Links to TEN-plus reports, analyses, interviews and commentaries (14): from or via the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Middle East Eye, Common Dreams, Consortium News, and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials as highlighted. (Scroll down for IRAN 4-13-26 and LEBANON.) — MCM

–   –   –

Efforts underway for second round of U.S.-Iran talks as ships reported transiting Strait of Hormuz, by Munir Ahmed and Sam Metz | AP  ISLAMABAD — The standoff between the United States and Iran deepened today as the U.S. declared it had blockaded Iran’s ports, Tehran threatened to strike targets across the region, and Pakistan said it was racing to bring the sides together for more talks. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

–   –   –

U.S. and Iran block oil exports as rest of the world takes economic hit. Reported by Greg Myre and Michel Martin | NPR  In the U.S.-Iran showdown in the Gulf, the question is: Who can hold out longer? Both countries are now blocking oil exports through the critical Strait of Hormuz. Click HERE to listen and read; and HERE for links to all four Iran war-related reports today from NPR’s “Morning Edition.”

–   –   –

Why the Islamabad talks failed, by Sami Al-Arian | Middle East Eye  The Islamabad meeting between the United States and Iran did not collapse because diplomacy failed. It collapsed because the U.S. came with an ultimatum, not an intention to negotiate. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM APRIL 13  Araghchi says deal was ‘inches away,’ by Jake Johnson | Common Dreams / Consortium News  Iran’s foreign minister said Sunday that the Trump administration’s representatives derailed marathon talks in Pakistan’s capital with maximalist demands, just as the two sides were “inches away” from a preliminary agreement to end the six-week conflict. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM APRIL 13  Trump says U.S. military has blockaded Iranian ports to pressure Tehran, by Samy Magdy, Julia Frankel and Mike Corder | AP  CAIRO — U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday the American military had begun a blockade of Iranian ports as part of his effort to force Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept a deal to end the war that has raged for more than six weeks. Iran responded with threats on . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

–   –   –

FROM APRIL 13  As U.S. blockades Strait of Hormuz, Iran military warns of weapons ‘enemy has no idea about,’ by Jessica Corbett | Common Dreams  As the U,S. military on Monday began a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after the Trump administration’s failed talks with the Iranian government, a spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a warning to the United States. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM APRIL 13  A U.S. military blockade of Iran’s ports takes effect. What does that mean? Reported by Jackie Northam and Tom Bowman | NPR  A U.S. blockade of Iranian ports went into into effect Monday, while President Trump claims Iran wants to make a deal. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM APRIL 13  How many people have the U.S. & Israel killed in Iran? by Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies | Common Dreams / Consortium News  The world must use this pause in the war to push for a permanent ceasefire and peace agreement, but we must also start to assess the true human cost of the war –- something the U.S. is always reluctant to do in its wars, from Vietnam to Iraq to Afghanistan. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM APRIL 13  UK, Spain reject Trump’s new scheme to blockade Hormuz Strait. From the Cradle. The UK and others have rejected Washington’s plan to impose a blockade on Iranian ports and target ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz in collaboration with the Islamic Republic. READ MORE . . .