US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that an agreement could soon be reached to end the Iran war and urged the Tehran-aligned Hezbollah group to hold its fire as a 10-day truce went in to effect between Lebanon and Israel.Trump said the next meeting between the United States and Iran could take place at the weekend and an extension of a two-week ceasefire was possible, but may not be needed as Tehran wanted a deal.“We’re going to see what happens. But I think we’re very close to making a deal with Iran,” he told reporters outside the White House, adding if an agreement was reached and signed in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, he may go there for the occasion.Hours later while in Las Vegas, Trump went further, saying the war “should be ending pretty soon”.The war with Iran has been unpopular in the United States and has left Trump with a political headache just months before a crucial midterm election at home.The US-Israeli attack on Iran that started on February 28 has triggered the worst oil price shock in history and led to an International Monetary Fund downgrade of its outlook for the global economy and a warning that prolonged conflict could push the world to the brink of recession.A Pakistani source involved in mediating between the US and Iran said on Friday there was progress in backdoor diplomacy and that an upcoming meeting between the two sides could result in the signing of an agreement.The two sides would first sign a memorandum of understanding followed by a comprehensive agreement within 60 days, the source said.“Detailed agreement comes later. Both sides are agreeing in principle. And technical bits come later,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.Iran opens Strait of HormuzApril 17, 2026 6:37 pmIran says passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is completely open for remaining period of ceasefire.Sri Lanka among worst impacted countries in Asia-Pacific due to West Asia conflictApril 17, 2026 1:54 pmThe report published by the United Nations Development Programme, released on Thursday, provides a preliminary assessment on how the ongoing conflict is destabilising global trade, energy markets, and financial systems. The report titled “Military escalation in the Middle East: Human Development Impacts Across Asia and the Pacific” shows that Sri Lanka is highly exposed, as 80.2 per cent of migrant-worker departures from the island nation in 2025 were to the Middle East, the report says.South Korea tanker passes through the Red Sea routeApril 17, 2026 1:53 pmA South Korean-flagged tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port has safely exited the Red Sea, South Korean officials said. The passage marks the country’s first such shipment since it began seeking alternative energy routes, while Iran is largely blocking the Strait of Hormuz.Displaced Lebanese return to scenes of destructionApril 17, 2026 1:53 pmRelief at a ceasefire beginning in Lebanon on Friday was tempered by the destruction that many encountered upon returning to their homes. In the southern village of Jibsheet, a trickle of residents returned to flattened apartment blocks and streets littered with chunks of concrete, twisted aluminum shutters and dangling electrical wires.Macron says Lebanon-Israel ceasefire ‘may already be undermined’April 17, 2026 1:38 pmJ’apporte tout mon soutien au cessez-le-feu entre le Hezbollah et Israël tel que le Président Trump l’a annoncé hier.J’exprime aussi ma préoccupation qu’il puisse d’ores et déjà être fragilisé par la poursuite d’opérations militaires.Je demande la sécurité…— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 17, 202610-day Lebanon ceasefire appears to hold as European leaders set to meet over straitApril 17, 2026 1:25 pmA 10-day ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump and agreed on by Lebanon and Israel appeared to be holding in Lebanon early Friday, potentially boosting efforts to extend a ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel. It was unclear whether a lasting deal would be reached between the US and Iran before the ceasefire ends next week, but the pause in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah could be an indication that some progress has been made. An end to Israel’s war with Hezbollah was a key demand of Iranian negotiators. Israel has not been fighting with Lebanon itself, but rather with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group inside Lebanon, which said in a statement that “any ceasefire must be comprehensive across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he agreed to the ceasefire “to advance” peace efforts with Lebanon, but said Israeli troops would not withdraw.Trump gave in to Iran’s pressure; forced Netanyahu to agree: Lebanese MP on Israel-Lebanon ceasefire dealApril 17, 2026 11:23 amMember of the Lebanese Parliament, Hussein Haj Hassan, claimed that the recent 10-day ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon was the result of external pressure on the United States by Iran, alleging that US President Donald Trump “gave in” to the influence of the Islamic Republic, which compelled the Israeli leadership to accept the deal.Trump hails Israel-Lebanon ceasefire as ‘historic day’April 17, 2026 11:16 amIn two social media posts Thursday night, US President Donald Trump said Thursday could have been “a historic day for Lebanon.” In a separate Truth Social message after the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon went into effect, Trump added that he hoped the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group “acts nicely and well.”Iran peace talk optimism trips dollar for second straight weekApril 17, 2026 11:16 amThe US dollar was headed for a second consecutive weekly decline on Friday in cautious trade, as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and prospects for fresh Iran talks prompted investors to unwind safe-haven positions.Trump claims Iran agrees to hand over enriched uraniumApril 17, 2026 11:12 amA 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect on Thursday and President Donald Trump said the next meeting between the United States and Iran may take place over the weekend, adding to optimism that the Iran war could be nearing an end. According to reports by The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, Washington has proposed a 20-year freeze on Iran’s uranium enrichment in its proposal, but Tehran had said it could only agree to do it for five years.Iran women players thank Australian government for protectionApril 17, 2026 9:58 amIranian women’s soccer players Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh thanked the Australian government on Friday for offering a “safe haven” and said they wished to resume their sporting careers after rebuilding their lives. In their first public comments since being granted humanitarian visas, the players said in a statement the compassion and support shown to them had provided them hope for a future where they could live and compete in safety. “We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Australian government, and particularly Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, for granting us humanitarian protection and a safe haven in this beautiful country,” they said. Australia initially granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member from the Iran squad after their Asian Cup campaign in Australia began just as the United States and Israel launched air-strikes on Iran.Trump claims Iran agreed to give ‘nuclear dust’ back to USApril 17, 2026 9:56 amUS President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) claimed that Iran has agreed to return its “nuclear dust” to the United States, asserting that the understanding comes as part of broader assurances from Tehran, as part of the peace deal, not to pursue its ambition to acquire a nuclear weapon. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump emphasised that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a top priority for his administration.Asia stocks power towards weekly gain, oil below $100 on peace deal hopesApril 17, 2026 9:56 amAsian stocks headed for a second week of strong gains while oil prices were pinned below $100 a barrel with investors dialling back risk ahead of a crucial weekend that could pave the way for a near-term resolution to the Middle East war. Investors have been quick to take an optimistic view on any signs of denouement this month, even though the Strait of Hormuz – through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply typically flows – remains closed. That has kept oil prices below $100 per barrel though they remain well above the pre-war levels. Brent crude futures dropped more than 1% to $98.14 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 1.6% to $93.15 a barrel. In stocks, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.8% as investors locked in profits after a blistering rally this month. The index remains close to its highest since March 2, the first trading day after the Iran war broke out, and is up 14.5% in April after dropping 13.5% last month. Japan’s Nikkei slipped 1% after hitting a record high on Thursday. Almost all stock markets are back to levels before the war erupted at the end of February.Iran war drives up costs, spoils the mood at China’s largest trade fairApril 17, 2026 9:51 amShao Haixia’s plastics factory in China has seen raw material costs jump 20% since the Iran war started and has not been able to fully pass those extra costs onto its foreign customers. Xiatao Plastic Industry mainly sources from local refiners and makes components for electrical appliances, which it sells exclusively abroad. Like many others attending this year’s Canton Fair, China’s largest trade exhibition, Shao is worried about rising input costs and the impact a prolonged conflict could have on global demand.Israel, Lebanon begin ceasefireApril 17, 2026 7:41 amHours later at an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, Trump went further, saying the war “should be ending pretty soon.” The war with Iran, which began on February 28 with a US-Israeli attack, has killed thousands and sent oil prices surging, creating a major political headache for the US president. If the Lebanon ceasefire clears the way for a broader peace deal with Iran, it would be a significant win for the Trump administration, which has struggled so far to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon.