Iran and United States ‘far’ from deal as ships in Strait of Hormuz warned they will be targeted if they attempt to cross: live updates ‣ Diverse Daily

By LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER

Updated: 08:06 BST, 19 April 2026

Iran’s top negotiator said recent talks with the US had made progress but gaps remained over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, while President Donald Trump cited ‘very good conversations’ with Tehran despite warning against ‘blackmail’ over the key shipping channel.

Neither side offered any specifics about the state of negotiations on Saturday, days before a fragile ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran is set to expire.

The war, now in its eighth week, has killed thousands, spread to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and sent oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the strait, which before the war carried one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.

An Israeli soldier was killed in combat in southern Lebanon and nine were wounded, including one seriously injured, the Israeli military said early on Sunday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister’s ‘bad and incomplete tweet’ lead to escalation

Iran blasts its own Foreign Minister over a ‘bad and incomplete tweet’ that created ambiguity during the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

In a tweet they said: “Our country’s Foreign Minister wrote in a tweet just minutes ago that, following the ceasefire in Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz will be fully open for the passage of commercial ships for the remaining duration of the ceasefire period.”

Iran reverses decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Central Command posts on April 18, 2026 during the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz: A U.S. Marine aboard the forward-deployed amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) monitors shipping during U.S. maritime blockade operations.

Iran reversed its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and fired on a tanker attempting to pass the waterway on Saturday. It also warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.

Confusion over the critical chokepoint threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict, even as mediators expressed confidence a new deal was within reach.

Iran’s joint military command said on Saturday that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces.”