US-Iran war live updates: Trump says Iran talks could resume ‘over next two days’; Trump lashes out at Meloni over Pope criticisms; Middle East war could trigger global recession, says IMF; Lebanon and Israel talks

Thank you for joining our continuing live coverage of the war in the Middle East.

Here’s a recap of the latest developments:

• US President Donald Trump said a second round of talks with Iran could resume in Pakistan “over the next two days”.
• The US military on Tuesday (Washington time) said the blockade was succeeding, claiming it had turned back six tankers.
• Lebanon and Israel entered their first direct talks in decades as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants rocked southern Lebanon.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended the “historic” meeting in Washington, aimed at disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the two countries.
• The global economy is under threat, with a recession looming, the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Brunei, where he will hold diplomatic talks aimed at strengthening Australia’s fuel security through deeper two-way trade.
• Australia will be among dozens of countries to attend an emergency summit in Paris on Friday focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
• Meanwhile, Trump has lashed out at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she condemned his “unacceptable” Pope remarks.

Israel and Lebanon are holding peace talks in Washington today, the first direct negotiations in decades.

Both countries’ ambassadors to the US are meeting, along with US secretary of state Marco Rubio.

As the meeting began at 11am (Washington time), Israel was bombing an area in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, earlier urged Lebanon to withdraw from the talks, and vowed not to abide by any agreements.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said he hoped it would “mark the beginning of the end of the suffering of the Lebanese people in general, and the people of the south in particular”.

The International Monetary Fund cut its economic growth outlook on Tuesday due to Middle East war-driven energy price spikes, but said the world was already drifting toward a more adverse scenario with much-weaker growth as Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions continue.

With massive uncertainty over the Middle East conflict gripping finance officials gathered for IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, the IMF presented three growth scenarios: weaker, worse and severe, depending on how the war unfolds.

Under the IMF’s worst-case outlook, the global economy teeters on the brink of recession, with oil prices averaging $110 a barrel in 2026 and $125 in 2027.

Reuters

Trump has turned on Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni - escalating the backlash over his attack on the Pope.

“I’m shocked by her,” the US president told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera .

“I thought she had courage, I was wrong,“after she publicly rebuked him for attacking the Pope.

President Donald Trump slammed Meloni, his one-time political ally, for her reluctance to support the US in the war and for defending Pope Leo.

“She’s no longer the same person, and Italy will never be the same country again,” Trump said.

A second round of talks with Iran could be “happening over the next two days” in Islamabad, Trump told the New York Post.

“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there (Pakistan),” Trump told The Post reporter during the interview.

“It’s more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job.”

“Something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there [Pakistan],” he said.

Trump also said Pakistan’s army chief, field marshal Asim Munir, was doing a “great job” on the talks.

Thank you for joining our continuing live coverage of the war in the Middle East.

Here’s a recap of the latest developments:

• US President Donald Trump said a second round of talks with Iran could resume in Pakistan “over the next two days”.
• The US military on Tuesday (Washington time) said the blockade was succeeding, claiming it had turned back six tankers.
• Lebanon and Israel entered their first direct talks in decades as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants rocked southern Lebanon.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended the “historic” meeting in Washington, aimed at disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the two countries.
• The global economy is under threat, with a recession looming, the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Brunei, where he will hold diplomatic talks aimed at strengthening Australia’s fuel security through deeper two-way trade.
• Australia will be among dozens of countries to attend an emergency summit in Paris on Friday focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
• Meanwhile, Trump has lashed out at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she condemned his “unacceptable” Pope remarks.