Necva Tastan Sevinc
19 April 2026•Update: 19 April 2026
Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Sunday, including Trump saying “very good conversations going on” with Iran; the Strait of Hormuz is back to its “previous state” under the “control of armed forces,” according to Iran, citing a US blockade; and Tehran has not yet agreed to a next round of negotiations with Washington.
TOP STORIES
Trump says ‘very good conversations going on’ with Iran
US President Donald Trump said the US has “very good conversations going on” with Iran.
“We have very good conversations going on. It's working out very well. They got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years. Nobody ever took them on. We took them on,” Trump said in the Oval Office.
“They have no navy, they have no air force, they have no leaders. They have nothing. Actually … it is regime change. You call that enforced regime change, but we're talking to them,” he added.
“We're talking to them … we're taking a tough stand,” Trump said. “We'll have some information by the end of the day,” regarding talks with Iran.
Strait of Hormuz back to 'previous state' under 'control of armed forces,' says Iran, citing ongoing US blockade
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its "previous state" under the control of its "armed forces," citing an ongoing US blockade on Iranian ports.
"Control over the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is under the strict management and control of the armed forces," the IRGC joint command said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Until the US "restores full freedom of movement for vessels traveling to and from Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly controlled and unchanged," it argued.
Iran has not yet agreed to next round of talks with US: Report
Tehran has not yet agreed to a next round of negotiations with Washington, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, citing "relevant authorities."
"Iran has not, up to this moment, agreed to the next round of talks" due to the US blockade of Iranian ports and Washington's "excessive demands in the negotiations," it said.
"The absence of excessive US demands is a key condition for continuing talks," the report claimed, adding that the message was relayed to the US via Pakistani mediators.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said that major differences remain between Tehran and Washington despite progress in negotiations.
- Two Indian ships were “forced back west out of the Strait of Hormuz” by the navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), according to tanker monitoring service data.
- The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it launched an investigation after its position "came under small-arms fire from non-state actors" in Lebanon's southern village of Ghanduriyah.
- French President Emmanuel Macron said one French soldier was killed and three others were wounded in an attack in southern Lebanon targeting the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
- Lebanon’s Hezbollah group denied any involvement in an incident that killed a French soldier and injured three others serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon.
- Iran announced the partial reopening of its airspace, along with the reopening of several airports.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country “positively” sees the possibility of resuming talks with Ukraine in Istanbul.
- Thousands took to the streets of Germany to protest the government's energy policy.
- The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received a report of a tanker being fired upon by two gunboats linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in waters between Iran and Oman.
- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) arrested at least 127 people across the country who it claimed were affiliated with the UK, US and Israel, and were "preparing the groundwork for a military attack by the enemy."
- Japan and Australia have finalized a major defense agreement worth up to $14.4 billion to jointly develop a new fleet of advanced naval frigates, Kyodo News reported.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Venezuela's acting president signs new mining law to attract more investment
A new mining law passed by Venezuela’s parliament this month has been signed into law by Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, according to state media.
State broadcaster VTV reported that Rodriguez announced the signing during a meeting with economic officials in Caracas, saying the legislation is expected to attract increased investment in the country’s mining sector.
"The Organic Mining Law has entered into force as of this moment. Here it is, I hand over to the Venezuelan people this law that will allow us to attract important investments," she said.
Rodriguez also thanked US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their approach toward strengthening diplomatic and economic cooperation with Venezuela.
Trump administration extends sanctions exemption on some Russian oil as prices continue to skyrocket
The Trump administration extended a sanctions exemption on some Russian oil as prices continue to skyrocket in the wake of the US-Israeli war against Iran.
The move comes two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the US would not extend an exemption on the sale of Russian oil.
Gas prices have skyrocketed since the war in the Middle East began Feb. 28, with the average gas price in the US surging by more than 30% to more than $4 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline and more than 40% to over $5 a gallon for diesel fuel, according to numbers released by the American Automobile Association (AAA).
