Iran says it closed the Strait of Hormuz again due to US blockade
Iran announces that it is resuming “strict control” of the Strait of Hormuz in reaction to the continued American blockade of Iranian ports, reversing its decision the day before to reopen this essential sea route for global hydrocarbon trade. Iran had “agreed in good faith to authorize the passage of a limited number of tankers and commercial ships” but the Americans, violating their commitment, “continue to engage in acts of piracy under cover of the so-called blockade”, denounced the command of the Iranian armed forces Khatam Al-Anbiya in a press release relayed by state television.
Middle East peace efforts: Pakistani PM completes three-country tour
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced this Saturday that he had completed a diplomatic tour of three countries as part of efforts to end the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. “I am leaving Antalya (Turkey) (…) with renewed determination (…) to continue our close cooperation aimed at promoting dialogue and diplomacy for lasting peace and stability in the region,” tweeted Mr. Sharif who had previously visited Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Reopening of part of Iranian airspace, according to Iranian Civil Aviation
Iran’s airspace was partially reopened this Saturday morning and international flights are once again authorized to fly over the east of the country, the Civil Aviation Organization announced, cited by the Tasnim news agency. According to the aircraft tracking site FlightRadar24, shortly before 7 a.m. GMT, no aircraft was yet flying over Iran, which had closed its airspace on February 28, at the start of the Israeli-American offensive against its territory.
Pakistani army chief completes three-day visit to Iran
Pakistan’s powerful army chief has completed a three-day visit to Iran as part of efforts to end the war in the Middle East, the Pakistani army said on Saturday. Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, met senior Iranian officials during this trip which shows “Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to facilitating a negotiated solution (…) and promoting peace and stability”, according to a press release.
Donald Trump says Iranian uranium will be ‘brought back to the United States’
Donald Trump said Friday that the enriched uranium stored by Iran would be “brought back to the United States.” “We are going to go together with Iran” to recover the enriched uranium, he said during an event for the conservative organization Turning Point in Arizona, before adding: “We are going to go get it, we are going to bring it back to the United States shortly”. The spokesperson for Iranian diplomacy had affirmed a little earlier that Iran’s stocks of enriched uranium would not go “anywhere”.
If no deal is reached, blockade of Iranian ports will be maintained, says Donald Trump
If Donald Trump believes that an agreement is close, he nevertheless threatens to maintain the blockade of Iranian ports if no agreement is reached between Iran and the United States. He adds that he might not maintain the ceasefire after it expires on Wednesday April 22. “I may not extend it, but the blockade will continue,” Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. But “I think it will happen,” he added regarding this potential peace agreement.
Donald Trump assures that an agreement with Iran is “very close”
Donald Trump says there are no “sticking points” to reaching a peace deal with Iran, and says an agreement is “very close.” Asked whether there remained disagreements between the two countries, the American president replied: “No sticking points.” For its part, Iran denies having accepted the transfer of its stocks of enriched uranium, as the American head of state said. “Iran’s enriched uranium will not be transferred anywhere,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaïl Baghaï, quoted by state television.
Welcome to our live
Follow the news of the war in the Middle East, this Saturday April 18, 2026.
Leave a Reply