Peace talks doubtful as U.S. seizes Iranian ship : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F87%2F7f%2F2762a81744dea8472d92a812248a%2Fgettyimages-2271515888.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F87%2F7f%2F2762a81744dea8472d92a812248a%2Fgettyimages-2271515888.jpg" class="img" alt="Commuters drive past a giant billboard referring to the 'Strait of Hormuz' along a busy street in Tehran on April 19, 2026." fetchpriority="high"/> Commuters drive previous an enormous billboard referring to the 'Strait of Hormuz' alongside a busy avenue in Tehran on April 19, 2026. Atta Kenare/AFP through Getty Pictures conceal caption

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Atta Kenare/AFP through Getty Pictures A U.S. negotiating crew is headed to Pakistan Monday for a second spherical of peace talks with Iran – which says it won't even present up.

Tehran's reticence comes after the U.S. on Sunday fired on and seized considered one of its cargo ships within the Strait of Hormuz as a part of Washington's blockade on Iranian vessels within the very important waterway, and simply two days earlier than the ceasefire is about to run out.

A video launched by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reveals the operation, with Marines descending from a helicopter by rope to board the vessel, the Touska, after "guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance…disabled Touska's propulsion."

President Trump mentioned Sunday the U.S. army had "stopped them proper of their tracks by blowing a gap within the engine room" after the ship didn't heed repeated warnings.

Trump mentioned Marines then took management of the vessel and moved to research its cargo. He mentioned the Iranian flagged ship was below the present U.S. Treasury Division sanctions.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned it is going to take motion in opposition to the U.S. army for the seizure of that ship, with out elaborating.

Oil costs surged in response to those developments, rising greater than 5.3 % at $95.62 a barrel on Monday from Friday's shut at $90.38 a barrel.

The April 8 ceasefire settlement between the U.S.-Israel and Iran is about to run out on Wednesday.

This is extra information from the Center East warfare on Monday:

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F87%2F59%2F7aaff87b4962a8c6dfb510ae231d%2Fgettyimages-2271643511.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F87%2F59%2F7aaff87b4962a8c6dfb510ae231d%2Fgettyimages-2271643511.jpg" class="img" alt="Security personnel stand guard at a security checkpost along a road temporarily closed near the Serena Hotel at the Red Zone area in Islamabad on April 20, 2026, ahead of anticipated US-Iran peace talks." loading="lazy"/> Safety personnel stand guard at a safety checkpost alongside a street quickly closed close to the Serena Resort on the Purple Zone space in Islamabad on April 20, 2026, forward of anticipated US-Iran peace talks. Aamir Qureshi/AFP through Getty Pictures conceal caption

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Aamir Qureshi/AFP through Getty Pictures Talks or no talks? Preparations to host Iranian and U.S. negotiating groups had been underway in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, on Monday, regardless of questions over whether or not Iran would attend.

Iran International Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei mentioned Monday Tehran had no plans but relating to a second spherical of talks, accusing the U.S. of missing "seriousness in pursuing a diplomatic course of," in line with Iran's state information company, IRNA.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F40%2F9279a4fe466d948ec61fb69c02e1%2Fgettyimages-2271643667.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F40%2F9279a4fe466d948ec61fb69c02e1%2Fgettyimages-2271643667.jpg" class="img" alt="A US Air Force Boeing C-17A McChord aircraft prepares to land at Pakistan's Nur Khan military airbase in Rawalpindi on April 20, 2026." loading="lazy"/> A US Air Power Boeing C-17A McChord plane prepares to land at Pakistan's Nur Khan army airbase in Rawalpindi on April 20, 2026. Farooq Naeem/AFP through Getty Pictures conceal caption

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Farooq Naeem/AFP through Getty Pictures Trump introduced Sunday {that a} negotiating crew was headed to Islamabad on Monday night and warned Iran in opposition to strolling away from negotiations.

Trump mentioned "We're providing a very reasonable and affordable DEAL, and I hope they take it as a result of, if they do not, the USA goes to knock out each single Energy Plant, and each single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!"

The primary spherical of peace talks led by Vice President Vance simply over every week in the past broke down, with Vance accusing Iran of being unwilling to just accept Washington's phrases on Iran's plans for nuclear enrichment.

A ballot launched this week by NBC reveals Trump's approval score has hit a brand new low, with 63% of these surveyed disapproving of the president's efficiency.

Two-thirds of respondents disapproved of Trump's dealing with of the Iran battle and inflation, the ballot confirmed.

Chinese language condemnation Iran ally China has weighed in on the U.S. seizure of the Touska, in line with the Related Press, expressing concern over "the forcible interception" and calling for a resumption of peace talks.

China is closely reliant on Iranian oil imports.

Loss of life toll in Iran Iran officers mentioned Monday at the least 3,375 folks had been killed through the warfare.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F50%2Ff2%2Fee112d3647469365b7a8a0914ee1%2Fgettyimages-2271522251.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F50%2Ff2%2Fee112d3647469365b7a8a0914ee1%2Fgettyimages-2271522251.jpg" class="img" alt="Iranian Red Crescent rescuers train during the US-Iran ceasefire at their training camp in southwest Tehran on April 19, 2026 in Tehran, Iran." loading="lazy"/> Iranian Purple Crescent rescuers practice through the US-Iran ceasefire at their coaching camp in southwest Tehran on April 19, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Majid Saeedi/Getty Pictures Europe conceal caption

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Majid Saeedi/Getty Pictures Europe Abbas Masjedi, the top of Iran's Authorized Medication Group, did not give separate figures for civilian and safety drive casualties.

He mentioned 383 of the useless had been youngsters below 18 years previous, in line with Iran's Mizan information company.

Lebanon ceasefire holding The short-term ceasefire to pause the combating between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is holding, although shaky.

Within the south, the place the Israeli army continues to be occupying a big swath of land, Israel has carried out a variety of airstrikes in opposition to what it known as "terrorist exercise."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F63%2Fef%2Fd9e674f0491883ecea0b8c6a5917%2Fgettyimages-2271610747.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F63%2Fef%2Fd9e674f0491883ecea0b8c6a5917%2Fgettyimages-2271610747.jpg" class="img" alt="Damaged buildings are seen in the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Dahieh in Beirut's southern suburbs on April 19, 2026, after Israeli strikes and days after a 10-day ceasefire took effect at midnight on April 17." loading="lazy"/> Broken buildings are seen within the Haret Hreik neighborhood of Dahieh in Beirut's southern suburbs on April 19, 2026, after Israeli strikes and days after a 10-day ceasefire took impact at midnight on April 17. Manon Roca/Center East Pictures/AFP through Getty conceal caption

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Manon Roca/Center East Pictures/AFP through Getty The ceasefire settlement between Israel and Lebanon says Israel can proceed army exercise in self-defense.

Hezbollah claimed duty for an explosion that killed at the least one Israeli soldier over the weekend and mentioned the explosive gadget was planted earlier than the ceasefire.