Trump says Iran doing 'poor job' getting oil through Strait of Hormuz
Editor's note. The following story contains information from Thursday, April 9. For continuing coverage of the war in Iran, check out the Friday, April 10 blog.
President Donald Trump is lashing out at Iran just two days into the ceasefire agreement, saying they are not holding up their end of the bargain.
"Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz," the president said in a statement Thursday evening. "That is not the agreement we have!"
At issue for the White House is whether Iran will grant free safe passage to oil tankers headed through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has throttled traffic through the critical oil shipping channel, driving up fuel prices and threatening the global economy.
The Iranians are making it clear that they will only uphold the ceasefire agreement if the ceasefire agreement extends to Lebanon, where Iran’s ally Hezbollah is based. Israel has continued bombing Beirut and a ground campaign in the southern part of the country in the wake of the ceasefire.
"Lebanon and the entire Resistance Axis, as Iran’s allies, form an inseparable part of the ceasefire," said Mohammad B. Ghalibaf on Thursday, saying protections covering Lebanon was point number one of their 10-point peace proposal. "Ceasefire violations carry explicit costs and STRONG responses. Extinguish the fire immediately."
The back and forth between the two sides comes as peace talks are expected to take place in Pakistan over the weekend and in Washington, DC, next week.
For Democrats, the Iran war is reviving a familiar word — impeachment
Zachary Schermele
Democrats in Congress are reviving calls to remove President Trump from office amid a series of controversial comments the president has made during the Iran war.
Among Trump’s comments, the president warned earlier this week that a "whole civilization" would "die" if Iran didn't concede to demands from the United States and Israel.
On Thursday, House Democrats led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, held a briefing to discuss urging Trump's Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment. Others have accused the president of "blatant war crimes."
Republicans are in full control of Congress and Washington, so Democrats will likely make little headway in impeachment efforts. But the new openness to talking about it underscores how the Trump administration's policies, and the Iran war in particular, have pushed Democrats to political extremes. And it provides a preview of future impeachment clashes between progressives and centrists that could consume Washington if Democrats take back the House of Representatives and gain seats in the Senate in November's midterm elections.
Read more here about the ongoing debates on Capitol Hill.
US to host peace talks between Israel and Lebanon in DC
Michael Loria
U.S. officials will host peace talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, DC, next week, the State Department confirmed to USA TODAY.
The talks between the two sides come as the United States and Israel remain at odds with Iran over whether the ceasefire extends to Lebanon, where Iran’s ally Hezbollah is based. Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel in response to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel has responded with a massive bombing campaign and invasion of the southern part of the country. On Wednesday, the first day of the ceasefire, Israel hit Lebanon with its deadliest barrage of strikes of the war, killing hundreds and leveling buildings in Beirut.
Talks are expected to take place shortly after top Trump administration officials travel to Pakistan over the weekend for peace negotiations with Iran.
The State Department confirmation of upcoming talks comes in response to reporting by Al-Monitor that Lebanese officials would travel to Washington for negotiations. The news and opinion site focused on the Middle East cited a senior Lebanese official.
Is Iran tolling Strait of Hormuz? 'They better stop now!' Trump says
Michael Loria
President Donald Trump responded to reports that Iran will become an effective toll operator for the Strait of Hormuz with a statement slamming the idea.
"There are reports that Iran is charging fees to tankers going through the Hormuz Strait," the president wrote in a Thursday post on Truth Social. "They better not be and, if they are, they better stop now! President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Trump’s comments come shortly after Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei posted a statement that Iran would "definitely take the management of the Strait of Hormuz to a new phase."
The president’s comments come after he floated the idea of the United States charging tolls on ships passing through the strait. "We have a concept where we’ll charge tolls," Trump said on April 6.
Traffic through Hormuz declined on first day of ceasefire: Analysis
Michael Loria
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the oil shipping lane that has become perhaps the core issue of the war, declined on the first day of a ceasefire, according to an analysis of vessel movements.
The analysis by Maritime News of Kpler Risk and Compliance data found five ships passed through the strait on April 8, the first day of the ceasefire, down from 11 vessels on April 7. The reopening of the channel is a core tenet of the ceasefire agreement for the United States and Israel. Iranian state media reported the country would not grant safe passage to vessels if Israel did not cease its attack on Lebanon, where Iran’s ally Hezbollah is based.
According to the analysis, "the operating environment in the Strait therefore remains unchanged, with permissive passings continuing under the same conditions as before."
The findings contradict statements from the White House that traffic through the strait has increased since the ceasefire agreement.
Iran will take Strait of Hormuz authority 'to a new phase,' Khamenei says
Michael Loria
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei signaled Thursday that Iran will continue to exert authority over the Strait of Hormuz, an outcome experts fear could lead to higher fuel prices for the foreseeable future.
"We will definitely take the management of the Strait of Hormuz to a new phase," the country’s newly appointed supreme leader said in a statement around 4 p.m. ET, or 11:30 p.m. in Tehran. Khamenei did not immediately elaborate.
The supreme leader's comments come as experts fear the U.S. war with Iran will leave the Middle Eastern country in a position to become an effective toll operator over the critical oil-shipping lane. Iran has responded to strikes by effectively shutting down oil shipments through the strait, driving up oil prices and causing the global economy to wobble. About a fifth of the world’s oil passes through the channel.
Iran’s strategy has turned access to the strait into perhaps the key issue of the war. Reopening the 100-mile waterway was a core tenet of the ceasefire agreement for the United States and Israel.
Iran’s supreme leader demands 'full reparations'
Michael Loria
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued a series of statements Thursday afternoon demanding "full reparation" for the damage done to his country over the course of the war.
"We will certainly demand full reparations for all damages caused, as well as blood money for the martyrs and compensation for the war's wounded," Khamenei said in a post on X. "All must know that, by Almighty God’s will, we definitely won’t allow the criminal aggressors who attacked our country to go unpunished."
Khamenei’s series of public statements Thursday come 40 days after his father, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed by U.S.-Israeli strikes at the outset of the war. The younger Khamenei came to power after being selected by a top Iranian leadership committee on March 8.
Among public comments Thursday, Khamenei honored his late father and appeared to signal that he wanted Gulf countries to disavow partnerships with the United States.
"I say to Iran’s southern neighbors: you are witnessing a miracle. So observe closely, understand matters correctly, stand on the right side, and be distrusful of the false promises of the devils," said Khamenei.
White House declines to elaborate on Iran's 10-point proposal
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
President Trump has described the 10-point plan which prompted the Iran ceasefire from Iran a “significant step” but “not good enough” - and disputed media reports about what it contains.
While Iran has said the ceasefire was violated when Iran bombed Lebanon within hours after it went into effect, the Trump administration has said it was not part of the agreement.
"These are ongoing discussions and United States will not negotiate through the press," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told USA TODAY.
"President Trump believes that the current plan is a workable document that can lead to lasting peace in the Middle East," she added.
Iran is 'resolute' in taking revenge, supreme leader says
Natalie Neysa Alund
According to a message by Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the Middle Eastern country was not seeking conflict, but would still fight its enemies if provoked.
Known for keeping a low profile, Khamenei has not been seen in public since he was named the country's new head, the New York Timeshas reported. He was reportedly wounded in the initial Feb. 28 airstrikes on Iran that killed his father and several family members.
"Iran is not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights and considers all resistance fronts as a unified entity," Khamenei said in a written statement read out on state TV as reported by Reuters on April 9.
The country was seeking "appropriate reaction from our southern neighbors” the statement continues, adding Iran will "seek retribution" for the attacks it sustained during the war with the United States and Israel.
The statement went onto say Iran is "resolute" in taking revenge for the February killing of former supreme leader Ali Khameneiand other "martyrs."
Why is Israel bombing Lebanon?
Kathryn Palmer
On April 8, several hours after President Donald Trump announced a two-week pause in fighting, Israel launched its deadliest day of strikes on Lebanon since its operation against Hezbollah in the country began more than a month ago. Lebanese authorities have reported that more than 250 people were killed by the strikes, and hundreds more injured.
In early March, Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iran's former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, on Feb. 28 in a joint US-Israeli airstrike. It marked the first time Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite militia and political party in Lebanon, fired at Israel since the November 2024 ceasefire during the Israel-Hamas war, according to the Council on Foreign Relations' Center for Preventive Action.
Israel and Hezbollah has clashed for decades. Iran is Hezbollah's most significant benefactor, and Hezbollah often acts as a proxy for the Middle Eastern nation. The group opposes Israel and often opposes Western powers operating in the Middle East, including the United States, and has been linked to suicide bombings and other attacks on Israel.
Trump rebukes NATO as chief said alliance would step in
Natalie Neysa Alund
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday the political and military alliance would be willing "to a play a role" in a possible Strait of Hormuz mission if it is able to do so.
"If NATO can help, obviously then there is no reason not to be helpful," Reuters reported Rutte said in Washington DC.
The comments came the same day President Donald Trump rebuked NATO in a post on Truth Social.
"None of these people, including our own, very disappointing, NATO, understood anything unless they have pressure placed upon them!!!," Trump wrote earlier in the day.
On March 31, Trump announced he was strongly reconsidering U.S. membership after weeks of open frustration with countries that prevented the U.S. from using bases on their soil.
The president previously expressed frustration with the United States’ relationship with NATO after America’s allies refused to join the war against Iran.
Republicans block Democratic bill to halt hostilities
Zachary Schermele
Republicans in the House of Representatives blocked Democrats on Thursday morning from considering a measure to halt military hostilities in the region.
With Congress still on a recess until next week, a war powers resolution Democrats planned to offer up would have needed unanimous support within the GOP-controlled chamber to move forward. But Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, refused to recognize Democrats so they could ask to take up the legislation. He loudly adjourned the brief "pro forma" session in Washington, as Democrats protested.
It wasn't the only example of GOP lawmakers preventing Democrats who criticize the war from meaningfully pushing back. But it did mark the first time in recent days – since President Trump threatened to destroy a "whole civilization" in Iran – that Congress acted amid a scheduled two-week vacation for Easter and Passover to respond to the dire situation.
America has lots of oil. Why are gas prices up?
Daniel de Visé
The United States is less reliant on foreign oil than in times past. We are the world’s leading oil producer. And of the oil we do import, only 8% comes from the Middle East.
Why, then, have gasoline prices gone through the roof at America’s pumps during the Iran war?
America produces more than 13 million barrels of crude oil a day, as of January. We export more oil than we import. Based on those facts, you might think a war in the Middle East would have no bearing on gas prices in the United States. You would be wrong.
“It’s a global market,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics. “So, oil literally flows to the highest price. If a tanker can get a higher price in Malaysia than it can in Rotterdam than it can in Rio de Janeiro, it’s going to go to Malaysia.”
When the United States began airstrikes against Iran, oil prices spiked around the globe, including here.
Even with a fragile ceasefire in place, many observers expect gas prices to remain elevated for months to come.
Israeli official says Hezbollah is seeking ceasefire after missile barrage
Christopher Cann
Israel's defense minister said his country's military targeted hundreds of Hezbollah militants in a barrage of missile fire a day earlier and alleged the Iranian proxy is now seeking a ceasefire.
In a video address, Israel Katz said that Israeli officials have insisted on separating the war with Iran with the fighting in Lebanon to allow Israel to continue its large-scale military operation in southern Lebanon. USA TODAY could not immediately verify Katz's claims about Hezbollah seeking a ceasefire.
His comments come after Israel launched its largest attack on Lebanon since the war began, killing over 200 people and injuring more than 1,000 on Wednesday, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Those continued attacks have put the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran in jeopardy as countries give conflicting accounts over whether the truce applies to Lebanon.
Hassett says Iran will allow 'many more ships' through Strait of Hormuz
Christopher Cann
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett on Thursday said Iran will allow more ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.
"They have said that they're going to start letting many more ships through. We'll watch as the day progresses whether that's true or not," he told Fox News.
A day earlier, Iranian state media reported that the country's military was again closing off the strait because of Israel's airstrikes on Lebanon. The White House disputed those reports but reiterated that the two-week ceasefire hinges on Iran opening the shipping lane.
Hassett on Thursday acknowledged the confusion over the ceasefire but said he expects a round of in-person talks in Pakistan to clear up any remaining questions.
"We expect that there will be a little bit of cleaning up to do in the first couple of days. We aren't surprised about what happened yesterday but we expect that to simmer down," he said, adding: "In the end, I think we're not going to have complete clarity until we finish the negotiations this weekend."
Iranian official says ceasefire violations will result in 'strong responses'
Christopher Cann
Iran's parliamentary speaker on Thursday reasserted that its proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon is included in the ceasefire and said violations of the two-week agreement will result in "strong responses."
"There is no room for denial or backtracking," said Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf in a statement on X. "Extinguish the fire immediately."
Iran and Pakistan have said the two-week truce extends to Lebanon. The U.S. and Israel deny that Lebanon was included.
On Wednesday, Israel carried out its largest bombardment of Lebanon since the start of the war, killing over 250 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. While Hezbollah initially halted fire following the announcement of the ceasefire, it has since responded to the Israeli attacks by firing rockets at northern Israel.
Men to be automatically registered for military draft pool
Melina Khan
Eligible men will be automatically registered into the U.S. military draft pool by December in an effort to streamline the existing self-registration process, according to the agency that oversees the system.
On March 30, the Selective Service System (SSS) submitted a proposed rule for automatic registration to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, according to its website.
The new automatic registration process was approved by Congress under the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026, which Trump signed into law in December 2025.
According to SSS' website, the agency will implement the switch to automatic registration by December, creating a "streamlined registration process and corresponding workforce realignment."
Currently, eligible male U.S. citizens between the ages of 18-25 are required to register with SSS.
There has not been an active military draft since 1973, and returning to one would require Congress to amend the Military Selective Service Act, according to SSS.
Trump warns Iran to comply with ‘real agreement’ if not ‘Shootin’ Starts’
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
A day after announcing the Iran ceasefire, President Donald Trump warned Iran that all U.S. military assets will remain in place until Iran fully complies with the “REAL AGREEMENT.”
“If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the “Shootin’ Starts,” bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before,” he wrote in a Truth Social post late Wednesday night.
He said the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked off by Iran since the start of the war, will have to remain open and safe.
There has been a lot of confusion around what the 10-point ceasefire agreement entailed, with Iran saying the ceasefire was violated as Israel continued to bomb Lebanon. Vice President JD Vance chalked it up to a “legitimate misunderstanding” on the part of Iran, and clarifying that it did not include Lebanon.
“In the meantime our great Military is Loading Up and Resting, looking forward, actually, to its next Conquest,” Trump wrote.
US stock futures dip over shaky Mideast truce; inflation in focus
Reuters
U.S. stock futures inched lower on Thursday after the indexes rallied in the previous session, as cracks emerged in the fragile Middle East ceasefire, while investors turned their focus to a domestic inflation reading later in the day.
U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to retain military assets in the Middle East until a peace deal was reached with Iran and warned of a major escalation if it failed to comply, a day after fighting continued despite Tuesday's ceasefire.
Uncertainty around energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz led to a rebound in oil prices, but they remained below $100 a barrel. U.S. energy stocks inched slightly higher in premarket trading.
Human rights group reports 'sharp decline' in strikes on Iran
Michael Loria
The Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based group that tracks human rights violations in Iran and has kept a running tally of war casualties in the country, reported a "sharp decline" in strikes on Iran as the ceasefire took effect.
"Some attacks were reported before its implementation time and in limited cases even after it took effect," the group reported. "Nevertheless, the sharp decline in the number of incidents, targets, and casualties is clearly assessed as being linked to the implementation of the ceasefire."
According to the group, there were 20 attacks Wednesday, down from 425 on Tuesday, when President Trump had threatened to wipe out Iran’s "whole civilization."
Strikes on Iran have killed over 1,700 civilians since the start of the war, according to the group. Over 1,200 military personnel have been killed. Another 700 deaths remained unclassified.
'We will not leave Lebanon alone': Tehran mayor vows
Michael Loria
Authorities in Iran’s capital Tehran have posted fliers in stations in the city's train system vowing that the country "will not leave Lebanon alone," Iranian state media reported.
Tehran Mayor AliReza Zakani shared photos of the posters as part of a statement pledging Iranian support for their allies bordering Israel.
"Revenge is near," Zakani vowed.
Israel pounds Lebanon in deadliest day of strikes on country
Michael Loria
Israeli strikes killed between 180 and 260 people and left around 1,000 people wounded in Lebanon on Wednesday, local authorities reported.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported 182 deaths. The country’s civil defense service reported 254. The two authorities reported around 1,000 people injured.
The death toll in the country bordering Israel is the highest yet for a single day of the war and comes in the wake of an announced break in hostilities. Iran, Israel and the U.S. were at odds about whether the ceasefire included Lebanon, where Israel is waging a campaign against Iran’s ally Hezbollah.
Beirut saw the worst of the strikes. Israeli strikes killed 91 people in Lebanon’s capital city, the civil defense service said. Residents said attacks came without warnings to evacuate. Videos shared by reporters of strikes on Lebanon’s capital city show rubble sent flying as buildings were destroyed.
Contributing by Reuters