Concerns grew on Monday (20 April) that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, due to expire on Tuesday, might not hold after Washington’s Navy seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to run its blockade of Iranian ports, with Tehran vowing to retaliate.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are rising as a ceasefire nears expiry with no agreement in place, amid reported attacks on vessels that have heightened fears of renewed conflict and disruption to global oil supplies.
Iran’s top negotiator has said recent talks with the United States have shown progress, but that major differences remain over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, as diplomatic efforts continue alongside escalating regional instability.
The U.S. Navy has forcibly intercepted and boarded the Iranian cargo ship TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman after it attempted to breach the ongoing naval blockade. President Trump confirmed that the vessel was neutralised and seized by Marines following a direct strike on its engine room.
Two Indian-flagged ships were shot at in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, India's Foreign Ministry said, as Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again, less than 24 hours after reopening the 167km long sea passage, which is essential for global trade.
Global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has shown signs of partial recovery after Iran announced it was open to commercial vessels during a limited ceasefire, though uncertainty remains over security conditions and compliance rules.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Supreme Leader in air strikes, triggering the Middle East conflict, at the end of February. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, however, remains in force.
European leaders have set out plans for a coordinated defensive mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, once security conditions allow, following talks involving more than 40 countries.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 17th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
RRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Beijing is placing China’s diplomacy under closer scrutiny, as it balances its partnership with Moscow against strained relations with the U.S.
The United States has expanded its naval blockade on Iran, allowing forces to stop, search and seize vessels suspected of carrying “contraband”, as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned U.S. forces are ready to resume combat if no deal is reached.
Iran has raised the idea of charging ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, drawing sharp attention due to the waterway’s vital role in global energy supply and the legal questions involved.
The U.S. has warned it could impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil and expects China to halt purchases as Washington intensifies enforcement of a maritime blockade on Iran.
A second U.S.-sanctioned supertanker has entered the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, shipping data showed, despite a U.S. blockade on vessels visiting Iranian ports.
The U.S. and Iran could resume peace talks over the next couple of days, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Washington yesterday. Fuel prices have dropped below $100 a barrel. U.S. blockade on Iranian ports completes first day.
The Middle East crisis is reshaping transport choices worldwide, turning electric vehicles from a long-term climate goal into an immediate economic calculation.
The United States said on Wednesday its military had completely halted trade going in and out of Iran by sea, even though President Donald Trump said talks with Tehran on ending the war could resume this week.
Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan and six other countries condemned the killings of United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon on Tuesday while calling "for an urgent end to hostilities" in the country where Israeli attacks have killed more than 2,000 people since March.
A preliminary round of Lebanon-Israel talks has concluded in Washington, marking a tentative diplomatic step as regional tensions rise. The development comes as the United States launches a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Türkiye’s foreign minister has appealed for restraint and diplomacy as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz unsettle global markets, warning that any military attempt to resolve the crisis could deepen instability rather than ease it.
There are cautious signs of progress towards peace, as negotiating teams from the U.S. and Iran consider returning to Islamabad later this week to resume talks aimed at ending the Gulf conflict.
Iran’s mission at the United Nations headquarters in New York has, in a letter to the Secretary-General and the Security Council President, demanded war compensation from five regional states over damages caused during Israeli-U.S. aggression against Iran.
Since Monday, Monday (13 April), America has blocked traffic entering and leaving Iran's ports, in an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The consequences of that will continue to impact the global oil supply.
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