Journalist
Hwang Jin-hyun
jinhyun97@ajunews.com
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Trump Says Iran Ceasefire Extended Until Talks End; Tehran Rejects Move Donald Trump, the U.S. president, unilaterally declared another extension of the ceasefire with Iran, but Tehran said it would not recognize the move, keeping uncertainty over whether the truce will hold and whether talks will resume. Trump said on April 21 (local time) on Truth Social that he had been asked to halt attacks on Iran “until Iran’s leadership and negotiating team can come up with a unified proposal,” citing what he called serious divisions within the Iranian government and requests from Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He added that he would extend the ceasefire “until the proposal is submitted and the discussion (bilateral negotiations) is concluded one way or the other.” He also said the maritime blockade and military readiness posture would remain in place. The announcement came as the original “two-week ceasefire” was nearing its end. Trump had first pushed back the deadline, originally set to end on April 21, by one day to “Wednesday (April 22) evening, Washington time,” and then extended it again. The latest move follows a series of pauses. After issuing an ultimatum on March 21 that Iran’s power plants would be devastated unless the Strait of Hormuz was opened within 48 hours, Trump delayed attacks for five days, citing ongoing negotiations. That was followed by an additional 10-day delay and then the two-week ceasefire. Including the latest extension, the U.S. has now postponed attacks four times, the report said. Because Trump tied the extension to talks ending, without a fixed deadline, the measure was widely seen as close to an open-ended ceasefire, with the possibility of a longer truce if negotiations continue. Iran, however, said it would not accept the U.S. announcement. Iran’s state broadcaster reported that Iran would not recognize the U.S. extension and would act according to its national interests. It said the ceasefire period with the United States ends at 3:30 a.m. local time on April 22 (midnight GMT on April 22; 9 a.m. April 22 in South Korea). The semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported that as long as the U.S. maritime blockade continues, Iran will at minimum not open the Strait of Hormuz, and that Iran’s military said it could lift the blockade by force if necessary. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which commands Iran’s armed forces, warned via Tasnim that the military has long maintained “100% combat readiness.” He said that if there is any attack or action against Iran, it would immediately strike preselected targets with force and “once again show a clear response” to the United States and Israel. The United States and Iran held a first round of ceasefire talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 11-12, but ended without results, the report said. A second round was scheduled for April 22, but it collapsed after the Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, decided at the last minute not to attend. The decision was conveyed to the U.S. side through mediator Pakistan, the report said. As a result, a planned visit to Pakistan by Vice President JD Vance, who was to lead the U.S. delegation, was canceled.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 08:25:28 -
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun: Lee Jae Myung’s Vietnam trip to bolster supply chains, advanced tech ties Cho Hyun, South Korea’s foreign minister, said Monday that President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Vietnam will be used to build an institutional foundation to strengthen cooperation in strategic areas, including supply chains for critical minerals and advanced science and technology. In a written interview with local daily Tuoi Tre, Cho said Vietnam is not simply an ASEAN member for South Korea but its most important “core global cooperation partner” in addressing global challenges, including the economy and security. Cho said the visit’s biggest significance is upgrading strategic economic cooperation. He said the two countries are working toward a goal of reaching $150 billion in trade by 2030. He said cooperation will be strengthened around three pillars: strategic sectors such as supply chains and energy, infrastructure and science and technology; and talent development. Cho said supply-chain cooperation will be made tighter and more advanced between Vietnam and about 10,000 South Korean companies operating locally, including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. He added that the two sides will expand cooperation beyond manufacturing investment by sharing technology and developing talent across future industries such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and clean energy, as well as in energy, infrastructure, science and technology, and innovation more broadly. Cho cited nuclear power, power infrastructure, critical raw materials, digital, agriculture and food, and the environment as key areas for cooperation. He said his message to companies driving Vietnam’s growth and its dynamic young generation is clear: “Korea is your most reliable ‘future partner’ in making your dreams a reality.” He also called talent development an essential investment and said the two countries will create conditions for young people to innovate across borders. To that end, he said opportunities will be expanded for Vietnamese youth to strengthen technical skills in basic industries such as automobiles, shipbuilding, electricity and electronics. In future-technology fields such as AI, advanced manufacturing, the environment and energy, he said efforts will continue to train specialized master’s- and doctoral-level talent. Cho said the visit is expected to produce cooperation on an unprecedented scale, not only through government-to-government agreements but also involving private companies and public institutions. He said that immediately after the summit, intergovernmental agreements will be signed in the presence of the two leaders, alongside business contracts and memorandums of understanding between local governments. He said specialized cooperation spanning society — including intellectual property, health care, power, the environment, culture and digital transformation — is also expected to move forward in parallel. Cho cautioned, however, that the number of agreements does not by itself mean success, stressing the need for tangible results. He said South Korea will focus diplomatic efforts on follow-through, including operating a standing review consultative body and removing regulations and interagency barriers that constrain business activity. Lee arrived in Hanoi on Monday after completing his schedule in India. He is set to hold a summit on Tuesday with To Lam, the Communist Party general secretary and state president, and return home on April 24.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 18:04:59 -
Iran Military Says It Is Ready to Respond Immediately to Any U.S. Hostile Acts Iran’s military warned it is prepared to respond immediately and forcefully if the United States resumes what it called hostile actions, as expectations rise for a possible second round of talks between the two countries. Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported that Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates Iran’s armed forces, said in a statement on 21 (local time) that Iran’s military, “united with the government and the people,” is ready to deliver a “firm, decisive and immediate response” to threats and actions by the enemy, in line with the supreme leader’s guidance. He said Iran’s military remains in a position of advantage and would not be misled by what he called false claims and propaganda by the U.S. president aimed at distorting battlefield conditions, particularly regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz. He added that Iran would respond appropriately to any breach of agreements by the enemy. The United States and Iran, after entering a war on Feb. 28, accepted a “two-week ceasefire” proposal by Pakistan on the 7th of this month and held their first ceasefire talks in Islamabad, but failed to reach an agreement. The ceasefire was originally set to run through 21, but U.S. President Donald Trump extended it by one day, to the evening of 22 in U.S. Eastern time (23 in Iran). Despite the heightened tensions, reports say the two sides have again sent delegations, fueling expectations that a second round of ceasefire talks could be held in Pakistan on 22. Iran has not officially confirmed its participation, leaving uncertainty over whether the meeting will take place. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 17:49:22 -
U.S., Iran Signal Second Round of Talks as Truce Deadline Nears The United States and Iran, after days of brinkmanship ahead of a truce deadline, appear closer to a second round of negotiations. In a phone interview with Bloomberg on April 20, U.S. President Donald Trump said the two-week truce with Iran would end "Wednesday (22) evening, Washington time." Asked about extending it, he said the chances were "very small" and said a U.S. naval blockade of Iran would remain in place until an agreement is reached. The U.S. and Iran agreed to the truce on April 7, and it had been widely viewed as running through April 21, though Trump’s remarks were seen as effectively extending the deadline by about a day. Trump also pointed to a possible schedule for talks. He said Vice President JD Vance would depart for Pakistan and that negotiations would begin April 21. Axios reported that Vance was expected to leave for Pakistan no later than the morning of April 21, possibly late on April 20. It said Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, were expected to travel with him. The report said Vance had delayed his departure while awaiting Iran’s response, but that a "green light" from Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been conveyed. Iran has also sent signals suggesting talks could move forward. The Wall Street Journal, citing multiple sources, reported that Iran told mediators it would send a negotiating team to Pakistan on April 21. Reuters, citing a Pakistani source involved in the talks, reported that a second round would be held Wednesday (22). The source said that if an agreement is reached, Trump could attend in person or participate by video. Iran’s government has not officially confirmed sending a delegation. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, "For now, there is no plan for the next negotiation," adding that Iran would not accept deadlines or ultimatums to protect its national interests. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker who leads the negotiating team, wrote on X that "we will not accept negotiations conducted under the shadow of threats." Trump, in a phone interview with the conservative radio program "The John Fredericks Show," warned Iran: "They will negotiate, and if they don’t, they will face problems they have never seen before." The first round of talks collapsed without narrowing differences over major issues, including Iran’s abandonment of its nuclear program. On Truth Social, Trump said the nuclear deal now being pursued with Iran would produce a better outcome than the 2015 agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Under the JCPOA, Iran’s nuclear program was limited in exchange for sanctions relief, and Iran’s highly enriched uranium was moved abroad while stockpiles were sharply capped. Trump later wrote again on Truth Social that "Operation Midnight Hammer" had "completely and totally destroyed" Iran-related nuclear targets and that recovering buried nuclear material would require a long and difficult process. Midnight Hammer was the name of a U.S. operation that struck three Iranian nuclear facilities in June last year. The Wall Street Journal reported that some flexibility is being detected on uranium enrichment. It said mediators are considering an option under which Iran would halt enrichment for a period and later be allowed limited production of low-enriched uranium. Despite the diplomatic activity, tensions remain. Iran sharply criticized the United States for seizing an Iranian-flagged cargo ship and demanded the crew’s release. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the Foreign Ministry, in a statement, called the action piracy and terrorism and said it was "another clear violation" of the truce and an attack on Iran. The ministry said it would mobilize all capabilities to defend national interests and security and to protect the rights and dignity of the Iranian people, warning that if regional conditions worsen further, the United States would bear full responsibility.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 16:37:45 -
Iran Calls U.S. Seizure of Iranian Cargo Ship Piracy, Demands Crew Release Iran sharply criticized the United States for seizing an Iranian-flagged cargo ship and demanded the crew’s release. According to Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim News Agency, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the 21st that the operation was carried out while threatening the ship’s sailors and crew and their families. It called the seizure “piracy” and “terrorism,” and said it was another clear violation of a ceasefire agreement reached on April 8, 2026 (Iranian calendar year 1405, Farvardin 19), describing it as an attack on Iran. The ministry warned of “very dangerous consequences” from what it called an illegal and criminal act, and again demanded the immediate release of the ship, its crew and sailors, and their families. It said Iran would “use all capabilities” to defend its interests and national security and to protect the rights and dignity of the Iranian people, adding that if regional conditions worsen further, the United States would bear full responsibility. U.S. authorities, however, said the Tusca attempted to violate a maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and was seized after repeated warnings over six hours. President Donald Trump said on the 19th on Truth Social that the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer Spruance intercepted the Tusca in the Gulf of Oman and issued a lawful order to stop, but Iranian sailors did not comply, and the U.S. Navy damaged the engine room to halt the ship. Iran warned of retaliation immediately after the seizure and later claimed it carried out drone attacks against some U.S. military vessels. With the two sides offering conflicting accounts, the incident could become an issue ahead of a second round of U.S.-Iran talks on ending the war, the report said. U.S. Central Command posted photos of the seized ship on X on the 21st. The images show black smoke rising from a large container ship and a U.S. warship operating nearby. Central Command said U.S. Marines boarded and seized the vessel and that U.S. forces are monitoring it in the Arabian Sea while the cargo is searched. 2026-04-21 15:33:49 -
Iran Signals It Will Send Negotiators to Pakistan for Second Round of U.S. Talks Iran has indicated it may attend a second round of peace talks with the United States expected to be held in Pakistan. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing multiple sources, that Iran told mediators it intends to send a negotiating team to Pakistan on April 21. Iran has not officially confirmed whether it will dispatch a delegation. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, "For now, there are no plans for the next talks," adding that Iran "will not accept deadlines or ultimatums" to protect its national interests. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also voiced deep distrust of the United States, stressing that "Iran will not yield to force." As Iran sends mixed signals, attention has turned to U.S. moves that could affect whether talks go ahead. Axios reported that Vice President JD Vance planned to depart for Pakistan by the morning of April 21, accompanied by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Some reports suggested he could travel late on April 20. Axios said Vance had remained in the United States until an Iranian response emerged, but would leave after receiving a "green light" from Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. The developments come after President Trump extended a ceasefire deadline by one day, from April 21 to the evening of April 22, fueling expectations of a deal. Reflecting that sentiment, international oil prices, which surged the previous day, fell about 1% to 2% in Asian trading. Separately, the United States is set to host a second ambassador-level meeting between Israel and Lebanon at the State Department on April 23. The session would be the first follow-up talks since a U.S.-mediated ceasefire was reached after weeks of clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. In their first meeting, the two sides agreed to begin direct negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement. 2026-04-21 14:56:09 -
U.S., Cuba Resume Talks Amid Tensions; Meeting Held in Havana This Month The United States and Cuba, long at odds over sweeping U.S. economic sanctions including restrictions on energy shipments, held bilateral talks in Havana earlier this month, according to reports. Reuters reported that a U.S. State Department official confirmed the meeting took place April 10 in the Cuban capital. It was the first visit to Cuba by a U.S. delegation since 2016. The official said the delegation again stressed that Cuba’s economy is rapidly deteriorating and that there is little time left to carry out key U.S.-backed reforms before conditions worsen beyond repair. The official added that President Trump is committed to pursuing a diplomatic solution if possible, but would not allow Cuba’s leadership to ignore U.S. concerns and let the country become a serious security threat. The U.S. side was reported to have proposed allowing Starlink satellite internet, compensation for U.S. individuals and companies whose assets were seized after the 1959 revolution, the release of political prisoners and expanded political freedoms. The delegation also raised concerns about growing influence by foreign powers in Cuba. Alejandro Garcia del Toro, deputy director for U.S. affairs at Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, said the U.S. delegation included officials at the assistant secretary level, while Cuba was represented by vice ministers. Garcia del Toro said there were no deadlines or threats and that the talks were conducted in an overall respectful atmosphere. He said Cuba’s top priority was lifting what he called the U.S. energy blockade. He described the measure as unjustifiable economic punishment of the Cuban people and “a kind of global intimidation” of countries that, under free-trade principles, have the right to export fuel to Cuba. Reuters said the meeting signaled the two countries could still reach a diplomatic agreement, even after President Trump suggested possible military action against Cuba following the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in January. Since taking office, Trump has repeatedly spoken of the need for regime change in Cuba and has pursued a hard-line policy, including an oil blockade. On March 28, he again suggested the possible use of force, saying, “Anyway, Cuba is next,” after Venezuela and Iran. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said April 16 that the country must prepare for the possibility of a U.S. military invasion, adding, “If it cannot be avoided, we will repel it.” 2026-04-21 14:08:03 -
Trump Invokes Defense Production Act to Fund Energy Projects Amid Oil Price Pressure President Donald Trump, facing rising oil-price pressure tied to the Iran war, on Sunday issued measures allowing federal funding for energy-sector projects. Bloomberg News and other outlets reported that Trump released five presidential memorandums invoking the Defense Production Act, targeting U.S. oil production and refining, coal supply chains, natural gas transportation and power-grid infrastructure. The actions allow the Energy Department to direct federal funds to those areas. A White House official told Bloomberg the memorandums would let the administration use tools such as energy purchases and financial support to address delays, funding shortfalls and market barriers affecting industry. The funding is expected to come from a large spending package law passed last year under the Trump administration, according to the report. In the memorandums, Trump cited his declaration of a national energy emergency shortly after taking office, saying ensuring resilient domestic oil production and refining capacity is critical to U.S. defense readiness. He warned that without immediate federal action, U.S. defense capabilities would remain at risk of disruption. He also stressed that securing natural gas and liquefied natural gas is important to U.S. defense and allies’ energy security, adding that insufficient natural gas and LNG export capacity could expose the United States and its partners to danger in a crisis. The Defense Production Act was enacted in 1950 during the Korean War and gives the president authority to intervene to expand private-sector production. It was introduced as federal power to direct industry was strengthened after disruptions in military supplies, the report said. The move was widely interpreted as a response aimed at curbing oil-price increases following Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has also faced pressure to push for an early end to the war as energy prices have surged. Trump has previously used the law for energy policy, including efforts to restart offshore crude production off Southern California. During the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, he invoked it to expand ventilator production. The previous Joe Biden administration also used the act to boost production of energy technologies such as solar panels and transformers. 2026-04-21 13:39:22 -
Oil tanker passing through Strait of Hormuz 'heading to discharge its cargo' in South Korea SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - An oil tanker that passed through the Strait of Hormuz is expected to arrive in South Korean waters as early as next month, Reuters reported on Monday. The Malta-flagged Odessa is "heading to discharge its cargo at South Korean refiner Hyudai Oilbank after passing through the Strait of Hormuz," it said. "The Suezmax tanker, which can carry 1 million barrels of oil, had its AIS tracker switched off and re-appeared on April 17 near the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah port," it added, quoting data from maritime tracking provider Kpler and the London Stock Exchange (LSEG). Another tracking service, VesselFinder, also estimated that the Odessa, which was off the coast of India on Monday morning, is scheduled to arrive at a port in Daesan, South Chungcheong Province on May 8. The vessel, capable of carrying about 1 million barrels of oil, accounts for roughly half of South Korea's daily oil consumption, but it remains unknown what the tanker is carrying. Meanwhile, a South Korean oil tanker that passed through the Red Sea last week after receiving crude at Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port is continuing its voyage. That marked the first instance of transporting approximately 2 million barrels of oil through the Red Sea as an alternative route since the blockade of the strait, prompting the government to consider utilizing the Red Sea route as an alternative for oil shipments. According to industry sources, around five contracts have been signed so far between Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Aramco and South Korean refineries, with each tanker expected to carry roughly 2 million barrels of oil. But challenges remain, as a member of the Houthi militia recently mentioned the possibility of blocking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. 2026-04-20 16:31:13 -
Wall Street Ends Mixed After Fed Holds Rates; S&P 500 Briefly Tops 7,000 The three major U.S. stock indexes finished mixed as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and investors waited for earnings from major Big Tech companies. Strength in technology and semiconductor shares pushed the S&P 500 above 7,000 for the first time intraday, though it later gave back gains. On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 12.19 points, or 0.02%, to 49,015.60. The S&P 500 slipped 0.57 points, or 0.01%, to 6,978.03. The Nasdaq composite gained 40.35 points, or 0.17%, to 23,857.45, extending its winning streak to six sessions. Stocks opened higher on semiconductor strength. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index climbed more than 2%. Nvidia rose 1.59% after reports that Chinese authorities approved imports of its H200 artificial intelligence chip. Microsoft rose 0.22%, Alphabet added 0.44%, Broadcom gained 0.14% and Tesla edged up 0.13%. Apple fell 0.71%, Amazon dropped 0.68% and Meta Platforms slipped 0.63%. Seagate Technology surged more than 19% after reporting results that beat market expectations. Micron Technology jumped 6.10% as a memory-chip supply shortage persisted. Intel soared 11% on expectations that Nvidia and Apple could shift some orders to reduce reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Jere Ellerbock, a manager at Argent Capital Management, told CNBC that the story in 2023, 2024 and much of 2025 centered on AI-related semiconductors, with demand “very strong,” while demand from autos, industrial and communications was broadly weak. “But now that’s changing,” he said, adding that demand across semiconductors is now far outpacing supply. The Fed held its benchmark rate at 3.50% to 3.75%, pausing an easing cycle that included three cuts totaling 0.75 percentage points in September, October and December. In a statement, the Fed said available indicators suggest economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace, while job gains remain low, the unemployment rate shows signs of stabilizing, and inflation remains somewhat elevated. After the close, Microsoft, Tesla and Meta reported fourth-quarter results. Microsoft and Meta beat expectations for both revenue and earnings per share. Market reaction was mixed: Microsoft fell more than 5% in after-hours trading, while Meta jumped more than 9%. Tesla beat EPS estimates, and its shares rose more than 3% after hours even as revenue posted its first annual decline on record. CME Group’s FedWatch tool showed fed funds futures pricing in an 88.6% chance the Fed will hold rates steady in March. The Cboe Volatility Index was little changed at 16.35.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-29 08:15:00