U.S.-Iran ceasefire expires this week with no deal in sight - BERITAJA

The sun rises down a tanker anchored successful the Strait of Hormuz disconnected the seashore of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026. Asghar Besharati/AP

Asghar Besharati/AP

After concisely reopening the captious economical waterway, Iran has again closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying it will restrict ships from passing done arsenic agelong arsenic the U.S. continues its blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran's main negotiator, parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, was unequivocal successful comments made connected Iranian authorities TV overnight, stressing: "It is intolerable for others to walk done the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot."

The U.S. subject said connected X that it forced 23 ships to move about arsenic portion of its blockade of Iranian ports. About 20% of the world's crude lipid and earthy state typically passes done the constrictive waterway, which Iran has fundamentally closed to world tankers since the U.S. and Israel launched a warfare connected the state astatine the extremity of February.

For his part, President Trump has formed uncertainty connected really the U.S. will proceed erstwhile the precarious ceasefire pinch Iran expires connected Wednesday. Trump said the U.S. mightiness "have to commencement dropping bombs again."

But he besides said he thinks a woody could happen.

Here are much updates connected the Middle East conflict:

Indian ships travel nether attack

India's overseas ministry summoned Iran's ambassador successful New Delhi aft what it said was a shooting incident that progressive 2 Indian-flagged vessels successful the Strait of Hormuz.

During the little re-opening connected Saturday, India said location was "a superior incident of firing connected merchant ships." India has urged Iran to let Indian ships to resume safe transition crossed the strait arsenic soon arsenic possible.

On Saturday, the UK's Maritime Trade Operations Centre besides said it received a study that 2 Iranian revolutionary defender weapon boats fired connected a tanker.

It didn't opportunity if the tanker was Indian-flagged.

More than 20,000 seafarers person been stuck connected hundreds of ships successful the Gulf since the warfare began successful precocious February.

In a connection released to Iranian authorities media, the country's National Security Council said that Iran is "determined to workout supervision and power complete postulation done the Strait of Hormuz until the warfare is definitively ended and lasting bid is achieved successful the region."

A female personnel of the Basij paramilitary, affiliated pinch Iran's Revolutionary Guard, holds her weapon during a state-organized rally successful support of the ultimate leader marking National Girl's Day successful Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 17, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP

Vahid Salemi/AP

French Peacekeeper, Israeli soldiers killed 

The abstracted ceasefire betwixt Israel and Lebanon is being tested, but still holding for now.

A French peacekeeper and 2 Israeli soldiers were killed successful confederate Lebanon complete the weekend.

President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the decease of French peacekeeper Florian Montorio, which he said appeared to beryllium caused by occurrence from Hezbollah, and described arsenic an onslaught connected the UN's bid service. The Iran-backed militant group denied immoderate responsibility.

The Israeli subject says 1 of its soldiers, Sgt Maj Barak Kalfon, was killed erstwhile his engineering conveyance ran complete a bomb. Three further soldiers were injured.

Another soldier, Staff Sergeant Lidor Porat, was besides killed successful conflict successful confederate Lebanon and 8 others injured.

Meanwhile, polls show about Israelis reason the ceasefire, which comes arsenic they judge their service was making advancement successful routing the group.

The Israel Defense Forces said connected X that the time earlier the ceasefire came into effect much than 150 Hezbollah "operatives" were "eliminated" and about 300 subject infrastructure sites were struck.

Since the commencement of what Israel calls Operation "Roaring Lion", complete 1,800 Hezbollah operatives were eliminated, according to the statement.

Barber Mohammad Mehdi cuts the hairsbreadth of his customer Ayman Al Zein wrong his shop, which was damaged successful an Israeli airstrike that besides damaged Al Zein's shop, successful Dahiyeh, Beirut's confederate suburbs, Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026. Hassan Ammar/AP

Hassan Ammar/AP

Islamabad bid talks 2.0?

Neither the U.S. nor Iran has confirmed the dates of different information of imaginable bid talks betwixt them, but location are signs that Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, is again preparing to big them.

The White House said past week that these talks would very apt beryllium held location again, aft the first negotiations grounded a week ago.

Residents of Islamabad person been reference betwixt the lines about erstwhile these talks mightiness return place, aft administrators successful some Islamabad and its sister city, Rawalpindi, denied reports connected Saturday that commercialized activity and carrier were being curtailed.

Then, connected Sunday, they announced connected societal media the suspension of nationalist carrier until further notice.

That's 1 hint that preparations are underway. Another is restricted activity successful and retired of Islamabad's Red Zone, a high-security assemblage that houses authorities buildings and about embassies.

Pakistan has besides not confirmed dates for talks, but says it is continuing to mediate betwixt the 2 sides. One of the country's main mediators, Army Chief Asim Munir, traveled to Iran past week arsenic portion of this mediation effort.

Eleanor Beardsley successful Jerusalem, Durrie Bouscaren successful Van, Turkey, Betsy Joles successful Islamabad, and Diaa Hadid successful Colombo, and Kate Bartlett successful Johannesburg contributed to reporting.