9 Updates on the Iran War: Putin Calls Trump - UN Reveals Tehran's Uranium
Geopolitical tensions are intensifying globally following new threats from US President Donald Trump urging Iran to surrender immediately. At the same time, a total blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is triggering massive financial losses amounting to billions of dollars as of Thursday (30 April 2026).
Here are 9 additional updates on the escalation of the US-Iran conflict, compiled from Al Jazeera:
- Trump Demands Iran Surrender
US President Donald Trump has once again issued strong statements from the Oval Office in the White House regarding the deadlock in negotiations with Tehran. Trump claims that the US military has crippled most of Iran’s defensive capabilities, leaving only limited missile capacity.
Trump emphasised that the only way to end the war is through Iran’s total admission of defeat.
“They must surrender, that’s all they have to do. Just say, ‘We surrender’, that’s it,” Trump stated, quoted from Al Jazeera.
- US Blockade Holds 69 Million Barrels of Iranian Oil
US military CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper announced the success of his forces in intercepting the 42nd commercial vessel attempting to breach the blockade. Currently, dozens of Iranian tankers are reported to be trapped and unable to sell their cargo.
Cooper detailed that the blockade has significantly paralysed Iran’s energy sector revenue, reaching billions of dollars.
“Currently, there are 41 tankers with 69 million barrels of oil that the Iranian regime cannot sell. That is estimated to be worth more than US$6 billion (Rp103.5 trillion) that Iran’s leadership cannot financially enjoy,” Cooper said, quoted from Al Jazeera.
- Negotiations Shift to Phone Calls
In a statement to reporters, Trump revealed that the negotiation process with Iran is no longer conducted face-to-face in Pakistan. He has opted for telephone communication for efficiency in time and bureaucracy.
Trump considers lengthy in-person meetings a waste of energy, especially if the outcomes are predictably disappointing.
“We’re doing it by phone, and it’s great. It’s silly if you have to fly 18 hours every time you want to have a meeting, just to receive a piece of paper you don’t like even before you leave,” Trump said, quoted from Al Jazeera.
- US Freezes Rp5.9 Trillion in Iranian Crypto Assets
The US government has officially announced new sanctions against a network of cryptocurrency wallets linked to Iran, freezing digital assets worth US$344 million (Rp5.93 trillion). This move aims to cut off funding channels for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which dominates blockchain activities in Iran.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent affirmed that his side will pursue every movement of money that Tehran attempts to transfer abroad via digital routes.
“We will follow the money that Tehran desperately tries to move abroad and target all financial channels linked to that regime,” Bessent said via platform X, quoted from Al Jazeera.
- IAEA: Iran’s Enriched Uranium Still at Isfahan Site
Head of the UN nuclear agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, stated that the majority of Iran’s enriched uranium is likely still stored at the Isfahan nuclear complex. This location was one of the sites bombed in last year’s airstrikes.
Grossi acknowledged that his agency has not been able to conduct direct inspections to verify IAEA seals at the site since the war broke out.
“We have not been able to inspect or rule out whether that material is still there and the IAEA seals remain in place. What I am conveying is our best estimate based on satellite imagery,” Grossi said, quoted from The Associated Press.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Pressured to Resign by Congress
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing intense pressure during a congressional hearing. Democratic House member Pat Ryan sharply criticised Hegseth’s leadership over the deaths of six US soldiers in Kuwait due to an Iranian drone attack.
Ryan accused the military of still deploying troops to locations known to lack adequate air defences against drone strikes.
“You still sent our soldiers there even though they were not prepared to face drone attacks. You are downplaying what happened and you should resign,” Ryan urged, quoted from AFP.
- Putin Calls Trump
Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly held a phone conversation with President Trump to discuss the Iranian nuclear crisis. However, in the conversation, Putin also slipped in a proposal regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
The ceasefire was proposed as a tribute to the historic end of World War II next month.
“President Putin proposed a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to mark the commemoration of the end of World War II next month in a phone call with Trump,” the Kremlin statement read, quoted from Al Jazeera.
- Iranian Currency Crashes to Record Low
Iran’s currency, the rial, has plummeted to an all-time low, breaching 1,810,000 rials per US dollar on Wednesday (29 April 2026). This plunge in the exchange rate was triggered by a surge in foreign currency demand following the end of the active combat phase.
The situation is exacerbated by Washington’s economic blockade, making it increasingly difficult for Tehran to obtain hard currency through export channels.
“The rial’s value has fallen nearly 15% in the last two days after previously stabilising due to hampered foreign currency demand from war conditions and the New Year holiday,” the ISNA news agency report stated, quoted from Reuters.
- Iranian Football Federation Officials ‘Deported’ from Canada
Three officials from the Iranian football federation reportedly failed to attend the FIFA Congress in Canada. This was triggered by treatment from immigration officers at Toronto airport, which was deemed