Efforts to end the US-Israel and Iran war remain uncertain Tuesday, with Tehran saying it will not negotiate under the “shadow of threats” and US President Donald Trump promising to keep up pressure with his blockade on Iranian ports until a deal is reached.
A senior Iranian official had told Reuters Monday that Tehran was considering attending the second round of peace talks with the US, but stressed that no decision had been made. Pakistan, the mediator, has been trying to end the US blockade of Iranian ports, which remains a significant obstacle to Tehran rejoining peace efforts as the end of a two-week ceasefire approaches.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said that “continued violations of the ceasefire” by the US were a major obstacle to continuing the diplomatic process. Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in a telephone call that Iran, while taking all aspects of the matter into account, had yet to decide how to proceed further.
The two-week ceasefire in a conflict that has killed thousands and roiled the global economy, particularly energy markets, is set to expire this week.
Trump is eager for a deal that would help avoid another surge in oil prices and plunge in stock markets. Iran hopes to leverage its control of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping channel for global energy supplies, to get an agreement that prevents a resumption of the war, and allows financial relief from long-running sanctions and some breathing room for its nuclear programme.
Thousands of people have been killed by US-Israeli strikes on Iran and in an Israeli invasion of Lebanon conducted in parallel since the war began on 28 February. A truce in Lebanon is also currently in place and Washington is to host a second round of ambassador-level talks between Lebanon and Israel Thursday as part of efforts to protect a fragile ceasefire.
US-Israel and Iran war | Live updates
11.10 am: China urges for ‘normal traffic’ via strait
Chinese President Xi Jinping said “normal traffic” through the Strait of Hormuz “should be maintained”, BBC reported. Jinping made the remarks on a phone call with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Monday.
10.15 am: US media reporting Vance to travel to Pak today
US media are reporting that Vice President J.D. Vance will leave the US Tuesday for talks in Pakistan. Axios cited three US sources who said Vance would leave by Tuesday morning. CNN also cited sources as saying that negotiations were being planned for Wednesday.
Pakistan has been readying to host negotiations in Islamabad for a second time even as there’s no confirmation that Iran will participate in the talks.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf wrote on X Monday that Tehran does not negotiate under the “shadow of threats” and was “preparing to show new cards on the battlefield”.
ترامپ با اعمال محاصره و نقض آتشبس میخواهد تا به خیال خود این میز مذاکره را به میز تسلیم تبدیل کند یا جنگافروزی مجدد را موجّه سازد.
مذاکره زیر سایهٔ تهدید را نمیپذیریم و در دو هفتهٔ اخیر برای رو کردن کارتهای جدید در میدان نبرد آماده شدهایم.— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 20, 2026
10.10 am: ‘Stupid or wilfully ignorant’, says WH on war criticism
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has asserted Trump administration is on the verge of securing a historic diplomatic breakthrough with Tehran.
Speaking to Fox News, Leavitt credited the progress to the unique approach adopted by the US President, contrasting it with previous diplomatic efforts. According to the Press Secretary, the current trajectory suggests a superior outcome compared to the 2015 nuclear framework. “The United States has never been closer to a good deal with Iran, unlike the horrible deal made by the Obama administration, thanks to President Donald Trump’s negotiating ability,” Leavitt said.
The White House further dismissed domestic and international criticism regarding the administration’s aggressive posturing and the use of economic leverage. Leavitt defended the President’s unconventional methodology as a calculated strategy designed for long-term regional stability. Sharply rebuking those who have questioned the current diplomatic path, the Press Secretary suggested that the underlying strategy remains clear to objective observers. “Anyone who cannot see President Trump’s tactics to play the long game is either stupid or wilfully ignorant,” she told Fox News.
Source: ANI
Also Read: Why has US not defeated Iran yet? Because Trump wants to win on the cheap
9.55 am: ‘Dual use items’ on seized Iranian cargo ship
The Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska, which was boarded and seized Sunday, was carrying dual-use items that could have been used by the Iranian military onboard, maritime security sources said.
U.S. forces patrol the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska, April 20, as the Iranian-flagged vessel's container cargo is searched after U.S. Marines boarded and seized the ship when it attempted to violate the U.S. naval blockade. pic.twitter.com/Czs127lK6p
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 20, 2026
9.30 am: Trump says US won’t lift its blockade
The US will not lift its blockade on Iranian ports until a deal has been reached with Tehran, Trump said, escalating uncertainty over whether fresh talks to end the war will take place.
The blockade is “absolutely destroying Iran”, Trump wrote on Truth Social. He claimed his country was winning the war “by a lot”.
The US President said on a radio show that he feels confident Iran will negotiate with the US.
“… and if they don’t, they’re going to see problems like they’ve never seen before,” Trump said. He added, “And I have to say we had no choice in Iran. It wasn’t like we had a choice. We had to do it.”
9.10 am: Preparations on in Pakistan
Pakistan geared up to host the talks despite uncertainty over whether they would go ahead. Nearly 20,000 security personnel have been deployed across Islamabad, a government official and a security official said.
8.45 am: US blockade remains a problem
A Pakistani security source said Pakistani mediator Field Marshal Asim Munir had told President Donald Trump the American naval blockade was an obstacle to talks, and that Trump had promised to consider ending it.
The US was hoping to start negotiations in Pakistan shortly before the ceasefire expires.
However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that “unconstructive & contradictory” signals from American officials carry a bitter message; they seek Iran’s surrender.”
“Iranians do not submit to force,” he added on X.
The US has maintained its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran lifted and then reimposed its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supply.
پایبندی به تعهدات منطق موجه هر نوع گفتگوست. علاوه بر بیاعتمادی تاریخی عمیقی که در ایران نسبت به پیشینه رفتار و عملکرد دولت آمریکا وجود دارد، رویکرد غیرسازنده و متناقض مسئولین آمریکا در روزهای اخیر حاوی یک پیام تلخ است: آنها خواهان تسلیم ایرانند. مردم ایران زیر بار زور نمیروند. https://t.co/JCbZM63sdH
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) April 20, 2026
8.00 am: Overnight recap
Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf accused US President Donald Trump on X of increasing pressure on Tehran through the blockade and ceasefire violations, saying Iran rejects negotiations under threat. The talks appeared to be in jeopardy after the US said it had seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to run its blockade and Tehran vowed to retaliate.
Adding to the uncertainty, Vice-President J.D. Vance remained in the US Monday, a separate source told Reuters, denying reports he was already on his way to Pakistan for talks.
The unnamed senior Iranian official said Tehran was “positively reviewing” its participation, a shift from earlier statements ruling out attendance and pledging to retaliate for US aggression. The official said mediator Pakistan was making positive efforts to end the US blockade and ensure Iran’s participation.
Trump said on social media that he believed his administration’s nuclear deal with Iran would be better than a 2015 international agreement reached after years of negotiations under then-President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
Trump withdrew from that agreement, which had been vehemently opposed by congressional Republicans and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in 2018, during his first term as president.
It was unclear what kind of agreement could be reached in just a few days of talks, but the Republican US President predicted a quick result. “I am under no pressure whatsoever, although, it will all happen, relatively quickly!” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Source: Reuters