'No plans' for fresh peace talks, Tehran says

Pakistan is preparing to host a second round of negotiations, but doubts remain as to whether they will take place, after the US seizure of an Iranian cargo ship.

DW has the latest.

Here is a round-up of the latest developments from the US-Israeli war with Iran and the wider Middle East on Monday, April 20, 2026:
Israeli leaders vow 'harsh action' over Jesus statue damage
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he was "stunned and saddened" about reports an Israeli soldier had damaged a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon.

Earlier on Monday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had confirmed an image showing a soldier striking the head of a fallen crucifix statue with a sledgehammer in the Christian village of Debl was genuine.

In a post on X, Netanyahu said he condemned the incident and said "authorities will take appropriately harsh disciplinary action against the offender."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called it a "shameful and disgraceful" act, and said he was confident that severe measures will be taken.

"We apologize for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt," he wrote on X.

China 'concerned' over US seizure of Iranian ship
China on Monday said it was "concerned" over the seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel by the US Navy at the weekend.

Beijing further called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed in the aftermath of the incident.

"The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway, and ensuring its unimpeded passage serves the common interests of countries in the region and the international community," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.

Iran said on Monday that it had "no plans" to attend a fresh round of peace talks in Pakistan.

However, China urged further negotiations with a two-week ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday.

"Now that ⁠a window for peace has opened, favourable conditions should be ⁠created ​to bring the war to an end as soon as possible," Guo said.

WATCH — How Iran's Navy wields power in the Strait of Hormuz
Analysts say the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy deploys a "mosquito fleet" of fast boats, drones, missiles, torpedoes and sea mines to harass tankers, despite US claims Iran’s navy has been crippled.

Watch our report on how elite forces use swarming tactics, missiles and remote-controlled mines, raising fears for energy flows and safe passage.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Israeli soldier damages crucifix in Lebanon
The Israeli army said Monday it has confirmed the authenticity of an image circulating on social media that appears to show one of its soldiers damaging a statue of Jesus Christ in south Lebanon.

The image shows a soldier striking the head of a fallen crucifix statue with a sledgehammer, reportedly in the Christian village of Debl near the Israeli border.

In a statement posted on X, the IDF said it viewed the incident with "great severity," adding that the soldier’s actions were "wholly inconsistent" with the values expected of its troops.

The case is being investigated by the army’s Northern Command and is being handled through the chain of command.

The military said appropriate measures would be taken against those involved and added it is working with the local community to restore the statue.

Despite a ceasefire in Lebanon that came into force on Friday, Israeli forces remain in parts of the south following months of cross-border fighting with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Israel‑Hezbollah ceasefire holds despite sporadic clashes
WATCH — The moment the US seized an Iranian-flagged ship
The US military has released footage of the moment it says it took control of, and seized, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz as part of its naval blockade.

Oil, gas prices rise after Strait of Hormuz closure
The cost of energy increased sharply on Monday after Iran once again closed the key Strait of Hormuz shipping route at the weekend.

The primary benchmark for European natural gas prices increased 6% to €41.02 ($48.26) per megawatt hour at the Amsterdam exchange.

Oil prices also rose on Monday.

The US benchmark crude went up by 6% to $87.51 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, was up 5.4% at $95.26 a barrel.

Around one-fifth of the world's oil and LNG gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the US dollar reached its highest level in a week against major currencies as prospects for a peace deal diminished.

Iran's sudden Hormuz reversal: What it signals now
Iran says it will respond to cargo ship seizure
Iran's military has said it would retaliate against ​what it called "piracy by the US military." It said a response would come after Iran had ensured the safety of the crew and their families.

Washington confirmed over the weekend that the US Navy had attacked and seized an Iranian cargo ship that attempted ​to break a US blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran claimed the ship had been ⁠traveling ​from China.

Trump sends envoys to peace talks in Pakistan
US President Donald Trump said that his representatives would arrive in Islamabad on Monday evening for fresh peace talks.

The first round of negotiations a week ago were headed by Vice President JD Vance.

However, Trump told ABC News on Sunday that Vance would not be attending this time, due to "security" concerns.

Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to be part of the delegation.

Unresolved issues ahead of Iran-US peace talks in Islamabad
The previous peace talks in Pakistan ended without a deal, with Vance saying he made a "final and best offer," while Iranian state media accused Washington of excessive demands.

Iran says it has 'no plans' to attend peace talks in Pakistan
Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Tehran is yet to decide whether to attend a second round of peace talks with the US in Pakistan.

In a press briefing, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran had "no plans" for fresh negotiations, and that "no decision" had been made."
Baqaei added that Iran would not change its demands, and described US proposals as "unrealistic."
"While claiming diplomacy and readiness for negotiations, the US is carrying out behaviours that do not in any way indicate seriousness in pursuing a diplomatic process," he said.

We'll be following the most important developments in the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran as Pakistan still prepares to host peace talks this Monday...

that might not happen.

Here is a reminder of the major headlines from the weekend.

We'll keep you updated throughout the day, stay with us.