US President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Iran to “get smart soon” and sign a deal, after days of deadlock in efforts to end the conflict and a report that the US may extend its blockade of Iranian ports.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran “couldn’t get its act together” and suggested Tehran should accept terms. The Wall Street Journal reported US officials saying the president had directed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran’s ports to force Tehran to capitulate. Officials told the WSJ that Trump chose to keep squeezing Iran’s economy and oil exports with the blockade because other options — resuming bombing or walking away — carried higher risks.
“They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They’d better get smart soon!” Trump wrote without specifying what such a deal would include. Iranian officials said on Tuesday the country could withstand the blockade by using alternative trade routes and stressed that the Islamic Republic did not consider the war over. The conflict has killed thousands, disrupted global trade routes and roiled energy markets. — with Agencies
Trump says Iran better get smart soon
April 29, 2026 5:53 pm
Dubai: Trump criticised Iran’s handling of nuclear negotiations, saying it had failed to move toward a deal. “Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!” his Truth Social post said. The post included an AI-generated image of Trump holding a weapon amid explosions with the caption “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY.” Tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme rose before the war; Trump has repeatedly vowed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, while Tehran insists its programme is peaceful though it enriched uranium near weapons-grade levels. AP
Iran’s rial hits record low as shaky ceasefire holds
April 29, 2026 4:47 pm
Iran’s rial fell to a record 1.8 million to USD 1 on Wednesday as a fragile ceasefire with the US and Israel persisted. The rial had been stable during much of the war that began Feb. 28 due to reduced trade and imports. The recent slide is likely to worsen inflation, affecting prices of imported food, medicine, electronics and raw materials.
Trump meets oil executives as stalemate drags on: Report
April 29, 2026 4:46 pm
Trump and senior officials met oil and gas executives, including Chevron CEO Mike Wirth, at the White House on Tuesday to discuss energy fallout from the Iran war, Axios reported. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attended. Topics reportedly included domestic production, Venezuela, oil futures, natural gas and shipping.
Oil prices rise on fears of lengthy blockade
April 29, 2026 4:45 pm
Oil jumped nearly 3% on Wednesday, with Brent hitting a one-month high, amid concerns that an extended blockade of Iranian ports would prolong supply disruptions. The World Bank warned that energy prices could surge by 24% in 2026 if acute disruptions from the Iran war persist.
Iran’s guards take greater role
April 29, 2026 4:45 pm
Prospects for a quick resolution faded after Trump last weekend cancelled a visit by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi made two visits to Pakistan over the weekend. With several senior Iranian political and military figures killed in US-Israeli strikes, Iran lacks a single undisputed clerical leader at the top, a shift that may stiffen Tehran’s negotiating stance and elevate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ influence.
Iran wants formal end to conflict first
April 29, 2026 4:45 pm
Iran’s recent offer to resolve the two-month war, paused since April 8 under a ceasefire, would defer discussion of its nuclear programme until after a formal end to hostilities and resolution of shipping issues. That approach did not satisfy Trump’s demand to address nuclear matters from the outset.
Trump says King Charles opposes Iranian nuclear weapon
April 29, 2026 8:39 am
At a White House state dinner for Britain’s King Charles, Trump said the monarch did not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Speaking on the second day of the royal visit, Trump referenced the Middle East conflict and said, “We’re doing a little Middle East work right now and we’re doing very well… we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.” He also criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for what he described as insufficient help in prosecuting the Iran war.
Red Cross aims to assess humanitarian situation in Iran
April 29, 2026 8:38 am
The International Committee of the Red Cross arrived in Iran to meet officials and local affiliates, assess humanitarian needs and discuss delivering more relief via the Iranian Red Crescent. ICRC president Mirjana Spoljaric is on a regional visit to press for respect for the rules of war. The ICRC said it delivered more than 170 tonnes of essential relief items this month, with additional medical and forensic supplies en route.
US military boards another ship enforcing blockade
April 29, 2026 8:32 am
US Central Command said it boarded and released a commercial vessel suspected of heading for Iran after confirming it would not call at an Iranian port. A video showed marines fast-roping from a helicopter onto the Comoros-flagged M/V Blue Star III in the Arabian Sea, east of the Strait of Hormuz. The command said it has redirected 39 vessels since the blockade began, continuing operations to prevent shipments to Iranian ports.
