Issued on: 21/04/2026 - 03:51Modified: 22/04/2026 - 07:36
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Washington will extend the truce deal with Tehran, at mediator Pakistan’s request, until an Iranian proposal is submitted and talks are concluded. He also said the US would maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Read our liveblog to see how all the day's events unfolded.
Trump mulls extending shipping waiver to ease US oil shipments, Axios reports
US President Donald Trump is considering extending the Jones Act waiver, which allows foreign-flagged cargo ships to move fuel and other goods between domestic ports, Axios reported on Tuesday, citing US officials.
Trump waived Jones Act limitations for 60 days starting March 17, hoping the move would help tame the surge in fuel prices caused by the Iran war by increasing shipments from the US Gulf Coast to other coastal markets in the country.
Dollar at week high as markets raise doubts over Iran ceasefire
The dollar steadied in early Asian trade on Wednesday, as skepticism over US President Donald Trump's announcement of an indefinite extension of a ceasefire with Iran lifted demand for the safe-haven currency, pushing it to a one-week high.
On the policy front, Federal Reserve nominee Kevin Warsh's comments at a Senate confirmation hearing were interpreted as slightly hawkish, while strong retail sales data provided an upbeat view on the strength of the American economy.
The US dollar index =USD, which measures the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was steady at 98.415, its highest level since April 13.
"There was a modest risk-off tone overnight amid renewed uncertainty around US–Iran peace talks," analysts from Westpac wrote in a research report.
London hosts military talks on France and UK's Hormuz mission
Britain will host military planners from over 30 countries for two days of talks starting Wednesday on a multinational mission led by the UK and France to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the defence ministry said.
The ministry said the meeting would "advance detailed planning" on reopening the Strait when conditions allow, following "progress" at talks in Paris last week.
"The task today and tomorrow is to translate diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait and support a lasting ceasefire," Defence Minister John Healey said in a statement.
He said he was confident "real progress can be made".
The conference comes after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron co-chaired international talks on the strategic strait in Paris on Friday that brought together over 40 countries.
Britain and France emphasised the force would be entirely defensive and only deployed once lasting peace in the region was agreed.
White House confirms canceling Vance's Tuesday trip to Iran talks
Iran calls for the United Nations to condemn US seizures of its ships
The Iranian mission to the UN sent a letter Tuesday asking for the world body and the Security Council to issue a “firm and unequivocal” condemnation of the US decision Sunday to attack and seize an Iranian-flagged cargo ship.
“This constitutes a grave breach of international law, a clear violation of the ceasefire, and an act of aggression marked by the hallmarks of piracy,” the mission posted on X. “Such reckless conduct directly endangers international navigation and undermines maritime safety and security.”
Washington had said the ship tried to evade the US naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's UN ambassador says lifting of naval blockade prerequisite for talks in Islamabad
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations Amir-Saeid Iravani told reporters Tuesday that the United States’ naval blockade constitutes a violation of the existing ceasefire and called for its immediate removal, adding that Tehran has received indications Washington may be prepared to lift the restriction.
“We have made clear that the lifting of the blockade is a prerequisite,” the ambassador said. “As soon as this measure is reversed and the strait is unblocked, we believe the next round of negotiations can proceed in Islamabad.”
The ambassador reiterated that Iran did not initiate any military aggression and accused the United States of starting the conflict. “If they are prepared to return to the negotiating table and pursue a political solution, Iran is ready,” the envoy said. “If they choose escalation, Iran is also prepared, though we do not welcome such an outcome.”
Trump's ceasefire extension a 'ploy to buy time' for surprise strike, advisor to Iran's top negotiator says
US President Donald Trump's ceasefire extension is a "ploy to buy time" for a surprise
strike, an advisor to Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Tuesday.
Qalibaf's advisor said in a post on X that the continuation of the US blockade on Iranian ports was "no different from bombardment and must be met with a military response."
Trump extends ceasefire to give Iran more time to negotiate
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was extending a ceasefire with Iran to give more time for negotiations, but would maintain a US naval blockade of the country's ports.
Trump posted on social media that he would "extend the Ceasefire" until Iran came up with a proposal to end the conflict. However, he "directed our Military to continue the Blockade."
Iran threatens to end Gulf countries' oil production if attacked from their territory
Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday threatened to end oil production in the Middle East if the Islamic republic faced attacks launched from its Gulf neighbours' territory.
"The southern neighbours should know that if their geography and facilities are used in the service of the enemies to attack the Iranian nation, they should bid farewell to oil production in the Middle East," the commander of Guards' aerospace force, Majid Mousavi, was quoted by Fars news agency as saying.
Vance's trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran on hold, US official says
Last-minute ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran looked uncertain Tuesday as a two-week truce was set to expire and both countries warned that, without a deal, they were prepared to resume fighting.
US Vice President JD Vance, expected to lead U.S. negotiators if talks continue, called off a trip to Pakistan, a US official said. And Iran said it hadn't decided whether to participate.
Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, worked intensively late Tuesday to get both sides to agree to a second round of ceasefire talks, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
Iran's foreign minister says US blockade of Iranian ports is an 'act of war'
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the US blockade of Iranian ports was an "act of war" and thus a violation of the ceasefire.
"Iran knows how to neutralise restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying," he said in a post on X.
US imposes new Iran-related sanctions, Treasury website shows
The United States imposed new Iran-related sanctions on Tuesday, according to the Treasury Department website, including on individuals and companies linked to trading and air travel.
Lebanon is 'not seeking confrontation with Hezbollah, won't let them intimidate us', PM says
Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday his government was not seeking confrontation with Iran-backed Hezbollah, but it would not allow itself to be intimidated as it continues direct talks with Israel to end the conflict.
Speaking at a news conference alongside France's President Emmanuel Macron, Salam said he would need all Lebanon's partners to help as direct talks at ambassador level continue later this week in Washington.
"We are continuing along this path, convinced that diplomacy is not a sign of weakness, but a responsible act to leave no avenue unexplored in restoring my country's sovereignty and protecting its people," Salam said.
France will help Lebanon to prepare negociations with Israel, Macron says
Lebanon needs 500 million euros to 'tackle humanitarian crisis', PM says
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday the country needed 500 million euros to address the humanitarian fallout, as a fragile 10-day ceasefire holds between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
"Lebanon needs 500 million euros to tackle the humanitarian crisis over the next six months," Salam said during a press conference in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, after Lebanon raised the toll from six weeks of war to more than 2,450 dead and more than 7,600 wounded in the conflict.
Vance delays expected Iran talks departure
Vice President JD Vance, expected to lead a US delegation at upcoming negotiations with Iran in Pakistan, was still in Washington midday Tuesday to participate in meetings, the White House said.
"Additional policy meetings are taking place at the White House in which the vice president will participate," an official said in a brief statement sent to AFP shortly after 1700 GMT.
The official did not provide further details. But Vance's departure -- which has been the subject of contradictory announcements -- was scheduled for Tuesday morning, according to recent reports.
Israel says struck Hezbollah position after rocket fire towards troops in south Lebanon
The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher after the Iran-allied group fired at troops in southern Lebanon.
"A short while ago, the Hezbollah terrorist organisation launched several rockets toward IDF soldiers operating south of the Forward Defence Line, in the area of Rab Thalathin," a military statement said, referring to the boundary marking the area occupied by Israeli forces. "In response, the IDF struck the launcher from which the rockets were launched."
Israeli military says Hezbollah fired rockets at troops in southern Lebanon
The Israeli military said that Lebanon's Iran-aligned Hezbollah had fired several rockets toward its troops operating in southern Lebanon, in what it described as a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement.
It added that sirens in northern Israeli communities were likely triggered by the interception of a drone launched from Lebanon before it crossed into Israeli territory, correcting an earlier report of a possible misidentification.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.
Iran denies women facing execution after Trump seeks clemency
Iran's judiciary denied on Tuesday that eight women were at risk of execution after US President Donald Trump had requested clemency on their behalf.
"Trump was misled once again by fake news," the judiciary's official Mizan Online website said. "The women who were claimed to be on the verge of execution, some of them have been released, while others face charges that, if convictions are upheld, would at most result in imprisonment."
Trump had earlier said on social media that the women's release could work in Iran's favour in negotiations, re-posting an activist's claim that eight women were facing death by hanging. That claim did not give names but included photographs of the women.
Macron to host Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is set to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace late on Tuesday, with the president expected to reaffirm his support for the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, three days after the death of a French peacekeeper in southern Lebanon. FRANCE 24's Antonia Kerrigan reports.
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