President Donald Trump says that the United States talks with Iran are going well and that he expects to have more information “by the end of the day.”
Trump made the comments Saturday morning, April 18, during a White House event where he signed an executive order directing the Food and Drug Administration to expedite review of certain psychedelic drugs designed as breakthrough therapy for mental illness.
Trump declined to take reporters’ questions about Iran but said, “We have very good conversations going on.”
He says Iran “got a little cute,” later adding, “They wanted to close up the strait again,” referring to the Strait of Hormuz.
“They can’t blackmail us,” Trump said.
Pope Leo XIV says ‘not in my interest at all’ to debate Trump
Pope Leo XIV said Saturday that it was “not in my interest at all” to debate US President Donald Trump about the Iran war, but that he would continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.
Leo spoke to reporters aboard the papal plane flying from Cameroon to Angola.
He addressed the spiraling back-and-forth saga of Trump’s critiques of his peace message, which have dominated news headlines this week. But the American pope also sought to set the record straight, insisting that his preaching isn’t directed at Trump, but reflects the broader Gospel message of peace.
“There’s been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the president of the United States made some comments about myself,” he said.
US says 23 ships turned back since Iran blockade started
The US military says it has forced 23 ships to turn around near the Strait of Hormuz since it imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
In a post on X, the Central Command said US forces are still enforcing the blockade “against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas.”
The blockade ordered by President Donlad Trump started April 13 as part of US pressure on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In response to the continued blockade, Iran reimposed restrictions on transit through the strait.
French soldier killed during attack against UN mission in Lebanon
French President Emmanuel Macron said the soldier was killed and three others were injured on Saturday morning during an attack against the mission of the multinational UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL.
Macron identified the solider as Staff Sergeant Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban.
“Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” Macron wrote on social media. “France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest those responsible and assume their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL.”
Macron added that three of Montorio’s “comrades in arms were injured and evacuated.”
“The nation bows in respect and extends its support to the families of our soldiers and to all our military personnel engaged for peace in Lebanon,” he said.
Iran’s supreme leader sends defiant message
Iran’s “valiant navy” is “ready to inflict new bitter defeats on its enemies,” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said.
Khamenei’s defiant remarks came as Iran swiftly reimposed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz.
In a message celebrating the anniversary of the establishment of Iran’s army, he hailed Iran’s drone strikes that targeted Israel and United States interests across the region during the war.
Iran reimposes restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran reversed course on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, reimposing restrictions on the critical waterway on Saturday after the US said the move would not end its blockade.
The country’s joint military command said on Saturday that it “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces.” It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting carried the military’s statement that claimed the US has “continued acts of piracy and maritime theft under the guise of a so-called blockade.”
“Until the United States restores full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from Iran to their destinations and back, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain tightly controlled and in its previous condition,” said the IRGC command.
The announcement came the morning after President Donald Trump said the blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear program.
Another tanker attacked near the Strait of Hormuz
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said an unknown projectile hit the vessel, 25 nautical miles (46 kilometers) northeast of Oman.
Some containers on the vessel were damaged, it said.
The attack is the second on Saturday, after two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards opened fire on a tanker transiting the key waterway.
Israel says Hezbollah violated ceasefire south of ‘Yellow line’
The Israel Defence Forces on Saturday said its soldiers identified several ceasefire violations in southern Lebanon, and hence conducted “precise strikes against the terrorists and terrorist infrastructure sites.”
“The IDF is operating in accordance with the directives of the political echelon. Accordingly, the IDF is authorized to take the necessary measures in self-defense against threats, while ensuring the security of Israeli civilians and the soldiers deployed in the area,” the Israeli military wrote on X.
“Actions taken in self-defense and to remove immediate threats are not restricted by the ceasefire. The IDF will not allow harm to Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers and will take all necessary measures to ensure their safety.”
There is no mention of a “Yellow Line” in the 10-day ceasefire agreement that was announced by President Donald Trump and went into effect this week.
The US State Department said Thursday that according to the ceasefire agreement, Israel reserves the right to defend itself “at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”
Senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qammati told Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed TV Saturday that the group will not tolerate any Israeli strikes similar to what happened after the November 2024 truce, when Israel continued to carry out almost daily airstrikes.
“This time we will not practice the strategic patience policy,” Qammati said.
Iranian gunboats fire on tanker in Strait of Hormuz
The British military says two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz after Iran said it had reimposed restrictions on the vital waterway.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said the tanker and crew were reported safe, without identifying the vessel or its destination.
Indian ships reverse course in Hormuz, vessel tracker says
Two Indian vessels have had to reverse course in the Strait of Hormuz following reports of gunfire from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, a vessel-tracker said.
TankerTrackers.com said the vessels include an Indian-flagged super tanker, carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil.
US will start dropping bombs if no deal: Trump warns Iran
Trump on Saturday said the US will “start dropping bombs” if Tehran does not reach a deal.
When asked if he will extend the ceasefire if there is no deal by Wednesday, April 22, the President said, “I don’t know. Maybe I won’t extend it – but the blockade is going to remain.”
“Unfortunately, we’ll have to start dropping bombs again,” said Trump on board Air Force One.
Iran swiftly reversed course on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, reimposing restrictions on the critical waterway on Saturday after the US said the move would not end its blockade.
The country’s joint military command said on Saturday that it “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces.” It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting carried the military’s statement that claimed the US has “continued acts of piracy and maritime theft under the guise of a so-called blockade.”
“Until the United States restores full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from Iran to their destinations and back, the status of the Strait of Hormuz will remain tightly controlled and in its previous condition,” said the IRGC command.
Over 120 arrested across Iran for ‘preparing attack by enemy’
IRGC arrested more than 120 individuals who were allegedly affiliated with the US, United Kingdom, and Israel and “preparing the grounds for a military attack by the enemy,” the semiofficial Tasnim news agency said.
The IRGC arrested seven others who they claimed were “sending coordinates of sensitive locations to their headquarters.”
In Mazandaran province, 69 were arrested while 51 others, including three espionage teams, were busted in Kerman province, Tasnim reported.
War not over, will respond to any deception in diplomacy: Iran
Iran’s Defence Ministry spokesman Brig Gen Reza Talaei said the war with US has not yet ended and warned that Iran is ready to respond to any “deception in diplomacy.”
He said the Strait of Hormuz is only open during a ceasefire and conditionally, two Iranian semiofficial news agencies reported.
Brig Gen Reza said “military vessels and those linked to hostile forces have no right” of transit, according to the ISNA and Mehr news agencies.
Pakistani leader heads home from Turkey ahead of US-Iran talks
Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has concluded his three-day visit to Iran as part of Islamabad’s efforts to resolve the conflict between the US and Iran.
Munir, who was heading a high-level delegation to Iran, landed in Tehran on Wednesday, becoming the first foreign military leader to visit the country since a two-week ceasefire was agreed between Iran and the US on April 8.
During the visit, Munir held discussions with Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian and also met with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
He also met the Commander of Khatam ul Anbiya Headquarters Major General Ali Abdollahi.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also part of the Pakistani delegation.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement, said the discussions were “focused upon bringing sustainable peace to the region, with particular emphasis on the evolving regional security environment, ongoing diplomatic engagements, and collaborative measures aimed at promoting enduring peace and stability in the region”.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for home after visiting Turkey, where he attended a diplomatic forum in Antalya.
While there, he met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ahead of the second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad.
While at the forum, Sharif discussed recent regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington with Erdogan and the Qatari emir.
Pakistan is expected to host the second round of talks between Iran and the United States early next week.
Iran announces partial reopening of its airspace
Iran has announced a partial reopening of its airspace after a seven-week hiatus because of the war, state media reported.
The Civil Aviation Organization said air routes over eastern Iran were reopened at 7 am (9 am IST), according to the state-owned Iran newspaper. It said flights at the country’s airports would gradually resume, but did not give a timeframe.
Iran’s airspace had been closed since the US and Israel began striking Iran on Feb. 28. The partial reopening has come more than a week into a ceasefire between Iran and the US.
(With inputs from agencies)
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