Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure again on Sunday in an effort to bring the regime to the table for 11th-hour talks before the ceasefire expires next week.
The US president took to social media to urge Iran to make a deal to end the war as he announced that negotiators would be heading to Islamabad for talks on Monday evening.
“We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” Trump wrote.
“NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years.”
It was unclear whether Iran was sending its own delegation, after their top negotiator said both sides remained far apart on key issues and hit out at the US over its continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. There has been no official confirmation of talks, even as Islamabad stepped up security.
Trump also claimed that Iran had targeted British and French ships in the Strait on Saturday, which he said was a “total violation of our ceasefire agreement”.
Key Points
- Trump threatens to end ceasefire with Iran if no deal reached by Wednesday
- US-Iran talks set to resume Monday: report
- Iranian official warns Strait of Hormuz will close again if Trump's blockade continues
- Trump declares ‘victory’ over Iran after Strait of Hormuz oil channel is reopened
- Strait of Hormuz naval blockade remains 'in full force' until deal struck: Trump
- Trump reiterates Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon
Full story: Trump tells Iran to sign deal with US or ‘the whole country is going to get blown up’
14:03 , Dan HaygarthDonald Trump has issued a threat to Iran’s government, writing on Truth Social that it would be his “honor” to direct the US military to target Iranian bridges and power plants if the country did not reach a deal with US negotiators around the Strait of Hormuz.
He also told a Fox News reporter that “the whole country is getting blown up” if Iran declines the US’s latest offer.
Read more: Trump tells Iran to sign deal with US or ‘the whole country is going to get blown up’
Will Iran and the US agree to terms this weekend?
14:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump says that his negotiators are heading to Islamabad for talks.
We do not know if the Iranian side is planning the same.
So far, we have seen that Pakistan is preparing to host Iranian and US delegations in the capital this weekend.
But neither side has confirmed a time or place for a second round of talks yet, after last week’s talks ended without a breakthrough.
A ceasefire agreement in Lebanon was well received in Iran, which briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.
But the continued US presence in the area saw Tehran shut the strait hours later, on Saturday.
Since then, talk of progress has been scarce. Donald Trump has been the main voice of optimism, saying on Saturday that the US was still having “very good conversations” on the matter.
He told ABC on Sunday that he was sure a deal “will happen, one way or the other”.
European diplomats say they don’t doubt that a deal is coming, but worry the US might be positioning itself for a swift, headline-grabbing deal that only makes things worse later on.
Trump: 'The whole country is going to get blown up if they don't sign a deal'
13:56 , James ReynoldsOn the back of his explosive comments online, Trump tells Fox News: “If they don't sign this deal, the whole country is going to get blown up.”
Iran is understood to have received another US proposal, which they are yet to respond to. Iranian officials have called the terms ‘maximalist’.
Trump tells Fox that his usual envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are heading to Pakistan for talks.
Iran and Pakistan discuss developments as Trump floats talks
13:45 , James ReynoldsIran’s Tasnim news agency is now reporting that the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Iran have discussed the war in a call - a sign, perhaps, that talks may be on the horizon.
In full: Trump's threat to Iran to negotiate or else
13:38 , James Reynolds
Trump optimistic about peace deal despite Iranian 'violation' of ceasefire
13:07 , James ReynoldsPresident Trump tells ABC’s Jonathan Karl that Iran has committed a “serious violation” of the ceasefire - but he remains optimistic that he can get a peace deal.
“It will happen. One way or another. The nice way or the hard way. It’s going to happen.”
India summons Iranian ambassador over attacks on Hormuz traffic
13:00 , James ReynoldsIndia summoned Iran’s ambassador after two Indian-flagged vessels were fired upon, allegedly by the Iranian navy while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
India’s foreign ministry summoned Mohammad Fathali after the incident on Saturday. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri conveyed the government’s “deep concern” over the shooting involving two merchant ships bound for India.
Misri stressed the importance India places on the safety of commercial shipping and seafarers, noting that Iran had previously enabled the safe passage of several India-bound vessels.
Recap: Trump believed coming across as ‘unstable and insulting’ in controversial posts could ‘bring the Iranians to the table,’ report says
13:00 , James ReynoldsPresident Trump reportedly adopted a strategy of intentionally acting unstable and insulting towards Iran, in the hopes that it would push the U.S. adversary to negotiate an end to the war.
The unorthodox tactics were reportedly behind a string of controversial posts the president made this month about the vital Strait of Hormuz, administration officials told The Wall Street Journal.
In one post, on April 5, the president ordered Iran to “open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy b*******, or you’ll be living in Hell,” and ended the post with “Praise be to Allah.”
Read the full report on Trump’s unusual approach to diplomacy:
Trump thought being ‘unstable’ in posts would encourage Iran war deal: report
Ceasefire extension needed with snags holding up peace deal, says Turkey
12:27 , James ReynoldsTurkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan agrees with Ghalibaf’s assessment: talks to end the war are almost there, with a couple of disagreements obstructing a deal.
On the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, he tells reporters that a ceasefire extension will be needed to see a deal over the line.
Fidan says both sides still have the will to continue talks.
Trump negotiators risk rushing an Iran deal that only creates more problems, diplomats warn
12:14 , James ReynoldsEuropean allies fear an inexperienced US negotiating team is pushing for a swift, headline‑grabbing deal with Iran that will worsen, rather than resolve, clashes with the regime.
Diplomats with past experience of dealing with Tehran told Reuters that they believe negotiators are eager to claim a diplomatic victory for Donald Trump, and could end up agreeing to a superficial deal that only makes matters worse later on.
“The concern isn’t that there won’t be an agreement,” said one of eight senior European diplomats. “It's that there will be a bad initial agreement that creates endless downstream problems.”
Diplomats from France, Britain and Germany, which began negotiating with Iran in 2003, say they have been sidelined in the talks.
The diplomats said the nuclear issue remained by far the most contentious.
“The Americans think you agree on three or four points in a five‑page document and that's it, but on the nuclear file, every clause opens the door to a dozen more disputes,” a second European diplomat said.
“Whatever happens now is only a starting point,” said a Western diplomat previously involved in nuclear talks. “That’s why the 2015 JCPOA ran to 160 pages.”
Iran turns back another two tankers
12:08 , James ReynoldsIran’s armed forces turned back another two tankers trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday after issuing warnings, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
The vessels, sailing under the flags of Botswana and Angola, were forced to change course after what the report described as “unauthorised transit” through the strategic waterway.
Just 15% of Americans believe Trump has achieved his war goals
12:00 , James ReynoldsJust 15% of Americans believe Trump has achieved his war goals, according to a new poll by Politico.
The humbling poll of 2,035 US adults online found as many as two in five believe the president will either never achieve his goals in Iran - or does not have explicit goals to begin with.
41 per cent believe the administration has no plan to resolve the conflict, reflecting very little change from last month.
Nearly a third of Trump’s own voters from 2024 believe he is spending too much time on international issues over domestic affairs, the poll found.
Watch: Iranian general threatens to shut down global oil supply claiming 'upper hand' on Trump
11:42 , James ReynoldsIran replenishing launchers faster than before war, says IRGC
11:30 , James ReynoldsMajid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force, says that Iran is replenishing launchers faster now, during the ceasefire in effect, than it was before the war, according to Iran’s Nour News.
Will Iran and the US agree to terms this weekend?
11:05 , James ReynoldsPakistan is preparing to host Iranian and US delegations in the capital this weekend.
But neither side has confirmed a time or place for a second round of talks yet, after last week’s talks ended without a breakthrough.
A ceasefire agreement in Lebanon was well received in Iran, which briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.
But the continued US presence in the area saw Tehran shut the strait hours later, on Saturday.
Since then, talk of progress has been scarce. Donald Trump has been the main voice of optimism, saying on Saturday that the US was still having “very good conversations” on the matter.
Iran’s top negotiator has attacked the US over its “stupid” blockade, and notes there is “still a big distance between us” on some issues.
"There are some issues on which we insist ... They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two.”
Reza Pahlavi: The final chapter of the Islamic Republic will be written by the people of Iran.
10:28 , James ReynoldsReza Pahlavi - the former Crown Prince of the Pahlavi dynasty of Iran - says the conflict has “has given the Iranian people a fighting chance” to shake off the regime.
“This has never been a foreign war. This is a national uprising. And its final chapter will be written not in war rooms abroad, but on the streets of Iran and by the hands of the Iranian people,” he says.
Read the full story:
شاهزاده رضا پهلوی | فصل پایان جمهوری اسلامی به دست مردم ایران نوشته خواهد شد
In pictures: Islamabad prepares for second round of talks
10:14 , James ReynoldsEven though no second round of talks has yet been agreed, police in Islamabad, Pakistan are preparing the city to welcome delegations from Iran and the US.
IDF claims hits on 150 Hezbollah militants just before ceasefire
10:00 , James ReynoldsIsrael says it killed more than 150 Hezbollah militants in the 24 hours before the ceasefire took effect on Thursday.
The IDF claimed to have killed Hezbollah commander Ali Rida Abbas, the commander of the Bint Jbeil area, in those strikes.
Some 300 military infrastructure sites were also said to have been targeted.
Just 15% of Americans believe Trump has achieved his war goals
09:39 , James ReynoldsJust 15% of Americans believe Trump has achieved his war goals, according to a new poll by Politico.
The humbling poll of 2,035 US adults online found as many as two in five believe the president will either never achieve his goals in Iran - or does not have explicit goals to begin with.
41 per cent believe the administration has no plan to resolve the conflict, reflecting very little change from last month.
Nearly a third of Trump’s own voters from 2024 believe he is spending too much time on international issues over domestic affairs, the poll found.
Watch: Pope Leo downplays feud with Trump
09:35 , Dan HaygarthFull story: Trump believed coming across as ‘unstable and insulting’ in controversial posts could ‘bring the Iranians to the table,’ report says
09:20 , Dan HaygarthPresident Trump reportedly adopted a strategy of intentionally acting unstable and insultingly towards Iran, in the hopes it would push the U.S. adversary to negotiate an end to the war.
The unorthodox tactics were reportedly behind a string of controversial posts the president made this month about the vital Strait of Hormuz, administration officials told The Wall Street Journal.
In one post, on April 5, the president ordered Iran to “open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy b*******, or you’ll be living in Hell,” and ended the post with “Praise be to Allah.”
Read more:
Trump thought being ‘unstable’ in posts would encourage Iran war deal: report
Iran doubles down on Hormuz closure
09:06 , Dan HaygarthIran doubled down on its pledge to restrict ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US blockade of its ports remains in place.
Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said in a televised interview that Tehran would continue to threaten commercial vessels transiting the critical waterway, after it fired on ships attempting to pass on Saturday.
"It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot," Mr Qalibaf, who is Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the US, said.
Iran's navy has warned ships against transiting the strait, a key shipping route through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil normally passes.
After a brief uptick in transit attempts on Saturday, vessels in the Persian Gulf held their positions, wary after two India-flagged ships were fired on mid-transit and forced to turn back.
Their retreat returned the strait to its pre-ceasefire status quo, threatening to deepen the global energy crisis and push the parties toward renewed conflict as the war entered its eighth week.
Recap: Shipping remains uncertain after vessels report gunfire
08:18 , Daniel HaygarthConcern remained after at least two vessels reported being attacked on Saturday while trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
India summoned the Iranian ambassador in New Delhi and expressed deep concern that two Indian-flagged ships had come under fire in the strait, the government said.
US Central Command said American forces were enforcing a maritime blockade of Iran but did not comment on the latest Iranian actions.
Tehran's reversal raised the risk that oil and gas shipments through the strait could remain disrupted just as Trump weighs whether to extend the ceasefire.
When American and Iranian negotiators met last weekend in Islamabad, the US proposed a 20-year suspension of all Iranian nuclear activity, while Iran suggested a halt of three to five years, according to people familiar with the proposals.
Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said no date had been set for the next round of negotiations, adding that a framework of understanding must be agreed first.
Donald Trump had said on Friday there could be talks this weekend and that the two sides were "very close to making a deal."
There were signs that security was being ramped up in the Pakistani capital on Sunday, though preparations were not at last weekend's levels.
Second Israeli soldier killed in Lebanon in less than 12 hours
08:03 , Namita SinghIsrael's military says another soldier died in combat in southern Lebanon, the second death announced in under twelve hours.
It brought the total number of soldiers killed in Lebanon to 15, and was the second soldier killed in combat since the ceasefire.
The military said another soldier was badly wounded in the same incident, along with four moderately wounded and four lightly injured.
At least 2,300 people in Lebanon have died in Israeli attack.
Standoff escalates after Iran closes Strait of Hormuz over US blockade
07:44 , Namita SinghIran 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.
The escalating standoff over the critical chokepoint threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict, even as mediators expressed confidence that a new deal was within reach.
The strait is closed until the US blockade is lifted, Iran's Revolutionary Guard navy said on Saturday night.
Hours earlier, two gunboats from Iran's Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said.
It reported the tanker and crew as safe, without identifying the vessel or its destination.
Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes through the strait and further limits would squeeze already constrained supply, driving prices higher once again.
Iran's earlier announcement about the opening of the crucial body of water came as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold.
The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, nearly 2,300 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states.
Thirteen US service members have also been killed.
Pope Leo downplays feud with Trump, says 'not in my interest' to debate him
07:29 , Namita SinghPope Leo sought to downplay his feud with US president Donald Trump on Saturday, saying reporting about comments he has made so far during his Africa tour "has not been accurate in all its aspects".
Speaking to reporters in English aboard his flight to Angola for the third leg of his ambitious 10-day Africa tour, the first US pope said comments he made two days earlier in Cameroon decrying that the world was being "ravaged by a handful of tyrants" were not aimed at Mr Trump.
That speech, said Leo, "was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting".
Vice president JD Vance, who had criticised the pope's remarks last week, welcomed his latest comments.
"I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this," Mr Vance posted on social media platform X.
"While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict – and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen – the reality is often much more complicated."
On Sunday, as Leo prepared to embark on his tour, Mr Trump called him "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy" in a post on Truth Social.
Mr Trump also posted an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure, drawing widespread criticism even from some religious conservatives who typically support him. The post was removed on Monday morning. Mr Trump appeared to be responding to Leo's growing criticism in recent weeks of the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Pope Leo told Reuters on Monday that he would keep speaking out about the war, and Trump reiterated his criticism on Tuesday. On Thursday, Pope Leo blasted leaders who spend billions on wars and said the world was "being ravaged by a handful of tyrants", though he did not mention Mr Trump directly again.
"As it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate the president, which is not in my interest at all," the pontiff said on Saturday.
Leo, originally from Chicago, kept a relatively low profile for a pope in his first 10 months but has debuted a new forceful speaking style in Africa, sharply denouncing war, inequality and global leaders.
No dates set for next round of negotiations between US and Iran
06:30 , Namita SinghWhen American and Iranian negotiators met last weekend in Islamabad, the US proposed a 20-year suspension of all Iranian nuclear activity, while Iran suggested a halt of three to five years, according to people familiar with the proposals.
Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said no date had been set for the next round of negotiations, adding that a framework of understanding must be agreed first.
US president Donald Trump had said on Friday there could be talks this weekend and that the two sides were "very close to making a deal”.
There were no signs on Saturday of preparations for new talks in the Pakistani capital, where the highest-level US-Iran negotiations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution ended without agreement last weekend.
Senior national security aides gathered at the White House on Saturday morning. Mr Trump later went to the Trump National Golf Club with top envoy Steve Witkoff, one of his Iran negotiators.
Pressure for a way out of the war has mounted as Trump’s fellow Republicans defend narrow majorities in Congress in the November midterm elections with US gasoline prices high, inflation rising and his own approval ratings down.
Oil prices fell about 10 per cent and global stocks jumped on Friday on the prospect of marine traffic resuming through the strait. But hundreds of vessels and about 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Gulf awaiting passage through the waterway, shipping sources said.
Two India-flagged vessels under fire in Strait of Hormuz
06:07 , Namita SinghConcern in the Strait of Hormuz remained after at least two vessels reported being attacked yesterday while trying to transit the waterway.
India summoned the Iranian ambassador in New Delhi and expressed deep concern that two Indian-flagged ships had come under fire in the strait, the government said.
US Central Command said American forces were enforcing a maritime blockade of Iran but did not comment on the latest Iranian actions.
Tehran's reversal raised the risk that oil and gas shipments through the strait could remain disrupted just as Trump weighs whether to extend the ceasefire.
Israeli military says one soldier killed in southern Lebanon
05:42 , Namita SinghThe Israeli military said this morning that one soldier was killed during combat in southern Lebanon, adding that nine soldiers were wounded, including one who was severely injured.
Tehran defends blockading Strait of Hormuz citing gaps in talks
04:57 , Namita SinghIran reversed course on Saturday to reassert control over the strait, again closing the energy choke point and adding fresh uncertainty to the war, which the US and Israel launched on 28 February.
Iran said it was responding to a continued US blockade of Iranian ports, calling it a violation of the ceasefire, while supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran's navy was ready to inflict "new bitter defeats" on its enemies.
US president Donald Trump called the move "blackmail" even as he praised "very good conversations" with Tehran.
On Friday, Iran had announced the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a separate US-brokered 10-day ceasefire agreement on Thursday between Israel and Lebanon.
Mr Trump defended the US blockade and threatened "to start dropping bombs again" unless the countries reached a long-term deal before the ceasefire expires on Wednesday.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council said Tehran's control over the strait included demanding the payment of costs related to security, safety and environmental protection services, state media said.
Trump, Iran cite progress in talks as uncertainty hangs over Strait
04:38 , Namita SinghIran's top negotiator said recent talks with the US had made progress but gaps remained over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, while president Donald Trump cited "very good conversations" with Tehran despite warning against "blackmail" over the key shipping channel.
Neither side offered any specifics about the state of negotiations yesterday, days before a fragile ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran is set to expire.
"We have had progress but there is still a big distance between us," Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, told state media, referring to talks last weekend. "There are some issues on which we insist ... They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two."
The war, now in its eighth week, has killed thousands, spread to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and sent oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the strait, which before the war carried one-fifth of the world's oil shipments.
Recap: US prepares to board Iranian ships as Iran shuts strait
04:00 , James Reynolds- Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Saturday, citing the continued US blockade.
- The Revolutionary Guards said the strait would remain shut until the blockade ends.
- The WSJ reported that the US was preparing to board Iran-linked tankers in international waters, widening the conflict.
- There was no sign weekend talks were expected to go ahead on Sunday, with just days left until the ceasefire ends.
- Trump reportedly called a meeting on Saturday to discuss the lingering issues with Hormuz and the stalled talks.
Recap: Trump says Iran will not blackmail the US
03:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump was adamant that Iran would not “blackmail” the United States as Tehran said it was reimposing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
Two tankers reported coming under fire in the channel on Saturday, as Iran declared it was closing the strait again due to the continued American presence in the area.
Trump played down the threat, saying Iran had “got a little cute”, after Iran’s supreme leader said his navy was ready to make the US “taste the bitterness of new defeats”.
"They wanted to close up the strait again, as they've been doing for years. They can't blackmail us,” Trump said.
The US blockade on Iranian ports remains a point of major contention, with just days left before the two-week ceasefire agreement expires on Tuesday.
Trump insisted that “very good conversations” were ongoing, while Iran’s national security council said it was considering new proposals from the US, following mediation efforts by Pakistan in recent days.
In full: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
02:00 , James ReynoldsTankers in the Gulf came under fire on Saturday as Iran reimposed its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after declaring the vital waterway had reopened to commercial traffic.
At least two vessels reported being struck by gunfire as they tried to cross the strait, after Tehran said it would be shutting the strategic chokepoint in response to the continued US blockade on Iranian ports.
Hopes for diplomacy were dashed as Iran’s new supreme leader Mojataba Khamenei said the nation’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies, with the US-Iranian ceasefire set to expire within days.
Read the full story of Saturday’s events here:
Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Iran not ready for talks with US, says foreign ministry
01:30 , James ReynoldsIran is not yet ready to hold a new round of direct talks with the US, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday, citing Washington's refusal to abandon "maximalist" demands on key issues.
Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, against claims made by Donald Trump.
"I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States," Khatibzadeh said. "This is a 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.”
Watch: Pope Leo says ‘not in my interest at all’ to debate Trump
01:00 , James ReynoldsWatch: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Sunday 19 April 2026 00:30 , James ReynoldsRecap: US prepares to board Iranian ships as Iran shuts strait
Sunday 19 April 2026 00:01 , James Reynolds- Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Saturday, citing the continued US blockade.
- The Revolutionary Guards said the strait would remain shut until the blockade ends.
- The WSJ reported that the US was preparing to board Iran-linked tankers in international waters, widening the conflict.
- There was no sign weekend talks were expected to go ahead on Sunday, with just days left until the ceasefire ends.
- Trump reportedly called a meeting on Saturday to discuss the lingering issues with Hormuz and the stalled talks.
"Big distance" remains in US-Iran talks, says Ghalibaf
Saturday 18 April 2026 23:43 , James ReynoldsIran's top negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf tells state TV that the Iranians have made progress in negotiations with the US, but “there is still a big distance”.
Watch: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Saturday 18 April 2026 23:30 , James ReynoldsIn full: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Saturday 18 April 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsTankers in the Gulf came under fire on Saturday as Iran reimposed its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after declaring the vital waterway had reopened to commercial traffic.
At least two vessels reported being struck by gunfire as they tried to cross the strait, after Tehran said it would be shutting the strategic chokepoint in response to the continued US blockade on Iranian ports.
Hopes for diplomacy were dashed as Iran’s new supreme leader Mojataba Khamenei said the nation’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies, with the US-Iranian ceasefire set to expire within days.
Read the full story of today’s events here:
Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Recap: Investors bet $760m on falling oil prices just minutes before Hormuz reopened
Saturday 18 April 2026 22:30 , James ReynoldsInvestors bet around $760 million on a falling oil price around 20 minutes before Iran said the Strait of Hormuz was reopening on Friday - the latest in a series of large, well-timed gambles to draw scrutiny.
Between 1224 GMT and 1225 GMT investors sold a combined 7,990 lots of Brent crude futures, according to LSEG data. Those trade were worth around $760m at the time.
20 minutes later, at 1245 GMT, Iran's foreign minister said that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz was declared completely open for the remaining period of the ceasefire in Lebanon.
The announcement pushed crude down as much as 11% on the day in the minutes that followed.
Iran said the strait was closed again on Saturday, citing the continued US military blockade.
UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
Saturday 18 April 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsBritain will make “a wide-ranging military contribution” to an international mission to protect shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz trade artery, the UK ambassador to the US has said.
The commitment by Sir Christian Turner comes amid long-running concerns over the state of the nation’s armed forces and warnings of under-funding.
Only this week, Labour former defence secretary and Nato chief Lord Robertson of Port Ellen accused his own Government of “corrosive complacency” in the face of “the bright red signals of danger”.
Read the full story:
UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
Watch: Trump says White House will 'have a party' when Iran war ends
Saturday 18 April 2026 21:30 , James ReynoldsWhere have talks to end the war been left?
Saturday 18 April 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsTrump said the US was having "very good conversations" with Iran, even as Tehran closed the strait again on Saturday.
The reversal has left diplomacy uncertain, with just three days until the US-Iranian ceasefire is due to expire.
Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said no date had been set for the next round of negotiations, adding that a framework of understanding must be agreed first.
State television also quoted the Supreme National Security Council as saying the US had put forward new proposals after talks mediated by Pakistan in recent days.
Tehran was considering them but had not yet responded, it said.
There was no immediate sign of direct talks taking place at the weekend, despite Trump saying on Friday that negotiations would take place.
Lebanon ceasefire holds as Hezbollah backs diplomacy
Saturday 18 April 2026 20:53 , James ReynoldsAs Iran reasserts control of the Strait of Hormuz and threatens US ships, both ceasefires are tentatively holding.
Naim Qassem, the secretary general of Hezbollah, said in a message released on Saturday that the 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon was a victory for his group.
The Shia cleric, 73, said Hezbollah was “fully open to cooperation with the Lebanese authorities in a new chapter built on achieving Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
The US has said Israel and Lebanon agreed that Hezbollah should be disarmed.
India says two ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 18 April 2026 20:39 , James ReynoldsIndia’s foreign ministry says two Indian flagged ships were targeted in the Strait of Hormuz earlier today.
In a statement published on Saturday, a spokesperson said the Iranian ambassador was summoned to meet the foreign secretary this evening.
The secretary “conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz”, and the ambassador was to relay the message.
Recap: Trump 'holds crisis talks on Strait of Hormuz'
Saturday 18 April 2026 20:30 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump called a meeting in the Situation Room this morning to discuss negotiations with Iran and the reopened crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report.
A senior US official told Axios that unless there is a breakthrough in talks, it looks as though the war could reopen within days.
There is still no firm date for talks to resume this weekend, despite Trump’s hopes to end the conflict before the ceasefire expires on Tuesday.
An official told the outlet that today’s crisis talks were attended by senior figures of government including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and Scott Bessent.
British police said today they found no hazardous substances in items found near London’s Israeli embassy and reopened Kensington Gardens, after investigating an online claim that the site had been targeted by drones.
The pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya had posted a video that included footage of drones along with two figures dressed in protective clothing and a message that the Israeli embassy in London was being targeted.
“While the Embassy of Israel was not attacked, we continue to work closely with the Embassy and its security team to keep the site safe and secure," a commander of counter-terrorism policing in London said.
Due to the incident, police presence was stepped up and cordons were put in place, closing public access to the nearby Kensington Gardens and the surrounding area.
Mine clearing a violation of ceasefire, says Ghalibaf
Saturday 18 April 2026 20:15 , James ReynoldsIran’s parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf tells Iranian state TV that any actions that interfere with Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz - including mine clearing - will be considered in breach of the ceasefire arrangement.
He said: “The Americans have announced a blockade in recent days; this is a reckless and misguided decision. It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot.
“If the United States does not lift the blockade, transit through the Strait of Hormuz will certainly be restricted.”
Hormuz closed until blockade lifted, says IRGC
Saturday 18 April 2026 20:12 , James ReynoldsThe Iran Revolutionary Guards Navy says in a statement aired on Iranian state TV that the Strait of Hormuz is closed as of Saturday afternoon and will remain shut until the US blockade against Iranian vessels is lifted.
The regional commander threatens the US navy with a “hard blow” if it attacks Iranian vessels.
Any vessel ignoring warnings will be targeted, he says.
In full: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Saturday 18 April 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsTankers in the Gulf came under fire on Saturday as Iran reimposed its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after declaring the vital waterway had reopened to commercial traffic.
At least two vessels reported being struck by gunfire as they tried to cross the strait, after Tehran said it would be shutting the strategic chokepoint in response to the continued US blockade on Iranian ports.
Hopes for diplomacy were dashed as Iran’s new supreme leader Mojataba Khamenei said the nation’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies, with the US-Iranian ceasefire set to expire within days.
Read the full story of today’s events here:
Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Watch: Trump warns Tehran ‘can’t blackmail us’ as gunboats ‘fire at tanker’ in Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 18 April 2026 19:45 , James ReynoldsWatch: Iran says control over Strait of Hormuz reimposed as US breached 'commitments'
Saturday 18 April 2026 19:30 , James ReynoldsIn pictures: Lebanese residents return to damaged homes after ceasefire takes effect
Saturday 18 April 2026 19:00 , James Reynolds
Trump 'holds crisis talks on Strait of Hormuz'
Saturday 18 April 2026 18:39 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump called a meeting in the Situation Room this morning to discuss negotiations with Iran and the reopened crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report.
A senior US official told Axios that unless there is a breakthrough in talks, it looks as though the war could reopen within days.
There is still no firm date for talks to resume this weekend, despite Trump’s hopes to end the conflict before the ceasefire expires on Tuesday.
An official told the outlet that today’s crisis talks were attended by senior figures of government including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and Scott Bessent.
IRGC threatens to 'destroy vessels' crossing the Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 18 April 2026 18:30 , James ReynoldsAs Iran reasserts its grip over the Strait of Hormuz, the Revolutionary Guards have issued a warning to ships in the area that they will destroy any vessels trying to cross.
A shipowner told the Wall Street Journal they had received a radio message declaring the strait was “completely closed again” and blaming the US government.
“No vessel of any type or nationality is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” the message said, threatening any trying to cross “will be met with a severe response from the IRGC navy and will be destroyed.”
Iran not ready for talks with US, says foreign ministry
Saturday 18 April 2026 18:10 , James ReynoldsIran is not yet ready to hold a new round of direct talks with the US, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday, citing Washington's refusal to abandon "maximalist" demands on key issues.
Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, against claims made by Donald Trump.
"I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States," Khatibzadeh said. "This is a 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.”
UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
Saturday 18 April 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsBritain will make “a wide-ranging military contribution” to an international mission to protect shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz trade artery, the UK ambassador to the US has said.
The commitment by Sir Christian Turner comes amid long-running concerns over the state of the nation’s armed forces and warnings of under-funding.
Only this week, Labour former defence secretary and Nato chief Lord Robertson of Port Ellen accused his own Government of “corrosive complacency” in the face of “the bright red signals of danger”.
Read the full story:
UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
Reporter ordered 'out' of Oval Office after pressing Trump on Hormuz
Saturday 18 April 2026 17:46 , James ReynoldsA reporter says Donald Trump ordered her ‘out’ after she asked him about the two ships reportedly fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz.
As Trump spoke on psychedelic drug legislation in the Oval Office, CBS reporter Olivia Rinaldi asked him about the reports of ships being struck in the channel earlier today.
Trump is seen in a video of the moment looking away before ordering: “Out.” He thanks the other reporters, indicating the time to leave.
Trump only yesterday said Iran had vowed never to close the strait again - before the regime reasserted itself, citing the continued US military blockade.
Tried to ask the President about two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz who were allegedly fired upon by Iranian gunboats.
— Olivia Rinaldi (@olivialarinaldi) April 18, 2026
President Trump: "out" https://t.co/BehRFeElgf
Hezbollah refutes blame for killing of French soldier in Lebanon
Saturday 18 April 2026 17:14 , James ReynoldsA French soldier was killed and three others wounded while clearing a road in southern Lebanon in an attack that peacekeepers and French officials said was likely carried out by Hezbollah.
French President Emmanuel Macron identified the fallen soldier as Sergeant-Chef Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban.
“Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” Macron said, adding: “France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL.”
UNIFIL said initial assessments indicated the fire came from non-state actors, allegedly Hezbollah, and that an investigation had been launched into what it called "a deliberate attack."
Hezbollah denied it was responsible for the attack.
Where have talks to end the war been left?
Saturday 18 April 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsTrump said the US was having "very good conversations" with Iran, even as Tehran closed the strait again on Saturday.
The reversal has left diplomacy uncertain, with just three days until the US-Iranian ceasefire is due to expire.
Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said no date had been set for the next round of negotiations, adding that a framework of understanding must be agreed first.
State television also quoted the Supreme National Security Council as saying the US had put forward new proposals after talks mediated by Pakistan in recent days.
Tehran was considering them but had not yet responded, it said.
There was no immediate sign of direct talks taking place at the weekend, despite Trump saying on Friday that negotiations would take place.
In full: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Saturday 18 April 2026 16:45 , James ReynoldsTankers in the Gulf came under fire on Saturday as Iran reimposed its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after declaring the vital waterway had reopened to commercial traffic.
At least two vessels reported being struck by gunfire as they tried to cross the strait, after Tehran said it would be shutting the strategic chokepoint in response to the continued US blockade on Iranian ports.
Hopes for diplomacy were dashed as Iran’s new supreme leader Mojataba Khamenei said the nation’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies, with the US-Iranian ceasefire set to expire within days.
Read the full story of today’s events here:
Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
US preparing to board Iranian vessels, officials say
Saturday 18 April 2026 16:15 , James ReynoldsUS officials have told the Wall Street Journal that the US military is preparing to board ‘Iran-linked’ oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters within days.
The report emerged on Saturday as Iran reasserted itself in the Strait of Hormuz.
Intercepting Iran-‘linked’ ships in international waters would represent a widening of the conflict, which has been mostly contained to the Strait in recent weeks.
US demands have stalled talks, Iranian minister says
Saturday 18 April 2026 15:45 , Dan HaygarthIran is not ready to hold a new round of face-to-face talks with US officials, a senior Iranian minister 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, deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the US, rejecting claims by Donald Trump.
"I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States," Mr 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 non-starters."
On Friday, Mr Trump said the US will go into Iran and "get all the nuclear dust", referring to the 970lb of enriched uranium believed to be buried under nuclear sites badly damaged by American military strikes last year.
Mr Khatibzadeh said there have been many exchanges of messages between the sides but accused the US of holding firm on demands Tehran deem 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," he said.
Iran was seeking the finalisation of a "framework agreement" before moving to an in-person meeting, he added.
He would not go into specifics of the negotiations with the US or say which issues remain unresolved but called on Washington to address Tehran'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," Mr Khatibzadeh said.
Iran’s supreme leader warns of ‘new bitter defeats’ for US and Israel
Saturday 18 April 2026 15:20 , Dan HaygarthIran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said Iran's navy is ready to inflict "new bitter defeats" on the US and Israel.
Read out on state TV on Saturday (April 18), a newsreader quoted a statement attributed to Khamenei saying, "The army stood against the sinister plans of the United States, the remnants of the Pahlavi regime, and separatists who wanted a dismembered Iran, and created epic achievements."
At least two merchant vessels reported they were hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, maritime security and shipping sources said, shortly after Iran said it was once again tightening control of the waterway.
Trump: 'Iran got a little cute but they can't blackmail us'
Saturday 18 April 2026 15:13 , Dan Haygarth
Asked about developments in the Strait of Hormuz today, Donald Trump said: "we have very good conversations going on".
He added: "It's working out very well - they got a little cute as they have been doing for 47 years.”
The president continued: "They wanted to close up the strait again, as they've been doing for years, they can't blackmail us.
"We'll have some information by the end of the day. We're talking to them, we're taking a tough stand."
Russia's state nuclear energy firm says ready to help with removal of enriched uranium from Iran
Saturday 18 April 2026 15:05 , Dan HaygarthThe head of Russia's state atomic energy company, Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, said on Saturday that it is ready to help with the removal of enriched uranium from Iran, and that the company is closely following the progress of US-Iran talks
