LIVE: Iran says uranium enrichment ‘necessary’ for US ceasefire talks
Iran’s nuclear chief says recognising the country’s right to enrich uranium is essential for any ceasefire talks with the US
A ceasefire deal to pause the war in Iran appeared to hang by a thread as the Islamic Republic closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
At least 182 people were killed and hundreds were wounded in one of the deadliest days in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.
The White House demanded that the channel be reopened and sought to keep peace talks on track.
The US and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries.
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- 9 April 2026 9:41 PM IST
IMF chief warns Iran war will slow global economic growth
The Iran war is darkening the outlook for the world economy — whether or not a fragile ceasefire holds, the head of the International Monetary Fund warned Thursday.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the fund will downgrade its forecast for the world economy next week.
“Had it not been for this shock, we would have been upgrading global growth,” Georgieva said in remarks ahead of next week's IMF-World Bank spring meetings. "But now, even our most hopeful scenario involves a growth downgrade.'' The world economy had proven resilient in the face of President Donald Trump's decision to impose sweeping taxes last year on imports from most of the world's countries. In January, the 191-country IMF had upgraded the global growth outlook to 3.3 per cent and was poised to do so again when its new forecasts came out next Tuesday.
But the war, which began Feb. 28, changed everything. The conflict has driven up the price of oil and natural gas; damaged oil refineries, tanker terminals and other energy infrastructure; disrupted shipments of fertiliser the world's farmers depend on; and damaged the confidence of businesses and consumers.
The United States and Iran announced Tuesday they'd reached a ceasefire — after Trump warned that otherwise "a whole civilization will die tonight.'' Still, the IMF's Georgieva said Thursday, "growth will be slower—even if the new peace is durable.'' Sub-Saharan Africa and small island countries are most vulnerable to the energy shock, Georgieva said. Around the world, governments have only a limited ability to support their economies with spending increases and tax cuts because their debts are already so high.
- 9 April 2026 9:40 PM IST
Commerce ministry discusses shipping, port, packaging challenges with exporters
The commerce ministry on Thursday held meetings with exporters to discuss challenges related to packaging, shipping and port operations amid the West Asia crisis, an official said.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal chaired two meetings, which were attended by representatives of export promotion councils and commodity boards.
The commerce secretary, Shipping Secretary Vijay Kumar, shipping lines, ports, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), and exporters discussed issues related to ports and shipping in the context of the ongoing challenges, and to explore feasible solutions, the industry officials said.
EPCs were requested to share specific issues or challenges being faced at ports so that these may be taken up effectively during the discussion.
The joint attack launched by the US and Israel on Iran had led to severe disruptions in the movement of ships in international waters, particularly to the West Asian nations.
The other meeting was held to deliberate on key packaging challenges faced by the industry arising from the evolving situation in West Asia and to identify operational responses.
According to industry players, rising prices of petrochemicals have led to a surge in raw material costs, resulting into a 50 per cent hike in the prices of packaging materials in the past few weeks.
- 9 April 2026 8:39 PM IST
Piyush Goyal dares Stalin to rule out Udhayanidhi as next TN CM
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is also in charge of the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, on Thursday challenged the state's Chief Minister, M K Stalin, to declare that his son and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) youth wing chief Udhayanidhi Stalin will not be appointed as the next CM of Tamil Nadu.
Speaking at a press meet in Coimbatore, Goyal accused the DMK leadership of orchestrating a dynastic succession that ignores the will of the people.
"I challenge Stalin to announce that Udhayanidhi will not be the chief minister of Tamil Nadu," Goyal stated, asserting that the CM has remained silent because he has already made up his mind.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader further claimed that the elevation of Udhayanidhi to the deputy chief minister post was a clear signal of this intent.
- 9 April 2026 8:38 PM IST
Blaze erupts at Mumbai airport’s Terminal 1; no casualties reported
A fire broke out at Terminal 1 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on Thursday evening, a civic official said, adding that operations were underway to douse the flames.
No casualties have been reported, he said.
The fire was reported at a three-storey structure near 1-B Circle at 6.35 pm and vehicles of the Mumbai Fire Brigade were rushed to the spot, the official said.
The flames were confined to the ground floor, he said, adding that further details were awaited
- 9 April 2026 5:15 PM IST
Uranium enrichment key to any US ceasefire talks: Iran
The head of Iran’s nuclear programme said on Thursday that any ceasefire discussions with the United States must recognise Tehran’s right to enrich uranium.
Mohammad Eslami, who oversees the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, made the comments while speaking to reporters, according to the Associated Press. He was addressing the media during an event held in memory of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- 9 April 2026 3:27 PM IST
JD Vance says part of Iran proposal ‘likely written by ChatGPT’
US Vice President JD Vance has entered the dispute over Iran’s 10-point proposal submitted ahead of planned Middle East negotiations. Speaking on Wednesday, he said Tehran had circulated three separate drafts, creating uncertainty over what will anchor talks expected to begin in Islamabad on April 11.
Iran maintains that Washington accepted its proposal, which includes compensation for war damage and the right to enrich uranium. The US has denied that claim.
Referring to a CNN report, Vance said, “the first 10-point proposal… we think, frankly, was probably written by ChatGPT,” adding it was swiftly rejected by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. A second version, shaped through discussions with Pakistan, was “more reasonable,” he said, noting Donald Trump referenced it publicly.
He described a third draft as “even more maximalist” and urged Iran not to upset a fragile ceasefire that, he stressed, did not extend to Lebanon.
- 9 April 2026 2:32 PM IST
UK to urge Lebanon’s inclusion in ceasefire between US and Iran
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will seek to ensure that Lebanon is included in the US-Iran ceasefire deal, signaling international concern that continued fighting on Israel’s northern frontier could unravel the truce.
As per a Bloomberg report, Cooper plans to use a speech on Thursday evening in the City of London to highlight British concern about fighting in the region. Iranian officials said the ceasefire had been violated after Israel launched its largest assault of the current conflict on its northern neighbour.
“There is considerable work to do, and we support the negotiations,” Cooper will tell a banquet hosted by Lady Mayor Susan Langley. “They must make progress. There must be no return to conflict. Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire. There must be no further threat from Iran to its neighbors. And crucially, the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened.”
- 9 April 2026 2:29 PM IST
Iranian delegation to reach Islamabad on Thursday for talks with US
Clearing the mist of mistrust, Iran confirmed that its 10-member delegation will arrive in Pakistan on Thursday to participate in the upcoming talks to resolve the conflict with the US and Israel.
The crucial parleys have been set for Friday in Islamabad, just days after a two-week ceasefire. US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran as proposed by Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to the delegations of the US and Iran to Islamabad on Friday, April 10, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes.
Reza Amiri Moghadam, Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan, confirmed the participation of his country’s delegation while emphasising “scepticism” in his country regarding peace talks due to the alleged ceasefire violation by Israel.
“Despite scepticism of Iranian public opinion due to repeated ceasefire violations by the Israeli regime to sabotage the diplomatic initiative, invited by PM Shehbaz Sharif, the Iranian delegation arrives tonight in Islamabad for serious talks based on 10 points proposed by Iran,” he said on X.
The US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance is also expected to arrive, but no time has been announced for its arrival.
- 9 April 2026 1:18 PM IST
Iran plans to charge USD 1 per oil barrel as Hormuz toll: Report
Iran reportedly plans to levy cryptocurrency tolls on oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, tightening control over the strategic waterway despite a temporary ceasefire with the US.
Hamid Hosseini, spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, reportedly told the Financial Times the country intends to charge every vessel, assessing each ship individually. The toll is expected to be USD 1 per barrel of oil.
Hosseini reportedly explained that Iran must monitor traffic through the strait to ensure the ceasefire period is not exploited for weapon transfers. He emphasized that while all ships will be allowed passage, the process will take time, adding that Iran “is not in a rush.”
- 9 April 2026 12:31 PM IST
Trump says US forces will remain near Iran until 'real agreement' is reached
US President Donald Trump has issued another warning to Iran, saying that “bigger, better and stronger” military action will follow if the two sides fail to reach what he called a “real agreement.” He emphasized that US forces will remain stationed in and around Iran until such an agreement is finalized.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that “All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary… will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with.” He warned that if compliance fails, “the ‘Shootin’ Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before.”
Trump further reiterated that Iran must not pursue nuclear weapons and insisted the Strait of Hormuz “WILL BE OPEN & SAFE.” He concluded by declaring that the U.S. military is “loading up and resting, looking forward… to its next conquest. AMERICA IS BACK!”
