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Iran live updates: Trump announces he's extending ceasefire indefinitely

The ceasefire announced earlier this month was set to expire on April 22.

Last Updated: April 21, 2026, 5:24 PM EDT

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 is extending the ceasefire and continuing the blockade until Iran's proposal is submitted and discussions are concluded "one way or the other."

10:10 AM EDT

Iran says Tehran negotiates 'with finger on trigger,' does not confirm Pakistan talks

Iran's defense forces are "in full readiness," and they are "negotiating with our finger on the trigger," Fatemeh Mohajerani, a spokesperson of Iran's government, said in an interview with the official Islamic Republic News Agency on Tuesday.

"We do not want to come under renewed attacks, but if such attacks occur, we will certainly respond more forcefully than before," Mohajerani said.

"The head of the Iranian negotiating team has been the field commander and is fully aware of the situation. Our people should know that this team is knowledgeable both in field realities and diplomacy," she said.

In an interview with Mehr News, the government spokeswoman said that she is not aware if the negotiation team has left Iran for Pakistan.

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

8:08 AM EDT

US forces board Iran-linked vessel in Indo-Pacific region

United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) said in a post to X on Tuesday that American forces interdicted and boarded an Iran-linked cargo vessel overnight.

"U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the stateless sanctioned M/T Tifani without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility," the command said.



"We will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran -- anywhere they operate," the command's statement said.
"International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels."

INDOPACOM posted video footage of the boarding operation, which showed helicopter-borne U.S. forces rappelling onto the deck of the Tifani.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

7:36 AM EDT

Trump says Iran violated ceasefire 'multiple times'

President Donald Trump alleged that Iran had "Violated the Cease Fire numerous times!" in a social media post on Tuesday morning.

The president did not elaborate on what incidents his post referred to.

The two-week ceasefire announced by Trump on April 8 is due to expire on Wednesday.

People walk past a banner depicting President Donald Trump in Jerusalem on April 20, 2026.
Afp Contributor#afp/AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

6:34 AM EDT

Iran executes 3 more protesters, internet blackout continues

Three more protesters who were arrested during January's anti-government demonstrations have been executed this week, according to the Iranian judiciary.

The judiciary said that protesters Hamed Walidi and Mohammad Masoom Shahi were "traitorous spies" and were hanged "for collaborating" with Israel, "acting against national security and betraying the Iranian people."

People walk near a billboard featuring an image of Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, on April 20, 2026.
Majid Asgaripour/via Reuters

Another protester, Amir Ali Mirjafari, was hanged on Tuesday, according to the judiciary. He was accused of "collaborating with the enemy" for attempting to burn a mosque in Tehran, the judiciary said as reported by the semi-official ISNA News Agency.

The nationwide internet shutdown, meanwhile, stretched into its 53rd day on Tuesday, according to the internet monitoring website NetBlocks. Although some users briefly regained access to Google, it was cut off again Tuesday morning, according to the Tasnim News Agency.

Iranians who spoke with ABC News said the outage has been one of the most "painful" aspects of life since the war began.

-ABC News' Somayeh Malekian

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