2026-04-19
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This is The World In Brief from The Economist.
Our top stories A tanker and a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz reported coming under fire from Iranian gunboats
off the coast of Oman, according to the UK Maritime Trade Organization, which monitors security at sea.
An unknown projectile reportedly damaged the second ship's cargo.
The attacks came shortly after Iran's armed forces said they were reasserting strict control of the strait.
Iran said it would keep control of the strait,
despite declaring it open on Friday, until America lifted its naval blockade, which it called a breach of the ceasefire.
Donald Trump said America would not stand for blackmail,
but added that very good conversations with Iran were continuing.
Iran's deputy foreign minister told the Associated Press his country was not yet ready
for further direct talks with America.
Emmanuel Macron, France's president, said that a French member of a UN peacekeeping force had been killed in Lebanon the day