Iran has informed the United States that it has not yet agreed to hold the next round of talks

April 18: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said 23 ships have followed U.S. military instructions to reverse course since the Strait of Hormuz blockade began. The U.S. military is enforcing a maritime blockade on vessels entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas.

April 18 — An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson stated Wednesday that over the past 24 hours, IDF troops operating south of the Blue Line in southern Lebanon have eliminated multiple Hezbollah members who violated the ceasefire and posed an imminent threat to Israeli forces. The statement added the IDF deployed artillery fire to support ground operations in the region. In response to the threat, the military destroyed some Hezbollah infrastructure. The spokesperson stressed the IDF is acting under political directives, authorized to take necessary defensive measures—efforts to defend against and neutralize threats are not restricted by the ceasefire agreement. Source: FX Street

April 18 — Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that no date can be set for a new round of U.S.-Iran talks until both sides agree on a common framework for the negotiations. “We can’t set a negotiation date until we agree on the framework,” Araghchi said. He stressed that any terms Iran agrees to in talks must uphold its rights under international law. Iran will not accept being treated as an exception outside international law, nor will it waive those rights.

April 18th – Global markets posted a significant rebound over the past week, driven by easing Middle East tensions, though core uncertainties linger. Iran briefly announced the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a sharp drop in oil prices. Risk assets surged: U.S. stocks hit a new high, the U.S. dollar weakened, and gold approached the $1,900 mark. However, Iran later clarified the strait remains "under military control," while the U.S. maintained sanctions on Iran—escalating market concerns about the situation. ### Next Week’s Key Catalysts - **U.S.-Iran Negotiations**: President Trump noted talks could advance over the weekend, warning the ceasefire may end and conflict risk resume if no deal is reached by next Wednesday. Iran remains cautious, with major differences on core issues like uranium enrichment. Markets have shifted from pricing in "conflict escalation" to a "de-escalation path," but sudden shifts could spark intense asset volatility. - **Fed Policy Sign

April 18th: Shipping sources report commercial vessels received an Iranian Navy radio message stating the Strait of Hormuz has been closed again, banning all vessel traffic. (FXStreet)

April 18 — Maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers said in a social media post that two Indian vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz were forced back by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, with gunfire exchanged during the encounter. One of the vessels was a very large crude carrier (VLCC) flying the Indian flag. Iran has not yet commented on the incident.