U.S. Blockade of Iran Under Pressure – What You Need to Know – April 14, 2026

[0:05] This is what you need to know. [0:07] Iran is doing absolutely no business and we're going to keep it that way. [0:10] The U.S. blockade of Iranian oil under pressure. [0:14] How Iran could be planning to retaliate. [0:16] President Trump defending his now deleted post and doubles down on his criticism of Pope Leo. [0:22] Allegations of inappropriate behavior force two House lawmakers to retire from Congress. [0:27] I think it's a smart decision. [0:29] The right thing to do? [0:30] That's the right thing to do. [0:31] Brian, anything to say? [0:32] The husband of a missing American woman is released from jail in the Bahamas. [0:37] And how would you like to own a Picasso for just over $100? [0:41] We have much more what you need to know now. [0:45] I'm James Longwind from ABC News. [0:46] It's Tuesday, April 14th, and this is what you need to know. [0:49] I'm in Paris on assignment, but let's get right to the big story. [0:54] Mediators are scrambling to arrange a second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran [0:58] before the ceasefire expires next week. [1:01] Vice President J.D. Vance says talks stalled over the weekend because Iran refused to accept [1:06] U.S. terms to not develop nuclear weapons. [1:10] I wouldn't just say that things went wrong. [1:12] I also think things went right. [1:13] We made a lot of progress, but we also made very clear what the terms where the United [1:18] States could make some accommodation, what terms we were flexible on, and what things [1:22] we absolutely needed to see in order for the President of the United States to feel [1:25] like he was getting a good deal. [1:27] Iran's foreign minister called U.S. demands excessive, but said there was progress on [1:32] many issues discussed. [1:33] A U.S. official says it's likely the U.S. and Iran will agree to another round of talks [1:37] before the ceasefire expires. [1:39] On the U.S. blockade of Iranian oil in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia is pressuring [1:44] the United States to drop it. [1:46] That's according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. [1:48] Fifteen U.S. warships are now enforcing President Trump's blockade of all ships entering or departing [1:54] Iranian ports and coastal areas. [1:56] Two tankers under U.S. sanctions turned around as soon as the restrictions went into effect. [2:02] Right now there's no fighting. [2:03] Right now we have a blockade. [2:05] Iran is doing absolutely no business, and we're going to keep it that way very easily. [2:09] And Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take part in talks between Israel and Lebanon today, [2:14] the first such talks in decades. [2:16] Israel's sweeping attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon have killed more than 2,000 people [2:21] and have displaced more than 1 million residents. [2:24] That's according to Lebanese officials. [2:25] Despite the talks, Israel has refused to agree to a ceasefire. [2:29] Hezbollah will not attend the talks, but its leader has vowed to keep fighting [2:33] and says the group won't recognize any agreement from the negotiations. [2:37] President Trump has now deleted the image he posted of an AI-generated picture of himself [2:42] appearing as a Christ-like figure. [2:44] At the White House, he said he thought it showed him as a doctor. [2:48] It's supposed to be me as a doctor making people better, and I do make people better. [2:52] I make people a lot better. [2:55] Despite near-universal condemnation, including some from his own supporters, [2:59] Trump was asked if he needs to apologize to the Pope. [3:01] No, I don't, because Pope Leo said things that are wrong. [3:06] He was very much against what I'm doing with regard to Iran, [3:11] and you cannot have a nuclear in Iran. [3:12] Pope Leo would not be happy with the end result. [3:15] You have hundreds of millions of people dead, and it's not going to happen. [3:19] There's nothing to apologize for. He's wrong. [3:22] Congress is back in session today after their spring recess, [3:25] but one California House member has now resigned in scandal. [3:29] Rachel has the details. [3:30] Well, James, this is a remarkable fall from grace from someone who was once considered a star in the Democratic Party. [3:37] Eric Swalwell announcing that he plans to resign from Congress. [3:40] This comes as he faces a flurry of sexual misconduct allegations, allegations he has denied. [3:46] The San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reporting four women accused Swalwell of inappropriate behavior. [3:51] One former staffer telling CNN that he sexually assaulted her twice in 2019 and again in 2024. [3:57] ABC News has not been able to independently verify the woman's claims, and the congressman calls the allegations false. [4:04] But for days, he has been under pressure, not just from Republicans, but also from Democrats, [4:09] to step down, not only to drop his bid in the California governor's race, but also to resign entirely. [4:14] And now he says he plans to do so. [4:16] And Republican Tony Gonzalez of Texas also says he will retire today. [4:22] Gonzalez has acknowledged having an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. [4:26] He announced earlier this year he would not run for re-election, [4:29] but some of his colleagues had threatened expulsion if he did not step down. [4:32] In the Bahamas, the man who was arrested in connection with his wife's disappearance has been released. [4:37] Victor Akendo is there. [4:39] Hey, James, we are right outside the Central Police Station in Freeport, [4:43] where Brian Hooker, who has been in police custody here for the last five days, was released. [4:47] He walked right out of the front door. [4:49] He did not answer any questions on his way out. [4:52] His wife, Lynette, disappeared in the Bahamas more than a week ago. [4:56] Brian telling authorities they encountered bad weather while riding their dinghy to their sailboat off Elbow Key. [5:01] Lynette fell overboard along with the boat keys and was swept away by a strong current. [5:06] She has not been seen since. Brian has maintained his innocence all along. [5:11] We asked his attorney if there were any conditions for his release. She did not disclose any. [5:16] There's talk of a potential mega merger between United and American Airlines. [5:21] Christiane Cordero has the details. [5:23] James, the merger was reportedly pitched by United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby [5:28] during a meeting with President Trump back in February. [5:30] That's according to Bloomberg and Reuters. [5:32] Kirby reportedly argued that a combined airline would be a stronger competitor in the international market, [5:38] pointing out that two-thirds of long-haul seats to and from the U.S. are currently on foreign airlines. [5:45] American Airlines is struggling to keep up with its rivals when it comes to profitability [5:49] and holds tens of billions of dollars in debt. [5:52] And things may get even more difficult with rising fuel costs and travel demand dropping. [5:57] Kirby told ABC News last month those rising costs could create opportunities for United. [6:02] And that's going to create stress, a much higher level of stress at those airlines. [6:06] And so it potentially is the opportunity for us to acquire assets and come out stronger on the other side. [6:11] But industry insiders say the chances of a merger being approved are slim, [6:16] with unions, rival airlines, and airports expected to oppose the idea. [6:20] And we have much more what you need to know. [6:23] Now to take three, the stories that you'll be talking about today. [6:37] Number three, an archaeological excavation in Switzerland has uncovered 2,000-year-old Roman cargo [6:43] scattered across the bottom of Lake Neuchâtel. [6:46] Researchers say the ancient ship once carried a multitude of goods, [6:50] including olive oil from Spain, wagon wheels, and weaponry. [6:53] Common dishware like platters, cups, and bowls were also found in the wreckage. [6:57] One thing is still missing, though, the ship itself. [7:00] Archaeologists believe the sailors and Roman soldiers saved their boat by throwing the goods overboard. [7:06] Number two, can you run faster than a robot? [7:09] Video from China shows humanoid robots on a test run for a half marathon. [7:13] About 70 teams took part in the test race. [7:16] The main event is later this month. [7:17] New this year is the use of robots with autonomous navigation as opposed to remote-controlled runners. [7:22] Judges will grant awards based on the longest distance a robot can run without a battery replacement, [7:29] along with participation trophies for all robots that compete the race. [7:33] And number one, today one lucky person will take home a Picasso valued at more than one million bucks for about $116. [7:41] The painting is a 1941 gouache titled Tête de Femme, [7:46] a gray and distorted woman's face reflecting Picasso's cubist style. [7:50] The one Picasso for 100 euros campaign will be raising funds for the Alzheimer's Research Foundation. [7:55] So far, 120,000 tickets have been sold, raising at least 12 million euros. [8:01] And new today, the former University of Michigan football coach faces sentencing. [8:06] Sharon Moore was fired in December over an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. [8:11] In March, Moore pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges that accused him of breaking into that staffer's apartment. [8:17] He could serve several months in jail. [8:18] And now, one more thing before you go. [8:22] The Rainbow Pride flag will be flying again at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City. [8:27] This settles a lawsuit brought after the National Park Service removed the flag in February. [8:32] The monument marks the site that sparked riots in 1969, [8:35] launching the gay rights movement in the United States. [8:39] And that's what you need to know for breaking news and live updates throughout the day. [8:42] Check out ABC News streaming on Disney+. [8:44] So far, it's the only thing that the there's a man doing to you to see a guy in New York City is channeled for the one for the first time. [8:46] So it's the one for the worst. [8:47] This means doing is running a lot of work. [8:47] So it's the one for us. [8:48] So of course that's what you need to do. [8:49] So that's what's the deal. [8:49] So you need to know for the last day. [8:50] And you know, have a lot of work and relax. [8:51] That's where the money is to be able to be able to move the same way to the left of the city. [8:51] Bye. [8:52] Bye. [8:53] Bye. [8:53] Bye. [8:54] Bye. [8:54] Bye. [8:54] Bye. [8:55] Bye. [8:56] Bye. [8:57] Bye. [8:57] Bye. [8:57] Bye. [8:58] Bye. [8:59] Bye. [9:00] Bye. [9:02] Bye. [9:03] Bye. [9:05] Bye. [9:05] Bye.