Donald Trump has said the US will continue its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz until Iran agrees to a peace deal, claiming the halt to shipping is “absolutely destroying Iran”.
The US president said the current ceasefire will end on Wednesday evening local time, and that it’s “highly unlikely that I’d extend it” if Washington and Tehran can’t reach an agreement to end the war by then, in a phone interview with Bloomberg.
“I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world”, Trump said Monday.
Trump was resolute that the US military blockade of Iranian vessels would stay in place “until there is a ‘DEAL’”, as Iranian officials said they would not respond to coercion.
The US and Iran have yet to commit to a second round of direct talks in Islamabad. JD Vance was expected to head to Pakistan on Tuesday, after conflicting reports said he’d fly Monday.
Iran put off confirming its attendance and vowed retaliation after the US said it had seized an Iranian cargo ship that had tried to run its blockade.
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Key Points
- Trump pours cold water on hopes of ceasefire extension
- Iran says it won't accept peace talks under duress
- 'I'm winning a War, BY A LOT', says Trump
- US Marines board Iranian-flagged vessel after navy disables ship
- What is the US naval blockade?
White House bashes US media, claims outlets are 'rooting for the Iranian regime'
04:30 , Rachel DobkinWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has bashed the US media, suggesting outlets are “rooting for the Iranian regime over the American people”.
Leavitt was speaking to Fox News Monday night local time, hours after US President Donald Trump raged on Truth Social about the media’s coverage of the Iran war.
“I’m winning a War, BY A LOT, things are going very well, our Military has been amazing and, if you read the Fake News, like The Failing New York Times, the absolutely horrendous and disgusting Wall Street Journal, or the now almost defunct, fortunately, Washington Post, you would actually think we are losing the War”, Trump wrote.
ICYMI: Trump slams Obama-era Iran Nuclear Deal
04:00 , Rachel DobkinUS President Donald has slammed the Obama-era Iran Nuclear Deal that he withdrew from during his first term.
“The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA, commonly referred to as ‘The Iran Nuclear Deal,’ penned by Barack Hussein Obama and Sleepy Joe Biden, one of the Worst Deals ever made having to do with the Security of our Country”, he wrote on Truth Social Monday.
Make no mistake, President Trump won't drag the United States into another disastrous deal with Iran.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 21, 2026
"If a Deal happens under “TRUMP,” it will guarantee Peace, Security, and Safety, not only for Israel and the Middle East, but for Europe, America, and everywhere else." -… pic.twitter.com/GtQ7zQXyLy
The Iran Nuclear Deal restricted Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions, but Trump argued during his first term, “the deal allowed Iran to continue enriching uranium and — over time — reach the brink of a nuclear breakout.”
Trump withdrew from the 2015 deal in 2018.
US military shares photos of naval blockade efforts
03:30 , Rachel DobkinU.S. forces patrol the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska, April 20, as the Iranian-flagged vessel's container cargo is searched after U.S. Marines boarded and seized the ship when it attempted to violate the U.S. naval blockade. pic.twitter.com/Czs127lK6p
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 20, 2026
Trump says Iran is 'going to negotiate'
03:00 , Rachel DobkinUS President Donald Trump told conservative radio host John Fredericks that Iran is “going to negotiate” ahead of peace talks expected to take place this week in Pakistan.
“Well, they’re going to negotiate, and if they don’t, they’re going to see problems like they’ve never seen before”, Trump said in a phone interview on The John Fredericks Show Monday, per CNN. “Hopefully they’ll make a fair deal, and they’ll build their country back up”.
Explained: The key issues preventing Iran and the US from striking a deal
02:30 , James ReynoldsWith the ceasefire at risk of breaking down this week without a deal or extension, The Independent takes a look at the key obstacles to talks:
The key sticking points between US and Iran ahead of talks
Recap: Trump gives Wednesday PM deadline for ceasefire expiry
02:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran would expire on “Wednesday evening Washington time” on Monday, with the deadline fast closing in.
The president clarified the deadline in a call with Bloomberg, in which he also said he was unlikely to accept a ceasefire extension.
“I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world,” he said.
Trump announced the two-week ceasefire with Iran on April 7, and had not specified when precisely it ends.
A Pakistani source involved in the talks said previously it would expire at 8pm ET on Wednesday, which would be midnight GMT or 3:30am Thursday in Iran.
Watch: US forces release video intercepting Iranian-flagged cargo vessel amid blockade
01:30 , James ReynoldsEditorial | Diplomacy with Iran is not yet over – but it’s hanging by a thread
01:00 , James ReynoldsThe possible new round of US-Iran talks offers one sign that this stalemate could be broken, although it may be that current US demands will make any significant breakthrough difficult. Another – also difficult, but perhaps more promising – avenue might be through international solidarity. The meeting in Paris last week, chaired by the UK and France and involving almost 50 countries, coincided with Iran’s announcement that it was reopening the strait, which seemed to render its closing agreement – with its pledge of an international mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz “when conditions permit” – superfluous.
With the strait once again closed, the UK and France have an opportunity to capitalise on the solidarity shown in Paris, and push for freedom of navigation to be reinstated. This is not a call for military intervention – far from it. It is rather to underline that so many states with a single shared interest can, and should, use all the diplomatic means at their disposal to convince Iran to restore free passage.
If, as the US has stated on several occasions, the Strait of Hormuz is not vital to its interests, then it has nothing to lose from unblocking Iran’s ports in return for Iran allowing normal passage through the strait. The US, Israel and Iran could then move to settle their considerable differences without inflicting any more damage on the rest of the world.
Read The Independent’s editorial:
Diplomacy with Iran is not yet over – but it’s hanging by a thread
Iran still deciding how to proceed, says FM
Tuesday 21 April 2026 00:30 , James ReynoldsIran is “taking all aspects into consideration” and “will decide on how to proceed” with diplomacy, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on Monday in a call regarding the US-Iranian ceasefire.
Iran’s foreign ministry thanked Pakistan for its mediation efforts in a statement. But it said that “continued violations of the ceasefire” remained an obstacle to the diplomatic process.
Iconic A-10 Warthog to live on until 2030 following action in Iran conflict
Tuesday 21 April 2026 00:00 , James ReynoldsThe iconic A-10 Warthog attack aircraft will live on until at least 2030, sparing it from an earlier retirement deadline of 2026, it was announced on Monday.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink wrote on social media that the platform would be extended, saying the move "preserves combat power as the Defense Industrial Base works to increase combat aircraft production."
The decision is the latest chapter in a long-running battle over the fate of the plane, which first flew in 1976 and has been on the Pentagon's chopping block for more than two decades.
The A-10 has been used in the current conflict with Iran, according to U.S. Central Command. Its powerful nose-mounted guns have been used against Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports.
Israel and Lebanon 'still to meet for historic talks'
Monday 20 April 2026 23:36 , James ReynoldsEven as US-Iranian talks lost steam, historic diplomatic talks between Israel and Lebanon were set to resume Thursday in Washington, according to officials.
The Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors met last week for the first direct diplomatic talks in decades. Israel says the talks are aimed at disarming Hezbollah and reaching a peace agreement with Lebanon.
The 10-day ceasefire arrangement was still not without claims of violations.
In two separate encounters on Monday, the Israeli air force struck and killed Hezbollah militants that the military said approached its troops in a threatening way. Israel has carried out several airstrikes since the ceasefire went into effect.
Recap: Trump gives Wednesday ceasefire deadline
Monday 20 April 2026 23:14 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran would expire on “Wednesday evening Washington time” on Monday, with the deadline fast closing in.
The president clarified the deadline in a call with Bloomberg, in which he also said he was unlikely to accept a ceasefire extension.
“I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world,” he said.
Trump announced the two-week ceasefire with Iran on April 7, and had not specified when precisely it ends.
A Pakistani source involved in the talks said previously it would expire at 8pm ET on Wednesday, which would be midnight GMT or 3:30am Thursday in Iran.
EU has enough kerosene for five months, says Netherlands
Monday 20 April 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsThe European Union has enough kerosene for about five months, drawing on domestic production and strategic reserves, the Dutch government estimated on Monday.
European airlines have warned of potential jet fuel shortages within weeks as a result of the Iran war.
The Dutch government said in a letter to parliament that domestic supply of kerosene, or jet fuel, is 78% of normal levels, as most imports have ceased. The Netherlands has several of Europe's largest refineries in the Port of Rotterdam.
Outlining measures to shield households and businesses from rising energy costs, the government said European production of diesel and kerosene, combined with the use of strategic reserves of crude oil and oil products, could cover “several months” of demand if supply disruptions remain at current levels.
It said that this equates to about five months for kerosene, and more than a year for diesel and petrol, assuming reserves are fully used and not diverted elsewhere.
Iran says it won't accept peace talks under duress
Monday 20 April 2026 22:39 , James ReynoldsIran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Monday that Tehran does not accept negotiations with the US under threats.
He said in a post on X that Donald Trump was seeking to turn the negotiating table into a "table of surrender."
“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table— in his own imagination— into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering. We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield,” he wrote.
In pictures: Sailors work with US fighter jet on board USS Gerald R. Ford
Monday 20 April 2026 22:34 , James Reynolds
In full: 'I'm winning a War, BY A LOT', says Trump
Monday 20 April 2026 22:28 , James ReynoldsIn a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump insists the conflict is ‘going well’ and pushes back against reporting to the contrary.
The latest: Iran peace talks hang in the balance as Trump says ceasefire extension now highly unlikely
Monday 20 April 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said an extension of the fragile two week ceasefire with Iran is now “highly unlikely” as peace talks in Pakistan hang in the balance.
Iran has yet to commit to negotiations in Islamabad, saying it won’t attend unless the US Navy lifts its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. There was also confusion over whether US Vice President JD Vance was on his way to the talks.
The ceasefire deal runs out on Wednesday evening and Trump told Bloomberg he did not think it would be extended, nor would he be rushed into “making a bad deal”.
In full, the latest on the US-Iran conflict:
Iran peace talks hang in the balance as Trump says ceasefire extension unlikely
Analysis: The US has seized an Iranian cargo vessel – is this legal?
Monday 20 April 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsNaval law expert Jennifer Parker of The Conversation lays out what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz:
Watch: US Marines board Iranian-flagged vessel after navy disables ship
Monday 20 April 2026 20:30 , James ReynoldsWhat is the US naval blockade?
Monday 20 April 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsThe US military said last Monday it would block shipping traffic in and out of Iran's ports.
It’s an issue that remains central to negotiations aimed at ending the war, with Iran drawing a red line and saying it will not submit to force.
What is the blockade for?
Trump says he aims to put pressure on Iran by stopping it from making money by selectively opening the Strait for a reported fee. He said the goal was to let “all or nothing” pass.
Critics say the blockade has forced up oil and gas prices again, and is exacerbating tensions with Iran, making peace talks less likely.
The UN’s maritime agency also says no country has a legal right to block shipping in straits used for international trade.
What is it doing?
A week on, and US Centcom says they have told 27 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port since the beginning of the blockade.
Matters came to a head on Sunday when the US attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman trying to escape the blockade.
Where is it?
It is not exactly clear where the blockade is, as that information has not been made public.
The US is likely monitoring ships leaving Iranian ports and intercepting them east of the Strait of Hormuz, as they exit.
US ships have been spotted at the eastern edge of the Gulf of Oman.
Watch: Cruise ships escape through Strait of Hormuz and will carry passengers within weeks
Monday 20 April 2026 19:30 , James ReynoldsTrump officials flip-flop on whether Vance is leading Iran talks
Monday 20 April 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsTop administration officials, including President Donald Trump himself, appeared unclear as to whether Vice President JD Vance would lead peace talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan this week, less than 24 hours before the U.S. negotiating team are supposedly due in Islamabad.
Vance’s participation in the upcoming talks has been in question for days after the last round, helmed by the vice president, failed to reach an agreement to end the war. Tuesday is the two-week deadline for the U.S.-Iran ceasefire.
As uncertainty continues to undermine hopes of a diplomatic resolution to the war, here’s the latest:
Is he or isn’t he? Trump officials flip-flop on whether Vance is leading Iran talks
Trump says he won't be rushed on an Iran deal
Monday 20 April 2026 18:45 , James ReynoldsIn an apparent follow-up to his last - both coming within a couple of minutes of each other - Trump says he won’t be rushed into making a deal with Iran.
“I’m not going to let them rush the United States into making a Deal that is not as good as it could have been,” he writes, taking aim at ‘The Democrats’.
“I read the Fake News saying that I am under “pressure” to make a Deal. THIS IS NOT TRUE! I am under no pressure whatsoever, although, it will all happen, relatively quickly! Time is not my adversary, the only thing that matters is that we finally, after 47 years, straighten out the MESS that other Presidents let happen because they didn’t have the Courage or Foresight to do what had to be done with respect to Iran.”
He maintains that all is going to plan, adding: “This is being perfectly executed, on the scale of Venezuela, just a bigger, more complex operation. The result will be the same.”
Trump promises world peace, attacks predecessors in latest rant
Monday 20 April 2026 18:42 , James ReynoldsWith just hours until the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US expires, Donald Trump is back on social media, attacking his critics.
In a lengthy rant, he criticises the ‘Iran nuclear deal’ of his predecessors and lays into the ‘fake news’ media for praising it.
“The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA, commonly referred to as “The Iran Nuclear Deal,” penned by Barack Hussein Obama and Sleepy Joe Biden, one of the Worst Deals ever made having to do with the Security of our Country,” he writes.
Trump concludes his post saying: “If a Deal happens under “TRUMP,” it will guarantee Peace, Security, and Safety, not only for Israel and the Middle East, but for Europe, America, and everywhere else. It will be something that the entire World will be proud of, instead of the years of Embarrassment and Humiliation that we have been forced to suffer due to incompetent and cowardly leadership!”
In pictures: US fighter jet on board the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Red Sea
Monday 20 April 2026 18:30 , James Reynolds The latest: Iran peace talks hang in the balance as Trump says ceasefire extension now highly unlikely
Monday 20 April 2026 18:30 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said an extension of the fragile two week ceasefire with Iran is now “highly unlikely” as peace talks in Pakistan hang in the balance.
Iran has yet to commit to negotiations in Islamabad, saying it won’t attend unless the US Navy lifts its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. There was also confusion over whether US Vice President JD Vance was on his way to the talks.
The ceasefire deal runs out on Wednesday evening and Trump told Bloomberg he did not think it would be extended, nor would he be rushed into “making a bad deal”.
In full, the latest on the US-Iran conflict:
Iran peace talks hang in the balance as Trump says ceasefire extension unlikely
Recap: Cooper says talks between US and Iran must lead to toll-free Strait of Hormuz
Monday 20 April 2026 18:24 , James ReynoldsYvette Cooper has said that any talks between the US and Iran must result in toll-free passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
The foreign secretary said that proposals have been circulating from Tehran to introduce tolls on the crucial waterway once the conflict concludes.
Cooper was travelling to Japan on the final leg of a diplomatic mission ahead of the US-Iran ceasefire expiring on Wednesday.
Cooper said: "This is a critical diplomatic moment with the end of the ceasefire looming. Further talks on a lasting settlement are welcome – they must lead to a toll-free Strait of Hormuz."
She added: "This argument is not just about the Strait of Hormuz, it is about the precedent this will set for freedom of navigation all over the world."If the wrong precedent is set, it would be deeply damaging not just for the global economy, but for global security, and that is why it is an argument we must win."
The key issues preventing Iran and the US from striking a deal
Monday 20 April 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsThe ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US appears to be in jeopardy, as Tehran refused to join a second round of talks, which mediators hoped would begin this week.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said his government had no plans to resume talks for now after US forces seized an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.
Washington had hoped to resume negotiations in Pakistan shortly before the two-week ceasefire expires on Wednesday, but Mr Baghaei said the US was “not serious” about peace, demonstrated by its “aggressive acts” and “unrealistic positions”.
With the talks in question, these are the main sticking points causing friction:
The key sticking points between US and Iran ahead of talks
What is the US naval blockade?
Monday 20 April 2026 17:46 , James ReynoldsThe US military said last Monday it would block shipping traffic in and out of Iran's ports.
It’s an issue that remains central to negotiations aimed at ending the war, with Iran drawing a red line and saying it will not submit to force.
What is the blockade for?
Trump says he aims to put pressure on Iran by stopping it from making money by selectively opening the Strait for a reported fee. He said the goal was to let “all or nothing” pass.
Critics say the blockade has forced up oil and gas prices again, and is exacerbating tensions with Iran, making peace talks less likely.
The UN’s maritime agency also says no country has a legal right to block shipping in straits used for international trade.
What is it doing?
A week on, and US Centcom says they have told 27 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port since the beginning of the blockade.
Matters came to a head on Sunday when the US attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman trying to escape the blockade.
Where is it?
It is not exactly clear where the blockade is, as that information has not been made public.
The US is likely monitoring ships leaving Iranian ports and intercepting them east of the Strait of Hormuz, as they exit.
US ships have been spotted at the eastern edge of the Gulf of Oman.
Trump pours cold water on hopes of ceasefire extension
Monday 20 April 2026 17:28 , James ReynoldsIn a call with Bloomberg, Donald Trump said it was “highly unlikely” he would agree to extending the ceasefire with Iran if a deal cannot be reached.
The ceasefire is set to expire on Wednesday at 1am BST, midnight GMT. Iran is still to confirm whether or not it plans to attend talks in Islamabad, and JD Vance is reportedly still in the US.
Trump told Bloomberg he would “not be rushed into making a bad deal” and said “we’ve got all the time in the world”.
Iran’s administration is putting out similar messages, that they will not respond to coercion or agree to ‘maximalist’ demands from the US.
Recap: Iran weighs attending talks with Vance expected to travel tomorrow
Monday 20 April 2026 16:50 , James ReynoldsIran is considering attending peace talks with the United States in Pakistan, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, despite Tehran publicly ruling out participation.
The official stressed that no decision had been made.
Uncertainty shrouded the last minute diplomatic efforts as a source told the agency that JD Vance was still in the US. Insiders told CNN he is expected to travel tomorrow, following reports he was already en route to Islamabad for talks.
Iran 'does not submit to force', says president
Monday 20 April 2026 16:40 , James ReynoldsIran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian is defiant that Iran ‘does not submit to force’, with all eyes on whether Tehran will send a delegation to Pakistan for 11th hour talks to end the war.
He writes on social media: “Honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue. Deep historical mistrust in Iran toward U.S. gov conduct remains, while unconstructive & contradictory signals from American officials carry a bitter message; they seek Iran's surrender. Iranians do not submit to force.”
Honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue. Deep historical mistrust in Iran toward U.S. gov conduct remains, while unconstructive & contradictory signals from American officials carry a bitter message; they seek Iran's surrender. Iranians do not submit to force.
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) April 20, 2026
Macron calls for de-escalation over the Strait of Hormuz
Monday 20 April 2026 16:37 , James ReynoldsFrench president Emmanuel Macron has called on the United States and Iran to de-escalate amid increased tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our position remains the same. We need to settle things through diplomacy. Everyone must calm down," Macron said during a press conference with Polish prime minister Donald Tusk.
The United States has maintained its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran lifted and then reimposed its own blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
Macron also said that France was not specifically targeted in the strait after Iran fired shots on ships on Saturday.
Donald Trump had said British and French ships were targeted. The British MoD also said there were no reports of British ships being targeted.
Watch: US Marines board Iranian-flagged vessel after navy disables ship
Monday 20 April 2026 16:15 , Alex CroftLegal expert: Is the US permitted to fire on a cargo vessel?
Monday 20 April 2026 15:51 , Alex CroftNaval law expert Jennifer Parker writes in The Conversation:
The U.S. says it warned the Touska, the Iranian-flagged vessel which it seized, to stop over a six-hour period.
If a vessel doesn’t comply with warnings like this, warning shots can then be fired, depending on your country’s rules of engagement. The country maintaining the blockade may also use “disabling fire” against the ship.
This is what the US claims happened – the U.S. Navy destroyer fired on the Touska’s engine room to make it stop. My assessment is this is consistent with the law of naval warfare because the U.S. Navy is enforcing an effective blockade. It also appears to have adhered to the principles of proportionality and necessity under international law.
The US also seized the ship, which is consistent with the law. In terms of the crew, the U.S. has not announced what it intends to do with them. If the crew is non-Iranian, they would likely be released and repatriated. If the crew is Iranian, or if some of the crew are linked to the IRGC, they could be detained.
By contrast, based on current reporting, the ships fired on by Iran appear to have been neutral merchant vessels transiting an international strait. On the information publicly available, there is no indication they had become lawful military objectives.
This is not a lawful use of force because these vessels are not a lawful military objective.
Neutral merchant vessels are generally considered civilian objects under the law unless, by their nature, location, purpose or use, they make an effective contribution to military action. Therefore, it’s not lawful to attack them.
There are some exceptions to that, including a merchant vessel seeking to breach a lawful blockade.
Trump says Israel 'never talked me into war'
Monday 20 April 2026 15:42 , Daniel KeaneDonald Trump has said that Israel “never talked me into the war” in a furious new tirade following claims that Benjamin Netanyahu influenced the US president’s decision making.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump instead suggested that the October 7 attacks on Israel had added “to my lifelong opinion that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon”.
“If Iran’s new leaders (Regime Change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future,” he wrote, accusing the media of writing “made up stories”.
Hezbollah claims explosives destroyed Israeli tanks
Monday 20 April 2026 15:29 , Alex CroftHezbollah this morning said it detonated explosives yesterday afternoon in an attack against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.
The group said in a statement that bombs planted by Hezbollah fighters exploded and destroyed four tanks in a convoy of eight tanks that was passing the village of Deir Siryan.
It was the first claim of an attack by Hezbollah since a 10-day ceasefire went into effect at midnight Thursday.
Tehran says its defensive capabilities and missile programme not up for negotiation - report
Monday 20 April 2026 15:06 , Alex CroftA senior Iranian source has been talking to Reuters news agency about the gaps in negotiating position between Washington and Tehran.
There are still significant differences regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, the source said.
It comes amid hopes that Iran and the US will resume peace talks after they failed in Islamabad earlier this month.
The senior Iranian source said that Tehran's "defensive capabilities", including its missile programme, are not open to negotiation with the US
"Continuation of the US blockade on the Strait of Hormuz undermines the peace talks," they added.
How daring US raid of Iranian tanker unfolded in six-hour stand-off in the Strait of Hormuz
Monday 20 April 2026 14:45 , Alex Croft“Vacate your engine room. We’re prepared to subject you to disabling fire,” warned US naval forces as an Iranian-flagged commercial tanker attempted to break through an American blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.
After a six-hour stand-off, the Touska is reported to have shown no signs of heeding the warnings and attempted to push through regardless.
Moments later, US naval forces deployed a guided-missile destroyer, the USS Spruance, to fire at the ship, followed by marines rappelling on to the vessel shortly after.
It is the first such interception of an Iranian vessel since a US blockade was implemented on the country’s ports and coastal areas last week and marks an escalation in the protracted conflict between the warring countries.
Foreign affairs reporter Maira Butt reports:
How daring US raid of Iranian tanker unfolded in Strait of Hormuz
Pope decries poeple being 'exploited by authoritarians'
Monday 20 April 2026 14:23 , Alex CroftPope Leo lamented that many around the world are being "exploited by authoritarians and defrauded by the rich", the latest example of his forceful new speaking style.
The first US pope, who has been heavily criticised by US president Donald Trump with his more outspoken comments, told worshippers at a Mass in Saurimo, near the Democratic Republic of Congo border, that violence and oppression went against the Christian message.
"Every form of oppression, violence, exploitation and dishonesty negates the resurrection of Christ," the pontiff said, referring to the core belief of Christianity that Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified.
Israel says it uncovered Iranian attack network in Azerbaijan
Monday 20 April 2026 14:01 , Alex CroftIsrael says it has uncovered an Iranian network that planned to attack a pipeline carrying crude oil from Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean, as well as further Israeli and Jewish targets in Azerbaijan.
In a joint statement, the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence agencies said a plan by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to attack the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline through Georgia to Turkey several weeks ago had been thwarted.
They said the cell had also planned attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets in Azerbaijan including the Israeli embassy and a synagogue in Baku, as well as leaders of the Jewish community in Azerbaijan.
Iran's foreign ministry has not immediately responded.
Israel destroys 39 villages since Hezbollah ceasefire began
Monday 20 April 2026 13:41 , Alex CroftIsraeli forces have destroyed to different degrees 39 villages in southern Lebanon since a ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah last week, a senior Hezbollah-allied politician said on Monday.
Ali Hassan Khalil, a top aide to Lebanon's parliament speaker Nabih Berri, said the powerful explosions carried out by Israeli forces had destroyed civilian homes in the south and this amounted to "a clear war crime".
The Israeli military has said it is acting against Hezbollah infrastructure in the south.
In pictures: Helicopter carries US Marines from the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli
Monday 20 April 2026 13:20 , Alex Croft
Tehran says restrictions on Iranian oil come with a price
Monday 20 April 2026 13:01 , Alex CroftIran’s first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, has said that global fuel prices will only stabilise if economic and military pressures on Iranian oil exports end.
“One cannot restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others,” Aref wrote on X.
“The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone,” he said.
Xi Jinping calls for normal passage through Strait of Hormuz in MBS call
Monday 20 April 2026 12:41 , Alex CroftChinese president Xi Jinping called for the normal passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz to be maintained in a phone call on Monday with Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, state news agency Xinhua reported.
China advocates an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, and insists on resolving conflicts in the Middle East through political and diplomatic channels, Xinhua cited Xi as saying.
Kremlin expresses hope that Iran negotiations will resume
Monday 20 April 2026 12:19 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard now from the Kremlin, which has expressed its hope that Iran-US negotiations will continue imminently to avoid further negative consequences in the region.
While Russia is not acting as a mediator, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, it is ready to assist if needed.
"We can see that the situation in the Gulf remains fragile and unpredictable. We hope that the negotiation process will continue and that we will be able to avoid a further escalation towards a military scenario," he told reporters.
Peskov said Russia was not acting as a mediator in talks on Iran but stood ready to help if requested.
"Russia is not currently a mediator in the negotiation process, but we are ready to provide any assistance to facilitate a peaceful resolution and help reach an agreement," Peskov said.
Cooper says talks between US and Iran must lead to toll-free Strait of Hormuz
Monday 20 April 2026 12:00 , Alex CroftYvette Cooper has said that any talks between the US and Iran must result in toll-free passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
The foreign secretary said that proposals have been circulating from Tehran to introduce tolls on the crucial waterway once the conflict concludes.
Cooper was travelling to Japan on the final leg of a diplomatic mission ahead of the US-Iran ceasefire expiring on Tuesday.
Cooper said: "This is a critical diplomatic moment with the end of the ceasefire looming. Further talks on a lasting settlement are welcome – they must lead to a toll-free Strait of Hormuz."
She added: "This argument is not just about the Strait of Hormuz, it is about the precedent this will set for freedom of navigation all over the world."If the wrong precedent is set, it would be deeply damaging not just for the global economy, but for global security, and that is why it is an argument we must win."
Watch: Iranian-flagged cargo ship's latest movements as Trump says US Navy fired on vessel
Monday 20 April 2026 11:41 , Alex CroftExpert: Is the US blockade legal?
Monday 20 April 2026 11:15 , Alex CroftNaval law expert Jennifer Parker writes:
The US is blockading Iranian ports through what’s called a distant blockade. This means US Navy ships are not sitting right off Iran’s ports to stop vessels. Rather, they are positioned further back in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Arabian Sea, with a blockade line effectively drawn between the Iranian-Pakistan border to around the Omani-UAE border.
The US Central Command has reported turning away a number of ships – at least 23 as of 18 April.
When a ship approaches the blockade line en route to or from an Iranian port, the U.S. Navy will radio the vessel and say it is not free to go through. Most ships will then turn around.
This is allowed in a lawful blockade under the law of naval warfare. Once a conflict has started, a blockade is a lawful if it complies with certain provisions:
- the blockade must be declared
- it must be impartial, meaning it needs to apply to all ships
- humanitarian goods must be permitted to go through
- it must be effective, meaning you can’t declare a blockade, start doing it, and then not actually enforce it
- it can’t close off neutral ports.
Many news reports have said the US is blockading the Strait of Hormuz. But it is actually blockading Iranian ports, not the strait. A blockade of the strait would be illegal because this would affect neutral ports in the Persian Gulf. Ships in an international strait enjoy unimpeded transit passage, which cannot be hampered or suspended by the coastal state.
Trump says he will consider advice from Pakistan's Munir on Hormuz blockade - report
Monday 20 April 2026 10:52 , Alex CroftUS president Donald Trump told Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir that he would consider Munir's advice on the Strait of Hormuz blockade being a hurdle to peace talks with Iran when the two spoke by phone, a Pakistani security source told Reuters news agency
A US delegation is in Pakistan today in the hopes of resuming peace talks.
Tehran has said it has no plans to reopen talks, accusing the US of “aggressive” acts.
Editorial | Diplomacy with Iran is not yet over – but it’s hanging by a thread
Monday 20 April 2026 10:34 , Alex CroftThe possible new round of US-Iran talks offers one sign that this stalemate could be broken, although it may be that current US demands will make any significant breakthrough difficult. Another – also difficult, but perhaps more promising – avenue might be through international solidarity. The meeting in Paris last week, chaired by the UK and France and involving almost 50 countries, coincided with Iran’s announcement that it was reopening the strait, which seemed to render its closing agreement – with its pledge of an international mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz “when conditions permit” – superfluous.
With the strait once again closed, the UK and France have an opportunity to capitalise on the solidarity shown in Paris, and push for freedom of navigation to be reinstated. This is not a call for military intervention – far from it. It is rather to underline that so many states with a single shared interest can, and should, use all the diplomatic means at their disposal to convince Iran to restore free passage.
If, as the US has stated on several occasions, the Strait of Hormuz is not vital to its interests, then it has nothing to lose from unblocking Iran’s ports in return for Iran allowing normal passage through the strait. The US, Israel and Iran could then move to settle their considerable differences without inflicting any more damage on the rest of the world.
Read The Independent’s editorial:
Diplomacy with Iran is not yet over – but it’s hanging by a thread