Trump says US Navy attacked and seized Iranian-flagged cargo ship

"U.S. Marines have custody of the vessel," Trump said.

ByDavid Brennan, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, and Kevin Shalvey
Last Updated: April 19, 2026, 10:21 PM EDT

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military and government sites.

After initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan failed to reach a peace deal, Trump announced Sunday, April 19, that U.S. negotiators would head back to Islamabad Monday for a new round.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Vice President JD Vance would accompany special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, to Islamabad for the talks.

Iran's continuing blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and their alleged refusal to abandon their nuclear program remain key sticking points in negotiations, according to Trump.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Apr 17, 2026, 11:21 AM EDT

Trump says Iran 'is removing' all sea mines with help of US

President Donald Trump said that Iran "with the help" of the U.S. "has removed, or is removing, all sea mines" from the Strait of Hormuz.

The president also claimed that he “received a call from NATO” allegedly offering assistance, which he strongly pushed back on.

“Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help,” Trump wrote in a post on social media, though he did not specify which country or countries allegedly contacted him.

“I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!” Trump added.

The president also thanked "Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar" for their "great bravery and help!"

-ABC News' Emily Chang and Michelle Stoddart

Apr 17, 2026, 10:46 AM EDT

Trump says Israel 'PROHIBITED' from bombing Lebanon

President Donald Trump said that the U.S. has "PROHIBITED" Israel from bombing Lebanon. This comes just one day after he announced a ceasefire had been reached between Israel and Lebanon.

"Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!" Trump said in a post on social media.

Trump added that the U.S. will work with Lebanon and "deal with the Hezboolah situation in an appropriate manner."

The president also talked about one of his main aims to end the war with Iran, saying that the U.S. "will get all Nuclear 'Dust,'" from Iran, but added that "No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form."

Apr 17, 2026, 9:54 AM EDT

Trump says blockade will remain in effect

Despite Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, President Donald Trump said the U.S. blockade on Iran will remain in effect.

The blockade will remain "UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE. THIS PROCESS SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY IN THAT MOST OF THE POINTS ARE ALREADY NEGOTIATED," Trump wrote in a post on social media.

Apr 17, 2026, 9:17 AM EDT

Iran fully opens Strait of Hormuz, Trump says

President Donald Trump has announced that Iran is fully opening the Strait of Hormuz, in a post on social media.

"IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE," Trump said in a post on social media Friday.

Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman's Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in United Arab Emirates, March 11, 2026.
Reuters

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also announced the strait's opening on social media Friday.

"In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran," Araghchi wrote.

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