{"id":12162,"date":"2026-04-23T04:28:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T04:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/04\/23\/live-updates-iran-seizes-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-after-trump-extends-ceasefire-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T04:28:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T04:28:26","slug":"live-updates-iran-seizes-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-after-trump-extends-ceasefire-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/04\/23\/live-updates-iran-seizes-ships-in-strait-of-hormuz-after-trump-extends-ceasefire-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Iran seizes ships in Strait of Hormuz after Trump extends ceasefire – NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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2h ago \/ 11:19 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Panama says Iran’s seizure of ships is a \u2018grave attack against maritime security\u2019<\/h2>\n
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Panama\u2019s Foreign Ministry said that Iran’s seizure of Panamanian-flagged MSC Francesca and other actions in the Strait of Hormuz \u201crepresent a grave attack against maritime security.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MSC Francesca, which is Italian-owned, and the ship Epaminondas were seized by Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard Corps today.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose types of actions increase the tensions in the Gulf and are contrary to international law,\u201d Panama\u2019s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoreover,” it said, “they represent a grave attack against maritime security and constitute and unnecessary escalation at times when the international community advocates for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international navigation without threats or blackmail of any type.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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2h ago \/ 10:30 PM EDT<\/p>\n

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= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"Iran<\/picture><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Iran attacked and seized commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz just hours after President Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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3h ago \/ 9:56 PM EDT<\/p>\n

U.S. Central Command says it has turned around 31 ships in Iran blockade <\/h2>\n
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U.S. Central Command said today that the number of ships it has turned around in its naval blockade of Iranian ports has risen to 31.<\/p>\n

Most of those vessels have been oil tankers, CENTCOM said on X tonight<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The U.S. has vowed that no ships would be allowed into or out of Iran\u2019s ports as part of the naval blockade, intended to put pressure on Tehran.<\/p>\n

Iranian officials have said that they consider the blockade to be a violation of the cease-fire with the U.S. and today attacked three ships in the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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4h ago \/ 9:01 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Journalist killed in Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, Lebanese officials say<\/h2>\n
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A journalist was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon today, Lebanese government officials said.<\/p>\n

The daily Al-Akhbar newspaper says its reporter Amal Khalil\u00a0was killed, the Associated Press reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s military acknowledged the strike and said that they were aware of reports that two journalists had been injured but said that it does not deliberately target journalists.<\/p>\n

“IDF troops identified two vehicles in southern Lebanon that had departed from a military structure used by Hezbollah,” the IDF said in a statement. “The individuals in the vehicles crossed the Forward Defense Line and approached the troops in a manner that posed an immediate threat to their safety.”<\/p>\n

The Israeli Air Force struck one vehicle, and \u201csubsequently, the structure from which the individuals had fled was also struck,\u201d the IDF said.<\/p>\n

Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said in a post on X<\/a> that Khalil was targeted by Israeli forces while reporting in Al-Tayri, which is in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n

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Lebanon\u2019s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that targeting journalists is a war crime. <\/p>\n

“Targeting journalists, obstructing the access of aid teams to them, and even targeting their locations again after these teams have arrived, constitute war crimes,” Salam said in a post on X<\/a>. “Israel’s targeting of journalists in southern Lebanon while they are carrying out their professional duties is no longer an isolated incident, but rather a proven pattern that we condemn and reject, as do all international laws and conventions.”<\/p>\n

He added, “Lebanon will spare no effort in pursuing these crimes before the relevant international bodies.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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5h ago \/ 7:46 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Iranian national team is planning on attending World Cup, president of Iranian football federation says<\/h2>\n
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The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, said today that the national team is planning on attending the World Cup this summer but that the final decision must be made by the country’s leaders.<\/p>\n

“The reality is that we are preparing for the World Cup. We are making preparations. Even today we were in training camp and our players are currently in camp,” Taj said, according to a video published<\/a> by the semi-official Mehr news agency. “But ultimately, you know we are part of the establishment. Whatever decision the state makes, we will comply with that.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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6h ago \/ 6:52 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Senate blocks fifth war powers resolution offered by Democrats <\/h2>\n
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The Senate tonight rejected a war powers resolution related to the war in Iran, voting 46-51 to decline to bring the measure to the floor.<\/p>\n

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was the only Democrat to vote against it, while Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the only Republican to vote for it. Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Dave McCormick, R-Pa., and Mark Warner, D-Va., did not vote.<\/p>\n

The result was expected and came after about an hour of debate on the Senate floor.<\/p>\n

The resolution would \u201cdirect the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is the fifth resolution introduced by Democrats to rein in Trump\u2019s actions in Iran without congressional approval. Democrats have said they will continue bringing war powers resolutions to the floor until Republicans agree to hold public hearings on Iran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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7h ago \/ 5:49 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Navy Secretary John Phelan leaving administration, Pentagon says<\/h2>\n
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Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving the administration and being replaced by Undersecretary Hung Cao, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a post on X<\/a>. <\/p>\n

= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"John<\/picture>\n

<\/span>Anna Moneymaker \/ Getty Images file<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

“Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately,” Parnell wrote. “On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”<\/p>\n

Parnell added, “Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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8h ago \/ 5:25 PM EDT<\/p>\n

White House press secretary says U.S. blockade is ‘massively effective’<\/h2>\n
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In an interview with Fox News today, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted the U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports has been “massively effective” and “inflicting maximum leverage and economic pressure” on Iran.<\/p>\n

When asked whether Trump views Iran seizing two ships in the Strait of Hormuz as a violation of the ceasefire, Leavitt said: \u201cNo, because these were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leavitt also noted that it was very important to Trump to get Iran\u2019s enriched uranium out of the country.<\/p>\n

“They must turn over the enriched uranium that\u2019s in their possession. While it is very far into the ground, thanks to the success of Operation Midnight Hammer, it\u2019s important to the president that they hand that enriched uranium over,” she said. “He\u2019s made that quite clear to them.”<\/p>\n

Operation Midnight Hammer is the name of the U.S. military operation that targeted Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities last June.<\/p>\n

Leavitt said the Trump administration is “waiting to hear back from the Iranian regime” on the state of negotiations to end the conflict.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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8h ago \/ 4:33 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Trump says there is ‘no time pressure’ on ceasefire or talks with Iran<\/h2>\n
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Trump said in an interview with Fox News today that there is “no time pressure” in dealing with the ceasefire or talks with Iran and that there is “no time frame” on when the war might end.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople say I want to get it over because of the midterms, not true,\u201d Trump said in the interview.<\/p>\n

Trump also noted that the current U.S. military blockade of Iran’s ports has scared the country’s leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe\u00a0blockade scares them\u00a0even more than the bombing,\u201d Trump said in the interview. \u201cThey\u2019ve been bombed for years but the blockade they hate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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9h ago \/ 3:40 PM EDT<\/p>\n

U.S. Central Command says 29 vessels directed to turn around amid blockade<\/h2>\n
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U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces have directed 29 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of the blockade against Iran.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The U.S. military has global reach. American forces are operating and enforcing the blockade across the Middle East and beyond,” CENTCOM said in a post on <\/a>X<\/a>. <\/p>\n

CENTCOM also denied media reports that “several commercial ships evaded the blockade.”<\/p>\n

= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"Ships<\/picture>\n

<\/span> Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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10h ago \/ 2:59 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Second French soldier killed in Lebanon, Macron says<\/h2>\n
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A second French soldier serving with the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon died in France today, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The soldier died from wounds sustained in the same Hezbollah ambush that killed a soldier from France on Saturday, Macron said.<\/p>\n

The soldiers were clearing an improvised explosive device from a road when they were ambushed by close-quarter heavy fire from Hezbollah fighters, according to the French defense minister. <\/p>\n

A total of three soldiers from France have died in the current Middle East conflict. The first was killed by a drone strike on northern Iraq in March.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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11h ago \/ 2:18 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Iranian president says U.S. naval blockade of Iran’s ports is obstructing peace talks<\/h2>\n
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In a post on X<\/a>, Iran’s president insisted the regime has “welcomed dialogue and agreement” with the U.S. but criticized the Trump administration for moves that he believes undermine peace talks. <\/p>\n

“Breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations,” Masoud Pezeshkian said in the post. “World sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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11h ago \/ 1:29 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Top Iranian official says U.S. blockade violates ceasefire<\/h2>\n
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In a post on social media, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker and the head of the country’s negotiating delegation in the first round of talks in Islamabad, said the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz violates the ceasefire. <\/p>\n

“A full ceasefire only has meaning if it is not violated by a naval blockade and the holding hostage of the global economy, and if the Zionists\u2019 war-mongering across all fronts is halted; reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible under a blatant breach of the ceasefire,” he wrote in a post on X<\/a>, according to an NBC News translation from the original Farsi.<\/p>\n

He said “they” \u2014 presumably the United States and Israel \u2014 “did not achieve their objectives through military aggression, and they will not achieve them through coercion either. The only path is to accept the rights of the Iranian nation.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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12h ago \/ 12:45 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Crew of a ship attacked in the Strait of Hormuz is safe, management company says <\/h2>\n
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The management company of a container ship that was fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz early Wednesday says the Liberian-registered Epaminondas was \u201capproached and fired upon by a manned gunboat\u201d while transiting the strait about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Oman.<\/p>\n

The Technomar company said all crew were \u201csafe and accounted for\u201d and no injuries were reported, but that preliminary inspections indicated the ship\u2019s bridge had been damaged.<\/p>\n

\u201cTechnomar remains in close contact with the crew and relevant authorities. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our crew as we work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure their continued safety and investigate the incident,\u201d the company said. It did not provide further details, but said more information would be released \u201cwhen there are material developments.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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13h ago \/ 12:01 PM EDT<\/p>\n

Republican senator says U.S. might have to go into Iran<\/h2>\n
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Asked in an interview on Newsmax <\/a>if the U.S. would “go in” to Iran and “finish the job” if there’s no peace deal in the coming weeks, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said, “I think that’s right.”<\/p>\n

“Previous presidents have had the same issues on what to do,” Marshall said, comparing it to President Truman’s decision to drop nuclear bombs on Japan and then-Gen. Eisenhower’s decision to launch the D-Day attack in World War II. <\/p>\n

“Every day is a new day. You have to take everything into consideration,” including “are they truly making progress or not,” Marshall said. <\/p>\n

“In Iran they have conflict with who’s in control there,” but “our military is locked and loaded. The blockade is there as well,” he said, which is “literally starving them<\/a>, both financially as well as \u2014 they can\u2019t feed themselves either very long.” <\/p>\n

“The president wants to get to peace as soon as he can,” Marshall said<\/a>. “The president’s got this. I’ve got confidence in the president.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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14h ago \/ 11:18 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Israeli strike kills two people in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire <\/h2>\n
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The strike targeted a vehicle in the town of Tayri on Wednesday, according to Lebanon\u2019s state-run National News Agency.<\/p>\n

No further details on the identities of the victims were immediately available.<\/p>\n

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack.<\/p>\n

The strike comes despite a 10-day ceasefire that went into effect Friday. Since then, several Israeli strikes have been reported, while Hezbollah has claimed a couple of attacks since Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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15h ago \/ 10:21 AM EDT<\/p>\n

In Tehran, an uneasy mood despite Trump’s ceasefire extension<\/h2>\n
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The mood in Tehran today felt noticeably different after two weeks of ceasefire with the U.S. <\/p>\n

There were fewer people out on the streets, while traffic wasn\u2019t heavy like its prewar levels.<\/p>\n

Many people believed the war could resume at any moment today and some had already left the capital before Trump’s announcement of an extension. <\/p>\n

= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"Daily<\/picture>\n

<\/span>Pedestrians pass pro-Iranian street murals in Tehran today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Fatemeh Bahrami \/ Anadolu via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

At the same time, authorities are working at full capacity to restore the city\u2019s appearance and repair damaged areas. There is no visible debris anymore despite the intense U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign.<\/p>\n

Arsalan, a local shop owner, said he was relieved the ceasefire had been extended. But he also expressed unease about the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s involvement in peace talks, given the impact of the war on the country’s already ailing economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we back in limbo again? Are these guys going to Pakistan or what? What\u2019s stopping them? It feels like they want war again, but how can they? Our prices are up and not many people come in to buy or even ask prices,\u201d he said this morning.<\/p>\n

= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"Pedestrians<\/picture>\n

<\/span>Street vendors in Tehran today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Atta Kenare \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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15h ago \/ 9:36 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Iran displays apparent ballistic missile at Tehran rally <\/h2>\n
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Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard brought what appeared to be a ballistic missile to a rally in Tehran as possible talks with the U.S. in Pakistan broke down. President Trump said he was extending the ceasefire with Iran while awaiting a \u201cunified proposal\u201d from Tehran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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16h ago \/ 9:22 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Middle East at a critical juncture, China warns<\/h2>\n
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The conflict consuming the Middle East is at a critical juncture between war and peace, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun has warned. <\/p>\n

Speaking with reporters yesterday, Guo said that the window for peace was open and that all parties should be seeking to move toward an end to the conflict. <\/p>\n

His comments came as the possibility of a second round of talks between Washington and Tehran remained unclear. <\/p>\n

He said China continued to support parties in maintaining the momentum of the ceasefire and talks so far.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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16h ago \/ 9:05 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Dozens of Israeli civilians attempt to enter Syria <\/h2>\n
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The Israeli military has said it intercepted around 40 Israeli civilians who gathered near the border and attempted to enter Syria today. <\/p>\n

The IDF said the civilians gathered at the border and then were able to infiltrate several hundred meters into the Israeli-military controlled buffer zone in Syria before being returned to Israel and taken into police custody.<\/p>\n

The IDF said it “strongly condemns this incident and emphasizes its severity, which constitutes a criminal offense that endangers civilians and IDF troops.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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16h ago \/ 8:27 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Lebanon\u2019s president says contacts ongoing to extend ceasefire <\/h2>\n
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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun says contacts are ongoing to extend the ceasefire between his country and Israel.<\/p>\n

His comments come a day before a second meeting is scheduled to take place in Washington between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors.<\/p>\n

Aoun said the aim of the future talks is to \u201cfully\u201d stop Israeli attacks, withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, release of Lebanese prisoners in Israel, deployment of Lebanese troops along the border and beginning the reconstruction process.<\/p>\n

Aoun said the support to Lebanon that was promised by Trump and other countries \u201cprovided us with an opportunity that we must not miss, as it may not come again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The latest Israel-Hezbollah war was halted by a 10-day ceasefire that went into effect Friday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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17h ago \/ 8:09 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Iran sends Trump a message with Hormuz attacks<\/h2>\n
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Iran is sending an unmistakable message to Trump this morning with its attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway where Tehran\u2019s hard-line military is calling the shots.<\/p>\n

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Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations did say overnight that as soon as the U.S. ends its naval blockade the next round of negotiations here in the Pakistani capital could take place.<\/p>\n

The problem is that Trump seems to view the American blockade as crucial leverage. <\/p>\n

That leaves us at what looks like a stalemate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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17h ago \/ 7:57 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Global oil price rises again to around $100 a barrel<\/h2>\n
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The continuing uncertainty and tension in the Strait of Hormuz has seen the price of Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, rise slightly to around $100 per barrel. <\/p>\n

Reports of renewed strikes on boats in the strait, which normally carries one-fifth of the world’s oil, has worried energy markets and Brent crude is 50% higher than a year ago. <\/p>\n

West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. crude oil benchmark, rose about 70 cents to $91 dollars a barrel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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17h ago \/ 7:34 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Photos: Protesters in Tehran last night<\/h2>\n
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People gathered at Enghelab and Vanak squares in Tehran last night to participate in anti-U.S.-Israel demonstrations. Participants waved Iranian flags and chanted slogans, and the Iranian armed forces displayed ballistic missiles at the protest site.<\/p>\n

= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"Thousands<\/picture>\n

<\/span>Fatemeh Bahrami \/ Anadolu via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"Thousands<\/picture>\n

<\/span>Fatemeh Bahrami \/ Anadolu via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"Thousands<\/picture>\n

<\/span>Fatemeh Bahrami \/ Anadolu via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"Thousands<\/picture>\n

<\/span>Fatemeh Bahrami \/ Anadolu via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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18h ago \/ 7:21 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Iran hangs another man over alleged ties to Israel’s Mossad <\/h2>\n
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Iran has executed a man convicted of spying for \u200cIsrael\u2019s intelligence service and sharing sensitive information, the judiciary\u2019s \u200bnews outlet Mizan reported.<\/p>\n

The man was identified as \u200bMehdi Farid, Mizan reported today, according to Reuters. It said he had held a position in a civil defense unit within a sensitive organization and used that access to share intel with Israel’s Mossad. <\/p>\n

It comes just days after Tehran executed two men also accused of cooperating with Mossad and planning attacks in Iran, The Times of Israel reported, citing Mizan.<\/p>\n

Human rights activists have long said that Iran convicts people in closed-door trials without allowing them to properly defend themselves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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18h ago \/ 6:55 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Tracking the 3 ships Iran says it attacked in the Strait of Hormuz<\/h2>\n
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Two ships Iran says it seized in the Strait of Hormuz this morning appear to be just off the Iranian coast, as the Revolutionary Guard claimed, according to ship tracking data. <\/p>\n

But it’s a different story for a third ship that semiofficial Iranian agencies say was fired on and now “stranded on Iranian shores.”<\/p>\n

MarineTraffic data shows that the Euphoria passed through the strait yesterday, south of the Iranian island of Larak, before making multiple turns on its way through the strait this morning, slowing to a speed of less than 1 nautical mile per hour at around 5:30 a.m. ET.<\/p>\n

The Euphoria’s last transmitted position was around 40 nautical miles south of the locations of the Epaminondas and Francesca, just after 6:20 a.m. ET today.<\/p>\n

The Euphoria was transmitting from a location between Oman and Iran, whereas the Epaminondas and Francesca were transmitting less than 10 nautical miles from the shore of Iran. They are the two ships that the Revolutionary Guard says it seized.<\/p>\n

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Francesca, a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship, had been in the Persian Gulf since at least April 18, before it maneuvered toward the strait and turned off its transponder. The ship reappeared this morning off the coast of Iran, east of the strait.<\/p>\n

Likewise the Epaminondas, a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, was last detected in the Persian Gulf on April 18, heading toward the strait. It then stopped transmitting an AIS signal before it reappeared in the Strait of Hormuz this morning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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19h ago \/ 6:11 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Iran attacked a third ship in the Strait of Hormuz, semiofficial news agency reports<\/h2>\n
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Three ships have been targeted this morning by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the semiofficial news agency Fars has reported. <\/p>\n

A Greek-owned ship named Euphoria is now stranded on Iran\u2019s shores, Fars reported in a Telegram post.<\/p>\n

Fars reported that the IRGC had also targeted two other “violating ships,” MSC Francesca and Epaminondas, which it said belonged to the shipping giant MSC and had been attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. <\/p>\n

= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"Container<\/picture>\n

<\/span>The MSC Francesca at Hamburg port in Germany in 2018.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Krisztian Bocsi \/ Bloomberg via Getty Images file<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

It said both had been “immobilized.” The Revolutionary Guard said it had seized the Francesca and Epaminondas, according to the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.<\/p>\n

The British military\u2019s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center earlier reported two ships had come under fire in the strait.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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19h ago \/ 6:04 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it seized 2 ships and escorted them to Iran’s coast<\/h2>\n
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After earlier reports that two ships had been fired on in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard now says it has seized “two violating vessels.”<\/p>\n

The MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas “<\/em>had endangered maritime security by operating without the required authorization and by tampering with navigation systems,” the IRGC Navy Command said in a statement reported by state TV and news agencies.<\/p>\n

The ships “were seized by the IRGC Navy and escorted to Iran\u2019s coast,” it said. “Disrupting order and safety in the Strait of Hormuz is our red line.”<\/p>\n

It said the Francesca was linked to Israel, without providing evidence.<\/p>\n

It comes after Trump said he was keeping the U.S. blockade of Iran in place, and after U.S. forces seized an Iranian ship over the weekend before boarding another tanker linked to Iran’s oil trade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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19h ago \/ 5:38 AM EDT<\/p>\n

7 ships moved through Hormuz in last 12 hours, tracking data shows, amid new ship attacks<\/h2>\n
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As of 5 a.m. ET this morning, seven tankers or cargo ships have moved through the Strait of Hormuz in the preceding 12 hours, according to data collected by NBC News from MarineTraffic, a vessel tracking service. <\/p>\n

Smaller special craft or tugboats were also present in the strait, along with three Iranian ships, including a tanker.<\/p>\n

Multiple ships transiting through the strait have had intermittent pauses in the transmission of the Automated Identification Signal (AIS), which the International Maritime Organization mandates for many ships, including container vessels and tankers, to ensure safety in the world\u2019s waterways.<\/p>\n

The Panamanian-flagged cargo ship MSC Francesca had been in the Persian Gulf since April 18, before it maneuvered toward the strait and turned off its transponder. The ship reappeared this morning off the coast of Iran, east of the strait.<\/p>\n

Likewise the Epaminondas, a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, was last detected in the Persian Gulf on April 18, heading toward the strait. It then stopped transmitting an AIS signal before it reappeared in the Strait of Hormuz this morning.<\/p>\n

The Euphoria, a cargo ship sailing under the flag of Panama, did not turn off its transmitter and passed through the strait, south of the Iranian island of Larak, on April 21, before making multiple turns on its way through the strait this morning, slowing to a speed of less than 1 nautical mile per hour at around 5:30 a.m. ET, before picking up speed around an hour later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

20h ago \/ 5:18 AM EDT<\/p>\n

UAE thanks Trump for currency swap mention\u00a0 <\/h2>\n
\n

The United Arab Emirates thanked Trump today for his mention of a possible currency swap with the Gulf country amid continued uncertainty around the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran. <\/p>\n

Still, in a statement issued by the UAE Embassy in Washington, the country also sought to emphasize its economic resilience, saying that “any suggestion that the UAE requires external financial backing misreads the facts.”<\/p>\n

\u201cThe UAE is one of the world\u2019s most financially resilient economies, underpinned by more than $2 trillion in sovereign investment assets; more than $300 billion in foreign currency reserves held by the UAE\u2019s central bank; and a banking sector with approximately $1.5 trillion in deposits,” it said, according to France 24. <\/p>\n

It comes after Trump said yesterday that the U.S. was considering helping the UAE financially, with a currency swap under consideration. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

20h ago \/ 5:00 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Over 30 nations to meet in U.K. to discuss securing Strait of Hormuz<\/h2>\n
\n

Military planners from over 30 nations will meet today and tomorrow at the United Kingdom\u2019s Permanent Joint Headquarters in London to discuss a multinational mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to the U.K. Military of Defense.<\/p>\n

The sessions are meant to build on the progress of last week\u2019s conference <\/a>co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to coordinate maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz once the war ends.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the summit, U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said the point of it is to safeguard freedom of navigation in the strait. <\/p>\n

\u201cInternational trade, energy security and the stability of the global economy depend on freedom of navigation,\u201d Healey said. \u201cBy building on our common purpose, strengthening multinational coordination and planning for effective collective action, we can help reopen the Strait, stabilise the global economy and protect our people.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

20h ago \/ 4:49 AM EDT<\/p>\n

U.S. did not move missile defense system from South Korea, general says<\/h2>\n
\n

The U.S. did not redeploy a key missile defense system from South\u00a0Korea\u00a0to the Middle East for use in the war with Iran, a U.S. general said.<\/p>\n

Reports last month that the U.S. had moved parts of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)\u00a0system, which is used for high-altitude interception of ballistic missiles, had raised concerns that U.S. ally South Korea could be more vulnerable to attack by nuclear-armed North Korea.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve not moved any THAAD systems, so THAAD still remains on the peninsula currently,\u201d Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, told a Senate committee hearing yesterday. \u201cWe are sending munitions forward, and those are sitting right now waiting to move.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brunson added that the U.S. had previously moved some radar components ahead of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last June. \u201cSome of those things have not come back yet, but the THAAD systems themselves remain on peninsula,\u201d he said, adding that he expected them to stay there.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe moved them around. I think that\u2019s what got into the information space,\u201d Brunson said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

20h ago \/ 4:39 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Israeli strike in Lebanon\u2019s Bekaa kills 1 despite truce, state media reports<\/h2>\n
\n

An Israeli drone strike killed one person and injured two others in Lebanon, according to state media.<\/p>\n

The attack took place in Lebanon’s Western Bekaa region, according to the country’s National News Agency, despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement that went into effect last week.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s military denied that it had attacked the area, according to The Associated Press.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

20h ago \/ 4:28 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Iran will inflict ‘crushing’ blows if fighting resumes, Revolutionary Guard warns<\/h2>\n
\n

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned that if fighting with the U.S. and Israel resumes, it will “deliver crushing and unimaginable blows” to “remaining enemy assets in the region.”<\/p>\n

In a statement this morning, the IRGC said it remained at the “height of readiness and determination” and was prepared to confront “any threat or renewed aggression.” <\/p>\n

The warning comes after Trump said last night that he was extending the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely so its leadership could come up with a “unified proposal.” <\/p>\n

The IRGC said it believed that a “victorious Iran” had emerged as the “dominant perception of global public opinion.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

21h ago \/ 4:17 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Iran displays apparent ballistic missile launcher during rally<\/h2>\n
\n

Iran displayed what appeared to be a ballistic missile launcher during a rally in Tehran last night. <\/p>\n

= 1000px) and (min-resolution: 2dppx)”>= 1000px) and (resolution < 2dppx)\">\"Thousands<\/picture>\n

<\/span>Fatemeh Bahrami \/ Anadolu via Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

A large crowd can be seen in photos and videos rallying in Iran’s capital during a pro-military demonstration. <\/p>\n

What appeared to be a ballistic missile launcher could be seen being driven through the crowd as demonstrators chanted. <\/p>\n

It came as the Revolutionary Guard vowed to deliver a crushing blow to U.S. assets in the region if fighting were to resume. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

21h ago \/ 4:03 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Cargo ship \u2018fired upon\u2019 in Strait of Hormuz, U.K. maritime agency says<\/h2>\n
\n

A second ship has now been \u201cfired upon\u201d this morning in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.K. maritime agency said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The cargo ship was leaving the area and is now stopped in the water, according to the British military\u2019s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.<\/p>\n

All crew members on the ship were safe and accounted for, and there was no reported damage to the vessel, it said.<\/p>\n

The agency added that it was \u201caware of high levels of activity\u201d in the Strait of Hormuz. It did not specify who may have attacked the ship, but Iran earlier said it had opened fire on a container ship.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

21h ago \/ 3:26 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Trump says Iran is ‘collapsing financially’ over Strait of Hormuz closure<\/h2>\n
\n

In a late-night Truth Social post, Trump said that Iran is \u201ccollapsing financially\u201d amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIran is collapsing financially! They want the Strait of Hormuz opened immediately,\u201d Trump wrote. \u201cStarving for cash! Losing 500 Million Dollars a day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump also said that the country\u2019s military and police were not getting paid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

21h ago \/ 3:26 AM EDT<\/p>\n

U.N. secretary-general welcomes U.S. ceasefire extension<\/h2>\n
\n

U.N. Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres said the U.S. extension of its ceasefire with Iran was a welcome development and a chance for de-escalation, his spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is an important step toward de-escalation and creating critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States,\u201d spokesperson St\u00e9phane Dujarric said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe encourage all parties to build on this momentum, refrain from actions that could undermine the cease-fire, and engage constructively in negotiations to reach a sustainable and lasting resolution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Dujarric added that Guterres \u201cfully supports Pakistan\u2019s efforts in facilitating further talks.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

21h ago \/ 3:26 AM EDT<\/p>\n

Iran attacks container ship in the Strait of Hormuz<\/h2>\n
\n

A container ship in the Strait of Hormuz was attacked by an Iranian gunboat, the U.K. maritime agency said this morning.<\/p>\n

The ship was approached by a boat belonging to Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard, which \u201cfired upon the vessel,\u201d causing \u201cheavy damage to the bridge,\u201d the British military\u2019s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said.<\/p>\n

All crew members were safe, and there was no fire or environmental impact reported, it said. <\/p>\n

Iran’s Nour News, an outlet linked to the Revolutionary Guard, said that “a container ship that ignored warning was fired on by the Iranian armed forces and led to extensive damage to the ship.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2h ago \/ 11:19 PM EDT Panama says Iran’s seizure of ships is a \u2018grave attack against maritime security\u2019 Panama\u2019s Foreign Ministry said that Iran’s seizure of Panamanian-flagged MSC Francesca and other actions in the Strait of Hormuz \u201crepresent a grave attack against maritime security.\u201d The MSC Francesca, which is Italian-owned, and the ship Epaminondas […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12162"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12162\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}