The US said on Wednesday its military had completely halted trade going in and out of Iran by sea, even though President Donald Trump said talks with Tehran on ending the war could resume this week.

Trump said negotiations between US and Iranian officials could resume in Pakistan in the next two days and Vice President JD Vance, who led weekend talks that ended without a breakthrough, said he felt positive about where things stood.

“I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,” Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, adding he did not think it would be necessary to extend a two-week ceasefire that ends on April 21.

“It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild,” Trump said, according to a post by Karl on X.

“They really do have a different regime now. No matter what, we took out the radicals.”

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Officials from Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf also said negotiating teams from the US and Iran could return to Pakistan later this week, although one senior Iranian source said no date had been set.

Despite the optimistic note, more vessels were being turned back under the US blockade on Iranian ports, including a US-sanctioned and Chinese-owned tanker Rich Starry that was making its way back to the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after exiting the Persian Gulf.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of the US Central Command, said American forces had completely halted economic trade going in and out of Iran by sea, which he said fuels 90 per cent of Iran’s economy.

“In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea,” Cooper said in a post on X.

Earlier the US military said it had intercepted eight Iran-linked oil tankers since the start of the blockade on Monday, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Return to Islamabad

Trump, speaking to the New York Post on Tuesday, said his negotiators are likely to be back, thanks largely to the “great job” Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was doing to moderate the talks.

Later on Tuesday, at an event in Georgia, US Vice President JD Vance said Trump wanted to make a “grand bargain” with Iran but there was a lot of mistrust between the two countries.

“You are not going to solve that problem overnight,” he said.

The signs of diplomatic engagement to end the conflict that began on February 28 helped calm oil markets, pressing benchmark prices down for a second day on Wednesday. Asian stocks rose while the safe-haven dollar stabilised after falling for a seventh straight session overnight.

The war has prompted Iran to effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global waterway for crude and gas transport and cut shipments from the Gulf to global buyers, particularly in Asia and Europe.

About 5,000 people have died in the hostilities, including about 3,000 in Iran and 2,000 in Lebanon.

Sticking points

Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a key sticking point at the weekend talks. The US had proposed a 20-year suspension of all nuclear activity by Iran, while Tehran had suggested a halt of three to five years, according to people familiar with the proposals.

Speaking in Seoul, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said the length of any moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment was a political decision and it was possible Tehran might accept a compromise as a confidence-building act.

The US has also pressed for any enriched nuclear material to be removed from Iran, while Tehran has demanded that international sanctions against it be removed.

One source involved in the negotiations in Pakistan said back-channel talks since the weekend had produced progress in closing that gap, bringing the two sides closer to a deal that could be put forward at a new round of talks.

However, in a major complication for peace prospects, Israel has continued to attack Lebanon as it targets Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group. Israel and the U.S. say that campaign is not covered by the ceasefire, while Iran insists it is.

On Tuesday, the UK, Canada, Japan and seven other countries condemned the killings of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon and called for “an urgent end to hostilities”.

The statement comes after the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers last month. The countries welcomed the ceasefire agreed between the US, Israel and Iran.

Sharjah will begin a phased return to in-person early childhood education from April 16, as authorities move to restore on-site learning following weeks of disruption.

The Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) said late on Tuesday that nurseries located in government facilities and commercial buildings will reopen to children from Thursday, subject to the completion of mandatory staff training on emergency and crisis protocols.

Administrative and teaching staff across private schools and nurseries in Sharjah have already been instructed to return to campuses from Wednesday, April 15, according to reports. The authority said the early return is aimed at ensuring institutions are fully prepared, including the rollout of training programmes designed to strengthen emergency response capabilities.

“This is subject to the completion of training for nursery administrative and teaching staff on emergency and crisis protocols, to ensure the children return to a safe and supportive environment,” SPEA said.

The decision follows guidance from the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, which earlier confirmed that nurseries across the UAE would reopen in phases.

Sharjah’s move aligns with similar steps in Dubai, where the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) has also confirmed a gradual return for early childhood centres from April 16.

Qatar Airways has announced a new travel flexibility initiative aimed at giving passengers greater convenience and reassurance when planning their journeys.

The airline has introduced complimentary changes until October 31, 2026, offering customers more destinations and more flexibility across its network.

Customers with a confirmed booking on Qatar Airways operated flights for travel until June 15, 2026 are eligible for complimentary date changes up to October 31, 2026, an Instagram story on the entity’s Instagram story. The policy is designed to support travellers whose plans may shift due to changing circumstances or disruptions.

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Importantly, if a rebooked flight is impacted again, passengers will remain eligible for further fee-free changes until October 31, 2026. (*subject to availability and fare seasonality).

The update forms part of the airline’s broader effort to provide more adaptable booking conditions and improve customer confidence in travel planning.

Saudia and Saudi Arabia Railways launch integrated air-rail ticketing

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has signed a major agreement with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) to integrate their digital systems, allowing passengers to issue boarding passes for both air and rail journeys in a single transaction. The agreement was formalised during the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum 2026 in Madinah.

The agreement was signed by Essam Akhonbay, Vice President of Marketing at Saudia, and Engr. Ibrahim AlNoaman, Commercial Director of the Haramain High-Speed Railway (HHR) and Masar Makkah Master Plan (MMMP). The collaboration is aimed at strengthening connectivity between air and rail services and simplifying travel procedures for guests.

Through this integration, both organisations will deliver enhanced digital services designed to reduce travel time and effort while improving the overall passenger experience. The initiative also builds on previous joint efforts, including special fares for train travel to Makkah and Madinah as part of an expanding transport ecosystem.

Akhonbay said: “This agreement reflects Saudia’s commitment to advancing a more seamless and integrated travel experience through digital innovation. Our digital infrastructure is designed to support the continuous introduction of new services with high efficiency and reliability.”

Saudia continues to invest in improving the passenger journey through advanced digital platforms powered by artificial intelligence, enabling more personalised travel experiences. These developments extend to ground and inflight services, including upgraded entertainment systems and high-speed connectivity to ensure a smoother journey.

The Haramain High-Speed Railway, one of the fastest rail systems in the world, operates at speeds of up to 300 km/h and connects Makkah and Madinah via five main stations, including King Abdulaziz International Airport station, one of the largest airport-linked railway stations globally. The integration is expected to further strengthen mobility and streamline multi-modal transport across the Kingdom.

Oman Air operations continue amid regional airspace disruptions

Oman Air has confirmed that its flights are continuing to operate as normal, with additional services being deployed across its network. However, the airline noted that ongoing regional airspace closures have led to temporary disruptions on selected routes.

As a result, flights to and from Dubai (DXB), Bahrain (BAH), Doha (DOH), Kuwait (KWI), Copenhagen (CPH), Baghdad (BGW), and Khasab (KHS) are cancelled until 30 April 2026.

Guests affected by the changes are advised to manage their bookings via the airline’s website or mobile application.

The airline added: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding,” a notice on the airline’s website said.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met China’s President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, where both sides discussed expanding a comprehensive strategic partnership spanning energy, investment, technology and industrial cooperation.

The meetings took place during the Crown Prince’s official visit to China which began on Sunday.

Sheikh Khaled conveyed the greetings of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and expressed appreciation for the hospitality extended by Chinese leadership during his official visit.

During his meeting with President Xi, both sides reviewed bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cooperation in line with the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

In a separate meeting with Premier Li Qiang, discussions focused on expanding economic and investment ties and deepening cooperation in future-oriented sectors, alongside an emphasis on adapting to global economic shifts and strengthening supply chain resilience.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince highlighted UAE’s focus on strengthening relations

Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince highlighted the UAE’s commitment to further developing relations with China, particularly in areas of economic cooperation, development initiatives and long-term strategic investment.

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Importance of UAE–China Business Promotion Conference discussed

Both sides also underscored the importance of the UAE–China Business Promotion Conference held during the visit, which brought together investors and business leaders to explore opportunities in trade, infrastructure, technology and industrial development.

According to official figures, non-oil trade between the two countries reached approximately $111bn in 2025.

As part of the visit, Sheikh Khaled also held meetings with chairmen of leading Chinese companies, including China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Wanhua Chemical Group, China Investment Corporation, Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL), and Xiaomi Corporation.

Discussions covered cooperation in energy, petrochemicals, investment flows, battery technology, energy storage systems, electric mobility, electronics and digital transformation.

Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments, emphasising the importance of stability, multilateral coordination and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

The visit also saw the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding covering areas including clean energy, investment, sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, health sciences and advanced technology, alongside joint research and knowledge exchange initiatives.

The engagements reflect ongoing efforts by the UAE and China to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership and expand cooperation across emerging sectors, as both economies continue to pursue diversification and long-term economic resilience.

ClearTax said on Tuesday it had been approved as an ‘Accredited Service Provider’ under the UAE’s e-invoicing framework, as companies step up preparations ahead of a July deadline to appoint certified providers.

The accreditation, granted under the UAE Ministry of Finance and Federal Tax Authority framework, comes as businesses move to comply with new requirements that will standardise digital invoicing and reporting.

The shift is expected to push companies to upgrade tax and finance systems, with governments globally increasingly using e-invoicing data and analytics to monitor transactions and automate compliance processes.

ClearTax has supported e-invoicing, tax compliance mandates across multiple markets

ClearTax said its offering draws on experience supporting e-invoicing and tax compliance mandates across multiple markets, including India, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Europe.

The company has previously worked on India’s 2020 e-invoicing rollout, advised on Saudi Arabia’s ZATCA Phase I and II implementation, and operates within Malaysia’s framework as an accredited provider, as well as Europe’s Peppol-based network.

“Most enterprises today are still trying to solve tax operations through ERP connectors, manual efforts and spreadsheets,” said Archit Gupta. “As governments move toward real-time visibility and AI-driven scrutiny, that approach starts to break down.”

He added that companies need to shift from reactive compliance to what he described as continuous, data-driven tax processes.

The company said it has committed $50m to expand its operations in the UAE, including building local teams and infrastructure to meet data residency requirements.

ClearTax said it is already working with enterprises in sectors including real estate, manufacturing, banking, financial services and insurance, as well as retail and consumer goods.

The UAE’s e-invoicing rollout is part of broader efforts to modernise tax administration and improve transparency, with companies expected to integrate accredited providers into their systems ahead of the July deadline.

Read: Beyond compliance: How e-invoicing can power the UAE’s next phase of growth