Tehran, Apr 16 (AP) Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei criticised economic threats by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, saying they harm “innocent people” and reflect an “inhumane mindset”.
“These are nothing short of economic terrorism and state-sponsored extortion,” he wrote on X, referring to Bessent's Wednesday remarks about potentially carrying out the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign.
China's UN envoy calls US blockade of Hormuz 'dangerous', 'irresponsible'
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Ambassador Fu Cong said the Strait of Hormuz “should be safeguarded” for international navigation and called on Iran to take proactive measures' to open the waterway, used to ship about 20% of the world's oil.
“The issue of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is a spillover effect of the conflict in Iran,” he said. “Only a complete ceasefire can fundamentally create conditions for easing the situation.”
Fu told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that Beijing is engaged “in intensive mediation with all parties to actively promote talks for peace” and an end to the war in Iran.
The 193-member world body was meeting to hear China and Russia explain why they vetoed a Security Council resolution backed by the US and Gulf nations aimed at opening the Strait of Hormuz.
Fu claimed the resolution would have given “a carte blanche for the continuation of aggressive actions and further escalation” rather than de-escalate the conflict and promote negotiations.
Lebanese PM welcomes Trump announcement of ceasefire
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Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the ceasefire was Lebanon's first goal in landmark talks that took place with Israel in Washington on Tuesday between the country's ambassadors to the US.
“While I congratulate all Lebanese on this achievement, I offer my condolences to the families of the martyrs who fell, and I affirm my solidarity with their families, with the wounded, and with the citizens forced to flee their cities and villages,” Salam said.
Meanwhile, the office of Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said President Trump was thanked by the Lebanese head of state to reach a ceasefire in the devastating war.
Aoun earlier spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio where he refused to have a direct call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has insisted on achieving a ceasefire ahead of continued direct talks. Israel hasn't made a decision regarding a ceasefire.
The statement said Trump stressed “his commitment to fulfilling the Lebanese request for a ceasefire as soon as possible.”
Neither the State Department nor the White House immediately issue a statement on the calls with the Lebanese president.
US releases list of contraband Iranian goods
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The US military has released an expansive lists of goods it considers contraband as part of its blockade of Iran and declares it will seize from merchant vessels “regardless of location”.
In a notice published Thursday, the US military says any “goods that are destined for an enemy and that may be susceptible to use in armed conflict” are “subject to capture at any place beyond neutral territory”.
The list includes items like arms, ammunition and military equipment that are classified as “absolute contraband”. However, it also lists items like oil and iron, steel, and aluminum as well as some civilian goods, as “conditional contraband” and argues these items can be put to military use.
The notice says that otherwise innocuous items like electronics or heavy machinery can be seized if “circumstances indicate intended military end-use”.
14 ships turn around from Iran blockade, US military says
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US Central Command says those vessels have turned around in the first three days of the blockade on Iranian ports at the direction of American forces.
At a Pentagon news briefing earlier Thursday, US defence leaders said more than 10,000 American troops are helping enforce the blockade on Iranian ports and that no ships have yet needed to be boarded. (AP) SCY
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