Web Desk/AFP

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian holds a telephonic conversation with Pope Leo XIV on Saturday, May 16. (Photo: Tasnim News Agency)

Middle East

The Iranian president has sent a message to the Pope thanking him for his ethical and logical position on recent military aggressions against Iran, according to Iranian Tasnim News Agency.

Day 78: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

Web Desk

China's President Xi Jinping (L) looks at US President Donald Trump as they attend a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. (AFP)

US president says President Xi offered China's help to open the strait, pledges not to send military equipment to aid Iran; Iranian media reports that naval forces allowed Chinese ships to pass through Hormuz; Israel, Lebanon to open new round of peace talks in Washington.




Day 76: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

Americas

'I think that we are making progress. The fundamental question is do we make enough progress that we satisfy the president’s red line?' Vance tells reporters at the White House.

Day 75: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

LONDON: Isolated and traumatized by drones and missiles, seafarers in the Gulf face grave mental suffering after more than two months stuck on board in the Middle East war, maritime charities warn. From captains to cooks, engineers and other officers, the workers who keep global freight flowing have found themselves not just <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/islamabad-seeks-singapores-support-for-repatriation-of-pakistani-iranian-seafarers" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">stranded</a> but in some cases right in the firing line of the US-Israel war on Iran. &quot;We hear stories of how frightened they are. It&#39;s pretty scary,&quot; said Gavin Lim, head of the Crisis Response Network for the Sailors&#39; Society, a UK-based seafarers&#39; charity, who spoke with one crew whose vessel was hit. &quot;They thought: &#39;We were going to die&#39;.&quot; At least 11 seafarers have been killed, according to the International Maritime Organization. &quot;They see drones flying, they see missiles flying, and then we see instances where the ships get hit,&quot; said Lim.&nbsp;&lsquo;Anxiety and fear&rsquo;&quot;You can imagine that anxiety and fear building up. &#39;Are we just bait? Are we going to be a victim so that someone can make a point?&#39;&quot; The Seafarers&#39; Charity cites hypervigilance, burnout, fatigue, loneliness, depression and anxiety as some of the mental strains facing the 20,000 seafarers stranded by blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since Feb. 28. Like the Sailors&#39; Society, another sailors&#39; helpline charity, the International Seafarers&#39; Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), fields calls from trapped workers and offers them practical and psychological support. &quot;Most of the calls are around repatriation -- what are their rights, how to go about it -- and also obviously the sort of the stress and the worry about being in a conflict zone and not being trained or prepared for it,&quot; said ISWAN&#39;s chief executive, Simon Grainge.&nbsp;Training to cope&nbsp;Some charities are working with shipping companies to strengthen support for seafarers under unprecedented strain. &quot;One of the things that quite a few organizations are now calling for is really up-to-date guidance on how to deal with wartime issues,&quot; Deborah Layde, chief executive of the Seafarers&#39; Charity, said. &quot;This isn&#39;t something that a lot of shipping companies are ready for.&quot;&nbsp;To that end, the charity has turned to mental health professionals to help provide guidelines and a webinar to guide seafarers to cope with the stress of the situation.&nbsp;&lsquo;There&#39;s exhaustion&rsquo;&quot;There&#39;s this constant higher level of stress and hypervigilance without that ability to reset as they might normally do. There&#39;s exhaustion,&quot; said Rachel Glynn-Williams, a psychologist working with seafarers who is involved in developing the webinar. &quot;At the point I pick up crew conversations, they will have been on hyper-alert for a sustained amount of time, so their nervous system will be heightened and it&#39;s going to take a little time, depending on the individual, for that nervous system to reset,&quot; she told AFP. &quot;For some people, it might be fairly soon afterwards, within a matter of days, if not hours. For others, it might take a little longer.&quot;

From captains to cooks, engineers and other officers, the workers who keep global freight flowing have found themselves not just stranded but in some cases right in the firing line of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Trapped seafarers traumatized by Gulf fighting: Charities

US President Donald Trump says he is expecting Iran’s response to Washington’s latest proposal on a deal to end the Middle East war by “tonight.”; Trump warns Iran against using drones to target US warships; an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon kills four people, including two women; Russia rejects a US-backed UNSC resolution, calling it a provocative effort to isolate Tehran.

Day 70: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

Tankers are seen at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in the Sharjah Emirate, along the Strait of Hormuz. (AFP)

UAE condemns a reported Iranian drone strike on an oil tanker in Hormuz; IRGC announces a new maritime control zone in Hormuz; US CENTCOM denies claims a US warship was struck; Iran says it is reviewing a US peace proposal.

Day 66: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

CANBERRA, Australia: A global oil supply squeeze is inflicting an &quot;enormous impact&quot; on the Asia-Pacific region, Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday. Speaking in Canberra after talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, she said the two countries would respond urgently to secure stable energy supplies. Roughly one-fifth of the world&#39;s oil normally flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been throttled. Eighty percent of that oil is destined for Asia, according to the International Energy Agency. &quot;The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has been inflicting enormous impact on the Indo-Pacific,&quot; the Japanese leader told journalists. &quot;We affirmed that Japan and Australia will closely communicate with each other in responding with a sense of urgency.&quot; The two countries aim to strengthen autonomy and resilience to secure stable supplies of energy, Takaichi said. Australia is the biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas to Japan, which in turn is a source for about seven percent of Australia&#39;s diesel.&nbsp;&#39;Global shocks&#39;&nbsp;The two countries issued a string of statements vowing to work together on energy, the economy, defense, and critical minerals. &quot;These agreements are to the benefit of both of our people,&quot; Albanese said. &quot;For Australians, it will mean we are less vulnerable to global shocks like we are seeing right now because of conflict in the Middle East.&quot; Japan&#39;s government has said it is also keen to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals, essential for semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries and weapons systems. Australia has touted its abundant critical minerals as a way to loosen China&#39;s grip over global supplies of rare earths. Australia and Japan have strengthened their defense ties, too, striking a Aus$10 billion (US$6 billion) deal last year for Japan to provide Mogami-class stealth warships to the Australian navy.

Business

Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil normally flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been throttled; 80% of that oil is destined for Asia, according to the International Energy Agency.

Japan PM says oil crisis has 'enormous impact' in Asia-Pacific

Says the US will help guide neutral commercial ships out of the Strait of Hormuz under “Project Freedom,” while citing “very positive discussions” with Iran that could lead to broader progress.

Day 65: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

Simran Siraj

KARACHI:&nbsp;Pakistan has recorded a major breakthrough in maritime trade with the successful berthing of its first fully trans-shipment general cargo vessel at Karachi Port, as the government accelerates reforms to strengthen trade resilience amid disruptions caused by the Iran war and instability in the Strait of Hormuz. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced the successful docking of cargo vessel M.V. Erlin, calling it a historic step for Pakistan&rsquo;s maritime sector and a sign of the country&rsquo;s growing role in regional trade logistics. &ldquo;Alhamdulillah, for the first time, the fully trans-shipment cargo vessel M.V. Erlin has been successfully berthed,&rdquo; the minister said, adding that the development marked Pakistan&rsquo;s entry into a &ldquo;modern trans-shipment era.&rdquo; The milestone comes as conflict in the Middle East and shipping disruptions across the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Hormuz continue to reshape global trade routes, drive up freight costs and force supply chains to adapt. Pakistan&rsquo;s ports, particularly Karachi, have increasingly served as key trade gateways during the crisis, helping sustain cargo flows and regional connectivity. According to the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), the vessel carried general cargo, bulk, break-bulk cargo and vehicles, expanding the port&rsquo;s trans-shipment capabilities beyond its traditional container-based operations. &ldquo;Karachi Port has handled 14,925 TEUs of trans-shipment cargo since March 1, 2026,&rdquo; KPT Manager Public Relations Shariq Farooqui told Pakistan TV Digital on Friday, calling it a reflection of growing activity at the port. KPT said the berthing marks &ldquo;a new era for maritime trade&rdquo; and strengthens Karachi Port&rsquo;s transformation into &ldquo;a premier regional trans-shipment hub.&rdquo; The maritime ministry said the progress reflects the impact of recent reforms focused on improving port efficiency, reducing cargo clearance times and enhancing trade competitiveness. Chaudhry said these reforms were part of broader efforts initiated under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to modernise Pakistan&rsquo;s ports and reduce risks to trade, energy and logistics. &ldquo;New trade opportunities are opening up,&rdquo; Chaudhry said, adding that Karachi Port is &ldquo;rapidly transforming into a key trans-shipment hub in the region.&rdquo; In another sign of growing international interest, a high-level European Commission delegation visited Karachi Port this week to review port operations and development projects, including trans-shipment, port expansion, green shipping initiatives and sustainable connectivity. The delegation, led by European Commission Director for Asia Pacific Peteris Ustubs and accompanied by EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis, was briefed by Karachi Port Trust Chairman Shahid Ahmed on ongoing modernization plans and the port&rsquo;s role in regional maritime connectivity. &ldquo;Pakistan has turned challenges into opportunities,&rdquo; Chaudhry said. &ldquo;Our commitment is to build a brighter future for regional trade through the development of our ports.&rdquo; The development reinforces Islamabad&rsquo;s broader strategy to position Pakistan as a regional maritime and economic hub, leveraging its ports to maintain trade continuity and strengthen supply chain resilience during a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

Economy

Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announces the successful docking of cargo vessel M.V. Erlin, calling it a historic step for Pakistan’s maritime sector and a sign of the country’s growing role in regional trade logistics.

Karachi Port marks historic trans-shipment milestone amid regional disruption

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump&#39;s administration said Friday that he has issued a 90-day extension to a shipping waiver, helping with the movement of oil and fertilizers around the United States amid supply disruptions from the war on Iran.&nbsp;An existing waiver, which temporarily allowed foreign flagged vessels to transport cargo between US ports, was due to expire by May 17. The latest move brings this end date to mid-August.&nbsp;&quot;New data compiled since the initial waiver was issued revealed that significantly more supply was able to reach US ports faster,&quot; said Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman.&nbsp;&quot;This extension will help ensure vital energy products, industrial materials, and agricultural necessities are maintained,&quot; she added in a statement.&nbsp;She said Trump has issued a 90-day extension.&nbsp;US-Israeli strikes on Iran from February 28 plunged the Middle East into war, and triggered Tehran&#39;s retaliation in effectively closing off the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;This has caused an energy supply crunch as the waterway is a key route for oil and gas transportation, sending prices rocketing.&nbsp;US gasoline prices have also surged, piling pressure on household budgets ahead of key midterm elections.&nbsp;Under the 1920 Jones Act, which was aimed at promoting American shipbuilding, cargo moved by water between US ports has to be transported on vessels that are US-built, US-owned and registered under the US flag.&nbsp;But in March, the Trump administration granted a 60-day waiver to temporarily lift this requirement as economic fallout from the war intensified.&nbsp;Oil prices remain steep, even if they have come off recent highs.

The Trump Administration announced a 90-day extension of a shipping waiver to facilitate the transport of oil and fertilizers across the United States amid supply disruptions caused by the war on Iran.

Articles tagged with "US-Israel War on Iran"