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14:31
Trump Says Iran Committed ‘Total Violation’ Of Cease-Fire
US President Donald Trump (file photo)
US President Donald Trump says that Iran has committed a “total violation” of the current cessation of hostilities by opening fire in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming shots were aimed at a French vessel and a British freighter.
In aTruth Social poston April 19, Trump also said US representatives were traveling to Islamabad for talks due to begin on April 20.
Trump also claimed that Irans threat to close the strait was redundant because a US naval blockade of Iranian ports had already closed it.
He urged Tehran to accept what he called a very fair and reasonable DEAL, warning that otherwise the United States would strike Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.
A cease-fire that started on April 8 is due to expire on April 22.
Donald Trump, Truth Social post, April 19, 2026
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13:23
Iran Claims It Forced 2 Tankers To Change Course In Hormuz Strait
Irans armed forces reportedly turned back two tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz on April 19 after issuing warnings, according to Reuters.
Citing the semiofficial Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Reuters said the Botswana- and Angola-flagged vessels were forced to change course over what the Iranian report described as unauthorized transit of the crucial waterway, which usually accounts for around one fifth of the global oil trade.
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13:08
Report: Iran Arrests Two Foreigners Over Alleged Starlink Imports
Four people, including two foreign nationals, were arrested in northwestern Iran on accusations of belonging to a U.S.-Israel-linked espionage network,Reuters reportedon April 19, citing the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.
The report said the foreigners were accused of importing satellite Internet equipment such as Starlink, possession of which is illegal in Iran, where a near-totaldigital blackoutremains in place.
Reuters added that hundreds of Iranians have been arrested for allegedly “cooperating with enemy states” since the start of the the US-Israeli war with Iran.
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11:16
Tehran Says 44,750 Building Units Damaged, Promises Compensation
Iranian women walk past a residential building that was badly damaged in a US-Israeli air strike, in Tehran on April 13. .
The head of the Tehran Crisis Management Organization (TCMO) said on April 19 that 44,750 building units in Tehran were damaged during the war and that the government would compensate losses to those properties, including household belongings, repairs, and damaged vehicles.
The pledge came after a government spokespersonsaid earlier this weekthat existing economic realities meant the state lacked the resources to compensate civilians whose homes were damaged in the war.
According to TCMO chief Ali Nasiri, most residential damage can be resolved through minor repairs.
For heavily damaged units, planned support includes hotel accommodation or rental housing, repair payments, shopping cards for household appliances, and compensation for damaged vehicles.
Nasiri also said the government would cover compensation for damaged furniture and household goods.
Earlier, Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani had also pledged that the municipality would cover all costs of rebuilding homes damaged in the war.
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10:25
Iran Gives Professors Internet Access As Public Blackout Continues
Iran says some university professors will begin receiving restored access to the international Internet while the wider public remains under a nationwide blackout that has passed its 50th day.
The Iranian science ministry said on April 19 that access for academics would start with professors, with other researchers to be added later.
Officials said the names of eligible professors had been sent to the communications ministry for a phased reconnection.
Selected professional groups have also regained or are close to regaining access, but authorities have remained silent on when ordinary citizens will be reconnected.
At present, the only group widely known in the country as having white SIM cards — a term used for specially privileged mobile access — consists of a limited number of government supporters who are able to use the Internet.
With Iran’s digital shutdown now lasting more than 1,200 hours, critics say most ordinary Iranians cannot earn income online or contact relatives through Internet-based apps.
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10:11
Iranian Judiciary Wants Faster Trials ‘Outside The Normal Process’
Hardline cleric Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei heads Iran’s judiciary (file photo)
The head of Irans judiciary, has again ordered courts to handle detainees cases outside the normal process and with greater speed.
In remarks in a newly released video, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said cases involving alleged collaborators with the aggressor enemy should not follow ordinary procedures.
Ejei said the judiciary had adopted a wartime posture, urging officials to return files the same day and, when necessary, question suspects in prison to accelerate indictments.
Since the US-Israeli with Iran began, state media have reported daily arrests of alleged spies and traitors, while rights groups have raised alarm over executions and rapid trials.
Reports have also emerged of online trials being held in the country and rapid verdicts being issued.
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09:49
Iran Says More Than 3,400 Killed In War
Iran’s state-funded Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs says that more than 3,400 people were killed in the country during the war with the United States and Israel.
The semiofficial ISNA news agency quoted the head of the foundation, Ahmad Musavi, as saying that 3,468 martyrs had died in the recent conflict.
The figure, released during a two-week cease-fire, was higher than a previous official toll of 3,375 issued on April 12.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) earlierestimated at least 3,636 deaths, including 1,701 civilians.
Independent verification of casualty numbers remains difficult in Iran because of reporting restrictions.
With reporting by RFE/RL’s Radio Farda and AFP
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09:35
Life Of Jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Winner Narges Mohammadi ‘In Serious Danger’
Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi (file photo)
The brother of jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winnerNarges Mohammadihas told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda that her life is “in serious danger” following a heart attack she suffered in prison last month.
Hamid Reza Mohammadi said his sister was being denied medical care and suffering from “vision problems, nausea, blood-pressure issues, and chest pain.”
Narges Mohammadi has spent much of the last decade behind bars as a result of her human rights activism. She was most recently arrested in December, during a memorial ceremony in the northeastern city ofMashhad.
“After her arrest in Mashhad, because of blows she received to the head, she was already in bad condition,” her brother said.
Following her arrest, she was given a new prison sentence of 7 years, her foundation said in February. In April, her husband, Taghi Rahmani, told Radio Farda that her health had significantly deteriorated in prison.
Hamid Reza said she was now being held in Zanjan prison, some 330 kilometers west of the capital, Tehran.
“Lawyers and the family have been trying to at least send her to a specialist in Tehran for treatment, but that too was prevented,” he said. “They do not allow Narges to see a trusted specialist.”
TheNorwegian Nobel Committeeissued a statement in February calling on Iran to end what it called the “cruel abuse” of Mohammadi, and to release her immediately.
Read morehere.
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09:28
IDF Says Israeli Soldier Killed In Southern Lebanon
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on April 19 that an Israeli soldier had been killed during combat in southern Lebanon despite a temporary cease-fire which took effect this week.
The IDF identified the soldier as Lidor Porat, 31, from Ashdod, serving in the 7106th Battalion, 769th Regional Brigade. The Israeli military also said that nine soldiers were wounded in the fighting, including one who was severely injured.
No further details were given.
According to an AFP tally based on military figures, the death has brought Israels military toll in the six-week war with Hezbollah to 15.
Porat was the second Israeli soldier reported killed in southern Lebanon since a 10-day truce announced by the US began on April 17.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters
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03:24
We are now closing the live blog for the day. We’ll be back tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. Central European time to cover the latest events across the Middle East.
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