The United States attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday (April 19, 2026), and Iran's joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile ceasefire into question days before it expires.
Also Read | Iran fully closes Strait of Hormuz over U.S. blockade
It was the first interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran's joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a ceasefire violation, the state broadcaster said.
Iran-Israel war updates on April 20, 2026
With the U.S.-Iran standoff over the strait sharpening and the ceasefire expiring by Wednesday (April 22, 2026), it was not clear where President Donald Trump ’s earlier announcement on new talks with Iran now stood. He had said U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday (April 20, 2026).
