Middle East war live: Strait of Hormuz stays shut as Iran reports 'progress' in US talks
Issued on: 19/04/2026 - 07:08Modified: 19/04/2026 - 10:26
Share By: FRANCE 24 / Anaelle JONAH
Iran’s parliamentary speaker said Saturday night that talks with the United States to end the war had made progress but remained far from an agreement, as Tehran said the crucial Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments.
19/04/2026 - 10:25Iranian official says US 'maximalist' demands stall face-to-face talks
Iran is not yet ready to hold a new round of face-to-face talks with US officials, a senior Iranian official said, citing Washington's refusal to abandon “maximalist” demands on key issues.
In an interview with The Associated Press on the margins of a diplomacy forum in Turkey, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh also said his country will not hand over its enriched uranium to the United States, rejecting claims made by US President Donald Trump.
“I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States,” Khatibzadeh said. “This is non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we’re not going to accept things that are nonstarters.”
“We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position,” Khatibzadeh said. Iran was seeking the finalization of a “framework agreement” before moving to an in-person meeting, he added.
19/04/2026 - 09:32Iranian President insists on country's nuclear rights, ISNA reports
US President Donald Trump has no justification to deprive Iran of its nuclear rights, the Iranian Student News Agency quoted Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as saying, as Washington and Tehran continue to face disagreements over nuclear issues.
"Trump says Iran cannot make use of its nuclear rights but doesn't say for what crime. Who is he to deprive a nation of its rights?" Pezeshkian was quoted as saying.
Lebanese army restores road, bridge damaged by Israeli strikes
Lebanon's military said it had reopened a road and bridge damaged by Israeli strikes in the country's south, as a 10-day truce holds between Hezbollah and Israel.
In a statement, the military said it "fully reopened" a road linking the city of Nabatieh with the Khardali area, and had "partially reopened the Burj Rahal-Tyre bridge".
"Work is also underway to rehabilitate the Tayr Falsay-Tyre bridge... following damage caused by the Israeli aggression," the army added.
📷 In pictures: Hundreds protest against Netanyahu government in Tel Aviv
Hundreds of Israeli left-wing activists gathered on Saturday against the ongoing war with Iran and Lebanon and against the Israeli government, at HaBima Square in Tel Aviv.
🎥 'Uncertainty' in Iran as Strait of Hormuz remains closed
The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations.
⬇️ Reporting from Tehran, FRANCE 24's Reza Sayah said it is clear that Iran is still willing to use the Strait of Hormuz as economic leverage against the US.
19/04/2026 - 08:43🔎 How the Middle East crisis affects food, flights and global supply chains
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered by the war in the Middle East hasn't just affected oil prices.
Despite a short-lived reopening during the current 10-day ceasefire, global supplies of jet fuel, fertilisers, industrial CO2 and naphtha have already been affected, potentially leading to shortages of food and other essential products across the globe.
Read more by clicking the link below ⬇️
19/04/2026 - 08:04🎥 Iran says final deal still far off as Hormuz Strait shuttered
The crucial Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports, Tehran said, as a top official warned that a final peace deal remained "far" off.
19/04/2026 - 07:13 19/04/2026 - 06:51Israeli military says one soldier killed in southern Lebanon
The Israeli military said that one soldier was killed during combat in southern Lebanon, adding that nine soldiers were wounded, including one who was severely injured.
19/04/2026 - 06:50Iran's speaker says US negotiations have progressed but far from final deal
Progress had been made in negotiations with the United States to end the war, Iran's parliamentary speaker said on Saturday night, but added the sides were still far from an agreement.
"We are still far from the final discussion," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also one of Iran's negotiators, said in a national televised address, adding "we made progress in the negotiations, but there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain".
France blames Hezbollah for French peacekeeper's death in Lebanon
A French soldier was killed and three others wounded in an ambush Saturday on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon that French President Emmanuel Macron blamed on Hezbollah, an accusation the group has denied.
"Everything points to Hezbollah being responsible for this attack," Macron said on X, urging Lebanese authorities to arrest the perpetrators.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack in Lebanon and urged all parties to "respect the cessation of hostilities and the ceasefire."
But Hezbollah – which is strongly opposed to the planned talks with Israel – denied involvement in the attack that killed the French peacekeeper, identified as staff sergeant Florian Montorio.
19/04/2026 - 06:46Hello and welcome to this liveblog dedicated to the war in the Middle East.
Yesterday's key developments:
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Iranian Revolutionary Guards' navy warned that any ship approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be treated as a target after Tehran reversed its reopening.
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UNIFIL condemned what it described as a "deliberate attack on peacekeepers" after small-arms fire by non-state group actors killed one French peacekeeper and injured three others as they were clearing explosive ordnance in southern Lebanon to get to the outpost.
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The Israeli military said it had established a "Yellow Line" in southern Lebanon, similar to the one separating its forces from territory still held by Hamas in Gaza, adding that it had already struck suspected militants approaching its troops along the line.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
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