Revolutionary Guard says seizes ships in Hormuz

Iran's naval forces accused two ships of endangering maritime security by attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz without authorization.

The escalation comes amid uncertainty over US-Iran ceasefire talks.

DW has more.

Here is a roundup of the latest developments from the US-Israeli war with Iran on Wednesday, April 22:
Will Iran war reshape global trade more than COVID?

Iran's decision to shut down the Strait of Hormuz has drawn comparisons to supply disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic and US President Donald Trump's new tariff regime.

The International Energy Agency described the loss of roughly 10% of the world's oil supply and a fifth of global liquefied natural gas last month as the largest in the history of the global energy market.

Read more about how the war in Iran is affecting global trade .

Erdogan says Mideast war 'starting to weaken Europe'
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier , that the US-Israeli war with Iran is "starting to weaken Europe."
"The war in our region is likewise starting to weaken Europe, and if we do not address this situation with an approach that prioritises peace, the damage caused by the conflict will be far greater," Erdogan told Steinmeier, according to the Turkish presidency.

Trump set no deadline for Iranian peace proposal — White House
According to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, US President Donald Trump has not set a deadline for Iran to submit a peace proposal.

"The president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I've seen today.

Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander-in-chief," Leavitt told journalists.

She added that Trump wants to see a unified response from Iran's leadership to US proposals to end hostilities.

Earlier in an interview with Fox News, Leavitt said that, as part of negotiations to end the war, Iran must agree to turn over its enriched uranium to the United States.

Trump extends US-Iran ceasefire as talks remain on hold
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Wadephul cautious about Berlin talking to Shah's son Pahlavi
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has voiced concerns about the visit of Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah of Iran, to Berlin.

"Pahlavi is coming to Germany as a private individual and, if I understand correctly, is also engaging in political discussions," Wadephul said during a meeting with his Irish counterpart, Helen McEntee, in Dublin.

In response to a reporter’s question about why no government member would meet with the Iranian opposition figure, Wadephul added, "But it is not the federal government’s role to hold such talks."
On Thursday, Pahlavi is set to meet with Armin Laschet, a foreign policy expert from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democrats, as well as with other foreign policy figures from different parliamentary groups.

German FM urges Iran to participate in talks
In Dublin, Wadephul urged Tehran to be prepared for negotiations with the US and travel to Islamabad.

"They must not miss this opportunity for negotiations," added the top German diplomat.

US Vice President JD Vance reportedly wants to come to the Pakistani capital, "but the Iranians are not showing up at this stage," Wadephul said.

Iran's president says blockade is obstacle to 'genuine' negotiations
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the US naval blockade is one of the main obstacles to negotiations with Washington.

"Breach of commitments, blockade and threats are main obstacles to genuine negotiations," he wrote on X.

"World sees your endless hypocritical rhetoric and contradiction between claims and actions," he added, in what appeared to be an address to the US.

Since the start of the war with Israel and the United States, Iran has severely limited shipping through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the US military has established a counter-blockade of Iranian ports which Iran has called a violation of the ceasefire agreed two weeks ago.

Trump says Iran will not execute 8 women after his request
US President Donald Trump announced that Iran had halted its plans to execute eight women arrested for participating in anti-government protests.

Trump claimed he had urged Tehran to release the women in order to promote peace negotiations.

"I very much appreciate that Iran, and its leaders, respected my request, as President of the United States, and terminated the planned execution," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Trump also stated that four women would be released immediately and four others would be sentenced to one month in prison.

According to the AFP news agency, Iran's judiciary described Trump's remarks as "false news."
"Despite the claim from last night being exposed as a lie, Trump, just minutes ago in another post, claimed that the death sentences of eight protesting women who were supposed to be executed tonight in Iran have been cancelled, and thanked Iran!" the judiciary's Mizan Online website posted on X.

"Trump's empty hand in the field has led him to fabricate achievements from false news," it added.

Iran says ceasefire only makes sense if US blockade is lifted
Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said that a complete ceasefire only makes sense if it is not violated by the US blockade of Iranian ports and the hostage-taking of the world's economy.

In a post on X, Qalibaf said that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was impossible given such a "flagrant breach of the ceasefire."
"The only way forward is to recognize the rights of the Iranian people," he added.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that the United States would continue to blockade Iranian ports.

Lebanon reports more than 62,000 damaged or destroyed housing units, some after the ceasefire
Israeli attacks on Lebanon in recent weeks have damaged or destroyed more than 50,000 housing units in the country, a government estimate found on Wednesday.

"Within about 45 days [of the war], we had 17,756 destroyed housing units and 32,668 damaged housing units," Chadi Abdallah, the head of the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS), told a press conference.

The CNRS estimates that "428 housing units were destroyed and 50 were damaged" during the first three days of the ceasefire, Abdallah said.

Israel started attacking Lebanon and moving into parts of the south of the country when Iran-backed Hezbollah began firing projectiles towards Israel as of March 2, in response to the attacks on Iran.

According to Lebanon's Environment Minister Tamara Zein, the earlier 2023-2025 fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks led to the damage or destruction of "more than 220,000 housing units."
Israel‑Hezbollah ceasefire holds despite sporadic clashes
Iran says it appreciates Pakistan's efforts to end war
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, said that the Islamic Republic appreciates Pakistan's efforts to end the war in the Middle East , according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

While expressing appreciation for Pakistan's "efforts aimed at ending the imposed war and establishing peace in the region," Baghaei said that Iran is "closely monitoring developments in the field and political arena."
He also stressed that Tehran "is taking the necessary measures to safeguard Iran's national interests and security."
However, Baghaei did not give a direct answer to the question about the possibility of a new round of negotiations with Washington.

"Diplomacy is a tool for securing national interests and security, and whenever we conclude that the necessary and reasonable conditions exist to use this tool… we will take action," he said.

Reza Pahlavi, son of the Shah, arrives in Berlin for talks
Reza Pahlavi , an Iranian politician in exile and the son of the last Shah of Iran, who was overthrown in 1979, has arrived in Berlin.

"As Iranians continue to fight for their liberation, I have arrived in Berlin to ensure their voices are heard," he wrote on X.

He added that he will meet with elected representatives from across the political spectrum in the Bundestag on Thursday, as well as with press representatives and members of the Iranian diaspora.

Pahlavi is also scheduled to speak at the Federal Press Conference about the current situation in Iran.

Monarchist groups view Pahlavi as the political leader of the Iranian opposition .

However, the extent of his support in Iran is unclear since he lives in exile in the US.

Could Reza Pahlavi play a role in Iran's future?

Iran has given no indication that they are ready to re‑engage in peace talks, as US President Donald Trump has extended a fragile ceasefire indefinitely, while maintaining a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Watch how Iran showcased ballistic missiles in a Tehran parade to boost morale.

Iran war fuels crisis for world's aviation sector
The war in Iran is having a profound effect on the global aviation sector.

Shortages and surging prices of jet fuel are wreaking havoc on flight routes.

DW tried to figure out how quickly jet fuel supplies could run out and what impact the instability could have on ticket prices .

The fuel crisis has also forced African airlines to raise ticket prices, cancel flights, and reconsider their operations in order to remain financially viable.

Read more about how Africa's aviation and tourism industries are struggling to cope with the economic fallout from the war in Iran .

Macron says 2nd French peacekeeper dies after Hezbollah attack
A French peacekeeper has died of his injuries after a weekend ambush in Lebanon that was blamed on Hezbollah militants, French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday.

Another soldier was shot dead in the attack on Saturday, while two others were also injured.

Iran-backed Hezbollah denied responsibility for the ambush.

The UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, has been deployed along the border area between Lebanon and Israel since 1978.

Fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah flared up following the US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader in Tehran at the end of February.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that included Hezbollah last Friday, although Hezbollah and Israel have continued to trade fire since then.

What's the latest with the Strait of Hormuz and talks in Pakistan?

If you're just joining us, here's a recap of what's happening with the ceasefire talks, Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the US' counter-blockade:
The Day with Phil Gayle: Iran war peace talks
Germany halves 2026 growth forecast amid Iran war fallout
The German Economy Ministry has cut its growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027 as a result of rising energy prices triggered by the ⁠Iran war .

The ministry now expects ​0.5% growth for 2026, down from an ​earlier projection of 1%, with the 2027 outlook cut from 1.3% to 0.9%.

"The economic recovery expected ‌for this year is once ‌again being ​held back by external geopolitical shocks," Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said.

Europe's largest ​economy has been struggling since the coronavirus pandemic, with surging energy costs driven by the Ukraine war and now the Iran conflict posing a significant challenge to its recovery.

"The war in Iran is driving up energy and raw material prices.

This is putting a strain on private households and increasing costs for the German economy," Reiche said.

The ministry also adjusted its inflation projections to 2.7% this year and 2.8% in 2027, up from 2.2% last year.