All you need to know about Day 50 of US-Israel war on Iran

This live blog follows updates for Day 50 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 49, go here.

• Iran says its enriched uranium 'not going to be transferred'
  
• Lebanon president says working on 'permanent agreements' after Israel ceasefire
• Trump says Iran agrees to 'never' close Hormuz Strait again
• Trump rejects NATO offer to help with Hormuz, says 'stay away'
• Iran says Hormuz open for shipping during ceasefire period

Iran’s Qalibaf calls US naval blockade ‘clumsy and ignorant’

Published: April 18, 2026 | 22:08 GMT | By AFP

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has described the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a “clumsy and ignorant decision,” saying tensions nearly escalated during behind-the-scenes talks involving an American minesweeper near the strategic waterway.

Speaking in a televised interview, Qalibaf said Iranian officials directly confronted the US delegation during negotiations in Islamabad over naval movements in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the waterway remains under the control of the Islamic Republic.

He said Tehran viewed US attempts to clear mines in the strait as a violation of the ceasefire and warned that the situation was close to turning into renewed military confrontation.

Recalling the talks, Qalibaf said he told the American delegation in Islamabad that if their minesweeper moved any further from its position, Iran would respond militarily.

“They asked for 15 minutes to issue the order to turn back, and they did,” he said, adding that both sides were heading toward escalation, “but the enemy retreated.”

Iran slams EU for ‘hypocrisy’ over Strait of Hormuz

Published: April 18, 2026 | 21:40 GMT | By AFP

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has strongly criticized the European Union, accusing it of blatant hypocrisy over its stance on the Strait of Hormuz.

Responding to a statement by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas — who emphasized that international law requires key waterways like the Strait of Hormuz to remain open and free — Baghaei argued that the EU selectively invokes international law when it suits its interests.

He said the same principles Europe promotes are ignored when it comes to what he described as US-Israeli aggression and alleged injustices against Iran. According to Baghaei, this inconsistency undermines the credibility of the EU’s position.

Baghaei further maintained that international law does not prevent Iran from taking action to restrict the use of the strait for military purposes by hostile actors. He also dismissed the notion of “unconditional transit passage,” arguing that such expectations no longer hold in light of the presence of US military forces in the region.

Iran reports 3,468 dead in war with US, Israel: official

Published: April 18, 2026 | 21:18 GMT | By AFP

Iran’s state-run Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs says that the war with the United States and Israel has killed more than 3,400 people in the Islamic republic, AFP reports.

The ISNA news agency has quoted foundation head Ahmad Mousavi as saying that 3,468 “martyrs … fell during the recent conflict”.

Due to reporting restrictions, AFP is unable to access strike sites or independently verify tolls in Iran.

Lebanon president, PM discuss readiness for Israel talks

Published: April 18, 2026 | 17:32 GMT | By AFP

Lebanon's president and prime minister discussed on Saturday preparations for the first direct negotiations with Israel in decades, as southerners headed home after the ceasefire.

In a statement, the office of President Joseph Aoun said he and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam conducted "an assessment of the post-ceasefire phase and the ongoing efforts to consolidate it", and discussed "Lebanese readiness for the anticipated negotiations" with Israel.

Their meeting came a day after a strongly-worded speech to the nation from Aoun stating that the country was entering a new phase to work on "permanent agreements" with Israel and insisting that direct talks were not a "concession".

The 10-day ceasefire seeking to end more than six weeks of war between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place since midnight on Thursday (2100 GMT) after being announced by US President Donald Trump.

More than 2,300 people have been killed in Israeli attacks and more than a million displaced into the Middle East conflict last month.

Iran says reviewing 'new proposals' from United States
Published: April 18, 2026 | 14:31 GMT | By AFP

Iran's top national security body said Saturday that the country was reviewing "new proposals" received from the United States, even as it warned that its negotiators would make no concessions to Washington.

"In recent days, with the presence of the commander of the Pakistani army in Tehran as an intermediary and mediator in the negotiations, new proposals have been put forward by the Americans, which the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently reviewing and has not yet responded to," the Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.

It went on to say that Iran's negotiating delegation "will not make even the slightest compromise, retreat or leniency, and will defend with all its strength the interests of the Iranian nation".

Türkiye says no talks with Iran yet to extend gas contract
Published: April 18, 2026 | 14:23 GMT | By AFP

Türkiye wants to extend a natural gas supply contract with Iran that is due to expire in the coming months, but negotiations have not yet begun due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Saturday.

Speaking to a small group of international media on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Bayraktar said Ankara remains interested in securing Iranian gas to ensure continuity of supply.

"There's no negotiation right now, but we might sit and discuss a potential extension," Bayraktar said.

The gas contract between Türkiye and Iran is set to expire within the next few months, "but we haven't started negotiations due to the current circumstances in the region," he said.

Bayraktar said Türkiye faces no short- or medium-term supply risks, despite the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump says Iran cannot 'blackmail us' with Strait of Hormuz threats
Published: April 18, 2026 | 14:00 GMT | By Web Desk

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Iran wanted to “close up the strait [of Hormuz] again”.

Speaking to the press at the White House, he said “No body took them on but [the US] did. They got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years. It’s going actually along very well, and we’ll see, but we’ll have some information by the end of the day.”

He warned that Iran should not attempt to “blackmail” the United States by repeatedly shifting its stance on the status of the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran once again announced the closure of the key waterway.

“We are in discussions with them. They said they would close the strait again — as they have done many times before — but they will not be allowed to blackmail us,” he said.

US 'cannot impose their will and do siege' on Hormuz: Iran's deputy FM

Published: April 18, 2026 | 12:07 GMT | By AFP

The United States "cannot impose their will" and block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Saturday, after Iran's military declared the waterway closed again.

"Americans cannot impose their will to do a siege over Iran while Iran, with good intention, is trying to facilitate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," Saeed Khatibzadeh told journalists on the sidelines of an annual Turkish diplomatic forum in the southern province of Antalya.

Israel army says established 'Yellow Line' in Lebanon, as in Gaza
Published: April 18, 2026 | 11:53 GMT | By AFP

The Israeli military said Saturday it had established a "Yellow Line" demarcation in southern Lebanon, similar to the one separating its forces in Gaza from territory still held by Hamas, adding that it had already struck suspected ‘militants’ approaching its troops along the line.

"Over the past 24 hours, IDF forces operating south of the Yellow Line in southern Lebanon identified terrorists who violated the ceasefire understandings and approached the forces from north of the Yellow Line in a manner that posed an immediate threat," the military said, referring to such a line for the first time since a ceasefire came into effect.

"Immediately after identification and in order to eliminate the threat ... forces attacked the terrorists in several areas in southern Lebanon," it said, noting that the military was authorized to take action against threats, despite the ceasefire.
"Actions taken in self-defense and to remove immediate threats are not restricted by the ceasefire," the military said.

Since a ceasefire came into effect in Gaza on Oct. 10, the Palestinian territory has been split by a "Yellow Line", the de facto boundary dividing Gaza into two zones: one under Israeli military control and one under Hamas.

Iranian gunboats fire on tanker in Hormuz Strait: UKMTO
Published: April 18, 2026 | 11:18 GMT | By AFP
Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, a British maritime security agency claimed, after Iran's military reversed a pledge to open the route to shipping.

The tanker's captain reported being approached 37 kilometers northeast of Oman by two gunboats of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC). Without any radio warning, the gunboats "then fired upon the tanker", the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said in an online statement.

"Tanker and crew are reported safe. Authorities are investigating."

Statement from Supreme Leader says Iran's navy 'stands ready' to defeat US
Published: April 18, 2026 | 11:12 GMT

A statement attributed to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, said on Saturday that Tehran's navy was ready to defeat US forces, as the two countries sparred over the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement carried on his Telegram channel, Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since before the start of the war, said Iran's "brave navy stands ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats".

No date set for next round of Iran-US talks: Iran deputy FM

Published: April 18, 2026 | 11:01 GMT | By AFP

The United States "cannot impose their will" and block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Saturday, after Iran's military declared the waterway closed again.

"Americans cannot impose their will to do a siege over Iran while Iran, with good intention, is trying to facilitate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," Saeed Khatibzadeh told journalists on the sidelines of an annual Turkish diplomatic forum in the southern province of Antalya.

Iran's deputy FM has said no date is set for the next round of Iran-US talks. 

He said, Trump "tweets a lot, talks a lot". 

Egypt FM says hopes for Iran-US peace deal 'in the coming days'

Published: April 18, 2026 | 09:48 GMT | By AFP

Egypt and Pakistan are working "very hard" as mediators to bring about "a final agreement between the United States and Iran", Egypt's foreign minister said Saturday as he attended an Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.

"We hope to do so (reach an agreement) in the coming days," Badr Abdelatty said, noting that "not only us in the region, but the whole world is suffering from the continuation of this war".

"We are pushing very hard in order to move forward," he said.

UK urges Iran to fully reopen Strait of Hormuz

Published: April 18, 2026 | 09:48 GMT | By Web Desk

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has called on Iran to allow global shipping to resume fully through the Strait of Hormuz.

“We are at a critical diplomatic moment with a ceasefire now in place, but we don’t yet have normal passage through the strait,” Cooper was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Türkiye, according to Al Jazeera.

She said the ceasefire needs to develop into a lasting peace, adding that restoring shipping through the waterway is urgent for the global economy.

Tankers pass Hormuz Strait in brief Iran reopening: Trackers

Published: April 18, 2026 | 09:41 GMT | By AFP

At least eight oil and gas tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after Iran briefly declared the crucial trade route open during a ceasefire in the US-Israel war on Iran, maritime tracking data showed.

One crude oil tanker, four liquified petroleum gas carriers, two oil and chemical tankers and one classified as an "oil products" vessel crossed the strait early Saturday after the Iranian announcement on Friday afternoon, data from tracking firm Kpler indicated.

Around a fifth of the world's oil and liquified natural gas passes the Strait in peacetime, but traffic through the route had come to a near-standstill after the US-Israel war on Iran started on Feb. 28.

Tracking platform MarineTraffic showed several other crude oil tankers in the strait near Iran's Larak Island, a checkpoint for vessels seeking to exit the Gulf under Iranian forces' blockade of the passage in the war.

However, Iran's central military command on Saturday appeared to reverse the decision to reopen the route, saying it would resume "strict management" of the strait in protest at a US naval counter-blockade.

Six Iranian airports reopen: Airlines association official

Published: April 18, 2026 | 09:34 GMT | By Web Desk

Iran's Airlines Association secretary announced the reopening of six airports, including Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad in Tehran, plus Mashhad, Birjand, Gorgan, and Zahedan, as airlines prepare to resume domestic and international flights, according to Iranian state-run Press TV.

Iran command says has closed Hormuz again over US blockade

Published: April 18, 2026 | 08:53 GMT | By AFP

Iran's central military command announced on Saturday it would resume "strict management" of the Strait of Hormuz, reversing a decision to unblock the strategic channel as part of negotiations with Washington.

In a statement shared on state television, the headquarters said Washington had broken a promise by continuing its naval blockade of ships sailing to and from Iran's ports.

Until the United States restores freedom of movement for all vessels visiting Iran, "the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly controlled," the statement said.

Turkiye says Israel using security as a pretext to acquire 'more land'

Published: April 18, 2026 | 07:41 GMT | By AFP

Turkiye's foreign minister on Saturday accused Israel of using security as a pretext to acquire "more land".

"Israel is not after its own security. Israel is after more land. Security is being used by the Netanyahu government as an excuse to occupy more land," Hakan Fidan told the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Iran partially reopens airspace: Agency

Published: April 18, 2026 | 06:57 GMT | By AFP

Iran partially reopened its airspace on Saturday to international flights crossing the eastern part of its territory, the country's Civil Aviation Authority said.

"Air routes in the eastern section of the country's airspace are open for international flights transiting through Iran," it said, adding that some airports had also reopened at 7:00 am (0330 GMT).

Trump says US blockade of Iranian ports will 'remain' if no deal reached

Published: April 18, 2026 | 03:37 GMT | By AFP

President Donald Trump said late Friday he planned to maintain a US blockade of Iranian ports if a peace deal with Tehran is not reached, adding that he may not extend the ceasefire after its expiration Wednesday.

"Maybe I won't extend it, but the blockade is going to remain," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

US extends sanctions waiver on purchases of Russian oil

Published: April 18, 2026 | 02:16 GMT | By AFP

US President Donald Trump's administration on Friday issued a month-long sanctions waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products that are at sea, extending an earlier move to soften surging energy prices.

The license, issued by the Treasury Department, comes two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washington would not renew the waiver.

The latest move allows the purchase of oil and petroleum products loaded onto any vessel as of Friday through 12:01 am (0401 GMT) on May 16.

Australian PM welcomes Hormuz reopening, says hopes it holds

Published: April 18, 2026 | 00:59 GMT | By AFP

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed on Saturday Iran's agreement to stop blocking the Strait of Hormuz but said the situation remained "fragile".

"This was positive news that we received last night," Albanese told journalists in Sydney after participating in a multinational summit on the issue.

"We hope that it holds, but what we know is that the impact will be long lasting," he added.

Iran will shut Hormuz Strait if US blockade continues: speaker

Published: April 18, 2026 | 00:16 GMT | By AFP

Iran will close the strategic Strait of Hormuz again if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports, parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Saturday.

"With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," Qalibaf wrote on X, adding that passage through the waterway would depend on authorization from Iran.

Trump says US will bring uranium back from Iran

Published: April 18, 2026 | 00:06 GMT | By AFP

President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States and Iran would jointly remove uranium from Tehran's nuclear sites with excavators under any peace deal, before the material is transferred to US territory.

Trump's comment came despite Iran's foreign ministry saying earlier that the Islamic Republic's stockpile of enriched uranium would not be transferred "anywhere."

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