Donald Trump says he has ordered the US navy to “shoot and kill” any boat that is dropping mines in the Strait of Hormuz, casting doubt over a fragile ceasefire holding between the countries.
“There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now,” the US president wrote on Truth Social.
“I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!”
It comes after he said there is “no time frame” for ending the war with Iran after announcing he was indefinitely calling off attacks with no sign of peace talks restarting.
Speaking to Fox News a day after extending the ceasefire indefinitely, the US president insisted he was under no pressure to find a diplomatic resolution to the war, and was not put off by the looming midterm elections.
The status of a two-week-old ceasefire, due to have expired earlier this week, remained unclear on Thursday. Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and escorted them to Iranian shores, according to statements by the shipping companies.
A third, Liberia-flagged container ship was fired upon in the same area but was not damaged and had resumed sailing, according to maritime security sources.
All the airlines cancelling flights and adding extra charges amid jet fuel crisis
Oil prices hold above $100 as Iran seizes ships in Strait of Hormuz and peace talks stall
Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil killed in Israeli strike on a house where she took cover, paper says
Trump celebrates the ‘release’ of 8 women set to be executed by Iran
Key Points
- Iran says ‘impossible’ to open Strait of Hormuz given ‘flagrant’ ceasefire violations by US and Israel
- Iranian president accuses US of ‘hypocritical rhetoric’
- US military says it directed over 30 ships to turn around during blockade
- Navy Secretary to depart Trump administration ‘immediately’
- Iran war drives UK inflation up to 3.3%
Trump orders Navy to ‘shoot and kill’ over Hormuz Strait mines and loses it over Iran peace deal failure: ‘CRAZY!’
15:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPresident Donald Trump on Thursday said he has ordered American naval forces to open fire on any Iranian vessel believed to be laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, something he previously claimed was not happening.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said he had ordered the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be ... that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.”
“There is to be no hesitation,” the president added.
Trump also claimed American minesweepers are currently clearing the narrow waterway “right now” and said he was ordering the minesweeping efforts to “continue ... at a tripled up level.”
Andrew Feinburg reports:
Trump orders Navy to ‘shoot and kill’ over Hormuz mines and rages over Iran deal
Italy ready to deploy up to four mine-sweeping vessels in Strait of Hormuz
15:28 , Alex CroftItaly is ready to deploy up to four vessels, including two minesweepers, as part of an international mission to clear the Strait of Hormuz, the navy's chief of staff said.
European leaders met in Paris last week to discuss a multinational effort to protect shipping through the strait, which was largely closed during the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.
About a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. More than a dozen countries, including Italy, have said they would join a mission to ensure safe passage once conditions allow.
"The contingency plan drawn up by the Chief of the Defence Staff envisages a group consisting of two minesweepers, an escort vessel and a logistics vessel," Navy Chief of Staff Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto told state broadcaster RAI late on Wednesday.
"Obviously we are not acting alone. We are part of an international coalition, and other nations will also send minesweepers," he said, adding that Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands had mine-clearing capabilities.
With Reuters
Britain and France insist progress can still be made on Strait of Hormuz
15:01 , James ReynoldsBritish defence minister John Healey and his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin said they were confident that real progress could still be made on the key Strait of Hormuz.
"Turning diplomatic momentum into action demands sharp planning, frank discussion and firm commitments from allied and partner nations," they said in a joint statement released by Britain's Ministry of Defence, as the two countries hosted a meeting with military planners on the issue.
"We are grateful to those nations who have already indicated their willingness to contribute. We are confident that real progress can be made," the statement, described as a message to those attending the meeting, added.
Who is John Phelan? MAGA donor with no military experience sacked as Trump’s Navy Secretary
14:40 , James ReynoldsUS navy secretary John Phelan has left his role immediately amid reports of a falling out with defence secretary Pete Hegseth.
A Pentagon spokesperson said on Wednesday that the senior official had left his post after disagreeing with Hegseth and his deputy Stephen Feinberg over a number of issues, including how to revive the Navy’s shipbuilding program.
“President [Donald] Trump and Secretary Hegseth agreed new leadership at the Navy is needed,” a senior administration official told The Independent on Wednesday evening. “Secretary Hegseth informed John Phelan of this news prior to it being made public.”
Read the full story:
Who is John Phelan? MAGA donor with no military background sacked by Hegseth
Trump says US 'in total control' over Strait of Hormuz
14:20 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard more from Donald Trump, who says the US is in “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz while Iran is having a “very hard time figuring out who their leader is”.
Here is what the US president wrote on Truth Social:
Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know!
The infighting is between the “Hardliners,” who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the “Moderates,” who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!
We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States Navy. It is “Sealed up Tight,” until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Trump says he has ordered US navy to 'shoot and kill' boats dropping mines in Strait of Hormuz
14:01 , Alex CroftWe’ve heard from US president Donald Trump on Truth Social, discussing the issue of Iranian mines being laid in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump says he has ordered the US navy to “shoot and kill” any boat that is dropping mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
“I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be (Their naval ships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea!), that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” he writes.
“There is to be no hesitation. Additionally, our mine ‘sweepers’ are clearing the Strait right now,” the US president added on Truth Social.
“I am hereby ordering that activity to continue, but at a tripled up level!”
How is the US blocking the Strait of Hormuz?
13:30 , James ReynoldsThe US military said last Monday it would block shipping traffic in and out of Iran's ports.
It’s an issue that remains central to negotiations aimed at ending the war, with Iran drawing a red line and saying it will not submit to force.
What is the blockade for?
Trump says he aims to put pressure on Iran by stopping it from making money by selectively opening the Strait for a reported fee. He said the goal was to let “all or nothing” pass.
Critics say the blockade has forced up oil and gas prices again, and is exacerbating tensions with Iran, making peace talks less likely.
The UN’s maritime agency also says no country has a legal right to block shipping in straits used for international trade.
What is it doing?
A week on, and US Centcom says they have told 27 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port since the beginning of the blockade.
Matters came to a head on Sunday when the US attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman trying to escape the blockade.
Where is it?
It is not exactly clear where the blockade is, as that information has not been made public.
The US is likely monitoring ships leaving Iranian ports and intercepting them east of the Strait of Hormuz, as they exit.
US ships have been spotted at the eastern edge of the Gulf of Oman.
Comment: Trump has locked himself in a forever war and thrown away the key
13:00 , James ReynoldsRather than an exit strategy or off-ramp, Trump has constructed a never-ending maze of endless negotiations – it’s almost as if he doesn’t want to bring this to a close, says Robert Fox:
Trump has locked himself in a forever war and thrown away the key
US forces intercept vessel carrying Iranian oil overnight
12:46 , Maira ButtUnited States Central Command has revealed that it intercepted a vessel carrying Iranian oil in an overnight operation.
“Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility,” it wrote in a post on X on Thursday.
“We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate. International waters cannot be used as a shield by sanctioned actors. The Department of War will continue to deny illicit actors and their vessels freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain.”
Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) April 23, 2026
We will continue global maritime enforcement to… pic.twitter.com/SWF6Jt9Ci4
Iran war pushing 30 million back into poverty as prices soar for fuel and fertiliser
12:30 , James ReynoldsMore than 30 million people will be pushed back into poverty by the impacts of the Iran war, including disruptions to fuel and fertiliser supplies just as farmers are planting crops, the UN said on Thursday.
Fertiliser shortages - worsened by the blocking of cargo vessels through the Strait of Hormuz - have already lowered agricultural productivity, UN development chief Alexander De Croo told Reuters.
That would likely hit crop yields later this year, the former Belgian prime minister added.
“Food insecurity will be at its peak level in a few months - and there is not much that you can do about it,” he said, also listing other fallouts of the crisis including energy shortages and falling remittances.
"Even if the war would stop tomorrow, those effects, you already have them, and they will be pushing back more than 30 million people into poverty," he said.
Britain's budget deficit falls to six-year low - but impact of Iran war starting to show
12:00 , James ReynoldsBritain's budget deficit for the last financial year narrowed to a six-year low but official data published on Thursday also showed an early impact of the Iran war as consumers scaled back their spending on fuel which has shot up in price.
Government borrowing in the 12 months to the end of March was equivalent to 4.3% of economic output - much bigger than before the COVID-19 pandemic but the smallest deficit since the 2019/20 financial year.
Thursday's data could represent a temporary high point for Britain's public finances as the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict broadens - with a slump in fuel duty revenues offering a taste of what could lie ahead.
Last week, the International Monetary Fund cut Britain's economic growth forecasts for 2026 by more than for any other Group of Seven nation due to the country's exposure to higher energy prices with its heavy use of natural gas.
The Resolution Foundation said under a severe but plausible scenario for the Iran war's impact, about 16 billion pounds would be lost from Reeves' estimated headroom of 24 billion pounds, underscoring her limited options for helping households.
Italy's energy crisis, driven by Iran, puts defence commitments in doubt
11:36 , James ReynoldsItaly may not be able to raise defence spending as planned due to growing economic difficulties and the need to counter spiralling energy prices, a government document said on Thursday.
Giorgia Meloni's government cut its growth projections on Wednesday and hiked forecasts for the budget deficit and public debt, reflecting surging energy prices and turmoil in the Middle East.
Italy is Europe's most gas-reliant economy, accounting for 38% of its energy supplies, according to the London-based Energy Institute. It is also the European Union's largest importer of LNG through the Persian Gulf.
Italy, along with most other NATO European countries, has agreed to a call from US President Donald Trump for an increase in defence and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
Watch: Video purportedly shows Iranian soldiers seizing ships in Strait of Hormuz
10:44 , James ReynoldsPreview: Lebanon seeks ceasefire extension as clashes continue between Israel and Hezbollah
10:16 , James ReynoldsThe US will host a second meeting between Lebanese and Israeli envoys on Thursday, with Beirut seeking the extension of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
The ceasefire, which is set to expire on Sunday, has yielded a significant reduction in violence, but attacks have continued in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops have seized a self-declared buffer zone.
Wednesday marked Lebanon's deadliest day since the ceasefire took effect on April 16, as Israeli strikes killed at least five people including a journalist.
Those killed by Israeli strikes included Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, according to a senior Lebanese military official and her employer, the Al-Akhbar newspaper.
Hezbollah said it carried out four operations in south Lebanon on Wednesday, saying they were a response to Israeli strikes.
Norway sees huge losses as war in Iran bites
09:39 , James ReynoldsNorway's $2.2 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, on Thursday reported a first-quarter loss of 636 billion Norwegian crowns ($68.44 billion) as the war in the Middle East weighed on global stocks.
Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which holds around half of its funds in the United States, posted a negative return of 1.9% for the January-March period, beating its benchmark index by 0.01 percentage point.
"The result reflects a quarter with challenging market conditions," Deputy CEO Trond Grande said in a statement.
"We saw limited impact on fixed income and real estate, but it was the decline in equities, especially among large U.S. technology companies, that determined the outcome," he added.
As Trump blinks first on Iran, a glimmer of hope emerges for peace in the Middle East
09:07 , James ReynoldsEditorial: Pressure from China and hostile public opinion at home should concentrate Maga Republican minds and push the president towards jaw-jaw rather than war-war:
As Trump blinks first on Iran, a glimmer of hope emerges for peace in the Middle East
Recap: Iran says it cannot reopen Strait due to 'ceasefire violations'
08:25 , James ReynoldsIran has said that it is “impossible” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz due to alleged ceasefire violations by the US and Israel.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and lead negotiator, wrote on X on Wednesday: “A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world’s economy.... reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire.”
The status of a two-week-old ceasefire, due to have expired earlier this week, remained unclear on Thursday. Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and escorted them to Iranian shores, according to statements by the shipping companies.
آتشبس کامل وقتی معنا دارد که با محاصره دریایی و گروگانگیری اقتصاد دنیا نقض نشود و جنگ افروزی صهیونیستها در همه جبههها متوقف باشد؛ بازگشایی تنگه هرمز با نقض فاحش آتشبس ممکن نیست.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 22, 2026
با تجاوز نظامی به اهداف خود نرسیدند،با قلدری هم نخواهند رسید. تنها راه، پذیرش حقوق ملت ایران است.
Iran executes man convicted of links to Mossad
07:42 , Alex CroftIran has executed a man convicted of links to both the exiled opposition group Mujahideen-e-Khalq and Israel's intelligence service, according to Mizan, the news outlet for Tehran’s judiciary.
Mizan identified the man as Soltanali Shirzadi Fakhr, alleging he had been a long-time member of the MEK and was found guilty of cooperating with Israeli intelligence.
His death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court and carried out after legal procedures were completed, Mizan added.
Major UK supermarkets warn Iran war could drag profits down
07:27 , Alex CroftBritain’s leading supermarkets are voicing concerns over how the Iran war may begin to impact its customers, with the company’s profits expected to drag lower than last year.
Sainsbury’s and Tesco have bot voiced concerns over their financial outlook as the Iran war squeezes the global economy. In the UK, inflation rose to 3.3 per cent on Wednesday in the first clear sign of the Iran war affecting official figures.
Tesco, which has a 28 per cent share of the UK grocery market, forecast adjusted operating profit of £3.0 billion to £3.3 billion for its year to end-February 2027.
That compares with 3.152 billion pounds in 2025/26, which was up 0.6% on the year before and slightly ahead of forecast.
US treasury secretary claims Gulf ‘allies’ seeking currency swaps amid Iran war crisis
07:10 , Maroosha MuzaffarTreasury secretary Scott Bessent said that “many” US allies in the Persian Gulf have sought financial support in the form of currency swap lines due to economic strain caused by the Iran war.
He said: “Many of our Gulf allies have requested swap lines. Swap lines, whether it’s from the Federal Reserve or the Treasury, are to maintain order in the dollar funding markets and to prevent the sale of the US assets in a disorderly way.”
“The swap line would both benefit the UAE and the US, and as I said, numerous other countries, including some of our Asian allies [who] have also requested them,” he said, without specifying which other countries.
IRGC releases footage of two ships it seized for trying to cross Hormuz ‘covertly’
06:55 , Maroosha MuzaffarIran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released footage claiming it seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz for alleged maritime violations. IRGC accused the vessels of “attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz covertly”.
The vessels were identified as the MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, and the incident marks the first such seizure since the war began in late February.
IRGC released footage of the interception of two vessels, MSC-FRANCESCA and EPAMINODES, after maritime violations in the Strait of Hormuz.
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 22, 2026
Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTS2ei pic.twitter.com/ZUUBbzbA2N
At the same time, the US played down the escalation. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Donald Trump did not view the incident as a ceasefire violation “because these were not US ships, these were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels”.
6 months needed to clear sea mines in Strait of Hormuz
06:50 , Maroosha MuzaffarUS officials have reportedly indicated it could take up to six months to clear sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
The estimate was reportedly shared by Pentagon officials during a classified briefing to lawmakers at a House Armed Services Committee meeting on Tuesday.
According to an AP report, the briefing left lawmakers with “more questions than answers” as key concerns – ranging from the cost of the war and its strategic objectives to details about an early attack on a school in Iran that killed around 165 people, mostly young girls – remained unresolved.
US navy chief leaves Trump administration
06:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarUS navy secretary John Phelan has left the Trump administration, marking another high-level departure in US security leadership amid the ongoing war with Iran.
A Pentagon spokesman said the department is “grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy”.
Phelan was appointed by Donald Trump in late 2024 and had limited prior military experience.
His departure comes as a significant portion of the US navy remains deployed in the Middle East due to the ongoing war.
Hung Cao will step in as acting secretary.
Lebanon expected to seek one-month extension of ceasefire with Israel in fresh talks
06:29 , Maroosha MuzaffarLebanon is expected to seek a one-month extension of its ceasefire with Israel during fresh talks in Washington, as the current truce nears its Sunday deadline.
The negotiations, only the second direct engagement between the two sides in decades, come amid ongoing tensions, with Israel saying it has no “serious disagreements” with Lebanon and urging cooperation against the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which is not part of the talks.
The meeting will be led by Marco Rubio, bringing together Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad, alongside US envoys.
An unnamed Lebanese official told AFP news agency that, besides a month-long extension of the truce, Lebanon will also request “an end of Israel’s bombing and destruction in the areas where it is present, and a commitment to the ceasefire”.
White House has not set a deadline for Iran to reach a deal
06:10 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe Donald Trump administration has not set a firm deadline for Iran to reach a deal, according to Karoline Leavitt.
She said: “He [Trump] is maintaining and is generously offering a bit of flexibility to a regime who has been completely tarnished,” while describing internal divisions in Iran.
“This is a battle between the pragmatists and the hardliners in Iran right now, and the president wants a unified response.”
Leavitt added that no fixed timeline has been imposed, saying: “Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander-in-chief and the president of the United States.”
She added that “Operation Economic Fury” was continuing with what she called an “effective and successful” naval blockade and claimed that the US is “completely strangling” Iran’s economy.
Erdogan warns Iran war is ‘starting to weaken Europe’
05:50 , Maroosha MuzaffarTurkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that the US-Israeli war against Iran is “starting to weaken Europe” in remarks to his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Speaking on Wednesday, Erdogan said: “The war in our region is likewise starting to weaken Europe, and if we do not address this situation with an approach that prioritises peace, the damage caused by the conflict will be far greater.”
He added that the country was working to end the Russia-Ukraine war through negotiations – just as it is doing in the Iran conflict – with the goal of achieving a lasting peace.
Tehran residents on edge despite ceasefire extension
05:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarIn Tehran, despite Donald Trump’s extension of the ceasefire deadline, people remain tense and uncertain.
According to Sky News, the streets were quieter than usual, with fewer people outside, as many fear the war could restart at any moment. Some had even left the city before the extension was announced.
Despite heavy US-Israeli bombing earlier, authorities have cleared visible damage and are working quickly to repair affected areas.
A local shop owner told the outlet: “Are we back in limbo again? What’s stopping them? It feels like they want war again.”
Iranian president accuses US of ‘hypocritical rhetoric’
05:10 , Maroosha MuzaffarMasoud Pezeshkian wrote on X that the US was showing the world “its endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions”.
He wrote on X: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has welcomed dialogue and agreement and continues to do so. Breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations.”
His comments came after the US refused to lift its blockade of Iranian ports.
The White House has also accused Iran of acting “like a bunch of pirates” after its Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fired on three ships and captured two of them as they tried to go through the Strait of Hormuz.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said that the US blockade of Iran’s ports was incredibly effective at choking Iran’s economy.
Iran says ‘impossible’ to open Strait of Hormuz given ‘flagrant’ ceasefire violations by US and Israel
04:50 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, with Iran saying it is “impossible” to reopen it due to what it calls ceasefire violations by the US and Israel.
Iranian forces have seized two ships and are enforcing their own blockade, while the US is also maintaining a separate blockade.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and lead negotiator, wrote on X: “A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world’s economy, and if the Zionist warmongering across all fronts is halted; reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire.
“They did not achieve their goals through military aggression, nor will they through bullying. The only way forward is to recognise the rights of the Iranian nation.”
Analysis: Trump has exposed the limits of his own power
04:30 , Sam KileyCritics of the US president will see the latest extension of a ceasefire with Iran as yet another “Taco” moment, because Trump Always Chickens Out.
But criticising Donald Trump for not behaving like a madman or an idiot is a sign that his critics are suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome.
Trump has threatened genocide against Iran when he said on social media that “tonight an entire civilisation will die”. Making such statements is criminal, and involves his armed forces in potential violations of international law.
For now, Trump has backed away from a more recent threat that, if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz and agree to a peace deal, “the whole country is going to get blown up”.
Read on...
CENTCOM shares video of 'most lethal military the world has ever known' deployed in Middle East
04:00 , Rachel DobkinUS Central Command has shared a video of what it calls the “most lethal military the world has ever known” deployed in the Middle East.
U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are deployed across the Middle East as part of the strongest and most lethal military the world has ever known. pic.twitter.com/jhXfl1B68U
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 22, 2026
Full story: It could take 6 months to clear all the mines from the Strait of Hormuz, Pentagon warns
03:30 , Rachel DobkinIt may take up to six months to completely clear the Strait of Hormuz of Iranian mines, according to a new report.
A Defense Department official relayed the estimate to lawmakers during a closed-door congressional briefing on Tuesday, three sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.
The assessment points to potentially long-lasting economic consequences, as the strait — now subject to dueling US and Iranian blockades — is a critical trade artery that carried 20 percent of the world’s oil before the war.
Read on...
It could take 6 months to clear all the mines from the Strait of Hormuz: report
US military says it directed over 30 ships to turn around during blockade
03:00 , Rachel DobkinThe US military has said it directed 31 ships to turn around during its blockade of Iranian ports.
US Central Command added that the majority of vessels have complied with the blockade.
U.S. forces have directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of the U.S. blockade against Iran. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lG5ACEt7LR
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 23, 2026
Panama condemns 'illegal seizure' of ship in Strait of Hormuz
02:30 , Rachel DobkinPanama has condemned what it called the “illegal seizure” of a ship traveling under its flag in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Italian-owned MSC Francesca was “forcibly taken” by Iranian authorities Wednesday, Panama’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“Such actions increase tensions in the Gulf and are contrary to international law”, the Central American country said. “Furthermore, they represent a serious threat to maritime security and constitute an unnecessary escalation at a time when the international community is advocating for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international navigation without threats or blackmail of any kind”.
It’s not clear whether the ship remains in Iranian custody.
Pentagon says it could take months to clear Strait of Hormuz mines: report
02:00 , Rachel DobkinThe Pentagon has told US lawmakers that it could take six months to clear mines that Iran laid in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a new report.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee were privately briefed on the matter Tuesday, sources told The Washington Post.
Removal of the mines is unlikely to be undertaken until the Iran war ends, the Pentagon reportedly told Congress.
US Senate rejects attempt to curb Trump's power in Iran war...again
01:30 , Rachel DobkinThe US Senate has again rejected a Democratic-led attempt to curb Donald Trump's power in the Iran war.
In a 46 to 51 vote Wednesday, lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Senate rejected a resolution to require the US president to get congressional approval for further attacks against Iran.
It was the fifth time this year that the Senate failed to restrict Trump’s war powers in the growing Middle East conflict.
Editorial: As Trump blinks first, a glimmer of hope for peace emerges
01:00 , Jane DaltonJust as Donald Trump was supposed to rain more fire and fury down on Iran by destroying its bridges and power plants, killing its civilians, and – though it seems immaterial to him – thus explicitly committing war crimes, the president has done another “Taco”. He has proved, once again, the value of the conventional wisdom that he always chickens out.
For an unpredictable man, the pattern of behaviour first identified by Wall Street investors has proved a reliable enough guide in the context of US foreign policy. This is a strategic weakness for the United States, because its enemies – in this case Iran – are able to exploit it.
On balance, and provided it’s not upset by some early-hours social media tantrum by the president, the announcement of an extension to the ceasefire in the Iran war is encouraging. This time, as they say, it’s different. Or at least, it should be.
Read more from The Independent View...
As Trump blinks first on Iran, a glimmer of hope emerges for peace in the Middle East
Watch: White House accuses Iranians of piracy over seized ships but 'doesn't violate ceasefire'
Thursday 23 April 2026 00:30 , Rachel DobkinNavy Secretary to depart Trump administration ‘immediately’ as US wages war in Iran
Thursday 23 April 2026 00:00 , Brendan RasciusUS Navy Secretary John Phelan has departed the Trump administration, the Pentagon announced. The shakeup comes just weeks after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ousted the Army’s top general during the ongoing Iran war.
Phelan is leaving “effective immediately”, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote on X on Wednesday, giving no reason for the sudden exit.
“We are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy. We wish him well in his future endeavors,” Parnell said, adding that Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao will now serve as the acting secretary of the Navy.
Read on...
Navy Secretary to depart Trump administration ‘immediately’ as US wages war in Iran
Iran war drives UK inflation up to 3.3%
Wednesday 22 April 2026 23:46 , Jane Dalton
Iran war drives UK inflation up to 3.3% in major blow for Reeves
‘Fuel theft has cost my petrol station £2,000 during Iran war'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 23:10 , Jane Dalton
‘Fuel theft has cost my family-run petrol station £2,000 since Iran war started’
Journalist 'killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 22:30 , Jane DaltonIsraeli strikes in southern Lebanon reportedly killed a journalist and wounded another.
Journalist Amal Khalil and freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj were covering developments near the town of al-Tayri when an Israeli strike hit the vehicle in front of them.
They ran into a nearby house, which was then also targeted by an Israeli strike, Lebanon's health ministry, a Lebanese military official and press advocates said.
Rescuers were able to retrieve Faraj, who had suffered a head wound, according to Elsy Moufarrej, who runs the Union of Journalists in Lebanon.
When rescuers returned to help Khalil, the Israeli military dropped a sound grenade, blocking their access to the damaged building, Moufarrej and the senior military official said.
Local media say Khalil was found dead.
The health ministry said Israel's military had "prevented the completion of the humanitarian mission by firing a sound grenade and live ammunition at the ambulance".
Israel's military said it had received reports that two journalists were injured as a result of its strikes, and denied it was preventing rescue teams from reaching the area.
US 'choking Iranian economy with blockade'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 20:31 , Jane DaltonThe point of the US blockade of Iran’s ports was economic leverage over Iran, and the US was choking its economy, according to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
“We are strangling their main source of revenue - they can't pay their own people. They're losing $500 million every single day, Kharg Island is completely full of oil because they can't transport it to and from...”
She said the cards were in the President Trump’s hands.
“The United States maintains control over the situation, he has all of the leverage, and again, that's why he's maintained a little bit of flexibility with the extension of the ceasefire, as we await a unified response from the Iranians to the President's very clear proposal. "
Iran acting like bunch of pirates, says Leavitt
Wednesday 22 April 2026 20:28 , Jane DaltonIran is acting like a bunch of pirates, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt has claimed.
“Iran has gone from having the most lethal Navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates,” she told Fox News.
“They don't have control over the strait. This is piracy that we are seeing on display, and the naval blockade that the United States has imposed continues to be incredibly effective.
“And to be clear, the blockade is on ships going to and from Iranian ports.”
Iran's ship seizures do not breach ceasefire, says Leavitt
Wednesday 22 April 2026 20:23 , Jane DaltonWhite House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt says Iran’s seizure of ships does not violate the ceasefire because they were not US ships.
“These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels,” she told Fox News.
President Trump had completely obliterated Iran's conventional navy, she claimed.
US broken promises and blockade obstacles to talks, Iran's president warns
Wednesday 22 April 2026 19:34 , Jane DaltonThe US “breach of commitments” and its blockade of Iranian ports and threats are the main obstacles to "genuine negotiations", Iran’s president has warned.
Masoud Pezeshkian wrote, without identifying Donald Trump: “World sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions.
“Bad faith, siege, and threats are the main obstacles to genuine negotiation.”
جمهوری اسلامی ایران همواره از گفتگو و توافق استقبال کرده و میکند. بدعهدی، محاصره و تهدید مانع اصلی مذاکره واقعی است. دنیا شاهد پرحرفیهای مزورانه و تناقض ادعا و عمل شماست. https://t.co/wNLZayW5gX
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) April 22, 2026
Bessent extended Russian oil sanctions waiver 'after requests from vulnerable countries'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 18:47 , Alex RossUS Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that he extended sanctions relief on Russian seaborne oil for 30 days because of requests from countries that are the most vulnerable to oil shortages from the closed Strait of Hormuz.
Bessent told a US Senate Appropriations subcommittee budget hearing that the requests came from finance leaders of about 10 countries during last week's International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings. The action reversed his earlier comments last week that he would not renew expiring sanctions waivers.
Bessent said estimates that Iran has gained more than $14 billion from the relief are "a myth," but he did not provide an alternate figure.
Watch: Iran shows off what appears to be a ballistic missile
Wednesday 22 April 2026 18:45 , Jane Dalton
Iran shows off what appears to be a ballistic missile at Tehran rally
Trump says eight Iranian women allegedly facing death penalty will no longer be killed
Wednesday 22 April 2026 18:43 , Alex RossYesterday, US president Donald Trump reposted a social media post on eight women who, it was claimed, were to be hung by the Islamic Republic.
He called for the release of the women, writing “please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations”.
Tonight, Mr Trump has posted again on the issue, claiming “very good news”.
He writes: “I have just been informed that the eight women protestors who were going to be executed tonight in Iran will no longer be killed. Four will be released immediately, and four will be sentenced to one month in prison.“
Iran’s judiciary had denied that the eight women were ever set for execution, according to the New York Times.
Iran-backed Hezbollah attack kills second French soldier
Wednesday 22 April 2026 18:15 , Jane DaltonPresident Emmanuel Macron says a second French soldier has died following an attack on United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon last week, which he said was carried out by Iran-backed Hezbollah.
The soldier, Chief Corporal Anicet Girardin, was severely wounded four days ago and died of his wounds after being evacuated to France on Tuesday, Mr Macron said.
One of his colleagues was killed immediately while clearing a road in southern Lebanon in the same attack.
Full report: Iran attacks ships hours after Trump extends truce
Wednesday 22 April 2026 17:52 , Jane Dalton
Iran seizes and attacks ships in Strait of Hormuz hours after Trump extends ceasefire
‘Fuel theft has cost my petrol station £2,000 since Iran war started - my family can’t carry on like this’
Wednesday 22 April 2026 17:00 , Alex Croft“If someone steals £100 worth of fuel from us, that is £100 out of my profit for the day,” Goran Raven said. “It’s absolutely a straight loss for us.”
Speaking from his Shell garage in Romford, east London, Mr Raven said he’s lost around £2,000 to fuel theft since the war between Iran and the US broke out on 28 February.
Higher pump prices in the wake of the Iran war have meant his fourth-generation family-run business has suffered a significant blow as more people take off without paying.
His site saw the highest rates of petrol theft in the first two weeks of the conflict, he said. “It was as though the criminal element of society were preparing themselves for the worst.”
Harriette Boucher reports:
‘Fuel theft has cost my family-run petrol station £2,000 since Iran war started’
Watch: EU energy chief predicts holiday flight chaos and warns fuel prices may take ‘years’ to recover
Wednesday 22 April 2026 16:31 , Alex CroftUS sanctions 14 entities for supplying weapons to Iran
Wednesday 22 April 2026 16:10 , Alex CroftThe US has imposed new sanctions targeting 14 people and companies that help Iran obtain weapons as Tehran works to rebuild its ballistic missile inventory after US-Israeli attacks, the treasury department said.
The targets, which also include aircraft, are based in Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates and were cited for their involvement in procuring or transporting weapons or components on Iran's behalf, the treasury said in a statement.
"As the United States continues to deplete Iran’s ballistic missile inventories, the regime is seeking to reconstitute its production capacity," the treasury said."
Iran is increasingly relying on Shahed-series one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to target the United States and its allies, including energy infrastructure in the region."
Trump says fresh peace talks could begin as soon as in 36 hours
Wednesday 22 April 2026 15:53 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has said a fresh round of peace talks with Tehran could begin as soon as in 36 hours.
Pakistani sources told the New York Post that a second round of peace talks could begin within the next “36 to 72 hours”.
When this was put by the outlet to the US president, he said: “It’s possible!”
Iran war causes Diet Coke shortage in India
Wednesday 22 April 2026 15:48 , Alex CroftThe Iran war has caused a shortage of Diet Coke in India, where it is sold only in aluminium cans that have run short because of delayed shipments from the Gulf caused by the Iran war.
The Gulf accounts for around 9 per cent of global aluminium production, which has been trapped since the end of February by Iran's de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
While most soft drinks are sold in India both in plastic bottles and cans, Diet Coke is only sold in cans. Two Coca-Cola distributors told the Reuters news agency that the company had notified them it was rationing supplies or not fulfilling some orders due to a can shortage caused by the war.
"We've been placing orders but have been told there is a shortage due to war," said Sanjay, one of the distributors, who declined to give his last name.
Coca-Cola declined to comment.
