Day 54 of Middle East War: US Won't Lift Blockade, Iran Keeps Strait Closed - Latest Developments at a Glance
As the US-Israel war against Iran enters its 54th day, Iran refuses to reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless the US lifts its naval blockade, driving global oil prices up amid ongoing regional strikes.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 13:28
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 13:31 (3 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 16:35 (3h 4m after Collected)
Central News
(CNA, Paris, 22nd, Comprehensive Foreign Dispatch) The joint US and Israeli offensive against Iran has entered its 54th day. US President Trump has not yet set a deadline for Iran to propose a peace plan; the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament vowed that as long as the US naval blockade exists, Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war compiled by AFP.
The White House noted today that Trump has not set a deadline for Iran's peace proposal. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the media: "The President has not set a specific deadline to receive Iran's proposal, contrary to some reports I saw today. Ultimately, the timeline will be decided by the Commander-in-Chief."
The White House also stated that Trump does not believe Iran's seizure of two container ships violates the ceasefire agreement because the vessels are neither US nor Israeli flagged.
When asked if Trump considered this a violation of the ceasefire, Leavitt told Fox News: "No, because these are not US ships, nor are they Israeli ships, but two international vessels."
Trump stated that after urging Tehran to release 8 women arrested for participating in anti-government protests to facilitate peace talks, Iran has suspended the executions that were reportedly scheduled.
He posted on his social platform, Truth Social: "I am very grateful to Iran and Iranian leaders for respecting my request... to terminate the scheduled executions." However, the Iranian judiciary called this claim "fake news" and said these women never faced the death penalty.
On the Israeli side, although a ceasefire has been negotiated between the two sides, Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon today, resulting in the death of senior Al-Akhbar journalist Amal Khalil and injuring freelance journalist Zeinab Faraj.
A Lebanese Red Cross official told AFP that they "successfully rescued" Faraj but could not immediately reach Khalil, who was trapped under the rubble. Due to "warning airstrikes" at the scene, they retreated for several hours before returning to find her body.
Lebanese Minister of Information Paul Morcos stated on social media that targeting journalists is a "serious crime and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said today that there are no "serious differences" between Israel and Lebanon, adding that Hezbollah is the "obstacle to peace and normalization of relations." However, a Hezbollah MP told AFP on the 20th that Hezbollah might accept indirect talks brokered by the US.
In addition, the Gaza civil defense agency reported today that an Israeli airstrike targeted a group of civilians near the Al-Qassam mosque in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, killing 5 Palestinians, including 3 children.
The Gaza Health Ministry stated that since a ceasefire was reached with Israel on October 10 last year, at least 786 Palestinians have been killed. The Gaza Health Ministry is affiliated with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, and its data is considered reliable by the UN.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, stated that as long as the US naval blockade exists, Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement between the two countries.
Ghalibaf posted on the social platform X: "A comprehensive ceasefire only makes sense... if it is not violated by a naval blockade... Under a blatant violation of the ceasefire, it is impossible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz."
As there seems to be no progress in holding a new round of peace talks between the US and Iran, and Tehran continues to refuse to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Asian stock markets fell today, and international oil prices subsequently rose.
Around 0:25 GMT, the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 4.06% to $96.73 per barrel. The international benchmark Brent North Sea crude rose 3.62% to $105.63 per barrel. Both retreated slightly in the following minutes.
French President Emmanuel Macron said today that a second French soldier "succumbed to his injuries" after being wounded over the weekend in an ambush against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, an attack blamed on Hezbollah, which Hezbollah has denied.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed out that this war is "beginning to weaken Europe."
According to a statement released by the Turkish presidency, Erdogan told German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier: "The war in our region has also started to weaken Europe; if we do not adopt a peace-oriented approach to respond to this situation, the resulting damage will be even more severe." (Translated by: Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150423
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(CNA, Paris, 22nd, Comprehensive Foreign Dispatch) The joint US and Israeli offensive against Iran has entered its 54th day. US President Trump has not yet set a deadline for Iran to propose a peace plan; the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament vowed that as long as the US naval blockade exists, Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war compiled by AFP.
The White House noted today that Trump has not set a deadline for Iran's peace proposal. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the media: "The President has not set a specific deadline to receive Iran's proposal, contrary to some reports I saw today. Ultimately, the timeline will be decided by the Commander-in-Chief."
The White House also stated that Trump does not believe Iran's seizure of two container ships violates the ceasefire agreement because the vessels are neither US nor Israeli flagged.
When asked if Trump considered this a violation of the ceasefire, Leavitt told Fox News: "No, because these are not US ships, nor are they Israeli ships, but two international vessels."
Trump stated that after urging Tehran to release 8 women arrested for participating in anti-government protests to facilitate peace talks, Iran has suspended the executions that were reportedly scheduled.
He posted on his social platform, Truth Social: "I am very grateful to Iran and Iranian leaders for respecting my request... to terminate the scheduled executions." However, the Iranian judiciary called this claim "fake news" and said these women never faced the death penalty.
On the Israeli side, although a ceasefire has been negotiated between the two sides, Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon today, resulting in the death of senior Al-Akhbar journalist Amal Khalil and injuring freelance journalist Zeinab Faraj.
A Lebanese Red Cross official told AFP that they "successfully rescued" Faraj but could not immediately reach Khalil, who was trapped under the rubble. Due to "warning airstrikes" at the scene, they retreated for several hours before returning to find her body.
Lebanese Minister of Information Paul Morcos stated on social media that targeting journalists is a "serious crime and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said today that there are no "serious differences" between Israel and Lebanon, adding that Hezbollah is the "obstacle to peace and normalization of relations." However, a Hezbollah MP told AFP on the 20th that Hezbollah might accept indirect talks brokered by the US.
In addition, the Gaza civil defense agency reported today that an Israeli airstrike targeted a group of civilians near the Al-Qassam mosque in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, killing 5 Palestinians, including 3 children.
The Gaza Health Ministry stated that since a ceasefire was reached with Israel on October 10 last year, at least 786 Palestinians have been killed. The Gaza Health Ministry is affiliated with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, and its data is considered reliable by the UN.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, stated that as long as the US naval blockade exists, Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement between the two countries.
Ghalibaf posted on the social platform X: "A comprehensive ceasefire only makes sense... if it is not violated by a naval blockade... Under a blatant violation of the ceasefire, it is impossible to reopen the Strait of Hormuz."
As there seems to be no progress in holding a new round of peace talks between the US and Iran, and Tehran continues to refuse to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Asian stock markets fell today, and international oil prices subsequently rose.
Around 0:25 GMT, the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 4.06% to $96.73 per barrel. The international benchmark Brent North Sea crude rose 3.62% to $105.63 per barrel. Both retreated slightly in the following minutes.
French President Emmanuel Macron said today that a second French soldier "succumbed to his injuries" after being wounded over the weekend in an ambush against UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, an attack blamed on Hezbollah, which Hezbollah has denied.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed out that this war is "beginning to weaken Europe."
According to a statement released by the Turkish presidency, Erdogan told German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier: "The war in our region has also started to weaken Europe; if we do not adopt a peace-oriented approach to respond to this situation, the resulting damage will be even more severe." (Translated by: Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150423
Choose to stand with the facts. Every sponsorship from you is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA 'First News' APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio-video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.