Middle East war live: US, Iran warn ready for war as talks in limbo
Issued on: 21/04/2026 - 03:51Modified: 21/04/2026 - 05:46
Share By: FRANCE 24 / Simon FEISTHAUER FOURNET
The United States and Iran on Monday each warned they were ready for war as the clock ticked on a ceasefire, with uncertainty on talks that President Donald Trump had announced would resume in Pakistan. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.
21/04/2026 - 05:38Trump says recovering Iran uranium 'will be a long and difficult process'
US President Donald Trump said late Monday the United States obtaining uranium from Iran would be "long" and "difficult" in the aftermath of last year's US strikes on Tehran's nuclear sites.
"Operation Midnight Hammer was a complete and total obliteration of the Nuclear Dust sites in Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding: "Therefore, digging it out will be a long and difficult process."
The US leader regularly uses the term "nuclear dust" to refer to Iran's stock of enriched uranium, which the United States accuses Iran of hoarding in order to make an atomic bomb.
Iran says US attacked Iranian commercial vessel, calls for release of crew - Foreign Ministry
Oil falls on expectations US-Iran talks likely to proceed, opening supply
Oil prices fell on Tuesday, reversing gains in the previous session, on expectations peace talks between the US and Iran will take place this week and allow more supply to flow from the key Middle East producing
region.
Brent futures declined 95 cents, or 1%, at $94.53, as of 0003 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for May fell$1.54, or 1.72%, to $88.07. The May contract expires on Tuesday and the more-active June contract was down $1.09, or 1.3%, at $86.37.
21/04/2026 - 03:26UN Security Council condemns killing of French peacekeeper in Lebanon
The UN Security Council on Monday condemned the recent killing of a French peacekeeper in Lebanon, whose death France has blamed on Hezbollah.
The Frenchman was killed and three others wounded when their unit was ambushed on Saturday as it headed to a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) outpost cut off from the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.
"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack...(and) reaffirmed their full support for UNIFIL" a statement from the UN body said.
21/04/2026 - 00:44- Lebanon names ex-US envoy Simon Karam to lead Israel talks aiming to end 'occupation'
- Iran 'positively' reviewing US peace talks participation; no decision yet, official says
- Lebanon state media reports Israeli drone strike in south
- France 'not specifically targeted' Macron says of soldier's Lebanon killing
- Lebanon says 2,387 people killed in 6 weeks of Israel war
Yesterday's key developments:
- The US on Thursday will hold new talks between Israel and Lebanon aimed at encouraging an agreement, a US official told AFP, after the start of a shaky US-brokered ceasefire.
- The Israeli military confirmed a viral photo of one of its soldiers smashing a statue of Jesus with a sledgehammer in southern Lebanon is authentic and said it has launched an investigation into the incident.
- US President Donald Trump said the US would not lift its blockade of Iranian ports until Tehran had agreed a peace deal to end the war.