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.
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U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday convened a White House Situation Room meeting to discuss the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations with Iran, Axios reported, citing U.S. officials.
The report said that “if there is no breakthrough soon, the war could resume in the coming days.”
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy has ordered ships not to move from their anchorage in the Gulf, adding that apporoaching the Straitof Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the 'enemy,' Iranian state media reports.
The IRGC Navy added that vessels and their owners should follow its orders only, adding that statements by U.S. President Donald Trump on the Strait of Hormuz "have no validity."
Israel's military reported two ceasefire violations by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Saturday.
In a post on X, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said a "terrorist cell" approached IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon before being eliminated. The IDF said it also struck an underground shaft in the area, where Hezbollah terrorists were identified.
While Hezbollah has signalled it would abide by the ceasefire, it has said Lebanon and its citizens have the right to resist Israeli troops if they are in Lebanese territory.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Saturday said it received reports of three separate maritime incidents within three hours off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz.
The development comes after Iran said it had closed the Strait of Hormuz again, after briefly allowing ships to pass through it.
Iranian state media reported that it was in control of the waterway, which is essential for global trade.
The U.S. military is preparing “to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters” in the coming days, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing U.S. officials.
According to the Journal, the U.S. military will pursue vessels around the world that are helping Iran should the two sides fail to conclude a deal.
Washington’s decision to step up economic pressure is intended to force Iran to reopen the strait and make concessions on its nuclear program, which has been the focus of negotiations between the US and Iran, the report said.
The Indian Foreign Secretary has conveyed the country's deep concern at a shooting incident earlier on Saturday, involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Ambassador in the Indian capital New Delhi had been summoned by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs for a meeting with India's Foreign Secretary.
Earlier, maritime and shipping sources reported that two merchant vessels had been hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the sea passage.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Saturday, less than 24 hours after it reopened the waterway.
Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has released a statement denying responsibility for an attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, which killed one French soldier.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said that initial evidence suggested the militant group were responsible for the incident on Saturday, which resulted in another three peacekeepers suffering injuries.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said initial assesments indicated that the fire came from a non-state actor.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has said that Tehran's control of the Strait of Hormuz includes the payment of costs related to security, safety and environmental protection services, Iranian state media reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said Washington won't be blackmailed by Tehran, adding that negotiations with Iran are ongoing.
His remarks come after Iran said it had closed the Strait of Hormuz again, less than 24 hours after opening it, due to the ongoing U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
A total of 23 vessels were turned back in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday (16 April) at the request of U.S. forces, CBS News reported, citing U.S. Central Command. That is 21 more ships than on Wednesday.
Earlier, Donald Trump said the blockade would remain in place until Iran and the United States reached a final agreement to end the war.
The EU’s Special Representative for the Gulf said on Saturday that any lasting solution for the Middle East must be led by countries in the region rather than imposed from outside.
“Every solution for the Middle East has to be a region-led process,” Luigi Di Maio said during a panel discussion at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Türkiye.
He added that the current Middle East crisis was another sign of the "further erosion of international law."
“If we want to try to find a solution for avoiding again another crisis, like the ongoing crisis or a wider crisis, a farther spillover, we need to work all together,” he said.
Di Maio said the EU remains committed to multilateralism and international law, while stressing that Europe does not want to be “part of this war.”
Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has been quoted in Iranian state media saying that Tehran is managing the Strait of Hormuz.
"Either they give us out rights at negotiating table or we get in the battlefield," Aref added, according to state media.
The United Nations has condemened the "deliberate attack on peacekeepers" in Lebanon after a French soldier who was part of a peacekeeping force in the country was killed on Saturday.
Three other peacekeepers were injured in the incident, when they came under fire while clearing an explosive ordnance in southern Lebanon.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said initial assesments indicated that the fire came from a non-state actor.
"UNIFIL has launched an in investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident," it added.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said evidence suggested Hezbollah was responsible for the attack.
French President Emannuel Macron has provided further details about the killing of a French soldier in southern Lebanon on Saturday.
He said that evidence suggests Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was responsible for the attack on the soldier, who was part of a UN peacekeeping force stationed in the south of the country.
Three other soldiers were wounded and have been evacuated, Macron said in a post on social media website X, urging the Lebanese government to act against the alleged perpetrators.
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that a French soldier was killed in an attack in southern Lebanon on Saturday.
Earlier, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemened the attack on French UN peacekeepers in the country and said he had ordered an immediate investigation into the incident in order to hold the perpatrators accountable.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has criticised an assault on French UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on Saturday and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
Salam branded the assault "irresponsible behaviour," and said it caused "great harm" to relations between Lebanon and other countries.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, has said that Tehran appreciates the support of regional countries, including Türkiye and Azerbaijan, according to the Turkish bureau of Report news agency.
The diplomat also noted that during a phone call between the presidents of Iran and Azerbaijan, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral relations.
At least two merchant vessels said they were hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, three maritime security and shipping sources said.
It comes after Iranian state media reported that the Strait of Hormuz was once again closed, less than 24 hours after Iran and U.S. President Donald Trump said it had reopened.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Saturday it had received a report of a tanker being fired upon by what it described as "two gunboats linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC)" 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman.
The captain of the tanker said the two gunboats opened fire without issuing a radio challenge, UKMTO said in its advisory note, adding that the vessel and its crew were reported safe.
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said the country's navy is ready to impose "new bitter defeats" on enemies in a post on messaging app Telegram.
The statement was made to mark the anniversary of the formation of the Islamic Republic of Iran's army and paid tribute to dead military figures.
"May God’s special mercy be upon the honorable families of all the martyrs of this war imposed by the U.S. and Zionist regime on the great nation of Iran," the post added.
Iran’s military says it is resuming control of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.
Iran had previously warned it would close the strait if the U.S. continued its blockade of its ports.
It added that until the U.S. “restores full freedom of movement for vessels traveling to and from Iran,” the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain “strictly controlled and unchanged.”
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Strait of Hormuz had yet to return to normal operations despite a ceasefire in the Iran war, and urged Tehran to allow global shipping to resume fully.
"We are at a critical diplomatic moment with a ceasefire now in place ... but we don't yet have normal passage through the strait", Cooper told Reuters.
She said the ceasefire needed to develop into a lasting peace, adding that restoring shipping through the waterway was urgent for the global economy.
The Trump administration on Friday extended a sanctions exemption on some Russian oil as prices continue to skyrocket in the wake of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
The move comes just two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the U.S. would not extend such an exemption on the sale of Russian oil.
In March, President Trump removed restrictions on exports of Russian oil as global prices soared due to the war in Iran, especially instability in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it has carried out approximately 10,800 strikes on Iran, according to newly released figures.
IDF also said it conducted more than 14,900 artillery strikes and 2,500 air strikes in Lebanon, adding that it struck about 165 multi-storey buildings.
A convoy of tankers was seen departing the Gulf and transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, vessel-tracking data showed.
The group comprised four liquefied petroleum gas carriers and several oil product and chemical tankers, with more tankers following from the Gulf, according to MarineTraffic data.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Iran’s delegation in recent talks with the U.S. in Islamabad, said on X that Donald Trump “made seven claims in one hour, all seven of which were false.”
“They did not win the war, and they will certainly not get anywhere in negotiations either with these lies,” Ghalibaf added.
The Canadian prime minister welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and described Iran’s announcement about reopening the Strait as positive developments.
“Canada stands in full solidarity with Gulf partners who have faced recent retaliatory attacks and economic pressure,” Mark Carney said in a post on X.
"We'll go in with Iran, and we will take it together, and we will bring it back to the U.S.," Trump told reporters on the way back to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
"If we don't do that, we will get it in a different form- a much more unfriendly form."
Asked whether he would extend the ceasefire or restart attacks if no deal is reached by Wednesday, when the two-week truce mediated by Pakistan expires, Trump left the door open to renewed strikes.
European leaders called for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a high-level international meeting.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also announced plans for a UK-France-led multinational mission to protect maritime navigation.
“I can confirm that, along with France, the UK will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions allow,” said Starmer, describing the operation as “strictly peaceful and defensive.”
"Jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, affecting some lower profitability routes and flights which now are no longer economically feasible," the airline said in a statement.
Within Canada, flights between Alberta's Fort McMurray and British Columbia's Vancouver will stop on 28 May, and the Northwest Territories' Yellowknife to Toronto route will end on 30 August. Both are being cut permanently.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping was "very happy" about the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and that he looked forward to their meeting in China.
"Our meeting in China will be a special one and, potentially, Historic. I look forward to being with President Xi- Much will be accomplished!," he added.
Ships attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports have followed U.S. orders to turn back, with 21 vessels complying since the blockade began, according to U.S. Central Command.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since the beginning of the war and the U.S. naval blockade announced on 13 April.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that he may end the ceasefire with Iran unless a long-term deal to end the war is agreed by Wednesday.
"Maybe I won't extend it, but the blockade (on Iranian ports) is going to remain," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on his way back to Washington from Phoenix, Arizona.
"So you have a blockade, and unfortunately we have to start dropping bombs again."
A spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Defence said the Strait of Hormuz is “only open under ceasefire conditions” and remains conditional, according to Fars News Agency.
The spokesperson added that the current situation is “temporary” and warned the waterway could be closed again if conditions in Lebanon change.
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Iran accuses the United States of breaching a ceasefire after a commercial ship was seized in the Gulf of Oman, vowing retaliation, as Israel warns south Lebanon residents to avoid restricted areas.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned on Monday it would “soon respond” to what it described as “armed maritime piracy” after the U.S. Navy fired on an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday, according to local media.
Efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran continue as a fragile ceasefire risks collapsing after the U.S. seized a boat bound for Iran at the weekend and Tehran closes the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile Tehran has refused to attend a new round of peace talks in Pakistan.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Dozens of Chinese-made humanoid robots have demonstrated improvements in speed, balance and autonomous navigation after completing a half-marathon in Beijing on Sunday (19 April), in a showcase of the country’s fast-developing robotics sector.
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.
A man hit in a Kyiv district shooting on Saturday (18 April) has died in hospital, bringing the toll of those killed in the incident to seven, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Monday.
Iran accuses the United States of breaching a ceasefire after a commercial ship was seized in the Gulf of Oman, vowing retaliation, as Israel warns south Lebanon residents to avoid restricted areas.
Progessive Bulgaria, led by pro-Russian Eurosceptic Rumen Radev is on track to form Bulgaria’s next government, after official results showed a runaway victory for the coalition in the Balkan nation's parliamentary elections on Monday (20 April).
Iran accuses the United States of breaching a ceasefire after a commercial ship was seized in the Gulf of Oman, vowing retaliation, as Israel warns south Lebanon residents to avoid restricted areas.
Efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran continue as a fragile ceasefire risks collapsing after the U.S. seized a boat bound for Iran at the weekend and Tehran closes the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile Tehran has refused to attend a new round of peace talks in Pakistan.
Thousands of people gathered in Tehran on Sunday night to show support for the government, with many voicing strong distrust of the United States. Many said they were bracing for more hardship, but remained defiant.
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.
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