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This is the Winrad Broadcasting Service daily news bulletin for Saturday, April the eighteenth, 2026 — Day 50 of the war with Iran.
Today's report:Iran FM Araghchi declares Strait of Hormuz "completely open" — oil drops 10%, markets surgeHours later, IRGC says FM "misspoken" — strait returned to "previous state" under "strict control"Ship tracking: ~24 vessels started toward strait, most turned back into the GulfTrump: "Strait is completely open for business" — Iran "agreed to never close the Strait again"White House: blockade remains until "transaction" with Iran is completeTrump: Iran "agreed to everything" — then acknowledges there "could" still be differencesGhalibaf fires back: Trump "made seven claims in one hour, all seven of which are false"Second round of talks confirmed for Monday in Islamabad — Iranian sources and US officialsPakistan FM Dar: deal "more than 80 percent complete" — both sides need flexibilityPakistan wants "permanent end of the war" — not ceasefire extensionChina's Wang Yi: "the window of peace is opening"CENTCOM Admiral Cooper: blockade will remain "for as long as necessary""US forces have eyes on every Iranian port" via MQ-9 drones and P-8 aircraftUSS Ford in Red Sea; USS Bush en route; Lincoln operating in Middle EastLebanon ceasefire Day 1: Lebanese army accuses Israel of "intermittent shelling" — truce largely holdingIDF: forces remain deployed, do not move south of Litani RiverOil below $90/barrel — sharpest single-day drop since war beganGold near $4,831; Wall Street at record highsGas at $4.13/gallonDeath toll: Iran 3,300+ (forensics); Lebanon 2,100+; Gulf 32; Israel 23; US 13 KIA, 365 woundedIran ceasefire expires April 22 (4 days); Lebanon ceasefire expires April 27Followed by "From the Homefront" — Dorothy's Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread, ready for Sunday morning.🎙️ THE WINRAD RADIO — Listen the way it was meant to be heard. The Greadio Vintage Bluetooth Radio: https://amzn.to/47SpeJmThis is a news presentation — not opinion or editorial. All facts sourced from verified journalism. The "Winrad Broadcasting Service" is fictional. All voices are AI-generated.
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SOURCES:
CNBC — Iran declares Hormuz open, oil plunges 10%, confusion, blockade remains: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/17/iran-war-hormuz-strait-israel-lebanon-ceasefire.htmlABC — Hormuz "returned to previous state," Trump "agreed to everything," Ghalibaf "seven claims false": https://abcnews.com/International/live-updates/iran-live-updates-us-blockade-irans-strait-hormuz/?id=131983647CNN — Monday talks confirmed, Admiral Cooper "as long as necessary," Lebanon violations, Ford Red Sea: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/17/world/live-news/iran-war-trump-lebanon-israel-ceasefireCBS — Lebanon ceasefire Day 1, shelling, Trump optimism, Pakistan mediation: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-us-trump-strait-of-hormuz-diplomacy-ceasefire/NBC — Ceasefire holds, 13 ships turned back, Stoltenberg, IRC, NYC mayor: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-iran-war-israel-lebanon-leaders-talks-ceasefire-trump-rcna332095NPR — Lebanon truce, Israel keeps forces, Trump might go to Pakistan: https://www.npr.org/2026/04/16/nx-s1-5787392/iran-middle-east-updatesThe National — Wall Street records, oil -10%, gold $4,831, analysts caution: https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/2026/04/17/oil-pares-weekly-gains-on-lebanon-ceasefire-and-trump-hinting-at-war-ending-soon/Wikipedia — 2026 Iran war ceasefire: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war_ceasefire