On this handout picture supplied by U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces patrol the Arabian Sea close to M/V Touska on April 20, 2026, after firing upon the Iranian-flagged vessel that the U.S. accused of making an attempt to violate the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports close to the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Navy | Getty Photographs
Iran has provided to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifts its blockade of Iranian ports and the battle ends, whereas setting apart negotiations on its nuclear ambitions for a later date, Axios and The Related Press reported Monday.
It’s unclear if President Donald Trump, who has vowed to not elevate the blockade till a take care of Iran is “100% full,” will entertain the reported supply to finish the 2-month-old battle.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a Fox Information interview later Monday morning appeared to pour chilly water on any Iranian proposal to clear the strategically important strait.
“What they imply by opening the straits is, ‘Sure, the straits are open, so long as you coordinate with Iran, get our permission, or we’ll blow you up and also you pay us,'” Rubio mentioned, when requested about Trump’s declare Saturday that Iran had despatched a “a lot better” supply.
“That is not opening the straits. These are worldwide waterways. They can not normalize, nor can we tolerate them making an attempt to normalize, a system during which the Iranians determine who will get to make use of a global waterway and the way a lot it’s important to pay them to make use of it,” Rubio mentioned.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned she is going to temporary reporters at 1 p.m. ET.
The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted the central objective of the battle is maintaining Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“Every part can be peanuts in comparison with that, in the event that they ever got a nuclear weapon,” Trump mentioned Saturday night time when he spoke to reporters on the White Home after a taking pictures on the White Home Correspondents’ Dinner.
However efforts at a diplomatic resolution appeared to hit a sudden roadblock over the weekend.
A boy raises his fist whereas standing on a large Iranian flag in the course of the funeral of Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ navy, alongside others killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran at Enghelab Sq. in Tehran on April 1, 2026.
– | Afp | Getty Photographs
Trump on Saturday canceled plans for his son-in-law Jared Kushner and particular envoy Steve Witkoff to fulfill with their Iranian counterparts in Pakistan. “An excessive amount of time wasted on touring, an excessive amount of work!” he wrote in a Reality Social put up, whereas asserting the U.S. nonetheless has “all of the playing cards.”
Trump introduced the choice after Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi had departed Islamabad after solely talking with Pakistani officers, Reuters reported.
After sending the social media put up, Trump reportedly informed reporters that Iran had adopted up with a “a lot better” supply, with out saying what it contained.
“They gave us a paper that ought to have been higher. And apparently, instantly, once I canceled it, inside 10 minutes, we obtained a brand new paper that was a lot better,” Trump mentioned earlier than boarding Air Drive One on Saturday, Bloomberg reported.
The cancellation ended speedy prospects for a second spherical of peace talks with Iran. Two weeks earlier, Kushner, Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance traveled to Islamabad and spent 21 hours negotiating with Iran, however left the nation with out a deal.
Vance was not included within the newest journey plans.
A U.S.-Iran ceasefire stays in impact after Trump unilaterally prolonged it final week. However the two sides all through the truce have continued to jockey for benefit over one another, with the Strait of Hormuz rising as the primary battleground.
The strait, an important transport route that in regular occasions ferries 20% of the world’s oil, stays Iran’s foremost supply of leverage within the ongoing battle. Tehran successfully closed the passage via pressure, with only a small fraction of prewar ship site visitors making it via. The de facto closure has despatched oil costs spiraling, resulting in greater costs for gasoline and different merchandise within the U.S. and world wide.
Trump has responded with a naval blockade of Iranian ports within the area. At the least 38 ships have been stopped or circled to this point, U.S. Central Command mentioned Sunday night time.
That is creating information. Please verify again for updates.
