An Iranian academic has warned that tensions could escalate rapidly following a reported US attack on an Iranian ship in the Gulf of Oman. Hassan Ahmadian, an associate professor at the University of Tehran, told Al Jazeera that the situation had changed overnight after the incident. He said Iranian officials had previously made clear they would not accept any blockade on Iranian cargo ships and would continue operating under their existing policies.

Ahmadian described the US blockade as equivalent to an act of war under international law and warned that further seizures or attacks on Iranian vessels would provoke reciprocal action from Iran. He added that while Iran had sought to avoid being drawn into conflict, the current US administration appeared intent on forcing Tehran into submission.

The comments come amid rising regional tensions, with related reports of drone attacks on US warships and continued unrest in the West Bank, suggesting a broader climate of instability.

Iran has acknowledged that a United States military force attacked and seized an Iranian commercial vessel in the Sea of Oman, according to a statement cited by semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The statement from Iran’s Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters confirmed that US forces fired on the ship, disabling it before boarding and taking control. Tehran described the incident as an act of maritime piracy and a violation of international law.

The Iranian statement warned that the country’s armed forces would soon respond to what it called armed piracy by the United States. The announcement marks the first time Iran has directly confirmed the seizure, following earlier conflicting accounts from both sides. The report was carried by Al Jazeera and local media.

The confirmation and warning signal a potential escalation in tensions between Iran and the United States over maritime security in the region, though no timeline or details of Iran’s planned response were provided.

Former Human Rights Watch chief Kenneth Roth has said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to attack Iran’s power plants and bridges would amount to a war crime if carried out. In an interview with the BBC, Roth stated that Trump was effectively threatening large-scale war crimes by targeting civilian infrastructure. He emphasized that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilian objects such as power stations and bridges.

Roth explained that even if such facilities have dual-use purposes, meaning they can serve both civilian and military functions, the law still forbids attacks that would cause disproportionate harm to civilians. He added that ignoring these principles would violate international norms that the U.S. government and the global community are expected to uphold.

In response, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz rejected Roth’s characterization, calling it false, baseless, and absurd. Waltz argued that such infrastructure could be considered legitimate military targets. Trump’s warning of possible strikes on Iran’s key infrastructure has sparked international debate.

Iran has accused the United States of breaking promises and betraying diplomacy, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made the remarks during a phone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying that the U.S. repeatedly violated commitments during talks and ceasefire periods and acted in an oppressive and unreasonable manner.

Pezeshkian stated that the so-called naval blockade against Iran constitutes a provocative and illegal act, violating the ceasefire agreement and contradicting the United Nations Charter. He emphasized that U.S. officials’ threatening statements and such actions have deepened distrust about Washington’s sincerity and revealed that the U.S. intends to repeat its previous patterns of behavior and betray diplomacy once again.

The Iranian president further asserted that Iran would defend its territorial integrity against any new adventurism by the United States and the Zionist regime.

Iran’s state-affiliated media reported that the country’s forces thwarted an alleged US attempt to seize an Iranian commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman. According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, US forces stationed near the area fired at the ship to force it back into Iranian waters. The report stated that the vessel was supported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, whose rapid response compelled the American forces to withdraw from the area.

The report added that Iran’s account of the incident differs from earlier statements made by US President Donald Trump. However, the name of the vessel involved was not disclosed in the report. The incident was covered by Al Jazeera, citing Iranian sources.

No further details were provided about the timing of the event or any potential damage or casualties resulting from the exchange.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA has denied reports claiming that a new round of talks between Iran and the United States was taking place in Pakistan. According to IRNA, the reports are not true and the agency accused the United States of making excessive demands while frequently changing its stance and issuing contradictory statements. It added that U.S. sanctions on Iranian ports and threatening rhetoric have hindered progress in any discussions.

In a message on Telegram, IRNA stated that under the current circumstances there is no bright prospect for productive negotiations. The report did not cite any specific official or institution. Earlier, two Iranian media outlets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also expressed doubts about Iran’s participation in any potential meeting.

No responsible Iranian official has yet clarified the country’s formal position on the matter, leaving uncertainty over whether Iran will take part in future talks.

Iran has announced that it will not send any delegation to Pakistan due to the ongoing US sanctions. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, no Iranian negotiators will travel to Islamabad as long as the naval blockade declared by Donald Trump remains in effect. The report stated that Tehran currently has no plans to engage in talks while the blockade continues.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump said on Sunday that his representatives would arrive in Islamabad on Monday for discussions with Iran. The conflicting positions highlight a diplomatic deadlock between the two sides, with Iran linking any negotiation to the lifting of the blockade.

The situation underscores heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with Pakistan positioned as a potential venue for dialogue that now appears uncertain under the current circumstances.

Iran’s military chief Amir Hatami declared that the country’s armed forces are fully prepared to defend its independence, territorial integrity, and security. Speaking on April 19, 2026, he said the army is committed to protecting Iran by land, air, and sea, and will fight to the last drop of blood if necessary. Hatami emphasized that all branches of the armed forces are ready to confront any enemy and continue strengthening their military capabilities.

He described the morale of Iranian troops as highly motivated, inspired by ideals of jihad and sacrifice, and pledged that they would not deviate from their duties. Hatami warned that the forces’ “fingers are now on the trigger,” signaling readiness to respond decisively to any threat.

The statement, reported by Al Jazeera, underscores Iran’s heightened military posture and its leadership’s emphasis on national defense amid regional tensions.

Iranian authorities arrested four individuals, including two foreign nationals, in the country’s northwestern region on Sunday. According to the Tasnim News Agency, the detainees are accused of being connected to a “U.S. and Israel-linked intelligence network.” They also face charges of importing satellite internet equipment similar to Starlink, which is considered a punishable offense in Iran.

The nationalities of the foreign suspects have not been disclosed. The arrests come amid heightened tensions following a joint attack on Iran by the United States and Israel on February 28, after which internet services across the country were reportedly shut down.

The report did not specify further details about the investigation or the current status of the detainees.

Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran will not withdraw its decision to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed if the United States continues its naval blockade. He mentioned that the ongoing talks between the two sides are stuck on only a few issues, though he did not specify what those issues are or how significant they might be.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump expressed optimism about ending the conflict, saying that the discussions between the two sides have gone well and that he believes an agreement will be reached. However, just hours before his remarks, reports emerged that a ship in the Strait of Hormuz had come under fire from Iranian gunboats.

The situation highlights the fragile state of negotiations and the persistent tension in the region, with both sides maintaining firm positions despite diplomatic efforts to reach a settlement.

Despite a ceasefire being in effect, the United States has maintained a blockade around Iran’s ports and the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between the two countries. Iran has reimposed strict control over the vital waterway, saying the move is a response to the US blockade and accusing Washington of breaking its commitments. At least two commercial ships came under fire while attempting to cross the strait on Saturday.

At the center of Iran’s control strategy are small, fast-attack boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Many of these vessels, hidden in coastal tunnels, have survived US strikes and can quickly mobilize, attack, and retreat. Their swarm tactics make them difficult to track or target effectively. Although a convoy of eight tankers recently passed through the strait, Iran soon reasserted its dominance over the route.

The situation marks a shift from open warfare to controlled confrontation in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints, through which about 20 percent of global oil exports pass.

Iran is encountering two distinct strategies from the United States, according to Abbas Aslani, a senior fellow at Tehran’s Center for Middle East Strategic Studies. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Aslani said the first strategy involves negotiations, but questioned why Washington continues to impose naval blockades, expand sanctions, and strengthen its military presence in the region if it truly seeks an agreement.

He added that the second US strategy centers on pressure and threats. With the expiration of two ceasefire agreements—between the United States and Iran, and between Israel and Lebanon—Aslani warned that the likelihood of renewed confrontation is increasing. He noted that there are no signs of extending these truces, and no party appears to be discussing their renewal.

Aslani concluded that both sides seem to be using the lapse of ceasefires to exert pressure on each other, a situation that could ultimately lead to the resumption of conflict.

Iran has declared that it will not send its enriched uranium abroad, particularly to the United States, under any proposal. The announcement was made by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh during a diplomatic meeting in Turkey, as reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA and cited by Al Jazeera. Tehran also stated that there is no possibility of reopening discussions on this issue.

Khatibzadeh explained that while messages have been exchanged between Iran and the United States at various levels, Washington has presented conditions and demands that Tehran considers exaggerated and unacceptable. He further indicated that there remains a significant gap between the two sides on nuclear matters, which continues to hinder progress in negotiations.

As a result, prospects for any new progress or agreement in the Iran–United States nuclear talks remain uncertain for the time being.

Iran’s parliament speaker Bagher Ghalibaf warned that war could resume at any moment, according to a statement broadcast early Sunday on state television. Ghalibaf, who also serves as Iran’s chief negotiator, said Tehran does not trust the United States and cautioned that renewed conflict remains a real possibility.

His remarks came amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the current ceasefire. The warning reflects heightened tensions and a lack of confidence in diplomatic progress between the involved parties.

Meanwhile, Israeli radio, citing military and political sources, reported that Israel’s army has been placed on high alert over fears that the ceasefire with Iran could collapse.

US intelligence and military officials have stated that despite more than four weeks of attacks by the United States and Israel, a significant portion of Iran’s weaponry remains intact. According to a New York Times report cited in the source, Iran continues to maintain a strong defensive capability.

The report indicates that Iran still possesses about 40 percent of its pre-war drones and more than 60 percent of its missile launchers. Officials said that since a two-week ceasefire began on April 8, Iran has recovered over 100 launch systems that had been hidden in caves and bunkers, suggesting active efforts to restore its operational capacity.

They added that Iran is working to retrieve missiles buried under debris from attacks on depots and underground facilities. Once recovery operations are complete, the country could regain up to 70 percent of its pre-war arsenal, according to the assessment.