Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look back at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list ...
Tensions in the standoff between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz intensified Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he ordered the U.S. military to “shoot and kill” Iranian small boats in the strait, while Iran pushed back on Trump’s claim there was a leadership rift in the Islamic Republic.
“In Iran there are no ‘hard-liners’ or ‘moderates’. We are all Iranians and revolutionaries,” Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote in almost identical social media statements.
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Since the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the first strike of the war on Feb. 28, it has been unclear who in Iran wields ultimate authority over its collection of civilian figures and powerful generals who appear to be in charge.
On Friday two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press that Iran’s top diplomat is expected to travel to Pakistan by this weekend for talks. Pakistan has been trying to restart ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the United States, but details have been scant so far.
The standoff between the U.S. and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world’s traded oil passes in peacetime, with no end in sight.
Trump also said Thursday evening that Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks after talks at the White House.
Here is the latest:
Trump is extending the Jones Act waiver for 90 days
The White House said that Trump issued a 90-day extension to the Jones Act waiver, making it easier for non-American vessels to transport oil and natural gas in the wake of the Iran War.
Trump first announced a 60-day waiver in mid-March and the move has been seen as helping to stabilize energy prices and making it easier for more ships to travel to the U.S. following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The post on social media by a White House press aide said: “New data compiled since the initial waiver was issued revealed that significantly more supply was able to reach U.S. ports faster.”
Iran’s top diplomat to go to Pakistan by this weekend
Two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press on Friday about the visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. They declined to provide any other details, other than to say he would be accompanied by a small government delegation and could arrive as soon as Friday.
Pakistan has been trying to restart ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Iran did not immediately acknowledge Araghchi’s trip.
Indonesian peacekeeper dies in Lebanon weeks after being wounded
The U.N. peacekeeping force deployed in southern Lebanon, or UNIFIL, says Corporal Rico Pramudia, 31, died at a Beirut hospital after he was critically wounded following a projectile explosion in his base in Adchit al-Qusayr, southern Lebanon, on March 29.
The attack in Adchit al-Qusayr also killed an Indonesian peacekeeper.
Two other Indonesian peacekeepers were also killed in southern Lebanon shortly after.
Drones reportedly fired from Iraq struck sites in Kuwait
Kuwait says explosive drones launched from Iraq have struck two sites on the northern land border Friday morning.
The Kuwait army said on X that the drones caused material damage, but that there were no reports of casualties.
Residents frustrated with ongoing security restrictions in Pakistan
A weeklong, lockdown-like security clampdown in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi has sparked frustration among residents, who urged authorities to ease restrictions so they can resume normal commutes.
Roads leading into Islamabad’s heavily guarded Red Zone have appeared deserted at times, with concrete barricades, barbed wire and security personnel dominating normally busy corridors. The absence of routine traffic has added to a sense of disruption in the twin cities.
“We were happy that Pakistan is hosting these talks to end the war between America and Iran. But now almost a week has passed, and it takes me one to two hours instead of 30 minutes, depending on traffic, to reach home from Islamabad to Rawalpindi,” said Sher Khan, a lift operator at a shopping plaza.
There is still no official word on exactly when the talks will take place.
Authorities have deployed thousands of police and paramilitary troops since last weekend.
While Pakistan is still trying to secure Iran’s participation, there has been no confirmation yet on when Tehran will send its delegation. The visit by the U.S. delegation is also on hold.
Beirut residents call for peace in south Lebanon
Some residents in Beirut believe south Lebanon should be included in a ceasefire between Israel and militant group Hezbollah.
They said a deal will not be sustainable without a lasting truce between Iran and the United States.
“It is not related to Hezbollah and Israel, but to Iran and the US. If they reach an agreement, the whole of the Middle East will be calm, but if not, there will be escalation in Lebanon and the rest of the world,” Joe Ghafari said.
Diala Ammar said it is “unfair” for the south to stay at war while the rest of the country “lives normally.”
Israeli forces occupying a strip of territory extending several miles into southern Lebanon have continued strikes, while Hezbollah has attacked Israeli forces there.
Pakistan repays $3.45 billion in UAE deposits
Pakistan completed repayment of $3.45 billion in deposits to the United Arab Emirates, returning a final $1 billion tranche, Pakistan’s central bank said Friday.
Pakistan had to arrange $3 billion in fresh financing from Saudi Arabia to support its foreign reserves.
The UAE placed the deposits with Pakistan in 2018 to bolster foreign exchange reserves.
The repayment comes weeks after the UAE asked Pakistan to return the funds without publicly explaining the reason for the abrupt request.
Media reports in Pakistan suggested the UAE’s request was linked to geopolitical differences over regional developments, though the government in Islamabad has downplayed such claims, maintaining that bilateral ties remain strong..
Iran’s foreign minister talks with Pakistani officials
Iran’s top diplomat has called Pakistani officials over the ceasefire in the war with the United States and Israel.
A statement Friday said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief.
Araghchi’s statement said the men spoke about “regional developments and issues related to the ceasefire,” without elaborating.
Hours later, a statement on behalf of Dar acknowledged the call, saying “both sides exchanged views on regional developments, the ceasefire, and ongoing diplomatic efforts being pursued by Islamabad in the context of U.S.-Iran engagement.”
Pakistan has been trying to get American and Iranian officials back to the negotiating table in Islamabad, where they had hoped to have talks earlier this week that didn’t materialize.
EU’s top diplomat notes risk of ‘weaker’ US-Iran deal
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said peace negotiations between the United States and Iran are at risk of forging a “weaker” agreement than one struck a decade ago.
“If the talks are only about the nuclear (issue) and there are no nuclear experts around the table, then we will end up with an agreement that is weaker than the JCPoA was,” Kallas said Friday in Cyprus, referring to a 2015 deal struck during the Obama administration that Trump pulled the U.S. out of in 2018.
Kallas said if negotiators do not table Iran’s “missile programs, their support to proxies, and also hybrid and cyber activities in Europe” there is a possibility “we will end up with a more dangerous Iran.”
Medical aid convoy departs Turkey for Iran
A medical aid convoy left Turkey headed for Iran, an official told Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency on Friday.
The six trucks departed Van in eastern Turkey to pass through the Gurbulak border crossing, Van Health Director Muhammed Tosun said.
“The materials include medicines and medical supplies,” Tosun said.
“We previously sent three trucks. With today’s trucks, a total of nine trucks of aid materials will have been delivered to our Iranian colleagues to serve their citizens,” he said.
