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Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure again on Sunday in an effort to bring the regime to the table for 11th-hour talks before the ceasefire expires next week.
The US president took to social media to urge Iran to make a deal to end the war as he announced that negotiators would be heading to Islamabad for talks on Monday evening.
“We’re 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 wrote.
“NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years.”
It was unclear whether Iran was sending its own delegation, after their top negotiator said both sides remained far apart on key issues and hit out at the US over its continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. There has been no official confirmation of talks, even as Islamabad stepped up security.
Trump also claimed that Iran had targeted British and French ships in the Strait on Saturday, which he said was a “total violation of our ceasefire agreement”.
Trump optimistic about peace deal despite Iranian ‘violation’ of ceasefire
President Trump tells ABC’s Jonathan Karl that Iran has committed a “serious violation” of the ceasefire – but he remains optimistic that he can get a peace deal.
“It will happen. One way or another. The nice way or the hard way. It’s going to happen.”
James Reynolds19 April 2026 13:07
India summons Iranian ambassador over attacks on Hormuz traffic
India summoned Iran’s ambassador after two Indian-flagged vessels were fired upon, allegedly by the Iranian navy while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
India’s foreign ministry summoned Mohammad Fathali after the incident on Saturday. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri conveyed the government’s “deep concern” over the shooting involving two merchant ships bound for India.
Misri stressed the importance India places on the safety of commercial shipping and seafarers, noting that Iran had previously enabled the safe passage of several India-bound vessels.
James Reynolds19 April 2026 13:00
Recap: Trump believed coming across as ‘unstable and insulting’ in controversial posts could ‘bring the Iranians to the table,’ report says
President Trump reportedly adopted a strategy of intentionally acting unstable and insulting towards Iran, in the hopes that it would push the U.S. adversary to negotiate an end to the war.
The unorthodox tactics were reportedly behind a string of controversial posts the president made this month about the vital Strait of Hormuz, administration officials told The Wall Street Journal.
In one post, on April 5, the president ordered Iran to “open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy b*******, or you’ll be living in Hell,” and ended the post with “Praise be to Allah.”
Read the full report on Trump’s unusual approach to diplomacy:
James Reynolds19 April 2026 13:00
Ceasefire extension needed with snags holding up peace deal, says Turkey
Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan agrees with Ghalibaf’s assessment: talks to end the war are almost there, with a couple of disagreements obstructing a deal.
On the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, he tells reporters that a ceasefire extension will be needed to see a deal over the line.
Fidan says both sides still have the will to continue talks.
James Reynolds19 April 2026 12:27
Trump negotiators risk rushing an Iran deal that only creates more problems, diplomats warn
European allies fear an inexperienced US negotiating team is pushing for a swift, headline‑grabbing deal with Iran that will worsen, rather than resolve, clashes with the regime.
Diplomats with past experience of dealing with Tehran told Reuters that they believe negotiators are eager to claim a diplomatic victory for Donald Trump, and could end up agreeing to a superficial deal that only makes matters worse later on.
“The concern isn’t that there won’t be an agreement,” said one of eight senior European diplomats. “It’s that there will be a bad initial agreement that creates endless downstream problems.”
Diplomats from France, Britain and Germany, which began negotiating with Iran in 2003, say they have been sidelined in the talks.
JD Vance, with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, speaks during a press conference on 12 April (Reuters)
The diplomats said the nuclear issue remained by far the most contentious.
“The Americans think you agree on three or four points in a five‑page document and that’s it, but on the nuclear file, every clause opens the door to a dozen more disputes,” a second European diplomat said.
“Whatever happens now is only a starting point,” said a Western diplomat previously involved in nuclear talks. “That’s why the 2015 JCPOA ran to 160 pages.”
James Reynolds19 April 2026 12:14
Iran turns back another two tankers
Iran’s armed forces turned back another two tankers trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday after issuing warnings, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
The vessels, sailing under the flags of Botswana and Angola, were forced to change course after what the report described as “unauthorised transit” through the strategic waterway.
James Reynolds19 April 2026 12:08
Just 15% of Americans believe Trump has achieved his war goals
Just 15% of Americans believe Trump has achieved his war goals, according to a new poll by Politico.
The humbling poll of 2,035 US adults online found as many as two in five believe the president will either never achieve his goals in Iran – or does not have explicit goals to begin with.
41 per cent believe the administration has no plan to resolve the conflict, reflecting very little change from last month.
Nearly a third of Trump’s own voters from 2024 believe he is spending too much time on international issues over domestic affairs, the poll found.
James Reynolds19 April 2026 12:00
Watch: Iranian general threatens to shut down global oil supply claiming ‘upper hand’ on TrumpIranian general threatens to shut down global oil supply claiming ‘upper hand’ on Trump
James Reynolds19 April 2026 11:42
Iran replenishing launchers faster than before war, says IRGC
Majid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force, says that Iran is replenishing launchers faster now, during the ceasefire in effect, than it was before the war, according to Iran’s Nour News.
James Reynolds19 April 2026 11:30
Will Iran and the US agree to terms this weekend?
Pakistan is preparing to host Iranian and US delegations in the capital this weekend.
But neither side has confirmed a time or place for a second round of talks yet, after last week’s talks ended without a breakthrough.
A ceasefire agreement in Lebanon was well received in Iran, which briefly reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.
But the continued US presence in the area saw Tehran shut the strait hours later, on Saturday.
Since then, talk of progress has been scarce. Donald Trump has been the main voice of optimism, saying on Saturday that the US was still having “very good conversations” on the matter.
Donald Trump, 16 April (AFP/Getty)
Iran’s top negotiator has attacked the US over its “stupid” blockade, and notes there is “still a big distance between us” on some issues.
“There are some issues on which we insist … They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two.”
James Reynolds19 April 2026 11:05