The US intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf as part of its naval blockade, prompting Tehran to warn of retaliation to this “act of armed piracy” and potentially complicating negotiations to end the war that is now in its eighth week.
US President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that the Iranian ship Touska was seized by the US Navy after failing to respond to a warning to stop.
“Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them,” Trump wrote. The US Central Command later released a video that it said showed the military intercepting Touska.
Trump’s post came after Washington confirmed US Vice-President JD Vance would lead another delegation for a second round of talks on ending the war with Iran in Pakistan. But Tehran has not confirmed its attendance so far. Iran’s official IRNA state news agency reported that Tehran had rejected new peace talks, citing the ongoing blockade and Washington’s shifting positions and “excessive demands”.
Over the weekend, Tehran had announced it will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but that lasted few hours as the US said it will continue its naval blockade till a deal was reached.
The West Asia war began after US and Israel struck Iran on 28 February. Tehran responded by blocking the Strait of Hormuz and targeting its Gulf neighbours that host American military bases. Strikes and counter-attacks continued till the US announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran. This truce will end on 22 April unless an extension is announced or a negotiations between the US and Iran arrive at a resolution to end the war.
West Asia war | Live updates
11.00 am: IDF launches probe after soldier damages Christ statue in Lebanon
Israel has launched an investigation after a photograph circulating on social media showed a soldier damaging a statue of a crucified Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon. According to CNN, the image, taken in the predominantly Christian village of Debel, shows the figure of Christ leaning against the cross, appearing upside down and removed from it.
The photo, posted Sunday, appears to show an Israeli soldier striking the head of the statue of Christ on the cross with a hammer or an axe.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement it views the incident with “great severity”, and that that the soldier’s conduct is “wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops”.
The IDF’s Northern Command has initiated an investigation into the matter. “Appropriate measures will be taken against those involved in accordance with the findings,” IDF said.
Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon.
The IDF views the incident with great… https://t.co/U6P3x8KWBb
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 19, 2026
10.40 am: Uncertainty over Iran’s participation in talks
Head of Iran’s National Security Committee Ebrahim Azizi, when asked about Tehran’s participation in the 21 April negotiations with the US in Pakitan, told Al Jazeera that the country will act on national interest.
The negotiations, he said, were “continuation of the battlefield”.
“…We see nothing other than the battlefield in this. If it yields achievements that sustain those of the battlefield, then the negotiation arena is also an opportunity for us… But not if the Americans intend to turn this into a field of excessive demands, based on their bullying approach,” he was quoted as saying.
Azizi, a former Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) commander, said Tehran has decided to continue talks with the US, but that “does not mean to negotiate at any cost” and to accept any “approach the other party practises”.
Iran has red lines, and these “must be observed”, he added. On Tehran sending a team to Islamabad, Azizi said it depends on whether Tehran receives positive signs.
10.10 am: US releases another video of ship seizure
US CENTCOM released another video of Marines boarding a chopper and rappelling onto TOUSKA to seize the Iranian-flagged cargo ship.
“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 U.S. forces over a six-hour period,” CENTCOM posted Monday.
U.S. 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… pic.twitter.com/mFxI5RzYCS
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 20, 2026
9.30 am: Oil prices back up amid uncertainty
Oil prices rose Monday on fears of escalation in hostilities once again, after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and the US said it had seized an Iranian cargo ship. In early trading, the price of Brent crude climbed 5.8 percent to $95.64 per barrel.
9.15 am: LPG tankers turned back at Hormuz
Two liquefied petroleum gas tankers attempted to transit the Strait Saturday morning but made a U‑turn after reaching waters south of Larak Island, MarineTraffic vessel tracking data showed.
Iran’s semi‑official Tasnim news agency reported that the vessels were turned back by Iran’s armed forces. One of the tankers, the Angola‑flagged LPG tanker G Summer, later exited the Gulf on a second attempt on Saturday evening, signaling “China owner”, according to the data.
Friday’s announcement that the Strait would reopen caused the sharpest one-day drop in oil prices in years and boosted stock markets to all-time highs.
Amrita Sen, founder of the Energy Aspects think tank, predicted oil prices would rise on Monday when traders returned to their desks having realised they might have been overly optimistic. “Events over the weekend with Iran firing on merchant vessels and shutting the Strait again highlight just how precarious the situation is,” Sen said.
Source: Reuters
8.30 am: The interception
Trump said Sunday that the US military took control of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that had tried to get past the blockade. “We have full custody of their ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” he wrote on social media, adding that US forces blew a hole in the vessel’s engine room.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 19, 2026
Trump had earlier warned Iran that the US would destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran if Tehran rejects his terms, continuing a pattern of such threats throughout the war.
Iran has said that if the United States were to attack its civilian infrastructure it would hit power stations and desalination plants of Gulf Arab neighbours.
US excessive demands, unreasonable and unrealistic expectations, frequent shifts in positions, continuous contradictions, and the so-called naval blockade which violates ceasefire understanding along with threatening rhetoric, have so far hindered progress in the negotiations.
— IRNA News Agency ☫ (@IrnaEnglish) April 19, 2026
8.00 am: Vance to reach Islamabad today
The American delegation is expected to arrive in Islamabad Monday evening.
A White House official had said the delegation would be headed by Vice-President J.D. Vance, who led the war’s first peace talks a week ago, and also include Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump had separately told ABC News and MS Now that Vance would not go.
Pakistan, which has served as the main mediator, appeared to be preparing for the talks. Two giant US C-17 cargo planes landed at an air base Sunday afternoon, carrying security equipment and vehicles in preparation for the delegation’s arrival, two Pakistani security sources said.
Authorities in Islamabad halted public transport and heavy-goods traffic through the city. Barbed wire was rolled out near the Serena Hotel, where last week’s talks were held. The hotel told all guests to leave.
Source: Reuters