US fires at Iranian ship. Trump sends Vance to Islamabad, but Iran is wary: negotiations are in limbo.
Regime media: "Excessive demands, no talks." The tycoon: "Agreement or we'll destroy you."A Marine Traffic satellite image shows ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which opened after the ceasefire in Lebanon, April 17, 2026.
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The United States struck an Iranian-flagged cargo ship intercepted in the Gulf of Oman and took full control of the vessel. The Touska, President Donald Trump wrote on his social media account, attempted to bypass the blockade . It was warned, but "refused to listen, so the Navy stopped it by striking its engine room. It is now in U.S. custody."
This is another of the thousand unknowns surrounding the second round of US-Iran talks, amid Trump's usual threats and signs of apparent closure coming from Tehran.
Peace will be achieved "one way or another," that is, by hook or by crook, assured the White House resident, furious about the blockade of Hormuz and ready to "blow up" the country if his proposals were rejected.
The regime, while admitting "progress" in the negotiations, has held firm on the closure of the Strait and nuclear rights. Developments are now awaited from Islamabad: the American team led by JD Vance has been given the green light to fly to Pakistan , but this evening Iranian media seriously questioned the participation of the ayatollahs' representatives.
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Live broadcast on Monday, April 20th
Tehran: "We have not yet decided whether to participate in the talks."
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that Iran has not yet decided whether to participate in the new round of talks with the United States.
Iranian media: "Iranian drones attacked US ships."
"A few hours ago, American terrorists attacked an Iranian container ship named Touska, which was headed to Iran from China, in the Gulf of Oman. Following the American attack, Iranian forces in turn attacked several American naval vessels with drones. Iran will respond to any American action with appropriate retaliation," the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.
Oil prices soar 7.3% following US seizure of Iranian vessel
Oil prices surged following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US seizure of an Iranian vessel. Brent crude rose 7.3% to $96.94 a barrel.
Iran: "We will respond quickly to the blockade of our ship."
Iran promises to "respond swiftly" to the US seizure of a cargo ship attempting to break the blockade in the Gulf of Oman. "The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond promptly and take retaliatory measures against this act of armed piracy and against the American military," a spokesman for the Iranian General Staff wrote on Telegram, accusing the US of "violating the ceasefire."
An Iranian official: "Mojtaba only suffered a minor leg wound."
Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, suffered a minor leg wound during the Israeli-American airstrikes on his residential compound, according to a senior Iranian official. Iran International reports this. Azim Ebrahimpour stated that Mojtaba Khamenei was inside the compound at the time of the attack and was slightly injured by the blast wave of a missile. He also stated that reports of other injuries were false and that speculation about his health was aimed at sowing divisions.
(Unioneonline)