Iran Seizes Two Cargo Ships in Strait of Hormuz During U.S.-Extended Ceasefire and Ongoing Blockade

Iran accused the MSC Francesca and a second vessel, the Epaminondas, of attempting to transit the strait without permits.

The captain of the Epaminondas ignored warnings from Iranian armed forces before troops opened fire and boarded on Wednesday, Nour News reported. The seizures occurred as President Donald Trump extended a two-week ceasefire with Iran, with no deadline set for its end. The White House awaits a response from Iran before the next round of peace talks can begin.

U.S. will continue to blockade Iran's ports until peace talks progress. He wrote on social media that Iran has no navy since all 159 of its vessels are at the bottom of the sea. Trump also said the blockade worries Iran more than bombing.

Iran communicated three rules of the game directly to Washington via Fars News Agency. -led ground attack, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are mutual targets for a ground attack. The second declares that any targeting of Iranian infrastructure would place the entire region's power and oil facilities at risk.

The third concerns assassinations, stating they would receive their own specific response, which has already been officially announced. Iran threatened to launch a ground invasion of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates if American forces attempt a land assault on Iranian territory.

Vice-speaker of Iran's parliament Hamidreza Hajibabaei announced the first revenue from tolls collected from ships transiting the strait has been transferred to the central bank. U.S. maintained the blockade.

Stocks rose as investors weighed the extension. At the conflict's outset, the United Arab Emirates suffered 12 deaths from Iranian drone and missile strikes, official government figures showed. Dubai airports closed for extended periods, cancelling thousands of flights.

Nearly 200 people were wounded in Dubai, including military personnel and civilians. Iranian forces carried out deadly strikes in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman, killing dozens during the initial phase of hostilities. U.S.

Developments, Navy Secretary John Phelan was fired after 13 months in office. Phelan, a significant contributor to President Trump's campaign, clashed repeatedly with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Phelan had said new battleship construction under the Trump Class Battleship Program would begin in fiscal year 2028, with each vessel estimated to cost $17 billion.

The Justice Department's internal watchdog is reviewing the department's compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates release of the Epstein files. , takes place today at the White House, with President Trump planning to attend.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

U.S. The New York Times first reported the talks on April 21, 2026.

The Druzhba pipeline resumed Russian oil flows to Europe on Wednesday. Pope Leo XIV held an open-air mass in Equatorial Guinea on Thursday in front of tens of thousands of followers, wrapping up his first major international tour. The tour began with harsh criticism of his stance on Iran from President Trump.

The facility will feature a mini diagnostic lab with X-ray and sonography facilities, making it the third government veterinary hospital in Goa with advanced diagnostic equipment solely for animals. Government veterinary hospitals at Sonsodo and Tonca currently have X-ray and sonography machines installed, though recruitment of trained technicians remains pending.

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South African farmers will likely plant the smallest area of wheat in more than a decade this year, as the war in Iran pushes up costs of key inputs such as fertilizer and fuel. A former North Carolina police officer accused of threatening a mass shooting at a New Orleans festival was arrested in Florida on Wednesday.

Sam Bankman-Fried withdrew his retrial motion, stating he believes he would not get a fair trial.

He might file for a retrial after a decision on his appeal. Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted on Thursday to approve the Paramount Skydance takeover bid for $111 billion. New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said the merger should be stopped because it risks thousands of jobs in the city, increases streaming bills due to reduced competition, and consolidates powerful media companies.

Republican New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has not been seen by colleagues for over a month and has missed dozens of votes. The first California governor's debate since Eric Swalwell's exit occurred on Wednesday night, with four Democrats and two Republicans vying for the position.

Federal regulators proposed a new, faster Medicare coverage pathway for medical devices deemed by the FDA as breakthroughs.

U.S. National Science Foundation is distributing a spate of new grants while preparing substantial cuts to areas such as biological and social sciences. Spot Bitcoin ETF inflows are ramping up, with Bitcoin closing in on $80,000, CNBC reported.

Lewis Capaldi reminisced about kissing Harry Styles at the 2023 BRITs in a new Caleb Simpson interview, describing Styles' lips as lovely. New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will not be with the team for the third day of the NFL draft on Saturday.

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