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

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

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.

Apr 17, 2026, 5:55 PM EDT

Trump says there 'could' still be differences to work out with Iran

President Donald Trump continued to tout the progress between the U.S. and Iran upon touching down in Phoenix on Friday, telling reporters that the two countries have had "some very good discussions."

"We've done a good job, but we'll see,” Trump said.

"Talks are going on and will go on over the weekend, and a lot of good things are happening," Trump continued, adding, "That includes Lebanon, too."

President Donald Trump speaks to the press, as he arrives at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, April 17, 2026.
Evan Vucci/Reuters

Trump acknowledged that there "could" still be differences that the U.S. and Iran need to work out, despite saying earlier Friday that Iran has "agreed to everything."

"Well, there could be," Trump said when asked to respond to reports of Iran claiming the two countries still have significant differences. "Let's see what happens. If there are, we'll have to straighten it out. But I don't think there's too many significant differences."

The president also insisted that the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz will end once the U.S. and Iran sign a deal.

"When the agreement is signed, the blockade ends," Trump said.

-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr and Emily Chang

Apr 17, 2026, 5:55 PM EDT

White House insists Strait of Hormuz is 'completely open'

The White House is pushing back against claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz will require permission, reiterating Friday that the Strait is "completely open for business."

"As President Trump said, the Strait of Hormuz is completely open for business, and Iran has agreed to never close the Strait again," White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement when asked to respond to the IRGC's claim. "Thanks to the United States' successful blockade of Iranian ports, the United States also maintains maximum leverage in negotiations to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat for good."

The White House response comes even as ship tracking data shows traffic still shows minimal traffic transiting through the region. About two dozen ships started to make their way toward the strait Friday morning amid announcements from Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that it was reopened, before most of the ships appeared to turn around and head back into the Persian Gulf, according to ship data from MarineTraffic.

-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr

Apr 17, 2026, 5:04 PM EDT

Iran says its enriched uranium is not going anywhere

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei denied that Iran's enriched uranium would be handed over to the U.S. in an interview on Iranian state TV.

"Iran's enriched uranium is not going to be transferred anywhere under any circumstances," he said.

"The issue of transferring 60% enriched uranium to the U.S. has not been raised as an option by us. There are various options for resolving the issues that are part of our nuclear file, but as I said, transferring Iran’s enriched materials to the United States has never been an option," he added.

He also referred to the reports that Iran would cease to enrich uranium as "part of a media campaign that has been launched to influence the negotiators and the negotiating table."

Apr 17, 2026, 4:52 PM EDT

US sanctions leaders of Iraqi militias back by Iran

The Trump administration has announced sanctions against seven commanders of Iraqi militias backed by Iran that have "planned and directed attacks against U.S. personnel, facilities, and interests in Iraq," according to the U.S. State Department.

"These individuals lead some of the most reprehensible Iran-backed terror groups in Iraq — Kata’ib Hizballah, Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada, Harakat Al-Nujaba, and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haqq," according to the State Department. "These militias not only threaten American lives but also undermine Iraq’s sovereignty, exploit its resources to fund terrorism, and attack Iraq’s neighbors and innocent Iraqi civilians with impunity."

Sponsored Content by Taboola