had courage,” Trump said in an interview with leading Italian daily Corriere della Sera. “I was wrong.”
16 Apr 2026, 09:16:12 AM IST
US Iran War News LIVE: Trump says Israel and Lebanon talks to happen on Thursday
US President Donald Trump said that Israel And Lebanon talks will take place on Thursday, April 16.
16 Apr 2026, 08:32:12 AM IST
US Iran War News LIVE: ‘Identical’ goals
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel and the US are fully aligned in their objectives to contain Iran.
“We want to see enriched material removed from Iran; we want to see the elimination of enrichment capability within Iran; and, of course, we want to see the (Hormuz) strait reopened,” he said in a televised speech.
16 Apr 2026, 08:26:24 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: Iran arrests four alleged Israeli spies
Iran arrested four suspected Israeli spies, state media reported on Thursday.
It came as US officials discuss possible peace talks with Iran after US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28 engulfed the Middle East in war.
16 Apr 2026, 08:26:00 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: Nikkei surges more than 2% to hit fresh record on US-Iran accord hopes
Nikkei surges more than 2% to hit fresh record on US-Iran accord hopes
16 Apr 2026, 08:25:43 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: As Trump continues diatribe against Pope Leo XIV, Pontiff calls for ‘unarmed peace’ amid rising tensions
As US President Donald Trump continues his diatribe against Pope Leo XIV, in a strong appeal for global harmony amidst the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Pope has urged the world to abandon violence and embrace a model of peace rooted in justice and compassion.
In a post on X, the Pope said, “Let us reject the logic of violence and war, and embrace peace founded on love and justice–an unarmed peace, not based on fear, threats or weapons.”
16 Apr 2026, 08:25:19 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: China’s economy grows at 5% in first quarter, shrugging off initial impact of Iran war
China’s economy accelerated in the first quarter of this year, expanding 5% from a year earlier as it largely shrugged off impacts from the Iran war so far, according to data released Thursday.
The January-March data released by the government, covering a period during which the Iran war began, was better than what economists expected and was up from the 4.5% growth seen in the October-December quarter.
16 Apr 2026, 07:34:27 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: Sharif praises Saudi restraint
According to the statement, Sharif assured the Kingdom of Pakistan’s “full solidarity and support” and praised what he described as Saudi Arabia’s restraint under the crown prince’s leadership.
Pakistan has a defense agreement with the Kingdom, which has faced retaliatory attacks from Iran in recent weeks, causing damage.
16 Apr 2026, 07:14:46 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: Brent crude price today
Brent crude futures fell 44 cents (0.5%) to $94.49 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 70 cents (0.8%) to $90.59 a barrel, as reported by Reuters.
16 Apr 2026, 07:06:08 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: Fire damages Australian oil refinery, further reducing nation’s fuel supply threatened by the Iran war
Officials say there were no suspicious circumstances behind the blaze that broke out late Wednesday at the Viva Energy Geelong refinery southwest of Melbourne, and no one was injured, Reuters reported.
The facility is one of two refineries in Australia and provides 10% of the nation’s gasoline, diesel and jet fuel
16 Apr 2026, 06:43:38 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: China urges restoration of normal navigation in Strait of Hormuz
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi to make efforts to restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in a phone call on Wednesday, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement, Reuters reported.
16 Apr 2026, 06:32:20 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: US Senate Republicans back Trump military sales to Israel
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked two resolutions that would have stopped the sale of some $450 million in bombs and bulldozers to Israel, as President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans rallied behind his support for the Jewish state, as reported by Reuters.
16 Apr 2026, 06:31:18 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: Oil prices fall
Oil prices slipped in early Thursday trading as optimism over easing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Brent crude futures fell 44 cents (0.5%) to $94.49 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 70 cents (0.8%) to $90.59 a barrel, as reported by Reuters.
16 Apr 2026, 06:28:29 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: US refuses to extend oil license for Russia, Iran, says US Treasury Sec Scott Bessent s
United States Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, says, “We will not be renewing the general license on Russian oil and Iranian oil. That was oil that was on the water prior to March 11th. All that has been used”
16 Apr 2026, 06:26:34 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: US says it blocks 10 vessels from Iran ports
The US military’s Middle East command CENTCOM said it had stopped 10 vessels from sailing out of Iranian ports during the first 48 hours of a naval blockade against the Islamic Republic.
But ship tracking data indicated at least three ships sailing from Iranian ports crossed the Strait of Hormuz, though some vessels taking the route later turned back.
16 Apr 2026, 06:25:13 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: ‘We remain very much engaged in these negotiations,’ says White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt | Watch
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says, “…Bad reporting this morning that we had formally requested an extension of the ceasefire. That is not true at this moment. We remain very much engaged in these negotiations, in these talks. You heard from the Vice President and the President this week that these conversations are productive and ongoing, and that’s where we are right now…We feel good about the prospects of a deal. The President mentioned that in his interview yesterday. It is in the best interest of Iran to meet the President’s demands. I think he’s made his red lines in these negotiations very clear to the other side. We are continuing to see how these conversations go”
16 Apr 2026, 06:24:13 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: Israel army chief 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.
16 Apr 2026, 06:23:56 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE: Wall Street records
Major Wall Street stock indices finished at records Wednesday, extending an upward climb on optimism about an accord in the US-Iran conflict.
16 Apr 2026, 06:23:11 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE Updates: Fresh oil sanctions
United States officials issued new sanctions against Iran, targeting more than two dozen people involved in oil transport, along with companies and ships that operate within the network of petroleum shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
“Treasury is moving aggressively with ‘Economic Fury’ by targeting regime elites like the Shamkhani family that attempt to profit at the expense of the Iranian people,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
16 Apr 2026, 06:22:19 AM IST
Iran US War News LIVE Updates: Iran warns to ‘sink American ships’ enforcing military blockade in Hormuz Strait
Battleships in the US armada “can definitely be exposed to our missiles and we can destroy them,” Rezaei, a former commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards who was named as a military adviser by Khamenei last month, told state TV, as reported by AFP.
About the Author
Mausam Jha
Mausam Jha is a journalist who focuses on world affairs and politics. She provides clear, informative reporting with a good understanding of both global events and their local impact.
Her clear, accessible reporting on political and international issues makes her a trusted source of news and analysis.
For the past three years, Mausam has worked with Mint, covering national politics, IR—including elections—and global affairs.
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