Trump says 'highly unlikely' will extend ceasefire if deal not signed in Pakistan. Pakistan PM Sharif reportedly asked US & Iran, pressing for another 2-week extension.
President Pezeshkian cites "historical distrust" and states on X: "they seek Iran's surrender. Iranians do not submit to force."
Vance intends to depart Tuesday to Pakistan, though still unclear whether Iranians will join - Pakistanis say yes, but timeline is fluid. Trump warns "nobody's playing games" & "lots of bombs will go off" if no deal (PBS)
Xi to Saudi crown prince important phone call: "the first time the Chinese leader had called for the reopening of the strategically vital waterway."
NYT: Iranians Making Plans to be in Pakistan
The NYT now says the Iranians are soon expected in Pakistan, despite that for the past 12-hours they issued denials that they are ready and willing to enter a second round of talks. In the meantime Pakistan is reportedly pressing for another 2-week extension of the ceasefire.
"An Iranian delegation is making plans to travel to Islamabad on Tuesday for negotiations with the United States, according to two senior Iranian officials familiar with the plans. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the influential political and military figure leading the talks," the publication writes. Latest follow-up from Ghalibaf amid continued conflicting info:
Yet, talk about of Tehran is still firm and tough, signaling the two sides are in reality far away from agreeing on anything, particularly the nuclear issue. While Iranian President Pezeshkian has newly stated that "honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue" - it remains there is "historical distrust". He has stated on X: "they seek Iran's surrender. Iranians do not submit to force."
An afternoon very long Truth Truth Social, claiming that Trump won't let Democrats rush US into making a deal with Iran. Also says the new deal will be far better than the Obama-era JCPOA.
Trump: 'Highly Unlikely' He Extends Ceasefire
Lots of contradictory messaging this morning from Washington, Tehran, and Islamabad. Trump has said he will not open the Strait of Hormuz until a deal is signed (as both sides inside they in effect control the waterway).
Trump has also asserted that it remains 'highly unlikely' that he extends the ceasefire with Iran, at a moment Tasnim reports that "Iran's decision not to participate in the negotiations has not changed until this moment."
'Lots of Bombs Will Go Off' If Ceasefire Ends With No Deal: Trump
President Trump says bombs will go off if the ceasefire expires (set to end by Wed April 22), PBS reports. But he also said he doesn't know if Iran is doing the next round of talks but says it is fine if Iran is not at the Pakistan talks. So who does Washington, led by VP Vance's team, plan to talk to... itself? Or it might just plan to keep sending messages to the Pakistanis.
The US could also be seeking to 'demonstrate' that the Iranians have simply refused negotiations, and so this will 'justify' bombs away again. Here are the latest Monday statements from Trump given to PBS:
- If no deal "then lots of bombs start going off."
- Nuclear weapons will be discussed with Iran at the talks.
- "No nuclear weapons. Very simple. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Very simple."
- "...we're not negotiating anything other than the fact that they will not have a nuclear weapon"
- On the remarks from Secretary Wright that gas may not go below USD 3 until late-2026 or early-2027, Trump says: "I disagree with him totally. I think it'll come roaring down if it ends. If we end it, if Iran does what they should do, it will come roaring down."
Monday, April 20, 2026
'Highly Unlikely' US Will Extend Iran Ceasefire, 'Lots Of Bombs Will Go Off' If No Deal: Trump
Iran’s top negotiator blasts Trump for imposing US naval blockade, amid doubts over further talks
Iran’s chief negotiator seems to cast further doubt on a second round of talks with the United States.
In a post on X, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf hits out at President Donald Trump over the American naval blockade of Iran, accusing the US of seeking to use the talks to force the Islamic Republic’s “surrender or to justify renewed warmongering.”
“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats,” Ghalibaf writes.
He also says Iran has been preparing “to reveal new cards on the battlefield.”
Board of Peace envoy says Gaza plan needs quick progress, Hamas talks ‘not easy’
The Board of Peace’s lead envoy for Gaza tells Reuters that he was “fairly optimistic” a plan for disarmament of Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza can be reached, but cautioned that it will still take time.
“We’ve had some very serious discussions with Hamas over the last few weeks. They’re not easy,” Nickolay Mladenov says in an interview during a visit to Brussels.
“I’m fairly optimistic that we will be able to come up with an arrangement that works for all sides and, most importantly, works for the people in Gaza,” he says.
Mladenov says work is underway on an implementation plan that would include disarmament, new governance in Gaza, and provisions for an Israeli withdrawal.
“It obviously will take time, but we’re trying to make sure that the arrangements for the implementation of the plan are agreed to as quickly as possible,” Mladenov, a former UN Middle East envoy and Bulgarian politician, says.
Asked about when an agreement could be reached on implementation, Mladenov said: “We have a matter of days, maximum, a couple of weeks. That is my assessment, because otherwise we will lose the momentum of what we have, and then every decision will become even more difficult.”
While declining to comment on the details of ongoing negotiations, the envoy says he believes there is “a good way forward that is being discussed with both sides.”
One of the issues under discussion was the “yellow line” demarcating the territory Israel has occupied since the October ceasefire, Mladenov said. Reuters has reported that Israel has moved the “yellow line” deeper into Gaza.
“There’s a whole set of issues that need to be handled on the ground, including the yellow line,” Mladenov says, adding that matters such as access for aid and medicine are also under discussion with Israel.
He also points to some changes on the ground.
“We’ve been able to, over the last few days, gradually and very carefully increase the number of people that are allowed to cross through the Rafah Crossing. We’re looking at increasing the number of trucks of goods that are going into Gaza,” he says. The Rafah Crossing connects Gaza to Egypt.
There is also a need to build trust, Mladenov says.
“It’s a very complicated process,” he says. “But it is a process that is taking a lot of small steps to get us ultimately to an agreement on the full implementation of the plan”.
Japan on high alert for 'huge' second quake after issuing tsunami warning
Japan remains on high alert for aftershocks after its meteorological agency warned of an increased risk of a large earthquake - measuring 8.0 or higher - in the next week.
It comes after thousands of people were urged to seek higher ground in the earthquake-prone country on Monday after a 7.7 magnitude quake struck off its north-east coast.
The undersea activity off the Iwate prefecture triggered a string of tsunami warnings in the region and tremors as far away as the capital Tokyo, some 530km (330 miles) south.
One resident said “everyone ran” after the earthquake alert sounded.
The tsunami warnings were soon downgraded to advisories - the lowest level - but people are still warned to remain away from the coast.
Waves reached heights of 80cm and no injuries or major damage were immediately reported.
The UN’s nuclear watchdog said it had been informed by Japanese officials that no abnormalities occurred at the country’s nuclear facilities.
We're ending our live coverage here, but you can read more in our news story.