Tehran University associate professor Fouad Izadi stated that Iran has the capability to counter the United States’ naval blockade. His remarks came in response to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who said the US is destroying Iran’s economic capacity. Izadi told Al Jazeera that Miller may have overlooked Iran’s nearly six thousand square kilometers of land borders and emphasized that Iran’s northern and eastern neighbors are assisting the country, making it impossible for the US to suffocate it.

Izadi further argued that imposing a naval blockade is illegal under international law, as punishing civilians to achieve foreign policy goals is unjustified. He noted that such blockades are considered acts of aggression unless authorized by the UN Security Council, making the current US blockade of Iranian ports highly controversial.

According to the report, at least 2,076 people have been killed and 26,500 injured since the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran began.

Iran has been experiencing an almost complete internet blackout for 48 consecutive days, according to monitoring group NetBlocks. The organization reported that the disruption has lasted 1,128 hours, severely limiting online connectivity across the country.

The restrictions were imposed in early January following the resurgence of protests in Iran. The situation worsened toward the end of February when a war broke out involving the United States and Israel against Iran, leading to even stricter controls on internet access. NetBlocks stated that the prolonged blackout has gravely affected daily life and communication among citizens.

Observers describe the scale of this internet shutdown as unprecedented under wartime conditions, highlighting its deep impact on information flow and civilian activities within Iran.

Diplomatic efforts to ease the ongoing crisis between the United States and Iran continue, but uncertainty remains over the resumption of peace talks. With only one week left before the current ceasefire expires, international concern and a sense of urgency are rising. Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Islamabad reported that progress has slowed mainly due to a form of stagnation on the US side. Pakistan’s army chief is currently in Tehran, delivering messages from Washington and laying the groundwork for the next round of discussions in Islamabad.

Although the White House press secretary has not confirmed that the next talks will take place in Islamabad, sources indicate that no alternative venue is being considered. Since the first round of talks ended last Sunday, Pakistan has been serving as the main diplomatic intermediary between the two sides. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign ministry said that all plans are proceeding as expected, and both parties are being prepared to return to Islamabad.

Major obstacles remain, particularly over Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Despite these challenges, there is still an opportunity to bring both sides back to the negotiating table before the ceasefire expires next week.

The United States military reported that within the first 48 hours of its naval blockade on Iran, ten ships attempting to leave Iranian ports were turned back. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on social media that since the blockade began on Monday, no vessel had successfully breached it. CENTCOM initially reported nine ships being turned back but later updated the figure to ten, noting that the tenth vessel was redirected by a guided missile destroyer.

However, maritime tracking data presented a different picture. Data from Tuesday indicated that at least three ships departing Iranian ports had crossed the Strait of Hormuz, though some later returned. According to maritime analytics firm Kpler, those three were among seven Iran-linked vessels that passed through the strait after Washington’s blockade took effect.

The blockade followed failed peace talks and came after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, which had prompted Tehran to close the strait temporarily.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has arrested four individuals in the northern province of Gilan on allegations of having connections with Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. According to Iranian state media reports on April 16, 2026, the detainees were identified as agents and were taken into custody following operations by the IRGC’s intelligence division.

The official news agency IRNA reported that the accused allegedly transmitted images and locations of key Iranian military and security installations to Mossad officials via the internet during wartime. The arrests were part of ongoing intelligence efforts by Iranian authorities to counter foreign espionage activities.

No further details were provided about the identities of the detainees or the specific nature of the alleged espionage activities, and Iranian authorities have not released additional statements regarding the case.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian strongly condemned attacks on schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure in Iran, describing them as violations of international law and humanitarian principles. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he accused the United States and Israel of being the 'real terrorists,' saying they disregard humanitarian norms by targeting civilians.

Pezeshkian stated that while the US and Israel label others as terrorists, they themselves conduct indiscriminate killings. His comments came amid ongoing tensions following more than six weeks of conflict, during which Iran halted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. In response, the United States imposed a military blockade in the area.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s military adviser, Mohsen Rezaei, warned that Iran would sink US ships if Washington attempted to act as a 'police force' in the strait. A two-week ceasefire has temporarily paused the fighting.

After a Pakistani delegation arrived in Tehran, observers suggested the United States may be considering a second round of ceasefire talks with Iran. Despite more than 20 hours of discussions in Pakistan ending without resolution, the two-week ceasefire remains in place. However, President Donald Trump proposed blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil trade route, as part of a new strategy toward Iran.

The report outlines four possible scenarios for what could follow: a fragile ceasefire acting as a strategic pause; a 'shadow war' involving limited strikes and proxy activity; continued quiet diplomacy led by Pakistan and regional mediators; and a prolonged naval blockade aimed at crippling Iran’s oil exports. Analysts warn that mistrust, conflicting interpretations of ceasefire terms, and Israel’s potential involvement could heighten tensions.

The analysis concludes that the region has entered a “gray zone” where war and diplomacy coexist. Both sides appear to be balancing military pressure with limited diplomatic engagement, creating structural instability and uncertainty about the conflict’s trajectory.

An Iranian supertanker under US sanctions has crossed the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Persian Gulf, according to reports on Wednesday. This marks the second such incident during the ongoing US blockade of the strait and Iranian ports. Maritime intelligence from LSEG and Kpler identified the vessel as the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) ‘RHN,’ which entered the Gulf empty. The ship, capable of carrying two million barrels of oil, has an unclear destination.

Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that the sanctioned tanker crossed the strait despite the blockade and was heading toward Iran’s Imam Khomeini port. The movement occurred while the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed that ten ships had been turned back and that no vessel had breached the blockade since it began on Monday.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding maritime navigation and sanctions enforcement in the Persian Gulf region, with conflicting reports from Iranian and US sources about the effectiveness of the blockade.

The United States has warned that its blockade of Iranian ports could continue indefinitely. White House adviser and senior Trump associate Stephen Miller issued the warning in an interview with Fox News. The statement followed the collapse of recent talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, which ended without any agreement. In response, President Trump imposed a naval blockade on Iran’s ports.

Miller described Trump as a man of peace but emphasized that the US would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons or challenge American authority. He added that while a military operation could destroy Iran’s energy infrastructure for years, Washington preferred a diplomatic solution. However, Miller stressed that if Iran chose the wrong path, the US had the capacity to maintain the blockade indefinitely.

The report, citing Al Jazeera, highlights the growing tension between Washington and Tehran following the failed negotiations, with the blockade already affecting maritime operations in the region.

Iran’s senior military adviser Mohsen Rezaei has warned that the country will sink US ships if Washington continues to act as a ‘police force’ in the Strait of Hormuz. Rezaei, who serves as a military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, made the remarks on state television, saying US vessels could be destroyed with Iran’s first missile strike. The warning comes amid a fragile ceasefire following more than six weeks of conflict in the region.

The United States imposed a military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran halted maritime traffic during the ongoing war. Rezaei questioned the legitimacy of US actions, asking whether policing the strait was truly America’s role. He described the presence of US ships as a major threat to American forces themselves.

Rezaei, a veteran and influential figure who led Iran’s Revolutionary Guard from 1981 to 1997, issued the warning as tensions remain high despite the temporary ceasefire.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency. During the call, Araghchi warned that the United States’ “provocative activities” in the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz could lead to dangerous consequences. He stated that the U.S. presence in this vital waterway would further complicate the situation and pose a direct threat to regional stability.

ISNA reported that Wang Yi praised the “resilience” of the Iranian people amid the ongoing crisis. The Chinese foreign minister also expressed Beijing’s readiness to assist in advancing diplomatic efforts and achieving a final resolution to the conflict.

The exchange highlights continued coordination between Tehran and Beijing as tensions rise in the Gulf, with both sides emphasizing diplomacy and regional stability.

Iran has proposed a new arrangement for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing vessels to pass through the Omani section of the waterway without facing Iranian attacks. The proposal, however, would only take effect if Washington agrees to Tehran’s demands. The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions following the outbreak of war between Iran, the United States, and Israel on February 28.

Since the conflict began, Iran has imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route that normally sees 120 to 140 ships pass daily. The blockade has forced oil tankers to take longer alternative routes, disrupting global energy supply chains and driving up fuel prices in many countries.

According to international maritime monitoring organizations, hundreds of ships and more than 2,000 crew members remain stranded in the strait due to the ongoing blockade, underscoring the severe impact on global trade and energy markets.

Iran’s top military adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Mohsen Rezaei, has issued a strong warning to the United States regarding its naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera. Citing AFP, the report says Rezaei warned that if the US attempts to control the strategically vital waterway, Iran could sink its ships. In a televised address, he questioned whether former US President Donald Trump intended to act as the “police” of the Strait of Hormuz and said American vessels could be destroyed by Iranian missiles.

The warning comes as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate. The US has reportedly imposed a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran has been obstructing the passage of ships through the same critical route. Rezaei, a former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who served from 1981 to 1997, remains an influential military figure in the country.

The situation underscores the growing risk of confrontation in one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, with both nations maintaining assertive postures in the region.

The United States has rejected a Russian proposal to transfer Iran’s enriched uranium to Russian territory, according to the Kremlin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia had been ready to take control of Iran’s entire uranium stockpile to help ease ongoing tensions in the Middle East. He described the plan as a potentially good decision that could have contributed to conflict resolution, but noted that Washington declined the offer.

According to Russian news agency RIA, Peskov stated that Russia had first made the proposal in June of the previous year, but no action followed. Reuters reported that Moscow renewed the offer this week. Peskov added that President Vladimir Putin remains open to revisiting the initiative if the involved countries wish to reconsider it.

The Kremlin’s remarks highlight continuing diplomatic friction over Iran’s nuclear materials and the broader geopolitical struggle among major powers in the region.

As the second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at ending their conflict gains momentum, Tehran’s frozen assets abroad have emerged as a key point of contention. Before the first ceasefire talks began in Pakistan on April 10, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the release of Iran’s blocked funds in foreign banks must precede any discussions. Reports from Islamabad suggested Washington might release part of the assets, but the US government quickly denied this, insisting the funds remain frozen.

Iran’s total frozen assets are estimated to exceed $100 billion, largely derived from hydrocarbon sales. These funds are held in several countries, including China, India, Iraq, Japan, Qatar, Luxembourg, and the United States. Iran argues that freeing at least $6 billion would serve as a confidence-building measure in the talks. Experts note that releasing the assets could significantly ease Iran’s economic crisis, strengthen its currency stability, and reduce domestic unrest. Analysts also suggest that any US decision to unfreeze the funds would carry major diplomatic implications for regional and international relations.