NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Vikram Doraiswami wrapped his tenure as India’s High Commissioner to the UK this week to head over to Beijing, where he will take up his new post as Ambassador to China.

UK Foreign Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific Seema Malhotra hailed Doraiswami’s role in taking the bilateral partnership to a “new level” during the course of his over three-year assignment in London.

The British Indian minister referenced his “unflappable nature” and charm in overseeing the successful conclusion of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as one of the key highlights of the bilateral relationship last year.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping agreements with major pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug costs, calling it the biggest cut in drug prices in the US history.
 
Speaking at the White House, President Trump said one of the leading firms, Regeneron, had agreed to offer medicines at most-favoured-nation prices, adding that the numbers will come down at levels that nobody’s ever seen before.
 
With this announcement, 17 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, representing 80% of the branded drug market, have now agreed to sell their drugs to American patients at the lowest prices anywhere in the world, he said. The President argued that Americans had long paid disproportionately high prices. The White House said the agreements now cover about 86% of the branded pharmaceutical market, with further negotiations underway. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Britain and France voiced hope that military plans to secure the Strait of Hormuz were coming together and would succeed in restoring trade flows through the vital passage.
 
At a two-day meeting in London, involving more than 44 countries from every continent, military planners discussed the practicalities of a multinational mission led by the UK and France to protect navigation in the key waterway following a sustainable ceasefire. British Defence Minister John Healey and his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin, said in a joint statement that they were confident that real progress could be made.
 
Healey said that the aim is to form a defensive, multinational mission that will strengthen the confidence of commercial shipping and, if necessary, clear mines and protect vessels when the hostilities end. He called for practical military plans, saying millions of people were relying on a successful outcome from the meeting. 
 
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said more than a dozen countries have agreed to participate in the mission to free up navigation in Hormuz.
 
Iran said on Wednesday it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the United States continued to blockade Iranian ports.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: U.S. President Donald Trump will greet Lebanese and Israeli envoys at the White House on Thursday as they meet for a second round of U.S.-facilitated talks, with Beirut seeking to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a day after Israeli strikes killed at least five people including a journalist.

The ceasefire, reached after talks between the two nations’ ambassadors to Washington last week and set to expire on Sunday, has yielded a significant reduction in violence. Attacks have continued in southern Lebanon, however, where Israeli troops have seized a self-declared buffer zone.

Iran-backed Hezbollah says it has “the right to resist” occupying forces.

A U.S. official said Thursday’s talks, initially set to be hosted by the State Department, were being moved to the White House and that Trump would greet the ambassadors upon their arrival.

“It’s a sign of the importance that they are being given and the priority. I think there’s a feeling of optimism that the ball can move forward,” a separate source briefed on the matter said.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said on Thursday that Lebanon’s ambassador to the U.S., Nada Moawad, would seek a ceasefire extension and a halt to demolitions by Israel in villages in the south.

Recent contacts with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had focused on halting escalation and launching negotiations aimed at ending the state of war, securing Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territory and deploying the Lebanese army to the international border, the Lebanese presidency said in a statement.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would not use a nuclear weapon in the war against Iran.

“Why would I use a nuclear weapon? We’ve totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked whether he would use such a weapon.

“No, I wouldn’t use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody,” he added.

Asked how long he was willing to wait for a long-term peace deal with Iran, Trump said, “Don’t rush me.”

He said Iran might have loaded up their weaponry “a little bit” during the two-week ceasefire, but added that the U.S. military could knock that out in about one day.

“Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone …maybe they loaded up a little bit during the two-week hiatus, but we’ll knock that out about one day, if they did,” Trump added.

“I want to make the best deal. I could make a deal right now … but I don’t want to do that. I want to have it everlasting,” Trump said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: As India and New Zealand prepare to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Monday, both sides are expected to benefit from expanded trade ties and improved market access, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has said.

Taking to the social media platform X, Luxon said, “We will sign a Free Trade Agreement with India on Monday.”

In a video message, Luxon said the agreement would improve market access for New Zealand exporters, particularly manufacturers of marine jet systems used in boats and exported to over 70 countries.

He added that the deal would help reduce trade barriers and strengthen commercial engagement between the two countries.

He also noted that certain exporters currently face tariffs while accessing the Indian market, and said the agreement would gradually ease such duties, improving competitiveness and supporting higher trade flows.

Luxon said the FTA would support increased business activity, employment opportunities and economic growth in New Zealand, while also strengthening bilateral trade linkages with India.

He added that the agreement would bring ‘more jobs, higher wages and more opportunities,’ highlighting the broader economic impact of the deal.

Once signed, the FTA is expected to expand trade and investment ties between the two countries and enhance export opportunities on both sides in a large and growing global market environment.

Earlier this month, legal verification of the New Zealand-India FTA was completed, with both countries agreeing to sign the pact on April 27 in the presence of a large contingent of business representatives, New Zealand Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay said.

In a statement, McClay described the agreement as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” saying it would strengthen bilateral trade relations and provide improved access to each other’s markets.

He said that amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, strengthening trade partnerships remains important for long-term economic stability.

McClay added that signing the FTA would allow New Zealand to formally initiate parliamentary treaty examination, enabling public scrutiny of the agreement.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Annalena Baerbock will visit India next week and hold several bilateral meetings with government officials.  Her spokesperson, La Neice Collins, said that the President of the 80th session of the UNGA, Baerbock, will undertake official travel to New Delhi and Beijing next week. Collins said Baerbock is travelling at the invitation of the governments of India and China.
 
During her visit to India, Baerbock will hold multiple bilateral meetings with various government officials and also meet the UN country team in India led by UN Resident Coordinator Stefan Priesner. This will be Baerbock’s first visit to India in her capacity as President of the UNGA. She had previously travelled to the country when she served as Germany’s foreign minister. In February, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited India to attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
 
She will then travel to China, where she will hold bilateral meetings with government officials and meet the UN country team led by Resident Coordinator Stephen Jackson.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin on Wednesday, discussing deepening defence cooperation and tackling emerging geopolitical challenges.

The two ministers discussed bilateral security and defence issues, including priority areas for co-development and co-production of defence equipment, especially in the field of niche technologies. They also reaffirmed the commitment to enhance military-to-military cooperation as a key pillar of the Strategic Partnership, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Defence.

India and Germany also signed Defence Industrial Roadmap and Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping.

“Delighted to meet Mr. Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defence, Germany in Berlin. Exchanged views on a wide range of issues including deepening our defence cooperation and tackling emerging geopolitical challenges. Witnessed signing of the Defence Industrial Roadmap and Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping,” Singh posted on X.

Singh termed his visit to Germany as a symbol of deep friendship, synergy and trust. Rajnath Singh mentioned that the recent India-EU Security and Defence Partnership marks a significant step in deepening the collective engagement. The two ministers agreed to leverage this framework, bilaterally and in the wider European context for tangible outcomes that will strengthen regional stability, enhance joint capabilities, and reinforce the enduring Indo-German strategic alignment.

“Raksha Mantri also underlined that in times of global uncertainties, India and Germany have provided much required stability and strength to the global economy. On the issue of terrorism, he stated that the menace in all its forms and manifestations must be condemned, unequivocally, without exception or justification,” the Ministry of Defence stated.

Pistorius appreciated the institutionalisation of service-level staff talks and future bilateral military exercises. Rajnath Singh said that India is looking forward to the German Air Force’s participation in the next edition of Exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ which will be held in India later this year.

Prior to the meeting, Singh was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival at the German Ministry of Defence. He placed a wreath at Bundeswehr Memorial as a mark of respect. It is the central memorial for the Bundeswehr’s personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

“India and Germany have completed 25 years of Strategic Partnership and are commemorating 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026. On the bilateral front, the relationship today is truly multi-faceted. Apart from Defence, it covers a wide range of areas which include trade and investment, technology and innovation, development cooperation, green energy, higher education, sustainable solutions, culture and people-to-people ties. It demonstrates the depth and expanse as well as the potential & promise of a partnership,” the Ministry of Defence stated.

Earlier in the day, Singh interacted with the members of the Indian community in Berlin and praised them for acting as a “strongest bridge” between the two countries, with contributions spanning across business, technology, healthcare, academia, and arts.

The Defence Minister arrived in Berlin on Tuesday for a three-day visit to Germany. He was flown in a Special German Air Force aircraft, escorted by fighter jets from Munich to Berlin, and accorded military honours upon arrival.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Yet another controversy arose in US-Iran relations, this time on the planned 'execution' of eight women and subsequent stopping (of the executions) after US President Donald Trump’s appeal to Iranian authorities that their lives be spared. While Trump announced that the eight Iranian women who were to be 'executed' for participating in January protests, would not be 'killed now,' Iran's judiciary denied Trump’s claims calling them "fake news" and a 'fabrication.'

Iranian judiciary, through its official news outlet Mizan Online, said none of the women mentioned in Trump’s posts were ever slated for execution or faced death penalty.

Mizan reported that some of the individuals had already been released, while others were facing charges that would lead to imprisonment, not execution. The outlet accused Trump of being "misled" by unverified social media claims from activists.

It said Trump was "fabricating achievements" to hide a lack of progress in actual negotiations.

The Iranian response was triggered after Trump, on his social media platform on April 22 late night, claimed he had been informed that the executions were cancelled at his request and that four women would be released immediately and other four would face one-month imprisonment.

Iranian officials dismissed this entire narrative as a lie intended to "save face."

'Very good news! I have just been informed that the eight women protestors who were going to be executed tonight in Iran will no longer be killed. Four will be released immediately, and four will be sentenced to one month in prison,' Trump had announced on his social media platform late Wednesday night.

He had earlier on Wednesday morning called for the release of the eight women and said their release would be a great start to peace negotiations.

Trump framed his request as a diplomatic gesture ahead of any planned peace negotiations with Iran.

'To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women. I am sure they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations,' Trump said on his social media platform.

Trump also shared a screenshot of their pictures, originally posted on X by activist Eyal Yakoby. However, the names and identities of all eight women were not disclosed, even though their photographs were shared.

The women were reportedly facing execution for their involvement in the January 2026 protests or on suspicion of aiding the enemy during the ongoing conflict.

Iranian authorities had not officially confirmed the specific execution plans for these eight women.

The photographs of the eight women shared by Trump have become a subject of intense dispute, with the Iranian government labelling them as AI-generated.

However, activists and human rights groups have identified them as real individuals arrested during anti-government protests in early 2026.

Despite denials by Iran government, prominent activists like Masih Alinejad and organizations like the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center maintain that the photos represent real detainees. For example, one of the women was reportedly seen in a state television broadcast being interrogated by the Chief of Judiciary.

The eight women have been identified as: Bita Hemmati and Diana Taherabadi (16), both detained following January protests, Mahboubeh Shabani (32), accused of transporting protesters, Ensieh Nejati, a Kurdish activist allegedly sentenced to death, Golnaz Naraghi (37), a medical professional detained during protests, Venus Hossein Nejad, reportedly coerced into a televised confession, Ghazal Ghalandari and Panah Movahedi, identified by advocacy groups as detainees.

In his late night post, Trump appreciated Iran’s gesture, saying 'I very much appreciate that Iran, and its leaders, respected my request, as President of the United States, and terminated the planned execution.'

'To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women,' Trump had said in the morning while calling for their release.

'Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations,' Trump said.

While the Iranian judiciary maintains that these reports are false, human rights groups have noted that at least one woman arrested during recent protests, has indeed been sentenced to death, though not necessarily the specific individual in Trump's post.

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: A series of US ship seizures and maritime interdictions far beyond the Persian Gulf is marking a new phase in the conflict with Iran, as Washington moves to choke off Tehran’s oil lifelines and test its strategic limits.

US forces on Tuesday (local time) seized a tanker in the Indian Ocean suspected of carrying Iranian oil, expanding operations well outside the Middle East, The Washington Post reported.

The move follows a broader directive by the Trump administration to interdict vessels believed to be part of Iran’s so-called “dark fleet” used to evade sanctions and sustain its oil exports.

The seized vessel, capable of carrying about 2 million barrels of oil, was intercepted in open waters between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, according to the report. US troops boarded the tanker without incident, underscoring Washington’s growing operational reach.

The maritime push is part of a wider strategy that includes a naval blockade of Iranian ports, enforced by US naval and air power. Officials say at least 28 vessels have already been ordered to turn around or return to port since the blockade began on April 13, according to Fox News Digital and The Wall Street Journal.

President Donald Trump has framed the campaign as a means to force Iran back to the negotiating table. He has said the blockade is a “tremendous success” and insisted that the United States now “totally control(s) the strait,” referring to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The pressure campaign has extended alongside a fragile ceasefire, with Trump announcing he would prolong the truce while maintaining military readiness.

“I have therefore directed our military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able,” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social.

Iran has reacted sharply to the maritime escalation. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the blockade as “an act of war,” warning that targeting commercial vessels violates the ceasefire and international norms, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Tehran has also signalled it could respond militarily. Iranian-linked media reports have warned that the country may “break the blockade by force” if restrictions on its shipping continue.

The expansion of US operations into the Indian Ocean is particularly significant for regional security, bringing the conflict closer to major global shipping lanes and energy routes linked to South Asia.

The naval campaign comes as diplomatic efforts remain stalled, with Iran withholding participation in planned talks and demanding the lifting of the blockade as a precondition for negotiations.

The current conflict began on February 28 and has increasingly centred on control of energy flows and maritime chokepoints, especially the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a substantial portion of the world’s oil supply.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold their second ambassador-level talks at the US State Department in Washington. They will again be represented by their ambassadors to the United States. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect on the 10th of this month, following weeks of intensified cross-border fighting amid the US-Israeli war against Iran. The truce has remained fragile as tensions along Lebanon’s southern border continue. 
 
Israel and Lebanon have no formal diplomatic relations, and Hezbollah has long been viewed by Israel as a proxy of Iran. The negotiating party with Israel is the Lebanese government, not Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it launched rockets and attack drones at an Israeli artillery position in the settlement of Kfar Giladi last evening, marking an escalation despite an ongoing ceasefire.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: UN Secretary General candidate Michelle Bachelet called for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council, pushing for greater representation in both permanent and non-permanent categories.
 
The current UN chief, Antonio Guterres, is ending his term on December 31, and Michelle Bachelet is one of the four candidates to be the next Secretary General of the United Nations.
 
She said the 15-member Council is outdated, paralysed, and does not reflect contemporary geopolitical realities, backing demands from countries like India for a permanent seat.
 
Other candidates include Rebeca Grynspan, Rafael Grossi, and Macky Sall. The UN has never had a female Secretary-General in its 80-year history, while the Council remains divided on major conflicts like Ukraine and West Asia.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The European Union on Wednesday expressed solidarity with India on the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, reiterating its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms.

In an official statement, the EU said, “On the commemoration day of the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the European Union and its 27 member states stand in solidarity with the people of India in remembrance of the innocent victims murdered one year ago.”

“Together with their families and the Indian authorities, we honour their memory. We reiterate our outright condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, which can never be justified,” it added.

The attack, carried out on April 22, 2025, by The Resistance Front — an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba — saw terrorists open fire on tourists after identifying their religion, in one of the most brutal civilian-targeted incidents in recent years.

Among those killed were 25 tourists and a local pony ride operator who attempted to save them.

In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on the intervening night of May 6–7, 2025. The well-coordinated strikes carried out by the Indian Armed Forces precisely hit nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), killing over 100 terrorists, their trainers, handlers, and associates. Most of the terrorists belonged to organisations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The operation inflicted maximum damage on terrorist infrastructure while minimising harm to the civilian population.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: A nationwide mobilisation against US sanctions continued in Venezuela, with National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez leading a rally calling for political and social unity.

“We have to put an end to the sanctions,” Rodriguez said at Cerro El Gallo in San Felix, where the rally took place on Monday (local time). He said the campaign aims to build consensus and push for the lifting of economic sanctions, urging Venezuelans to set aside differences and focus on shared interests.

The mobilisation is part of a national rally launched on April 19 by acting President Delcy Rodriguez, with events held in several states, including Zulia, Tachira and Amazonas, reports Xinhua news agency.

At the launch event in Zulia state, Delcy Rodriguez said Venezuela must overcome US sanctions, adding that millions of children born during nearly a decade of economic restrictions have faced limited access to basic social and economic conditions.

The nationwide campaign includes marches and public events across the country and is scheduled to conclude in Caracas on May 1.

Meanwhile, last month, the United States removed sanctions on Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez.

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said Rodriguez had been removed from its sanctions list, without providing further details on the decision.

In a post on social media platform X, Rodriguez welcomed the move as a positive step toward normalising and strengthening bilateral relations. She expressed hope that additional sanctions on Venezuela could be lifted to support economic development and cooperation.

Rodriguez previously served as vice president under President Nicolas Maduro and was sanctioned by the United States in 2018 as part of measures targeting members of his government.

On January 3, US military forces launched a large-scale operation against Venezuela and forcibly seized Maduro and his wife before transporting them to New York. Rodriguez subsequently assumed the role of acting president, and Washington has since engaged with her administration.

US-Venezuela relations have long been strained. In recent months, the United States has eased certain restrictions, particularly in the energy sector. Venezuela holds some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves and remains an important player in the global energy landscape.

On Monday, the US Embassy in Caracas resumed operations after being closed for seven years.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has resigned. She becomes the third member of President Donald Trump’s cabinet to leave within two months amid controversies during his second term. Cheung said her deputy, Keith Sonderling, would be the acting labour secretary.
 
White House communications chief Steven Cheung announced her departure on social media, saying she would be moving to the private sector. Chavez-DeRemer faced many allegations, including taking personal trips abroad, masked as official tours. All three cabinet officials who have quit are women; the other two are Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
 
Trump did not react to her ouster, but Cheung said she has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labour practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India's economy is projected to grow at 6.4 per cent this year and 6.6 per cent in 2027, according to a report by the United Nations.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) said in the report released Monday that economies in South and South-West Asia grew by 5.4% in 2025, compared to 5.2% in 2024, driven largely by strong growth in India.

India's growth edged up to 7.4% in 2025, “supported by robust consumption, especially from the rural economy along with goods and services tax rate cuts, and export frontloading ahead of the United States’ tariffs,” the report, titled Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2026, said.

It said in India, economic activities moderated in the second half of 2025 as exports to the United States declined by 25 per cent following the introduction of 50 per cent tariffs in August 2025. The services sector remained a key growth driver.

The report projected India to register a 6.4 per cent growth rate in 2026 and 6.6 per cent next year. Inflation for the country is projected to be 4.4 per cent this year and 4.3 per cent in 2027.

The report said that FDI inflows to developing Asian and Pacific economies declined amid trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty. After an increase of 0.6% in 2024, FDI to the region declined by 2% in 2025, even as global flows increased by 14%.

“Within the Asia-Pacific region, the countries that attracted the largest share of greenfield FDI in the first three quarters were India, Australia, the Republic of Korea and Kazakhstan with USD 50 billion, USD 30 billion, USD 25 billion and USD 21 billion in announced investments, respectively,” it said.

It further said that personal remittances, sent by Asian and Pacific workers employed outside of their home countries, continued to rise, cushioning the impact of vulnerable domestic employment conditions.

Remittances have helped sustain the consumption of many households, but are facing headwinds.

In India and the Philippines, about 40 per cent of the transfers are used for essential spending, including medical expenses, of recipient households.

“However, as the world’s largest remittance recipient of USD 137 billion in 2024, India could face a sizeable loss as the United States has levied a 1% tax on all remittances since January 2026,” it said.

The report also cited estimates by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) that suggested that there were around 16.6 million green jobs globally, with annual job creation of around 0.8 million between 2012 and 2024, 7% annual growth.

Out of these 16.6 million jobs, 7.3 million were in China, 1.3 million in India and 2.5 million in the rest of Asia – 44%, 8% and 15% of the global total, respectively.

“Governments can leverage the energy transition to an environmentally sustainable economy to foster new domestic industries and build supportive constituencies,” it said.

It noted that public investment and targeted industrial policies can accelerate the emergence of beneficiaries such as renewable manufacturers, grid developers, storage providers and green industrial clusters.

The report cited India’s production-linked incentive scheme, saying it illustrates how macroeconomic policy can foster green industrial development through incentives for domestic manufacturing of solar photovoltaic, batteries and green hydrogen, reducing import dependence while creating new industrial beneficiaries with a vested interest in sustaining the transition.

“Across developing economies in Asia and the Pacific, targeted industrial policies are being used to scale clean technology manufacturing and accelerate the energy transition. Initiatives include India’s Production Linked Incentive scheme for high-efficiency solar modules, China’s strategic subsidies for electric vehicle battery manufacturing,” it said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US Vice President JD Vance is set to travel to Pakistan on Tuesday for a fresh round of talks related to the ongoing tensions with Iran, according to a report by Axios, which cited US sources.

The development comes amid rising geopolitical strain in the region, although Iran has not yet confirmed its participation in the proposed negotiations.

The visit follows a series of escalating actions that have heightened concerns over global energy security and regional stability. Iran has once again shut the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, effectively blocking one of the world’s most important oil transit routes. In response, the United States has intensified its blockade of Iranian ports and recently seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, further deepening the standoff.

US President Donald Trump signalled a hardening stance, stating it is “highly unlikely” that he would extend the current two-week ceasefire with Iran if a deal is not reached before its expiration later this week, according to a Bloomberg report. The temporary truce, announced on April 7, is set to end Wednesday evening, as per US time.

In a phone interview, Trump underscored his position on the Strait of Hormuz, saying, “They want me to open it. The Iranians desperately want it opened. I’m not opening it until a deal is signed.” He added, “I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world.” The President further warned of the potential resumption of hostilities, stating, “If there’s no deal, I would certainly expect.”

Amid these tensions, oil prices have surged globally as Washington maintains its naval presence in the region.

Trump also confirmed to the New York Post that Vice President Vance would head to Pakistan for what is expected to be the second round of negotiations with Iranian officials. The New York Times, citing two US officials, similarly reported that Vance is expected to depart Washington on Tuesday, underscoring the urgency of diplomatic efforts even as uncertainty looms over Iran’s participation.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: President Donald Trump said the United States has barred Israel from further bombing in Lebanon, striking an unusually harsh tone with the longtime U.S. ally while stressing that any U.S. deal with Iran is not linked to the Lebanon conflict.

“Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!” Trump said in a social media post.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to Trump’s remarks, but Netanyahu said in a statement earlier that Israeli forces remained stationed in southern Lebanon to defend against “the near threat.”

“There are things we plan to do regarding the remaining rocket threat and the drone threat, which I will not detail here,” Netanyahu said.

A U.S.-backed Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire took effect at 2100 GMT on Thursday, halting fighting that flared on March 2 when Hezbollah fired on northern Israel in support of Iran’s fight with the U.S. and Israel, drawing an Israeli offensive that Lebanese authorities say has killed 2,000 people.

U.S. NAVAL BLOCKADE ON IRAN REMAINS IN PLACE

In a series of social media posts after Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, Trump emphasized that any deal the United States reaches with Iran “is in no way subject to Lebanon” and said the U.S. will handle the militant group Hezbollah in an appropriate manner.

“Again! This deal is not tied, in any way, to Lebanon, but we will, MAKE LEBANON GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote in a later post.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi specified the Strait of Hormuz was open for the remainder of the 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon.

However, Trump later posted: “Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!”

The U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which started on February 28, had effectively closed the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas usually transits.

After 38 days of fighting, a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war came into effect on April 8. The United States then began enforcing a blockade on vessels entering and departing Iran on Monday.

“The naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete,” Trump wrote in an all capital letters.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Iran has rejected claims by US President Donald Trump that it has agreed to transfer its enriched uranium to the United States, with its Foreign Ministry strongly dismissing the assertion, Al Jazeera reported.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran would not allow such a move under any circumstances, according to Al Jazeera.

"Enriched uranium is as sacred to us as Iranian soil and will not be transferred anywhere under any circumstances," Baghaei was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency, as per Al Jazeera.

His remarks come after US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has "agreed to everything" in ongoing talks with the United States, including a plan to jointly remove enriched uranium from Iran and transport it to the US, CNN reported.

Speaking to CBS, Trump ruled out deploying American troops, saying, "No. No troops." He added, "We'll go down and get it with them, and then we'll take it. We'll be getting it together because by that time, we'll have an agreement, and there's no need for fighting when there's an agreement. Nice right? That's better."

Trump said the US would continue its blockade of Iranian ports "until we get it done" and expressed confidence that a deal could be reached "in the next day or two," with talks likely over the weekend, CNN reported. He also claimed Iran had agreed to stop backing groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.

In remarks to AFP, Trump said there are no "sticking points" left, adding, "We're very close. Looks like it's going to be very good for everybody. And we're very close to having a deal," Al Jazeera reported.

In a separate statement, Baghaei also criticised comments by US officials regarding the Strait of Hormuz, describing them as contradictory, in a sign of "desperation and helplessness", Al Jazeera reported.

"We should not be influenced by the other side's tweets," the spokesperson said. "The statements by American officials are filled with contradictions and lies, and this is nothing new", as reported by Al Jazeera.

He further stressed that decisions regarding the Strait are based on ground realities rather than public messaging. He added, "The opening or closing of the Strait of Hormuz does not happen on social media, but on the ground," according to Al Jazeera.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington over maritime security and ongoing negotiations.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Iran’s military command on Saturday said the control of the Strait of Hormuz has “returned to its previous state" because of the continuing blockade of Iranian ports by the US, accusing the United States of not fulfilling its obligations.

Iran had reopened the crucial waterway on Friday after a ceasefire agreement was reached in Lebanon. However, US President Donald Trump said the US Navy blockade will “remain in full force" until a long-term agreement with Iran is reached, including on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

In a statement shared on state television, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) joint military command said it would resume “strict management and control" of the Strait of Hormuz, saying Washington had broken a promise by continuing its naval blockade of ships sailing to and from Iran’s ports. The military command said the US has “continued acts of piracy and maritime theft under the guise of a so-called blockade."

"For this reason, control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is now under strict management and control by the armed forces," it said. “Until the United States restores full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from Iran to their destinations and back, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain tightly controlled and in its previous condition."

Earlier, Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission, said only commercial vessels authorised by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would be allowed to transit through the route. He said these vessels must pay “required tolls" before transiting the waterway.

What Did Trump Say On Hormuz Blockade?
Trump welcomed Iran’s move to reopen the Strait of Hormuz but said the US blockade of ships entering or exiting Iranian ports will remain until a deal is reached.

“The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business and full passage, but the naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% is complete," Trump said in all caps on a Truth Social post. He later said Iran had agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow but crucial route which supplies 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies. It became effectively unusable for commercial shipping on February 28 after US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks on Gulf nations. For 47 days, ships either avoided the route or faced heavy restrictions. This disruption affected global trade, especially the movement of energy supplies, causing oil prices to rise sharply.

Iran had strongly warned Trump that the Strait of Hormuz will be shut again if the US naval blockade in the water body continues. “With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open. Passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be conducted based on the “designated route" and with Iranian authorisation," said Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

A second round of talks is expected in the Pakistani capital on Monday, with envoys hoping to end the war that was started by the US and Israel on February 28. Trump appeared convinced that a deal could be finished shortly.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The United States has extended by a month a waiver from sanctions to allow countries to buy petroleum products from Russia, days after it ruled out renewal of the special measure.

The US Department of Treasury issued an order late Friday extending the waiver from sanctions on Russian oil that is already at sea on or before April 17 through May 16.

Earlier, the US had granted an exemption from sanctions to India for buying Russian oil for a month beginning March 5. A few days later, a similar waiver was extended to several other countries, which ended on April 11.

The general licence issued by the US on Friday does not authorise any transaction involving a person, entity or joint venture located in Iran, North Korea, Cuba, or parts of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would not be renewing the waiver for Russian oil and another for Iranian oil.

The previous waiver of sanctions had made available 140 million barrels of Russian oil already loaded on ships to global markets as prices soared against the backdrop of the US war with Iran.

"Effective April 17, 2026, General License No. 134A, which was dated March 19, 2026 and expired on April 11, 2026, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 134B," said the order issued by the Department of Treasury.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to host a virtual meeting of world leaders to discuss efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and secure vital shipping routes. Leaders from around 40 countries are expected to participate in the summit, focusing on supporting the fragile ceasefire involving Iran and ensuring safe passage through the key maritime corridor. The summit will also deliberate on supporting the work of the International Maritime Organization to enhance the safety of vessels and crew navigating the region.

According to a statement from the British Prime Minister’s Office, discussions will include plans to establish an international mission aimed at reopening the strait. The proposed initiative would be strictly defensive in nature and involve a combined military effort to be deployed once conditions permit.

According to media reports, British PM Starmer is scheduled to arrive in Paris today to co-host the meeting with President Macron. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is also expected to attend the summit.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: President of South Korea Lee Jae Myung will pay a state visit to India from 19th to 21st April. He will be accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung and a high-level delegation comprising Ministers, senior officials and business leaders. This will be President Lee’s first visit to India.
  
External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that during the visit, President Lee Jae Myung will hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on strengthening bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of areas.
  
These include shipbuilding, trade, investments, AI, semiconductors, critical and emerging technologies, people-to-people connect and cultural exchanges. They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister will host a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary.
  
President Lee Jae Myung will also hold discussions with President Droupadi Murmu. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will call on the visiting dignitary. 
  
India and South Korea share a multifaceted partnership rooted in ancient civilizational ties and shared values of democracy and rule of law. The visit underscores the shared aspiration of both countries to further strengthen the existing areas of cooperation while expanding collaboration in new and emerging areas of mutual interest.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Celebrations broke out across Beirut as a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into force, with fireworks and celebratory gunfire lighting up the night sky. The ceasefire, which began last night, has temporarily halted hostilities and is aimed at creating space for diplomatic engagement. US State Department said the truce is intended to enable good-faith negotiations toward a permanent security and peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The announcement followed what Trump described as excellent conversations with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both of whom he said agreed to the pause in order to pursue peace. Trump has also invited both leaders to the White House for the first meaningful talks between the two countries since 1983.

The ceasefire grew out of direct negotiations that began Tuesday, when the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States held an in-person meeting in Washington, the first direct diplomatic contact between the two countries in decades. Netanyahu confirmed he had agreed to the temporary ceasefire but stressed that Israeli forces would remain in southern Lebanon, saying the country needed an expanded security zone to prevent attacks on Israel. 

The 10-day window is being framed as a confidence-building measure. Trump has directed Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to work with both sides toward a lasting peace. Lebanon is also seeking the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, and the return of displaced civilians as part of any broader settlement. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group at the centre of this conflict, has been entirely excluded from the negotiations, and its position is one of outright rejection. Critically, Netanyahu has made clear that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, which remains a core demand of Hezbollah and that the group must be fully dismantled. That position represents a fundamental contradiction at the heart of any deal. 

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem earlier condemned the talks as a free concession to Israel and the United States, calling them a ploy to pressure the group into laying down its weapons. Lebanon, for its part, has insisted on a ceasefire to stop the fighting before engaging in wider talks, while vowing to commit to disarming Hezbollah. The current war in Lebanon began on March 2nd, when Hezbollah launched strikes against Israel in retaliation for the US -Israeli killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. More than 2,100 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war began, and over a million have been displaced from their homes.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US President Donald Trump on Friday said he had a "very good conversation" with his "friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He was referring to the talks the two leaders had on Tuesday.

"I had a very good talk with him, and he's a friend of mine from India, and he's doing great. We had a very good conversation," Trump told reporters here as he headed to Las Vegas to address a roundtable on tax cuts.

Trump had called Modi on Tuesday to discuss the bilateral relationship and share perspectives on the situation in West Asia, where the US and Israel have launched a war on Iran.

The US and Iran declared a two-week ceasefire on April 7. They engaged in peace talks with Washington, insisting that Tehran give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons and uranium enrichment.

The war with Iran has sent gas prices soaring as Tehran blocked the sea lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow gateway for a fifth of global oil supplies.

During the Trump-Modi phone call on Tuesday, the two leaders stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.

According to the US Ambassador to India Sergei Gor, the 40-minute conversation ended with Trump telling Modi, "we all love you".

Tuesday's phone call was the second between the two leaders since the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) said he would consider travelling to Pakistan if a peace agreement between the United States and Iran is finalised there, indicating Islamabad's possible role in ongoing negotiations.

"I would go to Pakistan, yeah," Trump told reporters at the White House while en route to Las Vegas, Nevada. "If the deal is signed in Islamabad, I might go. They want me to go," he told the reporters.

Meanwhile, a 10-day ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel came into effect on Friday, after Trump announced on Thursday that both Israel and Lebanon had agreed to the temporary truce.

In a post on Truth Social, he said, “I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph Aoun, of Lebanon, and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel. These two Leaders have agreed that to achieve PEACE between their Countries, they will formally begin a 10 Day CEASEFIRE at 5 P.M."

Trump claimed that Iran has agreed to hand over 'nuclear dust' that was buried by last year’s US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, with both leaders expressing concern over the situation in West Asia and calling for the urgent return of safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on X, PM Modi said the two leaders discussed the worsening regional crisis and agreed on the need to secure one of the world’s most strategically important sea routes.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks at a briefing at the Pentagon about the latest updates in the US-Israel war with Iran.

Hegseth tells Iran's military leadership: “We're watching you.” The capabilities of the US and Iran are not the same, he says, and that this is "not a fair fight".

He says the US military is reloading with more power than ever before. “We're ready to go at the command of our president and at the push of a button.”

Trump announces Israel-Lebanon talks
In a statement on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump announced that the meeting between officials of Israel and Lebanon will happen tomorrow. He said, “Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon.”

He further mentioned, "It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow.”
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel and the US share "identical goals" in the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The Israeli prime minister on Wednesday said the US has been keeping Israel updated on its contacts with Iran and reiterated that both nations seek the removal of enriched material, an end to Iran’s enrichment capabilities, and the reopening of key maritime routes.

"Our goals and those of the United States are identical: We want to see the enriched material removed from Iran, we want to see the cancellation of enrichment capabilities within Iran, and of course, we want to see the opening of the straits," Netanyahu said in a statement.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: At least eight students and one teacher have been killed and several others injured following a shooting at a school in southern Turkey, Interior Minister Mustafa Cifci has said.

The incident happened at Ayser Calik Secondary School in the Kahramanmaras area, where Cifci said 13 people were also wounded, leaving six in critical condition.

A 14-year-old attacker was also killed during the incident, officials said.

It comes a day after 16 people were injured after an ex-student opened fire at another high school, also in the south of the country, before killing himself.

The motive of Wednesday's attack is not yet known and an investigation has been launched.

Turkish media reported that the attacker, believed to be a student, entered two classrooms and had five guns and seven magazines with him.

Local governor Mukerren Unluer alleged the weapons belonged to the student's ex-police officer father.

The attacker's father has since been detained by police, according to local media.

In video verified by the BBC people could be seen appearing to jump from the first floor windows of the school and run from the premises as the attack took place.

"The sound of gunfire was very intense," a reporter for Turkish broadcaster NTV said, adding that there was "panic in front of the school".

After news of the shooting broke, tearful parents gathered outside of the building.

"My child witnessed the scene and said, 'Dad, my friend got hurt'", parent Omer Erdag told AFP news agency.

"How am I going to bring my kids to this school again?" he asked.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wished for a "speedy recovery to our children, our families, and our teachers" in a post on X.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The seventh edition of the annual India-Uzbekistan bilateral military exercise “Dustlik” has commenced with an opening ceremony held at the Gurumsaray Field Training Area in Namangan, Uzbekistan, yesterday. The exercise aims to enhance operational synergy between the Indian Army and the Uzbekistan Army, with a focus on joint special operations targeting the neutralisation of unlawful armed groups. 
 
Indian Army said that exercise Dustlik reflects the shared commitment of India and Uzbekistan to global peace and security while further strengthening defence cooperation, camaraderie and mutual trust between the two armies. Major General Saidov Oybek Azadovich, Commander of the Eastern Military District of Uzbekistan, attended the ceremony as the chief guest of the opening ceremony. The exercise will continue until the 25th of this month. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and former National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien in Washington. The meeting is held last as India and the US are negotiating the finer elements of a bilateral trade agreement. A delegation of Indian officials is expected to visit the US to hold discussions on the agreement. Mr Kwatra, in a post on X, said that he was honoured to host Ambassadors Jamieson Greer and Robert O’Brien at India House.
 
In February, India and the US announced finalisation of a framework for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement. According to that framework, the US had agreed to reduce tariffs on India to 18 per cent. Mr Kwatra said that they had a productive conversation on a range of bilateral cooperation opportunities and important developments across the world. Bilateral trade was part of the discussion during the recent visit of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Washington last week.
 
On February 20, the US Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump’s tariff policies imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unconstitutional. India and the US were initially planning to sign the trade deal in March, but changes in the tariff landscape following the US Supreme Court ruling have altered the situation. Official sources have earlier stated that the agreement will be signed once the new global tariff architecture of America is in place. 
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US and Iran are getting closer to a peace agreement before the ceasefire ends on April 21. According to US media, talks between the two sides have progressed, although some differences still remain.

Meanwhile, there will be an important meeting between Iranian officials and Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir in Tehran. Munir has already arrived in Iran to meet Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are playing the role of mediators. On the other hand, US Vice President JD Vance, along with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is negotiating and sharing draft proposals.

In a statement on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump announced that the meeting between officials of Iran and Lebanon will happen tomorrow. He said, “Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon.”

He further mentioned, "It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow.”

A resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump's ability to wage war in Iran had failed in the US Senate on Thursday. This is the fourth time such a move has failed amongst the country's lawmakers.

In a statement quoted by a BBC report, the Democratic Party of the US said that it will introduce similar measures every week, even if they did not pass.

Earlier, Iran had threatened to close 3 important sea routes associated with the world's oil supply. It had been said that if the US continues the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and its ports, it will completely stop maritime trade in the Red Sea, the Sea of Oman, and the Persian Gulf.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: India has firmly opposed the creation of a “two-tier” system of permanent membership in a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC), while expressing support for a compromise proposal by the G4 group to defer veto powers for new permanent members for 15 years.

Speaking at the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reforms, India’s Permanent Representative Ambassador P. Harish stressed that expanding the permanent category with veto powers is essential for any meaningful reform of the Council.

“Expanding the permanent category with veto is critical to real reform of the Security Council,” he said, underlining that reforms must address both the composition of the Council and the issue of veto power to correct longstanding imbalances.

India rejected proposals suggesting the creation of a new category of permanent members without veto powers, warning that such a move would complicate negotiations and institutionalise inequality. “A new category under the framework of UNSC reform with or without veto would complicate an already existing discussion that involves wide-ranging views,” Harish noted.

At the same time, India signalled flexibility by aligning with the G4 proposal – comprising India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan – which suggests that newly inducted permanent members should not exercise veto powers until a review is conducted after 15 years.

The proposal, presented by Brazil on behalf of the G4, is aimed at breaking the longstanding deadlock in negotiations. “In order to show openness and flexibility… the G4 proposes that new permanent members would not exercise the veto until a decision on the matter is reached during a 15-year review,” said Brazil’s Deputy Permanent Representative Norberto Moretti.

India emphasised that the current structure of the UNSC, designed over 80 years ago, no longer reflects contemporary geopolitical realities. Harish pointed out that the only major reform in 1965, which expanded non-permanent membership, actually increased the relative power of existing veto-wielding members.

“Any reform that is not accompanied by an expansion in the permanent category with veto would… perpetuate the existing imbalance and inequities,” he said, adding that maintaining the status quo undermines the Council’s legitimacy and representativeness.

India also reiterated its support for the African position, which demands that new permanent members should have veto powers as long as the provision exists. This aligns with broader calls from developing countries to address historical injustices in global governance structures.

Highlighting the complexities around veto reform, India noted that efforts to limit its use—such as the 2022 UN General Assembly resolution mandating discussions after a veto is cast—have not proven effective. Since its adoption, multiple vetoes have continued to be exercised, often driven by national interests.

The Indian envoy further drew attention to what he termed an “effective veto” exercised informally by both permanent and non-permanent members in blocking outcomes such as press statements and sanctions decisions.

Calling for a comprehensive approach, India stressed that piecemeal reforms focusing only on specific aspects like veto powers would not succeed. “Well-laid out timelines, concrete milestones and text-based negotiations are key ingredients” for meaningful reform, Harish said.

India reaffirmed its commitment to working constructively with member states and co-chairs of the IGN process to achieve a more representative, equitable, and effective Security Council.

The G4 nations continue to advocate for expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, with mutual support for each other’s inclusion as permanent members in a reformed UNSC.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping in a letter not to give Iran weapons, and Xi responded that China was not supplying Tehran, the U.S. president told Fox Business Network in an interview that aired on Wednesday.

Trump, in the interview taped on Tuesday, did not say when the letters were exchanged. Last week, he threatened countries with an immediate 50% tariff if they supplied Iran with weapons.

“I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that, essentially, he’s not doing that,” Trump told FBN’s “Mornings with Maria” program.

He also said he did not expect shifts in the global oil market over the war on Iran and changes in Venezuela to impact the dynamics of his planned meeting with Xi next month. “He’s somebody that needs oil. We don’t,” Trump said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: An official Indian delegation will travel to Washington, D.C. next week for trade negotiations with United States authorities, an official source said on Wednesday.

The bilateral talks are considered significant as India and the US have already finalised the framework for an interim trade agreement.

According to the source, the team is scheduled to visit next week to continue discussions.

The agreement was initially expected to be signed in March, but developments in the US tariff regime following a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States changed the situation.

Officials had earlier indicated that the pact would be signed once America’s new global tariff framework became clear.

In February, India and the US announced that they had finalised the first-phase framework of a bilateral trade agreement. Under that arrangement, the US had reportedly agreed to reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent.

However, the trade landscape shifted after the court ruling against sweeping reciprocal tariffs proposed by Donald Trump.

Subsequently, the US administration imposed a 10 per cent tariff on all countries for 150 days beginning February 24.

Because of these changes, a planned meeting between the chief negotiators of both countries was postponed last month. The two sides had been expected to meet in February to finalise the legal text of the agreement.

Earlier, India was seen as having a comparative tariff advantage over competing exporters. With the new universal 10 per cent tariff, all US trading partners are now subject to the same baseline rate.

Next week’s talks are also important because the US is conducting two investigations under Section 301.

On March 12, the United States Trade Representative launched a Section 301 probe involving 60 economies, including India and China, examining whether failures to ban imports made with forced labour unfairly burden US commerce.

A day earlier, the USTR also initiated another Section 301 investigation into industrial and trade practices of 16 economies, again including India and China.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US President Donald Trump has said that the war with Iran is “close to over,” asserting that if he pulled up stakes right now, it would take Tehran 20 years to rebuild the country.

The president's comments come hours after the US Central Command said it has successfully blocked all traffic to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas in the first 24 hours of Trump's blockade, saying the US was supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

“I think it’s close to over, yeah. I view it as very close to being over,” Trump told Fox News in an interview that will be telecast later Wednesday.

The interview for the programme "Mornings with Maria" was recorded on Tuesday.

"I think it's - I had to divert because if I didn't do that, right now you'd have Iran with a nuclear weapon. And if they had a nuclear weapon, you'd be calling everyone over there 'sir,' and you don't want to do that," Trump said.

The US and Iran failed to reach an agreement following historic marathon talks in Islamabad over the weekend to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict that started on February 28.

A US media report said on Tuesday that Trump said that a second round of talks with Iran could be held in Islamabad "over the next two days."

"You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we're more inclined to go there," Trump told The New York Post.

Trump attributed the possibility of a second round of talks to the "great job" done by Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

"It's more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job," the US President said.

He did not say whether Vice President J D Vance would continue to lead the negotiating team, which included White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

"I've been saying they can't have nuclear weapons. So I don't like the 20 years," Trump said when asked about suggestions that a moratorium might encourage Iran to make an agreement.

"I don't want them (Iran) to feel like they have a win," the US President said.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Iran's Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf on Monday took a "mathematical" route to portray how United States' President Donald Trump's "so-called" blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a sharper spike in oil prices.

Ghalibaf warned that people will soon get "nostalgic" for the current gas prices.

In a post on X, he said, "Enjoy the current pump figures. With the so-called 'blockade', Soon you'll be nostalgic for $4-$5 gas. DO_BSOH>0 = f(f(O))>f(O)"

Here, BSOH means Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the formula showed that the ripple effect would mean increase in gas prices as the blockade continues.

US military has said it will begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday onwards after Trump announced that the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global crude supply normally passes, will be blocked by the American Navy.

Meanwhile, Iranian Embassy in Sierra Leone today made a light hearted comment as Iran continues to juggle oil and water.

In a post on X, it said, "You know you can't execute a blockade by posting on X, right? Like you have to actually bring your ships closer!"

Earlier in the day, China called for unobstructed navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Safeguarding the security, stability, and unimpeded passage in the Strait of Hormuz serves the common interests of the international community," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday, as reported by Xinhua.

When asked about Trump's tariff threats if China is found supplying arms aid to Iran, Guo said that tariffs have no winners.

"China's position is very clear: tariff wars have no winners," he said, as cited by Global Times.

The threats come at a critical time as Trump is anticipated to visit Beijing in mid-May for a high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping. The diplomatic mission was initially planned for early April, but was delayed by the US President, who stated at the time that his presence was required in Washington "to oversee the Iran war.

"Earlier on April 8, the Chinese government reaffirmed its commitment to regional stability following acknowledgements of its role in facilitating diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East, as reported by China Daily. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Beijing remains dedicated to fostering a peaceful resolution to ongoing tensions in the region.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the price of oil and gasoline may remain high through November’s midterm elections, a rare acknowledgement of the potential political fallout from his decision to attack Iran six weeks ago.

“It could be, or the same, or maybe a little bit higher, but it should be around the same,” Trump, who is in Miami for the weekend, told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo” when asked whether the cost of oil and gas would be lower by the fall.

The average price for regular gas at U.S. service stations has exceeded $4 per gallon for most of April, according to data from GasBuddy. Average U.S. gas prices in February hovered just below $3 per gallon, and over the past year never exceeded $3.25 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.

Trump’s comments on Sunday came after weeks of asserting that the spike in prices is a short-term phenomenon, though his top advisers are cognizant of the war’s economic impacts, officials have said.

Earlier on Sunday, Trump announced on social media that the U.S. Navy would blockade the Strait of Hormuz and intercept any ship that paid a crossing fee to Iran, after marathon talks between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan over the weekend did not yield a peace deal.

“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas,” he wrote on Truth Social media platform.

Several hours after Trump’s post, U.S. Central Command said the blockade would be limited to ships going to and from Iranian ports. Ships entering and exiting non-Iranian ports will not be stopped by U.S. forces, CENTCOM said.

A U.S. blockade may add more uncertainty to the eventual resolution of the conflict, which is currently subject to a tenuous two-week ceasefire. The new tactic is in response to Iran’s own closure of the strait’s critical shipping lanes, which has caused global oil prices to skyrocket about 50%.

Later on Sunday, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who led Iran’s delegation in the talks, posted on social media that a blockade would lead to higher U.S. gas prices. “Enjoy the current pump figures,” he wrote on X, alongside a map showing gas prices in Washington. “With the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.”
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has concluded a two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates, wrapping up high-level meetings with Emirati leadership. During the visit, Dr Jaishankar met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and conveyed a personal message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussions focused on strengthening energy cooperation, expanding trade, and advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was also present during the meeting. Dr Jaishankar also held separate talks with the UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The discussions covered regional stability and the ongoing West Asia conflict, along with efforts to ensure the safety of Indian nationals in the region. Earlier, upon arrival on Saturday, Dr Jaishankar interacted with members of the Indian community in the UAE.

He addressed concerns related to their safety and well-being amid rising regional tensions and highlighted the government’s efforts to support the diaspora. The visit comes as part of India’s broader diplomatic outreach to secure energy supplies from Gulf nations. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri simultaneously held talks in Qatar. The UAE remains India’s third-largest trading partner globally. The UAE visit marked the final leg of Dr Jaishankar’s four-day tour, which also included participation in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday firmly ruled out British involvement in any US-led blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, reiterating that London will not be dragged into a conflict with Iran.

“It is, in my view, vital that we get the Strait open and fully open, and that’s where we’ve put all of our efforts in the last few, and we’ll continue to do so,” Starmer said, underlining the UK’s commitment to keeping vital shipping lanes accessible without escalating military tensions.

His remarks came as Iran threatened ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman after US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Monday that ''it would begin blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports at 10 am Eastern Time (8:30 pm Indian Standard Time) “in accordance with the President’s proclamation.''

The blockade will be applied impartially to vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports, including those along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

Starmer also highlighted that the UK does have “minesweeping capability,” though he declined to discuss operational details.

He noted that Britain has been consistently in consultation with allies on measures to keep the Strait of Hormuz open once tensions between Iran and the US ease.

“Having the Strait open is a priority,” Starmer said.

Keir Starmer expressed grave concern over the impact of restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz on global energy markets.

Starmer said, “The strait is shut or not free for navigation in the way it should be. That means that oil and gas is not getting to market. That means the price is going up. That means everybody listening to this is facing higher energy bills. And I don’t want that to happen. I want their energy bills to be stabilised and lower.''

Starmer has earlier, during an address to the nation, said, "Whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I am going to act in the British national interest in all decisions that I make. That's why I have been absolutely clear that this is not our war, or we are not going to get dragged into it."

Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, echoed the call for open navigation, emphasizing that Canberra has received no request from Washington to participate in the blockade of the strategic waterway.

Albanese stressed the importance of renewed negotiations to resolve regional conflicts and called for full respect for international maritime law. Speaking to the media, he said: “We’ve received no requests, and they’ve made this announcement overnight… in a unilateral way. We haven’t been asked to participate.”

Pointing to global fuel supply concerns, Albanese added that Canberra is “committed to working with international partners to help keep fuel flowing at home.”
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The West Asia conflict has taken a sharp new turn after ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad collapsed without any agreement or timeline for further negotiations. The discussions lasted around twenty-one hours before ending early Sunday without a breakthrough.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy would immediately begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz, interdicting vessels that pay tolls to Iran and moving to clear Iranian-laid mines in the vital waterway. Trump described the move as necessary to stop Iran’s extortion and nuclear ambitions, and predicted Tehran would soon return to negotiations on American terms. Iranian officials warned that any enemy military vessels approaching the strait would be viewed as a ceasefire violation, cautioning that ships could be drawn into a deadly vortex, while maintaining that the waterway must remain open for peaceful shipping.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian later said Tehran remains ready to reach a balanced and fair agreement to ensure lasting peace and security, but added that “double standards” by the United States remain the main obstacle to a deal.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with roughly a fifth of global oil and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas passing through the narrow corridor each day. Any blockade or military escalation in the area could disrupt global energy supplies, push up oil prices, and raise insurance costs for shipping companies.

On the ground, Israel reported carrying out a targeted raid on a hospital in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, saying armed Hezbollah operatives were inside. The Israeli military said around twenty fighters were killed. Israeli airstrikes also continued across southern Lebanon, with Lebanese authorities reporting civilian casualties.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his government is working to secure a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and end the fighting, adding that more than two thousand people have been killed in this phase of the conflict. Meanwhile, Pezeshkian discussed developments with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as diplomatic efforts continue amid rising military tensions across West Asia.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]:  Britain will hold talks with allies next week on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping without paying tolls to Iran.

British foreign ministry officials are set to meet next week with counterparts from countries that joined a virtual April 2 meeting hosted by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks will include “coordinated economic and political measures, including possible sanctions” and the release of ships and sailors trapped in the Strait, the official was quoted as saying.

Representatives from over 40 countries, along with international organisations such as the European Union and the International Maritime Organization, attended the April 2 meeting to discuss possible coordinated actions on Iran, including diplomatic pressure and economic and political measures like sanctions, Xinhua news agency reported.

An official with knowledge of the planning has said the meeting is expected to look for ways to support a sustainable end to the conflict and focus on increasing international diplomatic pressure on Iran to reopen the strait.

This includes exploring coordinated economic and political measures, such as sanctions, and working with the International Maritime Organisation to secure the release of thousands of ships and sailors trapped in the strait.

It would be the third meeting hosted by Britain regarding the issue this month. It is not yet clear which day the meeting will be held next week.

The US and Iran entered a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the United States and Iran are heading into high-stakes ceasefire talks in Islamabad amid deep mistrust, competing demands and mounting pressure on both sides to find an exit from the conflict, according to mainstream American media reports.

As The Washington Post reported, the two sides appear to share little common ground beyond “their need to find an exit ramp from the war.”

Ahead of the talks, both countries accused each other of acting in bad faith. US President Donald Trump described Iran’s public proposals as “a hoax” and said Tehran was being “dishonourable” in restricting tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, The Washington Post reported.

Iran, meanwhile, has set firm preconditions. According to The Washington Post and The New York Times, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said issues such as the release of “blocked assets” must be resolved before negotiations begin.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Saturday said that Washington and New Delhi will closely work together across key sectors, including trade, defence and energy.

Taking to X following his meeting with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Florida, Gor said, “It was a pleasure to host Vikram Misri tonight at Mar a Lago! From trade and defence to energy, India and the United States stand ready to work closely together in the months and years ahead.”

India and the United States expanded cooperation on energy, critical technologies and defence during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s meetings with senior US officials this week, signalling closer strategic alignment.

On the final day of his hectic three-day engagements, energy cooperation featured prominently, with Misri meeting US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

The Indian Embassy in Washington said Misri “called on Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Discussions focused on advancing energy security, deepening bilateral energy trade, and identifying new avenues to strengthen the India-US Energy Partnership.”

Gor pointed to growing collaboration in the sector. “After India’s historic passage of the SHANTI bill, we are ready to cooperate on civil nuclear in addition to other areas such as coal gasification and US LPG exports,” he said.

Beyond energy, the talks covered emerging technologies and supply chains.

According to the US Department of Commerce, “This week, Under Secretary William Kimmitt and India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, met to discuss advancing US-India cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, securing trusted supply chains, and exploring opportunities for US AI exports.”

The Foreign Secretary also held a meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the State Department and reviewed the “full bilateral agenda” for the coming year. The discussions included high-level India-US engagements and ongoing regional developments across key sectors, including trade, technology, defence and energy, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Misri also held discussions with senior White House officials, including National Security Council leadership.

The Indian Embassy said the talks covered “issues of mutual strategic interest, including the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture and the recent developments in West Asia.”

Defence cooperation also featured in the engagements.

Gor said, “The US Army and Indian Army will play an important role in bolstering defence ties.”

He added that “defence cooperation between the US and India is only growing and it’s making both our countries safer and stronger,” citing discussions on “defence sales of US equipment… and strengthening interoperability.”

Misri also attended a reception at India House hosted by India’s Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra, where he met officials and stakeholders from across the US administration.

The Indian Embassy said he “interacted with friends and partners from across the US Administration, reaffirming the strong and vibrant bilateral partnership, and joint efforts to further strengthen ties.”

The meetings reflect growing convergence between New Delhi and Washington across strategic and economic priorities, including energy security, technology cooperation and defence ties.

India and the United States have deepened their partnership over the past decade through regular high-level exchanges and expanding cooperation across sectors. The relationship has been elevated to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership covering defence, trade, technology and people-to-people ties.

Both countries are also working more closely in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on regional stability, resilient supply chains and emerging global challenges.

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: US Vice President, J.D. Vance, arrived in Islamabad at around 11:15 A.M. (IST) on Saturday to lead the American delegation for the crucial US-Iran talks.

All eyes are on Islamabad this weekend as high-stakes negotiations between the US and Iran get underway, carrying major implications for stability in the Middle East and the global economy.

Speaking to reporters before departing from Joint Base Andrews aboard Air Force Two, Vance struck an optimistic tone about the upcoming discussions. “We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive,” he said.

The negotiations mark the first formal engagement between Washington and Tehran in this phase, facilitated by a fragile two-week ceasefire that has temporarily reduced tensions in the region.

However, uncertainty looms large, with ongoing developments — particularly Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah and disagreements over Lebanon’s role in any potential agreement — posing risks to the process.

The US is represented by a high-level delegation that includes Vice President Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump. The team is expected to push for a structured framework in the negotiations, with clear directives from the White House.

Reiterating the administration’s stance, Vance said, “We’re looking forward to negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive.”

He added that the US approach would depend on Iran’s intent. “As the President of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” Vance stated. “If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive.”

He further emphasised that the delegation is entering the talks with defined guidelines. “So we’re going to try to have a positive negotiation. The President gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we’re going to see,” he said.

Iran’s negotiating team arrived in Islamabad on Friday for peace talks with the United States, even as Tehran insisted on measures it said needed to be addressed first, throwing last-minute doubt over the meetings.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire in the six-week war on Tuesday, just hours before a deadline after which Trump had threatened to destroy Iran’s civilisation.

The ceasefire has halted U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. But it has not ended Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused the biggest-ever disruption to global energy supplies, or calmed a parallel war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran’s ‌parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on X that Washington had previously agreed to unblock Iranian assets and to a ceasefire in Lebanon, and added that talks would not start until those pledges are fulfilled.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: The US and India reaffirmed their strategic defence partnership during high-level talks between their air force chiefs, focusing on interoperability, training and regional deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, a media release said.

US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach hosted Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh for an official counterpart visit on April 8.

Singh received a full honours arrival at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and later held meetings with Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and Wilsbach at the Pentagon, according to an official statement.

During the discussions, senior US Air Force leaders emphasised the importance Washington places on its defence partnership with India, describing it as central to ensuring a “free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”

Wilsbach praised India’s leadership and participation in multilateral exercises with like-minded partners and stressed that expanding such cooperation would be key to enhancing regional deterrence.

“It was an honor to host Air Chief Marshal AP Singh for this important counterpart visit,” Wilsbach said. “Throughout his day at the Pentagon, we had great discussions focused on modernization efforts, future training opportunities and our shared commitment to a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

The talks also covered India’s procurement of MQ-9B Sky Guardian aircraft, with the US Air Force highlighting its commitment to ensuring the Indian Armed Forces can “seamlessly and effectively employ the platform upon delivery.”

Wilsbach further underscored the US Air Force’s readiness to support Indian Air Force modernisation efforts, pointing to the mutual benefits of deeper defence industrial collaboration.

The Pentagon meetings were followed by staff-level talks that addressed a range of operational areas, including the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, the Air National Guard’s Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center and full-spectrum MQ-9 operations.

Singh said such engagements were critical for advancing joint capabilities between the two air forces.

“Opportunities like this are crucial for building our joint interoperability and strengthening the strategic partnership between our air forces,” he said.

Beyond Washington, Singh travelled to Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, where he was briefed on the North American Aerospace Defense Command mission, including aerospace and maritime warning for North America. He also visited Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, where he attended briefings at the US Air Force Warfare Center and undertook a familiarisation flight in an F-15EX Eagle II.
 

NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Kuwait has accused Iran and its allied groups of carrying out drone attacks on its territory, despite the ongoing two-week ceasefire linked to the Iran conflict.
 
In a statement carried by the state-run news agency, Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said the attacks targeted vital installations in the country last night. The development has added fresh strain on the fragile ceasefire ahead of scheduled talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad tomorrow.
 
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has also reported damage to key infrastructure. According to the Saudi Press Agency, a recent attack in the conflict impacted the country’s important East-West pipeline. The pipeline is considered strategically significant as it transports oil to the Red Sea, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.