Last UpdateApril 22, 2026, 4:25 AM EDT

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran violated the ceasefire “numerous times” as the deadline looms. Vice President JD Vance was supposed to depart for the next round of negotiations in Pakistan but has since gone to the White House for policy meetings. His planned departure is unclear.

Covered by: Greg Norman-Diamond, Emma Bussey, Efrat Lachter, Robert McGreevy, Madison Colombo and Michael Sinkewicz

WHAT TO KNOW

• The current U.S.-Iran ceasefire, which went into effect nearly two weeks ago on April 8, is set to expire “Wednesday evening Washington time,” according to President Donald Trump. The president told Bloomberg in an interview that he is “highly unlikely” to extend the ceasefire if no deal is reached with Tehran, adding, “I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal.” President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post early Tuesday, “Iran has Violated the Cease Fire numerous times!”
• A U.S. delegation is expected to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan for another round of negotiations with Iran, a source familiar with the plans previously told Fox News Digital. The White House said this weekend that Vice President JD Vance will lead the delegation, joined by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. The American delegation was last in Pakistan for talks on April 11, but those negotiations ended without a deal.
• The U.S. Navy fired on the Iran-flagged M/V Touska tanker in the Arabian Sea on Sunday, disabling its engines and later seizing the vessel. U.S. Central Command said on Monday that the ship’s cargo was searched “after U.S. Marines boarded and seized the ship when it attempted to violate the U.S. naval blockade” of Iranian ports.

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6 hours ago

PINNED

Trump says Iran ‘collapsing financially’ amid Strait of Hormuz blockade

President Donald Trump said Iran is “collapsing financially” as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate.

“They want the Strait of Hormuz opened immediately- Starving for cash! Losing 500 Million Dollars a day,” Trump said. “Military and Police complaining that they are not getting paid. SOS!!!

The comments echoed a similar post from Trump earlier Tuesday, when he said the Iranian regime is trying to “save face” over the closure of the strait.

“Iran doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed; they want it open so they can make $500 million a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!),” Trump wrote in the earlier post.

“They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to ‘save face,’” he added.

Posted by Michael Sinkewicz

4 hours ago

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard fires on container ship in Strait of Hormuz

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said early Wednesday that Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard fired on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the UKMTO, an IRGC gunboat approached the vessel and opened fire, causing “heavy damage” to the ship.

The incident occurred about 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, the UKMTO said.

The crew was reported safe, the British military said.

Posted by Michael Sinkewicz

7 hours ago

Kellogg urges Trump to ‘finish the job’ on Iran, abandon talks

Ret. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg urged President Donald Trump to escalate pressure on Iran and “finish the job,” arguing the U.S. should abandon further negotiations.

Kellogg also encouraged the president to “create more problems” for Iran, including targeting Kharg Island, a key oil hub.

“Now you’re creating a compounding problem for them to try to solve, and I don’t think they can solve it because they don’t have the leadership left that can figure this out. And you now control it,” he told Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

Kellogg advised Trump not to pursue additional talks with Iran.

“The president gave them ample opportunity,” he said. “It was very gracious in attempt to talk their way through it. Now, let’s just finish it out.”

He argued the U.S. still has leverage to escalate pressure.

“And I think we can finish it. We can strangle them economically. We’re doing that with the blockade,” Kellogg continued.

“Let’s compound the problem — not only do we have terrain, we’ve got the blockade as well. And instead of bombing, their power plants, bomb something that really hurts them — that’s their fuel industry or something like that, instead of going after things that hurt the people.”

“So I think we still have cards to play.”

Posted by Michael Sinkewicz

7 hours ago

Fetterman criticizes fellow Democrats, media over Iran conflict response

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., took aim at fellow Democrats and the media over their reaction to the Iran conflict.

Fetterman’s comments came after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., wrote “awesome” in response to a report claiming that at least 26 Iranian shadow fleet vessels bypassed the U.S. blockade.

Murphy later said the post was “sarcasm” and criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict.

When asked Tuesday evening by Fox News’ Sean Hannity about Murphy’s remarks, Fetterman said the two are on the “opposite spectrum” on issues involving Iran and Israel.

“It’s almost as if, you know, we’ve forgotten — on the Democratic side — the real enemy, the real threat, the real danger is Iran,” he said.

Fetterman added, “Iran must be so excited by the American media and the Democratic Party.”

Posted by Michael Sinkewicz

9 hours ago

Kharg Island storage will fill, ‘oil wells shut in’ within days amid Economic Fury, warns Bessent

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday signaled an escalating U.S. economic offensive against Iran, warning the blockade and financial crackdown could impact the regime’s revenue streams “in a matter of days.”

“As @POTUS has made clear, the United States Navy will continue the blockade of Iranian ports,” Bessent said in a post shared on X.

“In a matter of days, Kharg Island storage will be full, and the fragile Iranian oil wells will be shut in. Constraining Iran’s maritime trade directly targets the regime’s primary revenue lifelines,” he added.

Bessent said the U.S. Treasury will also continue to apply “maximum pressure through Economic Fury to systematically degrade Tehran’s ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds.”

“Any person or vessel facilitating these flows — through covert trade and finance — risks exposure to U.S. sanctions,” he warned, adding that the U.S. would “continue to freeze the funds stolen by the corrupt leadership on behalf of the people of Iran.”

Posted by Emma Bussey

9 hours ago

Iran losing $500M daily, Trump says no deal unless US ‘blows up rest of their Country’

Donald Trump / Win McNamee / Getty Images

Iran is losing $500M a day with the Strait of Hormuz closed, President Donald Trump said Tuesday.

Trump also claimed the regime is simply wanting to “save face” over the closure before adding that there will never be a deal with Iran unless the US blows up “the rest of their Country.”

“Iran doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed; they want it open so they can make $500 million a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!),” Trump said in a post shared on Truth Social.

“They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to ‘save face,’” he added.

“People approached me four days ago, saying, ‘Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait immediately.’ But if we do that, there can never be a deal with Iran unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!” Trump added.

Posted by Emma Bussey

9 hours ago

UN leaders back Trump’s ceasefire extension, creates ‘critical space for diplomacy’

Antonio Guterres and President Trump / Getty

UN leaders voiced their support for President Donald Trump’s announcement Tuesday of an extension of the ceasefire with Iran.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi told reporters that the effort to end the war is a “complex process,” according to the Associated Press.

“I think it’s very important that an opportunity for peace is given,” Grossi said.

He also warned both sides that any peace deal must include the IAEA from the start to enforce oversight over Iran’s nuclear program; otherwise, he said, “you will have an illusion of an agreement.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also said Trump’s announcement would create “critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States,” according to his spokesman.

“We encourage all parties to build on this momentum, refrain from actions that could undermine the ceasefire, and engage constructively in negotiations to reach a sustainable and lasting resolution,” UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said.

The secretary-general “fully supports” Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate U.S.-Iran talks and hopes its efforts “will contribute to creating conditions conducive to a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict,” Dujarric said

Posted by Emma Bussey

10 hours ago

US forces ‘rearmed, retooled and ready’ amid Middle East tensions, CENTCOM says

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released a video Tuesday showcasing American military forces on high alert as tensions persist across the Middle East.

“U.S. Central Command forces remain ready…” the command said in a post on X accompanying the footage, which features a montage of aircraft, naval assets, and ground forces conducting operations and maneuvers.

On-screen captions in the video read: “Rearmed. Retooled. Ready.”

“We’re rearming, we’re retooling, and we’re adjusting our tactics, techniques, and procedures,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said during a recent briefing, with his remarks repeated in the video.

“There’s no military in the world that adjusts like we do, and that’s exactly what we’re doing right now during the ceasefire,” Cooper added.

Posted by Emma Bussey

10 hours ago

China ‘caught red-handed’ over alleged Iran missile-linked chemical shipment, says Scott

Sen. Rick Scott said Tuesday that China was “caught red-handed” allegedly sending dual-use chemicals to Iran that could be used in ballistic missile production, pointing to the interception of an Iranian-linked cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman on on April 19.

Scott also described Beijing as an “imminent threat” to U.S. national security.

“COMMUNIST CHINA got caught red-handed, headed to Iran to provide them with dual-use chemicals used to create BALLISTIC MISSILES while our great military is fighting in the Gulf,” Scott said in a post shared on X.

 “This is EXACTLY why they are our enemy, and an imminent threat to our national security.”

The MV Touska, had docked twice at Zhuhai, a port in southern China, in the six weeks leading up to its interception by U.S. forces, according to reports.

Posted by Emma Bussey

11 hours ago

UK, France to lead talks as nations work to reopen Strait of Hormuz

John Healey, UK Defence Secretary / Peter Nicholls / Pool via Reuters

Military planners from more than 30 countries will meet in London to chart a path toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the U.K. government announced Tuesday.

The Ministry of Defence said the talks, set for April 22, will focus on advancing military plans to restore access to the critical global waterway once conditions allow, following a sustainable ceasefire.

“The work is part of the U.K. and French-led multinational coalition to reopen the Strait,” the ministry said in a statement. 

“The sessions will advance military plans to reopen the Strait as soon as conditions permit, following a sustainable ceasefire agreement,” it said.

U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey also said the goal is “to translate the diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait and support a lasting ceasefire.”

“I am confident that, over the next two days, real progress can be made,” Healey added.

Posted by Emma Bussey

11 hours ago

Iran vows to break US blockade ‘by force’, keep Strait of Hormuz closed: IRGC-affiliated report

US Military / CENTCOM

Iran has threatened to break the U.S. blockade of its ports “by force, if necessary,” after President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire Tuesday, according to reports.

Citing Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG), Reuters reported that the outlet described the continuation of the naval blockade as “continued hostility.”

“As long as the blockade persists, Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and, if necessary, it will break the blockade by force,” Tasnim said, according to Reuters.

Posted by Emma Bussey

12 hours ago

Pakistan PM thanks Trump for supporting Iran ceasefire extension request

Trump / Sharif / Evelyn Hockstein / Reuters

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked President Donald Trump Tuesday for extending the two-week ceasefire with Iran, saying it would give diplomacy more time to advance.

The deadline was April 22 at 8 p.m. ET.

“On my personal behalf and on behalf of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, I sincerely thank President Trump for graciously accepting our request to extend the ceasefire to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to take their course,” Sharif said in a post shared on X.

“With the trust and confidence reposed in, Pakistan shall continue its earnest efforts for a negotiated settlement of the conflict,” he said.

Sharif went on to say he hoped both sides will “continue to observe the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive ‘Peace Deal’ during the second round of talks scheduled in Islamabad for a permanent end to the conflict,” Sharif added.

The talks between the Iranian and U.S. delegations were initially set for Tuesday and then delayed to Wednesday, but have now been postponed indefinitely.

Posted by Emma Bussey