Trump and Iran Talks, Iran Reacts to Ship Seized, Tariff Refunds
Up First from NPR
NPR
4.6 • 59K Ratings
🗓️ 20 April 2026
⏱️ 14 minutes
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Summary
Iran is back to blocking the Strait of Hormuz as both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire and a new round of talks in Pakistan have yet to be confirmed by Tehran.
And businesses can finally start applying today for refunds on $166 billion in tariffs the Supreme Court ruled were collected illegally, in what could be a scramble for hundreds of thousands of importers.
Correction: A previous version of the story "Iran reacts to ship seized" incorrectly said the death toll in Lebanon was more than 1,000. It is more than 2,000.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Ruth Sherlock, Rafael Nam, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Lindsay Totty.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:55) Trump and Iran Talks
(05:34) Iran Reacts to Ship Seized
(09:30) Tariff Refunds
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The U.S. fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to break through the blockade. |
| 0:07.0 | Iran is calling it piracy and vowing to retaliate. |
| 0:10.3 | The ceasefire expires Wednesday and talks to extend it or falling apart. |
| 0:13.9 | I'm Michelle Martin Vesley-Lafato, and this is up first from NPR News. |
| 0:20.8 | The seizure of the ship came just hours after President Trump confirmed U.S. |
| 0:24.7 | negotiators would be headed to Pakistan for talks, but an Iranian official says they are not |
| 0:29.2 | attending. |
| 0:30.0 | Both sides are accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. |
| 0:33.3 | And good news for a lot of businesses impacted by President Trump's tariffs. |
| 0:37.1 | Today, they can finally start applying for refunds on $166 billion in taxes. |
| 0:44.5 | The Supreme Court said were collected illegally. |
| 0:47.5 | Stay with us. |
| 0:48.2 | We'll give you the news you need to start your day. |
| 0:56.0 | U.S. forces fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel after it refused to comply with a blockade |
| 1:01.9 | ordered by President Trump. |
| 1:04.0 | Here's sound from a video released by U.S. Central Command. |
| 1:07.1 | Vacate your engine room. |
| 1:08.8 | Vacate your engine room. |
| 1:10.4 | We're prepared to subject you to the sable and fire. |
| 1:12.6 | Marines ended up boarding the ship, which is now in U.S. custody. |
| 1:25.6 | It was the latest escalation in a weekend of rising |
| 1:28.1 | tensions and renewed threats from Trump. We are joined now by NPR senior political correspondent, Tamara Keith, |
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