Trump says US negotiations with Iran to continue 'over weekend' US President Donald Trump told reporters that ceasefire talks with Iran will continue "over the weekend" and said that "a lot of good things are happening that includes Lebanon too. " "I don't think there's too many significant differences," he said regarding negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Hopes that shipping would resume through the Strait of Hormuz proved short-lived on April 18, with Iran's announcement that it was reopening the vital waterway being reversed just hours later and only a handful of vessels daring to attempt a passage. Oil prices had plunged following the initial reopening announcement the previous day, and shipping tracking data showed several vessels passing through the strait.
US President Donald Trump welcomed Tehran's announcement but said the US naval blockade would continue until a peace deal was reached.
HRW calls on governments to suspend arms sales to Israel Human Rights Watch (HRW) has decried the Israeli bombing of the Qasmieh bridge, the main access point for civilians in southern Lebanon to food, medical supplies, and other humanitarian aid. The Israeli military destroyed the bridge on 16 April, hours before a ceasefire was announced. "As the deliberate attack destroyed the last main operational crossing for civilians and aid, with the prospect of immense civilian harm, the attack should be investigated as a potential disproportionate attack on civilians, which would be a war crime," HRW said in a statement.
Beirut [Lebanon], April 18 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, during which the two discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing efforts to consolidate the ceasefire in Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported, citing Saudi state news agency SPA.
Islamabad [Pakistan], April 18 (ANI): A fresh round of talks between Iranian and American negotiators is expected to take place in Islamabad on Monday, Iranian officials familiar with the discussions said, CNN reported. They added that delegations are likely to arrive in the Pakistani capital on Sunday, as reported by CNN. The development comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts to ease West Asia tensions.
Iranian officials did not confirm most of Mr. Trump’s claims and disputed several of them.
TEHRAN, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran will not transfer its enriched uranium to a foreign country, and sending it to the United States has never been under consideration, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Friday.
Iraq resumes southern oil exports after month-long halt due to Hormuz disruption Iraq resumed southern oil exports on Friday after a halt of more than a month caused by disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with one tanker beginning to load crude, four energy sources said. The Malta-flagged tanker Agios Fanourios I has anchored off Iraq's southern oil terminals and is set to load about two million barrels of Basra crude, Iraqi ports and energy sources said on Friday. The vessel entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, in a second attempt to transit the waterway after being among several tankers that tried to enter on Sunday during the US-Iran ceasefire, the data showed.
Tehran [Iran], April 18 (ANI): Iran has rejected claims by US President Donald Trump that it has agreed to transfer its enriched uranium to the United States, with its Foreign Ministry strongly dismissing the assertion, Al Jazeera reported. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran would not allow such a move under any circumstances, according to Al Jazeera.
Washington DC [US], April 18 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has 'agreed to everything' in ongoing talks with the United States, outlining a potential agreement that includes jointly removing enriched uranium from Iran and transporting it to the US, CNN reported. Speaking in a phone interview with CBS, Trump ruled out the deployment of American troops on the ground. 'No.
For decades the IRGC relied on its ability to threaten closure of the Strait of Hormuz as its premier economic shield and golden get out of jail card.
Strait of Hormuz 'completely open' and Iran will 'never close' it again, Trump announces The US and Iran announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that shuttles a quarter of the global oil supply, is now back open to all vessels after Tehran wrested control of the strait following the US-Israeli attack on Iran. "In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X on Friday.
Strait of Hormuz 'completely open' and Iran will 'never close' it again, Trump announces Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 04/17/2026 - 20:39 Tehran says all vessels can now cross as long as US, Israel abide by ceasefire in Iran, Lebanon US President Donald Trump dances during a tax cuts event in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 16 April 2026 (Evan Vucci/Reuters) Off The US and Iran announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that shuttles a quarter of the global oil supply, is now back open to all vessels after Tehran wrested control of the strait following the US-Israeli attack on Iran. "In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X on Friday.
On a day when both Iran and the United States declared the Strait of Hormuz opened, hopes for an agreement rose. But statements from President Trump and Iranian leaders about negotiations were sometimes at odds.
Saudi Arabia and US discuss keeping Strait of Hormuz open, Saudi state news agency Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a phone call, discussed efforts to ensure the continued opening of the Strait of Hormuz and consolidate the ceasefire in Lebanon, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Friday.
Amid conflicting reports about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, European leaders gathered on Friday to coordinate a plan to guard it.
Tehran [Iran], April 18 (ANI): Iran has warned that it will take reciprocal measures if the United States continues its maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports, even as it outlined conditions for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported.
Washington DC [US] April 18 (ANI): The US military has said that its naval blockade operations targeting Iran continue, even as tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz, with Central Command stressing that American forces remain fully deployed and alert in the region. The Middle East-based US Central Command released a video stating that its forces remain 'present', 'vigilant' and 'ready'.
As Washington signals that a deal with Tehran may be close, a central question remains unresolved: who, if anyone, is actually winning?
