US-Iran War News Highlights: Trump says Iran agrees to drop nuclear weapons, return enriched uranium

UAE presidential diplomatic advisor Anwar Gargash said Gulf states view Iran as the “main enemy.”

He said the Gulf perspective differs from some Arab societies that see Israel as the primary adversary.

Gargash said Iran has launched “thousands of missiles and drones” against Gulf states, shaping distrust in the region.

He said: “For this reason we do not trust it, and we view it as a primary enemy.”

He raised concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and its ballistic missile and drone capabilities.

Gargash said the UAE has questions and security concerns regarding Iran’s military activities.

He said Iran is seeking guarantees and reparations, but the UAE also wants assurances against future attacks.

He described past strikes as “cowardly attacks” and called for guarantees they will not be repeated.

Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said Tehran supports diplomatic efforts to end the conflict through a “sustainable end to this unlawful and unwarranted war.”

He said Iran welcomes mediation efforts by countries including Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia.

Iravani said Iran enters negotiations “in good faith” but with “deep mistrust of the United States” due to what he called repeated betrayal of diplomacy.

He said Iran remains “cautiously optimistic” about the outcome of ongoing diplomatic efforts.

He urged the US to adopt a “rational and constructive approach” in negotiations.

He warned against demands from Washington that are “inconsistent with international law.”

Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will not withdraw forces from southern Lebanon, rejects Hezbollah demand to pull back to the international border, announces plan to maintain an extensive security zone inside Lebanon

Security zone could extend up to the border with Syria

Hezbollah insists any ceasefire must restrict Israel’s freedom of movement in Lebanon

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu says there is an “opportunity to make a historic deal” with Lebanon, confirms agreement to a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon

Netanyahu reiterates Israel’s core demand: dismantling of Hezbollah

Trump says he had “a great talk” with Joseph Aoun and Benjamin Netanyahu, announces both the leaders “are going to be having a ceasefire,” which he says will include Hezbollah, signals momentum toward broader de-escalation in the Israel-Lebanon conflict

Trump says Aoun and Netanyahu expected to meet within the next 1–2 weeks, suggests a White House meeting could happen sooner, possibly within 4–5 days

Trump says a Lebanon–Israel deal could be reached soon, signals possible meeting between Lebanese and Israeli leaders within 1–2 weeks, says talks could take place at the White House, calls it the “first time in 44 years” Lebanon and Israel would meet directly

Trump said the United States has made significant progress in its standoff with Iran, claiming Tehran has agreed to return enriched uranium following recent US military action.

Trump also claimed that Iran had agreed to return material buried deep underground, referring to it as “nuclear dust,” following US airstrikes.

“They've agreed to give us back the nuclear dust that's way underground because of the attack we made with the B-2 bombers,” he said.

Trump said Iran had made a firm commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons, calling it a central objective of US policy.

“The big thing we have to do is we have to make sure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon, because if they do, you want to talk about problems, you'd have problems,” he said.

“So very important is that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon, and they've agreed to that. Iran has agreed to that, and they've agreed to it very powerfully.”

Trump signals openness to extending deadline if talks are nearing a deal

14-day ceasefire is set to expire on April 22

“If we’re close to a deal… yeah, I would do that,” Trump tells reporters.

Trump says US ‘making a lot of progress’ on Iran deal, warns fighting could resume if no agreement is reached. Trump says prospects for a deal are “looking good”, but warns fighting could resume if no agreement is reached.

Suggests ceasefire may not need extension due to Iran’s increased flexibility

Says Iran is now willing to make concessions it previously resisted

Indicates next round of US-Iran talks could take place over the weekend

The US military has issued an extensive list of goods it classifies as contraband as part of its blockade of Iran, stating that such items may be seized from merchant ships “regardless of location", as per AP.

In a notice released on Thursday, the military said any goods “destined for an enemy and that may be susceptible to use in armed conflict” could be “subject to capture at any place beyond neutral territory.”

The list includes weapons, ammunition, and military equipment under “absolute contraband.” It also categorises items such as oil, iron, steel, aluminium, and certain civilian goods as “conditional contraband,” arguing that they could potentially be used for military purposes.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that achieving a ceasefire was Lebanon’s main objective during landmark discussions held in Washington on Tuesday between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States, as per AP.

“While I congratulate all Lebanese on this achievement, I offer my condolences to the families of the martyrs who fell, and I affirm my solidarity with their families, with the wounded, and with the citizens forced to flee their cities and villages,” Salam said.

China’s envoy Fu Cong said the Strait of Hormuz must be protected to ensure international maritime navigation, urging Iran to take “proactive measures” to reopen the waterway.

He stressed that the strait, which carries around 20% of global oil shipments, is vital for global trade and energy security, and called for efforts to maintain safe and uninterrupted passage for commercial vessels, as per AP.

“The issue of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a spillover effect of the conflict in Iran,” he said. “Only a complete ceasefire can fundamentally create conditions for easing the situation.”

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei criticises Scott Bessent's economic threats, says such measures harm “innocent people”, calls the approach an “inhumane mindset”, describes US actions as “economic terrorism”, also labels them “state-sponsored extortion”.

Comments refer to Bessent’s warning of a “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign.

US President Donald Trump says he will invite leaders of Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon President Joseph Aoun to the White House

Talks described as the first meaningful engagement between the two countries since 1983

Meeting aimed at advancing peace between Israel and Lebanon

Trump says “both sides want to see PEACE”

Expresses confidence that a breakthrough could happen “quickly”

Donald Trump claims Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire

Ceasefire to begin at 5 p.m. EST, aimed at achieving peace between the two countries

Trump says he spoke with Joseph Aoun and Benjamin Netanyahu

Trump says he directed JD Vance, Rubio, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine to work on a lasting peace

Brazil’s government is set to announce new measures in the coming days aimed at reducing the economic fallout from the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, including efforts to limit increases in gasoline prices, Institutional Relations Minister José Guimarães said on Thursday, as per Reuters.

The US dollar strengthened against major currencies on Thursday, recovering some of its recent losses as investors turned cautiously optimistic while awaiting updates on a potential US–Iran peace agreement, as per Reuters.

US President Donald Trump said that the US-Israeli conflict with Iran was “close to over,” while the White House signalled optimism about a possible deal, noting that further in-person negotiations are likely to take place in Pakistan.

The office of Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said that US President Donald Trump was thanked by the Lebanese leader for his efforts to help secure a ceasefire in the ongoing war, as per AP.

Earlier, Aoun spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which he declined to hold a direct conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, insisting that a ceasefire must be achieved before any further direct talks. Israel has yet to take a decision on agreeing to a ceasefire.

The statement said Trump emphasised “his commitment to fulfilling the Lebanese request for a ceasefire as soon as possible.”

Germany’s largest shipping company, Hapag-Lloyd, said it is being affected by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with around 150 sailors currently stranded aboard six of its vessels. “Five and a half weeks in a war zone — that’s something relatively new. And of course, these are difficult days and weeks for our colleagues,” Hapag Lloyd spokesperson Nils Haupt told AP.