As of April 21, Iran’s airspace has partially reopened, the Virtual Embassy Tehran announced. U.S. citizens should leave Iran now, monitor local media for updates, and consult with commercial carriers for additional information on flights out of Iran.

Americans seeking to depart Iran may also depart by land to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Turkmenistan. U.S. citizens should not travel to Afghanistan, Iraq, or the Pakistan-Iran border area.

The statement warned that the Iranian government may prevent U.S. citizens from departing or charge an “exit fee” for departures from Iran. U.S.-Iranian dual nationals must exit Iran on Iranian passports.

U.S. President Donald Trump has extended a short ceasefire window to allow Iran time to unify its position on negotiations, as internal divisions in Tehran delay a second round of talks in Islamabad, according to U.S. officials on Wednesday. The decision, reported by Axios, gives Iran an additional three to five days to present a coherent counter-offer before the ceasefire expires.

At least three container ships were struck by Iranian gunfire while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to maritime security sources and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), in the latest escalation affecting one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.

The incidents occurred amid continued restrictions imposed by Iran on vessels using the strait, initially in response to U.S.-Israeli bombardments and later tied to a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow more time for negotiations, while ordering the continuation of a U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced he would “extend the Ceasefire” until Iran presents a proposal to end the conflict, adding that he had “directed our Military to continue the Blockade.”

Diplomatic efforts to initiate a second round of peace talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan remain stalled.

Axios reports that Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner remain in the United States, with a Department of Homeland Security plane rerouted to Washington for policy meetings.

Meanwhile, Iranian lawmaker Ahmad Naderi stated Tehran will not negotiate until the naval blockade is resolved, calling reports of an Iranian delegation in Pakistan a "complete lie."

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed his government is still awaiting a formal response from Iran. 

The delays occur as the two-week ceasefire approaches its expiration, prompting Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar to publicly urge both Washington and Tehran to consider an extension to give diplomacy a chance.

President Donald Trump, in a CNBC Squawk Box interview, framed upcoming U.S.–Iran negotiations in Pakistan as occurring under decisive American military and strategic advantage. He said Iran “has no choice” but to engage and predicted a “great deal,” asserting that U.S. forces have already significantly degraded Iranian military capabilities. Trump linked the diplomatic process to a broader coercive posture, referencing strikes on naval and air assets and suggesting leadership losses in Iran—claims that remain unverified independently and are presented as presidential assertions.

He also indicated that the United States retains readiness to resume military action if negotiations fail to produce a near-term agreement. The interview underscores a compressed diplomatic timeline tied to a ceasefire window and reflects a negotiation strategy grounded in escalation signaling.

The remarks come as U.S. and Iranian delegations prepare for renewed talks, with uncertainty over whether diplomatic engagement will stabilize or intensify regional tensions.

Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Iran of repeatedly violating a fragile ceasefire, warning that the Middle East could soon slide back into open conflict as the truce nears its expiration.

“Iran has violated the ceasefire numerous times!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, referring to the two-week pause in hostilities set to expire by Wednesday. His remarks come as both sides weigh the possibility of resuming negotiations aimed at ending a war Trump describes as necessary for preventing Iran from making a nuclear bomb.

Trump also cast doubt on the feasibility of securing Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, describing the process as “long” and “difficult” following U.S. strikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities last year.

He reiterated that “Operation Midnight Hammer” had obliterated what he called Iran’s “nuclear dust” sites—a term he uses to describe enriched uranium or remnants of nuclear infrastructure.

Rival mediators from Tehran and Washington descend on Baghdad amid a deepening leadership deadlock.

On Monday, April 20, 2026, IRGC-Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani issued a statement in Baghdad asserting that the selection of Iraq’s prime minister is a "solely Iraqi" decision, warning against external interference.

This follows the April 17 designation by the U.S. Treasury of seven high-ranking commanders from Kata’ib Hizballah, Asa’ib Ahl al-Haqq, and other groups for attacks on U.S. personnel.

Domestically, a rift has widened within the Shiite Coordination Framework.

While the Sudani camp claims Nouri al-Maliki has withdrawn from the premiership race, Maliki’s camp has issued a sharp denial, labeling the reports as misinformation.

With the constitutional deadline for government formation set for late April, both Qaani and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack are reportedly in the Green Zone to mediate.

The outcome remains uncertain as the bloc struggles to reconcile U.S. financial pressure with internal power-sharing demands.

Conflicting reports of a currency freeze highlight Washington’s financial leverage over Baghdad.

On Monday, April 20, 2026, the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) officially rejected reports that the United States had suspended shipments of physical U.S. dollars to Baghdad.

The denial followed claims by regional media, including Al-Hadath, that Washington had halted currency transfers and security coordination as part of a crackdown on Iran-aligned militias.

These reports come on the heels of April 17 U.S. State Department sanctions against seven militia commanders from groups like Kata’ib Hizballah and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haqq.

While the CBI insists the flow of cash is normal, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad remains under a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" alert, citing ongoing militia threats in federal Iraq. 

The conflicting signals underscore the high-pressure environment as Iraqi leaders attempt to form a new government under the shadow of potential U.S. economic sanctions and demands for militia disarmament.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the confrontation with Iran remains ongoing and could escalate further at any time, underscoring the fragile state of the conflict.

Speaking alongside Argentine President Javier Milei on Sunday, Netanyahu said the US-Israeli effort against Iran is "not over yet."

"Any moment could bring us new developments," he said. "Who knows what tomorrow or the day after tomorrow will bring?"

He added that the United States and Israel "shall achieve our objectives and achieve more hope, more light for the free peoples of the world."

During a separate meeting with Milei in Jerusalem, Netanyahu reiterated the message, stating, "We are at war with Iran. The issue is not over, and at any moment new developments could occur."