AJ
Deadline day for the ceasefire came around on day 14, which needed to have a deal, an extension, or some form of negotiation taking place before 4:20am on April 22 Pakistan time, but the “will they, won’t they,” continued because Iran wanted the US to lift the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the blockade constituted a ceasefire agreement violation as it wasn’t agreed in the last round of talks, and the recent seizure of up to three vessels constitutes ‘war crimes,’ according to Iranian FM Araghchi – Take a look at the negotiation countdown, what happened after, and other news from around the regions, in the recap for day fourteen (deadline day) (April 21).
Negotiation News – 12 Hours To Ceasefire Deadline:
Pakistan asked the United States and Iran to extend the ceasefire by an additional two weeks in the early hours of Tuesday morning, in the hopes that talks could still take place this week, despite constant rhetoric from Iran saying they wouldn’t attend unless the US made some concessions in relation to the blockade of the Strait, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to announce a possible extension on Wednesday.
The prospects for a deal had weakened according to CNN who reported that President Donald Trump had agreed major terms with Iran including its nuclear program, which Iranian officials denied, noting the conflicting statements since the weekend had already disrupted negotiations in regards to the complicated disagreements over uranium enrichment, sanctions relief, and internal divisions among Iranian leadership.
A Pakistani source allegedly told Reuters the negotiation talks were on track to begin Wednesday, with momentum building for a second round of negotiations, noting that President Trump could attend if a deal is reached, while Al-Hadeth cited a Pakistani official that confirmed a second round of talks were to go ahead, but there was no information about a ceasefire extension.
Throughout the day there were many different stories of whether the Iran delegation had left Iran, had arrived in Islamabad, were attending the negotiations, or weren’t attending the negotiations until key issues had been resolved, as sources including Al-Alam, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Reuters, NYP, NYT, Washington Post, and others all stating different comments had been said as the day progressed, while Axios reported that during the early hours of the morning, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had given the green light for an Iranian delegation to depart to Islamabad for talks with the US and said that JD Vance was expected to depart on Tuesday morning.
President Trump told CNBC in the afternoon that Iran didn’t have much time until the ceasefire expired and that he didn’t want to extend the ceasefire, while also telling PBS that if no deal is made or the ceasefire ends, bombs will start to be dropped on Iran once again, and Tasnim News reported a response from Iran saying if the war restarts as the ceasefire ends, it would be because of the blockade by the US and other pressure tactics that blocked negotiations.
Negotiation News – 6 Hours To Ceasefire Deadline:
Approximately 7 hours to the deadline, Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that time was running out: “Formal response from Iranian side about confirmation of delegation to attend Islamabad Peace Talks is still awaited. Ceasefire ends at 4:50am Pakistan Time, 22 April – Decision from Iran to attend the talks before the end of two weeks ceasefire is critical. Pakistan has made sincere efforts to convince the Iranian leadership to participate in the second round of talks and these efforts continue.”
New demands were issued by President Trump on Truth Social on Tuesday afternoon that could also have effects on the delegation attending, after Trump called on Iranian leaders to release detained women ahead of expected negotiations with the US representatives, describing such a move as a positive start to the talks, urging that the women be treated without harm and said he would greatly appreciate their release, while adding that the gesture would be respectful, thanking Iranian authorities for their attention to the matter.
A plane that was supposed to be flying US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner was enroute to Washington DC which was meant to be taking the two to Pakistan, while Vice President JD Vance was reportedly in the White House attending important meetings, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s press walk with the Argentinian President was abruptly halted by a red-phone call request.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that Iran hadn’t made a final decision on whether to participate in the Pakistan-mediated talks with the US, stating the uncertainty was not due to hesitation on Iran’s part, but because of contradictory messages from the US along with unacceptable actions and conditions.
Pakistani mediators had been told by Iran that if the US don’t lift their blockade on the Strait of Hormuz that the Iranian delegation would not travel to Islamabad, reported the WSJ, despite previous approval from the Supreme Leader.
Negotiation News – 5 Hours To Ceasefire Deadline:
With less than 5 hours to go, a Pakistani source told Al Arabiya that neither the US or Iran had notified of any cancellation plans and Pakistan were still holding talks to secure a ceasefire extension, then announcements from the WSJ came soon after that JD Vance had paused plans to travel to Islamabad after a flurry of White House meetings, stating that he could leave later this week, followed by the Associated Press and Axios reporting that the talks had been postponed indefinitely because Tehran had not committed to attending.
Tasnim News then reported that Iran had told the Pakistani mediators their decision not to attend the talks on Wednesday was final, citing alleged multiple ceasefire violations such as developments related to Lebanon and the naval blockade, despite Iran gesturing to open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, adding that the messages exchanged showed no meaningful progress, with the US maintaining what Iran viewed as excessive demands, prompting Tehran to conclude that it would be unproductive to attend the talks.
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations gave a full statement to the press, informing them that Iran would return to the negotiations in Pakistan when the US lifts the blockade, which they have already received positive signals of.
President Trump extended the ceasefire through Truth Social noting that Pakistan had been mediating well, so upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the US will hold off on attacks until such time as the leaders can come up with a unified proposal, but had directed the military to continue the blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and therefore the ceasefire will be in place until a proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or another.
Sharif thanked Trump through X for extending the ceasefire at Pakistan’s request, while reaffirming that Pakistan would continue in earnest to negotiate an end to the conflict.
Tasnim News reported that Iran hadn’t officially announced its position on extending the ceasefire, despite statements by President Trump, stating that Iran’s stance would be declared formally at a later time.
Soon after, the Spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces responded to the statement: “Our capable and powerful forces have been at one hundred percent readiness and with their fingers on the trigger for a long time, so that in case of any aggression or action against Islamic Iran, they immediately strike the predetermined targets powerfully and tach the aggressive America and the child-killing Zionist regime a harsher lesson than before.”
Advisor to Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Ghalibaf, Mahdi Mohammadi, described Trump’s ceasefire extension as a ploy to buy time for a surprise attack.
Seized Ships:
The Iranian Foreign Ministry demanded the release of the crew from the Touska, which was seized and was still being searched by US military personnel after breaking the blockade around the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Reuters, the Touska was likely to have what the US saw as dual use equipment that could have been used by the military, but while the maritime security source didn’t specify what was onboard, US Central Command had identified a range of goods that could be subject to seizure under current dual use enforcement measures, which included metals, pipes, and/or electronic components.
Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said the US attack on an Iranian commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman constituted a war crime and a ceasefire violation, warning that Iran would respond to ‘American mischief,’ adding that the possibility of renewed attacks wasn’t low and Iran must be 100% ready: “The main factor behind the victory so far has been the will of the people,’ he said.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun expressed concern over the US seizure of an Iranian cargo ship travelling from China, and over Iranian forces firing on Indian-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, urging all parties to honour the ceasefire agreement, avoid escalating tensions, and create conditions for restoring normal passage through the Strait.
The IMO has begun to work on a plan to evacuate hundreds of ships that have been stuck in the Persian Gulf since the beginning of the strikes on Iran seven weeks ago, Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said, according to Bloomberg, but he confirmed the plan could only be activated when there were clear signs of de-escalation, adding that details under discussion included the order of departure for vessels based on how long the crews had been stranded.
US forces boarded a second tanker on Tuesday, the sanctioned M/T Tifani, which was sailing in the INDOPACOM area and was allegedly transporting cargo in support of Iran.
President Trump told CNBC on the phone that a ship was captured on Monday that some “things on it that weren’t nice, a gift from China perhaps, I don’t know, but I am surprised, I thought I had an understanding with President Xi.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that striking an Iranian commercial ship and taking its crew hostage was a greater ceasefire violation than the blocking of Iranian ports, adding that Iran knows how to neutralise restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying.
Maritime channels for entry and exit through the Strait of Hormuz had been closed by Iran following the United States’ violation of the ceasefire, reported Tasnim News, stating that no vessel whatsoever would pass through the Strait of Hormuz until the necessary guarantees had been provided to fully lift the naval blockade imposed by the US.
The Hong Kong flagged supertanker the Flora appeared to be drifting in the Gulf of Oman since Monday Night near the Gulf of Oman and was reported to be ‘not under command,’ and it was captured on Tuesday on the Sentinel-2 imagery sitting powerless in the area of the blockade line of the US Navy.
Iranian Ambassador to the UN Amir-Saeid Iravani wrote a letter to the UN Secretary General and the President of the Security Council, calling on both of them to swiftly and firmly condemn the US seizure of the Touska and the detention of its crew.
Iran News:
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X that Trump imposed a siege and violated a ceasefire as he sought to turn the negotiating table in his own mind into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering, stating that Iran would not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and have new cards to reveal on the battlefield.
Ambassador to Iran Reza Amiri Moghadam also said on X that Iran would not negotiate by force and wish the US people would understand this.
First Vice Speaker Ali Nikzad said Iran isn’t a nation that pays tribute and that the smart management of the Strait of Hormuz is a strategic strength, stating that negotiations must be based on dignified diplomacy: “Trump’s broken promises and his unreliable character, America’s excessive demands in the talks, and Iran’s steadfastness is not backing down from its fundamental national principles – stability, commitment to obligations and avoiding unpredictable behaviour – are key factors for trust,’ he said.
Exercising power through the control of the waterways is Iran’s new deterrent, reported the New York Times, stating that regardless of any restrictions on its nuclear program, the Iranian government could emerge from the war with a strategic plan, adding that Iran’s ability to shut down or disrupt the flow of energy in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb has a much more immediate and destructive effect on Western capitals than any nuclear threat.
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the country’s navy was ready to inflict new bitter defeats on the Unites States and Israel, stating that just as Iran’s drones strike enemies ‘like lightning,’ its ‘brave navy’ is prepared for further confrontation, in remarks that were made in a message marking Iran’s Army Day on April 18.
A senior Iranian official stated to Reuters that Iran could attend talks with the US if the United States abandons its policy of pressure and threats, accusing them of creating new obstacles every day.
USA News:
President Donald Trump said that as soon as Iran agreed to no nuclear weapons, which he thought was going to happen very quickly, then prices will drop on fuel and people would see prices drop like never before: “After having the best economy in history, I said, ‘well, we’re going to have to take a little journey down to Iran’,” he told the John Fredericks Show.
Approximately 14 US Air Force C-17A ‘Globemaster III’ aircraft were transporting military cargo from the United States to Europe, and from Europe to the Middle East, reported @alsaa_plus, noting that activity during the past two weeks included the constant back and forth of US military aircraft between Europe and the Middle East, showing no sign of de-escalation and every sign of a buildup for a second attack.
President Trump told CNBC that Iran had probably restocked some missiles and repositioned their launchers: “But we can hit their infrastructure very hard – we can hit their bridges and power plants,” he said, adding: “We’ve done some restocking, and we’re completely ready to take military action against Iran.”
Trump disappointedly acted like a child again with petty namecalling of other officials on Tuesday, while also claiming that news channels were “fake news” because they failed to report the success of the pilots in “Operation Midnight Hammer,” including the New York Times, 60 Minutes, Wall Street Journal, all outlets that Trump will also call to get news out to the public or do telephone interviews without running it by the White House Press Office first.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent assured that US economic pressure on Iran through Economic Fury would continue along with the blockade of ports, warning that all the oil storage facilities on Kharg Island would soon be full and would lead to the shut down of Iran oil production in the coming days.
President Trump met with core national security advisers at the White House to discuss Iran on Tuesday which ultimately led to a decision to extend the ceasefire, according to The Guardian, noting that attendees included JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine, while Tulsi Gabbard was a noticable absentee.
Other News:
Denmark: Major Danish international shipping company Maersk has issued a public statement advising operators to avoid attempting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Greece: Maritime risk management firm MARISKS warned that scam messages were being sent to shipping companies that falsely claimed to offer safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in return for cryptocurrency payments, stating that the messages, which ask for fees in Bitcoin or Tether and pretend to be from Iranian authorities, had been confirmed as fraudulent and not linked to Iran.
Iraq: Saraya Awliya al-Dam military spokesman Abu Mahdi al-Jaafari declared full readiness to resume military operations as the ceasefire between the US and Iran neared its end, stating the group had already carried out more than 200 operations against ‘occupation forces in Iraq’ and the region, and that future operations would be ‘more intense and use more advanced weapons,’ vowing a long war, calling on resistance communities to continue supporting Iran and Lebanon, as well as pledging to avenge the blood of ‘Imam Khamenei and other martyrs.’
Iraq: An OPEC representative said on Tuesday that current oil production in Iraq stood at One million three hundred thousand barrels per day, while also announcing that the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline via Fishkhabour would be activated within a few days allowing for an additional 600,000 barrels per day to be exported.
Italy: Defence Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed discussions were under way to expand the EU’s Aspides Naval Mission to include protecting the Strait of Hormuz, while firmly rejecting any Iranian tolls or restrictions on the waterway, reported Asharq Al-Awsat, stating it should remain a free passage, and also praised Saudi Arabia’s handling of Iranian attacks, noting that defence cooperation in Riyadh now included technology transfer and joint production.
Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Iran regime planned ‘another Holocaust’ and plotted to destroy Israel with nuclear bombs and thousands of ballistic missiles, eluding to the fact that Israel was attempting an holocaust by passing a law allowing for Palestinians to be awarded the death penalty: “If we had not acted against the existential threat, the names of the sites of Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan, were likely to join the names of the death camps in the Holocaust such as Auschwitz, Majdanek, and Treblinka.”
UAE: Minister of State Al Hashimy told Politico that the Emirates had been targeted by more than 2,800 Iranian missiles and drones during the first 40 days of the war, adding that more than 90% of the targets were civilian infrastructure: “We used our oil wealth to build an economic powerhouse, they used their wealth for nuclear programs that are nefarious, for missiles, drones, proxies etc. So, whereas we tried to become and have become an international, global, responsible player, they are a pariah state, and they want to break that model, but they underestimate our resolve.”
Overview: Iran launched 8,695 missile and drone attacks across eight regional countries within 40 days, with the UAE facing far more than any other country.
- UAE: 2,819
- Israel: 1,357
- Saudi Arabia: 1,231
- Kuwait: 1,214
- Qatar: 730
- Bahrain: 717
- Iraq: 340
- Jordan: 287
Saudi Arabia: An assessment reported by the WSJ found that up to half of the nearly 1,000 drone attacks on the Kingdom had come from inside Iraq, confirming that attacks were carried out on the Saudi refinery in the sensitive Yanbu oil hub on the Red Sea along with oil fields in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.
