The Strait of Hormuz remained closed on Sunday (April 19, 2026) in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran’s powerful speaker of parliament signalling a final peace deal was “far” off despite movement in negotiations.
As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in Pakistan that failed to reach a deal, Iran said it would not reopen the crucial maritime trade route until the United States ended its blockade of Iranian ports.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, said in a televised address on Saturday night (April 18) that there had been “progress” with Washington, “but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain”.
“We are still far from the final discussion,” said Mr. Ghalibaf, one of Tehran’s senior negotiators in the talks aimed at ending the war launched by Israel and the United States against the Islamic country.
A two-week ceasefire is set to end on Wednesday (April 22) unless it is renewed.
