Iran has said that the Strait of Hormuz is “impossible” to reopen due to what it calls ceasefire violations by the US and Israel.
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.... reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire.”
On Wednesday, US Navy secretary John Phelan 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” without providing a reason for the departure.
His exit follows recent shake-ups, including the firing of the US army’s chief of staff, the resignation of a top counterterrorism official, and other dismissals of senior generals by Pete Hegseth.
Earlier, the White House said the US blockade of Iran’s ports was “incredibly effective” at choking Iran’s economy and pressurising it into joining peace talks.
Trump has said fresh talks with Tehran could begin within two days, despite Iranian officials demanding an end to the blockade of its ports as a condition for negotiations to restart.
Navy Secretary to depart Trump administration ‘immediately’ as US wages war in Iran
Trump tested NATO and allies failed response, Leavitt claims
Iran ceasefire still in effect despite ‘pirates’ attacking ships, White House says
All the airlines cancelling flights and adding extra charges amid jet fuel crisis
Key Points
- Three container ships hit by IRGC gunfire in Strait of Hormuz - UKMTO
- Iran claims it has seized two vessels for 'maritime violations'
- Navy Secretary to depart Trump administration ‘immediately’
- Sam Kiley analysis | Trump has exposed the limits of his own power
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.
Trump claims Iran spared eight women as sign of respect for him
Wednesday 22 April 2026 22:00 , Jane DaltonUS president Donald Trump says Iran has agreed not to execute eight women protesters in a sign of respect for him, but officials in Tehran denied the executions had been planned and accused the president of spreading falsehoods.
"Very good news," Mr Trump said in a social media post.
Iran called the whole issue a fabrication and said he was trying to save face.
Trump celebrates the ‘release’ of 8 women set to be executed by Iran
Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel
Wednesday 22 April 2026 21:40 , Jane DaltonIn case you missed it: Iran has executed yet another man convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence service and passing sensitive information, the judiciary's news outlet Mizan has reported.
Mizan identified the man as Mehdi Farid, saying he had held a position in a civil defence unit within a sensitive organisation and had used his access to gather and transmit information to Israel's Mossad.
His death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court and carried out after legal procedures were completed, Mizan said.
Nato failed US, claims Leavitt
Wednesday 22 April 2026 20:41 , Jane DaltonPresident Trump tested Nato and its member countries failed, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt has claimed.
“We hear a lot of talk from the Europeans,” she said. “Unfortunately, we don't see enough action, as far as President Trump is concerned.
“In his view, he tested Nato and they failed. They failed to come to the defence and to join forces with the United States as the president engaged in this very bold and courageous operation to take out the number one state sponsor of terrorism in this world - the Iranian regime.
“Again, through Operation Epic Fury, the United States on its own, of course, with the help of our partner and friend, Israel, but on its own, irrespective of the European nations and our Nato allies, has completely degraded Iran's military.
“We have completely confused and obliterated their regime. They are in a very weak position thanks to the actions taken by President Trump and our great United States Armed Forces.
“And so we will continue this important mission on our own. And again, we've seen a lot of talk but very little action. And the President is well aware of that.”
US could sink Iran's small boats – Leavitt
Wednesday 22 April 2026 20:37 , Jane DaltonThe US Navy could sink Iran’s fast, small boats, Karoline Leavitt said.
“We have sunk more than 16 of their naval vessel classes, of Iranian warships. I mean, their traditional and conventional Navy has been completely destroyed. They were the most lethal Navy in the Middle East, and again, now they sit at the bottom of the ocean, as the United States Navy is stronger than ever.
“So yes, the commander in chief has a number of options at his disposal, but right now, the blockade continues to be massively effective and inflicting maximum leverage and economic pressure on the regime,” she told Fox News.
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.
Watch: Iran displays what appears to be ballistic missiles at Tehran rally
Wednesday 22 April 2026 15:29 , Alex CroftUN Lebanon mission's French soldier wounded in attack died, Macron says
Wednesday 22 April 2026 15:10 , Alex CroftOne of the three French soldiers who were wounded in an attack last week against peacekeepers in Lebanon, French president Emmanuel Macron said in a post on social media platform X.
Another soldier was killed in the attack which was carried out by Iran-backed Hezbollah, Macron has previously said.
“He died for France,” Macron wrote on X.
“The Nation, which will pay tribute tomorrow to Warrant Officer Florian Montorio, mortally wounded during the same ambush, salutes with emotion the memory of Corporal Anicet Girardin and his sacrifice.”
Le caporal-chef Anicet Girardin du 132ème régiment d’infanterie cynotechnique de Suippes, rapatrié hier du Liban où il avait été gravement blessé par des combattants du Hezbollah, est mort ce matin des suites de ses blessures.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 22, 2026
Il est mort pour la France.… pic.twitter.com/1eokASMl57
Turkish and Pakistani foreign ministers discuss US-Iran talks
Wednesday 22 April 2026 14:49 , Alex CroftTurkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan has spoken with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar about the latest developments in talks between the US and Iran, a Turkish diplomatic source said.
The two ministers also exchanged views on efforts led by Pakistan and Turkey to reach a compromise between the sides, the source added.
Pakistan is trying to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiating table, after talks 11 days ago failed to produce an agreement.
Every time Trump has threatened to ‘destroy’ Iran – and then backed off
Wednesday 22 April 2026 14:15 , Maira ButtPresident Donald Trump has announced an indefinite ceasefire with Iran until peace negotiations are concluded, hours after he said he “expected to be “bombing” the country and insisting he would not extend a hard deadline for them to reach a deal.
The US leader has been mocked for adopting a “TACO” stance on several issues, an acronym that stands for Trump Always Chickens Out, in reference to his habit to back down on strong threats of force.
Pointing to a “seriously fractured leadership” in Iran, Trump said he is ready to cease hostilities until Tehran puts forward a “unified proposal” for negotiations.
Every time Trump has threatened to ‘destroy’ Iran – and then backed off
Watch: Marjorie Taylor Greene says Donald Trump has ‘gone insane’ in his rhetoric towards Iran
Wednesday 22 April 2026 13:54 , Alex CroftArmy chief says Lebanon will recover 'every inch of land under Israeli occupation'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 13:37 , Alex CroftLebanese army commander Rodolphe Haykal has said that the country will "regain every inch of its land under Israeli occupation".
Commander Haykal condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanese forces, mourning a soldier killed on Friday and wishing a swift recovery to those wounded when an army patrol came under fire during a security operation in Bab al-Tabbaneh.
Civil peace remains "the strongest weapon" to protect Lebanon, he said, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency.
He warned that any attempt to undermine or question the military institution, knowingly or not, serves "the objectives of the Israeli occupation" and risks fueling internal strife.
Israeli forces have intensified operations across southern Lebanon, carrying out widespread demolitions, ramping up aerial surveillance and issuing evacuation warnings despite a 10-day ceasefire, state media reported.
Trump unleashes furious rant over Wall Street Journal claim that Iran ‘takes him for a sucker’
Wednesday 22 April 2026 13:16 , Alex CroftDonald Trump has hit back at a claim that Iran has “taken him for a sucker” after he extended the ceasefire in the war between the two countries.
The US president responded angrily on his Truth Social media platform to an article in the respected Wall Street Journal, arguing the newspaper had “LOST ITS WAY!”
He described WSJ columnist Elliot Kaufman as an “IDIOT” over an article headlined: “The Iranians Take Trump for a Sucker”.
Kaufman wrote: “How many times will President Trump pay Iran for the same real estate?”
Read more here:
Trump rants over Wall Street Journal claim that Iran ‘takes him for a sucker’
London to host military planners for talks on Strait of Hormuz
Wednesday 22 April 2026 12:55 , Alex CroftMilitary planners from countries seeking to join a UK and France-led mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz open once the Iran war ends will meet in London today.
More than 30 nations are expected to send planners to the two-day conference starting today and co-hosted by the UK and France at the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, north London.
They aim to build on talks held by Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris last week with a view to setting up a joint defensive mission after a sustainable ceasefire agreement has been reached.
The talks in London will focus on military capabilities, command and control, and how military forces could deploy to the region.
Defence secretary John Healey said: "The task, today and tomorrow, is to translate the diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the strait and support a lasting ceasefire.
"I am confident that, over the next two days, real progress can be made. International trade, energy security and the stability of the global economy depend on freedom of navigation."
By building on our common purpose, strengthening multinational co-ordination and planning for effective collective action, we can help reopen the strait, stabilise the global economy and protect our people."
Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel, Mizan reports
Wednesday 22 April 2026 12:34 , Alex CroftIran has executed yet another man convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence service and passing sensitive information, the judiciary's news outlet Mizan reported this morning.
Mizan identified the man as Mehdi Farid, saying he had held a position in a civil defence unit within a sensitive organisation and had used his access to gather and transmit information to Israel's Mossad.
His death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court and carried out after legal procedures were completed, Mizan said.
Analysis | Trump has exposed the limits of his own power
Wednesday 22 April 2026 12:15 , Alex CroftOur world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Critics of the US president will see the latest extension of a ceasefire over Iran as yet another TACO moment because Trump Always Chickens Out.
But to criticize 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 that “tonight an entire civilization will die” on social media. 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 Straits of Hormuz and agree to a peace deal, "the whole country is going to get blown up”.
Outlook for energy markets is bad even in worst case scenario - European energy commissioner
Wednesday 22 April 2026 11:55 , Alex CroftThe outlook for energy markets is bad even in a best-case scenario, said the European Energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen.
The Energy markets have been badly hit as a result of the impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran since the end of February.
"This is a crisis that is probably as serious as the 1973 and the 2022 crises combined, and this means that we are looking into some very difficult months, or maybe even years - depending of course on the development in the Middle East - but even in a best case scenario, it's still bad," he said.
"If we imagine that there is a peace tomorrow, it will still take, for instance Qatar, probably two years, maybe even more to rebuild their gas production and transportation infrastructure," he added at a news conference.
Iran claims it has seized two vessels for 'maritime violations'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 11:25 , Alex CroftIran's Revolutionary Guards Navy say they have seized two vessels for what it described as maritime violations, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday.
The ships have now been taken to Iranian ports, the Guards said.
In a statement, the Guards said the ships, which they identified as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminodes, were detained for "operating without the required authorisation and for manipulating navigation systems".
They said that this endangered maritime activity.
Watch: Trump expects 'great deal' from Iran talks but ready to resume bombing if discussions don't go well
Wednesday 22 April 2026 10:52 , Alex CroftEU proposes measures to address impact on energy markets
Wednesday 22 April 2026 10:33 , Alex CroftThe European Commission has proposed several measures to address the impact on the region's energy markets of the war in the Middle East.
The Commission said the measures - announced in a package called 'AccelerateEU' - included optimising the distribution of jet fuel between EU countries, in order to avoid shortages.
"The choices we make today will shape our ability to face the challenges of today and the crises of tomorrow. Our AccelerateEU strategy will bring both immediate and more structural relief measures to European citizens and businesses," said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
"We must accelerate the shift to homegrown, clean energies. This will give us energy independence and security, and mean we are better able to weather geopolitical storms," she added.
Oil prices hold near $100 as Trump extends Iran ceasefire but keeps blockade in place
Wednesday 22 April 2026 10:09 , Alex CroftOil prices held near $100 a barrel on Wednesday after US president Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran just hours before it was due to expire.
The Strait of Hormuz remained closed and it was unclear whether Iran or Israel had agreed to the new arrangement.
Brent crude slipped 0.17 per cent to $98.27 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate fell 0.42 per cent to $89.29, swinging between gains and losses as markets weighed a ceasefire extension that seemed to be unilateral against the continued closure of the waterway through which a fifth of the world's energy supply flowed before the US and Israel launched the war on Iran.
Stuti Mishra brings the latest on oil prices:
Oil prices hold near $100 as Trump extends Iran ceasefire but keeps blockade in place
Three container ships hit by gunfire in Strait of Hormuz - UKMTO
Wednesday 22 April 2026 09:51 , Alex CroftAt least three container ships were hit by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, maritime security sources and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.
We earlier reported that one boat had been struck, but this number has since increased.
Iran has imposed restrictions on ships using the strait, first in retaliation for the US-Israeli bombardment of the country, and then in response to a US blockade of Iranian ports.
A Liberia-flagged container ship sustained damage to its bridge after being hit by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades northeast of Oman.
The UKMTO said the master of the vessel reported being approached by an IRGC gunboat. The vessel, it said, was subsequently fired upon. All crew members were safe and there was no fire or environmental impact due to the incident.
Maritime security sources said that three people were onboard that gunboat.
Iran war causes Diet Coke shortage in India
Wednesday 22 April 2026 09:36 , 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.
Trump furiously rebukes claims he is a 'sucker for Iran'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 09:05 , Alex CroftIn a furious tirade on Truth Social, Donald Trump has scolded the Wall Street Journal after it published an opinion peace referring to him as a “sucker”.
"An IDIOT on The Wall Street Journal's Editorial Board, named Elliot Kaufman, just wrote an Op Ed entitled, 'The Iranians Take Trump for a Sucker’,” he wrote.
“Really? For 47 years, they have killed our people, and many others, and taken advantage of every President, except me—And what did I give to them, a Country in tatters!"
Israeli drone kills one and wounds two in Lebanon - report
Wednesday 22 April 2026 08:42 , Alex CroftLebanon's National News Agency has reported an Israeli drone had killed one person and wounded two others in the Bekaa Valley area on Wednesday.
The Israeli military has said it is unaware of the strike.
The agency reported that the incident had taken place on the outskirts of al-Jbour in Lebanon's western Bekaa Valley.
We’ll bring you more as we get it.
Watch: Trump expects 'great deal' from Iran talks but ready to resume bombing if discussions don't go well
Wednesday 22 April 2026 08:19 , Alex CroftReeves: 'This isn't out war, but it's pushing up bills'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 08:02 , Alex CroftThe UK’s chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, has reacted to the increase in prices as a result of war in the Middle East.
“This is not our war, but it is pushing up bills for families and businesses. That’s why it’s my number one priority to keep costs down,” she says.
“Our economic plan is the right one and has put us in a stronger position to support families in the face of this new crisis.”
Pointing to measures announced before the conflict she said: “We’ve taken £117 off energy bills, frozen rail fares and protected motorists with the fuel duty freeze.
“We’re acting to protect people from unfair price rises if they occur to bring down food prices at the till, and are boosting long-term energy security — building a stronger, more secure economy.”
Palestinians forced to tear down their own homes
Wednesday 22 April 2026 07:46 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarFour years after Israeli authorities demolished the home of Wael al-Tahan in Jerusalem, he was forced to tear down his second home. This time, however, he had to do it with his own hands. Tahan’s home has become part of a growing phenomenon in Jerusalem.
Around 150 Palestinian homes have been destroyed since the start of this year on the orders of Israeli courts – 23 of these were “self-demolitions”.
Palestinians compare having to demolish their own homes to “gouging their own eyes out”, but those who made the choice to self-demolish say they did so to avoid paying exorbitant sums to Israeli authorities to carry out the demolition.
Speaking to Independent Arabia, Tahan says he demolished his home in Ras al-Amud, a Palestinian neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, himself after reaching a “dead end” with the Jerusalem municipality.
He wanted to avoid paying the fee of more than $30,000 (£22,200) that the Israeli authorities would have charged to carry out the demolition, having already paid them over $40,000 in fines in recent years for “building without a permit”.
More here.
Jerusalem’s ‘self-demolition’ crisis: Palestinians forced to tear down their homes
UK inflation rises to 3.3% as Iran war makes first impact
Wednesday 22 April 2026 07:30 , Alex CroftInflation in the UK has rose to an annual rate of 3.3% in March, up from 3% in February, as the Iran war begins to take an impact on prices.
Economists had mostly expected inflation to accelerate to 3.3%, driven by a rise in petrol and other fuel costs during March, they told Reuters news agency.
Before the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, the Bank of England said Britain's inflation rate - the highest among the G7 economies for much of the last four years - was likely to be close to its 2% target in April.
But the BoE last month sharply increased its inflation forecast due to the energy price shock, predicting it would rise towards 3.5% by the middle of 2026.
The International Monetary Fund last week predicted British inflation would peak at 4% in the coming months.
Israeli soldier jailed for smashing Jesus statue
Wednesday 22 April 2026 07:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsrael’s military has removed two soldiers from combat duty and placed them in military detention for 30 days after they destroyed a Jesus statue in southern Lebanon.
An investigation was launched after a picture showed an Israeli soldier taking the blunt side of an axe to a fallen sculpture of Jesus on the cross. The image drew widespread condemnation Monday from Israeli politicians, the United States and church leaders.
It was posted by Younis Tirawi, a Palestinian reporter who has also posted images of Israeli soldiers' apparent misconduct in Gaza.
More here.
IDF soldier learns his fate after smashing Jesus statue with an axe
Container ship ‘ignored the warnings’ before attack, Iranian website says
Wednesday 22 April 2026 07:06 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran's Revolutionary Guard opened fire on the container ship after it had “ignored the warnings of the Iranian armed forces", claimed Nour News, a website long affiliated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Nour News added that the ship sustained “extensive damage” in the attack.
Although the US focused much of its fire in the war on Iran’s navy, sinking and heavily damaging dozens of vessels, the Guard operates a fleet of small attack boats, some of which apparently survived the war.
Those vessels typically carry mounted machine guns and can be used for mining operations.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opens fire on ship in Strait of Hormuz
Wednesday 22 April 2026 07:01 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard this morning opened fire on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, damaging the ship and further raising the stakes as planned ceasefire talks in Pakistan failed to materialize.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said the attack happened around 7.55am in the strait and targeted a container ship.
The UKMTO said a Guard gunboat did not hail the ship before firing. It said no one was hurt and there was no environmental impact from the attack.
Iran’s semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies, believed to be close to the Guard, both reported on the attack, citing the UKMTO.
Fars went further to describe Iran as “lawfully enforcing” its control over the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 per cent of the world’s crude oil and natural gas traded once passed.
The strait had long been considered an international waterway for the world’s shippers, despite being in the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman.
Oil prices hold near $100
Wednesday 22 April 2026 07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices held near $100 a barrel this morning after US president Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the ceasefire with Iran just hours before it was due to expire.
The Strait of Hormuz remained closed and it was unclear whether Iran or Israel had agreed to the new arrangement.
Brent crude slipped 0.17 per cent to $98.27 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate fell 0.42 per cent to $89.29, swinging between gains and losses as markets weighed a ceasefire extension that seemed to be unilateral against the continued closure of the waterway through which a fifth of the world's energy supply flowed before the US and Israel launched the war on Iran.
More here.
Oil prices hold near $100 as Trump extends Iran ceasefire but keeps blockade in place
Army chief says Lebanon will recover 'every inch of land under Israeli occupation'
Wednesday 22 April 2026 06:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarLebanese army commander Rodolphe Haykal has said that the country will "regain every inch of its land under Israeli occupation".
Commander Haykal condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanese forces, mourning a soldier killed on Friday and wishing a swift recovery to those wounded when an army patrol came under fire during a security operation in Bab al-Tabbaneh.
Civil peace remains "the strongest weapon" to protect Lebanon, he said, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency.
He warned that any attempt to undermine or question the military institution, knowingly or not, serves "the objectives of the Israeli occupation" and risks fueling internal strife.
Israeli forces have intensified operations across southern Lebanon, carrying out widespread demolitions, ramping up aerial surveillance and issuing evacuation warnings despite a 10-day ceasefire, state media reported.
Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel, Mizan reports
Wednesday 22 April 2026 06:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIran has executed yet another man convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence service and passing sensitive information, the judiciary's news outlet Mizan reported this morning.
Mizan identified the man as Mehdi Farid, saying he had held a position in a civil defence unit within a sensitive organisation and had used his access to gather and transmit information to Israel's Mossad.
His death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court and carried out after legal procedures were completed, Mizan said.
Israeli drone strike kills one in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley
Wednesday 22 April 2026 06:25 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOne person was killed in an Israeli drone strike overnight on the outskirts of al-Jbour in Lebanon's western Bekaa Valley, the Lebanese state news agency said this morning.
At least two other people also sustained injuries, according to the National News Agency.
Israeli forces have intensified operations across southern Lebanon, carrying out widespread demolitions, ramping up aerial surveillance and issuing evacuation warnings despite a 10-day ceasefire, it added.
London to host military planners for talks on Strait of Hormuz
Wednesday 22 April 2026 06:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarMilitary planners from countries seeking to join a UK and France-led mission to keep the Strait of Hormuz open once the Iran war ends will meet in London today.
More than 30 nations are expected to send planners to the two-day conference starting today and co-hosted by the UK and France at the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood, north London.
They aim to build on talks held by Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris last week with a view to setting up a joint defensive mission after a sustainable ceasefire agreement has been reached.
The talks in London will focus on military capabilities, command and control, and how military forces could deploy to the region.
Defence secretary John Healey said: "The task, today and tomorrow, is to translate the diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the strait and support a lasting ceasefire.
"I am confident that, over the next two days, real progress can be made. International trade, energy security and the stability of the global economy depend on freedom of navigation."
By building on our common purpose, strengthening multinational co-ordination and planning for effective collective action, we can help reopen the strait, stabilise the global economy and protect our people."
UK maritime agency receives report of Iranian gunboat attack near Oman
Wednesday 22 April 2026 06:14 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said this morning that it had received a report of an incident 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, where the master of a container ship reported being approached by an IRGC gunboat.
The vessel was subsequently fired upon, sustaining heavy damage to its bridge, though no fires or environmental impact were reported and all crew members were safe.
Trump launches barrage of Truth Social attacks rump launches barrage of Truth Social attacks
Wednesday 22 April 2026 06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOn Tuesday evening, President Donald Trump fired off a barrage of Truth Social posts targeting an array of domestic and foreign entities long familiar with his relentless criticism.
In the span of roughly 90 minutes, he singled out the Supreme Court, The Wall Street Journal, the renewable energy industry and the Iranian regime.
The president’s online remarks capped off his day at the White House, during which he attended policy meetings, hosted college athletes in the State Dining Room and participated in a marathon Bible-reading event.
More here.
Trump attacks the Supreme Court, the WSJ and wind farms in Truth Social tirade
US blocks Iraq's dollar shipments - report
Wednesday 22 April 2026 05:50 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS president Donald Trump's administration has halted US dollar shipments to Iraq and frozen security cooperation programs with its military, as it presses Baghdad to dismantle Iranian-backed militias operating in the country, the Wall Street Journal reported.
US Treasury Department officials recently blocked a delivery of nearly $500m in US banknotes – the proceeds of Iraqi oil sales - from accounts at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Journal said.
Washington has also informed Baghdad it is suspending funding for some counter-terrorism and military training programs until militia attacks end and Iraqi authorities take steps to dismantle armed groups, the report added.
The US earlier this month summoned Iraq’s ambassador after a drone struck a major US diplomatic facility in Baghdad, following a series of drone attacks that Washington has blamed on Iran-aligned “terrorist militias".
US sanctions 14 entities for supplying weapons to Iran
Wednesday 22 April 2026 05:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe 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."
