2026 Iran War Iran-Israel (Historical) Ukraine-Russia Israel-Palestine India-Pakistan China-Taiwan
LIVE

2026 Iran War: 2026-04-23

Thursday, April 23, 2026 10 updates Last updated 16:52 UTC
16:52 UTC

Italy sends four ships to clear Hormuz mines, Reza Pahlavi attacked in Berlin, ceasefire extended to Sunday

Italian Navy chief Giuseppe Beruti Bergoto said Italy is ready to deploy up to four ships including two minesweepers to clear the Strait of Hormuz, working with the UK, France, Netherlands and Belgium. Exiled Iranian prince Reza Pahlavi was splashed with red liquid at a press conference in Berlin by an arrested attacker. Israeli media KAN reported US officials told Tel Aviv the extended ceasefire expires Sunday. Trump told Fox News Martha MacCallum he is in no rush to end the war and wants a good deal.
16:52 UTC

Mojtaba Khamenei lacks father authority, UN warns 30M will fall into poverty, CENTCOM blocks 33 ships

NYT reports new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei does not exercise the centralized power his late father held. A combat collective of IRGC commanders now makes key decisions on war, peace and diplomacy. A former Ahmadinejad advisor said Mojtaba runs the country like a board chairman, with generals as board members. The UN warned that 32 million people worldwide will fall back into poverty even if the war ends tomorrow, due to energy price spikes and food supply disruption. CENTCOM reported ordering 33 ships to turn back or return to port under the blockade.
16:52 UTC Breaking

Iran seizes multiple ships with Montenegrin, Croatian, Ukrainian and Filipino crew members

Iranian forces have seized multiple vessels in the Strait of Hormuz with international crew members. The MSC Francesca carries four Montenegrin and two Croatian sailors, both governments confirmed. The MSC Epaminondas was boarded by IRGC fast boats that opened fire and caused damage, Greek operator Technomar Shipping said. Its 21-member crew includes Ukrainians and Filipinos, all reported safe. The US also intercepted the M/T Majestic X in the Indian Ocean and the Iranian-flagged TOUSKA on Sunday.
16:52 UTC Breaking

Iran collects first Hormuz transit tolls as oil breaks $100 per barrel

Iranian parliament deputy speaker Hamid Reza Haji Babaei said Iran has received its first revenues from transit tolls charged to ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The fees were deposited to the Central Bank of Iran, Tasnim reported, without disclosing the amount. Brent crude surged past $103 per barrel, up nearly $6 in 24 hours, after the failed second round of peace talks in Islamabad.
16:51 UTC Breaking

BREAKING: Trump orders Navy to shoot and destroy any boat laying mines in Hormuz

President Trump ordered the US Navy to shoot and destroy any boat, no matter how small, that lays mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Their warships are ALL, 159 of them, at the bottom of the sea, Trump wrote. No hesitation. He ordered minesweeping operations to continue at tripled intensity. Trump added the US has complete control over Hormuz and no ship can enter or exit without US Navy approval.
10:05 UTC Breaking

Trump Ceasefire Extension Claims Conflict With White House Denials

Fox News reported that President Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran by only 3 to 5 days, with a Sunday deadline. The White House denied the report, saying no such deadline was set. Iran has not yet decided on an extension. Pakistan PM thanked Trump and said Pakistan would continue facilitating negotiations.
10:05 UTC

France Confirms Death of Wounded Peacekeeper From Lebanon Attack

French President Macron confirmed that a French peacekeeper wounded in a Lebanon attack over the weekend has died from injuries. The peacekeeper was part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. France condemned the attack and demanded accountability. The circumstances remain under investigation.
10:05 UTC Breaking

US Army Nuclear Security Chief Placed on Leave After Leaked Recording

Andrew Hag, head of US Army chemical and nuclear security, was placed on administrative leave after a secret recording was leaked by James O'Keefe's media group. In the video, Hag allegedly claimed US strikes in Iran killed children, revealed US plans to target Iran's new supreme leader, and made statements about US chemical weapons exposure.
05:05 UTC

Unconfirmed reports of explosions in Tehran; monitoring ongoing

Social media reports of explosions in Tehran emerged on April 22-23, with OSINT channels noting projectiles observed over Iraq and Kuwait. No official confirmation from Iranian authorities as of 05:00 UTC. WarMonitors and other monitoring accounts are tracking the situation for further developments.
05:04 UTC

Hezbollah hits Israeli Merkava tank with FPV drone in southern Lebanon

Hezbollah released footage on April 23 showing an FPV drone striking a Merkava tank in Bayada, southern Lebanon. The attack is one of several documented exchanges along the Lebanon-Israel border this week, as Hezbollah has resumed responding to Israeli drone strikes that violate the informal ceasefire arrangement.