{"id":12089,"date":"2026-04-21T04:20:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:20:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/04\/21\/live-updates-iran-demands-immediate-release-of-seized-vessel-as-ceasefire-deadline-looms-cnn\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T04:20:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:20:40","slug":"live-updates-iran-demands-immediate-release-of-seized-vessel-as-ceasefire-deadline-looms-cnn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/04\/21\/live-updates-iran-demands-immediate-release-of-seized-vessel-as-ceasefire-deadline-looms-cnn\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Iran demands immediate release of seized vessel as ceasefire deadline looms – CNN"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Day 52 of Middle East conflict – Trump says extension of ceasefire with Iran is \u2018highly unlikely\u2019 <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Retired U.S Army General David Petraeus says both sides would like to see a deal to end the war with Iran, but the best-case scenario may be an extension of the current ceasefire and a memo of understanding that enables discussions to continue.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”02:48″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/still-22555317-2401452-185-thumb.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/still-22555317-2401452-185-thumb.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

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By Anne Clifford<\/span>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Updated 12:18 AM EDT, Tue April 21, 2026 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-04-21T01:08:28.255Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/04\/20\/world\/video\/ac360petraeusiran” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”ac360petraeusiran” data-first-publish-slug=”ac360petraeusiran” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details data-track-zone=”live-story-lede” data-sticky-anchor-pos=”bottom”> <\/p>\n

Retired U.S Army General David Petraeus says both sides would like to see a deal to end the war with Iran, but the best-case scenario may be an extension of the current ceasefire and a memo of understanding that enables discussions to continue.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-04-21T01:08:28.255Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/04\/20\/world\/video\/ac360petraeusiran” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”ac360petraeusiran” data-first-publish-slug=”ac360petraeusiran” data-video-tags> \"still_22555317_2401452.185_thumb.jpg\"<\/picture> <\/div>\n

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Ret. U.S Army General David Petraeus says both sides would like to see a deal to end the war with Iran. <\/p>\n

02:48 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ret. U.S Army General David Petraeus says both sides would like to see a deal to end the war with Iran.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

02:48 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\u2022 Seized ship: <\/strong>Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry called for the release of the Iranian cargo vessel seized by the US Navy<\/a> on Sunday, as well as \u201cits sailors, crew and their families.\u201d Iran has vowed to retaliate for the seizure. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Looming deadline: <\/strong>US President <\/strong>Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran ends \u201cWednesday evening Washington time,\u201d adding it\u2019s \u201chighly unlikely\u201d<\/a> he would extend it if a deal is not reached before then. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Status of negotiations: <\/strong>Vice President JD Vance and top US officials are expected to depart Tuesday for Pakistan<\/a> ahead of a potential second round of talks, according to sources. Trump projected confidence<\/a> Tehran would come to the table although Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry earlier insisted there were no negotiations<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Lebanon-Israel talks: <\/strong>A <\/strong>second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon<\/a> is scheduled for Thursday, according to Israeli and US officials. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Iran\u2019s Foreign Ministry condemned the seizure of Iranian cargo ship Touska<\/a> by US forces and called for the \u201cimmediate release of the Iranian vessel, its sailors, crew and their families\u201d in a statement published Tuesday. <\/p>\n

The US Navy fired on and seized the Iranian-flagged ship Sunday after it tried to get past the US naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, according to President Donald Trump. Footage released by the military showed a guided-missile destroyer firing on the vessel and Marines rappelling from helicopters onto its deck. <\/p>\n

Iran previously vowed to retaliate for the seizure of the ship, which the Foreign Ministry called \u201cextremely dangerous\u201d and \u201ccriminal\u201d in its Tuesday statement. It said the cargo was worth \u201cmillions,\u201d without specifying what the cargo was. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no doubt that the Islamic Republic of Iran will use all its capacities to defend Iran\u2019s national interests and security and to safeguard the rights and dignity of its citizens,\u201d the statement said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is also clear that full responsibility for any further escalation in the region lies with the United States.\u201d <\/p>\n

It is not clear how many people were aboard the ship and whether they are Iranian. CNN has reached out to US Central Command for comment on the nationality of the crew and the status of the cargo ship. <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Brad Lendon and Teele Rebane contributed reporting.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The US Air Force is extending the life of its A-10 Thunderbolt ground-attack jet until at least 2030, the office of the secretary of the Air Force said on social media Monday.<\/a> <\/p>\n

The service had planned to completely retire the iconic jets, nicknamed the \u201cWarthog,\u201d later this year, though Congress later mandated in the National Defense Authorization Act that the Air Force keep 103 of the twin-engine jets in its fleet, with 2029 projected as its final year of service. <\/p>\n

The jets have proven useful in the war in Iran, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine praised the jets and their pilots for the role in spearheading the rescue of two air crew who ejected from their F-15E fighter after it was hit by a missile over Iranian territory. <\/p>\n

A-10s played a key role in suppressing Iranian forces trying to get to the downed American flight crew and other US rescue forces that landed in Iran, Caine said. <\/p>\n

One A-10 was hit during the rescue and its pilot later ejected<\/a> after flying the aircraft back over friendly territory, Caine said. <\/p>\n

The first A-10 was was delivered to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, in October 1975, according to the Air Force fact sheet, and has seen action in several conflicts since. Its 30mm gatling gun nose cannon produces a \u201cBRRRPPPP\u201d sound and can destroy tanks and decimate infantry firing up to 3,900 rounds a minute, according to an Air Force. <\/p>\n

One note:<\/strong> The final class of A-10 pilots graduated earlier this month from training at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump insisted Monday that Iran is \u201cgoing to negotiate\u201d ahead of anticipated talks in Pakistan. <\/p>\n

Speaking in a short phone interview on \u201cThe John Fredericks Show,\u201d a conservative radio program, Trump projected confidence that Tehran would come to the table, while warning of consequences if it does not. <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they\u2019re going to negotiate, and if they don\u2019t, they\u2019re going to see problems like they\u2019ve never seen before,\u201d the president said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully they\u2019ll make a fair deal, and they\u2019ll build their country back up,\u201d Trump continued, adding that when they do so, \u201cthey will not have a nuclear weapon.\u201d <\/p>\n

Before ending the call, Trump returned to his justification for military action. \u201cAnd I have to say we had no choice in Iran,\u201d he said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t like we had a choice. We had to do it.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve done a great job, and we\u2019ll get it closed out, and everybody\u2019s going to be happy,\u201d he added before hanging up. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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CNN\u2019s Brian Todd breaks down night footage of US Marines boarding and seizing an Iranian-flagged cargo ship<\/a> that tried to bypass the US naval blockade on Sunday. <\/p>\n

CNN’s Brian Todd reports for The Lead.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”02:37″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/todd-2.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/todd-2.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”The Lead<\/a>” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

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Updated 12:18 AM EDT, Tue April 21, 2026 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-04-20T21:52:20.632Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/04\/20\/world\/video\/donald-trump-iran-war-cargo-ship-lead-jake-tapper” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”donald-trump-iran-war-cargo-ship-lead-jake-tapper” data-first-publish-slug=”donald-trump-iran-war-cargo-ship-lead-jake-tapper” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details> <\/p>\n

CNN’s Brian Todd reports for The Lead.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-04-20T21:52:20.632Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/04\/20\/world\/video\/donald-trump-iran-war-cargo-ship-lead-jake-tapper” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”donald-trump-iran-war-cargo-ship-lead-jake-tapper” data-first-publish-slug=”donald-trump-iran-war-cargo-ship-lead-jake-tapper” data-video-tags> \"todd<\/picture> <\/div>\n

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Night footage shows US Marines boarding Iranian-flagged vessel <\/p>\n

02:37 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Night footage shows US Marines boarding Iranian-flagged vessel<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

02:37 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The boarding of the disabled Iranian ship<\/a> was captured in a \u201ccarefully edited video released by the US military,\u201d Todd says, and showed US Marines dropping down to the deck of the \u201cTouska\u201d from helicopters. <\/p>\n

The ship is now in US custody. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Top US officials are expected to head to Pakistan tomorrow<\/a> ahead of a second round of peace talks with Iran \u2014 but the Iranian Foreign Ministry has said its country does not have plans to reengage the US \u201cfor now.\u201d <\/p>\n

It comes after US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire between the two countries ends on Wednesday<\/a>, and that he\u2019s not likely to extend it. <\/p>\n

Late Monday, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the most hawkish lawmakers on the war, was seen arriving at the West Wing entrance of the White House<\/a> ahead of the potential talks. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what\u2019s senior Iranians have been saying today:<\/em> <\/p>\n

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