Ceasefire

Is Trump’s new naval blockade 3D chess or grasping at straws?

The blockade was set to begin at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, which is in the afternoon in Iran. Whether this marks a bold new strategy or a sign the US is grasping at straws remains to be seen.

A projectile approaches what US Central Command (CENTCOM) says is an Iranian naval vessel, during strikes that included attacks on mine-laying vessels, at a location given as near the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in this screen grab from video released March 10, 2026.
US Vice President JD Vance, left, talks to Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir, right, and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, center, before boarding Air Force Two after attending talks on Iran on April 12, 2026.

No illusions: Iranian people return to frontlines of dealing with regime - editorial

US Navy and US Marine Corps aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are arrayed on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran from an undisclosed location March 10, 2026.

IDF says major Lebanon fighting ending as Trump confirms Hormuz blockade

US President Donald Trump looks on after disembarking Air Force One as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, US, April 12, 2026.

Trump: ‘I don’t care’ if Iran comes back to negotiations


US-Iran ceasefire pauses war - nuclear, Hormuz, and Lebanon issues remain

Israelis fear danger, Americans are concerned about exit as a tentative ceasefire takes shape.

Map of Middle East

China plans to deliver air defense systems to Iran in coming weeks, US intelligence reveals - CNN

US intelligence reports that China is preparing to deliver air defense systems to Iran within weeks, using third countries to conceal the shipments, as tensions rise in the region.

 An illustrative photo of the Iranian and Chinese flags.

Vance: No deal reached after talks with Iran, Netanyahu says Iran campaign 'not over yet'

John Kerry: Netanyahu presented Iran attack plan to former presidents • Iran warns military vessels against transiting Strait of Hormuz • CENTCOM clears underwater mines in Hormuz

Detail view of US Vice President JD Vance motorcade is seen at the Serena Hotel shortly after his arrival on April 11, 2026 at Islamabad, Pakistan.

Iran retains thousands of short-range missiles, ability to reactivate launchers - report

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had said that Iran's missiles had been "depleted and decimated" during a press conference, with US officials concerned that Iran may use the ceasefire to rearm.

Mockups of domestically-made Iranian missiles are displayed at an exhibition outside the Defence Museum in Tehran on March 31, 2026.

Several airlines to reinstate flights to Israel in coming weeks

Greek carrier Blue Bird, set to resume flights on Sunday, will be the first foreign carrier to return to Israel since the skies largely closed following the start of Operation Roaring Lion.

Airplanes fly out from Ben Gurion International airport. April 7, 2025.

US, Lebanon request Israel pause attacks against Hezbollah prior to talks - report

The report said the request was still under review by Netanyahu, with Lebanon earlier on Friday saying that the US would be mediating the talks.

An Israeli artillery unit fires towards Lebanon, amid escalation between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel, and amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, on the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border, in northern Israel, March 17, 2026.

The Iran war ceasefire: A guide for the informationally perplexed - opinion

Have the US and Israel achieved their objectives? These are not trivial questions. But the deeper issue is this: In today’s information environment, they may no longer have clean, binary answers.

The news cycle moves at the speed of light, but true understanding requires a slower speed. Resist the urge for instant clarity; of the world of black and white, searching out the grey is our salvation, and chance for attaining Strategic Patience.

Iran-linked ships drive traffic through Strait of Hormuz, ship tracking data shows

Despite a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US, most vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz in the past day are linked to Iran, according to ship tracking data.

Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026.

Pakistan tightens security in Islamabad ahead of US-Iran negotiations

According to security sources, a US Air Force C-130 aircraft carrying an advance security and tactical team landed at Nur Khan Air Base on Thursday afternoon. 

Army soldiers sit in a truck, as Pakistan prepares to host the US and Iran for peace talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 10, 2026.

Iran war is huge success for Israel - but it is not a victory, yet - opinion

For too long, Israelis were sold on the wrong expectation. Politicians deceived the public into believing that everything could be achieved quickly and decisively through military force alone. 

PRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu.