Trump stands firm on Iran, rejects media narratives

Day 51: Iran refuses new round of talks, say reports

Day 50: Indian ships reverse course in Strait of Hormuz

Day 49: Trump says Iran agrees to 'never' close Hormuz strait again

Day 48: Trump: Iran agreed to hand over its enriched uranium

Day 47: US optimistic about reaching peace deal with Iran

Day 46: 2 days to US-Iran talks in Pakistan? Trump thinks so

Day 45: US, Iran discuss 'another round' of direct talks

Day 44: US to begin 'blockade' of Iranian ports on Monday

Day 43: 3-way talks with the US and Iran begin in Pakistan

Day 42: Trump says Iran has 'no cards' as Vance heads for talks

Day 41: Kuwait condemns drone attacks, US warns vs Hormuz toll

Day 40: Trump agrees to suspend attack on Iran by two weeks

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Sunday he had spoken by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ahead of anticipated US-Iran talks in Islamabad, and reaffirmed his government's readiness to mediate the conflict.

"I had a warm and constructive conversation with President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian this evening on the evolving regional situation," Sharif said in a post on X.

"Pakistan remains fully committed to its role as an honest and sincere facilitator of lasting peace and regional stability."

US President Donald Trump is sending negotiators to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran just days before a ceasefire in the Middle East expires, though Tehran has reportedly yet to decide whether it will participate.

The US Navy fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that attempted to breach a US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, President Donald Trump said Sunday, marking a sharp escalation in already high tensions over control of strategic Middle East waterways.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump said the vessel, identified as the Touska, ignored repeated warnings from the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance to stop as it tried to bypass the blockade. US forces disabled the ship’s engine room before boarding and taking the vessel into custody, he said. Marines were inspecting the ship’s cargo.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said it’s still "not safe" for ships to transit Strait of Hormuz "right now".

Wright, however, said talks with Iranians over Strait of Hormuz are "going well", adding the US “is not too far away from a deal” with the Iranians. .

He also warned that petrol prices in the US "had probably peaked" but may stay above $3 per gallon until 2027.

Iran has rejected the second round of talks with the US in Islamad, citing the US naval blockade as a key "obstacle". Iran has earlier declared Hormuz Strait "completely open". US President Donald Trump, meanwhile announced that American representatives, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will travel to Pakistan to pursue ceasefire negotiations with Iran, even as he warned of "severe consequences", including the bombing of powerplants and more bridges, if Tehran fails to agree to a "deal".

A US destroyer on Sunday fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that tried to evade a US naval blockade, President Donald Trump and the US military said Sunday.

Trump posted on Truth Social that after the Iranian vessel, Touska, ignored warnings to stop, the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance "stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom."

"Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel," the US president added, "and are seeing what's on board!"

Iran is not currently planning to attend talks with the United States, state media said, after President Donald Trump ordered US negotiators to travel to Pakistan on Monday, just days before a ceasefire in the Middle East expires.

The ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports has been a significant sticking point, an issue further complicated by an American destroyer on Sunday firing on and seizing an Iranian ship that tried to evade it. Tehran warned it would retaliate.

State broadcaster IRIB on Sunday cited Iranian sources as saying "there are currently no plans to participate in the next round of Iran-US talks".

The Fars and Tasnim news agencies had earlier cited anonymous sources as saying "the overall atmosphere cannot be assessed as very positive", adding that lifting the US blockade was a precondition for negotiations.

State-run IRNA meanwhile pointed to the blockade and Washington's "unreasonable and unrealistic demands", saying that "in these circumstances, there is no clear prospect of fruitful negotiations".

Iran's military has vowed to respond after a US destroyer on Sunday fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that tried to evade a US naval blockade.

"We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy and the US military," said a spokesperson for the military's central command centre, Khatam Al-Anbiya, cited by ISNA news agency.

He accused the United States of having "violated the ceasefire" that has been in place since April 8.

US President Donald Trump posted Sunday on Truth Social that after the Iranian vessel, Touska, ignored warnings to stop, the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance "stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom".

"Right now, U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel," the US president added, "and are seeing what's on board!"

The benchmark US oil contract West Texas Intermediate (WTI) surged 7.5 percent on Monday, as Iran accused the United States of having broken a ceasefire in place since early April.

WTI crude was trading up 7.5 percent at $90.17 per barrel, while international oil benchmark Brent North Sea crude gained 6.5 percent to $96.27 per barrel.

Over a feverish few days of diplomacy, Pakistan's military and civilian politicians successfully divided the Middle East between them to push for a second round of US-Iran peace talks expected to take place in Islamabad this week.

The country's powerful military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, headed to Tehran on Wednesday for what would become a three-day trip, where Iranian leaders said he carried US proposals for a second round of peace talks.

Simultaneously, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his foreign minister conducted a whirlwind diplomatic tour across regional allies Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

The twin trips illustrate the coordination at play in what is often described as a "hybrid regime" in Pakistan, and Munir's central role in the negotiating process.

"The synergy that is going on right now is giving results, and to take this momentum forward all this synergy will be needed," said Sheharyar Khan, executive director of the Islamabad-based National Dialogue Forum.

Munir was one of two Pakistani mediators in the room during face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad on April 11.

"It's not political leadership that takes the decision in these kinds of situations, but the military leadership," said a Pakistani official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official described Munir's visit to Iran as "important" in bringing both sides back to the negotiating table.

"The deal is almost done. He is the only person who can convince Iranians for a deal - that's because of the trust level."

US forces operating in the Arabian Sea enforce naval blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port on April 19.

More than a million students have been allowed to return to all educational institutions in the UAE from today after weeks of distance learning due to geopolitical tensions that ensued the US-Israel-Iran war.

Gulf News reporters and photographers are out on the field to provide you with all the updates live.

Iran executed two men on Monday convicted of having links to Israel's spy agency, the judiciary said, the latest in a string of executions since the outbreak of war with Israel and the United States.

"The death sentences of Mohammad Masoom-shahi and Hamed Validi were carried out at dawn today," the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported.

It said the two men were "members of a spy network linked to Mossad", Israel's intelligence agency, but did not say when they were arrested.

They were convicted of the capital offence of "moharebeh", meaning waging war against God, as well as "collaboration with hostile groups and the Zionist regime", Mizan said.

US Marines from USS Tripoli board and seize M/V Touska in the Arabian Sea on April 19 after a prolonged standoff, with USS Spruance disabling the vessel’s propulsion following repeated warnings.

Israel's military on Monday warned Lebanese civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah's activities in the area were violating a ceasefire agreement struck last week.

Thousands of displaced residents have begun making their way back to parts of southern Lebanon since the truce between Israel and Lebanon took effect on Friday.

Since the ceasefire began, Lebanon's armed forces have reopened a key road linking the southern city of Nabatiyeh with the Khardali area after it was closed due to Israeli strikes.

They have also partially restored access to the Burj Rahal-Tyre bridge.

But the Israeli military on Monday urged civilians to avoid returning to numerous villages in the south.

"Hezbollah has continued its terrorist activity during the ceasefire in violation of the agreement; accordingly, the IDF remains deployed in the defensive area," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee said on X.

"For your safety and the safety of your families, and until further notice, we urge you not to move south of the Forward Defence Line," he said, referring to a boundary marking an area occupied by Israeli troops.

China expressed concern on Monday over the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel that tried to evade a naval blockade, and urged all parties to resume peace talks.

"We express concern over the US side's forcible interception of the relevant vessel," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference when asked about the seizure, calling on countries involved to return to negotiations.

Iran's foreign ministry said Monday it has yet to reach a decision on whether to attend the next round of talks with the United States.

"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," said ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.

UAE students returned to campuses today after nearly 50 days of distance learning, with schools reopening under strict safety measures, strong attendance and phased returns in some institutions. However, not all returned. Some institutions extended distance learning by another week, and nurseries adopted a phased approach.

Here's how schools welcomed students while some continued online.

Iran's foreign ministry said that the United States was not serious about pursuing diplomacy, citing what it called "violations" of their two-week ceasefire.

"While claiming diplomacy and readiness for negotiations, the US is carrying out behaviours that do not in any way indicate seriousness in pursuing a diplomatic process," said ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing.

He said a US attack on an Iranian cargo ship early Monday, the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, and delays in implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon were all "clear violations of the ceasefire".

"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," said Baqaei.

Key sticking points include Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and the status of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed since the outbreak of the war.

"Regarding the issue of transferring enriched uranium, neither during this period of negotiations nor before has transferring it to the United States been discussed," Baqaei said.

"It was never raised as an option for us," he added.

The Strait of Hormuz has remained virtually empty for a third consecutive day amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US over shipping movements in the Gulf, according to CNN reports.

Only a small number of vessels were observed passing through in recent hours, including two tankers tracked as empty by MarineTraffic. One laden tanker exited the Gulf early Monday after departing an Iraqi port earlier this month. The vessel, operated from Turkey, has previously been sanctioned by the UK and the European Union for transporting Russian oil.

On Saturday, maritime tracking data indicated that 13 vessels turned back after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) declared the Strait closed again, according to Windward, a maritime intelligence group.

European backers put on a show of support for the Palestinian Authority and the push for a two-state solution, as the US-Israeli war with Iran has dragged focus away from Gaza.

The efforts to bolster the Palestinian Authority come as US President Donald Trump has sidelined it in his plans for Gaza and the "Board of Peace" initiative.

"We meet in the middle of a storm. But we cannot abandon the compass," said Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot at the start of a meeting of the "Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution".

"We must hold the course, because the Israeli-Palestinian issue is affecting the Middle East as a whole and also the rest of the world."

Attending the Brussels conference, Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Mustafa said it was happening "at a moment defined by both immense tragedy and a narrow, but real opportunity to move from war toward a just and lasting peace".

Mustafa insisted that post-conflict Gaza remained an "integral part of the state of Palestine" and that governance should eventually be handed over to the Palestinian Authority.

Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said during a visit to Germany it is unacceptable that hunger, illiteracy and a lack of access to electricity remain unresolved for billions of people while trillions are spent on wars.

“We are experiencing a critical moment in global geopolitics, marked by great paradoxes: While astronauts fly to the moon, women and children are being killed indiscriminately in the bombings in the Middle East,” he said
Sunday night at the Hannover trade fair, German news agency dpa reported.

Lula called for modern technologies to be used not for wars, but “for a more sustainable and secure world.”

International airlines have resumed operations to Qatar, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) announced, signalling the restoration of regular international air services following recent disruptions.

The authority said the decision came after “a comprehensive assessment of the situation, conducted in coordination with all relevant national entities, to ensure the highest levels of readiness and operational efficiency,” according to QNA.

The move is expected to restore connectivity and support the steady flow of international travel through the country’s airports.

Oil prices climbed more than 5% while world shares were mixed Monday as a standoff between Iran and the US prevented tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz.

US benchmark crude gained 5.3% to $87.88 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, was up 5.3% at $95.62 a barrel.

Israeli strikes have reportedly hit the southern Lebanese town of Qantara, according to Lebanese state media, which described a “bombing operation” in the area, reports BBC.

The Israeli military had earlier said it struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher near Kfarkela, close to the same region.

The latest reports come despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect on April 16–17, under which Lebanon is expected to prevent attacks by Hezbollah and other armed groups, while Israel says its forces remain deployed in southern Lebanon due to continued militant activity.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that planned talks with Israel aim to end "hostilities" and the Israeli occupation in the south, as he named ex-ambassador Simon Karam to lead a delegation.

"The choice to negotiate aims to stop hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of southern regions and deploy the (Lebanese) army all the way to the internationally recognised southern borders" with Israel, Aoun said in a statement.

Aoun named former Lebanese ambassador to Washington Karam to head the negotiations, and said the talks will be "separate from any other negotiations", in reference to US-Iran diplomacy to end the wider Middle East war.

In a move aimed at protecting India’s strategic and economic interests, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Saudi Arabia on Sunday. The trip, directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflects India’s growing engagement with Gulf nations amid rising tensions linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

According to External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, Doval held key meetings with Saudi Arabia’s energy and foreign ministers, as well as his security counterpart. The talks focused on regional developments and ways to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Discussions centred on ensuring stable energy supplies, addressing security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, improving intelligence cooperation, and boosting economic links.

India has maintained a balanced stance as tensions impact countries such as Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. With shipping routes under pressure and humanitarian concerns rising, New Delhi continues to call for restraint, protection of civilians and dialogue.

Given its strong energy ties and large expatriate population in the Gulf, India remains in close contact with regional players, including Israel, Palestine and Iran, to safeguard its interests.

The Dutch government said Monday that it would allocate over 950 million euros ($1.1 billion) to help compensate businesses and individuals for the surge in petrol prices since the outbreak of war between the US and Iran.

"Energy prices are expected to remain high for the time being, even if the conflict in the Middle East should end soon," the government said in a statement.

"Households and businesses are already feeling the impact," it said, adding that they would be the priority for a first package of measures worth 627 million euros.

A further 340 million euros will be unlocked by cuts to business charges, to be financed by higher taxes on other items, in particular alcohol.

As a two-week ceasefire in West Asia nears its end on April 22, India has moved over 1.13 million passengers out of the region through continued flight operations and rerouted services.

The update was shared by Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf) at the Ministry of External Affairs, during a press briefing in New Delhi on Monday.

Mahajan said flights are still running from countries where airspace remains open. Since February 28, airlines have carried a large number of passengers back to India, though services are being managed based on safety and operational limits.

Around 110 flights were expected to operate between the UAE and India on the day, while additional services are running from Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Flights have also resumed partially from Qatar, with Qatar Airways set to run around 10 to 11 services to India. In Bahrain, airspace is open, and Gulf Air is planning limited operations, including special flights from Dammam.

It is the first time that Chinese President Xi Jinping has publicly called for the reopening of the waterway. He made the comments in a call Monday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Xi said that China supported an “immediate and comprehensive ceasefire” and backed any efforts at restoring peace in the Middle East, according to a readout of the call published by the official Xinhua news agency.

Prince Mohammed said Saudi Arabia was committed to resolving the conflict through dialogue and hoped to avoid further escalation.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghaddam Monday on arrangements for the upcoming Islamabad peace talks during a meeting in the capital.

A ministry statement said both stressed the need for a sustainable resolution through diplomatic channels to reduce regional tensions.

The meeting came hours after Naqvi briefed US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker at the US Embassy on preparations for the talks.

Naqvi was part of a delegation led by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir that visited Tehran last week to advance the peace process. It said the Iranian Ambassador appreciated Pakistan’s positive and constructive role in de-escalating tensions.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that planned talks with Israel aim to end hostilities and the Israeli occupation in the south, as he named an ex-ambassador to the United States to lead the delegation.

"The choice to negotiate aims to stop hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of southern regions and deploy the (Lebanese) army all the way to the internationally recognised southern borders" with Israel, Aoun said in a statement.

Monday’s opening trades in the US are a sharp turnaround from Friday, when oil prices tumbled after Iran said it was reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Now oil prices are climbing and US stock prices are slipping again as the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel on Sunday cast doubt on a second round of peace negotiations before the ceasefire between Iran and the US expires on Wednesday. Airline stocks also tumbled again, as they tend to when oil prices jump.

“The problem for markets is not the absence of hope; it is the overpricing of it,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary.

UAE State Security authorities announced they have dismantled a terrorist cell and arrested its members over alleged involvement in covert activities aimed at undermining national unity and destabilising the country.

According to the statement carried by Emirates News Agency (WAM), investigations revealed that the group had planned to carry out organised terrorist and sabotage operations on state territory. Authorities said the network was linked to Iran’s “Wilayat Al Faqih”.

Investigations also found that members of the group had adopted extremist ideologies that pose a threat to internal security. They were said to have conducted recruitment and mobilisation activities through secret meetings, as part of a coordinated plan with external entities to gain access to sensitive sites.

The country’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, called on both Iran and the United States to cease hostilities and reach a negotiated solution in the Middle East.

He told reporters Monday in Hannover that the uncertainties created by the continuation of the conflict “have massive repercussions not only on the Middle East, not only on the Asian region, but also on the European region.”

“And the repercussions will not stop at America’s doorstep,” Merz added.

“All of this is currently jeopardising economic development around the world and could lead to further political destabilisation,” the chancellor warned. “The most important prerequisite for stability in the energy markets is an end to hostilities.”

The New York Post quoted Trump in an interview claiming that Vice President JD Vance is headed to Pakistan for negotiations on the Iran War, along with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is Trump’s son-in-law.

“They’re heading over now,” Trump said. “They’ll be there tonight.”

But it’s not quite clear if Trump was speaking more broadly or if the claims about Vance are accurate. Administration officials have in response to questions declined to confirm if Vance is, in fact, mid-air on the way to Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan.

The office of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he spoke Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, urging sustained diplomacy to address pending issues.

The Pakistan Foreign Office statement did not mention whether they discussed Iran resuming talks with the US in Islamabad, but said officials agreed to remain closely engaged going forward.

In the leadup and throughout the seven-week war, Trump has faced criticism from the left and from some of his own supporters that he followed Israel’s lead into launching the conflict.

But Trump on social media is blaming the media for pushing what he claims is a false narrative.

“Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” Trump posted.

The official says the countries are resuming their historic diplomatic dialogue on Thursday.

The ambassadors of the two countries met in Washington last week for the first direct diplomatic talks in decades. The Israeli official says the same representatives will join Thursday’s talks.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the behind-the-scenes talks. There was no immediate confirmation from the US or Lebanon.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah opposes the talks, but is observing a 10-day ceasefire announced last week.

Israel says the talks are aimed at disarming Hezbollah and reaching a peace agreement with Lebanon.

The US military’s blockade of Iranian-linked ships has focused on vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports. It’s an attempt to pressure Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint in the Arabian Gulf through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.

The US attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel over the weekend that it said had tried to evade its blockade. Iran’s joint military command has vowed to respond.

Trump told Bloomberg News that he’s “highly unlikely” to renew the two-week ceasefire announced on April 7.

The president also said that the Strait of Hormuz would continue to be blockaded until the US and Iran reach an agreement on the war.

A second round of direct talks would come as uncertainty mounts over the prospects for an end to the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict and the Iran war.

The US official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the talks between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States would take place on Thursday at the State Department.

The official did not say who the US would be represented by, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended the first round last week. The main US interlocuter between Israel and Lebanon has been US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa.

“We will continue to facilitate direct, good-faith discussions between the two governments,” the official said.

Lebanese official media said an Israeli strike hit a town in the country's south on Monday despite a 10-day ceasefire in force between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The state-run National News Agency said that "an enemy drone targeted the vicinity of the Litani River in the town of Qaqaiyat al-Jisr", without immediately reporting casualties. Under the ceasefire, Israel reserves the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks".

Moscow on Monday called for the US-Iran ceasefire to be maintained and for diplomatic efforts to continue, after Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with his Iranian counterpart.

"The Russian side again emphasised the need to preserve the truce, which must be observed within the parameters initially agreed upon and announced by the Pakistani mediators," the foreign ministry said after the call between Lavrov and Iran's Abbas Araghchi.

"The importance was noted of continuing diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the situation from spinning out of control and averting a relapse into armed confrontation," the ministry added.

It criticised what it called Washington's "unlawful naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and seizure of an Iranian container ship".

Moscow also said Iran had pledged to ensure the unhindered passage of any Russian vessels and cargo through the Strait.

Reports based on Trump saying to The New York Post that Vice President JD Vance was en route to Pakistan were off by several thousand miles.

The vice president’s motorcade pulled up to the White House at roughly 11am EST on Monday, meaning that he has not left for Islamabad for talks regarding the Iran war.

US President Donald Trump on Monday doubled down on his hardline stance against Tehran while dismissing mainstream media narratives regarding his foreign policy motivations.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump clarified that his position on Iran is fuelled by the "results of October 7th" and a long-standing personal conviction rather than external pressure from allies.

He emphasised that the events of October 7, 2023, served as a final confirmation of his career-long belief that the Islamic Republic of Iran must be permanently barred from achieving nuclear capabilities.

"Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON," said Trump.

Turning his attention to domestic and international media, Trump unleashed a scathing critique of current political reporting and public opinion data. He drew direct parallels between contemporary polling and his contested views on the 2020 US Presidential Election and the recent disputed elections in Venezuela.

"I watch and read the FAKE NEWS Pundits and Polls in total disbelief. 90% of what they say are lies and made up stories, and the polls are rigged, much as the 2020 Presidential Election was rigged. Just like the results in Venezuela, which the media doesn't like talking about, the results in Iran will be amazing - And if Iran's new leaders (Regime Change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future! President DJT," posted Trump.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday slammed the United States, saying that deep historic mistrust towards Iran, along with unconstructive signals from American officials, paints a dark picture of seeking Iran's surrender. He affirmed that the country will not submit to force.

The Iranian president made the remarks in a post on X, where he said, "Honouring 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."

A Lebanese official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, confirmed Monday that the next second scheduled session for direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials will take place in Washington Thursday.

The ambassadors of Lebanon and Israel to the U.S. met last week, the first such direct, face-to-face talks to take place in decades. The Lebanese official said the second session will focus on solidifying the 10-day truce currently in place between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and on the logistics and timing of wider negotiations that will take place at a later date over the two countries’ relations.

The two countries have had a rocky and often hostile relationship since Israel’s inception in 1948. Like the majority of Arab countries, Lebanon has no formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

In a pair of social-media posts, the US president lashed out at Democrats — calling them “TRAITORS, ALL” — and the media for their criticism and skepticism about his handling of the war in Iran.

Trump accused Democrats of doing “everything possible” to hurt the administration on Iran and he stressed that he wouldn’t be rushed into a deal “that is not as good as it could have been.”

“This is being perfectly executed, on the scale of Venezuela, just a bigger, more complex operation. The result will be the same,” Trump wrote, insisting that “time is not my adversary.”

He also rebutted notions that a deal he’s negotiating with Iran is similar to what former President Barack Obama reached in 2015, ranting about a Washington Post column on the topic.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said Monday’s strike hit the southern village of Qaaqaait al-Jisr.

Since a 10-day ceasefire went into effect at midnight Thursday, there have been several Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group said it detonated explosives Sunday in an Israeli convoy inside Lebanon.

The US State Department said Thursday that according to the ceasefire agreement, Israel reserves the right to defend itself “at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”

President Donald Trump on Monday said the United States would not lift its blockade of Iranian ports until Tehran had agreed a peace deal to end the war.

"THE BLOCKADE, which we will not take off until there is a 'DEAL,' is absolutely destroying Iran," Trump said on social media. "They are losing $500 Million Dollars a day, an unsustainable number, even in the short run."

Traffic has again seized up in the Strait of Hormuz as both Tehran and Washington impose separate blockades.

The US did not violate the ceasefire because it was limited to bombing Iran, not enforcing the American blockade against Iranian-linked vessels, according to Michael O’Hanlon, a defence and foreign policy analyst at the Brookings Institution.

“We agreed to stop dropping bombs on them, and that’s the basic thing they wanted,” O’Hanlon said. They US still had to enforce the blockade “if you’re going to make it mean anything,” he said.

But Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel and a senior defense adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said a violation is up for interpretation because there were no defined terms.

“Trump announced it. The Iranians agreed. But there’s no formal agreement,” Cancian said. “So whether it broke the ceasefire or not depends on your perspective ... Nothing was written down.”

The US president has made a series of statements about next steps in the US war against Iran, declaring that he’s in no rush to end the conflict while also expressing confidence that more negotiations with Tehran will soon happen in Pakistan.

Trump whipsawed in telephone interviews and social media posts on Monday between measured optimism that a deal could soon be reached and warning that “lots of bombs” will “start going off” if there’s no agreement before the ceasefire expires at 0000 GMT Wednesday (8pm ET Tuesday.)

The US president says he expects fighting to resume if there's no deal as a second round of talks in Islamabad remains uncertain.

Iran has informed mediators that it will send a delegation to Islamabad on Tuesday to take part in negotiations, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing "sources".

Depending on what it was carrying, the Iran-flagged cargo ship seized by the US Navy could be taken as "spoils of war", according to US media report.

The US Central Command followed through Sunday on its warning to board and seize any vessel defying its blockade of Iran’s ports, with footage showing a guided-missile destroyer firing on the Iran-linked M/V Touska before Marines rappelled onto the ship after it was disabled.

The incident came after the Trump administration said it expected peace talks with Iran to resume on Tuesday in Islamabad, Pakistan. Iran has vowed retaliation over the seizure of the merchant vessel and has not yet formally agreed to the talks.

Oil prices fell in early Tokyo trading Tuesday (April 21, 2026) as markets focused on expectations for fresh Iran-US talks in Islamabad, with traders betting diplomacy could ease Middle East supply risks.

US President Donald Trump has claimed late on Monday that the US is in a "strong position" in its ongoing conflict with Iran, asserting that American military actions have weakened Tehran, even as fresh diplomatic talks are set to begin. He said the US was "winning" and that Iran's military capabilities had been significantly reduced, while also criticising sections of the media for portraying the situation differently.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "I'm winning a War, BY A LOT, things are going very well, our Military has been amazing ...

He also lambasted the US media for portraying his administration in a bad light amid the conflict.

"The enemy is confused, because they get these same Media "reports," and yet they realize their Navy has been completely wiped out, their Air Force has gone onto darker runways, they have no Anti Missile or Anti Airplane Equipment, their former leaders are mostly gone (This has been, in addition to everything else, Regime Change!), and perhaps, most important of all, THE BLOCKADE, which we will not take off until there is a "DEAL," is absolutely destroying Iran."

We are closing this coverage now. For the latest updates, click here.