No plans yet for further talks: Iran

This live blog follows updates for Day 52 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 51, go here.

Israel threatens force in Lebanon despite ceasefire tensions
US seizes Iranian ship, escalating maritime confrontation
Iran condemns blockade, warns retaliation soon
Strait of Hormuz remains high-risk for shipping
Diplomatic efforts continue with talks planned in Pakistan.

No enmity with regional countries, says Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman

Published: April 20, 2026 | 09:17 GMT | by Web Desk

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran has no enmity with the countries of the region and its actions over the past 40 days have been solely legitimate defense against military aggressions by the United States and the Israeli regime, according to Iranian Tasnim News Agency.

Baqaei stressed that regional countries should, instead of projection, prevent the enemy from abusing their territory against their neighbors.

Normalization of traffic in Strait of Hormuz not possible: Iran

Published: April 20, 2026 | 09:17 GMT | by Web Desk

"The main factor of the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is the military aggression by the US and Zionist regime since March 9, and the responsibility for the current situation lies directly with them," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated, according to Iranian Tasnim News Agency.

China urges all parties to resume peace talks

Published: April 20, 2026 | 08:58 GMT | by AFP

China expressed concern on Monday over the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel that tried to evade a naval blockade, and urged all parties to resume peace talks.

"We express concern over the US side's forcible interception of the relevant vessel," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference when asked about the seizure, calling on countries involved to return to negotiations.

Iran recognizes Pakistan as sole official mediator in talks with US

Published: April 20, 2026 | 08:27 GMT | by Web Desk

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Pakistan is currently the only official mediator in the diplomatic process, Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported.

No plans yet for further talks: Iran

Published: April 20, 2026 | 07:27 GMT | by Web Desk

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated on Monday that Tehran currently has no plans for a subsequent round of negotiations, Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported.

Baqaei said the United States has shown a lack of seriousness in pursuing diplomacy through contradictory behavior and repeated violations of the ceasefire.

"Washington, in less than nine months, had twice attacked Iran’s sovereignty during negotiations by violating international law, causing the martyrdom of senior figures and citizens, and damaging national assets," he added.

He said the Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept any deadlines or ultimatums in securing its national interests.

Baqaei said tensions in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are solely the result of military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime.

He added that until before February 28, the region enjoyed complete security; therefore, the international community must hold these two actors accountable for destabilizing the region and avoid swapping the positions of the "culprit" and the "victim."

Israel army warns Lebanese against returning to south

Published: April 20, 2026 | 07:27 GMT | by AFP

Israel's military on Monday warned Lebanese civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah's activities in the area were violating a ceasefire agreement struck last week.

Thousands of displaced residents have begun making their way back to parts of southern Lebanon since the truce between Israel and Lebanon took effect on Friday.

Since the ceasefire began, Lebanon's armed forces have reopened a key road linking the southern city of Nabatiyeh with the Khardali area after it was closed due to Israeli strikes.

They have also partially restored access to the Burj Rahal–Tyre bridge.

But the Israeli military on Monday urged civilians to avoid returning to numerous villages in the south.

"Hezbollah has continued its terrorist activity during the ceasefire in violation of the agreement; accordingly, the IDF remains deployed in the defensive area," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Colonel Avichay Adraee said on X.

"For your safety and the safety of your families, and until further notice, we urge you not to move south of the Forward Defence Line," he said, referring to a boundary marking an area occupied by Israeli troops.

Iran says 95% of airport infrastructure still intact

Published: April 20, 2026 | 06:13 GMT | by Web Desk

Some 95% of Iran’s airport infrastructure is intact and operational, Al Jazeera reported, quoting The Fars news agency.

Secretary of the Association of Airlines said, at most, about 20 of the country’s aircraft have suffered serious damage.

The report comes as Iran prepares to reopen its airspace to commercial flights.

Iran retaliates against US naval aggression in Gulf of Oman: State media

Published: April 20, 2026 | 05:32 GMT | by Web Desk

Iranian forces launched drone strikes on US military vessels in the Gulf of Oman after US attacked an Iranian container ship, the Toska, en route from China to Iran, according to Iranian state-run Tasnim News Agency.

Earlier, the US Centcom in a post on X on Monday, stated, "US Marines depart amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) by helicopter and transit over the Arabian Sea to board and seize M/V Touska."

"The Marines rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel, April 19, after guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska’s propulsion when the commercial ship failed to comply with repeated warnings from US forces over a six-hour period," the post said.

Top lawmaker says Iran will continue talks, but has set red lines

Published: April 20, 2026 | 05:14 GMT | by Web Desk

Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Committee, on the prospect of talks with the US, said Iran has decided to continue talks with the US, but this “does not mean to negotiate at any cost” and to accept any “approach the other party practices”, Al Jazeera reported.

Iran has set red lines, and these “must be observed”, he said.

Security of Hormuz strait not free, says Iranian vice president

Published: April 20, 2026 | 04:18 GMT | by Web Desk

The First Vice President of Iran, Dr Aref, said, "The security of the Strait of Hormuz is not free. One cannot restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others."

"The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone."

"Stability in global fuel prices depends on a guaranteed and lasting end to the economic and military pressure against Iran and its allies," he was quoted as saying.

US begins Philippines war games in thick of Middle East conflict

Published: April 20, 2026 | 04:18 GMT | by AFP

Thousands of American and Philippine troops, joined for the first time by a significant contingent of Japanese forces, began annual military exercises Monday set against the backdrop of the Middle East war.

The war games will feature live-fire exercises in the north of the country. More than 17,000 soldiers, airmen and sailors are taking part in the 19-day Balikatan, or Shoulder to Shoulder, exercises -- about the same number as last year's edition -- including contingents from Australia, New Zealand, France and Canada.

"Balikatan... represents an opportunity to showcase our ironclad alliance with the Philippines and demonstrate our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," US exercise spokesman Colonel Robert Bunn said ahead of Monday's opening ceremony.

Bunn added that US troop levels he described as "one of the largest deployments" in years would be unaffected by the ongoing Middle East war his country is waging, while declining to provide specific numbers.

Balikatan comes as Iran and the United States, along with Israel, are just days away from the end of the two-week ceasefire that halted the Middle East war, ignited by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

The conflict has sparked a global energy crisis that has left import-dependent Philippines reeling.

US oil benchmark surges 7.5% as Middle East conflict escalates

Published: April 20, 2026 | 00:15 GMT | by Web Desk

The benchmark US oil contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), surged 7.5% on Monday, as Iran accused the United States of having broken a ceasefire in place since early April.

WTI crude was trading up 7.5% at $90.17 per barrel, while international oil benchmark Brent North Sea crude gained 6.5% to $96.27 per barrel.

Iran's military said a US destroyer fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that tried to evade a US naval blockade.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, has been virtually closed since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

'We are conducting negotiations': Iran’s parliament speaker

Published: April 20, 2026 | 03:11 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Tehran does not trust its adversaries and warned the war could escalate at any moment, Middle East Eye reported, citing the Iranian Mehr News Agency.

“We do not trust the enemy, for he may escalate the war at any moment,” he said, adding that Iran is engaged in negotiations but remains ready to act.

“We are conducting negotiations, but we are prepared to take the necessary measures,” Ghalibaf said.

“The last war was imposed on us by American cunning in the midst of negotiations, but we gained experience from the 12-day war.”

US destroyer fires on, seizes Iran cargo ship trying to evade blockade

Published: April 20, 2026 | 01:21 GMT | by Web Desk

A US destroyer fired on and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that tried to evade a US naval blockade, President Donald Trump and the US military said.

Trump posted on Truth Social that after the Iranian vessel, Touska, ignored warnings to stop, the guided missile destroyer USS Spruance "stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room."

Separately, the US Central Command released footage of enforcing naval "blockade measures against an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port."

Over 20 vessels passed through Strait of Hormuz on Saturday

Published: April 20, 2026 | 02:57 GMT | by Web Desk

Data from shipping analytics firm Kpler shows that more than 20 vessels passed the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, marking the highest number of ships crossing the waterway since the war on Iran began on March 1.

Of the vessels that successfully transited on Saturday, five had most recently taken on Iranian cargoes consisting of metals and various oil products.

This group included three liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers, with two destined for China and India, the data shows.

The other vessels that departed included those carrying products from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.