Donald Trump is reportedly considering resuming strikes in Iran after threatening to blockade all ships in the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of peace talks in Pakistan.
The US president is considering airstrikes on Iran, among other measures, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed US officials.
Trump has threatened to “take out” Iran’s energy infrastructure and that the US military would start "blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz".
Trump added, without elaborating: "Other countries will be involved with this Blockade."
The US Central Command announced that it will blockade all Iranian ports beginning Monday at 10am EDT, or 5.30pm in Iran.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that the blockade of “approaching military vessels to the Strait of Hormuz is considered a violation of the ceasefire”.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Naqer Ghalibaf, who led Tehran’s negotiators at the weekend talks with Washington, taunted Trump over rising gas prices, saying, “enjoy the current pump figures”.
Key Points
- US military to implement Trump's naval blockade in Iran from 10am Monday
- Trump weighs limited strikes on Iran amid stalled talks – report
- Any US warships approaching Strait of Hormuz will be deemed ceasefire breach - IRGC
- Trump admits oil and gas prices may remain high all year
- What comes next for both sides?
- Vance says Iran would not commit to not develop nuclear weapon
Trump weighs limited strikes on Iran amid stalled talks – report
05:00 , Shweta SharmaDonald Trump is considering resuming limited military strikes on Iran, alongside a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, to break the deadlock in peace negotiations, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The options were discussed on Sunday, hours after talks in Pakistan collapsed, officials familiar with the matter said.
The report said Trump could also resume a full-fledged bombing campaign, though officials said that was less likely given the prospect of further destabilizing the region and the president’s aversion to prolonged military conflicts.
“He could also seek a more temporary blockade while he pressures allies to take responsibility for a prolonged military escort mission through the strait in the future,” it added.
A White House spokesperson refused to discuss Trump’s specific options, the report said.
Watch: Starmer urges US and Iran ‘to find a way through’ after peace talks fail
04:30 , Mike BediganOil surges after US-Iran talks in Islamabad fail
04:16 , Shweta SharmaGlobal markets slipped on Monday as failed US–Iran talks left a fragile ceasefire in doubt, pushing oil prices sharply higher and boosting the dollar.
Brent crude jumped 8 per cent to above $100 a barrel, while S&P 500 futures fell 1 per cent and Asian markets edged lower.
Moves in Asian stock markets were broadly lower but relatively modest, with Japan's Nikkei falling 0.4 per cent, South Korea's KOSPI 1.4 per cent and the S&P/ASX 200 slipping 0.6 per cent.
Investor caution persisted amid uncertainty over a six-week conflict that has already driven oil up more than 30 per cent. The US move to block Iranian ports and restrict flows through the Strait of Hormuz has heightened fears of further disruption to energy supplies.
Analysts warn markets are effectively back to pre-ceasefire conditions, with risks rising of renewed strikes on Iran and broader damage to regional energy infrastructure.
Meanwhile, safe-haven demand weakened, with gold falling, while risk-sensitive currencies came under pressure. Growing inflation concerns are also fuelling expectations that central banks may shift back towards rate hikes.
Trump berates 'very liberal' Pope Leo
04:01 , Shweta SharmaDonald Trump has said he is not a fan of Pope Leo as he used a lengthy social media post to criticise the US-born global leader of the Catholic Church.
Trump said he didn't think the pope is "doing a very good job" and that "he's a very liberal person," while also suggesting the pontiff should "stop catering to the Radical Left."
Flying back to Washington from Florida, Trump told reporters: I'm not a fan of Pope Leo."
Trump's comments came after Leo suggested over the weekend that a "delusion of omnipotence" is fueling the US-Israel war in Iran.
While it's not unusual for popes and presidents to be at cross purposes, it's exceedingly rare for the pope to directly criticise a US leader — and Trump's stinging response is equally uncommon, if not more so.
"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," the president wrote in his post, adding, "I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."
He repeated that sentiment in comments to reporters, saying, "We don't like a pope who says it's OK to have a nuclear weapon."
Pope Leo led an evening prayer at St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, as the United States and Iran began face-to-face talks in Pakistan during a fragile ceasefire. Without naming Donald Trump, his message appeared aimed at US officials who have framed the war in religious terms and emphasised military strength.
The pontiff, who has said God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” has also warned that threats of mass destruction are “truly unacceptable.”
Trump admits high gas prices could last until US midterm elections
03:45 , Mike BediganDonald Trump has conceded that high oil and gas prices could persist through November's mid-term elections, a rare acknowledgement of the potential political fallout stemming from his administration's policy towards Iran.
Speaking to Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo" from Miami, Trump was asked if the cost of oil and gas would decrease by the autumn.
Read more about the president’s response here:
Trump admits high gas prices could last until US midterm elections
Australian PM urges US and Iran to continue peace talks
03:00 , Mike BediganAustralian prime minister Anthony Albanese has urged peace talks between the U.S. and Iran to continue, following the failure over the weekend in Pakistan.
“I want to see the resumption of peace talks,” Albanese told Al Jazeera, when asked about Donald Trump’s threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
“We want to see an end to this conflict. It’s having a devastating impact on the global economy, and the longer it goes, the bigger the impact will be, and the longer the tail will be as well.”
Trump considering limited Iran strikes after failure to reach peace agreement
02:15 , Mike BediganDonald Trump is reportedly considering resuming limited military strikes in Iran as well as a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, following the failure of the weekend peace talks with Iran.
Sources familiar with the situation confirmed the reports toThe Washington Post hours after news that ceasefire talks in Pakistan had been unsuccessful.
The added that the president could also resume his full bombing campaign, though this was unlikely given the risk of destabilizing the region further, the sources added.
Oil prices surge again following failure of US-Iran peace talks
01:30 , Mike BediganGlobal oil prices shot back up again after ceasefire negotiations failed and Donald Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. crude oil soared 8 percent, to more than $104 per barrel Sunday night, per NBC.
The increase saw an immediate knock-on effect on domestic fuel prices, including wholesale gas, which rose by 6 percent and heating oil jumping up by 10 percent.
US to blockade ships entering or exiting Iranian ports from Monday
Monday 13 April 2026 00:45 , Mike BediganU.S. forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, in accordance with the President’s proclamation, Central Command has announced.
The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.
Any US warships approaching Strait of Hormuz will be deemed ceasefire breach - IRGC
Monday 13 April 2026 00:00 , Alex CroftWe earlier heard from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, who have issued a warning against US warships attempting to impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
Any military vessels that approach the Strait will be considered by Tehran as a ceasefire breach, and dealt with “strongly”, the group said in a statement.
The statement added that the area remains under the control and the “smart management” of the Revolutionary Guards’ Navy.
Trump: Strait of Hormuz blockade will take a while but Nato allies want to help - ICYMI
Sunday 12 April 2026 23:38 , Alex CroftImplementing a newly announced US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will take a little while, President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo".
The US president also told the broadcaster Fox News that Nato allies, whom he has criticised for failing to back the war he launched along with Israel on February 28, wanted to help with the operation in the strait.
There was no immediate comment from Washington's allies.
Over 940 schools in Iran damaged and 18 destroyed, state media says
Sunday 12 April 2026 23:19 , Alex CroftMore than 940 schools in Iran have been damaged, and 18 completely destroyed, since the beginning of the war with the US, Iranian state media has reported.
News agency Tasnim quoted a government official on the statistics, and said schools requiring repairs are expected to be restored within two to three months.
Former ministers speak out over Trump's Hormuz closure
Sunday 12 April 2026 22:58 , Alex CroftFormer cabinet ministers have spoken to The Independent’s political editor David Maddox following President Trump’s announcement over a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
In his announcement, the US president said “other countries” would join the blockade but issued no detail.
Former defence secretary Grant Shapps said: "The UK cannot simply sit on the sidelines while one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes is threatened.
“Freedom of navigation through Hormuz is not optional – it underpins the global economy and our own national security.“Britain hosts the International Maritime Organisation and we should be working with allies to ensure a credible, visible maritime presence that keeps the Strait open and deters further escalation."It's one thing for the government to say this isn't our war, but it's another to turn a blind eye to a major water way being threatened."
Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt said: "In short focus on protecting its interests and rebuild fractured relationships-US and gulf partners especially. In both cases that means increasing readiness of useful capabilities such as Mine Countenance Measures .
“We should recognise the closure of the straits may become a more frequent tool deployed by the regime and we need to plan, with partners, accordingly."
US military to implement naval blockade in Iran on 10am Monday
Sunday 12 April 2026 22:40 , Alex CroftUS Central Command has said it will implement a blockade on Iranian ports on Monday at 10am.
It comes after Donald Trump announced the US Navy would start blockading the Strait of Hormuz.
"The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” the military announced.
“CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports," it added in a statement on social media.
Additional information will be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice before the blockade starts, it said.
Full report: Trump says US will blockade the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks with Iran fail
Sunday 12 April 2026 22:14 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has declared the US will blockade the Strait of Hormuz after the collapse of peace talks with Iran.
The president resumed his bombastic threats just hours after negotiations in Islamabad failed, warning that the US military was “locked and loaded to finish Iran”.
Delegations from Washington and Tehran – including vice-president JD Vance and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi – had been locked in crucial negotiations that insiders said were marred by mood swings and tense exchanges.
But Mr Vance announced the talks, which aimed to bring an end to six weeks of costly warfare and to find a solution to Iran’s closure of the shipping lane, had failed after just 21 hours.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that any US warships approaching the Strait to carry out a blockade will be considered in breach of the ceasefire and be dealt with “strongly”, prompting fears that the conflict could reignite just days after a two-week ceasefire was agreed.
You can read our full report here:
Trump says US will blockade the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks with Iran fail
Watch: Starmer urges US and Iran ‘to find a way through’ after peace talks fail
Sunday 12 April 2026 21:45 , Alex CroftTrump admits oil and gas prices may remain high all year
Sunday 12 April 2026 21:13 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has said price of oil and gasoline may remain high through November's midterm elections.
The US president’s remarks mark a rare acknowledgement of the potential political fallout from his decision to attack Iran six weeks ago.
"It could be, or the same, or maybe a little bit higher, but it should be around the same," Trump, who is in Miami for the weekend, told Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo" when asked whether the cost of oil and gas would be lower by the fall.
The average price for regular gas at U.S. service stations has exceeded $4 per gallon for most of April, according to data from GasBuddy.
Trump's comments on Sunday came after weeks of asserting that the spike in prices is a short-term phenomenon, though his top advisers are cognizant of the war's economic impacts, officials have said.
What comes next for both sides?
Sunday 12 April 2026 20:45 , Alex CroftOur reporter Nicole Wootoon-Cane writes:
US vice president JD Vance told reporters following the talks the Americans were leaving with a “final and best offer” on the table, adding: “We’ll see if the Iranians accept it”.
But with no further talks tabled, Washington will need to consider its options if it hopes to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring an end to volatility in oil and gas prices.
Reopening negotiations centred around Tehran’s nuclear capabilities could be an option. But Vice President Vance declared the country’s nuclear disarmament a “core goal” of the US, suggesting the American stance is unlikely to change.
Instead, a lack of agreement could see the US abandon the fragile ceasefire agreement and resume attacks on Iran – a move that is unlikely to unlock safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the conclusion of the talks, President Trump also posted a news article on social media, which suggested he may consider launching a naval blockade in the region.
Senior military officials have also shed light on the president’s previous comments over “clearing the strait”, suggesting a build-up of US naval power in the region.
On Saturday, US central command commander admiral Brad Cooper said: “Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage, and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon.”
Editorial | The US negotiating position is weak - and Trump cannot admit defeat
Sunday 12 April 2026 20:21 , Alex CroftThe motivation on the part of the Americans to seek a peace deal is weak because their negotiating position is weak. Agreement means compromise and concessions, and Mr Trump and his proud colleagues cannot bring themselves to admit what looks very much like defeat.
As Mr Trump might put it, if he were being candid for a change, Tehran now has most of the cards in this game, and that is because Washington has played its own hand badly. After all, before Mr Trump was persuaded by Benjamin Netanyahu and some reckless Republican sycophants in Congress to launch this war, the Strait of Hormuz was free to international maritime traffic, the Gulf states were dedicating themselves to peace, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness, and Lebanon was not under virtual Israeli occupation, creating another intractable problem for another set of negotiators over in Washington. More to the point, the Islamic Republic of Iran has survived, and still has somewhere a well-hidden stockpile of partially enriched uranium from which to develop a nuclear weapon. That qualifies as victory.
Mr Trump says of the talks that “regardless what happens we win…Let’s see what happens – maybe they make a deal maybe they don’t. It doesn’t matter. From the standpoint of America, we win.” That is precisely and diametrically wrong. Whatever happens now, America has lost this war, whether it ends with some kind of deal or whether Mr Trump decides to escalate the military effort.
Read The Independent’s full editorial here.
Iran had good initiatives to show goodwill to US, top negotiator Qalibaf says
Sunday 12 April 2026 19:56 , Holly EvansIran had very good initiatives to show goodwill in talks with the United States which led to progress in the negotiations, the country's top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in comments carried by state media on Sunday.
Qalibaf said US President Donald Trump's new threats will have no effect on the Iranian nation.
"If you fight, we will fight, and if you come forward with logic, we will deal with logic," he said.
Watch: SNL skewers Melania Trump Epstein press conference and JD Vance's rocky Iran negotiations
Sunday 12 April 2026 19:31 , Alex CroftSaudi Arabia summons Iraq envoy over drone threats from Iraqi territory
Sunday 12 April 2026 18:59 , Holly EvansSaudi Arabia said on Sunday it had summoned Iraq's ambassador over what it described as threats targeting the kingdom and other Gulf states from drones launched from Iraqi territory.
The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement that it had "emphasised the importance of Iraq dealing responsibly with these threats and attacks".
Trump compares Starmer to Neville Chamberlain
Sunday 12 April 2026 18:32 , Holly EvansDonald Trump has again criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on Washington’s war against Iran, comparing the Prime Minister to Neville Chamberlain – whose premiership was defined by his 1930s appeasement of Adolf Hitler.
“Nato is shameful,” the US president told Fox News.
“I mean, look at the United Kingdom… PM Starmer said ‘we’ll send the equipment after the war is over’.
“I said ‘you don’t need equipment when the war is over. You need the equipment before the war starts, or during the war’…
“He made a public statement that ‘we will send equipment after the war is over’, that’s a Neville Chamberlain statement.”
Warnings of UK fuel protests as Iran war sends price of diesel past £2 a litre
Sunday 12 April 2026 18:28 , Alex CroftFarmers are planning fuel protests in England after the Iran war has sent fuel prices soaring to £2 per litre, it has been reported.
Ireland has already faced nationwide fuel protests from farming organisations this week over soaring petrol and diesel prices, which have caused significant disruption and threats to critical supplies throughout the country.
Now farming organisations in the UK are set to meet next week to discuss nationwide demonstrations in Britain, according to reports in The Telegraph.
A source told the paper: “We’ve hit the £2 mark on a litre of diesel. That’s a scary place to be. It will be a matter of time before people in this country start to go out and protest.”
Rebecca Thomas reports:
Warnings of UK fuel protests as Iran war sends price of diesel to £2 a litre
‘No UK involvement’ in Trump’s Strait of Hormuz blockade
Sunday 12 April 2026 18:22 , Holly EvansThe UK will not be involved in Donald Trump’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, it is understood.
The US president threatened to stop tankers from entering or leaving the key oil and gas shipping lane – which has been throttled by Iran in retaliation for the US-Israel war against it, sending energy prices soaring.
After US-Iranian peace talks in Pakistan ended without a deal, Mr Trump lambasted Iran for failing to release its grip on the strait and commit to giving up its nuclear ambitions.
He wrote on his Truth Social platform that the US Navy would start “blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz”.
Mr Trump added, without elaborating: “Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade.”
But Britain will not play a part in the move, it is understood.
A Government spokesperson said: “We continue to support freedom of navigation and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is urgently needed to support the global economy and the cost of living back home.
“The Strait of Hormuz must not be subject to tolling.
“We are urgently working with France and other partners to put together a wide coalition to protect freedom of navigation.”
Any US warships approaching Strait of Hormuz will be deemed ceasefire breach - IRGC
Sunday 12 April 2026 18:01 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, who have issued a warning against US warships attempting to impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
Any military vessels that approach the Strait will be considered by Tehran as a ceasefire breach, and dealt with “strongly”, the group said in a statement.
The statement added that the area remains under the control and the “smart management” of the Revolutionary Guards’ Navy.
Trump: Strait of Hormuz blockade will take a while - but Nato allies want to help
Sunday 12 April 2026 17:29 , Alex CroftImplementing a newly announced US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will take a little while, President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo".
The US president also told the broadcaster Fox News that Nato allies, whom he has criticised for failing to back the war he launched along with Israel on February 28, wanted to help with the operation in the strait.
There was no immediate comment from Washington's allies.
Lego Iran war video creator speaks out after trolling Trump with viral AI clips
Sunday 12 April 2026 17:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAnyone using social media for the last six weeks will likely have seen some rather unusual clips - Lego Movie style propaganda videos about the Iran war.
Often shared by official Iranian channels, the clips troll Donald Trump, the US and Israel over the ongoing conflict with very pro-regime messages that have been viewed millions of times.
The colourful and bombastic vignettes depict outlandish, offensive and politically pointed scenarios, including a baby President Trump “playing war” on the floor of the Oval Office, or a figure of the president looking at the Epstein files by Satan.
Now one of the accounts that creates the clips, Explosive Media, has spoken out about so-called “slopaganda”.
You can read the full report below:
Lego Iran war videos creator speaks out after trolling Trump with viral AI clips
Iran war has cost Israel $11.5 billion in budgetary expenses, ministry says
Sunday 12 April 2026 16:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIsrael's war with Iran incurred 35 billion shekels ($11.52 billion) in budgetary expenses, with 22 billion shekels of that going to defence, the Finance Ministry said on Sunday, citing a preliminary estimate.
The amount has already been added to the 2026 budget, it said.
Watch: Trump greets Joe Rogan and Marco Rubio at UFC fight as Iran-US peace talks fail
Sunday 12 April 2026 16:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIn focus: How Spain became Europe’s conscience as Sanchez leads ‘moral’ pushback against US and Israel
Sunday 12 April 2026 16:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneEurope has increasingly distanced itself from US-Israeli action in the Middle East.
Maira Butt looks at how Pedro Sanchez’s government led the way on the continent.
How Spain became Europe’s conscience with ‘moral’ pushback against US and Israel
Trump says US will need to 'reexamine Nato'
Sunday 12 April 2026 15:55 , Nicole Wootton-CaneUS president Donald Trump has said Washington will have to “reexamine” is relationship with Nato after his calls for assistance in Iran went unheeded.
Mr Trump has bemoaned a lack of support from the alliance during his six-week war in the Gulf.
Speaking on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo he said Nato “weren’t there for us” following his announcement of a naval blockade after failed peace talks.
Trump claims UK are sending minesweepers to Hormuz
Sunday 12 April 2026 15:46 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDonald Trump has claimed the UK is sending minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz following his announcement of a US blockade.
Speaking on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo he said: “We have minesweepers there. Now we have highly sophisticated underwater minesweepers, which are the latest and the greatest, but we’re also bringing in more traditional minesweepers.
“And so I understand is the UK and a couple of other countries are sending mine sweepers.”
Britain previously said it was considering sending minehunting drones to the area.
Watch: Starmer urges US and Iran ‘to find a way through’ after peace talks fail
Sunday 12 April 2026 15:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneTrump says it will take a little while for US to blockade the Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 April 2026 15:25 , Nicole Wootton-CaneImplementing a newly announced US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will take a little while, President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.
He added he believes the negotiations are not over, and that Tehran will come back and “give us everything we want”.
Talks with Iran got 'very friendly' towards the end, Trump says
Sunday 12 April 2026 15:22 , Nicole Wootton-CanePeace negotiations between the US and Iran got “very friendly” despite not ultimately resulting in an agreement, Donald Trump has said.
Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, the US president said: “Toward the end it got very friendly, and we got just about every point we needed except for the fact that they refuse to give up their nuclear ambition.
“And frankly, to me, that was the most important point by far.”
He added Iran had been brought to the table by his Truth Social post in which he threatened “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened.
Former ministers speak out over Trump's Hormuz closure
Sunday 12 April 2026 15:15 , Nicole Wootton-CaneFormer cabinet ministers have spoken to The Independent’s political editor David Maddox following President Trump’s announcement over a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
In his announcement, the US president said “other countries” would join the blockade but issued no detail.
Former defence secretary Grant Shapps said: "The UK cannot simply sit on the sidelines while one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes is threatened.
“Freedom of navigation through Hormuz is not optional – it underpins the global economy and our own national security.“Britain hosts the International Maritime Organisation and we should be working with allies to ensure a credible, visible maritime presence that keeps the Strait open and deters further escalation."It's one thing for the government to say this isn't our war, but it's another to turn a blind eye to a major water way being threatened."
Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt said: "In short focus on protecting its interests and rebuild fractured relationships-US and gulf partners especially. In both cases that means increasing readiness of useful capabilities such as Mine Countenance Measures .
“We should recognise the closure of the straits may become a more frequent tool deployed by the regime and we need to plan, with partners, accordingly."
Australian PM to visit Brunei and Malaysia as fuel crisis deepens
Sunday 12 April 2026 15:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneAustralian prime minister Anthony Albanese will visit Brunei and Malaysia this week, continuing diplomatic efforts to secure fuel supplies from Asian allies after disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.
Mr Albanese will travel to Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuala Lumpur from April 14 to 17, his office said in a statement on Sunday.
He is scheduled to meet Brunei's ruler Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Foreign minister Penny Wong will also meet her counterparts in Brunei and Malaysia, the statement said.
"Engaging with critical regional partners such as Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia will help ensure Australia's energy supply remains secure during times of uncertainty," Mr Albanese said.
"We are taking every step to reinforce relationships and engage with key partners to keep our fuel supply flowing."
Over 940 schools in Iran damaged and 18 destroyed, state media says
Sunday 12 April 2026 14:45 , Nicole Wootton-CaneMore than 940 schools in Iran have been damaged, and 18 completely destroyed, since the beginning of the war with the US, Iranian state media has reported.
News agency Tasnim quoted a government official on the statistics, and said schools requiring repairs are expected to be restored within two to three months.
In pictures: Tankers wait near Strait of Hormuz ahead of Trump's blockade announcement
Sunday 12 April 2026 14:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Trump says other countries will join blockade
Sunday 12 April 2026 14:14 , Nicole Wootton-CaneIn a rambling post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said other countries will join his blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
He did not detail which countries, or whether he had discussed the plan with any leaders.
“Other Countries will be involved with this Blockade,” he wrote. “Iran will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION.
“They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear.
“Additionally and, at an appropriate moment, we are fully “LOCKED AND LOADED,” and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!”
Trump says US will begin naval blockade in Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 April 2026 14:06 , Nicole Wootton-CaneDonald Trump has said the US will begin a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Posting on social media, the US president said the US army will block any ships trying to enter or leave the area.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote.
He added the US will seek to “interdict” any vessel that has paid a toll to Iran.
Russia’s Putin holds phone call with Iran’s Pezeshkian, Ifax reports
Sunday 12 April 2026 14:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneRussian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, to discuss the Iran-US talks in Islamabad, Russian news agency Interfax reported on Sunday.
Putin reportedly said Russia is ready to continue facilitating a settlement in the Middle East.
Oil boss says Strait of Hormuz not Iran’s to control
Sunday 12 April 2026 13:30 , Nicole Wootton-CaneThe Strait of Hormuz has never been Iran's to close or restrict the navigation through, the CEO of United Arab Emirates state oil giant ADNOC, Sultan Al Jaber, said on X on Sunday.
He said that any disruption would threaten energy, food and health security worldwide, warning that setting such a precedent would be "dangerous and unacceptable".
"The world simply cannot afford it and must not allow it," he added.
Safe passage through the Strait remains uncertain after peace talks between the US and Iran on Saturday failed.
Israeli strike kills infant girl in south Lebanon during father's funeral
Sunday 12 April 2026 13:29 , Nicole Wootton-CaneWrapped in bloodied bandages, Aline Saeed, seven, barely survived the Israeli strike on her home in south Lebanon last week. She was there to bury her father as hopes of a truce spread across the region, but a new strike killed her infant sister and other relatives.
The strike on the Saeed family home in the village of Srifa took place on Wednesday, the first day of a US-Iran ceasefire that many in Lebanon hoped would apply to their country, too. Instead, Israeli strikes killed more than 350 across Lebanon and left the Saeed family with four more relatives to bury.
"They said it was a ceasefire. Like all these people, we went up to the village. We went to the casket to read the prayers and walk home... suddenly we felt like a storm was landing right on us," said Nasser Saeed, Aline's 64-year-old grandfather, who also survived.
Vessels wait near Strait of Hormuz
Sunday 12 April 2026 13:00 , Nicole Wootton-CaneVessels have been pictured near the Strait of Hormuz following failed talks between the US and Iran.
The lack of agreement in Islamabad has left the status of the key shipping route uncertain, with only a fraction of the waterway’s usual traffic currently passing through.
Pope Leo condemns ‘delusion of omnipotence’ fueling Iran-US war in fresh plea for peace
Sunday 12 April 2026 12:45 , Nicole Wootton-CanePope Leo XIV has issued his strongest condemnation yet of the "delusion of omnipotence" he believes is fueling the US-Israel war in Iran, demanding political leaders halt hostilities and negotiate for peace.
The pontiff presided over an evening prayer service in St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, coinciding with the start of face-to-face negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan, as a fragile ceasefire held.
While the first US-born Pope did not explicitly name the United States or Donald Trump in his prayer, which was planned before the talks were announced, his tone and message appeared directly aimed at Trump and US officials.
You can read the full report below:
Pope Leo condemns ‘delusion of omnipotence’ fueling Iran war in fresh plea for peace
