Tehran ready to talk if US ends naval blockade, stops ceasefire violations: Iran’s UN envoy

This live blog follows updates for Day 54 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 53, go here.

• US extends ceasefire with Iran as negotiations continue
• Iran urges the UN to condemn a US cargo ship seizure.
• Pakistan facilitating talks, while Iran yet to confirm participation
• White House confirms canceling Vance's Tuesday trip to Pakistan for talks with Iran 
• Araghchi says Iran knows how to 'resist bullying'

Vessels fired upon near Iran as Strait of Hormuz tensions rise

Published: April 22, 2026 | 09:16 GMT | by Web Desk

A ship 8 nautical miles (15 km) west of Iran reported being fired upon in the past 30 minutes; all crew are accounted for and safe.

Earlier, another cargo vessel was attacked and suffered severe damage to its bridge, about 15 nautical miles (28 km) northeast of Oman. The vessel is believed to be the Panama‑flagged MSC Francesca, which had sailed from Dammam in Saudi Arabia en route to Singapore.

Iran’s state‑affiliated Tasnim news agency said Iran was enforcing maritime law and that the ship had failed to heed specified warnings.

775 schools damaged during US-Israel attacks, says Iran's minister

Published: April 22, 2026 | 05:49 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s Minister of Education Alireza Kazemi has said that 775 of the 1,300 schools damaged during US-Israeli attacks have now been repaired, according to the country’s IRNA news agency.

About 20 of the schools were completely destroyed, the minister said, adding that most damage occurred in the provinces of Tehran, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Hormozgan.

Repairs to the most damaged schools were expected to be completed by October, he added.

Tehran ready to talk if US ends naval blockade, stops ceasefire violations: Iran’s UN envoy

Published: April 22, 2026 | 06:10 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said Tehran is ready to enter talks as soon as the United States lifts its naval blockade, stressing that Washington must first stop its “ceasefire violations.”

Iran enforces maritime law on container ship defying warnings: Report

Published: April 22, 2026 | 05:56 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the country’s military enforced “maritime law” on a container ship that ignored repeated warnings.

The agency shared the report on social media above an earlier post by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which had received a report of an incident involving a container ship 15 nautical miles (28 km) northeast of Oman.

UKMTO stated that the master of the container ship reported the vessel was approached by one IRGC gunboat, which then fired upon it and caused heavy damage to the bridge.

“No fires or environmental impact reported. All crew reported safe,” it added.

Oil, stocks fall as traders weigh outlook after Trump extends truce

Published: April 22, 2026 | 05:06 GMT | by Web Desk

Oil prices fell along with stocks Wednesday as investors assess the chances of US-Iran peace talks after Donald Trump extended his ceasefire at the eleventh hour but kept his blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in place.

With the two-week truce in its final hours, the US president said he would push the deadline back indefinitely following a request from mediator Pakistan and stressing the need to give Tehran's "fractured" leadership time to form a proposal.

He had previously indicated he would not extend the truce and warned he would resume bombing the Islamic republic when it expired.

Trump says Iran wants Hormuz open to make $500 Million a day

Published: April 22, 2026 | 02:45GMT | by Web Desk

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran was saving face by claiming that they want the Strait of Hormuz closed. 

“They want it open so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!),” President Trump said. 

“They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to ‘save face,’” he said in a post on his Truth Social account. 

He said that people have been approaching them for the past four days, saying that Iran “wants to open up the Strait, immediately.” 

“But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included,” he said.

Guterres ‘fully supports’ Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate talks between US, Iran

Published: April 22, 2026 | 00:56GMT | by Web Desk

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that he fully supported Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate further talks between the US and Iran. 

According to a statement issued by the secretary-general’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres welcomed the announcement by the US to extend the ceasefire with Iran, calling it an important step toward de-escalation and creating critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between the two countries

“We encourage all parties to build on this momentum, refrain from actions that could undermine the cease-fire, and engage constructively in negotiations to reach a sustainable and lasting resolution,” Dujarric said. 

“The Secretary-General hopes that these efforts will contribute to creating conditions conducive to a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict,” he added.

Iran urges UN condemnation after US seizes cargo ship

Published: April 21, 2026 | 21:36GMT | by AFP

Iran called on the United Nations to condemn the seizure by the United States of an Iranian cargo ship, characterizing the move as an act of piracy and a breach of a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington.

"Such conduct bears the hallmarks of piracy in nature and amounts to a dangerous escalation that severely endangers the safety and security of vital shipping lanes," Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, said Tuesday in a letter addressed to the Security Council and the Secretary-General.

"Moreover, this unlawful act constitutes a clear and material breach of the ceasefire of 8 April 2026 and qualifies as an act of aggression," under the terms of the UN charter, he added.

Iravani urged the UN to condemn the seizure and demand the ship's release.

White House confirms canceling Vance's Tuesday trip to Iran talks

Published: April 21, 2026 | 21:36GMT | by Web Desk

White House said Vice President JD Vance would not be going to Pakistan for what had been expected to be a second round of peace talks.

"The trip to Pakistan will not be happening today. Any further updates on in-person meetings will be announced by the White House," a White House official said in a statement.

PM Sharif thanks Trump, hopes both sides conclude ‘Peace Deal’ in Islamabad talks

Published: April 21, 2026 | 21:22GMT | by Web Desk

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked US President Donald Trump for accepting Pakistan’s request to “extend the ceasefire” with Iran, hoping to conclude a comprehensive ‘Peace Deal’ during the second round of talks scheduled at Islamabad. 

“With the trust and confidence reposed in, Pakistan shall continue its earnest efforts for negotiated settlement of conflict,” PM Sharif said in a post on X.

“I sincerely hope that both sides will continue to observe the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive ‘Peace Deal’ during the second round of talks scheduled at Islamabad for a permanent end to the conflict,” he said.

Upon request of PM Sharif, CDF Munir, Trump extends ceasefire with Iran 

Published: April 21, 2026 | 21:20GMT | by Web Desk

US President Donald Trump said that upon the request of Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the US was extending the ceasefire until Iranian “leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal.”

“We have been asked to hold our attack on the country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” he said. 

“I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extend the Ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other,” he added.