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ABC News

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 16, 2026, 8:44 AM

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 16, 2026 8:44 AM

China voices support for 'freedom of navigation' in Strait of Hormuz

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi voiced support for Iran and called for "maintaining the momentum of the ceasefire and negotiations."

Wang spoke on Wednesday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to a readout posted by the Chinese ministry.

PHOTO: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi waves after a press conference on the sidelines of the National People's Congress (NPC), in Beijing, China, March 8, 2026.
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi waves after a press conference on the sidelines of the National People's Congress (NPC), in Beijing, China, March 8, 2026.
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

"Wang Yi stated that China, as always, supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and national dignity," the readout said.

Wang's office said the minister also told Araghchi that "freedom of navigation and safety in the international strait should be guaranteed, and efforts to restore normal navigation in the strait are the unanimous call of the international community."

PHOTO: An aerial photograph shows the Greek-flagged crude oil tanker "Asahi Princess" off the coast of the Syrian Baniyas port refinery, along the Mediterranean Sea on on April 15, 2026.
Bakr Alkasem/AFP via Getty Images
An aerial photograph shows the Greek-flagged crude oil tanker "Asahi Princess" off the coast of the Syrian Baniyas port refinery, along the Mediterranean Sea on on April 15, 2026.
Bakr Alkasem/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. this week began a blockade of the strait. "U.S. service members continue to monitor and patrol regional waters in support of the U.S. blockade on ships entering or exiting Iranian ports," U.S. Central Command said early on Thursday.

-ABC News’ Karson Yiu


Apr 16, 2026 4:36 AM

Leaders of Israel and Lebanon to speak Thursday, Trump says

In a post on his social media platform, President Donald Trump said the leaders of Israel and Lebanon would be speaking on Thursday, following high-level talks between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats mediated by the U.S. earlier this week. 

"Trying to get a little breathing room between Israel and Lebanon," Trump said in the post. "It has been a long time since the two leaders have spoken, like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow. Nice!"

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about who would be speaking from the Israeli and Lebanese sides.

Trump's announcement of additional talks between the two countries came after the State Department convened a trilateral meeting in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors.

The State Department on Tuesday called this week's talks "the first major high-level engagement between the governments of Israel and Lebanon since 1993."

-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr


Apr 15, 2026 8:28 PM

Iran stops exporting petrochemical products

Iran has suspended exports of petrochemical products until further notice, according to Iranian State run Mehr News. This does not include crude oil exports.

This is being done to "to meet domestic market needs," according to Mehr.

-ABC News' Cindy Smith



Apr 15, 2026 8:11 PM

White House offers few new details on ongoing negotiations between U.S. and Iran

Administration officials familiar with the ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Iran remain bullish that another in-person meeting between the two will be arranged soon and likely take place before the ceasefire expires next week.

Communication between negotiators from both countries have continued at a steady clip since the first round of talks wrapped, two U.S. officials said, adding that these conversations have taken place primarily though indirect channels but also via direct lines.

The administration’s goal is to bring both sides to the brink of an overarching deal to end the conflict that can then be pushed over the finish line in a second face-to-face meeting, according to the officials.

The officials acknowledge that technical talks to hammer out the fine details and implementation of the arrangement will likely take longer to complete, perhaps eventually necessitating an extension of the initial ceasefire, but that pushing back the truce’s expiration date isn’t a top priority for the administration at the moment.

Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have continued to be involved in negotiations throughout the week, but it’s not guaranteed that all three would represent the U.S. in second round of talks, one official said.

-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston


Apr 15, 2026 6:45 PM

Leavitt denies US requested ceasefire extension

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied reports that the U.S. has formally request an extension of the ceasefire with Iran on Wednesday.

"At this moment, we remain very much engaged in these negotiations, in these talks," Leavitt said during a press briefing.

Leavitt said the White House feels good about the prospects of reaching a deal with Iran.

Leavitt also said future negotiations can be expected to take place in Islamabad again, and she praised the Pakistanis for their role in serving as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran.

“They would very likely be in the same place as they were last time, yes,” she said.


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