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Iraq exported 10 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz in April, the country’s newly appointed oil minister Basim Mohammed said at a news conference. Mohammed said Iraq plans to engage with OPEC to boost its oil production and export capacity. He added that Baghdad is targeting a production capacity of five million barrels per day. Iraq sends first oil convoy to Syria through al-Yarubiyah in 14 years With inputs from Al Jazeera

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their fragile ceasefire by 45 days following two days of negotiations in Washington, the US State Department said. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the discussions are expected to help advance a lasting peace between the two countries, including mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring security along their shared border. US President Donald Trump had announced the truce on April 16, but exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have continued since then. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli air strikes killed 22 people, including eight children, across southern parts of the country on Wednesday. The State Department said political negotiations will resume in June, while a parallel security dialogue involving military delegations from both sides is scheduled to begin at the Pentagon on May 29, Pigott added. Since the ceasefire took effect, there have been almost daily reports of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israel has recently stepped up air and artillery strikes in the region, saying the attack target Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure. However, Lebanon’s health ministry has accused Israel of striking civilians and paramedics, an allegation denied by Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday said Tehran has no trust in the United States, citing what he described as Washington’s tendency to change its position frequently. “We have no trust in Americans. This is the main obstacle to any diplomatic effort,” he told a group of journalists after the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in the Indian capital, New Delhi. He said Iran has sufficient reasons for its lack of trust, while the United States, in his view, has no grounds to distrust Iran. Vessel seized off UAE coast, believed to be heading toward Iran Araghchi further claimed that after about 40 days of conflict, when the United States became “hopeless” of achieving its objectives in what he termed aggression against Iran, Washington proposed negotiations. Referring to regional tensions, he said certain “warmongers” are seeking to draw the United States into another conflict, expressing hope that “wisdom and diplomacy will prevail” and lead to a negotiated solution. On the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian foreign minister said Tehran wants it to remain fully open. “As far as we are concerned, the Strait of Hormuz is open and all vessels can pass, except those of countries that are fighting with us,” he said. Blaming US actions for instability in the region, Araghchi noted that the strategic waterway lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, and stressed that its management should be handled by the two countries. He added that consultations are underway to ensure effective administration of the Strait of Hormuz in the future, guaranteeing safe passage for all vessels.

A vessel anchored off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates has been seized by unidentified individuals and is believed to be heading toward Iranian territorial waters, the British military said on Thursday. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received reports that the ship was boarded by unauthorized personnel while anchored about 38 nautical miles northeast of the UAE port of Fujairah, near the Strait of Hormuz. UKMTO did not identify the vessel and said an investigation is underway. No group has claimed responsibility for the seizure. The incident comes as US President Donald Trump is meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where discussions are expected to focus on the war involving Iran and its impact on global trade and the economy. The seizure was reported hours after Israel said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made a private visit to the UAE during the conflict, although Emirati authorities denied that any such visit took place. The UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020. Iran has repeatedly criticized the agreement and has accused Israel of maintaining a military and intelligence presence in the Gulf state. Fujairah is a key oil export terminal and the UAE’s main port outside the Persian Gulf. The area has faced repeated attacks during the conflict with Iran. Iran has seized several vessels since the war began. Last week, Iranian naval forces detained an oil tanker identified as the Ocean Koi, alleging it was involved in disrupting Iranian oil exports, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. Iranian authorities said the tanker was carrying Iranian oil in the Gulf of Oman when it was boarded and taken to Iran’s southern coast. The United States imposed sanctions on the Ocean Koi in February, saying it was part of a “shadow fleet” used to transport Iranian oil.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi has claimed that Kuwait carried out an “unlawful attack” on an Iranian vessel and detained four Iranian citizens in the Persian Gulf. Araghchi said, “Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained four of our citizens in the Persian Gulf.” He further stated that the incident took place near an island allegedly used by the United States to launch attacks against Iran, describing it as a “clear attempt to sow discord.” Iran signals tighter control over Strait of Hormuz amid regional concerns His remarks came after Kuwait on Tuesday announced that it had arrested four individuals it accused of being members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alleging they attempted to infiltrate Bubiyan Island by sea and injured a Kuwaiti soldier during the operation. In a statement posted on X, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior said the operation was carried out on May 1. It added that naval officers were arrested aboard a fishing vessel “specially chartered to carry out hostile actions against Kuwait.” The ministry further said the detainees admitted during interrogation that they had been assigned by the IRGC to carry out infiltration activities. With inputs from Al Jazeera

Iranian officials have not yet issued a detailed response to recent comments made by Qatar and Türkiye, while maintaining that they do not view the strategic waterway as being used as a “weapon of war,” according to available reports. The stance of Tehran reflects its broader position on the Strait of Hormuz, a key global maritime passage. Iranian officials have indicated that efforts are underway to expand their operational reach to strengthen control over the route. At the same time, they have emphasized that commercial vessels are being allowed to pass safely through the corridor under designated arrangements set by the IRGC Navy. They further said that shipping traffic is required to coordinate with IRGC naval authorities while transiting the area, underscoring continued oversight of maritime movement through the strait. #From Al Jazeera

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on Pakistan to step up its mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, including initiatives aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Wang made the appeal during a phone conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. During the call, Dar briefed Wang on Islamabad’s recent diplomatic engagement efforts to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran. He also expressed appreciation for China’s continued support and called for closer coordination between the two countries, Xinhua reported. Wang praised Pakistan’s role in facilitating talks and helping extend a temporary ceasefire. He said Islamabad’s efforts were important for regional stability and urged it to maintain momentum in supporting peace initiatives. The Chinese foreign minister also reiterated Beijing’s backing for Pakistan’s mediation efforts, saying China would continue to support and contribute to diplomatic initiatives aimed at easing tensions in the region. #From Al Jazeera

The US-Israeli war on Iran has cost the United States approximately $29 billion so far, according to a senior Pentagon official. Jules Hurst, who is performing comptroller duties, told US lawmakers that the total includes updated costs for equipment repair and replacement as well as operational expenses. He said the figure marks an increase of $4 billion from an estimate provided late last month. Iran war raises fears of bunker fuel shortage, higher shipping costs The conflict of US-Israeli war on Iran spread across the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran, killing the country’s supreme leader on February 28. Iran retaliated by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf region. The fighting escalated rapidly and extended to Lebanon, with casualties and damage mounting on all sides. The United States and Iran later agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire starting on April 7. Source: Al Jazeera

Israel is setting up a military production facility to manufacture a large number of suicide drones in response to the growing threat posed by Hezbollah’s explosive unmanned aircraft, according to Israel Army Radio. The report said Hezbollah’s attack drones have created a major challenge for Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon and along the country’s northern border. Army Radio said the drones have killed a number of Israeli soldiers and civilians in the area since the start of the ceasefire. Hezbollah has increasingly used fibre-optic drones that are difficult to detect and cannot be disrupted by electronic jamming. According to the report, these relatively low-cost drones have recently penetrated Israel’s advanced air defence systems and tested the effectiveness of its sophisticated radar network. The move to establish a dedicated production facility reflects Israel’s efforts to strengthen its drone capabilities amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah along the Lebanon border.  #From Al Jazeera

US President Donald Trump on Monday said the ceasefire with Iran is “on life support,” rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal to end the conflict and describing it as “totally unacceptable.” Speaking at an unrelated White House event, Trump also termed Iran’s response to a US-backed peace plan as “stupid” and “unbelievably weak,” though he noted that a diplomatic resolution remains “very possible.” Iranian officials, however, pushed back against Washington’s position. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the US had made “unreasonable demands,” while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Tehran is prepared to respond to “any aggression.” Ghalibaf said the US should accept Iran’s proposal, cautioning that any alternative approach would be “inconclusive” and could impose greater costs on American taxpayers if delays continue. Amid the diplomatic tensions, the US and the UK have imposed new sanctions targeting Iranian individuals and entities. Meanwhile, violence continues elsewhere in the region. Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon reportedly killed four people in Nabatieh, including a 78-year-old woman and her 11-year-old grandson. The Israeli military says it is targeting positions linked to Hezbollah, which in turn claimed to have carried out 20 attacks against Israel. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher expressed concern over the escalating impact on civilians, citing more than 100 Israeli strikes within 24 hours. With tensions persisting on multiple fronts, the already fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran appears increasingly uncertain. Source: Al Jazeera