Day: April 22, 2026

President Donald Trump intends to provide the Iranians with a specific deadline to present a cohesive proposal aimed at resuming diplomatic negotiations, according to two sources knowledgeable about the internal talks relayed to Xenix News.

It wasn’t obvious right away whether Trump’s message reached the Iranians.

The administration does not aim to prolong the ceasefire indefinitely, the sources indicated, and does not wish to allow Iran additional time to prolong discussions.

The sources indicated that the president was cautious about prolonging the initial ceasefire past the Wednesday cutoff. He seeks to finalize a deal quickly and hoped that the urgency of a deadline would compel the Iranians to negotiate before the ceasefire ended.

Nonetheless, Trump’s senior advisors think there are divisions within the Iranian leadership, and that the Iranians lack agreement on their stance to authorize negotiators to complete a deal, Xenix News reported earlier.

Trump’s choice to allow Tehran additional time to offer a “unified proposal,” as he described it, indicates the administration’s aim to resolve the conflict through diplomacy and its hesitation to restart military actions, the sources noted.

Meanwhile, the president thinks that the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will maintain pressure on the Iranians as negotiations unfold. However, Trump’s team also recognizes that the longer the blockade continues, the greater the harm to the global economy, the sources noted.

The Israeli military claimed it shot down a Hezbollah drone as the delicate ceasefire with Lebanon faced additional strain one day prior to the second round of direct discussions between the nations.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the “hostile aircraft” was approaching Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. It was captured prior to entering Israeli land. The IDF stated they regarded the incident as a “clear breach of the ceasefire.”

Hezbollah claimed the target was a new artillery site in the town of Bayyada, located in territory held by Israeli forces, and accused Israel of continually breaching the temporary ceasefire agreement.

“Authorization [to engage in battle] has been granted to those who are battling,” Hezbollah stated in a declaration on Wednesday. For the second day in a row, Hezbollah has fired projectiles at Israeli forces. On Tuesday, the IDF reported that Hezbollah had fired both drones and rockets.

Israeli troops have shot at people who come near soldiers positioned along what they refer to as their “forward defense line” in southern Lebanon. The exact number of casualties remains uncertain, but the IDF indicates numerous incidents occur each day.

The recent drone strike occurs one day prior to the second round of face-to-face discussions between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats in the US. President Donald Trump is advocating for a wider ceasefire agreement and possibly a peace accord between the two countries that have lacked diplomatic ties for many years.

Germany’s Lufthansa Group is axing 20,000 short-haul flights until October as it grapples with rising jet fuel prices and potential shortages in Europe stemming from the conflict with Iran.

The company announced yesterday that the initial 120 daily flights were canceled on Monday, lasting until the end of May. The coalition – which, besides Lufthansa Airlines, consists of SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and other airlines – mentioned that the canceled flights are expected to save around 40,000 metric tons of fuel.

Airlines worldwide are cutting back on their flight schedules that were once profitable due to lower fuel prices but are now losing money since the average price of jet fuel has about doubled since the war began.

Europe, reliant on imports for about 70% of its jet fuel, may encounter shortages and potential rationing in the upcoming weeks. Prior to the war closing the Strait of Hormuz, the majority of imports originated from the Middle East.

The internet shutdown in Iran has now reached its 54th day, as reported by the internet monitoring organization NetBlocks.

NetBlocks stated in a post on X earlier today that “the current measure is fundamentally unequal and persistently hides human rights abuses occurring on the ground.”

Since the US and Israel initially targeted Iran on February 28, the Iranian government has nearly entirely restricted the nation’s internet access.

Prior to that, a distinct internet shutdown occurred during weeks of anti-government demonstrations in the nation at the beginning of this year.

Earlier this month, NetBlocks described the ongoing blackout as the “longest nationwide internet shutdown ever recorded in any country.”

Elias Hazrati, the leader of Iran’s Government Information Council, stated yesterday that internet access will be reinstated only once the war concludes, as reported by the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

President Donald Trump prolonged the truce between the US and Iran just hours before its expiration. He mentioned that the ceasefire will last until Iran presents a “comprehensive proposal” to resolve the conflict forever.

A possible second round of discussions between Tehran and Washington was scheduled for this week, but Iran did not agree to go to Pakistan for the talks, leading the US to cancel them as well.

If you are only now tuning in, here’s a recap of how events have unfolded in the past 24 hours:

US President Donald Trump stated yesterday that he anticipated ongoing airstrikes on Iran if a ceasefire wasn’t established by tonight, adding that he was not inclined to prolong the ceasefire deadline.

US Vice President JD Vance was anticipated to leave for the discussions in Islamabad yesterday morning; however, sources informed Xenix News in the afternoon that it was uncertain if he would be going there.

Iranian legislator Ahmad Naderi stated simultaneously that no Iranian negotiation team had gone to Pakistan, asserting http://XenixNews.comthat Tehran “will refrain from negotiations until the naval blockade issue is addressed.”

Esmaeil Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, stated that Tehran’s reluctance to engage in the talks stemmed not from uncertainty, but from what he termed as contradictory signals and actions from the US.

Last night, a White House representative informed Xenix News that Vance’s visit was canceled for the day.

Following Trump’s ceasefire extension, an advisor to Iran’s parliamentary speaker remarked that the prolongation “means nothing,” labeling it a “tactic to secure time for an unexpected attack.”

The Iranian representative to the United Nations stated that he thinks discussions will take place once the United States lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. Sources knowledgeable about the situation stated that the blockade has played a role in the persistent uncertainty affecting the negotiations.

Xenix News reporting was contributed by Kevin Liptak, Betsy Klein, Kit Maher, Alayna Treene, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Alejandra Jaramillo, Jonny Hallam, and Helen Regan.

An aerial perspective of the Strait of Hormuz. Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025/Getty Images/Archive

On Wednesday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the capture of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which were then moved to Iranian waters.

“The vessels were reportedly functioning without adequate authorization, consistently breaching regulations, and tampering with navigation systems, thereby jeopardizing maritime safety while trying to secretly leave the Strait of Hormuz,” the IRGC stated in a release broadcast on Iran’s state television (IRIB), noting that the ships were intercepted and were “halted to safeguard what was referred to as Iran’s national rights.”

Iranian media reported that a third ship, owned by Greece, was also allegedly attacked by the IRGC and is “currently incapacitated off Iran’s shoreline.”

No independent verification of the seizures exists, but the UK Maritime Traffic Organization (UKMTO) previously reported that two container ships were shot at.

At least two cargo vessels were struck by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, as reported by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

UKMTO stated that it initially obtained a report of an event 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman. The ship stated it was approached by a gunboat from the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) “and subsequently shot at,” resulting in significant damage to the ship’s bridge. All crew members were reported unharmed.

Another incident occurred 8 nautical miles west of Iran, where the captain of an outbound cargo vessel reported being shot at and “is currently halted in the water.” The vessel has no damage, and the crew is safe, according to UKMTO.

The maritime agency stated, “UKMTO recognizes significant activity in the SoH region and advises vessels to report any unusual occurrences.”

The IRGC navy reported capturing two “violating vessels” and brought them to the Iranian shore, as stated by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. One ship was reportedly connected to Israel, while the other supposedly lacked appropriate authorization and altered its navigation system, according to Tasnim.

The IRGC has stated in the past that it would close the strait until the US embargo was removed.

Iran has put to death four individuals this week, asserting that the men had connections to Israeli intelligence agencies, as reported by the Iranian state-supported media source, Mizan News Agency.

Iran executed Mehdi Farid on Tuesday, following claims by authorities that he supplied sensitive national information to Mossad. Earlier this week, three additional men labeled by the regime as Mossad spies were executed: Amirali Mirjafari, Hamed Validi, and Mohammad Masoum Shahi.

Iran has a lengthy record of claiming espionage for Israel to impose the death penalty. The nation has executed political prisoners this year, along with dissidents involved in the extensive anti-government protests in January.

According to a joint report issued earlier this month by Together Against the Death Penalty (EPCM), based in Paris, and the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR), Iran executed the largest number of individuals last year in over thirty years. The report revealed that at least 1,639 individuals were executed in 2025, representing the highest annual figure since 1989. The report indicated that the actual figure might be significantly greater because of insufficient transparency in the judicial system.

“The death penalty in Iran serves as a means of political oppression and suppression, with ethnic minorities and other marginalized communities overrepresented among those executed,” stated Raphaël Chenuil-Hazan, the executive director of the human rights organization ECPM, in the report.

Xenix News report contributed by Jonny Hallam.

Stock values are shown at the Australian Securities Exchange in Sydney on Wednesday. Hollie Adams/Reuters

Today, oil prices are climbing after reports emerged of Iranian assaults on container vessels close to the Strait of Hormuz, occurring just hours after US President Donald Trump prolonged a ceasefire with Iran to provide additional time for peace discussions.

Brent crude, the worldwide oil standard, has risen approximately 0.8% to $99.2 a barrel, after briefly reaching $100 earlier today. WTI, the benchmark for the US, has risen by a comparable amount to $90.3 per barrel.

Today, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that two container vessels were shot at in waters close to the Strait of Hormuz. UKMTO linked one of the assaults to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and stated that the crews of the two ships were secure.

Prior to the news of the attacks, analysts noted that Trump’s choice to prolong the ceasefire had boosted trader sentiment, despite the ongoing US blockade on Iranian ports.

“Mohit Kumar, chief European economist at the investment bank Jefferies, stated in a note that both parties have a mutual interest in reaching an agreement.” However, this won’t return oil prices to levels seen before the conflict, he noted, suggesting that prices will probably stabilize at around $75-80 per barrel in the next three to six months.

Stock exchanges, on the other hand, are varied today. In Asia, South Korea’s Kospi, Japan’s Nikkei, and China’s Shanghai Composite indexes ended slightly up, whereas Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped by 1.2%. European markets are generally stable, while US futures indicate a modestly stronger start.

“Markets will be weighing the favorable news of an ongoing ceasefire against the other news – peace negotiations are stagnating and the Strait of Hormuz remains shut,” wrote Emma Wall, chief investment strategist at Hargreaves Lansdown, in a note.

On March 9, a driver fills up a vehicle with diesel at a gas station in eastern London. Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

In March, UK inflation increased for the first time since December, driven by soaring fuel prices due to higher global oil costs.

The Office for National Statistics reported today that consumer prices increased by 3.3% last month compared to the same time last year, rising from 3% in February.

According to the ONS, fuel prices experienced their biggest rise in over three years, climbing by 4.9%, in contrast to a decrease in February. Food costs and airline tickets increased at a quicker pace. Costs for producers, encompassing energy and raw materials, significantly increased, primarily due to rising oil prices.

Core inflation, excluding fluctuating food and energy prices, stayed largely the same.

Economists cautioned that inflationary pressures might expand. “This is merely the initial wave of the energy crisis, mainly evident in increased fuel prices at the pump,” stated PwC UK economist Adam Deasy. “We have not yet observed the ripple effect of price pressures in… products derived from oil and gas, including fertilizer, helium, plastics, or metals,” he noted in a memo.

At the same time, UK fuel retailers report that rising gasoline prices are resulting in a rise in fuel theft. “The rise in fuel prices has been paralleled by an increase in drivers leaving without paying or asserting they lack the ability to pay,” Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, stated today.

Data from Forecourt Eye, which assists fuel retailers in recovering payments owed, indicated that some incidents involved first-time offenders, highlighting “broader financial strain” on households, the PRA reported.