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Trump says US Navy attacked and seized Iranian-flagged cargo ship

PHOTO: The sun rises behind tankers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026.
2:36
Asghar Besharati/AP
Negotiators head to Pakistan for Iran ceasefire talks
By David Brennan, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, Kevin Shalvey
Last Updated: April 18, 2026, 5:36 PM

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military and government sites.

After initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan failed to reach a peace deal, Trump announced Sunday, April 19, that U.S. negotiators would head back to Islamabad Monday for a new round.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Vice President JD Vance would accompany special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, to Islamabad for the talks.

Iran's continuing blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and their alleged refusal to abandon their nuclear program remain key sticking points in negotiations, according to Trump.

Key Headlines

  • Trump says US Navy attacked and seized Iranian-flagged cargo ship
  • Trump says 'the concept of' a peace deal with Iran is done
  • Trump again threatens to strike Iranian infrastructure; announces new round of talks in Islamabad
  • US-Iran talks have made progress, but 'gaps' remain, Tehran's chief negotiator says
  • Iranian navy to bring 'new defeats' for US and Israel, supreme leader says
Here's how the news is developing.

Apr 18, 2026 5:36 PM

India summons Iranian ambassador over shooting incidents in Strait of Hormuz

The Iranian ambassador to India was summoned by India's Ministry of External Affairs to discuss the "serious incident" involving two Indian-flagged ships that came under fire in the Strait of Hormuz Saturday.

"During the meeting, Foreign Secretary conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz," the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

PHOTO: Tankers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026.
Asghar Besharati/AP
Tankers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18, 2026.
Asghar Besharati/AP


In the meeting, the Foreign Minister also recalled that Iran had previously "facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India," the statement said.

-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr


Apr 18, 2026 4:43 PM

Iran says it's reviewing new US proposals delivered via Pakistan

Iran said it is reviewing new proposals from the U.S. conveyed through Pakistan's mediators, with no response issued thus far.

The proposals were presented in recent days during the Pakistani army chief's visit to Tehran amid efforts to revive negotiations, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement published by state media Saturday.

Pointing to the conditions tied to a ceasefire in all fronts, the council said Tehran had agreed to a temporary opening of the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire in Lebanon.

PHOTO: SShips and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026.
Stringer via Reuters
Ships and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Musandam, Oman, April 18, 2026.
Stringer via Reuters


The council noted in the statement that Tehran allows only commercial vessels to pass, excluding military ships and vessels from "hostile countries."

The council said it will continue to monitor and control maritime traffic through the strategic waterway until a lasting peace is achieved, citing security concerns over the use of the strait to supply U.S. military bases in the region.

-ABC News' Maryam Rahimi


Apr 18, 2026 2:45 PM

Trump says Iran getting 'a little cute' as it seeks to reimpose control over strait

President Donald Trump acknowledged that Iran is seeking to close the Strait of Hormuz again, saying Iran "got a little cute."

“They can't blackmail us,” he said.

“We have very good conversations going on. It's, it's working out very well. They got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years, and nobody ever took them on. We took them on,” Trump said.

The president then appeared to brag that the U.S. was benefiting from the lack of oil transiting through the strait — touting that ships were coming to the U.S. now instead.

“In fact, a lot of the ships are coming up to Texas I don't know if you know, in Louisiana, the ships are coming up. They got used to it. Maybe they'll keep doing it," Trump said.

-ABC News' Selina Wang and Nicholas Kerr



Apr 18, 2026 1:28 PM

Container targeted by Iranian projectile damaged

A container ship reported being struck by an "unknown projectile" causing damage in the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operation said in a warning Saturday.

The projectile struck the cargo ship 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman causing "damage to some of the containers, no fires or environment impact reported," the warning said.

Earlier the UKMTO reported a tanker was fired upon by two Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps "gun boats."

It comes after a spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces, said “The Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state.”

-ABC News' Othon Leyva Jr.


Apr 17, 2026 1:29 PM

Iran fully opens Strait of Hormuz, Trump says

President Donald Trump has announced that Iran is fully opening the Strait of Hormuz, in a post on social media.

"IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE," Trump said in a post on social media Friday.

PHOTO: Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman's Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026.
Reuters
Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman's Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026.
Reuters

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also announced the strait's opening on social media Friday.

"In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," Araghchi wrote.


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