The planned second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran has become uncertain after the US Navy seized an Iranian cargo ship named Tuska in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Following the seizure, Iran launched a drone attack on a US warship and declared it would not join any peace talks under current conditions. The incident has heightened tensions ahead of the talks expected in Islamabad, where security has been tightened with about 20,000 personnel deployed.

According to US Central Command, the ship was seized after ignoring repeated warnings over six hours. Iran condemned the action as piracy and threatened retaliation. Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir told US President Donald Trump that the American blockade of Iranian ports was the main obstacle to peace. Trump, meanwhile, warned that if Iran refused to sign a deal, it would face severe consequences. The uncertainty has driven global oil prices up by more than seven percent.

Both Washington and Tehran have sent mixed signals about participation, though US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian official Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are expected to attend if conditions permit.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has declared that the country will not engage in negotiations under any form of threat. In a social media post, he sharply criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy, accusing him of using sanctions and ceasefire violations to turn the negotiation table into a platform for coercion and surrender.

Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran rejects discussions conducted under pressure and hinted that new strategies and capabilities have been prepared on the battlefield over the past two weeks. His remarks came amid heightened tensions surrounding U.S.-Iran peace discussions, with reports also noting China’s support for Pakistan’s role in the dialogue and a drop in global oil prices following related news.

The statements underscore Iran’s firm stance against perceived U.S. pressure tactics and suggest that Tehran may be preparing for both diplomatic and strategic responses in the near term.

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.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that the United States’ unlawful behavior and contradictory positions are inconsistent with diplomatic principles. The conversation took place by phone, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

During the call, Araghchi expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of the U.S. administration, saying that American leaders’ positions and conduct violate international norms and diplomatic etiquette. He added that Iran will closely monitor the behavior of other parties and will always make appropriate and necessary decisions to protect its national security and interests.

The report cited Al Jazeera as its source but did not provide further details about any specific outcomes or next steps following the discussion.

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.

Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, has denied reports that Moscow provided any military or intelligence assistance to Iran during the ongoing war. In an interview with the Russian newspaper Vedomosti, Jalali stated that claims of intelligence support were false and even acknowledged as inaccurate by Western sources. He clarified that all agreements between Iran and Russia were signed before the conflict began and are unrelated to current hostilities.

Jalali also discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is now governed under a new legal framework ensuring safe navigation. He noted that ships can continue to operate under security considerations and legal regulations. However, he did not specify whether any fees would be imposed, mentioning that Iran’s parliament is reviewing various options.

The ambassador added that high-level contacts between Russia and Iran remain active, with only minor delays in some joint projects such as the Rasht-Astara railway and nuclear cooperation initiatives.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei announced that Tehran will not participate in discussions with the United States in Islamabad. He stated that the U.S. has not learned from its past experiences and warned that such behavior would not yield positive outcomes. Baghaei added that a ten-point proposal had been submitted and discussed in Islamabad, noting that the Strait of Hormuz had been secure before recent U.S. and Israeli attacks.

According to Baghaei, Iran had clearly communicated its position to the Pakistani mediator, while the United States claimed that the ceasefire agreement did not include Lebanon. He accused Washington of imposing a naval blockade against Iran and attacking an Iranian vessel, actions he described as violations of the ceasefire and international law.

The spokesperson further alleged that the United States had twice breached agreements and attacked Iran, resulting in the deaths of Iranian citizens. The report cited Al Jazeera as its source.

Iran has announced that it has no plans to participate in peace talks with the United States. According to reports published by Iranian state media on Sunday, the ongoing U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remains the main obstacle to any dialogue. Tensions have escalated further following attacks and seizures of Iranian ships by U.S. military forces.

Citing the state broadcaster IRIB, the report stated that there is currently no plan to take part in the next round of discussions. Earlier, news agencies Fars and Tasnim, quoting unnamed sources, said the overall situation cannot be described as positive and that lifting the U.S. blockade is a condition for any talks. The state-run IRNA also referred to Washington’s “unreasonable and unrealistic demands,” saying there is no clear prospect for productive negotiations under the current circumstances.

The report comes as diplomatic efforts remain stalled, with both sides maintaining firm positions over sanctions and maritime security issues.

Iran has launched a drone attack targeting a United States military ship in the Sea of Oman, according to reports. The strike was described as a retaliatory move following the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel. The incident has raised concerns over escalating tensions and the fragility of an existing ceasefire, India Today reported.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency stated that US forces fired on and detained an Iranian commercial ship before Tehran’s forces responded with the drone attack. The report emphasized that the action was a direct response to the seizure of the Iranian vessel.

Details about the scale of the attack, the number of drones used, or whether any US assets were damaged have not been disclosed in the report.

Iran has clarified its stance on potential discussions with the United States, stating that it will continue talks but not at any cost. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee and a former IRGC commander, said that engaging in dialogue does not mean Iran will accept all conditions or methods proposed by the other side. He emphasized that Iran has set certain 'red lines' that must be respected.

When asked whether Iran would send a delegation to a possible meeting in Islamabad, Azizi indicated that the decision depends on whether Tehran receives a positive signal. He noted that Iran has never feared the principle of negotiation and could see positive prospects if the US negotiating team responds constructively to Iran’s messages.

The statement underscores that while Iran remains open to dialogue, it intends to uphold its own terms and conditions in any future engagement with Washington.

Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran on April 20, 2026, to show support for their government and call on officials not to back down amid tensions with the United States. Participants voiced distrust toward Washington and urged continued diplomatic efforts while maintaining a firm stance. The rally featured strong nationalist sentiment and calls for resistance against perceived external threats.

Several attendees expressed frustration over what they described as broken U.S. promises and agreements. One participant, Masoumeh Alimohammadi, told Reuters that Iran should pursue diplomacy but remain wary of the United States. Another, Hamidreza Heidari, declared that Iranians “do not fear war” and insisted that Iran would respond with greater strength if attacked. Negin Gholizadeh urged the government to continue resisting U.S. pressure, referencing a recent episode she viewed as a sign of American retreat.

The demonstration reflected ongoing public support for Iran’s leadership amid strained relations with the United States and Israel, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that the security of the Hormuz Strait cannot be guaranteed for free. In a post on social media platform X, he said that those obstructing Iran’s oil exports should not expect to receive security benefits without cost. Aref emphasized that the choice is clear: either the global oil market remains open to all, or everyone faces the risk of significant losses.

He further noted that the stability of global energy prices depends on a definite and lasting end to economic and military pressures against Iran and its allies. His remarks highlight Tehran’s stance linking regional security and global energy stability to the lifting of restrictions on its oil trade.

The statement underscores Iran’s warning that continued economic and military pressure could have broader consequences for international energy markets and maritime security in the region.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that the security of the Hormuz Strait will not come free, according to a report by Al Jazeera. In a post on social media platform X, Aref said that limiting Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others is unrealistic. He emphasized that the choice is clear: ensure a free oil market for all or face significant costs.

Aref further noted that global energy price stability depends on the permanent end of economic and military pressure on Iran and its allies. His comments come at a time of heightened tension surrounding the Hormuz Strait and worsening relations between the United States and Iran.

The statement underscores Iran’s position linking its oil export freedom to regional and global energy security, suggesting potential implications for international energy markets if tensions persist.