Iran said on Wednesday it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US naval blockade remained in place, calling it a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire between the longtime foes.

The Pentagon announced Wednesday that the Navy's top civilian official, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, is leaving his job.

In a statement posted to social media, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Phelan was "departing the administration, effective immediately."

Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will become acting secretary of the Navy, Parnell said.

US President Donald Trump has not set a deadline by which Iran must submit a peace proposal, the White House said on Wednesday.

"The president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I've seen today. Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander in chief," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told journalists.

An Israeli airstrike wounded two Lebanese journalists on Wednesday while they were working near the border with Israel, their employer reported.

"Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible amid a blatant violation of the ceasefire," speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always welcomed and continues to welcome dialogue and agreement. Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation. The world is witnessing your hypocritical empty talk and the contradiction between your claims and your actions," Pezeshkian said.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran had halted alleged plans to execute eight women arrested over anti-government protests, after he urged Tehran to release them to help peace negotiations.

"I very much appreciate that Iran, and its leaders, respected my request, as President of the United States, and terminated the planned execution," he said. Iran denied it planned to execute the women.

(AFP)

Of the 34 ships that have circumvented the blockade, at least 19 are tankers linked to Iran that have exited the Gulf. The other 15 have entered the Gulf from the Arabian Sea, heading towards Iran.

Spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baqaei denounced the United States for inconsistency and bad faith in negotiations, saying Tehran has not yet decided whether to attend a new round of Pakistani-mediated talks in Islamabad, reports Tasnim News Agency

Oil prices edged higher Wednesday while Europe's main stock markets eased on uncertainty surrounding the prospect of resumed Mideast peace talks following an extension to the US-Iran ceasefire.

Asian equities had a mixed trading day as investors wait for clarity but broadly expect that both US President Donald Trump and the authorities in Iran want to end a war that has sent oil and gas prices soaring.

"The ceasefire extension hasn't done much to calm nerves given that worries remain about the impact of the energy squeeze on the global economy," said Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club.

"Shipments from the Middle East are in limbo and a resolution to the conflict remains elusive, and the price of Brent crude, the benchmark, reflects this." 

(AFP)

Since the outbreak of war between Iran, Israel and the United States, colourful murals have sprung up across capital Tehran and other major cities, rich in symbolism and themes of resistance and defiance.

Murals and banners have long been a defining feature of Iran's urban landscape, particularly in Tehran, where such paintings in central squares mirror the state's political messaging and foreign policy.

Since the 1979 revolution which established the Islamic republic, such imagery has served as a medium to reflect ideology and collective memory.

The spilt oil has the potential to affect the lives and livelihoods of people along the Gulf coastlines, as well as the area’s abundant marine life.

The Guards warned against any action in defiance of the regulations imposed by the Islamic Republic in the Strait of Hormuz, "as well as activities contrary to the safe passage" through the waterway.

Israel's foreign minister on Wednesday urged Beirut to make joint efforts with Israel to counter the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, ahead of talks between the countries set to resume in Washington.

"Tomorrow the direct talks between Israel and Lebanon will resume in Washington DC. I call on the government of Lebanon -- let's work together against the terror state that Hezbollah built in your territory," Gideon Saar said in a speech to diplomats at a function marking Israel's 78th Independence Day.

"This cooperation is needed by you even more than by us. It requires moral clarity and the courage to take risks. But there is no real alternative for ensuring a future of peace for you and for us."

A cargo ship leaving Iran was fired upon Wednesday and was stopped in the water, a British maritime agency reported, as the United States continued its blockade of Iranian ports.

"A master of an outbound cargo ship reports having been fired upon and is now stopped in the water. Crew are safe and accounted for. There is no reported damage to the vessel," the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said.

It said the incident took place eight nautical miles west of Iran.

China warned on Wednesday that the situation in the Middle East was at a "critical juncture" after US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire to allow Iran more time to negotiate.

"The current regional situation stands at a critical juncture transitioning between war to peace; the paramount priority remains to make every effort to prevent a resumption of hostilities," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news briefing.

An Israeli strike on Lebanon's Bekaa region killed one person and wounded two others on Wednesday, Lebanese state media reported, despite an ongoing truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

"One person was killed and two others were wounded as a result of an attack carried out by an enemy drone at dawn, on the outskirts of Al-Jabur in West Bekaa," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported.

Iran has opened fire at a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, damaging the vessel and further raising the stakes as planned ceasefire talks in Pakistan failed to materialise. The move came hours after US President Donald Trump extended the US-Iran ceasefire 'indefinitely' while awaiting a 'unified proposal' from Tehran. 

Iran has not yet responded to Trump's announcement on ceasefire extension, and both countries have warned they are prepared to resume fighting if a deal isn't reached.

Amid the uncertainty, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said that Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked the container ship in the viral waterways around 7:55 AM.

The UKMTO said the Iranian gunboat did not warn the ship before it started firing at it. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident, and there was no environmental impact from the attack either.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG will scrub 20,000 uneconomic short-haul flights from its European summer schedule to save on jet fuel, which has doubled in price since the start of the Iran war. 

The cuts will amount to 1% of available seat-kilometers and save around 40,000 tons of jet fuel, Europe's largest airline group said in a statement late Tuesday. The move comes after the carrier last week announced the shut down of its Cityline regional unit and the grounding of 27 older, fuel-guzzling aircraft. 

Former US National Security Advisor (NSA) HR McMaster has cast doubt on Pakistan's role in Iran-related diplomacy, describing it as a "client" of China and warning of "ulterior motives" in its mediation efforts.

"I think what you have to do is consider Pakistan as certainly a client of the Chinese Communist Party," McMaster told IANS in an exclusive interview when asked about the role of Pakistan in mediating between the US and Iran.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by the United States to extend the ceasefire. This is an important step toward de-escalation and creating critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States," Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres encouraged all parties to "build on this momentum, refrain from actions that could undermine the cease-fire, and engage constructively in negotiations to reach a sustainable and lasting resolution."

The Secretary General also extended support to Pakistan for meditating talks and pushing for ceasefire.

Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has mocked US President Donald Trump's ceasefire extension, saying it means "nothing" and the "losing side cannot dictate terms".

According to Mohammadi, the continuation of the "siege" is "no different than bombardment".

"Trump's ceasefire extension means nothing. The losing side cannot dictate terms. The continuation of the siege is no different from bombardment and must be met with a military response. Moreover, Trump's ceasefire extension is certainly a ploy to buy time for a surprise strike. The time for Iran to take the initiative has come," the top Iranian leader wrote in a post on X.

Hezbollah said it launched an attack on northern Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for what it said were Israeli violations of a 10-day ceasefire, the first such claim since the truce began.

Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters launched rockets and attack drones at a site in northern Israel that it said was the source of artillery shelling towards a south Lebanon town.

It said the move came "in defence of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the blatant" Israeli ceasefire violations including "attacks on civilians and the destruction of their homes and villages".

Pakistan's image in many quarters has been that of a failed economy that supports terrorists. However, as the only nuclear-armed nation in the Muslim world with an army of 600,000 soldiers, Islamabad believes it has been punching below its weight. 

As a new multipolar order takes shape, leaders in Pakistan are seeking greater sway, using the country's military prowess to counterbalance the longstanding weaknesses of a weak economy and tumultuous politics, according to a report by The Guardian. 

Pakistan's economic vulnerability has been on display in recent times, with the nation experiencing daily power cuts to save money and an emergency $3 billion loan taken from Saudi Arabia. It hopes that with greater global stature, it could attract more investment. However, that would also depend on economic reforms such as lower taxes and more robust laws.

Under Munir's leadership, Pakistan has already secured several economic pacts with the US. If the negotiations manage to end the war, it will further boost Islamabad's credibility and open other opportunities for it. 

But some experts have pointed out that if the talks blow up, Pakistan could end up with some of the blame. Already, Islamabad has been facing allegations that it is furthering US interests more than acting as a neutral mediator. Such an impression would not go down well with sections within Pakistan that disapprove of the US, according to a report by the Indian Express. 

Just hours before the US-Iran ceasefire was set to expire, American President Donald Trump extended it "indefinitely", citing a request from Pakistan. In his statement, Trump said he wanted to give time to the "seriously fractured" Iranian regime to come up with a "unified proposal" for a permanent peace deal. This is the first time the US has not put a deadline on Tehran's next move, and Trump has credited his counsel with the Pakistani leadership for the change in strategy.

US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran wants the Strait of Hormuz to open so that they can make $500 million a day.

"They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to 'save face'," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Explaining the reason behind keeping it shu, Trump said it is to secure a deal.

"But if we do that (open Hormuz), there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included," he added.

The United States on Tuesday said its forces carried out a maritime interdiction operation on a "stateless" sanctioned tanker in the Indo-Pacific region, without any incident.

In a post on X, the US Defense Department said American forces conducted a "right-of-visit" boarding of the vessel, identified as M/T Tifani, as part of efforts to enforce global maritime sanctions.

"Overnight, US forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the stateless sanctioned M/T Tifani without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility," the Defense Department wrote on X.

Since the start of the US blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports, US forces have directed 28 vessels to turn around or return to port, Central Command claimed.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called to hold the Iranian regime accountable for "its extortion of global energy markets and indiscriminate targeting of civilians with missiles and drones."

The Iranian regime must be held accountable for its extortion of global energy markets and indiscriminate targeting of civilians with missiles and drones. Under @POTUS’ leadership, as part of Economic Fury, Treasury will continue to follow the money and target the Iranian… https://t.co/gtD6E3til4

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) April 21, 2026

"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal. I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other. President DONALD J. TRUMP"

Britain will host military planners from over 30 countries for two days of talks starting Wednesday on a multinational mission led by the UK and France to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the defense ministry said.

The ministry said the meeting would "advance detailed planning" on reopening the Strait when conditions allow, following "progress" at talks in Paris last week.

"The task today and tomorrow is to translate diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait and support a lasting ceasefire," Defence Minister John Healey said in a statement.

Iran on Tuesday called on the United Nations to condemn the seizure by the United States of an Iranian cargo ship, characterizing the move as an act of piracy and a breach of a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.

US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the US Navy had fired on and then taken control of the Touska cargo ship in the Sea of Oman.

"Such conduct bears the hallmarks of piracy in nature and amounts to a dangerous escalation that severely endangers the safety and security of vital shipping lanes," Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, said Tuesday in a letter addressed to the Security Council and the Secretary-General.

On my personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, I sincerely thank President Trump for graciously accepting our request to extend the ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to take their course.
With the trust and confidence reposed in, Pakistan…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 21, 2026

White House confirms canceling Vance's Tuesday trip to Iran talks

Trump says extending ceasefire until Iranian proposal is submitted and discussions are concluded

Iran's foreign minister said on Tuesday the Islamic republic knew how to "resist bullying", as a ceasefire was due to expire and Tehran had yet to formally respond to an invite to talks with the US in Islamabad.

"Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying," Abbas Araghchi said on X, denouncing a US blockade of Iranian ports as "an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire".

Hezbollah said it launched an attack on northern Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for what it said were Israeli violations of a 10-day ceasefire, the first such claim since the truce began.

Hezbollah said in a statement that "in defence of Lebanon and its people, and in response to the blatant" Israeli ceasefire violations including "attacks on civilians and the destruction of their homes and villages", its fighters launched rockets and attack drones at a military site in northern Israel that it said was the source of artillery shelling towards a south Lebanon town.

Iran's Foreign Ministry said that the reasons for Iran not going to Islamabad are "the contradictory messages, contradictory behaviours, and unacceptable actions of the American side".

US Vice President JD Vance’s trip to Islamabad for talks on hold after Iran failed to respond to US "negotiating positions"

Hours before talks in Islamabad, Iran reiterated it has no plans to attend "at the moment"

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to bomb Iran if they do not agree to a deal before the end of the two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, even as Pakistan urged the two sides to extend the truce and give diplomacy a chance.

Trump had indicated that his team of negotiators could reach Islamabad by Monday night for talks, while the Iranian delegation was also expected to travel to Islamabad, but so far, there was no sign of any peace maker in Islamabad.

Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday evening said his country was still waiting for a formal response from Iran regarding its participation in the second round of talks with the US.

"I expect to be bombing because I think that's a better attitude to go in with. But we're ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go," US President Donald Trump said.

U.S. military officials on Tuesday called for spending tens of billions of dollars in the next budget year on drones, air defense systems and fighter jets that have been a key part of fighting the Iran war.

As part of President Donald Trump’s push to boost defense spending to $1.5 trillion in the 2027 budget, the Pentagon wants to triple spending on drones and related technology to more than $74 billion and invest over $30 billion into more critical munitions, including missile interceptors, whose stockpiles have become critically low during the Iran war.

Military officials said the spending blueprint was developed ahead of the conflict in the Middle East. They also did not discuss how much they will request in additional funds for the war, which would be on top of what the White House is seeking to boost defense spending in the next budget year.

In a meeting with the US charge d'affaires in Pakistan, Natalie A. Baker, Foreign Minister Ishaq  Dar stressed the need for engagement between the US and Iran and said Pakistan urged both sides to consider extending the ceasefire, the statement read.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Iran of repeatedly violating the ceasefire with the US in the war in the Middle East, as both countries deliberate over a possible new round of peace negotiations.

"Iran has Violated the Cease Fire numerous times!" Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform, referring to the two-week truce set to expire by Wednesday, after which the Middle East potentially could plunge back into open conflict.

(AFP)

US President Donald Trump said that the US blockade will remain in place for now. He also said that a two-week ceasefire with Iran, which is set to expire Wednesday evening, will not be extended.

US President Donald Trump said late Monday the United States obtaining uranium from Iran would be "long" and "difficult" in the aftermath of last year's US strikes on Tehran's nuclear sites.

"Operation Midnight Hammer was a complete and total obliteration of the Nuclear Dust sites in Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding: "Therefore, digging it out will be a long and difficult process." 

The US leader regularly uses the term "nuclear dust" to refer to Iran's stock of enriched uranium, which the United States accuses Iran of hoarding in order to make an atomic bomb.

But he has also sometimes used it to refer to material left from US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in June last year.

The 79-year-old president maintains Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium would ultimately be transferred to US territory, despite Iran's foreign ministry denying any such plans.

(AFP)

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned what it called a "criminal and illegal" attack by the United States on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Sea of Oman, accusing Washington of taking hostage the ship's crew and their families and violating international law and an existing ceasefire agreement.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns the "criminal and illegal" attack by the United States on the Iranian commercial vessel Touska in the Sea of Oman, near Iran's territorial waters. The vessel was targeted in a "piratical act" that violated international law, the UN Charter, and a recent ceasefire agreement. The crew and their families were intimidated and taken hostage during the incident," the ministry said.

It added, "The United Nations, the Security Council, and the International Maritime Organization must immediately condemn the attack and take urgent action to secure the release of the vessel and all those on board. The United States will bear full responsibility for the consequences of the dangerous escalation, and Iran will use all available means to defend its sovereignty and protect the rights of its citizens."

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that planned talks with Israel aim to end hostilities and the occupation in southern Lebanon, even as Hezbollah and its supporters rejected the negotiations.

Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has sharply criticised the Lebanese government's negotiations with Israel, which are set to enter a second round on Thursday.

After the first round of talks last week, US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day truce pausing more than six weeks of war between Hezbollah and Israel, an explosive front in the broader Middle East war.

(AFP)

🔴#BREAKING | Will Show "New Cards On Battlefield" If War Resumes: Iran Warns US
NDTV's @deepduttajourno joins @divyawadhwa with more details from Tel Aviv pic.twitter.com/ZZxaLjyyzM

— NDTV (@ndtv) April 21, 2026

US Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Islamabad by Tuesday morning for talks with Iran on a possible deal to end the war, according to three US officials cited by Axios.

The United States on Thursday will hold new talks between Israel and Lebanon aimed at encouraging an agreement, a US official told AFP, after the start of a shaky US-brokered ceasefire.

"We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments," a State Department official said Monday on customary condition of anonymity.

Iran's powerful parliament speaker warned Monday that Tehran had "new cards" if war resumes with the United States and Israel, ahead of the expiration of a two-week ceasefire.

"We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the last two weeks we have been preparing to show new cards on the battlefield," Ghalibaf, Iran's top negotiator in talks with the United States, wrote on X.

Iran said Monday it had not decided whether to attend a new round of peace negotiations with the United States, while President Donald Trump vowed no let-up in a blockade and threatened to start bombing again.

The White House said Vice President JD Vance was ready to fly back to Pakistan, which was noticeably preparing for a second round of talks on ending the war that has engulfed the Middle East and shaken global markets.

But Tehran's cleric-run government kept up uncertainty on its participation, accusing the United States of violating a soon-to-expire ceasefire through its blockade of Iranian ports and seizure of a ship.

Donald Trump on Monday escalated his criticism of "The Iran Nuclear Deal", asserting that any new deal under his administration would be "far better" than the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

A US delegation will head to Pakistan "soon" for a new round of peace negotiations with Iran, a source familiar with the plan told AFP on Monday, as Iran said it had yet to decide whether to attend.

After initial talks in Islamabad ended without a deal earlier this month, both sides have accused the other of breaching a temporary truce that is now in its final days.

President Donald Trump told Bloomberg News it was "highly unlikely" he would extend the two-week ceasefire that he said ends on Wednesday evening US eastern time.

Moscow on Monday called for the US-Iran ceasefire to be maintained and for diplomatic efforts to continue, after Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with his Iranian counterpart.

"The Russian side again emphasised the need to preserve the truce, which must be observed within the parameters initially agreed upon and announced by the Pakistani mediators," the foreign ministry said after the call between Lavrov and Iran's Abbas Araghchi.

"The importance was noted of continuing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the situation from spinning out of control and averting a relapse into armed confrontation," the ministry added.

It criticised what it called Washington's "unlawful naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and seizure of an Iranian container ship".

US President Donald Trump said he was sending negotiators to Pakistan for talks on ending the war that engulfed the region and rattled global markets, while repeating threats to attack Iran's energy infrastructure if it did not make a deal.

Before US and Israeli strikes in June 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency estimated that Iran possessed roughly 441 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 per cent, alongside approximately 200 kilograms enriched to 20 per cent.

China expressed concern on Monday over the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel that tried to evade a naval blockade, and urged all parties to resume peace talks.

"We express concern over the US side's forcible interception of the relevant vessel," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference when asked about the seizure, calling on countries involved to return to negotiations.

(AFP)

Oil prices surged Monday on a re-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East war after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz at the weekend, just a day after reopening it, citing the United States' blockade of its ports.

However, lingering hopes for a deal to end the seven-week crisis continued to support Asian equities, even as Tehran said it was not currently planning to attend peace talks.

Crude plunged while US and European stocks rallied Friday after the Islamic republic said it would again allow ships to pass through the waterway -- through which a fifth of global oil and LNG gas usually passes -- citing the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

(AFP)

Iran on Monday offered a new death toll for its war with Israel and the United States, with its forensic chief saying at least 3,375 people had been killed in the conflict.

The figure came from Abbas Masjedi, the head of Iran's Legal Medicine Organization.

Masjedi, quoted by the judiciary's Mizan news agency and other outlets Monday, said only four of the dead remain unidentified.

His comments did not break down casualties among civilians and security forces, instead just saying that 2,875 were male and 496 were female.

Masjedi said 383 of the dead were children 18 years old and under.

Masjedi's figures raised questions about whether or not they included security force members, particularly given the levels of intense bombings targeting military bases and arsenals in the country.

(AP)

#BREAKING | Iran slams US' 'bullying approach'
NDTV's @ghazalimohammad reports pic.twitter.com/mm9CYIzrAW

— NDTV (@ndtv) April 20, 2026

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has stirred a debate in financial circles with a cryptic social media post on X. 

Amid the ongoing US-Iran war, Ghalibaf has questioned the long-held belief among global investors that US government bonds are the ultimate "safe-haven" during geopolitical stress.

Tension between Washington and Tehran escalated over the weekend as the US Navy fired upon and boarded an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, the first seizure in the US blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz. 

US President Donald Trump said the vessel named Touska was seized by American forces after failing to respond to a warning to stop.

U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforced naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, April 19.
Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at… https://t.co/iyzOQd93C3 pic.twitter.com/HwU4XS48Oq

— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) April 19, 2026

Iran has said it is not planning to take part in the second round of talks with the United States, state media said. This came as US President Donald Trump ordered US negotiators to travel to Pakistan just days before a ceasefire in the Middle East expires on April 22. 

More than 20 vessels passed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, data from shipping analytics firm Kpler showed, the highest number of ships crossing the waterway since March 1.

Among the vessels that made it through on Saturday, five of them last loaded cargoes from Iran ranging from oil products to metals. Three of them are liquefied petroleum gas carriers with one each heading to China and India.

(Reuters)

Over a feverish few days of diplomacy, Pakistan's military and civilian politicians successfully divided the Middle East between them to push for a second round of US-Iran peace talks expected to take place in Islamabad this week.

The country's powerful military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, headed to Tehran on Wednesday for what would become a three-day trip, where Iranian leaders said he carried US proposals for a second round of peace talks.

Simultaneously, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his foreign minister conducted a whirlwind diplomatic tour across regional allies Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

The twin trips illustrate the coordination at play in what is often described as a "hybrid regime" in Pakistan, and Munir's central role in the negotiating process.

"The synergy that is going on right now is giving results, and to take this momentum forward all this synergy will be needed," said Sheharyar Khan, executive director of the Islamabad-based National Dialogue Forum.

(AFP)

Gold prices inched lower on Monday as the dollar firmed, while news the Strait of Hormuz is closed again pushed oil prices higher and revived inflation fears.

Spot gold was down 0.4% at $4,809.71 per ounce, as of 0155 GMT, after hitting its lowest level since April 13 earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures for June delivery fell 1% to $4,829.40.

"Gold prices are lower today after the U.S.-Iran war ceasefire that markets celebrated last week appeared to be breaking down," said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive.

"That has revived the now-familiar 'war trade' dynamics we've seen since the beginning of the conflict. Crude oil prices gained, which echoed into inflation expectation and drove up both yields and the U.S. dollar."

The dollar index strengthened, making greenback-priced bullion more expensive for other currency holders. Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields gained 0.5%. 

(Reuters)

Iran has yet to decide whether it will take part in a new round of talks with the United States, local media reported Sunday, with the IRNA state news agency saying "there is no clear prospect of fruitful negotiations".

The Fars and Tasnim news agencies, quoting anonymous sources, said Tehran had yet to decide whether it would participate and that "the overall atmosphere cannot be assessed as very positive", with Fars citing one source as saying the lifting of a US blockade on Iranian ports was a precondition for talks.

IRNA, meanwhile, pointed to Washington's "maximalism and unreasonable and unrealistic demands, frequent changes of positions, constant contradictions and the continuation of the so-called naval blockade", adding that "in these circumstances, there is no clear prospect of fruitful negotiations".

US Vice President JD Vance will lead the US delegation for talks with Iran in Pakistan, a White House official said Sunday, after President Donald Trump indicated Vance would not make the trip.

Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will attend the talks, a White House official told AFP on condition of anonymity when asked about the makeup of the delegation after Trump's comments.

Four individuals, including two foreign nationals, were arrested in Iran's northwest, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday, for being part of a "US-Israel-linked espionage network."

The foreigners, whose nationality was not disclosed, are accused of importing satellite internet equipment such as Starlink, which is a criminal offence in the country, which has faced seven weeks of an internet blackout.

Hundreds of Iranians have been arrested for "cooperating with enemy states" since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

(Reuters)

Iran will not hand over its enriched uranium to the US, Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press, despite earlier claims made by Donald Trump.

On Friday, Trump said that Washington would work with Tehran to recover Iran’s enriched uranium to bring back to the US.

“I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States,” Khatibzadeh said. “This is non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we’re not going to accept things that are nonstarters.”

Iran has doubled down on its pledge to restrict ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place.

“It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot,” Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said in an interview aired on state television late Saturday.

Qalibaf, who is Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States, slammed the US blockade as a “naive decision made out of ignorance." He said Iran still was seeking peace despite deep-seated distrust of the United States.

“The gaps remain wide and some fundamental issues are still unresolved,” he said.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has said that the ongoing 10-day truce with Israel cannot be one-sided, vowing that his fighters would respond to Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

"A ceasefire means a complete cessation of all hostilities. Because we do not trust this enemy, the resistance fighters will remain in the field with their hands on the trigger, and they will respond to violations accordingly," he said in a statement read out on TV on Saturday.

"There is no ceasefire from the side of the resistance only, it must be from both sides," he said.

Qassem called it "an insult to our country and our homeland, Lebanon, that America dictates its text and speaks on behalf of the Lebanese government".

Donald Trump's unpredictability and stream of insults towards the US's historic ally are adding impetus to Keir Starmer's bid to deepen ties with the European Union.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Donald Trump has no justification to deprive Tehran of its nuclear rights.

"Trump says Iran cannot make use of its nuclear rights but doesn't say for what crime. Who is he to deprive a nation of its rights?" Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by the Iranian Student News Agency.

Iran is not yet ready to hold a new round of face-to-face talks with US officials, a senior Iranian official has said, citing Washington's refusal to abandon "maximalist" demands on key issues.

In an interview with The Associated Press on the margins of a diplomacy forum in Turkey, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the US.

"I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States," Khatibzadeh said. "This is non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we're not going to accept things that are nonstarters."

Khatibzadeh said there have been many exchanges of messages between the sides but accused the United States of holding firm on demands Iran deems to be excessive.

"We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position," Khatibzadeh said.

Iran was seeking the finalization of a "framework agreement" before moving to an in-person meeting, he added.

The Iranian official would not go into specifics of the negotiations with the United States or say which issues remain unresolved but called on Washington to address Iran's concerns, including sanctions imposed on Iran.

"The other sides also should understand and address our main concerns, which are illegal unilateral sanctions that Americans have imposed on Iranians and this economic terrorism which has targeted Iranian people to suffocate them and make them to revolt against the political structure inside Iran," Khatibzadeh said.

Israel's military said a soldier died during combat in southern Lebanon, where fighting has not stopped despite a temporary ceasefire.

It was the second death of a soldier announced by Israel since the start of a 10-day truce announced by the United States began on Friday.

Two Indian-flagged tankers turned back in the Strait of Hormuz after being fired upon by Iranian gunboats yesterday, as the waterway that carries one-fifth of the world's oil and gas remains at the centre of confusion in the middle of a war between the US, Israel, and Iran. No injuries were reported, and the vessels were not damaged in the firing, sources said.

A distress message from one of the tankers has now emerged, capturing the confusion that ensued during the firing. A crew member on board the crude oil tanker, Sanmar Herald, is heard trying to communicate with the Iranian navy in a roughly 30-second audio shared by Tanker Trackers, a maritime intelligence firm that tracks shipments.

"Sepah Navy. Sepah Navy. This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back," the individual was heard saying.

NEW: Audio from the Indian oil tanker fired on by Iranian Navy in the Strait of Hormuz
“You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back!” pic.twitter.com/C3nouIPzOJ

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 18, 2026

The US military is preparing to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters in coming days to pressure Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing American officials.

Two Indian-flagged vessels were fired at by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, with sources telling NDTV that no one was injured and the vessels were not damaged.

The two ships -- Jag Arnav and Sanmar Herald -- came under direct attack, sources said.

They had to turn back after the incident northeast of Oman in the shipping lane.

One of the two vessels is a very large crude carrier (VLCC), a classification given to tankers that are massive in size and designed for long-haul crude transport.

Following the incident, New Delhi summoned the Iranian ambassador and "conveyed India's deep concern".

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that "very good conversations" were going on with Iran but warned Tehran against trying to "blackmail" the United States.

Speaking to reporters at a White House event, he accused Iran of getting "a little cute" with its recent moves, referring to Tehran reimposing restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, which usually carries a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.

"We're talking to them. They wanted to close up the strait again -- you know, as they've been doing for years -- and they can't blackmail us," Trump said.

He said there would be "some information" about Iran later in the day, adding: "We're taking a tough stand."

He had earlier threatened "to start dropping bombs again" unless Iran reached a long-term deal before the ceasefire expires on Wednesday.

Iran has reversed its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.

Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strait.

Iran has said that there has been "progress" in peace talks with the United States, but a final deal remained "far" off, with the two-week ceasefire set to end on Wednesday. 

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, said in a televised address on Saturday that "there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain."

"We are still far from the final discussion," said Ghalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation during the first round of talks in Pakistan last Saturday.

He also said that Iran had been "victorious in the field" during weeks of war and had only agreed to a temporary truce with Washington because its demands had been met.

"If we accepted the ceasefire, it was because they accepted our demands," he said, referring to the United States.

Ghalibaf said the US had not achieved its goals and Iran controlled the strategic Strait of Hormuz maritime transit route.