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Netanyahu backs Iran ceasefire, says Lebanon not included, Israeli media says

April 8 (Reuters) - Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country supported U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to suspend attacks against Iran for two weeks but said the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, Israeli media reported on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Enas Alashray and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

FILE PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Jerusalem, March 19, 2026. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/Pool/File Photo

Trump to AFP: Iran deal 'total and complete victory' for US

President Donald Trump told AFP on Tuesday that the United States had won a "total and complete victory" after agreeing a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran.

In a telephone call, Trump said he believed China had persuaded Iran to negotiate, and said Tehran's enriched uranium would be "perfectly taken care of."

The US leader appeared bullish on the truce with Iran, despite Tehran also casting it as a win for its side, and amid questions over exactly what both sides had agreed on.

US President Donald Trump said Iran would face 'complete demolition' of its civilian infrastructure if it did not accept a deal

Oil prices plunge, stocks surge on US-Iran ceasefire

Oil and gas prices plunged, stock markets soared and the dollar retreated Wednesday after the United States and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire that could lead to the Strait of Hormuz reopening.

"A wave of relief has hit financial markets after threats of a devastating escalation of the war were replaced by a temporary truce," said Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club.

The most widely traded oil contracts fell some 15 percent to around $95 a barrel, after more than a month of conflict that killed thousands and hammered global markets.

Iranians welcomed news of the US-Iran ceasefire, which has seen oil prices slump and stocks rocket

Former Australian soldier to remain in jail after being charged with Afghan war crimes

By Christine Chen

SYDNEY, April 8 (Reuters) - Australia's most decorated living soldier will remain behind bars after his legal team did not seek bail following his arrest over multiple alleged war crimes, local media reported on Wednesday.

Police on Tuesday arrested and charged Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, with five counts of war crimes in connection with the murder of five civilians in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of life in jail.

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II greets Australian SAS Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith (L), who was recently awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, during an audience at Buckingham Palace in London November 15, 2011.  REUTERS/Anthony Devlin/POOL/File Photo

Middle East war: global economic fallout

Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war:

- Asia stocks soar, oil plummets -

Stock markets in Japan and Korea soared early Wednesday after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, with talks during the interim period mediated by Pakistan.

Oil prices meanwhile plummeted, with both the WTI and Brent crude benchmarks falling below $100 a barrel.

- Iran agrees to safe Hormuz passage -

Israel says it has struck the southern Iranian port of Assaluyeh, home to  Iran's largest petrochemical facility

US journalist Kittleson released from captivity in Iraq, Rubio says

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that American journalist Shelly Kittleson has been released after recently being kidnapped by Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah near Baghdad.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Kanishka Singh)

A still image taken from a video released April 7, 2026 by a social media outlet close to Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah purporting to show U.S. journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped in Iraq in March, speaking at an unknown location. SOCIAL MEDIA/via REUTERS

Protesters break into Kuwaiti consulate in Iraq’s Basra after rocket attack kills three

BASRA, Iraq, April 7 (Reuters) - Protesters stormed the Kuwaiti consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra, police sources said on Tuesday, after a rocket attack fired from the direction of Kuwait killed three people.

At least three people were killed and five others wounded when rockets hit a house in Khor al-Zubair near Basra, security and health officials told Reuters.

Police said the death toll could rise as some family members remained under the debris.

A view of a damaged building after powerful explosions were heard in Baghdad, Iraq April 8, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Trump says he agrees to suspend bombing of Iran for two weeks

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he has agreed to suspend the bombing of Iran for two weeks while accepting a 14-day truce proposal from mediators in the Iran war.

Trump said he spoke to leaders in Pakistan, which has been a mediator between Washington and Tehran and which had sought a two-week ceasefire.

FILE PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives from the Blue Room to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Washington.     Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

UN envoy plans to visit Iran as part of peace effort

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - A personal envoy of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres plans to visit Iran as part of his efforts to encourage an end to the Iran war, but his travel plans will depend on security and logistics, a U.N. source said.

Jean Arnault, a veteran U.N. diplomat Guterres named as his envoy on the conflict last month, headed to the Middle East on Monday, but the U.N. has not announced details of his itinerary.

The United Nations flag flutters during the 80th U.N. Nations General Assembly outside their headquarters in New York City, U.S.,September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton