DUBAI/WASHINGTON, April 15 (Reuters) - The United States 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.

The war in Iran has caused fuel costs for the Midlands Air Ambulance to double, putting more pressure on the charity's finances, officials say. They said they were already facing increased demands on their budget before the conflict, including rising energy and staffing costs.

The U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz risks ratcheting up pressure on two of its most consequential relationships in Asia — India and China.

The incoming director of Israel’s Mossad spy agency believed a war with Iran could trigger the swift collapse of the regime, according to three Israeli sources familiar with internal consultations – an assessment that has failed to materialize after more than 40 days of fighting.

Increasingly sophisticated means of disguise, and a large number of ships in the Persian Gulf, present a challenge of identification for U.S. forces. Follow along for live updates and analysis.

European stocks are expected to open in mixed territory on Wednesday as regional traders assess the trajectory of the U.S.-Iran war.

By Minwoo Park, Kaori Kaneko and John Geddie SEOUL/TOKYO, April 15 (Reuters) - An 'eco-friendly' range of paper tubes and pouches touted by Yonwoo, a South Korean maker of packaging for cosmetics, has reaped unexpected benefit from the Iran war,

The government is simultaneously confronting the economic consequences of the war in Iran, as spelt out starkly by the International Monetary Fund and the sharpening of arguments from some, including former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson, that the war is evidence defence spending needs to go up more and more quickly.