U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance as the ceasefire with Iran nears its end. In an interview with Bloomberg, he said that unless a peace agreement is reached within the set timeframe, the likelihood of extending the truce is very low, and military operations against Iran could resume as early as Wednesday evening. Analysts view this statement as part of a broader diplomatic pressure campaign.

The report notes that the 14-day ceasefire, which began on April 8, is scheduled to end on April 22. Despite a nearly 21-hour meeting between U.S. and Iranian representatives in Islamabad, no agreement was reached, leaving the talks effectively stalled. Trump also stated that the United States remains interested in a “good and effective” deal with Iran but will not rush into a bad one, suggesting more time could be taken if necessary.

Analysts believe that failure to reach an agreement within the deadline could heighten tensions in the Middle East, potentially affecting global energy markets and international politics.

Israeli attacks have continued in the Gaza Strip despite a declared ceasefire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry reported that more than 780 Palestinians have been killed since Israel agreed to the ceasefire in October. On Monday, five additional Palestinians were reported dead in separate incidents, including three killed by shelling at a police checkpoint in Khan Younis, one in a drone strike in the Bureij refugee camp, and another at a junction in Gaza City’s Zeitoun area.

The Health Ministry stated that the continuation of these attacks after the ceasefire has further complicated the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights that the ongoing violence is undermining the effects of the supposed truce and worsening conditions for civilians.

The ministry’s data underscores the persistent instability in Gaza despite the formal announcement of a ceasefire, raising concerns about the region’s humanitarian crisis.

Iran has reopened its two main airports in Tehran—Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad—after several weeks of closure due to wartime conditions. The suspension had been imposed to avoid security risks during the conflict involving the United States and Israel. According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, the Civil Aviation Authority decided to resume operations from Saturday.

In addition to Tehran’s airports, permission has been granted to reopen airports in Shiraz, Kerman, Rasht, Yazd, Urmia, Kermanshah, Abadan, Gorgan, Birjand, and Zahedan. The reopening marks a gradual restoration of Iran’s domestic air network following disruptions caused by the conflict.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that the current ceasefire between the United States and Iran would not be extended unless a specific agreement is reached. He stated that without such an agreement, he would consider the war to have resumed, with the ceasefire set to remain in effect until Wednesday evening Washington time.

An Iranian-flagged cargo vessel named 'Shuja 2' is reportedly crossing the Strait of Hormuz, disregarding a US blockade, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The ship departed from Shahid Rajaee Port near Bandar Abbas and is currently en route to India’s Kandla Port.

Al Jazeera reported that it could not independently verify Tasnim’s claim. However, maritime tracking service Marine Traffic indicated that the vessel is presently located within the Strait of Hormuz, with its destination listed as India. The report did not mention any response from US authorities or other stakeholders.

The incident comes amid ongoing tensions involving maritime routes in the Gulf region. The report did not specify whether the ship faced any direct obstruction or inspection during its passage.

Lebanon’s government announced on Monday that at least 2,387 people have been killed and 7,602 injured in Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory since the start of the Iran war. The figures were released by the country’s Disaster Risk Management Unit, which has been tracking casualties since early March.

According to the report, the death toll reflects the cumulative impact of Israeli strikes that have continued despite a recent ceasefire. The Lebanese authorities stated that bodies are still being recovered from areas hit by Israeli attacks, particularly following a 10-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah that took effect last Friday.

The update underscores the ongoing humanitarian toll in Lebanon amid regional hostilities linked to the Iran conflict, as officials continue recovery operations in affected zones.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that the ongoing ceasefire between the United States and Iran will not be extended beyond Wednesday evening, Washington time. In a phone interview with Bloomberg, Trump said the chances of prolonging the truce are very slim unless a concrete agreement is reached before the deadline.

Trump stated that he is not in a hurry to sign what he described as a bad deal, emphasizing that the US still has enough time to negotiate. When asked whether fighting would resume if no agreement is reached, he replied that he expects such an outcome. The remarks were reported by CNN.

The statement comes as diplomatic efforts continue, with China expressing full support for Pakistan’s role in the US-Iran talks. Meanwhile, global oil prices have fallen amid reports of progress in peace discussions.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Vice President JD Vance and a delegation were en route to Pakistan to participate in peace talks with Iran. However, sources cited by Reuters reported that Vance remains in the United States and has not departed for Pakistan. It remains unclear when he will travel or whether other members of the U.S. delegation have already reached Islamabad.

Earlier, the New York Post reported, quoting Trump, that Vance and the delegation were expected to land in Islamabad within hours. Pakistan is reportedly serving as the main mediator in efforts to initiate peace discussions between the United States and Iran. If the next round of talks proceeds, Islamabad is expected to host the negotiations.

The situation highlights uncertainty surrounding the timing and composition of the U.S. delegation, as well as the broader diplomatic process aimed at restarting U.S.-Iran peace efforts.

The European Union has decided to impose new sanctions on individuals and entities linked to disruptions of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Two EU diplomats confirmed the decision, saying member state ambassadors reached a political agreement to revise existing sanction criteria. This change will allow the EU to target those responsible for restricting freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway. The European External Action Service is expected to prepare a list of sanctioned parties within the coming weeks.

The move follows heightened tensions since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, after the outbreak of conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The closure halted about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, causing major market instability. The EU had previously designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization in January and sanctioned several Iranian officials in March over human rights violations.

The new sanctions are expected to increase international pressure on Tehran as regional stability remains fragile following renewed maritime incidents and a temporary reopening of the strait.

The United States military has forced 27 Iranian ships to change course or return to Iranian ports since April 13, following the imposition of a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the development in a statement on social media, noting that the blockade was ordered by President Donald Trump and has been strictly enforced. The operation aims to halt all commercial maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports, and so far, no vessel has breached the blockade.

CENTCOM Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla stated that the blockade is being conducted with caution and clarified that non-Iranian maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains unaffected. The blockade was imposed after peace talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad failed. Analysts cited in the report said the move is severely impacting Iran’s maritime trade, while Iran has condemned it as a “war crime” and warned of retaliation.

Experts view CENTCOM’s latest disclosure as part of a broader strategy to increase pressure on Iran while U.S. negotiators remain in Islamabad for a second round of discussions.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is reportedly leading a delegation to Islamabad for potential discussions centered on Iran, but international media outlets have provided differing accounts of the trip’s timing. According to The Guardian, citing the New York Post, the delegation—also including special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner—has already departed and is expected to arrive in Pakistan within hours. President Donald Trump stated that talks are planned and suggested progress could lead to a meeting with Iran’s top leaders. However, Tehran has indicated it has no plans for another round of peace talks.

CNN, by contrast, reported uncertainty about the schedule, citing sources who said Vance is expected to leave Washington on Tuesday, with a second round of U.S.-Iran talks planned for Wednesday in Islamabad. The White House has not confirmed any specific timing, saying only that the delegation may depart soon. The differing reports follow a previous 21-hour meeting in Islamabad last week that ended without resolution over Iran’s nuclear program and mutual trust issues.

The situation remains fluid, with both U.S. and Iranian positions appearing cautious amid heightened rhetoric between the two nations.

Confusion and disorder prevailed in Washington this morning as the schedule for the much-anticipated meeting between the United States and Iran in Islamabad remained unclear, according to BBC reports. Shortly after 9 a.m. local time, President Donald Trump told the New York Post in a brief phone interview that Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner had 'just departed.' However, there has been no official confirmation from the vice president’s office or the White House, and no reports have yet come from the traveling press pool, which is usually standard procedure.

The latest official information came yesterday when a senior White House official confirmed that the three would participate in the talks, though no specific timing was provided. Efforts are ongoing to clarify the situation through various Washington offices. Meanwhile, related developments include China expressing full support for Pakistan’s role in the US–Iran dialogue and a drop in global oil prices following news of the peace talks.

JD Vance is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday, though this has not been officially confirmed.

A Bangladeshi expatriate named Nur Karim Farhad, aged 45, died in a road accident in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Two other Bangladeshi expatriates, identified as Md. Juleyl (28) and Md. Hossain (32), were seriously injured in the same incident. The accident occurred around 1 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, when their vehicle collided with a lorry while they were on their way to the airport. The death was confirmed on Monday by Abul Basar Monju, chairman of the Purba Charbata Union Parishad.

According to local sources, Farhad, a resident of Purba Charbata village in Subarnachar upazila of Noakhali, had been living in Saudi Arabia for about three years. After the collision, local people rescued the injured and took them to a hospital, where doctors declared Farhad dead. The two injured Bangladeshis remain in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Authorities have not released further details about the cause of the accident or the current investigation status.

Israeli forces and Jewish settlers have intensified raids and demolitions across the occupied West Bank, detaining at least fifty Palestinians. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the operations took place in several areas including Hebron, Yatta, and Beit Ummar, where forty people were arrested, some of them former prisoners. In Jenin’s Kafr Qud village, an Israeli shooting left one Palestinian youth seriously injured and hospitalized.

In Jerusalem’s Silwan neighborhood near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli bulldozers demolished Palestinian-owned land and cleared debris from previously destroyed homes. In the Tubas region, Israeli forces destroyed water pipelines in Tammun and continued clearing privately owned Palestinian land to build a 22-kilometer road between Nablus and Tubas. Military checkpoints and roadblocks were also reinforced around Hebron, restricting movement.

The report comes as global attention remains focused on U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan, creating a backdrop for Israel’s escalated actions in the West Bank.

The Kremlin has expressed hope that discussions between the United States and Iran will continue to prevent negative impacts on the Gulf region and the global economy. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the remarks on Monday while speaking to reporters, emphasizing that the current situation in the Gulf is highly fragile and uncertain.

Peskov stated that Moscow expects the dialogue process to persist in order to avoid escalation toward a military situation or major tensions. He clarified that Russia is not acting as a mediator in the ongoing discussions but remains ready to assist in achieving a peaceful resolution and agreement if needed.

The statement reflects Russia’s concern over regional stability and its willingness to support diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Internal communications among US government departments indicate that the Iran war has severely undermined Washington’s global security relationships and reputation. According to documents obtained by Politico, the conflict has weakened the US position in Bahrain, Azerbaijan, and Indonesia. Diplomatic cables describe growing anti-American sentiment and portrayals of the US as isolated in the face of Iranian aggression.

Reports from US embassies show that American influence in Azerbaijan has collapsed, Bahrain’s government faces questions about US reliability, and calls are rising in Indonesia to scale back security cooperation. The messages also highlight a loss of public trust in Washington and the spread of anti-US narratives across multiple countries.

Embassies have been instructed not to create original content about the Iran war and to post only messages approved by the White House or the State Department. Some diplomats reportedly fear speaking out under the Trump administration, which has sidelined them from foreign policy decisions and dismissed several officials.