Japan and Australia have signed a major defense agreement worth 10 billion Australian dollars, equivalent to about 7 billion US dollars, for the supply of advanced warships. The memorandum of understanding was signed in Melbourne on Saturday by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, reaffirming both governments’ commitment to the successful implementation of the project.

Under the agreement, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will deliver three advanced Mogami-class multi-role frigates to the Royal Australian Navy starting in 2029. An additional eight frigates will later be built at the Henderson Shipyard near Perth in Western Australia. Japan’s defense ministry said the deal strengthens bilateral defense relations and formalizes the process of supplying general-purpose frigates.

According to the report, Australia plans to deploy the new warships to protect key maritime trade routes and access points in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Analysts noted that the agreement adds a new dimension to regional security strategy amid China’s growing military presence.

Many vessels are still avoiding the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s announcement that the key waterway is open to all commercial shipping. Maritime transport expert Jean-Paul Rodrigue of Texas A&M University told Al Jazeera that contradictory information from multiple sides has kept many ships from using the route. He said that although some vessels have attempted to pass through since the announcement, many have turned back due to ongoing uncertainty.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier declared the strait fully open to commercial traffic. However, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that if the United States continues to impose blockades on Iranian ports, the strait would not remain open. Rodrigue noted that major shipping companies such as Maersk would only feel comfortable resuming transit once all Iranian restrictions or controls are completely lifted.

The situation underscores the fragile security and trade environment in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with uncertainty still shaping global shipping decisions.

Within a 24-hour period, both the United States and Iran issued a series of major and often contradictory statements concerning the Hormuz Strait. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on X that the strait would remain fully open for the remainder of the ceasefire period. Minutes later, Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, thanking Iran but confirming that the US naval blockade on Iranian ports would continue until all transactions with Iran were fully completed.

Following a virtual meeting with about 40 countries, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron said they would lead an international mission to safeguard freedom of navigation once conditions allowed. Hours later, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed Trump’s claims as false and warned that the strait would not remain open if the blockade persisted.

By Saturday, maritime tracking data showed some ships passing through the strait, but Iran’s military later announced it was reasserting control, citing US noncompliance. Shortly afterward, several vessels reportedly reversed course, signaling renewed uncertainty over the waterway’s status.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace in the Middle East during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting took place on Friday on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, a day after Sharif arrived in the country as part of his three-nation tour following visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

According to a statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office, Erdogan warmly welcomed Sharif and thanked him for attending the diplomacy forum. The two leaders discussed recent regional developments, particularly the evolving situation in the Middle East. Sharif expressed gratitude for Erdogan’s strong support and encouragement for Pakistan’s peace initiatives.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of seizing current opportunities to advance a sustainable and lasting regional peace process. They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkey, grounded in their shared vision of peace, prosperity, and brotherhood.

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald Ford, has re-entered Middle Eastern waters, according to two unnamed US defense officials cited by the Associated Press. The carrier, accompanied by destroyers USS Mahan and USS Winston Churchill, crossed the Suez Canal and is now positioned in the Red Sea. It had previously been stationed in the eastern Mediterranean but returned to port for repairs following a fire in one of its laundry rooms.

The redeployment of the Gerald Ford marks a renewed show of US naval strength in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln is already deployed in the Arabian Sea, while another carrier, the USS George Bush, is reportedly moving toward the area and currently near the coast of South Africa. Officials also noted that the Gerald Ford recently set a record for the longest deployment of a US aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War.

The carrier last anchored at Croatia’s Split port on March 28, 2026, before resuming operations toward the Middle East.

The US Navy has dismissed reports circulating on social media that claimed severe food shortages aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli, both currently deployed in the Middle East. Images showing nearly empty food trays had fueled speculation that sailors were facing inadequate meals on the vessels.

In a statement posted on X, the Chief of Naval Operations said that both ships have sufficient and healthy food supplies for all personnel. He emphasized that the health and well-being of sailors and marines remain his top priority, and that all crew members are receiving nutritionally balanced meals.

The clarification came after widespread online discussion about the alleged shortages, which the Navy described as false information. The statement aimed to reassure the public and families of service members about the conditions on board.

The first Hajj flight from Bangladesh for the 2026 pilgrimage has arrived in Saudi Arabia. Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-3001 landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 4:20 a.m. local time, carrying 419 pilgrims. The flight marks the beginning of this year’s official Hajj operations from Bangladesh.

Upon arrival, the Bangladeshi pilgrims were welcomed by Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Md. Delwar Hossain, and Hajj Counselor Md. Kamrul Islam. They were greeted with flowers and provided with refreshment kits. Other officials present included Consul General Md. Sakhawat Hossain, Assistant Seasonal Hajj Officer Md. Ruhul Amin, Jeddah Hajj Terminal Head of Operations Yahya Radi, and Raed Bakshaun, Manager of Saudi firm Nusuk Marhaba.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman inaugurated the 2026 Hajj flight operations the previous night at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, officially launching Bangladesh’s Hajj travel season for the year.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has accused Israel of attempting to seize more land under the pretext of security. Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Fidan said that Israel is not pursuing genuine security concerns but is instead engaged in a broader effort to expand its territorial control. He specifically criticized the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for using security as an excuse to justify further land occupation.

The comments came as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel would maintain its positions in southern Lebanon, which it has taken and now controls, despite a ceasefire with Lebanon. Katz also warned that Israel’s military operations in Lebanon are not yet over and vowed to disarm the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah by any means necessary.

The exchange of statements highlights ongoing regional tensions following the ceasefire, with Turkey voicing strong opposition to Israel’s continued military and territorial actions.

The United Kingdom has called on Iran to fully reopen maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper made the appeal during a meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. She noted that while discussions to end the war are ongoing and a ceasefire is in effect, normal navigation through the strait has not yet resumed. Cooper emphasized that restoring maritime operations is essential for the global economy and urged that the current ceasefire be turned into lasting peace.

In response, Iran announced renewed restrictions over the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Joint Military Command stated that due to continued U.S. naval blockades, the situation in the strait has reverted to its previous state. The IRGC also accused the United States of engaging in piracy-like activities under the guise of a blockade.

The developments highlight ongoing geopolitical friction in one of the world’s most critical maritime routes, with implications for global trade and regional stability.

Iran has announced renewed restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, citing continued U.S. naval blockades. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) joint military command stated that the situation in the strategic waterway has reverted to its previous state due to what it described as ongoing U.S. obstruction. According to Iran’s state media, the IRGC accused the United States of engaging in piracy and maritime theft under the guise of a blockade.

The IRGC declared that the Strait of Hormuz is now under the armed forces’ strict management and control, with vessel movement limited as before. It warned that these restrictions will remain until full freedom of navigation for Iran-bound ships is restored. The announcement signals a renewed phase of tension in one of the world’s most critical energy supply routes.

Observers note that the situation raises concerns about potential disruptions to global energy flows, as the Strait of Hormuz remains a vital passage for international oil transport.

A passengerless cruise liner has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the war began, according to ship-tracking site MarineTraffic. The Malta-flagged vessel, named Celestial Discovery, had arrived in Dubai in early March and remained anchored there for about 47 days before resuming its voyage.

MarineTraffic reported that the ship crossed the strait on Friday and is currently heading toward Muscat, Oman, where it is expected to arrive by the end of the day. The crossing marks a notable development in maritime movement through the region, which had seen limited civilian vessel activity since the onset of the conflict.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, did not specify the nature of the ongoing war or the reasons behind the ship’s resumed journey, leaving broader regional implications unclear.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that 21 ships have returned to Iran since the start of the U.S. naval blockade. The announcement came as Iran declared that it had reopened the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels. According to CENTCOM’s post on social media platform X, the blockade began on April 13 at Iranian ports located in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that the waterway would be closed if the United States did not lift its blockade in the region. Shipping companies have remained cautious about transiting the strait, and only a few vessels passed through the key maritime route on Friday.

The developments highlight heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, with both U.S. and Iranian actions affecting global shipping routes and regional stability.

The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra was once again unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Friday night. After hearing reports that the strait had reopened, the ship lifted anchor and began its journey, but within hours received a radio message from Iranian forces instructing it to return to the Persian Gulf. The vessel complied and returned to a safe anchorage. BSC sources confirmed the incident late Friday night.

According to BSC officials, the ship entered the Strait of Hormuz at 11:50 p.m. and was expected to complete the crossing by around 3 a.m. However, Iranian authorities ordered it back before midnight. Marine traffic data indicated that hundreds of ships that had set out toward Hormuz around the same time were also forced to return to the Persian Gulf. The Banglar Joyjatra has been operating in the region since February 2, transporting goods between ports.

The vessel had been scheduled to return to Bangladesh since March 11 but was repeatedly denied passage. It is currently carrying about 37,000 tons of fertilizer from Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al Khair port, destined for Cape Town, South Africa.

Iran has partially reopened its airspace, allowing international flights to pass over the country’s eastern region. The Civil Aviation Authority announced on Saturday that the airspace had been reopened for transit and that several airports resumed operations at 7 a.m. local time.

Despite the reopening, flight tracking websites indicated that more than three hours later, no international flights had yet crossed Iranian airspace. Several flights were observed taking longer routes to avoid the area, suggesting continued caution among airlines.

The report, citing The Guardian, did not specify the reasons behind the earlier closure or the partial reopening, leaving the broader context of Iran’s airspace restrictions unclear.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that airstrikes on Iran could resume if a long-term peace agreement is not reached by next Wednesday. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump said he might not extend the current ceasefire with Iran and that existing blockades on Iranian ports would remain in place. He added that without a deal, the United States would be forced to restart bombing operations.

The two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is set to expire on Wednesday. Both countries are engaged in indirect talks aimed at extending the truce, but the first round of discussions in Islamabad ended without an agreement. The White House has stated that the Trump administration remains hopeful about the possibility of reaching a deal.

The warning underscores the fragile state of U.S.-Iran relations and the uncertainty surrounding ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed hostilities.