US-Iran War, Donald Trump, Iran News, Global Politics, Middle East Crisis, Breaking News 2026, Congress vs White House, Geopolitics

digital billboard displays an image reading "end the Iran war now" in Times Square in New York City on April 30, 2026. President Donald Trump was facing a midnight deadline on April 30 to secure congressional authorization for the war against Iran, though the looming cutoff is not expected to rein in his military plans.

Tehran’s air defences were activated to counter small aircraft and drones late Thursday (April 30), as the White House signalled that it will not be reined in by a congressional deadline on the Iran war. The Tasnim and Fars news agencies reported that air defence systems, heard in some parts of the Iranian capital, were activated “to counter small aircraft and reconnaissance drones” for around 20 minutes, but that the situation had returned to “normal”.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration faced a looming midnight deadline to secure congressional authorisation for the war against Iran, setting up a clash between the White House and Congress.

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The Trump administration is arguing that the war in Iran has already ended because of than interpretation that would allow the White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval. The statement furthers an argument laid out by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during testimony in the Senate earlier on Thursday (April 30, 2026), when he said the ceasefire effectively paused t , Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. Navy is maintaining a blockade to prevent Iran’s oil tankers from getting out to sea. 

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  Fertiliser output steady despite West Asia crisis; government secures 37 lakh ton urea imports for kharif

  The government on Thursday (April 30, 2026) said domestic urea production has reached 37.49 lakh tonnes in March-April, nearly matching last year’s levels despite the West Asia crisis, while securing 37 lakh tonnes of imported urea to meet the shortfall ahead of the Kharif season.

  

  Fertiliser output steady despite West Asia crisis; government secures 37 lakh ton urea imports for kharif

  India's fertiliser production remains stable despite the West Asia crisis, securing 37 lakh tonnes of urea imports for Khar

• Trump says he’s lifting certain tariffs on Scotch whisky after royal visit

  President Donald Trump said on Thursday (April 30, 2026) he is removing certain tariffs on Scotch whisky after this week’s

  

  Trump says he’s lifting certain tariffs on Scotch whisky after royal visit

  Trump lifts certain tariffs on Scotch whisky following a royal visit, enhancing trade between Scotland and Kentucky.“The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!” Mr. Trump posted on social media.

• May 01, 2026 10:53

  Aviation fuel prices for domestic carriers remained unchanged, commercial LPG prices hiked

  In what came as a relief to scheduled domestic airlines, and consumers of domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, prices of aviation turbine fuel for domestic scheduled airlines and that of the bottled cooking gas for domestic use have been kept unchanged, state-owned oil marketing company IndianOil informed early on Friday (May 1, 2026).

  

  Aviation fuel prices for domestic carriers kept unchanged, c

  Aviation fuel prices remain stable for domestic airlines, while commercial LPG prices increase by ₹993, reflecting minor overall consumption impact.ommercial LPG prices hiked

• U.S. official says Iran war truce ‘terminated’ hostilities for war powers deadline

  Timeofeden

  

  U.S. official says Iran war truce ‘terminated’ hostilities for war powers deadline

  U.S. official declares Iran war ceasefire terminated, impacting upcoming congressional w

• Gianni Infantino affirms at the FIFA Congress that Iran will participate in the World Cup

  FIFA President Gianni Infantino opened his address at FIFA Congress by affirming that Iran will participate in the World Cup and that the team will play in the United States despite the conflict between the two nations.

  “And the reason for that is very simple, dear friends, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together. It is my responsibility. It is our responsibility,” Mr. Infantino said.

  “Football unites the world. FIFA unites the world. You unite the world. We unite the world.” In an indication of how fraught the situation is with Iran’s participation in the World Cup, representatives from the Iranian soccer federation were denied entry into Canada this week.

• Republicans say they will defer to Trump on Iran war despite arrival of 60-day deadline

  Many Republicans who have been uneasy with President Donald Trump’s war in Iran emphasised that there would be a May 1 deadline for Congress to intervene. But the date is now set to pass with no action from GOP lawmakers who continue to defer to the White House.

  Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, Congress must declare war or authorise the use of force within 60 days — a deadline that falls on Friday (April 30)— or within 90 days if the president asks for an extension. But Congress made no attempt at enforcing that requirement, leaving town for a week on Thursday (May 1) after the Senate rejected a Democratic attempt to halt the war for a sixth time.

  The Trump administration has shown no interest in seeking congressional approval at all. It is arguing that the deadlines set by the law don’t apply because the war in Iran effectively ended when a ceasefire began in early April.

  - AP

• May 01, 2026 10:40

  Iran activates air defences as Trump faces congressional deadline

  Tehran’s air defences were activated to counter small aircraft and drones late Thursday (April 30), as the White House signalled that it will not be reined in by a congressional deadline on the Iran war.

  The Tasnim and Fars news agencies reported that air defence systems, heard in some parts of the Iranian capital, were activated “to counter small aircraft and reconnaissance drones” for around 20 minutes, but that the situation had returned to “normal”.

  U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration faced a looming midnight deadline to secure congressional authorisation for the war against Iran, setting up a clash between the White House and Congress.

  - AFP
• May 01, 2026 10:03

  Iran vows to protect its nuclear capabilities, signals ‘new rules’ for Strait of Hormuz

  

  Mojtaba Khamenei says Iran will protect its 'nuclear, missile capabilities'; U.S. suffered ‘disgraceful defeat’

  Mojtaba Khamenei vows to defend Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities, declaring U.S. defeat and asserting regional dominance.

• May 01, 2026 09:04

  Iran dying to make a deal, says Trump

  U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Iran was “dying to make a deal” to end the now paused war and virtually ruled out resuming air strikes. 

  “I don’t know that we need it,” Mr. Trump said to a question on whether he was getting “antsy to break the ceasefire”.

  The U.S. President claimed that the military action had sharply degraded Iran’s capabilities.

  “Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone… their drone factories are about 82% down. Their missile production had also been hit. Their missile factories are almost 90% down,” he said.

  “We obliterated that nuclear capacity of theirs,” Mr. Trump said, adding that the Iranian economy was crashing as a result of the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

  “They’re not getting any money from oil. And hopefully, it can be worked out very soon,” he added.

  -AP

• May 01, 2026 08:24

  U.S. urges meeting between Lebanese president, Israeli PM

  The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon on Thursday urged a meeting between Lebanese and Israeli leaders as the Health Ministry said Israeli strikes on the country’s south killed at least 17 people despite an ongoing ceasefire.

  Israeli and Lebanese representatives this month have met twice in Washington -- the first such meetings in decades -- after Iran-backed Hezbollah group drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2, sparking heavy Israeli strikes and a ground invasion. 

  Mr. Trump has said he hopes to host Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “over the next couple of weeks” as the two countries prepare for direct negotiations. 

  -AFP
• May 01, 2026 07:51

  U.S. reaches out to Maldives after Muizzu slams Iran war

  The U.S. has sought clarification from the Maldives days after President Mohammad Muizzu lashed out at Washington over the war with Iran.

  The matter came up on Wednesday when U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Sergio Gor and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Bethany Morrison spoke to Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam and discussed the U.S.-Maldives relationship. 

  Mr. Muizzu has slammed the U.S. and Israel for attacks on Iran and repeatedly asserted that he would not allow use of any area of the Maldives, a small Muslim-majority archipelago, in any capacity to aid the war.

  “On the call, the Foreign Minister helped clarify recent statements by the Maldivian President. The Minister reiterated that the President of Maldives wanted a positive relationship. We look forward to future engagements,” the U.S. Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said in a post on X on Wednesday.

  The Maldivian president had refused to meet Mr. Gor, Mr. Trump’s special envoy for South and Central Asia, when he visited Male in March. 

  -AP

• May 01, 2026 07:49

  Trump administration says its war in Iran has been 'terminated' before 60-day deadline

  The Trump administration is arguing that the war in Iran has already ended because of the ceasefire that began in early April, an interpretation that would allow the White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval.

  The statement furthers an argument laid out by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth during testimony in the Senate earlier on Thursday, when he said the ceasefire effectively paused the war. Under that rationale, the administration has not yet met the requirement mandated by a 1973 law to seek formal approval from Congress for military action that extends beyond 60 days. 

  A senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration’s position, said for purposes of that law, “the hostilities that began on Saturday, Feb 28 have terminated.” 

  The official said the U.S. military and Iran have not exchanged fire since the two-week ceasefire tha