US Iran War Live Updates: India In Touch With Iran For Safe Passage Of Ships Through Hormuz

India is in touch with Iran for safe passage of ships after they were fired upon in the Strait of Hormuz region, according to Bloomberg which cited Indian government officials at a briefing in New Delhi.

Iran has partially opened its airspace partially for cargo and commercial flights, according to a a government notification cited by Bloomberg.

Iran's military gave an explanation on why it didn't fight back against US Marines as Iranian vessel was seized in the Gulf of Oman. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, a body that oversees Iran's regular military and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said it did not attack the Marines because the ship's crew had family members aboard the Iranian vessel Touska, AP reported.

“Due to the presence of some family members of the ship's crew, they faced constraints in order to protect their lives and ensure their safety, as they were in danger at every moment,” it was quoted as saying.

Tehran does not have any plans to attend talks with the United States, PTI reported citing  Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on Monday. However, he did not rule out the possibility attending talks.

“So far, while I am here, we have no plans for the next round of negotiations and no decision has been made in this regard,” Baghaei was quoted as saying.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central HQ said country’s armed forces will take necessary action against the US for the seizure of its commercial ship, according to Iranian media outlet Tasnim news agency.

According to Masjedi Abbas Masjedi, the head of Iran's Legal Medicine Organisation.,  383 of children have been killed in the conflict, PTI reported.

Iran said that atleast 3,375 people have been killed so far in the US-Iran War, PTI reported citing Abbas Masjedi, the head of Iran's Legal Medicine Organisation.

According to Iran's state-run IRNA, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the war is in no one’s interest amid renewed tensions with the US.

The commercial traffic at the Strait of Hormuz is at a virtual standstill on Monday following a brief and confused reopening over the weekend that ended with the seizure of Iranian vessel by the US, Bloomberg reported. 

Israeli Army has acknowledged that the image showing soldier smashing Jesus statue in southern Lebanon is authentic. In a post on X, IDF said, "Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon."

Following the completion of an initial examination regarding a photograph published earlier today of an IDF soldier harming a Christian symbol, it was determined that the photograph depicts an IDF soldier operating in southern Lebanon.

The IDF views the incident with great… https://t.co/U6P3x8KWBb

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 19, 2026

China is expected to import a record volume of ethane from US this month as petrochemical producers seek alternatives as the war in the Middle East disrupted essential supplies, Bloomberg reported.

UAE has started discussions with the United States on securing a currency swap arrangement, as the Iran conflict raises risks to its economy, US officials told the Wall Street Journal. They said that if  dollar liquidity tightens, the UAE may have to use alternative currencies such as the Chinese yuan for oil sales and other transactions.

Israel Defense Forces have directed residents of South Lebanon villages not to return, Bloomberg reported.

The US Central Command in a post on X said, "U.S. Marines depart amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) by helicopter and transit over the Arabian Sea to board and seize M/V Touska. The Marines rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel, April 19, after guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska’s propulsion when the commercial ship failed to comply with repeated warnings from U.S. forces over a six-hour period."

U.S. Marines depart amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) by helicopter and transit over the Arabian Sea to board and seize M/V Touska. The Marines rappelled onto the Iranian-flagged vessel, April 19, after guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) disabled Touska’s… pic.twitter.com/mFxI5RzYCS

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 20, 2026

UAE officials told US counterparts that Trump’s decision to attack Iran has put the UAE in a situation with potentially prolonged economic consequences, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Malaysia is preparing for an uptick in inflation as the impact of the Iran war filters through to consumer prices later this year, Bloomberg reported citing  Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

“The higher inflation is no longer restricted to fuels as the cost of raw materials for construction and manufacturing have also risen, affecting production costs,” he was quoted as saying in a monthly ministry briefing on Monday. “The effect on our inflation has been lagging due to the strength of our inventory, but when the costs of production are higher, there will be an impact.” 

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a telephonic conversation with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, assured the country's "honest" and "sincere" efforts to advance regional peace and security. In an 45-minute conversation on Sunday, the two leaders discussed current regional situation, PTI reported citing the Prime Minister Office statement.

Iran would participate in the second round of negotiations in Islamabad on the condition that the US should lift the naval blockade. according to Al Jazeera, citing a person aware of teh development.

Flagging uncertainties global economic concerns due to Strait of Hormuz disruptions, UAE Minister of Industry Sultan Al Jaber in a post on X said, " Almost 600 million barrels of oil blocked so far. 50 days of mounting pressure on LNG, jet fuel, fertilizer, and the essentials that the world depends on. Behind every missing barrel, bills go up for ordinary people everywhere. The global economy cannot afford more uncertainty. The Strait cannot operate under threat. And let's call payment for safe passage what it is: A protection racket. Hormuz belongs to the world. It must be returned to the world. Exactly as it was."

50 days of a closed Hormuz:

Almost 600 million barrels of oil blocked so far.
50 days of mounting pressure on LNG, jet fuel, fertilizer, and the essentials that the world depends on.
Behind every missing barrel, bills go up for ordinary people everywhere.
The global economy…

— Dr. Sultan Al Jaber (@SultanAlJaber) April 19, 2026

Trump said that  US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran, heightening hopes of extending a fragile ceasefire amid a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, PTI reported. However, whether Iran would participate in the talks remains unclear.
 

The US military said that the Iranian flagged ship was fired for  “several rounds” during its attempt to violate American naval blockade, CNN reported.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said that the security of the Strait of Hormuz is not free, noting that Iran's oil exports cannot be restricted.

In a post on X, Aref said, "The security of the Strait of Hormuz is not free. One cannot restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others. The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone. Stability in global fuel prices depends on a guaranteed and lasting end to the economic and military pressure against Iran and its allies."

The security of the Strait of Hormuz is not free. One cannot restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others. The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone. Stability in global fuel prices depends on a…

— Aref| First VP Iran (@fvpresidentiran) April 19, 2026

Benchmark crude prices jumped as Brent crude rose around $96 per barrel and US WTI climbing above $90 per barrel, marking gains of over 6% each. Similarly, natural gas rates surged, with European prices jumping as much as 11% amid fears of disruption in energy flows. Read full report here.

After the US attacked the ship in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian forces retaliated by attacking some US military ships with drones, Reuters reported citing Iran's top joint military command.

Iran will not be a part of the the second round of peace talks with the US in Islamabad, Iranian media said on Monday. US Vice President JD Vance will reportedly travel to Pakistan to lead the next round of negotiations this week.

"The reports circulating about a second round of negotiations in Islamabad are false," the IRNA News Agency posted on the social media platform X. "US excessive demands, unreasonable and unrealistic expectations, frequent shifts in positions, continuous contradictions, and the so-called naval blockade which violates ceasefire understanding along with threatening rhetoric, have so far hindered progress in the negotiations. Under these conditions, the outlook for constructive talks remains bleak," it added.