The solar rises behind a tanker anchored within the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026.
Asghar Besharati/AP
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Asghar Besharati/AP
U.S. officers are heading to Islamabad, Pakistan, for one more spherical of talks with Iran to barter the tip of the battle.
The three U.S. officers heading to Pakistan are Vice President Vance, U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, based on a White Home official who spoke on background. Iran has but to verify they’re attending.
On Sunday morning, in a put up on his social media website Fact Social, President Trump stated the talks would start on Monday night.
Trump wrote: “We’re providing a very reasonable and cheap DEAL, and I hope they take it as a result of, if they do not, the USA goes to knock out each single Energy Plant, and each single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!”
Trump praised the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was costing Iran “$500 Million {Dollars} a day” whereas the USA “loses nothing.”
He added: “Iran determined to fireplace bullets yesterday within the Strait of Hormuz — A Whole Violation of our Ceasefire Settlement!”
After briefly reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has once more closed the very important financial waterway, saying it’s going to limit ships from passing by means of so long as the U.S. continues its blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran’s chief negotiator, parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, was unequivocal in feedback made on Iranian state TV in a single day, stressing: “It’s unimaginable for others to move by means of the Strait of Hormuz whereas we can not.”
The U.S. navy stated on X that it pressured 23 ships to show round as a part of its blockade of Iranian ports. About 20% of the world’s crude oil and pure fuel usually passes by means of the slim waterway, which Iran has basically closed to worldwide tankers for the reason that U.S. and Israel launched a battle on the nation on the finish of February.
A lady member of the Basij paramilitary, affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, holds her gun throughout a state-organized rally in help of the supreme chief marking Nationwide Woman’s Day in Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 17, 2026.
Vahid Salemi/AP
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Vahid Salemi/AP
Listed below are extra updates on the Center East battle:
Indian ships come beneath assault
India’s international ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi after what it stated was a capturing incident that concerned two Indian-flagged vessels within the Strait of Hormuz.
Through the temporary re-opening on Saturday, India stated there was “a critical incident of firing on service provider ships.” India has urged Iran to permit Indian ships to renew protected passage throughout the strait as quickly as attainable.
On Saturday, the UK’s Maritime Commerce Operations Centre additionally stated it obtained a report that two Iranian revolutionary guard gun boats fired on a tanker.
It did not say if the tanker was Indian-flagged.
Greater than 20,000 seafarers have been caught on lots of of ships within the Gulf for the reason that battle started in late February.
In an announcement launched to Iranian state media, the nation’s Nationwide Safety Council stated that Iran is “decided to train supervision and management over visitors by means of the Strait of Hormuz till the battle is definitively ended and lasting peace is achieved within the area.”
Barber Mohammad Mehdi cuts the hair of his shopper Ayman Al Zein inside his store, which was broken in an Israeli airstrike that additionally broken Al Zein’s store, in Dahiyeh, Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026.
Hassan Ammar/AP
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Hassan Ammar/AP
French Peacekeeper, Israeli troopers killed
The separate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is being examined, however nonetheless holding for now.
A French peacekeeper and two Israeli troopers had been killed in southern Lebanon over the weekend.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the dying of French peacekeeper Florian Montorio, which he stated gave the impression to be attributable to fireplace from Hezbollah, and described as an assault on the UN’s peace service. The Iran-backed militant group denied any accountability.
The Israeli navy says one among its troopers, Sgt Maj Barak Kalfon, was killed when his engineering car ran over a bomb. Three extra troopers had been injured.
One other soldier, Employees Sergeant Lidor Porat, was additionally killed in battle in southern Lebanon and eight others injured.
In the meantime, polls present most Israelis oppose the ceasefire, which comes as they consider their military was making progress in routing the group.
The Israel Protection Forces stated on X that the day earlier than the ceasefire got here into impact greater than 150 Hezbollah “operatives” had been “eradicated” and roughly 300 navy infrastructure websites had been struck.
For the reason that begin of what Israel calls Operation “Roaring Lion”, over 1,800 Hezbollah operatives had been eradicated, based on the assertion.
Eleanor Beardsley in Jerusalem, Durrie Bouscaren in Van, Turkey, Betsy Joles in Islamabad, and Diaa Hadid in Colombo, Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg, and Robbie Griffiths in London contributed to reporting.
