Here's the latest
• Strait blockade: The US military said it will enforce a blockade on all traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz from 10 a.m. ET today, after weekend peace talks in Pakistan faltered. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed to retaliate.
• Pope criticism: Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV said he has “no fear of the Trump administration” and will continue to speak out after criticism from President Donald Trump, who denounced his stance on the Iran war and said he was “terrible for foreign policy.”
• Markets roiled: Oil prices have again topped $100 a barrel and stock markets fell as the collapsed weekend talks, and imminent blockade, threatened to further disrupt the global economy.
No stability in Middle East while Lebanon is "in flames," EU chief says
There can be no stability in the Middle East or Persian Gulf while Lebanon is “in flames,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today.
“A key lesson of the past weeks is that security is indivisible. You cannot have stability in the Middle East or the Gulf while Lebanon is in flames. So, we call on all parties to respect the sovereignty of Lebanon and to implement a complete cessation of hostilities,” von der Leyen said at a press conference.
While thanking Pakistan for its “important role” in mediating talks between the United States and Iran over the weekend, the EU chief warned that continued strikes on Lebanon “threatened to derail the entire process.”
Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is of “paramount importance,” von der Leyen said while drawing attention to the economic impact of the war.
Strait of Hormuz traffic thins ahead of US blockade on Iranian ports
Traffic at the Strait of Hormuz thinned on Monday, hours before the start of a US blockade of Iranian ports, according to ship tracking data.
Ship tracking sites showed one tanker linked to Iran, the Auroura, in the Gulf of Oman after passing through the strait. The ship is sanctioned by the United States.
The New Future, a Chinese-owned tanker carrying petroleum products, also passed through, according to MarineTraffic, a ship tracking site. It had left a port in the United Arab Emirates.
A Chinese bulk carrier showing its destination as Iraq was headed into the Strait from the Gulf of Oman.
Dozens of vessels – most of them Iranian-operated - are shown at anchor within a few miles of Iran’s main port, Bandar Abbas, which is close to the Strait.
“All traffic” through the strait had been halted Sunday night, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, a maritime data provider, after US President Donald Trump announced a blockade of the Strait. The US military subsequently said the blockade would apply to Iranian ports, not the strait itself.
Fourteen vessels crossed the Strait earlier Sunday, according to marine data firm Kpler, of which five were leaving the Gulf. The largest was a Chinese-owned and operated tanker.
Ten large Iranian tankers tracked through satellite imagery are outside the strait in the Gulf of Oman, according to TankerTrackers, which tracks oil shipments. The tankers, which are carrying cargo, have a cumulative capacity of 21 million barrels.
It added that one Iranian tanker had arrived in India with two million barrels of Iranian crude following the sanctions waiver issued by the United States last month. The waiver, which applied to Iranian oil at sea, expires on April 19.
The US military says it will blockade ships from Iranian ports. Here's what that means
Six weeks after the beginning of the war with Iran, President Donald Trump is giving the United States Navy its most difficult jobs of the conflict: blockade Iran’s ports and clear the strategic Strait of Hormuz of any Iranian mines.
A blockade is a tool of economic warfare as much as it is kinetic warfare.
The Newport Manual on the Law of Naval defines a blockade as “the capture of contraband, and the capture or destruction of enemy property found at sea.”
“These methods deny an enemy the chance of economic revenue from its exports and the benefits of imports that support its war effort,” the manual says.
To be legal, the imposition of a blockade must follow certain rules, including:
- It must be declared and notified, meaning warnings must go out to ships that it might affect.
- It must be effective, meaning the US must have the ships and aircraft to enforce it.
- It must be impartial, affecting the vessels of any nation.
- It cannot be targeted solely at civilian populations, but harm to civilians is acceptable.
- It must not block access to neutral ports and may not block a strait, like Hormuz, which Trump has said is open to non-Iran- related international shipping.
Read more on what the US’ proposed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could look like in our full write here.
France, UK to convene talks on reopening Strait of Hormuz, Macron and Starmer say
France and the United Kingdom will convene talks aimed at “restoring freedom of navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz, French President Emmanuel Macron said on X today, adding that this would be a “strictly defensive” mission.
A UK government spokesperson told CNN yesterday that London is trying to bring together a “wide coalition” with France and others to ensure passage through the waterway, adding that it “must not be subject to tolling.”
In a post on X a short while ago, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote that “the UK has convened more than 40 nations who share our aim to restore freedom of navigation.”
Calling the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz “deeply damaging,” Starmer said that this week, the UK and France “will co-host a summit to advance work on a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping when the conflict ends.”
This post has been updated to include Starmer’s comments. CNN’s Catherine Nicholls contributed to this reporting.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope — and a fierce critic of the war with Iran
Since the beginning of the US and Israel’s war with Iran, Pope Leo has called for peace, with his words culminating in the ire of US President Donald Trump, who said he was “not a fan” of the pontiff.
Less than 24 hours after the US and Israel started attacking Iran, Pope Leo called for an end to “the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss.” He has repeated this plea as the conflict has continued.
The pontiff, previously known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected in May last year, following the death of Pope Francis.
Originally from Chicago, he is the first pope from the United States, having received his bachelor’s in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and a diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago.
Considered a highly capable and accomplished leader, Pope Leo, before he was pontiff, previously headed the powerful Vatican office for new bishop appointments, the Dicastery for Bishops, assessing candidates and making recommendations to the late Pope Francis.
He worked for a decade in Trujillo, Peru, and was later appointed bishop of Chiclayo, another Peruvian city, where he served from 2014 to 2023. In 2015, he also received Peruvian citizenship.
In his inaugural address as pope, Leo switched from speaking in Italian to Spanish – one of several European languages he speaks – to address his “beloved diocese” in Chiclayo.
CNN’s Christopher Lamb, Billy Stockwell, Lauren Kent, Rob Picheta, Christian Edwards and Kara Fox contributed to this reporting.
Israeli military shifts focus to Lebanon during Iran ceasefire
The Israeli military has shifted its focus to Lebanon during the two-week ceasefire with Iran, according to an Israeli military official.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) view Lebanon as the “main operational front” for now, the official said, while maintaining a “high level of alert and readiness” for any developments regarding Iran.
The IDF will surround the town of Bint Jbeil - considered a Hezbollah stronghold - “within days,” the official said, as the military occupies more territory in southern Lebanon. The IDF said there were “only a small number” of Hezbollah militants holed up in the town.
The seizure of the town could be significant, as Israeli government officials call for the creation of a buffer zone within southern Lebanon to protect communities across the border in northern Israel.
Israel and Lebanon are set to begin direct talks tomorrow in the US to attempt to reach a ceasefire agreement that would end the war.
Philippines orders Meta to "curb fake news" relating to surge in oil prices
The Philippines has warned Meta of possible legal action if it fails to take steps to curb the spread of “false and panic-inducing content,” including about oil prices, on its platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
In a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Presidential Communications Office said the continued circulation of disinformation violated the country’s laws and posed risks to public order and national security.
The government listed “exaggerated” oil price increases and “alleged” energy supply disruptions as among the categories of “harmful content” on Meta platforms, according to a statement from the President’s office.
Meta was given seven days from receipt of the letter to outline measures to tackle misinformation. CNN has contacted Meta for comment.
For context: Asian economies have been hit particularly hard by the surge in oil prices relating to the Iran war. The Philippines became the first country worldwide to declare a national energy emergency in late March, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr warning of an “imminent danger” to the “availability and stability of the country’s energy supply.” The country, a US ally, has offered subsidies to public transport operators and seen nationwide protests as a result of a surge in fuel prices.
The US has said it will blockade ships from Iranian ports today — catch up
The US has said that it will blockade all ships trying to enter or leave Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz from 10 a.m. ET today (5:30 p.m. in Tehran), after this weekend’s peace talks between Tehran and Washington ended with no agreement for an end to the war between them.
If you’re just joining us, here’s what else you need to know about recent developments to the conflict:
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that “no port in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman will be safe” if its own ports are threatened, Iranian state media said today.
- Oil prices are rising and stock markets are faltering today, following the US military’s announcement that it will be blockading the Strait of Hormuz.
- US President Donald Trump strongly criticized Pope Leo XIV yesterday evening, denouncing his stance on the Iran war and saying he’s “terrible for foreign policy.”
- The pope responded today, saying he has “no fear of the Trump administration” and that he will continue to speak out after the US president’s comments.
- Meanwhile, deadly Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon have continued, according to Lebanese media.
CNN’s Billy Stockwell, Hanna Ziady, Laura Sharman, Isabelle D’Antonio, Christopher Lamb and Xiaoqian Lin contributed to this reporting.
Pope Leo vows to continue speaking out after Trump’s criticism
Pope Leo XIV said today he has “no fear of the Trump administration” and will continue to speak out after the US president criticized his comments on the war with Iran.
“I will not enter into debate. The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone,” Pope Leo told reporters on the Papal plane. “I am inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, of looking for ways to avoid war any time that’s possible.”
The pontiff vowed to “continue on with what I believe is the mission of the Church in the world today.”
Oil prices rise on US military plans to blockade Iranian ports
Oil prices are rising and stock markets faltering today, after the US military said it would implement a shipping blockade in the Strait of Hormuz — a move that could test the current ceasefire while further tightening global oil supply.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose more than 8% in morning trade to $103 a barrel — a gain of 40% since the start of the war. WTI, the US benchmark, climbed by a similar margin to $104.7 a barrel, more than 50% higher than it was before the war effectively shuttered the Strait of Hormuz.
Stock markets wobbled, with S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq futures pointing to a weaker open. In Asia, major indexes closed modestly lower with leading European indexes also trading down.
The US military said yesterday that naval forces would begin a blockade of “all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports” from Monday at 10 a.m. ET.
Transit to and from non-Iranian ports will not be impeded, CENTCOM added in a statement.
Read more on today’s oil price and stock market moves here.
The Iranian ports subject to US blockade
Iran’s major ports are in the Persian Gulf, though it also has one in the Gulf of Oman – outside the Strait of Hormuz.
All will be subject to a US blockade due to begin later Monday, with US Central Command saying the blockade will be enforced “against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas.”
The main port is Bandar Abbas, at the mouth of the Gulf. It handles a huge amount of freight as well as minerals such as chrome and petroleum products, and steel.
According to shipping industry data, Bandar Abbas handles 37 million tons of cargo every year, and about a million containers. Food, fertilizer, grain and construction equipment is also traded through Bandar Abbas. As of Monday, dozens of ships with their transponders active were at anchor off the port.
At the northern end of the Gulf, Bandar Imam Khomeini is Iran’s most modern port, with new berths opened recently. It handles a variety of cargoes including the export of petrochemicals and is also a rail hub. According to shipping industry data, it handles more than 16 million tons of cargo annually.
Most of Iran’s oil production is exported through an offshore terminal at Kharg Island, which has more than 50 storage tanks. The United States has carried out extensive strikes on the island’s military posts in the last month, but not its oil infrastructure.
Smaller ports on Iran’s Gulf coast include Bushehr and Assaluyeh.
Outside the Gulf, Iran’s only ocean port is Chabahar, which handles grains, fertilisers and containers. Approximately 1.4 million tons of cargo pass through Chabahar every year, and it handles some 1,600 vessels annually.
India has invested in expanding the port to access central Asian trade markets.
Iran has three ports on the Caspian Sea not affected by the US blockade.
Americans will soon be nostalgic for $4 gas, says Iranian official
The head of the Iranian delegation that met US Vice President JD Vance over the weekend has said Americans will soon be nostalgic for the era of $4 gasoline.
“Enjoy the current pump figures,” parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X on Monday.
“With the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas,” he added.
Ghalibaf attached a screen shot of pump prices in Washington DC with the search term “gas station near White House.”
He also included a mathematical equation suggesting the price increase would be a compound, non-linear surge.
The US national average pump price for regular gasoline is about $4.12 per gallon as of April 12, 2026, according to the American Automobile Association.
Iran threatens ports in Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman ahead of US blockade
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned today that “no port in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman will be safe” if its own ports are threatened, Iranian state media said ahead of a proposed US blockade.
The US military said Sunday it will enforce a blockade on all traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz from 10 a.m. ET Monday after the weekend’s failed negotiations in Pakistan.
The spokesperson framed the US move as “illegal” and an example of “maritime piracy.” As Iran has repeatedly stressed since the war with the United States and Israel began, “vessels affiliated with the enemy have no right to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” ISNA quoted the spokesperson as saying.
Vatican official responds to Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV ahead of Africa tour
In the Vatican’s first response to President Donald Trump’s stinging criticism of Pope Leo XIV, a Vatican official said the US leader was taking aim at “a moral voice” because he “cannot contain it.”
Leo, the first American pope, has become increasingly vocal about the US and Israel’s war with Iran, last week condemning Trump’s rhetoric and threats against the people of Iran as “truly unacceptable.”
Speaking to reporters Sunday evening, Trump said he was “not a fan of Pope Leo,” as the pontiff prepared to embark on a 10-day tour of four African countries.
“We don’t like a pope that’s going to say that it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon. … He’s a man that doesn’t think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world.”
CNN’s Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb, who is traveling with Pope Leo, said he “can’t remember the last time the president of the United States attacked a pope in this way.”
Lamb said that Pope Leo is “something of a spiritual and diplomatic counterweight to President Trump,” noting that his “style of leadership, his priorities are in contrast to the US President.”
Pope Leo is about to become the first pope to visit Algeria, a Muslim majority country, before heading to Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.
“The contrast between an American pope in Algeria, (a) Muslim country, at a time when the US has been engaged in a military operation in Iran, is a stark contrast,” Lamb said.
Lamb said the pontiff’s remarks about the war are “cutting through to the US.”
“And obviously President Trump has responded in a very strong, unprecedented way,” Lamb said.
Trump’s Iran blockade threat highlights Taiwan’s own vulnerability
As President Donald Trump threatens to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, Taiwan is confronting how quickly life on the island would change if Beijing followed through on its own repeated threats to blockade the island.
The global energy shock has exposed just how vulnerable this self-governing democracy is, because of its reliance on foreign fuels. Taiwan imports about 97 percent of its energy, powering 23 million people and the semiconductor industry that produces around 90% of the world’s most advanced chips. Natural gas, which underpins the power grid, is stored in quantities that last just over 11 days.
The fuel that powers Taiwan arrives by ship, much of it from the Middle East, into a small number of ports along the island’s west coast.
The art of the blockade: China has spent years preparing to apply pressure on Taiwan, which it plans to “reunify” with, despite never having controlled it.
In recent military exercises, the People’s Liberation Army has simulated blockades of ports and sea lanes, focusing on restricting access rather than launching a full invasion. The Pentagon assesses that China now has the world’s largest navy, capable of sustaining operations over time.
At the same time, Beijing continues to frame Taiwan as an internal matter, while broadly condemning US actions around Iran and Venezuela. Analysts say those two recent US military campaigns could give China a clearer argument to justify its own potential future actions, presenting a blockade as a ‘law enforcement operation.’
For Taiwan, a sustained disruption due to a blockade would likely begin with power restrictions on things like air conditioning, elevators and escalators, street lighting, and reduced business hours. If disruptions continued, rotating power cuts like outages Taiwan has already experienced would become more widespread. Trains could face delays. Water supply could become less reliable in some areas, as pumping systems depend on electricity.
Taiwan’s semiconductor plants would likely be prioritized but could also come under pressure. They require uninterrupted power to avoid costly shutdowns.
Taiwan’s government is reconsidering nuclear power, reviewing plans to restart idle reactors to stabilize energy supply. But any restart would likely take years rather than months, requiring safety checks, regulatory approval and new fuel supplies.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue ahead of planned talks this week
Talks between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats are due to take place this week. Meanwhile, deadly Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon continued, Lebanese media said.
Lebanese health authorities say at least 2,055 people have been killed, with more than 6,500 wounded.
What happened on the ground over the weekend:
- Israeli warplanes struck two Lebanese towns while a third came under artillery fire, the state run National News Agency reported. A fourth strike on a house in the town of Maaroub “targeted a family of more than seven members,” resulting in deaths and injuries, the outlet said. A strike also killed a Red Cross paramedic and injured another emergency worker, Lebanon’s Ministry of Health and the Lebanese Red Cross said.
- Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had destroyed a “loaded and ready-to-launch rocket launcher” in Joya, southern Lebanon.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered southern Lebanon on Sunday to conduct a situational assessment in territory seized by Israel, according to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the visit. The rare trip marks the first time Netanyahu has crossed into Lebanon since the beginning of the war.
- The United Nations’ peacekeeping force in Lebanon says that Israeli soldiers rammed UN vehicles with a tank two times. The IDF told CNN that it is looking into the allegation.
There has been growing international criticism of Israel’s strikes amid fears its operations could upend the fragile ceasefire. France became the latest power to add its voice, saying Lebanon “has to be included” in the ceasefire deal.
The United States and Israel have said Lebanon is not part of the two-week ceasefire deal reached last Tuesday, counter to the views of Iran and Pakistan.
CNN’s Laura Sharman, Tal Shalev, Oren Liebermann, Max Saltman and Tamara Qiblawi contributed reporting.
Trump said ceasefire is "holding well" after peace talks stalled. Catch up on his comments
US President Donald Trump spoke to reporters on Sunday night about the state of the ceasefire with Iran.
Here’s what he said:
On the truce: The temporary two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran is “holding well” following the weekend’s failed negotiations in Pakistan, said the president. “Their military is destroyed. Their whole navy is under water,” he added, talking about Iran.
On Pope Leo: Trump strongly criticized Pope Leo XIV, denouncing his stance on the Iran war. “We don’t like a pope that’s going to say that it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon. … He’s a man that doesn’t think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world,” he told reporters. Leo has become increasingly vocal about the war, last week condemning Trump’s rhetoric and threats against the people of Iran as “truly unacceptable.”
On US airmen rescued from downed F-15: “They are in very good shape, and we’re very proud of them,” he said. The airmen were rescued after their F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down on April 3. While the pilot was found quickly, the other crew member was rescued after spending more than a day hiding inside Iran.
Trump's threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz will cause deep unease in India
US President Donald Trump’s threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway already closed off by Iran since the outbreak of the war, is likely causing deep unease thousands of miles away in India.
The nation of 1.4 billion is heavily dependent on Middle Eastern oil and gas, and any further disruption to this supply chain threatens to trigger an energy crisis and stall its rapidly growing economy.
India was also one of the few nations granted safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, offering New Delhi some respite from the energy shortages triggered by Iran’s blockade of the waterway.
Just on Saturday, an India-flagged LPG vessel safely crossed the strait, the government said in a statement, bringing the total number of ships that have crossed to nine.
If Trump follows through on this blockade threat, that could close off even this trickle.
Feeling the crunch: To preserve dwindling gas supplies, New Delhi was forced to prioritize households over the commercial sector, leaving some restaurants on the brink of shuttering and slashing industrial profits for some companies reliant on natural gas.
Surging domestic energy prices have strained millions, particularly those in low-income communities.
The war in Iran is rippling far beyond the Gulf. In India, fears of cooking gas shortages are fueling protests and panic-buying of alternatives like induction stoves. With much of India’s LPG imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz, households and restaurants are scrambling as the government works to secure supply through diplomatic talks. CNN’s Hanako Montgomery reports.
In major cities like Mumbai and Delhi, many migrant workers have been forced to return to their home villages, no longer able to afford food and cooking gas cylinders.
India has denied paying for passage through the strait, but Trump’s latest threat raises questions about what could happen to the diplomatic agreement between New Delhi and Tehran.
India still has more than a dozen ships waiting to exit the Persian Gulf, and a US blockade could leave these vessels marooned, dragging India deeper into the geopolitical crossfire.
Asian markets sell off after US-Iran negotiations fall apart
Equity markets in Asia declined Monday morning, after peace talks between the US and Iran failed to remove the stranglehold Iran’s military has on the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, President Donald Trump threatened his own blockade.
As of 11:10 a.m. local time, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index was down 1.3%. China’s Shanghai Composite declined 0.2%, and Japan’s benchmark index Nikkei 225 fell 1%. South Korea’s Kospi also fell 1.2%.
Meanwhile, oil prices are rising again in anticipation of continued disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s crude flows. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures surged 8.6% to $104.89 a barrel, and Brent crude, the global benchmark, gained 7.3% to $102.15 a barrel.
The ceasefire announced last week ignited hopes that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could start returning to normal levels, after more than a month of interrupted oil and natural gas flows. Trump has said the two-week ceasefire is “holding well” despite the lack of a resolution from the weekend talks in Islamabad.
Even if the strait reopened imminently, economists have warned that it will take months for energy trade to reach normal levels again. But the supply shock for crude oil, natural gas and other commodities is already rippling across Asia and being felt as far as farmlands in the US.
Last week, the Asian Development Bank predicted that growth in the Asia Pacific region would slow to 5.1% in 2026 and 2027, due to the conflict in the Middle East and trade uncertainty. The organization forecast that regional inflation would rise 3.6% in 2026, up from 3% last year.
“A prolonged conflict in the Middle East is the single biggest risk to the region’s outlook, as it could lead to persistently high energy and food prices and tighter financial conditions,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park in a release accompanying the report.
What we know about the planned blockade of Iranian port traffic
President Donald Trump said the US Navy will begin blockading Iranian port traffic and interdicting every ship that has paid a toll to Tehran, after peace talks between both countries faltered over the weekend.
Here’s what we know.
Why a US blockade: The Strait of Hormuz isn’t technically closed. Iran has been gradually allowing some tankers through and charging a toll reportedly of up to $2 million per ship. With the blockade, Trump could cut off a key source of financing for Iran’s government and military operations.
When it’s happening: US Central Command said it will begin enforcing the maritime blockade on all traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports starting at 10 a.m. ET Monday.
Who’s involved: When Trump announced plans for the blockade on Truth Social, he said, “Other Countries will be involved.” It’s not clear which countries he was referring to. The UK said it is trying to bring together a “wide coalition” with France and others to ensure passage through the waterway. CNN understands that the UK will not participate in a blockade. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it hasn’t been asked to help with the blockade.
Iran’s warning: Iran’s revolutionary guards (IRGC) warned that any military vessels attempting to approach the Strait of Hormuz “will be dealt with harshly and decisively,” according to state-affiliated Fars News. The IRGC also said the strait remains open to civilian vessels for “harmless passage,” provided they comply with relevant regulations, reported Fars.
CNN’s David Goldman, Hanna Ziady, Tim Lister, Aileen Graef, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Issy Ronald, Max Saltman, Riane Lumer and Hilary Whiteman contributed reporting.
