Israel Lebanon Iran War

President Donald Trump says he is pausing the U.S. effort to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz to allow time for a deal to end the Iran war, but that the American forces’ blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place. Meanwhile, Chinese state media say Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing on Wednesday morning. Details of the meeting weren't disclosed. But it was the first time since the start of the war that Araghchi has traveled to China, whose close economic and political ties to Tehran give it a unique position of influence.