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Below, you can review a round-up of developments in the US-Israeli war with Iran and the wider Middle East from Friday, April 17, 2026:
Iran says it will close Strait of Hormuz unless US lifts blockade
Iran will close the Hormuz Strait again if the United States maintains a blockade of Iranian ports, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Saturday.
"With the continuation of the blockade, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," Ghalibaf wrote on X, adding that passage through the waterway would be along routes determined by Tehran and depend on Iranian authorization.
The statement came hours after Iran announced ships would be allowed to transit the strait and after US President Donald Trump said his country would keep up its blockade until US and Iranian negotiators agreed to a long-term peace deal.
Trump: Iran peace deal is 'very close'
US President Donald Trump has said a peace deal was "very close," despite Tehran having rejected his claim that it was ready to surrender nuclear materials
"We're very close. Looks like it's going to be very good for everybody. And we're very close to having a deal," Trump said in a brief telephone call with AFP news agency.
The US president said there were "no sticking points at all" left with Iran in the negotiations, "The strait's going to be open, they already are open. And things are going very well."
Regarding Iran's enriched uranium, Trump said the US is "going to get it."
"We're going to get it by going in with Iran, with lots of excavators," Trump said in a speech to the conservative Turning Point USA movement in Arizona. "We're going to take it back home to the USA very soon."
Trump said he expects talks between the US and Iran to continue over the weekend.
Iran says 'no transfer' of its enriched uranium
Iran's Foreign Ministry denied claims by US President Donald Trump about the country's stockpile of enriched uranium, saying it would not be transferred "anywhere."
"Iran's enriched uranium is not going to be transferred anywhere," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told state TV. "Transfer of Iran's enriched uranium to the US has never been raised in negotiations."
Baqaei said recent talks centered on solving the conflict and not on recovering Iran's uranium.
"The previous negotiations focused on the nuclear issue, but now the negotiations are focused on ending the war, and naturally the range of topics discussed has become wider and more diverse," he said.
The remarks come after Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform earlier that the US will "get all Nuclear 'Dust,' created by our great B2 Bombers," in a reference to the enriched uranium buried by US strikes.
Iran still possesses a significant quantity of uranium enriched both to 60%, close to the 90% level required to make a nuclear bomb, as well as a stockpile of uranium enriched to 20%, another critical threshold.
Prior to US strikes in June 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calculated that Iran possessed approximately 440 kilograms (979 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60%, well above the 3.67% limit set by a 2015 agreement from which the United States subsequently withdrew.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear program does not serve a military purpose.
Shipping companies weary of crossing Strait
Shipping companies reacted to Iran's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is open by saying they would require clarifications, including about the risk of mines, before vessels move through the entry point to the Gulf.
"We are currently verifying the recent announcement related to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, in terms of its compliance with freedom of navigation for all merchant vessels and secure passage," said Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization.
The Norwegian Shipowners' Association, which represents 130 companies with some 1,500 vessels. said it was also concerned about the presence of mines and sought clarification on Iranian conditions and practical implementation of the reopening plan.
"If this represents a step towards an opening, it is a welcome development," said CEO Knut Arild Hareide.
Shipping association BIMCO also cautioned members on returning to the strait.
"The status of mine threats... is unclear and BIMCO believes shipping companies should consider avoiding the area," said Jakob Larsen, BIMCO's chief safety and security officer.
A US Navy advisory also said the threat posed by mines in parts of the strait is not fully understood and that ships should consider avoiding the area, Reuters news agency reported.
German shipping group Hapag-Lloyd said on Friday it was working for its ships to sail through the strait "as soon as possible" but added that a number of questions remained.
"Our crisis committee is in session and will try to resolve all open items with the relevant parties within the next 24-36 hours," the company said.
Ukraine calls for joint Hormuz mission
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for joint efforts for a mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Decisions made regarding Hormuz now will determine how other aggressive actors perceive the possibility of creating problems in other straits and on other fronts," Zelenskyy said in remarks to a video conference attended by 50 countries and chaired by France and Britain.
"We need to be as specific and clear as possible so that in six months we don't find ourselves in the same situation as in Gaza, where much still needs to be done," he added.
The Ukrainian president said Russia has also attempted to blockade the Black Sea and that his country acquired experience in escorting merchant vessels, demining, defending against air attacks and the overall coordination of such operations.
Zelenskyy recalled that Kyiv had sent specialists throughout the Middle East to help countries benefit from its experience in defending against Russian drones, many designed in Iran.
"We can also contribute to maritime security," the Ukrainian leader said.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was present during the talks, said her country was ready to make naval units available to secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Any deployment must have parliamentary approval under Italy's constitutional requirements, Meloni said.
Lebanese president says peace with Israel will not 'compromise sovereignty'
In his first speech since a ceasefire was agreed between Lebanon and Israel, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that further talks to secure a lasting peace with Israel would not compromise Lebanon's sovereignty.
"Now, we all stand before a new phase," Aoun said, adding that "it is the phase of transition from working on a ceasefire to working on permanent agreements that preserve the rights of our people, the unity of our land, and the sovereignty of our nation."
He insisted that the talks with Israel are "not a sign of weakness nor a concession... negotiations do not mean, and will never mean, giving up any right, conceding any principle, or compromising the sovereignty of this nation."
"We are confident that we will save Lebanon... we have reclaimed Lebanon and Lebanon's decision-making power for the first time in nearly half a century," and in reference to Iran's influence over Lebanon through Hezbollah, he added "today, we negotiate for ourselves... we are no longer a pawn in anyone's game, nor an arena for anyone's wars, and we never will be again."
"I hereby affirm... that there will be no agreement that infringes upon our national rights, diminishes the dignity of our steadfast people, or relinquishes an iota of this nation's soil."
Merz calls for Hormuz to open 'without restrictions'
Welcoming the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted that it must be unconditional.
"This must be arranged in full compliance with international maritime law, in such a way that there are no restrictions whatsoever," Merz said in Paris following a summit with other European leaders.
They had been meeting to discuss an international mission to secure shipping in the strait after the conflict ends. Germany has repeatedly offered to support such a mission.
Merz also stressed that the strait must reopen "reliably, permanently and without [requesting] payments of any kind," referencing the Iranian proposal that it could charge ships passing through.
Israel attack kills 1 in Lebanon after ceasefire comes into effect
An Israeli strike killed one person in southern Lebanon on Friday, Lebanese media reported, despite the beginning of a ceasefire between the two countries.
"A motorcyclist was killed in the town of Kunin, in the Bint Jbeil district, after being targeted by an enemy drone," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported.
Reuters reported that the report of the strike came in just minutes after President Trump said Israel was "PROHIBITED" from bombing Lebanon anymore, in a post on social media.
According to the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is allowed to target Hezbollah to prevent "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks." Israel also said it would maintain a 10-kilometer (6-mile) security buffer zone along the border.
People in Lebanon hope for 'real' ceasefire
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Trump says Iran will 'never' close Hormuz again
Trump has continued with a spate of posts amid what he called a "GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!"
Firstly, he said the US and Iran were working together on removing mines in the strait laid by Iran.
"Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines!" he posted on his Truth Social platform.
He then said that Iran would not close the strait again.
"Iran has agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again. It will no longer be used as a weapon against the World!"
Neither of these claims could be immediately verified from the Iranian side. Throughout the war, Washington and Tehran have repeatedly contradicted each other.
Germany's Merz says US should be part of international mission in Hormuz
Germany has also repeated its offer to provide support to an international mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking after the summit hosted by France and the UK in Paris, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his country could offer reconnaissance and mine clearing.
"I require a decision by the federal government, a mandate from the German Bundestag and a sound military concept," Merz said.
"We will therefore take part in the further military planning discussions that are taking place and would also like to see the United States of America participate, if possible. We believe this would be desirable," he added.
Trump says he doesn't want NATO help in Hormuz
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have welcomed the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, saying they will go ahead with a military planning meeting next week for an international mission to secure maritime security.
The two leaders hosted a summit with some 50 countries earlier in the day, with Macron saying "we all demand the full, immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by all parties."
Starmer responded to the announcement that the Strait of Hormuz is being reopened by saying it must be "lasting," adding that the UK and France will lead a safeguarding mission "as soon as conditions allow."
However, in yet another post on Truth Social, Trump said he was not interested in NATO support now.
"Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL. They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!" he wrote, in reference to his rejected requests for support earlier in the war.
US President Trump once again upset with NATO
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Trump says Israel is now 'PROHIBITED' from bombing Lebanon
Trump followed up his post celebrating the opening of the Strait of Hormuz with another rambling post.
He first appeared to deny reports that the US had been considering a cash-for-uranium exchange to remove Iran's nuclear material.
"The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear “Dust,” created by our great B2 Bombers - No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form," he said on his Truth Social platform.
He then went on to discuss Lebanon, where a ceasefire deal with Israel came into effect on Friday.
"This deal is in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezboolah [sic] situation in an appropriate manner."
Before finally vowing that "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer."
"They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!" he added.
People in Lebanon hope for 'real' ceasefire
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Oil prices drop by over 11% after Iran announces Hormuz reopening
Oil prices dropped by over 11% after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the rest of its truce with the United States.
Brent crude oil, which serves as a global benchmark for prices, plunged by $11.12 to $88.27 a barrel at 1311 UTC.
Analysts have argued that markets are reacting to a sign of deescalation between the warring parties.
"Comments from Iran's foreign minister indicate a deescalation as long as the ceasefire is in place, now we need to see also if the number of tankers crossing the Strait increases substantially," Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at Swiss financial giant UBS, was cited by Reuters news agency as saying.
Some 20% of global oil deliveries pass through the crucial waterway.
While a two-week US-Iran ceasefire went into effect on April 8, Tehran argued that Washington ally Israel's continued offensive in Lebanon constituted a violation of the truce.
On Thursday, Israel reached a 10-day ceasefire deal with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Trump threatens continued blockade
However, US President Donald Trump stressed that the United States' naval blockade of Iranian ports would stay in force until Washington reaches a deal with Tehran in a social media post issued after Araghchi's announcement.
"THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS AND FULL PASSAGE, BUT THE NAVAL BLOCKADE WILL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IT PERTAINS TO IRAN, ONLY, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE," Trump said in the post on his Truth Social platform.
He said that the negotiation process would proceed swiftly and that Washington and Tehran had already agreed on most points in talks.
The United States and Iran engaged in talks on April 11-12 in Islamabad, Pakistan, which resulted in no apparent breakthrough.
Over 38,000 women, girls killed in Gaza, UN says
The UN has said Israeli attacks on Gaza between October 2023 and the end of 2025 had resulted in the deaths of more than 38,000 women and girls.
The Gaza Health Ministry has put the estimated total death toll from the war with Israel at 72,000, a number that continues to rise amid sporadic Israeli attacks despite a declared ceasefire.
This means that more than half of the victims of Israeli attacks were women and girls.
UN Women said that a further 11,000 women and girls had been left with debilitating, lifelong injuries.
The war has impacted women in other ways, with the Israeli blockade stopping access to menstrual products and leaving women having to give birth in tents without proper medical equipment.
Strait of Hormuz now 'completely open' for rest of ceasefire — Iran
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran was "completely" reopening the Strait of Hormuz for the rest of the ceasefire period.
"In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic [Republic] of Iran," Araghchi said in a post on the platform X.
Tehran effectively closed the crucial waterway, through which a large portion of the world's energy deliveries passes, on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched their war with Iran.
Iran agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz as part of a two-week ceasefire with Washington that started on April 8, but contentions remained on whether the truce included Lebanon.
Israel reached a 10-day ceasefire deal with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group on Thursday.
