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US forces attack and seize Iranian ship Touska near Strait of Hormuz

US forces attack and seize Iranian ship Touska near Strait of Hormuz
By Zaid Sabah, Zsombor Peter, Mariamne Everett, Heba Habib, Urooba Jamal, Federica Marsi, Lyndal Rowlands and Brian Osgood
Published On 20 Apr 2026

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20 Apr 2026 - 23:59
 (23:59 GMT)

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20 Apr 2026 - 23:50
 (23:50 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

We will be closing the live page soon. Here’s a brief review of the day’s main events:

  • US President Donald Trump stated that he will not lift the US blockade of Iranian ports until an agreement is reached with Tehran, but said that he expected a deal to be concluded “relatively quickly”.
  • Iran, however, has signalled that it does not intend to send negotiators to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, for another round of talks with the US, citing the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
  • Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi likewise told Pakistan, which is mediating talks between the two sides, that the US blockade constitutes a violation of the ceasefire between the two countries and a serious obstacle to diplomacy.
  • Israel continued to carry out strikes and demolish homes in Lebanon, in defiance of a 10-day ceasefire with the armed group Hezbollah that went into effect on Friday, as the Lebanese government announced that the death toll from Israeli attacks since early March has reached 2,387. Israeli and Lebanese officials are set to meet for a second round of talks in Washington, DC, on Thursday.
20 Apr 2026 - 23:40
 (23:40 GMT)
Analysis

End of US blockade ‘essential’ for trust between Washington and Tehran

Zohreh Kharazmi, an associate professor at the University of Tehran, has said that the US blockade of Iranian ports is an “act of war” that must end if there is to be trust between the two sides.

“The United States doesn’t show any seriousness or consistency in approaching the negotiations,” Kharazmi told Al Jazeera from Tehran.

“Removing the blockade is really essential, because it’s an act of war,” she said, adding that doing so could be a “very practical step” towards peace negotiations.

20 Apr 2026 - 23:30
 (23:30 GMT)

WATCH: How is the Iran war affecting Russia and Ukraine?

The fourth anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine had passed when the US and Israel attacked Iran at the end of February.

The causes of both conflicts may not be linked, but they are intertwined.

One common factor is the US, which has relaxed sanctions on Russian oil as the world faces a supply crisis due to the turmoil brought on by the Iran conflict.

Find out more in the latest episode of Inside Story, here:

20 Apr 2026 - 23:15
 (23:15 GMT)
Houthi

Two dead following Israeli drone strike in southern Gaza

The Palestinian Information Center reports that an Israeli drone strike targeting a police post northwest of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, has killed two people.

The drone attack also left one person in serious condition, according to the report.

20 Apr 2026 - 23:00
 (23:00 GMT)

Iranian media reports that only 3 ships have passed through Hormuz in 12 hours

The Tasnim News Agency has reported that only three ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz over the last 12 hours, citing shipping data.

“During this period, only one tanker, the Nero (under British sanctions), has left the Persian Gulf through this strait, and two ships have entered,” the agency said in a post on Telegram.

20 Apr 2026 - 22:45
 (22:45 GMT)
Houthi

Iranian vessel transits Strait of Hormuz despite US blockade, state media says

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reports that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, the Shoja 2, is currently transiting the Strait of Hormuz despite the US-announced blockade.

The vessel departed from the Shahid Rajaee Port near Bandar Abbas and is continuing its route towards the Port of Kandla in India, according to the report.

Al Jazeera could not independently verify the claim, but marine tracking data from MarineTraffic, a maritime analytics provider, shows the ship currently navigating in the strait. According to MarineTraffic, the Shoja 2 is bound for India.

20 Apr 2026 - 22:30
 (22:30 GMT)

CENTCOM shares images of forces intercepting Iran-flagged vessel

US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has shared images of US forces intercepting an Iranian-linked vessel yesterday as part of its naval blockade.

Yesterday, the US military said it fired on and disabled the ship, the Touska, before seizing it.

The legality of both Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US naval blockade has been questioned by international law experts, and Iran has said that it will not entertain another round of negotiations with the US until it ends its blockade.

“US forces patrol the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska, April 20, as the Iranian-flagged vessel’s container cargo is searched after US Marines boarded and seized the ship when it attempted to violate the US naval blockade,” CENTCOM said in a social media post.

20 Apr 2026 - 22:15
 (22:15 GMT)
Houthi

Iraqi armed group warns of resuming attacks as ceasefire deadline looms

Abu Mahdi al-Ja’afari, commander of the Saraya Awliya al-Dam, has declared that the Iraqi armed group’s fighters are at “full readiness to resume our military operations”.

In a statement released via the group’s Telegram channel, al-Ja’afari claimed his fighters have already conducted “over 200 actions against the occupying presence in Iraq and the region”. He signalled an escalation in the coming days, stating that operations will resume “at a higher frequency and with a greater impact”.

The current ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran is scheduled to expire on April 22.

20 Apr 2026 - 22:00
 (22:00 GMT)

Iraq and Syria push reopened border crossing as oil transit option

Officials from Iraq and Syria have reopened a border crossing for the first time in more than a decade, promoting the transit point as a potential overland alternative for oil shipments and trade amid regional tensions that have kept the Strait of Hormuz largely shut.

Nadia al-Jubouri, a member of Iraq’s provincial council of Nineveh, said during an opening ceremony today that the crossing will allow “trade exchange and oil transportation towards this great gate”.

The closure of the strait, a major artery for global energy shipping, has pushed countries to seek out alternative routes for the transit of energy products.

20 Apr 2026 - 21:45
 (21:45 GMT)

‘Signs that Iran is willing to talk, but not from a position of weakness’

By Almigdad Alruhaid

Reporting from Tehran, Iran

Just in the past few hours, there has been a flurry of diplomatic efforts, especially from Pakistan’s foreign minister.

They are trying to convince Iranian officials to join the negotiating table, but escalations on the Strait of Hormuz have made things very complex.

So, the bottom line is that there is no official rejection of negotiation from Iran, and there are signs that Iran is willing to talk, but not from a position of weakness.

Meanwhile, Iran is promising to retaliate for US attacks on its vessels in the strait. They are promising to defend their governance of the strait.

But we don’t see any type of retaliation yet, and this is because the army is saying that there are many families and many civilians on board flagged vessels.

But Hormuz remains the main sticking point for both Iran and the United States.

20 Apr 2026 - 21:40
 (21:40 GMT)
Houthi

Ghalibaf says Iran will not negotiate under ‘shadow of threats’

Iran’s parliament speaker and lead negotiator, Mohammad Ghalibaf, says Tehran will not negotiate under “threats” and hinted that it has been preparing new military capabilities in case talks fail.

“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table— in his own imagination— into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering,” Ghalibaf said in a social media post.

“We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield.”

20 Apr 2026 - 21:30
 (21:30 GMT)
Houthi

Israeli forces carry out ‘violent demolition’ of homes in southern Lebanon

Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reports that Israeli forces have continued to demolish homes in the town of Khiam in the Marjayoun district of southern Lebanon.

The border town has been nearly erased by Israeli attacks and demolitions since Hezbollah began open conflict with Israel in October 2023.

20 Apr 2026 - 21:15
 (21:15 GMT)
Houthi

Israeli air strike on southern Lebanon wounds 6

The country’s National News Agency (NNA) reports that an Israeli air strike targeting the town of Qaaqaaiyet El Jisr, in the Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon, has wounded six people.

The strike comes as local reports indicate that Israel continues to carry out attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire in effect since Friday.

20 Apr 2026 - 21:00
 (21:00 GMT)

Unpacking Israel’s stance ahead of new Lebanon talks

By Nour Odeh

Reporting from near Ramallah, occupied West Bank

The US State Department has confirmed that Israel and Lebanon will be holding a second round of talks in Washington, DC, on Thursday.

The Israeli government is not saying a lot about this effort because, ultimately, this is not a process that Israel had chosen or gone to willingly.

There is the view that this was basically something imposed by the US president, much like the ceasefire, which was also announced by Donald Trump.

Israel has maximalist demands; it continues to occupy Lebanese territory and has declared a so-called ‘Yellow Line’, much like in Gaza, where it is methodically demolishing entire Lebanese villages.

That so-called Yellow also extends to a Lebanese oil and gasfield. All of that is going to be used as leverage, according to previous statements, in any possible negotiations with the Lebanese government, which Israel views as weak but is willing to push it to use force to disarm Hezbollah.

That is the central Israeli demand, even if that costs Lebanon civil cohesion. That doesn’t really factor into the Israeli calculus because the main point is that the occupation will continue, this demolition will persist, until and unless Israeli demands are met.

20 Apr 2026 - 20:45
 (20:45 GMT)

US takes hard line, waits for Iran to agree to talks

By Alan Fisher

Reporting from Washington, DC

For the moment, JD Vance is sitting here in Washington, waiting to see whether or not the Iranians will agree to the talks.

It’s clear that the blockade isn’t moving; Trump believes it is costing Iran $500m a day, which is totally unsustainable. The US president also dismissed the idea that he is under pressure to get a deal, saying he can wait.

He’s clearly taking a hard line with these discussions and believes that Iran wants this deal more than the US. Clearly, people in the US are tired of higher prices, but some would say that that’s the price to pay for a non-nuclear Iran.

20 Apr 2026 - 20:30
 (20:30 GMT)

WATCH: Israel establishes ‘Yellow Line’ in south Lebanon

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr brings you the latest on the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah:

20 Apr 2026 - 20:15
 (20:15 GMT)

Iran reopens airports in capital, Tehran

Iran has reopened the Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports in the capital, Tehran, after weeks of the US and Israel’s war on the country had brought air traffic to a halt.

According to the ISNA news agency, the Civil Aviation Organisation will also give the green light to reopen the airports of Urmia, Kermanshah, Abadan, Shiraz, Kerman, Rasht, Yazd, Zahedan, Gorgan and Birjand from Saturday.

20 Apr 2026 - 20:00
 (20:00 GMT)

US low-cost airlines seek temporary tax relief to address soaring fuel costs

The CEOs of major low-cost airlines are set to meet tomorrow with US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as they urge Congress to provide temporary tax relief to partially offset the soaring cost of jet fuel sparked by the war on Iran.

A group representing Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Allegiant Air, Sun Country and Avelo last week wrote to leaders in Congress asking lawmakers to pass legislation to suspend the 7.5 percent federal excise tax on airline tickets and a $5.30 per segment tax.

Waiving the fees would offset about one-third of the incremental cost of higher jet fuel, said the Association of Value Airlines.

20 Apr 2026 - 19:45
 (19:45 GMT)
Analysis

US, Iran ‘don’t want a return to war’, despite posturing

The US, Iran and their mediators engage in much posturing, but they do not want the conflict to flare up again, according to Marco Vicenzino, the executive director of the Global Strategy Project.

“Deep down inside, what they do share is that no one wants a return to war,” Vicenzino told Al Jazeera. “Yet there is no trust, and that underscores and underlines the importance of third parties.”

“Maybe there won’t be a return to conflict but there will be a continued state of managed instability,” he added.