US urges Israel-Lebanon talks as oil prices hit four-year high

This live blog follows updates for Day 63 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 62, go here.

• US maintains a naval blockade on Iran, escalating regional tensions
• Israel intercepts a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, detaining over 175 people
• Iran condemns US actions, calling the blockade an extension of military operations
• Oil prices surge globally as the Strait of Hormuz faces major disruptions
• Diplomatic efforts stall while leaders exchange warnings and assert conflicting positions

US military says navy ships are being replenished in Middle East

Published: May 1, 2026 | 02:15GMT | by Web Desk

The US military’s regional command responsible for the Iran war has said that US Navy ships are restocking with “fuel, food, munitions, and essential supplies,” Al Jazeera reported.

Central Command (CENTCOM) shared photographs on social media said to show supplies being loaded onto the guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D Black, which is said to be supporting the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the region.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth this week told the US Senate that the Iran war has so far cost the US military some $25bn. However, some estimates put the cost far higher.

Mahmoud Khalil calls out ongoing threats against him

Published: May 1, 2026 | 02:30GMT | by Web Desk

Months after his release from US immigration detention over his involvement in peaceful campus protests against the Gaza genocide, Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil has said he is still facing threats, Al Jazeera reported. 

In a post on X, Khalil responded to New York City councilwoman Vickie Paladino, a Republican, saying that he should be loaded into a military plane, handed a parachute and pushed “out the back over Syria”.

“A New York City councilwoman is publicly fantasizing about killing me, and somehow I’m the threat,” Khalil said.

Iranian embassy rejects being linked to ‘violent activities, incidents’ in the UK

Published: May 1, 2026 | 01:45GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s embassy in London has issued a statement castigating “the fabricated negative media environment” in the United Kingdom and rejected allegations linking Iran to violent incidents in the UK, Al Jazeera reported. 

“Such baseless accusations against [the] Islamic Republic of Iran, lack credible evidence and appear to serve narrow political agendas and to mislead public opinion and distract from the real root causes of terrorism and violent extremism,” the embassy said in a lengthy post on X.

Noting that Iran has been a “primary victim of terrorism for decades” amid the killing of large numbers of “innocent civilians, high-ranking officials and scientists”, the embassy said that Tehran “remains at the forefront of the global struggle against terrorism and violent extremism”.

“The Embassy also notes that, in previous official communications and discussions, it had raised concerns with relevant authorities about certain suspicious activities and the potential exploitation of ‘false flag’ operations on UK soil,” it added.

US urges meeting of Israel, Lebanon leaders 

Published: April 30, 2026 | 20:26GMT | by AFP

The US embassy in Lebanon called for a meeting between Lebanese and Israeli leaders as the health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country's south killed at least 15 people despite an ongoing ceasefire.

"Lebanon stands at a crossroads. Its people have a historic opportunity to reclaim their country and shape their future as a truly sovereign, independent nation," the embassy said, adding that "the time for hesitation is over".

Trump has said he hopes to host Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "over the next couple of weeks" as the two countries prepare for direct negotiations.

Oil at four-year high 

Published: April 30, 2026 | 23:22GMT | by AFP

Oil prices soared to four-year highs, with the US crude benchmark Brent for June delivery spiking more than seven percent to $126.41, while West Texas Intermediate was up 3.4 percent to $110.31, before later paring gains.

UN says Hormuz 'strangling' economy 

Published: April 30, 2026 | 22:31GMT | by AFP

UN chief Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm over the worsening global economic impacts of the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed due to the Iran war.

The closure of the vital waterway is "strangling the global economy," the secretary-general warned in remarks to the media.