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War in the Middle East: latest developments Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026 The latest developments in the Middle East war:
"The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
"Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region," the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. But it said the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon", contradicting an earlier announcement by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that said the deal covered "everywhere including Lebanon". Lebanon's health ministry said Wednesday that an Israeli military strike killed eight people in the Lebanese city of Sidon.
"I hear yes," Trump said in a telephone interview when asked if Beijing was involved in getting key ally Tehran to negotiate on a truce.
"That will be perfectly taken care of or I wouldn't have settled," Trump said when asked about what would happen to Iran's enriched uranium.
"Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it," Trump said. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also praised the deal. "The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace," Leavitt said on X.
Rutte plans to "discuss current security dynamics including in the context of Iran as well as Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine" in his talks with Trump, according to a NATO official.
Israel also agreed to the ceasefire, the White House said. The 11th-hour agreement came after Trump said he had spoken to Pakistan's leaders, who had requested a truce.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had acted as a mediator, said the capital Islamabad would welcome delegates from both countries for negotiations aimed at reaching a "conclusive agreement."
Tehran said the plan would also require Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of the US military from the Middle East, an end to attacks on Iran and its allies, the release of frozen Iranian assets and a UN Security Council resolution making any deal binding.
Blasts were also heard in the Qatari capital of Doha, while the UAE said its air defences were responding to missile and drone attacks from Iran.
The Israeli military warned of an increased risk of inbound attacks as Trump's midnight GMT deadline approached.
The US president had warned on Tuesday that "a whole civilization will die" if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz by 8 PM Washington time.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian media reported that the Rafi-Nia Synagogue in central Tehran had been "completely destroyed."
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