We continue to pray for peace in the Middle East and for ‘The Forgotten War’ to end! I am so very, very frustrated with U.S. President Donald J. Trump allowing Russian President ‘madman’ Vladimir Putin to have his way.
PUTIN MUST BE STOPPED! Russia’s deadly strike on busy Ukraine Baptist church ‘wasn’t an accident’
Live Updates: The Associated Press (“AP”)
- Iran swiftly reversed course on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, warning that it would continue to block transit as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect.
- Iran said Friday that it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but U.S. President Donald J. Trump said the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S., including on its nuclear program.
- Iranian officials said the blockade was a violation of last week’s ceasefire agreement between Iran and the U.S. The strait “will not remain open” if the blockade continues, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, posted on the social media site ‘X’ early Saturday (4/18/2026). President Trump imposed the blockade earlier this week after Iran restricted traffic through the strait due to fighting in Lebanon, which Iran claimed was a breach of the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire. Trump later suggested a second round of direct U.S.-Iran talks could happen this weekend.
AP Live Updates may be read in full HERE.
