Original source (on modern site) | Article images: [1] [2] [3]
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner headed to Pakistan after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz again Author of the article: Bloomberg News Salma El Wardany, Arsalan Shahla and Alex Longley Published Apr 19, 2026 5 minute read Article content U.S. President Donald Trump said he'll send representatives to Pakistan for talks to end the Iran war on Monday evening, while again threatening to strike civilian infrastructure if Tehran doesn't agree to a deal. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. or Article content "We're offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don't, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran," he said in a social media post early Sunday. Article content Article content The U.S. leader told Fox News that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will head to Islamabad for talks on Tuesday that could last until Wednesday. The New York Post reported that Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will also participate in the talks to end a war that's killed thousands. The announcement came after Iran reversed its decision to reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in response to a U.S. blockade. Article content The standoff over Hormuz — through which about a fifth of the world's oil flowed before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran — threatens to deepen the global energy crisis and undermine expectations of an imminent peace deal. Hormuz is one of several unresolved issues in peace talks, including Iran's nuclear program and Israel's ongoing invasion of Lebanon. Article content
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content President Trump posts on TruthSocial: Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn't nice, was it? My Representatives… pic.twitter.com/RpbTh6Xty4 Article content "Ships are awaiting instructions from Iran's armed forces to determine whether they can pass through the route," Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Sunday. Article content By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Article content Still, late Saturday, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation in talks with the U.S. earlier this month in Pakistan, said that while gaps "remain significant," the negotiations are making progress. He added that Iran's armed forces are prepared to act even as discussions take place. Article content "It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot," he said in a televised address, referring to the U.S. naval blockade. Article content Meanwhile, the U.S. military is preparing to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters in the coming days to pressure Iran into reopening Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday, citing anonymous American officials. The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the Journal's reporting. Article content The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Navy issued a statement Saturday afternoon warning vessels not to leave their anchorages in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and that approaching the strait "will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the violating vessel will be targeted." Article content
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content "They wanted to close up the strait again like they've been doing for years and they can't blackmail us," Trump told reporters Saturday about Iran, although the strait was fully open until the U.S. and Israel began their bombing campaign seven weeks ago. "We'll have some information by the end of the day, you know. We're talking to them. We're taking a tough stand." Article content Article content Whiplash Article content The developments of the last 72 hours illustrate the unpredictable nature of the conflict as well as the erratic — and sometimes contradictory — nature of Trump's comments. Article content The president on Friday said a deal with Iran was all but agreed to, including concessions Tehran has never publicly made, signalling he was ready to sign and move on to domestic issues. He even told ABC News that he trusted the Iranians, a group whose civilization he just recently threatened to wipe out. Article content But crucially, Trump left a blockade of the strait in place until an agreement was finalized. Article content Iran called the blockade a ceasefire violation and moved to close the waterway again. That prompted Trump's latest diatribe, in which he renewed threats on Iran's civilian infrastructure if they didn't cut a deal. Advertisement 2 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content There were also signs the ceasefire in Lebanon — linked to Iran's decision to allow Hormuz traffic — may be fraying. The Israel Defence Forces said it struck "saboteurs" approaching its troops in violation of the truce. Article content Article content Momentum for a lasting peace had been building late last week, but cracks began to emerge Saturday with Iran's criticism of the continued U.S. blockade. Article content The U.K. Navy soon after said a tanker was approached by IRGC gunboats before being fired at, adding that the vessel and its crew were safe. A container ship was hit by an unknown projectile in a separate incident off the coast of Oman, it said. Article content Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said the country's "navy stands ready to make enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats" in a statement marking National Army Day. It wasn't clear if his message was in direct response to developments surrounding Hormuz. Article content Iran is in control of the strait and will secure its rights "either at the negotiating table or in the field," Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref said, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency. Article content
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content "While a deal appears to be in sight that may bring an end to the current round of U.S.-Iran hostilities and relief to energy markets, it's unlikely to result in a full or lasting peace," Bloomberg Economics analysts, including Jennifer Welch, wrote in a report. "We assess any deal will be limited and fragile." Article content Oil, fuel and natural gas prices plunged on hopes that the latest developments would mean an end to the war and more energy supplies could transit safely through Hormuz. Brent crude dropped nine per cent on Friday to around US$90 a barrel. Diesel prices in the U.S. and Europe also fell. Article content In a notable shift, real-world oil prices also eased significantly alongside headline futures prices. On Friday, dated Brent, the world's most important physical price, fell below $100 a barrel for the first time since March 11. Stocks extended their rally on speculation the war would soon end. Article content One proposal under discussion is for the U.S. to release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in return for Tehran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium, Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials and two other unidentified sources briefed on the talks. Article content Trump pushed back on that idea in a phone interview with Bloomberg on Friday, repeatedly saying "no" when asked if he would release the $20 billion. Article content — With assistance from Weilun Soon, Sara Gharaibeh, Kate Sullivan, Omar Tamo, Valentine Baldassari and Patrick Sykes. Article content Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. Article content
This advertisement has not loaded yet.
Sign In or Create an Account
![[1]](image.php?loc=CA&i=https%3A%2F%2Fsmartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital%2Fnationalpost%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F04%2F2270428086_302542317.jpg){kind=link}
![[2]](image.php?loc=CA&i=https%3A%2F%2Fsmartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital%2Fnationalpost%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F04%2F2270428086_302542317.jpg%3Fquality%3D90%26strip%3Dall%26w%3D288%26h%3D216%26sig%3DPGSO_pKSAScI4Pg-YTzB_A){kind=link}
![[3]](image.php?loc=CA&i=https%3A%2F%2Fsmartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital%2Fnationalpost%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F04%2Fairstrikes-continue-in-southern-lebanon-attacks-since-april-e1776609876333.jpg%3Fquality%3D5%26strip%3Dall%26w%3D100%26sig%3DLsIe_doJiIwb889y0EjJ7A){kind=link}