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China offers $200,000 emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran after school attack.
Iran says death toll of US-Israeli strikes reaches 1,230.
Iran's IRGC official says will burn any ship trying to pass through Strait of Horm.
TEHRAN -- Iran reopened two main airports in capital Tehran on Monday, the country's ISNA News Agency reported, citing Iran's Civil Aviation Organization.
The two airports are the Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad Airport, it reported, adding that 10 other airports across Iran will become operational from Saturday.
Those airports have been closed following the latest round of conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Iran says removing nuclear stockpile never an option in talks with US.
WASHINGTON - The US Navy is using robots to clear underwater mines planted by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
A demining operation combining manned and unmanned systems is adopted by the US military to remove the mines laid by Iran, using both surface and underwater drones equipped with sonar detectors, a US defense official was quoted as saying.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday on his Truth Social platform that "Iran, with the help of the USA., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines!" Iran did not respond to the claim.
After Iran re-closed the strait following a brief opening, 35 outbound vessels have turned back over 36 hours, according to a report by Britain-headquartered maritime analytics company Windward.
Iran tightened control over the strait after the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on the country on Feb. 28. The United States also imposed a naval blockade on the strait following its failed negotiations with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Iran says it attacked US military ships in retaliation for US seizure of Iranian vessel: media
Iran and the United States have separately hinted at some progress in their latest negotiations through intermediaries following short-lived diplomatic progress over the weekend, but both stopped short of giving assurances of any immediate end to their fighting.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was at a standstill on Sunday after Iran reasserted control over the strategic waterway, key to global energy supplies, days before a fragile ceasefire was set to expire.
The disruption happened on Saturday when US President Donald Trump said the US naval blockade on Iran's ports would continue despite Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying in a post on X on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is open.
"In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said Araghchi in a post on X, which as of this writing, had not been taken down.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said on Saturday that "control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state and this strategic strait is under strict management and control of the Armed Forces", the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
Zolfaghari noted that Iran had earlier "agreed in good faith, following prior agreements in negotiations, to allow the managed passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz."
However, he accused Washington of continued "repeated breaches of commitments" and engaging in "piracy and maritime theft under the so-called blockade".
The Speaker of Iran's Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in a televised address to the nation on Saturday, and as reported by Iranian media, that Tehran was simultaneously engaged in diplomacy, but was also ready for military confrontation.
He said Iran has no trust in its adversaries and warned that escalation remained possible while reaffirming that negotiations are ongoing alongside their readiness for necessary action, Tasnim News Agency reported.
Further, Qalibaf described Iran as victorious both on the ground and in diplomacy, referring to the country's approach as a "diplomacy of power". Qalibaf also said proposals had been relayed to Iran through several countries, including Pakistan, and were reviewed in detail by the Supreme National Security Council around the 36th day of the war.
He further criticized recent US moves to impose a naval blockade on Iran, calling them "misguided". The speaker added that after failing to impose its demands militarily or through threats, the aggressor — referring to the US — resorted to indirect messaging, noting that Iran remains even more resolute now than before the ceasefire.
Trump said on Saturday the US has "very good conversations going on" with Iran and that the US would not be "blackmailed" by Tehran.
He said Iran "got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years", adding that nobody "ever took them on. We took them on".
"They have no navy, they have no air force, they have no leaders. They have … nothing. Actually … it is regime change. You call that enforced regime change, but we're talking to them," said Trump, adding that Washington "was taking a tough stand".
Al Jazeera reported that Lloyd's List, a maritime news company, said that traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has come to a halt after Iranian forces fired on several ships on Saturday.
It said there had been a brief flurry of activity during the day, but traffic was back to a standstill by Saturday evening after radio transmissions warned ships that the strait had gone back to "strict management and control by the (Iranian) armed forces".
On Saturday, Iranian forces had targeted two vessels attempting to go through the Strait of Hormuz. In audio published by various media outlets, a terrified crew of the oil tanker Sanmar Herald alerted the Iranian navy that it had reportedly given the vessel clearance to proceed after it was fired upon by Iranian gunboats.
Iranian armed forces on Sunday prevented another two oil tankers from transiting the strait, the semiofficial Tasnim News Agency reported.
The vessels, sailing under the flags of Botswana and Angola, attempted to pass through the strategic waterway "illegally" but were forced to turn back following Iranian action, the report said.
Regarding the following peace talks, Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday that representatives are going to Islamabad on Monday night for Iran negotiations. Two Pakistani security sources said negotiations will likely be held before Friday, Al Jazeera reported.
The sources cited two US cargo aircraft, C-17 Globemasters, having landed at Noor Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi near Islamabad and said that the "roads from the airport to Islamabad's Red Zone have been temporarily closed, indicating heightened security arrangements".
The US and Iran's ceasefire deal is scheduled to expire this week.
Now in its eighth week, the conflict has created the most severe shock to global energy supplies in history, sending oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the strait. Before the war, it carried one-fifth of the world's oil shipments.
On Friday, oil prices fell about 10 percent and global stocks jumped on the prospect of marine traffic resuming through the strait. But hundreds of vessels and about 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Gulf awaiting passage through the waterway, shipping sources said.
Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.
Trumps says US has intercepted, taken custody of Iranian-flagged cargo ship
TEHRAN -- Iran's top joint military command said on Monday that Iran will soon respond to "armed maritime piracy" by the US military, according to media reports.
Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned Iran will "soon respond" to US "armed maritime piracy" after American forces fired on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, disabled its navigation system, and boarded it with armed commandos, according to Press TV.
In response, Iran carried out drone attacks on US warships, causing the US forces to retreat, according to state-run IRIB and the semi-official Mehr news agency.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday the United States forcibly seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to get around a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.
A US Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman "stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room," and the US Marines had custody of the vessel, he said.
Iran's official news agency IRNA said on Sunday that the country has rejected taking part in the second round of the peace talks with the United States, which were reportedly to be held in Pakistan soon.
TEHRAN -- Iran's official news agency IRNA said on Sunday the country has rejected taking part in the second round of the peace talks with the United States.
Iran's absence from the second round of talks "stems from what it called Washington's excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire," the agency said in a post on its English account on social media platform X.
In another report published in Farsi, IRNA said reports released about the second round of peace talks between Tehran and Washington in Islamabad are "not true."
It described the reports released by the United States as part of a "media game and in line with the blame game" to pressure Iran, stressing that the US "excessive, illogical and unrealistic demands, frequent changing of positions, constant contradictory remarks, continuation of the so-called naval blockade" have so far prevented the negotiations' progress.
IRNA added under the present circumstances, there is "no bright prospect" for fruitful negotiations.
On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and US bases and assets in the Middle East, and exercising tight control over the Strait of Hormuz.
A ceasefire was achieved between the warring parties on April 8, which was followed by lengthy talks between the Iranian and US delegations in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on April 11 and 12. After the peace negotiations in Islamabad collapsed, the United States imposed its own blockade on the waterway.
The Iranian and US delegations were reportedly expected to hold another round of peace talks in Pakistan soon.
TEHRAN -- Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said Sunday that Iran has currently no decision to send a negotiating delegation for peace talks with the United States.
The Iranian team has stressed that as long as the US "anti-Iran" naval blockade remains in place, there will be no negotiation with Washington, according to the report.
Tasnim said it has received information that the exchange of messages between Iran and the United States through Pakistan has continued during the recent days.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the US "unlawful and criminal" blockade of Iran's ports and coastline is in violation of the two-week ceasefire between the two countries.
He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X one day after Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced that the country has resumed exercising strict control over the Strait of Hormuz due to the continuation of the US blockade of the waterway.
Iran has tightened its control over the strait since the United States and Israel launched large-scale airstrikes on the Islamic Republic, barring passage to vessels linked to Israel and the United States. The United States later imposed its own restrictions after peace talks with Iran in Islamabad collapsed.
The Iranian and US delegations were reportedly expected to hold another round of peace talks in Pakistan soon.
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON -- Iran and the United States on Sunday accused each other of ceasefire breach.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the US so-called blockade of Iran's ports and coastlines violated the ceasefire, calling it "unlawful and criminal."
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of committing a "serious violation" of the ceasefire, according to Jonathan Karl, ABC News' chief Washington correspondent, who wrote on X on Sunday that Trump told him so.
Karl added that Trump told him that an agreement would be reached "one way or another. The nice way or the hard way."
In his Truth Social post on Sunday morning, Trump said the US representatives are going to Islamabad on Monday for a new round of negotiations.
The United States is "offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran," Trump added.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained at a standstill on Sunday after the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran, prompting Iran to reassert control over the strategic waterway.
Trump threatens to "knock out every power plant and every bridge" in Iran if his deal is rejected
Trump says US envoys to arrive in Islamabad on Monday for talks
TEHRAN -- Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tehran is pursuing diplomatic efforts while remaining prepared for military confrontation, stressing that Iran does not trust its adversaries and stands ready to respond to further escalation.
In a televised address on Saturday, Qalibaf said the latest conflict began during negotiations, which he accused the United States of undermining through "deception," according to Tasnim News Agency.
Qalibaf said Iran does not claim to possess greater overall military power than the United States, acknowledging Washington's superior resources, but maintained that Tehran considers itself to have prevailed based on its performance and outcomes.
Qalibaf described Iran as having achieved success both "on the ground and in diplomacy," while warning that tensions could escalate at any moment. He said negotiations are continuing alongside what he described as full preparedness for any necessary action.
He also reiterated Iran's distrust of its opponents and said Tehran remains committed to pursuing a lasting peace, while seeking guarantees that would prevent a return to cycles of war, ceasefire and renewed conflict.
WASHINGTON - The US Central Command said on Saturday that dock landing ship USS Rushmore is conducting blockade operations in the Arabian Sea.
Earlier Saturday, it said on social media that a guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney is patrolling regional waters in support of the blockade operations. Meanwhile, an amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans is monitoring shipping.
The move came as the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Saturday evening and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on the waterway.
On Friday, both Washington and Tehran confirmed that the strait had been completely open for all commercial vessels. However, US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the US naval blockade would "remain in full force." In response, Iran warned of closing the strategic waterway again if the US blockade continues.
The Iranian military announced on Saturday that it was reimposing "strict controls" on the Strait of Hormuz, citing the United States' continued blockade of Iranian ports, less than 24 hours after the key global shipping lane was reopened.
Iran said the strait would remain under strict military control until the US lifted its blockade on Iranian ports, describing the blockade as "piracy and maritime plunder". US President Donald Trump said he does not accept Iran's "blackmail" and that negotiations are "progressing smoothly".
Iranian forces opened fire on a tanker attempting to cross the strait Saturday morning, the Washington Post reported. A container ship was struck by unknown munitions in the strait, with some containers damaged but no casualties reported, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre. Two Indian-flagged supertankers were also fired upon by the Revolutionary Guard and turned away.
Trump convened a high-level meeting in the White House Situation Room with senior officials including Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, to discuss the renewed crisis.
Trump said he would know by the end of Saturday whether a deal would be reached. However, as of 8 pm Eastern Time, no progress on the negotiations had been reported. Iranian state media said the Supreme National Security Council is reviewing new proposals put forward by the US. Trump told reporters that Iran “got a little cute” by reimposing controls on the strait, but insisted the US is having “very good conversations” with Tehran.
Shipping data showed several vessels making U-turns in the region on Saturday afternoon, while oil prices edged higher amid uncertainty.
The Strait of Hormuz carries about 20 percent of the global oil trade. It has remained a flashpoint since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb 28. Iran has confirmed that more than 3,300 of its citizens have been killed in the conflict, with satellite images showing fires still burning at damaged refineries and crude oil leaking into the Persian Gulf.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said war reparations would be a “top issue” in any negotiations with the US. Iran also announced that six airports, including Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, have reopened, though no flights have been authorized yet.
The latest incidents further complicate talks aimed at securing a peace deal. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect on Friday, but renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz risk undermining that fragile progress.
TEHRAN -- Iran has made progress in negotiations with the United States, but the two sides are still far from reaching an agreement, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Saturday.
TEHRAN - Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said on Saturday the country is determined to exercise control and supervision over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended and a lasting peace is achieved in the region.
The statement, reported by Iranian media, came after Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced earlier in the day the resumption of strict control over the Strait of Hormuz, citing the continuation of US naval blockade against Iran.
The SNSC said it will control the strait by demanding vessel information, issuing passage permits, charging fees for security and environmental services, and directing traffic according to its regulations and wartime protocols.
"By the time the enemy seeks to cause disruption to the vessels' transit through the strait and resort to methods such as imposing a naval blockade, which will be considered as violations of the (current two-week) ceasefire, the country will prevent the conditional and restricted reopening of the Strait of Hormuz," it said.
The SNSC noted that a major part of the equipment for US bases in West Asia is supplied via the Strait of Hormuz, which it said poses a threat to Iranian and regional security.
It also said Iran has received new US proposals, delivered through Pakistan during a recent visit by its Army Chief Asim Munir, and is reviewing them.
Iran's negotiating delegation will not make any compromise and will defend the country's interests with full force, it added.
Iran tightened its grip on the strait beginning Feb. 28, when Israel and the United States launched their joint strikes on Iranian territory. The United States recently imposed a blockade targeting ships going to and from Iran, after peace negotiations in Islamabad collapsed.
On Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely open" to commercial shipping for the duration of the two-week truce between Iran and the United States, which took effect on April 8, in line with the announcement of the truce in Lebanon.
However, Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced on Saturday the resumption of strict control over the Strait of Hormuz due to the continued US naval blockade.
TEHRAN - Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Saturday the country's "brave" navy is ready to inflict "new bitter defeats" on the United States and Israel, according to the official news agency IRNA.
He made the remarks in a message on the occasion of Iran's Army Day, which falls on April 18, while praising the Iranian army for its fight against the "enemies," especially through launching drones against the US and Israeli targets.
LONDON - The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center said on Saturday that a tanker came under fire from two gunboats of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman.
According to the report, the tanker was approached without any VHF communication before the gunboats opened fire. The vessel and its crew are reported safe.
TEHRAN - Iran has not agreed to hold a new round of peace talks with the United States, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.
