US-Iran ceasefire expires April 22 as negotiations stall
US-Iran ceasefire expires April 22 as negotiations stall over nuclear weapons and sanctions.
Event / Conflict
Ongoing military tensions between Iran and the United States centered on the Strait of Hormuz, involving naval blockades, missile strikes, ceasefires, and diplomatic negotiations over nuclear capabilities and regional security.
2026-08-17 to 2026-11-14 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 12 Apr, 00:37 UTC
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Israel announced it will begin negotiations with Lebanon on April 15 in Washington despite the lack of official relations between the two countries. Israel seeks Lebanon's government to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, similar to provisions envisioned in a November 2024 ceasefire. Protests erupted in Beirut on April 11 over the planned negotiations.
Since the US-Israel war began on February 28, gasoline prices have risen more than $1.20 per gallon to a national average of $4.12 per gallon in the United States, according to AAA data.
Israel conducted an airstrike on April 12 in Maaroub, a village near the southern coastal city of Tyre in Lebanon, killing six people. This strike occurred despite the ceasefire agreement, with Israel maintaining that the ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon.
Since the war began on February 28, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has collapsed. Before the war, hundreds of ships per day passed through the strait. By mid-April, fewer than 10 ships per day were able to pass through. In the week prior, only 24 ships passed through, with only 2 ships on Friday, neither of which were oil or gas tankers.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan will attempt to facilitate new dialogue between Iran and the US in the coming days following the failed Islamabad talks. Dar emphasized it is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to the ceasefire.
Oil prices surged on April 12 following Trump's blockade announcement. US crude oil increased 8% to over $104 per barrel, while international Brent oil jumped more than 7% to $103 per barrel. Wholesale gas prices spiked 6% and heating oil jumped 10% in early trading. The Strait of Hormuz is responsible for transporting 20% of global oil supplies.
Iran stated that any military vessels approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered violating the ceasefire and will be dealt with accordingly in response to Trump's blockade announcement.
President Trump announced on April 12 that the US Navy would immediately begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to stop ships from entering or leaving the waterway. Trump stated the US would interdict every vessel in international waters that had paid a toll to Iran to pass through. Trump warned that anyone paying an illegal toll would not have safe passage and that any Iranian firing on US or peaceful vessels would be 'blown to hell.'
Since the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, the conflict has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. The war has caused lasting damage to infrastructure in half a dozen Middle Eastern countries.
An Iranian diplomatic official denied that negotiations failed over Iran's nuclear ambitions, stating that Iran is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons but has the right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stated Iran is open to continuing dialogue. Iran noted it has offered affirmative commitments in writing before, including in the 2015 nuclear deal.
Face-to-face peace talks between US and Iranian officials ended on April 12 after 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan. US officials stated the talks collapsed over Iran's refusal to commit to abandoning its path to nuclear weapons. Iranian officials blamed the US for the breakdown without specifying details. Vice President JD Vance said the US needed affirmative commitment that Iran would not seek nuclear weapons or tools to quickly achieve them.
Stock futures declined sharply on April 12 following the blockade announcement. S&P 500 futures fell 1%, Nasdaq 100 futures slid 1.3%, and Dow futures dropped more than 500 points in reaction to the increased geopolitical tensions and energy market volatility.
US Central Command issued a clarification statement on April 13 stating the blockade would only impact maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports, and that US forces would not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait to and from non-Iranian ports. The statement also clarified the blockade would begin at 10 a.m. ET on April 14, not immediately as Trump initially stated.
During the peace negotiations in Islamabad, the US military reported that two destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz ahead of mine-clearing operations, marking the first transit since the war began on February 28. Iran's state military command denied that any US destroyers had transited the strait.
A fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran that began on April 7 is scheduled to expire on April 22. Neither the US nor Iran has indicated what will happen after the ceasefire expires. Pakistani mediators urged all parties to maintain the ceasefire commitment.
Two US Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz during a demining operation. President Trump stated they were sweeping the strait. This occurred on Saturday while US-Iran negotiations were ongoing, escalating tensions in the strategic waterway.
A war in the Middle East commenced on February 28 and has resulted in thousands of deaths while destabilizing the global economy. This conflict served as the backdrop for the failed US-Iran peace negotiations in April.
Iran's state television reported that Iran confirmed the end of discussions, attributing their failure to unreasonable demands from the United States. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated the Iranian delegation negotiated intensively for 21 hours to defend Iranian national interests, but the unreasonable requirements of the US side prevented negotiations from advancing.
The US-Iran peace negotiations addressed multiple issues including control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear program, war reparations, lifting of sanctions, and ending the war against Iran and in the region, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
The United States made Iran's commitment to abandon its nuclear weapons program a key requirement for reaching a peace agreement. Vice President Vance expressed disappointment that Iran did not provide a firm promise to abandon its nuclear armament program, which President Donald Trump had identified as a central demand since the war began on February 28.
US-Iran ceasefire expires April 22 as negotiations stall over nuclear weapons and sanctions.
Iran's blockade causes oil to surge, stocks to plunge, and US gas prices to spike dramatically.
US announces blockade and begins mine-clearing in Strait; Iran warns of ceasefire violation.
US-Iran talks collapse over nuclear weapons but Pakistan offers to restart negotiations soon.
Conflict has killed thousands across Iran and Lebanon with widespread infrastructure damage ongoing.
US military demining in Strait meets Iranian threats despite active ceasefire talks.
US-Iran peace talks collapsed over nuclear weapons demands and unresolved core disputes.
US military begins clearing Iranian mines from critical Strait of Hormuz shipping lane amid blockade.
Ceasefire holds between US and Iran, yet Israeli strikes in Lebanon persist amid thousands dead.
Senior US and Iranian delegations convene in Islamabad to pursue ceasefire negotiations.
War deaths reach thousands; Middle Eastern infrastructure sustains significant damage across multiple countries.
Iran's Strait blockade drives oil prices above $94 amid peace negotiations.