Excavators remove rubble from destroyed buildings that were hit by Israeli airstrikes on Thursday, as rescuers search for victims in the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)Excavators remove rubble from destroyed buildings that were hit by Israeli airstrikes on Thursday, as rescuers search for victims in the city of Tyre, southern Lebanon. (AP Photo)

Iran US War News Live Update: Iranian army chief Amir Hatami has vowed to defend the country’s “independence, territorial integrity, and security across land, air, and sea”. “Our forces will confront the enemy until the last breath with their finger on the trigger, ready for confrontation and to make sacrifices,” Hatami said as reported by Al Jazeera. Iranian forces are motivated by a spirit of sacrifice and “jihad” and have pledged “unwavering commitment to their mission”, he added.

Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that while “progress has been made” in negotiations to end the war with the United States, the two sides are “far from final discussion”. “There are some issues on which we insist… They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two,” Ghalibaf said while speaking to state television. “We are still far from the final discussion.”

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What has happened so far: Iran said it has brought the Strait of Hormuz back under strict control after briefly declaring it open, citing the ongoing US blockade under Donald Trump, while officials said several vessels have been turned back in recent days; at the same time, maritime authorities reported gunfire and a projectile incident involving Indian ships in the waterway, raising safety concerns, as Iran confirmed it is reviewing new US proposals but no date has been set for the next round of talks, and a ceasefire linked to fighting involving Hezbollah in Lebanon continues to hold despite ongoing strikes and warnings from both sides.

Latest developments:

  • Iran has reimposed control over the Strait of Hormuz after briefly reopening it
  • The US blockade of Iranian shipping remains in place, with multiple vessels turned back
  • Reports of gunfire and a strike involving Indian ships have raised shipping risks
  • Talks between the US and Iran are ongoing, but no timeline has been set
  • Casualties have been reported across Iran, Lebanon, Gulf states, Israel and among US forces as tensions continue

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