US President Donald Trump
Donald Trump said talks with Iran to end the war could soon resume and potentially result in a deal, urging the world to watch for an “amazing two days” ahead, even as US forces enforcing a naval blockade turned back vessels leaving Iranian ports.
“I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead,” Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, adding he did not expect it would be necessary to extend the two-week ceasefire set to expire on Tuesday, April 21.
Donald Trump said he had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping not to provide weapons to Iran, adding that Beijing denied any such involvement.
“I wrote him a letter asking him not to do that, and he wrote me a letter saying that, essentially, he’s not doing that,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria programme.
Iran’s military on Wednesday warned it could block trade routes through the Red Sea, as well as the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, if the US naval blockade persists.
In a statement carried by state television, officials said continued US actions disrupting Iranian commercial vessels and oil tankers would be seen as escalating tensions and undermining the ceasefire.
The head of Iran’s military central command centre said such moves would amount to “a prelude” to violating the ceasefire, signalling potential expansion of the conflict into key global shipping lanes.
Iran has arrested 35 people, including individuals its Intelligence Ministry described as linked to Israel’s Mossad, along with arms smugglers and members of separatist groups.
The arrests were carried out across six provinces, according to a statement reported by state media.
Officials said the detentions were part of ongoing security operations targeting networks accused of undermining national stability amid the escalating conflict.
An Iranian supertanker reportedly crossed the Strait of Hormuz towards Iran’s Imam Khomeini Port despite the US naval blockade, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency.
The Very Large Crude Carrier, capable of transporting up to two million barrels of oil, sailed through international waters with its tracking system switched on and “without any concealment,” the report said.
It remains unclear whether the tanker was carrying crude or travelling empty.
Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday pushed back against what he described as external pressure and military aggression, asserting that attempts to impose force on Iran would ultimately fail.
Speaking amid a fragile ceasefire and ongoing diplomatic efforts, Pezeshkian said Tehran remains committed to constructive dialogue to secure a complete halt to hostilities in West Asia.
“Any attempt to impose will or force Iran to surrender is doomed to failure, and the people will never accept such an approach. Iran is not seeking war,” he was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.
David Barnea, head of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad, on Wednesday pledged further covert operations aimed at undermining Iran’s government, Bloomberg reported.
Barnea said Israel had not expected its strikes on Iranian military, nuclear and infrastructure sites to be sufficient to end the country’s decades-old clerical rule.“Our mission has yet to be completed,” he said in a speech on Tuesday.
“Our obligation will be discharged only after this extremist regime is replaced.”
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that any US-Iran agreement risks becoming an “illusion” without strict verification.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said Iran’s nuclear programme requires “very detailed” inspection mechanisms and the continued presence of international monitors.
Iran is reportedly planning to use alternative ports outside its southern coastline to bypass the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which came into effect on Monday, according to Mehr News.
The move signals Tehran’s attempt to sustain trade flows as the blockade disrupts maritime routes and restricts access to key southern ports
Iran has renewed its demand for compensation for war damage estimated at around USD 270 billion, as fresh diplomatic efforts with the United States loom.
Iran has rejected a UAE-backed proposal adopted by the International Maritime Organization to establish a “safe maritime corridor” in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it legally groundless and politically motivated.
Iranian officials argued that the proposal was procedurally invalid and based on “arbitrary” claims, insisting that any such corridor must have Tehran’s full consent as the key coastal state.
Donald Trump said he is not thinking about extending the current ceasefire with Iran, signalling uncertainty over its future despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
“⁷It could end either way, but I think a deal is preferable because then they can rebuild,” Trump told ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl.
A senior Iranian lawmaker on Wednesday warned that the killing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several top military commanders in US-Israeli strikes would be avenged.
“This revenge will be carried out at an appropriate time and place, with careful planning, and our enemies should expect to pay a heavy price for their actions,” said Ali Nikzad, deputy speaker of parliament.
Journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been detained in Kuwait for six weeks and is facing trial before a special tribunal over social media posts related to the Iran war, amid a broader crackdown on online speech in the region.
The award-winning American-born Kuwaiti journalist, known for his work with Al Jazeera English, The New York Times and PBS Frontline, has been held since March 3 with limited access to legal counsel.
Rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have called for his immediate release, warning that national security laws are increasingly being used to silence journalists and restrict online expression.
The United States Department of the Treasury has warned financial institutions in China, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman of potential secondary sanctions for facilitating Iranian transactions.
A letter reviewed by the Associated Press alleged that Iran routed at least USD 9 billion through US correspondent accounts in 2024 using front companies, particularly in Hong Kong and the UAE.
Officials said Washington is prepared to deploy “the full range of tools” against foreign banks supporting Iran’s financial networks.
The Treasury Department confirmed that a temporary waiver allowing the sale of Iranian oil already in transit will expire on April 19 and will not be renewed.
The authorisation had permitted shipments that began before March 20, tightening economic restrictions on Tehran.
The United States Central Command said it has fully implemented a naval blockade of Iranian ports, claiming to have halted nearly all maritime trade within 36 hours.
US officials said vessels are monitored after leaving Iranian ports and intercepted beyond the Strait of Hormuz before being forced to turn back.
White House official Stephen Miller described the blockade as a decisive geopolitical shift, claiming it would reshape global power dynamics and potentially isolate Iran economically for decades.
President Donald Trump said he is not considering extending the ceasefire with Iran, adding that while it could end either way, a negotiated deal would be preferable.
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have killed at least 168 children over six weeks of renewed conflict with Hezbollah, according to reports.
Strikes have hit residential areas far from front lines, raising concerns over civilian casualties, though Israel says it targets militants.
China warned the United States against imposing tariffs over allegations of military support to Iran.
Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing would respond with countermeasures if Washington proceeds with trade penalties.
Reports suggest Iran used a Chinese satellite to target US military bases during the ongoing conflict, highlighting the expanding technological dimension of the war.
The economic fallout is spreading across industries:
India-flagged LPG carrier Jag Vikram reached Kandla Port carrying 20,400 metric tonnes of cargo, helping stabilise domestic supply amid regional tensions.
Sri Lanka repatriated 238 Iranian sailors after a reported naval incident involving Iranian vessels, with most returning via a chartered flight.
US Central Command said the blockade has effectively cut off maritime trade, noting that around 90 per cent of Iran’s economy depends on sea-based commerce.
This post was last modified on April 15, 2026 5:03 pm