Trump's VP says he wants Iran to be 'normal country,' but can't have nukes; US said to ask for 20-year enrichment freeze, but Iran reportedly offered 5-10, which Trump rejected

The post Vance: Lot of progress made in talks toward ‘grand deal,’ but ball in Iran’s court appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Educational activities allowed in bomb shelters along Lebanese border; cap of 5,000 at gatherings reintroduced in Jerusalem area and south

The post IDF eases home front limits in parts of north, tightens rules elsewhere amid Iran truce appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Updated English translation of Vladka Meed's 1948 Yiddish memoir, 'On Both Sides of the Wall,' breathes new life into her experiences with the Jewish resistance against the Nazis

The post Avenging angel risked her life to try to save Warsaw’s Jews — and lived to write about it appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Beirut looks to use most senior level engagement to date with Jerusalem to secure ceasefire, though Israeli government has shown no interest in a truce until Hezbollah is defanged

The post Officials seek to temper expectations as Israel, Lebanon envoys set to hold historic meeting appeared first on The Times of Israel.

CENTCOM tells seafarers it's still working out how blockade 'will be applied in practice,' warns ships trying to leave or enter Iranian ports without permission are subject to capture

The post US positions warships in region as it moves to enforce naval blockade of Iran appeared first on The Times of Israel.

JVP-led protesters attempt to hold sit-in inside the offices of Democratic senators Schumer and Gillibrand, who haven't backed resolutions by Bernie Sanders to stop $600M sale

The post Dozens arrested at anti-Israel protest in NYC calling to block sale of US bombs appeared first on The Times of Israel.

On her first Holocaust Remembrance Day since realizing her dream of immigrating, Penina Zeitchik aims to gather with grandchildren also living in Israel to share what her family experienced in the war

The post Over 80 years after fleeing the Nazis, a survivor moves to Israel, finally home appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Massachusetts Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren is accusing Amazon MGM Studios of "bribery in plain sight" for investing in the "Melania" documentary, despite remaining quiet as media outlet after media outlet handed the Obama's hundreds of millions for their film and podcast projects.

The post Senator Warren Accuses Amazon MGM Studios of ‘Bribery’ Buying ‘Melania’ Documentary appeared first on Breitbart.

Western democracies, including the UK, France, Canada and Australia, are facing backlash after allowing Iran and other authoritarian regimes to secure seats on influential United Nations (U.N.) bodies, with the United States standing alone in opposition.

The controversy stems from decisions by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a 54-member body that plays a central role in shaping U.N. policy and staffing key committees.

Critics warn the outcome could allow governments accused of human rights abuses to influence global policy and control which civil society groups are granted access to the United Nations.

TERROR SPONSOR IRAN GETS UN LEADERSHIP OVERSEEING CHARTER PRINCIPLES

ECOSOC nominated the Islamic Republic of Iran to the U.N.’s Committee for Program and Coordination Wednesday, a body that helps shape policy on human rights, women’s rights, disarmament and counterterrorism.

The nomination is widely expected to be finalized, as the United Nations General Assembly typically approves such recommendations without a vote.

At the same session, ECOSOC elected China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia and Sudan to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, which oversees accreditation and access for thousands of NGOs operating within the U.N. system.

The United States was the only member state to formally break from consensus.

MIKE WALTZ TURNS TABLES ON IRANIAN ENVOY AT HEATED UN MEETING

In remarks delivered April 8, U.S. Representative to ECOSOC Ambassador Dan Negrea said the U.S. "disassociates from consensus" on both decisions, calling several of the countries involved unfit for such roles.

"The regime threatens its neighbors and has, for decades, infringed on the Iranian people’s ability to exercise their basic human rights," Negrea said, adding that "we believe Iran is unfit to serve" on the committee.

The decision drew sharp criticism from UN Watch, a Geneva-based watchdog group.

Hillel Neuer told Fox News Digital: "By their cynical actions at the UN, major Western states have betrayed their own human rights principles, severely undermining the rules-based international order that they claim to support."

"We note that the EU states clearly had another option. They did take action in recent years to stop Russia from getting elected to similar bodies, and so we deeply regret that they failed to do the same now to stop the election of serial violators such as Iran, China, China, Cuba, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia and Sudan."

"We salute the United States for their moral clarity and leadership in objecting to the election of the Islamic Republic of Iran and other brutal regimes."

Neuer warned the composition of the NGO committee could allow authoritarian governments to influence which organizations are accredited, potentially sidelining independent human rights groups.

"This means dictatorships will have a majority on the committee in order to deny United Nations accreditation to independent organizations that call out their human rights violations, and to accredit more fake front groups created by the regimes," he said.

Israel’s mission to the United Nations also pointed to political tensions surrounding the vote, saying Iran attempted to challenge Israel’s candidacy during the same ECOSOC session.

AMBASSADOR MIKE WALTZ LAYS OUT ‘AMERICA FIRST’ VISION FOR US LEADERSHIP AT THE UN

Israel was elected to several U.N. bodies, according to the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations, including the Commission on the Status of Women and the NGO Committee, despite opposition.

"Iran also tried to turn the elections at the UN into an arena for incitement against Israel and failed," Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said. "Those who oppress women and trample on human rights in their own country will not teach us what women's rights are."

Ahead of the vote, around 70 civil society groups warned that countries with poor human rights records could secure seats on key oversight bodies, but the elections proceeded without a formal vote, a process known as approval "by acclamation."

Critics argue that this procedure allows controversial candidates to secure influential roles with limited transparency or accountability.

The developments are likely to intensify scrutiny over how U.N. bodies are staffed and whether political considerations are outweighing human rights concerns.

Fox News Digital reached out to the UK, France, Canada, Australia and U.S. mission for comment but did not receive responses in time for publication.

The Iranian mission to the United Nations declined to comment.

US president says Iran can't 'extort the world,' Iranian ships that try to cross will be 'ELIMINATED'; ships will be allowed to traverse strait if not engaging with Iranian ports

The post Trump claims Iran again expressed interest in deal after US naval blockade begins appeared first on The Times of Israel.

The United States began enforcing a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic Monday, sharply escalating tensions in the Gulf just hours after high-level talks in Pakistan between Washington and Tehran collapsed without a deal.

The move, announced by President Donald Trump, came after negotiations in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, despite what participants described as rare direct engagement between the two sides.

But Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mohammed Saeed, former chief of general staff of the Pakistan Army, said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital that the talks came far closer to success than their outcome suggests — and argued that diplomacy is still within reach.

"Both sides are saying they were very close … even inches away from a solution," he said based on his own knowledge and reports. Saeed retired in 2023 but remained part of the core team handling operational planning, internal security coordination, and sensitive periods of political tension. 

JD VANCE RETURNS TO WASHINGTON AFTER 16 HOURS OF IRAN PEACE TALKS COLLAPSE IN PAKISTAN

"They talked to each other in a very friendly manner. There was, from both sides, an expression of accommodation and understanding from each other. So, what you can briefly say is that the engagement has sufficient potential to resume."

Speaking at the White House Monday, Trump defended the blockade, saying, "Right now, there’s no fighting. Right now, we have a blockade … Iran is doing absolutely no business, and we’re going to keep it that way very easily."

He added that Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly degraded, saying its "Navy has gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone, their radar is gone and their leaders are gone."

Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, pressed Iran to accept a strict "zero enrichment" policy and remove its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. 

"The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon, and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon," Vance said at a press conference in Islamabad.

Iranian leaders rejected those demands, insisting that any agreement must include the immediate release of billions of dollars in frozen assets.

Now, with the blockade in place, Saeed suggested the move may be designed less as a military endgame and more as leverage.

"This blockade could be … a maneuver to build further pressure on Iran to negotiate," he said.

TRUMP WARNS CHINA OF 'STAGGERING' 50% TARIFF IF CAUGHT SUPPLYING MILITARY AID TO IRAN

The escalation has raised concerns globally, particularly for countries dependent on Gulf energy flows, including Pakistan.

"Everyone in the world must be worried about what kind of economic negative spin-offs such a blockade would have," Saeed said.

Saeed, who until recently sat at the center of Pakistan’s military leadership, framed the Islamabad talks as a critical reopening of dialogue after decades of hostility.

"It is the first time in 47 years … that there was engagement at the highest level," he said, calling it "a great moment for diplomacy" and a demonstration of Pakistan’s ability to maintain credibility with both Washington and Tehran.

He pointed in particular to Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, a figure who has drawn unusual attention in Washington. 

Trump has publicly praised Munir, at one point calling him his "favorite field marshal," elevating his profile as a key intermediary in regional diplomacy.

Munir, who rose through Pakistan’s intelligence ranks before becoming army chief, previously served as director general of military intelligence and later led the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). His career has been defined by deep involvement in regional security and intelligence coordination, including longstanding engagement with Iran.

‘GATE OF TEARS’ AT RISK: IRAN THREATENS MAJOR NEW GLOBAL CHOKEPOINT IF US MOVES ON HORMUZ

Those ties could prove critical in the current crisis, according to Saeed. 

"What people do not know is that when he was director general of military intelligence … he was interacting with Iranians at multiple levels continuously," Saeed said, describing years of direct engagement with Iran’s military, intelligence and political leadership, including former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. strike during Trump’s first term.

"He has had interaction with them for a long time … visiting Iran frequently and interacting on multiple issues," Saeed said, adding that many current Iranian officials would already be familiar with Munir from earlier roles.

That continuity, he argued, gives Pakistan a rare advantage at a moment when formal diplomatic channels are strained.

"What one can say is that he continues to be one figure internationally who has a personal interaction … in the intelligence community in Iran in the military hierarchy and also on the side of the political leadership," Saeed said.

"So that’s a huge advantage he has on the other side."

TRUMP VOICES FRUSTRATION WITH NATO, SAYS IRANIAN NAVY ‘DESTROYED’ AS US PREPS FOR BLOCKADE

For Pakistan, that personal access — combined with its simultaneous relationship with Washington — has become central to its effort to position itself as a credible intermediary, even as the region edges closer to confrontation.

At the same time, Pakistan’s role as a mediator has drawn scrutiny, particularly given its longstanding position on Israel and recent inflammatory remarks by senior officials.

When asked whether Pakistan can be seen as a neutral broker while not recognizing Israel — an actor directly involved in strikes on Iran — Saeed downplayed the issue, saying Israel was not part of the diplomatic track.

"Pakistan’s position with regard to relations with Israel has been consistent since our independence," he said, adding that Islamabad’s mediation efforts were focused solely on Washington and Tehran.

"Neither of their representatives was on the table … Pakistan was mediating between the U.S. and Iran," he said.

Despite the current escalation, Saeed maintained that diplomatic channels remain open.

"There is a lot of space … for resuming the process," he said, suggesting talks could restart in Islamabad or elsewhere if both sides shift course.

"On Pakistan's side, from my personal knowledge of the field marshal, they are relentless. They would not give up. They must not have given up. They must be continuously in touch with both sides. And they would try their best to convince both sides that the blockade is not going to be in their interest, in the interest of the region and in the interest of the international community."

Some 80% of Israeli Jews think army should carry on campaign amid US-Iran ceasefire, even if it means friction with Washington, according to poll conducted since truce

The post Jewish Israelis, by large margin, support continued fighting Hezbollah; Arabs don’t appeared first on The Times of Israel.

8 ex-employees of cement implicated, including former CEO Bruno Lafont, who is handed 6-year prison sentence over payments to Islamic State from 2013 to 2014

The post French company Lafarge found guilty of paying $6.54 million to jihadists in Syria appeared first on The Times of Israel.

The Disney Grooming Syndicate’s upcoming Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters in five weeks and is tracking for a record-low $71 million to $85 million domestic weekend.

The post Nolte: ‘Mandalorian’ Box Office Tracking for Record-low ‘Star Wars’ Opening appeared first on Breitbart.

JOHANNESBURG: A strategically important air base and port have been offered to the U.S. as a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz begins and Iran-backed threats target the key Red Sea choke point of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Top U.S. military officials, including the commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Dagvin Anderson, recently visited facilities being offered in Somaliland. Somaliland is a pro-U.S. outpost, having broken away from war-torn Somalia in 1991.

Bab-el-Mandeb, which is Arabic for "gate of tears," has become the main route for oil to ship out of the Middle East to Asia since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed. Bloomberg News reported that Saudi Arabia has switched to shipping potentially up to 7 million barrels of oil a day from its port at Yanbu on the Red Sea through the strait. It’s reported that up to 14% of the world’s shipping passes through the 16-mile-wide strait.

IS TRUMP CONSIDERING BOLD AFRICA PLAY TO PUSH BACK ON CHINA, RUSSIA AND ISLAMIC TERRORISTS?

Enter the controversial offer to the U.S. of an air and naval base at Berbera in Somaliland. The official Republic of Somaliland site on X extolled Berbera’s virtues last month, boasting that it has "a deep water port along the artery connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean", and "one of Africa’s longest runways, originally developed as a NASA emergency landing site."

"Berbera obviously has huge strategic potential," for sea and air operations, Edmund Fitton-Brown, a former U.K. ambassador to Yemen and a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News Digital.

The U.S. does have another Red Sea base in Djibouti, but Fitton-Brown told Fox News Digital the government there is increasingly uncomfortable with some administration’s policies: "Djibouti becomes an increasingly reluctant, unwilling ally to the U.S. in helping enforce sanctions on the Houthis. Somaliland, which is almost equally well-placed to address issues on the western and southwestern coasts of Yemen, can help the U.S., Israel and the UAE combat the Houthis."

The controversy comes over the question of U.S. recognition of Somaliland.

President Donald Trump, in the Oval Office last August, told reporters, "We’re looking into that right now," when asked about the recognition of Somaliland and the possible resettlement of Gazans there, adding, "We’re working on that right now, Somaliland."

But this past week, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "The United States continues to recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, which includes the territory of Somaliland."

Last year Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland.

TRUMP SEEKS WARSHIPS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO HELP SECURE STRAIT OF HORMUZ

Iran is pushing the Houthis to take action in the Red Sea. "Insecurity in other straits, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea, is one of the options of the Resistance Front, and the situation will become much more complicated than it is today for the Americans," the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-linked Tasmin news agency warned on March 21.

Baraa Shaiban, an expert on the Houthis at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), says the recognition of Somaliland is problematic, as it "will upset the U.S. relationship with the Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, many of which are U.S. allies. It would be unwise for the United States to upset its allies in the region just to gain access to Somaliland ports."

A spokesperson for AFRICOM told Fox News Digital, "The U.S. is not seeking to establish new basing, as such actions do not align with the America First security framework articulated by the President and Secretary of War."

While publicly both the use of bases and recognition of Somaliland are no-go areas, analysts say that with Somaliland offering the use of its bases without immediate recognition by the administration, the issue is perhaps privately not off the table.

And that could be why a recent video shared with Fox News Digital shows AFRICOM's Gen. Anderson and a large group of senior military officials in Somaliland. Anderson met with Somaliland's president, and appeared to inspect the port in Berbera in November, just five months ago.

That’s not the only reported visit. Somaliland’s top diplomatic representative in Washington, Bashir Goth, said at a recent Foreign Policy Research Institute debate, "The war in the Middle East has elevated Somaliland’s strategic importance. U.S. military interest has been very strong. Every month, there has been a delegation from AFRICOM to Hargeisa," the capital of Somaliland.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Republic of Somaliland, but they declined to comment.

Hakan Fidan says Jerusalem 'cannot live without an enemy,' accusing both government and opposition lawmakers of taking part in 'state strategy' against Ankara

The post Turkish FM: Israel trying to ‘declare Turkey the new enemy’ after Iran appeared first on The Times of Israel.

After telling US president 'don't quack,' Otzma Yehudit's Zvika Fogel says he did not intend to 'show any disrespect'; Netanyahu said to tell lawmakers to 'choose your words carefully'

The post Far-right MK apologizes, deletes post criticizing Trump over Iran war appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Iran thinks it can wring massive concessions on the nuclear and Hormuz issues, while Trump won't cave to a country he bombed for weeks, leaving them in a stalemate and possibly bound for escalation

The post US-Iran talks on long-term deal doomed as long as both sides insist they won the war appeared first on The Times of Israel.

PM says US walked away from talks over red lines on Hormuz, enriched uranium; ahead of US operation in strait, IDF says it remains on 'heightened alert' for any development

The post Netanyahu: Iran ceasefire could end at any moment, we back Trump’s blockade appeared first on The Times of Israel.

French president says effort will be 'strictly defensive' and separate from any American operation, as British PM says UK will not join Trump's naval blockade of key waterway

The post Starmer, Macron say UK and France to discuss ‘multinational mission’ to safeguard Hormuz appeared first on The Times of Israel.

An entire family wiped out in Haifa, three teenage siblings killed in Beit Shemesh, several immigrants and two foreign workers among those slain during 40 days of fighting

The post These are the 20 people killed in Israel by Iranian ballistic missile attacks appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Authorities say tracks rebuilt in key areas; IDF said it hit specific rail sections as part of effort to prevent Revolutionary Guards from moving weapon systems

The post Iran says train service resumed on routes damaged by strikes during war appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Die Koalition senkt die Spritsteuer für zwei Monate, verspricht eine 1.000-Euro-Prämie und kündigt schärfere Eingriffe gegen Mineralölkonzerne an.

Dieser Beitrag Energiepreise Schwarz-Rot senkt Spritsteuer für zwei Monate um 17 Cent pro Liter wurde veröffentlich auf JUNGE FREIHEIT.

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman on the failed US-Iran talks in Islamabad, tomorrow's planned Israel-Lebanon talks in DC and ripple effects from the defeat of Hungary's longtime leader

The post Daily Briefing Apr. 13 – Trump plays chicken with Iran over Strait of Hormuz appeared first on The Times of Israel.

CENTCOM says it will begin blocking all ships entering and exiting Iran's ports, will not block Hormuz for ships using non-Iranian ports, in step down from Trump's earlier threat

The post With US military set to blockade Iranian ports, Tehran says move ‘amounts to piracy’ appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Tehran put 4 to 5 people to death daily throughout last year, data shows; if regime survives war, IHR says 'serious risk that executions will be used even more extensively'

The post Iran executed over 1,600 people in 2025, most since 1989, rights groups say appeared first on The Times of Israel.

In rare direct attack by US president on head of the Catholic Church, Trump says he's 'not a fan of Pope Leo,' and urges pontiff to 'stop catering to the Radical Left'

The post In broadside, Trump slams ‘weak’ pope who ‘thinks it’s OK’ for Iran to have a nuclear bomb appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Apparent coordinated leak to TV networks indicates military preparing for collapse of ceasefire; US: Ending nuke program, support for proxies were 'red lines' at talks

The post After talks fail, IDF planning for return to war, Trump mulls strikes on Iran — reports appeared first on The Times of Israel.

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” enjoyed otherworldly success at the box office in its second weekend in theaters.

The post Box Office: ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Rockets to $629 Million Worldwide appeared first on Breitbart.