Trump claims UK freighter was attacked by Tehran: Live

The situation for UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has ‘got worse’ over the past week, with several troops killed, according to a spokesperson.

A French UN peacekeeper was killed yesterday despite there being a ten-day ceasefire in place between Israel and Hezbollah.

The soldier died and three people were wounded when a UN patrol came under fire in southern Lebanon.

French President Emmanuel Macron blamed the attack on Hezbollah, but the Iran-backed armed group denied ‘any connection’ to the incident.

UNIFIL’s Tilak Pokharel told Sky News that the goal of the mission, which began in the late 1970s, is to ‘get the parties back to the dialogue table’ – but that is ‘definitely not working at the moment’.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence said there have been no reports of any UK-linked ships coming under attack in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday – contradicting Donald Trump’s claim.

The President wrote on social media: ‘Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement!

‘Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom.’

But neither the Ministry of Defence nor the Department for Transport are aware of any such incident, the BBC reports.

There were reports of two ships being attacked in the Strait yesterday, with India reporting they were both sailing under its flag.

Counter terror police are investigating whether Iranian proxies are behind the recent spate of arson attacks against London synagogues.

It comes after Ashab al-Yamin – the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right – claimed responsibility for launching a ‘firebomb’ through the window of Kenton United Synagogue, near Harrow, last night.

The pro-Iran group released video footage of the attack showing a man walking up to the building with what appears to be petrol bomb and flinging it at the site.

It has claimed responsibility for several incidents at places of worship, business and financial institutions across Europe in recent months, the Met has said.

The force is now investigating the ‘Iranian regime’s routine uses of criminal proxies’ where Jewish sites have been targeted in the capital.

READ MORE on the spate of antisemitic arson attacks

There is currently no confirmation that Iran will send a delegation to the peace talks.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported there is no guarantee of attendance ‘as long as there is a naval blockade’.

The US continues to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, with US forces vowing to intercept or turn back any vessel travelling to or from Iran’s coast.

Iran considers this a violation of the two-week ceasefire that is currently in place.

Donald Trump has said that his Vice-President, JD Vance, will not be heading to the peace talks in Islamabad – contradicting previous reports.

Earlier today, both the US envoy to the UN, Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright had indicated Vance would lead the negotiating team.

But now the President says the opposite, citing security concerns.

Trump told ABC News: ‘It’s only because of security. JD’s great.’

Vance was selected to head up the American entourage in the first round of peace talks, but came away empty-handed.

Reports emerged this week that Trump was using Vance’s role as the chief negotiator in Iran as a test of his aptitude over Marco Rubio, possibly with the question of his successor in mind.

Iran has doubled down on its pledge to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed as long as the US blockade remains in place.

The regime considers the blockade a breach of the two-week ceasefire, which is currently due to expire on Wednesday, April 22.

In a televised interview, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf warned it remained the case that any ships attempting a crossing would be attacked.

He said: ‘It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot.’

Two Indian ships have already reported coming under fire from Iranian gunboats, after the regime changed its mind about opening the waterway.

Pakistani authorities have begun tightening security in the capital, Islamabad. While there were no formal announcements, a regional official involved in the mediation efforts said mediators were finalizing the preparations and that US advance security teams were already on the ground.

JD Vance will lead the American delegration in Iran peace talks in Islamabad, Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, told ABC News.

Donald Trump on Sunday said his representatives were going to be in Islamabad on Monday night for more negotiations.

Iran’s armed forces turned back two tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday after issuing warnings, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, saying this came as a result of the continuing U.S. maritime blockade on Iran.

The vessels, sailing under the flags of Botswana and Angola, were forced to change course after what the report described as “unauthorised transit” through the strategic waterway.

The US president says American negotiators will be in Pakistan on Monday to hold a second round of talks with Iran.

Trump didn’t say in his post on social media which officials the United States will send to attend the negotiations in Islamabad.

Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian has lashed out at the US and Israel, branding their actions the “height of desperation” as tensions continue to escalate.

In a video statement, he praised Iran’s armed forces for standing firm against what he described as the pressure of “great powers”.

The performance of the country’s armed forces in the face of pressures and threats has surprised many analysts; in such a way that a country, despite its problems, has been able to stand up to great powers and their widespread support.

He went on to accuse Iran’s adversaries of targeting civilian infrastructure – including schools, hospitals, universities and public places – calling it a clear violation of international law.

“In contrast, the enemies – who have failed to achieve their goals – are attacking civilian infrastructure,” he said, adding that the strikes showed “the height of desperation and defeat of the nation’s enemies”.