President Donald Trump is pausing military strikes against Iran to give diplomacy another chance, noting that "very deep talks" are underway. However, he warned that strong military action will resume if negotiations fail.


US-Iran ceasefire: Fire on hold for third consecutive day

The United States has announced the completion of a fresh wave of military strikes against Iran, targeting missile sites, drone facilities, naval assets, and coastal defense systems near the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, fighter jets, drones, and naval vessels carried out precision attacks during a seven-hour operation aimed at reducing Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims it has retaliated by striking facilities linked to the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, as tensions across the Gulf continue to escalate.

US Launches fresh airstrikes on iran as irgc targets u.s. Fifth fleet in bahrain  

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday (June 28) said it launched a joint missile and drone attack targeting eight US military sites at Ali Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Port Salman, Bahrain, in response to the second night of American strikes on multiple targets inside the Islamic Republic over attack on a commercial vessel in Starit of Hormuz.&nbsp;The latest exchange marked the second consecutive night of military action between Tehran and Washington, putting the ceasefire agreement signed on June 19 under renewed strain. The agreement was aimed at ending the West Asia conflict that began on February 28 following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.&nbsp;"During a joint missile and drone operation at 2-3 am today, Sunday, July 27, destroyed eight important infrastructures of the child-killing US army at the Ali Salem base in Kuwait and the Fifth Naval Fleet in Port Salman, Bahrain, by launching ballistic missiles and drones, and decisively responded to the recent US aggression," the IRGC said in a statement reported by Iranian media.&nbsp;The IRGC also warned of a stronger response to any future US military action while describing the American strikes carried out on the previous two days as attacks on insignificant targets.&nbsp;It further warned ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to comply with arrangements put in place by Iran and threatened to respond more forcefully to violations.&nbsp;"Based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, arrangements are in place to control traffic in the Strait of Hormuz with the Islamic Republic, and from now on, offending ships will be dealt with more forcefully than in the past, and any potential enemy aggression, under any pretext, even if the aggressions are against insignificant targets like last night and tonight, will have a crushing response," the statement said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-launches-fresh-strikes-on-multiple-targets-in-iran-over-attack-on-ship-in-strait-of-hormuz-1782600052605">'Iran will no longer exist': Trump threatens Tehran after fresh US strikes, accuses it of ceasefire violation</a>&nbsp;<h2>Kuwait and Bahrain on alert</h2>Tehran also warned that violating the ceasefire would be against Article 1 of the Memorandum of Understanding and could result in the complete suspension of the process.&nbsp;Confirming the attack, the Kuwaiti Army said on X, "The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of air defence systems intercepting the hostile attacks.&nbsp;Everyone is kindly requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities."&nbsp;Similarly, Bahrain's Interior Ministry urged residents to take shelter in safe places.&nbsp;Meanwhile, shortly after the US strikes, Donald Trump threatened that Iran would "no longer exist" if the United States is "forced" to resume military action, accusing Tehran of breaching the ceasefire agreement.&nbsp;"United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding, "There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!

The fresh exchange marked a second straight night of military action between Tehran and Washington, putting the June 19 ceasefire agreement to the test.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday (June 28) said it launched a joint missile and drone attack targeting eight US military sites at Ali Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Port Salman, Bahrain, in response to the second night of American strikes on multiple targets inside the Islamic Republic over attack on a commercial vessel in Starit of Hormuz. The latest exchange marked the second consecutive night of military action between Tehran and Washington, putting the ceasefire agreement signed on June 19 under renewed strain. The agreement was aimed at ending the West Asia conflict that began on February 28 following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. "During a joint missile and drone operation at 2-3 am today, Sunday, July 27, destroyed eight important infrastructures of the child-killing US army at the Ali Salem base in Kuwait and the Fifth Naval Fleet in Port Salman, Bahrain, by launching ballistic missiles and drones, and decisively responded to the recent US aggression," the IRGC said in a statement reported by Iranian media. The IRGC also warned of a stronger response to any future US military action while describing the American strikes carried out on the previous two days as attacks on insignificant targets. It further warned ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to comply with arrangements put in place by Iran and threatened to respond more forcefully to violations. "Based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, arrangements are in place to control traffic in the Strait of Hormuz with the Islamic Republic, and from now on, offending ships will be dealt with more forcefully than in the past, and any potential enemy aggression, under any pretext, even if the aggressions are against insignificant targets like last night and tonight, will have a crushing response," the statement said. Also Read: 'Iran will no longer exist': Trump threatens Tehran after fresh US strikes, accuses it of ceasefire violation Kuwait and Bahrain on alert Tehran also warned that violating the ceasefire would be against Article 1 of the Memorandum of Understanding and could result in the complete suspension of the process. Confirming the attack, the Kuwaiti Army said on X, "The General Staff of the Army notes that if explosion sounds are heard, they are the result of air defence systems intercepting the hostile attacks. Everyone is kindly requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities." Similarly, Bahrain's Interior Ministry urged residents to take shelter in safe places. Meanwhile, shortly after the US strikes, Donald Trump threatened that Iran would "no longer exist" if the United States is "forced" to resume military action, accusing Tehran of breaching the ceasefire agreement. "United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding, "There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!

The fresh exchange marked a second straight night of military action between Tehran and Washington, putting the June 19 ceasefire agreement to the test.

Iran targets US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain after fresh American strikes, warns ships against violating Hormuz arrangement

US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened that Iran would "no longer exist" if the United States is "forced" to resume military action, accusing Tehran of breaching the ceasefire agreement.&nbsp;"United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding, "There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!&nbsp;These remarks come shortly after the US military carried out additional strikes against multiple targets in Iran after accusing Tehran of violating a ceasefire agreement through another attack on commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;&nbsp;The attack marked the second consecutive night of strikes on the Islamic Republic following Friday's US attack and Tehran's retaliation, raising uncertainty over the future of the Memorandum of Agreement signed between Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian on June 19.&nbsp;In a statement, CENTCOM said, "US military aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities".&nbsp;According to the US, the latest strikes were launched after Iran allegedly failed to honour the ceasefire and its forces carried out a one-way drone attack on the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku near the Strait of Hormuz while it was transporting more than two million barrels of crude oil.&nbsp;"After yesterday's U.S. strikes in response to the Iranian attack on M/V Ever Lovely, Iran was given a chance to honour the ceasefire agreement, but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET," the statement said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/9JgYDCZXuB">https://t.co/9JgYDCZXuB</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2070987021930102919?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"CENTCOM forces launched strikes today in direct response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping," the statement said, adding, "Commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz continue. U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready".

The latest strikes marked a second consecutive night of military action between the United States and Iran, putting the June 19 Memorandum of Agreement between Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian under renewed strain.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened that Iran would "no longer exist" if the United States is "forced" to resume military action, accusing Tehran of breaching the ceasefire agreement. "United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, adding, "There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist! These remarks come shortly after the US military carried out additional strikes against multiple targets in Iran after accusing Tehran of violating a ceasefire agreement through another attack on commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz. The attack marked the second consecutive night of strikes on the Islamic Republic following Friday's US attack and Tehran's retaliation, raising uncertainty over the future of the Memorandum of Agreement signed between Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian on June 19. In a statement, CENTCOM said, "US military aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities". According to the US, the latest strikes were launched after Iran allegedly failed to honour the ceasefire and its forces carried out a one-way drone attack on the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku near the Strait of Hormuz while it was transporting more than two million barrels of crude oil. "After yesterday's U.S. strikes in response to the Iranian attack on M/V Ever Lovely, Iran was given a chance to honour the ceasefire agreement, but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET," the statement said.

The latest strikes marked a second consecutive night of military action between the United States and Iran, putting the June 19 Memorandum of Agreement between Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian under renewed strain.

'Iran will no longer exist': Trump threatens Tehran after fresh US strikes, accuses it of ceasefire violation

United States and Iran have reportedly reached a decision to extend the ceasefire and launch negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, but a final approval is awaited from US President Donald Trump on whether a broader agreement will move forward.&nbsp;According to Axios that cited two US officials involved in the mediation efforts, negotiators from both sides agreed on the framework of a 60-day memorandum of understanding earlier this week.The sources further said that most of the agreement had been settled by Tuesday and Iranian negotiators had secured approval from senior leaders in Tehran to move ahead on it.&nbsp;"The president relayed to the mediators that he wants a couple of days to think about it," a US official told Axios.<h2>Any official confirmation?</h2>&nbsp;There was no immediate confirmation of the report from any side (US or Iran) but the news prompted oil prices to reverse course and trade ​lower.&nbsp;Later, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi without directly mentioning the report or the said deal said, “We will not sign any agreement that does not align with our interests and we will respond to any violation of the ceasefire”, reported Al Jazeera.&nbsp;<h2>US, Iran stand on shaky ceasefire deal</h2> US and Iran are already standing on a shaky truce as peace talks between both the countries progress slowly.&nbsp;On Thursday (May 28) US called Iran's alleged ballistic missile attack on Kuwait an “egregious ceasefire violation” and accused Tehran of violating the temporary ceasefire.&nbsp;"This egregious ceasefire violation by the Iranian regime occurred hours after Iranian forces launched five one-way attack drones that posed a clear threat in and near the Strait of Hormuz," Centcom said.&nbsp;US strike on southern Iran amid fragile ceasefire&nbsp;Earlier, on Monday (May 18) US struck southern Iran and claimed that the strikes were defensive in nature and will not have an impact on negotiations with Tehran.&nbsp;Centcom said the missiles were launched in “self-defense" targeting “missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines."&nbsp;But the next day, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force commander, Seyed Majid Moosavi, accused &nbsp;US of violating ceasefire by launching the strikes.&nbsp;Trump has been reiterating that a deal is very close between the two countries to end the war but on Wednesday, during a cabinet meet he warned that “maybe we have to go back and finish it".About 50,000 US troops are stationed in the Middle East, scattered throughout regional bases, ready to resume hostilities if called upon said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There was no immediate confirmation of the report from any side (US or Iran) but the news prompted oil prices to reverse course and trade ​lower.

United States and Iran have reportedly reached a decision to extend the ceasefire and launch negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, but a final approval is awaited from US President Donald Trump on whether a broader agreement will move forward. According to Axios that cited two US officials involved in the mediation efforts, negotiators from both sides agreed on the framework of a 60-day memorandum of understanding earlier this week. The sources further said that most of the agreement had been settled by Tuesday and Iranian negotiators had secured approval from senior leaders in Tehran to move ahead on it. "The president relayed to the mediators that he wants a couple of days to think about it," a US official told Axios. Any official confirmation? There was no immediate confirmation of the report from any side (US or Iran) but the news prompted oil prices to reverse course and trade lower. Later, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi without directly mentioning the report or the said deal said, “We will not sign any agreement that does not align with our interests and we will respond to any violation of the ceasefire”, reported Al Jazeera. US, Iran stand on shaky ceasefire deal US and Iran are already standing on a shaky truce as peace talks between both the countries progress slowly. On Thursday (May 28) US called Iran's alleged ballistic missile attack on Kuwait an “egregious ceasefire violation” and accused Tehran of violating the temporary ceasefire. "This egregious ceasefire violation by the Iranian regime occurred hours after Iranian forces launched five one-way attack drones that posed a clear threat in and near the Strait of Hormuz," Centcom said. US strike on southern Iran amid fragile ceasefire Earlier, on Monday (May 18) US struck southern Iran and claimed that the strikes were defensive in nature and will not have an impact on negotiations with Tehran. Centcom said the missiles were launched in “self-defense" targeting “missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines." But the next day, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force commander, Seyed Majid Moosavi, accused US of violating ceasefire by launching the strikes. Trump has been reiterating that a deal is very close between the two countries to end the war but on Wednesday, during a cabinet meet he warned that “maybe we have to go back and finish it". About 50,000 US troops are stationed in the Middle East, scattered throughout regional bases, ready to resume hostilities if called upon said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday.

There was no immediate confirmation of the report from any side (US or Iran) but the news prompted oil prices to reverse course and trade ​lower.

US, Iran reach ceasefire deal but await Trump's approval amid latest attacks: Report

US Central Command (Centcom) on Thursday (May 28) called Iran's alleged ballistic missile attack on Kuwait an “egregious ceasefire violation” and accused Tehran of violating the temporary ceasefire. The attack comes amid a shaky truce as peace talks between both the countries progress slowly.&nbsp;However, all the missiles launched toward Kuwait on Wednesday evening were intercepted by Kuwaiti forces, claimed Centcom.&nbsp;“At 10:17 p.m. ET on May 27, Iran launched a ballistic missile toward Kuwait that was successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti forces," said the US Central Command in a post on X.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-vows-to-defend-sovereignty-after-us-attack-on-bandar-abbas-condemns-trump-s-threat-to-oman-1779955627051">Iran vows to defend sovereignty after US attack on Bandar Abbas, condemns Trump's threat to Oman</a>&nbsp;"This egregious ceasefire violation by the Iranian regime occurred hours after Iranian forces launched five one-way attack drones that posed a clear threat in and near the Strait of Hormuz," Centcom added.<h2>US strike on southern Iran amid fragile ceasefire</h2>&nbsp;Earlier, on Monday (May 18) US struck southern Iran and claimed that the strikes were defensive in nature and will not have an impact on negotiations with Tehran.&nbsp;Centcom said the missiles were launched in “self-defense" targeting “missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines."&nbsp;But the next day, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force commander, Seyed Majid Moosavi, accused &nbsp;US of violating ceasefire by launching the strikes.&nbsp;Trump has been reiterating that a deal is very close between the two countries to end the war but on Wednesday, during a cabinet meet warned that “maybe we have to go back and finish it".About 50,000 US troops are stationed in the Middle East, scattered throughout regional bases, ready to resume hostilities if called upon said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier, on Monday (May 25) US struck southern Iran and claimed that the strikes were defensive in nature and will not have an impact on negotiations with Tehran.

US Central Command (Centcom) on Thursday (May 28) called Iran's alleged ballistic missile attack on Kuwait an “egregious ceasefire violation” and accused Tehran of violating the temporary ceasefire. The attack comes amid a shaky truce as peace talks between both the countries progress slowly. However, all the missiles launched toward Kuwait on Wednesday evening were intercepted by Kuwaiti forces, claimed Centcom. “At 10:17 p.m. ET on May 27, Iran launched a ballistic missile toward Kuwait that was successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti forces," said the US Central Command in a post on X. ALSO READ: Iran vows to defend sovereignty after US attack on Bandar Abbas, condemns Trump's threat to Oman "This egregious ceasefire violation by the Iranian regime occurred hours after Iranian forces launched five one-way attack drones that posed a clear threat in and near the Strait of Hormuz," Centcom added. US strike on southern Iran amid fragile ceasefire Earlier, on Monday (May 18) US struck southern Iran and claimed that the strikes were defensive in nature and will not have an impact on negotiations with Tehran. Centcom said the missiles were launched in “self-defense" targeting “missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines." But the next day, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force commander, Seyed Majid Moosavi, accused US of violating ceasefire by launching the strikes. Trump has been reiterating that a deal is very close between the two countries to end the war but on Wednesday, during a cabinet meet warned that “maybe we have to go back and finish it". About 50,000 US troops are stationed in the Middle East, scattered throughout regional bases, ready to resume hostilities if called upon said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday.

Earlier, on Monday (May 25) US struck southern Iran and claimed that the strikes were defensive in nature and will not have an impact on negotiations with Tehran.

Missile attack on Kuwait an 'egregious ceasefire violation by Iran': US

Trump called the US-Iran ceasefire 'on life support' as Iran declares it 'cannot trust the Americans at all.' With naval clashes in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomacy stalled, the world is asking: is a full-scale war about to resume?

'Ceasefire on life support': Is US-Iran war about to reignite?

The United States says it is awaiting Iran’s response to a proposed agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, with President Donald Trump expressing optimism that a deal could soon be reached. The development comes amid continued tensions in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, where clashes and military activity have escalated despite earlier ceasefire efforts.


US-Iran Ceasefire: Trump Expecting Iran Response Soon On Agreement to End War 

Donald Trump has said there is no fixed deadline for Iran to respond to Washington’s peace proposal as efforts continue to extend the fragile ceasefire between the two countries. The White House confirmed that the timeline for any agreement will depend on Tehran presenting a unified response, even as the U.S. maintains its naval blockade and diplomatic pressure.


US-Iran War: President Trump Says No Deadline On Iran Peace Plan 

As uncertainty continues around the US-Iran ceasefire, an AI-generated video from Iranian-linked social media accounts has gone viral, offering a satirical take on how the truce was extended. Shared by the Iranian consulate in Hyderabad, the clip imagines behind-the-scenes negotiations, showing an AI version of Donald Trump waiting in a half-empty room for Iranian officials who never arrive.&nbsp;Along with the video, the post read: “How was the ceasefire extended? The video is getting viral in Iran.” The clip shows Donald Trump growing impatient before threatening military action if Iran does not show up for talks. It then jumps forward in time with a mocking ‘2000 years later’ message, followed by Trump angrily asking, where are the Iranians", while banging the table.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/john-c-phelan-us-secretary-of-the-navy-to-leave-office-immediately-pentagon-1776894452173">John C Phelan, US Secretary of the Navy to leave office 'immediately': Pentagon</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">How was the ceasefire extended? The video is getting viral in Iran. <a href="https://t.co/UCldpWjZMO">pic.twitter.com/UCldpWjZMO</a>&mdash; Iran Consulate - Hyderabad (@IraninHyderabad) <a href="https://twitter.com/IraninHyderabad/status/2046867495181795608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In another moment, a note handed to him reads: "Trump, Shut Up", adding to the satirical tone. The AI version of Trump ultimately says he will extend the ceasefire at Pakistan’s request, mirroring his real-world announcement, which he made on the Truth Social platform on Tuesday (April 21).&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-curiosity-rover-finds-molecules-that-may-hint-at-life-on-mars-1776879908750/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/nasa-curiosity-rover-finds-molecules-that-may-hint-at-life-on-mars-1776879908750/embed</a>&nbsp;A similar version of the video also shows Trump addressing empty chairs meant to represent Iran’s delegation, reinforcing the narrative of stalled talks and absence of engagement. While fictional, the clip reflects growing mistrust and confusion surrounding the ceasefire extension, even as diplomatic efforts remain in limbo.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

Iran’s AI video mocking Donald Trump waiting for Iran officials goes viral, offering a satirical take on how the US-Iran ceasefire was extended

As uncertainty continues around the US-Iran ceasefire, an AI-generated video from Iranian-linked social media accounts has gone viral, offering a satirical take on how the truce was extended. Shared by the Iranian consulate in Hyderabad, the clip imagines behind-the-scenes negotiations, showing an AI version of Donald Trump waiting in a half-empty room for Iranian officials who never arrive. Along with the video, the post read: “How was the ceasefire extended? The video is getting viral in Iran.” The clip shows Donald Trump growing impatient before threatening military action if Iran does not show up for talks. It then jumps forward in time with a mocking ‘2000 years later’ message, followed by Trump angrily asking, where are the Iranians", while banging the table. Also Read: John C Phelan, US Secretary of the Navy to leave office 'immediately': Pentagon

Iran’s viral AI video mocks Donald Trump waiting for Iran, offering a savage take on how the US-Iran ceasefire was extended amid stalled talks

Want to know how the US-Iran ceasefire got extended? Iran’s viral AI video shows Trump waiting… and waiting

The White House said on Wednesday (April 22) that US President Donald Trump has not set any deadline for Iran to submit a peace proposal amid ongoing tensions. “The president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I've seen today. Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander in chief,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.&nbsp;Leavitt also dismissed reports suggesting a three-to-five-day deadline for an extended ceasefire, saying 'not true'. She added that Trump has not set a fixed timeline, is ‘satisfied’ with the naval blockade, and believes ‘Iran is in a very weak position’. “The cards are in President Trump's hands right now,” she told the press.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/georgia-democrat-rep-david-scott-dies-at-80-while-seeking-his-13th-term-in-congress-who-was-he-1776884679225">Georgia Democrat Rep. David Scott dies at 80 while seeking his 13th term in Congress. Who was he?</a>&nbsp;When asked whether the White House knows who in Iran would give final approval to any deal, Leavitt responded, “The White House and our intelligence community certainly have a good understanding,” while adding, “we want to see a unified response”. She also said Iranian leadership has delivered mixed messaging, calling some of it “public nonsense” compared to private discussions.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-defies-america-seizes-ships-in-hormuz-1776878119166/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-defies-america-seizes-ships-in-hormuz-1776878119166/embed</a>&nbsp;On the duration of the conflict, Leavitt said Trump will decide the timeline “when he feels it's in the best interests of the United States and the American people”. She finished her briefing, with White House reporters continuing to analyse the developments.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

White House says Donald Trump has not set a deadline for Iran peace proposal, dismisses ceasefire reports, and highlights ongoing diplomatic tensions

The White House said on Wednesday (April 22) that US President Donald Trump has not set any deadline for Iran to submit a peace proposal amid ongoing tensions. “The president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I've seen today. Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander in chief,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. Leavitt also dismissed reports suggesting a three-to-five-day deadline for an extended ceasefire, saying 'not true'. She added that Trump has not set a fixed timeline, is ‘satisfied’ with the naval blockade, and believes ‘Iran is in a very weak position’. “The cards are in President Trump's hands right now,” she told the press. Also Read: Georgia Democrat Rep. David Scott dies at 80 while seeking his 13th term in Congress. Who was he? When asked whether the White House knows who in Iran would give final approval to any deal, Leavitt responded, “The White House and our intelligence community certainly have a good understanding,” while adding, “we want to see a unified response”. She also said Iranian leadership has delivered mixed messaging, calling some of it “public nonsense” compared to private discussions. https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-defies-america-seizes-ships-in-hormuz-1776878119166/embed On the duration of the conflict, Leavitt said Trump will decide the timeline “when he feels it's in the best interests of the United States and the American people”. She finished her briefing, with White House reporters continuing to analyse the developments. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations, and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

White House says Donald Trump set no deadline for Iran peace deal; denies ceasefire timeline reports amid rising tensions and ongoing conflict

'US has not set any deadline for ceasefire extension': White House, says 'Trump 'satisfied' with naval blockade'

Hours after Iran denied that it urged for a ceasefire extension, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that the naval blockade of Iranian ports, threats, and “breach of commitments” are the main obstacles to “genuine negotiations” with the United States. He said in a post on X that Iran always welcomes dialogue and agreement and targeted the US by saying that the “world sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions.”US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he would extend the ceasefire, but the US blockade of Iranian ports would continue.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Islamic Republic of Iran has welcomed dialogue and agreement and continues to do so. Breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations. World sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions.&mdash; Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) <a href="https://twitter.com/drpezeshkian/status/2047009453887697110?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-there-will-be-consequences-india-warns-iran-after-attack-on-2-tankers-in-hormuz-1776597009259">‘There will be consequences,’ India warns Iran after attack on 2 tankers in Hormuz</a> Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also reacted to the naval blockade continuing despite the ceasefire extension and said that reopening the Strait of Hormuz will be impossible if the ceasefire continues to be breached. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-bound-ship-among-two-vessels-attacked-in-strait-of-hormuz-seized-by-iran-s-irgc-1776859709438">India-bound ship among two vessels attacked in Strait of Hormuz, seized by Iran's IRGC</a> “A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world’s economy, and if the Zionist warmongering across all fronts is halted,” Ghalibaf wrote on X.“They did not achieve their goals through military aggression, nor will they through bullying. The only way forward is to recognize the rights of the Iranian nation,” Ghalibaf added. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-security-alert-forces-press-evacuation-from-outdoor-positions-by-secret-service-1776878157084">White House security alert forces press evacuation from outdoor positions by Secret Service</a> Trump unilaterally announced an extension of the two-week ceasefire with Iran amid frantic efforts to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table. He has also not set any timeline for the extension of a ceasefire with Iran. Meanwhile, reports said a second round of US-Iran talks could take place within the next three days, reported The New York Post Wednesday, citing President Donald Trump and unnamed Pakistani sources. “It’s possible!” Trump reportedly told the Post by a text message when asked about sources in Pakistan saying that a second round was “expected in Islamabad within the next 36 to 72 hours.”

Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also reacted to the US continuing the naval blockade despite the ceasefire extension, and said that reopening the Strait of Hormuz will be impossible if the ceasefire continues to be breached.

Hours after Iran denied that it urged for a ceasefire extension, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that the naval blockade of Iranian ports, threats, and “breach of commitments” are the main obstacles to “genuine negotiations” with the United States. He said in a post on X that Iran always welcomes dialogue and agreement and targeted the US by saying that the “world sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions.” US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he would extend the ceasefire, but the US blockade of Iranian ports would continue.

Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also reacted to the US continuing the naval blockade despite the ceasefire extension, and said that reopening the Strait of Hormuz will be impossible if the ceasefire continues to be breached.

‘US blockade, threats and breach of commitments main obstacles to talks’: Pezeshkian

Tensions remain high in the Middle East as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces seized two vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an extension of the ceasefire window for negotiations. Reports say three ships were targeted, with two taken toward Iranian waters, raising concerns over maritime security and global oil supply routes.


US-Iran War: Iran Captures Vessels After Trump Announced Truce Extension

Ghalibaf has reiterated Iran’s key conditions for achieving what he called an “effective peace” with the United States, stressing that negotiations cannot proceed under threats and must include guarantees against renewed conflict. Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington of violating commitments and failing to build trust during recent diplomatic engagements.

Breaking: Iran's Parliament Speaker Reiterates Country's Demands for Effective Peace With US

US President Donald Trump announced an open-ended ceasefire extension of US military strikes against Iran, despite no request for an extension, while maintaining economic and military pressure through a naval blockade. What does the shift intend to achieve?

War reset: Why United States extended Iran ceasefire without request?

There are still a lot of speculations over whether the peace talks between US and Iran will take place or not. In latest development Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei on Tuesday (April 21) said that Iran is yet to decide on sending a delegation to Pakistan.&nbsp;Speaking to the media in Tehran Baqaei said, "The reason is not indecision; the reason is contradictory messages, inconsistent behaviour, and unacceptable actions by the American side."&nbsp;"Attacks on Iranian ships are a flagrant violation of international law, maritime piracy and state terrorism, Baqaei added.&nbsp;<h2>"Iran does not trust negotiations with you"</h2>&nbsp;On Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian released a statement that said there is "deep historical mistrust in Iran toward US government".&nbsp;"Honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue. Deep historical mistrust in Iran toward U.S. gov conduct remains, while unconstructive &amp; contradictory signals from American officials carry a bitter message; they seek Iran's surrender. Iranians do not submit to force," said Pezeshkian in a post on X.&nbsp;"Adherence to commitments is the logic that justifies any kind of dialogue. In addition to the deep historical distrust in Iran toward the background of the U.S. government's behavior and performance, the non-constructive and contradictory approach of U.S. officials in recent days carries a bitter message: they seek Iran's surrender. The people of Iran will not bow to coercion," said the Iranian president further.&nbsp;Iranian military commander Seyed Majid Moosavi also said "Iran does not trust negotiations with you". He also warned US that any "threat against Iran will be met with a firm and decisive slap in response."&nbsp;"Islamic Iran has left behind the era of weakness and submission. Wherever you may be, whenever we choose, we will respond with strength," he further added.

Iranian military commander Seyed Majid Moosavi also warned US that any threat against Iran will be met with a firm and decisive slap in response.

There are still a lot of speculations over whether the peace talks between US and Iran will take place or not. In latest development Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei on Tuesday (April 21) said that Iran is yet to decide on sending a delegation to Pakistan. Speaking to the media in Tehran Baqaei said, "The reason is not indecision; the reason is contradictory messages, inconsistent behaviour, and unacceptable actions by the American side." "Attacks on Iranian ships are a flagrant violation of international law, maritime piracy and state terrorism, Baqaei added. "Iran does not trust negotiations with you" On Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian released a statement that said there is "deep historical mistrust in Iran toward US government". "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," said Pezeshkian in a post on X. "Adherence to commitments is the logic that justifies any kind of dialogue. In addition to the deep historical distrust in Iran toward the background of the U.S. government's behavior and performance, the non-constructive and contradictory approach of U.S. officials in recent days carries a bitter message: they seek Iran's surrender. The people of Iran will not bow to coercion," said the Iranian president further. Iranian military commander Seyed Majid Moosavi also said "Iran does not trust negotiations with you". He also warned US that any "threat against Iran will be met with a firm and decisive slap in response." "Islamic Iran has left behind the era of weakness and submission. Wherever you may be, whenever we choose, we will respond with strength," he further added.

Iranian military commander Seyed Majid Moosavi also warned US that any "threat against Iran will be met with a firm and decisive slap in response."

Peace talks in doldrum: Iran hasn't yet decided on sending delegation for talks, says Tehran

Amid speculations whether the second round of peace talks between US and Iran will take place or not before the ceasefire ends on Wednesday, Pakistan said that it is yet to receive any official confirmation from the Iranian side, however, Islamabad is in constant touch with Iranian officials in this regard.&nbsp;"Formal response from Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad peace talks is still awaited," said Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who further added, "Pakistan as the mediator is in constant touch with Iranians and pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue."<h2>Deep historical mistrust in Iran toward US</h2>&nbsp;Iran has occasionally been saying it has "no plans for the next round" of peace talks. However, it has neither denied completely that it would not attend the talks in Islamabad to end the war.A statement released by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday spoke about "deep historical mistrust in Iran toward US government.&nbsp;"Honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue. Deep historical mistrust in Iran toward U.S. gov conduct remains, while unconstructive &amp; contradictory signals from American officials carry a bitter message; they seek Iran's surrender. Iranians do not submit to force," said Pezeshkian in a post on X.&nbsp;"Adherence to commitments is the logic that justifies any kind of dialogue. In addition to the deep historical distrust in Iran toward the background of the U.S. government's behavior and performance, the non-constructive and contradictory approach of U.S. officials in recent days carries a bitter message: they seek Iran's surrender. The people of Iran will not bow to coercion," said the Iranian president further.&nbsp;Iranian military commander Seyed Majid Moosavi also said "Iran does not trust negotiations with you. "He also warned US that any "threat against Iran will be met with a firm and decisive slap in response."&nbsp;"Islamic Iran has left behind the era of weakness and submission. Wherever you may be, whenever we choose, we will respond with strength," he further added. &nbsp;

Iran has occasionally been saying it has no plans for the next round of peace talks. However, it has neither denied completely that it would not attend the talks in Islamabad to end the war.

Amid speculations whether the second round of peace talks between US and Iran will take place or not before the ceasefire ends on Wednesday, Pakistan said that it is yet to receive any official confirmation from the Iranian side, however, Islamabad is in constant touch with Iranian officials in this regard. "Formal response from Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad peace talks is still awaited," said Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who further added, "Pakistan as the mediator is in constant touch with Iranians and pursuing the path of diplomacy and dialogue." Deep historical mistrust in Iran toward US Iran has occasionally been saying it has "no plans for the next round" of peace talks. However, it has neither denied completely that it would not attend the talks in Islamabad to end the war. A statement released by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday spoke about "deep historical mistrust in Iran toward US government. "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," said Pezeshkian in a post on X. "Adherence to commitments is the logic that justifies any kind of dialogue. In addition to the deep historical distrust in Iran toward the background of the U.S. government's behavior and performance, the non-constructive and contradictory approach of U.S. officials in recent days carries a bitter message: they seek Iran's surrender. The people of Iran will not bow to coercion," said the Iranian president further. Iranian military commander Seyed Majid Moosavi also said "Iran does not trust negotiations with you. "He also warned US that any "threat against Iran will be met with a firm and decisive slap in response." "Islamic Iran has left behind the era of weakness and submission. Wherever you may be, whenever we choose, we will respond with strength," he further added.

Iran has occasionally been saying it has "no plans for the next round" of peace talks. However, it has neither denied completely that it would not attend the talks in Islamabad to end the war.

Iran not ready for talks yet? Pakistan says no official confirmation on Iranian delegation

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Apr 21) accused Iran of violating the ceasefire “numerous times”. This comes as the 10-day deadline nears its end on Wednesday with looming uncertainty on potential peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan. In a short Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “Iran has Violated the Cease Fire numerous times!”

This comes after Trump insisted that Iran is “going to negotiate” while also renewing his threat tactics against Iran. Speaking during a phone interview with the conservative radio programme The John Fredericks Show, the US president said, “Well, they’re going to negotiate, and if they don’t, they’re going to see problems like they’ve never seen before.”He added, “Hopefully, they’ll make a fair deal, and they’ll build their country back up, but when they do it, they will not have a nuclear weapon.”Meanwhile, in an interview with CNBC, Trump said that the US is in a strong position for negotiations with Iran. He also expressed optimism for reaching a “great deal”.“We’re going to end up with a great deal. I think they have no choice... We’re in a very, very strong negotiating position,” Trump told broadcaster CNBC.<h2>Iran says, ‘We have no plans’</h2>Iranian state media on Tuesday (Apr 21) reported that no delegation from Tehran had departed for peace talks in Islamabad. “So far, no delegation from Iran has departed for Islamabad, Pakistan; whether it is the main or subsidiary delegation; primary or secondary,” Iranian state TV reported, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise. Meanwhile, AFP reported, citing a source, that an American delegation will head to Pakistan “soon” for a new round of negotiations.Earlier on Monday (Apr 20), Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said that Iran has not made a decision on whether to attend the next round of talks with the US in Islamabad.“As of now, while I am at your service, we have no plans for the next round of negotiation, and no decision has been made in this regard,” Baqaei said.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

US President Donald Trump accused Iran of repeatedly violating the ceasefire ahead of planned talks in Islamabad, raising concerns over the fragile truce.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Apr 21) accused Iran of violating the ceasefire “numerous times”. This comes as the 10-day deadline nears its end on Wednesday with looming uncertainty on potential peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan. In a short Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “Iran has Violated the Cease Fire numerous times!”

US President Donald Trump accused Iran of repeatedly violating the ceasefire ahead of planned talks in Islamabad, raising concerns over the fragile truce.

‘Violated ceasefire numerous times’: Trump accuses Iran ahead of Islamabad talks

Ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran held last week in Pakistan, failed to yield result. Both the parties blamed each other for the failure. After the meet ended US Vice President JD Vance said that negotiators were unable to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides and left for his homeland with his entourage.&nbsp;However, the Iranian delegates could not leave for home as would any delegation do (catch a plane and leave for their country) after a visit. In fact Pakistan’s air force escorted Iranian negotiators home as Iranians said Israel might seek to kill them, reported Reuters, citing sources.<h2>Dozens of jets deployed</h2>&nbsp;Two dozen jets were deployed to escort the delegates that included Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri. The air force’s Airborne Warning and Control System was doing aerial surveillance to ensure the safety of the delegation back home from Islamabad.&nbsp;ALOS READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-now-enjoy-strait-of-hormuz-returning-to-status-quo-iran-mocks-trump-over-naval-blockade-1776509771060">'Now enjoy Strait of Hormuz returning to status quo': Iran mocks Trump over naval blockade</a>&nbsp;“When the talks failed, the Iranians were wary that things had not gone right. It was their suspicion that they might be targeted,” one security source told Reuters.&nbsp;“This was a massive operational mission if you look at it from a pilot’s point of view. You are taking responsibility for a delegation that is coming for talks, you are giving them air cover, you have potent fighters that counter any threat,” he said.&nbsp;The source, who is believed to be involved in the talks confirmed the air escort but did not elaborate on the details of the operation.&nbsp;“We dropped them all the way to Tehran. Their security was our responsibility even beyond their time here,” the source said.&nbsp;However, there has been no response on this from either the Israeli of Iranian authorities so far.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pakistan Air Force’s Airborne Warning and Control System was doing aerial surveillance to ensure the safety of the Iranian delegation back home from Islamabad.

Ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran held last week in Pakistan, failed to yield result. Both the parties blamed each other for the failure. After the meet ended US Vice President JD Vance said that negotiators were unable to reach an agreement acceptable to both sides and left for his homeland with his entourage. However, the Iranian delegates could not leave for home as would any delegation do (catch a plane and leave for their country) after a visit. In fact Pakistan’s air force escorted Iranian negotiators home as Iranians said Israel might seek to kill them, reported Reuters, citing sources. Dozens of jets deployed Two dozen jets were deployed to escort the delegates that included Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi, and Ali Bagheri. The air force’s Airborne Warning and Control System was doing aerial surveillance to ensure the safety of the delegation back home from Islamabad. ALOS READ: 'Now enjoy Strait of Hormuz returning to status quo': Iran mocks Trump over naval blockade “When the talks failed, the Iranians were wary that things had not gone right. It was their suspicion that they might be targeted,” one security source told Reuters. “This was a massive operational mission if you look at it from a pilot’s point of view. You are taking responsibility for a delegation that is coming for talks, you are giving them air cover, you have potent fighters that counter any threat,” he said. The source, who is believed to be involved in the talks confirmed the air escort but did not elaborate on the details of the operation. “We dropped them all the way to Tehran. Their security was our responsibility even beyond their time here,” the source said. However, there has been no response on this from either the Israeli of Iranian authorities so far.

Pakistan Air Force’s Airborne Warning and Control System was doing aerial surveillance to ensure the safety of the Iranian delegation back home from Islamabad.

Fighter jets were deployed to escort Iranian delegation home from Pakistan amid fear of Israeli strike: Report

Amid tensions in West Asia, the United States and Iran are reportedly engaged in high-stakes negotiations over a proposed three-page framework aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Reports suggest that one key element under discussion involves the potential release of up to $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for Tehran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium.According to an Axios report, citing US officials and other sources, the negotiations are expected to continue in Islamabad, with Pakistan acting as the primary mediator, backed by Egypt and Turkey. The outlet added that the discussions are focused on addressing concerns over Iran’s nearly 2,000 kg of enriched uranium, including a significant portion enriched to 60 per cent purity, which is close to weapons-grade levels.While the US has pushed for Iran to transfer its nuclear material out of the country, Tehran has resisted, proposing instead to “down-blend” the uranium domestically under international supervision. Reportedly, a compromise is being explored that would involve sending part of the material to a third country while processing the rest within Iran.Meanwhile, the US has called for a 20-year halt, while Iran has suggested five years, leaving mediators to bridge the gap. The draft agreement also outlines provisions allowing Iran to operate civilian nuclear reactors for medical purposes, while requiring its underground nuclear facilities to remain inactive.The discussions also involve broader regional concerns, including security around the Strait of Hormuz, though significant disagreements remain. If successful, the deal could end hostilities, but it risks political backlash, particularly from hardliners who oppose concessions to Tehran.Trump called the report “totally false”, adding that “No money is changing hands”. Although he did not specifically refer to the possibility of unblocking Iranian funds.According to Axios, the US was ready to release $6 billion for Iran to purchase food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies in an earlier stage of the talks. However, Tehran demanded $27 billion. It added that the latest amount that was discussed by the two nations is $20 billion.Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

The United States and Iran are in talks to end the conflict, reportedly discussing a possible $20 billion deal tied to uranium limits. Here’s what we know about it.

Amid tensions in West Asia, the United States and Iran are reportedly engaged in high-stakes negotiations over a proposed three-page framework aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Reports suggest that one key element under discussion involves the potential release of up to $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for Tehran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium. According to an Axios report, citing US officials and other sources, the negotiations are expected to continue in Islamabad, with Pakistan acting as the primary mediator, backed by Egypt and Turkey. The outlet added that the discussions are focused on addressing concerns over Iran’s nearly 2,000 kg of enriched uranium, including a significant portion enriched to 60 per cent purity, which is close to weapons-grade levels. While the US has pushed for Iran to transfer its nuclear material out of the country, Tehran has resisted, proposing instead to “down-blend” the uranium domestically under international supervision. Reportedly, a compromise is being explored that would involve sending part of the material to a third country while processing the rest within Iran. Meanwhile, the US has called for a 20-year halt, while Iran has suggested five years, leaving mediators to bridge the gap. The draft agreement also outlines provisions allowing Iran to operate civilian nuclear reactors for medical purposes, while requiring its underground nuclear facilities to remain inactive. The discussions also involve broader regional concerns, including security around the Strait of Hormuz, though significant disagreements remain. If successful, the deal could end hostilities, but it risks political backlash, particularly from hardliners who oppose concessions to Tehran. Trump called the report “totally false”, adding that “No money is changing hands”. Although he did not specifically refer to the possibility of unblocking Iranian funds. According to Axios, the US was ready to release $6 billion for Iran to purchase food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies in an earlier stage of the talks. However, Tehran demanded $27 billion. It added that the latest amount that was discussed by the two nations is $20 billion. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

The United States and Iran are in talks to end the conflict, reportedly discussing a possible $20 billion deal tied to uranium limits. Here’s what we know about it.

Is US paying Iran $20 billion for its uranium? Here’s the truth

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Apr 17) said he may not extend the US-Iran ceasefire, which is due to expire on Wednesday (Apr 22). Trump also insisted that the naval blockade of Iranian ports will remain in place. This comes as Iran threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz once again if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports. In a X post, Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote, "With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open". He also said that passage through the waterway would require authorisation from Iran.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-issues-second-russian-oil-sanctions-waiver-despite-scott-bessent-s-pledge-not-to-what-does-it-mean-for-india-1776480327746">US extends Russian oil sanctions waiver despite Scott Bessent's pledge not to. What does it mean for India?</a><h2>US-Iran deal 'very soon'?</h2>Talking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump insisted that the blockade of Iran's ports is "going to remain".&nbsp; "Maybe I won't extend it, but the blockade is going to remain," he told reporters when asked about the ceasefire's future. He added that he still believes a broader peace deal is achievable. "I think it's going to happen," he said.Trump also ruled out another Iranian proposal that had surfaced during the Pakistan talks — the imposition of tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. "There are not going to be tolls," he said flatly.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-peace-talks-expected-in-pakistan-on-monday-as-trump-eyes-nuclear-dust-1776475229677">US-Iran peace talks expected in Pakistan on Monday as Trump eyes nuclear 'dust'</a>In a separate statement to AFP, he said that a peace deal was 'very close' and that the Iranians have agreed to surrender their nuclear materials. Iran, meanwhile, has rejected the POTUS's claims.<h2>China ‘very happy’ about the re-opening of Hormuz</h2>On a more optimistic note, Trump posted on Truth Social that Chinese President Xi Jinping was "very happy" about the strait's reopening, and referenced an upcoming summit in Beijing in May. "Our meeting in China will be a special one and, potentially, Historic," he wrote — a signal that Trump sees the broader geopolitical moment as connected to his China diplomacy as well.&nbsp;Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. &nbsp;

Will the US extend its ceasefire with Iran, or is another escalation coming? US President Donald Trump says he may not extend the truce and will keep the naval blockade in place. Iran meanwhile, has issued a fresh warning over the Strait of Hormuz.

What happens next? Scroll down to read

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Apr 17) said he may not extend the US-Iran ceasefire, which is due to expire on Wednesday (Apr 22). Trump also insisted that the naval blockade of Iranian ports will remain in place. This comes as Iran threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz once again if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports. In a X post, Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote, "With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open". He also said that passage through the waterway would require authorisation from Iran. Also read | US extends Russian oil sanctions waiver despite Scott Bessent's pledge not to. What does it mean for India? US-Iran deal 'very soon'? Talking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump insisted that the blockade of Iran's ports is "going to remain". "Maybe I won't extend it, but the blockade is going to remain," he told reporters when asked about the ceasefire's future. He added that he still believes a broader peace deal is achievable. "I think it's going to happen," he said. Trump also ruled out another Iranian proposal that had surfaced during the Pakistan talks — the imposition of tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. "There are not going to be tolls," he said flatly. Also read | US-Iran peace talks expected in Pakistan on Monday as Trump eyes nuclear 'dust' In a separate statement to AFP, he said that a peace deal was 'very close' and that the Iranians have agreed to surrender their nuclear materials. Iran, meanwhile, has rejected the POTUS's claims. China ‘very happy’ about the re-opening of Hormuz On a more optimistic note, Trump posted on Truth Social that Chinese President Xi Jinping was "very happy" about the strait's reopening, and referenced an upcoming summit in Beijing in May. "Our meeting in China will be a special one and, potentially, Historic," he wrote — a signal that Trump sees the broader geopolitical moment as connected to his China diplomacy as well. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Will the US extend its ceasefire with Iran, or is another escalation coming? US President Donald Trump says he may not extend the truce and will keep the naval blockade in place. Iran, meanwhile, has issued fresh warning over the Strait of Hormuz.What happens next? Scroll down to read

'Maybe I won't extend it': Trump not interested in 'extending' ceasefire, insists US will continue blockade of Iran ports

US‑Iran‑Israel War LIVE | After forty days of war that began on February 28, after the United States and Israel pre-emptively launched strikes on Iran, both sides announced a ceasefire, and agreed to talk further for 15 days. First round of talks in Pakistan was inconclusive with Iran saying that they were “inches away from deal” and US stating that they have presented the “final and best offer.” Tension between both sides over the Strait of Hormuz continues with US President Donald Trump having announced to block it from American side. Lebanon, nuclear program and Hormuz control are reportedly the major issues in the ceasefire deal. Both sides are planning to hold second round of talks in Pakistan this week, according to reports.Meanwhile, Israel attacked Lebanon in name of targeting Hezbollah including ground invasion in Southern Lebanon. As situation worsened, the Israeli government and the Lebanese government representatives met in Washington, DC, for the first time in decades to negotiate in a US-brokered direct talks. Hezbollah has rejected these negotiations. More than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and over 6,400 injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.The war last month destabilized the entire region. Iran’s long‑time Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, and his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has assumed leadership, though he has yet to appeared publicly. Several top ranking Iranian leaders and commanders have also been killed. Iran's move to block the crucial Strait of Hormuz has caused energy crisis globally. Iran has allowed at least five countries including India, Pakistan, China to use the Hormuz Strait.With the ceasefire already under strain and violations reported, how long can the current truce realistically survive? Is Hormuz hinting at a great ‘water war’? Follow all the latest developments, analysis, and live updates on the unfolding US‑Iran‑Israel crisis.

The US military said on Wednesday that it successfully stopped nine vessels from sailing out of Iranian ports during the first 48 hours of a naval blockade against the Islamic republic.“Nine vessels have complied with direction from US forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area,” US Central Command (Centcom), which is responsible for American troops in the Middle East, said in a post on X.“No vessels have made it past US forces,” Centcom said. However, maritime tracking data appeared to contradict the US assertion.

Stopped nine vessels from sailing out of Iranian ports: US military

Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has emerged as a key intermediary between the US and Iran, has arrived in Tehran as head of a high-level delegation, Iran’s state-affiliated Tasnim reports.&nbsp;

Key Pakistani negotiator in Tehran with message from US, Iran state media report

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said today that he will not “yield” or change his stance on the US and Israel’s war with Iran following US President Donald Trump’s recent criticism.&nbsp;

Starmer says he is "not going to yield" stance on Iran war, despite Trump comments

Lebanon has urged its permanent representative to the UN to submit an “urgent complaint” about Israeli strikes conducted on April 8 that killed more than 300 people across the country, the Lebanese foreign ministry said in a statement today. &nbsp;

Lebanon submits complaint to UN over Israeli strikes that killed more than 300

Two vessels that passed through the Strait of Hormuz stopped at the same point in the Gulf of Oman, according to Kpler, a data intelligence and analytics platform, with one vessel having made a U-turn back through the waterway. &nbsp;

Ships intercepted in Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, data suggests, at least two turn around

Israel’s military said a short while ago that it has struck more than 200 “Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites in southern Lebanon” in the past 24 hours. &nbsp;

Israel says it struck more than 200 targets in Lebanon in past 24 hours

The US has not formally agreed to extend the ceasefire with Iran, a senior US official told CNN, amid reports that Washington and Tehran had agreed in principle to an extension to allow for more time for negotiations. &nbsp;

US has not formally agreed to extend the ceasefire with Iran, senior US official says

According to a statement by the Iranian state media, the Iranian army has called the US blockade of the Iranian port a violation of the ceasefire and has threatened to block the Gulf and the Sea of Oman. The head of the military's central command centre said that “powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow any exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Red Sea”.

Iran threatens to block Gulf and Red Sea in response to US blockade

A flotilla of some 40 boats sets sail from Barcelona for Gaza in a fresh bid to break an Israeli blockade and deliver aid to the devastated territory. The Global Sumud Flotilla had initially been set to depart from the Mediterranean port 12 April but the mission was postponed due adverse weather conditions.

Global Sumud flotilla departs from Barcelona to Gaza

China, on April 15, Wednesday, hosted the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as part of its series of high-level diplomacy talks in recent days. Lavrov said, China and Russia should take advantage of the "geographic proximity and complementarity, deepen all-round cooperation and raise the resilience of each other's development." Lavrov said Russia will stabilise the energy prices of China, which has seen a sharp spike over the span of one and a half months since the beginning of the war in West Asia.

Russia pledges energy support for China

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Ankara is working to extend the Iran ceasefire, ease tension and continue talks between the two sides. "Statements by the sides show ​that, while the negotiation table has not been toppled, they have reached a road bump on the nuclear issue," said Erdogan, speaking to the lawmakers in the Parliament. He also added that Israel's continued attack on Lebanon is harming any hope of peace.&nbsp;

Erdogan says Turkey working to extend Iran ceasefire, Israel harming any hope of peace

Over 200 Iranian crew members from two warships who were rescued by Sri Lanka ​have been sent back to their homeland, ‌a top official said on Wednesday. "The crew ​of both ships were flown out about 11 ​p.m. on a special flight on Tuesday night," Deputy Defence Minister ‌Aruna ⁠Jayasekera told Reuters. Sri Lanka rescued 32 Iranian crew from the warship IRIS Dena on March 4 after ​it was hit by a torpedo from a ​U.S. submarine. The ship was returning from a naval exercise organised by India when it was struck by the US Navy in international waters, resulting in the death of 84 soldiers. Sri Lanka also rescued 208 crew from a ​second vessel, IRIS Booshehr, on March 5.&nbsp;

Iranian crew members return home from Sri Lanka

According to the website<a href="https://iran-cost-ticker.com/"> "Iran War Cost Tracker",</a> the US operation in Iran has cost more than $51.6 billion in 46 days. The estimated daily cost is $1 billion, $41.6 million per hour and $11,574 per second. The report indicates that the first week of military action alone cost $11.3 billion.

US war in Iran exceed $51 billion in 46 days

&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;VIDEO | Delhi: “Around 100 flights expected to operate from UAE to India today; efforts to facilitate Indian nationals&amp;#39; travel from Iraq, Iran and Israel,” says MEA&amp;#39;s Additional Secretary (Gulf) Aseem Mahajan.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;(Full video available on PTI Videos- &lt;a href="https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC"&gt;https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC&lt;/a&gt;) &lt;a href="https://t.co/7y5ntLxrXq"&gt;pic.twitter.com/7y5ntLxrXq&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/2044361242148823335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;April 15, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

100 flights are expected to operate between UAE and India today 

Iranian semi-official news agency Fars reported, citing shipping data, that a US supertanker carrying food has entered the Iranian border and is en route to Imam Khomeini port. Fars reported, citing the Iranian interior minister, in response to the recent report of the blockade, that Iran has 8,000km of land and sea border, and any blockade will be futile&nbsp;

Iran's Fars news agency claims supertanker carrying food enters Iranian waters

US Vice President JD Vance was heckled twice during a Turning Point USA college event in Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday, April 14. Voices from the crowd criticised the US's war of aggression in Iran and Israel's mindless expansionism in Gaza and Lebanon. "Jesus Christ does not support genocide!" "You're killing children! You're bombing children!"

"You're killing children!" - JD Vance heckled at the TPUSA event

&nbsp;According to a report by the Washington Post, around 6000 additional troops aboard the USS George HW Bush and 4,200 members of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the Marine Corps task force will enter the war theatre by the end of April. These are in addition to the 1,500 and 3,000 paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division.&nbsp;

US deploys more troops in the Arabian Sea- Report

Chinese suppliers and buyers from the Middle East spoke of higher raw material costs, sharp falls in demand, and interruptions to shipments as they attended one of the world's biggest trade fairs, as the fallout from the Iran war hit the sales of goods, machinery and other equipment.The twice-yearly Canton Fair, held in the southern city of Guangzhou, was created in 1957 and attracts buyers from all over the world. "It (West Asia war) has a heavy impact on our business, our commercial distributors, because we have a lot of headache with shipments, and the shipment (costs) now have increased by like 50 to 70 percent," Saudi Arabian business owner, Abdallah Mebarkia, tells AFP at the fair.

West Asia war casts long shadow over China's massive export fair

Sri Lanka has repatriated 238 Iranian sailors stranded in the South Asian country after their warship was torpedoed by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean on March 4, a minister told AFP.

Iranian sailors repatriated

Norway's crude oil exports hit a record high in March as the war in Iran and closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane drove up oil prices, Statistics Norway said Wednesday.The Scandinavian country is the largest producer of oil and natural gas in Europe excluding Russia. Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through the Strait of Hormuz in peacetime."The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused a significant supply shock on the oil market, which contributed to the high oil prices in March and thus (Norway's) highest export value ever," analyst Jan Olav Rorhus said in a statement.

Norway oil exports hit record high on Iran war

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif departs Nur Khan Airbase as he sets off on a four-day diplomatic blitz to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

Pakistan PM departs from Nur Khan airbase for Saudi Arabia

Hezbollah fired about 30 rockets into northern Israel early Wednesday (Apr 15), the Israeli military said, just hours after the start of Lebanese-Israeli talks in Washington.Hezbollah said Tuesday that it had targeted 13 northern Israeli towns with rockets shortly after the talks began.

Hezbollah fired about 30 rockets into northern Israel

Iran to use alternative ports to those in southern Iran to bypass the US blockade of Strait of Hormuz

Iran to use alternative ports to bypass US blockade of Strait of Hormuz

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov said, "We will accept any decision that suits the Iranian side based on its legitimate rights. International law says that every country has the right to enrich uranium exclusively for peaceful purposes. Iran has never attempted to expand those peaceful objectives into ambiguous interpretations or to use its technologies for military purposes." “I very much hope that those directly involved in the talks, &nbsp;the U.S. side in this case, will take a realistic approach, take into account the interests of the entire region, and will not continue the unprovoked aggression,” he added.

Lavrov says Russia will accept any Iranian decision on enriched uranium reached in US talks

JD Vance said on Tuesday that deep mistrust continues between Washington and Iran and cannot be resolved quickly, but noted that Iranian negotiators appear willing to reach an agreement, expressing optimism about the current situation.Meanwhile, Donald Trump indicated that talks aimed at ending the conflict could resume in Pakistan within the next two days, following the breakdown of weekend negotiations that led the US to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.A fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains in place, with about a week remaining. Vance had participated in the previous round of talks held in Pakistan. “There is a lot of, of ⁠course, mistrust between Iran and the United States of America. You are not ‌going to solve that problem overnight,” Vance said during a Turning Point USA event. Iranian negotiators wanted to make a deal, he said. “I feel very good about where we are,” Vance added.

US-Iran mistrust cannot be solved overnight: Vice President Vance

A US Navy destroyer intercepted two oil tankers attempting to depart from Iran on April 14, 2026, shortly after a blockade ordered by Donald Trump came into force. According to a US official, the vessels, which had sailed from Chabahar Port on the Gulf of Oman, were contacted via radio and directed to turn back. It remains unclear whether additional warnings were issued.

US Warship Intercepts Oil Tankers Leaving Iran After Trump Blockade

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, stated that recovered weapon fragments used in attacks on Iran indicate they originated from the arsenals of certain Persian Gulf states.“The evidence presented clearly demonstrates that those States have not only aided and abetted the aggressors but have themselves engaged in the commission of acts of aggression, as defined under customary international law,” he added, according to a report in the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Iran Claims Persian Gulf States Linked to Weapons Used in Attacks

Iran purchased a Chinese satellite that allegedly helped it target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent conflict, according to a Financial Times report on Wednesday. The report was based on leaked Iranian military documents.Last week, CNN, citing US intelligence sources, reported that Iran could acquire shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile systems, known as MANPADS, from China to target low-flying US fighter jets. China, however, has denied supplying weapons “to any party in the conflict.”

A Chinese satellite assisted Iran to target US bases: Report

More than 200 Iranian naval personnel have returned home on a special flight, over a month after two warships ran into trouble in the Indian Ocean. The crew were aboard IRIS Dena and IRIS Booshehr, which were assisted by Sri Lanka in early March. While IRIS Dena was reportedly attacked by a US submarine during its return from India, Booshehr suffered engine failure and sought Sri Lankan support. &nbsp;

Over 200 Iranian Crew Return Home After Warship Ordeal in Indian Ocean

An Israeli strike on Wednesday hit a vehicle in Saadiyat, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Beirut, hours after Lebanon and Israel agreed to hold direct negotiations."Enemy aircraft targeted a car in Saadiyat," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said.Israel is continuing its strikes on southern Lebanon in its war with Hezbollah, but has not targeted the Lebanese capital since a series of attacks across the country on April 8 that killed more than 350 people.

Israeli strike hits vehicle 20 km south of Beirut: Lebanon state media

South Korea has secured supplies of more than 270 million barrels of crude oil via routes unaffected by the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a senior official said on Wednesday."I hereby report to the nation that visits to four countries have secured the import of 273 million barrels of crude oil by the end of this year," Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to the President, said.The amount is sufficient for more than three months of South Korea's oil needs, Kang said after he returned from a trip to Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

S. Korea secures 270 mn barrels of oil from suppliers unaffected by Hormuz blockade

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is to embark on a four-day diplomatic blitz to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey on Wednesday, Islamabad's foreign ministry said, as the country engages in feverish diplomacy ahead of a possible second round of US-Iran peace talks."Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake official visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye from 15–18 April 2026," the ministry said in a statement, using Turkey's official name.The visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar would be conducted "in the bilateral context", while in Turkey Sharif will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, and will hold bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other leaders on the sidelines, the statement said.

Pakistan PM heads to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey with efforts on for US-Iran talks

The US military said it stopped six ships from sailing out of Iranian ports during the first 24 hours of a naval blockade against the Islamic republic.Earlier, maritime tracking data indicated that at least two ships sailing from Iranian ports passed through the Strait of Hormuz despite the blockade.They were among at least four Iran-linked vessels that used the route after Washington's blockade came into effect at 1400 GMT on Monday, according to maritime data provider Kpler.

US turns back ships

Hezbollah said it targeted 13 northern Israeli towns with rockets shortly after the start of Lebanese-Israeli talks in Washington.

Hezbollah strikes Israeli towns

The US Treasury Department said Tuesday it does not plan to renew a temporary easing of sanctions on Iranian oil that aimed to cushion war-related supply shocks."The short-term authorization permitting the sale of Iranian oil already stranded at sea is set to expire in a few days and will not be renewed," the Treasury Department said in a statement.It added that it is "maintaining maximum pressure" on Tehran.

US not renewing Iran oil sanctions relief

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that US peace negotiators "have no time for Ukraine" because of the war in Iran, and bemoaned disruptions in deliveries of US arms.Zelensky told German public broadcaster ZDF that Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have helped broker talks with Moscow on ending Russia's war on Ukraine, were "constantly in talks with Iran" at the moment."If the United States does not put pressure on Putin... and only engages in a gentle dialogue with the Russians, then they will no longer be afraid," he said.

Ukrainian President Zelensky laments US has no time for Ukraine

US Vice President JD Vance said Trump told Iran that the United States would "make Iran thrive" if it committed to "not having a nuclear weapon"."That's the kind of Trumpian grand bargain that the president has put on the table. Man, we're going to keep on negotiating and try to make it happen," Vance told an event in the US state of Georgia hosted by the conservative group Turning Point USA.

Iran must commit to 'no nuclear weapon' 

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that US-Iran peace talks could resume this week, while Israel and Lebanon agreed to launch direct negotiations, signaling movement on two key fronts in efforts to ease the Middle East conflict.Trump told The New York Post a new round of talks with Tehran could take place in Pakistan "over the next two days," after saying the day before that unnamed Iranian officials had called him seeking a deal.

Trump says Iran talks may resume 'over next two days'

Stocks rose and oil fell again Wednesday after Donald Trump said a second round of US-Iran talks could take place "over the next two days", fuelling hopes for a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow crude to flow again.Traders were also cheered by news that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to launch direct negotiations, fuelling optimism for an end to a conflict that has been a key sticking point in the fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

Stocks rally, oil extends losses as Trump fans fresh peace hopes

Sri Lanka has repatriated 238 Iranian sailors stranded in the South Asian country after one of their warships was torpedoed by a US submarine, a minister told AFP on Wednesday.Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara said 32 sailors rescued from the IRIS Dena -- a frigate attacked on March 4 just off Sri Lanka -- and another 206 from the IRIS Bushehr left on Tuesday."A few sailors from the IRIS Bushehr are staying back to operate the vessel, but 206 joined those rescued from the IRIS Dena and returned home last night in a chartered aircraft," Jayasekara said.Official sources said 15 Iranian sailors will remain in Sri Lanka to operate the IRIS Bushehr, which is anchored off Trincomalee in the northeast of the island.

Sri Lanka repatriates 238 stranded Iranian sailors: minister

The US president has issued another statement on his Truth Social “Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable,” Trump wrote.

Trump tells Pope Leo Iran must not have a nuclear weapon

A Financial Times report revealed that Iranian military forces utilized AI-enhanced satellite imagery from Chinese technology firm MizarVision to target US military bases in West Asia

Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases: Report

IAEA's Rafael Grossi says, "Iran's nuclear program cannot be stopped by military means. No evidence of systematic weaponization effort. Never been weeks or months from a bomb."

IAEA chief Grossi says: 'Iran's nuclear program cannot be stopped by military means'

A joint statement by 10 countries, including Canada, the UK, and Australia call for an urgent end to Israeli attacks and the protection of aid workers in southern Lebanon

10 countries, including Canada, the UK, and Australia call for an urgent end to Israeli attacks in Lebanon

Trump slams NATO again

Russia's foreign minister said that his country could make up for China's energy shortages as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is choked by the US-Israeli war with Iran, Russian state media reported&nbsp;

Lavrov says Russia can 'compensate' for China's resource gap from Iran wa

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government will suspend a federal fuel excise tax on gasoline and diesel until September 7&nbsp;due to disruptions in supply&nbsp;

Canada to suspend federal taxes on gasoline and diesel

CNN reported that satellite images showed Iran is digging for trapped missile launchers

Images show Iran digging for trapped missile launchers

US treasury secretary Scott Bessent has said that the US will block Chinese tankers carrying Iranian oil in the Strait of Hormuz. “They’re not going to be able to get their oil. They can get oil. Not Iranian oil,” Bessent told reporters in Washington, DC.

US treasury secretary says China will not be able to get oil from Iran

The Wall Street Journal reported that US naval forces have forced eight vessels departing and entering Iranian ports to stop and turn back. Citing officials, the Journal reported that in every instance, US forces contacted the crews via radio and instructed them to reverse course.

US Navy has forced 8 Iran-linked oil tankers to turn back since Monday

The US Central Command said in a post on X that the blockade on Iranian ports “is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or leaving coastal areas or ports in Iran”. It said US Navy guided-missile destroyers are among the assets executing the blockade against Iranian ports. “A typical destroyer has a crew of more than 300 Sailors that are highly trained in conducting offensive and defensive maritime operations,” the statement added.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260415/image-1776220596788.png"></figure>

CENTCOM says US blockade on Iranian ports applies to ships of all nations

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper says “a blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented." “An estimated 90% of Iran’s economy is fuelled by international trade by sea,” he said on X. “In less than 36 hours since the blockade was implemented, US forces have completely halted economic trade going into and out of Iran by sea.”

'Blockade of Iranian ports fully implemented', says US Military

Israel and Lebanon agreed to hold further negotiations “at a mutually agreed time and venue,” the US State Department said. Israel refused to commit to a ceasefire in southern Lebanon.

US‑Iran‑Israel War LIVE:  Lebanon-Israel agree to hold further negotiations

US president Donald Trump has told the Fox News broadcaster that the war on Iran could end soon. “I think it’s close to over, yeah,” he said in a clip of the interview aired by the US broadcaster. “I mean I view it as very close to over,” he added.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-it-s-close-to-over-trump-s-stunning-prediction-for-the-iran-war-revealed-1776214629874">Read more here</a>

US‑Iran‑Israel War LIVE: Trump says war ‘close to over’

US‑Iran‑Israel War LIVE: Fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran faces mounting strain as talks stall and violations rise. Disputes over nuclear terms, and the Strait of Hormuz keep tensions high, with global energy markets under pressure

US‑Iran‑Israel War LIVE | After forty days of war that began on February 28, after the United States and Israel pre-emptively launched strikes on Iran, both sides announced a ceasefire, and agreed to talk further for 15 days. First round of talks in Pakistan was inconclusive with Iran saying that they were “inches away from deal” and US stating that they have presented the “final and best offer.” Tension between both sides over the Strait of Hormuz continues with US President Donald Trump having announced to block it from American side. Lebanon, nuclear program and Hormuz control are reportedly the major issues in the ceasefire deal. Both sides are planning to hold second round of talks in Pakistan this week, according to reports. Meanwhile, Israel attacked Lebanon in name of targeting Hezbollah including ground invasion in Southern Lebanon. As situation worsened, the Israeli government and the Lebanese government representatives met in Washington, DC, for the first time in decades to negotiate in a US-brokered direct talks. Hezbollah has rejected these negotiations. More than 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon and over 6,400 injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The war last month destabilized the entire region. Iran’s long‑time Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, and his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has assumed leadership, though he has yet to appeared publicly. Several top ranking Iranian leaders and commanders have also been killed. Iran's move to block the crucial Strait of Hormuz has caused energy crisis globally. Iran has allowed at least five countries including India, Pakistan, China to use the Hormuz Strait. With the ceasefire already under strain and violations reported, how long can the current truce realistically survive? Is Hormuz hinting at a great ‘water war’? Follow all the latest developments, analysis, and live updates on the unfolding US‑Iran‑Israel crisis.

US‑Iran‑Israel War LIVE: Fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran faces mounting strain as talks stall and violations rise. Disputes over nuclear terms, and the Strait of Hormuz keep tensions high, with global energy markets under pressure

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