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The U.S. war on Iran has turned into a battle of wills in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, marked by duelling naval blockades and stalled diplomacy. Iran, which has effectively restricted the free flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Israel attacks on February 28, has refused to ease its control over the critical waterway. The U.S. insists that its blockade of Iranian ports will stay in place until a deal is reached. Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Pakistan, which mediated the first round of direct talks on April 11, but Iran declined further direct talks with Washington. The White House had earlier said it would send special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, but President Donald Trumpcancelled their trip after Mr. Araghchi left the Pakistani capital. Mr. Trump has repeatedly said that Iran wants a deal. Yet, Tehran continues to refuse talks with the U.S., citing Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and America’s blockade in the Gulf of Oman. On paper, a ceasefire is in place in Lebanon, and Mr. Trump said earlier this month that Israel was “prohibited” from attacking the country, but Israeli air strikes have continued. He has also indicated no urgency to lift the blockade, betting that sustained economic pressure will force Iran to change its position.The only silver lining is that the Iran ceasefire, announced on April 8, is still holding. Despite Mr. Trump’s threats, he has held fire even after Iran seized ships in the Persian Gulf. Tehran, too, despite warning retaliation over a U.S. seizure of an Iranian tanker, has not followed through. Both sides have remained diplomatically engaged through Pakistan. The alternative to diplomacy is disaster. The U.S. and Israel bombed Iran for 40 days but failed…

A superyacht owned by the Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov was able to transit the blockaded strait of Hormuz after undergoing maintenance in Dubai because neither Iran nor the US objected, a source close to Mordashov said on Tuesday.It has been unclear how the multi-deck pleasure vessel, worth more than $500m (£370m), gained permission to sail on Saturday through the commercially important waterway at the heart of the US-Iran conflict, where traffic has been severely restricted since February.Alexei Mordashov. Photograph: Kommersant photo agency/Rex/ShutterstockSailing under a Russian flag, the yacht, called Nord, crossed the strait on an approved route in compliance with international maritime law, the source said.“Iran did not interfere with the movement of the yacht, as it is a civilian vessel of a friendly country conducting a peaceful transit. The American side also raised no questions regarding the yacht’s movement, as it did not call at Iranian ports and has no connection to Iran,” the source said.Just a few, mainly merchant vessels, have been able to pass through the crucial waterway at the entrance to the Gulf as Washington and Tehran maintain an uneasy ceasefire. This is a fraction of the average 125 to 140 daily passages before the war began on 28 February. In response, the US has blockaded Iranian ports.Russia is a longstanding ally of Iran. The Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, travelled to St Petersburg on Monday for a meeting with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, after discussions with peace mediators in Pakistan and Oman at the weekend.After crossing the strait, Nord has been located near the coast of Oman since Sunday, according to the data provider LSEG.

AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTYou have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.The Nord, a 464-foot vessel, appears to be tied to Aleksei A. Mordashov, a Russian steel mogul who is under American and European sanctions.The Nord, anchored off Hong Kong in 2022. In that year, the U.S. State Department publicly raised concerns after Hong Kong said it would not seize the vessel.Credit...ReutersApril 28, 2026A luxury superyacht linked to a Russian oligarch passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, data showed on Tuesday, despite the parallel blockades maintained there by the United States and Iran.The 464-foot vessel, the Nord, appears to be tied to Aleksei A. Mordashov, a steel mogul who is subject to American and European sanctions. The vessel left Port Rashid in Dubai, where it had been docked for weeks, on Friday and sailed through the strait on Saturday, according to data from the tracking service VesselFinder.com and Kpler, a firm that tracks marine traffic.Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a senior maritime intelligence analyst at the data provider Windward, said it appeared likely that Iran had let the yacht through. Data showed that it had sailed close to Larak, an Iranian island, using a route that Iran has established for vessels that it is allowing to pass. The Nord’s transponder, which allows the vessel to be tracked by shipping monitors, was turned on, she said.“The I.R.G.C. has stated all vessels transiting need permission — Nord would have been the same as others,” Ms. Wiese Bockmann said, referring to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Since the Nord left from Dubai, she said, it might not have been subject to the American blockade, which targets vessels going to and from Iranian ports.Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz,…

17 hours agoHarry SekulichandJaroslav LukivReutersThe multi-deck luxury boat valued at more than $500m (£370m) transited the Gulf waterway at the weekendA superyacht linked to one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's key allies has sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the ongoing blockade of the critical shipping channel.The 142m-long (465 ft) multi-deck luxury boat, named Nord, is linked to sanctioned Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov. It travelled from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, over the weekend - one of few private vessels to transit through the strait in recent months.Iran held high-level talks with Russia this week as its standoff with the US over the strait's re-opening continues.Approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies normally pass through the waterway.Getty ImagesWith an estimated net worth of about $37bn (£27bn), Mordashov is the richest Russian national listed by the US business magazine ForbesMordashov, who has close ties to Putin, is not listed as the formal owner of the Russian-flagged boat. However, Nord's records indicate it was registered to a firm owned by his wife in 2022.Nord, estimated to be worth more than $500m (£370m), left Dubai on Friday night and arrived at Al Mouj - a marina in Oman's capital - on Sunday morning, according to data on the Marine Traffic platform.The route shown on the tracker has been used by vessels crossing with agreement from Iran.It is not clear whether Nord gained permission from Iran to sail through the route. Mordashov made his fortune largely through his steel and mining company Severstal - the largest such firm in Russia. With an estimated net worth of about $37bn (£27bn), he is the richest Russian national listed by the US business magazine Forbes.Iran has severely restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli strikes that…

Live Blog Update| War on Iran 28 April 2026 06:49 BST Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei criticised the European Union, saying its sanctions reflect “double standards” and “hypocrisy”, and were “never about human rights” but instead harm ordinary citizens.  Baghaei also condemned the United States for seizing Iranian-linked tankers, calling the actions “outright piracy and armed robbery on the high seas”. Iranian officials have warned that such measures undermine international law and maritime security as enforcement actions in the region intensify. EU’s inhuman sanctions on Iran were never about “human rights” — they were designed to trample the basic rights of ordinary Iranians. No one is buying this tired moral theater. Such posturing won’t earn you—or your constituency—an ounce of credibility on the world stage. If… pic.twitter.com/d6aZc70w4Q — Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) April 27, 2026

Live Blog Update| War on Iran 28 April 2026 05:56 BST The Wall Street Journal, citing data from Kpler, reported that Iranian oil shipments have fallen sharply as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupts exports. Loadings dropped significantly after the blockade took effect, with few tankers able to leave the region. Analysts say Iran’s crude production could fall by more than half by mid-May if restrictions persist, potentially dropping to around 1.2 to 1.3 million barrels per day.  Iranians are seen at Suru Beach in Bandar Abbas along the Strait of Hormuz on 24 April 2026. RAZIEH POUDAT / ISNA / AFP

Iran’s representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated on Monday that Iran is “not bound” by the UN Law of the Sea and defended his country’s maritime actions in the Strait of Hormuz. Iravani argued that these measures are necessary to balance coastal security with safe navigation in a “highly volatile” environment. He also accused some international members of displaying “double standards” by ignoring the “maritime blockade” imposed by the United States. “The concerns for maritime safety and freedom of navigation is neither genuine nor consistent with their action and positions,” said Iravani. Iran’s representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, stated on Monday that Iran is “not bound” by the UN Law of the Sea and defended his country’s maritime actions in the Strait of Hormuz pic.twitter.com/up9OgJfZEE — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) April 28, 2026

Supply disruptions because of the US-Israeli war on Iran have driven a sharp rise in prices of printed circuit boards, a key component in most electronic devices, Reuters reported.  The increase is partly attributed to an Iranian strike on the petrochemical complex in Jubail that halted production of high-purity polyphenylene ether resin. The complex accounts for about 70 percent of the global supply of the material, and has not resumed output since the attack, tightening availability worldwide. Circuit board prices rose by as much as 40 percent in April compared with March, according to Goldman Sachs, the report said.  An employee adjusts microchips and electronic components on a printed circuit board at a factory, in Dongguan China on 16 March 2026. Tingshu Wang/REUTERS

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had received a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, whose public absence has drawn scrutiny. Speaking during a meeting in St Petersburg with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, Putin asked that his “appreciation” and “best wishes for his good health” be conveyed, according to the Kremlin. Putin also praised what he described as Iran’s “courageous” defence of its sovereignty and said Russia would support efforts toward peace. Meanwhile, CNN and Reuters reported ongoing questions about Khamenei’s condition and role, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying there is no evidence he is not alive, while other reports suggest he remains involved in decision-making remotely. 

Oil prices edged higher as efforts to resolve tensions between the United States and Iran remained stalled, with Brent crude rising to about $108.68 a barrel. The benchmark has now recorded a seventh consecutive session of gains, reflecting ongoing concerns over supply disruptions. US West Texas Intermediate crude also climbed to around $96.96, extending earlier increases as uncertainty persists around the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say limited shipments and the lack of diplomatic progress continue to support higher prices.

Al Jazeera reported that Iran is reviewing a request from the United States to move forward with negotiations, but has not yet responded. Officials say a key obstacle remains the nuclear issue, alongside a deep trust deficit following previous US strikes during talks. According to the report, Iran is proposing a phased approach that prioritises ending the war and securing guarantees against further attacks before addressing broader issues such as the nuclear file. In return, Tehran has indicated it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of a wider agreement.

In a joint statement led by Bahrain, dozens of countries called for the urgent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as negotiations between the United States and Iran remain stalled. Antonio Guterres told the Security Council the organisation should support an emergency framework proposed by the International Maritime Organisation. Guterres warned of severe global consequences, saying, “These pressures are cascading into empty fuel tanks, empty shelves, and empty plates.” “I appeal to the parties: open the strait; let ships pass; no tolls, no discrimination; let trade resume; let the global economy breathe,” he added, cautioning that prolonged disruption could trigger a global food emergency affecting millions, particularly in Africa and South Asia.

Skip linksSkip to ContentNavigation menuNewsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedOpinionSportVideoFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelUN chief says US-Iran standoff in the Strait of Hormuz risks triggering a global food emergency. Video Duration 02 minutes 01 seconds 02:01Who holds the cards in Iran-US talks? US President Donald Trump’s national security team is reviewing an Iranian peace plan to halt the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, while postponing talks on its nuclear programme. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg and says Tehran is considering a US request to restart negotiations.

Rights groups have described the move as a “blatant abuse of power”.Bahrain has stripped dozens of people of their citizenship for allegedly supporting Iranian attacks on the country.Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior announced on Monday that it had revoked the citizenship of 69 people, some of whom were related, after accusing them of sympathising with Iran and “colluding with foreign entities”. The move comes after Tehran carried out strikes on facilities in Bahrain as part of the war launched against Iran by Israel and the United States.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iran-Iraq Tanker War redux? Why the Strait of Hormuz crisis is differentlist 2 of 3How long can Iran survive the US’s Hormuz blockade?list 3 of 3Iraq’s ruling Shia bloc races to choose PM as US, Iran watchend of listThe directive, issued by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, stated that all 69 people were “of non-Bahraini origin”. Under Bahraini law, a person can be stripped of citizenship if they are deemed to have caused harm to the country or shown disloyalty.The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy described the move as “dangerous” and a clear violation of international law.The organisation said the individuals had not been publicly identified, and it remained unclear whether they had been arrested, whether they were inside or outside Bahrain, and whether they held another nationality.Iranian strikesTehran began striking its Gulf neighbours on February 28, shortly after Israel and the United States began the war by launching attacks on Iran.Tehran accused the targeted countries of allowing the US to conduct its strikes from their territory. Iran’s retaliatory attacks reportedly caused significant damage to US military sites across the region, including a Navy base in Bahrain, which was hit by missiles and drones.Iran ceased its attacks on Gulf neighbours on April 9, following…

NewsFeedRussia is hosting Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in St. Petersburg for talks on a possible new round of negotiations with the US, while positioning itself as a mediator. Al Jazeera’s Yulia Shapovalova has details from Moscow.Published On 27 Apr 2026