Top 5 International News Stories
Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated that the country’s enriched uranium stockpile will not be transferred “anywhere”. This statement refutes previous claims by US President Donald Trump that the Islamic Republic had agreed to hand it over. “Iran’s enriched uranium will not be transferred anywhere,” said spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baqaei to Iranian state television, as reported by AFP news agency on Saturday (18/4/2026). In addition to this news, here are the international stories that caught the attention of detikcom readers today, Saturday (18/4/2026): - Trump: Iran Port Blockade Continues If No Peace Deal US President Donald Trump stated that he plans to maintain the US blockade of Iranian ports if a peace agreement with Tehran is not reached. He added that he may not extend the ceasefire after it expires. Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday (17/4) following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. However, Tehran has threatened to close the vital waterway again if the US blockade continues. Meanwhile, the ceasefire between Tehran and Washington is set to expire on Wednesday. - Iran Threatens to Close Strait of Hormuz Again If US Continues Port Blockade The Iranian government has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz again if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports. This was stated on Saturday (18/4), hours after the main waterway was reopened following the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. The reopening of the strait has sparked optimism in Washington, with US President Donald Trump telling AFP that a peace deal is “very close”. Trump also claimed that Iran has agreed to hand over its enriched uranium stockpile—a key point in the negotiations. - US Continues Iran Port Blockade: We Monitor Every Iranian Ship! The US military stated it will continue to fully enforce the maritime blockade against ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas. US forces in the Middle East can maintain the blockade for as long as necessary, said head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper. “We are monitoring every Iranian ship in every port, period,” Cooper told reporters on Friday (17/4) local time. - Trump Bans Israel from Attacking Lebanon, Netanyahu Shocked! Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly “shocked and worried” by a social media post from US President Donald Trump, in which Trump stated that the Israeli regime is “FORBIDDEN” from attacking Lebanon. “Israel will no longer bombard Lebanon,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They are FORBIDDEN from doing so by the US. Enough is enough!!!” he emphasised, as reported by AFP on Saturday (18/4/2026). - Denying Trump, Iran Says Its Uranium Won’t Be Moved Anywhere! Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated that the country’s enriched uranium stockpile will not be transferred “anywhere”. This statement refutes previous claims by US President Donald Trump that the Islamic Republic had agreed to hand it over. “Iran’s enriched uranium will not be transferred anywhere,” said spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baqaei to Iranian state television, as reported by AFP news agency on Saturday (18/4/2026). “The transfer of Iran’s enriched uranium to the US was never discussed in the negotiations,” he snapped.