Iran live updates: Trump says no 'time pressure' to secure deal

Disruption in the strategic waterway has roiled global economies.

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Last updated: Thursday, April 23, 2026 10:29PM GMT
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President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan earlier this month failed to reach a peace deal. On Tuesday, Trump announced he was extending the ceasefire and continuing the blockade until Iran's proposal is submitted and discussions are concluded "one way or the other."

Apr 22, 2026, 8:20 PM GMT

Trump has 'not set a deadline' for Iran talks, proposal, White House says

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there is no set deadline for the ceasefire with Iran that was extended by President Donald Trump on Tuesday and that any reports that Trump had set a three to five day timeline for a unified peace proposal from Iran are "not true."

"I'm not going to set a timetable for the president. He has not done that, and I won't. I know there's been some anonymous, sourced reporting that there was maybe a three to five day deadline. That is not true. The president has not set a deadline himself," Leavitt told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

Leavitt placed blame on Iran over the fact that a peace deal has not been finalized but also suggested that Trump has given Iranian leaders flexibility on coming up with a proposal.

"The president chose to extend the ceasefire because it's Iran who needs to get their acts together," she said.

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Apr 22, 2026, 6:00 PM GMT

Iranian official calls blockade 'breach of the ceasefire'

Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticized the U.S. blockade on Iran calling it "hostage-taking of the world's economy" and said a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is "impossible," in a post on X Wednesday.

"A complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the maritime blockade and the hostage-taking of the world's economy, and if the Zionist warmongering across all fronts is halted; reopening the Strait of Hormuz is impossible with such a flagrant breach of the ceasefire," Ghalibaf said.

"They did not achieve their goals through military aggression, nor will they through bullying. The only way forward is to recognize the rights of the Iranian nation," Ghalibaf said.

Apr 22, 2026, 4:04 PM GMT

Trump says that new round of talks as soon as Friday is 'possible'

President Donald Trump said that a renewed round of peace talks in the next 36 to 72 hours is "possible" in a text exchange with the New York Post Wednesday morning. The post article cited sources saying that a new round of talks is possible as soon as Friday.

President Donald Trump waves as he departs after an event for NCAA national champions in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington.
President Donald Trump waves as he departs after an event for NCAA national champions in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Washington.

"It's possible! President DJT," Trump said in a text message when asked about the possibility of those talks, according to the New York Post.

BySomayeh Malekian ABCNews logo
Apr 22, 2026, 10:46 AM GMT

IRGC says it seized 2 vessels in Strait of Hormuz

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy confirmed its interdiction and seizure of two vessels on Wednesday which it said were "attempting to secretly exit the Strait of Hormuz."

The IRGC Navy named the two vessels as the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas. Both were transferred to Iranian territorial waters "in order to examine the cargo and documents," the navy said.

ABC News has reached out to MSC for comment.