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 an additional spherical of talks with Iran to barter the tip of the conflict.
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, in accordance with a White Home official who spoke on background. Iran has but to substantiate they’re attending.
On Sunday morning, in a publish on his social media website Fact Social, President Trump mentioned the talks would start on Monday night.
Trump wrote: “We’re providing a very reasonable and affordable DEAL, and I hope they take it as a result of, if they do not, america 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 america “loses nothing.”
He added: “Iran determined to fireplace bullets yesterday within the Strait of Hormuz — A Complete Violation of our Ceasefire Settlement!”
After briefly reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has once more closed the very important financial waterway, saying it is going to prohibit ships from passing by 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 cross by the Strait of Hormuz whereas we can’t.”
The U.S. army mentioned 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 gasoline sometimes passes by the slender waterway, which Iran has primarily closed to worldwide tankers because the U.S. and Israel launched a conflict 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 assist of the supreme chief marking Nationwide Lady’s Day in Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 17, 2026.
Vahid Salemi/AP
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Vahid Salemi/AP
Listed here are extra updates on the Center East battle:
Indian ships come underneath assault
India’s international ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi after what it mentioned was a taking pictures incident that concerned two Indian-flagged vessels within the Strait of Hormuz.
Through the temporary re-opening on Saturday, India mentioned there was “a severe incident of firing on service provider ships.” India has urged Iran to permit Indian ships to renew secure passage throughout the strait as quickly as potential.
On Saturday, the UK’s Maritime Commerce Operations Centre additionally mentioned it acquired 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 a whole bunch of ships within the Gulf because the conflict started in late February.
In an announcement launched to Iranian state media, the nation’s Nationwide Safety Council mentioned that Iran is “decided to train supervision and management over site visitors by the Strait of Hormuz till the conflict is definitively ended and lasting peace is achieved within the area.”
Barber Mohammad Mehdi cuts the hair of his consumer 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 have been killed in southern Lebanon over the weekend.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the demise of French peacekeeper Florian Montorio, which he mentioned gave the impression to be brought on by hearth from Hezbollah, and described as an assault on the UN’s peace service. The Iran-backed militant group denied any duty.
The Israeli army says one in every of its troopers, Sgt Maj Barak Kalfon, was killed when his engineering automobile ran over a bomb. Three extra troopers have 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 imagine their military was making progress in routing the group.
The Israel Protection Forces mentioned on X that the day earlier than the ceasefire got here into impact greater than 150 Hezbollah “operatives” have been “eradicated” and roughly 300 army infrastructure websites have been struck.
Because the begin of what Israel calls Operation “Roaring Lion”, over 1,800 Hezbollah operatives have been eradicated, in accordance with 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.
