Day: April 19, 2026

US envoy argues Israeli policy on Syria and Turkey strategically counterproductive

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Tom Barrack, Trump’s special envoy on Syria and ambassador to Turkey, asserts Ankara plays productive role in Gaza, hails Syrian restraint in face of repeated IDF incursions By Jacob Magid Follow18 April 2026, 10:31 pm US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack speaks during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on April 17, 2026. (Screen capture/YouTube) US President Donald Trump’s point man for Syria and Turkey appeared to knock Israel’s strategy in dealing with those countries on Friday, arguing that Jerusalem’s view of Damascus and Ankara as adversaries, rather than potential partners, was a strategic mistake. Barrack, who serves as both US special envoy on …

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Iran Pushes Back on Nuclear Demands

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 April 19, 2026 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a rally commemorating the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the late pro-US Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and brought Islamic clerics to power, in Tehran, Feb. 10, 2025. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday sharply rejected U.S. pressure over Tehran’s nuclear program, saying President Donald Trump “has no right” to deny Iran the ability to benefit from its nuclear rights. He stressed that Iran’s position is rooted in maintaining regional peace, stability, and security, adding that defending the country remains a “legal and legitimate …

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Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again, says US violated ceasefire

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Tehran claims the US violated the ceasefire and is demanding “security fees” for passage. At the same time, reports say the US military is preparing to seize Iranian tankers in international waters. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum expires on Wednesday.  by  Bar Shaffer  Published on  04-18-2026 22:15  Last modified: 04-18-2026 23:38 An oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Reuters Tensions in the Persian Gulf reached a new peak on Saturday when the naval arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the “complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic.” In an official statement published by the Tasnim news …

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