Britain’s military now smallest since Napoleonic era as Iran conflict exposes defence gaps

Britain’s military now smallest since Napoleonic era as Iran conflict exposes defence gaps



The HMS Dragon is seen during ammunitioning operations at the Upper Harbour Ammunitioning Facility in Portsmouth Harbour on March 4, 2026. — Reuters pic

Saturday, 18 Apr 2026 7:00 AM MYT


LONDON, April 18 — The Iran war has left Britain’s armed forces exposed, heaping pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to act on his promises to invest in defence, after years of ‌warnings from military bosses about the UK’s shrinking capabilities.


When a British military base in Cyprus was hit ​by a drone early on in the Iran conflict in March, Britain, whose navy was the largest in the world at the start of World War Two, took three weeks to deploy one warship to the eastern Mediterranean.


France, Greece and Italy ‌sent warships to Cyprus within days. Britain’s diminished military capacity has registered with US President Donald Trump. He has dismissed Britain’s two aircraft carriers ​as “toys” while his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, mocked what he called the “big, bad Royal Navy”.

Defending his record on the armed forces, Starmer said on Wednesday his government, in power for nearly two years, had put in place the biggest sustained increase in military spending since the Cold War.


Britain’s military now is about half the size it was then and its army is ​the smallest it has been since the early 19th century.


Below are details regarding the scale of the decline and the country’s current capabilities.



Crew members board the HMS Dragon during ammunitioning operations at the Upper Harbour Ammunitioning Facility in Portsmouth Harbour on March 4, 2026. — Reuters pic


Royal Navy

Britain’s Royal Navy has 38,000 personnel. It operates two aircraft carriers and a combined fleet of 13 destroyers and frigates.

This has shrunk from about 62,000 personnel, three aircraft carriers and about 50 destroyers and frigates in 1991.

The delays in sending a warship to Cyprus prompted criticism of the navy’s available surface fleet.

HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air defence destroyer, arrived in the eastern Mediterranean on March 23, while the Royal Navy has said since the ‌outbreak of the Iran war that it is upgrading RFA Lime Bay to improve its minehunting and autonomous tech capabilities.

That deployment compares to the Gulf War ⁠in 1990-91, when the Royal Navy sent 21 surface ships and two submarines ⁠plus 11 Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships to the region.

The smaller fleet comes after decades of cuts to defence funding ⁠since the early 1990s, when about 3.8 per cent ⁠of gross domestic product was spent on ⁠the military compared to the 2.3 per cent spent in 2024.

Britain until December 2025 had a warship present in the Middle East for decades but that ended when HMS Lancaster was decommissioned in Bahrain just weeks before the start of the Iran war.

The Royal Navy’s ageing frigates need to be retired before replacements become available, while its ⁠destroyers are undergoing maintenance work. A fleet of 13 new Type 26 and Type 31 frigates is due to enter service in the coming years. The Royal Navy is also being stretched by Russian threats closer to home, with British warships recently spending a month in the North Atlantic tracking Russian submarines.

About a fifth of Britain’s defence budget is spent on nuclear submarines. This includes the Trident nuclear deterrent, comprising four Vanguard-class submarines. Under the Continuous At-Sea Deterrence policy, at least one of those submarines is on patrol at sea at any time.

The Vanguard-class submarines will be replaced by the Dreadnought-class in the early 2030s.




U.S. President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, speaks during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. on April 6, 2026. — Reuters pic



Royal Air ⁠Force

The RAF has over 150 fighter jets in service, two-thirds of which are Eurofighter Typhoons and the remainder Lockheed Martin F-35s. It has a permanent staff of around 31,000 people. In 1991, the RAF had about 700 fast-jet fighter aircraft and about 88,000 people. During the ⁠1990-1991 Gulf War, it deployed 157 aircraft to the region, including over 80 fighter jets.

Before the start of the Iran war, Britain sent six F-35s to Cyprus ⁠and four Typhoons from ⁠12 Squadron, a joint RAF and Qatar unit, to Qatar. It then sent four extra Typhoons to Qatar in early March after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran began.

Unlike ​the Gulf War, when Britain was an active member of the US-led coalition fighting Saddam ​Hussein’s Iraq, it is not directly involved in the current conflict with Iran, ‌though Starmer has allowed what he calls defensive missions aimed at protecting residents of the region, including British ​citizens.


Army

Britain’s army strength is currently 74,000 full-time personnel, down ​from 148,000 in 1991.

The number of main battle tanks has dropped from a fleet of about 1,200 at the end of the Cold War to around 150 that are currently operational. — Reuters

Iran war live: Hormuz Strait shut down again over US ‘piracy’, says Tehran

By Heba Habib and Stephen Quillen

Published On 18 Apr 202618 Apr 2026

• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp says control of the Strait of Hormuz has now “returned to its previous state” because of the US’s continuing blockade of Iranian ports.
• US President Donald Trump says the naval blockade will “remain in full force” until “our transaction with Iran is 100% complete”.
• Earlier Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strait is “completely open” to all commercial vessels, “in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon” and “on the coordinated route as already announced”.
• Trump said Israel is “prohibited” from bombing Lebanon as the first day of a 10-day ceasefire in the country saw tens of thousands of people return to homes they were forced to flee during weeks of Israeli attacks.

9m ago

 (09:30 GMT)

US blockade on Iranian ports may be a ‘miscalculation’

The IRGC’s latest message about the Strait of Hormuz shows that Iran intends to keep leveraging control of the waterway as a “threat” while the US continues to blockade Iranian ports, said Mohamed Elmasry, media studies professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

“The situation is fluid and dynamic. We’re not getting total clarity,” Elmasry told Al Jazeera.

“In some ways, this is not surprising given what was said and done yesterday from the US. It was a confusing set of messages.

“I think already we’re seeing that this was perhaps a miscalculation by the US to maintain its blockade on Iranian ports. Iran is interpreting this as a violation of whatever arrangement that was worked out,” he added.

“These negotiations that Trump is talking about and playing up in very positive terms … there’s a real chance that could all blow into thin air if the US overplays its hand.”

20m ago

 (09:20 GMT)

Ships sail cautiously through Strait of Hormuz as confusion persists

By Malik Traina

Reporting from Kuwait City, Kuwait

For a lot of these tankers and vessels this is a race against time. Many have been stuck or stranded in the Strait of Hormuz for weeks. In the last couple of hours, we have seen several vessels crossing through. Various flagged vessels from Angola, Panama and Vietnam.

We are seeing a lot of chatter from marine monitors noting that most of these ships are sanctioned vessels, and they are identifying a pattern there. Whether or not they will be stopped by the US naval blockade, which we believe is positioned near the Gulf of Oman, remains to be seen. Most, if not all, of the vessels have gone through the designated pathway announced by the Revolutionary Guard, because commercial companies are afraid of sea mines.

We have also seen, for the first time since this war began, a cruise ship pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The Maltese-flagged cruise ship Celestial Discovery had been stranded in Dubai for 47 days. It has just passed through the strait, believed to be empty, and is said to be making a stopover in Muscat before continuing its journey.

But there is deep confusion within the commercial shipping industry. Nobody knows whether the strait is truly open or not. The Iranians said it was open, and we saw more than a dozen vessels yesterday make their way toward the strait only to turn back around just hours later. Companies are very confused, and many are simply not taking the risk.

Fuel supply stable through June, Petronas says as tanker with one million barrels of crude oil from Iraq arrives in Malaysia

Fuel supply stable through June, Petronas says as tanker with one million barrels of crude oil from Iraq arrives in Malaysia



The Petronas vessel Ocean Thunder carries one million barrels of crude oil from Basrah, Iraq amid a global fuel and shipping disruption due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. — Picture from Instagram/Petronas

Saturday, 18 Apr 2026 11:28 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — The Petronas vessel Ocean Thunder has arrived in Malaysia carrying one million barrels of crude oil from Basrah, Iraq.

The shipment forms part of a broader supply network managed by the national oil company to ensure stable fuel availability nationwide amid a disruption in the Strait of Hormuz amid West Asia tensions.

“Ocean Thunder also carries a portion of the 38 per cent of national crude oil imports that transit the Strait of Hormuz.

“Malaysia's fuel supply is drawn from multiple sources across Petronas' wider supply network.

“This allows Petronas to confirm that fuel supply across its stations nationwide is sufficient through the end of June 2026,” the oil-and-gas giant said in a statement on its Instagram account today.

Outrage as World Cup train ticket jumps to US$150 for short ride to New Jersey stadium

Outrage as World Cup train ticket jumps to US$150 for short ride to New Jersey stadium



FIFA, which is already facing severe criticism over the sky-high cost of many match ticket prices, called New Jersey’s move “unprecedented.” — Reuters pic

Saturday, 18 Apr 2026 12:09 PM MYT


NEWARK, April 18 — World Cup fans will have to pay US$150 — more than 10 times the normal price —for the quick round-trip train between New York and Meadowlands stadium when it hosts the tournament’s final and seven earlier matches, local officials said yesterday, drawing outrage.

The 36 miles (56 km) round trip for visitors to the sports complex in New Jersey, just outside New York City, usually costs only US$12.90.

“We are going to charge US$150 for our roundtrip ticket on our system. So from New York to MetLife, MetLife back to New York,” said Kris Kolluri, the president and CEO of NJ Transit, using another name for the stadium.

Just 40,000 train tickets will be available for the eight matches at the stadium, which usually hosts the New York Jets and Giants NFL teams.

But driving will be even more expensive.

Limited parking options at US$225 a space will be available at the stadium for fans with disabilities and in an adjacent mall for other supporters, according to the Just Park site.

New York resident Guy Dixon, 42, told AFP “I feel like that’s an embarrassment and shame, and it’s taking advantage of the fans.”


Trading blame

New Jersey’s recently sworn-in Governor Mikie Sherrill defended the state transit organization’s policies, saying on X yesterday that “Fifa put zero dollars towards transporting World Cup fans.”

The deal between Fifa and the previous New Jersey leadership also “eliminated parking” at the stadium, requiring the rail service to transport four-times as many fans as it usually does, she said.

“This agreement will cost NJ TRANSIT at least US$48 million, while Fifa is positioned to make US$11 billion during the World Cup.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also wrote on social media on Tuesday, as initial reports emerged in The Athletic, that Fifa should foot the bill for transport costs to World Cup venues.

But Fifa, which is already facing severe criticism over the sky-high cost of many match ticket prices, called New Jersey’s move “unprecedented.”

The soccer world governing body’s World Cup chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi said the move to “arbitrarily set elevated prices and demand Fifa absorb these costs is unprecedented.”

“No other global event, concert or major sporting promoter has faced such a demand. While Fifa is projected to generate approximately US$11 billion in revenue, not profit, as the governor incorrectly claims, FIFA has always been a not-for-profit organization,” he added.

Fifa said previously that the original host city agreements “required free transportation for fans to all matches.”

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, fans could use the Doha Metro for free with their matchday tickets.

A re-negotiation stipulated that transport would be offered “at cost” on match days, Fifa added previously.


‘Insane’

A French supporter group called the pricing “completely insane”.

“Every day there’s bad news about transportation—you really have to wonder how far this madness is going to go,” said Guillaume Aupretre, a spokesman for the “Irresistibles Francais” fan organization.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also took aim at the reported price hike.

“Charging over US$100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me,” Hochul wrote on X.

Some US$100 million in US federal funding has been allocated to host cities for transit network costs, including US$8.7 million for Boston and Massachusetts, and US$10.4 million for the New York-New Jersey area, according to local media reports.

England’s Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) chief Thomas Concannon told the BBC “every single thing coming out of this tournament so far is just fans getting fleeced.”

“The price is obviously astronomical in terms of what you would expect to pay going to a match,” he said.

“We weren’t expecting to be gouged.” — AFP

‘I’m home’: Khairy Jamaluddin returns to Umno

Malay Mail:


‘I’m home’: Khairy Jamaluddin returns to Umno



Khairy Jamaluddin (left) shares a moment with former Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman on April 17, 2026. — Picture from Facebook/Dato Sri Tajuddin Rahman

Saturday, 18 Apr 2026 11:09 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — Three years after his sacking, Khairy Jamaluddin has been readmitted into Umno under the Gagasan Rumah Bangsa initiative, alongside thousands of other former members and leaders.

“I’m home,” Khairy wrote on his official Instagram account last night, seemingly as a reaction to his return to the party, shortly after an announcement was made by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Khairy also expressed gratitude to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the party’s supreme council for the decision.

Khairy had previously submitted a formal request to reactivate his membership, which was approved following a meeting with the party president last month.

The former health minister said he was grateful for the opportunity to return and continue serving in the struggle for religion, race and country.

Khairy was expelled from Umno in January 2023 after the party’s disciplinary board found him guilty of breaching party discipline during the 15th general election, including criticising party leadership and not aligning with its official campaign direction.

Last night, Asyraf Wajdi said the Umno supreme council had agreed to the unconditional return of former members under the Rumah Bangsa initiative to allow suspended, expelled or former members to rejoin regardless of the circumstances of their departure.

Apart from Khairy, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar were among the 6,252 accepted into the fold again.

Iran warns it will close Strait of Hormuz if US blockade continues

Iran warns it will close Strait of Hormuz if US blockade continues



A ship is seen post-transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which is now a point of contention between the US and Iran. — Reuters pic

Saturday, 18 Apr 2026 9:09 AM MYT


TEHRAN, April 18 — Iran will close the strategic Strait of Hormuz again if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said today

“With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open,” Ghalibaf wrote on X, adding that passage through the waterway would depend on authorisation from Iran. — AFP

MORE TO COME

Putrajaya exploring strategic fuel reserves as import reliance raises vulnerability, says deputy economy minister

Putrajaya exploring strategic fuel reserves as import reliance raises vulnerability, says deputy economy minister



Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah says the government is studying a proposal to establish strategic petroleum reserves as part of long-term energy security planning, following recent global supply disruptions and rising import dependence. — Bernama pic

Saturday, 18 Apr 2026 9:32 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — The government is studying a proposal to create strategic petroleum reserves as part of the country’s long-term energy security planning, following global supply concerns.

Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah said the proposal was among the matters the government was discussing as it assessed long-term preparedness following the supply disruption that closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz route for 48 days.

“The matter related to strategic reserves is indeed being looked at by the government, especially in assessing long-term needs following the crisis that has occurred,” he said on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme titled “Krisis Tenaga Global: Ekonomi Teruji” today.

He also commented on the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20 per cent of the world’s oil trade, as the strategic route has now reopened after United States President Donald Trump and the Iranian Foreign Minister confirmed that the strait was reopened to commercial shipping.


Mohd Shahar said the reopening of the route would not lead to immediate stabilisation of oil prices due to damage to refinery infrastructure in the Middle East.


“Although the route has been reopened, the recovery process will take time as the refinery and production facilities will need between four months and six months to return to full operation,” he said.

He said the disruption also exposed structural weaknesses in Malaysia’s energy landscape, particularly the increasing reliance on petroleum product imports.

“Malaysia, which was previously a net exporter, has now become a net importer due to declining domestic production and increasing consumption, with demand estimated at around 800,000 barrels per day compared to production of around 400,000 barrels per day.

“This supply gap makes us more vulnerable to external shocks, and long-term measures such as strategic reserves and diversification of supply sources need to be given serious attention,” he said.

He also commented on the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s announcement today that the Malaysian economy is projected to grow by 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, based on preliminary estimates, reflecting resilient economic fundamentals.

“This growth will increase the confidence of the international community, especially industry players and investors, in Malaysia as a strategic location to explore investment opportunities,” he said. — Bernama

Ready for orders on minister salary cuts, says Fahmi

Ready for orders on minister salary cuts, says Fahmi



Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said that any announcement on minister salary cuts would be decided by the prime minister. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Saturday, 18 Apr 2026 12:07 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 — Cabinet ministers are ready to accept any orders on salary cuts, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said.

He said the matter was discussed, however it depends on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call.

“I’m ready to accept any orders from the Prime Minister.

“Minister salaries from day one saw cuts, so I’m ready to accepts any orders,” Fahmi told reporters when met at a health campaign organised by Universiti Malaya here today.

He was responding to the Prime Minister’s statement on the matter that was raised yesterday during Friday prayers meet with reporters.

MORE TO COME

Why is China mediating the Iran war? Beijing’s energy interests and Trump-Xi summit explained

Why is China mediating the Iran war? Beijing’s energy interests and Trump-Xi summit explained



U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping react as they hold a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea on October 30, 2025. — Reuters pic

Saturday, 18 Apr 2026 7:00 AM MYT


BEIJING, April 18 — China is accelerating its ‌efforts to end the Iran war, walking a diplomatic tightrope as it prepares for a summit next month ​with US President Donald Trump while trying not to alienate Tehran.


President Xi Jinping’s mid-May meeting with Trump is shaping Beijing’s approach to the Middle East conflict even as the world’s top crude oil importer, reliant on the Middle East for half its fuel, seeks to safeguard its energy ‌supplies, analysts say.


China’s modulated approach to the war has protected its back-channel leverage enough that Trump credited Beijing with helping to get Iran to last weekend’s ​peace talks in Pakistan.

Flurry of Middle East diplomacy


“You’ve heard President Trump repeatedly mention how the Chinese talked to the Iranians,” said Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of the China-Global South Project, an independent organisation that analyses China’s engagement in the developing world. “That puts them in the room with negotiators, even if it’s not a seat at the table.”


Considering Trump transactional and susceptible to flattery, China is seeking to advance its goals ​on trade and its claims on Taiwan at the summit, people familiar with China’s thinking told Reuters.

The dominant view in Beijing is to “butter him up, give him a red-carpet welcome and preserve strategic stability”, one person said.


China’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions about its diplomacy ahead of the summit, the first visit by a US president in eight years. Trump says it will take place May 14 and 15.

With the US naval blockade of Iranian ports as a direct and growing threat, China has engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity and refrained from strong criticism of Trump’s conduct of the war so that the summit, postponed once by the ‌conflict, can go smoothly, analysts say.

Xi broke his silence on the crisis on Tuesday with a four-point peace plan that calls for upholding peaceful coexistence, national sovereignty, the international rule ⁠of law and balancing development and security.

After Trump warned Iran that “the entire country can ⁠be taken out in one night”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning avoided condemnation, saying only that China was “deeply concerned” and ⁠urging all sides to play a “constructive role in de-escalating ⁠the situation”.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has ⁠held nearly 30 calls and meetings with counterparts seeking a ceasefire, according to a Reuters count, while special envoy Zhai Jun has toured five Gulf and Arab capitals.

Travelling at one point by road to avoid contested airspace, Zhai could hear air-raid sirens, he told reporters.

Xi announced his peace plan in a meeting with Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin ⁠Zayed Al Nahyan, as he sought to deepen ties with a rival to Iran while pressing Tehran towards dialogue.



Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, are seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s Musandam governance in the United Arab Emirates on March 11, 2026. — Reuters pic



Narrow focus for Trump-Xi summit

China’s “sense of urgency and the mode of intervention at the tactical level are shifting” as the war, which the US and Israel launched on February 28, drags on, said Cui Shoujun, a professor of international affairs at Renmin University.

Still, some analysts say, Iran needs China more than China needs Iran, allowing Beijing to press for a ceasefire while protecting the summit with Trump.

“Beijing’s ideal outcome,” said Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, “is the maintenance of no-strings-attached relationships with anti-Western countries like Iran but also preserving its opportunity to achieve ⁠some form of modus vivendi with the US”

While China played a role in getting Iran to talk to the US, its ability to shape decisions is limited, as it lacks a military presence in the Middle East capable of backing up its words.

Some observers say China’s energetic Middle East diplomacy is more ⁠theatre than statecraft.

“While the Iranians are keen to play up their relationship with China and have asked Beijing to serve as a guarantor of a ceasefire, Beijing has shown zero ⁠interest in assuming such ⁠a role,” said Patricia Kim of the Brookings Institution. “Beijing appears content to remain on the sidelines as the United States bears the brunt of the pressure.”

At the summit with Trump, China may agree to buy ​Boeing aircraft, a deal held back for years over regulatory concerns that could be the biggest such order ​in history, as well as significant agricultural purchases.

The meeting is likely to be narrowly focused, ‌analysts say, avoiding ambitious topics such as AI governance, market access and manufacturing overcapacity.

“There is zero chance China will ​reach some sort of grand bargain with the United States,” ​said Scott Kennedy, trustee chair in Chinese business and economics at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. — Reuters

Did the US win anything in Iran?

Did the US win anything in Iran?

By Wong Chun Wai

Sunday, 05 Apr 2026

Still standing: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC )is estimated to have more than 190,000 active personnel. — AFP


US President Donald Trump has declared that the United States has won its war against Iran, and that the conflict could end in a few weeks as the “objectives have been met”.

It’s certainly good news for the world because we can all get on with our lives with his victory claim, even if it sounds hollow.



If he says the US has won, so be it, as long the US attacks really stop in the coming weeks. Thank you very much, Trump. You had our attention.


But we have all got used to his mood swings, tantrums, bullying, insults, and constant change of deadlines.

First, he issued a deadline for March 27, then he adjusted from seven days to 10 days, and then on March 26 Trump announced a further delay, pushing it to April 6.

He warned that if the Strait of Hormuz – a critical artery for global oil – is not opened by this time, he would blow up Iranian energy infrastructure, including desalination plants.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on April 1, he said that until the Strait of Hormuz “is open, free and clear” the US would be “blasting Iran into oblivion, or as they say, back to the Stone Ages”.

It would not be wrong to suggest that many do not think the US has really won the war despite the extensive bombing of Iran’s military assets and the deaths of over 100,000 Iranians, including children.

From the outset, the US entered the war with a shifting set of objectives: crippling Iran’s military, halting its nuclear ambitions, weakening its regional proxies, and forcing a regime change.

Trump’s victory declaration is no more than a political narrative. Eliminating Iranian leaders – with the help of Israel – is hardly a regime change.

These leaders may have been assassinated but they can be replaced. The regime structure remains.

The Revolutionary Guard still operates. Its regional influence has not collapsed. And crucially, there is no clear political settlement in sight.

Trump’s statements have been notably inconsistent – declaring the war nearly over, already won, and yet still ongoing, sometimes within the same week.

The world is wondering if he even has a plan.

Trump has declared that the US has won its war against Iran and that the conflict could end in a few weeks. Can we believe him? — Bloomberg



More telling is the quiet dilution of aims. Early priorities, such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz, are no longer central to the exit strategy.

Instead, the administration now signals that it may leave even without achieving such outcomes.

It looks like the US can’t do much if Iran refuses to open the Strait except to friendly nations or demands payment – in Chinese yuan – from less favoured countries that need to use the waterway.

Trump has also threatened to “obliterate” or seize Iran’s key oil hub, Kharg Island, by suggesting potential control of the terminal, possibly by deploying ground troops.

If that happens, we will see a major escalation of the war. We will see real combat between American/Israeli and Iranian troops.

Trump talks of ending the war, but has increased the American military presence, including soldiers and marines, to over 50,000 personnel. Hundreds of elite forces have also arrived to guard the Strait.

If these US soldiers set foot on Iranian territory, we can expect some serious combat.

Bodies being brought home in coffins wrapped in the Stars and Stripes will certainly be horrible optics ahead of the US mid-term elections for the House of Representatives and Senate.

This raises a fundamental question: If core objectives can be abandoned, what exactly constitutes success?

How can it be a victory for the US – or anyone – when the war has destabilised the Middle East, disrupted global economies, spiked oil prices and inflation, and strained alliances, with European partners distancing themselves from Washington?

In the US, the political cost is mounting. A significant majority of Americans now favour ending the war – even if objectives remain unmet.

American consumers are fuming that they have to pay more for the gas they are using in their cars and for the food on their tables.

This is not the profile of a nation confident in victory. It is the profile of a country seeking an exit.

The danger of Trump declaring a premature victory, however, masks unresolved threats and leaves underlying conflicts to fester.

The US may have signalled its intention to walk away but stopping the bombing does not necessarily end the war – or secure the region.

Israel hasn’t said anything about ending the war. It has not respected any ceasefire agreement in Gaza and it has continued to bomb the place.

In short, peace has not been respected or secured. The same will happen in Iran even if the US stops its attacks.

Without a diplomatic framework, without a stable post-war order, and without clarity about what has been achieved, military success risks becoming strategically hollow.

So has the US really won the war, met its objectives, destroyed Iranian assets, toppled the regime, and stopped Iran from building a nuclear bomb?

Yes, militarily, it has inflicted damage but strategically, the answer is far less clear.

It is clear that Iran is not defeated, the regime has remained, and most likely the war itself may end not with resolution but with withdrawal.

To put it bluntly, it is a pointless war, and even if it is quickly ended, the bottom line is how little it ultimately changed the political equation in Iran.

If Trump was hoping for a quickie result like the arrest of Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro recently, he got his calculations all wrong.

The reality is, the world has to pay the price for the stupid war started by Trump. Even if he orders a pullout in the coming weeks, we will still bear the consequences for a long time.

National Journalism Laureate Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai is the chairman of Bernama. The views expressed here are solely his own.

Umno opens doors to KJ, Hishammuddin and Syed Hamid

Umno opens doors to KJ, Hishammuddin and Syed Hamid

Friday, 17 Apr 2026 | 11:15 PM MYT

PETALING JAYA: Umno has approved the unconditional return of former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, former vice president Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein and Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki confirmed the reinstatement of the trio's party memberships in a Facebook post on Friday night following the party’s leadership meeting held in Melaka.


Hishammuddin previously expressed that he was ready to return to Umno should his suspension be lifted and had reportedly submitted an application to rejoin the party president.

Khairy had also reportedly submitted a letter of appeal after being sacked in January 2023.


Meanwhile, Syed Hamid quit Umno to join Bersatu in 2018, stating that he had lost belief in the party. However, he, too, had recently expressed his intentions to rejoin the party.

Party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi previously stated that doors remained open to former members who wished to return to the party.

6,252 former members were readmitted through the Gagasan Rumah Bangsa initiative.

The council also amended party membership rules to enable online registration, aimed at easing recruitment, particularly among youths.

In light of rising living costs driven by fuel price hikes and global inflation linked to the Iran conflict, Umno urged its-led states to step up targeted assistance for affected communities.

The party announced key programmes for its 80th anniversary celebration from May 1 to 5 in Kuala Lumpur, including conventions, education congresses, and entrepreneurship events.

What has Trump said before possible US-Iran talks and what could it mean?

In rapid-fire posts, Trump says Iran will give up nuclear material and ‘never close’ the Hormuz Strait. But questions remain about the accuracy of his claims.

By Al Jazeera Staff

Published On 17 Apr 202617 Apr 2026

Washington, DC – United States President Donald Trump has posted a series of rapid-fire messages on the US-Israeli war with Iran, claiming that his government secured major concessions before a possible next round of ceasefire talks.

Posted on Truth Social on Friday, Trump’s statements claimed that Iran had agreed to open — and “never close” — the Strait of Hormuz.

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He also alleged that Tehran would turn over its “nuclear dust” and that Israel would be “prohibited” from launching attacks in Lebanon.

Iran has confirmed reopening the Strait of Hormuz for the “duration” of the current pause in fighting, which is set to end early next week, barring a new agreement. However, officials have pushed back on claims regarding its nuclear stockpile, with a source telling Al Jazeera negotiations remain at a preliminary stage.

Despite the outstanding questions, the US president struck a celebratory tone, calling Friday “A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!”

Separately, he told Bloomberg News that he expected talks to move forward on Sunday with a permanent ceasefire deal in sight.

“We’re not seeing the full picture,” Yezid Sayigh, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center, told Al Jazeera, pointing to Trump’s penchant for hyperbole and several unresolved issues.

“But this does suggest a positive momentum towards something that may end up being a comprehensive deal.”

Sayigh added that Trump could have ulterior motives in striking an upbeat tone, at a time when the chokehold in the Strait of Hormuz is driving up prices for everything from fuel to fertiliser.

“It is very interesting that President Trump is putting such a positive spin on things, not only to encourage markets and talk down oil prices and talk stock market prices up,” Sayigh said.

“But also, I suspect, because he’s preparing the ground for more revelations about what is being negotiated with Iran.”

Trump says Iran will ‘never close’ Strait of Hormuz

Part of Trump’s social media claims appeared to be confirmed in a separate statement from Tehran. But the details showed distance between Trump’s position and Iran’s.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Friday that, in light of a 10-day pause in fighting in Lebanon, “the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire.”

Trump swiftly echoed that claim on social media, writing that the strait is “FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE”.

However, a senior Iranian military official told state media that only nonmilitary vessels would be allowed to transit the strait — and only with permission from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.

Then, Trump went further with his claims of free maritime traffic, saying, “Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again.”

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Alexandru Hudisteanu, a maritime security expert, said there has been no confirmation from Iran that such a long-term pledge had been made.

“We know, for instance, that over the last six weeks or so of the war, the Iranian leadership grasped the fact that its control over the Strait of Hormuz gave it the kind of deterrence that its nuclear programme, its ballistic missiles, its regional proxies, had never actually given it,” he said.

“So, I don’t think that the Iranian leadership would have made this kind of commitment unequivocally and irrevocably.”

There were also lingering questions about another post Trump made, concerning the US decision to blockade the strait.

Trump posted that the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf “WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE”.

But media reports indicate that Iran might close traffic in the Hormuz Strait if such a blockade were to remain in effect.

Iran’s Fars News Agency, which is closely aligned with the IRGC, reported that Tehran considers the continuation of the US blockade a violation of the current ceasefire and would again close the strait if it were not lifted.

Then there were the questions of mines in the strait. On Truth Social, Trump also said that “Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines!”

But the news agency Reuters reported that a US Navy advisory warned on Friday that the “status of TSS mine threat is not fully understood. Consider avoidance of that area”. The statement referred to the Traffic Separation Scheme, the two-way shipping lane in the strait.

Trump says US will get all nuclear ‘dust’

A major sticking point in the negotiations between the US and Iran has been the future of Iran’s nuclear programme. While Iran has denied seeking a nuclear weapon, the US and Israel have claimed their initial attacks in the war, on February 28, were designed to prevent Iran from constructing one.

On Friday, Trump again appeared to claim that Iran would turn over its enriched uranium stockpile, writing on Truth Social that “the U.S.A. will get all Nuclear ‘Dust'”.

The term “dust” appears to be a reference to the US decision to bomb three key nuclear sites in Iran on June 22, 2025. Trump has repeatedly claimed that those attacks “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme, despite conflicting evidence.

On Friday, after his post, Trump told Reuters that the US would work with Iran “at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery” to retrieve the uranium stockpile at the sites.

“We’ll bring ⁠it back to the United States,” he added. He also told Bloomberg that Iran had agreed to suspend its nuclear programme indefinitely.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera correspondent Ali Hashem said there has been no confirmation on such an agreement.

“This is a big claim here, because the Iranians have always said that they’re not going to accept such a condition,” Hashem said. “What we’ve heard from our sources is that the issue of enrichment and the sunsets of any conditions is going to be left till the end of the talks.”

Later on Friday, Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei dismissing Trump’s claim: “Enriched uranium is as sacred to us as Iranian soil and will not be transferred anywhere under any circumstances,” he said.

Trump also maintained that “no money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form”, another claim that has not been confirmed by Iran.

Hashem added that the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds, the lifting of US sanctions and reparations for war damages have been key priorities for Tehran. He believes Iran will leverage issues like the free flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to extract concessions.

“What’s the price for this?” Hashem said. “And what are the Iranians going to take in return? These are big questions.”

Trump says Israel ‘prohibited’ from bombing Lebanon

Another issue that has threatened to disrupt the ceasefire talks was Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign in Lebanon. Iran and mediators in Pakistan had maintained that Lebanon was included in the initial ceasefire, but the US and Israel denied that it was part of the agreement.

But on Thursday, a breakthrough was announced: Israel had agreed to a 10-day pause in its invasion and bombardment of Lebanon.

On Friday, however, Trump seemed to imply that the stoppage was to continue into the long term.

“Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer,” he wrote. “They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!”

He added that Washington will work with Lebanon and “deal with the Hezboolah situation in an appropriate manner”.

Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher said the statement represents a particularly hard US line on Israel, but it remains to be seen if Trump would indeed seek to punish Israel if they do not comply.

“That’s not what the United States tends to do,” Fisher said.

“Is Donald Trump actually going to change the norms of American politics when it comes to dealing with the Israelis and treat them like he’s treated other countries in the past, and effectively cut them off?”

Trump thanks regional countries, takes shot at NATO

While Trump’s posts on Friday were largely celebratory, he did hand out darts and laurels to various parties in the ceasefire negotiations.

Trump thanked Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar for their “great bravery and help”. He also thanked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, who helped to coordinate US-Iran contacts. He called them “two fantastic people”.

But Trump took aim at NATO, which he has criticised for not supporting the US and Israeli war against Iran, as well as subsequent efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL,” Trump wrote.  “They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!”

The Trump administration has signalled it is mulling a withdrawal from NATO, although such a move would require congressional approval.

But despite Trump’s most recent statements, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said European allies had agreed to accelerate military planning for a multinational force to secure the waterway during a summit in Paris on Friday.

Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz as Trump says US blockade will continue until deal is made

Summary

• Iran's foreign minister says the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open" to commercial ships for the remainder of the ceasefire

• "THANK YOU!" Donald Trump posts on Truth Social - moments later, he says the US naval blockade of Iranian ports will continue until a peace deal is agreed

• Oil prices drop after Iran's announcement - why does the strait matter so much?

• Earlier, a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon began, with celebrations and fireworks in Beirut - here's what we know about the truce

• More than 2,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in the six-week conflict, with one in five people displaced; Israel says two of its civilians and 13 soldiers have been killed

• The ceasefire is very fragile - our security correspondent Frank Gardner explains why

1. 01:14

   Oliver Smith
   Senior business producer

   Early indications are that commercial ships in and around the Gulf won’t be in any rush to travel through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the Iranian foreign minister’s declaration that it is “completely open”.

   One oil and gas tanker operator, which did want to be named, told the BBC the Iranian statement “doesn’t change anything” for now.

   “We don’t feel like we need to be taking unnecessary risks, and our company approach is that we won’t be the first to go through the strait,” it said.

   Another company, Stena Bulk, which operates oil tankers in the region says it is “monitoring developments closely.”

   It says: “The safety of our crew and vessels governs every routing decision, and we will not transit until we are satisfied it is safe to do so.”

2. International Maritime Organization 'currently verifying' Iranian announcementpublished at 01:00

   01:00

   Jonathan Josephs
   Business reporter

   The head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is trying to understand the details behind Iran’s commitment to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

   Even with the fighting on pause there is significant US and Iranian military presence in the area, and as tensions remain heightened there is an ongoing risk to the safety of ships and their crews.

   The IMO’s secretary general Arsenio Dominguez has been at the UK - France summit in Paris and has been looking at how to reopen the important shipping route.

   He has posted on X saying: “We are currently verifying the recent announcement related to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, in terms of its compliance with freedom of navigation for all merchant vessels and secure passage using the IMO established traffic separation scheme.”

1. 

   Hormuz situation still murkypublished at 00:45

   00:45

   Frank Gardner
   Security correspondent

   The situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region is still murky and messy, despite the well-received announcement by Iran’s foreign minister that it is "fully open for commercial traffic while the ceasefire lasts".

   We are not back to where we were on 27 February, before the US and Israel began this latest conflict.

   Will Iran still insist that ships follow its newly designated route to the north of the pre-existing tanker lanes?

   This is a route called the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) that has been functioning smoothly for everyone since it was first ratified by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 1968.

   Will Iran still demand military inspections of shipping by IRGC officials? Its announcement also mentions only commercial shipping.

   The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet is headquartered in Bahrain - inside the Gulf and therefore past the Strait of Hormuz. So, the US is not likely to accept having its naval warships locked out of the Gulf.

   Meanwhile it is far from clear if the Islamic Republic will accept the proposed long-term multinational force for the Strait of Hormuz when Iran wants to “exercise its right of sovereignty” over the waterway.

2. US participation in strait mission 'desirable' - Merzpublished at 00:33

   00:33

   

   Finally, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says it is in the “immediate interests” of the parties to increase efforts towards peace.

   He says Germany supports the ongoing efforts to achieve “a quick diplomatic agreement” between the US and Iran and also hails the "historic opportunity" for Hezbollah and Israel to make efforts towards a lasting peace.

   Merz repeats calls for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz fully in a way that is lasting, secure and “toll free”, and says despite the recent “good news” on this front, there must be no restrictions on its opening.

   Germany is willing to contribute to the mission to promote freedom of navigation through the strait, he says, including the possible participation of its armed forces and activity such as mine clearing.

   Such a plan would need to be approved by the UN and Germany’s parliament, he says, adding that US participation would be “desirable.”

   The news conference has now concluded.