'Fragile ceasefire at risk' and 'Putin mocks Starmer'

2 hours ago

The papers on Thursday focus on the aftermath of the two-week ceasefire deal agreed Wednesday between the US, Israel and Iran. The Guardian says the fate of the deal "looked uncertain last night", with the sides involved giving "divergent versions of what had been agreed". The paper features a photograph of a building struck in Lebanon on Wednesday, and reports that Israel has "intensified its bombing campaign" against the nation - Israel and the US have said Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreement.

The headline on the front page of the Guardian reads: “Fragile ceasefire at risk as Israel bombards Lebanon”. — The papers on Thursday focus on the aftermath of the two-week ceasefire deal agreed Wednesday between the US, Israel and Iran. The Guardian says the fate of the deal "looked uncertain last night", with the sides involved giving "divergent versions of what had been agreed". The paper features a photograph of a building struck in Lebanon on Wednesday, and reports that Israel has "intensified its bombing campaign" against the nation - Israel and the US have said Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreement.

"Israeli hit on Lebanon threatens truce" says the Financial Times, reporting that Iran has halted the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz after Israel "launched its biggest bombardment" of Hezbollah since the war began. The terms of the ceasefire include Iran allowing free flow of traffic through the waterway, the paper says.

The headline on the front page of the Financial Times reads: “Israeli hit on Lebanon threatens truce”. — "Israeli hit on Lebanon threatens truce" says the Financial Times, reporting that Iran has halted the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz after Israel "launched its biggest bombardment" of Hezbollah since the war began. The terms of the ceasefire include Iran allowing free flow of traffic through the waterway, the paper says.

A similar headline leads the Times: "Airstrikes risk blowing fragile ceasefire apart." According to the paper, peace talks are scheduled in Islamabad on Saturday. The White House has confirmed that Vice President JD Vance and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will take part. The Times also draws attention to comments from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who says Donald Trump is set to discuss the possibility of the US pulling out of the Nato alliance with Mark Rutte, its secretary-general.

The headline on the front page of the Times reads: “Airstrikes risk blowing fragile ceasefire apart”. — A similar headline leads the Times: "Airstrikes risk blowing fragile ceasefire apart." According to the paper, peace talks are scheduled in Islamabad on Saturday. The White House has confirmed that Vice President JD Vance and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will take part. The Times also draws attention to comments from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who says Donald Trump is set to discuss the possibility of the US pulling out of the Nato alliance with Mark Rutte, its secretary-general.

Burning wreckage in Lebanon's capitical city is front and centre of the Mirror, which says "confusion reigned over Donald Trump's ceasefire" on Wednesday. It says that Israel claims to have launched 100 "brutal" attacks in 10 minutes at Hezbollah targets in Beirut, writing of the conflict: "And still it goes on."

The headline on the front page of the Mirror reads: “And still it goes on”. — Burning wreckage in Lebanon's capitical city is front and centre of the Mirror, which says "confusion reigned over Donald Trump's ceasefire" on Wednesday. It says that Israel claims to have launched 100 "brutal" attacks in 10 minutes at Hezbollah targets in Beirut, writing of the conflict: "And still it goes on."

The Daily Mail characterises the two-week ceasefire as "a bizarre kind of victory", focusing on the lack of clarity over the Strait of Hormuz amid reports that oil tankers will have to pay up to £2.2m per ship to pass through the vital waterway.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Mail reads: “A bizarre kind of victory”. — The Daily Mail characterises the two-week ceasefire as "a bizarre kind of victory", focusing on the lack of clarity over the Strait of Hormuz amid reports that oil tankers will have to pay up to £2.2m per ship to pass through the vital waterway.

"US: Iran 'begged' for truce - and must dig up hidden uranium" says the Independent, reporting that Iran will need to hand over buried nuclear material as part of any peace deal.

The headline on the front page of the Independent reads: “US: Iran 'begged' for truce - and must dig up hidden uranium”. — "US: Iran 'begged' for truce - and must dig up hidden uranium" says the Independent, reporting that Iran will need to hand over buried nuclear material as part of any peace deal.

The Metro illustrates the current state of the conflict with its daily cartoon, where a man holds a sign that says "the end of world is postponed", and the word "nigh" is visibly crossed out.

The headline on the front page of the Metro reads: “Oil over bar the shouting”. — The Metro illustrates the current state of the conflict with its daily cartoon, where a man holds a sign that says "the end of world is postponed", and the word "nigh" is visibly crossed out.

The impact of the ceasefire on petrol prices is the main focus for the Sun, which warns there is "more pain ahead" as Iran threatens to charge oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The paper suggests that people in the UK "face months of high bills and pumps hell".

The headline on the front page of the Sun reads: “Fleece in our time”. — The impact of the ceasefire on petrol prices is the main focus for the Sun, which warns there is "more pain ahead" as Iran threatens to charge oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The paper suggests that people in the UK "face months of high bills and pumps hell".

The i Paper takes a similar approach, saying fuel bills are "set to stay high", but notes Sir Keir Starmer is "stepping up" work to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, in a "bid to offset further shock to world energy markets".

The headline on the front page of the i Paper reads: “UK minehunter drones to protect oil in Hormuz - but fuel bills set to stay high”. — The i Paper takes a similar approach, saying fuel bills are "set to stay high", but notes Sir Keir Starmer is "stepping up" work to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, in a "bid to offset further shock to world energy markets".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has "openly defied" a threat from Sir Keir to seize sanctioned Russian tankers by sending a warship through the Channel to escort them, the Telegraph reports. It says that a Black Sea Fleet frigate accompanied two "shadow fleet" ships on Wednesday, with a British naval vessel seen following behind. The paper notes that the prime minister has "repeatedly" faced criticism regarding the state of the Royal Navy and the UK's armed forces.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reads: “Putin mocks Starmer in Channel”. — Russian President Vladimir Putin has "openly defied" a threat from Sir Keir to seize sanctioned Russian tankers by sending a warship through the Channel to escort them, the Telegraph reports. It says that a Black Sea Fleet frigate accompanied two "shadow fleet" ships on Wednesday, with a British naval vessel seen following behind. The paper notes that the prime minister has "repeatedly" faced criticism regarding the state of the Royal Navy and the UK's armed forces.

A photograph of migrants attempting to cross the Channel from France dominates the front page of the Express, which is emblazoned with the headline "Destination 'El Dorado' UK".

The headline on the front page of the Daily Express reads: “Destination 'El Dorado' UK”. — A photograph of migrants attempting to cross the Channel from France dominates the front page of the Express, which is emblazoned with the headline "Destination 'El Dorado' UK".

The Grand National continues to lead the Star, which says that the grandson of acclaimed jockey-turned-trainer Ginger McCain will ride in the famous race this weekend.

The headline on the front page of the Daily Star reads: “Red Run rides again”. — The Grand National continues to lead the Star, which says that the grandson of acclaimed jockey-turned-trainer Ginger McCain will ride in the famous race this weekend.

"And still it goes on" says the Daily Mirror, with its main picture showing burning cars following an Israeli strike on Beirut. It says "cracks" are showing in the ceasefire deal, calling Israel's attacks "brutal". The Daily Mail says the ceasefire is "hanging by a thread" and calls the White House's declaration of victory over Iran "bizarre". The paper says Tehran is "emboldened".

The Guardian's front page shows a huge explosion as a missile hits a building in the Lebanese city of Tyre with the paper saying "differing versions" of the ceasefire deal have left "confusion and fear" in the Middle East. In its analysis, the Guardian says US delegates will arrive at peace talks in Pakistan with the knowledge that Iran has the "proven capacity to inflict pain through its power over the petrol pump".

The Sun declares "fleece in our time", saying "Brits face months of high bills" because of Iranian threats to charge tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The paper says Iran could take in $500bn over the next five years through what the paper calls an "Ayah-toll booth".

The Times focuses on the "possibility" of the US pulling out of Nato. It quotes the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, as saying the alliance was "tested" by the Iran war and "failed". The paper also points to reporting by the Wall Street Journal which says US President Donald Trump could remove American troops from Nato states that were deemed "unhelpful" to the Iran war effort, as punishment.

Away from the Middle East, the Daily Telegraph says Russian President Vladimir Putin is "mocking" Sir Keir Starmer by sending a Russian navy warship to escort oil tankers through the Channel. The paper says it saw two "shadow fleet" vessels being escorted by the Admiral Grigorovich while a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker "trailed in their wake". Sir Keir has previously threatened to seize sanctioned Russian ships.