Day 53: All you need to know about US-Israel war on Iran

This live blog covered developments on Day 53 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 52, go here, and for Day 54 updates, click here.

• The United States maintains a blockade on Iran, pressuring for a deal
• Iran warns it prepares new military actions if conflict resumes soon
• A fragile ceasefire nears expiration as negotiations continue with uncertainty
• Israel and Lebanon engage in talks while hostilities and casualties persist
• Global powers urge diplomacy as tensions disrupt oil routes and regional stability

Iran urges UN condemnation after US seizes cargo ship

Published: April 21, 2026 | 21:36GMT | by AFP

Iran called on the United Nations to condemn the seizure by the United States of an Iranian cargo ship, characterizing the move as an act of piracy and a breach of a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.

"Such conduct bears the hallmarks of piracy in nature and amounts to a dangerous escalation that severely endangers the safety and security of vital shipping lanes," Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, said Tuesday in a letter addressed to the Security Council and the Secretary-General.

"Moreover, this unlawful act constitutes a clear and material breach of the ceasefire of 8 April 2026 and qualifies as an act of aggression," under the terms of the UN charter, he added.

Iravani urged the UN to condemn the seizure and demand the ship's release.

White House confirms canceling Vance's Tuesday trip to Iran talks

Published: April 21, 2026 | 21:36GMT | by Web Desk

White House said Vice President JD Vance would not be going to Pakistan for what had been expected to be a second round of peace talks.

"The trip to Pakistan will not be happening today. Any further updates on in-person meetings will be announced by the White House," a White House official said in a statement.

PM Sharif thanks Trump, hopes both sides conclude ‘Peace Deal’ in Islamabad talks

Published: April 21, 2026 | 21:22GMT | by Web Desk

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked US President Donald Trump for accepting Pakistan’s request to “extend the ceasefire” with Iran, hoping to conclude a comprehensive ‘Peace Deal’ during the second round of talks scheduled at Islamabad. 

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

“I sincerely hope that both sides will continue to observe the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive ‘Peace Deal’ during the second round of talks scheduled at Islamabad for a permanent end to the conflict,” he said.

Upon request of PM Sharif, CDF Munir, Trump extends ceasefire with Iran 

Published: April 21, 2026 | 21:20GMT | by Web Desk

US President Donald Trump said that upon the request of Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the US was extending the ceasefire until Iranian “leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal.”

“We have been asked to hold our attack on the country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” he said. 

“I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other,” he added.

Iran threatens to end Gulf countries' oil production if attacked from their territory

Published: April 21, 2026 | 21:29GMT | by AFP

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday threatened to end oil production in the Middle East if the Islamic republic faced attacks launched from its Gulf neighbours' territory.

"The southern neighbours should know that if their geography and facilities are used in the service of the enemies to attack the Iranian nation, they should bid farewell to oil production in the Middle East," the commander of Guards' aerospace force, Majid Mousavi, was quoted by Fars news agency as saying.

UN urges diplomacy be ‘fully enacted’ as Iran ceasefire expires

Published: April 21, 2026 | 20:55 GMT | by Web Desk

The UN has expressed hope that a ceasefire between the US and Iran will be extended beyond its midnight GMT deadline while urging a return to dialogue, Al Jazeera reported.

Asked about what conversations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has held with parties to the conflict and regional players ahead of the deadline, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, “The secretary-general, as well as his personal envoy, continues to have various numbers of communications.”

“Our firm hope is that the dialogue between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran will resume, that the ceasefire will be extended, and that diplomacy will be fully enacted,” he said.

Iran knows how to 'resist bullying': foreign minister

Published: April 21, 2026 | 16:05 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran's foreign minister said the Islamic republic knew how to "resist bullying," as a ceasefire was due to expire and Tehran had yet to formally respond to an invite to talks with the US in Islamabad.

"Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying," Abbas Araghchi said on X, denouncing a US blockade of Iranian ports as "an act of war and thus a violation of the ceasefire."

Saudi Arabia reiterates support for Pakistan peace efforts, agrees to remain in close contact

Published: April 21, 2026 | 16:05 GMT | by Web Desk

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday reiterated support for Pakistan’s continued efforts where the two sides agreed to remain in close contact.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday spoke with Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, said a statement by the Foreign Office on its X.

The two leaders discussed the latest regional developments and emphasized the importance of dialogue and engagement for achieving lasting peace and stability.

Response from Iranians awaited, decision before ceasefire expiry critical: Pakistan

Published: April 21, 2026 | 14:50 GMT | by Web Desk

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Tuesday that a formal response from the Iranian side was still awaited, as Tehran’s decision to attend the talks before the end of the two-week ceasefire was “critical.”

In a statement on X, the minister said Pakistan, as the mediator, was in constant touch with the Iranians and pursuing the path of “diplomacy and dialogue.”

He added that a formal response from the Iranian side confirming its delegation’s attendance at the Islamabad Peace Talks was still awaited.

The minister said the ceasefire would end at 4:50 a.m. PKT on April 22, adding that Iran’s decision on whether to attend the talks before the end of the two-week ceasefire was “critical.”

“Pakistan has made sincere efforts to convince the Iranian leadership to participate in the second round of talks, and these efforts continue,” he said.

Ireland warns of stagflation risk as Mideast war bites

Published: April 21, 2026 | 14:14 GMT | by AFP

Ireland's government on Tuesday warned of a rising risk of stagflation, high inflation coupled with low economic growth, as the Middle East war and US tariffs weighed on the outlook.

Finance Minister Simon Harris said the eurozone member's economy nonetheless had "fiscal resilience" at a challenging time, as the Irish government published its Spring forecasts.

The government expects economic growth of 2.1 percent this year and three percent in 2027, supported by continued strength in the labor market and domestic demand.

However, it cautioned that a combination of weaker global growth and persistent inflation could create stagflationary pressures.

Red Crescent says Israeli settler gunfire kills two Palestinians including child
Published: April 21, 2026 | 10:39 GMT | by AFP

The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli settler gunfire killed two people, including a 13-year-old child, in an attack on Tuesday near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

"Two people were killed – one aged 13 and the other 32 – and four others were injured by live gunfire during a settler attack on the village of Al-Mughayyir near Ramallah," the Red Crescent said in a statement, adding the wounded had been taken to hospital.

When asked by AFP, the Israeli military – which has occupied the West Bank since 1967 – said it was looking into the incident.

Oil down after another surge
Published: April 21, 2026 | 4:51 GMT | by AFP

Hanging onto the hope of resumed negotiations in Pakistan, oil prices fell Tuesday after soaring the previous day following the seizure of an Iranian cargo ship by the United States and the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.

At around 0300 GMT, the price of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US benchmark, was down 1.2% at $88.50 and Brent crude from the North Sea, the global benchmark, was down 0.4% at $95.12 a barrel.

Trump says recovering Iran uranium 'will be a long and difficult process'
Published: April 21, 2026 | 3:57 GMT | by AFP

US President Donald Trump said late Monday the United States obtaining uranium from Iran would be "long" and "difficult" in the aftermath of last year's US strikes on Tehran's nuclear sites.

"Operation Midnight Hammer was a complete and total obliteration of the Nuclear Dust sites in Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding: "Therefore, digging it out will be a long and difficult process."

The US leader regularly uses the term "nuclear dust" to refer to Iran's stock of enriched uranium, which the United States accuses Iran of hoarding in order to make an atomic bomb. But he has also sometimes used it to refer to material left from US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in June last year.

UNSC condemns killing of French peacekeeper in Lebanon

Published: April 21, 2026 | 01:28 GMT | by AFP

The UN Security Council condemned the recent killing of a French peacekeeper in Lebanon, whose death France has blamed on Hezbollah.

The Frenchman was killed and three others wounded when their unit was ambushed on Saturday as it headed to a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) outpost cut off from the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.

"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack...(and) reaffirmed their full support for UNIFIL" a statement from the UN body said.

Trump says new Iran deal will be 'far better' than 2015 JCPOA

Published: April 20, 2026 | 22:13 GMT | by AFP

US President Donald Trump said that the agreement currently under negotiation with Tehran will prove superior to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“The deal that we are making with Iran will be far better than the JCPOA,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, referring to the original pact as one of the "worst" agreements ever made regarding US security.