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Iran war

Week of Apr 20–26, 2026

24 entries, newest first. Days are in U.S. Mountain Time.

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Sunday, April 26, 20263 entries

  1. 6:15 AM in Tehran, Apr 27

    Iran offers via Pakistan to reopen Hormuz if US lifts blockade, deferring nuclear talks

    ReportedDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundTehran, Iran

    Iran passed the US a proposal through Pakistani mediators to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to the US blockade, leaving nuclear negotiations for a later stage, Axios first reported and two regional officials confirmed to AP. The White House said Trump's national security team discussed it but that his red lines were 'very, very clear', and Rubio said Iran's idea of an open strait, with permission and payment required, was not acceptable.

    Why it matters The offer split the Hormuz and blockade dispute from the nuclear file, the sequencing Washington has refused.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, CBS News, Associated Press (2)

  2. 6:52 PM in Karachi

    Araghchi meets Oman's sultan, makes brief return to Islamabad, then flies to Russia

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundIslamabad, Pakistan

    Iran's foreign minister met Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Muscat, then spent about three hours in Islamabad, where Fars said he relayed messages to Washington on Iran's 'red lines' on nuclear issues and Hormuz, before leaving for Russia. Trump told Fox News Iran 'can call us' and that he would not send envoys on an 18-hour trip, while Pezeshkian told Pakistan's prime minister the US must first lift its blockade.

    Why it matters With face-to-face talks off, Pakistan kept the indirect channel open while Tehran courted Oman and Russia.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Associated Press (2), CBS News

  3. 1:30 PM in Beirut

    Israel orders seven south Lebanon villages evacuated; strikes kill 14 in a day

    ConfirmedMilitary & securityBackgroundSouthern Lebanon

    Israel's military told residents of seven villages north of the Litani, including Arnoun, Yahmar and Kafr Tibnit, to leave ahead of strikes, alleging Hezbollah truce violations; Lebanon's Health Ministry said Israeli attacks that day killed 14 people, including two children and two women, and put the toll since March 2 at 2,509. The Israeli army said one of its soldiers was killed in southern Lebanon, and Netanyahu said Hezbollah's violations were 'dismantling' the ceasefire.

    Why it matters The orders covered villages north of the Litani that residents had begun returning to under the April 17 truce.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Al Jazeera (2), CBS News

Saturday, April 25, 20263 entries

  1. 9:16 PM in Jerusalem

    Netanyahu orders “vigorous” strikes on Hezbollah after rocket and drone fire

    OfficialMilitary & securityBackgroundJerusalem, Israel

    Netanyahu’s office said he instructed the army “to vigorously attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon” after Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel and troops in southern Lebanon that caused no injuries. Earlier that day Israeli strikes killed at least six people Israel said were militants.

    Why it matters The order two days into the extended truce signalled Israel’s readiness to escalate in Lebanon without formally ending the ceasefire.

    Sources: Associated Press, Al Jazeera

  2. 9:01 PM in Karachi

    Trump cancels Witkoff-Kushner trip after Araghchi leaves Islamabad without meeting U.S.

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundIslamabad, Pakistan

    Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman after meeting Sharif and Munir but no U.S. officials, and Trump then said he had cancelled his envoys’ trip, citing “too much time wasted on traveling” and “infighting” in Iran’s leadership: “If they want to talk, all they have to do is call.” Trump later told reporters Iran sent a new, “much better” paper within 10 minutes of the cancellation, while insisting Iran “will not have a nuclear weapon.”

    Why it matters The cancellation ended the second attempt at Islamabad talks and shifted contact to phone calls and Pakistani relays while the blockade continued.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, CBS News, Associated Press (2)

  3. 10:40 AM in Tehran

    Tehran’s Imam Khomeini airport resumes international flights for first time since war

    ConfirmedShipping, energy & marketsBackgroundTehran, Iran

    Commercial flights resumed at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Saturday morning, with departures to Istanbul, Muscat and Medina, Iranian media said; Flightradar24 showed at least three Istanbul-bound flights.

    Why it matters Restarting international flights from Iran’s main airport marked the broadest return of regional aviation since Feb. 28.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press

Friday, April 24, 20263 entries

  1. 11:41 PM in Karachi

    Araghchi lands in Islamabad as White House sends Witkoff and Kushner for talks

    ConfirmedDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundIslamabad, Pakistan

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad, received by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the start of a tour to Pakistan, Oman and Russia; the White House said Witkoff and Kushner would fly to Pakistan the next morning, with Vance on standby. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said no meeting with U.S. officials was planned and Pakistan would relay messages.

    Why it matters It was the first attempt at a second round since the ceasefire was extended, but the two sides disagreed publicly over whether they would meet.

    Sources: Associated Press, Associated Press (2), CBS News, Associated Press (3)

  2. 2:11 PM in New York

    U.S. sanctions Chinese refinery Hengli and about 40 shippers and tankers over Iranian oil

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundWashington, United States

    Treasury sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, which it called one of Iran’s largest crude customers, along with 19 “shadow fleet” tankers and 19 firms in Iran’s petroleum sector. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said $344 million in Iran-linked cryptocurrency had been frozen and told AP that no Iranian oil waiver would be renewed.

    Why it matters The move made good on Treasury’s threat of secondary sanctions by hitting a major Chinese buyer, weeks before a planned Trump-Xi summit.

    Sources: Associated Press, CBS News, Al Jazeera, CBS News (2)

  3. 1:13 PM in Kuwait

    Drones launched from Iraq hit two Kuwaiti border posts; GCC condemns attack

    OfficialMilitary & securityBackgroundNorthern border, Kuwait

    Kuwait’s army said two explosive-laden drones guided by fibre-optic cables and launched from Iraq struck two northern border posts that morning, causing damage but no casualties. Iraq’s prime minister ordered an investigation, and the GCC condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms.”

    Why it matters The attack showed drone fire from Iraq on Gulf states continuing during the U.S.-Iran ceasefire.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Al Jazeera (2)

Thursday, April 23, 20265 entries

  1. 2:00 AM in London, Apr 24

    Brent tops $106 as U.S.-Iran ship seizures deadlock the Strait of Hormuz

    ConfirmedShipping, energy & marketsBackgroundLondon, United Kingdom

    Brent crude stood at $106.80 a barrel at 01:00 GMT on Friday, up nearly 5% from Wednesday’s close, when it had passed $100 for the first time in two weeks, Al Jazeera reported; CBS News put Brent near $107 and U.S. crude just over $97. Both cited the tit-for-tat ship captures in Hormuz.

    Why it matters Prices returned to their highest level since the ceasefire began, erasing the drop that followed Iran’s brief reopening of the strait.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, CBS News

  2. 5:21 PM in New York

    Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks after second round of White House talks

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundWashington, United States

    After Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors met at the White House with Vance, Rubio and U.S. envoys, Trump announced the ceasefire would be extended by three weeks and said he hoped to host Netanyahu and President Joseph Aoun soon; he said ending Iranian funding of Hezbollah was a “must” in any deal with Iran. Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad called the extension “meaningless” and said the group “firmly rejects” it.

    Why it matters The extension kept the Lebanon track moving separately from the stalled U.S.-Iran talks, but without Hezbollah’s acceptance.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, CBS News, CBS News (2)

  3. 8:45 AM in New York

    Trump orders Navy to “shoot and kill” boats laying mines in Hormuz and triple minesweeping

    OfficialMilitary & securityBackgroundWashington, United States

    Trump posted that he had ordered the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any boat, however small, putting mines in the Strait of Hormuz with “no hesitation,” and ordered minesweeping to continue at a “tripled up level.” Hegseth said any new Iranian mine laying would violate the ceasefire.

    Why it matters The order set rules of engagement for IRGC small boats, the force Iran has used to enforce its Hormuz closure.

    Sources: Associated Press, CBS News, Al Jazeera

  4. 7:14 AM in New York

    U.S. forces seize sanctioned Iran-linked tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsBackgroundIndian Ocean

    The Pentagon said U.S. forces boarded the “stateless” sanctioned tanker Majestic X carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean, two days after boarding the M/T Tifani in the Indo-Pacific. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the two tankers held about 1.9 million barrels of Iranian oil and were seized under warrants from her office; Guyana said the Majestic X was fraudulently flying its flag, and Hegseth said the blockade had “gone global.”

    Why it matters Seizures far from the Gulf extended the blockade to Iran’s shadow fleet heading to Asian buyers.

    Sources: Associated Press, CBS News, Al Jazeera, CBS News (2)

  5. 12:35 PM in Tehran

    Iran says first Strait of Hormuz toll revenue has been deposited at its central bank

    OfficialShipping, energy & marketsBackgroundTehran, Iran

    Iran’s second deputy parliament speaker Hamidreza Haji-Babaei said the first revenue from tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz had been deposited in the Central Bank of Iran; another MP said fees vary with cargo and risk.

    Why it matters It was Iran’s first claim to be earning money from Hormuz transits, the practice the U.S. blockade and EU sanctions were meant to stop.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, CBS News

Wednesday, April 22, 20262 entries

  1. 7:48 PM in New York

    Pentagon told lawmakers clearing Hormuz mines could take six months, AP source says

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsBackgroundWashington, United States

    The Pentagon told the House Armed Services Committee in a classified briefing that clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz would likely take six months, a person familiar with the briefing told AP. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said a six-month closure was “an impossibility” and accused media of cherry-picking leaked information; Hegseth declined to speculate.

    Why it matters A months-long demining timeline would keep Hormuz shipping constrained even after a political deal.

    Sources: Associated Press, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2), Associated Press (2)

  2. 5:19 PM in Beirut

    Israeli strikes kill Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil in al-Tiri during truce

    ConfirmedBackgroundBackgroundAl-Tiri, Lebanon

    Al-Akhbar reporter Amal Khalil was killed and photographer Zeinab Faraj wounded in Israeli strikes on al-Tiri; Lebanon’s Health Ministry and journalists’ union said Israeli fire kept rescuers from reaching Khalil for hours after the house she sheltered in was hit. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called it a war crime; the Israeli military said it struck militants posing a threat and denied blocking rescuers or targeting journalists.

    Why it matters The killing, during the truce, became a focal case for Lebanese accusations that Israel continued attacks despite the ceasefire.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Associated Press (2), CBS News

Tuesday, April 21, 20264 entries

  1. 8:47 AM in Dubai, Apr 22

    IRGC fires on ships in Hormuz and seizes MSC Francesca and Epaminondas

    ConfirmedShipping, energy & marketsBackgroundStrait of Hormuz

    UKMTO said an IRGC gunboat fired on a container ship 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, heavily damaging its bridge, and a second cargo ship was fired upon and stopped; Iranian state TV said the MSC Francesca and Epaminondas were in IRGC custody and being taken to Iran, and Iranian agencies reported a third vessel, Euphoria, attacked. The White House said the seizures did not breach the truce because the ships were not American or Israeli; Panama condemned the “illegal seizure” of the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca.

    Why it matters Iran answered the U.S. seizures in kind the morning after Trump extended the truce, turning Hormuz into a tit-for-tat contest over ships.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Associated Press (2), Associated Press (3)

  2. 4:09 PM in New York

    Trump extends Iran ceasefire at Pakistan’s request but keeps naval blockade in place

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundWashington, United States

    Hours before the truce was due to expire, Trump said that at the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif he would extend the ceasefire until Iran submits a “unified proposal” and talks conclude, while ordering the military to continue the blockade. Vance’s trip to Islamabad had been put on hold, and Tasnim reported Iran had told Pakistan it would not attend talks.

    Why it matters The open-ended extension averted a return to strikes but left the blockade, Iran’s main stated obstacle to talks, untouched.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Al Jazeera (2)

  3. 5:54 PM in Luxembourg

    EU agrees to widen Iran sanctions to those blocking navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundLuxembourg, Luxembourg

    EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg reached political agreement to extend the bloc’s Iran sanctions regime to those responsible for breaches of freedom of navigation, foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, adding that transit through Hormuz “must remain free of charge” and asking ministers to bolster the EU’s naval mission in the region.

    Why it matters It was the first EU sanctions step aimed at Iran’s Hormuz tolls and closures, aligning Brussels with pressure for free passage.

    Sources: Associated Press, Al Jazeera

  4. 6:11 PM in Tehran

    Iran’s Tasnim says Hormuz closed “until further notice”; Maersk tells ships to avoid it

    ReportedShipping, energy & marketsBackgroundStrait of Hormuz

    IRGC-linked Tasnim said the controlled-passage channels through the Strait of Hormuz were closed “until further notice” after a ceasefire violation, until guarantees were given that the U.S. blockade would be fully lifted. MarineTraffic showed no vessels in the waterway afterward, and Maersk said transit “should be avoided.”

    Why it matters With the largest shippers pulling back, even Iran’s own designated route stopped functioning as the ceasefire deadline approached.

    Sources: CBS News, CBS News (2), CBS News (3)

Monday, April 20, 20264 entries

  1. 4:50 PM in Dubai

    UAE says it dismantled Iran-linked cell planning terrorist and sabotage attacks

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    The UAE State Security Department said it had arrested at least 27 men in an Iran-linked group that held clandestine meetings, recruited Emirati youth, sent funds abroad and planned “systematic terrorist and sabotage operations” inside the country. Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the arrests “baseless.”

    Why it matters The arrests showed Gulf states treating Iran as an internal security threat as well as a military one while the ceasefire held.

    Sources: CBS News, Associated Press, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera (2)

  2. 3:00 PM in Baghdad

    U.S. Embassy in Baghdad warns Iran-linked militias plot attacks, cites Iraqi state cover

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundBaghdad, Iraq

    The U.S. Embassy said Iran-linked militias were plotting attacks on U.S. citizens and targets across Iraq and accused “some elements associated with the Iraqi government” of giving them political, financial and operational cover, urging Americans to leave. The commander of Iraqi group Saraya Awliya al-Dam said its fighters were ready to resume operations “at a higher frequency.”

    Why it matters The alert publicly tied parts of the Iraqi state to the militias and flagged Iraq as a likely front if the ceasefire collapsed.

    Sources: CBS News, Al Jazeera

  3. 11:01 AM in Tehran

    Iran says it has no plans for a second round of talks with the U.S. after ship seizure

    OfficialDiplomacy & politicsBackgroundTehran, Iran

    Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said “we have no plans for the next round of negotiations and no decision has been made,” without ruling out attending, as Pakistan prepared Islamabad for talks Trump said would be held that day. Iranian state media cited the blockade and U.S. demands; Tasnim reported Iran had sent drones toward U.S. ships after the Touska seizure.

    Why it matters Iran’s refusal to commit left the ceasefire set to lapse without a scheduled negotiation.

    Sources: Al Jazeera, Associated Press, CBS News

  4. 9:34 AM in Beirut

    Hezbollah claims first attack since truce, saying bombs hit Israeli tanks near Deir Siryan

    OfficialMilitary & securityBackgroundDeir Siryan, Lebanon

    Hezbollah said bombs its fighters planted exploded under an Israeli convoy of eight tanks passing Deir Siryan on Sunday afternoon, destroying four. It was the group’s first claimed attack since the 10-day ceasefire took effect; the Israeli military did not immediately comment.

    Why it matters The claim marked Hezbollah’s first acknowledged use of force under the truce and a test of its pledge to respond to Israeli violations.

    Sources: CBS News, Associated Press

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