Skip next section Iran’s sudden Hormuz reversal: What it signals now04/19/2026April 19, 2026
Iran’s sudden Hormuz reversal: What it signals now
Marianna Evenstein
Tehran has reimposed its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, just a day after saying it would reopen the critical waterway.
DW asked Middle East expert Simon Mabon what this says about Iran’s strategic calculations.
Iran’s sudden Hormuz reversal: What it signals now
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CR45
Skip next section Iran puts war death toll at over 3,400: official
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
Iran puts war death toll at over 3,400: official
Iran said more than 3,400 people had been killed since the war with the United States and Israel began on February 28.
ISNA news agency cited Ahmad Mousavi, the head of the state-run Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, as saying that 3,468 “martyrs… fell during the recent conflict.”
Although DW is unable to verify the figure, it chimes with recent tolls from an Iranian medical association and the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
HRANA said on April 7 that at least 3,636 people had been killed, including 1,701 civilians.
The agency said at least 254 children were among the dead.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CR2P
Skip next section IRGC says any ship approaching Hormuz will be ‘targeted’
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
IRGC says any ship approaching Hormuz will be ‘targeted’
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a warning on Saturday night, threatening to attack any ship approaching the Strait of Hormuz.
The key waterway, over which Tehran has maintained a tight stranglehold since the start of the war, will remain closed until the US lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports and shipping, the IRGC said.
It ordered that “no ship, of any kind, should leave its anchorage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman” and said that any ship approaching the strait “will be considered as cooperation with the enemy” and be targeted.
The IRGC also warned the US Navy, saying that it will receive a “hard blow” if it attacks Iranian vessels.
Will the Iran war cause a global recession?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CQuG
Skip next section Iranian deputy foreign minister slams US’ ‘maximalist’ positions
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
Iranian deputy foreign minister slams US’ ‘maximalist’ positions
Iran is not yet ready to hold a new round of face-to-face talks with the US because of Washington’s “maximalist” demands on key issues, said the Islamic Republic’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh.
“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,” Khatibzadeh said in an interview with the Associated Press news agency.
He also stressed that Tehran will not hand over its enriched uranium stockpile to the US, rejecting claims made by US President Donald Trump.
“I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States,” he underlined. “This is 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.”
The minister also emphasized that “the other sides should understand and address our main concerns,” but did not specify which issues remain unresolved.
He said Iran was seeking the finalization of a “framework agreement” before moving to an in-person meeting.
What remains of Iran’s nuclear program?
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Skip next section Germany condemns UNIFIL attack, calls for Hezbollah to lay down arms
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
Germany condemns UNIFIL attack, calls for Hezbollah to lay down arms
The German government has condemned an attack on a UN peacekeeping force mission (UNIFIL) in Lebanon that left a French peacekeeper dead and three wounded, two of them seriously.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the fallen soldier,” the German Foreign Office said in a post on X.
It called for those responsible for the attack to be held accountable.
The statement also demanded that the Iran-linked Shiite militant outfit Hezbollah lay down its weapons.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CQol
Skip next section India summons Iranian ambassador over Strait of Hormuz incident
Published 04/18/2026Published April 18, 2026last updated 04/18/2026last updated April 18, 2026
India summons Iranian ambassador over Strait of Hormuz incident
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it had summoned the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi after an incident in the Strait of Hormuz.
“During the meeting, the Foreign Secretary conveyed India’s deep concern at the shooting incident earlier today involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement from India said.
“He noted the importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners and recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India,” the statement continued.
“Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, the Foreign Secretary urged the Ambassador to convey India’s views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5CQQV
Skip next section Iran says reviewing ‘new proposals’ from United States
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
Iran says reviewing ‘new proposals’ from United States
Iran’s top national security body said Saturday that the country was reviewing “new proposals” put forward by the US in recent days.
It stressed that Tehran would defend its interests and not make any compromises.
Iran’s negotiating delegation “will not make even the slightest compromise, retreat or leniency, and will defend with all its strength the interests of the Iranian nation,” the Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.
Israel and Hezbollah hold fire in Lebanon: What comes next?
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Skip next section Trump says Iran cannot ‘blackmail us’ with Strait of Hormuz
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
Trump says Iran cannot ‘blackmail us’ with Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned Iran not to “blackmail” Washington by shutting the Strait of Hormuz once again.
“We’re talking to them. They wanted to close up the strait again — you know, as they’ve been doing for years — and they can’t blackmail us,” Trump said at a White House event.
His statement came after Tehran had earlier announced the closure of the strategic waterway — which connects the Persian Gulf to world markets and is key to global energy security — saying that the US’ continued blockade of Iranian ports and shipping violates the terms of the truce agreement reached by the warring parties.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CQMm
Skip next section Second vessel attacked near Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
Second vessel attacked near Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO says
The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported on the second attack on a vessel near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, hours after Iran announced it was closing the strategic waterway yet again.
UKMTO said an unknown projectile hit the container vessel 25 nautical miles (46 kilometers) northeast of Oman, damaging some of its containers.
Earlier on Saturday, UKMTO reported that two gunboats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on a tanker transiting the strait.
UKMTO minutes later reported on a third incident 3 nautical miles east of Oman.
“The master of a cruise ship reported sighting a splash in close proximity of the vessel,” UKMTO said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CQEw
Skip next section UNIFIL says ‘non-state actors’ attacked troops in southern Lebanon
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
UNIFIL says ‘non-state actors’ attacked troops in southern Lebanon
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said on Saturday that its troops came under “small-arms fire from non-state actors” in southern Lebanon, killing one peacekeeper.
The attack occurred during a UNIFIL patrol clearing explosives along the road in the village of Ghandouriyeh, the UNIFIL statement said. Three more peacekeepers were injured, two of them seriously.
“UNIFIL condemns this deliberate attack on peacekeepers engaged in their mandated tasks,” UNIFIL said. “The work of explosive ordnance disposal teams is vital in the mission’s area of operations especially in the wake of the recent hostilities.”
The peacekeeping force launched its own probe into the incident, saying that “initial assessment indicates the fire came from non-state actors (allegedly Hezbollah).”
“UNIFIL calls on the Government of Lebanon to swiftly initiate an investigation to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable for the crimes committed against UNIFIL peacekeepers,” it added.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CQ97
Skip next section French soldier killed in attack on UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, Macron says
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
French soldier killed in attack on UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, Macron says
French President Emmanuel Macron said that a French peacekeeper was killed in an attack against UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon Saturday, blaming Hezbollah for the attack.
“Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” Macron said on X. “France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest the perpetrators and take their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL.”
Lebanon’s prime minister had condemned the attack and ordered a probe.
The Lebanese military, which also condemned the attack, said in a statement carried by the state news agency NNA that it was a result of “an exchange of fire with armed men.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun vowed in a phone call with Macron to prosecute those responsible for the attack.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CQ82
Skip next section No date set for next round of US-Iran talks, Tehran says04/18/2026April 18, 2026
No date set for next round of US-Iran talks, Tehran says
No date has been set for the next round of Pakistan-brokered US-Iran peace talks, Iran’s deputy foreign minister told reporters on Saturday.
“Until we agree on the framework, we cannot set the date,” Saeed Khatibzadeh told journalists on the sidelines of an annual Turkish diplomatic forum in the southern province of Antalya.
“Now we are focusing on finalizing the framework of understanding between two sides. We don’t want to enter into any negotiation or meeting which is due to failure which can be [a] pretext for another round of escalation,” he added.
The Iranian official stressed that Tehran “would not accept to be an exception from the international law” in any negotiations.
“Anything that we are going to be committed [to] will be within the international regulations and international law.”
Iran war: What’s next after Islamabad talks fail?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5CQ7w
Skip next section Lebanese PM condemns attacks on UN peacekeepers
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
Lebanese PM condemns attacks on UN peacekeepers
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Saturday condemned what he said was an attack on French United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.
“I condemn in the strongest terms today’s attack on members of the French battalion in UNIFIL,” Salam said on X, referring to the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) in Lebanon.
He said he gave “strict instructions for an immediate investigation to uncover the circumstances of this attack and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
A UNIFIL spokesperson told the French AFP news agency that an incident involving their peacekeepers took place in the southern municipality of Ghandouriyeh, stopping short of providing details regarding the nature of the attack or its casualties.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CQ5h
Skip next section Israel says it killed militants over crossing de-facto ‘yellow line’ in Lebanon
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
Israel says it killed militants over crossing de-facto ‘yellow line’ in Lebanon
The Israeli military on Saturday announced it has killed people in Lebanon for crossing what it called a “yellow line,” the first such reference to a demarcation line in southern Lebanon since a 10-day ceasefire came into effect.
The “yellow line” in question seemed to mimic a similar one created after a ceasefire agreement which ended the 2-year war in Gaza last October. As per the agreement, Israeli forces were allowed to remain within that “yellow line” in Gaza for at least the first phase of the ceasefire.
However, the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon initially made no mention of such a line.
“Over the past 24 hours, [Israeli military] forces operating south of the Yellow Line in southern Lebanon identified terrorists who violated the ceasefire understandings and approached the forces from north of the Yellow Line in a manner that posed an immediate threat,” the military said on X.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CQ5a
Skip next section Iran’s supreme leader vows readiness to defeat US
04/18/2026April 18, 2026
Iran’s supreme leader vows readiness to defeat US
Khamenei, depicted here on a poster at a pro-government rally in Tehran, has not been seen in public since he took over Iran’s top post from his slain fatherImage: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/picture alliance
Iran’s supreme leader has warned that the country’s navy was ready to defeat US forces.
Mojtaba Khamenei said in a statement carried on his Telegram channel that Iran’s “brave navy stands ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats.”
The statement was issued after a short reprieve was soon interrupted when Iranonce more shuttered the strategic Strait of Hormuz after a brief reopening, accusing the US of violating the ceasefire agreement by maintaining its blockade on Iranian ports.
Iran’s new supreme leader, appointed following the killing of his father Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike which sparked the war, has yet to be seen in public since he assumed the top position in the country.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CQ4r
