Day 54 | Trump says he will extend ceasefire with Iran until negotiations conclude
The 2026 Iran War began on February 28, when the United States and ‘Israel’ launched a large-scale attack on Iran, unleashing nearly 900 airstrikes within 12 hours on the Islamic Republic’s missile systems, air defenses, nuclear facilities, military bases, and leadership targets.
The assault followed years of shadow conflict, including direct missile exchanges in 2024 and a limited 12-day war in 2025 that damaged Iran’s nuclear and ballistic capabilities.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials were killed in the opening strikes. Iran responded within hours, launching waves of ballistic missiles and drones at ‘Israel’, US bases, and targets across the Gulf.
On April 8, the United States, Iran, and ‘Israel’ agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, with Iran committing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while negotiations continue toward a broader agreement.
The fragile truce has since come under strain, particularly as ‘Israel’ launched major bombardments in Lebanon and clashes with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah intensified.
Here’s the latest updates:
- US President Donald Trump said he’s extended the ceasefire with Iran until Tehran has submitted a proposal to end the conflict permanently.
- US President Donald Trump said Sunday that US forces intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly attempted to breach a US naval blockade.
- Trump Signals Imminent Deal: President Trump stated on April 16 that the US is "very close" to a deal, claiming Iran has agreed to "almost everything." He has even floated the possibility of traveling to Pakistan, the primary mediator, to sign a final agreement.
- The "$20 Billion for Uranium" Swap: Discussions have centered on a high-stakes proposal where Iran would hand over its entire enriched uranium stockpile (reportedly around 440 kg) in exchange for the release of $20 billion in frozen funds.
- Key Sticking Points: While Trump is optimistic, Iranian officials have called the total handover of uranium a "non-starter." Disagreements remain over the length of an enrichment pause, with the US demanding 20 years and Iran offering 3–5 years.
- Hormuz Closed Again: After a brief 24-hour reopening on April 17, Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, April 18. Tehran cited the continued US naval blockade as a violation of the spirit of the truce.
- Contradictory Sea Rules: The situation is volatile; while Iran briefly declared the Strait "open" to commercial traffic, the US naval blockade remains in "full force." Since the blockade began on April 13, CENTCOM has intercepted at least 23 vessels.
- Economic Pressure: The blockade is costing Iran an estimated $400 million per day in revenue. Experts warn that if the blockade isn't lifted by April 26, Iranian oil wells may suffer permanent damage due to overflow.
- 10-Day Ceasefire Holding: The US-brokered ceasefire between ‘Israel’ and Lebanon, which began on April 16, is largely holding despite high tension.
- Oil Price Volatility: Oil prices initially plummeted by 11% (US Crude to ~$83) on Friday following the brief reopening of the Strait. However, prices are expected to face renewed upward pressure following Iran's Saturday decision to re-close the waterway.
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This live thread has ended. Follow our online coverage of day 45 of the war, as the US signals open-ended Iran conflict as Tehran flags blockade concerns amid fragile ceasefire.
Read more: Day 55 | US leaves Iran timeline open; Tehran flags blockade risk
Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil killed by ‘Israeli’ strike
Rescuers said on Wednesday they had recovered the body of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil after she was killed in an ‘Israeli’ airstrike on a town in southern Lebanon.
The civil defence agency's press office said rescuers were "able to recover the body of martyred journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed as a result of a hostile airstrike that targeted a house in the town of al-Tiri".
Her employer, the Lebanese daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, also announced her death.
VIDEO - Trump has not set deadline for Iranian peace proposal: White House
US President Donald Trump has not set a deadline by which Iran must submit a peace proposal, the White House says.
"The president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I've seen today. Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander in chief," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tells journalists.
Trump does not see Iran seizure of ships as ceasefire violation: White House
US President Donald Trump does not consider Iran's seizure of two container ships to be a ceasefire violation because the vessels are not American or ‘Israeli’, the White House said Wednesday.
"No, because these were not US ships, these were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News, when asked if Trump viewed it as a violation of the ceasefire that paused US-‘Israeli’ operations against Iran.
Trump has not set deadline for Iranian peace proposal: White House
US President Donald Trump has not set a deadline by which Iran must submit a peace proposal, the White House said on Wednesday.
"The president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I've seen today. Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander in chief," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told journalists.
“False news”: Iran judiciary slams Trump remarks on women reportedly on death row
Iran's judiciary on Wednesday described as "false news" remarks by US President Donald Trump that the Islamic republic had reversed a decision to execute eight women, saying they had never faced the death penalty.
"Despite the claim from last night being exposed as a lie, Trump, just minutes ago in another post, claimed that the death sentences of eight protesting women who were supposed to be executed tonight in Iran have been cancelled, and thanked Iran!" the judiciary's Mizan Online website posted on X.
"Trump's empty hand in the field has led him to fabricate achievements from false news," it said, in response to the US president's remarks that Iran had halted alleged plans to execute eight women arrested over anti-government protests, after he urged Tehran to release them to help peace negotiations.
Hezbollah says attacked ‘Israeli’ troops in response to truce violations
Hezbollah said Wednesday it attacked ‘Israeli’ forces using attack drones in southern Lebanon, as the both sides continue accusing each other of violating the 10-day truce brokered by the United States.
“We targeted a command Hummer vehicle belonging to the Israeli enemy in the town of Al-Qantara using a drone, in response to a ceasefire violation,” the Lebanese group said in a statement.
Another drone was used to target a “gathering of Israeli enemy army soldiers in the town of Al-Qantara,” a second statement said.
Mideast war “starting to weaken Europe,” says Erdogan
The US-‘Israeli’ war against Iran is "starting to weaken Europe", Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday.
"The war in our region is likewise starting to weaken Europe, and if we do not address this situation with an approach that prioritises peace, the damage caused by the conflict will be far greater," Erdogan told Steinmeier, according to a statement from the Turkish leader's office.
Iran President slams “hypocritical” US for putting “obstacles” to negotiations
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that his country “has welcomed dialogue and agreement and continues to do so,” but identified U.S. breaches of commitments, an ongoing blockade, and threats as the main obstacles to genuine negotiations.
In a post on X, Pezeshkian wrote: “Breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations. World sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions.”
The statement comes as Iran refuses to engage in talks while the US blockade on Iranian ports continues.
Trump sets deadline for Iran talks, no progress reported
US President has set a Sunday deadline for negotiations with Iran, according to sources cited by 'Israeli' Channel 12.
Officials told The Wall Street Journal that Washington and Tehran have exchanged messages through intermediaries, but no significant progress has been made.
Iran reportedly insisted its delegation would not leave Tehran before the lifting of the blockade.
Trump says Iran will not execute eight women after his request
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran will not execute eight women who were sentenced to death, after he previously requested clemency on their behalf.
“Very good news! I have just been informed that the eight women protestors who were going to be executed tonight in Iran will no longer be killed. Four will be released immediately, and four will be sentenced to one month in prison,” Trump said on Truth Social.
On Tuesday, Iran’s judiciary denied that the eight women were at the risk of execution.
"Trump was misled once again by fake news," the judiciary's official Mizan Online website said yesterday.
"The women who were claimed to be on the verge of execution, some of them have been released, while others face charges that, if convictions are upheld, would at most result in imprisonment."
Trump had earlier said on social media that the women's release could work in Iran's favour in negotiations, re-posting an activist's claim that eight women were facing death by hanging. That claim did not give names but included photographs of the women.
“I very much appreciate that Iran, and its leaders, respected my request, as President of the United States, and terminated the planned execution. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said concluding his statement.
Iran’s Ghalibaf says opening Hormuz “impossible” amid US blockade
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that any “complete” ceasefire must fully lift the US naval blockade and halt ‘Israeli’ military actions on all fronts, warning that partial deals are unacceptable.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf stated: “A complete ceasefire only has meaning if it is not violated by the naval blockade and the hostage-taking of the world’s economy, and if Zionist warmongering stops on all fronts. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible with a flagrant violation of the ceasefire.”
He added that Iran has not yielded to military aggression or “bullying”.
“The only way is the acceptance of the Iranian nation’s rights.”
The statement comes as tensions persist over the US blockade of Iranian ports and Iran’s disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, following Trump’s recent decision to extend a ceasefire indefinitely.
Iran says appreciates Pakistan's efforts to end war
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Wednesday that the Islamic republic appreciates Pakistan's efforts to end the Middle East war, without commenting on a ceasefire extension announced by the United States.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that Baqaei was asked by journalists to comment on the truce extension, which US President Donald Trump said he approved following a request by Pakistani mediators.
"While appreciating Pakistan's efforts to end the imposed war and establish peace", Baqaei stressed that Tehran "is taking the necessary measures to safeguard Iran's national interests and security".
US using Ukrainian anti-UAV tech after Iran attacks: Reuters
The US military has been using Ukrainian anti-drone technology in recent weeks at the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to sources cited by Reuters.
The base has come under attack and several US aircraft were destroyed, ever since the United States and ‘Israel’ launched strikes against Iran on February 28 and Islamic Republic retaliated by striking US military assets in the region.
Ukraine has advanced counter-drone technology, due to its prolonged war with Russia.
Earlier in the war, an E-3 AWACS plane was destroyed (or severely damaged on the ground), in addition to five US refueling aircraft.
‘Israeli’ strikes kill 3 in Lebanon, Beirut to seek truce extension
‘Israeli’ strikes killed three people in Lebanon on Wednesday, Lebanese state media said, despite an ongoing 10-day ceasefire, which an official said Beirut will request an extension for in the upcoming talks with ‘Israel’ in Washington.
Ahead of the talks on Thursday, ‘Israel’ called on the Lebanese government to "work together" with it against Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
The two governments, which do not have diplomatic relations with each other, are set to hold a second round of talks under US auspices on Thursday, in a bid to end more than six weeks of war between ‘Israel’ and Hezbollah that began on March 2.
Lebanon will request a one-month extension of the ceasefire during the meeting with ‘Israel’, a Lebanese official told AFP.
"Lebanon will request an extension of the truce for one month, an end of Israel's bombing and destruction in the areas where it is present, and a commitment to the ceasefire," the Lebanese official told AFP, on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the talks.
The ten-day ceasefire, which expires Sunday, was announced after an initial meeting last week.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, for his part, said Wednesday that "contacts are underway to extend the ceasefire period".
He said Lebanon seeks "a complete halt on Israeli attacks and the achievement of an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory".
“Serious disagreements”
‘Israeli’ Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Wednesday that ‘Israel’ does not have any "serious disagreements" with Lebanon.
"Unfortunately, Lebanon is a failed state, a state that is de facto under Iranian occupation through Hezbollah," he said.
Hezbollah -- represented in the Lebanese cabinet and parliament -- strongly opposes the direct talks with ‘Israel’ pushed by Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
A Hezbollah lawmaker however told AFP on Monday that the group might accept indirect talks mediated by the United States.
"The obstacle to peace and normalisation between the (two) countries is one -- Hezbollah," said Saar.
Despite the truce, ‘Israel’ is continuing its strikes in Lebanon, where one person was killed Wednesday in the eastern Bekaa region, and two were killed in the country's south, according to state media.
‘Israeli’ attacks on Lebanon have killed at least 2,454 people since the start of the war, according to Lebanese authorities.
‘Israeli’ forces remain in dozens of southern villages, behind what the army has called a "Yellow Line", described by the ‘Israelis’ as a 10-kilometre (six-mile) deep "security zone" along the border in southern Lebanon.
Most locals have fled the area, though residents of some Christian villages have been defying ‘Israeli’ army evacuation orders.
Hezbollah, for its part, said it carried out an attack on northern ‘Israel’ on Tuesday in response to ‘Israel's’ "flagrant" violations of the ceasefire, for the first time since it came into effect on Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron also said on Wednesday that a second French soldier died "of the consequences of his wounds" suffered in a weekend ambush against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon blamed on Hezbollah, which has denied responsibility.
Ambush blamed on Hezbollah kills second French peacekeeper: Macron
A second French soldier died Wednesday "of the consequences of his wounds" suffered in a weekend ambush against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon blamed on Hezbollah, President Emmanuel Macron said.
A first soldier was shot dead in the Saturday ambush, for which Hezbollah has denied responsibility, while Wednesday's fatality was one of three troops hurt in the same attack.
Trump says Iran talks second round possible by Friday
US President Donald Trump said a second round of negotiations with Iran could be held by Friday, signaling possible rapid progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Speaking to the New York Post, Trump said discussions could move quickly, adding that a breakthrough in the talks might be reached within 36 to 72 hours.
Hezbollah says it targets ‘Israeli’ artillery position in Bayyada with drone
Hezbollah said it carried out a drone strike targeting an ‘Israeli’ artillery position in the town of Bayyada.
The group said the operation hit the artillery site, with reports indicating that fire broke out in one of its rooms following the strike.
‘Israeli’ army says it intercepted Hezbollah drone in south Lebanon
The ‘Israeli’ military said it intercepted a drone launched by Hezbollah toward its forces deployed along the frontline in southern Lebanon.
According to the ‘Israeli’ army, the drone was shot down by the air force before it could cross from southern Lebanon into ‘Israeli’ territory.
Trump seeks to end war, avoids military escalation: Axios
US President Donald Trump is seeking to end the war and avoid further military escalation, according to sources cited by Axios.
