2026 Iran War: 2026-04-19

Sources report the American delegation traveling to Islamabad for the second round of Iran negotiations consists of Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Earlier reports that Vice President J.D. Vance would lead the delegation appear to have been incorrect. Iran has not yet confirmed whether it will attend the talks.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran firmly confronted US efforts to clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz and considered it a ceasefire violation. He told the American delegation in Islamabad that if their minesweepers moved even slightly forward, Iran would open fire. The Americans requested 15 minutes and then ordered their ships to retreat, Ghalibaf claimed.

According to US intelligence and military estimates reported by the New York Times, Iran retains about 60% of its missile launchers following the ceasefire. Around 100 systems were dug out from caves and bunkers in the days after the ceasefire began, recovering from roughly 50% to 60%. Estimates suggest Iran could eventually reclaim up to 70% of its prewar missile arsenal.

Sources told the Wall Street Journal that the US military may board Iranian ships in the coming days, marking a potential escalation in the enforcement of the blockade around Iran. The move would represent a significant intensification of the naval standoff in the Persian Gulf region.

The IRGC navy operates over 1,500 small, fast attack boats known as the mosquito fleet, forming the core of Iran's naval power in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the New York Times, these vessels can exceed 100 knots and carry missiles including Nasr, Kousar, Ghader, Zafar and the long-range Abu Mahdi. US General Dan Caine said over 90 percent of Iran's regular navy was destroyed, and roughly half the fast attack boats, but the remainder continue operations from hidden bases carved into rocky coastal caves. Said Golkar of the University of Tennessee said the IRGC navy operates as a guerrilla formation at sea, relying on hit-and-run tactics rather than conventional naval battles. At least 20 vessels have been attacked during the war, per the International Maritime Agency. US warships conducting the blockade remain outside the strait in the Gulf of Oman due to limited maneuvering room and near-zero reaction time against drones and missiles.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz and that some progress has been made in negotiations with the United States, but the two sides remain far from final talks. Ghalibaf, who is involved in negotiations on behalf of Iran, visited Pakistan last week where peace talks were held with American envoys including JD Vance. No date has been set for the next round of negotiations. The ceasefire expires April 22.

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris said Donald Trump was pulled into the Iran war by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking at a donor event on Saturday, Harris said: He went into a war that Bibi Netanyahu dragged him into, to be clear. He went into a war that the American people do not want, endangering American soldiers. Trump responded by praising Israel as a GREAT ally on Truth Social, describing the country as brave, determined, loyal and smart.

Russian state nuclear company Rosatom is ready to assist in removing enriched uranium from Iran, according to director Aleksey Likhachev. He said Rosatom is closely monitoring the peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The offer comes as one of the main sticking points between the US and Iran: Trump has demanded Iran transfer its enriched uranium stockpile to the United States, while Iran deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh called the idea unacceptable.

An Iranian official told CNN that Iran will prioritize ships that pay to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting a potential toll system for the contested waterway. The statement adds a new dimension to the Strait crisis, indicating Iran may be seeking financial leverage alongside its military blockade.