In pictures: Lebanese residents return to damaged homes after ceasefire takes effect
Haya Dahnoun, 14, who said she survived an Israeli strike that forced her to flee with her parents from Nabatieh to Beirut, recounts the day they were hit as she stands in her neighbour’s damaged sitting room after returning home, on 18 April (Reuters)
Sajed Dahnoun, 12, who said he survived an Israeli strike that forced him to flee with his parents to Beirut, sits in his neighbours’ sitting room in Nabatieh on 18 April, since the ceasefire (Reuters)
James Reynolds18 April 2026 19:00
Trump ‘holds crisis talks on Strait of Hormuz’
Donald Trump called a meeting in the Situation Room this morning to discuss negotiations with Iran and the reopened crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report.
A senior US official told Axios that unless there is a breakthrough in talks, it looks as though the war could reopen within days.
There is still no firm date for talks to resume this weekend, despite Trump’s hopes to end the conflict before the ceasefire expires on Tuesday.
An official told the outlet that today’s crisis talks were attended by senior figures of government including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and Scott Bessent.
James Reynolds18 April 2026 18:38
IRGC threatens to ‘destroy vessels’ crossing the Strait of Hormuz
As Iran reasserts its grip over the Strait of Hormuz, the Revolutionary Guards have issued a warning to ships in the area that they will destroy any vessels trying to cross.
A shipowner told the Wall Street Journal they had received a radio message declaring the strait was “completely closed again” and blaming the US government.
“No vessel of any type or nationality is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” the message said, threatening any trying to cross “will be met with a severe response from the IRGC navy and will be destroyed.”
The sun rises behind tankers anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Qeshm Island, Iran, Saturday, April 18 (AP)
James Reynolds18 April 2026 18:30
Iran not ready for talks with US, says foreign ministry
Iran is not yet ready to hold a new round of direct talks with the US, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday, citing Washington’s refusal to abandon “maximalist” demands on key issues.
Iranian deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, against claims made by Donald Trump.
“I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States,” Khatibzadeh said. “This is a non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we’re not going to accept things that are nonstarters.”
Khatibzadeh said there have been many exchanges of messages between the sides but accused the United States of holding firm on demands Iran deems to be excessive.
“We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position.”
James Reynolds18 April 2026 18:10
UK to make ‘wide-ranging military contribution’ to Hormuz mission, says diplomat
Britain will make “a wide-ranging military contribution” to an international mission to protect shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz trade artery, the UK ambassador to the US has said.
The commitment by Sir Christian Turner comes amid long-running concerns over the state of the nation’s armed forces and warnings of under-funding.
Only this week, Labour former defence secretary and Nato chief Lord Robertson of Port Ellen accused his own Government of “corrosive complacency” in the face of “the bright red signals of danger”.
James Reynolds18 April 2026 18:00
Reporter ordered ‘out’ of Oval Office after pressing Trump on Hormuz
A reporter says Donald Trump ordered her ‘out’ after she asked him about the two ships reportedly fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz.
As Trump spoke on psychedelic drug legislation in the Oval Office, CBS reporter Olivia Rinaldi asked him about the reports of ships being struck in the channel earlier today.
Trump is seen in a video of the moment looking away before ordering: “Out.” He thanks the other reporters, indicating the time to leave.
Trump only yesterday said Iran had vowed never to close the strait again – before the regime reasserted itself, citing the continued US military blockade.
James Reynolds18 April 2026 17:46
Hezbollah refutes blame for killing of French soldier in Lebanon
A French soldier was killed and three others wounded while clearing a road in southern Lebanon in an attack that peacekeepers and French officials said was likely carried out by Hezbollah.
French President Emmanuel Macron identified the fallen soldier as Sergeant-Chef Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban.
“Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” Macron said, adding: “France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL.”
UNIFIL said initial assessments indicated the fire came from non-state actors, allegedly Hezbollah, and that an investigation had been launched into what it called “a deliberate attack.”
Hezbollah denied it was responsible for the attack.
James Reynolds18 April 2026 17:14
Where have talks to end the war been left?
Trump said the US was having “very good conversations” with Iran, even as Tehran closed the strait again on Saturday.
The reversal has left diplomacy uncertain, with just three days until the US-Iranian ceasefire is due to expire.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said no date had been set for the next round of negotiations, adding that a framework of understanding must be agreed first.
State television also quoted the Supreme National Security Council as saying the US had put forward new proposals after talks mediated by Pakistan in recent days.
Tehran was considering them but had not yet responded, it said.
There was no immediate sign of direct talks taking place at the weekend, despite Trump saying on Friday that negotiations would take place.
James Reynolds18 April 2026 17:00
In full: Tankers under fire as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz hours after reopening
Tankers in the Gulf came under fire on Saturday as Iran reimposed its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after declaring the vital waterway had reopened to commercial traffic.
At least two vessels reported being struck by gunfire as they tried to cross the strait, after Tehran said it would be shutting the strategic chokepoint in response to the continued US blockade on Iranian ports.
Hopes for diplomacy were dashed as Iran’s new supreme leader Mojataba Khamenei said the nation’s navy was ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies, with the US-Iranian ceasefire set to expire within days.
Read the full story of today’s events here:
James Reynolds18 April 2026 16:45
US preparing to board Iranian vessels, officials say
US officials have told the Wall Street Journal that the US military is preparing to board ‘Iran-linked’ oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters within days.
The report emerged on Saturday as Iran reasserted itself in the Strait of Hormuz.
Intercepting Iran-‘linked’ ships in international waters would represent a widening of the conflict, which has been mostly contained to the Strait in recent weeks.
James Reynolds18 April 2026 16:15