US Seizes Iranian Vessel in Strait of Hormuz Amid Ceasefire Tensions and Uncertain Pakistan Talks

More than 2,290 people have been killed in Lebanon. Twenty-three people have been killed in Israel. Fifteen Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon. Thirteen US service members have been killed throughout the region.

A 10-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon took hold on Friday. US President Donald Trump said the US blockade will remain in full force until Tehran reaches a deal with the US. The US military seized the Iranian cargo ship on Sunday, the first interception since the blockade began last week.

Iran’s joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a ceasefire violation. Iran vowed to enforce restrictions imposed early in the war. Iran fired at ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

Brent crude oil price was at about $95 a barrel on Monday, up more than 30% from the day the war started. Iran warned on early Monday that it could keep up restrictions as hundreds of vessels waited at each end of the strait for clearance. Mohammad Reza Aref, first vice president of Iran, said in a social media post that security of the strait is not free and the choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the defacing of a statue of Jesus Christ by an Israeli soldier in Lebanon. Photos surfaced over the weekend of an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to smash the head of a toppled Jesus statue in Lebanon. The Israeli military confirmed the images of the soldier defacing the statue were genuine.

Com. com.

US President Donald Trump stated it is highly unlikely that he will extend the ceasefire with Iran, as posted via @FirstSquawk. Iran said it attacked US military ships with drones in retaliation for the US striking and seizing an Iranian cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran via @KobeissiLetter and Tasnim.

Iran said it is ready and monitoring US redeployments, warning that if attacked it will re-target Aramco, Yanbu, and Fujairah, via @disclosetv and Tasnim.

The US redirected 27 vessels attempting to enter Iranian ports or transit out of the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian ports, according to US Central Command via @sentdefender. US President Donald Trump said to PBS News that if the ceasefire expires, lots of bombs start going off, and demanded Iran give up nuclear weapons ambitions, via @MarioNawfal.

Trump added that gas prices will come roaring down if the conflict is resolved, also via @MarioNawfal.

Iran's foreign ministry said there are no current plans for further talks with the United States, via @spectatorindex. Trump said it’s highly unlikely he would extend the two-week ceasefire with Iran if a deal is not reached before it ends, via @business. Trump stated the Strait of Hormuz would remain blocked until an agreement is finalized, also via @business.

Iran vowed retaliation for US vessel seizure, via @Reuters. An Iranian official said Iran is positively reviewing participation in peace talks with the US, with no final decision made yet, via @Investingcom. Pakistan is making positive efforts to end the US blockade and ensure Iran's participation in talks, according to unattributed sources via @Investingcom and RTRS.

US President Donald Trump said to a US media outlet that the Iran deal will be signed today in Pakistan, via @AJEnglish. 04p daily for unleaded, according to RAC Fuel Watch via GB News.

66p per litre. 48p per litre. Average UK petrol price was 132p per litre and diesel 142p per litre seven weeks ago. 31p per litre on April 15, via RAC via GB News.

54p per litre on April 15. The war with Iran started on February 28. Iranian forces fired at ships in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. US President Donald Trump confirmed on Truth Social that US representatives would travel to Islamabad for a second round of talks, via GB News.

The US sank more than 90 percent of Iran’s regular fleet, according to General Dan Caine via The Atlantic. The US left 150 ships at the bottom of the ocean along with half of the IRGC navy’s small attack boats, also via General Dan Caine. General Dan Caine spoke at a briefing on April 8.

About 25 percent of global seaborne oil trade transits the Strait of Hormuz. Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz at the beginning of the American military campaign.