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Iranians dismiss Trump's threats to block Hormuz Strait at Tehran rally

Iranians dismiss Trump's threats to block Hormuz Strait at Tehran rally
By Stephen Quillen, Zaid Sabah, Urooba Jamal, Usaid Siddiqui, Caolán Magee, Nils Adler and Alex Milan Durie
Published On 14 Apr 2026

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14 Apr 2026 - 23:59
 (23:59 GMT)

Our coverage continues

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Join us for all the latest developments, analyses and reactions here.

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli air strike on the Al-Hosh area near the coastal Lebanese city of Tyre on Tuesday [Kawnat Haju/AFP]
14 Apr 2026 - 23:50
 (23:50 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

We will be closing this live page soon. Here’s a brief recap of the day’s main developments:

  • Lebanon and Israel’s envoys have met for rare direct talks in Washington, DC, with Beirut seeking to secure a ceasefire and Israeli officials seeking disarmament of the Hezbollah group.
  • US President Donald Trump tells the New York Post that a second round of talks with Iran could take place in Pakistan “over the next two days”.
  • US Vice President JD Vance, expected to head the Islamabad talks, said mistrust between Washington and Tehran is a hurdle that “cannot be resolved overnight”, but added that the Iranian negotiators have shown a genuine desire to reach an agreement.
  • The US Treasury Department has said that “the short-term authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil already stranded at sea will not be renewed” under the “maximum pressure” strategy against Tehran.
  • Italy has suspended the auto-renewal of the defence agreement with Israel amid domestic pressure. The agreement involves the exchange of military equipment and technological research.
  • Israeli forces bulldozed buildings in southern Lebanese towns and carried out strikes there, while Hezbollah said its members engaged Israeli forces in northern Israeli areas.
14 Apr 2026 - 23:45
 (23:45 GMT)

Rubio meets Egyptian foreign minister, discusses Iran ceasefire

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Rubio said the leaders “discussed the ceasefire with Iran and the importance of securing long-term peace in the Middle East”.

The statement further noted that Rubio “also discussed joint efforts to disarm Hamas, in line with the President’s 20-Point Plan for Gaza, and explored ways to bolster the US-Egypt economic and commercial relationship”.

Rubio also “stressed the importance of ongoing US and Egyptian efforts to achieve a humanitarian truce in Sudan,” the statement read.

14 Apr 2026 - 23:30
 (23:30 GMT)

Mixed reactions in Lebanon as diplomatic talks clash with rising death toll and Hezbollah defiance

By Heidi Pett

Reporting from Beirut, Lebanon

It’s difficult in terms of what to expect from any ongoing talks because of this initial meeting [between Israel and Lebanon in the US]. Because the Lebanese, on the one hand, are hoping for a ceasefire, and the Israelis are saying that that’s not really on the table; they are focused on disarming Hezbollah.

What we may see is a continuation of the status quo for the last couple of days, when American pressure reportedly forced the Israelis to stop hitting Beirut and its suburbs, but instead, their campaign in the south has merely continued.

The reaction to these talks here in Lebanon has been mixed. On the one hand, there are people who hope for anything that may lead to an end to a conflict, which has killed well over 2,000 Lebanese people, according to official counts.

But there are also many who are concerned, particularly by this statement that we had from the Israeli ambassador to the US after that meeting, saying that he was happy to learn that Israel and Lebanon were on the same side.

There are many people here in Lebanon who will be deeply concerned at the idea that they are on the same side as a state that, at this point, has killed 2,134 of its citizens, including nearly 400 in 10 minutes last Wednesday.

It’s all well and good for the Israelis and the Lebanese government to talk if they do continue to hold talks, but of course, the actual party to the conflict here, Hezbollah, has made it very clear that not only are they opposed to direct negotiations with Israel, but that they would disregard the outcome of any negotiations that may occur down the line.

14 Apr 2026 - 23:15
 (23:15 GMT)
Analysis

‘US blockade is ratcheting up pressure on Trump’

Iran has called Trump’s bluff, not the other way around, David Sedney, former US deputy assistant secretary of defence, told Al Jazeera.

There has been pressure from other countries, particularly China, India, and South Korea, who are hurting much more than the US from the current closure of the strait, Sedney added.

“So, I don’t think President Trump has done any master stroke here. What he has done is he’s ratcheted up the pressure on himself,” he said.

“For President Trump, it’s always about domestic politics,” Sedney argued. “His support among his base is slipping, and it slipped even more. This is a president who needs his base’s support. His base is not gonna support those military options. His base wants an end to the war and lower gas prices.”

14 Apr 2026 - 23:00
 (23:00 GMT)
Houthi

Vance expresses optimism on Iran deal despite ‘mistrust’ at Turning Point rally

Addressing a conservative Turning Point USA (TPUSA) audience at the University of Georgia, US Vice President JD Vance discussed the ongoing tensions with Tehran.

Vance acknowledged that while mistrust remains between Washington and Tehran, noting that it is a hurdle that “cannot be resolved overnight”, he remains optimistic about the potential for a breakthrough.

He told the crowd that Iranian negotiators have shown a genuine desire to reach an agreement and that he feels “very good about where we are” in the diplomatic process.

14 Apr 2026 - 23:00
 (23:00 GMT)

Marwan Barghouti assaulted repeatedly in Israeli prison, lawyer says

Jailed Palestinian political figure Marwan Barghouti has been subjected to three violent assaults in Israeli prison in recent weeks, his Israeli lawyer, Ben Marmarelli, said in a statement today.

According to the testimony, Barghouti was severely beaten on April 8, 2026, in Ganot Prison, and was left bleeding for more than two hours without medical care.

Barghouti was also assaulted on March 25 during his transfer from Megiddo Prison to Ganot, and on March 24 in Megiddo Prison, when guards unleashed a dog that attacked him several times.

“These are not isolated incidents,” Marmarelli said. “They form a clear pattern of escalating abuse: violence, medical neglect, and treatment that places him at immediate risk.”

Marmarelli said that his visit with Barghouti, who has been in Israeli prison for more than 23 years, happened in “absurd” conditions.

“The phones did not work, so we had to shout through the glass just to hear each other. For five hours, I sat there without food or water, trying to make sure this visit meant something.”

“And still, despite all of that, his mind was sharp, focused, and deeply engaged with everything happening outside those prison walls,” he said.

14 Apr 2026 - 22:45
 (22:45 GMT)
Analysis

‘US blockade designed to put economic pressure on Iran’

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is designed to put economic pressure on the Iranian regime, Abbas Dahouk, a former senior military adviser for Middle East affairs at the US Department of State, told Al Jazeera.

“The first round of the campaign was heavy strikes through the air campaign against their military industry, against their missile industry, and other infrastructure related to the IRGC,” he said.

The blockade is a separate way to do it, he added. “This time, it is a naval fight to put economic pressure on the Iranian regime to deprive them of access to the strait. It depends on how much the regime can withstand this blockade,” Dahouk told Al Jazeera.

Dahouk further noted that the US hopes that “the beneficiary of the Iranian oil – the countries of the far east, like China, South Korea, and Japan – might also put some political pressure on the Iranian regime to be more serious in negotiating”.

14 Apr 2026 - 22:43
 (22:43 GMT)
Houthi

Iranian student arrives in Iran after release in France

Iranian student Mahdieh Esfandiari arrived in Iran after being released in France, Iranian TV reports.

Two French nationals facing security charges were allowed to leave Iran following three and a half years in detention.

Esfandiari, who was convicted at the end of February for “justifying terrorism” in social media posts, was released after serving almost a year in prison.

14 Apr 2026 - 22:30
 (22:30 GMT)

Israel wants Lebanese government to take responsibility for Hezbollah disarmament

By Nida Ibrahim

Reporting from Ramallah, occupied West Bank

Israel wants only one thing: the disarmament of Hezbollah. And it wants the Lebanese government and the Lebanese army to take on that responsibility, as we’ve been hearing time and again.

Israel has been saying that it cannot disarm Hezbollah just by bombarding the country, just by pushing more troops into southern Lebanon. They say that it requires conquering and occupying all of the country, which is impossible.

Israel has been threatening the Lebanese government during the past few weeks, saying that if they don’t take on the responsibility, then they will pay a heavy price.

Israel’s government cares about showing the communities in northern Israel that they’re working and acting to protect them. This has proven difficult, given the rockets that Hezbollah has, which continue to threaten communities in northern Israel, as well as the troops.

All of these things are playing in Israeli politics, as some people are warning about fatigue in the army and the fact that the strategy of the army is not necessarily clear.

14 Apr 2026 - 22:26
 (22:26 GMT)

Talks with Israel ‘constructive’, says top Lebanese envoy after meeting in Washington

Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad told reporters that the first high-level diplomatic engagement between Beirut and Israel was “constructive”, as she reiterated calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

She met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israel’s ambassador to the US on Tuesday.

She said she had “underscored the need to preserve our territorial integrity and state sovereignty” during the two-hour discussion.

“I emphasised the integrity of our territory and the full sovereignty of the state over all Lebanese land,” the Lebanese envoy said. “I called for a ceasefire and for displaced persons to return to their homes.”

“I also urged the adoption of practical steps to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis that the country continues to suffer from as a result of the ongoing conflict.”

14 Apr 2026 - 22:23
 (22:23 GMT)
Houthi

Two Israeli air strikes hit southern Lebanese towns

An Israeli air strike has struck the Bint Jbeil district in southern Lebanon, our correspondent on the ground is reporting.

Another Israeli air strike hit the town of Babliyeh in the Sidon District, also in southern Lebanon.

14 Apr 2026 - 22:18
 (22:18 GMT)
Houthi

Three wounded as IEDs detonate in Tehran

The Fars news agency reports that two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) detonated on Imam Khomeini Street in Tehran.

Three people sustained superficial injuries in the incident. According to the Fars report, the blasts shattered windows in three houses and caused minor damage to two vehicles.

14 Apr 2026 - 22:00
 (22:00 GMT)

‘Pause in Beirut’, but no letup in southern Lebanon

By Heidi Pett

Reporting from Beirut, Lebanon

In the last hour or so, there have been continued Israeli air strikes across southern Lebanon. The National News Agency is reporting that at least two people were killed in Aabbasiyyeh.

We’ve also seen strikes on Tyre in the last hour, which gives you some indication of the pace and the intensity of these strikes, which have continued throughout the day all across southern Lebanon.

That is to say nothing of the continuing Israeli ground operation, which, for the last couple of days, has been concentrated on the town of Bint Jbeil, which is a town in the central part of the border area, about 4 to 6km (2.5 to 3.7 miles) from the frontier with Israel.

They have been seeking to encircle and take control of that town because it’s symbolically and strategically quite important, and they say that they are close to completing that operation.

Israeli tanks have been spotted basically in the centre of Bint Jbeil today and for the last couple of days, so yes, perhaps a pause in Beirut and its suburbs, but no letup in the ground operation on the south, and no letup for civilians who remain in the south, and there are still thousands of them.

14 Apr 2026 - 22:00
 (22:00 GMT)

Sanctions waiver on Iranian oil will not be renewed, says US Treasury Dept

The US Treasury Department has said that “the short-term authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil already stranded at sea is set to expire in a few days and will not be renewed”, in a post on X.

The Trump administration earlier allowed the sale of Iranian crude oil already in transport before March 20, up until April 19.

“Treasury is moving aggressively with Economic Fury, maintaining maximum pressure on Iran,” the statement noted. “Financial institutions should be on notice that the department is leveraging the full range of available tools and authorities and is prepared to deploy secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions that continue to support Iran’s activities.”

14 Apr 2026 - 21:59
 (21:59 GMT)
Houthi

Hezbollah launches 34 attacks against Israeli targets in 24 hours

The Lebanese armed group states that its fighters conducted 34 military operations over the past 24 hours, targeting various illegal Israeli settlements, troop concentrations, and military vehicles along the southern border and in northern Israel.

14 Apr 2026 - 21:45
 (21:45 GMT)

WATCH: Trump signals Iran talks in Pakistan in next two days

US President Donald Trump says a new round of negotiations with Iran could happen in the next couple of days.

A source from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry told Al Jazeera that Islamabad is offering to host the talks.

Tehran has said the US delegation’s “excessive demands” and “lack of political will” prevented a breakthrough last weekend. Washington says Iran still wants to make a deal.

Al Jazeera’s White House correspondent Kimberly Halkett has more details from Islamabad, Pakistan:

14 Apr 2026 - 21:30
 (21:30 GMT)

Hezbollah says it launched drones at Israeli positions in Golan Heights

Hezbollah says it launched a drone attack on Israeli military sites in the occupied Golan Heights late today.

In a statement, the group said it targeted an artillery position in Za’oura and the artillery battalion command headquarters in Odem, using a “squadron of drones”.

The claims could not be independently verified, and Israel did not immediately comment.

14 Apr 2026 - 21:15
 (21:15 GMT)
Analysis

‘Time is not on anybody’s side’ in Iran talks

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is “holding so far”, Abbas Dahouk, a former senior military adviser for Middle East affairs at the US Department of State, tells Al Jazeera.

The United States Navy continues to observe the Iranian movements and tries to assess what they can do next,” he said from Washington DC, adding that this is a “large naval commitment” with the US military having diverted several vessels to the region.

It is a complex “mission”, he said, as most of these ships in the Strait have been “docked in there for a long time; you have over maybe 200 ships … you have thousands of mariners aboard these ships”.

“These people have to rotate, resupply with food and so on, so I think at this point it’s manageable, no surprises, but as time goes by, you’ll have some foreseen circumstances … humanitarian issues they have to deal with”, he said, adding that “time is not on anybody’s side”.

14 Apr 2026 - 21:00
 (21:00 GMT)

Israeli air strikes reported near Tyre, Nabatieh

Israel has carried out a new series of air strikes across southern Lebanon, according to our colleagues on the ground.

  • Air strike reported on Kafr Reman, in the Nabatieh area.
  • Strike hits the vicinity of al-Abbasiyya, near the coastal city of Tyre.
  • An air strike was reported on the western neighbourhood of Khiam, close to the Israeli border.