Original Source
Iran to Maintain Strait of Hormuz Blockade; UN Condemns Attack on Peacekeepers in Lebanon
Iran-US Standoff Over Strait of Hormuz Blockade
Iran has declared that it will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until the United States lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. US President Donald Trump reported that a US Navy ship fired on a vessel attempting to bypass the blockade and that marines took custody of an Iranian-flagged vessel. Iran had previously announced on April 18, 2026, its intention to close the Strait of Hormuz again until the US blockade is lifted.
UN Peacekeepers Attacked in Lebanon
UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the killing of a French peacekeeper and the wounding of three others in an attack in southern Lebanon, according to spokesman Stéphane Dujarric. The UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) came under small-arms fire on Saturday morning, with two of the injured sustaining serious wounds, as stated by France's president and UNIFIL.
*Source: The Guardian World (2026-04-19)*
