Here's the latest
• US-Iran talks: Vice President JD Vance and top US officials are expected to travel to Islamabad in the coming days, but Iran’s foreign ministry insisted there were no plans for talks. The ceasefire, which the US and Iran have accused each other of violating, expires on Wednesday.
• Ship seizure: Iran has vowed to retaliate after the US Navy fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship yesterday, “once the safety of the families and crew of the vessel” is ensured, according to state media.
• Global energy supply: Oil prices rose sharply again, continuing their recent roller-coaster ride, as the Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed.
• Lebanon-Israel talks: Meanwhile, Lebanon’s president said his country’s peace talks with Israel should be separate from any negotiations with Iran. They may continue this week, with no exact date set yet, a source told CNN.
Trump contradicts his energy secretary on gas prices: "He's wrong"
US President Donald Trump contradicted his own Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who had warned it may be next year before gas prices come down to pre-Iran war levels.
“No, I think he’s wrong on that. Totally wrong,” Trump said in a phone interview with The Hill.
Wright said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday that Americans might not see gas prices fall below $3 per gallon until 2027, even with the potential opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said the prices will fall “as soon as this ends,” referring to the war with Iran.
How US-Iran peace talks have developed since the start of the ceasefire
The two-week expiry date of the current ceasefire between the US and Iran is fast approaching.
Talks held between officials in Islamabad earlier this month wrapped up without any path towards a more final end to the conflict, and there are conflicting reports on whether more negotiations will take place this week, with a US delegation expected in Pakistan in the coming days.
Here’s a look at what has happened with the talks since the ceasefire was announced:
- April 7: US President Donald Trump warns that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not agree to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Hours later, a two-week ceasefire between Tehran and Washington is announced.
- April 8: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says ceasefire violations “have been reported at a few places across the conflict zone” which “undermine the spirit of peace process.”
- April 11: US and Iranian officials meet for face-to-face talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, lasting 21 hours.
- April 12: US Vice President JD Vance announces the sides have “not reached an agreement,” largely because of Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear program. The leader of the Iranian negotiators, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, says the US failed to gain the trust of the Iranian side. Later in the day, Trump says the ceasefire is still “holding well.”
- April 13: The US implements a blockade of Iranian ports, as a US official tells CNN that US and Iran are still engaged in talks. Trump also says that if a deal is not reached by the end of the ceasefire, “it won’t be pleasant” for Iran.
- April 17: After Iran says it will reopen the Strait of Hormuz in response to a separate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Trump says the US’ blockade of Iranian ports will continue until a final deal to end the war is agreed. Iran says it will close the strait again if the blockade continues.
- April 18: Iran says it is once again shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, blaming the US for “breaches of trust.” Trump says that negotiations are still ongoing but shows frustration, saying Iran “got a little cute” when closing the strait again. Ghalibaf says the US and Iran are “still far from a final agreement” in an interview with state television.
- April 19: Trump says US representatives will be traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan, for a second round of negotiations with Iran. Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations tell CNN that a delegation representing Tehran will also be traveling to Pakistan for talks, though Iranian state media reports that Iran’s presence in Islamabad is not confirmed.
- April 20: Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei says they “as of now” have “no plans for the next round of negotiations,” adding: “We don’t believe in deadlines or ultimatums to secure Iran’s national interests.”
CNN’s Aileen Graef, Kit Maher, Sophia Saifi, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Sophie Tanno, Kevin Liptak, Tim Lister, Aida Karimi, Riane Lumer, Alayna Treene, Elise Hammond, Nadeen Ebrahim, Adam Pourahmadi, Donald Judd, Alejandra Jaramillo and Mitchell McCluskey contributed to this reporting.
China's Xi says choked Strait of Hormuz must open as US and Iran trade barbs
Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned that the Strait of Hormuz must be fully open for vessels, in his most explicit comments on the choked waterway, as the US and Iran remain locked in disagreement over the movement of shipping in the Gulf .
“The Strait of Hormuz should remain open to normal navigation, which serves the shared interests of countries in the region and the wider international community,” Xi said during a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
Xi reiterated Beijing’s call for a ceasefire to end hostilities and called for “all efforts conducive to restoring peace.”
The US seizure of an Iran-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday has thrown a second round of ceasefire talks between Tehran and Washington into doubt. The waterway between Iran and Oman typically carries one fifth of global oil and gas supplies.
Xi’s comments are the latest sign of urgency in Beijing’s messaging around the need to end the conflict. The Chinese leader last week announced a four-point proposal for peace in the Middle East.
The Chinese economy has been relatively insulated from global price shocks, thanks to large oil and gas stockpiles, but has begun to see higher energy costs ripple through the economy. China is the biggest buyer of Iranian crude oil.
A look at the latest Middle East developments, as uncertainty over peace talks continues
We’ve been bringing you updates today on a potential second round of talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan this week — something US President Donald Trump has said is happening but Iranian officials have denied.
We’ve also been reporting on developments surrounding an Iran-flagged cargo ship that US forces seized in the Gulf of Oman yesterday.
If you’re just joining us, here’s a look at what’s been going on so far today:
- Confusion grew over the status of peace talks as Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson insisted today that there were no immediate plans for a second round of negotiations.
- Some hours later, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country needs to end the war with the US and Israel as swiftly as possible to focus on the bigger task of reconstruction. He has no direct role in negotiations with the United States.
- The Strait of Hormuz is virtually empty for the third consecutive day, as Iran and the US remain locked in disagreement over the movement of shipping through the Gulf.
- After the US Navy seized an Iranian cargo ship yesterday, oil prices once again rose as hopes that an end to the war might come soon were dashed.
- Tehran “will take the necessary action” against US forces, Iranian state news reported today, after the US capture of the Iran-flagged vessel.
- Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has said his country’s peace talks with Israel should be separate from any negotiations on resolving the conflict with Iran.
- Israel’s military issued an “urgent” warning to residents of southern Lebanon today, directing them not to move south of a line of villages or approach the Litani River, citing safety risks.
- Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the damaging of a Christian symbol by an Israel Defense Forces soldier in southern Lebanon “grave and disgraceful” in a post on X.
CNN’s Nadeen Ebrahim, Tim Lister, Aida Karimi, Hanna Ziady, Sana Noor Haq, Charbel Mallo, Tamara Qiblawi, Lex Harvey and Eugenia Yosef contributed to this reporting.
Iran's president says war must end to focus on rebuilding
Iran needs to end the war against the United States and Israel as swiftly as possible to focus on the bigger task of reconstruction, according to President Masoud Pezeshkian.
In a series of meetings with public workers in Tehran, Pezeshkian said the country’s leadership needed to be honest to preserve public trust.
Striking a more moderate tone than others in the regime’s leadership, Pezeshkian said that while Iran must resist “excessive demands, we must recognize that continuing the conflict benefits no one — not us, not the other side, and not the future of the region or coming generations.”
In another meeting, he said that “every rational and diplomatic path must be used to reduce tensions.”
“After the end of hostilities, the country will face challenges in reconstruction, securing financial resources, and controlling the market,” he told firefighters in the capital, according to Iranian media.
Pezeshkian is regarded as more moderate than other members of the leadership who have long-standing links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But he has no direct role in negotiations with the United States, nor the final say in decisions on ending the conflict.
During a visit to the Justice Ministry, Pezeshkian said that while some problems caused by the conflict had been managed, reforms were needed.
“People must be informed of the realities of the country. Providing inaccurate information or unrealistic promises not only does not help resolve issues but will also weaken public trust,” he said.
Iran’s cohesion required “honesty in speech, transparency in performance, and strengthening public trust,” he added.
Some context: Iran was in deep economic crisis even before the conflict began, and its currency has weakened dramatically this year.
The government estimated last week that the war has inflicted $270 billion in damage on Iran without providing details. Israeli strikes have caused severe damage to the critical steel and petrochemical industries and other infrastructure.
How things have developed since the US seized an Iran-flagged cargo ship yesterday
US President Donald Trump announced yesterday that his country’s forces fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship after it tried to get past the US’ naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
Here’s a look at developments surrounding the vessel since the US captured it:
- In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced the seizure of the Iranian-flagged ship, writing that the vessel, “nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them.”
- In a post on X shortly after Trump’s announcement, US Central Command said that a US destroyer had fired “several rounds” towards the Iranian-flagged ship, called “Touska,” after it “failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period.”
- Iran’s military warned it would respond, calling the US’ actions “maritime highway robbery,” according to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.
- Night video footage released by CENTCOM showed US Marines approaching the vessel. The video shows helicopters flying over the cargo ship and a bird’s eye view of metal containers below, with one person dropping towards them via a rope.
- Naval experts told CNN that the Touska will be taken to an anchorage or port for inspection. Once that is done and its cargo can be determined, they said the ship could eventually become property of the US government as a “prize.”
- Iran’s state-affiliated news agency Tasnim reported today that Tehran “will take the necessary action” against US forces in response to the ship’s seizure. However, the “safety of the families and crew of the vessel” needs to be ensured beforehand, Tasnim added.
CNN’s Alejandra Jaramillo, Lauren Chadwick, Nechirvan Mando, Max Saltman Laura Sharman, Ally Barnard, Brad Lendon and Sana Noor Haq contributed to this reporting.
“You feel like you’re in Gaza”: Lebanese man recalls emotional toll of Israeli destruction
Blackened trees, layers of ashen rubble and half-standing apartment blocks line parts of Lebanon – where residents are struggling to wade through the wreckage of Israeli strikes.
One resident in the coastal city of Sidon said the scale of destruction mirrors that of Gaza – where two years of Israeli bombing and siege has rendered swathes of the enclave uninhabitable for the more than 2.2 million Palestinian people there.
Entire communities have been erased, the health care system weakened and at least 2,294 people killed in Lebanon after Israeli forces launched strikes against Hezbollah in reponse to the Iranian-backed militant group’s firing of projectiles into northern Israel.
Habli has spent the past several weeks trying to rescue animals from the debris of buildings razed by Israeli strikes in parts of Lebanon – including the capital, Beirut, the suburb of Dahiyeh and the southern city of Nabatieh. Many owners were forced to flee in haste to improvised shelters and could not take their pets, he told CNN.
“We feel upset for the people who were displaced and are sitting in tents with no one caring for them,” added Habli. “Many people left their animals behind. So these are weak creatures, and there is no one to defend them.”
Lebanon-Israel talks separate from Iran conflict, Lebanese president says
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun has said his country’s peace talks with Israel should be separate from any negotiations on resolving the conflict with Iran.
Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors met in Washington last week – the first bilateral meeting between the two governments in more than 40 years.
In a post on X Monday, Aoun said that “the upcoming negotiations are separate from any other negotiations because Lebanon faces two options: either the continuation of the war with all its humanitarian, social, economic and sovereignty repercussions, or negotiation to put an end to this war and achieve sustainable stability.”
Aoun’s government is committed to disarming Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, as a military force. But Iran has linked the two conflicts, insisting on a halt to Israeli strikes on the group as a condition for the ceasefire with the US that began nearly two weeks ago.
He added that US President Donald Trump had “intervened with Israel for a ceasefire and to prepare to launch a negotiations track.”
“Communications will continue between us to maintain the ceasefire and begin negotiations,” Aoun said.
The negotiations might continue this week, with no exact date set yet, a source told CNN. The first stage will be between ambassadors and the second will be handled by a a delegation led by ambassador Simon Karam.
“I have chosen negotiation, and I am full of hope that we will be able to save Lebanon,” Aoun said in his X post.
The speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told Pakistani mediators last week that Lebanon must be included if a “comprehensive ceasefire” between Iran and the United States is to be negotiated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the Israeli military will not withdraw from its positions in southern Lebanon during the 10-day ceasefire, which is due to expire at the end of this week.
Vance, Witkoff and Kushner due in Pakistan for second round of Iran peace talks
US President Donald Trump announced yesterday that officials from his country would be traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan this week for “negotiations.”
Iranian officials told CNN yesterday that a delegation from Tehran would also be making its way to Pakistan, though Iranian state media reports then cast doubt on whether Iran would take part in what would be a second round of negotiations.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said earlier they “as of now” have “no plans for the next round of negotiations.”
Here’s a look at the delegation expected to participate in the talks, should they happen, on behalf of the US:
- JD Vance: The US vice president, a one-time Iran war skeptic, was involved in securing the current two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, as well as the recent ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a senior administration official told CNN. Last month, we reported that Iranian representatives preferred to engage with Vance over other US officials.
- Steve Witkoff: A wealthy real estate developer, Witkoff has been friends with US President Donald Trump for decades. Alongside Kushner, he helped negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, and has also sat down for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine.
- Jared Kushner: Kushner is the husband of Trump’s daughter Ivanka. He served as a chief Middle East negotiator in Trump’s first term and built deep relationships with leaders in the region, having informally advised administration officials on negotiations with Arab leaders, Trump administration officials and people close to Kushner told CNN last year.
CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Kylie Atwood, Stephen Collinson and Alayna Treene contributed to this reporting.
What the US and Iran have said about a second round of peace talks
President Donald Trump announced yesterday that US representatives would be traveling to Islamabad, Pakistan, for a second round of negotiations with Iran this week.
Though Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN that a delegation representing Tehran would also be traveling to Pakistan for the talks, Iranian officials have since denied negotiations will be going ahead.
Here’s a look at what both sides have said since Trump’s announcement yesterday:
- In a lengthy Truth Social post yesterday morning, Trump said a US delegation was traveling to Islamabad for the talks. “We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” the president said.
- Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN that an Iranian delegation would be traveling to Islamabad on Tuesday. The sources expected the team to be the same as in the last round of talks.
- Though Trump initially told reporters that US Vice President JD Vance would not be attending the negotiations, the White House told CNN that Vance would in fact be present for the talks in Islamabad.
- Iranian state media reported that Iran’s presence in Islamabad was not confirmed, with some outlets saying that, as long as a US blockade of Iranian ports continued, a second round of talks would not take place.
- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday, according to a Pakistani readout of the conversation. The readout did not include any hints as to when the next round of negotiations might be.
- Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said this morning that his country has “no plans for the next round of negotiations,” adding: “We don’t believe in deadlines or ultimatums to secure Iran’s national interests.”
CNN’s Alejandra Jaramillo, Sophia Saifi, Julia Benbrook, Alayna Treene, Ivana Kottasová, Max Saltman and Nadeen Ebrahim contributed to this reporting.
Pakistan prepares for potential new round of US‑Iran negotiations
These are the latest pictures we’re seeing from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad as the city gears up for expected peace talks between the US and Iran.
The two main hotels in the city’s “Red Zone” have been vacated of guests in anticipation of the arrival of the delegations.
Vice President JD Vance and top US officials are expected to travel to Islamabad today, but Iran’s foreign ministry has insisted there are no plans for talks “as of now.”
Hormuz deserted as US and Iran deadlocked over shipping
The Strait of Hormuz is virtually empty for the third consecutive day, as Iran and the US remain locked in disagreement over the movement of shipping through the Gulf.
Three vessels appear to have passed into the Gulf in recent hours, including two tankers that are shown as empty by the ship tracking site MarineTraffic.
One laden tanker exited the Gulf through the Strait early Monday local time, according to MarineTraffic. The Nova Crest, which has a Turkish operator, had left an Iraqi port earlier this month. It has previously been sanctioned by the UK and European Union for carrying Russian oil.
On Saturday, when the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) declared that the Strait was closed again, 13 vessels turned round, according to maritime intelligence group Windward.
One container ship was struck by gunfire Saturday and two other vessels reported being fired on, and as result no tankers were recorded transiting the Strait on Sunday, though analysts caution that not all ships disclose their position.
Ambrey, a shipping advisory group, said Monday that “vessels are advised to abort a planned Strait of Hormuz transit by returning to the point of origin as soon as threatened over VHF (radio).”
Several commercial ships have reported being told by the IRGC navy not to proceed with their passage.
Tehran ready to "take action" after US forces seize Iranian vessel, state news says
Tehran “will take the necessary action” against US forces, state news reported on Monday, after the US military captured an Iran-flagged ship along the choked Strait of Hormuz over the weekend.
The Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had been “prepared to respond decisively to the invading American forces” following their “blatant aggression,” according to the IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency.
However, Iranian forces “faced certain limitations” over the presence of family members of the ship’s crew on board, Tasnim added.
US naval forces captured an Iranian cargo ship trying to cross through a US blockade on the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday that Tehran had “no plans” to attend a new round of talks.
Oil prices rally after US seizes Iranian ship, imperiling peace talks
Oil prices are rebounding today, after the US Navy seized an Iranian cargo ship Sunday, knocking hopes of a peace deal between Washington and Tehran during talks expected this week.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, has risen 6.3% to $96 a barrel. WTI, the US benchmark, is up 7% at $88.3 a barrel.
Oil prices have been on a wild ride since Friday, when Iran said it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent plunged more than 9% that day to settle at its lowest level since March 10. But Tehran then closed the vital waterway the following day, citing the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports. Brent climbed after the market re-opened late on Sunday.
Iran’s U-turn on the strait “has taken the wind out of markets’ sails,” but investors remained “surprisingly” optimistic, said Thomas Mathews, head of Asia-Pacific markets at consultancy Capital Economics. “The implied probabilities of a deal in prediction markets are still reasonably high,” he wrote in a note Monday.
Stock markets in Asia notched gains Monday, while in Europe major indexes traded lower in morning hours. US futures pointed to a slightly weaker open.
Iran’s military warned it would respond to what it called “maritime highway robbery” by the United States, after US forces fired on and then boarded an Iranian vessel in the Gulf of Oman. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, reiterated threats to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges if Iran did not accept Washington’s “very fair and reasonable deal.”
No tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz Sunday, ship tracking data showed, one of the quietest days in the channel since the conflict began.
The US and Iran have accused each other of violating their ceasefire. Here's why
The ceasefire, which the US and Iran have accused each other of violating, expires on Wednesday. CNN’s Ivan Watson reports.
US Central Command said the USS Spruance intercepted the Iranian-flagged “Touska” as it traveled towards an Iranian port in violation of the blockade. Iran’s military called it a violation of the US-Iran temporary ceasefire and threatened to retaliate. However, Iran was later accused of violating the ceasefire after reportedly opening fire on ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz. CNN's Ivan Watson reports.
No plans for second round of talks "as of now," Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson says
Confusion grew over the status of peace talks on Monday as Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson insisted there were no plans for a second round of negotiations.
“As of now, we have no plans for the next round of negotiations,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday during a weekly press conference. “We don’t believe in deadlines or ultimatums to secure Iran’s national interests,” he added.
It is unclear whether a second round of US-Iran peace talks will go ahead after the United States seized an Iranian-flagged ship, prompting a furious response from Tehran.
Iran likely to attend Pakistan talks despite "volatile" situation, says analyst
Iran is “fairly likely” to attend a second round of war talks in Pakistan this week despite the “volatile” situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a Qatari analyst told CNN.
US officials are expected to attend the Pakistan talks today. Tehran has not publicly confirmed it will send representatives to the meetings, with some state media outlets suggesting the talks may not happen, though Iranian sources told CNN a delegation will arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday.
“The strategic options in front of Iran have become quite limited,” Al-Mohanadi added. “Other than war, they only have negotiations on the table. I think the Iranians would like to negotiate, but they would like to negotiate on terms that, apparently, they still disagree on with the US.”
When asked about the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and whether the US should have lifted its naval blockade, Al-Mohanadi said this may have been an attempted “confidence-building measure” that ultimately failed to go as planned.
On the Gulf: Al-Mohanadi, a Qatari analyst, said the Gulf states’ biggest concern is how to manage Iran as a military threat and address the risks posed by its proxies.
“These things have to be on the table when the discussions happen,” he said.
Heightened security in Pakistan's capital even as US-Iran peace talks uncertain
Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad waits with bated breath for confirmation of whether a second round of US-Iran peace talks will go ahead after the US seized an Iranian-flagged ship, prompting a furious response from Tehran.
In the city’s “Red Zone” – which houses the country’s parliament, Supreme Court, top government offices and foreign embassies – the two main hotels have been vacated of guests in anticipation of the arrival of the delegations.
The Serena, where a first – and unsuccessful – round of talks took place earlier this month, and the Marriott – where the Iranian delegation stayed during those talks – have been emptied.
Traffic is at a standstill on the main avenue leading in to the Red Zone after the city’s police announced alternate traffic plans “due to the arrival of foreign delegations in Islamabad.”
The city’s residents have been advised to use alternate routes.
All government officials operating out of the Red Zone have been asked to work from home on April 20.
What happens now to the Iran ship seized by the US Navy?
The US military on Sunday fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, the M/V Touska, that was trying to run a US blockade of Iranian ports, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
What happens to the ship now?
Naval experts said the Touska will be taken to an anchorage or port for inspection.
Once that is done and its cargo can be determined, they said it could eventually become property of the US government as a “prize.”
“Under the laws of naval warfare, you can seize a vessel in these circumstances (that) has tried to run a blockade,” Jennifer Parker, a nonresident fellow at the Lowy Institute and a former Royal Australian Navy officer, told CNN.
According to MarineTraffic data, the Touska had been going back and forth between the Chinese city of Zhuhai and various Iranian ports in recent years, and had been sanctioned since 2018.
MarineTraffic said the Touska is “laden,” but did not specify exactly what its cargo is.
“It can be treated as a ‘spoils of war,’” like any enemy combatant or materials seized from an enemy in the course of armed conflict, said Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain and Hawaii-based analyst.
As for the fate of the Touska’s crew, that would depend on their nationalities, Parker said.
If the crew are Iranian, they may be detained, or possibly if members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are aboard, they could be held as prisoners of war, Parker said.
If the Touska was carrying any weapons or armaments for Iran, the crew would likely be detained, she said.
CNN has asked CENTCOM for comment on the nationality of the crew and status of the ship.
CNN’s Teele Rebane contributed reporting.
Israeli foreign minister calls photo of soldier damaging Christ statue in Lebanon "disgraceful"
Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the damaging of a Christian symbol by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier in southern Lebanon “grave and disgraceful” in a post to X Monday.
Sa’ar’s comments came after the IDF said it is investigating a photo shared on social media showing an Israeli soldier seemingly hitting the head of a Jesus Christ statue with a hammer or ax in the predominantly Christian village of Debel.
“This shameful action is completely contrary to our values,” Sa’ar said.
“Israel is a country that respects the different religions and their sacred symbols, and upholds tolerance and respect among faiths. We apologize for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt.”
