The US-Iran talks scheduled in Pakistan today have been cancelled. The trip of Vice President J.D. Vance and the American negotiating delegation to Islamabad—initially postponed—has been "indefinitely postponed." Due to the stalemate, Donald Trump has decided to extend the truce , also set to expire today, until Iran presents its proposal and "discussions are concluded, one way or the other." But "the extension of the ceasefire," according to Tehran, "is certainly a ploy to buy time for a surprise attack." To resume negotiations , Iran is demanding that the US lift its port blockade.
News for Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Navy: "Four ships planned to be sent to Hormuz"
"The prudent planning carried out by the Chief of the Defense Staff includes a group based on two minesweepers with an escort unit and logistics that will allow us to extend the deployment period. Four ships in total. Obviously, we're not going alone; we're going as part of an international coalition; other nations will also send minesweepers. In Europe, there are France, England, and a joint group between the Netherlands and Belgium." This is what the Chief of the Navy Staff, Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, told Cinque Minuti regarding a possible mission in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon: "It will take six months to clear Hormuz of mines."
Clearing the Strait of Hormuz of mines could take six months and is unlikely to be undertaken before the end of the war, the Pentagon told Congress, according to the Washington Post.
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Macron: "A second French soldier wounded in Lebanon has died."
French soldier Anicet Girardin, who was repatriated yesterday from Lebanon where he was seriously injured on April 18 during a Hezbollah attack, has died: French President Emmanuel Macron announced on X.
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Iran seizes two MSC ships and hits a third – Iranian media report that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has targeted three ships in the Strait of Hormuz: two were seized and one was hit. The IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency, cited by the BBC, says the Euphoria was hit and is now aground off the Iranian coast. Iranian media also claim that the MSC Francesca and Epaminondas were "seized" and headed toward the Iranian coast, citing a statement from the IRGC Navy.
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Iran: "Negotiations will take place if the US lifts the blockade" – "The United States must cease its violation of the ceasefire before any new round of negotiations," Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir-Saeid Iravani told the Iranian media outlet Shargh, as reported by Al-Jazeera. "As soon as the blockade is lifted, the next round of negotiations will be held in Islamabad," he added. "Iran is ready for any scenario. We did not initiate the military aggression. If they seek a political solution, we are ready. If they seek war, Iran is ready for that, too."
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Trump: "Iran in financial collapse" – Iran is "financially collapsing" due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump wrote this on his social media platform, Truth, just hours after deciding to extend the truce while maintaining the blockade of Iranian ports. "Iran is financially collapsing! They want the Strait of Hormuz reopened immediately: they're out of money! They're losing $500 million a day... SOS!!!" Trump wrote.
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UN: "US and Iran must resume dialogue" – "Our firm hope is that dialogue between the United States and Iran will resume, that the ceasefire will be extended, and that diplomacy will be fully implemented," said UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric, spokesman.
CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST: ALL THE NEWS
(Unioneonline)
